id she, in subdued tones, summoning Nell to her
side, "a family matter merely, must reach the Rainbow Tavern, on the
Canterbury Road, by sunrise, where one is waiting. You'll find his
description on the packet."

Nell sheathed her sword.

"I know the place and road," she said, earnestly, as she took the papers
from the Duchess's hand and placed them carefully in her doublet.

A rustle of the curtains indicated that some one had returned and was
listening by the arras.

"Hush!" cautioned Portsmouth. "Be true, and you will win my love."

Nell did not reply, save to the glance that accompanied the words.
Snatching her hat from a chair on which she had tossed it, she started
eagerly in the direction of the great stairs that led to the hallway
below, where, an hour since, she had been at first refused admission to
the palace. Could she but pass again the guards, all would be well; and
surely there was now no cause for her detention. Yet her heart beat
tumultuously--faster even than when she presented herself with Rochet's
letter written by herself.

As she was hastening by the arras, her quick eye, however, recognized
the King's long plume behind it; and she halted in her course. She was
alert with a thousand maddening thoughts crowding her brain, all in an
instant.

"The King returned--an eavesdropper!" she reflected. "Jealous of
Portsmouth; his eyes follow her. Where are his vows to Nell? I'll defame
Nell's name, drag her fair honour in the mire; so, Charles, we'll test
your manliness and love."

She recrossed the room quickly to Portsmouth.

"Madame," she exclaimed, in crisp, nervous tones, loud enough for the
King's ear, "I have been deceiving, lying to you. I stood here,
praising, honouring Eleanor Gwyn--an apple rotten to the core!"

"How now?" ejaculated Charles, in an undertone.

His carelessness vanished upon the instant. Where he had waited for the
single ear of Portsmouth, he became at once an earnest listener.

Nell paused not.

"I had a friend who told me he loved Nell. I loved that friend. God
knows I loved him."

"Yes, yes!" urged Portsmouth, with eagerness.

"A man of noble name and princely mien," continued Nell, so standing
that the words went, like arrows, straight to the King's ear and heart,
"a man of honour, who would have died fighting for Nell's honour--"

"Misled youth," muttered Portsmouth.

Nell seemed not to hear the words.

"Who, had he heard a murmur of disapproval, a shad