Venetia

  CHAPTER XV.

  Dr. Masham could gain no tidings of the object of his pursuit atSouthport: here, however, he ascertained that Plantagenet could nothave fled to London, for in those days public conveyances were rare.There was only one coach that ran, or rather jogged, along this road,and it went but once a week, it being expected that very night; whilethe innkeeper was confident that so far as Southport was concerned,his little lordship had not sought refuge in the waggon, whichwas more frequent, though somewhat slower, in its progress to themetropolis. Unwilling to return home, although the evening was nowdrawing in, the Doctor resolved to proceed to a considerable townabout twelve miles further, which Cadurcis might have reached by across road; so drawing his cloak around him, looking to his pistols,and desiring his servant to follow his example, the stout-heartedRector of Marringhurst pursued his way.

  It was dark when the Doctor entered the town, and he proceededimmediately to the inn where the coach was expected, with some fainthope that the fugitive might be discovered abiding within its walls;but, to all his inquiries about young gentlemen and ponies, hereceived very unsatisfactory answers; so, reconciling himself as wellas he could to the disagreeable posture of affairs, he settled himselfin the parlour of the inn, with a good fire, and, lighting his pipe,desired his servant to keep a sharp look-out.

  In due time a great uproar in the inn-yard announced the arrival ofthe stage, an unwieldy machine, carrying six inside, and dragged by asmany horses. The Doctor, opening the door of his apartment, whichled on to a gallery that ran round the inn-yard, leaned over thebalustrade with his pipe in his mouth, and watched proceedings. It sohappened that the stage was to discharge one of its passengers at thistown, who had come from the north, and the Doctor recognised in him aneighbour and brother magistrate, one Squire Mountmeadow, an importantpersonage in his way, the terror of poachers, and somewhat of anoracle on the bench, as it was said that he could take a depositionwithout the assistance of his clerk. Although, in spite of theostler's lanterns, it was very dark, it was impossible ever to beunaware of the arrival of Squire Mountmeadow; for he was one of thosegreat men who take care to remind the world of their dignity by theattention which they require on every occasion.

  'Coachman!' said the authoritative voice of the Squire. 'Where is thecoachman? Oh! you are there, sir, are you? Postilion! Where is thepostilion? Oh! you are there, sir, are you? Host! Where is the host?Oh! you are there, sir, are you? Waiter! Where is the waiter? I saywhere is the waiter?'

  'Coming, please your worship!'

  'How long am I to wait? Oh! you are there, sir, are you? Coachman!'

  'Your worship!'

  'Postilion!'

  'Yes, your worship!'

  'Host!'

  'Your worship's servant!'

  'Waiter!'

  'Your worship's honour's humble servant!'

  'I am going to alight!'

  All four attendants immediately bowed, and extended their arms toassist this very great man; but Squire Mountmeadow, scarcely deigningto avail himself of their proffered assistance, and pausing on eachstep, looking around him with his long, lean, solemn visage, finallyreached terra firma in safety, and slowly stretched his tall, ungainlyfigure. It was at this moment that Dr. Masham's servant approachedhim, and informed his worship that his master was at the inn, andwould be happy to see him. The countenance of the great Mountmeadowrelaxed at the mention of the name of a brother magistrate, and in anaudible voice he bade the groom 'tell my worthy friend, his worship,your worthy master, that I shall be rejoiced to pay my respects to anesteemed neighbour and a brother magistrate.'

  With slow and solemn steps, preceded by the host, and followed by thewaiter, Squire Mountmeadow ascended the staircase of the externalgallery, pausing occasionally, and looking around him with thoughtfulimportance, and making an occasional inquiry as to the state of thetown and neighbourhood during his absence, in this fashion: 'Stop!where are you, host? Oh! you are there, sir, are you? Well, Mr. Host,and how have we been? orderly, eh?'

  'Quite orderly, your worship.'

  'Hoh! Orderly! Hem! Well, very well! Never easy, if absent onlyfour-and-twenty hours. The law must be obeyed.'

  'Yes, your worship.'

  'Lead on, sir. And, waiter; where are you, waiter? Oh, you are there,sir, are you? And so my brother magistrate is here?'

  'Yes, your honour's worship.'

  'Hem! What can he want? something in the wind; wants my advice, I daresay; shall have it. Soldiers ruly; king's servants; must be obeyed.'

  'Yes, your worship; quite ruly, your worship,' said the host.

  'As obliging and obstreperous as can be,' said the waiter.

  'Well, very well;' and here the Squire had gained the gallery, wherethe Doctor was ready to receive him.

  'It always gives me pleasure to meet a brother magistrate,' saidSquire Mountmeadow, bowing with cordial condescension; 'and agentleman of your cloth, too. The clergy must be respected; I stand orfall by the Church. After you, Doctor, after you.' So saying, the twomagistrates entered the room.

  'An unexpected pleasure, Doctor,' said the Squire; 'and what bringsyour worship to town?'

  'A somewhat strange business,' said the Doctor; 'and indeed I am not alittle glad to have the advantage of your advice and assistance.'

  'Hem! I thought so,' said the Squire; 'your worship is verycomplimentary. What is the case? Larceny?'

  'Nay, my good sir, 'tis a singular affair; and, if you please, we willorder supper first, and discuss it afterwards. 'Tis for your privateear.'

  'Oh! ho!' said the Squire, looking very mysterious and important.'With your worship's permission,' he added, filling a pipe.

  The host was no laggard in waiting on two such important guests. Thebrother magistrates despatched their rump-steak; the foaming tankardwas replenished; the fire renovated. At length, the table and the roombeing alike clear, Squire Mountmeadow drew a long puff, and said, 'Nowfor business, Doctor.'

  His companion then informed him of the exact object of his visit, andnarrated to him so much of the preceding incidents as was necessary.The Squire listened in solemn silence, elevating his eyebrows, noddinghis head, trimming his pipe, with profound interjections; and finally,being appealed to for his opinion by the Doctor, delivered himself ofa most portentous 'Hem!'

  'I question, Doctor,' said the Squire, 'whether we should notcommunicate with the Secretary of State. 'Tis no ordinary business.'Tis a spiriting away of a Peer of the realm. It smacks of treason.'

  'Egad!' said the Doctor, suppressing a smile, 'I think we can hardlymake a truant boy a Cabinet question.'

  The Squire glanced a look of pity at his companion. 'Prove thetruancy, Doctor; prove it. 'Tis a case of disappearance; and how do weknow that there is not a Jesuit at the bottom of it?'

  'There is something in that,' said the Doctor.

  'There is everything in it,' said the Squire, triumphantly. 'We mustoffer rewards; we must raise the posse comitatus.'

  'For the sake of the family, I would make as little stir asnecessary,' said Dr. Masham.

  'For the sake of the family!' said the Squire. 'Think of the nation,sir! For the sake of the nation we must make as much stir as possible.'Tis a Secretary of State's business; 'tis a case for a generalwarrant.'

  'He is a well-meaning lad enough,' said the Doctor.

  'Ay, and therefore more easily played upon,' said the Squire. 'Rome isat the bottom of it, brother Masham, and I am surprised that a goodProtestant like yourself, one of the King's Justices of the Peace, anda Doctor of Divinity to boot, should doubt the fact for an instant.'

  'We have not heard much of the Jesuits of late years,' said theDoctor.

  'The very reason that they are more active,' said the Squire.

  'An only child!' said Dr. Masham.

  'A Peer of the realm!' said Squire Mountmeadow.

  'I should think he must be in the neighbourhood.'

  'More likely at St. Omer's.'

  'They would scarely take him to the pl
antations with this war?'

  'Let us drink "Confusion to the rebels!"' said the Squire. 'Any news?'

  'Howe sails this week,' said the Doctor.

  'May he burn Boston!' said the Squire.

  'I would rather he would reduce it, without such extremities,' saidDr. Masham.

  'Nothing is to be done without extremities,' said Squire Mountmeadow.

  'But this poor child?' said the Doctor, leading back the conversation.'What can we do?'

  'The law of the case is clear,' said the Squire; 'we must move ahabeas corpus.'

  'But shall we be nearer getting him for that?' inquired the Doctor.

  'Perhaps not, sir; but 'tis the regular way. We must proceed by rule.'

  'I am sadly distressed,' said Dr. Masham. 'The worst is, he has gainedsuch a start upon us; and yet he can hardly have gone to London; hewould have been recognised here or at Southport.'

  'With his hair cropped, and in a Jesuit's cap?' inquired the Squire,with a slight sneer. 'Ah! Doctor, Doctor, you know not the gentry youhave to deal with!'

  'We must hope,' said Dr. Masham. 'To-morrow we must organise somegeneral search.'

  'I fear it will be of no use,' said the Squire, replenishing his pipe.'These Jesuits are deep fellows.'

  'But we are not sure about the Jesuits, Squire.'

  'I am,' said the Squire; 'the case is clear, and the sooner you breakit to his mother the better. You asked me for my advice, and I give ityou.'