Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-11

a monarch, more especially that he was no
longer in position to enforce the homage
He dropped on one knee and bowed ms
head Charles, rising, touched the napier
kneeling man, saying, Rise, Sir William
Armstrong, and be assured that II you
bring this poor signature of mine to Scot
land there is title in my gift you may
not demand of me-.
Armstrong rose awkward as a schoolboy,
not knowing where to look or what to say
until he caught the cynical smile OF De
Courcy, standing at the right-hand side OF
the king.
Il congratulate you, Sir William said
the Frenchman. The sight of the smile
aroused the new hatred against the man
which was smoldering in his heart, and he
made no reply to the greeting. but said to
the king:
Sire the only thanks can tender you is
haste to the north, and may God make
my arm as strong to defend this signature
as my heart Is true to your majesty"
With that he turned his back upon roy
atty, grievous breach in the eyes of cour-
tiers, and fed.
God grant it," said the king with Sigh,
had risen.
There is no doubt Of it," said De Courcy
softly.
Doubt of what?" asked the king
The oath he took will sit lightly on his
conscience. He prayed that his arm
strength might equal his hearts fealty l
distrust those who talk glibly of their
hearts, and his was a most ambiguous
prayer. If his heart be not true and he
made no assertion that 1t was, his strong
arm will avail us little"
Surely If ever honesty beamed from a
mans face it was from Armstrong's The
Scots are trustworthy men,
Some of them your majesty"
Uneasy suspicion came into the sunken
eyes of the king as he turned them ON his
chamberlain
What do you fear, De Courcy?"
Il have been studying the man these
three days past l accepted without ques-
ton his assurances and threw him off h 8
guard. Cromwell loves honest looking
envoy, and from what Armstrong said, l
sure he saw Cromwell no farther away
than Northampton. He was very ready
with his account of his own country people,
but he told us nothing about the marvellous
luck that brought him safely through a
hostile land, which we know to our cost is
admirably patrolled. There is young Rud-
by. gone this month and more to Edin-
burgh, and yet no word of him. And this
stranger expects us to believe he came over
the same ground unscathed and unques-
toned in less than week"
"Oh. God. Oh, God. In whom can place
dependence" cried the tortured king, bury
ing his head in his hands. Then he raised
IT and said with a trace of anger in his
voice:
IF you knew this man to be a traitor, or
an emissary of that malignant, why did
you bring him into our presenter
Il could not be sure of him, your majesty
and there was always a chance that he was
loyal, and could get through"
ITO raise my hopes like this and then
dash them to the ground!'
No so, your majesty, II you will pardon
me. Do you place Importance on this COM
mission"
THE utmost importance I know Ira
QUAR-. and he will raise all Scotland for me-
If this commission reach him.
Then he will max siccar, as a famous
Scot once said
"Ah De Courcy, that was said when a
treacherous murder was intended. How
will you make sure that Armstrong is hon
est?"
Il should trouble no more about Arm
strong. but If you will issue duplicate
of that commission ] will guarantee that
il reaches the hands of Traquair. / am a
Frenchman and a subject of the French
king. / carry my passport to that effect.
Even il l am stopped l shall resist search
on the ground Of my nationality and
Cromwell Is too greatly in awe of the
power of France to risk its might being
thrown in the scale against him. Indeed,
l doubt If 1 could offer a greater service
to your majesty than to be captured and
appeal to Louis"
The kings face cleared.
you would not stop Armstrong. then?'
"Assuredy not. If his copy gets into
Cromwell's hands he may slscken his alert
! ness. and not be on the outlook for a du-
plicate. AS 1 said before, there is a chance
the Scot plays fair. but two commissions
| in the hands Of Traquair will do no harm.
and we max siccaI"