by G. A. Henty
Chapter 4: The Sedan Chair.
"This is our last stage, Hugh, and tonight we shall be in London,"Rupert said, as they rode out of Watford. "Methinks we shall findit very strange in that great city. I am glad I thought of askingour host the name of an inn at which to put up. The Bell inBishopsgate Street, he said. It will seem less strange asking theway there than it would be to be wandering about gazing for a placeat which to alight."
"Ay, truly, Master Rupert; and I've heard say those London folk aremain fond of making game of strangers."
"So I have heard, Hugh; any reasonable jest we had best put up withwith good temper. If they push it too far, we shall be able, Idoubt not, to hold our own. The first thing to do will be to getclothes of the cut in vogue, for I have come away just as I stood;and I fear that even your clothes will have a marvellously countryair about them in the eyes of the city folk.
"There is London," he said, as they passed over the crest ofHampstead Hill. "That great round dome that stands up so high mustbe Saint Paul's; and look how many other church towers and spiresthere are. And there, away to the right, those must be the towersof Westminster."
"It is a big place, surely, Master Rupert. How many people do youthink live there?"
"I believe there are near 300,000 souls there, Hugh. It seemswonderful, does it not?"
"It's too big to think of, Master Rupert," Hugh said, and theycontinued their journey southward.
They entered the city at Aldersgate, but they had ridden somedistance through houses before they arrived at the boundary, forthe city was already spreading beyond its ancient limits. Onceinside the walls, the lads were astonished at the bustle and noise.
Hugh inquired the way to Bishopsgate Street of a respectablecitizen, who directed them to follow the road until they came to abroad turning to their left. This would be Chepeside, and they wereto follow this until they came to the Exchange, a large buildingstraight in front of them. Passing this, they would find themselvesin Bishopsgate Street.
If Aldersgate Street had surprised them, much more were theyastonished at the din and turmoil of Chepeside, and Hugh, havingtwice narrowly escaped riding over a citizen, and being soundlyrated for a country gawk, Rupert turned to him.
"Look at your horse's head, Hugh, and pay no attention to aughtelse. When we have reached our destination, we shall have plenty oftime to look at all these wonders."
The advice was good, and without mischance they reached the Bell inBishopsgate Street, and rode into the yard. The host at once cameout, and after a momentary look of surprise at the youth of the newarrivals, he asked Rupert courteously if he needed a room.
"Two rooms if it please you," Rupert said, "and together."
The host called a hostler, who at once took charge of the horses,and led them to the stable, the lads first removing the valises andholsters, which a servant carried up to their rooms.
"We would have supper," Rupert said; "and while that is preparingwe would, if it is not too late, order some clothes more in themode than these. Can you direct us to a tailor?"
"You cannot do better," the landlord said, "than visit myneighbour, Master John Haliford. His shop is just opposite, and hemakes for many of our best city folk, and for more than one of thegentry of the Court."
Rupert thanked him, and they crossed the street to the shopindicated.
The landlord looked after them with a puzzled air.
"It is not often that Joe Miles cannot guess the quality and errandof his guests, but this time he is floored. Has that young sparkrun away from home? I hardly think so, for he speaks gravely, andwithout haste; lads who have run away may generally be known bytheir speaking in a hurry, and as if anxious. They are both wellmounted; the younger is clearly of the higher estate, although butmeanly dressed; nor does the other seem like his lackey. What arethey talking about outside neighbour Haliford's shop, I wonder? Iwould give a silver penny to know. I will walk over presently, andsmoke a pipe with him, and hear what he thinks of them."
The conversation which the host of the Bell had wished he couldoverhear was as follows:
Hugh began it.
"Look, Master Rupert, before we go into the shop, let us talk overwhat you are going to order."
"I am going to order a walking suit, Hugh, and a court suit formyself, and a suit for you."
"Yes, but what sort of a suit, Master Rupert?"
"I should say a walking suit, Hugh, such as would become a modestcitizen."
"That's just it, Master Rupert. So far you have treated me as afriend; but now, sir, it must be different, for to do so any longerwould not be seemly. You are going to be an officer. I am going tofollow you as a trooper; but till we go to the war I must bedressed as your retainer. Not a lackey, perhaps, but a sort ofconfidential retainer. That will be best, Master Rupert, in everyway."
Rupert was silent for a moment.
"Well, Hugh, perhaps that would be best; but you must remember thatwhatever we are before others, we are always friends when we arealone."
"Very well," Hugh said, "that is understood; but you know thatalone or before others, I shall always be your faithful servant."
"What can I make you, sir?" the tailor asked, as the lads enteredhis shop.
Master Haliford was a small man; neat in his dress; a little fussyin manner. He was very upright, and seemed to look under ratherthan through the pair of horn spectacles which he wore. His lookchanged from affability to doubt as he took a nearer look at hisintending customers.
"I need a suit such as a gentleman might wear at court," Rupertsaid, quietly, "and a walking or ordinary suit for myself; and asuit such as would be worn by a trusted retainer for my friendhere."
The tailor put his head on one side, and rubbed his chinthoughtfully.
"Have I had the honour of being recommended to you by thehonourable gentleman your father?" he asked.
"No, indeed," Rupert said. "It was mine host at the Bell, whoadvised me that I could not do better than come to your shop."
"Ah, you are known to him, beyond doubt," John Haliford said,brightening.
"No, indeed," Rupert answered. "He was a stranger to me to withinfive minutes back."
"You must excuse my caution, young sir," John Haliford said, afteranother minute's reflection; "but it is the custom of us Londontradesmen with those gentlemen who may honour us with their custom,and whom we have not the honour of knowing, to require payment, orat least a portion of payment, at the time of giving the order, andthe rest at the time of delivery of the goods. In your case, sir, Iam sure, an unnecessary piece of caution, but a rule from which Inever venture to go."
"That is only fair and right," Rupert said. "I will pay half now,and the other half when the garments are completed; or if it pleaseyou, will pay the whole in advance."
"By no means, by no means," the tailor said with alacrity; "onethird in advance is my rule, sir. And now, sir, what colour andmaterial do you affect?"
"As sober both in hue and in material as may be," Rupert said, "andyet sufficiently in the fashion for me to wear in calling upon anobleman of the court."
"Pardon me," the tailor said, "but perhaps you would condescend totake me into your confidence. There are noblemen, and noblemen. Atory lord, for instance, is generally a little richer in his colourthan a whig nobleman, for these affect a certain sobriety of air.With some again, a certain military cut is permitted, while withothers this would be altogether out of place."
"I am going to the Earl of Marlborough," Rupert said briefly.
"Dear me, dear me! Indeed now!" the little tailor said with aninstant and great accession of deference, for the Earl ofMarlborough was the greatest man in the realm. "Had your honourmentioned that at first, I should not have ventured to hint at theneed for previous payment."
"What!" Rupert said, with a smile. "You would have broken yourfixed rule! Surely not, Master Haliford."
The tailor looked sharply at his young customer. Whoever he mightbe, he was clearly no fool; and without more ado he b
rought forwardhis patterns and bent himself to the work in hand.
Having chosen the colours and stuffs for the suits of clothes, thelads returned to the Bell, where a supper of cold chicken and theremains of a fine sirloin awaited them, with two tankards ofhome-brewed ale. The next morning, before sallying out to see thetown, Rupert wrote to his grandfather, asking his pardon forrunning away, expressing his intention of applying to the Earl ofMarlborough for a cornetcy of horse, and giving his address at theBell; asking him also to make his humble excuse to his lady mother,and to assure her of his devotion and respect, althoughcircumstances had caused his apparent disobedience to her wishes.
Although there was a much greater amount of filial respect andobedience expressed in those days than now, human nature hasdiffered but slightly in different ages of the world; and it isprobable that sons went their own way quite as much as they do now,when there is very little talk either of obedience or respect.Indeed, the implicit obedience, and almost servile respect, whichour forefathers expected from their sons, could not but in a greatnumber of cases drive the sons to be hypocrites as well asundutiful; and our modern system of making our boys companions andfriends, of taking an interest in all they do, and in teaching themto regard us as their natural advisers, has produced a generationof boys less outwardly respectful, no doubt, but as dutiful, andfar more frank and truthful than those of the bygone times.
Rupert, finding that few of the citizens wore swords, and feelingthat in his present attire he would attract attention by so doing,left his sword at the inn, and bought for Hugh and himself a coupleof stout sticks--Hugh's a cudgel which would be useful in a handwell accustomed to singlestick, his own a cane of a wood such as hehad never before seen--light, strong, and stiff. He chose itbecause it was well balanced in the hand. Then they sallied outinto Cornhill, past the Exchange, erected by the worshipful citizenSir Thomas Gresham, and then into Chepeside, where they wereastonished at the wealth and variety of the wares displayed in theshops. Gazing into the windows, they frequently got into the way,and were saluted many times with the query, "Where are you going,stupids?" a question which Hugh was largely inclined to resent, andwould have done so had not Rupert told him that evidently they didget into the way of the hurrying citizens, and that it was morewise to put up with rudeness than to embark in a series ofquarrels, in which, moreover, as strangers they were likely to getthe worst of the dispute. Saint Paul's Cathedral, then but newlyfinished, astonished them vastly with its size and magnificence,and they returned to the midday dinner at the Bell delighted withall that they had seen.
Asking the landlord how he would recommend them to pass theafternoon, he said that they could do no better than take a boat atLondon Bridge, and be rowed up to the village of Chelsea, wheremany of the nobility did dwell, and then coming back to Westminstermight get out there, see the Abbey and the great Hall, and thenwalk back along the Strand.
The lads followed the advice, and were soon delighted and surprisedwith the great river, then pure and limpid, and covered with boatsproceeding rapidly in all directions, for it was at that time thegreat highway of London. Tide was flowing and the river nearlyfull, and having given their waterman the intimation that time didnot press, he rowed them very gently along in the centre of thestream, pointing out to them, when they had passed above the limitsof the city, the various noblemen's houses scattered along thebanks of the river. Off Westminster the waterman ceased rowing, toallow them to view the grand old Abbey; and then as they went onagain, they marvelled at the contrast of the low, deserted marshesof Lambeth and Bankside, which contrasted so strongly with themagnificence and the life they had left behind.
At Chelsea they admired the grand palace for the reception of oldsoldiers, and then--for the tide was turning now--floated back toWestminster. So long were they in going round the Abbey, andexamining the tombs of the kings, that it was getting dark whenthey started eastward again, up past the Palace of Whitehall, andthen along the Strand. Already the distance between the city andWestminster was connected with houses, and the junction of the twocities had fairly taken place.
Dim oil lamps were lighted here and there as they went along, footpassengers bore lanterns to enable them to pick their way acrossrough places, and link men carried torches in front of sedanchairs, in which ladies were being taken to fashionableentertainments, which then commenced at six o'clock.
All this was new and amusing to the boys; and having gone into atavern near the Abbey, and partaken of some refreshment, they werenot pressed for time; and it was near eight before they seriouslythought of proceeding towards the city.
When a few hundred yards from Temple Bar, they heard a shouting anda scream down one of the streets leading to the river. The streetwas deserted, but down at the farther end they could see the flashof sword blades, in the light of an oil lamp.
"Come along, Hugh; that is a woman's scream."
"Better not interfere, Master Rupert," Hugh said.
But Rupert had already darted off, and Hugh without a moment'shesitation followed in his steps.
At the end of the street they came upon a sedan chair. The twoporters stood surlily against the wall, menaced by the drawn swordsof two men standing over them; while two other men--evidently ofhigher rank, but enveloped in cloaks--were forcibly dragging a ladyfrom the chair. They had thrown a cloak over her head to drown hercries.
As the lads came up, one of the men uttered a furious oath.
"Rolf, Simon! leave those fellows and keep these springalls back.They are but boys. I will whistle when I am in the boat.
"Now, mistress!" and he began to carry the lady away.
As the lads arrived, the servitors--for such they were by theirappearance--leaving the chairmen, turned upon them. One of thechairmen at once ran off as fast as his legs could carry him; butthe other, a sturdy fellow, leaped on the back of the man who hadbeen guarding him, as the latter turned upon Rupert. Hugh wasattacked by the other.
"Be careful, Hugh! keep out of reach of his point," Rupert cried;and darting past, he struck the man who had hold of the lady asharp blow across the ankle, which brought him instantly to theground with his burden.
The other gentleman drew his sword, and rushed upon Rupert. It wasfortunate for the latter that he had chosen his stick for lightnessand balance, for it moved as quickly and easily as a foil. Withouta thought of guarding, his assailant rushed at him to run himthrough; but Rupert parried the thrust, and in turn drove the endof his stick, with all his force, into his opponent's stomach. Theman instantaneously doubled up with a low cry, and fell on theground.
Then the other man, who had by this time risen to his feet, in turnrushed furiously at Rupert. A few times the sword and stick scrapedand rasped against each other, and then Rupert lunged full at theother's face.
There was a loud cry, an oath, and then, as the sound of the watchrunning down the street, led by the chairman who had run away, washeard, the man took to his feet and fled. The lackey who hadengaged Hugh, and who had in vain endeavoured to get to closequarters with the lad, imitated his example; but the prostrate manon the ground, and the fellow held by the chairman, were seized bythe watch.
Rupert turned to the young lady, who, having now disencumberedherself of the folds of the cloak over her head, was leaning, halffainting, against the chair.
Taking off his hat and bowing deeply, he expressed his hope thatshe had suffered no harm through the unmannerly assault upon her.
"I thank you greatly, sir," she said, speaking with a slightlyforeign accent. "I am unhurt, although somewhat breathless. I oweyou my deep gratitude for rescue from these evil-minded men."
"What may be your name, mistress?" one of the watch asked. "Youwill be needed tomorrow to testify against these men."
"My name is Maria Von Duyk, and I reside at present with the worthyalderman, Peter Hawkins, to whom I was returning in the chair, asthe chairmen will tell you, after a visit to Mistress Vanloct,whose house we had just left when molested."
"And y
ours, young sir?" the watchman asked.
"My name is Rupert Holliday. I am staying at the Bell, inBishopsgate Street."
"You will both have to be present tomorrow morning before theworshipful magistrate Master Forman, at Westminster."
The watch now secured the man on the ground, who was recoveringfrom the effect of the violent thrust in the stomach, and puttinghandcuffs on him and the other, led them away.
"You will permit me, I trust, to escort you to your door," Rupertsaid, as he ceremoniously handed the young lady into her chair.
"Yes, indeed, sir; and I trust that you will enter, and allow DameHawkins to add her thanks to mine."
Rupert bowed, and the chair being closed the chairmen lifted it,and with Rupert and Hugh following, proceeded eastward.
When they arrived at the house of Alderman Hawkins, in LawrencePulteney, the young lady on alighting begged Rupert to enter; butthe latter excused himself on account of the hour, but said that hewould call next morning, and would, if allowed, accompany her andthe alderman to give evidence as to the assault.
On arriving next morning, Rupert was overwhelmed with thanks by thealderman, his wife, and Mistress Maria Von Duyk, all of whom weremuch surprised at his youth, for in the dim light of the precedingevening the young lady had not perceived that her rescuer was amere lad.
Rupert found that there was no occasion to go before themagistrate, for the alderman having sent down early to the watchhouse to inquire at what hour their presence would be required,found that the prisoners had been rescued, on their way to thewatch house, by a party of armed men.
"We are," the alderman said, "well aware who was the leader of theassailants, the man who escaped. Sir Richard Fulke is a ruinedgamester, and is a distant relation of Dame Vanloct, whom my youngfriend was yesterday visiting. Knowing the wealth of Mistress VonDuyk's good father, he has sought to mend his ruined fortune by amatch with her. At the urgent request of Mistress Von Duyk I wroteto him, saying that his attentions were unpleasing to her, and thatthey must be discontinued, or that she could no longer visit atDame Vanloct's where she usually had met him. This was a weeksince. He replied courteously, regretting that the deep devotion hefelt was unrequited, but withdrawing from the undertaking of tryingto win her, and promising that henceforth she should be no longertroubled with his presence when she visited Dame Vanloct. This wasof course done to lull our suspicion. When the chair was stoppedyesterday, Maria at once recognized his voice. As they dragged herfrom the chair, he said:
"'Quick! hurry her down to the boat.'
"There is no doubt upon my mind that he intended to carry her off,and to compel her to marry him. I bethought me at first of applyingto the secretary of state for a warrant for his arrest to answerfor this outrage, but Mistress Maria leaves us tomorrow forHolland, and the process would delay her departure, and would causea scandal and talk very unpleasant to herself, and which wouldgreatly offend my good friend her father. Had the men in custodybeen brought up this morning, there would have been no choice butto have carried the matter through. It was then a relief to us tofind that they had escaped. I have told you this, young sir, asyour due after having rescued Mistress Von Duyk from so great aperil. Now, as to yourself, believe me if my friendship andassistance can in any way advantage you, they are at your service.Even of your name I am yet in ignorance."
Rupert thanked the worthy alderman, and then stated that he was thegrandson of Colonel Holliday, of Windthorpe Chace, in Derbyshire,and had come up to London to wait upon the Earl of Marlborough, whohad promised him his protection and a cornetcy in a regiment ofhorse for service in Holland.
"In that case, sir," Mistress Von Duyk said, "it is like you maycome to Dort. If so, believe me that my father, whom I shall tellhow much we are indebted to you, will not be backward inmanifesting his gratitude for the great service that you haverendered to his daughter."
"How were you thinking of passing the day?" the alderman asked.
"I had no plan," Rupert said. "In truth, I am waiting to call uponthe Earl of Marlborough until Master Haliford has fashioned me asuit of clothes fitted for such an occasion; he has promised themfor this evening."
"Would it please you to go down the river? I have a boat, and ifyou would like to see the shipping of this great port, and thepalace at Greenwich for our seamen, my boatmen will take you down;and you will, I trust, return and take your midday meal with us."
And so it was arranged; and as Rupert and Hugh were rowed down theriver, lost in wonder at the numerous craft that lay there, Hughadmitted that Rupert's interference in a business which was noconcern of his had turned out a fortunate occurrence.