into the breast of the minister, who fell wounded, but not dead. Morton
immediately took him by the feet and dragged him from the cabinet into
the larger room, leaving on the floor that long track of blood which is
still shown there; then, arrived there, each rushed upon him as upon a
quarry, and set upon the corpse, which they stabbed in fifty-six places.
Meanwhile Darnley held the queen, who, thinking that all was not over,
did not cease crying for mercy. But Ruthven came back, paler than at
first, and at Darnley's inquiry if Rizzio were dead, he nodded in the
affirmative; then, as he could not bear further fatigue in his
convalescent state, he sat down, although the queen, whom Darnley had at
last released, remained standing on the same spot. At this Mary could
not contain herself.

"My lord," cried she, "who has given you permission to sit down in my
presence, and whence comes such insolence?"

"Madam," Ruthven answered, "I act thus not from insolence, but from
weakness; for, to serve your husband, I have just taken more exercise
than my doctors allow". Then turning round to a servant, "Give me a
glass of wine," said he, showing Darnley his bloody dagger before putting
it back in its sheath, "for here is the proof that I have well earned
it". The servant obeyed, and Ruthven drained his glass with as much
calmness as if he had just performed the most innocent act.

"My lord," the queen then said, taking a step towards him, "it may be
that as I am a woman, in spite of my desire and my will, I never find an
opportunity to repay you what you are doing to me; but," she added,
energetically striking her womb with her hand, "he whom I bear there, and
whose life you should have respected, since you respect my Majesty so
little, will one day revenge me for all these insults". Then, with a