"And that Your Eminence will probably triumph in consequence." "You, therefore, my lord, have by now set your heart on undoing what to-day's chance meeting may, perchance, have accomplished. By you I also mean your friends, the nobility and gentry of England, who would mourn to see His Grace wedded to Lady Ursula Glynde." "Our loss will be your Eminence's gain, probably," rejoined Everingham with a sigh. The Cardinal waited a moment before he continued the conversation. He had deliberately sought this interchange of ideas. Openness and frankness in matters political were not usually a part of His Eminence's programme, but this evening he seemed desirous to gain this young Englishman's confidence. "But," he said after a while, with charming bonhomie, "but suppose that instead of gloating in the triumph which you, my lord, so readily prophesy--suppose that I were to ask you to let me help you--you and your friends--in parting the volatile Duke from his latest flame? . . . Would you accept my help?" "Your Eminence . . . I . . ." murmured Everingham, somewhat at a loss what to say. "You would wish to consult with your friends, eh?" continued the Cardinal placidly. "Lord Derby, Lord Bath, the Earl of Oxford--nay, the whole string of patriotic Englishmen who desire to see one of their own kind on the English throne, and naturally look upon me as a monster of artifice and vice." "Your Eminence . . ." protested Everingham. "Yet what are we but political antagonists, who can honour one another in private, whilst rending one another to pieces on the arena of public life? Do you not agree with me, my lord?" "Certainly." "Then why should you disdain my help, now that--momentarily--we have the same object in view?" "I am _hors de cause_, Your Eminence, as I have only the next few hours at my disposal. After that I go to Scotland." "Much may be done in a few hours, my lord, with an ounce of luck and a grain of tact." "But I do not understand why Your Eminence should be at one with me and my friends over this." The Cardinal smiled with gentle benevolence. Versed though he was in all the tricks and deceptions which were an integral part of his calling, no one knew better than he did the value of an occasional truth. With easy familiarity he linked his arm in that of his interlocutor. "Nay! your lordship mocks me," he said with a light sigh. "From your conversation I have already gathered that you and your friends suspect me of having brought about this unwelcome meeting 'twixt His Grace of Wessex and Lady Ursula Glynde. Is it not so?" "Marry . . ." began Everingham with some hesitation. "I pray you do not trouble to deny it. Let us admit that it is so. Do you not think then that Queen Mary will have a like suspicion as yourself?" "Probably."