'There we have forty minutes,' Throckmorton said. He licked his lips
and held his long beard in his hand carefully, as if it had been a
bird. 'But give me ten minutes to do my will upon this lady's body,
and ten to write down what she shall confess. Then, if it take your
lordship ten minutes to dress yourself finely, you shall have still
ten in which you shall show the King how his Winchester is traitor to
him.'
Cromwell considered for a minute; his lips twitched cautiously the one
above the other.
'This is a great matter,' he said. He paused again. 'If this lady
should not confess! And it is very certain that the King affects her.'
'Give me ten minutes of her company,' the spy answered.
Cromwell considered again.
'You are very certain,' he said; and then:
'Wilt thou stake thy head upon it?'
Throckmorton wagged his beard slowly up and down.
'Thy head and beard!' Cromwell repeated. He struck his hands briskly
together. 'It is thine own asking. God help thee if thou failest!'
'I will lay nothing to your lordship's door,' Throckmorton said
eagerly.
'God knows!' Cromwell said. 'No man that hath served me have I
deserted. So it is that no one hath betrayed me. But thou shalt take
this lady without warrant from my hand.'
Throckmorton nodded.
'If thou shalt wring avowal from her thou shalt be the wealthiest
commoner of England,' Cromwell said. 'But I will not be here. Nay,
thou shalt take her to thine own rooms. I will not be seen in this
matter. And if thou fail....'
'Sir, I stand more sure of my succeeding than ever your lordship
stood,' Throckmorton answered him.
'It is not I that shall betray thee if thou fail,' Cromwell answered.
'Get thee gone swiftly....' He took the jewelled badge from his cap
that lay on the table. 'Thou hast served me well,' he said; 'take this
in case I never see thy face again.'
'Oh, you shall see my triumph!' Throckmorton answered.
He bent himself nearly double as he passed through the door.
Cromwell sat down in his great chair, and his eyes gazed at nothing
through the tapestry of his room.