“You do not feel nervous, I hope?  After being accustomed to chat with Charles of Sweden, to say nothing of the Czar of Russia, Carstairs, you need not feel afraid of Queen Anne, who is good nature itself.”

Nevertheless, both the young men felt nervous.  After being conducted up some private stairs, the duke led them into an oak-panelled room, of comparatively small size, lighted by numerous tapers, which displayed the rich hangings and furniture.  A lady was sitting by the fire.  A tall, handsome woman, with a somewhat imperious face, stood on the rug before her, talking to her, while a pleasant-looking man, who by his appearance and manner might have been taken for a country squire, was sitting opposite, playing with the ears of a spaniel lying on his knee.

The tall lady moved aside, as they entered, and Charlie noticed a little glance of affectionate welcome pass between her and the duke—­for the pair were devotedly attached to each other—­then he bowed to the seated lady.

“Madam,” he said, “allow me to present to you the two young officers, of whose bravery Charles of Sweden has written so strongly, and whose parents have, with other gentlemen, been driven from the land by villainy.”

The young men bowed deeply.  Anne held out her hand, and each in turn, bending on one knee, raised it to his lips.

“There,” she said, “let that be the beginning and end of ceremony.  This is not a court gathering, but a family meeting.  I want to hear your stories, and I want you, for the time, to forget that I am Anne of England.  I know that your fathers have always been faithful to our house, and I hope that their sons will, ere long, do as good service for me as they have done for a foreign prince.

“You have not seen these gentlemen yet, Sarah?”

“No, my husband has kept them to himself.”

“I have had but little time to give them, Sarah, and wanted it all, to question them on the Swedish modes of warfare.”

“And you thought I should be an interruption?

“I am glad to meet you both, nevertheless.  Since my husband likes you, I am sure to do so;” and she smiled pleasantly, as she gave a hand to each.

They were then introduced to the Prince Consort, George of Denmark.

At this moment, supper was announced.  The queen and the duchess went in together, followed by the four gentlemen.

“Lord Godolphin and Mr. Harley were to have been of the party tonight,” the queen said, as she took her seat at table, “but I put them off till tomorrow, as I wanted to hear these gentlemen’s story.”

During the meal, the conversation was gay.  As soon as the last dish was removed, the party returned to the other room.  Then the queen called upon the young men to tell their story.

Charlie began, and related up to the time when he had aided in the rescue of his father from the hands of his escort.  Harry told the story of their military experiences, and then Charlie related his narrow escape at Warsaw, his adventure with the brigands, and the fight with the wolves.