At this interview the Russian unburdened his heart of all malice and hatred, and gave vent to ill-gotten secrets, of which Buckingham’s schemes were foremost.  So open and frank was the Count in his assertions there was no doubt in Sir Julian’s mind but what he had created an wholesome feeling with his conscience; and for himself, recognized the interview as nothing more nor less than the comely intervention of Providence.

Sir Julian determined upon an immediate rendezvous with Sir John Penwick, to the end that a concerted movement might effectually bring the Duke to his senses.  He loved Buckingham, but he loved the Duchess of Ellswold more, and for this cause of peace, intended to hedge the Duke about with an impenetrable wall.

Buckingham soon saw that the strings were closing about him, and that ’twas Sir Julian who held the taut ends.  But the great Duke had still one more move, a move so venturesome, so involved with hazard, that when ’twas made, the King himself admired and paid homage to its projector.

The Duke knew that Sir Julian, with a whisper in the King’s ear, could send him to the Tower.  So at the point of Sir Julian’s sword—­metaphorically—­he was forced to go to the King and straighten matters as best he could.  This the great Duke did, with the most exquisite urbanity.  He knew well the King’s humour, and the most propitious moment in it, and propinquity played him fair, and there vibrated in his Majesty’s ear the dulcet tones of George Villiers magnetic voice, saying,—­

“Oh, King! may I tell thee of what foul issue fulsome Nature hath brought forth, and what travail I suffer for—­”

“Odd’s fish! what hast thou been doing, George, what hast thou—­”

“Oh, King!” and the Duke bowed upon his knee and touched with his lips the great ring upon his Majesty’s hand; “I did engender with a brain unwebbed by wine, a body ample of strength and health, my soul absolved, my heart palpitant with pure love and rich intention; but corruptible Nature hath adulterated and brought forth an oaf, to which I lay no claim—­”

“Egad!  Duke; we’ll wager a kilderkin of chaney oranges at four pence each and a dozen cordial juleps with pearls that thy conscience is about to bewray thee.”

“Your Royal Highness doth honour me by the assumption that such a kingly component is mine.  I cannot gainsay thy assertion, but who but my King could touch to life the almost undefined limning of moral faculty that has been my poor possession heretofore—­”

“And who but thy King would give to thy swart issue a, no doubt, condign interest; come, curtail loquacity!”

“Then, your Majesty, to be brief, I have raised for thee the subsidies thou were too modest to ask the House for—­”

“Odd’s fish, and this is thine oaf; oaf, callest thou it, when it has brought unspeakable joy to thy King?  Not so, ’tis an issue that outshines in weight, point of beauty and actual worth that bouncing youngster of Ellswold’s.”