"Who says so?" inquired Constance eagerly.
"Why, everybody. Maud says so. And I have been to the door at least ten
times; but even the key-hole, I verily believe, is plugged. I am sure it
is, for I tried hard to see through it."
"The crisis of my fate is indeed come," murmured Constantia. Then, after
a pause, she was about to address her friend: "My dear Lady Frances--"
"Don't Lady Frances me," interrupted the young maiden, pettishly. "I
hate to be Lady Frances. I should know more about every thing if I were
a chamberlain's daughter."
"Your father can discover nought to your prejudice. I confess I both
dread and hope to hear news of the Gull's Nest. There is nothing which
can affect you there."
"How can I tell? Poor Rich chooses queer postmen sometimes! And that
Manasseh Ben Israel! he is as anxious as myself to know what is going
on. Two rooms locked up! Constance, I wonder you have not more spirit
than to submit to such proceedings. I would not."
"I am sorry for it; because it shows that your confidence in your father
is overbalanced by your curiosity."
"Pshaw!" exclaimed the lady, turning from her friend, just in time to
see the doors at the bottom of the room thrown open with much
ceremony:--the Protector, attended by his pages, followed by Dalton,
Fleetword, and Robin, entered.
Constance rose respectfully from her seat, glanced upon the form of the
fearful Buccaneer who now stood before her, and laying her hand on the
arm of her friend, would have withdrawn, had not Cromwell commanded her
to stay.
"Mistress Cecil, you will remain;--both remain," he said, while an
expression of exceeding kindness lent to his harsh countenance the
effect that sunlight gives to a rugged landscape, softening without
destroying a single point of its peculiar and stern character. "I have
no dread of objection on the part of the Lady Frances, and I must
request your presence." He took a large chair at the head of the table,
and seating himself, delivered a slip of writing to his page, who
immediately quitted the room.
"Our young friend will pardon this intrusion upon her privacy, and
moreover allow us to continue an investigation that has already been
attended with much pain, but we should hope with some satisfaction
also."
As he spoke, the door again opened, and Manasseh Ben Israel, pale and
trembling with agitation, walked, or rather, so submissive was his
attitude, crept forward, saluting the Protector and the ladies as he
advanced.