Chapter LII
"My dearest wife was like this maid, And such my daughter might have been."
SHAKESPEARE.
The reader may be surprised at the positive and dictatorial language of MrJohn Forster, relative to Newton's marriage, as detailed in a formerchapter; but, as Mr John Forster truly observed, all the recompense whichhe had to expect for a life of exertion was to dispose of the fruits of hislabour according to his own will. This he felt; and he considered itunreasonable that what he supposed a boyish attachment on the part ofNewton was to overthrow all his preconcerted arrangements. Had Mr Forsterbeen able to duly appreciate the feelings of his nephew, he probably wouldnot have been so decided; but Love had never been able to establish himselfas an inmate of his breast. His life had been a life of toil. Loveassociates with idleness and ease. Mr Forster was kind and cordial to hisnephew as before, and the subject was not again renewed; nevertheless, hehad made up his mind, and having stated that he would alter his will, suchwas his intention, provided that his nephew did not upon mature reflectionaccede to his wishes. Newton once more enjoyed the society of Isabel, towhom he imparted all that had occurred. "I do not wish to play the prude,"answered Isabel, "by denying that I am distressed at your uncle's decision;to say that I will never enter into his family without having received hisconsent, is saying more than my feelings will bear out; but I must and willsay that I shall be most unwilling so to do. We must, therefore, as Madamede Fontanges did with the pirate captain, _temporise_, and I trust we shallbe as successful." Newton, more rational than most young men in love,agreed with Isabel on the propriety of the measure, and, satisfied witheach other's attachment, they were by no means in a hurry to precipitatetheir marriage.
It may be recollected that Newton Forster felt convinced that the contentsof the trunk which he picked up at sea, when mate of the coasting vessel,was the property of the Marquis de Fontanges. During their passage home inthe _Windsor Castle_, he had renewed the subject to M. de Fontanges, andfrom the description which he gave from memory, the latter appeared to beof the same opinion. The conversation had not been revived until some timeafter their arrival in England, when Newton, anxious to restore thearticles, desired M. de Fontanges to communicate with the marquis, andrequest that he would appoint a day upon which he would call at his uncle'sand identify the property. The marquis, who had never been informed by M.de Fontanges that any supposed relics of his lost wife remained, sighed atthe memory of his buried happiness--buried in that vast grave, whichdefrauds the earth of its inherent rights--and consented to call upon theensuing day. When the marquis arrived, accompanied by M. and Madame deFontanges, he was received in the drawing-room by Mr John Forster, who hadbrought from his chamber the packet in question, which had remained lockedup in the iron safe ever since Newton had first committed it to his charge.After their introduction to each other, the marquis observed, in English--
"I am giving you a great deal of trouble; unavailing indeed; for, allowingthat the articles should prove to be mine, the sight of them must be asource of renewed misery."
"Sir," replied Mr John Forster, "the property does not belong to my nephew,and he has very properly reserved it until he could find out the legalowner. If the property is yours, we are bound to deliver it into yourhands. There is an inventory attached to it," continued the old lawyer,putting on his spectacles, and reading, "one diamond ring--but perhaps itwould be better that I should open the packet."
"Will you permit me to look at the diamond ring, sir?" observed M. deFontanges. "The sight of that will identify the whole."
"There it is, sir," replied Mr John Forster.
"It is, indeed, that of my poor sister-in-law!" said M. de Fontanges,taking it up to the marquis. "My brother, it is Louise's ring!"
"It is," cried the marquis, passionately, "the ring that I placed in thecentre of her _corbeille de mariage_. Alas! where is the hand which gracedit?" and the marquis retreated to the sofa, and covered his face.
"We have no occasion then to proceed further," observed Mr John Forster,with emotion. "The other articles you, of course, recognise?"
"I do," replied Monsieur de Fontanges. "My brother had taken his passage inthe same vessel, but was countermanded. Before he had time to select allhis own baggage, which was mixed with that of his wife, the ship was blownout to sea, and proceeded on her voyage. These orders of merit were leftwith her jewels."
"I observe," said the old lawyer, "which I did not when Newton entrustedthe packet to my charge, that the linen has not all the same marks; that ofthe adult is marked L. de M., while that which belonged to the child ismarked J. de F. Was it the marquis's child?"
"It was; the linen of the mother was some belonging to her previous to hermarriage. The maiden name was Louise de Montmorenci; that of the child hasthe initials of its name, Julie de Fontanges."
"Humph! I have my reasons for asking that question," replied the oldlawyer. "Newton, do me the favour to step to my chambers and open the safe.You will find in it, on the right-hand side, another small bundle of linen:bring it here. Stop, Newton, blow the dust out of the pipe of the keybefore you put it in, and be careful that it is well inserted before youturn it, or you may strain the wards. In all other points, you may be asquick as you please. My lord Marquis', will you allow me to offer you somerefreshment?--a glass of wine will be of service. Brother Nicholas, do methe favour to call Amber."
Newton and Nicholas both departed on their respective missions. Amber madeher appearance.
"Papa," said Amber, "do you want me?"
"Yes, my dear," said Mr Forster, handing her the keys; "go down to thecellaret and bring up some wine. I do not wish the servants to come in justnow."
Amber reappeared with a small tray. She first handed it to the marquis, whowas roused at her voice.
"Papa requests that you will take some wine, sir. It will be of service toyou."
The marquis, who had looked earnestly in her face when she had spoken, tookthe wine, and drinking it off, bowed as he replaced the glass. He then sunkback on the sofa.
When the rap at the door announced the return of Newton, Mr John Forsterrequested M. de Fontanges, in a low voice, to follow him, and directingNewton, whom they met on the stairs, to return, they proceeded to thedining-parlour.
"I have requested you to come down, sir," said Mr John Forster, "that Imight not, without being certain, raise hopes in your brother the marquis,which, if not realised, would create bitter feelings of disappointment; butI remarked the initials on the linen of the child; and if my memory, whichis not very bad, fails me not, we shall find corresponding ones in thepacket now before us;" and the old lawyer opened the bundle and displayedthe contents, which proved to be marked as he had surmised.
"Most true," replied Monsieur de Fontanges. "They are the same, and ofcourse part of the property which was picked up."
"Yes; but not picked up at the same time, or at the same spot, or by thesame person. Those above stairs were, as you know, picked up by my nephew;these by a brother, who is since dead: and in these clothes an infant wasalso washed upon the beach."
"His child!" exclaimed Monsieur de Fontanges. "Where was it buried?"
"The child was restored to life, and is still living."
"If it is," replied Monsieur de Fontanges, "it can be no other than theyoung lady who just now called you father. The likeness to Madame laMarquise is most astonishing."
"It is as you suppose, sir," replied Mr John Forster. "At my brother'sdeath, he bequeathed the little girl to my protection; and I trust I havedone justice to the deposit. Indeed, although an alien by blood, she is asdear to me as if she were my own daughter: and," continued the old lawyer,hesitating a little, "although I have the satisfaction of restoring her toher father's arms, it will be a heavy blow to part with her! When mybrother spoke to me on the subject, I told him it was trouble and expenseenough to bring up a child of one's own begetting. I little thought at thetime how much more I should be vexed at parting with one of
another's.However, with the bundle, she must be returned to the lawful owner. I haveone more remark to make, sir. Do me the favour to look at that drawing ofmy poor brother's, which hangs over the sideboard. Do you recognise theportrait?"
"Triton!" cried Monsieur de Fontanges; "the dog which I gave my poorsister-in-law!"
"You are indebted to that dog for the life of your niece. He brought her onshore, and laid her at my brother's feet; but I have all the documents,which I will send for your perusal. The facts I consider so wellestablished as to warrant a verdict in any court of justice; and now, sir,I must leave you to make the communication as soon, and, at the same time,as cautiously as you please. Newton, send Amber down to me."
We will pass over the scenes which followed in the dining-parlour anddrawing-room. The Marquis de Fontanges discovered that he was blest with adaughter, at the same time that Amber learnt her own history. In a fewminutes Amber was led upstairs to the arms of her father, whose tears ofsorrow at the loss of his wife were now mingled with those of delight, ashe clasped his daughter to his heart.
"What obligations do I owe to your whole family, my dear friend!" said theMarquis to Newton.
"I will not deny it, sir," replied Newton; "but allow me to observe, thatfor the recovery of your daughter you are equally indebted to thegenerosity of your own relatives and your own feeling disposition. Had notMonsieur and Madame de Fontanges protected and assisted me in my distress;had not you, instead of throwing me into prison, set me at liberty, younever would have known where your daughter was to be found. Had not one ofmy uncles hastened to the relief of the vessel in distress, and the otherprotected your little girl after his death, she would not have been now inexistence. My gratitude for your kindness induced me to remain by yourship, and subsequently to rescue you from the pirate, or you would not havenow been a prisoner in this country--an evil which, under divineProvidence, has been changed to a blessing, by restoring to you yourdaughter. We have all, I trust, done our duty, and this happy issue is ourfull reward."
"Humph!" observed the old lawyer.