the path of the king-第32节

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harried　because　of　the　whims　of　a　man　whose　remote　ancestor　had　been　a　fortunate　bandit？　Carles　had　time　and　again　broke　faith　with　his　people　and　soaked　the　land　in　blood。　In　law　he　could　do　no　wrong；　but；　unless　God　slept；　punishment　should　follow　　the　crime；　and　if　the　law　gave　no　aid　the　law　must　be　dispensed　with。　Man　was　not　made　for　it；　but　it　for　man。

The　jurist　in　him　pulled　up　with　a　start。　He　was　arguing　against　all　his　training。　。　。　。　　But　was　the　plea　false？　He　had　urged　on　Cromwell　that　the　matter　was　one　of　policy。　Agreed。　　But　which　was　the　politic　road？　If　the　King　lost　his　head；　there　would　beyond　doubt　be　a　sullen　struggle　ahead。　Sooner　or　later　the　regicides　would　fallof　that　he　had　no　doubt。　But　what　of　the　ultimate　fate　of　England？　They　would　have　struck　a　blow　against　privilege　which　would　never　be　forgotten。　In　future　all　kings　would　walk　warily。　In　time　the　plain　man　might　come　to　his　own。　In　the　long　run　was　not　this　politic？

〃'Tis　a　good　thing　my　mouth　is　shut　for　some　weeks；〃　he　told　himself。　〃I　am　coming　round　to　Ireton。　I　am　no　fit　company　for　Oliver。〃

He　mused　a　little　on　his　inconstancy。　It　had　not　been　a　frequent　occurrence　in　his　life。　But　now　he　seemed　to　have　got　a　sudden　illumination；　such　as　visited　Cromwell　in　his　prayers。　He　realised　how　it　had　come　about。　Hitherto　he　had　ridden　his　thoughts　unconsciously　on　the　curb　of　caution；　for　a　conclusion　reached　meant　deeds　to　follow。　But；　with　the　possibility　of　deeds　removed；　his　mind　had　been　freed。　What　had　been　cloudy　before　now　showed　very　bright；　and　the　little　lamp　of　reason　he　had　once　used　was　put　out　by　an　intolerable　sunlight。　He　felt　himself　quickened　to　an　unwonted　poetry。　。　。　。　His　whole　outlook　had　changed；　but　the　change　brought　no　impulse　to　action。　He　submitted　to　be　idle；　since　it　was　so　fated。　He　was　rather　glad　of　it；　for　he　felt　weary　and　giddy　in　mind。

But　the　new　thoughts　once　awakened　ranged　on　their　courses。　To　destroy　the　false　kingship　would　open　the　way　for　the　true。　He　was　no　leveller；　he　believed　in　kings　who　were　kings　in　deed。　The　world　could　not　do　without　its　leaders。　Oliver　was　such　a　one；　and　others　would　rise　up。　Why　reverence　a　brocaded　puppet　larded　by　a　priest　with　oil；　when　there　were　men　who　needed　no　robes　or　sacring　to　make　them　kingly？　Teach　the　Lord's　Anointed　his　mortality；　and　there　would　be　hope　in　the　years　to　come　of　a　true　anointing。

He　turned　to　his　daughter。

〃I　believe　your　night's　work；　Cis；　has　been　a　fortunate　thing　for　our　family。〃

She　smiled　and　patted　his　hand；　and　at　the　moment　with　a　great　jolting　the　coach　pulled　up。　Presently　lanterns　showed　at　the　window；　the　door　was　opened；　and　Sir　Anthony　Colledge　stood　revealed　in　the　driving　snow。　In　the　Chilterns　it　must　have　been　falling　for　hours；　for　the　road　was　a　foot　deep；　and　the　wind　had　made　great　drifts　among　the　beech　boles。　The　lover　looked　somewhat　sheepish　as　he　swept　a　bow　to　his　prisoner。


〃You　are　a　noted　horse…doctor；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃The　off　leader　has　gotten　a　colic。　Will　you　treat　him？　Then　I　purpose　to　leave　him　with　a　servant　in　some　near…by　farm；　and　put　a　ridden　horse　in　his　place。〃

Mr。　Lovel　leaped　from　the　coach　as　nimbly　as　his　old　wound　permitted。　It　was　true　that　the　doctoring　of　horses　was　his　hobby。　He　loved　them　and　had　a　way　with　them。

The　medicine　box　was　got　out　of　the　locker　and　the　party　grouped　round　the　grey　Flemish　horses；　which　stood　smoking　in　the　yellow　slush。　The　one　with　the　colic　had　its　legs　stretched　wide；　its　flanks　heaved　and　spasms　shook　its　hindquarters。　Mr。　Lovel　set　to　work　and　mixed　which　a　dose　of　spiced　oil　and　spirits　which　he　coaxed　down　its　throat。　Then　he　very　gently　massaged　certain　corded　sinews　in　its　belly。　〃Get　him　under　cover　now；　Tony；〃　he　said　‘‘and　tell　your　man　to　bed　him　warm　and　give　him　a　bucket　of　hot　water　strained　from　oatmeal　and　laced　with　this　phial。　In　an　hour　he　will　be　easy。〃

The　beast　was　led　off；　another　put　in　its　place；　and　the　postilions　were　cracking　their　whips；　when　out　of　the　darkness　a　knot　of　mounted　men　rode　into　the　lamplight。　There　were　at　least　a　dozen　of　them；　and　at　their　head　rode　a　man　who　at　the　sight　of　Lovel　pulled　up　sharp。

〃Mr。　Lovel！〃　he　cried。　〃What　brings　you　into　these　wilds　in　such　weather？　Can　I　be　of　service？　My　house　is　not　a　mile　off。〃

〃I　thank　you；　Colonel　Flowerdue；　but　I　think　the　mischief　is　now　righted。　I　go　on　a　journey　into　Oxfordshire　with　my　daughter；　and　the　snow　has　delayed　us。〃

He　presented　the　young　Parliament　soldier；　a　cousin　of　Fairfax；　to　Cecily　and　Tony；　the　latter　of　whom　eyed　with　disfavour　the　posse　of　grave　Ironside　troopers。

〃You　will　never　get　to　Wendover　this　night；〃　said　Flowerdue。　〃The　road　higher　up　is　smothered　four　feet　deep。　See；　I　will　show　you　a　woodland　road　which　the　wind　has　kept　clear；　and　I　protest　that　your　company　sleep　the　night　with　me　at　Downing。〃

He　would　take　no　denial；　and　indeed　in　the　face　of　his　news　to　proceed　would　have　been　folly。　Even　Sir　Anthony　Colledge　confessed　it　wryly。　One　of　Flowerdue's　men　mounted　to　the　postilion's　place；　and　the　coach　was　guided　through　a　belt　of　beeches；　and　over　a　strip　of　heath　to　the　gates　of　a　park。

Cecily　seized　her　father's　hand。　〃You　have　promised；　remember。〃

〃I　have　promised；〃　he　replied。　〃To…morrow；　if　the　weather　clears；　I　will　go　with　you　to　Chastlecote。〃

He　spoke　no　more　till　they　were　at　the　house　door；　for　the　sense　of　fate　hung　over　him　like　a　cloud。　His　cool　equable　soul　was　stirred　to　its　depths。　There　was　surely　a　grim　fore…ordering　in　this　chain　of　incidents。　But　for　the　horse's　colic　there　would　have　been　no　halt。　　But　for　his　skill　in　horse　doctoring　the　sick　beast　would　have　been　cut　loose；　and　Colonel　Flowerdue's　party　would　have　met　only　a　coach　laboring　through　the　snow　and　would　not　have　halted　to　discover　its　occupants。　。　。　。　〃　He　was　a　prisoner　bound　by　a　promise；　but　this　meeting　with　Flowerdue　had　opened　up　a　channel　to　communicate　with　London　and　that　was　not　forbidden。　It　flashed　on　him　suddenly　that　the　change　of　mind　which　he　had　suffered　was　no　longer　a　private　matter。　He　had　now　the　power　to　act　upon　it。

He　was　extraordinarily　averse　to　the　prospect。　Was　it　mere　petulance　that　had　swung　round　his　opinions　so　violently　during　the　journey？　He　examined　himself　and　found　his　new　convictions　unshaken。　It　was　what　the　hot…gospellers　would　call　a　〃Holy　Ghost　conversion。〃　Well；　let　it　rest　there。　Why　spread　the　news　beyond　his　own　home？　There　were　doctors　enough　inspecting　the　health　of　the　State。　Let　his　part　be　to　stand　aside。

With　something　like　fear　he　recognised　that　that　part　was　no　longer　possible。　He　had　been　too　directly　guided　by　destiny　to　refuse　the　last　stage。　Cromwell　was　waiting　on　a　providence；　and　of　that　providence　it　was　clear　that　fate　had　made　him　the　channel。　In　the　coach　he　had　surrendered　himself　willingly　to　an　unseen　direction；　and　now　he　dared　not　refuse　the　same　docility。　He；　who　for　usual　was　ripe；　balanced；　mellow　in　judgment；　felt　at　the　moment　the　gloomy　impulsion　of　the　fanatic。　He　was　only　a　pipe　for　the　Almighty　to　sound　through。

In　the　hall　at　Downing　the　logs　were　stirred　to　a　blaze；　and　food　and　drink　brought　in　a　hospitable　stir。

〃I　have　a　letter　to　write　before　I　sleep；〃　Mr。　Lovel　told　his　daughter。　〃I　will　pray　from　Colonel　Flowerdue　the　use　of　his　cabinet。〃

Cecily　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　and　he　laughed。

〃The　posts　at　Chastlecote　are　infrequent；　Cis；　and　I　may　well　take　the　chance　when　it　offers。　I　assure　you　I　look　forward　happily　to　a　month　of　idleness　stalking　Tony's　mallards　and　following　Tony's　hounds。〃

In　the　cabinet　he　wrote　half　a　dozen　lines　setting　out　simply　the　change　in　his　views。　〃If　I　know　Oliver；〃　he　told　himself；　〃I　have　given　him　the　sign　he　seeks。　I　am　clear　it　is　God's　will；　but　Heaven　help　the　landHeaven　help　us　all。〃　Having　written；　he　lay　back　in　his　chair　and　mused。

When　Colonel　Flowerdue　entered　he　found　a　brisk　and　smiling　gentleman；　sealing　a　letter。

〃Can　you　spare　a　man　to　ride　express　with　this　missive　to　town？　It　is　for　General　Cromwell's　private　hand。〃

〃Assuredly。　He　will　start　at　once　lest　the　storm　worsens。　It　is　business　of　State？〃

〃High　business　of　State；　and　I　think　the　last　I　am　likely　to　meddle　with。〃

Mr。　Lovel　had　taken　from　his　finger　a　thick　gold　ring　carved　with　a　much…worn　cognisance。　He　held　it　up　in　the　light　of　the　candle。

〃This　thing　was　once　a　king's；〃　he　said。　〃As　the　letter　touches　the　affairs　of　his　Majesty；　I　think　it　fitting　to　seal　it　with　a　king's　signet。〃



CHAPTER　10。　THE　MARPLOT

At　a　little　after　six　o'clock　on　the　evening　of　Saturday；　12th　October；　in　the　year　1678；　the　man　known　commonly　as　Edward　Copshaw　came　to　a　halt　opposite　the　narrow　entry　of　the　Savoy；　just　west　of　the　Queen's　palace　of　Somerset　House。　He　was　a　personage　of　many　names。　In　the　register　of　the　Benedictine　lay…brothers　he　had　been　entered　as　James　Singleton。　Sundry　Paris　tradesmen　had　known　him　as　Captain　Edwards；　and　at　the　moment　were　longing　to　know　more　of　him。　In　a　certain　secret　and　tortuous　correspondence　he　figured　as　Octavius；　and　you　may　still　read　his　sprawling　script　in　the　Record　Office。　His　true　name；　which　was　Nicholas　Lovel；　was　known　at　Wel