g
company to-night at Golden Square. If he is trimming, others are true; the
queen hath no more fits, but is abed now, and more quiet. Be ready against
morning, when I still hope all will be well."

The prince came home shortly after the messenger who bore this billet had
left the house. His royal highness was so much the better for the bishop's
liquor, that to talk affairs to him now was of little service. He was
helped to the royal bed; he called Castlewood familiarly by his own name;
he quite forgot the part upon the acting of which his crown, his safety,
depended. 'Twas lucky that my Lady Castlewood's servants were out of the
way, and only those heard him who would not betray him. He inquired after
the adorable Beatrix, with a royal hiccup in his voice; he was easily got
to bed, and in a minute or two plunged in that deep slumber and
forgetfulness with which Bacchus rewards the votaries of that god. We
wished Beatrix had been there to see him in his cups. We regretted,
perhaps, that she was gone.

One of the party at Kensington Square was fool enough to ride to Hounslow
that night, _coram latronibus_, and to the inn which the family used
ordinarily in their journeys out of London. Esmond desired my landlord not
to acquaint Madam Beatrix with his coming, and had the grim satisfaction
of passing by the door of the chamber where she lay with her maid, and of
watching her chariot set forth in the early morning. He saw her smile and
slip money into the man's hand who was ordered to ride behind the coach as
far as Bagshot. The road being open, and the other servant armed, it
appeared she dispensed with the escort of a second domestic; and this
fellow, bidding his young mistress adieu with many bows, went and took a
pot of ale in the kitchen, and returned in company with his brother
servant, John Coachman, and his horses, back to London.

They were not a mile out of Hounslow when the two worthies stopped for
more drink, and here they were scared by seeing Colonel Esmond gallop by
them. The man said in reply to Colonel Esmond's stern question, that his
young mistress had sent her duty; only that, no other message: she had had
a very good night, and would reach Castlewood by nightfall. The colonel
had no time for further colloquy, and galloped on swiftly to London,
having business of great importance there, as my reader very well knoweth.
The thought of Beatrix riding away from the danger soothed his mind not a
little. His