The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-05

cept that she was the Lady Hermione.
 Nigel went to court, and was well re- ceived by his majesty. But as he was leaving his presence in company with Heriot and the Earl Huntington they en- countered the Duke of Buckingham. Splendidly dressed and with a face and form which made the splendor of his ap- parel seem only natural to him, the fa- vorite handsomest man of his time, seemed by the naughty yet frank and open look which he wore and the intel ligence of his countenance to be worthy of the high destiny which had been accorded him through kingly honor. He greeted Heriot and Lord Huntington, but when Nigel was presented to him drew himself up and looking straight into the young lords eyes, said: We know each other, then, my lord-and know me for your enemy .I thank you for your plainness, my lord duke" replied Nigel: "an open foe is better than a secret enemy"
 Lord Huntington, a friend of rIigels father, had joined with Heriot in further ing the rehabilitation of the young lords fortune. He and Heriot had got from the King an order under the sign manual upon the Scottish exchequer for the amount needed to redeem the Glen varloch estates, and now they repaired to Hun, the earl's house, to discuss the legal details of the situation, for the Scottish exchequer was empty. or nearly so, and money must be raised on the +1,1& ut-~l erful influences were at work at court against Nigel. The man who ostensibly held the mortgage was but a figurhead. The Duke of Buckingham was the real possessor, and the King had intimated to Huntington that Baby Charles and Steenie had a mind to kill buck in the forests of Glenvarloch."
 While the earl and the goldsmith were studying Nigers affairs he talked with Lord Dalgarno, the earl's son, gay young courier, companion of Bucking- ham and the prince. Dalgarno professed himself Niges warm friend and intro duced him into all sorts of gay com pany, especially induced him to frequent Beaujeu's ordinary. where the fine wines and good cooking were supplemented by gambling. and which was frequented not only by the gallants of the court but by such adventurers as could manage to procure court clothes in which to mingle with the gay society. Fairly well supplied with money now Nigel left his lodgings at Paul's Wharf for more fashionable quarters, but not before Dal- garno had visited him in his room over the chandler's shop and rallied him upon the evident interest his landlady took in him.
 Upon my honor-upon my word" said Nigel "Oh. am not tell-tale,' said Dal- garno, nor shall I cross your walk. There is game enough in the forest" And so much already had evil communi- cations corrupted good manners and righteousness in the Nigel Olifaunt that he let the suspicion go without further comment, less ashamed of the imputa- ton of vice than of the fact that Dal- garno had found him in such squalid quarters. Nigel's father had commanded him never to enter gambling place, but Dalgarno had convinced the young lord that the ordinary was not a gambling place--only a place where people gam bIed And all unawares Nigel was play ing into the hands of his secret fees and open enemies, drifting along carelessly on the sparkling waters of the gay court life without a thought of tho dangers which lurked about him. Master Heriot had gone to Paris on important business end as for his other mentor. Lord Hunt