“Since I did not recognize you, perhaps Lilly will not,” I suggested.  “I trust the Doctor, but perhaps we had better leave him under the impression that you are Monsieur l’Abbe du Boise and give no intimation of the truth.”

“I had not hoped that my disguise would deceive you, Baron Ned,” said George, “but since it has, it is just as well that we leave Lilly in the dark if we can.”

“But he will know.  The stars will tell him,” suggested Bettina, opening her eyes very wide.

“The stars will tell him what he is paid to hear,” I remarked.  Then turning to Frances, I asked, “How is it that you were able to recognize him?”

“By his eyes!” exclaimed Frances and Bettina in concert.

“That gives me a valuable hint,” said George, hastily adjusting his colored spectacles.  “Now, how about it?”

“I still should know you,” answered Frances.

“Not I!” exclaimed Bettina.

Presently Lilly came in, and I presented him to Monsieur l’Abbe du Boise and explained the presence of Frances and Bettina by saying:—­

“A friend of ours in France has asked Mistress Jennings to render what aid she can to Monsieur l’Abbe, and she is here at my request to receive his commands.”

“It is good!” exclaimed Lilly.  “She has the king’s ear if any one has, and the ear is very close to the mind.  What may I do to serve Monsieur l’Abbe?”

“If I may see you privately—–­the baron and me—­I shall tell you how you may serve me,” answered the Abbe.

The Abbe and I excused ourselves to Frances and Bettina, and went with the Doctor to the room which he called his observatory, where we came to the point very quickly:—­

“I want to buy Dunkirk for my master for the sum of one hundred thousand pounds,” said the Abbe, by way of starting the consultation.

“But London has already offered that sum,” returned Lilly, “and stands ready to pay more.”

“In payments,” suggested the Abbe.

“Yes,” returned Lilly.  “But I see no way of bringing the king to accept the sum you offer unless—­unless Mistress Jennings can persuade him.”

“She may be able to do so,” answered the Abbe, shrugging his shoulders.  He spoke very bad English throughout the consultation.  “But the stars, too, may be very persuasive with King Charles.  To be plain, he will probably consult you, and if—­”

“I am to see him to-night.  That is why your visit was postponed until to-morrow,” interrupted Lilly.

“That is as I supposed,” remarked the Abbe.  “Now, if I buy Dunkirk for one hundred thousand pounds, you shall receive two thousand pounds within ten days after signing the treaty, and Baron Clyde will be my surety.”

“Two thousand pounds?” mused Lilly.  “That is rather a small sum in so great a transaction.”

“I doubt not the purchase may be made without the help of the stars if you feel that two thousand pounds is too small a sum to be considered,” returned the Abbe.