n effort to be more careful of my
tanners in your frolics. Even tanners' hides have their uses. Waste them
not! Again I say, waste them not!"

"Not even for a thousand pounds, Rowley?" asked Crofts.

"Ah, well, of course, a thousand pounds is--well, it is a thousand
pounds," answered the king, laughing.

It may be surmised from the king's words and manner that he intended
taking no steps to bring the offenders to justice, and that he knew who
they were. The London people soon discovered his real intent and began in
earnest on their own account.

When the net began to draw too closely about the culprits, the king
interfered and gave the London courts of justice to understand that
further proceedings against Wentworth, Crofts, and Berkeley would cause a
royal frown. The Londoners were not willing to drop the matter, even at
the risk of royal displeasure, so the king caused it to be hinted to the
London officials that Crofts, Berkeley, and Wentworth were innocent, but
that possibly Hamilton was the guilty man. No mention was made of
Churchill, he being at the time the Duke of York's most intimate friend.

Hamilton was away from home and was friendless, all of which gave his
accusers the courage to fix suspicion on him, though they did so without
taking the responsibility of making the charge themselves.

So it was that when George returned to England, several weeks later, he
found trouble awaiting him in many forms.

* * * * *

My cousin's presentation to the duchess was made in private and was a
success in every respect. I asked Mary Hamilton to accompany Lady
Wentworth, Frances, and myself on this occasion, and she graciously
consented. Lady Wentworth insisted on making the presentation, so one
morning I called for my cousin and her chaperone, took the Wentworth
barge at Blackfriars water stairs, and proceeded by river up to
Westminster stairs, where we disembarked. I left my companions in a
bookstall in the Abbey and went to fetch Mary, who lived near by in a
house called Little Hamilton House, under the shadow of Great Hamilton
House, which was the home of Count Anthony.

Mary was waiting for me, so she and I hastened to the bookstall, took up
Frances and Lady Wentworth, went back to the barge, and then by water to
Whitehall Garden stairs. There we left the river, walked to the Palace,
and proceeded immediately to the parlor of her Grace, the Duchess of
York, whom we met by appo