“And also of the Queen’s displeasure,” remarked Father Alfonso. “Her Majesty takes great interest in this damsel, and had a special design in placing her under the Cardinal’s care. If her plan be thwarted——” “Enough, good father, enough!” interrupted Bonner. “Unsupported by your Majesty, I dare not act in opposition to the Queen and the Cardinal, and consequently Mistress Constance must go back to Lambeth Palace.” “Thank Heaven I am saved!” exclaimed Constance, clasping her hands fervently. “Be not too sure of that,” muttered Bonner, with the growl of a tiger robbed of his prey. “Your lordship is right,” observed Philip, who for a moment had been buried in thought. “Direct opposition to the Cardinal might be fraught with ill consequences. Let Mistress Constance go back to Lambeth Palace. But ere many days—perchance to-morrow—the Cardinal shall be compelled to yield her up to you. The Queen herself shall give you the order.” “I do not think her Majesty will sign such an order,” observed Father Alfonso. “Be content, my lord, you shall have it,” said the King significantly to Bonner. “There is another prisoner in the Lollards’ Tower whom I would fain have, Sire,” observed the bishop. “You mean the crazy fanatic, Derrick Carver,” rejoined Philip. “He shall be given up to you at the same time as Constance. Come to Whitehall betimes to-morrow, and I will procure you the warrant from her Majesty. Meanwhile, let Constance go back.” “Your injunctions shall be obeyed, Sire. Ere long, I hope to offer your Majesty a grand _auto-da-fé_ at Smithfield.” “If his Majesty will be guided by me, he will not attend another such dreadful execution as we have this day witnessed,” observed Father Alfonso. “Why so, father?” demanded the King. “Because you will infallibly lose your popularity with the nation, Sire,” said Father Alfonso. “The odium of these executions will attach to you, instead of to their authors.” “There is something in this,” observed Philip, thoughtfully. “We will talk of it anon. Farewell, my lord. To-morrow morning at Whitehall.” And with a glance at Constance, he quitted the sacristy, attended by his confessor. After addressing a few harsh words to Constance, for whom he seemed to have conceived an extraordinary antipathy, Bonner likewise quitted the chamber. Shortly afterwards Rodomont entered, and hurrying to the ambry, unlocked it, and set Osbert free. Again the unhappy lovers rushed into each other’s arms, but Rodomont thought it necessary to interpose, saying there was no time for the indulgence of such transports now, but urging them to bid each other farewell. “You heard what has passed just now,” remarked Constance to Osbert; “I am to be taken back to the good Cardinal.” “True; but to-morrow he will be compelled to surrender you to Bonner,” rejoined Osbert.