Simon Dale

those days, and notwithstanding certain transactions hereinbefore related, I was not altogether a fool, and I

et, that he might not go in the train of his father and the Duke of York, but make men talk of his own going, he chose to start beforehand and alone; lest even thus he should not win his meed of notice, he set all the inns and all the hamlets on the road a-gossiping, by accomplishing the journey from London to Canterbury, in his coach-and-six, between sunrise and sunset of a single day. To this end it was needful that the coach should be light; Lord Carford, now his Grace's inseparable compan

blic, by the Duke of York, and that communications passed freely between him and Arlington by the hand of the secretary's good servant and my good friend Mr Darrell. Therefore I wondered greatly at my lord's friendship with Monmouth, and at his showing an attachment to the Duke which, as I had seen at Whitehall, appeared to keep in check even the natural jealousy and resentment of a lover. But a

at passed, and how soon the Duke of York would know that a Prince of Wales, coming to Canterbury, could have received no greater honour. Nay, and they hailed him as the champion of the Church, with hits at the Romish faith, which my lord heard with eyes downcast to the ground and a rigid smile carved on his face. It was all a forecast of what was one day to be; perhaps to the hero of it a suggestion of what some day might be. At least he was radiant over it, and carried C

my host immediately made me aware that I must share my meal and the table with a traveller who had recently arrived and ordered a repast. This gentleman, concerning whom the host seemed in some perplexity, had been informed that the Duke of Monmouth was in the house, but had shown neithe

tleman given hi

e flung down money enough for his en

veller's garb) who sat at the table. His greetings equalled mine in politeness, and we fell into talk on different matters, he using the English language, which he spoke with remarkable fluency, although evidently as a foreigner. His manner was easy

I heard of her coming before I left France. Her visit,

or the talk at Court was that the Duke of Orleans hated to let his wife out of his si

in these matters. I am myself acquainted with many gentlemen at the

d, seeking a change of conversation, I paid him a compliment on his mastery of En

in London for a year or

blush," I laughed, "else hospitali

he asked. "I confess

ot at Court." For traders of all nations had come

," he insisted politely. "Pray let

uld not make one another understand. My conjecture was confirmed when the traveller returned, declaring that the quarrel arose over the capacity of a measure of wine and had been soon arranged. But then, with a little cry of vexation, he caught up the pocket-book from the table and darted a quick glance of suspicion at me. I was mo

can tell the parts of the verb J'aime, tu aime

hough often far enoug

said I wi

yourself injustice

ook the first that came to my tongue; leaning my arms on the table (for I had finished eating), I said wit

with furious haste and anxiety. I sat struck still with wonder; the man seemed mad. He looked at me now, and his glance was full of deepest suspicion. He opened

ndeed, sir, only your visible agitation

-how?" he

mest, he comes,' and the words act on you like abracadabra and the blackest of magic. You don't

reak was to snatch his pistol and look to the priming. I burst out laughing, for his antics seemed absu

aling the knowledge from your book, sir?" I asked. "You do us

ears a jest, but cannot tell whe

in raillery. "Make sure all is t

through certain papers which it contained; at the end he sighe

I, squaring my elbows, "y

th him even as I had before with Darrell. Was his secret Darrell's or his own, the same or another? What it was I could not tell, but for cer

o explain, and if there were, I give explanations when I pl

ious phrase," said I. "I can't tell what it means.

to ask nobody," h

ser if I ask nobody,"

with the plain intention of imposing his will on me by fear, since persua

lease, and not to every fellow

promise before you lea

e another, I do not know, but as the French gentleman uttered this last threat Carford opened the door, stood aside to let his Grace enter, and followed himself. As they c

forward and seen the Frenchman's face. "Why, here is M. de Fontelles!" he cried in surprise. "I am very pleased to see you, sir, again in Engl

wed low, but his confusion was in no way abated, and he made no answer to

of mine, Mr Dale. Pray why w

eman's pistol was

uarrel, Mr Dale," said the Duke, with a gla

tter," said I readily enough, for

e it told," crie

to hear it," sai

seek; he was polite enough to assure me that I spoke it well. Upon this I owned to some small knowledge, and for

less," said the

eturned, put away a leathern case that he had left on the table (concerning which indeed he seemed more uneasy than would be counted courteous here in England, seeing that I had been all the while

ay in order to compliment me,

the fastenings, saw to the priming of his pistol, and finally presumed to exact from me a promise that I would consult nobody as to the perplexity into which

Dale. But what was thi

the gentleman-to M. de Fontelles, as I understand him to be

a sudden air of excitement. Carford

.... Yes! And any m

pleted what grammarians call the Singular Number by

the Duke and Carfo

n the Duke's ear. The Duke nodded and made some answer. Both seemed infinitely stirred and interested. M. de Fontelles had st

such strange agitation in the gentleman, you

spered, and prese

a foolish quarrel where no quarrel ne

es drew himse

hat gentleman, and he r

that gentleman, and he refused

e his promise to me. Will that

ommands, in all things

obody of M. de Fon

truth, I don't care a fig for his f

iling and fixing his gaze upon the Frenchman, "

Grace!" said I. "Com

, not to you,"

hear why he was s

his fierceness, Mr Dale,

ense to show no annoyance, although I

e with M. de Fontelles?" I as

leave," he answered, but he added to Ca

the rack to discover what might be the secret which hung on that myste

ies, if I am not mistaken, in the third member. For when I had sai

though peace had been made between them and the host, they sat in deep dejection; the reason was plain to see in two empty glasses and an

French, going up to t

a third chair between them a

withal, sir," said one

, calling the host, I bade him bring three bottles.

ld have admired the fluency with which I discoursed with his servants, they telling

ries, I'll warrant," I laughed. "But perhaps you

a poor meal, sir; but our mas

carries

ne. The other nudged him, as th

ses," I cried, and th

fore now," I pursued meditatively, twisting my glass of wine in my fing

ur lives, and not leave him till h

n threes and fours," said I. "You

ghed one. "The King of

r master we

provision

if his treasure isn't money, I must set

r doubtfully. But I was not behi

on, even without M

d?" I cried in

too have

ou carry the K

of the pair, with a shrewd twinkle in

difficu

mple as to see w

t your bottle is em

no, Mo

s! I'll not be denied."

ted on the drinking of

t's your

question had quite lulled their caution to sle

bidden to

as to have no meaning,

d we're soldiers," answere

g stronger and stronger till it reached convi

don't blame you. But I can guess your riddle. Listen.

they murmured

e on at his best speed to London, and there seek out t

u might guess fro

ew my chair forward between them and laid a finger on the arm of each. "That message," said I, "would be just like this-and indeed it's very simple, and seems devoid of all rational meaning: Je viens." They started. "Tu viens." They gaped

orses and lie down in the stable, for he must be on his way by daybreak. With covert glances at me which implored silence and received the answer of a reassuring nod, they slunk away. I bowed to M. de Fontelles with a merry smile; I could not con

of me, I'll seek my bed,"

night to you, Simon." But then he add

e may depe

whole affair is nothing; it's no more t

said my L

ers are best n

ntry might, it seemed, be of moment to the messengers of the King of France.

ords 'Il vient.' Who is he? Where comes he? And to w

es less when his head is full. On that nigh