Roger Kyffin's Ward
Page 47
supply them with dryclothes. A steaming hot supper was after this placed on the table,round which Mr. Kyffin's guests thankfully assembled.
"Well, Harry, you wish to know the news I have brought, I doubt not,"said the captain, when at length he was sufficiently recovered to findthe use of his tongue. "Had you not come down to-night to assist insaving me and these two country people of mine, in all human probabilityyour friend Captain Everard would not have recovered possession ofStanmore. I am thankful to say, after much risk and anxiety, Isucceeded in getting a copy of the marriage certificate which was ofsuch importance, and to make security doubly sure, I brought over thesetwo old people who were witnesses to his father's marriage."
"How can he ever repay you sufficiently?" said Harry; "I must set outimmediately to let him know the result of your mission."
"No, no, my dear boy, you have gone through sufficient fatigueto-night," said Mr. Kyffin. "You must do no such thing. The captainwill not be the worse for spending another night without knowing that hecan regain his property, and to-morrow morning we will go in due form,when, perhaps, as the gale last night must have blown away all yourfever, you may be admitted into the presence of Mistress Mabel."
Harry's countenance lighted up with pleasure at this suggestion of hisguardian. "Do you think she will see me?" he exclaimed. "She will notdeem me unworthy to appear in her presence?"
"I don't know what the young lady will think of your past doings, MasterHarry," observed Captain Falwasser, "but I rather think that, as youwill take her a pretty fair certificate of your good conduct, you mayhave reason to hope that she will receive you condescendingly. I tellyou, in my opinion, had it not been for you, Stanmore would haveremained in the possession of the Sleech family as long as any of thatsweet-sounding name exists. But see, my old friends, who do notunderstand the words that have been said, are nodding. Your kindhousekeeper will, I dare say, see them put to roost."
Before day had dawned, the sound of drums and fifes was heard, andlooking out of the window, Harry saw approaching from variousdirections, and forming on the downs, numerous companies of volunteers.Several officers on horseback rode along the cliff at a rapid rate,stopping every now and then, sweeping with their spy-glasses the distanthorizon. Not a sail, however, was to be seen. They consulted together,and were evidently disconcerted at finding no enemy to resist. He wasabout to go out and meet them, but remembering his guardian's remarks onthe previous evening, he thought that they might possibly cause someannoyance to the French captain.
"They may as well find out all about the lugger by themselves," hethought.
After a time several of the coastguard appeared, when the militaryhaving fired their muskets towards the south in defiance of theirexpected invaders, once more wheeled about, and marched away to theirrespective homes.
"I like to see that sort of thing," observed Mr. Kyffin. "Englishmenwill ever be found ready to defend their native shores."
Mr. Kyffin had sent in for a carriage at an early hour to Lynderton, andsoon after breakfast he, with Harry and their three visitors, set forthfor that town. They stopped before the bow-windowed house where CaptainEverard was residing with his aunt and daughter. Madam Everard was onthe steps preparing to go out, and just behind her stood Mabel. AsHarry descended from the carriage, why did Mabel start back and retreata little within the passage? Madam Everard kindly took Harry's hand,and shook that of Mr. Kyffin. She cast an inquiring glance at thecaptain, whom at first she did not recognise.
"May we come in?" asked Harry, looking up eagerly towards Mabel. For aninstant he hesitated, then sprang up the steps past the old lady. MadamEverard detained Mr. Kyffin and the captain for some minutes by makinginquiries and receiving answers.
"Come in, come in," at length she answered. "Little did I expect toreceive such joyful intelligence. Accept my gratitude, Captain Rochard,on my own account, and doubly thankful I am that by your means my dearnephew and his daughter will recover their rights."
A minute afterwards Mary was seen tripping down the street to thenews-room to summon the captain. He had gone there to read the accountjust received of Lord Duncan's great victory at Camperdown.
"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Mary, as she saw the captain, "it is happy news,sir, happy news, better news than that about the battle. The Frenchcaptain has come back and brought two old country people with him, andMadam Everard says we shall all get back to Stanmore."
Mr. Wallace was in the room at the time, and the captain, scarcelycrediting the news, begged the lawyer to accompany him home.
"The evidence is complete," observed Mr. Wallace, after he had lookedover the document brought by Captain Rochard, and by the help of thatgentleman had examined the old French people. "We can go with perfectconfidence of victory into a court of law, should Mr. Sleech venture tooppose the claims of Captain Everard."
"I trust that everything may be done in a peaceable way," observed MadamEverard. "I cannot pretend to have any regard for that unhappy man, Mr.Sleech, though his children are, it must be owned, my nephews andnieces. I trust, however, that he will yield without opposition."
Mr. Wallace promised to manage matters in as gentle a way as possible,and that no time might be lost, he set out forthwith for Stanmore. PaulGauntlett, who very soon heard what was taking place, begged toaccompany him.
"No, no," said the lawyer. "You, my friend, are a man of war. We willcall you in if it is necessary to proceed by ejectment, but at present Ihope the enemy will capitulate without an assault."
The answer satisfied Paul.
At that moment Dr. Jessop looked in to pay a professional visit toMabel.
"I think she scarcely requires your services, doctor," observed MadamEverard; "but if you, as a friend of the family, will accompany Mr.Wallace, perhaps you may be able to aid him in his delicate and somewhatpainful mission."
"Come, brother physic, come along then," said Mr. Wallace, as theystepped into the carriage which had brought the party from Sea ViewCottage. "The sooner this matter is settled the better."
Mr. Sleech was seated in his study in a flowery dressing-gown, thehairdresser from Lynderton having just curled and powdered his peruke,when a footman in the Stanmore livery, which he had lately assumed,announced the lawyer and doctor.
"What can they want with me?" he exclaimed. "Really, a man of rank andposition can scarcely call his time his own. Let them in, however."
At that moment the Misses Sleech and one of their brothers came in fromthe grounds.
"Papa," exclaimed the young Mr. Sleech, "those fellows have not cut downanother tree. They say they don't mind putting the fences in order anddigging out the ditches, but that not one of them will lay an axe to aroot."
"Impertinent fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Sleech. "I will see how they daredisobey me."
At that moment the visitors entered the room.
"Your servant, gentlemen," said the master of Stanmore, performing oneof his newly-learned bows. "To what cause am I indebted for the honourof this visit? Doctor, you are always welcome, whether you come as avisitor or professionally," he added, holding out his hand, at the sametime turning a dark frown towards his brother lawyer, who took his seatin silence.
"As you ask me, Mr. Sleech," said Dr. Jessop, "I come now as a friend--as a friend of your family and that of the Everards. I wish that youcould have heard the expressions uttered but lately by your excellentsister-in-law, Madam Everard. You must be aware that it was verypainful to her to leave Stanmore. The law allowed you to takepossession, it being supposed that no marriage had taken place betweenCaptain Everard's father and mother, notwithstanding the assertion ofthe former that he had married in France. Of course Captain Everard hastaken every means to prove his legitimacy, and I must ask you now to beprepared to receive the information, that not only is he in possessionof the certificate of the marriage, properly attested by the Frenchauthorities, but that actually two French persons of respectability whowere present are at this moment in England, indeed at
Lynderton."
Mr. Sleech gasped for breath as the doctor proceeded, turning hisrolling eyeballs first at him and then at the lawyer.
"Is it true what he says? Is it true, Wallace? Tell me," he exclaimed.
"Perfectly true, Mr. Sleech," answered the lawyer. "You have no moreright to be in this house than I have; at the same time, the ownersdesire that you should be treated with every kindness andconsideration."
Mr. Sleech rose from his seat, and appeared as if he were about to rushon his brother lawyer.
"It is false! It is a vile conspiracy! They are impostors!" heexclaimed. "I will not yield: I will die first!"
"My