A CONFESSION 385

During the meal the conversation was gay. As soon as
the last dish was removed the party returned to the other
room. ‘Then the queen called upon the young men to tell
their story. Charlie began, and related up to the time
when he had aided in the rescue of his father from the
hands of his escort. Harry told the story of their military
experiences, and then Charlie related his narrow escape at
Warsaw, his adventure with the brigands, and the fight with
the wolves.

“That is the most exciting of all,” the queen said. “TI
think that even you, general, would rather have gone through
the battle of Narva than have spent that night among the
wolves.”

“That would I, indeed, madam, and I doubt if I should
have got as well through it as Captain Carstairs did. Iam
sure, madam, you will agree with me that these young gen-
tlemen ought to be fighting under our flag rather than that
of Sweden. There is no blame to them, for they were most
unjustly driven from the country; but I hope that by Mon-
day at this time I shall have the pleasure of presenting a
document for your majesty’s signature, stating that in the
opinion of the council a very grave miscarriage of justice
has taken place, and that the gentlemen whose estates were
four years ago confiscated are proved to be innocent of the
crime of which they were accused, and are true and faithful
subjects of your majesty, and that the proceedings against
them are hereby quashed, and their estates restored to them.
I had the honour of relating to you this afternoon the man-
ner in which these gentlemen have succeeded in bringing
the truth to light.”

Shortly afterwards the party broke up, the queen speaking
most graciously to each of the young men. On Monday
morning they received a summons to appear before the
council at two o'clock in the afternoon, and to produce one
Robert Nicholson, whose evidence was required in a matter