Chapter 60
"You knew it?"
"Yes."
"Then, as my servant, why did you not inform me, sir?"
"Because I was your servant, sir, and not a spy," said the boy proudly.
"Very fine language, upon my honour!" cried the Prince. "But you are friends with him; and last night, after his first failure, you helped him to escape."
"I did not, sir!" cried the boy pa.s.sionately.
"Words, words, sir," said the Prince; "even your friend here, Captain Murray, feels that you did."
"And it is most unjust of him, sir!" cried the boy.
"Don't speak so bluntly to me," said the Prince sternly. "Now attend.
You say you did not help him?"
"Yes, your Royal Highness."
"Mind this. I know all the circ.u.mstances. Give me some proof that you knew nothing of his escape."
"I can't, sir," cried the boy pa.s.sionately. "I was asleep, and when I woke he was gone."
"Weak, weak, sir. Now look here; you say you are my servant, and want me to believe in you. Be quite open with me; tell me all you know, and for your mother's sake I will deal leniently with you. What do you know about this rising and the enemy's plans?"
"Nothing, your Highness."
"What! and you were hand and glove with these people. That wretched boy must have escaped to go straight to his father and acquaint him with everything he knows. What reason have I to think you would not do the same?"
"I!" cried the boy indignantly; "I could not do such a thing. Ah!" he cried, with a look of joy, making his white face flush and grow animated. "Your Royal Highness asked me for some proof;" and he lugged at something in his pocket, with which, as he let his hands fall, one had come in contact.
"What have you there, sir?"
"A book, your Highness," panted the boy; "but it won't come out. Hah!
that's it. Look, look! I found that on the table when I woke this morning. See what he has written here."
Frank was thinking nothing about royalty or court etiquette in his excitement. He dragged out the book, opened the cover, went close up to the Prince,
"There!" cried the boy, "that proves it. You must see now, sir. He cheated me. I thought he was very bad. But you see he was well enough to go. That shows how he wanted me to join him, and I wouldn't. Oh, don't say you can't see!"
"Yes, I can see," said the Prince, without taking his eyes off him.
"Did you know of this, Captain Murray?"
"I? No, your Royal Highness. It is fresh to me."
"Read."
Captain Murray took the book, read the sc.r.a.p of writing, and, forgetting the Prince's presence, he held out his hands to his brother-officer's son.
"Oh, Frank, my boy!" he cried, "forgive me for doubting your word."
"Oh yes, I forgive you!" cried the lad, seizing and clinging to his hands. "I knew you'd find out the truth. I don't mind now."
"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Prince, looking on gravely, but with his face softening a little. "The boy's honest enough, sir. But you occupy a very curious position, young gentleman, a very curious position, and everything naturally looked very black against you."
"Did it, your Highness? Yes, I suppose so."
"Then you had been quarrelling with that wretched young traitor about joining the--the enemy?" said the Prince.
Frank winced at "wretched young traitor"; but he answered firmly:
"Yes, sir; we were always quarrelling about it, but I hoped to get him to think right at last."
"And failed, eh?" said the Prince, with a smile.
"Yes, sir."
"And pray, was it about this business that you fought out yonder?"
"It had something to do with it, sir," said Frank, flus.h.i.+ng up. "He said--"
Frank stopped short, looking sadly confused, and grew more so as he found the questioner had fixed his eyes, full now of suspicion, upon him.
"Well, what did he say, sir?"
Frank was silent, and hung his head.
"Do you hear me, sir?"
"Must I speak, Captain Murray?" said the boy appealingly.
"Yes, the simple truth."
"He said, your Royal Highness, that my father had joined the enemy, and was a general in the rebel army, and I struck him for daring to utter such a lie--and then we fought."
"Why?" said the Prince sternly, "for telling you the truth?"
"The truth, sir!" cried the boy indignantly. "Don't say you believe that of my father, sir. There is not a more faithful officer in the King's service."
"Your father is not in the King's service, but holds a high command with the rebels, boy."
"No, sir, no!" cried the lad pa.s.sionately; "it is not true." At that moment, when he had not heard the rustling of a dress, a soft hand was laid upon Frank's shoulder, and, turning sharply, he saw that it was the Princess who had approached and now looked pityingly in his face, and then turned to the Prince.
"Don't be angry with him," she said gently; "it is very brave of him to speak like this, and terrible for him, poor boy, to know the truth."
"No, no, your Highness, it is not true!" cried Frank wildly; and he caught and kissed, and then clung to the Princess's hand.