cello uppermost; but ere I had
completed my request, I found I was left alone, and in darkness,
Presently, two or three fellows entered, whom, by their language, which
I in some sort understood, I perceived to be Germans, and under the
influence of the Duke of Buckingham. I heard them receive from the
leader a charge how they were to deport themselves, when they should
assume the concealed arms--and--for I will do the Duke no wrong--I
understood their orders were precise, not only to spare the person of
the King, but also those of the courtiers, and to protect all who
might be in the presence against an irruption of the fanatics. In other
respects, they had charge to disarm the Gentlemen-pensioners in the
guard-room, and, in fine, to obtain the command of the Court."

The King looked disconcerted and thoughtful at this communication, and
bade Lord Arlington see that Selby quietly made search into the
contents of the other cases which had been brought as containing musical
instruments. He then signed to the dwarf to proceed in his story, asking
him again and again, and very solemnly, whether he was sure that he
heard the Duke's name mentioned, as commanding or approving this action.

The dwarf answered in the affirmative.

"This," said the King, "is carrying the frolic somewhat far."

The dwarf proceeded to state, that he was carried after his
metamorphosis into the chapel, where he heard the preacher seemingly
about the close of his harangue, the tenor of which he also mentioned.
Words, he said, could not express the agony which he felt when he found
that his bearer, in placing the instrument in a corner, was about to
invert its position, in which case, he said, human frailty might have
proved too great for love, for loyalty, for true obedience, nay, for the
fear of death, which was like to ensue on discovery; and he concluded,
that he greatly doubted he could not have stood on his head for many
minutes without screaming aloud.

"I could not have blamed you," said the King; "placed in such a posture
in the royal oak, I must needs have roared myself.--Is this all you have
to tell us of this strange conspiracy?" Sir Geoffrey Hudson replied
in the affirmative, and the King presently subjoined--"Go, my little
friend, your services shall not be forgotten. Since thou hast crept
into the bowels of a fiddle for our service, we are bound, in duty and
conscience, to find you a more roomy dwelling in future."

"It was a viol