The Man in Black: An Historical Novel of the Days of Queen Anne

by G. P. R. James

  CHAPTER XXXII.

  It was about ten o'clock in the day when Marlow returned to the Court,as it was called. The butler informed him that Miss Emily was notdown--a very unusual thing with her, as she was exceedingly matutinalin her habits; but he found, on inquiry, that she had sat up with hermother during the greater part of the night. Marlow looked at hiswatch, then at the gravelled space before the house, where his ownhorse was being led up and down by his groom, and a stranger who hadcome with him was sitting quietly on horseback, as if waiting for him."I fear," said Marlow, after a moment's musing, "I must disturb youryoung lady. Will you tell her maid to go up and inform her that I amhere, and wish to speak with her immediately, as I have business whichcalls me to London without delay." The man retired, and Marlow enteredwhat was then called the withdrawing room, walking up and down inthought. He had not remained many minutes, however, when Emily herselfappeared, with her looks full of surprise and anxiety. "What is thematter, Marlow?" she said. "Has any new evil happened?"

  "Nay, nay, my love," said Marlow, embracing her tenderly. "You mustnot let the few ills that have already befallen you, my Emily, producethat apprehensiveness which long years of evil and mischance but toooften engender. Brighter days are coming, I trust, my love; so farfrom new evils having arisen, I have been very fortunate in myinquiries, and have got information which must lead to great results.I must pursue the clue that has been afforded me without a moment'sdelay or hesitation; for once the thread be broken I may havedifficulty in uniting it again. But if I judge rightly, my Emily, itwill lead me to the following results. To the complete exposure of abase conspiracy; to the punishment of the offenders; to therestoration of your father's property, and of his rank."

  He held her hand in his while he spoke, and gazed into her beautifuleyes; but Emily did not seem very much overjoyed. "For my own part,"she said, "I care little as to the loss of property or station,Marlow, and still less do I care to punish offenders; but I think myfather and mother will be very glad of the tidings you give me. May Itell them what you say?"

  Marlow mused for a moment or two. He was anxious to give any comfortto Mrs. Hastings, but yet he doubted her discretion, and he replied,"Not the whole, dear Emily, except in case of urgent need. You maytell your mother that I think I have obtained information which willlead to the restoration of your father's property, and you may assureher that no effort shall be wanting on my part to attain that object.Say that I am, even now, setting out for London for the purpose, andthat I am full of good hopes. I believe I can prove," he added, aftera moment's consideration, and in reality more to lead Mrs. Hastingsaway from the right track than from any other consideration, althoughthe point he was about to state was a fact, "I believe I can provethat the missing leaf of the marriage register, which was supposed tohave been torn out by your grandfather's orders, was there not twoyears ago, and that I can show by whose hands it was torn out at amuch later date. Assure her, however, that I will do every thing in mypower, and bid her be of good hope."

  "I do not understand the matter," answered Emily, "and never heard ofthis register, but I dare say my mother has, and will comprehend yourmeaning better than I do. I know the very hope will give her greatpleasure."

  "Remember one thing, however, dear Emily," replied Marlow, "on noaccount mention to her my suspicions of Mrs. Hazleton, nor show anysuspicions of that good lady yourself. It is absolutely necessary thatshe should be kept in ignorance of our doubts, till those doubts,become certainties. However, in case of any painful and unpleasantcircumstances occurring while I am absent, I must leave these paperswith you. They consist of the note sent you by Mrs. Hazleton which youshowed me, a paper which I feel confident is in her handwriting, butwhich imitates your hand very exactly, and which has led to wrongimpressions, and the letter of young John Ayliffe--or at least thatwhich he wrote under Mrs. Hazleton's direction. I have added a fewwords of my own, on a separate sheet of paper, stating the impressionwhich I have in regard to all these matters, and which I will justifywhenever it may be needful."

  "But what am I to do with them?" asked Emily, simply.

  "Keep them safely, and ever at hand, dear girl," replied Marlow, in agrave tone. "You will find your father on his return a good dealaltered--moody and dissatisfied. It will be as well for you to take nonotice of such demeanor, unless he expresses plainly some cause ofdiscontent. If he do so--if he should venture upon any occasion toreproach you, my Emily--"

  "For what?" exclaimed Emily, in utter surprise.

  "It would be too long and too painful to explain all just now, dearone," answered her lover. "But such a thing may happen, my Emily.Deceived, and in error, he may perhaps reproach you for things younever dreamt of. He may also judge wrongly of your conduct in nothaving told him of this young scoundrel's proposal to you. In eithercase put that packet of papers in his hands, and tell him frankly andcandidly every thing."

  "He is sometimes so reserved and grave," said Emily, "that I neverlike to speak to him on any subject to which he does not lead the way.I sometimes think he does not understand me, Marlow, and dread to openmy whole heart to him, as I would fain do, lest he should mistake mestill more."

  "Let no dread stop you in this instance, my own dear girl," Marlowanswered. "That there have been dark plots against you, Emily, I amcertain. The only way to meet and frustrate them is to place full andentire confidence in your father. I do not ask you to speak to him onthe subject unless he speaks to you till I have obtained the proofswhich will make all as clear as daylight. Then, every thing must betold, and Sir Philip will find that had he been more frank himself hewould have met with no want of candor in his daughter. Now, one morekiss, dear love, and then to my horse's back."

  I will not pursue Marlow's journey across the fair face of merryEngland, nor tell the few adventures that befell him on the way, northe eager considerations that pressed, troop after troop, upon hismind, neither will I dwell long upon his proceedings in London, whichoccupied but one brief day. He went to the house of his banker, soughtout the little clerk of Messrs. Doubledoo and Kay, and contrived fromboth to obtain proof positive that Mrs. Hazleton had supplied a largesum of money to young John Ayliffe to carry on his suit against SirPhilip Hastings. He also obtained a passport for France, and one ortwo letters for influential persons in Paris, and returning to the innwhere he had left the man who had accompanied him from the country,set out for Calais, without pausing even to take rest himself. Anotherman, a clerk from his own lawyer's house, accompanied him, and thoughthe passage was somewhat long and stormy, he reached Calais in safety.

  Journeys to Paris were not then such easy things as now. Three dayspassed ere Marlow reached the French capital, and then both hiscompanions were inclined to grumble not a little at the rapidity withwhich he travelled, and the small portion of rest he allowed them orhimself. In the capital, however, they paused for two days, and,furnished with an interpreter and guide, amused themselves mightily,while Marlow passed his time in government offices, and principallywith the lieutenant of police, or one of his commissaries.

  At length the young gentleman notified his two companions that theymust prepare to accompany him at nine o'clock in the morning to St.Germain en Laye, where he intended to reside for some days. A carriagewas at the door to the moment, and they found in it a very decent andrespectable gentleman in black, with a jet-hilted sword by his side,and a certain portion of not very uncorrupt English. The whole partyjogged on pleasantly up the steep ascent, and round the fine oldpalace, to a small inn which was indicated to the driver by thegentleman in black, for whom that driver seemed to entertain aprofound reverence. When comfortably fixed in the inn, Marlow left histwo English companions, and proceeded, as it was the hour ofpromenade, to take a walk upon the terrace with his friend in black.They passed a great number of groups, and a great number of singlefigures, and Marlow might have remarked, if he had been so disposed,that several of the persons whom they met seemed to eye his companionwith a suspicious and somewhat anxious glance
. All Marlow's powers ofobservation, however, were directed in a different way. He examinedevery face that he saw, every group that he came near; but at length,as they passed a somewhat gayly dressed woman of the middle age, whowas walking alone, the young Englishman touched the arm of the man inblack, saying, "According to the description I have had of her, thatmust be very like the person."

  "We will follow her, and see," said the man in black.

  Without appearing to notice her particularly, they kept near the ladywho had attracted their attention, as long as she continued to walkupon the terrace, and then followed her when she left it, throughseveral streets which led away in the direction of the forest. Atlength she stopped at a small house, opened the door, and went in.

  The man in black took out a little book from his pocket, closelywritten with long lists of names.

  "Monsieur et Madame Jervis," he said, after having turned over severalpages. "Here since three years ago."

  "That cannot be she, then," answered Marlow.

  "Stay, stay," said his companion, "that is _au premier_. On the secondfloor lodges Monsieur Drummond. Old man of sixty-eight. He has beenhere two years; and above Madame Dupont, an old French lady whom Iknow quite well. You must be mistaken, Monsieur, but we will go intothis _charcutier's_ just opposite, and inquire whether that is MadameJervis who went in."

  It proved to be so. The pork butcher had seen her as she passed thewindow, and Marlow's search had to begin again. When he and hiscompanion returned to their inn, however, the man whom he had broughtup from the country met him eagerly, saying, "I have seen her, sir! Ihave seen her! She passed by here not ten minutes ago, dressed inweeds like a widow, and walking very fast. I would swear to her."

  "Oh, he," said the man in black, "we will soon find her now," andcalling to the landlord, who was as profoundly deferential towards himas the coachman had been, he said in the sweetest possible tone, "Willyou have the goodness to let Monsieur Martin know that the _bon hommegrivois_ wishes to speak with him for a moment?"

  It was wonderful with what rapidity Monsieur St. Martin, a tall,dashing looking personage, with an infinite wig, obeyed the summons ofthe _bon homme grivois_.

  "Ah, _bon jour_, St. Martin," said the man in black.

  "_Bon jour, Monsieur_," replied the other with a profound obeisance.

  "A lady of forty--has been handsome, fresh color, dark eyes, middleheight, hair brown, hardly gray," said the man in black. "Dressed likean English widow, somewhat common air and manner, has come here withina year. Where is she to be found, St. Martin?"

  The other, who had remained standing, took out his little book, andafter consulting its pages diligently, gave a street and a number.

  "What's her name?" asked the man in black.

  "Mistress Brown," replied Monsieur St. Martin.

  "Good," said the man in black, "but we must wait till to-morrowmorning, as it is now growing dark, and there must be no mistake;first, lest we scare the real bird in endeavoring to catch one wedon't want, and next, lest we give annoyance to any of his Majesty'sguests, which would reduce the king to despair."

  The next morning, at an early hour, the party of four proceeded to thestreet which had been indicated, discovered the number, and thenentered a handsome hotel, inhabited by an old French nobleman. The manin black seemed unknown to either the servants or their master, but avery few words spoken in the ear of the latter, rendered him mostcivil and accommodating. A room in the front of the house, just overthat of the porter, was put at the disposal of the visitors, and theman who had accompanied Marlow from the country was placed at thewindow to watch the opposite dwelling. It was a balmy morning, and thehouse was near the outskirts of the town, so that the fresh air of thecountry came pleasantly up the street. The windows of the oppositehouse were, however, still closed, and it was not till Marlow and hiscompanions had been there near three quarters of an hour, that awindow on the first floor was opened, and a lady looked out for amoment, and then drew in her head again.

  "There she is!" cried the man who was watching, "there she is, sir."

  "Are you quite certain?" asked the man in black.

  "Beyond all possible doubt, sir," replied the other. "Lord bless you,I know her as well as I know my own mother. I saw her almost every dayfor ten years."

  "Very well, then," said the man in black, "I wilt go over first alone,and as soon as I have got in, you, Monsieur Marlow, with these twogentlemen, follow me thither. She won't escape me when once I'm in,but the house may have a back way, and therefore we will not scare herby too many visitors at this early hour."

  He accordingly took his departure, and Marlow and his companions sawhim ring the bell at the opposite house. But the suspicion of thosewithin fully justified the precautions he had taken. Before heobtained admission, he was examined very narrowly by a maid-servantfrom the window above. It is probable that he was quite conscious ofthis scrutiny, but he continued quietly humming an opera air for aminute or two, and then rang the bell again. The door was then opened.He entered, and Marlow and his companions ran across, and got inbefore the door was shut. The maid gave a little scream at the suddeningress of so many men, but the gentleman in black told her to besilent, to which she replied, "Oh, Monsieur, you have cheated me. Yousaid you wanted lodgings."

  "Very good, my child," replied the man, "but the lodgings which I wantare those of Madame Brown, and you will be good enough to recollectthat I command all persons, in the king's name, now in this house, toremain in it, and not to go out on any pretence whatever till theyhave my permission. Lock that door at the back, and then bring me thekey."

  The maid, pale and trembling, did as she was commanded, and the Frenchgentleman then directed the man who had accompanied Marlow to precedethe rest up the stairs, and enter the front room of the first floor.The others followed close, and as soon as the door of the room wasopen, it was evident that the lady of the house had been alarmed bythe noise below; for she stood looking eagerly towards the top of thestairs, with cheeks very pale indeed. At the same moment that thissight was presented to them, they heard the man who had gone onexclaim in English, "Ah, Mistress Ayliffe, how do you do? I am veryglad to see you. Do you know they said you were dead--ay, and swore toit."

  John Ayliffe's mother sank down in a seat, and hid her face with herhands.