Part 16 (2/2)
”Precisely,” interrupted Phil. ”Therefore, since the Spaniards have seen fit to deprive us of our weapons, I propose to make a Spaniard provide us with others. Now, I am going to knock up our friend Cervantes, and persuade him to supply our needs, so far as the resources of his establishment will allow. And, to make sure that, after we have obtained what we require, the senor shall not prematurely give the alarm and set the soldiers upon our track, we must seize and bind him, or whoever comes to the door. So be ready to pounce as soon as the door is opened.” And therewith Phil proceeded to hammer loudly upon Senor Cervantes' door.
Five or six times did he hammer upon the door with his iron bar, gently at first, but with steadily increasing vehemence, before any notice was taken of his summons. At length, however, a thin pencil of light appeared through the shutters of a window over the door, the drawing of bolts became audible, and just as Phil began to hammer afresh the window was thrown open, a figure appeared, and a gruff voice demanded, querulously--
”Hallo, there! who knocks at this untimely hour? Away with you, whoever you are, and leave me in peace, or I will sound my rattle and summon the watch!”
”The watch!” exclaimed Phil, under his breath, ”phew! I never thought of that. If we should chance to encounter the watch we may yet have trouble.” A sudden inspiration came to him, and, stepping back into the middle of the road, where his hooded figure might be seen from above, he exclaimed, in a deep, solemn voice:
”Mateo Cervantes, in the name of the Holy Inquisition I command you to open!”
”The Holy Inquisition! Ave Maria! What have I done?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the figure above, in evident trepidation. ”Your pardon, Reverend Father,”
he continued, ”I knew not who you were. I will be down instantly.” And the light vanished from the window.
”That was a good idea of mine,” remarked Phil, in a whisper. ”I thought it would fetch him down. Now, I do not think it will be necessary to seize and bind friend Cervantes immediately that he comes to the door.
He will admit us without question, no doubt; and after we are in and the door is closed, we must be guided by circ.u.mstances, and act accordingly.
Here he comes.”
A streak of light showed beneath the door; there was a sound of bolts being drawn; and presently the door opened and a big, burly, elderly man, his touzled hair touched with grey, and his body enveloped in a long white nightgown, appeared; holding a candle above his head. As the light fell upon the two hooded figures he involuntarily drew back with a gasp, whereupon Phil and d.i.c.k stepped into the pa.s.sage, closing the door behind them.
”Holy Fathers,” exclaimed Cervantes, dropping on his knees, placing the candle on the floor beside him, and raising his hands in an att.i.tude of supplication, ”I swear to you that I have done nothing; I am a good Catholic--”
”Peace!” commanded Phil, raising his hand imperatively. ”How many are there in the house with you?”
”How many?” reiterated the trembling man. ”I am alone, Reverend Father, quite alone, I give you my solemn word. My workmen do not live here with me; the house is not large enough--”
”It is well,” interrupted Phil. ”Now, rise to your feet, friend Cervantes, and conduct us to your shop.”
”My shop!” echoed the armourer. ”I give you my word, Reverend Sirs, that there is nothing in my shop that--”
”The less reason why you should hesitate to lead us thither,”
interrupted Phil, sternly.
”Of course; of course,” agreed the man, anxiously. ”Follow me, your Reverences; I have nothing to conceal; nothing to conceal.” Then, scrambling to his feet and taking up the candle, the man proceeded a few steps along the pa.s.sage, flung open a door, raised the candle above his head in such a manner as to throw the light into the room, and stood aside to allow his unwelcome and untimely visitors to enter.
”After you, friend,” remarked Phil, waving his hand for the armourer to precede them. ”And light a lamp or two,” he added, ”we must have more light than your candle affords.”
The man bowed, entered the room, which was in fact the shop, set the candlestick down upon a bench, and proceeded to light a couple of lamps which stood on wall brackets. While he was doing this his visitors were busily engaged in noting the contents of the shop, so far as the imperfect light afforded by the single candle permitted. The most prominent objects, and those which therefore first arrested their attention, were half a dozen complete suits of very fine armour, two of them being black inlaid with fine gold scroll-work, while the others were perfectly plain, but highly polished. Then there were back and breast pieces, greaves, gauntlets, maces, axes, and sheaves of arrows suspended from the walls, several very fine bows tied up in a bundle in one corner; and last, but by no means least, a large case resting upon a counter, in which were set out a number of swords, daggers, and poniards. There were also three long cases ranged along the base of the side and back walls of the shop, which the two visitors shrewdly suspected contained firearms and ammunition.
”Now, Reverend Sirs,” said the armourer as, having lighted the two lamps, he turned and faced the two hooded figures, with a bow, ”I am at your service. Be pleased to give me your commands.”
”It is well,” retorted Phil. ”Now, hark ye, friend Cervantes, you are credited with being a man of discretion; see to it, then, that ye justify your reputation by observing the most complete silence regarding this visit. You understand me?”
”Perfectly, Father,” replied the armourer. ”No word or hint will I breathe to a living soul about it.”
”Good!” replied Phil. ”You will do well to remember that promise, and keep it. Now, for a reason which does not concern you in the least, we require certain arms, and they must be the very best you have. To begin with, therefore, show me the two best swords in your stock.”
”Arms! swords!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the astonished Cervantes, looking keenly at his visitors. Then, suddenly seizing the candle and thrusting it forward, he endeavoured to peer into their faces. ”Who are ye?” he exclaimed. ”Ye are not--ah! I have it. Ye are the two English prisoners who this morning--”
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