下载辰思小说免费APP
Hertoiletended，thequeenwentfromherreception-roomtoherante-
room，wheretherewasanaltarsetupandarranged，atwhich，beforehehadbeentakenfromher，herchaplainusedtosaymass；andkneelingonthesteps，surroundedbyallherservants，shebeganthecommunionprayers，andwhentheywereended，drawingfromagoldenboxahostconsecratedbyPiusV，whichshehadalwaysscrupulouslypreservedfortheoccasionofherdeath，shetoldBourgointotakeit，and，ashewasthesenior，totakethepriest’splace，oldagebeingholyandsacred；andinthismannerinspiteofalltheprecautionstakentodepriveherofit，thequeenreceivedtheholysacramentoftheeucharist。
Thispiousceremonyended，Bourgointoldthequeenthatinherwillshehadforgottenthreepeople——MesdemoisellesBeauregard，deMontbrun，andherchaplain。Thequeenwasgreatlyastonishedatthisoversight，whichwasquiteinvoluntary，and，takingbackherwill，shewroteherwisheswithrespecttotheminthefirstemptymargin；
thenshekneeleddownagaininprayer；butafteramoment，asshesufferedtoomuchinthisposition，sherose，andBourgoinhavinghadbroughtheralittlebreadandwine，sheateanddrank，andwhenshehadfinished，gavehimherhandandthankedhimforhavingbeenpresenttohelpheratherlastmealashewasaccustomed；andfeelingstronger，shekneeleddownandbegantoprayagain。
Scarcelyhadshedoneso，thantherewasaknockingatthedoor：thequeenunderstoodwhatwasrequiredofher；butasshehadnotfinishedpraying，shebeggedthosewhowerecometofetchhertowaitamoment，andinafewminutes’shewouldbeready。
TheEarlsofKentandShrewsbury，rememberingtheresistanceshehadmadewhenshehadhadtogodowntothecommissionersandappearbeforethelawyers，mountedsomeguardsintheante-roomwheretheywerewaitingthemselves，sothattheycouldtakeherawaybyforceifnecessary，shouldsherefusetocomewillingly，orshouldherservantswanttodefendher；butitisuntruethatthetwobaronsenteredherroom，assomehavesaid。Theyonlysetfootthereonce，ontheoccasionwhichwehaverelated，whentheycametoappriseherofhersentence。
Theywaitedsomeminutes，nevertheless，asthequeenhadbeggedthem；
then，abouteighto’clock，theyknockedagain，accompaniedbytheguards；buttotheirgreatsurprisethedoorwasopenedimmediately，andtheyfoundMaryonherkneesinprayer。Uponthis，SirThomasAndrew，whowasatthetimesheriffofthecountyofNottingham，enteredalone，awhitewandinhishand，andaseveryonestayedontheirkneespraying，hecrossedtheroomwithaslowstepandstoodbehindthequeen：hewaitedamomentthere，andasMaryStuartdidnotseemtoseehim——
“Madam，“saidhe，“theearlshavesentmetoyou。“
Atthesewordsthequeenturnedround，andatoncerisinginthemiddleofherprayer，“Letusgo，“shereplied，andshemadereadytofollowhim；thenBourgoin，takingthecrossofblackwoodwithanivoryChristwhichwasoverthealtar，said——
“Madam，wouldyounotliketotakethislittlecross？“
“Thankyouforhavingremindedme，“Maryanswered；“Ihadintendedto，butIforgot“。Then，givingittoAnnibalStewart，herfootman，thathemightpresentitwhensheshouldaskforit，shebegantomovetothedoor，andonaccountofthegreatpaininherlimbs，leaningonBourgoin，who，astheydrewnear，suddenlylethergo，saying——
“Madam，yourMajestyknowsifweloveyou，andall，suchasweare，arereadytoobeyyou，shouldyoucommandustodieforyou；butI，Ihavenotth
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