"I thank you, Mr Elrington--thank you very much. Now I shall soon get
well. To-morrow, perhaps, you will have the kindness to come and see me
again. I feel rather overcome at present. Remember me kindly to
Philip. Good-bye for to-day," said Mr Trevannion holding out his
emaciated hand. "God bless you."
I took his hand and quitted the room, shutting the door softly. Mr
Trevannion was quite alone when I was with him. Humphrey, the porter,
had shown me up-stairs to the room.
Anxious as I was to see Miss Trevannion, I did not venture into the
sitting-room, but passed the door and went down-stairs; when I was going
out of the street-door, Humphrey followed me, and said Miss Trevannion
wished to see me. I went back again with a beating heart, a sensation I
had not felt before, when about to go into her presence. She was
standing by the table.
"Mr Elrington," said she, as I bowed upon entering, "I did not think
that you could carry your resentment against me so far as to leave the
house without asking to see me; but if you do not wish to see me, 'tis a
duty I owe to myself to wish to see you, if only for a moment, that I
may beg your pardon for my conduct towards you when we last parted. I
have suffered much since that, Mr Elrington; do not make me suffer more
by continuing your resentment. Recollect I am but a weak woman, and
must not be judged so severely as one of your own sex."
"I have nothing to pardon that I am aware of, Miss Trevannion," replied
I; "I did not intrude upon you just now, because being no longer an
inmate of the house, and not having parted with you in complete amity, I
thought it would be presumptuous in me so to do."
"You are very generous, Mr Elrington," replied she; "now take my hand,
and I promise never to be so hasty again."
I took the proffered hand, and raised it respectfully to my lips. I had
never done so before; but Miss Trevannion showed no signs of
displeasure, or attempted to withdraw it.
"Do you think my father looks very ill, Mr Elrington?" said she.
"From his appearance, I think that he must have suffered much."
"I am most thankful that you have come to see him, Mr Elrington. You
have no idea how his mind was troubled, and how he longed to be
reconciled to you. I trust he has made his peace."
"I have always had too much respect for your father, and gratitude for
his kindness to me, to have made that a work of difficulty."
"You rejoice me much--make me very happy, Mr Elrington," replied Miss
Trevannion, as the tears dropped fast from her eyes. "You must excuse
me," said she; "I have become very weak and nervous during my father's
illness--and sitting up with him so much,--but it is over now."
"You have had much anxiety, I see, Miss Trevannion; you are pale and
thin to what you were."
"Did my father--? But I have no right to ask such questions."
"You would inquire, Miss Trevannion, whether anything was said as to
future arrangements?"
Miss Trevannion made a sign of assent.
"I have promised to execute a commission for him, and am going to
London, accompanied by Captain Levee."
"To get rid of those wretched privateers, is it not?"
"Yes it is, and I am to come to-morrow to arrange further: but I think
you want to return to your father's room, so I will now take my leave."
"You are considerate, Mr Elrington; I did want to go up-stairs; but
before I go I have some property of yours to place in your hands."
I bowed, thinking that she referred to the ring, which I perceived on
her finger, and was annoyed that she was in such haste to return it.
But, on the contrary, she went to the buffet and brought out the bag of
gold jacobuses, which she laid on the table.
"You are very proud, Mr Elrington, not to take what was fairly your
due," said Miss Trevannion, smiling.
"It is much more than I have ever earned," replied I; "but your father
made me promise not to refuse it a second time, and of course I shall
now take it."
My heart was much lightened when I found that it was the gold, and not
the ring.
"Then good-bye, Mr Elrington; to-morrow I shall see you, of course."
Miss Trevannion then left the room and hastened up-stairs to her father,
and I went home to my lodgings. I narrated the substance of what had
passed between Mr Trevannion and me to Captain Levee and Philip, and
also that I had been kindly received by Miss Trevannion.
"Well, I like the reconciliation and arrangement very much," said
Captain Levee; "and as you have such a bag of gold, and I have not fifty
guineas in the world, you shall stand treat in London, Elrington."
"That I will with pleasure; it will only be discharging an old debt,
Levee. Philip shall go with us."
"But," said Captain Levee, "do you not think they will recognise their
state-prisoner, and be cautious of a Jacobite?"
"They may remember the name," said I, "but my person was seen but by
few. I do, however, think it would be advisable, as I shall have to
sign papers, to take another."
"I think so, too," replied Captain Levee; "what shall we call you?"
"Let me see; I'll have a good name. I had a relative of the name of
Musgrave; I think I will borrow his name. What say you, Philip? Will
you be, for the future, Philip Musgrave?"
"Yes, brother, with all my heart. The name appears to fit me better
than that of Elrington."
Thus, Madam, did I resume my real name without any suspicion on the part
of Captain Levee; but I could not well sign government papers with an
assumed one.
On the following day I called upon Mr Trevannion, who received me with
great affection, and it was arranged that I should set off in three
days, which time would be required for preparation, and to make the
necessary purchases. To supply funds for the journey, Mr Trevannion
gave me another bag of jacobuses, of the same amount as the former,
saying that he wished us to appear bravely when we arrived in London,
and that he should require no account of the expenditure, only that if
the contents of the bag were not sufficient, he would supply more. This
was nothing more but an excuse on his part to be generous; for one
quarter of the money would have been sufficient for all needful
expenses. I told him that I had taken the name of Musgrave, as that of
Elrington might be remembered to the injury of the proposal, and he said
that it was well thought of by me. Miss Trevannion had entered the room
when I mentioned that to her father, and afterwards had quitted it.
After I had taken leave of Mr Trevannion, I went down to the
sitting-room, where I found his daughter waiting for me. We had much
friendly discourse, and at one time she said, "I heard you say that you
had taken the name of Musgrave for your intended journey. Do you intend
to retain that name when you return?"
"Why should I?" replied I.
"Because," replied she, "perhaps it is your real name. Excuse a lady's
curiosity, but is not that the fact?"
"Miss Trevannion," replied I, "my real name must at present remain a
secret."
"That is to say, it will no longer be a secret if intrusted to me? I
thank you, Sir, for the compliment."
"I do not intend to imply that, Miss Trevannion; I fully believe that
you can keep a secret."
"If you fully believe so, you might, then, reply to my question; the
more so, as I now pledge myself to keep your secret most faithfully."
"Then, Miss Trevannion, my real name is Musgrave," replied I.
"I thank you for your confidence, Mr Musgrave, which shall not be
misplaced. I might now follow up my inquiries as to why you changed
your name, with many other queries; but I am too discreet for that--the
time may come when I shall know all; but I am content with your proof of
confidence, and thank you for it."
Miss Trevannion never was so lively and communicative with me before, as
she was this morning; there was a friendliness without any of her usual
reserve, and I left her more full of admiration and devotion than ever.
In three days more our preparations were made, and, taking leave of Miss
Trevannion and her father, who was recovering, and had admitted company
to his room, we set off on horseback, as we had done before, and
attended by the same two men of Captain Levee's who had served us on a
former journey to London. We had no adventure whatever on this journey
which could be worth narrating, and I shall therefore say that we
arrived in good health and spirits, and took up our abode at once at our
former lodging-house, instead of going to the inn. We were welcomed by
the hostess, who had her house almost empty. The following day I made
inquiries, and, in consequence, went to the Navy Office, and, requesting
to see one of the head clerks, informed him of the occasion of my coming
up to London. He was very civil, and replied that the government were
in want of vessels, and he had no doubt but they would have the Arrow,
as she was well-known as a strong privateer. I then inquired whether
they thought it likely that Captain Levee might be taken into the
service, stating what an excellent crew the Arrow had, and that they
would not remain in her, unless they were commanded by him, in whom they
had great confidence.
The clerk replied that it might be done certainly,--"but," added
he--"Sir, you cannot expect people to do such kind offices without they
are rewarded."
I perfectly understood him, and replied, that, of course, I did not
expect it; but I was so ignorant as to what ought to be done, that I
begged that he would give me his advice, for which I should be most
grateful.
"Well, well, you understand me, Mr Musgrave, and that is sufficient. I
will be plain with you. It will cost 100 guineas to obtain what you
want for Captain Levee, and of that money I shall not receive a doit."
"I shall be most happy to give that sum and half as much more to obtain
my wish, Sir, and shall feel much obliged to you in the bargain; and
while I am negotiating, I may as well state that I have a brother who
sails with Captain Levee, who is most anxious to be with him, and sail
as his lieutenant."
"That will cost another fifty guineas, Mr Musgrave."
"I am most willing," replied I.
"Well, we must first get the vessel hired into the service. You have
your tonnage and equipment all on paper?"
"Everything that is requisite; and, moreover, every cruise she has made,
the actions she has fought, and the prizes she has taken under the
command of Captain Levee, and with the crew now on board."
"Furnish all these documents, Mr Musgrave, and leave it to me. I am to
understand that you perfectly agree to the terms I have proposed?"
"Perfectly, Sir; and, if you please, I will sign a memorandum to that
effect."
"No, no," replied he, "we never put such things down on paper. It is an
affair of honour and good faith. You say your money is all ready."
"At a minute's warning."
"That is sufficient, Mr Musgrave. I will now wish you good morning.
Send me the documents."
"I have them in my pocket, Sir."
"Better still; then the affair may be arranged this afternoon, and you
may call to-morrow at about two in the afternoon; and you may as well
bring the money with you, as you can but take it away again if
everything is not to your satisfaction."
I returned to the lodgings quite delighted with the prospect of such a
fortunate issue to my mission, and was in good time for dinner. I did
not tell Captain Levee or Philip of what had passed, but merely that I
considered that there was a good chance of success, and that I was to
call on the following day. That night we went to the theatre, and saw a
play performed, written by Shakespeare, in the time of Queen Elizabeth,
and called the "Merry Wives of Windsor." We were much pleased with the
character of _Falstaff_, a fat knight, full of humour. The next day, at
the time appointed, I called upon the head clerk, who told me that
everything was arranged according to my wishes; that the hiring of the
vessel was according to her tonnage; and he considered that the price
offered by the government was fair and liberal; so did I, and
immediately accepted it. He then drew from his desk the articles of
agreement between the government and the owner of the vessel, and, at
the same time, the warrants for Captain Levee and Philip, to act as
commander and lieutenant.
"Now, Mr Musgrave, all you have to do is to sign the first paper, and
fulfil the other portion of our agreement."
I immediately pulled out the bag of money which I had brought with me,
and, after counting it over, the clerk gave me his pen to sign the
document, and handed to me the warrants for Philip and Captain Levee.
"You have behaved liberally in this affair, Mr Musgrave," said the
gentleman, as he locked up the bag of money in his desk: "if at any time
I can be of use to you, you may command me."
"I thank you, Sir," replied I; "I may by-and-by have to ask you to exert
your influence in behalf of my brother, that he may obtain the command
of one of the king's ships, and if you can help me, I shall be most
grateful."
"Depend upon it I will," replied he, "and I beg you will use no ceremony
on making the application."
He then shook hands with me, and I went home. Dinner was over when I
came back, but the hostess had put away some victuals for me, and while
I was eating them I gave them an account of my success, handing their
warrants to Captain Levee and Philip. They could hardly credit me, even
when the documents were in their hands, but, pledging them to secrecy, I
told them by what means I had been so successful. Whereupon they
thanked me, and we then went out to procure the uniforms suitable to
their respective ranks, and this occupied us till the evening, when we
agreed to go to the cockpit and see the fights between the various
animals, with which Philip particularly was much delighted. As we had
nothing to detain us in London, and it was necessary that the Arrow
should immediately run round to the Nore, we determined, as the uniforms
were to be ready on the following day, that the day after that we would
return to Liverpool.