The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16


 dance for the public Go with yonder gentleman and await me-"
 One of the retinue signed to them to follow and led Peveril and his curious companion to large house in St. James Park. There they were ushered into the presence of a lady, who would have been pretty but for rouge, and who might have not been civil had she not been in- ordinately vain and ludicrously conde- scending.
 The Kings gentleman and the lady con versed with such disdain of Julian and Fenella that they touched on all the inti- mate topics of court. They referred to His Majesty as "old Rowley," and Pew eril learned that the lady was MT. Chif- fnch's lady (thugh not his wife), and that His Majesty found her house very con- venient one for many of his royal pur- poses.
 | Before long "old Rowley'' himself was announced. He. too, ignored the presence of Julian and Fenella for the time being, and inquired particularly after pretty little country cousin,'' whom he had heard Chiffinch was entertaining. Pray le us have la belle oousine,' said he. Mistress Chiffinch, evidently painfully embarrassed, advanced toward door. At that moment a womans voice was heard raised in anger. The door opened and Alice ran out, followed by the Duke of Buckingham.
 T remain no longer in your house, l madam" said she indignantly. "I shall leave without delay place where I am l exposed to insult"
 Julian, instantly careless of the pres 1 ence of the king, stepped to her side. An l ecstacy of joy shone in her face when she saw who had come so opportunely to l her rescue. She permitted him to draw her gently to the background. 1 The King, who knew well that Alice had been destined for him, resented the attempt of Buckingham as an eastern Sultan would have done. His swarthy features reddened. But he knew that he could not dare to show his wrath. He -contented himself with making a diver sion by commanding Fenela to dance again.
 1 After she had finished, Peverl kneeled before the King and told him that he had been entrusted with letters by the Coun- tess of Derby. T pray permission, sire," said he, 'to place them in your hands, certain that they will prove the inno- I cence of the writer"
 The King shook his head, but took them. Calling for wax and a taper he sealed them with his own hands. Then he referred to Peverils father and said: r- A4 f@x fear of the poor Catholics. have borne and borne with 1t, but I will do so no louger. I will act the part of sover- I eign and save my people from doing in- 1 justce.'
 Then, catching the sarcastic eye of Buckingham, he added, lamely; Be as- sured, young man, your father shall not want an intercessor in his King, so far as the laws will permit
 Rather sheepishly His Majesty dis missed Julian and permitted him to retire l with his prize. Not so my lord Duke of Buckingham. A few whispered words from tim sent two braves after them. AS Julian approached the Thames they attacked him. He one through 1 promptly. But when he turned Alice had disappeared in the grasp of the other. Before he could follow he was in the hands of officers who carried him to the Tower.
 ] The ruffian who seized Alice hurried her into boat and took her straight to the house of the Duke Thus once more, as so many times in his career, did that amazingly clever intriguer permit pass ing whim to overturn great plans-BucI- ingham had long wished to be King of Man and he had depended on Edward Christian .o open the way to him.
 Christian was not slow to discover the Dukes treachery. He rescued his niece l Realizing that Alice would not trust him l again, he delivered her to her father and entered into & new plot, aimed at the King and led by religious fanatics like Bridgenorth and other zealots and we'll | meaning men of the stamp of the Ana baptists, Monarchy men and similar
 sectaries whose stern enthusiasm had contributed so much to the destruction of the monarchy before.
 Deeply as he hated Buckingham, Chris tian could not afford to break with this powerful patron to whom he owed all his power The Duke, as 1t happened just then, was grievously affronted by the King, and Christian found 1t an easy task to einbroil him in the plot. l The fanatics were all the more eager in the conspiracy, because the safety vent which the Popist plot had given to their excited minds had begun to fail. The judges had discovered the feeling of their 1 royal master and they were not so keen as they had been on convicting accused | persons. The famous witness Oates no lA1onger found eager believers in every 1 jury. The bubble had been prioked !, So 1t happened that when Sir Godfrey l wal arraigned before the famous Lord Chief Justice Scroggs on the charge of treason while his son Julian was ar raigned for the same crime aggravated by his staying of a retainer of Buckng- ham, the great enemy of the Catholic plotters, the trial was made humorous i rather than bloody, and.the two Peverils were acquitted almost before they l knew 1t.
 They were not to get off scot free, :, however, If the court had turned about face in accordance with the royal mind, i the mob of London still pleased itself with hunting down Papists. When father and son appeared on the street, the crowd i followed them, growing as they went.