“I’m always drinking claret now — give me some — the only quick way of making blood — I’ve lost a lot.”
“And you must not talk so much, Jekyl,” said Dives, as he placed the glass at his lips; “you’ll wear yourself out.”
“Yes, I am tired,” said the Baronet; “I’ll rest till Strangways comes.”
And he closed his eyes, and was quiet for a time. And Dives, leaning back in his chair at the bedside, felt better assured of Jekyl’s recovery, and his thoughts began to return to their wonted channel, and he entertained himself with listlessly reading and half understanding a tedious sculling match in a very old copy of “Bell’s Life,” which happened to lie near him.
A tap at the outer door called up Dives from Sandy Dick’s sweep round a corner, and Jekyl said —
“Tell him to come in — and stay — you’re not to say I’m hurt — do you mind?”
“My dear Jekyl, I — I shan’t say anything. There he’s knocking again.”
“Well, tell him — come in!”
“Come in!” echoed Dives, in a louder key.
And Monsieur Varbarriere entered with that mysterious countenance and cautious shuffle with which men enter a sick-chamber.
“Very sorry to hear you’ve been suffering,” began Varbarriere, in a low tone.
“Thanks — you’re very good, I’m sure,” said Sir Jekyl, with a faint smile. “I — I wished very much to see you. I expect to be better very soon, and I thought I might have a word, as you are so good, in the meantime.”
“Very happy, indeed — most happy, as long as you please; but you must not try too much. You know they say you may disturb gout if you try too much, particularly at first,” said Varbarriere, knowing very well how little gout really had to do with it.
“Oh! no danger — doing very nicely,” said Sir Jekyl.
“That’s well — that’s very good,” said Varbarriere, with a leisurely sympathy, looking on him all the time, and calling to mind how the Comte de Vigny looked after he received the sword-thrust of which he died in Varbarriere’s house, to which he had been carried after his duel with young D’Harnois. And he came to the conclusion that Sir Jekyl looked a great deal better than the Comte had done — and, in fact, that he would do very well.
* * *
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Guy Deverell arrives.
“Sit down, Herbert, I shan’t keep you long. There, I’ve just been saying to Dives I think it’s a pity we should quarrel any more — that is, if we can help it; and I don’t see why we should not be friendly — I mean more friendly than, in fact, we have ever been — I don’t; do you?”
“Why, I see no reason — none; that is, of course, with the reservations that are — that are always assumed — I don’t see any.”
Varbarriere was answering plausibly, politely, smiling. But it was not like last night, when for a few transient moments he had seemed moved from his equilibrium. There was no emotion now. It was diplomatic benignity. Still it was something. Here was his foe willing to hear reason.
“It was just in my mind — Dives and I talking — I think I’ve seen some signs of liking between the young people — I mean your nephew and Beatrix.”
“Indeed!” interrupted Varbarriere, prolonging the last syllable after his wont, and raising his thick eyebrows in very naturally acted wonder.
“Well, yes — only a sort of conjecture, you know — haven’t you?”
“Well, I — ha, ha! If I ever observed anything, it hasn’t remained in my mind. But she is so lovely — Miss Marlowe — that I should not wonder. And you think— “
“I think,” said Sir Jekyl, supplying the pause, “if it be so, we ought not to stand in the way; and here’s Dives, who thinks so too.”
“I — in fact, my brother, Jekyl, mentioned it, of course, to me — it would be a very happy mode of — of making matters — a — happy; and — and that, I think, was all that passed,” said Dives, thus unexpectedly called into the debate.
“This view comes on me quite by surprise. That the young fellow should adore at such a shrine is but to suppose him mortal,” said Varbarriere, with something of his French air. “But — but you know the young lady — that’s quite another thing — quite. Young ladies, you know, are not won all in a moment.”
“No, of course. We are so far all in the clouds. But I wished to say so much to you; and I prefer talking face to face, in a friendly way, to sending messages through an attorney.”
“A thousand thanks. I value the confidence, I assure you — yes, much better — quite right. And — and I shall be taking my leave tomorrow morning — business, my dear Sir Jekyl — and greatly regret it; but I’ve outstayed my time very considerably.”
“Very sorry too — and only too happy if you could prolong it a little. Could you, do you think?”
Varbarriere shook his head, and thanked him with a grave smile again — but it was impossible.
“It is a matter — such an arrangement, should it turn out practicable — on which we should reflect and perhaps consult a little. It sounds not unpromisingly, however; we can talk again perhaps, if you allow it, before I go.”
“So we can — you won’t forget, and I shall expect to see you often and soon, mind.”
And so for the present they parted, Dives politely seeing him to the head of the stairs.
“I think he entertains it,” said Sir Jekyl to his brother.
“Yes, certainly, he does — yes, he entertains it. But I suspect he’s a cunning fellow, and you’ll want all the help you can get, Jekyl, if it comes to settling a bargain.”
“I dare say,” said Sir Jekyl, very tired.
Meanwhile our friend Varbarriere was passing through the conservatory, the outer door of which stood open ever so little, tempering the warmth of its artificial atmosphere. He stopped before a file of late exotics, looking at them with a grave meaning smile, and smelling at them abstractedly.
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Selfish rogue! Could it be? A wedding, in which Guy, the son of that murdered friend, should act bridegroom, and the daughter of his murderer, bride; while he, the murderer, stood by smiling, and I, the witness, cried ‘Amen’ to the blessing! Disgusting! Never, never — bah! The proposition shows weakness. Good — very good! A comedown for you, Master Jekyl, when you sue for an alliance with Herbert Strangways! Oh! ho! ho! Never!”
A little while later, Varbarriere, who was standing at the hall-door steps, saw a chaise approaching. He felt a presentiment of what was coming. It pulled up at the door.
“No melodrama — no fracas — no foolery. Those young turkeys, my faith! they will be turkeys still. Here he comes, the hero of the piece! Well, what does it matter?” This was not articulated, spoken only in thought, and aloud he said —
“Ha! — Guy?”
And the young man was on the ground in a moment, pale and sad, and hesitated deferentially, not knowing how his uncle might receive him.
“So, here you are,” said Varbarriere, coolly but not ill-humouredly. “Those rambles of yours are not much to the purpose, my friend, and cost some money — don’t you see?”
Guy bowed sadly, and looked, Varbarriere saw, really distressed.
“Well, never mind — the expense need not trouble us,” said Varbarriere, carelessly extending his hand, which Guy took. “We may be very good friends in a moderate way; and I’m not sorry you came, on the whole. Don’t mind going in for a few minutes — you’re very well — and let us come this way for a little.”
So side by side they turned the corner of the house, and paced up and down the broad quiet walk under the windows.
“We must leave this immediately, Guy, Sir Jekyl is ill — more seriously I believe, than they fancy; not dangerously, but still a tedious thing. They call it gout, but I believe there is something more.”
“Indeed! How sudden!” exclaimed Guy. And to do him justice, he seemed both shocked and sad, although perhaps all his s
orrow was not on Sir Jekyl’s account.
“And I’ll be frank with you, Guy,” continued Varbarriere. “I think I can see plainly, maybe, what has drawn you here. It is not I — it is not business — it is not Sir Jekyl. Who or what can it be?”
“I — I thought, sir, my letter had explained.”
“And I am going away in the morning — and some of the party probably to-day; for there’s no chance of Sir Jekyl’s coming down for some time,” continued Varbarriere, not seeming to hear Guy’s interruptions.
“Very sorry!” said Guy, sincerely, and his eyes glanced along the empty windows.
“And so, you see, this visit here leads pretty much to nothing,” continued Varbarriere. “And it might be best to keep that carriage for a few minutes — eh? — and get into it, and drive back again to Slowton.”
“Immediately, sir?”
“Immediately — yes. I’ll join you there in the morning, and we can talk over your plans then. I do not know exactly — we must consider. I don’t want to part in unkindness. I wish to give you a lift, Guy, if you’ll let me.” So said Varbarriere in his offhand way.
Guy bowed deferentially.
“And see, nephew; there’s a thing — attend, if you please,” said Varbarriere, lowering his voice.
“I attend, sir.”
“See — you answer upon your honour — do you hear?”
“I do, sir. You hear nothing but truth from me.”
“Well, yes — very good. Is there — have you any correspondence in this house?” demanded the ponderous uncle, and his full dark eyes turned suddenly on the young man.
“No, sir, no correspondence.”
“No one writes to you?”
“No, sir.”
“Nor you to anyone?”
“No, sir.”
“There must be no nonsense of that kind, Guy — I’ve told you so before — put it quite out of your head. You need not speak — I am merely discussing a hypothesis — quite out of your head. Nothing could ever come of it but annoyance. You know, of course, to whom all this relates; and I tell you it can’t be. There are reasons you shall hear elsewhere, which are final.”
What Guy might have answered does not appear, for at that moment old Doocey joined them.
“Oh! come back — how d’ye do? — going to break up here, I fancy;” this was to Varbarriere; “Sir Jekyl’s in for a regular fit of it evidently. Old Sir Paul Blunket was talking to Pratt, their doctor here — and old fellows, you know, go into particulars” (Doocey, of course, was rather a young fellow), “and generally know more about things of this sort — and he says Dr. Pratt thinks he’ll not be on his legs for a month, egad. So he says he’s going either tonight or tomorrow — and I’m off this evening; so is Linnett. Can I do anything for you at Llandudno? Going there first, and I want to see a little of North Wales before the season grows too late.”
Varbarriere was grateful, but had nothing to transmit to Llandudno.
“And — and Drayton — he’s going to stay,” and he looked very sly. “An attraction, you know, there; besides, I believe he’s related — is not he? — and, of course, old Lady Alice Redcliffe stays for chaperon. A great chance for Drayton.”
There was a young man at his elbow who thought Doocey the greatest coxcomb and fool on earth, except, perhaps, Drayton, and who suffered acutely and in silence under his talk.
“Drayton’s very spoony on her — eh? — the young lady, Miss Marlowe — haven’t you observed?” murmured old Doocey, with a sly smile, to Varbarriere.
“Very suitable it would be — fine estate, I’m told,” answered Varbarriere; “and a good-looking young fellow too.”
“A — rather,” acquiesced Doocey. “The kind of fellow that pays very well in a ball-room; he’s got a lot to say for himself.”
“And good family,” contributed Varbarriere, who was not sorry that old Doocey should go on lowering his extinguisher on Guy’s foolish flame.
“Well — well — family, you know — there’s nothing very much of that — they — they — there was — it’s not the family name, you know. But no one minds family now — all money — we’re a devilish deal better family, and so is Mr. Strangways here — all to nothing. I was telling him the other day who the Draytons are.”
Precisely at this moment, through a halfopen upper window, there issued a sudden cry, followed by sobs and women’s gabble.
All stopped short — silent, and looking up —
“Some one crying,” exclaimed Doocey, in an under-key.
And they listened again.
“Nothing bad, I hope,” muttered Varbarriere, anxiously looking up like the rest.
A maid came to the window to raise the sash higher, but paused, seeing them.
“Come away, I say — hadn’t we better?” whispered Doocey.
“Let’s go in and ask how he is,” suggested Varbarriere suddenly, and toward the hall-door they walked.
Was it something in the tone and cadence of this cry that made each in that party of three feel that a dreadful tragedy was consummated? I can’t say — only they walked faster than usual, and in silence, like men anticipating evil news and hastening to a revelation.
* * *
CHAPTER XXXV.
I am Thine and Thou art Mine, Body and Soul, for ever.
In order to understand the meaning of this cry, it will be necessary to mention that so soon as the corpulent and sombre visitor had left the bedroom of Sir Jekyl Marlowe, Dives lent his reverend aid to the nurse in adjusting his brother more comfortably in his bed; and he, like Varbarriere, took instinctively a comfortable and confident view of Sir Jekyl’s case, so that when the officious handmaid of Æsculapius assumed her airs of direction he put aside her interference rather shortly. At all events, there was abundance of time to grow alarmed in, and certainly no need for panic just now. So Dives took his leave for the present, the Baronet having agreed with him that his visitors had better be allowed to disperse to their own homes, a disposition to do so having manifested itself here and there among them.
Sir Jekyl, a little more easy in consequence of these manipulations, was lying back on pillows, with that pleasant confidence in his case at which a sanguine man so easily arrives, and already beginning to amuse himself with pictures in the uncertain future. The hospital nurse, sitting by a fire in that dim and faded study which opened from the sick-room, now and then rose, and with soundless steps drew near the halfopen door, and sometimes peeped, and sometimes only listened. The patient was quiet. The woman sat down in that drowsy light, and ruminated, looking into the fire, with her feet on the fender, and a good deal of stocking disclosed; when, all on a sudden, she heard a rustling of a loose dress near her, and looking over her shoulder, surprised, still more so, saw a pale and handsome lady cross the floor from near the window to the door of Sir Jekyl’s room, which she closed as she entered it.
With her mouth open, the nurse stood up and gazed in the direction in which she had disappeared. Sir Jekyl, on the other hand, witnessed her entrance with a silent amazement, scarcely less than the nurse’s. A few hurried steps brought her to his bedside, and looking down upon him with great agony, and her hands clasped together, she said, with a kind of sob —
“Thank God, thank God! — alive, alive! Oh, Jekyl, what hours of torture!”
“Alive! to be sure I’m alive, little fool!” said the Baronet, with an effort, smiling uncomfortably. “They have not been telling you it’s anything serious?”
“They told me nothing. I’ve heard nothing. I’ve seen no one but Gwynn. Oh, Jekyl! tell me the truth; what do they say? — there’s so much blood on the floor.”
“Why, my precious child, don’t worry yourself about it; they evidently think it’s nothing at all. I know it’s nothing, only what they call, just, the muscles — you know — a little sore. I’ll be on my legs again in a week.”
“I’m going to Wardlock, Jekyl; you’ll hear news of me from there.”
Had the tone
or the look something ineffably ominous? I know not.
“Come, Jennie, none of that,” he answered. “No folly. I’ve behaved very badly. I’ve been to blame; altogether my fault. Don’t tease yourself about what can’t be helped. We must not do anything foolish, though. I’m tired of the world; so are you, Jennie; we are both sick of it. If we choose to live out of it, what the plague do we really lose?”
At this moment the nurse, slowly opening the door a little, said, with a look of quiet authority —
“Please, sir, the doctor said particular you were not to talk, sir.”
“D — n you and the doctor — get out of that, and shut the door!” cried the Baronet; and the woman vanished, scared.
“Give me your hand, Jennie darling, and don’t look as if the sky had fallen. I’m not going to make my bow yet, I promise you.”
“And then, I suppose, a duel,” said Lady Jane, wringing her hands in an agony.
“Duel, you little fool! Why, there’s no such thing now, that is, in these countries. Put fighting quite out of your head, and listen to me. You’re right to keep quiet for a little time, and Wardlock is as good a place as any. I shall be all right again in a few days.”
“I can look no one in the face; no — never again — and Beatrix; and — oh, Jekyl, how will it be? I am half wild.”
“To be sure, everyone’s half wild when an accident happens, till they find it really does not signify two pence. Can’t you listen to me, and not run from one thing to another? and I’ll tell you everything.”
With a trembling hand he poured some claret into a tumbler and drank it off, and was stronger.
“He’ll take steps, you know, and I’ll help all I can; and when you’re at liberty, by — I’ll marry you, Jane, if you’ll accept me. Upon my honour and soul, Jennie, I’ll do exactly whatever you like. Don’t look so. What frightens you? I tell you we’ll be happier than you can think or imagine.”
Lady Jane was crying wildly and bitterly.
“Fifty times happier than ever we could have been if this — this annoyance had not happened. We’ll travel. I’ll lay myself out to please you, every way, and make you happy; upon my soul I will, Jennie. I owe you everything I can do. We’ll travel. We’ll not try pharisaical England, but abroad, where people have common sense. Don’t, don’t go on crying, darling, that way; you can’t hear me; and there’s really nothing to tease yourself about — quite the contrary, you’ll see; you’ll like the people abroad much better than here — more common sense and good nature; positively better people, and a devilish deal more agreeable and — and cleverer. And why do you go on crying, Jennie? You must not; hang it! you’ll put me in the dumps. You don’t seem to hear me.”
Complete Works of Sheridan Le Fanu (Illustrated) Page 304