"Those who speak truth to a King must needs be so," was the curt
rejoinder.
"Steady your tongue, Lord Darby," said Richard sternly, "else may the
Tower teach you respect for England's King."
"Think you, then, I should find the young Fifth Edward
there------alive?" sneered Darby.
For a moment, Richard's eyes flashed like sparks springing from the
clashing of two angry swords. Then he smiled; and the smile was more
ominous than the sparks.
"Be easy, sir; the remainder of the declaration shall be read in
season," he said very quietly. "But first, will you reply now to
Stafford's allegation, or shall we proceed with Sir John de Bury's
charge?"
If this were all the evidence of treason Darby was in small danger and
it behooved him to change his bearing.
"I did Your Majesty grave wrong in presuming you had prejudged me," he
said with a frank smile, "for well I know that on such shallow
falsehoods no man could ever be condemned. And here do I place my own
knightly word against the traitor Buckingham's; and do specifically
deny all that has been read by the Lord Chancellor. And further, do I
solemnly affirm that neither by voice nor deed have I been recreant to
my oath of allegiance, nor false to you. Moreover, Sire, my very
action in the rebellion attests my truth: Did I not hasten to join your
army with all the force at my disposal? Have I not been ever honest
and faithful?"
And with arms folded proudly on his breast, he waited for the
acquittance that seemed to be his due.
"As the case stands now, it would be our duty and our pleasure to
pronounce you guiltless," Richard replied. "But it so chances that
there is still another witness on the charge of treason, whose
testimony deals also with the abduction. Wherefore, we shall be
obliged to mingle somewhat the two matters and so to withhold our
judgment until the trial is ended and all the evidence is in. . . My
Lord Chancellor, proceed with the reading."
The Bishop resumed:
"Also, I denounce the said Henry, Lord Darby, as the abductor of the
Countess of Clare whom, he told me, he by pre-arrangement with her had
seized one night in September and had carried to his castle--she loving
him, but being coerced by the King into marrying another. And I,
believing him, promised that he should wed her and receive her lands
and title when Henry Tudor became King. Only to-day did I learn that
he had taken the maid by force, and that his story of her love for him
was pure falsehood. And it gratifies me much that, perchance, these
words may aid in the lady's rescue and her dastardly abductor's
punishment. In testimony to the truth whereof, and in full
appreciation of impending death, I hereunto set my hand and affix my
seal of the Swan. Given at the Inn of the Blue Boar, in the town of
Salisbury, this second day of November, in the year of Grace 1483."
The Chancellor folded the parchment. "I have finished, Sire," he said.
"Now, Lord Darby, you have had your wish and heard the statement full
and entire," the King admonished. "If it has not improved your case,
the next witness, methinks, is scarce likely to better it."
At a sign, the Black Rod again withdrew, and once more there was
profoundest silence; and upon the doorway in the corner all eyes were
turned, save those of the accused. He stood stolid and defiant glaring
at De Lacy. Then a cry went up, and after it came cheers and loud
applause. Nor did Richard offer to rebuke it, but himself leaned
forward smiling.
Aroused at this, Lord Darby glanced around--and suddenly his face went
pale, and red, and pale again; and he staggered slightly, passing his
hand across his forehead in a dazed-like way. For there, advancing
toward the Throne, hand in hand with the Queen, was the woman he
thought securely hid in far distant Roxford Castle.
Then sharp panic seized him and he turned to flee.
But close behind him was the wall of courtiers, and beyond flashed the
halberds of the guard. Straightway, the terror passed, and he was
again the cool soldier, contemptuous and indifferent--though he saw
full well the case would go against him and that death was drawing
near. And so he waited, utterly forgotten for the moment, amid the
gladsome welcome for the Countess of Clare, whom all long since had
given up for dead.
At the foot of the dais Beatrix stopped, but the Queen would not have
it so, and with gentle insistence she drew her up the steps. And
Richard met them half way, and with him on one side and the Queen on
the other, she stood before the Court.
Then the King raised his hand for silence.
"Behold!" he said, "the lost Lady of Clare!" and kissed her finger
tips, while the cheers swelled forth afresh.
She curtsied low in response, and sought to descend to her place. But
Richard detained her.
"Fair Countess," he said, "the Lord Darby stands here accused of your
abduction, and of complicity in the late rebellion; we have sent for
you to testify your knowledge in these matters."
Beatrix's face grew grave, and for a little while she made no answer.
"I implore you, Sire, relieve me from the duty," she said. "Safe now
and freed from my captor's power, I want never to look upon him nor to
speak his name, being well content to let God in His Providence punish
the crime against me."
"Your words are earnest of your gracious heart," said the King. "But
for the honor and name of fair England, it may not be settled so. If
Lord Darby be guilty, then must he suffer punishment, were it for no
other reason than that our laws demand it. If he be innocent, it is
his bounden right to receive full acquittance here in the presence of
those before whom he has been arraigned. Speak! as your Sovereign I
command. Who was your abductor?"
The Countess clasped her hands before her and hesitated. Then for the
first time, she let her eyes rest upon Darby; and the sight of him
seemed to nerve her; and she raised her arm and pointed at him with
accusing finger, while her voice rang out full and strong:
"There he stands--Lord Darby of Roxford! By his orders I was seized
and carried to his castle, where he came and sought first to persuade,
and then to force me into marriage with him. And when I scorned him,
he swore with words insulting he would hold me prisoner until he and
Buckingham had made a King of Henry Tudor, when he would wed me whether
I wished or no. Later it seems he somewhat changed his plans, and
instead of joining openly with Henry he remained with you, Sire; yet
with full intention, as he, himself, assured me, to cleave to whatever
side was winning in the battle. So was he sure, he said, to be in
favor with whomever wore the crown. Of all these crimes and treasons
is yonder false lord guilty. And had not Sir John De Bury and Sir
Aymer de Lacy carried by storm his Castle of Roxford, I would yet be a
prisoner to him."
And the very thought brought quick reaction and her courage ebbed, and
turning her back upon the Court, she covered her face with her hands.
Through the swift denunciation Lord Darby had stood with impassive face
and eyes that never flinched, looking straight at the Countess; then he
shifted his glance to the King. He knew that the words just uttered
had confirmed his doom--that in all that throng there was no friend for
him, nor even one to do him favor. A score of lies or a flood of
denials would be unavailing to win so much as a glance of sympathy. He
had essayed a game with Destiny; he had lost and must pay penalty--and
he never doubted what that penalty would be with Richard Plantagenet
his judge. But at least, he would wring a cry of pain from the heart
of his enemy--and he smiled and waited.