Heffernan's calculations were all correct, and the Knight accepted Lord
Castlereagh's invitation, simply because rumor attributed to him an
alliance with the Government “It is a pity,” said he, laughing, “so much
good calumny should have so little to feed upon; so here goes to give it
something.”
Darcy had as little time as inclination to waste on the topic, as the
whole interval was occupied in law business with Gleeson, who arrived
each morning with a chariot full of parchments, and almost worried the
Knight to death by reciting deeds and indentures, to one word of which
throughout he could not pay the least attention. He affected to listen,
however, as he saw how much Gleeson desired it, and he wrote his name
everywhere and to everything he was asked.
“By Jove!” cried he, at last, “I could have run through the whole estate
with less fatigue of mind or body than it has cost me to keep a hold of
it.”
Through all the arrangements, there was but one point on which he felt
anxious, and the same question recurred at every moment, “This cannot
compromise Lionel in any way?--this will lead to no future charge upon
the estate after my death?” Indeed, he would not consent to any plan
which in the slightest degree affected his son's interests, being
determined that whatever his extravagances, the penalty should end with
himself.
While these matters were progressing, old Hickman studiously avoided
meeting the Knight; a sense of his discomfiture at the abbey--a fact
he supposed must have reached Darcy's ears--and the conviction that his
long-cherished game to obtain the property was seen through, abashed the
old man, and led him to affect illness when the Knight called.
A pleasant letter which the post had brought from Lionel routed every
other consideration from Darcy's mind. His son was coming over to see
him, and bringing three or four of his brother officers to have a peep
at “the West,” and a few days' hunting with the Knight's pack. Every
line of this letter glowed with buoyancy and high spirits; schemes for
amusement alternating with the anticipated amazement of his English
friends at the style of living they were to witness at Gwynne Abbey.
“We shall have but eight days with you, my leave from the Prince will
go no further,” wrote he; “but I know well how much may be done in
that short space. Above all, secure Daly; I wish our fellows to see him
particularly. I do not ask about the stable, because I know the horses
are always in condition; but let Dan give the black horse plenty of work
every day; and if the brown mare we got from Mulloch can be ridden by
any one, she must have a saddle on her now. We hope to have four days'
hunting; and let the woodcocks take care of themselves in the intervals,
for we are bent on massacre.”
The postscript was brief, but it surprised Darcy more than all the rest.
“Only think of my spending four days last week down in Essex with a
worthy kinsman of my mother's, Lord Netherby: a splendid place, glorious
shooting, and the best greyhounds I ever saw run. He understands
everything but horses; but I have taken on me to enlighten him a little,
and have sent down four grays from Guildfords' yesterday,--better than
any we have in the Prince's stables; he is a fine fellow, though I
did n't like him at first; a great courtier in his way, but _au fond_
warm-hearted and generous. Keep my secret from my mother, but he intends
coming over with us. Adieu! dear father. Look to Forester, don't let
him run away before we arrive. Cut Dublin and its confounded politics.
Netherby says the ministers have an immense majority,--the less reason
for swelling or decreasing it.
“Yours ever,
“Lionel Darcy.”
“And so our trusty and well-beloved cousin of Netherby is coming to
visit us,” said the Knight, musing. “Well, Lionel, I confess myself half
of your mind. I did not like him at first: the better impression is yet
to come. In any case, let us receive him suitably; and, fortunately,
here's Gleeson to help the arrangement--Well, Gleeson, I hope matters
are making some progress. Are we to see the last of these parchments
soon? Here's a letter from my son. Read it, and you 'll see I must get
back to 'the West' at once.”
Gleeson perused the letter, and when he had finished, returned it into
the Knight's hand without speaking.
“Can we conclude this week?” asked Darcy.
“There are several points yet, sir, of great difficulty. Some I have
already submitted for counsel's opinion; one in particular, as regards
the serving the notice of repayment: there would appear to be a doubt on
this head.”
“There can be none in reality,” said Darcy, hastily. “I have Hickman's
letter, in his own handwriting, averring his readiness to release the
mortgage at any day.”
“Is the document witnessed, and on a stamp?” asked Gleeson, cautiously.
“Of course it is not. Those are scarcely the forms of a note between two
private gentlemen.”
“It might be of use in equity, no doubt,” muttered Gleeson, “or before
a jury; but we have no time for these considerations now. The
Attorney-General thinks--”
“Never mind the Attorney-General. Have we the money to repay? Well, does
Hickman refuse to accept it?”
“He has not been asked as yet, sir,” said Gleeson, whose business
notions were not a little ruffled by this abrupt mode of procedure.
“And, in Heaven's name, Gleeson! why pester yourself and me with
overcoming obstacles that may never arise? Wait on Hickman at
once,--to-day. Tell him we are prepared, and desirous of paying off
these incumbrances. If he objects, hear his objection.”
“He will refer me to his solicitor, sir,--Mr. Kennedy, of Hume
Street,--a very respectable man, no higher in the profession, but I may
remark, in confidence, one who has no objection to a suit in equity or a
trial at bar. It is not money Hickman wants, sir. He is perfectly
satisfied with his security.”
“What the devil is it, then? He's not Shylock, is he?” said Darcy,
laughing.
“Not very unlike, perhaps, sir; but in the present instance, it is your
influence with the Government he desires.”
“But I have none, Gleeson,--actually none. No man knows that better than
you do. I could not make a gauger or a tide-waiter to-morrow.”
“But you might, sir,--you might make a peer of the realm if you wished
it. Hickman knows this; and whatever scruples _you_ might have in
adopting the necessary steps, _his_ conscience could never recognize
them as worthy a moment's consideration.”
“This is a topic I 'll scarcely discuss with him,” said the Knight,
proudly. “I never, so far as I know, promised to pay a percentage in my
principles as well as in my gold. Mr. Hickman has a fair claim on the
one; on the other, neither he nor any other man shall make an unjust
demand. I am not of Christie Ford's mind,” added he, laughingly.
“He says, Gleeson, that if the English are bent on taking away _our_
Parliament, the only revenge we have left is to spoil _their_ peerage.
This is but a sorry theme to joke upon, after all; and, to come back,
what say you to trying my plan? I am to meet the old fellow at dinner,
on Wednesday next, at Lord Castlereagh's.”
“Indeed, sir!” said Gleeson, with a mixture of surprise and agitation
greatly disproportioned to the intelligence.
“Yes. Why does that astonish you? The Secretary is too shrewd to neglect
such men as these; they are the rising influences of Ireland.”
Gleeson muttered a half assent; but evidently too much occupied with his
own reflections to pay due attention to the Knight's remark, continued
to himself, “on Wednesday!” then added aloud, “On Monday he is to be in
Kildare. He told me he would remain there to receive his rents, and on
Wednesday return to town. I believe, sir, there may be good counsel in
your words. I 'll try on Monday. I 'll follow him down to Kildare, and
as the papers relative to the abbey property are all in readiness, I'll
endeavor to conclude that at once. So you are to meet at dinner?”
“That same dinner-party seems to puzzle you,” said the Knight, smiling.
“No, not at all, sir,” replied Gleeson, hurriedly. “You were desirous
of getting home next week to meet Mr. Lionel--Captain Darcy I must call
him; if this arrangement can be made, there will be no difficulty
in your return. But of course you will not leave town before it is
completed.”
The Knight pledged himself to be guided by his man of business in all
respects; but when they parted, he could not conceal from himself that
Gleeson's agitated and troubled manner, so very unlike his usual calm
deportment, boded difficulties and embarrassments which to his own eyes
were invisible.