6. VI.
THE PLAN OF ESCAPE.
Osborne went on until he reached a retired nook,
and then, stopping suddenly, said, in a low tone,—
“You are the king's friend, I think, Mr. Cecil?”
“His faithful friend, I hope, sir, as I trust you are.”
“I am,” was his reply. “I was not, a month ago;
but his majesty's looks haunt my sleep. They are
going to try and murder him. He must escape.”
I looked at the speaker keenly.
“I know what you mean,” he said. “You distrust
me—well. But I am the king's friend. I slipped a
note into his glove two days since, offering to risk my
life to secure his escape; but he has not spoken to me.
I know not if he received it.”
“Your plan?” I said.
“Listen, sir. There is a certain Major Rolfe in the
garrison here,—a wretch bent on earning blood-money.
He proposed to me to entice the king to attempt an
escape from this place. Files and a rope-ladder were
to be supplied. The king was to descend from his
window and escape from the castle. Then Rolfe, with
others, lying in wait, was to assassinate him.”
I listened with attention.
“And your plan, Mr. Osborne?”
“To conspire against the conspirators, to get the
king out of the castle, and cut the throats, if necessary,
of Rolfe and his gang.”
I reflected for a moment with all the power of my
brain. Had Osborne the design which he attributed
to Rolfe, or was this man a true friend of the king?
“You would be ready to receive his majesty when
he descended by the ladder?” I said.
“Yes.”
“I will be at liberty to take part?”
“Assuredly.”
“To stand beside you?”
He looked at me with firm eyes.
“I understand. Yes. Stay! you are unarmed.
Here is a dagger which you may plunge into my heart,
if you have reason to believe in my treachery.”
I took the weapon and placed it in my breast, looking
fixedly at the speaker.
“I accept your offer,” I said, “and will go immediately
and apprise his majesty.”
I left Osborne, went to the king's chamber, and
informed him of the plot. He shook his head.
“It will fail,” he said, “or I will end my life in a
midnight brawl in this corner of my kingdom. I do
not wish to die thus. I would perish in public, before
the eyes of the whole world.”
I combated this resolution with all my powers, and
the king, enfeebled by sickness and sorrow, began to
waver.
“The one your majesty loves best in all the world
awaits you yonder,” I added, extending my hand
towards France.
His face flushed. “Enough! you have conquered
me,” he murmured. “Go. I will do as you wish.”
I hastened from the apartment, and obtained a second
private interview with Osborne.
“The king consents,” I said. “And now to arrange
all!”
The arrangements were speedily made. Files were
to be supplied me, with which I would file through the
iron bars of the king's window; a rope-ladder was
ready, procured by Osborne for the purpose. Once the
obstructions were removed, his majesty could descend
by it, the key of a postern in the outer wall had been
obtained, and Charles I. would be free.
“Rolfe will know of but a part of the plan,” Osborne
said; “and we are playing a dangerous game.
But it must be risked. Now I will go and gain over
some men whom I think we may count upon. If all
is ready, the attempt will be made at midnight, two
nights from this time.”
With these words we parted.
On the second night thereafter, all was ready for the
hazardous undertaking. I had passed the preceding
night in hard work on the iron bars, which I attacked
with a file dipped from time to time in grease to dull
the grating sound. This occupation lasted for eight
hours. At the end of that time the bars hung by a
thread. I announced the fact to his majesty, who had
fallen into a feverish sleep on his couch; and, as I had
managed to convey the rope-ladder of fine twisted
hemp to his chamber unperceived, all was ready.
Midnight came at last. The night was dark; and this
favored the dangerous scheme. A chill wind whistled
drearily around the battlements of the great castle, and
from beneath came the long dash of the waves against
the base of the cliffs.
“The moment has come, sire,” I said, in a low voice.
“Be firm and fearless.”
The king smiled sadly. “Feel my pulse, friend,”
he said, extending his hand. “The Stuarts are unfortunate,
but they are at least brave. This will fail; but
I fear nothing. Is all ready?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Osborne and his friends are beneath?”
“As well as Rolfe and his party; but ours outnumber
them greatly.”
“Then all, I see, is ready. You will descend after
me—”
“A moment, your majesty. I will remove the bars
and attach the ladder; then I will simply go out of that
door yonder and join the party below.”
“Join the party?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“You cannot: the sentinel.”
“I am allowed to pass about: it is only your majesty
that is guarded.”
“But why not descend by the ladder?”
“I have an arrangement with Osborne, and will see
that Rolfe is a party to it.”
“What arrangement?”
“To bury this dagger in his heart,—in the hearts
of both,—if they have betrayed you!”
The king extended his hand, as a man does to grasp
that of a friend. I took the hand and kissed it. Then
I rapidly drew out the bars, saw that a confused group
awaited below, affixed the ladder, and turned for the
last time to the king.
“Your majesty is not fearful of growing dizzy?”
“No: my nerves are perfectly firm.”
“The descent is considerable.”
“It is nothing,—since France and my wife are at
the foot of the ladder.”
“Then may God guard your majesty!”
As I spoke, I opened the door; but suddenly I
recoiled. The corridor was full of armed men, at the
head of whom advanced Colonel Hammond.
“I have come to save your majesty a dangerous
essay,” he said, coldly. “Your plan of escape has
been discovered, and Osborne is already under arrest.
To-morrow he will be hanged and quartered.”
The speaker inclined stiffly.
“Place two men beneath the window there,” he
added, to a sergeant, “and a regular guard, to be relieved
every two hours, in this corridor. The parliament
will decide the rest.”
