CHAPTER XX.
"Away, and mark the time with fairest show; False face must hide what the false heart doth know." _Macbeth._
"And with coming day Came fast inquiry, which unfolded nought, Except the absence of the chief it sought.
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But none are there, and not a brake hath borne Nor gout of blood, nor shred of mantle torn; Nor fall nor struggle hath defaced the grass, Which still retains a mark where murder was." _Lara._
When L'Estrange opened his eyes it was with that delightful oblivion ofall past events with which the slumberer first awakens. For a momenteverything was forgotten; but then came the crushing remembrance of hisguilt, and all that had passed a few hours ago. At first he feltinclined to doubt its reality; it was surely a wild dream--some terriblevision that had scared his sleep. He rubbed his eyes to see if he wasawake. Alas! it was too true; there was the table, with the emptieddecanters and wine-glasses still on it; the chairs on which they hadsat; all damning proofs of the dread reality. The sun was shiningbrightly; the birds singing among the bushes; all was sunshine andhappiness without; but within his sun had set; his joy was vanished; andhe only rose to enact villainy. He started from his couch--his headstill ached, and he felt sick in his heart as he walked across thechamber; and when he looked in the glass he started back with horrorfrom his reflection; how haggard, pale, and wild were his looks; hescarce knew himself again! He bathed his face in cold water; itrefreshed, without invigorating him. However, he felt better, and triedto steel himself up for the deed. He tried to laugh away his weaknessand fears, as he hastily dressed. At last he was ready to go downstairs; but how should he face Ellen Ravensworth, if she should bealone, as he had sometimes found her? He stood irresolute for nearlyfive minutes, and then, suddenly nerving himself up for the worst, threwopen his door--walked quickly along the passage--ran down the broadflight of stairs, and opened the parlour door. Two ladies stood near thewindow; one was Ellen, but, thank God! she was not alone. Lady Florencestood, all smiles, beside her. Trying to assume a careless tone ofvoice, he bade them good morning. His voice sounded strange to his ears!Had he come five minutes earlier he would have met Ellen alone--perhapsif he had, he might have confessed all to her--such had been a passingthought; but as it was it only sealed his purpose. The ladies returnedhis salute, and made some casual remark on the fine morning. L'Estrangesat down near the open window; the cool morning air was delicious as itfanned his burning face; he put his hand to his brow, and satspeechless.
"Are you unwell, Captain L'Estrange?" asked Ellen, in a sweet voice;"you look so pale."
"It is nothing; a mere passing headache. I am somewhat subject to themsince I caught a fever in India," answered L'Estrange, in a chokingvoice; and walking to the sideboard he poured out a glass of cold waterand drank it, remarking, "I shall be better by-and-by. I hope you arewell, Miss Ravensworth, after your fatigues yesterday."
"I am very well, thank you; though I had not the best of nights. I donot know what kept me awake."
"Nor I, either, Ellen," said Lady Florence. "What a noise there was! Iam sure I heard some one up very late; it was like John's step."
L'Estrange shuddered again, as he saw Ellen's smiling brow, and thenthought how he, like a fiend, was to change her joy to wretchedness!
It was not long before the whole party assembled round thebreakfast-table, on which was spread a regular Scotch breakfast, withstrawberries and other summer fruits, besides the usual dainties.
"What is the order of the day?" asked the Captain.
"Everyone to his own taste, I believe," answered the Earl. "For myself,business takes me to Edinburgh."
"Whither I will accompany you," said the Marquis.
"Most of us ladies are going out riding; who will gallant us?"
"I shall have much pleasure," said Sir Richard; "especially if you gracethe party with your fair presence, Lady Florence."
"And I." "And I," said Scroop and another young officer.
"I shall ride, too, then," said Johnny.
"That is as we please, Master Johnny," answered Lady Florence.
"I," said the Duke, "shall amuse myself in a quieter manner by seeingthe gardens and hot-houses. Will you come, Mr. Lennox? and you, Mr.Ravensworth? We are the three steady ones."
"I never knew your Grace was steady," said the Earl.
"I shall have the utmost satisfaction," said Mr. Lennox, "being myself agreat connoisseur in horticulture."
"I too shall consider myself at your Grace's service."
"Just as you please, Mr. Ravensworth."
"I am going a-fishing. Who comes with me?" asked Captain Wilson. "ThoughI can stick on a horse, I do not like the thoroughbreds here very much,and prefer angling. Will you come, Captain?"
The Captain stared, without replying; and Lady Edith answered for herbrother.
"John never goes fishing, Captain Wilson; he thinks it far too slow. IfFrank was here, he is a zealous disciple of old Walton's gentle art. Ifear you will have to angle alone."
"No matter, Lady Arranmore, I am well accustomed to my own company."
Breakfast over, the various followers of various amusements departed.The Earl and Marquis rode off to town; the Duke and his two friendswalked to find the head gardener; Captain Wilson set off with anunder-keeper for the burn, rod in hand; and the young ladies, includingthe Marchioness and her sister, as well as Ellen Ravensworth, retired toaccoutre themselves for their ride, whilst their beaux strolled to thestables to select their horses, with Wilton's aid.
Captain L'Estrange, as soon as breakfast was over, took his hat andriding-whip and left the Castle. First he sauntered through theextensive gardens--narrowly escaping the Duke, Mr. Lennox, andRavensworth. The gardens lay on the side of the hills, having a southernaspect, and rose tier on tier. Up this moderately steep ascent our heroclimbed, knocking off the heads of the flowers with his whip, to thegreat annoyance of several gardeners, who, however, did not make anyremark. At the top of the uppermost garden was a high wall, covered withfruit-trees, dividing the gardens from the woods and mountainsimmediately outside; opening the door that led out, L'Estrange commencedclimbing a steep path that traversed the woods, and finally led him tothe open hills. On his left gushed the burn, and between it and theoutside walls of the gardens the same path led to the back of thestables, and the holly walk, a green road between two walls ofholly-hedge, running at right angles to the stables. When he had reachedthe summit of the woods, L'Estrange sat down on a fallen tree, andlooked at the landscape: at his feet lay the castle, apparently so nearhe could have tossed a stone on it; behind were the mountains; and oneither side dense woods; before the castle stretched the park for many arood. He sat on the log for more than half an hour in a contemplativemood; then, looking at his watch, he suddenly sprung up, and boundeddown the woods like a roebuck; he passed the garden, continuing down therough pathway, reached the stable, and ran along the smooth holly-walk.At the end stood Archy Forbes, holding a horse ready saddled.
"Have you been long waiting?"
"Ay, sir, half an hour, may be, and may be mair."
"Good God!" said L'Estrange, as he threw himself across the horse, "whatmade me delay?"
Just as he was about to gallop off a horse and horseman broke frombehind the hedge, at the near end of the walk.
"Not off yet?" said the Captain.
"I am just going to start," said L'Estrange, in a husky voice.
"What the deuce frightens you? There is nothing to be afraid of. Onlytake the back way, and see you don't fall in with Lennox, that meddlingold coxcomb. _Adieu!_ Off you go!"
"_Au diable!_" thought the other, as he galloped away.
The Captain spoke a few words to Archy, and then trotted to the Towers,where he found the riding party assembled, and Johnny showing off on aspirited little pony, which he
had learned to manage with some address.
"Capital, young 'un!" shouted the Captain, as he cleared the park fence."There is the making of a good horseman in you--plenty of pluck. We mustget you into the 7th."
"Are you coming with us, Cap?" said Johnny, elated at the compliment.
Vouchsafing no reply, the Captain rode on with the party till he reachedthe Edinburgh road, where, taking off his hat to the ladies, he putspurs to his horse and rode to Edinburgh, where he probably met theMarquis and his brother at the favourite pump of the Irish lord, as thethree rode back together.
When the whole party reassembled at dinner, L'Estrange's chair was againvacant. No notice was taken of this till the meal was more than halffinished, and still the chair remained unoccupied, when the Earlremarked, "Captain L'Estrange is very unpunctual at his meals; inEngland we consider it a breach of the eleventh commandment."
"He wants Sir Henry Maynard to discipline him again, by Jove!"
"You need not speak, John," said Lady Florence. "Do you remember ourjoke at your always coming in late to dinner, and always stumbling intothe room, with an oath, over the wolf-skin at the door."
"Enough to make most fellows swear, catching one's spurs in the d--dfur. I am glad it is gone now."
"Andrew," said the Earl, "send a footman to Captain L'Estrange's room;and tell him dinner is almost done."
The servant returned shortly with the reply, that the Captain was notin his room; nor had he been in the castle since morning.
"Then I'll be bound he has ridden off to Dalkeith, or Newbattle, andbeen asked to dinner," said Sir Richard. "He might have let me know, orsent a man to say so, at least."
The evening passed away as usual, and it was not till the Earl rose fromthe table in the smoking-room shortly before midnight that the Captain'sabsence was again alluded to.
"This passes forbearance," said the Earl, rising; "twelve o'clock, andmy guest unaccounted for: this is either a strange breach of manners, orthere is more in it than I imagine. Do none of you gentlemen know wherehe went to; has no one seen him?"
"I saw him, my Lord, in the garden about half an hour after breakfast,"said Mr. Ravensworth.
"I also," said Mr. Lennox. "I pointed him out to your Grace," addressingthe Duke.
"And did no one else see him since?"
"Not I," said the Captain.
"Nor I, nor I," answered several others.
"This grows serious. Ring the bell. Andrew, tell Wilton to come here atonce."
When the hale old master of the horse appeared, the Earl said, "Wilton,I am much distressed at Captain L'Estrange's continued absence. Do noneof you know anything about him?"
"No, my Lord, there is no horse, riding or driving, out from thestables. Jim Steadman, one of your lordship's foresters, saw the Captainrunning down the wood ayont the garden walls. I have made every inquiry,but no one else has seen him, except one or two of the under gardeners,and they seed him chopping the heeds off the flowers with his whip."
"This is more and more extraordinary; if he had no horse he cannot befar. I would he knew what anxiety he is causing."
"It certainly passes a joke," said Sir Richard. "However, he will turnup like a bad penny; you know, my Lord, since your proposal to MissRavensworth, L'Estrange, who it seems had some old attachment to theyoung lady, has not been like himself; last night he openly insulted theMarquis, and quarrelled with us all, because we bantered him a bit, notknowing how deeply he was bitten."
"I would I had known this before. I am extremely anxious about him; if,indeed, he was in this state of mind he might have done himself someharm, though God forbid it be so."
"Take my advice and leave him to find his way home. I warrant the nightair will cool his head," said the Captain.
"Never," replied the Earl; "he was my guest, my friend; I am responsiblefor his safety, and not a soul shall retire to rest this night tillCaptain L'Estrange is found, or at least till we have done our best tofind him. Wilton, order a dozen men to get torches and lanterns ready.Andrew, bring me my cloak and hat; come, gentlemen, I know none of youwill refuse to search for this unhappy young man."
"I for one," said the Duke, "will go, and shame on him who stays athome."
"Spoken like a man," replied the Earl.
Everything was bustle; the whole party, wrapping themselves in cloaksand plaids, sallied forth, some with sticks, and some with staves;lanterns and torches were borne by not twelve, but nearly thirty stoutretainers of the Earl, who volunteered right gladly; there was a sort ofexcitement mingled with it, and a fear, and let it not be denied, a_hope_, in some, that a dreadful catastrophe had occurred.
"I had rather seen L'Estrange at the devil, than hauling us out of doorsat this hour," said the Captain, buttoning his military coat; "by Jove,this does pass a jest, Musgrave. I wonder if he has drowned himself?"
"I fear the worst," replied Scroop. "I never saw a man look so alteredas he did at breakfast; if ever evil designs scarred a man's face theydid his."
The party proceeded first through the gardens, then up the wood to thespot where Steadman saw him. The night was black as pitch; not a starbroke through the heavy clouds; the sough of the south-west wind sighedthrough the woods, and ere they had proceeded far the rain commencedpattering fast. The thick trees at first kept it out, but by-and-bytorch after torch was extinguished, and they kept up the search by meansof lanterns only. Many of the men, and loudest of all the Captain, sworeat this unlucky chance, and several of the seekers fell off, and stoleaway to the Towers. Amongst the first deserters were Lord Arranmore, Mr.Lennox, Mr. Ravensworth; Scroop and Musgrave followed, and the party wascurtailed by several of the men, who also slipped away, preferring theirhomestead and beds to the dripping woods. The Earl, the Duke, Captain deVere, Johnny, and the naval commander Wilson, resolutely defied theelements; with Wilton, Jim Steadman, and a score of hardier foresters,they searched every nook, explored every hollow, hallooed the lost man'sname, and dragged every lynn of the burn.
"I mind me of a search adoun this vera burn," said Wilton, "it wasfive-and-twenty years gone by or mayhap more, when on a night like thisI searched this identical brae. I mind your lordship's father, how hesearched, how he shouted your brother's name. The bairn was never foundthough, but it seems like yestreen. I was a younger man then."
Little heeding Wilton's story the Earl went on searching as though hetoo sought for his son. After a fruitless exploration of the ravine theycame to the Holly Walk, and there the sharp eye of Wilton discovered ahorse-hoof, which he pointed out to the Earl; it was almost effaced bythe rain which now fell in torrents.
"That is easily explained," said the Captain; "I myself rode down thiswalk this very morning."
"Ay sir, in vera deed you did," said Archy Forbes.
When they had searched the whole dell with no better fortune, it wasproposed by the Duke to give it up.
"Your Grace may, I shall hunt on," said the Earl. "Those however whodesire may return."
The Captain, and most of the others readily availed themselves of thisleave, and only the Earl, Wilton, Captain Wilson, and two foresters keptup the search; they too, after spending nearly all the night in rain,gave it up as a bad matter, and weary, wet, and disheartened, enteredthe Towers in the gray dawning, and, changing their drenched garments,sought a few hours' repose. Early next morning the search wasrecommenced by the woodmen and other servants. A sorrowful party satdown to breakfast, and every one looked at his neighbour in dismay.Ellen seemed most affected of all. In silence the meal passed away, orif anything was spoken it was some vague conjecture, or hope expressedall would yet turn out well. The Earl was absent as well as his brother;they had ridden off to Edinburgh for detectives, and also to makeinquiries and give it publicity in the papers. They did not return tilllate at night, to find, of course, no news had been gained, nor was anytrace to be found of the unhappy young man, living nor dead. Not toweary our readers more, we need only say a week's search, even with thebest detectives, proved utterly u
seless; and though all who had seen themissing man were examined by oath, nothing transpired beyond the factthat he was missing, and no trace could be gained, nor clue found to hisfate. It was a wonder and topic of the papers for a week, and immenserewards were offered for his body, alive or dead, for it soon began togain a wide circulation that he must have met with foul play. At last,like everything else, time proved a grand cooler of excitement, and theremarkable disappearance of the young Captain was talked of less andless, till, after a fortnight had passed away, it ceased to excite anymore interest in the public mind, and was added to the list ofunrevealed secrets of crime. As a matter of course this untoward eventbroke up the party that met for pleasure at the Towers. Mr. Ravensworth andhis son and daughters were the first to leave, then followed Mr. Lennox,who waited till the Duke took his departure also, and accompanied him sofar as his home on his way to Edinburgh. In a week only the Marquis andMarchioness, the Captain and his friend Sir Richard, and another guest,the naval commander, remained. Ellen, we have said, was much affected bythis sudden and unaccountable disappearance of her old admirer; shefeared there was guilt in it, and dreaded to hear the _denouement_; itwas a subject she often talked of, and she perhaps more than any oneelse, feared there was something terrible connected with it; this fearshe told Lord Wentworth, who however disregarded it and tried to cheerher up, for it had taken a great hold on her mind, more especially asshe seemed to have been the prime cause of the catastrophe. LordWentworth almost daily rode to see his intended, and in this way twoweeks passed away since the fatal night, still there was no clue to themystery.
The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1 Page 20