CHAPTER XVIII.
"So glozed the Tempter, and his poison tuned; Into the heart of Eve his words made way, Though at the voice much marvelling."
MILTON.
It was, probably, a species of presentiment, that induced Bluewater tosend away the midshipman, when he saw the adherent of the dethronedhouse approaching. Enough had passed between the parties to satisfy eachof the secret bias of the other; and, by that sort of free-masonry whichgenerally accompanies strong feelings of partisanship, the admiral feltpersuaded that the approaching interview was about to relate to thepolitical troubles of the day.
The season and the hour, and the spot, too, were all poeticallyfavourable to an interview between conspirators. It was now nearly dark;the head-land was deserted, Dutton having retired, first to his bottle,and then to his bed; the wind blew heavily athwart the bleak eminence,or was heard scuffling in the caverns of the cliffs, while theportentous clouds that drove through the air, now veiled entirely, andnow partially and dimly revealed the light of the moon, in a way torender the scene both exciting and wild. No wonder, then, thatBluewater, his visiter drawing near, felt a stronger disposition thanhad ever yet come over him to listen to the tale of the tempter, as,under all the circumstances, it would scarcely exceed the bounds ofjustice to call Sir Reginald.
"In seeking you at such a spot, and in the midst of this wildlandscape," said the latter, "I might have been assured I should becertain of finding one who really loved the sea and your nobleprofession. The Hall is a melancholy house, just at this moment; andwhen I inquired for you, no one could say whither you had strolled. Infollowing what I thought a seaman's instinct, it appears that I didwell.--Do my eyes fail me, or are there no more than three vessels atanchor yonder?"
"Your eyes are still good, Sir Reginald; Admiral Oakes sailed severalhours since, and he has been followed by all the fleet, with theexception of the two line-of-battle ships, and the frigate you see;leaving me to be the last to quit the anchorage."
"Is it a secret of state, or are you permitted to say whither so stronga force has so suddenly sailed?" demanded the baronet, glancing his darkeye so expressively towards the other as to give him, in the growingobscurity, the appearance of an inquisitor. "I had been told the fleetwould wait for orders from London?"
"Such was the first intention of the commander-in-chief; butintelligence of the sailing of the Comte de Vervillin has induced SirGervaise to change his mind. An English admiral seldom errs when heseeks and beats an active and dangerous enemy."
"Is this always true, Admiral Bluewater?" returned Sir Reginald,dropping in at the side of the other, and joining in his walk, as hepaced, to and fro, a short path that Dutton called his own quarter-deck;"or is it merely an unmeaning generality that sometimes causes men tobecome the dupes of their own imaginations. Are those _always_ ourenemies who may seem to be so? or, are we so infallible that everyfeeling or prejudice may be safely set down as an impulse to which weought to submit, without questioning its authority?"
"Do you esteem it a prejudice to view France as the natural enemy ofEngland, Sir Reginald?"
"By heaven, I do, sir! I can conceive that England may be much more herown enemy than France has ever proved to be. Then, conceding that agesof warfare have contributed to awaken some such feeling as this you hintat, is there not a question of right and wrong that lies behind all?Reflect how often England has invaded the French soil, and what seriousinjuries she has committed on the territory of the latter, while Francehas so little wronged us, in the same way; how, even her throne has beenoccupied by our princes, and her provinces possessed by our armies."
"I think you hardly allow for all the equity of the different cases.Parts of what is now France, were the just inheritance of those who havesat on the English throne, and the quarrels were no more than the usualdifficulties of neighbourhood. When our claims were just in themselves,you surely could not have wished to see them abandoned."
"Far from it; but when claims were disputed, is it not natural for theloser to view them as a hardship? I believe we should have had a muchbetter neighbourhood, as you call it, with France, had not the moderndifficulties connected with religious changes, occurred."
"I presume you know. Sir Reginald, that I, and all my family areProtestants."
"I do, Admiral Bluewater; and I rejoice to find that a difference ofopinion on this great interest, does not necessarily produce one on allothers. From several little allusions that have passed between usto-day, I am encouraged to believe that we think alike on certaintemporal matters, however wide the chasm between us on spiritualthings."
"I confess I have fallen into the same conclusion; and I should be sorryto be undeceived if wrong."
"What occasion, then, for farther ambiguity? Surely two honourable menmay safely trust each other with their common sentiments, when the timescall for decision and frankness! I am a Jacobite, Admiral Bluewater; ifI risk life or fortune by making the avowal, I place both, withoutreserve at your mercy."
"They could not be in safer hands, sir; and I know no better mode ofgiving you every possible assurance that the confidence will not beabused, than by telling you in return, that I would cheerfully lay downmy life could the sacrifice restore the deposed family to the throne."
"This is noble, and manly, and frank, as I had hoped from a sailor!"exclaimed Sir Reginald, more delighted than he well knew how to expressat the moment. "This simple assurance from your lips, carries moreweight than all the oaths and pledges of vulgar conspiracy. Weunderstand each other, and I should be truly sorry to inspire lessconfidence than I feel."
"What better proof can I give you of the reliance placed on your faith,than the declaration you have heard, Sir Reginald? My head would answerfor your treachery in a week; but I have never felt it more securely onmy shoulders than at this moment."
The baronet grasped the other's hand, and each gave and received apressure that was full of meaning. Then both walked on, thoughtful andrelieved, for quite a minute, in profound silence.
"This sudden appearance of the prince in Scotland has taken us all alittle by surprise," Sir Reginald resumed, after the pause; "though afew of us knew that his intentions led him this way. Perhaps he has donewell to come unattended by a foreign force, and to throw himself, as itmight be singly, into the arms of his subjects; trusting every thing totheir generosity, loyalty, and courage. Some blame him; but I do not. Hewill awaken interest, now, in every generous heart in the nation,"--thiswas artfully adapted to the character of the listener;--"whereas somemight feel disposed to be lukewarm under a less manly appeal to theiraffections and loyalty. In Scotland, we learn from all directions thatHis Royal Highness is doing wonders, while the friends of his house arefull of activity in England, though compelled, for a time, to bewatchful and prudent."
"I rejoice, from the bottom of my heart, to hear this!" said Bluewater,drawing a long breath, like one whose mind was unexpectedly relievedfrom a heavy load. "From the bottom of my heart, do I rejoice! I had myapprehensions that the sudden appearance of the prince might find hiswell-wishers unprepared and timid."
"As far from that as possible, my dear sir; though much still depends onthe promptitude and resolution of the master spirits of the party. Weare strong enough to control the nation, if we can bring those forwardwho have the strength to lead and control ourselves. All we now want aresome hundred or two of prominent men to step out of their diffidence,and show us the way to honourable achievement and certain success."
"Can such men be wanting, at a moment like this?"
"I think we are secure of most of the high nobility, though their greatrisks render them all a little wary in the outset. It is among theprofessional men--the gallant soldiers, and the bold, ardent seamen ofthe fleet, that we must look for the first demonstrations of loyalty andtrue patriotism. To be honest with you, sir, I tire of being ruled by aGerman."
"Do you know of any intention to rally a force in this part of England,Sir Reginald? If so, say but t
he word--point out the spot where thestandard is to be raised, and I will rally under it, the instantcircumstances will permit!"
"This is just what I expected, Mr. Bluewater," answered the baronet,more gratified than he thought it prudent to express; "though it is notexactly the _form_ in which you can best serve us at this precisemoment. Cut off from the north, as we are in this part of the island, byall the resources of the actual government, it would be the height ofimprudence in us to show our hands, until all the cards are ready to beplayed. Active and confidential agents are at work in the army; Londonhas its proper share of business men, while others are in the counties,doing their best to put things in a shape for the consummation we soanxiously look for. I have been with several of our friends in thisvicinity, to bring matters into a combined state; and it was myintention to visit this very estate, to see what my own name might dowith the tenantry, had not the late Sir Wycherly summoned me as he did,to attend his death-bed. Have you any clue to the feelings of this newand young head of my family, the sea-lieutenant and present baronet?"
"Not a very plain one, sir, though I doubt if they be favourable to theHouse of Stuart."
"I feared as much; this very evening I have had an anonymouscommunication that I think must come from his competitor, pretty plainlyintimating that, by asserting _his_ rights, as they are called, thewhole Wychecombe tenantry and interest could be united, in the presentstruggle, on whichever side I might desire to see them."
"This is a bold and decided stroke, truly! May I inquire as to youranswer, Sir Reginald?"
"I shall give none. Under all circumstances I will ever refuse to placea bastard in the seat of a legitimate descendant of my family. Wecontend for legal and natural rights, my dear admiral, and the meansemployed should not be unworthy of the end. Besides, I know thescoundrel to be unworthy of trust, and shall not have the weakness toput myself in his power. I could wish the other boy to be of anothermind; but, by getting him off to sea, whither he tells me he is bound,we shall at least send him out of harm's way."
In all this Sir Reginald was perfectly sincere; for, while he did notalways hesitate about the employment of means, in matters of politics,he was rigidly honest in every thing that related to private properly; aspecies of moral contradiction that is sometimes found among men who aimat the management of human affairs; since those often yield to abesetting weakness who are nearly irreproachable in other matters.Bluewater was glad to hear this declaration; his own simplicity ofcharacter inducing him to fancy it was an indication to the generalprobity of his companion.
"Yes," observed the latter, "in all eases, we must maintain the laws ofthe land, in an affair of private right. This young man is not capable,perhaps, of forming a just estimate of his political duties, in a crisislike this, and it may be well, truly, to get him off to sea, lest bytaking the losing side, he endangers his estate before he is fairlypossessed of it. And having now disposed of Sir Wycherly, what can I domost to aid the righteous and glorious cause?"
"This is coming to the point manfully, Sir Richard--I beg pardon forthus styling you, but I happen to know that your name has been beforethe prince, for some time, as one of those who are to receive the ribandfrom a sovereign really _authorized_ to bestow it; if I have spoken alittle prematurely, I again entreat your pardon;--but, this is at oncecoming manfully to the point! Serve us you can, of course, and that mosteffectually, and in an all-important manner. I now greatly regret thatmy father had not put me in the army, in my youth, that I might serve myprince as I could wish, in this perilous trial. But we have many friendsaccustomed to arms, and among them your own honourable name will appearconspicuous as to the past, and encouraging as to the future."
"I have carried arms from boyhood, it is true, Sir Reginald, but it isin a service that will scarcely much avail us in this warfare. PrinceEdward has no ships, nor do I know he will need any."
"True, my dear sir, but King George has! As for the necessity, permit meto say you are mistaken; it will soon be all-important to keep open thecommunication with the continent. No doubt, Monsieur de Vervillin isout, with some such object, already."
Bluewater started, and he recoiled from the firm grasp which the othertook of his arm, in the earnestness of discourse, with some suchinstinctive aversion as a man recoils from the touch of the reptile. Thethought of a treachery like that implied in the remark of his companionhad never occurred to him, and his honest mind turned with a strongdisrelish, from even the implied proposition of the other. Still, he wasnot quite certain how far Sir Reginald wished to urge him, and he feltit just to ascertain his real views before he answered them. Plausibleas this appeared, it was a dangerous delay for one so simple-minded,when brought in contact with a person so practised as the baronet; SirReginald having the tact to perceive that his new friend's feelings hadalready taken the alarm, and at once determined to be more wary.
"What am I to understand by this, Sir Reginald Wychecombe?" demanded therear-admiral. "In what manner can I possibly be connected with the navalresources of the House of Hanover, when it is my intention to throw offits service? King George's fleets will hardly aid the Stuarts; and theywill, at least, obey the orders of their own officers."
"Not the least doubt in the world of this, Admiral Bluewater! What aglorious privilege it was for Monk to have it in his power to put hisliege sovereign in his rightful seat, and thus to save the empire, by a_coup de main_, from the pains and grievances of a civil contest! Of allthe glorious names in English history, I esteem that of George Monk asthe one most to be envied! It is a great thing to be a prince--one bornto be set apart as God's substitute on earth, in all that relates tohuman justice and human power;--yet it is greater, in my eyes, to be thesubject to _restore_ the order of these almost divine successions, whenonce deranged by lawless and presuming men."
"This is true enough, sir; though I would rather have joined Charles onthe beach at Dover, armed only with an untainted sword, than followed byan army at my heels!"
"What, when that army followed _cheerfully_, and was equally eager withyourself to serve their sovereign!"
"That, indeed, might somewhat qualify the feeling. But soldiers andsailors are usually influenced by the opinions of those who have beenplaced over them by the higher authorities."
"No doubt they are; and that is as it should be. We are encouraged tobelieve that some ten or fifteen captains are already well-disposedtowards us, and will cheerfully take their respective ships to thepoints our wants require, the moment they feel assured of being properlyled, when collected. By a little timely concert, we can command theNorth Sea, and keep open important communications with the continent. Itis known the ministry intend to employ as many German troops as they canassemble, and a naval force will be all-important in keeping thesemustachoed foreigners at a distance The quarrel is purely English, sir,and ought to be decided by Englishmen only."
"In that, indeed, I fully concur, Sir Reginald," answered Bluewater,breathing more freely. "I would cruise a whole winter in the North Seato keep the Dutchmen at home, and let Englishmen decide who is to beEngland's king. To me, foreign interference, in such a matter, is thenext evil to positive disloyalty to my rightful prince."
"These are exactly my sentiments, dear sir, and I hope to see you act onthem. By the way, how happens it you are left alone, and in what mannerdo you admirals divide your authority when serving in company?"
"I do not know I comprehend your question, Sir Reginald. I am left hereto sail the last with the Caesar; Sir Gervaise leading out in thePlantagenet, with a view to draw a line across the channel that shalleffectually prevent de Vervillin from getting to the westward."
"To the _westward_!" repeated the other, smiling ironically, though thedarkness prevented the admiral from seeing the expression of hisfeatures. "Does Admiral Oakes then think that the French ships aresteering in _that_ direction?"
"Such is our information; have you any reason to suppose that the enemyintend differently?"
The baronet paused, and
he appeared to ruminate. Enough had alreadypassed to satisfy him he had not an ordinary mind in that of hiscompanion to deal with, and he was slightly at a loss how to answer. Tobring the other within his lures, he was fully resolved; and the spiritsthat aid the designing just at that moment suggested the plan which, ofall others, was most likely to be successful. Bluewater had betrayed hisaversion to the interference of foreign troops in the quarrel, and onthis subject he intended to strike a chord which he rightly fanciedwould thrill on the rear-admiral's feelings.
"We have our information, certainly," answered Sir Reginald, like onewho was reluctant to tell all he knew; "though good faith requires itshould not actually be exposed. Nevertheless, any one can reason on theprobabilities. The Duke of Cumberland will collect his Germanauxiliaries, and they must get into England the best way that they can.Would an intelligent enemy with a well-appointed fleet suffer thisjunction, if he could prevent it? We know he would not; and when weremember the precise time of the sailing of the Comte, his probableignorance of the presence of this squadron of yours, in the channel, andall the other circumstances of the case, who can suppose otherwise thanto believe his aim is to intercept the German regiments."
"This does seem plausible; and yet the Active's signals told us that theFrench were steering west; and that, too, with a light westerly wind."
"Do not fleets, like armies, frequently make false demonstrations? Mightnot Monsieur de Vervillin, so long as his vessels were in sight from theshore, have turned toward the west, with an intention, as soon ascovered by the darkness, to incline to the east, again, and sail upchannel, under English ensigns, perhaps? Is it not possible for him topass the Straits of Dover, even, as an English squadron--your own, forinstance--and thus deceive the Hanoverian cruisers until ready to seizeor destroy any transports that may be sent?"
"Hardly, Sir Reginald," said Bluewater, smiling. "A French ship can nomore be mistaken for an English ship, than a Frenchman can pass for aBriton. We sailors are not as easily deceived as that would show. It istrue, however, that a fleet might well stand in one direction, until farenough off the land or covered by night, when it might change its coursesuddenly, in an opposite direction; and it _is possible_ the Comte deVervillin has adopted some such stratagem. If he actually knew of theintention to throw German troops into the island, it is even quite_probable_. In that case, for one, I could actually wish him success!"
"Well, my dear sir, and what is to prevent it?" asked Sir Reginald, witha triumph that was not feigned. "Nothing, you will say, unless he fallin with Sir Gervaise Oakes. But you have not answered my inquiry, as tothe manner in which flag-officers divide their commands, at sea?"
"As soldiers divide their commands ashore. The superior orders, and theinferior obeys."
"Ay, this is true; but it does not meet my question. Here are elevenlarge ships, and two admirals; now what portion of these ships are underyour particular orders, and what portion under those of Sir GervaiseOakes?"
"The vice-admiral has assigned to himself a division of six of theships, and left me the other five. Each of us has his frigates andsmaller vessels. But an order that the commander-in-chief may choose togive any captain must be obeyed by him, as the inferior submits, as arule, to the last order."
"And _you_," resumed Sir Reginald, with quickness; "how are _you_situated, as respects these captains?"
"Should I give a direct order to any captain in the fleet, it wouldcertainly be his duty to obey it; though circumstances might occur whichwould render it obligatory on him to let me know that he had differentinstructions from our common superior. But, why these questions, SirReginald?"
"Your patience, my dear admiral;--and what ships have you specificallyunder your care?"
"The Caesar, my own; the Dublin, the Elizabeth, the York, and the Dover.To these must be added the Druid frigate, the sloop of war, and theGnat. My division numbers eight in all."
"What a magnificent force to possess at a moment as critical asthis!--But where are all these vessels? I see but four and a cutter, andonly two of these seem to be large."
"The light you perceive there, along the land to the westward, is onboard the Elizabeth; and that broad off here, in the channel, is onboard the York. The Dover's lantern has disappeared further to thesouthward. Ah! there the Dublin casts, and is off after the others!"
"And you intend to follow, Admiral Bluewater?"
"Within an hour, or I shall lose the division. As it is, I have beendeliberating on the propriety of calling back the sternmost ships, andcollecting them in close squadron; for this increase and hauling of thewind render it probable they will lose the vice-admiral, and thatday-light will find the line scattered and in confusion. One mind mustcontrol the movements of ships, as well as of battalions, Sir Reginald,if they are to act in concert."
"With what view would you collect the vessels you have mentioned, and inthe manner you have named, if you do not deem my inquiry indiscreet?"demanded the baronet, with quickness.
"Simply that they might be kept together, and brought in subjection tomy own particular signals. This is the duty that more especially fallsto my share, as head of the division."
"Have you the means to effect this, here, on this hill, and by yourself,sir?"
"It would be a great oversight to neglect so important a provision. Mysignal-officer is lying under yonder cover, wrapped in his cloak, andtwo quarter-masters are in readiness to make the very signal inquestion; for its necessity has been foreseen, and really would seem tobe approaching. If done at all, it must be done quickly, too. The lightof the York grows dim in the distance. It _shall_ be done, sir; prudencerequires it, and you shall see the manner in which we hold our distantships in command."
Bluewater could not have announced more agreeable intelligence to hiscompanion. Sir Reginald was afraid to propose the open treason hemeditated; but he fancied, if the rear-admiral could fairly withdraw hisown division from the fleet, it would at once weaken the vice-admiral somuch, as to render an engagement with the French impossible, and mightlead to such a separation of the commands as to render the finaldefection of the division inshore easier of accomplishment. It is true,Bluewater, himself, was actuated by motives directly contrary to thesewishes; but, as the parties travelled the same road to a certain point,the intriguing baronet had his expectations of being able to persuadehis new friend to continue on in his own route.
Promptitude is a military virtue, and, among seamen, it is a maxim to doevery thing that is required to be done, with activity and vigour. Theselaws were not neglected on the present occasion. No sooner had therear-admiral determined on his course, than he summoned his agents toput it in execution. Lord Geoffrey had returned to the heights and waswithin call, and he carried the orders to the lieutenant and thequarter-masters. The lanterns only required lighting, and then they wererun aloft on Dutton's staff, as regularly as the same duty could havebeen performed on the poop of the Caesar. Three rockets were thrown up,immediately after, and the gun kept on the cliffs for that purpose wasfired, to draw attention to the signal. It might have been a minute erethe heavy ordnance of the Caesar repeated the summons, and the samesignal was shown at her mast-head. The Dublin was still so near that notime was lost, but according to orders, she too repeated the signal; forin the line that night, it was understood that an order of this naturewas to be sent from ship to ship.
"Now for the Elizabeth!" cried Bluewater; "she cannot fail to have heardour guns, and to see our signals."
"The York is ahead of her, sir!" exclaimed the boy; "see; she has thesignal up already!"
All this passed in a very few minutes, the last ships having sailed inthe expectation of receiving some such recall. The York preceded theship next to her in the line, in consequence of having gone about, andbeing actually nearer to the rear-admiral than her second astern. It wasbut a minute, before the gun and the lanterns of the Elizabeth, however,announced her knowledge of the order, also.
The two ships last named were no longer visible from t
he cliffs, thoughtheir positions were known by their lights; but no sign whateverindicated the part of the ocean on which the Dover was struggling alongthrough the billows. After a pause of several minutes, Bluewater spoke.
"I fear we shall collect no more," he said; "one of my ships must takeher chance to find the commander-in-chief, alone. Ha!--that meanssomething!"
At this instant a faint, distant flash was seen, for a single moment, inthe gloom, and then all heads were bent forward to listen, in breathlessattention. A little time had elapsed, when the dull, smothered report ofa gun proclaimed that even the Dover had caught the rapidly transmittedorder.
"What means that, sir?" eagerly demanded Sir Reginald, who had attendedto every thing with intense expectation.
"It means, sir, that all of the division are still under my command. Noother ship would note the order. _Their_ directions, unless specificallypointed out by their numbers, must come from the vice-admiral. Is mybarge ashore, Lord Geoffrey Cleveland?"
"It is, sir, as well as the cutter for Mr. Cornet and thequarter-masters."
"It is well. Gentlemen, we will go on board; the Caesar must weigh andjoin the other vessels in the offing. I will follow you to the landing,but you will shove off, at once, and desire Captain Stowel to weigh andcast to-port. We will fill on the starboard tack, and haul directly offthe land."
The whole party immediately left the station, hurrying down to theboats, leaving Bluewater and Sir Reginald to follow more leisurely. Itwas a critical moment for the baronet, who had so nearly effected hispurpose, that his disappointment would have been double did he fail ofhis object altogether. He determined, therefore, not to quit the admiralwhile there was the slightest hope of success. The two consequentlydescended together to the shore, walking, for the first minute or two,in profound silence.
"A great game is in your hands, Admiral Bluewater," resumed the baronet;"rightly played, it may secure the triumph of the good cause. I think Imay say I _know_ de Vervillin's object, and that his success will reseatthe Stuarts on the thrones of their ancestors! One who loves them shouldponder well before he does aught to mar so glorious a result."
This speech was as bold as it was artful. In point of fact, Sir ReginaldWychecombe knew no more of the Comte de Vervillin's intended movementsthan his companion; but he did not hesitate to assert what he now did,in order to obtain a great political advantage, in a moment of so muchimportance. To commit Bluewater and his captains openly on the side ofthe Stuarts would be a great achievement in itself; to frustrate theplans of Sir Gervaise might safely be accounted another; and, then,there were all the chances that the Frenchman was not at sea fornothing, and that his operations might indeed succour the movements ofthe prince. The baronet, upright as he was in other matters, had noscruples of conscience on this occasion; having long since broughthimself over to the belief that it was justifiable to attain ends asgreat as those he had in view, by the sacrifice of any of the minormoral considerations.
The effect on Bluewater was not trifling. The devil had placed the baitbefore his eyes in a most tempting form; for he felt that he had only tohold his division in reserve to render an engagement morally improbable.Abandon his friend to a superior force he could and would not; but, itis our painful duty to avow that his mind had glimpses of thepossibility of doing the adventurer in Scotland a great good, withoutdoing the vice-admiral and the van of the fleet any very essential harm.Let us be understood, however. The rear-admiral did not even contemplatetreason, or serious defection of any sort; but through one of thoseavenues of frailty by which men are environed, he had a glance atresults that the master-spirit of evil momentarily placed before hismental vision as both great and glorious.
"I wish we were really certain of de Vervillin's object," he said; theonly concession he made to this novel feeling, in words. "It might,indeed, throw a great light on the course we ought to take ourselves. Ido detest this German alliance, and would abandon the service ere Iwould convoy or transport a ragamuffin of them all to England."
Here Sir Reginald proved how truly expert he was in the arts ofmanagement. A train of thought and feeling had been lighted in the mindof his companion, which he felt might lead to all he wished, while hewas apprehensive that further persuasion would awaken opposition, andrenew old sentiments. He wisely determined, therefore, to leave thingsas they were, trusting to the strong and declared bias of the admiral infavour of the revolution, to work out its own consequences, with avisible and all-important advantage so prominently placed before hiseyes.
"I know nothing of ships," he answered, modestly; "but I do _know_ thatthe Comte has our succour in view. It would ill become me to advise oneof your experience how to lead a force like this, which is subject toyour orders; but a friend of the good cause, who is now in the west, andwho was lately in the presence itself, tells me that the princemanifested extreme satisfaction when he learned how much it might be inyour power to serve him."
"Do you then think my name has reached the royal ear, and that theprince has any knowledge of my real feelings?"
"Nothing but your extreme modesty could cause you to doubt the first,sir; as to the last, ask yourself how came I to approach you to-night,with my heart in my hand, as it might be, making you master of my lifeas well as of my secret. Love and hatred are emotions that soon betraythemselves."
It is matter of historical truth that men of the highest principles andstrongest minds have yielded to the flattery of rank. Bluewater'spolitical feelings had rendered him indifferent to the blandishments ofthe court at London, while his imagination, that chivalrous deference toantiquity and poetical right, which lay at the root of his Jacobitism,and his brooding sympathies, disposed him but too well to become thedupe of language like this. Had he been more a man of facts, one lessunder the influence of his own imagination; had it been his good fortuneto live even in contact with those he now so devoutly worshipped, in apolitical sense at least, their influence over a mind as just andclear-sighted as his own, would soon have ceased; but, passing his timeat sea, they had the most powerful auxiliary possible, in the highfaculty he possessed of fancying things as he wished them to be. Nowonder, then, that he heard this false assertion of Sir Reginald with aglow of pleasure; with even a thrill at the heart to which he had longbeen a stranger. For a time, his better feelings were smothered in thisnew and treacherous sensation.
The gentlemen, by this time, were at the landing, and it becamenecessary to separate. The barge of the rear-admiral was with difficultykept from leaping on the rock, by means of oars and boat-hooks, and eachinstant rendered the embarkation more and more difficult. The momentswere precious on more accounts than one, and the leave-taking was short.Sir Reginald said but little, though he intended the pressure of thehand he gave his companion to express every thing.
"God be with you," he added; "and as you prove true, may you provesuccessful! Remember, 'a lawful prince, and the claims of birth-right.'God be with you!"
"Adieu, Sir Reginald; when we next meet, the future will probably bemore apparent to us all.--But who comes hither, rushing like a madmantowards the boat?"
A form came leaping through the darkness; nor was it known, until itstood within two feet of Bluewater, it was that of Wycherly. He hadheard the guns and seen the signals. Guessing at the reasons, he dashedfrom the park, which he was pacing to cool his agitation, and which nowowned him for a master, and ran the whole distance to the shore, inorder not to be left. His arrival was most opportune; for, in anotherminute, the barge left the rock.