My associate and myself advanced stealthily and noiselessly up the
staircase. We met no one. The profoundest security seemed to reign
everywhere. Favoured by the dark shadows that hung around us, we
advanced to the door that was nearly wide open, and we then had a full
view of everything within. The picture was solemn. Seated in a very
high-backed, elaborately-carved, and Gothic chair, supported on all
sides by pillows, sat the attenuated figure of my father. I gazed upon
him with an eager curiosity, mingled with awe. His countenance was long
and ghastly--there was no beauty in it. Its principal expression was
terror. It was evident that his days were numbered. I looked upon him
intently. I challenged my heart for affection, and it made no answer.
Directly before my father was placed a table, covered with a rich and
gold-embroidered cloth, bordered with heavy gold fringe, upon which
stood four tall wax candles, surrounding a mimic altar surmounted by an
ebony crucifix. His chaplain, dressed in Popish canonicals, was
mumbling forth some form of prayer, and a splendidly-illuminated missal
lay open before him. There was also on the table a small marble basin
of water, and a curiously inlaid box filled with bones--relics, no
doubt--imbued with the spirit of miracle-working. The priest was
perhaps performing a private midnight mass.
The fitful attention that Sir Reginald gave to this office was painful
to contemplate. His mind was evidently wandering, and he could bring
himself to attend only at intervals. At another table, a little removed
from the one I have described, sat the person of the London attorney; he
had also two lights, and he was most busily employed in turning over and
indexing various folios of parchment. But I have yet to describe the
other figure--the, to me, loathsome person of my illegitimate
half-brother. He was on his knees, mumbling forth the responses and
joining in the prayers of the priest. He was paler and thinner than
usual; he looked, however, perfectly gentlemanly, and was scrupulously
well-dressed.
As yet, I had not heard the voice of Sir Reginald; his lips moved at
some of the responses that the two made audibly, but sound there was
none. At length, when there was a total cessation of the voices of the
other, and a silence so great in that vast apartment that the rustling
of the lawyer's parchments was distinctly heard, even where I stood--
even this hardened wretch seemed to feel the general awe of the moment,
and ceased to disturb the tomb-like silence.
In the midst of this, the prematurely-old Sir Reginald suddenly lifted
up his voice and exclaimed, loudly, in a tone of the most bitter
anguish, "Lord Jesu, have mercy upon me!"
The vast and ancient room echoed dolorously with the heart-broken
supplication. It was the first time that my father's voice fell upon my
ear: it was so plaintive, so imbued with wretchedness, that the feeling
of resentment which, I take shame to myself, I had long suffered in my
bosom, melted away at once, and a strange tenderness came over me. I
could have flung myself upon his bosom, and wept. I felt that my
mother's wrongs had been avenged. Even as it was, with all the secrecy
that I had then thought it my interest to preserve, I could not refrain,
in a subdued, yet earnest tone, from responding to his broken
ejaculation, from the very bottom of my heart, "Amen."
A start of surprise and terror, as my hollow response reached the ears
of all then and there assembled, followed my filial indiscretion. Each
looked at the other with a glance that plainly asked, "Was the voice
thine?" and each in reply shook his head.
"A miracle!" exclaimed the priest. "The sinner's supplication has been
heard. Let us pray."
During this solemn scene, events of a very different description were
taking place at the inn which we had just clandestinely left. Our exit
had been noticed. The landlord was called up; he became seriously
alarmed, the more especially when the direction that we had taken had
been ascertained. He immediately concluded that we had gone to Rathelin
Hall to commit a burglary, or perhaps a murder. He summoned to his aid
the constables of the village; called up the magistrate, and the lawyer,
Mr Seabright; and, with a whole posse of attendants, proceeded to the
rescue. We will conduct them to the door that Pigtop and myself had
secured when we barred out Daunton's accomplice, and, there leaving
them, return to the sick-chamber.
After the reverend gentleman had concluded his extempore prayer, but few
of the sentences of which reached our place of concealment, Sir Reginald
said, "My friends, the little business that we have to do to-night had
better be done speedily. I feel unusually depressed. I hope that it is
not the hand of death that is pressing so heavily upon me. I would live
a little while longer--but the will of God, the Redeemer of our sins, be
done! Bring the papers here--I will sign them. My friend Brown, and
you, my poor and too long neglected Ralph (addressing Joshua), I trust
to your integrity in all this matter; for not only am I averse to, but
just now incapable of, business. But, my dear Ralph, before we do this
irrevocable deed, kneel down and receive a repentant father's blessing,
and hear that father ask, with a contrite heart, pardon of his son and
of his God."
The parchments were brought and placed before the baronet by the
assiduous lawyer, and the son--for son to Sir Reginald he really was--
with looks of the most devout humility, and his eyes streaming with
hypocritical tears, knelt reverently down at the feet of the trembling
and disease-stricken parent. His feeble hands are outstretched over the
inclined head of the impostor, his lips part--this--this--I cannot
bear--so, before a single word falls from our common father, I rush
forward, and, kneeling down beside my assassin-brother, exclaim, in all
the agony of wretchedness and the spirit of a newly-born affection,
"Bless me, even me also, O my father!--he has taken away my birthright,
and, behold, he would take away my blessing also. Bless even me!"
"Ralph Rattlin, by all that's damnable!" screamed forth the
self-convicted impostor.
Thus, this apparently imprudent and rash step was productive to me of
more service than could have been hoped from the deepest-laid plan. In
a moment we were on our feet, and our hands on each other's throats.
This sudden act seemed miraculously to invigorate our father; he rose
from his seat, and, standing to the full height of his tall and gaunt
figure, placing his bony hand heavily on my shoulder, and looking me
fixedly in the face, said, "If thou art Ralph Rathelin, who then is
this?"
"The base-born of your paramour!" and with a sudden energy I hurled him
from me; and he lay bruised and crouching beneath the large oriel
window, at the extremity of the room.
"It was unseemly said, and cruelly done," said the baronet, sorrowfully.
"Oh, but now my sins are remembered upon me! I cast my sons loose upon
the face of the earth, and, in my dying hour, they come and struggle
together for their lives before my eyes! Verily am I punished; my crime
is visited heavily upon me."
The other parties in the room were little less affected with various
emotions. The London attorney was making rapidly for the door, when he
was met by the advancing Pigtop, who thrust him again into the
apartment, and then boldly faced the priest--the latter still in his
canonicals, the former dressed as a sectarian preacher.
Their antipathy was mutual and instantaneous. But, ere the really
reverend gentleman could begin some pious objurgation at this apparent
interference with his communicant, Pigtop indulged in one of the
heaviest oaths that vulgarity and anger together ever concocted, and
straightway went and seized the crouching Joshua, and lugged him before
the agonised father, exclaiming, "Warrants out against him, Sir
Reginald, for burglary, forgery, and assassination--he is my prisoner."
The craven had not a word to say--his knees knocked together--he was a
pitiable object of a terror-stricken wretch. Sir Reginald already began
to look down upon him with contempt: and my heart bounded within me,
when I already found him leaning parentally on my shoulder. "Speak,
trembler!--is this person the veritable Ralph Rathelin?"
"Pity me, pardon me, and I will confess all."
"Splits!" said the attorney, and vanished through the now unguarded
door.
"Speak!"
"This gentleman is your lawful son--but I also--"
"No more--escape--there is gold--escape--hide yourself from the eye of
man for ever!"
"No," said Pigtop, giving him a remorseless shake. "Do you see this
scar?"
"Let him go instantly, Pigtop!--obey me--I have promised his mother--it
is sacred."
"For my sake!" said Sir Reginald.
At this instant, the steward rushed in, partly dressed, crying out, "Sir
Reginald, Sir Reginald, the constables and the magistrates have broken
down the hall-door, and are now coming upstairs, to arrest the
housebreakers--they have packed up all the plate, and it lies in the
hall, ready to be carried off?"
"My God! It is too late," said Sir Reginald, wringing his hands.
"No," said I; "let him escape by the window. Be so good, sir," said I
to the priest, "to secure the door--we shall gain time. Hold it as long
as you can against all intruders. The scaffolding will enable the
culprit to reach the ground with comparatively little danger."
The priest obeyed; and not only fastened the door, but also barricaded
it with furniture.
"Now, Pigtop," said I, "if you wish to preserve my friendship, assist
this poor wretch to escape--he is paralysed with his abject fears.
Come, sir," addressing Joshua, "you will certainly be hung if you don't
exert yourself."
"He'll be hung yet," said Pigtop sulkily. "But I am an old sailor, and
will obey orders--nevertheless, I know that I shall live to see him
hung. Come along, sirrah!"
Between us, we led him to the window. We then thrust him out, and he
stood shivering upon the cross-boarding of the scaffolding level with
the window-sills.
"Slide down the poles, and run," said I--and Pigtop together.
"I can't," said he, shuddering; "the chasm is awfully deep."
"You must, or die the death of the felon."
"Oh, what shall I do!"
"Cast off the lashing just above you," said Pigtop; "pass it over the
crosspiece over your head, make a running noose, put it under your arms,
and keep the other end of the rope in your hand. You may either cling
to the pole with your legs as you like, or not--for then you can lower
yourself down at your ease, as comfortably as if you were taking a nap."
"Come away, Pigtop--shut the window, close the shutters--the constables
are upon us!" I exclaimed. This was done immediately, and thus was the
immaculate Joshua shut out from all view. As the attacks on the door of
the apartment became more energetic, and we concluded that Joshua was
now safe, we were going to give the authorities entrance, when we heard
a dreadful crash on the outside of the window.
"The lubber's gone by the run, by God!" said Pigtop; "he'll escape
hanging, after all!"
"Let us hope in mercy not," said Sir Reginald, shuddering. "I trust it
is not so. I hear no scream, no shriek. I am sure, by the sound, that
it was the toppling down of the boards; he has most likely displaced
some of them in his descent."
"Shall we admit, Sir Reginald, the people who are thundering at the
door?"
"Not yet: let there be no appearance of disorder--remove these"--
pointing to the small altar and crucifix--"and would it not be as well,
my friend, to divest yourself of those holy vestments? they are
irritating to heretical eyes. Assist me, sir, to my chair."
I placed him respectfully nearly in the position in which I first
discovered him. All vestiges of the Catholic religion were carefully
removed, and the door, at last, thrown open. The crowd entered.
Hurried explanations ensued; but we could not conceal from the
magistrate that a robbery had been planned and nearly effected, and that
the real culprits, for whom, at first, Pigtop and I had been mistaken,
had escaped.
At length, the master of the inn suggested that perhaps they had passed
out of the window, and might be still upon the boarding or the
scaffolding. The shutters were hastily thrown open--and, sight of
horrors! Joshua Daunton was discovered hanging by the neck--dead! Sir
Reginald gazed for some moments in speechless terror on the horrible
spectacle, and then fell back in a death-like swoon.
The body was brought in, and every attempt at resuscitation was useless.
He had died, and was judged; may he have found pardon! Some thought
that he had hung himself intentionally, so completely had the noose
clasped his neck; others, among whom were Pigtop, thought differently.
The old sailor was of opinion, from the broken boards that had given way
beneath his feet, that, when he had got the noose below his chin, and no
lower, his footing or the scaffolding had failed him; and that, letting
go the other end of the rope, it had taken a half hitch, and thus jammed
upon the cross-pole. However the operation was brought about, he was
exceeding well hung, and the drop represented to perfection. As Pigtop
had prophesied, the post-chaise in the shrubbery was turned into a
hearse, in order to convey his body to the inn for the coroner's
inquest.
"I knew I should live to see him hung," said Pigtop, doggedly, as he
bade me good-night, when we both turned into our respective rooms for
the night, in the house of my father.
Contrary to all expectations, the shock, instead of destroying, seemed
to have the effect of causing Sir Reginald to rally. He lived for six
months after, became fully satisfied of my identity; and just as he was
beginning to taste of happiness in the duty and affection of his son, he
died, having first taken every legal precaution to secure me the quiet
possession of my large inheritance.
My grief at his decease was neither violent nor prolonged. After his
burial, I was on the point of repairing the old mansion, when I found
myself involved in three lawsuits, which challenged my right to it all.
I soon came to a determination as to my plan of action. I paid off all
the establishment; and, having got hold again of my foster-father and
mother, Mr and Mrs Brandon, I rebuilt the lodge for them comfortably,
and there I located them. I shut up the whole of the Hall, except a
small sitting-room, and two bedrooms, for Pigtop and myself; and thus we
led the lives of recluses, having no other attendants than the Brandons.
By these means I was enabled to reserve all my rents for carrying on my
lawsuits, without at all impairing the estate. In eighteen years, I
thank God, I ruined my three opponents, and they all died in beggary.
The year after I came into undisputed possession of my estates, the next
heir got a writ issued against me of "_de inquirendo lunatico_," on the
ground of the strange and unworthy manner that I, as a baronet with an
immense estate, had lived for those last eighteen years. I told my
reasons most candidly to the jury, and they found me to be the most
sensible man that they had ever heard of, placed in a similar position.
After having thus speedily settled these little matters, as I was fast
approaching my fortieth year, I began to alter my style, and live in a
manner more befitting my rank and revenues; yet I still held much aloof
from all intimacy with my neighbours.
I am now in my forty-first year, and grown corpulent. It is now
twenty-one years since I saw my unfortunate parent interred, and I walk
about my domains Sir Ralphed to my heart's content--or, more properly
speaking, discontent. Old Pigtop is a fixture, for he has now really
become old. I cannot call him my friend, for I must venerate him to
whom I give that title, and veneration, or even esteem, Pigtop was never
born to inspire. My humble companion he is not, for no person in his
deportment towards me can be less humble than he. He is as quarrelsome
as a lady's lapdog, and seems never so happy as when he has effectually
thwarted my intentions. Prince Hal said of the jolly wine-bibber, Jack,
that "he could have better spared a better man!" Of Pigtop I am
compelled to say more--"I could not spare him at all." He has become
necessary to me. He was never very handsome; but now, in his
sixty-second year, he is a perfect fright; so, at least, everybody tells
me, for I don't see it myself.
His duties about my person seem to be continually healthily irritant;
the most important one of which is, to keep me a bachelor, and scare
away all womankind from Rathelin Hall. He controls my servants, and
helps me to spoil them. Such a set of heavy, bloated, good-for-nothing,
impudent, and happy dogs, never before fed upon a baronet's substance,
contradicted him to his very face, and fought for him behind his back.
The females in my establishment bear but a most niggardly proportion to
the males--in the ratio of Falstaff, one pennyworth of bread to his many
gallons of sack: and these few are the most hideous, pox-marked,
blear-eyed damsels that the country could produce--all Pigtop's doing.
Never shall I forget the consternation, the blank dismay of his
countenance, when, one fine, sunshiny morning, I announced to him my
intention of installing in the mansion some respectable middle-aged
gentlewoman as my housekeeper. It was some time before he could find
his speech.
"Blood and thunder! bombs and fury! what have I done, that you should
turn me out of your house in my grey hairs--now I'm dismantled, as it
were, and laid up in ordinary?"
"Turn you out, Piggy! what could put that in your foolish noddle?"
"If madam comes in, I cut my cable, and pay off Rathelin Hall right
abaft--even if I die in a ditch, and am buried by the parish. Take a
housekeeper!--oh Lord! oh Lord! oh Lord! I would just as soon see you
married, or in your coffin."
"But some such a person is absolutely necessary in an establishment of
this extent; so a housekeeper I'll have, of some sort."
"Why the devil need it be a woman, then? why won't a man do--why won't I
do?"
"You?"
"Yes, me--Andrew Pigtop. I ask the appointment--do, there's a good Sir
Ralph, make it out directly. Clap your signature to it, and let it run
as much like a commission as possible. I ask it as a favour. You know
the great sacrifices that I have made for you."
"The first time I ever heard of them, upon my honour. Pray enlighten
me."
"Why, you must be convinced, Sir Ralph, if I had not left the navy to
attend you all the world over, as the pilot-fish sticks to the shark, I
should, by this time, have been an old post-captain, and very likely
C.B. into the bargain."
"You, who remained one quarter of a century a master's-mate during an
active war, should rush up through the grades of lieutenant and
commander to be posted during another quarter of profound peace! But,
perhaps, you would have depended upon your great family interest. Well,
if I make out your commission as my housekeeper, will you do the duties
of the office?"
"On course."
"And wear the uniform?"
"On course, if so be it be such as a man might wear; I bar petticoats
and mob-caps, and female thingamies."
"Will you carry the keys?"
"On course."
"And see that the rooms and the passages are well swept, and that the
maids are up betimes in the morning?"
"Damn them!--on course--certainly."
"And, when Lady Aurelia Cosway and her five beautiful daughters drive up
to the door, will you go and receive them in the ball; and, making them
a profound curtsey, beg to conduct them into a dressing-room?"
"No; because, d'ye see, no ladies ever came further than your door."
"And whom may I thank for that?"
"Me, assuredly," said Pigtop, very proudly.
"I do."
I did not make out his commission, which vexed him; but, on the other
hand, I did not get me a housekeeper, which, at first, a little vexed
me; but, really, my friend, in an ex officio manner, does most of the
duties of the office to which he aspired extremely well.
Without vanity, I still preserve my good looks, though I must confess to
a little unbecoming obesity of figure; yet, through my indolence, and
the perseverance of Pigtop, and perhaps certain recollections of a green
and bright, bay in one of the summer islands, I do fear that I am a
confirmed bachelor.