"

CHAPTER XVII

_The day will be so happy; for I've seen you at the dawn._

The room was quickly cleared, the King's courtiers jostling one another
in their efforts to carry out the royal bidding.

Charles turned with a merry laugh and seized Nell in his arms almost
fiercely.

"A subterfuge!" he cried eagerly. "Nell, quick; one kiss!"

"Nay; you question my constancy to-night," said Nell, sadly, as she
looked into his eyes, with the look of perfect love. "You do not trust
me."

"I do, sweet Nell," protested the King, earnestly.

"You bring me Portsmouth's lips," said Nell, with sad reproof.

"I left her dance for you," replied the King, drawing her closer to him.

"At near sunrise, Sire," sighed Nell, reprovingly, as she drew back the
curtain and revealed the first gray streaks of the breaking light of
day.

"Nay, do not tantalize me, Nell," besought the King, throwing himself
upon the couch. "I am sad to-night."

The woman's forgiving heart was touched with sympathy. Her eyes sought
his sadly beautiful face. She ran to him, fell upon her knees and kissed
his hand tenderly.

"Tantalize my King!" she cried. "The day will be so happy; for I've seen
you at the dawn." There was all the emotional fervour and pathetic
tenderness which the great composer has compressed into the love-music
of "Tristan and Isolde" in her voice.

"My crown is heavy, Nell," he continued. "Heaven gives us crowns, but
not the eye to see the ending of our deeds."

"God sees them," said Nell. "Ah, Sire, I thank the Maker of the world
for giving a crown to one whom I respect and love."

"And I curse it," cried the King, with earnest eyes; "for 'tis the only
barrier to our united love. It is the sparkling spider in the centre of
a great web of intrigue and infamy."

"You make me bold to speak. Cut the web, Sire, which binds thy crown to
France. There is the only danger."

"Thou art wrong, Nelly, wrong!" He spoke in deep, firm accents. "I have
decided otherwise."

He rose abruptly, his brow clouded with thought. She took his hand
tenderly.

"Then, change your mind, Sire," she pleaded; "for I can prove--"

"What, girl?" he asked eagerly, his curiosity awakened by her manner.

Nell did not respond. To continue would reveal Adair, and she could not
think of that.

"What, I say?" again asked Charles, impatiently.

"To-morrow, Sire," laughed Nell, evasively.

"Aye, to-morrow and to-morrow!" petulantly repeated t