“Oh, what a lovely thing,” said Jane; “never have I seen its like.”

“Then study it well, Wife, for you look your last upon it.  When we cannot pay our soldiers to keep our crown upon our head, and preserve the liberties of England against the Spaniard and the Pope of Rome, it is no time to give you gems that I have not bought.  Take that gaud and sell it, Master Smith, for whatever it will fetch among the Jews, and add the price to the L1000, lessened by one tenth for your trouble.  Now, Dame Harflete, you have bought the favour of your King, for whoever else may, I’ll not lie.  Ah! here comes Cromwell.  My Lord, you have been long.”

“Your Grace, yonder priest is in a fit from fright, and thinks himself in hell.  I had to tarry with him till the doctor came.”

“Doubtless he’ll get better now that you are gone.  Poor man, if a sham devil frights him so, what will he do at last?  Now, Cromwell, I have made examination of this business and I will sign your papers, all of them.  Dame Harflete here tells me how hard you have worked for her, all for nothing, Cromwell, and that pleases me, who at times have wondered how you grew so rich, as your learner, Wolsey, did before you. He took bribes, Cromwell!”

“My Liege,” he answered in a low voice, “this case was cruel, it moved my pity——­”

“As it has ours, leaving us the richer by L1000 and the price of a pearl.  There, five, are they all signed?  Take them, Master Smith, as the Lady Harflete is your client, and study them to-night.  If aught be wrong or omitted, you have our royal word that we will set it straight.  This is our command—­note it, Cromwell—­that all things be done quickly as occasion shall arise to give effect to these precepts, pardons and patents which you, Cromwell, shall countersign ere they leave this room.  Also, that no further fee, secret or declared, shall be taken from the Lady Harflete, whom henceforth, in token of our special favour, we create and name the Lady of Blossholme, from her husband or her child, as to any of these matters, and that Commissioner Legh, on receipt thereof, shall pay into our treasury any sum or sums that Dame Harflete may have promised to him.  Write it down, my Lord Cromwell, and see that our words are carried out, lest it be the worse for you.”

The Vicar-General hastened to obey, for there was something in the King’s eye that frightened him.  Meanwhile the Queen, after she had seen the coveted pearl disappear into Jacob’s pocket, thrust back the child into Cicely’s arms, and without any word of adieu or reverence to the King, followed by her lady, departed from the room, slamming the door behind her.