the French woman, and great men leering for a smile from that huzzy!
The king lolls on a Persian couch with a litter of spaniel puppies on
one side and the French woman on the other. And what do you think that
black-eyed jade asks when I present the furs and tell of our captured
Frenchmen? To have her own countrymen sold to the Barbadoes so that
she may have the money for her gaming-table! Egad, I spiked that
pretty plan by saying the Frenchmen were sending her a present of furs,
too! To-morrow night we go to Whitehall to entertain His Majesty with
our doings! We need not fear enemies in the Company now!"

"I'm not so sure of that," said I. "The Gillams have been working
against you here, and so has Brigdar."

"Hah--let them work!"

"Did you see _her_?" I asked.

"_Her_?" questions Radisson absently. "Pardieu, there are so many
_hers_ about the court now with no she-saint among them! Which do you
mean?"

The naming of Hortense after such speech was impossible. Without more
mention of the court, we entered the Company's office, where sat the
councillors in session around a long table. No one rose to welcome him
who had brought such wealth on the Happy Return; and the reason was not
far to seek. The post-chaise had arrived with Pierre Radisson's
detractors, and allied with them were the Gillams and Governor Brigdar.

Pierre Radisson advanced undaunted and sat down. Black looks greeted
his coming, and the deputy-governor, who was taking the Duke of York's