The Golden Grasshopper | Page 5

with one of the most
exciting portions of the mystery. At length the masker stood close to
the boys. And now the eyes of every one in the hall were riveted on the
performers. On a sudden, the cloak was thrown round the boys. No cry
was heard, and the masker glided rapidly towards the door of the hall,
still left open. So quick were his movements, that he would have
escaped unobserved had not Lady Anne's voice been heard, exclaiming,
"Stop him! Stop him! He has carried off the children!" Richard Clough
started from his seat, and drawing his dagger, rushed after the abductor.
The man, turning his head at the cry, saw that he was pursued, and
letting go one of the children--it was the little Richard--fled more
rapidly. Honest Master Clough, however, with the excited feelings of a
warm-hearted Welshman, pursued him. The man had just reached the
door, when Master Clough caught him by the cloak, and would have
struck his dagger into his neck, had he not loosened the garment and let
go the little Ernst, whose head had been so muffled in a cloth that he
had been unable to cry out. The man sprang from the door before
Master Clough could again seize him, exhibiting, now deprived of his
cloak, the dark dress of an ecclesiastic, though his head, still concealed
by his large mask, prevented his features being visible. A number of
persons were at the time passing, and the stranger was thus able to
make his escape. Indeed, honest Master Clough, having gained his
object of rescuing the children, probably considered that it might be
wise not to continue the pursuit in the open street, where perchance he
might have found more enemies than friends.
As may be supposed, after this Master Gresham was chary of letting his
young charge go without his doors, unless with a strong escort. But one
day, having to pay a visit of ceremony to an important person at the
farther end of the city, he set forth on horseback, attended by Master
Clough, two of his other secretaries, and several attendants, all
well-armed. Ernst, as the Lady Anne thought, having suffered from
being deprived of the free air, was carried along with the party, being
placed on the saddle in front of one of the serving-men. Ernst gazed
about him, enjoying the free air and the warm sun, which shone down

from the blue sky. The scene in the streets, however, was at no time
lively; the dresses both of men and women being of a sombre hue, the
latter wearing the large dark cloaks with hoods which had been
introduced from Spain, while a gloomy expression sat generally on the
countenances of the men. The visit was paid, Ernst remaining in the
hall with the attendants, while Master Gresham with his secretaries
proceeded into the audience chamber of the great man. They were on
their way back, when, approaching the wide thoroughfare of the Mere,
a crowd of persons was seen proceeding in that direction. It was
necessary for Master Gresham's party to proceed through the Mere, or
he would have turned aside to avoid the throng. As they entered the
place, a procession was seen advancing down one of the streets which
led into it. First came a band of acolytes, swinging censers and chanting
hymns to the honour of the Virgin. Next to them marched on either side
of the street a guard of soldiers, having in their midst a large party of
priests, between whom were seen four persons with their hands
fastened behind them, their heads bare, and clothed in long coarse robes;
blood-red banners were borne aloft by some of the priests. Then came a
brotherhood, also in dark garments, with cowls on their heads and their
faces masked. A party of officials on horseback, magistrates, and others,
with another body of troops, brought up the rear. Slowly the procession
wound its way into the Square, on one side of which was now seen a
scaffold with a pulpit raised above it, and a booth or stand, covered
with cloth, with seats arranged within. At one end were two lofty
gibbets; while below, in the open space, two stout posts appeared fixed
in the ground, with iron chains hanging to them, and near at hand large
piles of faggots.
So completely closed round by the throng were the English party, that
they could neither move forward nor recede. The procession reached
the stage, when the prisoners were led up upon it, the magistrates and
other officials taking their places on either side, the brotherhoods
forming a dark line below the platform. The priests seemed to be
exhorting the prisoners, but the distance was too great to allow what
was being