Adventure stories; Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
"That I do," cried she. "He is a French priest, and was in Holland only
by stealth, seeing that the people who live in Holland do hate the
priests so much owing to their past sufferings. But Lucy told me his
name, she did, ay, she told me when she was in England before they put
her in the Tower. For my Lucy was a Catholic at heart, being brought to
that way of thinking while she was in those foreign parts. He told her
his name, and told her where he lived."
"Ah," I said, "that is better. Tell me, good dame."
"He lives at Boulogne," said the woman, "and his name is Father Pierre
Rousseau, and I have been told that his church is the Church of St.
Antony; but of that I am not sure."
But here at last was something definite to go upon. Boulogne was only a
few hours' sail from English shores, and if Father Pierre Rousseau lived
there he could be easily found out. I imagined that it would be easy to
find out whether the woman's story were true or false, and upon this
discovery a plan of action could be formed.
After this we fell to talking again, but beyond what I have written
down, little of import could be gathered. I saw that much heed was paid
to old wives' stories if they agreed with the desires of the women, but
as to well proved facts there seemed nothing besides these two things.
Still this was something. I could quickly find out whether Father Pierre
Rousseau were flesh and blood, while the discovery of Master Elijah
Pycroft should also be easy.
Had I been older, and known more of the ways of the world, I should, I
doubt not, have asked many more questions, but by this time my mind was
all aflame with the prospect of something to do, while the nature of my
work was all that a youth might ask for. Neither did I trouble much as
to why I should be chosen. My father had told me that I should know some
day, and with this I was fain content. I had a work to do, and that was
enough.
"It may be that this priest knows more than he has told you," I cried at
length; "my first business therefore will be to go to Boulogne, and
after that to seek out Master Elijah Pycroft."
My father nodded his head approvingly, and yet I thought I saw doubt in
his eyes.
"But what about the coming of the king?" I went on. "You told me only
to-day that we must go to Dover to meet him, and if he comes to England
soon, there will be no time for me to set out on my journey before
seeing him."
"The king will not arrive for two weeks," replied my father.
"Two weeks?" I said questioningly.
"Ay, two weeks. This dame hath it, that according to messages which have
been received in London town he will not come until the twenty-seventh
or the twenty-eighth day of the month. There will therefore be time, if
fortune favours you, to do much of your work before he comes hither."
Now being hot of blood, and not being aware of the many things which
might hinder me, I was content with this reply, and determined not to
fail being at Dover when the king should land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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