Page 67 - A Jacobite Exile

would know you, in that attire."

"I will run no more risks than are necessary, Herries. Those I wish to see
will visit me here, and, if I go out at all, it will not be until after dark."

For a fortnight they remained at the house. After dark each day, a man paid
Mr. Jervoise a visit. He was the magistrates' clerk, and had an apartment in

the castle. From him they learned that a messenger had been despatched to
London, with an account of the evidence taken in Sir Marmaduke's case;

and that, at the end of twelve days, he had returned with orders that all
prisoners and witnesses were to be sent to town, where they would be
examined, in the first place, by his majesty's council; and where Sir

Marmaduke's trial for high treason would take place. They were to be
escorted by a party of twelve troopers, under the command of a lieutenant.

The fugitives had, before, learned that the search for Mr. Jervoise had been
given up; it being supposed that he, with his son and young Carstairs had,

with their accomplices, all ridden for the coast at the first alarm, and had
probably taken ship for France before the orders had arrived that all

outgoing vessels should be searched.

Harry and Charlie had both been away for two or three days, and had been

occupied in getting together ten young fellows, from the two estates, who
would be willing and ready to attempt to rescue Sir Marmaduke from his

captors' hands. They were able to judge, with tolerable accuracy, when the
messenger would return from London and, two days previously, the men
had been directed to ride, singly and by different roads, and to put up at

various small inns in Manchester, each giving out that he was a farmer in
from the country, either to purchase supplies, or to meet with a customer

likely to buy some cattle he wished to dispose of. Charlie had paid a visit to
Lynnwood, and had gone by the long passage into the Priest's Chamber,
and had carried off the gold hidden there.

As soon as it was known that the messenger had returned, Herries had

borrowed a horse, and had ridden with a note to the farmer, telling him to
go up to the hills and bring the horses down, with one of his own, to the