utiful of eye, who had more than once visited his
confinement with words of cheering and comfort.

"By my faith," said the King, "they fare better in Newgate than I was
aware of. Who would have thought of the little gentleman being solaced
with female society in such a place?"

"I pray your Majesty," said the dwarf, after the manner of a solemn
protest, "to understand nothing amiss. My devotion to this fair creature
is rather like what we poor Catholics pay to the blessed saints, than
mixed with any grosser quality. Indeed, she seems rather a sylphid of
the Rosicrucian system, than aught more carnal; being slighter, lighter,
and less than the females of common life, who have something of that
coarseness of make which is doubtless derived from the sinful and
gigantic race of the antediluvians."

"Well, say on, man," quoth Charles. "Didst thou not discover this sylph
to be a mere mortal wench after all?"

"Who?--I, my liege?--Oh, fie!"

"Nay, little gentleman, do not be so particularly scandalised," said the
King; "I promise you I suspect you of no audacity of gallantry."

"Time wears fast," said the Duke of Ormond impatiently, and looking at
his watch. "Chiffinch hath been gone ten minutes, and ten minutes will
bring him back."

"True," said Charles gravely. "Come to the point, Hudson; and tell us
what this female has to do with your coming hither in this extraordinary
manner."

"Everything, my lord," said little Hudson. "I saw her twice during my
confinement in Newgate, and, in my thought, she is the very angel who
guards my life and welfare; for, after my acquittal, as I walked towards
the city with two tall gentlemen, who had been in trouble along with me,
and just while we stood to our defence against a rascally mob, and just
as I had taken possession of an elevated situation, to have some vantage
against the great odds of numbers, I heard a heavenly voice sound, as
it were, from a window behind me, counselling me to take refuge in a
certain house; to which measure I readily persuaded my gallant friends
the Peverils, who have always shown themselves willing to be counselled
by me."

"Showing therein their wisdom at once and modesty," said the King. "But
what chanced next? Be brief--be like thyself, man."

"For a time, sire," said the dwarf, "it seemed as if I were not the
principal object of attention. First, the younger Peveril was withdrawn
from us by a gentleman of venerable appearance, though somethin