s
well-nigh ruined a year ago in that fearful visitation of the
plague. By trade he is a builder, and right well does he know his
business. After this terrible fire there must needs be much
building to do ere the city can be dwelt in. May it please your
gracious Majesty to grant to him a portion of the work, that he may
retrieve his lost fortune, and regain the place which he once held
amongst his fellow citizens!"

"It shall be done, mistress, it shall be done!" answered the King,
with a smile at the girl and a friendly look towards the Master
Builder. "Marry, it is a good thought too; for we shall want honest
and skilful men to rebuild us our city.

"Thy prayer is heard and granted, fair lady. I will not forget thy
petition. I will see to it myself. Farewell, sweet heart! think
always kindly of your King," and he saluted her upon the cheek,
after the fashion of the day.

Then turning briskly to the men he said, in a very different tone,
"Now to our respective tasks, good sirs. We have our work cut out
before us this day. Let it not be our fault if, ere the night fall
upon us, the spreading flames, which are devastating this city, are
stopped, and further destruction arrested."

With a friendly nod, and with a smile to Gertrude, the King went as
suddenly as he came. Lord Desborough lingered only a few moments to
say, in hurried tones:

"Thank Heaven his Majesty is roused at last! Now, indeed, something
will be accomplished. I must remain with him. I shall have my work,
doubtless, somewhere, as you have yours in the east. Fare you well.
We shall meet again at nightfall; and pray Heaven the fire may by
that time be stayed in its ravages!"

Need it be told here how that fire was stayed? how the King and the
Duke, his brother, rode in person at the head of a gallant band of
men-at-arms and soldiers, and directed those measures--long urged
upon the Mayor, but never efficiently carried out--of blowing up
and pulling down large blocks of houses in the path of the flames,
so that their ravages were stayed? It was the King himself who
saved Temple Bar and a part of Fleet Street, the fire being checked
close to St. Dunstan's in the west. Lord Desborough superintended
like operations at Pye corner, hard by Smithfield; whilst the good
citizens, Harmer and Mason, took boat to the Tower as fast as
possible, and with the assistance of the governor, and by the
mandate of the King, checked the slowly advancing flames just as