—2 Henry IV. IV. 3.
Master Daniel Pye had certainly thought it wiser—after that precipitous exit from the master tailor's house—to watch and to await events. He had been wholly taken by surprise at M. Legros' reception of his news, and staggered at the thought that where he had sought a patron, or at least an ally, he had found an active enemy.
He soon learned that preparations were being actively3 pushed forward in the house of the Rue4 de l'Ancienne Comédie for the journey of the master and his daughter to England. Pye and his interpreter, therefore, well-disguised and travelling as the poorest of men in the wake of their betters, reached Dover by the same packet boat that had brought the Legros hither. While the latter took rest at a small hostelry in the town, awaiting the day when a stage-coach would take them to London, Pye made his way straight to the great city, using what humble5 conveyances6 he contrived7 to hire for some portions of the road.
The yard of Savage's Bell Inn near Lud Gate was the halting place of the stage-coach from Dover, and thither8 Pye repaired on those afternoons—three days in the week—when a complement9 of voyagers from France were expected. It was quite simple, and within forty-eight hours Pye found his patience rewarded and his worst fears justified10. The good tailor had obviously come to London in[319] order to warn Lord Stowmaries of the mischief11 that was brewing12 against him.
Fortunately Pye had his false information against my lord ready, even before he had set out for Paris. His friend, the Huguenot clerk, had writ13 out the deposition14 in a good round hand, and Daniel Pye had sworn to it before a commissioner15. All he had to do now was to lodge16 it with Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey, who had already received the sworn depositions17 of Titus Oates and of Tongue.
Lord Stowmaries' name also figured on the Oates indictment18 as one of those who were said to have been present at the famous "consult" whereat the Duke of York was offered the crown of England by the Catholic peers of this realm at the express desire of the Pope of Rome.
Daniel Pye had incontinently sworn to everything that had been asked of him. He pretended a close intimacy19 with my lord of Stowmaries, and was prepared to take all the solemn oaths that were required to the effect that he had overheard my lord express loudly every kind of treasonable wish—notably that of seeing the king duly poisoned by his physician.
But for all these false accusations20, Pye presently discovered that he could only get about ￡20 as a reward, and that only if the indictment was proved on evidence. The commissioners22 had already told him that in order to bring his accusations home it were better that another witness came forward to swear to the same story. This is where the help of the French tailor or of the wench would have been so useful for—as luck and his own eagerness would have it—Pye had declared in his original affidavit23 that he had overheard my lord Stowmaries' treasonable conversations at a hostelry in Paris.
Pye had thought thereby24 to give more verisimilitude to[320] his story, and even Master Tongue had approved of this plan, when he heard the man declaring emphatically that the tailor's daughter would only be too ready to swear away the life of the man whom she must hate with all the bitter sense of an overwhelming wrong.
Thus therefore did the accusation21 stand. Master Daniel Pye had sworn that when he was at the hostelry of the "Rat Mort," in Paris, on April 19th of this same year of grace, he had overheard my lord of Stowmaries talking—with one of the ministers of the King of France—of the terms of a treaty whereby the Papist peers of England would acclaim26 the Duke of York as King of England and vassal27 of the Pope, and receive a subsidy28 of five million livres from King Louis for their pains.
It was indeed a splendid story. No wonder that Master Pye was over-pleased with it; he had added the final touch of apparent truth to it by stating that M. Legros—a French subject—and his daughter—the reputed and repudiated29 wife of the accused—were also present at the "Rat Mort" on that occasion and had also overheard this conversation, and would testify as to the verity30 thereof.
Imagine the disappointment, the vexation, nay31, the grave fears now engendered32 in Master Pye's mind at thought that the tailor and his wench meant to frustrate33 his schemes completely, and not only to throw discredit34 on the elaborate accusation, but even mayhap to prejudice the payment of that meagre reward of ￡20.
When Master Legros, accompanied by his daughter arrived at the Bell Inn, Daniel Pye was at first seized with a mad desire to try and influence them yet once again in his own favour. Remember that Pye was little more than an uncouth35 peasant, with just as much knowledge of[321] other people's natures as he had gleaned36 through daily contact with his own underlings.
He could not get it into his head that the Legros really meant to forego the happy sensation of a complete revenge, and half thought that, mayhap, they had misunderstood the whole scheme during that stormy interview in the back shop, when there was so much talk of stick and of dog-whip, and not nearly enough of just reward for a great service rendered.
At the last moment, however, when Legros had alighted from the coach and had somewhat impatiently ordered beds and board, Daniel Pye's heart misgave37 him, and he felt afraid to encounter the irascible little tailor's wrath38.
Once more he sought out his friend, the needy39 and out-at-elbows Huguenot clerk, and offered him a shilling to go the next morning to the Bell Inn and to watch the Legros' movements. Quite a goodly amount of Master Pye's savings40 were now dwindling41 away in this direction.
"Do you try and get speech with the tailor," he said to the young scribe, "and try by your great skill to make him believe that you would wish to serve him, seeing that you have quarrelled with me and are now penniless. These people must of a truth be friendless and lonely in London; who knows but that they may take you as their guide, in which case all you need do is to try and prevent by every means in your power that they have speech with Lord Stowmaries for the next few days. Once my lord is duly arrested on our information, strangers will, of course, have no access to him; the trials we know are to be hurried through very quickly and there would then be no fear of our losing our just rewards."
Well schooled in the part which he had to play, the Huguenot clerk duly installed himself just outside the gates[322] of the yard of the Bell Inn on the following morning, and by ten o'clock he had the satisfaction of seeing Master Legros obviously bent42 on obtaining information, and wandering for that purpose somewhat disconsolately43 about the yard, seeing that no one there was able to converse44 with him in his own tongue.
This was the clerk's opportunity. He slipped through the gate, and doffing45 his soft cap, humbly46 accosted47 the foreign gentleman.
"Can I be of service, Master?" he said in French. "I am an interpreter by trade."
"And if I mistake not," replied the tailor suspiciously, "you are one of two damned blackguards who came to my house in Paris with some lying tale of Papist conspiracy49 against my lord Stowmaries, some few days ago."
"Hush50, hush, good Master, I entreat51 you," quoth the clerk with well-feigned alarm, and throwing quick, furtive52 glances around him; "the subject is not one which must be discussed aloud just now."
"And why, sirrah, must it not be discussed aloud?"
"Because to call yourself a Papist just now, my Master, is synonymous to proclaiming yourself a traitor53. Your very life would not be safe in this yard. A reign48 of terror hath set in in England. The peaceful citizens themselves go about the streets carrying flails54 hidden in the pockets of their breeches to defend themselves against the Jesuits. Nay, Master, an your business is not urgent, I entreat you to return to France, ere you or your daughter come to any harm."
"My business with my lord Stowmaries is urgent," said Legros with characteristic hot-headed impulsiveness55; "an you'll direct me to his house, there'll be a shilling or mayhap two for you."
[323] "In the name of Heaven, good Master," ejaculated the clerk in an agonised whisper, "do not speak that name aloud. My lord is in very bad odour. His arrest is imminent56 and all his friends are like to fare as badly as himself."
"All the more reason why I should speak with him at once. So now, sirrah! Wilt57 earn that shilling and direct me to his house, or wilt thou not?"
"Alas58, kind sir, I am a poor man, a starving man since that traitor, Daniel Pye, hath turned against me, seeing that I would not aid him in his conspiracies59. And I'll gladly earn a shilling, kind sir, and direct you to the house of my lord Stowmaries, an you will deign60 to place yourself under my protection."
Truly Master Legros had no cause not to accept the clerk's offer. However villainous the man's conduct might or might not be, there could be no harm in accepting his escort in broad daylight as far as the house of my lord of Stowmaries.
Legros was a complete stranger in the English city, which he thought overwhelmingly vast and terribly dirty. He had heard many tales of the plague in London, and though this had occurred thirteen years ago, he still thought the place infected and mistrusted the hackney coaches and carrying chairs which were plying61 the streets for hire.
After hurried consultation62 with his daughter, he decided63 that no harm could come of being escorted by the clerk through the streets of London. The latter spoke64 French and would be vastly useful, and he could easily be dismissed, once my Lord Stowmaries' house had been reached.
Good M. Legros was suffering from an unusually severe attack of chronic65 fussiness66. He could not have sat still another hour, and was for starting immediately for my[324] lord's house. Rose Marie had no reason for wishing to put off that interview, the thought of which she abhorred67 more and more strongly as the time for its occurrence drew nigh.
She was conscious of a desire to get it over, to put finality between the inevitable68 and her own ever-rebellious hopes. For her parents' sake she wanted to see Lord Stowmaries grateful and yielding; for her own she almost wished that he remained obdurate69. She would gladly have purchased her freedom at the price of more bitter humiliation70 than she had yet endured, yet she had set herself the task of purchasing the content and happiness of those she cared for at the price of her freedom and the most bitter of all humiliation.
These contradictory71 thoughts and wishes fretted72 her and rendered her nervous and agitated73. But at her father's bidding, she was ready to make a start.
When Legros once more came down into the courtyard, dressed for the momentous74 visit, and with his daughter on his arm, the Huguenot clerk was nowhere to be seen. He soon reappeared, however, almost breathless from fast running, but seemingly ready to accompany the distinguished75 foreign visitors withersoever they wished to go.
He had just had time in the interim76 to consult with Master Daniel Pye as to what had best be done.
"If I do not take that accursed tailor over to my lord Stowmaries, some one else will for sure," he said disconsolately.
"Let me think for a moment," quoth Pye, with an anxious frown on his lowering brow. "I understand that the arrest of my lord is imminent—if only we can put off this meddlesome78 Frenchman for to-day, I do verily believe that all will be well. For the nonce you had best tell him that[325] my lord Stowmaries is from home, but is expected daily, hourly, to return. Thus we might gain twenty-four hours, for you would tell the same tale again in the afternoon—after that your wits should give you counsel. Am I not paying you that they should be of service to me?"
Thus it was that when the clerk arrived breathless in the yard of the Bell Inn, where Master Legros was impatiently awaiting him, he excused himself for his absence on the grounds that he had—surely with commendable79 forethought—taken the precaution to make enquiries as to whether my lord of Stowmaries was at home.
"My lord's house is some distance from here," he explained, "and I thought to save you and the fair mistress a fruitless walk through the city."
"Then 'twas mightily80 officious of you, sirrah?" quoth the irascible tailor, "to meddle77 with what doth not concern you."
"Zeal81 in your service prompted me, good master, and as my lord of Stowmaries is from home, I have the honour of saving you much fatigue82."
"Ay, good master; but his servants expect to see him back to-morrow."
"We will find out for ourselves, Father dear, when my lord is expected home," here interposed Rose Marie, with her usual quiet air of decision; "no doubt there are others in London besides this same officious clerk who will guide us to his house."
We may imagine that at this point the pious84 young Huguenot formulated85 an inward but very emphatic25 "Damn!" cursing the interference of young damsels and their impatient ways.
[326] Not having his principal to consult with, he was momentarily thrown on his own resources of wit and of readiness. This was certainly an occasion when the devil should aid those who serve him well. The clerk had only a very slight moment of hesitation86, then a brilliant idea seemed to strike him, for his wizened87 face brightened up visibly.
"Fair Mistress," he said in tones of respectful reproach, "far be it from me to shirk my duty toward you. An you'll permit me I'll escort you to the house of my lord of Stowmaries forthwith."
"Then, why so much talking, sirrah," rejoined Papa Legros. "March, and briskly, too. I have a convenient stick which oft works wonders in making laggards88 walk briskly. Go ahead; my daughter and I will follow."
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1
tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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6
conveyances
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| n.传送( conveyance的名词复数 )；运送；表达；运输工具 | |
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7
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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8
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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10
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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deposition
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| n.免职，罢官；作证；沉淀；沉淀物 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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depositions
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| 沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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subsidy
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| n.补助金，津贴 | |
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repudiated
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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verity
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| n.真实性 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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35
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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misgave
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| v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的过去式 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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dwindling
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| adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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doffing
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| n.下筒，落纱v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的现在分词 ) | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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47
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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50
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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51
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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52
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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53
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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54
flails
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| v.鞭打( flail的第三人称单数 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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55
impulsiveness
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| n.冲动 | |
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56
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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57
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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58
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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60
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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63
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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64
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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65
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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66
fussiness
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| [医]易激怒 | |
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67
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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68
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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69
obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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70
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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71
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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72
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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73
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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74
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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meddlesome
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| adj.爱管闲事的 | |
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commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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formulated
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| v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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laggards
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| n.落后者( laggard的名词复数 ) | |
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