The house of the wizard

Simon Raby stood only a moment on the threshold; a single glance at the interior of the room, at Betty, at Master Cross-Eyes, lying prostrate, and at the furious face of Henge, sufficed to tell him all. The next instant his sword flashed in the air like a ribbon of steel, and he sprang upon Sir Barton with the fury of revenge.

“You villain!” he cried, “was it not enough to send me to the Tower, but you must also insult and injure women?”

“Curse you!” answered Henge, between his teeth, “this shall be the end of you, you fool!”

“By heaven!” exclaimed Raby, as their swords crossed, “’twill be either you or I!”

Both were powerful men and good swordsmen, and it being the second time that they had fought, each knew something of the other’s play. Henge was spent from his struggle with the groom and Raby had felt the effects of the long imprisonment, but both fought with furious zeal, and knowing that death was in the issue, they put out all their skill. Foot to foot and eye to eye, they thrust and parried; Raby taking the offensive and using the point as he endeavored to strike under his adversary’s guard, but Henge was one of the finest swordsmen of the court and parried every blow with marvellous rapidity and skill. The breath of both came short, the drops of perspiration gathered on Henge’s forehead, while Lord Raby’s face paled about the lips. It was but the different way in which each showed the strain. So determined was Simon’s onset, that he drove Sir Barton back step by step toward the table, meaning to trip him and so have him at his mercy; but Henge knew the trap that was set for him and swerved to one side, dealing at the same instant so dexterous a blow that he nearly disarmed his opponent. There was no sound in the room but the clash of swords and the labored breathing of the two combatants. It was a spectacle worth seeing, the equal contest of two expert fencers. For a few moments Betty Carew had remained at her post by the window, so amazed at Raby’s entrance, so alarmed for his safety, that it paralyzed her senses. But at the sight of Sir Barton’s apparent gain, she awoke from her trance and ran to them, throwing herself on Henge’s sword arm with all her strength; but he took his weapon in his left hand and parried Raby’s blows while endeavoring to shake her off.

“Let be, my darling!” Simon cried; “I dare not strike freely with you in the way; let be—and I will end it.”

But Mistress Betty would scarcely have obeyed him but for the sound of footsteps on the stairs. She ran out into the hall to learn whether it was friend or foe, and saw, to her amazement, old Madam’s hawk face upon the landing, and behind her the captain of the watch and two more armed men. Betty cried out with joyful surprise.

“Help, help!” she exclaimed, “here is the villain Henge trying to murder Simon Raby.”

“This all comes of Raby’s mad haste!” retorted Lady Crabtree; “’tis ever so with fools and lovers.”

But while she stayed to scold, the captain of the watch and Betty had hurried back into the room. As they reached the entrance, however, there was a heavy fall, and they found Simon Raby standing with his foot on Sir Barton’s breast and the point of his sword at his throat, while Master Cross-Eyes, who had recovered from his swoon, sat up, staring blankly at the changed scene. The captain of the watch uttered an exclamation and hurried forward.

“Have you killed him, my lord?” he asked.

Henge lay so still that Raby stirred him with his foot.

“I know not,” he answered; “he has a thrust below the collar bone, but I think ’tis too high for his heart. I got a blow under his guard and he went down like a sack of salt, and has not opened his eyes since.”

“’Twas a pity to kill him,” the officer said, laying his hand on the fallen man’s heart; “my lord privy seal would have him taken alive at all costs.”

The room began to fill with strangers, twenty torches and lanterns were about it and on the stairs; the court was thronged with a gaping crowd that fell back to let two new-comers pass, Sir William Carew and Cromwell. Some one had run for a leech, and the little man came hurrying in with his bag and knelt on the other side of Henge, opposite the captain. Old Madam was there, her farthingale tucked up and her great boots showing, and Betty Carew stood leaning on the arm of Lord Raby, who had no eyes save for her, and was whispering in her ear fond and joyful words while the others gathered around Henge. There was silence and confusion, however, when my lord privy seal entered with Carew.

“Ah, this is blundering work!” Cromwell exclaimed, at the sight of the prostrate figure; “this man was needed by the State. Who did this?”

Raby stood forth, and in a moment the light of all the torches was centered on his pale face and disordered dress.

“My lord,” he said, “’twas I who disobeyed your instructions. When I received the warning, sent by one of this villain’s grooms, I ran with all speed to the house, and hearing a cry for help, came in, the door being unlocked, as had been promised. I found this devil here, trying to keep this young lady a prisoner. We fought and he fell; I knew not that I had seriously hurt him.”

Cromwell was watching the doctor, who had his ear against Sir Barton’s breast.

“Is he gone?” he asked sharply.

“Nay, my lord,” replied the physician, looking up; “he lives, but he is sorely wounded and stunned too, by striking his head on the table as he fell.”

“Use your skill to save him,” said Cromwell, coldly; “the State requires this witness.” Then turning to Raby, “My lord, matters standing as they do, I pardon you; but never try to cheat the headsman, albeit ’tis the natural office of a good knight to rescue distressed demoiselles, and this fair lady merited the service at your hands, having ever been a suitor for you, even to the king’s grace. Sir William,” he went on, “how came this ending to the muddle?”

“My lord, I caught Raby’s servant, Shaxter, early in the evening, and, as you know, my Lady Crabtree and I soon found a way to make him confess that Henge had bribed him to change the packet that I gave to Raby for one that Henge had full of treasonable matter. Shaxter changed the packets when he helped his master to dress, just before he was arrested.”

“Ay, arrested at the complaint of Henge, who came to me with every protest of loyalty; not that he deceived me,” Cromwell added, “but the papers found on Lord Raby did mightily confirm his words. I know how you brought the villain Shaxter to me when I had Raby at my house for private examination; it was a happy matter that I could at once release him, but how came this villain’s schemes to-night to miscarry so?”

“His servants were all false to him,” Sir William answered, “and one of them sent us warning that he intended to carry off my niece, whom he has ever claimed as his affianced wife because of an old contract made when she was born. I know not yet which varlet of his did us this signal service.”

Cromwell’s keen eyes alighted on Master Cross-Eyes, who sat leaning on the table, too badly hurt to rise, but overlooked in the tumult.

“Ah, who is this?” asked the privy seal; “how many were in this affray?”

Betty Carew came forward now and answered for her champion.

“Sir,” she said eagerly, “but for that man I should scarcely have escaped so soon. He took my part, and fought with Henge in my behalf, and from my heart I thank him.”

“Is it so?” exclaimed Cromwell, glancing in some surprise at the unpleasing aspect of the man; “what say you, knave, how came you to serve this lady?”

Master Cross-Eyes looked up without any change in the sullen expression of his face.

“The young mistress saved me from the hangman when yonder big-nosed woman would have put a halter on my neck,” he retorted bluntly, conscious that his night’s work would protect him; “and I sent the warning to Sir William, despatched my comrades, who hated Henge, for he was ever a hard master, full of blows and curses and slow to pay, and I stayed to protect Mistress Carew.”

“By Saint Thomas, ’tis the valiant beggar that I had scourged at Wildrick!” cried old Madam; “may Heaven forgive me for it! You shall have a gold piece for every blow and more,” she added. “Here, Sir Leech, look to his wounds at my cost.”

“His service has atoned his fault,” Cromwell said gravely; “but look you, varlet, being strong enough to fight and shrewd enough to catch a traitor, if you do not work henceforth, you shall hang at Tyburn.”

“My lord,” interposed Raby, “he will be taken into my service for his lifetime, and that is not enough to pay the debt.”

“Ay,” said Carew, “and he is like to make a better servant than the knave we have in jail, who served you as I foretold. My lord, you owe me the wager.”

“It shall be paid,” Raby answered heartily; “yet do I think you never dreamed that he was as bad as he has proved.”

“’Tis as I told you,” Sir William retorted dryly.

While this was passing, Cromwell gave some brief directions to the captain of the watch and his assistants, who were lifting Henge’s still unconscious form upon a stretcher.

“To the Tower,” said the king’s minister, “and keep him safe; to-morrow he will have to answer to the Council if he lives,—he and Zachary Sanders.”

Lord Raby had tenderly placed the mantle about Betty’s shoulders and drawn her arm through his, for they were all preparing to leave the house. Cromwell, turning from his talk with the officers, looked at the lovers, and a smile lighted up for a moment the stern reserve of his strong face.

“My Lord Raby,” he said quietly, “never, I think, had man better cause to bless his fate for giving him a faithful heart. This lady hath been untiring, brave, and loyal in her suit for you. Save for her, the king’s grace would scarcely have thought of your cause in this sad hour, when the Queen of England lies dead at Hampton Court. Fair and faithful Mistress Carew,” he added, bowing low over Betty’s hand, “I have had to fulfil an unpleasant office; the king’s servant must do his duty even though he should break a woman’s heart; but never yet have I done mine so heavily as when I turned a deaf ear to your suit. I shall take it ill if you ask me not to the wedding.”