Whereupon the clang of the Bell broke the solemn Silence which reignedaround.
3
I had grave Difficulty in obtaining access to my Lord Stour, his Servanttelling me in the first instance that his Lordship was not at home, andin the second that he was in any event too busy to receive Visitors atthis hour. But I have oft been told that I possess the Obstinacy of theWeak, and I was determined that, having come so far, I would not returnto Mr. Betterton without having accomplished mine Errand. So, seeingthat the Servant, with the Officiousness and Insolence of his kind, wasabout to slam the door in my face, an Inspiration seized me, and takingon a haughty Air, I stepped boldly across the Threshold and thencommanded the Menial to go to his Lordship at once and announce thevisit of Mr. Theophilus Baggs' Clerk on a matter of the utmost Urgency.
I suppose that now I looked both determined and fierce, and after a gooddeal of hem-ming and hawing, the Varlet apparently felt thatnon-compliance with my Desire might bring contumely upon himself; so hewent, leaving me most unceremoniously to cool my heels in the Hall, andreturned but a very few minutes later looking distinctly crestfallen andnot a little astonished.
His Lordship would see me at once, he announced. Then bade me follow himup the stairs.
To say that my Heart was beating furiously within my Breast would be buta bald Statement of my Frame of Mind. I fully expected that hisLordship, directly he knew that it was not Mr. Baggs who had sent me,would have me ignominiously turned out of the House. However, I was notgiven much time to indulge in my Conjectures and my Fears, for presentlyI was ushered into a large room, dimly lighted by a couple of waxcandles and the Walls of which, I noticed, were entirely lined withBooks.
After the Menial had closed the door behind me, a Voice bade me curtlyto come forward and to state mine Errand. Then I saw that my Lord Stourwas not alone. He was sitting in a chair in front of the fire, andopposite to him sat the beautiful Lady Barbara, whilst standing in frontof the hearth, with legs apart and hands thrust in the pockets of hisbreeches, was Lord Douglas Wychwoode.
What Courage was left in me now went down into my shoes. I felt like aMan faced with three Enemies where he had only expected to meet one. MyThroat felt very dry and my Tongue seemed to cleave to my Palate.Nevertheless, in response to a reiterated curt Command to state mineErrand, I did so unfalteringly.
"Mr. Thomas Betterton, one of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants," Isaid, "hath sent me to his Lordship the Earl of Stour."
My Words were greeted with an angry Oath from Lord Douglas, an ironicalLaugh from my Lord Stour and a strange little Gasp, half of Terror,wholly of Surprise, from the Lady Barbara.
"Methought You came from Mr. Baggs," my Lord Stour remarked haughtily."So at least You gave my Servant to understand, else You would not havebeen admitted."
"Your Lordship's Servant misunderstood me," I rejoined quite quietly."I gave my name as Clerk to Mr. Baggs; but mine Errand concerns Mr.Thomas Betterton, and he honours me with his Friendship."
"And as Mr. Betterton's Affairs do not concern me in any way----" hisLordship began coldly, and would no doubt have dismissed me then andthere, but that the Lady Barbara interposed gently yet with greatFirmness.
"I pray You, my Lord," she said, "do not be over-hasty. We might atleast listen to what Mr. Betterton's Messenger has to say."
"Yes," added Lord Douglas in his habitual brusque Manner. "Let us hearwhat the Fellow wants."
This was not encouraging, you will admit; but, like many over-timidPeople, there are times when I am conscious of unwonted Calm andDetermination. So even now I confronted these two supercilious Gentlemenwith as much Dignity as I could command, and said, addressing myselfdirectly to the Earl of Stour:
"Mr. Betterton hath sent me to You, my Lord, to demand Satisfaction forthe abominable Outrage which You perpetrated upon his Person nigh on twomonths ago."
Lord Stour shrugged his Shoulders and riposted coldly:
"That tune is stale, my Man. Mr.--er--Betterton has had mine Answer."
"Since then, my Lord," I insisted firmly, "Time hath no doubt broughtsaner Reflection. Mr. Betterton's Fame and his Genius have raised himto a level far above that conferred by mere Birth."
"Have made a Gentleman of him, You mean?" Lord Stour rejoined with asarcastic curl of the lip.
"More noble far than any Gentleman in the Land," I retorted proudly.
He gave a harsh laugh.
"In that case, my Man," he said tartly, "you can inform your worthyFriend that two hundred years hence my Descendants might fight him on acomparatively equal Footing. But until then," he added firmly andconclusively, "I must repeat for the last time what I have already toldMr.--er--Betterton: the Earl of Stour cannot cross Swords with aMountebank."
"Take care, my Lord, take care----"
The Exclamation had burst quite involuntarily from my Lips. The nextmoment I felt ashamed to have uttered it, for my Lord Stour looked me upand down as he would an importunate Menial, and Lord Douglas Wychwoodestrode towards me and pointed to the door.
"Get out!" he commanded curtly.
There was nothing more to be done--nothing more to be said, if I desiredto retain one last Shred of Dignity both for myself and for the greatArtist who--in my Person this time--had once again been so profoundlyhumiliated.
My wet cloak I had left down in the Hall, but I still held my hat in myhands. I now bowed with as much Grace as I could muster. Lord Douglasstill pointed a peremptory finger towards the door, making it clear thatI was not going of mine own Accord, like the Intermediary of anyGentleman might be, but that I was being kicked out like some insolentVarlet.
Oh! the shame of it! The shame!
My ears were tingling, my temples throbbing. A crimson Veil, thrustbefore mine eyes by invisible Hands, caused my footsteps to falter. Oh!if only I had had the strength, I should even then have turned uponthose aristocratic Miscreants and, with my hands upon their throats,have forced them to eat their impious Words.
But even as I crossed the Threshold of that Room where I had sufferedsuch bitter Humiliation, I heard loud and mocking Laughter behind me;and words such as: "Insolence!" "Mountebank!" "Rogue!" and "Vagabond!"still reached my ears.
I suppose that the door did not close quite fully behind me, for even asI crossed the landing meseemed that I heard the Lady Barbara's voiceraised in a kind of terrified Appeal.
"Would to God, my dear Lord," she appeared to plead with passionateEarnestness, "You had not incurred the Enmity of that Man. Ever sincethat awful day I have felt as if You were encompassed by Spirits of Hateand of Vengeance which threaten our Happiness."
Her Voice broke in a sob. And, indeed, I found it in my heart to pityher, for she seemed deeply grieved. I still could hear him--her Loverand mine Enemy, since he was the Enemy of my Friend--trying to laughaway her fears.
"Nay, sweetheart," he was saying tenderly. "A Man like that can do usno harm. Mine own Conscience is clear--my Life honourable--and to-nightwill see the triumph of your Cause, to which I have given willing help.That Man's Malice cannot touch me, any more than the snarling of atoothless cur. So do not waste these precious moments, my Beloved, bythinking of him."
After which the door behind me was closed to, and I heard nothing more.I hurried down the Stairs, snatched up my cloak and hurried out of theHouse.
Never should I have believed that a human Heart could contain so muchHatred as mine held for my Lord Stour at that moment.
4
I found Mr. Betterton waiting for me under the Gateway where I had lefthim a quarter of an hour ago.
As soon as he heard my footsteps upon the uneven pavement of thefore-court, he came forward to meet me, took hold of my cloak anddragged me back into shelter.
He only said the one word: "Well?" but it is not in my power, dearMistress, to render adequately all that there was of Anxiety, Impatienceand of Passion in that one brief Query.
&n
bsp; I suppose that I hesitated. Of a truth the Message which I was bringingwas choking me. And he who is so sensitive, so understanding, learnedeverything, and at once, from my Silence.
"He hath refused?" he said simply.
I nodded.
"He will not fight me?"
And my Silence gave reply. A curious, hoarse Cry, like that of awounded Animal, escaped his Throat and for a moment we were bothsilent--so silent that the patter of the rain appeared like somethunderous Noise: and the divers sounds of the great City wrapped in theCloak of Evening came to us with sharp and eerie Distinctness. Faraway, a dog barked; some belated Chairman called: "Make room, there!"; acouple of Watchmen passed close by, clinking their halberts against theground, and from one of the noble Mansions nigh to us there came thesound of Revelry and of Laughter.
I felt like in a Dream, conscious only that the Finger of Destiny waspointing to the Dial of a Clock, and that I was set here to count theSeconds and the Minutes until that ghostly Finger had completed its taskand registered the final Hour when the Decrees of God would inevitablybe fulfilled.
CHAPTER X
THE HOUR
1
A quarter of an hour--perhaps less--later, we were speeding back, Mr.Betterton and I, down Canon's Row on our way to Westminster Stairs,intending to take boat for the City.
In the terrible mental upheaval which had followed on the renewedOutrage that had been put upon my beloved Friend, I had well-nighforgotten that secret conspiracy which was even now threatening thestability of our Country, and in which my former Employer and his Spousewere so deeply involved.
The striking of Church Bells far and near, chiming the hour of eight,recalled me to the danger which threatened Mr. Baggs along with his morearistocratic co-traitors. And, strangely enough, Mr. Betterton thoughtof this at the very same time. He had been sunk in moody Reverie eversince my Silence had told him the grim tale of my unsuccessful Embassyto the Earl of Stour, and through the darkness it was impossible evenfor my devoted eyes to watch the Play of Emotions upon his tell-taleface, or to read in his eyes the dark thoughts which I knew must becoursing through his Brain.
In myself, I could not help but be satisfied at the turn of Events. TheConspirators, denounced by me to the Countess of Castlemaine, would of acertainty meet the Punishment which they so fully deserved. Lord Stourwas one of them, so was Lord Douglas Wychwoode. The Scaffold, or atleast, Banishment, would be their lot, and how could I grieve--I, whohated them so!--that the Earth would presently be rid of two arrogantand supercilious Coxcombs, Traitors to their King, vainglorious andself-seeking. True, the Lady Barbara would weep. But when I rememberedthe many bitter tears which you, dear Mistress, have shed these pastmonths because she had enchained the fancy of the Man whom you loved,then had scorned his Ardour and left him a Prey to Humiliation and Shameat the hands of Men unworthy to lick the dust at his feet; when Iremembered all that, I could find no Pity in my heart for the LadyBarbara, but rather a Hope that one so exquisitely fair would passthrough Sorrow and Adversity the purer and softer for the Ordeal.
True again, that for some reason still unexplained Mr. Bettertonappeared to desire with an almost passionate intensity that hissuccessful Rival should escape the fate of his fellow-Conspirators.Such Magnanimity was beyond my Comprehension, and I felt that theSentiment which engendered it could not be a lasting one. Mr. Bettertonwas for the moment angry with me--very angry--for what I had done; buthis Anger I knew would soon melt in the Warmth of his own kindly Heart.He would forgive me, and anon forget the insolent Enemy after the latterhad expiated his Treachery and his Arrogance upon the Scaffold. Thewhole of this hideous past Episode would then become a mere Memory, likeunto a nightmare which the healthful freshness of the newly-born Day soquickly dispels.
2
So on the whole it was with a lightened heart that I stepped into theboat in the wake of Mr. Betterton. I thanked the Lord that the Rain hadceased for the moment, for truly I was chilled to the Marrow and couldnot have borne another wetting.
Every Angle and Stone and Stair and Landing Stage along the Embankmentwas of course familiar to me; and I could not help falling into aReverie at sight of those great houses which were the City homes of someof the noblest Families in the Land. How many of these stately walls,thought I, sheltered a nest of Conspirators as vile and as disloyal aswere Lord Douglas Wychwoode and his friends? Suffolk House and YorkeHouse, Salisbury House and Worster House, to mention but a few. How didthe mere honest Citizen know what went on behind their Portals, whatdeadly secrets were whispered within their doors?
I had been taught all my life to respect those who are above me inStation and to reverence our titled Nobility; but truly my shortExperience of these high-born Sparks was not calculated to enhance myRespect for their Integrity or my Admiration for their Intellect. Someolder Gentlemen there were, such as the Lord Chancellor himself, whowere worthy of Everybody's regard; but I must confess that the Behaviourof the younger Fops was oft blameworthy.
I might even instance our Experience this dark night after we had landedat the Temple Stairs, and were hurrying along our way up Middle TempleLane in the wake of our linkmen. We were speeding on, treadingcarefully so as to avoid as much as was possible the mud which layankle-deep in the Lane, when we suddenly spied ahead of us a party of"Scourers"--young Gentlemen of high Rank, very much the worse for drink,who, being at their wits' end to know how to spend their evenings, didit in prowling about the Streets, insulting or maltreating peaceablePassers-by, molesting Women, breaking Tavern windows, stealingSignboards and otherwise rendering themselves noxious to honestCitizens, and helping to make the Streets of our great City an object ofterror by night, in emulation of highway Robbers and other foulMarauders.
No doubt Mr. Betterton and I would--despite the aid of our two linkmenand of their stout Cudgels--have fallen a victim to these odiousMiscreants, and the great Actor would of a surety have been very rudelytreated, since he had so often denounced these Mal-practices from theStage and held up to public Ridicule not only the young Rakes who tookpart in the riotous Orgies, but also our Nightwatchmen, who were toostupid or too cowardly to cope with them. But, knowing our danger, weavoided it, and hearing the young Mohocks coming our way we slipped upHare Alley and bided our time until the noise of Revels and Riotingswere well behind us.
I heard afterwards that those Abominable Debauchees--who surely shouldhave known better, seeing that they were all Scions of great and nobleFamilies--had indeed "scoured" that night with some purpose. They brokeinto Simond's Inn in Fleet Street, smashed every Piece of Crockery theycould find there, assaulted the Landlord, beat the Customers about,broke open the money-box, stole some five pounds in hard cash andinsulted the waiting-maids. Finally they set a seal to their Revels byfalling on the Nightwatchmen who had come to disperse them, beating themwith their own halberts and with sticks, and wounding one so severelythat he ultimately died in Hospital, while the Miscreants themselves gotoff scot-free.
Truly a terrible state of Affairs in such a noble City as London!
3
As for Mr. Betterton and myself, we reached the corner of Chancery Lanewithout serious Adventure. As we neared the house of Mr. TheophilusBaggs, however, I felt my Courage oozing down into my shoes. Truly Icould not then have faced my former Employer, whom I had just betrayed,and the mean side of my Action in the Matter came upon me with a shamingforce.
I begged Mr. Betterton, therefore, to go and speak with Mr. Baggs whilstI remained waiting outside upon the doorstep.
Of all that miserable day, this was perhaps to me the most painfulmoment. From the instant that Mr. Betterton was admitted into the houseuntil he returned to me some twenty minutes later, I was in a coldsweat, devoured with Apprehension and fighting against Remorse. I couldnot forget that Mr. Baggs had been my Master and Employer
--if not tookind an one--for years, and if he had been sent to the Tower andaccompanied his fellow Conspirators upon the Scaffold, I verily believethat I should have felt like Judas Iscariot and, like him, would havebeen unable to endure my life after such a base Betrayal.
Fortunately, however, Mr. Betterton was soon able to reassure me. Hehad, he said, immediately warned Mr. Baggs that something of the Secretof the Conspiracy had come to the ears of the Countess of Castlemaine,and that all those who were in any way mixed up in the Affair would bewise to lie low as far as possible, at any rate for a while.
Mr. Baggs, it seems, was at first terrified, and was on the point oflosing his Head and committing some act of Folly through sheer fright.But Mr. Betterton's quieting Influence soon prevailed. The worthyAttorney, on thinking the matter over, realized that if he destroyedcertain Documents which might prove incriminating to himself, he wouldhave little else to fear. He himself had never written a compromisingLetter--he was far too shrewd to have thus committed himself--and therewas not a scrap of paper in any one else's possession which bore hisName or might mark his Identity, whilst he had not the slightest fearthat the other Conspirators--who were all of them Gentlemen--wouldbetray the Complicity of an humble Attorney who had rendered them loyalService.
Strangely enough, Mr. Baggs never suspected me of having betrayed thewhole thing; or, if he did, he never said so. So many People plottedthese days, so many Conspiracies were hatched then blown upon, that Ifor one imagine that Mr. Baggs had a hand in several of these and waspaid high Fees for his share in them. Then, when anything untowardhappened, when mere Chance, or else a Traitor among the Traitors, causedthe Conspiracy to abort, the worthy Attorney would metaphorically shakethe dust of political Intrigue from his shabby shoes, and make a bonfireof every compromising Document that might land him in the Tower andfurther. After which, he was no doubt ready to begin all over again.