er France.

"Be of good cheer," suggested Buckingham, soothingly; and he half
embraced her. "My messenger shall await your signal, to carry the news
to Louis and his army."

"There is no news," replied she, and turned upon him bitterly. "Charles
evades me. Promise after promise to sup with me broken. I expected him
to-night. My spies warned me he would not come; that he is hereabouts
again. I followed myself to see. I have the papers with me always. If I
can but see the King alone, it will not take long to dethrone this
up-start queen; wine, sweet words--England's sign-manual."

There was a confident smile on her lips as she reflected upon her
personal powers, which had led Louis XIV. of France to entrust a great
mission to her. His lordship saw his growing advantage. He would make
the most of it.

"In the last event you have the ball!" he suggested, hopefully.

"Aye, and we shall be prepared," she cried. "But Louis is impatient to
strike the blow for Empire unhampered by British sympathy for the Dutch,
and the ball is--"

"A fortnight off," interrupted Buckingham, with a smile.

"And my messenger should be gone to-night," she continued, irritably.
She approached him and whispered cautiously: "I have to-day received
another note from Bouillon. Louis relies upon me to win from Charles his
consent to the withdrawal of the British troops from Holland. This will
insure the fall of Luxembourg--the key to our success. You see,
Buckingham, I must not fail. England's debasement shall be won."

There was a whistle down the path.

"Some one comes!" she exclaimed. "My chair!"

The page, who had given the signal, came running to her. Her chairmen
too were prompt.

"Join me," she whispered to Buckingham, as he assisted her to her seat
within.

"Later, Louise, later," he replied. "I must back to the neighbouring
inn, before the huntsmen miss me."

Portsmouth waved to the chairmen, who moved silently away among the
trees.

Buckingham stood looking after them, laughing.

"King Charles, a French girl from Louis's court will give me the keys to
England's heart and her best honours," he muttered.

He glanced once again quickly at the windows of the house, and then,
with altered purpose, swaggered away down a side path. He was well
pleased with his thoughts, well pleased with his chance interview with
the beautiful Duchess and well pleased with himself. His brain wove and
wove moonbeam webs of intrigue as he passed thr