'I am not made for courts,' she answered.
'We will go pray anon,' he quieted her, with his hand stretched out. 'Give me a space for meditation, I am not yet in the mood for prayer.'
'Body of God,' he said good-humouredly. 'It is fitting that at this time that you do pray. You have escaped a great peril. But I am wont to drive away earthly passions ere I come before the Throne of grace.'
'Sir,' she pleaded more urgently, 'the night draws near. Before morning I would be upon my road to Calais.'
He looked at her interestedly, and questioned in a peremptory voice:
'Upon what errand? I have heard of no journeying of yours.'
'I am not made for courts,' she repeated.
He said: 'Anan?' with a sudden, half-comprehending anger, and she quailed.
'I will get me gone to Calais,' she uttered. 'And then to a nunnery. I am not for this world.'
He uttered a tremendous: 'Body of God,' and repeated it four times.
He sprang to his feet and she shrank against the wall. His eyes rolled in his great head, and suddenly he shouted:
'Ungrateful child. Ungrateful!' Then he lost words; his swollen brow moved up and down. She was afraid to speak again.
Then, suddenly, with a light and brushing step, the Lord Privy Seal was coming towards them. His sagacious eyes looked from one to the other, his lips moved with their sideways motion.
'Fiend,' the King uttered. 'Give me the letter and get thee out of earshot.' And whilst Cromwell was bending before his person, he continued: 'I have pardoned this lady. I would have you both clasp hands.'
'Your Highness knoweth the contents?' he asked. And by then he appeared as calm as when he asked a question about the price of chalk at Calais.
'My Highness knoweth!' Henry said friendlily. He crumpled the letter in his hand, and then, remembering its use, moved to put it in his own pouch. 'This lady has done very well to speak to me who am the fountainhead of power.'
'Get thee out of earshot,' he repeated. 'I have things as to which I would admonish this lady.'
'Your Highness knoweth....' Privy Seal began again, then his eye fell upon Winchester, who still stayed by the chapel door at the far end of the corridor. He threw up his hands.
'Sir,' he said. 'Traitors have come to you!'