WE RETURN TO LIVERPOOL--I HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS TREVANNION--PLUTUS
INTERFERES WITH CUPID, AND I SAIL AGAIN FOR THE COAST OF AFRICA.
We set off, and arrived at Liverpool, without accident, late on the
sixth night, when we repaired to our usual lodgings. The next day I
called to tell Mr Trevannion that I had returned, and was informed by
Humphrey that he was quite strong again, and very anxious to see me,
although he had no idea that I should return so soon. Humphrey went up
to announce my arrival, and Mr Trevannion admitted me immediately,
although he was not yet out of bed.
"I fear that you have not been successful," said he as he took my hand.
"On the contrary, Sir, I have succeeded in everything," and I then gave
him an account of what had happened.
"Well," replied he, "I am glad of it, and recollect I must be at the
expense, as, without you had incurred it, the schooner would not, in all
probability, have been hired. And now I want to consult with you about
something else. Here is a letter from Captain Irving, of the Amy,
brought home by the Chester Lass."
These were two vessels employed on the Gold Coast, which belonged to Mr
Trevannion.
"Read it," said Mr Trevannion, "and give me your opinion."
I did so: Captain Irving stated that he had pushed the two vessels up a
small river on the coast, which he had not known of before, and had
fallen in with a black ruler, who had never yet treated with the
English; but only with the Spaniards, for slaves. That his English
commodities were quite new to the natives, and that, in consequence, he
had made a most fortunate traffic with them, and had loaded a vessel
with ivory, wax, and gold-dust to the amount of 1000 pounds, and that he
had sent the Chester Lass, remaining himself to continue the barter
before it was known to the other ships on the coast, which it would soon
be. He continued, that he had not sufficient of the articles which were
most valued by the natives, and requested that Mr Trevannion would
immediately despatch another vessel with various goods enumerated, and
that then he should be able to fill his own vessel as well as the one
that he had despatched home; that the river was in such a latitude, and
the mouth difficult to discover; that he sent a little sketch of the
coast, which would facilitate the discovery--but that no time was to be
lost, as the sickly season was coming on, and it was very unhealthy at
that time.
As I folded up the letter, Mr Trevannion said:
"Now, here is an invoice of the whole cargo sent home by the Chester
Lass. I reckon it worth about 7000 pounds."
I looked over the invoice, and agreed with Mr Trevannion that it was
well worth that, if not more.
"This is most important, you will acknowledge, Musgrave," said Mr
Trevannion; "but before I go any further, I trust that, now the only
difficulty is got over, you will not refuse to be my partner; the only
difference I intend to make, is, that I now offer you one-fourth instead
of one-eighth. Silence gives consent," continued Mr Trevannion, as I
did not immediately reply.
"I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I could not
well speak."
"Then it's agreed; so say no more about it," said Mr Trevannion, taking
me by the hand, and pressing it warmly--"and now to business. My idea
is, to send out the Sparrow-Hawk, being so fast a sailer. Of course, as
a privateer, she has done her work; and as the government wish the
complement of the Arrow to be increased, I think we cannot do better
than to fill her up with some of the Sparrow-Hawk's men, leaving about
twenty-five on board of her, and sending her out as soon as possible to
the coast, with the articles which Captain Irving requests."
"I agree with you, Sir, that it will be the best plan."
"But whom to send is the difficulty," said Mr Trevannion. "Captain
Paul, of the Chester Lass, is very ill, and not likely to be out of bed
for some time; and even if he were well, I have no opinion of him in an
affair of this moment. If, as Captain Irving says, he can fill the Amy,
her cargo will be worth three times that of the Chester Lass; but, of
course, the destination of the Sparrow-Hawk must be a secret, and I do
not know whom to intrust her to. We require some one in whom we can put
confidence."
"I agree with you, Sir," replied I; "and, if you have no objection, I
think that the best plan will be for me to go myself; I shall be back
again in ten weeks at the furthest."
"Well, as you will now have a strong interest in it, I really think so
too. In fact, I don't know whom else we can trust."
"I agree with you, Sir, and I will go myself, and I think the sooner the
better; but I do not know whether we can obtain all the goods requisite
immediately."
"We can have them in five or six days," replied Mr Trevannion; "I sent
Humphrey out to make inquiry."
"At all events, I must look to them myself; and there are many other
things to manage, so I had better wish you a good morning now, Mr
Trevannion, and in the evening I will call again, and let you know what
I have done."
"Do so," said he, and I then took my leave.
I certainly was very much astonished as well as much pleased at Mr
Trevannion's liberality relative to the partnership, and I could now
look forward to competency in a few years at the furthest. Certainly,
if Mr Trevannion had been hasty in his conduct towards me he had made
most noble reparation. I first returned to the lodgings and told
Captain Levee and Philip what had passed; they immediately proposed that
we should all go together on board the Sparrow-Hawk, that I might make
my arrangements, and that they might persuade some of the men to join
the Arrow. I first picked out the men I wished to sail with me; and
then they talked over the rest, who that evening went on shore for their
wages, and the next morning joined the Arrow, as Captain Levee was
anxious to get round to the Nore. The day after the men joined, the
Arrow sailed, which I was not sorry for, as it left me more at leisure
to expedite my own affairs. Philip promised to be my correspondent, and
I bade them both farewell with regret. I called in the evening, as I
had promised, upon Mr Trevannion, and he then gave me the deed of
partnership, signed and dated the day when he first made the offer, and
we had quarrelled; but I did not see Miss Trevannion; much to my regret,
her father said that she was ailing. The business I had to transact,
and fitting out the Sparrow-Hawk, so completely occupied me, that it was
now three days that I had been at Liverpool without having seen her, and
I was much annoyed at it, as I had called every day. My feelings
towards her were now stronger than before. She was never out of my
thoughts, and I hardly know how it was that I transacted business as I
did. This evening I was determined, if possible, that I would see her,
and find out why she avoided me, as it appeared to me that she did.
When I called, therefore, I did not ask to see her father, but told
Humphrey to find out where Miss Trevannion was, and say that I requested
to speak with her. Humphrey returned, and said that she was in the
sitting-room, to which I instantly repaired.
"I am fearful that I have given you some unintentional cause of
displeasure, Miss Trevannion," said I, as I entered, "for you have
appeared to avoid me since my return."
"Indeed, Mr Musgrave, I have not," replied she; "I was most anxious to
see you, and have thought it very unpolite, I may add, unkind, on your
part not to have come to me."
"I have been in the house every day, and sometimes twice a day, with
your father, Miss Trevannion, and have never met you. Once I inquired
for you, and your father told me you were unwell, whereas Humphrey had
but five minutes before told me that you were well and in good spirits."
"Humphrey told the truth, and so did my father. I was in good health
and spirits, and in five minutes afterwards I was ill and unhappy."
"I trust I was no party to it, Miss Trevannion."
"You were a party to it, but not the great offender, who was my father.
He had told me that upon your return he had installed you as his
partner, and had done you the justice you had deserved; and then he told
me that you were going out to the coast of Africa in the Sparrow-Hawk."
"It is very true, Miss Trevannion; but where is the offence?"
"The offence is this: my father no sooner does you justice than he wants
more ivory and gold-dust, having more than enough already; but I told
him it was as bad as privateering, for in either case he sends people
out to sacrifice their lives, that he may gain more money. I have no
patience with this foolish pursuit of wealth."
"After all your father's kindness to me, Miss Trevannion, I could do no
less than accept the offer."
"You would have been more wise and more just to yourself to have refused
it, Mr Musgrave. I read the letters to my father when they arrived,
and you know what Captain Irving says about the unhealthiness of the
climate. You have been my father's best friend, and he should not have
treated you thus."
"I never did value life, Miss Trevannion; but really the kind interest
you have expressed on this occasion makes me feel as if my poor life was
of some value. To one who has been such a football of fortune as I have
been, and who has hardly known a kind feeling towards him ever
expressed, it is a gratification that I really appreciate, and, coming
from one whom I respect and esteem more than any other person in the
world, it quite overpowers me. Indeed, Miss Trevannion, I am truly
grateful."
I was correct when I said that it overpowered me, for it did completely,
and I was so oppressed by my feelings, that I reeled to a chair, and
covered up my face with my hands. What would I have given to have dared
to state what I felt!
"You are ill, Mr Musgrave," said Miss Trevannion, coming to me. "Can I
offer you anything?"