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He established all the town paupers in the doctor's clover. He recalled old Peter Thomas from the poorhouse, and set him at Doctor Prescott's front window in a broadcloth coat. An imbecile pauper by the name of Mindy Toggs he established in undisturbed possession of Simon Basset's house and lands.
"Damoiselle Jeanne," said Perrote, using the royal title of Lady Basset's unmarried days; "may I pray you tell me if you have of late seen the Lord Duke your brother?" "Ay, within a year," said Lady Basset, listlessly. "Would it please you to say if King Edward letteth his coming?" "I think not so."
Edwards in the window, and Elmira opened the door before she knocked. "Good-afternoon; I would like to see your brother a moment," Abigail announced, abruptly. "He isn't at home," said Elmira; "something has happened at Simon Basset's I don't know what. A boy came after Jerome, and he hurried off. Father's gone too." Elmira blushed all over her face and neck as she spoke.
"Are you afraid the young fellow will come into property, an' then you'll have to give up too much to the Lord?" The veins on Doctor Prescott's forehead swelled visibly as he looked at Simon Basset's hateful, bantering face. "There's another thing I'm willin' to promise," continued Simon Basset.
On the contrary, in addition to those who had already entered, immediately inside the door, one on either side of it, stood two of Basset's men-at- arms, with drawn swords and cocked pistols in their hands, while the nine chairs on the dais were occupied by nine motionless figures completely shrouded in garments of black cloth, wearing upon their heads a curious pointed head-dress, also of black cloth, which completely hid their heads and faces, but in which two holes were cut for them to see through.
O fair Father, Jesu Christ, lose not this soul for which Thou hast died!" Perrote's next move was to await Lady Basset's departure from her mother's chamber, and to ask her to bestow a few minutes' private talk on her old nurse. The Princess complied readily, and came into the opposite chamber where Amphillis sat sewing.
Basset's nerves were in a shocking condition. The doleful stories croaked into his ears the whole passage down; the darkness of the hour; Holden's terrible character; and the remoteness from any assistance other than that of Gladding and Primus, in whom his confidence diminished every moment, conspired to throw him into the abjectest trepidation.
"Ye ain't goin' to ride him bare-back?" asked Ozias. "I'm not going to stop for a saddle. G'long!" Jerome bent forward, slapped the horse on the neck, dug his heels into his sides, and was off at a gallop. Ozias followed, still clutching the deed. Abel Edwards came out as he reached the house. "Where's J'rome goin' to?" he asked. "Down to Basset's; somethin's happened.
Jerome, who had been pulling away from his hold, suddenly stood still, and turned a stern little white face upon him. "He's dead," said he. "Yes, of course he's dead. That is, we're all afraid he is, though we all hope for the best; but that ain't the question," said Simon Basset. "The question is, how did he die?" Jerome looked up in Simon Basset's face.
The master of the pinnace, being freed from his fellow-combatant, returned to Basset's house perhaps to tell his tale of woe, perhaps to get more liquor and was assailed by the drummer with amazing words of "anger and distemper used by drunken companions;" in short, he was "verey offensive, his noyes and oathes being hearde to the other side of the creeke."
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