CHAPTER XXI
HOW I VISITED BEDFORD A SECOND TIME
"It may be nought," said the farmer; "perhaps you, young sir, seeing youhave much learning and have read wise books, may say it was nought;nevertheless I believe it was what I say it was, although there is onething I cannot understand."
"And what do you say it was?"
"I say it was the devil."
"And what is the thing you cannot understand?"
"He had a woman with him."
"Ay, but I can understand that," remarked one of the others, who hadbeen listening intently. "Wherever the devil is at work you always finda woman. For that matter I doubt if the devil could get on at all butfor woman."
"That's true, John Trounsen," remarked the third. "My wife is a goodwoman, let who will say otherwise; but for all that there's a woman inall devilry. The devil could not do his work without witches, and Idoubt not he was obliged to have many witches with him at Pycroft. Allthat's been done there these last few years could not have been donewithout them."
"But what did he look like?" I asked eagerly, for as may be imaginedother thoughts had come into my mind than those spoken by the simplefarmers.
"Look like?" said the farmer who told the story. "Well that again seemsstrange. And yet I do not know. The parson says the devil can appear asan angel of light, so I do not see why he cannot appear as an old man."
"An old man?" I cried.
"Ay, an old man. This was how it happened, young master. I was passingby the Pycroft woods on Friday evening, when I heard the noise likethunder. It fairly seemed to shake the very ground. I looked around me,but I could see nothing. Then I heard something like a cackle, and ongazing around me I saw him standing a little distance from me with awoman by his side. Mind you, nothing was to be seen afore the greatnoise, then all of a sudden he appeared."
"Ay, that must have been the devil," remarked the man called Trounsen.
"All of a sudden, all of a sudden, just like he always comes! What didthe parson say on Sunday? 'He cometh like a thief in the night,'"remarked the other.
"Did any smoke come out of his nostrils?" asked Trounsen.
"No, he was just a simple old man with a short neck and long whiskers.Ay, but you should have seen his eyes. Fire seemed to come from them."
"Did he say aught?"
"Nay, but he laughed--or rather he cackled, and then he shook his handtowards Pycroft. Ay but I was frightened."
"Did he see you?"
"Nay, he didn't, and you may be sure I made no noise."
"And the woman--what was she like?" I asked.
"Ay, there you have me again, master, for the woman was young, and Ithought fair to look upon."
"Did either say aught?"
"Ay, they talked to each other in words which I could not understand;but presently I heard the woman say they must haste to Bedford, forthere was work awaiting them there. But when she had spoken he shook hishand towards Pycroft and laughed such a laugh as I never heard before."
"'What'll you find!' he said in a terrible voice. 'Perhaps a few skulls,but nought else;' and then he started, as I thought, to come where Iwas, so I just creeped under a withy bush, and hid myself. After that Iheard no more. When I dared to creep out again nought was to be seen. Hehad spirited both himself and the woman away."
After this the man told his story again, but I gathered nothing new. Hesimply detailed for the willing ears of the others such trifles as wereof no importance to me. But he had told me enough to set me thinking.The man was doubtless old Solomon. But the woman, who was she? I calledto mind that on the night when I first went to Pycroft I saw not onlyMistress Constance Denman in the room, but another woman. Might not thisbe the same woman? She must have known Mistress Constance, else they hadnot been together. Moreover, what might be the significance of herdesire to go to Bedford? Was not this the place to which Constance hadflown? Was it not natural, therefore, that some understanding existedbetween them?
When all was quiet in the inn that night, and the visitors had departed,I lay thinking of all that had taken place, and I felt that I must startfor Bedford the next day. It was by this means only that I should againfind the old man, and I blessed the lucky happening which had led me tothe inn, and thus had been enabled to hear the farmer's story. Much as Icudgelled my brains, however, I was unable to get any nearer thesolution of the mystery which faced me, neither could I so much asarrive at a suggestion of the truth concerning the link which bound theunknown woman at Pycroft Hall with Mistress Constance Denman. Also I wasas much in the dark as to the ties which bound these women to oldSolomon. Everything was a mystery, and I knew not how to explain it.
Next morning I was on horseback again. I knew that my way to Bedford laystraight through London, yet did I not deem it wise to go thither. I hadnot yet accomplished the thing I had set out to do, and I did not feellike going back to the Duke of York to tell what I had seen and heard.So I determined to bear to the left until I reached the Portsmouth road,and then by riding through the little village of Wandsworth, andcrossing Battersea fields, I should miss London altogether. I knew thatI could obtain a ferry at Battersea, and then by riding across country Icould get to Barnet without so much as being seen by any who dwelt inLondon town.
Although I was eager to get to Bedford I knew that I incurred greatdanger by going thither. Doubtless searchers would be abroad to find theman who had liberated the daughter of Master John Leslie from BedfordGaol, and as not many days had passed since the event, the desire tocapture me must be still keen. Still nothing could be done without risk.I did not slacken speed but went straight on.
I wondered much by what means old Solomon could take the woman toBedford, seeing that his peculiar appearance would attract muchattention. But I knew that he was a man of great resource, and possiblyhe had friends unknown to me.
It took me two days to reach Bedford, even although Black Ben might havecovered the distance in less time. The truth was, however, I could notaccomplish the journey in one day, and I did not wish to reach Bedfordtown until after dark on the second day.
I little thought when I had fled from the inn, while a crowd of men werehowling after me, that I should so soon draw near the same place, yet asthe sun was setting on the second day after I had left the inn where Ihad heard news of Father Solomon I found myself at the very place whereI had met the man called John Bunyan. My plans, however, did not make ita necessity for me to go so straight into danger. Rather it was mypurpose to go to Goodlands, and by means of diligent inquiries to findout the things I desired to know. I did not hurry, for the sun had setin a clear sky, and I knew the twilight would last for wellnigh an hour,so Black Ben, catching my humour, walked quietly along, but we had notgone far in this way before I perceived something was afoot. There wasthe noise of the trampling of many feet in the near distance, while Icould hear the excited manner of many voices.
I looked eagerly around me, but the trees and hedges being in full leafhid wellnigh everything from me. I saw however that I was nearing theplace where, on the night of Mistress Constance's escape from prison, weleft the main road and turned towards the narrow lane where we had beenmolested by the constable and his friends.
"They seem to be coming from Goodlands," I said to myself, as I tried tolocate the noise of the people, and at this my heart grew cold, for Ifeared lest something evil had happened to the woman I had tried tobefriend.
Forgetting all possible danger to myself, therefore, I urged Black Benforward, and soon I saw a number of people who as far as I could judgewere much wrought upon. That they were not drunken was easy to see, forthey walked circumspectly, and yet many angry cries reached me, asthough there were a division of opinion among them. I had barely reachedthe spot where the lane joined the highway when in spite of myself Igave a cry, for there, right in the midst of a motley crowd, wasMistress Constance, while on either side of her walked a constable witha truncheon in his hand. Never, if I live until I am as old asMethuselah shall I forget the lo
ok on her face, for although the sun hadnow set, leaving only a great golden glow in the western sky, I saw itplainly.
She was very pale, I remember, save for a pink spot that burned on hercheeks, but she shewed no other sign of fear. Her lips were compressedand determined, while her eyes burned with a clear steady light. Shestood perfectly straight too, and carried herself proudly, as though shewere a May Queen walking amidst the plaudits of the multitude, insteadof being a prisoner. Headgear she had none, but her hair hung in richprofusion around her shoulders and far down her back. Even then I caughtthe sheen of those curling tresses, which gave her the appearance of aqueen of beauty.
She paid not the slightest heed either to those who muttered angrythreats against her or those who evidently sympathized with her; hereyes were fixed on the distant skies, as though her thoughts were faraway.
"What are they doing with her?" I said to a man standing on theoutskirts of the crowd, but I spoke like a man in a dream, for I knewquite well.
"Doing? Why, taking her to gaol again; and I warrant she does not escapeagain, witch or no witch!"
And now I have to make confession of that which mayhap will draw awayfrom me the sympathy of all good people, for at that moment I, RolandRashcliffe, realized that I loved this woman more than my own life. Iknew of what she had been accused, and she had never denied theseaccusations. She was said to be guilty of attempting to murder GeneralMonk for seeking to bring back the king, and had been engaged in evilplots against his Majesty. And yet I loved her. But this was not all.She was the wife of Sir Charles Denman, a man who bore an evil name, andwho had been actively interested in the death of the king's father. Assuch I should never have thought of her save as a murderess who had beenmarried to a bad man. And yet at that moment I forgot everything. Forgotthat her hands were stained with blood, forgot that her life wassurrounded by mystery, forgot that she owed the allegiance of a wife toa husband, forgot everything, in fact, save that her life was dearerthan my own, and that I must seek to save her at all hazards. That mylove was hopeless I knew, for she belonged to another; that mydetermination to save her was madness I also knew, for what could one doamong so many? Yet regardless of everything I sprang from my horse, andas if by magic I made a road for myself amidst the crowd till I reachedher side.
"Mistress Constance!" I cried.
And then, spite of everything, a great joy came into my heart, forthough she spoke no word I saw that as her eyes turned towards me theylit up with a great gladness, and she, as I thought, tried to hold outher hands towards me.
"Mistress Constance!" I repeated, and I forgot the gaping motley crowdwhich surged around, which I think was at that moment too curious to doanything save to stare at us in wonder. But as I spoke a second time Isaw that the joy which shone from her eyes at her first sight of mepassed away, and in its place came a look of terror.
"Escape! escape!" she said. "You cannot help me, and----"
But before she could finish the sentence a great yell went up from manythroats.
"The man at _The Bull_!"
"The man who drugged Master Sturgeon's ale!"
"It is he who got her out of gaol!"
"Ay, we saw him taking her to Goodlands!"
These and a hundred other disjointed cries I heard, and then I wasroughly seized by many hands.
"What shall we do with him?"
"Do! Why to gaol with him!"
"This will be sugar and honey to Master Sturgeon."
"Ay, and a feather in our cap when the king hears of it!"
"We'll see now if he'll laugh at us a second time!"
All this I heard as I was dragged along, but I took but little heed. Myeyes were fixed on Mistress Constance's face, and I heeded not the angryshouts of those who held me in my delight at being near her.
"Why did you do this?" I heard her say.
"Because I could not help it," I replied.
At this moment I heard a great cry of fear, and turning I saw Black Benrushing towards me, while the crowd made way for him. He might havejudged that I was in danger, for he came up to me, his eyes wild and hishead uplifted high in the air.
I thought for a moment that those who held me fast would have let me goas he came up, so fearful were they: nevertheless they did not releaseme, although they sheltered themselves behind me.
What would have happened I know not, for at that moment the crowd wasmuch excited, but Black Ben, as I thought, seemed to be making forMistress Constance--whereupon I spoke angrily to him and bade him bestill. He obeyed like a child, for so much had we been together at homethat he had learnt to take note of the tones of my voice, and to come atmy call like a well-trained spaniel.
"What are you going to do with me?" I said to the men who held me fast.
"Do? Take you to gaol, young master."
"Why? What charge have you against me?"
"We'll see to that to-morrow morning at the County Court!" was thereply.
"Then let my horse be taken to _The Bull_ stables," I said, for eventhen I could not bear for him to suffer because of me.
"Ay, and who'll take him?" was the reply.
It was a strange procession as ever man saw, as we walked towards theriver; for although my captors still held me fast, Black Ben walked nearme, his eyes flashing, while every now and then he shook his head, andsnorted dangerously.
When we reached _The Bull_ we stopped.
"Call the ostler," I said, as though I were in command instead of beinga prisoner, and a few seconds later, Black Ben allowed himself to be ledinto the stables.
By this time a greater crowd than ever had gathered. Indeed, as itseemed to me, the whole town had turned out to see us. This vexed memuch, for I hated the thought that many hundreds of staring eyes wereupon us, but Mistress Constance seemed to heed nothing. She walked alongthe street, and over the bridge, with head erect, and the faraway lookin her eyes as when I had seen her first of all that night.
We were kept near to each other, so near in truth that I could havetouched her had my hands been free, but she did not seem to heed me.
"Do not fear," I said to her.
"I fear nothing--for myself," she replied.
"We shall be perchance taken before the king. If we are we shall be setat liberty."
But she shook her head, and after that we spoke to each other no morethat night, for a few minutes later I found myself in a dark dungeon ofa place, where there was neither light to see, nor fresh air to bebreathed.
I will not try to set down here the thoughts and feelings whichpossessed me that night. Indeed there will be no need to relate them,even if I felt inclined to do so. All who read this will know that itwas not of myself that I thought, save only in so far as the interestsof Mistress Constance were linked to my own. All my thoughts wereconcerned with her. Neither did I fear for myself, although I knew I wasin great danger. I was for ever asking what would be done to her, andwondering at times whether the mystery which surrounded her would beexplained.
As may be imagined, sleep was out of the question, and tired as Ishould have been under ordinary circumstances, I felt no weariness.
When daylight shewed itself, even in the foul den where I lay, I fell towondering how Mistress Constance's hiding place had been discovered, andhow she, who had felt so certain of being able to avoid capture, shouldhave allowed herself to be taken by such a clumsy set of yokels as thosewho brought her thither. I wondered much also where Master Leslie mightbe, and why he was not by his daughter's side. I at length concludedthat he must perchance have gone to London, or he might have found itnecessary to place himself in hiding.
Concerning the defence I proposed making for myself I meditated not onewhit, for all my interests were swallowed up in those of the woman, thevery thought of whom filled me with joy, and yet tore my heart withgrief. It must have been perchance eight o'clock when the door opened,and Master Sturgeon entered.
"Ah, young Master Jackanapes," he cried. "So your sins, like chicken,have come home to roost?"
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"No, Master Sturgeon," I said, looking him steadily in the face. "I soenjoyed your company when last I saw you that I have taken the firstopportunity to meet you again."
"Anger me not, or it will go hard with you," he cried.
"As to that, anger me not," I cried, "or I will e'en tell the town clerkand the mayor what a fool you are. I will tell them how drunk you were,and that I could not only have set one prisoner at liberty, but everyone you had under lock and key."
I saw that I had made him fear, although he put a brave face on it.
"Bah! Master Braggart," he cried, "you will see that I will not be againtaken in by your boasting."
"I never said I was a zealous servant of the king, even while I becameso drunk that I failed to do my duty," I replied. "As to being abraggart, Master Gaoler, I have told you nought but the truth. And thisI swear, if Mistress Constance Leslie, or whatever you are pleased tocall her, be not kindly treated, I will see to it that a true story ofthe way you conducted yourself be widely published. Ay, it shall evenreach the king's ears. In which case you will no longer be a gaoler, buta prisoner."
"As to that it is my full intention that she shall be treated with alldue courtesy," he replied, "but tell me the meaning of what hath takenplace, young master. Who are you, and why came you to Bedford? I promiseyou that aught you shall say to me shall do you good rather than harm."
"As to that presently," I replied. "But will you on your part first tellme something?"
"I will tell you all that seemeth right to tell," he replied.
"Then how was the woman who was brought here with me last night takenprisoner?"
"Ay, that is easy to tell," he replied. "I had my suspicion that theremight be doings at Goodlands which it might advantage me to know, so Igot a warrant to search the place from cellar to cock-loft. And this, asyou will see, led to good results, for truly the constables had not beenin the house a minute before this daughter of Master Leslie's came tothe place where the constables were, and gave herself up. Was not thismighty clever on my part?"
"And then you searched no more?" I said.
"There was nought more to search for. You see I had the house searchedthe day after you--you--set her free from here; but nought could I find,no not a sign of her. But I bided my time. I said, 'she will return,'and in truth she did."
"You say you did this?" I asked.
"Ay I did--that is me and the justices together."
I said nought at this, although I was sore puzzled at his words, for Ithought I saw a meaning in it all far greater than he had dreamt of.
"And now tell me what you promised to tell me?" he said.
"At what hour am I to be brought before the justices?" I asked.
"At ten o'clock," he replied.
"Then I must needs think of my defence," I replied, "and you will haveto wait until their worships have examined me."
This, as may be imagined, did not satisfy him, but he had to becontent, for I would not answer a single question he put.
At ten o'clock the next day I was brought before the justices ofBedford, but I never dreamed, as I appeared before them, of the things Ishould presently learn.