“What hast thou done with him? Where is he?”
“Harm me, and thou shalt never learn,” replied the Independent minister, composedly.
“Let us take him to the house at once, captain, and examine him there,” said John Habergeon. “He has important revelations to make. I warrant we will find means of making him speak.”
“Try!” rejoined Micklegift, with a look of cold contempt.
“Ay, we will try, and to some purpose, presently, I warrant thee,” rejoined John. “We will question thee with the thumbscrew and the scourge, after Captain Stelfax’s fashion.”
“How came you to find the villain here?” inquired Clavering.
“We received our information from pretty Temperance Stone,” said Ninian, with a grateful look at the damsel in question; “and I shall not soon forget the service she has done us.”
“Woe to her! for she hath betrayed her father and her father’s friend,” said Micklegift, sternly. “Her love for this vain youth shall never prosper.”
“That is more than you can answer for, rascal,” replied Ninian.
“Where is her father?” demanded Clavering.
“He hath escaped from the hands of these Philistines,” said Micklegift, with a look of triumph, “and will yet bring the enemy upon you.”
“Be not alarmed, sir,” replied John Habergeon. “He hath started for Lewes, but he cannot have gone far. Eustace Saxby is upon his track. Besides, there are others on the look-out, whose vigilance he will find it difficult to elude.”
“I have not told all I know,” said Temperance; “but since I am provoked, I will withhold nothing.” And she then proceeded to relate to Clavering that Micklegift and Stelfax were concealed in her father’s cottage as he had passed on his way with the other gentlemen to the house. That one of the party had been recognized by the two men, who declared it was the Young Man. That Stelfax then declared that at all hazards he would obtain admission to the house and accomplish his arrest, and Micklegift agreed to accompany him, telling him he knew a way by which they could obtain secret admission to the colonel’s sleeping chamber.
“The colonel’s sleeping chamber, damsel—art sure he mentioned that room?” demanded John Habergeon. “If so, they must have gained admission by the postern opening from the back stairs into the garden.”
“They did so,” replied Clavering. “But how came the door open?”
A scornful smile lighted up Micklegift’s sallow features.
“He hath a master-key, no doubt,” replied Temperance, “for he unlocked the garden-gate, and they went in together. Feeling sure some great mischief was afoot, I made an excuse to quit the cottage, and hastened in search of Ninian, whom I found with his father and John Habergeon, and told him what had happened, and they all three came back with me.”
“We saw Micklegift from a distance enter the cottage,” said Ninian, “and pounced upon him before he was aware. And here we have him safe enough, as you see, to answer for his offences.”
“But where is Stelfax?” exclaimed Clavering. “Where is—”
“The Young Man Charles Stuart thou wouldst say,” supplied Micklegift. “Neither of them wilt thou find till it be too late.”
“Villain, I will force thee to disclose where the king is!” cried Clavering, with a look of distraction—”I will tear the secret from thy breast.”
“Hold, your honour!” exclaimed John. “I think I have discovered it. Where was the king last seen?”
“I left him alone to attire himself in my father’s sleeping chamber,” replied Clavering.
“Then, depend upon it he is shut up in the hiding-place, and Stelfax is there with him,” cried John.
“A shrewd guess!” exclaimed Clavering. “I can see from this rascal’s looks that thou art in the right. Bring him along! We must not lose a moment in setting our royal master free.”
“Hold yet a moment, and listen to me,” said Micklegift. “I will not deny that you have hit upon the truth, for it is vain to attempt further concealment. But ye cannot liberate Charles Stuart without my aid. Stelfax will slay his prisoner rather than yield him to you. Such I know to be his purpose, and ye are acquainted with his determined character. Promise to do me no injury, and I will avert this direful catastrophe, which will otherwise inevitably ensue.”