CHAPTER XIII.
FRANCES DELIVERS THE TREATY George went to the Shield Gallery in Whitehall at ten o'clock the next morning, where he found his Majesty, the Lord Chancellor, and a half score of the king's creatures, including Berkeley, Wentworth, Crofts, Jermyn, and others of like quality.
These were the men with whom George had to deal.

He was known intimately to each of them, and was hated most heartily by all save the Chancellor.
When George entered the Gallery, the king took his seat in a great chair of state on a dais at one end of the room, while his counsellors ranged themselves on either side.

I, with a dozen other gentlemen, had been commanded to be present, not as advisers, but as attendants on the king to give dignity to the occasion.
George, having been sent to England secretly, had brought no retinue, since it was desired by every one connected with the affair that his presence should attract as little attention as possible and thus avoid alarming London.

When George went to Whitehall, he was accompanied only by De Grammont and a gentleman of the count's household.
While George knelt before his Majesty, asking leave to speak for the French king, his master, I could not help thinking of the strange contiguity of antagonisms so frequently observed in one's journey through this life, nor could I help wondering what would be the fate of the bold man kneeling before the king if his Majesty could but see through the Abbe's disguise.
But I had little time for reflection, since George was not one who allowed matters to drag.

On receiving permission to speak, he rose and went to the point at once in badly broken English, which I shall not try to reproduce.
"I shall not take up your Majesty's time with idle words," said the Abbe, glancing at a written memorandum which he held in his hand.