The two lads walked slowly down the hill together. Harry had heard
no more than Charlie had done, of what was going on. The messenger
from his father was a young fellow, of seventeen or eighteen, with
a gipsy face and appearance. How he had managed to elude the
vigilance of the men on watch, Harry did not know. He, himself, had
only learnt his presence when, as he passed some bushes in the
garden, a sharp whisper made him stop, and a moment later a hand
was thrust through the foliage. He took the little note held out,
and caught sight of the lad's face, through the leaves, as he leant
forward and said:
"Go on, sir, without stopping. They may be watching you."
Harry had thrust the note into his pocket, and sauntered on for
some time. He then returned to the house, and there read the
letter, with whose contents Charlie was already acquainted.
Eagerly, they talked over what each had been thinking of since they
had parted, early on the previous day; and discussed Charlie's idea
of an attack on Lancaster jail.
"I don't know whether I could get as many men as you say, Charlie.
I don't think I could. If my father were in prison, as well as
yours, I am sure that most of the young fellows on the estate would
gladly help to rescue him, but it would be a different thing when
it came to risking their lives for anyone else. Of course I don't
know, but it does not seem to me that fifty men would be of any
use, at all, towards taking Lancaster Castle. It always seemed to
me a tremendously strong place."
"Yes, it does look so, Harry; but perhaps, on examining it closely,
one would find that it is not so strong as it looks, by a long way.
It seems to me there must be some way or other of getting father
out, and, if there seems even the least bit of a chance, I shall
try it."
"And you may be sure I will stand by you, Charlie, whatever it is,"
Harry said heartily. "We have been just like brothers, and, of
course, brothers ought to stick to each other like anything. If
they don't, what is the use of being brothers? I daresay we shall
know more, when we hear what my father has to say; and then we may
see our way better."
"Thank you, Harry. I knew you would stick by me. Of course, I don't
want to do any mad sort of thing. There is no hurry, anyhow, and,
as you say, when we know more about it, we may be able to hit upon
some sort of plan."
It was not until eight o'clock that Mr. Jervoise arrived. He looked
grievously tired and worn out, but he spoke cheerfully as he came
in.
"I have had a busy two days of it, boys, as you may guess. I have
no particularly good news to tell you, but, on the other hand, I
have no bad news. I was in time to warn all our friends, and when
the soldiers came for them in the morning, it was only to find that
their nests were empty.
"They have been searching the houses of all Sir Marmaduke's
tenants, Charlie, and questioning man, woman, and child as to
whether they have seen you.
"Ah! Here is supper, and I am nearly famished. However, I can go on
talking while I eat. I should have been here sooner, but I have
been waiting for the return of the messenger I sent to Lancaster.
"Yesterday morning there was an examination of your father,
Charlie, or rather, an examination of the testimony against him.
First the two letters that were discovered were put in. Without
having got them word for word, my informer was able to give me the
substance of them. Both were unsigned, and professed to have been
written in France. The first is dated three months back. It alludes
to a conversation that somebody is supposed to have had with Sir
Marmaduke, and states that the agent who had visited him, and who
is spoken of as Mr. H, had assured them that your father was
perfectly ready to join, in any well-conceived design for putting a
stop to the sufferings that afflicted the country, through the wars
into which the foreign intruder had plunged it, even though the
plan entailed the removal of the usurper. The writer assured Sir
Marmaduke of the satisfaction that such an agreement on his part
had caused at Saint Germains, and had heightened the high esteem in
which Sir Marmaduke was held, for his long fidelity to the cause of
his majesty. It then went on to state that a plan had been already
formed, and that several gentlemen in the south were deeply pledged
to carry it out, but that it was thought specially advisable that
some from the north should also take part in it, as, from their
persons being unknown near the court, they could act with more
surety and safety. They would, therefore, be glad if he would take
counsel, with the friends he had mentioned, as to what might seem
to them the best course of proceeding. There was no occasion for
any great haste and, indeed, some weeks must elapse before the blow
was struck, in order that preparations should be made, in France,
for taking instant advantage of it.
"The rest of the letter was to the same purpose, but was really a
repetition of it. The second letter was dated some time later, and
was, as before, an answer to one the knight was supposed to have
written. It highly approved of the suggestions therein made; that
Sir Marmaduke and his friends should travel, separately and at a
few days' interval, to London, and should take lodgings there in
different parts of the town, and await the signal to assemble, near
Richmond, when it was known that the king would go hunting there.
It said that special note had been made of the offer of Sir
Marmaduke's son, to mingle among the king's attendants and to fire
the first shot, as, in the confusion, he would be able to escape
and, being but a boy, as he said, none would be able to recognize
him afterwards.
"In the event, of course, of the first shot failing, the rest of
the party, gathered in a body, would rush forward, despatch the
usurper, cut their way, sword in hand, through any who barred their
path to the point where their horses were concealed, and then at
once scatter in various directions. For this great service, his
majesty would not fail to evince the deepest gratitude, upon his
restoration to his rightful throne, and pledged his royal word that
each of the party should receive rank and dignity, together with
ample estates, from the lands of which the chief supporters of the
usurper would be deprived.
"So you see, Charlie, you were to have the honour of playing the
chief part in this tragedy."
"Honour indeed!" Charlie exclaimed passionately. "Dishonour, sir.
Was there ever so infamous a plot!"
"It is a well-laid plot, Charlie, and does credit to the scoundrel
who planned it. You see, he made certain that Sir Marmaduke would
be attainted, and his estates forfeited, but there existed just a
possibility that, as you are but a boy, though a good big one, it
might be thought that, as you were innocent of the business, a
portion at least of the estate might be handed to you. To prevent
this, it was necessary that you also should be mixed up in the
affair."
"Has John Dormay appeared in the matter so far, Mr. Jervoise?"
"Not openly, Charlie. My informant knows that there have been two
or three meetings of Whig magistrates, with closed doors, and that
at these he has been present, and he has no doubt, whatever, that
it is he who has set the ball rolling. Still, there is no proof of
this, and he did not appear yesterday. The man who did appear was
the rascal who tried to overhear us the other night. He stated that
he had been instigated by a gentleman of great loyalty--here one of
the magistrates broke in, and said no name must be mentioned--to
enter the household of Sir Marmaduke, a gentleman who, as he
believed, was trafficking with the king's enemies. He had agreed to
do this, in spite of the danger of such employment, moved thereto
not so much by the hope of a reward as from his great loyalty to
his majesty, and a desire to avert from him his great danger from
popish plots. Having succeeded in entering Sir Marmaduke's service,
he soon discovered that six gentlemen, to wit, myself and five
friends, were in the habit of meeting at Lynnwood, where they had
long and secret talks. Knowing the deep enmity and hostility these
men bore towards his gracious majesty, he determined to run any
hazard, even to the loss of his life, to learn the purport of such
gatherings, and did, therefore, conceal himself, on one occasion
behind the hangings of a window, and on another listened at an open
casement, and did hear much conversation regarding the best manner
in which the taking of the king's life could be accomplished. This,
it was agreed, should be done in the forest at Richmond, where all
should lie in wait, the said Sir Marmaduke Carstairs undertaking
that he and his son would, in the first place, fire with pistol or
musquetoon, and that, only if they should fail, the rest should
charge forward on horse, overthrow the king's companions, and
despatch him, Mr. William Jervoise undertaking the management of
this part of the enterprise. No date was settled for this wicked
business, it being, however, agreed that all should journey
separately to London, and take up their lodging there under feigned
names; lying hid until they heard from a friend at court, whose
name was not mentioned, a day on which the king would hunt at
Richmond. He further testified that, making another attempt to
overhear the conspirators in order that he might gather fuller
details as to the manner of the plot, he was seen by Master Charles
Carstairs, who, taking him by surprise, grievously assaulted him,
and that he and the others would have slain him, had he not
overthrown Master Carstairs and effected his escape before the
others, rushing out sword in hand, had time to assail him.
"During his stay at Lynnwood he had, several times, watched at the
window of the room where Sir Marmaduke Carstairs sits when alone,
and where he writes his letters and transacts business, and that he
observed him, more than once, peruse attentively papers that seemed
to be of importance, for, after reading them, he would lay them
down and walk, as if disturbed or doubtful in mind, up and down the
room; and these papers he placed, when he had done with them, in
the bottom drawer of a desk in his cabinet, the said desk being
always carefully locked by him.
"That is all that I learnt from Lancaster, save that instructions
have been given that no pains should be spared to secure the
persons of those engaged in the plot, and that a special watch was
to be set at the northern ports, lest they should, finding their
guilt discovered, try to escape from the kingdom. So you see that
your good father, Sir Marmaduke, is in a state of sore peril, and
that the rest of us, including yourself, will be in a like strait
if they can lay hands on us."
"But it is all false!" Charlie exclaimed. "It is a lie from
beginning to end."
"That is so, but we cannot prove it. The matter is so cunningly
laid, I see no way to pick a hole in it. We are Jacobites, and as
such long regarded as objects of suspicion by the Whig magistrates
and others. There have been other plots against William's life, in
which men of seeming reputation have been concerned. This man's
story will be confirmed by the man who set him on, and by other
hidden papers, if necessary. As to the discovery of the documents,
we may know well enough that the fellow himself put them there, but
we have no manner of proof of it. It is evident that there is
nothing for us but to leave the country, and to await the time when
the king shall have his own again. My other friends, who were with
me this afternoon when the news came from Lancaster, all agreed
that it would be throwing away our lives to stay here. We all have
money by us, for each has, for years, laid by something for the
time when money will be required to aid the king on his arrival.
"Having agreed to take this course, we drew up a document, which we
all signed, and which will be sent in when we have got clear away.
In it we declare that being informed that accusations of being
concerned in a plot against the life of William of Orange have been
brought against us, we declare solemnly before God that we, and
also Sir Marmaduke Carstairs and his son, are wholly innocent of
the charge, and that, although we do not hesitate to declare that
we consider the title of the said William to be king of this realm
to be wholly unfounded and without reason, and should therefore
take up arms openly against it on behalf of our sovereign did
occasion offer, yet that we hold assassination in abhorrence, and
that the crime with which we are charged is as hateful in our sight
as in that of any Whig gentleman. As, however, we are charged, as
we learn, by evilly disposed and wicked persons, of this design,
and have no means of proving our innocence, we are forced to leave
the realm until such time shall arrive when we can rely on a fair
trial, when our reputation and honour will weigh against the word
of suborned perjurers and knaves.
"We were not forgetful of your father's case, and we debated long
as to whether our remaining here could do him service. We even
discussed the possibility of raising a force, and attacking
Lancaster Castle. We agreed, however, that this would be nothing
short of madness. The country is wholly unprepared at present. The
Whigs are on the alert, and such an attempt would cost the lives of
most of those concerned in it. Besides, we are all sure that Sir
Marmaduke would be the first to object to numbers of persons
risking their lives in an attempt which, even if, for the moment,
successful, must bring ruin upon all concerned in it. Nor do we see
that, were we to remain and to stand in the dock beside him, it
would aid him. Our word would count for no more than would this
protest and denial that we have signed together. A prisoner's plea
of not guilty has but a feather's weight against sworn evidence.
"At the same time, Charlie, I do not intend to leave the country
until I am sure that nothing can be done. As force is out of the
question, I have advised the others to lose not an hour in trying
to escape and, by this time, they are all on the road. Two are
making for Bristol, one for Southampton, and two for London. It
would be too dangerous to attempt to escape by one of the northern
ports. But, though force cannot succeed, we may be able to effect
your father's escape by other means, and it is for this purpose
that I am determined to stay, and I shall do so until all hope is
gone. Alone you could effect nothing; but I, knowing who are our
secret friends, may be able to use them to advantage.
"We will stay here tonight, but tomorrow we must change our
quarters, for the search will be a close one. During the day we
will go far up over the hills, but tomorrow night we will make for
Lancaster. I have warned friends there to expect us, and it is the
last place where they would think of searching for us."
"You will take me with you, too, father?" Harry exclaimed eagerly;
while Charlie expressed his gratitude to Mr. Jervoise, for thus
determining to risk his own life in the endeavour to effect the
escape of Sir Marmaduke.
"Yes, I intend to take you with me, Harry. They will pretend, of
course, that, in spite of our assertions of innocence, our flight
is a confession of guilt, and you may be sure that we shall be
condemned in our absence, and our estates declared confiscated, and
bestowed upon some of William's minions. There will be no place for
you here.
"My own plans are laid. As you know, your mother came from the
other side of the border, and a cousin of hers, with whom I am well
acquainted, has gone over to Sweden, and holds a commission in the
army that the young king is raising to withstand Russia and Saxony;
for both are thinking of taking goodly slices of his domains. I
could not sit down quietly in exile, and, being but forty, I am not
too old for service, and shall take a commission if I can obtain
it. There are many Scottish Jacobites who, having fled rather than
acknowledge Dutch William as their king, have taken service in
Sweden, where their fathers fought under the great Gustavus
Adolphus; and, even if I cannot myself take service, it may be that
I shall be able to obtain a commission for you. You are nearly
sixteen, and there are many officers no older.
"Should evil befall your father, Charlie, which I earnestly hope
will not be the case, I shall regard you as my son, and shall do
the same for you as for Harry.
"And now, I will to rest, for I have scarce slept the last two
nights, and we must be in the saddle long before daybreak."
The little bedroom, that Charlie had used the two previous nights,
was given up to Mr. Jervoise; while Harry and Charlie slept on some
sheep skins, in front of the kitchen fire. Two hours before
daybreak they mounted and, guided by the farmer, rode to a
shepherd's hut far up among the hills. Late in the afternoon, a boy
came up from the farm, with the news that the place had been
searched by a party of troopers. They had ridden away without
discovering that the fugitives had been at the farm, but four of
the party had been left, in case Mr. Jervoise should come there.
The farmer, therefore, warned them against coming back that way, as
had been intended, naming another place where he would meet them.
As soon as the sun was setting they mounted and, accompanied by the
shepherd on a rough pony, started for Lancaster. After riding for
three hours, they stopped at a lonely farm house, at which Mr.
Jervoise and his friends had held their meeting on the previous
day. Here they changed their clothes for others that had been sent
for their use from Lancaster. Mr. Jervoise was attired as a small
trader, and the lads in garb suitable to boys in the same rank of
life. They still, however, retained their swords, and the pistols
in their holsters.
Three miles farther they met their host, as arranged, at some
crossroads, and rode on until within three miles of Lancaster. They
then dismounted, placed their pistols in their belts, and handed
their horses to the two men, who would take them back to the hut in
the hills, where they would remain until required.
It was two o'clock in the morning when they entered Lancaster and,
going up to a small house, standing in a garden in the outskirts of
the town, Mr. Jervoise gave three low knocks in quick succession.
The door was opened almost immediately. No light was shown, and
they entered in the dark, but as soon as the door was closed behind
them, a woman came out with a candle from an inner room.
"I am glad to see you safe, Mr. Jervoise," a man said. "My wife and
I were beginning to be anxious, fearing that you might have fallen
into the hands of your enemies."
"No, all has gone well, Herries; but it is a long ride from the
hills here, and we walked the last three miles, as we wanted to get
the horses back again before daylight. We are deeply grateful to
you for giving us shelter."
"I would be ready to do more than that," the man said, "for the
sake of the good cause. My wife's father and mine both fell at
Naseby, and we are as loyal to the Stuarts as they were. You are
heartily welcome, sir, and, as we keep no servant, there will be
none to gossip. You can either remain in the house, in which case
none will know of your presence here; or, if you wish to go abroad
in the town, I will accompany you, and will introduce you to any
acquaintance I may meet as a cousin of my wife who, with his two
sons, has come over from Preston to pay us a visit. I don't think
that anyone would know you, in that attire."
"I will run no more risks than are necessary, Herries. Those I wish
to see will visit me here, and, if I go out at all, it will not be
until after dark."
For a fortnight they remained at the house. After dark each day, a
man paid Mr. Jervoise a visit. He was the magistrates' clerk, and
had an apartment in the castle. From him they learned that a
messenger had been despatched to London, with an account of the
evidence taken in Sir Marmaduke's case; and that, at the end of
twelve days, he had returned with orders that all prisoners and
witnesses were to be sent to town, where they would be examined, in
the first place, by his majesty's council; and where Sir
Marmaduke's trial for high treason would take place. They were to
be escorted by a party of twelve troopers, under the command of a
lieutenant.
The fugitives had, before, learned that the search for Mr. Jervoise
had been given up; it being supposed that he, with his son and
young Carstairs had, with their accomplices, all ridden for the
coast at the first alarm, and had probably taken ship for France
before the orders had arrived that all outgoing vessels should be
searched.
Harry and Charlie had both been away for two or three days, and had
been occupied in getting together ten young fellows, from the two
estates, who would be willing and ready to attempt to rescue Sir
Marmaduke from his captors' hands. They were able to judge, with
tolerable accuracy, when the messenger would return from London
and, two days previously, the men had been directed to ride, singly
and by different roads, and to put up at various small inns in
Manchester, each giving out that he was a farmer in from the
country, either to purchase supplies, or to meet with a customer
likely to buy some cattle he wished to dispose of. Charlie had paid
a visit to Lynnwood, and had gone by the long passage into the
Priest's Chamber, and had carried off the gold hidden there.
As soon as it was known that the messenger had returned, Herries
had borrowed a horse, and had ridden with a note to the farmer,
telling him to go up to the hills and bring the horses down, with
one of his own, to the place where he had parted from them, when
they entered Lancaster. There he was met by Mr. Jervoise and the
lads and, mounting, they started with the spare horse for
Blackburn, choosing that line in preference to the road through
Preston, as there were troops stationed at the latter town.
The next day they rode on to Manchester. They went round, that
evening, to the various inns where the men had put up, and directed
them to discover whether, as was probable, the escort was to arrive
that night. If so, they were to mount at daybreak, and assemble
where the road crossed the moor, three miles north of Chapel le
Frith, where they would find Mr. Jervoise awaiting them.
At nine o'clock that evening the troop rode in and, at daybreak,
Mr. Jervoise and the boys started. Two of the men were already at
the spot indicated, and, half an hour later, the whole of them had
arrived.
Mr. Jervoise led them back to a spot that he had selected, where
the road dipped into a deep valley, in which, sheltered from the
winds, was a small wood. Leaving one at the edge, to give warning
directly the escort appeared on the road over the brow, he told the
rest to dismount. Most of them were armed with pistols. All had
swords.
"Do you," he said, "who are good shots with your pistols, fire at
the men when I give the word--let the rest aim at the horses. The
moment you have opened fire, dash forward and fall on them. We are
already as numerous as they are, and we ought to be able to
dismount or disable four or five of them, with our first fire. I
shall give the order as Sir Marmaduke arrives opposite me. Probably
the officer will be riding. I shall make the officer my special
mark, for it may be that he has orders to shoot the prisoner, if
any rescue is attempted.
"I don't suppose they will be at all prepared for an attack. They
were vigilant, no doubt, for the first two days but, once out of
Lancashire, they will think that there is no longer any fear of an
attempt at rescue. Pursue those that escape for half a mile or so,
and then draw rein, and, as soon as they are out of sight, strike
due north across the fells. Keep to the east of Glossop, and then
make your way singly to your homes. It will be better for you to
travel up through Yorkshire, till you are north of Ingleborough, so
as to come down from the north to your farms.
"I know that you have all engaged in this affair for love of Sir
Marmaduke or myself, and because you hate to see a loyal gentleman
made the victim of lying knaves; but when we come back with the
king, you may be sure that Sir Marmaduke and I will well reward the
services you have rendered."
It was an hour before the man on the lookout warned them that the
troop had just appeared over the hill. They mounted now, and,
pistol in hand, awaited the arrival of the party. Two troopers came
first, trotting carelessly along, laughing and smoking. A hundred
yards behind came the main body, four troopers first, then the
lieutenant and Sir Marmaduke, followed by the other six troopers.
With outstretched arm, and pistol pointed through the undergrowth,
Mr. Jervoise waited till the officer, who was riding on his side of
the road, came abreast of him. He had already told the boys that he
intended to aim at his shoulder.
"They are the enemies of the king," he said, "but I cannot, in cold
blood, shoot down a man with whom I have no cause for quarrel. I
can depend upon my aim, and he will not be twelve paces from the
muzzle of my pistol."
He fired. The officer gave a sudden start, and reeled on his horse,
and, before he could recover himself, the band, who had fired at
the flash of the first pistol, dashed out through the bushes and
fell upon the troopers. Four men had dropped, one horse had fallen,
and two others were plunging wildly as, with a shout, their
assailants dashed upon them. All who could turn their horse's head
rode furiously off, some along the road forward, others back
towards Manchester. The lieutenant's horse had rolled over with
him, as that of Mr. Jervoise struck it on the shoulder, with the
full impetus of its spring.
"It is all over, Sir Marmaduke, and you are a free man. We have
nothing to do now but to ride for it."
And, before the knight had fairly recovered from his astonishment,
he found himself riding south across the moor, with his son on one
side of him, and Mr. Jervoise and Harry on the other.
"You have saved my life, Jervoise," he said, holding out his hand
to his friend. "They had got me so firmly in their clutches, that I
thought my chances were at an end.
"How are you, Charlie? I am right glad to see you, safe and sound,
for they had managed to include you in their pretended plot, and,
for aught I knew, you had been all this time lying in a cell next
mine in Lancaster Castle.
"But who are the good fellows who helped you?"
Mr. Jervoise briefly gave an account of the affair.
"They are only keeping up a sham pursuit of the soldiers, so as to
send them well on their way. I told them not to overtake them, as
there was no occasion for any further bloodshed, when you were once
out of their hands. By tomorrow morning they will all be at work on
their farms again, and, if they keep their own counsel, need not
fear."
Suddenly Sir Marmaduke reined in his horse.
"We are riding south," he said.
"Certainly we are," Mr. Jervoise said. "Why not? That is our only
chance of safety. They will, in the first place, suspect us of
having doubled back to the hills, and will search every farmhouse
and cottage. Our only hope of escape is to ride either for Bristol,
or one of the southern ports."
"I must go back," Sir Marmaduke said doggedly. "I must kill that
scoundrel John Dormay, before I do anything else. It is he who has
wound this precious skein, in order to entrap us, expecting, the
scoundrel, to have my estates bestowed on him as a reward."
"It were madness to ride back now, Sir Marmaduke. It would cost you
your life, and you would leave Charlie here fatherless, and with
but little chance of ever regaining the estate. You have but to
wait for a time, and everything will right itself. As soon as the
king comes to his own, your estates will be restored, and then I
would not seek to stay your hand, if you sought vengeance upon this
cunning knave."
"Besides, father," Charlie put in, "much as he deserves any
punishment you can give him, you would not kill cousin Celia's
husband and Ciceley's father. When the truth is all made known, his
punishment will be bitter enough, for no honest man would offer him
a hand, or sit down to a meal with him.
"Ciceley has been as a young sister to me, and her mother has ever
been as kind as if she had been my aunt. I would not see them
grieved, even if that rogue came off scot free from punishment;
but, at any rate, father, I pray you to let it pass at present.
This time we have happily got you out of the clutches of the Whigs,
but, if you fell into them again, you may be sure they would never
give us another chance."
Sir Marmaduke still sat irresolute, and Charlie went on:
"Besides, father, Mr. Jervoise has risked his life in lingering in
Lancashire to save you, and the brave fellows who aided us to
rescue you have risked theirs, both in the fray and afterwards, if
their share in it should ever be known; and it would not be fair to
risk failure, after all they have done. I pray you, father, be
guided by the opinion of your good friend, Mr. Jervoise."
Sir Marmaduke touched his horse's flank with his heel.
"You have prevailed, Charlie. Your last argument decided me. I have
no right to risk my life, after my good friends have done so much
to save me. John Dormay may enjoy his triumph for a while, but a
day of reckoning will surely come.
"Now, tell me of the others, Jervoise. Have all escaped in safety?"
"All. Your boy brought me the news of your arrest, and that we were
charged with plotting William's assassination. I rode that night
with the news, and next day all were on the road to the coast, and
were happily on board and away before the news of their escape
could be sent to the ports."
"And now, what are your plans, Jervoise--that is, if you have any
plans, beyond reaching a port and taking ship for France?"
"I am going to Sweden," Mr. Jervoise said, and then repeated the
reasons that he had given Charlie for taking this step.
"I am too old for the wars," Sir Marmaduke said. "I was sixty last
birthday, and though I am still strong and active, and could strike
a shrewd blow in case of need, I am too old for the fatigues and
hardships of campaigning. I could not hope, at my age, to obtain a
commission in the Swedish service."
"No, I did not think of your joining the army, Sir Marmaduke,
though I warrant you would do as well as most; but I thought that
you might take up your residence at Stockholm, as well as at Saint
Germains. You will find many Scottish gentlemen there, and not a
few Jacobites who, like yourself, have been forced to fly. Besides,
both the life and air would suit you better than at Saint Germains,
where, by all accounts the life is a gay one, and men come to think
more of pleasure than of duty. Moreover, your money will go much
further in Sweden than in France."
Sir Marmaduke, checking the horse's speed, said, "I have not so
much as a penny in my pocket, and methinks I am like to have some
trouble in getting at the hoard I have been collecting, ever since
Dutch William came to the throne, for the benefit of His Majesty
when he arrives."
"You will have no trouble in getting at that, father," Charlie said
laughing, "seeing that you have nothing to do but to lean over, and
put your hand into my holsters, which are so full, as you see, that
I am forced to carry my pistols in my belt."
"What mean you, lad?"
"I mean, father, that I have the whole of the hoard, that was
stowed away in the priest's hiding place;" and he then related how
Banks had revealed to him the secret of the hiding place, and how
he had, the night before Sir Marmaduke was removed from Lancaster
Castle, visited the place and carried away the money.
"I could not see Banks," he said, "but I left a few words on a
scrap of paper, saying that it was I who had taken the money.
Otherwise he would have been in a terrible taking, when he
discovered that it was gone."
"That is right good news, indeed, lad. For twelve years I have set
aside half my rents, so that in those bags in your holsters there
are six years' income, and the interest of that money, laid out in
good mortgages, will suffice amply for my wants in a country like
Sweden, where life is simple and living cheap. The money itself
shall remain untouched, for your use, should our hopes fail and the
estates be lost for all time. That is indeed a weight off my mind.
"And you are, I hope, in equally good case, Jervoise, for if not,
you know that I would gladly share with you?"
"I am in very good case, Sir Marmaduke, though I none the less
thank you for your offer. I too have, as you know, put aside half
my income. My estates are not so large as those of Lynnwood. Their
acreage may be as large, but a good deal of it is mountain land,
worth but little. My fund, therefore, is not as large as yours, but
it amounts to a good round sum; and as I hope, either in the army
or in some other way, to earn an income for myself, it is ample. I
shall be sorry to divert it from the use for which I intended it,
but that cannot now be helped. I have had the pleasure, year by
year, of putting it by for the king's use, and, now that
circumstances have changed, it will be equally useful to myself."
"Do you know this country well, Jervoise?"
"Personally I know nothing about it, save that the sun tells me
that, at present, I am travelling south, Sir Marmaduke. But, for
the last few days I have been so closely studying a map, that I
know the name of every town and village on the various routes."
"And whither think you of going?"
"To London or Southampton. Strangers are far less noticed in large
towns than in small, and we could hardly hope to find a ship, bound
for Sweden, in any of the Dorset or Devon ports."