about to open to
admit another gentleman to the Prince's presence.

Before he was half-way there the captain's strong grasp was upon his
shoulder.

"What are you going to do, boy?" he said sternly.

"See the Prince myself. He must--he shall give me leave to go."

"Do you wish to destroy the last chance? Frank, for your mother's
sake!"

"No; don't make me struggle before all these people to get free," said
the boy firmly; but as he spoke the captain's last words stood out
before him in their real significance.

"For your mother's sake!"

He turned back without another word, and walked with his companion out
of the room and down into the courtyard without a word.

"Take me somewhere," he said, in a strange, dazed way. "My head feels
confused. I hardly know what I am saying."

Captain Murray drew the boy's hand through his arm, and made as if to
lead him to his quarters; but it meant passing crowded-together troops,
and, altering his mind, he walked with him sharply out into the Park,
till they reached a secluded place where there was a seat.

"Sit down, boy."

"Yes," said Frank obediently. "Now tell me, please."

"I was in there long, but there is little to tell you, boy," said the
captain, in a harsh, brusque way to conceal the agony of disappointment
he felt. "I appealed again and again to the Prince to give me an order
to admit us to the prison, but he sternly refused me, and I have angered
him terribly by my obstinate return to the assault. Frank boy, it is
like this. The Prince told me that, before your father joined the
Pretender, he had made a direct appeal, at his wife's wish, for your
father's pardon, and been refused. He says that now, after this open
act of rebellion, it is impossible for him to appeal again. That the
King is furious because one of the most important prisoners has been
allowed to escape--there is a rumour that it was Prince James Francis
himself--and that it would be madness to ask for any permission. Men
who rebel against their lawful sovereign have no wives or children; they
are outlaws without rights. That it is sad for those who love them, but
that they must suffer, as they have made others suffer by causing so
much blood to be shed."

"He said those cruel words?" said Frank, with his eyes flashing.

"Yes," said the captain sadly.

"Knowing what my poor mother suffers, and my despair?"

"He was angry, and spoke more hardly than he meant, my boy. There is
a