第44章

havingboundmefirstbyoath，nottoimparttoanyone，withouthisownpermission，untilallwasover。

Butatthispresenttimeofwriting，allisoverlongago；ayandforgottentoo，Iween，exceptbythosewhosuffered。ThereforemayItellthewholewithoutanybreachofconfidence。MasterStickleswasgoingforthuponhisusualnightjourney，whenhemetmecominghome，andIsaidsomethinghalfinjest，abouthiszealandsecrecy；uponwhichhelookedallroundtheyard，andledmetoanopenspaceinthecloverfieldadjoining。

’John，’hesaid，’youhavesomerighttoknowthemeaningofallthis，beingtrustedasyouwerebytheLordChiefJustice。Buthefoundyouscarcelysuppleenough，neithergiftedwithduebrains。’

’ThankGodforthatsame，’Ianswered，whilehetappedhishead，tosignifyhisownmuchlargerallowance。

Thenhemademebindmyself，whichinanevilhourI

did，toretainhissecret；andafterthathewentonsolemnly，andwithmuchimportance，——

’Therebesomepeoplefittoplot，andotherstobeplottedagainst，andotherstounravelplots，whichisthehighestgiftofall。Thislasthathfallentomyshare，andaverythanklessgiftitis，althougharareandchoiceone。Muchofperiltooattendsit；daringcourageandgreatcoolnessareasneedfulfortheworkasreadywitandspotlesshonour。

ThereforeHisMajesty’sadvisershavechosenmeforthishightask，andtheycouldnothavechosenabetterman。AlthoughyouhavebeeninLondon，Jack，muchlongerthanyouwishedit，youarewhollyignorant，ofcourse，inmattersofstate，andthepublicweal。’

’Well，’saidI，’nodoubtbutIam，andallthebetterforme。AlthoughIheardadealofthem；foreverybodywastalking，andreadytocometoblows；ifonlyitcouldbedonewithoutdanger。Butonesaidthis，andonesaidthat；andtheytalkedsomuchaboutBirminghams，andTantivies，andWhigsandTories，andProtestantflailsandsuchlike，thatIwasonlytoogladtohavemyglassandclinkmyspoonforanswer。’

’Right，John，thouartrightasusual。LettheKinggohisowngait。HehathtoomanymistressestobeeverEngland’smaster。Nobodyneedfearhim，forheisnotlikehisfather：hewillhavehisownway，’tistrue，butwithoutstoppingotherfolkoftheirs：andwellheknowswhatwomenare，forheneverasksthemquestions。

NowheardyoumuchinLondontownabouttheDukeofMonmouth？’

’Notsoverymuch，’Ianswered；’nothalfsomuchasinDevonshire：onlythathewasaheartyman，andaveryhandsomeone，andnowwasbanishedbytheTories；andmostpeoplewishedhewascomingback，insteadoftheDukeofYork，whowastryingbootsinScotland。’

’Thingsarechangedsinceyouwereintown。TheWhigsaregettingupagain，throughthefollyoftheTorieskillingpoorLordRussell；andnowthisMasterSidney(ifmyLordcondemnshim)willmakeitworseagain。

Thereismuchdisaffectioneverywhere，anditmustgrowtoanoutbreak。TheKinghathmanytroopsinLondon，andmeanethtobringmorefromTangier；buthecannotcommandthesecountryplaces；andthetrainedbandscannothelphimmuch，eveniftheywould。Now，doyouunderstandme，John？’

’Intruth，notI。IseenotwhatTangierhathtodowithExmoor；northeDukeofMonmouthwithJeremyStickles。’

’Thougreatclod，putittheotherway。JeremySticklesmayhavemuchtodoabouttheDukeofMonmouth。TheWhigshavingfailedofExclusion，andhavingbeenpunishedbitterlyforthebloodtheyshed，areripeforanyviolence。Andtheturnofthebalanceisnowtothem。See-sawisthefashionofEnglandalways；andtheWhigswillsoonbethetop-sawyers。’

’But，’saidI，stillmoreconfused，’“TheKingisthetop-sawyer，“accordingtoourproverb。HowthencantheWhigsbe？’

’Thouartahopelessass，John。Bettertosewwithachestnutthantoteachtheetheconstitution。Letitbeso，letitbe。Ihaveseenaboyoffiveyearsoldmoreaptatpoliticsthanthou。Nay，looknotoffended，lad。Itismyfaultforbeingover-deep