after him as he departed, but without comprehending
a word of his astrological remarks.

CHAPTER VI.

In a house remote from the one in which King Charles experienced his
last adventure with the pretended astrologer, he sat again, disguised
in the undress uniform of a naval officer, with his arm encircling the
neat waist of a remarkably pretty girl.

She affected to allow this liberty reluctantly, yet there was that in
her large black eyes and mischief-loving countenance which
contradicted the attempted coyness she at first evinced.

"So, they call thee Margaret?" said the king, as he leaned his face
against her curls.

"Yes, Master Stuart."

"And thou art poor, Margaret?"

"Alas! yes," she replied, "my father was once a royalist officer, and
rich; but the civil wars and his sacrifices for his king left him
penniless and friendless."

"It has been the fate of many besides him," the monarch observed.
"Those same wars were, at one time, the ruin of my own family. But
thou, Margaret, shalt be poor no longer. Thou shalt leave this home of
penury with me, and I will make thee rich."

"Nay, sir," she said, as he attempted to kiss her, "be not so tender
with your kindness. I fear already thy sympathy and its motive."

"Fear nothing from me, pretty one," said Charles, clasping her closely
to him.

"Why are we here alone?" she asked, seeming to realize, and be
startled at the idea, for the first time; "where is the friend who
introduced you--where is Master Granby?"

"He will be here anon, pretty Margaret," replied the king, "his own
affairs have called him hence for a time. Heed him not, though, my
sweet trembler, my Peri of perfection, my Houri of Paradise! thou art
safe with me, and with me thou shalt hie away to regions where love
will smile upon thee, and gold will pour in perpetual showers in thy
lap."

The monarch became so inexpressibly tender that the maiden, in her own
defence, was compelled to scream. After a moment's lapse an
approaching step upon the stairs warned the precipitate lover to defer
the prosecution of his suit to a more auspicious occasion. He hastened
to the door, but, to his astonishment, found it fastened, and on
trying the window, that, too, had been externally cared for.

"De Grammont has betrayed me!" he exclaimed, as he drew a concealed
pistol from his belt and prepared to confront the coming danger.

His apprehensions, were, however, groundless, for the only person who
ent