Have a
boat waiting for me near the garden stairs at nine o'clock, and we'll go
by river to the king's private stairs. I'll go by myself to his closet
and will come back to you by some means with the signed treaty. And,
Baron Ned, have Betty with you. A woman is always braver with a woman
alongside, and Betty always brings us good luck. Then, too, she can steer
the boat; she knows the river as she knows her father's house. Remember,
nine o'clock, and be sure that Betty is with you."
I went back to George, and when I told him of Frances's plan, he said:--
"If she does not return from the king's closet as soon as we shall have
reason to expect her, we'll fetch her and make a page of history by
leaving a dead king."
"In which case the English people would hang us and then bless us. It is
their fashion. We should be as immortal as Guy Fawkes," I answered;
laughing to keep my courage up.
George stood in revery for a moment and answered as if he were speaking
to himself:--
"But what will happen if we are overpowered in the king's closet? He
always keeps a ruffian guard in his ante-chamber."
"In that sad case, Frances must kill herself and we shall die fighting
unless we preferred Tyburn Hill a day or two later," I answered. "It is
all as plain as day. Why do you not forget that failure is possible? I
have never known you to stand in doubt; why do it now on the eve of
victory?"
"Frances! Frances! Frances! She is why I stand in doubt.
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