登陆注册
15324000000060

第60章 THE MARPLOT(6)

He was roused by Oates' voice.The Doctor was arranging his plan of campaign with gusto.Bedloe was to disappear to the West Country till the time came for him to offer his evidence.Prance was to go about his peaceful trade till Bedloe gave him the cue.It was a masterly stratagem--Bedloe to start the ball, Prance to be accused as accomplice and then on his own account to give the other scoundrel corroboration.

"Attend, you sir," the doctor shouted to Lovel."Ye will be called to swear to the murderers whom this haanest man will name.If ye be a true Praatestant ye will repeat the laisson I taich you.If not, ye will be set down as one of the villains and the good fawk of this city will tear the limbs from ye at my nod.Be well advaised, my friend, for I hold ye in my haand." And Oates raised a great paw and opened and shut it.

Lovel mumbled assent.Fear had again descended on him.He heard dimly the Doctor going over the names of those to be accused.

"Ye must bring in one of the sairvants of this place," he said."Some common paarter, who has no friends.""Trust me," said Prance."I will find a likely fellow among the Queen's household.I have several in my mind for the honour.""Truly the plaace is a nest of Paapists," said Oates."And not such as you, Mr.Prance, who putt England before the Paape.Ye are worth a score of Praatestants to the good caause, and it will be remaimbered.Be assured it will be remaimbered....Ye are clear about the main villains? Walsh, you say, and Pritchard and the man called Le Fevre?""The last most of all.But they are sharp-nosed as hounds, and unless we go wiarily they will give us the slip, and we must fall back on lesser game.""Le Fevre." Oates mouthed the name."The Queen's confessor.I was spit upon by him at St.Omer, and would waipe out the affront.A dog of a Frainch priest! A man I have long abhaarred.""So also have I." Prance had venom in his level voice."But he is no Frenchman.He is English as you--a Phayre out of Huntingdon."The name penetrated Lovel's dulled wits.Phayre! It was the one man who in his father's life had shown him unselfish kindness.Long ago in Paris this Phayre had been his teacher, had saved him from starvation, had treated him with a gentleman's courtesy.Even his crimes had not estranged this friend.

Phayre had baptized his child, and tended his wife when he was in hiding.

But a week ago he had spoken a kindly word in the Mall to one who had rarely a kind word from an honest man.

That day had been to the spy a revelation of odd corners in his soul.He had mustered in the morning the resolution to kill one man.Now he discovered a scruple which bade him at all risks avert the killing of another.He perceived very clearly what the decision meant--desperate peril, perhaps ruin and death.He dare not delay, for in a little he would be too deep in the toils.He must escape and be first with the news of Godfrey's death in some potent quarter.Buckingham, who was a great prince.

Or Danby.Or the King himself....

The cunning of a lifetime failed him in that moment.He slipped through the door, but his coat caught in a splinter of wood, and the rending of it gave the alarm.As with quaking heart he ran up the silent stable-yard towards the Strand gate he felt close on him the wind of the pursuit.In the dark he slipped on a patch of horse-dung and was down.Something heavy fell atop of him, and the next second a gross agony tore the breath from him.

.....................

Five minutes later Bedloe was unknotting a coarse kerchief and stuffing it into his pocket.It was the same that had strangled Godfrey "A good riddance," said Oates."The fool had seen too much and would have proved but a saarry witness.Now by the mairciful dispensation of Goad he has ceased to trouble us.Ye know him, Captain Bedloe?"A Papistical cur, and white-livered at that," the bravo answered.

"And his boady? It must be praamptly disposed of.""An easy task.There is the Savoy water-gate and in an hour the tide will run.He has no friends to inquire after him."Oates rubbed his hands and cast his eyes upward.Great are the doings of the Laard," he said, "and wonderful in our saight!"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 三部曲之光明王朝

    三部曲之光明王朝

    人类,龙族,异族,兽人,精灵,矮人,半兽人。
  • 胃病的饮食调养

    胃病的饮食调养

    本书深入浅出地介绍了胃病的一般医学知识、常见胃病症状及胃病的饮食调养,简要介绍了胃的解剖生理及常用化验检查正常值。在中医辨证分型的基础上,对常见胃病有针对性地详细介绍了药膳及食疗两方面的饮食调养方法,详述了不同方剂的配制、功用、服用方法、适应证等内容,所述疗方简便易行、经济实用,不同地域的家庭及病人皆可掌握使用。本书内容丰富,实用性强,是胃病患者的保健指南,既适合于胃病患者及其家属阅读,对广大基层医护人员也有一定的参考价值。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 苍穹音

    苍穹音

    苍宇翰海决意行穹顶林间低语吟至此问君可怨悔影晰眸清道何曾一曲笙箫奏出风的轻吟,一支灵犀绘出空的独角。此程虽渊壑横野,回首静观.不会输的是风的独角,不会断的是友的情义.我的回归你注定挡不住,你的一切注定将是徒劳。
  • 洪荒龙君

    洪荒龙君

    洪荒三千魔神尊,仙路四九混元道伴不周而生,问洪荒之巅不周山上对天道,重天之巅战众圣三皇五帝掌崆峒,六圣九尊议封神诸子百家争天地,天子一言尊儒家···
  • 倾世穿越:废物五小姐

    倾世穿越:废物五小姐

    作为一名二十一世纪的普通学生,安诗芸很有当学生的自觉。每天听听讲,做做题,日子过的还算惬意。但是,谁能告诉她,这是怎么回事?姐不就是摸了一下那种子嘛!怎么就成了穿越大军中的一员了?喂!种子,你有没有搞错啊!姐不是特工也不是杀手,姐一个普通学生碍着你什么事儿了?把姐弄到这人生地不熟的地方很好玩吗?!姐的完美人生啊!!穿越就算了,种子啊种子,人家穿越哪个不是绝代天骄,你怎么让姐穿成了个永世不得翻身的废柴啊?!没天理啊!!要知道,在二十一世纪我安诗芸可是大家佩服的三好学生,众人心目中的偶像啊!姐是废物?瞎了你的狗眼!姐分分钟就能把你比成个渣。得得得,既然来了,废柴姐也让她变天才!
  • 快穿之恋爱游戏

    快穿之恋爱游戏

    他花心不专情,因为没有心。偶然得到一个恋爱游戏,他想玩玩也好,于是,开始穿越。
  • 这一代的人

    这一代的人

    2014年,一个正在转变的时代。身处这个时代的我们应该何去何从?
  • 刻在三生石上的爱情

    刻在三生石上的爱情

    经人介绍,宁捷认识了临汝中学女教师俞梅花,逐渐喜欢上她。但未曾想,俞梅花性格古怪,生世离奇,宁捷与她在恋爱与婚姻生活均苦不堪言。这种婚姻关系因同事黄羲的介入而迅速支离,宁捷与黄羲再婚。再婚后,宁捷了解到了俞梅花身世真相,也深知俞梅花用刻三生石的方式,一直痴恋着宁捷。因此,宁捷非常后悔,想与俞梅花重归于好。但俞梅花竟然是杀人犯,尽管她杀的人是十恶不赦的凶徒,但法不容情。无良警察陈警官用种种手段得知真相后,想以此要挟俞梅花嫁给他,否则定将送俞梅花法办。宁捷为了俞梅花,想除掉陈警官。此时,意外发生了。。。。。。
  • 不羁少爷逍遥妻

    不羁少爷逍遥妻

    湛车合出手毒辣,被师傅关在万壑峰思过,八年后出来,俨然一副放荡不羁,顽劣好玩的模样湛车合身兼几派要职,不为情事所困。身受叔父,义父,师傅传教功夫,一步步巩固其在江湖上的地位。朋友或忠诚,或叛变,或冷漠。他笑看世事,无所谓的样子,江湖在复杂,他都过得简单。湛车合一心铲除边疆教派势力,是他们侵略中原的企图不得逞,在其间湛车合或得或失,他都当作身外之物,什么都不在乎,不以物喜,不以己悲。在感情方面,湛车合可谓是处处留香处处留思,他到底在乎谁,还是说他到底在乎什么。