The Last Chronicle of Barset
Page 73
CHAPTER LXXI.
MR. TOOGOOD AT SILVERBRIDGE.
We will now go back to Mr. Toogood as he started for Silverbridge, onthe receipt of Mrs. Arabin's telegram from Venice. "I gave cheque toMr. Crawley. It was part of a sum of money. Will write to ArchdeaconGrantly to-day, and return home at once." That was the telegramwhich Mr. Toogood received at his office, and on receiving which heresolved that he must start to Barchester immediately. "It isn'tcertainly what you may call a paying business," he said to hispartner, who continued to grumble; "but it must be done all the same.If it don't get into the ledger in one way it will in another." SoMr. Toogood started for Silverbridge, having sent to his house inTavistock Square for a small bag, a clean shirt, and a toothbrush.And as he went down in the railway-carriage, before he went to sleep,he turned it all over in his mind. "Poor devil! I wonder whether anyman ever suffered so much before. And as for that woman,--it's tenthousand pities that she should have died before she heard it. Talkof heart-complaint; she'd have had a touch of heart-complaint if shehad known this!" Then, as he was speculating how Mrs. Arabin couldhave become possessed of the cheque, he went to sleep.
He made up his mind that the first person to be seen was Mr. Walker,and after that he would, if possible, go to Archdeacon Grantly. Hewas at first minded to go at once out to Hogglestock; but when heremembered how very strange Mr. Crawley was in all his ways, andtold himself professionally that telegrams were but bad sources ofevidence on which to depend for details, he thought that it would besafer if he were first to see Mr. Walker. There would be very littledelay. In a day or two the archdeacon would receive his letter, andin a day or two after that Mrs. Arabin would probably be at home.
It was late in the evening before Mr. Toogood reached the house ofthe Silverbridge solicitor, having the telegram carefully folded inhis pocket; and he was shown into the dining-room while the servanttook his name up to Mr. Walker. The clerks were gone, and the officewas closed; and persons coming on business at such times,--as theyoften did come to that house,--were always shown into the parlour. "Idon't know whether master can see you to-night," said the girl; "butif he can, he'll come down."
When the card was brought up to Mr. Walker he was sitting alone withhis wife. "It's Toogood," said he; "poor Crawley's cousin."
"I wonder whether he has found anything out," said Mrs. Walker."May he not come up here?" Then Mr. Toogood was summoned into thedrawing-room, to the maid's astonishment; for Mr. Toogood had made notoilet sacrifices to the goddess or grace who presides over eveningsociety in provincial towns,--and presented himself with the telegramin his hand. "We have found out all about poor Crawley's cheque," hesaid, before the maid-servant had closed the door. "Look at that,"and he handed the telegram to Mr. Walker. The poor girl was obligedto go, though she would have given one of her ears to know the exactcontents of that bit of paper.
"Walker, what is it?" said his wife, before Walker had had time tomake the contents of the document his own.
"He got it from Mrs. Arabin," said Toogood.
"No!" said Mrs. Walker. "I thought that was it all along."
"It's a pity you didn't say so before," said Mr. Walker.
"So I did; but a lawyer thinks that nobody can ever see anything buthimself;--begging your pardon, Mr. Toogood, but I forgot you were oneof us. But, Walker, do read it." Then the telegram was read. "I gavecheque to Mr. Crawley. It was part of a sum of money,"--with the restof it. "I knew it would come out," said Mrs. Walker. "I was quitesure of it."
"But why the mischief didn't he say so?" said Walker.
"He did say that he got it from the dean," said Toogood.
"But he didn't get it from the dean; and the dean clearly knewnothing about it."
"I'll tell you what it is," said Mrs. Walker; "it has been someprivate transaction between Mr. Crawley and Mrs. Arabin, which thedean was to know nothing about; and so he wouldn't tell. I must sayI honour him."
"I don't think it has been that," said Walker. "Had he known allthrough that it had come from Mrs. Arabin, he would never have saidthat Mr. Soames gave it to him, and then that the dean gave it him."
"The truth has been that he has known nothing about it," saidToogood; "and we shall have to tell him."
At that moment Mary Walker came into the room, and Mrs. Walker couldnot constrain herself. "Mary, Mr. Crawley is all right. He didn'tsteal the cheque. Mrs. Arabin gave it to him."
"Who says so? How do you know? Oh, dear; I am so happy, if it'strue." Then she saw Mr. Toogood, and curtseyed.
"It is quite true, my dear," said Mr. Walker. "Mr. Toogood has had amessage by the wires from Mrs. Arabin at Venice. She is coming homeat once, and no doubt everything will be put right. In the meantime,it may be a question whether we should not hold our tongues. Mr.Crawley himself, I suppose, knows nothing of it yet?"
"Not a word," said Toogood.
"Papa, I must tell Miss Prettyman," said Mary.
"I should think that probably all Silverbridge knows it by thistime," said Mrs. Walker, "because Jane was in the room when theannouncement was made. You may be sure that every servant in thehouse has been told." Mary Walker, not waiting for any furthercommand from her father, hurried out of the room to convey the secretto her special circle of friends.
It was known throughout Silverbridge that night, and indeed it madeso much commotion that it kept many people for an hour out of theirbeds. Ladies who were not in the habit of going out late at nightwithout the fly from the "George and Vulture," tied their heads up intheir handkerchiefs, and hurried up and down the street to tell eachother that the great secret had been discovered, and that in truthMr. Crawley had not stolen the cheque. The solution of the mysterywas not known to all,--was known on that night only to the veryselect portion of the aristocracy of Silverbridge to whom it wascommunicated by Mary Walker or Miss Anne Prettyman. For Mary Walker,when earnestly entreated by Jane, the parlour-maid, to tell hersomething more of the great news, had so far respected her father'scaution as to say not a word about Mrs. Arabin. "Is it true, MissMary, that he didn't steal it?" Jane asked imploringly. "It is true.He did not steal it." "And who did, Miss Mary? Indeed I won't tellanybody." "Nobody. But don't ask any more questions, for I won'tanswer them. Get me my hat at once, for I want to go up to MissPrettyman's." Then Jane got Miss Walker's hat, and immediatelyafterwards scampered into the kitchen with the news. "Oh, law, cook,it's all come out! Mr. Crawley's as innocent as the unborn babe. Thegentleman upstairs what's just come, and was here once before,--for Iknow'd him immediate,--I heard him say so. And master said so too."
"Did master say so his own self?" asked the cook.
"Indeed he did; and Miss Mary told me the same this moment."
"If master said so, then there ain't a doubt as they'll find himinnocent. And who took'd it, Jane?"
"Miss Mary says as nobody didn't steal it."
"That's nonsense, Jane. It stands to reason as somebody had it ashadn't ought to have had it. But I'm as glad as anything as how thatpoor reverend gent 'll come off;--I am. They tells me it's weekssometimes before a bit of butcher's meat finds its way into hishouse." Then the groom and the housemaid and the cook, one afteranother, took occasion to slip out of the back-door, and poor Jane,who had really been the owner of the news, was left alone to answerthe bell.
Miss Walker found the two Miss Prettymans sitting together over theiraccounts in the elder Miss Prettyman's private room. And she couldsee at once by signs which were not unfamiliar to her that MissAnne Prettyman was being scolded. It often happened that Miss AnnePrettyman was scolded, especially when the accounts were brought outupon the table. "Sister, they are illegible," Mary Walker heard, asthe servant opened the door for her.
"I don't think it's quite so bad as that," said Miss Anne, unable torestrain her defence. Then, as Mary entered the room, Miss Prettymanthe elder laid her hands down on certain books and papers as thoughto hide them from profane eyes.
"I am glad to see you, Mary," said Miss Prettyman, gravely.
"Is it good news?" said Anne Prettyman.
"Very good news. Mr. Crawley is innocent."
Both the ladies sprung on to their legs. Even Miss Prettymanherself jumped up on to her legs. "No!" said Anne. "Your father hasdiscovered it?" said Miss Prettyman.
"Not exactly that. Mr. Toogood has come down from London to tell him.Mr. Toogood, you know, is Mr. Crawley's cousin; and he is a lawyer,like papa." It may be observed that ladies belonging to the familiesof solicitors always talk about lawyers, and never about attorneys orbarristers.
"And does Mr. Toogood say that Mr. Crawley is innocent?" asked MissPrettyman.
"He has heard it by a message from Mrs. Arabin. But you mustn'tmention this. You won't, please, because papa has asked me not. Itold him that I should tell you." Then, for the first time, the frownpassed away entirely from Miss Prettyman's face, and the papers andaccount-books were pushed aside, as being of no moment. The news hadbeen momentous enough to satisfy her. Mary continued her story almostin a whisper. "It was Mrs. Arabin who sent the cheque to Mr. Crawley.She says so herself. So that makes Mr. Crawley quite innocent. I amso glad."
"But isn't it odd he didn't say so?" said Miss Prettyman.
"Nevertheless, it's true," said Mary.
"Perhaps he forgot," said Anne Prettyman.
"Men don't forget such things as that," said the elder sister.
"I really do think Mr. Crawley could forget anything," said theyounger sister.
"You may be sure it's true," said Mary Walker, "because papa saidso."
"If he said so, it must be true," said Miss Prettyman; "and I amrejoiced. I really am rejoiced. Poor man! Poor ill-used man! Andnobody has ever believed that he has really been guilty, even thoughthey may have thought that he spent the money without any properright to it. And now he will get off. But dear me, Mary, Mr. Smithetold me yesterday that he had already given up his living, and thatMr. Spooner, the minor canon, was trying to get it from the dean. Butthat was because Mr. Spooner and Mrs. Proudie had quarrelled; andas Mrs. Proudie is gone, Mr. Spooner very likely won't want to movenow."
"They'll never go and put anybody into Hogglestock, Annabella, overMr. Crawley's head," said Anne.
"I didn't say that they would. Surely I may be allowed to repeat whatI hear, like another person, without being snapped up."
"I didn't mean to snap you up, Annabella."
"You're always snapping me up. But if this is true, I cannot sayhow glad I am. My poor Grace! Now, I suppose, there will be nodifficulty, and Grace will become a great lady." Then they discussedvery minutely the chances of Grace Crawley's promotion.
John Walker, Mr. Winthrop, and several others of the chosen spiritsof Silverbridge, were playing whist at a provincial club, which hadestablished itself in the town, when the news was brought to them.Though Mr. Winthrop was the partner of the great Walker, and thoughJohn Walker was the great man's son, I fear that the news reachedtheir ears in but an underhand sort of way. As for the great manhimself, he never went near the club, preferring his slippers andtea at home. The Walkerian groom, rushing up the street to the"George and Vulture," paused a moment to tell his tidings to the clubporter; from the club porter it was whispered respectfully to theSilverbridge apothecary, who, by special grace, was a member of theclub;--and was by him repeated with much cautious solemnity over thecard-table. "Who told you that, Balsam?" said John Walker, throwingdown his cards.
"I've just heard it," said Balsam.
"I don't believe it," said John.
"I shouldn't wonder if it's true," said Winthrop. "I always said thatsomething would turn up."
"Will you bet three to one he is not found guilty?" said John Walker.
"Done," said Winthrop; "in pounds." That morning the odds in the clubagainst the event had been only two to one. But as the matter wasdiscussed, the men in the club began to believe the tidings, andbefore he went home, John Walker would have been glad to hedge hisbet on any terms. After he had spoken to his father, he gave hismoney up for lost.
But Mr. Walker,--the great Walker,--had more to do that night beforehis son came home from the club. He and Mr. Toogood agreed that itwould be right that they should see Dr. Tempest at once, and theywent over together to the rectory. It was past ten at this time, andthey found the doctor almost in the act of putting out the candlesfor the night. "I could not but come to you, doctor," said Mr.Walker, "with the news my friend has brought. Mrs. Arabin gave thecheque to Crawley. Here is a telegram from her saying so." And thetelegram was handed to the doctor.
He stood perfectly silent for a few minutes, reading it over and overagain. "I see it all," he said, when he spoke at last. "I see it allnow; and I must own I was never before so much puzzled in my life."
"I own I can't see why she should have given him Mr. Soames'scheque," said Mr. Walker.
"I can't say where she got it, and I own I don't much care," said Dr.Tempest. "But I don't doubt but what she gave it him without tellingthe dean, and that Crawley thought it came from the dean. I'm veryglad. I am, indeed, very glad. I do not know that I ever pitied a manso much in my life as I have pitied Mr. Crawley."
"It must have been a hard case when it has moved him," said Mr.Walker to Mr. Toogood as they left the clergyman's house; and thenthe Silverbridge attorney saw the attorney from London home to hisinn.
It was the general opinion at Silverbridge that the news from Veniceought to be communicated to the Crawleys by Major Grantly. MaryWalker had expressed this opinion very strongly, and her mother hadagreed with her. Miss Prettyman also felt that poetical justice, or,at least, the romance of justice, demanded this; and, as she told hersister Anne after Mary Walker left her, she was of opinion that suchan arrangement might tend to make things safe. "I do think he is anhonest man and a fine fellow," said Miss Prettyman; "but, my dear,you know what the proverb says, 'There's many a slip 'twixt the cupand the lip.'" Miss Prettyman thought that anything which might bedone to prevent a slip ought to be done. The idea that the pleasanttask of taking the news out to Hogglestock ought to be confided toMajor Grantly was very general; but then Mr. Walker was of opinionthat the news ought not to be taken to Hogglestock at all tillsomething more certain than the telegram had reached them. Early onthe following morning the two lawyers again met, and it was arrangedbetween them that the London lawyer should go over at once toBarchester, and that the Silverbridge lawyer should see MajorGrantly. Mr. Toogood was still of opinion that with due diligencesomething might yet be learned as to the cheque, by inquiry among thedenizens of "The Dragon of Wantly;" and his opinion to this effectwas stronger than ever when he learned from Mr. Walker that "TheDragon of Wantly" belonged to Mrs. Arabin.
Mr. Walker, after breakfast, had himself driven up in his opencarriage to Cosby Lodge, and, as he entered the gates, observed thatthe auctioneer's bills as to the sale had been pulled down. TheMr. Walkers of the world know everything, and our Mr. Walker hadquite understood that the major was leaving Cosby Lodge becauseof some misunderstanding with his father. The exact nature of themisunderstanding he did not know, even though he was Mr. Walker, buthad little doubt that it referred in some way to Grace Crawley. Ifthe archdeacon's objection to Grace arose from the imputation againstthe father, that objection would now be removed, but the abolition ofthe posters could not as yet have been owing to any such cause asthat. Mr. Walker found the major at the gate of the farmyard attachedto Cosby Lodge, and perceived that at that very moment he was engagedin superintending the abolition of sundry other auctioneer's billsfrom sundry other posts. "What is all this about?" said Mr. Walker,greeting the major. "Is there to be no sale after all?"
"No sale after all?"]
"It has been postponed," said the major.
"Postponed for good, I hope? Bill to be read again this day sixmonths!" said Mr. Walker.
"I rather think not. But circumstances have induced me to have it putoff."
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Mr. Walker had got out of the carriage and had taken Major Grantlyaside. "Just come a little further," he said; "I've something specialto tell you. News reached me last night which will clear Mr. Crawleyaltogether. We know now where he got the cheque."
"You don't tell me so!"
"Yes, I do. And though the news has reached us in such a way that wecannot act upon it till it's confirmed, I do not in the least doubtit."
"And how did he get it?"
"You cannot guess?"
"Not in the least," said the major; "unless, after all, Soames gaveit to him."
"Soames did not give it to him, but Mrs. Arabin did."
"Mrs. Arabin?"
"Yes, Mrs. Arabin."
"Not the dean?"
"No, not the dean. What we know is this, that your aunt hastelegraphed to Crawley's cousin, Toogood, to say that she gaveCrawley that cheque, and that she has written to your father about itat length. We do not like to tell Crawley till that letter has beenreceived. It is so easy, you know, to misunderstand a telegram, andthe wrong copying of a word may make such a mistake!"
"When was it received?"
"Toogood received it in London only yesterday morning. Your fatherwill not get his letter, as I calculate, till the day afterto-morrow. But, perhaps, you had better go over and see him, andprepare him for it. Toogood has gone to Barchester this morning."To this proposition Grantly made no immediate answer. He could notbut remember the terms on which he had left his father; and thoughhe had, most unwillingly, pulled down the auctioneer's bills, incompliance with his mother's last prayer to him,--and, indeed,had angrily told the auctioneer to send him in his bill when theauctioneer had demurred to these proceedings,--nevertheless he washardly prepared to discuss the matter of Mr. Crawley with his fatherin pleasant words,--in words which should be full of rejoicing. Itwas a great thing for him, Henry Grantly, that Mr. Crawley shouldbe innocent, and he did rejoice; but he had intended his father tounderstand that he meant to persevere, whether Mr. Crawley wereinnocent or guilty, and thus he would now lose an opportunity forexhibiting his obstinacy,--an opportunity which had not been withouta charm for him. He must console himself as best he might with thereturning prospect of assured prosperity, and with his renewed hopesas to the Plumstead foxes! "We think, major, that when the timecomes you ought to be the bearer of the news to Hogglestock," saidMr. Walker. Then the major did undertake to convey the news toHogglestock, but he made no promise as to going over to Plumstead.