CHAPTER XXXIV
A NEW COMPACT
What followed, by invention and design of the pious ecclesiastic, Mr.Purdon, was a villainy even greater than that at first designed--moredaring, more cruel.
The bride, accompanied by the minister officiating in the lateceremony, walked back to her lodging. She was still exultant in thefirst glow and triumph of her revenge. He, on the other hand, walkeddowncast, stealthily glancing at his companion, his big head movingsideways like the head of a bear, his sallow cheeks paler than wascustomary. The bridegroom, for his part, flung himself into his chair,and so was carried to the lady's lodging. A strange weddingprocession!
She threw off her cloak and her domino, and stood before hernewly-made lord, her eyes bright, her face flushed, her lipsquivering. She was filled with revenge only half satiated; but revengecan never be wholly satisfied; and she was filled with the triumph ofvictory.
"I have won!" she said; "you tried to deceive me again, Ludovick. ButI have won. You have been caught in your own toils."
He took the nearest chair, sitting down in silence, but his face wasdark. As she looked upon him, some of the triumph died out of hereyes; her cheek lost its glow; she began to be frightened. What wouldhe say--or do--next? As for his reverence, he stood close to the dooras if ready for instant flight. Indeed, there was cause foruncertainty because the man was desperate and his sword was at hisside.
"Silence!" he said, "or I may kill you."
Then there was silence. The other two did not speak. The lady threwherself upon the sofa, twisting her fingers nervously.
"You have married me, you say. You shall be a happy wife. You cannotimagine how happy you will be."
In a contest of tongues the woman has the best of it.
"So long as you, my lord, enjoy the same happiness, or even greater, Ishall not repine. You intended my happiness in another way."
"You have destroyed my last chance. It is a good beginning."
"A better ending, my lord. The fond mistress whom you have fooled solong becomes the wife. It is not the duty of a wife to provide for herhusband. Nor will the Countess of Fylingdale allow the Earl to enterher house. She will want the proceeds of her bank for herself. In aword, my lord, you are not only my husband, but you are now privilegedto provide for yourself."
He sprang to his feet and fell to common and violent cursing, invokingthe immediate and miraculous intervention of that Power which he hadall his life insulted and defied. The lady received the torrentwithout a word; what can one say in reply to a man who only curses?But she was afraid of him; his words were like blows; the headlongrage of the man cowed her; she bent her head and covered her face withher hands.
Then Mr. Purdon ventured to interfere. "Let me speak," he said. "Thething is done. It cannot be undone. Would it not be better to make thebest of it? Does it help any of us--does it help your lordship--torevile and to threaten?"
The bridegroom turned upon him savagely. "You to speak!" he said."You, who are too mealy mouthed and too virtuous even to tear up apage from a register."
"I do not wish to be unfrocked, or to be sent to the plantations, mylord. Meantime, it would be doing you the worst service in the worldif I were to tear out that page."
"Oh! you talk--you always talk."
"Of old, my lord, I have sometimes talked to some purpose."
"Talk again, then. What do you mean by disservice? You will say next,I suppose, that this play acting was fortunate for me."
"We may sometimes turn disasters into victories. If your lordship willlisten----"
His patron sat down again--the late storm leaving its trace in ascowling face and twitching lips.
"Why the devil was not Molly there? How did this woman find out? Howdid she know that Molly was not coming?"
"I can answer these questions," said the lady. "Molly would not comebecause she learned last night, just in time, certain facts in theprivate life of the bridegroom----"
"What?" Lord Fylingdale betrayed his terror. "She has heard? What hasshe heard?" He had not, as you have heard, received Molly's letter,nor had he opened the captain's letter. Therefore, he knew nothing.
"She had heard more than enough. You have lost your bride and herfortune. I might have warned you, but I preferred to take her place."
"What has she heard?"
"Apparently, all that there is to be heard. Not, of course, all thatcould be told if Mr. Purdon were to speak. Merely things of publicnotoriety. That you are a gambler and a rake; that you have ruinedmany; that you are ruined yourself. Oh! Quite enough for a girl of herclass to learn. In our rank we want much more before we turn our backupon a man. I, myself, know much more. Yet I have married you."
"She has heard--" Lord Fylingdale repeated.
"Dear, dear!" said the parson. "All this is most unfortunate--mostunfortunate. Your lordship has already lost your bride--lost her," herepeated; "lost her--and her fortune. Is there no way out?"
"Who brought these reports? Show me the man!"
"Ta-ta-ta! You need not bluster, Ludovick. Reports of this kind are inthe air; they cling to your name; they travel with you. What? Thenotorious Lord Fylingdale? They have come, you see, at last, even tothis unfashionable corner of the island. They are here, although wehave done so much to declare your virtues. Acknowledge that you havebeen fortunate so far."
"Are these reports your doing, madam? Is this a part of your infernaljealousy?"
"I do not know who put them about. It is not likely that I shouldstart such reports--especially after the scandal at Bath. I am, infact, like his reverence here, too much involved myself. Oh! we havebeautiful characters--all three of us."
"Who told Molly?"
"I say that I know nothing. She has been warned. That is all I cantell you, and she has been advised to take no further steps until fullexplanations have been made in answer to these rumours."
"Full explanations," repeated Mr. Purdon. "Dear, dear! Mostunfortunate! most unfortunate!"
"Your lordship can refer to his reverence here, or to the admirableSemple; or to the immaculate Sir Harry; or to the colonel--that man ofnice and well-known honour--for your character. But who will give thema character? Understand," she said, facing him, "you had lost yourbride before you got out of bed this morning. Your only chance now isto imitate the example of Tom Rising and to carry her off. And shewill then stick a knife between your ribs as she intended to do tothat worthy gentleman. But no, I forgot, you cannot do that, you arealready married."
His reverence again interposed. "With submission, my lord, someexplanations will be asked. It will not, certainly, be convenient tooffer any. There is, however, one way--and only one--that I cansuggest." He looked at the Lady Anastasia. "It will be, perhaps, atfirst, distasteful to her ladyship. It has, however, the very greatadvantage of securing the fortune, which, I take it, is what yourlordship chiefly desires. As regards the girl, she is in point ofmanners and appearance so far beneath your lordship's notice that weneed not consider her in the matter."
"I care nothing about the girl, but hang me if I understand one singlesyllable of what you mean, or how you can secure the fortune withoutthe girl."
"It is not always necessary to carry your wife about with you. Shemight be left with her friends. A marriage without settlement places,I believe, a woman's fortune absolutely in the hands of her husband."
Neither of his listeners made the least sign of understanding what hemeant.
"Strange!" he said. "I should have thought that this way would havebeen seized upon immediately. It is wonderful that you do notunderstand."
"Pray, Mr. Purdon," said the lady, "do not credit me, at least, withthe power of following your mind in all its crookedness."
"Let us consider the situation. I was somewhat surprised when yourlordship instructed me to come to this place. Surprised andsuspicious. Naturally, I kept my eyes open. I very soon discoveredwhat was proposed. Here was a girl whom Semple had represented to yourlordship as a great heiress. You want a
n heiress at this juncture. Ifollowed the course of events with satisfaction. You were civil to thegirl when all the company trampled upon her; you were affable to theold fool, her guardian; you made private and personal inquiry into herfortune; you succeeded in representing yourself as a man of virtue andhigh principle--all this was cleverly managed. But you made onemistake. You concealed your true intentions from the Lady Anastasia."
"It was her infernal jealousy. Why couldn't she let me marry the girland leave her in Gloucestershire--out of the way?"
"A great mistake. I thought that my pupil knew the sex better.Jealousy, my lord, supposes love; and love can always be directed intothe other channel of submission. Well, the marriage was arranged; youhad already taken the precaution of getting a licence. Then, at thelast moment, these sinister reports began. How far they can beexplained away--how many others they involve; how many scandals theyrevive--we know not. But explanation--explanation--no, no--that wouldbe the devil!"
"Go on, man. You talk forever."
"Had these reports been delayed but a single day--had they arrivedafter the marriage."
"But they arrived before the marriage."
"Quite so; which brings me to my proposal. Here you are--at your lastguinea. So am I. You can raise no more money. If I were not yourdomestic chaplain I should be in the King's Bench. I have lived onyour bounty for ten years and more. I hoped to go on with the samesupport. To be sure I have earned my money. I have been of service onmany occasions, but I am grateful, and I would, if I could, for thesake of old times, assist your lordship on this occasion."
"I want all the assistance I can get. That is quite certain."
"And I want all the money I can get. I always intended, somehow orother, to get a slice of this pudding. If I put it into yourlordship's power to claim and to seize upon this fortune, which seemsto have been snatched out of your hands at the last moment, I musthave my share."
"Your share? What do you call your share?"
"Twelve thousand pounds."
"Twelve thousand devils!"
"You can get nothing without me. If you refuse I can, at least, telleverybody the pleasant truth about this morning's work, and how thebiter was bit."
"Go on with your proposal, then."
"You will give me a promise--a bill, if you like, payable in twomonths--you will not be able to get through all that money in twomonths--for twelve thousand pounds."
"It is a monstrous sum. But, on condition that you place this girl'sfortune in my hands--however, it is impossible. Well, you shall havemy promise--on my honour as a peer." He placed his right hand upon hisheart.
The clergyman grinned. "Your lordship gives me more than I dare toask. It is a bill--a written document--not a promise, even on yourhonour as a peer. Give me that and I will show you the way.Stay--nothing can be done without me--I will tell you my scheme beforeyou sign that paper. Now, listen--you had already lost your bride whenyou arrived at the church. Her ladyship most fortunately----"
"How, sir, most fortunately?"
"A moment. Madam saw her way to the revenge of jealousy. She took theplace of the bride. And she was married as Miss Molly; she signed thename of Molly Miller; the licence was in that name. The clerk who waspresent has, I am sure, already carried the news all over the place.We have the evidence, therefore, of the bridegroom, the parson, theclerk, the licence, the registers. Who is to prove that the real Mollywas at home all the time? Captain Crowle, perhaps, though I doubt. Thegirl herself--but who will believe her? My lord, you have married MissMolly, and not the Lady Anastasia."
"What then?"
"You have only to claim your bride."
"Sir. You forget that I am the bride," Lady Anastasia interposed,quickly.
Mr. Purdon bowed and smiled, rubbing his hands softly. "Withsubmission, madam. I do not advise that his lordship should carry heroff, nor that he should claim her _ad mensam et torum_, as we scholarssay. His principles would not, I am sure, allow that he should carryoff an unmarried woman. Not at all. He will leave her with herfriends. Indeed, he would prefer to do so. I suggest only that weshould proclaim the marriage and lay hands upon the fortune."
"She is to be the countess. And what am I to be?"
"His lordship's best friend. You will rescue him in his deepest need;you will restore him to affluence; it will be a service, madam, of thepurest and most disinterested affection, instead of an ugly andruinous revenge. Heavens! Can you hesitate?"
Thus did he gloss over the villainy so that the poor woman almostbelieved that she was entering upon a course of virtuous benevolence,and, as the man said, a service of love.
"But the girl--Molly. She will not consent to be a countess in name."
"She and her friends will protest; but they will be overborne;meantime, she has the virtue and the pride of her station. Will sheeven consent, do you think, to call herself a countess when she is notmarried? Why, we actually make a ladder for ourselves to climbthereby, out of her virtue."
He looked at the lady no longer stealthily, but full in the face, witha smile, as if he was proposing a scheme of the noblest kind; as ifthere was nothing to be hidden, and there were no perjuries to beadvanced.
Lord Fylingdale, too, turned to her with a face of inquiry and doubt.
"What is your lordship's opinion?"
"It is a scheme of great audacity. It will require bold handling."
"It shall be boldly handled, if I may advise."
"It is certain to be resisted with the utmost indignation."
"Of that there is no doubt. But the end is also certain. Nothing canwithstand the evidence of our case. It is so clear that I myself am ofopinion that the bride was actually Miss Molly."
They both looked at Lady Anastasia, who made no response--her eyes inher lap.
"The truth will lie with us three," the tempter went on. "Only with usthree. None of us will reveal it."
"As regards jealousy, Anastasia, the girl will be here, and everythingwill continue just as before."
She threw up her arms and sprang to her feet. "Oh!" she cried, "it isthe most monstrous villainy."
"We need not think of the girl. We must think of ourselves."
"A service of love," murmured Mr. Purdon, "a beautiful, a nobleservice of love!"
"The fortune is immense, Anastasia. It is ridiculous that the girlshould have so much. We will leave her a competence. Besides, thereare the jewels."
Lady Anastasia gasped.
"You yourself will adorn these jewels. It will be my greatest pleasureto atone for my ill-judged deception by giving you all thosejewels--the diamonds, the rubies, the chains of pearls, and all therest of the pretty glittering things." He took her hands, the parsonlooking on all the time as a physician looks on at a blood-letting oran operation. "What can that girl do with jewels? They shall all beyours. Forgive me, Anastasia, and let us again work together as wehave already done--you and I--with no more jealousy and no moresuspicions."
He kissed her hand. His manner was changed almost suddenly; he becamesoft, caressing, and persuasive. It was the old charm which the poorlady could never resist. She suffered him to hold her hand; sheallowed him to kiss her hand; her eyes grew humid.
"Oh!" she murmured, "I must do everything you ask, Ludovick, if youare only kind."
"How can I be anything but kind?" he replied, with a smile. "You mustforget and forgive. The thought that all I had schemed and planned wastorn from me--and by you, Anastasia--by you--was too much. My mind wasupset; I know not what I said. Forgive me!"
"Oh, Ludovick! I forgive."
"And the jewels shall atone--the lovely jewels. You shall have themall."
"You will truly give me the jewels?"
"Truly, my Anastasia. After all, we are man and wife. Henceforth weshall only live for each other. Your happiness shall be mine. Thejewels shall be yours."
She yielded; she fell into his arms. There was a complete, a touchingreconciliation!
"I agree, then, Purdon," said his lordship. "W
e both agree. It remainsonly to choose the best time, the best place, the best manner."
"Let it be the boldest manner; the most public place; before thelargest company. Let there be no mistake possible. Leave this to me,my lord. Twelve thousand pounds. Your ladyship will oblige me withpen, ink, and paper? I may point out" (he turned to his former pupilwith an ugly grin) "that if this promise, or bond, or bill is not metI shall proclaim the whole business from the housetop."
In other words, Lord Fylingdale was going to declare that it wasMolly, and none other, who was married that morning at six o'clock,and to assume the rights and powers of a husband. So that the news ofhis evil reputation came, after all, too late to be of any use. And asfor explanations, who would have the right to ask any explanations ofa married man on behalf of his wife.
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