Grammont had offered to go with us, when we explained what we were to do and the danger in doing it, and we were glad to have him and his sword, for we might find ourselves in straits where we should need both.  He and Hamilton were to meet me at the head of King’s Street.  Each of us was to carry a long sword and to have a pistol, charged and primed, in his belt.

After leaving the parchments with Frances, I hastened to bring Betty up to Whitehall, and, shortly after eight o’clock, met Du Boise and De Grammont at King’s Street arch, all of us wearing full vizards.

We walked down to the boat, De Grammont frequently taking notice of Bettina, for, despite her full vizard and an enveloping cloak, she was far too attractive not to rivet his attention.

When we reached Westminster stairs, we found the boat awaiting us.  We did not want the watermen to go with us, so I bought the boat and dismissed them.

We entered the boat, and when Bettina took the stern oar, De Grammont asked:—­

“Who is she—­the lady on the stern thwart?  Can she steer the boat?  Does she know the river?”

“Yes, to all of your questions, count,” I answered.

“‘Yes’ doesn’t answer the first question,” he returned.

“It isn’t to be answered,” I replied curtly, and he returned with an apologetic “Pardon!”

Just before nine o’clock we took Frances aboard at Whitehall Garden Stairs and drifted slowly down to the king’s privy stairs, from which the narrow flight of steps rose to the king’s closet in the story above.

When we drew up at the privy stairs, Frances stepped out of the boat to the landing and whispered:—­

“I shall arrange in some way to return, just as soon as the king signs the treaty, but if you hear me scream, come to my rescue.  I am prepared to defend myself, and shall give the signal only when I must.”

After climbing the narrow steps, she entered the king’s closet and found him alone.  Almost at the same instant she caught the sound of heavy steps in the adjoining room and heard the clang of steel on a bare oak floor.  This demonstration was made, I suppose, by the king’s order, for the purpose of intimidating Frances lest she prove rebellious.

In response to her frightened look of inquiry, the king said, “Only a half dozen troopers whom I always keep in my anteroom to be at hand if needed.”

“A wise precaution, your Majesty,” returned Frances, bringing herself together as quickly as possible.  “Here are the copies of the treaty, your Majesty, and here is the bill on Backwell.  The Abbe du Boise instructed me to ask your Majesty to sign his copy of the treaty immediately and return it to him.  He waits in a boat at the foot of the privy stairs, and is anxious to go down the river to his ship before the tide turns.”

“Waits at the foot of the stairs?” exclaimed the king.  “Odds fish!  What is he doing there?  But it shall be done at once.  I had the Great Seal brought to me, so that I might fully execute the treaty without delay.  I supposed the Abbe would desire its immediate return as soon as the money was paid.”