“He is both, sir,” Charlie said; “but, like Major Jervoise, an exile.”

“You amaze me, but I will not ask you to tell me more, now.  I have to be at Saint James’s at twelve.

“Let me see, this evening I shall be engaged.  Come tomorrow morning, at half past eight, and I shall then be able to give you an hour, or maybe two, if necessary, and will then hear the whole story fully.”

The young men, on presenting themselves the next morning, at the hour named, were at once ushered in.

“Now, let us lose no time,” the duke said, after shaking hands heartily.  “Which of you will tell the story?”

“Carstairs will do so, my lord,” Harry replied.  “The mischief was hatched in his house, and my father, and six other gentlemen, were the victims of the treachery of a kinsman of his.”

Charlie told the story of the events that had brought about the ruin of his father and friends.

“It is monstrous!” the duke exclaimed indignantly, when he had brought this part of his story to a conclusion.  “That my old friend, Mat Jervoise, should be concerned in a plot for assassination, is, I would pledge my life, untrue; and Sir Marmaduke Carstairs was, I know, an honourable gentleman, who would be equally incapable of such an act.  That they were both Jacobites, I can well believe, for the Jacobites are strong everywhere in the north, but, as half of us are or have been Jacobites, that can scarcely be counted as an offence.  At any rate, a Stuart is upon the throne now, and, as long as she reigns, there is no fear that a civil war will be set up by another of the race.  The story, as you have told it, sir, is, I doubt not for a moment, true, but at present it is unsupported; and though, on my assurance of their loyalty, I think I can promise that her majesty would extend a pardon to the gentlemen who have been so unjustly accused, I fear that she could not, by her own act, restore the estates that have been confiscated, unless you can bring some proof that this fellow you speak of was suborned to get up false evidence against them.”

“That, sir, is what I shall have the honour to inform you now.”

And Charlie then related the story of their quest for the man Nicholson, and its result.

“Rarely devised and carried out,” the duke said warmly.  “Do you lay the knave by the heels, and frighten him into confessing the truth, and I will see to the rest of the matter.  I do not know that I ought to let the North coach be robbed, after the information you have given me, but, as we will hunt down all the other fellows, and shall probably recover the booty they carry off, the passengers will have no reason to grumble.

“Well, young sirs, the king of Sweden has given you a testimonial as to your bravery and conduct.  If necessary, I will give you one for your ingenuity in planning and carrying out a difficult scheme.

“So you have both been with the Swedes through their campaign against the Russians and Poles.  I envy you.  King Charles’ service is a grand school for soldiers, and that victory of Narva is the most extraordinary one ever seen.  Had you the honour of any personal intercourse with the king?”