r. "I
gave that ring to dear old Strings."

"A rare jewel to bestow upon a fiddler," said the Duchess,
sarcastically.

"It is true," said Strings, who had wormed his way through the group at
mention of his name and now stood the meek central figure at the strange
hearing. "My little ones were starving, Sire; and Nell gave me the
ring--all she had. They could not eat the gold; so I sold it to the Duke
of Buckingham!"

"We are lost," whispered Buckingham to Portsmouth, scarce audibly.

"Coward!" sneered the Duchess, contemptuously. "I am not ready to sail
for France so soon."

The King stood irresolute. Events had transpired so quickly that he
scarce knew what it was best to do. His troubled spirit longed for a
further hearing, while his heart demanded the ending of the scene with a
peremptory word.

Before he could decide upon his course, the Duchess had swept across the
room, with queenly grace.

"Our hostess will pardon my eyes for wandering," she said, undaunted;
"but her abode is filled with pleasant surprises. Sire, here is a piece
of handiwork."

She knelt by the couch, and drew from under it a coat of gray, one
sleeve of which had caught her eye.

Nell looked at Moll with reproving glances.

"Marry, 'tis Strings's, of course," continued Portsmouth, dangling the
coat before the wondering eyes of all. "The lace, the ruffle, becomes
his complexion. He fits everything here so beautifully."

As she turned the garment slowly about, she caught sight of a package of
papers protruding from its inner pocket, sealed with her own seal. For
the first time, the significance of the colour of the coat came home to
her.

"_Mon Dieu_," she cried, "Adair's coat.--The packet!"

Her fingers sought the papers eagerly; but Nell's eye and hand were too
quick for her.

"Not so fast, dear Duchess," said Nell, sweetly, passing the little
packet to his Majesty. "Our King must read these papers--and between the
lines as well."

"Enough of this!" commanded Charles. "What is it?"

"Some papers, Sire," said Nell, pointedly, "given for a kiss and taken
with a kiss. I have not had time to read them."

"Some family papers, Sire," asserted the Duchess, with assumed
indifference, "stolen from my house."

She would have taken them from his Majesty, so great, indeed, was her
boldness; but Nell again stayed her.

"Aye, stolen," said Nell, sharply; "but by the hostess herself--from her
unsuspecting, royal guest. There, Sire, st