"I judged from His Majesty’s reputation that he would have done better," he murmured. "His Majesty is a great man," said Halifax placidly. Caermarthen shrugged his shoulders. "Is it the kind of greatness that will help England?" "Or your party to places, my lord?" retorted the Lord Privy Seal shrewdly. Caermarthen’s thin face darkened. "His Majesty doth not know his friends," he said. "He will not be a party leader," returned Halifax; "but I do doubt whether England will be ever governed save by factions——" Shrewsbury came up to the table and looked round the faces of his colleagues. He was by far the youngest of the company, and his soft good-looks were incongruous to the importance of his position; Lord Godolphin, a quiet, thin man, who so far had not opened his lips or taken any notice of anything, now fixed his eyes on Shrewsbury, and kept them there keenly while the Duke spoke. "Sirs, what is to be done? We have very good assurance that the Government cannot hold—nay," he added, with increasing agitation, "if King James were to land to-morrow, who would stay him from the throne?" "His Majesty," said Lord Godolphin quietly. Caermarthen caught the words. "His Majesty! I have little faith in him now; he is a dying man——" "The doctors," added Nottingham gloomily, "give him another year——" "No more, I truly think," said Halifax calmly. "The Dutchmen themselves say they hardly know him for the man he was at The Hague——" "What then?" cried Shrewsbury, in a desperate frankness. "Are we all to fall into the laps of women and my Lord Marlborough?" "The Queen could never hold the throne," answered Halifax; "she is not loved," he smiled; "the people dislike her for her false position——" "By God!" interrupted Caermarthen hotly; "what know you of Her Majesty? She would rule better than any Stewart hath done yet——" "Maybe, and wed another foreigner," retorted Shrewsbury. "Besides, I think you are wrong. No woman could rule England now——" "Nor any man, it seemeth," smiled Halifax sadly. "For my part I am weary of all of it—and so, I think," he added, "is His Majesty. He is greatly angered that the Bill of Indemnity is changed into a Bill of Pains and Penalties, and there are such heats over it——" "What course doth he think to take?" asked Shrewsbury abruptly. "He said very little to-day," answered Halifax. "Our talk was all of business; he is of an extraordinary industry," this with admiration, "and hath mastered the details of the government already. Were he a stronger man I should have no fear for England——" "Talk—antic talk!" cried Caermarthen impatiently; "and are no nearer a solution——" The sound of the opening of the heavy carved door caused them all to pause. Godolphin, who was the only one facing it, rose respectfully; the others turned. It was the King.