that dismal juice was not so fluent in my blood, I would never have
risked this piece of devilry. Not but what Dick Ryder wears a better
face on him in the nick of peril than most, but this, as you will see,
was scarce the occasion for a wanton adventure, and I will confess that
Tony's counsels were wiser than my own. But I was heated with the drink
and the long ride, and I would bear no gainsaying. And so back I flung
the door. The same instant a cackle of laughter saluted my ears and a
stream of light flashed in my eyes. What I made out was a long table,
very elegantly prepared, and a dozen or more of gentle-folk seated at
the board, and plying their knives like good trenchermen. There was a
fire roaring on the hearth, and altogether the scene was very merry
and presented a comfortable face. And what with that appearance of
warmth and the smell of the viands tickling my nostrils, I hesitated
no longer upon the threshold where I stood, but pulling to the door,
I strode across the room and shot my eyes about the table. Just then
there came another flood of laughter, and in the noise of it I stood
surveying the company, by this time in something of a confusion, and
wondering in my fuddled wits what the devil I was at; when suddenly
there gets up a gentleman from his seat near by, and very civilly
offers me a chair. "Oh, well," thinks I, "as I am gone so far, I may as
well flesh my nose in the victuals;" and with a word of grace in answer
to his courtesy, down I propped upon my prats, and fell upon the viands
with a will.
The room was buzzing with sound, and the warmth and the fare pleased me
very well. But where the devil I was gotten, and who the devil these
cullies might be, and why in God's name I was thus politely admitted to
the board--these were the enigmas that floated about in my head. Not
that I was in any embarrassment; for it was enough for me if I was to
be entertained thus royally, waited upon with the best, and conjoined
with a high company, such as was scattered about me--and all without
so much as a single trespass upon the pocket. But by-and-by my civil
neighbour turns to me.
"You are late," he says. "I suppose you were held at the Court; or do
you ride from town?"
"Well," says I, very careful, for I am not the man to trip myself over
a word, "in a manner you may say yes," I says; and I took a draught of
the tanker afore me.
"Ah!" he said, and seemed to puzzle his wits over the rejoinder; but
I conceive he was in no very active condition of mind, and it is like
enough that what I said seemed from some corners of aspect to contain a
sensible answer. So he followed after my example, and sipped his wine
meditatively.
"His lordship," says he, soon again, "is in high feather this evening."
"You may say that," said I, delivering a glance towards the head of the
table, where sat a long-faced, handsome-looking fellow, whom, to say
sooth, I had not as yet minded in the satisfaction of my appetite. "He
is filling a paunch, I warrant," I said, with a laugh.
"Hush!" whispered he, with a scared look on his face, and glancing
about him, "you will be overheard."
"Overheard!" I said. "Am I a wench that must walk mim-mouthed through
her wine, and not deal in the King's plain English? I permit no man to
dictate me upon my language--not I."
The fellow stared at me for a time, and then, "You have a bold tongue,"
said he, with what I could perceive was a hint of the ironic. "I have
no doubt you ply it well. What is your court?" says he.
Ay, there was the rub--what was my court? And what the devil was I when
you came to the kernel? I had made out nothing as yet, being taken up
with the food and the attentions of this gaping oaf. But I was not to
be confounded by him, not if I knew my own temper; and court or no
court, I made answer bluff as you please. "The same as yours," says I.
"Oh!" says he, breaking into a smile. "I wear my professions very
discernible, then?"
"Yes, you do," said I, bluntly.
"I am glad I have met you," he went on, pleasantly, "and I shall make
it my duty to pursue our acquaintance. It is odd, indeed. And what
think you, sir, of the Fassett business?"
He spoke with the air of hanging on my words, and I was convinced that,
whatever this d----d matter was, 'twas something of which I must needs
be cognizant. So in I plunged.
"Ah, you may well ask," says I, nodding my head. "Gad! and I see you
are agreed with me. The circumstances stand so plain that there is no
denial. By God! you are right; I'll warrant that; and I myself am game
to prove it with the point," says I, slapping my sword.
The gentleman drew away, looking at me with some amazement, and
presently his face took on an expression of confusion, and says he,--
"Quite so!" says he. "Oh, yes, I am of your party;" and in truth I
believe the fool took what I said for a reply to his interrogation. But
by this I was now sobered enough to discover the responsibilities among
which I was thrown, and that I must keep a strong observation open if
I was not to run my head into danger. And the first, I must enlighten
myself upon this company in which I found myself; for which purpose,
leaning forward, I set my eyes upon the man at the end of the table and
examined him diligently. He was, I judged, somewhere about thirty-five,
of a fine oval face, very justly proportioned, a sallow brown in habit,
and crowned above his rich brown eyes with a great brown wig, which
sat awry upon his head, and added an effeminate look to the profligate
softness of his lower face. His features were very finely marked, his
nose long and straight and delicately fleshed, as were his curved and
smiling lips; and his eyes, which were large within the sockets,
gleamed like agates between the narrow curtains of his eyelids, and
sprang very quickly into one simulation or another. Altogether his
was a remarkable face to look on, and attracted strongly, for all the
saturnine changes of his colour. He was laughing, flushed to the sombre
eyes. I had finished my scrutiny, and I took off my gaze from him, and
was for letting it fall back on my neighbour to interrogate him upon
the identity of this fine cock, when in its passage along the opposite
side of the table I discovered, not very far from his lordship himself,
no other than the prim-faced gentleman of the parti-coloured chaise
that Tony and I had ransacked that same afternoon upon the moors.
The discovery struck me with dismay, as you will imagine; but there was
worse to tread upon its heels, for the man was bowing with a delicate
and sickly smile to one that toasted him from t'other side, and in
putting down his glass, and with the grin still upon his lips, his eyes
lighted upon mine and we exchanged glances.
The cully turned a trifle pale, and winced, moving in his seat. Then he
frowned, and seemed mightily taken up with his plate, after which he
lifted his head again and directed a look on me. I met him very bold
and square, and his eyes gave way before me, surrendering, so to say,
to my discharge; for I warrant I gave him a heavy broadside. But all
the time I kept seeking in my brain for some way out of this damnable
predicament. Presently he catches up a piece of paper, and ripping out
a quill, makes some writing, and calling to a lackey, hands him the
document. "What's he up to now?" thinks I. But I was soon to learn, for
the footboy walked up to the head of the table, and with a bow offered
the paper to his lordship--whoever the devil _he_ might be.
"Well," says I to myself, "I am committed to it now; and it's my
bearing against his, and the best credentials." And with that, feeling
that the matter was passed out of my hands, I turned on my neighbour,
and says I to him, but still keeping an eye on the pale-faced booby,
"Who may his lordship be?" I says.
Now 'twas folly in me to have put the query so direct, and indeed
I would not have ventured on the simplicity had not my wits been
disturbed by the incident I have related. But, in point of fact, it
mattered very little to the issue of the misadventure, though my friend
started very suddenly, and gazed at me in a gaping fashion.
"You are jesting," he says. "His lordship?"
"Well," says I, a trifle grimly, for I saw the same lordship casting
his eyes upon the paper. "And maybe you can put a name on him, if I
can't."
"But--but," he stammered, and then "who may you be?" he asked, with
some suspicion, and in another manner.
"Damn you!" said I, "I've put you a question, and a gentleman should
need no reminder of his necessary civilities," for by this I saw his
lordship's soft and shining eyes directed on us. "What's the cully's
name?" I asked.
He looked up, following my glance, and we both stared at the man who
was staring at us.
"'Tis my Lord Jeffreys," he says, in a bare whisper. You will believe
me, and I make no shame to admit it, that my legs took a tremor at the
words; but I can keep a face upon me with any, and so I stared at that
sinister and smiling butcher, and he stared at me, for the space of
some seconds; and then I took a draught of wine.
"Thank'ee," says I, calmly, to my neighbour. "'Tis well. I have some
business with his lordship."
I spoke very calmly, as I say, but you will believe me my heart was
sunk into my boots on this news. There was no man at that time but
held the name of Bloody Jeffreys in a horror. He lumped so large
in the popular fear that he was taken for an emblem and ensign of
Satan himself, so diabolic and so ensanguined was his practice. I
have seen many formidable persons in my time, and exchanged passadoes
with several of them, but there it was--the fact and figure of that
murdering, black-hearted, handsome rake, almost of an age with myself,
seated there in his chair, crept over me like the pest, and discharged
my wits abroad like a spray of sand scattered afore the wind. I cast my
eye again on him, for, indeed, I could not keep it away, and a faint
sardonic grin touched his face as he met my glance. He summoned to him
a lackey and spoke in his ear with an imperious gesture, whereat the
fellow, seeming very much frightened, hurried out of the room, and I
doubted not that he was gone for the officers. His lordship then turns
to the gentleman near him and, still with his stealthy and terrible
smile, whispers under his breath. The whole company, meanwhile, which
had all along hung upon his looks and conversation like a pack of
craven dogs on their master, was fallen into sudden silence; but this
communication was spread from mouth to mouth like a running fire, and
in a moment the whole room was agape and directing on me surprised and
startled glances. But this pulled me together, and 'twas high time too.
"Well," thinks I, "an' I must lay my back against a wall, I must; but
they shall learn that Dick Ryder is not to be browbeat by a lot of
scurvy lawyers" (for so I supposed 'em), "whatever fate be in store for
him."
And so, turning to my next-door neighbour, I began very loudly, and as
if resuming a conversation with him,--
"Nay, nay; but I am at odds with you, sir. Faith, I disagree with you
entirely! Upon my soul, I have never seen his lordship in a better
condition and better plumed for service! A worm in his head, say you?
Godsakes, I'll never believe it! His wits wear to a knife edge with
practice."
Now this was spoke, as I have said, in a clamant voice, which,
resounding on the unnatural silence that had fallen on the room,
reaches me the ears of all this company, as I had desired, and more
particularly those of his lordship, for whom I had designed the speech.
Jeffreys turned of a sudden a darker red under his brown, and his
woman's eyes shot anger.
"And who is this that dares pass questions on his lordship?" he
cries, in a sharp, clear tone. "Come, I should like to look on him
attentively," he says, "that I might know him again. He must be a
fellow worth acquaintance if for his future only. I promise you that
shall be secured to him, and that he shall know very soon."
But at this ugly exhibition of temper, and more especially at the
malicious menace it conveyed, my poor neighbour fell into a fluster,
and ran white and red in turns, opening his mouth, and trembling and
stuttering, and gasping like a dying fish. "My lord, I--I said nothing.
'Tis false," he stammered.
The poor wretch was in so pitiable a way that I found it in my heart to
be sorry for him; and, after all, he had served me very kindly at the
start, so I spoke up, rising in my seat and bowing.
"My lord," I said, "the gentleman says well. Though 'twas to him that
my remarks in praise of yourself were addressed, I was mistook. 'Twas
not on you that his comment was directed."
"That is a very likely tale," said his lordship, with a frown; and then
appearing to recover himself, as he was used to do, quite rapidly, he
stared at me with another expression.
"I am in your debt, sir," he said, "for your defence of me. You do
well. I warrant Jeffreys has still his wits about him. He has an eye
for a rogue, sir. You will do him the justice to acknowledge that, I
hope, on our better acquaintance." And he laughed somewhat harshly,
and eyed the board as if inviting a round of acclamation. The miserable
time-servers cackled their loudest, and his lordship, turning again to
me, "I should know your face," says he, and offers a kind of wink to
the company.
"'Tis no wonder, my lord," I answered, pat as you will; "'tis almost as
well known as your lordship's, and almost as favourably received."
At that a young fellow across the table from me broke into a stutter
of laughter. But all the rest were silent. Jeffreys looked at him
savagely. "I will remember you, Charteris," he said simply, and I saw
the light flaming in the eyes he directed on me. "That's well," he
said, "and I make no doubt that you are, like myself, a dispenser of
justice. You hold the scales."
"Indeed, my lord," said I, for I was not in a mood to be thus baited
whilst waiting on the officers, "there is more resemblance between you
and me, perchance, than your lordship will acknowledge."
"Ha!" he cried, with his cold and bitter laugh. "I knew not that I
was unawares entertaining a rival. A learned man in the law is this
gentleman, no doubt. Well, sir, I will be greedy of your advice while
I may. Look you. There was a man tried afore me this day that had
rumpadded a civil and innocent gentleman upon the King's highway, and
faith the rascal was rash enough to venture into the company of his
victim to dinner. What d'ye say to that? What sort of sentence would ye
deliver on the wretch?"
"How was he took?" said I.
"Well," says his lordship, after a pause, and smiling towards the door,
"I fancy the sheriff's officers were summoned upon him."
"Nay," said I. "Then, had I been justice, since he was took, I would
ha' hanged him, for 'twas a poor wit that served him no surer than to
be so took."
"Fie!" says Jeffreys. "What interpreter of the law is here!"
"'Twould not be the first time that the law was twisted by its
dispenser, my lord," said I, boldly.
His lordship's smile stole farther up his face, and opened his lips so
that the white teeth shone, and he smiled in an ugly fashion to the
fellow next him.
"You hear that, my lord?" says he, in his sneering way. "Faith, they
will presently be saying that we did not deal justice to Dame Alice
Lisle."
The man that he addressed winced and smiled uneasily, for 'twas well
known that the popular feeling ran high upon the scandalous trial,
which was but newly concluded, though I wondered to hear the prime
engine of that infamous conviction jest so wantonly upon it. But that
was Jeffreys's way, to offer a bold face and play the bully when he was
in power; but when he was down, there was no coward to whine like him,
as events proved subsequently. But Jeffreys turns to me again, content
enough with his sally.
"Sirrah," he said, "you have a signal charter for your tongue, I can
perceive. It is a righteous conscience keeps you in countenance. You
are bold upon your virtues. I have met your kidney before, and if I
must hang a knave, I prefer to hang one with an insolent front to him
that snivels. I would disembowel t'other in the pillory. There is too
much softness in this modern justice."
"My lord," says I, "you speak my feelings like a book. Faith, I would
griddle the canting rogue with these two hands."
His lordship smiled very diabolic, and then finished his wine with the
air of one that has tired of the play, at the same time nodding to the
lackey that stood near by him exceedingly respectful. But he went out
of the room.
"Gad!" says the young man that was called Charteris, in a whisper to
his neighbour, "'tis a pity to go farther. Faith, I think he hath
earned his pardon for the steady face he keeps."
But you must suppose that all this time I was not idle in my mind, but
kept casting my wits about the predicament, with a mighty sharp eye
upon any chances that emerged. Well, the case was turning very black by
now, seeing I knew well enough for what the signal of his lordship was
intended, and I had as yet gotten no very clear notion in my head. Yet
at the next opening of the door, and when the first noise of heavy feet
sounded on the threshold, my thoughts spouted forth in a clear stream,
and there sat I as taut and cool as you please, for all the world as
though 'twas a private party to which Jeffreys had invited me for a
guest. His lordship rose as the officers entered, and was turning away
indifferently without ever a sign or a word, when he suddenly stopped
again.
"'Twould be strange to learn, sirrah," said he, addressing me, "out of
a natural curiosity, what robbed thee of thy senses to fetch thee here.
'Tis an odd new policy for the hare to lie down with the fox."
With that I got to my feet. "My lord," said I, very boldly and in a
public voice, "I have come here uninvited, 'tis true, and I proffer you
my apologies for the trespass; but I have come upon a pressing private
business with your lordship."
His lordship stared at me with a sour look in his eye. "Indeed?" says
he, harshly. "I am not used to have any business but the one with your
kidney, and that not private," he says.
"My lord," said I, "'tis the most urgent message, and needeth instant
delivery."
I saw in his eye that he still meditated to refuse me, but I set my
gaze upon him very intently, and what he thought he saw there made him
waver.
"Well," said he, in his tyrannical fashion, "I hope we shall hear good
of this message; for I swear, if I do not, I will have thee hanged the
higher," and he motioned to me to draw nearer, at the same time that
the other gentlemen of the King's counsel withdrew to the bottom of the
room, conversing together. But the officers approached, and stood a
little way off by Jeffreys's signal, but keeping out of earshot.
"Who are you, fellow, and what pretences are these you make?" asked
his lordship, roughly, as soon as we were alone, but examining me with
curiosity.
"My lord," said I, "I make no pretences, as I shall assure you; and as
for myself, believe me that I play a truer part than does appear."
I looked at him meaningly.
"Let us come to plain speech," said he, sharply. "I cannot dawdle with
your riddles."
"I ask no better, my lord," I cried. "I bear a message from the Prince."
He started, and stared at me under his brows in suspicion. "What
Prince?" he asked brusquely.
"There is but one," said I, boldly, "and one that shall rest so no
longer by God's grace and the trusty arms of England."
"You mean the Prince of Orange?" he asked, in a lower voice. I nodded.
For a while he looked me in the eyes, and then, turning to the
sheriff's officers, ordered them to withdraw a little; after which he
came back to me, surveying me with his cold and savage eyes, but with
something of anxiety.
"You are a bold man," he said, "to bring me this message."
"I would do that and more than that for the good cause," said I.
Jeffreys was silent, and then, "Come, what is this message, then?" he
inquired, with a sardonic glance.
For the life of me I could not have determined if he were taken with
the bait, but I swore to hook him, as, indeed, it was the only course
left to me.
"Your lordship has not heard the news from the coast?" says I, looking
round very cautiously.
"Proceed," he commanded, watching me with his beautiful and horrid eyes.
"Events have been stirring in the Low Country," said I, "as your
lordship will be aware. The whole of the North is disaffected against
his Majesty. It needs but to land," I said, "and your lordship knows
what might happen."
"I think, sir, we were to come to quarters," said Jeffreys, in a low
voice, but still in his imperious way.
Well, if he would take it, he was to have it then and there. "The
Prince," says I, whispering, "is already landed."
He started before my eyes, but recovering himself, "I have had runners
from Plymouth this afternoon," he said, "and there was no news of
import."
"Nay," said I, "'tis not from Plymouth I come, my lord."
"If I were to ask you whence--" he began, after a pause.
"You would remember, my lord, ere you did so, that I have not yet
delivered my message, and thus have had no reply," I said.
"You remind me of my duty," he exclaimed sternly. "Deliver this
message, for I can tarry no longer."
"My lord," said I, "I would have come to it sooner were it not for your
distrust. I am charged by the Prince himself, no less. I have ridden
all day upon a circuit. Three noblemen were named, and your lordship
also. The Prince lies on English soil to-night, and would confer with
these four faithful subjects."
Jeffreys stood awhile in thought, his delicate face changing with a
dozen emotions. Then he spoke very harshly.
"This is very well, sirrah. You make an excellent liar," he said.
"You would come here and offer me a cock-and-bull tale, thinking me a
lack-wit to see you so impudently stand in your lie."
"My lord," said I, as warm as may be, "see in what my position stands.
I am come here, penetrating to your very fireside. I stake my head upon
the risk. 'Tis in your office to sound a word, and these fellows will
take me forth upon a capital charge of treason. I have cast my die for
the good cause. Yet my death, which would be an evil to me in that
case, would profit you nothing, my lord--nay, less than nothing in the
coming trouble."
Again he paused. "The Chief Justice of this realm does not parley with
treason," said he.
But I had a glimpse of the man now; I saw what fear ran in his blood;
he would not have kept me haggling there if he had it not in his heart
to coquet with fortune.
"My lord," I said, "and who would credit that a poor highwayman talked
of state politics with the Lord Chief Justice? Why, a gallows and the
topsman would serve his turn."
He heaved a little sigh, fidgeting with his fingers. "Who the devil are
you?" he asked. "You are taken for a padsman."
"My lord," said I, "'tis strange company a man may keep for a purpose.
I will not deny that I know your suspicions, and whence they spring.
Indeed, it was the gentleman's natural conclusion. I was pressed to
carry my mission. Sure I have been worse accompanied than by a tobyman.
But as for my name, your lordship has given me no answer. Call me
Ryder. I am for the Prince."
He heard me out, and 'twas the little touch of braggadocio I think that
converted him, as much as anything. "What do you propose?" he asked, in
another tone.
"I would ride back to-night," I said, "unless your lordship decide that
I must lodge in jail."
"As to that," he exclaimed, "Mr Ryder, I fear that we must lodge you
there in the meantime. What hour would you start?"
"The sooner the better," said I. "But nine will serve."
He regarded me with an urgent face of inquiry. "This may be a trap," he
said suspiciously.
"Your lordship may guard against that," said I, suavely. "As large an
escort of horse as you will, and none to know our destination save us
two."
"Nay, none save yourself, Mr Ryder, it appears," he said grimly. "But
you say well. I will be with you at nine."
Thereupon he motioned me away with a gesture of impatience and calling
on the sheriff, pointed at me. The next moment I was surrounded and in
their arms; but I played my part like a play-actor, crying upon his
lordship to hear me, and making a piteous struggle with the officers.