e man. "But a rising in the West would
have this natural effect. Argyle will draw troops to the north, as his
Majesty has explained. Very well, then. Let Devon declare for the King,
the business will be done. The usurper will not dare to send the few
troops left to him out of the capital, lest the town should rise on
him."

"Very true. True. A good point," said the man with the eyebrows.

"I think that disposes of your argument, Lane," said the Duke, with a
smile.

"It's a supposition, sir, against a certainty. I've told you of a
military danger. Falk, there, only tells you of a bare, military
possibility."

"But it's as certain as anything can be," said the man with the
eyebrows. "You can see. That's just what must happen."

"It is what may happen if you wait for a year or two, your Majesty,"
Lane replied. "But a newly crowned King is always popular. I doubt if
you will find public opinion so much on your side, your Majesty. No for
a year or two, till he's made himself disliked. They've settled down
now to this usurper. They'll resent an interruption. The trades-men will
resent an interruption."

"I think you over-rate the difficulties, Lane," said Mr. Jermyn.

"Yes," said the Duke, "I'm a great believer in putting a matter to the
test. Much must necessarily be left to chance. If we wait, we may not
find public opinion turning against our enemies. We may even lose the
good opinion of the West by waiting. Besides, by waiting, Lane, we
should lose the extraordinary: help of Argyle's diversion in the north."

"Yes," the others said in chorus. "We mustn't lose that. A rising this
early summer, when the roads are good. A rising as soon as Argyle is
ready."

"Well, your Majesty," said Lane, shaking his head. "I see you're
resolved. You shall not find me backward when the time comes, for all my
doubts at this meeting. To your Majesty's happy success." They all drank
the toast; but I noticed that Mr. Lane looked melancholy, as though he
foresaw something of what actually happened in that terrible June.

"Very good," said the Duke, "I thank you, gentlemen. Now, Jermyn. We
two shall have to be off to the Low Countries in another half hour. How
about messengers to the West? You, Lane, are tied here to your regiment.
Falk, how about you, Falk?"

"No, your Majesty," said Falk. "There's danger in sending me. I'm
suspected. I'm known to be in your interests."

"You, then, Candlish," said the Duke to the man with the ey