The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

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Chapter VI

IN WHICH UGO HARRINGTON APPEARS IN HIS TRUE COLORS

While the admiral was engaged at the Tower in the manner just related, Ugo Harrington repaired to Whitehall, with the design of seeking an immediate interview with the Earl of Warwick. In this object he was successful. At the moment when the esquire sought him, Warwick, to whom, as lord great chamberlain, a suite of apartments was assigned in the palace, was alone and in his private cabinet. Some understanding seemed to subsist between Ugo and the henchman, since they did not detain him a moment in the waiting-chamber, but ushered him at once into the earl’s presence.

Warwick, who was seated at a table, writing, received his visitor very formally, but the moment they were alonè together his manner changed to one of great familiarity.

“I see by the expression of your countenance that you bring me important intelligence,” he remarked.

“I do, my lord,” replied Ugo. “My lord is gone to the Tower to endeavor to prevail upon the constable to deliver the fortress up to him.”

“Ha!” exclaimed Warwick. “Does he aim at that? But he will fail. Sir John Gage is as true as steel, and will never betray his trust. But how stand matters now? Is the time come for the explosion?”

“It will not be long delayed, my lord,” rejoined Ugo.

“So much the better,” cried Warwick, rubbing his hands gleefully. “The admiral has been so long about it that I have got quite tired with waiting.”

“With all deference to your Lordship, I think you are wrong in your calculations,” said Ugo. “You intend to let this rising take place?”

“I do,” replied Warwick. “I would have the admiral commit himself irretrievably, so that his fall may be certain.”

“‘Tis on that point I differ with your Lordship. Have you never considered that he may succeed? His plans are well organized.”

“May be so,” rejoined Warwick. “But the insurrection will be instantly crushed.”

“I do not think so,” said Ugo, “and I will give you the grounds of my opinion. The lord protector, as you know, has lost all the popularity he acquired by the Scottish war. That is one point in my lord’s favor. In the struggle which is likely to arise between the brothers, the king is certain to side with his younger uncle. This alone will give him an immense advantage. But, as I have just said, my lord’s plans are so well taken that he is likely to come off victorious. He himself is confident of success. He has an army of ten thousand men, ready to rise at his signal, and friends who will treble that number. The leaders of the German lansquenets are corrupted, and will bring over their men. Moreover, my lord has two strong castles, Holt and Sudley, the former strongly garrisoned and well stored, and he has the Scilly Islands to retire to in case of need. With all these advantages, if he is able to secure the person of the king, I cannot doubt his success.”

“Ay, if he could secure the king, I grant you he might succeed,” rejoined Warwick; “but that he never will do.”

“Your Lordship underrates his power. You will find him a far more formidable foe than you imagine. If he should gain the day, he will not be merely content with supplanting the protector, but will overthrow the whole government. What if he should be able to set aside the late king’s will, on the ground that it was stamped while his majesty was dying and incapable of speech? Will not all subsequent acts become illegal, all appointments void?”

“Undoubtedly. But he cannot prove this.”

“He has Doctor Butts’s confession of the whole affair, the production of which will condemn the lord protector to the block, and will drag all his partisans—your Lordship amongst the number—down with him.”

“Confusion!” exclaimed Warwick, rising from his chair, and hurriedly pacing the room. “You are right, Ugo. The outbreak must never take place. My intention was to let the mine explode, certain that the explosion would destroy him, and perchance the protector likewise; but I now see it would be dangerous to myself.”