The question was now put whether he had any witnesses to call. For a moment he was silent & seemed lost in deep thought but almost immediately raising his head he said in a firm tone “I believe there is one in this hall who if he will can do me great service.” there was a pause, the Judges (except the Duke who throughout the trial had preserved his usual imperturbable calmness of demeanour) regarded each other with looks of astonishment. The exulting smile which had begun to dawn on Colonel Percy’s cheek vanished, the page turned pale, & St Clair’s own countenance assumed an expression of anxious expectation, at length a slight bustle was heard in one part of the hall, a movement became perceivable among the dense & hitherto almost motionless mass of spectators, their close ranks slowly opened & a young man of handsome & genteel appearance attired in an officer’s undress uniform, advanced to the Judges’ seats.
“Are you come to bear testimony in favour of the prisoner?” asked the Duke of Wellingtonf.
“I am” replied the young officer bowing respectfully to his interrogator.
“what is your name & profession?”
“My name is John Bud & I hold the rank of Ensign in the Sixty-fifth regiment of horse commanded by Colonel Percy”
“Repeat what you know concerning this affair but first let the oath be administered to him.”
this formula being complied with Ensign Bud proceeded to give evidence to the following effect. That on the night preceding that on which the army received orders to attack the enemies camp, he was returning to his own tent after passing the evening with a friend, when just as he passed the outskirts of a thick grove of trees, beside the river, the words “thou shalt obey me this instant Dwarf or I’ll stab thee to the heart” caught his ear, that on looking through the branches he beheld Colonel Percy & a man dressed in livery holding between them a little boy whom he believed to be the same now present in their lordships’ court, that the child fell on his knees & promised to obey them in every-thing, That the Colonel then told him to go to the African Camp & claim a reward in the name of his master the Earl of St Clair for intelligence of an important nature concerning certain plans which had just been resolved on in a council of war, that on the boy’s declaring he did not know the way the Colonel said he would go with him as far as the boundaries, that then after wrapping himself in a green plaid which he took from the child, all three left the place & were soon out of sight. As the witness concluded this singular piece of evidence, Colonel Percy started from his seat & sprung rather than stepped to the bar.
“My lords” he exclaimed in a loud but agitated voice which while his flushed cheek, fierce eye & the veins swelled almost to bursting on his forehead proclaimed the violence of the emotions that were contending within him “my lords I implore you not to believe a word which has been uttered by that forsworn that perjured minion, mean revenge has dictated -” he was going on with increasing vehemence when the Duke of Wellington commanded silence.
A short conference carried on in such low tones as scarcely to be audible then suceeded among the judges the result of which was that they declared that Ensign Bud’s testimony was not sufficiently clear & decisive to warrant an immediate acquittal but that they should remand the prisoner for the present in order that he might have an opportunity of procuring additional evidence. The court was now about to dissolve when a movement became again visible among the crowd, it opened a second time & our friend Mr Sdeath appeared’ followed by six men bearing a litter on which lay a man dressed in the blue silver laced coat of a foot man. His countenance was ghastly pale & his clothes were covered with recent stains of blood. “Set him down here at the foot of his master as in duty bound” said Mr Sdeath, coming forward with an air of bustling assiduity, & carefully assisting the men to deposit their doleful burden just beside Colonel Percy.
“What do you mean by this you villain?” asked he turning as pale as the dying man before him. Sdeath answered this question by a quiet inward chuckle & a significant nod of intelligence, then turning to the Duke he said “You see my lord I was daunering’ out this morning up the valley to get a breath of country air when just as I got to a very lonely & quiet spot I heard a long rattling groan like as it might be of a man that’s either drunk or discontented, so I turned to the place it seemed to come from & what should I see but this here carrion lying writhing on the ground like a trodden snake. “What’s to do with you?” says I “& who’s brought you to that smart pass my beauty?” “Colonel Percy” he squeeled out “Oh carry me to Verdopolis carry me to the hall of Justice ; let me be revenged on the wretch before I die” There was no resisting this pathetic appeal, besides I have a great affection for the Colonel & knowing him to be a wildish young man (youth alas! has its follies as well as old age) I thought the sight of his poor servant in the dead thraws might do him good, so I ran hired a litter & brought him here according to his wish”
“What is the meaning of all this?” asked the Duke “Who is the wounded man?”
“I am a miserable & deluded being” replied Travers in a hollow tremulous tone “but if it please heaven to grant me strength & time for confession I will ease my conscience of a part at least of that fiery burden which presses on it. Let it be known to all in this place that the Earl of St Clair is totally innocent of the crime laid to his charge. My master is the traitor, yes - but - but I cannot get on,” here he paused from exhaustion his eyes closed his breath came thick & to all present it appeared as if he were dying. on a glass of wine being administered to him however he revived in some degree, raising himself in his litter he requested to speak with St Clair in Private. Orders were immediately given for the crowd to be cleared out, the subordinate Judges likewise removed to a distant part of the hall & none remained within hearing of his confession except the Duke of Wellington, Ensign Bud & the Earl himself, this being done the poor wretch proceeded thus.
“My lord Colonel Percy hates you for what reasons you yourself best know, he recognized you for an old enemy at the Olympic Games & ordered me after the Prizes were distributed to watch your motions & inform him where you should take up quarters for the night. I dogged you as far as the Zephyr Valley & then returned to tell my master. When we returned you were fast asleep, & that boy whom from his dress short stature & withered unnatural features my master always called the Green Dwarf was laid at your feet, the Colonel then bade me go & fetch the boy to him. I did so & when he was brought, Percy drew his sword & threatened to kill him on the spot if he would not instantly swear to obey him in every thing he should command, the lad called out that if he did obey him it should be for the promise of a reward rather than for a threat of punishment, my master told him to name his own reward; he said he would do so when he knew what his business was to be. Colonel Percy told him in the first place it was to tell him who his master was. he said he would do that for five pounds & then confessed directly that you were the Earl of St Clair, afterwards the Colonel told him that he was to be a spy on all your actions, to note particularly whether you went to Charlesworth Castle” to follow you thither, if possible to listen at the door of the appartment to which you might be shown & to report everything that was said to him. The little mercenary wretch swore to do all this for a hundred pounds. He was then informed in what part of the city his employer resided, & dismissed to commence his villainous system of espial. About a week afterwards he arrived at our house panting & quite out of breath & desired to see the Colonel instantly, he had brought information that you & lady Emily Charlesworth had concerted a plan of elopement together which was to be put in practice at twelve o’clock that night, my master commanded him to delay you as much beyond the time as he could & then dismissed him. At eleven o’clock he & myself set of in a carriage & six for the castle, we reached the place of rendezvous a chestnut avenue shortly after twelve, at the entrance my master got out & went a little way up the walk, he soon returned with the lady & handed her into the carriage”
“Did she go with him willinglyp” asked St Clair in a tone of t
he deepest agitationf.
“yes but it was because he had passed himself for you, & as he had on a travelling cloak & the trees threw a very dark shade it was impossible for her to discover the cheat.”
“But she might have recognized his voice, he spoke to her did he not?”
“Very seldom & when he did it was scarcely above his breath”
“Well proceed : where did you carry her?”
“That I cannot, dare not tell. I am bound by a solemn oath never to reveal it & surely you would not have me add fresh agonies to my dying hour by committing the crime of perjury?”
In this determination the man seemed fixed. St Clair tried in vain arguments, entreaties & commands & seeing it was impossible to prevail with him & that the sands of life were running very low, he at length permitted him to continue his confession.
“When she was secured” said he “We returned to Verdopolis & the next day accompanied the rest of the army on their march against the rebels, you arrived at the camp shortly after us. as soon as he saw you my master resolved to rid himself of an abhorred rival in your person & was confirmed in this resolution by seeing the distinction with which his Grace the Duke of Wellington treated you. accordingly one night he ordered me to fetch him the Green Dwarf. I proceeded to your tent for this purpose & by means of a peculiar signal with which he was acquainted called him out. Subsequently by means of threats & promises the Dwarf was induced to lend his aid in executing the scheme which my master had devised for your disgrace & death, he went to the camp, betrayed the secrets of the council in your name & brought back as a recompense the articles which are now lying on that table, these he afterwards buried in your tent, he removed the sword which was fastened to your belt & put that scymitar in its place, & finally he completed his treachery by delivering that false evidence which has so nearly been the means of causing you to incur an undeserved & shameful death”
here Travers paused again to wipe off the death-sweats which were starting in large drops from his pallid forehead.
“you have nobly cleared St Clair’s character” said the Duke of Wellington “now inform us by whom & how the wound of which you are dying has been inflicted”
“By my master,” replied the unhappy man “I informed him this morning as we were returning from his Uncle’s country seat in the valley that I intended to reform & lead a better life, for that the sins I had already committed lay like a leaden weight at my heart. At first he laughed at me & pretended to think I was in jest, but on my assuring him that I never was more serious in my life, he grew gloomy, we walked together for some time in silence, but at length just as we came to a very lonely part of the road he drew his sword & stabbed me suddenly in the side saying as I fell, with a loud laugh “now go & reform in Hell” I can speak no longer & you know the rest”
The last part of Traver’s communication was uttered in a very faint & broken voice, when the excitement of talking was past he fell into a sort of lethargy which continued about ten minutes & then with a single gasping groan & convulsive shudder of the whole frame his soul & body parted for ever asunder.
The Crowd were now again admitted into the hall, the judges returned to their station & the Duke of Wellington after publicly declaring that St Clair’s honour was unblemished & that the charge brought against him had risen entirely from the machinations of a malignant enemy, ordered his fetters to be taken off & commanded them to be fastened on the limbs of Colonel Percy & the Green Dwarf instead, subsequently he condemned the former of these worthy personages to Death & the latter to ten years labour at the galleys.
Matters being thus settled the Duke rose from his seat & taking St Clair by the hand he said “my lord I claim you as my guest whilst you remain in Verdopolis, you must comply with my request were it only to show that you bear no malice against me for the six weeks imprisonment to which you have been subjected.”
Of course St Clair could not resist an invitation thus courteously urged & accordingly he accompanied the Duke to Waterloo Palace. On his way thither he informed his noble conductor of the mysterious incognito who had visited him in his dungeon & expressed a strong desire to discover who he was that he might recompense him accord- lng to the signal service he had received at his hands. “Was it Ensign Bud do you think?” said the Dukef. “no” replied St Clair “he was taller & the tones of his voice were Very different. indeed if I may be permitted to form so presumptuous a conjecture on such slight grounds, I should say that I am at this moment conversing with my unknown friend” he Duke smiled but returned no answer.
“I am not mistaken then” continued St Clair eagerly “& it is to your Grace that I owe a continuance both of life & honour”
as he spoke the silent gratitude which beamed forth from his fine eyes expressed his thanks more clearly than any words could have done. “Well” said the Duke “I will confess that you have made a true guess, & now I suppose you would like to know the reasons which led me in the first place to give you that warning on the banks of the Senegal. It was simply this . I had witnessed the sort of quarrel which took place between you & Colonel Percy during supper in my pavil- lion. I saw him lay his hand on his sword & then relinquish it with a look & a muttered exclamation which told me plainly that the gratification of present revenge was postponed only for some more delicious future prospect & as the life of the chieftain of Clan-Albyn was of some value in my estimation I determined at least to set him on his guard against the attempts of an insidious enemy. Then for my visit in the prison that was prompted by the information Ensign Bud had communicated to me & I thought that that method of summoning him to give evidence which I pointed out would make a deeper impression on the minds of the other judges than if the ordinary way of calling a witness were followed.”
As the Duke concluded this explanation they reached Waterloo Palace. They immediately proceeded to the dining-room where dinner was already prepared. During this meal St Clair spoke very little & eat less, his spirits which had been in some degree excited by the unexpected events of the morning now began to flag. The thought of lady Emily & of the forlorn & wretched condition to which she was probably reduced communicated a mournful gloom to his mind. The Duke perceived this & after a few vain attempts to dispel it he said, “I see what you are thinking of my lord so come I’ll carry you to my wife. perhaps her sympathy will be some consolation to your distress” St Clair followed almost mechanically as his noble host led the way to the drawing room. On entering they found the Duchess seated on the sofa & engaged in some ornamental labour of the needle, beside her was a little Indian stand supporting her work-box & a few books, near this & with her back turned to the door was seated another elegant female form over whose rich brown tresses was thrown a transparent veil of white gauze according to the graceful fashion of the times, her head was resting on her hand in a pensive posture & when the Duke & his guest were announced she did not rise nor give any other symptom of being conscious of their presence except a sudden & convulsive start, the Duchess however left her seat & advanced to meet St Clair with a benignant smile.
“I was sure” said she “that Justice would be done & that your fame would come out of the fiery ordeal seven times purified, now my lord will you permit me to introduce you to a friend of mine, here lovef (addressing the silent lady) ttis one whom Fortune has severely tried & who now expects from her & you a recompense for all he has suffered.”
the lady rose, threw back her veil, there was a momentary pause, a joyful exclamation & St Clair clasped to his bosom his dear & long- lost Emily, it now only remains for me to explain how this happy catastrophe was brought about which duty I shall discharge as briefly as possible.
During a period of four weeks lady Emily had pined in her lonely prison under the surveillance of the wretched Bertha who regularly visited her three times a day to supply her with food but at all other times remained in a distant part of the castle. at the usual hour on the first day of the fith week she did not make her appearance, lady Emily whose
appetite was much impaired by grief & confinement at first was rather pleased than otherwise with the ommission. but when night came she began to feel some symptoms of hunger. the next day likewise elapsed & neither food nor drink passed her now parched & quivering lips. On the morning of the third day she was reduced to such a state of weakness from inanition that she felt totally unable to leave her bed, while she lay there expecting death & almost wishing for it The tramp of a heavy step in the antichamber & the sound of a gruff voice calling out “Is there any living body besides owls & bats in this here old ancient heap of a ruin?”, roused her from the lethargic stupor into which she had fallen. Collecting her remaining strength with a strong effort she answered that there was an unhappy woman lrnprisoned here who would give much for deliverance & a restoration to her friends .
Delphi Complete Works of the Brontes Page 242
