Theywishtostriphimofthislasthopealso，thathisheartmayhardenentirelytostone，andnoemotionofpityevermorefindaccesstohim。Ah，Douglas，Douglas，bewareofmywrath，ifyoucannotprovewhatyousay！\"
\"Sire，Icanproveit！ForLadyJaneherself，nolongeragothanyesterday，wasmadetogiveupanotefromAnneAskewtothequeen。\"
Thekingremainedsilentforawhile，andgazedfixedlyontheground。Histhreeconfidantsobservedhimwithbreathless，tremblingexpectation。
Atlengththekingraisedhisheadagain，andturnedhisgaze，whichwasnowgraveandsteady，uponthelordchancellor。\"MyLordChancellorWriothesley，\"saidhe，\"IempoweryoutoconductAnneAskewtothetorture-room，andtrywhetherthetormentswhicharepreparedforthebodyareperchanceabletobringthiserringsoultoanacknowledgmentofherfaults。MyLordBishopGardiner，I
promisemywordthatIwillgiveattentiontoyouraccusationagainsttheArchbishopofCanterbury，andthat，ifitbewellfounded，heshallnotescapepunishment。MyLordDouglas，IwillgivemypeopleandalltheworldproofthatIamstillGod\'srighteousandavengingvice-gerentonearth，andthatnoconsiderationcanrestrainmywrath，noafter-thoughtstaymyarm，wheneveritisreadytofallandsmitetheheadoftheguilty。Andnow，mylords，letusdeclarethissessionatanend。Letusbreathealittlefromtheseexertions，andseeksomerecreationforonebriefhour。