Wolsey sat on his right hand, but he did not vouchsafe him a single
word, addressing the whole of his discourse to the Duke of Suffolk,
who was placed on his left. As soon as the repast was over, he retired
to his closet. But the cardinal would not be so repulsed, and sent one
of his gentlemen to crave a moment's audience of the king, which with
some reluctance was accorded.
"Well, cardinal," cried Henry, as Wolsey presented himself, and the
usher withdrew. "You are playing a deep game with me, as you think;
but take heed, for I see through it." "I pray you dismiss these
suspicions from your mind, my liege," said Wolsey. "No servant was
ever more faithful to his master than I have been to you."
"No servant ever took better care of himself," cried the king fiercely.
"Not alone have you wronged me to enrich yourself, but you are ever
intriguing with my enemies. I have nourished in my breast a viper; but I
will cast you off--will crush you as I would the noxious reptile."
And he stamped upon the floor, as if he could have trampled the
cardinal beneath his foot.
"Beseech you calm yourself, my liege," replied Wolsey, in the soft and
deprecatory tone which he had seldom known to fail with the king.
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