Chapter 46
"Ask this young gentleman, sir; he knows."
Frank flushed scarlet, as he turned sharply to the man, whom he now recognised as one of the Guards who entered the drawing-room with the officer.
"Ah, to be sure," said Andrew coolly; and nodding carelessly, he went on and out by the gate into the Park at the end of the street, where the old man they had previously seen was holding on by the railings coughing violently.
"Poor old gentleman!" said Andrew sarcastically, but loud enough for him to hear; "he seems to be suffering a good deal from that cough."
The man bent his head lower till his brow rested on the hand which held on by the railings, and coughed more than ever.
"You needn't have made remarks about him," whispered Frank. "I'm afraid he heard what you said."
"I meant him to hear," said Andrew loudly; and he stopped and looked back directly. "A miserable, contemptible impostor. I could cure his wretched cough in two minutes with that stick he leans on."
The man started as if he had received a blow, and raised his head to glare fiercely at the youth, who was looking him superciliously up and down.
"Look at him, Frank," continued Andrew; "did you ever see such a miserable, hangdog-looking cur?"
Frank felt in agony, and gripped his companion by the arm.
"Did you mean that to insult me, boy?" said the man angrily.
"Done it without the stick," said Andrew, not appearing to notice the man's words. "You see a good lash from the tongue was enough. Now, can you imagine it possible that any one could sink so low as to earn his living by watching his fellow-creatures, spying their every act, and then betraying them for the sake of a few dirty s.h.i.+llings, to send them to prison or to the gibbet? There can be nothing on earth so base as a thing like this. Why, a footpad is a n.o.bleman compared to him."
"You insolent young puppy!" cried the man; and entirely forgetful of his infirmity, he took three or four paces toward them, with his stick raised to strike.
Frank's hand darted to his sword, but Andrew did not stir. He stood with his lids half closed and his lips compressed, staring firmly at his would-be a.s.sailant, never flinching for a moment, nor removing his eyes from those which literally glowed with anger.
"The cough's gone, Frank, and the disguise might as well go with it. He is not an invalid, but one of the vile, treacherous ruffians in the pay of the Government. Let your blade alone; he daren't strike, for fear of having a sword through his miserable carca.s.s. He was dressed as a sailor the other day, and he looked as if he had never had a foot at sea. He has been hanging about the Park for the past month. Pah! look at the contemptible worm."
The miserable spy and informer, who had remained with his stick raised, turned white with pa.s.sion, as he stood listening to the lad's scathing words, and had either of the boys flinched he might have struck at them.
As it
"Well," said Andrew, "do you think I insulted him too much?"
"Why, he is an impostor!"
"Pah! London swarms with his kind. They have sent many a good, true, and innocent man to Tyburn for the sake of blood-money--men whose only fault was that they believed James Francis to be our rightful king.
Frank," cried the lad pa.s.sionately, "I can't tell you how I loathe the reptiles. I knew that wretch directly; my father pointed him out to me as one to beware of. If he knew what we do, he would send my dear, brave father to the scaffold, and he is trying hard to send yours.
Where's your pity for the poor invalid now?"
"Oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Frank excitedly, "can such things be true?"
"True? Why was he d.o.g.g.i.ng us this morning? I can't be sure, of course; but as likely as not it was upon his information that your poor father was almost taken last night, and your mother nearly broken-hearted this morning. Why, Frank, I never saw you look so fierce before. It's all nonsense about my being two years older than you. You've overtaken and pa.s.sed me, lad. I'm getting quite afraid of you."
"Oh, don't banter me now, Drew. I can't bear it."
"It's only my spiteful tongue, Frank. I don't banter you at heart. I'm in earnest. Only a short time ago I used to think I was as old as a man, and it was trouble about my father made me so. Now I can't help seeing how trouble is altering you too. Don't mind what I say, but I must say it. Some day you'll begin to think that I am not so much to blame for talking as I do about our royal master."
Frank drew a long, deep breath, and felt as if it might after all be possible.
"There, that's enough for one morning," cried Andrew merrily. "We're only boys after all, even if I am such a queer fish. Let's be boys again now. What do you say? I'll race you round the end of the ca.n.a.l, and see who can get in first to breakfast."
"No," said Frank; "I want to walk back quietly and think."
"And I don't mean to let you. There, we've had trouble enough before breakfast. Let's put it aside, and if we can get away go and see the Horse Guards parade, and then listen to the band and see some of the drilling. I want to learn all I can about an officer's duty, so as not to be like a raw recruit when I get my commission, if I ever do. I say: hungry?"
"I? No."
"Then you must be. Make a good breakfast, lad. Sir Robert's safe enough by now, and he'll be more cautious in future about coming amongst his Majesty's springes and mantraps. Look yonder; there's Captain Murray. Who's that with him?"
"The doctor."
"So it is. Let's go and talk to them."
"No; let them go by before we start for the gate. I feel as if every one will be knowing about last night, and want to question me. I wish I could go away till it has all blown over."
"But you can't, Frank; and you must face it out like a man. I say--"
"Well?"
"You're not likely to see the King, and if you did it's a chance if he'd know who you are; but you're sure to see the Prince, and I am a bit anxious to know whether he'll take any notice about what his page did last night, and if he does, what he'll say."
"I'm pretty well sure to see him this afternoon," said Frank gloomily; "and if he questions me I can't tell him a lie. What shall I say?"
"I'll tell you," said Andrew merrily.
"Yes? What?"
"Say nothing. He can't make you speak."
"Then he'll be angry, and it will be fresh trouble for my mother."
"I don't believe he will be," said Andrew. "Well, don't spoil your breakfast about something which may never happen. Wait and see. The worst he could do would be to have you dismissed; and if he does he'll dismiss me too, for I shan't stop here, Frank, unless my father says I must."
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
WITH PRINCE AND PRINCESS.
Frank thought over his companion's proposals for spending such time as they could get away from duty, and soon after breakfast said what he thought.
"Every one seems to know about it," he said mournfully. "It's wonderful what an excitement it has caused."
"Not a bit. Every one knows Lady Gowan and her son, and how Sir Robert was sent out of the country on account of that duel in the Park; so of course they talk about it."
"But wherever we go we shall be meeting people who will want to question me."