Lord Montagu's Page: An Historical Romance

by G. P. R. James

  CHAPTER XXXIII.

  At a quarter to four o'clock, Edward Langdale shook young Abbot by theshoulder and with some difficulty succeeded in waking him. "Quick,Abbot! get up!" he said. "Go down and saddle your horse: but make nonoise. Do you understand me? No more than an owl. Go down and saddleyour horse: do you hear? but be quiet about it."

  "What is in the wind?" said the other.

  "Nothing to you: but do as you are bidden," answered Edward, and tookhis way to Mr. Oakingham's room. Here he had more difficulty, for thedoor was locked or bolted, and he had to make some noise before the goodgentleman would open it.

  "Why, what is the matter?" asked Oakingham. "Is the house on fire? It isquite dark."

  "Here, sir, light your lamp," said Edward. "My lord has changed hismind, and is going to set out directly. You will be left behind if youdo not make haste."

  Oakingham swore a little; but Edward did not stay to listen, gave himhis lamp, and turned toward the rooms of the servants, which lay at theend of the passage over the kitchen. The last chamber but one had beenassigned to the two blacksmiths, and, as Edward was approaching quietlythat where the lackey and the groom were housed, the shorter of theSavoyards, roused by the noise at Mr. Oakingham's door, put his headout.

  Edward walked on quietly, and, when he was abreast of the man, said,with an easy air, "You had better get your clothes on. You will bewanted presently."

  "Which horse?" asked the man, at once.

  "All but one," said Edward; and, knocking hard at the door of theservants' room, he ordered them in a loud tone to rise and come to thestable. The blacksmith was still at the door; but Edward caught him bythe neck and pushed him back into the room, saying, "Pardie! did I nottell you to get dressed?"

  The man staggered back, and before he recovered himself the younggentleman had caught the key from the inside and locked the door. He didnot, however, call Lord Montagu till he had gone out into the yard andascertained that the windows of the rooms above were too high to admitof any one dropping to the ground.

  A good deal of bustle succeeded: the servants of the house were roused,valises and bags were packed in haste, and horses were saddled; butbefore five o'clock all was ready for departure, and Edward approachedLord Montagu as he stood before the inn, saying, "Shall I let out thatblacksmith? He is safely locked in his room, and hammering at the dooras if he would knock it down. Well he left his tools in the stable, orhe would have been out by this time."

  "Let him out, to-be-sure," said Montagu: "he may follow now if he will.He will keep us too late."

  "His horse is saddled for him, my lord," replied Edward: "by your leavehe shall come with us, or I will come with him." And, running up-stairs,he opened the door of the man's room.

  The worthy was at first inclined to make some noisy remonstrance, butEdward stopped him in an instant. "No noise!" he said, seeing that hewas dressed. "Go down-stairs. Get on your horse and put him between meand the groom. If you take a step too quick or a step too slow, you willhave a ball through your head in one minute. We know where your comradeis gone, and all about you: so pray Heaven we meet with no misadventureon the road, for, if we do, this is the last morning you will ever see."

  The man looked scared out of his senses, and descended the stairs with aface as pale as ashes.

  The thundering command of Lord Montagu, "Mount, quick! Stand by him,Ned!" did not serve to allay his apprehensions; and perhaps no man ofthe whole party more sincerely prayed that they might pass uninterruptedthan he did.

  The score was paid, and the party rode off, with Montagu and Mr.Oakingham at the head, and Edward Langdale, the groom, and theblacksmith between them, in the rear. It was still quite dark; but theeye of the pretended Savoyard roamed round and round from the verycommencement of the journey. At the end of a few minutes he began totalk, and apparently desired to exculpate himself from any complicity inhis fellow-countryman's proceedings; but Edward stopped him sternly,saying, "Silence! Your tongue makes as much noise as the crack of apistol, and I will silence it if you say one word more." He put his handto his holster as he spoke, and the man ceased instantly.

  "I have pistols too, sir," said the sturdy groom.

  "He will need no more than I give him," said Edward. "I do not miss,Hobbs."

  "No, I know you don't, sir," said the groom: "at least I never saw you."

  "Let us keep quiet," said Edward; "but be prepared. If we should bestopped, and this fellow's comrade is there, you take care of him. Iwill settle with this one."

  The first part of the way led up hill, through a pretty close woodskirting the road on either hand; but at the top of the ascent thelittle party issued forth upon some open, undulating ground, which theinsecurity of border-life had kept a good deal out of cultivation. Thedarkness was now growing pale at the approach of day, and the grayoutline of a chateau or two, with a village church some two miles off,and what seemed a considerable town a good deal farther, might be seento the right and left. All was still and silent till the light cloudsoverhead began to turn rosy, and then a lark started up close beside theroad and went quivering and trilling into the sky.

  "My heaven! they are going very slow," murmured the blacksmith, in a lowvoice and with a groan. "Why does not the English lord go faster, younggentleman? Does he not know this part of the country is full ofbrigands?"

  "He knows there are brigands about," answered Edward; "but we know howto deal with them."

  Edward, however, did think that his lord might have ridden faster; and,as they began to descend into another hollow with a thick wood at thebottom, he scanned every thing around and below with a keen, quick eye,but could discover no moving thing.

  When they issued out of the wood at the other side of the dell, the sunwas apparently just rising above the horizon, and the whole sky was fullof purple and gold; and, when they topped the hill above, a wide but notvery interesting landscape was before them. Some high blue hills wereseen at a distance on the right; but nearer, on both sides, were severalchateaux and villages, with scattered woods and ponds and rivers, allglowing like rubies in the red light. The human race, too, began tobestir itself to daily toil, and several men, evidently peasants, wereseen leading horses or driving oxen to the field. But the view was sooncut off from their sight by broken banks tumbled about in strangeconfusion, interspersed with patches of scrubby firs, and here and therea low hovel looking picturesque in its very wretchedness.

  The agitation of the blacksmith seemed every moment increasing, and oncehe even attempted to drop behind; but the stern words from Edward, "Keepup!" accompanied by a motion of the hand toward his pistols, soonbrought the man to a line with his companions. At length, after they hadridden on for about half a mile or more, he burst forth, saying, "I wantto speak to the lord: he is going too slow. Let me speak to him."

  "Well," said Edward, "ride on by my side." And, drawing a pistol as aprecaution, he spurred forward. The country indeed just there would havegreatly favored the fellow's escape, for it was rough, uneven, andcovered with stunted trees and bushes, while a small pine wood flankedthe road on the left or French side, and a _borne_, or landmark, with alow wall, lay on the other. The highway was wide, however; and Edwardfelt certain that if the smith endeavored to gallop off he could bringhim from his horse before he got out of sight. In a moment they were bythe side of Lord Montagu, who checked his horse to hear what theywanted.

  "My lord, my lord," said the man, in very good French, but with greatagitation, "ride fast. Take good advice, and ride fast, or they willcatch you."

  "Who will catch me?" asked Montagu, eyeing him.

  "I do not know who, exactly," said the man, "Brin, my comrade, has thenames of so many on his list. The cardinal gave it to him before we setout. But ride fast, for God's sake! There may be time yet."

  "Good advice, truly," said Montagu. "Use your spurs, gentlemen. We willinquire further hereafter, if we can,--if we can: ay, if we can, indeed!Draw up your horses. Let the rest come forward. Stir not from that spot,ma
n, or I blow your brains out. Now, who are these before us?"

  From a little bridle-path which issued from the wood and crossed thehighroad some twelve or fourteen men, well armed and mounted, had justridden out and barred the way.

  "Let us charge them at once, my lord," said Edward. "Some of us may cutthrough. You shall, if I live."

  "Look behind, Ned," said Lord Montagu.

  Edward turned his head in the direction to which Montagu had glanced amoment before, and saw a party not much less numerous than that infront, with the blacksmith who had disappeared the night before amongstthe foremost. His pistol was in his hand, and the temptation wasirresistible. He threw his arm across his chest without wheeling hishorse, pulled the trigger, and the traitor fell from his saddle with abullet in his shoulder.

  At the same moment the English groom, who had ridden up at LordMontagu's first order, caught the other unhappy man by the arm, and hadthe muzzle of his weapon at his ear; but Montagu put it aside before hecould fire, saying, "Vain! vain! Edward, you are always too ready withthose pistols."

  "I have given him but his due, my lord, if I die for it the nextminute," said Edward. "But see: that tall man with the white scarf iswaving it to your lordship."

  "Stay here, and I will go forward a little," said Lord Montagu. "Thereis nothing for it but to surrender quietly. They are five to one."

  "Let me go with you, my lord," said Edward.

  "Well, then, put up your pistol," answered Montagu. "The rest stayhere."

  Montagu took off his hat in answer to the signal made by the otherparty, and rode forward with Edward, while a gentleman of some five orsix and thirty, who seemed the leader of the larger body gathered acrossthe road, advanced alone to meet the English nobleman. As they nearedeach other, the two saluted courteously; and throughout their interviewthe utmost politeness manifested itself, instead of the ferociousroughness which in a French picture of this very incident is representedas characterizing the demeanor of M. de Bourbonne.

  The French gentleman spoke first. "I have the honor of wishing yougood-day, my Lord Montagu," he said. "Your lordship is here somewhatearlier than we expected you."

  "I am sorry I did not know, sir, that you are so matutinal in yourhabits," replied Montagu, somewhat superciliously; "otherwise I shouldhave been here earlier still."

  "Doubtless," answered the other. "But I need not now tell your lordshipthat, being later than you intended, it is useless to attempt to pursueyour journey to-day."

  "Why, the roads seem very bad, it is true," said Montagu. "I had hopedthat my good friend the Duke of Lorraine kept his highways in betterorder."

  "I am afraid, my lord," said the stranger, "that the French Governmentmust bear the blame in this instance; for you are now upon French soil.That landmark points out the boundary."

  "I did not mark the landmark," answered the Englishman; "but, if I beupon French territory, may I know to whom I am indebted for thishospitable reception?"

  "My name, my lord, is Bourbonne,--the Count de Bourbonne," said theother. "I only last night heard of your lordship's arrival in theseparts; and I at once made preparation to receive you in my chateau."

  "We expected something of the kind," rejoined Montagu; "for a personagewho had attached himself to my service on the road thought fit to absenthimself last night, and we judged he would most likely spread the rumorof my coming. In truth, I wished to spare all noble gentlemen thehospitable trouble you seem inclined to take, and, indeed, would a greatdeal rather not inflict it upon you now."

  "No trouble in the world, my lord," replied the count. "And, indeed, Imust insist upon the honor of entertaining you till you can be betterlodged. As to the poor man who favored me with notice of your approach,I am afraid he has met with a little accident. I heard the report of apistol, and saw one of the people there fall off his horse."

  "A pure accident," said Montagu, in an indifferent tone. "One of myattendants had a pistol in his hand and his finger upon the trigger. Hewas seized at that moment with a convulsive affection to which he issometimes subject: the hammer fell, and the bullet flew out of themuzzle. In those cases, monsieur le comte, the ball, as you must haveoften remarked, flies right at the greatest villain it can find. It isinvariable, I believe."

  "Very probably," answered De Bourbonne: "I will ask a philosopher hisopinion. But, in the mean time, may I ask your lordship if there aremore accidents of the same kind likely to happen? Are there any othergentlemen of yours with their fingers on their triggers?"

  "Oh, no!" replied Montagu. "I made them put all their pistols up as soonas I comprehended the pressing nature of the invitation I was about toreceive, and the forcible arguments ready to back it. Am I to understandthat it is extended to my attendants also?"

  "To every one," replied the count, with a low bow. "I could never thinkof asking your lordship to my house without including your friends andfollowers."

  "You do me too much honor," said Montagu. "But amongst my followers youwill find a comrade of the worthy gentleman who did me the favor ofbeing my harbinger. Now, if I have any influence with you, my lordcount, I would bespeak for him a high place, not in your esteem, but onyour castle. Doubtless you have battlements, or iron stanchions, orthings of that kind, about, to which you could raise him _sus per__col_. He has all the same qualities as his friend, whom you alreadyknow, and is a Savoyard, he says,[5]--though we have some doubts uponthe subject."

  "I should be most happy to oblige your lordship in any thing," answeredthe Count de Bourbonne; "but you know the king is the bestower of alldignities and the fountain of all honors; and therefore I cannot takeupon me to raise the gentleman to the elevated position you desire forhim."

  "Well, well," replied Montagu, "time works wonders; and doubtless hewill meet his deserts sooner or later. May I ask if you have latelyheard from our mutual friend the Cardinal de Richelieu?"

  "Last night, my lord," answered Bourbonne. "He was quite well, anddesired me to inquire particularly after your health."

  "I expected no less of his courtesy," said the English nobleman. "But Isee your people are closing up pretty near, and, if I mistake not, havegot possession of my valet's horse, with a desire of lightening the poorbeast's load. We had probably better join them, as the man does notcomprehend much French; and Englishmen are sometimes so surly and stupidthat it is impossible to get them to comprehend the force of numbers."

  "At your pleasure," replied the count; and, making a sign to hisfollowers on the road to the north to join him, he went quietly to thespot where Mr. Oakingham and Lord Montagu's servants had remained.

  He now somewhat changed his tone, and, abandoning the bantering mood inwhich he and Lord Montagu had indulged, but still with undiminishedcourtesy of manner, required all present but his own followers to giveup their arms. Edward for one did so with regret; but still it was somesatisfaction to him to see the treacherous blacksmith lying on the bankwith his comrade busily engaged in bandaging his wounded shoulder.

  "I will now have the honor of conducting you to my poor house," said thecount, bowing to Lord Montagu; and, with five or six armed men beforeand a larger number following, with three on each side to guard againstany evasion, he commenced his march. Before departing, however, he spokea word or two to one of his attendants; and Edward remarked that, asthey went, a diligent examination was made of all the pistols which hisparty had given up, as if to ascertain which had been discharged; and hedoubted not that some consequences not very agreeable to himself wouldfollow the inevitable discovery that he had fired the shot which hadwounded the traitor.

  The road wound through one of the wildest parts of France, just upon thefrontier of Champagne and Bar; two or three small rivers had to becrossed; the country was but little cultivated, bearing more the aspectof a sandy moor than of the entrance to one of the richestwine-districts in the world; and more than once Edward cast his eyesaround, thinking that it might be no difficult matter to escape and finda refuge in Lorraine if he could but avoid the pistol-shot
s which weresure to follow him. Had he been intrusted with the care of LordMontagu's papers he would certainly have made the attempt, but he knewnot even who carried them, and he resolved not to abandon his lordexcept for his service.

  Whether Montagu divined what was passing in his mind or not, I cannottell; but, after they had gone about half a mile, he called Edward tohis side and said to him, in English, "Keep still, Ned. Activity will dono good here. The best thing for all of us is to be perfectly passive.If I had trusted to your young, sharp eyes sooner, it might have beenbetter; but it is too late now either to regret or amend what is done."

  "May I request your lordship to speak to your attendants in French?"said Monsieur de Bourbonne. "You speak our tongue in such perfection,my lord, that it must be as familiar to you as your own."

  "I shall probably have time to study it more profoundly," answeredMontagu, with a smile. "But you can inform me yourself, count, if thatfine old chateau upon the height is Bourbonne, where we shall rest, Ipresume."

  "That is Bourbonne," replied the count; "and the little town you maycatch sight of down there in the hollow, a little to the left. But,though we will stop there to take some refreshment, I think that theCastle of Coiffy will afford your lordship a more convenientresting-place."

  "Oh, yes! I remember Coiffy," answered Montagu, laughing. "I passedclose to it some three months ago. It is a strong place, and so wellbuilt, I am told, count, that the garrison cannot hear the drums ofLorraine beat at Bar."

  "That is only because they do not pay attention to them, my lord,"replied Bourbonne.

  As they rode on, the old chateau grew more and more clearly defined; andthe state of decay into which the ancient defences had fallen showedplainly why it had not been chosen for the place of Montagu's detention.

  In the village the party stopped to breakfast, and the English noblemanwas treated with every sort of respectful attention; but a strict guardwas kept at the door of the chamber where he was served. The attendantshad some food placed before them in another room; but they were ascarefully watched. In about an hour the march recommenced, and shortlyafter, while gazing forward, Edward perceived rising over the trees atthe distance of several miles the towers of Coiffy, a much strongerplace than Bourbonne, which he never lost sight of till they reached thedrawbridge.

  It was apparent that their coming had been made known beforehand, forall was evidently prepared to receive Lord Montagu with ceremoniouspoliteness. An old gentleman whom they called Monsieur de Boulogne stoodin the gateway, hat in hand, and immediately proceeded to conduct thenoble prisoner to his apartments.

  Mr. Oakingham followed, and Edward Langdale was about to do the same,when the Count de Bourbonne took him by the arm, saying, "Stop, youngman! I destine another chamber for you."

  His tone was somewhat menacing, and Edward turned round and gazed fullin his face.

  "Tell me," said the count, "and mind you tell me true----"

  "If I tell you any thing at all, I shall tell you the truth," answeredEdward, interrupting him: "so spare such exhortations, sir count. But itis probable that I shall not answer a small gentleman of Champagne atall, especially if he interrogates me in a manner which much greaterpersonages than himself have never displayed toward me."

  It is probable that this rude answer was intended to stop all inquiriesinto Lord Montagu's affairs,--for Edward did not doubt that they wereabout to be the subject of De Bourbonne's questions; but the count gazedon him with extreme surprise, exclaiming, "Ha! Whom have we here? Asmall gentleman of Champagne! Will your magnificence have thecondescension, then, to inform the small gentleman of Champagne if itwas your hand that sent a pistol-ball into the shoulder of a poorpersonage who came up with my train when I first had the honor of seeingyou?"

  "It was by accident I shot him in the shoulder," replied Edward: "Iintended the ball for his head."

  "If he dies we may find a rope that will fit you, young man," said thecount; and, beckoning up the man who had examined the pistols on theroad, he said, "Take him away and put him in the dungeon where I toldyou."

  "If you hang me, sir count," said Edward, without the slightest alarm,"you will do so with the passport in my breast which was given me by hisEminence of Richelieu with his own hand. You had better ask the twospies a few questions before you treat me with any thing likeindignity."

  So saying, he followed the man to whom Bourbonne had spoken. Anothersoldier took a lantern from a hook and came after; and in a minute ortwo Edward found himself pushed into a room where the faint light of thelantern only served to show the shining damp which clung to the stonewalls.

  [Footnote 5: These two men, who adhered to Lord Montagu through hiswhole journey, first tracking him from place to place with the sagacityand pertinacity of well-trained hounds, and then contriving to getadmitted to his service, were in reality Basques. Some have supposedthat they were creatures of Monsieur de Bourbonne; but there seems nodoubt they were two of the many skilful agents whom Richelieu took careto provide himself with in every rank of life.]