Bothwellwithdrew，then，totheendofthegardenwithBalfour，David，Chambers，andthreeorfourothers，leavingonemantoignitethefuse。Inamomentthismanrejoinedthem。
Thereensuedsomeminutesofanxiety，duringwhichthefivemenlookedatoneanotherinsilenceandasifafraidofthemselves；
then，seeingthatnothingexploded，Bothwellimpatientlyturnedroundtotheengineer，reproachinghimforhaving，nodoubtthroughfear，donehisworkbadly。Heassuredhismasterthathewascertaineverythingwasallright，andasBothwell，impatient，wantedtoreturntothehousehimself，tomakesure，heofferedtogobackandseehowthingsstood。Infact，hewentbacktothepavilion，and，puttinghisheadthroughakindofair-hole，hesawthefuse，whichwasstillburning。Somesecondsafterwards，Bothwellsawhimcomerunningback，makingasignthatallwasgoingwell；atthesamemomentafrightfulreportwasheard，thepavilionwasblowntopieces，thetownandthefirthwerelitupwithaclearnessexceedingthebrightestdaylight；theneverythingfellbackintonight，andthesilencewasbrokenonlybythefallofstonesandjoists，whichcamedownasfastashailinahurricane。
Nextdaythebodyofthekingwasfoundinagardenintheneighbourhood：ithadbeensavedfromtheactionofthefirebythemattressesonwhichhewaslying，andas，doubtless，inhisterrorhehadmerelythrownhimselfonhisbedwrappedinhisdressing-gownandinhisslippers，andashewasfoundthus，withouthisslippers，whichwereflungsomepacesaway，itwasbelievedthathehadbeenfirststrangled，thencarriedthere；butthemostprobableversionwasthatthemurdererssimplyrelieduponpowder——anauxiliarysufficientlypowerfulinitselfforthemtohavenofearitwouldfailthem。
Wasthequeenanaccompliceornot？Noonehaseverknownsaveherself，Bothwell，andGod；but，yesorno，herconduct，imprudentthistimeasalways，gavethechargeherenemiesbroughtagainsther，ifnotsubstance，atleastanappearanceoftruth。Scarcelyhadsheheardthenewsthanshegaveordersthatthebodyshouldbebroughttoher，and，havinghaditstretchedoutuponabench，shelookedatitwithmorecuriositythansadness；thenthecorpse，embalmed，wasplacedthesameevening，withoutpomp，bythesideofRizzio’s。