rking for
France, together with a letter of instructions as to how he wished me
to act in case of there being any question regarding the transactions
of last night."
"I saw," replied Wilton, "that you must have got information some
way; but in whatever way you did get that information, you certainly
played your part as admirably as it was possible to conceive. I fear
I did not play mine quite so well, for I was taken by surprise."
"Oh, quite well enough, quite well enough," replied Captain
Churchill. "To say the truth, my task was somewhat of a delicate one,
for in these days one might easily involve one's self in imputations
difficult to be got rid of again. My family have chosen our parts so
strongly and decidedly, that my young relation did not venture to see
me when he was in London; not, indeed, from any fear of my betraying
him, for that, of course, was out of the question,--but rather from
the apprehension of committing me. He trusted me with this other
matter, however, probably not knowing, first, that I was ill, and had
been in bed all yesterday, and, next, that this diabolical plot for
assassinating the King and admitting the enemy into the heart of the
land has been discovered. The letter came about an hour after Lord
Byerdale's, and just in time to save me from denying that I was out
of my own house all yesterday. But you do not take the ring, Mr.
Brown: pray accept it as a mere token of gratitude and esteem on the
part of the Duke. His esteem, I can assure you, is worth having."
"I doubt it not in the least, my dear sir," replied Wilton; "but yet
I must beg to decline his gift: in the first place, because I am
entitled to no gratitude; and in the next, because the Duke must be
considered as an enemy of the government I serve. He certainly saved
my life; for I do not suppose the man who was in the act of firing at
me would have missed his mark, if his hand had not been knocked up.
After that I could not, of course, suffer the Duke to be arrested by
my side, if I could help it, and therefore I did what I could to
assist him, but that was little."
Churchill endeavoured, by various arguments, to persuade his young
companion to receive the ring; but Wilton would not suffer himself to
be moved upon the subject; and had, at all events, the satisfaction
of hearing Churchill himself acknowledge, as he was taking his leave,
"Well, after all, I believe you are right."
Their conference was not very long; for it may be easily imagined,
that one of th