I shall be in then to
dress, as I take supper at the palace, at nine."
"I have ventured to promise the man that he shall not be hung, my
lord."
"You were safe in doing so. The rogue deserves the pillory or
branding, but, as he was almost forced into it, and was the mere
instrument in the hands of another, it is not a case for hanging
him. He might be shipped off to the plantations as a rogue and a
vagabond.
"What are you smiling at?"
"I was thinking, sir, that, as you said there were a good many of
that class in the army, the man might have the option of enlisting
given him."
"And so of getting shot in the Netherlands, instead of getting hung
at Tyburn, eh? Well, I will see what I can do."
At eight o'clock, they again presented themselves. The duke looked
at them critically.
"You will do," he said. "Put your cloaks on again, and come with
me. Where do you suppose that you are going?"
"Before the council, sir," Harry suggested.
"Bless me, you don't suppose that your business is so pressing,
that ministers have been summoned in haste to sit upon it. No, you
are going to sup with the queen. I told her your story this
afternoon. She was much interested in it, and when I informed her
that, young as you both were, you had fought behind Charles of
Sweden, in all his desperate battles, and that he had not only
promoted you to the rank of captain, but that he had, under his own
hand, given you a document expressing his satisfaction at your
conduct and bravery, she said that I must bring you to supper at
the palace.
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