“I did not expect to hear your father's daughter defend her cause by such lines as these. Do you know where they are found?”
“They are Waller's, I believe,” said Virginia, blushing at this involuntary display of learning; “but it is their truth, and not their author, which suggested them to me.”
“Your memory is correct,” said Berkeley, with a smile, “but they are found in his panegyric on the Protector. A eulogy upon a traitor is bad authority with an old cavalier like me.”
“If, then, you need authority which you cannot question,” the girl replied, earnestly, “do you think that the royal cause lost strength by the mild policy of Charles the Second? That is authority that even you dare not question.”
“Well, and what if I should say,” replied Berkeley, “that this very leniency was one of the causes that encouraged the recent rebellion? But go, my child; I would rejoice if I could please you, but Hansford's fate is settled. I pity you, but I cannot forgive him.” And with a courteous inclination of his head, he signified his desire that their interview should end.
“Nay,” shrieked Virginia, in desperation, “I will not let you go, except you bless me,” and throwing herself again upon her knees, she implored his mercy. Berkeley, who, with all his sternness, was not an unfeeling man, was deeply moved. What the result might have been can never be known, for at that moment a voice was heard from the street exclaiming, “Drummond is taken!” In an instant the whole appearance of the Governor changed. His cheek flushed and his eye sparkled, as with hasty strides he left the room and descended the stairs. No more the fine specimen of a cavalier gentleman, his manner became at once harsh and irritable.
“Well, Mr. Drummond,” he cried, as he saw the proud rebel led manacled to the door. “'Fore God, and I am more delighted to see you than any man in the colony. You shall hang in half an hour.”
“And if he do,” shrieked the wild voice of a woman from the crowd, “think you that with your puny hand you can arrest the current of liberty in this colony? And when you appear before the dread bar of God, the spirits of these martyred patriots will rise up to condemn you, and fiends shall snatch at your blood-stained soul, perfidious tyrant! And I will be among them, for such a morsel of vengeance would sweeten hell. Ha! ha! ha!”
With that wild, maniac laugh, Sarah Drummond disappeared from the crowd of astounded spectators.
History informs us that the deadly threat of Berkeley was carried into effect immediately. But it was not until two days afterwards that William Drummond met a traitor's doom upon the common gallows.