Part 77 (1/2)
”That as gooes through Stampwell's wood, an' over the hills. It strikes off from the King's highway, a leetle beyont the gates o' the park.”
”I know--I know. There, my man! Something to get you your morning dram. Away at once; and don't let yourself be seen in my company. Go where you like now; but be in your own nest at night: I may want you.”
The messenger took the money; and along with it his instant departure.
”What the deuce can she be doing out at this hour?” inquired Scarthe of himself, as he strode nervously across the parterre.
”Ha! the place--the forest road leading to Stone Dean! Can it be possible that he--The fiends! If it be so, I may yet be in time to take him. Ho, there!” he cried to the guard corporal, who had just appeared outside the courtyard gate. ”A dozen men to horse. Quick, corporal!
Let them not lose a moment. I shall be out before they have time to strap on their saddles.”
And, having delivered these orders, he turned back into his room; and commenced encasing his body in the steel armour, that lay in pieces around the apartment.
In less than ten minutes' time he was armed _cap-a-pied_. Staying only to quaff off a cup of wine--which he hurriedly filled from a decanter that stood upon the side table--he pa.s.sed out of his apartment; and strode clanking along the stone-flagged corridor that communicated with the rear of the dwelling.
Emerging into the courtyard, he mounted his horse--already caparisoned to receive him; and, giving the word of command to the cuira.s.siers, who had climbed to their saddles, he galloped out of the court--on toward the entrance of the park that opened in the direction of Stone Dean.
It was a short gallop--ending almost as soon as it had begun. It came to a termination, at the head of the hill--down which trended the long avenue skirted with chestnut trees.
There Scarthe suddenly checked his steed--at the same time giving his followers the order to bait.
Naturally enough, the troopers were a little surprised at this sudden interruption of their ride; but they were altogether astonished at a second order--following quick upon the first--which enjoined upon them to wheel round, and return to their stables!
They obeyed, though not without, a show of reluctance. They would much rather have continued their excursion--supposing it to have been intended for some foraging expedition that promised pleasure and plunder.
They were not entirely ignorant of what had caused the countermand. As they were wheeling upon the path, they had caught sight of an object at the other end of the avenue, whose motions betrayed it to be animate.
Though but dimly seen through the dawn, and under the shadow of the chestnuts, they could tell what it was--the figure of a woman.
”A sail in sight!” muttered one, who had seen salt.w.a.ter service. ”The captain's going to hail the craft; and don't want us Jack-tars on the quarter deck.”
”'Tis she!” muttered Scarthe to himself, as his followers retired.
”Even if _he_ has been with her, 'twould be of little use going after him now. He would scarce be such a fool as to remain upon the ground.
'Tis impossible she can have seen any one, since Walford left her?
There has not been time for an interview such as that. She may have been with him before? If so, the sham message will result in my own discomfiture. Or she may have been expecting him, and he has not come?
If so, the parcel would be just in time. I can scarce look for such a lucky combination of circ.u.mstances!”
”What shall I do?” he continued, after a pause. ”If she has not met him, it is a splendid opportunity for my proposal! The events are ominous of success. Shall I make it now--this moment?”
”There is danger in delay,” he muttered, as the old adage came into his mind. ”She may have some means of communicating with him; and the glove trick may be discovered? I shall trust no longer to chance. This uncertainty is insufferable. Within the hour I shall put an end to it, and find out my fate, one way or the other. If accepted, then shall Richard Scarthe play traitor to his king, and the good knight Sir Marmaduke may conspire to his heart's content. If rejected, then--in that contingency--ah--then--the old rebel will risk the losing of his head.”
”Now, Mistress Marion Wade,” apostrophised he, as he watched the advancing figure. ”On thine answer there is much depending: your father's head and my happiness. I hope you will be gracious, and give security to both. If you refuse me, then must I make use of that power, with which a lucky chance has provided me. Surely thy father's danger will undo your objections? If you resist, let the ruin fall--let him suffer his doom!”
”I must dismount and meet her,” he continued, as he saw Marion coming on with slow steps. ”A declaration in the saddle would never do. It must be made on foot--or still more humbly on bended knee; and so shall it, if that be necessary to secure success. Ha! ha! what would they say at Court? The invincible Scarthe, who has made conquest of a queen, kneeling in humble suit at the feet of a country maiden--the daughter of a rank rebel--begging for her heart, and worse still, bargaining for her hand! Ha! ha! ha!”
While uttering this laugh, he flung himself from his horse; and, tossing the rein of his bridle over the branch of a tree, he commenced descending the hill.
Although advancing towards the interview, with all the _nonchalance_ he was capable of a.s.suming, he was at the same time trembling with apprehension as to the result.
He met the maiden at the bottom of the hill--under the sombre shadow of the chestnuts.