Lord Jocelyn Rothsay, in spite of his sufferings, had wished to join himself to the partisans of the prince, and if not to fight for the cause that Monmouth was going to defend, at least to come before the duke and to be one of the first to felicitate him on his resurrection. Lord Rothsay's hair was white, although his pale face was still young and his mustache was as black as his bold and brilliant eyes. Enveloped in a long dressing-gown, he advanced with difficulty, supported on the shoulders of the two servants. "Here is the brave Rothsay who has as many wounds as hairs in his mustache," cried Lord Dudley. "By the devil, who will not carry me away before I have seen our duke, at least," said Rothsay, "I will be, like you, one of the first to press his hand. Have I not, in my fresh youth, risked my life to hasten by a quarter of an hour a love tryst? Why should I not risk it in order to see our duke a quarter of an hour sooner?" A man with troubled face appeared on deck shortly after Rothsay. "My lord," said he entreatingly, "my lord, you expose your life by this imprudence! The least violent movement may renew the hemorrhage from this old wound which----" "The devil! doctor, could my blood flow better or more nobly than at the feet of James of Monmouth?" cried Rothsay with enthusiasm. "But, my lord, the danger----" "But, doctor, it would be to his everlasting shame if Jocelyn Rothsay should be one of the last to embrace our duke. I made this voyage for no other purpose. Dick will lend me one shoulder, Percy another, and it is sustained by these two brave champions that I shall come to say to James: Here are three of your faithful soldiers of Bridgewater." So saying, the young man abandoned his two servants, and supported himself on the shoulders of the two robust noblemen. The roll of drums, to which was added the flourish of trumpets, the shrill noise of the boatswain's whistle, announced that the marines and infantry belonging to the frigate were assembling; very soon they were drawn up on deck, with their officers at their head. "Why this show of arms?" asked Mortimer of Chemerant. "To render homage to the duke and to receive him with the honors of war when he comes directly to review the troops." The captain of the frigate advanced toward the group of gentlemen: "Gentlemen, I have just received the orders of his grace." "Well?" all said with one voice. "His highness will receive you at eleven o'clock precisely; that is to say, in exactly five minutes." It is impossible to give any idea of the exclamations of profound joy which escaped from every breast. "Hold! now, Dick, I feel myself growing faint," said Mortimer. "The devil! pay attention, Percy," said Rothsay; "do not fall; you are one of my legs." "I," said Dudley, "I have a sort of vertigo----"