Scene VIII
The same. The Lord Chancellor, all the Court
THE QUEEN.
Enter, enter, my lords! I am truly pleased to see you to-day. Good! good! The officers of the law this way: nearer, nearer! Where are the sergeants-at-arms of the House of Lords? Harriot and Herbert? Ah, there you are, gentlemen! Be welcome! Draw your swords. Good! Place yourselves at the right and at the left of that man. He is your prisoner.
FABIANI.
Madame, what is my crime?
THE QUEEN.
My Lord Gardiner, my learned friend, you are chancellor of England. We order you and the twelve lord commissioners of the Star Chamber, whom we regret not to see here, to assemble yourselves in haste. Strange things are passing in this palace. Listen, my lords! Madame Elizabeth has raised more than one enemy to our crown. We have had the Pietro Caro plot—that man who started the Exeter movement, and who communicated with Madame Elizabeth by means of a cipher cut on her guitar. We have had the treachery of Thomas Wyatt who roused the county of Kent. We have had the rebellion of the Duke of Suffolk, who was captured in the hollow of a tree, after his followers were defeated. To-day we have a new attempt. Listen, all of you. To-day, this morning, a man presented himself at my audience. After a few words, he drew his dagger on me. I stopped his hand in time. Lord Chandos and the bailiff D’Amont seized the man. He says that he was urged to the crime by Lord Clanbrassil.
FABIANI.
By me! It is not true! This is a frightful thing! This man does not exist. This man cannot be found! Who is he? Where is he?
THE QUEEN.
He is here!
GILBERT (coming out from among the soldiers, behind whom he has been hidden up to this time).
I am the man!
THE QUEEN.
According to this man’s declarations, we Mary, Queen, accuse before the Star Chamber this other man, Fabiano Fabiani, Earl of Clanbrassil, of high treason, and of an attempt of regicide upon our imperial and sacred person.
FABIANI.
Regicide? I? This is monstrous. Oh, my brain is bewildered! I cannot see clear! What is this trap? Whoever you may be, wretched creature, dare you affirm that what the Queen says is true?
GILBERT.
Yes!
FABIANI.
I urged you to regicide?
GILBERT.
Yes.
FABIANI.
Yes, always yes! Malediction! Oh, it is impossible for you to know how false that is, gentlemen. That man comes from hell! Unfortunate wretch, you want to ruin me, but don’t you see that you ruin yourself in the same breath? The crime you charge upon me falls upon you too. You will send me to the block, but you will die also. Madman, with a single word you cause two heads to fall! Did you know that?
GILBERT.
I know it.
FABIANI.
My lords, this man is bribed—
GILBERT.
By you. Here is the purse full of gold which you paid me for the crime. Your crest and your monogram are embroidered upon it.
FABIANI.
Just Heaven! But you don’t show me the dagger with which this man, it is said, attempted to strike the Queen. Where is the dagger?
LORD CHANDOS.
Here it is!
GILBERT (to Fabiani).
It is yours. You gave it to me for that purpose. They will find the sheath at your house!
THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
Earl of Clanbrassil, what reply do you make? Do you recognize this man?
FABIANI.
No!
GILBERT.
In truth, he only saw me by night. Let me whisper two words to him, madame, they will help his memory. [He approaches Fabiani.] My lord, you appear to recognize no one to-day—neither the man you have wronged, nor the woman you have seduced. Ah, the Queen avenges herself; but the man of the people, he avenges himself also. You defied me to do it, I think. Behold yourself caught between a double vengeance, my lord! What do you say to that? I am Gilbert the engraver!
FABIANI.
Yes, I recognize you. My lords, I recognize this man. Since it is with him I have to deal, I have nothing more to say.
THE QUEEN.
He confesses!
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (to Gilbert).
According to Norman law and Statute 25, Henry VIII., in a case of high treason of the first degree, a confession does not save the accomplice. Do not forget, it is a case wherein the Queen has not the right of mercy, and you will die upon the scaffold as well as the man you accuse. Therefore reflect! Do you confirm all you have said?
GILBERT.
I know that I shall die, and I confirm it.
JANE (aside).
My God! if this is a dream, it is very horrible.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (to Gilbert).
Are you willing to repeat your statements with your hand upon the gospel?
[He presents the gospel to Gilbert, who puts his hand upon it.
GILBERT.
With my hand upon the gospel, and my approaching death before my eyes, I swear that this man is an assassin; that this dagger, which is his, was used for the crime; that this purse, which is his, was given to me in payment for the crime. May God help me! It is the truth!
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (to Fabiani).
My lord, what have you to say?
FABIANI.
Nothing! I am lost.
SIMON RENARD (low to The Queen).
Your Majesty sent for the executioner. He is there!
THE QUEEN.
Good! Let him come in!
[The row of noblemen divides and the Executioner appears; he is dressed in red and black, and on his shoulder bears a long sword in its scabbard.