The White Gauntlet Part 23

"Ah I now I understan' ye. Master Henry, King's cooreer 'ideed! That 'ud be a tidyish bizness for Gregory Garth. If I beant that myself tho', I've been and met one as is. It war all 'bout this bit o' a letter I coomed over here the night--else I'd a made my call at a more seezonable hour."

"Is it for me?"

"Well, Master Henry, it aint 'zactly 'dressed to you, nor written to ye neyther; but, as far as I'm able to make out the meenin' o' 't, I think as how there be somethin' in't you oughter know about. But ye can tell better after you ha' read it."

Gregory handed the letter to the cavalier; who now perceived, that, although the seal was intact, the envelope had been torn open at the edges.

"A king's despatch! And you've opened it, Gregory?"

"Ye-es, Master Henry," drawled the footpad. "It coomed somehow apart atween my fingers. May be I've done wrong? I didn't know it war a king's despatch. And may be if I _had_ know'd," he added in an under tone, "I should a opened it all the same."

The cavalier looked at the superscription:--

_For_ _Ye Captain Scarthe, Command: H.M. Royal Cuira.s.siers_, _Bulstrode Park, Shire of Buckingham_.

"This is not for me, Garth. It is addressed to--"

"I know all that, Master Henry; though I didn't last night when I got the thing. I heerd o' their coomin' up the road this mornin', but--"

"But how came you by the despatch?"

"How coomed I by it?"

"Yes, who gave it to you?"

"Well--Master Henry--I got it--a gentleman I met last night--he--he gin it me."

"Last night you say? At what hour?"

"Well, it was lateish--considerably lateish i' the night."

"Was it before, or after--?"

"I met you, Master Henry? That be what ye would be askin'? Well, it war a--leetlish bit arter."

Gregory hung his head, looking rather sheepish, as he made the stammering acknowledgment. He evidently dreaded further cross-questioning.

"What sort of gentleman was he?" inquired the cavalier, with an air of interest, that had something else for its cause than the backslidings of the footpad.

"He was wonderful fine dressed, an' rode a smartish sort o' beast--he did. 'Ceptin' that ere black o' yours Master Henry, I han't seed a better hoss for some time to coom. As for the gent hisself, he sayed he war jest what ye ha' been a callin' me--a King's cooreer."

"And so you took this from the King's courier?"

"Oh! Master Hen--"

"I am sure he did not _give_ it to you?"

"Well, Master Henry, it's no use my telling you a lie 'bout it. I acknowledge I _tuk_ the letter from him."

"And something else, no doubt. Come, Garth! no beating about the bush.

Tell the whole truth!"

"Good lor! Master; must I tell ye all?"

"You must; or you and I never exchange words again."

"Lor--O Lord! I'll tell you, then everything that happened atween us.

Ye see, Master Henry," continued he, disposing himself for a full confession, "you see, the gent had such fine things about him--as a king's cooreer oughter have, I suppose--a watch an' chain, and fine clothes, an' a goold pencil, an' a thing he called a locket, to say nothin' o'--"

"I don't want the inventory, Garth," interrupted the cavalier. "I want to know what _you_ did to him. You stripped him of all these fine things, I suppose?"

"Well, Master Henry, since I must tell ye the truth o't, I woant deny but I tuk some on 'em from him. He didn't need 'em, nigh as much as myself--that hedn't got nothin' in the world, but them old duds as ye seed stuck up on sticks. I eased him o' his trumpery; that I confess to."

"What more did you do to him?"

This question was asked in a tone of stern demand.

"Nothing more--I declare it, Master Henry--only--to make sure against his follerin' o' me--I tied him, hand and foot; and left 'im in the old hut by the roadside--whar there would be less danger o' his catchin'

cold i' the night air."

"How considerate of you! Ah, Gregory Garth! Gregory Garth! All this after what you promised me, and so emphatically too!"

"I swar, Master Henry, I han't broke my promise to ye. I swar it!"

"Haven't broken your promise! Wretch! you only make matters worse by such a declaration. Didn't you say just now, that it was after parting with me, you met this messenger?"

"That's true; but you forgot, Master Henry, I promised to you _that night_ should be my last upon the road: an' it has been, an' will be."

"What mean you by this equivocation?"

"'Twar jest _eleven_, when you an' yer young friend rode off. Thear war still an hour o' the night to the good; and, as ill-luck would have it, jest then the feller kim ridin' up, glitterin' all over in spangles an'

satin, like a pigeon, as kep' sayin' 'Come an' pluck me!' What cud I do? He wanted pluckin', and I hadn't the heart to refuse him. I did it; but I swar to ye Master Henry--an' I swar it, as I hope for mercy hereafter--that I had him stripped _afore it struck twelve_. I heard the bells o' Peters Chaffont a ringin' that hour, jest as I was ridin'

away from the ruin."

"_Riding_ away! You took his horse then?"

"Sure, Master Henry, you wouldn't a had me to walk, with a beest standin' ready, saddled on the road afore me? He couldn't a been no use howsomedever to the cooreer: as he warn't a' goin' any furrer that night. Beside ye see, I had all them clothes to carry. I couldn't leave _them_ behind: not knowin' as they mightn't some day betray me-- after I had turned honest."

"Garth! Garth! I doubt that day will never come. I fear you are incorrigible."

"Master Henry!" cried the ex-footpad, in a tone in which serious sincerity was strangely blended with the ludicrous. "Did you iver know o' me to break a promise? Did ye iver in yer life?"

"Well, in truth," answered the cavalier, responding to the earnest appeal which his old servitor had addressed to him, "in the _letter_ I do not remember that I ever have. But in the _spirit_--alas!

Gregory,--"

"Oh! Master; doan't reproach me no more. I can't abear it from you! I made that promise the t'other night, an' ye'll see if I don't keep it.

Ah! I'll keep it if I shud starve. I will by--"