u
have bewitched me, wench. Sup with me within the hour--at--Ye Blue Boar
Inn. Can you find the place?"

There was mischief in Nell's voice as she leaned upon the balustrade.
She dropped a flower; he caught it.

"Sire, I can always find a rendezvous," she answered.

"You're the biggest rogue in England," laughed Charles.

"Of a _subject_, perhaps, Sire," replied Nell, pointedly.

"That is treason, sly wench," rejoined the King; but his voice grew
tender as he added: "but treason of the tongue and not the heart. Adieu!
Let that seal thy lips, until we meet."

He threw a kiss to the waiting lips upon the balcony.

"Alack-a-day," sighed Nell, sadly, as she caught the kiss. "Some one may
break the seal, my liege; who knows?"

"How now?" questioned Charles, jealously.

Nell hugged herself as she saw his fitful mood; for beneath mock
jealousy she thought she saw the germ of true jealousy. She laughed
wistfully as she explained: "It were better to come up and seal them
tighter, Sire."

"Minx!" he chuckled, and tossed another kiss.

The horn again echoed through the woods. He started.

"Now we'll despatch the affairs of England, brother; then we'll sup with
pretty Nelly. Poor brother James! Heaven bless him and his ostriches."

He turned and strode quickly through the trees and down the path; but,
as he went, ever and anon he called: "Ye Blue Boar Inn, within the
hour!"

Each time from the balcony in Nell's sweet voice came back--"Ye Blue
Boar Inn, within the hour! I will not fail you, Sire!"

Then she too disappeared. There was again a slamming of doors and much
confusion within the house. There were calls and sounds of running feet.

The door below the terrace opened suddenly, and Nell appeared breathless
upon the lawn--at her heels the constant Moll. Nell ran some steps down
the path, peering vainly through the woods after the departing King. Her
bosom rose and fell in agitation.

"Oh, Moll, Moll, Moll!" she exclaimed, fearfully. "He has been at
Portsmouth's since high noon. I could see it in his eyes." Her own eyes
snapped as she thought of the hated French rival, whom she had not yet
seen, but whose relation to the royal household, as she thought, gave
her the King's ear almost at will.

She walked nervously back and forth, then turned quickly upon her
companion, asking her, who knew nothing, a hundred questions, all in one
little breath. "What is she? How looks she? What is her charm, her
fascinatio