“Leave her to me, Madam,” rejoined the Cardinal. “I do not despair of accomplishing her cure. My hand shall lead you back,” he added to Constance. “My voice shall direct you. It cannot be that one of a devout nature like yourself, imbued from childhood in the principles of our Holy Church, familiar with its rites and worship, can efface its doctrines from your breast, and abandon them for another creed. Your conscience must be troubled. The sure way to regain serenity is to abjure your errors.” “Time was when every word uttered by your Eminence would have found a response in my breast,” rejoined Constance. “But the rites I formerly practised seem to me idolatrous, and the doctrines then taught me unwarranted by the Gospel. I cannot go back to the faith of Rome.” “You shall be forced back, Mistress, if you continue perverse,” cried the Queen, sharply. “Hold, Madam!” exclaimed Pole. “In this instance let me have my way. I would win back this maiden by gentleness, and not by coercion. I would appeal to her reason and judgment, and not to her fears. Her cure may be the work of time, because the disorder under which she labours is obstinate, but I do not think it will baffle my skill.” “If I could be persuaded by anyone to return to the faith I have abjured, it would be by your Eminence,” said Constance, yielding to the kindly influence of his manner. “You see, Madam, I have already made some little impression,” observed Pole to the Queen. “Mildness is more efficacious than violence. As she was enticed from the fold, so must she be lured back to it.” “Well, have your way with her,” replied Mary. “Where is the other prisoner, Derrick Carver?” “In a dungeon beneath this room,” replied Pole. “He was placed there in order that no communication should take place between him and Constance Tyrrell. They have not seen each other since they were brought to the Lollards’ Tower.” “Such were my orders,” observed Philip. “It is well,” rejoined the Queen. “They shall see each other now. Let him be brought before me.” [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. AN ACCUSER. On being brought into the room by Rodomont and Mallet, Derrick Carver made a profound reverence to the Queen, but none to Philip and the Cardinal. Then addressing himself to Constance, he said, “Welcome, daughter! is the time come for our deliverance from bondage?” “Not yet,” she replied. “How long, O Lord! wilt thou suffer thy saints to be persecuted?” exclaimed the enthusiast. “It would be glad tidings to me to learn that the end of my weary pilgrimage was near at hand.” “Are you prepared to meet the death you seem to covet?” asked Pole. “I trust so,” replied Carver. “I have prayed long and deeply.” “And repented of your sins—of your murtherous designs against the life of his Majesty?” pursued Pole.