Volume I Part 7 (1/2)
”Gude faith, my lord,” said Charlie, ”I beg your pardon for garring you come running out that gate; but here's a bit English lord for ye, an'
his henchman,--sic master, sic man, as the saying is. There war terrible charges gi'en about them, sae I thought I wad secure them, an' gie them into your ain hands.”
”I am much beholden to you, gallant Yardbire,” said Douglas: ”The care and pains you have taken shall not be forgotten.”
This encouraging Charlie, he spoke to the earl with great freedom, who was mightily diverted with his manner, as well as with his mode of securing the prisoners.
”There's his lords.h.i.+p for ye,” said Charlie, holding him out like a small bale of goods: ”Mind ye hae gotten him safe off my hand; an'
here's another chap I hae fastened to my back. An a' the English n.o.bles war like thir twa, I hae been thinking, my lord, that they might tak'
our la.s.ses frae us, but we wadna be ill pinched to tak their kye frae them; an' it wad be nae hard bargain for us neither.” So saying, he cut his belts and thongs of raw hide, and let the attendant lady, in page's clothes, free of his body. ”He's a little, fine, soft, cozey callan this,” added Charlie, ”he has made my hinderlands as warm as they had been in an oon.”
Douglas took Lady Jane off from before the gallant yeoman in his arms.
He observed with what a look she regarded him; and he was sure, from the first view he got of her features, that the page Colin must have been right with regard to the s.e.x of the prisoner. He likewise noted the holes in her ears, from which it was apparent that pendent jewels had lately been taken; and he hoped the other part of the page's information might likewise be correct, though how to account for such an extraordinary piece of good fortune he was wholly at a loss. He led her into the inner pavilion, and there, in presence of his secretary and two of his kinsmen, examined her papers and pa.s.sports. They were found all correct, and signed by the public functionaries of both nations, in favour of Jasper Tudor, son to the Earl of Pembroke.
”These are quite sufficient, my young lord,” said Douglas; ”I see no cause for detaining you further. You shall have a sufficient guard till you are out of the range of my army, and safe furtherance to the Scottish court.”
The prisoner's countenance lighted up, and she thanked Douglas in the most grateful terms, blessing herself that she had fallen into the hands of so courteous a knight, and urged the necessity of their sudden departure. Douglas a.s.sured her they should be detained no longer than the necessity of the times required; but that it was absolutely requisite, for his own safety, the safety of the realm, and the success of the enterprise in which he was engaged, and so deeply concerned, that they should submit to a personal search from head to foot, lest some traitorous correspondence might be secretly conveyed by them.
The countenance of the prisoner again altered at this information. It became at first pale as a lily, and immediately after blushed as deeply as the damask rose, while the tears started to her eyes. It was no wonder, considering the predicament in which she now stood; her delicate lady form to be searched by the hands of rude warriors, her s.e.x discovered, and her mission to the Scottish court found out to be a wild intrigue. She fell instantly on her knees before Douglas, and besought him in moving accents to dispense with the useless formality of searching her and her young kinsman and companion, a.s.suring him at the same time that neither of them had a single sc.r.a.p of writing that he had not seen, and adjuring him on his honour and generosity as a knight to hearken to this request.
”The thing is impossible, my lord,” said Douglas;” and, moreover, the anxiety you manifest about such a trifle argues a consciousness of guilt. You must submit to be searched on the instant. Chuse of us whom you will to the office.”
”I will never submit to it,” said she pa.s.sionately, ”there is not a knight in England would have refused such a request to you.”
”I would never have asked it, my lord,” said he; ”and it is your utter inexperience in the customs of war that makes you once think of objecting to it. I am sorry we must use force. Bring in two of the guards.”
”Hold, hold, my lord,” said Lady Jane, ”since I must submit to such a degradation, I will submit to yourself. I will be searched by your own hands, and yours alone.”
They were already in the inner tent. Douglas desired his friends to go out, which they complied with, and he himself began to search the person of Lady Jane, with the most careful minuteness, as he pretended, well aware what was to be the issue of the search. He examined all her courtly coat, pockets, lining, and sleeves,--he came to her gaudy doublet, stiff with gold embroidery, and began to unloose it, but she laid both her hands upon her breast, and looked in his face with eyes so speaking, and so beseeching, that it was impossible for man to mistake the import. Douglas did not mistake it, but was bent upon having proof positive.
”What?” said he, ”do you still resist? What is here you would conceal?”
”Oh my Lord,” said she, ”do you not see?”
”I see nothing,” said he; and while she feebly struggled he loosed the vest, when the fair heaving bosom discovered the s.e.x of his prisoner, and at the same time, with the struggle, the beautiful light locks had escaped from their confinement, and hung over her breast in waving ringlets. The maid stood revealed; and, with the disclosure, all the tender emotions and restrained feelings of the female heart burst forth like a river that has been dammed up from running in its natural channel, and has just got vent anew. She wept and sobbed till her fair breast was like to rend. She even seized on Douglas' hand, and wet it with her tears. He, on his part, feigned great amazement.
”How is this?” said he, ”A maid!”
”Yes indeed, my lord, you see before you, and in your power, a hapless maid of n.o.ble blood, who set out on a crazy expedition of love, but, from inexperience, has fallen into your hands.”
”Then the whole pretended mission to our Scottish court is, it appears, a fraud, a deep laid imposition of some most dangerous intent, as the interest that has been used to accomplish it fully demonstrates. You have subjected yourself and all your followers to military execution; and the only method by which you can procure a respite, either for yourself or them, is to make a full confession of the whole plot.”
”Alas, my lord, I have no plot to confess. Mine was merely a romantic expedition of youthful love, and, as you are a knight, and a lover yourself, I beg your clemency, that you will pardon my followers and me.
They are innocent; and, save my page, who is likewise a lady, and my own kinswoman, all the rest are as ignorant who I am, and what I am, as the child that is unborn.”
”If you would entertain any hopes of a reprieve, I say, madam, either for yourself or them, declare here to me instantly your name, lineage, and the whole of your business in Scotland, and by whose powerful interest you got this safe conduct made out, for one who, it seems, knows nothing of it, or who, perhaps, does not exist.”
”Surely you will not be so ungallant as to insist upon a lady exposing herself and all her relations? No, my lord, whatever become of me, you must never attain to the knowledge of my name, rank, or t.i.tles. I entrust myself to your mercy: you can have nothing to fear from the machinations of a love-lorn damsel.”
”I am placed in peculiarly hard circ.u.mstances, madam; I have enemies abroad and at home, and have nothing but my own energies to rely on to save my house and name from utter oblivion, and my dearest hopes from extinguishment. This expedition of yours, folded as it is in deceit and forgery, has an ominous and daring appearance. The house of Douglas must not fall for the tears of a deceitful maiden, the daughter of my enemy.