James laid his hand, as if blessing him, upon the young man's head. The Prince of Wales immediately advanced, and the ambassador and Richmond retired.

Exasperated by the ill-success of the whole levée, and seized with forebodings of evil from the scene that he had witnessed, Buckingham hastened to the door through which the king had just disappeared, and found Richmond standing there, as if expecting

him.

Insolent fellow," cried the duke, "what have you ventured to do? By what right do you claim a share in that hour which belongs wholly to me? Justify your conduct, for I do not forget that you belong to a family which I hate and despise."

"Look around you, my lord duke," said Richmond coldly, "and you will see that this hour does not belong to you alone. King James has granted it to all his nobles, and I have received a part of it, of which you could not rob me. My conduct needs no excuse to you, at least not from one of the house of Nottingham, whose boys early become men."

46

Ha, child," cried Buckingham, can you use your sword? or has your mother sewn it into the sheath? Eh, child? answer,"

"You know," said Richmond, calmly, "that the only answer which you deserve is one which the sacredness of these walls prevents my giving. But you shall have it, since you wish it, for he is a coward who entices others when he is himself invulnerable."

"Ha!" cried the duke, beside himself with rage; and both had their hands on their swords when the Prince of Wales appeared suddenly between them, and said, in a loud and firm voice,

"The king commands peace and quiet!" And already had the French ambassador removed Richmond, and Buckingham was also carried away.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The autumnal fog hung like a gray curtain over every object on the morning of the day following the levée narrated in our last chapter, when a little troop of armed men stopped before a gate leading to the north wing of the palace at Whitehall. A few sound from a pipe gave the signal, and directly the gates were opened, and the party entered the courtyard. They all dismounted, and three of them followed the gate-keeper into the palace, whilst those left behind led the horses on one side, but without relieving them of their accoutrements. The three men proceeded through several rooms, in the older part of the palace, until they came to a long gallery, which showed, by the dust which had collected on the beautiful carving, that it was but rarely used.

"Through this gallery," said one of the men, "I passed in going to my first audience with Queen Elizabeth. Is not the library adjoining?" asked he of the guide.

"Yes, my lord," answered he: "the illustrious lady used often to walk up and down here, with her book in her hand, while foreigners, and even those of the highest rank, concealed themselves, in order to catch a glimpse of her through the windows which look into the anteroom."

The party advanced, and followed the porter into a room, which had evidently been a library, but which was now emptied of the treasures Elizabeth had collected there. The elder of the party approached a recess, where a desk was standing; he stood long silent before it, for his thoughts had turned to the great queen.

"How many wise decrees have gone forth from this place," said he at last, turning to his companions. "Who can acknowledge her greatness, without feeling that she was far before her age in mind; and does not this make us willing to forgive the weaknesses which were the consequences of that age? With one exception, her government was perfect. But this act her successor has forgiven; for

he could not find traces of her greatness without doing so; and now that his life is declining, it appears to me wrong to have troubled his last few hours as we did yesterday."

"Yes, my lord," answered the second," and how much haughtiness had we to overcome. If we only blame the duke, who always abuses us, we do nothing new. We must not forget that a son stands by the king's side: if the duke rules him as he has done his father, what a wide field for calamitous apprehension is opened before England, and before her who will be so soon be related to him. What more has the ambassador of France to do, after his work of yesterday?"

"Certainly," answered the elder one, smiling, "he will wait the events of this morning before he seals his despatches, for what happened yesterday was not unexpected by his court. At all risks, were I the French ambassador, I would advise the Princess Henrietta not to desire to be anything better, at her husband's court, than a good quiet housewife. I even believe that that was the advice which the Spanish ambassador gave to the Infanta, and that upon the instigation of an Englishman."

Now, in truth," laughed the other, "that is advising the French ambassador to do as the brave Englishman bids him.” "The consequences must decide whether such advice were to be trusted to."

"And yet I venture to say," answered the other, "that the star of that wise Englishman still shines over England; but it was heaven's will that our country should be united with France, instead of with Spain."

The conversation was here interrupted by the entrance of Master Porter, the chamberlain of the Prince of Wales. The elder of the party drew back, but the second advanced quickly towards him, saying,

"Master Porter brings us, I hope, good news?"

"You will be better able to judge when I have given you my message," answered Porter, bowing low to all. "I can simply say that his majesty wishes to receive the ambassador in his bed-room, and that the gentlemen who accompany him are to remain in the

anteroom; that is, if his excellency the ambassador declares them to belong to his suite."

"Very well, very well," said the marquis, laughing; "but de you think we shall be safe there?"

“I think the duke is somewhat angry with his royal highness the prince," said Porter, laughing, "and is now expecting a visit from him, to explain the events which occurred at yesterday's levée I conducted the prince to his majesty about half an hour ago; perhaps your excellency will allow me to inform them of your arrival ?"

"Everything is as we could wish," said the marquis; "let us hasten, then."

"I must beg you to remember," said Porter, "that no dependence can be placed upon the duke's humour, and that we dare not set any guard outside the anteroom, for fear of attracting attention. The prince would never forgive us, if the king were to be disturbed by any intrusion on the part of the duke. He was angry at what occurred yesterday, and does not wish the king to see the duke again. If the marquis desires it, we can, upon the king's authority, refuse every one admittance into the anteroom."

"Make me the bolt, my dear lord," said the younger one of the party," and I will hold fast till you drive me away."

"that

"I learnt yesterday, young man," said the lively marquis, you, like iron, easily give out sparks, but I should be sorry to expose so noble a metal. The post is a dangerous one."

"I do not seek danger, and I yesterday showed a little of my warmth without repenting of it; but to-day a higher interest impeis me than that which made me resist a careless, insolent fcol." "Trust to him," said the elder.

he promises."

"I know he is equal to what

"Well, then, show us the way: I know it not. My French cunning has not yet made me acquainted with the back-staircases in Whitehall."

CHAPTER XXVII.

"For God's sake, my dear marquis," exclaimed the old king, rising in his bed to receive the ambassador, "do not think that I was afraid of you yesterday; but it seemed to me so strange, that you should seize my hand in that way. It was against the etiquette due to a crowned head, although I consider you as the representative of my brother of France."

"But this one thing excuses my vehemence," said the marquis, "that it was my royal master who commanded me to take this step, and who also desired me to crave this audience. Will your majesty deign to receive this letter, which I bring you from my gracious master ?"

He knelt in order to present it.

"I beg you, my dear marquis, to rise. I permit you to sit down, and I am rejoiced at the friendship of my royal brother, although I do not approve of his communications respecting that poor young man, Buckingham, with whom all are angry, except my prince and I. Your letters have nearly made me angry with you; but if you could hear Buckingham himself, I think he would be able to justify his conduct. He dislikes Bristol simply out of love to me, because he knows that he deceived me, and brought on this war, and prevented the best match in Europe for my prince, which was shameful, for I loved Bristol as my oldest friend."

The king sobbed; and the marquis, after waiting a few moments, replied,

"My master has irresistible proofs that the Duke of Buckingham has regarded the whole affair in a false light, and that he has purposely done so, because he would not allow 'the earl to have a place in the heart of his old friend. It was impossible that my master could bear that your majesty should be annoyed by any suspicions of an old and faithful servant, which suspicions the duke endeavoured to strengthen, possibly out of jealous love to your majesty."