Dorothy’s confidence grew apace.  “She is plain,” replied Dorothy, poutingly.  “She appears plain, colorless, and repulsive by the side of your Majesty.”

“No, no, Dorothy, that cannot be,” returned Queen Elizabeth, gently patting.  Dorothy’s cheek and glancing stealthily at the reflection of her own face in the mirror.  At this point Dorothy considered that the time had come for a direct attack.

“Your Majesty need have no fear of a plot to place Queen Mary upon your throne.  The English people would not endure her wicked pale face for a moment.”

“But there is such a plot in existence,” said Elizabeth.

“What you say may be true,” returned Dorothy; “but, your Majesty, John is not in the plot, and he knows nothing of it.”

“I hope—­I believe—­he is not in the plot,” said Elizabeth, “but I fear—­”

The girl kissed the sleeve of Elizabeth’s gown, and then she drew the queen closer to her and kissed her hair and her face.

“Ah, my beauteous queen,” said Dorothy, “I thank you for those words.  You must know that John loves you, and is your loyal subject.  Take pity upon me.  Help me.  Hold out your gracious hand and lift me from my despair.”

Dorothy slipped from the bed and fell on her knees, burying her face in the queen’s lap.

Elizabeth was touched by the girl’s appeal, and caressingly stroked her hair, as she said:  “I believe he is innocent, but I fear he knows or suspects others who harbor treasonable designs.  Tell me, Dorothy, do you know of any such persons?  If you can tell me their names, you will serve your queen, and will save your lover.  No harm shall come to Sir John, and no one save myself shall have knowledge of any word that you may speak.  If I do not learn the names of the traitors through you or through Sir John, I may be compelled to hold him a prisoner until I discover them.  If through you I learn them, Sir John shall go free at once.”

“Gladly, for your Majesty’s sake alone would I tell you the names of such traitorous men, did I know them;” replied Dorothy, “and thrice gladly would I do so if I might thereby liberate John.  Your Majesty must see that these motives are strong enough to induce me to speak if I knew aught to tell you.  I would betray the whole world to save him, of that you may be sure.  But alas!  I know no man whom I can betray.  John told me nothing of his expedition to the Scottish border save what was in two letters which he sent to me.  One of these I received before he left Rutland, and the other after his return.”

She fetched the letters to the queen, who read them carefully.

“Perhaps if I were to see him, he might, upon my importunity, tell me all he knows concerning the affair and those connected with it if he knows anything more than he has already told,” said Dorothy, by a great effort suppressing her eagerness.  “I am sure, your Majesty, he would tell me all Should he tell me the names of any persons connected with any treasonable plot, I will certainly tell you.  It would be base in me again to betray John’s confidence; but your Majesty has promised me his life and liberty, and to obtain those I would do anything, however evil it might be.  If I may see John, I promise to learn all that he knows, if he knows anything; and I also promise to tell you word for word all that he says.”