Chapter I: Front Matter

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Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).

“MY MERRY ROCKHURST”

* * * * * *

By Agnes & Egerton Castle

THE PRIDE OF JENNICO
“IF YOUTH BUT KNEW!”
THE SECRET ORCHARD
ROSE OF THE WORLD
THE STAR-DREAMER
THE HOUSE OF ROMANCE
THE BATH COMEDY
INCOMPARABLE BELLAIRS
THE HEART OF LADY ANNE

By Egerton Castle

YOUNG APRIL
THE LIGHT OF SCARTHEY
CONSEQUENCES
MARSHFIELD THE OBSERVER
LE ROMAN DU PRINCE OTHON
THE JERNINGHAM LETTERS
ENGLISH BOOK-PLATES
SCHOOLS AND MASTERS OF FENCE
ETC.

* * * * * *

(_See p. 293._)]

“MY MERRY ROCKHURST”

Being Some Episodes in the Life of Viscount Rockhurst, a Friend of King Charles the Second, and at One Time Constable of His Majesty’S Tower of London

Recounted by

AGNES & EGERTON CASTLE

Authors of “The Pride of Jennico,” “‘If Youth But Knew!’” “Rose of the World,” etc.

New York The Macmillan Company 1907

All rights reserved

Copyright, 1907, by the Macmillan Company.

Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1907.

Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

TO

RANDOLPH HENRY STEWART

ELEVENTH EARL OF GALLOWAY
HEAD OF THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF STEWART
THIS STORY IS DEDICATED
WITH THE
AUTHORS’ AFFECTIONATE REGARD

SEPT. 1, 1907.

CONTENTS

PAGE

THE KING’S COMRADE 1

I. The State Crust 3

II. Cavalier and Capitan 21

FARRANT CHACE 43

I. Farrant Chace 45

II. The Lady in the Snow 58

III. The Ransom 64

IV. Under the Stars 78

THE ENIGMA OF THE LOCKET 87

I. Little Satan 89

II. Whitehall Stairs 106

III. The Linnet’s Song 124

THE PEACOCK WALK 145

I. June Roses 147

II. Fatherly Wisdom 168

III. The New French Pass 186

THE KING’S CUP 197

I. Little Satan 199

II. The Venetian Glass 225

III. The Phial of Acquetta 236

LADY CHILLINGBURGH’S LAST CARD-PARTY 251

I. Lincoln’s Inn Fields 253

II. Love’s Reproach 267

III. The Plague-Cart 281

BROKEN SANCTUARY 297

I. The Haven of Refuge 299

II. The Gold Whistle 308

III. Nemesis 323

THE RED DESOLATION 339

I. The Watchers 341

II. The Testament 351

III. The Last Command 368

ILLUSTRATIONS

“Through the open window, out of the
darkness, gathered a heavy rumble of wheels;
then again uprose the call of the bell, the
cry of the hoarse voice: ‘Bring out your
dead!’” (See page 293) FRONTISPIECE

OPP. PAGE

“The single contemptuous exclamation fell
like the cut of a whip” 68

“She felt at last that she had power” 132

“Lionel took place beside him and from
narrowed lids looked smilingly at the young
man’s happy countenance” 184

“The huddled figure in the great chair.
The face of her that had so stout a heart,
conquered in death—but less piteous, less
awful sight than the living face of the
French madam” 314

“Harry gave a deep groan, covered his face
with his hands, and fell upon the bench” 364

THE KING’S COMRADE

THE KING’S COMRADE