Lord Digby returned.
"No messenger, sire," he said, "no letters."
"I did know it," replied Charles, with a smile that cast scorn on himself; "but I am my own fool, and beguile the time with mine own follies."
CHAPTER III
LIEUT.-GENERAL CROMWELL, ROYALIST
"Thou goest too often to Hampton Court," said Major Harrison. "I say it to thy face."
"Thou mayst say it before any man," returned Cromwell mildly, "and do no harm."
"If you will have any influence with the army you will go no more," continued Harrison.
"Ay!" said Cromwell, with the same patience; "but I think neither of my influence with the army nor of any other thing, friends, but of what the Lord hath put it in my heart to do for His service and the peace of these times."