k; when you have done all your duties."

I took him to the door of the closet where the servants were waiting for
him; and even his gait seemed to me older.

Now James had very little--(though no Stuart could have none)--of his
family's charm. He looked no older, no sharper and no lighter than a
year ago; and he had learned nothing from adversity, as I presently
understood. He very graciously made me sit down; but in even that the
condescension was evident--not as his brother did it.

"You have been to Rome, again," he said pretty soon, when he had told
me how he did, and how the King was not so well as he had been. "And
what news do you bring with you?"

I told him first of the Holy Father's health, and delivered a few
compliments from one or two of the Cardinals, and spoke of three or four
general matters of the Court there. He nodded and asked some questions;
but I could see that he was thinking of something else.

"But you have more to say to me, have you not?" said he. "I had a letter
from the Cardinal Secretary--" he paused.

"Yes, Sir," said I. "The Holy Father was graciously pleased to put me at
Your Royal Highness' disposal, if you should wish to know His Holiness'
mind on one or two affairs."

I put it like this, as gently as I could; for indeed I had something
very like a scolding, in my pocket, for him. He saw through it, however,
for he lowered his eyelids a little sullenly as his way was, when he was
displeased.

"Well; let us hear it," said he. "What have I done wrong now?"

This would never do. His Royal Highness resembled a mule in this, at
least, that the harder he was pushed, the more he kicked and jibbed. He
must be drawn forward by some kind of a carrot, if he were to be moved.
I made haste to draw out my finest.

"His Holiness is inexpressibly consoled," I said, "by Your Royal
Highness' zeal for religion, and courage too, in that course. He bade me
tell you that he could say his _Nunc Dimittis_, if he could but see such
zeal and obedience in the rest of Europe."

The Duke smiled a little; and I could see that he was pleased. (It was
really necessary to speak to him in this manner; he would have resented
any such freedom or informality as I used towards the King.)

"These are the sweets before the medicine," he said. "And now for the
draught."

"Sir," I said, "there is no draught. There is but a word of warning His
Holiness--"

"Well; call it what you will. What is it, Mr. Mallock?"