Auriol; or, The Elixir of Life
Page 6
CHAPTER V
THE MEETING NEAR THE STATUE
The evening of the third day arrived, and Auriol entered Hyde Park byStanhope Gate. Glancing at his watch, and finding it wanted nearlythree-quarters of an hour of the time appointed for his meeting with themysterious stranger, he struck across the park, in the direction of theSerpentine River. Apparently he was now perfectly recovered, for his armwas without the support of the sling, and he walked with greatswiftness. But his countenance was deathly pale, and his looks were sowild and disordered, that the few persons he encountered shrank from himaghast.
A few minutes' rapid walking brought him to the eastern extremity of theSerpentine, and advancing close to the edge of the embankment, he gazedat the waters beneath his feet.
"I would plunge into them, if I could find repose," he murmured. "But itwould avail nothing. I should only add to my sufferings. No; I mustcontinue to endure the weight of a life burdened by crime and remorse,till I can find out the means of freeing myself from it. Once I dreadedthis unknown danger, but now I seek for it in vain."
The current of his thoughts was here interrupted by the suddenappearance of a dark object on the surface of the water, which he atfirst took to be a huge fish, with a pair of green fins springing fromits back; but after watching it more closely for a few moments, hebecame convinced that it was a human being, tricked out in somemasquerade attire, while the slight struggles which it made proved thatlife was not entirely extinct.
Though, the moment before, he had contemplated self-destruction, and hadonly been restrained from the attempt by the certainty of failing in hispurpose, instinct prompted him to rescue the perishing creature beforehim. Without hesitation, therefore, and without tarrying to divesthimself of his clothes, he dashed into the water, and striking out,instantly reached the object of his quest, which still continued tofloat, and turning it over, for the face was downwards, he perceived itwas an old man, of exceedingly small size, habited in a pantomimic garb.He also remarked that a rope was twisted round the neck of theunfortunate being, making it evident that some violent attempt had beenmade upon his life.
Without pausing for further investigation, he took firm hold of theleathern wings of the dwarf, and with his disengaged hand propelledhimself towards the shore, dragging the other after him. The nextinstant he reached the bank, clambered up the low brickwork, and placedhis burden in safety.
The noise of the plunge had attracted attention, and several persons nowhurried to the spot. On coming up, and finding Auriol bending over awater-sprite--for such, at first sight, the dwarf appeared--they couldnot repress their astonishment. Wholly insensible to the presence ofthose around him, Auriol endeavoured to recall where he had seen thedwarf before. All at once, the recollection flashed upon him, and hecried aloud, "Why, it is my poor murdered grandfather's attendant,Flapdragon! But no! no!--he must be dead ages ago! Yet the resemblanceis singularly striking!"
Auriol's exclamations, coupled with his wild demeanour, surprised thebystanders, and they came to the conclusion that he must be a travellingshowman, who had attempted to drown his dwarf--the grotesque, impishgarb of the latter convincing them that he had been exhibited at abooth. They made signs, therefore, to each other not to let Auriolescape, and one of them, raising the dwarf's head on his knee, produceda flask, and poured some brandy from it down his throat, while otherschafed his hands. These efforts were attended with much speedier successthan might have been anticipated. After a struggle or two forrespiration, the dwarf opened his eyes, and gazed at the group aroundhim.
"It must be Flapdragon!" exclaimed Auriol.
"Ah! who calls me?" cried the dwarf.
"I!" rejoined Auriol. "Do you not recollect me?"
"To be sure!" exclaimed the dwarf, gazing at him fixedly; "you are----"and he stopped.
"You have been thrown into the water, Master Flapdragon?" cried abystander, noticing the cord round the dwarf's throat.
"I have," replied the little old man.
"By your governor--that is, by this person?" cried another, laying holdof Auriol.
"By him--no," said the dwarf; "I have not seen that gentleman for nearlythree centuries."
"Three centuries, my little patriarch?" said the man who had given himthe brandy. "That's a long time. Think again."
"It's perfectly true, nevertheless," replied the dwarf.
"His wits have been washed away by the water," said the first speaker."Give him a drop more brandy."
"Not a bit of it," rejoined the dwarf; "my senses were never clearerthan at this moment. At last we have met," he continued, addressingAuriol, "and I hope we shall not speedily part again. We hold life bythe same tie."
"How came you in the desperate condition in which I found you?" demandedAuriol evasively.
"I was thrown into the canal with a stone to my neck, like a dog aboutto be drowned," replied the dwarf. "But, as you are aware, I'm not soeasily disposed of."
Again the bystanders exchanged significant looks.
"By whom was the attempt made?" inquired Auriol.
"I don't know the villain's name," rejoined the dwarf, "but he's a verytall, dark man, and is generally wrapped in a long black cloak."
"Ha!" exclaimed Auriol. "When was it done?"
"Some nights ago, I should fancy," replied the dwarf, "for I've been aterrible long time under water. I have only just managed to shake offthe stone."
At this speech there was a titter of incredulity among the bystanders.
"You may laugh, but it's true!" cried the dwarf angrily.
"We must speak of this anon," said Auriol. "Will you convey him to thenearest tavern?" he added, placing money in the hands of the man whoheld the dwarf in his arms.
"Willingly, sir," replied the man. "I'll take him to the Life Guardsman,near the barracks--that's the nearest public."
"I'll join him there in an hour," replied Auriol, moving away.
And as he disappeared, the man took up his little burden, and bent hissteps towards the barracks.
Utterly disregarding the dripping state of his habiliments, Auriolproceeded quickly to the place of rendezvous. Arrived there, he lookedaround, and not seeing any one, flung himself upon a bench at the footof the gentle eminence on which the gigantic statue of Achilles isplaced.
It was becoming rapidly dark, and heavy clouds, portending speedy rain,increased the gloom. Auriol's thoughts were sombre as the weather andthe hour, and he fell into a deep fit of abstraction, from which he wasroused by a hand laid on his shoulder.
Recoiling at the touch, he raised his eyes, and beheld the strangerleaning over him, and gazing at him with a look of diabolicalexultation. The cloak was thrown partly aside, so as to display thetall, gaunt figure of its wearer; while the large collar of sable furwith which it was decorated stood out like the wings of a demon. Thestranger's hat was off, and his high broad forehead, white as marble,was fully revealed.
"Our meeting must be brief," he said. "Are you prepared to fulfil thecompact?"
"What do you require?" replied Auriol.
"Possession of the girl I saw three days ago," said the other; "theiron-merchant's daughter, Ebba. She must be mine."
"Never!" cried Auriol firmly--"never!"
"Beware how you tempt me to exert my power," said the stranger; "she_must_ be mine--or----"
"I defy you!" rejoined Auriol; "I will never consent."
"Fool!" cried the other, seizing him by the arm, and fixing a witheringglance upon him. "Bring her to me ere the week be out, or dread myvengeance!"
And, enveloping himself in his cloak, he retreated behind the statue,and was lost to view.
As he disappeared, a moaning wind arose, and heavy rain descended. StillAuriol did not quit the bench.