our thoughts from your King."

"No need for commands, Sire," entreated Hart. "The words are trembling
on my lips and will out themselves in spite of me. At Portsmouth's ball,
an hour past, I o'erheard that fop Adair boast to-night a midnight
rendezvous here with Nell."

Nell placed her hands upon her heart.

"This--my old friend," she reflected sadly.

"Our jest turned earnest," cried Charles. "Well? Well?" he questioned,
in peremptory tones.

"I could not believe my ears, Sire," the prisoner continued, faltering.
"I watched to refute the lie--"

"Yes--yes--" exhorted the King, in expectation.

"I cannot go on."

"Knave, I command!"

"I saw Adair enter this abode at midnight." Hart's head fell, full of
shame, upon his breast.

"'Sblood," muttered the King, scarce mindful that his words might be
audible to those about him, "my heart stands still as if't were knifed.
My pretty golden-head, my bonnie Nell!" He turned sharply toward the
player. "Your words are false, false, sir! Kind Heaven, they must be."

"Pardon, Sire," pleaded Hart; "I know not what I do or say. Only love
for Nell led me to this spot."

"Love!" cried Nell, with the irony of sadness. "Oh, inhuman, to spy out
my ways, resort to mean device, involve my honour, and call the motive
love!"

"You are cruel, cruel, Nell," sobbed Hart; and he turned away his eyes.
He could not look at her.

"Love!" continued Nell, bitterly. "True love would come alone, filled
with gentle admonition. I pity you, friend Hart, that God has made you
thus!"

"No more, no more!" Hart quite broke beneath the strain.

"Dost hear, dost hear?" cried Charles, in ecstasy, deeply affected by
Nell's exposition of true love. "Sir, you are the second to-night to
belie the dearest name in England. You shall answer well to me."

"Ask the lady, Sire," pleaded Hart, in desperation. "I'll stake my life
upon her reply."

"Nell?--Nell?" questioned the King; for he could scarce refuse to accept
her word when a player had placed unquestioned faith in it.

Nell hid her face in her silken kerchief and burst into seeming
spasmodic sobs of grief. "Sire!" was all the response the King could
hear. He trembled violently and his face grew white. He did not know
that Nell's tears were merry laughs.

"Her tears convict her," exclaimed Hart, triumphantly.

"I'll not believe it," cried the King.

Nell became more hysterical. She sobbed and sobbed, as though her heart
would break, her f