Scene V
The Queen, Gilbert, afterward Simon Renard, Lord Chandos, and the Guards
THE QUEEN (to Gilbert).
Have you a weapon about you? A knife, a dagger, anything!
GILBERT (drawing from his breast Lord Clanbrassil’s dagger).
A dagger? Yes, madame.
THE QUEEN.
Good! Hold it in your hand!
[She seizes his arm quickly.
Sir bailiff D’Amont! Lord Chandos!
[Enter Simon Renard, Lord Chandos, and Guards.
Seize this man! He has threatened my life, with his dagger! I seized his arm as he was about to strike me. He is an assassin!
GILBERT.
Madame!
THE QUEEN (low to Gilbert).
Have you forgotten your agreement so soon? Is this the way you let me use you? [Aloud.] You are all witnesses that he had a dagger in his hand. Sir Bailiff, what is the name of the executioner of the Tower of London?
SIMON RENARD.
He is an Irishman called Mac Dermot.
THE QUEEN.
Send for him. I want to speak to him.
SIMON RENARD.
Yourself?
THE QUEEN.
Myself.
SIMON RENARD.
The Queen will speak to the executioner!
THE QUEEN.
Yes, the Queen will speak to the executioner. The head will speak to the hand! Send for him.
[A Guard goes out.
My Lord Chandos, and you, gentlemen, will answer to me for this man. Keep him there among you, back of you. Certain things are about to happen here which he must witness. Sir Lieutenant d’Amont, is Lord Clanbrassil in the palace?
SIMON RENARD.
He is there, in the painted chamber, awaiting the Queen’s good pleasure to see him.
THE QUEEN.
Does he suspect anything?
SIMON RENARD.
Nothing.
THE QUEEN (to Lord Chandos).
Let him come in!
SIMON RENARD.
The entire Court is also waiting there. Will nobody be admitted before Lord Clanbrassil?
THE QUEEN.
Who are those among our nobles who hate Fabiani?
SIMON RENARD.
All!
THE QUEEN.
Which hate him the most?
SIMON RENARD.
Clinton, Montague, Somerset, Earl of Derby, Gerard Fitz-Gerard, Lord Paget, and the Lord Chancellor.
THE QUEEN (to Lord Chandos).
Admit them all—except the Lord Chancellor. Go! [Chandos goes out.
[To Simon Renard.] The worthy Bishop Chancellor is not any fonder of Fabiani than the rest, but he is a more scrupulous man.
[Noticing the papers which Gilbert left upon the table.
Ah, I must look over these papers!
[While she is examining them, the door in the background opens. Those lords designated by The Queen enter, making profound salutations.