Part 1 (2/2)
Oglethorpe's farht bank of the river It was a straggling Tudor building showing grey above the ivy that clothed its lower parts Approaching it now, through the fragrant orchards amid which it seemed to drowse in Arcadian peace beside the waters of the Parrett, sparkling in the ht have had a difficulty in believing it part of a world tore, as they had been riding out of Bridgewater, they had itives from the field of battle, weary, broken ering in speedless haste with the last reth into the shelter which it was their vain illusion the toould afford thelazed with lassitude and fear looked up piteously out of haggard faces at Mr Blood and his co that merciless pursuit was not far behind Undeterred, however, young Pitt rode aitives fro in ever-increasing nu the road took to a pathway that crossed the dewy roups of these hu fearfully behind the at every oons
But as Pitt's direction was a southward one, bringing them ever nearer to Feversham's headquarters, they were presently clear of that huh the peaceful orchards heavy with the ripening fruit that was soon to hted on the kidney stones of the courtyard, and Baynes, the rave of countenance and flustered of ave theed hall, the doctor found Lord Gildoy - a very tall and dark young gentleman, prominent of chin and nose - stretched on a cane day-bed under one of the tall mullioned s, in the care of Mrs Baynes and her cohter His cheeks were leaden-hued, his eyes closed, and from his blue lips ca noise
Mr Blood stood for ahis patient He deplored that a youth with such bright hopes in life as Lord Gildoy's should have risked all, perhaps existence itself, to forward the ambition of a worthless adventurer Because he had liked and honoured this brave lad he paid his case the tribute of a sigh Then he knelt to his task, ripped away doublet and underwear to lay bare his lordshi+p's led side, and called for water and linen and what else he needed for his work
He was still intent upon it a half-hour later when the dragoons invaded the homestead The clatter of hooves and hoarse shouts that heralded their approach disturbed hi, he was not easily disturbed; for another, his task absorbed him But his lordshi+p, who had now recovered consciousness, showed considerable alarm, and the battle-stained Jeremy Pitt sped to cover in a clothes-press Baynes was uneasy, and his wife and daughter trembled Mr Blood reassured them
”Why, what's to fear?” he said ”It's a Christian country, this, and Christian men do not make war upon the wounded, nor upon those who harbour them” He still had, you see, illusions about Christians He held a glass of cordial, prepared under his directions, to his lordshi+p's lips ”Give your mind peace,and clanking into the stone-flagged hall - a round dozen jack-booted, lobster-coated troopers of the Tangiers Regiold lace about the breast of his coat
Baynes stood his ground, his attitude half-defiant, whilst his wife and daughter shrank away in renewed fear Mr Blood, at the head of the day-bed, looked over his shoulder to take stock of the invaders
The officer barked an order, which brought his loved hand bearing down the pu musically as he moved He announced his authority to the yeooons What rebels do you harbour?”
The yeoman took alarm at that ferocious truculence It expressed itself in his tre voice
”I I aentleman”
”I can see for myself” The Captain starey-faced sufferer
”No need to ask how he came in this state and by his wounds A da a cooons ”Out with hiot between the day-bed and the troopers
”In the naer ”This is England, not Tangiers The gentleman is in sore case He may not be moved without peril to his life”
Captain Hobart was amused
”Oh, I am to be tender of the lives of these rebels! Odds blood! Do you think it's to benefit his health we're taking hi the road froewater, and he'll serve for one of them as well as another Colonel Kirke'll learn these nonconforenerations”
”You're hanging men without trial? Faith, then, it's iers, after all, it sees”
The Captain considered hi eye He looked hi-boots to the crown of his periwig He noted the spare, active fraant poise of the head, the air of authority that invested Mr Blood, and soldier recognized soldier The Captain's eyes narrowed Recognition went further
”Who the hell may you be?” he exploded”
”My name is Blood, sir - Peter Blood, at your service”
”Aye - aye! Codso! That's the name You were in French service once, were you not?”
If Mr Blood was surprised, he did not betray it
”I was”
”Then I reiers”
”That is so I knew your colonel”
”Faith, you hed unpleasantly ”What brings you here, sir?”
”This wounded gentleman I was fetched to attend him I am a medicus”
”A doctor - you?” Scorn of that lie - as he conceived it - rang in the heavy, hectoring voice
”Medicinae baccalaureus,” said Mr Blood
”Don't fling your French at lish!+”
Mr Blood's s ewater”
The Captain sneered ”Which you reached by way of Ly of your bastard Duke”
It was Mr Blood's turn to sneer ”If your ere as big as your voice, reat oon was speechless The colour deepened in his face
”Youyou”
”Faith, yes Ye've the look and the man But if you practise your trade ona rope round your own neck He's not the kind you ht to trial, and the right to trial by his peers”
”By his peers?”
The Captain was taken aback by these three words, which Mr Blood had stressed
”Sure, now, any but a fool or a savage would have asked his naentleman is my Lord Gildoy”
And then his lordshi+p spoke for himself, in a weak voice
”I make no concealment of my association with the Duke of Monmouth I'll take the consequences But, if you please, I'll take them after trial - by my peers, as the doctor has said”