"Ay, and fancy you could get off a cock-and-bull story upon me. Nay, nay, methinks we are getting to the bottom of this thing. Now then, what led you to go to Pycroft?"
"I had heard that there was something of great import there."
"Ah, that is fine. But why should it displease me?"
"Because it had to do with Your Majesty."
"With me. With me. From whom did you hear of it in the first place?"
"From a woman named Katharine Harcomb," I replied boldly.
Charles Stuart started as though a wasp had stung him, and then he shrugged his shoulders scornfully.
"I am weary of this," he said, "for the thing hath ceased to be sport. Let this boy and girl be securely guarded until I have time to look into the matter carefully." And then he turned negligently to the woman with whom he had been speaking, while the others in the company exchanged meaning glances.
It was near midnight that same night when I was brought before the king again.