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" Most willingly, eir." The king dallied with his spoon. Frederic«: deliberately stirred his coffee, and began to sip it with all the calmness in the world ; only he «till
looked very white and statuesque as to colour. Then an awful change came over the face of the king. He slowly turned over and over the spoon he held in his hand. It was net the same one! Not the same one he had before used, for there happened to be a peculiarity, a kind of indentation, in the bowl of it which was not there before. The prince had changed the cups. The king was as confident of that fact as though he had actually seen him do it. What an awful game of life and death was that !
Now the advantage on one side, then on the other. "What was to happen next ?
There was a bright red spot in the face of the king. It was the hectic of violent suppressed passion. But he still succeeded in suppressing it. " Ugh ! ugh ! ugh ! Frederick, our son, this is a
delightful evening. Ah! the queen faints!" " No," said the queen faintly. " Some water ! some water ! Frederick, go and speak to the page on duty. How absurd ! We were about to sprinkle her face with hot coffee! »Water, Frederick, cold water ! Speak to the page on duty." The prince rose, with a groan. Well, he knew what was going to happen. But ho could not help himself. His absence was but that of half a minute, and dur ing that time the cups were changed once more. The water was brought, and the queen opened her eyes again. Frederick glanced at the coffee table. Ho did not take the least trouble to assure himself of the change that had been effected by any minute evidence such as had struck the king. Ho was quite satisfied on tho subject. But he by no means gave himself up for lost on that account. It was by no means a trial of strength, but it was one of wit—or, perhaps we should say, of wickedness. The prince now played his last stake, and a good one it was. He turned from the queen to say something to tho king. His foot slipped (it was very well done indeed, and looked exceedingly accidental), ho fell bodily against the coffee table, and tray and cups and spoons and saucers and coffee were upset at once to tho floor of the cabinet. The shock of this uproar seemed to do moro to recover the queen than the cold water, for sho uttered two or three screams and sprang to her feet. There was a look of terrible concentrated malignity on the face of the king. Did he comprehend exactly what had happened ?
Who shall doubt it ?
He took three strides towards the door. The game was over, and there was no longer occasion for him to remain. ,
It was not exactly a defeat, but a drawn battle—a
fight for life and for death which might be resumed on another occasion. " Good night, madam," ho said, " and good night to our dear Frederick. Remember, madam, tho commis sion wo have entrusted to your care. Remember its im portance and its reward." The king abruptly left the cabinet. Prince Frederick was, if possible, on worse terms with his mother than with his father. His errand to her on that night had been to borrow some money, but after what had happened he saw that she was in no state to listen to him, and, turning on his heel, he left the cabinet without even going through the ceremony of bidding her good night. Then the queen, with various ejaculations and in coherent expressions of thankfulness that she had got rid of both her tormentors, rushed to the oratory. "Come forth! come forth!" she cried. "On! come forth, and fly, all of you. There is no peace, no safety here." Bertha was clinging to Captain Markham, and there was a look of high excitement on her face. Agues Bellair seemed quite overcome by the terrible character of that interview betwoen the father and son, which had taken placo within a few paces of them. " You must fly at once," continued the queen. "You know thoro is no peace nor safety for you here. You have heard what the king knows, and what he wishes mo to do." " We have, indeed, madam,*' replied Markham, "and Heaven preserve you from such a—"
" No, no," interrupted tho queen. " You must not speak of him. Say nothing of him, but fly from here, and insure your own safety." " I am ready," said Bertha. " With me for ever !" whispered Markham. " Forever and for ever!" " There is no occasion," added tho quoen, " for tho Marquis of Charlton or for Agnes to take the least notice of all these proceedings. Their union can tako place as a thing of course, and I will do what I can to protect them and ensure their happiness. Heaven knows how little that is ; for what am I p Oh ! what ami r"
The queen showed symptoms of giving way to some passionate burst of grief : but. both Agnes and Bertha spoke gently to her, and she succeeded in controlling herself. Then there was a slight scratching noise at that door which led to the back stairs. '
It was Mr. Osbom, tho pago. They all looked inquiringly into the somewhat anxious face of this youth, who addressed himself to the Marquis of Charlton. "Colonel," he said, "there is a drummer of the guard, of tho name of Dick Martin. He seems in great distress about something, and insists on seeing you." " It is the lad," said Markham, " whom I sent to Whitehall in search of you, Bertha, at a time when I
believed that death would interposo botween us, at all ovents in this world, and deprive me of the power to protect you."
Bertha only clung closer still toMarkham's arm, and said nothing. " The boy is so clamorous, colonel," added Mr. Osborn, tho pago, "that I thought it might be of some momont you should /ее him." " Bring him here," said the queen. " All theso matters seem connected with each other, and he may have something to say which will bo an element in your safety." The page bowed and departed on his errand. " It would bo better," said the Marquis of Charlton, " to leavo me alone to speak to him. Wo need not burden a lad like that wi th more secrets than necessary. "
" Assuredly," said Markham. " That is well thought of. We will retire again to the oratory." For a few seconds more there was no one in the cabinet but tho queen and the Marquis of Charlton. With a look ol amazement and something of fright on his countenance, Dick Martin was ushered in by Mr.
Osborn. As soon as ho saw the marquis he drew himself up to attention, and saluted. " Well, Dick, what is it ? You wanted to seo mo." " Yes, your honour." " Speak out, and quickly." The boy glanced at tho queen, but, in the quiet costume in which she was, he had not the least idea of her rank. " Oh ! never mind, Dick. She is only a lady before whom you may speak freely." " Yes, your honour. I dont know whether I'm doing right or wrong, but it's about Captain Markham I want to speak." " I will take upon myself to say," replied the marquis, " that Captain M Igtbam has no truer friend than myself. So youma^jQ^ak freely, Dick." " I will, then, your honour. The captain gave me orders to go to Whitehall and to try and find there a
young lady, and to tell her to take care of herself, and fly from England as quickly as possible, for ho could no
longer protect or save her." " You did not find her, Dick f" "No, your honour. I went through the old galleries and the deserted rooms, and up and down the great
staircases, and every now and then I gave a few raps upon my drum, with the hope that they would let her know that somebody was looking for her ; but I found
nothing of her." " Make your mind easy, Dick. She is safe and well
cared for." " But, colonel—" "Well, Dick ?" " I found some one else, your honour. There is a
gentleman there, badly wounded. He looked like a
ghost, and I was half afraid to follow him ; but when I
did I found that ho was liko ourselves, and only weak and pale and badly hurt. I asked him who ho was, and he looked so faint and could scarcely speak, and
said ho was A Mystery in Scarlet."
(To be continued in our next.)