The Nest of the Sparrowhawk: A Romance of the XVIIth Century

by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Orczy

  CHAPTER XVII

  RUS IN URBE

  One or two of the men looked up as de Chavasse entered, but no one tookmuch notice of him.

  Most of those present remembered him from the past few years when stillwith pockets well filled through having forestalled Lady Sue'smaintenance money, he was an habitual frequenter of some of the smartsecret clubs in town; but here, just the same as elsewhere, SirMarmaduke was not a popular man, and many there were who had unpleasantrecollections of his surly temper and uncouth ways, whenever fickleFortune happened not to favor him.

  Even now, he looked sullen and disagreeable as, having exchanged asignificant glance with his sister-in-law, he gave a comprehensive nodto the assembled guests, which had nothing in it either of cordiality orof good-will. He touched Editha's finger tips with his lips, and thenadvanced into the room.

  Here he was met by Mistress Endicott, who had effectually thrown off thelast vestige of annoyance and of rebellion, for she greeted the newcomerwith marked good-humor and an encouraging smile.

  "It is indeed a pleasure to see that Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse hath notforgot old friends," she said pleasantly.

  "It was passing kind, gracious mistress," he responded, forcing himselfto speak naturally and in agreeable tones, "to remember an insignificantcountry bumpkin like myself ... and you see I have presumed on yourlavish hospitality and brought my young friend, Master Richard Lambert,to whom you extended so gracious an invitation."

  He turned to Lambert, who a little dazed to find himself in suchbrilliant company, had somewhat timidly kept close to the heels of hisemployer. He thought Mistress Endicott vulgar and overdressed the momenthe felt bold enough to raise his eyes to hers. But he chided himselfimmediately for thus daring to criticize his betters.

  His horizon so far had been very limited; only quite vaguely had heheard of town and Court life. The little cottage where dwelt the oldQuakeress who had brought him and his brother up, and the tumble-down,dilapidated house of Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse were the only habitationsin which he was intimate. The neighboring Kentish Squires, Sir TimothyHarrison, Squire Pyncheon and Sir John Boatfield, were the onlypresentations of "gentlemen" he had ever seen.

  Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse had somewhat curtly given him orders the daybefore, that he was to accompany him to London, whither he himself hadto go to consult his lawyer. Lambert had naturally obeyed, withoutmurmur, but with vague trepidations at thought of this, his firstjourney into the great town.

  Sir Marmaduke had been very kind, had given him a new suit of grogram,lined with flowered silk, which Lambert thought the richest garment hehad ever seen. He was very loyal in his thoughts to his employer,bearing with the latter's violence and pandering to his fits ofill-humor for the sake of the home which Sir Marmaduke had provided forhim.

  To Lambert's mind, Sir Marmaduke's kindness to him was whollygratuitous. His own position as secretary being but a sinecure, theyoung man readily attributed de Chavasse's interest in himself to innategoodness of heart, and desire to help the poor orphan lad.

  This estimate of his employer's character Richard Lambert had not feltany cause to modify. He continued to serve him faithfully, to look afterhis interests in and around Acol Court to the best of his ability; aboveall he continued to be whole-heartedly grateful. He was so absolutelyconscious of the impassable social barrier which existed between himselfand the rich daughter of the great Earl of Dover, that he never for amoment resented Sir Marmaduke's sneers when they were directed againsthis obvious, growing love for Sue.

  Remember that he had no cause to suspect Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse ofany nefarious projects or of any evil intentions with regard to himself,when he told him that together they would go this night to the house ofan old friend, Mrs. Endicott, where they would derive much pleasure andentertainment.

  They had spent the previous night at the Swan Inn in Fleet Street andthe day in visiting the beautiful sights of London, which caused theyoung lad from the country to open wide eyes in astonishment andpleasure.

  Sir Marmaduke had been peculiarly gracious, even taking Richard with himto the Frenchman's house in Queen's Head Alley, where that curiousbeverage called coffee was dispensed and where several clever people metand discussed politics in a manner which was vastly interesting to theyoung man.

  Then when the evening began to draw in, and Lambert thought it high timeto go to bed, for 'twas a pity to burn expensive candles longer than wasnecessary, Sir Marmaduke had astonished his secretary by telling himthat he must now clean and tidy himself for they would proceed to thehouse of a great lady named Mistress Endicott--a friend of the ex-QueenHenrietta Maria and a lady of peculiar virtues and saintliness, whowould give them vast and pleasing entertainment.

  Lambert was only too ready to obey. Enjoyment came naturally to himbeneath his Quaker bringing-up: his youth, good-health and pure,naturally noble intellect, all craved companionship, with its attendantpleasures and joys. He himself could not afterwards have said exactlyhow he had pictured in his mind the saintly lady--friend of the unhappyQueen--whom he was to meet this night.

  Certainly Mistress Endicott, with her red face surmounted by masses ofcurls that were obviously false, since they did not match the rest ofher hair, was not the ideal paragon of all the virtues, and when he wasfirst made to greet her, a strange, unreasoning instinct seemed to drawhim away from her, to warn him to fly from this noisy company, from thesight of those many faces, all unnaturally flushed, and from the soundsof those strange oaths which greeted his ears from every side.

  A great wave of thankfulness came over him that, his graciouslady--innocent, tender, beautiful Lady Sue, had not come to London withher guardian. Whilst he gazed on the marvels of Westminster Hall and ofold Saint Paul's he had longed that she should be near him, so that hemight watch the brilliance of her eyes, and the glow of pleasure which,of a surety would have mantled in her cheeks when she was shown thebeauties of the great city.

  But now he was glad--very glad, that Sir Marmaduke had so sternlyordained that she should remain these few days alone at Acol in chargeof Mistress Charity and of Master Busy. At the time he had chafedbitterly at his own enforced silence: he would have given all hepossessed in the world for the right to warn Sir Marmaduke de Chavassethat a wolf was prowling in the fold under cover of the night. He hadseen Lady Sue's eyes brighten at the dictum that she was to remainbehind--they told him in eloquent language the joy she felt to be freefor two days that she might meet her prince undisturbed.

  But all these thoughts and fears had fled the moment Lambert foundhimself in the midst of these people, whom he innocently believed to begreat ladies and noble gentlemen, friends of his employer Sir Marmadukede Chavasse. It seemed to him at once as if there was something here--inthis room--which he would not wish Lady Sue to see.

  He was clumsy and _gauche_ in his movements as he took the hand whichMistress Endicott extended to him, but he tried to imitate the salutewhich he had seen his employer give on the flat--not veryclean--finger-tips of the lady.

  She was exceedingly gracious to him, saying with great kindliness and amelancholy sigh:

  "Ah! you come from the country, master? ... So delightful, of atruth.... Milk for breakfast, eh? ... You get up at dawn and go to bedat sunset? ... I know country life well--though alas! duty now keeps mein town.... But 'tis small wonder that you look so young!"

  He tried to talk to her of the country, for here she had touched on atopic which was dear to him. He knew all about the birds and beasts, theforests and the meadows, and being unused to the art of hypocriticalinterest, he took for real sympathy the lady's vapid exclamations ofenthusiasm, with which she broke in now and again upon his flow ofeloquence.

  Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse, who was watching the young man with febrilekeenness, had the satisfaction to note that very soon Richard began tothrow off his bucolic timidity, his latent yet distinctly perceptibledisapproval of the company into which he had been brought. He sought outhis sister-in-law and drew her attention to
Lambert in closeconversation with Mrs. Endicott.

  "Is everything arranged?" he asked under his breath.

  "Everything," she replied.

  "No trouble with our henchmen?"

  "A little ... but they are submissive now."

  "What is the arrangement?"

  "Persuade young Lambert to take a hand at primero ... Endicott will dothe rest."

  "Who is in the know?" he queried, after a slight pause, during which hewatched his unsuspecting victim with a deep frown of impatience and ofhate.

  "Only the Endicotts," she explained. "But do you think that he willplay?" she added, casting an anxious look on her brother-in-law's face.

  He nodded affirmatively.

  "Yes!" he said curtly. "I can arrange that, as soon as you are ready."

  She turned from him and walked to the center table. She watched the gamefor a while, noting that young Segrave was still the winner, and thatLord Walterton was very flushed and excited.

  Then she caught Endicott's eye, and immediately lowered her lashestwice in succession.

  "Ventre-saint-gris!" swore Endicott with an unmistakable British accentin the French expletive, "but I'll play no more.... The bank is broken... and I have lost too much money. Mr. Segrave there has nearly cleanedme out and still I cannot break his luck."

  He rose abruptly from his chair, even as Mistress de Chavasse quietlywalked away from the table.

  But Lord Walterton placed a detaining, though very trembling hand, onthe cinnamon-colored sleeve.

  "Nay! parbleu! ye cannot go like this ... good Master Endicott ..." hesaid, speaking very thickly, "I want another round or two ... 'pon myhonor I do ... I haven't lost nearly all I meant to lose."

  "Ye cannot stop play so abruptly, master," said Segrave, whose eyesshone with an unnatural glitter, and whose cheeks were covered with ahectic flush, "ye cannot leave us all in the lurch."

  "Nay, I doubt not, my young friend," quoth Endicott gruffly, "that youwould wish to play all night.... You have won all my money and LordWalterton's, too."

  "And most of mine," added Sir Michael Isherwood ruefully.

  "Why should not Master Segrave take the bank," here came in shrillaccents from Mistress Endicott, who throughout her conversation withLambert had kept a constant eye on what went on around her husband'stable. "He seems the only moneyed man amongst you all," she added with alaugh, which grated most unpleasantly on Richard's ear.

  "I will gladly take the bank," said Segrave eagerly.

  "Pardi! I care not who hath the bank," quoth Lord Walterton, with theslow emphasis of the inebriated. "My system takes time to work.... And Istand to lose a good deal unless ... hic ... unless I win!"

  "You are not where you were, when you began," commented Sir Michaelgrimly.

  "By Gad, no! ... hic ... but 'tis no matter.... Give me time!"

  "Methought I saw Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse just now," said Endicott,looking about him. "Ah! and here comes our worthy baronet," he addedcheerily as Sir Marmaduke's closely cropped head--very noticeable in thecrowd of periwigs--emerged from amidst the group that clustered roundMistress Endicott. "A hand at primero, sir?"

  "I thank you, no!" replied Sir Marmaduke, striving to master hishabitual ill-humor and to speak pleasantly. "My luck hath long sincedeserted me, if it e'er visited me at all. A fact of which I grow dailymore doubtful."

  "But ventre-saint-gris!" ejaculated Lord Walterton, who showed aninclination to become quarrelsome in his cups, "we must have someone totake Endicott's place, I cannot work my system hic ... if so fewplay...."

  "Perhaps your young friend, Sir Marmaduke ..." suggested MistressEndicott, waving an embroidered handkerchief in the direction of RichardLambert.

  "No doubt! no doubt!" rejoined Sir Marmaduke, turning with kindlygraciousness to his secretary. "Master Lambert, these gentlemen arerequiring another hand for their game ... I pray you join in withthem...."

  "I would do so with pleasure, sir," replied Lambert, still unsuspecting,"but I fear me I am a complete novice at cards.... What is the game?"

  He was vaguely distrustful of cards, for he had oft heard this pastimecondemned as ungodly by those with whom he had held converse in hisearly youth, nevertheless it did not occur to him that there might beanything wrong in a game which was countenanced by Sir Marmaduke deChavasse, whom he knew to be an avowed Puritan, and by the saintly ladywho had been the friend of ex-Queen Henrietta Maria.

  "'Tis a simple round game," said Sir Marmaduke lightly, "you would soonlearn."

  "And ..." said Lambert diffidently questioning, and eying the gold andsilver which lay in profusion on the table, "there is no money at stake... of course? ..."

  "Oh! only a little," rejoined Mistress Endicott, "a paltry trifle ...to add zest to the enjoyment of the game."

  "However little it may be, Sir Marmaduke," said Lambert firmly, speakingdirectly to his employer, "I humbly pray you to excuse me before thesegentlemen ..."

  The three players at the table, as well as the two Endicotts, hadlistened to this colloquy with varying feelings. Segrave was burningwith impatience, Lord Walterton was getting more and more fractious,whilst Sir Michael Isherwood viewed the young secretary with markedhauteur. At the last words spoken by Lambert there came from all thesegentlemen sundry ejaculations, expressive of contempt or annoyance,which caused an ugly frown to appear between de Chavasse's eyes, and adeep blush to rise in the young man's pale cheek.

  "What do you mean?" queried Sir Marmaduke harshly.

  "There are other gentlemen here," said Lambert, speaking with morefirmness and decision now that he encountered inimical glances and feltas if somehow he was on his trial before all these people, "and I am notrich enough to afford the luxury of gambling."

  "Nay! if that is your difficulty," rejoined Sir Marmaduke, "I pray you,good master, to command my purse ... you are under my wing to-night ...and I will gladly bear the burden of your losses."

  "I thank you, Sir Marmaduke," said the young man, with quiet dignity,"and I entreat you once again to excuse me.... I have never staked atcards, either mine own money or that of others. I would prefer not tobegin."

  "Meseems ... hic ... de Chavasse, that this ... this young friend ofyours is a hic ... damned Puritan ..." came in ever thickening accentsfrom Lord Walterton.

  "I hope, Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse," here interposed Endicott with muchpompous dignity, "that your ... hem ... your young friend doth notdesire to bring insinuations doubts, mayhap, against the honor of myhouse ... or of my friends!"

  "Nay! nay! good Endicott," said Sir Marmaduke, speaking in tones thatwere so conciliatory, so unlike his own quarrelsome temper, quick attaking offense, that Richard Lambert could not help wondering what wascausing this change, "Master Lambert hath no such intention--'pon myhonor ... He is young ... and ... and he misunderstands.... You see, mygood Lambert," he added, once more turning to the young man, and stillspeaking with unwonted kindness and patience, "you are covering yourselfwith ridicule and placing me--who am your protector to-night--in a veryawkward position. Had I known you were such a gaby I should have leftyou to go to bed alone."

  "Nay! Sir Marmaduke," here came in decisive accents from portlyMistress Endicott, "methinks 'tis you who misunderstand Master Lambert.He is of a surety an honorable gentleman, and hath no desire to insultme, who have ne'er done him wrong, nor yet my friends by refusing afriendly game of cards in my house!"

  She spoke very pointedly, causing her speech to seem like a menace, eventhough the words betokened gentleness and friendship.

  Lambert's scruples and his desire to please struggled hopelessly in hismind. Mistress Endicott's eye held him silent even while it urged him tospeak. What could he say? Sir Marmaduke, toward whom he felt gratitudeand respect, surely would not urge what he thought would be wrong forLambert.

  And if a chaste and pure woman did not disapprove of a game of primeroamong friends, what right had he to set up his own standard of right orwrong against hers? What right had he to condemn what she app
roved? Tooffend his generous employer, and to bring opprobrium and ridicule onhimself which would of necessity redound against Sir Marmaduke also?

  Vague instinct still entered a feeble protest, but reason and commonsense and a certain undetermined feeling of what was due to himselfsocially--poor country bumpkin!--fought a hard battle too.

  "I am right, am I not, good Master Lambert?" came in dulcet tones fromthe virtuous hostess, "that you would not really refuse a quiet game ofcards with my friends, at my entreaty ... in my house?"

  And Lambert, with a self-deprecatory sigh, and a shrug of the shoulders,said quietly:

  "I have no option, gracious mistress!"