"Then I may as well state, without further preamble, that I have brought your majesty a costume suitable to the part you will have to enact--grey doublet and hose, as you will see. The garments were made for Colonel Lane's groom, Lutwyche--but I am sure they will fit you. Here are boots and a hat to complete the disguise. The arrangement appears to me extremely pleasant, and I should be very happy to take your majesty's place, if I were permitted." "Are you to be left behind with Lord Wilmot?" asked the king. "No, sire," replied Careless. "His lordship and myself will attend you--but at a respectful distance. You will be accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Petre. Mrs. Petre, I must inform your majesty, is Jane Lane's sister. It is proper you should know that neither Mrs. Petre nor her husband have the slightest idea that they will have the honour of attending upon your majesty." The king then arose, and assisted by Careless, put on the suit of dark grey cloth provided for him. When he was fully equipped, he said to Careless: "How think you, Will? Shall I pass muster? Do I look like a groom?" "Your appearance is all that can be desired, my liege," replied Careless. "But you must take care not to betray yourself by any inadvertence. Come down to the stables with me, and I will get Lutwyche to give you some instructions in the part you will have to play." "Oddsfish! I flatter myself I can groom a horse," cried Charles. "'Tis true I have not had much practice." "You will be none the worse for a lesson, my liege," said Careless. "This woodman's garb must not be seen," he added, putting the disguise abandoned by Charles into a small valise, which he had brought with him. "I must needs ask your majesty to carry this portmanteau. And please to bear in mind, that you are now Will Jones, the son of one of Colonel Lane's tenants." He then left the room, but had not taken many steps down the staircase, when he called out in a loud voice, "Art thou coming, Will? Never was there so lazy a rascal." "I am quite ready, your honour," replied Charles, following with the portmanteau. CHAPTER III. HOW WILL JONES FOUND A FRIEND IN THE STABLE. As they passed through the back part of the house on the way to the stables, they met two or three women-servants, who glanced inquisitively at the new groom, and thought him a good-looking young fellow. In the court-yard they found Colonel Lane and Lord Wilmot. The former was talking with his head falconer, Randal Gates, and telling him that he should require the hawks and spaniels after breakfast. "I mean to give this gentleman, Mr. Harris," he said, glancing at Lord Wilmot, "a little sport. My sister is going to Long Marston, and we will ride with her as far as Packington Hall." "The hawks and spaniels shall be ready for you, colonel, whenever you require them, and as there are plenty of partridges in the corn fields, I make no doubt you will be able to show Mr. Harris some good sport."