Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
AT eight o'clock in the morning after the scene at the Hell, and
while Richard was still in the custody of the police, Sir Rupert Harborough and
the Honourable Arthur Chichester were hastening, in a handsome cabriolet,
belonging to the former, to Markham Place.
The conversation of these gentlemen during the drive will
tend to throw some light upon one or two preceding incidents that may have
appeared a little mysterious to the reader.
"I wonder what became of him last night," said
Chichester.
"Upon my honour at the moment I did not care,' returned
the baronet.
"Nor I either. I was only intent upon getting off
myself."
"He will not be pleased at our having left him in that
unceremonious manner."
"Oh! trust to me - any explanation will do. He is so
exceedingly green."
"And so marvelously particular in his conduct. If it
had not bean for us, he would have remained quite a saint."
"I am not afraid," observed Chichester, "of
being able to manage him and of turning him to immense advantage in our plans.
But that vulgar beast Talbot will most certainly spoil all. Even the idea of
the fellow's wealth and charities will not always induce Markham to put up with
his vulgarities. Besides, the wretch has such execrable bad taste. Last
evening, for instance, when I casually dropped a neat little lie about the soup
at the King of Prussia's table, Talbot instantly paraded the Duke of Lambeth's
pea-soup. Only fancy a Duke and pea-soup united together!"
"And then his dog's nose, and sore feet, and boiled
tripe," said the baronet. "After all the drilling we gave him in the
first instance, when he stipulated upon associating with us in order to see how
we worked the thing, he is still incorrigible. Then, when I think of all the
money I have already laid out in buying the materials - in getting the proper
paper - and in keeping him in feather all the time he was at work, my
blood boils to see that he hangs like a millstone round our necks, and
threatens by his vulgarity to spoil all."
"But what could we do?" cried Chichester.
"You told me in the first instance to find an engraver on whom we could
rely; and I was compelled to enlist the fellow Pocock in our cause. He was the
very man, so far as knowledge went, having been employed all his life in
working for Bankers. But his atrocious vulgarity is his bane; and even his
aristocratic name of Talbot which I made him assume, does not help him to pass
himself off as a gentleman. It was a pity he could not listen to reason and
take the sum of ready money down, which you offered him in the first instant.
But, no - he must needs cry
thirds,
and insist upon going about us to see fair play."
"And get his share," added the baronet.
"Yes. Even the very first night that he ever saw Markham,"
continued Chichester, "his greediness would have induced him to risk the
ruin of everything by winning a few paltry pounds of the young fellow at
Diana's lodgings. But I d—d soon stopped
that.
I didn't even want to take the twenty pounds yesterday, which
Markham offered for the poor family concerning whom I invented so capital a
story."
"No - it is not a few pounds that will do us any good,
or remunerate me for my large outlay," said the baronet. "We want
thousands - and this Markham is the very instrument we require. The first trial
was made yesterday, and succeeded admirably. The note has actually been changed
at a banker's: no one can expect a better test than that. Now if this Talbot is
to ruin us with Markham - the very person we want - the most excellent medium
we could require - himself being above all suspicion, and entertaining no
suspicion —"
"It would be enough to break one's heart," added
Chichester.
"Besides, my creditors are so clamorous, settle with
them I must," continued the baronet. "And then Diana costs me a
fortune. I must get rid of her without delay; for I expect that she is
getting sentimental on this youth, and will not interest herself
in our affair for fear of letting him into a scrape."
"Why, it is very certain," observed
Chichester, "that according to the admirable way in which we have
arranged our plans, if an explosion took place, we could not possibly be
implicated. However - we must make haste and work London, and then off to Paris.
We might get rid of four or five thousand pounds worth amongst the
money-changers in the Palais-Royal. Then off to Germany in due rotation - Italy
next - touch at Spain - and home to England."
"Upon my honour, it is a noble scheme - a grand, a
princely scheme!" cried the baronet, elated with the idea. "My God!
if it were spoilt in its infancy by any fault of ours or our associates!"
"And Talbot is such a drunken beast, that we can
scarcely rely upon him," said Chichester. "He will one day commit
himself and us too: the fellow does not know how to get tipsy like a
gentleman."
"We will tell him the candid truth and see what he
says," pursued the baronet. "When he finds that we are determined not
to tolerate him with us, and that we will quash the whole thing at once if he
insists upon remaining, he must yield. There was that young Walter Sydney who
seemed at first to have taken a fancy to Diana. I thought of making use of him
too;- but he never called again after that drunken display of Mr. Talbot's. He
was evidently disgusted with him for his conduct, and with us for associating
with him."
"Well," said Chichester, "let us resolve,
then, to have an explanation with Talbot in the sense you have mentioned; and
you must also speak seriously to Diana and get her to make use of young
Markham."
"And if she will not," added the baronet, "I
shall get rid of her without delay. What is the use of having an expensive
mistress, unless you can use her either as a
blind
or a
plant
?"
The delectable conversation terminated here, because those
who had carried it on, were now arrived at their destination.
The baronet's tiger knocked at the front door, and Mr.
Whittingham speedily made his appearance.
"Is your master at home?" demanded
Chichester.
"No sir; be has not domesticated himself in his own
abode since he went out shortly after you yesterday. But a person of my
acquaintance - a man of perfect credibleness - has just come to ensure me that
my young master will be here again in the currency of the day."
"Where did this person see your master?" enquired
Chichester, struck by the absence of Markham the entire night.
"His respondencies is evasive and
dissatisfactory," said Whittingham.
"This is very remarkable!" ejaculated Chichester:
then, after a pause, he added, "But we will await Mr. Markham's return;
and I will just see this man and interrogate him alone -
alone,
do you hear, Whittingham."
"I hear, sir, because my accoustic propensities is
good. I will send this person to you into the library."
Mr. Chichester alighted from the vehicle and hastened to the
library, while the baronet repaired to the stables to see that his horse
(concerning which he was very particular) was properly cared for.
Mr. Chichester walked up and down the library, reflecting
upon the probable causes of Richard's absence. At the moment he fancied that he
might have fallen into the hands of the police; but then he thought that, had
this been the case, Markham would have sent for himself or the baronet. He did not
imagine that the noble nature of the young man whom he was conducting headlong
to his ruin, would scorn to take any steps calculated to compromise his
friends.
The door of the library opened, and a man entered.
"What? John!" ejaculated Mr. Chichester, turning
very pale and manifesting much confusion.
"Mr. Winchester!" cried Snoggles - for it was he.
"Hush, my good fellow - don't say a word " said Chichester,
recovering his presence of mind "I am really glad to see you - I have
often thought of you since that unpleasant affair. I hope it put you to no
inconvenience. At all events, I will make matters all right now."
"Better late than never," said Snoggles.
"Well - and you must promise me faithfully not to
mention this affair to any one, and I will always stand your friend. And,
remember - my name is Chichester now - not Winchester. Pray do not forget
that."
"No-no: I'm fly enough - I'm down to trap,"
replied Snoggles, with a leer of insolent familiarity.
"Here is a twenty-pound note - that will cover all your
losses, and recompense you into the bargain."
"That'll do."
"It would be better that you should not say that you
ever knew me before."
"Just as you like."
"I prefer that course. But now to another point Where
did you see Mr. Richard Markham?"
"At the station-house, in — street."
"The station-house! And for what?"
"Ah! there you beat me. I can't say! All that I know is
that he gave me half-a-sovereign to come and tell his old butler this morning that
he should be home in the course of the day."
"And that is all you know?"
"Everything."
"Now can I rely upon you in respect to keeping the
other matter secret?" demanded Chichester.
"I have already told you so," answered Snoggles.
"And you need not tell old Whittingham that his master
is at the station-house."
Snoggles withdrew; and Mr. Chichester was immediately afterwards
joined by the baronet.
"Markham is at the station-house in — Street."
"The deuce he is! and for what?"
"I cannot learn. Do you not think it is odd that he did
not send for either of us?"
"Yes. We will return to town this moment," said
the baronet, "and send some one unknown to him to hear the case at the
police-office. We shall then learn whether anything concerning the notes
transpires, and what to say to him when we see him."
"Yes: there is not a moment to lose," returned
Chichester.
The cabriolet was brought round to the door again in a few
minutes, during which interval Chichester assured Whittingham that he had
learned nothing concerning his master, and that he and the baronet were only
returning to town for the purpose of looking after him.
As soon as the vehicle was out of sight, Mr. Whittingham
returned in a disconsolate manner to his pantry, where Mr. Snoggles was
occupied with a cold pasty and a jug of good old ale.
"Well, I've learnt something to-day, I have,"
observed Snoggles, who could not keep a secret for the life of him.
"What's that ?" demanded Whittingham.
"Why that Winchester is Chichester, and Chichester is
Winchester."
"They are two irrelevant cities," observed the
butler; "and not by no manner of means indentical."
"The cities is different, but the men is the
same," said Snoggles.
"I can't apprehend your meaning."
"Well - I will speak plain. Did you hear me tell
Suggett the story about my old master, last night at the
Servants' Arms
?"
"No - I was engaged in a colloquial discourse at the
time."
"Then I will tell you the adventur' over agin;" -
and Mr. Snoggles related the incident accordingly.
Mr. Whittingham was quite astounded and he
delivered himself of many
impressive observations upon the affair, but which we shall not be cruel enough
to inflict upon our readers.
It was about half-past twelve o'clock when Richard returned
home. His countenance was
pale and anxious; and he vainly
endeavoured to smile as he encountered his faithful old dependant.
"Ah! Master Richard, I was sadly afraid that you
had fallen into some trepidation!"
"A very unpleasant adventure, Whittingham - which I
will relate to you another time - kept me away from home. I was with Sir Rupert
Harborough and Mr. Chichester —"
"Mr. Chichester ain't no good, sir," interrupted
the butler emphatically.
"What do you mean, Whittingham?"
"I mean exactly what I say, Master Richard,- and
nothing more nor less. Both the baronet and Mr. Chichester have been here this
morning."
Then, with a considerable amount of circumlocution and
elaborate comment, the butler related the conduct of Chichester towards
Snoggles, and their accidental meeting that morning.
"This is very extraordinary," said Richard,
musing.
"I can't say I ever regularly admired this Mr.
Chichester," observed Whittingham. "He seems too dashing, too
out-and-out, and too-too-circumwenting in his discourse, to be anythink
exceeding and excessive good. Now I like the baronet much better; he isn't so
familiar in his manners. Whenever he speaks to me he always says '
Mr.
Whittingham
;'
but Mr. Chichester calls me plain
'
Whittingham.
'
As for that wulgar fellow Taibot,
who has called here once or twice, he slaps me on the shoulder, and bawls out,
'
Well, Whittingham,
my
tulip, how are you?
' Now, you know, Master Richard,
it's not conformant to perceived notions to call a butler a tulip."
"I have been deceived in my acquaintances - no doubt I
have been deceived," said Richard, musing audibly, and pacing the library
with agitated steps. "There is something suspicious in the connexion of
that man Talbot - however rich he may be - with so elegant a gentleman as the
baronet;- then this conduct of Chichester's towards his servant - their taking
me to a common gambling-house - their deserting me in the moment of need, -
yes, I have been deceived! And then, Diana - I ought never more to see her: her
influence, her fascination are too dangerous!"
"A gambling-house " ejaculated Whittingham, whose
ears caught fragments of these reflections.
"My old friend," said Richard, turning suddenly
towards the butler, "I am afraid I have been enticed - inveigled into
society which is not creditable to me or my position. I will repair my fault.
Mr. Monroe, my guardian, advised me some weeks ago to indulge in a tour upon
the continent: I will avail myself of this permission. At four o'clock I have
an appointment - a pressing appointment to keep in town: by seven at latest I
shall, return. Have a post-chaise at the door and all things in readiness: we
will proceed to Dover to-night. You alone shall accompany me."
"Let's do it, sir - let's do it," exclaimed the
faithful old dependent: "it will separate you from them flash fellows
which lead young men into scrapes, and from them wulgar persons which call
butlers tulips."
Whittingham retired to make the preparations for the
contemplated journey, and Richard seated himself at the table to write a couple
of letters.
The first was to Mrs. Arlington, and ran thus:-