"Madam, you may; the taste of your sharp tongue that I have just had hath somewhat impaired my own appetite, I confess. When you are somewhat tamer, I shall visit you again; meanwhile, I wish you joy of your evening, and His Majesty likewise." There was something ironic in that wish for the King that did give me a certain satisfaction. I would not give much for any pleasure His Majesty was to get out of me. I thought I was quite capable, in default of other means, of choking the King to death with my own hands, if I could muster the strength, and I believed that in the last extremity I could. I was desperate, you see. _Chapter_ XVIII _Wherein Lady Katharine describes what took place in the Antechamber where the King made Love to her_ While Stenwold was away, I swiftly examined both rooms--the antechamber and the bedroom: they had no entrance and no exit, save by that one door, which was now locked against me. I had only one resource--I could throw myself from one of the windows to the rocks below as a last resort. The room was full of light from many candles, the windows were heavily draped; I opened the sash of one of them and fastened it back. Then I drew a chair in front of the open window and covered it with the heavy hangings. The night was fair, there was little or no breeze fortunately. Not enough wind came through the open casement to stir the candles even, or, if there did, the draperies were sufficiently close and heavy to contain it. Without examination, it could not have been known in the room that the window was open or that the chair was so placed that I could by means of it leap to the sill. Fortunately, it was a large window, and I could throw myself through it in a moment. I did not want to go to my death yet--I was young, and loved life, even under the circumstances--and I kept on hoping against hope. I tried to persuade myself that there was some explanation of my husband's conduct that would let me love him and let me show him that love--I vow before God that I had not ceased to care for him, in spite of all--provided I could win away from the dangers I was in. I would not make the wild plunge until the last moment. These hurried inspections and preparations were scarcely completed when the door was opened, and Lord Stenwold entered; he was followed by two lackeys, who brought me a royal repast. It was set upon a table conveniently placed by direction of the master of the house, and, when all was in readiness, he turned to me with a bow and asked me if there was anything else I wanted. A thought came to me as I watched them arrange the meal, and I answered thus: "Will not my Lord Stenwold, after the watchful care with which he hath looked to me during our journey, do me the honour to take a glass of wine with me, and drink a toast of my making?"