Part 37 (1/2)
Moll did not wait to be asked.
”Not one visitor to-night,” she a.s.serted promptly.
”Odso!” cried Charles, in a mocking tone. ”Whence came the Jack at the window--the brave young challenger--'Would ye raise honest men from their beds at such an hour?'”
A burst of laughter followed the King's grave imitation of the window-boaster.
”Sire!” sighed Rochester, in like spirit. ”'Do you think this a vintner's? There are no topers here.'”
Another burst of merry laughter greeted the speaker, as he punctuated his words by catching up the wine-cups from the table and clinking them gaily.
Nell's face was as solemn as a funeral.
”To your knees, minx,” commanded James, grimly, ”and crave mercy of your prince.”
”Faith and troth,” pleaded Nell, seriously, ”'t was I myself with helmet and mantle on. You see, Sire, my menials were guests at Portsmouth's ball--to lend respectability.”
”Saucy wag,” cried the Merry Monarch. ”A ball?--A battle--which would have killed thee straight!”
”It had liked to,” reflected Nell, as she tartly replied: ”A war of the s.e.x without me? It was stupid, then. The d.u.c.h.ess missed me, I trow.”
”Never fear,” answered Charles, with difficulty suppressing his mirth; ”you were bravely championed.”
”I am sure of that,” said Nell, slyly; ”my King was there.”
”And a bantam c.o.c.k,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Charles, sarcastically, ”upon whose lips 'Nell' hung familiarly.”
”Some strange gallant,” cried Nell, in ecstasy, ”took my part before them all? Who was he, Sire? Don't tantalize me so.”
She smiled, half serious, half humorous, as she pleaded in her charming way.
”A chip from the Blarney Stone,” observed the King at length, ironically, ”surnamed Adair!”
”Adair! Adair!” cried Nell, to the astonishment of all. ”We spent our youth together. I see him in my mind's eye, Sire, throw down the gauntlet in Nell's name and defy the world for her. Fill the cups. We'll drink to my new-found hero! Fill! Fill! To Beau Adair, as you love me, gallants! Long life to Adair!”
The cups were filled to overflowing and trembled on eager lips in response to the hostess's merry toast.
”Stay!” commanded the King, in peremptory tones. ”Not a drop to a coward!”
”A coward!” cried Nell, aghast. ”Adair a coward? I'll never credit it, Sire!”
She turned away, lest she reveal her merriment, as she bethought her: ”He is trembling in my boots now. I can feel him shake.”
”Our pledge is Nell, Nell only!” exclaimed the King, his cup high in air.
With one accord, the gallants eagerly took up the royal pledge. ”Aye, aye, Nell!” ”Nell!” ”We'll drink to Nell!”
”You do me honour, royal gentlemen,” bowed Nell, well pleased at the King's toast.
She had scarce touched the cup to her lips, however, with a mental chuckle, ”Poor Adair! Here's a health to the inner man!” when her eye fell upon one of Adair's gray boots, which Moll had failed to hide, in her excitement, now revealing itself quite plainly in the light of the many candles. She caught it adroitly on the tip of her toe and sent it whizzing through the air in the direction of poor Moll, who, fortunately, caught it in midair and hid it quickly beneath her ap.r.o.n.
The King turned at the sound; but Nell's face was as woefully unconcerned as a church-warden's at his hundredth burial.