by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
Frank Wyatts's work throughout the campaign had been arduous in theextreme. It is true that it was done on horseback instead of on foot,that he had not hunger to contend against, and that for the most parthis nights were passed in a shelter of some kind. But from daybreakuntil sunset, and frequently till midnight, he was incessantly occupied,from the moment when Napoleon turned his back on Moscow, until the lastremnant of his army crossed the frontier. Until after the battle atMalo-Jaroslavets on the 24th of October, when the French army owed itssafety solely to Kutusow's refusal to hurl all his forces against it, hehad remained at headquarters, where he was assisted in his work by theEarl of Tyrconnel, who was now also acting as aide-de-camp to Sir RobertWilson. He was a delightful companion and a most gallant young officer,and a fast friendship became established between him and Frank, duringthe time the Russian army was remaining inactive, while Napoleon waswasting the precious time at Moscow, unable to bring himself toacknowledge the absolute failure of his plans caused by the refusal ofthe Russians to treat with him, after his occupation of their ancientcapital. But after Kutusow had allowed the French to slip past they sawbut little of each other, for one or other of them was always with thetroops pressing hard on the French rear, it being their duty to keep SirRobert, who was necessarily obliged to stay at headquarters, thoroughlyinformed of all that was going on in front, and of the movements both ofthe French and Russian divisions.
Sir Robert himself was so utterly disgusted with the obstinacy and, italmost seemed, deliberate treachery of Kutusow that, for the most part,he accompanied General Benningsen, who was a prompt and dashing soldier,and who, with the whole of the Russian generals, was as furious with theapathy and delays of the worn-out old man who was in command, as theyhad been with those of Barclay. The English general still acted as theEmperor's special representative, and kept him fully acquainted with allthat was going on. Alexander was as much dissatisfied as were hisgenerals and soldiers with Kutusow's refusal to put an end to theterrible struggle, by an action which must have ended in the destructionor capture of Napoleon and his army. He felt, however, that he could notat present remove him from his command. Kutusow was a member of the oldnobility, who were straining every nerve for the national cause, werestripping their estates of their serfs, and emptying their coffers intothe military chests, and who would have greatly resented his removal.
The people at large, too, overjoyed at the retreat of Napoleon and thesuccess of their arms, and ignorant of all the real circumstances of thecase, regarded Kutusow with enthusiastic admiration; and Alexander feltthat, great as might be his faults, the injury that would be inflictedby his supercession would be greater than the benefits derived from it.An ample supply of horses had been placed at the disposal of the Englishgeneral and his aides-de-camp, and Frank, having three always at hisorders, was able to ride them by turns, and therefore got through animmense amount of work. The scenes that everywhere met his eyes were farmore trying than the fatigues he had to undergo. The hideous barbaritiesthat were perpetrated by the peasants upon the French who fell intotheir hands, filled him with burning indignation, and at times placedhis life in serious danger when he endeavoured to interfere on theirbehalf. He always started on his rides in the morning with hissaddle-bag stored with provisions, and a small keg of spirits fastenedbehind him, and these were divided during the day among the unfortunatemen, Russians and French alike, who, wounded or exhausted, had sunk bythe way.
THE LAST OF A VETERAN OF NAPOLEON'S GRANDE ARMEE.]
Innumerable were the appeals made to him daily to end their sufferingswith a pistol-ball; and, although he could not bring himself to givethem the relief they craved, on several occasions, when he saw that thecase was altogether beyond hope, and that but a few hours of mortalagony remained, he yielded to their entreaties, handed them one of hispistols, and walked a few paces away, until the sharp report told himthat their sufferings were over.
The horrors of the hospitals at Wilna and other places affected him evenmore than the scenes of carnage that he had witnessed at Borodino. AtWilna the Earl of Tyrconnel was seized with a fever and died, and Franklay for some time ill, and would probably have succumbed had not SirRobert obtained a lodging for him at the house of a landed resident,three or four miles from the infected city. He was, in a sense, thankfulfor the illness, because it spared him the sight of the last agony ofthe broken remains of Napoleon's army. Quiet and rest soon did theirwork. The breakdown was the result more of over-fatigue, and of thehorrors of which he was so continually a witness, than of actual fever.Frank, therefore, rapidly recovered, and declared after a fortnight thathe could again sit on his horse.
The general, however, would not hear of this.
"I shall be leaving for St. Petersburg myself in a few days," he said,"and we will travel together by post. You will be sorry to hear thatto-day Kutusow has been decorated with the great order of St. George.The Emperor himself begged me not to be present. He called me into hiscabinet and confessed to me that it would be too humiliating to him wereI to be there. He acknowledged that he felt by decorating this man withthe great Order he was committing a trespass upon the institution; buthe had no choice. It was a cruel necessity to which he had to submit,although he well knew that the marshal had done few things he ought tohave done, with nothing against the enemy that he could avoid, and thatall his successes had been forced upon him."
Sir Robert himself had urgent need of change and rest. Theresponsibility upon his shoulders had been tremendous. The Emperor hadrelied upon him entirely for information as to the true state of thingsin the army, and the Russian generals regarding him as specially theEmperor's representative, had poured their complaints into his ears.
Had they but received the slightest encouragement from him they wouldhave led their divisions against the French in spite of the orders ofthe marshal, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he persuadedthem to restrain their exasperated troops, and to submit to carry outthe disastrous policy, which entailed as much loss and suffering uponthe Russian soldiers as upon the French.
It was the end of January when Sir Robert Wilson and Frank reached St.Petersburg, and, putting up in apartments assigned to them in thepalace, rested for a few days.
One bright morning Frank strolled down to the Nobles' Club, of which heand the general had been made honorary members. It was his first visitto St. Petersburg. His fur coat was partly open and showed his Britishuniform. He was looking about with interest at the scene in the NevskyProspect when he noticed a gentleman in a handsomely appointed sledgelooking fixedly at him. As the uniform attracted general attention hethought little of this, but after going a short distance the sledgeturned and passed him at a slow rate of speed. The gentleman again gazedfixedly at him, then stopped the coachman, and leaped from the sledge tothe pavement.
"Frank!" he exclaimed, "is it you, or am I dreaming?"
Frank stepped back a pace in astonishment. It was the voice rather thanthe face that he recognized.
"Julian!" burst from his lips, "my brother, can it be really you?"
Julian held out both his hands, and they stood for a moment in silence,gazing into each other's face. Julian was the first to break thesilence.
"Jump in here, Frank," he said, leading the way to the sledge. "Theymust all think that we have gone mad, and we shall have a crowd round usin a minute."
Still completely bewildered, Frank followed his brother.
"Drive out into the country," Julian said to the coachman as he took hisseat. "This is little short of a miracle, old fellow," he said, as theydrove off. "I thought you were living quietly at Weymouth; you thought Iwas rotting in a French prison, and here we run against each other inthe heart of Russia."
"I can hardly believe even yet that it is you, Julian, you have alteredso tremendously. Thank God, old man, that I have found you."
"Thank God, my dear Frank, that, as I see, that stupid business of minehas not p
revented your entering the army, as I was afraid it would do;though how you come to be here is more than I can guess."
"I am General Wilson's aide-de-camp, and have been with him all throughthe war; and you, Julian, what on earth are you doing here? But first ofall, I suppose you have not heard that you have been cleared completelyof that charge of murder."
Julian's face paled at the sudden news, and he sat for a minute or twoin silence.
"Quite cleared, Frank?" he asked in a low tone; "cleared so that nodoubt remains, and that I can go home without fear of having it throwninto my face?"
"Completely and entirely," Frank replied. "You were cleared before youhad been gone a day. The coroner's jury brought in an open verdict, buta warrant was issued against that poacher Markham; and your letterfirst, and his confession a year later, completely bore out the evidenceat the inquest, and established his guilt beyond question."
"To think that I should never have known it," Julian said. "If I haddreamt of it I would have attempted to break out from Verdun, and makemy way home. I don't know that I should have succeeded, but at any rateI should have tried. But tell me all about it, Frank; my story will keepjust at present."
"You seem to have fallen on your legs, anyhow," Frank remarked. "May Iask if this is your Imperial Highness's sledge. I have learned somethingof the value of furs since I came out here, and that coat of yours iscertainly worth a hundred pounds, and this sable rug as much more."
"It is not my sledge, nor is it my rug, though I have two or three ofthem quite as handsome. The coat is my own, the sledge belongs to myintimate friend Count Woronski, with whom I am at present staying."
"You really must tell me your story first," Frank said, laughing. "Nowthat you know you are cleared, you can very well wait to hear all thedetails, and I refuse to say a word until you have told me what all thismeans."
"Well, Frank," Julian said seriously, "mine is not altogether a pleasantstory to tell now; but I acted for the best, and under the belief thatthere was no chance of my being able to return for years to England. Thestory is too long for me to give you the details now, but I will giveyou the broad facts. I was sent prisoner to Verdun. I was there aboutten months. There was fever in the place, and we died off like sheep.There seemed no possibility of escape, and if I could have got away Icould not, as I thought, make for England. I was getting hopeless anddesperate, and I don't think I could have held out much longer. Thenthere was an offer made to us that any of us who liked could obtainfreedom by enlisting in the French army. It was expressly stated that itwas going east, and that at the end of the campaign we should,--if ourcorps was ordered to a place where it was likely to come in contact withthe English,--be allowed to exchange into a regiment with anotherdestination.
"Well, it seemed to me that it mattered very little what became of me.Even should I be exchanged and sent to England I could not have stayedthere, but must have gone abroad to make my living as best I could, andI thought I might as well go as a soldier to Russia as anywhere else; soI accepted the offer, little knowing what would come of it. I regrettedit heartily when I saw the misery that was inflicted by the misconduct,partly of the French, but much more of the Poles and Germans, on theunfortunate inhabitants. However, there I was, and I did my duty to thebest of my power. When I tell you that I was in Ney's division, you mayimagine that I had my share of it all."
"Extraordinary!" Frank said, "to think that you and I should both havebeen through this campaign, and on opposite sides. Why, we must havebeen within musket shot of each other a score of times."
"I have no doubt I saw you," Julian said; "for I often made out a bitof scarlet among the dark masses of the Russians, and thought that theremust be some English officers with them. The first time I noticed themwas on the heights opposite to Smolensk. Two officers in scarlet werewith the batteries they planted there and drove our own off the hill onour side of the river."
"Those were the general and myself, Julian. We had only joined two daysbefore. But still, I am as much in the dark as ever. What you have saidexplains how you come to be in Russia, but it does not at all explainhow you came to be here like this."
"It was on the day after we got past the Russians. It was a strong placewith a hard name--Jaro something or other. The next day, as we weremarching along, we came across an overturned carriage. A coachman and awoman were lying dead. On nearing it, I heard a little cry, and Istepped out from the side of my company--I was a sergeant and wasmarching on the flank--and I found among the cushions a little girl,about six years old, who was already almost frozen to death. I fastenedher on to my back under my cloak, and carried her along with me. Shecame round, and was a dear little creature. Well, I carried her allthrough the retreat. Sometimes, when there was an alarm, I had time tostow her away in one of the waggons; when there was not, she went on myback into the middle of the fighting, and you know that was pretty roughoccasionally. However, we both of us seemed to possess a charm againstballs. We got on all right until the day before we were to arrive at theBerezina. Then I went out foraging with some companions; they got into ahut, lit a fire, and would not leave, so I started alone with her.
"I lost my way, and was found by a lot of peasants, who would have madevery short work of me, but the child stepped forward like a little queenand told them that she was the Countess of Woronski, and that herfather was a friend of the Czar's, and that if they sent us to him theywould get a great reward. Thinking that it was good enough, they took usto their village and dressed me up in peasant's clothes, and kept usthere a fortnight. Then the head man and the village Papa came with ushere by post. The child's father and mother had given her up as dead,and their gratitude to me is boundless. It has been deemed unadvisableto say anything about my ever being with the French, and I am simplyintroduced by the count as an English gentleman whom he regards as hisvery dear friend. I sent letters home to you and Aunt a fortnight since,and if I had heard that the charge of murder was still hanging over me Ishould probably have remained here for good. The count has alreadyhinted that there is an estate at my disposal. He is as rich as Croesus,and he and the countess would be terribly hurt if I were to refuse toaccept their tokens of gratitude. They have no other child butStephanie, and she is, of course, the apple of their eye."
"Well, you have had luck, Julian. I did think that if you once got outof prison you would be likely to fall upon your feet, because you alwayshad the knack of making yourself at home anywhere; but I had no idea ofanything like this. Well, I don't think you are to blame for havingentered the French service rather than remaining a prisoner, especiallyas you were, as far as you knew, cut off from returning home. Still, Iagree with you that it is as well not to talk about it at present. It ismarvellous to think that you were with Ney through all that fighting.The doings of the rear-guard were, I can assure you, the subject of thewarmest admiration on the part of the Russians. Sir Robert Wilsonconsiders that the retreat from Smolensk was one of the mostextraordinary military exploits ever performed. And so you were made asergeant after Borodino? Well, Julian, to win your stripes among such abody as Ney led is no slight honour."
"I received another, Frank; not so much for valour as for taking thingseasy." He took from his pocket the cross of the Legion of Honour. "This,Frank, is an honour Napoleon sent to me, and Ney pinned on my breast. Iwould rather that it had been Wellington who sent it, and say Picton whopinned it on; but it is a big honour none the less, and at any rate itwas not won in fighting against my own countrymen. This document it iswrapped up in, is the official guarantee that I received on enlisting,that I should under no circumstances whatever be called upon to serveagainst the English."
"You have a right to be proud of the cross, Julian. I should be proud ofit myself, British officer as I am. But how do you say that you got itfor taking things easy?"
"It was not exactly for taking things easy, but for keeping up the men'sspirits. Discipline was getting terribly relaxed, and they were losingtheir military bearing altogether. A lot of us
non-commissioned officerswere talking round a fire, and I suggested that we should start marchingsongs again as we used to do on our way through Germany. It would cheerthe men up, get them to march in military order and time, and shortenthe road. Ney and some of his staff happened to be within hearing, andhe praised the idea much more than it deserved. However, the men took itup, and the effect was excellent. Other regiments followed our example,and there can be no doubt that, for a time, it did have a good effect.Ney reported the business to Napoleon, who issued an order praising theGrenadiers of the Rhone for the example they had set the army, bestowingthe Legion of Honour on me, and ordering that henceforth marching songsshould be sung throughout the army. However, singing was dropped atSmolensk. After leaving there we were reduced to such a handful that wehad not the heart to sing, but it did its work, for I believe that theimprovement effected by the singing in the _morale_ of Ney's troops hadat least something to do with our being able to keep together, and tolessen the fatigues of those terrible marches.
"Now tell me more about yourself. How was it that you had the wonderfulluck to be chosen to accompany Sir Robert Wilson as his aide-de-camp?"
"It was to his suggestion when I first joined, Julian, and to nearly ayear's steady work on my part. He got me gazetted into his old regiment,the 15th Light Dragoons, and at the same time told me that if, as wasalready anticipated, Russia broke off her alliance with Napoleon, he waslikely to be offered his former position of British commissioner at theRussian headquarters. He said that if by the time that came off I hadgot up Russian, he would apply for me to go with him, so I got hold of aRussian Pole in London, a political exile, a gentleman and an awfullygood fellow. I took him with me down to Canterbury, where our depot was,and worked five or six hours a day with him steadily, so that when, atthe outbreak of war, Sir Robert got his appointment he was able to applyfor me upon the ground, that I had a thoroughly good colloquialknowledge of Russian."
"You always were a beggar to work, Frank," his brother said admiringly."I worked for a bit myself pretty hard at Verdun, and got up French wellenough to pass with, but then you see there was no other mortal thing todo, and I knew that it would be useful to me if ever I saw a chance ofescape. Of course, at that time I had no idea of enlisting: but it musthave been a different thing altogether for a young officer to give upevery amusement, as you must have done, and to slave away at a crack-jawlanguage like Russian."
"It required a little self-denial I have no doubt, Julian, but the workitself soon became pleasant. You may remember in the old days you usedto say that I could say 'No,' while you could not."
"That is true enough, Frank. I was a great ass in those days, but Ithink that now I have learnt something."
"I should think you have, Julian," Frank said, looking closely at hisbrother. "The expression of your face has very much changed, and youcertainly look as if you could say 'No' very decidedly now."
By this time they had, after a long drive, re-entered the city.
"You must come home with me first, Frank. I must introduce you to thecount and countess, and to Stephanie. Then to-morrow morning you mustcome round early. I have heard nothing yet as to how the truth aboutthat murder came out so rapidly. It seemed to me that the evidence wasconclusive against me, and that even the letter that I wrote telling youabout it, was so improbable that no one but you and Aunt would credit,in the slightest."
"It did look ugly at first, Julian. When I heard Faulkner's deposition Icould see no way out of it whatever. I could not suppose that a dyingman would lie, and, absolutely sure of your innocence as I was, couldmake neither head nor tail of the matter. Is this the mansion? Youcertainly have fallen on good quarters."
Leaving their fur coats in the hall they went upstairs. They found thecountess seated in an arm-chair. The count was reading the last gazettefrom the army to her, and Stephanie was playing with a doll. The countand his wife looked surprised as Julian entered with a young Englishofficer.
"I have the honour, countess," Julian said, "to present to you mybrother, who is aide-de-camp to the English General, Sir Robert Wilson,whom he accompanied throughout the campaign. Count, you will, I am sure,rejoice with me, in this unexpected meeting."
"We are glad, indeed, to make the acquaintance of the brother of ourdear friend," the countess said, holding out her hand to Frank.
JULIAN INTRODUCES STEPHANIE TO HIS BROTHER FRANK.]
"I regret, countess, that I am not able to reply to you in French,"Frank said in Russian. "I had thought that Russian would be absolutelynecessary here, but I find that almost everyone speaks French. Had Iknown that, I could have saved myself a good deal of labour, for to usyour language is very difficult to acquire."
"You speak it extremely well, Mr. Wyatt," the count said. "I canscarcely imagine how you have acquired such familiarity with it in yourown country."
"I learned it from a Russian Pole, a political exile, with whom I workedfor about six hours a day for nearly twelve months, in order that Imight qualify myself to accompany Sir Robert Wilson."
"This is my little friend Stephanie, Frank," Julian said, lifting thechild up on his shoulder, her favourite place.
"And this is my Nurse Julian," the child said with a laugh. "Isn't he abig nurse?"
"He is big," Frank agreed, looking up at him. "I feel quite small besidehim. He was always a great deal taller than I was, and he has grown agood bit since I saw him last. But he looks rather big for a nurse."
"He is not too big at all," Stephanie said earnestly. "He could neverhave carried me so far if he had not been very big and strong. Could he,papa?"
"No, Stephanie; though I think goodness of heart had as much to do withit as strength of body. Your brother has, of course, told you, Mr.Wyatt, how deep an obligation he has laid us under."
"He said that he had had the good fortune to find your little girl, andthat he took her along with him in the retreat; but he seemed toconsider that the service she did him when they fell among the Russianpeasants quite settled matters between them. Doubtless, they mutuallysaved each other's lives."
"Mr. Wyatt," the count said gravely, "the one act was momentary andwithout risk. The other was done at the cost of labour and sacrificedaily and hourly for nearly a month. You have been through the campaign,and know how frightful were the sufferings, how overwhelming theexhaustion of the soldiers. You can judge, then, how terrible was theaddition to a soldier's labours to have to carry a child like that forso long, when his own strength was hourly weakening, and when everyadditional pound of weight told heavily upon him. The tears come intothe eyes of the countess and myself every time we think of it. It was anact of self-devotion beyond words; altogether beyond the understandingof those who know not how terrible were the sufferings endured on themarch."
"They were indeed terrible, Count," Frank said gravely. "It was agonyfor me to witness them, and I cannot but share your wonder how mybrother supported the extra weight, even of your little daughter, andcame through it safely, while tens of thousands of men not so burdenedfell and died along the road."
Julian did not understand what was being said, but he guessed by theirfaces what they were speaking of.
"I suppose you are saying that it was hard work carrying the child," hebroke in in English; "but I can tell you that I believe it aided me toget through. It gave me something to think of besides the snow, thedistance, and the Russians. She was always cheerful and bright, and hermerry talk lightened the way, but in addition to that the warmth of herbody against my back by day and curled up in my arms at night, greatlyhelped to keep life in me. I think that it was largely due to her that Igot through safely where many men as strong as myself died."
The count looked inquiringly at Frank, who translated what Julian hadsaid. He smiled, "Your brother is determined to try to make out thatthe obligation is all on his side, but it will not do. There is thesimple fact that we have our little daughter again, safe and sound. Ifit had not been for him she would have been lost to us for ever."
Julian went down to the door with Frank. "Of course you will tell thegeneral all about it, Frank. I suppose he knows something of thecircumstances under which I went away, as he was a friend of ourfather's, and got you your commission, and takes such an interest inyou. I daresay he will be shocked to hear that I have been carrying aFrench musket, but I am not ashamed of it myself, and consider thatunder the circumstances I was perfectly justified in doing so. Comeround in the morning the first thing after breakfast. I have yet tolearn all about how you found out that Markham committed that murder,and then you can tell me, too, what the general says."
On going upstairs Julian told his hosts that he had been completelycleared of the charge that had hung over him and darkened his life, andthat there was nothing to prevent him from returning to England. Theyexpressed much gratification at the news, but at the same time said thatfor themselves they could not but regret that this would prevent theirhaving the pleasure they had looked forward to of having him settlednear them.
"This, however, we must talk about again," the count said. "At any rate,I hope that you will from time to time come over to stay for a whilewith us and Stephanie."
"That I will assuredly do, Count," Julian said warmly. "I do not quiteknow at present what I shall do. As I have told you, I shall, inaddition to my share of my father's money, inherit some from my aunt,and shall be able, if I choose, to buy a small estate and settle down. Iam too old to go into our army now, but, besides, I think that ere longthis European struggle will be over, and in that case there will benothing for a soldier to do. Still in any case I shall be ableoccasionally to make a voyage here; and I can assure you that it will beone of my greatest pleasures to do so."
Sir Robert Wilson was greatly surprised when he heard from Frank of hismeeting with his brother, and of the adventures through which he hadpassed.
"I do not blame him in any way," he said. "Had he been a king's soldieror sailor the matter would have been altogether different. To haveentered a foreign army then would have been a breach of his oaths. Butas a private individual he was free to take service abroad, as tens ofthousands of English, Scotch, and Irish have done before him. It would,of course, have been much better had he entered the army of a powerfriendly to England, but the document that he received on enlisting goesfar to absolve him from any responsibility in the matter. At any rate,he was not a deserter, and seeing that he could not go back to Englandeven if he escaped, that he was practically friendless in the world, andthat, had he not acted as he did he might have died at Verdun, I do notthink that even a severe moralist would be able to find any fault withhis decision. So he was one of Ney's heroes! Well, Frank, when this waris over, and the bitterness between the two nations has passed away, hewill have good cause to feel proud of having been one of thatunconquerable band. No troops have ever gained greater glory by victorythan they have by retreat; besides to have won his stripes in suchcompany, and to have received the Legion of Honour from Ney, is as highan honour as any soldier could wish for. At the same time, I think thathe and his friends have done wisely in keeping silence as to the part heplayed--it might have led to all sorts of trouble. Had it been known, hemight have been claimed as a prisoner of war; and even if this had notbeen done, he might have been embroiled in quarrels with hot-headedyoung Russians; and it is scarcely probable, Frank, that he is such adead shot with the pistol as you are."
The next morning Julian heard from Frank full details of the manner inwhich the truth had been arrived at of the circumstances of Mr.Faulkner's murder.
"By Jove! Frank," he exclaimed, when his brother brought the story to aconclusion; "you ought to have been a Bow Street runner. I can't thinkhow it all occurred to you. Thinking it over, as I have done hundreds oftimes, it never once occurred to me that the footprints in the snowmight prove that I had set off in pursuit of Markham, and that theywould have shown that he was standing behind that tree whence the shotwas fired, while I went straight from the road to the place whereFaulkner was lying. What a head you have, old fellow!"
"It was simple enough, Julian. I was certain that you had not committedthe murder, and it was therefore clear that someone else must have doneso. Then came the question, first, how Faulkner had come to charge youas he had done, and, second, how and why you had disappeared. The onlyconceivable explanation that I could find was that you must have runinto the wood, caught sight of the murderer, and followed him up.Directly we found your footprints on the snow overlapping his it madethat a certainty. We had only then to go into the wood and pick up thewhole story bit by bit. For a time I certainly thought that you had beenkilled by the friends of the man that you had followed, and you mayimagine what a relief it was to us when your letter came.
"And now, old fellow, I suppose you will be going home? Sir Robert hastold me that he will be willing to give me leave at once, and that heconsiders I ought to have a thorough rest, to get the seeds of thathorrible hospital fever out of my blood. Therefore, I am ready to startwith you whenever you are ready to go. He does not know yet whether hewill continue as commissioner here when the campaign recommences in thespring; but there is little doubt that he will do so, and in that case Ishall rejoin as soon as the weather breaks sufficiently for operationsto commence. I got my lieutenantcy three months ago owing to thevacancies made in the regiment during the campaign in Spain; and SirRobert has been good enough to speak so strongly of my services herethat I have every chance of getting another step before I return."
"I see no reason why I should not start at the end of the week, Frank.Of course, I am extremely comfortable here; but now that I know I can goback all right I am longing to be home again. Indeed I should soon gettired of having nothing to do but to drive about and eat dinners here;and besides, I cannot but feel that I am in a false position, and amvery anxious to get out of it."
Frank nodded. "I quite understand that, old fellow, and I agree with youthoroughly. A question might be asked any day that you could not replyto without saying how you came to be here; and for the sake of the countas well as yourself, that should be avoided if possible."
The count was loud in his expressions of regret when he heard thatJulian was about to leave with his brother at once; but when Julianurged that he was constantly in fear that some chance question might beasked, and that the falseness of his position weighed heavily upon him,the count could not but admit the justice of the view he took.Preparations were immediately begun for departure. They were to travelby sledge through Finland, passing through Vibourg to Abo, and there tocross the Gulf of Bothnia to the Swedish coast, a few miles north ofStockholm, and to travel across the country to Gothenburg. The countplaced one of his travelling carriages on runners at their disposal asfar as Abo, and insisted on sending one of his own servants with them toattend to their wants on the road.
Stephanie was inconsolable at the approaching departure of her friend,and even the promise that he would return and pay them another visitbefore very long, scarcely pacified her. In three days all was ready.The luggage, packed in a light waggon, had been sent off in charge ofone of the count's servants forty-eight hours before; and the travellingcarriage had but to take three or four great hampers stored withprovisions and wines. The count and countess had had on the previous daya long talk with Frank, who at their request called at an hour whenJulian would be out paying a long round of farewell visits. Theconversation was a serious one, and had ended by the count saying:
"You see, Mr. Wyatt, nothing will alter the determination of thecountess and myself in this matter; and if you had not consented toaccept our commission and to carry out our wishes, we should have had nocourse open but to communicate with our embassy in London, and torequest them to appoint someone to act as our agent in the matter. Thiswould not have been so satisfactory, for the agent would of course havebeen ignorant of your brother's tastes and wishes; whereas you will beable to learn from him exactly the position that would be mostagreeable. All we ask is that you will not go below the minimum we havenamed, and the more you e
xceed it the better we shall be pleased. Youknow well how we feel in the matter, and that anything that can be donein this way will still fall very far short of the measure of gratitudewe feel towards your brother."
"I will carry out the commission that you have given me to the best ofmy abilities, Count; and will endeavour to act as if my brother was anentire stranger."
"Thank you greatly, Mr. Wyatt. I agree with you that if you dismissaltogether from your mind the fact that your brother is interested inthe matter, and that you regard yourself as simply carrying out abusiness transaction as our agent, it will simplify matters greatly. Idon't wish you to have the trouble of the actual details. I shall writemyself to our ambassador, who is a personal friend of mine, and requesthim, as soon as he hears from you, to instruct an English lawyer tocarry out all the business part of the arrangement."
The journey across Finland was a very pleasant one. Both were in highspirits. The cloud that had hung over Julian had been dispelled, andFrank's constant anxiety about him had been laid to rest. They had gonesafely through the most wonderful campaign of modern times, and were nowon their way home. Julian's supply of money was untouched save for thepurchase of a variety of presents for his aunt. They travelled only byday. The carriage was constructed with all conveniences for sleeping in,and when, on their arrival at the end of their day's journey, theyreturned from a stroll down the town to an excellent dinner prepared bytheir servant, they had but to turn in for a comfortable night's rest inthe vehicle. At Abo they found their baggage awaiting them.
"By Jove! Julian," Frank said laughing, as he looked at the great pileof trunks in the post-house, "one would think that you were carrying thewhole contents of a household. Those modest tin cases comprise my shareof that pile."
"It is tremendous!" Julian said almost ruefully. "I feel quite ashamedto turn up with such an amount of baggage. The first thing we must do,as soon as we get back, is to effect a division. I am afraid that myoutside clothes will be of no use to you--they would require entireremaking; but all the other things will fit you as well as me. I dobelieve that there are enough to last me my life-time; and it will bedownright charity to relieve me of some of them. You may imagine mystupefaction when I came back one day to the count's and found my roomliterally filled with clothes."
"I will help you a bit," Frank laughed. "The campaign has pretty welldestroyed all my kit, and I shan't be too proud to fill up from yourabundance."
They found that the servant who had preceded them with the baggage hadalready made all the arrangements for their crossing the gulf. Theextreme cold had everywhere so completely frozen the sea that there wasno difficulty in crossing, which, they learned, was not often the case.Three sledges had been engaged for their transport. The distance wasabout 120 miles; but it was broken by the islands of the AlandArchipelago, and upon one or other of these they could take refuge inthe event of any sudden change of weather. They were to start atmidnight, and would reach Bomarsund, on the main island of Aland, on thefollowing evening, wait there for twenty-four hours to rest the animals,and would reach the mainland the next day.
The frost continued unbroken, and they crossed the gulf withoutdifficulty, travelled rapidly across Sweden, and reached England withoutadventure of any kind. They waited for a day in London. Frank carrieddespatches from Sir Robert Wilson, and was occupied at the War Officeall day, having a very long interview with the minister, to whom he gavea much more detailed account of the campaign than had been given in thegeneral's reports. The minister expressed much satisfaction at theinformation he afforded, and said at the conclusion of the interview:
"Sir Robert has spoken several times as to your services, and I am happyto inform you that your name will appear in the next gazette as promotedto the rank of captain. I consider that the manner in which you devotedyourself to the acquisition of the Russian language was most highlymeritorious, and I wish that many young officers would similarly acquireforeign or oriental languages. I trust that you will thoroughly recoveryour health, so as to be able to rejoin Sir Robert Wilson by the timethat the troops take the field again. The campaign is likely to be amost important, and--we have great grounds for hoping--a final one."
Before leaving the building Frank found out where Strelinski was atwork. He was engaged in translating a mass of Russian documents. He rosefrom his seat with an exclamation of delight when he saw Frank, who,after a short chat, asked him to come that evening to his hotel. Hethere learned that the Pole was getting on very well. His knowledge ofGerman as well as of Russian had been very valuable to him; his salaryhad already been raised, and he was now at the head of a smalldepartment, having two of his countrymen and three Germans under him,and his future in the office was quite assured.
"The work is somewhat hard," he said, "for when a ship comes in fromGermany or Russia we are often at work all night, sometimeseight-and-forty hours at a stretch, but we are all paid overtime. Thework is pleasant and interesting, and your officials are good enough tosay that we get through a wonderful amount in the time, and the ministerhas twice expressed his approbation to me. Ah, Mr. Wyatt, how much do Iowe to you and the good general?"
"I owe fully as much to you as you owe to me, Strelinski," Frank said."Putting aside the interest there has been in witnessing such mightyevents, it has been a splendid thing for me in my profession. I shall begazetted captain this week, while I am pretty sure of a brevet majorityat the end of the next campaign, and of further employment in the sameline afterwards."
Julian was not present at the interview. He had never been in Londonbefore, and after spending the day in strolling through the streets andvisiting the principal sights, had gone to a theatre, leaving Frank totalk with the Pole. The latter had not left when Julian returned. He andFrank had found such an abundance of subjects to talk about that theywere scarcely aware how the time had passed. The latter proposed thatthey should go to one of the fashionable taverns to supper. Julian wouldhave excused himself, but Frank insisted on his accompanying him. Asthey were sitting there, two gentlemen passed by their table. One ofthem stared hard at Frank, and then with an angry exclamation turnedaway. Then Strelinski said:
"That is your old antagonist, unless I am mistaken, Mr. Wyatt. Youpointed him out to me once when I was in barracks with you, and Ithought I remembered his face; that empty sleeve assures me that it ishim."
Frank nodded.
"What is that?" Julian asked.
"Oh, it is nothing," his brother said hastily.
"No, no, Mr. Wyatt, it was a grand thing. Has not your brother told youof it, Mr. Julian?"
"No, he has told me nothing about an antagonist."
"You do not know, then, that Mr. Frank may claim to be the finest pistolshot in the British army."
Julian looked at his brother in astonishment. "I did not know that youhad ever fired a pistol in your life, Frank."
"I practised pretty hard while I was at Canterbury," Frank answered. "Isuppose that I had a good eye for it, and certainly came to be what youwould call a good shot, though I dare say there are others just as good.I got involved in a quarrel with the man who has just passed me, who wasa captain in the Lancers, and a notorious bully and duellist. We wentout. I hit him in the hand, and he lost his arm above the elbow, andthere was the end of it."
"Perhaps you will be kind enough to tell me a little more about it, Mr.Strelinski," Julian said, turning to the Pole, and in spite of a growlfrom Frank that there was nothing to tell, the Pole related the wholecircumstances of the quarrel, the feeling that had been excited by it,Frank's expressed determination not to inflict serious injury upon theman but to carry away his trigger-finger only, and so put an end to hisduels in the future, and the manner in which his intention was carriedout.
"Well, I congratulate you, Frank, very heartily," Julian said, whenStrelinski had finished. "Why on earth did you not tell me about thisbefore?"
"Really, Julian, there was nothing to tell about. It was a disagreeableincident altogether, and I considered then, a
s I have considered since,that it was hardly fair of me to go out with him when I was so certainof my shooting, and it was a hundred to one in my favour. I should neverhave done it if he had not forced the quarrel upon young Wilmington; forthe young fellow must either have gone out, which would have beenthrowing away his life, or left the service."
"Unfair, my dear Frank! why the man himself had always relied upon hissuperior skill, and you were able to beat him at his own game. Well, Iwish I could shoot as well. However, as I am not going to do any moresoldiering, I don't know that it would be of much use to me; still Ishould like to be able to do it."
The next morning they started by coach for Weymouth, leaving Julian'sheavier luggage to follow by carrier waggon. Mrs. Troutbeck's joy, whenher two nephews arrived together, for a time completely overpowered her,and smelling salts and other restoratives had to be brought into playbefore she recovered. The event created quite an excitement in Weymouth.The appearance of Frank's name so frequently in Sir Robert Wilson'sdespatches had been a source of pride to the whole town, and especiallyto his old school-fellows, while the clearing up of the mystery that hadso long hung over Julian's fate was no less interesting. The sympathywith him was so great and general that no one was surprised or shockedthat, under the circumstances, he had been driven to enlist in theFrench army, and had taken part in the Russian campaign. Indeed, thefact that he had been one of Ney's celebrated division, whose braveryhad excited general admiration, was considered a feather in his cap,especially when it became known that he had been awarded the Cross ofthe Legion of Honour by Napoleon himself. Had not the brothers receivedthe proposal most unfavourably, a public dinner would have been got upto celebrate their return.
"Well, Julian, you will have to settle what you mean to do withyourself," Frank said one day. "You can never settle down here withoutany occupation whatever, after what you have gone through."
"No, I quite feel that, Frank. I have had enough of soldiering; that onecampaign is enough for a life time. I really can hardly make up my mindwhat to do. Aunt was speaking to me yesterday afternoon when you wereout. The dear old soul said that it was nonsense for me to wait for herdeath, wasting my life here, and that she was anxious to hand me over atonce half her money. She said that that would be L10,000, and with theL8,000--my share of father's money--I could then buy an estate."
"It would be the best thing you could do, Julian, but, of course, thereis no hurry about it. What part of the country would you prefer tosettle in?"
"I don't know, Frank, I have never thought much about it. I don't thinkI should choose anywhere near Weymouth, and I would rather go to aflatter country, and a better wooded one. If I bought land, I shouldlike to have land that I could cultivate myself, so as to give me aninterest in it, and I should like, after a time, to be on the bench,which would give one a good deal of occupation. I suppose I shall marrysome day, and so would prefer to be within reach of a town. I shouldthink, from what you say, the country round Canterbury must be pretty.There is a garrison there, Dover is within reach, and it is a good dealmore handy for getting up to town than it is from here. However, as yousay, there is plenty of time for me to think about that."
Mrs. Troutbeck was, as Julian had predicted, astounded upon the arrivalof his baggage. "I never saw such a thing!" she exclaimed, as trunkafter trunk was carried into the house. "That Russian count of yours,Julian, must be a little cracked, I should think. Why, my dear boy, ifyou were to get stout what in the world would you do with all thesethings?"
"That is a contingency I have never thought of, Aunt. You quite frightenme. I must go in for a course of severe exercise to prevent the chanceof such a thing occurring."
"You might take to shooting," Mrs. Troutbeck said doubtfully; "and I amsure that at present there is not a gentleman round who would not beglad to give you a day's shooting."
"I have done enough shooting, Aunt," Julian said gravely. "It was themeans of my getting into a bad scrape here. In Russia it was often partof my duty to shoot dying horses, to say nothing of shooting men, and Ihave no desire ever to take a gun in my hands again. I have looked up myold friend Bill, and shall take to sailing again, but I will promise youthat I will keep clear of smugglers."
Two days later Frank announced his intention of going up to London for afew days, as he thought he had better offer to be of any assistance hecould at the War Office. He was away for nearly three weeks, and on hisreturn mentioned that he had run down to Canterbury, and had seen someof his old friends at the depot. A fortnight later he received a bulkyletter from town, and in the course of the day asked his aunt if shefelt equal to taking a journey with him.
"A journey, my dear!" she repeated in surprise. "Where do you want to goto?"
"Well, Aunt, I want to go to London in the first place; we will travelby post-chaise, so that everything will be comfortable; afterwards wemay go somewhere else. I can't tell you anything about it now; it is alittle secret. But I do very much want you and Julian to go with me."
"Then, of course we will, my dear," the old lady said. "I should verymuch like to visit London again, and see the theatres and shows. What doyou say, Julian?"
"Of course I will go, Aunt, though I can't think what Frank has got inhis head. Still, I am very tired of Weymouth, and it will be a change. Iwas saying to Dick Halliburne yesterday that unless I could hit onsomething to do, I should have to ask them if they would let me go toschool again."
Six days later they drove up in a post-chaise to a fine mansion somethree miles from Canterbury. Julian's astonishment at Frank's mysteriousproceedings had been growing ever since they left Weymouth.
"Who on earth are we going to see here?" he asked, as they approachedthe mansion.
"Restrain your impatience for a few minutes longer, Julian, then youshall know all about it. This mansion, I may tell you, belongs to afriend of mine. It is the centre of an estate of some 2,000 acres, andits rent-roll is about L3,000 a year."
"Very nice indeed!" Julian said. "Well, I won't ask any more questionstill we get there."
A gentleman appeared at the door as the carriage drove up. He shookhands warmly with Frank, who introduced him to his companions as Mr.James Linton, solicitor to the Russian embassy. The gentleman led theway to a very handsome drawing-room, then he looked inquiringly atFrank, who nodded. From a mahogany box on the table Mr. Linton produceda large packet of papers.
"Mr. Wyatt," he said to Julian, "it is my pleasant duty to present youwith these documents. They are the title-deeds of this mansion and thesurrounding property. In purchasing them I have followed out theinstructions of Count Woronski, and have had the benefit of theassistance of your brother in selecting an estate that would, hethought, from its situation, be agreeable to you."
Julian looked at the speaker as if unable to take in the sense of hiswords.
"I beg your pardon," he said hesitatingly. "I don't think I quiteunderstand you."
"It is as I said, Mr. Wyatt. Count Woronski wrote to me expressing hisdesire to present you with an estate here as some slight token, as heexpressed it, of the enormous obligation under which you have placed himand the countess, his wife. I may say that his instructions to me wouldhave authorized the purchase of a much larger estate than this, but hebegged me to be guided by the advice of your brother, Captain Wyatt, inthe matter, and the latter obliged me by taking the responsibility ofchoosing an estate off my hands, and has selected this. My part in thebusiness has therefore been confined to carrying out the legal part inthe matter and completing the purchase."
"My dear Frank," Julian said, "this is monstrous."
"I have only carried out the wishes of the count, Julian. He and thecountess had a long conversation with me, and it was with somereluctance that I accepted the mission to select an estate for you, andonly because he said that if I refused, he should have to request theRussian ambassador to ask one of his secretaries to do so, and that itwould be very much more satisfactory to him that the place chosen shouldbe, in point of situation and oth
er respects, just what you wouldyourself like."
"I am overpowered, Mr. Linton. It has all come upon me so much bysurprise that I do not know what I ought to say or do."
"There can be no doubt what you ought to do," the solicitor replied."Count Woronski is a very wealthy nobleman. You have rendered to him andhis wife one of the greatest services one man can render to another. Thecount mentioned in his letter that had you remained in Russia it was hisintention to transfer one of his estates to you, and the smallest ofthem is of much greater value than this. As to your refusing the gift,it is, if I may say so, impossible. Nothing could exceed the delicacywith which the count has arranged the business, and he would naturallyfeel deeply hurt were you to hesitate to accept this token of hisgratitude. I am sure you must see that yourself."
"I do indeed see it," Julian said, "and I feel that it would be not onlyungrateful but wrong for me to refuse this noble gift. But you willadmit that it is natural that I should for a time be overwhelmed by it.I am not so ungracious as to refuse so magnificent a present, although Ifeel that it is altogether disproportionate, not to the service I wasfortunate enough to render, but to my action in rendering it. Well, Mr.Linton, I can only thank you for the part you have taken in the matter.Of course, I shall write at once to the count and countess expressing myfeelings as to this magnificent gift, and will send the letter to theembassy to be forwarded at the first possible opportunity. And now whatis the next thing to be done, for I feel almost incapable of forming anyplans at present?"
"I would suggest, Mr. Wyatt, that in the first place you should driveround your estate. There are horses and carriages in the stable. Theestate had only been advertised a day or two before your brother came upto town, and the purchase included the furniture, horses and carriages,and the live stock on the home farm. I engaged the coachman, grooms, andgardeners to remain until, at least, you should decide whether to takethem into your service. I should suggest also that, after driving roundthe place, you should return to Canterbury for the night. Beyond an oldman and his wife, who are in charge of the house, I have not made anyarrangements, thinking it better to leave that to you and Mrs.Troutbeck."
"You will have to move here, you know, Aunt," Frank said. "I gaveorders, before we came away from Weymouth, to Mary to lock up the house,and to come up to town by the coach two days later, and then to come onto Canterbury. I have no doubt that we shall find her at the _Fountain_when we get there. I daresay you will be able to hear of some goodservants at the Hotel."
"You have taken away my breath altogether, Frank," Mrs. Troutbeck said."However, I am too bewildered to think for myself, and for the presentmust do whatever you tell me."
Before Frank started three weeks later to rejoin Sir Robert Wilson hehad the satisfaction of seeing Julian comfortably established in his newposition, and settling down to the life. He himself went through thetremendous campaign that brought about the conclusion of the war and thedownfall of Napoleon, and was present at the great battles of Lutzen,Bautzen, Reichenbach, Dresden, Culm, and Leipsic. At the termination ofthe war he received the rank of brevet major, and the appointment ofmilitary attache to the British embassy in Russia. He remained there forsome years, and then retired from the army with the rank of colonel.
Mrs. Troutbeck had by this time passed away, having first had thepleasure of seeing a mistress installed at Julian's. The latter was nowa justice of the peace, and one of the most popular landowners in thecounty. Mrs. Troutbeck, at Julian's earnest request, left the whole ofher property to Frank, nor could the latter persuade his brother to takeany share of it. Frank had no inclination for a country life, andsettled down near London, where, after a time, he too married.
He then went in for politics, and was returned for a Kentishconstituency. Although he took no very prominent part in party politicshe became one of the recognized authorities in the house on all mattersconnected with the affairs of Eastern Europe, and took a lively interestin the movements set on foot for the benefit of the British soldier.Julian kept his promise to the count, and for many years went overoccasionally to stay with him. His wife accompanied him until the caresof a rising family detained her at home. To the end of their livesneither Frank nor he ever regretted that they had taken part in thememorable campaign in Russia.
THE END.