eward proves to be what I expect, I pray you come to me,
for, after this affair, I dare not set my foot in England."

At that moment we touched the other boat, and the Frenchmen grappled us
to hold us alongside. George had risen and was about to step aboard, when
Frances, catching him by the arm, drew him back and sprang aboard the
French boat ahead of him, saying:--

"I shall not wait for a letter. I am going with you now."

George followed her into the other boat, and as it drew away, I saw him
bending low to kiss her hand. Then he shouted "Good-by!" and soon we
could see nothing but the black water between us.

Betty began to weep, and after a moment I began to swear, for I did not
like to see my cousin go off in this manner. De Grammont relieved his
mind by a shrug of his shoulders, took the oar that George had abandoned,
and without a word we started up-stream again.

CHAPTER XIV

HER LADYSHIP'S SMILE

We landed at the Old Swan stairs below the Bridge on Lower Thames Street,
and went to the end of the Bridge, where De Grammont waited till I had
taken Bettina home.

When I returned to the Bridge, the count and I took coach, and after a
rapid journey across silent London, I arrived at the palace just as Old
Tom of Westminster was striking eleven.

I climbed over the porch to my closet and reached there none too soon,
for I was hardly in bed when my door opened and in walked the king
followed by two men bearing candles. I pretended to be in a deep sleep
and when aroused sprang from my bed seemingly half dazed and ready to
defend myself, till the king spoke, when, of course, I was humble enough.

"How long have you been here?" demanded the king.

"All night I suppose, your Majesty; what time is it now?"

"Past eleven!" the king answered.

"In what may I serve your Majesty?" I asked.

"By telling me the truth!" he said, glaring at me and whining out his
words. "Do you know anything about the attack on my closet this evening?"

Nothing is ever gained by denying, so I took a leaf from woman's logic,
and answered his question by another.

"An attack on your Majesty's closet?" I cried. Then after a long pause,
and with a manner of deep injury, I demanded: "Has anything untoward
befallen my cousin? I carried out your Majesty's instructions without
objection or protest. I intrusted her to your care, and it is my right
and my duty to demand an account of her and to hold your Majesty
responsible for h