royalty restored-第40部分

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tue　and　coldness　Miss　Stuart　betrayed　since　her　return　from　Oxford。　　The　monarch　was　sorely　troubled　to　account　for　her　bearing；　and　attributing　it　to　jealousy；　sought　to　soothe　her　supposed　uneasiness　by　increasing　his　chivalrous　attentions。　　Her　change　of　behaviour；　however；　proceeded　from　another　cause。　　The　fair　Stuart；　though　childlike　in　manner；　was　shrewd　at　heart；　and　was　moreover　guided　invariably　by　her　mother；　a　lady　who　reaped　wisdom　from　familiarity　with　courts。　　Therefore　the　maid　of　honour；　seeing　she　had　given　the　world　occasion　to　think　she　had　lost　her　virtue；　declared　she　was　ready　to　〃marry　any　gentleman　of　fifteen　hundred　a　year　that　would　have　her　in　honour。〃

This　determination　she　was　obliged　to　keep…secret　from　the　king；　lest　his　anger　should　fall　upon　such　as　sought　her；　and　so　interfere　with　her　matrimonial　prospects。　　Now　with　such　intentions　in　her　mind　she　pondered　well　on　an　event　which　had　happened　to　her；　such　as　no　woman　who　has　had　like　experience　ever　forgets；　namely；　that　amongst　the　many　who　professed　to　love　her；　one　had　proposed　to　marry　her。　　This　was　Charles　Stuart；　fourth　Duke　of　Richmond；　a　man　possessed　of　neither　physical　gifts　nor　mental　abilities；　who　was；　moreover；　a　widower；　and　a　sot。

However；　the　position　which　her　union　with　him　would　ensure　was　all　she　could　desire；　and　he　renewing　his　suit　at　this　time；　she　consequently　consented　to　marry　him。　　Now　though　it　was　probable　she　could　keep　her　design　from　knowledge　of　her　royal　lover；　it　was　scarcely　possible　she　could　hide　it　from　observation　of　his　mistress。　　And　the　latter；　knowing　the　extent　to　which　fair　Frances　Stuart　shared　his　majesty's　heart；　and　being　likewise　aware　of　the　coldness　with　which　his　protestations　were　by　her　received；　scorned　the　king　and　detested　the　maid。　　Lady　Castlemaine　therefore　resolved　to　use　her　knowledge　of　Miss　Stuart's　contemplated　marriage；　for　purpose　of　enraging　the　jealousy　of　the　one；　and　destroying　the　influence　of　the　other。　In　order　to　accomplish　such　desirable　ends　she　quietly　awaited　her　opportunity。　　This　came　in　due　time。

It　happened　one　evening　when　his　majesty　had　been　visiting　Frances　Stuart　in　her　apartments；　and　had　returned　to　his　own　in　a　condition　of　ill…humour　and　disappointment；　the　countess；　who　had　been　some　days　out　of　favour；　suddenly　presented　herself　before　him；　and　in　a　bantering　tone；　accompanied　by　ironical　smiles；　addressed　him。

〃I　hope；〃　said　she；　〃I　may　be　allowed　to　pay　you　my　homage；　although　the　angelic　Stuart　has　forbidden　you　to　see　me　at　my　own　house。　　I　will　not　make　use　of　reproaches　and　expostulations　which　would　disgrace　myself；　still　less　will　I　endeavour　to　excuse　frailties　which　nothing　can　justify；　since　your　constancy　for　me　deprives　me　of　all　defence；　considering　I　am　the　only　person　you　have　honoured　with　your　tenderness；　who　has　made　herself　unworthy　of　it　by　ill…conduct。　　I　come　now；　therefore；　with　no　other　intent　than　to　comfort　and　condole　with　you　upon　the　affliction　and　grief　into　which　the　coldness　or　new…fashioned　chastity　of　the　inhuman　Stuart　has　reduced　your　majesty。〃

Having　delivered　herself　of　this　speech　she　laughed　loud　and　heartily；　as　if　vastly　amused　at　the　tenour　of　her　words；　and　then　before　the　impatient　monarch　had　time　to　reply；　continued　in　the　same　tone；　with　quickening　breath　and　flashing　eyes；　〃Be　not　offended　that　I　take　the　liberty　of　laughing　at　the　gross　manner　in　which　you　are　imposed　upon；　I　cannot　bear　to　see　that　such　particular　affection　should　make　you　the　jest　of　your　own　court；　and　that　you　should　be　ridiculed　with　such　impunity。　　I　know　that　the　affected　Stuart　has　sent　you　away　under　pretence　of　some　indisposition；　or　perhaps　some　scruple　of　conscience；　and　I　come　to　acquaint　you　that　the　Duke　of　Richmond　will　soon　be　with　her；　if　he　is　not　there　already。　　I　do　not　desire　you　to　believe　what　I　say；　since　it　might　be　suggested　either　through　resentment　or　envy。　　Only　follow　me　to　her　apartment；　either　that；　no　longer　trusting　calumny　and　malice　you　may　honour　her　with　a　just　preference；　if　I　accuse　her　falsely；　or；　if　my　information　be　true；　you　may　no　longer　be　the　dupe　of　a　pretended　prude；　who　makes　you　act　so　unbecoming　and　ridiculous　a　part。〃

The　king；　overwhelmed　with　astonishment；　was　irresolute　in　action；　but　Lady　Castlemaine；　determined　on　not　being　deprived　of　her　anticipated　triumph；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　forcibly　pulled　him　towards　Miss　Stuart's　apartments。　　The　maid　of　honour's　servants；　surprised　at　his　majesty's　return；　were　unable　to　warn　their　mistress　without　his　knowledge；　whilst　one　of　them；　in　pay　of　the　countess；　found　means　of　secretly　intimating　to　her　that　the　Duke　of　Richmond　was　already　in　Miss　Stuart's　chamber。　　Lady　Castlemaine；　having　with　an　air　of　exultation　led　the　king　down　the　gallery　from　his　apartments　to　the　threshold　of　Miss　Stuart's　door；　made　him　a　low　courtesy　savouring　more　of　irony　than　homage；　bade　him　good…night；　and　with　a　subtle　smile　promptly　retired。

The　scene　which　followed　is　best　painted　by　Hamilton's　pen。　　〃It　was　near　midnight；　the　king　on　his　way　met　the　chambermaids；　who　respectfully　opposed　his　entrance；　and；　in　a　very　low　voice；　whispered　his　majesty　that　Miss　Stuart　had　been　very　ill　since　he　left　her；　but　that　being　gone　to　bed；　she　was；　God　be　thanked；　in　a　very　fine　sleep。　　'That　I　must　see；'　said　the　king；　pushing　her　back；　who　had　posted　herself　in　his　way。　　He　found　Miss　Stuart　in　bed；　indeed；　but　far　from　being　asleep；　the　Duke　of　Richmond　was　seated　at　her　pillow；　and　in　all　probability　was　less　inclined　to　sleep　than　herself。　　The　perplexity　of　the　one　party；　and　the　rage　of　the　other；　were　such　as　may　easily　be　imagined　upon　such　a　surprise。　　The　king；　who　of　all　men　was　one　of　the　most　mild　and　gentle；　testified　his　resentment　to　the　Duke　of　Richmond　in　such　terms　as　he　had　never　before　used。　　The　duke　was　speechless　and　almost　petrified；　he　saw　his　master　and　his　king　justly　irritated。　　The　first　transports　which　rage　inspires　on　such　occasions　are　dangerous。　　Miss　Stuart's　window　was　very　convenient　for　a　sudden　revenge；　the　Thames　flowing　close　beneath　it；　he　cast　his　eyes　upon　it；　and　seeing　those　of　the　king　more　incensed　than　fired　with　indignation　than　he　thought　his　nature　capable　of；　he　made　a　profound　bow；　and　retired　without　replying　a　single　word　to　the　vast　torrent　of　threats　and　menaces　that　were　poured　upon　him。

〃Miss　Stuart　having　a　little　recovered　from　her　first　surprise；　instead　of　justifying　herself；　began　to　talk　in　the　most　extravagant　manner；　and　said　everything　that　was　most　capable　to　inflame　the　king's　passion　and　resentment：　　that　if　she　were　not　allowed　to　receive　visits　from　a　man　of　the　Duke　of　Richmond's　rank；　who　came　with　honourable　intentions；　she　was　a　slave　in　a　free　country；　that　she　knew　of　no　engagement　that　could　prevent　her　from　disposing　of　her　hand　as　she　thought　proper；　but；　however；　if　this　were　not　permitted　her　in　his　dominions；　she　did　not　believe　that　there　was　any　power　on　earth　that　could　hinder　her　from　going　over　to　France；　and　throwing　herself　into　a　Convent；　to　enjoy　there　that　tranquillity　which　was　denied　her　in　his　court。　　The　king；　sometimes　furious　with　anger；　sometimes　relenting　at　her　tears；　and　sometimes　terrified　at　her　menaces；　was　so　greatly　agitated　that　he　knew　not　how　to　answer　either　the　nicety　of　a　creature　who　wanted　to　act　the　part　of　Lucretia　under　his　own　eye；　or　the　assurance　with　which　she　had　the　effrontery　to　reproach　him。　　In　this　suspense　love　had　almost　entirely　vanquished　all　his　resentments；　and　had　nearly　induced　him　to　throw　himself　upon　his　knees；　and　entreat　pardon　for　the　injury　he　had　done　her；　when　she　desired　him　to　retire；　and　leave　her　in　repose；　at　least　for　the　remainder　of　that　night；　without　offending　those　who　had　either　accompanied　him；　or　conducted　him　to　her　apartments；　by　a　longer　visit。　　This　impertinent　request　provoked　and　irritated　him　to　the　highest　degree：　　he　went　out　abruptly；　vowing　never　to　see　her　more；　and　passed　the　most　restless　and　uneasy　night　he　had　ever　experienced　since　his　restoration。〃

Next　morning；　his　majesty　sent　orders　to　the　Duke　of　Richmond　to　quit　the　court；　and　never　appear　again　in　his　presence。　　His　grace；　however；　stayed　not　to　receive　this　message；　having　betaken　himself　with　all　possible　speed　into　the　country。　　Miss　Stuart；　who　likewise　feared　the　king's　resentment；　hastened　to　the　queen；　and　throwing　herself　at　her　majesty's　feet；　entreated　forgiveness　for　the　pain　and　uneasiness　she　had　caused　her　in　the　past；　and　besought　her　care　and　protection　in　the　future。

She　then　laid　bare　her　intentions　of　marrying　the　Duke　of　Richmond；　who　had　loved　her　long；　and　was　anxious　to　wed　her　soon；　but　since　the　discovery　of　his　addresses　had　caused　his　banishment；　and　created　disturbances　prejudicial　to　her　good　name；　she　begged　the　queen　would　obtain　his　majesty's　consent　to　her　retiring　from　the　vexations　of　a　court　to　the　tranquillity　of　a　convent。　　The　queen　raised　her　up；　mingled　her　tears　with　those　of　the　troubled　maid；　and　promised　to　use　her　endeavours　towards　averting　the　king's　displeasure。

On　consideration；　however；　the　fair　Stuart　did　not　wait　to　hear　his　majesty's　reproaches；　or　receive　his　entreaties；　for　the　duke；　being　impatient　to　gain　his　promised　bride；　quietly　returned　to　town；　and　secretly　communicated　with　her。　　It　was　therefore　agreed　between　them　she　should　steal　away　from　the　palace；　meet　him　at　the　〃Bear　at　the　Bridge　Foot；〃　situated　on　the　Southwark　side　of　the　river；　where　he　would　have　a　coach　awaiting　her；　in　order　they　might　ride　away　to　his　residence　at　Cobham　Hall；　near　Gravesend；　and　then　be　legally　and　happily　united　in　the　holy　bonds　of　matrimony。　　And　all　fell　out　as　had　been　arranged：　　the　time　being　the　month　of　March；　1667。

Now　when　the　king　discovered　her　flight；　his　anger　knew　no　bounds；　though　it　sought　relief　in　uttering　many　violent　threats　against　the　duke；　and　in　sending　word　to　the　duchess　he　would　see　her　no　more。　　In　answer　to　this　message；　she；　with　some　show　of　spirit；　returned　him　the　jewels　he　had　given　her；　principal　amongst　which　were　a　necklace　of　pearls；　valued　at　over　a　thousand　pounds；　and　a　pair　of　diamond　pendants　of　rare　lu