CHAPTER IX.
WHITEHALL.
Such was the expedition used by Humphrey Chetham and Viviana, that theyaccomplished the journey to London in an extraordinarily short space oftime. Proceeding direct to Whitehall, Viviana placed a letter in thehands of a halberdier, and desired that it might be given without delayto the Earl of Salisbury. After some demur, the man handed it to anusher, who promised to lay it before the Earl. Some time elapsed beforethe result of its reception was known, when an officer, accompanied bytwo sergeants of the guard, made his appearance, and commanded Vivianaand her companion to follow him.
Crossing a wide hall, which was filled with the various retainers of thepalace, who regarded them with a sort of listless curiosity, andascending a flight of marble steps, they traversed a long corridor, andwere at length ushered into the presence of the Earl of Salisbury. Hewas seated at a table, covered with a multitude of papers, and wasbusily employed in writing a despatch, but immediately stopped on theirentrance. He was not alone. His companion was a middle-aged man, attiredin a suit of black velvet, with a cloak of the same material; but as hesat with his back towards the door, it was impossible to discern hisfeatures.
"You may leave us," said Salisbury to the officer, "but remainwithout."
"And be ready to enter at a moment's notice," added his companion,without altering his position.
The officer bowed, and retired with his followers.
"Your surrender of yourself at this time, Viviana Radcliffe," said theEarl, "weighs much in your favour; and if you are disposed freely todeclare all you know of the conspiracy, it is not impossible that theKing may extend his mercy towards you."
"I do not desire it, my lord," she replied. "In surrendering myself, Ihave no other aim than to satisfy the laws I have outraged. I do notseek to defend myself, but I desire to offer an explanation to yourlordship. Circumstances, which it is needless to detail, drew me intoconnexion with the conspirators, and I became unwillingly the depositaryof their dark design."
"You were guilty of misprision of treason in not revealing it," remarkedthe Earl.
"I am aware of it," she rejoined; "but this, I take heaven to witness,is the extent of my criminality. I held the project in the utmostabhorrence, and used every argument I was mistress of to induce itscontrivers to abandon it."
"If such were the case," demanded the Earl, "what withheld you fromdisclosing it?"
"I will now confess what torture could not wring from me before," shereplied. "I was restrained from the disclosure by a fatal passion."
"I suspected as much," observed the Earl, with a sneer. "For whom?"
"For Guy Fawkes," returned Viviana.
"God's mercy! Guy Fawkes!" ejaculated the Earl's companion, starting tohis feet. And turning as he spoke, and facing her, he disclosed heavybut not unintellectual features, now charged with an expression of theutmost astonishment. "Did you say Guy Fawkes, mistress?"
"It is the King," whispered Humphrey Chetham.
"Since I know in whose presence I stand, sire," replied Viviana, "I willanswer the interrogation. Guy Fawkes was the cause of my concealing myacquaintance with the plot. And more, I will confess to your Majesty,that much as I abhor the design, if he had not been a conspirator, Ishould never have loved him. His sombre and enthusiastic character firstgave him an interest in my eyes, which, heightened by several importantservices which he rendered me, soon ripened into love. Linked to hisfortunes, shrouded by the same gloomy cloud that enveloped him, andbound by a chain from which I could not extricate myself, I gave him myhand. But the moment of our union was the moment of our separation. Wehave not met since, and shall meet no more, unless to part for ever."
"A strange history!" exclaimed James, in a tone that showed he was notunmoved by the relation.
"I beseech your Majesty to grant me one boon," cried Viviana, falling athis feet. "It is to be allowed a single interview with my husband--notfor the sad gratification of beholding him again--not for the indulgenceof my private sorrows--but that I may endeavour to awaken a feeling ofrepentance in his breast, and be the means of saving his soul alive."
"My inclinations prompt me to grant the request, Salisbury," said theKing, irresolutely. "There can be no risk in doing it--eh?"
"Not under certain restrictions, my liege," replied the Earl.
"You shall have your wish, then, mistress," said James, "and I trustyour efforts may be crowned with success. Your husband is a hardytraitor--a second Jacques Clement--and we never think of him without thefloor shaking beneath our feet, and a horrible smell of gunpowderassailing our nostrils. Blessed be God for our preservation! But whomhave we here?" he added, turning to Humphrey Chetham. "Anotherconspirator come to surrender himself?"
"No, my liege," replied Chetham; "I am a loyal subject of your Majesty,and a stanch Protestant."
"If we may take your word for it, doubtless," replied the King, with anincredulous look. "But how come you in this lady's company?"
"I will hide nothing from your Majesty," replied Chetham. "Long beforeViviana's unhappy acquaintance with Fawkes--for such I must everconsider it--my affections had been fixed upon her, and I fondly trustedshe would not prove indifferent to my suit. Even now, sire, when allhope is dead within me, I have not been able to overcome my passion, butlove her as devotedly as ever. When, therefore, she desired my escort toLondon to surrender herself, I could not refuse the request."
"It is the truth, my liege," added Viviana. "I owe Humphrey Chetham (forso this gentleman is named) an endless debt of gratitude; and not theleast of my present distresses is the thought of the affliction I haveoccasioned him."
"Dismiss it from your mind, then, Viviana," rejoined Chetham. "It willnot mitigate my sorrows to feel that I have added to yours."
"Your manner and looks seem to give a warranty for loyalty, young sir,"said the King. "But I must have some assurance of the truth of yourstatement before you are set at large."
"I am your willing prisoner, my liege," returned Chetham. "But I have aletter for the Earl of Salisbury, which may vouch perhaps for me."
And as he spoke, he placed a letter in the Earl's hands, who broke openthe seal, and hastily glanced at its contents.
"It is from Doctor Dee," he said, "from whom, as your Majesty is aware,we have received much important information relative to this atrociousdesign. He answers for this young man's loyalty."
"I am glad to hear it," rejoined the King. "It would have beenmortifying to be deceived by so honest a physiognomy."
"Your Majesty will be pleased to attach your signature to this warrantfor Viviana Radcliffe's committal to the Tower," said Salisbury, placinga paper before him.
James complied, and the Earl summoned the guard.
"Have I your Majesty's permission to attend this unfortunate lady to thefortress?" cried Chetham, prostrating himself before the King.
James hesitated, but glancing at the Earl, and reading no objection inhis looks, he assented.
Whispering some private instructions to the officer respecting Chetham,Salisbury delivered the warrant to him. Viviana and her companion werethen removed to a small chamber adjoining the guard-room, where theyremained for nearly an hour, at the expiration of which time the officeragain appeared, and conducted them to the palace-stairs, where a largewherry awaited them, in which they embarked.
James did not remain long with his councillor, and as soon as he hadretired, Salisbury summoned a confidential attendant, and told him toacquaint Lord Mounteagle, who was in an adjoining apartment, that he wasnow able to receive him. The attendant departed, and presently returnedwith the nobleman in question. As soon as they were alone, and Salisburyhad satisfied himself they could not be overheard, he observed to theother,
"Since Tresham's committal to the Tower yesterday, I have received aletter from the lieutenant, stating that he breathes nothing but revengeagainst yourself and me, and threatens to betray us, if he is notreleased. It will not do to let him be examined by the Council; forthough we c
an throw utter discredit on his statement, it may beprejudicial to my future designs."
"True, my lord," replied Mounteagle. "But how do you propose to silencehim?"
"By poison," returned Salisbury. "There is a trusty fellow in the Tower,a jailer named Ipgreve, who will administer it to him. Here is thepowder," he added, unlocking a coffer, and taking out a small packet;"it was given me by its compounder, Doctor Dee. It is the same, I amassured, as the celebrated Italian poison prepared by Pope Alexander theSixth; is without scent or taste; and destroys its victim withoutleaving a trace of its effects."
"I must take heed how I offend your lordship," observed Mounteagle.
"Nay," rejoined Salisbury, with a ghastly smile, "it is for traitorslike Tresham, not true men like you, to fear me."
"I understand the distinction, my lord," replied the other.
"I must intrust the entire management of this affair to you," pursuedSalisbury.
"To me!" exclaimed Mounteagle. "Tresham is my brother-in-law. I can takeno part in his murder."
"If he lives, you are ruined," rejoined Salisbury, coldly. "You mustsacrifice him or yourself. But I see you are reasonable. Take thispowder, and proceed to the Tower. See Ipgreve alone, and instruct him todrug Tresham's wine with it. A hundred marks shall be his reward whenthe deed is done."
"My soul revolts from the deed," said Mounteagle, as he took the packet."Is there no other way of silencing him?"
"None whatever," replied Salisbury, sternly. "His blood be upon his ownhead."
With this, Mounteagle took his departure.