CHAPTER XVII.
A rash promise.
During the slender repast, Jocelyn, in reply to the inquiries of the Puritan, explained the two-fold motive of his coming to London; namely, the desire of taking vengeance on his father's enemies, and the hope of obtaining some honourable employment, such as a gentleman might accept.
"My chances in the latter respect are not very great," he said, "seeing I have no powerful friends to aid me in my endeavours, and I must consequently trust to fortune.

But as regards my enemies, if I can only win an audience of the King, and plead my cause before him, I do not think he will deny me justice." "Justice!" exclaimed the Puritan with deep scorn.

"James Stuart knows it not.

An archhypocrite, and perfidious as hypocritical, he holdeth as a maxim that Dissimulation is necessary to a Ruler.

He has the cowardice and the ferocity of the hyaena.