"Sir Thomas Wyat,
we have a special mission for you to the court of our brother of France.
You will set out to-morrow."
Wyat bowed.
"You have saved your head, gossip," whispered Will Sommers in the
knight's ear. "A visit to Francis the First is better than a visit to the
Tower."
"Retire, my lords," said Henry to the assemblage; "we owe some
apology to the Lady Anne for our intrusion, and desire an opportunity to
make it."
Upon this the chamber was instantly cleared of its occupants, and the
Earl of Surrey was conducted, under a guard, to the Round Tower.
Henry, however, did not find it an easy matter to make peace with the
Lady Anne. Conscious of the advantage she had gained, she
determined not to relinquish it, and, after half an hour's vain suing, her
royal lover proposed a turn in the long gallery, upon which her
apartments opened. Here they continued conversing--Henry pleading in
the most passionate manner, and Anne maintaining a show of offended
pride.
At last she exhibited some signs of relenting, and Henry led her into a
recess in the gallery, lighted by a window filled with magnificent
stained glass. In this recess was a seat and a small table, on which
stood a vase filled with flowers, arranged by Anne's own hand; and here
the monarch hoped to adjust his differences with her.
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