Jeffreys and Kirke had
the ordering of it. There was death in the air, and the townsfolk crept
silently about, scarcely daring to wear black for those whom they had
loved and lost, lest it should be twisted into an act of treason.

We were scarce back in the wool-house once more when a file of
guards with a sergeant entered, escorting a long, pale-faced man with
protruding teeth, whose bright blue coat and white silk breeches,
gold-headed sword, and glancing shoe-buckles, proclaimed him to be one
of those London exquisites whom interest or curiosity had brought down
to the scene of the rebellion. He tripped along upon his tiptoes like a
French dancing-master, waving his scented kerchief in front of his
thin high nose, and inhaling aromatic salts from a blue phial which he
carried in his left hand.

'By the Lard!' he cried, 'but the stench of these filthy wretches is
enough to stap one's breath. It is, by the Lard! Smite my vitals if
I would venture among them if I were not a very rake hell. Is there a
danger of prison fever, sergeant? Heh?'

'They are all sound as roaches, your honour,' said the under-officer,
touching his cap.

'Heh, heh!' cried the exquisite, with a shrill treble laugh. 'It is
not often ye have a visit from a person of quality, I'll warrant. It
is business, sergeant, business! "Auri sacra fames"--you remember what
Virgilius Maro says, sergeant?'

'Never heard the gentleman speak, sir--at least not to my knowledge,
sir,' said the sergeant.

'Heh, heh! Never heard him speak, heh? That will do for Slaughter's,
sergeant. That will set them all in a titter at Slaughter's. Pink my
soul! but when I venture on a story the folk complain that they can't
get served, for the drawers laugh until there is no work to be got out
of them. Oh, lay me bleeding, but these are a filthy and most ungodly
crew! Let the musqueteers stand close, sergeant, lest they fly at me.'

'We shall see to that, your honour.'

'I have a grant of a dozen of them, and Captain Pogram hath offered me
twelve pounds a head. But they must be brawny rogues--strong and brawny,
for the voyage kills many, sergeant, and the climate doth also tell upon
them. Now here is one whom I must have. Yes, in very truth he is a
young man, and hath much life in him and much strength. Tick him off,
sergeant, tick him off!'

'His name is Clarke,' said the soldier. 'I have marked him down.'

'If this is the clerk I would I had a parson to match him,' c