Now was heard quite distinctly the sound of footsteps.

They came nearer and nearer--now a door was heard to open and shut again, and it was as though some one were creeping softly along on his toes in the hall.
"Henry Howard!" whispered Douglas.
The king could scarcely restrain the cry of savage, malicious delight that forced its way to his lips.
The hated enemy was then in his power; he was convicted of the crime; he was inevitably lost.
"Geraldine!" whispered a voice, "Geraldine!" And as if his low call had already been sufficient to draw hither the loved one, the secret door here quite close to the boudoir opened.
The rustling of a dress was very distinctly heard, and the sound of footsteps.
"Geraldine!" repeated Earl Surrey.
"Here I am, my Henry!" With an exclamation of delight, the woman rushed forward toward the sound of the loved voice.
"The queen!" muttered Henry; and in spite of himself he felt his heart seized with bitter grief.
He saw with his inward eye how they held each other in their embrace.

He heard their kisses and the low whisper of their tender vows, and all the agonies of jealousy and wrath filled his soul.

But yet the king prevailed upon himself to be silent and swallow down his rage.

He wanted to hear everything, to know everything.
He clenched his hands convulsively, and pressed his lips firmly together to hold in his panting breath.