And I cannot crush this traitor with these hands of mine; I am a king, and yet so powerless and weak, that I can find no means of accusing this traitor, and convicting him of his sinful and blasphemous deeds.

Oh, where may I find him--that true friend, that devoted servant, who ventures to understand my unuttered thoughts, and fulfil the wishes to which I dare not give a name ?" Just as he was thus thinking, the door behind him opened and in walked Earl Douglas.

His countenance was proud and triumphant, and so wild a joy gleamed from his eyes that even the king was surprised at it.
"Oh," said he, peevishly, "you call yourself my friend; and you are cheerful, Douglas, while your king is a poor prisoner whom the gout has chained with brazen bands to this chair." "You will recover, my king, and go forth from this imprisonment as the conqueror, dazzling and bright, that by his appearance under God's blessing treads all his enemies in the dust--that triumphs over all those who are against him, and would betray their king!" "Are there, then, any such traitors, who threaten their king ?" asked Henry, with a dark frown.
"Ay, there are such traitors!" "Name them to me!" said the king, trembling with passionate impatience.
"Name them to me, that my arm may crush them and my avenging justice overtake the heads of the guilty." "It is superfluous to mention them, for you, King Henry, the wise and all-knowing--you know their names." And bending down closer to the king's ear, Earl Douglas continued: "King Henry, I certainly have a right to call myself your most faithful and devoted servant, for I have read your thoughts.

I have understood the noble grief that disturbs your heart, and banishes sleep from your eyes and peace from your soul.

You saw the foe that was creeping in the dark; you heard the low hiss of the serpent that was darting his venomous sting at your heel.