They bowed and withdrew, giving place to the newcomer, who entered at that moment-an old gentleman in a suit of dark blue edged with silver. As he pa.s.sed them in the doorway his eyes scanned Tristram narrowly, and he appeared to hesitate for a moment as if desirous of putting a question to the youth.
Unconscious of this look, Tristram followed his father down the stairs of the auberge. They had hardly reached the bottom, however, when a voice called from the landing above, and the Earl of Marlborough descended after them.
"Here are the papers," he said. "But, young sir, would you mind waiting here for a minute or two while I speak with your father in private?"
With this he opened a door upon the left and led the way through a dark pa.s.sage to a covered skittle-alley at the back of the house. It was a deserted and ramshackle arcade and offered the poorest cover from the rain, which dripped through the roof and drifted under the eaves. The skittles lay here and there, as if the last player, weary of the game, had been tossing them about at haphazard. Here the Earl paused, looked around him, and began in a low voice.
"My friend, I regret to perceive that you begin to act without instructions."
"In what way?"
"You propose to return at once to Harwich with this son of yours."
"Certainly, my lord. It appears to me that I have deserved a holiday by this week"s work."
"You shall take one; but not at Harwich just yet."
"And why not at Harwich?"
"For two reasons. In the first place you do no good, but harm, in returning thither at this moment. Understand that I am only asking you to defer the visit for a week or two. At present I am awaiting certain necessary information, without which you will hardly lay your hands on the good fortune I intend for you."
"You are mysterious, my lord. This boy of mine-"
"Will bring you wealth and dignity, I promise, if you allow me to conduct the affair. If not-"
"What is the other reason?"
"The other reason," replied the Earl, looking down and moving a skittle gently with the toe of his boot-"the other reason is that I require you to spend the first part of your holiday elsewhere."
"Where may that be?"
"At Saint Germains."
"My lord, you risk my neck with much composure!"
"There is no risk at all, unless-"
"Pray finish your sentence."
"-Unless you refuse," said the Earl significantly.
"Proceed, my lord." Captain Salt"s face flushed scarlet; then a sweat broke out on his temples, where an instant before the veins had swelled with rage.
"There is nothing to prevent your starting at once. You have altered the fuses, I suppose?"
"Yes."
"And made all the arrangements?"
"Nothing is omitted. The guns will be fired twenty minutes too soon, at ten minutes after nine. As William knows nothing about the signal, and has made his dispositions for half-past nine, the poor fellows will have some fun for their pains, after all."
"Excellent!" said the Earl smiling. "It only remains for you to start. Here are the papers; I advise you to keep them carefully sorted. This, in cipher, is for James. It is full of promises; and in addition, to keep his spirits up, you can give him an account of the mutiny, pointing out how near it came to success. A boat shall take you to Sevenbergen; after that you know the road-the usual one. The word is Modena. You will take your son with you, of course, and persuade him (if you can) that he is travelling back to Harwich by the shortest road."
"That will be difficult."
"From Paris return to Dunkirk, and there await a letter from me. By that time I hope to be able to send you information, on the strength of which you may at once sail for Harwich. Meanwhile guard that young man as the apple of your eye...."
We will return to the subject of this amiable advice. Tristram had been kicking his heels for ten minutes or more in the draughty pa.s.sage, and wondering if he should ever know the taste of food again, when the door opened on the landing above, and the old gentleman in blue and silver descended the stairs from his audience. He was clearly in something of a hurry, and strode past our hero as if unaware of his presence, but turned on his heel at the end of the pa.s.sage and came swiftly back.
"I ask your pardon, young man," he began, in a quick, foreign voice, "but I thought I heard his Majesty speaking to you of a Captain Runacles as I entered the room. Forgive me if I seem too inquisitive, but do you happen to know Captain Jeremiah Runacles?"
"I know no reason, sir, against my answering. I know him well, and love him."
"Ha? Where does he live?"
"In Harwich."
"He keeps hale?"
"In excellent health for his age."
"Could he still answer for himself with a small-sword?-I mean not with a young adversary, but, say, with a man of my age?"
"I have not the slightest doubt of it, sir." Tristram stared at the old gentleman, who was of a tall unwieldy figure, short bull neck and choleric complexion.
"You will see him again shortly?"
"With G.o.d"s help I shall see him in three days" time."
"Then I"d be obliged by your taking him a message from me. Tell him, sir, that I, Captain Van Adrienssen, may be heard of at The Hague at any time, and have not forgotten a certain promise of his (to cut my comb) which he uttered at one time when our ships lay alongside off the Texel. a.s.sure him that, though night parted us, I still retain the boot which he flung at my head and into my ship. Say that I have been waiting ever since for the man who fits that boot, and warn him that we are both well stricken in years and have little time left in which to try conclusions. You have that by heart?"
"Yes, sir."
"Repeat it."
Tristram did so.
"Very well; now be careful to deliver it."
And, nodding his head sharply, the old gentleman hurried away on his business just as the Earl and Captain Salt returned from their colloquy.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FOUR MEN AT THE "WHITE LAMB".