CHAPTER XLI
THEY MEET AGAIN.
At four o'clock on the morning of Beatrice's capture Brandon was rousedby a rap at his bedroom door. He rose at once, and slipping on hisdressing-gown, opened it. A man entered.
"Well?" said Brandon.
"Something has happened."
"What?"
"She didn't get home last night. The landlady is sitting up for her, andis terribly frightened."
"Did you make any inquiries?"
"No, Sir; I came straight here in obedience to your directions."
"Is that all you know?"
"All."
"Very well," said Brandon, calmly, "you may go."
The man retired. Brandon sat down and buried his head in his hands. Suchnews as this was sufficient to overwhelm any one. The man knew nothingmore than this, that she had not returned home and that the landlady wasfrightened. In his opinion only one of two things could have happened:either Langhetti had taken her somewhere, or she had been abducted.
A thousand fancies followed one another in quick succession. It was tooearly as yet to go forth to make inquiries; and he therefore was forcedto sit still and form conjectures as to what ought to be done in casehis conjecture might be true. Sitting there, he took a rapid survey ofall the possibilities of the occasion, and laid his plans accordingly.
Brandon had feared some calamity, and with this fear had arrangedto have some one in the house who might give him information. Theinformation which he most dreaded had come; it had come, too, in themidst of a time of triumph, when she had become one of the supremesingers of the age, and had gained all that her warmest admirer mightdesire for her.
If she had not been foully dealt with she must have gone with Langhetti.But if so--where--and why? What possible reason might Langhetti have fortaking her away? This conjecture was impossible.
Yet if this was impossible, and if she had not gone with Langhetti, withwhom could she have gone? If not a friend, then it must have been withan enemy. But with what enemy? There was only one.
He thought of Potts. He knew that this wretch was capable of anyvillainy, and would not hesitate at any thing to regain possession ofthe one who had fled from him. Why he should wish to take the troubleto regain possession of her, except out of pure villainy, he could notimagine.
With such thoughts as these the time passed heavily. Six o'clock at lastcame, and he set out for the purpose of making inquiries. He went firstto the theatre. Here, after some trouble, he found those who had theplace in charge, and, by questioning them, he learned that Beatrice hadleft by herself in a cab for her home, and that Langhetti had remainedsome time later. He then went to Beatrice's lodgings to question thelandlady. From there he went to Langhetti's lodgings, and found thatLanghetti had come home about one o'clock and was not yet up.
Beatrice, therefore, had left by herself; and had not gone any wherewith Langhetti. She had not returned home. It seemed to him mostprobable that either voluntarily or involuntarily she had come underthe control of Potts. What to do under the circumstances was now thequestion.
One course seemed to him the most direct and certain; namely, to goup to Brandon at once and make inquiries there. From the letters whichPhilips had sent he had an idea of the doings of Potts. Other sourcesof information had also been secured. It was not his business to do anything more than to see that Beatrice should fall into no harm.
By ten o'clock he had acted upon this idea, and was at the railwaystation to take the express train. He reached Brandon village aboutdusk. He went to the inn in his usual disguise as Mr. Smithers, and sentup to the Hall for Mr. Potts.
Potts was not there. He then sent for Philips. After some delay Philipscame. His usual timidity was now if possible still more marked, and hewas at first too embarrassed to speak.
"Where is Potts?" asked Brandon, abruptly.
"In London, Sir."
"He has been there about three weeks, hasn't he?"
"Yes, Sir."
"So you wrote me. You thought when he went that he was going to hunt uphis daughter."
"So I conjectured."
"And he hasn't got back yet?"
"Not yet."
"Has he written any word?"
"None that I know of."
"Did you hear any of them say why he went to get her?"
"Not particularly; but I guessed from what they said that he was afraidof having her at large."
"Afraid? Why?"
"Because she knew some secret of theirs."
"Secret! What secret?" asked Brandon.
"You know, Sir, I suppose," said Philips, meekly.
Brandon had carried Asgeelo with him, as he was often in the habit ofdoing on his journeys. After his interview with Philips he stood outsideon the veranda of the village inn for some time, and then went aroundthrough the village, stopping at a number of houses. Whatever it wasthat he was engaged in, it occupied him for several hours, and he didnot get back to the inn till midnight.
On the following morning he sent up to the Hall, but Potts had notyet returned. Philips came to tell him that he had just received atelegraphic dispatch informing him that Potts would be back that dayabout one o'clock. This intelligence at last seemed to promise somethingdefinite.
Brandon found enough to occupy him during the morning among the peopleof the neighborhood. He seemed to know every body, and had somethingto say to every one. Yet no one looked at him or spoke to him unlesshe took the initiative. Last of all, he went to the tailor's, where hespent an hour.
Asgeelo had been left at the inn, and sat there upon a bench outside,apparently idle and aimless. At one o'clock Brandon returned and walkedup and down the veranda.
In about half an hour his attention was attracted by the sound ofwheels. It was Potts's barouche, which came rapidly up the road. In itwas Potts and a young lady.
Brandon stood outside of the veranda, on the steps, in such a positionas to be most conspicuous, and waited there till the carriage shouldreach the place. Did his heart beat faster as he recognized that form,as he marked the settled despair which had gathered over that youngface--a face that had the fixed and unalterable wretchedness which marksthe ideal face of the Mater Dolorosa?
Brandon stood in such a way that Potts could not help seeing him. Hewaved his arm, and Potts stopped the carriage at once.
Potts was seated on the front seat, and Beatrice on the back one.Brandon walked up to the carriage and touched his hat.
"Mr. Smithers!" cried Potts, with his usual volubility. "Dear me, Sir.This is really a most unexpected pleasure, Sir."
While Potts spoke Brandon looked steadily at Beatrice, who cast uponhim a look of wonder. She then sank back in her seat; but her eyes werestill fastened on his as though fascinated. Then, beneath the marblewhiteness of her face a faint tinge appeared, a warm flush, that was thesign of hope rising from despair. In her eyes there gleamed the flash ofrecognition; for in that glance each had made known all its soul to theother. In her mind there was no perplexing question as to how or why hecame here, or wherefore he wore that disguise; the one thought that shehad was the consciousness that He was here--here before her.
All this took place in an instant, and Potts, who was talking, did notnotice the hurried glance; or if he did, saw in it nothing but a casuallook cast by one stranger upon another.
"I arrived here yesterday," said Brandon. "I wished to see you about amatter of very little importance perhaps to you, but it is one which isof interest to me. But I am detaining you. By-the-way, I am somewhat ina hurry, and if this lady will excuse me I will drive up with you to theHall, so as to lose no time."
"Delighted, Sir, delighted!" cried Potts. "Allow me, Mr. Smithers, tointroduce you to my daughter."
Brandon held out his hand. Beatrice held out hers. It was cold as ice,but the fierce thrill that shot through her frame at the touch of hisfeverish hand brought with it such an ecstasy that Beatrice thought itwas worth while to have undergone the horror of the past twenty-fourhours f
or the joy of this one moment.
Brandon stepped into the carriage and seated himself by her side. Pottssat opposite. He touched her. He could hear her breathing. How manymonths had passed since they sat so near together! What sorrows had theynot endured! Now they were side by side, and for a moment they forgotthat their bitterest enemy sat before them.
There, before them, was the man who was not only a deadly enemy to each,but who made it impossible for them to be more to one another than theynow were. Yet for a time they forgot this in the joy of the ecstaticmeeting. At the gate Potts got out and excused himself to Brandon,saying that he would be up directly.
"Entertain this gentleman till I come," said he to Beatrice, "for he isa great friend of mine."
Beatrice said nothing, for the simple reason that she could not speak.
They drove on. Oh, joy! that baleful presence was for a moment removed.The driver saw nothing as he drove under the overarching elms--the elmsunder which Brandon had sported in his boyhood. He saw not the long,fervid glance that they cast at one another, in which each seemed toabsorb all the being of the other; he saw not the close clasped handswith which they clung to one another now as though they would thus clingto each other forever and prevent separation. He saw not the swift,wild movement of Brandon when for one instant he flung his arm aroundBeatrice and pressed her to his heart. He heard not the beating of thatstrong heart; he heard not the low sigh of rapture with which for butone instant the head of Beatrice sank upon her lover's breast. It wasbut for an instant. Then she sat upright again, and their hands soughteach other, thus clinging, thus speaking by a voice which was fullyintelligible to each, which told how each felt in the presence of theother love unutterable, rapture beyond expression.
The alighted from the carriage. Beatrice led the way into thedrawing-room. No one was there. Brandon went into a recess of one of thewindows which commanded a view of the Park.
"What a beautiful view!" said he, in a conventional voice.
She came up and stood beside him.
"Oh, my darling! Oh, my darling!" he cried, over and over again; andflinging his arms around her he covered her face with burning kisses.Her whole being seemed in that supreme moment to be absorbed in his. Allconsciousness of any other thing than this unspeakable joy was lostto her. Before all others she was lofty, high-souled, serene,self-possessed--with him she was nothing, she lost herself in him.
"Do not fear, my soul's darling," said he; "no harm shall come. My poweris every where--even in this house. All in the village are mine. When myblow falls you shall be saved."
She shuddered.
"You will leave me here?"
"Heavens! I must," he groaned; "we are the sport of circumstances. Oh,my darling!" he continued, "you know my story, and my vengeance."
"I know it all," she whispered. "I would wish to die if I could die byyour hand."
"I will save you. Oh, love--oh, soul of mine--my arms are around you!You are watched--but watched by me."
"You do not know," she sighed. "Alas! your father's voice must beobeyed, and your vengeance must be taken."
"Fear not," said he; "I will guard you."
She answered nothing. Could she confide in his assurance? She could not.She thought with horror of the life before her. What could Brandon do?She could not imagine.
They stood thus in silence for a long time. Each felt that this wastheir last meeting, and each threw all life and all thought into therapture of this long and ecstatic embrace. After this the impassablegulf must reopen. She was of the blood of the accursed. They mustseparate forever.
He kissed her. He pressed her a thousand times to his heart. His burningkisses forced a new and feverish life into her, which roused all hernature. Never before had he dared so to fling open all his soul to her;never before had he so clasped her to his heart; but now this moment wasa break in the agony of a long separation--a short interval which mustsoon end and give way to the misery which had preceded it--and so heyielded to the rapture of the hour, and defied the future.
The moments extended themselves. They were left thus for a longer timethan they hoped. Potts did not come. They were still clinging toone another. She had flung her arms around him in the anguish of herunspeakable love, he had clasped her to his wildly-throbbing heart, andhe was straining her there recklessly and despairingly, when suddenly aharsh voice burst upon their ears.
"The devil!"
Beatrice did not hear it. Brandon did, and turned his face. Potts stoodbefore them.
"Mr. Potts!" said he, as he still held Beatrice close to his heart,"this poor young lady is in wretched health. She nearly fainted. I hadto almost carry her to the window. Will you be good enough to open it,so as to give her some air? Is she subject to these faints? Poorchild!" he said; "the air of this place ought surely to do you good. Isympathize with you most deeply, Mr. Potts."
"She's sickly--that's a fact," said Potts. "I'm very sorry that you havehad so much trouble--I hope you'll excuse me. I only thought that she'dentertain you, for she's very clever. Has all the accomplishments--"
"Perhaps you'd better call some one to take care of her," interruptedBrandon.
"Oh, I'll fetch some one. I'm sorry it happened so. I hope you won'tblame me, Sir," said Potts, humbly, and he hurried out of the room.
Beatrice had not moved. She heard Brandon speak to some one, and atfirst gave herself up for lost, but in an instant she understood thefull meaning of his words. To his admirable presence of mind she addedher own. She did not move, but allowed her head to rest where it was,feeling a delicious joy in the thought that Potts was looking on and wasutterly deceived. When he left to call a servant she raised her head andgave Brandon a last look expressive of her deathless, her unutterablelove. Again and again he pressed her to his heart. Then the noise ofservants coming in roused him. He gently placed her on a sofa, andsupported her with a grave and solemn face.
"Here, Mrs. Compton. Take charge of her," said Potts. "She's been tryingto faint."
Mrs. Compton came up, and kneeling down kissed Beatrice's hands. Shesaid nothing.
"Oughtn't she to have a doctor?" said Brandon.
"Oh no--she'll get over it. Take her to her room, Mrs. Compton."
"Can the poor child walk?" asked Brandon.
Beatrice rose. Mrs. Compton asked her to take her arm. She did so, andleaning heavily upon it, walked away.
"THE DEVIL!" ... POTTS STOOD BEFORE THEM.]
"She seems very delicate," said Brandon. "I did not know that you had adaughter."
Potts sighed.
"I have," said he, "to my sorrow."
"To your sorrow!" said Brandon, with exquisitely simulated sympathy.
"Yes," replied the other. "I wouldn't tell it to every one--but you, Mr.Smithers, are different from most people. You see I have led a rovinglife. I had to leave her out in China for many years with a femaleguardian. I suppose she was not very well taken care of. At any rate,she got acquainted out there with a strolling Italian vagabond, adrum-major in one of the regiments, named Langhetti, and this villaingained her affections by his hellish arts. He knew that I was rich,and, like an unprincipled adventurer, tried to get her, hoping to geta fortune. I did not know any thing about this till after her arrivalhome. I sent for her some time ago and she came. From the first she wasvery sulky. She did not treat me like a daughter at all. On one occasionshe actually abused me and called me names to my face. She called me aThug! What do you think of that, Mr. Smithers?"
The other said nothing, but there was in his face a horror which Pottsconsidered as directed toward his unnatural offspring.
"She was discontented here, though I let her have every thing. I foundout in the end all about it. At last she actually ran away. She joinedthis infamous Langhetti, whom she had discovered in some way or other.They lived together for some time, and then went to London, where shegot a situation as an actress. You can imagine by that," said Potts,with sanctimonious horror, "how low she had fallen.
"Well, I
didn't know what to do. I was afraid to make a public demandfor her through the law, for then it would all get into the papers; itwould be an awful disgrace, and the whole county would know it. So Iwaited, and a few weeks ago I went to London. A chance occurred at lastwhich threw her in my way. I pointed out to her the awful nature of thelife she was leading, and offered to forgive her all if she would onlycome back. The poor girl consented, and here she is. But I'm verymuch afraid," said Potts in conclusion, with a deep sigh, "that herconstitution is broken up. She's very feeble."
Brandon said nothing.
"Excuse me for troubling you with my domestic affairs; but I thought Iought to explain, for you have had such trouble with her yourself."
"Oh, don't mention it. I quite pitied the poor child, I assure you; andI sincerely hope that the seclusion of this place, combined with thepure sea-air, may restore her spirits and invigorate her in mind as wellas in body. And now, Mr. Potts, I will mention the little matter thatbrought me here. I have had business in Cornwall, and was on my way homewhen I received a letter summoning me to America. I may have to go toCalifornia. I have a very honest servant, whom I have quite a strongregard for, and I am anxious to put him in some good country house tillI get back. I'm afraid to trust him in London, and I can't take him withme. He is a Hindu, but speaks English and can do almost any thing. Iat once remembered you, especially as you were close by me, and thoughtthat In your large establishment you might find a place for him. How isit?"
"My dear Sir, I shall be proud and happy. I should like, above allthings, to have a man here who is recommended by one like you. The factis, my servants are all miserable, and a good one can not often be had.I shall consider it a favor if I can get him."
"Well, that is all arranged--I have a regard for him, as I said before,and want to have him in a pleasant situation. His name is Asgeelo, butwe are in the habit of calling him Cato--"
"Cato! a very good name. Where is he now?"
"At the hotel. I will send him to you at once," said Brandon, rising.
"The sooner the better," returned Potts.
"By-the-way, my junior speaks very encouragingly about the prospects ofthe Brandon Bank--"
"Does he?" cried Potts, gleefully. "Well, I do believe we're going aheadof every thing."
"That's right. Boldness is the true way to success."
"Oh, never fear. We are bold enough."
"Good. But I am hurried, and I must go. I will send Asgeelo up, and givehim a letter."
With these words Brandon bowed an adieu and departed. Before eveningAsgeelo was installed as one of the servants.