第35章 LENDEMAIN.(2)

The attending maids of honor were always present and prevented there being any t阾es-？t阾es or intimacy between the queen and her chamberlain.

But with the master of horse it was different--since many opportunities presented themselves， when he could approach the queen unnoticed， or at least speak to her without being overheard. He had to offer her his hand to assist her in entering her carriage； he could ride near the door of her coach； he accompanied her on water excursions and pleasure rides， and these last were so much the more important because they afforded him， to a certain extent， opportunity for a t阾e-？t阾e with the queen. For only the master of horse was permitted to ride at her side； he even had precedence of the ladies of the suite， so as to be able to give the queen immediate assistance in case of any accident， or the stumbling of her horse. Therefore， no one of the suite could perceive what the queen said to the master of horse when he rode at her side.

It was understood， therefore， how influential this place might be.

Besides， when the queen was at Whitehall， the king was almost always near her； while， thanks to his daily increasing corpulency， he was not exactly in a condition to leave the palace otherwise than in a carriage.

It was therefore very natural that the whole company at court awaited with eager attention and bated breath the moment when the master of ceremonies would name these two important personages， whose names had been kept so secret that nobody had yet learned them. That morning， just before he handed the list to the master of ceremonies， the king had written down these two names with his own hand.

Not the court only， but also the king himself， was watching for these two names. For he wished to see the effect of them， and， by the different expression of faces， estimate the number of the friends of these two nominees. The young queen alone exhibited the same unconcerned affability； her heart only beat with uniform calmness， for she did not once suspect the importance of the moment.

Even the voice of the master of ceremonies trembled slightly， as he now read， "To the place of high chamberlain to the queen， his majesty appoints my Lord Henry Howard， Earl of Surrey."An approving murmur was heard， and almost all faces manifested glad surprise.

"He has a great many friends，" muttered the king. "He is dangerous， then！" An angry look darted from his eyes upon the young earl， who was now approaching the queen， to bend his knee before her and to press to his lips the proffered hand.

Behind the queen stood Lady Jane， and as she beheld thus close before her the young man， so handsome， so long yearned for， and so secretly adored； and as she thought of her oath， she felt a violent pang， raging jealousy， killing hatred toward the young queen， who had， it is true， without suspecting it， robbed her of the loved one， and condemned her to the terrible torture of pandering to her.

The chief master of ceremonies now read in a loud solemn voice， "To the place of master of horse， his majesty appoints my Lord Thomas Seymour， Earl of Sudley."It was very well that the king had at that moment directed his whole attention to his courtiers， and sought to read in their appearance the impression made by this nomination.

Had he observed his consort， he would have seen that an expression of delighted surprise flitted across Catharine's countenance， and a charming smile played round her lips.

But the king， as we have said， thought only of his court； he saw only that the number of those who rejoiced at Seymour's appointment did not come up to that of those who received Surrey's nomination with so much applause.

Henry frowned and muttered to himself， "These Howards are too powerful. I will keep a watchful eye upon them."Thomas Seymour approached the queen， and， bending his knee before her， kissed her hand. Catharine received him with a gracious smile.

"My lord，" said she， "you will at once enter on service with me， and indeed， as I hope， in such manner as will be acceptable to the whole court. My lord， take the fleetest of your coursers， and hasten to Castle Holt， where the Princess Elizabeth is staying. Carry her this letter from her royal father， and she will follow you hither. Tell her that I long to embrace in her a friend and sister， and that Ipray her to pardon me if I cannot give up to her exclusively the heart of her king and father， but that I also must still keep a place in the same for myself. Hasten to Castle Holt， my lord， and bring us Princess Elizabeth."