Page 286 - A Jacobite Exile

thought it well to write to you at once. Any further news I may gather, I
will send without fail.

"Your humble servant,

"John Banks."

"There is no doubt that this is of importance," Charlie said, when he had
read the letter through. "It is only by getting hold of this villain that there is

any chance of our obtaining proof of the foul treachery of which you were
the victim. Hitherto, we have had no clue whatever as to where he was to
be looked for. Now, there can be little doubt that he has returned to his

haunts in London. I understand now, father, why you wanted me to get
leave. You mean that I shall undertake this business."

"That was my thought, Charlie. You are now well-nigh twenty, and would
scarce be recognized as the boy who left four years ago. The fellow would

know me at once, and I might be laid by the heels again under the old
warrant; besides being charged with breaking away from the custody of the

soldiers. Besides, in this business youth and strength and vigour are
requisite. I would gladly take the matter in my own hands, but methinks
you would have a better chance of bringing it to a favourable issue. Now

that Anne is on the throne, she and her advisers will look leniently upon the
men whose only fault was devotion to her father; and if we can once get

this foul charge of assassination lifted from our shoulders, I and Jervoise
and the others who had to fly at the same time, may all be permitted to
return, and obtain a reversal of the decree of the Act of Confiscation of our

estates.

"I have no friends at court, but I know that Jervoise was a close
acquaintance, years ago, of John Churchill, who is now Duke of
Marlborough, and they say high in favour with Anne. I did not think of it

when I wrote to you, but a week later it came to my mind that his
intervention might be very useful, and I took advantage of an officer,

leaving here for the army, to send by him a letter to Jervoise, telling him
that there was now some hope of getting at the traitor who served as John