"NO QUARTER!"
Straight on to the soldiers rode Sir Richard Eustace Trevor by his side,
their mounted servants behind; the men afoot following close after in a
surging mass. These, soon as well through the gate, extended line to
right and left, turning the troop until they had it hemmed in on every
side. Nor was it altogether the movement of a mob, but evidently under
direction, Rob Wilde appearing to guide it more by signs and signals
than any spoken words. However managed, the troopers now saw themselves
environed by pikes and other pointed things--a very _chevaux de frise_--
held in the hands of men whose faces showed no fear of them. For the
country had not yet been cursed by a standing army, and in the eyes of
the citizen the soldier was not that formidable thing as since, and now.
Rather was the fear on the side of Lunsford's party, most of whom,
Foresters themselves of the inferior sort, knew the men who stood
confronting them.
Up to this moment no word had been spoken by their commanding officer,
save some muttered speech he exchanged with Reginald Trevor. Nor did he
now break the silence, leaving that to the intruders.
"Captain, or, as I understand you are now called, Colonel Lunsford,"
said Sir Richard, drawing up in front of him, "by the way you're
behaving you appear to think yourself in the Low Countries, with rights
of free forage and plunder. Let me tell you, sir, this is England,
where such courses are not yet in vogue; and to be hoped never will be,
even though a King authorise, ay, command them. But I command you, in
the name of the people, to desist from them, or take the consequence."
Under such smart of words it might be supposed that a professional
soldier and King's officer would have dared death itself, or any odds
against him. It was of this the muttered speech had been passing
between him and Reginald Trevor, the latter urging him to risk it and
fall on. Whatever else, _he_ was no dastard, and, though he had once
given way on that same spot, it was not from cowardice, but ruled by a
sentiment very different.
In vain his attempt to inspire his superior officer with courage
equalling his own; no more would he have been successful with their
followers, as he could see by looking along the line of faces, most of
them showing dread of that threatening array of miscellaneous weapons,
and a reluctance to engage them.
In fine, the ex-Lieutenant of the Tower made lip his mind to live a
little longer, even at the risk of being stigmatised as a poltroon.
But, not instantly declaring himself--too confused and humiliated for
speech--Sir Richard went on,--
"No doubt, sir, your delicate sense of humanity will restrain you from a
conflict in which your soldiers must be defeated and their blood spilled
uselessly--innocent lambs as they appear to be."
The irony elicited laughter from the Foresters; for a more forbidding
set of faces than those of the troopers could not well have been seen
anywhere.
"But," continued the knight, "if you decline to withdraw without showing
how skilfully you can yourself handle a sword, I'm willing to give you
the opportunity. You've had it from me before, and refused. But you
may be a braver man, and think yourself a better swordsman now; so I
offer it again."
The taunt was torture itself to the man in whose teeth it was flung.
All the more from the cheering and jibes of the Foresters, who seemed
thoroughly to enjoy seeing Sir John Wintour's bullies thus brought to
book. And still more that in the window above were two feminine faces,
one of them that he had been so late admiring, the ladies evidently
listening.
Notwithstanding all, Lunsford could not screw up courage for a combat he
had once before declined, and now the second time shunned it, saying,--
"Sir Richard Walwyn, I am not here for the settlement of private
quarrels. When the time fits for it I shall answer the challenge you
say is repeated, but which I deny. My business at present is with Mr
Ambrose Powell, as Deputy-Commissioner of Array, to collect the King's
dues from him. Since he's refused to pay them, and I have no orders,
nor wish, to use violence, so far as shedding blood, it but remains for
me to take back his answer to my superiors."
It was such a ludicrous breakdown of his late blustering, and withdrawal
of demand, that the Foresters hailed it with a loud huzza, mingled with
laughter and satirical speech.
When their cheering had ceased, so that he could be heard, Sir Richard
rejoined,--
"Yes; that is the best thing you can do. And the sooner you set about
it the better for both yourself and your men, as you may be aware
without further warning."
It was like giving the last kick to a cur, and as a cur Tom Lunsford
took it, literally turning tail--that of his horse--upon Hollymead
House.
Out through the haw-haw gate rode he, his troop behind, every man-jack
of them looking cowed and crestfallen as himself.
Alone Reginald Trevor held high front, retiring with angry reluctance,
as a lion driven from its quarry by hunters too numerous to be resisted.
But he passed not away without holding speech with his cousin, on both
sides bitterly recriminative.
"So you've turned your back upon the King!"
It was Reginald who said this, having spurred up alongside the other
before parting.
"Rather say the King has turned his back upon the people," was Eustace's
rejoinder. "After such behaviour as I've just been witness to, by his
orders and authority, I think I am justified in turning my back upon
him."
"Oh! that's your way of putting it. Well; it may justify you in the
eyes of your new friends here--very warm friends all at once?"--this
with a sneer--"but what will your father think? He won't like it, I'm
sure."
"I daresay he won't. If not, I can't help it."
"And don't seem to care either! How indifferent you've grown to family
feeling! and in such a short space of time. You used to pass for the
most affectionate of sons--a very paragon of filial duty; and now--"
"And now," interrupted the ex-courtier, becoming impatient at being thus
lectured, "whatever I may be, I'm old enough, and think myself wise
enough, to manage my own affairs, without needing counsel from any one--
even from my sage cousin, Reginald."
"As you like, Eust. But you'll repent what you're doing, yet."
"If I should, Rej, it won't be with any blame to you. You can go your
way, as I will mine."
"Ah! Yours will bring you to ruin--like enough your neck upon the block
or into a halter!"
"I'll risk that. If there's to be hanging and beheading--which I hope
there will not--it needn't be all on one side. So far, that you are on
hasn't had the advantage in the beheading line, and's not likely. They
who struck off Strafford's head might some day do the same with the
King's own. And he would deserve it, going on in this way."
"By Heaven?" cried Reginald, now becoming infuriated, "the King will
wear his head, and crown too, long enough to punish every traitor--every
base renegade as yourself."
The angry bitterness of his speech was not all inspired by loyalty to
King or throne. Those fair faces above had something to do with it; for
the ladies were still there, listening, and he knew it.
Never was Eustace Trevor nearer to drawing sword, not to do it. But it
was his kinsman--cousin; how could he shed his blood? That, too, late
so freely, generously offered in his defence! Still, to be stigmatised
as a "base renegade," he could not leave such speech unanswered, nor the
anger he felt unexpressed.
"If you were not my cousin, Rej, I would kill you!"
He spoke in a low tone, trembling with passion.
"_You_ kill _me_! Ha-ha! Then try, if you like--if you dare!"
And the King's officer made a movement as if to unsheath his sword.
"You know I dare. But I won't. Not here--not now."
It was with the utmost effort Eustace Trevor controlled himself. He
only succeeded by thinking of what had been before. For it was no
feeling of fear that hindered him crossing his sword with his cousin,
but the sentiment hitherto restraining him.
"Oh, well!" rejoined Reginald. "We'll meet again--may be on the field
of battle. And if so, by G--! I'll make you rue this--show you no
mercy!"
"You will when you're asked for it."
"You needn't ask. When you see my sword out, you'll hear the cry, `No
Quarter!'"
"When I hear that, I'll cry it too."
Not another word passed between them, Reginald wheeling round and
galloping off after the soldiers. And from that hour, in his heart,
full of jealous vengeance, the resolve, should he ever encounter his
cousin in the field of fight, to show him no quarter!