hter from Kelly here stopped the speaker, who
seemed actually overwhelmed by the cool insolence of the friar.

'Leave me, sir; leave the room!' cried Charles Edward haughtily. 'Let
Lord Nairn--no, not him; let Murray of Blair, or Kinloch, attend me.'

Kelly never stirred nor uttered a word, but sat calm and motionless,
while Charles, breathing heavily from his recent outburst of passion,
lay back, half-exhausted, on the bed. After a few minutes he stretched
out his hand and caught his wine-glass; it was empty, and Kelly filled
it.

'I say, George,' cried he, after a pause, 'it must be growing late.
Shall we not have these people coming to our levee soon?'

'They 've come and gone, sire, six hours ago. I would not permit your
Majesty to be disturbed for such a pack of falsehearted sycophants; the
more that they sent such insolent messages, demanding as a right to be
received, and asking how long they were to wait your royal pleasure.'

'Did they so, George? Is this true?'

'True as Gospel. That Spaniard, with the red-brown beard, came even to
your Majesty's antechamber, and spoke so loud I thought he'd have awoke
you'; nor was Count Boyor much better-mannered----'

'Come and gone!' broke in Charles. 'What falsehoods will grow out of
this! You should have told me, Kelly. Health, ease, happiness--I 'd have
sacrificed all to duty. Ay, George, kings have duties like other men.
Were there many here?'

'I never saw one-half the number. The carriages filled the Corso to the
Piazza del Popolo. There was not a minister absent.'

'And of our own people?'

'They were all here. O'Sullivan, Barra, Clangavin----'

'Where was Tullybardine?--Ah! I forgot,' broke in Charles, with a deep
sigh. '"Here's to them that are gone," George, as the old song says. Did
they seem dissatisfied at my absence?--how did you explain it?'

'I said your Majesty was indisposed; that State affairs had occupied
you all the preceding night, and that you had at last fallen into a
slumber.'

'Was Glengariff among them?'

'You forget, sire. We buried him six weeks ago.'

'To be sure we did. Show me that glass, George--no, the looking-glass,
man--and light those tapers yonder.'

Kelly obeyed, but with an evident reluctance, occupying time, so as to
withdraw the other's attention from his project. This stratagem did not
succeed, and Charles waited patiently till his orders were fulfilled,
when, taking the mirror in his hand, he stared long and st