'No! no!' and, stumbling to his feet he rushed down upon his courtiers
and round the table. He came upon her before she was at the distant
door.
'You shall not go!' he said. 'Unsay! unsay!'
She said, 'Ah!' and recoiled before him with an obdurate and calm
repulsion.
'Get ye gone, all you minions and hounds,' he cried. And running in upon
them he assailed them with huge blows and curses, sobbing lamentably, so
that they fled up the steps and out on to the rooms behind the throne.
He came sobbing, swift and maddened, panting and crying out, back to
where she awaited him.
'Unsay! unsay!' he cried out.
She stood calmly.
'Never will I unsay,' she said. 'For it is right that such a King as
thou should be punished, and I do believe this: that there can no agony
come upon you such as shall come if you do believe me false to you.'
The coloured sunlight fell upon his face just down to the chin; his
eyes glared horribly. She confronted him, being in the shadow. High up
above them, painted and moulded angels soared on the roof with golden
wings. He clutched at his throat.
'I do not believe it,' he cried out.
'Then,' she said, 'I believe that it shall be only a second greater
agony to you: for you shall have done me to death believing me
guiltless.'
A great motion of despair went over his whole body.
'Kat!' he said; 'Body of God, Kat! I would not have you done to death. I
have saved your life from your enemies.'