the path of the king-第31部分

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ly；　and　the　place　shook。　After　that　it　was　quiet。　Where　was　the　bloody　fight　that　Godfrey　had　been　brought　to　settle？

It　was　very　dark　there；　the　window　in　the　passage　was　only　a　square　of　misty　grey。　Lovel　felt　eerie；　a　strange　mood　for　an　assassin。　Magistrate　and　woman　seemed　to　have　been　spirited　away。　。　。　。　　He　plucked　up　courage　and　continued；　one　hand　on　the　wall　on　his　left。　Then　a　sound　broke　the　silencea　scuffle；　and　the　long　grate　of　something　heavy　dragged　on　a　rough　floor。　Presently　his　fingers　felt　a　door。　The　noise　was　inside　that　door。　There　were　big　cracks　in　the　panelling　through　which　an　eye　could　look；　but　all　was　dark　within。　There　were　human　beings　moving　there；　and　speaking　softly。　Very　gingerly　he　tried　the　hasp；　but　it　was　fastened　firm　inside。

Suddenly　someone　in　the　room　struck　a　flint　and　lit　a　lantern。　Lovel　set　his　eyes　to　a　crack　and　stood　very　still。　The　woman　had　gone；　and　the　room　held　three　men。　One　lay　on　the　floor　with　a　coarse　kerchief；　such　as　grooms　wear；　knotted　round　his　throat。　Over　him　bent　a　man　in　a　long　coat　with　a　cape；　a　man　in　a　dark　peruke；　whose　face　was　clear　in　the　lantern's　light。　Lovel　knew　him　for　one　Bedloe；　a　led…captain　and　cardsharper；　whom　he　had　himself　employed　on　occasion。　The　third　man　stood　apart　and　appeared　from　his　gesticulations　to　be　speaking　rapidly。　He　wore　his　own　sandy　hair；　and　every　line　of　his　mean　freckled　face　told　of　excitement　and　fear。　Him　also　Lovel　recognisedCarstairs；　a　Scotch　informer　who　had　once　made　a　handsome　living　through　spying　on　conventicles；　but　had　now　fallen　into　poverty　owing　to　conducting　an　affair　of　Buckingham's　with　a　brutality　which　that　fastidious　nobleman　had　not　bargained　for。　。　。　。　Lovel　rubbed　his　eyes　and　looked　again。　He　knew　likewise　the　man　on　the　floor。　It　was　Sir　Edmund　Godfrey；　and　Sir　Edmund　Godfrey　was　dead。

The　men　were　talking。　〃No　blood…letting；〃　said　Bedloe　〃This　must　be　a　dry　job。　Though；　by　God；　I　wish　I　could　stick　my　knife　into　himonce　for　Trelawney；　once　for　Frewen；　and　a　dozen　times　for　myself。　Through　this　swine　I　have　festered　a　twelvemonth　in　Little　Ease。〃

Lovel's　first　thought；　as　he　stared；　was　an　immense　relief。　His　business　had　been　done　for　him；　and　he　had　escaped　the　guilt　of　it。　His　second；　that　here　lay　a　chance　of　fair　profit。　Godfrey　was　a　great　man；　and　Bedloe　and　Carstairs　were　the　seediest　of　rogues。　He　might　make　favor　for　himself　with　the　Government　if　he　had　them　caught　red…handed。　It　would　help　his　status　in　Aldersgate　Street。　。　。　。　　But　he　must　act　at　once　or　the　murderers　would　be　gone。　He　tiptoed　back　along　the　passage；　tumbled　down　the　crazy　steps；　and　ran　up　the　steep　entry　to　where　he　saw　a　glimmer　of　light　from　the　Strand。

At　the　gate　he　all　but　fell　into　the　arms　of　a　mana　powerful　fellow；　for　it　was　like　running　against　a　brick　wall。　Two　strong　arms　gripped　Lovel　by　the　shoulder；　and　a　face　looked　into　his。　There　was　little　light　in　the　street；　but　the　glow　from　the　window　of　a　Court　perruquier　was　sufficient　to　reveal　the　features。　Lovel　saw　a　gigantic　face；　with　a　chin　so　long　that　the　mouth　seemed　to　be　only　half…way　down　it。　Small　eyes；　red　and　fiery；　were　set　deep　under　a　beetling　forehead。　The　skin　was　a　dark　purple；　and　the　wig　framing　it　was　so　white　and　fleecy　that　the　man　had　the　appearance　of　a　malevolent　black…faced　sheep。

Lovel　gasped；　as　he　recognised　the　celebrated　Salamanca　Doctor。　He　was　the　man　above　all　others　whom　he　most　wished　to　see。

〃Dr。　Oates！〃　he　cried。　〃There's　bloody　work　in　the　Savoy。　I　was　passing　through　a　minute　agone　and　I　saw　that　noble　Justice；　Sir　Edmund　Berry　Godfrey；　lie　dead；　and　his　murderers　beside　the　body。　Quick；　let　us　get　the　watch　and　take　them　red…handed。〃

The　big　paws；　like　a　gorilla's；　were　withdrawn　from　his　shoulders。　The　purple　complexion　seemed　to　go　nearly　black；　and　the　wide　mouth　opened　as　if　to　bellow。　But　the　sound　which　emerged　was　only　a　whisper。

〃By　the　maircy　of　Gaad　we　will　have　'em！　。　。　。

A　　maist　haarrid　and　unnaitural　craime。　I　will　take　'em　with　my　own　haands。　Here　is　one　who　will　help。〃　And　he　turned　to　a　man　who　had　come　up　and　who　looked　like　a　city　tradesman。　〃Lead　on；　honest　fellow；　and　we　will　see　justice　done。　'Tis　pairt　of　the　bloody　Plaat。　。　。　。　I　foresaw　it。　I　warned　Sir　Edmund；　but　he　flouted　me。　Ah；　poor　soul；　he　has　paid　for　his　unbelief。〃

Lovel；　followed　by　Oates　and　the　other　whom　he　called　Prance；　dived　again　into　the　darkness。　Now　he　had　no　fears。　He　saw　himself　acclaimed　with　the　Doctor　as　the　saviour　of　the　nation；　and　the　door　of　Aldersgate　Street　open　at　his　knocking。　The　man　Prance　produced　a　lantern；　and　lighted　them　up　the　steps　and　into　the　tumbledown　passage。　Fired　with　a　sudden　valour；　Lovel　drew　his　sword　and　led　the　way　to　the　sinister　room。　The　door　was　open；　and　the　place　lay　empty；　save　for　the　dead　body。

Oates　stood　beside　it；　looking；　with　his　bandy　legs　great　shoulders；　and　bull　neck；　like　some　forest　baboon。

〃Oh；　maist　haunourable　and　noble　victim！〃　he　cried。　〃England　will　maarn　you；　and　the　spawn　of　Raam　will　maarn　you；　for　by　this　deed　they　have　rigged　for　thaimselves　the　gallows。　Maark　ye；　Sir　Edmund　is　the　proto…martyr　of　this　new　fight　for　the　Praatestant　faith。　He　has　died　that　the　people　may　live；　and　by　his　death　Gaad　has　given　England　the　sign　she　required。　。　。　。　　Ah；　Prance；　how　little　Tony　Shaston　will　exult　in　our　news！　'Twill　be　to　him　like　a　bone　to　a　cur…dog　to　take　his　ainemies　thus　red…haanded。〃

By　your　leave；　sir；〃　said　Lovel；　〃those　same　enemies　have　escaped　us。　I　saw　them　here　five　minutes　since；　but　they　have　gone　to　earth。　What　say　you　to　a　hue…and…crythough　this　Savoy　is　a　snug　warrin　to　hide　vermin。〃

Oates　seemed　to　be　in　no　hurry。　He　took　the　lantern　from　Prance　and　scrutinised　Lovel's　face　with　savage　intensity。

〃Ye　saw　them；　ye　say。　。　。　。　　I　think；　friend；　I　have　seen　ye　before；　and　I　doubt　in　no　good　quaarter。　There's　a　Paapist　air　about　you。〃

〃If　you　have　seen　me；　'twas　in　the　house　of　my　Lord　Shaftesbury；　whom　I　have　the　honour　to　serve；〃　said　Lovel　stoutly。

〃Whoy；　that　is　an　haanest　house　enough。　Whaat　like　were　the　villains；　then？　Jaisuits；　I'll　warrant？　Foxes　from　St。　Omer's　airth？〃

〃They　were　two　common　cutthroats　whose　names　I　know。〃

〃Tools；　belike。　Fingers　of　the　Paape's　hand。　。　。　。　Ye　seem　to　have　a　good　acquaintance　among　rogues；　Mr。　Whaat's…you…name。〃

The　man　Prance　had　disappeared；　and　Lovel　suddenly　saw　his　prospects　less　bright。　The　murderers　were　being　given　a　chance　to　escape；　and　to　his　surprise　he　found　himself　in　a　fret　to　get　after　them。　Oates　had　clearly　no　desire　for　their　capture；　and　the　reason　flashed　on　his　mind。　The　murder　had　come　most　opportunely　for　him；　and　he　sought　to　lay　it　at　Jesuit　doors。　It　would　ill　suit　his　plans　if　only　two　common　rascals　were　to　swing　for　it。　Far　better　let　it　remain　a　mystery　open　to　awful　guesses。　Omne　ignotum　pro　horrifico。　。　。　。　　Lovel's　temper　was　getting　the　better　of　his　prudence；　and　the　sight　of　this　monstrous　baboon　with　his　mincing　speech　stirred　in　him　a　strange　abhorrence。

〃I　can　bear　witness　that　the　men　who　did　the　deed　were　no　more　Jesuits　than　you。　One　is　just　out　of　Newgate；　and　the　other　is　a　blackguard　Scot　late　dismissed　the　Duke　of　Buckingham's　service。〃

〃Ye　lie；〃　and　Oates'　rasping　voice　was　close　to　his　ear。　〃'Tis　an　incraidible　tale。　Will　ye　outface　me；　who　alone　discovered　the　Plaat；　and　dispute　with　me　on　high　poalicy？　。　。　。　Now　I　come　to　look　at　it；　ye　have　a　true　Jaisuit　face。　I　maind　of　ye　at　St。　Omer。　I　judge　ye　an　accoamplice　。　。　。〃

At　that　moment　Prance　returned　and　with　him　another；　a　man　in　a　dark　peruke；　wearing　a　long　coat　with　a　cape。　Lovel's　breath　went　from　him　as　he　recognised　Bedloe。

〃There　is　the　murderer；〃　he　cried　in　a　sudden　fury　〃I　saw　him　handle　the　body。　I　charge　you　to　hold　him。

Bedloe　halted　and　looked　at　Oates；　who　nodded。　Then　he　strode　up　to　Lovel　and　took　him　by　the　throat

〃Withdraw　your　words；　you　dog；〃　he　said；　〃or　I　will　cut　your　throat。　I　have　but　this　moment　landed　at　the　river　stairs　and　heard　of　this　horrid　business。　If　you　say　you　have　ever　seen　me　before　you　lie　most　foully。　Quick；　you　ferret。　Will　Bedloe　suffers　no　man　to　charge　his　honour。〃

The　strong　hands　on　his　neck；　the　fierce　eyes　of　the　bravo；　brought　back　Lovel's　fear　and　with　it　his　prudence。　He　saw　very　plainly　the　game；　and　he　realised　that　he　must　assent　to　it。　His　contrition　was　deep　and　voluble。

〃I　withdraw；〃　he　stammered；　〃and　humbly　crave　pardon。　I　have　never　seen　this　honest　gentleman　before。〃

〃But　ye　saw　this　foul　murder；　and　though　the　laight　was　dim　ye　saw　the　murderers；　and　they　had　the　Jaisuitical　air？〃

Oates'　menacing　voice　had　more　terror　for　Lovel　than　Bedloe's　truculence。　〃Beyond　doubt；〃　he　replied。

〃Whoy；　that　is　so　far　good；〃　and　the　Doctor　laughed。　〃Ye　will　be　helped　later　to　remember　the　names　for　the　benefit　of　his　Maajesty's　Court。　。　。　。　'Tis　time　we　set　to　work。　Is　the　place　quiet？〃

〃As　the　grave；　doctor；〃　said　Prance。

〃Then　I　will　unfold　to　you　my　pairpose。　This　noble　magistrate　is　foully　murdered　by　pairsons　unknown　as　yet；　but　whom　this　haanest　man　will　swear　to　have　been　disguised　Jaisuits。　Now　in　the　sairvice　of　Goad　and　the　King　'tis　raight　to　pretermit　no　aiffort　to　bring　the　guilty　to　justice。　The　paiple　of　England　are　already　roused　to　a　holy　fairvour；　and　this　haarrid　craime　will　be　as　the　paistol　flash　to　the　powder　caask。　But　that　the　craime　may　have　its　full　effaict　on　the　paapulace　'tis　raight　to　take　some　trouble　with　the　staging。　'Tis　raight　so　to　dispose　of　the　boady　that　the　complaicity　of　the　Paapists　will　be　clear　to　every　doubting　fool。　I；　Taitus　Oates；　take　upon　myself　this　responsibility；　seeing　that　under　Goad　I　am　the　chosen　ainstrument　for　the　paiple's　salvation。　To　Soamersait　Haase　with　it；　say　I；　which　is　known　for　a　haaunt　of　the　paapistically…minded。　。　。　。　The　postern　ye　know　of　is　open；　Mr。　Prance？〃

〃I　have　seen　to　it；〃　said　the　man；　who　seemed　to　conduct　himself　in　this　wild　business　with　the　decorum　of　a　merchant　in　his　shop。

〃Up　with　him；　then；〃　said　Oates。

Prance　and　Bedloe　swung　the　corpse　on　their　shoulders　and　moved　out；　while　the　doctor；　gripping　Lovel's　arm　like　a　vice；　followed　at　a　little　distance。

The