They now set forward at a quick trot, shaping their course in a south-easterly direction across the downs, and made such good progress, that in less than half an hour they had gained the northern extremity of the White Hawk Hill, and were within a mile of their destination. No sooner had they reached this point, than a man started from out a patch of gorse amidst which he had been lying, and ran towards them. It was Ninian Saxby.
“Is all right?” demanded the king. “May we safely approach the Grange?”
“With perfect safety, my liege,” replied Ninian, doffing his cap. “No danger whatever to be apprehended, and the colonel is out of measure delighted at the honour intended him.”
The little cavalcade was now once more in motion, and rode on till they came to the ancient barrow at the summit of the hill, at the rear of the mansion, where they found another person stationed. This was Eustace Saxby, and he corroborated his son’s information that all was right.
Here the party dismounted, and committing their horses to the two men, who were to take them round the back of the holt to the stables, they descended the hill, the king walking by the side of Clavering.
In the course of their descent of the hill they had to pass a small cottage, somewhat retired from the road, and shaded by an elmtree. This cottage, which stood opposite the north garden-wall of the Grange, belonged to Morefruit Stone, the Puritan. Within it, at this moment, were two other persons besides old Morefruit and his daughter, who had witnessed, with great surprise, and even consternation, the arrival of the royal party on the hill-top. Keeping themselves carefully out of sight, these individuals watched Clavering and his royal companion as they descended the hill together, and on beholding the king, who accidentally made a pause near the cottage, one of the spies—evidently from his garb an officer in the Republican army—exclaimed, in a stern, wrathful tone to the other,
“It is he! it is Charles Stuart himself! He has come before his time. Thou hast deceived me, or hast given him warning.”
“I have not deceived thee, Captain Stelfax,” rejoined Mickle-gift; “neither am I to blame if Charles Stuart has advanced the hour of his arrival.”
“But he finds me wholly unprepared?” cried Stelfax, in a tone of fierce disappointment. “I shall lose him, unless he tarries for the night in the dwelling of this old Amalekite. My men are all at Lewes. What is to be done? I shall be balked of my prey.”
“There is yet a means of accomplishing his capture, if thou darest attempt it, single-handed,” replied Micklegift.
“What is there I dare not do?” rejoined Stelfax. “Show me thy plan.”
“It is this,” answered Micklegift. “I will introduce thee secretly to the house—into the sleeping-chamber of the old Amalekite. We shall not be noticed, for all the household will be occupied with the arrival of this company. Peradventure thou mayst be able to seize the Young Man.”
“I will seize him, or slay him, and take my chance for the rest,” rejoined Stelfax, in a determined voice. “Look forth, I prithee,” he added to Morefruit Stone, “and see if they be gone.”
“No one is in sight,” replied the elder, looking forth.
“Stay thou within thy cottage,” said Stelfax. “We may need thee anon. Make good thy words,” he added to Micklegift, “and conduct me to Colonel Maunsel’s chamber.”
On this they quitted the cottage together, and taking a few steps up the hill, reached the door in the wall, which Micklegift unlocked. They then went into the garden.
VIII
OF THE KING’S RECEPTION AT THE GRANGE
ON approaching the front of the mansion, Clavering besought the king’s permission to step forward, and receiving it, hastened to ring the bell at the gate, and thus announce to his father the arrival of his royal guest.
Immediately on the summons, which he had for some time been impatiently awaiting, Colonel Maunsel appeared at the open doorway, at the head of his retainers, all of whom were clad in their richest liveries, as if for some high festivity. Never did the old Cavalier appear to greater advantage than on this occasion. He was attired in a rich court suit of black velvet, with rapier and plumed Spanish hat to correspond, and being roused to unwonted energy by the strong excitement of the moment, he moved with all his former grace and stateliness. Close behind him came Mr. Beard and Dulcia, the former in a plain suit of black, and the latter attired with great neatness and simplicity, but without any pretension to show or elegance. Such, however, was the effect of her charms of person and manner, and so little did she require the aid of dress and ornament, that Charles, when he beheld her, was quite electrified by her surpassing beauty, and thought he had never seen court dame so lovely as this country damsel, whose sole decoration was a few flowers placed amidst her fair clustering tresses. With the object of it before him, he ceased to wonder at Clavering’s passion.