He will make himself believe that I mean more than I say." Frances and I felt that we were traitors to our country in helping the French king, but we knew that in the end he would buy Dunkirk from our spendthrift monarch, and that out country's loss would be no greater by reason of our gain.

Therefore I wrote George as follows:-- "DEAR FRIEND: "The Duchess of Hearts is eager and confident.

Write at once, giving full directions.
"YOUR FRIEND." Frances added a postscript in cipher, but I shall not translate it.
One morning, some three weeks after sending my letter, Frances came to me in my closet in the Wardrobe, and I saw at once she was in great trouble.
Her eyes were red with weeping, and the woebegone expression of her face would have been amusing had I not known that some good cause was back of it.

As soon as she entered I saw that she was going to speak, but closets in Whitehall have ears, so I placed my finger on my lips to enjoin silence, and spoke loud enough to be heard if any one was listening:-- "Ah, Frances, I forgot that I had promised to go with you to your father's this morning.

Wait for me at Holbein's Gate.