At this time I was called away from court for a day or two, and when I returned and called upon Brandon at the Tower, I found him whistling and singing, apparently as happy as a lark.  “You heartless dog,” thought I, at first; but I soon found that he felt more than happiness—­exaltation.

“Have you seen her?” I asked.

“Who?” As if there were more than one woman in all the world for him.

“The princess.”

“Not since I left her at Bristol.”

I believed then, and believe now, that this was a point blank falsehood—­a very unusual thing for Brandon—­but for some reason probably necessary in this case.

There was an expression in his face which I could not interpret, but he wrote, as if carelessly scribbling on a scrap of paper that lay upon the table, the words, “Be careful,” and I took the hint—­we were watched.  There is an unpleasant sensation when one feels that he is watched by unseen eyes, and after talking for awhile on common topics I left and took a boat for Greenwich.

When I arrived at the palace and saw Mary, what was my surprise to find her as bright and jubilant as I had left Brandon.  She, too, laughed and sang, and was so happy that she lighted the whole room.  What did it all mean?  There was but one explanation; they had met, and there was some new plan on foot—­with a fatal ending.  The next failure would mean death to Brandon, as certainly as the sun rises in the east.  What the plan was I could not guess.  With Brandon in the Tower under guard both day and night, and Mary as closely guarded in the palace, I could not see any way of escape for either of them, nor how they could possibly have come together.

Brandon had not told me, I supposed, for fear of being overheard, and Mary, although she had the opportunity, was equally non-communicative, so I had recourse to Jane upon the first occasion.  She, by the way, was as blue and sad-faced as Mary was joyous.  I asked her if the princess and Brandon had met, and she sadly said:  “I do not know.  We went down to London yesterday, and as we returned stopped at Bridewell House, where we found the king and Wolsey.  The princess left the room, saying she would return in a few minutes, and then Wolsey went out, leaving me alone with the king.  Mary did not return for half an hour, and she may have seen Master Brandon during that time.  I do not understand how the meeting could have occurred, but that is the only time she has been away from me.”  Here Jane deliberately put her head on my shoulder and began to weep piteously.

“What is the trouble?” I asked.

She shook her head:  “I cannot, dare not tell you.”

“Oh! but you must, you must,” and I insisted so emphatically that she at length said: 

“The king!”

“The king!  God in heaven, Jane, tell me quickly.”  I had noticed Henry of late casting glances at my beautiful little Jane, and had seen him try to kiss her a few days before, as I have told you.  This annoyed me very much, but I thought little of it, as it was his habit to ogle every pretty face.  When urged, Jane said between her sobs:  “He tried to kiss me and to—­mistreat me when Wolsey left the room at Bridewell House.  I may have been used to detain him, while Mary met Master Brandon, but if so, I am sure she knew nothing of it.”