A plan to be adopted in the event of any sudden emergency having been decided upon, the prince agreed to dine at the mansion, and the whole of the party assembled as before, with the addition of Sir John and Lady Webb.
All the servants had received their orders, so no apprehension was entertained of a surprise. The prince was not in very good spirits, and Dorothy, who sat next to him, did her best to cheer him.
The repast was about half over, when a servant hastily entered the room, and informed his master that the sheriff had arrived with a large posse of men.
On this the prince immediately arose, and in pursuance of the plan previously arranged passed through a window into the garden, where a servant was waiting to conduct him by a private entrance to the castle. No one else attended his highness.
The company remained at table; the prince's chair being instantly removed, and the vacancy filled up. All this was the work of a few moments.
Shortly afterwards, the sheriff was ushered into the room, and seemed greatly surprised by the sight of so large a party, for which he was evidently unprepared.
While he was hesitating what to do, Mr. Forster arose, and greeting him in a friendly manner, said:
“I hope you are come to dine with me, Sir William. I shall be very glad of your company, I assure you.”
“But I have business of importance, sir,” cried the sheriff.
“We will discuss that after dinner,” said Forster.
“I am very sorry to interrupt you, sir, but----”
“Nay, I will take no refusal,” cried Forster, leading him to the table.
At a sign from Forster a chair was then brought, and placed next his own, and the sheriff was almost forced into it.
Jesmond, who had entered the dining-room at the same time as his superior officer, stationed himself behind the chair, wondering what would happen next, but not venturing to interfere.
“What will you take, Sir William--some venison? There is a fine haunch at the other end of the table.”
“You ought to take a prisoner, Sir William,” whispered Desmond.
“So I will presently,” replied the sheriff in the same tone. “But I will begin with the venison. Is the Pretender here?”
“I don't see him, Sir William,” replied the official, looking round inquisitively at the guests. “But I can't quite distinguish the features of the persons at the bottom of the table. Stay! there is some one rather like him next to Sir John Webb.”