"Odds fish!" exclaimed Frances, mimicking the king's tone of voice and
twisting an imaginary beard. "Some one has been hoaxing Jacob Hall's
friend."

It was a bold speech, but Frances carried it off splendidly by turning to
the king and speaking in mock seriousness:--

"Your Majesty should put a check on Rochester and the wags. It is a shame
to permit them to work upon the credulity of one who is growing weak in
mind by reason of age."

The country girl had vanquished the terror of the court, and all who had
witnessed the battle rejoiced; that is, all save the king and Castlemain.
She glared at Frances, and her face, usually beautiful despite the lack
of youth, became hideous with rage. She was making ready for another
attack of words, if not of finger nails, when the duchess interposed,
saying:--

"Evidently some one has been hoaxing you, Lady Castlemain. Mistress
Jennings was not kidnapped Sunday nor any other day. She has been with
me constantly of late, excepting Sunday after four o'clock, and she has
accounted for herself from that time till her return to my closet."

Castlemain was whipped out, so she turned the whole matter off with a
forced laugh, saying:--

"It was that fool Rochester who set the rumor afloat."

After standing through an awkward minute or two, Castlemain bowed stiffly
to the king and the duchess, turned away from our group, and soon left