CHAPTER XXXI
CAPTAIN McBEAN TAKES HORSE
Captain McBean, healthily red and brown, showed no sign of having beenout of bed all night. From cold water and a razor in his own lodgings hecame back at a round pace to St. Martin's Lane. He found his aide, Mr.Mackenzie, taking the air on the doorstep of the Blue House, and rebukedhim. "I bade ye bide with the lad, Donald."
"The surgeon has him in hand, sir."
"_Tiens_. He's a brisk fellow, that Rolfe."
"I'm thinking Mr. Boyce will need him."
"Eh, is there anything new?"
"I would not say so. But he's sore hurt. And I'm thinking he takes ithard."
"Aye, you're the devil of a thinker, Donald." Captain McBean grinned."And the Colonel, has he made a noise?"
"He's in the way of calling for liquors, but he's peaceable, thewomen say."
"You'll go get your breakfast and be back again. And bring O'Connor withyou. I'll hope to need the two of you." Captain McBean relieved guard onthe doorstep till the surgeon came down. "I'm obliged to you, Mr. Rolfe.What do you make of him?"
"Egad, Captain, you're devoted. Why, the old gentleman has put in forsome fever, but I doubt he will do well enough."
"Be sure of it. What of the young one?"
Mr. Rolfe pursed his lip. "Faith, there's no more amiss. But--but--why,he was hard hit, I grant you--but you might take the young one for theold one. D'ye follow me? The lad hath no vigour in him."
McBean nodded. "I'll be talking to him, by your leave."
"Od's life, I would not talk long. I don't like it, Captain, and there'sthe truth. Go easy with him. I will be here again to-day."
Captain McBean went up to the room where Harry lay as white as hispillows. A woman was feeding him out of a cup. "You made it damned salt,your broth," says Harry, in a feeble disgust.
"'Tis what you lack, look you." Captain McBean sat himself on the bed andtook the cup and waved the woman off. "'Tis the natural, hale salinityand the sanguineous part which you lose by a wound, and for lack of ityou are thus faint. Therefore we do ever administer great possets of saltto the wounded, and--"
"And pickle me before I be dead," says Harry. "Be hanged to your jargon."
"You'll take another sup, my lad, if I hold your long nose to it. And youmay suck your orange after."
Harry made a wry face, swallowed a mouthful and lay back out of breath.After a while, "You were here all night, weren't you?" he said.
"I am body physician to the family of Boyce, _mon brave_."
"My father?"
"Has a hole in his shoulder, praise God, and a damned paternal temper. Hewill do well enough."
"How do you come into it?" McBean grinned. "Who were they?"
"I am here to talk to you, _mon cher_. You will not talk to me, for it isdisintegrating to your tissues. _Allons_, compose yourself and attend.Now I come into it, if you please, out of gratitude. Mr. Boyce--I have itin command from His Majesty to present you with his thanks for verygallant and faithful service."
"Oh, the boy got off then?"
"King James is returned to France, sir," says McBean with dignity."Look 'e, tie up your tongue. His Majesty charged me to put this inyour hands and to advise you that he would ever have in memory yourresource and spirit and your loyalty. Which I do with a greatsatisfaction, Mr. Boyce."
Harry fingered a pretty toy of a watch circled with diamonds, and wroughtwith a monogram in diamonds and sapphires. "Poor lad," says he.
"It's his own piece and was his father's, I believe. _Pardieu_, sir,there's many will envy you."
Harry's head went back on its pillows. "It's a queer taste."
"Mr. Boyce, you may count upon it that when His Majesty is established inpower, he--"
"He will have as bad a memory as the rest of his family. Bah, what doesit matter? You are talking of the millennium."
"You will talk, will you?" says McBean. "I'll gag you, _mordieu_, if youanswer me back again. Come, sirrah, you know the King better. It's anoble, generous lad. So leave the Whiggish sneers to your father. So muchfor that. Now, _mon ami_, you have put me under a great obligation. Itwas a rare piece of work, and to be frank, I did not think you had it inyou. But I did count upon you as a gentleman of high honour, and,_pardieu_, I count myself very fortunate I applied to you. I speak for myparty, Mr. Boyce, when I thank you and promise you any service of mine."
Harry mumbled something like, "Damn your eloquence."
But McBean was not to be put off. "You will like to know that the Kingwhen he was quit of Marlborough--egad, the old villain hath been agentleman in this business--made straight for me and was instant that Ishould concern myself for you. I held it my first duty to get His Majestyout of the country. Between ourselves, I was never in love with this planof palace trickery and Madame Anne. But the thing was offered us, and wecould not show the white feather. _Bien_, His Majesty took assurance fromMarlborough of your safety, so I had no great alarm for you. I could notbe aware of your private feuds. But now, _mordieu_, I make them my own. Ipromise you, it touches me nearly that you should be hacked down, andegad, before my eyes."
Harry tried to raise himself and said eagerly, "Who was in it? Whowere they?"
Captain McBean responded with some more of the salt broth. "Now I'llconfess that I had some doubts of your father. As soon as I was back inLondon I made haste to find you. I was waiting at that tavern of yourswhen I heard the scuffle. You were down before I could reach you, andthere was your father fighting across you most heroical. Faith, I did notknow the old gentleman had it in him. He had pinked one, I believe, buthe is slow, and they were too many for him. He took it badly in theshoulder as I came. But they were not workmen. I put one out at the firstthrust, and the rogues would not stand. I tickled one in the ham as heran, but missed the sinew in his fat. So it ended. Now I'll confess I didthe old gentleman a wrong. I guessed the business might be one of hisdamned superfine plots. It would be like him to have you finished whilehe made a brag of fighting for you. But I was wrong. _Mordieu_, I believehe has a kindness for you, Harry."
"What?" says Harry, startled by the name.
"Oh, _mon ami_, you must let me be kindly too. Egad, you command myemotions, sir. No, the old gentleman hath his humanity. He would havedied for you, Harry, and faith he is so rheumatic he nearly did. No, itwas not he played this damned game. Who d'ye think it was that I put onhis back? That rascal Ben--you remember Ben of the North Road? I put thevillain to the question who set him on you. _Bien_ he was hired to it bythat fine fellow Waverton."
"Geoffrey!" Harry gasped.
"Even so. Now, Harry, what has Master Geoffrey Waverton against you? Ifhe wanted to murder your father I could understand it. That affair atPontoise is matter enough for a life or two. Though he should take itgentlemanly. But why must he murder you?"
"I am not dead yet," said Harry, and his mouth set.
Captain McBean laughed. "Not by fifty year:" and he contemplated Harry'spale drawn face with benign approval. "But why does Mr. Waverton want youdead now?"
"That's my affair," said Harry.
"_Enfin_." Captain McBean shrugged, with a twist of the lip and a cockof the eye.
"Is there more of that broth?" says Harry.
Captain McBean administered it. "I go get another cup, Harry." He noddedand went out.
His two aides, Mackenzie and O'Connor, were waiting below. "Donald, goup. The same orders. None but Rolfe is to come to him without youstand by. And shorten your damned long face, if you can. Patrick, wetake horse."