Part 17 (1/2)
”'Tis too heavy, good Master Constable,” cried Buzzard, in sore distress.
”Thou clodhopper'” yelled Swallow, unsympathetically. ”An thou cannot master a cask of wine, thou wilt never master the King's law. To the kitchen with thee; and keep thy eyes shut, thou knave of a _posse_.” The constable made a dive for his pike and lantern, and enforced his authority by punctuating his remarks with jabs of the pike from behind at his powerless friend, who could scarce keep his legs under the weight of the cask.
As Buzzard tottered through the kitchen-door and made his exit, the constable, finding his orders faithfully obeyed, steadied himself with the pike to secure a good start; and then, with long staggering strides, he himself made his way after the _posse_, singing loudly to his heart's content:
_”Good store of good claret supplies everything And the man that is drunk is as great as a king.”_
CHAPTER IX
_Three chickens!_
The door opened quickly, and in came King Charles; but who would have known him? The royal monarch had a.s.sumed the mien and garb of a ragged cavalier.
His eyes swept the inn quickly and approvingly. He turned upon the landlord, who followed him with dubious glances.
”Cook the chickens to a turn; and, mark you, have the turbot and sauce hot, and plenty of wine,” he said. ”Look to't; the vintage I named, Master Landlord. I know the bouquet and sparkle and the ripple o'er the palate.”
”Who is to pay for all this, sir?” asked the landlord, aghast at the order.
”Insolent!” replied Charles. ”I command it, sirrah.”
”Pardon, sir,” humbly suggested the landlord; ”guineas, and not words, command here.”
”Odso!” muttered the King, remembering his disguise. ”My temper will reveal me. Never fear, landlord,” he boasted loudly. ”You shall be paid, amply paid. I will pledge myself you shall be paid.”
”Pardon, sir,” falteringly repeated the landlord, rubbing his hands together graciously; ”but the order is a costly one and you--”
”Do not look flouris.h.i.+ng?” said Charles, as he laughingly finished the sentence, glancing somewhat dubiously himself at his own dress. ”Never judge a man by his rags. Plague on't, though; I would not become my own creditor upon inspection. Take courage, good Master Landlord; England's debt is in my pocket.”
”How many to supper, sir?” asked the landlord, fearful lest he might offend.
”Two! Two! Only two!” decisively exclaimed Charles. ”A man is an extravagant fool who dines more. The third is expensive and in the way.
Eh, landlord?”
The King winked gaily at the landlord, who grinned in response and dropped his eyes more respectfully.
”Two, sir,” acquiesced the landlord.
”Aye, mine host, thou art favoured beyond thy kind,” laughed Charles, knowingly, as he dwelt upon the joys of a feast incognito alone with Nell. ”A belated G.o.ddess would sup at thy hostelry.” The landlord's eyes grew big with astonishment. ”I will return. Obey her every wish, dost hear, her every wish, and leave the bill religiously to me.” Charles swaggered gaily up the steps to the entry-way and out the door.
The moon-face of the inn-keeper grew slowly serious. He could not reconcile the shabby, road-bespattered garments of the strange cavalier with his princely commands.
”Body o' me!” he muttered, lighting one by one the candles in the room, till the rafters fairly glowed in expectation of the feast.
”Roundhead-beggar, on my life! Turbot and capons and the best vintage!
The King could not have better than this rogue. Marry, he shall have the best in the larder; but Constable Swallow shall toast his feet in the kitchen, with a mug of musty ale to make him linger.”
The corners of the mouth in the moon-face ascended in a chuckle.