All was dismay and confusion in the house of Sir John Slingsby, when,
after having galloped across the park, without heeding bridle-paths or
carriage-roads, Beauchamp drew hit rein at the door. No servant came
to take the horse, for all were busy within, though, busy with what,
would have been difficult to say. The only thing they had to be busy
with was their own consternation; for there was no packing up for
departure, no inventories, no arrangements in progress; and yet not an
attendant appeared, except through the double glass-doors, where a
knot was to be seen assembled in the inner vestibule, who never turned
a look towards the terrace before the house. One excuse, perhaps,
might be that there were so many people arriving, that a new comer
could attract no attention. It seemed as if a general call had been
made upon Tarningham, to attend and witness the disgrace and
discomfort of the family. A number of tradesmen were gathered before
the doors, conversing together in low tones, and with gloomy faces;
and there was a post-chaise, besides a gig, a saddle-horse, and a
tax-cart or two. Beauchamp thought the spectacle somewhat odd; for it
seemed to him, notwithstanding all he knew of the gossiping
propensities of small places, that the news of Sir John Slingsby's
misfortunes must have spread with marvellous rapidity. But he knew not
Mr. Wharton, nor could conceive the policy which should induce a man,
who had chosen his moment for consummating a long prepared scheme for
stripping another of all his worldly wealth, to complicate his
difficulties by every means, so as to render the bonds he had cast
round him indissoluble.
"Here, take my horse," he said, addressing the sullen-looking
postillion who stood behind the chaise; and when the man obeyed,
civilly enough, Beauchamp approached a hale-looking man, like a
grazier, and inquired, "What is all this?"
"Why, Sir," replied the man, who had often seen his interrogator in
Tarningham, "Mr. Wharton's clerk told me that there was an execution
going to be put in, so I came up to see if I could get my bill. But
the lawyer was beforehand with us; and the matter is not so much, only
forty pound or so, and I did not think it worth while, when I found
how matters are going, to trouble the hearty old gentleman, who has
spent a deal o' money with us all in his day."
"You seem a very respectable man," said Beauchamp, calmly, but still
somewhat moved, "and you shall not lose by your conduct. You, Sir,"
and he turned to another, "I think you are the stationer at
Tarningham--is yours the same errand, and on the same information?"
"Yes, Sir," answered the person he addressed, "one of Mr. Wharton's
young men came down and told me; but I think, with my neighbour
Groves, that we should behave handsome."
"I see the whole matter," said Beauchamp, speaking rather to himself
than those around. "You can wait a little, gentlemen? I think Sir John
can pay you all without inconvenience, though he is a careless man,
and his affairs may not be quite in order."
"They say Mr. Wharton has arrested him, Sir," said a little man, with
a thin, small voice.
"I will go in and see," replied Beauchamp, with a smile. "If any of
you could contrive to go or send down to Tarningham, and say to Mr.
Bacon, the attorney, that Lord Lenham would be glad to see him here
immediately, you would oblige me. Tell him to lose not a moment."
"I'll go, in a jiffey," cried the stout man, jumping into a tax-cart.
"Who did you say, my lord?"
"Lord Lenham," answered Beauchamp; "he will know who you mean;" and
turning round, he walked into the house.
The servants grouped themselves differently at his appearance, and
bowed low, the butler venturing to say,
"I am glad you have come, Sir."
"Where is your master?" asked Beauchamp.
"In the library, Sir," replied the man, "with a number of them. It is
a sad time, Sir, 'specially for my poor young lady."
The man walked on before, and opened the library door; Beauchamp
followed quickly; and certainly the sight which that room presented
was a painful one. Mrs. Clifford sat near one of the windows, the
picture of despair; Isabella was seated near the table, with her eyes
buried in her hands, and the rich curls of her beautiful hair falling
over her face. Mary was bending down to speak to her; grief in her
lovely face, but yet as calm and composed as usual. Old Sir John was a
little in advance, with two bailiffs standing near--not the same who
had been there earlier in the morning--and his valet behind him,
helping him to put on his great coat, while Mr. Wharton stood at the
other side of the large library-table, with a smile upon his lip, a
frown upon his brow, a sparkling black eye, and a double degree of red
in one of the cheeks, though the other looked somewhat pale. Two or
three men, whose business there and ordinary functions were not
apparent at the moment, made up the rest of the company.
Sir John Slingsby had one arm in the sleeve of his great coat, and was
thrusting angrily and ineffectually at the garment, to get the other
in also, speaking all the time in a furious tone, with his face turned
to Mr. Wharton.
"I tell you, Wharton, you are a d--d scoundrel," he said, "an
ungentlemanlike blackguard. You have swindled me out of thousands, and
you know it; and now, without giving me a hint, you come upon me in
this way."
"You are angry, Sir John, you are angry," said Mr. Wharton, in a sweet
tone. "It is as unpleasant to me as to you, I can assure you; but when
I heard that Mr. Wittingham had issued process, I was compelled,
however unwillingly, to take care of myself and my clients. You know I
told you a month ago it could not go on any longer; so you cannot say
you had not notice."
The old baronet was about to pour upon him a new volley of
objurgations, thrusting manfully at the sleeve of his coat all the
time, when suddenly his eye rested upon Beauchamp and he stopped,
turning a little pale, for the presence of that gentleman at such a
moment both surprised and pained him. Mary whispered a word to her
cousin, however, and Isabella starting up with the tears in her eyes,
and a glow upon her cheeks, held out her hand to him exclaiming, "Oh,
thank you, thank you! Dr. Miles was not to be found," she added, in a
whisper, "or I would not have sent."
Beauchamp smiled and shook his head half reproachfully, and Sir John
recovering himself took his hand saying, "Ah, Beauchamp, you have come
at an awkward time. Can't ask you to dinner to-day, my dear Sir, for
the house is in the hands of the myrmidons of the law, and I must
away, they tell me. It's a bad job, I am afraid."
"Nevertheless I intend to dine with you here, Sir John," answered
Beauchamp, laughing and shaking the baronet's hand warmly, "so you had
better take off your great coat."
"I beg your pardon, Sir," said Mr. Wharton, taking a step forward,
"but I am afraid Sir John Slingsby cannot remain with you at present.
Business has been too long delayed already by the folly of the officer
who thought fit--"
"To act like a man of some consideration and feeling I suppose, Sir,"
said Beauchamp, eyeing him from head to foot with a calm, cold,
withering look. "You are Mr. Wharton the attorney I imagine, of whom I
have heard so much in regard to several transactions soon to be
inquired into."
"My name is Wharton, Sir; yes, my name is Wharton," answered the
solicitor in a sharp, fierce tone, "and I insist that you do not
interrupt the operation of the law."
"The operation of the law I shall not interrupt," replied Beauchamp,
"but the operations of the lawyer I certainly shall."
"He's a nabob," said Sir John Slingsby to his niece in a low, laughing
voice, "yes, you are quite right, Beauchamp, this is Mr. Wharton, the
attorney, calling himself esquire, and a greater scoundrel does not
live between the four seas. He has cheated me through thick and thin,
and now wants by coming upon me all in a moment to get possession of
my property as he has done with others before now."
"If such are his intentions he will find himself mistaken," answered
Beauchamp; "but now, Sir John, take off your coat again, and we will
to business. I think the ladies may as well leave us, however.--Be
satisfied, my dear Madam," he continued, speaking to Mrs. Clifford,
who had risen and come a little forward, "be satisfied, Miss
Slingsby--all this matter will be easily arranged, and Sir John and I
will join you in the drawing-room in an hour."
While Beauchamp had been speaking these few words, Mr. Wharton had
been conversing with rapid utterance, but in a low voice, with one of
the men present, who seemed to be the superior sheriff's officer, and
as soon as the gentleman ceased he exclaimed. "Well, Sir, as you think
the whole matter can be so easily arranged I shall leave you to
arrange it."
"Excuse me, Mr. Wharton," said Beauchamp, coolly, "you will be good
enough to stay. We shall want you for certain receipts, and, perhaps,"
he added with a smile, "for some good legal advice till my own
solicitor comes, whom I expect in about half an hour."
"My receipts can be soon given," said Mr. Wharton, a good deal
staggered and alarmed by Mr. Beauchamp's calm tone, and his allusion
to his solicitor; "but I can tell you that if you think that is all
you will have to do you are mistaken. The house is filled with
creditors."
"Gathered together by Mr. Wharton, the attorney, for the purpose of
overwhelming a gentleman whom he sought to ruin," answered Beauchamp.
"I am aware of all that, Sir. Your proceedings have been watched, and
I am informed of almost every step you have taken for the last month.
I dare say, however, we shall find means of satisfying all who have
any just claims."
Isabella had lingered at the door after her aunt and cousin had passed
out, and now hastily turning back, she placed a little packet she had
held tight in her hand, in that of Beauchamp, saying, in a low voice,
"Here is more than six thousand pounds, left from what kind, good, Ned
Hayward gave last night. The other debts are not large, but this man's
claim is frightful."
She spoke in a tone of alarm, but Beauchamp hastened to relieve her,
replying, "Never fear, never fear! The claim must be investigated, but
all that is just shall be paid. Leave us, and make your mind easy,
dear Miss Slingsby."
"I really cannot waste my time here," said Mr. Wharton, as the young
lady left the room, "I have important business to attend to and the
magistrates to meet at eleven, Mr. What's-your-name."
"My name, Sir, is Charles Beauchamp St. Leger, Viscount Lenham,"
answered Beauchamp, "and I am afraid the magistrates must dispense
with your company to-day, Mr. Wharton. You cannot carry this business
through, Sir, in the same manner that you did that of my poor uncle,
Mr. St. Leger Moreton. So now make up your mind at once, Sir, to
remain here till the whole of this unpleasant business which you have
stirred up against Sir John Slingsby be brought to a conclusion, for
depend upon it I will not let you go till such is the case."
Mr. Wharton's face had turned paler and paler, till the carbuncles, of
which it did not possess a few, remained alone in their glory; but he
was an irritable and fiery man up to a certain point, and he replied
in a bold tone, "Oh ho, my lord! Do you think because you happen to be
a peer who has been skulking about the country under an alias, that
you can come down and brow-beat us country gentlemen at your
pleasure?"
"I never attempt to brow-beat a gentleman," replied Beauchamp, laying
a particular emphasis on the last word, which called up a very
unpleasant grin upon the faces of two or three of the men present,
"nor do I brow-beat you, Mr. Wharton; but I simply insist upon your
staying till the business which brought you here is concluded. You
have no right to put Sir John Slingby in an unpleasant position, and
then leave him there when your presence is wanted to relieve him from
it."
"He has a ducking in the horse-pond, too, to go through," cried Sir
John Slingsby, "such as we gave the other bailiff he sent up this
morning. He must wait, he must wait for all the honours," and turning
round with a laugh the worthy baronet whispered a word or two to his
valet, who remained in the room.
"I will take care, Sir John," said the man, and was moving towards the
door; but Beauchamp interposed, saying,
"No, no, we must have no violence. Only order the servants not to let
this man pass out till I have done with him;--and now to business. Sir
John, if you will take the end of the table I will sit here. Mr.
Wharton will place himself there, and the matter will soon be
arranged. Ring that bell, Sir."
The bailiff to whom he spoke obeyed in an instant; Sir John Slingsby
took a chair at the head of the table, and Mr. Wharton seeing no help
for it, seated himself where Beauchamp had pointed, turning his face
to the window with an indifferent air, as if the business about to
take place was no concern of his.
"Now, Sir, what is it you want here?" asked Beauchamp, addressing one
of the officers.
"I hold a writ against Sir John Slingsby for twenty-two thousand three
hundred pounds," said the man, "at the suit of Joseph Wharton, Esq."
"Well, Sir, stand back," said Beauchamp, "we will deal with you
presently.--And you, Sir?" he continued, speaking to another stout
broad-set, black-faced man.
This proved to be an officer put in execution upon a second bond for a
sum of seven thousand pounds at the suit of the same person. He also
was directed to stand back, Beauchamp saying, "Upon these actions we
will give bail, as they must be tried.--You, Sir, there at the end of
the table, what do you want?"
"Why, please you my lord, it's only my bill for a hundred and
seventeen pounds or thereabouts, for repairs to the stables and
offices. If it had not been Mr. Wharton told me I should not get my
money if I did not apply at once, I should never have thought of
troubling Sir John."
Beauchamp's eye fixed sternly upon the attorney, who exclaimed with a
quivering lip, "Did you not consult me, Sir? Was I not bound to give
you a just opinion?"
"I never said a word to nobody," replied the man, "till I met you in
the street, and you told me Mr. Wittingham was going to arrest Sir
John."
"Really, my lord, this is trifling," said Mr. Wharton. "I ask is Sir
John Slingsby ready to discharge his heavy debt to me? If he is, let
him do it and I go. If not he must, I fear, go to prison."
"He is quite ready, Sir, to discharge every just debt this instant,"
replied Beauchamp, "but we doubt that your's is just, Sir, and
therefore we will deal first with those that are certainly honest. Sir
John," he continued pointing to a servant who had come in, "will you
order Dr. Miles to be sent for.--Now, my good man, you shall have a
cheque for your money," and taking out his cheque-book he wrote an
order for the amount, taking the builder's name and statement from his
own lips.
Another man was then called forward, and the same course pursued,
Beauchamp proceeding quietly, although he saw Mr. Wharton rise and
enter into eager consultation with the bailiffs.
He was not allowed to go on long without interruption, for after what
seemed some urgent remonstrances on the part of Mr. Wharton, and a
good deal of resistance on the part of the sheriff's officer, the
latter stepped forward, saying, "I really, my lord, cannot wait any
longer, and I do not see any good of it; for Sir John being in my
custody, and not knowing what detainers may be lodged against him, a
bail bond cannot be drawn till we see."
The man spoke civilly, and with an evident respect for rank, and
Beauchamp answered calmly, "Your observation is a very just one, my
good friend. I have only to answer however that I am ready to give
bail to any amount which you may think necessary to secure the
sheriff, in which Dr. Miles will join me I am sure as soon as he
arrives."
"It is a heavy sum, Sir," said the bailiff, doubtfully.
"True," answered Beauchamp, "and moreover you do not know, except from
my own word, who I am, nor that I am in a position to give an
available bond. It is for that very reason that I wish you to delay
till my solicitor and Dr. Miles arrive, when I assure you, upon my
word of honour, that you shall have every satisfaction. The sum
required would be more than met by money of mine in the Tarningham
bank, as you will see by that receipt, if I thought fit to pay the
debt claimed by Mr. Wharton at once, which I do not. The bond on which
the writ has been taken out is, you tell me, for twenty-two thousand
three hundred pounds. Here you see are sixty-five thousand pounds paid
on my account into the Tarningham bank."
"But there is another bond for seven thousand five hundred pounds on
which execution has issued," said Mr. Wharton.
"Exactly so," said Beauchamp, whose thoughts were very rapid, "and the
way I intend to deal with that matter is as follows: We will pay the
amount of that bond under protest as a matter of account, reserving
this other claim for twenty-three thousand pounds to try the questions
that may arise, such as consideration, usury, &c."
Mr. Wharton bit his lip. He saw that he had made one mistake. He
feared that he might have made more; for knowing that Sir John
Slingsby had little acquaintance with law, and an invincible objection
to lawyers, excepting when he wanted to borrow money, he had gone on
with somewhat rash confidence in his own powers of over-reaching.
However he put a bold face upon the matter, saying, "That won't do,
Sir, that won't do, my Lord. You seem to have a smattering of the law,
but you will find that all accounts have been examined and passed. No
court in Christendom will open that question again."
"We will see," replied Beauchamp, quietly.
"Then there is the mortgage," said Mr. Wharton.
"That will be dealt with as we shall be advised," rejoined the young
nobleman; "the matter of the mortgage has nothing to do with the
business before us; and moreover, Mr. Wharton, I will beg you not to
interfere here till you are called upon. Though a lawyer you are
exactly in the same position as any other creditor, and in taking out
this writ, you have given all power into other hands. If I satisfy the
sheriff that he has sufficient security according to law, for the
appearance of Sir John Slingsby, that is all that is necessary; and I
will tell you, Sir, that sooner than see a course, which is certainly
unhandsome, and which I suspect to be villanous, successful against my
friend, even so far as to remove him from his own house for an hour, I
would pay the amount of all claims upon him to the sheriff under
protest. I have the means of doing so at command this moment, and
therefore be very sure that your arts will avail you nothing--Sir, I
understand you," he added sternly, "the property upon which you have
advanced a pitiful sum of fifty thousand pounds, and by accumulating
interest upon interest, and costs upon costs, have raised the debt to
nearly eighty thousand, is worth, at least, two hundred. The bait was
tempting, Sir; but beware that in snapping at it too eagerly, you have
not got the hook in your jaws. There is such a thing, Sir, as striking
fraudulent attorneys off the roll, and, at all events be sure, that
however pleasant it might be to possess this estate, you will never
have it."
"I do not want it, Sir," cried Mr. Wharton, half mad with rage and
vexation, "I would not have it if you would give it to me."
Beauchamp laughed, and Sir John Slingsby shouted; while all the other
persons in the room, not excepting bailiffs, tittered, without
disguise, to the lawyer's sad discomfort.
"Ah! here comes Miles," exclaimed Sir John, "and Mr. Undersheriff too,
by Jove. That is lucky; the matter will soon be settled now.--How are
you doctor, how are you Mr. Sheriff? you are the very man we wanted."
"I am very sorry for all this business, Sir John," said a tall
gentlemanlike person, whom he had addressed; "but having business at
Tarningham, and hearing of the unfortunate occurrence by the way, I
thought it better to come up myself, as I felt sure the action could
be bailed."
"And so it can," cried Sir John Slingsby, "here stands bail ready in
the person of my friend, Lord Lenham; but that pitiful little
snivelling rogue, Wharton, objects."
"Ah! good day, Wharton," said the sheriff, drily, "why do you object?"
"No, I do not object," replied the attorney, "the men here, Bulstrode
and the rest, thought there might be detainers, and the process
having--"
"No, no!" cried the officer, "we thought nothing about it, till you
told us to refuse the bail till we had searched the office. I've a
shrewd guess, Mr. Wharton, that you have got up all the creditors here
who could lodge detainers and his lordship offers to pay all honest
debts at once, and to put in bail against yours."
"What do you mean by that?" exclaimed Wharton, furiously; but the
sheriff interfered, and at the same time Doctor Miles and Beauchamp,
who had been speaking together, turned round, and the clergyman
introduced his young friend to the officer of the county by the title
of Viscount Lenham.
"This matter, I think, can be settled with you, Sir, in a few words,"
said Beauchamp, "I do not choose to see my friend, Sir John Slingsby,
wronged. It so happens, that intending to buy an estate in this
neighbourhood, I have had a considerable sum paid lately into
Tarningham Bank. I am ready to give a bail bond for any sum you may
think necessary to your own security, that Sir John appears to the
action of Mr. Wharton, or anyone else; or to pay into your hands any
sum claimed, under protest. I think, in these circumstances, there can
be no need of removing Sir John from his own house."
"Not in the least," said the sheriff, "bail will be quite sufficient,
and can be given here quite as well as ten miles hence."
"But, my dear Sir," exclaimed Mr. Wharton, "there may be detainers for
aught you know, and to a large amount."
"I will take my chance of that, Wharton," replied the undersheriff,
"there were none when I came away, for I had occasion to examine the
books. It is not usual to lodge detainers till caption has been
actually effected, I think, my good friend."
"I think your proceeding very rash and irregular, Sir," replied the
lawyer, nettled, "and I should certainly object, if--"
"Pooh, pooh!" cried the sheriff, "I am the best judge of my own
affairs; and you are meddling with what does not concern you, Mr.
Wharton. If I take a sufficient bail for Sir John's appearance to your
action, that is all yon have to do with, and perhaps more; so let us
have no more of this; for I will not be meddled with in the discharge
of my duties. You tried this once before, Sir, and did not find it
succeed."
"Well, Sir, take your own way, take your own way!" cried Mr. Wharton,
in a sharp tone; "the sum is large; if the bail be not good, you are
responsible. A gentleman who goes about the country under one false
name, may very well take another. I do not mean to say that it is so;
but this gentleman who calls himself Lord Lenham now, and called
himself Mr. Beauchamp a few days ago, may be the greatest swindler in
England for aught any of us know."
"Swindlers do not usually have large sums at the bankers," said Dr.
Miles, drily; "that is to say, Mr. Wharton, not those swindlers whom
the law is willing to take hold of, though I have known many rich men
who swindled a good deal within the law, especially in your
profession. But to set all that at rest, I will join in the bond, if
necessary, and I possess means, I trust, sufficient to insure Mr.
Under-Sheriff against all risk.--There comes Bacon, trotting up on his
little fat horse. Bacon is a very excellent man, considering the
temptations of profession and example."
"Well, as my opinion is of no value, my presence can be of no
use," said Mr. Wharton; "and I shall therefore go. Good morning,
gentlemen--Sir John Slingsby, good morning."
The baronet took a step forward, looking at the lawyer somewhat
ominously, while the good stout calf of his leg might be seen to
tremble a little, as if agitated by the simultaneous action of
antagonist muscles--but then he stopped, saying aloud,
"No, I won't kick him--no, I won't kick any body any more."
"A very prudent resolution, Sir John," said Dr. Miles, "pray adhere to
it; and if you include the horsewhip in your renunciations, you will
do well."
Mr. Wharton was suffered to retreat, unkicked; the matter of the
bail-bond was easily arranged; all the rest of the business passed
quietly; the bailiffs and their satellites were withdrawn from the
house; the creditors who remained, paid; and the under-sheriff took
his leave. Somewhat more time had been expended, indeed, than
Beauchamp had expected that the affair would occupy, ere he, Sir John
Slingsby, and Doctor Miles, were once more left alone in the library;
but then the baronet seized his friend's hand, with an unwonted dew in
his eyes, saying,
"How can I ever thank you for your noble conduct. I cannot show my
gratitude--but you must be secured. You shall have a mortgage for the
whole sum: the estate can well bear it, I am sure, notwithstanding all
that fellow Wharton says."
"I am quite convinced it can, Sir John," answered Beauchamp, "and I
will accept your offer, because, for reasons of my own, I am
exceedingly anxious that you should be under no possible obligation to
me; and now let us join the ladies, for they will think we are never
coming."
Dr. Miles smiled; for though he had never played at the games of love
and matrimony, he had been a looker-on all his life, and understood
them well. Sir John Slingsby was totally unconscious, and led the way
to the drawing-room, marvelling a little, perhaps--for he was not a
vain man--at the fact of his having so completely won Beauchamp's
regard, and created such an interest in his bosom, but never
attributing to his daughter any share therein. With parents it is ever
the story of the philosopher and his cat; and though they can solve
very difficult problems regarding things at a distance, yet they do
not always readily see that a kitten can go through the same hole in a
door which its mother can pass.
"Here, Isabel," cried the old gentleman, as they entered the room
where the three ladies were seated, watching the door as if their fate
hung upon its hinges, "shake this gentleman by the hand, as the best
friend your father ever had."
"I do thank him, from my heart," said Isabella, giving Beauchamp her
hand, with tears in her eyes; "but yet, my dear father," she added,
frankly, "Mr. Beauchamp would think me ungenerous, if I did not tell
you that you have another friend, who has acted in as kind and noble a
manner as himself. I mean Captain--no, I will call him by his old
name, Ned Hayward; for to him we owed the means of discharging the
debt to that man Wittingham."
"The obligation is infinitely greater to him than to me, my dear Miss
Slingsby," said Beauchamp; "for I know that Hayward's income is not
very large, while, in my case, there is really no obligation at all.
This money was lying idle, and it might just as well be invested in
one way as another."
"But every one is not so ready to invest money in a friend's relief,"
said Sir John, "and I shall never forget it. Hang me, my dear girl, if
I can tell what he found out in me to like or respect; I never could
discover anything of the kind myself."
Isabella coloured to the eyes, but answered at once,
"Mr. Beauchamp consulted only his own noble heart."
"Mr. Beauchamp!" cried Sir John Slingsby, with one of his merry
laughs; "Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to do with it, Bella. I am not in
the least indebted to Mr. Beauchamp."
Isabella, Mrs. Clifford, and Mary, were all alarmed; for they might
well fear that the events of that morning had somewhat affected Sir
John Slingsby's brain. But he soon relieved them.
"No, Isabella," he continued, "it is to this gentleman I am
indebted--let me introduce him to you. Isabella, Lord Lenham! Lord
Lenham, my daughter."
Isabella cast her eyes to the ground, and a shade of deep, and, it
seemed to Beauchamp, anxious thought, came over her face; but the next
moment she looked up, all bright and sparkling again, and exclaimed,
"So, Lord Lenham has thought fit to come upon us in masquerade! That
was hardly fair, my lord."
"Some day when Miss Slingsby will let me tell a long story she shall
hear the reasons why," answered Beauchamp, "and may then judge whether
it was fair or not. If she decides the cause in my favour, she may
tell the pleadings to the whole party, if she thinks I have greatly
erred she shall forgive the offender and conceal his crime under the
seal of confession."
Again Isabella blushed deeply; and Sir John Slingsby made the matter
worse by exclaiming, "Ho, ho! it is to be a private conference, is it?
We are all to be kept in the dark, as indeed I have been lately; for
all I know is that I have been placed in a very unpleasant and
unexpected situation this morning, and as suddenly relieved from it by
the affection of two dear girls, and the generosity of our noble
friend. I have not thanked you yet, my dear Mary; but pray let me hear
how all this has been brought about that I may do so discreetly."
"In the meantime," said Beauchamp, "I, who know the whole, will walk
back again to my poor friend Hayward, and tell him how all things have
gone."
"You promised to dine, you promised to dine!" cried Sir John Slingsby,
"no breach of promise or I will have my action against you."
"I will keep mine to the letter," replied Beauchamp, "and be back in a
couple of hours."
"And bring Ned Hayward with you," said the baronet.
Beauchamp explained that such a thing was impossible, saying that his
friend had become somewhat worse in health since the preceding night,
but without giving any cause for alarm. His eyes turned towards Mary
Clifford as he spoke with a momentary glance, which sufficed, by the
paleness that spread over her face, to confirm suspicions which he had
entertained since the night before. He was too much a gentleman in
heart to keep his eyes there more than that one moment for he felt
that it would not only be a rudeness but an unkindness.
"I will walk with you, my good lord," said Doctor Miles, "I long to
see Captain Hayward. He has particularly interested me."
"And you will walk back with Lord Lenham to dinner, doctor," said Sir
John as gaily as ever, "we will have one jolly evening after all this
_fracas_ at all events."
"I will come to dinner," replied Dr. Miles, "expressly to keep it from
being too jolly, you incorrigible old gentleman."
But Sir John only laughed, and the peer and the priest walked away
together.