embled with agitation, and would have interrupted the Protector's more
slow, but not less sure, proceedings, had he not been prevented by a
timely check from Cromwell, who bent his brow towards him with a
peculiar and warning expression.

"It cannot be supposed, Sir Willmott," he observed, in a calm, and even
friendly tone, "but that I regret exceedingly being compelled to trouble
you in this manner, and at such a time. You will be made aware that I
have been called upon to perform a double duty; first, to my worthy and
excellent friend Manasseh Ben Israel, with the nature of whose
suspicions (it maketh a Christian soul shudder to think upon it) you are
already acquainted--and next, to the lady who was about to become your
wife. Her Highness has long and truly loved her; and she is, moreover,
somewhat related (although only after the Episcopalian fashion) to my
most beloved daughter. I was, therefore, bound to have especial care
concerning the maiden's bridal."

"The Lady Frances Cromwell could have informed your Highness that
Mistress Constantia was, of her own free will, a party to the ceremony."

"I do not dispute it. Now our business is to satisfy the mind of our
friend here, as to your alleged conduct towards his only child. It is a
noble matter in our laws, and one that we may well be proud of, that, by
God's blessing, every man is considered innocent until he be proven
guilty. The Lord forbid that I should lay aught of sin unto your
charge!--you, who have appeared at all times a sure and a safe prop unto
our Commonwealth. Doubtless you saw the lady--Zillah: say you not,
worthy Rabbi, that the maiden's name was Zillah?"

"Even so," replied the Jew, with a bitter sigh; "she was named after her
mother."

"You, doubtless, saw her, and, struck by her beauty, which we hear was
most marvellous, paid her more courtesy than was quite fitting in a
betrothed man. But Satan lays many snares for the unwary, and beauty is
a peril that few men altogether escape. Verily, it is of the evil one.
But there are excuses; at least there may be excuses, especially in such
a land as France, where temptation assumes every seducing form; and a
young woman, like this lady, might have been easily led to believe your
courtliness to be that of the heart, whereas it was only that of the
manner."

The rabbi stood aghast, his friend Cromwell talked in a tone so much
more moderate than he had expected--he knew not what to think. Even
Burre