I pray for that only, and not to be given to the red hand of the Medici." "Red hand--by my faith, but you are bold, Monsieur!" Leicester tapped his foot upon the floor impatiently, then caught the Queen's eye, and gave her a meaning look.
De la Foret saw the look and knew his enemy, but he did not quail.

"Bold only by your high Majesty's faith, indeed," he answered the Queen, with harmless guile.
Elizabeth smiled.

She loved such flattering speech from a strong man.
It touched a chord in her deeper than that under Leicester's finger.
Leicester's impatience only made her more self-willed on the instant.
"You speak with the trumpet note, Monsieur," she said to De la Foret.
"We will prove you.

You shall have a company in my Lord Leicester's army here, and we will send you upon some service worthy of your fame." "I crave your Majesty's pardon, but I cannot do it," was De la Foret's instant reply.

"I have sworn that I will lift my sword in one cause only, and to that I must stand.