"'Tis ever thus," ejaculated Oliver, looking upon the sad figure now by
his side. "'Tis ever thus; there never was a noble heart but the blight
fell on it; doubtless he loved the maid: the Lord be with us! He is
seized--pray the Almighty not for death." He struck his dagger on a
hand-bell that lay upon the table, ordered that his own surgeon should
attend Robin with all due speed, and then walked kindly by his side to
the opened door, where he delivered him to a favourite attendant. Those
in the ante-room who had witnessed Cromwell's gentleness to Robin Hays
were profuse in their offers of assistance to one, whom, but a little
while before, they had jested at and insulted. Courtiers are as ripe in
republics as in king-governed countries. Your sycophants bow to the
power, and not to the person. Dress but a dog in royal robes, and call
him Emperor--Protector--King, and thousands will rejoice loudly if he
but wag his tail.
Cromwell returned to his investigation, and interspersed his
questionings with much bitterness of remark--the more so as he feared
his chain of evidence was in some degree incomplete, although no moral
doubt could remain on the mind of any person as to the Master of
Burrell's guilt. Colonel Jones failed not to show how anxious Sir
Willmott had been that Zillah should escape, and the Rabbi's agitation
bordered on madness when he contemplated the new crime into which his
wretched daughter had been led.
"Brand me as you please; think of me in your good judgment as you will.
I am a free man; free to go as to come; and as your Highness cannot
detain me on legal grounds, I am at liberty to depart."
Sir Willmott had scarcely finished the sentence, when Gracious Meanwell,
having first knocked, and received permission to enter, advanced with a
small and peculiar-looking packet in his hand; it was composed of slips
of parchment, and the direction was in printed, not written letters.
"I crave your Highness's pardon; but a sailor-like lad brought this to
the great gate, and would take no denial, but that it should be given
immediately to your Highness, saying that he found it hanging in some
out-o'-the way place, betwixt heaven and earth, far off in the Isle of
Shepey, and seeing that it was directed to your Highness, he came
straightway to deliver it; he prevailed on the porters to forward it up,
which they did, knowing that your Highness wishes nothing of the sort to
be kept back."
While Meanwell spoke, Cromwell was undoing or rather tearing open the
parcel; and the man was about to withdraw with all the court observance
which the Protector would not lack.