I am not content with minding my own business, but must have a
hand in that of others, by which means I put my foot in it.
He then, after his own fashion, told me, that as executor, he must
retain those papers; pointed out to me the little probability there
was of their containing any information relative to my birth, even
allowing that a person of the name of De Benyon did call at the
Foundling to ask for me, which was only a supposition; and, finally,
overthrew all the hopes which had been, for so many days, buoying me
up. When he had finished, I threw myself upon the sofa in despair, and
wished, at the moment, that I had never been born. Still hope again
rose uppermost, and I would have given all I possessed to have been
able to break open the seals of that packet, and have read the contents.
At one moment I was so frantic, that I was debating whether I should not
take them from Mr Cophagus by force, and run off with them. At last I
rose, and commenced reading the letters which I had put aside, but there
was nothing in them but the trifling communications of two young women,
who mentioned what was amusing to them, but uninteresting to those who
were not acquainted with the parties.
When we had finished, Mr Cophagus collected all together, and putting
them into a box, we returned in a coach to the hotel. The next day Mr
Cophagus had completed all his arrangements, and the day following had
determined to return to England. I walked with him down to the vessel,
and watched it for an hour after it had sailed, for it bore away a packet
of papers, which I could not help imagining were to discover the secret
which I was so eager in pursuit of. A night's sleep made me more
rational, and I now resolved to ascertain where Sir Henry de Clare, or
Melchior, as I felt certain he must be, was to be found. I sent for the
waiter, and asked him if he could inform me. He immediately replied in
the affirmative, and gave his address, Mount Castle, Connemara, asking
me when I intended to set out. It did not strike me till afterwards,
that it was singular that he should be so well acquainted with the
address, and that he should have produced a card with it written upon
it; or, moreover, that he should know that it was my intention to go
there. I took the address, and desired that I might have horses ready
very early the next morning. I then sat down and wrote a letter to
Harcourt, informing him of my proceedings, also one to Mr Masterton
much more explicit, lastly to Timothy, to the care of Harcourt,
requesting him to let me know what had occurred between him and the
gipsies. After dinner, I packed up ready for my journey, and having
settled my bill, I was not sorry to retire to my bed.
At daylight I was, as I requested, called by the waiter, and taking with
me only a very small portmanteau, having left the rest of my effects in
the charge of the people who kept the hotel, I set off in a post-chaise
on my expedition. I was soon clear of the city, and on a fine smooth road,
and, as I threw myself back in the corner of the chaise, I could not help
asking myself the question--what was the purport of my journey? As the
reader will perceive, I was wholly governed by impulses, and never
allowed reason or common sense to stand in the way of my feelings. "What
have I to do?" replied I to myself; "to find out if Melchior and Sir
Henry de Clare be not one and the same person. And what then?" What
then?--why then I may find out something relative to Fleta's parentage.
Nay, but is that likely--if, as you suppose, Melchior is Sir Henry de
Clare--if, as you suppose, it is he who is now trying to find out and
carry off Fleta--is it probable that you will gain any information from
him? I have an idea that Fleta is the little girl said to have died, who
was the child of his elder brother. Why so? What interest could Melchior
have in stealing his own niece? That I cannot tell. Why did Nattée give
me the necklace? I cannot tell; she would hardly betray her husband.
At all events, there is a mystery, and it can only be unravelled by
being pulled at; and I may learn something by meeting Melchior, whereas,
I shall learn nothing by remaining quiet. This last idea satisfied me,
and for many hours I remained in a train of deep thought, only checked
by paying for the horses at the end of every stage.
It was now past twelve o'clock, when I found that it was necessary to
change the chaise at every post. The country also, as well as the roads,
had changed much for the worse. Cultivation was not so great, the roads
were mountainous, and civilisation generally disappeared. It was nearly
dark when I arrived at the last post, from whence I was to take horses
to Mount Castle. As usual, the chaise also was to be changed; and I
could not help observing that each change was from bad to worse. Rope
harness was used, and the vehicles themselves were of the most crazy
condition. Still I had travelled very fairly, for an Irish postillion
knows how to make an Irish horse go a very fair pace. I descended from
the chaise, and ordered another out immediately. To this there was no
reply, except, "Wait, your honour; step in a moment, and rest from your
fatigue a little." Presuming this was merely to give them time to get
ready, I walked into the room of the inn, which indeed was very little
better than a hovel, and sat down by the turf fire in company with some
others, whom I could hardly distinguish for smoke. I paid the chaise and
postillion, and soon afterwards heard it drive off, on its way back.
After a few minutes I inquired if the chaise was getting ready.
"Is it the chaise your honour means?" said the landlady.
"Yes," replied I, "a chaise on to Mount Castle."
"Then I am sorry that your honour must wait a little; for our chaise, and
the only one which we have, is gone to the castle, and won't be back till
long after the moon is up. What will your honour please to take?"
"Not back till moonlight," replied I; "why did you not say so? and I
would have gone on with the other."
"Is it with the other you mane, your honour? Then if Teddy Driscoll could
make his horses go one step farther than our door, may I never have a
soul to be saved. Will your honour please to sit in the little room
Kathleen shall light a fire."
Vexed as I was with the idea of passing the night in this horrid place,
there was no help for it: so I took up my portmanteau and followed the
landlady to a small room, if it deserved the appellation, which had been
built after the cottage, and a door broken through the wall into it.
Ceiling there was none, it had only lean-to rafters, with tiles over
head. I took a seat on the only stool that was in the room, and leant
my elbow on the table in no very pleasant humour, when I heard the girl
say, "And why don't you let him go on to the castle? Sure the chaise is
in the yard, and the horses are in the stable."
"There's orders 'gainst it, Kathleen," replied the landlady. "Mr
M'Dermott was here this blessed day, and who can deny him?"
"Who is he then?" replied the girl.
"An attorney with a warrant against Sir Henry; and, moreover, they say
that he's coming to'strain upon the cattle of Jerry O'Toole for the
tithes."
"He's a bould young chap, at all events," replied the girl, "to come
here all by himself."
"Oh! but it's not till to-morrow morning, and then we'll have the
troops here to assist him."
"And does Jerry O'Toole know of this?"
"Sure enough he does; and I hope there'll be no murder committed in my
house this blessed night. But what can a poor widow do when M'Dermott
holds up his finger? Now, go light the fire, Kathleen, and see if the
poor young man wants anything; it's a burning pity that he shouldn't
have something to comfort him before his misfortunes fall upon him."
Kathleen made no reply. The horror that I felt at this discourse may
easily be imagined. That it was intended that I should meet with foul
play was certain, and I knew very well that, in such a desolate part
of the country, the murder of an individual, totally unknown, would
hardly be noticed. That I had been held up to the resentment of the
inhabitants as a tithe collector and an attorney with a warrant, was
quite sufficient, I felt conscious, to induce them to make away with me.
How to undeceive them was the difficulty.