Page:Mary Stuart (Drinkwater).djvu/33

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you that often enough. The nets are too strong, too well cast. If the Queen's luck is bad, it must be the Queen's luck still. We do not make our choice. The rewards do not consider us. No—the blue pin, so. Hugo Dubois, in an elaborate treatise on the coiffure, says, "Women of a fair complexion, coming at night into company, do much affect azure or lazuline gems for the hair, as it were cornflowers in sunny corn; and to my mind it does well become them." There—that will do, Beaton.

(A knock at the door)

Who is it?

(Beaton goes to the door and opens it. It is Riccio)

Riccio: You are employed. Madam?

Mary: No. Come in, David. Let us be idle. Presently, Beaton.

(Beaton goes)

Riccio: Idle? Yes, lady, to receive homage is a business light enough.

Mary: To receive homage lightly given.

Riccio: Yet all queens have found it in their profession, they say. And lightly given? Worth-