"I have come to have a few words with you, Master Verner," he said, "and
it maybe better that they should be in private."
I led him into the room where Sir Thomas was accustomed to receive
casual visitors, and where what was said could not be overheard.
"I have come on a matter of no little importance," he said.
"A great danger threatens your friend and patron, Sir Thomas Gresham.
In my last passage from England, I brought over several persons of whom
I had some suspicions when they came on board; yet I did not show what I
thought, and they somewhat to my surprise, seemed inclined to take me
into their confidence. They were Romanists, I discovered; but as such
have perfect freedom to enter or leave the country, I had no wish to
molest them. One of them fell sick while on board, and, as his
companions neglected him, I did my best to attend to his wants. When we
arrived in harbour, I kept him on board some days, and then took him on
shore, and had him attended to till he recovered. He then, it appears,
joined his companions; but last night he came on board my ship, and
entreated me to take him back to his native land, saying that he could
have nothing more to do with those with whom he had joined himself. He
told me that a villain who goes by the name of Martin has laid a plot to
rob this house, and either to carry off Sir Thomas Gresham or to murder
him. As he is a cunning villain, it is too likely that he will carry
out his plans, if care is not taken to guard against them."
I warmly thanked Captain Rover for this information, and begged that he
would allow me to bring him to Sir Thomas. He thanked me, but declined
seeing my patron.
"I do not require any reward of him; and if you repeat what I have told
you, my object is gained," he answered. "Perchance, some day I may make
myself known to him; but at present I have no desire to meet those I
once knew. I have been deprived of all I cared for or loved on earth;
and, if I had the power, I would begin a new existence, so as to forget
the past."
"But why not see my kind patron? he will surely not be ungrateful for
the important warning you have brought him; besides, he owes you a debt
of gratitude for the assistance you rendered us on board the _Diamond_.
I heard him say that, could he discover you, he would thankfully repay
you."
"I am sure that he would, my young friend," answered Captain Rover. "He
is a just and liberal man; but I require no assistance at present; when
I do, I promise you I will ask for it. And now I must bid you farewell;
I have myself an important undertaking on hand. I have good reason to
hate the bigoted Spaniards and their fearful idolatries, and to befriend
those they persecute. I have therefore agreed to assist in the escape
of a number of families who dread the persecutions of the Inquisition.
Already the demon Titelmann has carried off some of their relatives to
imprisonment and slaughter, and they full well know that he will treat
them in the same way, if he can capture them."
"I wish that I could help you!" I exclaimed. "If you can point out how
I can do so, after I have performed my duty to my employer, I will join
you at any place you may indicate."
"I thank you, but you cannot do that," he answered; "I have my vessel
ready for sailing, and all I could do was to let the poor people know
that when they came alongside I would receive them on board. All my
crew are staunch, and I have no fear that they will betray any one. The
instant, therefore, the poor fugitives come alongside, they will be
hoisted on board and stowed away below, so that, should a Government
boat follow them, by the time the officers reach the ship there will be
no one to be seen. And now, Ernst Verner, farewell. We may meet, I
dare hope, again. I must hasten on board to be ready to receive the
fugitives."