The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-07
IN MARYS REIGN

BY BARONESS ORGY
cepyshs 1907 " Ens. I. orsy: an ..shs. rs:ssyss

fCentinued1
He was looking keenly at her face;
not q single sign OF her intense mem
tai agitation escaped his shrewd OBJ
servation. A satisfied smile lurked
round the corners OF his thin lips. and
a fash OF triumph lit up the depth OF
his piercing eyes.
That searching glance at Mary Tudor
had told the envoy Of the King Of Spain
that victory was at last within his
grasp.
MY lord Cardinal" rejoined Mary
firmly "you are aware Of the fact that
HIS Grace Of Wessex is on the eve OF
being tried by his peers, for heinous
crime OF which he is innocent"
II am aware" replied the Cardinal
gently, that His Grace stands self
convicted of the murder of my friend
and colleague Don Miguel Marquis de
Court"
Truce on this folly, my lord" re-
torted Mary impatiently; you know
just as well as do, that His Grace is
incapable Of any such act OF coward.ce.
and that some mystery. which no one
can fathom. lies at the bottom OF this
monstrous self-accusation."
Whatever may be my own feelings
In this matter, your Majesty" said His
Eminence. still speakong very. guard
eddy. Il was forced to accomplish my
duty when / made and signed my de-
position, which fear me has gone far
towards confirming the guilt of His
Grace"
Il have heard of your deposition. my
lord. 1t rests on your finding His
Grace's dagger. -"
Beside the body Of the murdered
man, and still stained with Don Mig
uel's blood"
have used the dagger"
Possibly"
"You did not suggest this in your
deposition"
1T was not asked of me by His
Grace's judges.
There is time to make a further
statement"
1T could but be in consonance with
what have already said"
And your servant?"
"Pasquale?"
'He lied when he averred that he
and Don Miguel"
HE has sworn 1t upon oath. Pas
quale is q good Catholic, and would
not commit the deadly sin Of perjury"
You are fencing with me. my lord"
sand Mary Tudor with sudden vehe-
mence.
II but await your Majestys COM
mand," rejoined His Eminence blandly.
My commando" she said firmly.
This my lord, that you save His Grace
OF Wessex from the consequences of
this crime, in which he had no hand"
ITO save His Grace of WessexT' he
calculated with the greatest astonish-
ment, IT? and at this eleventh hour?
Nay, meseems that were impossible"
Then your Eminence can set your
wits to attempt the impossible" re-
Joined Mary curtly.
But why should your Majesty sug-
gest this strange task to me-" he urged
with the same well-feigned surprise
Because your Eminence hath more
brains than most
Your Majesty IL too gracious"
And because you have the success
OF your own schemes more at heart
than most" added the Queen signif-
cantiy.
Then. IL do not succeed in Erecting
the impossible. your Majesty, am / TO
be sent back to Spain ignominiously to-
morrow" queried the Cardinal with
more than q soupcon Of sarcasm.
Nor rejoined Mary quietly, but II
you succeed / will give you In reward
anything which you may ask"
Anything, my daughter? Even your
hand In marriage to King Philip of
Spain?s
IF your Emlnence succeeds in effect
ing the impossible" replied Mary firm
ly, II will marry King Philip of SPAIN"
There was silence for moment or
two His Eminence was med.tating.
Not that he had been taken unawares.
For the past, fortnight he had been ex-
pecting some such Interview as the
Queen had now demanded at the elev-
enth hour, He was far-seeing and
ahrewd enough to have anticipated that,
sooner or later, Mary Tudor would pro-
pose bargain, whereby he would be
expected to pit his wits against Fate,
and thereby earn the victory, which
she knew he coveted. The task was
difficult one-not imposs,blei for the
Cardinal never admitted that anything
was impossible. But he was peculiarly
placed, and he knew the value of royal
promises and of royal compacts. This
one he thought he could enforce, but
only IL his methods We're above sus-
pieion. To have confessed the whole
dastardly intrigue of that eventful
night would certainly have saved the
Duke from condemnation; but the tale
itself would so disgust these stiff
necked Britishers that Mary would see
herself easily released from her prom
Use through unanimous public opinion.
That simple and sure method Of OBJ
tanning the Dukes acquittal was. there
fore, barred to him, and he had per-
force to reflect seriously, ere he closed
with the bargain which Mary Tudor
held so temptingly before him. His
mind was clearer, less scruplous than
that Of his colleagues. and he had most
at stake now, for nothing but ultimate
success could justify the Nervousness
OF his methods. If his schemes failed,
then these methods became monstrous
and criminal beyond hope OF pardon.
For the moment the Cardinal had no
remorse. The sacrifice Of every piece in
the great human game of chess was of
no Importance, II the final mating of
hts Anerniea were gained. Don Miguel