“Mary is not queen, nor will I sign it,” replied Jane.
“Then hear me,” replied Renard. “In Queen Mary’s name, I denounce you as an usurper. And if you further attempt to exercise the functions of royalty, you will not escape the block.”
“He does not overrate your danger,” interposed Gunnora.
“What make you here, old woman?” said Renard, addressing her.
“I have come on the same errand as yourself,” she replied, “to warn this noble, but ill-advised lady of her peril.”
“Have you likewise informed her why you were brought to the Tower?” demanded Renard, sternly.
“No,” replied Gunnora.
“Then she shall learn it from me,” continued the ambassador, “though it is not the season I would have chosen for the disclosure. This woman administered poison to your predecessor, Edward VI., by order of the Duke of Northumberland.”
“It is false,” cried Jane, “I will not believe it.”
“It is true,” said Gunnora.
“Wretch! you condemn yourself,” said Jane.
“I know it,” rejoined Gunnora; “but place me on the rack, and I will repeat the charge.”
“What motive could the duke have for so foul a crime?” demanded the queen.
“This,” replied Gunnora; “he wished to remove the king so suddenly, that the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth might have no intelligence of his decease. But this is not all, madam.”
“What more remains to be told?” asked Jane.
“You were to be the next victim,” returned the old woman. “Northumberland aimed at the supreme power. With this view, he wedded you to his son; with this view, he procured the letters-patent from King Edward declaring you his successor; with this view, he proclaimed you queen, raised you to the throne, and would have made your husband king. His next step was to have poisoned you.”
“Poisoned me!” exclaimed Jane, horror stricken.
“Ay, poisoned you,” repeated Gunnora. “I was to administer the fatal draught to you as I did to Edward. It was therefore I warned you not to enter the Tower. It was therefore I counselled you to resign a sceptre which I knew you could not sustain. I saw you decked out like a victim for the sacrifice, and I strove to avert the fatal blow—but in vain.”
“Alas! I begin to find your words are true,” replied Jane. “But if aught remains to me of power, if I am not a queen merely in name, I will now exert it. My lord of Pembroke, I command you to summon the guard, and arrest this traitor,” pointing to Simon Renard. “I will not sleep till I have had his head. How, my lord, do you refuse to obey me? Hesitate, and you shall share his doom.”
At this moment, Cholmondeley threw off his cloak, and advancing towards the ambassador, said, “M. Simon Renard, you are the queen’s prisoner.”
“Cholmondeley!” exclaimed Renard, starting; “can it be?”
“It is, traitor,” replied the esquire; “but I will now unmask you and your projects.”
“Back, sir!” cried Renard, in a tone so authoritative that all were overawed by it. “Lay hands upon me, and I give a signal which will cause a general massacre, in which none of Queen Mary’s enemies will be spared. Lady Jane Dudley,” he continued, addressing her, “I give you till to-morrow to reflect upon what course you will pursue. Resign the crown you have wrongfully assumed, and I pledge my word to obtain your pardon. But Northumberland’s life is forfeited, and that of all his race.”
“Think you I will sacrifice my husband, traitor?” cried Jane. “Seize him,” she added, to Cholmondeley.
But before the young man could advance, Renard had unsheathed his sword, and placed himself in a posture of defence. “Lady Jane Dudley,” he ejaculated, “I give you till to-morrow. Your own conduct will decide your fate.”
“Call the guard,” cried Jane.
The young esquire vainly endeavoured to obey this command, but he was attacked and beaten off by the ambassador and the Earl of Pembroke, who quickly retreating towards the masked door, passed through it and closed it after them. At this juncture, Lord Guilford Dudley returned at the head of the guard. The occurrences of the last few minutes were hastily explained to him, and he was about to break open the secret door, when Nightgall said, “If I have a free pardon, I will conduct your lordship to the secret retreat of the council, and unravel a plot which shall place them in your power.”