in solving them."

As she spoke, the room was suddenly filled with savoury odour. The
moon-faced landlord had again appeared, flourishing a platter containing
two finely roasted chickens. His face glowed with pride and ale.

"The court's famished," exclaimed Charles, as he greeted the inn-keeper;
"proceed!"

"Two capons! I have it," triumphantly thought Portsmouth, as she
reflected upon a riddle she had once heard in far-off France. It could
not be known in England. Nothing so clever could be known in England.
She looked contemptuously at Nell, and then at the two chickens, as she
propounded it.

"Let your wits find then three capons on this plate."

"Three chickens!" cried Charles, in wonderment, closely scrutinizing the
two fowl upon the plate and then looking up inquiringly at the Duchess.
"There are but two."

Nell only gurgled.

"Another glass, landlord, and I'll see four," she said. "Here's to you
two, and to me too." She drank gaily to her toast.

"That is not the answer, madame," coldly retorted the Duchess.

"Are we come to blows over two innocent chickens?" asked Charles,
somewhat concerned still for the outcome. "Bring on your witnesses."
"This is one chicken, your Majesty," declared the Duchess. "Another's
two; and two and one make three."

With much formality and something of the air of a conjurer, she counted
the first chicken and the second chicken and then recounted the first
chicken, in such a way as to make it appear that there were three birds
in all.

The King, who was ill at figures, like all true spendthrifts, sat
confused by her speech. Nell laughed again. The landlord, who was in and
out, stopped long enough to enter upon his bill, in rambling characters,
"3 chickens." This was all his dull ear had comprehended. He then
piously proceeded on his way.

"Gadso!" exclaimed the King, woefully. "It is too much for me."

"Pooh, pooh, 'tis too simple for you, Sire," laughed Nell. "I solved it
when a child. Here is my bird; and here is your bird; and our dearest
Duchess shall sup on her third bird!"

Nell quickly spitted one chicken upon a huge fork and so removed it to
her own plate. The second chicken, she likewise conveyed to his
Majesty's. Then, with all the politeness which she only could summon,
she bowed low and offered the empty platter to the Duchess.

Portsmouth struck it to the board angrily with her gloved hand and
steadied herself against the table.

"Hussy!" she hissed,