gracious lady
now in France is the admiration of your subjects."

A faint color glowed on the King's pale cheeks. He was indeed the
perfect, true lover of Henrietta Maria, and the greatest sorrow of
all the clustering sorrows that the civil war had brought him was her
absence from his side.

"It would be strange indeed if I did not love such a lady," he said,
gently; "but that lady is my queen, my wife, my comrade, my loyal
friend, while he you plead for is but an acquaintance of a few days,
and, moreover, in all thoughts and deeds your enemy--and mine."

Brilliana had now risen to her feet and she faced the king valiantly,
for she knew that she would have to plead hard and well.

"Your Majesty," she answered, "as for the acquaintanceship, one of
our poets has said, 'Whoever loves that loves not at first sight?'
and though indeed at first sight I was far from giving this gentleman
my love, I saw in him at once those qualities which in a man deserve
love. As for his enmity, we are told that we should love our
enemies."

A frown overspread the King's face and Brilliana faltered.

"I cannot claim for myself that wealth of charity," Charles said,
"that would make me love those that by rebellion and contumacy have
plunged poor England into war."

"Sire, sire," Brilliana sighed, "if you will but pardon this
gentleman I will promise you that I will never love another of your
Majesty's enemies."

Charles frowned.

"I do not like your loyalty. Why do you plead for the life of a
rebel?"

"I am your servant, none loyaller," Brilliana answered, boldly; "but
I am a woman, and I plead for the man I love."

"If you were truly loyal," Charles commented, "you could not love a
traitor."

Brilliana pressed her hands tightly against her breast and her face
flushed.

"Captain Cloud is not a traitor. He is honest before God."

Charles admired her pertinacity. Here was a woman who would not
lightly lose heart or change purpose.

"I will not wrangle with you," he said. "I think the gentleman
deserves death. But because I know very well what it is to love
truly, why, I will let you save him if you can."

Brilliana's voice was charged with gratitude. "Oh, your Majesty is
always noble. But how?"

Charles looked at her fixedly, touching his chin with the feather of
his quill. "Thuswise--only thuswise. You will persuade Captain Cloud
to return to his allegiance."

Brilliana's gratitude ebbed and her voice hardened. "I kno