“Only for a season,” returned Philip. “I must needs obey my father’s summons to Brussels; but I shall speedily return.” “Impossible!” cried Mary. “As King of Spain, you will have much to do, and cannot quit your dominions, even if you should be so minded. No! I am not to be deceived. _I_ cannot go to Spain, or to Flanders, and _you_ will not come to England. Henceforward we must dwell apart.” “Nay, nay, you are wrong, Madam—by my faith, you are!” cried Philip. “I shall return before three months have elapsed. Meantime, I confide you to the care of his Eminence, who, I trust, will be rarely absent from you. It is my wish,” he added, “that the Lord Cardinal be appointed chief of the Privy Council, and that nothing concerning the government of the realm be concluded without his sanction.” “All shall be done as you desire,” rejoined Mary. “Nay, Sire, I must decline a post for which I am unfitted,” said Pole, “and which, as it would necessarily engage me in concerns of the world, is little suited to the spiritual character with which I am invested.” “But I will take no refusal,” said Philip. “You must, at least, accept the post till her Majesty is perfectly restored to health.” “I shall have only your Eminence to look to when the King is gone,” said Mary. “If need be, I must lay my positive commands upon you.” “In that case I have no alternative but submission,” rejoined the Cardinal. “The sole condition I would annex to my consent is, that I may be allowed to exercise my religious functions as heretofore.” “Far be it from me to interfere with them,” said Mary. “Apartments shall be assigned you in the palace, so that I may have an opportunity of seeing you more frequently, and profiting by your counsels.” [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] CHAPTER II. HOW SIR HENRY BEDINGFELD CAME FOR OSBERT’S DEATH-WARRANT; AND WHAT HE OBTAINED. At this moment an usher entered, and informed the King that Sir Henry Bedingfeld was without, having come to Whitehall in obedience to his Majesty’s commands. “Admit him straight,” replied Philip. And as the usher withdrew, Philip approached the Queen, and spoke a few words to her in a low tone. What he said was inaudible to the others, but its import could be gathered from Mary’s troubled looks. She attempted some remonstrance, but the King appeared inflexible. While this was passing, Constance stole softly towards the Cardinal, and said to him in a whisper, “Sir Henry Bedingfeld is come for Osbert’s death-warrant. I am sure of it, from the look given me by her Majesty. Oh! my Lord Cardinal, intercede for him with the King—intercede for him, I implore of you.” “I will do what I can,” replied Pole, in the same tone. Meantime, Philip continued urgent with the Queen, his manner becoming stern and peremptory. “Must it be done at once?” inquired Mary.