Mistress Euphrosine was in abject fear. "Oh! I hope," cried she now andagain, "that they won't come this way. There'll be murder upon ourdoorstep!"
My Lord Stour had just one revulsion of feeling in favour of theunfortunate Castlemaine. "Come, Douglas!" he called at one time."Let's to her aid. Remember she is a Woman, after all!"
But Lady Barbara placed a restraining hand upon his arm, and LordDouglas said with a rough laugh: "I would not lift a finger to defendher. Let the Devil befriend her, an he list."
And all the while the mob hissed and hooted, and stones flew like hailall around the Chaise.
"Oh! they'll murder her! They'll murder her!" called MistressEuphrosine piously.
"And save honest men a vast deal of trouble thereby," Mr. Baggsconcluded sententiously.
The Watchmen were now forging ahead. With their sticks and staves theyfought their way through bravely, heading the chair towards our street.But even so, methought that they stood but little Chance of saving myLady Castlemaine in the end. The Crowd had guessed their purposealready, and were quite ready to give Chase. The Chairmen with theirheavy burden could be no match against them in a Race, and the finalcapture of the unfortunate Woman was only now a question of time.
Then suddenly I gave a gasp. Of a truth I could scarce believe in whatI saw. Let me try and put the picture clearly before you, dearMistress; for in truth You would have loved to see it as I did then.About half a dozen Watchmen had by great exertion succeeded in turningthe corner of our Street. They were heading towards us with only acomparatively small knot of roisterers to contend against, and thepanting, struggling Chairmen with the Sedan Chair were immediatelybehind them.
As far as I could see, the Crowd had not expected this Manoeuvre, andthe sudden turning off of their prey at right angles disconcerted theforemost among them, for the space of a second or two. This gave theChairmen a brief start up the street. But the very next moment the Crowdrealized the situation, and with a wild war-cry, turned to give Chase,when a Man suddenly stepped out from nowhere in particular that I couldsee, unless it was from the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, and stood at thebottom of the street between two posts, all alone, facing the mob.
His Appearance, I imagine, had been so unexpected as well as so sudden,that the young Roisterers in the front of the Crowd paused--like a Crowdalways will when something totally unexpected doth occur. The Man, ofcourse, had his back towards us, but I had recognized him, nor was Isurprised that his Appearance did have the effect of checking for aninstant that spirit of Mischief which was animating the throng. LadyBarbara and the young Gentlemen at the other window were even moreastonished than I at this wholly unforeseen occurrence. They could notunderstand the sudden checking of the Rioters and the comparativesilence which fell upon the forefront of their ranks.
"What does it all mean?" my Lord Stour exclaimed.
"A Man between the chair and its pursuers," Lord Douglas said inamazement.
"Who is it?" queried Lady Barbara.
"Not a Gentleman," rejoined Lord Douglas; "for he would not thus stop toparley with so foul a mob. Meseems I know the figure," he added, andleaned still further out of the window, the better to take in the wholeof the amazing scene. "Yes--by gad! ... It is..."
Here Mistress Euphrosine's cry of horror broke in upon us all.
"Alas!" she ejaculated piously. "'Tis that reprobate Brother of mine!"
"So it is!" added Mr. Baggs drily. "'Tis meet he should raise his voicein defence of that baggage."
"But, who is it?" insisted my Lord Stour impatiently.
"Why, Betterton the Actor," replied Lord Douglas with a laugh. "Do younot know him?"
"Only from seeing him on the stage," said the other. Then he added: "AnActor confronting a mob! By gad! the fellow hath pluck!"
"He knows," protested Mr. Baggs acidly, "that the mob will not hurt him.He hath so oft made them laugh that they look upon him as one ofthemselves."
"Listen!" said Lady Barbara. "You can hear him speak quite plainly."
Whereupon they all became silent.
All this, of course, had occurred in far less time than it takes todescribe. Not more than a few seconds had gone by since first I saw Mr.Betterton step out from Nowhere in particular into the Street. But hisInterposition had given my Lady Castlemaine's Chairmen and also theWatchmen, who were guarding her, a distinct advance. They were makingthe most of the respite by hurrying up our street as fast as they wereable, even while the Crowd--that portion of it that stood nearest to Mr.Betterton and could hear his Voice--broke into a loud laugh at someSally of his which had apparently caught their Fancy.
From the distance the cry was raised: "To the pillory, the Castlemaine!"
It was at this point that my Lady Barbara bade every one to listen, sothat we all could hear Mr. Betterton's rich and powerful Voice quiteplainly.
"Come, come, Friends!" he was saying; "the Lady will get there withoutyour help some day, I'll warrant. Aye! and further too, an the Devilgives her her due! Now, now," he continued, when cries and murmurs,boos and hisses, strove to interrupt him. "You are not going to hiss ahard-working Actor off the Stage like this. Do, in the name of Sport,which every sound-minded Englishman loves, after all, await a fitteropportunity for molesting a defenceless Woman. What say You toadjourning to the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, where mine Host hath justopened a new cask of the most delicious beer You have ever tasted?There's a large room at the back of the bar--You know it. Well! everyone who goes there now--and there's room for three or four hundred ofYou--can drink a pint of that beer at my expense. What say You,Friends? Is it not better than to give chase to a pack of Watchmen anda pair of liveried Chairmen who are already as scared as rabbits? See!they are fast disappearing up the street. Come! who will take a pint ofbeer at the invitation of Tom Betterton? You know him! Is he not ajolly, good fellow?..."
Of course, he did not deliver this speech uninterruptedly. It was onlysnatches of it that came to our ear. But we Listeners soon caught thedrift of it, and watched its reception by the Crowd. Well! theFire-eaters gradually cooled down. The prospect of the ale at the_Spread Eagle_ caused many a smack of the lips, which in its turnsmothered the cries of Rage and Vituperation. Anon, One could perceiveone forearm after another drawn with anticipatory Pleasure across lipsthat had ceased to boo.
Just then, too, Heaven interposed in a conciliatory spirit in the formof a few drops of heavy Rain, presaging a Storm. The next moment thestampede in the direction of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern had begun, whilstmy Lady Castlemaine's Chairmen trudged unmolested past our door.
My Lord Stour gave a loud laugh.
"'Twas well thought on," he exclaimed. "The Mountebank hath found a wayto stop the Rabble's howls, whilst my Lady Baggage finds safety inflight."
But Lady Barbara added thoughtfully: "Methinks 'twas plucky to try anddefend a Woman single-handed."
4
I watched the turbulent throng, filing now in orderly procession throughthe hospitably open doors of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern. Mr. Bettertonremained for awhile standing at the door, marshalling the moreobstreperous of his invited Guests and parleying with Mr. Barraclough,the Host of the _Spread Eagle_--no doubt making arrangements for thequenching of three or four hundred thirsts at his expense. Then hesuddenly turned on his heel and came up the Street. Lord Douglas gaveone of his rough, grating laughs, and said:
"So now I see that, like a wise man, Mr. Betterton mistrusts hisPopularity and proposes to seek refuge from his ebullient Friends."
"I believe," said Mistress Euphrosine to her Lord in an awed whisper; "Ibelieve that Thomas is coming here."
Which possibility greatly disconcerted Mr. Baggs. He became quiteagitated, and exclaimed fussily:
"I'll not have him here ... I'll not ... Not while her Ladyship is here... I'll not allow it!"
"And pray why not, Mr. Notary?" Lady Barbara put in haughtily. "Mr.Betterton sups twice a week with His Maj
esty. Surely then you mayinvite him without shame under your roof!"
"And I've never seen the great Actor close to," remarked Lord Stourlightly. "I've oft marvelled what he was like in private life."
"Oh!" said Lord Douglas, with a distinct note of acerbity in his voice,"he is just like any other Fellow of his degree. These Mountebanks haveof late thought themselves Somebodies, just because 'tis the fashion forGentlemen to write plays and to go to the Theatre. My Lord Rochester,Sir George Etherege and the others have so spoilt them by going aboutconstantly with them, that the Fellows scarce know their place now.This man Betterton is the worst of the lot. He makes love to the Ladiesof the Court, forgets that he is naught but a Rogue and a Vagabond andnot worthy to be seen in the company of Gentlemen. Oh! I've oft had anitching to lay a stick across the shoulders of some of these louts!"
I would that I could convey to you, dear Mistress, the tone of Spitewherewith Lord Douglas spoke at this moment, or the look of Contemptwhich for the moment quite disfigured his good-looking Face. That hehad been made aware at some time of Mr. Betterton's admiration for LadyBarbara became at once apparent to me, also that he looked upon thatadmiration as a Presumption and an Insult.
I was confirmed in this Supposition by the look which he gave then andthere to his Sister, a look which caused her to blush to the very rootsof her hair. I fancy, too, that he also whispered something on thatSubject to my Lord Stour, for a dark frown of Anger suddenly appearedupon the latter's Face and he muttered an angry and rough Ejaculation.
As for me, I am an humble Clerk, a peaceful Citizen and a practisingChristian; but just at that moment I felt that I hated Lord DouglasWychwoode and his Friend with a bitter and undying hatred.
5
Meseemed as if the air within the room had become surcharged with asubtle and heady fluid akin to an Intoxicant, so many Passions were eventhen warring in the innermost hearts of us all. There was Hatred andSpite, and Fervour and Love. We were all of us alive at that moment, ifYou know what I mean. We were Individuals who felt and thoughtindividually and strongly; not just the mere sheeplike Creatures swayedhither and thither by the Modes and Exigencies of the hour. And I canassure you that even then, when we heard Mr. Betterton's quick stepascending the stairs, we all held our breath and watched the door as ifsomething Supernatural was about to be revealed to us.
The next moment that door was thrown open and Mr. Betterton appearedupon the threshold.
Ah! if only You had seen him then, Mistress, your heart would haverejoiced, just as mine did, at the sight. Personally, I could nevertell You if Mr. Betterton is tall or short, handsome or ill-favoured;all that I know is that when he is in a room you cannot look at any oneelse; he seems to dwarf every other Man by the Picturesqueness of hisPersonality.
And now--oh! You should have seen him as he stood there, framed in thedoorway, the grey afternoon light of this dull September day fallingfull upon his Face, with those glittering Eyes of his and the kindly,firm Mouth, round which there slowly began to spread a gently mockingSmile. He was richly dressed, as was his wont, with priceless lacefrills at throat and wrists, and his huge Periwig set off to perfectionthe nobility of his brow.
With one swift gaze round the room, he had taken in the full Situation.You know yourself, dear Mistress, what marvellous Powers of Intuition hehas. His glance swept over Lady Barbara's exquisite comeliness, hersomewhat flurried mien and wide, inquisitive eyes; over Lord Douglas,sullen and contemptuous; my Lord Stour, wrathful and suspicious;Mistress Euphrosine and Mr. Baggs, servile and tremulous. I doubt notthat his keen Eyes had also spied me watching his every Movement frombehind the screen.
The mocking Smile broadened upon his Face. With one shapely leg extendedforward, his right arm holding his hat, his arm executing a superbflourish, he swept to the assembled Company an elaborate Bow.
"My Lords, your servant," he said. Then bowed more gravely to LadyBarbara and added, with a tone of subtle and flattering deference: "Iam, as always, your Ladyship's most humble and most devoted Slave."
Whereupon her Ladyship swept him one of those graceful Curtsies which Iunderstand have become the Mode in fashionable Society of late. But theyoung Gentlemen seemed to have lost count of their Manners. They wereeither too wrathful or too much taken aback to speak. MistressEuphrosine, with her nose in the air, was preparing to sail majesticallyout of the room.
Mr. Betterton then stepped in. He threw down his hat and playfully madepretence to intercept Mistress Euphrosine.
"Sister, I do entreat You," he said with mock concern, "do not carryyour well-shaped nose so high. The scent of Heaven will not reach yournostrils, try how you may.... 'Tis more likely that you will smell thebrimstone which clings to my perruque."
And before Mistress Euphrosine had time to think of a retort, he hadturned to her Ladyship with that gentle air of deference which becamehim so well.
"How comes it," he asked, "that I have the privilege of meeting yourLadyship here?"
"A mere accident, Sir," my Lord Stour interposed, somewhat high-handedlyI thought. "Her Ladyship, fearing to be molested by the Crowd, came tomeet Lord Douglas here."
"I understand," murmured Mr. Betterton. And I who knew him so well,realized that just for the moment he understood nothing save that he wasin the presence of this exquisitely beautiful Woman who had enchainedhis Fancy. He stood like one transfixed, his eyes fastened almost inwonderment upon the graceful Apparition before him. I should not beexaggerating, fair Mistress, if I said that he seemed literally to bedrinking in every line of her dainty Figure; the straight, white throat,the damask cheek and soft, fair hair, slightly disarranged. He had of atruth lost consciousness of his surroundings, and this to such an extentthat it apparently set my Lord Stour's nerves on edge; for anon he saidwith evident Irritation and a total Disregard both of polite Usage andof Truth, since of course he knew quite well to whom he was speaking:
"I did not catch your name, Sir; though you seem acquainted with herLadyship."
He had to repeat the Query twice, and with haughty impatience, beforeMr. Betterton descended from the Clouds in order to reply.
"My name is Betterton, Sir," he said, no less curtly than my lord.
"Betterton? Ah, yes!" his Lordship went on, with what I thought wasstudied Insolence, seeing that he was addressing one of the most famousMen in England. "I have heard the Name before ... but where, I cannotremember.... Let me see, you are...?"
"An Actor, Sir," Mr. Betterton gave haughty answer. "Therefore anArtist, even though an humble one; but still a World contained in oneMan."
Then his manner changed, the stiffness and pride went out of it and headded in his more habitual mode of good-natured banter, whilst pointingin the direction of Mistress Euphrosine:
"That, however, is not, I imagine, the opinion which my worthy Sister--apious Lady, Sir--hath of my talents. She only concedes me a Soul whenshe gloats over the idea that it shall be damned."
"You are insolent!" quoth Mistress Euphrosine, as she stalkedmajestically to the door. "And I'll not stay longer to hear youblaspheme."
Even so, her Brother's lightly mocking ripple of Laughter pursued heralong the course of her dignified exit through the door.
"Nay, dear Sister," he said. "Why not stay and tell these nobleGentlemen your doubts as to which half of me in the hereafter will bestoking the Fires of Hell and which half be wriggling in the Flames?"Then he added, turning gaily once more to the Visitors as MistressEuphrosine finally departed and banged the door to behind her: "MistressBaggs, Sir, is much troubled that she cannot quite make up her mind howmuch of me is Devil and how much a lost Soul."
"Of a surety, Sir," retorted Lord Douglas, with the same tone ofmalicious Spite wherewith he had originally spoken of Mr. Betterton,"every Gentleman is bound to share your worthy Sister's doubts on thatpoint ... and as to whether your right Hand or your sharp Tongue willfizzle first down below."
There was a moment's sil
ence in the room--oh! the mere fraction of asecond--whilst I, who knew every line of Mr. Betterton's face, saw thequick flash of Anger which darted from his eyes at the insolent speech.Lady Barbara too had made an instinctive movement, whether towards himin protection or towards her Brother in reproach, I could not say.Certain it is that that Movement chased away in one instant Mr.Betterton's flaming wrath. He shrugged his shoulders and retorted withquiet Mockery:
"Your Lordship, I feel sure, will be able to have those doubts set atrest presently. I understand that vast intelligence will be granted toGentlemen down there."
At once my Lord's hand went to his sword.
"Insolent!--" he muttered; and my Lord Stour immediately stepped to hisFriend's side.
Like the Fleet Street crowd awhile ago, these two Gentlemen meantmischief. For some reason which was not far to seek, they were on theverge of a Quarrel with Mr. Betterton--nay! I believe that they meantto provoke him into one. In wordy Warfare, however, they did not standmuch chance against the great Actor's caustic Wit, and no doubt theirsense of Impotence made them all the more wrathful and quarrelsome.
Mr. Baggs, of course, servile and obsequious as was his wont, was readyenough to interpose. A Quarrel inside his house, between valued Clientsand his detested Brother-in-law, was not at all to his liking.