The Blue Pavilions Read online

  CHAPTER XII.

  WILLIAM OF ORANGE.

  On the third day after Captain Salt departed for Paris certain eventsbefell at The Hague which demand our attention.

  The campaign of 1691 in Flanders was conducted on both sides with theutmost vigour and the least possible result. Between May andSeptember the armies marched and counter-marched, walked up to eachother and withdrew with every expression of defiance. No importantaction was fought, though for some time less than a league dividedtheir hostility. William, whose patience was worn out almost soonerthan the shoe-leather of his subjects, left the command inMarlborough's hands, and retired to his park at Loo, whence, in thebeginning of July, he posted to The Hague to attend a meeting of theStates-General.

  On the 17th day of that month, and at ten o'clock in the morning--atwhich time the King was taking the air in his famous park on theoutskirts of the town--a couple of old gentlemen were advancing uponThe Hague from the westward, along the old Scheveningen road.They walked slowly, by reason of their years, but with a certainsolemnity of pace which indicated that, in their own opinion atleast, they were bound upon an errand of importance. At intervalsthey paused to mop their faces; and at every pause they regarded thelandscape with contempt. One of these old gentlemen was thin andwiry, with a jaw that protruded like a bulldog's. His companion, forwhose sake he corrected every now and then his long stride, was alittle hunchback of ferocious demeanour, who looked out on the worldfrom a pair of terrifying green eyes. In place of a wig he wore abandage round his scalp.

  The reader will not need to be told the names of this pair of oldgentlemen. After his treatment at the hands of the Earl ofMarlborough's soldiers, Captain Barker had been confined to hispavilion by nothing short of main force, which Dr. Beckerleg had withdifficulty prevailed on Captain Runacles to exert. The inflammationof the patient's wound increasing with his irascibility, the Doctorended by placing a padlock of his own on the front-door and anotheron the garden gate, and promising the little man his liberty on thefirst day he was fit to travel.

  Captain Barker flung a monastic herbal at the doctor's head;whereupon the bleeding broke out afresh. Then he fainted.

  Ten weeks afterwards Dr. Beckerleg removed his padlocks, setting freenot only the little Captain, but also Mr. Swiggs, who throughout thetime had kept diligent watch by his master's bedside.

  Narcissus walked out to take a look at the garden. Ten weeks ofneglect had played havoc with the beds. He contemplated it for sometime, and went down to the Fish and Anchor for a mug of beer.There he was welcomed by his cronies, who had missed him sorely; orsaid so, at any rate.

  Captain Barker went to pack his handbag. When Narcissus returned hewas gone. Captain Runacles was gone also.

  "Any orders?" said Narcissus to Simeon.

  "Not as I know by."

  Narcissus went back to the Fish and Anchor.

  The two friends entered The Hague, brisking up their pace andstepping gallantly abreast. Turning to their left, they came,towards the centre of the town, upon a fair sheet of water, withavenues of pleasant trees planted along its northern brink, andbehind these trees a public road faced with shops and cabarets, eachshaded by a coloured awning. It was the breakfast-hour, and beneaththese awnings sat a crowd of soldiers of the guard, citizens andcitizens' wives, eating, chattering, smoking, clinking their glassesand contemplating from their cool shelter the water that twinkledbetween the trees and the throng that moved up and down thepromenade. The two captains were hungry and thirsty. They advanced,and, finding a small table unoccupied, ordered breakfast.

  Their appearance, and more especially the bandage around CaptainBarker's head, attracted some attention. More than one group turnedto stare as the little man began in execrable Dutch to explain hiswants to the drawer. The fellow, too, was more than ordinarilydense, and a tempestuous scene was plainly but a matter of a minuteor so, when a tall ensign of the guard rose from a neighbouringtable, and, lifting his hat, addressed the Englishmen in their ownlanguage. "Pardon, gentlemen, but I cannot help overhearing yourdifficulty; and think, with your leave, I may remove it."

  Captain Barker scowled for a moment, and seemed about to take deeperumbrage. But the tall young man seemed quite unconscious of this,and smiled down with the serenest good will.

  "Do not say no. I have been in England, and I love all men of yourcountry."

  "Jack," growled Captain Runacles, "this is one of a new generation ofDutchmen. We are getting old, my boy."

  The young man's manner was so sincere that Captain Barker gave waywith a fair grace--the more readily because there was something inthe amiable face which recalled his lost Tristram. In less than aminute he was stating his desires, which were promptly translatedinto fluent Dutch. The drawer ran off on his errand.

  "Since you have been so kind, sir," said the little hunchbackpolitely, "perhaps you can do us another favour."

  "What is that?"

  "We have come across from Harwich for the purpose of seeking anaudience with his Majesty, King William. Can you tell us when andwhere we are likely to find him?"

  "His Majesty is just now at the House in the Wood."

  "Where may that be?"

  "Not two miles beyond the town. On fine days, such as the present,he gives audience every morning, between nine and ten o'clock, in theopen air, walking up and down an alley, which is called for thatreason the Promenade of Audience; and again, if no other businessprevents him, at five o'clock in the afternoon, when the day growscool." He pulled out a stout watch and consulted it. "By six o'clockI must be back there, for at that time my duty begins. But if youwill let me accompany you and pass you through the park gates, I willgladly hasten my return, and start--shall we say?--at half-pastfour."

  He would take no denial, but rose and left them, waving his hand,smiling, and turning, after a dozen steps, to call back and assurethem he would be punctual.

  "He has the very same eyes," Captain Barker muttered, watching him ashe disappeared between the trees.

  "I remarked it, too," assented Captain Runacles, who understood theallusion at once. "I'd no notion there was such another pair of eyesin the world."

  "We'd better adopt him, Jerry," the little man went on, with a wryand hopeless smile; "for it's little chance we have of finding theother one." He gulped as he uttered the last three words, andblinked at the broad sunshine behind the awning.

  "The fact is, Jack, the doctor let you out too soon."

  "Eh?"

  "You're not fit to travel, but ought to be between the blankets atthis moment."

  "Jerry, that's false, and you know it."

  "Oh, do I? Then you'd best give over talking nonsense, or by theLord I'll take you off and put you to bed this instant! And, what'smore, I'll call in a Dutch doctor."

  Captain Barker could not deny that the rest beneath the awning waswelcome. The road from Scheveningen had been hot and dusty, and hisillness had left him weaker than even his comrade imagined. They satsipping their beer and gazing at the crowd till the town chimes rangout and announced half-past four. At the first note they saw theiryoung friend advancing from the Buitenhof.

  "Here I am, you see. But I have taken a liberty, I fear, sinceleaving you."

  "Eh? What have you been doing?" Captain Runacles inquired.

  "Why, sir, perceiving that your friend was but lately recovered froman illness, and remembering that though the distance to the House inthe Wood is but two miles or less, the distance there and back isalmost four, I have brought him a litter. Perhaps I did wrong?"

  He pointed to the litter, which two men in blue blouses were bringingacross the road.

  "Not at all, sir. On the contrary, your thoughtfulness puts me toshame," answered Captain Runacles, with something like a blush.

  Captain Barker also thanked him, and added, "Decidedly, it might beTristram's very self"--a remark which the young officer did notunderstand in the least. But he smiled happily. The mere pleasureof doing a kindness a
nd finding it appreciated was so strong in thisyouth that he almost regretted he had not sacrificed a fortnight'spay and hired a chariot and six horses.

  Captain Barker climbed into the litter, and the party set out at aleisurely pace, which brought them to the park gates in a little morethan half an hour. A couple of sentries kept guard here, and withinthe lodge a dozen others were playing at dominoes and laughing likechildren.

  "If you will permit me," said their conductor, as Captain Barkeralighted, "I will conduct you as far as the Promenade of Audience.Otherwise you will have to go with one of my comrades, and probablywith one who is ignorant of English."

  Taking their consent for granted, he marched them past the sentriesand through the iron gates. A broad avenue of yews confronted them,with a gravelled carriage-drive that stretched away till lost amidinterlacing boughs. A couple of gentlemen were advancing down thisavenue in brisk conversation. They were about to pass our friendswhen the elder of the pair--an old gentleman in blue, with a ruddycomplexion and apoplectic neck--glanced up casually, uttered anexclamation, and came to a halt.

  Leaving his companion to stare, he advanced towards Captain Runaclesand saluted him with punctilio.

  "This is a great pleasure," he observed in very good English.

  "I'm very glad of that, sir," Captain Runacles answered, "though 'ponmy life I don't know why it should be."

  "I have been expecting you."

  "Indeed?"

  "Will you be good enough to withdraw with me behind these yews, inorder that our conversation may not be observed from the lodgewindows?"

  "Certainly, if you wish it."

  The whole party followed him, much puzzled. He led them between acouple of gigantic trees, glanced around him, and asked suddenly:

  "The young man, I presume, gave you my message?"

  "Now, what in the world--" began Captain Runacles with a bewilderedstare. But the little hunchback was quicker.

  "What young man, sir?" he cried sharply. "Do you mean TristramSalt?"

  "I really don't know his name; but he was accompanied, to be sure, bya Captain Salt when I met him at Vlaardingen."

  Captain Barker groaned.

  "But excuse me," pursued the old gentleman in blue, still addressingCaptain Runacles, "I spoke not only of a young man, but of a message.Did he deliver it?"

  "If you mean Tristram Salt, I have not clapped eyes on him since the1st of May last."

  "Then I will deliver it myself. You do not appear to know me--"

  "Not from Adam."

  "My name is Cornelius van Adrienssen, and you, Captain Runacles, onceflung a boot at my head."

  "Did I, indeed! It was in a moment of extreme irritation, no doubt."

  "We were engaged off the Texel--June the 5th, '71, was the date.You were on board the _Galloper_, I on the _Zeelandshoop_.Night parted us--"

  "I begin to remember the incident."

  "Then I need not proceed. Let me merely remark that I have kept thatboot."

  "Whatever for?"

  "What for, sir?" cried the choleric old gentleman, now fairly hoppingwith rage. "What for? To throw it back, sir--that's why."

  "My dear Captain van Adrienssen, is not this rather childish?Twenty years is a long time to harbour resentment."

  "You shall fight me, sir."

  "Tut, tut!"

  "I regret that I have not the boot with me to fling back at you--"

  "You have a pair on your feet, sir," suggested the Englishman, whosetemper was rising.

  "--But this shall do instead!" and taking his glove Captain vanAdrienssen dashed it in Captain Runacles' face.

  "By the Lord, you shall pay for this!"

  "I am ready, sir."

  They tugged off their coats and pulled out their swords.

  "Sirs, sirs!" cried the young ensign; "remember you are in hisMajesty's park."

  But before his sentence was out the two swords were crossed, and theold gentlemen attacking each other with the unregulated ardour of apair of schoolboys.

  "Jerry, Jerry," murmured Captain Barker, "you never had much science,but this is fool-work."

  Captain Runacles heard, straightened his arm and controlled himself.He had little science, but an extremely tough wrist. As for Captainvan Adrienssen, the veins of his neck were so swollen with passionthat his wig curled up at the edge and stood out straight behind himin the absurdest fashion.

  "The boot--the boot!" he kept exclaiming, stamping with each lunge."Take that for the boot, sir!" He aimed a furious thrust in tierceat Captain Runacles' breast.

  "And that for the glove, sir!" retorted his adversary, parrying andrunning his blade on and through the exposed arm by the elbow.

  The arm dropped. Captain van Adrienssen scowled, looked round, andwas caught in his companion's arms as he fell.

  "And now, sir, let me express my regret," began Captain Jerry,advancing and stooping over him.

  "I'll have you yet!" retorted this implacable old gentleman; and withthat fainted away. He awoke to find his arm bandaged and the littlegroup still standing around him.

  "Peter," he said, sitting up with an effort; "get my coat."

  "But, Captain, you cannot put it on," remonstrated Peter, a squarelybuilt man with eyes of a porcelain blue.

  "Then how in the world do you suppose that I'm to get past thesentries?"

  "You'll be carried."

  "And let every man of them know that this gentleman and I have beenfighting in his Majesty's park! Tut, tut; you'll have them botharrested in a jiffy. Give me my coat!"

  "You cannot get your arm into it."

  "My worthy Peter, you're my excellent lieutenant and a fair seaman;but I begin to doubt if you'll ever make a captain. You've noresource. Take your knife. Now slit down the inner seam of thesleeve--so. Now lift me up and help me into it."

  He stood on his legs. His face was a trifle pale, but he kept hisjaw set firmly.

  "Now button the sleeve at the wrist."

  "But it still gapes above."

  "Of course it does. Therefore we will walk arm-in-arm; only you musthold me very gently. There, that's it." He nodded stiffly, and wasmoving away on Peter's arm when Captain Barker interposed.

  "Excuse me, Captain van Adrienssen, but just outside the park gateyou'll find a litter, which I am happy to place at your service."

  "Thank you, sir, but I'll not use it."

  "You will," said Peter decidedly.

  "Why, sir, we have to start for Amsterdam to-night."

  "You'll get no farther than The Hague," said Peter; "and there you'llbe put to bed."

  They walked slowly off, arm-in-arm. Drawing near the sentries,Captain van Adrienssen groaned.

  "Going to faint?" Peter asked.

  "Not till I get outside."

  He was as good as his word, and they went through the gates withoutexciting suspicion. The litter was there, and Peter, beckoning tothe men, explained the case in a whisper. His companion offered noopposition. Indeed, no sooner was he placed in the litter than heswooned away.

  King William was still strolling in his favourite avenue when the twocaptains approached, led by their friend the ensign, who wasbeginning to wish himself well out of the business. At his Majesty'sside paced William Bentinck, Earl of Portland, whom we have alreadymet, in the course of this narrative, in the little inn atVlaardingen. The two were alone and in earnest converse, but lookedup as the party approached along the avenue.

  "H'm, it appears to me that I know these two shapes," said William.

  "They are odd enough to be remembered."

  "That is the figure which honesty cuts in the country over which Ihave the misfortune to rule--or rather to reign. My friend, theseare two honest Englishmen, and therefore worth observation.Moreover, they are about to give me the devil of a time.Well, gentlemen," he continued, lifting his voice as they approached,"what is your business?"

  "We desire your Majesty to listen to us."

  "On a matter of importance?"
>
  "To us--yes. It has brought us from England."

  "Speak, then."

  "Your Majesty," Captain Barker began, his voice trembling slightly,"we have come to offer you, and to beg that you will accept, ourswords and our service."

  "That is very pretty, sir," answered William, after a pause, duringwhich his eye kindled with some triumph; "but unless I do you aninjustice, Captain Barker and Captain Runacles, there is somecondition attached to this surrender."

  "None, sire, but that which your Majesty's self imposed less thanthree months back. We are come to redeem, if we may, the young manof whom you then robbed us."

  "Robbed!"

  "Forgive me, sire--deprived. See, your Majesty; we are two old men,but active; battered somewhat, but not ignorant; worn, but not wornout. We are at your service: take us, use us as you will. We willserve you faithfully, loyally, without question, until we die or yourenemies break us. Only restore our son, Tristram Salt."

  "Gentlemen, I will not say but that I am gratified by this--"William paused, saw the hope spring into their eyes, and added, withassumed coldness--"only it happens that you come too late."

  The two honest faces fell.

  "Too-late?" Captain Barker stammered, staring stupidly at the King."Is my boy--dead?" The question came in a dull, sick tone, thatsoftened their Sovereign's heart within him.

  "Forgive me, gentlemen; I had no right to play thus with yourfeelings. You have come too late only because I gave the young manhis discharge more than two months ago, with a passport to take himback to England."

  "But he has not arrived!"

  "He started, at any rate; and in company with one who appeared tohave the best right to take care of him--I mean his father, CaptainRoderick Salt."

  Captain Barker groaned.

  "May it please your Majesty," said Captain Jemmy, thrusting himselfforward, "but Roderick Salt's the damn'dest villain in your service;and that's saying a good deal. I mean no offence, of course."

  "Of course not," commented the Earl of Portland, who was hugelydelighted.

  "I believe that opinion is held by some," his Majesty observed, witha side-glance at his friend.

  "Not by me," said Portland tranquilly. "There are worse than Salt--whom, after all, your Majesty has neither enriched nor ennobled."

  William frowned. For a moment or two he stood, scraping the gravelgently with the side of his boot. At last he spoke:

  "Gentlemen, I thank you for your offer; and some day I may takeadvantage of it to command you: for honest men (however wrong-headed)and good commanders"--this with a slight bow--"are always scarce.For the moment, however, I should feel that I wronged you byaccepting your service."

  "Your Majesty is good to us. But our word holds."

  "I thank you. I had guessed that. Nevertheless, I advise you, justnow, to return to England and wait. I have some knowledge of CaptainSalt's movements; and when last your lad was heard of he had partedcompany with his father and was making for the coast. I have somequickness in reading character; and there is a certain placidobstinacy in that young man which persuades me he will reach Harwichin time. Return, therefore, and wait with what patience you may.Moreover, Captain Barker, I perceive that you are recovering fromsome wound."

  "Which explains, sire, the tardiness of my submission. I wasstarting to seek an audience on the morning that you sailed fromHarwich, when your soldiers--"

  "My soldiers?"

  "Yes, sire; but perhaps they erred from abundance of zeal."

  Portland looked at the speaker shrewdly. "You know more than youtell us, my friend," he said quietly.

  "Possibly, my lord; but it is nothing that can affect his Majestynow."

  "You are under some promise?" William asked gravely.

  "We are, sire; but be assured that if it touched your welfare we hadnever come to lay our services at your disposal."

  "I believe you, my friends. And now, about starting for England--Iwas about to propose that as Captain van Adrienssen's frigate--

  "Captain van Adrienssen!"

  "You know him? He is about to sail from Amsterdam in the frigate_Merry Maid_ to escort a convoy of thirty-six merchantmen to theThames. If you start at once you will overtake him."

  "Unfortunately, sire, Captain van Adrienssen will not be able tostart for many days."

  "Eh?"

  "He is unwell."

  "Unwell? Why, it is not an hour since he left me!"

  "Nevertheless--"

  "Let me explain, sire," said Captain Runacles, stepping forwardagain. "It happened thus. We met Captain van Adrienssen on our wayfrom The Hague."

  "Yes, yes."

  "And it appeared--though I had forgotten it--that twenty years ago Ihad the imprudence to throw a boot at his head. It was off theTexel--"

  "Have you lost your senses?"

  "I beg your Majesty to listen. The sight of me revived that painfulrecollection. We pulled out our swords and fell on each other,forgetting, alas! that now we are both servants of your Majesty.It is annoying; but before we could remember it, Captain vanAdrienssen was wounded."

  William's brow was black as night.

  "A duel?" he said sternly.

  "Your Majesty, it could hardly be dignified by that name.Say rather--"

  "What shall I do with these incorrigibles?" asked the King, turningto Portland. "At this time, too, when I've not a single othercommander of value within call!"

  "If I may advise you, sire--But, first, will you command thesegentlemen to retire?"

  William dismissed them with a wave of the hand, and they withdrew toa little distance among the trees, where they waited in considerabletrepidation.

  It was a full half an hour before Portland came towards them, tryingto hide a smile.

  "Pouf!" he said, "that was a tough business, gentlemen. I havepersuaded his Majesty to accept the offer he declined a while ago,and to use your services."

  "In what way, my lord?"

  "You will go at once to The Hague and find out the condition ofCaptain van Adrienssen. If, as I suspect, he be unfit to travel, youwill, with this authority, take over his papers and post toAmsterdam, where you will find the _Merry Maid_ frigate with herconvoy. You are to escort this convoy to the Thames--but you willread your instructions in the papers which Van Adrienssen will giveyou. You, Captain Barker, are the senior, I believe. Yes?I thought so; and therefore you will take command. Unless yourfriend declines to act on this occasion as your lieutenant--"

  "My lord, how can we thank you?"

  "By serving his Majesty," answered Portland; and added significantly,"rather than the Earl of Marlborough."

  The two friends walked away, treading on air. But perhaps theirfriend the ensign, from whom they parted affectionately at the footof the avenue, was happier even than they. For not only did hisheart rejoice at their good fortune, but his Majesty had failed toinquire whether the duel had been fought within or without the parkgates.