“I think I may say,” the duke continued with a smile, “that no affair of state has ever been so promptly conducted and carried through.”

“We feel how deeply indebted we are, for our good fortune, to your kindness, your grace,” Charlie said.  “We know that, but for you, months might have elapsed, even years, before we could have obtained such a result, even after we had the confession of Nicholson in our hands.”

“I am glad, in every way, to have been able to bring this about,” the duke said.  “In the first place, because I have been able to right a villainous piece of injustice; in the second, because those injured were loyal gentlemen, with no fault save their steadfast adherence to the cause of the Stuarts; and lastly, because one of these gentlemen was my own good friend, Mat Jervoise, of whose company I have so many pleasant recollections.

“I hope that, as soon as you have informed your fathers that their names are cleared, and their property restored, you will think of what I said, and will decide to quit the service of Sweden, and enter that of your queen.

“An officer fighting for a foreign monarch is, after all, but a soldier of fortune, however valiantly he fights.  He is fighting for a cause that is not his own, and, though he may win rewards and honours, he has not the satisfaction that all must feel who have risked their lives, not for gold, but in the service of their country.  But I do not want any answer from you on that head now.  It is a matter for you to decide upon after due thought.  I only say that I shall go out, early in the spring, to take command of the army; and that, if you present yourselves to me before I leave, I shall be glad to appoint you on my personal staff, with the same rank you now hold.

“You can now leave the country without any farther trouble.  As to the affair of the man Dormay, a messenger has been sent off, this afternoon, with an order to the magistrates at Lancaster, to arrest him on the charge of suborning false evidence, by which the lives of some of her majesty’s subjects were endangered; and of forging letters whereby such evil designs might be furthered.  I do not suppose I shall see you again before you sail, for tomorrow we go down to our country place, and may remain there some weeks.  I may say that it was the desire to get your affair finished, before we left town, that conduced somewhat to the speed with which it has been carried through.”

After again thanking the duke most warmly for his kindness, and saying that they would lay his offer before their fathers, and that their own inclinations were altogether in favour of accepting it, the young men took their leave.

“It is unfortunate about Dormay.”

“Most unfortunate,” Harry said.

“I think, if we start tomorrow morning, Harry, we shall be in time.  There is no reason why the messenger should travel at any extraordinary speed, and, as he may be detained at Lancaster, and some delay may arise before officers are sent up to Lynnwood to make the arrest, we may be in time.