第60章 THE MARPLOT(6)

He was roused by Oates' voice.The Doctor was arranging his plan of campaign with gusto.Bedloe was to disappear to the West Country till the time came for him to offer his evidence.Prance was to go about his peaceful trade till Bedloe gave him the cue.It was a masterly stratagem--Bedloe to start the ball, Prance to be accused as accomplice and then on his own account to give the other scoundrel corroboration.

"Attend, you sir," the doctor shouted to Lovel."Ye will be called to swear to the murderers whom this haanest man will name.If ye be a true Praatestant ye will repeat the laisson I taich you.If not, ye will be set down as one of the villains and the good fawk of this city will tear the limbs from ye at my nod.Be well advaised, my friend, for I hold ye in my haand." And Oates raised a great paw and opened and shut it.

Lovel mumbled assent.Fear had again descended on him.He heard dimly the Doctor going over the names of those to be accused.

"Ye must bring in one of the sairvants of this place," he said."Some common paarter, who has no friends.""Trust me," said Prance."I will find a likely fellow among the Queen's household.I have several in my mind for the honour.""Truly the plaace is a nest of Paapists," said Oates."And not such as you, Mr.Prance, who putt England before the Paape.Ye are worth a score of Praatestants to the good caause, and it will be remaimbered.Be assured it will be remaimbered....Ye are clear about the main villains? Walsh, you say, and Pritchard and the man called Le Fevre?""The last most of all.But they are sharp-nosed as hounds, and unless we go wiarily they will give us the slip, and we must fall back on lesser game.""Le Fevre." Oates mouthed the name."The Queen's confessor.I was spit upon by him at St.Omer, and would waipe out the affront.A dog of a Frainch priest! A man I have long abhaarred.""So also have I." Prance had venom in his level voice."But he is no Frenchman.He is English as you--a Phayre out of Huntingdon."The name penetrated Lovel's dulled wits.Phayre! It was the one man who in his father's life had shown him unselfish kindness.Long ago in Paris this Phayre had been his teacher, had saved him from starvation, had treated him with a gentleman's courtesy.Even his crimes had not estranged this friend.

Phayre had baptized his child, and tended his wife when he was in hiding.

But a week ago he had spoken a kindly word in the Mall to one who had rarely a kind word from an honest man.

That day had been to the spy a revelation of odd corners in his soul.He had mustered in the morning the resolution to kill one man.Now he discovered a scruple which bade him at all risks avert the killing of another.He perceived very clearly what the decision meant--desperate peril, perhaps ruin and death.He dare not delay, for in a little he would be too deep in the toils.He must escape and be first with the news of Godfrey's death in some potent quarter.Buckingham, who was a great prince.

Or Danby.Or the King himself....

The cunning of a lifetime failed him in that moment.He slipped through the door, but his coat caught in a splinter of wood, and the rending of it gave the alarm.As with quaking heart he ran up the silent stable-yard towards the Strand gate he felt close on him the wind of the pursuit.In the dark he slipped on a patch of horse-dung and was down.Something heavy fell atop of him, and the next second a gross agony tore the breath from him.

.....................

Five minutes later Bedloe was unknotting a coarse kerchief and stuffing it into his pocket.It was the same that had strangled Godfrey "A good riddance," said Oates."The fool had seen too much and would have proved but a saarry witness.Now by the mairciful dispensation of Goad he has ceased to trouble us.Ye know him, Captain Bedloe?"A Papistical cur, and white-livered at that," the bravo answered.

"And his boady? It must be praamptly disposed of.""An easy task.There is the Savoy water-gate and in an hour the tide will run.He has no friends to inquire after him."Oates rubbed his hands and cast his eyes upward.Great are the doings of the Laard," he said, "and wonderful in our saight!"