I told her it was impossible; and that even
if you were at the castle, you would not listen to her supplications."
"You did right," rejoined Henry; "I will never see her more--not that I fear
being moved by her prayers, but that,. knowing how deceitful and
faithless she is, I loathe to look upon her. What is expressed upon the
matter by the household? Speak frankly."
"Frankly then," replied the duke, "your highness's proceedings are
regarded as harsh and unjustifiable. The general opinion is, that you
only desire to remove Anne to make way for Mistress Jane Seymour."
"Ha! they talk thus, do they?" cried the king. "I will silence their saucy
prating ere long. Tell all who venture to speak to you on the subject
that I have long suspected the queen of a secret liking for Norris, but
that I determined to conceal my suspicions till I found I had good
warrant for them. That occurred, as you know, some weeks ago.
However, I awaited a pretext for proceeding against them,and it was
furnished by their own imprudence to-day. Convinced that something
would occur, I had made my preparations; nor was I deceived. You may
add, also, that not until my marriage is invalidated, Anne's offspring
illegitimatised, and herself beheaded, shall I consider the foul blot upon
my name removed.
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