CAPTAIN WEIR IS INTERROGATED BY THE PRINCE.
As soon as the prince was descried, the advancing party halted, and
Syddall giving the torch to one of the men, pressed forward towards
Charles, and making a profound obeisance, said:
"The villain who attacked your royal highness has been captured. He
had taken refuge in a stable at the back of the Angel Inn. He is here,
if you desire to question him."
In obedience to the prince's command the prisoner then stepped forward
between two soldiers. He did not appear intimidated by the position in
which he was placed, but bore himself very boldly.
Charles looked at him for a few moments, and calling to Atherton,
asked him if he recognised the man.
"I recognise him as the leader of the attack," was the reply.
"Such is my own opinion," observed the prince. "How say you?" he added
to the prisoner. "Do you deny the charge?"
"No," replied the prisoner. "I am the man."
"You avow your guilt," said Charles, surprised by his boldness. "How
are you named?"
"I am known as Captain Weir," replied the other.
"Have you aught to allege why you should not be delivered to the
provost-marshal for immediate execution?" observed Charles, sternly.
"My life is justly forfeited," replied the prisoner, "yet your royal
highness will do well to spare me."
"Wherefore?" demanded the prince, whose curiosity was excited.
"My reasons are only for your private ear," replied the prisoner.
After a moment's reflection, during which he kept his eye fixed on
Weir, Charles ordered the guard to retire.
"Leave the prisoner with me," he said. "But if he attempts to
fly--shoot him."
As soon as the command was obeyed, he said:
"You can speak freely now. Why should I spare your life?"
"Firstly, because it will prove to the world that you are a
magnanimous prince, and in that respect superior to your enemies, who
are notorious for their severity," replied Weir. "Next, because I can
tell much that it behoves your royal highness to know, as will be
evident when I declare that I am employed by the Duke of Cumberland as
a spy, and am, therefore, necessarily in his royal highness's
confidence. If my life be spared, and I am allowed to go back to
Lichfield, where the duke is quartered, I can mislead him by erroneous
information, while I shall be able to acquaint you with his
plans--exact knowledge of which I need not say will be eminently
serviceable."
"There is much in what you say, I must own," replied the prince. "But
what guarantee have I that you will not prove a double traitor?"
"My gratitude," replied Weir. "I could never prove faithless to a
prince so generous."
"I can make no promise," replied Charles; but in a tone that held out
some encouragement to the prisoner.
At a sign from the prince the guard then advanced, and again took
charge of Weir. Shortly afterwards, the prisoner was removed, it being
understood that his execution was deferred--much to the disappointment
of the Highland guard, who would willingly have shot him.
Charles then addressed a few kindly observations to Syddall, who had
been mainly instrumental in the capture of the spy, telling him that
the service should not pass unrequited. Nor did the prince neglect to
offer his renewed thanks to Sergeant Dickson and Helen for the zeal
and devotion they had both displayed. For Atherton a signal
manifestation of favour was reserved.
During the march back to head-quarters, which were not far distant,
the prince kept the young man near him, and occasionally took his arm.
When the party arrived at the mansion in Market Street Lane they found
it completely invested by an anxious crowd, who shouted joyfully on
beholding the prince.
But this was nothing to the scene that took place when his royal
highness entered the house. Almost all the nobles and Highland chiefs
were assembled in the hall, and as Charles entered they pressed around
him to offer their warmest congratulations on his escape.
After thanking them in accents that bespoke the deepest emotion, the
prince presented Atherton to them, saying, "It is to Captain Legh that
I owe my preservation."
The young man was quite overwhelmed by the plaudits that followed this
gracious speech.
Thus ended the most important day that had hitherto occurred in
Atherton's career. It found him an unknown, and undistinguished; but
it left him apparently on the road to honour and preferment.