Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
MR. GREENWOOD'S VISITORS
MR. GREENWOOD was seated in his study the
morning after the event which occupied the last chapter.
He was dressed
en negligé.
A French velvet skull-cap, embroidered with gold, sate upon his
curled and perfumed hair: a sumptuous brocade silk dressing-gown was confined
around the waist by a gold cord with large tassels hanging almost to his feet:
his shirt collar was turned, down over a plain broad black riband, the bow of
which was fastened with a diamond broach of immense value; and on his fingers
were costly rings, sparkling with atones of corresponding kind and worth.
On the writing-table an elegant French watch attached to a
long gold chain, lay amidst a pile of letters, just as if it had been carelessly
tossed there. A cheque, partly filled up for a thousand guineas,- several
bank-notes, and some loose gold, were lying on an open writing-desk; and, at
one end of the table lay, in seeming confusion, a number of visiting cards
bearing the names of eminent capitalists, wealthy merchants, peers, and members
of Parliament.
All this pell-mell assemblage of proofs of wealth and tokens
of high acquaintance, was only apparent - and not real. It was a portion of Mr.
Greenwood's system - one of the principles of the art which he practised in
deceiving the world. He knew none of the capitalists, and few of the
aristocrats whose cards
lay upon his table: and his own
hand had arranged the manner in which the watch, the cheque-book, and the money
were tossing about. Never did a coquet practise a particular glance, attitude,
or mannerism, more seriously than did Mr. Greenwood these little artifices
which, however trifling they may appear, produced an immense effect upon those
with whom he had to deal, and who visited him in that study.
Every thing he did was the result of a calculation, and had
an aim: every word he spoke, however rapid the utterance, was duly weighed and
measured.
And yet at this time the man who thus carried his knowledge of
human nature even to the most ridiculous niceties, was only in his
twenty-eighth year. How perverted were great talents - how misapplied so
extraordinary quickness of apprehension in this instance!
Mr. Greenwood contemplated the arrangements of his writing-table
with calm satisfaction; and a smile of triumph curled his lip as he thought of
the position to which such little artifices as those had helped to raise him.
He despised the world: he laughed at society; and he cared not for the law -
for he walked boldly up to the extreme verge where personal security ceased and
peril began; but he never over-stepped the boundary. He had plundered many - he
had enriched himself with the wealth of others - he had built his own fortunes
upon the ruins of his fellow men's hopes and prospects: but still he had so
contrived all his schemes that the law could never reach him, and if one of his
victims accused him of villainy he had a plausible explanation to offer for his
conduct.
If a person said to him, "Your schemes have involved me
in utter ruin, and deprived me of every penny I possessed," - he would
unblushingly reply, "What does the man mean? He forgets that I suffered
far more than he did; and that where he lost hundreds I lost thousands! It is impossible
to control speculations: some turn up well, some badly; and this man might as
well blame the keeper of a lottery-office because his ticket did not turn up a
prize, as attempt to throw any odium upon me!"
And this language would prove satisfactory and seem
straight-forward to all by-standers, save the poor victim himself, who
nevertheless would be struck dumb by the other's assurance.
Greenwood had commenced his ways of intrigue and pursuits of
duplicity in the City, where he was known as George Montague. The moment he had
obtained a considerable fortune, he repaired to the West End, added the name of
Greenwood to his other appellations, and thus commenced, as it were, anew
existence in a new sphere.
He possessed the great advantage of exercising a complete
control over all his feelings, passions, and inclinations - save with respect
to women. In .this point of view he was a complete sensualist - a heartless
voluptuary. He would spare neither expense nor trouble to gratify his amorous
desires, where he formed a predilection; and if in any case be would run a risk
of involving himself in the complexities of civil or criminal law, the peril
would be encountered in an attempt to satisfy his lustful cravings. There are
many men of this stamp in the world, - especially in great cities - and, more
especially still, in London.
Mr. Greenwood, having completed the arrangements of his study
in the manner described, rang the bell.
His French valet Lafleur made his appearance in answer to the
summons. Mr. Greenwood then threw himself negligently into the arm-chair at his
writing-table, and proceeded to issue his instructions to his dependant.
"Lafleur, the Count Alteroni will call this morning.
When he has been here about ten minutes, bring me in this letter."
He handed his valet a letter, sealed, and addressed to
himself.
"At about twelve o'clock Lord Tremordyn will call. Let
him remain quietly for a quarter of an hour with me; and then come in and say,
'
The Duke of Portsmouth has sent round, sir, to know whether he can
positively rely upon your company, to dine this evening.
' Do you
understand?"
"Perfectly, sir," answered Lafieur, without the
slightest variation of countenance; for he was too politic and too finished a
valet to attempt to criticise his master's proceedings by means of even a look.
"So far, so good," resumed Mr. Greenwood "Sir
Rupert Harborough will call this morning you will tell him I am not at
home."
"Yes, sir."
"Lady Cecilia Harborough will call at one precisely: you
will conduct her to the drawing-room.'
"Yes, sir."
"And all the time she is here I shall not be at home to
a soul."
"No, sir.''
"At four o'clock I shall go out in the cab: you can then
pay a visit to Upper Clapton and ascertain by any indirect means you can light
upon, whether Miss Sydney still inhabits the villa, and whether she still
pursues the same retired and secluded mode of existence as when you last made
inquiries in that quarter."
" Yes, sir."
"And you can ride round by Holloway and find out
-also by indirect inquiries, remember - whether Mr. Markham is at home, and any
other particulars relative to him which you can glean. I have already told you
that I have the deepest interest in being acquainted with all that that young
man does - his minutest actions even.
"I will attend to your orders, sir."
"To-night, you will dress yourself in mean attire and
repair to a low public-house on Saffron-hill. known by the name of the Boozing
Ken by the thieves and reprobates of that district. You will inquire for a man
who frequents that house, and who is called Tom the Cracksman. No one knows him
by any other name. You will tell him who your master is, and that I wish to see
him upon very particular business. He must be here to-morrow night at nine
o'clock. Give him this five-pound note as an earnest of good intentions."
"And now take these duplicates and that bank- note
for five hundred pounds, and just go yourself to V—'s the pawnbroker's m the
Strand, and redeem the diamonds mentioned in these tickets. You will have time
before any one comes."
"Yes, sir."
"And should Lord Tremordyn happen to be here when you
return, hand me the packet, which you will have wrapped up in white paper,
saying '
With the Duke's compliments, sir
.' "
" Yes, sir."
Thus ended the morning's instructions.
The valet took the letter (which Mr. Greenwood had written
to himself,) the duplicates, and the bank notes; and retired.
In half an hour he returned with a small purple
morocco case containing a
complete set of diamonds, worth at least twelve hundred guineas.
He again withdrew, and returned in a few minutes;- but this
time it was to usher in Count Alteroni.
Mr. Greenwood received the Italian noble with more than usual
affability and apparent friendship.
"I am delighted to inform you, my dear count," he
said, when they were both seated, "that our enterprise is progressing
well. I yesterday received a letter from a certain capitalist to whom I applied
relative to the loan of two hundred thousand pounds which I informed you it was
necessary to raise to carry out our undertaking, in addition to the capital
which you and I have both subscribed; and I have no doubt that I shall succeed
in this point. Indeed, he is to send me his decision this very morning."
"Then I hope that at length the Company is definitively
formed?" said the count.
"Definitively," answered Mr. Greenwood.
"And the deed by which you guarantee to me the safety of
the money I have embarked, let the event be what it may? " said the count.
"That will be ready to-morrow evening. Can you dine with
me to-morrow, and terminate that portion of the business after dinner? My
solicitor will send the deed hither by one of his clerks at half-past eight
o'clock."
"With pleasure," said the count, evidently pleased
at this arrangement.
"There has been some delay," said Mr. Greenwood;
"but really the fault has not existed with me."
"You will excuse my anxiety in this respect: indeed, I
have probably pressed you more than I ought for the completion of that
security; but you will remember that I have embarked my all in this
enterprise."
"Do not attempt an apology. You have acted as a man of
prudence and caution; and you will find that I shall behave as a man of
business."
"I am perfectly satisfied," said the count. "
I should not have advanced my money unless I had been so perfectly satisfied
with your representations; for - unless events turn up in my favour in my own
country, I must for ever expect to remain an exile from Castelcicala. And that
good fortune will shine upon me from that quarter, I can scarcely expect. My
liberal principles have offended the Grand-Duke and the old nobility of that
state; and now that the aristocracy has there gained the ascendancy, and is
likely to retain it. I can hope for nothing. I would gladly have aided the
popular cause, and obtained for the people of Castelcicala a constitution but
the idea of representative principles is odious to those now in power."
" I believe that you were a staunch adherent of the
Prince of Castelcicala, who is the nephew of the reigning Grand-Duke and the
heir-apparent to the throne:" said Mr. Green wood.
"You have been rightly informed but if the Pope and the
Kings of Naples and Sardinia support the aristocracy of Castelcicala, that
prince will be excluded from his inheritance and a foreigner will be placed
upon the grand-ducal throne. In this case, the prince will he an exile until
his death - without even a pension to support him; so irritated are the
old aristocracy against him."
" I believe that Castelcicala is a fine state? "
"A beautiful country - extensive, well-cultivated, and
productive. It contains two millions of inhabitants. The capital, Montoni, is a
magnificent city, a of a hundred thousand souls. The revenues of the
Grand-Duke are two hundred thousand pounds sterling a-year ; and yet he
is not contented! He does not study his people's happiness."
" And where at the present moment is that gallant prince
who has thus risked his accession to the throne for the welfare of his
fellow-countrymen?" inquired Greenwood.
"That remains a secret," answered the count.
"His partisans alone know."
"Of course I would not attempt to intrude upon matters so
sacred," said Greenwood, "were I not deeply interested in yourself,
whom I know to be one of his most staunch adherents."
At that moment the door opened; and Lafleur entered, bearing
a letter, which he handed to Mr Greenwood. He then retired.