CHAPTER XII.
HOW THE KING PLAYED AT HIDE-AND-SEEK AT TRENT.
While these preparations for his escape were so successfully made,Charles had run considerable risk of capture.
On the evening of the second day he was alone in his chamber, occupiedwith reflections, and wondering what Colonel Wyndham and Careless wereabout, when Juliana entered suddenly, and with anxiety depicted onher charming countenance informed him that the Reverend Hold-up-HandMeldrum had been questioning the women-servants about the new groom whohad lately arrived at the house.
"The inquisitive minister came to the kitchen door," she said, "andstating that he knew the young man was in the house, desired to speakwith him. Both Eleanor Withers and Joan Halsenoth declared that thegroom was gone, but Mr. Meldrum affirmed the contrary, adding that hesuspected the young man was a malignant Cavalier in disguise, and wascertain he was hidden in the house, and as he would not come forth, hewould bring those who would find him. As the two women made no answer,Mr. Meldrum departed, but they think he will make good his threat.I believe so too, and I therefore advise your majesty to concealyourself, for of course you will not see him."
"Humph! I don't know that," observed Charles. "I am sure I could bafflehim."
But he changed his tone, when, shortly afterwards, Joan Halsenoth burstinto the room, with a terrified look, exclaiming:
"Mr. Meldrum is in the yard, and has got two troopers with him."
"Troopers! that looks serious!" cried the king. "Clearly, a strictsearch will be made."
"Not a moment must be lost. Conceal yourself, I entreat you," criedJuliana.
And as the king opened the secret door and disappeared, she and Joanremoved every article likely to betray his presence.
"Carry these to my chamber quickly, and hide them," continued Juliana."That done, bring down everything from my dressing-table, and we willarrange them here, as if the room were mine."
Joan obeyed, and in another minute returned with hair-brushes, combs,and other articles of the toilette, which were quickly placed asJuliana had directed.
"Now go down-stairs and do thy best to dupe them," cried Juliana. "Iwill remain here."
Left by herself, the young damsel stepped to one of the lattice windowsthat looked upon the yard, and being partially open, it enabled herto hear what was passing outside. She could not see the Reverend Mr.Meldrum, but she heard his voice, and perceived the troopers, who stoodbehind him.
The servants, it appeared, had locked the kitchen door, which was ofstrong oak, studded with nails, and positively refused to unfasten it.They were talking to him through a small barred window.
While Juliana was listening to what was going on, the secret door wascautiously opened, and Charles peeped out.
"Are they gone?" he called out in a low voice, perceiving she was alone.
"No, no," she replied in the same tone. "Do not quit your hiding-place.They are below, but the servants won't let them into the kitchen."
"That's a pity," cried Charles. "Most likely they would have stoppedthere. Those rogues are fond of the kitchen."
"They have got in," said Juliana. "Mrs. Wyndham has unfastened thedoor. She will give them plenty of ale."
For a few minutes all remained quiet, and Charles ventured out of hishiding-place.
"I don't think they will disturb me," he said.
Just at the moment, however, Joan Halsenoth cautiously entered the room.
"Mr. Meldrum and his companions are coming up-stairs presently," shesaid. "They have poked their noses into every hole and corner below,and mean to search every room in the house. So you must prepare forthem."
And she disappeared.
Charles again retreated to his hiding-place, but paused before closingthe door.
"Can you not give me a signal," he said, "in case it should benecessary for me to descend the secret staircase?"
"I can tap against the panel," she rejoined. "But you had better removethe plank at once."
"I am not sure that I can find the plank," he rejoined.
"I will show you where it is," she cried, flying towards him. But shestopped on hearing footsteps on the staircase.
"They are coming!" she exclaimed.
The secret door was instantly shut.
Next moment, the room door was thrown open, and Mrs. Wyndham entered,accompanied by the Independent minister, and followed by the twotroopers.
"When I tell you that this is Mistress Juliana Coningsby's room,perhaps a very slight inspection of it will satisfy you," said Mrs.Wyndham to the minister.
"I am not so sure of that," he replied. "'Tis likely enough that themalignant whom we seek may be concealed here."
"You have just been told that it is my room," cried Juliana, suddenlyturning round and facing him.
"That does not make it more unlikely," observed one of the troopers."Fair damsels have concealed their lovers before now."
"Hold thy peace, Hilkiah," said the minister, gravely. "Thou art comehither to search for a malignant, and not to jest. Do thine office."
Thus rebuked, Hilkiah and his comrade examined the room most carefully,their proceedings being anxiously watched by the two ladies, thoughthey strove to assume an air of indifference. Finding from the mannerin which the men were sounding the panels that the discovery of thecloset was inevitable, Mrs. Wyndham thought it better to anticipate it,and, stepping forward, she opened the secret door.
It was an anxious moment for Juliana, but she perceived at a glancethat the king had found the movable plank, and used it. The secretcloset was empty. The minister gazed into it with a blank expression ofcountenance.
"Pray examine the place carefully!" cried Mrs. Wyndham, in a tauntingtone. "Sound the walls, try the roof and floor--you will find nothing.'Tis not a hiding-place, but a small room attached to the largerchamber. A moment's inspection will convince you it has not beenoccupied."
The closet was scarcely large enough to hold the minister and thetroopers, but they squeezed themselves into it nevertheless, and beingthus crowded they could not possibly examine the floor. But, indeed,they had to think of their own deliverance. The secret door closed witha spring, and unable to resist the impulse that prompted her to shutthem in, Juliana closed it. A loud laugh from the giddy girl told themthey were made prisoners. Mr. Meldrum did not relish the jest, but Mrs.Wyndham and Juliana derided his anger.
The troopers tried to force open the door, but the bolt resistedtheir efforts. Juliana positively refused to let them out unless theyengaged to leave the house at once, and to these conditions they wereeventually compelled to submit. On being liberated they all went awaylooking extremely crestfallen.
Not till it was quite certain that the coast was clear did Julianaventure to intimate to the king that he might come forth from hishiding-place. He did not appear much discomposed, but treated thematter very lightly.
"I have played so often at hide-and-seek of late," he said, "that Ifeel certain of coming off the winner. But the game was never betterplayed than it has been just now."
"I am glad to hear your majesty say so," observed Juliana.
Careful watch was kept that night at Trent, and the king did not retireto rest for fear of a surprise. However, nothing occurred, and in themorning it was ascertained that the troopers had departed.
In the afternoon, Colonel Wyndham and Careless returned from theirexpedition, and at once repaired to the king's chamber.
"All has been most satisfactorily arranged, sire," said the colonel."I will give you the details anon. The sum is this. A vessel has beenhired by Captain Ellesdon from a trusty shipmaster at Lyme, namedLimbry, and your majesty will embark for St. Malo on Monday next atmidnight. We have seen the vessel in Lyme port in which you are tosail, and find her all that could be desired. It will be an additionalgratification, I am sure, to your majesty to learn that, on our wayback, we encountered Lord Wilmot. I invited him to Trent, but he didnot deem it prudent to accept the invitation, though he greatly desiresto see your
majesty."
"Where is he?" cried Charles. "I will take him with me to St. Malo."
"I have ventured to anticipate your majesty's wishes in that respect,"said Careless. "Feeling certain you would desire his company,I promised him a passage, and appointed a place of meeting nearCharmouth, on Monday."
"You have done well," cried the king. "I shall be glad to have Wilmotwith me. Fortune, at length, seems disposed to favour me. In a fewdays--nay, in a few hours--I shall be out of the reach of my enemies."
Colonel Wyndham then gave the king full details of the negotiation withLimbry, and his majesty was very much amused by the relation. He was,also, well pleased with the colonel's description of Captain Ellesdon.
The short interval between the king's departure was passed verypleasantly by his majesty, and when the day arrived he could not helpfeeling regret at leaving a place where he had been so happy. Asregards female society he could not have been better circumstanced.Three more charming women, each in her way, than those with whom it hadbeen his good fortune to be associated, could scarcely have been found.For Lady Wyndham, whose interest in him seemed quite maternal, he hadbegun to feel an almost filial regard. The loyal old dame often spoketo him of her three valiant sons who had fallen in his royal father'scause, and said she accounted their deaths her highest honour.
"I can only replace one of them," said the king. "But you must lookupon me as a son."
Sunday was the last day on which it was supposed that his majesty wouldstay at Trent, and it was spent very decorously. Religious servicewas performed in the king's room by the Reverend Mr. Langton, andall the company in the house, including Harry Peters and two of thewomen-servants, were assembled at it. The circumstances gave a specialinterest to the meeting, and those present on the occasion often calledit to mind. The good divine preached an eloquent and stirring discoursethat roused the feelings of all who listened to him. His text was takenfrom Samuel: "_And Saul sought David every day; but God delivered himnot into his hands._" He spoke of the king's miraculous escapes fromthe many and great dangers to which he had been exposed, and showedthat he could not thus have been preserved, if he had not been underthe care of a watchful Providence. "While the flood of rebellion hascovered the face of his kingdom," he said, "in this ark he has beensafely shut up, and here he will remain till his faithful servantshave time to work his deliverance. But that day is near at hand. Themalicious designs of his adversaries will be frustrated, and he willbe restored to his father's throne. Then shall we all say with theProphet: My Lord the king is come again in peace to his own house."
Charles was much moved by the good man's discourse, and thanked him forit when the service was over.
"As I have just declared, sire," said Mr. Langton, "the hand ofProvidence has been clearly manifested in your preservation hitherto,and it will not desert you. Take comfort from the words of the Prophet,for they are very applicable to you: 'Fear not, for the hand of Saulshall not find thee, and thou shall be king over Israel.'"
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 93
