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 carver, her oath upon this crown and upon yonder open book of the Gospel?

The Queen.Upon this royal crown, and upon yonder book of the Gospel, I swear it!

Gilbert.The bargain is made, your Majesty. Bid them prepare a grave for me and a nuptial bed for the husband and wife. The nobleman of whom I spoke is Fabiani, Earl of Clanbrassil. The heiress of the Talbots is here.

Jane.What says he?

The Queen.Have I to do with a madman? What does this mean? Pay heed to this, my master, that you are over-bold to make sport of the Queen of England; that the royal apartments is a place where one must keep watch upon the words one speaks, and that there are occasions when the tongue causes the head to fall!

Gilbert.My head your Majesty has; I have your oath.

The Queen.You speak not seriously. Fabiano! Jane!—Go to!

Gilbert.This Jane is the daughter and heiress of Lord Talbot.

The Queen.Bah! visions! chimeras! madness! Have you the proofs?

Gilbert.Complete.

[He produces a package of papers.

Be pleased to read these papers.

The Queen.Have I the time to read your papers? Did I ask for your papers? What care I for your papers? On my soul, if they prove aught, I will throw them into the fire, and nought will remain.

Gilbert.On the crown and the Gospel, your Majesty! that is to say, on your head and your soul, on your life in this world and in the other.