I
shall be sorry to divert it from the use for which I intended it,
but that cannot now be helped. I have had the pleasure, year by
year, of putting it by for the king's use, and, now that
circumstances have changed, it will be equally useful to myself."
"Do you know this country well, Jervoise?"
"Personally I know nothing about it, save that the sun tells me
that, at present, I am travelling south, Sir Marmaduke. But, for
the last few days I have been so closely studying a map, that I
know the name of every town and village on the various routes."
"And whither think you of going?"
"To London or Southampton. Strangers are far less noticed in large
towns than in small, and we could hardly hope to find a ship, bound
for Sweden, in any of the Dorset or Devon ports."
Chapter 4: In Sweden.
After much discussion, the party agreed that it would be best to
make for Southampton. The road thither was less frequented than
that leading to London, and there were fewer towns to be passed,
and less chance of interruption. Mr. Jervoise had brought with him
a valise and suit of clothes for Sir Marmaduke, of sober cut and
fashion. They avoided all large towns and, at the places where they
put up, represented themselves as traders travelling from the
Midlands to the southern coast, and they arrived at Southampton
without having excited the smallest suspicion.
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