Lost Sir Massingberd: A Romance of Real Life. v. 1/2

by James Payn

  CHAPTER VIII.

  MEETING HIS MATCH.

  Sir Massingberd's unlooked-for entrance into the drawing-room at theDovecot had a result that must seem almost farcical to those who readit, but which to me, who dwelt among big trembling vassals, and hadlearned, day by day, to fear and hate him more and more, had nothing init extraordinary. I, Peter Meredith, bolted straightway into theconservatory, and there ensconced myself within the shadow of anorange-tree, while the Rev. Matthew Long left the room with equalcelerity by the door. As for me, I confess that I was actuated by panicon my own account; my tutor's apprehensions were aroused on behalf ofanother. The instant after he disappeared, I heard the lock of thelibrary door shot into its staple, and knew that Marmaduke was in afriend's keeping, and safe from any incursion of his uncle. I could seethat Mr. Gerard knew this too, for a gleam of pleasure passed over hisface, and then left it determined, defiant, and almost mocking, as whenhe had first set eyes upon the intruder. There was a fire in theotherwise darkening room, and from my place of concealment, I couldwatch the lineaments of both its inmates--and two more resolved andhaughty countenances I had never beheld.

  "Is it the custom of your respectable family, Sir Massingberd Heath,"observed my host, "to force themselves into houses whose owners do notdesire the honour of their presence?"

  "It is their custom to hold their own, sir," answered the baronetcurtly; "and I am come after my nephew."

  It is impossible to convey the effect which this audacious speech hadupon me, its unseen hearer; unblushing, scornfully open as it was, anawful threat seemed to lie within it, and above all, a consciousness ofthe power to carry it into effect. Even Mr. Gerard, who could have hadno knowledge of the things that I knew, and had never heard the historyof Grimjaw, seemed to feel a tremor as he listened.

  "Your nephew, sir, is not in a condition to receive you," returned myhost. "The consequences of seeing you might, I do not hesitate to say,be fatal to him."

  "The opinion of his medical man is different," observed Sir Massingberdwith a sneer. "Dr. Sitwell--a most estimable person, I should say, andendowed with excellent sense--has been so very kind as to ride overhimself to Fairburn as soon as he could leave his patient, in order toapprise me exactly how the matter stands. He recommends my seeingMarmaduke in his first lucid interval--'There is no knowing,' said he,'whether that may not be your poor dear nephew's last.'"

  "Your poor dear nephew," repeated Mr. Gerard, with great distinctness."Very dear, doubtless, but not what one would call poor, at least in thematter of expectations."

  "Poor or rich, sir," retorted the other, "he has been placed in my handsas being those most fitted to take care of him."

  Mr. Gerard shrugged his shoulders, and smiled sardonically.

  "You seem to conceive that confidence misplaced, sir," continued thebaronet. "The want of your good opinion afflicts me beyond measure. Iam aware that I fail to satisfy pious persons in some particulars, butthat Mr. Harvey Gerard's susceptibilities should be offended is indeed aserious consideration; it is as though the devil himself should cry,'For shame!'"

  "Sir Massingberd Heath, you are under my roof, although unbidden andunwelcome," returned my host; "your tongue, therefore, is chartered, sofar as I am concerned. I could not, I confess, help my countenanceexpressing some astonishment when you spoke of your fitness for theeducation of youth."

  There was a pause here for which I could not account. Sir Massingberd'seyes were riveted upon something on which the firelight danced andshone. I should very much misrepresent the baronet's character, andprobably even exaggerate his capabilities, if I said he blushed, butcertainly his countenance changed. Then he broke out fiercely, "I liveas I choose, sir, and am answerable to no man, least of all to you. Theparsons had their say, and have got their reply long ago, but am I alsoto be arraigned by--"

  "You cannot justify yourself by any quarrel with me," interrupted Mr.Gerard. "I have, as you say, although not for the foolish reason youwould mention, no right to be either your judge or accuser. But, SirMassingberd, there is a God whom we have both good cause to fear."

  "So you make your own sermons, I perceive," exclaimed the other,bitterly. "That is the reason, is it, why the good folks never see youat church? Cant amuses me always; but religion out of your mouth ishumorous, indeed. Pray go on, sir, if my dear nephew can wait a little,for I should be sorry to miss him altogether. You were affirming, Ithink, the existence of a God."

  "I was about to urge," continued Mr. Gerard, with grave severity, "sincehowsoever persons differ on religious matters, they generallyacknowledge a common Father, that if there is one crime more hateful toHim than another, it is the deliberate debauchery of the mind of youth.I had no intention of making any particular accusation, such as thesight of this flask seems to have suggested to you. I know nothing--butwhat I guess--of its history. It has only been in my hands a very fewminutes. The person by whose means it came into this house was, Ibelieve, an old gipsy woman, and you are, doubtless, well aware how itgot into her possession."

  Mr. Gerard paused. Sir Massingberd, who, though smiling scornfully, hadbeen beating the ground with his foot, here observed, with a forcedcalmness, "She is a liar; she is a thief, and the mother of thieves."

  "Did she steal this flask?" inquired Mr. Gerard, regarding the otherattentively. "It has your crest upon it. She did not. Good. It was then,I suppose, only a gage d'amour of yours."

  A lurid light came over Sir Massingberd's evil face; for a moment Itrembled for the man who dared to speak such words to him, but almostinstantly he recovered his usual cruel calm.

  "Your sagacity, Mr. Gerard," returned he, "is truly admirable. Is it theresult of experience or intuition? or has this old ginger-faced harridanmade you her favoured confidant? With your fondness for all suchvagabonds I am well acquainted."

  "The reprobation of a man like you, Sir Massingberd, should be dearerthan the praise of ordinary mortals; but this matter does not concernmyself in any way."

  The baronet muttered something between his set teeth.

  "Pshaw! man," continued Mr. Gerard, with unutterable scorn; "think notto frighten me. I am stronger than you, because I am richer; you areas poor as those very vagabonds whom you despise; your very existencedepends upon the alms of a stranger. That you are unscrupulous in yourrevenges, I do not doubt; but you would have to deal in Harvey Gerardwith one who only uses honourable weapons with an honourable foe. If youdid me or mine a mischief, I swear to you that I would shoot you like adog."

  The frame of the speaker shook with contemptuous passion. Defiant as washis language, it fell far short of the disdain expressed in his toneand manner. It was not in Sir Massingberd's nature to be overawed, buthis truculent features no longer maintained their grimness--their cruelhumour. He could not put aside a man like Gerard with a brutal jest. Ido not say that he was conscious of his own inferiority, but he knewthat his opponent not only did not fear, but actually despised him. Thiswas wormwood.

  "I am ashamed," continued Mr. Gerard, after a pause, "to have lost mytemper with you, Sir Massingberd, upon my own account. I wish to havenothing in common with you--not even a quarrel. We were speaking of thisgipsy woman, and you called her thief, and what not. Whatever may be herfaults, however, it does not become you to dwell on them; but for herand her prompt assistance, your nephew would not at this moment bealive. Out of this very flask she administered to him--" So frightfulan execration here broke from the baronet's lips that I anticipated itto be the prelude to a personal assault upon my host. Mr. Gerard,however, stood quietly stirring the fire, with his eyes fixed firmly butcalmly on those of Sir Massingberd, just as a mad doctor might regard adangerous patient.

  "That is a very singular exclamation of gratitude," observed Mr. Gerard,sardonically, "to one who has just performed you--or at leastyours--so great a service. It really seems as though you almostregretted that it was performed."

  A look of deadly hatred had now taken the place of all other expressionson the baronet's face. It f
orgot even to wear its sneer.

  "I have been insulted enough, I think," said he, with a calmness moreterrible than wrath. "Even as it is, I shall scarcely be able torequite you, though, be sure, I will do my best. But, with respect to myerrand, I am come here to see my nephew, and that I will do."

  "That you shall not do, Sir Massingberd, so surely as this house ismine."

  "And who shall prevent me?" exclaimed the baronet, contemptuouslymeasuring his foe from head to foot.

  "Not I, sir, indeed," returned Mr. Gerard; "but I will see that myservants put you out of doors by force," and as he spoke he laid hishand upon the bell.

  "Before night, then, I shall send for Marmaduke, and he shall be carriedback to Fairburn, which, after all, is his proper home, and be therenursed."

  "Nursed!" repeated my host, hoarsely. "Nursed by the grave-digger, youmean."

  Sir Massingberd turned livid and sat down; then, as one who acts in hissleep, he passed his handkerchief once or twice across his forehead."How dare you speak such things to me?" said he, looking round abouthim. "To hear you talk, one would think that I had tried to murder theboy."

  "I know you did," cried Mr. Gerard, solemnly, laying his finger uponthe baronet's arm. "If your nephew, Marmaduke, dies, his blood is onyour head."

  "On mine! how on mine? How, in the name of all the devils, could I havehindered the lad's horse from running away with him?"

  "I will tell you how. You might have suffered Mr. Long to purchase ahorse for the boy, as he offered to do, and not have sent to London fora confirmed run-away."

  "He rode it half a dozen times without any harm," replied SirMassingberd, sullenly.

  "Yes, with a curb that would have tamed a wild horse fresh from thelasso. But when you took that curb for the keeper's pony, riding withgun in hand for the first time in your life--and sent your nephew forthupon that devil with a snafflebridle--nay, I have it yonder, sir--don'tlie; you calculated that if what you wished should happen all would belaid to chance. A change of bridles is an accident like enough tohappen; lads are thrown from horseback every day. See, I track yourthoughts like slime. Base ruffian! rise; begone from beneath this roof,false coward--"

  Sir Massingberd started up like one stung by an adder.

  "Yes, I say coward! Heavens! that this creature should still feel thetouch of shame! Be off, be off; molest not any one within this house,at peril of your life--murderer--murderer!"

  Without a word, without a glance of reply, Sir Massingberd seized hishat, and hurried from the room. I felt some alarm lest he should makesome violent effort to visit Marmaduke; but Mr. Gerard's countenancegave me comfort. He stood quite still, listening with grim satisfactionto the baronet's retreating footsteps.

  They were heard for an instant striding along the floor of the hall, andthen were exchanged for the sound of his horse's hoofs urged to speedalong the carriage-drive. Sir Massingberd Heath had met for once withhis match--and more.