Page:MaryTudorHugo.djvu/29

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448
MARY TUDOR

The Man.God have you in his keeping!

Fabiani.I will have you bastinadoed. I do not choose that people shall know my name when I go about at night.

The Man.Especially when you go where you go.

Fabiani.What mean you?

The Man.If the Queen knew!

Fabiani.I am going nowhere.

The Man.Yes, my lord, you are going to the abode of the fair Jane, the betrothed of Gilbert the carver.

Fabiani.The devil! this is a dangerous fellow!

The Man.Would you have me tell you more? You have seduced that girl, and within the month she has admitted you to her room twice at night. This is the third time. The fair one awaits you.

Fabiani.Peace! peace! Do you want money to hold your peace? How much?

The Man.We will talk of that in a moment. Now, my lord, do you wish me to tell you why you seduced this girl?

Fabiani.Egad! because I was in love with her.

The Man.No. You were not in love with her.

Fabiani.I was not in love with Jane?

The Man.No more than with the Queen—Love, no; self-interest, yes.

Fabiani.By Heaven, villain, you are not a man, you are my conscience dressed as a Jew!

The Man.I propose to speak to you as your conscience, my lord. This is your case. You are the Queen's favourite. The Queen has given you the Garter and an earldom. Empty honours these! the Garter's a rag; the earldom's a mere word—the