We were conducted by our friends to a handsome palace in one of the
principal streets of Valetta. The ball-room was full of naval and
military officers in uniform, and ladies in dresses of every hue and
gossamer texture. Many were fair and blooming, but the dark skins and
flashing eyes of a southern clime predominated.
Hearty and I walked in together. He cast a glance eagerly round the
room. Laura Mizen against the field, as Carstairs would say, thought I.
How will she receive him, however, is the question? We men are too
often apt to forget that point. He was not long in finding her; he
walked up hastily, and put out his hand. She looked up, a gleam of
pleased surprise lighted up her eyes, and a slight blush suffused her
cheek, and then she put out her hand with the same frankness he had
offered his. All right, I thought; that is just as people should meet;
they will understand each other very soon. Miss Mizen had entirely
overlooked me when meeting Hearty, which, however complimentary to him,
might, under some circumstances, have hurt my feelings.
After allowing them to talk a little, I went forward and was cordially
received as his friend. I was surprised that Carstairs and Bubble had
not found their way to that end of the room. On returning towards the
door, after exchanging a few words with some old naval acquaintance, I
caught sight of him bending over a lady who was leaning back in an
arm-chair flirting with her fan. Her face was thus hidden from me, but
on getting nearer I beheld no less a personage than Mrs Skyscraper; at
a little distance was Bubble, carrying on an animated conversation with
Miss Jane Seton, greatly to the chagrin, as it appeared, of a
magnificently dressed Albanian who stood near them. The stranger's face
was turned away from me, so that I could not see the expression of his
countenance; but the convulsive clutch which he ever and anon made at
the handle of his jewel-hilted dagger showed the irritation of his
feelings; and so strongly did this movement impress me with his evil
intentions, that I kept my eye fixed on his weapon to hold him back
should he attempt to do any mischief. Just at that moment Mite came up
to me.
"This is fun, isn't it?" quoth my young friend. "Now to my mind there's
a fine woman, the one Mr Carstairs is talking to; but by Jupiter Ammon
she's cut out by that girl there Mr Bubble has ranged up alongside.
She's superb, isn't she? What a Juno-like head! Still, do you know
that I don't think I should quite like to offend her. She looks as if
she could twitch a fellow by the ear pretty sharply. Look there now,
there's another girl, she's much more to my mind, though she has nothing
of the stunner about her. The primrose style is what I like, or the
violet, if that's more to your taste--quiet and neat. Now, that's what
I should call that little fair girl there. I say, I must just try and
have a dance with her; I ought to, for the skipper made me toe and heel
it with a little Smaitch girl, who was wonderfully heavy to haul about;
and as she didn't understand a word I said, and as I couldn't make out a
word she said, there was no great fun in it."
Thus the youngster ran on somewhat flippantly, perhaps, drawing off my
attention from Bubble and the Greek. I was, however, conscious that the
latter had turned his head and looked at me. Directly afterwards he
walked off to another part of the room. As I was neither lazy nor too
old to dance, nor blind to the charms of beauty, I was soon after this
engaged in moving about to the sound of music among the laughing throng.
Among others, the fair Jane honoured me with her hand. I found her any
thing but a lively companion; somewhat absent, and far from haughty as
before. Had the avenging Nemesis of an unrequited passion punished her
for her treatment of my friend Loring? It looked very like it; she
answered my most brilliant sallies of wit by monosyllables, and smiled
faintly, putting her bouquet to her nose--but I am certain the sweets
therein conveyed no sensation to her olfactory nerves. What was the
matter with her I could in no way make out. I was leading her to a
seat, somewhat weary with my vain endeavours to arouse her, when we
encountered Sir Lloyd Snowdon, one of the officers of the garrison, and
evidently an admirer of hers.
"It's all arranged, Miss Seton; we have fixed to have the pic-nic
to-morrow. Mrs Seton has promised and so has Mrs Mizen, and Mrs
Rowley, and Mrs Grey, and her daughters, and that charming personage
Mrs Skyscraper only waits to be asked." I recollected the pic-nic we
had had to Netley, when my friend Loring had apparently made such way
into the good graces of the fair Jane, but she made no sign to betray
any recollection of the event. I was acquainted with Sir Lloyd, and he
knew Hearty well, so he invited all our party to join the pic-nic on the
morrow. Old Rullock of the "Zebra" of course was asked, and so was
Captain Arden of the "Trident," and requested to bring some of their
officers, rather an unusual stretch of military politeness at Malta,
where midshipmen, and even lieutenants, are held often in but slight
estimation.
We were to visit the old capital of Citta Vecchia and the catacombs, and
the grotto of St. Paul's, and then to go on to a sheltered bay on the
seashore, where the operation of dining was to be performed. The whole
plan was soon arranged, and everybody was pleased. I was talking to
Mrs Skyscraper when Sir Lloyd Snowdon came up to us.
"By the by," said he to the widow, "I quite forgot to ask your friend
the Greek Count; can you, my dear madam, tell me where he is to be
found? I would remedy my neglect."
"Indeed, I cannot," answered the lady with a toss of her head; "I saw
Count Gerovolio, but I have not watched his proceedings."
"Oh, Mrs Skyscraper--Mrs Skyscraper!" thought I, "what were your eyes
about when they wandered just now so often towards Miss Seton and that
finely dressed Albanian?" I had missed the fair Jane after supper, and
heard her mother inquiring for her. I had wandered out on a narrow
terrace which ran under the windows of a long corridor, to enjoy the
fresh air and the moonlight. As I passed under one of the windows, I
saw two figures standing in the recess. One I saw was Count Gerovolio,
the other I felt sure was Miss Seton. I would not have willingly been
an eavesdropper, but I could scarcely help hearing what was said. I was
arrested, also, by finding that the speakers were conversing in English.
"Beautiful girl," exclaimed the Count, in a tone of deep devotion, "you
have enslaved me completely. I sought you but for my amusement, and you
have thrown your golden chains around me, so that I could not break from
them if I would."
"Oh! who are you?" exclaimed Miss Seton, in an agitated tone. "You did
not tell me you could speak English. Surely you are not an Englishman."
"Whatever I am, I am a Greek at heart and by adoption," answered the
stranger, with a slight hesitation in his voice. "I was first led to
the shores of that classic land to fight for the cause of her
long-oppressed children. My sword raised me to my present position.
Let that suffice you. And now, lovely girl, do not longer hold me in
torturing suspense. You know how deeply, how earnestly, I love you.
Your mother, you tell me, will not consent to our union. Fly with me at
once. My beautiful vessel waits off the coast to receive us on board,
and to convey us to a land of freedom and romance; and where,
emancipated from the trammels of the cold, calculating world, we may
enjoy that bliss reserved for so few on earth."
Miss Seton's answer I could not hear. I could scarcely believe that she
could be influenced by such palpable sophistry. Still I knew that there
are moments when even the wisest among the daughters of Eve, thrown off
their guard by the wiles of the Evil One, are ready to listen to his
most barefaced falsehood; if they trust to their own strength--their own
wisdom--and seek not protection from the only source whence it can come.
"Oh, you consummate scoundrel!" I muttered to myself, as I retreated
to the doorway, whence I had come out. I had no longer a doubt as to
the identity of the pretended Greek. I resolved to put the matter to
the test. Entering the house, I walked briskly along the gallery,
towards the window where I had seen the two speakers. Miss Seton was
there--more like a statue than a living being--leaning against the wall,
with her hands pressed to her forehead; but the pretended Greek was
gone.
"Miss Seton," said I, going up to her, "tell me what has become of Mr
Sandgate."
"I know not of whom you speak," she answered. "I know no one of that
name."
"The man in the Greek dress," I replied, calmly, for I felt that much
depended on my tone and manner.
"What! do you know him?" she asked in a faltering voice.
"I do," said I; "and, Miss Seton, I would save you from him. He is
worthless. He lives with a halter around his neck, and he will some day
find it hauled taut."
She stood perfectly silent for some time. I allowed her to remain so
that she might regain her composure. She did this in a wonderfully
short space of time. I suspected that her feelings were not very acute.
"You know my secret. I throw myself on your generosity, and I am sure
that you will not betray me, Mr Brine."
"Indeed, you may trust me, Miss Seton," I replied; "I shall rejoice at
being the means of saving you from a very great danger. Let me entreat
you, therefore, not to see that man again on any account. Keep close to
your mother, and let nothing separate you from her. Another time I will
tell you his history, and you will see that you have reason to be
guarded."
"Oh, tell me now, tell me now!" she exclaimed. "I will follow your
advice; but I would hear all about him, and then shut him out of my
thoughts forever."
I saw that she was right, so I told her briefly all I knew about
Sandgate. She shuddered several times at the narrative. She was not
particularly romantic, and fully alive to the advantages of a good
position, thanks to her mother's instruction. Though she had seen no
great objection to becoming a Greek countess, she had reason to be
thankful at having escaped falling into the power of a villain of the
stamp of Sandgate. "Now let me lead you to Mrs Seton," I replied,
offering my arm. She took it. Hers trembled as it pressed mine.
"Why, Jane, my dear, you look very ill; what is the matter?" exclaimed
the old lady, starting up with a look of real alarm in her countenance.
I believe she loved her daughter, and fancied she showed it by helping
her to make what she called a good match.
"Oh, nothing, nothing--the heat, I believe," she answered, turning still
paler. "I think that I had better leave the room."
Her mother thought so likewise. I found their carriage. They lived not
far off; so, following on foot, I watched them till they were safely
within their own doors. On returning to the ball-room I heard Mrs
Skyscraper making anxious inquiries as to what had become of Count
Gerovolio.
"Never mind, we shall see him to-morrow at the pic-nic. He promised to
be there," she observed. I saw from the look Carstairs gave that the
Count had better behave himself should he venture to make his
appearance, which I did not think very likely.