CHAPTER TEN.
THE COUSINS.
The sun had set as Reginald Trevor rode out of Hollymead Park. But hedid not intend returning to Lydney that night; instead, purposed passingit in Ross, to which town he had also an errand. By making free use ofthe spur he might still reach his destination within the twilight.
Outside the park gate he was about turning in the Ross direction when hesaw a party on horseback advancing from the opposite, as he had himselfcome. Four there were--two gentlemen in front, with their respectiveattendants a little behind. He could have shunned them by ridingrapidly on before; but from the stylish appearance of one of thegentlemen he took it they were Cavaliers, possibly might beacquaintances; and after his long, lonely ride he was in the humour forcompany. It might help him some little to get over his chagrin. So hedrew rein, and sate in his saddle waiting for them to come up.
There was a wide sweep of grass-grown turf between the park gate and thepublic road, and he had halted at the end of it on the right. Soon theparty approaching reached the other, and he saw, with some surprise, anda little vexation, their horses' heads being turned in towards the gate.Whoever the gentlemen might be, they were evidently bent upon a visitto the house that had refused hospitality to himself.
With something more than curiosity he scanned them now. Were they knownto him? Yes! one was; his surprise becoming astonishment, as in themore showily-attired of the two gentlemen he recognised his cousinEustace.
"You, Eust!" he exclaimed, drawing his horse round, and trotting towardshis kinsman; his glance given to the other being as that to a stranger;for he was not acquainted with Sir Richard Walwyn.
"You, Rej!" was the all-but echo of a response, and the cousins cametogether, Sir Richard passing on into the park. The gentlemantax-gatherer, still smarting under the rebuff given him, the smartshared by his servant, had ill-manneredly left the gate open behindthem.
It was months since the cousins had met; though each knew where theother was, or ought to be. Hence Reginald's surprise to see Eustacethere, supposing him to be engaged in his duties at Court. He spoke itinquiringly, as they held out to shake hands; but, before the othercould make answer, he saw that which gave him a start--blood upon thehand extended to him! The white buckskin glove was reddened with it allover up to the gauntlets.
"God bless me, Eust! what's this? A wound! Have you been quarrelling?"
"Oh! nothing much. Only a little prick in the wrist."
"Prick in the wrist! But from what?"
"The point of a rapier."
"The deuce! Then you _have_ been quarrelling. With whom, pray?"
"Speak a little lower, Rej. I'd rather _he_ didn't hear us."
And Eustace nodded towards Sir Richard, who was not yet quite beyondearshot.
"Surely you don't mean the affair was with him?"
"I do--it was."
"He got the better of you?"
"Quick as you could count ten."
"Zounds! that's strange--you such a swordsman! But still stranger whatI see now, your being in his company. Not his prisoner, are you?"
"Well, in a way I am."
"In that case, cousin, my sword's at your service. So let _me_ tryconclusions with him. Possibly, I may get you a _revanche_; at the sametime release you from any _parole_ you may be under."
Though, but the moment before, some little cowed, and declining a combatwith serving men, Reginald Trevor was all courage now; and feared not tomeet a gentleman in fair fight. For he saw that Trevor blood had beenspilt, and, although he and his cousin Eustace had never been bosomfriends, they were yet of the same family. The hot Cymric blood thatran in the veins of both boiled up in his to avenge whatever defeat hiskinsman might have sustained, and without awaiting answer he askedimpatiently,--
"Shall I follow, and flout him, Eust? I will if you but say the word."
"No, Rej; nothing of the sort. Thank you all the same."
"Well; if you're against it, I won't. But it edges a Trevor's teeth tosee one of his kin--full cousin, too--worsted, conquered, dead--down asyou seem to be. All, I suppose, from your antagonist being a bit biggerand older than you are. He's that as regards myself; for all I've nofear to face him."
"I know you haven't, Rej. But don't be angry with me for saying, if youdid, it would end as it has with me--maybe worse."
The _ci-devant_ gentleman-usher spoke with some pique. Notwithstandingthe generous offer of his cousin to espouse his quarrel, there was thatin the proposal itself which seemed to reflect on his own capability--asuggestion, almost an assertion, of patronising superiority.
"What do you mean, Eustace?" asked the other, looking a little roughed.
"That yonder gentleman," he nodded towards Sir Richard, now well out ofhearing, "is a perfect master of both sword and horse. He provedhimself _my_ master in less than five minutes after engaging; could havethrust me in as many seconds had he been so disposed. While fightingwith him I felt a very child in his hands; and he, as I now chance toknow, was but playing with me. In the end he disarmed me--could havedone it long before--by this touch in the wrist, which sent my rapierspinning off into the air. That isn't all. He has disarmed me inanother sense; changed me from angry foe to, I might almost say, friend.That's why I've told you that I'm in a way his prisoner."
"It's a strange tale," rejoined Reginald, choking down his wrath. "Allthat, by sun, moon, and stars! But I won't question you further aboutit; only tell me why you are here. I thought you were so fixed in thePalace of Westminster, such a favourite of the grand lady who thererules the mart, you'd never more care to breathe a breath of countryair. Yet here I find you in the Forest of Dean--its very heart--faraway from court and city life as man could well get within England'srealm. How has it come about, cousin?"
"I wouldn't mind telling you, Rej, if there was time. But there isn't.As you see, Sir Richard is waiting for me."
"Sir Richard who?"
"Walwyn."
"Oh, that's the name of your generous conqueror?"
"It is."
"I've heard of the individual, though never saw him till now. But howfell you into his company, and what brought about your quarrel?"
"Leave it, Rej, like other matters, till we meet again, and have moretime to talk over such things."
"Agreed. Still there's time to say why you are going to HollymeadHouse."
"Hollymead House?"
"Oh, you didn't know that was the name of Ambrose Powell's place!"
"Ambrose Powell?"
"What! Nor yet the name of the man you're about to pay visit to?"
"I confess I do not."
"Nor anything else of him?"
"Nothing whatever."
He was on the point of adding, "Only that I've been told something abouta pair of pretty girls," when it occurred to him he might be touching ona subject in which his cousin had a tender concern.
"'Pon my honour!" rejoined the latter, making an uphill attempt tolaugh, "the tale grows stranger and stranger! You, of the King'sHousehold, on your way to make acquaintance--friendly, of course--withone of his Majesty's greatest and most pronounced enemies--a man whohates King, Court, and Church; above all, bitter against your especialpatroness, the Queen. I've heard him call her a Jezebel, with otheropprobrious epithets."
"Odd in you, Rej, such a devoted Royalist, to have listened calmly toall that?"
"I didn't listen calmly; would have quickly stopped his seditiouschattering, but for--"
"For what?" asked the other, seeing he hesitated.
"Oh, certain reasons I may some day make known to you. Like yourself,Eust, I have some secrets."
Eust thought he could give a good guess at one of them, but mercifullyforbore allusion to it.
"But," he said, with an air of pretended surprise, "you've been justvisiting this terrible king-hater yourself, Rej? If I mistake not, youcame out of the park. You were up to the house, were you not?"
"I was."
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sp; "And has it shaken your loyalty, or in any way weakened it?"
"On the contrary, strengthened it. My errand to Ambrose Powell, withthe reception he vouchsafed me--the ill-grained curmudgeon--has had allthat effect."
"Then you've been quarrelling, too! Have you any objection to tell mewhat about?"
"Not the slightest. I was the bearer of a letter of Privy Seal to him--for a loan. Sir John Wintour, as you may be aware, has been appointedone of the King's Commissioners of Array for West Gloucestershire andthe Forest. You know I'm in his service, which will make the matterunderstandable to you."
"And you haven't got the money? I needn't ask; there's the signs ofrefusal in your face."
"Got the money! Zounds! no. Instead, the recusant tore the letter intoshreds, and flung them at his feet; defying me, Sir John, King, and all!Ah! well; that won't be the end of it. I shall be sure of havingoccasion to visit Hollymead again, and ere long! Next time the tableswill be turned. But, cousin, after hearing what I've told you, are youstill in the mind to go on to that seditious den? If you take myadvice, you'll turn your back on Hollymead House, and come along withme. I'm making for Ross."
"To take your advice, Rej, would be to do as rude a thing as a man wellcould--ruder than I ever did in my life. Disloyal, too--doubly so; Ishould be traitor to gratitude, as to courtesy. Indeed, I've trenchedscandalously on good manners now, by keeping yonder gentleman so longwaiting for me."
He nodded towards Sir Richard, who had halted at some distance up theavenue.
"Oh, very well," sneeringly rejoined Sir John Wintour's emissary. "Ofcourse, you can do as you like, Eust. I'm not your master, thoughyonder gentleman, as you call him, seems to be. Good-evening!"
And with this curt leave-taking, the sneer still on his face, he dug thespurs deep into his horse's ribs, and went off at a gallop along theroad for Ross.