nothing; and Cromwell's tyranny was likely
to be far more resented than the heavy hand of one who was born a king.
So Charles at Paris and Liege, though he had little money at the time,
managed to maintain a royal court, such as it was.

Here there came out another side of his nature. As a child he had borne
hardship and privation and had seen the red blood flow upon the
battlefield. Now, as it were, he allowed a certain sensuous,
pleasure-loving ease to envelop him. The red blood should become the
rich red burgundy; the sound of trumpets and kettledrums should give
way to the melody of lutes and viols. He would be a king of pleasure if
he were to be king at all. And therefore his court, even in exile, was
a court of gallantry and ease. The Pope refused to lend him money, and
the King of France would not increase his pension, but there were many
who foresaw that Charles would not long remain in exile; and so they
gave him what he wanted and waited until he could give them what they
would ask for in their turn.

Charles at this time was not handsome, like his father. His complexion
was swarthy, his figure by no means imposing, though always graceful.
When he chose he could bear himself with all the dignity of a monarch.
He had a singularly pleasant manner, and a word from him could win over
the harshest opponent.

The old cavaliers who accompanied their master in exile were like
Napoleon's veterans in Elba. With their tall, powerful forms they
stalked about the courtyards, sniffing their disapproval at these
foreign ways and longing grimly for the time when they could once more
smell the pungent powder of the battle-field. But, as Charles had
hoped, the change was coming. Not merely were his own subjects
beginning to long for him and to pray in secret for the king, but
continental monarchs who maintained spies in England began to know of
this. To them Charles was no longer a penniless exile. He was a king
who before long would take possession of his kingdom.

A very wise woman--the Queen Regent of Portugal--was the first to act
on this information. Portugal was then very far from being a petty
state. It had wealth at home and rich colonies abroad, while its flag
was seen on every sea. The queen regent, being at odds with Spain, and
wishing to secure an ally against that power, made overtures to
Charles, asking him whether a match might not be made between him and
the Princess Catharine of Braganza. It was not merely