Of course, the present Marquis's two Children were scarce out of theNursery when the bitter Conflict raged between the King and his People;but it must have been terribly hard for a proud Man to bear the thoughtthat his only Son, as soon as he had reached Man's Estate, should haveraised his Hand against his Sovereign.
No doubt owing to the disturbed State of many influential Circles ofSociety that Winter, and the number of noble Families who were inmourning after the aborted Conspiracy and the wholesale Executions thatensued, the Marriage between the Lady Barbara Wychwoode and the Earl ofStour was postponed until the Spring, and then it would take place veryquietly at the Bride's home in Sussex, whither she had gone of late withher Father, both living there for a while in strict Retirement.
Lord Douglas Wychwoode, so it was understood, had succeeded in reachingHolland, where, I doubt not, he continued to carry on those politicalIntrigues against his lawful Sovereign which would of a surety one daybring him to an ignominious End.
I was now living in the greatest Comfort and was supremely happy, in theHouse of Mr. Betterton. He employed me as his Secretary, and in truth myplace was no sinecure, for I never could have believed that there wereso many foolish Persons in the World who spent their time in writingLetters--laudatory or otherwise--to such great Men as were in the publicEye. I myself, though I have always been a wholehearted Admirer of Menof Talent and Erudition, would never have taken it upon myself totrouble them with Effusions from my Pen. And yet Letter after Letterwould come to the house in Tothill Street, addressed to Mr. ThomasBetterton. Some written by great and noble Ladies whose Names wouldsurprise You, dear Mistress, were I to mention them; others were fromMen of position and of learning who desired to express to the greatArtist all the Pleasure that they had derived from his rendering ofnoble Characters.
Mr. Pepys, a Gentleman of great knowledge and a Clerk in the Admiralty,wrote quite frequently to Mr. Betterton, sometimes to express unstintedPraise for the great Actor's Performance in one of his favourite Plays,or sometimes venturing on Criticism, which was often shrewd and neverdisdained.
But, after all, am I not wasting time by telling You that which You,dear Mistress, know well enough from your own personal Experience? Idoubt not but you receive many such Letters, both from Admirers and fromFriends, not to mention Enemies, who are always to the fore when a Manor Woman rises by Talent or Learning above the dead level of the rest ofHumanity.
It was then my duty to read those Letters and to reply to them, which Idid at Mr. Betterton's Dictation, and in my choicest Caligraphy withmany Embellishments such as I had learned whilst I was Clerk to Mr.Baggs. Thus it was that I obtained Confirmation of the Fact which wasstill agitating my Mind: namely, Mr. Betterton's share in the Eventswhich led to His Majesty's gracious Pardon being extended to the Earl ofStour. I had, of course, more than suspected all along that it was myFriend who had approached the Countess of Castlemaine on the Subject,yet could not imagine how any Man, who was smarting under such aterrible Insult, as Mr. Betterton had suffered at the hands of my LordStour, could find it in his Heart thus to return Good for Evil, and withsuch splendid Magnanimity.
But here I had Chapter and Verse for the whole Affair, because my LadyCastlemaine wrote to Mr. Betterton more than once upon the Subject, andalways in the same bantering tone, chaffing him for his Chivalry and hisHeroism, saying very much what I should myself, if I had had the Courageor the Presumption to do so. She kept him well informed of herEndeavours on behalf of Lord Stour, referring to the King's Severity andObstinacy in the matter in no measured Language, but almost invariablyclosing her Epistles with a reiteration of her promise to the greatArtist to grant him any Favour he might ask of her.
"I do work most strenuously on your behalf, You adorably wicked Man,"her Ladyship wrote in one of her Letters; "but I could wish that Youwould ask something of me which more closely concerned Yourself."
On another occasion she said:
"For the first time yester evening I wrung a half Promise from HisMajesty; but You cannot conceive in what a Predicament You have placedme, for His Majesty hath shown signs of Suspicion since I plead soearnestly on behalf of Lord Stour. If my Insistence were really toarouse his Jealousy your Protege would certainly lose his Head and Iprobably my Place in the King's Affections."
And then again:
"It greatly puzzles me why You should thus favour my Lord Stour. Is itnot a fact that he hath insulted You beyond the Hope of Pardon? And yet,not only do You plead for your Enemy with passionate insistence, but Youenjoin me at the same time to keep your noble purpose a Secret from him.Truly, but for my promise to You, I would throw up the Sponge, and thatfor your own good.... I did not know that Artists were Altruists.Methought that Egotism was their most usual Foible."
Thus I could no longer remain in doubt as to who the Benefactor was,whom my Lord of Stour had to thank for his very life. Yet, withal, theSecret was so well kept that, even in this era of ceaseless Gossip andChatter, every one, even in the most intimate Court Circle, was ignorantof the subtle Intrigue which had been set in motion on behalf of theyoung Gallant.
CHAPTER XII
POISONED ARROWS
1
Do you remember, dear Mistress, those lovely days we had in Februarythis year? They were more like days of Spring than of Winter. For afortnight we revelled in sunshine and a temperature more fitting for Maythan for one of the Winter months.
In London, Rich and Poor alike came out into the Air like flies; thepublic Gardens and other Places of common resort were alive withPromenaders; the Walks and Arbours in the Gray's Inn Walks or theMulberry Garden were astir with brilliant Company. All day, whether yousauntered in Hyde Park, refreshed yourself with a collation in SpringGardens or strolled into the New Exchange, you would find such a crowdof Men and Women of Mode, such a Galaxy of Beauty and Bevy of fair Maidsand gallant Gentlemen as had not been seen in the Town since that merrymonth of May, nigh on two years ago now, when our beloved King returnedfrom Exile and all vied one with the other to give him a cheerfulWelcome.
To say that this period was one of unexampled Triumph for Mr. Bettertonwould be but to repeat what You know just as well as I do. He made sometruly remarkable hits in certain Plays of the late Mr. WilliamShakespeare, notably in "Macbeth," in "King Lear," and in "Hamlett."Whether I like these Plays myself or not is beside the point; whatever Ithought of them I kept to myself, but was loud in my Admiration of thegreat Actor, who indeed had by now conquered all Hearts, put every otherPerformer in the Shade and raised the Status of the Duke's Company ofPlayers to a level far transcending that ever attained by Mr.Killigrew's old Company.
This Opinion, at any rate, I have the Honour of sharing with all theyounger generation of Play-goers who flock to the Theatre in Lincoln'sInn Fields, even while the King's House in Vere Street is receiving butscanty Patronage. Of course my Judgment may not be altogetherimpartial, seeing that in addition to Mr. Betterton, who is the finestActor our English Stage has ever known, the Duke's House also boasts ofthe loveliest Actress that ever walked before the Curtain.
You, dear Mistress, were already then, as You are now, at the zenith ofyour Beauty and Fame, and your damask Cheeks would blush, I know, if youwere to read for yourself some of the Eulogies which the aforementionedMr. Samuel Pepys in his Letters to Mr. Betterton bestows upon theexquisite Mistress Saunderson--"Ianthe," as he has been wont to call youever since he saw You play that part in Sir William Davenant's "TheSiege of Rhodes."
Of course I know that of late no other sentimental tie hath existedoutwardly between Mr. Betterton and Yourself save that of Comradeshipand friendly Intercourse; but often when sitting in the Pit of theTheatre I watched You and Him standing together before the curtain, andreceiving the Plaudits of an enthusiastic Audience, I prayed to God inmy Heart to dissipate the Cloud of Misunderstanding which had arisenbetween You; aye! and I cursed fervently the Lady Barbara a
nd her nobleLover, who helped to make that Cloud more sombre and impenetrable.
2
I naturally heard a great deal more of Society Gossip these days than Iwas wont to do during the time that I was a mere Clerk in the Employ ofMr. Theophilus Baggs. My kind Employer treated me more as a Friend thana Servant. I had fine Clothes to wear, accompanied him on severalOccasions when he appeared in Public, and was constantly in histiring-room at the Theatre, where he received and entertained anever-ending Stream of Friends.
Thus, towards the end of the Month, I gathered from the Conversation ofGentlemen around me that the Marquess of Sidbury had come up to Town inthe Company of his beautiful Daughter. He had, they said, takenadvantage of the fine Weather to make the Journey to London, as hedesired to consult the Court Physician on the Matter of his Health.
I shall never forget the strange Look that came into Mr. Betterton'sface when first the Subject was mentioned. He and some Friends--Ladiesas well as Gentlemen--were assembled in the small Reception Room whichhath lately been fitted up behind the Stage. Upholstered and curtainedwith a pleasing Shade of Green, the Room is much frequented by Artistsand their Friends, and it is always crowded during the Performance ofthose Plays wherein one of the leading Actors or Actresses has a part.
We have taken to calling the place the Green Room, and here on theoccasion of a performance of Mr. Webster's "Duchess of Malfy," in whichYou, dear Mistress, had no part, a very brilliant Company was assembled.Sir William Davenant was there, as a matter of course, so was Sir GeorgeEtherege, and that brilliant young dramatist Mr. Wycherley. In additionto that, there were one or two very great Gentlemen there, members ofthe Court Circle and enthusiastic Playgoers, who were also intimateFriends of Mr. Betterton. I am referring particularly to the Duke ofBuckingham, to my Lord Rochester, Lord Orrery and others. A brilliantAssembly forsooth, which testified to the high Esteem in which the greatArtist is held by all those who have the privilege of knowing him.
I told You that when first the Name of the Lady Barbara was mentioned inthe Green Room, a strange Glance, which I was unable to interpret, shotout of Mr. Betterton's eyes, and as I gazed upon that subtle, impalpableChange which suddenly transformed his serene Expression of Countenanceinto one that was almost Evil, I felt a curious sinking of the Heart--adread Premonition of what was to come. You know how his lips are everready to smile: now they appeared thin and set, while the sensitiveNostrils quivered almost like those of the wild Beasts which we have allof us frequently watched in the Zoological Gardens, when the Attendantsbring along the food for the day and they, eager and hungry, know thatthe Hour of Satisfaction is nigh.
"The fair Lady Babs," one of the young Gallants was saying with studiedFlippancy, "is more beautiful than ever, methinks; even though she goesabout garbed in the Robes of Sorrow."
"Poor young thing!" commented His Grace of Buckingham kindly. "She hasbeen hard hit in that last Affair."
"I wonder what has happened to Wychwoode," added Lord Rochester, who hadbeen a known Friend of Lord Douglas.
"Oh! he reached Holland safely enough," another Gentleman whom I did notknow averred. "I suppose he thinks that it will all blow over presentlyand that he will obtain a free pardon----"
"Like my Lord Stour," commented Mr. Betterton drily.
"Oh! that's hardly likely," interposed Sir George Etherege. "Wychwoodewas up to the neck in the Conspiracy, whilst Stour was proved to beinnocent of the whole affair."
"How do you know that?" Mr. Betterton asked quietly.
"How do I know it?" retorted Sir George. "Why? ... How do we all knowit?"
"I was wondering," was Mr. Betterton's calm Rejoinder.
"I imagine," broke in another Gentleman, "that at the Trial----"
"Stour never stood his trial, now you come to think of it," hereinterposed my Lord of Rochester.
"He was granted a free Pardon," asserted His Grace of Buckingham, "twodays after his Arrest."
"At the Instance of the Countess of Castlemaine, so I am told,"concluded Mr. Betterton.
You see, he only put in a Word here and there, but always to somepurpose; and oh! that Purpose I simply dared not guess. I was watchinghim, remember, watching him as only a devoted Friend or a fond Motherknow how to watch; and I saw that set look on his Face grow harder andharder and a steely, glittering Light flash out of his Eyes.
My God! how I suffered! For with that Intuition which comes to us attimes when those whom we love are in deadly peril, I had suddenly beheldthe Abyss of Evil into which my Friend was about to plunge headlong.Yes! I understood now why Mr. Betterton had pleaded with my LadyCastlemaine for his Enemy's Life. It was not in order to confer uponhim a lasting benefit and thus shame him by his Magnanimity; but ratherin order to do him an Injury so irreparable that even Death could notwipe it away.
But you shall judge, dear Mistress; and thus judging You will understandmuch that has been so obscure in my dear Friend's Character and in hisActions of late. And to understand All is to forgive All. One thingyou must remember, however, and that is that no Man of Mr. Betterton'sWorth hath ever suffered in his Pride and his innermost Sensibilities ashe hath done at the Hands of that young Jackanapes whom he hated--as Ihad good cause to know now--with an Intensity which was both cruel andrelentless. He meant to be even with him, to fight him with his ownWeapons, which were those of Contempt and of Ridicule. He meant towound there, where he himself had suffered most, in Reputation and inSelf-Respect.
I saw it all, and was powerless to do aught save to gaze in muteHeart-Agony on the marring of a noble Soul. Nay! I am not ashamed toown it: I did in my Heart condemn my Friend for what he had set out todo. I too hated Lord Stour, God forgive me! but two months ago I wouldgladly have seen his arrogant Head fall upon the Scaffold; but thissubtle and calculating Revenge, this cold Intrigue to ruin a Man'sReputation and to besmirch his Honour, was beyond my ken, and I couldhave wept to see the great Soul of the Man, whom I admired most in allthe World, a prey to such an evil Purpose.
"We all know," one of the young Sparks was saying even now, "that myLady Castlemaine showed Stour marked favour from the very moment heappeared at Court."
"We also know," added Mr. Betterton with quiet Irony, "that the whisperof a beautiful Woman often drowns the loudest call of Honour."
"But surely you do not think----?" riposted Lord Rochester indignantly,"that--that----"
"That what, my lord?" queried Mr. Betterton calmly.
"Why, demme, that Stour did anything dishonourable?"
"Why should I not think that?" retorted Mr. Betterton, with a slightElevation of the Eyebrows.
"Because he is a Stourcliffe of Stour, Sir," broke in Sir GeorgeEtherege in that loud, blustering way he hath at times; "and bears oneof the greatest Names in the Land."
"A great Name is hereditary, Sir," rejoined the great Actor quietly."Honesty is not."
"But what does Lady Castlemaine say about it all?" interposed LordOrrery.
"Lady Castlemaine hath not been questioned on the subject, I imagine,"interposed Sir William Davenant drily.
"Ah!" rejoined His Grace of Buckingham. "There you are wrong, Davenant.I remember speaking to her Ladyship about Stour one day--saying how gladI was that he, at any rate, had had nothing to do with that abominableAffair."
"Well?" came eagerly from every one. "What did she say?"
His Grace remained thoughtful for a time, as if trying to recollectSomething that was eluding his Memory. Then he said, turning to Mr.Betterton:
"Why, Tom, you were there at the time. Do You recollect? It was at oneof Her Ladyship's Supper Parties. His Majesty was present. We all fellto talking about the Conspiracy, and the King said some very bitterthings. Then I thought I would say something about Stour. Youremember?"
"Oh, yes!" replied Mr. Betterton.
"What did Lady Castlemaine say?"
"I don't think she said anything. Methinks she only laughed."
"So she
did!" assented His Grace; "and winked at You, you Rogue! Irecollect the Circumstance perfectly now, though I attached noimportance to it at the time. But I can see it all before me. HisMajesty frowned and continued to look glum, whilst the Countess ofCastlemaine vowed with a laugh that, anyway, my lord Stour was thehandsomest Gentleman in London, and that 'twere a pity to allow such abeautiful Head to fall on the Scaffold."
"It certainly sounds very strange," mused my Lord Rochester, and fell totalking in Whispers with Sir George Etherege, whilst His Grace ofBuckingham went and sat down beside Mr. Betterton, and obviously startedto discuss the Incident of the Supper Party all over again with thegreat Actor. Other isolated Groups also formed themselves, and I knewthat my Lord Stour's Name was on every one's lips.
Traducement and Gossip is Meat and Drink to all these noble anddistinguished Gentlemen, and here they had something to talk about,which would transcend in Scandal anything that had gone before. Thestory about my Lord Stour would spread with the Rapidity which onlyevil-loving Tongues can give. Alas! my poor Friend knew that wellenough when he shot his poisoned Arrows into the Air. I was watchinghim whilst His Grace of Buckingham conversed with him: I saw thefeverishly keen look in his eyes as he, in his turn, watched the Ball ofSlander and Gossip being tossed about from one Group to another. Hesaid but little, hardly gave Answer to His Grace; but I could see thathe was on the alert, ready with other little poisoned Darts whenever hesaw Signs of weakening in the Volume of Backbiting, which he had sodeliberately set going.