CHAPTER VI.
THE EARL OF MARLBOROUGH SEEKS RECRUITS.
Night had fallen. It was past eight o'clock, and Captain John andCaptain Jemmy sat facing each other, one on each side of the emptyfireplace, in Captain John's library. They were in completedarkness--for the red glow of tobacco in the pipe which Captain Jemmypuffed dejectedly could hardly be called a light. For half an hourno word had been spoken, when somebody tapped at the door.
"What is it?" asked Captain Barker.
"A gentleman to see you," answered the voice of Mr. Swiggs.
"What's his name?"
"He won't say."
"Tell him I am busy to-night."
Narcissus withdrew, and knocked again a minute later.
"He says he must see you."
"Have you turned him out?"
"I told him you were busy with Captain Jemmy. 'Who's Captain Jemmy?'he asks. 'Captain Jemmy Runacles,' I answers. 'All the better,'says he."
"Excuse me," said a voice at the door; "but my business concerns bothof you gentlemen. Also it concerns Tristram Salt."
"Narcissus, bring a couple of candles."
While Mr. Swiggs was executing this order an oppressive silencefilled the room. The stranger's dark shadow rested motionless by thedoorway. Above the breathing of the three men could only be heardthe far-off sound of Harwich bells still ringing their welcome toKing William.
When the candles were brought in and Narcissus had retired againafter closing the shutters, the stranger removed the broad-brimmedhat and heavy cloak which he had worn till that moment, and tossedthem negligently on the table before him.
It was the scarlet-coated cavalier who had ridden beside the Kingthat afternoon.
"The Earl of Marlborough!"
"The same, sirs; and your servant."
"Be kind enough, my lord, to state the message you bring from yourmaster, and to leave this house as soon as it is delivered."
To Captain Barker's astonishment, the Earl showed no sign ofresenting this speech.
"You are wrong," he answered quietly; "William of Orange is not mymaster. If I mistake not, you and I, gentlemen, acknowledge but onesovereign ruler, King James."
At these bold words, uttered in the calmest voice, the two captainscaught their breath and stared at each other. Captain Runacles wasthe first to recover. He laughed incredulously.
"Your lordship appears to have forgotten Salisbury."
Any other man would have winced at this taunt. But the Earl ofMarlborough met it with the face of a statue.
"Captain Runacles, I have neither forgotten it nor am likely to.The remembrance of that affair has followed me night and day.I cannot--even now that I am pardoned--rid myself of its horror.I cannot eat; I cannot sleep. I see my crime in its true light, andam appalled by its enormity. And yet--God help me!--I thought at thetime I was saving my country. Gentlemen, you, who have faced no suchresponsibility as then confronted me, will be apt to judge me withoutmercy. I know not if I can persuade you that my remorse is honest.But consider--Here am I at William's right hand, already rich andpowerful, and possessing limitless prospects of increased power andriches. Yet am I ready to sacrifice everything, to brave everything,to bring utter ruin on my fortune, if only I can rid myself of thisnightmare of shame. Is this the attitude of insincerity?"
"Upon my word, my lord, I'd give something to know why the devil youtell all this to us."
"I hardly know myself," answered the Earl, sighing deeply, but stillwithout a grain of expression on his handsome face. "A man hauntedas I am can hardly account for all his utterances. I have come to doyou a service, and, having done it, might have withdrawn without aword. But the sight of you recalled the honest words you spoke tothe usurper this afternoon. Sirs, I envied you then; and just now aninsane longing took hold of me to set myself right with two suchinflexible friends of King James."
"Would it not be more to the point if you first obtained pardon fromKing James himself?"
"I have done so."
"Well, my lord, I cannot yet see what your affairs have to do withus. But if it will give you any pleasure that we should believethese remarkable statements--"
"I have assured you that it will."
"Then perhaps you will produce some proof of them in black andwhite."
The Earl drew a folded paper from his breast and spread it upon thetable before them. It was an affectionate letter of pardon, dated amonth back from the Court of Saint Germains, written throughout andsigned by the hand of King James himself.
"Thank you, my lord. When his Majesty writes thus, it is not for hissubjects to bear rancour. Will you kindly state your immediatebusiness?"
"It concerns the young man Tristram Salt. You desire that he shouldbe restored to you?"
"My lord," said Captain Barker, "that young man is more to me thanmany sons."
"You are indignant at the recollection of this afternoon?"
"What has that to do with it?"
"Much. But let me continue. Your adopted son, Captain Barker,is at this moment lying in the hold of his Majesty's frigate the_Good Intent_. He is in irons."
"In irons!"
"Yes, sir. He has undoubtedly imbibed your opinions with regard tothe Dutch, for he began his military career by blacking the eyes of agentleman of that nation, who, as ill-luck will have it, is hissuperior officer."
"The devil!"
"To-morrow morning he will receive six dozen lashes--perhaps more.I take the most cheerful view in order to spare your feelings; butmost decidedly it will be six dozen, unless--"
"Unless--what?"
"Unless I remit the sentence. The young man, you understand, wasplaced under my care."
"My lord, you will pardon him?"
"With pleasure. Nay, I will restore him to you this very night--"
Captain Barker leapt up from his seat in a transport of gratitude,and would have caught the Earl's hand had not his friend dragged himback by the coat-tails.
"--On conditions," his lordship concluded.
"Name them."
"In a moment. We are agreed, I believe, that to blacken a Dutchman'seyes is no great sin. There are too many Dutchmen around hisMajesty--as you, sirs, had the courage to inform his Majesty thisafternoon."
"Did we say that?"
"I understood you to hint it, at any rate. I assure you that I amnever so much disposed to regret my change of allegiance on thatNovember night at Salisbury as when I look around and see how littlemy own countrymen have profited by that action."
"A while ago," interposed Captain Runacles sharply, "it was the crimeitself that pursued you with remorse."
"The results, sir, have helped me to see the crime in its properlight."
"My lord, I have the deepest respect for your genius; but at the sametime it appears to me that you lack something."
"Indeed? It would be a kindness to point out in what respect--"
"Let me call it--a gift. But I interrupt you."
"To proceed, then. We are at one on the question of these Dutchmen;at one also on the question of William's high-handed action thisafternoon. Let me propose a plan by which you can effectively markyour disgust of both, while at the same time you recover the youngman on whom you set so much store. Gentlemen, you are not pastserving your country on the seas."
"King William hinted as much to-day," replied Captain Barker, "and Igave him my answer."
"I appeal to you not in the name of William, but in the name of yourtrue sovereign, King James."
"That is another matter, I'll admit. Would you mind putting thequestion definitely?"
"I must have your word to regard what I am about to say as a secret."
"If it does not bind us in any way."
"It does not. You are free to accept or reject my offer."
"We promise, then."
"Listen: I am in a position to offer each of you the command of oneof his Majesty's ships."
"As a condition of getting back
Tristram tonight?"
The Earl nodded.
"But excuse me--"
"Ah, I know what you will say. It is a sacrifice of your leisure.I admit it; but from certain expressions of yours this afternoon Igathered that your love for this lad might overcome your naturaldisinclination."
"You mistake. I was about to say that this offer of yours strikes usas rather barren. At least it might have been kept until King Jamesis restored to his country. In that event he may very well prefer togive his commands to younger men; but in any event he will find usobedient to his royal wish."
"That is a very loyal attitude. But, as it happens, you would berequired to enter into your commands before his Majesty'srestoration."
"Explain yourself, my lord."
"I am not in a position to speak with authority or exactnessof the events which will shortly take place in the British fleet.I am a mere soldier, you understand. But let us suppose a case.King William sails early to-morrow, with Rear-Admiral Rooke'ssquadron, for the Maese. Let us suppose that no sooner is hisMajesty landed at The Hague and safe in his own beloved realm thanour gallant English sailors display a just distaste for their Dutchcommanders by setting those commanders ashore, and running--let ussay--for Calais, where their true Sovereign waits to be conveyedacross to the country which his rival has quitted. Obviously, forthis purpose, the fleet would need, on the spot, capable officers tostep into the shoes of the deposed Dutchmen."
"You propose that Jack and I shall be two of these officers?" askedCaptain Runacles slowly, with a glance at his comrade.
"I think it advisable that you should be at The Hague. Youunderstand that I merely sketch out a possible course of events."
"Of course. Do you think it likely that the British squadron--supposing it to behave as you say--would receive support at Calais?"
"I fancy it might find a large squadron of his French Majesty's fleetwaiting there to co-operate."
"And the army?"
"It is possible that events might happen, about that time, among ourregiments in Flanders."
"That, in other words, they would desert to King Lewis?"
"You put it crudely, Captain Runacles. I believe that our gallantsoldiers will act with a single eye to their country's welfare; and Iam sure they will do nothing that can be constructed as a blot upontheir country's flag."
"I also am tolerably certain of that, my lord," answered CaptainJemmy drily. "Come, Jack--your answer?"
The little hunchback had been leaning back, during the last minute ortwo, with his face in the shadow; but at these words he bent forward.His cheeks were white and drawn.
"Why must I give the answer, Jemmy?"
"Because the lad is your son. It rests with you to save him or not."
Captain Barker stood up.
"You'll abide by my decision?"
"Certainly." Captain Runacles crossed his legs and eyed the visitordeliberately.
"Then," said the little man, dragging out the words syllable bysyllable, "there, my lord, are your hat and cloak. Oblige me byquitting this house of mine at once."
"God bless you, Jack!" muttered his friend. The Earl's brow did noteven flush at the rebuff. Throughout his career this extraordinaryman was able to overlook the contempt of others as easily as hedisregarded their sufferings. Probably, as Captain Runacles hadsaid, he lacked a gift.
On this occasion he picked up his hat and cloak without a trace ofdiscomposure.
"I understand you to refuse my offer?" he said.
"Yes."
"You prefer that the young man should receive six dozen lashesto-morrow morning."
Captain Barker winced and his mouth contracted painfully.
"My lord, I took that boy from his dead mother when he was a fewhours old. Never in his life has a hand been laid upon him in anger.He will hardly understand what it means. But he has been taught toknow honour and to cherish it. I choose as he would choose, were hehere."
"Are you going, my lord?" added Captain Jemmy. "You have youranswer."
"Not quite yet, I fancy. Captain Barker, you told me you took thislad from his dead mother. She was a Mistress Salt, I believe."
"Excuse me if I fail to see--"
"You will see in a moment. I am not wrong, perhaps, in supposingthat lady to have been the wife of Roderick Salt, sometime my comradein the Foot Guards. He married in Harwich, I remember; and in manyrespects the resemblance which this lad bears to him is remarkable."
"There is no likeness in their characters, my lord."
"I daresay not; indeed, I hope not. But suppose now I inform youthat Roderick Salt is still alive--"
The Earl broke off and looked at the two captains narrowly.
"Did you know that?" he asked.
There was no answer.
"I seem to remember an expression which you, Captain Runacles, letfall this afternoon. You told his Majesty that Tristram Salt ownedlarge estates. Is the boy's father aware of this?"
Again he paused for an answer, but none came.
"These estates are administered under trust, I presume. Who are thelegal trustees?"
"I am," Captain Jemmy replied, with a sudden effort.
"You alone?"
Captain Jemmy, after struggling for a moment with the wrath in histhroat, answered:
"I refuse to say."
"Well, well, the affair seems to need some explanation, but doubtlessadmits of a very good one. It is none of my business, and I do notask you to satisfy me. But I cannot help thinking that Roderick Saltwill be hardly more astonished to find that his son is a man of largeestates than disposed to make inquiries."
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"I mean that, as father and son happen at this moment to lie aboardthe same vessel, the _Good Intent_--"
The chair which Captain Barker had been grasping and tiltingimpatiently fell to the floor with a crash.
"--I foresee a scene of happy recognition and mutual explanations.We will suppose the father to learn the truth before to-morrow'spunishment is inflicted. We will picture his feelings"--the Earlpaused, and fired a shot more or less at a venture--"when he becomesaware that, though by law enabled to buy his son off from militaryservice, he has by chicanery been rendered powerless. We willimagine him an enforced spectator, wincing as each stroke drawsblood."
"You will do this thing! You will tell him!"
"My dear sirs, I shall hate to do it. In proof that I speaksincerely, let me say that my offer still remains open. May I nowcount on your accepting it?"
"No!" thundered the little man, springing forward in a fury.Captain Jemmy caught him by the arm, however, and forced him back tothe arm-chair. The Earl shrugged his shoulders.
"Truly you are a Roman parent," said he, bowing ironically; "but youwill excuse me if I find it time to seek the lad's natural father.Remember, if you please, gentlemen, your promise of silence."
He opened the door and passed quietly through the hall and out of thehouse. In the road at the foot of the garden a sergeant stepped outof the shadow and saluted him.
The Earl gave a muttered order.
"Where is my horse?" he asked.
"A little up the road, my lord. The orderly is walking him up anddown to keep him warm."
The Earl nodded and walked on. A hundred yards farther he came upwith them, and, climbing into the saddle, trotted off towardsHarwich, the orderly at his heels.
At the Cock and Pye Stairs a boat was waiting. He dismounted and,giving his horse over to the orderly, stepped on board and was rowedswiftly out towards the harbour, where the lights of the squadronflickered and its great hulls brooded over the jet-black water.As the boat crossed under the tilted stern and high, flaming lanternsof Rear-Admiral Rooke's ship, the _Foresight_, the sentry on decksang out his challenge.
It was answered. The boat dropped alongside and the Earl climbedupon deck. Turning at the top of the ladder, he gave his boatman theorder to wait for half an hour, and acknowledging the sentry'ss
alute, made his way aft, and down the companion-stairs to the cabinset apart for him.
In the passage below was a second sentry, pacing up and down; and bythe Earl's door an orderly standing ready.
"Send Captain Salt to me. After that, you may retire."
The man saluted and went off on his errand, and the Earl stepped intohis cabin. The furniture of this narrow apartment consisted of ahanging-lamp, a chair or two, a chest heaped with dispatch-boxes anda swing-table upon which a map of the Low Countries was spread amidregimental lists and reports, writing materials, works onfortification, official seals and piles of papers not yet reduced toorder. Pushing aside the map and a treatise by the Marechal deVauban that lay face downwards upon it, the Earl drew a blank sheetof paper towards him, dipped pen in ink, and after a moment'sconsideration scribbled a sentence. Then, sprinkling it quickly withsand, he folded the paper, and was about to seal it, when a light tapsounded on the cabin-door.
"Come in," said the Earl quietly, holding the sealing-wax to theflame, and without troubling to turn.
The man who stood on the threshold demands a somewhat particulardescription.
He was tall and of an eminently graceful figure. The uniform whichhe carried--that of a captain in the 1st or Royal Regiment of Foot--well set off his small waist, deep chest and square shoulders.His complexion was clear and sanguine, albeit no longer retaining thecandour of youth; his wig was carefully curled, and in colour a lightgolden-brown. Though in fact his age was not far short of fifty, helooked hardly a day older than thirty-five.
In many respects his resemblance to Tristram was exceedingly close.The stature and proportions were Tristram's; the nose like Tristram'sin shape, but slightly longer; the eyes of the same greyish blue,though in this case deep lines radiated from the outer corners.Above all, there was a fugitive, baffling likeness, that belonged tono particular feature, but to all. On the other hand, the differencein expression between the two faces was hardly less striking: forwhereas Tristram's beamed a modest kindliness on his fellows, thisface looked out on the world with an unshrinking audacity. Beside itthe Earl of Marlborough's handsome countenance seemed to lackintelligence; but the Earl's countenance was then, and remainsto-day, an impenetrable mask.
"You sent for me, my lord?" Captain Salt's voice was silvery in toneand pleasant to hear as running water.
"I did," said the Earl, pressing his seal upon the letter and sittingdown to direct it. "You have the lists?"
The other drew a bundle of papers from his breastpocket, andadvancing, laid them upon the table. The Earl put the letter aside,opened the bundle and ran his eye over its contents.
"You are sure of all these men?"
"Quite."
"You seem to have enough. We mustn't overdo this, you understand?It wouldn't do for the affair to--succeed."
Captain Salt smiled.
"If they carry off a vessel or two," the Earl went on, "it's no greatloss, and it will give Saint Germains the agreeable notion thatsomething is about to happen. They've been plaguing me again.This time it's an urgent letter in my royal master's own hand.He calls on me to bring over the whole army in the very firstaction--the born fool! Can he really believe I love him so dearly?Has he really persuaded himself that I've forgotten--?"
He checked himself; but for the first time that evening his face wassuffused with a hot flush. For, in fact, he was thinking of hissister, Arabella Churchill; and John Churchill, though he had made noscruple to profit by his sister's shame, had never forgiven it.
Captain Salt filled up the pause in his dulcet voice: "We want, mylord, such a mutiny as, without succeeding, shall convince England ofthe strong dissatisfaction felt by our forces at the favouritismshown by his Majesty towards the Dutch."
"Salt," said his lordship, eyeing him narrowly, "you are remarkablyintelligent."
"Why, my lord, should I conceal my thoughts when they tally with myhonest hopes? I look around, and what do I see? Dutchmen fillingevery lucrative post; Dutchmen crowding the House of Lords; Dutchmencommanding our armies; Dutchmen pocketing our fattest revenues.England is weary of it. I, as an Englishman, am weary of it.My lord, if I dared to say it--"
"Would you mind looking out and observing if the sentry is at hispost?"
Captain Salt stepped to the door and opened it. The sentry was atthe far end of the passage, engaged in his steady tramp to and fro.
"My lord," he said, closing the door softly and returning, "let thismutiny fail! It will serve its purpose if it brings home to theunderstanding of Englishmen the iniquity of this plague of Dutchmen.Let that feeling ripen. You will return before the winter, and bythat time you may strike boldly. Then, from your place in the Houseof Lords, you can move an address--"
"Go on," murmured the Earl, as he paused for a moment.
"--An address praying that all foreigners may be dismissed from hisMajesty's service."
The Earl looked up swiftly and checked his fingers, which had beendrumming on the table.
"Decidedly you are intelligent," he said very slowly.
"What can William do if that address is carried, as it may be?To yield will be to discard his dearest friends: to resist will meana national rising. He will lose his crown."
"And then?"
"My lord, _may it not be possible to eject William without restoringJames?_"
"Ah!"
"There is the Princess Anne."
The Earl looked into his companion's eyes and read his own thoughtsthere. James was a Papist, William a Dutchman; but the Princess Annewas an Englishwoman and a Protestant. And the Earl and his Countessheld the Princess Anne under their thumbs. Let her succeed to thethrone, and he would be, to all intents, King of England. Nay, hewould hold the balance of Europe in his palm.
"My friend," he said, under his breath, "you are too dangerous."Aloud he gave the talk a new turn.
"This mutiny will not succeed," he observed reflectively. "The menwho intend to rise must be informed against."
"It appears so."
"But not too soon. They must not succeed, as I said; but they musthave time enough to show their countrymen that the discontent isserious, and to convince James that only an accident has preventedtheir coming over to him in a body."
"That is clear enough."
"The only question," the Earl pursued, "is--who is to give theinformation at the proper moment?"
"Undoubtedly that is a difficulty."
"I thought--excuse me if I come to the point--I thought that _you_might do so."
"My lord!"
"You object?"
"Decidedly I do. Already I have risked too much in this business."
"I can think of nobody," said the Earl coldly, "so well suited forthe task. William thinks you are his spy, and would receive yourinformation without suspicion. He does not guess that, owing to myknowledge of your past--of the affair of the dice at Antwerp, forinstance, or that trivial letter from Saint Germains which I happento possess--"
Captain Salt's sanguine cheeks were by this time white as death.
"If you insist--" he stammered in a hoarse voice that bore noresemblance to his natural tone.
"I'm afraid I must. At the same time I mean to reward you," the Earlcontinued pleasantly; "and a portion of the reward shall be paid inadvance. My dear captain, I have the most delightful surprise foryou. You were once a married man, and the lady you married was anative of this port."
"Thank you, my lord; I was aware of the fact."
"You left her."
"I did."
"And in your absence she bore you a son."
"I have since heard a rumour to that effect," said Captain Saltcoldly.
"Cherish that son, for his worth to you is inestimable. He lies, atthis moment, on board the _Good Intent_--I regret to say in irons.His Majesty enlisted him this afternoon, somewhat against his will,and he began very unluckily by kicking his superior officer from oneend of the frigate to the other. It was the natural ebullition ofyout
h, and the sergeant was a Dutchman. Therefore in this letter Ihave pardoned him. Take it--a boat is waiting for you--and convey itto his captain. Thereafter seek the poor lad out and imprint theparental kiss upon both cheeks. Reveal yourself to him!"
"Your lordship is excessively kind, but I stand in no immediate need offilial love."
"My dear sir, I promise you that this son means thousands in yourpocket. He means to you a calm old age, surrounded by luxuries whichare hardly to be gained by espionage, however zealously practised."
"In what way, may I inquire?"
"I will inform you when you have done the small service I asked justnow."
Captain Salt took the letter and moved towards the door.
"By the way," the Earl said, "it may be painful to you to be remindedof your former connection with Harwich; but did you happen to know,in those days, two gentlemen, captains in King Charles's Navy, andnatives, I believe, of this town--Barker and Runacles?"
"I did. They were both, at one time, suitors for the hand of my latewife."
"Indeed? I have been trying to enlist them for this business of themutiny."
"They were a simple pair, I remember, and would serve our purposeadmirably."
"I found them a trifle too simple. Well, I won't keep you just now.Remember the help I expect from you; but we will talk that over in aday or two. Meanwhile, keep a parent's eye upon your son (he'scalled Tristram), for through him your reward will be attained.Good night."