by James Payn
CHAPTER XII.
THE COUNCIL OF WAR.
On the second morning after our arrival at the Dovecot, Mr. Long calledme into the dining-room, where I found Mr. Gerard and a third gentleman,who had come down by the night-mail, as I understood, from London.Although, I should think, not less than seventy years of age, he wasdressed in the height of the then prevailing mode. He wore asnuff-coloured coat, the tails of which trailed from his chair upon theground, whenever he was so fortunate as not to be sitting upon them; thebrass buttons at his back were nearly as large as the handles of anordinary chest of drawers. A bunch of seals, each about the size ofthat peculiar to the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, dangled fromhis fob. His pantaloons, which seemed to have shrunk in the washing, setoff a pair of legs that were still not uncomely; but what was mostremarkable was an enormous muslin cravat, which, in combination with theruffles of his shirt, gave him the aspect of a pouter pigeon.Unaccustomed as I then was to the toilet of persons of distinction, Mr.Clint of Russell Square--for he it was--made a very strong impressionupon me. As the family lawyer of the Heaths, and one who had alwaysgreatly interested himself in Marmaduke, he had been sent for by mytutor to give his opinion as to what steps should be taken respectingthe future disposal of the poor lad. I guessed by his grave face that hehad been put in possession, not only of all that had happened throughthe agency of Sir Massingberd, but of all that had been designed tohappen.
"If you have any doubt still remaining, Mr. Clint, as to the proprietyof removing Marmaduke Heath from the custody of his uncle," observed mytutor, after introducing me to this venerable beau, "I think thisgentleman can dissipate it. Now, Peter, tell us, in confidence, whatsort of footing do you consider your young friend and Sir Massingberd tostand upon; are they good--"
"Stop, stop, Mr. Long," interrupted the lawyer, taking an enormous pinchof snuff from a silver-box, and holding up his laden fingers in aprohibitory manner; "we must not have any leading questions if youplease. Mr. Meredith, it is most important that you state to us thetruth, without mitigation or exaggeration. You heard your tutor's firstinquiry, which was a most correct one. How does Mr. Marmaduke Heathstand with respect to his uncle?"
"Well, sir," said I quietly, "he stands, as it were, upon the brink of adeep river, with his back towards a person who is bent upon pushing himin."
A total silence ensued upon this remark. Mr. Long and Mr. Gerardinterchanged very meaning glances.
"Very good," returned the lawyer coolly, administering half the snuff tohis nose, and dropping the other half among his shirt-ruffles. "That isa form of speech, I suppose, by which you would imply that Marmaduke isafraid of his uncle?"
"Very much," said I; "afraid of his life."
"And you have had no previous conversation upon this subject with eitherof these gentlemen, that is--you must forgive me if I press thissomewhat hardly--they have never asked your opinion on the matterbefore?"
"Certainly not, sir."
"You are speaking, too, I conclude from your own observation of course,from your own knowledge of Mr. Marmaduke Heath's sentiments andposition, and not from any hearsay rumour?"
"I am perfectly convinced, Mr. Clint," returned I gravely, "that SirMassingberd Heath wishes to get rid of his nephew, and that Marmadukeknows it."
"Then Sir Massingberd shall be gratified," observed Mr. Gerard, withenergy; "he shall get rid of him from this day."
"Stop, stop, my dear sir," interposed the lawyer. "Even supposing thatall this is true, both the facts that I have received from you and Mr.Long, and the surmises entertained by this young gentleman, we arestill only at the threshold of the matter. From the manner in which SirMassingberd expressed himself when he wrote to me to demand the custodyof the boy, and from his whole conduct since, I am certain that he willnot give up his position as guardian without a severe struggle. We muststeadily look our difficulties in the face. Supposing that, having beenassured of Marmaduke's convalescence, he should send a post-chaise overhere next week, or the week after, with a note, insisting upon hisimmediate return to Fairburn Park, what is to be done then?"
"I should send the post-chaise back again," returned Mr. Gerard, calmly,"with the verbal reply, that Mr. Marmaduke was not coming."
"But suppose he wrote to Marmaduke himself?"
"The reply would come from me all the same, Mr. Clint."
"But if Sir Massingberd appeals to the law?"
"He dare not!" exclaimed my host; "his audacity, great as it is, stopsshort of that. If he did, as sure as the sun is shining, I would meethim with the charge of attempted murder."
Mr. Clint took out of his other coat-tail a second snuff-box, which henever made use of except in cases of great emergency. "You are preparedto go that length, are you?"
"I am, sir," returned Mr. Gerard, firmly.
"You have not a shadow of foundation for such an assertion," pursued Mr.Clint, reflectively. "The slander will be pronounced malicious; you willbe cast in swingeing damages."
"That is possible," remarked my host; "but there, nevertheless, will besuch revelations of Sir Massingberd's mode of life, as may well causethe chancellor to reflect whether Fairburn Hall is a fitting educationalestablishment for a minor."
"John Lord Eldon is not an ascetic--"
"I know it, sir;" broke forth Mr. Gerard; "I am well aware that he is aheartless scoundrel, as dissipated, as dishonest, and--"
"Sir," interrupted Mr. Clint, with irritation. "I will not listen tosuch mad words. You may utter them, of course, in your own house, butnot to me. This is the talk of those who would subvert all authority."
"They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities," murmured my tutor.
"I do not speak evil of dignities, my dear sir, but only of the rogueswho fill them," exclaimed Mr. Gerard, laughing. "However, I beg yourpardon, gentlemen; the remark escaped me quite involuntarily. You areaware, Mr. Clint, that my Lord Eldon is not absolutely an ascetic."
"I was about to say, sir," observed the old lawyer stiffly, "that hislordship is not so tenderly alive to the necessity of moral training assome of his friends would wish, and he has a strong respect for naturalauthority. He would lean, therefore, towards Sir Massingberd's view ofthe question--with whom; indeed, he is personally not unacquainted--andbe induced to palliate his way of life."
"Sadder than orphans, yet not fatherless, are those in Eldon's charge,"murmured Mr. Gerard. "Still," continued he, in a louder tone, "thecharge of attempted murder, Mr. Clint, would have this effect, that evenif Marmaduke were reconsigned to his uncle's care--which Heavenforbid--the eyes of the world would be upon Sir Massingberd, and hewould not venture to work him a mischief. In the meantime, it rests withus to take good care that he has not the chance of doing so."
"And now," resumed Mr. Clint, after a pause, "supposing that all isarranged thus far to repel Sir Massingberd's claims, there is anothermatter to be considered. It would take long to explain the details ofthe case, but you must understand that the Heath property is verypeculiarly situated. Sir Massingberd, who is in the enjoyment of it forlife, cannot raise a shilling upon it; while Marmaduke does not possessa shilling, although the prospective heir of such vast wealth. Theywould be, in short, at present a couple of beggars; but by a specialarrangement with a certain person, whom I need not name, a small annualsum has been allotted for the benefit of the boy, but, practically,quite as much so for that of his uncle. A certain annuity, I say, ispaid to Sir Massingberd for the maintenance of his nephew, and another,solely on the latter's behalf, for that of the estate. It is a mostbeautifully intricate affair from first to last," pursued the lawyerwith unction; "here are two relatives, who mutually support one another,and have yet every reason, looking at the matter in a rather worldly wayof course, to wish each other dead. Sir Massingberd could borrow plentyof money, if the usurers were only confident that he could, as well aswould, make away with his nephew. There would be even less difficultyunder ordinary circumstances in procuring a loan for Marmaduke; but adelicate boy,
whose uncle and guardian is bent upon putting a violentend to him--you see that renders the security so very slight.Altogether, it is certainly one of the nicest cases. It is not only aquestion of responsibility; there are always plenty of people ready totake any amount of that at a sufficient premium; but who willundertake the pecuniary charge of the lad if he is withdrawn from hisuncle's roof? Sir Massingberd, of course, will never give up one tittleof the allowance entrusted to him to expend, except upon such compulsionas we should scarcely venture to employ. There are three years wantingto the boy's majority; and even when he has arrived at that, and shouldbe willing to promise ample repayment, he may die before his unclestill, who has a constitution of adamant, when those who have maintainedhim may whistle for the money they have expended. The expression may becoarse," added Mr. Clint apologetically, "but I think it conveys mymeaning."
"I thank you, Mr. Clint," observed my tutor, after a little pause, "forputting this matter before us so bluntly and decidedly. For my part, Iam far from being a rich man; but, on the other hand, there are nopersons who have a better claim upon my resources than my dear youngfriend and pupil, Marmaduke Heath. That he will repay me if he surviveshis uncle, I am more than assured; and, if he die early, I shall notregret that the remainder of his young life has been rendered happythrough my means, although it may have cost me a few comforts."
I stooped down and said a few words in my tutor's ear. "No, Peter, no,"continued he; "you are a good lad, and your father is, doubtless,generous enough to comply with your wishes; but we must not resort tosuch a distant source in this emergency, indeed. Mr. Clint, do you thinkthat a hundred and forty to a hundred and sixty pounds a year might bemade sufficient to keep Marmaduke with respectability?"
"Half your annual stipend, eh, Mr. Long, eh?" ejaculated the lawyer."Bless my soul, how this snuff gets in one's eyes! Such a sum should bequite sufficient. I think that would be found more than enough. Hecannot live at your rectory, of course; that would be almost as bad asat the Hall; but there are plenty of spare rooms in my house in town. Hehas stayed there before, so that that can be done, we know. Marmadukeand I are old friends--No, no, it will not hurt me. Such a course cannotbring me into greater antagonism with Sir Massingberd than I am inalready. I am always at daggers-drawn with him. He is for ever cuttingdown trees that don't belong to him, or selling heirlooms that are nomore his than mine, or embroiling himself with me, the appointedguardian of the property, in some way or other. Yes, I'll take the lad,Mr. Long, come what will of it."
"You will do nothing of the kind," exclaimed my host, energetically;"you honest lawyer, and very worthy man; and you, you goodpriest--contradictions in terms, both of you--you shall not give awayhalf your annual stipend, or my name is not Harvey Gerard. I have doneeach of you a very grievous wrong in thought, if not in word; and Ihereby beg your pardon. It is possible, I perceive, to be a Tory, andyet preserve, if not a conscience, at least a heart."
My tutor smiled; Mr. Clint bowed his acknowledgments.
"With regard to Mr. Marmaduke Heath, however," pursued our host, "thatyoung gentleman must be my especial charge. From this day until theperiod when he comes into his property, or lies in need of decentinterment, as the case may be, he is my guest; or, if my house isdistasteful to him, I will advance him whatever sums he may reasonablyrequire for his maintenance elsewhere. Please to consider that that issettled, gentlemen."
"Whatever we may think of the political opinions of Mr. Harvey Gerard,"observed Mr. Clint, with feeling, "his name has always been associatedwith acts of matchless generosity."
"Always, always," echoed Mr. Long; then added reflectively, "he has paidthe fines of half the rogues in the country, and bailed the other halfwho have been committed to prison."
A simultaneous burst of merriment from his three hearers greeted thisnaive remark of my unconscious tutor.
"I have done so upon one occasion, I confess," replied Mr. Gerard,good-naturedly. "I became surety, in 1791, for the good behaviour of apoor Birmingham rioter, as I thought, who turned out to be a Governmentspy. However, I assure you, generosity has nothing to do with my presentintentions with respect to young Heath. My income is sufficiently largeto admit of my accommodating the poor lad with ease, even if therepayment, sooner or later, were not almost certain, as it really is.But, besides all this, I must confess that the undertaking affords meexceeding satisfaction. Mr. Long, you are, I have heard, an enthusiasticfisherman; that is no common pleasure which you feel when your rod isbowed by some enormous trout, cunning and strong, who may break thewhole of your tackle, and get away, after all, but who also may belanded helpless on the bank, a victim to your skill and patience. Thatis exactly the sport which I promise myself with Sir Massingberd Heath.If he were one whit less greedy, less formidable, less pitiless, Ishould feel less hostility towards him; he has, fortunately, noredeeming point. I have hated tyranny all my life, and I hate this man,who seems to be the very embodiment of it. He makes his boast that noone has ever stood between himself and his wicked will. Let us see whathe will make of Harvey Gerard."
The speaker drew himself up proudly, but certainly not with unbecomingpride. His form dilated as he spoke; his voice grew deep without losingits distinctness; and into his mild eyes a sternness crept as when thefrost congeals the lake. But for a spice of haughtiness, which to somemight have appeared even arrogance, he could have stood for St. Michaelin his contest with the foul Fiend,--have personified the Spirit of Gooddefying the Spirit of Evil.