ithdrew it, you know, as
though impelled by modesty. After duly hanging my head and casting down
my eyes in a very spasm of shyness, I told the king that I hoped he would
accept the French king's offer, and reminded him that it might avert the
terrible consequences of war, in addition to putting ten thousand pounds
in my poor empty little purse. He said he would put the ten thousand
there for me, but I refused, saying that I had never before made a
request of him, and that if he did not see fit to grant this, I should
never make another, but should leave Whitehall at once."

"Ah! the little woman with a big motive pouts if the mountain moves too
slowly. I should like to have heard you talking to him," I said.

"And perhaps you would have spoiled it all," she answered. "We walked
down the path for perhaps three or four minutes, but at length the king
spoke, stammeringly, and said that if I would bring the treaty to his
closet this evening at nine o'clock, he would sign it."

"The dog!" I exclaimed.

"After a long pause, I answered hesitatingly, telling him that I could
not accede to his request, and that I withdrew my petition, craving
permission to leave Whitehall to-morrow. Thereupon he fell into an
ecstasy of entreaty, and when we parted he was very happy, for I had
promised to take the documents to him at nine o'clock. He said I was to
come to the privy stairs leading from the river to his closet and go up
to him for his signature and seal, when he would execute the treaty
immediately and send it by a trusted messenger to the Abbe du Boise."

"Ah, but how will you get away from the closet?" I asked.

"If he will permit me to be the messenger, I can easily escape, but
for fear he will not, you and George shall act as my watermen. Have a
boat waiting for me near the garden stairs at nine o'clock, and we'll go
by river to the king's private stairs. I'll go by myself to his closet
and will come back to you by some means with the signed treaty. And,
Baron Ned, have Betty with you. A woman is always braver with a woman
alongside, and Betty always brings us good luck. Then, too, she can steer
the boat; she knows the river as she knows her father's house. Remember,
nine o'clock, and be sure that Betty is with you."

I went back to George, and when I told him of Frances's plan, he said:--

"If she does not return from the king's closet as soon as we shall have
reason to expect her, we'll fetch her and make a page of hi