Burghley.—­“’Tis very discreet to begin thus.  But time is pressing, and it is necessary to be brief.  We beg you therefore to communicate, without further preface, that which you have been charged to say.”

Bodman.—­“I can only repeat to your Lordship, that I have been charged to say nothing.”

After this Barmecide feast of diplomacy, to partake of which it seemed hardly necessary that the guests should have previously attired themselves in such garments of mystery, the parties separated for the night.

In spite of their care, it would seem that the Argus-eyed Walsingham had been able to see after sunset; for, the next evening—­after Bodman had been introduced with the same precautions to the same company, in the same place—­Burghley, before a word had been spoken, sent for Sir Francis.

Bodman was profoundly astonished, for he had been expressly informed that Walsingham was to know nothing of the transaction.  The Secretary of State could not so easily be outwitted, however, and he was soon seated at the table, surveying the scene, with his grave melancholy eyes, which had looked quite through the whole paltry intrigue.

Burghley.—­“Her Majesty has commanded us to assemble together, in order that, in my presence, it may be made clear that she did not commence this negotiation.  Let Grafigni be summoned.”

Grafigni immediately made his appearance.

Burghley.—­“You will please to explain how you came to enter into this business.”

Grafigni.—­“The first time I went to the States, it was on my private affairs; I had no order from any one to treat with the Prince of Parma.  His Highness, having accidentally heard, however, that I resided in England, expressed a wish to see me.  I had an interview with the Prince.  I told him, out of my own head, that the Queen had a strong inclination to hear propositions of peace, and that—­as some of her counsellors were of the same opinion—­I believed that if his Highness should send a negotiator, some good would be effected.  The Prince replied that he felt by no means sure of such a result; but that, if I should come back from England, sent by the Queen or her council, he would then despatch a person with a commission to treat of peace.  This statement, together with other matters that had passed between us, was afterwards drawn up in writing by command of his Highness.”

Burghley.—­“Who bade you say, after your second return to Brussels, that you came on the part of the Queen?  For you well know that her Majesty did not send you.”

Grafigni.—­“I never said so.  I stated that my Lord Cobham had set down in writing what I was to say to the Prince of Parma.  It will never appear that I represented the Queen as desiring peace.  I said that her Majesty would lend her ears to peace.  Bodman knows this too; and he has a copy of the letter of his Highness.”

Walsingham to Bodman.—­“Have you the copy still?”