The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-03
THAoly EuuQT So So SEEWELL

to Carlton House.
| When we got there, it was about ter
o'clock in the evening. The house wa.
brilliantly lighted up, and it was abou
the hour that the Prince Of Wales was
known to be in his best humor-bu1
the hour when he most hated to be dis
turbed.
| We assembled, and the sentries passed
us through, on account OF our uniforms
and Sir Peters decorations on his
breast. We reached the door, and
knocked. The porter opened the door
gingerly, when Sir Peter, giving it g
kick. walked in, followed by me. The
man attempted to arrest our progress
but Sir Peter said to him, fiercely:
DO you think, you damned lackey
that you can be insolent to an Admira
in His Majesty's service?" The mar
apologized humbly and ushered us into
large reception room on the first floor
saying he would call the gentleman Of
the chambers.
After a long wait, gentleman, Mr.
Digby, appeared. He received us po
litely, but said it was impossible to dis.
turb the prince then, as he was just sit
ing down to piquet. Sir Peter remained
SiiSIltp lie was uSCu " SiNlH6 OIuSi .
and the words, at is impossible to see
His Royal Highness," were peculiarly
disagreeable to him.
then made my plea. I told Mr.. Dig
by that the life of gallant officer and
gentleman was in jeopardy, and thai
we begged to see His Royal Highness
in the hope that the king might be ap-
preached.
THAT, too, is impossible" coldly re.
piled Mr.. Digby. 1.-THE king is far from
we'll"
Just then. some one on the other side
of pair of folding doors at one side
of the apartment. opened one of them
the least in the world. ans then close
it-but not before we had seen streams
of light pouring from it, a long table
brilliant with plate and ornaments, and
company of about twenty gentlemen
sitting around it, and at one end sat
a parsonage whom we at once recog-
nized as the Prince of Wales.
| Withou. word, Sir Peter arose, and
darling toward the door-fo- he was
ever an agile man-threw it open, ard
walked into the presence Of His Royal
Highness.
Sir" said he, marching up to the
prince, II am Sir Peter Hawkshaw, Ad-
miral of the Blue, and have boarded
you. so to. speak, sir, in order to save
the life of one of the gallantest officers
in the service of His Majesty"
I had always heard that His Royal
Highness was a gentleman, and 1 saw
then such an exhibition Of readiness
and good taste as I never saw before
20 IN
one at the table, except the prince
seemed astounded at the sudden en-
trance and startling address of a short
active, little man in an admirals uni
form. He offered Sir Peter his hand in
the coolest manner in the world, say
ing:
Most happy to meet you, Sir Peter.
I recollect well that you carried the
Indomptable' by boarding very sue
cessfully. But how did you get past
the watch-dogs at the door. my dear
sir?"
by carrying sail hard, Your Royal
Highness," responded Sir Peter, land
seeing this door open, Faith said I, to
myself, having risked my skin these
forty years for the king and his sue
cessors- sure, l can risk it once more
by walking in on my prince, and here
am, sir, ready to state my case. That
bloody popinjay, Digby (Digby was
right behind him), wanted me to let
you alone because you were about to
go to piquet, but 1 think no prince of
England would sacrifice mans life to
a game of piquet."
Certainly not I, Sir Peter" an
swered His Royal Highness. rising,
land now I have an hour entirely at
your service"
Sir" said Sir Peter, II ask the honor
of shaking hands with you. not as a
royal prince, but as an honest man and
good fellow"
I think the prince was ever suscept-
ible to honest praise, for he was no fool
and he was undoubtedly pleased when
Sir Peter wrung his hand. He then led
the way into another room, and the
door was closed.
The rest of the party behaved very
civilly to me, and I accepted thankfully
an invitation to have something to cal
and drink. They were merciful to me
seeing my distress of mind, and did moi
plague me with questions, but resumed
their conversation with each other.
Presently the prince and Sir Peter
appeared, and His Royal Highness said
with that charm of manner which Sc
duced some men and many women:
"Hark'ee, Sir Peter; do not promise
that the affair will be complete before
Sunday night; go to Windsor early il
the morning, and two days is a brie1
time in which to arrange so important
matter. But if you Will be at Wind
sor on Sunday morning, pledge vol
my word as gentleman the paper
shall be ready, signed, sealed, and de-
livered."
At that Sir Peter fairly broke down
and could only say, God bless you, sir
God bless YOU" and the prince, turning
the old mans emotion off gently, smiled
and said:
"'Tis for the preservation Of the gal
lantry of our sex, Sir Peter, that thi.
young officer must not hang"
He warmly invited us to remain ani
finish, up the wine, and then one Of the
gentlemen at the table, whether of de-
sign or not, mentioned the extraordin
airy reports which had reached Londor
concerning the trial at York, and I, en-
couraged thereto by a subtle look and {
question of His Royal Highness. tolt
the whole story, assisted by Sir Peter
1t was listened to with the deepest in
terest.
Lady Arabella Stormont was known
to every person there, and the prince
remarked that he had danced with he
at the last birthnight ball. Her infatu
alton for Overton was well known ant