"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever
a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us
as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which
Charles Stuart can serve you."

"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his
heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused
to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace."

"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out
to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn
league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living
here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a
comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed
feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth."

It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop
the little intrigue--so united to his already corrupted character, into
which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a
mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the
deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was
a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared
no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now
became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant
presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting
opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation,
in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's
prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the
ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against
which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions.