She knew that her mother had left her bed with the earliest peep of summer dawn, and had met the two secretaries in her cabinet.  There they were busy for hours, and she had only returned to her bed just as the household began to bestir itself.

“My child,” she said to Cicely, “I am about to put my life into thy keeping and that of this Talbot lad.  If what he saith of this Langston be sooth, I am again betrayed, fool that I was to expect aught else.  My life is spent in being betrayed.  The fellow hath been a go-between in all that hath passed between Babington and me.  If he hath uttered it to Walsingham, all is over with our hopes, and the window in whose sunlight I have been basking is closed for ever!  But something may yet be saved.  Something?  What do I say?—­The letters I hold here would give colour for taking my life, ay, and Babington’s and Curll’s, and many more.  I trusted to have burnt them, but in this summer time there is no coming by fire or candle without suspicion, and if I tore them they might be pieced together, nay, and with addition.  They must be carried forth and made away with beyond the ken of Paulett and his spies.  Now, this lad hath some bowels of compassion and generous indignation.  Thou wilt see him again, alone and unsuspected, ere he departs.  Thou must deal with him to bear this packet away, and when he is far out of reach to drop it into the most glowing fire, or the deepest pool he can find.  Tell him it may concern thy life and liberty, and he will do it, but be not simple enough to say ought of Babington.”

“He would be as like to do it for Babington as for any other,” said Cis.

The Queen smiled and said, “Nineteen years old, and know thus little of men.”

“I know Humfrey at least,” said Cis.

“Then deal with him after thy best knowledge, to make him convey away this perilous matter ere a search come upon us.  Do it we must, maiden, not for thy poor mother’s sake alone, but for that of many a faithful spirit outside, and above all of poor Curll.  Think of our Barbara!  Would that I could have sent her out of reach of our alarms and shocks, but Paulett is bent on penning us together like silly birds in the net.  Still proofs will be wanting if thou canst get this youth to destroy this packet unseen.  Tell him that I know his parents’ son too well to offer him any meed save the prayers and blessings of a poor captive, or to fear that he would yield it for the largest reward Elizabeth’s coffers could yield.”

“It shall be done, madam,” said Cicely.  But there was a strong purpose in her mind that Humfrey should not be implicated in the matter.

When after dinner Sir Amias Paulett made his daily visit of inspection to the Queen, she begged that the young Talbots might be permitted another walk in the garden; and when he replied that he did not approve of worldly pastime on the Sabbath, she pleaded the celebrated example of John Knox finding Calvin playing at bowls on a Sunday afternoon at Geneva, and thus absolutely prevailed on him to let them take a short walk together in brotherly love, while the rest of the household was collected in the hall to be catechised by the chaplain.