"I crave your pardon if I have disturbed State business," said Mary apologetically, glancing at the Spanish Ambassador, "but I need your advice this night, although the hour grows late." Philip bowed gracefully as he said— "I am always at your Majesty's service." "I will state the matter in as few words as possible," replied the Queen. "His eminence, our good cousin, has pleaded for a Royal pardon in the case of one Ralph Jefferay—condemned to-day in the Star Chamber as a conspirator. He has given me good reason to believe that the youth is innocent of the alleged offence, he attributes his assault upon our Pursuivant in the woods of Chiddingly to the hot blood of youth, and to no lack of loyalty to us. This is the youth of whom your Majesty spoke to me yesterday, and I now ask your advice and consent, ere I grant his Eminence's petition." A smile sat on Philips face as he replied— "I, too, your Majesty, have heard somewhat more of this youth since he was the subject of our conversation, and when your usher arrived just now, our Ambassador, Don Renard here, was urging me to seek your Royal pardon for him. I do so, on the condition (may it please your Majesty) that the two brothers take service in the English contingent now being raised under Lord Clinton to fight under my banner against France. His Excellency undertakes that the young men accept this condition, therefore I sue for your Majesty's pardon." "We grant it joyfully," replied the Queen, "and we leave the matter confidently in the hands of the Cardinal and the Ambassador, who will, doubtless, see that all due formalities are observed." Then Don Renard stepped forward and bowed profoundly. "Have I your Majesties' permission to speak?" he said. Then at his Sovereigns' nod of assent, he continued— "The matter is so urgent that I have here a blank form of Royal Pardon; it needs but the Queen's signature." Thereupon he knelt at Mary's feet and presented the paper. Mary took it to a side-table, signed it and gave the precious document into Don Renard's hands. The long interview was ended. The two petitioners (the Cardinal and the Ambassador) knelt before the Royal pair, kissed hands and departed. In the courtyard of Whitehall the Ambassadors people were awaiting him with a carriage, into which the Statesman and the Churchman entered. "To the Fleet prison," Don Renard said to his coachman. "It is midnight," he said to the Cardinal as they drove through the silent and deserted streets, "yet I think we are in good time; I sent word to the Governor of the prison, ere I came to Court, asking him to await our arrival to-night and to notify to his prisoner, Ralph Jefferay, of our intentions." "And I," replied the Cardinal, "have told Sir John Jefferay that to- night I hoped to bring him good news. We shall do better, we shall bring him his nephew!" A few minutes later the carriage drew up at the frowning gates of the Fleet prison.