Page 188 - A Jacobite Exile

endeavoured to entrap me into a plot against the king's life."

Charlie shook his head, and looked wonderingly at the speaker.

"No, no," he said, "there was no plot against the king's life. I only asked if
you would use your influence among your friends to turn popular feeling
against Augustus."

"Nothing of the kind," the Jew said harshly. "You wanted him removed by

poison or the knife. There is no mistake about that, and that is what I am
going to swear, and what, if you want to save your life, you will have to
swear too; and you will have to give the names of all concerned in the plot,

and to swear that they were all agreed to bring about the death of the king.
Now you understand why you were brought here. You are miles away from

another house, and you may shout and scream as loud as you like. You are
in my power."

"I would die rather than make a false accusation."

"Listen to me," the Jew said sternly. "You are weak now, too weak to suffer
much. This day week I will return, and then you had best change your
mind, and sign a document I shall bring with me, with the full particulars of

the plot to murder the king, and the names of those concerned in it. This
you will sign. I shall take it to the proper authorities, and obtain a promise

that your life shall be spared, on condition of your giving evidence against
these persons."

"I would never sign such a villainous document," Charlie said.

"You will sign it," Ben Soloman said calmly. "When you find yourself
roasting over a slow charcoal fire, you will be ready to sign anything I wish
you to."

So saying, he turned and left the room. He talked for some time to the men

outside, then Charlie heard him ride off.