But the rallying cry of the Red Band was not answered. The patroon halted before the gate, grinding his teeth in rage.
“What ho!” I cried, from behind, mocking his voice. “Open the gate. Van Volkenberg! The Red Band is all asleep,” I continued, addressing him. “They sleep late to-day in irons. Yield, in the name of Bellamont.”
Just as I reached the point where he had stopped, he drew his pistol and fired. My horse received the ball in his breast and stumbled headlong, throwing me upon the ground. We were so close, I touched the patroon’s horse when I went down. For a moment I lay stunned. Then I gradually heard the clattering of hoofs. I rose with difficulty just in time to see Van Volkenberg dash down Petticoat Lane and turn northward through the city.
By this time the rest of our party rode up. They had been so encumbered with the priest, who had purposely tried to hold them back from joining in the pursuit, that they were too late to be of any use in stopping the patroon. When they arrived, he must have been at least through the gate, or well on his way north to the Hanging Rock.
Lady Marmaduke often used to rail against the Earl because he was forever on the wait for a better opportunity to turn up. My short experience of him seemed to prove otherwise. For all that, she was not so far wrong. I found, when I came to know him better, that he was not prone to action when he had time for deliberation. But when a thing had to be done in short order, he did it with a speed and decision that rivaled the patroon. On the day of Jacques’ arrest, however, Bellamont was mad with prudence. Both Lady Marmaduke and I urged him with all our power to capture the patroon at once. Give him a few hours and he might yet muster a large enough band to endanger the city in its present state. There were a few men still left at the manor-house, and the ships in the bay were mostly manned with fighting men.
Bellamont, however, would not agree with us. He was afraid to take decisive action. “I have still one company,” he said. “They can defend the fort against a host. But if I send them, or even a part of them to the Hanging Rock, I shall not be able to guard the prisoners I have already taken. And a few men can defend the manor-house as well as I can defend the fort. The manor-house is almost a castle in its position.”
“But,” interrupted Lady Marmaduke, “why not strike before he can get his defense together. I can fill out your number with twenty armed men of my own.”
“You are too hasty,” replied the Earl. “Remember the old proverb: Give the devil rope enough to hang himself. The patroon can never gather head to harm us now.”
“Harm us!” exclaimed Lady Marmaduke in contempt. “Is your own safety all you have to care for? Had you seen my poor husband as I saw him last night, the skin nearly cut through by his sharp bones, and too weak to say a dozen words. No, if you have nothing but harm to fear, I have revenge to seek. While he lives I shall not rest. I swear before God, if you will not help me I shall do it alone. Do you suppose I can forget? My husband stolen away and me mourning him for dead. And well nigh dead he is. Ah, I have had dreams. I have seen this moment coming. I knew there was to be a day of reckoning. God’s help! This day Yorke shall see great deeds. They call me the people’s friend. I shall try the people. The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Lady Marmaduke strode rapidly out of the room and in a moment she was gone.