Part 37 (2/2)
As Charles was about to leave the apartment, he was prevented by the appearance of Wildrake, who entered with an unusual degree of swagger in his gait, and of fantastic importance on his brow. ”I crave your pardon, fair sir,” he said; ”but, as they say in my country, when doors are open dogs enter. I have knocked and called in the hall to no purpose; so, knowing the way to this parlour, sir,-for I am a light partisan, and the road I once travel I never forget,-I ventured to present myself unannounced.”
”Sir Henry Lee is abroad, sir, I believe, in the Chase,” said Charles, coldly, for the appearance of this somewhat vulgar debauchee was not agreeable to him at the moment, ”and Master Albert Lee has left the Lodge for two or three days.”
”I am aware of it, sir,” said Wildrake; ”but I have no business at present with either.”
”And with whom is your business?” said Charles; ”that is, if I may be permitted to ask-since I think it cannot in possibility be with me.”
”Pardon me in turn, sir,” answered the cavalier; ”in no possibility can it be imparted to any other but yourself, if you be, as I think you are, though in something better habit, Master Louis Girnigo, the Scottish gentleman who waits upon Master Albert Lee.”
”I am all you are like to find for him,” answered Charles.
”In truth,” said the cavalier, ”I do perceive a difference, but rest, and better clothing, will do much; and I am glad of it, since I would be sorry to have brought a message, such as I am charged with, to a tatterdemalion.”
”Let us get to the business, sir, if you please,” said the King-”you have a message for me, you say?”
”True, sir,” replied Wildrake; ”I am the friend of Colonel Markham Everard, sir, a tall man, and a worthy person in the field, although I could wish him a better cause-A message I have to you, it is certain, in a slight note, which I take the liberty of presenting with the usual formalities.” So saying, he drew his sword, put the billet he mentioned upon the point, and making a profound bow, presented it to Charles.
The disguised Monarch accepted of it, with a grave return of the salute, and said, as he was about to open the letter, ”I am not, I presume, to expect friendly contents in an epistle presented in so hostile a manner?”
”A-hem, sir,” replied the amba.s.sador, clearing his voice, while he arranged a suitable answer, in which the mild strain of diplomacy might be properly maintained; ”not utterly hostile, I suppose, sir, is the invitation, though it be such as must be construed in the commencement rather bellicose and pugnacious. I trust, sir, we shall find that a few thrusts will make a handsome conclusion of the business; and so, as my old master used to say, Pax mascitur ex bello. For my own poor share, I am truly glad to have been graced by my friend, Markham Everard, in this matter-the rather as I feared the puritan principles with which he is imbued, (I will confess the truth to you, worthy sir,) might have rendered him unwilling, from certain scruples, to have taken the gentlemanlike and honourable mode of righting himself in such a case as the present. And as I render a friend's duty to my friend, so I humbly hope, Master Louis Girnigo, that I do no injustice to you, in preparing the way for the proposed meeting, where, give me leave to say, I trust, that if no fatal accident occur, we shall be all better friends when the skirmish is over than we were before it began.”
”I should suppose so, sir, in any case,” said Charles, looking at the letter; ”worse than mortal enemies we can scarce be, and it is that footing upon which this billet places us.”
”You say true, sir,” said Wildrake; ”it is, sir, a cartel, introducing to a single combat, for the pacific object of restoring a perfect good understanding betwixt the survivors-in case that fortunately that word can be used in the plural after the event of the meeting.”
”In short, we only fight, I suppose,” replied the King, ”that we may come to a perfectly good and amicable understanding?”
”You are right again, sir; and I thank you for the clearness of your apprehension,” said Wildrake.-”Ah, sir, it is easy to do with a person of honour and of intellect in such a case as this. And I beseech you, sir, as a personal kindness to myself, that, as the morning is like to be frosty, and myself am in some sort rheumatic-as war will leave its scars behind, sir,-I say, I will entreat of you to bring with you some gentleman of honour, who will not disdain to take part in what is going forward-a sort of pot-luck, sir-with a poor old soldier like myself- that we may take no harm by standing unoccupied during such cold weather.”
”I understand, sir,” replied Charles; ”if this matter goes forward, be a.s.sured I will endeavour to provide you with a suitable opponent.”
”I shall remain greatly indebted to you, sir,” said Wildrake; ”and I am by no means curious about the quality of my antagonist. It is true I write myself esquire and gentleman, and should account myself especially honoured by crossing my sword with that of Sir Henry or Master Albert Lee; but, should that not be convenient, I will not refuse to present my poor person in opposition to any gentleman who has served the King,- which I always hold as a sort of letters of n.o.bility in itself, and, therefore, would on no account decline the duello with such a person.”
”The King is much obliged to you, sir,” said Charles, ”for the honour you do his faithful subjects.”
”O, sir, I am scrupulous on that point-very scrupulous.-When there is a roundhead in question, I consult the Herald's books, to see that he is ent.i.tled to bear arms, as is Master Markham Everard, without which, I promise you, I had borne none of his cartel. But a cavalier is with me a gentleman, of course-Be his birth ever so low, his loyalty has enn.o.bled his condition.”
”It is well, sir,” said the King. ”This paper requests me to meet Master Everard at six to-morrow morning, at the tree called the King's Oak-I object neither to place nor time. He proffers the sword, at which, he says, we possess some equality-I do not decline the weapon; for company, two gentlemen-I shall endeavour to procure myself an a.s.sociate, and a suitable partner for you, sir, if you incline to join in the dance.”
”I kiss your hand, sir, and rest yours, under a sense of obligation,” answered the envoy.
”I thank you, sir,” continued the King; ”I will therefore be ready at place and time, and suitably furnished; and I will either give your friend such satisfaction with my sword as he requires, or will render him such cause for not doing so as he will be contented with.”
”You will excuse me, sir,” said Wildrake, ”if my mind is too dull, under the circ.u.mstances, to conceive any alternative that can remain betwixt two men of honour in such a case, excepting-sa-sa-.” He threw himself into a fencing position, and made a pa.s.s with his sheathed rapier, but not directed towards the person of the King, whom he addressed.
”Excuse me, sir,” said Charles, ”if I do not trouble your intellects with the consideration of a case which may not occur.-But, for example, I may plead urgent employment on the part of the public.” This he spoke in a low and mysterious tone of voice, which Wildrake appeared perfectly to comprehend; for he laid his forefinger on his nose with what he meant for a very intelligent and apprehensive nod.
”Sir,” said he, ”if you be engaged in any affair for the King, my friend shall have every reasonable degree of patience-Nay, I will fight him myself in your stead, merely to stay his stomach, rather than you should be interrupted.-And, sir, if you can find room in your enterprise for a poor gentleman that has followed Lunsford and Goring, you have but to name day, time, and place of rendezvous; for truly, sir, I am tired of the scald hat, cropped hair, and undertaker's cloak, with which my friend has bedizened me, and would willingly ruffle it out once more in the King's cause, when whether I be banged or hanged, I care not.”
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