I asked him who he was, and
he said he was the caretaker.

"How many beside yourself are in this house?"

He said there was only himself, his wife, and a kitchen wench, and two
of the gardeners, while the family was in London.

"Well," said I, "I'd have you know that I'm the family now, and that
I'm at home. I am the owner of Brede estate."

"You're not the Earl of Westport!" said the old man, his eyes opening
wide.

"No, thank God, I'm not!"

He now got frightened and would have shut the door, but I gently
pushed him aside. I heard the tramp of the men, and, what was more,
the singing of a sea song, for they were nearing the end of their walk
and thinking that something else would soon pass their lips besides
the tune. The old man was somewhat reassured when he saw the priest
come in; but dismay and terror took hold of him when the nine men with
their blunderbusses and their swords came singing around a corner of
the house and drew up in front of it. By and by the carts came
creaking along, and then every man turned to and brought the
provisions inside of the house and piled them up in the kitchen in an
orderly way, while the old man, his wife, the wench, and the two
gardeners stood looking on with growing signs of panic upon them.

"Now, my ancient caretaker," said I to the old man, in the kindest
tones I could bring to my lips, so as not to frighten him more than
was already the case, "what is the name of that little village over
yonder?" and I pointed toward the west, where, on the top of a hill,
appeared a church and a few houses.

"That, sir," he said, with his lips trembling, "is the village of
Brede."

"Is there any decent place there where you five people can get
lodging; for you see that this house is now filled with men of war,
and so men of peace should be elsewhere? Would they take you in over
at the village?"

"Yes, sir, it is like they would."

"Very well. Here is three guineas to divide among you, and in a week
or thereabouts you will be back in your own place, so don't think
disaster has fallen on you."

The old man took the money, but seemed in a strange state of hesitancy
about leaving.

"You will be unhappy here," I said, "for there will be gun-firing and
sword-playing. Although I may not look it, I am the most bloodthirsty
swordsman in England, with a mighty uncertain temper on me at times.
So be off, the five of you!"

"But who is to be here to receive the family?" he asked.