The Two Admirals (40 page)

"Well, my dear boy, I hope you may live to reckon all that and more too,
in your own persons, at some future day. Yonder is Sir Reginald
Wychecombe, coming this way, to my surprise; perhaps he wishes to see me
alone. Go down to the landing and ascertain if my barge is ashore, and
let me know it, as soon as is convenient. Remember, Geoffrey, you will
go off with me; and hunt up Sir Wycherly Wychecombe, who will lose his
passage, unless ready the instant he is wanted."

The boy touched his cap, and went bounding down the hill to execute the
order.

"So glozed the Tempter, and his poison tuned;
Into the heart of Eve his words made way,
Though at the voice much marvelling."

MILTON.

It was, probably, a species of presentiment, that induced Bluewater to
send away the midshipman, when he saw the adherent of the dethroned
house approaching. Enough had passed between the parties to satisfy each
of the secret bias of the other; and, by that sort of free-masonry which
generally accompanies strong feelings of partisanship, the admiral felt
persuaded that the approaching interview was about to relate to the
political troubles of the day.

The season and the hour, and the spot, too, were all poetically
favourable to an interview between conspirators. It was now nearly dark;
the head-land was deserted, Dutton having retired, first to his bottle,
and then to his bed; the wind blew heavily athwart the bleak eminence,
or was heard scuffling in the caverns of the cliffs, while the
portentous clouds that drove through the air, now veiled entirely, and
now partially and dimly revealed the light of the moon, in a way to
render the scene both exciting and wild. No wonder, then, that
Bluewater, his visiter drawing near, felt a stronger disposition than
had ever yet come over him to listen to the tale of the tempter, as,
under all the circumstances, it would scarcely exceed the bounds of
justice to call Sir Reginald.

"In seeking you at such a spot, and in the midst of this wild
landscape," said the latter, "I might have been assured I should be
certain of finding one who really loved the sea and your noble
profession. The Hall is a melancholy house, just at this moment; and
when I inquired for you, no one could say whither you had strolled. In
following what I thought a seaman's instinct, it appears that I did
well.—Do my eyes fail me, or are there no more than three vessels at
anchor yonder?"

"Your eyes are still good, Sir Reginald; Admiral Oakes sailed several
hours since, and he has been followed by all the fleet, with the
exception of the two line-of-battle ships, and the frigate you see;
leaving me to be the last to quit the anchorage."

"Is it a secret of state, or are you permitted to say whither so strong
a force has so suddenly sailed?" demanded the baronet, glancing his dark
eye so expressively towards the other as to give him, in the growing
obscurity, the appearance of an inquisitor. "I had been told the fleet
would wait for orders from London?"

"Such was the first intention of the commander-in-chief; but
intelligence of the sailing of the Comte de Vervillin has induced Sir
Gervaise to change his mind. An English admiral seldom errs when he
seeks and beats an active and dangerous enemy."

"Is this always true, Admiral Bluewater?" returned Sir Reginald,
dropping in at the side of the other, and joining in his walk, as he
paced, to and fro, a short path that Dutton called his own quarter-deck;
"or is it merely an unmeaning generality that sometimes causes men to
become the dupes of their own imaginations. Are those
always
our
enemies who may seem to be so? or, are we so infallible that every
feeling or prejudice may be safely set down as an impulse to which we
ought to submit, without questioning its authority?"

"Do you esteem it a prejudice to view France as the natural enemy of
England, Sir Reginald?"

"By heaven, I do, sir! I can conceive that England may be much more her
own enemy than France has ever proved to be. Then, conceding that ages
of warfare have contributed to awaken some such feeling as this you hint
at, is there not a question of right and wrong that lies behind all?
Reflect how often England has invaded the French soil, and what serious
injuries she has committed on the territory of the latter, while France
has so little wronged us, in the same way; how, even her throne has been
occupied by our princes, and her provinces possessed by our armies."

"I think you hardly allow for all the equity of the different cases.
Parts of what is now France, were the just inheritance of those who have
sat on the English throne, and the quarrels were no more than the usual
difficulties of neighbourhood. When our claims were just in themselves,
you surely could not have wished to see them abandoned."

"Far from it; but when claims were disputed, is it not natural for the
loser to view them as a hardship? I believe we should have had a much
better neighbourhood, as you call it, with France, had not the modern
difficulties connected with religious changes, occurred."

"I presume you know. Sir Reginald, that I, and all my family are
Protestants."

"I do, Admiral Bluewater; and I rejoice to find that a difference of
opinion on this great interest, does not necessarily produce one on all
others. From several little allusions that have passed between us
to-day, I am encouraged to believe that we think alike on certain
temporal matters, however wide the chasm between us on spiritual
things."

"I confess I have fallen into the same conclusion; and I should be sorry
to be undeceived if wrong."

"What occasion, then, for farther ambiguity? Surely two honourable men
may safely trust each other with their common sentiments, when the times
call for decision and frankness! I am a Jacobite, Admiral Bluewater; if
I risk life or fortune by making the avowal, I place both, without
reserve at your mercy."

"They could not be in safer hands, sir; and I know no better mode of
giving you every possible assurance that the confidence will not be
abused, than by telling you in return, that I would cheerfully lay down
my life could the sacrifice restore the deposed family to the throne."

"This is noble, and manly, and frank, as I had hoped from a sailor!"
exclaimed Sir Reginald, more delighted than he well knew how to express
at the moment. "This simple assurance from your lips, carries more
weight than all the oaths and pledges of vulgar conspiracy. We
understand each other, and I should be truly sorry to inspire less
confidence than I feel."

"What better proof can I give you of the reliance placed on your faith,
than the declaration you have heard, Sir Reginald? My head would answer
for your treachery in a week; but I have never felt it more securely on
my shoulders than at this moment."

The baronet grasped the other's hand, and each gave and received a
pressure that was full of meaning. Then both walked on, thoughtful and
relieved, for quite a minute, in profound silence.

"This sudden appearance of the prince in Scotland has taken us all a
little by surprise," Sir Reginald resumed, after the pause; "though a
few of us knew that his intentions led him this way. Perhaps he has done
well to come unattended by a foreign force, and to throw himself, as it
might be singly, into the arms of his subjects; trusting every thing to
their generosity, loyalty, and courage. Some blame him; but I do not. He
will awaken interest, now, in every generous heart in the nation,"—this
was artfully adapted to the character of the listener;—"whereas some
might feel disposed to be lukewarm under a less manly appeal to their
affections and loyalty. In Scotland, we learn from all directions that
His Royal Highness is doing wonders, while the friends of his house are
full of activity in England, though compelled, for a time, to be
watchful and prudent."

"I rejoice, from the bottom of my heart, to hear this!" said Bluewater,
drawing a long breath, like one whose mind was unexpectedly relieved
from a heavy load. "From the bottom of my heart, do I rejoice! I had my
apprehensions that the sudden appearance of the prince might find his
well-wishers unprepared and timid."

"As far from that as possible, my dear sir; though much still depends on
the promptitude and resolution of the master spirits of the party. We
are strong enough to control the nation, if we can bring those forward
who have the strength to lead and control ourselves. All we now want are
some hundred or two of prominent men to step out of their diffidence,
and show us the way to honourable achievement and certain success."

"Can such men be wanting, at a moment like this?"

"I think we are secure of most of the high nobility, though their great
risks render them all a little wary in the outset. It is among the
professional men—the gallant soldiers, and the bold, ardent seamen of
the fleet, that we must look for the first demonstrations of loyalty and
true patriotism. To be honest with you, sir, I tire of being ruled by a
German."

"Do you know of any intention to rally a force in this part of England,
Sir Reginald? If so, say but the word—point out the spot where the
standard is to be raised, and I will rally under it, the instant
circumstances will permit!"

"This is just what I expected, Mr. Bluewater," answered the baronet,
more gratified than he thought it prudent to express; "though it is not
exactly the
form
in which you can best serve us at this precise
moment. Cut off from the north, as we are in this part of the island, by
all the resources of the actual government, it would be the height of
imprudence in us to show our hands, until all the cards are ready to be
played. Active and confidential agents are at work in the army; London
has its proper share of business men, while others are in the counties,
doing their best to put things in a shape for the consummation we so
anxiously look for. I have been with several of our friends in this
vicinity, to bring matters into a combined state; and it was my
intention to visit this very estate, to see what my own name might do
with the tenantry, had not the late Sir Wycherly summoned me as he did,
to attend his death-bed. Have you any clue to the feelings of this new
and young head of my family, the sea-lieutenant and present baronet?"

"Not a very plain one, sir, though I doubt if they be favourable to the
House of Stuart."

"I feared as much; this very evening I have had an anonymous
communication that I think must come from his competitor, pretty plainly
intimating that, by asserting
his
rights, as they are called, the
whole Wychecombe tenantry and interest could be united, in the present
struggle, on whichever side I might desire to see them."

"This is a bold and decided stroke, truly! May I inquire as to your
answer, Sir Reginald?"

"I shall give none. Under all circumstances I will ever refuse to place
a bastard in the seat of a legitimate descendant of my family. We
contend for legal and natural rights, my dear admiral, and the means
employed should not be unworthy of the end. Besides, I know the
scoundrel to be unworthy of trust, and shall not have the weakness to
put myself in his power. I could wish the other boy to be of another
mind; but, by getting him off to sea, whither he tells me he is bound,
we shall at least send him out of harm's way."

In all this Sir Reginald was perfectly sincere; for, while he did not
always hesitate about the employment of means, in matters of politics,
he was rigidly honest in every thing that related to private properly; a
species of moral contradiction that is sometimes found among men who aim
at the management of human affairs; since those often yield to a
besetting weakness who are nearly irreproachable in other matters.
Bluewater was glad to hear this declaration; his own simplicity of
character inducing him to fancy it was an indication to the general
probity of his companion.

"Yes," observed the latter, "in all eases, we must maintain the laws of
the land, in an affair of private right. This young man is not capable,
perhaps, of forming a just estimate of his political duties, in a crisis
like this, and it may be well, truly, to get him off to sea, lest by
taking the losing side, he endangers his estate before he is fairly
possessed of it. And having now disposed of Sir Wycherly, what can I do
most to aid the righteous and glorious cause?"

"This is coming to the point manfully, Sir Richard—I beg pardon for
thus styling you, but I happen to know that your name has been before
the prince, for some time, as one of those who are to receive the riband
from a sovereign really
authorized
to bestow it; if I have spoken a
little prematurely, I again entreat your pardon;—but, this is at once
coming manfully to the point! Serve us you can, of course, and that most
effectually, and in an all-important manner. I now greatly regret that
my father had not put me in the army, in my youth, that I might serve my
prince as I could wish, in this perilous trial. But we have many friends
accustomed to arms, and among them your own honourable name will appear
conspicuous as to the past, and encouraging as to the future."

"I have carried arms from boyhood, it is true, Sir Reginald, but it is
in a service that will scarcely much avail us in this warfare. Prince
Edward has no ships, nor do I know he will need any."

"True, my dear sir, but King George has! As for the necessity, permit me
to say you are mistaken; it will soon be all-important to keep open the
communication with the continent. No doubt, Monsieur de Vervillin is
out, with some such object, already."

Bluewater started, and he recoiled from the firm grasp which the other
took of his arm, in the earnestness of discourse, with some such
instinctive aversion as a man recoils from the touch of the reptile. The
thought of a treachery like that implied in the remark of his companion
had never occurred to him, and his honest mind turned with a strong
disrelish, from even the implied proposition of the other. Still, he was
not quite certain how far Sir Reginald wished to urge him, and he felt
it just to ascertain his real views before he answered them. Plausible
as this appeared, it was a dangerous delay for one so simple-minded,
when brought in contact with a person so practised as the baronet; Sir
Reginald having the tact to perceive that his new friend's feelings had
already taken the alarm, and at once determined to be more wary.