You
disbelieved my charge of levity yesterday. Read these, sire, and judge
whether I spoke the truth."
Henry glanced at the letters, and his brow grew dark.
"What say you to them, my liege?" cried Catherine, with a glance of
triumph. "In the one she vows eternal constancy to Sir Thomas Wyat,
and in the other--written after her engagement to you--he tells him that
though they can never meet as heretofore, she will always love him."
"Ten thousand furies!" cried the king. "Where got you these letters,
madam?"
"They were given to me by a tall dark man, as I quitted the castle last
night," said the queen. "He said they were taken from the person of Sir
Thomas Wyat while he lay concealed in the forest in the cave of Herne
the Hunter."
"If I thought she wrote them," cried Henry, in an access jealous fury, "I
would cast her off for ever."
"Methinks your majesty should be able to judge whether they are true
or false," said Catherine. "I know her writing well--too well, alas!--and
am satisfied they are genuine."
"I am well assured that Wyat was concealed in the Lady Anne's
chamber when your majesty demanded admittance and could not
obtain it--when the Earl of Surrey sacrificed himself for her, and for his
friend," said Wolsey.
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