His only comfort was the knowledge that his sovereign's anger was, as a rule, short-lived, and that he himself was indispensable to that sovereign's happiness.

This was true; but he did not then realize that it was in his office as admiring and sympathizing audience, and not in his person as Christopher Thornley, that he was necessary to Elisabeth.

A fuller revelation was vouchsafed to him later.
The next morning Elisabeth was herself again, and was quite ready to enjoy Christopher's society and to excuse his scruples.

She knew that self of hers when she said that she wished she had somebody else to play with, in order that she might withdraw the light of her presence from her offending henchman.

To thus punish Christopher, until she had found some one to take his place, was a course of action which would not have occurred to her.