The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
IRE
Nv STANLEY j. wEYMAN.
CHAPTER XLlv.

ia vvere assembled in the gallery AT hohsihs
ton. awaiting a summons to The hihR . oIoseV'
with tho exception of Lord Godolphih' VINO
Rad resigned his office three Gays cariioi' w.
belonged to the party in power; hotWi.hS,Anu
- vb,ch n curious observer might nave
detected in their manner anu .,SaaI
40, air of reserve and constraint unusual
.n,ong mon nj once so highly placed and
- No s,me opinions. A little thought, now
ror and n knowledge OF the business which
t,ouoht tbom together, would have explained
the cause OF this.
While the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis
nee, and Lord Portland formed q group
.nart Il was to be noticed that Lords MARI
horouvb and Godolphin and Admiral nus
,ell seemed to fall naturally into a secohu
4 proup. and, though the movements OF inc COM
many constantly left them together, never sur
tor,d This arrangement to last, but either eff
fectcd a temporary change by accostns tho
lord keeper or Mr.. Secretary Trumbull, or,
,hrough tho medium OF Sir Edward Russclrs
Mud VOICE and boisterous manners, wrought a
noncntary fusion OF the company.
.Iv the eternal, l am the most unlucky fel-
low T" the Admiral cried, addressing the whole
company on ono Of these occasions. III Sir
John had lied about me only, 1 should have
piyen It him back in his teeth, and SO fair and
square; 1t Is a poor cook does not know his own
batch. But because he drags in the Duke and
the Duke chooses to get the fantods and shirks
him. I stand the worse!"
"Sir Edward" said Lord Dorset, speaking
ernvcly and in a tone Of rebuke. n ono sup
Noses that the Duke OF Shrewsbury is aught
hut III, And. allow me to say. that under the
circumstances. you are unwise to put 1t on
him.
But, damn me, he has no right TO be Ill.,
cried the seaman, whose turbulent spirit was
not easily put down. "If he were here l would
saw the same to his face. And that is fiat!'
He was proceeding with more, but, at that mo-
ment the door OF the royal closet was thrown
omen and o gentleman usher appeared, invit-
ing them to enter. my lords and gentle.
men," he said. his Majesty desires you to DO
seated. as at the council. He will be presently
here"
The movement into the next room being
made. the conversation took a lower tone, each
speaking only to his ~neighbor; one. discussing
the Kings crossing, and the speed of his new
Yacht, another the excellent health and spirits
in which his Majesty had returned, until, a door
at the lower end of the room being opened. q
Imurnur Of voices and stir of feet were heard.
and after a moments delay Sir John Fenwick
entered, a prisoner, and with n somewhat dazed
air advanced to the foot Of the table.
The Lord Steward rose and gravely bowed to
him, and this courtesy, in which he was fol-
lowed by all except the Admiral, was returned
by the prisoner.
"Sir John said the Duke of Devonshire,
.the King will be presently here"
Il am obliged to your Grace" Fenwick an
swered and stood waiting.
His gaunt form, clothed in black. his face,
always stern and now hagEard, LIS eyes, in
which pride and fanaticism at one moment over
came and at another gave place to the look OF
the hunted beast-thcse things should have
made him a pathetic figure at any time and
under any circumstances. How much more
when those who gazed on him knew that he
stood on the brink Of death, and knew, too
that within a few moments he must meet the
Prince who for years he had insulted ana de-
fed, and in whose hands his fate now lay!
That some, less interested in the matter than
others, harbored such thoughts. the looks OF
grave compassion which Lords Devonshire and
Dorset cast on him seemed to prove; but their
retiections-which doubtless carried them back
to a time when the most brilliant and cynicaI
Of courtiers played the foremost part in the
Whitehall Of the Observation-Disclosures. no less
than the mutterings and restless movement:
Of Russell. who. in his enemy's presence. could
scarcely control himself, were cut short by
the Kings entrance.
He came in urannounced and very quietly al
q door behind the Lord Steward, and, all rising
to their feet, he baae them in a foreign accent
Good day. adding Immediately, BE seated
my lords; my Lord Steward, we vii, proceed;
His entrance ana words, abrupt if not awk
bcreG in Charles. and the, gloomy majesty
which the second James had at his ommand
stand, one hand lightly resting on the back o
the Lord Stewards chair, the STOPPING, somSr,
figure and sallow withcred face staring. out o
Its great pGruque had a dignity of their own
For II could not be forgotten that he Was tina
which no stuart King of England had eve
hood, at home in ali the camps OF Flanders AMI
the thine, familiar with every peril of battl,
and breach; at his case if anywhere, wher'
other men blanChcd and drew back. And tn,
knowledge that this was so invested him will
a certain awe and grandeur even in the eyes Q
c~ourticrs. On This day he wore, Il black suit
relieved only by the ribbon Of the garter; ant
As he stood he let his chin sink so low on hi
breast that his eyes, which could on occasion
shine win a keen and almost baleful light
were hidden.
mnnd, was about to address Sir John, when tn
King. with u brusQueness characteristic of him
interviewed. sir John" said he. in a harsh
~ IN English, your, papers are altogether I'm
satiSfnclory. Instead of giving us an accoun
p!iGes, plots of which all the details must be OK
tctiy known TO you. you tell us stories withou
n nobls . S Without ran, 1ats, w the Bn% c xo S6O y
not pretend to have had any intercourse. l
snort, your confession appears to he a cor
SA' w oNAtCiil liObO " III III Cdi
engaged in designs against us. and to make IN,
suspect and discard those in whom l have goor
reason TO place confidence. If you look 10
any favor from me, therefore, you will give IN
this moment, and on this spot, q full an
straightforward account OF what you know G
your own knowledge. And-but do you te
him the rest. my lord"
Sir john" said the Lord Steward, in a ton
serious ana compassionate. Ibis Majesty I
vltea your confidence and will for good reason
snow you, his favor. But you must deserve 1
ana II Is his particular desire that you conclud
nothing from the fact that YOU ara admitted [
sec him"
the contrary" said tho King, dryIy, :
zee YOU, sir, for the sake of my friends. ]
therefore,; you can substantiate the charges 20
nave made, IT. bchooves you to do IL. Otherwis
10 make q full and free confession OF what 20
Sit said Sir John, hoarsely, speaking for tn
nrst time, Il stand here worse placed than an
accuse ~0 ""'
Ihe King slightly shrugged his shoulder
muttered. '" =
Sir John cast a fierce, despairing CLAN,
along the table, and seemed to control himse
MN dlhiculty. At length, 81 can slbsta
tate nothlng against three of those persons
r. taiu, whereon some OF those who listent
oreathed more freely.