"Oh! seeing you there last night," said he, "I thought you knew him
well, as you are only a very short time in Florence."
I drew a long breath, Tom, and told him how I had happened to find
myself at the Minister's "rout." He smiled good-humoredly; there was
nothing offensive in it, however, and it passed off at once.
"Sir Alexander and I are old friends," said he. "We served in the same
regiment once together, and I can venture to present you, even at this
early hour;" and with that we walked briskly on towards the Legation.
All this while Morris--I can't call him by his new name yet--never
alluded to the family; he did n't even ask after James, and I plainly
saw that he was bent on doing a very good-natured thing, without any
desire to incur further intimacy as its consequence.
Sir Alexander had not left his room when we arrived, but on receiving
Morris's card sent word to say he should be down in a moment, and
expected us both at breakfast. The table was spread in a handsome
library, with every possible appliance of comfort about it. There was
a brisk wood-fire blazing on the ample hearth, and a beautiful Blenheim
asleep before it. Newspapers of every country and every language lay
scattered about with illustrated journals and prints. Most voluptuous
easy-chairs and fat-cushioned sofas abounded, and it was plain to see
that the world has some rougher sides than she turns to her Majesty's
Envoys and Ministers Plenipotentiary!
I was busy picturing to myself what sort of person the present occupant
of this post was likely to prove, when he entered. A tall, very
good-looking man, of about forty, with bushy whiskers of white hair;
his air and bearing the very type of frankness, and his voice the rich
tone of a manly speaker. He shook me cordially by the hand as Morris
introduced me, apologized for keeping us waiting, and at once seated us
at table. A sickly-looking lad, with sore eyes and a stutter, slipped
unobtrusively in after him, and he was presented to us as Lord Adolphus
de Maudley, the unpaid Attache.
Leaving all to Morris, and rightly conjecturing that he would open the
subject we came upon at the fitting time, I attacked a grouse-pie most
vigorously, and helped myself freely to his Excellency's Bordeaux. There
were all manner of good things, and we did them ample justice, even to
the Unpaid himself, who certainly seemed to take out in prog what they
denied him in salary.
Sir Alexander made all the running as to talk. He rattled away about
Turks and Russians,--affairs home and foreign,--the Ministry and the
Opposition,--who was to go next to some vacant embassy, and who was
to be the prima donna at the Pergola. Then came Florence gossip,--an
amusing chapter; but perhaps--as they say in the police reports--not
quite fit for publication. His Excellency had seen the girls at the
races, and complimented me on their good looks, and felicitated the city
on the accession of so much beauty. At last Morris broke ground, and
related the story of Mrs. D.'s captivity. Sir Alex--who had by this time
lighted his cigar--stood with his hands in his dressing-gown pockets,
and his back to the fire, the most calm and impassive of listeners.
"They are so stupid, these people," said he at last, puffing his weed
between each word; "won't take the trouble to look before them--won't
examine--won't investigate--a charge. Mrs. Dodd a Catholic too?"
"A most devout and conscientious one!" said I.
"Great bore for the moment, no doubt; but--try a cheroot, they 're
milder--but, as I was saying, to be amply recompensed hereafter. There's
nothing they won't do in the way of civility and attention to make
amends for this outrage."
"Meanwhile, as to her liberation?" said Morris.
"Ah! that _is_ a puzzle. No use writing to Ministers, you know. That's
all lost time. Official correspondence--only invented to train up our
youth--like Lord Dolly, there. Must try what can be done with Bradelli."
"And who is Bradelli, your Excellency?"
"Bradelli is Private Secretary to the Cardinal Boncelli, at Rome."
"But we are in Tuscany."
"Geographically speaking, so we are. But leave it to me, Mr. Dodd. No
time shall be lost. Draw up a note, Dolly, to the Prince Cigalaroso.
You have a mem. in the Chancellerie will do very well. The English are
always in scrapes, and it is always the same: 'Mon cher Prince,--Je
regrette infiniment que mes devoirs m'imposent,' &c., &c, with a full
account of the 'facheux incident,'--that's the phrase, mind that, Dolly;
do everything necessary for the Blue Book, and in the meanwhile take
care that Mrs. D. is out of prison before the day is over."
I was surprised to find how little Sir Alexander cared for the real
facts of the case, or the gross injustice of the entire proceeding.
In fact, he listened to my explanations on this head with as much
impatience as could consist with his unquestionable good breeding,
simply interpolating as I went on: "Ah, very true;" "Your observation is
quite correct;" "Perfectly just," and so on. "Can you dine here to-day,
Mr. Dodd?" said he, as I finished; "Penrhyn is coming, and a few other
friends."
I had some half scruples about accepting a dinner invitation while my
wife remained a prisoner, but I thought, "After all, the Minister must
be the best judge of such a point," and accordingly said "Yes." A most
agreeable dinner it was too, Tom. A party of seven at a round table,
admirably served, and with--what I assure you is growing rather a rarity
nowadays--a sufficiency of wine.
The Minister himself proved most agreeable; his long residence abroad
had often brought him into contact with amusing specimens of his own
countrymen, some of whose traits and stories he recounted admirably,
showing me that the Dodds are only the species of a very widely extended
and well-appreciated genus.
I own to you that I heard, with no small degree of humiliation, how
prone we English are to demand money compensations for the wrongs
inflicted upon us by foreign governments. As the information came from a
source I cannot question, I have only to accept the fact, and deplore it.
As a nation, we are, assuredly, neither mean nor mercenary. As
individuals, I sincerely hope and trust we can stand comparison in all
that regards liberality of purse with any people. Yet how comes it
that we have attained to an almost special notoriety for converting our
sorrows into silver, and making our personal injuries into a credit at
our banker's? I half suspect that the tone imparted to the national mind
by our Law Courts is the true reason of this, and that our actions for
damages are the damaging features of our character as a people. The man
who sees no indignity in taking the price of his dishonor, will find
little difficulty in appraising the value of an insult to his liberty.
Take my word for it, Tom, it is a very hard thing to make foreigners
respect the institutions of a country stained with this reproach, or
believe that a people can be truly high-minded and high-spirited who
have recourse to such indemnities.
From what fell from Sir Alexander on this subject, I could plainly
perceive the embarrassment a Minister must labor under, who, while
asserting the high pretensions of a great nation, is compelled to
descend to such ignoble bargains; and I only wish that the good public
at home, as they pore over Blue Books, would take into account this very
considerable difficulty.
As regards foreign governments themselves, it is right to bear in mind
that they rarely or never can be induced to believe the transgressions
of individuals as anything but parts of a grand and comprehensive scheme
of English interference. If John Bull smuggle a pound of tea, it is
immediately set down that England is going to alter the Custom Laws. Let
him surreptitiously steal his fowling-piece over the frontier, and we
are accused of "arming the disaffected population." A copy of a tract
is construed into a treatise on Socialism; and a "Jim-Crow" hat is the
symbol of Republican doctrines.
I see the full absurdity of these suspicions, but I wish, for our own
comfort's sake, to take no higher ground, that we were somewhat more
circumspect in our conduct abroad. "Rule Britannia" is a very fine tune,
and nobody likes to hear it, well sung, better than myself; but this I
will say, Tom, Britons _ever_ will be slaves to their prejudices and
self-delusions, until they come to see that _their_ notions of right
and wrong are not universal, and that there is no more faulty impression
than to suppose an English standard of almost anything applicable to
people who have scarcely a thought, a feeling, or even a prejudice in
common with us.
One might almost fancy that the travelling Englishman loved a scrape
from the pleasure it afforded him of addressing his Minister, and making
a fuss in the "Times." Just as a fellow who knew he had a cork jacket
under his waistcoat might take pleasure in falling overboard and
attracting public attention, without incurring much risk.
While we were discussing these and such-like topics, there came a note
from James to say that Mrs. Dodd had just been liberated, and was then
safe in what is popularly called the bosom of her family. I accordingly
arose and thanked Sir Alexander most heartily for his kind and
successful interference, and though I should not have objected to
another glass or two of his admirable port, I felt it was only decent
and becoming in me to hasten home to my wife.
As Morris had shown so much good-nature in the affair, and
had--formerly, at least--been on very friendly terms with us, I asked
him to come along with me; but he declined, with a kind of bashful
reserve that I could not comprehend; and so, half offended at his
coldness, I wished him a "good-night," and departed.
I have now only to add that I found Mrs. D. in good health and spirits,
and, on the whole, rather pleased with the incident than otherwise. You
shall hear from me again erelong, and meanwhile believe me,
Your ever faithful friend,
Kenny James Dodd.