"My mistress, madam," responded Melville; "I am obliged to confess it."

"Then she is too tall," Elizabeth said sharply, "for I am tall enough.
And what are her favourite amusements?" she continued.

"Madam," Melville replied, "hunting, riding, performing on the lute and
the harpischord."

"Is she skilled upon the latter?" Elizabeth inquired. "Oh yes, madam,"
answered Melville; "skilled enough for a queen."

There the conversation stopped; but as Elizabeth was herself an excellent
musician, she commanded Lord Hunsdon to bring Melville to her at a time
when she was at her harpischord, so that he could hear her without her
seeming to have the air of playing for him. In fact, the same day,
Hunsdon, agreeably to her instructions, led the ambassador into a gallery
separated from the queen's apartment merely by tapestry, so that his
guide having raised it. Melville at his leisure could hear Elizabeth,
who did not turn round until she had finished the piece, which, however,
she was playing with much skill. When she saw Melville, she pretended to
fly into a passion, and even wanted to strike him; but her anger calmed
down by little and little at the ambassador's compliments, and ceased
altogether when he admitted that Mary Stuart was not her equal. But this
was not all: proud of her triumph, Elizabeth desired also that Melville
should see her dance. Accordingly, she kept back her despatches for two
days that he might be present at a ball that she was giving. These
despatches, as we have said, contained the wish that Mary Stuart should
espouse Leicester; but this proposal could not be taken seriously.
Leicester, whose personal worth was besides sufficiently mediocre, was of
birth too inferior to aspire to the hand of the daughter of so many