The treaties which Louis XIV. of France had sent the artful beauty to procure lay signed upon her desk.

Nell almost pulled the portieres from their hangings in her excitement.

"I must see those papers," she thought. "There's no good brewing."

Portsmouth threw her arms about the King and kissed him pa.s.sionately.

"Now, indeed, has England a great King," she said, adding to herself: "And that King Louis's slave!"

Charles smiled and took his leave. As he pa.s.sed through the portal, he wiped his lips, good-humouredly muttering: "Portsmouth's kisses and Nell's do not mix well."

Portsmouth listened for a moment to his departing footsteps, then dropped into the chair by the table and hastily folded and addressed the papers.

Her mission was ended!

CHAPTER XIV

_He loves me! He loves me!_

Nell, half draped in the arras, had seen the kiss in reality bestowed by Portsmouth but as she thought bestowed by the King. As his Majesty departed through the door at the opposite end of the room, the colour came and went in her cheeks. She could scarce breathe.

Portsmouth sat unconscious of all but her own grand achievement. She had accomplished what shrewd statesmen had failed to bring about; and this would be appreciated, she well knew, by Louis.

"'Sdeath!" muttered Nell to herself, hotly, as, with quite a knightly bearing, she approached the d.u.c.h.ess. "He kisses her before my very eyes!

He kisses her! I'll kill the minx!" She half unsheathed her blade.

"Pshaw! No! No! I am too gallant to kill the s.e.x. I'll do the very manly act and simply break her heart. Aye, that is true bravery in breeches."

Her manner changed.

"Your grace!" she said suavely.

"Yes," answered Portsmouth, her eyes still gleaming triumphantly.

"It seems you are partial of your favours?"

"Yes."

"Such a gift from lips less fair," continued Nell, all in wooing vein, "would make a beggar royal."

The hostess was touched with the phrasing of the compliment. She smiled.

"You would be pleased to think me fair?" she coyly asked, with the air of one convinced that it could not well be otherwise.

"Fairer than yon false gallant thinks you," cried Nell, with an angry toss of the head in the direction of the departed King. "Charles's kiss upon her lips?" she thought. "'Tis mine, and I will have it."

In the twinkling of an eye, she threw both arms wildly about the neck of the astonished hostess and kissed her forcefully upon the lips. Then, with a ringing laugh, tinged with triumph, she stepped back, a.s.suming a defiant air.

The d.u.c.h.ess paled with anger. She rose quickly and, turning on the pretty youth, exclaimed: "Sir, what do you mean?"

"Tilly-vally!" replied the naughty Nell, in her most winning way. "A frown upon that alabaster brow, a pout upon those rosy lips; and all for nothing!"

"_Parbleu!_" exclaimed the indignant d.u.c.h.ess. "Your impudence is outrageous, sir! We will dispense with your company. Good night!"

"Ods-pitikins!" swaggered Nell, feigning umbrage. "Angry because I kissed you! You have no right, madame, to be angry."

"No right?" asked Portsmouth, her feelings tempered by surprise.

"No right," repeated Nell, firmly. "It is I who should be outraged at your anger."

"Explain, sir," said the d.u.c.h.ess, haughtily.

Nell stepped toward the lady, and, a.s.suming her most tender tone, with wistful, loving eyes, declared:

"Because your grace can have no appreciation of what my temptation was to kiss you."

The d.u.c.h.ess's countenance glowed with delight, despite herself.

"I'faith, was there a temptation?" she asked, quite mollified.

"An overwhelming pa.s.sion," cried Nell, following up her advantage.

"And you were disappointed, sir?" asked Portsmouth suggestively, her vanity falling captive to the sweet cajolery.

"I only got yon courtier's kiss," saucily pouted Nell, "so lately bestowed on you."

"Do you know whose kiss that was?" inquired the d.u.c.h.ess.

"It seemed familiar," answered Nell, dryly.

"The King's," said Portsmouth, proudly.

"The King's!" cried Nell, opening wide her eyes. "Take back your kiss. I would not have it."

"Indeed!" said Portsmouth, smiling.

"'Tis too volatile," charged Nell, decisively. "'Tis here, 'tis there, 'tis everywhere bestowed. Each rosy tavern-wench with a pretty ankle commands it halt. A kiss is the gift of G.o.d, the emblem of true love.

Take back the King's kiss; I do not wish it."

"He does not love the King," thought Portsmouth, ever on the lookout for advantage. "A possible ally!"

She turned upon the youth, with humorous, mocking lip, and said reprovingly: "A kiss is a kiss the world over, fair sir; and the King's kisses are sacred to Portsmouth's lips."

"Zounds," replied Nell, with a wicked wink, "not two hours since, he bestowed a kiss on Eleanor Gwyn--"