A CRIMINAL FOLLY
1
In June, you made your debut upon the stage, dear Mistress. Though You
only played a small Part, your Grace and Charm soon won universal
approval. I have so often told You of my feelings, my hopes, my tremors
and my joy on the occasion when first I saw You upon the boards, that I
will not weary You with the re-telling of them once again. Securely
hidden behind a pillar, I only lived through the super-acuteness of my
Senses, which drank in your Presence from the moment when You stepped
out from behind the Curtain and revealed your gracious personality to an
admiring Audience.
As long as I live, every word which You spoke on that day will continue
to ring in mine ear, and ere mine eyes close for ever in their last long
Sleep, I shall see your exquisite Image floating dreamlike before their
gaze.
2
From that day onward, I saw you more seldom than I had been wont to do
before. Your Success at the new Theatre had been so pronounced that Sir
William Davenant soon entrusted You with more important parts. Thus
your time was greatly taken up both with Performances and with
Rehearsals and with the choosing and trying on of dresses. Of
necessity, your work threw you often in the company of Mr. Betterton, he
being the leading Actor in Sir William's Company, and the most popular
as he was the most eminent of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants. In
fact, his Fame at this time was reaching its Apogee. He was reckoned
one of the Intimates of His Majesty himself; Gentlemen and Noblemen
sought his company; great Ladies were zealous to win his favours.
Needless to say that concurrently with his rise to pre-eminence, an army
of Enemies sprung up around him. Hungry curs will ever bay at the moon.
Set a cat upon a high post and in a moment others will congregate down
below and spit and yowl at their more fortunate kind. Scandal and
spite, which had never been so rife as in these days, fastened
themselves like evil tentacles on Mr. Betterton's fair Name.
He was too proud to combat these, and You too proud to lend an ear to
them. You met him now upon an easy footing of Friendship, of gentle
gratitude as of a successful Pupil towards a kindly Teacher. To any one
who did not know You as I do, You must at that time have seemed
completely happy. You were independent now, earning a good salary,
paying Mistress Euphrosine liberally for the lodgings which she placed
at your disposal; free to come and go as You pleased, to receive the
visits of Gentlemen who were desirous of paying their respects to You.
You were, in fact, Mistress Saunderson, the well-known Actress, who was
busy climbing--and swiftly, too--the Ladder of Fame.
Of your proposed Marriage with Mr. Betterton there was of course no
longer any talk. For some reason best known to herself, and which I
myself never tried to fathom, even Mistress Euphrosine had ceased to
speak of it.
Did she, within the depths of her ambitious and avaricious Heart,
harbour the belief that her Brother would one day wed one of those great
Ladies, who were wont to hang entranced upon his lips, when he spoke the
immortal words of the late Mr. William Shakespeare or of Mr. John
Dryden? I know not; nor what benefit she would have derived from it if
such an unlikely Event had indeed taken place.
Towards me, she was still frigidly contemptuous. But as to that, I did
not care. I was determined to endure her worst gibes for the sake of
dwelling under the same roof which still had the privilege of sheltering
You.
3
It was one day early in September--just something over a year ago, in
fact--that my Lord Stour called at the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs. I
knew him at once for the Cavalier who was ever in attendance upon the
Lady Barbara Wychwoode and whom rumour had assigned to her as her future
Husband.
Frankly, I had never liked him from the first. I thought him overbearing
and arrogant. His manner towards those who were inferior to him in
station was always one of contempt. And I often wondered how Mr.
Theophilus Baggs, who was an Attorney of some standing in the City of
London, could endure the cool insolence wherewith young Gentlemen like
my Lord Stour and others were wont to treat him. Not only that, but he
seemed to derive a sort of gratification from it, and was wont to
repeat--I was almost going to say that he would boast of--these acts of
overbearance to which he was so often subjected.
"Another of the stiff-necked sort," he would say after he had bowed one
of these fine Gentlemen obsequiously out of his office. "An honest,
God-fearing Man is as dirt beneath the feet of these Gallants."
My Lord Stour, of a truth, was no exception to the rule. I have since
been assured that he was quite kindly and gracious in himself, and that
his faults were those of the Milieu in which he had been brought up,
rather than of himself.
Of course, You, dear Mistress, were out of the house during the whole of
that never-to-be-forgotten day of which I am about to speak, and
therefore knew nothing of the terrible Event which then occurred and
which, in my humble judgment, completely revolutionized Mr. Betterton's
character for the time being. But Fate had decreed that I should see it
all. Every moment of that awful afternoon is indelibly graven upon my
Memory. I had, however, neither the Chance nor the Opportunity to speak
to You of it all. At first I did not think that it would be expedient.
The humiliation which Mr. Betterton was made to endure on that day was
such that I could not bear to speak of it, least of all to You, who
still held him in such high esteem. And later on, I still thought it
best to be silent. Mr. Betterton and You seemed to have drifted apart
so completely, that I did not feel that it would do any good to rake up
old hurts, and to submit them to the cruel light of day.
But now everything is changed. The Lady Barbara's influence over Mr.
Betterton has gone, never to return; whilst his Heart once more yearns
for the only true Love which has ever gladdened it.
4
My Lord Stour came to call upon Mr. Theophilus Baggs at three o'clock of
the afternoon. Kathleen, the maid of all work, opened the door to him,
and Mistress Euphrosine received him in the Parlour, where I was also
sitting at my desk, engaged in copying out a lengthy Indenture.
"Master Baggs awaits me, I think," my Lord said as he entered the room.
Mistress Euphrosine made a deep curtsey, for she was ever fond of the
Aristocracy.
"Will you deign to enter, my Lord?" she said. "My husband will wait upon
your pleasure."
"Tell him to be quick, then," said my Lord; "for I have not a great deal
of time to spare."
He seated himself beside the table and drew off his gloves. He had
taken absolutely no notice of my respectful salutation.
Mistress Euphrosine sailed out of the room and a moment or two later Mr.
Baggs came in, carrying a sheaf of papers and looking very fussy and
obsequious.
My Lord did not rise to greet him, only turned his head in his direction
and said curtly:
"You are Mr. Theophilus Baggs, Attorney-at-law?"
"At your Lordship's service," replied my employer.
"Brother-in-law of Tom Betterton, the Actor, so I am told," my Lord went
on with quiet condescension.
This innocent remark, however, appeared to upset Mr. Baggs. He
stammered and grew as red as a turkey-cock, not realizing that his
connection with the great Actor was truly an honour upon his Name. He
hemmed and hawed and looked unutterably foolish, as he mumbled
confusedly:
"Er ... that is ... only occasionally, my Lord ... very occasionally, I
may say ... that is ... I..."
"Pray calm yourself," broke in my Lord haughtily. "I admire the
fellow's acting ... the Man himself does not exist for me."
"You are most gracious, my Lord," murmured Mr. Baggs promptly, whilst I
could have struck him for his obsequiousness and his Lordship for his
arrogance.
It seems that the matter which had brought Lord Stour to Mr. Baggs'
office was one of monies connected with the winding-up of the affairs of
the late Earl, uncle of the present Peer. I was busy with my work
during the time that these affairs were being discussed and did not pay
much heed to the conversation. Only two fragments thereof struck mine
ear. I remember, chiefly because they were so characteristic of the two
men--the Aristocrat and the Plebeian--and of the times in which we live.
At one time Mr. Baggs ventured to enquire after the health of the
Honourable Mrs. Stourcliffe, his Lordship's mother; and you should have
heard the tone of frigid pride wherewith my Lord seemed to repel any
such presumptuous enquiries.
The other fragment which I overheard was towards the end of the
interview, when Mr. Theophilus Baggs, having counted over the Money
before his Lordship, placed a Paper before him and bade me bring him a
pen.
"What's this?" queried my Lord, astonished.
"Oh!" Mr. Baggs stammered, with his habitual humility of demeanour, "a
mere formality, my Lord ... er ... h'm ... only a ... er ... receipt."
"A receipt?" my Lord asked, with an elevation of his aristocratic brows.
"What for?"
"Er ... er..." Mr. Baggs stammered. "For the monies, my Lord. That is
... er ... if you will deign to count it over yourself ... and see that
it is correct."
At this, my Lord rose from his seat, waved me aside, took and pocketed
the money. Then he said coolly to Mr. Baggs:
"No, Sir; I do not care to count. My Uncle knew You to be honest, or he
would not have placed his affairs in your hands. That is sufficient for
me. I, on the other hand, have received the money.... That is
sufficient for You."
"But----!" ejaculated Mr. Baggs, driven out of his timidity by such
summary procedure.
"Egad, Sir!" broke in my Lord, more haughtily than before. "Are you
perchance supposing that I might claim money which I have already had?"
"No ... no!" protested Mr. Baggs hastily. "I assure you, my Lord ... er
... that it is ... h'm ... a mere formality ... and..."
"My word," retorted my Lord coolly, "is sufficient formality."
Whereupon he turned to the door, taking no more notice of me than if I
were the doormat. He nodded to Mr. Baggs, who was of a truth too deeply
shaken to speak, and with a curt "I wish you good-day, Mr. Notary!"
strode out of the room.
I doubt not, Mistress, that You and many others of gentle Manners if not
of gentle Birth, would think that in recounting this brief interview
between my employer and the young Earl of Stour, I have been guilty of
exaggeration in depicting my Lord's arrogance. Yet, on my word, it all
occurred just as I have told it. No doubt that Mr. Baggs'
obsequiousness must have been irritating, and that it literally called
forth the haughty Retort which otherwise might have remained unspoken.
I myself, humble and insignificant as I am, have oft felt an almost
uncontrollable impulse to kick my worthy Employer into some measure of
manliness.
For let me assure You that, though subsequently I became more closely
acquainted with my Lord Stour, I never heard him use such haughty
language to any of his Dependents, nor do I think that so gentle a Lady
as Lady Barbara Wychwoode would have bestowed her fondness and regard
upon him had his Nature been as supercilious and as insolent as his
Words.
5
That afternoon was indeed destined to be fuller of events than I ever
could have anticipated. No sooner had I closed the door upon my Lord
Stour, when I heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and then my Lord's
voice raised once more, this time with a tone of pleasure mingled with
astonishment.
"Wychwoode, by gad!" he exclaimed. "And what in Heaven's name have you
come to do in the old fox's lair?"
I did not hear the immediate reply. More fussy than ever, Mr. Baggs had
already signed to me to reopen the door.
"Lord Douglas Wychwoode," he murmured hurriedly in my ear. "One of the
younger sons of the Marquis of Sidbury. I am indeed fortunate to-day.
The scions of our great Nobility do seek my help and counsel..." and
more such senseless words did he utter, whilst the two young Gentlemen
paused for a moment upon the landing, talking with one another.
"I thought you still in France," Lord Douglas said to his friend. "What
hath brought you home so unexpectedly?"
"I only arrived this morning," the other replied; "and hoped to present
my respects this evening, if your Father and the Lady Barbara will
receive me."
"Indeed, they'll be delighted. _Cela va sans dire_, my friend. My
sister has been rather pensive of late. Your prolonged absence may have
had something to do with her mood."
"May you speak the truth there!" my Lord Stour remarked with a sigh.
"But now you have not told me," rejoined Lord Douglas, as he and his
friend finally went into the room and curtly acknowledged Mr. Baggs'
reiterated salutations, "what hath brought you to the house of this
bobbing old Thief yonder."
"Private business," replied Lord Stour. "And you?"
"The affairs of England," said the other, and tossed his head proudly
like some young Lion scenting battle.
Before his friend could utter another remark, Lord Douglas strode
rapidly across the room, took some papers out of the inner pocket of his
coat, and called to Mr. Baggs to come up closer to him.
"I want," he said in a quick and peremptory whisper, "a dozen copies of
this Deed done at once and by a sure hand. Can you do it?"
"Yes, I think so," replied Mr. Baggs. "May I see what the paper is?"
I was watching the pair of them; so was my Lord Stour. On his face
there came a sudden frown as of disapproval and anxiety.
"Wychwoode----!" he began.
But the other did not heed him. His eyes--which were so like those of
his Sister--were fixed with an eager, questioning gaze upon my Employer.
The latter's face was absolutely expressionless and inscrutable whilst
he scanned the paper which Lord Douglas, after a scarce perceptible
moment of hesitation, had handed to him for perusal.
"Yes," he said quietly, when he had finished reading. "It can be done."
"At once?" asked Lord Douglas.
"At once. Yes, my Lord."
"By a sure hand?"
"Discretion, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs, with the first show of dignity
I have ever seen him display, "is a virtue in my profession, the failing
in which would be a lasting disgrace."
"I rely even more upon your convictions, Mr. Baggs," Lord Douglas
rejoined earnestly, "than upon your virtues."
"You and your friends, my Lord, have deigned to talk those matters over
with me many a time before. You and they know that You can count on
me."
Mr. Baggs spoke with more Quietude and Simplicity than was his wont when
dealing with some of these noble Lords. You may be sure, dear Mistress,
that I was vastly astonished at what I heard, still more at what I
guessed. That Mr. Baggs and his Spouse belonged to the old Puritan
Party which had deplored the Restoration of the Kingship, I knew well
enough. I knew that both he and Mistress Euphresine looked with
feelings akin to horror upon a system of Government which had for its
supreme head a King, more than half addicted to Popery and wholly to
fast living, with women, gambling and drinking all the day. But what I
had never even remotely guessed until now was that he had already lent a
helping hand to those numerous Organisations, which had for their object
the overthrow of the present loose form of Government, if not that of
the Monarchy itself.
I did not know, in fact, that beneath a weak and obsequious exterior, my
Employer hid the stuff of which dangerous Conspirators are often made.
For the nonce, however, I imagine that he contented himself with writing
out Deeds and Proclamations for the more important Malcontents, of whom
apparently my Lord Douglas Wychwoode was one. He had never taken me
into his confidence, even though he must have known that he could always
rely upon my Discretion. What caused him to trust me now more than he
had done before, I do not know. Perhaps he had come to a final decision
to throw in his lot with the ultra-Protestant party, who viewed with
such marked disfavour the projects of the King's marriage with the
Popish Princess of Portugal. Certain it is that he came to me without
any hesitation with the Papers which Lord Douglas had just entrusted to
him, and that he at once ordered me to make the twelve copies which his
Lordship desired.
I retired within the window-recess which You know so well, and wherein I
am wont to sit at my copying work. Mr. Baggs then set me to my task,
after which he drew the screen across the recess, so that I remained
hidden from the view of those who were still in the room. I set to with
a Will, for my task was a heavy one. Twelve copies of a Manifesto,
which in itself covered two long pages.
A Manifesto, in truth!
I could scarce believe mine eyes as I read the whole rambling, foolish,
hot-headed Rigmarole. Did I not have the Paper actually in my hand, had
I not seen Lord Douglas Wychwoode handing it himself over to Mr. Baggs,
I could not have believed that any Men in their sober senses could have
lent a hand to such criminal Folly.
Folly it was; and criminal to boot!
The whole matter is past History now, and there can be no harm in my
relating it when so much of it hath long ago been made public.
That Manifesto was nothing more or less than an Appeal to certain
Sympathizers to join in one of the maddest enterprises any man could
conceive. It seems that my Lady Castlemaine's house was to be kept
watched by Parties of these same Conspirators, until one night when the
King paid her one of his customary evening Visits. Then the signal was
to be given, the House surrounded, my Lady Castlemaine kidnapped, His
Majesty seized and forced to abdicate in favour of the young Duke of
Monmouth, who would then be proclaimed King of England, with the Prince
of Orange as Regent.
Now, have you ever heard of anything more mad? I assure You that I was
literally staggered, and as my Pen went wearily scratching over the
Paper I felt as if I were in a dream, seeing before me visions of what
the end of such a foolish Scheme would be: the Hangman busy, the Prisons
filled, sorrow and desolation in many homes that had hoped to find peace
at last after the turmoil of the past twenty years. For the appeals
were directed to well accredited people outside London, some of whom
were connected with the best known Families in the Country. I must, of
course, refrain from mentioning names that have been allowed to fall
into oblivion in connection with the affair; but You, dear Mistress,
would indeed be astonished if You heard them now.
And what caused me so much worry, whilst I wrote on till my hand felt
cramped and stiff, was mine own Helplessness in the matter. What could
I do, short of betraying the trust which was reposed in me?--and this,
of course, was unthinkable.
I wrote on, feeling ever more dazed and dumb. From the other side of the
screen the Voices of the two young Gentlemen came at times to mine ear
with unusual clearness, at others only like an intermittent hum. Mr.
Baggs had apparently left the room, and the others had no doubt become
wholly oblivious of my Presence. Lord Douglas Wychwoode had told his
Friend something of his madcap Schemes; his voice sounded both eager and
enthusiastic. But my Lord Stour demurred.
"I am a Soldier," he said at one time; "not a Politician."
"That's just it!" the other argued with earnestness. "It is Men like
you that we want. We must crush that spendthrift Wanton who holds the
King in her thrall, and we must force a dishonoured Monarch to give up
the Crown of England to one who is worthier to wear it, since he
himself, even in these few brief months, has already covered it with
infamy."
"You have set yourself a difficult task, my friend," my Lord Stour urged
more soberly; "and a dangerous one, too."
"Only difficult and dangerous," retorted Lord Douglas, "whilst such Men
as you still hold aloof."
"I tell you, I am no Politician," his Friend rejoined somewhat
impatiently.
"But You are a Man, and not a senseless profligate--an earnest
Protestant, who must loathe that cobweb of Popery which overlies the
King's every Action, and blurs his vision of duty and of dignity."
"Yes--but----"
Then it was that Lord Douglas, with great patience and earnestness, gave
to his Friend a detailed account of his criminal Scheme--for criminal it
was, however much it might be disguised under the cloak of patriotism
and religious fervour. How Lord Stour received the communication, I
could not say. I had ceased to listen and was concentrating my mind on
my uncongenial task. Moreover, I fancy that Lord Stour did not say
much. He must have disapproved of it, as any right-minded Man would,
and no doubt tried his best to bring Lord Douglas to a more rational
state of mind. But this is mere conjecture on my part, and, of course,
I could not see his face, which would have been a clear index to his
thoughts. At one time I heard him exclaim indignantly:
"But surely You will not entrust the distribution of those Manifestos,
which may cost you your head, to that obsequious and mealy-mouthed
notary?"
Mr. Baggs should have heard the contempt wherewith my Lord uttered those
words! It would have taught him how little regard his servile ways had
won for him, and how much more thoroughly would he have been respected
had he adopted a more manly bearing towards his Clients, however highly
these may have been placed.
After this, Lord Douglas Wychwoode became even more persuasive and
eager. Perhaps he had noted the first signs of yielding in the Attitude
of his Friend.
"No, no!" he said. "And that is our serious trouble. I and those who
are at one with me feel that we are surrounded with spies. We do want a
sure Hand--a Hand that will not err and that we can trust--to distribute
the Manifestos, and, if possible, to bring us back decisive Answers.
Some of the Men with whom we wish to communicate live at some
considerable distance from town. We only wish to approach influential
people; but some of these seldom come to London; in fact, with the
exception of the Members of a venal Government and of a few effete Peers
as profligate as the King himself, but few Men, worthy of the name, do
elect to live in this degenerate City."
His talk was somewhat rambling; perhaps I did not catch all that he
said. After awhile Lord Stour remarked casually:
"And so You thought of me as your possible Emissary?"
"Was I wrong?" retorted Lord Douglas hotly.
"Nay, my friend," rejoined the other coldly. "I am honoured by this
trust which You would place in me; but----"
"But You refuse?" broke in Lord Douglas with bitter reproach.
I imagine that my Lord Stour's reply must have been an unsatisfactory
one to his Friend, for the latter uttered an exclamation of supreme
impatience. I heard but little more of their conversation just then, for
the noise in the Street below, which had been attracting my Attention on
and off for some time, now grew in intensity, and, curious to know what
it portended, I rose from my chair and leaned out of the window to see
what was happening.
From the window, as You know, one gets a view of the corner of our
Street as it debouches into Fleet Street by the _Spread Eagle_ tavern,
and even the restricted View which I thus had showed me at once that
some kind of rioting was going on. Not rioting of an ordinary kind, for
of a truth we who live in the heart of the City of London are used to
its many cries; to the "Make way there!" of the Sedan Chairman and the
"Make room there!" of the Drivers of wheel-barrows, all mingling with
the "Stand up there, you blind dog!" bawled by every Carman as he tries
to squeeze his way through the throngs in the streets.
No! this time it seemed more than that, and I, who had seen the crowds
which filled the Streets of London from end to end on the occasion of
the death of the Lord Protector, and had seen the merry-makers who had
made those same streets impassable when King Charles entered London a
little more than a year ago, I soon realized that the Crowd which I saw
flocking both up and down Fleet Street was in an ugly mood.
At first I thought that some of those abominable vagabonds from
Whitefriars--those whom we call the Alsatians, and who are in perpetual
conflict with the law--had come out in a body from their sink of
iniquity close by and had started one of their periodical combats with
the Sheriffs' Officers; but soon I recognized some faces familiar to me
among the crowd as they ran past the corner--Men, Women and Boys who,
though of a rough and turbulent Character, could in no way be confounded
with the law-breaking Alsatians.
There was, for instance, the Tinker, whom I knew well by sight. He was
running along, knocking his skillets and frying-pans against one another
as he passed, shouting lustily the while. Then there was a sooty
chimney-sweep, whom I knew to be an honest Man, and the broom Men with
their Boys, and many law-abiding Pedestrians who, fearful of the crowd,
were walking in the traffic way, meekly giving the wall to the more
roisterous throng. They all seemed to be a part of that same Crowd
which was scampering and hurrying up and down Fleet Street, shouting and
causing a disturbance such as I do not remember ever having seen before.
I should have liked to have gazed out of the Window until I had
ascertained positively what the noise was about; but I remembered that
my task was only half-accomplished and that I had at the least another
half-dozen Manifestos to write out. I was on the point of sitting down
once more to my Work when I heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode's voice quite
close to the screen, saying anxiously, as if in answer to some remark
made by his friend:
"I trust not. My Sister is out in her chair somewhere in this
neighbourhood, and only with her two Bearers."
Apparently the two Gentlemen's attention had also been arrested by the
tumult. The next moment Mr. Theophilus Baggs came in, and immediately
they both plied him simultaneously with questions. "What were those
strange cries in the street? Was there likely to be a riot? What was
the cause of the tumult?" All of which Mr. Baggs felt himself unable to
answer. In the end, he said that he would walk down to the corner of
the Street and ascertain what was happening.
Ensconced within the window recess and hidden from view by the screen, I
soon gave up all attempt at continuing my work. Somehow, the two
Gentlemen's anxiety about the Lady Barbara had communicated itself to
me. But my thoughts, of course, were of You. Fortunately for my peace
of mind, I knew that You were safe; at some distance, in fact, from the
scene of the present tumult. Nevertheless, I had already made up my
mind that if the rioting spread to the neighbouring streets, I would
slip out presently and go as far as Dorset Gardens, where you were busy
at rehearsal, and there wait for you until you came out of the Theatre,
when, if you were unattended, I could escort you home.
I could not myself have explained why the Noise outside and the obvious
rough temper of the People should have agitated me as they undoubtedly
did.
Anon, Mr. Baggs returned with a veritable sackful of news.
"There is a great tumult all down the neighbourhood," said he, "because
Lady Castlemaine is even now at the India House drinking tea, and a lot
of rowdy folk have made up their minds to give her a rough welcome when
she comes out. She is not popular just now, my Lady Castlemaine," Mr.
Baggs continued complacently, as he gave a look of understanding to Lord
Douglas Wychwoode, "And I fancy that she will experience an unpleasant
quarter of an hour presently."
"But, surely," protested my Lord Stour, "a whole mob will not be allowed
to attack a defenceless woman, however unpopular she may be!"
"Oh, as to that," rejoined Mr. Baggs with an indifferent shrug of the
shoulders, "a London mob is not like to be squeamish when its temper is
aroused; and just now, when work is scarce and food very dear, the sight
of her Ladyship's gorgeous liveries are apt to exasperate those who have
an empty stomach."
"But what will they do to her?" urged my Lord, whose manly feelings were
evidently outraged at the prospect of seeing any Woman a prey to an
angry rabble.
"That I cannot tell you, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs. "The crowd hath
several ways of showing its displeasure. You know, when a Frenchman or
some other Foreigner shows his face in the Streets of London, how soon
he becomes the butt of passing missiles. The sweep will leave a sooty
imprint upon his coat; a baker's basket will cover him with dust; at
every hackney-coach stand, some facetious coachman will puff the froth
of his beer into his face. Well! you may draw your own conclusions, my
Lord, as to what will happen anon, when my Lady Castlemaine hath
finished drinking her dish of tea!"
"But surely no one would treat a Lady so?" once more ejaculated my Lord
Stour hotly.
"Perhaps not," retorted Mr. Baggs drily. "But then you, see, my Lord,
Lady Castlemaine is ... Well; she is Lady Castlemaine ... and at the
corner of our street just now I heard murmurs of the Pillory or even
worse for her----"
"But this is monstrous--infamous----!"
"And will be well deserved," here broke in Lord Douglas decisively.
"Fie on You, Friend, to worry over that baggage, whilst we are still in
doubt if my Sister be safe."
"Yes!" murmured Lord Stour, with a sudden note of deep solicitude in his
voice. "My God! I was forgetting!"
He ran to the window--the one next to the recess where I still remained
ensconced--threw open the casement and gazed out even more anxiously
than I had been doing all along. Mr. Baggs in the meanwhile endeavoured
to reassure Lord Douglas.
"If," he said, "her Ladyship knows that your Lordship hath come here to
visit me, she may seek shelter under my humble roof."
"God grant that she may!" rejoined the young Man fervently.
We all were on tenterhooks, I as much as the others; and we all gazed
out agitatedly in the direction of Fleet Street. Then, all at once, my
Lord Stour gave a cry of relief.
"There's the chaise!" he exclaimed. "It has just turned the corner of
this street.... No! not that way, Douglas ... on your right.... That is
Lady Barbara's chaise, is it not?"
"Yes, it is!" ejaculated the other. "Thank Heaven, her man Pyncheon has
had the good sense to bring her here. Quick, Mr. Notary!" he added.
"The door!"
The next moment a Sedan chair borne by two men in handsome liveries of
blue and silver came to a halt just below. Already Mr. Baggs had
hurried down the stairs. He would, I know, yield to no one in the
privilege of being the first to make the Lady Barbara welcome in his
House. The Excitement and Anxiety were momentarily over, and I could
view quite composedly from above the beautiful Lady Barbara as she
stepped out of her Chair, a little flurried obviously, for she clasped
and unclasped her cloak with a nervy, trembling hand.
A second or two later, I heard her high-heeled shoes pattering up the
stairs, whilst her Men with the Chair sought refuge in a quiet tavern
higher up in Chancery Lane.