emblazoned on the ceiling; and to know that it was indeed I, Roger
Mallock, who lay there, with a man within call; and a coronet, if I
would have it, within reach. It was not till then, I think, that I
understood how swift had been my rise; for here was I, but just
twenty-seven years old, and in England but the better part of six years.
Yet, even then, more than half my thoughts were of Dolly, and of how she
would look in a peeress' robes. I even determined what my title should
be--taken from my French estates in the village of Malmaison, in
Normandy, so foolish and trifling are a man's thoughts at such a time.
One thing, however, I resolved; and that was to say nothing at all of
all this either to Dolly or her father. It should be a wedding gift to
the one, and a consolation to the other; for dearly would my Cousin Tom
love to speak of his son-in-law the Viscount, or even the plain Lord
Malmaison. As for His Majesty's death before another year, I thought
nothing of that; for what young man of twenty-seven years of age thinks
ever that anyone will die? Even should he die too--which I prayed God
might not be yet!--there was His Royal Highness to follow; and I had
served him, all things considered, pretty near as well as his brother.

So, then, I lay in thought, hearing a fountain play somewhere without my
windows, and the rustle of the wind in the limes that stood along the
Privy Garden. I heard midnight strike from the Clock-Tower at the
further end of the palace, before I slept; and presently after the cry
of the watchman that "all was well, and a fair night."

CHAPTER II

It was not until the third day after my coming to town that I had
audience of the Duke--in the evening after supper, having bidden
good-bye that morning, with a very heavy heart, to my cousins, at
Aldgate, whither I had escorted them. I had promised Dolly I would come
when I could; but God knew when that would be!

Even by then, I think, I had become accustomed to my new surroundings. I
had made no friends indeed, for that was expressly contrary to my
desires, since a man on secret service must be very slow to do so; but I
had made a number of acquaintances even in that short time, and had
renewed some others. I had had a word or two with Sir George Jeffreys,
now a long time Lord Chief Justice, in Scroggs' old place; and found him
a very brilliant kind of man, of an extraordinary handsomeness, and no
less extraordinary power--not at all