“I propose to stay with you and lend a hand,” said I.
He swore a round oath, and looked at us, from one to
“You are a brave man,” he returned, with a peculiar into-the other.
nation.
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“I am not afraid,” said I.
“perhaps you are not altogether wrong. But ask Cassilis
“And so,” he continued, “I am to understand that you here. He knows me. Am I a man to trust? Am I safe and two are married? And you stand up to it before my face, scrupulous? Am I kind?”
Miss Huddlestone?”
“I know you talk a great deal, and sometimes, I think,
“We are not yet married,” said Clara; “but we shall be as very foolishly,” replied Clara, “but I know you are a gentle-soon as we can.”
man, and I am not the least afraid.”
“Bravo!” cried Northmour. “And the bargain? D-n it, He looked at her with a peculiar approval and admira-you’re not a fool, young woman; I may call a spade a spade tion; then, turning to me, “Do you think I would give her with you. How about the bargain? You know as well as I up without a struggle, Frank?” said he. “I tell you plainly, do what your father’s life depends upon. I have only to put you look out. The next time we come to blows – “ my hands under my coat-tails and walk away, and his throat
“Will make the third,” I interrupted, smiling.
would he cut before the evening.”
“Aye, true; so it will,” he said. “I had forgotten. Well, the
“Yes, Mr. Northmour,” returned Clara, with great spirit; third time’s lucky.”
“but that is what you will never do. You made a bargain
“The third time, you mean, you will have the crew of the that was unworthy of a gentleman; but you are a gentle-Red Earl to help,” I said.
man for all that, and you will never desert a man whom
“Do you hear him?” he asked, turning to my wife.
you have begun to help.”
“I hear two men speaking like cowards,” said she. “I
“Aha!” said he. “You think I will give my yacht for noth-should despise myself either to think or speak like that.
ing? You think I will risk my life and liberty for love of the And neither of you believe one word that you are saying, old gentleman; and then, I suppose, be best man at the which makes it the more wicked and silly.” wedding, to wind up? Well,” he added, with an odd smile,
“She’s a trump!” cried Northmour. “But she’s not yet 173
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Mrs. Cassilis. I say no more. The present is not for me.”
“Tell me one thing,” said I. “What are they after, these Then my wife surprised me.
Italians? What do they want with Mr. Huddlestone?”
“I leave you here,” she said suddenly. “My father has
“Don’t you know?” he cried. “The black old scamp had been too long alone. But remember this: you are to be Carbonaro funds on a deposit – two hundred and eighty friends, for you are both good friends to me.” thousand; and of course he gambled it away on stocks.
She has since told me her reason for this step. As long as There was to have been a revolution in the Tridentino, or she remained, she declares that we two would have contin-Parma; but the revolution is off, and the whole wasp’s nest ued to quarrel; and I suppose that she was right, for when is after Huddlestone. We shall all be lucky if we can save she was gone we fell at once into a sort of confidentiality.
our skins.”
Northmour stared after her as she went away over the
“The Carbonari!” I exclaimed; “God help him indeed!” sand-hill
“Amen!” said Northmour. “And now, look here: I have
“She is the only woman in the world!” he exclaimed with said that we are in a fix; and, frankly, I shall be glad of your an oath. “Look at her action.”
help. If I can’t save Huddlestone, I want at least to save the I, for my part, leaped at this opportunity for a little fur-girl. Come and stay in the pavilion; and, there’s my hand on ther light.
it, I shall act as your friend until the old man is either clear or
“See here, Northmour,” said I; “we are all in a tight place, dead. But,” he added, “once that is settled, you become my are we not?”
rival once again, and I warn you – mind yourself.”
“I believe you, my boy,” he answered, looking me in the
“Done!” said I; and we shook hands.
eyes, and with great emphasis. “We have all hell upon us,
“And now let us go directly to the fort,” said Northmour; that’s the truth. You may believe me or not, but I’m afraid and he began to lead the way through the rain.
of my life.”
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CHAPTER VI – TELLS OF MY INTRODUCTION
against the wall or were displayed upon the sideboard.
TO THE TALL MAN
“Thank you,” I returned; “I have gone armed since our last encounter. But, to tell you the truth, I have had noth-WE WERE ADMITTED to the pavilion by Clara, and I was suring to eat since early yesterday evening.” prised by the completeness and security of the defences. A Northmour produced some cold meat, to which I ea-barricade of great strength, and yet easy to displace, sup-gerly set myself, and a bottle of good Burgundy, by which, ported the door against Any violence from without; and wet as I was, I did not scruple to profit. I have always been the shutters of the dining-room, into which I was led di-an extreme temperance man on principle; but it is useless rectly, and which was feebly illuminated by a lamp, were to push principle to excess, and on this occasion I believe even more elaborately fortified. The panels were strength-that I finished three-quarters of the bottle. As I ate, I still ened by bars and cross-bars; and these, in their turn, were continued to admire the preparations for defence.
kept in position by a system of braces and struts, some
“We could stand a siege,” I said at length.
abutting on the floor, some on the roof, and others, in fine,
“Ye-es,” drawled Northmour; “a very little one, per-haps.
against the opposite wall of the apartment. It was at once a It is not so much the strength of the pavilion I misdoubt; it solid and well-designed piece of carpentry; and I did not is the doubled anger that kills me. If we get to shooting, seek to conceal my admiration.
wild as the country is some one is sure to hear it, and then
“I am the engineer,” said Northmour. “You remember
– why then it’s the same thing, only different, as they say: the planks in the garden? Behold them?” caged by law, or killed by Carbonari. There’s the choice.
“I did not know you had so many talents,” said I.
It is a devilish bad thing to have the law against you in this
“Are you armed?” he continued, pointing to an array of world, and so I tell the old gentleman upstairs. He is quite guns and pistols, all in admirable order, which stood in line of my way of thinking.”
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“Speaking of that,” said I, “what kind of person is he?” loop-holes; but he told me they were already made in the
“Oh, he!” cried the other; “he’s a rancid fellow, as far as windows of the upper story. It was an anxious business he goes. I should like to have his neck wrung to-morrow this inspection, and left me down-hearted. There were two by all the devils in Italy. I am not in this affair for him. You doors and five windows to protect, and, counting Clara, take me? I made a bargain for Missy’s hand, and I mean to only four of us to defend them against an unknown num-have it too.”
ber of foes. I communicated my doubts to Northmour, who
“That by the way,” said I. “I understand. But how will assured me, with unmoved composure, that he entirely Mr. Huddlestone take my intrusion?” shared them.
“Leave that to Clara,” returned Northmour.
“Before morning,” said he, “we shall all be butchered I could have struck him in the face for this coarse famil-and buried in Graden Floe. For me, that is written.” iarity; but I respected the truce, as, I am bound to say, did I could not help shuddering at the mention of the quick-Northmour, and so long as the danger continued not a cloud sand, but reminded Northmour that our enemies had spared arose in our relation. I bear him this testimony with the me in the wood.
most unfeigned satisfaction; nor am I without pride when I
“Do not flatter yourself,” said he. “Then you were not in look back upon my own behaviour. For surely no two men the same boat with the old gentleman; now you are. It’s were ever left in a position so invidious and irritating.
the floe for all of us, mark my words.” As soon as I had done eating, we proceeded to inspect I trembled for Clara; and just then her dear voice was heard the lower floor. Window by window we tried the different calling us to come upstairs. Northmour showed me the way, supports, now and then making an inconsiderable change; and, when he had reached the landing, knocked at the door and the strokes of the hammer sounded with startling loud-of what used to be called my uncle’s bedroom, as the founder ness through the house. I proposed, I remember, to make of the pavilion had designed it especially for himself.
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“Come in, Northmour; come in, dear Mr. Cassilis,” said if he had not died otherwise, he must have fallen a victim a voice from within.
to consumption in the course of but a very few weeks.
Pushing open the door, Northmour admitted me before He held out to me a hand, long, thin, and disagreeably him into the apartment. As I came in I could see the daughter hairy.
slipping out by the side door into the study, which had
“Come in, come in, Mr. Cassilis,” said he. “Another pro-been prepared as her bedroom. In the bed, which was drawn tector – ahem! – another protector. Always welcome as a back against the wall, instead of standing, as I had last seen friend of my daughter’s, Mr. Cassilis. How they have ralit, boldly across the window, sat Bernard Huddlestone, the lied about me, my daughter’s friends! May God in heaven defaulting banker. Little as I had seen of him by the shift-bless and reward them for it!”
ing light of the lantern on the links, I had no difficulty in I gave him my hand, of course, because I could not help recognising him for the same. He had a long and sallow it; but the sympathy I had been prepared to feel for Clara’s countenance, surrounded by a long red beard and side father was immediately soured by his appearance, and the whiskers. His broken nose and high cheekbones gave him wheedling, unreal tones in which he spoke.
somewhat the air of a Kalmuck, and his light eyes shone
“Cassilis is a good man,” said Northmour; “worth ten.” with the excitement of a high fever. He wore a skull-cap of
“So I hear,” cried Mr. Huddlestone eagerly “so my girl black silk; a huge Bible lay open before him on the bed, tells me. Ah, Mr. Cassilis, my sin has found me out, you with a pair of gold spectacles in the place, and a pile of see! I am very low, very low; but I hope equally penitent.
other books lay on the stand by his side. The green cur-We must all come to the throne of grace at last, Mr.
tains lent a cadaverous shade to his cheek; and, as he sat Cassilis. For my part, I come late indeed; but with un-propped on pillows, his great stature was painfully hunched, feigned humility, I trust.”
and his head protruded till it overhung his knees. I believe
“Fiddle-de-dee!” said Northmour roughly.
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“No, no, dear Northmour!” cried the banker. “You must we shall hope. And talking of that – Hark!” he broke out not say that; you must not try to shake me. You forget, my suddenly, his hand raised, his fingers spread, his face racked dear, good boy, you forget I may be called this very night with interest and terror. “Only the rain, bless God!” he before my Maker.”
added, after a pause, and with indescribable relief.
His excitement was pitiful to behold; and I felt myself For some seconds he lay back among the pillows like a grow indignant with Northmour, whose infidel opinions I man near to fainting; then he gathered himself together, and, well knew, and heartily derided, as he continued to taunt in somewhat tremulous tones, began once more to thank me the poor sinner out of his humour of repentance.
for the share I was prepared to take in his defence.
“Pooh, my dear Huddlestone!” said he. “You do your-
“One question, sir,” said I, when he had paused. “Is it self injustice. You are a man of the world inside and out, true that you have money with you?” and were up to all kinds of mischief before I was born.
He seemed annoyed by the question, but admitted with Your conscience is tanned like South American leather –
reluctance that he had a little.
only you forgot to tan your liver, and that, if you will be-
“Well,” I continued, “it is their money they are after, is it lieve me, is the seat of the annoyance.” not? Why not give it up to them?”
“Rogue, rogue! bad boy!” said Mr. Huddlestone, shak-
“Ah!” replied he, shaking his head, “I have tried that aling his finger. “I am no precisian, if you come to that; I ready, Mr. Cassilis; and alas that it should be so! but it is always hated a precisian; but I never lost hold of some-blood they want.”
thing better through it all. I have been a bad boy, Mr.
“Huddlestone, that’s a little less than fair,” said Cassilis; I do not seek to deny that; but it was after my Northmour. “You should mention that what you offered wife’s death, and you know, with a widower, it’s a differ-them was upwards of two hundred thousand short. The ent thing: sinful – I won’t say no; but there is a gradation, deficit is worth a reference; it is for what they call a cool 178
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sum, Frank. Then, you see, the fellows reason in their clear belong to them! It should be distributed pro rata among all Italian way; and it seems to them, as indeed it seems to me, my creditors.”
that they may just as well have both while they’re about it
“Come now, Huddlestone,” said Northmour, “none of
– money and blood together, by George, and no more that.”
trouble for the extra pleasure.”
“Well, but my daughter,” moaned the wretched man.
“Is it in the pavilion?” I asked.
“Your daughter will do well enough. Here are two suit-
“It is; and I wish it were in the bottom of the sea inors, Cassilis and I, neither of us beggars, between whom stead,” said Northmour; and then suddenly – “What are she has to choose. And as for yourself, to make an end of you making faces at me for?” he cried to Mr. Huddlestone, arguments, you have no right to a farthing, and, unless I’m on whom I had unconsciously turned my back. “Do you much mistaken, you are going to die.” think Cassilis would sell you?”
It was certainly very cruelly said; but Mr. Huddlestone Mr. Huddlestone protested that nothing had been fur-was a man who attracted little sympathy; and, although I ther from his mind.
saw him wince and shudder, I mentally endorsed the re-
“It is a good thing,” retorted Northmour in his ugliest buke; nay, I added a contribution of my own.
manner. “You might end by wearying us. What were you
“Northmour and I,” I said, “are willing enough to help you going to say?” he added, turning to me.
to save your life, but not to escape with stolen property.”
“I was going to propose an occupation for the afternoon,’’
He struggled for a while with himself, as though he were said I. “Let us carry that money out, piece by piece, and on the point of giving way to anger, but prudence had the lay it down before the pavilion door. If the carbonari come, best of the controversy.
why, it’s theirs at any rate.”
“My dear boys,” he said, “do with me or my money what
“No, no,” cried Mr. Huddlestone; “it does not, it cannot you will. I leave all in your hands. Let me compose myself.” 179
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And so we left him, gladly enough I am sure. The last CHAPTER VII – TELLS HOW A WORD WAS
that I saw, he had once more taken up his great Bible, and CRIED THROUGH THE PAVILION WINDOW
with tremulous hands was adjusting his spectacles to read.
THE RECOLLECTION of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind. Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment. The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering. I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion. Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
One or other was always listening for some sound, or peering from an upstairs window over the links. And yet not a sign indicated the presence of our foes.
We debated over and over again my proposal with regard to the money; and had we been in complete possession of our faculties, I am sure we should have condemned it as unwise; but we were flustered with alarm, grasped at 180
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a straw, and determined, although it was as much as adver-It was nearly three when we issued from the pavilion.
tising Mr. Huddlestone’s presence in the pavilion, to carry The rain had taken off; the sun shone quite cheerfully.
my proposal into effect.
I have never seen the gulls fly so close about the house The sum was part in specie, part in bank paper, and part or approach so fearlessly to human beings. On the very in circular notes payable to the name of James Gregory.
doorstep one flapped heavily past our heads, and uttered We took it out, counted it, enclosed it once more in a des-its wild cry in my very ear.
patch-box belonging to Northmour, and prepared a letter
“There is an omen for you,” said Northmour, who like in Italian which he tied to the handle. It was signed by both all freethinkers was much under the influence of supersti-of us under oath, and declared that this was all the money tion. “They think we are already dead.” which had escaped the failure of the house of Huddlestone.
I made some light rejoinder, but it was with half my heart; This was, perhaps, the maddest action ever perpetrated by for the circumstance had impressed me.
two persons professing to be sane. Had the despatch-box A yard or two before the gate, on a patch of smooth turf, fallen into other hands than those for which it was intended, we set down the despatch-box; and Northmour waved a we stood criminally convicted on our own written testimony; white handkerchief over his head. Nothing replied. We but, as I have said, we were neither of us in a condition to raised our voices, and cried aloud in Italian that we were judge soberly, and had a thirst for action that drove us to do there as ambassadors to arrange the quarrel; but the still-something, right or wrong, rather than endure the agony of ness remained unbroken save by the sea-gulls and the surf.
waiting. Moreover, as we were both convinced that the holI had a weight at my heart when we desisted; and I saw lows of the links were alive with hidden spies upon our move-that even Northmour was unusually pale. He looked over ments, we hoped that our appearance with the box might his shoulder nervously, as though he feared that some one lead to a parley, and, perhaps, a compromise.
had crept between him and the pavilion door.
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“By God,” he said in a whisper, “this is too much for have lain hidden in as many square yards about my path.
me!”
But I had not practised the business in vain, chose such I replied in the same key: “Suppose there should be none, routes as cut at the very root of concealment, and, by keep-after all!”
ing along the most convenient ridges, commanded several
“Look there,” he returned, nodding with his head, as hollows at a time. It was not long before I was rewarded though he had been afraid to point.
for my caution. Coming suddenly on to a mound some-I glanced in the direction indicated; and there, from the what more elevated than the surrounding hummocks, I saw, northern quarter of the Sea-Wood, beheld a thin column of not thirty yards away, a man bent almost double, and run-smoke rising steadily against the now cloudless sky.
ning as fast as his attitude permitted, along the bottom of a
“Northmour,” I said (we still continued to talk in whis-gully. I had dislodged one of the spies from his ambush. As pers), “it is not possible to endure this suspense. I prefer soon as I sighted him, I called loudly both in English and death fifty times over. Stay you here to watch the pavilion; Italian; and he, seeing concealment was no longer possible, I will go forward and make sure, if I have to walk right straightened himself out, leaped from the gully, and made into their camp.”
off as straight as an arrow for the borders of the wood.
He looked once again all round him with puckered eyes, It was none of my business to pursue; I had learned what and then nodded assentingly to my proposal.
I wanted -that we were beleaguered and watched in the My heart beat like a sledge-hammer as I set out walking pavilion; and I returned at once, and walking as nearly as rapidly in the direction of the smoke; and, though up to possible in my old footsteps, to where Northmour awaited that moment I had felt chill and shivering, I was suddenly me beside the despatch-box. He was even paler than when conscious of a glow of heat over all my body. The ground I had left him, and his voice shook a little.
in this direction was very uneven; a hundred men might
“Could you see what he was like?” he asked.
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“He kept his back turned,” I replied.
“You do not understand,” said he. “I am not a swindler,
“Let us get into the house, Frank. I don’t think I’m a and I guard myself; that is all. It may weary you or not, Mr.
coward, but I can stand no more of this,” he whispered.
Cassilis, I do not care a rush; I speak for my own satisfac-All was still and sunshiny about the pavilion as we turned tion, and not for your amusement. You had better go up-to re-enter it; even the gulls had flown in a wider circuit, stairs and court the girl; for my part, I stay here.” and were seen flickering along the beach and sand-hills;
“And I stay with you,” I returned. “Do you think I would and this loneliness terrified me more than a regiment under steal a march, even with your permission?” arms. It was not until the door was barricaded that I could
“Frank,” he said, smiling, “it’s a pity you are an ass, for draw a full inspiration and relieve the weight that lay upon you have the makings of a man. I think I must be FEY to-my bosom. Northmour and I exchanged a steady glance; day; you cannot irritate me even when you try. Do you and I suppose each made his own reflections on the white know,” he continued softly, “I think we are the two most and startled aspect of the other.
miserable men in England, you and I? we have got on to
“You were right,” I said. “All is over. Shake hands, old thirty without wife or child, or so much as a shop to look man, for the last time.”
after – poor, pitiful, lost devils, both! And now we clash
“Yes,” replied he, “I will shake hands; for, as sure as I am about a girl! As if there were not several millions in the here, I bear no malice. But, remember, if, by some impos-United Kingdom! Ah, Frank, Frank, the one who loses this sible accident, we should give the slip to these blackguards, throw, be it you or me, he has my pity! It were better for I’ll take the upper hand of you by fair or foul.” him -how does the Bible say? – that a millstone were hanged
“Oh,” said I, “you weary me!”
about his neck and he were cast into the depth of the sea.
He seemed hurt, and walked away in silence to the foot Let us take a drink,” he concluded suddenly, but without of the stairs, where he paused.
any levity of tone.
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I was touched by his words, and consented. He sat down perish in defence of a thieving banker.
on the table in the dining-room, and held up the glass of Before we sat down to table, I looked forth from an up-sherry to his eye.
stairs window. The day was beginning to decline; the links
“If you beat me, Frank,” he said, “I shall take to drink.
were utterly deserted; the despatch-box still lay untouched What will you do, if it goes the other way?” where we had left it hours before.
“God knows,” I returned.
Mr. Huddlestone, in a long yellow dressing-gown, took
“Well,” said he, “here is a toast in the meantime: ‘ Italia one end of the table, Clara the other; while Northmour Irredenta!’”
and I faced each other from the sides. The lamp was The remainder of the day was passed in the same dread-brightly trimmed; the wine was good; the viands, although ful tedium and suspense. I laid the table for dinner, while mostly cold, excellent of their sort. We seemed to have Northmour and Clara prepared the meal together in the agreed tacitly; all reference to the impending catastrophe kitchen. I could hear their talk as I went to and fro, and was carefully avoided; and, considering our tragic cir-was surprised to find it ran all the time upon myself.
cumstances, we made a merrier party than could have Northmour again bracketed us together, and rallied Clara been expected. From time to time, it is true, Northmour on a choice of husbands; but he continued to speak of me or I would rise from table and make a round of the de-with some feeling, and uttered nothing to my prejudice fences; and, on each of these occasions, Mr. Huddlestone unless he included himself in the condemnation. This awak-was recalled to a sense of his tragic predicament, glanced ened a sense of gratitude in my heart, which combined with up with ghastly eyes, and bore for an instant on his coun-the immediateness of our peril to fill my eyes with tears.
tenance the stamp of terror. But he hastened to empty his After all, I thought – and perhaps the thought was laugh-glass, wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, and joined ably vain – we were here three very noble human beings to again in the conversation.
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I was astonished at the wit and information he displayed.
make a noise somewhat similar in character.
Mr. Huddlestone’s was certainly no ordinary character; he
“Snail be d-d!” said Northmour. “Hush!” had read and observed for himself; his gifts were sound; The same sound was repeated twice at regular intervals; and, though I could never have learned to love the man, I and then a formidable voice shouted through the shutters began to understand his success in business, and the great the Italian word “Traditore!” respect in which he had been held before his failure. He Mr. Huddlestone threw his head in the air; his eyelids had, above all, the talent of society; and though I never quivered; next moment he fell insensible below the table.
heard him speak but on this one and most unfavourable Northmour and I had each run to the armou