CHAPTER SEVEN.
We left Captain Christison and his son just as they had gallantlyrescued the stranger who had been set upon by ruffians in one of theprincipal thoroughfares of London. They had scarcely time to proceedfar with him before they met a carriage accompanied by a couple ofrunning footmen.
"O my lord duke! Are you safe? are you safe?" exclaimed the men.
"No thanks to your bravery, varlets," answered the nobleman. "Had itnot been for these gentlemen, you would probably have never seen meagain alive. And now, gentlemen," he said, turning to the captain andhis son, "let me beg you will take a seat in my carriage, that I mayconvey you to your abode; or, if you will, honour me by coming to mymansion, that I may thank you more particularly for the essentialservice you have rendered me. I am the Duke of Ormonde. I was seatedin my carriage, not dreaming of an attack, when two men suddenly openedthe door, dragged me out, and, before my attendants could interfere, oneof them, a powerful fellow, hoisted me up on the saddle before him. Istruggled, and had just succeeded in bringing him with myself to theground, when you came up. Why I have been thus assaulted I cannot tell,but I fear that it was in consequence of the animosity of some politicalopponents."
"Thank you, my lord duke," answered Christison. "We are lodging in theCity, and I would not wish to take your grace so far out of your way,nor can we intrude upon you at this hour of the evening; but to-morrowmorning we will, with your leave, wait on your grace. We have metbefore, though perhaps the recollection of the circumstances may not bealtogether pleasant. I will not therefore now speak of them, though, asyour grace at present sits on the upper end of the seesaw, you may lookback on those days without annoyance."
"As you will," said the duke; "but you have not given me your name, andI should wish to recollect one who has rendered me so essential aservice."
"Wenlock Christison,--an old soldier, an it please your grace," said thecaptain, introducing his son at the same time.
"Ah! ah! now I recollect you well, Captain Christison," answered theduke, "and truly I bear you no grudge because you sided with those Iconsidered my foes; but let bygones be bygones, and I shall be very gladto see you again."
Saying this, with the help of his attendants, the duke entered hiscarriage, shaking hands very warmly with Wenlock. "I owe you a heavydebt, young gentleman," he said, "and one I shall at all times be gladto repay, and yet consider that I have not paid you sufficiently."
"A fortunate meeting," said Captain Christison to his son, as theywalked on together. "The Duke of Ormonde is a powerful nobleman, and atruly upright and honest gentleman at the same time. What he promiseshe will fulfil. It is more than can be said of most of those in KingCharles's court. Take my advice, Wenlock. Do not let this opportunityof gaining a good position in the world pass by. I do not suppose thathe will offer me anything, but if he does, I shall be inclined to acceptit. You see, Wenlock, our finances are far from being in a flourishingcondition. I cannot turn to trade like my friend Mead, as I have noknowledge of it. In truth, as our family have always followed thecalling of arms, or one of the liberal professions, I am not muchdisposed to yield to my worthy friend's arguments, and sheathe my swordfor ever. I cannot understand why people should not be soldiers, and atthe same time honest men and Christians."
"I will have a talk with Mistress Mary Mead on the subject," answeredWenlock, "when next we meet. At the same time I desire to follow yourwishes, father."
"I rather suspect that Mistress Mary's bright eyes will weigh somewhatin the balance with her arguments, Master Wenlock," said his father,with a laugh. "However, we will pay our visit to the duke, and if hethrows fortune in our way, I see not why we should refuse to clutch it."
The next morning was bright and dry. The captain and his son set off topay their intended visit to the Duke of Ormonde. Wenlock, in his newslash doublet and hose, with a feather in his cap and a sword by hisside, looked a brave young gallant, as in truth he was.
His father gazed at him proudly. "It were a pity," thought the oldsoldier to himself, "to see the lad turn Quaker, and throw away thebrilliant prospects he has of rising in the world. Such a chance asthis may never occur to him again; for though I perchance might get hima commission in a troop of horse with myself, yet he would have manyhard blows to strike before he could rise to fortune and fame, while abullet might, long ere he reached them, cut short his career."
On arriving at the Duke of Ormonde's residence, they were at once showninto an ante-chamber, where two or three pages in attendance minutelyscrutinised young Wenlock. They suspected, perhaps, from his manner andappearance, that he had come to take service with them. Courtesy,however, prevented them making any inquiries on the subject. After ashort time, a gentleman came out of the duke's chamber and invitedCaptain Christison and his son to enter. His manner was especiallyrespectful, and this evidently raised the visitors in the opinion of theyoung pages. The duke came forward and shook Captain Christisoncordially by the hand. He received Wenlock in a still more kind manner.Then turning to a dignified young man by his side, he said, "Allow meto introduce you to my son Ossory. He desires also to thank you for theservice you have rendered his father."
"Indeed I do, gentlemen," said Lord Ossory, coming forward; "and I onlyhope that this young gentleman will allow me to show my gratitude. Whothe villains were from whom you rescued the duke we have been as yetunable to ascertain, but there can be no doubt that their purpose was tomurder him; indeed, preparations for hanging some one were found madethis morning under the gibbet at Tyburn; and coupling this with athreatening letter received a few days ago by the duke, we suspect thatthey intended to put him thus ignominiously to death."
Captain Christison made a suitable reply to these remarks of the dukeand the earl. "As to myself," he said, "I have been a stranger toEngland for many years, and came home for the sake of seeing my nativeland again, and then taking service afloat or on shore, wherever I mightfind my sword acceptable, and my conscience would allow me."
"I understand you, my friend," said the duke; "and since old foes haveshaken hands, and Roundheads and Cavaliers now unite together, I trustthat you will not object to accept a company in my regiment. As seniorcaptain, you will have the command; and as you have fought at sea, youwill not object, I presume, to serve again on board ship, should a warbreak out. Lord Ossory, who is in the navy, desires to retain your sonabout his own person, should the young gentleman like to see somethingof the world. Otherwise, I should be glad to give him a post in myhousehold."
"You overwhelm us with kindnesses, my lord duke," said CaptainChristison. "For myself, nothing would suit me better than what youpropose, and I must beg to leave my son to choose for himself. What sayyou, Wenlock? Do you wish to take time to think on the matter, or willyou run the chance of seeing service under the noble Earl of Ossory?"
The worldly ambition of the old soldier, excited by the flatteringremarks of the duke, imparted itself to Wenlock. Could he make up hismind to turn draper's assistant in the City, as he had been meditatingdoing yesterday, while so brilliant a prospect had opened itself upbefore him? The thought were ridiculous.
"I heartily accept the offer of the Earl of Ossory, my lord duke," hesaid, with a bow which could not have been surpassed had he been all hislife at court. "I could not wish to serve under a more noble andgallant leader."
"I am glad it is so settled," said the Duke. "To be frank with you,Captain Christison, I remember you well, and the good service you did tothe cause you advocated. I have not forgotten, either, the courteousway in which you treated me when I fell into your hands on the fatalfield of Worcester; and, by my troth, the way the Cavaliers behaved onthat occasion made me ashamed of my order and the cause I served. Youtell me that you are lodging in the City. You can, however, move hereas soon as you please. There are rooms for you both, and places at mytable. In truth, after the dastardly attack made upon me last night, Ishall be thankful to have two such trusty friends within cal
l, for Iknow not when I may be again assaulted."
Thus invited, the captain and his son were glad to move that veryevening to the duke's house; indeed, the few gold pieces remaining inthe old soldier's purse reminded him that he must find some speedy meansof replenishing it, or run the risk of having to live upon shortcommons. The captain had never been a prudent man, and Wenlock littlethought what a hole the cost of his suit had made in his father'sexchequer.