the earl will fall at the same time, no matter whether he return her
love or not."

The earl shrugged his shoulders.

"When the question is about the weal of the Church and our holy
religion, the danger which, thereby, it may be, threatens one of our
number, must not frighten us back. Holy sacrifices must be always
offered to a holy cause. Well and good, then, let the earl's head
fall, provided the only saving Church gains new vigor from this
blood of martyrs. But see, Jane, the morning already begins to dawn,
and I must hasten to leave you, lest these courtiers, ever given to
slandering, may in some way or other take the father for a lover,
and cast suspicion on the immaculate virtue of my Jane. Farewell,
then, my daughter! We both, now, know our rôles, and will take care
to play them with success. You are the friend and confidante of the
queen, and I the harmless courtier, who tries, now and then, to gain
a smile from the king by some kind and merry jest. That is all.
Good-morning, then, Jane, and good-night. For you must sleep, my
child, so that your cheeks may remain fresh and your eyes bright.
The king hates pining pale-faces. Sleep, then, future Queen of
England!"

He gently kissed her forehead, and left the room with lingering
step.

Lady Jane stood and listened to the sound of his footsteps gradually
dying away, when she sank on her knees, wholly crushed, utterly
stunned.