_Coke Clifton to Guy Fairfax_
_London, Dover Street_
Since the world began, never yet had scoundrel wight so many damning
accessary incidents to contend with, as I have had during the whole
progress of this affair! All hell seems busy to blacken me!--I have
done the deed--They are secure--But the hour of exultation itself is
embittered, and the legitimate triumph of vengeance made to wear the
face of baseness--I have them; but as I tell you there is an event,
that happened the very moment preceding the seizure, which seems to
have been contrived by the most malignant of the fiends of darkness,
purposely to steep me in guilt indelible!
After our myrmidons had been three days in vain upon the watch, on
Friday last Anna and Henley sallied forth, about two in the afternoon,
to take one of their amorous rambles. As usual they were followed by
Laura, who had sent me word of their intention, which she had learnt at
breakfast time. Henley it seems had previously been into the city.
A scout was on the watch, and when they appeared soon brought the
intelligence. All was in readiness. The keeper with three stout fellows
in one party, and MacFane with four more in another. The earliness of
their setting out denoted they intended to lengthen their walk. The
great danger was that it should have been directed to Kensington
Gardens, as it has been several times lately; but in this instance
fortune was on our side.
They went into the park, passed the gardens, walked beside the wall,
crossed the Kensington road, and strayed exactly as we could have
wished into the fields inclining toward Brompton.
I was on horseback, and by the help of a pocket telescope kept them in
view, without the danger of being seen, while they were in the park;
but as soon as they had left it I thought it necessary to spur on, and
be ready to prevent any blunders. I crossed the road down the lane at
the turnpike, passed them, and saw them arm in arm. The sight was
insupportable!
From what afterward happened they must have seen me too, though I
imagined myself under cover of the hedge.
You know my determination not to be robbed; and indeed robbery at such
a time, and in such a place, was a thing I had little reason to expect.
But a fellow, who was lying in ambush at the turn of the lane,
calculated differently. He imagined nobody to be near, and suddenly
presented himself and his pistol, with a demand of my money.
I made a blow at him with the butt end of my whip, which missed his
head, but fell on his shoulder. My horse started, he fired and missed,
but sprung suddenly forward, and seized hold of the bridle. He had
another pistol which he was preparing, imagining I should be more
intimidated when I found him so desperate. All this happened
immediately after I had passed Anna and Henley; and the latter perhaps
having seen the fellow, and certainly having heard the pistol, flew in
an instant, leaped the hedge, and just as the robber was again
presenting his pistol made a blow, and knocked it out of his hand.
The pistol went off, and the fellow took to his heels. Henley, instead
of pursuing him, stayed to enquire with much earnestness whether I had
received any hurt.
At this very damning speck of time, Fairfax, the keeper and his
scoundrels who had been dogging them came up. There were four of them:
two before and two behind. The undaunted Henley severally knocked down
the two fellows in front, and in an instant would undoubtedly have been
far enough out of all reach; but, in the very act of striking the
second rascal, he received a blow from a bludgeon, dealt by the
blood-hound keeper, which levelled him with the earth.
Never did my heart feel a twinge like that moment! I thought he was
dead! He lay motionless; notwithstanding which the infernal keeper
continued his occupation with unconcern, turned the unresisting body
over, slipped on the straight waistcoat, and bound down his arms.
At length he gave a groan! The instant I heard it I galloped off, full
speed. It was too much for heart to endure!
I soon afterward heard him shout for aid more than once, but to this
they presently put a stop, by forcing a gag into his mouth. They were
not very far distant from the house where he was to be confined, and to
which he was immediately hurried away.
There he at present remains. His morning dialogues, his noon-day walks,
and his nightly raptures are ended. They are things past, never more to
return! Of that torment at least I have rid myself; and others compared
to that are bliss ineffable! I had sworn it should not be! They might
have read the oath largely written on my brow, and ought instinctively
to have known it be the decree of fate!
No, Fairfax! I never asked a favour from him; never by my own consent
received one! Not all the tortures of all the tyrants the earth ever
beheld should have extorted a consent so degrading! His repeated
interference was but a repetition of insult, and as such deserves only
to be remembered. I asked not life at his hands; and giving life,
instead of a blessing, he did but give torture! The gift was detestable
and the giver! Had I perished, he might have been safe and I at rest. I
asked not charity of him. No! On any Terms I abhor existence; bur on
those, darkness and hell are not so hateful! It has ulcerated my heart,
which not even vengeance itself I find has now the power to heal. For
life I am made miserable; but it shall not be a single misery!
While the keeper was acting his part of this gloomy drama, Mac Fane, as
you may well imagine, was not idle. He and his unhallowed scoundrels
presently made seizure of the lovely Anna. She stood confused and half
terrified at the sudden flight of her enamorato! She was more confused,
more terrified at the sudden appearance of her ravishers! I charged the
scoundrels on their lives to use her tenderly! But what know such
hell-hounds of tenderness?
She made I find a brave and by them unexpected resistance: but there
were too many of them, and it was in vain! Mac Fane himself is amazed
at her beauty; and harangues in his coarse and uncouth jargon on the
energy and dignity of her deportment, in a manner which shews that even
he was awed.
They were obliged however forcibly to stop her cries. This I imagined
would be the case, and I had provided them with a white cambric
handkerchief. But what will not the touch of such unconsecrated rascals
defile?
Yes, Fairfax, they laid their prophane hands on her, clasped her in
their loathsome arms, polluted her with their foul fingers! The embrace
of a Clifton she might perhaps pardon; but this violation she never
can!
Well then, let her add this injury to the rest! I know her to be my
enemy; sworn, rooted, and irrevocable! And why should I tag regret to
my sum of wretchedness? No! I will at least enjoy a moment of triumph,
however transitory! Let her despise me, but she shall remember me too!
Give me but this brief bliss, and there I would wish existence to end!
That excepted, pleasure there is none for me; and of pain I am weary.
Yes! I will glut my soul with this solitary, short rapture; and contemn
the storms that may succeed! I fear them not, shall glory in them, and
be glad to find foes, if such should arise, with whom contention will
not be disgrace! I wish and seek them. Their appearance would give me
employment, and employment would give me ease, and ease would be
heaven!