Part 24 (1/2)
”This is the most surprising adventure that ever happened to me,”
Lord G.o.dolphin said; ”and it is a pity that officers who possess the wit to plan an escape from Newgate, and to ensure a speedy flight from the country by carrying me off, are not in the service of Her Majesty.”
”We may yet be in the British service some day, my lord,”
O'Sullivan laughed; ”but I may tell you that my friend, and myself, disclaim any credit in contriving the matter of which you spoke, that being solely the work of our young comrade, who is at present the youngest ensign in our regiment.”
”Then he must be a shrewd fellow, indeed,” G.o.dolphin said, ”likely to do service in any position to which he may attain.”
They walked sharply. Several times rough men came and peered at them, but G.o.dolphin was wrapped in a cloak, and the appearance of those with him showed that hard knocks, rather than booty, would be the result of interfering with them. On reaching Lord G.o.dolphin's house they placed the sedan chair on the steps.
”Goodnight to you, gentlemen, and good fortune!” Lord G.o.dolphin said. ”The lesson has not been lost, and I shall take good care, in future, to have a strong escort.”
They then crossed Westminster Bridge, and made rapidly for the spot where the cart was waiting for them.
”You are an hour after your time,” the man said. ”I had begun to think that something had gone wrong with you.”
”That is not the case,” O'Neil said; ”but we have certainly been detained longer than we antic.i.p.ated.”
”Where are we going to?”
”To Rye.”
”That will suit me very well,” the man said. ”I have friends along that road, and shall have no trouble about horses.”
They started at once, at a rattling pace, the animals, though but sorry-looking creatures, being speedy and accustomed to long journeys. It was evident, from the man's manner, that he believed his pa.s.sengers were cracksmen who had just successfully carried out an enterprise of importance. He expressed surprise that they had brought no luggage with them.
They did not care to undeceive him. Mike had brought with him a bottle of good brandy, and a drink of this soon removed the vexation the man had felt at being kept waiting for them.
Twice during the journey they changed horses, each time at small wayside inns, where some pa.s.sword, given by the driver, at once roused the landlord into activity. But a few minutes were spent in the changes, and the fifty miles to Rye were accomplished in seven hours--a very unusual rate of speed along the badly kept roads of the period. When the car drew up in the High Street of Rye, the four occupants were scarce able to stand, so bruised and shaken were they by their rapid pa.s.sage over the rough road.
They handed the twelve pounds agreed upon to the driver, adding another as a token of their satisfaction at the speed at which he had driven them, and then enquired for the house of William Dawkins. It was close by, and upon knocking at the door, it was opened by the man himself.
”I have a message to deliver to you, in private,” O'Neil said.
The man nodded, and led the way indoors, where the letter was handed to him.
”That is all right,” he said. ”My craft is always ready to set sail, at an hour's notice, and if the wind holds fair I will land you on the French coast before nightfall. I see that your business is urgent, or you would not have put on disguises before leaving London. I suppose you have brought other clothes to land in?”
”We have not,” O'Neil said. ”We came away in such a hurry that we did not think of it until on the road, and then we thought that we might procure them here.”
”There will be no difficulty about that,” the sailor said. ”I will go out, and warn my men that we shall sail in half an hour, and then I can get any garments that you desire; for, doubtless, you do not wish to attract comment by the purchase of clothes that would seem unfitted to your present position.”
”That is so,” O'Sullivan said, ”and we shall gladly embrace your offer. We should like three suits, such as are worn by persons of fair position in France, and one proper for a serving man.”
”I cannot get you quite French fas.h.i.+on, sir, but they do not differ much from our own; and with a cloak each, I have no doubt that you would pa.s.s without attracting attention--that is, of course, if you speak French well.”
”As well as English,” O'Neil said. ”Here are seven pounds in gold, which will, I should think, be sufficient. If not, we are provided with French gold, for use after landing there.”
”I have no doubt it will suffice, sir. If not, I will pay what is the excess, and you can settle with me afterwards.”