"Answer, and tell me whether you have been falsely accused.

Is it true that you, eight days ago, in the night between Monday and Tuesday, left your sleeping-room at the hour of midnight, and went secretly to the lonely tower?
Is it true that you received there a man who is your lover ?" The queen looked at him in angry pride.

"Henry, Henry, woe to you, that you dare thus insult your own wife!" cried she.
"Answer me! You were not on that night in your sleeping-room ?" "No," said Catharine, with dignified composure, "I was not there." The king sank back in his seat, and a real roar of fury sounded from his lips.

It made the women turn pale, and even the men felt themselves tremble.
Catharine alone had not heeded it at all; she alone had heard nothing save that cry of amazement which Thomas Seymour uttered; and she saw only the angry and up-braiding looks which he threw across at her.

She answered these looks with a friendly and confident smile, and pressed both her hands to her heart, as she looked at him.
"I will justify myself before him at least," thought she.
The king had recovered from his first shock.