Then will the present gain for the earl a double value; for it will come at the same time from me and from the queen." "How gracious you are to-day!" said John Heywood, smiling--"as gracious as the cat, that plays a little longer with the mouse before she devours it." "Unfasten the clasp!" exclaimed the king, in a thundering voice, no longer able to conceal his rage.

Slowly John Heywood unfastened the clasp from the ribbon.

He did it with intentional slowness and deliberation; he let the king see all his movements, every turn of his fingers; and it delighted him to hold those who had woven this plot in dreadful suspense and expectation.
Whilst he appeared perfectly innocent and unembarrassed, his keen, piercing glance ran over the whole assembly, and he noticed well the trembling impatience of Gardiner and Earl Douglas; and it did not escape him how pale Lady Jane was, and how full of expectation were the intent features of the Duchess of Richmond.
"They are the ones with whom this conspiracy originated," said John Heywood to himself.

"But I will keep silence till I can one day convict them." "There, here is the clasp!" said he then aloud to the king.

"It stuck as tightly in the ribbon as malice in the hearts of priests and courtiers!" The king snatched the ribbon out of his hand, and examined it by drawing it through his fingers.
"Nothing! nothing at all!" said he, gnashing his teeth; and now, deceived in his expectations and suppositions, he could no longer muster strength to withstand that roaring torrent of wrath which overflowed his heart.