Page:Catherine of Bragança, infanta of Portugal, & queen-consort of England.djvu/398

 HE Duchess of Portsmouth, terrified by the evidence at Fitzharris's trial, and finding the King displeased, saw only one hope for her. She suddenly turned over to the Duke of York's interests, believing that if she could bring about his return, his gratitude would be her best protection. She began to suggest to James that she would stand his friend if he assured her £5,000 a year out of offices he had, particularly the Post Office, on whose profits fines might readily be levied. This scheme was favoured by Charles, who told Lord Clyde that as he could settle nothing on the Duchess beyond his own lifetime, he would in this way feel that he left provision for her. Charles was himself receiving an added annuity from France of £50,000 a quarter, with a renewed condition of keeping friendly with Louis, if he, on his side, would pledge himself not to disturb Flanders or Holland. The Duchess of Portsmouth pressed the Duke's return, and gave such good reasons for it that Charles allowed their soundness. He spoke freely in her apartments and in St. James's Park of the injustice of juries in the recent cases, and declared he was the last man in his own kingdom to have either law or justice, and that his case was hard.