CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
"PHILOSOPHY MADE EASY" UPON AGRARIAN PRINCIPLES, THE SUBJECT OF SOMEUNEASINESS TO OUR HERO--THE FIRST APPEARANCE, BUT NOT THE LAST, OF ANIMPORTANT PERSONAGE.
The conversation was here interrupted by a mail from England which theyhad been expecting. Captain Wilson retired with his letters; theGovernor remained equally occupied; and our hero received the firstletter ever written to him by his father. It ran as follows:--
"MY DEAR SON:--
"I have many times taken up my pen with the intention of letting youknow how things went on in this country. But as I can perceive aroundbut one dark horizon of evil, I have as often laid it down again withoutventuring to make you unhappy with such bad intelligence.
"The account of your death, and also of your unexpectedly being yetspared to us, were duly received, and I trust, I mourned and rejoiced oneach occasion with all the moderation characteristic of a philosopher.In the first instance I consoled myself with the reflection that theworld you had left was in a state of slavery and pressed down by theiron arm of despotism, and that to die was gain, not only in all theparson tells us, but also in our liberty; and, at the secondintelligence, I moderated my joy for nearly about the same reasons,resolving, notwithstanding what Dr Middleton may say, to die as I havelived, a true philosopher.
"The more I reflect the more am I convinced that there is nothingrequired to make this world happy but equality, and the rights of manbeing duly observed--in short, that everything and everybody should bereduced to one level. Do we not observe that it is the law of nature--do not brooks run into rivers--rivers into seas--mountains crumble downupon the plains?--are not the seasons contented to equalise the parts ofthe earth? Why does the sun run round the ecliptic, instead of theequator, but to give an equal share of his heat to both sides of theworld? Are we not all equally born in misery? does not death level usall _aequo pede_, as the poet hath? are we not all equally hungry,thirsty, and sleepy, and thus levelled by our natural wants? And suchbeing the case, ought we not to have our equal share of good things inthis world, to which we have an undoubted equal right? Can any argumentbe more solid or more level than this, whatever nonsense Dr Middletonmay talk?
"Yes, my son, if it were not that I still hope to see the sun of Justicearise, and disperse the manifold dark clouds which obscure the land--ifI did not still hope, in my time, to see an equal distribution ofproperty--an Agrarian law passed by the House of Commons, in which allshould benefit alike--I would not care how soon I left this vale oftears, created by tyranny and injustice. At present, the same system iscarried on; the nation is taxed for the benefit of the few, and itgroans under oppression and despotism; but I still do think that thereis, if I may fortunately express myself, a bright star in the west; andsigns of the times which comfort me. Already we have had a good deal ofincendiarism about the country, and some of the highest aristocracy havepledged themselves to raise the people above themselves, and haveadvised sedition and conspiracy; have shown to the debased andunenlightened multitude that their force is physically irresistible, andrecommended them to make use of it, promising that if they hold inpower, they will only use that power to the abolition of our farce of aconstitution, of a church, and of a king; and that if the nation is tobe governed at all, it shall only be governed by the many. This ischeering. Hail, patriot lords! all hail! I am in hopes yet the greatwork will be achieved, in spite of the laughs and sneers and shakes ofthe head which my arguments still meet with from that obstinate fellowDr Middleton.
"Your mother is in a quiet way; she has given over reading and working,and even her knitting, as useless; and she now sits all day long at thechimney corner twiddling her thumbs, and waiting, as she says, for themillennium. Poor thing! she is very foolish with her ideas upon thismatter, but as usual I let her have her own way in every thing, copyingthe philosopher of old, who was tied to his Xantippe.
"I trust, my dear son, that your principles have strengthened with youryears and fortified with your growth, and that, if necessary, you willsacrifice all to obtain what in my opinion will prove to be the realmillennium. Make all the converts you can, and believe me to be, youraffectionate father and true guide:--
"NICODEMUS EASY."
Jack, who was alone, shook his head as he read this letter, and thenlaid it down with a pish! He did it involuntarily, and was surprised athimself when he found that he had so done. "I should like to argue thepoint," thought Jack, in spite of himself; and then he threw the letteron the table, and went into Gascoigne's room, displeased with his fatherand with himself. He asked Ned whether he had received any letters fromEngland, and it being dinner-time, went back to dress. On his comingdown into the receiving-room with Gascoigne, the Governor said to them:
"As you two both speak Italian, you must take charge of a Sicilianofficer who has come here with letters of introduction to me, and whodines here to-day."
Before dinner they were introduced to the party in question, aslight-made, well-looking young man, but still there was an expressionin his countenance which was not agreeable. In compliance with thewishes of the Governor, Don Mathias, for so he was called, was placedbetween our two midshipmen, who immediately entered into conversationwith him, being themselves anxious to make inquiries about their friendsat Palermo. In the course of conversation Jack inquired of him whetherhe was acquainted with Don Rebiera, to which the Sicilian answered inthe affirmative, and they talked about the different members of thefamily. Don Mathias, towards the close of the dinner, inquired of Jackby what means he had become acquainted with Don Rebiera, and Jack, inreply, narrated how he and his friend Gascoigne had saved him from beingmurdered by two villains; after this reply the young officer appeared tobe less inclined for conversation, but before the party broke uprequested to have the acquaintance of our two midshipmen. As soon as hewas gone, Gascoigne observed in a reflective way, "I have seen that facebefore, but where I cannot exactly say; but you know, Jack, what amemory of people I have, and I have seen him before, I am sure."
"I can't recollect that ever I have," replied our hero, "but I neverknew any one who could recollect in that way as you do."
The conversation was then dropped between them, and Jack was for sometime listening to the Governor and Captain Wilson, for the whole partywere gone away, when Gascoigne, who had been in deep thought since hehad made the observation to Jack, sprang up.
"I have him at last!" cried he.
"Have who?" demanded Captain Wilson.
"That Sicilian officer--I could have sworn that I had seen him before."
"That Don Mathias?"
"No, Sir Thomas! He is not Don Mathias! He is the very Don Silvio whowas murdering Don Rebiera, when we came to his assistance and savedhim."
"I do believe you are right, Gascoigne."
"I'm positive of it," replied Gascoigne; "I never made a mistake in mylife."
"Bring me those letters, Easy," said the Governor, "and let us see whatthey say of him. Here it is--Don Mathias de Alayeres. You may bemistaken, Gascoigne; it's a heavy charge you are making against thisyoung man."
"Well, Sir Thomas, if that is not Don Silvio, I'd forfeit my commissionif I had it here in my hand. Besides, I observed the change in hiscountenance when we told him it was Easy and I who had come to DonRebiera's assistance; and did you observe after that, Easy, that hehardly said a word?"
"Very true," replied Jack.
"Well, well, we must see to this," observed the Governor; "if so, thisletter of introduction must be a forgery."
The party then retired to bed, and the next morning, while Easy was inGascoigne's room talking over their suspicions, letters from Palermowere brought up to him. They were in answer to those written by Jack onhis arrival at Malta: a few lines from Don Rebiera, a small note fromAgnes, and a voluminous detail from his friend Don Philip, who informedhim of the good health of all parties and of their good-will towardshim; of Agnes being as partial as ever; of his having spoken plainly, ashe had promi
sed Jack, to his father and mother relative to the mutualattachment; of their consent being given, and then withheld, becauseFather Thomas, their confessor, would not listen to the union of Agneswith a heretic; but, nevertheless, telling Jack this would be got overthrough the medium of his brother and himself, who were determined thattheir sister and he should not be made unhappy about such a trifle. Butthe latter part of the letter contained intelligence equally important,which was, that Don Silvio had again attempted the life of their father,and would have succeeded, had not Father Thomas, who happened to bethere, thrown himself between them. That Don Silvio in his rage hadactually stabbed the confessor, although the wound was not dangerous.That, in consequence of this, all further lenity was denied to him, andthat the authorities were in search of him to award him the punishmentdue to murder and sacrilege. That up to the present they could not findhim, and it was supposed that he had made his escape to Malta in one ofthe speronares.
Such were the contents of the letter, which were immediatelycommunicated to the Governor and Captain Wilson, upon their meeting atbreakfast.
"Very well, we must see to this," observed the Governor, who then madehis inquiries as to the other intelligence contained in the letters.
Jack and Gascoigne were uneasy till the breakfast was over, when theymade their escape: a few moments afterwards Captain Wilson rose to go onboard, and sent for them, but they were not to be found.
"I understand it all, Wilson," said the Governor; "leave them to me; goon board and make yourself quite easy."
In the meantime our two midshipmen had taken their hats and walked awayto the parapet of the battery, where they would not be interrupted.
"Now, Gascoigne," observed Jack, "you guess what I'm about--I must shootthat rascal this very morning, and that's why I came out with you."
"But, Easy, the only difference is this, that I must shoot him, and notyou; he is my property, for I found him out."
"We'll argue that point," replied Jack: "he has attempted the life of myis-to-be, please God, father-in-law, and therefore I have the best claimto him."
"I beg your pardon, Jack, he is mine, for I discovered him. Now let meput a case: suppose one man walking several yards before another, picksup a purse, what claim has the other to it? I found him, and not you."
"That's all very well, Gascoigne; but suppose the purse you picked up tobe mine, then I have a right to it, although you found it; he is my birdby right, and not yours."
"But I have another observation to make, which is very important: he isa blood relation of Agnes, and if his blood is on your hands, howevermuch he may deserve it, depend upon it, it will be raised as an obstacleto your union; think of that."
Jack paused in thought.
"And let me induce you by another remark--you will confer on me a mostparticular favour."
"It will be the greatest I ever could," replied Jack, "and you ought tobe eternally indebted to me."
"I trust to make him _eternally_ indebted to me," replied Gascoigne.
Sailors, if going into action, always begin to reckon what their shareof their prize-money may be, before a shot is fired--our two midshipmenappear in this instance to be doing the same.
The point having been conceded to Gascoigne, Jack went to the inn whereDon Silvio had mentioned that he had taken up his quarters, and sendingup his card, followed the waiter upstairs. The waiter opened the door,and presented the card.
"Very well," replied Don Silvio, "you can go down and show him up."
Jack, hearing these words, did not wait, but walked in, where he foundDon Silvio very busy removing a hone upon which he had been whetting asharp double-edged stiletto. The Sicilian walked up to him, offeringhis hand with apparent cordiality; but Jack with a look of defiancesaid, "Don Silvio, we know you; my object now is to demand, on the partof my friend, the satisfaction which you do not deserve, but which ourindignation at your second attempt upon Don Rebiera induces us to offer;for if you escape from him you will have to do with me. On the whole,Don Silvio, you may think yourself fortunate, for it is better to die bythe hands of a gentleman than by the gibbet."
Don Silvio turned deadly pale--his hand sought his stiletto in hisbosom, but it was remaining on the table; at last he replied, "Be itso--I will meet you when and where you please, in an hour from this."
Jack mentioned the place of meeting, and then walked out of the room.He and Gascoigne then hastened to the quarters of an officer they wereintimate with, and having provided themselves with the necessaryfire-arms, were at the spot before the time. They waited for him tillthe exact time, yet no Don Silvio made his appearance.
"He's off," observed Gascoigne; "the villain has escaped us."
Half an hour over the time had passed, and still there was no sign ofGascoigne's antagonist, but one of the Governor's aides-de-camp was seenwalking up to them.
"Here's Atkins," observed Jack; "that's unlucky, but he won'tinterfere."
"Gentlemen," said Atkins, taking off his hat with much solemnity, "theGovernor particularly wishes to speak to you both."
"We can't come just now--we'll be there in half an hour."
"You must be there in three minutes, both of you. Excuse me, my ordersare positive--and to see them duly executed I have a corporal and a fileof men behind that wall--of course, if you walk with me quietly therewill be no occasion to send for their assistance."
"This is confounded tyranny," cried Jack. "Well may they call him KingTom."
"Yes," replied Atkins, "and he governs here _in rey absoluto_--so comealong."
Jack and Gascoigne, having no choice, walked up to the government-house,where they found Sir Thomas in the veranda, which commanded a view ofthe harbour and offing.
"Come here, young gentlemen," said the Governor, in a severe tone; "doyou see that vessel about two miles clear of the port? Don Silvio is init, going back to Sicily under a guard. And now remember what I say asa maxim through life. Fight with gentlemen, if you must fight, but notwith villains and murderers. By _consenting_ to fight with a_blackguard_, you as much disparage your cloth and compromise your owncharacters, as by refusing to give satisfaction to a _gentleman_.There, go away, for I'm angry with you, and don't let me see you tilldinner-time."
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