I had a new man to help me now．The Earl of Bothwell—a strong，clever man． He was older than me；he was not a boy like Darnley． He worked hard and he could think． He was a good fighter and he was not afraid of other men． Per－haps you are like him， James， my son？
In January your father，Darnley，was ill in Glasgow．I went to see him， and took him back to Edinburgh． He was unhappy， and afraid of people． He saw enemies behind every door． Poor stupid boy！ He said he loved me again． I was an－gry， but I felt sorry for him， too． He was very ill．
‘It's not far now， Henry，’I said．‘You can sleep in the castle．’
‘No， not there， please， Mary！’he said．‘I don't want to go into the castle． I'm afraid of it！’
‘But where do you want to go？’I asked．
‘Find me a little house outside the town， and stay with me there，’he said．‘We can be happy there．’
So I found him a small house called Kirk o’Field，outside Edinburgh． He stayed there， in a room upstairs， and some－times I slept in a room downstairs． Darnley was often afraid，and I visited him every day． Slowly， he got better．
On Sunday，9th February， there was a big wedding in Ed－inburgh． After the wedding， Bothwell and I walked out to Kirk o’Field to see Darnley and talk to him． Everyone sang，and laughed， and was very happy．
At ten o'clock I was tired．‘Good night， my lords，’I said．
‘I'm going downstairs to bed．’
Lord Bothwell put his hand on my arm．‘Your Majesty，’he said．‘You can't sleep here now．Don't you remember？Peo－ple are dancing and singing in town tonight—everyone wants you to go．’
‘Oh， yes． I forgot，’I said．‘Of course， people want to see me there． So， good night， Henry． Sleep well．’
Darnley was very unhappy．‘Please， Mary my love， don't go！’he said．‘Don't leave me here！’
But I did not love him now． I remembered the night when Riccio died．So I smiled and said，‘Good night，Henry．Be a man now．don't be afraid of the dark．’
Then I went downstairs with Lord Bothwell． Outside the house， we met one of Bothwell's men． He looked afraid， and there was something black on his face and hands．
‘Jesus， man， how dirty you are！’I said．‘Don't come near me with those hands．’
‘No， my lady， of course not，’he said． He looked at Both－well for a minute， and then ran away quickly． I laughed， got on my horse， and forgot about it．
I tell you before God， James， I did not kill your father．It was not me． I knew nothing about it—nothing！
I sang and danced in town， and then went to bed in Edin－burgh Castle． Then， at two o'clock in the morning， there was a sudden noise—a very big BANG！ Everybody heard it all through the town．
‘My God！’I said．‘What's that？’
Everyone ran out of their rooms．Lord Bothwell was down－stairs．‘Don't be afraid， ladies，’he said．‘My men are out－side—they're going to see what it is．’
After an hour he came to see me．‘Please sit down， my lady，’he said．‘I have some unhappy news．’
‘Yes，my lord．What is it？’
‘It's your husband， Lord Darnley． He is dead．’
‘But—how？ How did he die？ Who killed him？’
‘I don't know， my lady．That bang—that was his house，Kirk o’Field． It's not there any more．’
‘What？ And Darnley was inside？’
‘Well， no， my lady，’Bothwell said slowly．‘My men found him in the garden， not in the house． He is wearing only night clothes， and there is no blood on him． But he is dead． I am sorry．’
‘Take me out there！ I want to see him—now！’
‘Yes， my lady．’
I went out to Kirk o’Field in the early morning． There was no house now—no walls， no doors， no windows—nothing．And there in the garden， a long way from the house， was that poor dead boy， my husband．
I did not love him but I cried then． He was your father，James， and I did not kill him． I don't know who killed him，but he had many enemies in Scotland．
I was very afraid．I， too， had enemies， and I often slept there． Perhaps someone wanted to kill me， too．
现在，我又有一个人来帮我了。博思韦尔勋爵——一个健壮聪明的男人。他比我大；他不像达恩利那样像个小男孩。他工作努力且会思考。他是个勇士，他不怕别人。或许你像他，詹姆斯，我的儿子？
一月份，你的父亲，达恩利在格拉斯加生病了。我去看他，并把他带回爱丁堡。他很不愉快且害怕周围的人。每一扇门后面都有他的仇敌。可怜、愚蠢的男孩！他说他又爱我了。我很生气，但我也觉得对不住他。他病得很重。
“现在不远了，亨利，”我说。“你可以睡在城堡里。”
“不，我不睡那儿，求求你，玛丽！”他说。“我不想走进城堡。我怕！”
“但是你要去哪儿呢？”我问道。
“给我在镇外找一间小房子，我们一起呆在那儿，”他说。“我们在那里可以很幸福。”
于是，我在爱丁堡外给他找了一间叫柯克.欧菲尔德的小屋。他住在那边楼上的一间小房间里，而我有时候睡在楼下的房间里。达恩利经常感到恐惧。我每天都去看望他。渐渐地，他好转起来了。
2月9日，星期日，在爱丁堡有一个大型的婚礼。婚礼结束后，我和博思韦尔一起出来去柯克.欧菲尔德看望达恩利，陪他聊天。人们欢歌笑语，非常快乐。
十点钟了，我感到很累。“晚安，我的丈夫，我的勋爵，”我说道。“我下楼去睡了。”
博思韦尔勋爵抓住我的胳膊。“陛下，”他说。“现在你不能睡这儿。你难道忘了？今晚人们在镇上载歌载舞——每个人都想你去。”
“噢，对，我忘了，”我说。“当然，人们想在那儿见到我。好吧，晚安，亨利，睡个好觉。”
达恩利很不高兴。“玛丽，我亲爱的，请不要走！”他说。“不要留下我一人在这里！”
可是我现在不爱他了。我想起里奇奥被杀的那一晚。于是我笑着说，“晚安，亨利。现在要像个男子汉。不要害怕黑暗。”
于是我和博思韦尔勋爵下了楼。在房子外面，我们碰到了一个博思韦尔的人。他看起来很惊慌，脸上和手上沾了些黑乎乎的东西。
“上帝，你这个人多脏啊！”我说。“手这么脏，不要走近我。”
“是，夫人，当然不，”他说。他朝博思韦尔看了一眼，很快就跑开了。我笑了，我骑上我的马，就把这事给忘了。
在上帝面前，詹姆斯，我告诉你，我没有杀死你的父亲。不是我杀的。我对此一无所知——一点儿也不知道！
我在镇上又唱又跳，然后就睡在了爱丁堡城里。早晨两点钟，突然传来了呼的一声巨响！整个镇上的人都听见了。
“我的上帝啊！”我说。“那是什么声音？”
大家都从自己的房间里跑出来。博思韦尔勋爵下了楼。“不要害怕，夫人，”他说道。“我的人已经出去了——他们去看看到底是怎么回事。”
一个小时后他来见我。“请坐下，我的夫人，”他说道。“我有一些不愉快的消息告诉你。”
“好的，我的勋爵，是什么？”
“是你的丈夫，达恩利亲王。他死了。”
“可是——怎么会？他怎么死的？谁杀了他？”
“我不知道，我的夫人。那声巨响——就来自他的房子，柯克.欧菲尔德。它已不存在了。”
“什么？可达恩利在里面吗？”
“噢，他不在，我的夫人，”博思韦尔慢慢地说。
“我的人在花园里而不是在房子里发现了他。他只穿着睡衣，身上没有血迹。可他已经死了。我很难过。”
“把我带到那儿去！我想见他——现在！”
“好吧，我的夫人。”
清晨，我去了柯克.欧菲尔德。现在那里已经没有房子了——没有墙，没有门，没有窗户——什么也没有。而在花园里，离房子很远的地方，躺着那可怜的男孩的尸体——那就是我的丈夫。
虽然我不爱他，但那时候我哭了。他是你的父亲，詹姆斯，我没有杀他。我不知道是谁杀死了他，但他在苏格兰有很多仇敌。
我感到很害怕。我也有仇敌，而我经常睡在那里。或许有人也想杀我。