“I am sorry to hear it,” replied Darcy. “But I repeat she shall have no further annoyance of any kind from me. Farewell.”
“I am glad he is gone,” said Mildred. “I wonder how he came here. I do not think Charlotte would have admitted him into the house.”
“Oh! no. I’ll answer for her,” replied Sister Aline.
“Let us go and speak to her.”
So they went to her room, and told her what had occurred. Mildred’s doubts were quickly dispelled by her manner.
On quitting the room into which he had ventured, Darcy descended the back staircase, and issued forth into the garden. But he had not taken many steps when two persons, who appeared to be on the lookout for him, came up.
It was a bright moonlight night, and he could easily perceive that the foremost of these persons was Stanley. The other seemed a man-servant — but he did not remain, but ran towards the house.
“Hold! sir” cried Stanley, planting himself before Darcy, “I cannot allow you to pass till you have explained your business here.”
“Since you are attended by the very person who enabled me to enter the house, and conducted me to a certain room, you cannot require to be told what business brought me here. I came to see a certain lady. I have seen her — seen her for the last time — of that I give you my word. Now, will you allow me to pass?”
“No,” replied Stanley. “I have not done with you, I must learn the business that brought you here before I allow you to depart. Did you come by the lady’s sanction? By her invitation?”
“I cannot say that I did,” replied Darcy. “I wished to ascertain her feelings on certain points — in a word, I wished to learn from her own lips whether she was willing to return to me.”
“Ah! you come to make that inquiry?” cried Stanley, scarcely able to repress his rage.
“The passion I felt for her at first had revived in full force,” replied Darcy, “and I would willingly have taken her again, if she would have returned to me. But you may be pleased to learn that she resolutely refused to accede to my wishes, and expressed her deep remorse and regret at the past. During the latter part of our brief interview, Sister Aline was present. We parted with the fixed determination never to meet again. Are you satisfied with my explanation?”
“I do not doubt its accuracy,” replied Stanley haughtily. “But I have no remark to make upon it.”
“Mildred and I have now parted for ever,” said Darcy. “I shall never pay her another secret visit. I find she has become a devotee — though I should never have anticipated it, and should be sorry to interfere with her soul’s welfare. Can I give any further explanation, sir?”
“I require none,” replied Stanley. “But I have not yet done. I have an account to arrange with you.”
“When you please, sir,” replied Darcy; “I am always ready to settle it.”
“Where shall we meet?” said Stanley.
“We cannot meet safely in England,” replied the other. “I propose, therefore, that the encounter shall take place at Boulogne or Dieppe.”
“I have a recollection connected with the latter place that recommends it to me,” said Stanley.
“Then Dieppe be it,” replied Darcy. “We will meet there a week hence, if it suits you?”
“It suits me perfectly,” replied Stanley. “I will come the day before, and bring a couple of friends with me. Stay, I may perhaps meet my uncle’s friend, the Comte de Clairvaux.”
“You will be sure to hear of him at the Hôtel Royal or the Casino,” said Darcy.
“No, I will not trust to chance,” said Stanley; “I will bring another friend with me.”
“As you please,” replied Darcy.
At this juncture a sound was heard at the front of the house, proving that the alarm had been given, and the next moment several persons were seen coming round the comer.
Foremost amongst these was Mr. Warburton, and with him were Lady Starkey, Lady Talmash, Mrs. Stanley, and Rose.
At the same time another party, consisting chiefly of servants, could be seen coming from the back of the premises.
As it was clear that Darcy would be stopped if he attempted flight, he remained stationary.
In another moment the Squire came up, and was immediately followed by the ladies.
“So I find you really are here, Captain Darcy,” said Mr. Warburton. “I could scarcely believe the statement when I first heard it I could not conceive it possible that you would make such an attempt.”
“I am very sorry to have caused you any alarm, Mr. Warburton,” said Darcy; “but I really did not mean it Mr. Stanley Brereton will explain matters to you.”
“Yes, yes, Captain Darcy has told me all, and you shall hear it presently,” replied Stanley. “Meanwhile,” he added in a lower tone, “I think you had better not detain him.”
“Oh! if you are satisfied, I have nothing to say,” remarked the Squire.
“But what is the meaning of this clandestine visit?” cried Lady Starkey. “Surely we are entitled to some information!”
“Everything is known to Mr. Stanley Brereton,” replied Darcy. “He can tell you all.”
“If he will give us a promise to that effect, we shall be quite satisfied,” said Lady Talmash.
“I will, I will,” replied Stanley, “Pray do not detain Captain Darcy.”
“You are quite free to depart, sir,” said the Squire to Darcy. “I don’t know what has happened—”
“But I am sure you will be satisfied with the explanation you will receive.”
“Yes, you need have no uneasiness,” said Stanley. “All is now arranged.”
On this assurance, Darcy bowed to those near him, and quickly took his departure.
CHAPTER VII.
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN STANLEY AND MILDRED.
MILDRED did not suffer so much as might have been anticipated from the excitement of Darcy’s visit Not till next morning did she learn that a meeting had taken place between him and Stanley; nor did she hear what passed at it till her father came to see her.
But the cautious Squire did not tell her that a duel would ensue. Stanley felt bound to inform Mr. Warburton of his intentions — but no one else, except his mother — and he almost regretted taking her into his confidence, for she could scarcely conceal her uneasiness.
Naturally, Darcy’s visit excited a great sensation at Beaucliffe. That he would come again none of the servants seemed to doubt. Each night they expected a fresh alarm. But nothing occurred.
As Stanley looked upon the duel in which he had engaged with Darcy, as a mortal combat, and felt confident that his antagonist would try to shoot him, he deemed it right to make all needful arrangements in case of his own death.
Accordingly, he left all his property to his mother, to whom he gave certain directions, and having mentioned the matter to her, he felt quite easy.
He had a good deal of confidential conversation with Lady Starkey and Lady Talmash, and, though no allusion was made to the duel, it was evident they suspected his design. Perhaps the Squire might have given them a hint.
On the fourth morning after Darcy’s secret visit, as Stanley was sitting at a writing-table in the library at Beaucliffe, occupied by the draft of the will, which had just been sent in by his solicitor, Sister Aline entered the room.
Without any ceremony, she took a seat on the opposite side of the table, and, looking at him inquiringly for a moment, said, “I see that you are reading — your will. And I know why you have just made it. You are about to fight a duel with Darcy, and wish to be prepared.” Stanley looked for a moment surprised, and then replied calmly, “You have guessed aright; but I beg you will say nothing either about the will or the duel.”
“I will not,” she replied. “But, after your meeting with Darcy, everybody felt certain that a duel would ensue, and as he is considered a dead shot, you are quite right to be prepared.”
“He has a bad cause,” rejoined Stanley;— “a doubly bad cause. I hope
to avenge my uncle Sir Thomas Starkey’s death, and my own dishonour.”
“I trust you may,” she rejoined, scarcely able to conceal her emotion. “Believing that this duel was inevitable, I have come to entreat you to see Mildred before you engage in it. She earnestly prays to see you.”
“I cannot refuse her request. I will come to her this evening. But our meeting must be very brief.”
“I will tell her what you say,” replied Sister Aline. “May I venture to inquire where the duel will take place?”
“At Dieppe,” he replied significantly.
“At Dieppe,” she ejaculated, starting. “Fate then may have arranged it.”
“Fate, I doubt not, has ordained his chastisement,” rejoined Stanley, sternly. “I do not hesitate to declare to you, who are acquainted with Darcy’s history, that I will avenge Sir Thomas Starkey — if I can.”
“I applaud your resolution,” she rejoined. “Darcy deserves no pity.”
“And shall have none,” rejoined Stanley. “Either he shall kill me or I will kill him, for it will be a duel to the death.”
“Heaven will guard you,” she rejoined. “Your cause is the right.”
“That I feel,” he replied. “And I have, therefore, no uneasiness.”
Sister Aline then arose.
“I shall tell Mildred you will come to her this evening,” she said.
“Be present at our interview, I pray you?” he said.
“Since you desire it I will,” she replied, as she quitted the room.
Not without considerable misgiving did Stanley proceed to Mildred’s room that evening.
Charlotte opened the door for him, and the penitent who had Sister Aline with her, as had been previously arranged, arose on his entrance, and received him with a faint smile.
“It is very good of you to come to me,” she said, motioning him to take a seat.
Though he felt deeply for her, Stanley preserved a stem demeanour.
“Since it may be our last earthly meeting,” he replied, “I could not refuse your request.”
“I am very, very sorry you are obliged to meet Darcy in mortal combat,” she said. “But there is no possibility of arrangement, I suppose?”
“None,” replied Stanley, in a decided tone.
“Your adversary is accounted a dead shot.”
“I care not,” he rejoined. “He whose cause is just need have no fear. I have none.”
“I am glad to hear it,” said Mildred. “Still I wish you were not obliged to meet him.”
“It is useless to discuss that point,” said Stanley, in a stern tone. “The meeting is fixed, and under no circumstances will be changed.”
“My prayers will be entirely for you,” said Mildred.
“You have suffered deep wrong,” said Sister Aline, addressing Stanley, “and the Lord will assuredly avenge you.”
“I place my trust in Heaven,” he rejoined. “If I fall, punishment will overtake him.”
“Do you absolutely refuse him forgiveness?” said Mildred.
“Absolutely,” he replied. “But do not delude yourself with any such notion. There will be no contrition on Darcy’s part.”
“I fear not,” said Mildred; “and I cannot doubt that the affair will have a tragic and terrible end. Unquestionably you are in the position of the avenger, and as your cause is just I cannot doubt that Heaven will strengthen your arm. Go forth, then, without fear, for though your adversary is the more skilful he will not have the same protection as yourself.”
“He is doomed,” said Sister Aline; “and what is more, deserves his fate.”
“I will not spare him, depend upon it!” said Stanley, rising to depart “Farewell!”
He did not hazard a glance at Mildred as he quitted the room, and, consequently, did not perceive that she had fainted.
The interview had been very painful to him and he was glad it was over.
Restoratives were immediately applied by Sister Aline and Charlotte, who was summoned to her assistance, and Mildred soon regained consciousness. But it was evident that she was severely shaken, and Sister Aline remained with her during the whole of a sleepless night.
Next day, she was not much better, but was soothed by converse with her father, who spent an hour by her couch.
CHAPTER VIII.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE DUEL.
ACCOMPANIED by two friends, Mr. Wynn and Mr. Linton, who joined him in town, Stanley crossed from Newhaven to Dieppe, to keep his appointment with Darcy. He had allowed himself plenty of time, for the meeting was not to take place till the second day after his arrival. He took his friends with him to the Hôtel Royal, where he had previously engaged rooms, and was much pleased to learn from inquiries made immediately on his arrival, that the Comte de Clairvaux was in Dieppe at the time, — so he went immediately in quest of him, and found him at the Casino.
The Comte was much pleased to see him and declared he should be happy to serve him in any way in his power.
On hearing that Stanley’s object was to fight a duel with Darcy, he could not help expressing a hope that the young man might prove victorious.
“I had the greatest regard for your uncle, Sir Thomas Starkey, and have always felt that his death ought to be avenged. It gives me, therefore, the greatest satisfaction to feel that you have called Captain Darcy to account, and I will most readily act for you in any way you may desire; but since you are already provided with seconds, you will only require me as a friend, and I shall be most happy to act in that capacity, and, perhaps, I may be of use.”
“You will be of the greatest use, Monsieur le Comte,” replied Stanley, “and I shall be exceedingly obliged by your assistance.”
“Very likely you are not aware that Captain Darcy and his friends, Colonel Seymour and Captain Townley, have arrived, and are staying at the same hotel as yourself. Of course, until now, I was not aware of the object of their visit, though I rather suspected it.”
“Allow me to mention, Comte,” said Stanley, “that I should like the meeting to take place on the exact spot were the former fatal duel occurred.”
“There can be no difficulty about that,” replied the Comte. “I know the precise place where my dear friend fell, and I never pass near it without thinking of him with a sigh. It is near the road to the Chateau d’Arques, and is marked out by an old oak. But I will find the coachman who drove Sir Thomas on that occasion, and engage him, so there shall be no mistake.”
“I shall be greatly beholden to you,” said Stanley. “I attach much importance to this slight circumstance.”
“I don’t think the circumstance is slight,” replied the Comte. “It will inspire you with thoughts proper to the occasion. Shall I engage M. Martin, the surgeon, who attended dear Sir Thomas at the former duel? I saw him yesterday.”
“Engage him by all means, Comte,” replied Stanley.
“I trust you won’t require his services,” said the Comte. “But it is proper to have a surgeon with you.”
The foregoing conversation took place in front of the Hôtel Royal, and just at its close Darcy and his two friends made their appearance.
Colonel Seymour and Captain Townley were both tall and handsome, with a decidedly military bearing; and Darcy having pointed out Stanley to them, they formally saluted him as they passed.
Darcy did not enter the hotel with his friends but signified that he should be glad to say a word to the Comte, whereupon Stanley left them together.
“I fancy you have something to communicate to me, M. le Comte,” said Darcy. “Is it so?”
“I have merely to mention that the meeting between you and Mr. Stanley Brereton is to take place on the exact spot where the former duel occurred, on the day after to-morrow.”
“At what hour?” asked Darcy.
“At eight in the morning, if that is not too early for you,” replied the Count “The hour will suit me perfectly,” replied Darcy.
“Will you lead the way to the place of rendezvou
s?”
“Certainly, if you desire it,” replied Darcy.
“Then all is settled — so far as I can see,” said the Comte.
They then saluted each other ceremoniously, and separated.
On that day, all the persons who were so soon to meet in deadly conflict dined at the casino, and in the public room, but at tables placed far apart.
As will naturally be expected, the Comte de Clairvaux dined with Stanley and his friends.
Both parties were very lively, and no one would have supposed from their manner that the principals had a mortal duel on hand.
Next morning Darcy walked forth at an early hour, and took his way down to the plage.
He had not gone far, when he heard quick steps behind him, and, looking back, saw that he was followed by Sister Aline.
As it was impossible to avoid her, he stopped, and regarded her with a stem look.
“Do you wish to speak to me?” he said.
“I do,” she replied. “I have come to bid you prepare. Your evil career is near its close.”
“Do not suppose that your threats have the slightest effect upon me,” he replied. “I am not to be frightened. If you desire to save Stanley Brereton, warn him, for I swear to heaven if he places himself opposite me on Friday morning I will shoot him as I did his uncle, Sir Thomas Starkey.”
“You persuade yourself so,” she rejoined. “But you are mistaken. Stanley is destined to kill you, and his bullet will as surely be lodged in your breast as you now stand before me.”
Darcy laughed scornfully.
“You try vainly to alarm me,” he said. “If he keeps his appointment, as no doubt he will, for he is a brave man, nothing can save him.”
“Indulge no false expectations,” she rejoined. “Heaven will frustrate your design. Your wicked career is nearly ended. If you would not perish eternally, make your peace quickly above.”
“I will listen no more to this frenzy,” he said. “Let me pass!”
And he pushed her aside.
But as he cast a look behind, he trembled at her vindictive looks.
“That woman troubles me,” he thought. “What can have brought her here?”
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 811
