ssuade her.

The court was all at Greenwich, and nobody at Bridewell, so Mary
thought they could disguise themselves as orange girls and easily make
the trip without any one being the wiser.

It was then, as now, no safe matter for even a man to go unattended
through the best parts of London after dark, to say nothing of
Billingsgate, that nest of water-rats and cut-throats. But Mary did
not realize the full danger of the trip, and would, as usual, allow
nobody to tell her.

She had threatened Jane with all sorts of vengeance if she divulged
her secret, and Jane was miserable enough between her fears on either
hand; for Mary, though the younger, held her in complete subjection.
Despite her fear of Mary, Jane asked me to go to London and follow
them at a distance, unknown to the princess. I was to be on duty that
night at a dance given in honor of the French envoys who had just
arrived, bringing with them commission of special ambassador to de
Longueville to negotiate the treaty of marriage, and it was impossible
for me to go. Mary was going partly to avoid this ball, and her wilful
persistency made Henry very angry. I regretted that I could not go,
but I promised Jane I would send Brandon in my place, and he would
answer the purpose of protection far better than I. I suggested that
Brandon take with him a man, but Jane, who was in mortal fear of Mary,
would not listen to it. So it was agreed that Brandon should meet Jane
at a given place and learn the particulars, and this plan was carried
out.

Brandon went up to London and saw Jane, and before the appointed time
hid himself behind a hedge near the private gate through which the
girls intended to take their departure from Bridewell.

They would leave about dusk and return, so Mary said, before it grew
dark.

The citizens of London at that time paid very little attention to the
law requiring them to hang out their lights, and when it was dark it
_was_ dark.

Scarcely was Brandon safely ensconced behind a clump of arbor vitae
when whom should he see coming down the path toward the gate but his
grace, the Duke of Buckingham. He was met by one of the Bridewell
servants who was in attendance upon the princess.

"Yes, your grace, this is the gate," said the girl. "You can hide
yourself and watch them as they go. They will pass out on this path.
As I said, I do not know where they are going; I only overheard them
say they would go out at this gate just before dark.