the path of the king-第30节

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　note　it　there　he　would　have　found　it　in　the　streets。　Pride's　troopers　were　everywhere；　riding　in　grim　posses　or　off　duty　and　sombrely　puffing　tobacco；　vast；　silent　men；　lean　from　the　wars。　The　citizens　on　the　causeway　hurried　on　their　errand；　eager　to　find　sanctuary　from　the　biting　air　and　the　menace　of　unknown　perils。　Never　had　London　seen　such　a　Christmastide。　Every　man　was　moody　and　careworn；　and　the　bell　of　Paul's　as　it　tolled　the　hours　seemed　a　sullen　prophet　of　woe。

His　servant　met　him　on　the　stair。

〃He　is　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　waited　for　him　in　the　Bell　Yard　and　brought　him　in　secretly。〃

Lovel　nodded；　and　stripped　off　his　cloak；　giving　it　to　the　man。　〃Watch　the　door　like　a　dragon；　Matthew；〃　he　told　him。　〃For　an　hour　we　must　be　alone。　Forbid　anyone；　though　it　were　Sir　Harry　himself。〃

The　little　chamber　was　bright　with　the　glow　of　a　coal　fire。　The　red　curtains　had　been　drawn　and　one　lamp　lit。　The　single　occupant　sprawled　in　a　winged　leather　chair；　his　stretched…out　legs　in　the　firelight；　but　his　head　and　shoulders　in　shadow。　　A　man　entering　could　not　see　the　face；　and　Lovel；　whose　eyes　had　been　weakened　by　study；　peered　a　second　before　he　closed　the　door　behind　him。

〃I　have　come　to　you；　Nick；　as　always　when　my　mind　is　in　tribulation。〃

The　speaker　had　a　harsh　voice；　like　a　bellman's　which　has　been　ruined　by　shouting　against　crowds。　He　had　got　to　his　feet　and　seemed　an　elderly　man；　heavy　in　body；　with　legs　too　short　for　the　proportions　of　his　trunk。　He　wore　a　soldier's　coat　and　belt；　but　no　sword。　His　age　might　have　been　fifty；　but　his　face　was　so　reddened　by　weather　that　it　was　hard　to　judge。　The　thick　straight　black　locks　had　little　silver　in　them；　but　the　hair　that　sprouted　from　a　mole　on　the　chin　was　grey。　His　cheeks　were　full　and　the　heavy　mouth　was　pursed　like　that　of　a　man　in　constant　painful　meditation。　He　looked　at　first　sight　a　grazier　from　the　shires　or　some　new…made　squire　of　a　moderate　estate。　But　the　eyes　forbade　that　conclusion。　There　was　something　that　brooded　and　commanded　in　those　eyes；　something　that　might　lock　the　jaw　like　iron　and　make　their　possessor　a　hammer　to　break　or　bend　the　world。

Mr。　Lovel　stirred　the　fire　very　deliberately　and　sat　himself　in　the　second　of　the　two　winged　chairs。

〃The　King？〃　he　queried。　〃You　were　in　two　minds　when　we　last　spoke　on　the　matter。　I　hoped　I　had　persuaded　you。　Has　some　new　perplexity　arisen？〃

The　other　shook　his　big　head；　so　that　for　a　moment　he　had　the　look　of　a　great　bull　that　paws　the　ground　before　charging。

〃I　have　no　clearness；〃　he　said；　and　the　words　had　such　passion　behind　them　that　they　were　almost　a　groan。

Lovel　lay　back　in　his　chair　with　his　finger　tips　joined；　like　a　jurisconsult　in　the　presence　of　a　client。　〃Clearness　in　such　matters　is　not　for　us　mortals；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　walking　dark　corridors　which　the　lamp　of　the　law　does　not　light。　You　are　not　summoned　to　do　justice；　being　no　judge；　but　to　consider　the　well…being　of　the　State。　Policy；　Oliver。　Policy；　first　and　last。〃

The　other　nodded。　〃But　policy　is　two…faced；　and　I　know　not　which　to　choose。〃

〃Is　it　still　the　business　of　the　trial？〃　Lovel　asked　sharply。　〃We　argued　that　a　fortnight　since；　and　I　thought　I　had　convinced　you。　The　case　has　not　changed。　Let　me　recapitulate。　Imprimis；　the　law　of　England　knows　no　court　which　can　bring　the　King　of　England　before　it。〃

〃Tchut；　man。　Do　not　repeat　that。　Vane　has　been　clacking　it　in　my　ear。　I　tell　you；　as　I　told　young　Sidney；　that　we　are　beyond　courts　and　lawyer's　quibbles；　and　that　if　England　requires　it　I　will　cut　off　the　King's　head　with　the　crown　on　it。〃

Lovel　smiled。　〃That　is　my　argument。　You　speak　of　a　trial；　but　in　justice　there　can　be　no　trial　where　there　is　neither　constituted　court　nor　valid　law。　If　you　judge　the　King；　'tis　on　grounds　of　policy。　Can　you　defend　that　policy；　Oliver？　You　yourself　have　no　clearness。　Who　has；　Not　Vane。　Not　Fairfax。　Not　Whitelocke；　or　Widdrington；　or　Lenthall。　Certes；　not　your　old　comrade　Nick　Lovel。〃

〃The　Army　desires　itnotably　those　in　it　who　are　most　earnest　in　God's　cause。〃

〃Since　when　have　you　found　a　politic　judgment　in　raw　soldiers？　Consider；　my　friend。　If　you　set　the　King　on　his　trial　it　can　have　but　the　one　end。　You　have　no　written　law　by　which　to　judge　him；　so　your　canon　will　be　your　view　of　the　public　weal；　against　which　he　has　most　grievously　offended。　It　is　conceded　Your　verdict　must　be　guilty　and　your　sentence　death。　Once　put　him　on　trial　and　you　unloose　a　great　stone　in　a　hill…side　which　will　gather　speed　with　every　yard　it　journeys。　You　will　put　your　King　to　death；　and　in　whose　name？

Cromwell　raised　his　head　which　he　had　sunk　between　his　hands。　〃In　the　name　of　the　Commons　of　Parliament　and　all　the　good　people　of　England。〃

Folly；　man。　Your　Commons　are　a　disconsidered　rump　of　which　already　you　have　made　a　laughingstock。　As　for　your　good　people　of　England；　you　know　well　that　ten　out　of　any　dozen　are　against　you。　The　deed　will　be　done　in　your　own　name　and　that　of　the　hoteads　of　the　Army。　'Twill　be　an　act　of　war。　Think　you　that　by　making　an　end　of　the　King　you　will　end　the　Kings　party？　Nay；　you　will　give　it　a　martyr。　You　will　create　for　every　woman　in　England　a　new　saint。　You　will　outrage　all　sober　folk　that　love　order　and　at　the　very　moment　when　you　seek　to　lay　down　the　sword　you　make　it　the　sole　arbitrament。　Whatsay　you　to　that？〃

〃There　is　no　need　to　speak　of　his　death。　What　if　the　Court　depose　him　only？〃

〃You　deceive　yourself。　Once　put　him　on　trial　and　you　must　go　through　with　it　to　the　end。　A　deposed　king　will　be　like　a　keg　of　gunpowder　set　by　your　hearth。　You　cannot　hide　him　so　that　he　ceases　to　be　a　peril。　You　cannot　bind　him　to　terms。〃

〃That　is　naked　truth；〃　said　Cromwell　grimly。　〃The　man　is　filled　with　a　devil　of　pride。　When　Denbigh　and　the　other　lords　went　to　him　he　shut　the　door　in　their　face。　I　will　have　no　more　of　ruining　hypocritical　agreements。　If　God's　poor　people　are　to　be　secure　we　must　draw　his　fangs　and　destroy　his　power　for　ill。　But　how　to　do　it？〃　And　he　made　a　gesture　of　despair。

〃A　way　must　be　found。　And　let　it　not　be　that　easy　way　which　will　most　utterly　defeat　your　honest　purpose。　The　knots　of　the　State　are　to　be　unravelled；　not　cut　with　the　sword。〃

Cromwell　smiled　sadly；　and　his　long　face　had　for　the　moment　a　curious　look　of　a　puzzled　child。

〃I　believe　you　to　be　a　godly　man；　friend　Nicholas。　But　I　fear　your　soul　is　much　overlaid　with　worldlythings；　and　you　lean　too　much　on　frail　understanding。　I；　too；　am　without　clearness。　I　assent　to　your　wisdom；　but　I　cannot　think　it　concludes　the　matter。　In　truth；　we　have　come　in　this　dark　hour　to　the　end　of　fleshly　reasonings。　It　cannot　be　that　the　great　marvels　which　the　Lord　has　shown　us　can　end　in　barrenness。　His　glorious　dispensations　must　have　an　honest　fruition；　for　His　arm　is　not　shortened。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet　and　tightened　the　belt　which　he　had　unbuckled。　〃I　await　a　sign；〃　he　said。　〃Pray　for　me；　friend；　for　I　am　a　man　in　sore　perplexity。　I　lie　o'　nights　at　Whitehall　in　one　of　the　King's　rich　beds；　but　my　eyes　do　not　close。　From　you　I　have　got　the　ripeness　of　human　wisdom；　but　my　heart　is　not　satisfied。　I　am　a　seeker；　with　my　ear　intent　to　hear　God's　command；　and　I　doubt　not　that　by　some　providence　He　will　yet　show　me　His　blessed　way。〃

Lovel　stood　as　if　in　a　muse　while　the　heavy　feet　tramped　down　the　staircase。　He　heard　a　whispering　below　and　then　the　soft　closing　of　a　door。　For　maybe　five　minutes　he　was　motionless：　then　he　spoke　to　himself　after　the　habit　he　had。　〃The　danger　is　not　over；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　think　policy　will　prevail。　If　only　Vane　will　cease　his　juridical　chatter。　。　。　。　　Oliver　is　still　at　the　cross…roads；　but　he　inclines　to　the　right　　　　one。　。　。　。　　I　must　see　to　it　that　Hugh　Peters　and　his　crew　manufacture　no　false　providences。　Thank　God；　if　our　great　man　is　one…third　dreamer；　he　is　two…thirds　doer；　and　can　weigh　his　counsellors。〃

Whereupon；　feeling　sharp…set　with　the　cold　and　the　day's　labour；　he　replenished　the　fire　with　a　beech　faggot；　resumed　the　riding　cloak　he　had　undone　and；　after　giving　his　servant　some　instructions；　went　forth　to　sup　in　a　tavern。　He　went　unattended；　as　was　his　custom。　The　city　was　too　sunk　in　depression　to　be　unruly。

He　crossed　Chancery　Lane　and　struck　through　the　narrow　courts　which　lay　between　Fleet　Street　and　Holborn。　His　goal　was　Gilpin's　in　Fetter　Lane；　a　quiet　place　much　in　favour　with　those　of　the　long　robe。　The　streets　seemed　curiously　quiet。　It　was　freezing　hard　and　threatening　snow；　so　he　flung　a　fold　of　his　cloak　round　his　neck；　muffling　his　ears。　This　deadened　his　hearing；　and　his　mind　also　was　busy　with　its　own　thoughts；　so　that　he　did　not　observe　that　soft　steps　dogged　him。　At　the　corner　of　an　alley　he　was　tripped　up；　and　a　heavy　garment　flung　over　his　head。　He　struggled　to　regain　his　feet；　but　an　old　lameness；　got　at　Naseby；　impeded　him。　The　cobbles；　too；　were　like　glass；　and　he　fell　again；　this　time　backward。　His　head　struck　the　ground；　and　though　he　did　not　lose　consciousness；　his　senses　were　dazed。　He　felt　his　legs　and　arms　being　deftly　tied；　and　yards　of　some　soft　stuff　enveloping　his　head。　He　ceased　to　struggle　as　soon　as　he　felt　the　odds　against　him；　and　waited　on　fortune。　Voices　came　to　his　ears；　and　it　seemed　th