“Blessings upon him for his noble conduct!” the clergyman exclaimed.
“Ay, blessings upon him!” reiterated both the colonel and Dulcia.
“Well, it is all right now, since I am back again at the dear old house,” Clavering continued. “As to my wounds, I heed them not. They will soon heal. But the thought of how I got them will last during the rest of my life.”
“Thou art a true Maunsel, every inch of thee, Clavering,” his father cried, in approval. “What signifies a limb lost, or a drop of blood the less in one’s veins, if we have done good service to the royal cause. And thou hast saved the king’s life. Think of that—think of that, Clavering Maunsel.”
“I do think of it,” the young Cavalier replied.
“I crave your honour’s leave to propose a toast,” John Habergeon cried, rising.
“Thou hast my full licence to do so,” Colonel Maunsel rejoined. “Fill thine own glass from that flask of Malvoisie to the brim, and all of us will follow thine example. Even fair Mistress Dulcia will not refuse thy pledge.”
“Nay, that I will not, in good sooth, colonel,” Dulcia cried.
“You will all do me reason, I am sure, when you hear my toast,” John said. “A health to King Charles, and may God preserve him from his enemies!”
All arose; the colonel unassisted, for his new-found activity had not yet deserted him; and Clavering contrived to get up from his chair. The glasses being filled, the toast was drunk by the whole company, including even Dulcia, who raised the goblet to her lips. Colonel Maunsel repeated the words pronounced by the loyal old trooper with great fervour and solemnity; adding, “I will put a rider to thy toast, John, and drink to his Majesty’s speedy restoration.”
While the party was thus occupied, none of them were aware that their proceedings were watched from the bay-window on the left by a sallow-faced, sinister-looking personage, habited in a Geneva cloak and bands, and wearing a tall steeple-crowned hat on his head. We have said that this spy was unobserved by all the party; but his presence did not pass unnoticed by the quick eyes of Patty Whinchat, who entered the hall just as the treasonable toast (for such it would sound in the ears of a Republican) had been drunk.
“Mercy on us!” Patty screamed. “There’s a man at the window.”
“What say’st thou, wench? A man at the window!” Colonel Maunsel cried. “Go and see, John. I can discern no one.”
The old trooper did not require bidding twice, but rushed to the bay-window indicated by Patty. However, he could perceive nothing to justify the girl’s alarm, and told the colonel as much.
“What manner of man didst fancy thou sawest, wench?” the colonel cried.
“It was no fancy, your honour; I’m sure I saw him,” Patty rejoined. “I saw his hatchet-face, and his cat’s-eyes, and his tall, sugar-loaf hat, and his Geneva cloak and bands—”
“Oons! that should be Increase Micklegift, from thy description, wench,” the colonel interrupted.
“It was Increase Micklegift whom I beheld,” Patty replied. “I’ll swear to his ugly nose.”
“No occasion for swearing, Patty,” the clergyman remarked. “We will believe your simple affirmation.”
“Go and send some one forth, Moppett,” the colonel said to the groom of the kitchen, “to ascertain whether this pestilent rascal be indeed within the garden, or elsewhere lurking about the premises.”
“I’ll go myself,” John Habergeon rejoined; “and if I catch him, I’ll treat him as I would a hen-roost plunderer.”
“Nay, harm him not,” the clergyman cried; “but admonish him.”
“Ay, ay, I’ll admonish him, your reverence,” John Habergeon replied, “—with a cudgel.”
This incident caused Colonel Maunsel considerable uneasiness, and somewhat abated his satisfaction at his son’s return. Clavering, he well knew, might at any moment be arrested as a traitor to the Commonwealth, for having borne arms for his lawful sovereign, and might even suffer death for a display of loyalty, which the Rump Parliament regarded in the light of high treason. Since Clavering was in this danger, it was necessary that the utmost caution should be observed in regard to him; and though the colonel could rely upon his household to maintain perfect secrecy as to their young master’s return, yet if Increase Micklegift had become aware of the fact, concealment would be hopeless. Moreover, Colonel Maunsel felt satisfied, from his knowledge of the Independent minister’s character, that he would not hesitate to denounce Clavering.