"Heart and soul!" cried Constance, enthusiastically. "Your royal highness has not a more zealous adherent than myself."
"I cannot doubt it. But I hoped you have proved your zeal by bringing me a hundred swords."
"I have brought you one," she replied—"but it is worth a hundred."
"Ah! to whom does it belong?" inquired the prince, smiling.
"To a brave young man, whose name must be utterly unknown to your royal highness—Mr. Atherton Legh."
"There you are mistaken. His name has been mentioned to me by Colonel Townley, who described him—I have no doubt quite correctly—as the finest young man in Manchester. Mr. Atherton Legh shall have a commission on your recommendation, Miss Rawcliffe. You will present him to me, Sir Richard."
"It will be better, perhaps, that Colonel Townley should present him to your royal highness," said Sir Richard.
The reluctance displayed by the baronet did not escape the prince, whose perceptions were very acute, but a glance at Constance served partly to explain matters to him, and he remarked with apparent indifference:
"Be it so;" adding significantly, "I shall not forget that I am indebted to you, Miss Rawcliffe, for this brave young recruit."
It was now Jemmy Dawson's turn to be presented, and he had no cause to complain of his reception. The few words said to him by the prince were calculated to rouse his zeal, while they highly gratified Monica.