"And I go to him. Well; good day to you, Mr. Mallock." * * * * * It was very pleasant to me, this new air in which I lived. Here was I, come from the Duke who had received me as never before, with a deference--(if the Duke's behaviour to any man could be called that)--such as he had never shewn me, being greeted too by this priest who up to this time had never manifested much interest in me, going back to my fine lodgings and my half-dozen servants. Indeed it was a great change. As I went past the sentry a minute or two later, he saluted me, and I returned it, feeling very happy that I was come to be of some consideration at last, with do much more, too, in the background of which others never dreamed. * * * * * I had my first audience of His Majesty a week later, and confirmed my impressions of his ageing very rapidly. He received me with extraordinary kindness; but, as to the first part of the interview, since this concerned private affairs in France, I shall give no description. It was the end only that was of general interest; and one part of it very particular, since I was able to speak my mind to him again. He was standing looking out of the window when he said his last word on France, and kept silent a little. He stood as upright as ever, but there was an air in him as if he felt the weight of his years, though they were scarcely fifty-four in number. His hand nearest to me hung down listlessly, with the lace over it. When he spoke, he put into words the very thing that I was thinking. "I am getting an old man, Mr. Mallock," he said, suddenly turning on me; "and I would that affairs were better settled than they are. They are better than they were--I do not dispute that--but these endless little matters distress me. Why cannot folk be at peace and charitable one with another?" I said nothing; but I knew of what he was thinking. It was the old business of religion which so much entered into everything and distorted men's judgments: for he had just been speaking of His Grace of Monmouth. "Why cannot men serve God according to their own conscience?" he said, "and leave others to do the same." "Sir," I said, "there is but one Church of God where men are at unity with one another." He paid no attention to that; and his face suddenly contracted strangely. "Did you hear any gossip--I mean about myself--after the death of the Jesuit Fathers?" I told him No; for I had heard nothing of it at that time. He came and sat down, motioning me too to a seat; for I had stood up when he did. "Well," he said, "it is certainly strange enough, and I should not have believed it, if it had not happened to myself." Again he stopped with an odd look. "Well," he said, "here is the tale; and I will swear to it. You know how unwilling I was to sign the death-warrants." "Yes, Sir; all the world knows that."