Part 10 (2/2)
Halfman rose, bearing Evander's sword, and went to Evander.
”Will you come this way?” he bade his captive, courteously enough. If Brilliana chose to trust a Roundhead's word, her will was Halfman's law. Evander again saluted Brilliana and followed Halfman to the farther part of the hall. Here in a window-seat, out of ear-shot of the other's speech, he seated himself to commune with his melancholy reflections, while Halfman, after stationing Thoroughgood at a little distance as a nominal guard upon the prisoner, dismissed Garlinge and Clupp from the room and rejoined the Cavaliers. Brilliana, who had still been standing with Sir Rufus, now addressed the others.
”Gentlemen,” she said, ”you must need sustenance after this morning's work. You will find such poor cheer as Harby can offer in the banqueting-hall. Captain Halfman, will you play the host for me?”
The Cavaliers, who were, indeed, sharp-set and ever-ready trenchermen, welcomed the proposal each after his own fas.h.i.+on.
”Indeed,” averred the Lord Fawley, ”I would say good-day to a pasty.”
”Ay,” a.s.sented Radlett, ”well met, beef or mutton.” Ingrow euphemized, ”I shall be well content with bread and cheese and dreams,” as he glanced admiration at Brilliana. Bardon grunted, ”I would sell all my dreams for a slice of cold boar's head.”
Halfman addressed them in the character of Father Capulet. ”We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.” He turned towards the doors of the banqueting-room with the famished gentlemen at his heels; then, noticing that Sir Rufus remained with Brilliana, he stopped and questioned him. ”You, sir, will you not eat?”
Rufus answered him with an impatience that was almost anger. ”No, no,” he said; ”I have no hunger. Stay your stomachs swiftly, friends.”
He turned again to Brilliana, and stood opposite to her in silence till Halfman and the Cavaliers had quitted the hall. Then Brilliana spoke.
”Well, good news or bad?”
”Bad,” Rufus answered. ”Your cousin Randolph is a captive.”
Brilliana gave a little cry of regret.
”Bad news, indeed! How did it chance?”
”In the battle,” Rufus answered. ”The King's standard-bearer was slain and the King's flag fell into the rebel hands.”
Brilliana clasped her hands with a sigh, and would have spoken, but Rufus stayed her, hurrying on with his tale.
”That could not be endured, dear lady. So in the dusk Randolph and I put orange scarfs about us that we might be taken for rogues of Ess.e.x's regiment, and so, unchallenged, slipped into the enemy's camp. Dear fortune led me to the tent of Lord Ess.e.x, and there I found his secretary sitting and gaping at the precious emblem. I s.n.a.t.c.hed it from his fingers and made good my escape, gaining great praise from his Majesty when I laid the sacred silk at his feet.”
Brilliana's eyes swam with adoration. ”Oh, my gallant friend!” she cried, and held out her hands to him. He caught them both and kissed them, whereat she instantly withdrew them and moved a little away. He followed her, speaking low, pa.s.sionately.
”Your words mean more than the King's words to me. You know that.”
Brilliana did not look vastly displeased at this wild speech, but she forced a tiny frown and set her finger to her lips.
”Hus.h.!.+” she said. ”What of Randolph?”
”Less fortunate than I,” Rufus resumed, in calmer tones, ”he ran into the arms of a burly Parliament man, that Cambridge Crophead Mr.
Cromwell, who made him prisoner.”
”Truly,” said Brilliana, thoughtfully, ”it is hard luck for him just after his first battle. But 'twill be soon mended. They will exchange him.”
Even as she spoke she seemed surprised at the gloomy look that reigned on Rufus's face. His tone was as gloomy as his face as he said, ”He was wearing the orange scarf of Ess.e.x.”
”What then?” Brilliana questioned, still surprised; then, as knowledge flashed upon her, she cried, quickly, ”Ah, they will say that he was a spy.”
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