The Coming of the King

by Joseph Hocking

  CHAPTER XXIV

  CHARLES II AS A JUDGE

  Whether special arrangements had been made for our coming I know not,but as I judged the whole party of ladies and gallants who had gatheredaround were seated as if in expectation of being entertained. Moreover,many curious eyes were upon me as I entered, as though my coming were ofsome importance. The king, however, scarce took any notice of me. Hegave me one keen searching glance, and then turned to a gaily dressedand handsome woman, and spoke to her I thought as if he were partly ingrim earnest and partly jesting.

  Evidently the party had supped in another chamber, although wine wasbrought in and partaken of freely both by the ladies as well as by thegaily-dressed gallants. I thought nothing of this, for even while I wasin London I had heard that the king had broken down many of the rules ofcourtly etiquette.

  I noticed that the apartment was of large proportions, and of greatbeauty, but which of the state rooms it was I did not know, neither forthat matter do I know to this day, for this was the only occasion I haveever seen it.

  I glanced from one face to another in the hope of seeing MistressConstance, but nowhere was she visible. This disappointed me much, foralthough I had parted from her but for a few hours, my heart fairlyached to behold her again.

  "Will you stand here?"

  I stepped to the place I had been bidden, and as I did so anger filledmy heart, for I saw that I was made the gaping stock of all the crowd ofgiddy revellers who were there. I felt the blood rush to my face, butnought came to me to say. What in truth could I say? The king's blackbeady eyes were turned furtively upon me, while sitting in the shadow Isaw the face and form of the Duke of York, the king's brother.

  There could be no doubt about it. The king had brought a royal party andtheir friends to Windsor, and I was brought there to give my lords andtheir ladies some entertainment.

  For a few moments all eyes were turned upon me. Some quizzical andcurious, some wondering, some laughing at my evident anger, others as ifwatching for what might come next.

  No word was spoken to me, although I could hear them talking about me.

  "Rashcliffe, you say. A good name anyway. Oh, his father fought for theRoyalists in the time of the king's father, did he?"

  "If he were fittingly attired he would be the bravest looking man in theroom."

  "He's in a temper! look! Ay, but I like him the better for that. He hathspirit. What led him to help the girl out of prison?"

  "Is she to be brought here at the same time? It would be better sportso."

  "He looks ready to fight any man here."

  "What do you think the king will do with him?"

  And so on. They knew I could hear much of what they said, and yet theydiscussed me as though I were the king's spaniel which I saw sat uponhis Majesty's knee.

  After a few minutes there was another hush, and looking towards the doorI saw Mistress Constance enter. The light of the candles did not makethe great apartment very bright; but I saw that she had been in thehands of a tiring woman, who had dressed her with great care. She wasattired more plainly than they, although I doubt if any were dressedwith more beauty. Her hair, moreover, was carefully arranged after thefashion of the times, and I saw it gleam in the candlelight.

  Every eye in the room was upon her, and no wonder. Fair as were many ofthe court dames who had gathered there, not one of them could comparewith Mistress Constance. Her face was flushed, half I thought withanger, for she as well as I must have realized that she was broughtthere to give the king pleasure as well as to be judged for what she haddone. In truth the whole matter seemed to me at that moment as mereplay-acting. This was no judgement hall at all. It was a gathering ofthe king's friends, and the king thought to entertain himself and themby what should take place.

  Nevertheless, I saw that she was in no mood to be trifled with. Her eyesshone with a steady light, and I knew by her compressed lips that shemeant to bear whatever ordeal through which she had to pass, withoutfear. Her movements, moreover, showed no excitement. She walked steadilyinto the compartment, carrying herself as though she were a queen. Thewomen there saw this as well as I, and if they envied her it was nowonder, for a more beauteous face, or a nobler formed maiden surelynever stood before a king.

  I turned and took one look at Charles, and I noted that his eyes wereopened wider than was their wont, and there was a look in them for whichI would gladly have killed him. His pale, fleshy face was eager, too, asthough he were vastly enjoying himself. For a moment he seemed to forgetthe dog he had been fondling, as well as the handsome woman to whom hehad been speaking.

  "Lucy Walters must have been fair indeed if she were fairer than she."

  Who said this I do not know, but it raised my anger almost to madness tothink that the woman I loved should be mentioned in the same breath withthe mother of the lad who might one day be king of England. In the eyesof some of the women was jealousy, and I saw them draw up theirshoulders disdainfully, yet they never took their eyes from MistressConstance's face. As for some of the young gallants, they looked as ifthey would devour her beauty by a glance.

  For a moment the king seemed at a loss what to say. I thought I saw himopen his mouth to speak more than once, and then close it again, asthough he had chosen the wrong words. Presently, however, he turned tosome one, and said--

  "Bring a chair for the fair maid to sit on. She hath travelled farto-day, and although she gives no sign of it, must be weary."

  A chair was placed close by where I stood, and Mistress Constance cameand sat down as though she were the king's guest, rather than as aprisoner waiting to be judged.

  "We have heard strange things concerning you," said the king as she sat,and I saw that his black, beady eyes were still upon her, while his lipsparted with a smile. "You see, however, that we are not very angry, andthus you are bidden to be seated in the king's presence."

  Mistress Constance did not speak at this, although each one there wassilent, waiting, I doubt not, to hear what she might say.

  "In truth, so little are we angry," he went on, "especially afterhearing of your brave deeds, that we would have you come and kiss ourhand, rather than think of yourself as a prisoner."

  I think my heart almost stopped beating at this, for king though he was,his profligacy was freely spoken of, even by those who cared most forhim, and it was torture beyond words to think of the woman I lovedkneeling before him and kissing the hand which he would have extended.

  "I dare not so honour myself," said the maid quietly, and her voiceseemed to me as music. "For while I greatly rejoice in Your Majesty'skindness, yet do I remember that I was taken from prison to be broughthere, in which prison I have been immured for days."

  "This is strange," said the king with a smile, "for truly I do feel likegranting you forgiveness for aught you have done, even before I hearwhat you may say in your own defence. Had I been a justice at Bedfordthe trial would have been short, and I doubt not but you would have beenas free as the nightingale which sings among the trees yonder."

  Even as he spoke we could hear the song of the nightingale, for thewindows were open, and the night was still. Moreover, so great was thesilence in the room, save for the voice of the king, that one could haveheard a pin drop.

  But Mistress Constance did not speak in answer to this, and in truththere seemed nought for her to say.

  I thought I saw Charles Stuart's face harden at her silence, and Ifancied that he might be thinking of her father, as indeed I believe hewas by the question which he next asked.

  "Your name is Mistress Constance Leslie, daughter of one John Leslie,who is by right of descent a baronet, although he useth not his title?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  "I hear that you have a sister?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "And she is wedded, I hear, to one Sir Charles Denman?"

  She bowed as if in assent to this.

  "Is she your elder sister, or is she younger than you?"

  "She is older than I,
sire."

  "Ah, I should have judged so. And right glad am I that you are notwedded to this plotting, sour-faced Puritan. That would have been indeeda sore pity. A clown with a travelling show might as well be wedded to aprincess. Is your sister as fair as you?"

  "Fairer," replied Constance.

  "Nay, nay, that is impossible," and the king smiled upon her, and as hesmiled I hated him, for it was the smile of a bad man.

  "You see," he went on, "that we are not treating you like one who hathbeen guilty of great naughtiness, rather, we have brought you to our ownhouse, amongst our own friends. Nevertheless, it is known that the kingmust do justice to all, and we promised his Grace of Albermarle thatthis matter should be looked into. You say then that it was not you, butyour sister, the wife of the man Denman, who made this murderous attackupon him."

  "I have never said so, sire."

  "What!"

  I noticed the change in the king's tone, and saw that his beady eyesbecame hard.

  "I have never said so, sire."

  "Then do you plead guilty to the charge?"

  "Else why should I have flown from General Monk's anger?"

  For a moment Charles was silent, as though he knew not what to say, butpresently he burst out laughing.

  "Why, here my lords and ladies is a strange thing," he said; "and intruth it is worth coming to England to see. The sight of one who seeksto bear the shame of another is surely rare. Come closer, fairConstance, and let me have a closer look at thee!"

  Again I wondered what she would do, for if I saw evil in the king'seyes, so also I believe did she.

  "I may not come closer to Your Majesty," she said.

  "And why prithee?"

  "I am afraid to dazzle my eyes too much."

  The king did not notice the scorn in her voice, else he had been angry.Instead he laughed gaily.

  "We must do something to help you, fair Constance," he said, "for youplease us much, and I would fain have you near me often. Nevertheless,justice is justice, and I must e'en keep my word and probe this thing tothe bottom. Now whether it was you or another who sought to laymurderous hands upon the Duke of Albermarle can easily be proved. Whatsay you, Your Grace? You say you saw the woman; can you assert that itwas those pretty hands which held the bloody knife?"

  I turned and saw the Duke of Albermarle. He had been standing in theshadow, so that I had not recognized him, but now he stood out clearly,and I noted that his dark searching eyes travelled slowly up and downConstance's form.

  "No, Your Majesty, it was not she. At first I thought it was, for trulythe other is like her; but there is much difference, and the longer Ilook the more difference do I see. The murderous woman was not so tallas this fair maid by at least three inches, neither are the featuresaltogether alike, although there is a resemblance."

  "You could take your oath on this, Albermarle?" said the king.

  "Certainly, Your Majesty."

  "Ah then, we have made the first step in our voyage of discovery. So yousee, fair Mistress Constance, although you would condemn yourself youcannot get another to condemn you. And truly this is a strange thing,for hitherto I have found it true, especially of women, that they bealways ready to excuse themselves, while others be always ready to blamethem. Master Killigrew, here is a subject for a poem, and see that it isfittingly done."

  At this moment I looked again at Constance's face, and for the firsttime I beheld fear. I saw her lips trembling, while in her eyes therewas a look of terror, as though she would fain have escaped.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, then you pronounce me innocent?"

  "Ay, innocent of that fair Constance. Not that I have doubted it fromthe first moment I saw you. Yet have I to ask these questions that noman might doubt."

  "Then I may even go my ways and rid Your Majesty of my presence?" shesaid eagerly.

  "Nay, nay, not so soon, fair maid," said Charles. "It is not so oft thatone heareth speech so pleasant. Besides the matter is not dealt withyet. Tell me, I pray thee, how thou didst accomplish this, and how thoudidst so long evade thy pursuers?"

  For a moment Constance hesitated, while the king watched her, a smilehalf of irony, and half of merriment being upon his lips.

  "Is it your will that I shall tell you this, Your Majesty?" she asked.

  "Ay, that it is. I would not that my lords and ladies should miss such astory. Its matter must be, I am sure, strange to them."

  "There is little to tell, Your Majesty; besides it was very easy."

  "You mean that your pursuers were such fools?" said the king with alaugh. "Ay, I can well believe it. But to your story. And mark you Ihave become so accustomed to listen to lies that I can detect one fromafar."

  I saw anger gleam from Constance's eyes as he said this.

  "Even although I tried to save my sister, I have never lied concerningit," she cried.

  "Nay?" said the king smiling. "Truly your conversation becomes more andmore interesting. Truth is so rare. Pray listen carefully my lords andladies."

  "When my sister came to my father's house, having done this thing, Ie'en clothed myself in her attire, and then having shewed myself to herpursuers I escaped."

  "And they followed you?"

  "Ay, they followed me."

  "Ah; but this is a rare jest!" said the king laughing. "Truly the mostof mankind is made up not only of knaves, but of fools. But how did youescape them?"

  "Oh, it was night and I knew ways which they did not."

  Again the king laughed, and then continued, "And now, MistressConstance, there is but one other thing I would ask, and if thouanswerest truly, although thou art the daughter of a man whom I find ithard to forgive, thou shalt be free as air. Dost thou know where thissister of thine is now?"

  I knew this was the question which Constance dreaded, but she answeredbravely.

  "I do Your Majesty."

  "Then tell me."

  She was silent.

  "Come, speak plainly."

  "Nay, Your Majesty, I cannot tell you that."

  "But I command."

  Still Constance was silent, and I thought the king would have given wayto his anger.

  Presently he burst into a laugh, but the laugh had but little mirth init. He made me think of a dog who showed his teeth even while he waggedhis tail.

  "Ah, then we must e'en find out ourselves," he said, and there was asnarl in his voice, although the mocking smile had not left his lips.

  "Young Master Rashcliffe may be able to give us some information," hecontinued, and he turned suddenly to me. "Here methinks is also astrange freak of nature, for verily on the day we landed at Dover, weasked Master Rashcliffe if he desired aught as a favour from the king,but he answered no. Our brother of York, however, cannot say the samefor his father. Come, Master Rashcliffe, can you tell us where MistressConstance's sister is? Dorcas, I believe, is the name given to her."

  "I know not, Your Majesty," I replied.

  "Come, that is a brave answer, and perchance a true one. Yet it maycover up a big lie. Have you any suspicion where she is?"

  At this I was silent, for I believed I knew where the woman was inhiding. I remembered what the farmer had told me at the inn nearPycroft. I recalled the words which the woman who was with old Solomonhad said--"We have need to go to Bedford." I had also believed that thereason Constance had given herself up to the constables who came tosearch the house at Goodlands was that she was afraid they might findher sister. Nevertheless I was not silent long, for I knew this wouldarouse suspicion.

  "I have no knowledge whatever where she is, Your Majesty."

  "I did not ask for your knowledge but your suspicion," said the kingangrily. "Tell me, do you believe, do you think, have you a fancy thatyou know where she is hiding?"

  I was silent, for what in truth could I say?

  The king laughed quietly. "It seems there are two who would defyjustice," he said. "Well, well, we shall see! But let us return a littleway. For what purpose did you seek to set this maid at l
iberty when shewas first put into Bedford Gaol?"

  "Because I believed she was imprisoned unjustly," I answered boldly.

  "Ah, I see. You thought yourself wiser than others. Had she told youthat she was innocent of the charge laid against her?"

  "No, Your Majesty."

  "Nor given you hint of it?"

  "No, Your Majesty."

  "Did she tell you of what she was accused?"

  "No, Your Majesty."

  "Ah, ah. The mystery deepens; but depend upon it we shall unravel it.You were in Dover on the day of our landing, and yet the next night youwere in Bedford. You went there to set her at liberty. How did you hearof her imprisonment?"

  "I heard it spoken of at Dover."

  "And then like a brave knight you rode away to set her free. Ah, well, Ilike you none the worse for that. You have brains, and you havedecision. But this means that you had met her before. Where?"

  "Near Dover, sire."

  "What did she there?"

  "She never told me, sire."

  "Reports have reached me that you have been seen near an old housecalled Pycroft, which is not a long ride from Dover. Did you see herthere?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "Ah! that is better. Why did you go there?"

  "I do not think Your Majesty would be pleased if I told you."

  "That is possible, ay likely. Such as you often do that which might notplease me. But tell me."

  "If I tell you I would rather speak to your private ear," I said.

  "Ay, and fancy you could get off a cock-and-bull story upon me. Nay,nay, methinks we are getting to the bottom of this thing. Now then, whatled you to go to Pycroft?"

  "I had heard that there was something of great import there."

  "Ah, that is fine. But why should it displease me?"

  "Because it had to do with Your Majesty."

  "With me. With me. From whom did you hear of it in the first place?"

  "From a woman named Katharine Harcomb," I replied boldly.

  Charles Stuart started as though a wasp had stung him, and then heshrugged his shoulders scornfully.

  "I am weary of this," he said, "for the thing hath ceased to be sport.Let this boy and girl be securely guarded until I have time to look intothe matter carefully." And then he turned negligently to the woman withwhom he had been speaking, while the others in the company exchangedmeaning glances.

  It was near midnight that same night when I was brought before the kingagain.