CHAPTER IX.
"Prometheus-like, from heaven she stole The fire, that through those silken lashes In darkest glances seems to roll, From eyes that cannot hide their flashes; And as along her bosom steal In lengthened flow her raven tresses, You'd swear each clustering lock could feel, And curled to give her neck caresses."--_Byron._
About a week after this nocturnal adventure, Captain de Vere might havebeen seen trotting along the King's road with an orderly behind him. Hereined his coal-black charger before a handsome mansion, and dismountingrung the bell--it was answered by a footman in the De Vere livery.
"Is my brother, the Earl, at home?"
"He is not, sir--but walk in, Captain de Vere--my Lord bade me ask youto wait for him--my Lord is at a _levee_, but will be home soon."
"Very well, I'll wait;--you fellow," addressing his orderly, "wait forme."
The Captain never considered how long he kept any one waiting. The doorwas shut, and he followed the servant up a grand flight of stairs tillthey arrived at Lord Wentworth's study--a warm, comfortable little room.On the escritoire in the centre of the room lay many official letters,and state papers--several blank warrants signed by authority lay on oneside. On these the Captain at once glanced with an air of surprise, andill-concealed joy--"James, bring me a bottle of wine and someglasses--and biscuits--and James, the papers."
"Immediately, sir," said the servant, leaving the room. No sooner was hegone than the Captain appropriated one of these warrants.
"He will never miss one--there are more than a dozen--it may be of usesome day--nothing like two strings to one's bow," he muttered, as hefolded up the warrant and put it inside his cigar-case. Scarcely had hedone so ere the servant returned with the creature comforts he hadordered. "Draw the cork, and now begone with you."
"Nothing else, sir?"
"No, sirrah, nothing."
"I may as well make myself jolly," said the Captain to himself. "IfWentworth's at a _levee_ it will be a long time ere he comes back," andsuiting the action to the word he drew a small chess-table to the fire:on this he placed the wine and biscuits; he then seated himself in aneasy chair--placed his feet on another--and lighting a cigar began toread the papers--occasionally taking a glass of port wine with evidentgusto--"Trust Bill for nabbing good wine."
Several times during the hour he awaited his brother, an observer mighthave seen him stride across the room to the window, which looked out ona side street running up from the sea,--make some masonic sign to someone on the opposite side, and, apparently satisfied with the result,return to his wine and newspaper.
"Curse this delay," said the Captain, striking his sword on the fenderas the clock struck two.
But at the same moment the door of the apartment opened, and the Earlentered in his robes.
"Well, Jack," he exclaimed, "you make yourself comfortable."
"Always do so," was the curt reply, as he lit his third cigar.
"And have you waited long?"
"I believe you--just a mortal hour have I been here," looking at hiswatch--"however, I was as well here as out in the cold."
"I have been at a _levee_ or would have been here before."
"How is the Regent?"
"Never was better in his life--he seems to have renewed his youth sincelast summer. Is there any news? I have not seen the papers yet to-day."
"Devil a bit except Frank's battalion left in the Miranda for theMediterranean. Egad, they'll catch it 'in the Bay of Biscay O!' if it isblowing like this," said the Captain, whistling the chorus of that song,and once more approaching the window.
"What are you looking at?" asked the Earl, after the Captain had stayedsome seconds at the window, evidently regarding something with thegreatest interest.
"By George--look--quick--there, she's gone!"
"What--where--who's she--where is she gone?" exclaimed the Earl,hurrying to have a sight.
"Wait a minute; she'll be back again, I'll be bound--talk of beauties--Idid see a stunner."
"Where? which window?" said the Earl, who dearly loved to see a prettyface.
"There, at that window--the one with the red curtains--get your glassquick, she'll be back in a minute--make haste, here she comes--oh, Gad!"
In a moment the Earl was back, too, with an opera glass, through whichhe gazed at a stylish girl who stood at the opposite window, apparentlyunconscious that she was an object of such attention. She was about theaverage height--slightly inclined to embonpoint, with a full andbeautiful bust. She was dressed in black silk, which, drawn tightly overher breast, showed off her figure to perfection. Her hair, black as theraven's wing, and platted in two broad bands, was drawn back behind hersmall, prettily-shaped ears, from which dropped sparkling pendants, andtied by a scarlet ribbon which contrasted well with the ebon locks itbound;--two tresses were suffered to escape this bandage, and waved in a_neglige_ manner over her bosom. Large lustrous eyes, fringed by long,silken lashes, and the damask hue that tinted her olive cheek betrayedthe child of sunnier climes than England. Her lips had a slight pout andsaucy expression, and in her hand she fluttered a fan with all the graceof an Andalusian belle.
"Let's have a look, Wentworth--you are monopolizing the glass; confoundit! there, she is gone, and I have not had 'ane keek' as old Andrewwould say,--hard lines, by Jove!"
"She is evidently Spanish," said the Earl, regardless of the Captain'sremark.
"I know that," said he.
"How! you seem to know more of her than you would make believe?"
"Shot if I know a bit more than you do," replied the Captain, seeing hiserror, "any fool could see she was Spanish--she's jolly pretty, whatevershe is. Egad, what eyes! I could have lit my pipe at them! Now to mymind she is a far jollier girl than even your inamorata, EllenRavensworth--so much passion in her eyes! 'Oh, never talk again to me ofnorthern climes and British ladies.'"
"I hope you don't mean to compare her with Miss Ravensworth, a high bornScotch lady? Compare Ellen with a girl like that, a mere fancy girl,I'll stake high."
"Blowed if I care whether she be a fancy girl, or a fancy anything else;she has taken _my fancy_ I know, and I shall think you an uncommon foolif you don't look after her."
"I shall certainly make inquiries who and what she is. Pierre, my valet,will find out everything--he is a clever ferret."
"Egad, you're right there," answered the Captain, laughing in his sleeveat the bait taking so well. "I know Wentworth's weak point," he mutteredto himself, and then said aloud, "And now, as she doesn't seem inclinedto vouchsafe us another glance--what is the order of the day? Confoundit! there comes that vile snow on again!"
"I have a good deal of business to transact one way and another. Ah!here's Smith, my secretary," said the Earl, as he heard a knock at thedoor; "Come in."
The door opened, yet it was not Smith that entered, but a tall,middle-aged gentleman, immensely stout, and still in the full vigour ofhealth and strength. He walked like a king--and such he was, or was soonat least to be, already king in everything but name; his full ruddy faceand double chin gave him a jolly aspect, and his star and garterproclaimed him to be none other than George Prince Regent.
"How are you again, my Lord Wentworth? How d'you do, my bully boy? Wildas ever, eh! De Vere?"
"May it please your Royal Highness, I never was more flourishing, and amright glad to see my Prince so hearty."
"Sit down, my Lord--sit down, Captain, no ceremony! I'll take wine,"said the Regent, filling a bumper, and draining it off to their health."Wentworth," he continued, "I sup with you to-night--is eleven tooearly?"
"Whatever hour suits your Royal Highness, suits me," answered the Earl.
"And look you," said the Regent, "look out some boon fellows--let's havea merry time of it. I leave that to you, De Vere: _au revoir_ tillthen."
The Captain attended the Prince to his favourite pony phaeton, and thenran upstairs again, put on his fur skin busby, and mounted his horse,after keeping his unlucky s
ervant nearly two hours in the snow.
We must no longer weary our readers with further details of life atBrighton; but as we must faithfully recount not only the virtues, butthe follies of our heroes, we are truly sorry to have to tell ourreaders that Lord Wentworth not only succeeded in finding out who thefair Spaniard (in whom we readily recognize Antonia Stacy, though underthe assumed name of Juana Ferraras), was, but he also succeeded inprevailing upon the weak girl, who was taught to play her part so well,and who could not resist the temptations of a rich and handsome youngpeer, to accept his suit. The Earl's weak point, as the Captain judged,was the other sex, and while he blamed himself for his folly, and oftenwondered what Ellen Ravensworth would think if she knew all, he had notthe moral courage to withstand this young girl's fascination. However,like all unhallowed affections, strong as his first admiration was, ithad not the strength to stand the test of time; and the fancy,short-lived as it was violent, soon died away, and he became tired ofher who had given her all for his sake. He also found it a mostexpensive affair, but this was not Juana's fault, but was due to theCaptain's guile, who made her the medium by which he drew his brother'spurse to a frightful extent, finding a little ready money was the verybest means he had in his power of silencing the clamour of hiscreditors, and keeping brutal duns quiet. After about three weeks theCourt returned to town, and the Earl and his brother hastened also toLondon in order to be present at the marriage of their sister Lady Edithto the Marquis of Arranmore. The ceremony, graced by the presence ofroyalty itself, came off with great _eclat_, and the happy pair startedat once for the South of Europe, to spend their honeymoon at the VillaReale at Naples, under a warmer sun and more genial clime than Englandafforded at that season. Villa Reale was one of the Earl's seats, and heinsisted on his brother-in-law accepting it as his residence whilst atNaples. Captain de Vere as well as L'Estrange were charmed at first tosee how well the plot turned out; they were, however, ratherdisconcerted--at least L'Estrange was, the Captain having another stringto his bow--by the Earl's tiring so soon of the fair donna's charms.Their scheme was, if they could induce him to take her with him toScotland, to threaten to prove a Scotch marriage. This they knew theEarl would never acknowledge, but, as it would be binding in law, EllenRavensworth would be left free, and probably disgusted, at her lover'sfaithlessness, might yet return to L'Estrange, whilst the Captain wouldhave the better chance of succeeding to his brother's envied coronet,and still more envied fortune.
The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1 Page 9