“If you have any regard for me, fly,” cried Nizza Macascree.  “I am lost if I remain here till to-morrow.”

“For your sake I will go, then,” returned Amabel.  “But I have a foreboding that I am running into the teeth of danger.”

“Oh! say not so,” rejoined Mrs. Buscot.  “I am persuaded it is for the best.  I must leave you now, but I will send Leonard to you.”

“It is needless,” replied Amabel.  “Let him come to us at the proper time.  We will be ready.”

To explain the cause of Mrs. Buscot’s alarm, it will be necessary to return to the receiving-room, and ascertain what occurred after Nizza’s flight.  Charles, who at first had been greatly annoyed by Parravicin’s abrupt entrance, speedily recovered his temper, and laughed at the other’s forced apologies.

“I find I have a rival in your majesty,” observed the knight.  “It is unlucky for me that you have encountered Nizza.  Her charms were certain to inflame you.  But when I tell you I am desperately enamoured of her, I am persuaded you will not interfere with me.”

“I will tell you what I will do,” replied the good-humoured monarch, after a moment’s reflection.  “I remember your mentioning that you once played with a Captain Disbrowe for his wife, and won her from him.  We will play for this girl in the same manner.”

“But your majesty is a far more skilful player than Disbrowe,” replied Parravicin, reluctantly.

“It matters not,” rejoined the monarch; “the chances will be more equal—­or rather the advantage will be greatly on your side, for you are allowed to be the luckiest and best player at my court.  If I win, she is mine.  If, on the contrary, fortune favours you, I resign her.”

“Since there is no avoiding it, I accept the challenge,” replied Parravicin.

“The decision shall not be delayed an instant,” cried Charles, “What, ho!—­dice!—­dice!”

An attendant answering the summons, he desired that the other courtiers should be admitted, and dice brought.  The latter order could not be so easily obeyed, there being no such articles at Ashdown; and the attendants were driven to their wits’ ends, when Pillichody chancing to overhear what was going forward, produced a box and dice, which were instantly conveyed to the king, and the play commenced.  Charles, to his inexpressible delight and Parravicin’s chagrin, came off the winner, and the mortification of the latter was increased by the laughter and taunts of the spectators.

“You are not in your usual luck to-day,” observed Rochester to him, as they walked aside.

“For all this, do not think I will surrender Nizza,” replied Parravicin, in a low tone, “I love her too well for that.”

“I cannot blame you,” replied Rochester.  “Step this way,” he added, drawing him to the further end of the room.  “It is my intention to carry off Amabel to-night, notwithstanding old Rowley’s injunctions to the contrary, and I propose to accomplish my purpose in the following manner.  I will frighten her into flying with Leonard Holt, and will then secretly follow her.  Nizza Macascree is sure to accompany her, and will, therefore, be in your power.”