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Updated: June 15, 2025
"The hour is getting late, squire," he said hesitatingly, "we carriers be ready.... 'Tis an hour or more down to Minster ... walking with a heavy burden I mean.... If your Honor would give the order, mayhap we might nail down the coffin lid now and make a start." Marmaduke de Chavasse, too, had turned towards the doorway.
"To-night?" said Mistress de Chavasse curtly, but peremptorily, "what of to-night? ... I sent you orders from Thanet that I wished the house opened to-night ... Lord Walterton, Sir James Overbury and as many of our usual friends as were in the town, apprised that play would be in full progress.... Meseems," she added, casting a searching look all round the room, "that we have singularly few players."
"Sue! in the name of Heaven! what doth your ladyship here and at this hour?" The crisis which the young girl had almost challenged, had indeed arrived. Mistress de Chavasse carrying a lighted and guttering candle, was standing close behind her.
"Some footpad who haunts the cliffs," rejoined de Chavasse lightly, "'tis simple enough." "Simple, mayhap ..." mused the squire, "yet ..." He paused a moment and once more silence fell on all those assembled in the small cottage parlor. Sir Marmaduke felt as if every vein in his body was gradually being turned to stone.
Some twenty feet further on was the smooth stretch of sand where had lain the smith, after he had been dressed up in the fantastic clothes of the mysterious French prince. Marmaduke de Chavasse gazed upon that spot.
Then in the midst of the awesome silence that followed on that loudly spoken curse, there was the sound of a firm footstep on the rough deal floor, and the next moment Michael Richard de Chavasse was kneeling beside his mother, and covering her icy cold hand with kisses. A heart-broken moan escaped her throat.
Sir Marmaduke, after a slight pause, had contrived to utter an oath indicative of the wrath he, as Lady Sue's guardian, should have felt at her statement. Squire Boatfield frowned at the oath. He had never liked de Chavasse and disapproved more than ever of the man's attitude towards his womenkind now.
Then she went into the withdrawing-room and waited. Five minutes later Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse, clad in thick dark doublet and breeches and wearing a heavy cloak, once more descended the stairs of Acol Court. He saw the light in the withdrawing-room and knew that Editha was there, mutely watching his departure. But he did not care to speak to her again.
Even when she heard that Fate itself was conspiring to help on the clandestine marriage by causing Sir Marmaduke and Mistress de Chavasse to absent themselves at a most opportune moment, she had resolved to break the news to her lover of her own immense wealth. Of this he was still in total ignorance. One or two innocent remarks which he had let fall at different times convinced her of that.
But all these thoughts and fears had fled the moment Lambert found himself in the midst of these people, whom he innocently believed to be great ladies and noble gentlemen, friends of his employer Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse. It seemed to him at once as if there was something here in this room which he would not wish Lady Sue to see.
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