rt
had told him that the Irish roisterer could scarcely be a serious
obstacle in the way of Nell's perfect faith, if, indeed, he had met Nell
at all, which he doubted. His command to the guard to follow and
overtake the youth had been more the command of the ruler than of the
man. Despite himself, there had been something about the dainty peacock
he could not help but like; and the bold dash for the window, the
disarming of the purse-proud Buckingham, who for many reasons displeased
him, and the leap to the sward below, with the accompanying farewell,
had especially delighted both his manhood and his sense of humour.

He had, therefore, dismissed Adair from his mind, except as a possible
subject to banter Nell withal, or as a culprit to punish, if overtaken.

His restless spirit had chafed under the Duchess's lavish
entertainment--for the best entertainment is dull to the lover whose
sweetheart is absent--and he had turned instinctively from the ball to
Nell's terrace, regardless of the hour and scarce noticing his constant
attendants.

The night was so beautiful that their souls had found vent in song.

This serenade, however, had brought to Nell's window a wide-awake
fellow, who had revealed himself in saucy talk; and the delighted
cavaliers, in hope of fun, had charged jeeringly that they had outwitted
the guard and had found Adair.

It was this that had brought the anxious look to the King's face; and,
though his better judgment was still unchanged, the sight of the knave
at the window, together with the suggestions of his merry followers, had
cast a shadow of doubt for the moment upon his soul, and he had
reflected that there was much that the Irish youth had said that could
not be reconciled with that better judgment.

With a careless shrug, he had, therefore, taken up the jest of his
lawless crew, which coincided with his own intended purpose, and had
sworn that he would turn the household out of bed without regard to
pretty protests or formality of warrant. He would raise the question
forthwith, in jest and earnest, and worry Nell about the boaster.

"Scurvy entertainment," he began, with frowning brow.

"Yea, my liege," explained Nell, winsomely; "you see--I did not expect
the King so late, and so was unpresentable."

"It is the one you do not expect," replied Charles, dryly, "who always
causes the trouble, Nell."

"We were in bed, Sire," threw in Moll, thinking to come to the rescue of
her mistress