Colonel Gunter waited till the servant had retired, and then asked Ninian whence he came?
“From Hambledon, in Hampshire,” was the answer.
“Where does the king lodge to-night?” demanded Colonel Gunter. “Tarries he still at Hele House, near Amesbury, where my worthy cousin Hyde has been fortunate enough to afford him an asylum?”
“No, your honour,” Ninian replied. “His Majesty quitted Hele House this morning, after remaining there for three or four days, and came on to Hambledon, on his way into Sussex. He and the noble Lord Wilmot will pass the night at the house of worshipful Master Symons, who, as I believe, married your honour’s sister; though, as far as I can guess, the lady only, and not her husband, will be made acquainted with the rank of her guests.”
“And quite right too,” cried Colonel Gunter, with a laugh. “Tom Symons, though a worthy fellow, is too fond of the bottle to be trusted in a matter of such vital consequence. But my sister, though I say it, is a woman in a thousand, and entire reliance may be placed upon her judgment and discretion. But hast thou nothing for me?”
“This little ball, your honour, which I should have swallowed if I had fallen into the hands of the Philistines,” Ninian replied.
So saying, he produced a small paper bullet, and handed it with the points of his fingers to Colonel Gunter, who, having unfolded the tightly-compressed sheet of tissue paper, and carefully smoothed its creases, soon made himself master of the contents of the letter, which then became apparent. This done, he crushed the dispatch in his hand, and tossed it into the wood fire blazing cheerily on the hearth, where it was instantly consumed.
“Lord Wilmot writes that his Majesty is eager to embark,” the colonel observed to Clavering, “and fully calculating upon our success in hiring Tattersall’s brig, proposes to go on board tomorrow night. His lordship assigns no reason for thus advancing the hour of departure; but the king may, perhaps, have taken alarm at some movement of the enemy, or it may only be a natural anxiety on his Majesty’s part to get out of harm’s way. Was aught said on the subject to thee, Ninian?”
“His lordship told me that the king desires most ardently to embark to-morrow night,” replied Ninian, “or early in the morning, as his Majesty entertains the notion that the moment will be propitious for his escape, and that, if deferred, ill consequences may ensue.”
“But how are we to carry out the king’s wishes?” cried Gunter. “We have arranged with Tattersall for Wednesday night, not Wednesday morning, and it will be scarcely possible, I fear, to prevail upon the stubborn skipper to set sail earlier. Besides, the rascal stipulated for an interview with his two passengers before he would agree to convey them across the Channel.”
“True,” replied Clavering; “but Tattersall is a loyal fellow, and I believe him to be only desirous of satisfying himself that it is the king who is to sail with him. Had he been trusted, in my opinion he would not have made the stipulation; but you did not deem such a course prudent.”
“I judged it better not to tell him too much,” replied Gunter. “Not that I believe for a moment that the reward offered by the Council of state would tempt him to betray the king. He is too loyal and honest for such a detestable act. But when the penalties of high treason stare him in the face—when loss of life and confiscation of property may follow his complicity in a scheme like the present—I feel unwilling to alarm him, lest he may decline altogether.”
“I have no fear of him,” cried Clavering. “Animated by the same spirit of loyalty as ourselves, he will run all risks to save his sovereign. Should we hesitate if placed in a similar situation? Would the fear of death affright us? Assuredly not. We should rather rejoice in the opportunity afforded of proving our loyalty and devotion. Such I firmly believe to be Tattersall’s sentiments. But come what may, he must be ready to take his Majesty and Lord Wilmot on board to-morrow night, and to set sail on the following day.”