Part 88 (1/2)
CHAPTER LIX.
HOW A SURPRISE-PARTY IS VERY MUCH SURPRISED.
During these remarks ”His Majesty” had been fumbling, with a thoughtful expression, in his coat-pocket, as though trying to extricate something, the bulk of which prevented it from being drawn forth without some difficulty; and as he tugged and fumbled he began to speak.
”I came here,” said he, ”on a surprise-party, an' begorra I niver was so surprised in my loife, so I wasn't. An' be the same token, as it's a long march we've had, an' as we've got to wait here an hour or so, an' as we're on the ave av an attack an' may niver live to see another day, shure there's ivery raison in loife”--and with this he fumbled still more vigorously in his pocket--”why”--he gave a thrust and a pull--”why we should all wet our whistles”--he gave a series of violent twists--”wid a dhrop av somethin' warrum;” and with this he succeeded in getting the object of his attempts extricated from his pocket, and proudly displayed before the eyes of the company a black junk-bottle.
The others looked at this with some surprise, but no other feeling. The whole proceeding seemed to them to show an ill-timed levity; and if it was serious, it certainly seemed very bad taste. But ”His Royal Majesty” was in a very gracious mood, and continued to run on in his most gay and affable strain. He wandered round among the company and offered the bottle to each in turn. When they all refused he seemed both surprised and hurt.
”Shure it's whiskey, so it is,” he said, as though that would remove all objections; but this information did not produce any effect.
”Perhaps it's a tumbler ye'll be wantin',” said he. ”Well, well, we're sorry we haven't got one; but if ye'll take a taste out av the bottle ye'll foind it moighty convaynient.”
Here the monarch paused, and, raising the bottle to his own royal lips, took a long draught. As he swallowed the liquid his eyes closed and his face a.s.sumed an expression of rapture. He then offered it to all once more, and mourned over them because they refused.
”Oh, but it's the divoine dhrink!” said he. Then he grew merrier, and began to sing:
”Oh, Shakspeare, Homer, an' all the poets Have sung for ages the praise av woine; But if they iver had tasted whiskey, They'd have called it the only dhrink divoine.
”Oh, wud ye have a receipt for toddy?
Av whiskey ye take a quart, I think; Thin out av a pint av bilin' wather Ivery dhrop ye add will spile the dhrink!”
Ashby had been talking with Dolores for some time. He now came forward, Dolores hanging on his arm.
”Sir,” said he to ”His Majesty,” ”I suppose we must again consider ourselves your prisoners?”
”Divvle a doubt av it,” said ”His Majesty,” with a wink at Dolores.
”The other time,” said Ashby, ”you named a ransom, and said that on the payment of that sum you would allow us our liberty. Will you now name a sum again--some sum that I can pay? I engage to have it in less than a week, provided that you send this lady in safety to Vittoria. She can procure the money for me, and until then I shall remain your prisoner.”
”Well, that's fair,” said ”His Majesty.”
”Will you do it?”
”Begorra, I will.”
”Will you name the sum?”
”I'll think about it.”
At this Ashby went back with Dolores to his former position, and they resumed their conversation. But Harry had heard every word, and he now came up, with Katie clinging to him.
”Sir,” said he, ”will you allow me to procure my ransom in the same way?
Will you allow this lady to go in company with the other, so as to procure the amount needed for my deliverance?”
”But I won't go,” said Katie, hurriedly.