The prisoner, with an angry scowl, in which both grief and astonishment were mingled, silently obeyed the mandate; and displayed, underneath these coarse habiliments, a complete suit of female apparel—the very clothes worn by Katherine Grimes at the time of her disappearance.
"A well-contrived disguise, sir, truly. I wot you can suddenly change your gender at a pinch," said the clerk, chuckling at his own impertinence. But the prisoner, no longer dumb, as aforetime at the farm, answered, in a voice that awed even this presuming minion, with all the attributes of both law and power at his grasp.
"Why call you me sir, Sir Knave? I own no nicknames, and I answer to none. My title is Derwentwater."
"The titular earl, truly; but now Charles Ratcliffe, since your brother was"——
"Hanged, thou wouldst say," said the unfortunate and attainted peer, interrupting him; "it was his lot, as I pray thine may be, when the king shall have his own again. Silence!" continued he, in a commanding tone, as one accustomed to be obeyed. "I own it was my purpose to escape; but there is treachery in the camp—treachery in our own bosom—treachery"—here he cast a keen glance at the stranger—"ay, where our best feelings were cherished. I have leaned on a spear, and it hath pierced me! deeper than I thought—in this hard and seared heart."
A strong and painful emotion came over his dark features; he clenched his hands; but the stranger betrayed no symptoms of compunction.
"Now, sir, I am ready," said the earl; "make my fetters tight; or perhaps I may be spared that indignity."
But the proud Earl of Derwentwater would not stoop to propitiate.
"Nay, bind them, and I will be prouder of their insignia than of all the honours, all the trappings, that George Guelph can bestow."
"We have orders merely for your safe keeping in the jail," said the clerk; "to which the proper officers will see you conveyed."