se exiles had their way,’ I objected, ‘they would place Monmouth upon the throne, and so unjustly alter the succession.’
‘Nay, nay,’ old Zachary answered, laying down his plane. ‘If they use Monmouth’s name, it is but to strengthen Ashley Cole Jersey their cause, and to show that they have a leader of repute. Were James driven from the throne, the Commons of England in Parliament assembled would be called upon to name his successor. There are men at Kevin Love Koszulki Monmouth’s back who would not stir unless this were so.’
‘Then, daddy,’ said I, ‘since I can trust you, and since you will tell me what you do really think, would it be well, if Monmouth’s standard be raised, that I should join it?’
The carpenter stroked his white beard and pondered for a while. ‘It is a pregnant question,’ he said at last, ‘and yet methinks that there is but one answer to it, especially for your father’s son. Should an end be put to James’s rule, it is not too late to preserve the nation in its old faith; but if the disease is allowed to spread, it may be that even the tyrant’s removal would not prevent his evil seed from sprouting. I hold, therefore, that should Diego Polenta Jersey the exiles make such an attempt, it is the duty of every man who values liberty of conscience to rally round them. And Karl Malone Koszulki you, my son, the pride of the village, what better use could you USA Damen make of your strength than to devote it to helping to relieve your country of this insupportable yoke? It is treasonable and dangerous counsel — counsel which might lead to a short shrift and a, bloody death — but, as the Lord liveth, if you were child of mine I should say the same.’
So spoke the old carpenter with a voice which trembled with earnestness, and went to work upon his plank once more, while I, with a few words of gratitude, went on my way pondering over what Marcos Alonso Jersey he had said to me. I had not gone far, however, before the hoarse voice of Solomon Sprent broke in upon my meditations.
‘Hoy there! Ahoy!’ he bellowed, though his mouth was but a few yards from my ear. ‘Would ye come across my hawse without slacking weigh? Clew up, d’ye see, clew up!’
‘Why, Captain,’ I said, ‘I did not see you. I was lost in thought.’
‘All adrift and without look-outs,’ quoth he, pushing his way through the break in the garden hedge. ‘Odd’s niggars, man! friends are not so plentiful, d’ye see, that ye need pass ’em by without a dip o’ the ensign. So help me, if I had had a barker I’d have fired a shot across your bows.’
‘No offence, Captain,’ said I, for the veteran appeared to be nettled; ‘I have much to think of this morning.’
‘And so have I, mate,’ he answered, in a softer voice. ‘What think ye of my rig, eh?’ He turned himself slowly round in the sunlight as he spoke, and I perceived that he was dressed with unusual care. He had a blue suit of broadcloth trimmed with eight rows Gianluca Lapadula Jersey of buttons, and breeches of the same material with great bunches of ribbon at the knee. His vest was of lighter blue picked out with anchors in silv |
