“I knew it,--I could have sworn to it,” cried Paten, as he listened to
Stocmar's narrative of his drive with Mrs. Morris. “She has just done
with _you_ as with fifty others. Of course you 'll not believe that you
can be the dupe,--she 'd not dare to throw her net for such a fish as
you. Ay, and land you afterwards, high and dry, as she has done with
scores of fellows as sharp as either of us.”
Stocmar sipped his wine, half simpering at the passionate warmth of his
companion, which, not without truth, he ascribed to a sense of jealousy.
“I know her well,” continued Paten, with heightened passion. “I have
reason to know her well; and I don't believe that this moment you could
match her for falsehood in all Europe. There is not a solitary spot in
her heart without a snare in it.”
“Strange confession this, from a lover,” said Stocmar, smiling.
“If you call a lover one that would peril his own life to bring shame
and disgrace on hers, I am such a man.”
“It is not more than a week ago you told me, in all seriousness, that
you would marry her, if she 'd have you.”
“And I say it again, here and now; and I say more, that if I had the
legal right over her that marriage would give me, I'd make her rue the
day she outraged Ludlow Paten.”
“It was Paul Hunt that she slighted, man,” said Stocmar, half
sneeringly. “You forget that.”
“Is this meant for a threat, Stocmar?”
“Don't be a fool,” said the other, carelessly. “What I meant was, that
other times had other interests, and neither she, nor you, nor, for that
matter, I myself, want to live over the past again.”
Paten threw his cigar angrily from him, and sat brooding and moody; for
some time nothing was heard between them save the clink of the decanter
as they filled their glasses, and passed the wine.
“Trover's off,” mattered Paten, at last.
“Off! Whereto?”
“To Malta, I believe; and then to Egypt--anywhere, in short, till the
storm blows over. This American crash has given them a sharp squeeze.”
“I wonder who'll get that Burgundy? I think I never drank such
Chambertin as that he gave us t' other night.”
“I'd rather pick up that pair of Hungarian chestnuts. They are the true
'Yucker' breed, with nice straight slinging action.”
“His pictures, too, were good.”
“And such cigars as the dog had! He told me, I think, he had about
fifteen thousand of those Cubans.”
“A vulgar hound!--always boasting of his stable, or his cellar, or his
conservatory! I can't say I feel sorry for him.”
“Sorry for him! I should think not. The fellow has had his share of good
fortune, living up there at that glorious villa in luxury. It's only
fair he should take his turn on the shady side of the road.”
“These Heathcotes must have got it smartly too from the Yankees. They
invested largely there of late.”
“So Trover told me. Almost the last words he said were: 'The man that
marries that girl for an heiress, will find he has got a blind nut Her
whole fortune is swept away.'”
“I wonder is that true.”
“I feel certain it is. Trover went into all sorts of figures to show it.
I'm not very much up in arithmetic, and so could n't follow him; but I
gathered that they 'd made their book to lose, no matter how the match
came off. That was to be expected when they trusted such things to a
woman.”
Another and a longer pause now ensued between them; at length Paten
broke it abruptly, saying, “And the girl--I mean Clara--what of her?”
“It's all arranged; she is to be Clara Stocmar, and a pensionnaire of
the Conservatoire of Milan within a week.”
“Who says so?” asked Paten, defiantly.
“Her mother--well, you know whom I mean by that title--proposed, and I
accepted the arrangement. She may, or may not, have dramatic ability;
like everything else in life, there is a lottery about it. If she really
do show cleverness, she will be a prize just now. If she has no great
turn of speed, as the jocks say, she 'll always do for the Brazils and
Havannah. They never send _us_ their best cigars, and, in return, _we_
only give _them_ our third-rate singers!”
It was evident in this speech that Stocmar was trying, by a jocular
tone, to lead the conversation into some channel less irritating and
disputatious; but Paten's features relaxed nothing of their stern
severity, and he looked dogged and resolute as before.
“I think, Stocmar,” said he, at length, “that there is still a word
wanting to that same bargain you speak of. If the girl's talents are to
be made marketable, why should not I stand in for something?”
“You,--you, Ludlow!” cried the other. “In the name of all that is
absurd, what pretext can _you_ have for such a claim?”
“Just this: that I am privy to the robbery, and might peach if not
bought up.”
“You know well this is mere blind menace, Ludlow,” said the other, good-
humoredly; “and as to letting off squibs, my boy, don't forget that you
live in a powder-magazine.”
“And what if I don't care for a blow-up? What if I tell you that I 'd
rather send all sky-high to-morrow than see that woman succeed in all
her schemes, and live to defy me?”
“As to that,” said Stocmar, gravely, “the man who neither cares for his
own life or character can always do damage to those of another; there is
no disputing about that.”
“Well, I am exactly such a man, and _she_ shall know it.” Not a word was
spoken for several minutes, and then Paten resumed, but in a calmer and
more deliberate tone, “Trover has told me everything. I see her whole
scheme. She meant to marry that old Baronet, and has been endeavoring,
by speculating in the share-market, to get some thousands together; now,
as the crash has smashed the money part of the scheme, the chances are
it will have also upset the marriage. Is not that likely?”
“That is more than I can guess,” said Stocmar, doubtingly.
“_You_ can guess it, just as _I_ can,” said Paten, half angrily. “She's
not the woman to link her fortune with a ruined man. Can't you guess
_that?_” Stocmar nodded, and Paten went on: “Now, _I_ mean to stand to
win on either event,--that's _my_ book.”
“I don't understand you, Paul.”
“Call me Ludlow, confound you,” said Paten, passionately, “or that
infernal name will slip out some day unawares. What I would say is,
that, if she wishes to be 'My Lady,' she must buy _me_ off first. If she
'll consent to become my wife,--that is the other alternative.”
“She'll never do that,” said Stocmar, gravely.
“How do you know,--did she tell you so?”
“Certainly not.”
“You only know it, then, from your intimate acquaintance with her
sentiments,” said he, sneeringly.
“How I know, or why I believe it, is my own affair,” said Stocmar, in
some irritation; “but such is my conviction.”
“Well, it is not mine,” said Paten, filling up his glass, and drinking
it slowly off. “I know her somewhat longer--perhaps somewhat better--
than you do; and if I know anything in her, it is that she never
cherishes a resentment when it costs too high a price.”
“You are always the slave of some especial delusion, Ludlow,” said
Stocmar, quietly. “You are possessed with the impression that she is
afraid of you. Now, my firm persuasion is, that the man or woman that
can terrify _her_ has yet to be born.”
“How she has duped you!” said Paten, insolently.
“That may be,” said he. “There is, however, one error I have not fallen
into,--I have not fancied that she is in love with me.”
This sally told; for Paten became lividly pale, and he shook from head
to foot with passion. Careful, however, to conceal the deep offence the
speech had given him, he never uttered a word in reply. Stocmar saw his
advantage, and was silent also. At last he spoke, but it was in a tone
so conciliatory and so kindly withal, as to efface, if possible, all
unpleasant memory of the last speech. “I wish you would be guided by me,
Ludlow, in this business. It is not a question for passion or
vindictiveness; and I would simply ask you, Is there not space in the
world for both of you, without any need to cross each other? Must your
hatred of necessity bridge over all distance, and bring you incessantly
into contact? In a word, can you not go your road, and let her go hers,
unmolested?”
“Our roads lie the same way, man. I want to travel with her,” cried
Paten.
“But not in spite of her!--not, surely, if she declines your company!”
“Which _you_ assume that she must, and I am as confident that she will
not.”
Stocmar made an impertinent gesture at this, which Paten, quickly
perceiving, resented, by asking, in a tone of almost insult, “What do
you mean? Is it so very self-evident that a woman must reject me? Is
that your meaning?”
“Any woman that ever lived would reject the man who pursues her with a
menace. So long as you presume to wield an influence over her by a
threat, your case must be hopeless.”
“These are stage and behind-scene notions,--they never were gleaned from
real life. Your theatrical women have little to lose, and it can't
signify much to them whether a story more or less attach to their names.
Threats of exposure would certainly affright them little; but your woman
living in the world, holding her head amongst other women, criticising
their dress, style, and manner,--think of _her_ on the day that the town
gets hold of a scandal about her! Do you mean to tell _me_ there's any
price too high to pay for silencing it?”
“What would you really take for those letters of hers, if she were
disposed to treat for them?”
“I offered them once to old Nick Holmes for two thousand pounds. I 'd
not accept that sum now.”
“But where or how could she command such an amount?”
“That 's no affair of mine. I have an article in the market, and I 'm
not bound to trouble myself as to the straits of the purchaser. Look
here, Hyman Stocmar,” said he, changing his voice to a lower tone, while
he laid his hand on the other's arm,--“look here. You think me very
vindictive and very malignant in all this, but if you only knew with
what insults she has galled me, what cruel slights she has passed upon
me, you 'd pity rather than condemn me. If she would have permitted me
to see and speak to her,--if I could only be able to appeal to her
myself,--I don't think it would be in vain; and, if I know anything of
myself, I could swear I 'd bear up with the crudest thing she could
utter to me, rather than these open outrages that come conveyed through
others.”
“And if that failed, would you engage to restore her letters?--for some
possible sum, I mean, for you know well two thousand is out of the
question. She told me she could command some six or seven hundred
pounds. She said so, believing that I really came to treat with her on
the subject.”
Paten shook his head dissentingly, but was silent. At last he said: “She
must have much more than this at her command, Stocmar. Hawke's family
never got one shilling by his death; they never were able to trace what
became of his money, or the securities he held in foreign funds. I
remember how Godfrey used to go on about that girl of his being one day
or other the greatest heiress of her time. Take _my_ word for it, Loo
could make some revelations on this theme. Come,” cried he, quickly, as
a sudden thought flashed across him, “I 'll tell you what I 'll do. You
are to meet her this evening at the masked ball. Let me go in your
place. I 'll give you my solemn promise not to abuse the opportunity,
nor make any scandal whatever. It shall be a mere business discussion
between us; so much for so much. If she comes to terms, well. If she
does not agree to what I propose, there's no harm done. As I said
before, there shall be no publicity,--no scene.”
“I can't accede to this, Ludlow. It would be a gross breach of faith on
my part,” said Stocmar, gravely.
“All your punctilio, I remark, is reserved for _her_ benefit,” said
Paten, angrily. “It never occurs to you to remember that _I_ am the
injured person.”
“I only think of the question as it displays a man on one side, and a
woman on the other. Long odds in favor of the first, eh?”
“You think so!” said Paten, with a sneer. “By Jove! how well you judge
such matters! I can't help wondering what becomes of all that subtlety
and sharpness you show when dealing with stage folk, when you come to
treat with the world of every-day life. Why, I defy the wiliest serpent
of the ballet to overreach you, and yet you suffer this woman to wind
you round her finger!”
“Well, it is a very pretty finger!” laughed Stocmar.
“Yes, but to have you at her feet in this fashion!”
“And what a beautiful foot too!” cried Stocmar, with enthusiasm.
Something that sounded like a malediction was muttered by Paten as he
arose and walked the room with passionate strides. “Once more, I say,”
cried he, “let me take your place this evening, or else I 'll call on
this old fool,--this Sir William Heathcote,--and give him the whole
story of his bride. I 'm not sure if it's not the issue would give me
most pleasure. I verily believe it would.”
“It's a smart price to pay for a bit of malice too!” said Stocmar,
musing. “I must say, there are some other ways in which the money would
yield me as much pleasure.”
“Is it a bargain, Stocmar? Do you say yes?” cried Paten, with heightened
excitement.
“I don't see how I can agree to it,” broke in the other. “If she
distinctly tells me that she will not meet you--”
“Then she shall, by------!” cried Paten, confirming the determination by
a terrible oath. “Look out now, Stocmar, for a scene,” continued he,
“and gratify yourself by the thought it is all your own doing. Had you
accepted my proposal, I 'd have simply gone in your place, made myself
known to her without scandal or exposure, and, in very few words,
declared what my views were, and learned how far she'd concur with them.
You prefer an open rupture before the world. Well, you shall have it!”
Stocmar employed all his most skilful arguments to oppose this course.
He showed that, in adopting it, Paten sacrificed every prospect of self-
interest and advantage, and, for the mere indulgence of a cruel outrage,
that he compromised a position of positive benefit. The other, however,
would not yield an inch. The extreme concession that Stocmar, after a
long discussion, could obtain was, that the interview was not to exceed
a few minutes, a quarter of an hour at furthest; that there was to be no
_éclat_ or exposure, so far as he could pledge himself; and that he
would exonerate Stocmar from all the reproach of being a willing party
to the scheme. Even with these stipulations, Stocmar felt far from being
reconciled to the plan, and declared that he could never forgive himself
for his share in it.
“It is your confounded self-esteem is always uppermost in your
thoughts,” said Paten, insolently. “Just please to remember you are no
foreground figure in this picture, if you be any figure at all. I feel
full certain _she_ does not want you,--I 'll take my oath _I_ do not,--
so leave us to settle our own affairs our own way, and don't distress
yourself because you can't interfere with them.”
With this rude speech, uttered in a tone insolent as the words, Paten
arose and left the room. Scarcely had the door closed after him,
however, than he reopened it, and said,--
“Only one word more, Stocmar. No double,--no treachery with me here. I
'll keep my pledge to the very letter; but if you attempt to trick or to
overreach me, I 'll blow up the magazine.”
Before Stocmar could reply, he was gone.