of good claret supplies everything
And the man that is drunk is as great as a king."_

CHAPTER IX

_Three chickens!_

The door opened quickly, and in came King Charles; but who would have
known him? The royal monarch had assumed the mien and garb of a ragged
cavalier.

His eyes swept the inn quickly and approvingly. He turned upon the
landlord, who followed him with dubious glances.

"Cook the chickens to a turn; and, mark you, have the turbot and sauce
hot, and plenty of wine," he said. "Look to't; the vintage I named,
Master Landlord. I know the bouquet and sparkle and the ripple o'er the
palate."

"Who is to pay for all this, sir?" asked the landlord, aghast at the
order.

"Insolent!" replied Charles. "I command it, sirrah."

"Pardon, sir," humbly suggested the landlord; "guineas, and not words,
command here."

"Odso!" muttered the King, remembering his disguise. "My temper will
reveal me. Never fear, landlord," he boasted loudly. "You shall be paid,
amply paid. I will pledge myself you shall be paid."

"Pardon, sir," falteringly repeated the landlord, rubbing his hands
together graciously; "but the order is a costly one and you--"

"Do not look flourishing?" said Charles, as he laughingly finished the
sentence, glancing somewhat dubiously himself at his own dress. "Never
judge a man by his rags. Plague on't, though; I would not become my own
creditor upon inspection. Take courage, good Master Landlord; England's
debt is in my pocket."

"How many to supper, sir?" asked the landlord, fearful lest he might
offend.

"Two! Two! Only two!" decisively exclaimed Charles. "A man is an
extravagant fool who dines more. The third is expensive and in the way.
Eh, landlord?"

The King winked gaily at the landlord, who grinned in response and
dropped his eyes more respectfully.

"Two, sir," acquiesced the landlord.

"Aye, mine host, thou art favoured beyond thy kind," laughed Charles,
knowingly, as he dwelt upon the joys of a feast incognito alone with
Nell. "A belated goddess would sup at thy hostelry." The landlord's eyes
grew big with astonishment. "I will return. Obey her every wish, dost
hear, her every wish, and leave the bill religiously to me." Charles
swaggered gaily up the steps to the entry-way and out the door.

The moon-face of the inn-keeper grew slowly serious. He could not
reconcile the shabby, road-bespattered garments of the strange cavalier
with his