Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
My request had roused the interest of the company, and those who were in the window came over to the table. Nothing could have been worse for the success of my mission, and yet there was no help for it but to deliver my despatches. I can say with a clear conscience, without any vainglory, that I had no fears for myself. The doing of my duty was the one thought in my mind. And here I may say once for all, my dear children, that I am speaking of myself all through this statement with the same freedom as though it were another man. In very truth the strong active lad of one-and-twenty was another man from the grey-headed old fellow who sits in the chimney corner and can do naught better than tell old tales to the youngsters. Shallow water gives a great splash, and so a braggart has ever been contemptible in my eyes. I trust, therefore, that ye will never think that your grandad is singing his own praises, or setting himself up as better than his neighbours. I do but lay the facts, as far as I can recall them, before ye with all freedom and with all truth.
My short delay and hesitation had sent a hot flush of anger into the Dukeโs face, so I drew the packet of papers from my inner pocket and handed them to him with a respectful bow. As his eyes fell upon the superscription, he gave a sudden start of surprise and agitation, making a motion as though to hide them in his bosom. If this were his impulse he overcame it, and sat lost in thought for a minute or more with the papers in his hand. Then with a quick toss of the head, like a man who hath formed his resolution, he broke the seals and cast his eyes over the contents, which he then threw down upon the table with a bitter laugh.
โWhat think ye, gentlemen!โ he cried, looking round with scornful eyes; โwhat think ye this private message hath proved to be? It is a letter from the traitor Monmouth, calling upon me to resign the allegiance of my natural sovereign and to draw my sword in his behalf! If I do this I am to have his gracious favour and protection. If not, I incur sequestration, banishment, and ruin. He thinks Beaufortโs loyalty is to be bought like a packmanโs ware, or bullied out of him by ruffling words. The descendant of John of Gaunt is to render fealty to the brat of a wandering playwoman!โ
Several of the company sprang to their feet, and a general buzz of surprise and anger greeted the Dukeโs words. He sat with bent brows, beating his foot against the ground, and turning over the papers upon the table.
โWhat hath raised his hopes to such mad heights?โ he cried. โHow doth he presume to send such a missive to one of my quality? Is it because he hath seen the backs of a parcel of rascally militiamen, and because he hath drawn a few hundred chawbacons from the ploughโs tail to his standard, that he ventures to hold such language to the President of Wales? But ye will be my witnesses as to the spirit in which I received it?โ
โWe can preserve your Grace from all danger of slander on that point,โ said an elderly officer, while a murmur of assent from the others greeted the remark.
โAnd you!โ cried Beaufort, raising his voice and turning his flashing eyes upon me; โwho are you that dare to bring such a message to Badminton? You had surely taken leave of your senses ere you did set out upon such an errand!โ
โI am in the hands of God here as elsewhere,โ I answered, with some flash of my fatherโs fatalism. โI have done what I promised to do, and the rest is no concern of mine.โ
โYou shall find it a very close concern of thine,โ he shouted, springing from his chair and pacing up and down the room; โso close as to put an end to all thy other concerns in this life. Call in the halberdiers from the outer hall! Now, fellow, what have you to say for yourself?โ
โThere is naught to be said,โ I answered.
โBut something to be done,โ he retorted in a fury. โSeize this man and secure his hands!โ
Four halberdiers who had answered the summons closed in upon me and laid hands on me. Resistance would have been folly, for I had no wish to harm the men in the doing of their duty. I had come to take my chance, and if that chance should prove to be death, as seemed likely enough at present, it must be met as a thing foreseen. I thought of those old-time lines which Master Chillingfoot, of Petersfield, had ever held up to our admirationโ
Non civium ardor prava jubentium Non vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solida.Here was the โvultus instantis tyranni,โ in this stout, be-wigged, lace-covered, yellow-faced man in front of me. I had obeyed the poet in so far that my courage had not been shaken. I confess that this spinning dust-heap of a world has never had such attractions for me that it would be a pang to leave it. Never, at least, until my marriageโand that, you will find, alters your thoughts about the value of your life, and many other of your thoughts as well. This being so, I stood erect, with my eyes fixed upon the angry nobleman, while his soldiers were putting the gyves about my wrists.
Chapter XXV. Of Strange Doings in the Boteler Dungeon
โTake down this fellowโs statement,โ said the Duke to his scrivener. โNow, sirrah, it may not be known to you that his gracious Majesty the King hath conferred plenary powers upon me during these troubled times, and that I have his warrant to deal with all traitors without either jury or judge. You do bear a commission, I understand, in the rebellious body which is here described as Saxonโs regiment of Wiltshire Foot? Speak the truth for your neckโs sake.โ
โI will speak the truth for the sake of something higher than that, your Grace,โ I answered. โI command a company in that regiment.โ
โAnd who is this Saxon?โ
โI will answer all that I may concerning myself,โ said I, โbut not a word which may reflect upon others.โ
โHa!โ he roared, hot with anger. โOur pretty gentleman must needs stand upon the niceties of honour after taking up arms against his King. I tell you, sir, that your honour is in such a parlous state already that you may well throw it over and look to your safety. The sun is sinking in the west. Ere it set your life, too, may have set for ever.โ
โI am the keeper of my own honour, your Grace,โ I answered. โAs to my life, I should not be standing here this moment if I had any great dread of losing it. It is right that I should tell you that my Colonel hath sworn to exact a return for any evil that may befall me, on you or any of
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