"And this man presumed to love me," laughed Lady Katharine, "and to think that I could mate with such a coward." I suppose that was the last straw; the King could stand no more; he tore nervously at the lace of his collar. "Go!" he cried. "You have my word that you shall not be stopped." "Your word," I sneered. "My royal word." "Your Majesty, it's not worth the breath that utters it. We will have a safe-conduct from Your Majesty in Your Majesty's own hand; we will have Your Majesty's seal to attest the writing lest any question it." "Anything," said the unhappy King, mad to get us away. There was a handsome writing-cabinet against the wall. "Will it please Your Majesty to sit there," said I, pointing with my sword toward the chair before it. The King actually reeled to the place and fell, rather than sat down, in the seat. He was so agitated he could scarcely hold the pen. I bade him calm himself and take plenty of time, as we were not likely to be interrupted, but my friendly words did not seem to have great effect. He made several ineffectual attempts to write, and finally threw the quill upon the desk. "Write it yourself," he said, "and I will sign it." "Nay," replied I, "that can hardly be, for I must keep good watch over you." "Give me the charge of him, Hugh!" cried my brave Kate eagerly. "You know that I can wield the sword and I have a score of my own to pay back to this man." "Good," said I. I passed her my sword, and it pleased my heart to see how firmly she grasped it in her sweet hand, and how like a master she handled it. At the same time I slipped her that little pocket-pistol, of French make, that I carried ever about me in times of hazard. "Stand up!" she cried abruptly, pointing her blade to the King. It cut him to the heart to be thus mastered by a woman. He looked at me as if in appeal. I shrugged my shoulders. "The lady is in command," I said. "I know her well, she's my wife; you had best do as she says, and quickly, or I'll not answer for the consequences." There was nothing for him but obedience. The unhappy man rose slowly to his feet and stared at us, his eyes distilling hatred. "Face the wall!" cried Lady Katharine, and perforce he had to obey again. She rested the sword-point between his shoulder-blades and tapped him lightly therewith. "Turn but your head, move at all," she said, "and I will run you through." She looked at me for a moment and laughed. "Is it well done, my lord?" she asked. "Excellent well." "Behold the Royal Majesty of England!" she laughed. "Flattened against the wall of his own palace and held there at her pleasure and by a woman's hand."