"So you see, Rowley dear, I put this and that together and concluded that
Frances Jennings loves George Hamilton because she can't help it, and
hates him because she recognized him as one of the murderers of Roger
Wentworth. She did not say that this is all true, nor will she talk on
the subject, but one may see through a millstone with a hole in it."
"Perhaps Hamilton's complicity in the crime may save us the trouble of
sending him abroad," said the king. "We may be able to hang him instead."
"Surely you would not hang him for so small an offence? The murdered man
was only a tanner!" cried Nelly, fearing she had brought trouble on
Hamilton by her gossip.
"Of course, if there were no reason save the demands of grasping justice,
we should not trouble ourselves to look into the matter," said Charles,
"but stern justice, if used and not abused, is often a ready help to
kings."
Charles laughed, doubtless showing his yellow fangs, as was his habit
when uttering a cruel jest, and Nelly began to coax him, hoping to avert
the unforeseen trouble she had set afoot. At last the king promised that
he would take no steps against Hamilton, but I knew that royal promises
were never worth the breath they cost in making.
* * * * *
As soon as Nelly and the king left my lord's closet, I hastened to the
river and took a boat for the Old Swan, intending to find Hamilton and to
warn him.
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