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Major Frank
By
A. L. G. Bosboom-Toussaint
Author of "The English in Rome," etc.
Translated from the Dutch
By
James Akeroyd
London
T Fisher Unwin
26 Paternoster Square
1885
MAJOR FRANK.
CHAPTER I.
A Letter from Sir Leopold van Zonshoven to Mr. William Verheyst
at A----.
The Hague, March, 1865.
Dear Friend,--If you are not too deeply absorbed in some lawsuit or
other, come to me by the first express you can catch from your little
provincial town. Something wonderful has happened, and I have great
need of a friend to whom I can confide my secret. Imagine Leopold
van Zonshoven, who seemed destined from his infancy to figure in this
world as a poor gentleman--imagine your friend Leopold suddenly come
into an immense fortune.
An old aunt of my mother's, of whom I had never heard, and who it seems
had quarrelled with all her relations, has hit upon the sublime idea of
playing the "Fairy Godmother" to me. By her will I am made sole heir
to all the property she died possessed of. I, who with the strictest
economy and self-control have barely managed to keep out of debt;
I, who have never given way to youthful follies or run into excess,
now see a million thrown at my head. This is contrary to the ideas of
the romancing novelist, who as a rule reforms and rewards the wildest
youth. I almost knocked over the lamp on opening the letter which
contained this incredible news; fortunately my landlady caught it,
for she was waiting for the eighteenpence which the messenger demanded
for his services, and she has since confessed to me she thought that
it was a case of "baliffs." I got rid of her as quickly as possible
and bolted the door behind her. I felt an irresistible desire to be
alone, and to convince myself that the news was real, and not a page
out of the "Arabian Nights."
After having satisfied myself of the reality of the affair, I was
assailed by an indescribable confusion of ideas and impressions. My
heart beat as if it would burst; I felt a rising in my throat as if I
should choke; and the first profit which I derived from my new fortune
was a severe headache. I am not a stoic, and I have never attempted
to appear in that character. Lately all my thoughts have been fixed
on some method of changing the miserable position in which I have thus
far vegetated, and there seemed but one hope left me: a reconciliation
with my uncle, the Cabinet Minister, who could get me an appointment
as attache to one of the embassies. But this would be a difficult task,
for his Excellency has forbidden me his house because of some articles
that I wrote in an opposition paper. How I regretted not having been
able to complete my studies and take a degree, the lack of which has
shut me out from so many posts open to my fellow-students.
At the age of twenty-nine it is a losing game to compete with
younger men in possession of a degree; and whilst I sat brooding
over my misfortunes, suddenly the news reaches me that I am a rich
landed proprietor. I ask you, cool-headed man of the law as you are,
whether that is not enough to turn the brain of a simple mortal like
myself? Do come, then, as soon as possible to talk the matter over with
me, especially as there is one point on which I must have your advice
before entering into possession of my estates. Possibly your judicial
eye will make light of it, but for me it is a conscientious question,
or at least a question of delicacy, which may cause my mountain of
gold to crumble to dust. I will decide nothing before consulting
you. In the meantime I have given my lawyer power of attorney under
reserve. Here I have many acquaintances, but not one trusted friend
to whom I can reveal the secrets of my bosom without the fear of
being misunderstood or made ridiculous.
And now farewell till we meet. With or without the fortune, believe
me to be ever yours sincerely,
Leopold van Zonshoven.