The Buccaneer - A Tale

Next to Hugh Dalton, no man possessed so unbounded, and, so apparently,

unaccountable, an influence over Sir Robert Cecil as Sir Willmott

Burrell: he knew, as we have elsewhere stated, many of his secrets, and

shrewdly guessed at others of more weighty import; while, with the ready

sagacity of an accomplished knave, he contrived to appear well

acquainted with matters of which he was altogether ignorant, but the

existence of which he had abundant reasons for suspecting. The enfeebled

health and growing infirmities of the baronet rendered him an easy prey

to his wily acquaintance, who, driven to his last resource, resolved

upon adopting any course that might save him from destruction, by

inducing Sir Robert, not only to sanction, but command an immediate

marriage with his daughter.

In commencing the conversation with Burrell, Sir Robert peevishly

complained of the annoyance to which he had been subjected in receiving

and accommodating the young friend of Major Wellmore, although he

abstained from the indulgence of feelings similar to those he had

exhibited in the presence of his daughter. He then murmured bitterly of

sleepless nights--of restless days--of watchings and weariness--of

hideous dreams--of the toils, turmoils, and unfaithfulness of the

world--the usual theme of those who have done nothing to merit its

fidelity; and, as Sir Willmott Burrell looked upon him, he marvelled at

the change that but a few weeks had wrought in his appearance; his mind

seemed so enfeebled, that he deemed it even more altered than his body.

He was, moreover, much astonished to find that he dwelt so little upon

his recent and most heavy loss; for the attachment between Sir Robert

Cecil and his wife had been remarkable at a time when domestic happiness

was even the court fashion. But here Burrell was at fault; he knew

nothing of the position in which Sir Robert at present stood with regard

to Hugh Dalton, and was therefore ignorant of the positive peril by

which he was encompassed: a peril so great and so immediate, as to

render him, in a degree, insensible to the affliction under which he had

so recently and so painfully laboured. Often, in his dreary night

watches, when sleep set no seal upon his aching lids, or when they

closed for a little over the strained and worn eyeballs, and then opened

in terror at frightful images that haunted his fevered fancy--often, at

such times had he endeavoured to offer up a thanksgiving, that she was

gone from the wrath, the avenging horrors--the approach of which he

dreaded a thousand times more than death.

The application that had been made to the Protector for Dalton's pardon,

had been treated as he expected; and his only chance of accomplishing

the object of the Buccaneer, now rested on the possibility of his

gaining over certain persons of the court, to exert their influence with

Cromwell in the outlaw's behalf. Sir Robert's personal interest did not

extend far, but the influence of his gold did. The Protector could free

himself from outward sinners, but he could not rid himself of the more

smooth, and consequently more dangerous, villains, generated by the

peculiar forms and habits of the times. To some of these, Sir Robert had

secretly offered temptation in every way: the stake was large, the

danger certain; for he well knew the inflexibility of Dalton's

character, and that he would not fail to perform that upon which he had

resolved. It had occurred to him, more than once, to consult Burrell on

the subject; but a dread of his future son-in-law, for which he could

not account, had hitherto prevented his naming to him the Buccaneer's

desire to be a legalised commander. His anxiety to carry his point now,

however, overcame his timidity, and he resolved to speak to him on the

matter, at the very time the knight had decided on addressing the

baronet--under equal weighty circumstances--on the subject of his

marriage. Unfortunately for Sir Robert Cecil, he was the first to unfold

his plan; and thus gave the wily Burrell another and a firmer hold than

he had yet possessed. After repinings over his health, and murmurs

against mankind, had somewhat lessened that secret and consuming misery

that enveloped him as with a winding sheet, he inquired if Burrell had

lately encountered a man they must both remember,--Hugh Dalton,--a bold,

but reckless fellow, who had played cavalier, buccaneer, and a thousand

other characters in turn--all characters, in fact, save that of a

coward. Burrell replied in the negative; but confessed he knew the man

had been upon the coast; cunningly adding, that since his affections had

been so entirely fixed upon Constantia, he had given up every

connection, every idea, that might hereafter draw him from a home where

all blessings would be united.