"It was due and merciful severity," answered the King, "like that of----" But we cannot venture to go on with the blasphemous parallel which he drew between himself and the Almighty. He ended, however, by asking, "Where is the lad now?" "He is at the house of his father, the Lord Beauchamp, in London," replied Overbury. "He spent a week at Cambridge, sire, then came back direct, and has been in town ever since, preparing, they say, for another journey to Italy, where, it is rumoured, he has some love amongst the Italian ladies." The King began to chuckle at what he called, "the fule boy going a thousand miles for a woman;" and he laid his commands strongly on Overbury to find out all about it, and give him information. The Knight promised diligent compliance, and then added, "If your Majesty is gracious enough to sign this paper, it will give my Lord of Rochester the strongest possible claim to the lady's gratitude and regard; and it will not be necessary to present it to her, but merely to intimate that it exists; so that all danger of a misuse of it will be avoided." "Foul fall thee, man!" exclaimed the King, hesitating, and taking him by the ear; "what a pertinacious hound thou art!" "I know your Majesty is fond of a staunch dog," answered Overbury; "and you will never blame me for hunting upon the right track." "Well, well," cried the King, "I'll not sign it, man.--That's to say, not just at present." "Well then, sire," replied Overbury, determined to make one more effort, "I had better tell my Lord of Rochester at once, not to keep him any longer in suspense. I hear his foot upon the stairs." "No, no," cried the King, hesitating; "let's see, let's see. Give me the paper." Overbury gave him the paper, repeating, "I had better let him know your Majesty's resolution at once." Rochester's step was now distinctly heard coming along the corridor, and James looked round with a sort of nervous glance, exclaiming,-- "Where's the pen? where's the pen?" "There, your Majesty," answered Overbury, putting one into his hand. James wrote his name rapidly at the bottom of the paper, and gave it to Overbury, saying, "There, there, let him have it. But do not stop him now; and hark ye, you need not say that we refused to do it." "I shall tell him, sire," replied Overbury, "that nothing but your Majesty's great regard for him induced you to consent." "Well, well, that will do--but do not stop him now," answered James, hastily; and then exclaimed, as Rochester entered the closet, "The horses, man! the horses!" "Are at the door, your Majesty," replied the favourite; "and the hounds and huntsmen gone to the north gate." "Foul fall the loons," cried James; "I'll make them mind words another time. Come away, Bobby, come away! We have lost much time already;" and thus saying, he shuffled out of the closet, followed by Rochester; while Overbury paused, gazing with a look of thoughtful satisfaction at the paper he held in his hand.