‘And behind it a house and garden, small but dainty?’

‘Yes, my lord.’

’Then I trust your majesty will release me from suspicion of being of those to whom the prophet Isaias saith, “Vae qui conjungitis domum ad domum, et agrum agro copulatis usque ad terminum loci:  numquid habitabitis vos soli in medio terrae?” May it please your majesty, I planted those trees to hoodwink mine eyes from such temptations, hiding from them the vineyard of Naboth, lest they should act the Jezebel and tempt me to play the Ahab thereto.  If I did thus when those trees and I were young, shall I do worse now that I stand with one foot in the grave, and purgatory itself in the other?’

The king seemed to listen politely, but only listened half and did not perceive his drift.  He was looking at Dorothy where she stood at the opposite side of the reservoir, unable, because of the temporary obstruction occasioned by certain alterations and repairs about the cocks now going on, to reach the stair without passing the king and the marquis.  The king asked who she was; and the marquis, telling him a little about her, called her.  She came, courtesied low to his majesty, and stood with beating heart.

‘I desire,’ said the marquis, ’thou shouldst explain to his majesty that trick of thy cousin Glamorgan, the water-shoot, and let him see it work.’

‘My lord,’ answered Dorothy, trembling betwixt devotion and doubtful duty, ’it was the great desire of my lord Glamorgan that none in the castle should know the trick, as it pleases your lordship to call it.’

’What, cousin! cannot his majesty keep a secret?  And doth not all that Glamorgan hath belong to the king?’

‘God forbid I should doubt either, my lord,’ answered Dorothy, turning very pale, and ready to sink, ’but it cannot well be done in the broad day without some one seeing.  At night, indeed—­’

’Tut, tut! it is but a whim of Glamorgan’s.  Thou wilt not do a jot of ill to show the game before his majesty in the sunlight.’

‘My lord, I promised.’

’Here standeth who will absolve thee, child!  His majesty is paramount to Glamorgan.’

‘My lord! my lord!’ said Dorothy almost weeping, ’I am bewildered, and cannot well understand.  But I am sure that if it be wrong, no one can give me leave to do it, or absolve me beforehand.  God himself can but pardon after the thing is done, not give permission to do it.  Forgive me, sir, but so master Matthew Herbert hath taught me.’

‘And very good doctrine, too,’ said the marquis emphatically, ’let who will propound it.  Think you not so, sir?’

But the king stood with dull imperturbable gaze fixed on the distant horizon, and made no reply.  An awkward silence followed.  The king requested his host to conduct him to his apartment.

‘I marvel, my lord,’ said his majesty as they went down the stair, seeing how lame his host was, ’that, as they tell me, your lordship drinks claret.  All physicians say it is naught for the gout.’