* * * * *

Robin’s eyes were raining tears, but he leaned forward and kissed her hand as it lay on the edge of the couch.  He felt himself touched on the shoulder, and he stood up.  The old man’s eyes, too, were brimming with tears.

“I must let Sir Amyas in,” he whispered.  “You must be ready.”

“What shall I say?”

“Say that you will prescribe privately, to me:  and that her Grace’s health is indeed delicate, but not gravely impaired....  You understand?”

Robin nodded, passing his sleeve over his eyes.  The woman touched the Queen’s shoulder to rouse her, and Mr. Bourgoign opened the door.

VI

“And now, sir,” said Mr. Bourgoign, as the two passed out from the house half an hour later, “I have one more word to say to you.  Listen carefully, if you please, for there is not much time.”

He glanced behind him, but the tall figure was gone from the door; there remained only the two pikemen that kept ward over the great house on the steps.

“Come this way,” said the physician, and led the priest through into the little walled garden on the south.  “He will think we are finishing our consultation.”

* * * * *

“I cannot tell you,” he said presently, “all that I think of your courage and your wit.  You made a told stroke when you told him you would begone again, unless you could see her Grace alone, and again when you said you had come to Chartley because she was here.  And you may go again now, knowing you have comforted a woman in her greatest need.  They sent her chaplain from her when she left here for Tixall in July, and she has not had him again yet.  She is watched at every point.  They have taken all her papers from her, and have seduced M. Nau, I fear.  Did you hear anything of him in town?”

“No,” said the priest.  “I know nothing of him.”

“He is a Frenchman, and hath been with her Grace more than ten years.  He hath written her letters for her, and been privy to all her counsels.  And I fear he hath been seduced from her at last.  It was said that Mr. Walsingham was to take him into his house....  Well, but we have not time for this.  What I have to ask you is whether you could come again to us?”

He peered at the priest almost timorously.  Robin was startled.

“Come again?” he said.  “Why—­”

“You see you have already won to her presence, and Sir Amyas is committed to it that you are a safe man.  I shall tell her Grace, too, that she must eat and drink well, and get better, if she would see you again, for that will establish you in Sir Amyas’ eyes.”

“But will she not have a priest?”