New Britain herald., 1924-02-04

that linked one side of the palace with the other.
 It was close upon noon, and that eurial thoroughfare was more than
 ordinarily thronged, the war with l5olland-now an accomplished fact being responsible for the anxious, fererish hustle hereabouts. Opposite the Horse Guards the Colonel came to momentary halt on | the skirts of a knot of idlers, stand ing at gaze to observe the workmen on the palace roof who were engaged in erecting there a weather-vane. A gentleman whom he questioned in- termed him that this was for the convenience Of the Lord High Ad- miral, the Duke of York, so that his grace might observe from his win dows how the wind served the plaguey Dutch feet which was ex- pected now to leave the Texel at any hour.
 Colonel Holes moved on, glancing across at the windows Of the ban uueting- house, whence, as a lad of twenty, a cornet of horse. some six teen years ago, he had seen the late
 
 a crisp January morning to suffer the loss of his head. And perhaps he remembered that his own father
 long since dead--and so beyond the reach Of any Stuart Nengeance-had been one Of the signatories of the warrant under which that deed was done.
 He passed on. from the sunlight into the shadow Of Holbein's noble gateway, and then. emerging beyond, he turned to his right, past the Duke Of Moncouth's lodging into the court yard Of the Cockpit, where the Duke of Albemarle had his residence. Here his lingering doubt on tho score of whether his grace were yet returned to Town was set at rest by the hustle in which he found himself. But there remained another doubt: which was whether his grace being now re- turned, would condescend to receive him. Six times in the coiirse Of tho past four weeks had he vainly sought admission. On three of those occa- sions he had been shortly answered that his grace was out of town; on one of them--the last-more circum- stantially that his grace was at Ports | mouth about the business of the fleet | Twice if was admitted-and he had abundant evidences, as now-that | the Duke was at home and receiving; | but the Colonel's shabbiness had | aroused the mistrust of the ushers, | and they had barred his way to ask | him superciliously was he commanded | by the Duke. Upon his confession | tbat he was not, they informed him | that the Duke was over.busy to re- ceiye any but those whom he had | commanded, and they bade him | come again some other day. He had | not imagined that George Monk would be SO difficult of access. re- membering his homely republican disregard Of forms in other days. But being twice repulsed from his threshold ina fashion. he had taken the precaution Of writing be- fore presenting himself now. begging his grace 10 give orders that he should he admitted. unless he no longer held place in his grace's memory.
 The present visit, therefore. was fateful. 4 refusal now he must re- gard as final. in which case he would be left to curse the impulse that had brought him back to England. where it was very likely he would stsrve.
 A doorkeeper with q haibert barred his progress on the threshold. Your business. sir"''
 "Is with His Grace Of A1bermarle." The Colonel's tone was sharp and confident. Thanks to this the next question was less chaIlengingly de- ivered.
 You are commanded, sir?"
 'I have reason to believe am awaited. His grace is appraised Of my coming
 The doorkeeper looked him over again. and then made way
 He was past the outer guard. and his hopes rose. But at the end of a ong gallery wooden-faced usher confronted him. and the questions re- commenced. When Holles an- pounced that he had written to beg ! in audience