ill temper was cumulative, I
had received a hint, coming through Castlemain's maid to Rochester, that
if I remained in England, the king would despoil me. Then, too, I had
other reasons for making the sale. I was sick of England's fawning on a
poor weak creature, as cowardly as he was dull, and almost as dull as he
was vicious, and longed to flee to the despotism of strength as I should
find it in France under Louis XIV. There was still another reason, of
which I shall speak later.

Three days after the consummation of my sale to Sir William Wentworth,
Count Hamilton returned, and, learning of the manner in which I had
disgraced myself, withdrew his challenge, sending De Grammont to tell me
the sad news. He would not honor me by killing me.

"Why did you sell your title and estates?" asked De Grammont.

"I have several good reasons, my dear count," I answered. "The first
is that I should have lost them had I not sold them. While the king
does not know that I was connected with the fight on the privy stairs,
he doubtless suspected it, for I have lived in the royal frown ever
since. The second reason is that I hate Charles Stuart, and, admiring at
least the strength of your king's tyranny, desire to live in France. King
Louis says he is the state, and by heaven, he is! Charles Stuart knows
that he is nothing, and he is right!"

"Give me your hand, baron!" cried De Grammont, a smile of satisfaction
spreading over his face. "I now tell you my secret. No one else knows it.
The purchase of Dunkirk has bought for me the smile of my master. I have
been recalled to Versailles. I return to La Belle France within a
fortnight! Come with me! I'll show you a king in very deed, and promise
furthermore that his smile shall be for you!"

"I can't go with you, my dear count," I returned gratefully. "But I
promise to see you soon in Paris. I suppose you will take with you the
elder Mistress Hamilton, to whom I understand you have long been plighted
in marriage, or will you return for her?"

"O-o-oh! Return for her, dear baron, return for her!" answered the count,
shrugging his shoulders.

To close the chapter of De Grammont's life in England, I would say that
he kept the secret of his recall to France, and one night after dark left
his house near the Mall, taking a coach to Dover without saying to
Mistress Hamilton when he would return.

But Mistress Hamilton had two brothers still in England, Count Anthony
and James, who, catchi