BY HIM TO MAGOG.
Meantime, Magog, with whom Lovel had parted at the entrance of Saint Thomas’s Tower, had gone in, and made his way through the side-passage, previously1 described, to the interior of Traitors2’ Gate. He found the chests lying upon the platform, just as they had been laid there by himself and his brothers, and sitting down upon one of them, presently fell asleep, and made the vaulted3 roof resound4 with his deep breathing. How long he remained in this state he could not say, but he was roused by feeling something crawling, as he thought, over his face, and supposing it to be a gigantic water-rat—the place being infested5 with such vermin—he put out his hand, and catching6 hold of the noxious7 creature, as he deemed it, was about to throw it into the water, when a shrill8 cry admonished9 him that the fancied water-rat was no other than Xit.
“Wouldst drown me, Magog?” shrieked10 the dwarf11, clinging to him.
“Drown thee—not I!” replied the giant, laughing. “But I took thee for a rat or an otter12.”
“None but a sleepy dolt13 like thyself would have made such a mistake,” said Xit. “I could not waken thee without plucking thy beard. Call’st thou this keeping guard over the treasure? I call it gross negligence14.”
386“Well, well, I am vigilant15 enough now,” rejoined Magog. “What hast thou to say to me?”
“Something that will keep thee wakeful, I trust,” said Xit. “Lend me thine ears, and I will disclose it to thee. I have discovered a plot.”
“Poh! thou art always making some silly discovery that leads to nothing,” rejoined Magog.
“But this will lead more than one man to the scaffold,” pursued Xit, mysteriously. “’Tis an important discovery I have made.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Magog, with some curiosity. “What is it? Let me hear and judge.”
“It relates to the chests on which thou art sitting,” replied Xit. “There is a plot to carry them off. Master Lovel, the keeper of the treasure, is concerned in it, but the principal contrivers are Osbert Clinton, Sir Henry Dudley, Sir Anthony Kingston, Udal, and the others connected with the late outbreak.”
“Ah, this is indeed important!” cried Magog. “And how didst thou make this discovery?”
“You shall hear,” replied Xit. “Suspecting all was not right, I followed Lovel to his lodging16, and by listening at the keyhole, managed to overhear a conversation between him and Osbert Clinton, who is at present concealed17 in the Jewel House. From this I learnt that the treasure is to be carried off by the traitors, in order to assist them in getting up another insurrection of a far more formidable character than the last. Their plan is to bring a boat to Traitors’ Gate at nine o’clock to-night, when, feigning18 to be officers sent by the King to remove the treasure to the Exchequer19, they will present a warrant, and Master Lovel, being their accomplice20, the coffers will be delivered to them—so at least they calculate.”
“A well-devised plan, I must own,” observed Magog, “and like enough to have succeeded.”
“It would infallibly have succeeded but for my shrewdness in detecting it,” said Xit.
“Well, thou wilt21, doubtless, receive due credit for thy penetration22 from Sir Henry Bedingfeld, to whom the matter must be forthwith communicated,” observed Magog, getting up.
387“What art thou about to do, thou foolish giant?” cried Xit. “We can manage this affair without Sir Henry Bedingfeld’s assistance. Recollect23 that a heavy price is set upon the heads of all these offenders24, and if we can effect their arrest—as we shall do if my counsels be followed—the reward will be ours. We must take them all, like fish in a net. Not one must be allowed to escape. Listen to me, and I will show thee how it can be done. The moment the barge25 is admitted into this place, Traitor’s Gate must be closed by thee or by thy brothers, and we shall then have them like rats in a trap. Though they may offer some resistance at first, they will soon be forced to surrender. Osbert Clinton is sure to be on the spot with Lovel, and we can arrest them both at the same time. What think’st thou of my plan?”
“By my faith, it promises well,” replied Magog.
“We shall need assistance,” pursued Xit; “and besides Og and Gog, I propose to call in the aid of Captain Bittern and his friends. They are men of discretion26, and can be relied on. Care must be taken not to awaken27 Lovel’s suspicions, or our plan will be defeated. And now let us quit this damp place. I am half choked by the mist. I wonder thou couldst sleep in it. Come! There is no fear of the treasure being carried off just yet.”
Upon this Magog arose, and they adjourned28 to the guard-chamber29.
Xit’s plan was carried out. About eight o’clock in the evening, Og tore himself from his bride, promising30 faithfully to return to supper, and, accompanied by Gog, Rodomont Bittern, Holiday, and Simnel, to all of whom the dwarf’s important discovery had been communicated, repaired to Saint Thomas’s Tower, and mounted to an upper chamber overlooking the river, where they held themselves in readiness for whatever might occur, beguiling31 the tedium32 of waiting with some flasks33 of wine which they had brought from the Stone Kitchen.
Xit, meanwhile, had kept watch over Lovel’s movements. He saw the keeper of the treasure return from his errand to Tower Hill, and cautiously following him, and adopting the same plan of espionage34 which he had previously employed, he heard him inform Osbert Clinton that he had seen 388Sir Henry Dudley and the other conspirators35, who were well pleased with the arrangement, and undertook to bring a barge to Traitor’s Gate at the appointed hour that night.
“The coffers once secured,” pursued Lovel, “your friends propose to take them up the river to Chelsea and land them there. No time must be lost in disposing of the treasure, for the moment it becomes known that it has been carried off, a general search will be made.”
“Once in our possession, the treasure will never find its way to the royal Exchequer—of that you may be quite certain, Lovel,” replied Osbert. “But what do you propose to do? Your connection in the affair will assuredly be suspected.”
“I shall provide for my safety by flight,” said Lovel. “This very night I shall quit the Tower secretly, and remain in concealment36 till your proposed insurrection will enable me to appear with safety.”
“If we succeed, as I trust under Heaven we shall, your services shall not be forgotten, Lovel,” observed Osbert. “You shall have a better post under Elizabeth than that which you now occupy under Philip and Mary.”
“I have said that I do not seek reward,” rejoined Lovel; “but since, in abandoning this post, I shall sacrifice all, it is but just that I should have some compensation.”
“You shall have compensation in full, doubt it not, Lovel,” said Osbert. “And now let us finally arrange our plans for to-night. How many persons are there in Saint Thomas’s Tower?”
“Only three,” replied Lovel. “Croyland, the keeper of the gate, his man, and a sentinel. Stay! I had forgotten. One of the gigantic warders, Magog, is there at this moment, but I do not think he will remain there till night, and if he should, he will be no hindrance37 to us, since all will be conducted with so much formality that suspicion will be disarmed38. We will go together to Saint Thomas’s Tower, and if my instructions to Sir Henry Dudley are carefully carried out, no difficulty will be experienced.”
What answer was made to this by Osbert, Xit could not tell. Fancying he heard a movement towards the door, he beat a hasty retreat, and left the Jewel House, perfectly39 content with the information he had obtained.
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1
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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2
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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resound
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| v.回响 | |
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infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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6
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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7
noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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8
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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9
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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10
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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12
otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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14
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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15
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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16
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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17
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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18
feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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19
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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20
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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21
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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22
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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23
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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26
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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27
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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28
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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31
beguiling
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| adj.欺骗的，诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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32
tedium
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| n.单调；烦闷 | |
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33
flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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34
espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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35
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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36
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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37
hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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38
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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