CHAPTER XIV

THE COMING OF JOHN DENT

It was the night before her Ladyship's birthday, and she and Dick were sitting in the oak parlour after supper, discussing the chances of a fine day on the morrow. Dick was in a state of excitement, for he had just been on a visit to the larder, and had seen the rows of cold fowls, and creams, and custards prepared by her Ladyship's cook. He was agitating Lorry's mind with whispered promises of good things for to-morrow, when they all heard the sound of horses in the yard, then men's voices at the door and in the hall. Lady Dorothy drew back the shutter to look out, but Dick ran into the hall to see, and came back in a second with a startled air.

"Cousin Dorothy! Two officers--rebels--and their troops!"

Old Philip here came into the parlour.

"Madam," he gasped, "'tis some of the enemy. They want a night's lodging and supper, and won't be denied."

"Why were they admitted?" her Ladyship asked.

"Madam, the door was open. They were in ere I knew."

At the moment Philip was pushed aside, and one of the intruders entered the room. "Madam," he said, "we have lost our way. If you are mistress here, give orders for food to be served us, and beds for us after, and we will give you no trouble."

"I have neither food nor beds for rebels, sir," she said indifferently, scarcely looking at him.

"Then, madam, I must take what you will not give me, and place your household under arrest."

"You must do what you please, sir. 'Tis easy to overcome a few women and one weak old man."

The officer gave her a long, hard look, which she met with coolness, and then he went out, pushing Philip before him.

"Dick," said her Ladyship, "that was--"

"John Dent!" cried the boy.

"Think you he recognized you, Dickie?"

"I think he scarcely looked at me, Cousin Dorothy. He knew you."

Her Ladyship began to pace up and down.

"There seems to be nothing for us to do," she said presently. "We will go to our rooms and lock ourselves in, and wait till they're gone. Do you think they will rob me of everything--burn, pillage, and destroy?"

Dick went to the door, opened it, and shut it again quickly.

"There are two troopers outside, Cousin," he whispered excitedly.

"Guards posted! Imprisoned in my own parlour! Upon my word, Dick, 'tis insufferable."

She sat down to think out the situation. But very soon the door was flung open, and John Dent came in again. She stood up.

"Madam," he said, "if you will retire, I shall be obliged to you. We shall leave at daybreak, and since you have not given us hospitality, we need not wake your Ladyship to say 'thank you'."

"Come, Dick," she said, without noticing the speaker.

"Dick will remain with me. My friend and I have a few questions to ask him. Dick, I may tell you, is my cousin."

Another officer entered, and bowed awkwardly to the lady. John Dent held the door open.

"You may leave us, madam," he said.

Dick knew well the hard look on John Dent's face.

"Cousin Dorothy," he said quickly, "if you will go, I will soon answer these gentlemen's questions."

"I will not trust you alone with them, my dear," she said.

"As you please," said John Dent, with a slight smile, seating himself. "Now, Richard, speak the truth, and don't lie to us as you did to the Royalists at Lumley. Who was with you at Dent?"

"Giles," answered the boy. "The stableman you helped on the road, and who knew you were a traitor."

"Who else?"

"No one."

"I warned you, boy," said John Dent. "We are no more to be imposed on than the King's people. Who else?"

"No one," said Dick.

"You hear, Captain Strong?" said Dent to the other officer.

"'Tis a lie," said the other. "We should not have sat outside Dent fearing to attack a child and a groom. 'Twas a gentleman spoke to me and to our general, though he masqueraded in your stableman's rags. They would not have held Dent without a garrison--don't you tell me. Go to!"

"You see, Richard? Captain Strong was at Dent. He knows what he speaks of."

"Ay!" cried the captain. "Why they made a sortie and carried in a trooper. Think you, with the drawbridge down, they'd have left the place in charge of a child?"

"No doubt one of their leaders masqueraded in Giles's rags. Now, sir! once again, who?" asked Dent.

"There was no one but Giles and me," said Dick stoutly.

"Richard, I warn you once more to tell the truth."

"I am telling it. There was only Giles and me."

"A lie! A lie!" Strong affirmed angrily. "'Twould be to our lasting disgrace if a stable-helper and a baby kept us out of Dent. Or 'twill be to yours, Colonel Dent. For we went thither by your arrangement."

He cast a curious glance at his companion. Suspicion will attach to the man who leaves one party for another, be he never so zealous.

"It is to your lasting disgrace, then," said Dick hotly. "'Tis you that are lying."

"Were you a few years older you should hang, sir, if it's the truth!" growled Strong.

John Dent looked across at her ladyship and saw her move uneasily.

"As it is," Strong continued, "you shall be flogged. I swear you shall--whether it's truth or lie."

"You will not lay a finger on my cousin, sir," said her ladyship haughtily. "And you, sir, who command here--"

"My name is Dent, madam."

"Oh, I have no concern with your name, sir!"

"Your Ladyship once listened when I offered to bestow it upon you."

"I thank God I escaped the disgrace, sir!" she replied.

"I must beg you to be silent, madam," he said, flushing, "or I must compel you to leave the room. I was about to ask Captain Strong why age should be a bar. If Richard Chester is old enough, or thinks himself old enough, to hold a castle, and flout a general, he is old enough to die."

Lady Dorothy could contain herself no longer.

"A truce, sir, to such mummery!" she cried. "Do you think to scare Dick into a falsehood by such a threat?"

"Oh no, madam!" he replied. "I don't wish to frighten anyone. If Dick prefers it, I am quite willing to send him to his friends. They are all at Arncastor. He will know whether they are prepared, and how prepared, to receive him."

"Not that!" Dick cried. "Not that!"

"Ah!" said Dent to the other officer, "a pretty conclusive proof his story is a lie, Strong."

"Oh, if he admits 'tis a lie, and that there were men and a commander at Dent, I've no more against him," Strong said. "The rumour that one man and a boy kept us out must be stopped. And methinks 'tis to your interest also that men shouldn't say your paid servant kept us out where you'd lured us to enter."

"Tell the truth, Dick," said Dent fiercely. "Or to-morrow I send you to Arncastor. They will cut the truth out of you there, whilst the Cavaliers look on."

Dick turned white, but he said nothing.

"Say 'twas a gentleman at Dent. That you had a garrison--that's all," Dent urged.

The boy was silent.

"Very good," said Dent rising. "Corporal!"

A soldier entered saluting.

"Take charge of this boy, Richard Chester, and conduct him to Arncastor to-morrow."

Dick sprang towards him, clutched his arm, and cried: "Kill me here! Kill me here! I can't bear that!"

Lady Dorothy swept forward, and drawing Dick to her, she folded her beautiful arms about him.

"John Dent!" she said in a low voice, but very clear and cutting. "You coward! How will you answer to your God for this offence? You know 'tis a fabric of lies about our people desiring his punishment--a fabric of lies, and you reared it. Stand back, sir!"

"Take care, madam!" he said angrily.

"Ah!" she said scornfully. "I do not fear a coward!"

"Then you shall confess me a brave man, for you shall fear me! He shall die!"

"You have no power to do it," she said, but Dick felt her tremble under Dent's glance.

"He has borne arms. He was Captain of Dent. Scotch your snake when he's small, madam. He dies at sun-up."

"Sir," said her ladyship in an altered tone, "if I plead with you--"

"'Tis likely mere pleading will be heard after your insults! Richard, step out, sir! If you hide in her Ladyship's skirts any longer, my men shall drag her away."

Dick kissed her hands swiftly, tore them away, and stood out alone.

"Take him away, Corporal," Dent commanded.

"May I go to my own room?" Dick asked. "I've been very happy there. It has a high window. I couldn't escape." He was addressing Captain Strong, who sat back in his chair, with a slightly, puzzled expression.

"Let him have his way," he said hastily to the corporal. "And Dent--I say, Dent, have not we very suddenly jumped to this conclusion? He is but a child!"

"Away!" cried Dent to the corporal. "What, Strong? Nay, thus I kill rumours. Now, madam, will it please you to leave us, or must I send for a guard for you, also?"

Lady Dorothy turned to Strong.

"Sir," she said, "you will not suffer this? You will exercise your power--"

"Strong has none," said Dent brutally. "If he moves in this matter, he reckons with me."

Strong fidgeted, and looked uneasily at the lady.

"I'm rich, sirs," said her ladyship desperately. "Captain Strong, if you will aid me--"

"He daren't take a bribe," Dent interrupted.

"And you, sir?" she asked. "For what will you sell me the life of this child?"

"There is one bribe I will take--only one,--you may offer it," Dent replied slowly, looking at her.

Very hurriedly she left the room.