“For a time I paid no heed, but soon his gaze so nauseated me that I could not restrain my anger, and said, loud enough for him and the others to hear, ’What ails the little man, that he should stand there staring at me like a sick calf trying to cast a spell upon the moon?’ The king laughed and Jermyn bowed, as he replied, ’The moon pretends to disdain veal, doubtless in the hope of having royal beef.’  The king laughed and told Jermyn to gaze elsewhere, if the moon refused to be spellbound, and the little creature left us to carry out the king’s suggestion.  But I shall marry Tyrconnel and make an end of it all just as soon as possible.’”

We returned to the palace, and I did not see my cousin during the next week.  Meantime the king was growing more importunate, and one day affairs reached a terrifying climax when he intimated to Frances that if she would promise to become his wife, he would try to divorce the queen.  It has been said, doubtless with truth, that the same offer was made to Mistress Stuart, now the Duchess of Richmond.

When Frances refused his Majesty’s offer, which, probably, was made only for the purpose of inducing her to trust him, he asked with ill-concealed anger:—­

“Do you refuse my offer because you are still thinking of Hamilton?”

“I would refuse it, your Majesty, were there no other man in the world,” answered Frances, bowing and asking leave to withdraw.

When Frances told me of this extraordinary offer, I was convinced that the king had no intention of fulfilling it, but it served to open my eyes to the extent of his passion, and to assure me that he would use any means in his power, however desperate, to gain his end.  Frances was in danger.

I also knew that if the king held Hamilton responsible for Frances’s obduracy, means would be found of putting him out of the way, if his Majesty could but get hands on him.  With this belief strong upon me, I was not surprised when Frances came to me in great tribulation, within a day or two, and said:—­

“Cousin Ned, it is reported that Master Hamilton is still in London and that he has avowed his intention to kill the king.  The surgeon who dressed his wounds is said to be responsible for the accusation.  If he is found, he certainly will die, for the proof will be at hand, false or true.  The king told me as much, and offered to pardon Master Hamilton if I would ask it in the proper spirit.  But I refused, saying that I did not care a farthing what he did respecting Hamilton.  You must find him, Baron Ned!  Find him at once and give him warning!”

“I feel sure that Betty knows where he is,” I answered.  “I’ll go to her to-morrow.”

“Yes, she may know, and I would save him if I could,” answered Frances, trying hard to hold back the tears.  “I wronged him cruelly, and now I fear it is too late to make amends.  I can only moan and weep, and long to ask him to forgive me and to tell him that I am not the creature he thinks I am.  I would speak plainly to him for once of what I am and of what I feel for him, and then I am ready to part from him forever and to marry Tyrconnel or any one else who will give me wealth.”