 Chapter 108 of Vani the Vampire This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Vali Vani the Vampire Volume 2 by Thomas Press Chapter 108 The Decision Against the Doctor and more news of Vani the Vampire It will be remembered that Dr. Schillingworth, although he had without doubt ascertained that Vani had proceeded to London, hesitated about following him there without the full compliance and consent of the Banner words and now, at the very first opportunity he had, when he found the Admiral and Henry together, he introduced the subject. He detailed what he had already done in the way of tracing Vani from place to place and ended by declaring his conviction that he was to be found in London. It is not only of importance, he said, to discover Vani on account of the property which I think he has taken with him but it really amounts almost to a public duty to do so. When we consider the evil, he has succeeded in bringing upon us and that some other family may be soon suffering from similar machinations. But Dr. said Henry, I presume you have no disinclination to admit that the principal view you take of the subject is as regards its connection with the supposed sum of money which Vani has taken with him. I freely own said the doctor that I should like to place that money in your hands because I think you are entitled to it and perhaps that is my principal motive but it certainly is not my only one, for as I consider Vani quite a curiosity in a medical point of view I certainly wish to follow him up and should be extremely sorry to lose sight of him altogether. But you must be aware, Dr. said Henry, that there really is something like positive danger in following such a man up and although he feels himself under such great obligations to you that I do not think he would willingly do you an injury yet there is no knowing what so strange and irascible a temper might not be goaded to. I have no threat of danger. I dare say you have not said that, Mirol, but I give you my vote against having anything further to do with Vani and said Henry, although I cannot withhold an expression of admiration for the doctor's perseverance I beg him to think that we oppose his pilgrimage in search of the vampire because we fell more for his personal safety than we fear any of the machinations of Vani. Well, gentlemen said the doctor, since I am in a minority, of course I must give in and say no more about it. I should certainly have liked to find the fellow for it is my impression that he certainly has a good many thousands of your money in his possession but as it is, I will say no more about it although I shall retain my opinion that you are ill-advised in not following him up. Oh! said the admiral. It wouldn't do to follow people up always. I don't know. There's that Quaker, for instance, who has got possession of Dearbrook. The Quaker shouted the admiral, down the Quaker, I'll follow him up while I have a guinea left, or a leg to stand on. What the dukes made you mention him, for you know the very sound of his name is enough to put me in a fever. The Quaker behind, an infernal thief as he is. It was well known to both Henry and the doctor, and in fact to all the family now, that the mention of the Quaker was always enough to drive that admiral nearly frantic, so that we are inclined to think Dr. Schillingworth was actuated by a little spirit of vengeance when he made that remark and that on the whole he was so vexed at the non-participation of the banner words and the admiral in his views concerning Sir Francis Warnie that on the irritation of the movement he did not scruple to say something which he thought would be annoying. But his downright good feeling so got the better of anything of that sort that turning to the admiral he said, I do apologise. I ought to apologise for my calling to your attention anything of a disagreeable character for I have no right whatever to do so and it was only upon the impulse of a moment I assure you that I uttered the words. Doctor said that admiral, I know all that as well as you can tell me, so just say no more about it if you please. For I don't want to hear one word upon such a subject. Well then said the doctor, now that I stand acquitted of doing or saying anything of a doubtful or disagreeable character, I can only tell you that I shall persevere in my opinion and that it is just possible though not very likely that I may upon my own account do something in the matter. All of which said Henry, I am very sorry to hear you say doctor. But why are you sorry? Because I cannot help anticipating danger. I feel almost certain that it will end you and in that case no one will morbidly regret that you mixed yourself up in the affair than I shall. Oh do not presume any such things at the doctor justingly. It may depend Vani and I understand each other too well for there to be much danger in my intercourse with him. There is something about the fellow yet that will not permit him to do any deliberate wrong to me. And strange as the feeling may appear I cannot help acknowledging that I like him in some things and that having been the means of restoring him to life I feel somehow or other as if I were bound to look after him. Well that is rather absurd. Saddhanura I must confess. But however doctor if you have any such feeling by all means carry it out I won't say nay. But by any means find him out if you like and if you can make him a decent member of society in heaven's name do so. I do not expect that said the doctor and if I only keep him out of mischief I shall be sufficiently satisfied. For that would be accomplishing a great deal with such a man. Promise me one thing said Henry in connection with this affair. What may that be? It is that you will not take any step in the matter without letting us know. Of course you are a free agent in a transaction but have as much right as anybody to say or to do anything as regards Vani the vampire. But still knowing so much of him as we do I for one certainly would be glad to be made aware of anything you are attempting concerning him. That I will promise you so you need be under no possible apprehension on such a score but feel completely at your ease that nothing is being done unless you know of it. At this juncture a servant entered the room with a letter which was addressed to Henry Bannerworth and upon opening it he uttered a sudden exclamation of surprise. What is it said the admiral? You seem astonished Henry. I am indeed astonished and I may be. Who do you suppose admiral this letter is from? I can't possibly take upon myself to say why from no other person than Vani the vampire. Indeed cried Dr. Chillingworth and does he offer restitution? Does he offer to return the money he so wrongly has got possession of? Tell me that. I cannot answer you for I have not read one word of the epistle. I only see by the signature that it is his but as it is impossible that there can be any secrets between myself and Vani I shall read it to you aloud and you shall both of you be able to judge concerning it. The admiral and the doctor assumed attitudes of attention while Henry after glancing his eyes slightly down the contents of the letter commenced reading it as follows. To Henry Bannerworth Sir, probably the last person in the world from whom you might expect to receive a communication is he who now pens this epistle but as it is spent with a good feeling towards you and yours I hope and trust it will be received in a kindly spirit. Admitting that the circumstances under which I left the protection of your house were such as to require some explanation from me it is that explanation which I now proceed to give. Circumstances made it imperatively necessary that I should adopt a course of conduct that should no longer make me a burden to those who had more cause to wish me dead than to assist me in maintaining existence. Without then the least sinister motive towards you or anyone belonging to you I left your home secretly and at once not being willing to listen to remote stresses that I knew would be spoken kindly but which I knew at the same time could not be very serious in as much as my presence cannot possibly be otherwise than a severe attacks upon your kindness and your patience. I cannot be so besotted as to think for a moment that you can forget although a generosity of temper for which I give you full credit might enable you to forgive the injuries you have received from me but I could not make up my mind to reside under your roof on such terms and since my recovery from the violence of a lawless mob the question in my mind has been not whether I should leave you or not but how I should leave you and where I should be take myself to. At length finding it impossible to come to any rational conclusion upon these points and that time was rapidly varying so that it became necessary if I came to a conclusion at all I should come to it quickly. I resolved to leave without giving you any notice of the fact and set up my staff as it were in the wilderness and proceed in whatever direction chance may point out to me. This I say was my resolve and I have carried it into execution. All I ask of you is to forget me and not to waste any thought upon the man who will never do any injury to you or to anyone belonging to you and who hopes you will make no inquiry for him but should you meet him ever you will pass him by as if you knew him not. These few words come from him who was Vani the Vampire. There was a dead silence when this epistle was concluded and all seemed busy with their own opinions as regarded this communication which certainly was one of a singular nature and highly calculated to excite their surprise. Upon the whole though there was one extremely evident conclusion to be drawn from it and that was that Vani was extremely anxious not to be interfered with. Can anything be more transparent? exclaimed the doctor. It is just as I say Vani wants to try some new scheme and is very much afraid that he may come across us in some way and be blocked in it by our exposing what his real character is and if anything could give me a stronger impulse than another to follow him and see what he is about it would certainly be that letter. I do not think you need to be afraid said Henry for the letter bearing as it does that signification is such a one as induces me to believe he is fearful that some circumstance may throw him in our way and in that case that we may spoil his thought or of the likelihood of such a thing occurring he is of course a much better judge than we can be so I should say let him alone and see if anything really turns up concerning him if it does we have a fair principle action before us for we have no occasion merely because he has asked us to be quiet and peaceable if we find him playing any pranks or attempting to play any pranks that's my opinion too said the admiral be quiet and take no notice and it will be an odd thing to me then if you don't soon hear something of master Vani and that may be a something too that misstonish us is that all the letter said Dr. Schillingworth yes with the exception of these words in a post script any communication addressed to VV general post office London will reach my hands promptly ah then there's the juice of the matter said the doctor the vagabond wants to be sure that we shall not interfere with him and then he has got some rascality in hand you may depend which he would said to work about in real earnest I shall not write to him said Henry but shall pursue quite a different course of policy and wait patiently for what may happen for I'm convinced that is the only plan to pursue with any chance of benefit or success and you will bear in mind doctors at the admiral that the fellow in this letter talks of giving us an explanation and yet not one word does he say about jumping upon your back from the garden wall the juice of bit does he explain that no said the doctor nor did I expect he would such a man as Vani is not likely to discriminate himself and while there is doubt about whether he is that person or not you may depend he will not be the man to take any pains to dispel it of course not of course not well said the doctor I can only tell you all one thing and that is that whatever you may think or flatter yourselves this affair is very fine indeed from being over and sooner or later something yet very serious will occur in connection with Vani the vampire do not fancy that you have got rid of him for most certainly you have not the doctor spoke these words so oracularly that he sounded extremely like one of those predictions founded upon such a firm basis that they are sure to be carried out by future facts and both Henry and Admiral felt as if they had heard truth from someone who knew well what he was uttering and was not likely to be mistaken End of Chapter 108 Chapter 109 of Vani the Vampire Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Valli Vani the Vampire Volume 2 By Thomas Prescott Press Chapter 109 The Preparations for the Wedding of the Baron Stolmoyer of Salzburg There come an adage which inculcates the necessity of striking while the iron is hot and this was an adage which to judge from her conduct seemed to have made a great impression upon the mind of Mrs. Williams and she thought that as regarded her daughter's feelings the iron was hot and that if she struck now she might be able to ring from her a consent no matter how reluctant to call the Baron Stolmoyer her husband The objects which Mrs. Williams felt certain she should succeed in achieving by such an union in her family were far too weighty to be easily dispensed with They not only comprehended the five hundred pounds which the Baron had so judiciously promised her upon the wedding day being fixed but she had an eye to after circumstances and considered that the son-in-law who could spare five hundred pounds as a mere bribe to her would be an endless source from whence she could draw her pecuniary supplies and then thought Mrs. Williams there are the other girls to get off to and what a famous opportunity it will be to do that when they can be at all the grand parties the Baron will give at Annabarie House to an intriguing woman such as Mrs. Williams was in reality all these advantages appeared in full force and if ever she made up her mind thoroughly and entirely about anything in the world she certainly did that her daughter Helen would be the Baroness Stolmoyer of Salzburg she certainly wished in her own heart that the Baron had chosen one of her daughters because then she knew that she would not have had to encounter the position she had done and perhaps had still to encounter in the case of Helen but as it was that part of the business could not be helped and she Helen was to be sacrificed if the Baron had thought for twelve months over the murder he could not have come to a better conclusion as to the best means of making Mrs. Williams a zealous partisan of his then by distinctly naming a sum of money that she should have and then she should have it for now she considered that every moment's delay was a price of actual criminality on the part of Helen in as much as it was keeping her Mrs. Williams out of a large sum of money there was one thing however which she did at once and that was to go to the different rates people who had had the awful insolence to stop the supplies and tell them that her daughter Helen was about to become the Baroness Stolmoyer and that if they continued to execute orders and to wait with patience they would all get paid within one month this positive announcement staggered some of them for they would hardly have thought it possible that she would have made it if there had not been some great foundation for truth in it of some sort and it was one of these announcements which as the reader is aware had been overheard by Tom the son of the old sailor and which well reported had created so much consternation in the mind of the young man who had been saved by Jack Pringle from the wreck on the following morning the lady received a laconic note from the Baron in which were the words Madam, have you settled with your daughter the day and the hour of mine-up shields with her I have drawn a check in your favour and only wait your further proceeding in the affair to sign it and send it to you I have the honour to be Madam yards truly Stolmoyer Mrs. Williams this note put Mrs. Williams into a perfect fury of impatience the idea that actually a check for 500 pounds should be drawn in her favour and only awaiting the signature of the Baron and that by one word her daughter Helen could procure that signature was absolutely maddening she rushed at once to Helen's room poor Helen knew enough of her mother to feel convinced from the first that no possible exertion would be spared for the purpose of forcing her into that marriage which had no chance alas for her but which on the contrary presented itself to her in the most hideous of all possible aspects from the first moment that her mother had broached it it had seemed in its remembrance to lie at her heart like a lump of lead she seemed already to feel that after an unavailing resistance she would have to yield and then that her future existence would involve in it all the pangs of despair and regret alas alas she said under what fatal planet was I born that I should be so unhappy as I now am what will become of me and how shall I gather resolution enough either to bear with seeming patience the fate that afflicts me or to resist the machinations of my mother who would force me to wed this man whom I cannot love the long absence of her love was so perplexing a source of warm reflection to her that already it had sapped much of the joy of her young existence he surely ought she said and might have found some means of communicating to me long earth is he might well know and must know that suspense is of all feelings the worst to bear oh why am I thus deserted by all and left to the mercy of the worst of circumstances with her sisters poor Helen could have no sympathies in common either of them would have been delighted to change places with her as regarded the fact of becoming the baroness of Salzburg and they had towards her a tolerably cordial ill will on account of her superior charms which made her so much admired while they were left to pine in maiden meditation fancy free but to Helen Williams this gift of beauty was what it truly has often been described a most dangerous one and she would have given the world to have been able to wear an appearance that would have repelled instead of attracted the baron Stolmuir she was in this desponding state of mind revolving in her mind her dismal prospects if she should consent to wed the baron and her equally dismal ones if she should refuse for well she knew how painful a position with her family such a refusal would place her in when her mother entered the room Mrs. Williams had so thoroughly determined that this marriage should take place that she could not have said to have now sought her daughter to persuade her to it but on the contrary to insist upon it the sisters too with whom this unnatural mother or rather perhaps we ought to say too natural but too common mother had held a conversation upon the subject were anxious despite the jealousy upon the occasion that the fair should proceed because certainly the next best thing to themselves making such an alliance was to succeed in getting it made by some other of the family and they fully intended making and debris on the mound their home what Helen exclaimed Mrs. Williams in tears as usual have I not cause for weeping mother well well I cannot say much to you beyond the few words I have come to say I have I fear as regarded this affair of the offer that was made to you by the baron Stolmuir behaved precipitately oh mother cried Helen with renewed hope I'm rejoiced to hear you say so then you will not now ask me to sacrifice myself to a man whom I can never love say no more of the past it is sufficient that you have awakened to better resolves now dear mother and I shall be happy such words as these ought to have softened the mother's heart but such a woman had no heart to soften and after a pause she proceeded in her plan of operations well my dear perhaps it is all for the best it must be for the best mother because it never can be for good that I should have consented to plight my vows to one home of all others I cannot look upon with the least affectionate regard indeed mother so much as I can absolutely dislike anyone I dislike that man there's no occasion to say anything more about it my dear I have come to bid you farewell and heaven only knows when we may meet again what do you mean mother I mean my dear just what I say I'm going now it once to a prison a prison yes it certainly is not an agreeable idea but as I told you I was too sanguine and built too much upon your consenting to marry the Baron so I borrowed some of money to pay some pressing debts but as I have not been able to repay it I'm arrested and have now only persuaded the manager Gowey upon giving him a solemn promise that I will in half an hour's time be at the gates of the town gaol Helen heard this declaration with a feeling of perfect horror she was too little acquainted with the usages of society to see what a transparent light really was and to her mind it did not appear improbable that a man who came to arrest anybody should take their word to come to the gaol in half an hour oh mother mother she stopped can this be I don't know said Mrs. Williams if it can be or not all I know is that it is so and that I'm perfectly willing to pass the remainder of my days in the dungeon Helen's ideas of prisons were all procured from romances and she was not at all surprised consequently to hear her mother talk of a dungeon and if she had added something about chains and bread and water and a heap of straw merely for a bed it would have found a ready credence with poor Helen no wonder therefore that the idea of such a catastrophe presented itself to her in the most terrific colours and she saw it once all her recent congratulations upon an escape from a marriage with the barren strollmere of Salzburg scattered to the vents of heaven she was so petrified with astonishment and griff that for some moments she could not speak and Mrs. Williams took care to improve upon that silence by adding I'm sure it should be the last person in the world to ask any daughter of mine to make a sacrifice but as I have been so foolish because I took a pride in my family as to go into expenses I cannot stand why of course I must take the consequences oh no no oh it's all very well to say oh no no but it's oh yes yes and all I have to ask of you now is to say that business has compelled me to leave this part of the country and after that the best way will be to say that I'm dead heaven help me and then of course continued Mrs. Williams in the most matter-like and self-denying tone in all the world and then of course people will leave off making inquiries about me and you me all of you in time managed to forget me likewise mother mother is not this cruel my dear I really cannot say that I think it is I am and have been mistaken and perhaps I did push the affair of your marriage with the barren stalemire of Saltzburg a little too far and too much counted upon it I know I'm up to be too sanguine I'm well aware of that it's a little peculiarity of mine but I cannot help it and when we have those little peculiarities all we can do is to put up with it as best we may but mother oh it's no use talking is the creditors so very inexorable yes and only on one account he thinks I have to save him that's the fact and having asked me to give a decided answer if the wedding day was fixed between you and the Baron for nothing else would satisfy him and as of course I could not say that he got quite furious and at once threatened me with law proceedings which I did not think he really meant but it appears he did for here I am arrested but can nothing be done not that I see the Baron when he made the proposal was anxious for an immediate reply and then he would have made some very handsome settlement which would have been soon known and anybody would have trusted me but as it is the only thing that can save you all will be for me to go to prison at once and so disappear Helen wept bitterly and therefore my dear I beg you won't think anything of it I am quite willing to go at once without any more fuss about it but I have not yet said anything to your sisters because I thought that the first explanation was due to you in the affair since you were the most mixed up with it oh this is too dreadful much too dreadful farewell farewell we may meet again or we may not I wish you all manner of happiness Mrs. Williams moved towards the door but before she reached it Helen sprung after her and detaining her cried no no it must not be if there is an imperative necessity for some victim let me be it or let me be it I mean Helen asked Mrs. Williams in pretended surprise I I mean mother that that I will to save you give up all hopes of happiness in this world and that although I would far rather go at once to my grave I will since my destiny seems to point out that it must be so consent consent to become the baroness Stolmer of Salzburg and and do I hear a right yes yes heaven help me I feel that I have no other hope the dreadful alternative that is presented to me leaves me no other course to pursue I must and I do consent if it will at once save you from the prison it will my dear if I can succeed in convincing my important creditor that you have really consented and that it is not a scheme of mine merely to escape a prison but if you write a few words signifying your consent that will be quite sufficient this was an artful proceeding on the part of Mrs. Williams for although she by no means intended to put the baron in possession of such a document yet she considered that by having it she completely protected herself from any reproaches which he might otherwise cast upon her should any hitch arise in the proceedings or anything go wrong with the affair even at the last moment the few words in writing which suffice as Mrs. Williams thought fully to commit poor Helen to the marriage were freely written for there was no duplicity in the character of Helen and what she said she would consent to she was quite willing to write well my dear said Mrs. Williams although you don't feel happy just now about the marriage you may depend upon it you will enjoy your existence very much for when you get a little older you will find that it is after all the possession of ample means that is the most important thing to look to Helen shook her head but she made no reply she did not at all agree with what her mother said but she felt by far too much depressed to argue the point with her just then you will all your life added Mrs. Williams as she left the room have the great consolation of knowing that you saved me from a prison doing so absolutely saved my life for although I did not say before I'm quite sure I should have died End of Chapter 109 by Thomas Prescott Prest Chapter 110 Jack Pringle calls upon Mrs. Williams and tells her a piece of his mind upon affairs in general Jack Pringle never promised anything without an intention of performing it whether he could succeed or not and accordingly when he promised that he would make due and diligent inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining if Helen Williams was indeed faithless he proceeded at once to do so in the most direct manner in the world vis by calling upon no less a personage than Mrs. Williams herself and popping the question to her in a manner which almost precluded the possibility of her returning anything but a direct answer this was a measure which few persons would have attempted but having as it had all the characteristics of boldness about it it was not one that he was likely to fail in but upon the contrary calculated in every respect to be eminently successful he proceeded to the town in perfect ignorance of its locality or even of the abode of Mrs. Williams except so far as a very involved description had been given to him of the route to her house by the old sailor's son Tom who certainly was not the best hand in the world at a direction but Jack was never at a loss for somehow or another by the force of a good tempered manner that he had he contrived to make friends wherever he went and among them he soon found one who was willing in every respect to take pains with him and to walk with him to the door of Mrs. Williams Thank you, Miss Mate, said Jack and if ever I meet you again you may make up your mind that you have met a friend and so this is Mrs. Williams, is it? Yes, said the man, this is Mrs. Williams' and what sort of a creature is she? Oh, why as to that she is not the sort of woman I like but there is no accounting for tastes, you know and other people might like her very well You are a sensible fellow, said Jack and I should say you have quite wit enough about you that if you fell into the fire you would get out again as soon as you could The man hardly knew whether to take this as a compliment or not but at all events he bade Jack good day, civilly enough and took no notice of it Jack then boldly knocked at the door and when the one miserable servant of the Williams has made her appearance and asked him what he wanted he replied, why I have principally called to tell you what a remarkably fine girl you are and after that I should like to see Mother Williams Go along with ye, said the girl, you are only joking and I can tell you that Mrs. would just as soon give you to a constable as look at you Oh no she wouldn't, said Jack for good looking fellows are scarce and I daresay she knows that as well as possible and she would much rather keep me herself than give me to anybody Well I am sure, said the girl you are like all the rest of men and have a pretty good opinion of herself but if you really want to see Mrs. I may as well tell her at once to be sure, said Jack Mrs. Williams from a room on the ground floor had heard that some sort of conversation was going on at the street door and she called out, Susan, Susan how dare you be talking there to anybody who is that I say tell me who that is immediately it is me ma'am, cried Jack and who is me why ma'am I have come on a delicate mission I have got something to say to you as is rather particular Mrs. Williams's curiosity was excited and perhaps some of her fears for when she had told Helen that she was drowned in debt she had hyperbolically speaking not far exceeded the truth and therefore she dreaded refusing seeing anyone who came to ask for her lest, smarting under the aggravation of such a proceeding the party be he whom he might should leave some message that it would not be quite pleasant to her for Susan to hear this was the respect then which placed Mrs. Williams positively at the mercy of anyone who chose to call upon her and which induced her to give an audience even to Jack Pringle who under ordinary circumstances she would, as Susan had correctly observed, have not scrupled to place in the hands of some guardian of the public peace as an intruder into her house when Jack was shown into the apartment where the lady waited to receive him he made what he considered a highly fashionable and elegant bow of a lock of his hair in front and giving it a jerking pull at the same moment that he kicked out his foot behind and upset a chair how do you do ma'am said Jack you have the advantage of me said Mrs. Williams I rather think I have said Jack and I mean to keep it and an out and out thing it would be if I hadn't seeing the many voyages I have had when I dare say you was never out of sight of land in all your life I certainly never was says Mrs. Williams and I hope I am speaking to some officer and not to anybody common oh yes ma'am said Jack I am a rear admiral of the green and what I come to ask you is if there is going to be a marriage in your family rather an eccentric character thought Mrs. Williams but anybody may see in a moment he is a gentleman or else he would not be an admiral of the green I know there are admirals of all sorts of colors so I have no doubt he is quite correct yes sir there is going to be a marriage in my family I am proud to say my daughter Helen is going to marry what might be called quite a foreign potentate a foreign potato none of your gammon don't be poking your fun at me a foreign potentate I said sir a kind of monarch a potentate you know oh I understand I dare say them fellows lives on potatoes and that's why they call them such but are you sure it's your daughter Helen because I was thinking of proposing for her myself really then admiral green I am very sorry but she is going to be married to the Baron Stolmure of Salzburg the Baron what did you say Stonemason and Saltpot what a damn odd name to be sure dear me what an eccentric character thought Mrs. Williams but quite the gentleman admiral green it's Stolmure of Salzburg is the Baron's name oh I knew it was something about salts but however it don't matter him when is the ceremony to come off ma'am it is left to me sir to fix the day and I shall do so of course at my convenience and I can only express my great regret admiral green that you should have been too late but you see the Baron's offer was so unexceptionable and he is really quite a wealthy individual which is offering me a check for five hundred pounds is a convincing proof that I really could not think of refusing him what five hundred pounds yes I assure you admiral green that he pressed upon my acceptance five hundred pounds the stingy devil stingy rather why I meant to have asked you to accept a couple of thousands in a larger state that I have got which brings in as much every year and that I really don't want two thousand pounds in an estate gracious providence I don't know what to say to that really admiral green you are so very liberal that upon my word I am quite puzzled two thousand pounds in an estate worth two thousand pounds a year did you really mean that admiral green to be sure I did what else could I mean but I don't want to interfere with a foreign potato and a Baron saltbox well but my dear sir stop a moment let me think no ma'am said Jack I ain't quite such a humbug as you takes me for I say nothing but it's very likely that your Baron will turn out to be some half-starved swindler who is going to wind up his affairs by doing you and serves you right too I wish you good morning ma'am so saying Jack despite the remonstrances of mrs. Williams whose cupidity was so strongly excited by what he had said that she would gladly have thrown overboard the Baron and who now began to look with something like contempt upon the five hundred pounds which she had before thought was quite a large sum how odd it is she exclaimed when she was alone how odd it is that after I have been looking about I don't know how long for a decent match for some of the girls all the men should come at once and want Helen it's an extraordinary thing to me very extraordinary dear me if I could but have a secured admiral green for Juliana and so got her married on the same day with Helen there would have been two thousand five hundred pounds to me at once what a capital thing I would not have spoken of it to anybody but I would have paid all the trades people about here eight pence in the pound as a composition and then I could have gone and lived in London quite comfortably thus is it ever with such schemers as mrs. Williams success brings with it quite as many evils and distressful feelings as failure and now the agony of what she thought she had lost much more than counterbalanced any satisfaction she might have had in procuring her daughter's consent to the marriage with the Baron this consent although we know how it was wrong from Helen we certainly much blame her for giving because no human power could readily force her to marry anyone who was not her choice and the mere fact that her mother represented how deeply she was in debt ought not to have been sufficient to induce Helen to consent she might and ought to have taken a much higher subject of you which should have excluded a consideration of James Anderson that you should have been a refusal to commit the perjury of solemnly vowing before heaven to love and honor a man for whom she entertained such opposite feelings but Helen was not a close reasoner and although all the argument was upon her side and all the propriety and all the justice we grieve to say that she did not avail herself of either to the extent she ought to have done but on the contrary gave up those moments to regret which should have been far better employed in resistance when the consent which we have recorded had been wrong from her she gave herself up to the most melancholy reflections weeping incessantly and calling upon heaven to help her from the pressure of circumstances which she was quite competent to relieve herself from if she could have persuaded herself to make the necessary efforts at last it seemed to her that she had upon a plan which might afford her some relief but in projecting it she little knew the real character of the man she had to deal with this scheme was to tell the Baron candidly that she loved another and whether that other was living or dead his remembrance would so cling to her that she could never love another and that in making her his wife he the Baron would be laying up for himself a source of regret and disquietude in the feeling that he possessed one whose he could never hope to attain surely thought Helen if he be at all human and if he have any of the natural pride of manhood about him he will shrink from attempting to continue a suit that must be mortifying in every one of its stages and which cannot confer upon him even the shadow of happiness End of Chapter 110 of Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 Read by Richard Wallace Liberty, Missouri 5 May 2009 Chapter 111 of Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nicole Carl St. Louis, Missouri November 2008 Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 by Thomas Prescott Prest Chapter 111 The wedding day fixed and the guests invited When she was to receive so handsome a reward for the intelligence that she had wrung a reluctant consent from Helen to be the Baron's bride it was not likely that Mrs. Williams would let a long time lapse before she communicated that fact to him and accordingly she started to do so personally It would appear that the Baron fully expected her for he made no remark at all expressive of surprise but received her with that courtly grace which Mrs. Williams attributed to his intercourse with the highest and the noblest He did not seem so impatient as anyone would have supposed a very ardent lover would have been and before he would allow Mrs. Williams at all to enter into the object of her visit he requested her to be seated and would insist upon placing before her some of the very choicest refreshment Indeed as often as she then attempted to enter into the subject matter which had brought her there he interrupted her with some remark of a different nature so that she found it very difficult to say anything regarding it At length, however, when he had satisfied the claims of hospitality he said I presume that I have the pleasure of listening to something particularly pleasant and delightful to me the realisation of my dearest hopes Why my Lord Baron, I must confess said Mrs. Williams that notwithstanding the extremely liberal office of Admiral Green Admiral Green, Madam this is the first moment I have heard of such a personage No doubt, no doubt but for all that, since we have had the honour of your offer for the Hand of Helen Admiral Green has made one and such a liberal one that it's quite distressing to refuse him then allow me to say, Madam, that I hope you won't distrust yourself about it but accept of Admiral Green at once I should be very sorry indeed to stand in the way of any advantageous arrangement and therefore I beg you will close with Admiral Green The adage about coming to the ground between two stools forcibly presented itself to the memory of Mrs. Williams and she replied in a great hurry Oh no, Baron, certainly not I have refused the Admiral on your account I told him most distinctly that I could not think of entertaining his offer for a moment and I refused him at once Then why trouble me about him, Madam? Oh, I thought I would only merely mention it because the Admiral said he would have great pleasure which, of course was a very liberal thing of him and hunting me a check for two thousand pounds Oh, now I understand said the Baron I give you credit, Madam for having a good reason for making this report to me You think that I may be induced to emulate the munificence of Admiral Green but when I assure you that I have not the remotest intention of doing so probably you will think that it would have been just as well if the matter had never been mentioned The Baron was right when Mrs. Williams did think so and she felt all that bitterness which wonderfully clever people do feel when they find that some pet scheme has most signally failed leaving behind it all the consequences of a failure and whatever people may say to the contrary failures do always have bad consequences and never leave the circumstances exactly what they were There was rather an awkward pause of some moments duration and then Mrs. Williams thought she would get over the Baron completely but on the most amiable smile she could and said My dear Baron, I'm sure we shall all be the most heavy and united family that can possibly be imagined and it is the greatest pleasure for me to be able to give you the intelligence that my daughter has consented to become yours Madam I am much obliged And although Admiral Green did say that if I were to bring him similar intelligence he would there and then on the spot without further delay Hand me two thousand pounds I said to him, Admiral Green I am only to get five hundred pounds from the Baron's storm lawyer of Salzburg and that five hundred pounds he has likewise promised to pay me down Down, you understand Baron? Madam, I am not deaf but you understand down Oh I begin to see you want the money Well, could you not say so at once? It's of no use hinting things to me but if you had said to me at once Baron, I have brought you the consent to the marriage and now I expect at once the five hundred pounds that I am to receive for doing so I would have understood you and said it once Oh, certainly Madam, here is the money as I do now You will find that check drawn for the amount What a charming thing it is said Mrs. Williams What a charming thing it is to do business in such a real business sort of way but there are so few people Baron and upon whom one can so thoroughly depend as one can upon you Madam, you do me too much honour of course having promised you this insignificant sum of money it was not likely that I should but keep my word and now let me ask when is to be the happy day? If this day week will suit you Baron wonderfully well Madam, wonderfully well Then we will consider that as settled I suppose you will have a public marriage? No, no strictly private I am resolved Madam not to have more than one hundred and fifty people and to keep the expenses within a thousand pounds so you see I am going to do it in the plainest possible manner and make no fuss at all about it Gracious province thought Mrs. Williams What would he call a public marriage if he considers a thousand pounds expense one hundred and fifty guests a private one and making no fuss about it On one of my formal marriages said the Baron with an arrow of abstraction One of them said Mrs. Williams May I presume to ask how often you have been married my lord Oh certainly let me see I think eleven times Eleven and Prisa what became of your wives Wife really Madam I cannot say I hope the majority of them went to heaven but there were one or two I most heartily wished at the other place My gracious thought Mrs. Williams he is quite a blue beard but however things have gone too far now and I am not going to give up my check if he had twenty wives and after all it shows he must be a man of great experience and of great wealth too or so many women would not have had him but if that little fact about all his wives should come to the ears of Helen I am really afraid she wouldn't have him so I must caution him about it My lord Baron Yes Madam I think between you and I my lord Baron that it would be quite as well to say nothing to my daughter about her being the twelfth wife but just let her quietly think she is the first because you know my lord young people have prejudices upon these subjects and she might not exactly like the idea Oh certainly Madam I shall not mention the little affairs that have preceded hers I assure you I am quite aware that it is likely there should be a prejudice against a man who has had eleven wives and people will think that he smothered a few of them Good gracious said Mrs. Williams You don't mean that my lord Baron I hope that nobody other accused you of such a thing Nay said the Baron How are the best of us to escape censure No as well as I Mrs. Williams what a bad world it is we live in and how dreadfully selfish people are Yes That's remarkably true but it aint often my lord Baron that one man has eleven wives No and it aint often that such a man would exactly like to venture upon a twelfth Well no there is something in that but I will now my lord take my leave entertaining no doubt whatever but that this will be an extremely happy marriage and in every respect just what we might all of us desire Mrs. Williams left the Baron with these words but to say that she would leave them would be to make by far too powerful an experiment upon the credulity of our readers When he was alone the Baron smiled a strange and ghastly smile That woman he said is so fond of gold that she sells her child without hesitation to me if upon hearing of my pretended marriages she gave me back my money I should have thought some good of her but no that she could not do money as her idol and when once in her possession she could not dream of parting with it but what is that to me have I not made up my mind this affair let the consequences be what they may have I not resolved upon it in every possible shape cast aside all feelings of regret and live for myself alone for what have I now to hope and what have I now to fear from mankind hope? did I say I had nothing to hope I was wrong I have something to hope and it is something I will have it is revenge yes it is revenge revenge which I must and will have against society has made me what I am and the time shall yet come when my name will be a greater terror than it is and that to someone needless for it is such a terror already but to mention it would cause a commotion of frightful inquietude he looked from one of the windows of his home and he saw Mrs. Williams as she proceeded down one of the garden walks take his check out from her reticule where she had placed it and looked at it attentively ah he said now she is worshiping her divinity gold she knows that that price of paper carries weight with it and that flimsy as it looks it is sufficient to purchase her fool fool and she thinks she is by contentment End of Chapter 11 Chapter 112 of Varney the Vampire Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nicole Carl St. Louis Missouri December 2008 Varney the Vampire Volume 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 112 The Singular Invitation to the Baron's Wedding About three days after the transactions which we have just recorded the Admiral received a call from his friend the attorney and that call had a double object in the first place the man of law wanted to tell him how he was proceeding as regarded the Quaker and there they had a great tussle about what was to be done for when the attorney said to him Now Admiral, as regards to this assault upon Mr. Shepard all that can be done is to let him prove his case and then come up for judgment and move in the court in mitigation I dare say you will be dragged up to Westminster Hall for judgment and I would not at all wonder but you will get off with a fine of six in eight minutes What do you mean said the Admiral by letting him do what he likes In effect it is the same thing as pleading guilty, you know to a charge brought against you and by so doing you to a great extent disarm justice Guilty! roared that Admiral Guilty! You will be a long time indeed in convincing me that there is any guilt in kicking a Quaker and especially such a Quaker as Mr. Shepard Why, I'll do it again and think it as I do now a meritorious action Yes, but you misunderstand me it is called guilt you know, in law to do anything contrary to law and by pleading guilty you do no more than just admit the fact that you have kicked the Quaker That's quite another thing I have no objection to the fact whatever, but don't call it being Guilty for that's all moonshine and I won't have it at any price Guilty be hanged I think I see it Guilty of kicking a Quaker indeed I have half a mind to go and kick him again just on purpose and I don't know but what I may do it yet Well, well Admiral now that we have settled that naughty point I have got something else to tell you of a more agreeable nature Out with it Out with it it is this you recollect that upon the marriage of Ms. Floor Bannerworth with your nephew Mr. Charles Howland for as far as the marriage was concerned they all got the better of the old man Yes the marriage feast you recollect that upon that occasion you gave me leave to invite a number of persons all of whom were very grateful and thought very highly of you and the honour of coming into your company A devil of a sensible fellow this lawyer is, thought the Admiral it's enough to make one take to lawyers I'll be hanged if it ain't Go on, go on, whatever all that I am sure I was as well pleased to see them all as they were to see me Well sir, it appears that some of these persons and especially a family of the name of Clark have been exceedingly anxious to bestow some civility upon you in return and as they have been invited to a wedding they wish to prevail upon you to go with them as it would be a very stylish affair Well, I don't mind, said the Admiral Where is it? It's as far as 20 miles off at a place called Anderbury and it is wished that you should bring anybody you like with you upon the occasion Well, it's civil at all events and I don't mind if Henry and Charles and Flo are like it going but when you mention Anderbury I'll be hanged if I don't think that's the very place that Jack Pringle has gone to with assault water for the benefit of his health Well sir, it will have none the less recommendation to you I dare say that it is close to the sea You're right there and I can tell you I was thinking of going myself because you know what suits Jack in those respects is pretty well sure to suit me and I thought as that Fagabond was enjoying himself down by the sea coast I might as well go and do so likewise Well sir, then I may consider I have your full consent to the arrangement and I am sure it will be received by the parties with a great deal of satisfaction indeed Well, well, somehow or another you talk me over to things so I'll go without making any more fuss about it and I will take Henry with me and Charles and Flora and I'd take Old Varni the Vampire too if we had him here it would be a good bit of fun to take such a fellow He would not be the most welcome guest in the world No, I should think not But who are invitations to come from? They will come from the bride's mother as the people I have told you are so anxious to take you with them are friends of hers Very good, very good So as that's all right I will speak to Henry about it and Flora and I dare say we shall all manage to get there comfortably enough Let me see two stages for post horses Well, well, well, yeah you may look upon it as decided it is to be, and there is an end of it In due course on the following day there came a note to Admiral Bell enclosing a card on which was said Mrs. Williams requests the honor of Admiral Bell's company with his party to breakfast on the 10th instant at two o'clock on the occasion of the celebration of the nuptials of Miss Helen Fedora Williams with the baron and a small air of Salzburg at Anderbury on the mount The devil said the Admiral this is not a fair something splashing and out of the way I should say breakfast at two o'clock that's the dis piece of humbug in the whole affair Who the devil is to wait for the breakfast until two o'clock I never heard anything better than that but I suppose there will be something to eat so I shall take the liberty of having my breakfast at seven in the morning and calling that my dinner and my lunch I will manage to get at some inn on the road with this card of invitation in his hand the Admiral went to Flora and laid it before her saying here will be fine fun Flora for you this is the invitation I spoke to you of and they are going to have breakfast at two o'clock lunch I suppose at five dinner at nine a cup of coffee at about twelve supper at four o'clock in the morning and I suppose they will get to bed at about daybreak Flora laughed as she perused the card and then she said it certainly promises to be quite a fine affair uncle and it all events as we are the only guests we shall be able fully to enter into the amusement of the affair if there will be any way and I am inclined to think there will be by the rather pompous reading of the card of invitation which has been so civilly sent to us if they are ridiculous people Admiral we will laugh at them and they cannot expect but that we should and if they should turn out to be otherwise they may become very pleasant acquaintances you know assuredly and it will not do to judge of people anyway by such a trivial piece of evidence as the card of invitation can afford to one so I will endeavour to go to the wedding with an impression that they are agreeable people an impression which considering the complimentary manner in which they have invited us we ought to cultivate very good and do you speak to Charles about it for I have not had an opportunity of doing so and as the people have invited us handsomely I think we ought to go in a manner so as to do them as much credit as possible and therefore I should say that a coach in four with postillions will be the plan and look rather stylish oh uncle you will be mistaken for the bride's room shall I very well I am quite willing that I should be always provided I might chance to admire the bride but if I do not you may be sure that I shall take plenty good care to explain the error end of chapter 112 chapter 113 the report which in accordance with what he had heard from Mrs. Williams Jack Pringle felt himself compelled to make to the young man whom he had saved from the wreck but too surely convinced him that all his hopes were dashed to the ground and it was indeed but too true that Helen had consented to become the wife of another there could be no mistake in the affair or the slightest loophole for escaping an entire and complete conviction of the faithlessness of her in whom he had so deeply confided for his future happiness the blow appeared to fall upon him with a stunning effect and for some time he seemed to be quite incapable of thought or action but Jack Pringle rallied him upon the state of things and tried hard to induce him to view the matter with the same kind of philosophy that he would have brought to bear upon it come, come, he said don't be downhearted about a woman cheer up my lad there's many a better fish in this sea than has ever yet been got out of it you may depend upon that I could have staked my life upon her good faith likely enough and so can we all upon the good faith of a woman we happen to love and admire but what is there in the old wide world so common as being jilted by a wench and when it does happen a man should whistle her down the wind and forget her all at once and for ever I have no doubt said James Anderson that such is good philosophy but it's a hard thing to tear away from the heart at once an image that has lain enshrined in its inmost recesses for many a month perhaps it is but the best remedy in all the world is to look about for another I know that from experience in these matters you do so and you will soon be able to forget the girl who has jilted you James Anderson shook his head and smiled faintly as he said I fear I should never love another as I have loved her the heart when once it has loved as I have loved can never know another feeling I cannot with any hopes of success undertake such a mode of cure as that which you point out to me oh you will think differently in a little while I can tell you time does wonders in these cases and before you are a month older you will be in quite a different frame of mind to what you are now I must confess I should not like to be all my life the subject of never-ending regret but at the same time I do feel that let what chances may be for me I shall never feel another disappointment so bitter as this James Anderson upon making these few remarks showed a disposition to drop the subject and as it was one which certainly concerned himself more than anyone else Jack Pringle and the fisherman both agreed to say no more about it and it rested but although he said nothing the matter was far indeed from being absent from the mind of James Anderson for it occupied him wholly and engaged his attention to that extent that all other thoughts were excluded there from most entirely and completely those who had afforded him so kindly a shelter were not unobservant spectators of the state of his mind and Jack Pringle strove to move him from it by calling his attention to his obligations and duties and other respects come mess me he said ain't it time you should think ago into London to make your report of how you lost the dispatchers that your captain committed to your care it is so Sir James Anderson and I shall start this evening that's right and the best thing you could possibly do I can tell you you will get some new appointment and in the bustle of life you will soon forget all disappointments whatever if you go regularly into the service you are young enough yet to rise in it and you may yet live to have a pair of swabs upon your shoulders I can tell you at all events Sir Anderson I can have the comfort of knowing that I have by being wrecked here made some acquaintance which I hope I may always have the pleasure to retain I feel myself now quite well enough to walk and I will go into the town and make some preparations for getting on to London which I am by your liberality Mr. Pringle enabled to do Jack made a wry face as he said whatever you do Miss mate don't call me Mr. Pringle my name's Jack Pringle it always has been Jack Pringle and always will be I begin to think that something must be the matter when anybody calls me Mr. Pringle and I don't like it a bit I will again then offend you by calling you Mr. but you shall be Jack Pringle if you like to me and I can only say that a more esteemed friend surely I shall ever encounter in this world Jack was always much more easy under censure let it come from where it might than under praise and consequently he fidgeted about in a most alarming manner while James Anderson was professing to him his grateful feeling and at length he said be lay there be lay there old fellow that will do I don't want any more of that I can tell you save a fellow man's life without it being at all sorts of odd times thrown in his teeth in this way don't say any more about it I ain't used to being persecuted this was no affectation in Jack Pringle on the contrary it really was to him a positive persecution to be praised and as James Anderson now felt fully convinced that such was the case he determined upon avoiding such for the future towards the dusk of the evening having attired himself as respectively as the wardrobe of the old seaman and his son would permit him for his own clothing had been completely spoiled by the salt water he proceeded to the town of Anderbury by so proceeding Jack Pringle considered that his principal business would be to get some means of quick conveyance to London but James Anderson had another motive in his walk to the town which he communicated to no one that motive was a strong desire to see Helen Williams if he possibly could before he left in order that he might hear from her own lips what it was that prevented her continuing her plighted faith towards him for he could not from all he knew of her character bring himself to believe that it was the wealth of her new suitor that had had any effect upon her no, no, he said I know her far better than for one half instant to do her such an injustice she must have been imposed upon with some account of my death or some artful and well arranged tale of perhaps faithlessness upon my part has hurried her into the acceptance of the first offer that has been made to her if I could but obtain an interview with her for a few brief moments I should know all and either be able to take her to my heart again or to find ample reason for forgetting her he knew the way well to that house where he had frequently watched Helen enter and emerge from but how to send any message to her was a matter which required great consideration he had been absent long enough no doubt for some changes to have been made in Mrs. Williams's household so that although there had been in old times a servant who was favourable to him and who would not only have taken his message to Helen but would have told him all the news of the family she no doubt had long since left after thinking over the matter for some time so as to come to a conclusion that the difficulty about getting any message or note delivered to Helen almost amounted to an impossibility he saw a boy come out of the house apparently to go on some errand and with a feeling more of desperation than reflection he spoke to him saying I think you came out of Mrs. Williams's house my lad yes I did said the boy that hit one of your own size I haven't done nothing to you you mistake all together my boy I'm not going to touch you you may depend but on the contrary I will reward you if you will answer me what questions I shall propose to you and I assure you they are all such as you may honestly answer well I don't know how much one shilling for every question that's a wrong way of doing business but it ain't so bad either ask away and you shall soon see how I'll learn the shillings is Miss Helen going to be married yes a shillings who too do the baron stall in there in a salt bug two shillings will you take a note from me to her if I reward you extra for so doing oh I begin to smell a rat yes I will you is some other lover you is three shillings I am one shilling what do you mean why my young friend if I pay you a shilling a question I don't see why I should not charge you at the same rate so don't ask me anything and then you will get all the shillings to yourself you understand oh I doesn't see any joke in that I don't want to ask any questions not lie what will you give me for taking a note I think I'll have a crown you are doing me in the post because you see if all mother Williams was to catch me she would serve me out pretty tidy you shall have your own price of half a crown and here is the note which I charge you mine to deliver into no hands but those of Helen herself oh I'll do it and what should I get if I bring you an answer back another half crown so you see you will make a very good evening's work of it indeed if you are clever and faithful give me the note I'll do it you may always trust me when there's anything to be got by it my father brought me up to get my living and they used to say to me Caleb, says he always do your duty Caleb to those who implore you when you go out to service in a family unless somebody offers you something more not to do it quite a philosophical maxim Sir James Anderson I suppose you are in the service of Mrs. Williams yes I have all work I am I do a little of everything and make myself generally useful where will you wait for me at this corner and with a due regard to performing your part well be as quick as you can on your mission for I'm rather impatient to see its results Caleb, the page of all work duly promised to be quick and after completing an errand that he had been sent upon by Mrs. Williams he returned to that lady's house we cannot help thinking that after the principles in which Caleb had announced he had been brought up it was rather an indiscreet thing of Anderson to trust him with a note that he had already prepared for Helen in case an opportunity should present itself of getting it delivered to her but he was desperate and perhaps he did not so accurately weigh the pros and cons of the affair as he undoubtedly ought to have done as it was however he had a faith in his messenger which we are sorry to say was most decidedly misplaced for Caleb did show that he had not forgotten the lessons of his paternal relative but that on the contrary he was disposed to carry them out with great tack and perseverance whether or not he would of his own accord have said about scheming in the matter we cannot say but at all events he was spared that trouble for Mrs. Williams had seen from one of the windows of her own house his interview with one who was a stranger to her for although she had once he went to see, seen James Anderson he was much altered and she did not recognize him and when Caleb came in she called him into the parlor and shut the door Caleb, she said I insist upon knowing immediately who you were talking to just now in the street and who gave you a note Caleb was rather staggered at this home question for he did not think that Mrs. Williams had seen him and after a moment's pause he said give me Mrs. to know give? give? how dare you ask me such a question it's no use Mrs. getting in a passion about it I've got an opportunity of earning eight shillings snugly and comfortably if you'll give me sixteen shillings I will tell you all about it and I don't mind saying beforehand that I know Mrs. as you won't think it dear at that price no, nor at three times as much if you could only guess what it was sixteen shillings? it must be something wonderful in the way of news that I would give you such a sum for that's just what it is Mrs come now is it a bargain because I'm in a hurry and I've got never such a load of things to do well, well Caleb tell me what it is and give me the note not till I have the money Mrs oh no I know's better than that I've got to hold on the fellow as you saw me with, but I haven't on you oh no, they're due to be I must have the cash first and then you shall have the information and they'll tell you again that it ain't dear at the price as you will own yourself the curiosity as well as the suspicions of Mrs. Williams were strongly excited for she began to suspect that something or other was going on in which her interests were involved in as much as upon mature consideration she had come to a conclusion that there was more in the visit of Admiral Green than quite met the eye well, well she said I have only gold in my purse but you shall have the amount you may depend Caleb, if I promise you I haven't a doubt in the world so Caleb but there is nothing like ready money, Mrs so just hand us a sovereign and here is for Shilin's change which will be right, you know, all the world over this was vexatious but as it was quite clear that Caleb had thoroughly made up his mind not to part with his information without the cash Mrs. Williams was compelled to hand the amount to him which she did not do with the best grace in the world and then she said now, I expect you to tell me all so I mean to Mrs you don't suppose I'd take 16 Shilin's of you and not tell you all as I have to tell you no, Mrs, I'd scorn the action well, well, don't keep me in suspense but go on at once I will there's a chap at the corner of the street who wants me to give this year letter to Miss Helen and bring him back an answer a letter to Helen this is news indeed and who was he that I don't know I was going to ask him but somehow or another I found out it was a great deal better left alone but I should not wonder, Mrs but you will find out who he is if you read the note people, you know, usually put the blessed names at the end of their letters unless they sense what is called a synonymous one this was a good suggestion of Caleb's and Mrs. Williams without the smallest scruple as to the fact of opening a letter addressed to another person tore asunder the envelope that covered young Anderson's epistle and read as follows in a sufficiently audible tone to enable Caleb to hear every word of it for in her intense eagerness to forgot the fact of his presence dearest Helen I can still address you as such because I have not yet heard from your own lips although I have from the lips of others that you have forgotten me can it be true that you are about in the face of heaven to plight those vows to another which were to be mine and mine only I ask of you but to meet me and tell me yourself that such is the case and you will meet with neither persecutions or reproaches from me tell me that you are oppressed and you know well that in me you have a defender name your own time and place of meeting me and by the boy who will deliver this to you let me beg of you by the memory of our old affection to send me an answer yours ever James Anderson I say Mrs. that's pitching it rather strong said Caleb End of chapter 113 Recording by Berenie Chapter 114 of Varney the Vampire, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Berenie Varney the Vampire, Volume 2 Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 114 Mrs. Williams' Maneuver to Get Rid of Anderson This exclamation from Caleb informed Mrs. Williams of the fact of his presence and duly indignant was she at that circumstance for in her anger she immediately rose to execute upon him some vengeance and had he not adroitly eluded her by leaving the room there is no doubt she would have well made him remember such a piece of impertinent curiosity That wretch she exclaimed has overheard me and who knows now that he may actually go and tell the other if he would betray him he would betray me and what redress should I get for such a circumstance This was a mental suggestion which made it necessary Mrs. Williams should not only look over the fact of Caleb having stayed to listen to the letter but likewise see him and hold out some other inducements to him to be faithful to her however he might choose to behave himself to other persons Caleb, she said when she had summoned him again into her presence Caleb, you may depend I will make it well worth your while to attend to me in this affair and to know one else I can and will pay you well and when the Baron marries Miss Helen I dare say if you would like it I should be able to get you some great place in the house Well, Mrs. said Caleb I looks upon myself as put up to auction and the highest bidder always as me I don't mean to say but what you have done the right thing as regards to sixteen shillings so what would you like me to do next, Mrs. I want you to take a note back in answer to that which you have brought me but of course the young man who gave it must suppose that it came from my daughter Helen How much? What do you mean by how much How much am I to get, I mean Oh, I understand you How much do you expect for such a piece of service Something answer my should say What do you think a ten shillings in six pence, Mrs. I think it rather high, Caleb but nevertheless I shall not stop at a trifle in rewarding you provided always I may depend upon you down, said Caleb you know short reckonings make long friends, Mrs. besides it's always better not to let these things accumulate for if we goes on doing business in this here sort of way it will come to a good bit in a short time and then you would think it was too much and wouldn't like to pay it with a bad grace for Mrs. Williams never liked parting with her money she produced the sum which Caleb required for this new service remarking as she did oh, Caleb, you will soon grow rich if you go on this way likely enough, ma'am, said Caleb I like to be paid and I don't see why I shouldn't Mrs. Williams soon handed him the note which merely contained the words come at eight o'clock and ring the doorbell these words she wrote as much as possible in her daughter Helen's hand and having sealed up this extremely laconic epistle she handed it to Caleb directing him to go at once and deliver it to the party who was expecting him and we must say that this lad appeared to be one of the most thoroughly selfish rascals the world had ever produced for he was now quite willing for money to betray Mrs. Williams to James Anderson if there was any likelihood of his accomplishing such a purpose with safety but here some difficulties presented themselves which Caleb's natural acuteness enabled him very well to see in the first place James Anderson, he shrewdly suspected was not the sort of individual to be trafficked with as Mrs. Williams was and considering that he had already committed an immense breach of trust in giving the letter to Mrs. Williams instead of to Helen he thought, and we are inclined to think correctly enough that it would be rather a hazardous thing to say anything to him about it No, no, he said I'll just give him Mrs. Letter for I don't half begin to like it that young fellow looks a chap that wouldn't mind ringing one's neck for one for half a pin so I'll just leave him alone and say nothing more about it James Anderson waited round the corner with considerable impatience for in consequence of the proceedings that had taken place at Mrs. Williams's Caleb had been considerably delayed when however he saw him coming hope again sprung up in his bosom and he felt all the agitation of extreme pleasure as he saw that Caleb had in his hand what was undoubtedly a letter when the boy reached him he advanced to meet him eagerly exclaiming as he did so you have the letter you have seen her and you have her answer now as Caleb had made up his mind to commit himself but as little as he possibly could with the young stranger he went upon the good old adage of the least being said the soonest mended and accordingly instead of making any remark which might at a future occasion be thrown at his teeth he satisfied himself by placing his finger by the side of his nose and nodding his head sagaciously he then handed to James Anderson the letter in the contents of which that individual became too much absorbed short as they were to pay any further attention to the messenger Caleb thought this a good opportunity of being off at once before any troublesome questions should be asked him so he made a retreat with all the expedition that was in his power James Anderson when he looked up from the perusal of the one sentence which the letter contained was astonished to find his messenger gone considering how very eager he had before been on the subject of the reward which he was to get for that service what can have become of the boy he said I had a hundred questions to ask him so well had Mrs. Williams succeeded in writing the handwriting of her daughter Helen that James Anderson was fully convinced the letter was written by the chosen object of his heart he certainly did think that it was cold and distant and that there might have been a word or two of affection at all events in it especially considering how long he had been absent and with what an untiring affection he had ever thought of her she might have told me that her heart was the same he murmured to himself or else she should have let me know at once that it was so altered I should not know it for the same but still it is something to look forward to an interview with her she may not have had the time to write anymore or perhaps she may have doubted the messenger and thought it unsafe to utter anything concerning her real feelings in this epistle thus hoping and trying to persuade himself of the best did James Anderson anxiously expect the hour when by the note that had been sent him he expected once again to look upon the face of her the remembrance of whom had sheared him in many a solitary hour and enabled him to bear up against evils and misfortunes which otherwise had been insurmountable it wanted but a very short time to eight o'clock and at five minutes before that hour James Anderson walked with trembling eagerness up the steps of Mrs. Williams' house door his hand shook as he placed it upon the bell handle and told himself that the time was come when all his doubts would be resolved and he should really know what he had to hope or expect or to fear there was certainly a something weighing heavily upon his heart an undefined dread that all was not well and during the interval between his ringing and the opening of the door he felt all that sickening sensation which is ever the accompaniment of intense anxiety and which renders it so fearfully painful a feeling the door was opened by a female servant who had received her instructions from Mrs. Williams so that she knew exactly what to say and without waiting for the visitor to announce himself she said are you Mr. Anderson sir yes yes he said then I am ordered to ask you to step into the back parlor all is right thought James Anderson she expects me and has prepared for my reception he followed his guide implicitly for he fully believed as who would not under the circumstances that she was in Helen's confidence and so could be safely trusted she led him into the back parlor where there was no one and then she said if you would be seated for a few minutes sir my mistress will come to you her young mistress she means thought James himself to wait with what patience he could assume and that under the circumstances was by no means a large amount for he had been kept in such a constant worry by what had occurred that suspense became one of the most agonizing feelings that he could possibly endure now that his fate was about so nearly to be decided it was no part of Mrs. Williams's plan to keep him waiting for she certainly had no fancy for retaining such a customer in the house as James Anderson for playing the double part that she was she knew not what sudden accident might happen to derange her plans and probably render them completely abortive for all she could tell Helen herself might actually descend the stairs and enter that very room where she hoped a short conference would suffice to get rid of the troublesome claims of James Anderson forever she was in the front parlor when he was shown into the back where they communicated by folding doors she had but to open these doors and at once show herself to the astonished Anderson who little expected on that occasion to behold the mother instead of the daughter he gave a sudden and violent start of surprise but as Mrs. Williams had determined to do the dignified and to call herself quite an injured person she took no notice of the evident agitation of his manner but said with an assurance only she could have aspired to may I ask, sir under what pretense you write notes to my daughter at such a time as this notes which appear to me to be highly calculated to do her some serious injury and consequently which I cannot but think are intended for that precise purpose Mrs. Williams said James Anderson since it appears that I have been betrayed and that the messenger I perhaps foolishly trusted has delivered to you instead of your daughter the note I address to her I have only to say I beg your pardon, sir said Mrs. Williams, interrupting him but as it was from my daughter I received your note you may spare yourself the trouble of blaming the lad whom you had to seduce from his duty by bribes and corruption from your daughter yes, sir from my daughter I flatter myself that there is too good an understanding between my daughter and me for her to keep as a secret such a circumstance this was a very unexpected blow to James Anderson a blow indeed which he was totally unprepared for and yet although he doubted he had no means of disproving what Mrs. Williams chose to assert in the matter and she quickly saw the victory she had gained over him and the difficulty in which he found himself sir, she said if you have anything more to add to what you have already said my daughter desires that you should inform me of it and if it consists of such matter as she can properly take notice of she will reply to it by letter but she most unhesitatingly declines an interview which she considers cannot be productive of anything but unpleasantness to all parties and most of all to her considering her peculiar situation and that she is so soon about to alter her condition and become the wife of the barren stall-murder of Salzburg I'll not believe it Sir James Anderson unless I hear it from her own lips I suppose sir when you see it announced in the county chronicle you will believe it that, Sir James Anderson it never will be for I cannot, will not, dare not think that one whom I have loved so well would be so false false, sir what do you mean by that I shall really have to speak to the barren if you use such expressions towards his intended wife I'll speak to the barren, said James and that in a language she shall understand to you if I come across him if you threaten it will be my duty to inform the barren so that he may take such legal steps as he may be advised I repeat to you Mrs. Williams that I will not believe it and since you force me to such a declaration I have no hesitation in saying that I think you are quite capable of selling your daughter to the highest bidder and that the barren you mention probably occupies that unenviable position a position which no gentleman would for a moment wish to occupy in which he perhaps is not fully aware of I will see him and explain to him that there are prior claims to the hand as well as to the affections of your daughter this threat rather alarmed Mrs. Williams for she thought it possible that if the barren really found there had been a former lover in the case probably much encouraged by the lady he might think his chances of happiness rather slender and decline keeping the engagement which she considered was so suspiciously commenced this might or might not be the result but at all events it was worth consideration and place the matter in rather a serious light therefore was it then that Mrs. Williams determined to have recourse to her last expedient and that was the production of the written promise to marry the barren which it will be recollected in the excitement and impulse of the moment she had succeeded in procuring from Helen well sir she said and of showing you that there is abundance of proof of what I have asserted proof madam nothing but an assurance from Helen herself can come to me in the character of proof in such an affair as this let me see her for the mere fact that you sedulously keep her from me involves the affair in a general aspect of suspicion read that sir and if you know anything of the handwriting of her whom you affect so much to admire it ought to resolve your doubts James Anderson took the paper in his hand and glanced upon it and by the sudden change that came across his countenance as he did so Mrs. Williams saw that it was having all its effect he could not doubt it he knew that signature too well he had it to some affectionate documents which he felt would remain by him to the latest day of his existence it was indeed a horrible confirmation of all that had been told him such a confirmation as he had never expected to see and which at one blow dashed all doubt to the ground now sir said Mrs. Williams with a triumphant air I trust that you are satisfied at all events of one fact and that is that my daughter had consented to become the Baroness Stolmure of Salzburg and without at all entering into the question of anything which may have passed between you and her upon other occasions I think you ought as a gentleman to perceive that the sooner you go away the better it is enough Sir James Anderson falsehood, thy name is woman I really can't see sir what you have got to complain of for people have a right to alter their minds upon the little affairs of life and I don't see then wherefore they should not have a similar privilege to regard something of more importance enough madam enough what steps I may hereafter take upon a due consideration of these affairs I know not but now I bid you farewell Mrs. Williams was very glad to hear these words or rather the last of them because she was in a perpetual dread during the whole of the interview that something would occur by which a meeting would take place between James Anderson and herself at which some very disagreeable explanation might take place it was a wonderful relief to her when he had left the house and she heard the street door close behind him and she drew a long breath when such was the case as she said to herself well, think the fates that job is over and what a good thing it is there is no knowing what mischief might have been the end of it if it hadn't been stopped as it has he is not a bad-looking young man and if he had had a few thousands a year I certainly should not have made any objections to his being my son-in-law but I positively cannot and will not have poor people in the family there is no end of trouble and bother with them and instead of getting your daughters offhand it's just taking on hand in addition some man for their amusement James Anderson went sorrowfully enough back to the fisherman's cottage where he related to the sympathizing old seaman what had occurred for Jack Pringle was not there and if he had been James Anderson knew very well he would have got no sympathy from him on account of the circumstance for the frailties of the softer sex did not seem to have any material effect upon Jack Pringle or his sympathies since by his own account he had been jilted so often that he now thought nothing at all of it end of chapter 114 recording by Berenie