 Chapter 20 To retrace one's steps is always a difficult and very often a most unpleasant task, as everyone must have felt who has left his notebook at home and had to go back for it. Imagination, however—kind, quick, ready imagination, with one bound skips over the intervening space, and plants us on the wished-for spot without tracking back the weary footprints of our advance. She shall lend us her wings for a moment to take us back to the spot where we left our worthy friend, Joshua Brown, the peddler. From the door of Henry Haley's room he walked downstairs, spoke for a moment with Farmer Graves, took what little breakfast he would accept, and then departed, bending his steps towards the same common which he had passed during the preceding evening. He followed the same track exactly, and he had his reasons for doing so, for he very much desired to obtain some little information in regard to those rough friends who had become too familiar with his pack and his companion's pocket-book. His first resting-place was at the Sandpit where the Tinker's family had taken up their abode, but there he only found the old man and his daughter, and sitting down with them he chatted over the adventures of the preceding night, expressing his determination to try if he could not find out the men who had plundered him, and punished them as they deserved. You won't find them in the hovel under Knight's Hill," said the old Tinker, for James has been upon the lookout this morning with some of Mr. Payne's men, and the place is empty. They have gone farther off, because they know one trick of this kind is enough for the neighbourhood. They have left your box there, however, Joshua, and James would not bring it away, because he did not know you might come here, and thought it very likely you might get the people from the farm and go down to the hut yourself. I will go down alone, if you are sure there is nobody there, though I rather fancy the box is empty enough by this time, and it is not of much use when there is nothing in it. It's always worth something, though," answered the Tinker. I never saw anything that man made which might not be turned into something for a second turn, after it had served it first. However, the hut's empty enough, and they'll not come back in a hurry, you may be sure of that. After some further conversation of the same kind the peddler plodded on upon his way. He did not approach the hut without precaution, for the impression of the man's knee upon his chest was not as yet effaced from his memory, and being a peaceful personage he was not at all inclined to encounter rough treatment himself or bestow it upon others. He paused then upon the hill, from which a sight was obtained of the hovel, and watched with a keen eye for any indication of the place being inhabited. Having satisfied himself so far he descended the hill still farther, looking into every dell and hollow of the moor. Nothing was seen, however, that moved, or had the breath of life, except a few lap-wings hovering about, and every now and then resting upon the little nulls and mole-hills. Cautiously approaching the wretched hut the peddler looked through what had once been a glazed window, and then pushed open the crazy door and went in. On the floor lay his mahogany box, wide open, with all the contents taken out, while a little tray which it had contained had been thrown to some distance. Scattered round the hovel in every direction were small pieces of bright yellow carded cotton, on which his small articles of jewellery were usually displayed to attract the attention of admiring damsels. And numerous were the scraps of paper which had likewise been cast down. The worthy peddler perhaps felt more vexed at the sight of the small reverence which had been shown to his cherished wares than he had even been to their loss at first. The rascals have taken them all out to carry them easily. He said, and now they'll go and sell them all for ten shillings or a pound, I warrant. With habitual care, however, he set to work, gathering up all the pieces of cotton and scraps of paper, and placed them hurriedly in the box. The lock had been dexterously picked with some instrument, showing that the gentry into whose hands it had fallen had come armed and well prepared for the various contingencies of their profession. The peddler's own key easily locked it again, but the strap was gone, and he was obliged to take it under his arm, comforting himself by saying, It is light enough now, so it won't be heavy to carry. This done, he trudged away, walking stoutly on over the three of all miles of common ground, which lay between that hovel and the hut which had been lately inhabited by poor Rebecca Haley. As he approached it, he was surprised to see the door and windows once more open, and he asked himself, not without some sort of apprehension, whether his assailants of the preceding night might not have migrated thither. He was relieved the moment after by seeing the apparition of the boy Jim at the door of the hut, and walking on confidently, he said, Why, Jim, my man, I thought you were gone, I was here last night, and found a gentleman looking for you. I ought to have been in London, said the boy, but I found a whole heap of things belonging to poor Bessie, whom they took away from me, and I don't know what to do with them, so I packed them all up and took them over to Mr. White, the parson, who was always so kind to us both, but he was away, so I was obliged to bring them back again, and sure I don't know what to do with them. In London, exclaimed the peddler, seizing upon the only part of the boy's speech which surprised him, What are you going to do in London, my lad? You'll never get on there. Oh, yes, I shall, replied the boy, I've got a place there, and I'm going to be made a footman of. What! With the young gentleman I saw here last night, I suppose, said the peddler. No, not with the young one, with the old one, replied Jim, and then following the train of his own ideas, he went on. She had hid them away so cunningly under the bed that nobody saw them when they were taking her away. Saw what? demanded the peddler. Why, all manner of things, answered the boy, bits of silk and shawls and old gloves, and a quantity of paper and music, and a brass scent-box. Let me look at the scent-box, said the peddler, if you've got it here. Oh, yes, I've got it, replied Jim, for I did not like to leave them with Mr. White's housekeeper. I put that in my pocket, too, for fear it should fall out of the bundle. Here it is. Brass, you fool! exclaimed the peddler, examining a very large and richly wrought vinaigrette. Why, that is gold, and these are real stones, too, I do believe. Yes, they are indeed, he continued, carrying the trinket to the door for better light. That's worth more than a hundred guineas, or I'm no judge. Oh, the worst for me, answered Jim in a desponding tone, for what am I to do with these things, I do not know. Why, the best thing you can do with them is to take them to the poor old woman herself, said the peddler. I don't know where she is, rejoined the boy. I think I'll take them up with me to London, and give them into the charge of my master. He's a very kind gentleman, and perhaps may find out where poor Bessie is. That's the best thing you can do, replied the peddler, but how are you to get them up? I'm to go by the coach, which passes every day at three, was the boy's reply. He gave me money, and told me how to come. Then I think I'll go by it, too, observed the peddler thoughtfully. If before it comes, I can get to GM back. And he named a town, which I shall leave nameless, for fear any of the gentlemen of the place should judge what is to follow, too personal. Why, it's only five miles there, answered the boy, and the coach stops at the tame bear. It can take you up there if you like to go, Joshua. Don't you show that gold box to anyone, then, said the peddler, for there are a good many rascals about, as I know, to my cost. And many a man would think it worth his while to give you a knock on the head, just to get that box. But I'll tell you what will be better still, my lad, he added after a moment's thought. If you can get ready quick, you have better come along with me, I can carry something for you, for my pack's light enough now, and we shall be a sort of protection to each other, by the way. Aye, there's been a sad heap of rascals down here lately, replied Jim, but I'm quite ready this minute, Joshua. There's all I'm going to take. Mr. Galland, at the inn, has promised to send up someone to carry away the other things. Not much to take care of, answered the peddler. But come along, shut the door and windows close, and then give the key to Mr. Galland as we go. The poor boy's arrangements for Sue made, for whether, when justly weighed, the gifts of fortune be or be not more cumbersome than the cares of poverty, certain it is that little is more likely looked after than much. Man is the most self-pampering creature upon earth, and he takes not into consideration whether in increasing his conveniences he does not increase his wants, whether in increasing his wants he does not increase his cares. He seeks that which is comfortable to him at the moment, without asking if it do not imply that he must seek for more, which may be more difficult to obtain, and the instinct of progress still carries him on, at once an evidence of his imperfection and his immortality. The instinct of beasts is wiser for his world. Offer a sheep which stands half-sheltered from the northeast wind, under a leafless hedge, a coat, a waistcoat, and bridges, and the beast will run away or butch you in disdain. Content with what he has, he looks not beyond the present hour, and shrinks from the luxuries that may become a trammel, the comfort that must become a care. His life, his thought, his desire is for the present. But how different is man, his life is in the future, and every act and thought and aspiration and custom, the history of the individual, the history of the species, the traditions of other years, the prophecies of time to come, the feelings of each moment, the deeds known or un-chronicaled, all show that there is a voice in the human heart crying ever on, on, on to eternity, on to progress, to improvement, to perfection, on towards immortality and God. Happy however are those who have few cares upon whose early years fortune, often called hard, has not showed desires and tasks and responsibilities. It cannot indeed be said of them, as it was sublimely said of the lily of the field, that they toil not, neither do they spin, yet the labourer is light and has its reward. The provations are comparatively little felt, and the cares are few. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil contains in itself the seed of all desire and all regret, and those who eat the least of it retain, I do believe, the most of paradise in paradise's best blessing, content. The boy had little to care for, and his preparations were soon made. The barren spot on which his youth had passed was left with little regret, though perhaps regret might come afterwards. There was nothing to attach him to it firmly, for the only things which had given its sunshine had been taken away. And on he went, walking beside the peddler, thinking and talking of what he was to do next. His heart was a very open one, he had nothing to conceal, he had no motive whatsoever for keeping back, disguising, or adulterating one idea that rose in his mind, one fact that had occurred, one purpose for the future. He had naturally told the peddler all the events of the last few days, and his great and strong anxiety, again to see her whom he called Bessie. He could have opened his mind to no one better fitted to advise him than his accidental companion, and to say truth, few were better fitted to understand his feelings, and to take an interest in them. If you want to find out where she is, Jim, said Joshua Brown, nothing can be easier. You say the driver was one of Mr. Gallon's post-boys. Well, they ve each a line, and go to the same inns, we can easily get a posting card and trace them from one in to another, to we come to the last, and then a pot of beer to the boy who drove them on, will make him tell you where he took the poor thing. This hint of so simple a proceeding which he had never thought of, was a ray of light to the poor lad, and he determined to act upon it without delay. At Mr. Gallon's he begged a card of the house which, as was customary at those times of posting, had a list of the stages and inns on the road to London, and satisfied thus far, he walked on more cheerfully with his companion till they came to the town, lying a little out of the direct road at which Joshua Brown had some business to transact. It was a large and populous place, with one broad street running up a hill, and several smaller ones deviating from the main road at right angles, with numerous lanes and alleys meandering at the back. Here Joshua Brown paused at the inn where the coach stopped, and at which he was well known and respected, and leaving the boy there with a strong recommendation, he himself walked up the hill, stopping for a moment or two at one of those shops which, as is common in country towns, combined the sale of jewellery with that of pastes, stamps and books, soap, toys and ceiling wax. A very few significant words passed between him and the master of the shop, and then Joshua Brown salad forth again, turned into one of the side streets, then down a narrow sort of lane, with small houses on either hand, and stopped opposite a portentous looking black baby in a white cap and long clothes, which hung suspended from an iron stanchion on the left hand side of the door. On the other side was a shop with very small panes of glass in the window, over which was an inscription purporting that Mingleton Bowes was a dealer in marine stores. Now what anybody could want with marine stores in one of the most inland towns of all England, from which there was no communication whatever with the sea, except by wagon or stagecoach, the inscription did not set forth. However Joshua Brown entered the shop and found it vacant of everything but trusty pieces of iron, coils of rope, rolls of lead, copper and iron weights, an immense variety of scales and balances, a great quantity of links and torches, the most complete assortment of candle ends in Europe, large stone jars filled with dripping, two or three piles of rags, bundles of quills, packets of cocoa, numerous red herrings, stockfish and kippered salmon, a jar of Russian cranberries and an infinite variety of odouriferous articles squalid to look upon and not much more agreeable to the nose than to the eye. In short it was seen the title of dealer in marine stores implies that a man buys and sells everything under the sun. As there was no human being in the shop nor any other animate creature whatever except an enormous white cat sitting upon the counter, her hairy back resting upon the cut side of a single Gloucester cheese. Joshua first rubbed his feet upon the floor to call attention to his presence and not finding that to succeed he stamped once or twice. It is wonderful how indifferent the people of the house were to the chances of robbery for although he stamped nobody came and he might have carried off the large jar of cranberries itself without attracting any attention. Now whether it was that Joshua Brown thought it might be rude or dangerous to intrude upon the privacy of some persons who were talking together in the back shop with the door shut or whether there was a touch of the fantastic in his disposition I will not take upon myself to say but certainly it is that the method he took to bring the master of the house from his fit of absence was somewhat eccentric. Having a good thick glove on his right hand he approached it quietly to the tail of the large Tomcat and getting the last joint between his finger and thumb he said in an authoritative tone, call your master adding at the same time an awful twisting pinch which nearly wrenched the bone from its next neighbor. A frightful score was the first result and then with the rapidity of lightning Tom's claws were applied to his assailants hand and arm. His teeth would have followed but at the same moment Joshua Brown shook the beast off and a little white-faced man with red eyelids and a rugged pockmark countenance rushed in from the back of the shop closing the door sharply behind him. He stared at the peddler with his bliered eyes for an instant and then walking round behind the counter asked in a very obsequious tone what he wanted. Joshua put his head across and whispered a few words in the man's ear. The dealer in marine stores looked somewhat suspiciously at the stranger and then shook his head replying. I don't understand what you mean sir. The tone was the most innocent in the world and the countenance expressed a dull surprise but Joshua again advanced his head and addressed a few more words in a whisper to the worthy shopkeeper producing a slight smile upon the lips which were very much like those of a toad while a ray of intelligence shot from the dull eyes. All safe he said. Safe as a nut replied the peddler otherwise I shouldn't have pinched the cat's tail. I don't know anything about it at present replied the man of marine stores but I dare say I can find out. Is it the box you want? No, no answered Joshua impatiently. I've been paid the full worth of the box already. I told you it is the pocketbook and all that's in it. Marry a lodging said the shopkeeper. I dare say I can find out something about it in a day or two. I'm lodging nowhere replied the peddler for I am only waiting for the coach to go to town and it's just staying a day or two and that's no good at all whilst the Minji bows for if I don't take the book up with me the whole business will be put in the hands of the Pealers and then you know quite well I shall lose my share you'll lose yours and the gentleman will lose theirs. Stay a minute said the man I will just go and look in my books and may have got it down for all I know. Two or three little matters have come in since the morning. I do said the peddler and remember we're all upon honour and share according to rule. The man retired into the back shop and his books must have been somewhat difficult to read, though rather loquacious for he remained a considerable time during which there was a sort of buzz heard through the door apparently proceeding from more tongues than one. At length the shopkeeper put his head out and beckoned to the peddler saying just snap in here for a minute. Joshua Brown accepted the invitation and walking around the end of the counter entered the back shop. There as he had expected he found that the Marine store dealer was not alone. For on one of the two chairs which were unencumbered by inanimate lumber sat a tall powerful fellow of no very prepossessing appearance with a red and white handkerchief bound round his head and a large rough great coton. His chair was near the fire, his feet were upon the fender and his back was towards the door but he turned half round as he sat when the peddler entered and scowled at him with one eye but the other was nearly closed evidently from the effects of a blow. With a quiet deliberate step Joshua Brown walked straight to the other chair and seated himself in silence so that he had his face turned partly towards the grate on his right hand partly towards the door of the shop and the proceeding tenant of the room while his back was exactly opposite to a window in a small paved court which ran at the rear of the house. The position is in some degree important and it may also be necessary to remark that the window was shaded by a wire blind which prevented anyone seeing distinctly into the room from without while those who were inside could clearly perceive all that passed within certain limits in the lane. Some men are born diplomatists and although I do not mean to say that this was the case with the peddler yet upon the present occasion he showed that he possessed one very important quality for skillful negotiation namely that of holding his tongue. He had already taken the initiative in his communication with the master of the house and that he thought was quite sufficient for the time. This silence on his part seemed not at all satisfactory to the other party's present. The man by the fire glared at him with his one undimmed orb but said nothing and the first effort of the dealer in marine stalls who observed as a sort of introduction to the conference, there is the gentleman, Sam, produced no result for both still sat perfectly silent. He tried again however addressing himself now to the peddler saying, this here is the gentleman, sir, you must speak to him about what you were mentioning to me. What am I to say to him? said Joshua Brown. I don't know who he is. Why, what the devil has that to do with it? Ask the man who had been denominated, Sam. You come here for something, don't you? Why don't you say what it is? Because I don't like to talk of things to people who may have no concern with them, answered the peddler. However, as I suppose Master Minji Baos has told you something of the business, all I mean to say is, that I know where a hundred pound is to be got for a certain pocketbook, that was boned last night about a mile and a half from Tetherside of Knights Hill. That won't do, muttered the other man to himself, in a tone which was perhaps not exactly intended to conceal the observation from the peddler. Those who have got it know well enough what it is worth, and it's worth more than that. I don't know, answered the peddler aloud, all I know is what will be given, and I think, out of the hundred, I ought to have ten pounds for my share. The man raised his eye to the peddler's face without, however, lifting his head, and muttered a low and very ferocious curse, condemning very grievously his own blood and eyes, though one of the latter seemed mortgaged to its full value. If anyone got the pocketbook for that money, well, I'm very sorry we can't make a deal, then, said the peddler. I always like to turn an honest penny when I can, and I thought this was a good chance. But if people won't be reasonable, I can't help it. I have a notion they won't get more, however. Do what they may, and think what they like. I know better, said the ruffian, lifting up his head, and I tell you what, master. It shall cost him a cool two hundred, or he shan't have it. I don't care about any nonsense. There's that in this here, and he took the pocketbook out of his pocket, which would hang a man or save a man. I found that out at all events, so you may go and tell him that if he doesn't choose, before tomorrow night at ten o'clock, to pay down two hundred pounds in gold sovereigns in this here parlour, I'll pitch the pocketbook and everything in it into that fire. Then he may find his neck twisted some day, for he knows what he's about, so he'd better find what he's doing. That's all. I don't know anything of what's in the book, answered the peddler, who was a little anxious to hear more. I know there are things in it worth having, but that's all I've heard about it. I know, too, that if I go back without it, you will have the beaks put up on the scent, and they'll soon have it one way or another, as you know well. They'll think a hundred pound worth having, if you don't. Say that again, a threatening look, and holding the pocketbook between his finger and some, as if he were about to throw it into the fire. You don't know but what's in this book might save the fellow from dancing a hornpipe upon nothing, and his neck's worth more than a couple of hundred, I should think. If you like to promise upon your life and soul to go and get me a couple of hundred, I'll wait till tomorrow. If not, he goes, said the dealer in marine stores, don't put yourself in a passion, I dare say the gentleman will do what's reasonable. Well then, let him go and bring me the tin, quite the other, in a surly tone. But the moment after, with an eager gesture, he beckoned the master of the house to him, demanding in a low voice, who the devil's that, Minji, walking up and down in the court, that's the third time he's passed. The master of the house immediately turned his eyes to the window and his cheek became a little whiter. What, why, he said in a faltering tone, that's Jones, the constable. I say, Sam, you had better take the gentleman's offer. Come, come, let him have the book, you know worse may come of it. Ding me if he shall, cried the ruffian, pitching the pocket book at once into the midst of the fire. He shall neither have it nor me. That's the only thing to show against me. And there it goes, didn't you stand off. He continued snatching up the poker and planting himself in the way, as both the peddler and Minji Bowls were starting forward to snatch the pocket book from the fire. If you try to touch it, I'll make your brains fly about. There, you may go and tell him what you've done by bringing a blaggard like that to walk up and down the court. That's enough, Master, but I'll have a turn out of you yet, some of these days. Have a great mind to have it now, whatever may come of it, so you have better be off as fast as possible. The peddler thought so, too, and moved towards the door, and when he had reached it and got the handle of the lock in his hand, he turned round, and said, you're a fool and have lost a good hundred pounds. As so the fellow walking before the window, I never saw him in my life, and he may be the constable or the muffin man for all I know, so you have spoiled your own market and you're a fool for your pains. The man sprang at him like a tiger, but Joshua snatched up a heavy chair and threw it against his shins with such force as to send him hopping about the room in agony, during which time the peddler escaped into the outer shop and thence into the street without waiting to take leave of the mengy boughs. No attempt was made to pursue him, though the ruffian in the long loose coat continued to swear most vehemently and rub his shins to allay the pain he still suffered. The dealer in marine stores at the same time carefully locked the door of the back room in which they were and then opened the iron door of a tall cupboard which seemed destined as a place of security for the most valuable articles he possessed. Various shelves indeed which were all of the same metal as the door appeared a number of rare and curious articles which no one would have expected to find in a little shop in the back street of a country town. He paused not, however, to contemplate his treasures but with a rapid and quiet motion though with strength greater than he seemed to possess laid hold of the middle shelf and pulled hard. The hole of the iron lining of the cupboard and the contents of the cupboard apparently rolling upon casters till the back was what builders would call flush with the wall. A very slight effort then turned the hole of this movable case round upon a pivot in the right hand corner leaving not only the aperture which it had previously filled exposed to the eye but a considerable depth beyond apparently a passage to some other part of the building. There get in Sam said Mr. Minji Bowes hide away for a minute or two and I'll see what that fellow Jones is about out there. His companion did not seem at all surprised at anything that he saw or heard but hobbled into the vacant space in the wall as if he were as fond of a burrow as a rabbit. Mr. Bowes rolled back the iron cupboard into its proper place and shut the door upon it and the room having resumed its ordinary appearance the shop into the street and speedily found his way to the back lane which the constable was still perambulating. Good morning Mr. Jones he said with a look of haste and evenness have you seen a stout man in a brown coat with grey stockings and gaiters just passed by No answered the constable no man has come this way you have better look after him if he does I'm sure he's stolen them and I thought you might be watching for him Oh no answered the constable I'm looking for young Wilson who lives up there in number 4 he came home drunk last night and thrashed his wife till she was nearly dead she was taken to the hospital this morning and as the surgeon says she's in great danger the magistrates will have him up he's keeping out of the way however and he'll be starved home soon nobody will trust him I'm sure Minji Baos laughed and the constable laughed for there are some people to whom Soros which would make most men melancholy and crimes which ought to make all men melancholy are very good jokes Mr. Baos was well satisfied too with the information although upon other points he was a little inclined to be sulky hurrying home who had by this time recovered from the blow upon his shins and who now walked quietly I may say absently to the fire and took his old seat again but Mr. Baos was not well pleased with him and proceeded to read him a lecture I wonder how you can be such a fool Sam he said Jones has nothing to do with the cove who was here just now he's looking for young Wilson and just because you thought it was a trap you must go to the fire when you might have got a hundred pounds for it now you've done for yourself the gentleman will put the beats upon you and they'll soon nab you you may depend upon it he dent said the other with a twist of his mouth and you're a fool Minji for talking about what you don't understand not so great a fool as you answered Minji Baos boldly have kept it there you're out said the other it was the very best thing I could do with it you're not up to snuff yet Master Minji I can tell you I didn't read what was in the book for nothing and I've got this young fellow whoever he is in the vice settle squeeze him pretty hard as you'll see before long I could hang him tomorrow if I liked swept him not withstanding I don't understand said Minji Baos if you could hang him he could hang you I fancy and that wouldn't suit you Master Sam at least I should think not no certainly replied the other man but I'll let you know all how it is Master Baos for you must give me some help by Mr Hailey to his son just on the eve of Henry's flight from England and which has already been laid before the reader if he's true the man knew nothing of the story or if he ever had heard anything of it had forgotten it altogether but the paper itself showed that a forgery had been permitted and that the document had been given to ex-gulpate the names were there before him and consequently so far as the past was concerned he had full information then I saw the present and the means of connecting the history of Henry Hailey with the personage who had been robbed on the preceding night there were several papers comprising letters addressed to Colonel Middleton at a hotel in London and some memoranda of things to be done which without any great stretch of imagination might be discovered by the other paper referring to the forgery as I may have to notice the contents of that pocketbook hereafter I will not pause longer upon them now but merely say that the explanation of his worthy friend was quite satisfactory to Mr. Minji Bowes and that he applied himself with due zeal and diligence to concoct with Mr. Samuel a plan for their future proceedings in the execution of which he flattered himself and obtained even more than he should have gained by his commission had the hundred pounds offered by the peddler been accepted without hesitation there then for the present we will leave them perfectly satisfied as they were that they had got a firm hold upon a victim who would not be able to escape from their clutches till they had drained him as dry as hay End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of the forgery by George Payne Rainsford this liberal box recording is in the public domain Chapter 21 Henry Haley did not forget his promise and by eleven o'clock was sitting by the side of Mr. Winkworth who had on that day for the first time come to breakfast in the sitting-room of the hotel which had been appropriated to Charles Marston and himself Charles was seated at a table at some distance writing a letter and the old gentleman was reposing upon a sofa after the fatigue of the meal he was somewhat paler and not quite so yellow as when Henry had last seen him but certainly his whimsicality and petulance did not seem to have at all diminished during the illness and suffering he had lately undergone he was very glad to see his young acquaintance however shook him warmly by the hand and seemed more gay and lively well, Colonel he said I want it very much to see you to ask you a question you are a military man have been in service some years seven I think you told me once and have doubtless been in a good number of engagements now tell me were you ever wounded Henry pointed to a scar on his cheek reply only once my dear sir and that very slightly now you see a whimsical jade fortune is exclaimed Mr. Winkworth you go about the world for seven years seeking wounds and bruises it is your trade your profession the object of your life to get shot or slashed or poked with a pike and you receive nothing but a scratch on the face while I whose business it is to avoid such things who hate war and bloodshed and strife in all shapes and have any special objection to being wounded at all cannot travel for a year to see scents in the most pacific guise and manner without getting twice shot and once nearly killed these things certainly are very unaccountable said Henry Hailey I have known two men one of whom never went into battle without getting wounded while the other appeared to bear a charm which seemed to turn steel and lead aside and yet he perhaps had more than the other but it is not only between two men that the whimsical harridan plays her tricks said Mr. Winkworth it is even between two shoulders I'm sure I do not know what my unfortunate left shoulder has done to offend her or why the right one has not quite as good a title to be wounded as the other but certain it is the same poor suffering fellow comes in for every bad thing that is going while the other is comfortably at his ease and never even sends round to ask after his brother's health I trust however from what I see replied Henry that neither has suffered very much this time my good sir and that you will soon be better I don't know I don't know replied Mr. Winkworth if the doctors will let me alone that boy does not tease me to death I dare say I shall do very well but there's a great chance of one killer killing me if I'm full enough to let them Charles looked up from his writing hearing this attack upon himself saying heaven knows my dear Winkworth I have not been teasing you except to get you to do what the surgeon bids you well is not that enough exclaimed Mr. Winkworth with a smile why should you tease me to do what I know to be wrong to follow the directions of a man in whom I have no confidence or to bathe my shoulder morning noon and night with a lotion that only does it harm while plain milk and water is making it quite well no no fact heaven I am not old enough or full enough or young enough or mad enough to put any confidence in doctors who go groping in the dark and kill a great many more than they cure besides you have been telling me just now that your father was in the gazette that was enough to tease any friend of yours and then to see you take it so quietly and jauntily as if it were a matter of no moment at all is enough to drive one mad I am sure your good uncle Mr. Scriven does not look upon it so lightly certainly not answered Charles Masters but then in the first place the mind of my good uncle is of a very different complexion from mine and in the next place he does not know a great many things which I do and which greatly tend to alleviate the matter at all events one thing is a great comfort come what will my father never can be in want for the generous settlement he made upon me long ago guards him now against that and I have other things to tell him which I trust will wipe away all memory of the disappointment which this event must have caused him oh oh secrets exclaimed Mr. Winkworth while Henry Haley looked at his friend with a kind but very meaning smile if the secrets be worth knowing I will find them out I have all the curiosity of an old bachelor or an old maid I will continue and I will answer for it Master Charles I shall be in possession of the whole intelligence before your letter reaches Calcutta that is very likely my dear sir answer Charles for in the first place the secret will soon be very well known and I promise you shall be one of the first to hear it and in the next place there is little chance of my letter going to Calcutta at all for Mr. Scriven tells me my father is on his way to England I wonder I have not heard myself then where do you intend to send your letter if your father is on his way or most likely miss him I shall send it to his agents at Liverpool answer Charles he may get it or not before he reaches London but when I can testify my gratitude for all his kindness and my affection for all his worth and perhaps soothe his grief and relieve his anxiety I will not delay an hour though you know Middleton I hate writing letters I know all about it said Mr. Winkworth starting as if from a deep reverie I have fathomed your secret I have made it all out there is a lies an oval face a straight little nose lips running over with fun and impertinence I've made it out I've made it out Master Charles a lady sir said the waiter entering and addressing Mr. Winkworth wishes to know if she can see you her card there she is waiting in the carriage below a lady exclaimed Mr. Winkworth taking the card good heaven have they found me out already what terrible women these Europeans are they cannot let an old bachelor live in peace amongst them for three days without attacking the citadel of his heart with all the forms of war lady Anne Mellon present my most humble and respectful compliments to her ladyship and say the time forbidden by the laws and ordinances of Hippocrates to descend to the door of her vehicle but that if she will do me the honour of walking up I shall be delighted to see her that waiter always makes a point of staring very much at Mr. Winkworth and of thinking him the most extraordinary man in the world however he retreated speedily and in a moment or two after returned announcing lady Anne she entered with a gay and laughing look her colour a little heightened and a bonnet which became her exceedingly so that certainly if she had any designs upon the old gentleman's heart her forces were well prepared for action Mr. Winkworth however though occasionally a little bitter and sarcastic upon the fair sets was the pink of politeness and old fashioned courtesy in his demeanour towards them and rising from the sofa near the door and taking her hand gallantly pressed his lips upon the tips of her fingers saying this is indeed a great and unexpected favour my dear lady Anne and I am quite as grateful for it allow me to assure you as if I have been impudent enough to ask it and you have been cruel enough to hesitate for a month an excellent beginning Mr. Winkworth said lady Anne for I am going at once to the test you will think me somewhat exacting but still I will prove your sincerity I am going to have a party to spend a week down at a place of mine in the north some very pleasant people are to be there I can assure you one Colonel Middleton and she turned a laughing look towards Henry then added nodding her head to Charles one Mr. Marston besides an exceedingly pretty girl called Maria Moncton and the dearest and best of old ladies in the world Lady Fleetwood who would faint remain behind in London having an affinity of things to do but whom I am determined to have down with me just to keep her out of harm's way now Mr. Winkworth you must be one of the party and I promise you I will flirt all day with you except when I am cocketing a little with Colonel Middleton or Charles Marston said Mr. Winkworth that with ladies' speeches as with their letters the piff lies in the postscript and he turned a keen look from her face to that of Charles their speeches and their letters both deserve an answer at all events replied Lady Ann and I think you very rude Mr. Winkworth for making a saucy speech about ladies' postscripts instead of catching up my invitation with due reverence and delight with the old gentleman not only by accepting immediately but by speaking nothing but soft and complimentary speeches all the time I am your guest but you must give me a few days to recover my dear young lady for you see here I am forbidden to set a foot out of doors for the next three days oh yes answered Lady Ann Charles Marston knows all the arrangements and will bring you down at the proper time in season like a tame bear in a travelling cage said Mr. Winkworth however dear Lady Ann as I said before I'll do my best to stand upon my hind legs and behave civilly to all men you won't be half so delightful at any time as when you growl answered Lady Ann laughing but come Colonel Middleton I intend to take you away with me Charles looked up with a feeling he could not altogether banish from his face and Lady Ann saw it half amused half fext odd as she was and accustomed to indulge every fancy without restraint she nevertheless understood sufficiently well the nature and feelings of love to know that she was putting Charles Marston to a sore trial and to be sorry for it however she might still have persevered for many motives induced her but not Mr. Winkworth suddenly turned an inquiring and almost sarcastic look to Charles's face which Lady Ann chose to interpret is this the way she treats you that look decided Lady Ann at once she could bear to tease Charles Marston a little she could bear even to put his confidence in her affection and constancy of anyone even for his complacence to her as soon then as she had drawn on her glove she went up to the table where Charles was sitting and laid her hand with the most undisguised affection on his shoulder can you come with us Charles she said slightly bending her head and looking down into his face with infinite grace both in the attitude of her figure and the expression of her long letter to whom is it it is too long to be to a man and I don't allow you to write to any other woman without first obtaining my consent it is to my father dear Lady Ann answered Charles Marston but it can be finished any time before six o'clock this evening well then come with me she replied but remember I don't permit you to call me Lady Ann you may make it or add anything you please but drop the ladyship or you shall be Charles Marston Esquire with me for the future Charles started up to get his hat which polished by the care of his servant till it shone like a mirror lay with his gloves and stick on a small table behind him and Lady Ann turning again to Mr. Winkworth observed you think me very odd and calculation and you'll find me ten times odder than you now think when you've known me a little longer I do think you very odd said Mr. Winkworth with a gay look but very charming there that's the first of the civil speeches said Lady Ann that'll do for today Mr. Winkworth no more often yes gay lady with me I'm going to make her a declaration so stay at the top of the stairs for fear she should faint with a smile Charles Marston and Henry Haley did as they were bid while Lady Ann advanced towards Mr. Winkworth saying what can you want with me you very funny old man the answer they did not hear but when in about two minutes Lady Ann rejoined them at the top her cheeks bore traces of the same dew of the heart her mama however was too gay and sparkling for those tears to be tears of grief and when Charles asked her what had happened to move her so much she answered playfully there Charles not a word he's an excellent old man that and he loves you and will do for you more than you know and now and then to dear aunt Fleetwood's so you shall go with me to both places End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of the forgery by George Payne Rainsford James this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 22 leaving the lady and the two gentlemen to follow whatever path the gay and somewhat capricious elf who ruled the village we will with the readers good leave stay a little with Mr Winkworth to whom we have not been altogether as civil as we might have been we have left him alone weary and wounded with very little to do though a good deal to think about now to say truth the fact of having a good deal to think about being important and pressing a nature as to postpone corporeal suffering or mental occupation a general somewhat smartly wounded may go through a battle hardly discovering the injury he has received for the immense interests that press upon the mind withdraw all attention from the body's pain but were he to be to have no engrossing object pressed upon his attention every instant the very pangs which would have been unfelt in the fiery interests of an all important fight would now in idleness weigh down the very spirit which in activity would have subdued them were you ever wounded reader I mean something of a circumstance of civilian life if you have you will know that though sometimes for a minute or two you are hardly aware that you are injured yet gradually very unpleasant sensation succeed to the first numbing effects of the wound a burning heat a swollen and tingling stiffness of all the neighbouring parts come on sensitive but cartilaginous substance gradually the inflammation affects the constitution the whole frame sympathises with the wounded part the stomach turns sick and weary the head aches the limbs are full of lassitude at the same time the spirit sinks terribly at least in ordinary cases amusements occupations which we and that terrible symptom which doctors call precordial anxiety deprives us of rest and tranquility the latter miseries Mr. Winkworth have been spared though he felt all the first five or six in the catalogue his constitution so far sympathised with the local action that he occasionally felt sick had a distaste to all sorts of food in utter apparence his spirits did not flag however for they were of a very active and untiring nature they had borne him through a good many sorrows which he had felt very keenly but which he had never suffered to cast him down thus with a book which he changed as often as he found it tiresome and with a pen and ink which he employed not unfrequently and with thoughts which he occupied on subjects very different from his own situation he had contrived to wear away the time between sleep and sleep without much weariness when he was now once more left alone after Lady Anne and her two companions had departed Mr. Winkworth sat for a few moments on the sofa and them rising his left arm supported by a sling to relieve the wounded shoulder of the weight walked several times up and down she was a very charming girl indeed he said or rather murmured for the words can hardly be said to have been spoken and he is a very lucky lad she will not be unhappy either for I do not know a better or a kinder disposition than his with abundant wealth good health and good tempers there is every earthly prospect of happiness God will of course temper it mercifully tempers all lots lest man should become self-confident it is needful that alloy of grief and disappointment as needful as the baser metal mingled with the gold lest it should be too soft and wear away too rapidly it is needful for if we found perfect happiness here how terrible would be the summons to leave it all for the untried hereafter yet this business of the bankruptcy has taken him a good deal not for himself that is evident but as to his own fate he is full of high hopes I must try to cheer him on that school well well he turned sharply round for at that moment the door opened behind him and the voice of the waiter said there is a lad sir below who says you told him to come here and that you intend to make a servant of him I should have sent him away but he has got a paper with your name which he says you wrote sent him up said Mr. Winkworth and then added speaking to himself the young man has been somewhat tardy I must lecture him for diligence and attention I will have and if he begins thus how will he go on a moment after Jim Brown was ushered into the room with a tolerable sized bundle under his arm near shore some country boys finding themselves for the first time in the highly decorated sitting-room of a London hotel would have gazed round at the various objects it contained with bumpkin amazement and in the present instance it might have been very excusable to do so for besides the ordinary ornaments of the room there were enormous numbers of different articles all strange to the boy's eyes and of the most miscellaneous character possible to conceive Charles Marston had more than half filled it with things of bronze marble alabaster painted canvas and carved oak from France Italy and Greece together with Greek and Albanian dresses Syrian carpets turbans caps sabres yatagans and other things which would extend the catalogue down to the bottom of the page and Mr. Winkworth himself travelled with but little baggage and had not opened a tenth part of the cases which were awaiting his arrival had contrived to get out a number of hookers and long pipes with not a few strange looking commodities from India Burma and Ceylon Jim Brown however did nothing of the kind that he was a rude uncultivated country boy I do not mean to deny but he possessed that peculiar characteristic which I look upon as one of the most important qualities when guided by good judgment with which any human being can be gifted a quality which in dealing with the world at large sooner or later overbears all the impediments which lie in the way of success the prejudices the inattention the indifference the very reason in many instances of our fellow men and which in its action upon ourselves is no less triumphant overbearing the most intrusive of all our weaknesses the thought of self the quality he possessed was earnestness earnestness of purpose earnestness of thought earnestness of feeling if it could not be called the great principle of his nature it was at all events the great quality of his character and it subdued all things within him to itself he looked not round the room for one moment his eyes instantly fixed upon Mr. Winkworth and he advanced straight towards him his mind bent upon one subject too resolutely to stray to any other the old gentleman's brow was rather cloudy when he entered and as we have seen he meditated a reproof but he was a good deal of a physiognomist and as he marked the expression of the boy's countenance he said to himself he is about to assign a reason or make an apology or show a motive for his delay let us hear what he has to say for himself and he remains silent sir I intended to have been here before now said the boy when he had come within two or three feet of the sofa he did not know that according to rule he should have stayed a good deal nearer the door I was afraid you would be angry but then I thought when you heard why I stayed you would forgive me you see sir when they took away poor Bessie they took all and some of mine too I thought they had taken all but when I came to put the place in order that I might come away here I found a whole heap more of her things and a group many papers of hers hid away under the bed I took them away to our parson to ask him to keep them for her but he was out I was not likely to come back so I had my eight miles walk for nothing the coach passed a little earlier than usual and so I missed it that day and the next day Joshua Brown advised me to bring on the things to you and give them into your care and also to ask at all the posting houses which he and I passed where the gentleman had taken poor Bessie that when I came I might know and be able to tell you where she is for you and the other gentlemen seemed to think a good deal about her this kept me so long but I hope you will forgive me well well reason sufficient replied Mr. Winkworth I like punctuality my good lad but I'm not altogether a hard task master and so you have brought the poor woman's things here have you are they in that bundle yes sir replied the boy laying the things down upon the table and I've got a little gold box in my pocket too belonging to her with what Joshua Brown says are diamonds on the top let me see let me see said Mr. Winkworth and the lad immediately produced from his pocket the vinaigrette which he had previously shown to the peddler and placed it in Mr. Winkworth's hands all fashions have their day and pass away sometimes giving place to things better than themselves sometimes to worse even the workmanship in hard metal is subjected to the capricious rule and the fashion of gold and silver seldom lasts above two or three years it is very probable however that some of my readers may have seen snuff boxes lockets and cases for miniatures I or even vinaigrettes which displayed on one side or the other a tablet of bright blue enamel on which appeared a cipher formed of diamonds the top of the box now produced was thus ornamented and Mr. Winkworth examining it closely said very fine stones indeed and mm what can that mean Charles assured me that her name was Hailey so it is sir replied Jim for the gentleman who took her away called her Miss Hailey mm I don't understand it said Mr. Winkworth now then let us look at these in the bundle and he untied the corners when a mass of very miscellaneous articles displayed itself amongst which there appeared none that could be except one or two packets of written papers rolled up in small bundles and tied with dirty pieces of ribbon one seemed to consist of letters which had been transmitted by the post for on the outer cover there was an address with an official stamp the other seemed to consist of manuscripts without any direction or indication of the contents upon the outside but were written very closely in a good clear masculine hand Mr. Winkworth paused and gazed at the paper for a moment or two as if in doubt and hesitation then turning to the boy he asked can you tell me what these packets contain Jim Brown no sir answered the boy I did not open them for I thought I had no business right said Mr. Winkworth right now Jim I should like very much to open them from various motives some of which you can conceive some of which you cannot I should like to see this poor thing's history which is most probably here in written I should like to know what brought her to madness destitution and solitary wandering moreover there is a chance that by something contained in these papers we might learn how her condition could be ameliorated and who are the relations and friends who might have a right to take care of her in her present condition and provide for her future comfort that chance would afford a good excuse to many men for examining these documents but a man of honour and honesty Jim will always be very scrupulous in satisfying himself that there is something more than an excuse nay a full justification for doing that which under ordinary circumstances will be dishonourable now the man or woman Jim who would look into the private papers of another person without full and convincing proof that to do so is absolutely necessary for the benefit of that person is dishonest is a rogue Jim is one unworthy of trust or confidence I have no such proof and therefore I will not examine these papers until I have or until I am by some means authorised to do so ring the bell boy there it hangs by the side of the fireplace Jim in vain looked for a bell for he had never before seen a bell rope in his life and he took Mr. Winkworth's words literally supposing that he should find a bell hanging by the fireplace probably something like a church bell for that was the instrument of sound with which he was best acquainted I don't see a bell sir he said pfft cried Mr. Winkworth laughing full of rope being there I forgot that you had not been long caught the bell was soon wrong and a sheet of large cartridge paper procured in which the old gentleman made the boy fold up carefully the various documents he had brought as the wound in his shoulder prevented him from doing so himself this packing up was very uniquely accomplished by Jim but when it came to the ceiling notwithstanding all the good instructions of Mr. Winkworth who stood by with a seal ready to press upon the wax the poor boy made a sad mess of it and burned his fingers awfully never mind Jim never mind said Mr. Winkworth in my young days when people were in the habit of walking the bounds of the parish the officers used to whip one of the boys of the charity school at every point which might become doubtful in order that the tail might help the head to recollect now your fingers in case of need however there are two or three other things to be thought of have you found out where they have taken her to yes sir answered the boy the last driver I talked to told me that the gentleman had ordered him to go to a house with barred up windows stay I wrote down the name of the place on a bit of paper Mr. Winkworth eagerly examined the address the boy produced Brooke Green he said Brooke Green that's not far I have a great mind to go there at once hang the doctors who cares what they say I'll go ring the bell Jim the bell was rung once more and the waiter ordered to have a pair of post horses put immediately to Mr. Charles Marston's carriage for Mr. Winkworth did not stand upon any great ceremony with his young friend now take this boy down and give him something to eat continued Mr. Winkworth yes sir said the waiter you're a respectable man I think said the old gentleman yes sir said the waiter with a wife and children asked Mr. Winkworth yes sir said the waiter then take care of that boy while I stay here and see if you cannot get him immediately from some ready-made shop a tidy suit of clothes and have him prepared to go out with me in an hour yes sir said the waiter you may go as far as 50 rupees said Mr. Winkworth yes sir still said the waiter though heaven knows he knew no more what a rupee is than Adam knew what a wife was before he fell asleep in the garden of Eden Mr. Winkworth was by temperament and still more by habit somewhat impatient and on this occasion he certainly did not let the hour pass before he rang the bell and asked if the horses and the boy were ready if the truth must be told he was apprehensive lest Charles Marston should come in and attempt to dissuade him from going out at all now there was nothing on earth Mr. Winkworth so much disliked as being dissuaded but he always took his own way and a very odd way it generally was so that he looked upon any attempt to dissuade him as trouble to both parties without benefit to either however it turned out that the horses were ready but the boy was not and he had to wait another quarter of an hour before Jim returned with the porter whom the waiter had sent to guide him the moment he arrived Mr. Winkworth put him in the dickey of the vehicle told the post boy where to drive and got into the inside himself just as he was whirling round the corner of Albemarle Street into Piccadilly who should he see walking soberly along with Colonel Middleton but his young friend Charles Marston and with a laugh at the consternation which he saw in Charles's countenance he shook his finger at him and rattled on Brooke Green was speedily reached and at the door of the house which had one of those portentous names usually given to lunatic asylums the carriage drew up here however some difficulties presented themselves for although Mr. Winkworth and the boy were at once shown into the master's parlour which demurred to letting them see Miss Haley though he did not venture to deny that she was in the house though a very odd man Mr. Winkworth in matters of business was a very sensible man and though as I have shown an impatient man yet in difficult circumstances strange to say he never lost his temper well sir he said I will ask you one question by what authority do you detain the lady here by sufficient authority for my justification sir replied the master it must be sufficient for my satisfaction before I go hence replied Mr. Winkworth for I warn you I am a person never turned from my object my belief is that you have no lawful authority whatever and if you persist in your present course I must take very unpleasant means to ascertain whether you have or have not what means may those be asked the man dryly the sending for a constable answered Mr. Winkworth and giving you in charge for assault and false imprisonment you will think twice before you do that I fancy no I shall not answered Mr. Winkworth I never think twice of anything but you may save me some trouble and yourself some annoyance by answering a few very simple questions which I have every right to demand well I have no objection to answer any reasonable question said the master who did not like the notion of being given in charge though he had affected to treat it lightly first then said Mr. Winkworth has the lady been seen by any physician not yet replied the master of the house but one will visit her in an hour or two and by whose authority do you detain her in the meanwhile he demanded the old gentleman after an instance hesitation the reply was by that of Mr. Scriven a connection of the lady a grim smile came upon Mr. Winkworth's yellow face I am quite as near a connection of the lady as Mr. Scriven sir he replied and I now demand to see her without further delay if you exceed I shall take no further steps of any kind till she has been visited by the medical man who you speak and until he has given a certificate as to her state if you refuse I must take those measures at which I hinted no very well replied the master who had by this time made up his mind if you promise me that I will certainly admit you Mr. Winkworth who right well understood the whole process which have been going on in the man's mind merely nodded his head with a dry smile the boy come along Jim he followed the master into the interior of the building it was not a very large establishment nor had it many patients in it but the whole bore more or less an aspect of neatness and cleanliness although the part which they first passed through was very much superior in furniture and decoration to that at which they afterwards arrived it was in the poorer part of the house where patients paying very much much more and more were able to understand that they found poor Miss Haley she had a room to herself but the master while unlocking the door thought fit to explain that they had not yet had time to put her in award Mr. Winkworth entered the room first and the poor woman who was seated near the window to her saying don't you remember me here is your young friend Jim come to see you Miss Haley suddenly turned round at the name and the moment she beheld the boy started up ran towards him and cast her arms round his neck the large tears fell from her eyes too and they seemed to relieve her brain for the wild scared look with which she had at first regarded Mr. Winkworth passed away oh Jim she said I thought they would never let me see you again but come here my dear come here I want to speak with you and drawing the boy into the father corner of the room she whispered to him eagerly for several minutes he has got them all said the boy at length pointing to Mr. Winkworth he has sealed up the papers without reading them what would you wish done with them Mr. Winkworth anything you direct I will see performed poor Miss Haley however made no reply giving him a doubtful glance and again whispering eagerly to the boy shall I tell him so asked Jim after having listened attentively for a minute or two if you can trust him replied Miss Haley gazing at Mr. Winkworth with her large black eyes but not here not here quite quietly where nobody can hear anybody listening at the door he's a very cunning man that Mr. Scriven and a hard cruel man too you see sir she's quite mad said the master of the house addressing Mr. Winkworth in a low tone you can have no doubt of that I suppose I have no doubt that her reason is impaired replied the old gentleman but at the same time my good sir I have many doubts as to whether her state of mind justifies or requires her detention in a place of this kind and I'm quite sure that it affords no excuse for excluding her friends from seeing her that must be according to the doctor's orders replied the other I have no wish to prevent people from seeing her only Mr. Scriven thought it might irritate her phew answered Mr. Winkworth Mr. Scriven should know better and besides he has no authority here he is no relation no connection and has been anything but a friend to her and hers that she shall be well treated and comfortably lodged I and other friends of her family will insist upon and I authorise you to let her have more fitting accommodation than this room making myself responsible for any reasonable expense that such an alteration may entail I do not wish to interfere beyond a certain limit and as long as I find to her and that she is well and kindly treated I shall be satisfied but if any severe restrictions are attempted I shall immediately apply for a commission to inquire into her state I have not the honour even of knowing your name rejoined the master of the house and of course must be responsible to those who placed the lady here if you will come downstairs and furnish me with pen income paper replied Mr. Winkworth the directions I have to give in writing so that there can be no mistake and that you may be insured against loss this proposal was very satisfactory to the master of the house and the boy Jim being left with poor Miss Haley at Mr. Winkworth's request the other two went downstairs and were absent for a little more than a quarter of an hour when they returned it was somewhat difficult and asked him to stay with her so piteously that Mr. Winkworth's kind heart was grieved to take him away he promised to send her some books and she petitioned earnestly for paper and for drawing and writing materials the master of the house too promised to let her play for an hour every day upon the organ adding you used to be very fond of music when you were here he was confined at first said Mr. Winkworth to be sure answered the man she got out in the most cunning way possible and she will need a deal of watching I can tell you to prevent her doing so again come mom you must let the boy go and drawing Jim away from her he saw him and Mr. Winkworth out of the room and then locked the door coming to the carriage with me my lad said the old man was going to take his seat behind and during the whole way back to his hotel Mr. Winkworth continued in very earnest conversation with his young companion which left him grave and thoughtful for the rest of the day End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of the forgery by George Payne Rainsford James this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 23 Henry Haley and Maria Moncton alone Lady Anne Mellon and Charles Marston had let them together as soon as they found that Lady Fleetwood was out their own hearts told them how pleasant are the few uninterrupted moments of happy communion which love can snatch from the giddy and importunate world Charles Marston had promised to return for Henry in an hour and the young soldier was eager to take advantage of precious opportunity to say a part at least but remained to be said between him and her he loved Maria however was sad or at least very grave the agitation of being thus left alone with him perhaps might have some share in that seriousness for women's love only grows bold by degrees perhaps the uncertainty of his fate and future prospects might have some share for how full of emotions is the anxiety with which affecting a beloved object events over which we have no control or power especially when from ignorance or inexperience we cannot calculate the amount of dangers at menace and difficulties that be said however Maria was very grave as I have said and Henry remarking it hastened to make an effort to remove what he imagined might be the cause of the sadness he beheld how I have longed for this moment and yet now it is come my fear it will last so short a time that I shall not have space to say all I have to say indeed dear girl it becomes more and more necessary every moment that we should have some means of communicating with each other unrestrained by the presence of others how may this be Maria for I foresee that from time to time it may be absolutely needful for me to have change in my conduct to show you that there is no cause for fear even when things seem going wrong to communicate to you in short the hopes and expectations that are in my own bosom whenever they assume a tangible form you must tell me the fears and the dangers to Henry said Maria you cannot tell what I suffered during the whole of dinnertime while such sharp questions and answers were passing through the circle his suspicions are evidently aroused as to how I can see you except at such moments as these I do not know what to reply if it be needful indeed I can drive down into the country for a day at any time and see you there but as we are all going soon to Lady Anne Melence it seems there will be plenty of opportunity there was a slight peculiarity in her way of pronouncing Lady Anne Melence name dramatic dwelling upon the words which did not escape Henry's ear and he gazed at Maria for a moment with a look almost as grave as her own then laying his hand likely upon hers he said do you not think Lady Anne's man is strange towards me Maria do you not think mine strange towards her the colour came warmly into Maria's cheek no Henry she said after a moment's time I might think both strange were any other person concerned than dear Anne Melent but I know her so well I know that she is so good so kind so true so sincere and yet inhabit of thought and general course of action so unlike other people that what would be strange with others is not strange with her and I feel sure Henry that there is still Henry gazed at her gravely and thoughtfully there is something more Maria he said stay dear girl let me place the case before you as strongly as it can be placed to show you that I see the most unfavourable light in which it can be viewed I return to you after many years of sad and painful exile with a reputation tarnished and doubtful with a story vouchful you receive me as if not a day has passed as if not a breath had solid my name you believe my exculpation you listen to my love you give me confidence comfort hope and yet while telling you that I love you you alone you with my whole heart and soul I am more frequently with another passing long hours with her conferring consulting with her although she is no good kind and amiable as she is I profess to regard in a very different manner less warm less tender than that in which I regard yourself acknowledged that it has struck you as very strange Maria that it has pained you that it has almost made you doubt me no, no indeed Henry she said it has not done so you could have no motive no object in deceiving me even if I could believe you capable of doing so Henry smiled faintly I might tell you he said that there are many causes for such conduct that Lady Anne from her father's old intimacy with mine possesses information most valuable to me upon the only points where difficulty stand in my way or dangers menace me that I have always the opportunity of seeing her alone of consulting with her and making arrangements to secure the future or this is true and I might add that though you may think this close communication dangerous with one young gay beautiful as she is yet there is no risk for a heart given entirely to you which has never loved another and never will but I will put it upon a totally different ground I will only say trust me dear Maria fully entirely as you did when there was every cause to doubt and suspect me believe that I am incapable of any baseness especially to one whose generous kindness and undoubted confidence have been the brightest reward of that rectitude of which I am conscious and the sweetest compensation for all that I have suffered and deserved trust me and do not doubt me and in a very few days all shall be explained indeed Henry I have never doubted you replied Maria earnestly never upon my word I have been a little anxious a little sad and my feelings have been so mixed that they would be difficult to explain the evident suspicions of my uncle alarm me my aunt Fleetwood too recognizes you I am sure you can easily imagine that not fully knowing what is taking place what means you have approving your innocence what your intentions are what your course is to be I have felt agitated frightened and besides she paused and did not conclude the sentence there is something more said Henry say what besides Maria Maria laughed but not gain and shook the bright curls back from her face with some degree of agitation I was going to say she replied that besides all this the way you replied several times to my uncle last night troubled and alarmed me it was a good deal there was a mocking sort of sarcasm which I thought likely to irritate to him rather than otherwise to provoke him to pursue his inquiries further it was unlike yourself too Henry you were always frank, earnest, calm even in your very gaiety there was a clear open candour peculiar to yourself last night there might be playfulness yet there was a degree of superciliousness too a touch of scorn for the opinion of others a little like Lady Anne's own manner to those whom she despises which struck me very much I love Henry Haley's natural manner better Henry laughed gaily and pressed his lips upon her hand it shall all come back again dearest Maria he replied in a very very short time but in the meanwhile you must not let that manner anymore even though you should see it carried still farther you have said you do not know what my intentions are what my course is to be now dearest Maria listen and do not be angry with me even if you think my courses are rash and imprudent one my intentions are very strange whenever I meet your uncle I propose to treat him exactly as I did last night to irritate him if you will to goat him on in short a course in which his suspicions would lead him to drive him to take the initiative improving who I am and to throw no obstacles in his way except such as may stimulate him to proceed them more fiercely in this course I even intend to make you art and part with a sort of bold and almost impudent recklessness which believe me I should never dream of were the circumstances different I know not whether Maria will forgive me or she may herself be disposed to do out but wherever I meet her especially where Mr. Scriven is present my feelings towards her will appear undisguised I will seek her as an object of deep and ardent attachment and though of course my conduct shall be regulated by the ordinary proprieties of life so as not to pain her feelings by calling the gaze of the multitude upon us yet no one shall see me near her and doubt that she is dearer to me than her being upon earth how will Maria act with so strange a man Maria smiled gladly for though there was much that she did not comprehend many motives that she did not see objects that were hidden yet through the mist they gleaned things pleasant to her eyes hopes, assurances, affections that seemed bright and happy he could not so act he could not so speak love without strong expectation she will act as you would wish her Henry she replied I promise once given is with me binding forever nor will I shrink from avowing it no, nor attempt to conceal it but I will not endeavour Henry either to say or to determine how I will act I will let my conduct towards you take its natural course the feelings in my heart the confidence, the trust will ensure that it shall be such as will not be disagreeable to you and I am sure that whatever you think it right to do will be so guided as not to render it painful to me except in regard to your uncle dear Maria he replied perhaps in his case it may be so but it will spare much hereafter and of this be assured that no consideration whatever would induce me to blaze and forth my attachment in the eyes of the world did I not feel fully assured that when all is made clear and every cloud blown away I shall stand forth not unworthy of the affection of such a dear heart as yours not unqualified even in point of wealth and the world's esteem to seek your hand as to wealth said Maria smiling that need be no consideration Henry I have enough and more than enough for both and I suppose of course that when you resume your real name and station you will resign the fortune which you hold as Frank Middleton I do not know answered Henry that fortune was not obtained by any deceit he who left it to me knew right well that I was not Frank Middleton and I can prove that such was the case however that will be a matter for after consideration there were I to do as you say Mr. Scriven would undoubtedly exclaim loudly against your marrying a beggar though he might not be able to prove that you are marrying a felon but what say you Maria he continued gaily might we not pursue another course might you not give this dear little hand to Colonel Middleton great nephew of a Grandie of Spain might you not go with him to that bright sunshiney land and spend the rest of life amidst groves of oranges and myrtles by the side of clear streams with the cork trees spreading out its broad rugged branches overhead and the wild blue mountains falling into every fanciful form against the diffusant sky there amidst the marble palaces of races long passed away with minaret and dome and fretted arch and fountains sparkling in the sun the breeze loaded with fragrance and the night sky gemmed with lustrous stars life might fly away like a summer dream and all the dark realities in the fate of Henry Haley be forgotten you are mocking me even now Henry said Maria shaking her head do not put such a question to me again unless you put it seriously and if ever you should do so I will take two minutes to consider and then give you an answer but Hark there is my aunt Fleetwood I know her servants knock well then remember dear Maria said Henry that to her as well as to others I may behave strangely nor be you surprised at anything you may see nor think that I am changed except in mere appearances all will be fully explained in time and in the meanwhile dear Maria trust me I will I will answered Maria with a smile and almost at the same moment Fleetwood entered the room she seemed somewhat disconcerted to find Colonel Middleton there and she would feign have been a little cool and distant in her manner but it was a very difficult thing for her kind hearted ladieship to feel or appear cold to anybody in the case of Henry it would have been less easy than in any other for in spite of all she could do there was a natural warming of the heart towards him whom she had loved the rest as a boy which she could not overcome his manner too was very engaging and he spoke to her so like an old friend with so much of the easy confidence of long tried affection that she could not either persuade herself he was other than Henry Haley or make herself angry lest his evident love for Maria should spoil her favourite scheme of uniting her niece and nephew to do Henry merely justice Haley's attempt to conceal from Lady Fleetwood his affection for Maria but on the contrary to use the ordinary term made love to her more openly and desperately when her aunt alone was present to watch them than he would have done in the presence of any other human being Poor Lady Fleetwood witnessed it all with sad dismay she had fortified herself strongly in her little plan for Charles and Maria and the great indifference shown for all other men the rejection of two or three very eligible proposals and the light and laughing way in which she usually treated the subject of marriage when her aunt in simplicity of heart forced it upon her had all tended to strengthen her belief in the security of her position now however she saw so terrible an attack made upon it that she began to entertain the notion that she could not maintain it and Maria although she was not one to flirt even with a lover suffered every now and then a word, a look a smile to escape her which made poor Lady Fleetwood tremble for the fate of all her little arrangements shortly after her return some visitors came in and they were succeeded by others but still Colonel Middleton did not give up his post and remained there with his manner until subdued towards Maria indeed but still without any attempt to disguise his attentions if there was any change in Maria's manner towards him it became rather warmer than colder in the presence of her visitors she did not attempt to conceal her preference and poor Lady Fleetwood was more uneasy than ever when she found moreover that Henry was to be one of the guests at Lady Anne Melence she was actually roused to an attempt to carry the war into the enemy's territory though poor thing heaven knows she was anything but fitted for an enterprise in general oh then you are going down to Lady Anne's Colonel Middleton she said with a meaning smile you seem very intimate there have you been long acquainted with her I saw Lady Anne at a ball in Rome more than a year ago, said Henry and she is as you remark exceedingly kind to me the invitation on this occasion is a proof but as soon as she has secured you and Miss Moncton, Lady Fleetwood she sent to tell me so and to invite me knowing how delighted I should be to meet you there and how desolate London would seem to me during the absence of yourself and your fair niece the slightest possible smile curled his handsome lip as he spoke and Maria could not refrain from looking a little amused also Lady Fleetwood felt that she had better let him alone and in a few minutes after to her great relief Charles Master was announced he had not entered the room however when a fluttering apprehension seized upon Lady Fleetwood lest her nephew should perceive that he had a rival in the young officer and some quarrels should be the result she therefore determined with her usual kindness to try and explain to Charles that Colonel Middleton was only there accidentally and suffer matters as much as possible but Charles was in the most provoking humour in the world and seemed resolved to demolish all his aunt's hopes and expectations completely oh my dear aunt he said nearly aloud I left him here an hour ago or more promising to call for him again Lady Fleetwood looked aghast and murmured on purpose yes, answered Charles, laughing listen and I'll tell you a secret in your ear, dear lady he continued in a whisper see if I'm not the kindest and most considerate man in the world I found that you were out and that Maria was here alone so I went away and left Middleton with her thinking they might have something to say to each other so now that's a hint for you, dearest aunt and I'm quite sure that a kind good-natured creature like yourself had the opportunity of letting them have a few minutes conversation alone from time to time poor Lady Fleetwood was drunk dumb and sinking down into a seat she began to play with a stopper of a large scent bottle which stood upon the table in the meanwhile Maria and Henry were conversing with some people at the other end of the room and Charles and his friends soon after took their departure while poor Lady Fleetwood said to herself there is no use trying to mend the matter now but I must certainly talk to my brother about it and hear what he thinks I never could have believed that Maria would throw herself away upon a man whom she has only known a few days and half a Spaniard too End of Chapter 23