CHAPTER XXVI
THE LAST STEP BUT ONE
You shall now hear more of the cunning by which this noble andvirtuous person--this adornment and boast of the peerage--laid hisplans for securing the fortune and the hand of our Molly. He hadpersuaded the simple old sailor to believe anything he chose toadvance; he had shown himself in the eyes of the girl, that whichwomen admire more than anything else in the world, fearless andskilled in fence and ready to fight; he had also shown himself readyto place his courage and his skill at the service and for the rescueof a woman. So far, everything was prepared and in readiness for thenext step. But there were certain obstacles still in the way. These heproceeded to remove.
The Lady Anastasia, after the morning prayers, at which she was aregular attendant, generally returned to her lodging, where she satwith her maid engaged in the important affairs of the toilette untildinner.
This day, after his examination of the jewels, Lord Fylingdale wascarried to Lady Anastasia's lodging in the market-place.
The Lady dismissed her maid. "You have something to tell me,Ludovick," she said. "I cannot tell from your face whether you aregoing to deal truthfully. I have had, as you know, a large experienceof the other way. Now, what is it?"
"What I have come to say is important. Anastasia, in this matter Ihave given you my entire confidence. There have been, I own, occasionswhen I have been compelled--but all that is over. I now confideabsolutely in you and in you alone. My interests are yours."
"You have already given me that assurance on other occasions." Sheimplied, perhaps, by these words that the assurance and the fact werenot identical.
"What can I give you except my assurance?"
"Nothing, truly. But pray go on. I hear that you have been playing thepart of knight errant and fighting for distressed damsels. I laughedwhen I heard of it. You to fight on the side of the angels? Where areyour wings, my Ludovick?"
"The thing happened exactly as I could have wished. The countrybumpkin who carried her off had no knowledge of fence. He could onlylunge, and he was half drunk. There was a great appearance ofdesperate fighting--because he was mad with drink and disappointment.I played with the fellow long enough to make a show of courage anddanger. Then I pinked him."
"Is he dead?"
"I believe that he is in some kind of fever. Perhaps he is by thistime dead. What matters? Well, Anastasia, the result of the affair isthat I have now arrived at perfect confidence on the part of my oldfriend the guardian."
"And with the girl?"
"The girl matters nothing. The first part of the business is done. Youcan now go back to London."
"Go back to London?" she repeated, suspiciously.
"You have done all I wanted done here. You have given me a very goodcharacter; you have charmed the people of the spa; you have flatteredthe girl and inspired her with discontent. Why should you stay anylonger?"
"To be sure I am living at great expense, and the bank is in a poorway. But what are you going to do?"
"Anastasia"--he sat down and took her hand--"I have inquired carefullyinto the whole business. There is no doubt, none whatever, that thegirl is far richer than even her guardian understands. She has a hugeincome--a great accumulation of money--and, what is more, a collectionof jewels which is in itself a large fortune. Go back to Londonto-morrow or next day; then sit down and write a letter inviting thegirl to stay at your house. Bid her bring with her all her jewels andfinery. I, for my part, will urge the captain to let her accept theinvitation."
"All this is very circumstantial. What then?"
"I will promise the captain to find her a husband--a man of position,a man of rank, and, above all, one as virtuous as myself." He saidthis without the least blush or even a smile.
"Where is that husband to be found?"
"As yet I do not know. He must be a creation of our own. He must notknow; he must simply obey. We shall find such a person somewhere. Ihave, I believe, a good many of my former friends in the fleet or theKing's Bench. Now, Anastasia, to find one of these unfortunates; tooffer him an allowance, say a guinea a week, in return for a power ofattorney to administer the property. True, there are the creditors;but we might take over the detainers. He must not be suffered to getout." He went on suggesting deceits and villainies.
"You said 'we.' What have I to do with the scheme? It is, you mustconfess, Ludovick, one of those arrangements or understandings whichthe world calls a conspiracy."
Lord Fylingdale released her hand. Her words pained his sensitivesoul. "If at this time, after all that we have done together, we areto talk of conspiracies, we had better act separately," he saidcoldly.
"No, I am your servant, as you know. Sometimes your most unhappyservant, but always at your command. Only now and then it pleases meto call things by their proper names. At such times, Ludovick, I lookin my glass and I see, not the Lady Anastasia in a company of fashion,but a poor wretch sitting in a cart with her arms tied down, a whitenightcap on her head and a prayer-book in her hand. There is a coffinin the cart."
"Anastasia! You are ridiculous. What have we done that all the worldwould not do if it could? These scruples are absurd, and these visionsare fantastic. What is your share? You know that half of mine--allthat is mine--is yours as well. You shall have my hand and my name.These you should have had long ago had they been worth your pickingup. Alas! Anastasia, no one knows better than you the desperatecondition of my affairs."
"Well, I will obey you. I will go back to town. I will go to-morrow.The other partners in our innocency--they will also go back, Isuppose."
"They will have done their part--Sir Harry and the colonel and theparson--they will all go back. They cost a great deal to keep, andthey have done their work."
"Should I see the girl before I go?"
"Perhaps not. Write to her from London. Invite her to stay with you.For my own part, I will look about me for the man we want. Aprisoner--on the poor side--a gentleman; one who will do anything fora guinea a week. The girl will not know that he is a prisoner--it willbe quite easy----"
This he said, concealing his real intentions, and only anxious to getthis lady out of the way. But he left her suspicious and jealous. Thatis to say, she had already become both, and this intricate plot ofgetting a husband from the fleet, and the rest of it, made her stillmore suspicious and jealous.
At the "Crown" Lord Fylingdale found Colonel Lanyon waiting for him.
"I have inquired, my lord, after Tom Rising. He is in a fever thismorning."
"Will he die? What do they think?"
"Perhaps. But he is young. They think that he will recover. What areyour lordship's commands?"
"We have stayed here long enough, colonel."
"With submission, my lord. Although business has been very bad, itwould be as well to wait for the event in Tom Rising's case. Myposition is very secure if he recovers. The gentlemen of the companyhave acknowledged that he forced high play upon me; they are unanimousin that respect. It means over a thousand pounds. If he recovers hemust pay the money."
"Yes. In that case it may be best to wait. If he dies----"
"Then, my lord, we know not what his heirs and executors may resolveupon. The feeling concerning debts of honour is, however, very strongamong the gentlemen of Norfolk. I am sorry that they are not richer."
"If the man dies you can refer to me, perhaps, as arbitrator with theexecutors. Meantime, make the best of your opportunities and lose nomore money. Lady Anastasia goes home in a few days, perhapsto-morrow."
The man retired. Lord Fylingdale sat down and reflected. The greatthing was to get Lady Anastasia out of the way; the rest might stay ornot, as they pleased. Yet he would warn them that their departurewould not be delayed long. He took pen and paper and wrote to SirHarry.
"DEAR BEAU,--I think that the air of Lynn after a few weeks is not wholesome for one no longer in his first youth. I would therefore advise that you should think about going back to town. Settle immediately your affairs,
gaming and others. Leave the hearts you have broken and return to mend those which are only cracked. In a word, the ladies of London are calling loudly for your return, and the wits and pretty fellows are asking what has become of Sir Harry.--Your obedient servant to command,
"FYLINGDALE."
There remained the parson and the poet. The latter he could send awayat a day's notice; the former he would probably want for a certainpurpose. He sent for Mr. Semple, his secretary.
"Semple," he said, "I have now made inquiry into the truth of yourstatements--I mean as regards this young lady's fortune."
"It is as I told your lordship?"
"It is. The fortune you have exaggerated, but it is no doubtconsiderable. Well, I have sent for you in order to tell you that I amnow resolved upon carrying out the project you submitted to me. My ownaffairs are, as you found out, embarrassed; the girl's fortune will beuseful to me; her person is passable; her manners can be improved. Ihave therefore determined to make her my countess."
"My lord, I rejoice to have been the humble instrument----"
"You have kept the secret, so far, I believe. At least I have seen nosign that any one suspects my intentions. You have invented a lie ofenormous audacity in order to bring us all together; myself, yourproject up my sleeve; and certain friends of mine, to assist invarious ways; your inventions have converted an ordinary well into ahealth restoring spring; you have caused the elevation of this town ofcommon sailors and traders and mechanics into a fashionable spa.Semple, you are a very ingenious person. I hope that you are satisfiedwith your success."
"Gratified, my lord. Not satisfied."
"I understand. You shall be satisfied very shortly by the fulfillmentof my promise. It is, if I remember, to find you a place undergovernment, worth at least L200 a year, with perquisites. You shalllearn, Semple, that I can be grateful and that I can keep my word,written or spoken. Now there remains one more service."
He proceeded to give him certain instructions.
"And, remember, the greatest secrecy is to be observed. Neither younor the captain is to reveal the fact--until the business iscompleted. Everything will be ruined if anything is revealed. Your ownfuture depends upon your secrecy. You are sure that you have yourinstructions aright?"
"I am quite sure, my lord. I am your ambassador. I come with a messageof great importance. There are reasons why the proceedings are to bekept secret. The lady will be made a countess before a prying andimpertinent world can be informed of your lordship's intentions. Ifly, my lord. I fly."
"One moment, friend Semple. Before you depart on this mission, resolveme as to a difficulty in my mind."
"What is that, my lord?"
"You are aware, of course, that my plan of life is not quite what thisgirl looks for in a husband. She will expect, in fact, the bourgeoisevirtues--constancy, fidelity, early hours, regularity, piety. You knowvery well that she will find none of these virtues. They are not, Ibelieve, expected in persons of my rank. You are preparing for thegirl, in fact, a great disappointment, and, perhaps, a life of misery.If I did not want her money, I might pity her."
Sam's face darkened.
"Tell me, my friend, in return for what acts of kindness done to youby the captain or by Molly herself are you conferring this boon uponthe girl?"
The poet made no reply for awhile. Then he answered, his eyes on theground. "The thing is as good as done. I may as well let you know. Thecaptain cudgelled me like a dog--like a dog. My gratitude is so greatthat I have succeeded in marrying his ward to--you, my lord. Whatworse revenge could I take?"
"Frankly, I know of none." The devil, himself, you see, can speaktruth at times.
"You will waste and dissipate the whole of her fortune, and would ifit were ten times as great, in raking and gaming; you will send herback to her own people brokenhearted and ruined. That will be mydoing."
"Friend Semple," said his lordship, "if I were not Fylingdale I wouldbe Semple; and, to tell the truth, if I saw any other way of raisingmoney I would--well, perhaps I would--even pity the girl and let hergo."
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