it was indeed
as the lackey had said, closed within.

"It may have been opened and shut afterwards," says poor Esmond; "the
foundress of our family let our ancestor in in that way."

"What will you do, Harry, if--if what that fellow saith should turn out
untrue?" The young man looked scared and frightened into his kinsman's
face; I dare say it wore no very pleasant expression.

"Let us first go see whether the two stories agree," says Esmond; and
went in at the passage and opened the door into what had been his own
chamber now for wellnigh five-and-twenty years. A candle was still
burning, and the Prince asleep dressed on the bed--Esmond did not care
for making a noise. The Prince started up in his bed, seeing two men
in his chamber. "Qui est la" says he, and took a pistol from under his
pillow.

"It is the Marquis of Esmond," says the Colonel, "come to welcome his
Majesty to his house of Castlewood, and to report of what hath happened
in London. Pursuant to the King's orders, I passed the night before
last, after leaving his Majesty, in waiting upon the friends of the
King. It is a pity that his Majesty's desire to see the country and to
visit our poor house should have caused the King to quit London without
notice yesterday, when the opportunity happened which in all human
probability may not occur again; and had the King not chosen to ride to
Castlewood, the Prince of Wales might have slept at St. James's."

"'Sdeath! gentlemen," says the Prince, starting off his bed, whereon he
was lying in his clothes, "the Doctor was with me yesterday morning, and
after watching by my sister all night, told me I might not hope to see
the Queen."

"It would have been otherwise," says Esmond with another bow; "as, by
this time, the Queen may be dead in spite of the Doctor. The Council
was met, a new Treasurer was appointed, the troops were devoted to the
King's cause; and fifty loyal gentlemen of the greatest names of this
kingdom were assembled to accompany the Prince of Wales, who might have
been the acknowledged heir of the throne, or the possessor of it by this
time, had your Majesty not chosen to take the air. We were ready; there
was only one person that failed us, your Majesty's gracious--"

"Morbleu, Monsieur, you give me too much Majesty," said the Prince, who
had now risen up and seemed to be looking to one of us to help him to
his coat. But neither stirred.

"We shall take care," says Esmond, "not much oftener to