so
many officers coming and going; but I'll send in my name."

Frank followed him into the anteroom, the place looking strange to him,
and seeming as if it were a year since he had been there last, a fancy
assisted by the fact that some five-and-twenty officers, whose faces
were strange, stood waiting their turns when Captain Murray sent in his
name by a gentleman in attendance.

But, bad as the prospect looked, they did not have long to wait, for, at
the end of about a quarter of an hour, the attendant came out, passing
over all those who looked up eagerly ready to answer to their names, and
walked to where Captain Murray was seated talking in a low voice to
Frank.

"His Royal Highness will see you at once, gentlemen."

Frank did not feel in the slightest degree nervous as he entered, but
followed the captain with his head erect, ready to speak out and say
that for which he had come, when the Prince condescended to hear; but he
took no notice of the boy at first, raising his head at last from his
writing, and saying:

"Well, Captain Murray, what news?"

"None, your Royal Highness," said the soldier bluffly. "I have only
come to bring Frank Gowan, your page, before you."

"Eh? Oh yes. The boy who was so impudent, and told me I was no speaker
of the truth."

"I beg your Royal Highness's pardon."

"And you ought, boy. What more have you to say?"

"That I was wrong, sir. I believed it could not be true. I have found
out since that it was as you said."

"Hah! You ought always to believe what a royal personage says--eh,
Murray?"

The captain bowed, and smiled grimly.

"Don't agree with me," said the Prince sharply. "Well, boy, you are
very sorry, eh?"

"Yes, your Royal Highness, I am very sorry," said Frank firmly. "I know
better now, and I apologise to you."

The Prince, moving himself round in his chair, frowning to hide a
feeling of amusement, stared hard at the lad as if to look him down, and
frowned in all seriousness as he found the boy looked him full in the
eyes without a quiver of the lid.

"Humph! So you, my page, consider it your duty to come and apologise to
me for doubting my word?"

"Yes, your Highness, and to ask your forgiveness."

"And suppose I refuse to give it to so bold and impudent a boy, what
then?" and he gazed hard once more in the lad's flushing face.

"I should be very, very sorry, sir; for you and the Princess have been
very good and kind to my poor mother and m