by M. P. Shiel
XLII
REBEKAH TELLS
At that time Hogarth, personally, was in close relation with the scoreof Embassies that inhabited the belly of the _Boodah_, these intriguingincessantly for half-hours at his ear, and in communication, meanwhile,with their Governments through O'Hara's _Mahomet_: so that Hogarth hadto get up early, and his mornings sweated with audience and negotiation.
The German and Russian Emperors, with the Prince of Wales (thenvirtually Regent), had hurriedly met at Vienna--presumably for thediscussion of the Manifesto; and immediately after it, the Prince, whohad the reputation of being one of the most tactful of men-of-the-world,took a step which hinted that the Royal House, as often before, meant tocome to the rescue of the country which loved it however the politiciansmight bungle: Hogarth was invited to accept the Garter.
He accepted: and the ceremony in the _Boodah_ was witnessed, as it were,by Europe, King-at-Arms in a new tabard, with his suite, going to investhim, taking the Statute of the Chapter, with the Great Seal of England,and a set of habiliments--white-silk stockings, gold sword Spanish hat,stars, gloves. And the effect was speedy, the other rulers, dumbfoundedbefore, said now: "England will comply with the Manifesto; and, ifbefore us, the taxed sea opens to her....Yield, moreover, we must: letus make haste!"
But to consent was one thing: the _how_ another: the mere suspicion ofthe willingness of Kaiser or Tsar shook their thrones. Whereupon Russiasaid to Hogarth: "Recently dispossessed, they cling dyingly now to theirlands, so I will _buy_ the land from them, and _you_ will lend me themoney"; to which Hogarth virtually replied: "It is too childish to talkof buying part of a heavenly body from a Russian: have you no sense ofhumour? You may give the Russian 'nobles' some money, if that pleasesyou: but without my help. If His Majesty the Tsar is more afraid of themthan of me, my only way will be to prove myself more truly terrible thanthey".
But high words hurl down no hundred-headed hydra: in France--fast,faster--with dizzy vertigo--millions were forming themselves into secretsocieties, while in England was One only--but stronger than the many ofFrance.
By the date of Rebekah's pilgrimage Hogarth had so far failed andyielded, as almost to decide that from the _Boodah_ nothing could bedone, unless he went to the extent of ruining and starving. The otheralternative was the fixing upon one nation, becoming its recognizedruler, and there furnishing an example both of _modus operandi_, andof a subsequent state of happiness, which others could not long refrainfrom imitating.
But this modification was still in the air; and, meanwhile, he listened,weighed, revolved: using men, impressing, convincing, extracting for hisuse the wisdom of their experience, estimating the exact pressure of theTime, the _timbre_ of its roar.
So on the morning after Rebekah's arrival his Gold Stick became hisrack from the moment of the bow from the throne till noon: name aftername--cordons, orders, gold-lace, sashes, stars, tiaras; till enter thefour Jewesses, the bank-manager, the rabbi, Hogarth's pallor showingup his three moles and nose-freckles, adding a glare to his eyes, hesuffering from the runaway drumming of his heart.
The ladies stoop through curtseys; the men do reverence; Hogarth bows.
There like a Begum of Bhopal stood Rebekah, floridly reflected in theglassy floor, sallow under the eyes, smiling at him, he at her; and veryquickly now, she once in his sight, he recovered comparative calm, andthe strength of his heart.
"Your first visit to the _Boodah_, I think?"--looking at her.
"Yes, my Lord King"--curtseying.
"Do you like her?"
"Why, yes: she is solid, and mighty, and rich. In my own, and thename of my friends, I beg to thank your Lordship's Majesty for yourLordship's Majesty's kind and good hospitality to us".
"Humbugging little beggar", thought Hogarth, his mind slowly gatheringtone, but rushing meanwhile into a species of frivolous assurance afterthose agitations, his hands still cold.
"Well", he said, "but you have not seen her! I think I know her fairlywell, and I propose to be myself your guide, if that will interestyou--"
The Rabbi spoke with trembling voice: "It is gracious, my Lord King.We are here, however, humbly to present an urgent petition to yourLordship's Majesty. Baruch Frankl, at present a prisoner in the_Boodah_, a man no longer young, and habituated to comfort--"
"Stay", interrupted Hogarth: "if you have a petition the day and hourmust be arranged by negotiation between yourself and my Chamberlain. Butsurely, meantime, I may consider you my guest? Miss Frankl and I--havemet--in the world. Come, ladies--come, sirs--say yes!"
Rebekah, standing averted, flashed a look at him, reading his heart, andJews and Jewesses laid heads together, whispering a little, until theRabbi said, bowing: "We bend to your Lordship's Majesty's most graciouswill".
"Agreed, then, sir. We might now see the _Boodah_, and if you willluncheon with me--Mr. Chamberlain! direct Admiral Quilter-Beckett tomeet me at once in the north corridor".
He rose, master of his limbs now, descended, unrobed in an alcove, andin a corridor above the circular stair came upon Quilter-Beckett, who,acting as guide, Rebekah's hand now resting on Hogarth's arm, led themabout the _Boodah_, now walking, now slipping in little trains overeighty-foot rails, rolled in one heat, laid down the vanishing lengthof dim-lit corridors floored with white tiles, their frieze of majolica,with rows of ceramics; and they saw the armouries, piles of rifles,cutlasses, pistols; ferneries grown by electric light; greatcold-storage rooms that struck a chill, for preserving meats, butter,fruit; the doctors' _environ_, the dispensary, and roomy hospital;watched from a railing the working engines that fixed the _Boodah's_position, Hogarth here saying: "There you have a menagerie ofgnome-land: observe those two black beetles, sedately nodding; and thereis daddy-longlegs, working his legs gymnastically; and the three pairsof gallant grey stallions, galloping grandly neck to neck; and those tworidiculous beings, rubbing their palms together, round and round: eachpreoccupied, comically solemn, busied about its own quaint affairs--likea varied gnomeland".
And Rebekah said in a meek tone, like the hen submitting: "Yes, I seenow you say it, my Lord King".
Up stairs and down, round semicircles, up lifts, through nooks,corridors: saw the guns, and how by hydraulics everything was done--thehoisting of ammunition, loading, training: guns intact, guns wrecked bythe Dreadnoughts; and shimmering kitchens, which reeked a smell of heat,and the dairy-maids, and the line of kine, and the row of prison-doors,and the mechanism of ventilation, fans and blowers, the drainage-system,and the dynamos for lighting, for supplying power to motors, forheating, and for shimmering forth rich in the search-lights; and thecentral ballroom, the clothes store, the original one-ninety-sixthmodel, the Ambassador-region, the steaming laundry, and the roof, whereRebekah saw her initials on the breeze, and the vertical pop-guns undershields for dealing with aeroplane attack, and the cream theatre, andthe paymaster's suite, and the bunkers, the Government-offices,and the tax-receiving rooms, the telephone system, and thelady-telegraphists--till all were tired, though half had not beenseen. They luncheoned together; in the early afternoon there was anInvestiture, and she was there; for "five-o'clock" there was a Gounodconcert in the theatre, and she sat in his box; at night the BulgarianAmbassador gave a ball, and she danced a gavotte with him.
When they parted a dying wind sighed his name: "_Hogarth_..."; and whenLoveday before sleeping happened to ask: "When do we set out for London,Richard?" Hogarth with a laugh turned upon him, replying: "When do weset out for Arcturus and the Pleiades? Do give one time to look roundhim!"
The next morning Rebekah, led forward from a semicircle of courtiers bya backing Silver Stick, approached within four feet of the Throne, andafter the protracted humiliation of her curtsey, said ruefully: "Ourparty have failed, my Lord King, to obtain audience for our humblepetition till after four days".
"Is that too long?"
"We could not wait beyond to-night. Our good Rabbi, and my father'sManager--both must hurry back, and we others with them. This being so,
_I_ appeal to Your Lordship's Majesty ".
"A _personal_ appeal?"
"Yes"--poutingly.
"Then, I grant an audience".
"Where?"
"Here".
"Who will be here?"
"Why--you and I."
"_No_"--very low, with pressed lips.
"I am so sorry", says he: "it is the only chance I shall have; not forlong--a few minutes--I am so busy. Otherwise, you will have to stay fourdays--and your poor father suffering--"
She seemed unsure now, and his hands in the uncertainty of that momentwere moist like melting ice.
"So, then, you accept", said he: "a little audience--you grant me? Orrather, I grant you".
"When, my Lord King?"
"At three--No, what folly! At four. Will you? At four? And here? Say atfour".
He spoke leaning keenly forward; and she, with a curtsey ofacquiescence, retired.
They were near again, and yet far, in the _salle a manger_ at luncheon,a function of a hundred guests at small tables, with more of orchestrathan of talk; and even as Hogarth and his train entered, and the crowdrose, she saw his eyes, by some power, prowl and find her.
Afterwards there were two hours to wait.
Such a heat of haste now possessed them both! Hogarth locked himselffrom his attendants into his bed-chamber, and, tumbling a chaos ofclothes and uniforms upon the carpet, stumbled bitterly among them,hunting for a cravat whose effect he remembered; wished at the mirrorthat he had no moles and nose-freckles, or that his father had turnedhim out rather less black; and anon a delicious chill pang of mingledsugar and peppermint would gash his heart at the thought: "_sheconsented!_" He broke glass, dropped his watch to fragments, hissing"damn the thing!"; and about half-past three the hands of Rebekah,too, in _her_ locked closet, were like the scattering sirocco amongpowder-boxes brushes, jewel-cases, and toilet-toys. What a hot hastewas here! She too much blued her eyes, and bruised the skin in wiping,intense the contest between poudre blanche and poudre Rachel, violetteand germandree, she manoeuvring among mirrors to catch each angle ofview, but with a blind impatience; and, if she wanted something, shetripped running, breathless: such a disease of flurry, an eruptionand conflagration of haste--for nothing; yet, all the while, with amiserable sub-feeling of the penal creeping of time.
At four Hogarth in the Throne-room alone was now afraid that he wouldnot be able to utter a syllable, and wished that she would not come;then, in a minute, began to fear that she would not, and wonderedwhether he was not a deluded fool ever to have dreamed it, he walkingquick, or anon listening like a thief in that half-dark: for few lightswere shining, the hall like the after-flush of sunset just before thedark.
At four past four he was aware of a rustling train's rush down thesteps, and now was like a man with his neck on the block, awaiting theaxe. A moment afterwards she was before him, and two moments afterwardshe was collected and hot, and a man again.
"_Dear_", he whispered at her ear, leading her by the hand to an ottomanin a near alcove.
She, in self-defence, was repellent, breathlessly saying with gallopinghaste: "No--I will not sit: you sit, and I will stand here: do as I say,Hogarth--or I repent and go: I know you, and you know me--or you should.Our talk must be short. You say _dear_ to me: that is very gentle, myfriend; but it was not to bandy such words that I am here--alone--withyou and your strength--Hogarth. I come as a suppliant, to imploreyou--firstly for the man who is my father--and secondly for yourself, towarn you. You are said to be about to become the sovereign of England--"
"_I_ am?"--starting where he sat obediently before her, surprisedthat she should utter the purpose then forming in his mind: "witch--ofEndor!"
"_I_ am not the witch, but an old lady in whose predictions many Jewsbelieve, who prophesies the return of the Jews to Palestine--throughyou. Be that as it may, if it is so that you are about to meddlewith the institutions of England, oh beware, the resistence will beterrible!"
"With respect to England I am omnipotent".
"Yes, you can starve it, but _will_ you? You won't. And listen to yourfriend: there is now in London a society, enormously powerful I believe,sworn to your destruction".
"What can they do--assassinate me?"
"Ah! who knows?"
"That would be too childish: I have sown my seed in Time, and it willgrow: two thousand little lords could hardly obliterate the ploughing ofmy wrist. But you know this?"
"Richard, my father is of them".
"Ha!--I forgive him: his daughter seems to be on the other side--"
"Richard, you would not touch my hand? Ah, my friend, I warn you--!Now--you have agitated--I have been ill--my father is of them. And whois one of the closest associates of my father--?"
"Who?"
"The person known as Admiral Donald, whom _I_ know very well to beMonsignor O'Hara. I think you might have been more--recondite--in yourchoice of an admiral, Richard!"
"Ah?--you surprise me".
"But why? You once sent that man to me as a notebearer: certainly, asingular selection. You must have known that he had been a convict--"
"I thought him innocent then!"
"But you know now--?"
"Yes".
"And is it not extraordinary that your ensign bears my initials, whilethis man is one of your commanders?"
"I confess that I do not see the point--"
"Then you cannot know, I suppose, that it was against _me_ that hisoffence was directed".
Hogarth's left lid lowered....
"But my complaint is of the present: are you not aware of the scandalwhich the _Mahomet_ is now creating in the world?"
"Scandal?"
"Thrice lately whispers have reached me of unnameable iniquitiesperpetrated there--Alexandria of the sixth century, Rome of the second!I believe the rumour is widely spread in London--no woman of the worldnow lands on the _Mahomet_".
"It was _you_ whom he assaulted..." Hogarth laughed and was pale atonce.
"Yes, but observe that I must go now, my friend. I have spoken of thethings which I had in my mind: there remains--my father".
"He shall go with you".
"I thank you, my Lord King; that must be in an hour: so I say, Richard,good-bye".
"I do not suppose you can dream how dark--" he went woefully.
Of which she took no notice, but with rapid speech said: "How fairthis hall is--one supposes that the art of impressions was lost withSolomon--like some chamber under a lake at set of sun, colour withoutsubstance, suspended, flushed--I cannot express--"
"Sad, say".
"Ah, Richard".
"Rebekah!"
"Well, Richard, my poor friend?"
"Have pity!"
"Poor Richard!"
"I can't help it, you are all mixed up with my blood, don't go from me.If you think it a sin--the Gentile--God will forgive the charity. Comefor ever--"
Now he sobbed once, and, as he sobbed, she was on her knees, in paganposture, at his knees. "Do not--" distractedly--"see, I kiss yourhand-do you doubt that I pity my love--as a mother has compassion--?"
Now were heaving breasts, a vehement fight for breaths, wild eyes, and alive brand in the marrow.
"You will not go! I have you! In God's name, what a mad thing--!"
"My furious king--you kiss--" the short-winded _melee_ of whispers nowsuffocated in a passion of inarticulate breaths; but at that moment oneof Rebekah's chaperons, wandering out of time and place, stood at thealcove entrance, and they, smitten into two, sprang straight, awakedfrom trance, Rebekah with half a sob and half a laugh.
And two hours later Hogarth, from the roof, saw the Jewish yachtdisappear to the East, on board being the four--and Frankl.
As he descended, he threw up his head with: "Ha!--O'Hara"; announced hisimmediate departure with only a secretary and two lords-in-waiting, lefta mystical note for Loveday, saying that he had decided to go alone inquest of Margaret, and went almost secretly, only the salute informingthe _Boodah_ as he steamed away
. In reality he was in haste to faceO'Hara, and the yacht's bows turned, not eastward, but southward, underforced draught, to arrive at the _Mahomet_ in early afternoon. As herflags indicated the Lord of the Sea absent, there was no salute, and,landing in a panama and jacket, in the Collector's Office he gave thesign of mum, and, led only by a blue-jacket, went spying the depths ofthe _Mahomet_.
In many parts, noticing a singular odour, "What is it I smell?" heasked.
"Incense, my Lord King", the man answered.
On the fourth floor he entered the loveliest _bijou_ chapel, thecoenaculum gold-plated, altar flower-piled, frescoed roof, "stations"in oils, where a lonesome Moorish youth slothfully swung and swung athurible ruby-studded: but in vestments of no _enfant de choeur_--of anancient Phrygian.
Another descent and Hogarth reached a region of laugh and harping:whereupon, dismissing his guide, he tracked the music into a nook sorare, that he stood amazed--a Court of Love, or Mahommedan Heaven, orgrot of Omar--anything old, lovely, and devil-sacred--the air chokinglyodorous, near a fountain some brazen demon--Moloch or Baal--buried inroses, over everything roses, bounty of flowers, a very harvest-home ofChloris, Flora in revel; and smooth youths bearing cups for some twentyothers, all garlanded, besides those on the marble stage; and on thestage itself a scene of dancing girls, Sevillian, Neapolitan,Algerian, mixed with masked Satyrs, which made Hogarth pale, while at aHerod's-table buried under fruits, wines, flowers and gold, reclined PatO'Hara, tonsured now, crowned with ivy and violets, gowned in a violettoga; while under a pendulum whose swings left whiffs of incense behindlay Harris insensible.
As Hogarth descended into it, harp and dance ceased; some leapt to theirfeet: but O'Hara sat still, gazing in a dead silence through glairyeyes, while Hogarth, looking about, spied an electric button in a couch,touched it, and soon a man in uniform stood at a door above.
"Who are you?" asked Hogarth.
"John Souttar, head-telegraphist, may it please your Lordship'sMajesty".
"Make haste: tell the First Lieutenant and the Chief Constable that theLord of the Sea is here".
By now all the revellers were on their feet; no sound: only, theclicking pendulum voyaged, landed an incense-whiff, and voyaged, liketraders.
Then the Lieutenant appeared, mottled and panting, and immediately theConstable.
"Ah, Royds", said Hogarth: "is it practicable to flood this room quicklywith a hose?"
"I--should think so, my Lord King".
"See to it. First set guards at the exits".
He turned to the other: "Mr. Chief Constable, I give all present,except, of course, your Admiral, into custody, on a charge ofmisdemeanour on the high seas. The General Prosecutor will, in duecourse, forward the indictment to your Summary Court. Have your men herewith handcuffs".
Again silence, till, in four minutes, two men appeared on the steps,ball-nozzle in hand; upon which Hogarth said to O'Hara: "Follow me",and as the two passed up, O'Hara tottery, care hanging on that ponderousnether-lip, Hogarth whispered the hose-bearers: "Drown the roomwell--man and woman--do not spare".
To O'Hara he said: "Lead to your suite", and, descending, they presentlystood in a bed-temple, the bed surrounded with mirrors, and at theother end of the apartment an altar--pyx, six unflickering candles, andflowers, with rail and reredos, and maxims of St. Theresa.
Hogarth said: "Sleep two hours", and went out, turning the key.
But in half an hour O'Hara had started awake, sober, and, clapping hispalms over his face, burst into tears.
That Hogarth might be capable of impeachment before a Court of Admirals,followed by death on the block, he feared; and he rolled, groaning,tugging his tonsure-fringe, which, on the forehead, lay a thin greyforelock, thinking: "Guilty wretch that I am! putrid, unwholesome,hopeless, I have befouled the holiest: how richly do I deserve to die!";and even as he groaned and smote, his secret mind weighed up the chancesof Hogarth's action.
He rose, listened, rushed to the door, found it locked, tossed updespairing hands, and tottered to the altar, at which he knelt, allsighs, and dying fish-eyes, and sideward-languishing face, and wearywoe. Ah! how great the mountain of his iniquity: if he might be but oncemore spared, his evil remainder of days he would bury in some Carmeliteretreat, with fastings and prayers; but no--he had too much tempted theEternal patience, the sword was out against him. Yet he implored, heimplored with groans: with half an eye, meanwhile, on the door; and,having with regard to Hogarth a piece of secret knowledge which heguarded deep for some possible emergency and use (the fact of Hogarth'sJewish birth), as he prayed, his brain with complete detachment workedout the question whether he might now reveal this with advantage.
Hogarth found him kneeling, said "Get up", and O'Hara stood, leaningupon the rail, too faint to stand unpropped, Hogarth contemplating him,tapping the toes.
"Well, sir! I know all: your whole past".
"Red as crimson--!" went O'Hara faintly, with tossed hands.
"Red enough, Admiral. You are a bad old man: merit death".
"Ah, God knows it, my Lord King! I do assure you, I am a leprous wretch:and I welcome death--I pray you, I pray Heaven, for it--"
"You should have it, if you were a better, or a younger, man: but I willnot stain the Empire of which you were chosen to be a stay, and are theshame, with the blood of such as you. You are beneath judgment: and thatclemency which is our scutcheon I extend to you. Live, therefore, andrepent, O'Hara. I, however, you understand, now turn from you for ever.And I discharge you like a menial, sir. See to it that within six monthsyou have your affairs regulated, and send in your resignation to theGovernment".
He turned and went; and, as he disappeared, O'Hara straightened, coollywent "H'm!", and took snuff. He lived, he lived: while there is lifethere is fun.
Fumbling about, searching for nothing, all relieved and rescued,yet stunned, he suddenly exclaimed: "What a noble fellow is my sonHogarth!", and knelt again.
Hogarth in the same hour was away for England; and on the fourth eveningthence, the street-lamps just lit, stood before No. 11 Market Street,Edgware Road, come for Margaret; his carriage waiting at a corner fortyyards away; and though within the last hour he had realized vividlythat his voyage to the _Mahomet_ had given Frankl time to remove her, oraccomplish any devilish device in his power with respect to her, he wasnow all prospect and expectancy.
The house was three-storied, mean, unlighted, with an "area"; from aneighbouring window a woman screaming down to some playing children; andunder her a shop sending out that fishy fume which "drove Asmodeus backto hell".
He rapped, received no answer, rapped again without reply, then steppeddown and back, looking up: and suddenly, faintly, but distinctly, heheard her voice, high up--_singing_.
"O what a pretty place, And what a graceful city, Where the striplings are so gay, And the ladies are so pretty ".
It was she! He ran and banged at the door: no reply.
Back again he stepped; and now a window on the top floor went up, andshe, putting out her head, twice beckoned him--listlessly, it seemed,then drew in; and instantly--again--he heard her sing.
As once more he ran to the door, he discovered now that it was open,darted into darkness, up uncarpeted stairs, making for that upper room,vague light through grimy stair-windows guiding his impassioned dash;and on the third floor entered a room with two doors, beyond one ofwhich was the room he sought: but that door was locked.
At it he pushed, fumbled, called: "Margaret!" No reply. And suddenly heheard her singing, not before, but behind him.
"Happy day! Happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away "...
When he flew to the other door, and now found it, too, locked, graduallyin that gloom all colour faded from his face; and the voice sang on:"Happy day! happy day"....
