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

by G. P. R. James

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  John Ayliffe got out of the park gates quite safely, though he rodedown the slope covered with loose stones, as if he had noconsideration for his own neck or his horse's knees. He was in a stateof desperation, however, and feared little at that moment what becameof himself or any thing else. With fierce and angry eagerness herevolved in his own mind the circumstances of his situation, theconduct of Mrs. Hazleton, the folly, as he was pleased to term it, ofhis mother, the crimes which he had himself committed, and he found noplace of refuge in all the dreary waste of thought. Every thing aroundlooked menacing and terrible, and the world within was all dark andstormy.

  He pushed his horse some way on the road which he had come, butsuddenly a new thought struck him. He resolved to seek advice and aidfrom one whom he had previously determined to avoid. "I will go toShanks," he said to himself, "he at least is in the same basket withmyself. He must work with me, for if my mother has been fool enough tokeep my letters, I have been wise enough to keep his--perhapssomething may be done after all. If not, he shall go along with me,and we will try if we cannot bring that woman in too. He can prove allher sayings and doings." Thus thinking, he turned his horse's headtowards the lawyer's house, and rode as hard as he could go till hereached it.

  Mr. Shanks was enjoying life over a quiet comfortable bowl of punch ina little room which looked much more tidy and comfortable, than it haddone twelve or eighteen months before. Mr. Shanks had been well paid.Mr. Shanks had taken care of himself. No small portion of back rentsand costs had gone into the pockets of Mr. Shanks. Mr. Shanks was allthat he had ever desired to be, an opulent man. Moreover, he was oneof those happily constituted mortals who know the true use ofwealth--to make it a means of enjoyment. He had no scruples ofconscience--not he. He little cared how the money came, so that itfound its way into his pocket. He was not a man to let his mind betroubled by any unpleasant remembrances; for he had a maxim that everyman's duty was to do the very best he could for his client, and thatevery man's first client was himself.

  He heard a horse stop at his door, and having made up his mind to endthe night comfortably, to finish his punch and go to bed, he mightperhaps have been a little annoyed, had he not consoled himself withthe thought that the call must be upon business of importance, and hehad no idea of business of importance unconnected with that of a largefee.

  "To draw a will, I'll bet any money," said Mr. Shanks to himself; "itis either old Sir Peter, dying of indigestion, and sent for me whenhe's no longer able to speak, or John Ayliffe broken his neck leapingover a five-barred gate--John Ayliffe, bless us all, Sir John HastingsI should have said."

  But the natural voice of John Ayliffe, asking for him in a loudimpatient tone, dispelled these visions of his fancy, and in anothermoment the young man was in the room.

  "Ah, Sir John, very glad to see you, very glad to see you," said Mr.Shanks, shaking his visitor's hand, and knocking out the ashes of hispipe upon the hob; "just come in pudding time, my dear sir--just intime for a glass of punch--bring some more lemons and some sugar,Betty. A glass of punch will do you good. It is rather cold to-night."

  "As hot as h--l," answered John Ayliffe, sharply; "but I'll have thepunch notwithstanding," and he seated himself while the maid proceededto fulfil her master's orders.

  Mr. Shanks evidently saw that something had gone wrong with his youngand distinguished client, but anticipating no evil, he was led toconsider whether it was any thing referring to a litter of puppies, afavorite horse, a fire at the hall, a robbery, or a want of some moreready money.

  At length, however, the fresh lemons and sugar were brought, and thedoor closed, before which, time John Ayliffe had helped himself toalmost all the punch which he had found remaining in the bowl. It wasnot much, but it was strong, and Mr. Shanks applied himself to thepreparation of some more medicine of the same sort. John Ayliffesuffered him to finish before he said any thing to disturb him, notfrom any abstract reverence for the office which Mr. Shanks wasfulfilling, or for love of the beverage he was brewing, but simplybecause John Ayliffe began to find that he might as well consider hiscourse a little. Consideration seldom served him very much, and in thepresent instance, after he had labored hard to find out the best wayof breaking the matter, his impetuosity as usual got the better ofhim, and he thrust his mother's letter into Mr. Shanks's hand, out ofwhich as a preliminary he took the ladle and helped himself to anotherglass of punch.

  The consternation of Mr. Shanks, as he read Mrs. Ayliffe's letter,stood out in strong opposition to Mrs. Hazleton's sweet calmness. Hewas evidently as much terrified as his client; for Mr. Shanks did notforget that he had written Mrs. Ayliffe two letters since she wasabroad, and as she had kept her son's epistles, Mr. Shanks argued thatit was very likely she had kept his also. Their contents, taken alone,might amount to very little, but looked at in conjunction with othercircumstances might amount to a great deal.

  True, Mr. Shanks had avoided, as far as he could, any discussions inregard to the more delicate secrets of his profession in the presenceof Mrs. Ayliffe, of whose discretion he was not as firmly convinced ashe could have desired; but it was not always possible to do so,especially when he had been obliged to seek John Ayliffe in haste ather house; and now the memories of many long and dangerousconversations which had occurred in her presence, spread themselvesout before his eyes in a regular row, like items on the leaves of aledger.

  "Good God!" he cried, "what has she done?"

  "Every thing she ought not to have done, of course!" replied JohnAyliffe, replenishing his glass, "but the question now, is, Shanks,what are we to do? That is the great question just now."

  "It is indeed," answered Mr. Shanks, in great agitation; "this is veryawkward, very awkward indeed."

  "I know that," answered John Ayliffe, laconically.

  "Well but, sir, what is to be done?" asked Mr. Shanks, fidgetinguneasily about the table.

  "That is what I come to ask you, not to tell you," answered the youngman; "you see, Shanks, you and I are exactly in the same case, only Ihave more to lose than you have. But whatever happens to me willhappen to you, depend upon it. I am not going to be the only one,whatever Mrs. Hazleton may think."

  Shanks caught at Mrs. Hazleton's name; "Ay, that's a good thought," hesaid, "we had better go and consult her. Let us put our three headstogether, and we may beat them yet--perhaps."

  "No use of going to her," answered John Ayliffe, bitterly; "I havebeen to her, and she is a thorough vixen. She cried off having anything to do with me, and when I just told her quietly that, she oughtto help me out of the scrape because she had a hand in getting me intoit, she flew at my throat like a terrier bitch with a litter ofpuppies, barked me out of the house as if I had been a beggar, andcalled me almost rogue and swindler in the hearing of her ownservants."

  Mr. Shanks smiled--he could not refrain from smiling with a feeling ofadmiration and respect, even in that moment of bitter apprehension, atthe decision, skill, and wisdom of Mrs. Hazleton's conduct. Heapproved of her highly; but he perceived quite plainly that it wouldnot do for him to play the same game. A hope--a feeble hope--lightthrough a loop-hole, came in upon him in regard to the future,suggested by Mrs. Hazleton's conduct. He thought that if he could butclear away some difficulties, he too might throw all blame upon JohnAyliffe, and shovel the load of infamy from his own shoulders to thoseof his client; but to effect this, it was not only necessary that heshould soothe John Ayliffe, but that he should provide for his safetyand escape. Recriminations he was aware were very dangerous things,and that unless a man takes care that it shall not be in the power orfor the interest of a fellow rogue to say _tu quoque_, the effort toplace the burden on his shoulders only injures him without making ourown case a bit better. It was therefore requisite for his purposesthat he should deprive John Ayliffe of all interest or object incriminating him; but foolish knaves are very often difficult to dealwith, and he knew his young client to be eminent in that class.Wishing for a little time to consider, h
e took occasion to ask one ortwo meaningless questions, without at all attending to the replies.

  "When did this letter arrive here?" he inquired.

  "This very night," answered John Ayliffe, "not three hours ago."

  "Do you think she has really told all?" asked Mr. Shanks.

  "All, and a great deal more," replied the young man.

  "How long has she been at St. Germain?" said the lawyer.

  "What the devil does that signify?" said John Ayliffe, growingimpatient.

  "A great deal, a great deal," replied Mr. Shanks, sagely. "Take somemore punch. You see perhaps we can prove that you and I really thoughther dead at the time the affidavit was made."

  "Devilish difficult that," said John Ayliffe, taking the punch. "Shewrote to me about some more money just at that time, and I was obligedto answer her letter and send it, so that if they have got the lettersthat won't pass."

  "We'll try at least," said Mr. Shanks in a bolder tone.

  "Ay, but in trying we may burn our fingers worse than ever," said theyoung man. "I do not want to be tried for perjury and conspiracy, andsent to the colonies with the palm of my hand burnt out, whatever youmay do, Shanks."

  "No, no, that would never do," replied the lawyer. "The first thing tobe done, my dear Sir John, is to provide for your safety, and that canonly be done by your getting out of the way for a time. It is verynatural that a young gentleman of fortune like yourself should go totravel, and not at all unlikely that he should do so without lettingany one know where he is for a few months. That will be the best planfor you you must go and travel. They can't well be on the look-out foryou yet, and you can get away quite safely to-morrow morning. You neednot say where you are going, and by that means you will save bothyourself and the property too; for they can't proceed against you inany way when you are absent."

  John Ayliffe was not sufficiently versed in the laws of the land toperceive that Mr. Shanks was telling him a falsehood. "That's a goodthought," he said; "if I can live abroad and keep hold of the rents weshall be safe enough."

  "Certainly, certainly," said Mr. Shanks, "that is the only plan. Thenlet them file their bills, or bring their actions or what not. Theycannot compel you to answer if you are not within the realm."

  Mr. Shanks was calling him all the time, in his own mind, ajolter-headed ass, but John Ayliffe did not perceive it, and repliedwith a touch of good feeling, perhaps inspired by the punch, "But whatis to become of you, Shanks?"

  "Oh, I will stay and face it out," replied the lawyer, "with a boldfront. If we do not peach of each other they cannot do much againstus. Mrs. Hazleton dare not commit us, for by so doing she would commitherself; and your mother's story will not avail very much. As to theletters, which is the worst part of the business, we must try andexplain those away; but clearly the first thing for you to do is toget out of England as soon as possible. You can go and see your mothersecretly, and if you can but get her to prevaricate a little in hertestimony it will knock it all up."

  "Oh, she'll prevaricate enough if they do but press her hard," saidJohn Ayliffe. "She gets so frightened at the least thing she doesn'tknow what she says. But the worst of it is, Shanks, I have not gotmoney enough to go. I have not got above a hundred guineas in thehouse."

  Mr. Shanks paused and hesitated. It was a very great object with himto get John Ayliffe out of the country, in order that he might say anything he liked of John Ayliffe when his back was turned, but it wasalso a very great object with him to keep all the money he had got. Hedid not like to part with one sixpence of it. After a few moments'thought, however, he recollected that a thousand pounds' worth ofplate had come down from London for the young man within the last twomonths, and he thought he might make a profitable arrangement.

  "I have got three hundred pounds in the house," he said, "all in goodgold, but I can really hardly afford to part with it. However, ratherthan injure you, Sir John, I will let you have it if you will give methe custody of your plate till your return, just that I may havesomething to show if any one presses me for money."

  The predominant desire of John Ayliffe's mind, at that moment, was toget out of England as fast as possible, and he was too much blinded byfear and anxiety to perceive that the great desire of Mr. Shanks wasto get him out. But there was one impediment. The sum of four hundredpounds thus placed at his command would, some years before, haveappeared the Indies to him, but now, with vastly expanded ideas withregard to expense, it seemed a drop of water in the ocean. "Threehundred pounds, Shanks," he said, "what's the use of three hundredpounds? It would not keep me a month."

  "God bless my soul!" said Mr. Shanks, horrified at such a notion, "whyit would keep me a whole year, and more too. Moreover, things arecheaper there than they are here; and besides you have got all thosejewels, and knick-knacks, and things, which cost you at least a coupleof thousand pounds. They would sell for a great deal."

  "Come, come, Shanks," said the young man, "you must make it fivehundred guineas. I know you've got them in your strong box here."

  Shanks shook his head, and John Ayliffe added sullenly, "Then I'llstay and fight it out too. I won't go and be a beggar in a foreignland."

  Shanks did not like the idea of his staying, and after some fartherdiscussion a compromise was effected. Mr. Shanks agreed to advancefour hundred pounds. John Ayliffe was to make over to him, as apledge, the whole of his plate, and not to object to a memorandum tothat effect being drawn up immediately, and dated a month before. Theyoung man was to set off the very next day, in the pleasant gray ofthe morning, driving his own carriage and horses, which he was to sellas soon as he got a convenient distance from his house, and Mr. Shankswas to take the very best possible care of his interests during hisabsence.

  John Ayliffe's spirits rose at the conclusion of this transaction. Hecalculated that with one thing or another he should have sufficientmoney to last him a year, and that was quite as far as his thoughts orexpectations went. A long, long year! What does youth care for anything beyond a year? It seems the very end of life to pant inexpectation, and indeed, and in truth, it is very often too long forfate.

  "Next year I will"-- Pause, young man! there is a deep pitfall in theway. Between you and another year may lie death. Next year thou wiltdo nothing--thou wilt be nothing.

  His spirits rose. He put the money into his pocket, and, with more witthan he thought, called it "light heaviness," and then he sat down andsmoked a pipe, while Mr. Shanks drew up the paper; and then he drankpunch, and made more, and drank that too, so that when the papergiving Mr. Shanks a lien upon the silver was completed, and when adull neighbor had been called in to see him sign his name, it needed awitness indeed to prove that that name was John Ayliffe's writing.

  By this time he would very willingly have treated the company to asong, so complete had been the change which punch and new prospectshad effected; but Mr. Shanks besought him to be quiet, hinting thatthe neighbor, though as deaf as a post and blind as a mole, wouldthink him as the celebrated sow of the psalmist. Thereupon JohnAyliffe went forth and got his horse out of the stable, mounted uponhis back, and rode lolling at a sauntering pace through the end of thetown in which Mr. Shanks's house was situated. When he got more intothe Country he began to trot, then let the horse fall into a walkagain, and then he beat him for going slow. Thus alternatelygalloping, walking, and trotting, he rode on till he was two or threehundred yards past the gates of what was called the Court, where thefamily of Sir Philip Hastings now lived. It was rather a dark part ofthe road, and there was something white in the hedge--some linenput out to dry, or a milestone. John Ayliffe was going at a quickpace at that moment, and the horse suddenly shied at this whiteapparition--not only shied, but started, wheeled round, and ran back.John Ayliffe kept his seat, notwithstanding his tipsiness, but hestruck the furious horse over the head, and pulled the rein violently.The annual plunged--reared--the young man gave the rein a furious tug,and over went the horse upon the road, with his driver under him.