Indeed, throughout
the journey, they had heard no word of the affray near Chapel le
Frith, and knew, therefore, that the news had not travelled as fast
as they had.
At Southampton, however, they had scarcely put up at an inn when
the landlord said:
"I suppose, gentlemen, they are talking of nothing else, in London,
but the rescue of a desperate Jacobite by his friends. The news
only reached here yesterday."
"It has occasioned a good deal of scare," Mr. Jervoise replied. "I
suppose there is no word of the arrest of the man, or his
accomplices? We have travelled but slowly, and the news may have
passed us on the way."
"Not as yet," the landlord replied. "They say that all the northern
and eastern ports are watched, and they make sure of catching him,
if he presents himself there. The general opinion is that he will,
for a time, go into hiding with his friends, in the hills of
Cumberland or Westmoreland, or perhaps on the Yorkshire moors; but
they are sure to catch him sooner or later."
"It is a bad business altogether," Mr. Jervoise said, "and we can
only hope that all guilty persons will in time get the punishment
they so well deserve. How can trade be carried on, if the country
is to be disturbed by plots, and conspiracies?"
"How, indeed?" the landlord repeated heartily.
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