H. B. Marriott Watson

“ I rapped my sword out sharply.
“You are pleased, sir,” said I, fiery-red, “to laugh at me.”
“Why,” says he, with the first twinkle in his eyes that I had seen, “and may not a gentleman hug a jest to himself, but must rather go forth among the dogs for his laughter?” ”

“ He seemed surprised to see me, as he very well might be, but there was no time for looks, for Sir Ralph curtly ordered me to my job.
“Here’s a friend of yours, Mr Baverstock,” says he, “who has taken a sudden fancy for King James, and is come to show it on your own person. I am very sorry for you,” says he.
Baverstock regarded me at the first with wonder, and with growing suspicion, and then with a horrible glare of hate. He uttered an abominable oath, and turned to Sir Ralph, who stood looking out of the window.
“Sir Ralph,” he says, “you are at least a gentleman like myself. ”

“ But Sir Ralph was of too cheerful and lively a nature to be long silent, and as we proceeded to the cells he could not refrain his tongue. It was: “Hark’ee, Ryder, and I take leave to say you’re a damned canting rascal,” and then in a high-pitched arrogant voice: “And keep a good yard to the fore, Ryder, lest I nose you for a stinkard;” with many other little jibes of the like colour. But all the time I kept my teeth together, and without ever a sign on my part we came at last to the dungeon in which Baverstock was cast. ”

“ Baverstock dropped his hands, aghast, being the next second in the clutch of the soldiers; while as for me, this smart command was hardly to my custom.
“The sooner the better, Sir Ralph,” said I, as sharp as himself. “And I have yet to learn that a gentleman may not have speech of a gentleman, wherever King James or King Monmouth may poke in his nose.”
“Indeed,” says he, “Captain Ryder, as you yourself should know, there are bounds to the liberty of the road.” ”

“ You’re the man for me if there’s never another in the world. As for women, damn ’em,” I says.
At this he was pleased to go off into merriment, rapping his glass upon the table in applause, and, throwing back his handsome locks,
“Why here is praise,” says this popinjay; “fie, fie,” and laughs immoderately. And then, “Why where is my manners,” he cries, “to have sat down to wine without a knowledge of my worthy host?”
“My name, Sir Ralph,” said I, “is Ryder, at your command, and I pursue the life of a gentleman of ease.” ”

“ If there be one character next to the habit of a prompt arm that best serves our profession, ’tis surely the property of a sharp observation, and so it was upon my companion that my eyes fell now with particular attention. He was a huge, lean-faced man, with tall, rough bones to his cheeks, and a pair of hard, cross-cut eyes—ugly to look on, but something superior in air, and of a certain interest to denote. Nor was his aspect pleasanter than his face, for he wore a nasty scowling look, and had the appearance of a fellow that would leap down your mouth ere you opened it. ”

“ Your sword brags too loudly for the business. There’s a cut about your face that derides you at it; and your hair is not the colour of a lackey’s periwig. If I was you,” says I, “sink me, but I’d set up myself for a gentleman of fortune.”
“What would you have me do? Where should I turn for a living?” he asked, looking amused.
“You talk of living,” says I with a wink. “But, mark’ee, young fellow, there’s also dying. And a man may die with his sword in his fist—the faster the better.” ”

“ I have never clapped eyes on His Gracious Majesty King James, but I am a good servant of his, and the King is the King, and there’s an end. While, as for his Grace of Monmouth, Mr Ryder, he is a fool who should think one should be born a bastard and begotten a king. ”

“ I called for the landlord, and Sir Ralph sat down, but then, seeming to recollect, turned to his prisoner, where he stood gloomily within a ring of the dragoons.
“Mr Baverstock,” says he, “I am no thief-taker, nor no spy-catcher neither, and if a gentleman of good west-country blood shall choose to set himself up a new sovereign, ’tis nothing against his gentility whatever it be to his oath. ”

“ I can use a knife and platter with my fellows. But there is appetite,” said I with emphasis, “and there is a ranting, roaring belly; and the one I should think shame of, save under sore needs.”
“You are scarce civil,” says he, with a sour face on him, and shortly, as one who would be at no trouble to pick up a quarrel or pass a pat rejoinder. But I was in no humour to be thus put down.
“Why, then,” said I, “to be civil is to sit stark before your meats, gulping like a hog, and for two gentlemen to lower across the table upon one another. ”

“ He whipped round quickly and shot an angry glance at me.
“Nay, my good scoundrel,” he said. “’Tis not a job to my stomach. A turnkey shall serve your turn.”
Thereupon he was stamping towards the door when I stopped him.
“Sir Ralph,” says I in another voice, “there’s need for you and me to finish this matter atween us. ’Tis true that the gentleman yonder has about him certain papers of value. I had it from himself. Moreover, ’tis certain also that I know where they are hid.”
Baverstock glared at me, and Sir Ralph bit his lip and frowned. ”

“ So all of a sudden, and when I was pushing him very hard and heard the sounds of distress in his throat, partly, no doubt, because of his wound, I says, “Sir Ralph,” says I, “this thing has gone far enough.”
“Ha!” cried he, through his panting. “I have you winded, my fine fellow.”
“Nay,” I replied, “for my own part I am in no hurry to quit. Yet why should we be at this labour for a man whom I do not reckon at a straw?”
“Fie, Ryder, fie!” says he, “to go back thus upon a friend!” ”

“ He cross-questioned me sharply, and when I stuck to my story, turning on his heels without further words, called one of his servants to bring Sir Ralph Leybourne. I smiled to myself to imagine his astonishment upon seeing me there in the Governor’s room and about this business, but indeed upon his entrance he disordered me with his first shot.
“Hullo!” cries he, quite gaily. “What, my pet knight-errant in this respectable company! Captain Ryder,” says he, shaking his finger at me, “ha’ you come for the bottle I owe you, that you figure thus boldly in the precincts of justice?” ”

“ He gulped down a draught, and the colour ran into his cheeks again. He even looked at me with a sickly grin.
“I feared,” said he, “I had forgot the billet-doux."
“Ha, ha!” says I in a manner of raillery, “sink me! but you’re a fine rascal for a love-sick gentleman. And I’ll swear, too, ’tis no less than an assignation.” He nodded, with a miserable kind of wink, and bobbed his nose into the wine, seeming very much pleased with himself. ”

“ For answer I drew my sword on him, but as yet he made no movement.”
“My poor Ryder,” he said, “know you not that, should I not finish you myself, there’s a score of stout fellows without the door?”
“Pooh!” said I. “And there’s a key to the door.”
Suddenly he turned, and stepping to the gate of that dungeon shot the bolt softly. “I wash my hands of you,” said he, drawing his own weapon at last. “But stay, we must not fight here, or the noise will reach the sentries.” ”

“ Sir Ralph peers at me roguishly. “Well, sir,” said he, “if my eyes be still in my head, it should be a truculent gentleman whom I met yester morning at the Three Thorns out of Eckhurst.”
“Ah,” says the Governor. “Well you shall deal with him, as you know him. He is a rogue who is to do us the service of finding the dispatches upon Baverstock for a consideration. See him brought to the prisoner, and watch him carefully.”
At this, Sir Ralph seemed a good deal staggered, and a very different change came across his features.
“Hum!” said he, “’tis a dirty business, for which I have no stomach.” ”

“ I was, myself, picked out with a score of bloody places, and, being weak for loss of blood, was for ending the hellish business with all dispatch. And thus, with thrust and parry, aimed and taken at random, we pushed across the flagstones, he receding slowly from my reach. But presently he seemed to rally, and his blade came whizzing for my vitals. Ere the point struck I was back a foot, and lunging forward sent in my own iron upon the level from my shoulder. It lit upon his sword, and then slid up ”