CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.
On return for Hollymead, the hawking party did not pass throughRuardean, as it would have been round about. Nevertheless, Sir Richardwent that way. At a forking of the forest paths the knight excusedhimself to the ladies, leaving Eustace Trevor to escort them home; he,with his own servant, turning off towards the village.
Some matter of importance must have influenced him to deviate from thedirect route; and that it was pressing might be deduced from the speedto which he put his horse. Soon as parted from the others, he andHubert made free use of their spurs, going in reckless gallop down thesteepest pitches, nor drawing bridle till they had reached Ruardean. Asmall place then as now, of some two hundred houses, contiguous to afine old church, and ancient hostelry opposite, the streets alldeclivities, with some scattered dwellings that radiated off into quaintnooks and by-ways.
The clattering of hoofs had brought faces to every window, and figuresinto every door; for this had been heard long before the two horsemenmade their appearance. And now, as these came to a halt in front of theinn, their horses breathing hard, all eyes were bent upon them withinquiring curiosity.
"Wind your horn, Hubert!" commanded the knight, in an undertone, withoutwaiting for any one to come up to them.
A command which Hubert instantly obeyed by drawing a small cornet fromunder his doublet, clapping it to his lips, and sounding the "Assembly."He had been troop-trumpeter in "the army that swore so terribly inFlanders," and so understood the cavalry calls.
No cavalry, however, answered this one, nor soldiers of any arm; thoughit was answered by what looked the right material for making soldiers.Before the cornet's notes had ceased reverberating from the tower of thechurch, and the walls of the old castle--then in ruins--men could beseen issuing from the doors of the nearer houses, others hastening alongthe lanes from those more remote, all making for the spot where thehorsemen were halted.
In a few seconds nearly twenty had gathered, up and grouped around thehorses; the expression on their faces showing that they understood thesignal in a general way, but not the reason for its having been soundedto summon them just then. All looked inquiry, one putting it in theform of speech,--
"What belt, Sir Richard?" He who interrogated was a man of giganticsize, inches taller than any of the others. But something more than hissuperior stature privileged him to be first spokesman, as could bededuced from Sir Richard's answer.
"A troop coming from Lydney, Rob. They're through Drybrook by this,making for Hollymead. You and your friends will, no doubt, be there,too, curious to see how the soldiers behave themselves?"
"We'll be there, sure, Sir Richard. Rob Wilde for one, an' belikes agood many more."
"So well," rejoined the knight, with a satisfied look. Then leaningover on his saddle he whispered some words of a confidential characterinto the ear of the deer-stealer. After which, setting himself straightin the stirrups, he again set his horse into a gallop, and rode out ofthe village as rapidly as he had entered it.
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"I hear they're coming, Sir Richard?"
"They are, Mr Powell. By all signs, it's the party you've beenexpecting. Indeed, there can be no doubt about its being Wintour'stroop. One of the officers at its head we made out to be MasterTrevor's cousin, as you've heard, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes. And of their purpose there can be as little doubt--to levyfor that 3,000 pounds the King facetiously terms _loan_. A downrightrobbery, I call it."
"I too."
"What ought I to do, Sir Richard? I have the money in the house, andsuppose I must give it to them. But if you say the word, I'll refuse."
"Let me leave the word unsaid till I see what sort of following is afterthem. There appeared to be a good many from Mitcheldean, likely to bejoined by more at Drybrook, to say nothing of the contingent from nearerhome. Everything must depend on their numbers and the spirit we findthem in."
"I understand," said the other, with an assenting nod, "and will trustall to you."
This brief dialogue was at the door of Hollymead House, its ownerstanding in the porch, Sir Richard still on horseback, just arrived fromthat passage at courier-speed through Ruardean. It ended by hisdismounting and giving his horse to Hubert, with directions to take boththeir animals round to the stable-yard, and there keep them under saddleand bridle. Some other instructions were delivered to the same _sottovoce_. Then to the symphony of clanking spurs the knight ascended tothe porch; and after a few more words exchanged with the master of thehouse, he passed on into the withdrawing-room.
His entrance was a welcome intrusion, as the company inside consisted ofthe awkward number three.
And soon they paired, each pair passing into the embayment of a window,and there taking stand. Not to talk of love, or even think of it;though something equally serious occupied their thoughts--something lessagreeable. All were alike imbued with an instinct of danger drawingnigh, and so close, their eyes were now on the alert, apprehensivelygazing down the oak-shadowed avenue.
A few seconds more and they saw what they were expecting--horses, plumedhats, and the glancing of armour--a troop outside the park gate haltedtill its fastenings could be undone. In an instant it was dashed open,and soldiers seen filing through--the same as they had descried on thehill beyond Drybrook.
On came they up the avenue, without making stop till within fifty yardsof the house, where they were again brought up at the entrance to theornamental grounds. These were enclosed by a _haw-haw_; the causewaywhich crossed it having a gate also. And while this was being got openall four looking from the windows had now no difficulty in identifyingReginald Trevor in one of the officers at the head of the troop; whiletwo of them at the same time recognised the other.
"Why, bless me!" exclaimed the ex-gentleman-usher, "that's ColonelLunsford."
"As I live, Tom Lunsford!" was the almost simultaneous exclamation ofthe knight.
"Colonel Lunsford?" interrogated Vaga, addressing herself to him by herside.
"Tom Lunsford?" in like manner questioned Sabrina, but with moreearnestness as she saw Sir Richard's brow suddenly darken. "Who andwhat is he?"
"One of the most notorious--but never mind, now. By-and-by we'll talk,of him. Like enough he'll favour us with a taste of his quality beforeleaving Hollymead. But," he added, the cloud upon his brow becomingdarker, "if he do--."
The knight did not finish what was evidently intended to be a threat,partly because he saw fear coming over the face of his betrothed, andpartly that the man for whom his menace was meant had got through thegate, and, with Reginald Trevor by his side, and the soldiers filing inbehind them, was now close up to the house.