CHAPTER XXXVII.
SIR FRANCIS VARNEY'S SEPARATE OPPONENTS.--THE INTERPOSITION OF FLORA.
The old admiral so completely overcame the family of the Bannerworths byhis generosity and evident single-mindedness of his behaviour, thatalthough not one, except Flora, approved of his conduct towards Mr.Marchdale, yet they could not help liking him; and had they been placedin a position to choose which of the two they would have had remain withthem, the admiral or Marchdale, there can be no question they would havemade choice of the former.
Still, however, it was not pleasant to find a man like Marchdalevirtually driven from the house, because he presumed to differ inopinion upon a very doubtful matter with another of its inmates. But asit was the nature of the Bannerworth family always to incline to themost generous view of subjects, the frank, hearty confidence of the oldadmiral in Charles Holland pleased them better than the calm and seriousdoubting of Marchdale.
His ruse of hiring the house of them, and paying the rent in advance,for the purpose of placing ample funds in their hands for anycontingency, was not the less amiable because it was so easily seenthrough; and they could not make up their minds to hurt the feelings ofthe old man by the rejection of his generous offer.
When he had left, this subject was canvassed among them, and it wasagreed that he should have his own way in the matter for the present,although they hoped to hear something from Marchdale, which should makehis departure appear less abrupt and uncomfortable to the whole of thefamily.
During the course of this conversation, it was made known to Flora withmore distinctness than under any other circumstances it would have been,that George Holland had been on the eve of fighting a duel with SirFrancis Varney, previous to his mysterious disappearance.
When she became fully aware of this fact, to her mind it seemedmaterially to add to the suspicions previously to then entertained, thatfoul means had been used in order to put Charles out of the way.
"Who knows," she said, "that this Varney may not shrink with thegreatest terror from a conflict with any human being, and feeling onewas inevitable with Charles Holland, unless interrupted by some vigorousact of his own, he or some myrmidons of his may have taken Charles'slife!"
"I do not think, Flora," said Henry, "that he would have ventured uponso desperate an act; I cannot well believe such a thing possible. Butfear not; he will find, if he have really committed any such atrocity,that it will not save him."
These words of Henry, though it made no impression at the time uponFlora, beyond what they carried upon their surface, they really,however, as concerned Henry himself, implied a settled resolution, whichhe immediately set about reducing to practice.
When the conference broke up, night, as it still was, he, without sayinganything to any one, took his hat and cloak, and left the Hall,proceeding by the nearest practicable route to the residence of SirFrancis Varney, where he arrived without any interruption of anycharacter.
Varney was at first denied to him, but before he could leave the house,a servant came down the great staircase, to say it was a mistake; andthat Sir Francis was at home, and would be happy to see him.
He was ushered into the same apartment where Sir Francis Varney hadbefore received his visitors; and there sat the now declared vampyre,looking pale and ghastly by the dim light which burned in the apartment,and, indeed, more like some spectre of the tomb, than one of the greatfamily of man.
"Be seated, sir," said Varney; "although my eyes have seldom thepleasure of beholding you within these walls, be assured you are ahonoured guest."
"Sir Francis Varney," said Henry, "I came not here to bandy complimentswith you; I have none to pay to you, nor do I wish to hear any of themfrom your lips."
"An excellent sentiment, young man," said Varney, "and well delivered.May I presume, then, without infringing too far upon your extremecourtesy, to inquire, to what circumstances I am indebted for yourvisit?"
"To one, Sir Francis, that I believe you are better acquainted with thanyou will have the candour to admit."
"Indeed, sir," said Varney, coldly; "you measure my candour, probably,by a standard of your own; in which case I fear, I may be no gainer; andyet that may be of itself a circumstance that should afford little foodfor surprise, but proceed, sir--since we have so few compliments tostand between us and our purpose, we shall in all due time arrive atit."
"Yes, in due time, Sir Francis Varney, and that due time has arrived.Know you anything of my friend, Mr. Charles Holland?" said Henry, inmarked accents; and he gazed on Sir Francis Varney with earnestness,that seemed to say not even a look should escape his observation.
Varney, however, returned the gaze as steadily, but coldly, as hereplied in his measured accents,--
"I have heard of the young gentleman."
"And seen him?"
"And seen him too, as you, Mr. Bannerworth, must be well aware. Surelyyou have not come all this way, merely to make such an inquiry; but,sir, you are welcome to the answer."
Henry had something of a struggle to keep down the rising anger, atthese cool taunts of Varney; but he succeeded--and then he said,--
"I suspect Charles Holland, Sir Francis Varney, has met with unfairtreatment, and that he has been unfairly dealt with, for an unworthypurpose."
"Undoubtedly," said Varney, "if the gentleman you allude to, has beenunfairly dealt with, it was for a foul purpose; for no good or generousobject, my young sir, could be so obtained--you acknowledge so much, Idoubt not?"
"I do, Sir Francis Varney; and hence the purpose of my visit here--forthis reason I apply to you--"
"A singular object, supported by a singular reason. I cannot see theconnection, young sir; pray proceed to enlighten me upon this matter,and when you have done that, may I presume upon your consideration, toinquire in what way I can be of any service to you?"
"Sir Francis," said Henry, his anger raising his tones--"this will notserve you--I have come to exact an account of how you have disposed ofmy friend; and I will have it."
"Gently, my good sir; you are aware I know nothing of your friend; hismotions are his own; and as to what I have done with him; my only answeris, that he would permit me to do nothing with him, had I been soinclined to have taken the liberty."
"You are suspected, Sir Francis Varney, of having made an attempt uponthe life or liberty of Charles Holland; you, in fact, are suspected ofbeing his murderer--and, so help me Heaven! if I have not justice, Iwill have vengeance!"
"Young sir, your words are of grave import, and ought to be coollyconsidered before they are uttered. With regard to justice andvengeance, Mr. Bannerworth, you may have both; but I tell you, ofCharles Holland, or what has become of him, I know nothing. Butwherefore do you come to so unlikely a quarter to learn something of anindividual of whom I know nothing?"
"Because Charles Holland was to have fought a duel with you: but beforethat had time to take place, he has suddenly become missing. I suspectthat you are the author of his disappearance, because you fear anencounter with a mortal man."
"Mr. Bannerworth, permit me to say, in my own defence, that I do notfear any man, however foolish he may be; and wisdom is not an attributeI find, from experience in all men, of your friend. However, you must bedreaming, sir--a kind of vivid insanity has taken possession of yourmind, which distorts--"
"Sir Francis Varney!" exclaimed Henry, now perfectly uncontrollable.
"Sir," said Varney, as he filled up the pause, "proceed; I am allattention. You do me honour."
"If," resumed Henry, "such was your object in putting Mr. Holland aside,by becoming personally or by proxy an assassin, you are mistaken insupposing you have accomplished your object."
"Go on, sir," said Sir Francis Varney, in a bland and sweet tone; "I amall attention; pray proceed."
"You have failed; for I now here, on this spot, defy you to mortalcombat. Coward, assassin as you are, I challenge you to fight."
"You don't mean on the carpet here?" said Varney, deliberately.
"No, sir; but beneath the canopy of heaven, in the light of the day. Andthen, Sir Francis, we shall see who will shrink from the conflict."
"It is remarkably good, Mr. Bannerworth, and, begging your pardon, for Ido not wish to give any offence, my honoured sir, it would rehearsebefore an audience; in short, sir, it is highly dramatic."
"You shrink from the combat, do you? Now, indeed, I know you."
"Young man--young man," said Sir Francis, calmly, and shaking his headvery deliberately, and the shadows passed across his pale face, "youknow me not, if you think Sir Francis Varney shrinks from any man, muchless one like yourself."
"You are a coward, and worse, if you refuse my challenge."
"I do not refuse it; I accept it," said Varney, calmly, and in adignified manner; and then, with a sneer, he added,--"You are wellacquainted with the mode in which gentlemen generally manage thesematters, Mr. Bannerworth, and perhaps I am somewhat confined in myknowledge in the ways of the world, because you are your own principaland second. In all my experience, I never met with a similar case."
"The circumstances under which it is given are as unexampled, and willexcuse the mode of the challenge," said Henry, with much warmth.
"Singular coincidence--the challenge and mode of it is most singular!They are well matched in that respect. Singular, did I say? The more Ithink of it, Mr. Bannerworth, the more I am inclined to think thispositively odd."
"Early to-morrow, Sir Francis, you shall hear from me."
"In that case, you will not arrange preliminaries now? Well, well; it isvery unusual for the principals themselves to do so; and yet, excuse myfreedom, I presumed, as you had so far deserted the beaten track, that Ihad no idea how far you might be disposed to lead the same route."
"I have said all I intended to say, Sir Francis Varney; we shall seeeach other again."
"I may not detain you, I presume, to taste aught in the way ofrefreshment?"
Henry made no reply, but turned towards the door, without even making anattempt to return the grave and formal bow that Sir Francis Varney madeas he saw him about to quit the apartment; for Henry saw that his palefeatures were lighted up with a sarcastic smile, most disagreeable tolook upon as well as irritating to Henry Bannerworth.
He now quitted Sir Francis Varney's abode, being let out by a servantwho had been rung for for that purpose by his master.
Henry walked homeward, satisfied that he had now done all that he couldunder the circumstances.
"I will send Chillingworth to him in the morning, and then I shall seewhat all this will end in. He must meet me, and then Charles Holland, ifnot discovered, shall be, at least, revenged."
There was another person in Bannerworth Hall who had formed a similarresolution. That person was a very different sort of person to HenryBannerworth, though quite as estimable in his way.
This was no other than the old admiral. It was singular that two suchvery different persons should deem the same steps necessary, and bothkeep the secret from each other; but so it was, and, after some internalswearing, he determined upon challenging Varney in person.
"I'd send Jack Pringle, but the swab would settle the matter as shortlyas if a youngster was making an entry in a log, and heard theboatswain's whistle summoning the hands to a mess, and feared he wouldlose his grog.
"D--n my quarters! but Sir Francis Varney, as he styles himself, sha'n'tmake any way against old Admiral Bell. He's as tough as a hawser, andjust the sort of blade for a vampyre to come athwart. I'll pitch himend-long, and make a plank of him afore long. Cus my windpipe! what along, lanky swab he is, with teeth fit to unpick a splice; but let mealone, I'll see if I can't make a hull of his carcass, vampyre or novampyre.
"My nevy, Charles Holland, can't be allowed to cut away without nobody'sleave or licence. No, no; I'll not stand that anyhow. 'Never desert amessmate in the time of need,' is the first maxim of a seaman, and Iain't the one as 'll do so."
Thus self-communing, the old admiral marched along until he came to SirFrancis Varney's house, at the gate of which he gave the bell what hecalled a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, that set itringing with a fury, the like of which had never certainly been heard bythe household.
A minute or two scarcely elapsed before the domestics hurried to answerso urgent a summons; and when the gate was opened, the servant whoanswered it inquired his business.
"What's that to you, snob? Is your master, Sir Francis Varney, in?because, if he be, let him know old Admiral Bell wants to speak to him.D'ye hear?"
"Yes, sir," replied the servant, who had paused a few moments to examinethe individual who gave this odd kind of address.
In another minute word was brought to him that Sir Francis Varney wouldbe very happy to see Admiral Bell.
"Ay, ay," he muttered; "just as the devil likes to meet with holy water,or as I like any water save salt water."
He was speedily introduced to Sir Francis Varney, who was seated in thesame posture as he had been left by Henry Bannerworth not many minutesbefore.
"Admiral Bell," said Sir Francis, rising, and bowing to that individualin the most polite, calm, and dignified manner imaginable, "permit me toexpress the honour I feel at this unexpected visit."
"None of your gammon."
"Will you be seated. Allow me to offer you such refreshments as thispoor house affords."
"D--n all this! You know, Sir Francis, I don't want none o' thispalaver. It's for all the world like a Frenchman, when you are going togive him a broadside; he makes grimaces, throws dust in your eyes, andtries to stab you in the back. Oh, no! none of that for me."
"I should say not, Admiral Bell. I should not like it myself, and I daresay you are a man of too much experience not to perceive when you are orare not imposed upon."
"Well, what is that to you? D--n me, I didn't come here to talk to youabout myself."
"Then may I presume upon your courtesy so far as to beg that you willenlighten me upon the object of your visit!"
"Yes; in pretty quick time. Just tell me where you have stowed away mynephew, Charles Holland?"
"Really, I--"
"Hold your slack, will you, and hear me out; if he's living, let himout, and I'll say no more about it; that's liberal, you know; it ain'tterms everybody would offer you."
"I must, in truth, admit they are not; and, moreover, they quitesurprise even me, and I have learned not to be surprised at almostanything."
"Well, will you give him up alive? but, hark ye, you mustn't have madevery queer fish of him, do ye see?"
"I hear you," said Sir Francis, with a bland smile, passing one handgently over the other, and showing his front teeth in a peculiar manner;"but I really cannot comprehend all this; but I may say, generally, thatMr. Holland is no acquaintance of mine, and I have no sort of knowledgewhere he may be."
"That won't do for me," said the admiral, positively, shaking his head.
"I am particularly sorry, Admiral Bell, that it will not, seeing that Ihave nothing else to say."
"I see how it is; you've put him out of the way, and I'm d----d if youshan't bring him to life, whole and sound, or I'll know the reason why."
"With that I have already furnished you, Admiral Bell," quietly rejoinedVarney; "anything more on that head is out of my power, though mywillingness to oblige a person of such consideration as yourself, isvery great; but, permit me to add, this is a very strange and oddcommunication from one gentleman to another. You have lost a relative,who has, very probably, taken some offence, or some notion into hishead, of which nobody but himself knows anything, and you come to oneyet more unlikely to know anything of him, than even yourself.
"Gammon again, now, Sir Francis Varney, or Blarney."
"Varney, if you please, Admiral Bell; I was christened Varney."
"Christened, eh?"
"Yes, christened--were you not christened? If not, I dare say youunderstand the ceremony well enough."
"I should think I did; but, as for christening, a--"
/> "Go on, sir."
"A vampyre! why I should as soon think of reading the burial service ofa pig."
"Very possible; but what has all this to do with your visit to me?"
"This much, you lubber. Now, d--n my carcass from head to stern, if Idon't call you out."
"Well, Admiral Bell," slid Varney, mildly, "in that case, I suppose Imust come out; but why do you insist that I have any knowledge of yournephew, Mr. Charles Holland?"
"You were to have fought a duel with him, and now he's gone."
"I am here," said Varney.
"Ay," said the admiral, "that's as plain as a purser's shirt upon ahandspike; but that's the very reason why my nevey ain't here, andthat's all about it."
"And that's marvellous little, so far as the sense is concerned," saidVarney, without the movement of a muscle.
"It is said that people of your class don't like fighting mortal men;now you have disposed of him, lest he should dispose of you."
"That is explicit, but it is to no purpose, since the gentleman inquestion hasn't placed himself at my disposal."
"Then, d----e, I will; fish, flesh, or fowl, I don't care; all's one toAdmiral Bell. Come fair or fowl, I'm a tar for all men; a seaman everready to face a foe, so here goes, you lubberly moon manufactured calf."
"I hear, admiral, but it is scarcely civil, to say the least of it;however, as you are somewhat eccentric, and do not, I dare say, mean allyour words imply, I am quite willing to make every allowance."
"I don't want any allowance; d--n you and your allowance, too; nothingbut allowance of grog, and a pretty good allowance, too, will do for me,and tell you, Sir Francis Varney," said the admiral, with much wrath,"that you are a d----d lubberly hound, and I'll fight you; yes, I'mready to hammer away, or with anything from a pop-gun to a ship's gun;you don't come over me with your gammon, I tell you. You've murderedCharles Holland because you couldn't face him--that's the truth of it."
"With the other part of your speech, Admiral Bell, allow me to say, youhave mixed up a serious accusation--one I cannot permit to passlightly."
"Will you or not fight?"
"Oh, yes; I shall be happy to serve you any way that I can. I hope thiswill be an answer to your accusation, also."
"That's settled, then."
"Why, I am not captious, Admiral Bell, but it is not generally usual forthe principals to settle the preliminaries themselves; doubtless you, inyour career of fame and glory, know something of the manner in whichgentlemen demean themselves on these occasions."
"Oh, d--n you! Yes, I'll send some one to do all this. Yes, yes, JackPringle will be the man, though Jack ain't a holiday, shore-going,smooth-spoken swab, but as good a seaman as ever trod deck or handled aboarding-pike."
"Any friend of yours," said Varney, blandly, "will be received andtreated as such upon an errand of such consequence; and now ourconference has, I presume, concluded."
"Yes, yes, I've done--d----e, no--yes--no. I will keel-haul you but I'llknow something of my neavy, Charles Holland."
"Good day, Admiral Bell." As Varney spoke, he placed his hand upon thebell which he had near him, to summon an attendant to conduct theadmiral out. The latter, who had said a vast deal more than he everintended, left the room in a great rage, protesting to himself that hewould amply avenge his nephew, Charles Holland.
He proceeded homeward, considerably vexed and annoyed that he had beentreated with so much calmness, and all knowledge of his nephew denied.
When he got back, he quarrelled heartily with Jack Pringle--made itup--drank grog--quarrelled--made it up, and finished with grogagain--until he went to bed swearing he should like to fire a broadsideat the whole of the French army, and annihilate it at once.
With this wish, he fell asleep.
Early next morning, Henry Bannerworth sought Mr. Chillingworth, andhaving found him, he said in a serious tone,--
"Mr. Chillingworth, I have rather a serious favour to ask you, and onewhich you may hesitate in granting."
"It must be very serious indeed," said Mr. Chillingworth, "that I shouldhesitate to grant it to you; but pray inform me what it is that you deemso serious?"
"Sir Francis Varney and I must have a meeting," said Henry.
"Have you really determined upon such a course?" said Mr. Chillingworth;"you know the character of your adversary?"
"That is all settled,--I have given a challenge, and he has accepted it;so all other considerations verge themselves into one--and that is thewhen, where, and how."
"I see," said Mr. Chillingworth. "Well, since it cannot be helped onyour part, I will do what is requisite for you--do you wish anything tobe done or insisted on in particular in this affair."
"Nothing with regard to Sir Francis Varney that I may not leave to yourdiscretion. I feel convinced that he is the assassin of Charles Holland,whom he feared to fight in duel."
"Then there remains but little else to do, but to arrange preliminaries,I believe. Are you prepared on every other point?"
"I am--you will see that I am the challenger, and that he must nowfight. What accident may turn up to save him, I fear not, but sure I am,that he will endeavour to take every advantage that may arise, and soescape the encounter."
"And what do you imagine he will do now he has accepted your challenge?"said Mr. Chillingworth; "one would imagine he could not very wellescape."
"No--but he accepted the challenge which Charles Holland sent him--aduel was inevitable, and it seems to me to be a necessary consequencethat he disappeared from amongst us, for Mr. Holland would never haveshrunk from the encounter."
"There can be no sort of suspicion about that," remarked Chillingworth;"but allow me to advise you that you take care of yourself, and keep awatchful eye upon every one--do not be seen out alone."
"I fear not."
"Nay, the gentleman who has disappeared was, I am sure, fearless enough;but yet that has not saved him. I would not advise you to be fearful,only watchful; you have now an event awaiting upon you, which it is wellyou should go through with, unless circumstances should so turn out,that it is needless; therefore I say, when you have the suspicions youdo entertain of this man's conduct, beware, be cautious, and vigilant."
"I will do so--in the mean time, I trust myself confidently in yourhands--you know all that is necessary."
"This affair is quite a secret from all of the family?"
"Most certainly so, and will remain so--I shall be at the Hall."
"And there I will see you--but be careful not to be drawn into anyadventure of any kind--it is best to be on the safe side under allcircumstances."
"I will be especially careful, be assured, but farewell; see Sir FrancisVarney as early as you can, and let the meeting be as early as you can,and thus diminish the chance of accident."
"That I will attend to. Farewell for the present."
Mr. Chillingworth immediately set about the conducting of the affairthus confided to him; and that no time might be lost, he determined toset out at once for Sir Francis Varney's residence.
"Things with regard to this family seem to have gone on wild of late,"thought Mr. Chillingworth; "this may bring affairs to a conclusion,though I had much rather they had come to some other. My life for it,there is a juggle or a mystery somewhere; I will do this, and then weshall see what will come of it; if this Sir Francis Varney meetshim--and at this moment I can see no reason why he should not do so--itwill tend much to deprive him of the mystery about him; but if, on theother hand, he refuse--but then that's all improbable, because he hasagreed to do so. I fear, however, that such a man as Varney is adreadful enemy to encounter--he is cool and unruffled--and that giveshim all the advantage in such affairs; but Henry's nerves are not bad,though shaken by these untowards events; but time will show--I would itwere all over."
With these thoughts and feelings strangely intermixed, Mr. Chillingworthset forward for Sir Francis Varney's house.
* * * * *
Admiral Bell
slept soundly enough though, towards morning, he fell intoa strange dream, and thought he was yard arm and yard arm with a strangefish--something of the mermaid species.
"Well," exclaimed the admiral, after a customary benediction of his eyesand limbs, "what's to come next? may I be spliced to a shark if Iunderstand what this is all about. I had some grog last night, but thengrog, d'y'see, is--is--a seaman's native element, as the newspapers say,though I never read 'em now, it's such a plague."
He lay quiet for a short time, considering in his own mind what was bestto be done, and what was the proper course to pursue, and why he shoulddream.
"Hilloa, hilloa, hil--loa! Jack a-hoy! a-hoy!" shouted the admiral, as asudden recollection of his challenge came across his memory; "JackPringle a-hoy? d--n you, where are you?--you're never at hand when youare wanted. Oh, you lubber,--a-hoy!"
"A-hoy!" shouted a voice, as the door opened, and Jack thrust his headin; "what cheer, messmate? what ship is this?"
"Oh, you lubberly--"
The door was shut in a minute, and Jack Pringle disappeared.
"Hilloa, Jack Pringle, you don't mean to say you'll desert your colours,do you, you dumb dog?"
"Who says I'll desert the ship as she's sea-worthy!"
"Then why do you go away?"
"Because I won't be called lubberly. I'm as good a man as ever swabbed adeck, and don't care who says to the contrary. I'll stick to the ship aslong as she's seaworthy," said Jack.
"Well, come here, and just listen to the log, and be d----d to you."
"What's the orders now, admiral?" said Jack, "though, as we are paidoff--"
"There, take that, will you?" said Admiral Bell, as he flung a pillow atJack, being the only thing in the shape of a missile within reach.
Jack ducked, and the pillow produced a clatter in the washhand-standamong the crockery, as Jack said,--
"There's a mutiny in the ship, and hark how the cargo clatters; will youhave it back again?"
"Come, will you? I've been dreaming, Jack."
"Dreaming! what's that?"
"Thinking of something when you are asleep, you swab."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Jack; "never did such a thing in my life--ha, ha,ha! what's the matter now?"
"I'll tell you what's the matter. Jack Pringle, you are becomingmutinous, and I won't have it; if you don't hold your jaw and draw inyour slacks, I'll have another second."
"Another second! what's in the wind, now?" said Jack. "Is this thedream?"
"If ever I dream when I'm alongside a strange craft, then it is a dream;but old Admiral Bell ain't the man to sleep when there's any work to bedone."
"That's uncommon true," said Jack, turning a quid.
"Well, then, I'm going to fight."
"Fight!" exclaimed Jack. "Avast, there, I don't see where's theenemy--none o' that gammon; Jack Pringle can fight, too, and will layalongside his admiral, but he don't see the enemy anywhere."
"You don't understand these things, so I'll tell you. I have had a bitof talk with Sir Francis Varney, and I am going to fight him."
"What the _wamphigher_?" remarked Jack, parenthetically.
"Yes."
"Well, then," resumed Jack, "then we shall see another blaze, at leastafore we die; but he's an odd fish--one of Davy Jones's sort."
"I don't care about that; he may be anything he likes; but Admiral Bellain't a-going to have his nephew burned and eaten, and sucked like Idon't know what, by a vampyre, or by any other confounded land-shark."
"In course," said Jack, "we ain't a-going to put up with nothing of thatsort, and if so be as how he has put him out of the way, why it's ourduty to send him after him, and square the board."
"That's the thing, Jack; now you know you must go to Sir Francis Varneyand tell him you come from me."
"I don't care if I goes on my own account," said Jack.
"That won't do; I've challenged him and I must fight him."
"In course you will," returned Jack, "and, if he blows you away, whyI'll take your place, and have a blaze myself."
The admiral gave a look at Jack of great admiration, and then said,--
"You are a d----d good seaman, Jack, but he's a knight, and might say noto that, but do you go to him, and tell him that you come from me tosettle the when and the where this duel is to be fought."
"Single fight?" said Jack.
"Yes; consent to any thing that is fair," said the admiral, "but let itbe as soon as you can. Now, do you understand what I have said?"
"Yes, to be sure; I ain't lived all these years without knowing yourlingo."
"Then go at once; and don't let the honour of Admiral Bell and oldEngland suffer, Jack. I'm his man, you know, at any price."
"Never fear," said Jack; "you shall fight him, at any rate. I'll go andsee he don't back out, the warmint."
"Then go along, Jack; and mind don't you go blazing away like a fireship, and letting everybody know what's going on, or it'll be stopped."
"I'll not spoil sport," said Jack, as he left the room, to go at once toSir Francis Varney, charged with the conducting of the important cartelof the admiral. Jack made the best of his way with becoming gravity andexpedition until he reached the gate of the admiral's enemy.
Jack rang loudly at the gate; there seemed, if one might judge by hiscountenance, a something on his mind, that Jack was almost another man.The gate was opened by the servant, who inquired what he wanted there.
"The wamphigher."
"Who?"
"The wamphigher."
The servant frowned, and was about to say something uncivil to Jack, whowinked at him very hard, and then said,--
"Oh, may be you don't know him, or won't know him by that name: I wantsto see Sir Francis Varney."
"He's at home," said the servant; "who are you?"
"Show me up, then. I'm Jack Pringle, and I'm come from Admiral Bell; I'mthe Admiral's friend, you see, so none of your black looks."
The servant seemed amazed, as well as rather daunted, at Jack's address;he showed him, however, into the hall, where Mr. Chillingworth had justthat moment arrived, and was waiting for an interview with Varney.
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