Book 1 — Chapter II

Wherein worthy Master Dunner finds My Lord Carthew's Clothes vastly becoming to me as I ride away

Master Dunner was as good as his word. In half an hour there was a huge package, carefully tied up, delivered at the door by one of his clerks. I took it to my own chamber and eagerly cut the lashings. It was a complete suit, of blue and silver. In my distraction, anxiety, and apprehension I had time to think how vastly it became my fair skin and blue eyes and bright hair. I had a wealth of the latter, and I confess, in spite of my brave words, that it was with a considerable pang that I had the woman who kept the house come into the room and, with clumsy, unskilful fingers, crop my long locks with her scissors. Fortunately my hair was curly, and, had it not been that the styles were otherwise, methought as I looked in the glass that the short ringlets were not unbecoming. With the suit were wig to go on one end of me and boots for the other. I was of my brother's height, but my feet were smaller than his; nevertheless, to my great satisfaction, the boots served well.

In my petticoats I was a tall woman; dressed as I found myself presently, I was rather an undersized man, yet not altogether insignificant. My face did look painfully fair: my cheeks pink and white, my upper lip innocent of the faintest suggestion of a moustache; yet, out of some paste from my toilet-table, I did contrive to dull the colour in my cheeks and to impart a brownish cast to my complexion that robbed it of a little of its femininity. My voice, which luckily happened to be a deep contralto, I could manage well enough.

With the suit was a riding-cloak, which I draped about me, and fancied that thus equipped no one could penetrate my disguise. I bore a striking likeness to my brother, too, thus apparelled. It went to my heart, when I looked at myself, to think of my father under sentence of death; alone, childless, save for one poor girl.

I had scarce finished adjusting my wig, clapping my hat upon it, walking up and down the room to accustom myself to the strange garb, when Master Dunner was announced. As he opened the door, he started back in great surprise at what he saw of me.

"'Fore God," he said, "did I not know, I should think it Lord Carthew"—my brother's courtesy title—"in life again."

His eyes travelled upward and rested upon my face. He shook his head.

"Save for that burning blush, the imitation is perfect."

"I think," said I, "that I shall not fly my colours in that way again. You see"—I sat down as I spoke and gathered my cloak about my legs, of which for the first time in my life I became acutely conscious—"you see, I expect that all others who look upon me will regard me as a man, while you know that I am but a woman, and..."

"I see," said the advocate, gravely smiling at my logic.

"It was foolish of me to blush," said I contritely, "seeing that you are older than my father."

"I held you in my arms when you were christened, my lady," remarked the old man simply, but with feeling.

"I know," I answered.

I rose to my feet and threw back my cloak. I must get accustomed, I thought, to these strange clothes and the world's scrutiny. No better opportunity presented itself for beginning than then and there.

"Hast brought the sword?" I asked, struggling to forget my garb.

For answer he handed it to me, belt and all. The hilt was richly chased and jewelled, but I had seen swords whose whole value consisted in that which rose above the scabbard. I drew it forth instantly and examined it critically. It was indeed a rare and beautiful blade, such as would have delighted the eye of a practised swordsman. I balanced the trustworthy weapon easily in my hand. It fitted my arm as if it had grown to my palm.

"'Tis a rare and beautiful weapon, if I am a judge."

"I think, from the way you handle it, that you are."

I shot it back into its sheath, clasped the belt about my waist, and instantly felt a thousand times more manly than before. The steel dangling against my legs seemed to add the finishing touch of completeness to my disguise. I was now a man indeed.

"Here," said the advocate, extending his hand with a purse, "is the money."

I sought to thrust it, womanlike, into the bosom of my shirt beneath the ruffles.

Master Dunner laughed.

"You have a pocket, sir, where such things are kept by men."

Once more I blushed.

"Your reminder is a good one," said I in some confusion, searching in the breast of my coat until I found the receptacle. "I may appear manly enough, but I lack practice in the niceties of the masquerade."

"That will come in time, madam," said the old man.

"Ah, yes," was my smiling answer, "but, as you noted before, time is what we lack. Yet I must e'en do my best with what I have. Where is the horse, and the mails?"

He pointed toward the door.

"In the alley at the back of the house. The mails are strapped to the saddle. They contain a change of linen and various other articles. I saw to their bestowing."

"Men's clothing or women's?"

"Men's, of course. From Lord Carthew's wardrobe. What should a young gallant like you be doing with women's gear?"

"True," said I. "You are right. May not the horse be brought around to the front of the house?"

"I think it safer and more secluded in the alley. Suspicion is easily excited in Edinburgh now, and to see so splendid a cavalier as yourself issuing from so mean an abode as this might give rise to curious question. This is our only haven. I would hold it inviolate for your return until to-morrow night."

"You are right, Master Dunner," said I. "And now I must go. I can think of nothing more. What's o'clock?"

"'Twas on the stroke of nine as I entered the house."

"If I ride carefully, I should be at Cockenzie before five. That will give me ample time. If our calculations fail not, I will meet Sir Hugh there."

I paused.

"And may God aid you and defend the right!" said the old man solemnly.

"Amen," said I. "And now good-bye."

I extended my hand once more. Mine ancient friend bowed over it, but I prevented him. I stepped toward him. Indeed, I overtowered him quite on account of his diminutive stature and his lameness, so that I bent my head and kissed him on the forehead without ceremony or hesitation.

"Good-bye, true friend," I said.

He was mightily touched by this mark of condescension. His thin face flushed.

"I would to God," he cried, "that I were young and strong and whole that I might ride for you or with you. 'Tis I who play the woman's part."

"Nay," said I, touched in turn by his generous words. "Without you this could not be. Will you have access to my father?"

"Yes, by the favour of the Lord Chief Justice, who is well affected toward me. What shall I tell him?"

"Tell him everything. Tell him, on the faith of the last Clanranald, I will have the warrant, or..."

I paused.

"Or what, your ladyship?"

"Or I will await him on the other side," I answered, looking away.

"God forbid!" earnestly protested the old man, sinking down and burying his head in his hands by the table.

"Look for me with the warrant to-morrow night," said I, forcing a smile lest I should break down, with my hand on the door.

"Wait!" he cried. "Don't think of bringing me the warrant. Destroy it instantly, tear it up when you get your hands upon it, or, better still, burn it. Here!"

He drew from his pocket a flint and steel in a little case. He was one of the few who practised the new-fangled habit of smoking the Virginia weed. I never could see what pleasure he got from it.

"Take these. You can kindle fire with them. Burn the warrant, should you be fortunate enough to lay hands upon it. Scraps may be pieced; ashes tell no tales. You understand the use of these things?"

I had often seen him light his pipe.

"Entirely," said I. "You shall see me, then, to-morrow night, with the statement that the warrant is destroyed."

"I pray so, I pray so!" cried the old man as I passed out of the room.

Now, I had—I suppose I should say it to my shame—often ridden astride at home. While I ordinarily rode as was the habit of my sex, sometimes, in wild mountain excursions through the forest glens or on hunting trips and adventurous journeys in the Highlands with my father and some faithful servitors, I had perforce and of necessity been compelled to ride astride. Therefore, it was no novelty for me to have between my legs a good horse.

Advocate learned in the law though he might be, Master Dunner was a rare judge of horse-flesh, I thought, or else he had wit enough to employ unquestioned talent for that purpose, for I never saw a sweeter, better-bred steed than that led by a horse-boy in the alley. He was perhaps a trifle undersized for a full-grown man's charger, but for my weight and build he was admirable: a deep French bay in exquisite condition. The saddle and mails behind were new, and the horse was equipped point device.

You see from this that I had studied French. Indeed, I was much better educated than the majority of my sex, to whom all learning save the simplest was a sealed book. My father had taken interest in me to teach me things, and I even knew where that quotation from Master Shakespeare came which my advocate had used, for my Lord and I had read the plays together and liked them well.

Slipping a coin into the horse-boy's hand, I stepped by the side of my horse, patted him a few moments, fondled him to make his acquaintance, wished that I had brought a bit of sugar for him, but made up for that default by my tender usage of him. Then I sprang lightly to the saddle and cantered slowly down the alley.

I was entirely familiar with Edinburgh and I easily avoided the main highways, taking alleys and by-streets, until I came to the gate in the city wall which gave out to the east, or Dunbar Road. Doubtless I made a fine sight with my handsome clothes, my easy bearing, my youthful face and my gallant steed. The soldiers at the gate, thinking they had to do with a wealthy gentleman, saluted as I passed, and I took some comfort in acknowledging, with a careless wave of my gauntleted hand, their respective duties.

By rights I should have been accompanied by a servant on another horse, but I did not stay long enough to let any question me for that lack, for so soon as I was clear of the town, and a turn of the road hid me from possible observation and scrutiny by the soldiers, I put spurs to my horse. Indeed a word would have been sufficient, but the spurs were upon my boots and I touched him with one. His bound nearly unseated me, by the way.

I was minded to distance possible pursuit by putting a long space between me and the town as soon as possible. There were two roads before me that led westerly; one crookedly along the shore, and the other inland a mile or so. The shore road was the more frequented, the broader and better highway; it was also somewhat longer, since it followed the windings of the coast, while that inland, through wooded and farming country and over the hills, was straighter, shorter, and more direct. It was also much less travelled, and therefore I was less apt to meet with question and more apt to avoid pursuit, should any be made. Accordingly, I chose the inland way. The two roads met at a place called Musselburgh, and from thence the way ran directly along the shore to the tavern where I confidently expected to meet my friend.

I was an astonishingly good horseman—how I dropped into the masculine in talking of myself, I thought!—and I knew that, if I pushed my horse too hard at the first, he would be spent for the rest of the day. Therefore, after going perhaps five or six miles at a rapid pace, I checked him, and thereafter proceeded in a more reasonable way.

I met no one of any importance, save yokels driving hay-wains and wagons of produce to the city, travelling pedlars, a little company of merchants, a stray soldier, to all of whom I gave good-day and passed on, none offering to molest me. My heart, which had beat high at the sight of the first-comer with all sorts of vague anticipation of disaster, at last became quite indifferent to any approaching traveller, and I flattered myself that I need be under no apprehension whatever of any one penetrating my disguise or seeking to harm me.

Nevertheless, I was careful to see that my pistols were loose in the holsters; that the priming made them fit for instant discharge, and that my sword-hilt was pulled a little forward ready to hand, should anybody attempt to stop me. I was determined to show my mettle and not to yield until the last extremity. There were, of course, highwaymen abroad, but they rarely molested people in open daylight. By nightfall, please God, I would be safely sheltered in The Black Douglas at Cockenzie.

It was noon when I cantered gallantly down the streets of Musselburgh. I had determined to rest there an hour to bait my horse, to get my dinner, and to consider further what my plans and future work should be. I drew up before the door of a comfortable-looking hostelry. Stable-boys came running; the landlord himself appeared in the doorway of his inn. I descended, called for a meal which I demanded should be of roast beef and other substantiate accompanied by a bottle of wine, thus doing violence to my natural dainty appetite, which would have preferred a fowl and cold water. I also engaged a private parlour and was accordingly served in private. I spent an hour thus very quietly and pleasantly without disturbance.

Now, I had been brought up very unconventionally in a way that would have scandalised my female relatives, had I enjoyed any, and which doubtless did scandalise certain neighbouring dames whose seats adjoined our own, but, nevertheless, I was a woman and I had never been absolutely free, independent, and unrestrained before.

I confess to a delightful sensation of excitement at my present situation. I think I must have had all the daring and adventurous spirit of the famous Clanranalds, and to be thus mounted on a good horse with money in my purse, a good sword by my side, a great adventure before me, filled me with joy. I had all the confidence of youth and inexperience, and all the hopefulness of woman, that somehow I should be able to bring about my desire, and that my romantic action in attempting this wild masquerade would result in the saving of the life of my noble father.

I thought with considerable complacency that this exploit of mine would entitle me to something more than a mention of my name in the family chronicles, and that perhaps I might be counted as worthy the best traditions of our ancient house. In anticipation, I could feel my Lord clasp me in his arms when I had saved his life and bless me for my daring, although I well knew that he would have died rather than give his consent to such an amazing undertaking.

The good meal, the wine, of which I drank but sparingly, pouring the rest out of the window when no one was looking, refreshed me greatly. With a new zeal, therefore, I mounted my horse, flung the landlord a guinea, at which he bowed himself nearly to the floor, and cantered down the street through the town and out upon the broad ocean highway.

The sea breeze, with all its splendid freshness, lifted the close curls of my full wig, fanned my brow, and cooled my cheeks in the most exhilarating way. I rode rapidly enough, observing my horse possessed of all the qualities of speed and stamina that his appearance had indicated, and, without anything untoward or exciting happening, about five o'clock in the evening I drew up at the Black Douglas Inn, at Cockenzie.

Cockenzie was merely a huddle of little houses, with nothing on earth to recommend it except the old inn pleasantly placed on a bluff headland overlooking the sea. It was the only house of any pretence whatever in the little fishing village, and before it I drew rein. Judicious inquiries elicited the fact that at the moment I was the only guest of the inn. I bespake the best chamber, ordered myself substantial supper, saw personally to the quartering and care of my horse, washed my own face and hands, went out of the rear door of the inn, walked to the edge of the high bluff, and sat down on a rude bench overlooking the sea, while waiting for my supper, and pondered carefully on my next step.

I had address enough to find out from the inn-maid who saw me to my apartment that no such traveller as I suspected Sir Hugh Richmond to be had passed by within that day or the day before. Therefore, I was in time. I had no doubt that this very night he would appear on the scene. Master Dunner's information was such as to carry assurance to him, and I depended upon its accuracy. Sitting and watching the ocean, I tried to decide upon my best course when I should at last be confronted by mine enemy.