Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-24

We will now go back a month for the purpose of looking up the doings of a friend of ours, his grace the Duke of Buckingham.
 On the morning after the fatal battle of Billingsgate the barber who had treated Brandon's wounds had been called to London to dress bruised knee for his grace the duke. Tn the course of the operation an immense deal of information oozed out of the barber, one item of which was that he had the night before dressed nine wounds, great and small, for Master Brandon, the kings friend. This es- tablished the identity of the man who had rescued the girls, fact of which Buckingham had had his suspicious all along. So Brandon's arrest followed, as have already related to you.
 I afterward learned from various sources how this nobleman began to avenge his mishap with Brandon at Mary's ball when the latter broke his sword point First he went to New gate and gave orders to the keeper, who was his tool, to allow no commu- nication with the prisoner, and 1t was by his instructions that Brandon had been confined in the worst dungeon in London Then he went down to Green wich to take care of matters there, knowing that the king would learn of Brandon's arrest and probably take steps for his liberation at once.
 The king had just heard of the arrest when Buckingham arrived, and the latter found he was right in his sur mise that his majesty would at once demand Brandon's release.
 When the duke entered the kings room, Henry called to him: My lord, you are opportunely arrived. So good friend of the people of London can help us greatly this morning. Our friend Brandon has been arrested for the killing of two men night before last in Billingsgate ward. I am sure there is some mistake and that the good sheriff has the wrong man, but right or wrong, we want him out and ask your good offices"
 II shall be most happy to serve your majesty and will go to London at once to see the lord mayor.",
 In the afternoon the duke returned and had q private audience with the king.
 II did as your majesty requested in regard to Brandon's release" he said, "but on investigation thought 1t best to consult you again before proceeding further. fear there is no doubt that Brandon is the right man. It seems he was out with a couple of wenches con- corning whom he got into trouble and stabbed two men in the back. 1t is very aggravated case, and the citizens are mucS incensed about it, owing partly to the fact that such occurrences have been so frequent of late. thought under the circumstances and in view of the fact that your majesty will soon call upon. the city for a loan to make up the Lady Mary's dover it would be wise not to antagonize them in this matter, but to allow Master Brandon to remain quietly in conflne- ment until the loan is completed, and then we can snap our fingers at them."
 "We will snap our fingers at the scurvy burghers now and have the loan, too," returned Henry angrily. "I want Brandon liberated at once, and I shall expect another report from you immediately, my lord"
 Buckingham felt that his revenge had slipped through his fingers this time, but he was patient where evil was to be accomplished and could wait. Then it was that the council was called during the progress of which Mary and I had tried to obtain an audience of the king.
 Buckingham had gone to pay his re- spects to the queen and on his way back had espied Mary waiting for the king in the anteroom and went to her.
 At first she was irritated at the sight of this man, whom she so despised, but a thought came to her that she might make use of him. She knew his power with the citizens and city au- thorities of London and also knew, or thought she knew, that smile from her could accomplish everything with him. She had ample evidence of his infatuation, and she hoped that she could procure Brandon's liberty through Buckingham without revealing her dangerous secret.
 Much to the duke's surprise, she smiled upon him and gave cordial welcome, saying: My lord, you have been unkind to us of late and have not shown us the light of your counte- nance. l nm glad to see you once more. Tell me the neWs."
 'I cannot say there is much of inter- est. I have learned the new dance from Caskoden, if that is news, and hope for favor at our next ball from the fairest lady in the world"
 And quite welcome" returned Mary, complacently appropriating the title, land welcome to more than one, I hope, my lord"
 This graciousness would have looked suspicious to one with less vanity than Buckingham, but he saw no craft in 1t. He did see, however, that Mary did not know who had attacked her in Billingsgate, and he felt greatly re- lieved.
 The duke smiled and smirked and was enchanted at her kindness. They walked down the corridor, talking and Voronipu Nfarv oyvoftfuo on oppnrt11