denied me at this Court."

With that she melted into tears, and his discomfiture was
complete. On his knees he begged her forgiveness for the injury
he had done her. But Miss was not in a forgiving humour.

"If your Majesty would graciously consent to leave me now in
peace," said she, "you would avoid offending by a longer visit
those who accompanied or conducted you to my apartments."

She had drawn a bow at a venture but shrewdly, and the shaft went
home Charles rose, red in the face. Swearing he would never speak
to her again, he stalked out.

Later, however, he considered. If he felt bitterly aggrieved, he
must also have realized that he had no just grounds for this, and
that in his conduct in Miss Stewart's room he had been entirely
ridiculous. She was rightly resolved against being lightly worn
by any man. If anything, the reflection must have fanned his
passion. It was impossible, he thought, that she should love that
knock-kneed fellow, Richmond, who had no graces either of body or
of mind, and if she suffered the man's suit, it must be, as she
had all but said, so that she might be delivered from the
persecution to which his Majesty had submitted her. The thought
of her marrying Richmond, or, indeed, anybody, was unbearable to
Charles, and it may have stifled his last scruple in the matter
of the divorce.

His first measure next morning was to banish Richmond from the
Court. But Richmond had not stayed for the order to quit. The