"She shall be found and compelled to give up her accomplice," cried the duchess furiously. "Soldiers surrounded the house, and yet the miscreant escaped! Pretty soldiers, forsooth!" "Yes, truly," cried Prue; "and more than that—they arrested poor little me—because I was all alone there with the queen’s diamonds; think of that! I had a narrow escape of spending the night in jail! However, my tears and entreaties prevailed upon them to bring me here, and all that remains to be done is to dismiss my captors, and permit me to take my leave of your grace." "Not so fast, Prue; you have still something to do for me," said the duchess. "I must hasten to the queen and you must go with me, and repeat what you have just told me. Marie!—Alice!—leave off chattering and tire me with all despatch. I must see the queen without a moment’s loss of time." "Surely, ’tis too late to-night," remonstrated Prue, who was sinking with fatigue. "Her Majesty will have retired." "That’s no matter," retorted the duchess arrogantly; "I am still Mistress of the Robes, and by virtue of my office entitled to enter the queen’s bed-chamber at all hours of day or night. You must accompany me, and repeat your story, else I might be discredited by the reptiles who are for ever at the royal ear, poisoning _poor, faithful Mrs. Morley’s_ mind against her once beloved _Mrs. Freeman_. Come, I am ready." As they descended by a private staircase to take the carriage, the Groom of the Chambers approached, and deferentially inquired what was to be done with the Viscountess Brooke’s military escort. "Faith, ’tis the honest soldier who wanted to hale me off to jail," cried Prue in reply to the duchess’ look of surprised inquiry. "He came prepared to arrest a houseful of robbers or conspirators—he seemed uncertain just which—and finding me alone, with the queen’s necklace in my hand, would have taken me to prison if I had not coaxed him to bring me to you first. If I might venture to suggest that your grace bid him attend us, he can corroborate my story, if needful." "Let him come," the duchess commanded. "I would I had a hundred witnesses that it was not found in Marlborough House." *CHAPTER XX* *A THREAT AND A PROMISE* When Prue reached home, about midnight, Peggie, who had been watching at the window during several anxious hours, met her at the door and almost carried her up-stairs in a strenuous embrace. "Was that the Marlborough carriage?" she demanded eagerly. "Yes; the duchess insisted on bringing me home." "Then all is well; you have no idea how uneasy I have been. About ten o’clock, Sir Geoffrey came to see you; on a matter of the utmost importance, he declared, and the mysterious hints he threw out about the danger your rashness and love of adventure had led you into, positively drove me distracted."