I come here to receive insults?"

"To confer them, may it please your Majesty," says the colonel, with a
very low bow, "and the gentlemen of our family are come to thank you."

"_Malediction!_" says the young man, tears starting into his eyes with
helpless rage and mortification. "What will you with me, gentlemen?"

"If your Majesty will please to enter the next apartment," says Esmond,
preserving his grave tone, "I have some papers there which I would gladly
submit to you, and by your permission I will lead the way;" and, taking
the taper up, and backing before the prince with very great ceremony, Mr.
Esmond passed into the little chaplain's room, through which we had just
entered into the house:--"Please to set a chair for his Majesty, Frank,"
says the colonel to his companion, who wondered almost as much at this
scene, and was as much puzzled by it, as the other actor in it. Then going
to the crypt over the mantelpiece, the colonel opened it, and drew thence
the papers which so long had lain there.

"Here, may it please your Majesty," says he, "is the patent of Marquis
sent over by your royal father at St. Germains to Viscount Castlewood, my
father: here is the witnessed certificate of my father's marriage to my
mother, and of my birth and christening; I was christened of that religion
of which your sainted sire gave all through life so shining example. These
are my titles, dear Frank, and this what I do with them: here go baptism
and marriage, and here the marquisate and the august sign-manual, with
which your predecessor was pleased to honour our race." And as Esmond
spoke he set the papers burning in the brasier. "You will please, sir, to
remember," he continued, "that our family hath ruined itself by fidelity
to yours: that my grandfather spent his estate, and gave his blood and his
son to die for your service; that my dear lord's grandfather (for lord you
are now, Frank, by right and title too) died for the same cause; that my
poor kinswoman, my father's second wife, after giving away her honour to
your wicked perjured race, sent all her wealth to the king; and got in
return that precious title that lies in ashes, and this inestimable yard
of blue ribbon. I lay this at your feet and stamp upon it: I draw this
sword, and break it and deny you; and, had you completed the wrong you
designed us, by Heaven I would have driven it through your heart, and no
more pardoned you than your father pardoned Monmouth. Frank