ering a cry.

Frances turned to me, asking indignantly, "Why did not you tell me?"

"Because I did not know," I answered, hardly able to believe the truth.

But we had important business before us, and I knew that we should
prepare for it before Lilly came in. So George, Bettina, Frances, and
I went to a window at the far end of the room to hold a consultation.

"Since I did not recognize you, perhaps Lilly will not," I suggested. "I
trust the Doctor, but perhaps we had better leave him under the
impression that you are Monsieur l'Abbe du Boise and give no intimation
of the truth."

"I had not hoped that my disguise would deceive you, Baron Ned," said
George, "but since it has, it is just as well that we leave Lilly in the
dark if we can."

"But he will know. The stars will tell him," suggested Bettina, opening
her eyes very wide.

"The stars will tell him what he is paid to hear," I remarked. Then
turning to Frances, I asked, "How is it that you were able to recognize
him?"

"By his eyes!" exclaimed Frances and Bettina in concert.

"That gives me a valuable hint," said George, hastily adjusting his
colored spectacles. "Now, how about it?"

"I still should know you," answered Frances.

"Not I!" exclaimed Bettina.

Presently Lilly came in, and I presented him to Monsieur l'Abbe du Boise
and explained the presence of Frances and Bettina by saying:--

"A friend of ours in France has asked Mistress Jennings to render what
aid she can to Monsieur l'Abbe, and she is here at my request to receive
his commands."

"It is good!" exclaimed Lilly. "She has the king's ear if any one has,
and the ear is very close to the mind. What may I do to serve Monsieur
l'Abbe?"

"If I may see you privately---the baron and me--I shall tell you how you
may serve me," answered the Abbe.

The Abbe and I excused ourselves to Frances and Bettina, and went with
the Doctor to the room which he called his observatory, where we came to
the point very quickly:--

"I want to buy Dunkirk for my master for the sum of one hundred thousand
pounds," said the Abbe, by way of starting the consultation.

"But London has already offered that sum," returned Lilly, "and stands
ready to pay more."

"In payments," suggested the Abbe.

"Yes," returned Lilly. "But I see no way of bringing the king to accept
the sum you offer unless--unless Mistress Jennings can persuade him."

"She may be able to do so," answered the Abbe, shrugging his shoulde