"She has escaped, sire!" he cried.
"Wha! Jennet!" exclaimed James. "If sae, we will tang you in her stead."
"No, sire—Alizon," replied Potts. "I can nowhere find her; nor—" and he hesitated.
"Weel—weel—it is nae great matter," replied James, as if relieved, and with a glance of satisfaction at Nicholas.
"I know where Alizon is, sire," said the officer.
"Indeed!" exclaimed James. "This fellow is strangely officious," he muttered to himself. "And where may she be, sir?" he added, aloud.
"I will produce her within a quarter of an hour in yonder pavilion," replied the officer, "and all that Master Potts has been unable to find."
"Your Majesty may trust him," observed Nicholas, who had attentively regarded the officer. "Depend upon it he will make good his words."
"You think so?" cried the King. "Then we will put him to the test. You will engage to confront Alizon with her mother?" he added, to the officer.
"I will, sire," replied the other. "But I shall require the assistance of a dozen men."