“Then I will go to them,” cried Elizabeth. “I will plead for you on my knees. They cannot refuse me.”
Seymour shook his head.
“Such an avowal of your love for me will be to them an additional motive for my destruction,” he said.
“What is to be done?” cried Elizabeth, distractedly. “You must not—shall not die.”
At this moment the door of the cell opened, and Sir John Gage stepped in.
“It grieves me to interrupt you,” he said, in accents of profound sympathy. “But the moment of separation is arrived. You must part forever.”
“Not forever, Sir John!” cried Elizabeth. “I shall bring Lord Seymour a pardon. The king my brother, the lord protector, and the council, will listen to my prayers.”
“Indulge no false hopes, princess,” said Gage. “The lord protector and the council are inexorable.”
“Then I will not go hence,” shrieked Elizabeth. “I will stay here and die with him.”
“Princess, I pray you, come with me,” cried the constable.
“I will not go,” she rejoined, clinging desperately to Seymour. “Hold me fast, my loved lord!—hold me fast! Let him not tear me hence!”
“Do not forget yourself, princess, I implore you!” cried the constable. “Do not compel me to employ force.”
“Stand off, Sir John!” cried Elizabeth, impetuously. “Stand off, I command you! Hear what I have to say, and let it abide in your recollection. I here solemnly affiance myself before Heaven to Lord Seymour, and I register a vow that if he be put to death by his brother, I will wed no other man.”
“Retract this rash oath, princess, I implore you,” said the constable. “Hereafter, in calmer moments, you will rue it.”
“Never,” rejoined Elizabeth, emphatically. “Heaven so help me, as I keep it religiously.”
“I have not merited this love,” cried Seymour, in a voice suffocated by emotion. “But the cup of happiness is presented to me only to be dashed from my lips.”
“My lord,” said the constable to Seymour, “it rests with you to put an end to this painful scene. To prolong it will but increase your distress. The princess must go hence.”
“Will you have it so?” cried Elizabeth, still clinging fondly to him.
“It must be,” he rejoined, despairingly. “One last embrace,” he added, straining her to his bosom. “Take her, good Sir John.”
Elizabeth made no further opposition. Half fainting, she almost fell from his arms. Hastily enveloping her in the mantle, and wrapping the couvre-chef about her head, the constable led her towards the door. Before going forth, she cast one farewell look at Seymour, who stood as if transfixed by despair.
The clangor of the closing door roused him from this stupor. The pang he felt was intolerable. With a wild cry he threw himself on his pallet. Death could have no greater bitterness for him.
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Chapter IV
HOW THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH INTERCEDED FOR THE ADMIRAL WITH THE KING; AND HOW THE DEATH-WARRANT WAS SIGNED
Notwithstanding the endeavors of Sir John Gage to dissuade her from the attempt, and the assurances of the worthy constable that it would be fruitless, Elizabeth was resolved to solicit the admiral’s pardon from the king, and by her tears and entreaties succeeded in wringing consent from Gage to procure her an interview with her royal brother.
Accordingly, on the following day, the constable met her at the entrance of the palace of Whitehall, and conducted her to the royal apartments. Had the princess not been thus attended she would have been refused admittance; but the authority of Sir John Gage, as comptroller of the household, was sufficient to procure her ingress, and they reached the ante-chamber without obstruction.
The princess’s unexpected appearance filled the pages and henchmen there assembled with surprise and consternation, and the chief usher advancing towards her, and making her a profound obeisance, informed her gravely, but with much respect, that it was impossible she could see the king at this moment.
“But I will see him,” she cried, resolutely. “No blame shall attach to you, sir—I will take it on myself.”
“Pardon me, gracious princess, if I am compelled to refuse you admittance,” rejoined the usher. “The lord protector and the council are now deliberating amongst themselves in an adjoining chamber, and as soon as their consultation is ended they will return to his majesty.”