en a ready help to
kings."

Charles laughed, doubtless showing his yellow fangs, as was his habit
when uttering a cruel jest, and Nelly began to coax him, hoping to avert
the unforeseen trouble she had set afoot. At last the king promised that
he would take no steps against Hamilton, but I knew that royal promises
were never worth the breath they cost in making.

* * * * *

As soon as Nelly and the king left my lord's closet, I hastened to the
river and took a boat for the Old Swan, intending to find Hamilton and to
warn him.

When I told Betty that I wanted to see Hamilton on an affair of great
urgency, she admitted that she knew where he was, and that she had
refused to tell me when I asked her the last time because he had exacted
a promise from her to tell no one.

"But I shall see him," said Betty, "and if you will come back to-morrow,
I'll tell you where he can be found if he consents."

During the last month or two a _News Letter_ had been circulated by
thousands throughout London and Westminster, in which the character of
the king had been assailed with great bitterness. At first Charles paid
no attention to the new journal, but soon its attacks got under his skin.
I was told that efforts had been made to discover the publisher and his
printing shop, but that nothing could be learned save that the sheets
were left at taverns and bookstalls by boys who declared they found them
in bundles in the churchyards.

It was impossible to find even the boys. The bookstalls and taverns were
ordered not to sell the _News Letter_, but the people hated the king so
bitterly that the circulation increased rather than diminished after the
royal interdict, and as the sheets sold for the extravagant price of one
shilling, it was impossible to stop the sale, since every one who handled
them was making a rich profit.

Judging from many articles appearing in the _News Letter_, I suspected
that Hamilton was a contributor, if not the editor. If either, he was
piling up trouble, should he be discovered.

On leaving the Old Swan, I went back to the palace and met Frances at the
Holbein Gate, cloaked and bonneted, ready to go to see her father.

I offered to accompany her, and we took a coach at Charing Cross for Sir
Richard's house.

My conscience had troubled me because I had done nothing to clear
Hamilton of her unjust suspicions. Up to that time I had found no
opportunity to speak to her priv