Then turning to the Duchess of York, who stood beside her, and who, she felt sure, would catch the hint and help her out, she asked, "Were we not playing at cards in your Grace's parlor Sunday afternoon ?" "Sunday afternoon ?" repeated the duchess, quite willing to thwart Castlemain's design.

"Yes, my dear, Sunday afternoon.

Yes, we began just after dinner, and it was almost dark when we stopped.

Don't you remember I said, after we had lighted the candles, that I wished my husband could afford to give me wax in place of tallow ?" We all laughed except the king, who became very much interested, and of course, excepting Castlemain, who was rapidly losing her head in anger.
After the duchess had spoken, the king asked, with as careless an air as he could assume:-- "At what hour, sister, did Mistress Jennings leave your parlor ?" "I think it was about four o'clock," replied her Grace.

"She asked permission to spend the night with her father, and Baron Clyde called about four o'clock to escort her.