“You may bask to your heart’s content,” retorted Frances, laughing, “but you must know that it does not please the sun to be stopped by an unprepossessing stranger.”

The Mother’s face bore a look of consternation, and the gentleman threw back his head, laughing uproariously.

“Ah, my beauty, but I would not remain a stranger.  If I am unprepossessing, it is because I am as God made me and I cannot help it.  But I can help being a stranger to you and would make myself known, and would present my compliments to—­”

“To the devil, who perhaps may like your impertinence better than I like it,” retorted Frances, turning from him angrily and hastening toward the opposite end of the gallery.

When Frances reached the door of the corridor, she looked back and saw the Mother of the Maids listening attentively to the gentleman.  He was laughing heartily, and when the Mother left him, Frances noticed that she courtesied almost to the floor, a ceremony little used save with the king, the queen, the duke, and the duchess.

When the door of the gallery was closed behind Frances, she asked the Mother:—­

“Who is the impudent fellow?”

“He?  Why, he—­is—­why, he is Sir Rowley,” answered the Mother, hesitatingly, and Frances knew that she had won her first round with the king, though she kept her knowledge to herself.

CHAPTER IV

A SMILE AT THE DEVIL

In the evening the duchess gave a little ball in her parlor to present Frances to the king and to the queen, if her Majesty should attend, to the Duke of York, and to others living in Whitehall immediately connected with the palace household.

I went to the ball early, wishing to be there before Frances arrived, to help her if need be over the untrodden paths of court forms and etiquette.  Soon after I entered her Grace’s parlor, Mary Hamilton came in with her mother, and I joined them.  I should have been glad to see a gleam of joy in Mary’s eyes when I approached, but I had to be content with a calm, gracious “I’m glad to see you, baron.”

Presently the Duke of York arrived with the duchess on his arm, and they took their places at the end of the room opposite the musicians’ gallery.  Mary and I hastened to kiss their hands, and, withdrawing to a little distance, awaited Frances’s arrival.  After the others in the room had paid their respects to her Grace, she beckoned me to her chair and said:—­

“Your cousin will arrive presently.  I have just seen her.  Look for a sensation when she comes.  She is radiant, though her gown is as simple as a country girl’s.”

“I hear you have brought us a great beauty, baron,” remarked the duke.

“Yes, your Highness.  We who love her think so,” I answered.

“You’ll be wanting to be made an earl for your service in bringing her, eh, baron?” said the duke, laughing.  Then bending toward me and whispering:  “A word in your ear, Clyde.  You may have it if you play your cards right and are persistent in importunity.”