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a fuse ready prepared wanted but a spark to set the whole on fire。
Bothwell withdrew； then； to the end of the garden with Balfour；
David； Chambers； and three or four others； leaving one man to ignite
the fuse。 In a moment this man rejoined them。
There ensued some minutes of anxiety； during which the five men
looked at one another in silence and as if afraid of themselves；
then； seeing that nothing exploded； Bothwell impatiently turned round
to the engineer； reproaching him for having； no doubt through fear；
done his work badly。 He assured his master that he was certain
everything was all right； and as Bothwell； impatient； wanted to
return to the house himself； to make sure； he offered to go back and
see how things stood。 In fact； he went back to the pavilion； and；
putting his head through a kind of air…hole； he saw the fuse； which
was still burning。 Some seconds afterwards； Bothwell saw him come
running back； making a sign that all was going well； at the same
moment a frightful report was heard； the pavilion was blown to
pieces； the town and the firth were lit up with a clearness exceeding
the brightest daylight； then everything fell back into night； and the
silence was broken only by the fall of stones and joists； which came
down as fast as hail in a hurricane。
Next day the body of the king was found in a garden in the
neighbourhood： it had been saved from the action of the fire by the
mattresses on which he was lying； and as； doubtless； in his terror he
had merely thrown himself on his bed wrapped in his dressing…gown and
in his slippers； and as he was found thus； without his slippers；
which were flung some paces away； it was believed that he had been
first strangled； then carried there； but the most probable version
was that the murderers simply relied upon powderan auxiliary
sufficiently powerful in itself for them to have no fear it would
fail them。
Was the queen an accomplice or not？ No one has ever known save
herself； Bothwell； and God； but； yes or no； her conduct； imprudent
this time as always； gave the charge her enemies brought against her；
if not substance； at least an appearance of truth。 Scarcely had she
heard the news than she gave orders that the body should be brought
to her； and； having had it stretched out upon a bench； she looked at
it with more curiosity than sadness； then the corpse； embalmed； was
placed the same evening； without pomp； by the side of Rizzio's。
Scottish ceremonial prescribes for the widows of kings retirement for
forty days in a room entirely closed to the light of day： on the
twelfth day Mary had the windows opened； and on the fifteenth set out
with Bothwell for Seaton； a country house situated five miles from
the capital； where the French ambassador； Ducroc； went in search of
her； and made her remonstrances which decided her to return to
Edinburgh； but instead of the cheers which usually greeted her
coming； she was received by an icy silence； and a solitary woman in
the crowd called out； 〃God treat her as she deserves！〃
The names of the murderers were no secret to the people。 Bothwell
having brought a splendid coat which was too large for him to a
tailor； asking him to remake it to his measure； the man recognised it
as having belonged to the king。 〃That's right；〃 said he； 〃it is the
custom for the executioner to inherit from the…condemned〃。
Meanwhile； the Earl of Lennox； supported by the people's murmurs；
loudly demanded justice for his son's death； and came forward as the
accuser of his murderers。 The queen was then obliged； to appease
paternal clamour and public resentment； to command the Earl of
Argyll； the Lord Chief justice of the kingdom； to make
investigations； the same day that this order was given； a
proclamation was posted up in the streets of Edinburgh； in which the
queen promised two thousand pounds sterling to whoever would make
known the king's murderers。 Next day； wherever this letter had been
affixed； another placard was found； worded thus：
〃As it has been proclaimed that those who should make known the
king's murderers should have two thousand pounds sterling； I； who
have made a strict search； affirm that the authors of the murder are
the Earl of Bothwell； James Balfour； the priest of Flisk； David；
Chambers； Blackmester； Jean Spens； and the queen herself。〃
This placard was torn down； but； as usually happens； it had already
been read by the entire population。
The Earl of Lennox accused Bothwell； and public opinion； which also
accused him； seconded the earl with such violence； that Mary was
compelled to bring him to trial： only every precaution was taken to
deprive the prosecutor of the power of convicting the accused。 On
the 28th March； the Earl of Lennox received notice that the 12th
April was fixed for the trial： he was granted a fortnight to collect
decisive proofs against the most powerful man in all Scotland； but
the Earl of Lennox； judging that this trial was a mere mockery； did
not appear。 Bothwell； on the contrary； presented himself at the
court； accompanied by five thousand partisans and two hundred picked
fusiliers； who guarded the doors directly he had entered； so that he
seemed to be rather a king who is about to violate the law than an
accused who comes to submit to it。 Of course there happened what was
certain to happenthat is to say； the jury acquitted Bothwell of the
crime of which everyone； the judges included； knew him to be guilty。
The day of the trial； Bothwell had this written challenge placarded：
〃Although I am sufficiently cleared of the murder of the king； of
which I have been falsely accused； yet； the better to prove my
innocence； I am； ready to engage in combat with whomsoever will dare
to maintain that I have killed the king。〃
The day after； this reply appeared：
〃I accept the challenge； provided that you select neutral ground。〃
However； judgment had been barely given； when rumours of a marriage
between the queen and the Earl of Bothwell were abroad。 However
strange and however mad this marriage； the relations of the two
lovers were so well known that no one doubted but that it was true。
But as everyone submitted to Bothwell； either through fear or through
ambition； two men only dared to protest beforehand against this
union： the one was Lord Herries； and the other James Melville。
Mary was at Stirling when Lord Herries； taking advantage of
Bothwell's momentary absence； threw himself at her feet； imploring
her not to lose her honour by marrying her husband's murderer； which
could not fail to convince those who still doubted it that she was
his accomplice。 But the queen； instead of thanking Herries for this
devotion； seemed very much surprised at his boldness； and scornfully
signing to him to rise； she coldly replied that her heart was silent
as regarded the Earl of Bothwell； and that； if she should ever re…
marry； which was not probable； she would neither forget what s