of courtiers and. pages—­amongst the latter of whom was Chiffinch—­were assembled.  At the door of the inner chamber stood a couple of ushers, and as the earl approached, it was instantly thrown open.  As Leonard, however, who followed close behind his leader, passed Chiffinch, the latter caught hold of his arm and detained him.  Hearing the movement, Rochester turned, and said quickly to the page, “Let him pass, he is going with me.”

“Old Rowley is in no humour for a jest to-day, my lord,” replied Chiffinch, familiarly.  “He is more serious than I have ever before seen him, and takes this terrible fire sadly to heart, as well he may.  Mr. Secretary Pepys, of the Admiralty, is with him, and is detailing all particulars of the calamity to him, I believe.”

“It is in reference to the fire that I have brought this young man with me,” returned the earl.  “Let him pass, I say.  State your plan boldly,” he added, as they entered the audience-chamber.

At the further end of the long apartment, on a chair of state, and beneath a canopy, sat Charles.  He was evidently much disturbed, and looked eagerly at the new-comers, especially at Leonard, expecting to find him the bearer of some important intelligence.  On the right of the king, and near an open window, which, looking towards the river, commanded a view of the fire on the bridge, as well as of part of the burning city, stood the Duke of York.  The duke did not appear much concerned at the calamity, but was laughing with Lord Argentine, who stood close beside him.  The smile fled from the lips of the latter as he beheld Leonard, and he looked angrily at Rochester, who did not, however, appear to notice his displeasure.  On the left of the royal chair was Mr. Pepys, engaged, as Chiffinch had intimated, in detailing to the king the progress of the conflagration; and next to the secretary stood the Earl of Craven,—­a handsome, commanding, and martial-looking personage, though somewhat stricken in years.  Three other noblemen—­ namely, the Lords Hollis, Arlington, and Ashley—­were likewise present.

“Who have you with you, Rochester?” demanded Charles, as the earl and his companion approached him.

“A young man, my liege, who desires to make known to you a plan for checking this conflagration,” replied the earl.

“Ah!” exclaimed the king; “let him accomplish that for us, and he shall ask what he will in return.”

“I ventured to promise him as much,” observed Rochester.

“Mine is a very simple and a very obvious plan, sire,” said Leonard; “but I will engage, on the peril of my life, if you will give me sufficient authority, and means to work withal, to stop the further progress of this fire.”

“In what way?” asked Charles, impatiently;—­“in what way?”

“By demolishing the houses around the conflagration with gunpowder, so as to form a wide gap between those left and the flames,” replied Leonard.