human
Master Algernon Neville! said the man of parchment, as soon as the striking figure of the visitor saluted his eye on entering the room.
gpt
I would your honour had sent in your name. I should hardly have kept you so long in waiting here. Body o' me, I had no idea it was your honourable self.
human
Nor much desire so to find it, I dare be sworn, Grasp, said the visitor.
gpt
But, sooth to say, I am come to thee again, and upon the same errand as when I last was here.
human
Advice, eh? said Grasp;
gpt
I am bounden to thee, good Grasp, said the visitor,
human
Moneys? said Grasp.
gpt
Truly I am not likely to forget I did also advance certain moneys,--moneys you required to take you over to Scotland.
human
And now, if I require more moneys, said the visitor,
gpt
Marry can I, said Grasp;
human
I want that,
gpt
Mass, a round sum! said Grasp;
human
Why, gad a-mercy! said the visitor, in some surprise,
gpt
Your honour will pardon me for the simile, said Grasp;
human
I know of no news likely to effect my fortunes, said the visitor,
gpt
Body o' me, said Grasp,
human
Nay, is this true?
gpt
True as that your honour is his next heir,
human
And where died he?
gpt
In Italy, where he hath been long in exile, as thou know'st.
human
Ah! said Neville,
gpt
Unlucky? said Grasp.
human
Heard ye ever the like o' that! What can be unlucky that bodes your honour so much good? You are in fact and in right, _de facto et de jure_, next heir to the earldom of Westmoreland.
gpt
Would that I had known of this but yesterday! said Neville, abstractedly;
human
Did your honour observe anything?
gpt
he muttered at length to himself,
human
I will betray them all. Harkee, good Grasp, he continued, after a considerable pause,
gpt
That were, indeed, a way to recover, said Grasp;
human
I do, said Neville,
gpt
In aiding you I serve the Queen, it seems, said Grasp,
human
Is't not so?
gpt
It is so,
human
Ergo, it is profitable,
gpt
It is so,
human
Then am I content to encounter the danger, said Grasp,
gpt
To discover a plot and arrest the traitors,
human
Ah, said Grasp, with alacrity,
gpt
I can do both, good Grasp, said Neville,
human
Ah, say'st thou, said Grasp,
gpt
You are,
human
Now, praise be to my sagacity, said Grasp,
gpt
I all along suspected those mysterious men of being evil-doers. There is treason and concealed villany in their very shadows as they glide about. What is the nature of their designs and their intent, good Master Neville? are they emissaries of the Spaniard? or are they----
human
Let it suffice, their intentions are dangerous to the safety of the Queen, and they are secretly drawing into their conspiracy many Catholic gentlemen in this county who are discontented with the present government. Nay, five of them are sworn by the most binding oaths to sacrifice themselves to the service of taking the life of the Queen.
gpt
Oh, the villains! said Grasp, rubbing his hands with delight at the prospect of being accessory to the discovery of a conspiracy of so much magnitude.
human
Oh, the caitiffs! a plot to destroy our blessed Queen, and ruin the nation! now that's what I call worth living to hear of. I'm a made man, that's clear.
gpt
Nay, but, said Neville,
human
Ah, said Grasp, his countenance falling a little,
gpt
Sir Hugh Clopton.
human
Thou hast taken my breath away, said Grasp, recoiling a pace or two.
gpt
Sir Hugh Clopton, whom men call the good Sir Hugh, engaged in such a bloodthirsty and jesuitical plot as this? Are you quite sure, honoured sir, of the correctness of what you utter?
human
I am quite sure that some of those engaged and deeply pledged to assassinate the Queen have been in hiding at Clopton Hall within the last two days. Nay, I shall be able to identify several of the best Catholic families in this county, as having been in correspondence with emissaries in Scotland, not only to assassinate Elizabeth, but to set the Queen of Scots at liberty, and place the crown upon her head.
gpt
Nay, this is glorious, said Grasp;
human
That I must leave to your discretion, good Grasp, said Neville.
gpt
Your part must be to secure them ere twenty-four hours have elapsed. Meantime, I must ride post haste to London, and give information to the Queen or her ministers of the whole affair.
human
I would your worship would remain here, and capture the caitiffs, whilst I proceed up to town with information, said Grasp.
gpt
Methinks, as you are a man of _war_, and I am a man of _law_, that would be the most proper arrangement.
human
By no means, said Neville.
gpt
Manage the matter as I have told thee. Do it well and effectually, and reward is sure to follow to us both. It is essential that I should myself gain favour by the discovery, and if I should succeed to the estates and title of Westmoreland, I shall not forget the service you have rendered. Be wary, and prosper. Farewell.
human
Now, there's a bloody-minded and dangerous Jesuit for you, said Grasp to himself.
gpt
He thinks I know not that he's a Catholic, I suppose, and that I cannot guess he has been as deep in this vile plot as the rest of them. But I do bear a brain, and I can perceive that the death of his relation hath completely turned his conscience, and now, in place of helping to murder the Queen, he's going to hang up all his associates, by turning evidence. A bad world, my masters, and bad folks in it! But then it's by the bad I gain and thrive; bickerings, quarrellings, evil-speaking, lying, and slander, plots, counterplots, conspiracies, hangings, and headings, are my especial good. So now to consider and contrive this matter. Let me see--I instantly hasten off to the high bailiff, get together a sufficient body of his men, and then, my masters, look to yourselves! A plot to kill the Queen, subvert the Government, and burn the whole kingdom in an _auto-da-fé_! By all that's good, the business will not be effected without blood-letting on both sides! Let me see, who have we of approved valour and conduct to aid us in this capture? There's Master John Shakespeare; he's a good man and a true one, that will thrust in, and smite hard. His grandsire did good service at Bosworth Field. Then there's Goodman Rivett, the armourer; he hath an arm of might, and a heart of steel,--him will I also look up, an we need special men. Then there's--Yet, continued Grasp, pausing, and considering the matter,