ything,
so that he might show his gratitude for the generosity Esmond showed him.

"The k----, _he_ laughed," Frank said, pointing to the door where the
sleeper was, and speaking in a low tone, "I don't think he should have
laughed as he told me the story. As we rode along from Dover, talking in
French, he spoke about you, and your coming to him at Bar; he called you
'_le grand serieux_', Don Bellianis of Greece, and I don't know what
names; mimicking your manner" (here Castlewood laughed himself)--"and he
did it very well. He seems to sneer at everything. He is not like a king:
somehow, Harry, I fancy you are like a king. He does not seem to think
what a stake we are all playing. He would have stopped at Canterbury to
run after a barmaid there, had I not implored him to come on. He hath a
house at Chaillot where he used to go and bury himself for weeks away from
the queen, and with all sorts of bad company," says Frank, with a demure
look; "you may smile, but I am not the wild fellow I was; no, no, I have
been taught better," says Castlewood devoutly, making a sign on his
breast.

"Thou art my dear brave boy," says Colonel Esmond, touched at the young
fellow's simplicity, "and there will be a noble gentleman at Castlewood so
long as my Frank is there."

The impetuous young lad was for going down on his knees again, with
another explosion of gratitude, but that we heard the voice from the next
chamber of the august sleeper, just waking, calling out:--"_Eh, La-Fleur,
un verre d'eau_"; his Majesty came out yawning:--"A pest," says he, "upon
your English ale; 'tis so strong that, _ma foi_, it hath turned my head."

The effect of the ale was like a spur upon our horses, and we rode very
quickly to London, reaching Kensington at nightfall. Mr. Esmond's servant
was left behind at Rochester, to take care of the tired horses, whilst we
had fresh beasts provided along the road. And galloping by the prince's
side the colonel explained to the Prince of Wales what his movements had
been; who the friends were that knew of the expedition; whom, as Esmond
conceived, the prince should trust; entreating him, above all, to maintain
the very closest secrecy until the time should come when his royal
highness should appear. The town swarmed with friends of the prince's
cause; there were scores of correspondents with St. Germains; Jacobites
known and secret; great in station and humble; about the Court and the
queen; in the Parliament, Ch