Page 324 - A Jacobite Exile

"I will bring the matter, at once, before the council," the general said, when
Charlie gave him the document, and briefly stated its contents. "There is a

meeting at three o'clock today. I shall see the queen previously, and will get
her to interest herself in the matter, and to urge that justice shall be done

without any delay. I will arrange that the man shall be brought before the
council, at the earliest date possible. If you will come here this evening, I
may be able to tell you more. Come at eight. I shall be in then to dress, as I

take supper at the palace, at nine."

"I have ventured to promise the man that he shall not be hung, my lord."

"You were safe in doing so. The rogue deserves the pillory or branding,

but, as he was almost forced into it, and was the mere instrument in the
hands of another, it is not a case for hanging him. He might be shipped off

to the plantations as a rogue and a vagabond.

"What are you smiling at?"

"I was thinking, sir, that, as you said there were a good many of that class

in the army, the man might have the option of enlisting given him."

"And so of getting shot in the Netherlands, instead of getting hung at

Tyburn, eh? Well, I will see what I can do."

At eight o'clock, they again presented themselves. The duke looked at them
critically.

"You will do," he said. "Put your cloaks on again, and come with me.
Where do you suppose that you are going?"

"Before the council, sir," Harry suggested.

"Bless me, you don't suppose that your business is so pressing, that
ministers have been summoned in haste to sit upon it. No, you are going to

sup with the queen. I told her your story this afternoon. She was much
interested in it, and when I informed her that, young as you both were, you