the path of the king-第34部分

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ing　odd　in　the　open　door　or　the　servant's　greeting。　As　he　scrambled　to　the　ground　he　was　back　in　his　first　exhilaration。　〃My　lord！〃　Well；　why　not？　This　was　an　honest　man　who　knew　quality　when　he　met　it。

Humming　a　tune　and　making　a　chain　of　little　pools　on　the　stone　flags　of　the　hall；　Mr。　Lovel　followed　his　guide；　who　bore　his　shabby　valise；　another　servant　having　led　away　the　horse。　The　hall　was　dim　with　flickering　shadows　cast　by　the　lamp　in　the　doorway；　and　smelt　raw　and　cold　as　if　the　house　had　been　little　dwelt　in。　Beyond　it　was　a　stone　passage　where　a　second　lamp　burned　and　lit　up　a　forest　of　monstrous　deer　horns　on　the　wall。　The　butler　flung　open　a　door。

〃I　trust　your　lordship　will　approve　the　preparations；〃　he　said。　〃Supper　awaits　you；　and　when　you　have　done　I　will　show　you　your　chamber。　There　are　dry　shoes　by　the　hearth。〃　He　took　from　the　traveller　his　sopping　overcoat　and　drew　from　his　legs　the　pulpy　riding…boots。　With　a　bow　which　might　have　graced　a　court　he　closed　the　door；　leaving　Mr。　Lovel　alone　to　his　entertainment。

It　was　a　small　square　room　panelled　to　the　ceiling　in　dark　oak；　and　lit　by　a　curious　magnificence　of　candles。　They　burned　in　sconces　on　the　walls　and　in　tall　candlesticks　on　the　table；　while　a　log　fire　on　the　great　stone　hearth　so　added　to　the　glow　that　the　place　was　as　bright　as　day。　The　windows　were　heavily　shuttered　and　curtained；　and　in　the　far　corner　was　a　second　door。　On　the　polished　table　food　had　been　laida　noble　ham；　two　virgin　pies；　a　dish　of　fruits；　and　a　group　of　shining　decanters。　To　one　coming　out　of　the　wild　night　it　was　a　transformation　like　a　dream；　but　Mr。　Lovel；　half　drunk；　accepted　it　as　no　more　than　his　due。　His　feather　brain　had　been　fired　by　the　butler's　〃my　lord；〃　and　he　did　not　puzzle　his　head　with　questions。　From　a　slim　bottle　he　filled　himself　a　glass　of　brandy；　but　on　second　thoughts　set　it　down　untasted。　He　would　sample　the　wine　first　and　top　off　with　the　spirit。　Meantime　he　would　get　warm。

He　stripped　off　his　coat；　which　was　dampish；　and　revealed　a　dirty　shirt　and　the　dilapidated　tops　of　his　small　clothes。　His　stockings　were　torn　and　soaking；　so　he　took　them　off；　and　stuck　his　naked　feet　into　the　furred　slippers　which　stood　waiting　by　the　hearth。　Then　he　sat　himself　in　a　great　brocaded　arm…chair　and　luxuriously　stretched　his　legs　to　the　blaze。

But　his　head　was　too　much　afire　to　sit　still。　The　comfort　soaked　into　his　being　through　every　nerve　and　excited　rather　than　soothed　him。　He　did　not　want　to　sleep　now；　though　little　before　he　had　been　crushed　by　weariness。　。　。　。　　There　was　a　mirror　beside　the　fireplace；　the　glass　painted　at　the　edge　with　slender　flowers　and　cupids　in　the　Caroline　fashion。　He　saw　his　reflection　and　it　pleased　him。　The　long　face　with　the　pointed　chin；　the　deep…set　dark　eyes；　the　skin　brown　with　weatherhe　seemed　to　detect　a　resemblance　to　Wharton。　Or　was　it　Beaufort？　Anyhow；　now　that　the　shabby　coat　was　off；　he　might　well　be　a　great　man　in　undress。　〃My　lord！〃　Why　not？　His　father　had　always　told　him　he　came　of　an　old　high　family。　Kings；　he　had　saidof　France；　or　somewhere　。　。　。　A　gold　ring　he　wore　on　his　left　hand　slipped　from　his　finger　and　jingled　on　the　hearthstone。　It　was　too　big　for　him；　and　when　his　fingers　grew　small　with　cold　or　wet　it　was　apt　to　fall　off。　He　picked　it　up　and　laid　it　beside　the　decanters　on　the　table。　That　had　been　his　father's　ring；　and　he　congratulated　himself　that　in　all　his　necessities　he　had　never　parted　from　it。　It　was　said　to　have　come　down　from　ancient　kings。

He　turned　to　the　table　and　cut　himself　a　slice　of　ham。　But　he　found　he　had　no　appetite。　He　filled　himself　a　bumper　of　claret。　It　was　a　ripe　velvety　liquor　and　cooled　his　hot　mouth。　That　was　the　drink　for　gentlemen。　Brandy　in　good　time；　but　for　the　present　this　soft　wine　which　was　in　keeping　with　the　warmth　and　light　and　sheen　of　silver。　。　。　。　　His　excitement　was　dying　now　into　complacence。　He　felt　himself　in　the　environment　for　which　Providence　had　fitted　him。　His　whole　being　expanded　in　the　glow　of　it。　He　understood　how　able　he　was；　how　truly　virtuousa　master　of　intrigue；　but　one　whose　eye　was　always　fixed　on　the　star　of　honour。　And　then　his　thoughts　wandered　to　his　son　in　the　mean　London　lodgings。　The　boy　should　have　his　chance　and　walk　some　day　in　silks　and　laces。　Curse　his　aliases！　He　should　be　Lovel；　and　carry　his　head　as　high　as　any　Villiers　or　Talbot。

The　reflection　sent　his　hand　to　an　inner　pocket　of　the　coat　now　drying　by　the　hearth。　He　took　from　it　a　thin　packet　of　papers　wrapped　in　oil…cloth。　These　were　the　fruits　of　his　journey；　together　with　certain　news　too　secret　to　commit　to　writing　which　he　carried　in　his　head。　He　ran　his　eye　over　them；　approved　them；　and　laid　them　before　him　on　the　table。　They　started　a　train　of　thought　which　brought　him　to　the　question　of　his　present　quarters。　。　。　。　　A　shadow　of　doubt　flickered　over　his　mind。　Whose　house　was　this　and　why　this　entertainment？　He　had　been　expected；　or　someone　like　him。　An　old　campaigner　took　what　gifts　the　gods　sent；　but　there　might　be　questions　to　follow。　There　was　a　coat　of　arms　on　the　plate；　but　so　dim　that　he　could　not　read　it。　The　one　picture　in　the　room　showed　an　old　man　in　a　conventional　suit　of　armour。　He　did　not　recognise　the　face　or　remember　any　like　it。　。　。　　　He　filled　himself　another　bumper　of　claret；　and　followed　it　with　a　little　brandy。　This　latter　was　noble　stuff；　by　which　he　would　abide。　His　sense　of　ease　and　security　returned。　He　pushed　the　papers　farther　over；　sweeping　the　ring　with　them；　and　set　his　elbows　on　the　table；　a　gentleman　warm；　dry；　and　content；　but　much　befogged　in　the　brain。

He　raised　his　eyes　to　see　the　far　door　open　and　three　men　enter。　The　sight　brought　him　to　his　feet　with　a　start；　and　his　chair　clattered　on　the　oak　boards。　He　made　an　attempt　at　a　bow；　backing　steadily　towards　the　fireplace　and　his　old　coat。

The　faces　of　the　new…comers　exhibited　the　most　lively　surprise。　All　three　were　young；　and　bore　marks　of　travel；　for　though　they　had　doffed　their　riding　coats；　they　were　splashed　to　the　knees　with　mud　and　their　unpowdered　hair　lay　damp　on　their　shoulders。　One　was　a　very　dark　man　who　might　have　been　a　Spaniard　but　for　his　blue　eyes。　The　second　was　a　mere　boy　with　a　ruddy　face　and　eyes　full　of　dancing　merriment。　The　third　was　tall　and　red…haired；　tanned　of　countenance　and　lean　as　a　greyhound。　He　wore　trews　of　a　tartan　which　Mr。　Lovel；　trained　in　such　matters；　recognised　as　that　of　the　house　of　Atholl。

Of　the　three　he　only　recognised　the　leader；　and　the　recognition　sobered　him。　This　was　that　Talbot；　commonly　known　from　his　swarthiness　as　the　Crow；　who　was　Ormonde's　most　trusted　lieutenant。　He　had　once　worked　with　him；　he　knew　his　fierce　temper；　his　intractable　honesty。　His　bemused　wits　turned　desperately　to　concocting　a　conciliatory　tale。

But　he　seemed　to　be　unrecognised。　The　three　stared　at　him　in　wild…eyed　amazement。

Who　the　devil　are　you；　sir？〃　the　Highlander　stammered。

Mr。　Lovel　this　time　brought　off　his　bow。　〃A　stormstayed　traveller；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　fawning；　〃who　has　stumbled　on　this　princely　hospitality。　My　name　at　your　honour's　service　is　Gabriel　Lovel。〃

There　was　a　second　of　dead　silence　and　then　the　boy　laughed。　It　was　merry　laughter　and　broke　in　strangely　on　the　tense　air　of　the　room。

〃Lovel；〃　he　cried；　and　there　was　an　Irish　burr　in　his　speech。　〃Lovel！　And　that　fool　Jobson　mistook　it　for　Lovat！　I　mistrusted　the　tale；　for　Simon　is　too　discreet　even　in　his　cups　to　confess　his　name　in　a　changehouse。　It　seems　we　have　been　stalking　the　cailzie…cock　and　found　a　common　thrush。〃

The　dark　man　Talbot　did　not　smile。　〃We　had　good　reason　to　look　for　Lovat。　Widrington　had　word　from　London　that　he　was　on　his　way　to　the　north　by　the　west　marches。　Had　we　found　him　we　had　found　a　prize；　for　he　will　play　hell　with　Mar　if　he　crosses　the　Highland　line。　What　say　you；　Lord　Charles？〃

The　Highlander　nodded。　〃I　would　give　my　sporran　filled　ten　times　with　gold　to　have　my　hand　on　Simon。　What　devil's　luck　to　be　marching　south　with　that　old　fox　in　our　rear！〃

The　boy　pulled　up　a　chair　to　the　table。　〃Since　we　have　missed　the　big　game；　let　us　follow　the　less。　I'm　for　supper；　if　this　gentleman　will　permit　us　to　share　a　feast　destined　for　another。　Sit　down；　sir；　and　fill　your　glass。　You　are　not　to　be　blamed　for　not　being　a　certain　Scots　lord。　Lovel；　I　dare　say；　is　an　honester　name　than　Lovat！〃

But　Talbot　was　regarding　the　traveller　with　hard　eyes。　〃You　called　him　a　thrush；　Nick；　but　I　have　a　notion　he　is　more　of　a　knavish　jackdaw。　I　have　seen　this　gentleman　before。　You　were　with　Ormonde？〃

〃I　had　once　the　honour　to　serve　his　Grace；〃　said　Lovel；　still　feverishly　trying　to　devise　a　watertight　tail。　〃Ah；　I　remember　now。　You　thought　his　star　descending　and　carried　your　wares　to　the　other　side。　And　who　is　your　new　employer；　Mr。　Lovel？　His　present　Majesty？〃

His　glance　caught　the　papers　on　the　table　and　he　swept　them　towards　him。

〃What　have　we　here？〃　and　his　quick　eye　scanned　the　too　legible　handwriting。　Much　was　in　cipher　and　contractions；　but　some　names　stood　out　damningly。　In　that　month　of　October　in　that　year　1715　〃Ke〃　could　only　stand　for　〃Kenmure〃　and　〃Ni〃　for　〃Nithsdale。〃

Mr。　Lovel　made　an　attempt　at　dignity。

〃These　are　my　papers；　sir；〃　he　blustered。　〃I　know　not　by　what　authority　you　examine　them。〃　But　his　protest　failed　because　of　the　instability　of　his　legs；　on　which　his　potations　early　and　recent　had　suddenly　a　fatal　effect。　He　was　compelled　to　collapse　heavily　in　the　arm…chair　by　the　hearth。

〃I　observe　that　the　gentleman　has　lately　been　powdering　his　hair；〃　said　the　boy　whom　they　called　Nick。

Mr。　Lovel　was　wroth。　He　started　upon　the　usual　drunkard's　protestations；　but　was　harshly　cut　short　by　Talbot。

〃You　ask　me　my　warrant　'Tis　the　commission　of　his　Majesty　King　James　in　whose　army　I　have　the　honour　to　hold　a　command。〃

He　read　on；　nodding　now　and　then；　pursing　his　mouth　at　a　word；　once　copying　something　on　to　his　own　tablets。　Suddenly　he　raised　his　head。

〃When　did　his　Grace　dismiss　you？〃　he　asked。

Now　Ormonde　had　been　the　Duke　last　spoken　of；　but　Mr。　Lovel's　precarious　wits　fell　into　the　trap。　He　denied　indignantly　that　he　had　fallen　from　his　master's　favour。

A　grim　smile　played　round　Talbot's　mouth。

You　ha