CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
A PRINCELY ADMIRER.
"Mein Gott, what a sweet _fraulein_! A pair of them! _Wunderschon_!"
It was Prince Rupert who so exclaimed, his eyes turned upon two younggirls in a gaze of more than ordinary interest.
Ladies they were, as grace, garb, and other surroundings proclaimedthem. On horseback, an elderly gentleman along with them, riding infront; and behind a small retinue of servants, male and female. Theyhad just issued out of the gate as part of the stream of peoplehastening away from the city, and were coming on towards the spotoccupied by the Royalist commander and his staff.
Still looking after the Forest troop, not yet out of sight, ReginaldTrevor faced round on hearing the Prince's exclamatory words. Chafedalready by the sharp retort of his cousin, what he saw now gave him afresh spasm of chagrin. Ambrose Powell and his daughters setting off ona journey, evidently for Gloucester, whither Eustace was going too!
Lunsford had also caught sight of them, showing almost as muchexcitement, with more surprise. Just out of Berkeley Castle, where hehad been incarcerated ever since the affair of Edgehill, he had notheard of the Powell family being in Bristol. And now beholding thewoman whose beauty had so impressed him while tax-collecting in theForest of Dean, it gave him a start, succeeded by a feeling of vexationto see she was going away, again to be beyond his reach.
By this the travelling party had got opposite, and were passing on.Poorly mounted all, on horses very different from those they would havebeen riding around Ruardean. But the sorriness of their nags made nodifference as regarded the looks of the ladies. Dignity as theirs wasnot dependent on extraneous trifles, and for their beauty the verycontrast, with the excitement of the situation, but rendered it the morepiquant and conspicuous.
The cheeks of both flushed burning red as they came opposite the groupof officers. No wonder, with so many eyes bent in bold gaze upon them.They heard words, too, offensive to female ears.
"It's a pity, Vag," said Sabrina, in an undertone, "we didn't think ofputting on our masks."
"Oh! I don't care," rejoined the younger sister, with a jaunty toss ofthe head. "They may look their owlish eyes out--it matters not to me."
Just then her own eyes encountered another pair, which brought a changeover her countenance--Reginald Trevor's. He was gazing at her with anintensity of expression that ill bore out the indifference he pretendedwhen parting with her at the Lalandes' ball. A frown it was now,equally affected, as she knew. And just because of knowing this she didnot return it; instead, gave him a look half-kind, half-pitying. If alittle coquettish, she was not cruel; and she felt repentful,remembering how on that night she had misled him.
At the same time there was a crossing of eyes between her sister andanother officer close by Sabrina saw the man who had so impudently ogledher at Hollymead, knowing him to be Colonel Lunsford. In a similarmanner was he acting now, only to get from her a glance of contemptuousscorn, which would have rebuked any other than a brazen Cavalier.
He did quail under it a little, feeling in his heart that if he everreceived favour from that lady it would have to be a forced one.
"Who are they?" interrogated the Prince, after they had passed, stillfollowing them with his eyes. "You appear to know them. Colonel?"
It was Lunsford to whom he addressed himself, observing the look ofrecognition with which the latter was regarding them.
"Those ladies? Is it they your Royal Highness deigns to inquire about?"And he pointed to the party which had so interested all.
"_Ya_! Or only one of them, if you like--she with the golden locks. Icare not to know the other."
Reginald Trevor had overheard this with a singular revulsion of feeling.Bitter as it was to him to see Vaga Powell depart, it would now havebeen worse, the thought of her remaining in Bristol. Angry he was withher, but not so spiteful nor wicked, as to wish her a fate like that.Well knew he what danger there was to any woman whose beauty temptedRupert.
Diametrically opposite were the feelings of Lunsford as he listened tothe Prince's declared preference. He had feared it was for the eldersister, which would spoil his own chances should such ever come.Relieved, he made answer,--
"They are sisters, your Royal Highness; the daughters of the gentlemanyou see along with them."
"Egad! a rich father in the way of womankind. I wouldn't mind pilferinga part of his wealth. That bit of saucy sweetness, with cheeks allroses, ought to be pleasant company. I haven't seen anything to equalher in all your England."
"Then, your Royal Highness, why do you allow them to go?" said Lunsford,speaking in an undertone. "As you see, they're setting off forGloucester, and it may be some time before an opportunity--"
"Ah! true," interrupted the Prince, reflectively.
"If your Highness deign to say the word, they'll be brought back. It'snot yet too late."
The suggestion was selfish as it was base. For he who made it butwished them detained on his own account.
For a moment Rupert seemed inclined to fall in with it; and might havedone so, but for a reflection that got the better of him.
"_Nein_, Colonel!" he said at length. "We dare not."
"What dares not your Royal Highness?"
"That you propose. You forget the terms of capitulation? To infringethem would cause scandal, and of that we Cavaliers have had accusationalready--as much as we can well carry. Ha-ha-ha!"
The laugh told how little he cared for it, and how lightly it sat uponhis conscience.
"Your Highness, I'm aware of all that," persisted Lunsford. "But theseare excepted people--that is, the father."
"How so?"
"Because of his being one of the King's worst and bitterest enemies.But that's not all. He's been a _recusant_--is still. I myselfattempted to levy on him for a loan by Privy Seal--three thousandpounds--the King required. I not only failed to get the money, but camenear being set upon, and possibly torn to pieces, by a mob of DeanForesters--very wolves--his adherents and retainers. Surely all thatshould be sufficient justification for the detaining of him and his."
Prompted by his vile passions again, the Royal Sybarite seemed inclinedto act upon the diabolical counsel. But, although the war's historyalready bristled with chronicles of crime, nothing quite so openlyscandalous, as that would be, had yet appeared upon its pages. Manysuch there were afterwards, when this Prince and his gallants had morecorrupted England's people, and better accustomed them to look lightlyon the breaches of all law and all decency.
At a later period Rupert would not have regarded them, as indeed he didnot twelve months after in this same city of Bristol. Of his behaviourthen thus wrote one of his attached servitors to the Marquis ofOrmonde,--
"Prince Rupert is so much given to his ease and pleasure that every oneis disheartened that sees it. The city of Bristol is but a great houseof bawdry."
Things were not so on that day succeeding its surrender, and publicopinion had still some restraint upon him. Enough to deter him from theoutrage he would otherwise willingly have perpetrated.
"Never mind, Colonel," he at length said resignedly. "We must let thebirds go, and live in hopes of seeing them again. You know theirroosting place, I suppose?"
"I do, your Royal Highness."
"So, well! When we've settled things with the sword, which we soonshall now, I may want you to pilot me thither. Meanwhile, _laszt esgehen_."
At which the dialogue ended, unheard by all save Reginald Trevor. Andhe only overheard snatches of it; still enough to make him apprehensiveabout the fate of Vaga Powell. If he wanted her for himself it was notin the way Prince Rupert wanted her.