her own protection.
When a woman of brains sets out to hoodwink a man, he usually gets what
he deserves, even though he be an absolute king."

"Well, be off, and back again at the earliest possible moment," said
George, resigning himself, under compulsion, to the hard conditions the
situation imposed.

When I left Hamilton, I hastened to Frances and found her expecting me.
She told me her story in a few words:--"The treaty and the bill of
exchange, I believe you call it, are to be placed in my hands to-night
at eight o'clock," she said. "I am trembling now, but I shall be calm
when the time comes. I am to take the documents to the king's closet at
nine o'clock, and am to enter by way of the privy stairs from the river."

"Yes, yes, I know," I answered, and then I told her briefly of the king's
orders.

"You to bring me the papers!" she exclaimed, laughing softly.

"Yes," I answered. "It completes the jest, if it prove to be one. But
tell me, what do you propose to do when you go to the king's closet?"

"You see it was this way," she began, sitting down and smoothing out her
skirts; "I so arranged it that I met his Majesty soon after I saw you
pass with your hat in your hand. He was ready enough to take me for a
walk in the garden, and when he fell under the influence of the sun and
the flowers, he began, as usual, to protest his love. I gave him full
rein,--full rein, Baron Ned,--and after he had talked and protested a
great deal, I told him that he might prove his regard for me if he would.
He asked me in what manner, and said that he would do whatever I asked.

"'It is this, your Majesty,' I answered hesitatingly. 'By accident I met
the Abbe du Boise at Lilly's house yesterday. It seems he had heard of
the kind friendship your Majesty has shown me, and doubtless hoping to
use me, offered me ten thousand pounds if I succeeded in inducing your
Majesty to accept the French king's offer for the city of Dunkirk. Ever
since my interview with him, I have been trying to see your Majesty,
hoping that you might find the information useful, and desiring your
Majesty to know that I was to receive the money in case you accepted,
else I might seem false to my king.'"

I laughed and said: "I knew you would be able to wheedle him. A little
woman with a big motive is like faith, in that she can move mountains."

"Yes, yes, it is easy enough," she answered. "He took my hand, and I
permitted him to hold it for a moment, then w