“At all events,” said Miss Stewart, “he has done something; and a very good thing too, upon my word.”
“But,” said Buckingham, “I stopped him; I have left him and Miss Mary in conversation together, and I sincerely trust that now he will not leave, as he seemed to have an idea of doing.”
“An idea of leaving England?” cried the king.
“I, at one moment, hardly thought that any human power could have prevented him; but Miss Mary’s eyes are now bent fully on him, and he will remain.”
“Well, that is the very thing which deceives you, Buckingham,” said the king, with a peal of laughter; “the poor fellow is predestined.”
“Predestined to what?”
“If it were to be simply deceived, that is nothing; but, to look at him, it is a great deal.”
“At a distance, and with Miss Grafton’s aid, the blow will be warded off.”
“Far from it, far from it; neither distance nor Miss Grafton’s help will be of the slightest avail. Bragelonne will set off for Paris within an hour’s time.”
Buckingham started, and Miss Stewart opened her eyes very wide in astonishment.