Part 43 (2/2)
And now for my secret, that you may not say I had your liquor for nothing-I fancy my song will scarce pa.s.s current for much-My secret is, Master Cromwell-that the bird is flown-and your red nose will be as white as your winding-sheet before you can smell out which way.”
”Pshaw, rascal,” answered Cromwell, contemptuously, ”keep your scurrile jests for the gibbet foot.”
”I shall look on the gibbet more boldly,” replied Wildrake, ”than I have seen you look on the Royal Martyr's picture.”
This reproach touched Cromwell to the very quick.-”Villain!” he exclaimed; ”drag him hence, draw out a party, and-But hold, not now-to prison with him-let him be close watched, and gagged, if he attempts to speak to the sentinels-Nay, hold-I mean, put a bottle of brandy into his cell, and he will gag himself in his own way, I warrant you-When day comes, that men can see the example, he shall be gagged after my fas.h.i.+on.”
During the various breaks in his orders, the General was evidently getting command of his temper; and though he began in fury, he ended with the contemptuous sneer of one who overlooks the abusive language of an inferior. Something remained on his mind notwithstanding, for he continued standing, as if fixed to the same spot in the apartment, his eyes bent on the ground, and with closed hand pressed against his lips, like a man who is musing deeply. Pearson, who was about to speak to him, drew back, and made a sign to those in the room to be silent.
Master Holdenough did not mark, or, at least, did not obey it. Approaching the General, he said, in a respectful but firm tone, ”Did I understand it to be your Excellency's purpose that this poor man shall die next morning?”
”Hah!” exclaimed Cromwell, starting from his reverie, ”what say'st thou?”
”I took leave to ask, if it was your will that this unhappy man should die to-morrow?”
”Whom saidst thou?” demanded Cromwell: ”Markham Everard-shall he die, saidst thou?”
”G.o.d forbid!” replied Holdenough, stepping back-”I asked whether this blinded creature, Wildrake, was to be so suddenly cut off?”
”Ay, marry is he,” said Cromwell, ”were the whole General a.s.sembly of Divines at Westminster-the whole Sanhedrim of Presbytery-to offer bail for him.”
”If you will not think better of it, sir,” said Holdenough, ”at least give not the poor man the means of destroying his senses-Let me go to him as a divine, to watch with him, in case he may yet be admitted into the vineyard at the latest hour-yet brought into the sheepfold, though he has neglected the call of the pastor till time is wellnigh closed upon him.”
”For G.o.d's sake,” said Everard, who had hitherto kept silence, because he knew Cromwell's temper on such occasions, ”think better of what you do!”
”Is it for thee to teach me?” replied Cromwell; ”think thou of thine own matters, and believe me it will require all thy wit.-And for you, reverend sir, I will have no father-confessors attend my prisoners-no tales out of school. If the fellow thirsts after ghostly comfort, as he is much more like to thirst after a quartern of brandy, there is Corporal Humgudgeon, who commands the corps de garde, will preach and pray as well as the best of ye.-But this delay is intolerable-Comes not this fellow yet?”
”No, sir,” replied Pearson. ”Had we not better go down to the Lodge? The news of our coming hither may else get there before us.”
”True,” said Cromwell, speaking aside to his officer, ”but you know Tomkins warned us against doing so, alleging there were so many postern-doors, and sallyports, and concealed entrances in the old house, that it was like a rabbit-warren, and that an escape might be easily made under our very noses, unless he were with us, to point out all the ports which should be guarded. He hinted, too, that he might be delayed a few minutes after his time of appointment-but we have now waited half-an-hour.”
”Does your Excellency think Tomkins is certainly to be depended upon?” said Pearson.
”As far as his interest goes, unquestionably,” replied the General. ”He has ever been the pump by which I have sucked the marrow out of many a plot, in special those of the conceited fool Rochecliffe, who is goose enough to believe that such a fellow as Tomkins would value any thing beyond the offer of the best bidder. And yet it groweth late-I fear we must to the Lodge without him-Yet, all things well considered, I will tarry here till midnight.-Ah! Everard, thou mightest put this gear to rights if thou wilt! Shall some foolish principle of fantastic punctilio have more weight with thee, man, than have the pacification and welfare of England; the keeping of faith to thy friend and benefactor, and who will be yet more so, and the fortune and security of thy relations? Are these, I say, lighter in the balance than the cause of a worthless boy, who, with his father and his father's house, have troubled Israel for fifty years?”
”I do not understand your Excellency, nor at what service you point, which I can honestly render,” replied Everard. ”That which is dishonest I should be loth that you proposed.”
”Then this at least might suit your honesty, or scrupulous humour, call it which thou wilt,” said Cromwell. ”Thou knowest, surely, all the pa.s.sages about Jezebel's palace down yonder?-Let me know how they may be guarded against the escape of any from within.”
”I cannot pretend to aid you in this matter,” said Everard; ”I know not all the entrances and posterns about Woodstock, and if I did, I am not free in conscience to communicate with you on this occasion.”
”We shall do without you, sir,” replied Cromwell, haughtily; ”and if aught is found which may criminate you, remember you have lost right to my protection.”
”I shall be sorry,” said Everard, ”to have lost your friends.h.i.+p, General; but I trust my quality as an Englishman may dispense with the necessity of protection from any man. I know no law which obliges me to be spy or informer, even if I were in the way of having opportunity to do service in either honourable capacity.”
”Well, sir,” said Cromwell, ”for all your privileges and qualities, I will make bold to take you down to the Lodge at Woodstock to-night, to enquire into affairs in which the State is concerned.-Come hither, Pearson.” He took a paper from his pocket, containing a rough sketch or ground-plan of Woodstock Lodge, with the avenues leading to it.-”Look here,” he said, ”we must move in two bodies on foot, and with all possible silence-thou must march to the rear of the old house of iniquity with twenty file of men, and dispose them around it the wisest thou canst. Take the reverend man there along with you. He must be secured at any rate, and may serve as a guide. I myself will occupy the front of the Lodge, and thus having stopt all the earths, thou wilt come to me for farther orders-silence and dispatch is all.-But for the dog Tomkins, who broke appointment with me, he had need render a good excuse, or woe to his father's son!-Reverend sir, be pleased to accompany that officer.-Colonel Everard, you are to follow me; but first give your sword to Captain Pearson, and consider yourself as under arrest.”
Everard gave his sword to Pearson without any comment, and with the most anxious presage of evil followed the Republican General, in obedience to commands which it would have been useless to dispute.
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