ng wind of De Grammont's exodus, took horse and a
small escort, made all possible speed, and came up with De Grammont's
coach some six or eight leagues east of London.

Count Anthony rode up to one door of the coach, while James brought his
horse to the other.

"Good morning, count," said Anthony, bending down to the coach window.

"Good morning, my dear count," returned De Grammont, blandly.

"Is there not something you have forgotten, count?" asked Anthony.

"Odds fish! Yes! I forgot to marry your sister," answered De Grammont,
appropriating the king's oath, and apparently astounded at his own
forgetfulness. "Thank you, dear count, for reminding me. I'll go back
to London and do it at once."

"Your parole?" asked Anthony.

"Yes, the word of a De Grammont," answered the count, whereupon the
Hamiltons lifted their hats and galloped home, knowing certainly that De
Grammont would follow.

De Grammont reached London soon after sun-up, and, true to his word,
married Miss Hamilton, blessed his stars ever afterward for having done
so, and gave her no cause for unhappiness save a French one.

Soon after the sale to Wentworth, I received a letter from George telling
me that King Louis had not only made him rich, but had appointed him
Governor of Dunkirk, with promise of further advancement. George said,
also, that the French king, having heard of my part in the Dunkirk
transaction and my disgrace with my king, had offered to advance my
interest if I would go to France. In a postscript to the letter, which
was much longer than the letter itself, Frances told me how she and
George had been married immediately on landing in France, and were living
very happily in Paris, where they would remain until George should take
up the government of Dunkirk.

So it had all fallen out just as one might have expected to find it
in a story-book. George had been proved by Fortune's touchstone, and
her Ladyship had chosen him for her smile. He had won the long odds.

What remains to be told is simply the denouement of my own affairs.

* * * * *

At the time of my transaction with Wentworth I said nothing to Bettina
about the sale of my title and estates, but when I heard that our friends
were safe and happy in France, I went down to the Old Swan, with more
fear than I should have thought possible, to broach a certain matter,
which was very near my heart, to Betty and her father.

I knew that in so fa