"I thought it would be better that you should leave the Old Swan with me
than alone," I said. "It would have been better had you taken me with
you."
"Would you have gone with me, knowing my errand?" she asked.
"Yes, gladly," I answered. "When a woman deliberately makes up her mind
to do a thing of this sort, she does it sooner or later, despite heaven,
earth, or the other place to the contrary. I should have gained nothing
by opposing you; I could at least have given color of propriety by going
with you."
We walked up Thames Street till we came to the neighborhood of Baynard's
Castle, where we took boat and went to Whitehall, each of us in silent
revery all the way.
While I was paying the waterman, Frances ran up the stairs to the garden,
and when I followed I saw her talking to the king, so I stopped ten or
twelve paces from them and removed my hat. Being in their lee, the wind
brought the king's words to me, and I imagined, from the loud tone in
which he spoke, that he intended me to hear what he had to say. Perhaps
he suspected that I had helped Frances in her morning's escapade.
"I am greatly disappointed, my angel, my beauty," said the king, "that
you have taken this morning's excursion."
So he knew of her "excursion," and doubtless had instigated the visit of
the sheriffs to the Old Swan.
"What has your angel done this morning to displease her king?" asked
Frances, with a laugh so merry that one might well have supposed it
genuine.
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