"I am come to
deliver you."
Anne could not repress a joyful cry.
"Not so loud," rejoined Herne, "or you will alarm your attendants. I will
set you free on certain conditions."
"Ah! conditions!" exclaimed Anne, recoiling; "if they are such as will
affect my eternal welfare, I cannot accept them."
"You will repent it when it is too late," replied Herne. "Once removed to
the Tower I can no longer aid you. My power extends only to the forest
and the castle."
"Will you take me to the king. at Hampton Court?" said Anne.
"It would be useless," replied Herne. "I will only do what I have stated.
If you fly with me, you can never appear again as Anne Boleyn. Sir
Henry Norris shall be set free at the same time, and you shall both dwell
with me in the forest. Come!"
"I cannot go," said Anne, holding back; "it were to fly to a worse danger.
I may save my soul now; but if I embrace your offer I am lost for ever."
Herne laughed derisively.
"You need have no fear on that score" he said.
"I will not trust you," replied Anne. "I have yielded to temptation
already, and am now paying the penalty of it."
"You are clinging to the crown," said Herne, "because you know that by
this step you will irrecoverably lose it.
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