Captain Ellesdon had been for some hours at the place of rendezvous, and, made aware of the approach of the royal party, stationed himself at the gate to receive the king.
[CHAPTER XIV.]
HOW THE KING AND JULIANA WERE RECEIVED BY DAME SWAN.
Lonesome was a substantial farm-house, with whitewashed walls and a thatched roof, and being a dairy-farm, at which the best double Dorset blue-mould cheeses were made, it had large cow-sheds and other outbuildings attached to it, and its comfortable appearance was heightened by a very extensive orchard, the trees of which were still heavily laden with fruit.
Captain Ellesdon did not dare to make a reverence to his majesty on his arrival, lest he should be noticed by the fanning men, who naturally came forward to look at the party, and take charge of the horses, but while assisting Juliana to alight, he had an opportunity of saying a few words to the king, and later on, he had a private conference with his majesty. Charles thanked him most warmly for the important service he had rendered him—a service, he declared, that could not adequately be rewarded—and to these gracious observations Captain Ellesdon made a fitting response; adding, that he was most happy to inform his majesty that everything was going on well. Not an hour ago, he had seen Limbry, and had learnt that the Eider Duck was already victualled, and out of the Cobb, and would be quite ready to set sail at midnight, as soon as the passengers were on board.
"The seamen have been given to understand," pursued Captain Ellesdon, "that the reason why the passengers embark at Charmouth at such an unseasonable hour, and not at Lyme, is, that they fear an arrest, their factor at St. Malo having detained their goods, which they trust to recover by appearing in person against him. With this explanation the seamen are perfectly satisfied, and a few gold pieces on your majesty's arrival at St. Malo will effectually seal their lips. As the wind is fair, I think your majesty may calculate on a prosperous voyage. You have no doubt been informed that a large fair is held in Lyme to-day. Advantage has been taken of the meeting by the mayor of the town to publicly read the Proclamation made by the Men of Westminster offering a reward of a Thousand Pounds for the discovery of your majesty, with the penalty of death against all who shall conceal you. I am rejoiced to think that the Eider Duck is out of port, so that the seamen will not be likely to hear of the notice; and I am still better pleased to find that our staunch shipmaster appears to care little about it. Your majesty will be off before any mischief can be done. As it turns out, it would have been quite impossible for you to embark at Lyme, since Captain Macy has just arrived there with a regiment of horse, and his men are spread about the town, and the inns and ale-houses are full of them. I must also put your majesty on your guard against Reuben Rufford, the ostler at the little inn at Charmouth. He is a Roundhead, and a notorious knave, as I have discovered."
"I will observe all due caution in regard to the rascal," said the king. "But as my stay at Charmouth will be so short, I do not think there is much to fear from him."
Some further conversation then took place, at the close of which the king reiterated his thanks to Captain Ellesdon, and presented him with a piece of gold, through which a hole had been drilled, so that it could be worn, bidding him keep it as an earnest of what he would do for him hereafter, should better days arrive.