“‘Twill be very difficult,” rejoined the other; “for, as your Highness is aware, the lord protector has given strict orders to all the household that admittance shall be denied you. But perhaps it may be managed. I will send you word by a faithful messenger.”
On this, with fresh expressions of gratitude, Fowler then took his leave. But he did not go away empty-handed.
At a later hour in the day, while the admiral was alone in his cabinet, Ugo entered, followed by Xit. Smiling at the dwarf’s consequential manner, Seymour demanded his business.
“My message is for your Highness’s private ear,” replied Xit, glancing at Ugo.
Upon this, Seymour signed to his esquire, who immediately withdrew.
“Now, knave, what hast thou to tell me?” demanded the admiral.
“His majesty will see your Highness to-morrow evening, but you must condescend to come by the back staircase. I will be there to open the private door in the gallery for you.”
“The plan will do well enough,” observed Seymour. “What hour hath his majesty appointed?”
“The hour of nine,” replied the dwarf. “Your Highness may rely on my punctual attendance.”
“Art thou to be trusted, knave?” said the admiral, looking hard at him.
“My discretion hath never been questioned,” replied Xit, proudly. “I would your Highness would put it to the proof.”
“Thou art much with the king—ha?”
“Constantly in attendance upon him, your Highness.”
“In what terms doth his majesty speak of me? Fear not to tell me, I shall not be offended with the truth.”
“The truth, in this instance, cannot be otherwise than agreeable to your Highness, since his majesty speaks of you in terms of the utmost affection.”
“I am glad to hear it,” rejoined the admiral, smiling. “Doth he speak in the same terms of the lord protector?”
“Hum! not quite, your Highness,” replied the dwarf, hesitating.
“Speak out, without fear,” cried the admiral.
“Well, then, his majesty complains that he is very scantily supplied with money, owing to which he is unable to reward his men, as he desires to do, for any slight service they may render him.”
“Such as thy present errand,” observed the admiral. “However, thou shalt have no reason to complain in this instance. Take this as coming from the king.”
And he tossed him a purse, which Xit caught with the dexterity of a monkey, weighing it in his hand, and feasting his eyes upon its glittering contents.
“It is not the only purse that shall find its way to thy pouch, if thou attendest carefully to my instructions,” said the admiral.
“Your Highness has but to tell me what I am to do,” replied Xit, securing the purse within his doublet.
“I do not desire thee to play the spy upon my royal nephew, for such an office, I know, would be repugnant to thee, but I would have thee use thine eyes and ears, and bring me the intelligence they furnish thee withal. ‘Tis important to me to know precisely how the king is affected towards me—and towards the lord protector.” The latter part of the speech was uttered with a certain significance, which was not lost upon the quick-witted dwarf.
“I understand the part I am to play,” he said, “and will discharge it to the best of my ability. I will bring up your Highness’s name as often as I can before his majesty, and never without the commendation to which it is so justly entitled; while, if I cannot speak quite so highly of the lord protector, it is because his merits are not made equally clear to me.”
“Thou art a shrewd little fellow,” observed the admiral, laughing, “and hast more wit in thee than falls to the share of many a larger man. Commend me to his majesty and say that I hope ere long to arrange all to his satisfaction.”
“I will not fail,” replied Xit.
And with a ceremonious bow he retired.
As soon as he was left alone, the admiral wrote down several names upon a slip of paper, after which he summoned Ugo by striking upon a small bell.
“Let all the persons mentioned in this list be convened here at noon to-morrow.”