"Now, I know well that the Commissioners have had you before them; they
are tiresome busybodies. Walsingham started all that and set them
a-spying and a-defending of my person and the rest of it; but they are
loyal folk, and I suppose they asked you where you had been and with whom
you had stayed, and so on?"
"They did, your Grace."
"And you would not tell them, I suppose?"
"I could not, madam; it would have been against justice and charity to do
so."
"Well, well, there is no need now, for I mean to take you out of their
hands."
A great leap of hope made itself felt in Anthony's heart; he did not know
how heavy the apprehension lay on him till this light shone through.
"They will be wrath with me, I know, and will tell me that they cannot
defend me if I will not help them; but, when all is said, I am Queen. Now
I do not ask you to be a minister of my Church, for that, I think, you
would never be; but I think you would like to be near me--is it not so?
And I wish you to have some post about the Court; I must see what it is
to be."
Anthony's heart began to sink again as he watched the Queen's face as she
sat tapping a foot softly and looking on the floor as she talked. Those
lines of self-will about the eyes and mouth surely meant something.
Then she looked up, still with her cheek on her right hand.
"You do not thank me, Mr. Norris."
Anthony made a great effort; but he heard his own voice quiver a little.
"I thank your Grace for your kindly intentions toward me, with all my
heart.
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