Page 313 - A Jacobite Exile

"Carstairs will do so, my lord," Harry replied. "The mischief was hatched in
his house, and my father, and six other gentlemen, were the victims of the

treachery of a kinsman of his."

Charlie told the story of the events that had brought about the ruin of his
father and friends.

"It is monstrous!" the duke exclaimed indignantly, when he had brought
this part of his story to a conclusion. "That my old friend, Mat Jervoise,

should be concerned in a plot for assassination, is, I would pledge my life,
untrue; and Sir Marmaduke Carstairs was, I know, an honourable
gentleman, who would be equally incapable of such an act. That they were

both Jacobites, I can well believe, for the Jacobites are strong everywhere
in the north, but, as half of us are or have been Jacobites, that can scarcely

be counted as an offence. At any rate, a Stuart is upon the throne now, and,
as long as she reigns, there is no fear that a civil war will be set up by
another of the race. The story, as you have told it, sir, is, I doubt not for a

moment, true, but at present it is unsupported; and though, on my assurance
of their loyalty, I think I can promise that her majesty would extend a

pardon to the gentlemen who have been so unjustly accused, I fear that she
could not, by her own act, restore the estates that have been confiscated,
unless you can bring some proof that this fellow you speak of was suborned

to get up false evidence against them."

"That, sir, is what I shall have the honour to inform you now."

And Charlie then related the story of their quest for the man Nicholson, and

its result.

"Rarely devised and carried out," the duke said warmly. "Do you lay the
knave by the heels, and frighten him into confessing the truth, and I will see
to the rest of the matter. I do not know that I ought to let the North coach be

robbed, after the information you have given me, but, as we will hunt down
all the other fellows, and shall probably recover the booty they carry off,

the passengers will have no reason to grumble.