oom with a letter.

"Hah!" she cried, snatching it from the woman's hands.

"And the nurse says, my lady, may she come in now?"

"No, no; I cannot see her. Go!" cried Lady Gowan imperiously; and she
tore open the letter, as the woman left the room. "Hah! See, see,
Frank! It is an order signed by the King himself. With the Princess's
dear love and condolence. Heaven bless her! But oh! Look!"

Frank took the order and read it quickly.

It was for Lady Gowan, alone and unattended, to be admitted to the
prisoner's cell for one hour only on the following day.

"I must write and appeal again, my boy. You must be with me."

"No, mother," said Frank sadly. "I was with my father last night. This
visit should be for you alone."

She looked at him half resentfully, and then drew him to her breast.

Before he left her he once more drew from her the promise that she would
fulfil the instructions he gave her, and call in Queen Anne Street, go
up, see Drew Forbes, and take the message from his father.

"I don't understand it," said the lad to himself, as he left his
mother's apartments; "but it must mean something respecting my father's
prospects of escape--some instructions perhaps. Oh, everything must
give way now to saving his life."

Then thinking and thinking till his brain began to swim, he went to his
own room, feeling utterly exhausted, but unable to find rest.

In the morning he ran round, and found that the doctor was with his
mother; and as the great physician came out he shook hands with the lad.

"Yes?" he said smiling; "you wish to know whether I think Lady Gowan
will be able to go and pay that visit this afternoon? Most certainly.
Her illness is principally from anxiety, and I have no hesitation in
saying that she would be worse if I forbade her leaving her apartments.
I will be here to see her in the evening after her return."

Frank entered his mother's room to find her wonderfully calm, but there
was a peculiarly wild look of excitement in her eyes; and as the lad
gazed inquiringly at her, she said softly:

"Have no fear, dear. I shall be strong enough to bear it. You will
come, and see me start! The carriage will be here at two."

"And you will go round home first?" said Frank softly.

"Yes," she cried, with the excited look in her eyes seeming to grow more
intense. "But, my boy, my boy, if I could only have you with me! Frank
dear, we must save him. But do you think that these p