at my own house. I come to condole with you upon the affliction
and grief into which the new-fashioned chastity of the inhuman
Stewart has reduced your Majesty."

"You are pleased to be amused, ma'am," says Charles frostily.

"I will not," she returned him, "make use of reproaches which
would disgrace myself; still less will I endeavour to excuse
frailties in myself which nothing can justify, since your
constancy for me deprives me of all defence." Her ladyship, you
see, had a considerable gift of sarcasm.

"In that case, may I ask you why you have come?"

"To open your eyes. Because I cannot bear that you should be made
the jest of your own Court."

"Madam!"

"Ah! You didn't know, of course, that you are being laughed at
for the gross manner in which you are being imposed upon by the
Stewart's affectations, any more than you know that whilst you
are denied admittance to her apartments, under the presence of
some indisposition, the Duke of Richmond is with her now."

"That is false," he was beginning, very indignantly.

"I do not desire you to take my word for it. If you will follow
me, you will no longer be the dupe of a false prude, who makes
you act so ridiculous a part."