Part 31 (1/2)
”You must be satisfied with my answer in verbo sacerdotis-the circ.u.mstances you allude to will not give the least annoyance to Woodstock during the King's residence. I cannot explain farther; but for this I will be bound, at the risk of my neck.”
”Then,” said Lee, ”we must take Dr. Rochecliffe's bail that the devil will keep the peace towards our Sovereign Lord the King-good. Now there lurked about this house the greater part of yesterday, and perhaps slept here, a fellow called Tomkins,-a bitter Independent, and a secretary, or clerk, or something or other, to the regicide dog Desborough. The man is well known-a wild ranter in religious opinions, but in private affairs far-sighted, cunning, and interested even as any rogue of them all.”
”Be a.s.sured we will avail ourselves of his crazy fanaticism to mislead his wicked cunning;-a child may lead a hog, if it has wit to fasten a cord to the ring in its nose,” replied the Doctor.
”You may be deceived,” said Albert; ”the age has many such as this fellow, whose views of the spiritual and temporal world are so different, that they resemble the eyes of a squinting man; one of which, oblique and distorted, sees nothing but the end of his nose, while the other, instead of partaking the same defect, views strongly, sharply, and acutely, whatever is subjected to its scrutiny.”
”But we will put a patch on the better eye,” said the Doctor, ”and he shall only be allowed to speculate with the imperfect optic. You must know, this fellow has always seen the greatest number, and the most hideous apparitions; he has not the courage of a cat in such matters, though stout enough when he hath temporal antagonists before him. I have placed him under the charge of Joceline Joliffe, who, betwixt plying him with sack and ghost-stories, would make him incapable of knowing what was done, if you were to proclaim the King in his presence.”
”But why keep such a fellow here at all?”
”Oh, sir, content you;-he lies leaguer, as a sort of amba.s.sador for his worthy masters, and we are secure from any intrusion so long as they get all the news of Woodstock from Trusty Tomkins.”
”I know Joceline's honesty well,” said Albert; ”and if he can a.s.sure me that he will keep a watch over this fellow, I will so far trust in him. He does not know the depth of the stake, 'tis true, but that my life is concerned will be quite enough to keep him vigilant.-Well, then, I proceed:-What if Markham Everard comes down on us?”
”We have his word to the contrary,” answered Rochecliffe-”his word of honour, transmitted by his friend:-Do you think it likely he will break it?”
”I hold him incapable of doing so,” answered Albert; ”and, besides, I think Markham would make no bad use of any thing which might come to his knowledge-Yet G.o.d forbid we should be under the necessity of trusting any who ever wore the Parliament's colours in a matter of such dear concernment!”
”Amen!” said the Doctor.-”Are your doubts silenced now?”
”I still have an objection,” said Albert, ”to yonder impudent rakeh.e.l.ly fellow, styling himself a cavalier, who rushed himself on our company last night, and gained my father's heart by a story of the storm of Brentford, which I dare say the rogue never saw.”
”You mistake him, dear Albert,” replied Rochecliffe-”Roger Wildrake, although till of late I only knew him by name, is a gentleman, was bred at the Inns of Court, and spent his estate in the King's service.”
”Or rather in the devil's service,” said Albert. ”It is such fellows as he, who, sunk from the license of their military habits into idle debauched ruffians, infest the land with riots and robberies, brawl in hedge alehouses and cellars where strong waters are sold at midnight, and, with their deep oaths, their hot loyalty, and their drunken valour, make decent men abominate the very name of cavalier.”
”Alas!” said the Doctor, ”it is but too true; but what can you expect? When the higher and more qualified cla.s.ses are broken down and mingled undistinguishably with the lower orders, they are apt to lose the most valuable marks of their quality in the general confusion of morals and manners-just as a handful of silver medals will become defaced and discoloured if jumbled about among the vulgar copper coin. Even the prime medal of all, which we royalists would so willingly wear next our very hearts, has not, perhaps, entirely escaped some deterioration-But let other tongues than mine speak on that subject.”
Albert Lee paused deeply after having heard these communications on the part of Rochecliffe. ”Doctor,” he said, ”it is generally agreed, even by some who think you may occasionally have been a little over busy in putting men upon dangerous actions”-
”May G.o.d forgive them who entertain so false an opinion of me,” said the Doctor.
-”That, nevertheless, you have done and suffered more in the King's behalf than any man of your function.”
”They do me but justice there,” said Dr. Rochecliffe-”absolute justice.”
”I am therefore disposed to abide by your opinion, if, all things considered, you think it safe that we should remain at Woodstock.”
”That is not the question,” answered the divine.
”And what is the question, then?” replied the young soldier.
”Whether any safer course can be pointed out. I grieve to say, that the question must be comparative, as to the point of option. Absolute safety is-alas the while!-out of the question on all sides. Now, I say Woodstock is, fenced and guarded as at present, by far the most preferable place of concealment.”
”Enough,” replied Albert; ”I give up to you the question, as to a person whose knowledge of such important affairs, not to mention your age and experience, is more intimate and extensive than mine can be.”
”You do well,” answered Rochecliffe; ”and if others had acted with the like distrust of their own knowledge, and confidence in competent persons, it had been better for the age. This makes Understanding bar himself up within his fortalice, and Wit betake himself to his high tower.” (Here he looked around his cell with an air of self-complacence.) ”The wise man forseeth the tempest, and hideth himself.”
”Doctor,” said Albert, ”let our foresight serve others far more precious than either of us. Let me ask you, if you have well considered whether our precious charge should remain in society with the family, or betake himself to some of the more hidden corners of the house?”