The air of infidelity is not thus unembarrassed--of such maidenly delicacy.
Moreover, the king was exhausted and disgusted.

One can become satiated even with cruelty; and, at this hour, Henry felt completely surfeited with bloodshed.
His heart--for, in such moments of mental relaxation and bodily enfeeblement, the king even had a heart--his heart was already in the mood of pronouncing the word pardon, when his eye fell on Henry Howard, who, with his father, the Duke of Norfolk, and surrounded by a circle of brilliant and noble lords, was standing not far from the royal throne.
The king felt a deadly stab in his breast, and his eyes darted lightning over toward that group.
How proud and imposing the figure of the noble earl looked; how high he overtopped all others; how noble and handsome his countenance; how kingly was his bearing and whole appearance! Henry must admit all this; and because he must do so, he hated him.
Nay! no mercy for Catharine! If what her accusers had told him were true--if they could give him the proofs of the queen's guilt, then she was doomed.

And how could he doubt it?
Had they not told him that in the rosette, which the queen would give Earl Surrey, was contained a love-letter from Catharine, which he would find?
Had not Earl Surrey, in a confidential hour, yesterday imparted this to his sister, the Duchess of Richmond, when he wished to bribe her to be the messenger of love between the queen and himself?
Had she not accused the queen of having meetings by night with the earl in the deserted tower?
Nay, no compassion for his fair queen, if Henry Howard was her lover.
He must again look over at his hated enemy.

There he still stood by his father, the Duke of Norfolk.

How sprightly and gracefully the old duke moved; how slim his form; and how lofty and imposing his bearing! The king was younger than the duke; and yet he was fettered to his truckle-chair; yet he sat on his throne like an immovable colossus, while he moved freely and lightly, and obeyed his own will, not necessity.