ELIZABETH (to BURLEIGH).

Remain, my lord; 'tis my command.

LEICESTER.

What has a third to do 'twixt thee and me?

I have to clear myself before my queen, My worshipped queen; I will maintain the rights Which thou hast given me; these rights are sacred, And I insist upon it, that my lord Retire.

ELIZABETH.

This haughty tone befits you well.

LEICESTER.

It well befits me; am not I the man, The happy man, to whom thy gracious favor Has given the highest station? this exalts me Above this Burleigh, and above them all.

Thy heart imparted me this rank, and what Thy favor gave, by heavens I will maintain At my life's hazard. Let him go, it needs Two moments only to exculpate me.

ELIZABETH.

Think not, with cunning words, to hide the truth.

LEICESTER.

That fear from him, so voluble of speech: But what I say is to the heart addressed; And I will justify what I have dared To do, confiding in thy generous favor, Before thy heart alone. I recognize No other jurisdiction.

ELIZABETH.

Base deceiver 'Tis this, e'en this, which above all condemns you.

My lord, produce the letter.

[To BURLEIGH.

BURLEIGH.

Here it is.

LEICESTER (running over the letter without losing his presence of mind).

'Tis Mary Stuart's hand----

ELIZABETH.

Read and be dumb!

LEICESTER (having read it quietly).

Appearance is against me, yet I hope I shall not by appearances be judged.

ELIZABETH.

Can you deny your secret correspondence With Mary?--that she sent and you received Her picture, that you gave her hopes of rescue?

LEICESTER.

It were an easy matter, if I felt That I were guilty of a crime, to challenge The testimony of my enemy: Yet bold is my good conscience. I confess That she hath said the truth.

ELIZABETH.

Well then, thou wretch!

BURLEIGH.

His own words sentence him----

ELIZABETH.

Out of my sight!

Away! Conduct the traitor to the Tower!

LEICESTER.

I am no traitor; it was wrong, I own, To make a secret of this step to thee; Yet pure was my intention, it was done To search into her plots and to confound them.

ELIZABETH.

Vain subterfuge!

BURLEIGH.

And do you think, my lord----

LEICESTER.

I've played a dangerous game, I know it well, And none but Leicester dare be bold enough To risk it at this court. The world must know How I detest this Stuart, and the rank Which here I hold; my monarch's confidence, With which she honors me, must sure suffice To overturn all doubt of my intentions.

Well may the man thy favor above all Distinguishes pursue a daring course To do his duty!

BURLEIGH.

If the course was good, Wherefore conceal it?

LEICESTER.

You are used, my lord, To prate before you act; the very chime Of your own deeds. This is your manner, lord; But mine is first to act, and then to speak.

BURLEIGH.

Yes, now you speak because you must.

LEICESTER (measuring him proudly and disdainfully with his eyes).

And you Boast of a wonderful, a mighty action, That you have saved the queen, have s.n.a.t.c.hed away The mask from treachery; all is known to you; You think, forsooth, that nothing can escape Your penetrating eyes. Poor, idle boaster!

In spite of all your cunning, Mary Stuart Was free to-day, had I not hindered it.

BURLEIGH.

How? You?

LEICESTER.

Yes, I, my lord; the queen confided In Mortimer; she opened to the youth Her inmost soul! Yes, she went further still; She gave him, too, a secret, b.l.o.o.d.y charge, Which Paulet had before refused with horror.

Say, is it so, or not?

[The QUEEN and BURLEIGH look at one another with astonishment.

BURLEIGH.

Whence know ye this?

LEICESTER.

Nay, is it not a fact? Now answer me.

And where, my lord, where were your thousand eyes, Not to discover Mortimer was false?

That he, the Guise's tool, and Mary's creature, A raging papist, daring fanatic, Was come to free the Stuart, and to murder The Queen of England!

ELIZABETH (with the utmost astonishment).

How! This Mortimer!