by T. Smollett
CHAPTER NINE
THE CONFEDERATES CHANGE THEIR BATTERY, AND ACHIEVE A REMARKABLEADVENTURE.
Thunderstruck at this disappointment, the confederates held a council, inorder to deliberate upon the next measures that should be taken; andFerdinand, for the present, despairing of accomplishing his grand aim,resolved to profit in another manner, by the conveniency of hissituation. He represented to his helpmate, that it would be prudent forthem to make hay while the sun shone, as their connexion might be sooneror later discovered, and an end put to all those opportunities which theynow so happily enjoyed. All principles of morality had been alreadyexcluded from their former plan; consequently he found it an easy task tointerest Teresa in any other scheme tending to their mutual advantage,howsoever wicked and perfidious it might be. He therefore persuaded herto be his auxiliary in defrauding Mademoiselle at play, and gave hersuitable directions for that purpose; and even tutored her how to abusethe trust reposed in her, by embezzling the young lady's effects, withoutincurring the suspicion of dishonesty.
On the supposition that every servant in the house was not able to resistsuch temptation, the purse of her mistress, to which the maid had alwaysaccess, was dropped in a passage which the domestics had occasion tofrequent; and Fathom posted himself in a convenient place, in order toobserve the effect of his stratagem. Here he was not disappointed in hisconjecture. The first person who chanced to pass that way, was one ofthe chambermaids, with whom Teresa had lived for some time in a state ofinveterate enmity, because the wench had failed in that homage andrespect which was paid to her by the rest of the servants.
Ferdinand had, in his heart, espoused the quarrel of his associate, andlonged for an occasion to deliver her from the malicious observance ofsuch an antagonist. When he, therefore, saw her approach, his heartthrobbed with joyful expectations; but, when she snatched up the purse,and thrust it in her bosom, with all the eagerness and confusion of onedetermined to appropriate the windfall to her own use, his transportswere altogether unspeakable. He traced her to her own apartment, whithershe immediately retreated with great trepidation, and then communicatedthe discovery to Teresa, together with instructions how to behave in thesequel.
In conformity with these lessons, she took the first opportunity of goingto Mademoiselle, and demanding money for some necessary expense, that theloss might be known before the finder could have leisure to make anyfresh conveyance of the prize; and, in the meantime, Ferdinand kept astrict eye upon the motions of the chambermaid. The young lady, havingrummaged her pockets in vain, expressed some surprise at the loss of herpurse; upon which her attendant gave indications of extreme amazement andconcern. She said, it could not possibly be lost; entreated her tosearch her escritoir, while she herself ran about the room, prying intoevery corner, with all the symptoms of fear and distraction. Having madethis unsuccessful inquiry, she pretended to shed a flood of tears,bewailing her own fate, in being near the person of any lady who met withsuch a misfortune, by which, she observed, her character might be calledin question. She produced her own keys, and begged upon her knees, thather chamber and boxes might be searched without delay.
In a word, she demeaned herself so artfully upon this occasion, that hermistress, who never entertained the least doubt of her integrity, nowlooked upon her as a miracle of fidelity and attachment, and was atinfinite pains to console her for the accident which had happened;protesting that, for her own part, the loss of the money should neveraffect her with a moment's uneasiness, if she could retrieve a certainmedal which she had long kept in her purse, as a remembrance of herdeceased aunt, from whom she received it in a present.
Fathom entered accidentally into the midst of this well-acted scene, and,perceiving the agitation of the maid, and the concern of the mistress,desired, in a respectful manner, to know the cause of their disorder.Before the young lady had time to make him acquainted with thecircumstances of the case, his accomplice exclaimed, in an affectedpassion, "Mr. Fathom, my lady has lost her purse; and, as no persons inthe family are so much about her as you and I, you must give me leave, inmy own justification, to insist upon Mademoiselle's ordering theapartments of us both to be searched without loss of time. Here are mypockets and my keys, and you cannot scruple to give her the samesatisfaction; for innocence has nothing to fear."
Miss Melvil reprimanded her sharply for her unmannerly zeal; andFerdinand eyeing her with a look of disdain, "Madam," said he, "I approveof your proposal; but, before I undergo such mortification, I wouldadvise Mademoiselle to subject the two chambermaids to such inquiry; asthey also have access to the apartments, and are, I apprehend, as likelyas you or I to behave in such a scandalous manner."
The young lady declared that she was too well satisfied of Teresa'shonesty and Ferdinand's honour, to harbour the least suspicion of either,and that she would sooner die than disgrace them so far as to comply withthe proposal the former had made; but as she saw no reason for exemptingthe inferior servants from that examination which Fathom advised, shewould forthwith put it in execution. The chambermaids being accordinglysummoned, she calmly asked if either of them had accidentally found thepurse she had dropped? and both replying in the negative, she assumed anair of severity and determination, and demanding their keys, threatenedto examine their trunks on the instant.
The guilty Abigail, who, though an Hungarian, was not inferior, in pointof effrontery, to any one of the sisterhood in England, no sooner heardthis menace, than she affected an air of affronted innocence, thanked Godshe had lived in many reputable families, and been trusted with untoldgold, but was never before suspected of theft; that the other maid mightdo as she should think proper, and be mean-spirited enough to let herthings be tumbled topsy-turvy and exposed; but, for her own part, if sheshould be used in that inhuman and disgraceful manner, she would not stayanother hour in the house; and in conclusion said, that Mademoiselle hadmore reason to look sharp after those who enjoyed the greatest share ofher favour, than believe their malicious insinuations against innocentpeople whom they were well known to hate and defame.
This declaration, implying an hint to the prejudice of Teresa, far fromdiverting Miss Melvil from her purpose, served only to enhance thecharacter of the accused in her opinion, and to confirm her suspicion ofthe accuser, of whom she again demanded her keys, protesting that, shouldshe prove refractory, the Count himself should take cognisance of theaffair, whereas, if she would deal ingenuously, she should have no causeto repent of her confession. So saying, she desired our adventurer totake the trouble of calling up some of the men-servants; upon which theconscious criminal began to tremble, and, falling upon her knees,acknowledged her guilt, and implored the forgiveness of her youngmistress.
Teresa, seizing this occasion to signalise her generosity, joined in therequest, and the offender was pardoned, after having restored the purse,and promised in the sight of Heaven, that the devil should never againentice her to the commission of such a crime. This adventure fullyanswered all the purposes of our politician; it established the opinionof his fellow-labourer's virtue, beyond the power of accident orinformation to shake, and set up a false beacon to mislead the sentimentsof Mademoiselle, in case she should for the future meet with the likemisfortune.