"And that, there, is Henry Howard's entrance.

Oh, he knows that path very thoroughly; for he has often enough already travelled it in the dark night, and his foot no longer stumbles on any stone of offence!" "But he will perchance stumble on the headsman's block!" muttered the king, with a cruel laugh.
"I now take the liberty of asking one question more," said Douglas; and the king did not suspect how stormily the earl's heart beat at this question.

"Is your majesty satisfied to see the earl and the queen make their appearance at this meeting?
Or, do you desire to listen to a little of the earl's tender protestations ?" "I will hear not a little, but all!" said the king.

"Ah, let us allow the earl yet to sing his swan-like song before he plunges into the sea of blood!" "Then," said Earl Douglas, "then we must put out this light, and your majesty must be content merely to hear the guilty ones, and not to see them also.

We will then betake ourselves to the boudoir here, which I have opened for this purpose, and in which is an easy-chair for your majesty.