CHAPTER VI
A GLIMPSE OF MARY
Francis' wish of beholding the Queen of Scots was gratified in a mostunexpected manner.
"Do you remain here, my child," said Lord Stafford the next morning. "Iwould behold for myself if what I have heard of Mary's keeper, Sir AmyasPaulet, be true. If he be not so strict as report hath it, access to Marymay be easy. I would rather, if it be possible, that the matter bedispatched without employ of thee."
"But thou wouldst still let me see Mary, father?"
"By my troth, I would. Thou hast well merited it. But now farewell for aseason. When I return we can tell better how to conclude this business."
"My father, what shall I do until thy return? Could I not go forth to theplace where stood the castle of our ancestors? I would fain examineit."
Lord Stafford hesitated for a moment before replying, and then saidthoughtfully:
"Thou mayst, if thou wilt. I know that I need not tell thee to rememberthat though thou dost wear a man's habit thou art still in truth a maid,and to demean thyself in accordance therewith. But still as thou dostwear the habit, more of liberty may be given thee than otherwise thoucouldst enjoy. Yes; go to Castle Hill, an thou wishest, but say to nonewhat and for why we tarry in the town."
"I am thy daughter, sir," said Francis proudly. "Thou dost deem me worthyto abet thy enterprises. I will so bear myself that thou couldst ask nomore of me than if I were thy son."
"No more," said Lord Stafford smilingly. "Thou leavest me with no regretthat thou art not my son. A son could do no more."
He kissed her and left the chamber. Francis followed after him to thecourtyard of the inn where she stood watching him until he was lost toview. Then drawing her cloak about her she left the yard, and walkedslowly toward the eminence upon which the great castle formerly stood.
The ruins were interesting and served to entertain the girl for sometime, but at length becoming weary, it occurred to her to set forth tomeet her father.
"It seems long since he started," she mused. "It cannot be a great whileere he returns. Therefore to beguile my loneliness I will go to meethim."
Passing through the gates of the town she struck boldly into the openplain through which the road ran to Chartley. On and on she walked, theroad turning and winding until at length it forked; one branch going tothe left, the other to the right. Francis paused in bewilderment.
"Which shall I take?" she asked herself looking first at one and then atthe other. "My faith, but either stretches forth invitingly. I have it! Iwill cast my dagger, and traverse that one toward which it points."
So saying she unsheathed a small poniard from her belt and drew herselfup to cast the weapon, when the clatter of horses' hoofs broke upon herear. She looked up startled. From behind a bend in the road to the rightthere came at full gallop a party consisting of several men and a lady.Francis was so amazed at their sudden appearance that she still retainedher position, the dagger poised ready for the throw. With a cry of horrorthe lady spurred her horse to her side.
"Boy," she cried, "what art thou about to do? Stay thy hand, I command.Knowest thou not that self-destruction is forbid?"
Francis gave vent to a merry peal of laughter as the lady's meaningflashed upon her.
"Be not dismayed, fair lady," she said doffing her bonnet and making adeep courtesy. "I was not planning self-destruction. Life holds too muchof promise to end it now. I was but wondering which of these two roadsled to Chartley, and thought to follow the one toward which a throw ofthe dagger would point."
The lady joined in the laugh, and then became grave.
"To Chartley?" she said. "And what wouldst thou at Chartley?"
It was on the tip of the girl's tongue to reply, "I go to meet myfather," but she caught herself in time. None must know of his journeythere, and even though she who asked were beautiful and gracious she mustbe discreet.
"I wished to see Queen Mary," she answered after a moment's hesitation.
"To see Mary?" broke in one of the men who had drawn near during theabove colloquy. "And may I ask, young sir, what business thou hast withMary?"
"Why, why," stammered Francis abashed by his harsh address and rudebearing. "I have no business. I only wished to see the queen."
"Queen forsooth! Of what is she queen?" asked the other brusquely. "Ofnothing, I trow. Not even is she mistress of her own actions. Queenforsooth!"
"Thou speakest truly, Paulet," said the lady mildly. "Yet methinks it notbecoming in thee to taunt Mary Stuart with the miserable state to whichshe hath been reduced. Boy, thou didst wish to see Mary. I am she."
"Mary? Art thou in truth Queen Mary?" Francis exclaimed rapturously, andseeing the assenting smile on the lady's face she darted to her side andseizing her hand she kissed it fervently. "Oh," she cried, "if thou artMary, know that mistress of thy actions thou mayst not be, but thou dostreign in truth a queen over this poor heart."
The dark eyes of Mary Stuart filled with tears and she pressed the girl'shand tenderly.
"Such homage is sweet to the poor captive, my lad. It gladdens our heartto know that there are some who still hold Mary in reverence. Take thisand wear in remembrance of her who is grateful for even the homage of apage."
She drew from her neck a chain of gold to which was attached a locketwhich she threw over the girl's head. With an exclamation of delightFrancis pressed it to her lips passionately.
"It shall never leave me while life lasts," she declared. "But may I notwait upon you at your castle, Your Highness? I would be of service toyou."
Her eyes sought the lady's with a meaning look that Mary was quick tocatch.
"Nay;" broke in Sir Amyas Paulet for the gruff old puritan was veryrigid with his illustrious captive. "Thou hast had thy wish, boy, andobtained what was doubtless thy object: a chain for a kiss, a locket foran obeisance. It pays to give court to reduced royalty. Away with thee,and let me not see thy face at Chartley, else thou shalt meet a gruffreception."
"Then farewell." Francis drew as close to the lady's side as she could."There are letters," she whispered.
"Away!" Sir Amyas laid a hand upon the bridle of Mary's horse and turnedthe animal from the girl. "I will have no whisperings. Away, boy!"
"Be not overcome, my pretty lad," and Mary drew rein despite the protestsof her uncivil guardian. "We thank thee for thy homage, and hope to seethee again when we journey forth. Farewell."
"Farewell," returned Francis sinking upon one knee and saluting her. "Iwill see you again, Your Grace."
With an impatient exclamation Sir Amyas Paulet gave a sharp blow toMary's horse, which reared and plunged at the treatment, almostunseating the lady, able horsewoman though she was. The animal thendashed away followed by the grim old puritan and the remainder of theparty who had halted at some little distance from them.
As soon as they were out of sight Francis took the locket in her hand.
"And I have seen Mary," she said with gladness. "How it will surprise myfather. How beautiful is the locket, and how full of graciousness andsweetness she is! Service in her behalf must be a joy."
She turned and retraced her steps toward Stafford unmindful of the factthat she had started to meet her father.
It had been morning when Lord Stafford had left his daughter; the sun wasdeclining in the west when, discouraged and low in spirit, he returned tothe tavern!
"It is even worse than report hath it," he said as he entered theapartment where Francis awaited him. "Chartley is as much a prison forMary as the tower itself would be. When I sought admission to its gates Iwas refused and threatened, forsooth. The manor is surrounded by a moatand is well defended. The walls can be scaled only by birds. Methinksthat there is cause for Babington's wild frenzy."
"Father," spoke Francis demurely, though there was exultation in hertones, "I saw Mary."
"My child, what do you say?" ejaculated Lord Stafford in surprise. "Howcouldst thou? You were not at Chartley."
"Nathless I saw the queen," and Fr
ancis laughed gleefully. "See what shegraciously gave me."
Her father took the chain and locket in his hands and examined themclosely.
"It doth indeed come from Mary," he said looking at the name, Marie R,engraved upon it. "Thou hast accomplished wonders, Francis. Tell me howthe matter fell out?"
Francis related all that had happened. Lord Stafford listened intently.
"Sir Amyas is an austere jailer," he observed. "He thinketh to do hisduty more acceptably to Elizabeth by treating Mary with rigor. Mary isquick of wit, and I doubt not that this will put her on the alert. Child,I must trust to thy wit to help me in this. Canst thou compass it?"
"I am sure so," answered Francis with the confidence of youth. "To-morrowI will again repair to the forked roads, and mayhap she will be there."
"Mayhap," said her father, "but I misdoubt it. Paulet may be suspiciousof thee, but 'twill do no harm to be there. We will try to get theletters to her, but if we do not succeed then must Ballard, or CaptainFortescue as he calls himself, find some other means of communicatingwith her."
"We will succeed. Never fear," said Francis with conviction.