With Ring of Shield
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CHAPTER XVI
MY DANGEROUS POSITION
"Well, Harleston," said I, after Michael had left us, "here is theposition in which I now find myself placed. Methinks thou wilt agreewith me when I say that my prospects are anything but of the brightnessof the sun.
"The Queen hath fled from her home and hath taken refuge in a Sanctuaryfor reason of her fear of Gloucester. The young King, her son, is inthe power of the man from whom she hath fled. Catesby, who isevidently in the service of Richard, hath good reason for his beliefthat I warned the Queen and thus have been the cause of her takingrefuge. Richard hath some scheme in hand, the object of which we knownot. The death of Rivers, Grey and Vaughan, is evidently decided uponmerely because they are friends to the Queen. Gloucester is bent ongaining possession of the King's little brother, for what purpose weknow not. What chance then have I of escaping the tusks of the boar?"asked I, when I had finished this somewhat gloomy list of facts.
"My dear friend," replied Harleston, "however strange it may sound, Imust say methinks thou hast naught to fear from Catesby's telling toRichard the part thou hast played in connection with the Queen'sflight."
"Why?" I asked in surprise.
"For this reason," replied my friend, "Catesby was evidently instructedto prevent any messages from reaching the Queen, else why should he soquestion Michael, and, when speaking to himself, say that Richard wouldgive him the devil when he should learn of the Queen's flight?"
"Well?" I asked, "and what hath that to do with removing the dangerfrom me?"
"This," replied my friend in his quiet yet most impressive manner."Thinkest thou that Catesby would dare to tell Gloucester that he didpermit a common soldier to carry a message unto the Queen, when heshould have prevented it? No," said he answering his own question, "itis more likely that he would attribute the warning to Dorset, over whomhe could have no control, and therefore could not be blamed forallowing him to warn the Queen."
"That may be so," I cried. "And if it be, why then I still may wear myhead; for if Catesby doth tell Richard I feel a tickling in the back ofmy neck which tells me it then must needs be severed."
"However," said Harleston, "thou art not by any means out of danger.Remember this," he continued; "some one must have warned Dorset.Catesby may suggest that thou wert the man which sent the news to him."
"Then the danger is as great as ever!" I cried in disappointment."Come, come, Harleston, thou art becoming as bad as Michael, with thysurprises and disappointments. Why didst thou raise my hopes only todash them again to earth and crush them like an egg?" This I said witha forced smile; for I tried to accept the inevitable with a philosophythat I was far from feeling.
"No," said my friend, with a grave face, "I think thy danger is notgreat; for though Catesby may cause Richard to suspect thee of beingthe cause of the Queen's flight, he cannot prove it without showingneglect of duty on his part."
"Thou art right, my friend," said I, as I grasped his hand and shook itwarmly. "Truly, I know not what I could do without thine advice.
"But tell me this," I said, as I remembered the incident in the Councilroom. "What did Catesby whisper to Lord Hastings that made theChancellor frown on us?"
"Nay, nay, my friend," said Frederick, laughing, "thou must not thinkthat I can read the thoughts of people." Then he added moreseriously:--"'Tis like he did but tell Lord William that he suspectedthee of being connected with Dorset in the warning of the Queen."
"Yes, that must have been it. How clear thou dost make everything,Harleston. I would that I could look on life as calmly, and think moreere I act. Now who but a prophet could have foreseen any danger ininforming the Queen of her friends' arrest: yet," I added, "I thank Godfor having permitted me to succeed in doing it, even though I lose myhead for having done it."
"Thou must not give me credit for having foreseen any danger in sendinga message by the hand of a servant; for Heaven knows I had no idea thattheir plan was so complete as to take precautions to prevent the Queenfrom being warned."
"Still, thou didst think it might be dangerous for me to come myself toWestminster; therefore, something must have told thee that they did notwish the Queen to know of her brother's and her son's arrest."
"Yes," he replied, "but thou dost give me credit that belongs not tome. The only danger I foresaw was the affront it might giveGloucester. I did not for one moment think that they would dare tointercept a message to the Queen."
"Well, Frederick," said I, "thou seest now that they dare do anything.When Richard even threatens to take the little Duke from his Mother, byforce, and that when they are in the Sanctuary, which has ever beenconsidered too holy for force to be used upon it, we need not besurprised at any move his Highness makes. Harleston, thy prophecy isbeing fulfilled."
"When did I make a prophecy?" asked my friend.
"Dost thou not remember when first we met, and thou didst say thatRichard, if he were ever made Protector, would be revenged upon thosewho did oppose him?"
"Ah, yes, I do remember me; but since that night my mind and body havebeen so occupied that I have not noticed my prediction reaching itsfulfilment. However," he continued, "but part of it, and that theminor one, is now being played. If this part lasts not too long weshall live to see the last and bloodiest of the prophecy. Do but, lookback over the history of our race and thou shalt see, wherever a man ofRichard's character--if ever such there has been--came into a positionof power he shone out with the brilliancy of a star. But the star theyall resembled was a falling one, and left a trail of blood behind it,as it tumbled from its height."