“That is the most exciting of all,” the queen said.

“I think that even you, general, would rather have gone through the battle of Narva, than have spent that night among the wolves.”

“That would I, indeed, madam, and I doubt if I should have got as well through it as Captain Carstairs did.  I am sure, madam, you will agree with me, that these young gentlemen ought to be fighting under our flag, rather than that of Sweden.  There is no blame to them, for they were most unjustly driven from the country; but I hope that, by Monday at this time, I shall have the pleasure of presenting a document for your majesty’s signature, stating that, in the opinion of the council, a very grave miscarriage of justice has taken place; and that the gentlemen, whose estates were four years ago confiscated, are proved to be innocent of the crime of which they were accused, and are true and faithful subjects of your majesty; and that the proceedings against them are hereby quashed, and their estates restored to them.

“I had the honour of relating to you, this afternoon, the manner in which these gentlemen have succeeded in bringing the truth to light.”

Shortly afterwards, the party broke up, the queen speaking most graciously to each of the young men.

On Monday morning, they received a summons to appear before the council, at two o’clock in the afternoon, and to produce one Robert Nicholson, whose evidence was required in a matter of moment.  They hired a carriage, and took the highwayman with them to Saint James’s, and were conducted to the council chamber; where they found Lord Godolphin, the Marquis of Normanby, Mr. Harley, and the Duke of Marlborough, together with two judges, before whom the depositions, in the case of Sir Marmaduke Carstairs and his friends, had been laid.

Lord Normanby, as privy seal, took the chair, and briefly said that, having heard there had been a grievous miscarriage of justice, he had summoned them to hear important evidence which was produced by Captains Carstairs and Jervoise, officers in the service of the king of Sweden.

“What have you to say, Captain Carstairs?”

“I have, sir, only to testify that this man, who stands beside me, is Robert Nicholson, who was in my father’s employment for two years, and was, I believe, the principal witness against him.  Captain Jervoise can also testify to his identity.  I now produce the confession, voluntarily made by this man, and signed in the presence of witnesses.”

He handed in the confession, which was read aloud by a clerk standing at the lower end of the table.  A murmur of indignation arose from the council, as he concluded.

“You have acted the part of a base villain,” Lord Normanby said to Nicholson.  “Hanging would be too good for such a caitiff.  What induced you to make this confession?”

“I have long repented my conduct,” the man said.  “I was forced into acting as I did, by John Dormay, who might have had me hung for highway robbery.  I would long ago have told the truth, had I known where to find the gentlemen I have injured; and, meeting them by chance the other day, I resolved upon making a clean breast of it, and to take what punishment your lordships may think proper; hoping, however, for your clemency, on account of the fact that I was driven to act in the way I did.”