"I see the Queen's face," he said, "I hear the Queen's voice, and my
world has narrowed down to these four walls. Presently the
Chancellor will come, and the Queen will give her judgment." He
laughed a little, looking down at her from his place by the curtains.
"Outside these walls of life there is another broader world than
this. The storm has broken here, there are no storms yonder, in that
other broader world where we shall serve. Here you are the mightiest
of all earthly sovereigns, and I your servant ready when you need me.
But there we shall have hands to grasp the stars, feet to tread the
orbit of the sun, and greater strength to serve for greater ends.
You hold life in your right hand, death in your left hand, Margaret,
and presently you will judge whether I serve weakly here, or strongly
in the hereafter. Why should I be afraid?"
"You've given me back my courage," said Margaret, humbly. "I shall
not be afraid."
It was then that the equerry came announcing the Chancellor and two
Ministers of State who desired audience.
"Let them come," said Margaret, and when the doors had closed, she
told Mr. Brand to wait in the royal box. "Leave me," she said, and
with a smile held out her hand to him. "Whether it is life, Mr.
Brand, or death, you will know that I tried to do right?"
"I am your servant," he answered, "in life or death," and bending
down he kissed our Lady's hand.
Margaret was alone when Ulster came, standing before the table, while
all about the small, dark, silent room swept the roar of the great
panic. The two Ministers bowed low as they entered her presence, but
her eyes were upon the Chancellor, so, instead of bending his head,
he looked at her wondering, and laid a roll of parchment upon the
table. Then he drew back from before her stare, and bowed profoundly.
"Your Majesty," he muttered.
"You may speak."
Before her staring eyes the Chancellor stammered, "My colleagues and
I--and I have begged this audience, madam, on business of most
desperate urgency."
"What is this business?"
"It is the will of the Parliament that Mr. John Brand be attainted of
treason felony. A Bill has been passed, and requires only the royal
fiat. _La Reine le veult?_"
"My Lords," the Queen spoke slowly, monotonously, staring all the
time into the Chancellor's eyes; "I send this matter back to an
Imperial Parliament which has had no time to think."
"Is it possible," cried the Chancellor, indignant, "that your Majesty
sets the whole Empire at defiance?"
"Is that a threat?"
"No threat," he answered, furiously; "but a reminder that the Royal
Prerogative fell on the scaffold of King Charles the First. Under
the guidance of her Ministers, the Queen will not expose herself to
deposition."
"My Lords,"--her Majesty turned upon the attendant Ministers--"you
have heard me say that this Bill concerning Mr. Brand must be again
considered before we make it an Act of Parliament. You have heard my
Chancellor threaten deposition, even death, as though the Queen could
be bullied with the blustering of so pitiful a coward. As a woman I
demand your protection from this man, as your Sovereign we command
you to obey."
The Chancellor tried to interfere.
"Silence," cried Margaret. "Silence! I, the Queen, am speaking, and
I, not the Parliament, am England. My Lords, I charge this man, my
subject, with being a paid spy and agent of Russia. He has attempted
to imprison Mr. Brand because he is loyal and has come to my defence.
He has betrayed the Formula of my Fleets. I command you to seize the
Duke of Ulster, and to hold him as my prisoner. You shall disobey me
at your peril. Arrest that man!"
But these Ministers, supposing Margaret to be insane, backed slowly
out from her presence.
X