King's Highway

R. James G. P.

Description

Diplomat and author George Payne Rainsford James was well versed in historical research methods, even serving for a time as Britain's Historiographer Royal. In the sweeping epic The King's Highway, James unfurls a classic tale of two friends and the young boy who brings them together amidst tragic circumstances.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776596973
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE KING'S HIGHWAY
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G. P. R. JAMES
 
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The King's Highway First published in 1840 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-697-3 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-698-0 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Chapter XXI Chapter XXII Chapter XXIII Chapter XXIV Chapter XXV Chapter XXVI Chapter XXVII Chapter XXVIII Chapter XXIX Chapter XXX Chapter XXXI Chapter XXXII Chapter XXXIII Chapter XXXIV Chapter XXXV Chapter XXXVI Chapter XXXVII Chapter XXXVIII Chapter XXXIX Chapter XL Chapter XLI Chapter XLII Chapter XLIII Chapter XLIV Chapter XLV Chapter XLVI Endnotes
Chapter I
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Though the weather was hot and sultry, and the summer was at its height,yet the evening was gloomy, and low, angry clouds hung over the distantline of the sea, when, under the shelter of some low-browed cliffs uponthe Irish coast, three persons stood together, two of whom were talkingearnestly. About four or five miles from the shore, looking like aspectre upon the misty background of clouds, appeared a small brig withher canvas closely reefed, though there was little wind stirring, andnothing announced the approach of a gale, unless it were a long, heavyswell that heaved up the bosom of the ocean as if with a suppressed sob.The three persons we have mentioned were standing together close at thefoot of the rocks; and, though there was nothing in their demeanourwhich would imply that they were seeking concealment by the points andangles of the cliff,—for they spoke loud, and one of them laughed morethan once with the short but jocund laugh of a heart whose carelessgaiety no circumstances can repress,—yet the spot was well calculatedto hide them from any eye, unless it were one gazing down from thecliffs above, or one looking towards the shore from the sea.
The party of which we speak comprised two men not quite reached themiddle age, and a fine, noble-looking boy of perhaps eight years old ora little more; but all the conversation was between the two elder, whobore a slight family likeness to each other. The one had a cloak thrownover his arm, and a blue handkerchief bound round his left hand. Hisdress in other respects was that of a military man of the period; along-waisted, broad-tailed coat, with a good deal of gold lace and manylarge buttons upon it, enormous riding boots, and a heavy sword. He hadno defensive armour on, indeed, though those were days when thesoldierly cuirass was not yet done away with; and on his head he onlywore an ordinary hat trimmed round with feathers.
He seemed, however, to be a personage perfectly well able to defend hisown, being not much short of six feet in height; and though somewhatthin, extremely muscular, with long, bony arms, and a wide deep chest.His forehead was high and open, and his eye frank and clear, havingwithal some shrewdness in its quick twinkle. The countenance was a goodone; the features handsome, though a little coarse; and if it was notaltogether prepossessing, the abatement was made on account of a certainindescribable look of dissipation—not absolutely to say debauchery,but approaching it—which mingled with the expression of finer things,like nightshade filling up the broken masses of some ruined temple. Hishair was somewhat prematurely grizzled; for he yet lacked several yearsof forty, and strong lines, not of thought, were marked upon his brow.
He was, upon the whole, a man whom many people would have called ahandsome, fine-looking man; and there was certainly in his countenancethat indescribable something, which can only be designated by the termengaging.
While conversing with his companion, which he did frankly and evengaily, laughing, as we have said, from time to time, there was still apeculiarity which might be supposed to show that for some reason he wasnot perfectly at his ease, or perfectly sure of the man to whom hespoke. In general, he did not look at him, though he gazed straightforward; but, as is very frequently the case with us all, when we aretalking to a person whom we doubt or dislike, he looked beyond him, fromtime to time, however, turning his eyes full upon the countenance of hiscomrade, and keeping them fixed upon him for several moments.
The second personage of the party was a man somewhat less in height thanthe other, but still tall. He was two or three years younger; handsomein features; graceful in person; and withal possessing an air ofdistinction which the other might have possessed also, had it not beenconsiderably diminished by the certain gay and swaggering look which wehave already noticed. His dress was not so completely military as thatof the first, though there was scarf and sword-knot, and gold-fringedbelt and leathern gloves, with wide cuffs, which swallowed up the armsalmost to the elbows.
He laughed not at all, and his tone was grave, but smooth and courtly,except when, ever and anon, there mingled with what he was saying insweet and placid words, some bitter and sarcastic tirade, which made hiscompanion smile, though it moved not a muscle of his own countenance.
We have said that there was a third in the group, and that third was aboy of about eight years of age. It is scarcely possible to conceiveanything more beautiful than his countenance, or to fancy a form morereplete with living grace than his. His hair swept round his clear andopen countenance in dark wavy curls; and while he held the taller of thetwo gentlemen by the hand, he gazed forward over the wide melancholysea, which came rolling up towards their feet, with a look full ofthought, and perhaps of anxiety. There was certainly grief in that gaze;for the black eyelashes which surrounded those large blue eyes became,after a moment or two, moistened with something bright like a tear; andapparently utterly inattentive to the conversation between his twocompanions, he still turned away, fully occupied with the matter of hisown thoughts.
It is time, however, for us to take notice of that to which he did notattend.
"Not a whit, Harry, not a whit," said the taller of the two: "there arecertain portions of good and evil scattered through the world, and everyman must take his share of both. I have taken care, as you well know, tosecure a certain portion of the pleasures of this life. It was notnatural that the thing should last for ever, so I have quite made up mymind to drinking the bitters since I have sipped the sweets. On thislast business I have staked my all, and lost my all; and if my poorbrother had not done the same, and lost his life into the bargain, Ishould not much care for my part. On my honour and soul, it does seem tome a strange thing, that here poor Morton, who would have done serviceto everybody on earth, who was as good as he was brave, and as clever ashe was good, should fall at the very first shot, and I go through thewhole business with nothing but this scratch of the hand. I did my bestto get myself killed, too; for I will swear that I was the last man uponour part that left the bank of the Boyne. But just as half a dozen ofthe fellows had got me down, and were going to cut my throat because Iwould not surrender, there came by the fellow they call Bentinck, Ithink, who called to them not to kill me now that the battle was over. Istarted up, saying, 'There is one honest Dutchman at least,' and made adart through them. They would have caught me, I dare say, but he laughedaloud; and I heard him call to them not to follow me, saying, 'That oneon either side made no great difference.' I may chance to do that fellowa good turn yet in my day."
"That may well be," replied the other; "for since your brother's death,if you are sure he is killed, you are the direct heir to an earldom, andto estates that would buy a score of German princes."
While he thus spoke, the person he addressed suddenly turned his eyesfull upon his face, and looked at him intently for a minute. He thenanswered, "Sure he is dead, Harry? Did I not tell you that he died in myarms? Would it not have been a nice thing now, if I had been killed too?There would have been none between you and the earldom then. Upon mylife, I think you ought to have it: it would just suit you; you wouldmake such a smooth-tongued, easy courtier to this Dutch vagabond, whomyou are going over to, I can see, notwithstanding all yourasseverations;" and he laughed aloud as he spoke.
"Nonsense, Lennard, nonsense!" replied his companion: "I neither wishyou killed, my good cousin, nor care for the earldom, nor am going overto the usurper, though, Heaven knows, you'll do no good to any one, theearldom will do no good to you, and the usurper, perhaps, may do muchgood to the country. But had either of the three been true, I shouldcertainly have given you up to the Prince of Orange, instead of sharingmy last fifty guineas with you, to help you off to France."
His companion gazed down upon the ground with a grim smile, and remainedfor a moment without answering; he then looked up, gave a short laugh,and replied, "I must not be ungrateful, cousin mine; I thank you for themoney with all my heart and soul; but I cannot think that you have runyourself so hard as that either; you must have made mighty greatpreparations which have not appeared, to spend your sn