Part 47 (2/2)

Daniel inhaled deeply, like a man who has just been doused with icy water. Then he said: ”I bring you news concerning Jack Shaftoe.”

It was Eliza's turn to gasp. She turned her back on him so quickly that the hem of her skirt sawed at his ankles. She retreated several steps, then arranged herself on a bench between two of the shuttered windows. Daniel stood sideways to her, so as not to dwell on the pinkness of her face.

”I was led to believe you were pursuing pursuing him. How can-” him. How can-”

”I am doing so, and I will catch him,” Daniel said, ”but this has not prevented him, clever chap that he is, from contriving a way to place in my ear certain words that were plainly intended for you.”

”And what are those words, sir?”

”That everything he has been doing lately, he has been doing out of love for you.”

”That is a very strange way of showing love, love,” she returned. ”Making counterfeit money for the King of France, and blowing people up.”

”He has not actually blown anyone up,” Daniel reminded her, ”and as for the King of France, some would point out that he is also the liege-lord of Arcachon.”

”Thank you for pointing it out,” she said. ”Is that the entire message?”

”That he loves you? Yes, I believe that is it.”

”Well, when you catch him, you may give him my answer,” she said, rising to her feet, ”which is that the decision he made at the wharf in Amsterdam was the sort that cannot be unmade; and as proof, one need only behold what Jack has become in the thirty years since-all of which might have been predicted from the choice he made on that day.”

”I have an inkling that Jack is now striving to become something rather different,” Daniel said, ”which you may not not have predicted.” have predicted.”

”That is what young young Jack-who, I must admit, was a dreamy lad-would have done,” Eliza said. ”The wretch that he is now is not capable of it.” Jack-who, I must admit, was a dreamy lad-would have done,” Eliza said. ”The wretch that he is now is not capable of it.”

”Never was a mailed and spiked gauntlet more harshly thrown down. I am off to the Black Dogg now,” Daniel said, excusing himself with a careful bow, ”and I shall deliver that fell challenge to Jack, if fortune leads me to him.”

Newgate Prison HALF AN HOUR LATER.

WHATEVER THE PLAN WAS that Johann von Hacklheber had laid for the extraction of Princess Caroline from the snares of London, it evidently did not rely on stealth. Such was the crowd and the commotion that Daniel half feared that the much-discussed Mobb had already conquered the stables of Leicester House. But not to worry, they were loyal servants and retainers all. Daniel found his phaethon and commanded the driver to take it round Leicester Fields and collect Sir Isaac Newton. This was achieved shortly and in absurdly conspicuous style. The diverse spies planted in and around Leicester Fields by political factions, foreign governments, nervous speculators, and Grub Street newspapers, would all report to their masters that a cricket-like geezer had scurried out of the London home of the d.u.c.h.ess of Arcachon-Qwghlm, hopped into an inappropriately seductive and libidinous Mode of Transport, swung round to s.n.a.t.c.h the World's Greatest Natural Philosopher, and thundered off in the direction of-Newgate Prison. What the recipients would make of this information was anyone's guess. Daniel was past caring. that Johann von Hacklheber had laid for the extraction of Princess Caroline from the snares of London, it evidently did not rely on stealth. Such was the crowd and the commotion that Daniel half feared that the much-discussed Mobb had already conquered the stables of Leicester House. But not to worry, they were loyal servants and retainers all. Daniel found his phaethon and commanded the driver to take it round Leicester Fields and collect Sir Isaac Newton. This was achieved shortly and in absurdly conspicuous style. The diverse spies planted in and around Leicester Fields by political factions, foreign governments, nervous speculators, and Grub Street newspapers, would all report to their masters that a cricket-like geezer had scurried out of the London home of the d.u.c.h.ess of Arcachon-Qwghlm, hopped into an inappropriately seductive and libidinous Mode of Transport, swung round to s.n.a.t.c.h the World's Greatest Natural Philosopher, and thundered off in the direction of-Newgate Prison. What the recipients would make of this information was anyone's guess. Daniel was past caring.

THEY ENCOUNTERED P PARTRY in the Gigger, which was a pit just off Newgate Street, under the actual Gate, where free men could swop words with prisoners through a grate. Partry was using it in lieu of an anteroom to the Black Dogg. ”What news from Ravenscar?” came his voice through the grille. in the Gigger, which was a pit just off Newgate Street, under the actual Gate, where free men could swop words with prisoners through a grate. Partry was using it in lieu of an anteroom to the Black Dogg. ”What news from Ravenscar?” came his voice through the grille.

”First, shall we have the privilege of meeting the other party to the negotiation?” Daniel asked. ”It is difficult to parley with a phantom.”

”As you you are but a phantom to are but a phantom to him, him, he would likely agree.” he would likely agree.”

”Then let us get together in the same room at least!”

”It is arranged,” Partry said. ”I have rented the Black Dogg for the evening. We shall meet him there-the privacy of an empty tavern should loosen his tongue. But you must be prepared to loosen your purse-strings.”

”That has been arranged as well,” Daniel a.s.sured him. ”If need be, we may offer the prisoner liberty, and a farm in Carolina. But only if need be.”

”Now that that is excessive!” Isaac said. ”The promise of a quicker than usual hanging should be more than sufficient.” is excessive!” Isaac said. ”The promise of a quicker than usual hanging should be more than sufficient.”

”As perhaps it shall be,” Daniel said, ”but if it does not suffice, why, we shall have room to bargain.”

”Very well,” said Partry, ”to the Black Dogg! Mind your step as you descend the stairs, for they are quite slippery with crushed lice.”

”More so than usual?” Daniel asked.

”Indeed,” said Partry, ”for as I just told you, I have cleared out the Dogg, and many have pa.s.sed this way, only a few minutes ago, who had not stirred from their bar-stools and corners in a long while; there is no guessing what may have scattered from out of their rags.”

”Aye, all of London is astir to-night!” Daniel remarked.

”All, save what is on the treads of these stairs,” Partry insisted. ”Pray, let me go ahead of you, and light your way with my lantern.”

Following Partry, and preceding Isaac, down toward the Black Dogg, Daniel said: ”How curious that to me it seemeth like any other stone stair-way in the world.”

”Why is that so curious?” Isaac wanted to know.

”We speak of Newgate as a dread place,” Daniel said, ”but emptied of its prisoners, 'tis but another building-a bit stinkier than most, perhaps.”

”The same might be remarked of its Pub,” said Partry, heaving wide an iron-bound dungeon-door to release a surprising flood of candle-light, and an even worse than expected front of midden-stench.

”So it is really the people people of Newgate who inspire us with dread, you are saying,” said Isaac. of Newgate who inspire us with dread, you are saying,” said Isaac.

”Has the Black Dogg ever been so lit up in its whole sorry history?” asked Daniel as he pa.s.sed through the door. For the place was as littered with candles as the steps had been with lice. And they were proper wax tapers, not rush-lights. Even the dining-room of Viscount Bolingbroke was not so finely illumined to-night. The Black Dogg was not the sort of tavern that contained a great deal of furniture-patrons either stood, or lay on the floor. There was a bar, of course, in the literal sense of a bulwark erected between the prisoners and the gin. This was now a palisade of burning tapers. Sean Partry led them over to it. Daniel followed half-way, but stopped in the center of the room to have a look round. His eyes were yet adjusting to the brightness, but he could see plainly enough that no one else was here.

”Where is the-” he began.

”How much in G.o.d's name has been spent on candles!?” Isaac demanded. ”A fortune! Have you gone mad?”

”My going mad days are done,” said Partry, turning his back on the bar, so that he became a shade halving the beam of fire. ”Do not concern yourselves about it. I have paid for the candles with my own money. When we are finished I'll give 'em away to prisoners who cannot afford to buy even the mean grease-lights that are peddled by the gaolers, and whose eyes have forgotten light.”

”You presume much,” Isaac said. He and Daniel were shoulder-to-shoulder now, facing Partry, the heat of the candles on their faces like summer sun. ”Nothing shall be paid you until we have achieved our goal. Where is the prisoner?”

”There is no prisoner,” said Partry, ”and never has been. I've been lying to you the entire time. Any information you are given to-night, concerning the whereabouts of Jack Shaftoe, shall come, not from some suppositious prisoner, but from me.”

”Why have you lied to us?” Isaac asked.

”Lying to you enabled me to set up a meeting on neutral ground,” answered Partry, and stomped his foot on the pavement. ”Here, I feel safe in divulging my information.”

”And what is that information, at long last?” Isaac demanded.

”That I am Jack Shaftoe,” answered Jack Shaftoe, ”alias Jack the Coiner, Jack the Coiner, alias alias Quicksilver, and many other nick-names and t.i.tles besides; and that I am willing to wind up my career to-night, provided the right terms can be struck.” Quicksilver, and many other nick-names and t.i.tles besides; and that I am willing to wind up my career to-night, provided the right terms can be struck.”

Golden Square THE SAME TIME.

IF THE POINT OF A dinner-party was to bring interesting people together and lay excellent food and wine in front of them, then the Viscount Bolingbroke's dinner-party was to bring interesting people together and lay excellent food and wine in front of them, then the Viscount Bolingbroke's soiree soiree was the event of the year. Some would complain that the guest-list was weighted too heavily to Whigs; but then, as of yesterday, Bolingbroke was the event of the year. Some would complain that the guest-list was weighted too heavily to Whigs; but then, as of yesterday, Bolingbroke was was Torydom, and as such needed no coterie. On the other hand, if the point of a dinner-party was to start fascinating conversations, then this was the grossest failure, to date, of the Age of Enlightenment; why, Robert Walpole was actually Torydom, and as such needed no coterie. On the other hand, if the point of a dinner-party was to start fascinating conversations, then this was the grossest failure, to date, of the Age of Enlightenment; why, Robert Walpole was actually humming humming to fill in the silences. A dozen men were at the table; only two of them-Bolingbroke and Ravenscar-had authority to parley; and yet these two seemed perfectly content with plate and bottle, and with the dreadful silence of the room. From time to time one of the younger Whigs would try to launch a Topic of Conversation, and like a spark struck into moss it would sputter and smoke along for a few moments, until Bolingbroke or Ravenscar would dump a bucket of water on it by saying, ”Pa.s.s the salt.” The meal sprinted from one course to the next, as the guests had nothing to pa.s.s the time save chewing and swallowing. It was not until pudding that Bolingbroke could be troubled to make a Gambit. ”My lord,” he said to Roger, ”it has been to fill in the silences. A dozen men were at the table; only two of them-Bolingbroke and Ravenscar-had authority to parley; and yet these two seemed perfectly content with plate and bottle, and with the dreadful silence of the room. From time to time one of the younger Whigs would try to launch a Topic of Conversation, and like a spark struck into moss it would sputter and smoke along for a few moments, until Bolingbroke or Ravenscar would dump a bucket of water on it by saying, ”Pa.s.s the salt.” The meal sprinted from one course to the next, as the guests had nothing to pa.s.s the time save chewing and swallowing. It was not until pudding that Bolingbroke could be troubled to make a Gambit. ”My lord,” he said to Roger, ”it has been ages ages since I could free myself to attend a meeting of the good old R.S. Oh, are there any other Fellows present?” He looked round the table. His eyes were too close together, his nose was high-bridged and long: features more suited to a carnivorous beast than a human. So he was far from good-looking; yet his ugliness was of that sort that suggests caution, rather than mockery, to the onlooker. His mouth was tiny and pursed. But then, the muzzle of a gun was not so very large either. Bolingbroke's one adventure in the realm of fas.h.i.+on had been to wear a radically small and simple periwig one day, when he went to pay a call on the Queen. She had rewarded him by asking if, next time around, he intended to show up wearing a night-cap. Tonight he had donned the full wig: white curls tumbling down beyond his shoulders, over his lapels, to somewhere between the lat.i.tude of his nipples and of his waist. His cravat was white, and wrapped many times round his neck, like a bandage. It and the wig framed his face like an ostrich-egg swaddled in a s.h.i.+pping-crate. This was the face that scanned down the left, then up the right side of the table, until it fell upon the Marquis of Ravenscar, who was seated at his right hand. since I could free myself to attend a meeting of the good old R.S. Oh, are there any other Fellows present?” He looked round the table. His eyes were too close together, his nose was high-bridged and long: features more suited to a carnivorous beast than a human. So he was far from good-looking; yet his ugliness was of that sort that suggests caution, rather than mockery, to the onlooker. His mouth was tiny and pursed. But then, the muzzle of a gun was not so very large either. Bolingbroke's one adventure in the realm of fas.h.i.+on had been to wear a radically small and simple periwig one day, when he went to pay a call on the Queen. She had rewarded him by asking if, next time around, he intended to show up wearing a night-cap. Tonight he had donned the full wig: white curls tumbling down beyond his shoulders, over his lapels, to somewhere between the lat.i.tude of his nipples and of his waist. His cravat was white, and wrapped many times round his neck, like a bandage. It and the wig framed his face like an ostrich-egg swaddled in a s.h.i.+pping-crate. This was the face that scanned down the left, then up the right side of the table, until it fell upon the Marquis of Ravenscar, who was seated at his right hand.

”No, my lord,” said Ravenscar, ”there are only we two.”

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