Arrah Neil; or, Times of Old
Page 25
CHAPTER XXIV.
It was ten o'clock at night; the town was dark and silent; the streetsempty, and the windows generally closed, when Diggory Falgate advancedwith a light gay step through various narrow ways towards theblock-house where the Earl of Beverley was confined. He was followedat the distance of about a hundred yards by Ancient Hazard of thetrain-bands, and a short distance behind him came Captain Barecolt,with the silent step but wide stride of one well accustomed todangerous enterprises.
The foremost of the party, we have said, advanced lightly and gaily,with that sort of braggadocio air which characterized the Cavaliers inalmost all their undertakings, and which, or rather the foolishself-confidence of which it was the mere outward expression, ruined somany of their best concerted plans. Ancient Hazard, however, as hewalked along, displayed a very different aspect. He was somewhatafraid of the business in hand; and, though resolved to carry itthrough, his head turned almost involuntarily to the right or left atevery step, thinking that some one must be watching him, though theonly suspicions that existed anywhere regarding his conduct were thosein his own heart. Barecolt, on the contrary, though as likely as anyman, from natural disposition, to make as much noise about whatever hedid as was necessary, was too much habituated to enterprises of thiskind to be particularly excited on the occasion, and his vanity tookthe direction of affecting to look upon it as a matter of course, socommonplace and easy that it allowed him to think of anything else;and he therefore followed with his eyes bent upon the ground,noticing, apparently, nothing that passed around him.
The first, and indeed only, obstruction that presented itself to theirprogress towards the block-house was offered by the watch, who,encountering good Diggory Falgate, carrying, it must be remarked, asmall bundle under his arm, and not particularly approving of thejaunty air with which he gave them good-night, thought fit to stophim, and, in Shakspere's words, "prate of his whereabout."
Falgate was always ready to cry clubs, and strongly disposed to resistthe watch when it could be done with the slightest probability ofsuccess; so that a very pretty quarrel was commencing, which mightsoon have conveyed him to prison, or the cage, had not Hazard come tohis support, and informed the worthy guardians of the night that thecaptive in their hands was his poor neighbour Falgate the painter, whowas not an ill-disposed man, though somewhat inclined to moisten hisclay with more than a sufficient quantity of strong beer; and hemoreover hinted that such might be the case on that very night.
This assurance proved so far satisfactory that the watch thought fitto let him go with a suitable admonition, and Hazard, acting his partbetter when he grew warm in the matter, bade Diggory, in a rough tone,go on about his business and not make broils in the streets, or hewould get himself into mischief.
This said, the whole party proceeded on their way, resuming as soon aspossible the same order of march as before, Captain Barecolt, with hisgrave and serious demeanour, passing the watch without question.
About five minutes after, Diggory emerged into the open space by theriver side, and advancing straight towards the block-house, enteredinto conversation with the guard. What was said at first was in a lowtone, but presently the sound of the voices grew louder and louder;angry words reached the corner of the street behind which AncientHazard had concealed himself; and, running across, he came up just intime to prevent the sentinel from knocking down the painter with thebutt-end of his piece.
The plan agreed upon was now fully carried out: the ancient of thetrain-bands, while threatening Falgate sharply with the stocks and theprison, was still more severe upon the sentinel, and commanded himimmediately to march back to the guard-house and send down the nextman upon the roll. He would keep guard while the other was gone, hesaid, and the man, giving up his musket, walked away proceeding aboutfifty yards towards the opposite buildings before he recollected theorders of the governor, to keep all persons at a distance from thespot where he was in conference with the prisoner. He accordinglypaused, and Hazard, who had been watching him closely, walked up,asking why he stopped when he had orders to go straight to theguard-house. The man excused himself, and transmitted the commands hehad received from the governor, upon which his ancient desired him togo on, returning slowly towards the block-house.
"By this time, however, Barecolt had run across in the darkness fromthe mouth of the opposite street, and, with Falgate behind him, wasgroping over the door for the key which he had seen in the lock on thepreceding morning. He found the keyhole, however, untenanted, and atthat moment the exclamation burst from his lips which had so muchalarmed Sir John Hotham.
"They have taken the key out," he cried; "curse me if I don't forcethe lock off with my dagger!" and he was proceeding to actaccordingly, when, to his surprise, the door was opened, the lightbroke forth from within, and Lord Beverley suddenly clapped his handupon his mouth, whispering, "Not a word of recognition!" Then, in alouder tone, he demanded, "Whom and what do you seek here, sir!"
Barecolt for a single instant was puzzled as to whether he shouldspeak French or English; but Lord Beverley had used nothing but thelatter tongue, and he replied in the same, while with open eyes heseemed to demand further explanation, "I was seeking some one whom itseems I am not likely to find."
"You may look in, sir; you will see no one here," answered the earl;and Barecolt gave a hurried look around, saw the curtain of the bed onthe opposite side drawn forward, and with a wink of the eye gave theroyal officer to understand that he began to comprehend.
"That is enough," continued the earl, assuming somewhat suddenly aforeign accent; "you are now satisfied; go away."
Barecolt instantly withdrew a step; but the earl followed him, andadded, in a whisper, "You seem at liberty--I shall be so soon--out ofthe town as fast as you can, and either wait for me on the road toYork, as near as is safe, or tell the king all that has happened, andthat I will rejoin him speedily, I trust, with good news."
Thus saying, he drew back, shut the door, and locked it, as before, inthe inside.
Captain Barecolt laid his finger on the side of his nose. "Here issomething going on here," he said to himself. "Well, I will obeyorders: it is not my fault if his lordship will not get out of themousetrap. Now, Master Falgate, now, Master Hazard, let us be off asfast as we can to the 'Swan.'"
"I must stay here till the guard comes," answered Hazard, in a lowtone. "Why, what is all this? The sentry said something about thegovernor. Will not the prisoner come out?"
"No," replied Barecolt; "he would rather stay in: nevertheless, as heis a wise man, Master Hazard, doubtless he has his reasons. Well,follow us to the 'Swan' as quickly as you can, and we will talk more."
"I will--I will," answered Hazard; "away with you, quick! if any onewere to come and find you here with me, I were ruined."
Barecolt and Falgate hurried on, and in about five minutes reached the"Swan," the door of which was partly shut; but the moment theyapproached, the servant-girl, Nancy, put forth her head, saying, "Goup to your room, sir, quick; the old man is below--Dame White told meto say so."
"Thanks, Nancy!" replied Barecolt; and, contriving to conceal his facewith his cloak, he crossed the passage, and, followed by Falgate,walked up the stairs. In the room of the worthy captain they found alight burning, and Falgate, laying down his bundle upon the table,asked, "Well, sir, what is the matter? Where does the pulley hitch?When men have the door open, why won't they walk out?"
"Good faith! I cannot tell, any more than I can what is in thatbundle," observed Barecolt.
"That you shall soon be able to tell," replied Falgate. "It is all myworldly goods and chattels, sir. I am going with you to join theking."
"A good resolution," answered Barecolt, abruptly.--"Pray, MasterFalgate, have you money to buy a horse? A man is nothing without ahorse, you know."
"Ay, that I have," replied the painter; "but where to get one is thequestion."
"Let not that embarrass you," rejoined Barecolt, with a well-satisfiedand
patronizing air. "A man of action and experience, like myself, isnever unprovided. I will find you one between this and Newlands."
Falgate admired with such evident admiration that Barecolt treated himto a story of his adventures once in the Carpathian Mountains, wherethe safety of himself and his whole company was secured by his havingtaken the precaution to put a thimble in his pocket. Before this wasconcluded they were joined by Hazard, whose watch had passedundisturbed till he was relieved by another of the train-bands; andthe three remained near an hour together, and partook of some of thelandlady's good wine. Hazard then issued forth, and consultationsmanifold took place between Mrs. White and Barecolt, after which thegood lady paid a furtive visit to poor Arrah Neil; for by this timeMaster Dry, of Longsoaken, had retired to rest. There were thenfurther conferences in the room of Barecolt, and at length the innsank into repose.
About half-an-hour before daybreak, however, four persons silentlyassembled in the hall: few words were spoken; but good Mrs. White,with a tear in her eye at the thoughts of other days, kissed the cheekof the fair girl, who leaned trembling on the arm of Barecolt. Thedoor was quietly unbolted and opened; three of the party went out, andthe fourth, retiring, closed it after them. The others walked slowlyon towards the gate of the town, and just as they approached, thefaint dawn of day began to give light to the streets.
"Give the young lady your arm, Master Painter," said Barecolt, "andanswer to whatever I say to you, that you will set about it wheneveryou have seen the young woman to Newlands."
Falgate, who was now in his working dress, nodded his head, and gavehis arm for Arrah's support, while Barecolt advanced to the gate, and,giving the word with which he had been furnished, ordered the wicketto be opened, in an authoritative tone. It had not the full success hecould have wished, however; for the man would do nothing further thancall his officer, so that some five minutes were lost. At length,however, the officer appeared, and as he had seen our worthy captainon the day before, and examined his pass, no further difficulties weremade in his case. In regard to Falgate, however, the matter wasdifferent, and he was asked, in a surly and somewhat suspicious tone,whither he was going so early in the morning.
"He be coming vid me to see one ting dere be to do at de nort end ofde curtain," said Barecolt; "but all you English have too much to dovid de girl, and he say he cannot do it till he be come back fromNewlands; but you remember, sair," he added, turning to Falgate, "if Ifind you not about it by seven of de clock, I turn you off."
"I will set about it, sir, as soon as I have seen the young woman toNewlands," replied Falgate, bobbing his head; and the whole partypassed out of the gates, which were closed behind them.