Produced by Al Haines
[Transcriber's note: the source book had no listed author, however, the
British Library catalog shows John Arthur Hamilton as the author.]
THE MS. IN
A RED BOX
LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD
NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY
_Cheap Edition_
BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. LTD., LONDON
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED
TO ITS UNKNOWN AUTHOR
BY THE PUBLISHER
ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S NOTE
One day in April last a parcel was sent to the Bodley Head. On being
opened it was found to contain a MS. in a red box, without any
accompanying letter, without title, author's name, or address. For
some days it was not entered in the book of the firm kept for the
purpose of registering the receipt of MSS.; but, as no letter was
received, towards the end of the month it was recorded in pencil as
follows: "The MS. in a Red Box." According to the usual course it was
then sent to the publisher's reader, who reported on it with
enthusiasm; meanwhile there had been no inquiry from the author, and
the publisher read it for himself, and fully endorsed the opinion of
his literary adviser. After some discussion, the following
advertisement was inserted in the pages of _The Athenaeum_ and _The
Academy_:--
TO AUTHORS.
NOTICE.--If the Writer of a Historical Novel, without Title, Author's
Name, or Address, sent some weeks ago to the Bodley Head in a Red Box,
will communicate with the Publisher, he will hear of something to his
advantage.
JOHN LANE.
Vigo Street, London, W.
This gave rise to much comment in the press, and of course brought
several applications from authors of MSS. which had gone astray.
The publisher learnt, to his bewilderment, that MSS. of novels have a
tendency to wander irresponsibly in space, somewhat after the fashion
of comets.
Later on the publisher again advertised, stating that he would publish
the book on a certain day under the title of "The MS. in a Red Box,"
unless the author communicated with him before the advertised date.
For the selection of the title, the publisher is indebted to Mrs. W. K.
Clifford, Mrs. Ford of Pencarrow, Mrs. Wilberforce, Mr. I. N. Ford of
the _New York Tribune_, Mr. Henry Harland, Mr. W. J. Locke, and
Professor York Powell, as it happened that these seven all suggested
the same title on the same day; and the superstitious instinct of the
publisher was not proof against this consensus of opinion.
Mr. Ford is responsible for the cover, which represents the Red Box in
which the MS. originally reached the Bodley Head; but to the Hon. Mrs.
Anstruther is due the witty suggestion of adding the Della Robbia
plaque from the Florentine Foundling Hospital.
The author may, perhaps, ask why the publisher did not wait longer for
him to reveal himself. The reason was that it appeared that the
interest aroused in this foundling romance, through the author's
modesty or carelessness, would be best maintained by publication while
the incidents were still fresh in the minds of the public. The
publisher holds that what is the author's interest is also his.
With regard to the business side of this transaction, the publisher
will try to meet the author's demands in a spirit of fairness; but,
should there be any dispute arise, he, for his part, will be quite
willing to leave the decision with the President of the Society of
Authors, Mr. George Meredith, and the President of the Publishers'
Association, Mr. Charles James Longman, the prince of English
publishers.
For the author's protection, some slight changes have been made in the
MS., in no way, however, affecting the story, but of sufficient
importance to prevent any false claim from being successfully advanced.
The author's interests have been further safeguarded by "The MS. in a
Red Box" being copyrighted and published in the United States of
America. The work has been seen through the press by Mr. Richard
Upton, of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Apart from the interest the publisher has had in reading the book, he
has to thank the author for relieving the tedium of ordinary
publishing, and, in addition, for providing him with the unique
experience of dedicating a book to its unknown author.
THE BODLEY HEAD
_The MS. in a RED BOX_
CHAPTER I
On the tenth of May in the year sixteen hundred and twenty-seven, I
rode from Temple Belwood to Crowle, as blithe and merry as any young
fellow in the world. For one thing, the day was the finest of an early
season, the air sweet with spring odours and glad with pleasant sounds.
The laburnums and lilacs and hawthorn and the foreign chestnuts (in
blossom for the first time at Temple Belwood that year) were full of
bloom. The hen-pheasants were whistling to their new-hatched broods;
the fresh-shorn sheep were answering the bleating of their lambs; trees
and bushes rang with the melody of small birds, and from the holms and
islets of marsh and mere came a din of quacking, clanging, and
chattering water-fowl, which distance mingled and softened into music.
But what a pother I make! It was a fine spring day in Axholme. The
great reason for gladness was that I had received good news--news of
hard won victory from my father, then in London. For years the Isle
had been threatened with invasion by one Cornelius Vermuijden, a
Dutchman, who had induced the King to grant him authority to drain the
meres, embank and stop the rivers of the Isle, and transform the
country at his pleasure, regardless of the rights of the Isle Commoners
covenanted in the Deed of Earl Mowbray. When the Dutchman had
completed his precious scheme, one third of the land reclaimed was to
become the property of the King, another to be Vermuijden's, and the
remaining third to be divided among the Commoners of the Isle, that is,
the land-owners. This, without the consent of the land-owners, be it
understood, and in nowise considering the ruin certain to befall
hundreds of poorer folk, who lived by fishing, fowling, reed-cutting,
egg-gathering, and the like crafts of marshmen.
When the first rumour of the plan came to Axholme, it was theme for
laughter. What man in his senses could believe that his Majesty would
empower a foreigner to lord it over two hundred and fifty square miles
of English soil, diverting rivers, cutting canals, turning pools and
lakes into boggy ground, and of necessity (so said shrewd men, who had
knowledge of such matters, and as indeed proved to be the case),
turning fruitful fields into marsh and swamp? But consternation
quickly followed jesting, for the incredible thing was true. His
Majesty had great need of money, and the Dutchman held command of
inexhaustible treasure, so the Isle was to be given over to his will.
Then gentle and simple alike turned to my father, Thomas Vavasour.
They knew his courage and capacity and his public mind. Into his hands
they committed their cause, and he became "their Solicitor," as they
loved to call him, though he was no lawyer by profession, nor ever
received aught for his services. He had been in London on this
business for some weeks, and now wrote to me that he had obtained a
judgment of the Court of Exchequer, confirming the rights of the Isle
Commoners, and finally quashing the scheme of invasion. My father had
worsted the Dutchman--and his Majesty himself--and saved the Isle! The
news would set the bells ringing in every steeple in Axholme; there
would be bonfires on every hill and mound, and feasting and merrymaking
in every manor house and farm and cottage. I had been ready to caper
and shout when I read the letter, but I suddenly bethought me that the
announcement should be made by "the Solicitor" himself, and that if it
so pleased him, my coming of age that day week would be a fitting
occasion. It was hard to keep the tidings to myself, but it appeared
right to me that my father, who had gained it, should publish his
victory. In his letter he said nothing to guide me. I determined to
take counsel of the Vicar of Crowle, my uncle by marriage with my
mother's sister. But when I reached Crowle, it became doubtful whether
I should impart the great news even to Mr. Graves, who had a high sense
of his importance as the parson of a parish, and might be unable to
resist the temptation to be the first to announce the good news. The
next day would be Sunday, I remembered. To think of this awhile
longer, I turned my horse into a track, which wound up a little hill
that over-topped the town. As soon as I gained the crown of the hill,
a tumult of angry shouts and the noise of barking dogs came to my ears,
and I rode down the track toward the spot from which the sounds arose.
A thick growth of trees hindered my view until I came to an open glade,
where a number of men and lads, perhaps two score, were gathered round
an old oak. They seemed to be threatening some one. As I drew nearer,
I saw a young and beautiful woman, seated on a root of the old tree,
her back against the trunk, and one arm partly folded in her cloak,
round the neck of a fawn, huddled closely to her. The cloak had been
torn in two or three places, and through the rents showed the whiteness
of her arm stained with blood. Her face was deathly pale, but her eyes
were bright and dauntless.
The fellows parted right and left as I rode up, and some of them seemed
half ashamed of themselves before I spoke.
"What devilry is this?" I shouted. "You vile cowards! To set your
dogs on a woman!"
A stout fellow, whose face bore many scars of old wounds, nicknamed
Stride-a-mile from his skill in stilt-walking, answered me boldly
enough--
"The devilry is none of ours. The foreign woman has bewitched the
fawn, and won't give it up. How could we hinder the dogs snapping at
her?"
"You lie, you rascal," I replied. "The curs are harmless enough now
that you are not hissing them on."
Half a dozen mongrel hounds were whimpering and snarling and growling
round the lady, but not attempting to bite.
"Maybe I am a liar and a coward and a devil, Master Vavasour," said
Stride-a-mile; "but the fawn is ours, and we mean to have it. We found
it and the doe yonder"--pointing to a carcase which lay on the ground
thirty yards off--"out of forest bounds, and we've chased it, and 'tis
ours." The fellow looked round on his comrades, some of whom answered
the look by gripping cudgels, displaying their big knives, or setting
their crossbows.
Boiling with rage at what I deemed the fellow's insolence, and
forgetting the odds against me, and what might happen to the lady, if I
should be overborne, I raised my riding-whip, and touched Trueboy's
side with my heel, when an oldish man, whom I did not know, stepped
between me and Stride-a-mile, saying--
"A parley, squire. 'Twould be a bad day's work if harm came to you;
and venison isn't worth any man's life. Maybe the lady will explain to
you why she wants the whole fawn. It would go bad long before she
could eat it all. If she would be satisfied with a haunch, now, we
won't say her nay."
Angry though I was, I could not forbear laughing that the lady should
be suspected of so inordinate desire of venison, but I knew no more
than the fat fellow himself what her reason was for keeping their game
from the rabble. I looked at her inquiringly.
She spoke in a clear, sweet voice. "When its mother fell, and the dogs
sprang upon her, the poor little creature ran straight to me, and its
dear, brown eyes said, 'Save me,' as well as eyes can speak. How could
I be so cruel as to refuse its suppliant plea?"
As her own fawn-like eyes were lifted to me, I wished I could paint the
beautiful face as a picture of the Mother of Pity.
"Will the men take money for the fawn, if they wish to eat it?" she
asked, holding out a piece of gold between thumb and finger.
Most of the men brightened at the suggestion, but Stride-a-mile
answered--
"Who's to say 'tis good? No foreign tokens for us. For aught we know
'tis witches' money, and will turn to cinder."
"Oh, if that's your objection," said I, "here's a twenty-shilling
laurel," which I tossed to him.
The magic of money! The sulky clowns were happy on the instant. They
gave a cheer for the "young Squire of Belwood," and hurried off to pick
up the doe, and then, doubtless, to the ale-house.
Dismounting, I inquired whether the lady had friends at hand to whose
care I might take her.
"My father and I are lodging at the inn of the White Hart," she said,
rising to her feet, but immediately sinking again, with a little moan.
"I am afraid walking is out of my power," she said. "My ankle is
disabled. If you will do me the kindness to acquaint my father, Doctor
Goel, with my position, he will know what to do."
"Pardon me, but that would be waste of time, and time is precious," I
answered. "Your hurts should be seen to without delay. If you can
manage to sit my horse, I will lead him gently."
A faint smile crossed her face, drawn with pain though it was.
"I have never ridden a horse, and should probably fall; for, to tell
the truth, I have some fear that I may swoon."
She was so pale, and such a dimness had come into her eyes that I
feared so, too.
"Then we must needs ride double," said I, jumping into the saddle. "I
will take you in front of me, and there will be no risk of your
falling."
"But the little deer," she cried. "We cannot leave the poor little
beast."
I was ready to curse the "little beast," but there was no gainsaying
the lady, so I leaped down again, took up the fawn, and scrambling up
on the roots of the old oak, which was hollow, thrust it through a
great hole, and let it drop inside.
Regaining my saddle, I said, "The fawn will be safe, until we have
leisure to return. Now for the White Hart."
With some difficulty, I drew the lady on to Trueboy's back, and putting
one arm round her waist, set off at a canter. Happily, she did not
swoon, and in ten minutes we arrived at the inn, where the stout
hostess and Nancy the maid received the lady into their arms, and
carried her to an inner room, making a great outcry of pity and
astonishment, and asking twenty questions in a breath. Committing
Trueboy to Mat the ostler, I followed, in time to catch a glimpse of
the lady laid on a squab, and of a tall, spare man of sixty or
thereabout bending over her. Then the door was closed, and I seated
myself in the common room, and waited, while Mistress Hind and her maid
bustled about with jugs and basins of water, hot and cold, and towels
and clean rags, shaking their heads, and sighing and exclaiming after
the manner of their kind. Growing impatient of the noise they made, I
walked out into the inn yard, and remembering that the fawn was still
in the wood, and that the lady would be concerned about the creature, I
despatched Mat with a handcart, rope, et cetera, to bring it to the inn.
When I re-entered the house, the old man came to the door of the inner
chamber, and making a sweeping bow, addressed me in French, signifying
that his daughter wished to have speech with me. I returned his bow,
and followed into the room, where the lady lay, a little colour now in
her cheeks, and in her eyes a mirthful light. I thought I had never
seen woman half so lovely, and I think so still.
"Be seated, sir, if you please," she said. "I have yet to thank you
for your courage and kindness."
I interrupted her. "Are the wounds likely to be healed soon? Is there
no peril of lameness, or enduring mischief?" I asked, half turning to
her father.
"My father has little English," said she. "Perhaps you speak French?"
I shook my head; for, though I knew something of the tongue, I much
preferred to converse through the charming interpreter.
"To set your mind at rest," she continued, with a glance bright and
warm as a sunbeam, "my father tells me that a few scars will be the
worst consequences of what he calls my folly--and the barbarism of your
countrymen."
"Barbarism, assuredly," I answered; "but it is to be said for them that
the fawn was their game, and they did not understand your behaviour.
You ran great risk by defending it. Why did you not offer them money
for it?"
"Because the heart is quicker than the head." Then she added archly,
"You were not much wiser. It did not occur to you to buy our safety.
You were for fighting, one against fifty, with riding-whip against
bludgeons and crossbows and guns."
"Perhaps I was more foolish than valiant," said I.
"Nay, I meant no flout," answered the lady, and her eyes were dewy as
she looked at me.
"The fat old fellow must have the praise for our deliverance," I said.
"Not from me," smiled the lady.
The gratitude she so expressed drove me to say, hoping to divert her
mind--
"By this time, Mat will have brought your fawn."
"How kind of you to take such pains! But _my_ fawn it is not, since
your money purchased it from the hunters."
"Honour me by acceptance of it, then."
"A trifle additional to my life. With pleasure. I did not understand
perfectly why the man would not take my coin. Said he not something of
witchcraft?"
"Only an idle word. The ruffian spoke in amazement that the fawn had
taken refuge at your feet."
"It was wonderful to me; the more so that I had never seen such a
creature in my life. We have no deer in the Netherlands."
"You are from the Netherlands?"
"My father"--looking fondly and proudly toward the old man, who was
deep in a book--"until three years ago, was not the least famous
professor in the University of Leyden, the intimate friend of the great
Oldenbarneveldt, and of the renowned Van Groot."
"My good old tutor, Mr. Butharwick, will hasten to pay his respect to
Doctor Goel. He calls Grotius the second and greater Erasmus,
lamp-bearer of learning, the glory of Europe, and I know not what
besides."
Mistress Goel turned to her father, and spoke to him in their own
tongue, mighty well pleased, as I guessed, to tell him that an admirer
of his friend lived so near. The doctor drew himself up in his chair,
his wrinkled face transfigured by a radiant smile. His daughter
continued--
"My father's enemies, envious of his learning and repute, laid
accusation against him of being privy to the conspiracy to murder
Prince Maurice. He was thrown into prison at the same time as his
friend. Not to prolong my tale to tedious length, he escaped to
France. We left Paris three months ago for London, where he met an old
acquaintance, Vermuijden by name, who is about to begin great
drainage-works in this part of the country, as you probably know."
"He _was_ about to do so," I answered; "but the scheme has come to
nothing. The highest court of law in England has made void the King's
grant to Vermuijden."
"A court of law has annulled a royal decree!" she exclaimed.
"It is even so," I replied. "The laws of England are not to be
overridden at the King's will."
Hereupon followed much converse between father and daughter, of which I
made out no more than that they were greatly astonished and in doubt,
as if my news had deeply concerned themselves.
Their colloquy ended, Mistress Goel asked me many questions, prompted
by the doctor, respecting the rights of the Commoners and their
opposition to the drainage of the Isle, repeating my answers to her
father, who seemed much disquieted thereby. Hitherto, he had believed
that the scheme met with favour from all the inhabitants, excepting
some few of the baser sort, and I gathered that he had invested money
in the purchase of shares in an undertaking which he supposed to be of
unquestioned public advantage, and likely to yield no small gain to the
participants.
His anxiety was somewhat relieved when he heard that the Commoners had
no rights in the King's Chace at Hatfield, which formed part of the
area under Vermuijden's plan.
Suddenly remembering that I had overstaid the limits of decorum and of
kindness, Mistress Goel suffering as she must be, I rose to take leave.
"You will not forget to bring your friend to see my father," said she,
flushing a little, or so I fancied.
As I withdrew into the common room, Lord Sheffield entered by the front
door, and gave order in his imperious style to the obsequious hostess
that his presence should be signified to Doctor Goel. He and I
exchanged the distant bow of ceremony, for there was no love lost
between us two. His ten-years younger brother, Edmund, and I had been
dear comrades until Edmund's death; and, indeed, my hatred of the elder
grew out of my love for the younger, to whom my Lord Sheffield behaved
ever with bitterness and cruelty. Not caring to remain in the same
room with "my Lord Arrogancy," as we of the Isle were wont to call him,
I went out into the yard to bid Mat bring my horse, and, as Mat had
many questions to ask concerning the treatment of the fawn, some time
passed before Trueboy was led out of stable. Just as I lifted foot to
stirrup, his lordship came out of the back door, toying with his sword.
It was one of his whims, or part of his cowardice, never to go unarmed.
"You have a good horse, Master Frank," said he.
I nodded, knowing that he had not come out to praise my horse.
"If you should want a purchaser for him, I would make you a bid," he
continued.
"I have no present purpose of selling him," I replied.
"No immediate purpose, but when your father has flung away his
patrimony in suits at law against the King, you may be glad to know of
a buyer, who will give you your price."
"When that event befalls, I will remember your lordship's promise."
"Do. My friends, Doctor Goel and his fair daughter, tell me you have
been exceedingly kind in bribing a rabble crew to call off their dogs
from the lady. Pray accept my thanks. It will give you comfort to
know that she will not again be exposed to annoyance by the scoundrels
of the neighbourhood. To-morrow they remove to our poor castle of
Butterwick."
I bowed an acknowledgment of his information, mounted, and rode away.
A heedless rider I was, leaving Trueboy to choose the manner of our
going. I saw nothing but, now the pale face with steadfast look
confronting the threatening crowd, now the face aflush with tender
pity, now the arch-light in the brown eyes as she talked with me in the
room. And this was one of our invaders! A conquering invader, right
surely! A Dutchwoman! Nay, an angel!
How flowingly and trippingly she spoke our English tongue! How
divinely she endured her pain! How daintily she mingled raillery and
sweetness! No such woman had ever lived on earth before. And one day
she could call me Frank, and be my own. Some foreboding that my father
and I might be divided by my love, I felt, but none the less determined
that she should be mine. That sneering villain, Sheffield, had marked
her as his prey, but I had no fear of him. She would know him for the
libertine and coward that he was. Why had he told me that to-morrow
she would be removed to his father's house? Ten to one, he lied to me,
perhaps that he might hinder me from going to the White Hart again.
Ha, ha, what a thrice sodden fool to think _that_! Or it might be that
he had some other mischief in his head. Whatever it might be, I would
be too strong for him.
For all the way I rode there rang in my ears to the sweetest tune, "You
will not forget to bring your friend to see my father." No, I should
not forget. To-morrow, early, I would bring my friend.
How long, long ago is it since that bright day of May? And I remember
all I felt, and thought better than I remember yesterday.