CHAPTER VI
THE CHARLES THE SECOND SPANIEL
It was about two o'clock, on a charming spring day, that a stoutmiddle-aged man, accompanied by a young person of extraordinary beauty,took up his station in front of Langham Church. Just as the clock struckthe hour, a young man issued at a quick pace from a cross-street, andcame upon the couple before he was aware of it. He was evidently greatlyembarrassed, and would have beaten a retreat, but that was impossible.His embarrassment was in some degree shared by the young lady; sheblushed deeply, but could not conceal her satisfaction at the encounter.The elder individual, who did not appear to notice the confusion ofeither party, immediately extended his hand to the young man, andexclaimed:
"What! Mr. Darcy, is it you? Why, we thought we had lost you, sir! Whattook you off so suddenly? We have been expecting you these four days,and were now walking about to try and find you. My daughter has beenterribly uneasy. Haven't you, Ebba?"
The young lady made no answer to this appeal, but cast down her eyes.
"It was my intention to call, and give you an explanation of my strangeconduct, to-day," replied Auriol. "I hope you received my letter,stating that my sudden departure was unavoidable."
"To be sure; and I also received the valuable snuffbox you were so goodas to send me," replied Mr. Thorneycroft. "But you neglected to tell mehow to acknowledge the gift."
"I could not give an address at the moment," said Auriol.
"Well, I am glad to find you have got the use of your arm again,"observed the iron-merchant; "but I can't say you look so well as whenyou left us. You seem paler--eh? what do you think, Ebba?"
"Mr. Darcy looks as if he were suffering from mental anxiety rather thanfrom bodily ailment," she replied timidly.
"I am so," replied Auriol, regarding her fixedly. "A very disastrouscircumstance has happened to me. But answer me one question: Has themysterious person in the black cloak troubled you again?"
"What mysterious person?" demanded Mr. Thorneycroft, opening his eyes.
"Never mind, father," replied Ebba. "I saw him last night," she added toAuriol. "I was sitting in the back room alone, wondering what had becomeof you, when I heard a tap against the window, which was partly open,and, looking up, I beheld the tall stranger. It was nearly dark, but thelight of the fire revealed his malignant countenance. I don'texaggerate, when I say his eyes gleamed like those of a tiger. I wasterribly frightened, but something prevented me from crying out. Aftergazing at me for a few moments, with a look that seemed to fascinatewhile it frightened me, he said--'You desire to see Auriol Darcy. I havejust quitted him. Go to Langham Place to-morrow, and, as the clockstrikes two, you will behold him.' Without waiting for any reply on mypart, he disappeared."
"Ah, you never told me this, you little rogue!" cried Mr. Thorneycroft."You persuaded me to come out with you, in the hope of meeting Mr.Darcy; but you did not say you were sure to find him. So you sent thismysterious gentleman to her, eh?" he added to Auriol.
"No, I did not," replied the other gloomily.
"Indeed!" exclaimed the iron-merchant, with a puzzled look.
"Oh, then I suppose he thought it might relieve her anxiety. However,since we have met, I hope you'll walk home and dine with us."
Auriol was about to decline the invitation, but Ebba glanced at himentreatingly.
"I have an engagement, but I will forego it," he said, offering his armto her.
And they walked along towards Oxford Street, while Mr. Thorneycroftfollowed, a few paces behind them.
"This is very kind of you, Mr. Darcy," said Ebba. "Oh, I have been sowretched!"
"I grieve to hear it," he rejoined. "I hoped you had forgotten me."
"I am sure you did not think so," she cried.
As she spoke, she felt a shudder pass through Auriol's frame.
"What ails you?" she anxiously inquired.
"I would have shunned you, if I could, Ebba," he replied; "but a fate,against which it is vain to contend, has brought us together again."
"I am glad of it," she replied; "because, ever since our last interview,I have been reflecting on what you then said to me, and am persuaded youare labouring under some strange delusion, occasioned by your recentaccident."
"Be not deceived, Ebba," cried Auriol. "I am under a terrible influence.I need not remind you of the mysterious individual who tapped at yourwindow last night."
"What of him?" demanded Ebba, with a thrill of apprehension.
"He it is who controls my destiny," replied Auriol.
"But what has he to do with me?" asked Ebba.
"Much, much," he replied, with a perceptible shudder.
"You terrify me, Auriol," she rejoined. "Tell me what you mean--in pity,tell me?"
Before Auriol could reply, Mr. Thorneycroft stepped forward, and turnedthe conversation into another channel.
Soon after this, they reached the Quadrant, and were passing beneath theeastern colonnade, when Ebba's attention was attracted towards a man whowas leading a couple of dogs by a string, while he had others under hisarm, others again in his pocket, and another in his breast. It was Mr.Ginger.
"What a pretty little dog!" cried Ebba, remarking the Charles the Secondspaniel.
"Allow me to present you with it?" said Auriol.
"You know I should value it, as coming from you," she replied, blushingdeeply; "but I cannot accept it; so I will not look at it again, forfear I should be tempted."
The dog-fancier, however, noticing Ebba's admiration, held forward thespaniel, and said, "Do jist look at the pretty little creater, miss. Ithan't its equil for beauty. Don't be afeerd on it, miss. It's as gentleas a lamb."
"Oh you little darling!" Ebba said, patting its sleek head and longsilken ears, while it fixed its large black eyes upon her, as ifentreating her to become its purchaser.
"Fairy seems to have taken quite a fancy to you, miss," observed Ginger;"and she ain't i' the habit o' fallin' i' love at first sight. I don'twonder at it, though, for my part. I should do jist the same, if I wosin her place. Vell, now, miss, as she seems to like you, and you seem tolike her, I won't copy the manners o' them 'ere fathers as has stony'arts, and part two true lovyers. You shall have her a bargin."
"What do you call a bargain, my good man?" inquired Ebba, smiling.
"I wish I could afford to give her to you, miss," replied Ginger; "youshould have her, and welcome. But I must airn a livelihood, and Fairy isthe most wallerable part o' my stock. I'll tell you wot I give for hermyself, and you shall have her at a trifle beyond it. I'd scorn to takeadwantage o' the likes o' you."
"I hope you didn't give too much, then, friend," replied Ebba.
"I didn't give hayf her wally--not hayf," said Ginger; "and if so be youdon't like her in a month's time, I'll buy her back again from you.You'll alvays find me here--alvays. Everybody knows Mr. Ginger--that'smy name, miss. I'm the only honest man in the dog-fancyin' line. Ask Mr.Bishop, the great gunmaker o' Bond Street, about me--him as the nobscalls the Bishop o' Bond Street--an' he'll tell you."
"But you haven't answered the lady's question," said Auriol. "What doyou ask for the dog?"
"Do you want it for yourself, sir, or for her?" inquired Ginger.
"What does it matter?" cried Auriol angrily.
"A great deal, sir," replied Ginger; "it'll make a mater'al differencein the price. To you she'll be five-an'-twenty guineas. To the younglady, twenty."
"But suppose I buy her for the young lady?" said Auriol.
"Oh, then, in coorse, you'll get her at the lower figure!" repliedGinger.
"I hope you don't mean to buy the dog?" interposed Mr. Thorneycroft."The price is monstrous--preposterous."
"It may appear so to you, sir," said Ginger, "because you're ignorant o'the wally of sich a hanimal; but I can tell you, it's cheap--dirt cheap.Vy, his Excellency the Prooshan Ambassador bought a Charley from me,t'other week, to present to a certain duchess of his acquaintance, andwot d'ye think he give for it?"
"I don't
know, and I don't want to know," replied Mr. Thorneycroftgruffly.
"Eighty guineas," said Ginger. "Eighty guineas, as I'm a livin' man, andmade no bones about it neither. The dog I sold him warn't to be comparedwi' Fairy."
"Stuff--stuff!" cried Mr. Thorneycroft; "I ain't to be gammoned in thatway."
"It's no gammon," said Ginger. "Look at them ears, miss--vy, they're aslong as your own ringlets--and them pads--an' I'm sure you von't sayshe's dear at twenty pound."
"She's a lovely little creature, indeed," returned Ebba, again pattingthe animal's head.
While this was passing, two men of very suspicious mien, ensconcedbehind a pillar adjoining the group, were reconnoitring Auriol.
"It's him!" whispered the taller and darker of the two to hiscompanion--"it's the young man ve've been lookin' for--Auriol Darcy."
"It seems like him," said the other, edging round the pillar as far ashe could without exposure. "I vish he'd turn his face a leetle more thisvay."
"It's him, I tell you, Sandman," said the Tinker. "Ve must give thesignal to our comrade."
"Vell, I'll tell you wot it is, miss," said Ginger coaxingly, "yoursveet'art--I'm sure he's your sveet'art--I can tell these things in aminnit--your sveet'art, I say, shall give me fifteen pound, and thedog's yourn. I shall lose five pound by the transaction; but I don'tmind it for sich a customer as you. Fairy desarves a kind missus."
Auriol, who had fallen into a fit of abstraction, here remarked:
"What's that you are saying, fellow?"
"I vos a-sayin', sir, the young lady shall have the dog for fifteenpound, and a precious bargin it is," replied Ginger.
"Well, then, I close with you. Here's the money," said Auriol, takingout his purse.
"On no account, Auriol," cried Ebba quickly. "It's too much."
"A great deal too much, Mr. Darcy," said Thorneycroft.
"Auriol and Darcy!" muttered Ginger. "Can this be the gemman ve'rea-lookin' for. Vere's my two pals, I vonder? Oh, it's all right!" headded, receiving a signal from behind the pillar. "They're on thelook-out, I see."
"Give the lady the dog, and take the money, man," said Auriol sharply.
"Beg pardon, sir," said Ginger, "but hadn't I better carry the dog homefor the young lady? It might meet vith some accident in the vay."
"Accident!--stuff and nonsense!" cried Mr. Thorneycroft. "The rascalonly wants to follow you home, that he may know where you live, andsteal the dog back again. Take my advice, Mr. Darcy, and don't buy it."
"The bargain's concluded," said Ginger, delivering the dog to Ebba, andtaking the money from Auriol, which, having counted, he thrust into hiscapacious breeches pocket.
"How shall I thank you for this treasure, Auriol?" exclaimed Ebba, in anecstasy of delight.
"By transferring to it all regard you may entertain for me," he replied,in a low tone.
"That is impossible," she answered.
"Well, I vote we drive away at once," said Mr. Thorneycroft. "Halloa!jarvey!" he cried, hailing a coach that was passing; adding, as thevehicle stopped, "Now get in, Ebba. By this means we shall avoid beingfollowed by the rascal."
So saying, he got into the coach. As Auriol was about to follow him, hefelt a slight touch on his arm, and, turning, beheld a tall and veryforbidding man by his side.
"Beg pardin, sir," said the fellow, touching his hat, "but ain't yourname Mr. Auriol Darcy?"
"It is," replied Auriol, regarding him fixedly. "Why do you ask?"
"I vants a vord or two vith you in private--that's all, sir," repliedthe Tinker.
"Say what you have to say at once," rejoined Auriol. "I know nothing ofyou."
"You'll know me better by-and-by, sir," said the Tinker, in asignificant tone. "I _must_ speak to you, and alone."
"If you don't go about your business, fellow, instantly, I'll give youin charge of the police," cried Auriol.
"No, you von't, sir--no, you von't," replied the Tinker, shaking hishead. And then, lowering his voice, he added, "You'll be glad topurchase my silence ven you larns wot secrets o' yourn has come to myknowledge."
"Won't you get in, Mr. Darcy?" cried Thorneycroft, whose back wastowards the Tinker.
"I must speak to this man," replied Auriol. "I'll come to you in theevening. Till then, farewell, Ebba." And, as the coach drove away, headded to the Tinker, "Now, rascal, what have you to say?"
"Step this vay, sir," replied the Tinker. "There's two friends o' mineas vishes to be present at our conference. Ve'd better valk into a backstreet."
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