ove the
din, was his heavy breathing. He had thrown off his doublet and was
fighting in his shirt sleeves, desperately, and it seemed hopelessly.
Soon the blood began to stream down his face, and the white linen of his
shirt was covered with red blotches.

No man can stand long against odds of three to one, but, for what seemed
a very long time to Frances, Hamilton defended himself gallantly, and
seemed to be giving back as much as he received.

But the fight could not have lasted much longer, and sooner or later,
George would have been cut to pieces, had not little Betty entered the
fray. No weapon had she, not even a teapot, but she ran bravely in, knelt
behind one of the ruffians, and when an opportunity came, seized him by
the foot, bringing him down to the floor with a thud. Quickly another
foot was in Betty's deadly grasp, and another man fell, leaving only one
assailant standing, whom Hamilton soon routed. The two men on the floor
attempted to rise, but Betty clung to their feet, and George's sword
quieted them.

When George was satisfied that the ruffians would not try again to
introduce themselves to the duchess and the princess, he wiped his sword
on Betty's five shilling table linen, remarking:--

"I thank you, Betty dear. You came into the fight just in time to save my
life. Another half minute and I should have needed a coffin." He was
breathing heavily and spoke with great effort.

When George had sheathed his sword, he started to leave the room without
speaking to Frances or Nelly, but before he reached the door, Frances
called out faintly:--

"Master Hamilton! Please wait, Master Hamilton!"

For the moment she forgot the cause of her hatred of him, forgot that he
had been implicated in Roger's murder, as she supposed, forgot everything
in all the broad world save her love for him, and that he had just been
at death's door in her defence.

Hamilton stopped a little short of the door, and Frances ran to him,
calling softly: "Oh, sir, wait! Forgive me! I do know you! A moment since
I did not know you, but now--Oh, I must have made a terrible mistake! I
have judged you wrongfully. I do know you! I do know you!"

Hamilton bowed and smiled grimly through the blood which was trickling
down his face, then standing proudly erect, answered:--

"Mistress Jennings is mistaken. She does not know me, nor have I the
honor of knowing the king's new favorite."

Here Betty cut the conversation short by saying