His Majesty hardly ever missed a Performance at the new Duke's Theatrewhen Mr. Betterton was acting, nor did my Lady Castlemaine, who wasshamelessly vowing about that time that she was prepared to bestow uponthe great Man any Favour he might ask of her.
2
But outwardly at any rate, Mr. Betterton had become a changed Man. Hisrobust Constitution and splendid Vitality did in truth overcome thephysical after-effects of the abominable Outrage of which he had beenthe Victim; but the moral consequences upon his entire character anddemeanour were indeed incalculable. Of extraordinary purity in his modeof living, it had been difficult, before that Episode, for evil Gossipto besmirch his fair name, even in these lax and scandalous times. Butafter that grim September afternoon it seemed as if he took pride inemulating the least estimable characteristics of his Contemporaries.His Majesty's avowed predilection for the great Actor brought the latterinto daily contact with all those noble and beautiful Ladies who gracedthe Court and Society, more by virtue of their outward appearance thanof their inner worth. Scarce ever was a banquet or fete given at WhileHall now but Mr. Betterton was not one of the most conspicuous guests;never a Supper party at my Lady Castlemaine's or my Lady Shrewsbury'sbut the famous Actor was present there. He was constantly in thecompany of His Grace of Buckingham, of my Lord Rochester and others ofthose noble young Rakes; his name was constantly before the Public; hewas daily to be seen on the Mall, or in St. James's Park, or at the moreceremonious parade in Hyde Park. His elegant clothes were the talk ofevery young Gallant that haunted Fop's Corner; his sallies were quotedby every Cavalier who strove for a reputation as a wit. In fact, dearLady, You know just as well as I do, that for that brief period of hislife Mr. Betterton became just one of the gay, idle, modish young Menabout town, one of that hard-drinking, gambling, scandal-mongering crowdof Idlers, who were none of them fit to tie the lacets of his shoes.
I, who saw more and more of him in those days, knew, however, that allthat gay, butterfly Existence which he led was only on the surface. Tome he was like some poor Animal stricken by a mortal wound, who,nevertheless, capers and gyrates before a grinning Public withmechanical movements of the body that have nothing in common with themind.
3
Of the beautiful Lady Barbara I saw but little during the autumn.
There was much talk in the Town about her forthcoming Marriage to myLord of Stour, which was to take place soon after the New Year. Manywere the conjectures as to why so suitable a Marriage did not take placeimmediately, and it seemed strange that so humble and insignificant aPerson as I was could even then have supplied the key to the riddlewhich was puzzling so many noble Ladies and Gentlemen. I knew, in myhumble capacity as Spectator of great events, that the Marriage wouldonly take place after the vast and treasonable projects which hadoriginated in my Lord Douglas Wychwoode's turbulent mind had come to asuccessful issue.
I often confided to You, dear Mistress, in those days that Mr.Betterton, in the kindness of his Heart, had made me many an offer toleave my present humdrum employment and to allow myself to be attachedto his Person as his private Secretary and personal Friend. For a longtime I refused his offers--tempting and generous though theywere--chiefly because if I had gone then to live with Mr. Betterton, Ishould have been irretrievably separated from You. But in my Heart Iknew that, though the great Man was not in pressing need of a Secretary,his soul did even long and yearn for a Friend. A more devoted one, Ivow, did not exist than my humble self; and when, during the early partof the autumn, You, dear Mistress, finally decided to leave your presentuncomfortable quarters for lodgings more befitting your growing Fame andyour Talents, there was nothing more to keep me tied to my dour andunsympathetic Employer, and to his no less unpleasant Spouse.
I therefore gave Mr. Theophilus Baggs notice that I had resolved to quithis Employ, hoping that my Decision would meet with his Convenience.
I could not help laughing to myself when I saw the manner in which hereceived this Announcement. To say that he was surprised and indignantwould be to put it mildly; indeed, he used every Mode of persuasion totry and make me alter my decision. He began by chiding me for anIngrate, vowing that he had taught me all I knew and had lavished Moneyand Luxuries upon me, and that I was proposing to leave him just whenthe time had come for him to see some slight return for his Expenditureand for his pains, in my growing Efficiency. He went on to persuade, tocajole and to bribe, Mistress Euphrosine joining him both inVituperation and in Unctuousness. But, as You know, I was adamant. Iknew the value of all this soft-sawder and mouth-honour. I had sufferedtoo many Hardships and too many Indignities at the hands of theseselfish Sycophants, to turn a deaf ear now that friendship and mine ownfuture happiness called to me so insistently.
Finally, however, I yielded to the extent of agreeing to stay a furtherthree months in the service of Mr. Baggs, whilst he took steps to findanother Clerk who would suit his purpose. But I only agreed to this onthe condition that I was to be allowed a fuller amount of personalFreedom than I had enjoyed hitherto; that I should not be set any longerto do menial tasks, which properly pertained to a Scullion; and that,whenever my clerical work for the day was done, I should be at libertyto employ my time as seemed best to me.
Thus it was that I had a certain amount of leisure, and after You leftus, fair Mistress, I was able to take my walks abroad, there where I wasfairly certain of meeting You, or of having a glimpse of Mr. Betterton,surrounded by his brilliant Friends.
Often, dear Mistress, did You lavish some of your precious time andcompany upon the seedy Attorney's Clerk, who of a truth was not worthyto be seen walking in the Park or in Mulberry Gardens beside thebeautiful and famous Mistress Saunderson, who by this time had quite asmany Followers and Adorers as any virtuous Woman could wish for. Younever mentioned Mr. Betterton to me in those days, even though I knewthat You must often have been thrown in his Company, both in the Theatreand in Society. That your love for him had not died in your Heart, Iknew from the wistful look which was wont to come into your eyeswhenever You chanced to meet him in the course of a Promenade. Youalways returned his respectful and elaborate bow on those occasions withcool Composure; but as soon as he had passed by and his rich, mellowVoice, so easily distinguishable amongst others, had died away in thedistance, I, who knew every line of your lovely face, saw the familiarlook of Sorrow and of bitter Disappointment once more mar its perfectserenity.
4
We had an unusually mild and prolonged autumn this past year, if youremember, fair Mistress; and towards the end of October there were a fewsunny days which were the veritable aftermath of Summer. The LondonParks and Gardens were crowded day after day with Ladies and Gallants,decked in their gayest attire, for the time to don winter clothing stillappeared remote.
I used to be fond of watching all these fair Ladies and dazzlingCavaliers, and did so many a time on those bright mornings whilstwaiting to see You pass. On one occasion I saw the Lady BarbaraWychwoode, in company with my Lord Stour.
Heaven knows I have no cause to think kindly of her; but truth compelsme to say that she appeared to me more beautiful than ever before. Sheand his Lordship had found two chairs, up against a tree, somewhat apartfrom the rest of the glittering throng. I, as a Spectator, could seethat they were supremely happy in one another's company.
"How sweet the air is!" she was sighing contentedly. "More like springthan late autumn. Ah, me! How happily one could dream!"
She threw him a witching glance, which no doubt sent him straight toHeaven, for I heard him say with passionate earnestness:
"Of what do Angels dream, my beloved?"
They continued to whisper, and I of course did not catch all that theysaid. My Lord Stour was obviously very deeply enamoured of the LadyBarbara. Because of this I seemed to hate and despise him all the more.Oh! when the whole World smiled on him, when Fortune and Destinyshowered their
most precious gifts into his lap, what right had he tomar the soul which God had given him with such base Passions as Jealousyand Cruelty? With his monstrous Act of unwarrantable violence he hadruined the happiness of a Man greater, finer than himself; he had warpeda noble disposition, soured a gentle and kindly spirit. Oh! I hatedhim! I hated him! God forgive me, but I had not one spark of Christianspirit for him within my heart. If it lay in my power, I knew that I wasready to do him an Injury.
From time to time I heard snatches of his impassioned speeches."Barbara, my beloved! Oh, God! how I love You!" Or else: "'Tisunspeakable joy to look into your eyes, joyous madness to hold yourlittle hand!" And more of such stuff, as Lovers know how to use.
And she, too, looked supremely happy. There was a sparkle in her eyeswhich spoke of a Soul intoxicated with delight. She listened to him asif every word from his lips was heaven-sent Manna to her hungeringheart. And I marvelled why this should be; why she should listen tothis self-sufficient, empty-headed young Coxcomb and have rejected withsuch bitter scorn the suit of a Man worthy in every sense to be the Mateof a Queen. And I thought then of Mr. Betterton kneeling humbly beforeher, his proud Head bent before this ignorant and wilful Girl, who hadnaught but cruel words for him on her lips. And a great wrath possessedme, greater than it ever had been before. I suppose that I am verywicked and that the Devil of Revenge had really possessed himself of mySoul; but then and there, under the trees, with the translucent Dome ofblue above me, I vowed bitter hatred against those two, vowed that Fateshould be even with them if I, the humble Clerk, could have a say in herdecrees.
5
Just now, they were like two Children playing at love. He was insistentand bold, tried to draw her to him, to kiss her in sight of thefashionable throng that promenaded up and down the Avenue less thanfifty yards away.
"A murrain on the Conventions!" he said with a light laugh, as shechided him for his ardour. "I want the whole Universe to be witness ofmy joy."
She placed her pretty hand playfully across his mouth.
"Hush, my dear Lord," she said with wonderful tenderness. "Heavenitself, they say, is oft times jealous to see such Happiness as ours....And I am so happy..." she continued with a deep sigh, "so happy thatsometimes a horrible presentiment seems to grip my heart..."
"Presentiment of what, dear love?" he queried lightly.
I did not catch what she said in reply, for just at that moment I caughtsight of Mr. Betterton walking at a distant point of the Avenue, in theCompany of a number of admiring Friends.
They were hanging round him, evidently vastly amused by some wittysallies of his. Never had I seen him look more striking and morebrilliant. He wore a magnificent coat of steel-grey velvet with richlyembroidered waistcoat, and a cravat and frills of diaphanous lace,whilst the satin breeches, silk stockings and be-ribboned shoes set offhis shapely limbs to perfection. His Grace of Buckingham was walkingbeside him, and he had my Lady Shrewsbury upon his arm, whilst among hisFriends I recognised my Lords Orrery and Buckhurst, and the LordChancellor himself.
The Lady Barbara caught sight of Mr. Betterton, too, I imagine, for as Imoved away, I heard her say in a curiously constrained voice:
"That man--my Lord--he is your deadly Enemy."
"Bah!" he retorted with a careless shrug of the shoulders. "Actors arelike toothless, ill-tempered curs. They bark, but they are powerless tobite!"
Oh, I hated him! Heavens above! how I hated him!
How puny and insignificant he was beside his unsuccessful Rival shouldof a surety have been apparent even to the Lady Barbara. Even now, Mr.Betterton, with a veritable crowd of Courtiers around him, had come to ahalt not very far from where those two were sitting; and it was verycharacteristic of him that, even whilst the Duke of Buckingham waswhispering in his ear and the Countess of Shrewsbury was smiling archlyat him, his eyes having found me, he nodded and waved his hand to me.
6
A minute or two later, another group of Ladies and Gallants, amongstwhom Her Grace the Duchess of York was conspicuous by her elegance andthe richness of her attire, literally swooped down upon Mr. Bettertonand his Friends, and Her Grace's somewhat high-pitched voice cameringing shrilly to mine ear.
"Ah, Mr. Betterton!" she exclaimed. "Where have you hid yourself sinceyesterday, you wicked, adorable Man? And I, who wished to tell you howentirely splendid was your performance in that supremely dull play youcall 'Love and Honour.' You were superb, Sir, positively superb! ... Iwas telling His Grace a moment ago that every Actor in the world is amere Mountebank when compared with Mr. Betterton's Genius."
And long did she continue in the same strain, most of the Ladies andGentlemen agreeing with her and engaging in a chorus of Eulogy, alldelivered in high falsetto voices, which in the olden days, when first Iknew him, would have set Mr. Betterton's very teeth on edge. But now hetook up the ball of airy talk, tossed it back to the Ladies, bowed lowand kissed Her Grace's hand--I could see that she gave his a significantpressure--gave wit for wit and flattery for flattery.
He had of a truth made a great success the day before in a play called"Love and Honour," writ by Sir William Davenant, when His Majestyhimself lent his own Coronation Suit to the great Actor, so that hemight worthily represent the part of _Prince Alvaro_. This Success putthe crowning Glory to his reputation, although in my humble opinion itwas unworthy of so great an Artist as Mr. Betterton to speak theEpilogue which he had himself written in eulogy of the Countess ofCastlemaine, and which he delivered with such magnificent Diction at theend of the Play, that His Majesty waxed quite enthusiastic in hisapplause.
7
Standing somewhat apart from that dazzling group, I noticed my LordDouglas Wychwoode, in close conversation with my Lord Teammouth andanother Gentleman, who was in clerical attire. After awhile, my LordStour joined them, the Lady Barbara having apparently slipped awayunobserved.
My Lord Stour was greeted by his friends with every mark of cordiality.
"Ah!" the Cleric exclaimed, and extended both his hands--which werewhite and plump--to my Lord. "Here is the truant at last!" Then hewaxed playful, put up an accusing finger and added with a smirkinglaugh: "Meseems I caught sight of a petticoat just behind those trees,where his Lordship himself had been apparently communing with Nature,eh?"
Whereupon my Lord Teammouth went on, not unkindly and in that dogmaticway which he was pleased to affect: "Youth will ever smile, even in themidst of dangers; and my Lord Stour is a great favourite with theLadies."
Lord Douglas Wychwoode was as usual petulant and impatient, and rejoinedangrily:
"Even the Castlemaine has tried to cast her nets around him."
My Lord Stour demurred, but did not try to deny the soft impeachment.
"Only because I am new at Court," he said, "and have no eyes for herbeauty."
This, of course, was News to me. I am so little versed in Court andSociety gossip and had not heard the latest piece of scandal, whichattributed to the Lady Castlemaine a distinct _penchant_ for the youngNobleman. Not that it surprised me altogether. The newly createdCountess of Castlemaine, who was receiving favours from His Majesty theKing with both hands, never hesitated to deceive him, and even to renderhim ridiculous by flaunting her predilections for this or that youngGallant who happened to have captured her wayward fancy. My LordSandwich, Colonel Hamilton, the handsome Mr. Wycherley, and even such avulgar churl as Jacob Hill, the rope dancer, had all, at one time oranother, been favoured with the lady's fitful smiles, and whileresponding to her advances with the Ardour born of Cupidity or of adesire for self-advancement rather than of true love, they had for themost part lost some shreds of their Reputation and almost all of theirSelf-respect.
But at the moment I paid no heed to Lord Douglas' taunt levelled at hisFriend, nor at the latter's somewhat careless way of Retort. In fact,the whole Episode did not then impress itself upon my mind, and
it wasonly in face of later events that I was presently to be reminded of itall.
8
For the moment I was made happy by renewed kindly glances from Mr.Betterton. It seemed as if his eyes had actually beckoned to me, so Imade bold to advance nearer to the dazzling group of Ladies andGentlemen that stood about, talking--jabbering, I might say, like anumber of gay-plumaged birds, for they seemed to me irresponsible andunintellectual in their talk.
Of course, I could not hear everything, and I had to try and make myunfashionably attired Person as inconspicuous as possible. So I drew abook from my pocket, one that looked something like a Greek Lexicon,though in truth it was a collection of Plays writ by the late Mr.William Shakespeare, in one or two of which--notably in one called"Hamlett"--Mr. Betterton had scored some of his most conspicuousTriumphs.
The book, and my seeming absorption in it, gave me the countenance of anearnest young Student intent on the perusal of Classics, even whilst itenabled me to draw quite near to the brilliant Throng of DistinguishedPeople, who, if they paid any heed to me at all, would find excuses formy Presumption in my obvious earnest Studiousness. I was also able tokeep some of my attention fixed upon Mr. Betterton, who was surroundedby admiring Friends; whilst at some little distance close by, I couldsee Mr. Harris--also of the Duke's Theatre--who was holding forth in adidactic manner before a group of Ladies and gay young Sparks, eventhough they were inclined to mock him because of his Conceit in pittinghis talent against that of Mr. Betterton.