Percival Keene

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER THIRTY.

  The next morning I called at Lord de Versely's and sent up my card. Iwas immediately ushered up, and found myself in his presence. Lord deVersely rose from his sofa, and took my hand. "Keene, I am very glad tosee you. I am proud that an _eleve_ of mine should have done me so muchcredit. You have gained all your rank in the service by your own meritand exertions."

  "Not quite all, my lord," replied I.

  "Yes, all; for you are certain of your next step--they cannot wellrefuse it to you."

  "They will not refuse your lordship, I have no doubt," replied I.

  "Sit down, Keene. We will have a little conversation, and then we willgo to the Admiralty."

  His lordship then asked me many questions relative to what had passed;and I entered into more detail than I had done in my letters. After anhour's conversation, carried on by him in so friendly--I may almost sayaffectionate--a style as to make my heart bound with delight, thecarriage was announced, and accompanied his lordship down to theAdmiralty. His lordship sent up his card, and was requested immediatelyto go upstairs. He desired me to follow him; and as soon as we were inthe presence of the first lord, and he and Lord de Versely had shakenhands, Lord de Versely said, "Allow me to introduce to you CaptainKeene, whose name, at least, you have often heard of lately. I havebrought him with me because he is a follower of mine: he entered theservice under my protection, and continued with me until his conductgave him his promotion. I have taken this opportunity of introducinghim, to assure your lordship that, during the whole time that he servedwith me as midshipman, his gallantry was quite as conspicuous as it hasbeen since."

  The first lord took me by the hand, and complimented me on my conduct.

  "Captain Keene has strong claims, my lord. What can we do now for him?"

  "I trust you will acknowledge that Captain Keene has earned his postrank, my lord," replied Lord de Versely; "and I shall take it as aparticular favour to myself if your lordship would appoint him to afrigate, and give him an opportunity of doing credit to your lordship'spatronage."

  "I think I may promise you both," replied the first lord; "but when wemeet in the house to-night, I will let you know what I can do."

  After a few minutes' conversation, Lord de Versely rose, and we left theroom. As soon as we were in the carriage his lordship said, "Keene, youmay depend upon it I shall have good news to tell you to-morrow; so callupon me about two o'clock. I dine out to-day with the premier; butto-morrow you must dine with me."

  I took leave of his lordship as soon as the carriage stopped; and as Iwished to appoint an agent, which I had not yet done, I had begged hislordship to recommend me one. He gave me the address of his own, and Iwent there accordingly. Having made the necessary arrangements, I thenemployed the remainder of the day in fitting myself out in a somewhatmore fashionable style than Portsmouth tailors were equal to.

  The next morning I sat down to write to my mother; but somehow oranother I could not make up my mind to address her. I had thought ofit, over and over, and had made up my mind that in future I would alwayscorrespond with my grandmother; and I now determined to write to her,explaining that such was my intention in future, and requesting that allanswers should be also from my grandmother. I commenced my letter,however, with informing her that I had, since I had last written,obtained leave of absence, and was now in London. I stated the kindnessshown me in every way by Lord de Versely, and how grateful I was to him.This continued down to the bottom of the first page, and then I said"What would I not give to bear the name of one I so much love andrespect! Oh, that I was a Delmar!" I was just about to turn over theleaf and continue, when the waiter tapped at the door, and informed methat the tailor was come to try on the clothes which I had ordered. Iwent into the bed-room, which opened into the sitting-room, and was busywith the foreman, who turned me round and round, marking alterationswith a piece of chalk, when the waiter tapped at the bed-room door, andsaid Lord de Versely was in the sitting-room. I took off the coat whichwas fitting as fast as I could, that I might not keep his lordshipwaiting, and put on my own.

  Desiring the man to wait my return, I opened the door, and found hislordship on the sofa, and then for the first time, when I again saw it,recollected that I had left the letter on the table. The very sight ofit took away my breath. I coloured up as I approached his lordship. Ihad quite forgotten that I had addressed my grandmother. I stammeredout, "This is an honour, my lord."

  "I came to wish you joy of your promotion and appointment to a finefrigate, Keene," said Lord de Versely. "I have just received this fromthe Admiralty; and as I have business unexpectedly come to hand, Ithought I would be the bearer myself of the good news. I leave you theletter, and shall of course see you to dinner."

  "Many thanks, my lord," replied I. "I am, indeed, grateful."

  "I believe you are, Keene," replied his lordship. "By the bye, youleave your letters so exposed, that one cannot help seem them. I seeyou are writing to your grandmother. I hope the old lady is well?"

  My grandmother! Oh, what a relief to my mind it was when I thenrecollected that it was to my grandmother that I had written! I repliedthat she was very well when I last heard from her.

  "If I can be of any use in arranging your money affairs, Keene, let meknow."

  "I thank you, my lord; but I found that my agent perfectly understandsbusiness," replied I. "I will not trouble your lordship, who has somany important affairs to attend to."

  "Very good," replied he. "Then now I'll leave you to read what I havegiven you; and I shall expect you at eight. Goodbye." His lordshipagain shook me warmly by the hand, and left me.

  I was quite giddy with the reaction produced upon my feelings. When hislordship left the room I dropped down on the sofa. I forgot the letterin my hand and its contents, and the tailor in the next room. All Ithought of was the danger I had escaped, and how fortunate I was in nothaving addressed the letter to my mother, as I had at first intended.The agony which I felt was very great, and, as I remained with my handscovering my eyes, I made a vow that nothing should induce me ever to usedeceit again. I then read over the letter. There was nothing butgratitude to Lord de Versely, and a wish that I had been born a Delmar.Well, if his lordship had run his eyes over it, there was nothing tohurt me in his opinion; on the contrary, it proved that I was grateful;and I then recollected that when I expressed my gratitude, he said hebelieved it. As for my saying that I wished my name was Delmar, it wasnothing, and it let him know what my wishes were. On the whole, I hadgreat cause for congratulation.

  I was here interrupted by the tailor who put his head out of thebed-room door. I went to him, and he finished his work, and promised methat I should have a complete suit at half-past seven o'clock in theevening, in time for dinner. I then returned to the sitting-room, andopened the letter which Lord de Versely had put into my hands. It wasfrom the first lord, acquainting him that I might call at the Admiraltythe next day, as my post-captain's commission was signed, and I wasappointed to a thirty-two gun frigate which would be launched in two orthree months. Well, then, thought I, here I am, at twenty-three, apost-captain in his Majesty's service, and commanding a frigate.Surely, I have much to be thankful for. I felt that I had, and I wasgrateful to Heaven for my good fortune. Now I had but one more wish inthe world, and that was, instead of being Captain Keene, to be CaptainDelmar.

  The reader may say, "What's in a name?" True; but such was my ambition,my darling wish, and it is ardent longing for anything, the ardour ofpursuit, which increases the value of the object so much above its realvalue. The politician, who has been manoeuvring all his life does notperhaps feel more pleasure in grasping the coronet which he has been inpursuit of, than the urchin does when he first possesses himself of anest which he has been watching for weeks. This would, indeed, be adreary world if we had not some excitement, some stimulus to lead us on,which occupies our thoughts, and gives us fresh courage, whendisheartened by the knavery, and mean
ness, and selfishness of those whosurround us. How sad is the analysis of human nature--whatcontradictions, what extremes! how many really brave men have I fallenin with, stooping to every meanness for patronage, court favour, orgain; slandering those whose reputation they feared, and even descendingto falsehood to obtain their ends! How many men with splendid talents,but with little souls!

  Up to the present I had run a career of prosperous success; I had risento a high position without interfering, or being interfered with byothers; but now I had become of sufficient consequence to be envied; nowI had soon to experience, that as you continue to advance in the world,so do you continue to increase the number of your enemies, to be exposedto the shafts of slander, to be foiled by treachery, cunning, andmalevolence. But I must not anticipate.

  I remained in London till my leave was expired, and then went down toPortsmouth to pay off the brig, which had been ordered into dock, to berefitted for his Majesty's service.