CHAPTER XXII
NARRATIVE CONTINUED
Redgauntlet's first course was to the chamber of his nephew. He unlockedthe door, entered the apartment, and asked what he wanted, that he madeso much noise.
'I want my liberty,' said Darsie, who had wrought himself up to a pitchof passion in which his uncle's wrath had lost its terrors. 'I desiremy liberty, and to be assured of the safety of my beloved friend, AlanFairford, whose voice I heard but now.'
'Your liberty shall be your own within half an hour from thisperiod--your friend shall be also set at freedom in due time--and youyourself be permitted to have access to his place of confinement.'
'This does not satisfy me,' said Darsie; 'I must see my friendinstantly; he is here, and he is here endangered on my account only--Ihave heard violent exclamations--the clash of swords. You will gain nopoint with me unless I have ocular demonstration of his safety.'
'Arthur--dearest nephew,' answered Redgauntlet, 'drive me not mad! Thineown fate--that of thy house--that of thousands--that of Britain herself,are at this moment in the scales; and you are only occupied about thesafety of a poor insignificant pettifogger!'
'He has sustained injury at your hands, then?' said Darsie, fiercely. 'Iknow he has; but if so, not even our relationship shall protect you.'
'Peace, ungrateful and obstinate fool!' said Redgauntlet. Yetstay--will you be satisfied if you see this Alan Fairford, the bundleof bombazine--this precious friend of yours--well and sound? Will you,I say, be satisfied with seeing him in perfect safety without attemptingto speak to or converse with him?' Darsie signified his assent. 'Takehold of my arm, then,' said Redgauntlet; 'and do you, niece Lilias, takethe other; and beware; Sir Arthur, how you bear yourself.'
Darsie was compelled to acquiesce, sufficiently aware that his unclewould permit him no interview with a friend whose influence wouldcertainly be used against his present earnest wishes, and in somemeasure contented with the assurance of Fairford's personal safety.
Redgauntlet led them through one or two passages (for the house, aswe have before said, was very irregular, and built at different times)until they entered an apartment, where a man with shouldered carabinekept watch at the door, but readily turned the key for their reception.In this room they found Alan Fairford and the Quaker, apparently indeep conversation with each other. They looked up as Redgauntlet andhis party entered; and Alan pulled off his hat and made a profoundreverence, which the young lady, who recognized him,--though, maskedas she was, he could not know her,--returned with some embarrassment,arising probably from the recollection of the bold step she had taken invisiting him.
Darsie longed to speak, but dared not. His uncle only said, 'Gentlemen,I know you are as anxious on Mr. Darsie Latimer's account as he is uponyours. I am commissioned by him to inform you, that he is as well as youare--I trust you will all meet soon. Meantime, although I cannot sufferyou to be at large, you shall be as well treated as is possible underyour temporary confinement.'
He passed on, without pausing to hear the answers which the lawyer andthe Quaker were hastening to prefer; and only waving his hand by wayof adieu, made his exit, with the real and the seeming lady whom hehad under his charge, through a door at the upper end of the apartment,which was fastened and guarded like that by which they entered.
Redgauntlet next led the way into a very small room; adjoining which,but divided by a partition, was one of apparently larger dimensions; forthey heard the trampling of the heavy boots of the period, as if severalpersons were walking to and fro and conversing in low and anxiouswhispers.
'Here,' said Redgauntlet to his nephew, as he disencumbered him fromthe riding-skirt and the mask, 'I restore you to yourself, and trust youwill lay aside all effeminate thoughts with this feminine dress. Donot blush at having worn a disguise to which kings and heroes have beenreduced. It is when female craft or female cowardice find their wayinto a manly bosom, that he who entertains these sentiments should takeeternal shame to himself for thus having resembled womankind. Follow me,while Lilias remains here. I will introduce you to those whom I hope tosee associated with you in the most glorious cause that hand ever drewsword in.'
Darsie paused. 'Uncle,' he said, 'my person is in your hands; butremember, my will is my own. I will not be hurried into any resolutionof importance. Remember what I have already said--what I nowrepeat--that I will take no step of importance but upon conviction.'
'But canst thou be convinced, thou foolish boy, without hearing andunderstanding the grounds on which we act?'
So saying he took Darsie by the arm, and walked with him to the nextroom--a large apartment, partly filled with miscellaneous articles ofcommerce, chiefly connected with contraband trade; where, among balesand barrels, sat, or walked to and fro, several gentlemen, whose mannersand looks seemed superior to the plain riding dresses which they wore.
There was a grave and stern anxiety upon their countenances, when, onRedgauntlet's entrance, they drew from their separate coteries into onegroup around him, and saluted him with a formality which had somethingin it of ominous melancholy. As Darsie looked around the circle, hethought he could discern in it few traces of that adventurous hope whichurges men upon desperate enterprises; and began to believe that theconspiracy would dissolve of itself, without the necessity of hisplacing himself in direct opposition to so violent a character as hisuncle, and incurring the hazard with which such opposition must beattended.
Mr. Redgauntlet, however, did not, or would not, see any such marks ofdepression of spirit amongst his coadjutors, but met them with cheerfulcountenance, and a warm greeting of welcome. 'Happy to meet you here,my lord,' he said, bowing low to a slender young man. 'I trust youcome with the pledges of your noble father, of B--, and all that loyalhouse.--Sir Richard, what news in the west? I am told you had twohundred men on foot to have joined when the fatal retreat from Derby wascommenced. When the White Standard is again displayed, it shall notbe turned back so easily, either by the force of its enemies, or thefalsehood of its friends.--Doctor Grumball, I bow to the representativeof Oxford, the mother of learning and loyalty.--Pengwinion, youCornish chough, has this good wind blown you north?--Ah, my braveCambro-Britons, when was Wales last in the race of honour?'
Such and such-like compliments he dealt around, which were in generalanswered by silent bows; but when he saluted one of his own countrymenby the name of MacKellar, and greeted Maxwell of Summertrees by thatof Pate-in-Peril, the latter replied, 'that if Pate were not a fool,he would be Pate-in-Safety;' and the former, a thin old gentle-man, intarnished embroidery, said bluntly, 'Aye, troth, Redgauntlet, I am herejust like yourself; I have little to lose--they that took my land thelast time, may take my life this; and that is all I care about it.'
The English gentlemen, who were still in possession of their paternalestates, looked doubtfully on each other, and there was somethingwhispered among them of the fox which had lost his tail.
Redgauntlet hastened to address them. 'I think, my lords and gentlemen,'he said, 'that I can account for something like sadness which has creptupon an assembly gathered together for so noble a purpose. Our numbersseem, when thus assembled, too small and inconsiderable to shake thefirm-seated usurpation of a half-century. But do not count us by whatwe are in thew and muscle, but by what our summons can do among ourcountrymen. In this small party are those who have power to raisebattalions, and those who have wealth to pay them. And do not believeour friends who are absent are cold or indifferent to the cause. Let usonce light the signal, and it will be hailed by all who retain love forthe Stuart, and by all--a more numerous body--who hate the Elector. HereI have letters from'--
Sir Richard Glendale interrupted the speaker. 'We all confide,Redgauntlet, in your valour and skill--we admire your perseverance; andprobably nothing short of your strenuous exertions, and the emulationawakened by your noble and disinterested conduct, could have broughtso many of us, the scattered remnant of a disheartened party, to meettogether once again in solemn consultation; for I
take it, gentlemen,'he said, looking round, 'this is only a consultation.'
'Nothing more,' said the young lord.
'Nothing more,' said Doctor Grumball, shaking his large academicalperuke.
And, 'Only a consultation,' was echoed by the others.
Redgauntlet bit his lip. 'I had hopes,' he said, 'that the discoursesI have held with most of you, from time to time, had ripened into morematurity than your words imply, and that we were here to execute aswell as to deliberate; and for this we stand prepared. I can raise fivehundred men with my whistle.'
'Five hundred men!' said one of the Welsh squires; 'Cot bless us! andpray you, what cood could five hundred men do?'
'All that the priming does for the cannon, Mr. Meredith,' answeredRedgauntlet; 'it will enable us to seize Carlisle, and you know what ourfriends have engaged for in that case.'
'Yes--but,' said the young nobleman, 'you must not hurry us on too fast,Mr. Redgauntlet; we are all, I believe, as sincere and truehearted inthis business as you are, but we will not be driven forward blindfold.We owe caution to ourselves and our families, as well as to those whomwe are empowered to represent on this occasion.'
'Who hurries you, my lord? Who is it that would drive this meetingforward blindfold? I do not understand your lordship,' said Redgauntlet.
'Nay,' said Sir Richard Glendale, 'at least do not let us fall underour old reproach of disagreeing among ourselves. What my lord means,Redgauntlet, is, that we have this morning heard it is uncertainwhether you could even bring that body of men whom you count upon; yourcountryman, Mr. MacKellar, seemed, just before you came in, to doubtwhether your people would rise in any force, unless you could producethe authority of your nephew.'
'I might ask,' said Redgauntlet,' what right MacKellar, or any one, hasto doubt my being able to accomplish what I stand pledged for? But ourhopes consist in our unity. Here stands my nephew. Gentlemen, I presentto you my kinsman, Sir Arthur Darsie Redgauntlet of that Ilk.'
'Gentlemen,' said Darsie, with a throbbing bosom, for he felt the crisisa very painful one, 'Allow me to say, that I suspend expressing mysentiments on the important subject under discussion until I have heardthose of the present meeting.'
'Proceed in your deliberations, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet; 'I willshow my nephew such reasons for acquiescing in the result, as willentirely remove any scruples which may hang around his mind.'
Dr. Grumball now coughed, 'shook his ambrosial curls,' and addressed theassembly.
'The principles of Oxford,' he said,' are well understood, since shewas the last to resign herself to the Arch-Usurper,--since she hascondemned, by her sovereign authority, the blasphemous, atheistical,and anarchical tenets of Locke, and other deluders of the publicmind. Oxford will give men, money and countenance, to the cause of therightful monarch. But we have, been often deluded by foreign powers,who have availed themselves of our zeal to stir up civil dissensions, inBritain, not for the advantage of our blessed though banished monarch,but to stir up disturbances by which they might profit, while we, theirtools, are sure to be ruined. Oxford, therefore, will not rise, unlessour sovereign comes in person to claim our allegiance, in which case,God forbid we should refuse him our best obedience.'
'It is a very cood advice,' said Mr. Meredith.
'In troth,' said Sir Richard Glendale, 'it is the very keystone of ourenterprise, and the only condition upon which I myself and otherscould ever have dreamt of taking up arms. No insurrection which has notCharles Edward himself at its head, will, ever last longer than till asingle foot company of redcoats march to disperse it.'
'This is my own opinion, and that of all my family,' said the youngnobleman already mentioned; 'and I own I am somewhat surprised at beingsummoned to attend a dangerous rendezvous such as this, before somethingcertain could have been stated to us on this most important preliminarypoint.'
'Pardon me, my lord,' said Redgauntlet; 'I have not been so unjusteither to myself or my friends--I had no means of communicating to ourdistant confederates (without the greatest risk of discovery) what isknown to some of my honourable friends. As courageous, and as resolved,as when, twenty years since, he threw himself into the wilds of Moidart,Charles Edward has instantly complied with the wishes of his faithfulsubjects. Charles Edward is in this country--Charles Edward is in thishouse!--Charles Edward waits but your present decision, to receive thehomage of those who have ever called themselves his loyal liegemen. Hethat would now turn his coat, and change his note, must do so under theeye of his sovereign.'
There was a deep pause. Those among the conspirators whom mere habit, ora desire of preserving consistency, had engaged in the affair, now sawwith terror their retreat cut off; and others, who at a distance hadregarded the proposed enterprise as hopeful, trembled when the momentof actually embarking in it was thus unexpectedly and almost inevitablyprecipitated.
'How now, my lords and gentlemen!' said Redgauntlet; is it delight andrapture that keep you thus silent? where are the eager welcomes thatshould be paid to your rightful king, who a second time confides hisperson to the care of his subjects, undeterred by the hairbreadthescapes and severe privations of his former expedition? I hope there isno gentleman here that is not ready to redeem, in his prince's presence,the pledge of fidelity which he offered in his absence.'
'I, at least,' said the young nobleman resolutely, and laying his handon his sword, 'will not be that coward. If Charles is come to theseshores, I will be the first to give him welcome, and to devote my lifeand fortune to his service.'
'Before Cot,' said Mr. Meredith, 'I do not see that Mr. Redgauntlet hasleft us anything else to do.'
'Stay,' said Summertrees, 'there is yet one other question. Has hebrought any of those Irish rapparees with him, who broke the neck of ourlast glorious affair?'
'Not a man of them,' said Redgauntlet.
'I trust,' said Dr. Grumball, 'that there are no Catholic priests in hiscompany. I would not intrude on the private conscience of my sovereign,but, as an unworthy son of the Church of England, it is my duty toconsider her security.'
'Not a Popish dog or cat is there, to bark or mew about his Majesty,'said Redgauntlet. 'Old Shaftesbury himself could not wish a prince'sperson more secure from Popery--which may not be the worst religionin the world, notwithstanding. Any more doubts, gentlemen? can no moreplausible reasons be discovered for postponing the payment of our duty,and discharge of our oaths and engagements? Meantime your king waitsyour declaration--by my faith he hath but a frozen reception!'
'Redgauntlet,' said Sir Richard Glendale, calmly, 'your reproaches shallnot goad me into anything of which my reason disapproves. That I respectmy engagement as much as you do, is evident, since I am here, ready tosupport it with the best blood in my veins. But has the king really comehither entirely unattended?'
'He has no man with him but young ------, as aide de camp, and a singlevalet de chambre.'
'No MAN--but, Redgauntlet, as you are a gentleman, has he no woman withhim?'
Redgauntlet cast his eyes on the ground and replied, 'I am sorry tosay--he has.'
The company looked at each other, and remained silent for a moment.At length Sir Richard proceeded. 'I need not repeat to you, Mr.Redgauntlet, what is the well-grounded opinion of his Majesty's friendsconcerning that most unhappy connexion there is but one sense andfeeling amongst us upon the subject. I must conclude that our humbleremonstrances were communicated by you, sir, to the king?'
'In the same strong terms in which they were couched,' repliedRedgauntlet. 'I love his Majesty's cause more than I fear hisdispleasure.'
'But, apparently, our humble expostulation has produced no effect.This lady, who has crept into his bosom, has a sister in the Electorof Hanover's court, and yet we are well assured that our most privatecommunication is placed in her keeping.'
'VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER FEMINA,' said Dr. Grumball.
'She puts his secrets into her work-bag,' said Maxwell; 'and out theyfly whenever she opens it. If I must hang, I would w
ish it to be insomewhat a better rope than the string of a lady's hussey.'
'Are you, too, turning dastard, Maxwell?' said Redgauntlet, in awhisper.
'Not I,' said Maxwell; 'let us fight for it, and let them win and wearus; but to be betrayed by a brimstone like that'--
'Be temperate, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet; 'the foible of which youcomplain so heavily has always been that of kings and heroes; which Ifeel strongly confident the king will surmount, upon the humble entreatyof his best servants, and when he sees them ready to peril their all inhis cause, upon the slight condition of his resigning the society ofa female favourite, of whom I have seen reason to think he hath beenhimself for some time wearied. But let us not press upon him rashlywith our well-meant zeal. He has a princely will as becomes his princelybirth, and we, gentlemen, who are royalists, should be the last to takeadvantage of circumstances to limit its exercise. I am as much surprisedand hurt as you can be, to find that he has made her the companion ofthis journey, increasing every chance of treachery and detection. But donot let us insist upon a sacrifice so humiliating, while he has scarceplaced a foot upon the beach of his kingdom. Let us act generously byour sovereign; and when we have shown what we will do for him, weshall be able, with better face, to state what it is we expect him toconcede.'
'Indeed, I think it is but a pity,' said MacKellar, 'when so many prettygentlemen are got together, that they should part without the flash of asword among them.'
'I should be of that gentleman's opinion,' said Lord ------, 'had Inothing to lose but my life; but I frankly own, that the conditionson which our family agreed to join having been, in this instance, leftunfulfilled, I will not peril the whole fortunes of our house on thedoubtful fidelity of an artful woman.'
'I am sorry to see your lordship,' said Redgauntlet, 'take a coursewhich is more likely to secure your house's wealth than to augment itshonours.'
'How am I to understand your language, sir?' said the young nobleman,haughtily.
'Nay, gentlemen,' said Dr Grumball, interposing, 'do not let friendsquarrel; we are all zealous for the cause--but truly, although I knowthe license claimed by the great in such matters, and can, I hope, makedue allowance, there is, I may say, an indecorum in a prince who comesto claim the allegiance of the Church of England, arriving on such anerrand with such a companion--SI NON CASTE, CAUTE TAMEN.'
'I wonder how the Church of England came to be so heartily attached tohis merry old namesake,' said Redgauntlet.
Sir Richard Glendale then took up the question, as one whose authorityand experience gave him right to speak with much weight.
'We have no leisure for hesitation,' he said; 'it is full time thatwe decide what course we are to hold. I feel as much as you, Mr.Redgauntlet, the delicacy of capitulating with our sovereign in hispresent condition. But I must also think of the total ruin of thecause, the confiscation and bloodshed which will take place among hisadherents, and all through the infatuation with which he adheres toa woman who is the pensionary of the present minister, as she wasfor years Sir Robert Walpole's. Let his Majesty send her back to thecontinent, and the sword on which I now lay my hand shall instantly beunsheathed, and, I trust, many hundred others at the same moment.'
The other persons present testified their unanimous acquiescence in whatSir Richard Glendale had said.
'I see you have taken your resolutions, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet;'unwisely I think, because I believe that, by softer and more generousproceedings, you would have been more likely to carry a point which Ithink as desirable as you do. But what is to be done if Charles shouldrefuse, with the inflexibility of his grandfather, to comply with thisrequest of yours? Do you mean to abandon him to his fate?'
'God forbid!' said Sir Richard, hastily; 'and God forgive you, Mr.Redgauntlet, for breathing such a thought. No! I for one will, with allduty and humility, see him safe back to his vessel, and defend him withmy life against whosoever shall assail him. But when I have seen hissails spread, my next act will be to secure, if I can, my own safety, byretiring to my house; or, if I find our engagement, as is too probable,has taken wind, by surrendering myself to the next Justice of Peace,and giving security that hereafter I shall live quiet, and submit to theruling powers.'
Again the rest of the persons present intimated their agreement inopinion with the speaker.
'Well, gentlemen,' said Redgauntlet, 'it is not for me to oppose theopinion of every one; and I must do you the justice to say, thatthe king has, in the present instance, neglected a condition of youragreement which was laid before him in very distinct terms. The questionnow is, who is to acquaint him with the result of this conference; for Ipresume you would not wait on him in a body to make the proposal thathe should dismiss a person from his family as the price of yourallegiance.'
'I think Mr. Redgauntlet should make the explanation, said Lord--. 'Ashe has, doubtless, done justice to our remonstrances by communicatingthem to the king, no one can, with such propriety and force, state thenatural and inevitable consequence of their being neglected.'
'Now, I think,' said Redgauntlet, 'that those who make the objectionshould state it, for I am confident the king will hardly believe, onless authority than that of the heir of the loyal House of B--, that heis the first to seek an evasion of his pledge to join him.'
'An evasion, sir!' repeated Lord ------, fiercely, 'I have borne toomuch from you already, and this I will not endure. Favour me with yourcompany to the downs.'
Redgauntlet laughed scornfully, and was about to follow the fiery youngman, when Sir Richard again interposed. 'Are we to exhibit,' he said,'the last symptoms of the dissolution of our party, by turning ourswords against each other? Be patient, Lord ------; in such conferencesas this, much must pass unquestioned which might brook challengeelsewhere. There is a privilege of party as of parliament--men cannot,in emergency, stand upon picking phrases. Gentlemen, if you will extendyour confidence in me so far, I will wait upon his Majesty, and Ihope my Lord ------ and Mr. Redgauntlet will accompany me. I trust theexplanation of this unpleasant matter will prove entirely satisfactory,and that we shall find ourselves at liberty to render our homage to oursovereign without reserve, when I for one will be the first to peril allin his just quarrel.'
Redgauntlet at once stepped forward. 'My lord,' he said, 'if my zealmade me say anything in the slightest degree offensive, I wish itunsaid, and ask your pardon. A gentleman can do no more.'
'I could not have asked Mr. Redgauntlet to do so much,' said the youngnobleman, willingly accepting the hand which Redgauntlet offered. 'Iknow no man living from whom I could take so much reproof without asense of degradation as from himself.'
'Let me then hope, my lord, that you will go with Sir Richard and me tothe presence. Your warm blood will heat our zeal--our colder resolveswill temper yours.
The young lord smiled, and shook his head. 'Alas! Mr. Redgauntlet,' hesaid, 'I am ashamed to say, that in zeal you surpass us all. But Iwill not refuse this mission, provided you will permit Sir Arthur, yournephew, also to accompany us.'
'My nephew?' said Redgauntlet, and seemed to hesitate, then added, 'Mostcertainly. I trust,' he said, looking at Darsie, 'he will bring to hisprince's presence such sentiments as fit the occasion.'
It seemed however to Darsie, that his uncle would rather have lefthim behind, had he not feared that he might in that case have beeninfluenced by, or might perhaps himself influence, the unresolvedconfederates with whom he must have associated during his absence.
'I will go,' said Redgauntlet, 'and request admission.'
In a moment after he returned, and without speaking, motioned for theyoung nobleman to advance. He did so, followed by Sir Richard Glendaleand Darsie, Redgauntlet himself bringing up the rear. A shortpassage, and a few steps, brought them to the door of the temporarypresence-chamber, in which the Royal Wanderer was to receive theirhomage. It was the upper loft of one of those cottages which madeadditions to the old inn, poorly furnished, dusty, and in disorder; for,rash as the enterprise
might be considered, they had been still carefulnot to draw the attention of strangers by any particular attentionsto the personal accommodation of the prince. He was seated, when thedeputies, as they might be termed, of his remaining adherents entered;and as he rose, and came forward and bowed, in acceptance of theirsalutation, it was with a dignified courtesy which at once suppliedwhatever was deficient in external pomp, and converted the wretchedgarret into a saloon worthy of the occasion.
It is needless to add that he was the same personage already introducedin the character of Father Buonaventure, by which name he wasdistinguished at Fairladies. His dress was not different from what hethen wore, excepting that he had a loose riding-coat of camlet, underwhich he carried an efficient cut-and-thrust sword, instead of hiswalking rapier, and also a pair of pistols.
Redgauntlet presented to him successively the young Lord ------, andhis kinsman, Sir Arthur Darsie Redgauntlet, who trembled as, bowingand kissing his hand, he found himself surprised into what might beconstrued an act of high treason, which yet he saw no safe means toavoid.
Sir Richard Glendale seemed personally known to Charles Edward, whoreceived him with a mixture of dignity and affection, and seemed tosympathize with the tears which rushed into that gentleman's eyes as hebade his Majesty welcome to his native kingdom.
'Yes, my good Sir Richard,' said the unfortunate prince in a tonemelancholy, yet resolved, 'Charles Edward is with his faithful friendsonce more--not, perhaps, with his former gay hopes which undervalueddanger, but with the same determined contempt of the worst which canbefall him, in claiming his own rights and those of his country.'
'I rejoice, sire--and yet, alas! I must also grieve, to see you oncemore on the British shores,' said Sir Richard Glendale, and stoppedshort--a tumult of contradictory feelings preventing his furtherutterance.
'It is the call of my faithful and suffering people which alone couldhave induced me to take once more the sword in my hand. For my own part,Sir Richard, when I have reflected how many of my loyal and devotedfriends perished by the sword and by proscription, or died indigentand neglected in a foreign land, I have often, sworn that no view to mypersonal aggrandizement should again induce me to agitate a title whichhas cost my followers so dear. But since so many men of worth and honourconceive the cause of England and Scotland to be linked with that ofCharles Stuart, I must follow their brave example, and, laying aside allother considerations, once more stand forward as their deliverer. I am,however, come hither upon your invitation; and as you are so completelyacquainted with circumstances to which my absence must necessarilyhave rendered me a stranger, I must be a mere tool in the hands of myfriends. I know well I never can refer myself implicitly to moreloyal hearts or wiser heads, than Herries Redgauntlet, and Sir RichardGlendale. Give me your advice, then, how we are to proceed, and decideupon the fate of Charles Edward.'
Redgauntlet looked at Sir Richard, as if to say, 'Can you press anyadditional or unpleasant condition at a moment like this?' And the othershook his head and looked down, as if his resolution was unaltered, andyet as feeling all the delicacy of the situation.
There was a silence, which was broken by the unfortunate representativeof an unhappy dynasty, with some appearance of irritation. 'This isstrange, gentlemen,' he said; 'you have sent for me from the bosom of myfamily, to head an adventure of doubt and danger; and when I come, yourown minds seem to be still irresolute. I had not expected this on thepart of two such men.'
'For me, sire,' said Redgauntlet, 'the steel of my sword is not truerthan the temper of my mind.'
'My Lord ------'s and mine are equally so,' said Sir Richard; 'but youhad in charge, Mr. Redgauntlet, to convey our request to his Majesty,coupled with certain conditions.'
'And I discharged my duty to his Majesty and to you,' said Redgauntlet.
'I looked at no condition, gentlemen,' said their king, with dignity,'save that which called me here to assert my rights in person. That Ihave fulfilled at no common risk. Here I stand to keep my word, and Iexpect of you to be true to yours.'
'There was, or should have been, something more than that in ourproposal, please your Majesty,' said Sir Richard. 'There was a conditionannexed to it.'
'I saw it not,' said Charles, interrupting him. 'Out of tendernesstowards the noble hearts of whom I think so highly, I would neithersee nor read anything which could lessen them in my love and my esteem.Conditions can have no part betwixt prince and subject.'
'Sire,' said Redgauntlet, kneeling on one knee, 'I see from SirRichard's countenance he deems it my fault that your Majesty seemsignorant of what your subjects desired that I should communicate to yourMajesty. For Heaven's sake! for the sake of all my past services andsufferings, leave not such a stain upon my honour! The note, Number D,of which this is a copy, referred to the painful subject to which SirRichard again directs your attention.'
'You press upon me, gentlemen,' said the prince, colouring highly,'recollections, which, as I hold them most alien to your character, Iwould willingly have banished from my memory. I did not suppose thatmy loyal subjects would think so poorly of me, as to use my depressedcircumstances as a reason for forcing themselves into my domesticprivacies, and stipulating arrangements with their king regardingmatters in which the meanest minds claim the privilege of thinking forthemselves. In affairs of state and public policy, I will ever be guidedas becomes a prince, by the advice of my wisest counsellors; in thosewhich regard my private affections and my domestic arrangements, I claimthe same freedom of will which I allow to all my subjects, and withoutwhich a crown were less worth wearing than a beggar's bonnet.'
'May it please your Majesty,' said Sir Richard Glendale, 'I see it mustbe my lot to speak unwilling truths; but believe me, I do so with asmuch profound respect as deep regret. It is true, we have called you tohead a mighty undertaking, and that your Majesty, preferring honour tosafety, and the love of your country to your own ease, has condescendedto become our leader. But we also pointed out as a necessary andindispensable preparatory step to the achievement of our purpose--and,I must say, as a positive condition of our engaging in it--that anindividual, supposed,--I presume not to guess how truly,--to have yourMajesty's more intimate confidence, and believed, I will not say onabsolute proof but upon the most pregnant suspicion, to be capable ofbetraying that confidence to the Elector of Hanover, should be removedfrom your royal household and society.'
'This is too insolent, Sir Richard!' said Charles Edward. 'Have youinveigled me into your power to bait me in this unseemly manner? Andyou, Redgauntlet, why did you suffer matters to come to such a point asthis, without making me more distinctly aware what insults were to bepractised on me?'
'My gracious prince,' said Redgauntlet, 'I am so far to blame in this,that I did not think so slight an impediment as that of a woman'ssociety could have really interrupted an undertaking of this magnitude.I am a plain man, sire, and speak but bluntly; I could not have dreamtbut what, within the first five minutes of this interview, either SirRichard and his friends would have ceased to insist upon a condition soungrateful to your Majesty, or that your Majesty would have sacrificedthis unhappy attachment to the sound advice, or even to the over-anxioussuspicions, of so many faithful subjects. I saw no entanglement in sucha difficulty which on either side might not have been broken throughlike a cobweb.'
'You were mistaken, sir,' said Charles Edward, 'entirely mistaken--asmuch so as you are at this moment, when you think in your heart myrefusal to comply with this insolent proposition is dictated by achildish and romantic passion for an individual, I tell you, sir, Icould part with that person to-morrow, without an instant's regret--thatI have had thoughts of dismissing her from my court, for reasons knownto myself; but that I will never betray my rights as a sovereign and aman, by taking this step to secure the favour of any one, or to purchasethat allegiance which, if you owe it to me at all, is due to me as mybirthright.'
'I am sorry for this,' said Redgauntlet; 'I hope both your Majestyand Sir Richard will reconsider yo
ur resolutions, or forbear thisdiscussion, in a conjuncture so pressing. I trust your Majesty willrecollect that you are on hostile ground; that our preparations cannothave so far escaped notice as to permit us now with safety to retreatfrom our purpose; insomuch, that it is with the deepest anxiety ofheart I foresee even danger to your own royal person, unless you cangenerously give your subjects the satisfaction, which Sir Richard seemsto think they are obstinate in demanding.'
'And deep indeed your anxiety ought to be,' said the prince. 'Is it inthese circumstances of personal danger in which you expect to overcome aresolution, which is founded on a sense of what is due to me as a manor a prince? If the axe and scaffold were ready before the windows ofWhitehall, I would rather tread the same path with my great-grandfather,than concede the slightest point in which my honour is concerned.'
He spoke these words with a determined accent, and looked around him onthe company, all of whom (excepting Darsie, who saw, he thought, afair period to a most perilous enterprise) seemed in deep anxiety andconfusion. At length, Sir Richard spoke in a solemn and melancholy tone.'If the safety,' he said, 'of poor Richard Glendale were alone concernedin this matter, I have never valued my life enough to weigh itagainst the slightest point of your Majesty's service. But I am only amessenger--a commissioner, who must execute my trust, and upon whom athousand voices will cry, Curse and woe, if I do it not with fidelity.All of your adherents, even Redgauntlet himself, see certain ruin tothis enterprise--the greatest danger to your Majesty's person--the utterdestruction of all your party and friends, if they insist not on thepoint, which, unfortunately, your Majesty is so unwilling to concede. Ispeak it with a heart full of anguish--with a tongue unable to uttermy emotions--but it must be spoken--the fatal truth--that if yourroyal goodness cannot yield to us a boon which we hold necessary to oursecurity and your own, your Majesty with one word disarms ten thousandmen, ready to draw their swords in your behalf; or, to speak yet moreplainly, you annihilate even the semblance of a royal party in GreatBritain.'
'And why do you not add,' said the prince, scornfully, 'that the menwho have been ready to assume arms in my behalf, will atone for theirtreason to the Elector, by delivering me up to the fate for which somany proclamations have destined me? Carry my head to St. James's,gentlemen; you will do a more acceptable and a more honourable action,than, having inveigled me into a situation which places me so completelyin your power, to dishonour yourselves by propositions which dishonourme.
'My God, sire!' exclaimed Sir Richard, clasping his hands together,in impatience, 'of what great and inexpiable crime can your Majesty'sancestors have 'been guilty, that they have been punished by theinfliction of judicial blindness on their whole generation!--Come, myLord ------, we must to our friends.'
'By your leave, Sir Richard,' said the young nobleman, 'not till we,have learned what measures can be taken for his Majesty's personalsafety.'
'Care not for me, young man,' said Charles Edward; 'when I was in thesociety of Highland robbers and cattle-drovers, I was safer than I nowhold myself among the representatives of the best blood in England.Farewell, gentlemen--I will shift for myself.'
'This must never be,' said Redgauntlet. 'Let me that brought you to thepoint of danger, at least provide for your safe retreat.'
So saying, he hastily left the apartment, followed by his nephew. TheWanderer, averting his eyes from Lord ------ and Sir Richard Glendale,threw himself into a seat at the upper end of the apartment, while they,in much anxiety, stood together, at a distance from him, and conversedin whispers.