“That taunt may cost you your life, sir,” Stelfax rejoined. “But it is to you, damsel, and not to this imprudent man, that I address myself,” he added to Dulcia. “Must I send forth Colonel Maunsel and your father to endure the torture?”
“Oh! no—no—no! I implore you to spare them!” she cried, falling on her knees before him.
“I must shut my heart to your entreaties, damsel,” Stelfax said. “Speak! and I show pity—not otherwise!”
“Be firm, Dulcia,” Colonel Maunsel exclaimed. And a like injunction was laid upon her by her father.
“You cannot have the heart to carry out your threat?” Dulcia said, rising to her feet.
“There is only one way to move me,” he said, in a low voice, and catching her arm. “Be mine!”
“Yours!” she exclaimed, regarding him with mixed disgust and terror, and almost doubting whether she had heard aright. “Yours! Never!”
“Reflect!” he said, under his breath. “I love you to desperation. Be mine, and they are safe. Nay, I will depart without further search.”
“Oh! merciful Heaven! what have I done to deserve this trial?” Dulcia ejaculated. “Tempt me not,” she added.
“Say the word, and it is done, according to my promise!” Stelfax whispered, thinking he had prevailed.
“I cannot say it,” she rejoined, in a tone of anguish. “Whatever may happen, I can never be yours. I would die a hundred deaths first.”
“Enough, proud damsel!” he exclaimed. “You shall find what it is to brave my displeasure. Sergeant Delves,” he continued, in an inflexible tone, “take these two malignants to some lower chamber suitable for the purpose. Let both undergo the torture of the boot, unless the first to endure the pain shall reveal where the fugitives are hidden. Begin with Colonel Maunsel.”
“Oh! no, for pity’s sake, spare them!” cried Dulcia, again falling on her knees before him.
“Arise, Dulcia, I command you,” Colonel Maunsel cried. “Come, sir,” he added to Mr. Beard, “the base rebels and regicides shall find how little power hath torture over a loyal English gentleman, ever prepared to die for his king; and upon a clergyman of England’s true Church, whose life has been spent in his Maker’s service. They shall not wring a groan from me.”
“Nor from me,” Mr. Beard said, with equal firmness.
“Away with them, and put their boasted resolution to the proof!” cried Stelfax, forcibly disengaging himself from Dulcia.
Overcome by terror, the distracted damsel uttered a scream that made the whole chamber ring with its piercing sound. Full of the deepest commiseration, her father and Colonel Maunsel, who were moving on towards the door under charge of Delves and the troopers, turned to look at her; but their attention was instantly diverted to another object. That cry of agony had summoned other actors to the scene. Scarcely had it ceased, when the pillar masking the secret entrance to the hiding-place flew back, and Clavering Maunsel stepped forth. He was quickly followed by John Habergeon and Ninian.
“Ho! ho!” Stelfax exclaimed, with an exulting laugh. “Here are the men I want.”
On sight of Clavering, Dulcia started to her feet, and flew towards him, while he, yielding to irrepressible emotion, and seemingly insensible to the peril in which he stood, pressed her to his bosom.
Meanwhile, Stelfax regarded the young man narrowly.
“This is not Charles Stuart!” he exclaimed. “Who art thou?” he demanded.
“I have no longer any motive for concealment,” the other answered. “I am Clavering Maunsel.”
“Clavering Maunsel!” echoed the Roundhead leader, in surprise. “Then the report that thou wert slain at Worcester was false?”
“It was false, since you behold me here,” was the answer.
“Imprudent boy!” the colonel exclaimed, in accents of mingled grief and reproach. “Thou hast doomed thyself to destruction.”
“Alas! alas! I am to blame!” Dulcia exclaimed. “I have been the means of betraying him.”
“Ay, that is quite certain,” Stelfax remarked, with a bitter laugh.
“Not so! not so!” cried Clavering to Dulcia. “From yon hiding-place I overheard what was passing here; and think you I would have allowed my father and your father to undergo the torture on my account? I only waited till the last moment, in the hope that this dastardly villain would not execute his threat.”