CHAPTER XXIII
NARRATIVE CONTINUED
When Redgauntlet left the room, in haste and discomposure, the firstperson he met on the stair, and indeed so close by the door of theapartment that Darsie thought he must have been listening there, was hisattendant Nixon.
'What the devil do you here?' he said, abruptly and sternly.
'I wait your orders,' said Nixon. 'I hope all's right!--excuse my zeal.'
'All is wrong, sir. Where is the seafaring fellow--Ewart--what do youcall him?'
'Nanty Ewart, sir. I will carry your commands,' said Nixon.
'I will deliver them myself to him,' said Redgauntlet; call him hither.'
'But should your honour leave the presence?' said Nixon, stilllingering.
''Sdeath, sir, do you prate to me?' said Redgauntlet, bending his brows.'I, sir, transact my own business; you, I am told, act by a raggeddeputy.'
Without further answer, Nixon departed, rather disconcerted, as itseemed to Darsie.
'That dog turns insolent and lazy,' said Redgauntlet; but I must bearwith him for a while.'
A moment after, Nixon returned with Ewart.
'Is this the smuggling fellow?' demanded Redgauntlet. Nixon nodded.
'Is he sober now? he was brawling anon.'
'Sober enough for business,' said Nixon.
'Well then, hark ye, Ewart;--man your boat with your best hands, andhave her by the pier--get your other fellows on board the brig--if youhave any cargo left, throw it overboard; it shall be all paid, fivetimes over--and be ready for a start to Wales or the Hebrides, orperhaps for Sweden or Norway.'
Ewart answered sullenly enough, 'Aye, aye, sir.'
'Go with him, Nixon,' said Redgauntlet, forcing himself to speak withsome appearance of cordiality to the servant with whom he was offended;'see he does his duty.'
Ewart left the house sullenly, followed by Nixon. The sailor was just inthat species of drunken humour which made him jealous, passionate,and troublesome, without showing any other disorder than that ofirritability. As he walked towards the beach he kept muttering tohimself, but in such a tone that his companion lost not a word,'Smuggling fellow--Aye, smuggler--and, start your cargo into thesea--and be ready to start for the Hebrides, or Sweden--or the devil,I suppose. Well, and what if I said in answer--Rebel, Jacobite--traitor;I'll make you and your d----d confederates walk the plank--I have seenbetter men do it--half a score of a morning--when I was across theLine.'
'D--d unhandsome terms those Redgauntlet used to you, brother.' saidNixon.
'Which do you mean?' said Ewart, starting, and recollecting himself. 'Ihave been at my old trade of thinking aloud, have I?'
'No matter,' answered Nixon, 'none but a friend heard you. You cannothave forgotten how Redgauntlet disarmed you this morning.'
'Why, I would bear no malice about that--only he is so cursedly high andsaucy,' said Ewart.
'And then,' said Nixon,'I know you for a true-hearted Protestant.'
'That I am, by G--,' said Ewart. 'No, the Spaniards could never get myreligion from me.'
'And a friend to King George, and the Hanover line of succession,' saidNixon, still walking and speaking very slow.
'You may swear I am, excepting in the way of business, as Turnpennysays. I like King George, but I can't afford to pay duties.'
'You are outlawed, I believe,' said Nixon.
'Am I?--faith, I believe I am,' said Ewart. 'I wish I were INLAWEDagain with all my heart. But come along, we must get all ready for ourperemptory gentleman, I suppose.'
'I will teach you a better trick,' said Nixon. 'There is a bloody packof rebels yonder.'
'Aye, we all know that,' said the smuggler; 'but the snowball's melting,I think.'
'There is some one yonder, whose head is worth--thirtythousand--pounds--of sterling money,' said Nixon, pausing between eachword, as if to enforce the magnificence of the sum.
'And what of that?' said Ewart, quickly.
'Only that, instead of lying by the pier with your men on their oars, ifyou will just carry your boat on board just now, and take no notice ofany signal from the shore, by G--d, Nanty Ewart. I will make a man ofyou for life!'
'Oh ho! then the Jacobite gentry are not so safe as they thinkthemselves?' said Nanty.
'In an hour or two,' replied Nixon, 'they will be made safer in CarlisleCastle.'
'The devil they will!' said Ewart; 'and you have been the informer, Isuppose?'
'Yes; I have been ill paid for my service among the Redgauntlets--havescarce got dog's wages--and been treated worse than ever dog was used. Ihave the old fox and his cubs in the same trap now, Nanty; and we'll seehow a certain young lady will look then. You see I am frank with you,Nanty.'
'And I will be as frank with you,' said the smuggler. 'You are a d--dold scoundrel--traitor to the man whose bread you eat! Me help to betraypoor devils, that have been so often betrayed myself! Not if they werea hundred Popes, Devils, and Pretenders. I will back and tell them theirdanger--they are part of cargo--regularly invoiced--put under my chargeby the owners--I'll back'--
'You are not stark mad?' said Nixon, who now saw he had miscalculated insupposing Nanty's wild ideas of honour and fidelity could be shakeneven by resentment, or by his Protestant partialities. 'You shall not goback--it is all a joke.'
'I'll back to Redgauntlet, and see whether it is a joke he will laughat.'
'My life is lost if you do,' said Nixon--'hear reason.'
They were in a clump or cluster of tall furze at the moment they werespeaking, about half-way between the pier and the house, but not in adirect line, from which Nixon, whose object it was to gain time, hadinduced Ewart to diverge insensibly.
He now saw the necessity of taking a desperate resolution. 'Hearreason,' he said; and added, as Nanty still endeavoured to pass him, 'Orelse hear this!' discharging a pocket-pistol into the unfortunate man'sbody.
Nanty staggered, but kept his feet. 'It has cut my back-bone asunder,'he said; 'you have done me the last good office, and I will not dieungrateful.'
As he uttered the last words, he collected his remaining strength, stoodfirm for an instant, drew his hanger, and, fetching a stroke with bothhands, cut Cristal Nixon down. The blow, struck with all the energy ofa desperate and dying man, exhibited a force to which Ewart's exhaustedframe might have seemed inadequate;--it cleft the hat which the wretchwore, though secured by a plate of iron within the lining, bit deep intohis skull, and there left a fragment of the weapon, which was broke bythe fury of the blow.
One of the seamen of the lugger, who strolled up attracted by the firingof the pistol, though being a small one the report was very trifling,found both the unfortunate men stark dead. Alarmed at what he saw,which he conceived to have been the consequence of some unsuccessfulengagement betwixt his late commander and a revenue officer (for Nixonchanced not to be personally known to him) the sailor hastened backto the boat, in order to apprise his comrades of Nanty's fate, and toadvise them to take off themselves and the vessel.
Meantime Redgauntlet, having, as we have seen, dispatched Nixon for thepurpose of securing a retreat for the unfortunate Charles, in case ofextremity, returned to the apartment where he had left the Wanderer. Henow found him alone.
'Sir Richard Glendale,' said the unfortunate prince, 'with hisyoung friend, has gone to consult their adherents now in the house.Redgauntlet, my friend, I will not blame you for the circumstances inwhich I find myself, though I am at once placed in danger, and renderedcontemptible. But you ought to have stated to me more strongly theweight which these gentlemen attached to their insolent proposition. Youshould have told me that no compromise would have any effect--that theydesire not a prince to govern them, but one, on the contrary, overwhom they were to exercise restraint on all occasions, from the highestaffairs of the state, down to the most intimate and private concerns ofhis own privacy, which the most ordinary men desire to keep secret andsacred from interference.'
'God knows,' said Redgauntlet, in much agi
tation, 'I acted for the bestwhen I pressed your Majesty to come hither--I never thought that yourMajesty, at such a crisis, would have scrupled, when a kingdom was inview, to sacrifice an attachment, which'--
'Peace, sir!' said Charles; 'it is not for you to estimate my feelingsupon such a subject.'
Redgauntlet coloured high, and bowed profoundly. 'At least,' heresumed, 'I hoped that some middle way might be found, and it shall--andmust.--Come with me, nephew. We will to these gentlemen, and I amconfident I will bring back heart-stirring tidings.'
'I will do much to comply with them, Redgauntlet. I am loath, havingagain set my foot on British land, to quit it without a blow for myright. But this which they demand of me is a degradation, and complianceis impossible.'
Redgauntlet, followed by his nephew, the unwilling spectator of thisextraordinary scene, left once more the apartment of the adventurousWanderer, and was met on the top of the stairs by Joe Crackenthorp.'Where are the other gentlemen?' he said.
'Yonder, in the west barrack,' answered Joe; 'but MasterIngoldsby,'--that was the name by which Redgauntlet was most generallyknown in Cumberland,--'I wish to say to you that I must put yonder folktogether in one room.'
'What folk?' said Redgauntlet, impatiently.
'Why, them prisoner stranger folk, as you bid Cristal Nixon look after.Lord love you! this is a large house enow, but we cannot have separatelock-ups for folk, as they have in Newgate or in Bedlam. Yonder's amad beggar, that is to be a great man when he wins a lawsuit, Lord helphim!--Yonder's a Quaker and a lawyer charged with a riot; and, ecod, Imust make one key and one lock keep them, for we are chokeful, and youhave sent off old Nixon that could have given one some help in thisconfusion. Besides, they take up every one a room, and call for naughtson earth,--excepting the old man, who calls lustily enough,--but he hasnot a penny to pay shot.'
'Do as thou wilt with them,' said Redgauntlet, who had listenedimpatiently to his statement; 'so thou dost but keep them from gettingout and making some alarm in the country, I care not.'
'A Quaker and a lawyer!' said Darsie. 'This must be Fairford andGeddes.--Uncle, I must request of you'--
'Nay, nephew,' interrupted Redgauntlet, 'this is no time for askingquestions. You shall yourself decide upon their fate in the course of anhour--no harm whatever is designed them.'
So saying, he hurried towards the place where the Jacobite gentlemenwere holding their council, and Darsie followed him, in the hope thatthe obstacle which had arisen to the prosecution of their desperateadventure would prove insurmountable and spare him the necessity of adangerous and violent rupture with his uncle. The discussions amongthem were very eager; the more daring part of the conspirators, who hadlittle but life to lose, being desirous to proceed at all hazards;while the others, whom a sense of honour and a hesitation to disavowlong-cherished principles had brought forward, were perhaps not illsatisfied to have a fair apology for declining an adventure, into whichthey had entered with more of reluctance than zeal.
Meanwhile Joe Crackenthorp, availing himself of the hasty permissionattained from Redgauntlet, proceeded to assemble in one apartmentthose whose safe custody had been thought necessary; and, without muchconsidering the propriety of the matter, he selected for the commonplace of confinement, the room which Lilias had, since her brother'sdeparture, occupied alone. It had a strong lock, and was double-hinged,which probably led to the preference assigned to it, as a place ofsecurity.
Into this, Joe, with little ceremony, and a good deal of noise,introduced the Quaker and Fairford; the first descanting on theimmorality, the other on the illegality, of his proceedings; and heturned a deaf ear both to the one and the other. Next he pushed in,almost in headlong fashion, the unfortunate litigant, who, having madesome resistance at the threshold, had received a violent thrustin consequence, and came rushing forward, like a ram in the act ofcharging, with such impetus as must have carried him to the top of theroom, and struck the cocked hat which sat perched on the top of histow wig against Miss Redgauntlet's person, had not the honest Quakerinterrupted his career by seizing him by the collar, and bringing him toa stand. 'Friend,' said he, with the real good-breeding which so oftensubsists independently of ceremony, 'thou art no company for that youngperson; she is, thou seest, frightened at our being so suddenly thrustin hither; and although that be no fault of ours, yet it will becomeus to behave civilly towards her. Wherefore come thou with me to thiswindow, and I will tell thee what it concerns thee to know.'
'And what for should I no speak to the Leddy, friend?' said Peter, whowas now about half seas over. 'I have spoke to leddies before now, man.What for should she be frightened at me? I am nae bogle, I ween. Whatare ye pooin' me that gate for? Ye will rive my coat, and I will havea good action for having myself made SARTUM ATQUE TECTUM at yourexpenses.'
Notwithstanding this threat, Mr. Geddes, whose muscles were as strong ashis judgement was sound and his temper sedate, led Poor Peter under thesense of a control against which he could not struggle, to the farthercorner of the apartment, where, placing him, whether he would or no, ina chair, he sat down beside him, and effectually prevented his annoyingthe young lady, upon whom he had seemed bent upon conferring thedelights of his society.
If Peter had immediately recognized his counsel learned in the law, itis probable that not even the benevolent efforts of the Quaker couldhave kept him in a state of restraint; but Fairford's back was turnedtowards his client, whose optics, besides being somewhat dazzled withale and brandy, were speedily engaged in contemplating a half-crownwhich Joshua held between his finger and his thumb, saying, at thesame time, 'Friend, thou art indigent and improvident. This will, wellemployed, procure thee sustentation of nature for more than a singleday; and I will bestow it on thee if thou wilt sit here and keep mecompany; for neither thou nor I, friend, are fit company for ladies.'
'Speak for yourself, friend,' said Peter, scornfully; 'I was ay kend tobe agreeable to the fair sex; and when I was in business I served theladies wi' anither sort of decorum than Plainstanes, the d--d awkwardscoundrel! It was one of the articles of dittay between us.'
'Well, but, friend,' said the Quaker, who observed that the young ladystill seemed to fear Peter's intrusion, 'I wish to hear thee speak aboutthis great lawsuit of thine, which has been matter of such celebrity.'
'Celebrity! Ye may swear that,' said Peter, for the string was touchedto which his crazy imagination always vibrated. 'And I dinna wonderthat folk that judge things by their outward grandeur, should think mesomething worth their envying. It's very true that it is grandeur uponearth to hear ane's name thunnered out along the long-arched roof of theOuter House,--"Poor Peter Peebles against Plainstanes ET PER CONTRA;"a' the best lawyers in the house fleeing like eagles to the prey; somebecause they are in the cause, and some because they want to be thoughtengaged (for there are tricks in other trades by selling muslins)--tosee the reporters mending their pens to take down the debate--the Lordsthemselves pooin' in their chairs, like folk sitting down to a gudedinner, and crying on the clerks for parts and pendicles of the process,who, puir bodies, can do little mair than cry on their closet-keepersto help them. To see a' this,' continued Peter, in a tone of sustainedrapture, 'and to ken that naething will be said or dune amang a' thaegrand folk, for maybe the feck of three hours, saving what concerns youand your business--Oh, man, nae wonder that ye judge this to be earthlyglory! And yet, neighbour, as I was saying, there be unco drawbacks--Iwhiles think of my bit house, where dinner, and supper, and breakfast,used to come without the crying for, just as if fairies had broughtit--and the gude bed at e'en--and the needfu' penny in the pouch. Andthen to see a' ane's warldly substance capering in the air in a pair ofweighbauks, now up, now down, as the breath of judge or counsel inclinesit for pursuer or defender,--troth, man, there are times I rue havingever begun the plea wark, though, maybe, when ye consider the renown andcredit I have by it, ye will hardly believe what I am saying.'
'Indeed, friend,' said Joshua, with a sigh, 'I am glad thou hast
foundanything in the legal contention which compensates thee for poverty andhunger; but I believe, were other human objects of ambition lookedupon as closely, their advantages would be found as chimerical as thoseattending thy protracted litigation.'
'But never mind, friend,' said Peter, 'I'll tell you the exact state ofthe conjunct processes, and make you sensible that I can bring mysellround with a wet finger, now I have my finger and my thumb on thisloup-the-dike loon, the lad Fairford.'
Alan Fairford was in the act of speaking to the masked lady (for MissRedgauntlet had retained her riding vizard) endeavouring to assure her,as he perceived her anxiety, of such protection as he could afford, whenhis own name, pronounced in a loud tone, attracted his attention. Helooked round, and seeing Peter Peebles, as hastily turned to avoid hisnotice, in which he succeeded, so earnest was Peter upon his colloquywith one of the most respectable auditors whose attention he had everbeen able to engage. And by this little motion, momentary as it was,Alan gained an unexpected advantage; for while he looked round, MissLilias, I could never ascertain why, took the moment to adjust her mask,and did it so awkwardly, that when her companion again turned his head,he recognized as much of her features as authorized him to address heras his fair client, and to press his offers of protection and assistancewith the boldness of a former acquaintance.
Lilias Redgauntlet withdrew the mask from her crimsoned cheek. 'Mr.Fairford,' she said, in a voice almost inaudible, 'you have thecharacter of a young gentleman of sense and generosity; but we havealready met in one situation which you must think singular; and I mustbe exposed to misconstruction, at least, for my forwardness, were it notin a cause in which my dearest affections were concerned.'
'Any interest in my beloved friend Darsie Latimer,' said Fairford,stepping a little back, and putting a marked restraint upon his formeradvances, 'gives me a double right to be useful to'--He stopped short.
'To his sister, your goodness would say,' answered Lilias.
'His sister, madam!' replied Alan, in the extremity ofastonishment--'Sister, I presume, in affection only?'
'No, sir; my dear brother Darsie and I are connected by the bonds ofactual relationship; and I am not sorry to be the first to tell this tothe friend he most values.'
Fairford's first thought was on the violent passion which Darsie hadexpressed towards the fair unknown. 'Good God!' he exclaimed, 'how didhe bear the discovery?'
'With resignation, I hope,' said Lilias, smiling. 'A more accomplishedsister he might easily have come by, but scarcely could have found onewho could love him more than I do.'
'I meant--I only meant to say,' said the young counsellor, his presenceof mind failing him for an instant--'that is, I meant to ask whereDarsie Latimer is at this moment.'
'In this very house, and under the guardianship of his uncle, whom Ibelieve you knew as a visitor of your father, under the name of Mr.Herries of Birrenswork.'
'Let me hasten to him,' said Fairford; 'I have sought him throughdifficulties and dangers--I must see him instantly.'
'You forget you are a prisoner,' said the young lady.
'True--true; but I cannot be long detained--the cause alleged is tooridiculous.'
'Alas!' said Lilias, 'our fate--my brother's and mine, at least--mustturn on the deliberations perhaps of less than an hour. For you, sir, Ibelieve and apprehend nothing; but some restraint; my uncle is neithercruel nor unjust, though few will go further in the cause which he hasadopted.'
'Which is that of the Pretend'--
'For God's sake speak lower!' said Lilias, approaching her hand, as ifto stop him. 'The word may cost you your life. You do not know--indeedyou do not--the terrors of the situation in which we at present stand,and in which I fear you also are involved by your friendship for mybrother.'
'I do not indeed know the particulars of our situation,' said Fairford;'but, be the danger what it may, I shall not grudge my share of itfor the sake of my friend; or,' he added, with more timidity, 'of myfriend's sister. Let me hope,' he said, 'my dear Miss Latimer, thatmy presence may be of some use to you; and that it may be so, letme entreat a share of your confidence, which I am conscious I haveotherwise no right to ask.'
He led her, as he spoke, towards the recess of the farther window of theroom, and observing to her that, unhappily, he was particularly exposedto interruption from the mad old man whose entrance had alarmed her, hedisposed of Darsie Latimer's riding-skirt, which had been left in theapartment, over the back of two chairs, forming thus a sort of screen,behind which he ensconced himself with the maiden of the green mantle;feeling at the moment, that the danger in which he was placed was almostcompensated by the intelligence which permitted those feelings towardsher to revive, which justice to his friend had induced him to stifle inthe birth.
The relative situation of adviser and advised, of protector andprotected, is so peculiarly suited to the respective condition of manand woman, that great progress towards intimacy is often made in veryshort space; for the circumstances call for confidence on the part ofthe gentleman, and forbid coyness on that of the lady, so that the usualbarriers against easy intercourse are at once thrown down.
Under these circumstances, securing themselves as far as possible fromobservation, conversing in whispers, and seated in a corner, where theywere brought into so close contact that their faces nearly touched eachother, Fairford heard from Lilias Redgauntlet the history of her family,particularly of her uncle; his views upon her brother, and the agonywhich she felt, lest at that very moment he might succeed in engagingDarsie in some desperate scheme, fatal to his fortune and perhaps to hislife.
Alan Fairford's acute understanding instantly connected what he hadheard with the circumstances he had witnessed at Fairladies. His firstthought was, to attempt, at all risks, his instant escape, and procureassistance powerful enough to crush, in the very cradle, a conspiracy ofsuch a determined character. This he did not consider as difficult; for,though the door was guarded on the outside, the window, which was notabove ten feet from the ground, was open for escape, the common on whichit looked was unenclosed, and profusely covered with furze. Therewould, he thought, be little difficulty in effecting his liberty, and inconcealing his course after he had gained it.
But Lilias exclaimed against this scheme. Her uncle, she said, was a manwho, in his moments of enthusiasm, knew neither remorse nor fear. Hewas capable of visiting upon Darsie any injury which he might conceiveFairford had rendered him--he was her near kinsman also, and not anunkind one, and she deprecated any effort, even in her brother's favour,by which his life must be exposed to danger. Fairford himself rememberedFather Buonaventure, and made little question but that he was one ofthe sons of the old Chevalier de Saint George; and with feelings which,although contradictory of his public duty, can hardly be much censured,his heart recoiled from being the agent by whom the last scion of sucha long line of Scottish princes should be rooted up. He then thoughtof obtaining an audience, if possible, of this devoted person, andexplaining to him the utter hopelessness of his undertaking, which hejudged it likely that the ardour of his partisans might have concealedfrom him. But he relinquished this design as soon as formed. He had nodoubt, that any light which he could throw on the state of the country,would come too late to be serviceable to one who was always reported tohave his own full share of the hereditary obstinacy which had cost hisancestors so dear, and who, in drawing the sword, must have thrown fromhim the scabbard.
Lilias suggested the advice which, of all others, seemed most suitedto the occasion, that, yielding, namely, to the circumstances of theirsituation, they should watch carefully when Darsie should obtain anydegree of freedom, and endeavour to open a communication with him, inwhich case their joint flight might be effected, and without endangeringthe safety of any one.
Their youthful deliberation had nearly fixed in this point, whenFairford, who was listening to the low sweet whispering tones of LiliasRedgauntlet, rendered yet more interesting by some slight touch offoreign accent, was startled by a
heavy hand which descended with fullweight on his shoulder, while the discordant voice of Peter Peebles, whohad at length broke loose from the well-meaning Quaker, exclaimed in theear of his truant counsel--'Aha, lad! I think ye are catched--An' so yeare turned chamber-counsel, are ye? And ye have drawn up wi' clientsin scarfs and hoods? But bide a wee, billie, and see if I dinna sort yewhen my petition and complaint comes to be discussed, with or withoutanswers, under certification.'
Alan Fairford had never more difficulty in his life to subdue a firstemotion, than he had to refrain from knocking down the crazy blockheadwho had broken in upon him at such a moment. But the length of Peter'saddress gave him time, fortunately perhaps for both parties, to reflecton the extreme irregularity of such a proceeding. He stood silent,however, with vexation, while Peter went on.
'Weel, my bonnie man, I see ye are thinking shame o' yoursell, and naegreat wonder. Ye maun leave this quean--the like of her is ower lightcompany for you. I have heard honest Mr. Pest say, that the gown greesill wi' the petticoat. But come awa hame to your puir father, and I'lltake care of you the haill gate, and keep you company, and deil a wordwe will speak about, but just the state of the conjoined processes ofthe great cause of Poor Peter Peebles against Plainstanes.'
'If thou canst; endure to hear as much of that suit, friend,' saidthe Quaker, 'as I have heard out of mere compassion for thee, I thinkverily thou wilt soon be at the bottom of the matter, unless it bealtogether bottomless.'
Fairford shook off, rather indignantly, the large bony hand which Peterhad imposed upon his shoulder, and was about to say something peevish,upon so unpleasant and insolent a mode of interruption, when the dooropened, a treble voice saying to the sentinel, 'I tell you I maun be in,to see if Mr. Nixon's here;' and little Benjie thrust in his mop-headand keen black eyes. Ere he could withdraw it, Peter Peebles sprang tothe door, seized on the boy by the collar, and dragged him forward intothe room.
'Let me see it,' he said, 'ye ne'er-do-weel limb of Satan--I'll garyou satisfy the production, I trow--I'll hae first and second diligenceagainst you, ye deevil's buckie!'
'What dost thou want?' said the Quaker, interfering; 'why dost thoufrighten the boy, friend Peebles?'
'I gave the bastard a penny to buy me snuff,' said the pauper, 'and hehas rendered no account of his intromissions; but I'll gar him as gude.'
So saying, he proceeded forcibly to rifle the pockets of Benjie's raggedjacket of one or two snares for game, marbles, a half-bitten apple, twostolen eggs (one of which Peter broke in the eagerness of his research),and various other unconsidered trifles, which had not the air of beingvery honestly come by. The little rascal, under this discipline, bit andstruggled like a fox-cub, but, like that vermin, uttered neither cry norcomplaint, till a note, which Peter tore from his bosom, flew as far asLilias Redgauntlet, and fell at her feet. It was addressed to C. N.
'It is for the villain Nixon.' she said to Alan Fairford; 'open itwithout scruple; that boy is his emissary; we shall now see what themiscreant is driving at.'
Little Benjie now gave up all further struggle, and suffered Peeblesto take from him, without resistance, a shilling, out of which Peterdeclared he would pay himself principal and interest, and account forthe balance. The boy, whose attention seemed fixed on something verydifferent, only said, 'Maister Nixon will murder me!'
Alan Fairford did not hesitate to read the little scrap of paper, onwhich was written, 'All is prepared--keep them in play until I come up.You may depend on your reward.--C. C.'
'Alas, my uncle--my poor uncle!' said Lilias; 'this is the result ofhis confidence. Methinks, to give him instant notice of his confidant'streachery, is now the best service we can render all concerned--ifthey break up their undertaking, as they must now do, Darsie will be atliberty.'
In the same breath, they were both at the half-opened door of the room,Fairford entreating to speak with the Father Buonaventure, and Lilias,equally vehemently, requesting a moment's interview with her uncle.While the sentinel hesitated what to do, his attention was called to aloud noise at the door, where a crowd had been assembled in consequenceof the appalling cry, that the enemy were upon them, occasioned, as itafterwards proved, by some stragglers having at length discovered thedead bodies of Nanty Ewart and of Nixon.
Amid the confusion occasioned by this alarming incident, the sentinelceased to attend, to his duty; and accepting Alan Fairford's arm, Liliasfound no opposition in penetrating even to the inner apartment, wherethe principal persons in the enterprise, whose conclave had beendisturbed by this alarming incident, were now assembled in greatconfusion, and had been joined by the Chevalier himself.
'Only a mutiny among these smuggling scoundrels,' said Redgauntlet.
ONLY a mutiny, do you say?' said Sir Richard Glendale; 'and the lugger,the last hope of escape for,'--he looked towards Charles,--'stands outto sea under a press of sail!'
'Do not concern yourself about me,' said the unfortunate prince; 'thisis not the worst emergency in which it has been my lot to stand; and ifit were, I fear it not. Shift for yourselves, my lords and gentlemen.'
'No, never!' said the young Lord ------. 'Our only hope now is in anhonourable resistance.'
'Most true,' said Redgauntlet; 'let despair renew the union amongstus which accident disturbed. I give my voice for displaying the royalbanner instantly, and--How now!' he concluded, sternly, as Lilias, firstsoliciting his attention by pulling his cloak, put into his hand thescroll, and added, it was designed for that of Nixon.
Redgauntlet read--and, dropping it on the ground, continued to stareupon the spot where it fell, with raised hands and fixed eyes. SirRichard Glendale lifted the fatal paper, read it, and saying, 'Now allis indeed over,' handed it to Maxwell, who said aloud, 'Black ColinCampbell, by G--d! I heard he had come post from London last night.'
As if in echo to his thoughts, the violin of the blind man was heard,playing with spirit, The Campbells are coming,' a celebrated clan-march.
'The Campbells are coming in earnest,' said MacKellar; they are upon uswith the whole battalion from Carlisle.'
There was a silence of dismay, and two or three of the company began todrop out of the room.
Lord ------ spoke with the generous spirit of a young English nobleman.'If we have been fools, do not let us be cowards. We have one here moreprecious than us all, and come hither on our warranty--let us save himat least.'
'True, most true,' answered Sir Richard Glendale. 'Let the king be firstcared for.'
'That shall be my business,' said Redgauntlet 'if we have but time tobring back the brig, all will be well--I will instantly dispatch a partyin a fishing skiff to bring her to.' He gave his commands to two orthree of the most active among his followers. 'Let him be once onboard,' he said, 'and there are enough of us to stand to arms and coverhis retreat.'
'Right, right,' said Sir Richard, 'and I will look to points which canbe made defensible; and the old powder-plot boys could not have made amore desperate resistance than we shall. Redgauntlet,' continued he, 'Isee some of our friends are looking pale; but methinks your nephew hasmore mettle in his eye now than when we were in cold deliberation, withdanger at a distance.'
'It is the way of our house,' said Redgauntlet; 'our courage everkindles highest on the losing side. I, too, feel that the catastropheI have brought on must not be survived by its author. Let me first,'he said, addressing Charles, 'see your Majesty's sacred person in suchsafety as can now be provided for it, and then'--
'You may spare all considerations concerning me, gentlemen,' againrepeated Charles; 'yon mountain of Criffel shall fly as soon as I will.'
Most threw themselves at his feet with weeping and entreaty; some oneor two slunk in confusion from the apartment, and were heard ridingoff. Unnoticed in such a scene, Darsie, his sister, and Fairford, drewtogether, and held each other by the hands, as those who, when a vesselis about to founder in the storm, determine to take their chance of lifeand death together.
Amid this scene of confusion, a ge
ntleman, plainly dressed in ariding-habit, with a black cockade in his hat, but without any armsexcept a COUTEAU-DE-CHASSE, walked into the apartment without ceremony.He was a tall, thin, gentlemanly man, with a look and bearing decidedlymilitary. He had passed through their guards, if in the confusion theynow maintained any, without stop or question, and now stood, almostunarmed, among armed men, who nevertheless, gazed on him as on the angelof destruction.
'You look coldly on me, gentlemen,' he said. 'Sir Richard Glendale--myLord ------, we were not always such strangers. Ha, Pate-in-Peril, howis it with you? and you, too, Ingoldsby--I must not call you by anyother name--why do you receive an old friend so coldly? But you guess myerrand.'
'And are prepared for it, general,' said Redgauntlet; 'we are not men tobe penned up like sheep for the slaughter.'
'Pshaw! you take it too seriously--let me speak but one word with you.'
'No words can shake our purpose,' said Redgauntlet, were your wholecommand, as I suppose is the case, drawn round the house.'
'I am certainly not unsupported,' said the general; 'but if you wouldhear me'--
'Hear ME, sir,' said the Wanderer, stepping forward; 'I suppose I am themark you aim at--I surrender myself willingly, to save these gentlemen'sdanger--let this at least avail in their favour.'
An exclamation of 'Never, never!' broke from the little body ofpartisans, who threw themselves round the unfortunate prince, and wouldhave seized or struck down Campbell, had it not been that he remainedwith his arms folded, and a look, rather indicating impatience becausethey would not hear him, than the least apprehension of violence attheir hand.
At length he obtained a moment's silence. 'I do not,' he said, 'knowthis gentleman'--(making a profound bow to the unfortunate prince)--'Ido not wish to know him; it is a knowledge which would suit neither ofus.'
'Our ancestors, nevertheless, have been well acquainted,' said Charles,unable to suppress, even at that hour of dread and danger, the painfulrecollections of fallen royalty.
'In one word, General Campbell,' said Redgauntlet, 'is it to be peace orwar? You are a man of honour, and we can trust you.'
'I thank you, sir,' said the general; 'and I reply, that the answer toyour question rests with yourself. Come, do not be fools, gentlemen;there was perhaps no great harm meant or intended by your gatheringtogether in this obscure corner, for a bear-bait or a cock-fight, orwhatever other amusement you may have intended, but it was a littleimprudent, considering how you stand with government, and it hasoccasioned some anxiety. Exaggerated accounts of your purpose havebeen laid before government by the information of a traitor in your owncounsels; and I was sent down post to take the command of a sufficientnumber of troops, in case these calumnies should be found to have anyreal foundation. I have come here, of course, sufficiently supportedboth with cavalry and infantry, to do whatever might be necessary; butmy commands are--and I am sure they agree with my inclination--to makeno arrests, nay, to make no further inquiries of any kind, if this goodassembly will consider their own interest so far as to give up theirimmediate purpose, and return quietly home to their own houses.'
'What!--all?' exclaimed Sir Richard Glendale--'all, without exception?'
'ALL, without one single exception' said the general; 'such are myorders. If you accept my terms, say so, and make haste; for things mayhappen to interfere with his Majesty's kind purposes towards you all.'
'Majesty's kind purposes!' said the Wanderer. 'Do I hear you aright,sir?'
'I speak the king's very words, from his very lips,' replied thegeneral. '"I will," said his Majesty, "deserve the confidence of mysubjects by reposing my security in the fidelity of the millions whoacknowledge my title--in the good sense and prudence of the few whocontinue, from the errors of education, to disown it." His Majesty willnot even believe that the most zealous Jacobites who yet remain cannourish a thought of exciting a civil war, which must be fatal to theirfamilies and themselves, besides spreading bloodshed and ruin througha peaceful land. He cannot even believe of his kinsman, that he wouldengage brave and generous though mistaken men, in an attempt which mustruin all who have escaped former calamities; and he is convinced,that, did curiosity or any other motive lead that person to visit thiscountry, he would soon see it was his wisest course to return to thecontinent; and his Majesty compassionates his situation too much tooffer any obstacle to his doing so.'
'Is this real?' said Redgauntlet. 'Can you mean this? Am I--are all, areany of these gentlemen at liberty, without interruption, to embark inyonder brig, which, I see, is now again approaching the shore?'
'You, sir--all--any of the gentlemen present,' said the general,--'allwhom the vessel can contain, are at liberty to embark uninterruptedby me; but I advise none to go off who have not powerful reasonsunconnected with the present meeting, for this will be rememberedagainst no one.'
'Then, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet, clasping his hands together as thewords burst from him, 'the cause is lost for ever!'
General Campbell turned away to the window, as if to avoid hearing whatthey said. Their consultation was but momentary; for the door of escapewhich thus opened was as unexpected as the exigence was threatening.
'We have your word of honour for our protection,' said Sir RichardGlendale, 'if we dissolve our meeting in obedience to your summons?'
'You have, Sir Richard,' answered the general.
'And I also have your promise,' said Redgauntlet, 'that I may go onboard yonder vessel, with any friend whom I may choose to accompany me?'
Not only that, Mr. Ingoldsby--or I WILL call you Mr. Redgauntlet oncemore--you may stay in the offing for a tide, until you are joined by anyperson who may remain at Fairladies. After that, there will be a sloopof war on the station, and I need not say your condition will thenbecome perilous.'
'Perilous it should not be, General Campbell,' said Redgauntlet, 'ormore perilous to others than to us, if others thought as I do even inthis extremity.'
'You forget yourself, my friend,' said the unhappy Adventurer; youforget that the arrival of this gentleman only puts the cope-stone onour already adopted resolution to abandon our bull-fight or by whateverother wild name this headlong enterprise may be termed. I bid youfarewell, unfriendly friends--I bid you farewell,' (bowing to thegeneral) 'my friendly foe--I leave this strand as I landed upon it,alone and to return no more!'
'Not alone,' said Redgauntlet, 'while there is blood in the veins of myfather's son.'
'Not alone,' said the other gentlemen present, stung with feelings whichalmost overpowered the better reasons under which they had acted. 'Wewill not disown our principles, or see your person endangered.'
'If it be only your purpose to see the gentleman to the beach,' saidGeneral Campbell, 'I will myself go with you. My presence among you,unarmed, and in your power, will be a pledge of my friendly intentions,and will overawe, should such be offered, any interruption on the partof officious persons.'
'Be it so,' said the Adventurer, with the air of a prince to a subject,not of one who complied with the request of an enemy too powerful to beresisted.
They left the apartment--they left the house--an unauthenticated anddubious, but appalling, sensation of terror had already spread itselfamong the inferior retainers, who had so short time before strutted, andbustled, and thronged the doorway and the passages. A report had arisen,of which the origin could not be traced, of troops advancing towards thespot in considerable numbers; and men who, for one reason or other,were most of them amenable to the arm of power, had either shrunk intostables or corners, or fled the place entirely. There was solitude onthe landscape excepting the small party which now moved towards therude pier, where a boat lay manned, agreeably to Redgauntlet's orderspreviously given.
The last heir of the Stuarts leant on Redgauntlet's arm as they walkedtowards the beach; for the ground was rough, and he no longer possessedthe elasticity of limb and of spirit which had, twenty years before,carried him over many a Highland hill as light as one of their nativedeer. His ad
herents followed, looking on the ground, their feelingsstruggling against the dictates of their reason.
General Campbell accompanied them with an air of apparent ease andindifference, but watching, at the same time, and no doubt with someanxiety, the changing features of those who acted in this extraordinaryscene.
Darsie and his sister naturally followed their uncle, whose violencethey no longer feared, while his character attracted their respect, andAlan Fairford attended them from interest in their fate, unnoticed ina party where all were too much occupied with their own thoughtsand feelings, as well as with the impending crisis, to attend to hispresence.
Half-way betwixt the house and the beach, they saw the bodies of NantyEwart and Cristal Nixon blackening in the sun.
'That was your informer?' said Redgauntlet, looking back to GeneralCampbell, who only nodded his assent.
'Caitiff wretch!' exclaimed Redgauntlet;--'and yet the name were betterbestowed on the fool who could be misled by thee.'
'That sound broadsword cut,' said the general, 'has saved us the shameof rewarding a traitor.'
They arrived at the place of embarkation. The prince stood a moment withfolded arms, and looked around him in deep silence. A paper was thenslipped into his hands--he looked at it, and said, 'I find the twofriends I have left at Fairladies are apprised of my destination,and propose to embark from Bowness. I presume this will not be aninfringement of the conditions under which you have acted?'
'Certainly not,' answered General Campbell; 'they shall have allfacility to join you.'
'I wish, then,' said Charles, 'only another companion. Redgauntlet, theair of this country is as hostile to you as it is to me. These gentlemenhave made their peace, or rather they have done nothing to break it.But you--come you and share my home where chance shall cast it. Weshall never see these shores again; but we will talk of them, and of ourdisconcerted bull-fight.'
'I follow you, sire, through life,' said Redgauntlet, 'as I would havefollowed you to death. Permit me one moment.'
The prince then looked round, and seeing the abashed countenances of hisother adherents bent upon the ground, he hastened to say, 'Do not thinkthat you, gentlemen, have obliged me less because your zeal was mingledwith prudence, entertained, I am sure, more on my own account and onthat of your country, than from selfish apprehensions.'
He stepped from one to another, and, amid sobs and bursting tears,received the adieus of the last remnant which had hitherto supportedhis lofty pretensions, and addressed them individually with accents oftenderness and affection.
The general drew a little aloof, and signed to Redgauntlet to speakwith him while this scene proceeded. 'It is now all over,' he said, 'andJacobite will be henceforward no longer a party name. When you tire offoreign parts, and wish to make your peace, let me know. Your restlesszeal alone has impeded your pardon hitherto.'
'And now I shall not need it,' said Redgauntlet. 'I leave Englandfor ever; but I am not displeased that you should hear my familyadieus.--Nephew, come hither. In presence of General Campbell, I tellyou, that though to breed you up in my own political opinions has beenfor many years my anxious wish, I am now glad that it could not beaccomplished. You pass under the service of the reigning monarch withoutthe necessity of changing your allegiance--a change, however,' he added,looking around him, which sits more easy on honourable men than I couldhave anticipated; but some wear the badge of their loyalty on theirsleeve, and others in the heart. You will, from henceforth, beuncontrolled master of all the property of which forfeiture could notdeprive your father--of all that belonged to him--excepting this, hisgood sword' (laying his hand on the weapon he wore), 'which shall neverfight for the House of Hanover; and as my hand will never draw weaponmore, I shall sink it forty fathoms deep in the wide ocean. Bless you,young man! If I have dealt harshly with you, forgive me. I had set mywhole desires on one point,--God knows, with no selfish purpose; andI am justly punished by this final termination of my views, for havingbeen too little scrupulous in the means by which I pursued them.--Niece,farewell, and may God bless you also!'
'No, sir,' said Lilias, seizing his hand eagerly. 'You have beenhitherto my protector,--you are now in sorrow, let me be your attendantand your comforter in exile.'
'I thank you, my girl, for your unmerited affection; but it cannot andmust not be. The curtain here falls between us. I go to the house ofanother. If I leave it before I quit the earth, it shall be only for theHouse of God. Once more, farewell both! The fatal doom,' he said, witha melancholy smile, 'will, I trust, now depart from the House ofRedgauntlet, since its present representative has adhered to the winningside. I am convinced he will not change it, should it in turn become thelosing one.'
The unfortunate Charles Edward had now given his last adieus to hisdowncast adherents. He made a sign with his hand to Redgauntlet, whocame to assist him into the skiff. General Campbell also offered hisassistance, the rest appearing too much affected by the scene which hadtaken place to prevent him.
'You are not sorry, general, to do me this last act of courtesy,' saidthe Chevalier; 'and, on my part, I thank you for it. You have taught methe principle on which men on the scaffold feel forgiveness and kindnesseven for their executioner. Farewell!'
They were seated in the boat, which presently pulled off from the land.The Oxford divine broke out into a loud benediction, in terms whichGeneral Campbell was too generous to criticize at the time, or toremember afterwards;--nay, it is said, that, Whig and Campbell as hewas, he could not help joining in the universal Amen! which resoundedfrom the shore.