"Verily, thou art a true man," rejoined the trooper. "Thou shalt learn to whom thou speakest. I am Fetch-him-out-of-the-Pulpit Strongitharm, by whose hand the young man Charles Stuart was slain."
"Was Charles Stuart slain by thee?" exclaimed the king.
"Yea, verily by me," rejoined Strongitharm, exultingly. "The buff coat which I now wear forms part of the spoils taken from the body of the Malignant Prince. Pass on."
As may well be imagined, old Lady Wyndham and her daughter-in-law were in great consternation at this visit, but owing to the prudent and conciliatory measures adopted by Harry Peters, the annoyance was very slight. Some of the troopers certainly entered the house, but they did not get beyond the kitchen, where they were very well entertained.
Charles, however, was obliged to remain in the stables, and to mingle with the red-coats, but he comported himself so well that no suspicion whatever attached to him. How could it, indeed, when after listening to a further account from Strongitharm of his own death and burial, he emphatically declared that England had had a great deliverance!
Later on in the day, the troopers marched off for Yeovil, where they meant to pass the night. The inmates of Trent House were thus relieved from anxiety, and Charles was able to return to his room.
At dusk, bonfires were lighted by the sectarian villagers to celebrate Cromwell's great victory at Worcester. The flames could be seen from the king's windows, and the shouts reached his ears.
"'Tis Cromwell's turn now—it may be mine to-morrow," remarked Charles to Mr. Langton, who was with him at the time.
"Heaven grant it!" exclaimed the divine. "This poor misguided folk will shout quite as loudly as they do now—ay, and light just as large bonfires when your majesty is happily restored to the throne."
The next day passed very tranquilly at Trent House. After an agreeable walk in the garden with the fair Juliana, whose lively talk helped to chase away the gloom which, despite all his efforts, began to steal upon him, Charles had returned to his room, and was conferring with Careless as to what ought to be done, when Colonel Wyndham came in, with a letter in his hand, and having a very joyful expression of countenance.