'Sir,' Throckmorton urged, 'consider that the King is much affected to this lady. Consider that this letter contains nothing that is treasonable; rather it urges peace upon the King's enemies.' 'Aye,' said Cromwell; 'but it is written covertly to the King's enemies.' 'That, it is true, is a treason,' Throckmorton said; 'but it is very certain that the Lady Mary hath written letters very much more hateful. By questioning this boy that we have in gaol, by gaoling this Lady Katharine--why, we shall put her to the thumbscrews!--by gaol and by thumbscrew, we shall gar her to set her hand to another make of confession. Then you may go to the King's Highness.' 'Nick Throckmorton,' Cromwell said, 'Winchester hath to-night the King's ear....' 'Sir,' Throckmorton answered, and a tremble in his calm voice showed his eagerness, 'I beseech you to give my words your thoughts. Winchester hath the King's ear for the moment; but I will get you letters wherein these ladies shall reveal Winchester for the traitor that we know him to be. Listen to me....' He paused and let his crafty eyes run over his master's face. 'Let this matter be for an hour. See you, you shall make a warrant to take this Lady Katharine.' He paused and appeared to reflect. 'In an hour she shall be here. Give me leave to use my thumbscrews....' 'Aye, but Winchester,' Cromwell said. 'Why,' Throckmorton answered confidently, 'in an hour, too, Winchester shall be with the King in the King's Privy Chapel. There will be a make of prayers; ten minutes to that. There shall be Gardiner talking to the King against your lordship; ten minutes to that. And, Winchester being craven, it shall cost him twice ten minutes to come to begging your lordship's head of the King, if ever he dare to beg it. But he never shall.' Cromwell said, 'Well, well!' 'There we have forty minutes,' Throckmorton said. He licked his lips and held his long beard in his hand carefully, as if it had been a bird. 'But give me ten minutes to do my will upon this lady's body, and ten to write down what she shall confess. Then, if it take your lordship ten minutes to dress yourself finely, you shall have still ten in which you shall show the King how his Winchester is traitor to him.' Cromwell considered for a minute; his lips twitched cautiously the one above the other. 'This is a great matter,' he said. He paused again. 'If this lady should not confess! And it is very certain that the King affects her.' 'Give me ten minutes of her company,' the spy answered. Cromwell considered again. 'You are very certain,' he said; and then: 'Wilt thou stake thy head upon it?' Throckmorton wagged his beard slowly up and down. 'Thy head and beard!' Cromwell repeated. He struck his hands briskly together. 'It is thine own asking. God help thee if thou failest!' 'I will lay nothing to your lordship's door,' Throckmorton said eagerly.