"My lady, I have never refused to drink, to game, to fight, or to love with anybody on earth," said Stenwold, bowing gallantly, "and I shall not begin now." "Allow me then." I stepped to the table, poured out two glasses of wine, proffered him one, and took the other myself. He bowed low as he lifted it up, looking at me inquiringly. "Your toast, madam?" "God save the King," said I, with sinister mockery. I think he must have felt what was in my mind, for that toast was plainly threat, not prayer, and for a moment he hesitated. "Surely," said I, "no loyal servant of so noble a master can balk at that sentiment." "So long as you believe in God, madam," he said at last, "you might better have phrased it, 'God save yourself,' but have it your own way; I drink." I sipped mine; he drained his glass, to my great relief. Then he set the glass down, shrugged his shoulders, turned, and left me. The wine, at least, was not drugged or poisoned. I was not hungry, but I ate heartily for strength and I drank a little of the King's rare vintage, for the same reason. Again the table provided me with no weapon, yet as I surveyed it disconsolately a thought came to me. I took one of the tall Venetian glasses, went over to the hearth, and deliberately broke it; fortunately, it shattered in such a way as to leave me a smooth space by which to grip it and a sharp edge below to cut or thrust with. It was a poor weapon, but it was the best I could do. I still held it in my hand when again the door was opened; the lackeys removed the table, and as they did so, Stenwold, who had entered again with them, drew aside the heavy curtain veiling the door and said: "His Majesty the King." It had come at last, the hour that was to decide my fate, or perchance the King's. Oh, how my heart beat then! King James entered the room immediately he was announced. Lord Stenwold closed the door, remaining on the outside of it, and I was alone with the King. I had time to mark that the key was not turned and no bolt was shot. That did me little good, after all, for I realised at once that Stenwold would keep watch on the other side and that the whole castle, in fact, would be well guarded, yet I was glad not to be locked in with my persecutor. King James was royally attired, stars and orders like suns blazed on the breast of his coat, he had all the outward and visible signs of Majesty, but in his clothing alone; for the rest, his face was flushed, evidently he had been drinking and was now perceptibly in his cups, his wig was slightly awry, his dress disordered--a royal spectacle, indeed! He bowed low before me, where I stood as cold as the winter's ice, as rigid as one of our mountains in bonny Scotland, and as disdainful as if he had been the cur that in truth he was.