The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18
CHAPTER X.
JUSTICE. o KING.


Such was the state of affairs when I
returned from France.
How l hated myself because l had not
faced the Kings displeasure and had not
refused to go until Brandon was safely
out of his trouble. 1t was hard for me to
believe that l had left such matter to
two selfish girls, one of them as change
able as the wind. and the other com.
pletely under her control. l could but
think Of the difference between myself and
Brandon and knew well, had l been in
his place, he would have liberated me or
stormed the very walls of London single
handed and alone.
When l learned that Brandon had
been in that dungeon all that long month
1 felt that 1t would surely Kill MIN, ana
my self-accusation was so strong and bit
ter and my mental pain so great, that |
resolved If my friend died, either by dis
ease contracted in the dungeon or by
execution of his sentence. that | would
kill myself. But that is matter much
easier sincerely to resolve upon than to
execute when the time comes.
Next to myself, l condemned those
wretched girls for leaving Brandon to
owed so much. 1t turned me against all
womankind for their selfish sake.
l did not daily this time. trusted to
no Lady Jane or Lady Mary. l de-
termined TO go to the King at once and
tell him. / did not care if the wretched
Mary and Jane both had to marry the
French King or the devil himself. [ did
rot care if they and all the host of their
perfidious sisterhood went to the neither
side of the universe, there to remain for
ever | would retrieve my fault, in so
far as 1t was retrievablc. and save Bran
don, who was worth them all put to-
gether l would tell Mary and Jane
what | thought of them and that should
end. matters between us. 1 felt as 1 did
toward them not only because of their
treatment of Brandon, but because they
had made me guilty OF grievous fault,
for which l should never, so long as 1
lived, forgive myself. determined to go
10 the King, and go I did within five min
utes of the time 1 heard that Brandon
1 found the King sitting alone at public
dinner and, of course, was denied speech
with him. l was in no humor to be
baked, so l thrust aside the guards and,
wild with grief, rage and despair. and
showed 1t in every feature, rushed to the
King and fell upon my knees at his feet.
courtiers heard. Justice, o King. for
the worst used man and the braVest,
truest soul that ever lived and suffered"
face and my voice choked in my throat.
Charles Brandon, your Majesty's one
time friend, lies in a loathsome, raylesS
dungeon, condemned to death, as your
two men in Billingsgate ward. 1 will tell
you all: l should be thrust out from the
society of decent men for not having told
YOU before l left for France, but l
trusted it to another, who has proved
false. 1 will tell you all. Your sister, the
Lady Mary. and Lady Jane Bolingbroke
were returning alone, after dark, from
a visit to the soothsayeI Grouche of
whom your Majesty has heard. had
been notified of the Lady Mary's in
tended visit to him, although she had en-
Joined absolute secrecy upon my in
formant. 1 could not go. being detained
upon your MajeSty'S Servfce-it was the
night of the ball to the Embassadors-and
| asked Brandon to follow them, which
he did. without the knowledge of. the
Princess. Upon returning. the ladies were
attacked by four ruffians and would nave
met with worse than death had not the
bravest heart and the best sword in Eng
land defended them victoriously against
fearful odds. He left them at BridewelI
without burt or injury, though covered
with wounds himself. This man Is con-
demned to be hanged, drawn and quar-
tered, but L know not your Majesty 5
heart if he be not at once reprieved and
richly rewarded. Think, my King! He
saved the royal honor of your sister. who
is so dear to you and has suffered so ter