eyes; and bring him with thee to court, when thou art sufficiently out of trouble to come there thyself."

These words broke up the disorderly revelry. The king, his courtiers, and Nell Gwyn, took their way down the Friary to embark for Whitehall; and mine host being roused, was with difficulty made to understand that he was to prepare a bed for the young kid, as he called him. A truckle bǝd, in a garret destitute of all other furniture save rats, two or three old saddles, and some bundles of hay, was then prepared for Mervyn; but miserable as was the accommodation, he was so exhausted with fatigue and drink that he dropped asleep the instant he lay down upon it.

Blood and Duval prolonged their festival to a later hour; Mrs. Temperance was snoring on the stairs, and old Simon himself literally fell asleep with a lighted candle in his hand, on the threshold of Mervyn's garret. Luckily it was extinguished in the fall, and the night past with marvellous tranquillity-considering.

CHAPTER XX.

THE UNNATURAL MOTHER.

LATE on the following morning Mervyn was awakened by the entrance of some person into his garret; and starting up, he saw, with dazzled eyes, a figure which he at first mistook for a Jew. It was clothed in a long mantle of green baize, with a slouching Spanish hat, and had a short grizzly beard, though the eyebrows were unnaturally black. A sort of pedler's pack was slung on his back, containing a few articles such as the Jews at that period were wont to hawk about the streets.

"Get

up, boy," he said, in a tone which Mervyn instantly recognised. "It is late, and good luck is

waiting for you. I intend to introduce you to a most noble lady, a friend of mine, who may, perchance, put you in a way of advancement."

"Colonel Blood!" exclaimed Mervyn, with an involuntary shudder.

"Thou marvellest to see me thus 'guised?" said the colonel. "The truth is, I dare not step out of the Sanctuary without some precautions. But make no delay; dress thyself and join me suddenly in the room below, where I am breakfasting."

Mervyn obeyed, though with a reluctance which increased with every reflection that he made as he proceeded. The events of the previous night swam in his memory like a dream, and for some moments he could scarcely think it otherwise; so improbable did it appear to him that the king and nobles of so great a country as England could thus degrade their dignity.

Blood, however, allowed him but little time to reflect on his situation. He shouted to him to come down, in a harsh voice which he dared not disobey. He found a substantial breakfast, which they partook in almost total silence, and then Blood made preparations for a sortie. Mervyn watched his toilet with some curiosity. He put on a wig which

fell in long matted locks on his shoulders, and muf

fled up his jaws with an old

was visible but his fierce eyes.

shawl, so that little Then after a morn

ing draught with little Simon, they took their way down Water-lane. The colonel took a boat at the stairs, and giving the men directions where to go, stretched himself lazily at the prow, while Mervyn sat silently watching the brilliant play of the sun on the waters.

Aumerle House was the place named by Blood, which, as he had heard the name before, under peculiar circumstances, rather excited Mervyn's attention. They landed at Westminster Stairs, whence Blood, keeping a sharp look out on his young companion, turned down a series of streets and gardens-perhaps with a view to bewilder him—and emerged at length before a lordly mansion, whose gardens descended to the river. It was of an antique style of architecture, rich, and elaborate, like that which distinguished the era of Henry VII. and was environed with all the appurtenances of the highest rank and luxury. Embroidered porters opened the gate, and a crowd of menials appeared in the hall beyond, gaming or playing on musical instruments, apparently for their own amusement.

ap

Mervyn was surprised at the ease with which they obtained admittance to this palace, Blood merely muttering a few cabalistical words to the porter, as they passed into the hall. A nimble page instantly darted before them to announce their proach, and they followed in silence through a series of antique but very magnificent apartments. They paused at length at the entrance of an apartment defended by a large gilded screen, where the page motioned them to wait his return.

Blood amused himself in the mean time by peeping between the chinks of the screen, an example which Mervyn followed. He perceived a room of great extent, the walls of which were of dark oak, elaborately carved, and broken into deep recesses of emblazoned windows. At the farther end was a projecting fire-place, also most richly carved in oak, in which was a bright fire in a silver grate, moulded to represent a dragon, Beside this, in a huge velvet chair, sat a lady embroidering lace in a frame. Little of her countenance could be discerned, but Mervyn saw that she was pale. Her dress was extremely rich, consisting of black velvet, laced in gold to the knee; and from the flash of the firelight occasionally, he thought she wore many and rich jewels. Mervyn watched the page as he re