Georgette Heyer (50 page)

  The Colonel's old servant, John Day, was delighted at receiving a visit from his master, but when the reason for it was disclosed to him, his jaw dropped, and his eyes grew round with astonishment. He heard the tale out in complete silence, and for several moments, after the Colonel had finished speaking said not a word, but stood staring. But some thought seemed to be stirring in his brain, for a slow grin gradually crept over his face. A chuckle escaped him; he slapped his leg delightedly, and said: 'Well, dang me, if I ever heard the like! Here's you not seven days released from your parole, and as brisk as a bee in a tarpot to make them Roundheads' noses warp already! You'll go up the ladder to bed, master, no question!'

  'Well, if I hang for it, what will you do, John?' demanded the Colonel.

  'Oddrot me, I'll hang alongside ye, master! But lordy, to think of your honour getting your parole took off, and a-paying of that wicked fine, all as meek as a nun's hen, only to 'broil yourself again in the King's business straightway! Master, master, you'll go from little good to stark naught!'

  'I do as I must. If the business mislikes you, stay you here, but tell me what sea-faring men you know that are honest!'

  'Nay, nay, if it's for the King, I'll go through stitch with it!' Day declared. 'But if there is any sea-faring crony of mine which has his ship lying up at Emsworth, I know not, nor if such would come up to squeeze neither.'

  The day was cloudy, and when they reached the bleak little port, a boisterous wind was whipping into a surge of grey billows the long tongue of sea that licked the land. A few cottages, and a squat ale-house, were the only houses Emsworth boasted, nor were there many vessels riding at anchor in the harbour. While the Colonel smoked a pipe in the ale-house, John Day went out to discover whether any of his acquaintances were to be met with. He returned presently, wearing a glum look on his face, and informed the Colonel that there was no ship at present lying in the harbour whose master he durst trust. He suggested that they should ride on westward to Langstone, a port south of Havant, and there try their fortune; but although Gounter thought this advice good, he determined to go back first to Racton, to acquaint my Lord Wilmot of his intention. Wilmot had promised not to stir out of the house until his return, but the Colonel, knowing him to be in a condition of jangled nerves that made it impossible for him to be still, feared that if his own return to Racton were postponed my lord might take it into his head to fly off somewhere at a tangent. So he rode back to his house, to find that his fears had been by no means groundless. He met Wilmot half a mile from Racton, coming, with Robert Swan, to search for him.

  'You were so long gone I feared some mischance!' Wilmot told him.

  'No mischance my lord,' Gounter replied. 'But Emsworth will not serve our purpose, and I must go farther, to Langstone, where, haply, I may find a vessel.'

  'I will come with you,' Wilmot said. He looked narrowly at Day, and, drawing nearer to the Colonel, whispered: 'Who is that fellow? Can you trust him?'

  'He is my old servant,' explained the Colonel patiently. 'You have no need to fear him: he is steel to the backbone.'

  Wilmot seemed to be satisfied with this answer, and rode for some time beside the Colonel in apparent peace of mind. But presently, putting his hand into his pocket to pull out his hand ker chief, he discovered that the purse containing Giles Strangways's broad pieces was not there. He reined in immediately, pale with dismay, exclaiming that he had left a hundred pounds belonging to the King under his pillow. Nothing would do, in spite of the Colonel's assurance that his wife would by this time have found the purse, and would keep it safely for him, but that Robert Swan should return instantly to Racton to look for it. This arrangement met with John Day's approval. 'A good riddance to him!' he said, as Swan rode off. 'He's as dull as a beetle, and looks besides like one which has eaten his bedstraw. I warrant we shall fare better without him.'

  There was, however, no likely vessel lying in Lang stone harbour, nor could Day, whilst his master and my lord consumed a dish of oysters in a tavern by the sea, discover any trustworthy mariner in the town. Wilmot fell into a mood of despair, but the Colonel rallied him, saying: 'Good luck comes by cuffing: we must about, and try again. But I would suggest that your lordship should return now to Hinton Daubnay, where I promise I will bring you news presently. Leave this business to me!'

  'You will never succeed in it,' Wilmot said wretch edly. 'I think I ought not to leave you with all at odds like this. Yet I have appointed Robin Phelips to bring me tidings of his Majesty to Mr Hyde's, and I am in the expectation, besides, of receiving a message from my Lord Southampton. But to go away with nothing settled, and no immediate hope of removing the King from Heale – no, no, how can I do so?'

  'My lord, upon my honour you can do no good by remaining,' said the Colonel, who was anxious to be rid of a companion very imperfectly disguised, and too nervous to be helpful. 'I will do nothing without advising you, but if you go not back to Lawrence Hyde's house I know not how you may contrive to keep his Majesty informed of our plans.'

  This argument at once prevailed upon my lord to go. He instructed the Colonel to send Swan after him from Racton, and, after conjuring him most solemnly to send him word that very evening how he had fared, he mounted his horse, and rode away.

  The Colonel then went home to Racton, and, having sent Swan off to join his master, sought out his kinsman, whom he found walking in the orchard. Captain Gounter greeted him placidly, enquiring, but without much interest, what he had done with Mr Barlow.

  'He has gone back to Lawrence Hyde's.'

  'Good!' said Tom Gounter simply. 'He frets for all the world like gummed taffety.'

  The Colonel took him by the arm, and began to walk beside him under the laden trees. 'Where have your wits gone begging?' he said. 'That was my Lord Wilmot!'

  'Lord Wilmot?' repeated Tom. 'Well, I did think I knew his face. But what ails him that he must needs cut so many cross-capers?'

  'This much ails him: that he has the King hidden at Amphillis Hyde's house, and must find a ship to carry him to France, or go hang himself !'

  This disclosure had the effect of startling Tom out of his imperturbability. He appeared much shocked, and no sooner learned that his cousin was engaged upon the task of hiring a vessel for the King, than he offered at once to lend all the help of which he was capable. He thought that a kinsman of his, one who had served in his regiment in the late Wars, had interest at certain ports, and proposed that he should seek him out imme diately. This the Colonel agreed to, appointing his cousin to meet him in Chichester upon the following morning. He himself went off once more with John Day, but again to no purpose; and later rode to Hinton Daubnay, a distance of about ten miles from Racton.

  Wilmot was eagerly awaiting him, and although he brought no welcome tidings, seemed to be in a more sanguine humour, having heard from Robin Phelips that the King was safely hidden at Heale House. My Lord Southampton, too, was anxious to do his possible, and had sent to offer his help in procuring a boat; an offer which Wilmot could not make up his mind whether to accept or to decline. He thought that Southampton might possess influ ence in Portsmouth, but was at the same time afraid to employ him for fear of his being too well-known a Royalist to escape being under suspicion. Colonel Gounter begged him not to move in the matter until he had seen his cousin next day; and after discussing the question with Lawrence Hyde, Wilmot decided to follow his advice.

  The Colonel stayed to supper, and was pressed both by his host and by Wilmot to remain the night. The weather had been growing steadily worse all day, and by the time supper was ended a boisterous wind was driving the rain against the window-panes. Wilmot could not conceive of anyone's venturing out in such dismal weather, and was quite amazed when the Colonel declared that since the business of transporting the King out of England would brook no delay, he must return to Racton that evening.

  'But, my dear sir, it is, besides all else, extremely dark!'

  'I know the way too well to miss it,' Gounter replied. 'I will come to you again as soon as I have anything to tell you – certainly within the next twenty-four hours.'

  'But if you cannot discover any seaman willing –'

  'I shall discover one,' Gounter interrupted.

  Wilmot blinked at him. 'You are very sure, Colonel!'

  'My lord, when a thing
must
be done, there is always a way,' said Gounter.

  He reached his home between one and two in the morning, and snatched a few hours' sleep on his bed before setting out again. He would not stay for breakfast at Racton, but left the house soon after sunrise, and rode to Chichester, where, in a quiet inn not far from the Market Cross, he had appointed his cousin to meet him.

  While he discussed cold beef and ale, Thomas Gounter recounted the tale of his own endeavours. These had been as unavailing as the Colonel's, the only conclusion to be drawn from them being there was no chance of success at any of the coast-towns within reach of Chichester.

  The Colonel said with decision: 'I must seek out some French merchant.'

  'Do you know any?' asked Tom. 'I am woefully sure I do not.'

  'I don't, but it's in my mind I have met one Francis Mansel, in company, and that it was told me that he was a merchant that had considerable traffic with France. I believe him to be honest: it was in a loyal house that I met him.'

  'I have heard of him,' said Tom. 'He may be honest, for aught I know, but you'll scarcely break such a matter to one who is no better than a stranger!'

  'Nay, no need to speak of the King. I'll hatch some tale that shall satisfy him.'

  Tom looked rather dubious, but since he had no better plan to suggest, he made no further demur, but went with his cousin as far as to Mr Mansel's door. Here they parted, Tom going off to await his kinsman in a neighbouring inn, and the Colonel being admitted into Mansel's house.

  The merchant, who was a middle-aged man, with quiet manners, and a rather chilling pair of grey eyes, received his guest courteously, but with a hint of surprise in his face. When the Colonel recalled to his mind the occasion of their former meeting, and gave as a reason for his visit a desire to become better acquainted with him, he bowed, but directed a long, speculative look at him. He sent for a bottle of wine, and some Spanish tobacco, and said that he was glad to know the Colonel better, and they must drink a glass of French wine together.

  'Ah, you usually trade into France, do you not, sir?' asked the Colonel casually.

  'Usually,' agreed Mr Mansel, delicately pouring the wine into two glasses. 'Not always.'

  While they drank the wine, and smoked their pipes, the Colonel kept up a flow of idle talk which was yet designed to lead his host into betraying his politics. These seemed to be satisfactory, and after perhaps half an hour's chat, Gounter said, with an air of frankness: 'I think you have guessed that I do not come only to visit you, but have to request a favour of you.'

  'Anything in my power, my dear Colonel,' said Mansel politely.

  'I hope and believe that it may be in your power. To be plain with you, there are two special friends of mine who have been engaged in a duel, and there is mischief done, so that I am obliged to get them off if I can. Can you, for a sum, freight a barque?'

  Mansel took a moment to answer this. He sipped his wine, looking inscrutably at the Colonel over the rim of the glass. He said after a meditative silence: 'I daresay I could do so, if I went to Brighthelmstone.'

  'Then, sir, will you do it?' asked the Colonel bluntly.

  Mansel set his glass gently down on the table. 'Yes, Colonel, since you ask it of me and I know you to be an honest man, I will do it – for a sum.'

  'There is fifty pounds in it, if you can effect the busi ness, and will do so speedily.'

  'A fair price,' said Mansel, with an inclination of his head. 'I think it can be accomplished.'

  'I thank you! Now, will you go to Brighthelmstone to-day, and take me along with you?'

  A thin hand was lifted. 'Ah, I am sorry! To-morrow, with good will, if you please, but today, my dear sir, is Stow-Fair-day here, as you must know, and my partner being out of the way I must not absent myself – indeed, I cannot absent myself.'

  The Colonel tried to persuade him, but soon saw that he was wasting his breath.

  'Tomorrow,' smiled Mansel. 'Positively tomorrow, sir, and that I will faithfully promise. Come for me here, early, and if you will lend me a horse to go upon, I will take you to Brighthelmstone, and put you in the way of striking a bargain with an honest mariner there, who, I think, will be glad to serve you.'

  With this the Colonel had to be content. He got up to take his leave, saying as he shook hands with his host: 'I need not enjoin you to keep this matter to yourself, I know.'

  'No,' said Mansel, faintly amused. 'You need not, indeed, Colonel. I am persuaded that it would be very foolish – ah, very dangerous, perhaps? – for me to mention that I have agreed to freight a barque to carry your – er – duelling friends – out of England.'