i was about to knock when i heard the sound of voices.
"and do you think," i heard a voice say, which i recognized as mistress nancy's, "that although you force me into this marriage, i shall really be your wife?"
"ay, that you will." it was otho who spoke in his low, mocking way.
"but i will not be your wife. i despise you, loathe you."
"that feeling will soon pass away when you are the wife of otho killigrew. you will love me all the more for being so determined to have you. and i—well, i would a thousand times rather have this than an ordinary wedding. clement and father o'brien will soon be here. i thought i heard his voice a few seconds ago."
"but i will die sooner than wed you!"
[pg 196]
"ah, i like to see your eyes shine like that. it makes you more handsome than ever. with me as master, and you as mistress of restormel, we shall be much sought after in the county."
"is this the act of a gentleman, otho killigrew? the very gypsies will cry out against you as a mean knave."
"it is the act of a gentleman," replied otho coolly. "you had every opportunity to wed me in a way befitting your station, but you would not have it so. you trusted to a trickster, and thereby sadly compromised your reputation. now i must treat you as i am obliged. you should be thankful that i am willing to wed you after such conduct."
"i would i had trusted the man you call a trickster!" cried the maid bitterly, at which it flashed upon me that i was playing the part of an eavesdropper. true, i felt justified in listening, at the same time i felt uncomfortable, and was about to knock at the door when his words arrested me again.
"come, nancy, let us act reasonably. if you will promise to go to endellion with me, and wed me there, we will have done with this method of going on. let me have a kiss and we will be friends."
he evidently laid hands on her as he spoke, for the maid cried out. at this i was unable to control myself, and i pushed the door with so much vehemence that the rusty hinges gave way, and i entered the room.
even at that time i noticed that the apartment[pg 197] was bare of all furniture, save for a few straight-back chairs and a rickety table. mistress nancy stood at one corner of the room, her eyes flashing fiercely and her face as pale as death. otho was holding one of her hands, but on hearing the noise of my entrance had turned his face angrily towards me.
i knew i dared not give him time, for doubtless he carried dagger and pistols, and would use them without hesitation. i therefore leapt upon him, and in a second we were engaged in a mad struggle. as for the maid, she gave another cry which i thought told of her joy at my coming.
maddened, desperate as he was, i soon discovered that i had not his brother benet to deal with. he availed himself of all sorts of wrestler's tricks, and tried to use his knife, but it was no use. in a few seconds i had thrown him heavily on the floor. he lay stunned, but this i knew would not be for long.
"mistress nancy molesworth," i said, turning panting to the maid, "will you trust me now?"
she looked piteously into my face. "dare i?" she cried; "i am all alone, i have no one to help me. i would rather die than wed him," and she gave a look of loathing towards otho. "may i trust you?"
"you may," i said eagerly, and at that moment i felt a joy in sacrificing trevanion rather than carrying out peter trevisa's wishes. "as god is above us, i will take you wherever you wish to go, and i give my life to see that no harm happens to you!" and this i said like one compelled,[pg 198] for my words seemed to be dragged from me by some wondrous power which the maid possessed.
she caught my hand eagerly. her eyes seemed to burn like live coals, and as i thought she looked into the very depth of my life.
"yes, i will trust you," she cried, "and i will bless you forever. but can you take me away. these men seem to have friends everywhere."
"i can, and i will," i cried eagerly, for at that time my heart was hot, and i felt no weakness. "come quickly," i continued, "i have prepared my plans." then turning around i saw two women in the room, evidently the landlord's wife and a servant-maid.
"what do 'ee main? who be you?" screamed one of the women.
but i took no heed. mistress nancy caught some clothing which she had thrown on the table, and although the woman tried to bar the doorway, i led her out. all this time otho had been lying on the floor like one dead.
i went to the door which i had bolted, and was about to open it, but i desisted, for i heard the clatter of horses' hoofs. for a moment my heart sank within me; i felt sure that colman killigrew had returned with the priest. if that were so, i should be one against many. the maid nancy had also heard the noise, for her face was piteous to behold.
"'tis they, 'tis they," she cried. "oh, you will not let me fall into their hands, will you?"
it was then that i realized the secret of my heart. at that moment i knew that mistress[pg 199] nancy molesworth was all the world to me, and that all my vows never to care for a woman again were no more than the chaff which the wind drives away. my blood was on fire, and i vowed that all the killigrews on earth should not take her from me.
"no, by god, no!" i cried, "they shall not get you."
my words seemed to give her confidence, for she became calmer and steady again.
"give me a pistol," she said, "i will help you."
at that moment there was a sound of knocking at the door.
"let us in!" cried a voice, which i recognized as clement's, and the landlord's wife rushed towards the door. ill as i like to touch a woman i felt i must not hesitate, and so with no gentle hand i threw her against the door, whereupon she went into violent hysterics. as for the servant, she went into the backyard screaming. seeing a key in the door, i quickly turned it, and placed it in my pocket.
"come, we can follow the servant-maid," i said to mistress nancy, but at that moment otho killigrew staggered towards us, with his knife uplifted. i struck him a cruel blow, but it could not be helped, and again he fell heavily. seeing the barrel of a pistol gleaming from his belt, i took it from him and gave it to the maid. she took it without a word, and i knew by the light in her eyes that she meant to use it.
meanwhile clement killigrew kept beating the door, and i knew that he would ere long succeed[pg 200] in breaking it down. it is true i had cocked my pistol, while mistress nancy held hers ready to shoot, but i knew not how many were outside, so i dared not wait. i therefore took the dear maid's hand and led her into the yard.
"amelia," i cried.
"here you be, sur."
i hurried towards her, and found two horses saddled.
"mount, mount," i cried quickly, "they'll be after us."
"no, they waan't," retorted amelia, "i've turned all the other horses out in the field."
"and where's boundy?"
"lyin' inside there, weth his mouth chucked vull of hay."
in spite of our danger, i could not help laughing aloud.
by this time they had both mounted, and as yet no one had followed us into the yard.
"there's another way down to the road," cried amelia, "it'll bring us out furder down. where's yore oss, sur?"
"he's all right. you are a clever girl, amelia." this i said while we went silently down the cart track under the trees.
on reaching the road i gave a low whistle, and in a second i heard the clatter of hoofs, as chestnut came towards me. he gave a whinney as he saw me, but before i could mount i heard a bullet whiz by me, and strike hazel bushes on the top of the hedge. then i saw clement killigrew and the priest coming towards us. great[pg 201] as was my longing to stop and meet these men, i deemed it prudent to get away as quickly as possible. a new fear had come into my life, a fear that they should harm the maid nancy. i sprang to the stirrup therefore, and before i was fairly on chestnut's back he started into a gallop. i checked him for fear i should leave my companions behind, but i need not have feared. their horses kept neck to neck with mine. for a time i could hear no one following, but presently the sound of horses' hoofs rang out in the night air.
i stopped and listened. "there is only one horse," i said, and as i spoke the sound ceased. again we rode on, and again i could hear the following horseman; a mile or so farther on we pulled up a second time, and as soon as we stopped our pursuer also stopped.
"what is the meaning of that, i wonder?" i said aloud. "we have been riding more slowly and he has not gained upon us. when we stop he follows our example. what does it mean?"
"it is clement," said mistress nancy; "he will have got his orders from otho."
"but why does he not seek to overtake us?"
"it would not suit his purpose," cried she; "he dare not come too close to us. he will be afraid. he knows you have pistols. his purpose will be to keep us in sight and mark where we go."
"but what good will that do him?"
"when he thinks we are safely housed, he will send for help."
"but how?"
"the killigrews have followers all around in[pg 202] this part of the country," she said. "they have friends unknown to you."
"but we will ride right on to the west of the country, where hugh boscawen is raising men against the enemies of the king."
"even there he will have friends. clement is almost as cunning as otho."
"i will go back and fight him," i said quietly. "we will soon be rid of him."
"he will know of your coming, and will ride away from you. if you follow him he will lead you into some trap."
"but we must be rid of him," i cried; "we shall not be safe while he follows."
then the maid held her peace, but i knew she greatly feared clement killigrew. at this i became anxious, for, truth to tell, i felt awkward and helpless now. i dared not make other suggestions, because i believed that in spite of what she had said she still failed to trust me. then i had cared little about her good opinion concerning me, now i would dare anything to win her smile. i determined that no harm should come to her, for my heart yearned for her, even as the heart of a mother must yearn for her first-born son. i looked at her as she rode by my side, and in the light of the moon i could discern every feature. pale she was and anxious, but to me her face was glorious beyond compare. i saw resolution, foresight, a nobleness in her every movement, but all this made her further removed from me. in the light of my new-found love she became a new creature. all my being went out to her, all my[pg 203] life i was ready to lay at her feet. i remembered what i had said on roche rock—i had told her that i cared for no woman, that she was nothing to me but the veriest stranger. i would have given anything to have recalled those words, but it could not be. i thought of what i had promised peter trevisa, and i was filled with shame. i tried to drive the promise from my mind, but it had been made.
all this made me silent and awkward, and i rode by her side eager to save her from the killigrews, yet distrusting myself sorely.
and yet with my love, painful as it was, came joys unknown to me before. never till then had i realized what a gladness it was to live, to think, to act. the road on which i rode became a scene of beauty, the country air scented with the perfume of spring seemed to me like a breath from paradise, the murmuring of the sea in the distance made heaven near. so much, indeed, did i live in the thought of my love, and of what she would think of me, that for the moment i forgot that clement killigrew was following us, as a sleuth-hound follows his prey. in my heart i called her my lady nancy, and wondered what i could do to make her think better of me. for i could not help feeling that she had turned to me as a last resource, and that even now, should john polperro appear, she would immediately dispense with my services. although i hated this thought, i could not blame her for it, for who was i that she should trust me? i remembered, too, that since we left the inn her words to me had been[pg 204] cool and distant, as though she were ashamed of her emotion at the time when i found her in the room with otho killigrew.
i was recalled to myself at length by amelia lanteglos, who said with a laugh:
"ours be good 'osses, be'ant 'em, sur?"
"yes," i replied; "i did not think uncle anthony could find such good ones among the moors."
"thaise be'ant uncle anthony's. these belong to the killigrews. the one i do ride belonged to maaster otho, 't'other to maaster coleman."
"good," i cried, thinking what a quick-witted girl she was. "you are a clever maid, amelia."
"i ain't a-lived 'mong the killigrews for nothin'!" she said; "besides i'd do anything for mistress nancy."
her mistress did not speak, but i noted the look she gave her.
"he es still follin'," continued amelia; "we shall 'ave to do summin zoon. what time es et, i wonder?"
"about nine o'clock, i expect," i replied. "ah! yonder is light. i wonder if it is a kiddleywink?"
"why?" asked mistress nancy.
"i hope it is," i replied, for at that moment a plan flashed through my mind.
a few minutes later we rode up to a little hamlet consisting of four houses, one of which was a public house.
"we will dismount here," i said.
"to what purpose?" asked mistress nancy.
[pg 205]
"i have a plan in my mind," i replied.
"but if we stop here clement will act."
"so will i."
she spoke no word but dismounted, while i called the landlord.
"have you stabling for three horses?" i asked when he appeared.
"jist," was his reply.
"and a room into which these ladies can go; a private room?"
"aw, iss, sur. ther's the pa'lor. they ca' go in theer."
"very well." i quickly saw them in the room, and having ordered refreshments for them i left. i felt as though mistress nancy did not desire my company, and i determined not to force it upon her. then i hurried to the stables, where the three horses had been put.
"have you a lock to the stable door?" i asked of the man who had taken care of the horses.
"law no, sur; we doan't want no locks. ther's jist a hasp to kip the door from blawin' open."
"are there no highwaymen or horse-stealers in these parts?"
"we ain't a 'ad a 'oss stailed for 'ears," was the reply.
"well, keep your eye on that stable," i said sternly. "if anything happens to those horses, you'll be hanged."
"i'll mind, sur," replied the man; "nobody shall tich 'em. nobody shall go into the stable but me;" and i knew by the look of dogged determination on his face that he meant what he said.
[pg 206]
at this moment i heard the clatter of hoofs, and i hurried into the house. i saw the landlord go to the door, and heard him say to the horseman: "no sur, you can't stable yer 'oss. a party 'ave jist come, sur, and i've only room for dree 'osses."
"well, all right," said clement killigrew in tones scarcely above a whisper, "fasten him here to the crook at the door, 'twill be just as well. i suppose i can have a bottle of wine. by the way, do not let the other party know i have come here."
"no, sur, i wa'ant let em knaw, but i a'ant got no wine. a jug of good ale, sur."
"all right, that will do;" then he said something in low tones to the landlord, which i did not hear.
"all right, sur," i heard the innkeeper say in reply. "i'll 'tend to et, sur; but you'll 'ave to go into the kitchen among the farmers-men, the palor is okkipied."
there was no reply to this, and then clement killigrew went into the kitchen.
without hesitation i entered the room after him. all had happened as i expected. he had followed us to the inn, he had come in quietly, he had made arrangements with the landlord to take a message to some one near with whom he doubtless had influence, and now he would wait until help came. then he would try and recapture mistress nancy and take her back to endellion. consequently, i determined to act at once. my purpose was to go into the room,[pg 207] and as soon as possible quarrel with him. i knew that the killigrews never brooked an insult, and i thought that by careful management i should lead him to challenge me. this done, i hoped to disable him and then continue our journey before help could come. by so doing i should escape his espionage, and in a few hours be out of his reach.
he gave a start as i swaggeringly entered the room; but quickly appeared composed. some half-dozen labourers were there, with their jugs of beer before them, and all seemed awed at the advent of two gentlemen with swords by their sides and pistols in their belts. clement killigrew was standing in front of the fire, for although the spring was upon us the nights were cold.
"ill-mannered knave," i said, striding up to him, "what do you mean by standing in front of the fire?"
he looked at me angrily, and seemed about to answer back according to the manner of my address; but controlling his feelings he stood aside.
"i ask your pardon," he said politely, "it was very rude of me to keep the fire from the rest of the company."
"it was rude," i replied, "and none but a varlet would do it."
"i have expressed my apologies," was his response.
"words are cheap," i said; "still, i suppose that is all you are able to give."
"yes, i will give more than words," he replied,[pg 208] and on this i grasped the hilt of my sword, for i hoped that i had aroused him to fight, but my hopes were short-lived. "i will be glad to pay for a glass of brandy grog for each of these good fellows," he said blandly.
the men murmured their pleasure. "a rail gen'leman," they said, looking at him with admiration, while they regarded me with angry scowls.
so far he had the best of the encounter. evidently he had determined to avoid a quarrel. perhaps he was afraid of me, perhaps he thought it wise to refrain from fighting.
"this man seeks to buy your friendship," i said loudly. "i will tell you what he is—he is one of two things. either a common highway robber, or a coward. if he be the first, let him fight—or i will take him to the nearest magistrate; if he is the second, you ought to drum him out of the house."
"i am not a highway robber," he replied blandly. "to prove it i am perfectly willing to go with you and these gentlemen to the nearest magistrate; put it down then that i am a coward."
"yes," i said, "you are a coward, all the killigrews are."
again his eyes flashed, and this time he placed his hand on the butt end of his pistol. on looking at me, however, he again assumed a bland expression.
"you have given me a name, sir, and you have called me a coward. well, have your own way. the truth is, although i am travelling in [pg 209]civilian's attire, i hope soon to be ordained a priest. for the present, therefore, i am under a vow not to fight."
"a rail gen'leman, a rail gen'leman," murmured the men.
"an arrant coward," i cried.
"i think," said clement to the landlord, who had entered, "that your drink must be very strong here. this gentleman must be drunk."
this gave me my chance, and i was about to strike him in the face, when i heard amelia's voice outside.
"come, sir, quick."
i left the room, while the men gave a loud guffaw at my supposed discomfiture.
"git the 'osses out quick, sir," cried the maid.
"why?"
"do as she tells you," said mistress nancy.
"he'll ride after us as before," i objected.
"no he wa'ant, not fur," cried amelia.
i did as they suggested, and when i had paid the landlord i prepared to mount. i was still in the dark why mistress nancy had suggested this course of procedure, but it was for her to command and me to obey. i kept my eyes steadily on the front door while my two companions mounted. i thought i saw clement killigrew come out, but was not sure.
"ride on quickly out of pistol range," i said to them, then i walked backward by chestnut's side for twenty or thirty yards, all the time holding my pistol in my right hand. no one following, i placed my foot in the stirrup and was soon [pg 210]galloping down the road. we had not gone far when i heard the sound of hoofs behind us.
"he's again following us," i said bitterly.
"he wa'ant come fur!" said amelia with a laugh; so i turned to her, asking what she meant.
