been in it."

They reached the stairs, took their place in a wherry, and as they
leaned back and the waterman tugged at his oars, against tide now, Frank
said thoughtfully:

"I say, what would have happened if somebody had pointed us out?"

"We should have been locked up of course, and been taken before the
magistrate to-morrow. Then it would all have come out about our being
there, and--ha--ha--ha!--the Prince would have had vacancies for two
more pages.--I shouldn't have cared."

"I should," said Frank quickly, as he saw in imagination the pained
faces of father and mother.

"Well, of course, so should I. Don't take any notice of what I said.
Besides, we can be so useful as we are."

"How?" said Frank thoughtfully. "It always seems to me that we are but
a couple of ornaments, and of no use at all."

"Ah! wait," said Andrew quietly. Then, as if feeling that he had been
in his excitement letting his tongue run far too fast, he turned to his
companion, and said gently:

"You are the son of a gallant officer and a beautiful lady, and I know
you would not say a word that would injure a friend."

"I hope not," said Frank, rather huskily.

"I'm sure you would not, or I should not have spoken out as I have. But
don't take any notice; you see, a man can't help talking politics at a
time like this. Well, when will you come to the city again?"

"Never, if I can help it," said Frank shortly; and that night in bed he
lay sleepless for hours, thinking of his companion's words, and grasping
pretty clearly that King George the First had a personage in his palace
who was utterly unworthy of trust.

"And it's such a pity," said the boy, with a sigh. "I like Andrew
Forbes, though he is a bit conceited and a dandy; but it seems as if I
ought to speak to somebody about what I know. My father--my mother?
There is no one else I should like to trust with such a secret. But he
has left it to my honour, and I feel pulled both ways. What ought I to
do?"

He fell asleep at last with that question unanswered, and when he awoke
the next morning the thought repeated itself with stronger force than
before, "Why, he must be at heart a traitor to the King!" and once more
in dire perplexity Frank Gowan asked himself that question, "What shall
I do?"

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE OFFICER OF THE GUARDS.

It would not take much guessing to arrive at the course taken by Frank
Gowan. He cudgelled his brains well, being in a kind of