I continued.--To tell you the truth, Mr. Mac Fane, that is the very
subject which brought you and I into company this evening. I suspected
your hate of Henley, and to be sincere I hate him too.
Had you seen the fellow's face brighten, Fairfax, and after brightening
begin to flame, you would not have readily forgotten the picture.
But I am rather surprised to meet you in public, sir, added I.
What do you mane by that, sir?
I thought you deemed it prudent to keep out of the way, on account of
that affair?
I felt some gratification in playing thus upon his fears--He now once
more put his hand into his side-pocket, and pulling out his pistols
laid them before him. By Jasus, sir, I don't very well know what you
would be at! But when I understand the full tote of your questions, I
shall know how to give an answer.
I could not very well digest this oblique menace; but to have
quarrelled with such a rascal would in every sense have been madness.
You have a well-mounted pair of pistols there, said I, Mr. Mac Fane.
I'll bet you the fifty guineas, double or quit, I break this china
plate at the first shot, ten paces distant.
By the great grumbler, answered he, but I'll bet you don't! immediately
delivering me one pistol, and taking up and unlocking the other
himself. Accordingly I placed the plate against the wall, fired, and
was not far from the centre. Upon my honour and soul, sir, said Mac
Fane, but I find you are a good shot, and I shall be glad to be better
acquainted with you.
Having convinced him that I could hit a mark as well as himself, I
returned to the subject of Henley; and though I could not bring him to
be explicit, I learned from him that he was acquainted with Henley's
aversion to prosecute, but does not know on what that aversion is
founded. Beside which he confides in a want of witnesses, as I could
perceive: except that he has some fear of his accomplice, Webb; a man
in whose company this very Mac Fane once attempted to rob Sir Arthur,
and whom I suspect he would impeach, but that it would ruin all his
gambling views. For he has found means of associating with that whole
class of young fools of fortune, whose perverted education leads them
to take pleasure in the impudence and humour of such a fellow, as well
as in seeing each other stripped and ruined by turns; but who would
never admit him as a companion, did they know he had been guilty of an
act so desperate as that of going on the highway. Scarcely any thing
short of this can expel such a fellow from such society.
But though he thinks himself secure in consequence of the lenity of
Henley, he hates him as sincerely as if he were pursuing him to the
gallows. The loss of the three thousand guineas is one great motive;
and another is that he felt he was out-braved by Henley, whom he could
not terrify, but who on the contrary terrified him.
I found he had even formed a scheme of petty vengeance, which was to
waylay Henley with some bruising fellows of his acquaintance, for he is
acquainted with daring villains of all descriptions, one of whom was to
insult, provoke him to fight, and beat him, while Mac Fane himself
should keep at some distance, disguised.
It was with some difficulty I could persuade him to desist from this
plan, and join in projects of my own. But at last however he was
convinced that to rob him of his mistress, and awaken him from all his
dreams of imaginary bliss to the torture I am preparing, would be
more effectual revenge than a paltry beating. Not to mention that I
firmly believe, instead of being beaten, he would conquer the best
prize-fighter they could bring; for he is really a powerful and
extraordinary fellow.
But you will perceive, Fairfax, I was obliged to inform him of a part
of my own views; and that I might fix him I determined to bid high. I
told him I had Henley and another person to secure; and that if he
would aid me himself and provide other assistants to act under his
directions, without seeing or being informed of me, I would give him a
thousand guineas as soon as all this should be perfectly accomplished.
And, as an earnest of my generosity, I put down the fifty guineas;
saying that the wager I had made with him was not a fair one, for that
it was fifty guineas to a straw in my favour: he had no chance of
winning.
He was quite satisfied with my offer, strengthened as it was by the
gratification of his own passions. I told him what a puissant hero
Henley is, and of the necessity of coming upon him by surprise. I told
him I had seen a house, as before described, beyond Knightsbridge,
which pleased me; but that I could not find another near enough, in
which to secure Henley.
The geography of the place I mentioned seemed to start an idea in his
mind, and he told me, if I would meet him in two days at the same
tavern, he would in the mean time not only make preparations and
procure assistants, but perhaps bring me further intelligence. As
the fellow's brain seemed busy, I did not wish to rob him of the
self-satisfaction of invention, and we accordingly parted, making
the appointment he proposed.
Of all existing beings, he perhaps was the only one who could in a
country like this become the proper instrument of my revenge. And yet,
Fairfax, he is a hateful fellow! His language, his looks, his manners,
his passions, are all hateful! Courage excepted, there is not a single
trait in him but what is abominable! He delights in talking of hocking
men, chalking them, and cutting them down! Every time his anger rises
against any one, these are its attendant ideas. Such a fellow must come
to some tragical end. He can never die of old age, and scarcely of
disease. Nothing but the lead and steel in which he delights can end
him.
So it is, and I have no remedy. But he shall be to me no more than an
implement, with which I will carve the coming banquet.
How minute are the chances and events on which we depend! A few slight
alterations of incident, and how different would have been the train of
my thoughts! She might have been happy with me, for I loved her,
Fairfax. I loved her. I feel it more and more; and were but
circumstances a little more favourable, I believe I should turn about
and take a contrary path.
But it cannot be! The barrier is insurmountable! An adamantine wall,
reaching to the skies! I remember what she said, at her proud uncle's
table--'I have an abhorrence, Mr. Clifton, of the errors in which you
are now indulging.'--Abhorrence was the word, Fairfax!--It has been at
my tongue's end ever since--And when she talked of my errors she meant
me.--'I ultimately and determinedly renounce all thought of him!'--This
was her language! I knew before which way her heart went; and can I
suppose, now she has got a fair excuse, that she will not profit by it?
Oh no! I am not so ill read as that in the passions. But I have said
the word--They shall never come together!--They never never shall!