"I am very agreeably surprised," said Atherton. "I have been dying to know who you both were, for Colonel Townley refused to gratify my curiosity."
"I am glad to find he obeyed my orders," observed Miss Rawcliffe, smiling. "At that time I did not imagine I should ever see you again. But this morning papa told me he had made an appointment with you at noon. I ought to apologise for his absence – but you are rather before your time."
"'Tis I who ought to apologise," said Atherton. "But I am the bearer of a note to Sir Richard," he added, handing it to her. "'Tis from Dr. Byrom, and I believe it contains matter of urgent importance. At all events, Dr. Byrom requested me to deliver it without delay."
"I hope it contains good news," said Constance. "Pray take a seat. You must please to await papa's return. He much wishes to see you; and I may tell you he hopes to induce you to join the prince's army. We are all ardent Jacobites, as you know, and anxious to obtain recruits. If I had any influence with you I would urge you to enrol yourself in Colonel Townley's regiment. Jemmy Dawson has just joined. Why not follow his example?"
"I have already explained to Colonel Townley why it is impossible for me to comply with his request."
"Your reasons have been mentioned to me, but I confess I do not see their force. Jemmy Dawson has not been swayed by such feelings, but has risked his father's displeasure to serve the prince. He did not hesitate when told that a young lady's hand would be the reward of his compliance with her request."
"Till this moment I did not know why Jemmy had joined, having heard him express indifference to the cause. May I venture to ask the name of the fair temptress?"
"Excuse me. You will learn the secret in due time."
"He shall learn it now," interposed Monica. "I do not blush to own that I am the temptress. I am proud of my Jemmy's devotion – proud, also, of having gained the prince so important a recruit."
"You may well be proud of Jemmy, Monica," said Constance. "He has many noble qualities and cannot fail to distinguish himself."
"He is as brave as he is gentle," said Monica – "a veritable preux et hardi chevalier, and will live or die like a hero."
"You are an enthusiastic girl," said Constance.
"In my place you would be just as enthusiastic, Constance," rejoined the other.
Atherton listened with a beating heart to this discourse, which was well calculated to stir his feelings.
Just then, however, an interruption was offered by the entrance of Sir Richard Rawcliffe.
"Very glad to see you, sir," cried the baronet, shaking hands with Atherton. "I perceive you have already made the acquaintance of my daughter and her cousin, Miss Butler, so I needn't introduce you. Are you aware that my niece is engaged to your friend, Jemmy Dawson?"
"Yes, Mr. Atherton Legh knows all about it, papa," said Constance. "He has brought you a letter from Dr. Byrom," she added, giving it to him.
"Excuse me," said Sir Richard, opening the note.
As he hastily scanned its contents, his countenance fell.
"Has something gone wrong, papa?" cried Constance, uneasily.
"I am threatened with arrest for treasonable practices," replied Sir Richard. "Dr. Byrom counsels immediate flight, or concealment. But where am I to fly? – where conceal myself?" he added, looking quite bewildered.
"You had better leave the inn at once, papa," said Constance, who, though greatly alarmed, had not lost her presence of mind.
At this moment, a noise was heard outside that increased the uneasiness of the party.
CHAPTER XI.
THE BOROUGHREEVE OF MANCHESTER
Situated in the front of the house, the room commanded the market-place. Atherton rushed to the window to ascertain what was taking place, and was followed by the baronet.
"Do not show yourself, Sir Richard," cried the young man, motioning him to keep back. "The chief magistrates are outside – Mr. Fielden, the boroughreeve, and Mr. Walley and Mr. Fowden, the constables. They have a posse of peace-officers with them."
"They are come to arrest me!" exclaimed Sir Richard.
"Save yourself, papa! – save yourself!" cried Constance. "Not a moment is to be lost."
Her exhortations were seconded by Monica and Atherton, but Sir Richard did not move, and looked quite stupefied.
"'Tis too late!" cried Atherton. "I hear them on the stairs."
As he spoke the door burst open, and Diggles rushed in – his looks betokening great alarm.
"The magistrates are here, Sir Richard, and their purpose is to arrest you. Flight is impossible. Every exit from the house is guarded. I could not warn you before."
"If you have any letters or papers that might compromise you, papa, give them to me," said Constance.
Sir Richard hesitated for a moment, and then produced a packet, saying, as he gave it to her, "I confide this to you. Take every care of it."
She had just concealed the packet when the magistrates entered the room. The officers who followed them stationed themselves outside the door.
Mr. John Fielden, the boroughreeve, who preceded the two constables, was a man of very gentleman-like appearance and deportment. After saluting the baronet, who advanced a few steps to meet him, he said, in accents that were not devoid of sympathy —
"I have a very unpleasant duty to discharge, Sir Richard, but I must fulfil it. In the king's name I arrest you for treasonable practices."
"Of what treasonable practices am I accused, sir?" demanded the baronet, who had now gained his composure.
"You are charged with wickedly and traitorously conspiring to change and subvert the rule and government of this kingdom; with seeking to depose our sovereign lord the king of his title, honour, and royal state; and with seeking to raise and exalt the person pretending to be, and taking upon himself the style and title of King of England, by the name of James the Third, to the imperial rule and government of this kingdom."
"What more, sir?" said Sir Richard.
"You are charged with falsely and traitorously inciting certain of his Majesty's faithful subjects to rebellion; and with striving to raise recruits for the son of the Popish Pretender to the throne, who is now waging war against his Majesty King George the Second."
"I deny the charges," rejoined the baronet, sternly.
"I trust you can disprove them, Sir Richard," said the boroughreeve. "To-morrow your examination will take place, and, in the meantime, you will be lodged in the Old Bailey."
"Lodged in a prison!" exclaimed Constance, indignantly.
"It must be," said the boroughreeve. "I have no option. But I promise you Sir Richard shall undergo no hardship. His imprisonment, I hope, may be brief."
"I thank you for your consideration, sir," said the baronet. "May I be allowed a few minutes to prepare?"
"I am sorry I cannot grant the request, Sir Richard."
"Then farewell, my dear child! – farewell, Monica!" cried the baronet, tenderly embracing them. "My captivity will not be long," he added, in a low voice to his daughter. "I shall be set at liberty on the prince's arrival – if not before."
Constance maintained a show of firmness which she did not feel, but Monica was much moved, and could not repress her tears.
After