“You ask questions I cannot answer, captain,” replied Fairbrother. “And I would not answer them, if I could.”
“Very well, sir, then you must take the consequences,” said Douglas. “In my opinion, brigadier, this man ought to be shot.”
“Humph!” ejaculated Mackintosh. “We shall hear what General Forster says.”
“I have nothing to fear from General Forster,” observed Fairbrother.
“Aha! say you so?” exclaimed the brigadier. “We shall see.”
They then left him in custody, and returned to the ball-room. Forster was still at supper with Mrs. Scarisbrick, and declined to have a private consultation with the brigadier.
“I will attend to business in the morning-not now,” he said.
“But we have discovered a spy,” observed Mackintosh, looking fixedly at Mrs. Scarisbrick; “and have found this letter upon him.”
“Give it me,” cried Mrs. Scarisbrick, snatching it from him. “I will read it to the general.”
“Madam,” cried the brigadier, sternly. “I insist that you place that letter in the general’s own hands.”
“I don’t want to see it,” observed Forster. “I won’t be troubled to-night. To-morrow, will be quite time enough. Keep it for me till then.”
“You will never see it,” cried Mackintosh. “I desire, madam, that the letter may be at once returned to me. If not, I shall be compelled to take it from you.”
“Am I to be exposed to this insult, general?” cried Mrs. Scarisbrick, indignantly.
“Certainly not,” replied Forster, rising from his seat-though not without some difficulty. “Brigadier, I must request you to retire.”
“I obey,” replied Mackintosh. “But understand that I will shoot this spy. I am satisfied of his guilt.”
“Do as you please,” said Forster. “Shoot half a dozen spies if you find them.”
“Nay, for Heaven’s sake! don’t let him shoot the man,” cried Mrs. Scarisbrick.
“Don’t be alarmed,” said Forster, sitting down again. “The man will only be kept in the guardhouse to night. I’ll settle the matter to-morrow. Take some more champagne.”
Reassured by this promise, and having got the letter, Mrs. Scarisbrick said no more. But she had nothing to fear from poor Fairbrother.
At break of day, he was taken by a file of Highlanders to the fields near the Wigan-lane, and there shot. The new chaplain of the forces attended him in his last moments. In explanation of this summary act of justice, Brigadier Mackintosh caused it to be announced that the man was a spy.
This act might have been blamed, but circumstances occurred that seemed to justify its severity.
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VIII
Apathy of General Forster
ON the same morning, the Earl of Derwentwater, accompanied by the countess and Dorothy, and attended by Charles Radclyffe and Captain Gordon, but without any guard, rode down to the Ribble Bridge.
While the earl was inspecting the bridge, and the ladies were admiring the river, and the view of the town from the spot, their attention was aroused by the sound of horse’s footsteps, and immediately afterwards a man galloped up.
He would have ridden on, but Captain Gordon stopped him, and led him to the earl. It appeared that he had left Wigan early in the morning, and brought very important intelligence. General Wills was undoubtedly there, and having been joined by six more regiments of dragoons on the preceding evening, it was certain he would make immediate arrangements to attack the insurgents, so that they must be prepared for him.
On receiving this intelligence, the earl at once returned to the town, and proceeded to General Forster’s quarters, but could not see him, as the general had not yet risen, being much fatigued by the ball.
Instigated by the countess and Dorothy, the earl determined to take all the responsibility upon himself, and ordered Charles Radclyffe to take his regiment to defend Ribble Bridge. But before the order could be obeyed, Forster appeared and countermanded it.
“It seems to me,” said the general, “that my authority is set at naught. A man has been shot as a spy by Brigadier Mackintosh without consulting me, and now orders are given that a guard shall advance towards Wigan. I suppose the next order will be that the whole army shall get ready to march.”