MR. GREENWOOD.
About six o'clock in the evening--ten days after the incident which
concluded the preceding chapter,--a handsome cabriolet drove up to the
door of a house in Spring Gardens.
Down jumped the tiger--an urchin not much bigger than a walking
stick--and away went the knocker, rat-tat-tat, for upwards of fifteen
seconds. A servant in livery opened the door, and an elegantly-dressed
gentleman, about six or seven and twenty years of age, alighted from the
vehicle.
This gentleman rushed up stairs to his study, drew forth his
cheque-book, wrote an order upon his banker for a thousand pounds,
enclosed it in an envelope, and immediately despatched the letter to
Lord Tremordyn by one of his numerous domestics. He had that afternoon
lost the money to his lordship in some sporting-bet; and, "as it was a
debt of honour," he could not possibly think of sitting down to dinner,
or even pulling off his boots (which, being fashionable, pinched him
excessively) without settling it.
As soon as he had done this, another servant entered the room, and said,
"If you please, sir, Mrs. Mangles has called, and is waiting below to
see you. She has been here these three hours, and wishes very much to
say a few words to you, sir."
"What! that bothering upholsterer's wife!" ejaculated the gentleman, in
a tone of indignation which would have induced a stranger to believe
that he was the most persecuted man in the world. "Why--her husband's
account hasn't been owing quite a year yet; and here she is boring from
morning to night."
"Please, sir, she says that her husband is locked up in a
spunging-house."
"Serve him right!"
"But he is a hard-working sober man----"
"He shouldn't run into debt."
"And he has five children."
"It is really disgusting! these lower orders literally swarm with
children!"
"And if you would only pay a quarter of the money, he would get out
to-night."
"I won't pay a sixpence till January."
"Then he will be totally ruined, sir, his wife says."
"Well--he must be ruined, then. Go and turn her out, and send up
Lafleur."
And the fashionable gentleman, who would not owe a _debt of honour_ for
half an hour, thought no more of the sum which was due to a tradesman,
which had been already owing for nearly a year, and which he could have
immediately settled without the slightest inconvenience to himself.
For this man was rich; and, having got his money in the City (God knows
how), had now come to the West End to make the most of it.
"Lafleur," said the fashionable gentleman to the French valet, "you must
dismiss that fellow John to-morrow morning."
"Yes, sir."
"He actually had the impertinence to bring me a message from a dun,
while I was in a hurry to get dressed for dinner."
"Indeed, sir--you don't say so sir!" ejaculated the valet, who had as
much horror of a dun as an overseer has of a pauper. "Yes, sir--I will
dismiss him to-morrow, sir--and without a character too."
"Do, Lafleur. And now to dress. Are the company come?"
"Mr. Chichester and Sir Rupert Harborough are in the drawing-room, sir."
"Oh!" said Mr. Greenwood--for such was the gentleman's name--"very
well!"
Having carelessly perused three or four letters which he found upon his
table, he repaired to his dressing-room, where he washed his hands in a
silver basin, while the poor upholsterer's wife returned to her husband
in the lock-up house, to say that their last hope had failed, and that
nothing but a debtor's gaol awaited them. Accordingly, while the poor
man was being carried off to Whitecross Street Prison, Mr. Greenwood
repaired to his elegantly furnished drawing-room to welcome the guests
whom he had invited that day to dinner.
"My dear Sir Rupert," said Mr. Greenwood, "I am delighted to see you.
Chichester, how are you? Where have you both been for the last six
months? Scarcely had I the pleasure of forming your acquaintance, when
you were off like shots: and I have never seen nor heard of you till
this morning."
"Upon my honour, I hardly know what we have been doing--or indeed, what
we have _not_ been doing," ejaculated the baronet. "We have been in
Paris and Brussels, and enjoyed all the pleasures of the Continent."
"And we found our way into the good graces of the Parisian ladies, and
the purses of their husbands," observed Chichester, with a complacent
smile.
"Ah! ah!" said Mr. Greenwood, laughing. "Trust you both for allowing
yourselves to starve in a land of plenty."
"And so here we are, come back to England quite fresh and ready for new
sport," said Chichester. "You see that it is useful to go abroad for a
season every now and then. Immediately after I passed through the
Insolvents' Court, two years ago, I went to Paris for six months, and
came home again with a new reputation, as it were."
"By the bye, Sir Rupert," exclaimed Mr. Greenwood, "I lost a cool
thousand to your father-in-law this afternoon at Tattersall's."
"What! does the old lord do things in so spirited a way as that?" cried
the baronet.
"Yes--now and then. I believe you and he are not on very good terms?
When I asked him after you a month or two ago, he appeared to evade the
conversation."
"The fact is," said the baronet, "old Lord and Lady Tremordyn pretend
that I treat their daughter with neglect--just because I cannot and will
not be tied to my wife's apron strings. I did not want to marry her; but
Lady Tremordyn intrigued to catch me; and the old lord came down
handsome--and so the match was made up."
The baronet did not think of informing his friend that he had stipulated
for twenty thousand pounds to pay his debts, ere he would do justice to
the young and beautiful creature whom he had seduced, and whose pathetic
appeal to her mother has been already laid before the reader in the
chapter which treats of the _Black Chamber_ of the General Post Office.
"Do you know what has become of your old flame Diana Arlington?"
inquired Mr. Greenwood of the baronet, after a pause.
"And was she not _your_ old flame too?" said Sir Rupert, laughing. "I
believe that when you were plain Mr. George Montague, instead of Mr.
Montague Greenwood----"
"Oh! I have assumed the name of Greenwood, remember, because a relation
of that name has left me a considerable fortune."
"Well--that is a very good story to tell the world, but not friends, my
dear fellow," said the baronet, coolly. "But we were talking of the
Enchantress. I presume she is still under the protection of the Earl of
Warrington?"
"So I understand," replied Greenwood.
"Well--I must say," continued the baronet, "I always liked Diana; and I
dare say we should have been together up to the present moment, if it
had not been for that infernal affair of Markham's."
"Ah! Richard Markham!" ejaculated Mr. Greenwood hastily. "I have heard
of him--but never seen him."
"I and Chichester were compelled to sacrifice him to save ourselves,"
observed Harborough.
"Yes--yes--it was a pity--a great pity," cried Greenwood, poking the
fire violently.
"I wonder what has become of that same Markham?" said Chichester.
"I understand that he lost the greater portion of his property by some
unfortunate speculation or another, but the nature of which I have never
learnt," replied Greenwood.
"And what about this Steam-Packet Company of which you were speaking
this morning?" inquired Sir Rupert Harborough.
"The fact is, I have got a certain Italian count in tow, and I intend to
make him useful. He is an emigrant from the Grand Duchy of Castelcicala,
having been concerned in some treasonable proceedings with Prince
Alberto, who is the Grand Duke's nephew, and who has also been compelled
to fly to some other country. Be it as it may, this Count Alteroni and I
became acquainted; and, in the course of conversation, he observed that
a fortune might be made by the establishment of a line of steam-packets
between London and Montoni, the capital of Castelcicala. He added that
he should be very willing to embark his own capital in such an
enterprise. '_How extraordinary!_' I immediately exclaimed: '_I had
myself entertained the very same idea!_' The count was enchanted; and he
has already advanced a considerable sum."
At this moment dinner was announced; and the three gentlemen proceeded
to the apartment in which it was served up. The repast consisted of all
the luxuries in season, and many _out_ of season: the choicest wines
were produced; and justice was done to each and all, while wit and
humour flowed as freely, and sparkled as brightly as the juice of the
grape itself. The baronet was more affable than ever;--Mr. Chichester
related several amusing anecdotes of midnight sprees, policemen,
knockers, station-houses, and magistrates;--and Mr. Greenwood explained
his plans relative to the steam-packets.
"I should very much like to have you both in the Direction," said Mr.
Montague Greenwood, when he had terminated his elucidations: "but I have
learnt that this Richard Markham, of whom we have been talking, is
acquainted with the count; and if he saw your names connected with the
affair, he would instantly blow upon it. I should then have the count
upon me for the fifteen thousand pounds he has already lodged in my
hands."
"Let us write an anonymous letter to the count, and inform him that
Markham has been convicted at the Old Bailey," suggested Chichester.
"No--no," ejaculated Greenwood emphatically: "you have injured that
young man enough already."
"And what do you care about him?" cried Chichester. "You said just now
that you had never seen him."
"I did--and I repeat the assertion," answered Greenwood; then, in a very
serious tone, he added, "and I will beg you both to remember, gentlemen,
that if you wish to co-operate with me in any of those speculations
which I know so well how to manage, you will leave Mr. Richard Markham
alone; for I have certain private reasons for being rather anxious to do
him a service than an injury."
"Well, I will not in any way interfere with your good intentions," said
the baronet.
"Nor I," observed Chichester.
"And as it is impossible for you to enter my Steam-Packet Company,"
added Mr. Greenwood, "I will let you into another good thing which I
have in view, and in which a certain banker is concerned. To tell you
the real truth, this banker has been insolvent for some time; and if his
father had not advanced him about fifty thousand pounds three years ago,
he would have gone to smash. As it was, the Lords of the Treasury got
hold of his real position, by some means or another--he never could
divine how; and they refused a tender which he sent in for a certain
money contract--I don't know exactly what. _Now_ his petition is more
desperate than ever, and he and I are going to do an admirable stroke of
business. I will let you both into it."
We need scarcely remind the reader that the banker now alluded to was
the writer of one of the letters perused by the Examiner's clerks in the
_Black Chamber_.
The conversation between the three gentlemen was proceeding very
comfortably, when a servant entered the room, and, handing his master a
card upon a silver tray, said, "This gentleman, sir, requests to be
allowed to see you, if perfectly convenient."
"The Count Alteroni!" exclaimed Mr. Greenwood. "What the devil could
have brought him to London at this time of night? John--show him into
the study--there is a good fire for him; and if that won't warm his
heart, perhaps a bottle of Burgundy will."
The servant left the room; and in a few moments Mr. Greenwood hastened
to join the count in the elegant apartment which was denominated "the
study."
"My dear sir, I have to apologise for calling thus late," said the
count; "but the truth is that I had a little business which brought me
up to town to-day, and in this neighbourhood too; and I thought----"
"Pray offer no excuses, my dear count," interrupted Mr. Greenwood. "The
truth is, I wished to see you very particularly--upon a matter not
altogether connected with our enterprise----"
"Indeed," said the count; "you interest me. Pray explain yourself."
"In the first place, allow me to ask whether the ladies are yet
acquainted with the undertaking in which you have embarked?"
"Yes--I acquainted them with the fact this very morning."
"And do they approve of it?"
"They approve of every thing of which I think well, and disapprove of
all that I abhor."
"And do they know that I am the projector and principal in the
enterprise?" demanded Greenwood.
"They are acquainted with every thing," answered the count. "Indeed,
they have formed of you the same exalted opinion which I myself
entertain. It would be strange if they had not. We met you at the house
of Lord Tremordyn; and that nobleman spoke in the highest possible terms
of you. But what connection exists between all those questions which you
have put to me, and the matter concerning which you desired to see me?"
"I am not sure that I ought to explain myself at present, nor to _you_
in the first instance," was the answer, delivered with some
embarrassment of manner: "at all events I should wish you to know a
little more of me, and to have some reason to thank me for the little
service which I shall have the means of rendering you, in enabling you
to treble your capital."
The count appeared mystified; and Mr. Greenwood continued:--
"I had the pleasure of seeing the amiable countess and her lovely
daughter many times last summer at the house of Lord Tremordyn; and no
one could know the Signora Isabella without being forcibly struck by her
personal and mental qualifications. To render myself agreeable to Miss
Isabella would be the height of my earthly happiness. You will pardon my
presumption; but----"
Mr. Greenwood ceased, and looked at the count to ascertain the effect
which his words had produced.
The honourable and open-hearted Italian was not averse to this
proposition. He considered his own affairs and prospects in Castelcicala
to be so desperate that he was bound to make the best provision he could
for his daughter in a free, enlightened, and hospitable nation. Mr.
Greenwood was good looking, moving in the best society, well spoken of
by a peer of the realm (who, by the way, merely judged of Greenwood's
character by the punctuality with which he paid his gambling debts), and
evidently immensely rich;--his manners were elegant, and his taste
refined;--and, in a word, he might be called a most eligible suitor for
the hand of the count's daughter. Not being over-well skilled in affairs
of the heart himself, the count had not noticed the attachment which
decidedly existed between Isabella and Richard Markham; and it never for
a moment struck him that his daughter might manifest the most powerful
repugnance to Mr. Greenwood.
"I have no doubt," said he, after a long pause, "that Isabella will feel
highly flattered by your good opinion of her. Indeed, I shall inform her
without delay of the manner in which you have expressed yourself."
"My dear sir," interrupted Greenwood hastily, "in the name of heaven
tell the signora nothing at all about our present conversation. Her
delicacy would be offended. Rather give me an opportunity of making
myself better known to your daughter."
"I understand you. Come and pass a week or two with us at Richmond. We
have not a soul staying with us at the present moment, Mr. Markham, who
was our last guest, having returned to his own abode about ten days
ago."
"This is a busy time with me," began Mr. Greenwood; "and I could
scarcely spare a week with justice to yourself and my own interests----"
"True," interrupted the count. "I will bring the ladies up to town at
the beginning of the new year. We have a very pressing invitation from
the Tremordyns, and I will avail myself of it."
Mr. Greenwood expressed his gratitude to the count for the favour which
his suit thus received; and in a few minutes the Italian noble took his
leave, more than ever convinced of the honour, wealth, and business-like
habits of Mr. Greenwood.
"There," said the man of the world, as he once more seated himself at
the table in the dining-room, where he had left the baronet and
Chichester, "I have not passed the last hour unprofitably. I have not
only demanded the hand of the count's lovely daughter, but have also
persuaded the count to pay a few weeks' visit to your father-in-law,
Lord Tremordyn," he added, addressing Sir Rupert.
"And what good do you propose by the latter arrangement?" demanded the
baronet.
"I shall get the count's family at a house which Richard Markham stands
no chance of visiting: for even if the count asked him to call upon him
there, Markham would refuse, because he is sure to have read or heard
that you, Sir Rupert, have married Lady Cecilia Huntingfield, and he
would be afraid of meeting _you_ at Lord Tremordyn's residence."
"And why should you be so anxious to separate the count from Markham,
since Chichester and I are not to be in the Steam-packet concern?"
"Because I myself could not, for certain reasons, visit the count's
family if I stood the chance of meeting that same Richard Markham."
Mr. Greenwood then immediately changed the conversation, and pushed the
bottle briskly about.