nothing of the money collected from Empson,
Dudley, and the other commissioners. There is nothing to give unless
it be the titles and estate of the late Duke of Suffolk. Perhaps the
king will give these to your paragon, if you will paint him in as fair
a light as you have drawn him for me." Then throwing back her head
with a laugh, "Ask him."

"It would be none too much for his deserts," I replied, falling in
with her humor.

"We will so arrange it then," went on Mary, banteringly; "Captain
Brandon no longer, but Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. How sounds
it, Master Caskoden?"

"Sweet in my ears," I replied.

"I really believe you would have the king's crown for him, you absurd
man, if you could get it. We must have so interesting a person at
court; I shall at least see that he is presented to the queen at once.
I wonder if he dances; I suppose not. He has probably been too busy
cutting and thrusting." And she laughed again at her own pleasantry.

When the mirth began to gather in her face and the dimples came
responsive to her smiles; when she threw back her perfectly poised
head, stretching her soft, white throat, so full and round and
beautiful, half closing her big brown eyes till they shone again from
beneath the shade of those long, black sweeping lashes; when her red
lips parted, showing her teeth of pearl, and she gave the little clap
of her hands--a sort of climax to the soft, low, rippling laugh--she
made a picture of such exquisite loveliness that it is no wonder men
were fools about her, and caught love as one catches a contagion. I
had it once, as you already know, and had recovered. All that
prevented a daily relapse was my fair, sweet antidote, Jane, whose
image rested in my heart, a lasting safeguard.

"I wonder if your prodigy plays cards; that is, such as we ladies
play?" asked Mary. "You say he has lived much in France, where the
game was invented, but I have no doubt he would scorn to waste his
time at so frivolous a pursuit, when he might be slaughtering armies
single-handed and alone."

"I do not know as to his dancing and card-playing, but I dare venture
a wager he does both," I replied, not liking her tone of sarcasm. She
had yet to learn who Brandon was.

"I will hazard ten crowns," said Mary quickly, for she loved a wager
and was a born gambler.

"Taken," said I.

"We will try him on both to-morrow night in my drawing-room," she
continued. "You bring him up, but tell no one. I