occasion. But he was too deeply stirred for acting. His self-
control deserted him entirely. Exactly what he said has not been
preserved for us. All that we are told is that he signified his
resentment in such terms as he had never before used; and that
his Grace, almost petrified by the King's most royal rage,
uttered never a word in answer. The windows of the room
overlooked the Thames. The King's eyes strayed towards them.
Richmond was slight of build, Charles vigorous and athletic. His
Grace took the door betimes lest the window should occur to his
Majesty, and so he left the lady alone with the outraged monarch.

Thereafter Charles did not have it all quite his own way. Miss
Stewart faced him in an indignation nothing less than his own,
and she was very far from attempting any such justification of
herself, or her conduct, as he may have expected.

"Will your Majesty be more precise as to the grounds of your
complaint?" she invited him challengingly.

That checked his wildness. It brought him up with a round turn.
His jaw fell, and he stared at her, lost now for words. Of this
she took the fullest advantage.

"If I am not allowed to receive visits from a man of the Duke of
Richmond's rank, who comes with honourable intentions, then I am
a slave in a free country. I know of no engagement that should
prevent me from disposing of my hand as I think fit. But if this
is not permitted me in your Majesty's dominions, I do not believe
there is any power on earth can prevent me going back to France,
and throwing myself into a convent, there to enjoy the peace