RAWCLIFFE HALL.
The domain was extensive, but had a neglected appearance, and did not
possess any old timber, all the well-grown trees having been cut down
in the time of the former proprietor, Sir Oswald Rawcliffe. Neither
was the park picturesque, being flat, and in some places marshy. On
one side it was bounded by the Mersey, and its melancholy look
impressed Atherton as he gazed around.
Still he felt a singular interest in the place for which he could not
account, unless it were that Constance was connected with it.
At length, they came in sight of the old mansion, near which grew some
of the finest trees they had yet seen. The house had a gloomy look
that harmonised with the melancholy appearance of the park.
Atherton had never beheld the place before, yet he seemed somehow
familiar with it. The wide moat by which it was surrounded, the
drawbridge, the gate-tower, the numerous gables, the bay-windows, all
seemed like an imperfectly recollected picture.
So struck was he with the notion that he drew in the rein for a few
minutes, and gazed steadfastly at the antique mansion, endeavouring to
recall the circumstances under which he could have beheld it, but it
vanished like a dream.
Before riding up to the house, he held a brief consultation with the
sergeant, as to how it would be best to proceed.
Hitherto they had seen no one in the park, which, as already stated,
had a thoroughly neglected air; nor, as far as they could judge, had
their approach been remarked by any of the inmates of the house.
Gloom seemed to brood over the place. So silent was it that it might
have been uninhabited.
"If I had not been assured that Sir Richard is at home, I should not
have thought so," remarked Atherton. "The house has not a very
cheerful or hospitable air."
"Luckily, the drawbridge is down, or we might have been kept on the
wrong side of the moat," remarked the sergeant. "My advice is that we
enter the fort before we are discovered, or we may never get in at
all."
Acting upon the counsel, Atherton put spurs to his horse and rode up
to the house, which did not look a whit more cheerful as he approached
it, and without halting to ring the bell, dashed across the
drawbridge, passed through the open gateway and entered the
court-yard, which to the young man's great surprise did not look so
neglected as the exterior of the mansion had led him to anticipate.
The noise they made on entering the court-yard seemed to have roused
the inmates from the sleep into which they had apparently been
plunged. An old butler, followed by a couple of footmen, came out of
the house, and with evident alarm depicted in his countenance,
requested to know their business.
"Our business is with Sir Richard Rawcliffe," replied Atherton. "We
must see him immediately."
"I do not think Sir Richard will see you, gentlemen," replied the
butler. "He is much fatigued. I will deliver any message to him with
which you may charge me."
"We must see him," cried the sergeant, authoritatively. "We come from
the prince."
The butler no longer hesitated, but assuming a deferential air, said
he would at once conduct the gentlemen to his master.
As they had already dismounted, he bade one of the servants take their
horses to the stable, and ushered the unwelcome visitors into a large
entrance-hall, in which a wood fire was burning.
Remarking that the butler stared at him very hard, Atherton said:
"You look at me as if you had seen me before. Is it so? I have no
recollection of you."
"I don't think I have seen you before, sir," replied the man, gravely.
"But I have seen some one very like you." Whom shall I announce to Sir
Richard?"
"I am Captain Legh," said Atherton. "But there is no necessity to
announce me. Conduct me to your master at once."
The butler, though evidently uneasy, did not venture to disobey, but
led him to a room that opened out of the hall. The sergeant followed
close behind Atherton.
They had been ushered into the library. Sir Richard was writing at a
table, but raising his eyes on their entrance, he started up, and
exclaimed in an angry voice:
"Why have you brought these persons here, Markland. I told you I would
not be disturbed."
"Your servant is not to blame, Sir Richard," interposed Atherton. "I
insisted upon seeing you. I am sent to bring you to the prince."
"It is my intention to return to Manchester to-night," replied the
baronet, haughtily. "But I have some affairs to arrange."
"I shall be sorry to inconvenience you, Sir Richard," observed
Atherton. "But my orders are precise. You must present yourself at the
prince's head-quarters before midnight."
"I engage to do so," replied the baronet.
"But you must be content to accompany me, Sir Richard. Such are my
orders from his royal highness."
"And mine," added Sergeant Dickson.
Controlling his anger by a powerful effort, Sir Richard said with
forced calmness:
"Since such are the prince's orders I shall not dispute them. I will
return with you to Manchester. We will set out in two hours' time. In
the interim I shall be able to arrange some papers which I came for,
and which I desire to take with me. By that time you will have rested,
and your horses will be ready for the journey."
Then turning to Markland, he added:
"Conduct Captain Legh and Sergeant Dickson to the dining-room, and set
some refreshment before them without delay."
"Take me to the servants' hall, Mr. Markland," said Dickson. "I cannot
sit down with my officer."
Just as Atherton was about to leave the room, Sir Richard stepped up
to him and said in a low tone:
"Before we start, I should like to have a little conversation with you
in private, Captain Legh."
"I am quite at your service now, Sir Richard," replied the young man.
He then glanced significantly at Dickson, who went out with the
butler, leaving him alone with the baronet.