CHAPTER X
"OF THE NICEST HONOUR"
Last of all came the prince of this company, whom I now know was thearch villain, Lord Fylingdale himself.
We were prepared for his arrival by a letter from Sam Semple. He wroteto the doctor informing him that my lord was about to undertake hisjourney to Lynn, that he hoped to complete it in three days, and thathe would probably arrive on such a day. He further stated that thebest rooms at the Crown Inn were to be engaged, and that he, himself,namely, Sam, would accompany his lordship in the capacity of privatesecretary and, as he put it, confidential companion. To write such aletter to the doctor was to proclaim it as from the house-top. Infact, the good doctor made haste to read it aloud in the pump room andto communicate the news to the mayor and aldermen.
Sir Harry, being asked if he knew his lordship, shook his head. "We ofthe gay world," he said, speaking as a young man, "do not commonlyinclude Lord Fylingdale among the beaux and bucks. There is in him acertain haughtiness which forbids the familiarities common amongourselves."
"Is he, then, a saint?"
"Why, sir, I know nothing about saints. There are none, I believe,among my friends. I have, however, seen Lord Fylingdale on therace-course at Newmarket, and I have seen him at the tables when thegame of hazard was played. And I have never yet seen saint or angel ateither place."
"Then how is Lord Fylingdale distinguished?"
"Partly by his rank, but that is not everything. Partly by his wealth,but that is not everything. Partly by his superiority, which isundoubted. For he has none of the foibles of other men; if he sitsdown to a bottle he does not call for t'other; if he plays cards hewins or he loses with equal composure, caring little which it may turnout; his name has never been mentioned with that of any woman. Yet theworld is eager after scandal, and would rejoice to whisper somethingconcerning him."
"He will condescend to despise us, then," said the vicar of St.Margaret's, "seeing that our world is wholly addicted to sport, andtakes fortune with heat and passion."
"Not so, reverend sir. He will, perhaps, attend our entertainments,but his mind is set above such vanities. As for me, sir, I own that Ilive for them. But my Lord Fylingdale lives for other things."
"He is ambitious, perhaps. Has he thoughts of place and of theministry?"
Sir Harry took snuff. "Pardon me, sir. The world talks. I love theworld, but I do not always talk with the world. It may be that thereare reasons of state which bring him to this neighbourhood. I saynothing." But he pointed over his shoulder and nodded his head withmeaning.
It will be remembered that Houghton, the seat of Sir Robert Walpole,then the minister all powerful, is but a few miles from Lynn. Thecrowd heard and whispered, and the rumour ran that under pretence ofseeking health, Lord Fylingdale was coming to Lynn in order ... herethe voice dropped, and the rest fell into the nearest ear.
The Rev. Mr. Purdon was more eloquent. "What?" he cried, "LordFylingdale coming here? Lord Fylingdale? Why, what can his lordshipwant at Lynn?"
"We have heard that he is sent here to drink the waters."
Mr. Purdon shook his head wisely. "It may be. I do not say that....There is perhaps gout in the family.... But with a personage--apersonage, I say, there are many reasons which prompt to action.However----"
"Pray, sir, if you know him, inform us further as to his lordship."
"Madam, I was his tutor. I accompanied him on the grand tour. Itherefore knew him intimately when he was a young man of eighteen. Ihave been privileged with his condescension since that time. He is atonce a scholar, a critic, and a connoisseur; he hath a pretty taste inverse and can discourse of medals and of cameos. He is also a man offashion who can adorn an assembly just as he adorns, when it pleaseshim, the House of Lords. Yet not a fribble like certain persons"--helooked at Sir Harry--"nor a beau, nor a profligate Mohock. Pride hehas, I allow. What do you expect of a man with such birth and suchancestry? His pride becomes him. Lesser men can be familiar. He issaid to be cold towards the fair sex--I can contradict that calumny.Not coldness but fastidiousness is his fault. 'My Lord,' I have saidto him often, 'to expect the genius of Sappho, the beauty of Helen,and the charms of Cleopatra, is to ask too much. Not once in an age issuch a woman created. Be content, therefore,' I ventured to add.'Genius will smile upon you; loveliness will languish for you; dignitywill willingly humble herself at your feet.' But I have spoken invain. He is fastidious. Ladies, if I were young; if I were a noblelord; if I were rich; it is to Norfolk, believe me, that I should fly,contented with the conquests awaiting me here. This is truly a land offreedom where to be in chains and slavery is the happy lot."
This was the kind of talk with which we were prepared to await thecoming of this paladin.
He arrived. Late in the day about seven o'clock, there came into thetown, side by side, his lordship's running footmen. They were known bythe white holland waistcoat and drawers belonging to their calling,the white thread stockings, white caps, and blue satin fringed withvelvet. In their hands they carried a porter's staff tipped with asilver ball, in which I suppose was carried a lemon. The roguestrotted in, without haste, for the roads were bad behind them, andplaced themselves at the door of the Crown Inn, one on each side. Thelandlord stood in the open door, his wife behind him; and speedilyhalf the town gathered together to witness the arrival of the greatman.
His carriage came lumbering heavily along the narrow streets. Within,beside his lordship, sat, as grand as you please, our poet Sam Semple.It was admirable to remark the air with which he sprang out of thecarriage, offered his arm for the descent of his patron, followed himinto the inn, demanded the best rooms, ordered a noble supper, andlooked about him with the manner of a stranger and a gentleman, as ifthe host of the "Crown" had never boxed his ears for an idlegood-for-nothing who could not even make out a bill aright. The bellswere set ringing for Lord Fylingdale as they had been for the LadyAnastasia; in the morning the horns saluted the illustrious visitor;and about eleven o'clock, when his lordship was dressed, the mayor andaldermen, preceded by the bearer of the mace and accompanied by theclergy of the town and the doctor, offered a visit of welcome andcongratulation.
They retired overwhelmed by the condescension of their guests. "Onedoes not expect," said the doctor, "the gracious sweetness of a lady;but we received every possible mark of politeness and ofconsideration. As for the mayor, his lordship treated him as if hewere the lord mayor of London itself. And for my own part, when Iremained on the departure of the rest, I can only say that I wasoverwhelmed with the confidence bestowed upon me. There has been talkin this pump room," he looked around him, "of other reasons--reasonsof state--and of pretended sickness. The company may take it fromme--from ME, I say--that whatever may be the reasons of state, it isnot for us to offer any opinion as to those reasons, the symptomswhich have been imparted to me in confidence are such that a visit tothe spa is imperative; and treatment, with drinking of the waters, isabsolutely necessary."
"This Lord Fylingdale, Jack," said Captain Crowle, who was one of thedeputation, "is a mighty fine gentleman, well favoured and wellmannered. I have not yet learned more about him. They say at the pumproom many things. He received us with condescension and was goodenough to promise attendance at our assembly, though, he said, theseoccasions do not afford him so much pleasure as other pursuits. 'Tis afine thing, Jack, to be a nobleman and to have so much dignity; sinceI have spoken with the Lady Anastasia I find myself trying to lookcondescending. But the quarter-deck is one place and the House ofLords is another. The captain of a ship, Jack, if he were affable,would very quickly get knocked o' the head by his crew."
Meantime Sam Semple showed good sense in going round to visit his oldfriends. Among others he called upon Captain Crowle, to whom hebehaved, with singular discernment, in such a way as would please theold man. For on board ship we like a cheerful sailor, one who takespunishment without snivelling, and bears no malice thereafter. A shipis like a boys' school, where a flogging wipes out the offence, andm
aster and boy become good friends after it, whatever the heinousnessof the crime.
"Sir," said Sam, standing before the captain, modestly, "you willunderstand, first of all, that I am reminded, in coming here, of thelast time that I saw you."
"Ay, my lad, I have not forgotten." The captain did not rise from hisarmchair, nor did he offer Sam his hand. He waited to learn in whatspirit the young man approached him.
"Believe me, sir," said Sam, "I am not unmindful of a certain lesson,rough perhaps, but deserved. The presumption of youth, ignorance ofthe world, ignorance of the prize to which I aspired, may be myexcuse--if any were needed. I was then both young and ignorant." Itmust be admitted that Sam possessed the gift of words. "Indeed, I wastoo young to understand the humble nature of my origin and myposition, and too ignorant to understand my own presumption.Therefore, sir, before I say anything more, I beg your forgiveness.That presumption, sir, can never, I assure you, be repeated. I know,at least, my own place, and the distance between a certain young ladyand myself."
"Why, my lad," said the captain, "since you talk in that modest way, Ibear no malice--none. Wherefore, here is my hand in token offorgiveness. And so, on that head we will speak no more."
He extended his hand, which Sam took, still in humble attitude.
"I am deeply grateful, captain," he said. "You will, perhaps, beforelong find out how grateful I can be." Time, in fact, did show thedepth of his gratitude. "Well, sir, I am now in high favour with myLord Fylingdale, on whom you waited this morning."
"I hope his favour will end in a snug place, Sam. Forget not the mainpoint. Well, your patron is a goodly and a proper man to look at. Sitdown, Sam. Take a glass of home brewed--you must want it after the aleof London, which is, so far as I remember, but poor stuff. Well, now,about your noble lord. He is a married man, I suppose?"
"Unfortunately, no. He is difficult to please."
"Ah! and, I suppose, like most young noblemen, something of aprofligate--eh, Sam? Or a gambler, likely! one who has ruined manyinnocents. Eh?" The captain looked mighty cunning.
"Sir, sir!" Sam spread out his hands in expostulation. "You distressme. Lord Fylingdale a profligate? Lord Fylingdale a gambler? LordFylingdale a libertine? Sir!--Captain Crowle!" He spoke veryearnestly; the tears came into his eyes; he laid his hand upon thecaptain's knee. "Sir, I assure you, he is, on the contrary, the bestof men. There is no more virtuous nobleman in the country. My tongueis tied as his lordship's secretary, else would I tell of good deeds.Truly, his right hand knoweth not what his left hand doeth. My lord isall goodness."
"Ay, ay? This is good hearing indeed."
"Lord Fylingdale a gambler? Why he may take part at a table; but agambler? No man is less a gambler. What doth it matter to him if hewins or loses a little? He neither desires to win, nor does he fear tolose. You will, I dare say, see him in the card room, just toencourage the spirit of the company."
"A very noble gentleman, indeed." The captain drank a glass of hishome brewed, "a very noble gentleman truly. Go on, Samuel."
"Also, he is one who, captain, if there is one thing in the world thatmy patron abhors, it is the man who ruins innocency and leaves hisvictim to starve. No, sir; his lordship is a man of the nicest honourand the highest principle."
"He has a secretary who is grateful, at least," observed the captain.
"His sword is ever ready to defend the helpless and to uphold thevirtuous. Would to heaven there were more like the right honourablethe Earl of Fylingdale!"
"Look ye, Master Sam," said the captain. "Your good opinion of yourpatron does you credit. I honour you for your generous words. I havenever so far, and I am now past seventy, encountered any man who waseither saint or angel, but in every man have I always found some flaw,whether of temper or of conduct. So that I do not pretend to believeall that you make out."
Sam Semple sighed and rose. "I ask not for your entire belief, sir. Itwill be sufficient if you learn, as I have learned, the great worth ofthis exalted and incomparable nobleman. As for flaws, we are allhuman; but I know of none. So I take my leave. I venture to hope, sir,that your good lady and your lovely ward--I use the word with duerespect--are in good health."
So he departed, leaving the captain thoughtful.
And now they were all among us, the vile crew brought together for ourundoing by this lord so noble and so exalted. And we were alreadyentangled in a whole mesh of lies and conspiracies, the result ofwhich you have now to learn.
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