this?"

"The conditions you suggest are so probable that one hardly need ask
confirmation of the stars, and so reasonably to be expected are the
events you predict that, beyond question, stellar revelation will be in
accord with your desires. But the stars will say what they will say, and
I shall give King Charles the truth from whatever source it comes," said
Lilly, lifting his head in righteousness and posing as the embodiment of
truth.

"That is all I can ask," returned the Abbe, rising to close the
interview.

"All exceedingly reasonable--reasonable," answered Lilly, bowing.

We returned to the parlor, where we found Frances and Bettina awaiting
us, not patiently, if I could judge by their looks. I asked Lilly to
allow us to occupy the room undisturbed for an hour while the Abbe gave
certain instructions to Frances, but the Doctor did better for us. He
took us to a room enclosed in glass on the roof of his house, where we
could be by ourselves with the sun and the sky overhead, and all London
beneath us.

To this day I am not sure that Lilly did not know Hamilton, but if he
did, he concealed his knowledge completely, feeling, doubtless, that it
would be a dangerous bit of information to himself and of no benefit to
any one else. If George should be discovered by the king, Lilly could
honestly disclaim knowing him. If affairs turned to our desire, the
Doctor could lose nothing by his ignorance whether pretended or real. So
I doubt not he thanked us for the imposture, if he discovered it.

It is needless to say that Bettina, Frances, George, and I were very
pleased to be together once more. We spent a delightful hour in Lilly's
observatory, where we made our plans for the following day, which will
unfold in the order of their occurrence. A great deal of the time we were
all talking at once, but for some strange reason we were all silent when
George said laughingly, though nervously, that the French king had sent
word to Frances that we would pay her ten thousand pounds if George's
mission proved successful.

Having anticipated the possible necessity for quick action at the proper
time, George had brought with him two copies of a treaty, written in
Latin. He brought also plenary authority from the French king, under
the great Seal of France, authorizing Monsieur l'Abbe du Boise to sign,
execute, and deliver the treaty on the part of France and to receive
in return the treaty to be executed by the English king.