Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/143

Cromwell.What next?
Thurloe [holding a letter, and in a tone of anxiety.
What next? My lord, in secret I am warned
Your Highness will be foully done to death
To-morrow.
Cromwell. To-morrow. Next?
Thurloe. To-morrow. Next? The plot is all contrived
By concert of the military chiefs
With Cavaliers—
Cromwell [interrupting him impatiently.
With Cavaliers—What next?
Thurloe. With Cavaliers—What next? Would you not have
Further details of these dark schemes, my lord?
Cromwell.'Tis some new fable!—Let us end this task.—
What next?
Thurloe. What next? The marshal of the Polish Diet writes—
Cromwell.Pray have there come no letters from Cologne?
Thurloe [looking among the papers.
Ay, truly; but a single one.
Cromwell. Ay, truly; but a single one. From whom?
Thurloe.From Manning, sent to keep an eye on Charles.
Cromwell.Ah! give it me!
[He seizes the letter and hastily breaks the seal.
Ah! give it me! 'Tis of the fifth. How slow
Are all these messengers! Full three weeks old!
[He reads the letter, and while reading it, exclaims:
Ah! Master Davenant! a cunning ruse!—
At night—the lights all out.—Could any man
More shrewdly palter with an oath? For that,
One must be papist!—Ah! the royal note
Hid in his hat.—A very shrewd device!
But I am curious.—Thurloe, send word