Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
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CHAPTER XVI.
HOW THE GREY MARE PROVED THE BETTER HORSE.
Limbry was not altogether in fault, though appearances were against him.
Like many other men, he was under the governance of his spouse. And,as we shall now proceed to show, it was owing to Dame Limbry thatthe king's well-planned escape to France was frustrated. It may beremembered that she had expressed to her daughter a resolution toascertain the nature of the important business on which CaptainEllesdon and the two Cavaliers desired to see Limbry at the inn. Butshe did not succeed. Strange to say, the shipmaster for once kept hisown counsel, and this unwonted reticence on his part only served toinflame his wife's curiosity the more. Feeling his inequality in acontest with such a determined woman, Limbry showed his discretion bykeeping out of her way as much as possible, and did not even acquainther with his intention to go to sea; but desirous to propitiate her, heurged her to take her daughter to Lyme fair. As it turned out, he couldnot have acted more injudiciously. While at the fair, Dame Limbry heardthe terrible Proclamation, and a suspicion immediately crossed her thatthe two gentlemen she had seen were fugitive Cavaliers from Worcester.The suspicion was converted into certainty, when about nine o'clock atnight, just after she and her daughter had returned from Lyme, Limbry,who had been absent from home all day, came in, and instead of sittingdown like a good husband and father to chat with them, went up-stairsat once to his own room, in order to pack up some linen.
While he was thus employed, his wife, who had followed him, enteredthe room, closed the door, and putting on an injured expression ofcountenance, which she knew so well how to assume, asked him, in a tonethat made him quake, what he was about.
"Surely, you are not going to sea to-night?"
"Yes I am," he replied, finding further concealment impossible. "Mylandlord, Captain Ellesdon, has provided me with a freight which willbe worth infinitely more to me than if the _Eider Duck_ were laden withgoods. Distrusting your power of keeping a secret, I have hitherto keptthe matter from you, but now that there is no risk of your blabbing,I may tell you that I am about to transport some passengers to St.Malo, and on my return I shall receive a very handsome sum from CaptainEllesdon for my pains."
But instead of appearing pleased, and congratulating him as he expectedon his good fortune, with a countenance inflamed with anger, his wifescreamed out:
"I knew it. I felt quite certain you were about to transport someRoyalists to France--perhaps the Malignant Prince himself. Foolish man!do you know that the penalty is death? Do you know that you are liableto be hanged for aiding the escape of traitors? This very morning Iheard the Proclamation published at Lyme by the mayor, offering areward of a thousand pounds for the capture of Charles Stuart, andthreatening, with the heaviest penalties--even death--those who may aidthe escape of his partisans. Now, I know that the men you have engagedto carry over to France are Royalists, and, as a dutiful and lovingwife, I am bound to save you from the consequences of your folly. Youshall not throw away a life which, if not valuable to yourself, isvaluable to me and to my child. You shall NOT sail to France to-night!"
"How will you prevent me?" inquired her husband contemptuously. "Tellme that."
"By locking you up in this chamber," she replied.
And before he could stop her, she slipped out of the room, and lockedthe door on the outside.
"Now, get out if you can," she cried, derisively.
"Ten thousand furies!" cried Limbry, vainly trying to force open thedoor. "Let me out at once, or you will rue it."
"'Tis you who will rue it, not me," she rejoined. "Unless you arequiet, I will go at once to Lyme, and give information to Captain Macyagainst both you and Captain Ellesdon."
"Zounds! woman!" he cried. "You don't mean to say you will commit suchfolly?" Assuming a coaxing tone, he then added, "Hear me, sweetheart!Open the door, and I'll bring you the handsomest present from St.Malo--I swear I'll do it."
"I'm not to be cajoled," she replied, in accents that left him no doubtof her fixed determination. "Keep quiet, or I will at once set offfor Lyme, and see Captain Macy, and then you know full well what willfollow."
"Was ever fair plan so absurdly defeated!" groaned the shipmaster. "IfI could only give information to the gentlemen; but that's impossible,with this infernal woman at the door. Since there's no help for it, Imust submit."
And throwing himself, dressed as he was, on the bed, he gave utteranceto a few more groans, and fell asleep.
When he awoke, about five o'clock in the morning, the events of theprevious night rushed forcibly upon him, and his self-reproaches wereso keen, that he started from his bed, and rushed to the door.
Finding it still locked, he called out lustily for his wife. Thesummons was quickly answered, for Dame Limbry had sat up all night, andin reply to his demand to be released, she refused, unless he solemnlypromised to give up his intended voyage.
After some little demur, and another attempt at coaxing, which provedunsuccessful, he assented, and gave the required promise, but he addedthat he must go down to the seaside and inform the gentlemen whowere waiting for him, that he was unable to fulfil his engagement.Thereupon, the door was opened, and Limbry prepared to set out at once.
Rather doubting his design, notwithstanding the solemn promise he hadjust given, his vigilant spouse would not allow him to go alone, butfollowed him closely with her daughter, and they were proceeding alongthe narrow lane leading to the sea, when they met Colonel Wyndhamand his servant. The colonel could not fail to be struck by Limbry'sdowncast looks, and he was also surprised to see him attended by thetwo women. But he was too exasperated to heed their presence.
"Treacherous rascal!" he vociferated. "Art thou not ashamed to lookme in the face after breaking thy engagement to Captain Ellesdon andmyself? I have been waiting for the boat since midnight. How dost thouattempt to justify thy scandalous conduct? ha!"
"I cannot justify it, sir," said Limbry. "I have been made a prisonerin my own house."
"An idle story!" exclaimed Colonel Wyndham, incredulously.
"'Tis the truth," cried Dame Limbry, stepping forward. "I knew myfoolish husband was running his neck into a noose, so I locked him upto save him. Don't tempt him to sail, or as sure as I'm a living woman,I'll inform against you all."
"Be not afraid, woman, I've done with him," rejoined the colonel. "Takecare thy termagant spouse doesn't get thee into mischief," he added toLimbry.
So saying he rode past them, and made his way towards the inn.
Arrived there, he despatched Peters to Lyme Regis to acquaint CaptainEllesdon with the failure of the scheme, and ask his advice.