"I will confer," said the King, "with the Bishop here upon it." At that my hopes took an upward bound. "But first," he turned to me again, "I would have you return to your abiding place and after supper present yourself to me as the highwayman you have declared yourself to be. Meanwhile leave here the papers." "Sire!" cried I imploringly. "Enough," said the King. "My mind is made up as to that. Feversham, do you escort this lady. I hold you responsible for her custody. She must be produced here after supper, and mark ye that she come in manly fashion else she shall feel the weight of our displeasure." "May I not have my father's and the soldier's pardons to take with me?" "They shall be delivered to you to-night," was the unsatisfactory reply. My heart sank. Perhaps some of my disappointment appeared in my face. "On the word," said His Majesty, "of a king." He paused as if there were some doubt as to the value of that attestation, as indeed there was. "On the word of a gentleman, I promise you shall have them," he added. He bowed not ungracefully. He had some of the Stewart charm, for all his meanness, when he chose to display it. He picked the pardons up and handed them to the Bishop. "Here, my lord, do you be the custodian of them until the lady returns." "I would Your Majesty had given them to me!" cried Jeffreys. "I know you too well for that," laughed the King. "You have played at mercy, Sire," said the Justice, frowning. "It was my fancy," said the King haughtily, "for the first time; it may be for the last time, but whatever it be, I will not have it questioned. Go, Feversham. Until to-night, madam. And you, my lords, attend me." The Earl of Feversham, who had evidently been deeply moved by my story, was kindness itself to me. His own carriage, a much more luxurious equipage with much better horses than the public conveyance I had hired, which he dismissed forthwith, was placed at my disposal. Together we rode back to the inn, and taking my word of honour that I would present myself in the parlour thereof in due time to enable us to keep the appointment with the King, he most obligingly left me to my own devices. Bidding the inn maid who had accompanied me to call me without fail in time for me to make ready, I slipped off my dress, threw myself upon the bed, and fell instantly to sleep. The greater anxiety had been removed from my heart. Although I do not pretend to disdain life, yet since I had secured the freedom and immunity from further punishment of my father and my soldier, naught else very greatly mattered. I did not really think that anything very serious was toward, so far as I was concerned, and whatever may be the explanation, I fell fast asleep. The short period of rest greatly refreshed me and presently I felt another woman.