- ment—the keystone of that bridge we must all pass over to
reach the wished-for shore. I allude to the suppression of the Usurper and the fall of the House of Hanover."
A stir, almost a shudder, went through the assemblage. Men looked askance at the papers on the table, the buckles of their sword-belts, the spur-leathers on their boots, anything rather than betray to their neighbours either too eager an apprehension of the Abbé's meaning, or too cold an approval of his object. He was speaking high treason with a vengeance, and the one might place them in too dangerous a prominence, while the other might draw down the equally dangerous mistrust of their fellow-conspirators. Malletort knew well what was passing in his hearers' minds, but he never expected to get the iron hotter than it was to-night, and he struck at it with his whole force.
"The arrangements for our great blow," said he, "have been confided to a few zealous loyalists, with whose plans, as your Secretary, I have been made acquainted. In five days from the present, King George, as he is still called, returns to Kensington. He will arrive at the palace about dusk. What do I say? He will never arrive there at all! Captain Bold here, whom I have had the honour to present to this meeting, has organised a small body of his old comrades, men of tried bravery and broken fortunes, who are pledged to possess themselves of the Usurper's person. His guard will be easily overpowered, for it will be out-*numbered three to one. The titular Prince of Wales and his children will at the same time be made prisoners, and the chief officers of state secured, if possible without blood-*shed. Such a bold stroke, combined with a simultaneous rising here in the north, cannot but insure success. It is for you, gentlemen, to assemble your followers, to hold yourselves in readiness, and trusting implicitly to the co-*operation of your friends in London, to declare on the same day for His Majesty King James III.!"
The enthusiasm Malletort contrived to fling into his last sentence caught like wildfire.
"Long live James the Third!"—"Down with the Whigs!" exclaimed several of his listeners; and Sir Rupert flung his hat to the low ceiling ere he placed it on his head, as if preparing to depart; but the tall figure of
