"Who may it be?" asked the queen.
"The De Lisle estates were given to Colonel Newbolt, who was imprisoned and died at Newgate," answered Patience. "His son Reginald was his heir."
"Has he not inherited?" asked the queen.
"He certainly has put in no claim," answered Patience, "for he went abroad soon after his father's death and has not returned."
"But someone has taken the rents," said the queen.
"That remains for your majesty to find out," said Patience. "I cannot tell."
"Well, we will enquire into the matter," said the queen, as, released from her barber, she stood up and faced Agnes. Again she smiled as she looked at the girl, who was simply charming, in a plain, white gown, unbedizened, with only a coil of pearls round her white throat, and her hair in natural curls. She was as fresh as a flower, and the queen, delighted, clapped her hands, and, turning to her friend, Lord Jermyn, said in a low voice, "She will make a sensation. Did you ever see anything so fresh?"
"Not of late years, certainly," he answered. "But your majesty is forgetting your appointment with the king at Whitehall."
"Well, well, I must be gone," said the queen, "but I shall expect you to be here when I return, Patience; I have many things to ask you. Bring the child with you; mind you always bring the child."
"Your majesty does her great honour," said Patience. "I will not forget."