"You will feel as I feel towards you," pursued the queen--"hatred
towards her; but you will not have the consolations I enjoy. You will
have merited your fate, and you will then think upon me and my woes,
and will bitterly, but unavailingly, repent your conduct. And now,
Henry," she exclaimed, turning solemnly to him, "you have pledged your
royal word to me, and given me your hand upon it, that if you find this
woman false to you she shall expiate her offence on the block. I call
upon you to ratify the pledge in her presence."
"I do so, Catherine," replied the king. "The mere suspicion of her guilt
shall be enough."
"Henry!" exclaimed Anne.
"I have said it," replied the king.
"Tremble, then, Anne Boleyn!" cried Catherine, "tremble! and when you
are adjudged to die the death of an adulteress, bethink you of the
prediction of the queen you have injured. I may not live to witness your
fate, but we shall meet before the throne of an eternal Judge."
"Oh, Henry, this is too much!" gasped Anne, and she sank fainting into
his arms.
"Begone!" cried the king furiously. "You have killed her!"
"It were well for us both if I had done so," replied Catherine.
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