Part 5 (1/2)
”And who says, that I do not teach the truth? I, who have made it my study and delight from my youth upwards?”
”Not I, truly; but your reverence chides me for believing in error, when, my belief is daily confirmed by your own instructions and example.”
”Who are you, that presumes to say so? and, with these vestments of Satan on your back, to bear witness to your falsehood?” demanded the chaplain.
”Now may the saints defend me from your anger! I did not mean to offend,” said the boy, shrinking from his extended hand, and bending his head, as if to count the beads of a rosary which hung around his neck.
”Did _I_ teach you this mummery?” resumed the irritated Scot; ”did _I_ teach you to put on those robes of the devil, and hold that lighted torch to him, as you have but now done?”
”I crave your pardon,” returned the boy; ”I thought it was my lady's chaplain, whom I was lighting across the yard, but your reverence knows the truth better than I do.”
As he spoke, he waved the torch on high, and the light fell full upon the excited features of Mr. Broadhead. A laugh from De Valette, who had, un.o.bserved, drawn near enough to overhear them, startled both, and checked the angry reply, which was bursting from the chaplain's lips. He surveyed the intruder a moment in stubborn silence, then quietly retreated; probably aware, from former experience, that the gay young Catholic had not much veneration for his person or character. The boy hastily extinguished his torch, murmuring, in a low voice,--
”His reverence may find his way back in the dark, as he best can; and it will be well if he does not need the light of my torch, before he is safe in his quarters: light the devil, indeed! he took good care not to think of that, till he had served his own purpose with it!”
”What are you muttering about, boy?” asked De Valette.
”About my torch, and the devil, and other good Catholics, please your honor,” he answered, with a low bow.
”Have a care, sirrah!” said De Valette; ”I allow no one, in my presence, to speak disrespectfully of the religion of my country.”
”It is a good cloak,” returned the boy; ”and I would not abuse a garment, which has just been serviceable to me, however worthless it may be, in reality.”
”It may have been worn by scoundrels,” said De Valette; ”but its intrinsic value is not diminished on that account. Would you intimate that you have a.s.sumed it to answer some sinister design?”
”And, supposing I have,” he asked; ”what then?”
”Why, then you are a hypocrite.”
”It is well for my lord's lieutenant to speak of hypocrisy,” said the boy, laughing; ”it is like Satan preaching sanct.i.ty; tell the good puritans of Boston, that the French Hugonot who wors.h.i.+pped in their conventicle with so much decorum, is a papist, and what, think you, would they say?”
”Who are you, that dares speak to me thus?” asked De Valette, angrily.
”That is a question, which I do not choose to answer; I care not to let strangers into my secret counsels.”
”You are impertinent, boy;” said De Valette, ”yet your bearing shews that you have discernment enough to distinguish between right and wrong, and you must be aware that policy sometimes renders a disguise expedient, and harmless too, if neither honour or principle are compromised.”
”I like a disguise, occasionally, of all things,” said the boy, archly; ”are you quick at detecting one?”
”Sometimes I am,” returned De Valette; ”but--now, by my troth,” he exclaimed, starting, and gazing intently on him, ”is it possible, that you have again deceived me?”
”Nothing more likely,” answered the other, carelessly; ”but, hus.h.!.+ M. de la Tour, and the stranger with him, are observing us. See! they come this way: not a word more, if you have any wish to please me.”
”Stay but one moment,” said De Valette, grasping his arm; ”I _must_ know for what purpose you are thus attired.”
”Well, release me, and I will tell you the whole truth, though you might suppose it was merely some idle whim. I wished to see Annette married, and as Mad. de la Tour thought it would be out of character for her page to appear in a Catholic a.s.sembly, I prevailed on a boy, whom father Gilbert had selected to officiate in the ceremony to transfer his dress and office to me: this is all;--and now are you satisfied?”
”Better than I expected to be, I a.s.sure you; but, for the love of the saints, be careful, or this whimsical fancy of your's may lead to some unpleasant consequences.”
”Never fear; I enjoy this Proteus sort of life extremely, and you may expect to see me in some new shape, before long.”