"I think," continued Rufus, "it is more than likely that his Majesty will visit Harby--I should say Loyalty House--ere he rides to London."

Brilliana thrilled with pride--with pleasure. The air about her seemed to swoon with music, to be sweet as roses, to be spangled with golden motes.

X

PRISONER OF WAR

"I rejoice," she answered, in a voice unsteady with happiness--such might have been the voice of Semele at the coming of her G.o.d--"I rejoice that Loyalty House boasts a roof to shelter his Majesty. For I was minded to blow the place to pieces rather than yield it to this gentleman who would so speciously persuade me to surrender."

As she spoke she glanced disdainfully in the direction of Evander Cloud, who now for the first time since the irruption of the Cavaliers became in any sense an object of public interest. None of the new-comers had paid any heed to the sombre-habited prisoner; Halfman had forgotten his captive in his jealous study of the men who had raised the siege; Thoroughgood, with the Puritan's sword resting idly on his left arm, was as absorbed in the converse of Sir Rufus and his comrades as were his subordinates Garlinge and Clupp, who, though they gripped their prisoner tightly, were as indifferent to his existence as if he had been the turbaned dummy of a quintain.

But now on the instant every glance was turned on Evander, and Sir Rufus, eying him with much disfavor, asked of Brilliana, "Who is your prisoner?"

Evander made a step forward unrestrained by his guards, and answered for himself composedly.

"I am Captain Cloud, of the parliamentary army, snared under a flag of truce."

He was so well restrained in his speech and carriage, so quiet a contrast to the heated gentlemen who glared at him, that to an uninformed observer he might very well have seemed the judge rather than the one on trial. Rufus snapped at him like an angry dog.

"Well, you tub-thumper, you see that the gentlemen of England are more than a match for pestilent pennyweight rebels."

Evander surveyed his truculent opponent with a tranquil contempt which had its effect in increasing the irritation of the Cavalier.

"You play the valiant braggart to a captive," he commented, quietly.

Then he turned to Brilliana as one who had no further desire for treaty with a fellow of this kind.

"Let me remind you, lady, that I came here under a flag of truce."

Brilliana had forgotten Evander in the exhilaration of her relief.

But now that he had come into her mind again, so with his image had flooded in again all the prejudices he provoked, the scorn, the hatred.

"That plea cannot release you," she answered, hotly. "Your time was up, your sword was drawn; I am very sure you would have joined your men."

Evander, whose arms were now released from bondage by Garlinge and Clupp, made a gesture of absolute acquiescence.

"I am very sure I should have joined my men," he answered, calmly.

Brilliana rounded on him triumphant.

"Then you are a prisoner of war, fairly taken. Let me have no more words."

As indifferent to her words as to the angry carriage of the Cavaliers, Evander stepped tranquilly back to his place between his warders.

"I have no more words to waste," he said, with a scorn in his voice that stung Brilliana's cheeks to crimson. She turned hurriedly to the little knot of Cavaliers, who chafed at having to witness what they held to be the presumption of a Puritan in daring to bandy words with a lady of quality.

"Gallants," she said, "this merry meeting calls for its baptism of wine." As she spoke she struck upon the bell, shrewdly confident that her wishes would be met. "Wine," she added, "the more precious that it is wellnigh the last in our cellars."

As the Cavaliers came about her applauding with word and look, the doors of the banqueting-room parted and Mrs. Satch.e.l.l entered, full of pomp and apple-red with pleasure, followed by Shard bearing a tray of gla.s.ses, and by pretty, dimpling Tiffany bearing a goodly flagon of wine and observing with demure approbation the covey of King's gentlemen.

Mistress Satch.e.l.l swam like a gall on towards the Cavaliers, her great, red, spoon-shaped face damp with satisfaction. Playing at heroine behind bombarded walls was all very well, but greeting of timely gentry who had set heroines free was infinitely better.

"Heaven bless you, merry gentlemen," she chirruped. "Here is a cup of comfort for you."

"Heaven bless you, merry matron," Bardon answered, as soberly as he could, for indeed the sight of Mistress Satch.e.l.l in her Sunday best and in her most coming-on humor was not of a nature to strengthen sobriety. Lord Fawley gasped as the virago swaggered towards his companions, and young Ingrow popped his handkerchief into his mouth and bit at it while he stared with eyes of nursery wonder at the dame. Radlett winked as if dazzled by the whimsical apparition, and Sir Rufus, familiar with Mrs. Satch.e.l.l and her vagaries, was the only member of his party who kept his countenance unchanged on her entrance.

Brilliana was sympathetically swift to explain her astonishing handwoman.

"Gentles," she said, "this is Mistress Satch.e.l.l, who queens it in times of peace over my kitchen, but who has proved herself my very valiant adjutant during the siege."

The dame bridled with pride.

"I can handle a pike, my lords, I promise ye," she a.s.serted; and then, turning to Halfman for confirmation, "Can I not, Master Halfman?"

Halfman slapped his thigh approvingly and answered to the Cavalier with grave voice and smiling eyes.

"Never was pike so handled before, I promise ye."

The tone of his voice mimicked Mrs. Satch.e.l.l's manner even as the words of it aped her matter, but the dame was too pleased with herself and the world to heed what it was that set the gentlemen laughing.

"So, so," Radlett hummed approval. "Mrs. Satch.e.l.l, will you ride with me to the King?"

Mrs. Satch.e.l.l dipped him a swimming reverence, but she shook her head decisively.

"Your honor means well, but I cannot leave my lady. The Roundheads might come again."

The Lord Fawley had by this seen his gla.s.s filled by Tiffany and was staring boldly into her pretty face, much to the exasperation of honest Thoroughgood, chafing in the background.

"Do you handle a pike, prettikins?" Fawley asked. Prettikins dropped him a courtesy and shook her curls.

"No, my lord," she whispered, "I am not very soldierly."

It was now Ingrow's turn to have his gla.s.s filled and to stare admiration at the pretty serving-woman.

"If you have a mind to enlist," he said, temptingly, "you shall be ensign in my troop and we'll carry your kirtle for a flag."

Whether Mrs. Satch.e.l.l considered that Tiffany was like to be embarra.s.sed by the attentions of the gentry, or whether she considered that those attentions diverted too much notice from herself as the heroine of the servants' hall, she certainly came to the rescue, edging her bulk between the girl and Ingrow.

"She is too green for your grace," she insisted. "You need a fine woman like me for your flag-bearer."

Even Ingrow's readiness found him something at a loss for an answer.

He looked as if he feared lest dame Satch.e.l.l might take him in an embrace. Brilliana, now that all the gla.s.ses were charged, decided that the company had tasted enough of Mrs. Satch.e.l.l's humors.

"I thank you, Mistress Satch.e.l.l," she said, quietly, and Mrs.

Satch.e.l.l, rightly reading in the tones of her mistress's voice permission to retire, withdrew in good order, beaming and bobbing to all the gentlemen and followed by Shard and Tiffany, who, with lids demurely lowered, avoided recognition of the admiring glances of Fawley and Ingrow.

Brilliana turned to her company and lifted her gla.s.s.