more but followed him out into the cold streets of _London_. It was
bitter enough and the Polander was in _Rags_, but the Buildings and
the people so pleased him that he took no heed of the Sharpness of the
weather but smiled to himself with pleasure at a City so _Fine_. So
they came to _St. Martin’s Lane_ where the Count Lodged and in a room
mean enough, high up, a place strange for a Man of Quality.
“My Lord Lodged in the _Haymarket_” said Mr. Hanson, “but the Chimney
smoked so that he was fain to move”–and with that he opened a Door and
the Polander followed him into the Count’s Chamber.
This was an ill habitation for a Gentleman, being mean and low and of a
poor Furnishing. There was a fire on the hearth, very brightly burning,
and near the window a Bed, on which my lord the Count Charles lay,
wrapped in a Flowered Robe of taffeta stuff.
He was a very young Gentleman, fair and pale, with a look of fear in
eyes of an unusual bright blue; at the entry of Mr. Hanson and the
Polander he sprang to a sitting posture on the Bed.
“This is the fellow, my Lord,” said the Governor.
The Count gave the Polander a Look of a startling keenness.
“Are you trustworthy?” says he.
“I will do anything for Captain Vratz,” answers the Polander humbly Yet
with obstinacy.
My Lord put his feet, which were in white Satin slippers, very soiled,
to the ground. “You are in my service,” he says swiftly.
“To Look after Horses,” replied the Polander simply, “and to _dress_
them in the German Fashion, if it please your Honour.”
The Count glanced at the Governor and said:
“This is a fellow of a _great_ simplicity and _well suited_.”
Mr. Hanson answered with some uneasiness:
“Oh, I know not–Captain Vratz gave him a good Character for
faithfulness.”
At this the Polander was very satisfied and his eyes held Gratitude.
The Count, leaning on one elbow against the Bed Post, addressed him:
“What is your Name?”
“George Borosky, my Lord.”
“Well,” said the Count of Conningsmarke, “it is true that I wish you to
dress horses in the German fashion, for I believe you are a good Groom
and I am here in _England incognito_ to raise a _Regiment_ of _Horse_
for the service of the _King of England_ Who is to enter into an
Alliance with _Swedeland_ and _Holland_ against _France_–indeed there
is talk of a _Surprise_ on _Strasburg_ and my Brother has bought one
Horse already and is to buy more.”
Here he stopped abruptly and the Polander gave a salute after the
Military Fashion, not knowing what to say and withdrew against the Wall
at the far end of the Chamber. Then my Lord spoke to Mr. Hanson.
“Have you made those Enquiries?” he asked.
“My Lord, I did ask the _Swedish resident_ and his answer was–that if
you should Meddle in any Way with Esquire Thynne you would have but a
bad living in _England_–but as for the Law of it, he could not say.”
“And for the Other?” asked my Lord, in a low voice.
“He said, that if you should Duel Mr. Thynne, he could not instruct
you as to what the Law might be regarding your Hopes of the Lady Ogle,
Esquire Thynne’s Wife.”
“Monsieur Lienburgh knoweth nought!” cried my Lord impatiently; “What
said he as to Riding Out in the Hyde Park on a Sunday?”
“He said it might certainly be done, before and after Sermon time.”
My Lord seemed Satisfied with that and looked again towards the
Polander, who had heard all this Conversation as it was held in the
High Dutch or German, but had made Nothing of it and was only thinking
of Captain Vratz.
“You are very Ragged,” said the Count, “and have never a Sword—”
Then he questioned him–had he not been long in coming?
And the Polander answered Yes, and there had been fear of the Ship
being cast away, owing to the High Storms, he having been twelve days
from _Strasburg_ to _Hamburg_ and fourteen from _Hamburg_ to _London_,
instead of eight.
“Yes,” said my Lord pleasantly, “and I feared you were lost and went to
enquire of the Ship at the ’Change, and I would have been unwilling to
lose you, for Captain Vratz tells me you are a mighty Able Groom.”
“I do love Horses,” said the Polander, “and have trusted them always.”
“No man of mine can go in such a coat,” says my Lord, “but I have none
to send to purchase one nor can I go out Myself by reason of the physic
_Dr. Harder_ gave me, for I must no wise be Chilled, he said.”
“Why, I will do this Service for your Lordship, very Heartily,”
answered Mr. Hanson.
“And a Sword also,” said the Count.
“That also,” said the Governor, “and Boots.” He asked my Lord then how
his _Illness_ went and the Answer was–better, though the Ague was by no
Means gone.
“Now, fellow,” said Mr. Hanson, “come with me to make these Purchases.”
My Lord took some money from the pocket of his gown and gave it to the
Polander.
“That is to discharge your Lodging at Monsieur Flaubert’s Academy,” he
said; “to-night you shall lie here.” He spoke in a Languid Tone, but
his eyes had an Extraordinary sparkle and brightness.
Mr. Hanson now asked my Lord–How Much he was willing to dispose of on a
Sword?
And he answered ten Shillings, and as much for the Coat.
Mr. Hanson then carried the Polander to a shop near and bought a riding
Coat and a Pair of Boots and there was some difficulty in getting
either large enough for one of his Bulk and Bearing.
They then went down _St. Martin’s Lane_ but could find never a Sword
worth a Groat; then on Mr. Hanson went as far as _Charing Cross_ and
then into a Cutler’s and bestowed ten Shillings on a Sword for a
Servant, which could not be ready till Evening, however.
Mr. Hanson said he would call for it when he came back from the Play
that night and took the Polander back to M. Flaubert’s Academy, where
the Younger Count, a very Gay and Beautiful Gentleman, was learning to
ride the Great Horse.
The Polander Paid for his Lodging and waited in the Academy feeling sad
for loneliness till Mr. Hanson came back from the Theatre and took him
again to the Cutler’s; but the Sword was by no means Ready.
“’Tis strange,” cried the Governor, “that a Gentleman cannot get a
Little Sword for himself in a whole Afternoon!”
“Well, sir,” said the Cutler, “pray do not be Impatient. I will send
the Sword.”
They then left the shop and went towards _St. Martin’s Lane_; it was
now Snowing and a Great Volume of Wind abroad.
When they reached my Lord’s Lodging they found him still in his Gown
and Night Cap sitting over the fire and he looked like a sick man save
for the great Light and Glitter in his Eyes.
He asked where his Brother was.
“At his Grace of Richmond’s,” said Mr. Hanson; “We were at the Play
together and I have ordered the Broadsword which will come anon.”
They were talking without any Regard to the Polander who stood stiff in
his New Coat, Longing to see Captain Vratz and to go to the horses he
was to look after (and he wondered where the Stables might be as this
was too Ill a House to have any). Now Mr. Hanson went up to my Lord in
moved fashion.
“Think of the Consequences of this, Count Charles!” he said.
My Lord looked up in a kind of Passion.
“He puts Words on me that are no wise to be borne!”
“Is it for the words he Used or for the sake of the Red Haired Girl you
saw at the Hague?” asked Mr. Hanson, biting the end Curls of his Peruke.
“He called me a Hector,” said my Lord, “and Laughed at my Horse–and, by
God, you shall leave the Lady Ogle Out of this!”
“Your Lordship has not left her Out,” answered Mr. Hanson, “for you bid
me discover if you would have any Hopes of her if you got rid of her
Husband—”
At this Point the Count bid the Polander go down to the Kitchens of the
house and dine, and he added that in this place he was known as Carlo
Cuski, and not by his Real Name.
Thereupon the Polander went; there was a Man and a Maid and a Boy in
the Kitchen who had no Language but _English_, so the Count’s man ate
his meat in Silence and was presently going to the place appointed to
him to sleep in when a young Gentleman, very finely Dressed in Blue,
came down, and speaking _German_, bade him Come up to the Count, which
he did and found to his vast Joy, Captain Vratz with his Lordship.
“Come here, Fellow,” said my Lord; he stood up in the Light of the Fire
and his slight figure in the Limp Gown, the Night Cap pulled over his
tumbled Hair, his pallid face with the feverish eyes was in a Contrast
with the Men of Lesser Quality who were Splendid enough in cut Velvet
and Lace and Tassels.
Christopher Vratz lifted his Face flushed with Fairness after the
fashion of the Swedelander and looked at the Polander.
“You are my Servant now, Borosky,” said he.
“Yes,” added my Lord. “I have given you to Vratz,” and he Shivered a
little closer to the Fire and Held out his hand to the Glow of it,
Regarding the three with Eyes so unnaturally blazing that they conveyed
a thrill of terror.
“Oh, dear sir,” said the Polander, “this is a Greater Joy than I looked
for in coming to _England_.”
He bent with more Grace than might easily have been expected from his
Bulk and kissed the Count’s thin hand in a humble Gratitude.
“This is a man,” said Captain Vratz, “who will do Anything for me–out
of the Great Affection he hath for my Person—”
“Need you set him on a losing Game?” asked the young German, glancing
at the pleased, simple face of the Polander. “There is many an
_Italian_ walking about the Piazza of Covent Garden who would do the
Trick for the Matter of Fifty Pounds.”
At that my Lord looked up Sharply and seemed Mightily out of
Countenance and Captain Vratz answered:
“That is in the Count’s hands. I am his Man.”
Now the Polander made nothing of all this but only Wished to be away
with his Master; and they made so little account of him that they never
abated their Talk but treated him like a Dog that had just been bought
by a new Master, and so he took it himself and truly his Attention
was absorbed by a Broadsword he beheld on a Table near, and that he
Surmised was that ordered by Mr. Hanson at the Cutler’s at _Charing
Cross_ and a fine Weapon too, from the Look.
Near this Weapon was a Black Peruke, and the Polander wondered why a
Gentleman of so fair a face as my Lord should have so Black a Wig and
he surmised that it belonged to Mr. Hanson.
My Lord walked about the bare floor and seemed in some contained
Passion of Excitement.
“It will be a Stain on my Blood,” said he, “but one good action at the
Wars or one Fight on the Counterscarp will wipe that away—”
And he spoke like a Man exalted in his Courage and ready for a Tragic
Turn.
Presently the three–Vratz, Stern the _German_ lieutenant, and the
Polander–went away, it being then late at Night and Cold.
And before they went the Count gave the Polander the Sword that Mr.
Hanson had bestowed Ten Shillings on, and the last that Fellow saw of
my Lord was the sight of him in the glimmer of a dying Candle staring
after the three of them with a Face very Young, very Ill, very Wild,
beneath the tumbled Night Cap.
The three of them went to the Captain’s Lodgings; he lay at the _Black
Bull_ in _Holborn_, in an ill Part of the Town.
Then the Captain called the Polander up to his room and gave him to
Drink and after a little said:
“What will You do for Me, George Borosky?”
“Before God, Anything–for the great Gratitude I have to You.”
At this Vratz Laughed and cast off his Hat and Wig and his face was
Fresh and Ruddy as a Rose under the Gold of his Hair.
“Look you, Borosky,” he made answer, “there is a Man in _London_ who
has put an insult on me–and I did put a Challenge on him by the post
having no Gentleman to send, and he returned answer by his Servant
that I was not of a Sufficient Quality for a man of his Breeding to
fight–and this is a thing difficult to Avenge.”
The Polander waited eagerly for his Part in this.
“It is Esquire Thynne of Longleat Hall,” continued the Captain, “a
Great Jolly _English_ Gentleman and a Notable Rake at Court–a man very
Rich and splendid–he will be riding along the _Mall_ to-morrow on his
way to Church and it is we three who must stop him.”
With that he took a Blunderbuss from the wall and laid it in the great
Hands of the Polander.
“As you love me,” he said earnestly, “you will put some bullet into
this Tom Thynne.”
The Polander stared at the weapon and at his Master, then went on his
knees, very Pale in his Countenance.
“This is plain Murder,” he answered, very troubled, “and I have Lived
an Innocent Life, even at the war, twenty crowns would pay for all I
took in Plunder and I have been Compassionate, nor given to Treachery
or Swearing—”
“I ask you to do no Wrong,” said Vratz, “only to Obey your Master–If a
man will not Duel how can one Come at him but this Way?”
“It is a Just thing,” added Stern, “to obey those we have an Obligation
to–and I am Pledged to you, yet I am willing to be Instructed in the
Laws of _England_ to discover what Penalty one must Pay for this—”
“Why, None,” replied the Captain, “for we will leave the Country by the
first pair of oars going to _Gravesend_, and should we be taken–first
we have a friend in that Noble Prince, the Count of Conningsmarke, and
secondly, all will fall on me as the Principal and none on you as the
Agents or mere Engines of my Will–And Afterwards,” he added, “you shall
be Rich Men.”
“Not for Money,” said the Polander sadly. “I would rather spend my Days
with Horses than the Rich. I would sooner die Old and Comfortable than
in Prison in a Strange Country–but I have promised to serve you and if
God does not directly tell me it is a Sin I will do this for you.”
“You may trust me when I tell you it is no Sin but an Act Necessary to
Wipe out Dishonour,” returned the Captain.
“I do trust you!” replied the Polander “yet I will also ask God about
this matter.”
Then the Captain laughed and dismissed him, bidding him be Ready on the
Morrow, and the Polander went to a Bed set for him in a Garret of the
_Black Bull_. He was Much Troubled in his Mind that the first Service
asked of him by the Captain should be a Murder and that on the second
night of his stay in a Strange Country he should have such a Task put
on him as to Shoot a Gentleman coming from _Church_, for it seemed an
unmanly Action.
What Penalties might follow he did not know, for he was Ignorant of
the Laws of _England_; to this he gave Little Heed for, however: he
had faith in the Captain and that Great Gentleman who was his friend,
Charles, Count of Conningsmarke. As he sat in the Dark wondering where
the right lay in this Case he decided to make Proof of it and to that
end went on his Knees and Recited the _Lord’s Prayer_ very Gravely
and Earnestly. And when he had finished he rose up again and Searched
in his Heart to see if he was Strengthened against this Action; but
he found no change in his Feelings: so he thought that if it had been
anything Wrong God would have this Way told him; so was Comforted and
Decided to Help the Captain.
Having come to this Resolve he lay down on his bed, dressed as he was,
and Chanced to Dream of Poland which Country he had not seen this Great
While–but he saw it in the Dream very Clear with the sparkle of Snow in
Winter and the bright-coloured dresses in the Streets.
He thought he saw a Church too and dreamt he stood on the threshold and
was thinking with much pleasure of Entering when he was awakened by the
voice of Christopher Vratz.
The Polander got to his Feet, Remembering everything and the Captain
put in his hand a Blunderbuss and bade him be Silent; the two went down
to the stables of the _Black Bull_ where was Ernest Stern and three
Horses and it was then about Seven of the Clock.
And the Polander, on seeing he was to be Mounted was greatly
Encouraged, for he believed no evil could come to him when he was on
the back of a Horse, so took this for a Good Omen.
“I wish we had Another Man,” said Captain Vratz, “for Esquire Thynne is
one to go with a great Medley of Servants about him.”
They mounted then and as they Rode out of the Yard the _German_ asked
what this Mr. Thynne was?
And the Captain made answer that he was a Man Well Known in _London_
for his marriage to Elizabeth, my Lady Ogle, last of the Percies, who
was heiress to Five Baronies and one of the richest Women in the World;
she had been married before, yet was but a child of fifteen and still
under Governance at _The Hague_ and Mr. Thynne was looked upon as a
lucky Man to have all this Wealth without the trouble of a Wife.
“The death of such a One will make a Stir in _England_,” said the
lieutenant with an air of Misgiving; but Vratz bid him take Courage.
“For,” he declared, “if there be any Penalties, I will pay them all.”
And the Polander Rode behind them patiently, much Remarked by the
passers-by for his foreign air and Great Stature, and so they came to
the _Mall_ where there was a goodly number of People.
And one of Them, who was a Young Man with a Mirror in his hat, Pranking
on a Sizeable Horse, the Captain stopped and, Saying he was new come to
_London_ and Desirous of seeing the Notables, asked if Esquire Thynne
had yet passed?
The Englishman, making out this request with some difficulty from the
Swedelander’s strange accent, answered at length Courteously that
Mr. Thynne was Driving Out with His Grace of Monmouth, and would be
coming from _Northumberland House_, where they had made a visit, anon,
_Northumberland House_ being nearly at the End of the _Mall_, on the
river at _Charing Cross_.
So they waited and the Sun mounted the Snow Clouds pleasantly but it
was yet scarcely light, and the Bells of the Big Churches near by
sounded in their first Ringing.
And after a few minutes a Coach and four Horses came swinging on its
Leathers with Six Servants Riding at the Sides and Vratz knew the
colours.
Before came a Fellow with a Flambeau; the Captain rode Past him and
Caught the Reins of the Foremost horses, stopping the coach, and Stern
cried out to the Polander: “Shoot!” at the same time Threatening the
Coachman. Like one in a Stupour the Polander rode round to the Side of
the Coach, and saw the Handsome Face of an _Englishman_ with Brown Eyes
looking out of the window.
“Shoot!” cried Captain Vratz.
And the Polander raised his Blunderbuss and Fired into the lace-covered
Bosom of Esquire Thynne.
“_Damn_ your _Foreign_ tricks, I’m murdered!” cried the _Englishman_;
he fell back on the Seat of the Coach and the Polander Turned and
Galloped away up _St. James Street_ and _Alban Street_ with the Captain
and Stern after him; and the Servant with the Flambeau put a Pursuit
on them as far as the _Haymarket_, then could go no Further; but the
Polander had Cast away his Blunderbuss and that the Servant Caught up
and carried back to the _Mall_, where was a Great Press and Mr. Thynne
Dying with three bullets in him and the People saying how his Grace of
Monmouth had but just left the coach and what a stroke that was, for he
might have been Murdered else.
And the three rode to my Lord’s Lodgings in _St. Martin’s Lane_ and
asked for him.
“For it may be Well,” said the Captain, “that we ask my Lord to let us
Lie at the _Swedish Resident’s_—”
But when they answered his knock he was told that the Count had gone
early that Morning to Windsor wearing a Black Periwig and in a Coat he
had borrowed of a Servant. At hearing this news the Captain came back
with a Look of Death in his face.
“If he hath Fled to Gravesend—” he said, and They All went Back to the
_Black Bull_ and Mounted to the Captain’s Chamber and sat Still and
Silly, looking at each other.
“We have trusted _You_,” said Stern, “and there is your Word to it that
we are Safe.”
“I had the Count of Conningsmarke’s Word,” answered the Captain, “but
he hath failed me—”
“Will you Fail us?” asked Stern.
The Polander said nothing but watched the Captain in a Troubled Way.
The German got to his feet and laid his hand on Vratz’s Shoulder.
“If my Lord hath gone to _Gravesend_ in a Black Periwig–should not
we go after him and slip down _the Thames_ to _Margate_ where we may
likely enough get a Ship for Home?”
The Captain looked up like one Undecided, then in a moment was on his
Feet, for there had come a Great Knocking on the Door; nor did those
without Long stay at _Knocking_ but burst open the door and _Entered_.
They were Constables and the People of the Inn and in front of them a
Man in Squire Thynne’s Liveries carrying a Musquetoon, and on seeing
the three he gave a Cry and called out:
“That is the man did shoot my Master!”
And the Polander saw that it was the Blunderbuss he had Dropt in the
_Haymarket_.
“Why do you put this on _Us_?” asked Captain Vratz in his ill English.
A Constable spoke to him and answered:
“We took this Musquetoon to the Maker whose name is thereon, and he
told us he had sold it yesterday to one Captain Vratz who lodged at the
_Black Bull_.”
“I do admit,” answered the Captain, “that I was at the shooting of Mr.
Thynne, but I went with the design to Challenge him, he having Refused
me Satisfaction, and I took these Two with me as Protection, Mr. Thynne
being a Gentleman who has commonly a great Press of Servants about him
which he might have set on me. And in the _Melée_ my Servant fired and
that I know nothing of.”
At this they were all three disarmed and arrested, at which the
Polander Wept mightily.
And when they had a Lodgement in Prison it came to them that my Lord of
Conningsmarke had been arrested at _Deptford_ by an Agent of the Duke
of Monmouth when he had been taking a Pair of Sculls for _Gravesend_.
In the Prison they were separated and the Polander sat alone till his
trial and when they Pressed him he said that he had Acted only as His
Master Directed and that was the Law he had been brought up in–to obey
his Master; and he added that not having been Strengthened against the
deed after the Recital of the Lord’s Prayer he Concluded that God had
meant him to do this thing.
Stern also Confessed to the Fact and accused the Captain of drawing him
into a Snare, but Vratz maintained his first Story and would not bring
my Lord into the Business.
And the Count of Conningsmarke denied all of them.
Now this Trial was held before the Lord Chief Justice and the other
Great Judges with manifest and open Fairness, according to the
_English_ Law, even to have the Jury part Foreign and giving all rights
to the Prisoners, such as having an Interpreter, one _Vandore_, who
interpreted to them all the _English_ Spoken, putting it into _High
Dutch_ or _French_.
Yet there was Little Doubt as to the End of this Trial, as all three
Confessed to the Design on Esquire Thynne and the Polander to the
actual shooting; but Captain Vratz would by no means bring the Count of
Conningsmarke in, but took the Whole Matter on his own shoulders; but
the other two, Stern from Anger and the Polander from Simplicity, told
what they knew of my Lord’s part in This.
Yet at the End it was the Count who was Acquitted and the three Humble
Ones who were Condemned, and my Lord left Them to the Law; yet even
Then Captain Vratz Persisted that he was alone Guilty.
And when the Prisoners were asked what they had to say for Themselves,
the Captain Vratz Said that he had not been rightly Examined, Stern
that he had gone into the Affair as Second to the Captain and in that
Capacity would end it, and the Polander asked God for Mercy.
When in Prison these Three were seen by Dr. Burnet and Dr. Horneck
who knew Foreign Languages and to both of these Priests Stern and the
Polander Confessed, but Vratz would write nor say Nothing, but to their
solicitations Replied with great Composure that the Matter was between
him and God and that he Perceived that they wished to draw him to
Implicate the Count, which he would by no Means do.
Dr. Horneck was Much Impressed by the Innocent Lives these Men had led
and by their Devotion to the Captain and the nice sense of Honour Stern
showed and the Humble Ingenuousness of the Polander, and he brought all
three together and exhorted Vratz to a Confession.
And Stern added his Words, saying:
“I Forgive you for having Drawn me into this Business, for the Count
of Conningsmarke deluded you, but Repent now, for we are very near the
Judgment of God.”
Thereupon Vratz fell into a passion, and gave him Reproachful Words,
saying he Lied.
“Put no Blame on my Lord,” he said, “for he is Guiltless.”
And with that he was Going, when the Polander Spoke.
“Give me a Word,” he said, “for soon I must Die.”
But Vratz looked at him with quick Kindled Wrath.
“You too defamed my Lord,” he said, “and I thought you were a Faithful
Servant.” Then he left them.
And the Polander Wept mightily.