een so long a prisoner,
that I seized the occasion of a promenade on horseback, and my horse
naturally bore me towards you. I found you a queen in your little court,
where you deigned to entertain me. Present my homages to your maids of
honour. I sighed as you slept, under the window of your chamber, and then
retired to seek rest in my own. It was there that these gentlemen
agreeably roused me. Yes, milords, for that is a happy day that makes a
prince acquainted, at whatever cost to his vanity, with such a noble heart
as that of the Marquis of Esmond. Mademoiselle, may we take your coach to
town? I saw it in the hangar, and this poor marquis must be dropping with
sleep."

"Will it please the king to breakfast before he goes?" was all Beatrix
could say. The roses had shuddered out of her cheeks; her eyes were
glaring; she looked quite old. She came up to Esmond and hissed out a word
or two:--"If I did not love you before, cousin," says she, "think how I
love you now." If words could stab, no doubt she would have killed Esmond;
she looked at him as if she could.

But her keen words gave no wound to Mr. Esmond; his heart was too hard. As
he looked at her, he wondered that he could ever have loved her. His love
of ten years was over; it fell down dead on the spot, at the Kensington
tavern, where Frank brought him the note out of _Eikon __ Basilike_. The
prince blushed and bowed low, as she gazed at him, and quitted the
chamber. I have never seen her from that day.

Horses were fetched and put to the chariot presently. My lord rode
outside, and as for Esmond he was so tired that he was no sooner in the
carriage than he fell asleep, and never woke till night, as the coach came
into Alton.

As we drove to the "Bell Inn" comes a mitred coach with our old friend
Lockwood beside the coachman. My Lady Castlewood and the bishop were
inside; she gave a little scream when she saw us. The two coaches entered
the inn almost together; the landlord and people coming out with lights to
welcome the visitors.

We in our coach sprang out of it, as soon as ever we saw the dear lady,
and above all, the doctor in his cassock. What was the news? Was there yet
time? Was the queen alive? These questions were put hurriedly, as Boniface
stood waiting before his noble guests to bow them up the stair.

"Is she safe?" was what Lady Castlewood whispered in a flutter to Esmond.

"All's well, thank God," says he, as the fond lady took his hand and