I entered the room, followed by
Kari, shut the door behind me and shot the bolt. Then I spoke, asking:
"Why are you here with my wife, Lord Deleroy?"
"It is strange, Master merchant," he answered, "but I was about to put
much the same question to you: namely, why is _my_ wife in your house?"
Now, while I reeled beneath these words, without turning her head,
Blanche by the fire said:
"He lies, Hubert. I am not his wife."
"Why are you here, my Lord Deleroy?" I repeated.
"Well, if you would know, Master merchant, I bring a paper for you, or
rather a copy of it, for the writ itself will be served on you to-morrow
by the King's officers. It commits you to the Tower under the royal
seal for trading with the King's enemies, a treason that can be proved
against you, of which as you know, or will shortly learn, the punishment
is death," and as he spoke he threw a writing down upon a side table.
"I see the plot," I answered coldly. "The King's unworthy favourite,
forger and thief, uses the King's authority to try to bring the King's
honest subject to bonds and death by a false accusation.
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