grave as whoso muses aloud, then I would waste naught, but would draw aside such true men as remained to me, so to keep up the figure of a party till the ancient loyalty of the land should rally about us and drive William to the sea.' With the last word a fire shot into his glance, for all his face was quiet.

Meseemed a breath from old battlefields blew on me as I stood there, and there followed a great sadness in which I knew myself for old.

' And so Prince Rupert thought when he stood by the King's standard at Nottingham,' I said, 'and yet-' As I spoke I thought of the swift victory, the long defeat, and the slow, unstable triumph when at last the King came back to his own. My eyes turned to the great abbey, where the Prince rests beside his mother, Queen and lady of my long allegiance, and I felt how that I had outlived my world. Truly it would cost me but little to be loyal to the end, but this soldier beside me had a strong life to stake and looked to be one which could weigh the chances of the game.

'Then you believe in that ancient loyalty?' I questioned.

'My lord,' he made composed answer, 'those which would serve his Majesty must believe in it. If it be believed in firmly enow '—he paused and smiled— then it will be there at need.' He turned and bent on me a keen and sudden look. The King must believe,' he said low and urgent: 'The King!'

I remembered his Majesty that night going in to his prayers and how I read the thought of flight in his face. For me it mattered little; I had served the house of Stuart all my days, and could not die so fittingly as in its defence. But a wonder rose in me as I looked into the countenance of my companion. Did he believe indeed? Did he know into what a service he pledged himself and what was the end he sought? I shall not lightly forgive myself for that which followed, for assuredly 'tis not for me, William Craven, to put stumbling-blocks in the path of any man's loyalty; nor am I even clear concerning the spirit which did move me, whether it were a compassion for one setting himself to a hopeless task or mere curiousness to test what manner of man stood beside me! For his bearing and his measured tone, with its shade of mockery, were all of this present day, of one which hath no thought save its own advancement or ease; God help the men which live in it! Yet methought for a moment there sprang to his eyes that fire which I had seen in the soldiers of King Charles; in Montrose when he set out on his last venture. I counted myself but a dotard

to seek that vanished loyalty in these traitorous times, and so pressed on with mine inquiring.

'Heaven grant,' I said, 'that his Majesty may believe in his subjects, nor find himself mistaken in that belief-yet if many fail him?'

'Many will doubtless fail him, my lord,' says my companion very brief and cold.

But then I cried and paused, wondering whether a man could speak so easily of treason and yet be no traitor at heart.

'There will be the more honour for such as cleave to him,' returned he, but not with passion, rather ponderingly as whoso weighs a question, balancing all things for and against.

By this we were passing by Charing Cross, where the Regicides had died, and I went back in memory, as is the wont of the old, to the far-off wars of King and Parliament, which seemed nearer to me than the new struggle so close at hand. Then we turned by York House and went slowly along Strand. The night was very still by then; only here and there in the distance a link-boy hurried by with his torch: a spark of red in the wide pale moonlight.

'I delay your lordship,' said the stranger suddenly, waking from his muse, or perchance using the outward forms of courtesy as a defence, our converse having pressed too near his inner thoughts.

'Nay, nay,' said I, 'Pfalzgraf here is wonted to wait on his master's leisure. Pray you keep me company and, if it be your pleasure, enter and taste the hospitality of Drury House.'

But at this he excused himself gravely, saying that he had yet work on his hands for that night.

'My men are quartered near Westminster,' said he, and at such a juncture 'tis well that their officer assure himself of their readiness.'

'A surprise visit,' I answered with understanding.

'Somewhat of that nature,' he made confession with a smile, 'wherefore I go alone and unmounted, as you perceive. When we reach Drury House I must take my leave of your lordship, and back to my work.'

'You fear-lack of discipline?' I questioned, having a graver fear on my mind.

He lifted his shoulders.

'London air rusts more than a man's arms.'

So we went along the Strand, where was less stir than common,

as though folk kept themselves quiet and within doors in a suspense of doubt.

I pointed forward as we walked.

'I can remember,' said I, 'how his Majesty Charles II. rode here on his Restoration, with every house bright with flags and flowers, and the people crying out blessings on him as he bent to them.'

'Ay,' returned my companion, 'and 'tis possible, my lord, that you remember also how his Majesty Charles I. fled from his palace, to be brought back a captive-unto what end we know.'

So even was his voice that I could not divine whether he had it in mind to rebuke me for putting forward, as 'twere a bribe, the hope of success, and to bid me think on the doubtful issue of the conflict, or spoke in a loyalty which recked not of failure to come. And because I could not understand I was half angered with the man. Those Royalists I had known aforetime masked not their loyalty; 'twas a clear flame which made a beacon to all. But this courteous gentleman beside me weighed the chances over coolly for my liking. I found it in my heart to doubt whether he saw in our death-struggle aught save a great game wherein the keenest player should win.

'Indeed, 'tis possible the Prince of Orange may bethink him at the last,' I said, still with the wish to surprise his meaning.

'I judge not so,' said he. 'William hath gone over far to retreat. He is a good soldier, as I should know who have served under him.'

'Then you know him well?' I questioned, trusting him none the more for that.

'I would I had known him better '-there was a sudden passion in his voice he might never-' He broke off and laughed shortly. But no man dies till his hour be come.'

I pieced out his meaning, guessing he spoke of some service rendered to the Prince; belike the very saving of his life.1

'Then you have a claim on his Highness's gratitude,' I said, and drew from him, as I spoke, to stroke my horse, which waxed impatient of our slow pace.

'So will every man have who betrays King James to-day,' answered he in a kind of disdain. The Prince will have claimants enough.'

1 Claverhouse is believed to have rescued William of Orange in battle during his service in the Low Countries.

I tried to read his face by the white light.

'The more honour for such as cleave to King James.' I threw back his own words.

He stared straight before as though he looked-God knows on what of struggle or victory, and I saw his nostrils quiver with the indrawn breath for all he held his countenance so still.

'Yes,' he spoke the words aloud but not to me, and most of all for him who shall turn the scales for the King when all weighs down the adverse balance.'

'Monck's part,' I answered. 'Monck's part, if a man could play it.'

He turned and met my eyes.

'Monck's part-without the treason.'

My doubt of the man fell away and a sadness rose in me for him. I shook my head.

'I have seen many set out to serve the King,' I said, 'and defeat or the gibbet to crown their loyalty.'

'Yes,' he affirmed, 'I, too, have seen the head of Montrose on Edinburgh Tolbooth,' and at the great marquis's name he doffed his hat for a moment. Then with a sudden lightness of tone, 'My lord, my lord, is it thus you hearten the waverers?'

'No,' said I, but for good or ill I take you to be no waverer, and-I would have you count the cost.'

'I have counted it,' he said.

We were come to Drury House by this, and Pfalzgraf put up his head and whinnied to be at his home. My companion put out a hand to him and the brave horse arched his neck as at the touch of a friend.

So we came up to the gate, where all was shadow save for the torches in the great link-holders, and as we stepped into the red wavering light I scanned the man beside me again.

Counted the cost-well, that was not amiss. Some of us in the old times counted not the cost till the day of reckoning came, and then paid ungrudging. If a man should count the cost beforehand and yet not flinch--but what if seeing it thus the price were to show over heavy ?

'And yet you are for the King' I said half aloud and doubtingly.

'And you, my lord?' he flung back very sudden and haughty. The rebuke is just and I crave pardon,' I returned; ‘but I am an old man for me there is the less to lose.'

'And for me the more to win,' replied he, and softened his retort into a compliment, as long a record of loyalty as your lordship's,' which I take leave to doubt being his first thought.

'I wish you good fortune in your chosen service,' said I, 'and question not that I shall hear your name; but how shall I know it when the time comes?'

He flashed a quick look at me-surprise, it seemed; maybe for that he was not used to be unknown.

Then he bowed to me, standing the while uncovered, with the torchlight on his long dark hair and lighting up his eyes, unless it were his thoughts that lighted them.

'I am John Grahame of Claverhouse,' he said; 'if your lordship hear of me it shall be in the service of my master.'

And therewith he stepped back into the shadows and was gone. I doubt I shall not see him more, but it may be I shall hear his

name.

DORA GREENWELL MCCHESNEY.