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diff --git a/39787-0.txt b/39787-0.txt index 1df1f13..59af6e6 100644 --- a/39787-0.txt +++ b/39787-0.txt @@ -1,31 +1,4 @@ - HIS MAJESTY’S WELL-BELOVED - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: His Majesty’s Well-Beloved - An Episode in the Life of Mr. Thomas Betteron as told by His - Friend John Honeywood - -Author: Baroness Orczy - -Release Date: May 24, 2012 [EBook #39787] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS MAJESTY’S WELL-BELOVED *** - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39787 *** Produced by Al Haines. @@ -8568,376 +8541,4 @@ Petticoat Rule NEW YORK - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS MAJESTY’S WELL-BELOVED *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39787 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: His Majesty's Well-Beloved - An Episode in the Life of Mr. Thomas Betteron as told by His - Friend John Honeywood - -Author: Baroness Orczy - -Release Date: May 24, 2012 [EBook #39787] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - - - HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED - - AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF MR. - THOMAS BETTERTON AS TOLD BY - HIS FRIEND JOHN HONEYWOOD - - - BY - - BARONESS ORCZY - - AUTHOR OF "THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET - PIMPERNEL," "FLOWER O' THE LILY," - "LORD TONY'S WIFE," ETC. - - - - - NEW YORK - - GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - - - - _Copyright, 1919,_ - - _By George H. Doran Company_ - - - - _Printed in the United States of America_ - - - - CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER - - I. How it all Began - II. The Rift Within the Lute - III. A Criminal Folly - IV. More than a Passing Fancy - V. The Outrage - VI. The Gathering Storm - VII. An Assembly of Traitors - VIII. The Lion's Wrath - IX. A Last Chance - X. The Hour - XI. Rumours and Conjectures - XII. Poisoned Arrows - XIII. The Lady Pleads - XIV. The Ruling Passion - XV. More Deaf than Adders - XVI. The Game of Love - - - - - HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED - - - - CHAPTER I - - - How it all Began - - - 1 - - -_From Mr. John Honeywood, clerk to Mr. Theophilus Baggs, -attorney-at-law, to Mistress Mary Saunderson, of the Duke's Theatre in -Lincoln's Inn Fields._ - - -1662. October the 10th at 85, Chancery Lane in the City of London. -Honoured Mistress,-- - -May it please you that I, an humble Clerk and Scrivener, do venture to -address so talented a Lady; but there is that upon my Conscience which -compels me to write these lines. The Goodness and Charity of Mistress -Saunderson are well known, and 'tis not as a Suppliant that I crave -pardon for my Presumption, but rather as one whose fidelity and loyalty -have oft been tried and never been found wanting. 'Tis said, most -gracious Mistress, that your fancy hath been touched by the tenderness -and devotion of a Man who is as dear to me as if he were mine own -Brother, but that You hesitate to bestow upon him that for which he -craves more than for anything in the world, your Hand and Heart. And -this because of many Rumours which have sullied his fair Name. Mr. -Betterton, Madam, hath many enemies. How could this be otherwise seeing -that so vast a measure of Success hath attended his career, and that the -King's most gracious Majesty doth honour him with Friendship and Regard -to the exclusion of others who are envious of so great a fame? Those -Enemies now, Madam, seeing that your Heart hath been touched with the -man's grace and bearing, rather than with his undying Renown, have set -themselves the task of blackening Mr. Betterton's character before your -eyes, thus causing you mayhap grievous Sorrow and Disappointment. But -this I do swear by all that I hold most sacred, that Mr. Betterton hath -never committed a mean Act in his life nor done aught to forfeit your -Regard. Caustic of wit he is, but neither a Braggart nor a Bully; he -hath been credited with many good Fortunes, but so hath every Gentleman -in the Kingdom, and there is no discredit attached to a man for -subjugating the Hearts of those that are both frail and fair. My Lady -Castlemaine hath bestowed many favours on Mr. Betterton, so hath the -Countess of Shrewsbury, and there are others, at least the Gossips do -aver it. But on my Soul and Honour, he hath never ceased to love You, -until the day when a certain great Lady came across his path for his -misfortune and his undying Regret. And even so, Madam, though -appearances are against him, I own, let me assure You that the swerving -of his Allegiance to You was not only transitory but it was never one of -the Heart--it was a mere aberration of the senses. He may never forget -the Lady--he certainly will never forget her Cruelty--but he no longer -loves Her, never did love Her as he loves You, with his Heart and Mind, -with Tenderness and Devotion. The other was only a Dream--a fitful -fancy: his Love for You is as immortal as his Fame. Therefore, gracious -Mistress, I, the humble Friend of so great a Man, have ventured to set -forth for your perusal that which he himself would be too proud to put -before you--namely, his Justification. As for the rest, what I am about -to relate is the true Historie of Mr. Betterton's Romance, the only one -which might give you cause for sorrow, yet none for uneasiness, because -that Romance is now a thing of the past, like unto a Flower that is -faded and without fragrance, even though it still lies pressed between -the pages of a great man's Book of Life. Everything else is mere -Episode. But this which I have here set down will show you how much -nobility of heart and grandeur of Character lies hidden beneath the -flippant and at times grim exterior of the Man whom you have honoured -with your regard. - -The writing of the Historie hath caused me much anxiety and deep -thought. I desired to present the Truth before you, and not the -highly-coloured effusions of a Partisan. I have slurred over nothing, -concealed nothing. An you, gracious Mistress, have the patience to read -unto the End, I am confident that any Hesitation as to your Future which -may still linger in your Heart will vanish with the more intimate -Knowledge of the true Facts of the case, as well as of the Man whose -faults are of his own Time and of his Entourage, but whose Merits are -for the whole World to know and to cherish, for as many Cycles of years -as there will be Englishmen to speak the Words of English Poets. - - - - 2 - - -Dare I take you back, honoured Mistress, to those humble days, five -years ago, when first I entered the Household of your worthy Uncle, Mr. -Theophilus Baggs, and of his still more worthy Spouse, Mistress -Euphrosine, where for a small--very small--stipend, and free board and -lodging, I copied legal documents, Leases, Wills and Indentures for my -Employer? - -You, fair Lady, were then the only ray of Sunshine which illumined the -darkness of my dreary Life. Yours was a Gaiety which nothing could -damp, a Courage and Vitality which not even the nagging disposition of -Mistress Euphrosine succeeded in crushing. And when, smarting under her -many Chidings, my stomach craving for a small Measure of satisfaction, -my Bones aching from the hardness of my bed, I saw your slim Figure -flitting, elf-like, from kitchen to living-room, your full young Throat -bursting with song like that of a Bird at the first scent of Spring, I -would find my lot less hard, the bread less sour, even Mistress -Euphrosine's tongue less acrimonious. My poor, atrophied Heart felt the -warmth of your Smile. - -Then sometimes, when my Work was done and my Employers occupied with -their own affairs, You used to allow me to be of service to you, to help -you wash the dishes which your dainty Hands should never have been -allowed to touch. - -Oh! how I writhed when I heard Mistress Euphrosine ordering You about as -if You were a kitchen-wench, rather than her husband's Niece, who was -honouring his House with your presence! You, so exquisite, so perfect, -so cultured, to be the Handmaid of a pair of sour, ill-conditioned -Reprobates who were not worthy to tie the lacets of your dainty shoes. -With what Joy I performed the menial tasks which never should have been -allotted to You, I never until now have dared to tell. I did not think -that any Man could find dish-washing and floor-scrubbing quite so -enchanting. But then no other Man hath ever to my knowledge performed -such tasks under such happy circumstances; with You standing before me, -smiling and laughing at my clumsiness, your shapely arms akimbo, your -Voice now rippling into Song, now chaffing me with Words full of -kindness and good-humour. - -I have known many happy Hours since that Day, Mistress, and many Hours -full of Sorrow, but none so full of pulsating Life as those which -outwardly had seemed so miserable. - -And then that wonderful afternoon when Mr. Theophilus Baggs and his -Spouse being safely out of the way, we stole out together and spent a -few hours at the Play! Do you remember the day on which we ventured on -the Escapade? Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine had gone to Hampton -Court: he to see a noble Client and she to accompany him. The day being -fine and the Client being a Lady possessed of well-known charms, -Mistress Euphrosine would not have trusted her Lord alone in the company -of such a forward Minx--at least, those were her Words, which she -uttered in my hearing two Days before the memorable Expedition. - -Memorable, indeed, it was to me! - -Mr. Baggs left a sheaf of Documents for me to copy, which would--he -thought--keep me occupied during the whole course of a long Day. You -too, fair Mistress, were to be kept busy during the worthy couple's -absence, by scrubbing and polishing and sewing--Mistress Euphrosine -holding all idleness in abhorrence. - -I marvel if you remember it all! - -I do, as if it had occurred yesterday! We sat up half the Night -previous to our Taskmasters' departure; you polishing and sewing, and I -copying away for very life. You remember? Our joint Savings for the -past six Months we had counted up together. They amounted to three -shillings. One shilling we spent in oil for our lamps, so that we might -complete our Tasks during the Night. This left us free for the great -and glorious Purpose which we had in our Minds and which we had planned -and brooded over for Days and Weeks. - -We meant to go to the Play! - -It seems strange now, in view of your Renown, fair Mistress, and of mine -own intimacy with Mr. Betterton, that You and I had both reached an age -of Man and Womanhood without ever having been to the Play. Yet You -belonged from childhood to the household of Mistress Euphrosine Baggs, -who is own sister to Mr. Betterton. But that worthy Woman abhorred the -Stage and all that pertained to it, and she blushed--aye, blushed!--at -thought of the marvellous Fame attained by her illustrious Brother. - -Do you remember confiding to me, less than a month after I first entered -the household of Mr. Baggs, that You were pining to go to the Play? You -had seen Mr. Betterton once or twice when he came to visit his -Sister--which he did not do very often--but you had never actually been -made acquainted with him, nor had you ever seen him act. And You told me -how handsome he was, and how distinguished; and your dark Eyes would -flash with enthusiasm at thought of the Actor's Art and of the Actor's -Power. - -I had never seen him at all in those Days, but I loved to hear about -him. Strange what a fascination the Stage exercised over so -insignificant and so mean a creature as I! - - - - 3 - - -Will you ever forget the dawn of that glorious Day, fair Mistress? - -Mr. Baggs and his Spouse went off quite early, to catch the chaise at La -Belle Sauvage which would take them to Hampton Court. But however early -they went, we thought them mighty slow in making a start. An hundred -Recommendations, Orderings, Scoldings, had to be gone through ere the -respectable Couple, carrying provisions for the day in a Bandana -Handkerchief, finally got on the way. - -It was a perfect Morning early in March, with the first scent and feel -of Spring in the air. Not a Cloud in the Sky. By Midday our tasks were -entirely accomplished and we were free! Free as the Birds in the air, -free as two 'prentices out for a holiday! But little did we eat, I -remember. We were too excited for hunger; nor had Mistress Euphrosine -left much in the larder for us. What did we care? Our Enthusiasm, our -Eagerness, were Cook and Scullion for us, that day! - -We were going to the Play! - -Oh! how we tripped to Cockpit Lane, asking our way from passers-by, for -we knew so little of London--fashionable London, that is; the London of -Gaiety and Laughter, of careless Thoughts and wayward Moods. Holding -hands, we hurried through the Streets. You wore a dark Cape with a Hood -to hide your pretty Face and your soft brown Hair, lest some -Acquaintance of your Uncle's should chance to see You and betray our -guilty secret. - -Do you remember how we met Mr. Rhodes, the bookseller, and friend of Mr. -Baggs?--he to whom young Mr. Betterton was even then apprenticed. At the -corner of Princes Street we came nose to nose with him, and but for -great presence of mind on my part when, without an instant's hesitation, -I ran straight at him and butted him in the Stomach so that he lost his -Balance for the moment and only recovered complete Consciousness after -we had disappeared round the corner of the Street, he no doubt would -have recognised us and betrayed our naughty Secret. - -Oh, what a fright we had! I can see You now, leaning, breathless and -panting, against the street corner, your Hand pressed to your Bosom, -your Eyes shining like Stars! - -As for the rest, it is all confusion in my mind. The Crowd, the Bustle, -the Noise, this great Assembly, the like of which I had never seen -before. I do not know how we came to our seats. All I know is that we -were there, looking down upon the moving throng. I remember that some -Worthy of obvious note was sitting next to me, and was perpetually -treading upon my toes. But this I did not mind, for he was good enough -to point out to me the various Notabilities amongst the Audience or upon -the Stage; and I was greatly marvelled and awed by the wonderful -familiarity with which he spoke of all these distinguished People. - -"There sits General Monk. Brave old George! By gad! 'twere interesting -to know what goes on inside that square Head of his! King or Protector, -which is it to be? Or Protector _and_ King! George knows; and you mark -my words, young Sir, George will be the one to decide. Old Noll is -sick; he can't last long. And Master Richard hath not much affection -for his Father's Friends--calls them Reprobates and ungodly. Well! can -you see George being rebuked by Master Richard for going to the Play?" - -And I, not being on such intimate terms with the Lord Protector's Son or -with General Monk, could offer no opinion on the subject. And after a -while my Neighbour went on glibly: - -"Ah! here comes my Lady Viner, flaunting silks and satins. Aye, the -fair Alice--his third Wife, mark you!--knows how to spend the money -which her Lord hath been at such pains to scrape together. By gad! who'd -have thought to see red-haired Polly Ann so soon after the demise of His -Grace! See, not an inch of widows' Weeds doth she wear in honour of the -old Dotard who did her the infinite favour of dying just in the nick of -time...." - -And so on, the Man would babble in a continuous stream of talk. You, -Mistress, listened to him open-mouthed, your great brown Eyes aglow with -curiosity and with excitement. You and I knew but little of those great -Folk, and seeing them all around us, prepared for the same enjoyment -which we had paid to obtain, made us quite intoxicated with eagerness. - -Our Neighbour, who of a truth seemed to know everything, expressed great -surprise at the fact that Old Noll--as he so unceremoniously named the -Lord Protector--had tolerated the opening of the Cockpit. "But," he -added sententiously, "Bill Davenant could wheedle a block of ice out of -the devil, if he chose." - - - - 4 - - -Of the Play I remember but little. I was in truth much too excited to -take it all in. And sitting so near You, Mistress--for the Place was -overcrowded--my Knee touching yours, your dear little hand darting out -from time to time to grip mine convulsively during the more palpitating -moments of the Entertainment, was quite as much as an humble Clerk's -brain could hold. - -There was a great deal of Music--that I do remember. Also that the -entertainment was termed an opera and that the name of the piece was -"The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru." My omniscient Neighbour told me -presently that no doubt the Performance was an artful piece of Flattery -on the part of Bill (meaning, I suppose, Sir William Davenant) who, by -blackening the Spaniards, made Old Noll's tyranny appear like bountiful -Mercies. - -But I did not like to hear our Lord Protector spoken of with such -levity. Moreover, my Neighbour's incessant Chatter distracted me from -the Stage. - -What I do remember more vividly than anything else on that memorable Day -was your cry of delight when Mr. Betterton appeared upon the Stage. I -do not know if you had actually spoken with him before; I certainly had -never even seen him. Mr. Betterton was then apprenticed to Mr. Rhodes, -the Bookseller, and it was entirely against the Judgment and Wishes of -Mistress Euphrosine Baggs, his Sister, that he adopted the Stage as an -additional calling. I know that there were many high Words on that -subject between Mr. Betterton and Mistress Euphrosine, Mr. Rhodes -greatly supporting the young Man in his Desire, he having already -formulated schemes of his own for the management of a Theatre, and -extolling the virtues of the Actor's Art and the vastly lucrative State -thereof. - -But Mistress Euphrosine would have none of it. Actors were Rogues and -Vagabonds, she said, ungodly Reprobates who were unfit, when dead, to be -buried in consecrated ground. She would never consent to seeing a -Brother of hers follow so disreputable a Calling. From high words it -came to an open Quarrel, and though I had been over a year in the House -of Mr. Theophilus Baggs, I had never until this day set eyes on young -Mr. Betterton. - -He was not taking a very important part in the Opera, but there was no -denying the fact that as soon as he appeared upon the Stage his very -Presence did throw every other Actor into the shade. The Ladies in the -Boxes gave a deep sigh of content, gazing on him with admiring eyes and -bestowing loud Applause upon his every Word. And when Mr. Betterton -threw out his Arms with a gesture expressive of a noble Passion and -spoke the ringing lines: "And tell me then, ye Sons of England..."--his -beautiful Voice rising and falling with the perfect cadence of an -exquisite Harmony--the uproar of Enthusiasm became wellnigh deafening. -The Ladies clapped their Hands and waved their Handkerchiefs, the -Gentlemen stamped their feet upon the floor; and some, lifting their -Hats, threw them with a flourish upon the Stage, so that anon Mr. -Betterton stood with a score or more Hats all round his feet, and was -greatly perturbed as to how he should sort them out and restore them to -their rightful Owners. - -Ah, it was a glorious Day! Nothing could mar the perfection of its -Course. No! not even the Rain which presently began to patter over the -Spectators, and anon fell in torrents, so that those who were in the Pit -had to beat a precipitate retreat, scrambling helter-skelter over the -Benches in a wild endeavour to get under cover. - -This incident somewhat marred the Harmony of the Ending, because to see -Ladies and Gentlemen struggling and scrambling to climb from bench to -bench under a Deluge of Rain, was in truth a very droll Spectacle; and -the attention of those in the Boxes was divided between the Happenings -on the Stage and the antics of the rest of the Audience. - -You and I, fair Mistress, up aloft in our humble place, were far better -sheltered than the more grand Folk in the Pit. I put your Cloak around -your Shoulders to protect You against the Cold, and thus sitting close -together, my knee still resting against yours, we watched the -Performance until the end. - - - - 5 - - -How we went home that afternoon I do not remember. I know that it was -raining heavily and that we got very wet. But this caused me no -Inconvenience, because it gave me the privilege of placing my Arm round -your Shoulders so as to keep your Cloak from falling. Also my Mind was -too full of what I had seen to heed the paltry discomfort of a Wetting. -My thoughts were of the Play, the Music, the brilliant Assembly; yours, -Mistress, were of Mr. Betterton. Of him you prattled all the way home, -to the exclusion of every other Topic. And if your enthusiastic Eulogy -of that talented Person did at times send a pang of Sorrow through my -Heart, You at least were unaware of my Trouble. Not that I took no -share in your Enthusiasm. I did it whole-heartedly. Never had I -admired a Man before as I did Mr. Betterton on that Day. His Presence -was commanding, his Face striking, his Voice at times masterful and full -of Power, at others infinitely sweet. My officious and talkative -Neighbour, just before the Rain came down and rendered him dumb, had -remarked to me with a great air of Knowledge and of Finality: "Mark my -word, young Sir, England will hear something presently of Tommy -Betterton." - -It was not until we reached the corner of Chancery Lane that we were -forced to descend to the Realities of Life. We had had a glorious Day, -and for many Hours had wholly forgotten the many Annoyances and -Discomforts with which our lives were beset. Now we were a little tired -and exceedingly wet. Mistress Euphrosine's Scoldings, our oft empty -stomachs, hard Beds and cheerless Lives loomed once more largely upon -the Horizon of our mental vision. - -Our Pace began to slacken; your glib Tongue was stilled. Holding Hands -now, we hurried home in silence, our Minds stirred by a still vague -Sense of Fear. - -Nor was that Fear unjustified, alas! as subsequent Events proved. No -sooner had We entered the House than We knew that We were discovered. -Mr. Baggs' cloak, hung up in the Hall, revealed the terrifying Fact that -he and his indomitable Spouse had unaccountably returned at this hour. -No doubt that the Weather was the primary cause of this untoward Event: -its immediate result was a Volley of abuse poured upon our Heads by -Mistress Euphrosine's eloquent Tongue. We were Reprobates, Spawns and -Children of the Devil! We were Liars and Cheats and Thieves! We had -deserved God's wrath and eternal punishment! Heavens above! how she did -talk! And we, alas! could not escape that vituperative Torrent. - -We had fled into the Kitchen as soon as We had realised that we were -fairly caught; but Mistress Euphrosine had followed us thither and had -closed the door behind her. And now, standing facing Us, her large, -gaunt Body barring every egress, she talked and talked until You, fair -Mistress, gave way to a passionate Flood of tears. - -All our Pleasure, our Joy, had vanished; driven hence by the vixenish -Tongue of a soured Harridan. I was beside myself with Rage. But for -your restraining influence, I could have struck that shrieking Virago, -and for ever after have destroyed what was the very Essence of my Life. -For she would have turned me out of Doors then and there, and I should -have been driven forth from your Presence, perhaps never to return. - -The sight of your Patience and of your Goodness helped to deaden my -Wrath. I hung my Head and bit my Tongue lest it should betray me into -saying things which I should have regretted to the end of my Days. - -And thus that memorable Day came to a close. Somehow, it stands before -my mind as would the first legible Page in the Book of my Life. Before -it, everything was blurred; but that Page is clear. I can read it now, -even after four years. For the first time, destiny had writ on it two -Names in bold, indelible Characters--yours, Mistress, and that of Mr. -Betterton. Henceforth, not a Day in my Life would pass without one of -You looming largely in its Scheme. - -Mary Saunderson! Tom Betterton! My very pulses seem to beat to the -tune of those two Names! I knew then, by one of those subtle intuitions -which no Man has ever succeeded in comprehending, that Heaven itself had -intended You for one another. How then could I stand by and see the -Wickedness of Man striving to interfere with the decrees of God? - - - - - CHAPTER II - - - THE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE - - - 1 - - -After that memorable Day, Mistress, we were like naughty Children who -were being punished for playing truant out of School. For Weeks and -Months our Lives went on with dreary monotony, with never a chance of -seeing Something of that outside World of which we had caught a glimpse. -You continued to sew and to scrub and to be at the beck and call of a -Scold. I went on copying legal Documents till my very Brain appeared -atrophied, incapable of a single happy Thought or of a joyous Hope. - -Out there in the great World, many things were happening. The Lord -Protector died; his Son succeeded. And then England woke to the fact -that she had never cared for these Regicides, Republicans and Puritans; -that in her Heart she had always loved the martyred King and longed to -set his Son once more upon his Throne. - -I often thought of my loquacious Neighbour at the Play, with his talk of -Old Noll and Master Richard and of George. For George Monk in truth had -become the Man of the hour; for he it was who was bringing King Charles -back into his Kingdom again. - -Two years had gone by since our memorable Day at the Play, and as that -same Neighbour had also foretold, England was hearing a great deal about -Tom Betterton. His Name was on every one's lips. Mr. Rhodes, the -Bookseller, had obtained a licence from General Monk to get a Company of -Actors together, and the palmy Days of the Cockpit had begun. Then it -was that some faint Echo of the Life of our great City penetrated as far -as the dull Purlieus of Mr. Baggs' Household; then it was that the ring -of the Fame of Mr. Betterton even caused Mistress Euphrosine to recall -her former arbitrary Judgments. - -Every one now was talking of her illustrious Brother. General Monk -himself had made a Friend of him, so had Sir John Grenville, who was the -King's own Envoy; and those who were in the know prophesied that His -Majesty Himself would presently honour the eminent Player with his -regard. My Lord Rochester was his intimate Friend; Sir George Etherege -was scarce ever seen in public without him. Lord Broghill had vowed -that the English Stage was made famous throughout the Continent of -Europe by the superlative excellence of Mr. Betterton. - -To such Eulogies, coming from the most exalted Personages in the Land, -Mistress Euphrosine could not turn an altogether deaf Ear; and being a -Woman of character and ambition, she soon realised that her Antagonism -to her illustrious Brother not only rendered her ridiculous, but might -even prove a bar to Mr. Theophilus Baggs' Advancement. - -The first Step towards a Reconciliation was taken when Mr. Baggs and his -Spouse went together to the Play to see Mr. Betterton act _Solyman_ in a -play called "The Siege of Rhodes." You and I, Mistress, were by great -favour allowed to go too, and to take our places in that same Gallery -where two Years previously You and I had spent such happy hours. We -spoke little to one another, I remember. Our hearts were full of -Memories; but I could see your brown Eyes lighten as soon as the eminent -Actor walked upon the Stage. The same Glamour which his personality had -thrown over You two years ago was still there. Nay! it was enhanced an -hundredfold, for to the magnetic presence of the Man was now added the -supreme Magic of the Artist. I am too humble a Scrivener, fair Lady, to -attempt to describe Mr. Betterton's acting, nor do I think that such Art -as his could be adequately discussed. Your enjoyment of it I did fully -share. You devoured him with your Eyes while he was on the Stage, and -the Charm of his Voice filled the crowded Theatre and silenced every -other sound. I knew that the World had ceased to exist for You and that -the mysterious and elusive god of Love had hit your Heart with his -wayward dart. - -I thank God that neither then nor later did any feeling of Bitterness -enter into my Soul. Sad I was, but of a gentle Sadness which made me -feel mine own Unworthiness, even whilst I prayed that You might realise -your Heart's desire. - -Strangely enough, it was at the very moment when I first understood the -state of your Feelings that mine eyes, a little dimmed with tears, were -arrested by the Sight of a young and beautiful Lady, who sat in one of -the Boxes, not very far from our point of vantage. I wondered then what -it was about her that thus enchained mine Attention. Of a truth, she -was singularly fair, of that dainty and translucent Fairness which I for -one have never been able to admire, but which is wont to set Men's -pulses beating with an added quickness--at least, so I've heard it said. -The Lady had blue Eyes, an exquisitely white Skin, her golden Hair was -dressed in the new modish Fashion, with quaint little Ringlets all -around her low, square Brow. The face was that of a Child, yet there -was something about the firm Chin, something about the Forehead and the -set of the Lips which spoke of Character and of Strength not often found -in one so young. - -Immediately behind her sat a young Cavalier of prepossessing Appearance, -who obviously was whispering pleasing Words in the Lady's shell-like -ear. I confess that for the moment I longed for the presence of our -loquacious Neighbour of two years ago. He, without doubt, would have -known who the noble young Lady was and who was her attentive Cavalier. -Soon, however, the progress of the Play once more riveted mine Attention -upon the Stage, and I forgot all about the beautiful Lady until it was -time to go. Then I sought her with mine Eyes; but she had already gone. -And I, whilst privileged to arrange your Cloak around your shoulders, -realised how much more attractive brown Hair was than fair, and how -brilliant could be the sparkle of dark Eyes as against the more -languorous expression of those that are blue. - - - - 2 - - -I was not present at the time that You, Mistress, first made the -acquaintance of Mr. Betterton. He came to the House originally for the -sole purpose of consulting with his Brother-in-law on a point of Law, he -having an idea of joining Sir William Davenant in the Management of the -new Theatre which that Gentleman was about to open in Lincoln's Inn -Fields. - -The season in London promised to be very brilliant. His Majesty the -King was coming into his own once more. Within a Month or two at the -latest, he would land at Dover, and as even through his misfortunes and -exile he had always been a great Patron of the Arts of Drama and -Literature, there was no doubt that he would give his gracious Patronage -to such enterprises as Sir William Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, not to -mention others, had already in view. - -No doubt that Sir William Davenant felt that no Company of Actors could -be really complete without the leadership of Mr. Betterton; and we all -knew that both he and Mr. Killigrew were literally fighting one another -to obtain the great Actor's services. - -In the end, of course, it was Sir William who won, and thus Mr. -Betterton came to visit Mr. Theophilus Baggs to arrange for an Indenture -whereby he was to have a Share of the Profits derived from the -Performances at the new Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. - -You, Mistress, will remember that Day even better than I do, for to me -it only marked one more Stage on the dreary road of my uneventful Life, -whilst for You it meant the first Pearl in that jewelled Crown of -Happiness which Destiny hath fashioned for You. Mr. Baggs had sent me -on that day to Richmond, to see a Client of his there. Whether he did -this purposely, at the instance of Mistress Euphrosine, in order to get -me out of the way, I know not. In her Estimation I was supposed to have -leanings for the Actor's profession in those days--surely a foolish -Supposition, seeing how unprepossessing was my Appearance and how -mediocre my Intellect. - -Without doubt, however, could she have read the Secrets of your Soul, -dear Mistress, she would have sent You on an errand too, to a remote -corner of England, or had locked You up in your Room, ere you came face -to face with the great Man whose Personality and Visage were already -deeply graven upon your Heart. - -But her futile, unamiable Mind was even then torn between the desire to -make a brave show of Prosperity before her illustrious Brother and to -welcome him as the Friend and Companion of great Gentlemen, and the old -puritanical Spirit within her which still looked upon Actors as Rogues -and Vagabonds, Men upon whom God would shower some very special, -altogether terrible Curses because of their loose and immoral Lives. - -Thus Mistress Euphrosine's treatment of the distinguished Actor was ever -contradictory. She did her best to make him feel that she despised him -for his Calling, yet nevertheless she fawned upon him because of his -connection with the Aristocracy. Even subsequently, when Mr. Betterton -enjoyed not only the Patronage but the actual Friendship of His Majesty -the King, Mistress Euphrosine's attitude towards him was always one of -pious scorn. He might be enjoying the protection of an earthly King, -but what was that in comparison with his Sister's intimacy with God? He -might consort with Dukes, but she would anon make one in a company of -Angels, amongst whom such Reprobates as Actors would never find a place. - -That, I think, was her chief Attitude of Mind, one that caused me much -Indignation at the time; for I felt that I could have knelt down and -worshipped the heaven-born Genius who was delighting the whole Kingdom -with his Art. But Mr. Betterton, with his habitual kindliness and good -humour, paid no heed to Mistress Euphrosine's sour Disposition towards -him, and when she tried to wither him with lofty Speeches, he would -quickly make her ridiculous with witty Repartee. - -He came more and more frequently to the House, and mine Eyes being -unusually sharp in such matters, I soon saw that You had wholly won his -regard. Those then became happy times. Happy ones for You, Mistress, -whose Love for a great and good Man was finding full Reciprocity. Happy -ones for him, who in You had found not only a loving Heart, but rare -understanding, and that great Talent which he then and there set himself -to develop. They were happy times also for me, the poor, obscure -Scrivener with the starved Heart and the dreary Life, who now was -allowed to warm his Soul in the Sunshine of your joint Happiness. - -It was not long before Mr. Betterton noticed the profound Admiration -which I had for him, not long before he admitted me to his Friendship -and Intimacy. I say it with utmost pride, that I was the first one with -whom he discussed the question of your Career and to whom he confided -the fact that You had a conspicuous talent for the Stage, and that he -intended to teach and to train You until You could appear with him on -the Boards. You may imagine how this Idea staggered me at first--aye! -and horrified me a little. I suppose that something of the old -puritanical middle-class Prejudice had eaten so deeply into my Soul that -I could not be reconciled to the idea of seeing any Woman--least of all -you, Mistress--acting a part upon the Stage. Hitherto, young Mr. -Kynaston and other boy-actors had represented with perfect grace and -charm all the parts which have been written for Women; and I could not -picture to myself any respectable Female allowing herself to be kissed -or embraced in full view of a large Audience, or speaking some of those -Lines which our great Dramatists have thought proper to write. - -But Mr. Betterton's Influence and his unanswerable Arguments soon got -the better of those old-fashioned Ideas, and anon I found myself looking -eagerly forward to the happy time when You would be freed from the -trammels of Mistress Euphrosine's Tyranny and, as the Wife and Helpmate -of the greatest Actor of our times, take your place beside him among the -Immortals. - - - - 3 - - -It was not until the spring of the following Year that I first noticed -the cloud which was gathering over your happiness. Never shall I forget -the day when first I saw Tears in your Eyes. - -You had finally decided by then to adopt the Stage as your Profession, -and at the instance of Mr. Betterton, Sir William Davenant had promised -You a small part in the new Play, wherewith he was about to open his new -Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. The piece chosen was called "Othello," -written by one William Shakespeare, and Sir William had finally decided -that the parts written in this Play by the Author for Women should be -enacted by Women; an arrangement which was even then being worked quite -successfully by Mr. Killigrew at his Theatre in Clare Market. - -I knew that a brilliant Future lay before You; but Mistress Euphrosine, -who had constituted herself your Guardian and Mentor, tried in vain to -turn You from your Career. The day when You made your Decision was yet -another of those momentous ones which will never fade from my Memory. -You had hitherto been clever enough to evade Mistress Euphrosine's -Vigilance whilst you studied the Art of speaking and acting under the -guidance of Mr. Betterton. She thought that his frequent Visits to the -House were due to his Regard for her, whereas he came only to see You -and to be of service to You in the pursuit of your Studies. - -But the time came when You had to avow openly what were your Intentions -with regard to the Future. Sir William Davenant's Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields was to be opened in June, and You, Mistress, were, together -with his principal Actresses, to be boarded after that by him at his own -House, in accordance with one of the Provisions of the Agreement. The -Question arose as to where You should lodge, your poor Mother having no -home to offer You. Mistress Euphrosine made a great Show of her -Abhorrence of the Stage and all the Immorality which such a Career -implied. My cheeks blush with shame even now at the recollection of the -abominable language which she used when first You told her what You -meant to do, and my Heart is still filled with admiration at your -Patience and Forbearance with her under such trying circumstances. - -Fortunately for us all, Mr. Betterton arrived in the midst of all this -wrangle. He soon succeeded in silencing Mistress Euphrosine's -exacerbating tongue, and this not so much by the magic of his Persuasion -as by the aid of the golden Key which is known to open every door--even -that which leads to a scolding Harridan's heart. Mr. Betterton offered -his Sister a substantial Sum of Money if she in return would undertake -to give You a comfortable lodging until such time as he himself would -claim You as his Wife. He stipulated that You should be made -comfortable and that no kind of menial work should ever be put upon You. - -"Mistress Saunderson," he said impressively, "must be left absolutely -free to pursue her Art, unhampered by any other consideration." - -Even so, Mistress Euphrosine could not restrain her malicious tongue, -and the whole equitable arrangement might even then have fallen through -but for your gentleness and quiet determination. Finally, Mistress -Euphrosine gave in. She accepted the liberal terms which her -illustrious Brother was offering her for your Maintenance, but she -reserved unto herself the right of terminating the Arrangement at her -will and pleasure. Obviously, she meant to be as disagreeable as she -chose; but You had to have a respectable roof over your head until such -time as You found a Haven under the gis of your future Husband's Name. - -After that, it seemed as if no cloud could ever come to obscure the -Heavens of your happiness. Nevertheless, it was very soon after that -Episode that I chanced upon You one evening, sitting in the parlour with -the Book of a Play before You, yet apparently not intent upon reading. -When I spoke your name You started as if out of a Dream and quickly You -put your handkerchief up to your eyes. - -I made no remark then; it would have been insolence on my part to -intrude upon your private Affairs. But I felt like some faithful cur on -the watch. - -For awhile dust was thrown in my eyes from the fact that Mr. Betterton -announced to us his projected trip abroad, at the instance of Sir -William Davenant, who desired him to study the Scenery and Decorations -which it seems were noted Adjuncts to the Stage over in Paris. If Mr. -Betterton approved of what he saw there, he was to bring back with him a -scheme for such Scenery to be introduced at the new Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields, which would be a great triumph over Mr. Killigrew's -Management, where no such innovations had ever been thought of. - -Naturally, Mr. Betterton, being a Man and an Artist, was eager and -excited over this journey, which showed what great confidence Sir -William Davenant reposed in his Judgment. This, methought, accounted -for the fact that You, Mistress, seemed so much more dejected at the -prospect of his Absence than he was. I also was satisfied that this -Absence accounted for your tears. - -Fool that I was! I should have guessed! - -Mr. Betterton was absent two months, during which time I oft chanced -upon You, dear Mistress, with a book lying unheeded on your lap and your -dark eyes glistening with unnatural brilliancy. But I still believed -that it was only Mr. Betterton's Absence that caused this sadness which -had of late fallen over your Spirits. I know that he did not write -often, and I saw--oh! quite involuntarily--that when his Letters came -they were unaccountably short. - -Then, one day--it was in May--seeing You more than usually depressed, I -suggested that as the weather was so fine we should repair to the -Theatre in Clare Market, and there see Mr. Killigrew's company enact -"The Beggar's Bush," a play in which Major Mohun was acting the part of -_Bellamente_ with considerable success. - -Had I but known what we were destined to see in that Theatre, I swear to -God that I would sooner have hacked off my right leg than to have taken -You thither. Yet We both started on our way, oblivious of what lay -before Us. Time had long since gone by when such expeditions had to be -done in secret. You, Mistress, were independent of Mistress -Euphrosine's threats and tantrums, and I had come to realise that my -Employer could nowhere else in the whole City find a Clerk who would do -so much for such very scanty pay, and that he would never dismiss me, -for fear that he would never again meet with such a willing Drudge. - -So, the day being one on which Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine were -absenting themselves from home, I persuaded You easily enough to come -with me to the Play. - -Your spirits had risen of late because you were expecting Mr. -Betterton's home-coming. In fact, You had received authentic news that -he would probably be back in England within the week. - - - - 4 - - -At once, when I took my seat in the Gallery beside you, I noticed the -beautiful fair Lady in the Box, whom I had not seen since that -marvellous day a year ago, when you and I sat together at the Play. She -was more radiantly beautiful than ever before. - -Discreet enquiries from my Neighbour elicited the information that she -was the Lady Barbara Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury, and -the acknowledged Belle among the Debutantes of the season. I understood -that nothing had been seen of the Lady for the past year or more, owing -to the grave and lingering illness of her Mother, during the whole -course of which the young Girl had given up her entire life to the -tending of the Invalid. - -Now that his Lordship was a Widower, he had insisted on bringing his -Daughter to London so that she might be brought to the notice of His -Majesty and take her place at Court and in Society, as it beseemed her -rank. That place the Lady Barbara conquered quickly enough, by her -Beauty, her Charm and her Wit, so much so that I was told that all the -young Gallants in the City were more or less over head and ears in love -with her, but that her affections had remained steadfastly true to the -friend and companion of her girlhood, the young Earl of Stour who, in -his turn had never swerved in his Allegiance and had patiently waited -for the day when her duty to her Mother would cease and her love for him -be allowed to have full sway. - -All this, of course, sounded very pretty and very romantic; and you, -Mistress, gave ungrudging admiration to the beautiful girl who was the -cynosure of all eyes. She sat in the Box, in the company of an elderly -and distinguished Gentleman, who was obviously her Father, and of -another Man, who appeared to be a year or two older than herself and -whose likeness of features to her own proclaimed him to be her Brother. -At the rear of the box a number of brilliant Cavaliers had congregated, -who had obviously come in order to pay court to this acknowledged Queen -of Beauty. Foremost among these we noticed a tall, handsome young Man -whose noble features looked to me to suggest a somewhat weak yet -obstinate disposition. He was undeniably handsome: the huge, fair -periwig which he wore lent a certain manly dignity to his countenance. -We quickly came to the conclusion that this must be the Earl of Stour, -for it was obvious that the Lady Barbara reserved her most welcoming -smile and her kindliest glances for him. - -The company in the Box kept us vastly amused for a time, in the -intervals of watching the Actors on the Stage; and I remember that -during the second Act the dialogue in the Play being somewhat dull, both -You and I fell to watching the Lady Barbara and her throng of Admirers. -Suddenly we noticed that all these Gentlemen gave way as if to a -New-comer who had just entered at the rear of the Box and was apparently -desirous of coming forward in order to pay his respects. At first we -could not see who the New-comer was, nor did we greatly care. The next -moment, however, he was behind the Lady Barbara's chair. Anon he -stooped forward in order to whisper something in her ear. - -And I saw who it was. - -It was Mr. Betterton. - -For the moment, I remember that I felt as if I were paralysed; either -that or crazed. I could not trust mine eyes. - -Then I turned my head and looked at You. - -You too had seen and recognised. For the moment You did not move, but -sat rigid and silent. Your face had become a shade or two paler and -there was a scarce perceptible tremor of your lips. - -But that was all. I alone knew that You had just received a stab in -your loving and trusting Heart, that something had occurred which would -for ever mar the perfect trustfulness of your early love ... something -which you would never forget. - - - - 5 - - -You sat out the rest of the Play, dear Mistress, outwardly quite serene. -Never, I think, has my admiration for your Character and for your Worth -been more profound. I believe that I suffered almost as much as You. I -suffered because many things were made clear to me then that I had -ignored before. Your tears, your many Silences, that look of trustful -happiness now gone from your eyes. I understood that the Incident was -only the confirmation of what you had suspected long since. - -But you would not let any one see your heart. No! not even me, your -devoted Bondsman, who would gladly die to save You from pain. Yet I -could not bring my heart to condemn Mr. Betterton utterly. I did not -believe even then that he had been unfaithful--led away no doubt by the -glamour of the society Beauty, by the talk and the swagger of all the -idle Gentlemen about town--but not unfaithful. His was not a Nature to -love more than the once, and he loved You, Mistress--loved You from the -moment that he set eyes on You, from the moment that he knew your Worth. -His fancy had perhaps been captured by the beautiful Lady Barbara, his -Heart wherein your image was eternally enshrined, had been momentarily -bewitched by her wiles; but he was not responsible for these -Actions--that I could have sworn even then. - -Mr. Betterton is above all an Artist, and in my humble judgment Artists -are not to be measured by ordinary standards. Their mind is more -fanciful, their fancy more roving; they are the Butterflies of this -World, gay to look at and light on the wing. - -You never told me, Mistress, what course You adopted after that eventful -afternoon; nor would I have ventured to pry into your secrets. That You -and Mr. Betterton talked the whole matter over, I make no doubt. I -could even tell You, methinks, on which day the heart to heart talk -between You took place. That there were no Recriminations on your part -I dare aver; also that Mr. Betterton received his final dismissal on -that day with a greater respect than ever for You in his Heart, and with -deep sorrow weighing upon his Soul. - -After that, his visits to the house became more and more infrequent; and -at first You would contrive to be absent when he came. But, as I have -always maintained, his love for You still filled his innermost Being, -even though the Lady Barbara ruled over his fancy for the time. He -longed for your Presence and for your Friendship, even though at that -time he believed that You had totally erased his image from your Heart. - -And so, when he came, and I had perforce to tell him that You were -absent, he would linger on in the hope that You would return, and he -would go away with a bitter sigh of regret whenever he had failed to -catch a glimpse of You. - -You never told me in so many Words that you had definitely broken off -your Engagement to Mr. Betterton, nor do I believe that such was your -intention even then. Mistress Euphrosine certainly never realised that -You were smarting under so terrible a blow, and she still spoke glibly -of your forthcoming marriage. - -It was indeed fortunate for You, fortunate for us all, that both she and -Mr. Baggs were too self-absorbed--he in his Business and she in her -Piety--and too selfish, to be aware of what went on around them. Their -self-absorption left You free to indulge in the luxury of suffering in -silence; and I was made almost happy at times by an occasional -surreptitious pressure of your Hand, a glance from your Eyes, telling me -that my Understanding and Sympathy were not wholly unwelcome. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - - A CRIMINAL FOLLY - - - 1 - - -In June, you made your debut upon the stage, dear Mistress. Though You -only played a small Part, your Grace and Charm soon won universal -approval. I have so often told You of my feelings, my hopes, my tremors -and my joy on the occasion when first I saw You upon the boards, that I -will not weary You with the re-telling of them once again. Securely -hidden behind a pillar, I only lived through the super-acuteness of my -Senses, which drank in your Presence from the moment when You stepped -out from behind the Curtain and revealed your gracious personality to an -admiring Audience. - -As long as I live, every word which You spoke on that day will continue -to ring in mine ear, and ere mine eyes close for ever in their last long -Sleep, I shall see your exquisite Image floating dreamlike before their -gaze. - - - - 2 - - -From that day onward, I saw you more seldom than I had been wont to do -before. Your Success at the new Theatre had been so pronounced that Sir -William Davenant soon entrusted You with more important parts. Thus -your time was greatly taken up both with Performances and with -Rehearsals and with the choosing and trying on of dresses. Of -necessity, your work threw you often in the company of Mr. Betterton, he -being the leading Actor in Sir William's Company, and the most popular -as he was the most eminent of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants. In -fact, his Fame at this time was reaching its Apogee. He was reckoned -one of the Intimates of His Majesty himself; Gentlemen and Noblemen -sought his company; great Ladies were zealous to win his favours. - -Needless to say that concurrently with his rise to pre-eminence, an army -of Enemies sprung up around him. Hungry curs will ever bay at the moon. -Set a cat upon a high post and in a moment others will congregate down -below and spit and yowl at their more fortunate kind. Scandal and -spite, which had never been so rife as in these days, fastened -themselves like evil tentacles on Mr. Betterton's fair Name. - -He was too proud to combat these, and You too proud to lend an ear to -them. You met him now upon an easy footing of Friendship, of gentle -gratitude as of a successful Pupil towards a kindly Teacher. To any one -who did not know You as I do, You must at that time have seemed -completely happy. You were independent now, earning a good salary, -paying Mistress Euphrosine liberally for the lodgings which she placed -at your disposal; free to come and go as You pleased, to receive the -visits of Gentlemen who were desirous of paying their respects to You. -You were, in fact, Mistress Saunderson, the well-known Actress, who was -busy climbing--and swiftly, too--the Ladder of Fame. - -Of your proposed Marriage with Mr. Betterton there was of course no -longer any talk. For some reason best known to herself, and which I -myself never tried to fathom, even Mistress Euphrosine had ceased to -speak of it. - -Did she, within the depths of her ambitious and avaricious Heart, -harbour the belief that her Brother would one day wed one of those great -Ladies, who were wont to hang entranced upon his lips, when he spoke the -immortal words of the late Mr. William Shakespeare or of Mr. John -Dryden? I know not; nor what benefit she would have derived from it if -such an unlikely Event had indeed taken place. - -Towards me, she was still frigidly contemptuous. But as to that, I did -not care. I was determined to endure her worst gibes for the sake of -dwelling under the same roof which still had the privilege of sheltering -You. - - - - 3 - - -It was one day early in September--just something over a year ago, in -fact--that my Lord Stour called at the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs. I -knew him at once for the Cavalier who was ever in attendance upon the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode and whom rumour had assigned to her as her future -Husband. - -Frankly, I had never liked him from the first. I thought him overbearing -and arrogant. His manner towards those who were inferior to him in -station was always one of contempt. And I often wondered how Mr. -Theophilus Baggs, who was an Attorney of some standing in the City of -London, could endure the cool insolence wherewith young Gentlemen like -my Lord Stour and others were wont to treat him. Not only that, but he -seemed to derive a sort of gratification from it, and was wont to -repeat--I was almost going to say that he would boast of--these acts of -overbearance to which he was so often subjected. - -"Another of the stiff-necked sort," he would say after he had bowed one -of these fine Gentlemen obsequiously out of his office. "An honest, -God-fearing Man is as dirt beneath the feet of these Gallants." - -My Lord Stour, of a truth, was no exception to the rule. I have since -been assured that he was quite kindly and gracious in himself, and that -his faults were those of the Milieu in which he had been brought up, -rather than of himself. - -Of course, You, dear Mistress, were out of the house during the whole of -that never-to-be-forgotten day of which I am about to speak, and -therefore knew nothing of the terrible Event which then occurred and -which, in my humble judgment, completely revolutionized Mr. Betterton's -character for the time being. But Fate had decreed that I should see it -all. Every moment of that awful afternoon is indelibly graven upon my -Memory. I had, however, neither the Chance nor the Opportunity to speak -to You of it all. At first I did not think that it would be expedient. -The humiliation which Mr. Betterton was made to endure on that day was -such that I could not bear to speak of it, least of all to You, who -still held him in such high esteem. And later on, I still thought it -best to be silent. Mr. Betterton and You seemed to have drifted apart -so completely, that I did not feel that it would do any good to rake up -old hurts, and to submit them to the cruel light of day. - -But now everything is changed. The Lady Barbara's influence over Mr. -Betterton has gone, never to return; whilst his Heart once more yearns -for the only true Love which has ever gladdened it. - - - - 4 - - -My Lord Stour came to call upon Mr. Theophilus Baggs at three o'clock of -the afternoon. Kathleen, the maid of all work, opened the door to him, -and Mistress Euphrosine received him in the Parlour, where I was also -sitting at my desk, engaged in copying out a lengthy Indenture. - -"Master Baggs awaits me, I think," my Lord said as he entered the room. - -Mistress Euphrosine made a deep curtsey, for she was ever fond of the -Aristocracy. - -"Will you deign to enter, my Lord?" she said. "My husband will wait upon -your pleasure." - -"Tell him to be quick, then," said my Lord; "for I have not a great deal -of time to spare." - -He seated himself beside the table and drew off his gloves. He had -taken absolutely no notice of my respectful salutation. - -Mistress Euphrosine sailed out of the room and a moment or two later Mr. -Baggs came in, carrying a sheaf of papers and looking very fussy and -obsequious. - -My Lord did not rise to greet him, only turned his head in his direction -and said curtly: - -"You are Mr. Theophilus Baggs, Attorney-at-law?" - -"At your Lordship's service," replied my employer. - -"Brother-in-law of Tom Betterton, the Actor, so I am told," my Lord went -on with quiet condescension. - -This innocent remark, however, appeared to upset Mr. Baggs. He -stammered and grew as red as a turkey-cock, not realizing that his -connection with the great Actor was truly an honour upon his Name. He -hemmed and hawed and looked unutterably foolish, as he mumbled -confusedly: - -"Er ... that is ... only occasionally, my Lord ... very occasionally, I -may say ... that is ... I..." - -"Pray calm yourself," broke in my Lord haughtily. "I admire the -fellow's acting ... the Man himself does not exist for me." - -"You are most gracious, my Lord," murmured Mr. Baggs promptly, whilst I -could have struck him for his obsequiousness and his Lordship for his -arrogance. - -It seems that the matter which had brought Lord Stour to Mr. Baggs' -office was one of monies connected with the winding-up of the affairs of -the late Earl, uncle of the present Peer. I was busy with my work -during the time that these affairs were being discussed and did not pay -much heed to the conversation. Only two fragments thereof struck mine -ear. I remember, chiefly because they were so characteristic of the two -men--the Aristocrat and the Plebeian--and of the times in which we live. - -At one time Mr. Baggs ventured to enquire after the health of the -Honourable Mrs. Stourcliffe, his Lordship's mother; and you should have -heard the tone of frigid pride wherewith my Lord seemed to repel any -such presumptuous enquiries. - -The other fragment which I overheard was towards the end of the -interview, when Mr. Theophilus Baggs, having counted over the Money -before his Lordship, placed a Paper before him and bade me bring him a -pen. - -"What's this?" queried my Lord, astonished. - -"Oh!" Mr. Baggs stammered, with his habitual humility of demeanour, "a -mere formality, my Lord ... er ... h'm ... only a ... er ... receipt." - -"A receipt?" my Lord asked, with an elevation of his aristocratic brows. -"What for?" - -"Er ... er..." Mr. Baggs stammered. "For the monies, my Lord. That is -... er ... if you will deign to count it over yourself ... and see that -it is correct." - -At this, my Lord rose from his seat, waved me aside, took and pocketed -the money. Then he said coolly to Mr. Baggs: - -"No, Sir; I do not care to count. My Uncle knew You to be honest, or he -would not have placed his affairs in your hands. That is sufficient for -me. I, on the other hand, have received the money.... That is -sufficient for You." - -"But----!" ejaculated Mr. Baggs, driven out of his timidity by such -summary procedure. - -"Egad, Sir!" broke in my Lord, more haughtily than before. "Are you -perchance supposing that I might claim money which I have already had?" - -"No ... no!" protested Mr. Baggs hastily. "I assure you, my Lord ... er -... that it is ... h'm ... a mere formality ... and..." - -"My word," retorted my Lord coolly, "is sufficient formality." - -Whereupon he turned to the door, taking no more notice of me than if I -were the doormat. He nodded to Mr. Baggs, who was of a truth too deeply -shaken to speak, and with a curt "I wish you good-day, Mr. Notary!" -strode out of the room. - -I doubt not, Mistress, that You and many others of gentle Manners if not -of gentle Birth, would think that in recounting this brief interview -between my employer and the young Earl of Stour, I have been guilty of -exaggeration in depicting my Lord's arrogance. Yet, on my word, it all -occurred just as I have told it. No doubt that Mr. Baggs' -obsequiousness must have been irritating, and that it literally called -forth the haughty Retort which otherwise might have remained unspoken. -I myself, humble and insignificant as I am, have oft felt an almost -uncontrollable impulse to kick my worthy Employer into some measure of -manliness. - -For let me assure You that, though subsequently I became more closely -acquainted with my Lord Stour, I never heard him use such haughty -language to any of his Dependents, nor do I think that so gentle a Lady -as Lady Barbara Wychwoode would have bestowed her fondness and regard -upon him had his Nature been as supercilious and as insolent as his -Words. - - - - 5 - - -That afternoon was indeed destined to be fuller of events than I ever -could have anticipated. No sooner had I closed the door upon my Lord -Stour, when I heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and then my Lord's -voice raised once more, this time with a tone of pleasure mingled with -astonishment. - -"Wychwoode, by gad!" he exclaimed. "And what in Heaven's name have you -come to do in the old fox's lair?" - -I did not hear the immediate reply. More fussy than ever, Mr. Baggs had -already signed to me to reopen the door. - -"Lord Douglas Wychwoode," he murmured hurriedly in my ear. "One of the -younger sons of the Marquis of Sidbury. I am indeed fortunate to-day. -The scions of our great Nobility do seek my help and counsel..." and -more such senseless words did he utter, whilst the two young Gentlemen -paused for a moment upon the landing, talking with one another. - -"I thought you still in France," Lord Douglas said to his friend. "What -hath brought you home so unexpectedly?" - -"I only arrived this morning," the other replied; "and hoped to present -my respects this evening, if your Father and the Lady Barbara will -receive me." - -"Indeed, they'll be delighted. _Cela va sans dire_, my friend. My -sister has been rather pensive of late. Your prolonged absence may have -had something to do with her mood." - -"May you speak the truth there!" my Lord Stour remarked with a sigh. - -"But now you have not told me," rejoined Lord Douglas, as he and his -friend finally went into the room and curtly acknowledged Mr. Baggs' -reiterated salutations, "what hath brought you to the house of this -bobbing old Thief yonder." - -"Private business," replied Lord Stour. "And you?" - -"The affairs of England," said the other, and tossed his head proudly -like some young Lion scenting battle. - -Before his friend could utter another remark, Lord Douglas strode -rapidly across the room, took some papers out of the inner pocket of his -coat, and called to Mr. Baggs to come up closer to him. - -"I want," he said in a quick and peremptory whisper, "a dozen copies of -this Deed done at once and by a sure hand. Can you do it?" - -"Yes, I think so," replied Mr. Baggs. "May I see what the paper is?" - -I was watching the pair of them; so was my Lord Stour. On his face -there came a sudden frown as of disapproval and anxiety. - -"Wychwoode----!" he began. - -But the other did not heed him. His eyes--which were so like those of -his Sister--were fixed with an eager, questioning gaze upon my Employer. -The latter's face was absolutely expressionless and inscrutable whilst -he scanned the paper which Lord Douglas, after a scarce perceptible -moment of hesitation, had handed to him for perusal. - -"Yes," he said quietly, when he had finished reading. "It can be done." - -"At once?" asked Lord Douglas. - -"At once. Yes, my Lord." - -"By a sure hand?" - -"Discretion, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs, with the first show of dignity -I have ever seen him display, "is a virtue in my profession, the failing -in which would be a lasting disgrace." - -"I rely even more upon your convictions, Mr. Baggs," Lord Douglas -rejoined earnestly, "than upon your virtues." - -"You and your friends, my Lord, have deigned to talk those matters over -with me many a time before. You and they know that You can count on -me." - -Mr. Baggs spoke with more Quietude and Simplicity than was his wont when -dealing with some of these noble Lords. You may be sure, dear Mistress, -that I was vastly astonished at what I heard, still more at what I -guessed. That Mr. Baggs and his Spouse belonged to the old Puritan -Party which had deplored the Restoration of the Kingship, I knew well -enough. I knew that both he and Mistress Euphresine looked with -feelings akin to horror upon a system of Government which had for its -supreme head a King, more than half addicted to Popery and wholly to -fast living, with women, gambling and drinking all the day. But what I -had never even remotely guessed until now was that he had already lent a -helping hand to those numerous Organisations, which had for their object -the overthrow of the present loose form of Government, if not that of -the Monarchy itself. - -I did not know, in fact, that beneath a weak and obsequious exterior, my -Employer hid the stuff of which dangerous Conspirators are often made. - -For the nonce, however, I imagine that he contented himself with writing -out Deeds and Proclamations for the more important Malcontents, of whom -apparently my Lord Douglas Wychwoode was one. He had never taken me -into his confidence, even though he must have known that he could always -rely upon my Discretion. What caused him to trust me now more than he -had done before, I do not know. Perhaps he had come to a final decision -to throw in his lot with the ultra-Protestant party, who viewed with -such marked disfavour the projects of the King's marriage with the -Popish Princess of Portugal. Certain it is that he came to me without -any hesitation with the Papers which Lord Douglas had just entrusted to -him, and that he at once ordered me to make the twelve copies which his -Lordship desired. - -I retired within the window-recess which You know so well, and wherein I -am wont to sit at my copying work. Mr. Baggs then set me to my task, -after which he drew the screen across the recess, so that I remained -hidden from the view of those who were still in the room. I set to with -a Will, for my task was a heavy one. Twelve copies of a Manifesto, -which in itself covered two long pages. - -A Manifesto, in truth! - -I could scarce believe mine eyes as I read the whole rambling, foolish, -hot-headed Rigmarole. Did I not have the Paper actually in my hand, had -I not seen Lord Douglas Wychwoode handing it himself over to Mr. Baggs, -I could not have believed that any Men in their sober senses could have -lent a hand to such criminal Folly. - -Folly it was; and criminal to boot! - -The whole matter is past History now, and there can be no harm in my -relating it when so much of it hath long ago been made public. - -That Manifesto was nothing more or less than an Appeal to certain -Sympathizers to join in one of the maddest enterprises any man could -conceive. It seems that my Lady Castlemaine's house was to be kept -watched by Parties of these same Conspirators, until one night when the -King paid her one of his customary evening Visits. Then the signal was -to be given, the House surrounded, my Lady Castlemaine kidnapped, His -Majesty seized and forced to abdicate in favour of the young Duke of -Monmouth, who would then be proclaimed King of England, with the Prince -of Orange as Regent. - -Now, have you ever heard of anything more mad? I assure You that I was -literally staggered, and as my Pen went wearily scratching over the -Paper I felt as if I were in a dream, seeing before me visions of what -the end of such a foolish Scheme would be: the Hangman busy, the Prisons -filled, sorrow and desolation in many homes that had hoped to find peace -at last after the turmoil of the past twenty years. For the appeals -were directed to well accredited people outside London, some of whom -were connected with the best known Families in the Country. I must, of -course, refrain from mentioning names that have been allowed to fall -into oblivion in connection with the affair; but You, dear Mistress, -would indeed be astonished if You heard them now. - -And what caused me so much worry, whilst I wrote on till my hand felt -cramped and stiff, was mine own Helplessness in the matter. What could -I do, short of betraying the trust which was reposed in me?--and this, -of course, was unthinkable. - -I wrote on, feeling ever more dazed and dumb. From the other side of the -screen the Voices of the two young Gentlemen came at times to mine ear -with unusual clearness, at others only like an intermittent hum. Mr. -Baggs had apparently left the room, and the others had no doubt become -wholly oblivious of my Presence. Lord Douglas Wychwoode had told his -Friend something of his madcap Schemes; his voice sounded both eager and -enthusiastic. But my Lord Stour demurred. - -"I am a Soldier," he said at one time; "not a Politician." - -"That's just it!" the other argued with earnestness. "It is Men like -you that we want. We must crush that spendthrift Wanton who holds the -King in her thrall, and we must force a dishonoured Monarch to give up -the Crown of England to one who is worthier to wear it, since he -himself, even in these few brief months, has already covered it with -infamy." - -"You have set yourself a difficult task, my friend," my Lord Stour urged -more soberly; "and a dangerous one, too." - -"Only difficult and dangerous," retorted Lord Douglas, "whilst such Men -as you still hold aloof." - -"I tell you, I am no Politician," his Friend rejoined somewhat -impatiently. - -"But You are a Man, and not a senseless profligate--an earnest -Protestant, who must loathe that cobweb of Popery which overlies the -King's every Action, and blurs his vision of duty and of dignity." - -"Yes--but----" - -Then it was that Lord Douglas, with great patience and earnestness, gave -to his Friend a detailed account of his criminal Scheme--for criminal it -was, however much it might be disguised under the cloak of patriotism -and religious fervour. How Lord Stour received the communication, I -could not say. I had ceased to listen and was concentrating my mind on -my uncongenial task. Moreover, I fancy that Lord Stour did not say -much. He must have disapproved of it, as any right-minded Man would, -and no doubt tried his best to bring Lord Douglas to a more rational -state of mind. But this is mere conjecture on my part, and, of course, -I could not see his face, which would have been a clear index to his -thoughts. At one time I heard him exclaim indignantly: - -"But surely You will not entrust the distribution of those Manifestos, -which may cost you your head, to that obsequious and mealy-mouthed -notary?" - -Mr. Baggs should have heard the contempt wherewith my Lord uttered those -words! It would have taught him how little regard his servile ways had -won for him, and how much more thoroughly would he have been respected -had he adopted a more manly bearing towards his Clients, however highly -these may have been placed. - -After this, Lord Douglas Wychwoode became even more persuasive and -eager. Perhaps he had noted the first signs of yielding in the Attitude -of his Friend. - -"No, no!" he said. "And that is our serious trouble. I and those who -are at one with me feel that we are surrounded with spies. We do want a -sure Hand--a Hand that will not err and that we can trust--to distribute -the Manifestos, and, if possible, to bring us back decisive Answers. -Some of the Men with whom we wish to communicate live at some -considerable distance from town. We only wish to approach influential -people; but some of these seldom come to London; in fact, with the -exception of the Members of a venal Government and of a few effete Peers -as profligate as the King himself, but few Men, worthy of the name, do -elect to live in this degenerate City." - -His talk was somewhat rambling; perhaps I did not catch all that he -said. After awhile Lord Stour remarked casually: - -"And so You thought of me as your possible Emissary?" - -"Was I wrong?" retorted Lord Douglas hotly. - -"Nay, my friend," rejoined the other coldly. "I am honoured by this -trust which You would place in me; but----" - -"But You refuse?" broke in Lord Douglas with bitter reproach. - -I imagine that my Lord Stour's reply must have been an unsatisfactory -one to his Friend, for the latter uttered an exclamation of supreme -impatience. I heard but little more of their conversation just then, for -the noise in the Street below, which had been attracting my Attention on -and off for some time, now grew in intensity, and, curious to know what -it portended, I rose from my chair and leaned out of the window to see -what was happening. - -From the window, as You know, one gets a view of the corner of our -Street as it debouches into Fleet Street by the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, -and even the restricted View which I thus had showed me at once that -some kind of rioting was going on. Not rioting of an ordinary kind, for -of a truth we who live in the heart of the City of London are used to -its many cries; to the "Make way there!" of the Sedan Chairman and the -"Make room there!" of the Drivers of wheel-barrows, all mingling with -the "Stand up there, you blind dog!" bawled by every Carman as he tries -to squeeze his way through the throngs in the streets. - -No! this time it seemed more than that, and I, who had seen the crowds -which filled the Streets of London from end to end on the occasion of -the death of the Lord Protector, and had seen the merry-makers who had -made those same streets impassable when King Charles entered London a -little more than a year ago, I soon realized that the Crowd which I saw -flocking both up and down Fleet Street was in an ugly mood. - -At first I thought that some of those abominable vagabonds from -Whitefriars--those whom we call the Alsatians, and who are in perpetual -conflict with the law--had come out in a body from their sink of -iniquity close by and had started one of their periodical combats with -the Sheriffs' Officers; but soon I recognized some faces familiar to me -among the crowd as they ran past the corner--Men, Women and Boys who, -though of a rough and turbulent Character, could in no way be confounded -with the law-breaking Alsatians. - -There was, for instance, the Tinker, whom I knew well by sight. He was -running along, knocking his skillets and frying-pans against one another -as he passed, shouting lustily the while. Then there was a sooty -chimney-sweep, whom I knew to be an honest Man, and the broom Men with -their Boys, and many law-abiding Pedestrians who, fearful of the crowd, -were walking in the traffic way, meekly giving the wall to the more -roisterous throng. They all seemed to be a part of that same Crowd -which was scampering and hurrying up and down Fleet Street, shouting and -causing a disturbance such as I do not remember ever having seen before. - -I should have liked to have gazed out of the Window until I had -ascertained positively what the noise was about; but I remembered that -my task was only half-accomplished and that I had at the least another -half-dozen Manifestos to write out. I was on the point of sitting down -once more to my Work when I heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode's voice quite -close to the screen, saying anxiously, as if in answer to some remark -made by his friend: - -"I trust not. My Sister is out in her chair somewhere in this -neighbourhood, and only with her two Bearers." - -Apparently the two Gentlemen's attention had also been arrested by the -tumult. The next moment Mr. Theophilus Baggs came in, and immediately -they both plied him simultaneously with questions. "What were those -strange cries in the street? Was there likely to be a riot? What was -the cause of the tumult?" All of which Mr. Baggs felt himself unable to -answer. In the end, he said that he would walk down to the corner of -the Street and ascertain what was happening. - -Ensconced within the window recess and hidden from view by the screen, I -soon gave up all attempt at continuing my work. Somehow, the two -Gentlemen's anxiety about the Lady Barbara had communicated itself to -me. But my thoughts, of course, were of You. Fortunately for my peace -of mind, I knew that You were safe; at some distance, in fact, from the -scene of the present tumult. Nevertheless, I had already made up my -mind that if the rioting spread to the neighbouring streets, I would -slip out presently and go as far as Dorset Gardens, where you were busy -at rehearsal, and there wait for you until you came out of the Theatre, -when, if you were unattended, I could escort you home. - -I could not myself have explained why the Noise outside and the obvious -rough temper of the People should have agitated me as they undoubtedly -did. - -Anon, Mr. Baggs returned with a veritable sackful of news. - -"There is a great tumult all down the neighbourhood," said he, "because -Lady Castlemaine is even now at the India House drinking tea, and a lot -of rowdy folk have made up their minds to give her a rough welcome when -she comes out. She is not popular just now, my Lady Castlemaine," Mr. -Baggs continued complacently, as he gave a look of understanding to Lord -Douglas Wychwoode, "And I fancy that she will experience an unpleasant -quarter of an hour presently." - -"But, surely," protested my Lord Stour, "a whole mob will not be allowed -to attack a defenceless woman, however unpopular she may be!" - -"Oh, as to that," rejoined Mr. Baggs with an indifferent shrug of the -shoulders, "a London mob is not like to be squeamish when its temper is -aroused; and just now, when work is scarce and food very dear, the sight -of her Ladyship's gorgeous liveries are apt to exasperate those who have -an empty stomach." - -"But what will they do to her?" urged my Lord, whose manly feelings were -evidently outraged at the prospect of seeing any Woman a prey to an -angry rabble. - -"That I cannot tell you, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs. "The crowd hath -several ways of showing its displeasure. You know, when a Frenchman or -some other Foreigner shows his face in the Streets of London, how soon -he becomes the butt of passing missiles. The sweep will leave a sooty -imprint upon his coat; a baker's basket will cover him with dust; at -every hackney-coach stand, some facetious coachman will puff the froth -of his beer into his face. Well! you may draw your own conclusions, my -Lord, as to what will happen anon, when my Lady Castlemaine hath -finished drinking her dish of tea!" - -"But surely no one would treat a Lady so?" once more ejaculated my Lord -Stour hotly. - -"Perhaps not," retorted Mr. Baggs drily. "But then you, see, my Lord, -Lady Castlemaine is ... Well; she is Lady Castlemaine ... and at the -corner of our street just now I heard murmurs of the Pillory or even -worse for her----" - -"But this is monstrous--infamous----!" - -"And will be well deserved," here broke in Lord Douglas decisively. -"Fie on You, Friend, to worry over that baggage, whilst we are still in -doubt if my Sister be safe." - -"Yes!" murmured Lord Stour, with a sudden note of deep solicitude in his -voice. "My God! I was forgetting!" - -He ran to the window--the one next to the recess where I still remained -ensconced--threw open the casement and gazed out even more anxiously -than I had been doing all along. Mr. Baggs in the meanwhile endeavoured -to reassure Lord Douglas. - -"If," he said, "her Ladyship knows that your Lordship hath come here to -visit me, she may seek shelter under my humble roof." - -"God grant that she may!" rejoined the young Man fervently. - -We all were on tenterhooks, I as much as the others; and we all gazed -out agitatedly in the direction of Fleet Street. Then, all at once, my -Lord Stour gave a cry of relief. - -"There's the chaise!" he exclaimed. "It has just turned the corner of -this street.... No! not that way, Douglas ... on your right.... That is -Lady Barbara's chaise, is it not?" - -"Yes, it is!" ejaculated the other. "Thank Heaven, her man Pyncheon has -had the good sense to bring her here. Quick, Mr. Notary!" he added. -"The door!" - -The next moment a Sedan chair borne by two men in handsome liveries of -blue and silver came to a halt just below. Already Mr. Baggs had -hurried down the stairs. He would, I know, yield to no one in the -privilege of being the first to make the Lady Barbara welcome in his -House. The Excitement and Anxiety were momentarily over, and I could -view quite composedly from above the beautiful Lady Barbara as she -stepped out of her Chair, a little flurried obviously, for she clasped -and unclasped her cloak with a nervy, trembling hand. - -A second or two later, I heard her high-heeled shoes pattering up the -stairs, whilst her Men with the Chair sought refuge in a quiet tavern -higher up in Chancery Lane. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - - MORE THAN A PASSING FANCY - - - 1 - - -I would that You, fair Mistress, had seen the Lady Barbara Wychwoode as -I beheld her on that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon, her Cheeks of a -delicate pallor, her golden Hair slightly disarranged, her Lips -trembling with excitement. You, who are so inexpressibly beautiful, -would have been generous enough to give ungrudging Admiration to what -was so passing fair. - -She was panting a little, for obviously she had been scared, and clung -to her Brother as if for protection. But I noticed that directly she -entered the room her Eyes encountered those of my Lord Stour, and that -at sight of him a happy smile at once over-spread and illumined her -Face. - -"I am so thankful, Douglas, dear," she said, "that Pyncheon happened to -know you were here. He also knew the way to Mr. Baggs' house, and as -soon as he realized that the crowd in Fleet Street was no ordinary one, -he literally took to his heels and brought me along here in amazingly -quick time. But, oh!" she added lightly, "I can tell You that I was -scared. My heart went thumping and I have not yet recovered my breath." - -Her cheeks now had become suffused with a blush and her blue eyes -sparkled, more with excitement than fear, I imagined. Certain it is -that her Beauty was enhanced thereby. But Lord Douglas, with a -Brother's privilege, shrugged his shoulders and said with a show of -banter: - -"Methinks, Babs, dear, that your heart hath chiefly gone a-thumping -because you are surprised at finding Stour here." - -She gave a gay little laugh--the laugh of one who is sure of Love and of -Happiness; the same laugh, dear Mistress, for which I have hearkened of -late in vain from You. - -"I only arrived in London this morning," my Lord Stour explained. - -"And hastened to pay your respects to the law rather than to me," Lady -Barbara taunted him lightly. - -"I would not have ventured to present myself at this hour," he rejoined. -"And, apparently, would have found the Lady Barbara from home." - -"So a beneficent Fairy whispered to You to go and see Mr. Notary, and -thus arranged everything for the best." - -"The beneficent Fairy had her work cut out, then," Lord Douglas -remarked, somewhat impatiently, I thought. - -"How do you mean?" she retorted. - -"Why," said he, "in order to secure this tryst, the beneficient Fairy -had first to bring me hither as well as Stour, and Lady Castlemaine to -the India House. Then she had to inflame the temper of a whole Crowd of -Roisterers sufficiently to cause the worthy Pyncheon to take to his -heels, with you in the chair. In fact, the good Fairy must have been to -endless trouble to arrange this meeting 'twixt Lady Barbara and her -Lover, when but a few hours later that same meeting would have come -about quite naturally." - -"Nay, then!" she riposted with perfect good humour, "let us call it a -happy Coincidence, and say no more about it." - -Even then her Brother uttered an angry exclamation. He appeared -irritated by the placidity and good humour of the others. His nerves -were evidently on edge, and while my Lord Stour, with the egoism -peculiar to Lovers, became absorbed in whispering sweet nothings in Lady -Barbara's ears, Lord Douglas took to pacing up and down the Room like -some impatient Animal. - -I watched the three of them with ever-growing interest. Being very -sensitive to outward influences, I was suddenly obsessed with the -feeling that through some means or other these three Persons, so far -above me in station, would somehow become intermixed with my Life, and -that it had suddenly become my Duty to watch them and to listen to what -they were saying. - -I had no desire to pry upon them, of course; so I pray You do not -misunderstand nor condemn me for thus remaining hidden behind the screen -and for not betraying my Presence to them all. Certainly my Lord Stour -and Lord Douglas Wychwoode had known at one time that I was in the Room. -They had seen me installed in the window-recess, with the treasonable -Manifestos which I had been set to copy. But since then the two -Gentlemen had obviously become wholly oblivious of my Presence, and the -Lady Barbara did not of course even know of my Existence, whilst I did -not feel disposed to reveal myself to any of them just yet. - - - - 2 - - -Lord Douglas, thereafter, was for braving the Rioters and for returning -home. But Lady Barbara and Lord Stour, feeling happy in one another's -Company, were quite content to bide for a time under Mr. Baggs' -sheltering roof. - -"You must have patience, Douglas," she said to her Brother. "I assure -you that the Streets are not safe. Some rowdy Folk have set themselves -to attacking every chair they see and tearing the gold and silver lace -from the Chairmen's liveries. Even the side-streets are thronged. -Pyncheon will tell you of the difficulty he had in bringing me here." - -"But we cannot wait until night!" Lord Douglas urged impatiently. - -"No!" said she. "Only an hour or two. As soon as the people have seen -Lady Castlemaine and have vented their wrath on her, they will begin to -disperse, chiefly into the neighbouring Taverns, and then we can slip -quietly away." - -"Or else," broke in Lord Stour hotly, "surely the watchmen will come -anon and disperse that rabble ere it vents its spite upon a defenceless -Woman!" - -"A defenceless Woman, you call her, my Lord?" Lady Barbara retorted -reproachfully. "She is the most dangerous Enemy England hath at this -moment!" - -"You are severe, Lady Barbara----" - -"Severe!" she exclaimed, with a vehement tone of resentment. "Ah! you -have been absent, my Lord. You do not know--You do not understand! Over -abroad You did not realise the Misery, the Famine, that is stalking our -land. Money that should be spent on reclaiming our Industries, which -have suffered through twenty years of civil strife, or in helping the -poor to tide over these years of lean Harvests, is being lavished by an -irresponsible Monarch upon a greedy Wanton, who----" - -"Barbara!" - -She paused, recalled to herself by the stern voice of her Brother. She -had allowed her Indignation to master her maidenly reserve. Her cheeks -were aflame now, her lips quivering with Passion. Of a truth, she was a -Woman to be admired, for, unlike most of her sex, she had profound -feelings of Patriotism and of Charity; she had valour, enthusiasm, -temperament, and was not ashamed to speak what was in her mind. I -watched my Lord Stour while she spoke, and saw how deeply he worshipped -her. Now she encountered his Gaze, and heavy tears came into her Eyes. - -"Ah, my Lord," she said gently, "you will see sadder sights in the -Streets of London to-day than ever you did in the Wars after the -fiercest Battles." - -"'Tis no use appealing to him, Babs," Lord Douglas interposed with -obvious exacerbation. "A moment ago I told him of our Plans. I begged -him to lend us his sword and his hand to strike a blow at the Profligacy -and Wantonness which is sending England to perdition worse than ever -before----" - -Lady Barbara turned great, reproachful eyes on my Lord. - -"And you refused?" she whispered. - -My Lord looked confused. All at once, I knew that he was already -wavering. A weak Man, perhaps; he was deeply, desperately enamoured. I -gathered that he had not seen the Lady Barbara for some months. No -doubt his Soul hungered for her Smiles. He was the sort of Man, -methinks, who would barter everything--even Honour--for the Woman he -loved. And I do not think that he cared for much beyond that. His -Father, an you remember, fought on the Parliament side. I do not say -that he was one of the Regicides, but he did not raise a finger to help -or to serve his King. And he had been a rigid Protestant. All the -Stourcliffes of Stour were that; and the present Earl's allegiance to -King Charles could only have been very perfunctory. Besides which, this -is the age of Conspiracies and of political Factions. I doubt not but -it will be another twenty years before the Country is really satisfied -with its form of Government. I myself--though God knows I am but a -humble Clerk--could wish that this Popish marriage for the King had not -been decided on. We do not want religious factions warring with one -another again. - -But all this is beside the mark, nor would I dwell on it save for my -desire to be, above all, just to these three People who were destined to -do the Man I love best in the world an irreparable injury. - -As I said before, I could see that my Lord Stour was hesitating. Now -Lady Barbara invited him to sit beside her upon the Sofa, and she began -talking to him quietly and earnestly, Lord Douglas only putting in a -word or so now and again. What they said hath little to do with the -portent of my Narrative, nor will I plague You with the telling of it. -Those people are nothing to You; they have nothing to do with humble -Plebeians like ourselves; they are a class apart, and we should never -mix ourselves up with them or their affairs, as Mr. Betterton hath since -learned to his hurt. - - - - 3 - - -While they were talking together, the three of them, I tried once more -to concentrate my mind upon my work, and finished off another two or -three copies of the treasonable Manifesto. - -All this while, you must remember that the noise and rowdiness in the -streets had in no way diminished. Rather had it grown in intensity. -The people whom I watched from time to time and saw darting down -Chancery Lane or across the corner of Fleet Street, looked more excited, -more bent on mischief, than before. I had seen a few stones flying -about, and once or twice heard the ominous crash of broken glass. - -Then suddenly there came an immense Cry, which was not unlike the -snarling of hundreds of angry Beasts. I knew what that meant. My Lady -Castlemaine was either on the point of quitting the India House or had -been otherwise spied by the Populace. I could no longer restrain my -Curiosity. Once more I cast my papers aside and leaned out of the -window. The shouting and booing had become more and more ominous. -Apparently, too, a company of the City Watchmen had arrived. They were -trying to force through the throng, and their calls of "Make way there!" -sounded more and more peremptory. But what was a handful of Watchmen -beside an excited crowd of Rioters determined to wreak their temper upon -an unpopular bit of baggage? I doubt not but that His Majesty's -Body-guard could alone restore order now and compass the safety of the -Lady. - -As I leaned out of the Window I could see stones and miscellaneous -missiles flying in every direction; and then suddenly I had a clear -vision of a gorgeous Sedan Chair escorted by a dozen or more City -Watchmen, who were trying to forge a way for it through the Crowd. They -were trying to reach the corner of our Street, hoping no doubt to turn -up this way and thus effect an escape by way of the Lower Lincoln's Inn -Fields and Drury Lane, while the Crowd would of necessity be kept back -through the narrowness of the Streets and the intricacies of the Alleys. - -The whole point now was whether the Chairmen could reach our corner -before the Roisterers had succeeded in beating back the Watchmen, when -of course they meant to tear Lady Castlemaine out of her chair. Poor, -wretched Woman! She must have been terribly frightened. I know that I -myself felt woefully agitated. Leaning out toward the street, I could -see Lady Barbara's pretty head at the next window and my Lord Stour and -Lord Douglas close beside her. They too had forgotten all about their -talk and their plans and Conspiracies, and were gazing out on the -exciting Spectacle with mixed feelings, I make no doubt. As for me, I -feel quite sure that but for my sense of utter helplessness, I should -have rushed out even then and tried to lend a hand in helping an -unfortunate Woman out of so terrible a Predicament, and I marvelled how -deep must have been the hatred for her, felt by Gentlemen like my Lord -Stour and Lord Douglas Wychwoode, that their Sense of Chivalry forsook -them so completely at this Hour, that neither of them attempted to run -to her aid or even suggested that she should find shelter in this House. - -As for Mr. Baggs, he was not merely idly curious; he was delighted at -the idea that my Lady Castlemaine should be maltreated by the mob; -whilst Mistress Euphrosine's one idea was the hope that if the Rioters -meant to murder the Baggage, they would not do so outside this door. -She and Mr. Baggs had come running into the Parlour the moment the -rioting reached its height, and of a truth, dear Mistress, you would -have been amused to see us all at the three front windows of the -house--three groups watching the distant and wildly exciting happenings -in Fleet Street. There was I at one window; Mr. and Mrs. Baggs at the -other; Lady Barbara and the two Gallants at the third. And the -ejaculations which came from one set of Watchers or the other would fill -several pages of my narrative. - -Mistress Euphrosine was in abject fear. "Oh! I hope," cried she now and -again, "that they won't come this way. There'll be murder upon our -doorstep!" - -My Lord Stour had just one revulsion of feeling in favour of the -unfortunate 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 Lord -Douglas said with a rough laugh: "I would not lift a finger to defend -her. Let the Devil befriend her, an he list." - -And all the while the mob hissed and hooted, and stones flew like hail -all around the Chaise. - -"Oh! they'll murder her! They'll murder her!" called Mistress -Euphrosine piously. - -"And save honest men a vast deal of trouble thereby," Mr. Baggs -concluded sententiously. - -The Watchmen were now forging ahead. With their sticks and staves they -fought their way through bravely, heading the chair towards our street. -But even so, methought that they stood but little Chance of saving my -Lady Castlemaine in the end. The Crowd had guessed their purpose -already, and were quite ready to give Chase. The Chairmen with their -heavy burden could be no match against them in a Race, and the final -capture 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 what -I saw. Let me try and put the picture clearly before you, dear -Mistress; 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 turning -the corner of our Street. They were heading towards us with only a -comparatively small knot of roisterers to contend against, and the -panting, struggling Chairmen with the Sedan Chair were immediately -behind them. - -As far as I could see, the Crowd had not expected this Manoeuvre, and -the sudden turning off of their prey at right angles disconcerted the -foremost among them, for the space of a second or two. This gave the -Chairmen a brief start up the street. But the very next moment the Crowd -realized the situation, and with a wild war-cry, turned to give Chase, -when a Man suddenly stepped out from nowhere in particular that I could -see, unless it was from the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, and stood at the -bottom 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 Crowd -always will when something totally unexpected doth occur. The Man, of -course, had his back towards us, but I had recognized him, nor was I -surprised that his Appearance did have the effect of checking for an -instant that spirit of Mischief which was animating the throng. Lady -Barbara and the young Gentlemen at the other window were even more -astonished than I at this wholly unforeseen occurrence. They could not -understand the sudden checking of the Rioters and the comparative -silence 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 in -amazement. - -"Who is it?" queried Lady Barbara. - -"Not a Gentleman," rejoined Lord Douglas; "for he would not thus stop to -parley with so foul a mob. Meseems I know the figure," he added, and -leaned still further out of the window, the better to take in the whole -of 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 voice -in defence of that baggage." - -"But, who is it?" insisted my Lord Stour impatiently. - -"Why, Betterton the Actor," replied Lord Douglas with a laugh. "Do you -not know him?" - -"Only from seeing him on the stage," said the other. Then he added: "An -Actor 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 of -themselves." - -"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 to -describe. 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 his -Interposition had given my Lady Castlemaine's Chairmen and also the -Watchmen, who were guarding her, a distinct advance. They were making -the most of the respite by hurrying up our street as fast as they were -able, 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 some -Sally 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, so -that we all could hear Mr. Betterton's rich and powerful Voice quite -plainly. - -"Come, come, Friends!" he was saying; "the Lady will get there without -your help some day, I'll warrant. Aye! and further too, an the Devil -gives her her due! Now, now," he continued, when cries and murmurs, -boos and hisses, strove to interrupt him. "You are not going to hiss a -hard-working Actor off the Stage like this. Do, in the name of Sport, -which every sound-minded Englishman loves, after all, await a fitter -opportunity for molesting a defenceless Woman. What say You to -adjourning to the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, where mine Host hath just -opened 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! every -one who goes there now--and there's room for three or four hundred of -You--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 and -a 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 of -beer at the invitation of Tom Betterton? You know him! Is he not a -jolly, good fellow?..." - -Of course, he did not deliver this speech uninterruptedly. It was only -snatches of it that came to our ear. But we Listeners soon caught the -drift of it, and watched its reception by the Crowd. Well! the -Fire-eaters gradually cooled down. The prospect of the ale at the -_Spread Eagle_ caused many a smack of the lips, which in its turn -smothered the cries of Rage and Vituperation. Anon, One could perceive -one forearm after another drawn with anticipatory Pleasure across lips -that had ceased to boo. - -Just then, too, Heaven interposed in a conciliatory spirit in the form -of a few drops of heavy Rain, presaging a Storm. The next moment the -stampede in the direction of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern had begun, whilst -my 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 way -to stop the Rabble's howls, whilst my Lady Baggage finds safety in -flight." - -But Lady Barbara added thoughtfully: "Methinks 'twas plucky to try and -defend a Woman single-handed." - - - - 4 - - -I watched the turbulent throng, filing now in orderly procession through -the hospitably open doors of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern. Mr. Betterton -remained for awhile standing at the door, marshalling the more -obstreperous of his invited Guests and parleying with Mr. Barraclough, -the Host of the _Spread Eagle_--no doubt making arrangements for the -quenching of three or four hundred thirsts at his expense. Then he -suddenly turned on his heel and came up the Street. Lord Douglas gave -one of his rough, grating laughs, and said: - -"So now I see that, like a wise man, Mr. Betterton mistrusts his -Popularity and proposes to seek refuge from his ebullient Friends." - -"I believe," said Mistress Euphrosine to her Lord in an awed whisper; "I -believe that Thomas is coming here." - -Which possibility greatly disconcerted Mr. Baggs. He became quite -agitated, 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 Majesty. Surely then you may -invite him without shame under your roof!" - -"And I've never seen the great Actor close to," remarked Lord Stour -lightly. "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 have -of late thought themselves Somebodies, just because 'tis the fashion for -Gentlemen to write plays and to go to the Theatre. My Lord Rochester, -Sir George Etherege and the others have so spoilt them by going about -constantly with them, that the Fellows scarce know their place now. -This man Betterton is the worst of the lot. He makes love to the Ladies -of the Court, forgets that he is naught but a Rogue and a Vagabond and -not worthy to be seen in the company of Gentlemen. Oh! I've oft had an -itching 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 Spite -wherewith Lord Douglas spoke at this moment, or the look of Contempt -which for the moment quite disfigured his good-looking Face. That he -had been made aware at some time of Mr. Betterton's admiration for Lady -Barbara became at once apparent to me, also that he looked upon that -admiration as a Presumption and an Insult. - -I was confirmed in this Supposition by the look which he gave then and -there to his Sister, a look which caused her to blush to the very roots -of her hair. I fancy, too, that he also whispered something on that -Subject to my Lord Stour, for a dark frown of Anger suddenly appeared -upon 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 practising -Christian; but just at that moment I felt that I hated Lord Douglas -Wychwoode and his Friend with a bitter and undying hatred. - - - - 5 - - -Meseemed as if the air within the room had become surcharged with a -subtle and heady fluid akin to an Intoxicant, so many Passions were even -then warring in the innermost hearts of us all. There was Hatred and -Spite, and Fervour and Love. We were all of us alive at that moment, if -You know what I mean. We were Individuals who felt and thought -individually and strongly; not just the mere sheeplike Creatures swayed -hither and thither by the Modes and Exigencies of the hour. And I can -assure you that even then, when we heard Mr. Betterton's quick step -ascending the stairs, we all held our breath and watched the door as if -something Supernatural was about to be revealed to us. - -The next moment that door was thrown open and Mr. Betterton appeared -upon the threshold. - -Ah! if only You had seen him then, Mistress, your heart would have -rejoiced, just as mine did, at the sight. Personally, I could never -tell 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 one -else; he seems to dwarf every other Man by the Picturesqueness of his -Personality. - -And now--oh! You should have seen him as he stood there, framed in the -doorway, the grey afternoon light of this dull September day falling -full upon his Face, with those glittering Eyes of his and the kindly, -firm Mouth, round which there slowly began to spread a gently mocking -Smile. He was richly dressed, as was his wont, with priceless lace -frills at throat and wrists, and his huge Periwig set off to perfection -the 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 he -has. His glance swept over Lady Barbara's exquisite comeliness, her -somewhat 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 not -that his keen Eyes had also spied me watching his every Movement from -behind the screen. - -The mocking Smile broadened upon his Face. With one shapely leg extended -forward, his right arm holding his hat, his arm executing a superb -flourish, he swept to the assembled Company an elaborate Bow. - -"My Lords, your servant," he said. Then bowed more gravely to Lady -Barbara and added, with a tone of subtle and flattering deference: "I -am, as always, your Ladyship's most humble and most devoted Slave." - -Whereupon her Ladyship swept him one of those graceful Curtsies which I -understand have become the Mode in fashionable Society of late. But the -young Gentlemen seemed to have lost count of their Manners. They were -either too wrathful or too much taken aback to speak. Mistress -Euphrosine, with her nose in the air, was preparing to sail majestically -out of the room. - -Mr. Betterton then stepped in. He threw down his hat and playfully made -pretence to intercept Mistress Euphrosine. - -"Sister, I do entreat You," he said with mock concern, "do not carry -your well-shaped nose so high. The scent of Heaven will not reach your -nostrils, try how you may.... 'Tis more likely that you will smell the -brimstone which clings to my perruque." - -And before Mistress Euphrosine had time to think of a retort, he had -turned to her Ladyship with that gentle air of deference which became -him so well. - -"How comes it," he asked, "that I have the privilege of meeting your -Ladyship here?" - -"A mere accident, Sir," my Lord Stour interposed, somewhat high-handedly -I thought. "Her Ladyship, fearing to be molested by the Crowd, came to -meet 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 was -in the presence of this exquisitely beautiful Woman who had enchained -his Fancy. He stood like one transfixed, his eyes fastened almost in -wonderment upon the graceful Apparition before him. I should not be -exaggerating, fair Mistress, if I said that he seemed literally to be -drinking in every line of her dainty Figure; the straight, white throat, -the damask cheek and soft, fair hair, slightly disarranged. He had of a -truth lost consciousness of his surroundings, and this to such an extent -that it apparently set my Lord Stour's nerves on edge; for anon he said -with evident Irritation and a total Disregard both of polite Usage and -of 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 her -Ladyship." - -He had to repeat the Query twice, and with haughty impatience, before -Mr. 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 was -studied Insolence, seeing that he was addressing one of the most famous -Men in England. "I have heard the Name before ... but where, I cannot -remember.... Let me see, you are...?" - -"An Actor, Sir," Mr. Betterton gave haughty answer. "Therefore an -Artist, even though an humble one; but still a World contained in one -Man." - -Then his manner changed, the stiffness and pride went out of it and he -added in his more habitual mode of good-natured banter, whilst pointing -in the direction of Mistress Euphrosine: - -"That, however, is not, I imagine, the opinion which my worthy Sister--a -pious Lady, Sir--hath of my talents. She only concedes me a Soul when -she gloats over the idea that it shall be damned." - -"You are insolent!" quoth Mistress Euphrosine, as she stalked -majestically to the door. "And I'll not stay longer to hear you -blaspheme." - -Even so, her Brother's lightly mocking ripple of Laughter pursued her -along the course of her dignified exit through the door. - -"Nay, dear Sister," he said. "Why not stay and tell these noble -Gentlemen your doubts as to which half of me in the hereafter will be -stoking the Fires of Hell and which half be wriggling in the Flames?" -Then he added, turning gaily once more to the Visitors as Mistress -Euphrosine finally departed and banged the door to behind her: "Mistress -Baggs, Sir, is much troubled that she cannot quite make up her mind how -much of me is Devil and how much a lost Soul." - -"Of a surety, Sir," retorted Lord Douglas, with the same tone of -malicious Spite wherewith he had originally spoken of Mr. Betterton, -"every Gentleman is bound to share your worthy Sister's doubts on that -point ... and as to whether your right Hand or your sharp Tongue will -fizzle first down below." - -There was a moment's silence in the room--oh! the mere fraction of a -second--whilst I, who knew every line of Mr. Betterton's face, saw the -quick flash of Anger which darted from his eyes at the insolent speech. -Lady Barbara too had made an instinctive movement, whether towards him -in 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 with -quiet Mockery: - -"Your Lordship, I feel sure, will be able to have those doubts set at -rest presently. I understand that vast intelligence will be granted to -Gentlemen down there." - -At once my Lord's hand went to his sword. - -"Insolent!--" he muttered; and my Lord Stour immediately stepped to his -Friend's side. - -Like the Fleet Street crowd awhile ago, these two Gentlemen meant -mischief. For some reason which was not far to seek, they were on the -verge of a Quarrel with Mr. Betterton--nay! I believe that they meant -to provoke him into one. In wordy Warfare, however, they did not stand -much chance against the great Actor's caustic Wit, and no doubt their -sense of Impotence made them all the more wrathful and quarrelsome. - -Mr. Baggs, of course, servile and obsequious as was his wont, was ready -enough to interpose. A Quarrel inside his house, between valued Clients -and his detested Brother-in-law, was not at all to his liking. - -"My Lords ..." he mumbled half-incoherently, "I implore you ... do not -heed him ... he..." - -His futile attempts at Conciliation tickled Mr. Betterton's sense of -humour. The last vestige of his Anger vanished in a mocking Smile. - -"Nay, good Master Theophilus," he said coolly, "prithee do not interfere -between me and the Wrath of these two Gentlemen. Attend to thine own -Affairs ... and to thine own Conspiracies," he added--spoke suddenly -under Mr. Baggs' very nose, so that the latter gave a jump and -involuntarily gasped: - -"Conspiracies? ... What--what the devil do you mean, Sir, by -Conspiracies?" - -"Oh, nothing--nothing--my good Friend," replied Mr. Betterton lightly. -"But when I see two hot-headed young Cavaliers in close conversation -with a seedy Lawyer, I know that somewhere in the pocket of one of them -there is a bit of Handwriting that may send the lot of them to the Tower -first and to--well!--to Heaven afterwards." - -My Heart was in my Mouth all the time that he spoke. Of course he could -not know how near the Truth he was, and I firmly believe that his banter -was a mere Arrow shot into the air; but even so it grazed these noble -Lords' equanimity. Lord Douglas had become very pale, and my Lord Stour -looked troubled, or was it my fancy? But I am sure that her Ladyship's -blue eyes rested on Mr. Betterton with a curious searching gaze. She -too wondered how much Knowledge of the Truth lay behind his easy -Sarcasm. - -Then Lord Douglas broke into a laugh. - -"There, for once, Sir Actor," he said lightly, "your perspicacity is at -fault. My Lord the Earl of Stour and I came to consult your -Brother-in-law on a matter of business." - -"And," exclaimed Mr. Betterton with mock concern, "I am detaining you -with my foolish talk. I pray you, Gentlemen, take no further heed of -me. Time treads hard on your aristocratic Heels, whilst it is the Slave -of a poor, shiftless Actor like myself." - -"Yes, yes," once more interposed the mealy-mouthed Mr. Baggs. "I pray -you, my Lords--your Ladyship--to come to my inner office----" - -There was a general movement amongst the Company, during which I -distinctly heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode whisper to my Lord Stour: - -"Can you wonder that I always long to lay a stick across that Man's -shoulders? His every word sounds like insolence ... And he has dared to -make love to Barbara...." - -Her Ladyship, however, seemed loth to linger. The hour, of a truth, was -getting late. - -"Father will be anxious," she said. "I have stayed out over long." - -"Are the streets safe, I wonder?" my Lord Stour remarked. - -"Perfectly," broke in Mr. Betterton. "And if her Ladyship will allow -me, I will conduct her to her Chair." - -Again my Lord Stour flashed out angrily, and once more the brooding -Quarrel threatened to burst the bounds of conventional Intercourse. -This time the Lady Barbara herself interposed. - -"I pray you, my good Lord," she said, "do not interfere. Mr. Betterton -and I are old Friends. By your leave, he shall conduct me to my chair. -Do we not owe it to him," she added gaily, "that the streets are quiet -enough to enable us all to get home in peace?" - -Then she turned to Mr. Betterton and said gently: - -"If You would be so kind, Sir--my men are close by--I should be grateful -if You will tell them to bring my chair along." - -She held out her hand to him and he bowed low and kissed the tips of her -fingers. Then he went. - - - - 6 - - -Lord Douglas' spiteful glance followed the distinguished Actor's -retreating figure until the door had closed upon him. Then he said -drily: - -"Perhaps you are right, Babs. He may as well fetch your chair. It is -raining hard and one Lacquey is as good as another." - -He turned to Mr. Baggs, who, standing first on one leg then on the -other, presented a truly pitiable spectacle of Servility and -Unmanliness. I think he had just come to realize that I had been in the -room behind the screen all this while, and that my Presence would be -unwelcome to their Lordships if they knew that I had overheard all their -Conversation. Certain it is that I saw him give a quick glance in my -direction, and then he became even more fussy and snivelling than -before. - -"In my inner Office," he murmured. "I pray you to honour me, my -Lords.... A glass of wine, perhaps ... until the copies are finished. I -should be so proud ... and ... and ... we should be quite undisturbed -... whereas here ... I only regret..." - -I despised him for all that grovelling, and so did the Gentlemen, I make -no doubt. Nevertheless, they were ready to follow him. - -"We must wait somewhere," Lord Douglas said curtly. "And I should be -glad of a glass of wine." - -Lady Barbara was standing in the window-recess, waiting for her chair. -She insisted on my Lord Stour going with her Brother into the inner -room. Undoubtedly, she did not wish either of them to meet Mr. Betterton -again. - -"I promise you," she said with quiet Determination, "that I'll not stop -to speak with him. I'll watch through the window until my Men bring the -chair; then I will go down at once." - -"But----" protested his Lordship. - -"I entreat you to go, my Lord," she reiterated tartly. "And you too, -Douglas. My temper is on edge, and if I am not left to myself for a few -moments I shall have an attack of Nerves." - -She certainly spoke with unwonted Sharpness. Thus commanded, it would -have been churlish to disobey. The young Gentlemen, after a second or -two longer of Hesitation, finally followed Mr. Baggs out of the room. - -Now, I could not see the Lady Barbara, for she was ensconced in a -window-recess, just as I was; but I heard her give a loud Sigh of -Impatience. There was no doubt that her Nerves had been jarred. Small -wonder, seeing all that she had gone through--the noise and rioting in -the streets, her Terror and her Flight; her unexpected meeting with her -Lover; then the advent of Mr. Betterton and that brooding Quarrel -between him and the two Gentlemen, which threatened to break through at -any moment. - -The next minute I saw her Ladyship's chair brought to a halt down below, -and she crossed the Line of my Vision between the window and the sofa, -where she had left her cloak. She picked it up and was about to wrap it -round her shoulders, when the door was flung open and Mr. Betterton came -in. He gave a quick glance round the room and saw that the Lady Barbara -was alone--or so he thought, for, of course, he did not see me. He -carefully closed the door behind him and came quickly forward, -ostensibly to help her Ladyship on with her cloak. - -"It is kind of you, Sir, thus to wait on me," she said coldly. "May I -claim your Arm to conduct me to my chair?" - -She was standing close in front of him just then, with her back to him -and her hands raised up to her shoulders in order to receive her cloak, -which he had somewhat roughly snatched out of her grasp. - -"My Arm?" he riposted, with a vibrating note of passion in his mellow -voice. "My Life, myself, are all at your Ladyship's service. But will -not you wait one little moment and say one kind word to the poor Actor -whose Art is the delight of Kings, and whose Person is the butt of every -Coxcomb who calls himself a Gentleman?" - -He flung the cloak upon a chair and tried to take her hand, which, -however, she quickly withdrew, and then turned, not unkindly, to face -him. - -"My Brother is hasty, Sir," she said more gently. "He has many -prejudices which, no doubt, time and experience of life will mend. As -for me," she added lightly, "I am quite ready to extend the hand of -Friendship, not only to the Artist but to the Man." - -She held out her hand to him. Then, as he did not take it, but stood -there looking at her with that hungry, passionate look which revealed -the depth of his Admiration for her, she continued with a bantering tone -of reproach: - -"You will not take my hand, Sir?" - -"No," he replied curtly. - -"But I am offering You my Friendship," she went on, with a quick, nervy -little laugh; for she was Woman enough, believe me, to understand his -look. - -"Friendship between Man and Woman is impossible," he said in a strange, -hoarse voice, which I scarce recognized as his. - -"What do you mean?" she retorted, with a sudden stiffening of her Figure -and a haughty Glance which he, of a truth, should have known boded no -good for his suit. - -"I mean," he replied, "that between a Man and a Woman, who are both -young and both endowed with Heart and Soul and Temperament, there may be -Enmity or Love, Hatred or Passion; but Friendship, never." - -"You talk vaguely, Sir," she rejoined coldly. "I pray You, give me my -cloak." - -"Not," he retorted, "before I have caused your Ladyship to cast one -short Glance back over the past few months." - -"With what purpose, I pray You?" - -"So that You might recognize, as You gaze along their vista, the man who -since he first beheld you hath madly worshipped You." - -She stood before him, still facing him, tall and of a truth divinely -fair. Nay! this no one could gainsay. For the moment I found it in my -Heart to sympathize with his Infatuation. You, dear Mistress, were not -there to show him how much lovelier still a Woman could be, and the Lady -Barbara had all the subtle flavour, too, of forbidden fruit. Mr. -Betterton sank on one knee before her; his mellow Voice sounded -exquisitely tender and caressing. Oh! had I been a Woman, how gladly -would I have listened to his words. There never was such a Voice as -that of Mr. Betterton. No wonder that he can sway the hearts of -thousands by its Magic; no wonder that thousands remain entranced while -he speaks. Now, I assure You, Mistress, that tears gathered in my eyes, -there was such true Passion, such depth of feeling in his tone. But -Lady Barbara's heart was not touched. In truth, she loved another Man, -and her whole outlook on Life and Men was distorted by the Environment -amidst which she had been brought up. - -The exquisite, insinuating Voice with its note of tender Appeal only -aroused her contempt. She jumped to her feet with an angry exclamation. -What she said, I do not quite remember; but it was a Remark which must -have stung him to the quick, for I can assure You, dear Mistress, that -Mr. Betterton's pride is at least equal to that of the greatest Nobleman -in the land. But all that he did say was: - -"Nay, Madam; an Artist's love is not an insult, even to a Queen." - -"Possibly, Sir," she riposted coldly. "But I at least cannot listen to -You. So I pray You let me rejoin my Servants." - -"And I pray You," he pleaded, without rising, "humbly on my knees, to -hear me just this once!" - -She protested, and would have left him there, kneeling, while she ran -out of the room; but he had succeeded in getting hold of her Hand and -was clinging to it with both his own, whilst from his lips there came a -torrent of passionate pleading such as I could not have thought any -Woman capable of resisting for long. - -"I am not a young Dandy," he urged; "nor yet a lank-haired, crazy Poet -who grows hysterical over a Woman's eyebrow. I am a Man, and an Artist, -rich with an inheritance such as even your Ancestors would have envied -me. Mine inheritance is the Mind and Memory of cultured England and a -Name which by mine Art I have rendered immortal." - -"I honour your Genius, Sir," she rejoined coolly; "and because of it, I -try to excuse your folly." - -"Nay!" he continued with passionate insistence. "There are Passions so -sweet that they excuse all the Follies they provoke. Oh! I pray You -listen ... I have waited in silence for months, not daring to approach -You. You seemed immeasurably above me, as distant as the Stars; but -whilst I, poor and lowly-born, waited and worshipped silently, success -forged for me a Name, so covered with Glory that I dare at last place it -at your feet." - -"I am touched, Sir, and honoured, I assure You," she said somewhat -impatiently. "But all this is naught but folly, and reason should teach -you that the Daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury can be nothing to You." - -But by this time it was evident that the great and distinguished Actor -had allowed his Folly to conquer his Reason. I closed my eyes, for I -could not bear to see a Man whom I so greatly respected kneeling in such -abject humiliation before a Woman who had nothing for him but disdain. -Ah! Women can be very cruel when they do not love. In truth, Lady -Barbara, with all her Rank and Wealth, could not really have felt -contempt for a Man whom the King himself and the highest in the land -delighted to honour; yet I assure You, Mistress, that some of the things -she said made me blush for the sake of the high-minded Man who honours -me with his Friendship. - -"Short of reason, Sir," she said, with unmeasured hauteur at one time, -"I pray you recall your far-famed sense of humour. Let it show you -Thomas Betterton, the son of a Scullion, asking the hand of the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode in marriage." - -This was meant for a Slap in the Face, and was naught but a studied -insult; for we all know that the story of Mr. Betterton's Father having -been a menial is utterly without foundation. But I assure You that by -this time he was blind and deaf to all save to the insistent call of his -own overwhelming passion. He did not resent the insult, as I thought he -would do; but merely rejoined fervently: - -"I strive to conjure the picture; but only see Tom Betterton, the -world-famed Artist, wooing the Woman he loves." - -But what need is there for me to recapitulate here all the fond and -foolish things which were spoken by a truly great Man to a chit of a -Girl, who was too self-centred and egotistical to appreciate the great -Honour which he was conferring on her by his Wooing. I was holding my -breath, fearful lest I should be seen. To both of these proud People -before me, my known Presence would have been an added humiliation. -Already Lady Barbara, impatient of Mr. Betterton's importunity, was -raising her Voice and curtly bidding him to leave her in peace. I -thought every moment that she would call out to her Brother, when Heaven -alone would know what would happen next. - -"Your importunity becomes an insult, Sir," she said at last. "I command -You to release my hand." - -She tried to wrench it from his Grasp, but I imagine that his hold on -her wrist was so strong that she could not free herself. She looked -around her now with a look of Helplessness, which would have gone to my -Heart if I had any feeling of sympathy left after I had poured out its -full measure for my stricken Friend. He was not himself then, I assure -You, Mistress. I know that the evil tongue of those who hate and envy -him have poured insidious poison in your ears, that they told you that -Mr. Betterton had insulted the Lady Barbara past forgiveness and had -behaved towards her like a Cad and a Bully. But this I swear to be -untrue. I was there all the time, and I saw it all. He was on his -knees, and never attempted to touch her beyond clinging to her Hand and -covering it with kisses. He was an humbled and a stricken Man, who saw -his Love rejected, his Passion flouted, his Suffering mocked. - -I tell you that all he did was to cling to her hand. - - - - 7 - - -Then, all at once, I suppose something frightened her, and she called -loudly: - -"Douglas! Douglas!" - -I don't think that she meant to call, and I am sure that the very next -moment she had already regretted what she had done. - -Mr. Betterton jumped to his feet, sobered in the instant; and she stood -alone in the middle of the room, gazing somewhat wild-eyed in the -direction of the door, which had already been violently flung open and -through which my Lord Stour and Lord Douglas now hurriedly stepped -forward. - -"What is it, Babs?" Lord Douglas queried roughly. "Why are You still -here? ... And what...?" - -He got no further. His glance had alighted on Mr. Betterton, and I -never saw quite so much concentrated Fury and Hatred in any one's eyes -as now appeared in those of Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -But already the Lady Barbara had recovered herself. No doubt she -realized the Mischief which her involuntary call had occasioned. The -Quarrel which had been slowly smouldering the whole Afternoon was ready -to burst into living flame at this moment. Even so, she tried to stem -its outburst, protesting that she had been misunderstood. She even -tried to laugh; but the laugh sounded pitiably forced. - -"But it's nothing, Douglas, dear," she said. "I protest. Did I really -call? I do not remember. As a matter of fact, Mr. Betterton was good -enough to recite some verses for my delectation ... My Enthusiasm must -have run away with me ... and, unwittingly, I must have called out..." - -Obviously the Explanation was a lame one. I felt myself that it would -not be believed. On the face of my Lord Stour thunderclouds of Wrath -were fast gathering, and though Mr. Betterton had recovered his presence -of mind with all the Art at his command, yet there was a glitter in his -eyes which he was powerless to veil, whilst the tremor of her Ladyship's -lips while she strove to speak calmly aroused my Lord Stour's -ever-wakeful Jealousy. - -Lord Douglas, as was his wont apparently whenever he was deeply moved, -was pacing up and down the room; his hands were clasped behind his back -and from time to time I could see their convulsive twitching. Lord -Stour now silently helped her Ladyship on with her cloak. I was -thankful that Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine were keeping in the -background, else I verily believe that their obsequious Snivellings -would have caused my quivering Nerves to play me an unpleasant trick. - -Mr. Betterton had retired to the nearest window recess, so that I could -not see him. All that I did see were the two Gentlemen and the -threatening Clouds which continued to gather upon their Brows. I also -heard my Lord Stour whisper hurriedly in Lord Douglas' ear: - -"In the name of our Friendship, Man, let me deal with this." - -I felt as if an icy hand had gripped my Heart. I could not conjecture -what that ominous Speech could portend. Lady Barbara now looked very -pale and troubled; her hands as they fumbled with her cloak trembled -visibly. Lord Stour, with a masterful gesture, took one of them and -held it firmly under his arm. - -He then led her towards the door. Just before she went with him, -however, her Ladyship turned, and I imagine sought to attract Mr. -Betterton's attention. - -"I must thank you, Sir," she said, with a final pathetic attempt at -Conciliation, "for your beautiful Recitation. I shall be greatly -envied, methinks, by those who have only heard Mr. Betterton declaim -upon the Stage." - -Lord Douglas had gone to the door. He opened it and stood grimly by -whilst my Lord Stour walked out, with her Ladyship upon his arm. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - - THE OUTRAGE - - - 1 - - -A great Sadness descends upon my Soul, dear Mistress, even as I write. -Cold shivers course up and down the length of my spine and mine eyes -feel hot with tears still unshed--tears of Sorrow and of Shame, aye! and -of a just Anger that it should have been in the power of two -empty-headed Coxcombs to wreak an irreparable Injury upon one who is as -much above them as are the Stars above the grovelling Worms. - -I use the words "irreparable Injury" advisedly, dear Lady, because what -happened on that late September afternoon will for ever be graven upon -the Heart and Memory of a great and noble Man, to the exclusion of many -a gentle feeling which was wont to hold full sway over his Temperament -before then. Time, mayhap, and the triumph of a great Soul over -overwhelming temptation, have no doubt somewhat softened the tearing -ache of that cruel brand; but only your Hand, fair Mistress, can -complete the healing, only your Voice can, with its tender gentleness, -drown the insistent call of Pride still smarting for further Revenge. - - - - 2 - - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode did not speak to Mr. Betterton after her Ladyship -and my Lord Stour had gone out of the room, but continued his restless -pacing up and down. I thought his Silence ominous. - -Half consciously, I kept my attention fixed upon the street below, and -presently saw the Lady Barbara get into her chair and bid adieu to his -Lordship, who remained standing on our doorstep until the Sedan was -borne away up the street and out of sight. Then, to my astonishment, he -walked down as far as the _Spread Eagle_ tavern and disappeared within -its doors. - -The Silence in our parlour was getting on my nerves. I could not see -Mr. Betterton, only Lord Douglas from time to time, when in his -ceaseless tramping his short, burly figure crossed the line of my -vision. - -Anon I once more thought of my Work. There were a couple more copies of -the Manifesto to be done, and I set to, determined to finish them. Time -went on, and the afternoon light was now rapidly growing dim. Outside, -the weather had not improved. A thin rain was coming down, which turned -the traffic-way of our street to sticky mud. I remember, just after I -had completed my Work and tidied up my papers, looking out of the window -and seeing, in the now fast-gathering gloom, the young Lord of Stour on -the doorstep of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, in close conversation with -half a dozen ill-clad and ill-conditioned Ruffians. But I gave the -matter no further thought just then, for my mind happened to be -engrossed with doubts as to how I should convey the Copies I had made to -my Employer without revealing my presence to Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -His Lordship himself, however, soon relieved me of this perplexity, for -presently he came to a halt by the door which led to the inner office -and quite unceremoniously pushed it open and walked through. I heard his -peremptory demands for the Copies, and Mr. Baggs' muttered explanations. -But I did not wait a moment longer. This was obviously my best -opportunity for reappearing upon the Scene without his Lordship -realizing that I had been in the parlour all the time. I slipped out -from my hiding place and carefully rearranged the screen in its former -position, then I tiptoed across the room. - -In the gloom, I caught sight of Mr. Betterton standing in one of the -Recesses, his slender white hands, which were so characteristic of his -refined, artistic Personality, were clasped behind his back. I would -have given a year or two of my humdrum life for the privilege of -speaking to him then and of expressing to him some of that Sympathy with -which my heart was overflowing. But no one knows better than I how -proud a Man he is, and how he would have resented the thought that any -one else had witnessed his Humiliation. - -So I executed the Manoeuvre which I had in my mind without further -delay. I opened the door which gave on the stairs noiselessly, then -closed it again with a bang, as if I had just come in. Then I strode as -heavily as I could across the room to the door of the inner office, -against which I then rapped with my knuckles. - -"Who's that?" Mr. Baggs' voice queried immediately. - -"The Copies, Sir, which you ordered," I replied in a firm voice. "I -have finished them." - -"Come in! come in!" then broke in Lord Douglas impatiently. "I have -waited in this accursed hole quite long enough." - -The whole thing went off splendidly, and even Mr. Baggs did subsequently -compliment me on my clever Ruse. Lord Douglas never suspected the fact -that I had not been out of the Parlour for a moment, but had heard from -the safe shelter of the window-recess everything that had been going on. - - - - 3 - - -When, a few moments later, I returned to the Parlour, eager to have a -few minutes' speech with Mr. Betterton, I saw that he had gone. Anon, -Kathleen, the maid, brought in the candles and closed the shutters. I -once more took my place at my desk, but this time made no use of the -screen. After awhile, Lord Douglas came in, followed by the -ever-obsequious Mr. Baggs, and almost directly after that, my Lord Stour -came back. - -His clothes were very wet and he shook the rain out from the brim of his -hat. - -"What a time You have been!" Lord Douglas said to him. "I was for going -away without seeing You." - -"I wanted to find out what had happened in here," my Lord Stour gave -reply, speaking in a whisper. - -"What do you mean?" - -"The Fellow had the audacity to pay his addresses to Lady Barbara," my -Lord Stour went on, still speaking below his breath. "I guessed as -much, but wanted to make sure." - -Lord Douglas uttered an angry Oath, and Lord Stour continued hurriedly: - -"Such Insolence had to be severely punished, of course; and I saw to -it." - -"How?" queried the other eagerly. - -"I have hired half a dozen Ruffians from the tavern yonder, to waylay -him with sticks on his way from here, and to give him the sound -thrashing he deserves." - -It was with the most terrific effort at self-control that I succeeded in -smothering the Cry of Horror which had risen to my lips. As it was, I -jumped to my feet and both my chair and the candle from my desk fell -with a clatter to the floor. I think that Mr. Baggs hurled a Volley of -abuse upon me for my clumsiness and chided me in that the grease from -the candle was getting wasted by dripping on the floor. But the -Gentlemen paid no heed to me. They were still engaged in their -abominable conversation. While I stooped to pick up the chair and the -candle, I heard my Lord Stour saying to his Friend: - -"Come with me and see the Deed accomplished. The Mountebank must be made -to know whose Hand is dealing him the well-merited punishment. My -Hirelings meant to waylay him at the corner of Spreadeagle Court, a -quiet place which is not far from here, and which leads into a blind -Alley. Quickly, now," he added; "or we shall be too late." - -More I did not hear; for, believe me, dear Mistress, I felt like one -possessed. For the nonce, I did not care whether I was seen or not, -whether Mr. Baggs guessed my purpose or not. I did not care if he -abused me or even punished me later for my strange behaviour. All that -I knew and felt just then was that I must run to the corner of -Spreadeagle Court, where one of the most abominable Outrages ever -devised by one Man against Another was even then being perpetrated. I -tore across the room, through the door and down the stairs, hatless, my -coat tails flying behind me, like some Maniac escaping from his Warders. - -I ran up Chancery Lane faster, I think, than any man ever ran before. -Already my ears were ringing with the sound of distant shouts and -scuffling. My God! grant that I may not come too late. I, poor, weak, -feeble of body, could of course do nothing against six paid and armed -Ruffians; but at least I could be there to ward off or receive some of -the blows which the arms of the sacrilegious Miscreants were dealing, at -the instance of miserable Coxcombs, to a man whose Genius and Glory -should have rendered him almost sacred in their sight. - - - - 4 - - -As long as I live will that awful picture haunt me as I saw it then. - -You know the Blind Alley on the left-hand side of Spreadeagle Court, -with, at the end of it, the great double doorway which gives on the back -premises of Mr. Brooks' silk warehouse. It was against that doorway -that Mr. Betterton had apparently sought some semblance of refuge when -first he was set upon by the Ruffians. By the time that I reached the -corner of the Blind Alley, he had fallen against the door; for at first -I could not see him. All that I saw was a group of burly backs, and -arms waving sticks about in the air. All that I heard, oh, my God! were -ribald cries and laughter, and sounds such as wild animals must make -when they fall, hungry, upon their Prey. The Ruffians, I make no doubt, -had no grudge against their Victim; but they had been well instructed -and would be well paid if their foul deed was conscientiously -accomplished. - -My Wrath and Anxiety gave me the strength which I otherwise lack. -Pushing, jostling, crawling, I contrived to work my way through the -hideous Barrier which seethed and moved and shouted betwixt me and the -Man whom I love. - -When I at last kneeled beside him, I saw and heard nothing more. I did -not feel the blows which one or two of the Ruffians thought fit to deal -to Me. I only saw him, lying there against the door, panting, bleeding -from forehead and hands, his clothes torn, his noble Face of a deathly -Pallor. I drew his handkerchief from his coat pocket and staunched the -wounds upon his face; I pillowed his head against my Shoulder; I helped -him to struggle to his feet. He was in mortal pain and too weak to -speak; but a ray of kindliness and of gratitude flashed through his eyes -when he recognised me. - -The Ruffians were apparently satisfied with their hideous work; but they -still stood about at the top of the Alley, laughing and talking, waiting -no doubt for their Blood Money. Oh! if wishes could have struck those -Miscreants dumb or blind or palsied, my feeble voice would have been -raised to Heaven, crying for Vengeance on such an infamous Deed. Hot -tears came coursing down my cheeks, my temples throbbed with pain and -Misery, as my arm stole round the trembling figure of my Friend. - -Then all at once those tears were dried, the throbbing of my temples was -stilled. I felt no longer like a Man, but like a petrified Statue of -Indignation and of Hate. The sound of my Lord Stour's Voice had just -struck upon mine ear. Vaguely through the gloom I could see him and -Lord Douglas Wychwoode parleying with those abominable Ruffians.... I -heard the jingle of Money ... Blood Money ... the ring of ribald -laughter, snatches of a bibulous song. - -These sounds and the clang of the Gentlemen's footsteps upon the -cobble-stones also reached Mr. Betterton's fast-fading Senses. I felt a -tremor coursing right through his limbs. With an almost superhuman -Effort, he pulled himself together and drew himself erect, still -clinging with both hands to my arms. By the time that the two young -Cavaliers had reached the end of the blind Alley, the outraged Man was -ready to confront them. Their presence there, those sounds of jingling -money and of laughter, had told him the whole abominable tale. He fought -against his Weakness, against Pain and against an impending Swoon. He -was still livid, but it was with Rage. His eyes had assumed an -unnatural Fire; his whole appearance as he stood there against the solid -background of the massive door, was sublime in its forceful Expression -of towering Wrath and of bitter, deadly Humiliation. - -Even those two miserable Coxcombs paused for an instant, silenced and -awed by what they saw. The laughter died upon their lips; the studied -sneer upon their Face gave place to a transient expression of fear. - -Mr. Betterton's arm was now extended and with trembling hand he pointed -at Lord Stour. - -"'Tis You----" he murmured hoarsely. "You--who have done--this thing?" - -"At your service," replied the young Man, with a lightness of manner -which was obviously forced and a great show of Haughtiness and of -Insolence. "My friend Lord Douglas here, has allowed me the privilege of -chastising a common Mountebank for daring to raise his eyes to the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode----" - -At mention of the Lady's name, I felt Mr. Betterton's clutch on my arm -tighten convulsively. - -"Does she----" he queried, "does she--know?" - -"I forbid You," interposed Lord Douglas curtly, "to mention my Sister's -name in the matter." - -"'Tis to my Lord Stour I am speaking," rejoined Mr. Betterton more -firmly. Then he added: "You will give me satisfaction for this outrage, -my Lord----" - -"Satisfaction?" riposted his Lordship coolly. "What do you mean?" - -"One of us has got to die because of this," Mr. Betterton said loudly. - -Whereupon my Lord Stour burst into a fit of hilarious laughter, which -sounded as callous as it was forced. - -"A Duel?" he almost shrieked, in a rasping voice. "Ha! ha! ha! a -Duel!!!--a duel with You? ... With Tom Betterton, the Son of a -Scullion.... By my faith! 'tis the best joke you ever made, Sir Actor -... 'tis worth repeating upon the Stage!" - -But the injured Man waited unmoved until his Lordship's laughter died -down in a savage Oath. Then he said calmly: - -"The day and hour, my Lord Stour?" - -"This is folly, Sir," rejoined the young Cavalier coldly. "The Earl of -Stour can only cross swords with an Equal." - -"In that case, my lord," was Mr. Betterton's calm reply, "you can only -cross swords henceforth with a Coward and a Liar." - -"Damned, insolent cur!" cried Lord Stour, maddened with rage no doubt at -the other's calm contempt. He advanced towards us with arm -uplifted--then perhaps felt ashamed, or frightened--I know not which. -Certain it is that Lord Douglas succeeded in dragging him back a step or -two, whilst he said with well-studied contempt: - -"Pay no further heed to the fellow, my Friend. He has had his -Punishment--do not bandy further Words with him." - -He was for dragging Lord Stour away quickly now. I do believe that he -was ashamed of the abominable Deed. At any rate, he could not bear to -look upon the Man who had been so diabolically wronged. - -"Come away, Man!" he kept reiterating at intervals. "Leave him alone!" - -"One moment, my Lord," Mr. Betterton called out in a strangely powerful -tone of Voice. "I wish to hear your last Word." - -By now we could hardly see one another. The Blind Alley was in almost -total gloom. Only against the fast-gathering dusk I could still see the -hated figures of the two young Cavaliers, their outlines blurred by the -evening haze. Lord Stour was certainly on the point of going; but at -Mr. Betterton's loudly spoken Challenge, he paused once more, then came -a step or two back towards us. - -"My last Word?" he said coldly. Then he looked Mr. Betterton up and -down, his every Movement, his whole Attitude, a deadly Insult. "One -does not fight with such as You," he said, laughed, and would have -turned away immediately, only that Mr. Betterton, with a quick and -unforeseen Movement, suddenly reached forward and gripped him by the -Wrist. - -"Insolent puppy!" he said in a whisper, so hoarse and yet so distinct -that not an Intonation, not a syllable of it was lost, "that knows not -the Giant it has awakened by its puny bark. You refuse to cross swords -with Tom Betterton, the son of a Menial, as you choose to say? Very -well, then, 'tis Thomas Betterton, the Artist of undying renown, who now -declares war against You. For every Jeer to-day, for every Insult and -for every Blow, he will be even with You; for he will launch against You -the irresistible Thunderbolt that kills worse than death and which is -called _Dishonour_! ... Aye! I will fight You, my Lord; not to your -death, but to your undying Shame. And now," he added more feebly, as he -threw his Lordship's arm away from him with a gesture of supreme -contempt, "go, I pray You, go! I'll not detain You any longer. You and -your friend are free to laugh for the last time to-day at the name which -I, with my Genius, have rendered immortal. Beware, my Lord! The -Ridicule that kills, the Obloquy which smirches worse than the impious -hands of paid Lacqueys. This is the Word of Tom Betterton, my Lord; the -first of his name, as you, please God, will be the last of yours!" - -Then, without a groan, he fell, swooning, upon my shoulder. When -consciousness of my surroundings once more returned to me, I realized -that the two Gentlemen had gone. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - - THE GATHERING STORM - - - 1 - - -It was after that never-to-be-forgotten Episode that Mr. Betterton -honoured me with his full and entire Confidence. At the moment that he -clung so pathetically to my feeble arms, he realized, I think for the -first time, what a devoted Friend he would always find in me. Something -of the powerful magical Fluid of my devotion must have emanated from my -Heart and reached his sensitive Perceptions. He knew from that hour -that, while I lived and had Health and Strength, I should never fail him -in Loyalty and willing Service. - -Soon afterwards, if you remember, Mr. Betterton went again to Paris, by -command of His Majesty this time, there to study and to master the whole -Question of Scenery and scenic Effects upon the Stage, such as is -practised at the Theatre de Molire in the great City. That he -acquitted himself of his task with Honour and Understanding goes without -saying. The rousing Welcome which the public of London gave him on his -return testified not only to his Worth but also to his Popularity. - -The scenic Innovations, though daring and at times crudely realistic, -did, in the opinion of Experts, set off the art of Mr. Betterton to the -greatest possible Advantage. No doubt that his overwhelming Success at -that time was in a great measure due to his familiarity with all those -authentic-looking doors and trees and distant skies which at first -bewildered such old-fashioned actors as Mr. Harris or the two Messrs. -Noakes. - -Never indeed had Mr. Betterton been so great as he was now. Never had -his Talents stood so high in the estimation of the cultured World. His -success as _Alvaro_ in "Love and Honour," as _Solyman_ in the "Siege of -Rhodes," as _Hamlett_ or _Pericles_, stand before me as veritable -Triumphs. Bouquets and Handkerchiefs, scented Notes and Love-tokens, -were showered upon the brilliant Actor as he stood upon the Stage, -proudly receiving the adulation of the Audience whom he had conquered by -the Magic of his Art. - -His Majesty hardly ever missed a Performance at the new Duke's Theatre -when Mr. Betterton was acting, nor did my Lady Castlemaine, who was -shamelessly vowing about that time that she was prepared to bestow upon -the great Man any Favour he might ask of her. - - - - 2 - - -But outwardly at any rate, Mr. Betterton had become a changed Man. His -robust Constitution and splendid Vitality did in truth overcome the -physical after-effects of the abominable Outrage of which he had been -the Victim; but the moral consequences upon his entire character and -demeanour were indeed incalculable. Of extraordinary purity in his mode -of living, it had been difficult, before that Episode, for evil Gossip -to besmirch his fair name, even in these lax and scandalous times. But -after that grim September afternoon it seemed as if he took pride in -emulating the least estimable characteristics of his Contemporaries. -His Majesty's avowed predilection for the great Actor brought the latter -into daily contact with all those noble and beautiful Ladies who graced -the Court and Society, more by virtue of their outward appearance than -of their inner worth. Scarce ever was a banquet or fte given at While -Hall 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's -but the famous Actor was present there. He was constantly in the -company of His Grace of Buckingham, of my Lord Rochester and others of -those noble young Rakes; his name was constantly before the Public; he -was daily to be seen on the Mall, or in St. James's Park, or at the more -ceremonious parade in Hyde Park. His elegant clothes were the talk of -every young Gallant that haunted Fop's Corner; his sallies were quoted -by every Cavalier who strove for a reputation as a wit. In fact, dear -Lady, You know just as well as I do, that for that brief period of his -life Mr. Betterton became just one of the gay, idle, modish young Men -about town, one of that hard-drinking, gambling, scandal-mongering crowd -of 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 all -that gay, butterfly Existence which he led was only on the surface. To -me he was like some poor Animal stricken by a mortal wound, who, -nevertheless, capers and gyrates before a grinning Public with -mechanical movements of the body that have nothing in common with the -mind. - - - - 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 my -Lord of Stour, which was to take place soon after the New Year. Many -were the conjectures as to why so suitable a Marriage did not take place -immediately, and it seemed strange that so humble and insignificant a -Person as I was could even then have supplied the key to the riddle -which was puzzling so many noble Ladies and Gentlemen. I knew, in my -humble capacity as Spectator of great events, that the Marriage would -only take place after the vast and treasonable projects which had -originated in my Lord Douglas Wychwoode's turbulent mind had come to a -successful 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 to -leave my present humdrum employment and to allow myself to be attached -to his Person as his private Secretary and personal Friend. For a long -time I refused his offers--tempting and generous though they -were--chiefly because if I had gone then to live with Mr. Betterton, I -should have been irretrievably separated from You. But in my Heart I -knew 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, I -vow, did not exist than my humble self; and when, during the early part -of the autumn, You, dear Mistress, finally decided to leave your present -uncomfortable quarters for lodgings more befitting your growing Fame and -your Talents, there was nothing more to keep me tied to my dour and -unsympathetic Employer, and to his no less unpleasant Spouse. - -I therefore gave Mr. Theophilus Baggs notice that I had resolved to quit -his Employ, hoping that my Decision would meet with his Convenience. - -I could not help laughing to myself when I saw the manner in which he -received this Announcement. To say that he was surprised and indignant -would be to put it mildly; indeed, he used every Mode of persuasion to -try and make me alter my decision. He began by chiding me for an -Ingrate, vowing that he had taught me all I knew and had lavished Money -and Luxuries upon me, and that I was proposing to leave him just when -the time had come for him to see some slight return for his Expenditure -and for his pains, in my growing Efficiency. He went on to persuade, to -cajole and to bribe, Mistress Euphrosine joining him both in -Vituperation and in Unctuousness. But, as You know, I was adamant. I -knew the value of all this soft-sawder and mouth-honour. I had suffered -too many Hardships and too many Indignities at the hands of these -selfish Sycophants, to turn a deaf ear now that friendship and mine own -future happiness called to me so insistently. - -Finally, however, I yielded to the extent of agreeing to stay a further -three months in the service of Mr. Baggs, whilst he took steps to find -another Clerk who would suit his purpose. But I only agreed to this on -the condition that I was to be allowed a fuller amount of personal -Freedom than I had enjoyed hitherto; that I should not be set any longer -to do menial tasks, which properly pertained to a Scullion; and that, -whenever my clerical work for the day was done, I should be at liberty -to employ my time as seemed best to me. - -Thus it was that I had a certain amount of leisure, and after You left -us, fair Mistress, I was able to take my walks abroad, there where I was -fairly 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 and -company upon the seedy Attorney's Clerk, who of a truth was not worthy -to be seen walking in the Park or in Mulberry Gardens beside the -beautiful and famous Mistress Saunderson, who by this time had quite as -many Followers and Adorers as any virtuous Woman could wish for. You -never mentioned Mr. Betterton to me in those days, even though I knew -that You must often have been thrown in his Company, both in the Theatre -and in Society. That your love for him had not died in your Heart, I -knew from the wistful look which was wont to come into your eyes -whenever You chanced to meet him in the course of a Promenade. You -always returned his respectful and elaborate bow on those occasions with -cool Composure; but as soon as he had passed by and his rich, mellow -Voice, so easily distinguishable amongst others, had died away in the -distance, I, who knew every line of your lovely face, saw the familiar -look of Sorrow and of bitter Disappointment once more mar its perfect -serenity. - - - - 4 - - -We had an unusually mild and prolonged autumn this past year, if you -remember, fair Mistress; and towards the end of October there were a few -sunny days which were the veritable aftermath of Summer. The London -Parks and Gardens were crowded day after day with Ladies and Gallants, -decked in their gayest attire, for the time to don winter clothing still -appeared remote. - -I used to be fond of watching all these fair Ladies and dazzling -Cavaliers, and did so many a time on those bright mornings whilst -waiting to see You pass. On one occasion I saw the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode, in company with my Lord Stour. - -Heaven knows I have no cause to think kindly of her; but truth compels -me to say that she appeared to me more beautiful than ever before. She -and his Lordship had found two chairs, up against a tree, somewhat apart -from the rest of the glittering throng. I, as a Spectator, could see -that they were supremely happy in one another's company. - -"How sweet the air is!" she was sighing contentedly. "More like spring -than late autumn. Ah, me! How happily one could dream!" - -She threw him a witching glance, which no doubt sent him straight to -Heaven, 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 they -said. My Lord Stour was obviously very deeply enamoured of the Lady -Barbara. Because of this I seemed to hate and despise him all the more. -Oh! when the whole World smiled on him, when Fortune and Destiny -showered their most precious gifts into his lap, what right had he to -mar the soul which God had given him with such base Passions as Jealousy -and Cruelty? With his monstrous Act of unwarrantable violence he had -ruined the happiness of a Man greater, finer than himself; he had warped -a noble disposition, soured a gentle and kindly spirit. Oh! I hated -him! I hated him! God forgive me, but I had not one spark of Christian -spirit for him within my heart. If it lay in my power, I knew that I was -ready 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: "'Tis -unspeakable joy to look into your eyes, joyous madness to hold your -little hand!" And more of such stuff, as Lovers know how to use. - -And she, too, looked supremely happy. There was a sparkle in her eyes -which spoke of a Soul intoxicated with delight. She listened to him as -if every word from his lips was heaven-sent Manna to her hungering -heart. And I marvelled why this should be; why she should listen to -this self-sufficient, empty-headed young Coxcomb and have rejected with -such bitter scorn the suit of a Man worthy in every sense to be the Mate -of a Queen. And I thought then of Mr. Betterton kneeling humbly before -her, his proud Head bent before this ignorant and wilful Girl, who had -naught but cruel words for him on her lips. And a great wrath possessed -me, greater than it ever had been before. I suppose that I am very -wicked and that the Devil of Revenge had really possessed himself of my -Soul; but then and there, under the trees, with the translucent Dome of -blue above me, I vowed bitter hatred against those two, vowed that Fate -should be even with them if I, the humble Clerk, could have a say in her -decrees. - - - - 5 - - -Just now, they were like two Children playing at love. He was insistent -and bold, tried to draw her to him, to kiss her in sight of the -fashionable throng that promenaded up and down the Avenue less than -fifty yards away. - -"A murrain on the Conventions!" he said with a light laugh, as she -chided him for his ardour. "I want the whole Universe to be witness of -my joy." - -She placed her pretty hand playfully across his mouth. - -"Hush, my dear Lord," she said with wonderful tenderness. "Heaven -itself, 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 that -sometimes 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 caught -sight of Mr. Betterton walking at a distant point of the Avenue, in the -Company of a number of admiring Friends. - -They were hanging round him, evidently vastly amused by some witty -sallies of his. Never had I seen him look more striking and more -brilliant. He wore a magnificent coat of steel-grey velvet with richly -embroidered waistcoat, and a cravat and frills of diaphanous lace, -whilst the satin breeches, silk stockings and be-ribboned shoes set off -his shapely limbs to perfection. His Grace of Buckingham was walking -beside him, and he had my Lady Shrewsbury upon his arm, whilst among his -Friends I recognised my Lords Orrery and Buckhurst, and the Lord -Chancellor himself. - -The Lady Barbara caught sight of Mr. Betterton, too, I imagine, for as I -moved 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 are -like toothless, ill-tempered curs. They bark, but they are powerless to -bite!" - -Oh, I hated him! Heavens above! how I hated him! - -How puny and insignificant he was beside his unsuccessful Rival should -of 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 a -halt not very far from where those two were sitting; and it was very -characteristic of him that, even whilst the Duke of Buckingham was -whispering in his ear and the Countess of Shrewsbury was smiling archly -at 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, amongst -whom Her Grace the Duchess of York was conspicuous by her elegance and -the richness of her attire, literally swooped down upon Mr. Betterton -and his Friends, and Her Grace's somewhat high-pitched voice came -ringing shrilly to mine ear. - -"Ah, Mr. Betterton!" she exclaimed. "Where have you hid yourself since -yesterday, you wicked, adorable Man? And I, who wished to tell you how -entirely splendid was your performance in that supremely dull play you -call 'Love and Honour.' You were superb, Sir, positively superb! ... I -was telling His Grace a moment ago that every Actor in the world is a -mere Mountebank when compared with Mr. Betterton's Genius." - -And long did she continue in the same strain, most of the Ladies and -Gentlemen agreeing with her and engaging in a chorus of Eulogy, all -delivered in high falsetto voices, which in the olden days, when first I -knew him, would have set Mr. Betterton's very teeth on edge. But now he -took up the ball of airy talk, tossed it back to the Ladies, bowed low -and kissed Her Grace's hand--I could see that she gave his a significant -pressure--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 Majesty -himself lent his own Coronation Suit to the great Actor, so that he -might worthily represent the part of _Prince Alvaro_. This Success put -the crowning Glory to his reputation, although in my humble opinion it -was unworthy of so great an Artist as Mr. Betterton to speak the -Epilogue which he had himself written in eulogy of the Countess of -Castlemaine, and which he delivered with such magnificent Diction at the -end of the Play, that His Majesty waxed quite enthusiastic in his -applause. - - - - 7 - - -Standing somewhat apart from that dazzling group, I noticed my Lord -Douglas Wychwoode, in close conversation with my Lord Teammouth and -another Gentleman, who was in clerical attire. After awhile, my Lord -Stour joined them, the Lady Barbara having apparently slipped away -unobserved. - -My Lord Stour was greeted by his friends with every mark of cordiality. - -"Ah!" the Cleric exclaimed, and extended both his hands--which were -white and plump--to my Lord. "Here is the truant at last!" Then he -waxed playful, put up an accusing finger and added with a smirking -laugh: "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 dogmatic -way which he was pleased to affect: "Youth will ever smile, even in the -midst of dangers; and my Lord Stour is a great favourite with the -Ladies." - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode was as usual petulant and impatient, and rejoined -angrily: - -"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 her -beauty." - -This, of course, was News to me. I am so little versed in Court and -Society gossip and had not heard the latest piece of scandal, which -attributed to the Lady Castlemaine a distinct _penchant_ for the young -Nobleman. Not that it surprised me altogether. The newly created -Countess of Castlemaine, who was receiving favours from His Majesty the -King with both hands, never hesitated to deceive him, and even to render -him ridiculous by flaunting her predilections for this or that young -Gallant who happened to have captured her wayward fancy. My Lord -Sandwich, Colonel Hamilton, the handsome Mr. Wycherley, and even such a -vulgar churl as Jacob Hill, the rope dancer, had all, at one time or -another, been favoured with the lady's fitful smiles, and while -responding to her advances with the Ardour born of Cupidity or of a -desire for self-advancement rather than of true love, they had for the -most part lost some shreds of their Reputation and almost all of their -Self-respect. - -But at the moment I paid no heed to Lord Douglas' taunt levelled at his -Friend, 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 was -only in face of later events that I was presently to be reminded of it -all. - - - - 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 I -made bold to advance nearer to the dazzling group of Ladies and -Gentlemen that stood about, talking--jabbering, I might say, like a -number of gay-plumaged birds, for they seemed to me irresponsible and -unintellectual in their talk. - -Of course, I could not hear everything, and I had to try and make my -unfashionably attired Person as inconspicuous as possible. So I drew a -book 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 conspicuous -Triumphs. - -The book, and my seeming absorption in it, gave me the countenance of an -earnest young Student intent on the perusal of Classics, even whilst it -enabled me to draw quite near to the brilliant Throng of Distinguished -People, who, if they paid any heed to me at all, would find excuses for -my Presumption in my obvious earnest Studiousness. I was also able to -keep some of my attention fixed upon Mr. Betterton, who was surrounded -by admiring Friends; whilst at some little distance close by, I could -see Mr. Harris--also of the Duke's Theatre--who was holding forth in a -didactic manner before a group of Ladies and gay young Sparks, even -though they were inclined to mock him because of his Conceit in pitting -his talent against that of Mr. Betterton. - -There was no doubt that a couple of years ago Mr. Harris could be, and -was considered, the greatest Actor of his time; but since Mr. Betterton -had consolidated his own triumph by playing the parts of _Pericles_, of -_Hamlett_ and of _Prince Alvaro_ in "Love and Honour," the older Actor's -reputation had undoubtedly suffered by comparison with the Genius of his -younger Rival, at which of course he was greatly incensed. I caught -sight now and then of his florid face, so different in expression to Mr. -Betterton's more spiritual-looking countenance, and from time to time -his pompous, raucous voice reached my ears, as did the more strident, -high-pitched voices of the Ladies. I heard one young Lady say, to the -accompaniment of some pretty, mincing gestures: - -"Mr. Betterton was positively rapturous last night ... enchanting! You, -Mr. Harris, will in truth have to look to your laurels." - -And an elderly Lady, a Dowager of obvious consideration and dignity, -added in tones which brooked of no contradiction: - -"My opinion is that there never has been or ever will be a Player equal -to Mr. Betterton in Purity of Diction and Elegance of Gesture. He hath -indeed raised our English Drama to the level of High Art." - -I could have bowed low before her and kissed her hand for this; aye! and -have paid homage, too, to all these gaily-dressed Butterflies who, in -truth, had more Intellectuality in them than I had given them credit -for. Every word of Eulogy of my beloved Friend was a delight to my -soul. I felt mine eyes glowing with enthusiasm and had grave difficulty -in keeping them fixed upon my book. - -I had never liked Mr. Harris personally, for I was wont to think his -conceit quite overweening beside the unalterable modesty of Mr. -Betterton, who was so incomparably his Superior; and I was indeed -pleased to see that both the Dowager Lady--who, I understood, was the -Marchioness of Badlesmere--and the younger Ladies and Gentlemen felt -mischievously inclined to torment him. - -"What is your opinion, Mr. Harris?" my Lady Badlesmere was saying to the -discomfited Actor. "It would be interesting to know one Player's opinion -of another." - -She had a spy-glass, through which she regarded him quizzically, whilst -a mocking smile played around her thin lips. This, no doubt, caused -poor Mr. Harris to lose countenance, for as a rule he is very glib of -tongue. But just now he mouthed and stammered, appeared unable to find -his words. - -"It cannot be denied, your Ladyship," he began sententiously enough, -"that Mr. Betterton's gestures are smooth and pleasant, though they -perhaps lack the rhythmic grandeur ... the dignified sweep ... of ... of -... the..." - -He was obviously floundering, and the old Lady broke in with a rasping -laugh and a tone of somewhat acid sarcasm. - -"Of the gestures of Mr. Harris, you mean, eh?" - -"No, Madam," he retorted testily, and distinctly nettled. "I was about -to say 'of the gestures of our greatest Actors.'" - -"Surely the same thing, dear Mr. Harris," a young Lady rejoined with -well-assumed demureness, and dropped him a pert little curtsey. - -I might have been sorry for the Man--for of a truth these small -pin-pricks must have been very irritating to his Vanity, already sorely -wounded by a younger Rival's triumph--but for the fact that he then -waxed malicious, angered no doubt by hearing a veritable Chorus of -Eulogy proceeding from that other group of Ladies and Gentlemen of which -Mr. Betterton was the centre. - -I do not know, as a matter of fact, who it was who first gave a spiteful -turning to the bantering, mocking Conversation of awhile ago; but in my -mind I attributed this malice to Lord Douglas Wychwoode, who came up -with his clerical friend just about this time, in order to pay his -respects to the Marchioness of Badlesmere, who, I believe, is a near -Relative of his. Certain it is that very soon after his arrival upon -the scene, I found that every one around him was talking about the -abominable Episode, the very thought of which sent my blood into a Fever -and my thoughts running a veritable riot of Revenge and of Hate. Of -course, Mr. Harris was to the fore with pointed Allusions to the grave -Insult done to an eminent Artist, and which, to my thinking, should have -been condemned by every right-minded Man or Woman who had a spark of -lofty feeling in his or her heart. - -"Ah, yes!" one of the Ladies was saying; "I heard about it at the time -... a vastly diverting story...." - -"Which went the round of the Court," added another. - -"Mr. Betterton's shoulders," a gay young Spark went on airily, "are said -to be still very sore." - -"And his usually equable Temper the sorer of the two." - -Lord Douglas did not say much, but I felt his spiteful Influence running -as an undercurrent through all that flippant talk. - -"Faith!" concluded one of the young Gallants, "were I my Lord Stour, I -would not care to have Mr. Betterton for an enemy." - -"An Actor can hit with great accuracy and harshness from the Stage," Mr. -Harris went on pompously. "He speaks words which a vast Public hears -and goes on to repeat _ad infinitum_. Thus a man's--aye! or a -Lady's--reputation can be made or marred by an Epilogue spoken by a -popular Player at the end of a Drama. We all remember the case of Sir -William Liscard, after he had quarrelled with Mr. Kynaston." - -Whereupon that old story was raked up, how Mr. Kynaston had revenged -himself for an insult upon him by Sir William Liscard by making pointed -Allusions from the Stage to the latter's secret intrigue with some -low-class wench, and to the Punishment which was administered to him by -the wench's vulgar lover. The Allusions were unmistakable, because that -punishment had taken the form of a slit nose, and old Sir William had -appeared in Society one day with a piece of sticking plaster across the -middle of his face. - -Well, we all know what happened after that. Sir William, covered with -Ridicule, had to leave London for awhile and bury himself in the depths -of the Country, for, in Town he could not show his face in the streets -but he was greeted with some vulgar lampoon or ribald song, hurled at -him by passing roisterers. It all ended in a Tragedy, for Lady Liscard -got to hear of it, and there was talk of Divorce proceedings, which -would have put Sir William wholly out of Court--His Majesty being -entirely averse to the dissolution of any legal Marriage. - -But all this hath naught to do with my story, and I only recount the -matter to You to show You how, in an instant, the temper of all these -great Ladies and Gentlemen can be swayed by the judicious handling of an -evil-minded Person. - -All these Ladies and young Rakes, who awhile ago were loud in their -praises of a truly great Man, now found pleasure in throwing mud at him, -ridiculing and mocking him shamefully, seeing that, had he been amongst -them, he would soon have confounded them with his Wit and brought them -back to Allegiance by his magic Personality. - -Once again I heard a distinct Allusion to the Countess of Castlemaine's -avowed predilection for Lord Stour. It came from one of the Cavaliers, -who said to Lord Douglas, with an affected little laugh: - -"Perhaps my Lord Stour would do well to place himself unreservedly under -the protection of Lady Castlemaine! 'Tis said that she is more than -willing to extend her Favours to him." - -"Nay! Stour hath nothing to fear," Lord Douglas replied curtly. "He -stands far above a mere Mountebank's spiteful pin-pricks." - -Oh! had but God given me the power to strike such a Malapert dumb! I -looked around me, marvelling if there was not one sane Person here who -would stand up in the defence of a great and talented Artist against -this jabbering of irresponsible Monkeys. - - - - 9 - - -I must admit, however, that directly Mr. Betterton appeared upon the -scene the tables were quickly turned once more on Mr. Harris, and even -on Lord Douglas, for Mr. Betterton is past Master in the art of wordy -Warfare, and, moreover, has this great Advantage, that he never loses -control over his Temper. No malicious shaft aimed at him will ever -ruffle his Equanimity, and whilst his Wit is most caustic, he invariably -retains every semblance of perfect courtesy. - -He now had the Duchess of York on his arm, and His Grace of Buckingham -had not left his side. His Friends were unanimously chaffing him about -that Epilogue which he had spoken last night, and which had so delighted -the Countess of Castlemaine. My Lord Buckhurst and Sir William Davenant -were quoting pieces out of it, whilst I could only feel sorry that so -great a Man had lent himself to such unworthy Flattery. - -"'Divinity, radiant as the stars!'" Lord Buckhurst quoted with a laugh. -"By gad, you Rogue, you did not spare your words." - -Mr. Betterton frowned almost imperceptibly, and I, his devoted Admirer, -guessed that he was not a little ashamed of the fulsome Adulation which -he had bestowed on so unworthy an Object, and I was left to marvel -whether some hidden purpose as yet unknown to me had actuated so -high-minded an Artist thus to debase the Art which he held so dear. It -was evident, however, that the whole Company thought that great things -would come from that apparently trivial incident. - -"My Lady Castlemaine," said Sir William Davenant, "hath been wreathed in -smiles ever since you spoke that Epilogue. She vows that there is -nothing she would not do for You. And, as already You are such a -favourite with His Majesty, why, Man! there is no end to your good -fortune." - -And I, who watched Mr. Betterton's face again, thought to detect a -strange, mysterious look in his eyes--something hidden and brooding was -going on behind that noble brow, something that was altogether strange -to the usually simple, unaffected and sunny temperament of the great -Artist, and which I, his intimate Confidant and Friend, had not yet been -able to fathom. - -Whenever I looked at him these days, I was conscious as of a sultry -Summer's day, when nature is outwardly calm and every leaf on every tree -is still. It is only to those who are initiated in the mysteries of the -Skies that the distant oncoming Storm is revealed by a mere speck of -cloud or a tiny haze upon the Bosom of the Firmament, which hath no -meaning to the unseeing eye, but which foretells that the great forces -of Nature are gathering up their strength for the striking of a -prodigious blow. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - - AN ASSEMBLY OF TRAITORS - - - 1 - - -I, in the meanwhile, had relegated the remembrance of Lord Douglas -Wychwoode and his treasonable Undertakings to a distant cell of my mind. -I had not altogether forgotten them, but had merely ceased to think upon -the Subject. - -I was still nominally in the employ of Mr. Baggs, but he had engaged a -new Clerk--a wretched, puny creature, whom Mistress Euphrosine already -held in bondage--and I was to leave his Service definitely at the end of -the month. - -In the meanwhile, my chief task consisted in initiating the aforesaid -wretched and puny Clerk into the intricacies of Mr. Theophilus Baggs' -business. The boy was slow-witted and slow to learn, and Mr. Baggs, who -would have liked to prove to me mine own Worthlessness, was nevertheless -driven into putting some of his more important work still in my charge. - -Thus it came to pass that all his Correspondence with Lord Douglas -Wychwoode went through my Hands, whereby I was made aware that the -Traitors--for such in truth they were--were only waiting for a -favourable opportunity to accomplish their damnable Purpose. - -They meant to kidnap His Majesty's sacred Person, to force him to sign -an Abdication in favour of the son of Mistress Barlow--now styled the -Duke of Monmouth--with the Prince of Orange as Regent during the Duke's -minority. - -A more abominable and treasonable Project it were impossible to -conceive, and many a wrestling match did I have with mine own -Conscience, whilst debating whether it were my Duty or no to betray the -confidence which had been reposed in me, and to divulge the terrible -Secret of that execrable plot, which threatened the very life of His -Majesty the King. - -I understood that the Manifestos which it had been my task to -multiplicate, had met with some success. Several Gentlemen, who held -rigidly Protestant views, had promised their support to a project which -ostensibly aimed at the overthrow of the last vestiges of Popery in the -Country. My Lord Stour, who had also become a firm Adherent of the -nefarious scheme, in deference, I presume, to the Lady Barbara's wishes -in the matter, had, it seems, rendered valuable service to the cause, by -travelling all over the Country, seeing these proposed Adherents in -person and distributing the fiery Manifestos which were to rally the -Waverers to the cause. - -I imagined, however, that the whole project was in abeyance for the -moment, for I had heard but little of it of late; until one day I -happened to be present when the Conspirators met in the house of Mr. -Theophilus Baggs. - -How it came to pass that these Gentlemen--who were literally playing -with their lives in their nefarious undertaking--talked thus openly of -their Plans and Projects in my hearing, I do not pretend to say. It is -certain that they did not suspect me; thought me one of themselves, no -doubt, since I had written out the Manifestos and was Clerk to Mr. -Baggs, who was with them Body and Soul. No doubt, had Mr. Baggs been on -the spot on that day, he would have warned the Traitors of my presence, -and much of what happened subsequently would never have occurred. - -Thus doth Fate at times use simple tools to gain her own ends, and it -was given to an insignificant Attorney's Clerk to rule, for this one -day, the future Destinies of England. - - - - 2 - - -My Lord Stour was present on that memorable afternoon. I am betraying -no Secret nor doing him an injury by saying that, because his connection -with the Affair is of public knowledge, as is that of Lord Douglas -Wychwoode. The names of the other Gentlemen whom I saw in Mr. Baggs' -room that day I will, by your leave, keep hidden behind the veil of -Anonymity, contenting myself by calling the most important among them my -Lord S., and another Sir J., whilst there was also present on that -occasion the gentleman in clerical Attire whom I had seen of late in -Lord Douglas' Company, and who was none other than the Lord Bishop of D. - -My Lord Stour was in great favour amongst them all. Every one was -praising him and shaking him by the hand. His Lordship the Bishop took -it upon himself to say, as he did most incisively: - -"Gentlemen! I am proud and happy to affirm that it is to the Earl of -Stour that we shall owe to-night the Success of our Cause. It is he who -has distributed our Appeal and helped to rally round us some of our most -loyal Friends!" - -Lord Stour demurred, deprecated his own efforts. His Attitude was both -modest and firm; I had not thought him capable of so much Nobility of -Manner. - -But, believe me, dear Mistress, that I felt literally confounded by what -I heard. Mr. Baggs, who had pressing business in town that day, had -commanded me to remain at home in order to receive certain Gentlemen who -were coming to visit him. I had introduced some half-dozen of them, and -they had all gone into the inner office, but left the communicating door -between that room and the parlour wide open, apparently quite -acquiescing in my presence there. In fact, they had all nodded very -familiarly to me as they entered; evidently they felt absolutely certain -of my Discretion. This, as you will readily understand, placed me in a -terrible Predicament. Where lay my duty, I did not know; for, in truth, -to betray the Confidence of those who trust in You is a mean and low -trick, unworthy of a right-minded Christian. At the same time, there -was His Majesty the King's own sacred Person in peril, and that, as far -as I could gather, on this very night; and surely it became equally the -duty of every loyal Subject in the land to try and protect his Sovereign -from the nefarious attacks of Traitors! - -Be that as it may, however, I do verily believe that if my Lord--Stour -whom I hated with so deadly a hatred, and who had done my dear, dear -Friend such an irreparable injury--if he, I say, had not been mixed up -in the Affair, I should have done my duty as a Christian rather than as -a subject of the State. - -But You, dear Mistress, shall be judge of mine actions, for they have a -direct bearing upon those subsequent events which have brought Mr. -Betterton once again to your feet. - -I have said that my Lord Stour received his Friends' congratulations and -gratitude with becoming Modesty; but his Lordship the Bishop and also -Lord S. insisted. - -"It is thanks to your efforts, my dear Stour," Lord S. said, "that at -last success is assured." - -"But for you," added the Bishop, "our plan to-night might have -miscarried." - -My God! I thought, then it _is_ for to-night! And I felt physically -sick, whilst wondering what I should do. Even then, Lord Douglas -Wychwoode's harsh Voice came quite clearly to mine ear. - -"The day is ours!" he said, with a note of triumph in his tone. "Ere -the sun rises again over our downtrodden Country, her dissolute King and -his Minions will be in our hands!" - -"Pray God it may be so!" assented one of the others piously. - -"It shall and will be so," protested Lord Douglas with firm emphasis. -"I know for a fact that the King sups with the Castlemaine to-night. -Well! we are quite ready. By ten o'clock we shall have taken up our -Positions. These have all been most carefully thought out. Some of us -will be in hiding in the Long Avenue in the Privy Garden; others under -the shadow of the Wall of the Bowling Green; whilst others again have -secured excellent points of vantage in King Street. I am in command of -the Party, and I give you my word that my Company is made up of young -Enthusiasts. They, like ourselves, have had enough of this corrupt and -dissolute Monarch, who ought never to have been allowed to ascend the -Throne which his Father had already debased." - -"You will have to be careful of the Night Watchmen about the Gardens, -and of the Bodyguard at the Gate," one of the Gentlemen broke in. - -"Of course we'll be careful," Lord Douglas riposted impatiently. "We -have minimized our risks as far as we are able. But the King, when he -sups with the Castlemaine, usually goes across to her House unattended. -Sometimes he takes a Man with him across the Privy Gardens, but -dismisses him at the back door of Her Ladyship's House. As for the City -Watchmen over in King Street, they will give us no trouble. If they do, -we can easily overpower them. The whole thing is really perfectly -simple," he added finally; "and the only reason why we have delayed -execution is because we wanted as many Sympathizers here in London as -possible." - -"Now," here interposed His Lordship the Bishop, "thanks to my Lord -Stour's efforts, a number of our Adherents have come up from the country -and have obtained lodgings in various Quarters of the town, so that -to-morrow morning, when we proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the -Prince of Orange Regent of the Realm, we shall be in sufficient numbers -to give to our successful Coup the appearance of a national movement." - -"Personally," rejoined Lord Douglas, with something of a sneer, "I think -that the Populace will be very easily swayed. The Castlemaine is not -popular. The King is; but it is a factitious Popularity, and one easily -blown upon, once we have his Person safely out of the way. And we must -remember that the 'No Popery' cry is still a very safe card to play with -the mob," he added with a dry laugh. - -Then they all fell to and discussed their abominable Plans all over -again; whilst I, bewildered, wretched, indignant, fell on my knees and -marvelled, pondered what I should do. My pulses were throbbing, my head -was on fire; I had not the faculty for clear thinking. And there, in -the next room, not ten paces away from where I knelt in mute and -agonized Prayer, six Men were planning an outrage against their King; -amidst sneers and mirthless laughter and protestations of loyalty to -their Country, they planned the work of Traitors. They drew their -Swords and there was talk of invoking God's blessing upon their -nefarious Work. - -God's blessing! Methought 'twas Blasphemy, and I put my hands up to -mine ears lest I should hear those solemn words spoken by a consecrated -Bishop of our Church, and which called for the Almighty's help to -accomplish a second Regicide. - -Aye! A Regicide! What else was it? as all those fine Gentlemen knew -well enough in their hearts. Would not the King resist? He was young -and vigorous. Would he not call for help? Had not my Lady Castlemaine -Servants who would rush to His Majesty's assistance? What then? Was -there to be murder once more, and bloodshed and rioting--fighting such -as we poor Citizens of this tortured land had hoped was behind us -forever? - -And if it came to a hand-to-hand scuffle with the King's most Sacred -Majesty? My God! I shuddered to think what would happen then! - -There was a mighty humming in my ears, like the swarm of myriads of -bees; a red veil gradually spread before my eyes, which obscured the -familiar Surroundings about me. Through the haze which gradually -o'er-clouded my brain, I heard the voices of those Traitors droning out -their blasphemous Oaths. - -"Swear only to draw your swords in this just cause, and not to shed -unnecessary blood!" - -And then a chorus which to my ears sounded like the howling of Evil -Spirits let loose from hell: - -"We swear!" - -"Then may God's blessing rest upon You. May His Angels guard and -protect You and give You the strength to accomplish what You purpose to -do!" - -There was a loud and prolonged "Amen!" But I waited no longer. I rose -from my knees, suddenly calm and resolved. Do not laugh at me, dear -Mistress, for my conceit and my presumption when I say that I felt that -the destinies of England rested in my hands. - -Another Regicide! Oh, my God! Another era of civil Strife and military -Dictatorship such as we had endured in the past decade! Another era of -Suspicions and Jealousies and Intrigues between the many Factions who -would wish to profit by this abominable crime! It was unthinkable. -Whether the King was God's Anointed or not, I, for one, am too ignorant -to decide; but this I know, that the Stuart Prince was chosen little -more than a year ago by the will of his People, that he returned to -England acclaimed and beloved by this same Populace which was now to be -egged on to treason against him by a handful of ambitious Malcontents, -who did not themselves know what it was they wanted. - -No! It should not be! Not while there existed an humble and puny -subject of this Realm who had it in his power to put a spoke in the -wheel of that Chariot of Traitors. - -Ah! there was no more wavering in my heart now! no more doubts and -hesitation! I would not be betraying the confidence of a trusting Man; -merely disposing of a secret which Chance had tossed carelessly in my -path--a Secret which pertained to abominable Miscreants, one of whom was -the man whom I detested more than any one or anything on God's earth--a -flippant, arrogant young Reprobate who had dared to level a deadly -insult against a Man infinitely his superior in Intellect and in Worth, -and before whom now he should be made to lick the dust of Ignominy. - -I was now perfectly calm. From my desk I took a copy of the Manifesto -which had remained in my possession all this while. I read the contents -through very carefully, so as to refresh my memory. Then I took up my -pen and, at the foot of the treasonable document, I wrote the word: -"To-night." Having done that, I took a sheet of notepaper and carefully -wrote down the names of all the Gentlemen who were even now in the next -room, and of several others whom I had heard mentioned by the Traitors -in the course of their Conversation. The two papers I folded carefully -and closed them down with sealing wax. - -My hand did not shake whilst I did all this. I was perfectly -deliberate, for my mind was irrevocably made up. When I had completed -these preparations, I slipped the precious Documents into my pocket, -took up my hat and cloak, and went out to accomplish the Errand which I -had set myself to do. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - - THE LION'S WRATH - - - 1 - - -His Majesty the King was, of course, inaccessible to such as I. And the -time was short. - -Did I say that the hour was even then after six? The streets were very -dark, for overhead the sky was overcast, and as I walked rapidly down -the Lane to the Temple Stairs, a thin, penetrating drizzle began to -fall. - -My first thought had been to take boat to Westminster and to go to the -house of Mr. Betterton in Tothill Street, there to consult with him as -to what would be my best course to pursue. But I feel sure that You, -dear Mistress, will understand me when I say that I felt a certain pride -in keeping my present Project to myself. - -I was not egotistical enough to persuade myself that love of Country and -loyalty to my King were the sole motive powers of my Resolve. My -innermost Heart, my Conscience perhaps, told me that an ugly Desire for -Revenge had helped to stimulate my patriotic Ardour. I had realized -that it lay in my power to avenge upon an impious Malapert the hideous -Outrage which he had perpetrated against the Man whom I loved best in -all the World. - -I had realized, in fact, that I could become the instrument of Mr. -Betterton's revenge. - -That my Denunciation of the abominable Conspiracy would involve the -Disgrace--probably the Death--of others who were nothing to me, I did -not pause to consider. They were all Traitors, anyhow, and all of them -deserving of punishment. - -So, on the whole, I decided to act for myself. When I had seen the -Countess of Castlemaine and had put her on her guard, I would go to Mr. -Betterton and tell him what I had done. - -I beg you to believe, however, dear Mistress, that no thought of any -reward had entered my mind, other than a Word of Appreciation from my -Friend. - - - - 2 - - -I had, as perhaps you know, a slight acquaintance with Mistress Floid, -who is one of my Lady Castlemaine's tire-women. Through her, I obtained -speech with her Ladyship. - -It was not very difficult. I sent in the two Documents through Mistress -Floid's hands. Five minutes later I was told that my Lady desired -speech with me. - -I was a little bewildered and somewhat dazzled to be in the presence of -so great a lady. The richness of the House, the liveries of the -Servants, the superciliousness of the Lacqueys, all tended to discompose -me; whilst the subtle Scent of Spice and Perfumes which hung in the air -and the chorus of bird-song which came from an unseen Aviary, helped to -numb my Senses. I was thankful that I had not trusted to Speech and -Memory, but had set documentary Evidence forward to prove what I had to -say. - -Of my interview with her Ladyship I have only a confused memory. I know -that she asked many questions and listened to my stammering replies with -obvious impatience; but I have only a very vague recollection of her -flashing Eyes, of her Face, flaming with anger, of her jewelled Hand -clutching the documents which I had brought, and of the torrent of -vituperative abuse which she poured upon the Traitors, who she vowed -would pay with their lives for their Infamy. I know that, in the end, I -was allowed to kiss her hand and that she thanked me in her own Name and -that of His Majesty for my Loyalty and my Discretion. - -I went out of the room and out of the house like a Man in a dream. A -whirl of conflicting Emotions was rending my heart and my brain, until -sheer physical nausea caused me nigh to swoon. - -Truly it was a terrible Experience for a simple-minded Clerk to go -through, and it is a marvel to me that my brain did not give way under -the Strain. - -But my instinct--like that of a faithful dog seeking shelter--led me to -the lodgings of Mr. Betterton in Tothill Street, the very house in which -his father had lived before him. - -He had not yet returned from the Theatre, where he was at Rehearsal; but -his Servant knew me well and allowed me to go up into the parlour and to -lie down upon the sofa for a moment's rest. - -It was then nearing seven, and I knew that Mr. Betterton would soon be -coming home. I now felt infinitely weary; numbness of body and brain -had followed the conflicting Emotions of the past hours, and I was only -conscious of an overwhelming desire to rest. - -I closed my eyes. The place was warm and still; a veritable Haven of -Quietude. And it was the place where dwelt the Man for whose sake I had -just done so much. For awhile I watched the play of the firelight upon -the various articles of furniture in the room; but soon a pleasing -Torpor invaded my tired Brain, and I fell asleep. - - - - 3 - - -The sound of Voices upon the landing outside, the opening and closing of -one door and then another, recalled me to myself. The familiar sound of -my Friend's footsteps gave me an infinity of Pleasure. - -The next moment Mr. Betterton came into the room. He was preceded by -his Servant, who brought in a couple of Candles which he placed upon the -table. Apparently he had said nothing to his Master about my presence -here, for Mr. Betterton seemed vastly surprised when he saw me. I had -just jumped to my feet when I heard him entering the room, and I suppose -that I must have looked somewhat wild and dishevelled, for he expressed -great astonishment at my Appearance. - -Astonishment, and also Pleasure. - -"Why, friend Honeywood!" he exclaimed, and came to greet me with both -hands outstretched. "What favourable Wind hath blown you to this port?" - -He looked tired and very much aged, methought. He, a young Man, then in -the prime of Life, looked harassed and weary; all the Elasticity seemed -to have gone out of his Movements, all the Springiness from his -Footstep. He sat down and rested his elbows on his knees, clasped his -slender hands together and stared moodily into the fire. - -I watched him for awhile. His clear-cut Profile was outlined like an -Italian Cameo against the dark angle of the room; the firelight gave a -strange glow to his expressive Eyes and to the sensitive Mouth with the -firm lips pressed closely together, as if they would hold some Secret -which was even then threatening to escape. - -That look of dark and introspective Brooding sat more apparent now than -ever upon his mobile face, and I marvelled if the News which I was about -to impart would tend to dissipate that restless, searching glance, which -seemed for ever to be probing into the future decrees of Fate. - -"I have come to tell you news, Sir," I said after a while. - -He started as from a Reverie, and said half-absently: - -"News? What news, friend? Good, I hope." - -"Yes," I replied very quietly, even though I felt that my heart was -beating fast within my breast with excitement. "Good news of the Man -You hate." - -He made no reply for the moment, and even by the dim, uncertain light of -the fire I could see the quick change in his face. I cannot explain it -exactly, but it seemed as if something Evil had swept over it, changing -every noble line into something that was almost repellent. - -My heart beat faster still. I was beginning to feel afraid and a queer, -choking Sensation gripped me by the throat and silenced the Words which -were struggling to come to my lips. - -"Well?" queried Mr. Betterton a second or two later, in a calm, dull, -unemotional Voice. "What is thy news, friend Honeywood?" - -"There is a plot," I replied, still speaking with an effort, "against -His Majesty and the Countess of Castlemaine." - -"I knew that," he rejoined. "'Tis no news. There is more than one plot, -in fact, against the King and the Castlemaine. You surely haven't come -out on this wet night," he added with a mirthless laugh, "in order to -tell me that!" - -After all that I had gone through, after my tussle with my conscience -and my fight against myself, I felt nettled by his flippant tone. - -"I know not," I said firmly, "if there is more than one plot against His -Majesty the King. But I do know that there is one which aims at -striking at his sacred Person to-night." - -"That also is possible," he retorted, with still that same air of -flippant Carelessness. "But even so, I do not see, my dear Friend, what -You can do in the matter." - -"I can denounce the Plot," I riposted warmly, "and help to save the life -of His Majesty the King." - -"So you can, my dear Honeywood," he said with a smile, amused at my -vehemence. "So you can! And upon the King's gratitude you may lay the -foundations of your future Fortune." - -"I was not thinking of a Fortune," I retorted gruffly; "only of -Revenge." - -At this he looked up suddenly, leaned forward and in the firelight tried -to read my face. - -"Revenge?" he queried curtly. "What do you mean?" - -"I mean," I replied earnestly, "that the Plot of which I speak is real, -tangible and damnable. That a set of young Gallants have arranged -between themselves to waylay His Majesty the King this night in the -house of the Countess of Castlemaine, to kidnap his sacred person, force -him to abdicate, then proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the Prince -of Orange Regent of the Realm." - -"How do you know all this, Honeywood?" Mr. Betterton rejoined quietly, -dragged, meseemed, out of his former Cynicism by the earnestness of my -manner. - -"I was one of the first to know of it," I replied, "because on a certain -day in September I was employed in copying the Manifesto wherewith that -pack of Traitors hoped to rally distant Friends around their Standard. -For awhile I heard nothing more of the Affair, thought the whole thing -had sizzled out like a fire devoid of fuel; until to-day, when the -Conspirators once more met in the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs and -arranged to carry their execrable Project through to-night. Careless of -my presence, they planned and discussed their Affairs in my hearing. -They thought, I suppose, that I, like Mr. Baggs, was one of their Gang." - -Gradually, while I spoke, I could see the Dawn of Comprehension -illumining Mr. Betterton's face. He still was silent, and let me speak -on to the end. He was once more gazing into the fire; his arms were -resting on his knees, but his hands were beating one against the other, -fist to palm, with a violent, intermittent Gesture, which proclaimed his -growing Impatience. - -Then suddenly he raised his head, looked me once more straight in the -eyes, and said slowly, reiterating some of my words: - -"The Conspirators met in the house of Mr. Theophilus -Baggs--then--he----" - -I nodded. - -"My Lord Stour," I said, deliberately measuring my words, "is up to his -neck in the damnable Conspiracy." - -Still his searching gaze was fixed upon me; and now he put out his hand -and clutched my forearm. But he did not speak. - -"I was burning with rage," I said, "at the insult put upon you by my -Lord Stour ... I longed to be revenged..." - -His clutch upon my arm tightened till it felt like a Vice of Steel, and -his Voice came to my ear, hoarse and almost unrecognizable. - -"Honeywood," he murmured, "what do You mean? What have You done?" - -I tried to return his gaze, but it seemed to sear my very Soul. Terror -held me now. I scarce could speak. My voice came out in a husky -whisper. - -"I had the copy of the Manifesto," I said, "and I knew the names of the -Conspirators. I wrote these out and placed them with the Manifesto in -the hands of my Lady Castlemaine." - -Dear Mistress, you know the beautiful picture by the great Italian -artist Michael Angelo which represents Jove hurling his thunderbolt at -some puny human Creature who hath dared to defy him. The flash of Anger -expressed by the Artist in the mighty god's eyes is truly terrifying. -Well! that same Expression of unbounded and prodigious Wrath flashed out -in one instant from the great Actor's eyes. He jumped to his feet, -towered above me like some Giant whom I, in my presumption, had dared to -defy. The flickering candle light, warring with the fireglow, and its -play of ruddy Lights and deep phantasmagoric Shadows, lent size and -weirdness to Mr. Betterton's figure and enhanced the dignity and -magnitude of his Presence. His lips were working, and I could see that -he had the greatest difficulty in forcing himself to speak coherently. - -"You have done that?" he stammered. "You...?" - -"To avenge the deadly insult----" I murmured, frightened to death now by -his violence. - -"Silence, you fool!" he riposted hoarsely. "Is it given to the Mouse to -avenge the hurt done to the Lion?" - -I guessed how deeply he was moved by these Words which he spoke, more -even than by his Attitude. Never, had he been in his normal frame of -mind, would he have said them, knowing how their cruel intent would hurt -and wound me. - -He was angry with me. Very angry. And I, as yet, was too ignorant, too -unsophisticated, to know in what way I had injured him. God knows it -had been done unwittingly. And I could not understand what went on in -that noble and obviously tortured Brain. I could only sit there and -gaze upon him in helpless Bewilderment, as he now started to pace up and -down the narrow room in very truth like a caged Lion that hath been -teased till it can endure the irritation no longer. - -"You are angry with me?" I contrived to stammer at last; and indeed I -found much difficulty in keeping the tears which were welling up to mine -eyes. - -But my timid query only appeared to have the effect of bringing his -Exasperation to its highest pitch. He did in truth turn on me as if he -were ready to strike me, and I slid down on my Knees, for I felt now -really frightened, as his fine voice smote mine ears in thunderous -Accents of unbridled Wrath. - -"Angry?" he exclaimed. "Angry...? I..." - -Then he paused abruptly, for he had caught sight of me, kneeling there, -an humble and, I doubt not, a pathetic Figure; and, as you know, Mr. -Betterton's heart is ever full of Pity for the Lowly and the Weak. By -the flickering candle light I could distinguish his noble Features, a -moment ago almost distorted with Passion, but now, all of a sudden, -illumined by tender Sympathy. - -He pulled himself together. I almost could see the Effort of Will -wherewith he curbed that turbulent Passion which had threatened to -overmaster him. He passed his hand once or twice across his brow, as if -he strove to chase away, by sheer physical Force, the last vestige of -his own Anger. - -"No--no----," he murmured gently, bent down to me and helped me to my -feet. "No, my dear Friend; I am not angry with You ... I--I forgot -myself just now ... something seemed to snap in my Brain when you told -me that ... When you told me that----" he reiterated slowly; then threw -back his head and broke into a laugh. Oh! such a laugh as I never wish -to hear again. It was not only mirthless, but the Sound of it did rend -my heart until the tears came back to mine eyes; but this time through -an overwhelming feeling of Pity. - -And yet I did not understand. Neither his Anger nor his obvious Despair -were clear to my Comprehension. I hoped he would soon explain, feeling -that if he spoke of it, it would ease his heartache. Mine was almost -unendurable. I felt that I could cry like a child, Remorse warring with -Anxiety in my heart. - -Then suddenly Mr. Betterton came close to me, sat down on the sofa -beside me and said, with a Recrudescence of his former Vehemence: - -"Friend Honeywood, you must go straightway back to my Lady Castlemaine." - -"Yes," I replied meekly, for I was ready to do anything that he desired. - -"Either to my Lady Castlemaine," he went on, his voice trembling with -agitation, "or to her menial first, but ultimately to my Lady -Castlemaine. Go on your hands and knees, Honeywood; crawl, supplicate, -lick the dust, swear that the Conspiracy had no existence save in your -own disordered brain ... that the Manifesto is a forgery ... the list of -Conspirators a fictitious one ... swear above all that my Lord Stour had -no part in the murderous Plot----" - -I would, dear Lady, that mine was the pen of a ready Writer, so that I -might give you a clear idea of Mr. Betterton's strange aspect at that -moment. His face was close to mine, yet he did not seem like himself. -You know how serene and calm is the Glance of his Eyes as a rule. Well! -just then they were strangely luminous and restless; there was a glitter -in them, a weird, pale Light that I cannot describe, but which struck me -as coming from a Brain that, for the moment, was almost bereft of -Reason. - -That he was not thinking coherently was obvious to me from what he said. -I, who was ready and prepared to do anything that might atone for the -Injury, as yet inexplicable, which I had so unwittingly done to him, -felt, nevertheless, the entire Futility of his Suggestion. Indeed, was -it likely that my Lady Castlemaine's Suspicions, once roused, could so -easily be allayed? Whatever I told her now, she would of a surety warn -the King--had done so, no doubt, already. Measures would be taken--had -already been taken--to trap the infamous Plotters, to catch them -red-handed in the Act; if indeed they were guilty. Nay! I could not -very well imagine how such great Personages would act under the -Circumstances that had come about. But this much I did know; that not -one of them would be swayed by the Vagaries of a puny Clerk, who had -taken it upon himself to denounce a number of noble Gentlemen for -Treason one moment and endeavoured to exonerate them the next. So I -could only shake my head and murmur: - -"Alas, Sir! all that now would be too late." - -He looked at me searchingly for a second or two. The strange glitter -died out from his eyes, and he gave a deep sigh of weariness and of -disappointment. - -"Aye!" he said. "True! true! It is all too late!" - -Imagine, dear Mistress, how puzzled I was. What would You have thought -of it all, yourself, had your sweet Spirit been present then at that -hour, when a truly good, yet deeply injured Man bared his Soul before -his Friend? - -Just for a second or two the Suspicion flashed through my mind that Mr. -Betterton himself was in some secret and unaccountable manner mixed up -with the abominable Conspiracy. But almost at once my saner Judgment -rejected this villainous Suggestion; for of a truth it had no foundation -save in Foolishness engendered by a bewildered brain. In truth, I had -never seen Mr. Betterton in the Company of any of those Traitors whose -names were indelibly graven upon the tablets of my Memory, save on that -one occasion--that unforgettable afternoon in September, when he entered -the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs at the hour when Lord Douglas -Wychwoode had just entrusted his Manifesto to me. What was said then -and what happened afterwards should, God help me! have convinced me that -no sort of intimate Connection, political or otherwise, could ever exist -between my Lord Stour, Lord Douglas Wychwoode or their Friends, and Mr. -Betterton. - - - - 4 - - -Even while all these Thoughts and Conjectures were coursing through my -brain, my innermost Consciousness kept my attention fixed upon my -friend. - -He had once more resumed his restless pacing up and down the narrow -room. His slender hands were closely linked together behind his back, -and at times he strode quite close to me, so close that the skirts of -his fashionably cut coat brushed against my knee. From time to time -disconnected Phrases came to his lips. He was talking to himself, a -thing which I had never known him do before. - -"I, who wished to return Taunt for Taunt and Infamy for Infamy!" he said -at one time. And at another: "To-day ... in a few hours perhaps, that -young Coxcomb will be in the Tower ... and then the Scaffold!" - -I listened as attentively as I could, without seeming to do so, thinking -that, if I only caught more of these confused Mutterings, the Puzzle, -such as it was, would become more clear to me. Picture the two of us -then, dear Mistress, in the semi-darkness, with only fitful candle light -to bring into occasional bold relief the fine Figure of the great Actor -pacing up and down like a restless and tortured Beast; and mine own -meagre Form cowering in an angle of the sofa, straining mine ears to -catch every syllable that came from my Friend's lips, and mine eyes to -note every Change of his Countenance. - -"She will think 'twas I who spied upon him," I heard him say quite -distinctly through his clenched teeth. "I who betrayed him, her -Friends, her Brother." - -"He will die a Martyr to the cause she loves," he murmured a few moments -later. "A Hero to his friends--to _her_ a demi-god whose Memory she -will worship." - -Then he paused, and added in a loud and firm voice, apostrophizing, God -knows what Spirits of Hate and of Vengeance whom he had summoned: - -"And _that_ is to be my Revenge for the deadliest Insult Man ever put -upon Man! ... Ha! ha! ha! ha!" he laughed, with weird Incontinence. -"God above us, save me from my Friends and let me deal alone with mine -Enemies!" - -He fell back into the nearest chair and, resting his elbows on his -knees, he pressed his forehead against his clenched fists. I stared at -him, mute, dumbfounded. For now I understood. I knew what I had done, -knew what he desired, what he had striven for and planned all these past -weary weeks. His Hopes, his Desires, I had frustrated. I, his Friend, -who would have given my Life for his welfare! - -I had been heart-broken before. I was doubly so now. I slid from the -sofa once more on my knees and, not daring to touch him, I just remained -there, sobbing and moaning in helpless Dejection and Remorse. - -"What can I do?--what can I do?" - -He looked at me, obviously dazed, had apparently become quite oblivious -of my presence. Once more that look of tender Commiseration came into -his eyes, and he said with a gently ironical smile: - -"You? Poor little, feeble Mouse, who has gnawed at the Giant's -prey--what can you do? ... Why, nothing. Go back to our mutual Friend, -Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and tell him to make his way--and quickly too--to -some obscure corner of the Country, for he also is up to the neck in -that damnable Conspiracy." - -This set my mind to a fresh train of thought. - -"Shall I to my Lord Stour by the same token?" I asked eagerly. - -"To my Lord Stour?" he queried, with a puzzled frown. "What for?" - -"To warn him," I replied. "Give him a chance of escape. I could tell -him you sent me," I added tentatively. - -He laughed. - -"No, no, my Friend," he said drily. "We'll not quite go to that length. -Give him a chance of Escape?" he reiterated. "And tell him I sent You? -No, no! He would only look upon my supposed Magnanimity as a sign of -cringing Humility, Obsequiousness and Terror of further Reprisals. No, -no, my Friend; I'll not give the gay young Spark another chance of -insulting me.... But let me think ... let me think ... Oh, if only I -had a few days before me, instead of a mere few hours! ... And if only -my Lady Castlemaine..." - -He paused, and I broke in on the impulse of the moment. - -"Oh, Sir! hath not the Countess of Castlemaine vowed often of late that -she would grant any Favour that the great Mr. Betterton would ask of -her?" - -No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I regretted them. It must -have been Instinct, for they seemed innocent enough at the time. My -only thought in uttering them was to suggest that at Mr. Betterton's -request the Traitors would be pardoned. My Lady Castlemaine in those -days held the King wholly under her Domination. And I still believed -that my Friend desired nothing so much at this moment than that my Lord -Stour should not die a Hero's death--a Martyr to the cause which the -beautiful Lady Barbara had at heart. - -But since that hour, whenever I have looked back upon the Sequence of -Events which followed on my impulsive Utterance, I could not help but -think that Destiny had put the words into my mouth. She had need of me -as her tool. What had to be, had to be. You, dear Mistress, can now -judge whether Mr. Betterton is still worthy of your Love, whether he is -still worthy to be taken back into your heart. For verily my words did -make the turning point in the workings of his Soul. But I should never -have dared to tell you all that happened, face to face, and I desired to -speak of the matter impartially. Therefore I chose the medium of a pen, -so that I might make You understand and, understanding, be ready to -forgive. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - - A LAST CHANCE - - - 1 - - -Of course, what happened subsequently, I can only tell for the most part -from what Mr. Betterton told me himself, and also from one or two facts -revealed to me by Mistress Floid. - -At the moment, Mr. Betterton commended me for my Suggestion, rested his -hand with all his former affectionate Manner upon my shoulder, and said -quite simply: - -"I thank you, friend, for reminding me of this. My Lady Castlemaine did -indeed last night intimate to me that she felt ready to grant any Favour -I might ask of her. Well! I will not put her Magnanimity to an over -severe test. Come with me, friend Honeywood. We'll to her Ladyship. -There will be plenty of time after that to go and warn that worthy Mr. -Baggs and my equally worthy Sister. I should not like them to end their -days upon the Scaffold. So heroic an ending doth not seem suitable to -their drabby Existence, and would war with all preconceived Dramatic -Values." - -He then called to his man and ordered a couple of linkmen to be in -readiness to guide us through the Streets, as these were far from safe -for peaceful Pedestrians after dark! Then he demanded his hat and -cloak, and a minute or so later he bade me follow him, and together we -went out of the house. - - - - 2 - - -It was now raining heavily, and we wrapped our Cloaks tightly round our -Shoulders, speeding along as fast as we could. The streets were almost -deserted and as dreary as London streets alone can be on a November -evening. Only from the closed Windows of an occasional Tavern or -Coffee-house did a few rays of bright light fall across the road, -throwing a vivid bar of brilliance athwart our way, and turning the -hundreds of Puddles into shining reflections, like so many glimmering -Stars. - -For the rest, we were dependent on the linkmen, who walked ahead of us, -swinging their Lanterns for Guidance on our path. Being somewhat timid -by nature, I had noted with satisfaction that they both carried stout -Cudgels, for of a truth there were many Marauders about on dark nights -such as this, Footpads and Highway Robbers, not to mention those bands -of young Rakes, who found pleasure in "scouring" the streets o' nights -and molesting the belated Wayfarer. - -Mr. Betterton, too, carried a weighted stick, and he was a Man whom -clean, sturdy living had rendered both athletic and powerful. We were -soon, both of us, wet to the Skin, but Mr. Betterton appeared quite -oblivious of discomfort. He walked with a quick step, and I perforce -had to keep up with him as best I could. - -He had told me, before we started out, that he was bent for my Lady -Castlemaine's House, the rear of which looks down upon the Gardens of -White Hall. I knew the way thither just as well as he did. Great was -my astonishment, therefore, when having reached the bottom of King -Street, when we should have turned our steps northwards, Mr. Betterton -suddenly ordered the linkmen to proceed through Palace Yard in the -direction of Westminster Stairs. - -I thought that he was suffering from a fit of absent-mindedness, which -was easily understandable on account of his agitated Frame of Mind; and -presently I called his attention to his mistake. He paid no heed to me, -however, and continued to walk on until we were some way up Canon's Row. - -Here he called to his linkmen to halt, and himself paused; then caught -hold of my cloak, and dragged me under the shelter of a great gateway -belonging to one of those noble Mansions which front the River. And he -said to me, in a strange and peremptory Voice, hardly raised above a -Whisper: - -"Do You know where we are, Honeywood?" - -"Yes," I said, not a little surprised at the question. "We are at the -South End of Canon's Row. I know this part very well, having often----" - -"Very well, then," he broke in, still in the same imperious Manner. -"You know that we are under the gateway belonging to the Town Mansion of -the Earl of Stour, and that the house is some twenty yards up the -fore-court." - -"I know the house," I replied, "now you mention it." - -"Then you will go to my Lord Stour now, Honeywood," my Friend went on. - -"To warn him?" I queried eagerly, for of a truth I was struck with -Admiration at this excess of Magnanimity on the part of an injured Man. - -"No," Mr. Betterton replied curtly. "You will go to my Lord Stour as my -Friend and Intermediary. You will tell him that I sent You, because I -desire to know if he hath changed his mind, and if he is ready to give -me Satisfaction for the Insult, which he put upon me nigh on two months -ago." - -I could not restrain a gasp of surprise. - -"But----" I stammered. - -"You are not going to play me false, Honeywood," he said simply. - -That I swore I would not do. Indeed, he knew well enough that if he -commanded me to go to the outermost ends of the Earth on his errand, or -to hold parley with the Devil on his behalf, I would have been eager and -ready to do it. - -But I must confess that at this moment I would sooner have parleyed with -the Devil than with the Earl of Stour. The Man whom I had denounced, -You understand. I felt that the shadow of Death--conjured by me, -menacing and unevasive--would perhaps lie 'twixt him and me whilst I -spoke with him. Yet how could I demur when my Friend besought me?--my -Friend, who was gravely troubled because of me. - -I promised that I would do as he wished. Whereupon he gave me full -instructions. Never had so strange a task been put upon a simple-minded -Plebeian: for these were matters pertaining to Gentlemen. I knew less -than nothing of Duels, Affairs of Honour, or such like; yet here was -I--John Honeywood, an humble Attorney's Clerk--sent to convey a -challenge for a Duel to a high and noble Lord, in the manner most -approved by Tradition. - -I was ready to swoon with Fright; for, in truth, I am naught but a timid -Rustic. In spite of the cold and the rain I felt a rush of hot blood -coursing up and down my Spine. But I learned my Lesson from end to end, -and having mastered it, I did not waver. - -Leaving Mr. Betterton under the shelter of the gateway, I boldly crossed -the fore-court and mounted the couple of steps which led up to the front -door of the Mansion. The fore-court and the front of the House were -very dark, and I was not a little afraid of Night Prowlers, who, they do -say, haunt the immediate Purlieus of these stately Abodes of the -Nobility, ready to fall upon any belated Visitor who might be foolish -enough to venture out alone. - -Indeed, everything around me was so still and seemed so desolate that an -Access of Fear seized me, whilst I vainly tried to grope for the -bell-handle in the Darkness. I very nearly gave way to my Cowardice -then and there, and would have run back to my Friend or called out to -the Linkmen for their Company, only that at the very moment my Hand came -in contact with the iron bell pull, and fastened itself instinctively -upon it. - -Whereupon the clang of the Bell broke the solemn Silence which reigned -around. - - - - 3 - - -I had grave Difficulty in obtaining access to my Lord Stour, his Servant -telling me in the first instance that his Lordship was not at home, and -in the second that he was in any event too busy to receive Visitors at -this hour. But I have oft been told that I possess the Obstinacy of the -Weak, and I was determined that, having come so far, I would not return -to Mr. Betterton without having accomplished mine Errand. So, seeing -that the Servant, with the Officiousness and Insolence of his kind, was -about to slam the door in my face, an Inspiration seized me, and taking -on a haughty Air, I stepped boldly across the Threshold and then -commanded the Menial to go to his Lordship at once and announce the -visit 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 good -deal of hem-ming and hawing, the Varlet apparently felt that -non-compliance with my Desire might bring contumely upon himself; so he -went, leaving me most unceremoniously to cool my heels in the Hall, and -returned but a very few minutes later looking distinctly crestfallen and -not a little astonished. - -His Lordship would see me at once, he announced. Then bade me follow him -up the stairs. - -To say that my Heart was beating furiously within my Breast would be but -a bald Statement of my Frame of Mind. I fully expected that his -Lordship, 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 not -given much time to indulge in my Conjectures and my Fears, for presently -I was ushered into a large room, dimly lighted by a couple of wax -candles and the Walls of which, I noticed, were entirely lined with -Books. - -After the Menial had closed the door behind me, a Voice bade me curtly -to come forward and to state mine Errand. Then I saw that my Lord Stour -was not alone. He was sitting in a chair in front of the fire, and -opposite to him sat the beautiful Lady Barbara, whilst standing in front -of the hearth, with legs apart and hands thrust in the pockets of his -breeches, was Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -What Courage was left in me now went down into my shoes. I felt like a -Man faced with three Enemies where he had only expected to meet one. My -Throat felt very dry and my Tongue seemed to cleave to my Palate. -Nevertheless, in response to a reiterated curt Command to state mine -Errand, I did so unfalteringly. - -"Mr. Thomas Betterton, one of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants," I -said, "hath sent me to his Lordship the Earl of Stour." - -My Words were greeted with an angry Oath from Lord Douglas, an ironical -Laugh 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 have -been 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----" his -Lordship began coldly, and would no doubt have dismissed me then and -there, but that the Lady Barbara interposed gently yet with great -Firmness. - -"I pray You, my Lord," she said, "do not be over-hasty. We might at -least listen to what Mr. Betterton's Messenger has to say." - -"Yes," added Lord Douglas in his habitual brusque Manner. "Let us hear -what the Fellow wants." - -This was not encouraging, you will admit; but, like many over-timid -People, there are times when I am conscious of unwonted Calm and -Determination. So even now I confronted these two supercilious Gentlemen -with as much Dignity as I could command, and said, addressing myself -directly to the Earl of Stour: - -"Mr. Betterton hath sent me to You, my Lord, to demand Satisfaction for -the abominable Outrage which You perpetrated upon his Person nigh on two -months 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 brought -saner Reflection. Mr. Betterton's Fame and his Genius have raised him -to a level far above that conferred by mere Birth." - -"Have made a Gentleman of him, You mean?" Lord Stour rejoined with a -sarcastic 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 worthy -Friend that two hundred years hence my Descendants might fight him on a -comparatively equal Footing. But until then," he added firmly and -conclusively, "I must repeat for the last time what I have already told -Mr.--er--Betterton: the Earl of Stour cannot cross Swords with a -Mountebank." - -"Take care, my Lord, take care----" - -The Exclamation had burst quite involuntarily from my Lips. The next -moment I felt ashamed to have uttered it, for my Lord Stour looked me up -and down as he would an importunate Menial, and Lord Douglas Wychwoode -strode 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 desired -to retain one last Shred of Dignity both for myself and for the great -Artist who--in my Person this time--had once again been so profoundly -humiliated. - -My wet cloak I had left down in the Hall, but I still held my hat in my -hands. I now bowed with as much Grace as I could muster. Lord Douglas -still pointed a peremptory finger towards the door, making it clear that -I was not going of mine own Accord, like the Intermediary of any -Gentleman might be, but that I was being kicked out like some insolent -Varlet. - -Oh! the shame of it! The shame! - -My ears were tingling, my temples throbbing. A crimson Veil, thrust -before mine eyes by invisible Hands, caused my footsteps to falter. Oh! -if only I had had the strength, I should even then have turned upon -those 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 suffered -such 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 as -I crossed the landing meseemed that I heard the Lady Barbara's voice -raised in a kind of terrified Appeal. - -"Would to God, my dear Lord," she appeared to plead with passionate -Earnestness, "You had not incurred the Enmity of that Man. Ever since -that awful day I have felt as if You were encompassed by Spirits of Hate -and of Vengeance which threaten our Happiness." - -Her Voice broke in a sob. And, indeed, I found it in my heart to pity -her, for she seemed deeply grieved. I still could hear him--her Lover -and mine Enemy, since he was the Enemy of my Friend--trying to laugh -away her fears. - -"Nay, sweetheart," he was saying tenderly. "A Man like that can do us -no harm. Mine own Conscience is clear--my Life honourable--and to-night -will 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 a -toothless cur. So do not waste these precious moments, my Beloved, by -thinking 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 the -House. - -Never should I have believed that a human Heart could contain so much -Hatred as mine held for my Lord Stour at that moment. - - - - 4 - - -I found Mr. Betterton waiting for me under the Gateway where I had left -him a quarter of an hour ago. - -As soon as he heard my footsteps upon the uneven pavement of the -fore-court, he came forward to meet me, took hold of my cloak and -dragged me back into shelter. - -He only said the one word: "Well?" but it is not in my power, dear -Mistress, to render adequately all that there was of Anxiety, Impatience -and of Passion in that one brief Query. - -I suppose that I hesitated. Of a truth the Message which I was bringing -was choking me. And he who is so sensitive, so understanding, learned -everything, 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 a -wounded Animal, escaped his Throat and for a moment we were both -silent--so silent that the patter of the rain appeared like some -thunderous Noise: and the divers sounds of the great City wrapped in the -Cloak of Evening came to us with sharp and eerie Distinctness. Far -away, a dog barked; some belated Chairman called: "Make room, there!"; a -couple of Watchmen passed close by, clinking their halberts against the -ground, and from one of the noble Mansions nigh to us there came the -sound of Revelry and of Laughter. - -I felt like in a Dream, conscious only that the Finger of Destiny was -pointing to the Dial of a Clock, and that I was set here to count the -Seconds and the Minutes until that ghostly Finger had completed its task -and registered the final Hour when the Decrees of God would inevitably -be 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 renewed -Outrage that had been put upon my beloved Friend, I had well-nigh -forgotten that secret conspiracy which was even now threatening the -stability of our Country, and in which my former Employer and his Spouse -were 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 more -aristocratic co-traitors. And, strangely enough, Mr. Betterton thought -of this at the very same time. He had been sunk in moody Reverie ever -since my Silence had told him the grim tale of my unsuccessful Embassy -to the Earl of Stour, and through the darkness it was impossible even -for my devoted eyes to watch the Play of Emotions upon his tell-tale -face, or to read in his eyes the dark thoughts which I knew must be -coursing through his Brain. - -In myself, I could not help but be satisfied at the turn of Events. The -Conspirators, denounced by me to the Countess of Castlemaine, would of a -certainty meet the Punishment which they so fully deserved. Lord Stour -was one of them, so was Lord Douglas Wychwoode. The Scaffold, or at -least, Banishment, would be their lot, and how could I grieve--I, who -hated them so!--that the Earth would presently be rid of two arrogant -and supercilious Coxcombs, Traitors to their King, vainglorious and -self-seeking. True, the Lady Barbara would weep. But when I remembered -the many bitter tears which you, dear Mistress, have shed these past -months 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 Shame -at the hands of Men unworthy to lick the dust at his feet; when I -remembered all that, I could find no Pity in my heart for the Lady -Barbara, but rather a Hope that one so exquisitely fair would pass -through Sorrow and Adversity the purer and softer for the Ordeal. - -True again, that for some reason still unexplained Mr. Betterton -appeared to desire with an almost passionate intensity that his -successful Rival should escape the fate of his fellow-Conspirators. -Such Magnanimity was beyond my Comprehension, and I felt that the -Sentiment which engendered it could not be a lasting one. Mr. Betterton -was for the moment angry with me--very angry--for what I had done; but -his 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 latter -had expiated his Treachery and his Arrogance upon the Scaffold. The -whole of this hideous past Episode would then become a mere Memory, like -unto a nightmare which the healthful freshness of the newly-born Day so -quickly dispels. - - - - 2 - - -So on the whole it was with a lightened heart that I stepped into the -boat in the wake of Mr. Betterton. I thanked the Lord that the Rain had -ceased for the moment, for truly I was chilled to the Marrow and could -not have borne another wetting. - -Every Angle and Stone and Stair and Landing Stage along the Embankment -was of course familiar to me; and I could not help falling into a -Reverie at sight of those great houses which were the City homes of some -of the noblest Families in the Land. How many of these stately walls, -thought I, sheltered a nest of Conspirators as vile and as disloyal as -were Lord Douglas Wychwoode and his friends? Suffolk House and Yorke -House, Salisbury House and Worster House, to mention but a few. How did -the mere honest Citizen know what went on behind their Portals, what -deadly secrets were whispered within their doors? - -I had been taught all my life to respect those who are above me in -Station and to reverence our titled Nobility; but truly my short -Experience of these high-born Sparks was not calculated to enhance my -Respect for their Integrity or my Admiration for their Intellect. Some -older Gentlemen there were, such as the Lord Chancellor himself, who -were worthy of Everybody's regard; but I must confess that the Behaviour -of the younger Fops was oft blameworthy. - -I might even instance our Experience this dark night after we had landed -at the Temple Stairs, and were hurrying along our way up Middle Temple -Lane in the wake of our linkmen. We were speeding on, treading -carefully so as to avoid as much as was possible the mud which lay -ankle-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, did -it in prowling about the Streets, insulting or maltreating peaceable -Passers-by, molesting Women, breaking Tavern windows, stealing -Signboards and otherwise rendering themselves noxious to honest -Citizens, and helping to make the Streets of our great City an object of -terror by night, in emulation of highway Robbers and other foul -Marauders. - -No doubt Mr. Betterton and I would--despite the aid of our two linkmen -and of their stout Cudgels--have fallen a victim to these odious -Miscreants, and the great Actor would of a surety have been very rudely -treated, since he had so often denounced these Mal-practices from the -Stage and held up to public Ridicule not only the young Rakes who took -part in the riotous Orgies, but also our Nightwatchmen, who were too -stupid or too cowardly to cope with them. But, knowing our danger, we -avoided it, and hearing the young Mohocks coming our way we slipped up -Hare Alley and bided our time until the noise of Revels and Riotings -were well behind us. - -I heard afterwards that those Abominable Debauchees--who surely should -have known better, seeing that they were all Scions of great and noble -Families--had indeed "scoured" that night with some purpose. They broke -into Simond's Inn in Fleet Street, smashed every Piece of Crockery they -could find there, assaulted the Landlord, beat the Customers about, -broke open the money-box, stole some five pounds in hard cash and -insulted the waiting-maids. Finally they set a seal to their Revels by -falling on the Nightwatchmen who had come to disperse them, beating them -with their own halberts and with sticks, and wounding one so severely -that he ultimately died in Hospital, while the Miscreants themselves got -off 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 Lane -without serious Adventure. As we neared the house of Mr. Theophilus -Baggs, however, I felt my Courage oozing down into my shoes. Truly I -could 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 shaming -force. - -I begged Mr. Betterton, therefore, to go and speak with Mr. Baggs whilst -I remained waiting outside upon the doorstep. - -Of all that miserable day, this was perhaps to me the most painful -moment. From the instant that Mr. Betterton was admitted into the house -until he returned to me some twenty minutes later, I was in a cold -sweat, devoured with Apprehension and fighting against Remorse. I could -not forget that Mr. Baggs had been my Master and Employer--if not too -kind an one--for years, and if he had been sent to the Tower and -accompanied his fellow Conspirators upon the Scaffold, I verily believe -that I should have felt like Judas Iscariot and, like him, would have -been unable to endure my life after such a base Betrayal. - -Fortunately, however, Mr. Betterton was soon able to reassure me. He -had, he said, immediately warned Mr. Baggs that something of the Secret -of 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 be -wise 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 of -losing his Head and committing some act of Folly through sheer fright. -But Mr. Betterton's quieting Influence soon prevailed. The worthy -Attorney, on thinking the matter over, realized that if he destroyed -certain Documents which might prove incriminating to himself, he would -have little else to fear. He himself had never written a compromising -Letter--he was far too shrewd to have thus committed himself--and there -was not a scrap of paper in any one else's possession which bore his -Name or might mark his Identity, whilst he had not the slightest fear -that the other Conspirators--who were all of them Gentlemen--would -betray the Complicity of an humble Attorney who had rendered them loyal -Service. - -Strangely enough, Mr. Baggs never suspected me of having betrayed the -whole thing; or, if he did, he never said so. So many People plotted -these days, so many Conspiracies were hatched then blown upon, that I -for one imagine that Mr. Baggs had a hand in several of these and was -paid high Fees for his share in them. Then, when anything untoward -happened, when mere Chance, or else a Traitor among the Traitors, caused -the Conspiracy to abort, the worthy Attorney would metaphorically shake -the dust of political Intrigue from his shabby shoes, and make a bonfire -of every compromising Document that might land him in the Tower and -further. After which, he was no doubt ready to begin all over again. - -So it had occurred in this instance. Mr. Betterton did not wait to see -the bonfire, which was just beginning to blaze merrily in the -old-fashioned hearth. He told me all about it when he joined me once -more upon the doorstep, and for the first time that day I heard him -laugh quite naturally and spontaneously while he recounted to me Mr. -Baggs' Terrors and Mistress Euphrosine's dignified Fussiness. - -"She would have liked to find some Pretext," he said quite gaily, "for -blaming me in the Matter. But on the whole, I think that they were both -thankful for my timely Warning." - - - - 4 - - -But, as far as I was concerned, this ended once and for all my -Connection with the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and since that -memorable night I have never once slept under his roof. - -I went back with Mr. Betterton to his House in Tothill Street. By the -time we reached it, it was close on ten o'clock. Already he had -intimated to me that henceforth I was to make my home with him; and as -soon as we entered the House he ordered his Servant to make my room and -bed ready for me. My Heart was filled with inexpressible gratitude at -his Kindness. Though I had, in an altogether inexplicable manner, run -counter to his Plans, he was ready to forgive me and did not withdraw -his Friendship from me. - -As time went on, I was able to tell him something of the Emotions which -coursed through my Heart in recognition of his measureless Kindness to -me; but on that first evening I could not speak of it. When I first -beheld the cosy room which he had assigned to me, with its clean and -comfortable bed and substantial furniture, I could only bow my Head, -take his Hand and kiss it reverently. He withdrew it as if he had been -stung. - -"Keep such expressions of Respect," he said almost roughly, "for one who -is worthy." - -"You," I riposted simply, "are infinitely worthy, because You are good." - -Then once again his harsh, mirthless Laugh--so unlike his usual -light-hearted Merriment--grated upon mine ear. - -"Good!" he exclaimed. "Nay, friend Honeywood, You are not, meseems, a -master of intuition. Few Hearts in London this night," he added -earnestly, "harbour such evil Desires as mine." - -But in spite of what he said, in spite of that strange look in his eyes, -that Laugh which proclaimed a perturbed Soul, I could not bring myself -to believe that his noble Heart was a Prey to aught but noble Desires, -and that those awful and subtle Schemes of deadly Revenge which have -subsequently threatened to ruin his own Life were even now seething in -his Brain. - -For the moment, I only remembered that when first he had requested me to -accompany him on his evening Peregrinations, it had been with a view to -visiting the Countess of Castlemaine, and I now reminded him of his -Purpose, thinking that his desire had been to beg for my Lord Stour's -pardon. I did so, still insisting upon her Ladyship's avowed -Predilection for himself, and I noticed that while I spoke thus he -smiled grimly to himself and presently said with slow Deliberation: - -"Aye! Her Ladyship hath vowed that out of Gratitude for his public -Eulogy of her Virtue and her Beauty, she would grant Mr. Thomas -Betterton any Favour he might ask of her." - -"Aye! and her Ladyship is not like to go back on her word," I assented -eagerly. - -"Therefore," he continued, not heeding me, "the Countess of Castlemaine, -who in her turn can obtain any Favour she desires from His Majesty the -King, will at my request obtain a full and gracious Pardon for the Earl -of Stour." - -"She will indeed!" I exclaimed, puzzled once more at this strange trait -of Magnanimity--Weakness, I called it--on the part of a Man who had on -two occasions been so monstrously outraged. "You are a hero, Sir," I -added in an awed whisper, "to think of a pardon for your most deadly -Enemy." - -He turned and looked me full in the eyes. I could scarce bear his -Glance, for there seemed to dwell within its glowing depths such a World -of Misery, of Hatred and of thwarted Passion, that my Soul was filled -with dread at the sight. And he said very slowly: - -"You are wrong there, my Friend. I was not thinking of a pardon for -mine Enemy, but of Revenge for a deadly Insult, which it seems cannot be -wiped out in Blood." - - - - 5 - - -I would have said something more after that, for in truth my Heart was -full of Sympathy and of Love for my Friend and I longed to soothe and -console him, as I felt I could do, humble and unsophisticated though I -was. Thoughts of You, dear Mistress, were running riot in my Brain. I -longed at this momentous hour, when the Fate of many Men whom I knew was -trembling in the balance, to throw myself at Mr. Betterton's feet and to -conjure him in the name of all his most noble Instincts to give up all -thoughts of the proud Lady who had disdained him and spurned his -Affections, and to turn once more to the early and pure Love of his -Life--to You, dear Mistress, whose Devotion had been so severely tried -and yet had not been found wanting, and whose influence had always been -one of Gentleness and of Purity. - -But, seeing him sitting there brooding, obviously a Prey to Thoughts -both deep and dark, I did not dare speak, and remained silent in the -hope that, now that I was settled under his roof, an Opportunity would -occur for me to tell him what weighed so heavily on my Heart. - -Presently the Servant came in and brought Supper, and Mr. Betterton sat -down to it, bidding me with perfect Grace and Hospitality to sit -opposite to him. But we neither of us felt greatly inclined to eat. I -was hungry, it is true; yet every Morsel which I conveyed to my mouth -cost me an effort to swallow. This was all the more remarkable as at -the moment my whole Being was revelling in the Succulence of the fare -spread out before me, the Excellence of the Wine, the snowy Whiteness of -the Cloths, the Beauty of Crystal and of Silver, all of which bore -testimony to the fastidious Taste and the Refinement of the great -Artist. - -Of the great Events which were even then shaping themselves in White -Hall, we did not speak. We each knew that the Other's mind was full of -what might be going on even at this hour. But Mr. Betterton made not a -single Reference to it, and I too, therefore, held my tongue. In fact, -we spoke but little during Supper, and as I watched my dearly loved -Friend toying with his food, and I myself felt as if the next mouthful -would choke me, I knew his Mind was far away. - -It was fixed upon White Hall and its stately Purlieus and upon the house -of the Countess of Castlemaine, which overlooked the Privy Gardens, and -of His Majesty the King. His senses, I knew, were strained to catch the -sound of distant Murmurs, of running Footsteps, of the grinding of Arms -or of pistol shots. - -But not a Sound came to disturb the peaceful Silence of this comfortable -Abode. The Servant came and went, bringing food, then clearing it away, -pouring Wine into our glasses, setting and removing the silver Utensils. - -Anon Mr. Betterton and I both started and furtively caught one another's -Glance. The tower clock of Westminster was striking eleven. - -"For Good or for Evil, all is over by now," Mr. Betterton said quietly. -"Come, friend Honeywood; let's to bed." - -I went to bed, but not to sleep. For hours I lay awake, wondering what -had happened. Had the Conspirators succeeded and was His Majesty a -Prisoner in their hands? or were they themselves Captives in that -frowning Edifice by the Water, which had witnessed so many Deaths and -such grim Tragedies, and from which the only Egress led straight to the -Scaffold? - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - - RUMOURS AND CONJECTURES - - - 1 - - -Very little of what had actually occurred came to the ear of the Public. -In fact, not one Man in ten in the whole of the Cities of London and -Westminster knew that a couple of hours before midnight, when most -simple and honest Citizens were retiring to their beds, a batch of -dangerous Conspirators had been arrested even within the Precincts of -White Hall. - -I heard all that there was to know from Mr. Betterton, who went out -early the following Morning and returned fully informed of the events of -the preceding Night. Subsequently too, I gleaned a good deal of -information through the instrumentality of Mistress Floid. As far as I -could gather, the Conspirators did carry out their Project just as they -had decided on it in my Presence. They did assemble in King Street and -in the by-lanes leading out of it, keeping my Lady Castlemaine's House -in sight, whilst others succeeded in Concealing themselves about the -Gardens of White Hall, no doubt with the Aid of treacherous and suborned -Watchmen. - -The striking of the hour of ten was to be the signal for immediate and -concerted Action. Those in the Gardens stood by on the watch, until -after His Majesty the King had walked across from his Palace to Her -Ladyship's House. His Majesty, as was his wont when supping with Lady -Castlemaine, entered her house by the back door, and his Servants -followed him into the house. - -Then the Conspirators waited for the Hour to strike. Directly the last -clang of church bells had ceased to reverberate through the humid -evening air, they advanced both from the Back and the Front of the House -simultaneously, when they were set upon on the one side by a Company of -His Majesty's Body Guard under the Command of Major Sachvrell, who had -remained concealed inside the Palace, and on the other by a Company of -Halberdiers under the Command of Colonel Powick. - -When the Traitors were thus confronted by loyal Troops, they tried to -put up a Fight, not realizing that such measures had been taken by Major -Sachvrell and Colonel Powick that they could not possibly hope to -escape. - -A scuffle ensued, but the Conspirators were very soon overpowered, as -indeed they were greatly outnumbered. The Neighbourhood--even then -slumbering peacefully--did no more than turn over in bed, marvelling -perhaps if a party of Mohocks on mischief bent had come in conflict with -a Posse of Night-watchmen. The Prisoners were at once marched to the -Tower, despite the Rain which had once more begun to fall heavily; and -during the long, wearisome Tramp through the City, their Ardour for -Conspiracies and Intrigues must have cooled down considerably. - -The Lieutenant of the Tower had everything ready for the Reception of -such exalted Guests; for in truth my Lady Castlemaine had not allowed -things to be done by halves. Incensed against her Enemies in a manner -in which only an adulated and spoilt Woman can be, she was going to see -to it that those who had plotted against her should be as severely dealt -with as the Law permitted. - - - - 2 - - -Later on, I had it from my friend, Mistress Floid, that the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode visited the Countess of Castlemaine during the course of the -morning. She arrived at her Ladyship's House dressed in black and with -a Veil, as if of mourning, over her fair Hair. - -Mistress Floid hath oft told me that the Interview between the two -Ladies was truly pitiable, and that the Lady Barbara presented a -heart-rending Spectacle. She begged and implored her Ladyship to -exercise Mercy over a few young Hotheads, who had been misled into -Wrong-doing by inflammatory Speeches from Agitators, these being naught -but paid Agents of the Dutch Government, she averred, set to create -Discontent and if possible Civil War once again in England, so that -Holland might embark upon a War of Revenge with some Certainty of -Success. - -But the Countess of Castlemaine would not listen to the Petition at all, -and proud Lady Barbara Wychwoode then flung herself at the other Woman's -feet and begged and implored for Pardon for her Brother, her Lover and -her Friends. Mistress Floid avers that my Lady Castlemaine did nothing -but laugh at the poor Girl's pleadings, saying in a haughty, -supercilious Manner: - -"Beauty in tears? 'Tis a pretty sight, forsooth! But had your Friends -succeeded in their damnable Plot, would You have shed tears of sympathy -for Me, I wonder?" - -And I could not find it in me to be astonished at my Lady Castlemaine's -Spitefulness, for in truth the Lady Barbara's Friends had plotted her -Disgrace and Ruin. Not only that, they had taken every opportunity of -vilifying her Character and making her appear as odious in the Eyes of -the People as they very well could. - -You must not infer from this, dear Mistress, that I am upholding my Lady -Castlemaine in any way. Her mode of life is abhorrent to me and I deeply -regret her Influence over His Majesty and over the public Morals of the -Court Circle, not to say of the entire Aristocracy and Gentry. I am -merely noting the fact that human Nature being what it is, it is not to -be wondered at that when the Lady had a Chance of hitting back, she did -so with all her Might, determined to lose nothing of this stupendous -Revenge. - -However secret the actual Arrest of the Conspirators was kept from -public Knowledge, it soon transpired that such great and noble Gentlemen -as Lord Teammouth, Lord Douglas Wychwoode, the Earl of Stour, not to -mention others, were in the Tower, and that a sensational Trial for -Conspiracy and High Treason was pending. - -Gradually the History of the Plot had leaked out, and how it had become -abortive owing to an anonymous Denunciation (for so it was called). The -Conspiracy became the talk of the Town. Several Ladies and Gentlemen, -though not directly implicated in the Affair, but of known -ultra-Protestant views, thought it best to retire to their Country -Estates, ostensibly for the benefit of their Health. - -Sinister Rumours were afloat that the Conspirators would be executed -without Trial--had already suffered the extreme Penalty of the Law; that -the Marquis of Sidbury, Father of Lord Douglas Wychwoode, had suddenly -died of Grief; that Torture would be applied to the proletarian -Accomplices of the noble Lords--of whom there were many--so as to -extract further Information and Denunciations from them. In fact, the -Town seethed with Conjectures; People talked in Whispers and dispersed -at sight of any one who was known to belong to the Court Circle. The -Theatres played to empty Benches, the Exchanges and Shops were deserted, -for no one liked to be abroad when Arrests and Prosecutions were in the -Air. - -Through it all, very great Sympathy was evinced for the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode, whose pretty Face was so well-known in Town and whose Charm -of Manner and kindly Disposition had endeared her to many who had had -the privilege of her Acquaintance. Public Opinion is a strange and -unaccountable Factor in the Affairs of Men, and Public Opinion found it -terribly hard that so young and adulated a Girl as was the Lady Barbara -should at one fell swoop lose Brother, Lover and Friends. And I may -truly say that Satisfaction was absolutely genuine and universal when it -became known presently that the young Earl of Stour had received a full -and gracious Pardon for his supposed Share in the abominable Plot. - -Whether, on closer Investigation, he had been proved innocent or whether -the Pardon was due to exalted or other powerful Influences, no one knew -as yet: all that was a Certainty was that my Lord Stour presently left -the Tower a free Man even whilst his Friends were one and all brought to -Trial, and subsequently most of them executed for High Treason, or -otherwise severely punished. - -Lord Teammouth suffered Death upon the Scaffold, so did Sir James -Campsfield and Mr. Andrew Kinver; and there were others, whose Names -escape me for the moment. Lord Douglas Wychwoode succeeded in fleeing -to Scotland and thence to Holland; most people averred owing to the -marvellous Pluck and Ingenuity of his Sister. A number of Persons of -meaner degree were hanged; in fact, a Reign of Terror swept over the -country, and many thought that the Judges had been unduly harsh and over -free with their Pronouncements of Death Sentences. - -But it was obvious that His Majesty himself meant to make an Example of -such abominable Traitors, before political Intrigues and Rebellion -spread over the Country once again. - -It was all the more strange, therefore, that one of the -Conspirators--the Earl of Stour, in fact, whose name had been most -conspicuous in connection with the Affair--should thus have been the -only one to enjoy Immunity. But, as I said before, nothing but -Satisfaction was expressed at first for this one small Ray of Sunshine -which came to brighten poor Lady Barbara Wychwoode's Misery. - -As for me, I did not know what to think. Surely my heart should have -been filled with Admiration for the noble Revenge which a great Artist -had taken upon a hot-headed young Coxcomb. Such Magnanimity was indeed -unbelievable; nay, I felt that it showed a Weakness of Character of -which in my innermost Heart I did not believe Mr. Betterton capable. - -To say that I was much rejoiced over the Clemency shown to my Lord Stour -would be to deviate from the Truth. Looking back upon the Motives which -had actuated me when I denounced the infamous Plot to the Countess of -Castlemaine, I could not help but admit to myself that Hatred of a young -Jackanapes and a Desire for Vengeance upon his impudent Head had greatly -influenced my Course of Action. Now that I imagined him once more -kneeling at the Lady Barbara's feet, an accepted Lover, triumphant over -Destiny, all the Sympathy which I may have felt for him momentarily in -the hour of his Adversity, died out completely from my Heart, and I felt -that I hated him even more virulently than before. - -His Image, as he had last stood before me in the dimly-lighted room of -his noble Mansion, surrounded by Books, costly Furniture, and all the -Appurtenances of a rich and independent Gentleman, was constantly before -my Mind. I could, just by closing mine eyes, see him sitting beside the -hearth, with the lovely Lady Barbara beaming at him from the place -opposite, and his Friend standing by, backing him up with Word and Deed -in all his Arrogance and Overbearing. - -"The Earl of Stour cannot cross swords with a Mountebank." - -I seemed to hear those Words reverberating across the street like the -clank of some ghostly Bell; and whenever mine ears rang to their sound I -felt the hot Blood of a just Wrath surge up to my cheeks and my feeble -Hands would close in a Clutch, that was fierce as it was impotent. - - - - 3 - - -The reported Death from grief of the Marquis of Sidbury proved to be a -false Rumour. But the aged Peer did suffer severely from the Shame put -upon him by his Son's Treachery. The Wychwoodes had always been loyal -Subjects of their King. At the time of the late lamented Monarch's most -crying Adversity, he knew that he could always count on the Devotion of -that noble Family, the Members of which had jeopardized their entire -Fortune, their very Existence, in the royal Cause. - -Of course, the present Marquis's two Children were scarce out of the -Nursery 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 thought -that his only Son, as soon as he had reached Man's Estate, should have -raised his Hand against his Sovereign. - -No doubt owing to the disturbed State of many influential Circles of -Society that Winter, and the number of noble Families who were in -mourning after the aborted Conspiracy and the wholesale Executions that -ensued, the Marriage between the Lady Barbara Wychwoode and the Earl of -Stour was postponed until the Spring, and then it would take place very -quietly at the Bride's home in Sussex, whither she had gone of late with -her Father, both living there for a while in strict Retirement. - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode, so it was understood, had succeeded in reaching -Holland, where, I doubt not, he continued to carry on those political -Intrigues against his lawful Sovereign which would of a surety one day -bring him to an ignominious End. - -I was now living in the greatest Comfort and was supremely happy, in the -House of Mr. Betterton. He employed me as his Secretary, and in truth my -place was no sinecure, for I never could have believed that there were -so many foolish Persons in the World who spent their time in writing -Letters--laudatory or otherwise--to such great Men as were in the public -Eye. I myself, though I have always been a wholehearted Admirer of Men -of Talent and Erudition, would never have taken it upon myself to -trouble them with Effusions from my Pen. And yet Letter after Letter -would come to the house in Tothill Street, addressed to Mr. Thomas -Betterton. Some written by great and noble Ladies whose Names would -surprise You, dear Mistress, were I to mention them; others were from -Men of position and of learning who desired to express to the great -Artist all the Pleasure that they had derived from his rendering of -noble Characters. - -Mr. Pepys, a Gentleman of great knowledge and a Clerk in the Admiralty, -wrote quite frequently to Mr. Betterton, sometimes to express unstinted -Praise for the great Actor's Performance in one of his favourite Plays, -or sometimes venturing on Criticism, which was often shrewd and never -disdained. - -But, after all, am I not wasting time by telling You that which You, -dear Mistress, know well enough from your own personal Experience? I -doubt not but you receive many such Letters, both from Admirers and from -Friends, not to mention Enemies, who are always to the fore when a Man -or Woman rises by Talent or Learning above the dead level of the rest of -Humanity. - -It was then my duty to read those Letters and to reply to them, which I -did at Mr. Betterton's Dictation, and in my choicest Caligraphy with -many Embellishments such as I had learned whilst I was Clerk to Mr. -Baggs. Thus it was that I obtained Confirmation of the Fact which was -still agitating my Mind: namely, Mr. Betterton's share in the Events -which led to His Majesty's gracious Pardon being extended to the Earl of -Stour. I had, of course, more than suspected all along that it was my -Friend who had approached the Countess of Castlemaine on the Subject, -yet could not imagine how any Man, who was smarting under such a -terrible Insult, as Mr. Betterton had suffered at the hands of my Lord -Stour, could find it in his Heart thus to return Good for Evil, and with -such splendid Magnanimity. - -But here I had Chapter and Verse for the whole Affair, because my Lady -Castlemaine wrote to Mr. Betterton more than once upon the Subject, and -always in the same bantering tone, chaffing him for his Chivalry and his -Heroism, saying very much what I should myself, if I had had the Courage -or the Presumption to do so. She kept him well informed of her -Endeavours on behalf of Lord Stour, referring to the King's Severity and -Obstinacy in the matter in no measured Language, but almost invariably -closing her Epistles with a reiteration of her promise to the great -Artist 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 You -would 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 His -Majesty; but You cannot conceive in what a Predicament You have placed -me, for His Majesty hath shown signs of Suspicion since I plead so -earnestly on behalf of Lord Stour. If my Insistence were really to -arouse his Jealousy your Protg would certainly lose his Head and I -probably my Place in the King's Affections." - -And then again: - -"It greatly puzzles me why You should thus favour my Lord Stour. Is it -not 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 You -enjoin 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 that -for 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, the -Secret was so well kept that, even in this era of ceaseless Gossip and -Chatter, every one, even in the most intimate Court Circle, was ignorant -of the subtle Intrigue which had been set in motion on behalf of the -young Gallant. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - - POISONED ARROWS - - - 1 - - -Do you remember, dear Mistress, those lovely days we had in February -this year? They were more like days of Spring than of Winter. For a -fortnight we revelled in sunshine and a temperature more fitting for May -than for one of the Winter months. - -In London, Rich and Poor alike came out into the Air like flies; the -public Gardens and other Places of common resort were alive with -Promenaders; the Walks and Arbours in the Gray's Inn Walks or the -Mulberry Garden were astir with brilliant Company. All day, whether you -sauntered in Hyde Park, refreshed yourself with a collation in Spring -Gardens or strolled into the New Exchange, you would find such a crowd -of Men and Women of Mode, such a Galaxy of Beauty and Bevy of fair Maids -and gallant Gentlemen as had not been seen in the Town since that merry -month of May, nigh on two years ago now, when our beloved King returned -from Exile and all vied one with the other to give him a cheerful -Welcome. - -To say that this period was one of unexampled Triumph for Mr. Betterton -would be but to repeat what You know just as well as I do. He made some -truly remarkable hits in certain Plays of the late Mr. William -Shakespeare, notably in "Macbeth," in "King Lear," and in "Hamlett." -Whether I like these Plays myself or not is beside the point; whatever I -thought of them I kept to myself, but was loud in my Admiration of the -great Actor, who indeed had by now conquered all Hearts, put every other -Performer in the Shade and raised the Status of the Duke's Company of -Players 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 the -younger generation of Play-goers who flock to the Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields, even while the King's House in Vere Street is receiving but -scanty Patronage. Of course my Judgment may not be altogether -impartial, seeing that in addition to Mr. Betterton, who is the finest -Actor our English Stage has ever known, the Duke's House also boasts of -the loveliest Actress that ever walked before the Curtain. - -You, dear Mistress, were already then, as You are now, at the zenith of -your Beauty and Fame, and your damask Cheeks would blush, I know, if you -were to read for yourself some of the Eulogies which the aforementioned -Mr. Samuel Pepys in his Letters to Mr. Betterton bestows upon the -exquisite Mistress Saunderson--"Ianthe," as he has been wont to call you -ever since he saw You play that part in Sir William Davenant's "The -Siege of Rhodes." - -Of course I know that of late no other sentimental tie hath existed -outwardly between Mr. Betterton and Yourself save that of Comradeship -and friendly Intercourse; but often when sitting in the Pit of the -Theatre I watched You and Him standing together before the curtain, and -receiving the Plaudits of an enthusiastic Audience, I prayed to God in -my Heart to dissipate the Cloud of Misunderstanding which had arisen -between You; aye! and I cursed fervently the Lady Barbara and her noble -Lover, who helped to make that Cloud more sombre and impenetrable. - - - - 2 - - -I naturally heard a great deal more of Society Gossip these days than I -was wont to do during the time that I was a mere Clerk in the Employ of -Mr. Theophilus Baggs. My kind Employer treated me more as a Friend than -a Servant. I had fine Clothes to wear, accompanied him on several -Occasions when he appeared in Public, and was constantly in his -tiring-room at the Theatre, where he received and entertained a -never-ending Stream of Friends. - -Thus, towards the end of the Month, I gathered from the Conversation of -Gentlemen around me that the Marquess of Sidbury had come up to Town in -the Company of his beautiful Daughter. He had, they said, taken -advantage of the fine Weather to make the Journey to London, as he -desired to consult the Court Physician on the Matter of his Health. - -I shall never forget the strange Look that came into Mr. Betterton's -face when first the Subject was mentioned. He and some Friends--Ladies -as well as Gentlemen--were assembled in the small Reception Room which -hath lately been fitted up behind the Stage. Upholstered and curtained -with a pleasing Shade of Green, the Room is much frequented by Artists -and their Friends, and it is always crowded during the Performance of -those 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 the -occasion of a performance of Mr. Webster's "Duchess of Malfy," in which -You, dear Mistress, had no part, a very brilliant Company was assembled. -Sir William Davenant was there, as a matter of course, so was Sir George -Etherege, and that brilliant young dramatist Mr. Wycherley. In addition -to that, there were one or two very great Gentlemen there, members of -the Court Circle and enthusiastic Playgoers, who were also intimate -Friends of Mr. Betterton. I am referring particularly to the Duke of -Buckingham, to my Lord Rochester, Lord Orrery and others. A brilliant -Assembly forsooth, which testified to the high Esteem in which the great -Artist 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 in -the Green Room, a strange Glance, which I was unable to interpret, shot -out of Mr. Betterton's eyes, and as I gazed upon that subtle, impalpable -Change which suddenly transformed his serene Expression of Countenance -into one that was almost Evil, I felt a curious sinking of the Heart--a -dread Premonition of what was to come. You know how his lips are ever -ready to smile: now they appeared thin and set, while the sensitive -Nostrils quivered almost like those of the wild Beasts which we have all -of us frequently watched in the Zoological Gardens, when the Attendants -bring along the food for the day and they, eager and hungry, know that -the Hour of Satisfaction is nigh. - -"The fair Lady Babs," one of the young Gallants was saying with studied -Flippancy, "is more beautiful than ever, methinks; even though she goes -about garbed in the Robes of Sorrow." - -"Poor young thing!" commented His Grace of Buckingham kindly. "She has -been hard hit in that last Affair." - -"I wonder what has happened to Wychwoode," added Lord Rochester, who had -been a known Friend of Lord Douglas. - -"Oh! he reached Holland safely enough," another Gentleman whom I did not -know averred. "I suppose he thinks that it will all blow over presently -and that he will obtain a free pardon----" - -"Like my Lord Stour," commented Mr. Betterton drily. - -"Oh! that's hardly likely," interposed Sir George Etherege. "Wychwoode -was up to the neck in the Conspiracy, whilst Stour was proved to be -innocent 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 know -it?" - -"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," here -interposed my Lord of Rochester. - -"He was granted a free Pardon," asserted His Grace of Buckingham, "two -days 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 some -purpose; and oh! that Purpose I simply dared not guess. I was watching -him, remember, watching him as only a devoted Friend or a fond Mother -know how to watch; and I saw that set look on his Face grow harder and -harder and a steely, glittering Light flash out of his Eyes. - -My God! how I suffered! For with that Intuition which comes to us at -times when those whom we love are in deadly peril, I had suddenly beheld -the Abyss of Evil into which my Friend was about to plunge headlong. -Yes! I understood now why Mr. Betterton had pleaded with my Lady -Castlemaine for his Enemy's Life. It was not in order to confer upon -him a lasting benefit and thus shame him by his Magnanimity; but rather -in order to do him an Injury so irreparable that even Death could not -wipe it away. - -But you shall judge, dear Mistress; and thus judging You will understand -much that has been so obscure in my dear Friend's Character and in his -Actions of late. And to understand All is to forgive All. One thing -you must remember, however, and that is that no Man of Mr. Betterton's -Worth hath ever suffered in his Pride and his innermost Sensibilities as -he hath done at the Hands of that young Jackanapes whom he hated--as I -had good cause to know now--with an Intensity which was both cruel and -relentless. He meant to be even with him, to fight him with his own -Weapons, which were those of Contempt and of Ridicule. He meant to -wound there, where he himself had suffered most, in Reputation and in -Self-Respect. - -I saw it all, and was powerless to do aught save to gaze in mute -Heart-Agony on the marring of a noble Soul. Nay! I am not ashamed to -own it: I did in my Heart condemn my Friend for what he had set out to -do. I too hated Lord Stour, God forgive me! but two months ago I would -gladly have seen his arrogant Head fall upon the Scaffold; but this -subtle and calculating Revenge, this cold Intrigue to ruin a Man's -Reputation and to besmirch his Honour, was beyond my ken, and I could -have wept to see the great Soul of the Man, whom I admired most in all -the World, a prey to such an evil Purpose. - -"We all know," one of the young Sparks was saying even now, "that my -Lady Castlemaine showed Stour marked favour from the very moment he -appeared at Court." - -"We also know," added Mr. Betterton with quiet Irony, "that the whisper -of 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 slight -Elevation of the Eyebrows. - -"Because he is a Stourcliffe of Stour, Sir," broke in Sir George -Etherege in that loud, blustering way he hath at times; "and bears one -of 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 Lord -Orrery. - -"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 glad -I was that he, at any rate, had had nothing to do with that abominable -Affair." - -"Well?" came eagerly from every one. "What did she say?" - -His Grace remained thoughtful for a time, as if trying to recollect -Something 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 one -of Her Ladyship's Supper Parties. His Majesty was present. We all fell -to talking about the Conspiracy, and the King said some very bitter -things. Then I thought I would say something about Stour. You -remember?" - -"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! I -recollect the Circumstance perfectly now, though I attached no -importance to it at the time. But I can see it all before me. His -Majesty frowned and continued to look glum, whilst the Countess of -Castlemaine vowed with a laugh that, anyway, my lord Stour was the -handsomest Gentleman in London, and that 'twere a pity to allow such a -beautiful Head to fall on the Scaffold." - -"It certainly sounds very strange," mused my Lord Rochester, and fell to -talking in Whispers with Sir George Etherege, whilst His Grace of -Buckingham went and sat down beside Mr. Betterton, and obviously started -to discuss the Incident of the Supper Party all over again with the -great Actor. Other isolated Groups also formed themselves, and I knew -that my Lord Stour's Name was on every one's lips. - -Traducement and Gossip is Meat and Drink to all these noble and -distinguished Gentlemen, and here they had something to talk about, -which would transcend in Scandal anything that had gone before. The -story about my Lord Stour would spread with the Rapidity which only -evil-loving Tongues can give. Alas! my poor Friend knew that well -enough when he shot his poisoned Arrows into the Air. I was watching -him whilst His Grace of Buckingham conversed with him: I saw the -feverishly keen look in his eyes as he, in his turn, watched the Ball of -Slander and Gossip being tossed about from one Group to another. He -said but little, hardly gave Answer to His Grace; but I could see that -he was on the alert, ready with other little poisoned Darts whenever he -saw Signs of weakening in the Volume of Backbiting, which he had so -deliberately set going. - -"I liked Stour and I admired him," Lord Rochester said at one time. "I -could have sworn that Nature herself had written 'honest man' on his -face." - -"Ah!----" interposed Mr. Betterton, with that quiet Sarcasm which I had -learned to dread. "Nature sometimes writes with a very bad Pen." - - - - 3 - - -It was not to be wondered at that the Scandal against my Lord Stour, -which was started in the Green Room of the Theatre, grew in Magnitude -with amazing Rapidity. I could not tell you, dear Mistress, what my -innermost feelings were in regard to the Matter: being an humble and -ignorant Clerk and devoted to the one Man to whom I owe everything that -makes life pleasing. I had neither the Wish nor the mental Power to -tear my Heart to Pieces, in order to find out whether it beat in -Sympathy with my Friend, or with the Victim of such a complete and -deadly Revenge. - -My Lord Stour was not then in London. He too, like many of his -Friends--notably the Marquis of Sidbury and others not directly accused -of Participation in the aborted Plot--had retired to his Country Estate, -probably unwilling to witness the gaieties of City Life, while those he -cared for most were in such dire Sorrow. But now that the Lady Barbara -and her Father were once more in Town, there was little doubt that he -too would return there presently. Since he was a free Man, and Lord -Douglas Wychwoode had succeeded in evading the Law, there was no doubt -that the natural Elasticity of Youth coupled with the prospect of the -happy future which lay before him, would soon enable him to pick up the -Threads of Life, there where they had been so unexpectedly and -ruthlessly entangled. - -I imagine that when his Lordship first arrived in Town and once more -established himself in the magnificent Mansion in Canon's Row which I -had bitter cause to know so well, he did not truly visualize the -Atmosphere of brooding Suspicion which encompassed him where e'er he -went. If he did notice that one or two of his former Friends did give -him something of a cold shoulder, I believe that he would attribute this -more to political than to personal Reasons. He had undoubtedly been -implicated in a Conspiracy which was universally condemned for its -Treachery and Disloyalty, and no doubt for a time he would have to bear -the brunt of public Condemnation, even though the free Pardon, which had -so unexpectedly been granted him, proved that he had been more misguided -than really guilty. - -His Arrival in London, his Appearance in Public Places, his obvious -ignorance of the Cloud which was hanging over his fair Name, were the -subject of constant Discussion and Comment in the Green Room of the -Theatre as well as elsewhere. And I take it that his very Insouciance, -the proud Carelessness wherewith he met the cold Reception which had -been granted him, would soon have got over the scandalous tale which -constant Gossip alone kept alive, except that one tongue--and one -alone--never allowed that Gossip to rest. - -And that Tongue was an eloquent as well as a bitter one, and more -cunning than even I could ever have believed. - -How oft in the Green Room, in the midst of a brilliant Company, have I -listened to the flippant talk of gay young Sparks, only to hear it -drifting inevitably toward the Subject of my Lord Stour, and of that -wholly unexplainable Pardon, which had left him a free Man, whilst all -his former Associates had either perished as Traitors, or were forced to -lead the miserable life of an Exile, far from Home, Kindred and Friends. - -Drifting, did I say? Nay, the Talk was invariably guided in that -direction by the unerring Voice of a deeply outraged Man who, at last, -was taking his Revenge. A word here, an Insinuation there, a witty -Remark or a shrug of the shoulders, and that volatile sprite, Public -Opinion, would veer back from any possible doubt or leniency to the -eternally unanswered Riddle: "When so many of his Friends perished upon -the Scaffold, how was it that my Lord Stour was free?" - -How it had come about I know not, but it is certain that very soon it -became generally known that his Lordship had been entrusted by his -Friends with the distribution of Manifestos which were to rally certain -Waverers to the cause of the Conspirators. And it was solemnly averred -that it was in consequence of a Copy of this same Manifesto, together -with a list of prominent Names, coming into the hands of my Lady -Castlemaine, that so many Gentlemen were arrested and executed, and my -Lord Stour had been allowed to go scot-free. - -How could I help knowing that this last Slander had emanated from the -Green Room, with the object of laying the final stone to the edifice of -Calumnies, which was to crush an Enemy's Reputation and fair Fame beyond -the hope of Retrieval? - - - - 4 - - -A day or two later my Lord Stour, walking with a Friend in St. James's -Park, came face to face with Mr. Betterton, who had Sir William Davenant -and the Duke of Albemarle with him as well as one or two other -Gentlemen, whilst he leaned with his wonted kindness and familiarity on -my arm. Mr. Betterton would, I think, have passed by; but my Lord Stour, -ignoring him as if he were dirt under aristocratic feet, stopped with -ostentatious good-will to speak with the General. - -But his Grace did in truth give the young Lord a very cold shoulder and -Sir William Davenant, equally ostentatiously, started to relate piquant -Anecdotes to young Mr. Harry Wordsley, who was just up from the country. - -I saw my Lord Stour's handsome face darken with an angry frown. For -awhile he appeared to hesitate as to what he should do, then with scant -Ceremony he took the Duke of Albemarle by the coat-sleeve and said -hastily: - -"My Lord Duke, You and my Father fought side by side on many occasions. -Now, I like not your Attitude towards me. Will you be pleased to -explain?" - -The General tried to evade him, endeavoured to disengage his -coat-sleeve, but my Lord Stour was tenacious. A kind of brooding -Obstinacy sat upon his good-looking face, and after awhile he reiterated -with almost fierce Insistence: - -"No! no! you shall not go, my Lord, until You have explained. I am -tired," he added roughly, "of suspicious looks and covert smiles, an -atmosphere of ill-will which greets me at every turn. Politically, many -may differ from Me, but I have yet to learn that a Gentleman hath not -the right to his own Opinions without being cold-shouldered by his -Friends." - -The Duke of Albemarle allowed him to talk on for awhile. His Grace -obviously was making up his mind to take a decisive step in the matter. -After a while he did succeed in disengaging his coat-sleeve from the -persistent Clutch of his young Friend, and then, looking the latter -straight between the eyes, he said firmly: - -"My Lord, as You say, your Father and I were Friends and Comrades in -Arms. Therefore You must forgive an old Man and a plain Soldier a -pertinent question. Will you do that?" - -"Certainly," was my Lord Stour's quiet Reply. - -"Very well then," continued His Grace, while all of us who were there -held our breath, feeling that this Colloquy threatened to have a grave -issue. "Very well. I am glad that You have given me this opportunity of -hearing some sort of Explanation from You, for in truth, Rumour of late -hath been over busy with your Name." - -"An Explanation, my Lord?" the young Man said, with an added frown. - -"Aye!" replied His Grace. "That's just the Word. An Explanation. For -I, my Lord, as your Father's Friend, will ask You this: how is it that -while Teammouth, Campsfield and so many of your Associates perished upon -the Scaffold, You alone, of those implicated in that infamous Plot, did -obtain an unconditional Pardon?" - -Lord Stour stepped back as if he had been hit in the face. Boundless -Astonishment was expressed in the Gaze which he fixed upon the General, -as well as wrathful indignation. - -"My Lord!" he exclaimed, "that Question is an insult!" - -"Make me swallow mine own Words," retorted His Grace imperturbably, "by -giving me a straight Answer." - -"Mine Answer must be straight," rejoined Lord Stour firmly, "since it is -based on Truth. I do not know." - -The Duke shrugged his Shoulders, and there came a sarcastic laugh from -more than one of the Gentlemen there. - -"I give your Lordship my Word of Honour," Lord Stour insisted haughtily. -Then, as His Grace remained silent, with those deep-set eyes of his -fixed searchingly upon the young Man, the latter added vehemently: "Is -then mine Honour in question?" - -Whereupon Mr. Betterton, who hitherto had remained silent, interposed -very quietly: - -"The honour of some Gentlemen, my Lord, is like the Manifestation of -Ghosts--much talked of ... but always difficult to prove!" - -You know his Voice, dear Mistress, and that subtle carrying Power which -it has, although he never seems to raise it. After he had spoken You -could have heard the stirring of every little twig in the trees above -us, for no one said another Word for a moment or two. We all stood -there, a compact little Group: Lord Stour facing the Duke of Albemarle -and Mr. Betterton standing a step or two behind His Grace, his fine, -expressive Face set in a mask of cruel Irony. Sir William Davenant and -the other Gentlemen had closed in around those three. They must have -felt that some strange Storm of Passions was brewing, and instinctively -they tried to hide its lowering Clouds from public gaze. - -Fortunately there were not many Passers-by just then, and the little -Scene remained unnoted by the idly curious, who are ever wont to collect -in Crowds whenever anything strange to them happens to attract their -Attention. - -My Lord Stour was the first to recover Speech. He turned on Mr. -Betterton with unbridled Fury. - -"What!" he cried, "another sting from that venomous Wasp? I might have -guessed that so miserable a Calumny came from such a vile Caitiff as -this!" - -"Abuse is not Explanation, my Lord," interposed the Duke of Albemarle -firmly. "And I must remind you that you have left my Question -unanswered." - -"Put it more intelligibly, my Lord," retorted Lord Stour haughtily. "I -might then know how to reply." - -"Very well," riposted His Grace, still apparently unmoved. "I will put -it differently. I understand that your Associates entrusted their -treasonable Manifestos to you. Is that a fact?" - -"I'll not deny it." - -"You cannot," rejoined the Duke drily. "Sir James Campsfield, in the -course of his Trial, admitted that he had received his Summons through -You. But a Copy of that Manifesto came into the hands of my Lady -Castlemaine just in time to cause the Conspiracy to abort. How was -that?" - -"Some Traitor," replied Lord Stour hotly, "of whom I have no -Cognizance." - -"Yet it was You," riposted the General quietly, "who received a free -Pardon ... no one else. How was that?" he reiterated more sternly. - -"I have sworn to You that I do not know," protested my Lord Stour -fiercely. - -He looked now like a Man at Bay, trapped in a Net which was closing in -around him and from which he was striving desperately to escape. His -face was flushed, his eyes glowed with an unnatural fire. And always -his restless gaze came back to Mr. Betterton, who stood by, calm and -impassive, apparently disinterested in this Colloquy wherein a man's -Honour was being tossed about to the Winds of Slander and of Infamy. -Now Lord Stour gazed around him, striving to find one line of genuine -Sympathy on the stern Faces which were confronting him. - -"My word of Honour, Gentlemen," he exclaimed with passionate -Earnestness, "that I do not know." - -Honestly, I think that one or two of them did feel for him and were -inclined to give him Credence. After all, these young Fops are not -wicked; they are only mischievous, as Children or young Puppies are wont -to be, ready to snarl at one another, to yap and to tear to pieces -anything that happens to come in their way. Moreover, there was the -great bond of Caste between these People. They were, in their innermost -Hearts, loth to believe that one of themselves--a Gentleman, one bearing -a great Name--could be guilty of this type of foul Crime which was more -easily attributable to a Plebeian. It was only their Love of -Scandal-monging and of Backbiting that had kept the Story alive all -these weeks. Even now there were one or two sympathetic Murmurs amongst -those present when my Lord Stour swore by his Honour. - -But just then Mr. Betterton's voice was heard quite distinctly above -that Murmur: - -"Honour is a strangely difficult word to pronounce on the Stage," he was -saying to Sir William Davenant, apparently _ propos_ of something the -latter had remarked just before. "You try and say it, Davenant; you -will see how it always dislocates your Jaw, yet produces no effect." - -"Therefore, Mr. Actor," Lord Stour broke in roughly, "it should only be -spoken by those who have a glorious Ancestry behind them to teach them -its true Significance." - -"Well spoken, my Lord," Mr. Betterton rejoined placidly. "But you must -remember that but few of His Majesty's Servants have a line of glorious -Ancestry behind them. In that way they differ from many Gentlemen who, -having nothing but their Ancestry to boast of, are very like a -Turnip--the best of them is under the ground." - -This Sally was greeted with loud Laughter, and by a subtle process which -I could not possibly define, the wave of Sympathy which was setting in -the direction of my Lord Stour, once more receded from him, leaving him -wrathful and obstinate, His Grace of Albemarle stern, and the young Fops -flippant and long-tongued as before. - -"My Lord Stour," the General now broke in once more firmly, "'tis You -sought this Explanation, not I. Now You have left my Question -unanswered. Your Friends entrusted their Manifestos to You. How came one -of these in Lady Castlemaine's hands?" - -And the young Man, driven to bay, facing half a dozen pairs of eyes that -held both Contempt and Enmity in their glance, reiterated hoarsely: - -"I have sworn to You that I do not know." Then he added: "Hath Loyalty -then left this unfortunate Land, that You can all believe such a vile -thing of me?" - -And in the silence that ensued, Mr. Betterton's perfectly modulated -Voice was again raised in quietly sarcastic accents: - -"As You say, my Lord," he remarked. "Loyalty hath left this unfortunate -Country. Perhaps," he added with a light shrug of the shoulders, "to -take Refuge with your glorious Ancestry." - -This last Gibe, however, brought my Lord Stour's exasperation to a -raging Fury. Pushing unceremoniously past His Grace of Albemarle, who -stood before him, he took a step forward and confronted Mr. Betterton -eye to eye and, drawing himself up to his full Height, he literally -glowered down upon the great Artist, who stood his Ground, placid and -unmoved. - -"Insolent Varlet!" came in raucous tones from the young Lord's quivering -lips. "If you had a spark of chivalry or of honour in You----" - -At the arrogant Insult every one drew their breath. A keen Excitement -flashed in every eye. Here was at last a Quarrel, one that must end in -bloodshed. Just what was required--so thought these young Rakes, I feel -sure--to clear the Atmosphere and to bring abstruse questions of -Suspicion and of Honour to a level which they could all of them -understand. Only the Duke of Albemarle, who, like a true and great -Soldier, hath the greatest possible Abhorrence for the gentlemanly -Pastime of Duelling, tried to interpose. But Mr. Betterton, having -provoked the Quarrel, required no interference from any one. You know -his way, dear Mistress, as well as I do--that quiet Attitude which he is -wont to assume, that fraction of a second's absolute Silence just before -he begins to speak. I know of no Elocutionist's trick more telling than -that. It seems to rivet the Attention, and at the same time to key up -Excitement and Curiosity to its greatest strain. - -"By your leave, my Lord," he said slowly, and his splendid Voice rose -just to a sufficient pitch of Loudness to be distinctly heard by those -immediately near him, but not one yard beyond. "By your leave, let us -leave the word 'honour' out of our talk. It hath become ridiculous and -obsolete, now that every Traitor doth use it for his own ends." - -But in truth my Lord Stour now was beside himself with Fury. - -"By gad!" he exclaimed with a harsh laugh. "I might have guessed that it -was your pestilential Tongue which stirred up this Treason against me. -Liar!--Scoundrel!----" - -He was for heaping up one Insult upon the other, lashing himself as it -were into greater Fury still, when Mr. Betterton's quietly ironical -laugh broke in upon his senseless ebullitions. - -"Liar?--Scoundrel, am I?" he said lightly, and, still laughing, he -turned to the Gentlemen who stood beside him. "Nay! if the sight of a -Scoundrel offends his Lordship, he should shut himself up in his own -Room ... and break his Mirror!" - -At this, my Lord Stour lost the last vestige of his self-control, seized -Mr. Betterton by the Shoulder and verily, I thought, made as if he would -strike him. - -"You shall pay for this Insolence!" he cried. - -But already, with perfect _sang-froid_, the great Artist had arrested -his Lordship's uplifted hand and wrenched it away from his shoulder. - -"By your leave, my Lord," he said, and with delicate Fingers flicked the -dust from off his coat. "This coat was fashioned by an honest tailor, -and hath never been touched by a Traitor's hand." - -I thought then that I could see Murder writ plainly on My Lord's face, -which was suddenly become positively livid. The Excitement around us -was immense. In truth I am convinced that every Gentleman there present -at the moment, felt that something more deep and more intensely bitter -lay at the Root of this Quarrel, between the young Lord and the great -and popular Artist. Even now some of them would have liked to -interfere, whilst the younger ones undoubtedly enjoyed the Spectacle and -were laying, I doubt not, imaginary Wagers as to which of the two -Disputants would remain Master of the Situation. - -His Grace of Albemarle tried once more to interpose with all the -Authority of his years and of his distinguished Position, for indeed -there was something almost awesome in Lord Stour's Wrath by now. But -Mr. Betterton took the Words at once out of the great General's mouth. - -"Nay, my Lord," he said with quiet Firmness, "I pray You, do not -interfere. I am in no danger, I assure You. My Lord Stour would wish -to kill me, no doubt. But, believe me, Fate did not ordain that Tom -Betterton should die by such a hand ... the fickle Jade hath too keen a -Sense of Humour." - -Whereupon he made a movement, as if to walk away. I felt the drag upon -my arm where his slender hand was still resting. The Others were -silent. What could they say? Senseless Numskulls though they were for -the most part, they had enough Perception to realize that between these -two Men there was Hatred so bitter that no mere Gentlemanly Bloodshed -could ever wipe it away. - -But ere Mr. Betterton finally turned to go, my Lord of Stour stepped out -in front of him. All the Rage appeared to have died out of him. He was -outwardly quite calm, only a weird twitching of his lips testified to -the Storm of Passion which he had momentarily succeeded in keeping under -control. - -"Mr. Actor," he said slowly, "but a few Weeks ago You asked me to cross -swords with You.... I refused then, for up to this hour I have never -fought a Duel save with an Equal. But now, I accept," he added -forcefully, even while the Words came veiled and husky from his throat. -"I accept. Do You hear me? ... for the laws of England do not permit a -Murder, and as sure as there's a Heaven above me, I am going to kill -You." - -Mr. Betterton listened to him until the end. You know that Power which -he hath of seeming to tower above every one who stands nigh him? Well! -he exercised that Power now. He stepped quite close to my Lord Stour, -and though the latter is of more than average height, Mr. Betterton -literally appeared to soar above him, with the sublime Magnificence of -an outraged Man coming into his own at last. - -"My Lord of Stour," he said, with perfect quietude, "a few weeks ago you -insulted me as Man never dared to insult Man before. With every blow -dealt upon my shoulders by your Lacqueys, You outraged the Majesty of -Genius ... yes! its Majesty! ... its Godhead! ... You raised your -insolent hand against me--against me, the Artist, whom God Himself hath -crowned with Immortality. For a moment then, my outraged Manhood -clamoured for satisfaction. I asked You to cross swords with me, for -You seemed to me ... then ... worthy of that Honour. But to-day, my -Lord of Stour," he continued, whilst every Word he spoke seemed to -strike upon the ear like Blows from a relentless Hammer; "Traitor to -your Friends, Liar and Informer!!!! Bah! His Majesty's Well-Beloved -Servant cannot fight with such as You!" - -In truth I do not remember what happened after that. The unutterable -Contempt, the Disgust, the Loathing expressed in my Friend's whole -Attitude, seemed to hit even me between the eyes. I felt as if some -giant Hands had thrown a kind of filmy grey veil over my Head, for I -heard and saw nothing save a blurred and dim Vision of uplifted Arms, of -clenched Fists and of a general Scrimmage, of which my Lord Stour -appeared to be the Centre, whilst my ears only caught the veiled Echo of -Words flung hoarsely into the air: - -"Let me go! Let me go! I must kill him! I must!" - -Mr. Betterton, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm. I felt a -slight pressure on my arm and presently realized that he and I had -turned and were walking away down the Avenue of the Park, and leaving -some way already behind us, a seething mass of excited Gentlemen, all -intent on preventing Murder being committed then and there. - -What the outcome of it all would be, I could not visualize. Mr. -Betterton had indeed been able to give Insult for Insult and Outrage for -Outrage at last. For this he had schemed and worked and planned all -these weeks. Whether God and Justice were on his side in this terrible -Revenge, I dared not ask myself, nor yet if the Weapon which he had -chosen were worthy of his noble Character and of his Integrity. That -public Opinion was on his side, I concluded from the fact that the Duke -of Albemarle and Sir William Davenant both walked a few yards with him -after he had turned his back on my Lord, and that His Grace constituting -himself Spokesman for himself and Sir William, offered their joint -Services to Mr. Betterton in case he changed his mind and agreed to -fight my Lord Stour in duel. - -"I thank your Grace," was Mr. Betterton's courteous reply; "but I am not -like to change my Mind on that Score." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - - THE LADY PLEADS - - - 1 - - -I am not able quite to determine in my own mind whether the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode did hear and see something of the violent Scene which I have -just attempted to describe. - -I told You, dear Mistress, that fortunately for us all, this part of the -Park where the Scene occurred was for the moment practically deserted. -At any rate, no Crowd collected around us, for which, methinks, we were, -every one of us, thankful. If a few of the Passers-by heard anything of -the altercation, they merely hurried past, thinking no doubt, that it -was only one or two young City Sparks, none too sober even at this -morning hour, who were quarrelling among themselves. - -When we walked away down the Avenue which leads in the direction of -Knight's Bridge, Mr. Betterton's well-known, elegant figure was remarked -by a few Pedestrians on their way to and fro, as was also the familiar -one of the Duke of Albemarle, and some People raised their hats to the -great Artist, whilst others saluted the distinguished General. - -Presently His Grace and Sir William Davenant took leave of Mr. -Betterton, and a few moments later the latter suggested that we should -also begin to wend our way homewards. - -We retraced our steps and turned back in the direction of Westminster. -Mr. Betterton was silent; he walked quite calmly, with head bent and -firm footsteps, and I, knowing his humour, walked along in silence by -his side. - -Then suddenly we came upon the Lady Barbara. - -That she had sought this meeting I could not doubt for a moment. Else, -how should a Lady of her Rank and Distinction be abroad, and in a public -Park, unattended? Indeed, I was quite sure that she had only dismissed -her maid when she saw Mr. Betterton coming along, and that the Wench was -lurking somewhere behind one of the shrubberies, ready to accompany her -Ladyship home when the interview was at an end. - -I said that I am even now doubtful as to whether the Lady Barbara saw -and heard something of the violent Altercation which had taken place a -quarter of an hour ago between her Lover and the great Actor. If not, -she certainly displayed on that occasion that marvellous intuition which -is said to be the prerogative of every Woman when she is in love. - -She was walking on the further side of Rosamond Pond when first I caught -sight of her, and when she reached the Bridge, she came deliberately to -a halt. There is no other way across the Pond save by the Bridge, so -Mr. Betterton could not have escaped the meeting even if he would. -Seeing the Lady, he raised his hat and made a deep bow of respectful -salutation. He then crossed the Bridge and made as if he would pass by, -but she held her Ground, in the very centre of the Path, and when he was -quite near her, she said abruptly: - -"Mr. Betterton, I desire a word with you." - -He came at once to a halt, and replied with perfect deference: - -"I await your Ladyship's commands." - - - - 2 - - -I was for hurrying away, thinking that my Presence would be irksome both -to the Lady and to my Friend; but an unmistakable pressure of Mr. -Betterton's hand on my arm caused me to stay where I was. As for the -Lady, she appeared not to care whether I stayed or went, for immediately -she retorted: - -"My commands, Sir Actor? They are, that you at once and completely do -Reparation for the wrong which you are trying to do to an innocent Man." - -She looked proud and commanding as a Queen, looking through the veil of -her lashes at Mr. Betterton as if he were a supplicating Slave rather -than the great Artist whom cultured Europe delighted to honour. Never -did I admire my Friend so much as I did then. His self-possession was -perfect: his attitude just the right balance 'twixt deference due to a -beautiful Woman and the self-assurance which comes of conscious Worth. -He looked splendid, too--dressed in the latest fashion and with unerring -taste. The fantastic cut of his modish clothes became his artistic -Personality to perfection: the soft shade of mulberry of which his coat -was fashioned made an harmonious note of colour in the soft grey mist of -this late winter's morning. The lace at his throat and wrists was of -unspeakable value, filmy and gossamer-like in texture as a cobweb; and -in his cravat glittered a diamond, a priceless gift to the great English -Artist from the King of France. - -Indeed, the Lady Barbara Wychwoode might look the world-famous Actor up -and down with well-studied superciliousness; she might issue her -commands to him as if she were his royal Mistress and he but a Menial -set there to obey her behest; but, whatever she did, she could not dwarf -his Personality. He had become too great for disdain or sneers ever to -touch him again; and the shafts of scorn aimed at him by those who would -set mere Birth above the claims of Genius, would only find their points -broken or blunted against the impenetrable armour of his Glory and his -Fame. - -For the nonce, I think that he was ready enough to parley with the Lady -Barbara. He had not to my knowledge spoken with her since that never -forgotten day last September; and I, not understanding the complex -workings of an Artist's heart, knew not if his Love for her had outlived -the crying outrage, or had since then turned to Hate. - -In answer to her peremptory command, he assumed an air of innocent -surprise. - -"I?" he queried. "Your Ladyship is pleased to speak in riddles." - -"Nay!" she retorted. "'Tis you, Sir, who choose not to understand. But -I'll speak more plainly, an you wish. I am a woman, Mr. Actor, and I -love the Earl of Stour. Now, you know just as well as I do, that his -Lordship's honour has of late been impugned in a manner that is most -mysterious. His Friends accuse him of treachery; even mere -Acquaintances prefer to give him the cold shoulder. And this without -any definite Indictment being levelled against him. Many there are who -will tell You that they have not the faintest conception of what crime -my Lord Stour stands accused. Others aver that they'll not believe any -Slander that may be levelled against so high-souled a Gentleman. -Nevertheless, the Slander continues. Nay! it gathers volume as it worms -its way from one house to another, shedding poison in its wake as it -drifts by; and more and more People now affect to look another way when -the Earl of Stour comes nigh them, and to be otherwise engaged when he -desires to shake them by the hand." - -She paused for a moment, obviously to regain her Composure, which was -threatening to leave her. Her cheeks were pale as ashes, her breath came -and went in quick, short gasps. The Picture which she herself had drawn -of her Lover's plight caused her heart to ache with bitterness. She -seemed for the moment to expect something--a mere comment, perhaps, or a -word of Sympathy, from Mr. Betterton. But none came. He stood there, -silent and deferential, with lips firmly set, his slender Hand clutched -upon the gold knob of his stick, till the knuckles shone creamy-white, -like ivory. He regarded her with an air of Detachment rather than -Sympathy, and though by her silence she appeared to challenge him now, -he did not speak, and after awhile she resumed more calmly: - -"My Lord of Stour himself is at his wits' ends to interpret the attitude -of his Friends. Nothing tangible in the way of a spoken Calumny hath as -yet reached his ears. And his life has been rendered all the more -bitter that he feels that he is being struck by a persistent but -mysterious Foe in what he holds dearer than aught else on earth, his -Integrity and his Honour." - -"'Tis a sad case," here rejoined Mr. Betterton, for her Ladyship had -paused once more. "But, by your leave, I do not see in what way it -concerns me." - -"Nay! but I think you do, Sir Actor," Lady Barbara riposted harshly. -"Love and Hate, remember, see clearly where mere Friendship and -Indifference are blind. Love tells me that the Earl of Stour's -Integrity is Unstained, his Honour unsullied. But the Hatred which you -bear him," added her Ladyship almost fiercely, "makes me look to You for -the cause of his Disgrace." - -No one, however, could have looked more utterly astonished, more bland -and uncomprehending, as Mr. Betterton did at that moment. He put up his -hand and regarded the Lady with an indulgent smile, such as one would -bestow on a hot-headed Child. - -"Nay, your Ladyship!" he said courteously. "I fear that you are -attributing to an humble Mountebank a power he doth not possess. To -disgrace a noble Gentleman?" he exclaimed with well-feigned horror. -"I?--a miserable Varlet--an insolent cur whom one thrashes if he dares -to bark!" - -"Ah!" she broke in, with a swift exclamation. "Then I have guessed the -truth! This is your Revenge!" - -"Revenge?" he queried blandly. "For what?" - -"You hate the Earl of Stour," she retorted. - -Once more his well-shaped hand went up, as if in gentle protest, and he -uttered a kind and deprecating "Oh!" - -"You look upon the Earl of Stour as your enemy!" she insisted. - -"I have so many, your Ladyship," he riposted with a smile. - -"'Twas you who obtained his Pardon from my Lady Castlemaine." - -"The inference is scarcely logical," he retorted. "A man does not as a -rule sue for pardon for his Enemy." - -"I think," she rejoined slowly, "that in this case Mr. Betterton did the -illogical thing." - -"Then I do entreat your Ladyship," he protested with mock terror, "not -to repeat this calumny. _I_, accused of a noble action! Tom Betterton -pardoning his Enemies! Why, my friends might believe it, and it is so -difficult these days to live down a good Reputation." - -"You choose to sharpen your wit at my expense, Sir Actor," the lady -rejoined with her former haughtiness, "and to evade the point." - -"What is the point, your Ladyship?" he queried blandly. - -"That you set an end to all these Calumnies which are levelled against -the Earl of Stour." - -"How can we stay the Sun in his orbit?" he retorted; "or the Stars in -their course?" - -"You mean that your Campaign of Slander has already gone too far? But -remember this, Mr. Betterton: that poisoned darts sometimes wound the -hand that throws them. You may pursue the Earl of Stour with your -Hatred and your Calumnies, but God will never allow an innocent Man to -suffer unjustly." - -Just for a few seconds Mr. Betterton was silent. He was still regarding -the Lady with that same indulgent smile which appeared to irritate her -nerves. To me, the very air around seemed to ring as if with a clash of -ghostly arms--the mighty clash of two Wills and two Temperaments, each -fighting for what it holds most dear: she for the Man whom she loved, he -for his Dignity which had been so cruelly outraged. - -"God will never allow," she reiterated with slow emphasis, "an innocent -Man to suffer at the hands of a Slanderer." - -"Ah!" riposted Mr. Betterton suavely. "Is your Ladyship not reckoning -over-confidently on Divine interference?" - -"I also reckon," she retorted, "on His Majesty's sense of justice--and -on the Countess of Castlemaine, who must know the truth of the affair." - -"His Majesty's senses are very elusive," he rejoined drily, "and are apt -to play him some wayward tricks when under the influence of the Countess -of Castlemaine. The Earl of Stour, it seems, disdained the favours -which that Lady was willing to bestow on him. He preferred the superior -charms and intellect of the Lady Barbara Wychwoode. A very natural -preference, of course," he added, with elaborate gallantry. "But I can -assure your Ladyship that, as Helpmeets to heavenly Interference, -neither His Majesty nor the Countess of Castlemaine are to be reckoned -with." - -She bit her lip and cast her eyes to the ground. I could see that her -lovely face expressed acute disappointment and that she was on the verge -of tears. I am not versed in the ways of gentle Folk nor yet in those of -Artists, but I could have told the Lady Barbara Wychwoode that if she -wanted to obtain Sympathy or Leniency from Mr. Betterton, she had gone -quite the wrong way to work. - -Even now, I think if she had started to plead ... but the thought of -humbling herself before a Man whom she affected to despise was as far -from this proud Woman's heart, as are thoughts of self-glorification -from mine. - -A second or two later she had succeeded in forcing back the tears which -had welled to her eyes, and she was able once more to look her Adversary -straight in the face. - -"And will you tell me, Sir Actor," she queried with cold aloofness, "how -far you intend to carry on this Infamy?" - -And Mr. Betterton replied, equally coldly and deliberately: - -"To the uttermost limits of the Kingdom, Madam." - -"What do you mean?" she riposted. - -He drew a step or two nearer to her. His face too was pale by now, his -lips trembling, his eyes aglow with Passion masterfully kept under -control. His perfect voice rose and fell in those modulated Cadences -which we have all learned to appreciate. - -"Only this, your Ladyship," he began quite slowly. "For the present, -the History of the Earl of Stour's treachery is only guessed at by a -few. It is a breath of Scandal, born as you say somewhat mysteriously, -wafted through Palaces and noble Mansions to-day--dead, mayhap, -to-morrow. But I have had many opportunities for thought of late," he -continued--and it seemed to me as if in his quivering voice I could -detect a tone of Threat as well as of Passion--"and have employed my -leisure moments in writing an Epilogue which I propose to speak -to-morrow, after the Play, His Majesty and all the Court being present, -and many Gentlemen and Ladies of high degree, as well as Burgesses and -Merchants of the City, and sundry Clerks and other humbler Folk. A -comprehensive Assembly, what? and an attentive one; for that low-born -Mountebank, Tom Betterton, will be appearing in a new play and the -Playhouse will be filled to the roof in order to do him honour. May I -hope that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode herself----" - -"A truce on this foolery, Sir," she broke in harshly. "I pray you come -to the point." - -She tried to look brave and still haughty, but I knew that she was -afraid--knew it by the almost unearthly pallor of her skin, and the -weird glitter in her eyes as she regarded him, like a Bird fascinated by -a Snake. - -"The point is the Epilogue, my Lady," Mr. Betterton replied blandly. -"And after I have spoken it to-morrow, I shall speak it again and yet -again, until its purport is known throughout the length and breadth of -the Land. The subject of that Epilogue, Madam, will be the secret -History of a certain aborted Conspiracy, and how it was betrayed in -exchange for a free Pardon by one of our noblest Gentlemen in England. -Then, I pray your Ladyship to mark what will happen," he continued, and -his melodious voice became as hard and trenchant as the clang of metal -striking metal. "After that Epilogue has been spoken from the Stage -half a dozen times after His Majesty has heard it and shrugged his -shoulders, after my Lady Castlemaine has laughed over it and my Lord of -Rochester aped it in one of his Pasquinades, there will be a man whose -Name will be a by-word for everything that is most infamous and most -false--a Name that will be bandied about in Taverns and in drinking -Booths, quipped, decried, sneered at, anathematized; a Name that will be -the subject of every lampoon and every scurrilous rhyme that finds -over-ready purchasers--a Name, in fact, that will for ever be whispered -with bated breath or bandied about in a drunken brawl, whene'er there is -talk of treachery and of dishonour!" - -At this, she--great Lady to her finger tips--threw up her head proudly, -still defying him, still striving to hide her Fears and unwilling to -acknowledge Defeat. - -"It will be your Word against his," she said with a disdainful curl of -her perfect lips. "No one would listen to such calumnies." - -And he--the world-famed Artist--at least as proud as any high born -Gentleman in the Land, retorted, equally haughtily: - -"When Tom Betterton speaks upon the Stage, my Lady, England holds her -breath and listens spellbound." - -I would I could render the noble Accent of his magnificent Voice as he -said this. There was no self-glorification in it, no idle boasting; it -was the accent of transcendent Worth conscious of its Power. - -And it had its effect upon the Lady Barbara Wychwoode. She lowered her -Eyes, but not before I had perceived that they were full of Tears; her -Lips were trembling still, but no longer with Disdain, and her hands -suddenly dropped to her side with a pathetic gesture of Discouragement -and of Anguish. - -The next moment, however, she was again looking the great Actor fully in -the face. A change had come over her, quite suddenly methought--a great -Change, which had softened her Mood and to a certain extent lowered her -Pride. Whether this was the result of Mr. Betterton's forceful -Eloquence or of her own Will-power, I could not guess; but I myself -marvelled at the Tone of Entreaty which had crept into her Voice. - -"You will not speak such Falsehoods in Public, Sir," she said with -unwonted softness. "You will not thus demean your Art--the Art which -you love and hold in respect. Oh, there must be some Nobility in You! -else you were not so talented. Your Soul must in truth be filled with -Sentiments which are neither ignoble nor base." - -"Nay!" he exclaimed, and this time did not strive to conceal the intense -Bitterness which, as I knew well enough, had eaten into his very Soul; -"but your Ladyship is pleased to forget. I am ignoble and base! There -cannot be Nobility in me. I am only the low-born Lout! Ask my Lord of -Stour; ask your Brother! They will tell you that I have no Feelings, no -Pride, no Manhood--that I am only a despicable Varlet, whom every -Gentleman may mock and insult and whip like a dog. To You and to your -Caste alone belong Nobility, Pride and Honour. Honour!!!"--and he broke -into a prolonged laugh, which would have rent your Heart to -hear--"Honour! Your false Fetish! Your counterfeit God!! Very well, -then so be it!! That very Honour which he hath denied me, I will wrench -from him. And since he denied me Satisfaction by the Sword, I turn to -my own weapon--my Art--and with it I will exact from him to the -uttermost fraction, Outrage for Outrage--Infamy for Infamy." - -His wonderful Voice shook, broke almost into a sob at last. I felt a -choking sensation in my Throat and my Eyes waxed hot with unshed Tears. -As if through a mist, I could see the exquisite Lady Barbara Wychwoode -before me, could see that she, too, was moved, her Pride crushed, her -Disdain yielding to involuntary Sympathy. - -"But he is innocent!" she pleaded, with an accent verging on Despair. - -"And so was I!" was his calm retort. - -"He----" she entreated, "he loves me----" - -"And so do I!" he exclaimed, with a depth of Passion which brought the -hot Blood to her pale Cheeks. "_I_ would have given my Life for one -Smile from your Lips." - -Whereupon, womanlike, she shifted her ground, looked him straight -between the Eyes, and, oh! I could have blushed to see the Wiles she -used in order to weaken his Resolve. - -"You love me?" she queried softly, and there was now a tone of almost -tender Reproach in her Voice. "You love me! yet you would drag the Man -who is dearer to me than Life to Dishonour and to Shame. You trap him, -like a Fowler does a Bird, then crush him with Falsehoods and Calumnies! -No, no!" she exclaimed--came a step or two nearer to him and clasped her -delicate Hands together in a Gesture that was akin to Prayer. "I'll not -believe it! You will tell the Truth, Mr. Betterton, publicly, and clear -him.... You will.... You will! For my sake--since You say You love -me." - -But the more eager, the more appealing she grew, the calmer and more -calculating did he seem. Now it was his turn to draw away from Her, to -measure Her, as it were, with a cold, appraising Look. - -"For Your sake?" he said with perfect quietude, almost as if the matter -had become outside himself. I cannot quite explain the air of detachment -which he assumed--for it was an assumption, on that I would have staked -my Life at the moment. I, who know him so well, felt that deep down -within his noble Heart there still burned the fierce flames of an ardent -Passion, but whether of Love or Hate, I could not then have told You. - -She had recoiled at the coolness of his Tone; and he went on, still -speaking with that strange, abnormal Calm: - -"Yes!" he said slowly, "for _Your_ love I would do what You ask ... I -would forego that Feast of Satisfaction, the Thought of which hath alone -kept me sane these past few months.... Yes! for the Love of Lady -Barbara Wychwoode I could bring myself to forgive even his Lordship of -Stour for the irreparable wrong which he hath done to Me. I would -restore to him his Honour, which now lies, a Forfeit, in my Hands: for I -shall then have taken Something from him which he holds well-nigh as -dear." - -He paused, and met with the same calm relentlessness the look of Horror -and of Scorn wherewith she regarded him. - -"For my Love?" she exclaimed, and once more the warm Blood rushed up to -her face, flooding her wan Cheeks, her pale Forehead, even her delicate -Throat with crimson. "You mean that I? ... Oh! ... what Infamy! ... So, -Mr. Actor, that was your reckoning!" she went on with supreme Disdain. -"It was not the desire for Vengeance that prompted You to slander the -Earl of Stour, but the wish to entrap _me_ into becoming your Wife. You -are not content with Your Laurels. You want a Coat of Arms ... and -hoped to barter one against Your Calumnies!" - -"Nay, your Ladyship!" he rejoined simply, "in effect, I was actually -laying a Name famed throughout the cultured world humbly at your feet. -You made an appeal to my Love for You--and I laid a test for your -Sincerity. Mine I have placed beyond question, seeing that I am -prepared to drag my Genius in the dust before Your Pride and the -Arrogance of Your Caste. An Artist is a Slave of his Sensibilities, and -I feel that if, in the near Future, I could see a Vision of your perfect -hand resting content in mine, if, when You pleaded again for my Lord -Stour, You did so as my promised Wife--not his--I would do all that You -asked." - -She drew herself up to her full height and glanced at him with all the -Pride which awhile ago had seemed crushed beyond recall. - -"Sir Actor," she said coldly, "shame had gripped me by the throat, or I -should not have listened so long to such an Outrage. The Bargain You -propose is an Infamy and an Insult." - -And she gathered up her Skirts around her, as if their very contact with -the Soil on which he trod were a pollution. Then she half turned as if -ready to go, cast a rapid glance at the Shrubberies close by, no doubt -in search of her Attendant. Why it was that she did not actually go, I -could not say, but guessed that, mayhap, she would not vacate the Field -of Contention until quite sure that there was not a final Chance to -soften the Heart of the Enemy. She had thrown down yet another Challenge -when she spoke of his proposed Bargain as an Infamy; but he took up the -Gage with the same measured Calm as before. - -"As you will," he said. "It was in Your Ladyship's name that the Earl -of Stour put upon Me the deadliest Insult which any Man hath ever put on -Man before. Since then, every Fibre within Me has clamoured for -Satisfaction. My Work hath been irksome to me ... I scarce could think -... My Genius lay writhing in an agony of Shame. But now the hour is -mine--for it I have schemed and lied--aye, lied--like the low-born cur -You say I am. A thousand Devils of Hate and of Rage are unchained -within me. I cannot grapple with them alone. They would only yield--to -your kiss." - -"Oh!" she cried in uttermost despair, "this is horrible!" - -"Then let the Man you love," he rejoined coldly, "look to himself." - -"Conscious of his Innocence, my Lord Stour and I defy you!" - -"Ah, well!" he said imperturbably, "the Choice is still with Your -Ladyship. Remember that I do not speak my Epilogue until to-morrow. -When I do, it will be too late. I have called my Phantasy 'The Comedie -of Traitors.'" - -Whereupon he bowed low before her, in the most approved Fashion. But -already she was fleeing up the path in the direction of Westminster. -Soon her graceful Figure was lost to our sight behind an intervening -clump of Laurels. Here no doubt her Ladyship's Attendant was waiting -for her Mistress, for anon I spied two figures hurrying out of the Park. - - - - 3 - - -For a long time Mr. Betterton remained standing just where he was, one -hand still clutching the knob of his Stick, the other thrust in the -pocket of his capacious Coat. I could not see his Face, since his Back -was turned towards me, and I did not dare move lest I should be -interrupting his Meditations. But to Me, even that Back was expressive. -There was a listlessness, hardly a stoop, about it, so unlike my -Friend's usual firm and upright Carriage. How could this be otherwise, -seeing what he had just gone through--Emotions that would have swept -most Men off their mental balance. Yet he kept his, had never once lost -control of himself. He had met Disdain with Disdain in the end, had -kept sufficient control over his Voice to discuss with absolute calm, -that Bargain which the Lady Barbara had termed infamous. There had been -a detachment about his final Ultimatum, a "take it or leave it" air, -which must have been bitterly galling to the proud Lady who had stooped -to entreat. He was holding the winning Hand and did not choose to -yield. - -And it was from his attitude on that Day that I, dear Mistress, drew an -unerring inference. Mr. Betterton had no Love for the Lady Barbara, no -genuine, lasting Affection such as, I maintain, he has never ceased to -feel for You. Passion swayed him, because he has, above all, that -unexplainable artistic Temperament which cannot be measured by everyday -Standards. Pride, Bitterness, Vengefulness--call it what you will; but -there was not a particle of Love in it all. I verily believe that his -chief Desire, whilst he stood pondering there at the bridgehead, was to -humiliate the Lady Barbara Wychwoode by forcing her into a Marriage -which she had affected to despise. He was not waiting for her with -open, loving Arms, ready to take her to his Heart, there to teach her to -forget the Past in the safe haven of his Love. He was not waiting to -lay his Service at her feet, and to render her happy as the cherished -Wife and Helpmate of the great Artist whom all England delighted to -honour. He was only waiting to make her feel that She had been -subjected to his Will and her former Lover brought down to Humiliation, -through the Power of the miserable Mountebank whom they had both deemed -less than a Man. - -Thus meditating, I stood close to my Friend, until Chance or a fleeting -Thought brought him back to the realities of Life. He sighed and looked -about him, as a Man will who hath just wakened from a Dream. Then he -spied me, and gave me his wonted kindly smile and glance. - -"Good old John!" he said, with a self-deprecating shrug of the -shoulders. "'Twas not an edifying Scene You have witnessed, eh?" - -"'Twas a heartrending one," I riposted almost involuntarily. - -"Heartrending?" he queried, in a tone of intense bitterness, "to watch a -Fool crushing every Noble Instinct within him for the sake of getting -even with a Man whom he neither honours nor esteems?" - -He sighed again, and beckoned to me to follow him. - -"Let us home, good Honeywood," he said. "I am weary of all this -wrangle, and pine to find solace among the Poets." - -Nor did he mention the name of the Lady Barbara again to me, and I was -left to ponder what was going on in his Mind and whether his cruelly -vengeful Scheme for the final undoing of my Lord Stour would indeed come -to maturity on the following day. I knew that a great and brilliant -Representation of the late Mr. William Shakespeare's play, "Twelfth -Night," was to be given at the Duke's Theatre, with some of the new -Scenery and realistic scenic Effects brought over last Autumn from Paris -by Mr. Betterton. His Majesty had definitely promised that he would be -present and so had the Countess of Castlemaine, and there would -doubtless be a goodly and gorgeous Company present to applaud the great -Actor, whose Performance of Sir Toby Belch was one of the Marvels of -histrionic Art, proclaiming as it did his wonderful versatility, by -contrast with his equally remarkable exposition of the melancholy -Hamlett, Prince of Denmark. - -That I now awaited that Day with Sorrow in my Heart and with measureless -Anxiety, You, dear Mistress, will readily imagine. Until this morning I -had no idea of the terrible Thunderbolt which my Friend had in -preparation for those who had so shamefully wronged him; and I still -marvelled whether in his talk with the Lady Barbara there had not lurked -some idle Threats rather than a serious Warning. How could I think of -the Man whom I had learned to love and to reverence as one who would -nurture such cruel Schemes? And yet, did not the late Mr. Shakespeare -warn us that "Pleasure and Revenge have ears more deaf than Adders to -the voice of any true decision"? Ah, me! but I was sick at heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - - THE RULING PASSION - - - 1 - - -And now, dear Mistress, I come to that memorable Evening wherein -happened that which causes You so much heart-ache at this Hour. - -I know that the Occurrences of that Night have been brought to your -Notice in a garbled Version, and that Mr. Betterton's Enemies have -placed the Matter before You in a manner calculated to blacken his -Integrity. But, as there is a living Judge above Us all, I swear to -You, beloved Mistress, that what I am now purposing to relate is nothing -but the Truth. Remember that, in this miserable Era of Scandal and -Backbiting, of loose Living and Senseless Quarrels, Mr. Betterton's -Character has always stood unblemished, even though the evil Tongue of -Malice hath repeatedly tried to attack his untarnished Reputation. -Remember also that the great Actor's few but virulent Enemies are all -Men who have made Failures of their Lives, who are Idlers, Sycophants or -Profligates, and therefore envious of the Fame and Splendour of one who -is thought worthy to be the Friend of Kings. - - - - 2 - - -We spoke but little together that day on our way home from the Park. -Mr. Betterton was moody, and I silent. We took our dinner in quietude. -There being no Performance at the Theatre that day, Mr. Betterton -settled down to his Desk in the afternoon, telling me that he had some -writing to do. - -I, too, had some of his Correspondence to attend to, and presently -repaired to my room, my Heart still aching with Sorrow. Did I not guess -what Work was even now engrossing the Attention of my Friend? He was -deep in the Composition of that cruel Lampoon which he meant to speak on -the Stage to-morrow, in the presence of His Majesty and of a large and -brilliant Assembly. Strive as I might, I could not to myself minimize -the probable Effect of the Lampoon upon the Mind of the Public. It is -not for me, dear Mistress, to remind You of the amazing Popularity of -Mr. Betterton--a Popularity which hath never been equalled ere this by -any Actor, Artist or Poet in England. Whatever he spoke from the Stage -would be treasured and reiterated and commented upon, until every -Citizen of London and Westminster became himself a storehouse of Mud -that would be slung at the unfortunate Earl of Stour. And the latter, -by refusing to fight Mr. Betterton when the Latter had been the injured -Party, had wilfully cast aside any Weapon of Redress which he might -after this have called to his Aid. - -Well! we all know the Effect of scurrilous Quips spoken from the Stage; -even the great Mr. Dryden or the famous Mr. Wycherley have not been -above interpolating some in their Plays, for the Confusion of their -Enemies; and many a Gentleman's or a Lady's Reputation has been made to -suffer through the Vindictiveness of a noted Actor or Playwright. But, -as you know, Mr. Betterton had never hitherto lent himself to such -Scandal-monging; he stood far above those petty Quarrels betwixt -Gentlemen and Poets that could be settled by wordy Warfare across the -Footlights. All the more Weight, therefore, would the Public attach to -an Epilogue specially written and spoken by him on so great an occasion. -And, alas! the Mud-slinging was to be of a very peculiar and very -clinging Nature. - -"Then let the Man you love look to himself!" the outraged Artist had -said coldly, when confronted for the last time by the Lady Barbara's -Disdain. And in my Mind I had no doubt that, for Good or for Evil, if -Tom Betterton set out to do a Thing, he would carry it through to its -bitter End. - - - - 3 - - -When, having finished my work, I went into Mr. Betterton's study, I -found him sitting beside his Desk, though no longer writing. He was -leaning back against the cushions of his chair with eyes closed, his -face set and hard. Some loose papers, covered with his neat, careful -Caligraphy, lay in an orderly heap upon the Desk. - -His Work was evidently finished. Steeped in Bitterness and in -Vengeance, his Pen had laboured and was now at rest. The Eloquence of -the incomparable Actor would now do the rest. - -As I entered the Room, the tower clock of Westminster was just striking -seven. The deep bay Window which gave on a solitary corner of St. -James's Park, was wide open, and through it there came from afar, wafted -upon the evening breeze, the strains of a masculine Voice, warm and -mellow, singing to the accompaniment of one of those stringed -Instruments which have been imported of late from Italy. - -The Voice rose and fell in pleasing Cadences, and some of the Words of -the Song reached mine Ear. - - "You are my Life. You ask me why? - Because my hope is in your love." - - -Whether Mr. Betterton heard them or not, I could not say. He sat there -so still, his slender Hands--white and tapering, the veritable Hands of -an Artist--rested listlessly upon the arms of his chair. - - "Through gloomy Clouds to sunlit Skies, - To rest in Faith and your dear Eyes." - - -So sang the sweet Minstrel out there in the fast gathering Gloom. I -went up to the window and gazed out into the open Vista before me. Far -away I could see the twinkling lights from the windows of St. James's -Palace, and on my right those of White Hall. The Singer I could not -see. He appeared to be some distance away. But despite the lateness of -the hour, the Park was still alive with people. And indeed as I leaned -my Head further out of the Window, I was struck by the animated -spectacle which it presented. - -No doubt that the unwonted mildness of this early spring evening had -induced young Maids and Gallants, as well as more sober Folk and -Gentlemen, to linger out in the open. The charm of the Minstrel and his -Song, too, must have served as an additional Attraction, for as I -watched the People passing to and fro, I heard snatches of Conversation, -mostly in praise of the Singer or of the Weather. - -Anon I espied Sir William Davenant walking with Mr. Killigrew, and my -Lord of Rochester dallying with a pretty Damsel; one or two more -Gentlemen did I recognize as I gazed on the moving Sight, until suddenly -I saw that which caused me to draw my Head back quickly from the Window -and to gaze with added Anxiety on the listless Figure of my Friend. - -What I had seen down below had indeed filled my Heart with Dread. It -was the Figure of my Lord Stour. I could have sworn to it, even though -his Lordship was wrapped in a mantle from Head to Foot and wore a -broad-rimmed Hat, both of which would indeed have disguised his Person -completely before all Eyes save those of Love, of Hate, or of an abiding -Friendship. - -What was my Lord Stour doing at this Hour, and in disguise, beneath the -Window of his bitterest Foe? My Anxiety was further quickened by the -Certainty which I had that neither he nor the Lady Barbara would allow -Mr. Betterton's Schemes to mature without another Struggle. Even as I -once more thrust my Head out of the Window, in order to catch another -glimpse of the moody and solitary Figure which I had guessed to be Lord -Stour, methought that close by the nearest Shrubbery I espied the Figure -of the Lady Barbara, in close conversation with her Attendant. Both -Women were wrapped in dark Mantles and wore thick veils to cover their -Hair. - -A dark presentiment of Evil now took possession of my Soul. I felt like -a Watch-dog scenting Danger from afar. The Man whom I loved better than -any other on Earth was in peril of his Life, at the hands of an Enemy -driven mad by an impending Doom--of that I felt suddenly absolutely -convinced. And somehow, I felt equally convinced at the moment that -we--I, the poor, insignificant Clerk, as well as my illustrious -Friend--were standing on the Brink of an overwhelming Catastrophe. - -I had thought to warn him then and there, yet dared not do so in so many -words. Men in the prime of Life and the plentitude of their mental -Powers are wont to turn contemptuous and obstinate if told to be on -their guard against a lurking Enemy. And I feared that, in his utter -contempt for his Foe, Mr. Betterton might be tempted to do something -that was both unconsidered and perilous. - -So I contented myself for the nonce with turning to my Friend, seeing -that he had wakened from his reverie and was regarding me with that look -of Confidence and Kindliness which always warmed my heart when I was -conscious of it, I merely remarked quite casually: - -"The Park is still gay with Ladies and Gallants. 'Tis strange at this -late hour. But a Minstrel is discoursing sweet Music somewhere in the -distance. Mayhap people have assembled in order to listen to him." - -And, as if to confirm my Supposition, a merry peal of laughter came -ringing right across the Park, and we heard as it were the hum and -murmur of Pedestrians moving about. And through it all the echo of the -amorous Ditty still lingering upon the evening air: - - "For you are Love--and I am yours!" - - -"Close that window, John," Mr. Betterton said, with an impatient little -sigh. "I am in no mood for sentimental Ballads." - -I did as he desired, and whilst in the act of closing the Window, I said -guardedly: - -"I caught sight of my Lord Stour just now, pacing the open Ground just -beneath this Window. He appeared moody and solitary, and was wrapped -from head to foot in a big Mantle, as if he wished to avoid -Recognition." - -"I too am moody and solitary, good Honeywood," was Mr. Betterton's sole -comment on my remark. Then he added, with a slight shiver of his whole -body: "I prithee, see to the Fire. I am perished with the cold." - -I went up to the Hearth and kicked the dying embers into a Blaze; then -found some logs and threw them on the Fire. - -"The evening is warm, Sir," I said; "and you complained of the Heat -awhile ago." - -"Yes," he rejoined wearily. "My head is on fire and my Spine feels like -ice." - -It was quite dark in the Room now, save for the flickering and ruddy -firelight. So I went out and bade the Servant give me the candles. I -came back with them myself and set them on the Desk. As I did so, I -glanced at Mr. Betterton. He had once more taken up his listless -Attitude; his Head was leaning against the back of his Chair, and I -could not fail to note how pallid his Face looked and how drawn, and -there was a frown between his Brows which denoted wearying and absorbing -Thoughts. Wishing to distract him from his brooding Melancholy, I -thought of reminding him of certain artistic and social Duties which -were awaiting his Attention. - -"Will you send an Answer, Sir," I asked him with well-assumed -indifference, "to the Chancellor? It is on the Subject of the Benefit -Performance in aid of the Indigent Poor of the City of Westminster. His -Lordship again sent a messenger this afternoon." - -"Yes!" Mr. Betterton replied readily enough, and sought amongst his -Papers for a Letter which he had apparently written some time during the -Day. "If His Lordship's Messenger calls again, let him have this Note. -I must arrange for the Benefit Performance, of course. But I doubt if -many members of the Company will care to give their Services." - -"I think that Mr. Robert Noakes would be willing," I suggested. "Also -Mr. Lilleston." - -"Perhaps, perhaps!" he broke in listlessly. "But we must have Actresses -too, and they----" - -He shrugged his shoulders, and I rejoined with great alacrity: - -"Oh! I feel sure that Mistress Saunderson would be ready to join in any -benevolent Scheme for the betterment of the Poor." - -"Ah! but she is an Angel!" Mr. Betterton exclaimed. And, believe me, -dear Mistress, that those words came as if involuntarily to his Lips, -out of the Fulness of his Heart. And even when he had spoken, a Look of -infinite Sadness swept over his Face and he rested his Head against his -Hand, shading his Eyes from the light of the Candles, lest I should read -the Thoughts that were mirrored therein. - -"There came a messenger, too, this afternoon," I reminded him, "from -Paris, with an autograph Letter from His Majesty the King of France." - -"Yes!" he replied, and nodded his Head, I thought, uncomprehendingly. - -"Also a letter from the University of Stockholm. They propose that You -should visit the City in the course of the Summer and----" - -"Yes, yes! I know!" he rejoined impatiently. "I will attend to it all -another time ... But not to-night, good Honeywood," he went on almost -appealingly, like a Man wearied with many Tasks. "My mind is like a -squeezed Orange to-night." - -Then he held out his Hand to me--that beautiful, slender Hand of his, -which I had so often kissed in the excess of my Gratitude--and added -with gentle Indulgence: - -"Let me be to-night, good Friend. Leave me to myself. I am such poor -Company and am best alone." - -I took his hand. It was burning hot, as if with inward Fever. All my -Friendship for him, all my Love, was at once on the alert, dreading the -ravages of some inward Disease, brought on mayhap by so much Soul-worry. - -"I do not relish leaving You alone to-night," I said, with more -gruffness than I am wont to display. "This room is easy of Access from -the Park." - -He smiled, a trifle sadly. - -"Dost think," he asked, with a slight shrug of the shoulders, "that a -poor Mountebank would tempt a midnight Robber?" - -"No!" I replied firmly. "But my Lord Stour, wrapped to the eyes in his -Mantle, hath prowled beneath these Windows for an hour." Then, as he -made no comment, I continued with some Fervour: "A determined Man, who -hates Another, can easily climb up to a first floor Window----" - -"Tush, friend!" he broke in sharply. "I am not afraid of his Lordship -... I am afraid of nothing to-night, my good Honeywood," he added -softly, "except of myself." - - - - 4 - - -You certainly will not wonder, dear Mistress, that after that I did not -obey his Commands to leave him to himself. I am nothing of an -Eavesdropper, God knows, nor yet would I pry into the Secrets of the -Soul of the one Man whom I reverence above all others. But, even as I -turned reluctantly away from him in order to go back to my Room, I -resolved that, unless he actually shut the Door in my Face, I would -circumvent him and would remain on the watch, like a faithful Dog who -scents Danger for his Master. In this I did not feel that I was doing -any Wrong. God saw in my Heart and knew that my Purpose was innocent. -I thank Him on my Knees in that He strengthened me in my Resolve. But -for that Resolve, I should not have been cognizant of all the details of -those Events which culminated in such a dramatic Climax that night, and -I would not have been able to speak with Authority when placing all the -Facts before You. Let me tell You at once that I was there, in Mr. -Betterton's Room, during the whole of the time that the Incident -occurred which I am now about to relate. - -He had remained sitting at his Desk, and I went across the Room in the -direction of the communicating Door which gave on my own Study. But I -did not go through that Door. I just opened and shut it noisily, and -then slipped stealthily behind the tall oaken Dresser, which stands in a -dark Angle of the Room. From this point of Vantage I could watch -closely and ceaselessly, and at the slightest Suspicion of immediate -Danger to my Friend I would be free to slip out of my Hiding-place and -to render him what Assistance he required. I had to squat there in a -cramped Position, and I felt half suffocated with the closeness of the -Atmosphere behind so heavy a Piece of Furniture; but this I did not -mind. From where I was I could command a view of Mr. Betterton at his -Desk, and of the Window, which I wished now that I had taken the -Precaution to bar and bolt ere I retired to my Corner behind the -Dresser. - -For awhile, everything was silent in the Room; only the great Clock -ticked loudly in its case, and now and again the blazing logs gave an -intermittent Crackle. I just could see the outline of Mr. Betterton's -Shoulder and Arm silhouetted against the candle light. He sat forward, -his elbow resting upon the Desk, his Head leaning against his Hand, and -so still that presently I fell to thinking that he must have dropped to -sleep. - -But suddenly he gave that quick, impatient Sigh of his, which I had -learned to know so well, pushed back his chair, and rose to his Feet. -Whereupon, he began pacing up and down the Room, in truth like some -poor, perturbed Spirit that is denied the Solace of Rest. - -Then he began to murmur to himself. I know that mood of his and believe -it to be peculiar to the artistic Temperament, which, when it feels -itself untrammelled by the Presence of Others, gives vent to its -innermost Thoughts in mumbled Words. - -From time to time I caught Snatches of what he said--wild Words for the -most part, which showed the Perturbation of his Spirit. He, whose Mind -was always well-ordered, whose noble Calling had taught him to -co-ordinate his Thoughts and to subdue them to his Will, was now -murmuring incoherent Phrases, disjointed Sentences that would have -puzzled me had I not known the real Trend of his Mood. - -"Barbara!..." he said at one time. "Beautiful, exquisite, innocent Lady -Babs; the one pure Crystal in that Laboratory of moral Decomposition, -the Court of White Hall...." Then he paused, struck his Forehead with -his Hand, and added with a certain fierce Contempt: "But she will yield -... she is ready now to yield. She will cast aside her Pride, and throw -herself into the arms of a Man whom she hates, all for the sake of that -young Coxcomb, who is not worthy to kiss the Sole of her Shoe!" - -Again he paused, flung himself back into his Chair, and once more buried -his Face in his Hands. - -"Oh, Woman, Woman!" I could hear him murmuring. "What an Enigma! How -can the mere Man attempt to understand thee?" - -Then he laughed. Oh! I could not bear the sound of that laugh: there -was naught but Bitterness in it. And he said slowly muttering between -his Teeth: - -"The Philosopher alone knows that Women are like Melons: it is only -after having tasted them that one knows if they are good." - -Of course, he said a great deal more during the course of that dreary, -restless hour, which seemed to me like a Slice out of Eternity. His -Restlessness was intense. Every now and then he would jump up and walk -up and down, up and down, until his every Footstep had its counterpart -in the violent beatings of my Heart. Then he would fling himself into a -Chair and rest his Head against the Cushions, closing his Eyes as if he -were in bodily Pain, or else beat his Forehead with his Fists. - -Of course he thought himself unobserved, for Mr. Betterton is, as You -know, a Man of great mental Reserve. Not even before me--his faithful -and devoted Friend--would he wittingly have displayed such overmastering -Emotion. To say that an equally overwhelming Sorrow filled my Heart -would be but to give You, dear Mistress, a feeble Statement of what I -really felt. To see a Man of Mr. Betterton's mental and physical Powers -so utterly crushed by an insane Passion was indeed heartrending. Had he -not everything at his Feet that any Man could wish for?--Fame, Honours, -the Respect and Admiration of all those who mattered in the World. -Women adored him, Men vied with one another to render him the sincerest -Flattery by striving to imitate his Gestures, his Mode of Speech, the -very Cut of his Clothes. And, above all--aye, I dare assert it, and -You, beloved Mistress will, I know, forgive me--above all, he had the -Love of a pure and good Woman, of a talented Artist--yours, dear -Lady--an inestimable Boon, for which many a Man would thank his Maker on -his Knees. - -Ah! he was blind then, had been blind since that fatal Hour when the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode crossed his Path. I could endorse the wild Words -which he had spoken to her this forenoon. A thousand devils were indeed -unchained within him; but 'tis not to her Kiss that they would yield, -but rather to the gentle Ministration of exquisite Mistress Saunderson. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - - MORE DEAF THAN ADDERS - - - 1 - - -I felt so cramped and numb in my narrow hiding-place that I verily -believe I must have fallen into a kind of trance-like Slumber. - -From this I was suddenly awakened by the loud Clang of our front-door -Bell, followed immediately by the Footsteps of the Serving Man upon the -Landing, and then by a brief Colloquy between him and the belated -Visitor. - -Seriously, at the moment I had no Conception of who this might be, until -I glanced at Mr. Betterton. And then I guessed. Guessed, just as he had -already done. Every line of his tense and expectant Attitude betrayed -the Fact that he had recognized the Voice upon the Landing, and that its -sound had thrilled his very Soul and brought him back from the Land of -Dreams and Nightmare, where he had been wandering this past hour. - -You remember, dear Lady, the last time Mr. Betterton played in a Tragedy -called "Hamlett," wherein there is a Play within a Play, and the -melancholy Prince of Denmark sets a troupe of Actors to enact a -Representation of the terrible Crime whereof he accuses both his Uncle -and his Mother? It is a Scene which, when played by Mr. Betterton, is -wont to hold the Audience enthralled. He plays his Part in it by lying -full length on the Ground, his Body propped up by his Elbow and his Chin -supported in his Hand. His Eyes--those wonderful, expressive Eyes of -his--he keeps fixed upon the guilty Pair: his Mother and his Uncle. He -watches the play of every Emotion upon their faces--Fear, Anger, and -then the slowly creeping, enveloping Remorse; and his rigid, stern -Features express an Intensity of Alertness and of Expectancy, which is -so poignant as to be almost painful. - -Just such an Expression did my dear Friend's Face wear at this Moment. -He had pushed his Chair back slightly, so that I had a fuller view of -him, and the flickering light of the wax Candles illumined his clear-cut -Features and his Eyes, fixed tensely upon the door. - - - - 2 - - -The next moment the serving Man threw open the door and the Lady Barbara -walked in. I could not see her until she had advanced further into the -middle of the Room. Then I beheld her in all her Loveliness. Nay! -I'll not deny it. She was still incomparably beautiful, with, in -addition, that marvellous air of Breeding and of Delicacy, which -rendered her peerless amongst her kind. I hated her for the infinite -wrong which she had done to my Friend, but I could not fail to admire -her. Her Mantle was thrown back from her Shoulders and a dark, filmy -Veil, resembling a Cloud, enveloped her fair Hair. Beneath her Mantle -she wore a Dress of something grey that shimmered like Steel in the -Candlelight. A few tendrils of her ardent Hair had escaped from beneath -her Veil, and they made a kind of golden Halo around her Face. She was -very pale, but of that transparent, delicate Pallor that betokens -Emotion rather than ill-health, and her Eyes looked to me to be as dark -as Sloes, even though I knew them to be blue. - -For the space of one long Minute, which seemed like Eternity, these two -remained absolutely still, just looking at one another. Methought that -I could hear the very heart-beats within my breast. Then the Lady said, -with a queer little catch in her Throat and somewhat hesitatingly: - -"You are surprised to see me, Sir, no doubt ... but ..." - -She was obviously at a loss how to begin. And Mr. Betterton, aroused no -doubt by her Voice from his absorption, rose quickly to his Feet and -made her a deep and respectful Obeisance. - -"The Angels from Heaven sometimes descend to Earth," he said slowly; -"yet the Earth is more worthy of their Visit than is the humble Artist -of the Presence of his Muse." Then he added more artlessly: "Will You -deign to sit?" - -He drew a Chair forward for her, but She did not take it, continued to -speak with a strange, obviously forced Gaiety and in a halting Manner. - -"I thank you, Sir," she said. "That is ... no ... not yet ... I like to -look about me." - -She went close up to the Desk and began to finger idly the Books and -Papers which lay scattered pell-mell upon it, he still gazing on her as -if he had not yet realized the Actuality of her Presence. Anon she -looked inquiringly about her. - -"What a charming room!" she said, with a little cry of wonder. "So new -to me! I have never seen an Artist's room before." - -"For weeks and months," Mr. Betterton rejoined simply, "this one has -been a temple, hallowed by thoughts of You. Your Presence now, has -henceforth made it a Sanctuary." - -She turned full, inquiring Eyes upon him and riposted with childlike -Ingenuousness: - -"Yet must You wonder, Sir, at my Presence here ... alone ... and at this -hour." - -"In my heart," he replied, "there is such an Infinity of Happiness that -there is no Room for Wonder." - -"An Infinity of Happiness?" she said with a quaint little sigh. "That -is what we are all striving for, is it not? The Scriptures tell us that -this Earth is a Vale of Tears. No wonder!" she added navely, "since we -are so apt to allow Happiness to pass us by." - -Oh! how I wished I had the Courage then and there to reveal myself to -these Twain, to rush out of my Hiding-place and seize that wily -Temptress who, I felt sure, was here only for the undoing of a Man whom -she hated with unexampled Bitterness. Oh, why hath grudging Nature made -me weak and cowardly and diffident, when my whole Soul yearns at times -to be resourceful and bold? Believe me, dear Mistress, that my Mind and -my Will-power were absolutely torn between two Impulses--the one -prompting me to put a stop to this dangerous and purposeless Interview, -this obvious Trap set to catch a great and unsuspecting Artist unawares; -and the other urging me not to interfere, but rather to allow Destiny, -Fate or the Will of God alone to straighten out the Web of my Friend's -Life, which had been embroiled by such Passions as were foreign to his -noble Nature. - -And now I am thankful that I allowed this latter Counsel to prevail. -The Will of God did indeed shape the Destinies of Men this night for -their Betterment and ultimate Happiness. But, for the moment, the -Threads of many a Life did appear to be most hopelessly tangled: the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury, the fiance -of the Earl of Stour, was in the house of Tom Betterton, His Majesty's -Well-Beloved Servant, and he was passionately enamoured of her and had -vowed Vengeance against the Man she loved. As he gazed on her now there -was no Hatred in his Glance, no evil Passion disturbed the Look of -Adoration wherewith he regarded her. - -"Barbara," he pleaded humbly, "be merciful to me.... For pity's sake, -do not mock me with your smile! My dear, do you not see that I scarce -can believe that I live ... and that you are here? ... You! ... You!" he -went on, with passionate Earnestness. "My Divinity, whom I only dare -approach on bended Knees, whose Garment I scarce dare touch with my -trembling Lips!" - -He bent the Knee and raised the long, floating End of her cloudlike Veil -to his Lips. I could have sworn at that Moment that she recoiled from -him and that she made a Gesture to snatch away the Veil, as if his very -Touch on it had been Pollution. That Gesture and the Recoil were, -however, quite momentary. The next second, even whilst he rose once -more to his Feet, she had already recovered herself. - -"Hush!" she said gently, and drew herself artlessly away from his -Nearness. "I want to listen.... People say that Angels wait upon Mr. -Betterton when he studies his Part ... and I want to hear the flutter of -their Wings." - -"The Air vibrates with the Echo of your sweet Name," he rejoined, and -his exquisite Voice sounded mellow and vibrant as a sensitive Instrument -touched by a Master's Hand. "Your name, which with mad longing I have -breathed morning, noon and eve. And now ... now ... I am not dreaming -... You are near me! ... You, the perfect Lady Barbara ... my Lady -Babs.... And you look--almost happy!" - -She gave him a Look--the true Look of a Siren set to enchain the Will of -Man. - -"Happy?" she queried demurely. "Nay, Sir ... puzzled, perhaps." - -"Puzzled?" he echoed. "Why?" - -"Wondering," she replied, "what magic is in the air that could make a -Woman's Heart ... forsake one Love ... for ... for Another." - -Yes! She said this, and looked on him straight between the Eyes as she -spoke. Yet I knew that she lied, could have screamed the Accusation at -her, so convinced was I that she was playing some subtle and treacherous -Game, designed to entrap him and to deliver him helpless and broken into -her Power. But he, alas! was blinded by his Passion. He saw no Siren in -her, no Falsehood in her Smile. At her Words, I saw a great Light of -Happiness illumine his Face. - -"Barbara!" he pleaded. "Have pity on me, for my Reason wanders. I dare -not call it back, lest this magic hour should prove to be a Dream." - -He tried to take her in his Arms, but she evaded him, ran to the other -side of the Desk, laughing merrily like a Child. Once again her -delicate Fingers started to toy with the Papers scattered there. - -"Oh, ho!" she exclaimed, with well-feigned astonishment. "Your desk! -Why, this," she said, placing her Hand upon the neat pile before her, -"must be that very Thunderbolt wherewith to-morrow you mean to crush an -arrogant Enemy!" - -"Barbara!" he rejoined with ever growing passion, and strove to take her -Hand. "Will you not let me tell You----" - -"Yes, yes!" she replied archly, and quietly withdrew her Hand from his -grasp. "You shall speak to me anon some of those Speeches of our great -Poets, which your Genius hath helped to immortalize. To hear Mr. -Betterton recite will be an inestimable Privilege ... which your many -Admirers, Sir, will envy me." - -"The whole world would envy me to-night," he retorted, and gazed on her -with such Ardour that she was forced to lower her Eyes and to hide their -Expression behind the delicate Curtain of her Lashes. - -I, who was the dumb Spectator of this cruel Game, saw that the Lady -Barbara was feeling her way towards her Goal. There was so much -Excitement in her, such palpitating Vitality, that her very Heart-beats -seemed to find their Echo in my breast. Of course, I did not know yet -what Game it was that she was playing. All that I knew was that it was -both deadly and treacherous. Even now, when Mr. Betterton once more -tried to approach her and she as instinctively as before recoiled before -him, she contrived to put strange softness into her Voice, and a subtle, -insidious Promise which helped to confuse his Brain. - -"No--no!" she said. "Not just yet ... I pray you have pity on my -Blushes. I--I still am affianced to my Lord Stour ... although..." - -"You are right, my beloved," he rejoined simply. "I will be patient, -even though I am standing on the Threshold of Paradise. But will You -not be merciful? I cannot see you well. Will you not take off that -Veil? ... It casts a dark shadow over your Brow." - -This time she allowed him to come near her, and, quite slowly, she -unwound the Veil from round her Head. He took it from her as if it were -some hallowed Relic, too sacred to be polluted by earthly Touch. And, -as her back was turned towards him, he crushed the Gossamer between his -Hands and pressed its Fragrance to his Lips. - -"There!" she said coolly. "'Tis done. Your magic, Sir Actor, has -conquered again." - -It seemed to me that she was more self-possessed now than she had been -when first she entered the Room. Indeed, her Serenity appeared to grow -as his waned perceptibly. She still was a little restless, wandering -aimlessly about the Room, fingering the Books, the Papers, the Works of -Art that lay everywhere about; but it seemed like the restlessness of -Curiosity rather than of Excitement. In her own Mind she felt that she -held the Winning Hand--of this I was convinced--and that she could -afford to toy with and to befool the Man who had dared to measure his -Power against hers. - -After awhile, she sat down in her Chair which he had brought forward for -her, and which stood close to the Desk. - -"And now, Sir," she said with cool composure, "'tis You who must humour -me. I have a fancy ... now, at this moment ... and my Desire is to be -thoroughly spoiled." - -"Every Whim of yours," he rejoined, "is a Command to your humble Slave." - -"Truly?" she queried. - -"Truly." - -"Then will You let me see you ... sitting at your Desk ... Pen in hand -... writing something just for me?" - -"All my work of late," he replied, "has been done because of You ... but -I am no Poet. What I speak may have some Merit. What I write hath -none." - -"Oh!" she protested with well-simulated Coquetry, "what I desire You to -write for me, Sir Actor, will have boundless Merit. It is just a couple -of Lines designed to ... to ... prove your Love for me--Oh!" she added -quickly, "I scarce dare believe in it, Sir ... I scare understood ... -You remember, this morning in the Park, I was so excited, yet you asked -me--to be--your Wife!" - -"My Wife!" he cried, his Voice ringing with triumphant Passion. "And -you would consent?----" - -"And so I came," she riposted, evading a direct Answer, "to see if I had -been dreaming ... if, indeed, the great and illustrious Mr. Betterton -had stooped to love a Woman ... and for the sake of that Love would do a -little Thing for Her." - -Lies! Lies! I knew that every Word which she spoke was nothing but a -Lie. My God! if only I could have unriddled her Purpose! If only I -could have guessed what went on behind those marvellous Eyes of hers, -deep and unfathomable as the Sea! All I knew--and this I did in the very -Innermost of my Soul--was that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode had come here -to-night in order to trick Mr. Betterton, and to turn his Love for her -to Advantage for my Lord Stour. How carefully she had thought out the -Part which she meant to play; how completely she meant to have him at -her Mercy, only in order to mock and deride him in the End, I had yet to -learn. - -Even now she completed his Undoing, the Addling of his noble Mind, by -casting Looks of shy Coquetry upon him. What Man is there who could -have resisted them? What Man, who was himself so deeply infatuated as -was Mr. Betterton, could believe that there was Trickery in those -Glances? He sat down at his Desk, as she had desired him to do, and -drew Pen, Ink and Paper closer to his Hand. - -"An you asked my Life," he said simply, "I would gladly give it to prove -my Love for You." Then, as she remained silent and meditative, he -added: "What is your Ladyship's wish?" - -"Oh!" she replied, "'tis a small matter ... It concerns the Earl of -Stour ... We were Friends ... once ... Playmates when we were Children -... That Friendship ripened into a--a--Semblance of Love. No! No!" she -went on rapidly, seeing that at her Words he had made a swift Movement, -leaning towards her. "I pray you, listen. That Semblance of Love may -have gone ... but Friendship still abides. My Lord Stour, the Playmate -of my Childhood, is in sore trouble ... I, his Friend, would wish to -help him, and cannot do this without your Aid. Will You--will You grant -me this Aid, Sir," she queried shyly, "if I beg it of You?" - -"Your Ladyship has but to command," he answered vaguely, for, in truth, -his whole Mind was absorbed in the contemplation of her Loveliness. - -"'Twas You," she asserted boldly, "who begged for his Lordship's pardon -from the Countess of Castlemaine ... 'Twas not he who betrayed his -Friends. That is a Fact, is it not?" - -"A Fact. Yes," he replied. - -"Then I pray you, Sir, write that down," she pleaded, with an ingenuous, -childish Gesture, "and sign it with your Name ... just to please me." - -She looked like a lovely Child begging for a Toy. To think of Guile in -connection with those Eyes, with that Smile, seemed almost a Sacrilege. -And my poor Friend was so desperately infatuated just then! Has any Man -ever realized that Woman is fooling him, when she really sets her Wiles -to entrap him? Surely not a Man of Mr. Betterton's keen, artistic and -hot-blooded Temperament. I saw it all now, yet I dared not move. For -one thing, the time had gone by when I might have done it with good -Effect. Now it was too late. Any interference on my part would only -have led to Ignominy for myself and the severance of a Friendship that I -valued more than Life itself. Betwixt a Friend's warning and a Woman's -Cajolery, what Man would hesitate? What could I, in any event, have -done now, save to hold up the inevitable Catastrophe for a few -Moments--a few Seconds, perhaps? Truly, my hour was past. I could but -wait now in Silence and Misery until the End. - -There she sat, pleading, speaking that eternal Phrase, which since the -beginning of primeval times hath been used by wily Woman for the undoing -of a generous-minded Man. - -"Will You do this, Sir--just to please me?" - -"I swear to You that it shall be done," he rejoined with passionate -fervour. "But will you not let me tell you first----" - -"No!--No!" she said quickly, clasping her delicate hands. "I pray -You--not just yet. I--I so long to see You write ... there ... at this -Desk, where lie piled letters from every illustrious Person and every -crowned Head in Europe. And now You will write," she entreated, in the -tone of an indulged and wayward Child. "You will? Just one little -Document for me, because ... because You say You love me, and ... -because ... I..." - -"Barbara!" he cried in an Ecstasy of Happiness. "My Beloved!" - -He was on the point of falling on his Knees, but once more a demure -Gesture, a drawing back of her whole Figure, restrained him. - -"No! No!" she reiterated firmly. "When you have written, I will -listen----"--another Glance, and he was vanquished. Then she completed -her Phrase--"to all you have to say." - -He drew back with a sigh, and took up his Pen. - -"As you command," he said simply, and made ready to write. - - - - 3 - - -Even now, whene'er I close mine Eyes, I can see those twain as a vivid -Picture before me. The Massive Desk, littered with papers, the Candles -flickering in their Sconces, illumining with their elusive Light the -Figure of the great Actor, sitting with shoulders slightly bent forward, -one Arm resting upon the Desk, half buried in the filmy folds of her -Ladyship's Veil, his Face upturned towards the Enchantress, who held him -at this Hour an absolute Slave to her Will. She had risen from her -Chair and stood immediately behind him; her Face I could not see, for -her back was towards me, but the light caught the loose Tendrils of her -fair Hair, and from where I stood watching, this looked just like a -golden Aureole around her small Head, bent slightly towards him. She -too was leaning forward, over him, with her Hand extended, giving him -Directions as to what he should write. - -"Oh, I pray You," she said with an impatient little Sigh, "do not delay! -I will watch You as You write. I pray You write it as a Message -addressed to the Court of White Hall. Not in Poetry," she added, with a -nervous little Laugh; "but in Prose, so that all may understand." - -He bent to his task and began to write, and she straightened out her -elegant Figure and murmured, as if oppressed: "How hot this room is!" - -Slowly, as if in Absence of Mind, She wandered towards the Window. - -"I have heard it said," she remarked, "that Mr. Betterton's worst enemy -is the cold. But a fire! ... on such a glorious Evening. The first -Kiss of awakening Spring." - -She had reached the Window now, and stood for awhile in the Bay, leaning -against the Mullion; and I could not help but admire her Duplicity and -her Pluck. For, indeed, She had risked Everything that Woman holds most -dear, for the sake of the Man she loved. And She could not help but -know that She herself and her fair Name would anon be at the mercy of a -Man whom her Cajoleries and her Trickery would have rendered desperate. - -Anon, as if quite overcome by the Heat, she threw open the Casement, and -then leaned out, peering into the Darkness beyond. Ensconced in my -Corner at some distance from the Window, I was conscious of the Movement -and subdued Noise which came up from the still crowded Park. A number -of People appeared to be moving out there, and even as I strained my -Ears to listen, I caught the sweet sound of the selfsame Song of awhile -ago, wafted hither on the cool night Air: - - "You are my Life! You ask me why? - Because my Hope is in Your Love." - - -I caught myself marvelling if the Ladies and Gallants of the Court had -strolled out into the Park at this hour, drawn thither by the amorous -Melodies sung by the unknown Minstrel; or by the balmy Air of Spring; or -merely by the passing Whim of some new Fashion or Fancy. I even -strained my Ears so that I might recognise the sound of Voices that were -familiar to me. I heard my Lord of Rochester's characteristic Laugh, -Sir William Davenant's dictatorial tones and the high-pitched Cackle of -Mr. Killigrew. - -So doth our Mind oft dwell on trivial Thoughts at times of gravest -Stress. Her Ladyship had sat down on a low Stool beside the Window. I -could only see the vague outline of her--the Expression of her Face, the -very Poise of her Head, were wrapt in the surrounding Gloom. - -For awhile there was perfect Silence in the Room, save for the -monotonous ticking of the old Clock and the scratching of Mr. -Betterton's Pen as he wrote with a rapid and unhesitating Hand. - -The Minutes sped on, and anon he had completed his Task. I saw him lay -down his Pen, then raise the Paper and read through very carefully all -that he had written, and finally strew Sand upon the momentous Document. -For awhile after that he remained perfectly still, and I observed his -clear-cut Face, with Eyes fixed as it were inwards into his own Soul, -and sensitive Lips pressed tightly one against the other. The Hand -which held the Document was perfectly steady, an obedient slave to his -Will. And yet that Sign-manual, as directed by her Ladyship, was a -direct Avowal of a dastardly Deed, of the gratuitous Slandering of an -innocent Man's Honour, without Provocation or Justification, seeing that -no mention was made in the Confession of the abominable Outrage which -had brought about this grim Retaliation, or of the Refusal on the part -of his Lordship to grant the Satisfaction that is customary between -Gentlemen. It was, in fact, his own Integrity and his own Honour that -the eminent Actor was even now bartering for a Woman's Love. This will -prove to You, dear Mistress, that Mr. Betterton's Love for the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode did not at any time resemble true Affection, which, of -all the Passions to which the human Heart is apt to become Slave, is the -one that leads the Mind to the highest and noblest Thoughts; whereas an -Infatuation can only be compared to a Fever. Man hath no more control -over the one than he hath over the other, and cannot curb its Violence -or the Duration of its Attack. - - - - 4 - - -The next thing that I remember most clearly is seeing Mr. Betterton put -the fateful Paper down again, take up her Ladyship's Veil and bury his -Face in its cloudy Folds. I heard him murmur faintly, after awhile: - -"Now, if I dared, I would believe myself almost happy!" - -Then he rose, picked up the Paper, and with it went up to the Lady -Barbara. - -"'Tis done, as you did command," he said quite quietly, and placed the -Document in her Hand. She took it from him and rose to her Feet. - -"A Light, I pray You," she said coldly. - -He brought one of the Candles across and stood beside her, holding it -aloft. She read the Paper through with great Deliberation, nodding -Approval from time to time as she did so. Then she folded it into a -very small Compass, while she thanked him coldly and guardedly. He then -went back to the Desk with the Candle and put it down. During these few -Seconds, whilst his back was turned to her, I noticed that the Lady -Barbara took a heavy, jewelled Brooch from her Gown and fastened it by -its pin to the Document. Her movements were methodical but very quick, -and my own Mind worked too slowly to guess at her Intention. - -The next moment, Mr. Betterton was once more by her side. Eager, alert, -and with the glow of Triumph in his Eyes, he flung himself at her Feet. -She was his now!--his by Right of Conquest! He had won her by -measureless Self-Sacrifice, and now he meant to hold the Guerdon for -which he had paid so heavy a Price. - -"Because you deigned to cross this humble Threshold," he said, and his -arms encircled her Waist with the masterful and passionate Gesture of a -Victor, "the poor Actor places his Name and Fame, his Pride and baffled -Revenge, at your feet." - -"At the World's Feet, Sir Mountebank!" she cried exultantly, and with a -swift movement she flung the weighted Paper far out through the Window. -Then, leaning out into the Darkness, she called at the top of her Voice: -"To me, Adela! Here is the Message from Mr. Betterton. Take it to my -Lord Sidbury at once!" - -But Mr. Betterton was no longer in a mental State to care what happened -after this; I doubt if he realized just what was impending. He was -still on his Knees, holding on to her with both Arms. - -"Nay!" he said wildly. "That is as You please. Let the whole World -think me base and abject. What care I for Honour, Fame or Integrity now -that You are here, and that You will be my Wife?" - -Ah! the poor, deluded Fool! How could he be so blind? Already the Lady -Barbara had turned on him with flashing Eyes, and a loud, hysterical -Laugh of measureless Contempt broke from her Lips. - -"Your Wife!" she exclaimed, and that harsh laugh echoed through the -Silence of the House. "So, Mr. Actor, you thought to entrap the Daughter -of the Marquis of Sidbury into becoming your Wife! ... Nay! you -miserable Fool! 'Twas I entrapped and cheated you.... Your Wife! Ye -Saints in Heaven, hear him! His Wife! The Wife of Thomas Betterton, -the Mountebank!! I!!!" - -Her Words, her Laughter, the Bitterness of her Contempt, stung him like -a Whip-lash. In an instant, he was on his Feet, staggered back till he -came in contact with the Desk, to which he clung with both hands, while -he faced her, his Cheeks pale as Ashes, his Eyes glowing with a Light -that appeared almost maniacal. - -"You cheated me?" he murmured inarticulately. "You lied to me? ... You -... I'll not believe it ... I'll not believe it...." - -She appeared not to heed him, was gazing out of the Window, shouting -directions to some one--her waiting-maid, no doubt, or other -Confidante--who was searching for the Paper down below. - -"There, Adela!" she called out eagerly. "Dost see ... just by those -bushes ... something white ... my brooch.... Dost see?" - -Suddenly she gave a Cry of Triumph, and then turned back exultantly to -her baffled Foe. - -"My maid," she said, somewhat wildly, and panting as if she were -exhausted with fast running. "We had planned it all ... She is devoted -to me ... She has been on the Watch ... She has the paper now ... -There!" she added, and with outstretched arm pointed out into the Gloom -beyond. "There; Do you see?" - -Can You wonder that her Trickery, her Contempt had made him mad? -Indeed, even I felt that at that moment I could have held her slender -throat between my two Hands and crushed the Life out of her. To a Man -of Mr. Betterton's temperament, the Provocation was obviously beyond his -Powers of Endurance. Even in the dim Light, I could see a positive Fury -of Passion akin to Hate literally distorting his Face. The next second -he was once more by her side, and whilst she still cried wildly: "Do you -see? Do you see? Run, Adela, run!" he seized her in his arms and -retorted roughly: - -"I see nothing now but your Beauty, and that has made me mad." - -"Run, Adela! Run!" she cried again. "That message from Mr. Betterton -is for the whole World to see!" - -But he held her tightly round the Shoulders now, and she, probably -realizing her Danger for the first time, strove to struggle against his -Embrace. - -"Let me go!" she commanded. "Let me go! or I swear by God in Heaven -that I will find the Strength to kill myself and You." - -"I love You," was his only reply to her Threat. "Nay!" he added, -speaking in rapid, jerky Phrases, the while she continued to struggle -with ever growing loss of Power. "You shall kill me later if You will, -but not till I have lived. My Dear, my Love, my Saint! Have I not -worshipped you for days and months? Have I not held You in Dream in my -Arms? You are my Muse, my Divinity, my Hope! Mine! Mine! Exquisite, -adorable Lady Barbara! No! No! You cannot escape, struggle how You -might. This is my hour! 'Tis you who gave it me, and I defy Heaven -itself to rob me of a single instant!" - -My God! what could I do? More and more did I curse the Folly and -Cowardice which had kept me riveted to this Spot all this while. Now -there was nothing for it but to reveal my Presence, to draw upon my -foolish Head the Contempt and Anger of a Man for whom I would gladly -have laid down my Life. My Brain became confused. I ceased to see -clearly. A ruddy Mist was gathering before my Eyes. I was on the Verge -of losing Consciousness and was struggling pitifully to retain Command -over my Senses. Through this fast approaching Swoon I could hear, as -through an intervening Veil, the hoarse and broken Accents of the Voice -that I loved so well: - -"You are here alone with me. The last shred of my Reason is scattered -to the Winds. England, Fame, the World, are empty Words to me. Do you -not see that now I am ready to die an hundred Deaths, for at last I -shall have lived ... I shall have held You in my Arms." - -And one great and pitiful Appeal from her Lips: "Oh, God! If there is -Justice in Heaven--defend me now----" - -And, even half conscious as I was, I saw her--yes, saw her quite -distinctly give a sudden wrench which freed her right Arm. She plunged -her Hand into the bosom of her Gown, and the next instant the flickering -light of the Candle flashed a vivid gleam upon the narrow steel blade of -a dagger which she held. This, with the swiftness of lightning, brought -me back to the Consciousness of the present, grim Reality. With a loud -and sudden Cry, I darted out of my Hiding Place and stood there before -them both, pale no doubt with a well-nigh unearthly Pallor, which must -have given me the Appearance of a Ghost. - -It was now the Lady Barbara who was nigh to Swooning. But, with that -coolness which comes at times to the Helpless and the Weak, I had -already snatched her Veil from the Desk, and whilst she tottered and -almost fell into my Arms, I wrapped it around her Head. - -"Quick! The Door!" I said. "You are quite safe!" - -I dared not look at Mr. Betterton. Indeed, I could not even now tell -You in what Attitude or with what Expression of Face he watched me -whilst I seemed thus to take Command of the Situation. The Lady Barbara -was trembling so violently that some few moments elapsed before she was -able to walk across the Room. When she finally did so, her Foot kicked -against the Dagger which had dropped from her Hand when I so suddenly -appeared before her. She gave a faint Cry of Horror, and I stooped and -picked up the Dagger and placed it back in her Hand without looking at -her. - - - - 5 - - -Her Ladyship then went on towards the door. But suddenly she came to a -halt, and I, who was close to her heels, paused likewise, for I felt -that every drop of Blood within me had turned to Ice. From the Hall -below there had come the sound of angry Altercation and a Man's voice -was raised loudly and peremptorily, saying: - -"Let me pass, man! I will speak with Mr. Betterton." - -The voice was that of my Lord Stour. - -The Lady Barbara stood quite still for a moment, rigid as a carved -Statue. Then a low, inexpressibly pathetic Moan rose to her Lips. - -"Oh! for the Earth to open!" she cried pitiably, "and bury me and this -Shame----" - -She was overwrought and weak with Emotion, but in any Event it was a -terrible Position for any Lady of Rank to be found in, at this late -hour, and alone. Overcome no doubt with the superabundance of harrowing -Sensations, she tottered as if about to swoon. Mr. Betterton caught her -as she fell. - -"My Divinity! My Queen!" he murmured quickly. "No one shall harm you, -I swear it! No one shall!" Then he added under his breath: "Heaven -above me, help me to protect her!" - -Whereupon he lifted her up in his Arms as if she were a Child, and -carried her as far as the Embrasure of the Window. Then, with one of -those quick movements which were so characteristic of him, he drew the -Curtains together, which shut off the Bay from the rest of the Room and -screened its fair Occupant completely from view. - -He was a different Man now to the Passion-racked Creature of awhile ago; -absolutely calm; the Man I had known and loved and respected all these -years. Though my whole Being was still convulsed in an Agony of -Apprehension, I felt that from him now would come moral Comfort for me -and Protection for the unfortunate Lady, whose Burden of Sorrow had at -last touched his Heart. And I do verily believe, dear Lady, that in -that Instant of supreme Danger for us all, his Passion fell from him -like a Curtain from before his Eyes. It had gone through its -culminating Anguish when he discovered that she whom he loved had lied -to him and cheated him. Now, when she stood here before him, utterly -helpless and utterly crushed, his Infatuation appeared to writhe for one -Moment in the Crucible of his own Manliness and Chivalry, and then to -emerge therefrom hallowed and purified. - - - - 6 - - -In the meanwhile, less than a minute had elapsed. My Lord Stour had -ascended the Stairs, undeterred by the Protestations of Mr. Betterton's -Servant. The next moment he had violently wrenched the Door open and now -stood before us, pale, trembling with Rage or Excitement, hatless, his -Mantle thrown back from his Shoulders. His right Hand clutched his -naked Sword, and in his Left he had a crushed ball of paper, held -together by her Ladyship's brooch. His entire Attitude was one of firm -and deadly Menace. - -"I heard a Voice!" he exclaimed, staring wildly around him. "I saw a -Face--a Form.... This Paper was flung out from yonder Window ... was -picked up by a serving Wench.... What does it mean?" he queried -harshly, and advanced threateningly towards Mr. Betterton, who was -standing midway between him and the curtained Bay. - -"How can I tell?" riposted the great Actor blandly, with a careless -Shrug of his Shoulders. "I was not moon-gazing, as your Lordship -appears to have done. A paper, did You say?" - -"You are not alone," retorted my Lord roughly. "I heard a voice ... just -now...." - -"We are all apt to hear voices in the moonlight, my Lord," Mr. Betterton -rejoined simply. "The Artist hears his Muse, the Lover his Mistress, -the Criminal his Conscience." - -His unruffled calm seemed to exasperate his Lordship's fury, for he now -appeared even more menacing than before. - -"And did You perchance hear a Voice to-night, Sir Actor," he queried, -his voice hoarse with Passion, "warning You of Death?" - -"Nay!" replied Mr. Betterton. "That Voice whispers to Us all, and -always, my Lord, even in our Cradles." - -"Then hear it for the last time now, and from my Lips, you abominable -Mountebank!" my Lord cried, beside himself in truth. "For unless You -draw aside that Curtain, I am going to kill You." - -"That is as you please," retorted Mr. Betterton simply. - -"Stand aside!" commanded his Lordship. - -But Mr. Betterton looked him calmly up and down and did not move one -inch. - -"This is a most unwarrantable Interference," he said quietly, "with the -Freedom of His Majesty's well-beloved Servant. Your Lordship seems to -forget that every inch of this Floor is mine, and that I stand on it -where I please. I pray you, take that Paper--that Message--elsewhere. -An it came down from Heaven, read it--but leave me in Peace." - -"I'll not go," asserted my Lord harshly, "till you have drawn aside that -Curtain." - -"Then we'll see whose Legs will weary first, my Lord, yours or mine," -was Mr. Betterton's unruffled rejoinder. - -"Draw then and defend yourself!" cried my Lord, who before his Enemy's -unbroken Calm, had lost what Semblance of Self-Control he still -possessed. - -"I am unarmed," riposted Mr. Betterton simply. - -"Then let Satan have his due," exclaimed the young Hothead, and raised -his Sword ready to strike, "for your Soul shall go down to Hell at -last!" - -In a moment, of course, I was on him. But he had the vigour of a -trained Soldier, enhanced by an overwhelming Passion of Enmity and of -Rage; and though I seized him unawares--I doubt if he had realized that -I was in the Room--he shook me off in an instant, as a Dog might shake -off an importunate Rat. Before I had time to recover my breath from his -quick and furious Defence, he had turned on me and dealt me such a -vigorous Blow with his Fist between the Eyes, that the whole Room began -to gyrate around me and the Atmosphere became peopled with Stars. I -staggered and half fell against the Dresser that had sheltered me awhile -ago. For the space of half a dozen seconds mine Eyes were closed. - - - - 7 - - -When I opened them again, the Scene had indeed changed. Her Ladyship -had pushed the Curtains aside and stood there in the window Embrasure, -revealed to her irate Lover. And he, though he must have known that she -was there all the Time, appeared so staggered by her Apparition that his -Arm dropped by his side and his Sword fell with a clatter to the Ground, -while he murmured as if in the last Throes of mental Suffering: - -"Barbara ... my Barbara .. here--alone--at night ... with this Man!..." - -Her Ladyship, however, appeared perfectly composed. The light of the -Candles revealed her exquisite Face, pale but serene, and her small Head -crowned with the Aureole of her golden Hair, held up proudly as one who -hath naught to fear, naught for which she need be ashamed. She pointed -with perfect steadiness to the Paper which my Lord still held tightly -clasped in his left Hand. - -"That paper!" she said, and only a slight veiling of her Voice betrayed -the Emotion which she felt. "I sent it. 'Tis for you, my Lord. It will -clear your Honour, and proclaim your Innocence." - -But his Lordship did not appear to hear her. He continued to murmur to -himself mechanically, and in tones of the deepest Despair: - -"Barbara ... alone ... with him!" - -"Read that Paper, my dear Lord," her Ladyship insisted with calm -dignity, "ere with another Thought you further dare to wrong me!" - -These simple Words, however, so full of conscious Worth and of -Innocence, let loose the Floodgates of my Lord's pent-up, insensate -jealousy. - -"Wrong you!" he cried, and a harsh, almost maniacal laugh broke from his -choking Throat. "Wrong you! Nay! I suppose I must be grateful and -thank Heaven on my Knees that You, my promised Bride, deigned to -purchase mine Honour at the Price of your Kisses!" - -At this gross Insult her Ladyship uttered a pitiful Moan; but ere she -could give Reply, Mr. Betterton, who hitherto had not interfered between -the Twain, now did so, and in no measured Tone. - -"Silence, Madman!" he commanded, "ere You blaspheme." - -But my Lord had apparently lost his last Shred of Reason. Jealousy was -torturing him in a manner that even Hatred had failed to do. - -"God!" he exclaimed repeatedly, calling to the Almighty to witness his -Soul-Misery. "I saw her at that Window.... Who else saw her?... How -many Varlets and jabbering Coxcombs know at the present moment that the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode spends the night alone with a Mountebank?" In an -excess of ungoverned Rage he tore the Paper to shreds and threw the -Scraps almost into her Ladyship's Face. "Take back your Proofs!" he -cried. "I'll not take mine Honour from Your hands! Ah!" he added, and -now turned once more toward Mr. Betterton, who, I could see, was calmly -making up his Mind what next to do. "Whoever you are--Man or Devil--are -you satisfied with your Revenge? Was it not enough to cover _me_ with -Infamy; what need had You to brand _Her_ with Dishonour?" - -Overcome with Emotion, his Soul on the Rack, his Heart wounded and -bleeding, he appeared like a lost Spirit crying out from an Abyss of -Torment. But these last Ravings of his, these final, abominable Insults, -levelled against the Woman who had done so much for him, and whom he -should have been the first to protect, lashed Mr. Betterton's ire and -contempt into holy Fury. - -"Ye gods in Heaven, hear him!" he cried, with an outburst of Rage at -least as great as that of the other Man. "He loves her, and talks of -Dishonour, whilst I love her and only breathe of Worship! By all the -Devils in Hell, my Lord Stour, I tell you that you lie!" - -And before any of us there realized what he meant to do, he ran to the -Window, threw open all the Casements with such violence that the glass -broke and fell clattering down upon the gravelled place below. - -"Hallo!" he called in a stentorian Voice. "Hallo, there!" - -My Lord Stour, bewildered, un-understanding, tried to bluster. - -"What are you doing, man?" he queried roughly. "Silence! Silence, I -say!" - -But Mr. Betterton only shouted the louder. - -"Hallo, there! Friends! Enemies! England! Here!" - -I could hear the Tumult outside. People were running hither from -several directions, thinking, no doubt, that a Fire had broken out or -that Murder was being done. I could hear them assembling beneath the -window, which was not many feet from the Ground. "Why! it's Tom -Betterton!" some of them said. And others added: "Hath he gone raving -mad?" - -"Is any one there who knows me?" queried Mr. Betterton loudly. - -"Yes! Yes!" was the ready response. - -"Who is it?" he asked, peering into the darkness below. - -I heard Sir William Davenant's voice give reply. - -"Killigrew and I are down here, Tom. What in the Name of ---- is the -matter?" - -"Come round to my rooms, Davenant," Mr. Betterton replied; "and bring as -many friends with you as you can." - -He was standing in the Bay of the Window, and his Figure, silhouetted -against the Light in the Room, must have been plainly visible to the -crowd outside. That a number of People had assembled by now was -apparent by the Hum and Hubbub which came to us from below. Unable to -restrain my Curiosity, I too approached the open Casements and peered -out into the Gloom. Just as I thought, quite a Crowd had collected down -there, some of whom were making ready to climb up to the Window by way -of the Gutter-pipes or the solid stems of the Ivy, whilst others were -trooping down the narrow little Alley which connects Tothill Street with -the Park at the base of Mr. Betterton's house. There was a deal of -talking, laughing and shouting. "Tom Betterton is up to some Prank," I -heard more than one Person say. - - - - 8 - - -Perhaps You will wonder what was my Lord's Attitude during the few -minutes--it was less than five--which elapsed between the Instant when -Mr. Betterton first threw open the Casements, and that when the Crowd, -headed by Sir William Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, trooped down the Alley -on their Way to this House. To me he seemed at first wholly -uncomprehending, like a Man who has received a Blow on the Head--just as -I did from his Fist a moment ago--and before whose Eyes the Walls of the -Room, the Furniture, the People, are all swimming in an Ocean of Stars. -I imagine that at one time the Thought flashed as Lightning through his -Mind that this was but the culminating Outrage, wherewith his Enemy -meant to pillory him and his Bride before a jeering Public. That was -the moment when he turned to her Ladyship and, uttering a hoarse Cry, -called to her by Name. She was, just then, leaning in -semi-consciousness against the Angle of the Bay. She did not respond to -his Call, and Mr. Betterton, quick in his Movements, alert now like some -Feline on the prowl, stepped immediately in front of Her, facing my Lord -and screening Her against his Approach. - -"Stand back, Man," he commanded. "Stand back, I tell You! You shall -not come nigh Her save on bended Knees, with Head bowed in the Dust, -suing for Pardon in that you dared to Insult her." - -Everything occurred so quickly, Movements, Events, High Words, -threatening Gestures from both sides, followed one another in such rapid -Succession, that I, overcome with Agitation and the Effect of the -stunning Blow which I had received, was hardly able to take it all in. -Much less is it in my Power to give You a faithful Account of it all. -Those five Minutes were the most spirit-stirring ones I have ever -experienced throughout my Life--every Second appeared surcharged with an -exciting Fluid which transported Me to supernal Regions, to Lands of -Unrealities akin to vivid Dreams. - -At one Moment, I remember seeing my Lord Stour make a rapid and furtive -movement in the direction of his Sword, which lay some little Distance -from him on the Ground, but Mr. Betterton was quicker even than his Foe, -more alert, and with one bound he had reached the Weapon, ere my Lord's -Hand was nigh it, had picked it up and, with a terrific Jerk, broke it -in half across his Knee. Then he threw the mangled Hilt in one -direction, the Point in another, and my Lord raised his Fists, ready, -methinks, to fly at his Throat. - -But, as I have already told You, dear Mistress, the whole Episode stands -but as a confused Mirage before my Mind; and through it all I seemed to -see a mere Vision of her Ladyship, pale and ethereal, leaning against -the Angle of the Bay; one delicate Hand was clutching the heavy Curtain, -drawing it around her as it were, as if in a pathetic and futile Desire -to shield herself from view. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - - THE GAME OF LOVE - - - 1 - - -In the meanwhile, the Crowd all round the House had visibly swelled. -Some People were still standing immediately beneath the Bow-window, -whilst Others swarmed into Tothill Street; the foremost amongst the -Latter had given a vigorous Tug at the Bell-pull, and the front Door -being opened for them by the bewildered Servant, they had made a noisy -Irruption into the House. We could hear them clattering up the Stairs, -to the Accompaniment of much Laughing and Talking, and the -oft-reiterated Refrain: "Tom Betterton is up to some Prank! Hurrah!" - -Some few again, more venturesome and certainly more Impudent than most, -had indeed succeeded in scrambling up to the Window, and, one after -another, Heads and Shoulders began to appear in the Framework of the -open Casements. - -Her Ladyship had no doubt realized from the first that Escape became -impossible, within two Minutes of Mr. Betterton's first Summons to the -Public. Just at first, perhaps, if my Lord had preserved his entire -Presence of Mind, he might have taken her by the Hand and fled with Her -out of the House, before the unruly Crowd had reached Tothill Street. -But my Lord, blinded by jealous Rage, had not thought of Her quickly -enough, and now the Time was past, and he remained impotent, gasping -with Fury, hardly conscious of his Actions. He had been literally swept -off his Feet by Mr. Betterton's eagle-winged _coup de main_, which left -him puzzled and the prey to a nameless Terror as to what was about to -follow. - -Now, when he saw a number of Gentlemen trooping in by the Door, he could -but stare at them in utter Bewilderment. Most of these Gallants were -personally known to him: Sir William Davenant was in the forefront with -Mr. Thomas Killigrew of the King's Theatre, and the Earl of Rochester -was with them, as well as Mr. Wycherley. I also recognized Sir Charles -Sedley and old Sir John Denham, as well as my Lord Roscommon, among the -crowd. - -They had all rushed in through the Door, laughing and jesting, as was -the wont of all these gay and courtly Sparks; but at sight of the Lady -Barbara, they halted. Gibes and unseemly Jokes broke upon their Lips, -and for the most part their Hands went up to their Hats, and they made -her Ladyship a deep obeisance. Indeed, just then she looked more like a -Wraith than a living Woman, and the Light of the Candles, which -flickered wildly in the Draught, accentuated the Weirdness of her -Appearance. - -"What is it, Tom? What is amiss?" Sir William Davenant was thus the -first to speak. - -"We thought You were playing some Prank." - -"You did call from that Window, did You not, Tom?" my Lord Rochester -insisted. - -And one or two of the Gentlemen nodded somewhat coldly to my Lord Stour. - -"Yes. I did call," Mr. Betterton replied, quite firmly. "But 'twas no -Whim on my Part thus to drag You into my House. It was not so much my -Voice that you heard as the Trumpet blast of Truth." - -At this, my Lord Stour broke into one of those harsh, mirthless Fits of -Laughter which betokened the perturbation of his Spirit. - -"The Truth!" he exclaimed with a cutting Sneer. "From You?" - -"Aye! the Truth!" Mr. Betterton rejoined with perfect calm, even whilst -his Friends glanced, puzzled and inquiring, from my Lord Stour to him, -and thence to her Ladyship's pale face, and even to Me. "The Truth," he -added with a deep Sigh as of intense Relief; "The Truth, at Last!" - -He stood in the centre of the Room, with one Hand resting upon the Desk, -his Eyes fixed fearlessly upon the Sea of Faces before him. Not the -slightest Tremor marred the perfect Harmony of his Voice, or the firm -poise of his manly Figure. You know as well as I do, dear Mistress, the -marvellous Magnetism of Mr. Betterton's Personality, the Way he hath of -commanding the Attention of a Crowd, whenever he chooseth to speak. -Think of him then, dear Lady, with Head thrown back, his exquisite Voice -rising and falling in those subtle and impressive Cadences wherewith he -is wont to hold an Audience enthralled. Of a truth, no experienced -Manager in Stage-Craft could have devised so thrilling an Effect, as the -Picture which Mr. Betterton--the greatest Actor of this or of any -Time--presented at that Moment, standing alone, facing the Crowd which -was thrilled into deadly Silence, and with the wraith-like Figure of -that exquisitely beautiful Woman as a Foil to his own self-possessed, -virile Appearance. - -"Gentlemen," he began, with slow, even Emphasis, "I pray you bear with -me; for what I have to say will take some time in telling. Awhile ago -his Lordship of Stour put upon me such an Insult as the Mind of Man can -hardly conceive. Then, on the Pretence that I was not a born Gentleman -as he was, he refused me Satisfaction by the Sword. For this I hated him -and swore that I would be even with him, that I would exact from his -Arrogance, Outrage for Outrage, and Infamy for Infamy." He then turned -to my Lord Stour and spoke to him directly. "You asked me just now, my -Lord, if my Revenge was satisfied. My answer to that is: not yet! Not -until I see You on Your bended Knees here, before these Gentlemen--my -Friends and Yours--receiving from the miserable Mountebank whom you -mocked, the pitiful cur whom You thrashed, that which you hold--or -should hold--more precious than all the Treasures of this earth: your -Honour and the good Name of the Lady who honours You with her Love! -Gentlemen!" he went on, and once more faced the Crowd. "You know the -Aspersions which have been cast on my Lord Stour's Loyalty. Rumours -have been current that the late aborted Conspiracy was betrayed by him -to the Countess of Castlemaine, and that She obtained his Pardon, whilst -all or most of his Associates were driven into Exile or perished on the -Scaffold. Well, Gentlemen, 'twas I who begged for my Lord's pardon from -the Countess of Castlemaine. His Degradation, his Obloquy, was the -Revenge which I had studiously planned. Nay! I pray you, hear me unto -the End," he continued, as a loud Murmur of Horror and of Indignation -followed on this Self-Accusation. "My Lord Stour is no Traitor, save to -Her whom he loves and whom in his Thoughts he hath dared to outrage. -The Lady Barbara Wychwoode deigned to plead with me for the Man whom she -honoured with her Love. She pleaded with me this afternoon, in the -Park, in sight of many Passers-by; but I in my Obstinacy and Arrogance -would not, God forgive me, listen to her." - -He paused, and I could see the beads of Perspiration glittering upon his -Forehead, white now like Italian Alabaster. They all stood before him, -subdued and silent. Think of Sir William Davenant, dear Mistress, and -his affection for Mr. Betterton; think of my Lord Roscommon and of Sir -Charles Sedley and his Lordship of Rochester, whose Admiration for Mr. -Betterton's Talent was only equalled by their Appreciation for His -Worth! It was before them all, before all these fastidious Gentlemen, -that the great and sensitive Artist had elected to humble his Pride to -the dust. - -But you shall judge. - -"Gentlemen," Mr. Betterton went on after a brief while; "We all know -that Love is a Game at which one always cheats. I loved the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode. I had the presumption to dream of her as my future -Wife. Angered at her Scorn of my Suit, I cheated her into coming here -to-night, luring her with the Hope that I would consent to right the Man -for whose sake she was willing to risk so much, for whom she was ready -to sacrifice even her fair Name. Now I have learned to my hurt that -Love, the stern little god, will not be trifled with. When we try to -cheat him, he cheats us worse at the last; and if he makes Kings of us, -he leaves us Beggars in the End. When my Lord Stour, burning with -sacrilegious jealousy, made irruption into my Room, the Lady Barbara had -just succeeded in wringing from me an Avowal which proclaimed his -Integrity and my Shame. She was about to leave me, humbled and crushed -in my Pride, she herself pure and spotless as the Lilies, unapproachable -as the Stars." - - - - 2 - - -Mr. Betterton had ceased speaking for some time; nevertheless, Silence -profound reigned in the dark, wainscotted Room for many seconds after -the final echo of that perfect Voice had ceased to reverberate. Indeed, -dear Mistress, I can assure You that, though there were at least fifty -Persons present in the Room, including those unknown to Me who were -swarming around the Framework of the Casements, you might have heard the -proverbial Pin drop just then. A tense Expression rested on every Face. -Can You wonder that I scanned them all with the Eagerness born of my -Love for the great Artist, who had thus besmirched his own fair Name in -order to vindicate that of his bitterest Foe? That I read Condemnation -of my Friend in many a Glance, I'll not deny, and this cut me to the -Quick. - -True! Mr. Betterton's Scheme of Vengeance had been reprehensible if -measured by the high Standards of Christian Forbearance. But remember -how he had been wronged, not once, but repeatedly; and even when I saw -the Frown on my Lord Roscommon's brow, the Look of Stern Reproof in Sir -Charles Sedley's Face, there arose before mine Eyes the Vision of the -great and sensitive Artist, of the high-souled Gentleman, staggering -beneath the Blows dealt by a band of hired Ruffians at the Bidding of -this young Coxcomb, whose very Existence was as naught in the Eyes of -the cultured World beside the Genius of the inimitable Mr. Betterton. - -I said that the Silence was tense. Meseemed that no one dared to break -it. Even those idly Curious who had swarmed up the Rainpipes of this -House in order to witness one of Tom Betterton's Pranks, felt awed by -the Revelation of this Drama of a great Man's Soul. Indeed, the Silence -became presently oppressive. I, for one, felt a great Buzzing in mine -Ears. The Lights from the Candles assumed weird and phantasmagoric -Proportions till they seared my aching Eyes. - -Then slowly my Lord Stour approached her Ladyship, sank on his Knees -before Her and raised the Hem of her Robe to his Lips. A sob broke from -her Throat; she tried to smother it by pressing her Handkerchief into -her Mouth. It took Her a second or two to regain her Composure. But -Breeding and Pride came to her Aid. I saw the stiffening of her Figure, -the studied and deliberate Movement wherewith She readjusted her Mantle -and her Veil. - -My Lord Stour was still on his Knees. At a sign from her Ladyship he -rose. He held out his left Arm and she placed her right Hand on it, -then together they went out of the Room. The Crowd of Gentlemen parted -in order to make way for the Twain, then when they had gone through, -some of the Gentlemen followed them immediately; others lingered for -awhile, hesitating. Sir William Davenant, Mr. Killigrew, my Lord -Rochester, all of Mr. Betterton's Friends, appeared at first inclined to -remain in order to speak with him. They even did me the Honour of -consulting me with a Look, asking of my Experience of the great Actor -whether they should stay. I slowly shook my Head, and they wisely acted -on my Advice. I knew that my Friend would wish to be alone. He, so -reserved, so proud, had laid his Soul bare before the Public, who was -wont to belaud and to applaud him. The Humiliation and the Effort must -have been a terrible Strain, which only Time and Solitude could -effectually cure. - -He had scarce moved from his Position beside the Desk, still stood there -with one slender Hand resting upon it, his Gaze fixed vaguely upon the -Door through which his Friends were slowly filing out. - -Within two minutes or less after the Departure of my Lord Stour and her -Ladyship, the last of the Crowd of Gentlemen and of Idlers had gone. -Anon I went across the Room and closed the Door behind them. When I -turned again, I saw that the knot of quidnuncs no longer filled the -Casements, and a protracted hum of Voices, a crackling of Ivy twigs and -general sound of Scrimmage and of Scrambling outside the Window, -proclaimed the Fact that even they had had the Sense and the Discretion -to retire quietly from this Spot, hallowed by the Martyrdom of a great -Man's Soul. - - - - 3 - - -Thus I was left alone with my Friend. - -He had drawn his habitual Chair up to the Desk and sat down. Just for a -few Moments he rested both his Elbows on the Desk and buried his Face in -his Hands. Then, with that familiar, quick little Sigh of His, He drew -the Candles closer to him and, taking up a Book, he began to read. - -I knew what it was that he was reading, or, rather, studying. He had -been absorbed in the Work many a time before now, and had expressed his -ardent Desire to give public Readings of it one day when it was -completed. It was the opening Canto of a great Epic Poem, the -manuscript of which had been entrusted to Mr. Betterton for Perusal by -the author, Mr. John Milton, who had but lately been liberated from -prison through the untiring Efforts of Sir William Davenant on his -behalf. Mr. Milton hoped to complete the Epic in the next half-dozen -years. Its Title is "Paradise Lost." - -I remained standing beside the open Window, loath to close it as the Air -was peculiarly soft and refreshing. Below me, in the Park, the idle, -chattering Crowd had already dispersed. From far away, I still could -hear the sweet, sad Strains of the amorous Song, and through the -Stillness of the Evening, the Words came to mine Ear, wafted on the -Breeze: - - "You are my Faith, my Hope, my All! - What e'er the Future may unfold, - No trial too great--no Thing too small. - Your whispered Words shall make me bold - To win at last for Your dear Sake - A worthy Place in Future's World." - - -I felt my Soul enwrapt in a not unpleasant reverie; an exquisite Peace -seemed to have descended on my Mind, lately so agitated by Thoughts of -my dear, dear Friend. - -Suddenly a stealthy Sound behind Me caused me to turn; and, in truth, I -am not sure even now if what I saw was Reality, or the Creation of mine -own Dreams. - -The Lady Barbara had softly and surreptitiously re-entered the Room. -She walked across it on tip-toe, her silken Skirts making just the -softest possible _frou-frou_ as she walked. Her cloud-like Veil wrapped -her Head entirely, concealing her fair Hair, and casting a grey Shadow -over her Eyes. Mr. Betterton did not hear her, or, if he did, he did -not choose to look up. When her Ladyship was quite close to the Desk, I -noticed that she had a Bunch of white Roses in her Hand such as are -grown in the Hot-houses of rich Noblemen. - -For a few Seconds she stood quite still. Then she raised the Roses -slowly to her Lips, and laid them down without a word upon the Desk. - -After which, she glided out of the Room as silently, as furtively, as -she came. - - - - 4 - - -And thus, dear Mistress, have I come to the end of my long Narrative. I -swear to You by the living God that everything which I have herein -related is the Truth and Naught but the Truth. - -There were many People present in Mr. Betterton's room during that -memorable Scene, when he sacrificed his Pride and his Revenge in order -to right the Innocent. Amongst these Witnesses there were some, whom -Malice and Envy would blind to the Sublimity of so noble an Act. Do not -listen to them, honoured Mistress, but rather to the promptings of your -own Heart and to that unerring Judgment of Men and of Events which is -the Attribute of good and pure Women. - -Mr. Betterton hath never forfeited your Esteem by any Act or Thought. -The Infatuation which momentarily dulled his Vision to all save to the -Beauty of the Lady Barbara, hath ceased to exist. Its course was -ephemeral and hath gone without a Trace of Regret or Bitterness in its -wake. The eminent Actor, the high-souled Artist, whom all cultured -Europe doth reverence and admire, stands as high to-day in that same -World's Estimation as he did, before a young and arrogant Coxcomb dared -to measure his own Worth against that of a Man as infinitely above him -as are the Stars. But, dear Mistress, Mr. Betterton now is lonely and -sad. He is like a Man who hath been sick and weary, and is still -groping after Health and Strength. Take pity on his Loneliness, I do -conjure You. Give him back the inestimable Boon of your Goodwill and of -your Friendship, which alone could restore to him that Peace of Mind so -necessary for the furtherance of his Art. - -And if, during the Course of my Narrative, I have seemed to you -over-presumptuous, then I do entreat your Forgiveness. Love for my -Friend and Reverence for your Worth have dictated every Word which I -have written. If, through my Labours, I have succeeded in turning away -some of the just Anger which had possessed your Soul against the Man -whom, I dare aver, you still honour with your Love, then, indeed, I -shall feel that even so insignificant a Life as mine hath not been -wholly wasted. - -I do conclude, dear and honoured Mistress, with a Prayer to Almighty God -for your Welfare and that of the Man whom I love best in all the World. -I am convinced that my Prayer will find Favour before the Throne of Him -who is the Father of us All. And He who reads the innermost Secrets of -every Heart, knows that your Welfare is coincident with that of my -Friend. Thus am I content to leave the Future in His Hands. - -And I myself do remain, dear Mistress, - Your humble and obedient Servant, - JOHN HONEYWOOD. - - - - - EPILOGUE - - -Ring down the Curtain. The Play is ended. The Actors have made their -final Bow before You and thanked You for your Plaudits. The chief -Player--a sad and lonely Man--has for the nonce spoken his last upon the -Stage. - -All is Silence and Mystery now. The Lights are out. And yet the -Audience lingers on, loath to bid Farewell to the great Artist and to -his minor Satellites who have helped to wile away a few pleasant Hours. -You, dear Public, knowing so much about them, would wish to know more. -You wish to know--an I am not mistaken--whether the Labour of Love -wrought by good Master Honeywood did in due course bear its -Fruitfulness. You wish to know--or am I unduly self-flattered--whether -the Play of Passion, of Love and of Revenge, set by the worthy Clerk -before You, had an Epilogue--one that would satisfy your Sense of -Justice and of Mercy. - -Then, I pray You, turn to the Pages of History, of which Master -Honeywood's Narrative forms an integral and pathetic Part. One of these -Pages will reveal to You that which You wish to know. Thereon You will -see recorded the Fact that, after a brief and distinguished Visit during -that Summer to the City and University of Stockholm, where Honours -without number were showered upon the great English Actor, Mr. Betterton -came back to England, to the delight of an admiring Public, for he was -then in the very Plenitude of his Powers. - -Having read of the Artist's triumph, I pray You then to turn over the -Page of the faithful Chronicle of his Career, and here You will find a -brief Chapter which deals with his private Life and with his Happiness. -You will see that at the End of this self-same year 1662, the Register -of St. Giles', Cripplegate, contains the Record of a Marriage between -Thomas Betterton, Actor, of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, -and Mary Joyce Saunderson, of the aforesaid parish of St. Giles'. - -That this Marriage was an exceptionally happy one we know from -innumerable Data, Minutes and Memoranda supplied by Downes and others; -that Master John Honeywood was present at the Ceremony itself we may be -allowed to guess. Those of us who understand and appreciate the -artistic Temperament, will readily agree with the worthy Clerk when he -said that it cannot be judged by ordinary Standards. The long and -successful Careers of Thomas Betterton and of Mistress Saunderson his -Wife testify to the Fact that their Art in no way suffered, while their -Souls passed through the fiery Ordeal of Passion and of Sorrow; but -rather that it became ennobled and purified, until they themselves took -their place in the Heart and Memory of the cultured World, among the -Immortals. - - - - - THE END - - - - - ---- - - - - - By BARONESS ORCZY - - -His Majesty's Well-Beloved -The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel -Flower o' the Lily -The Man in Grey -Lord Tony's Wife -A Sheaf of Bluebells -Leatherface -The Bronze Eagle -A Bride of the Plains -The Laughing Cavalier -"Unto Csar" -El Dorado -Meadowsweet -The Noble Rogue -The Heart of a Woman -Petticoat Rule - - - - GEORGE H. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the <a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a> -included with this eBook or online at -<a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a>.</p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container noindent white-space-pre-line" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst white-space-pre-line"><span class="white-space-pre-line">Title: His Majesty's Well-Beloved<br /> - An Episode in the Life of Mr. Thomas Betteron as told by His<br /> - Friend John Honeywood<br /> -<br /> -Author: Baroness Orczy<br /> -<br /> -Release Date: May 24, 2012 [EBook #39787]<br /> -<br /> -Language: English<br /> -<br /> -Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line">*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK <span>HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED</span> ***</p> <div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 4em"> </div> <p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> @@ -10092,346 +10063,6 @@ Petticoat Rule</p> <!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> <div class="backmatter"> </div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line">*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK <span>HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED</span> ***</p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">A Word from Project Gutenberg</h2> -<p class="pfirst">We will update this book if we find any errors.</p> -<p class="pnext">This book can be found under: <a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39787"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39787</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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-
-.. meta::
- :PG.Id: 39787
- :PG.Title: His Majesty's Well-Beloved
- :PG.Released: 2012-05-24
- :PG.Rights: Public Domain
- :PG.Producer: Al Haines
- :DC.Creator: Baroness Orczy
- :DC.Title: His Majesty's Well-Beloved
- An Episode in the Life of Mr. Thomas Betteron as told by His Friend John Honeywood
- :DC.Language: en
- :DC.Created: 1919
- :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg
-
-==========================
-HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED
-==========================
-
-.. clearpage::
-
-.. pgheader::
-
-.. container:: coverpage
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
- .. figure:: images/img-cover.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: Cover
-
- Cover
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. container:: titlepage center white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: x-large
-
- HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED
-
- .. class:: medium
-
- AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF MR.
- THOMAS BETTERTON AS TOLD BY
- HIS FRIEND JOHN HONEYWOOD
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: medium
-
- BY
-
- .. class:: large
-
- BARONESS ORCZY
-
- .. class:: small
-
- AUTHOR OF "THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET
- PIMPERNEL," "FLOWER O' THE LILY,"
- "LORD TONY'S WIFE," ETC.
-
- .. vspace:: 4
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- NEW YORK
-
- GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
-
- .. vspace:: 4
-
-.. container:: verso center white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: center small
-
- *Copyright, 1919,*
-
- *By George H. Doran Company*
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
- *Printed in the United States of America*
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container:: plainpage white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: center large
-
- CONTENTS
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: left small
-
- CHAPTER
-
- .. class:: left medium
-
- I. `How it all Began`_
- II. `The Rift Within the Lute`_
- III. `A Criminal Folly`_
- IV. `More than a Passing Fancy`_
- V. `The Outrage`_
- VI. `The Gathering Storm`_
- VII. `An Assembly of Traitors`_
- VIII. `The Lion's Wrath`_
- IX. `A Last Chance`_
- X. `The Hour`_
- XI. `Rumours and Conjectures`_
- XII. `Poisoned Arrows`_
- XIII. `The Lady Pleads`_
- XIV. `The Ruling Passion`_
- XV. `More Deaf than Adders`_
- XVI. `The Game of Love`_
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. _`how it all began`:
-
-.. class:: center x-large
-
- HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. class:: center large
-
- CHAPTER I
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-.. class:: center medium
-
- How it all Began
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-.. class:: center medium
-
- 1
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-*From Mr. John Honeywood, clerk to Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs, attorney-at-law, to Mistress
-Mary Saunderson, of the Duke's Theatre in
-Lincoln's Inn Fields.*
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-1662. October the 10th at 85, Chancery Lane in
-the City of London. Honoured Mistress,—
-
-May it please you that I, an humble Clerk and
-Scrivener, do venture to address so talented a Lady;
-but there is that upon my Conscience which compels
-me to write these lines. The Goodness and Charity
-of Mistress Saunderson are well known, and 'tis not
-as a Suppliant that I crave pardon for my
-Presumption, but rather as one whose fidelity and
-loyalty have oft been tried and never been found
-wanting. 'Tis said, most gracious Mistress, that your
-fancy hath been touched by the tenderness and
-devotion of a Man who is as dear to me as if he
-were mine own Brother, but that You hesitate to
-bestow upon him that for which he craves more than
-for anything in the world, your Hand and Heart.
-And this because of many Rumours which have
-sullied his fair Name. Mr. Betterton, Madam, hath
-many enemies. How could this be otherwise seeing
-that so vast a measure of Success hath attended his
-career, and that the King's most gracious Majesty
-doth honour him with Friendship and Regard to the
-exclusion of others who are envious of so great a
-fame? Those Enemies now, Madam, seeing that
-your Heart hath been touched with the man's grace
-and bearing, rather than with his undying Renown,
-have set themselves the task of blackening
-Mr. Betterton's character before your eyes, thus causing
-you mayhap grievous Sorrow and Disappointment.
-But this I do swear by all that I hold most sacred,
-that Mr. Betterton hath never committed a mean
-Act in his life nor done aught to forfeit your
-Regard. Caustic of wit he is, but neither a
-Braggart nor a Bully; he hath been credited with many
-good Fortunes, but so hath every Gentleman in the
-Kingdom, and there is no discredit attached to a
-man for subjugating the Hearts of those that are
-both frail and fair. My Lady Castlemaine hath
-bestowed many favours on Mr. Betterton, so hath
-the Countess of Shrewsbury, and there are others,
-at least the Gossips do aver it. But on my Soul and
-Honour, he hath never ceased to love You, until the
-day when a certain great Lady came across his path
-for his misfortune and his undying Regret. And
-even so, Madam, though appearances are against
-him, I own, let me assure You that the swerving of
-his Allegiance to You was not only transitory but
-it was never one of the Heart—it was a mere
-aberration of the senses. He may never forget the
-Lady—he certainly will never forget her Cruelty—but he
-no longer loves Her, never did love Her as he loves
-You, with his Heart and Mind, with Tenderness and
-Devotion. The other was only a Dream—a fitful
-fancy: his Love for You is as immortal as his
-Fame. Therefore, gracious Mistress, I, the humble
-Friend of so great a Man, have ventured to set forth
-for your perusal that which he himself would be
-too proud to put before you—namely, his Justification.
-As for the rest, what I am about to relate
-is the true Historie of Mr. Betterton's Romance, the
-only one which might give you cause for sorrow,
-yet none for uneasiness, because that Romance is
-now a thing of the past, like unto a Flower that is
-faded and without fragrance, even though it still lies
-pressed between the pages of a great man's Book
-of Life. Everything else is mere Episode. But this
-which I have here set down will show you how much
-nobility of heart and grandeur of Character lies
-hidden beneath the flippant and at times grim
-exterior of the Man whom you have honoured with
-your regard.
-
-The writing of the Historie hath caused me much
-anxiety and deep thought. I desired to present the
-Truth before you, and not the highly-coloured
-effusions of a Partisan. I have slurred over nothing,
-concealed nothing. An you, gracious Mistress,
-have the patience to read unto the End, I am
-confident that any Hesitation as to your Future which
-may still linger in your Heart will vanish with the
-more intimate Knowledge of the true Facts of the
-case, as well as of the Man whose faults are of his
-own Time and of his Entourage, but whose Merits
-are for the whole World to know and to cherish, for
-as many Cycles of years as there will be Englishmen
-to speak the Words of English Poets.
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. class:: center medium
-
- 2
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-Dare I take you back, honoured Mistress, to those
-humble days, five years ago, when first I entered the
-Household of your worthy Uncle, Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs, and of his still more worthy Spouse, Mistress
-Euphrosine, where for a small—very small—stipend,
-and free board and lodging, I copied legal
-documents, Leases, Wills and Indentures for my
-Employer?
-
-You, fair Lady, were then the only ray of
-Sunshine which illumined the darkness of my dreary
-Life. Yours was a Gaiety which nothing could
-damp, a Courage and Vitality which not even the
-nagging disposition of Mistress Euphrosine
-succeeded in crushing. And when, smarting under her
-many Chidings, my stomach craving for a small
-Measure of satisfaction, my Bones aching from the
-hardness of my bed, I saw your slim Figure flitting,
-elf-like, from kitchen to living-room, your full
-young Throat bursting with song like that of a Bird
-at the first scent of Spring, I would find my lot less
-hard, the bread less sour, even Mistress Euphrosine's
-tongue less acrimonious. My poor, atrophied Heart
-felt the warmth of your Smile.
-
-Then sometimes, when my Work was done and
-my Employers occupied with their own affairs, You
-used to allow me to be of service to you, to help
-you wash the dishes which your dainty Hands
-should never have been allowed to touch.
-
-Oh! how I writhed when I heard Mistress
-Euphrosine ordering You about as if You were a
-kitchen-wench, rather than her husband's Niece,
-who was honouring his House with your presence!
-You, so exquisite, so perfect, so cultured, to be the
-Handmaid of a pair of sour, ill-conditioned
-Reprobates who were not worthy to tie the lacets of your
-dainty shoes. With what Joy I performed the
-menial tasks which never should have been allotted
-to You, I never until now have dared to tell. I did
-not think that any Man could find dish-washing and
-floor-scrubbing quite so enchanting. But then no
-other Man hath ever to my knowledge performed
-such tasks under such happy circumstances; with
-You standing before me, smiling and laughing at
-my clumsiness, your shapely arms akimbo, your
-Voice now rippling into Song, now chaffing me
-with Words full of kindness and good-humour.
-
-I have known many happy Hours since that Day,
-Mistress, and many Hours full of Sorrow, but none
-so full of pulsating Life as those which outwardly
-had seemed so miserable.
-
-And then that wonderful afternoon when
-Mr. Theophilus Baggs and his Spouse being safely out
-of the way, we stole out together and spent a few
-hours at the Play! Do you remember the day on
-which we ventured on the Escapade? Mr. Baggs
-and Mistress Euphrosine had gone to Hampton
-Court: he to see a noble Client and she to
-accompany him. The day being fine and the Client being
-a Lady possessed of well-known charms, Mistress
-Euphrosine would not have trusted her Lord alone
-in the company of such a forward Minx—at least,
-those were her Words, which she uttered in my
-hearing two Days before the memorable Expedition.
-
-Memorable, indeed, it was to me!
-
-Mr. Baggs left a sheaf of Documents for me to
-copy, which would—he thought—keep me occupied
-during the whole course of a long Day. You too,
-fair Mistress, were to be kept busy during the
-worthy couple's absence, by scrubbing and polishing
-and sewing—Mistress Euphrosine holding all
-idleness in abhorrence.
-
-I marvel if you remember it all!
-
-I do, as if it had occurred yesterday! We sat
-up half the Night previous to our Taskmasters'
-departure; you polishing and sewing, and I copying
-away for very life. You remember? Our joint
-Savings for the past six Months we had counted up
-together. They amounted to three shillings. One
-shilling we spent in oil for our lamps, so that we
-might complete our Tasks during the Night. This
-left us free for the great and glorious Purpose
-which we had in our Minds and which we had
-planned and brooded over for Days and Weeks.
-
-We meant to go to the Play!
-
-It seems strange now, in view of your Renown,
-fair Mistress, and of mine own intimacy with
-Mr. Betterton, that You and I had both reached
-an age of Man and Womanhood without ever
-having been to the Play. Yet You belonged from
-childhood to the household of Mistress Euphrosine
-Baggs, who is own sister to Mr. Betterton. But
-that worthy Woman abhorred the Stage and all that
-pertained to it, and she blushed—aye, blushed!—at
-thought of the marvellous Fame attained by her
-illustrious Brother.
-
-Do you remember confiding to me, less than a
-month after I first entered the household of
-Mr. Baggs, that You were pining to go to the Play?
-You had seen Mr. Betterton once or twice when he
-came to visit his Sister—which he did not do very
-often—but you had never actually been made
-acquainted with him, nor had you ever seen him act.
-And You told me how handsome he was, and how
-distinguished; and your dark Eyes would flash with
-enthusiasm at thought of the Actor's Art and of
-the Actor's Power.
-
-I had never seen him at all in those Days, but
-I loved to hear about him. Strange what a
-fascination the Stage exercised over so insignificant
-and so mean a creature as I!
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-Will you ever forget the dawn of that glorious
-Day, fair Mistress?
-
-Mr. Baggs and his Spouse went off quite early,
-to catch the chaise at La Belle Sauvage which would
-take them to Hampton Court. But however early
-they went, we thought them mighty slow in making
-a start. An hundred Recommendations, Orderings,
-Scoldings, had to be gone through ere the respectable
-Couple, carrying provisions for the day in a
-Bandana Handkerchief, finally got on the way.
-
-It was a perfect Morning early in March, with
-the first scent and feel of Spring in the air. Not
-a Cloud in the Sky. By Midday our tasks were
-entirely accomplished and we were free! Free as
-the Birds in the air, free as two 'prentices out for
-a holiday! But little did we eat, I remember. We
-were too excited for hunger; nor had Mistress
-Euphrosine left much in the larder for us. What
-did we care? Our Enthusiasm, our Eagerness, were
-Cook and Scullion for us, that day!
-
-We were going to the Play!
-
-Oh! how we tripped to Cockpit Lane, asking our
-way from passers-by, for we knew so little of
-London—fashionable London, that is; the London
-of Gaiety and Laughter, of careless Thoughts and
-wayward Moods. Holding hands, we hurried
-through the Streets. You wore a dark Cape with
-a Hood to hide your pretty Face and your soft
-brown Hair, lest some Acquaintance of your Uncle's
-should chance to see You and betray our guilty
-secret.
-
-Do you remember how we met Mr. Rhodes, the
-bookseller, and friend of Mr. Baggs?—he to whom
-young Mr. Betterton was even then apprenticed.
-At the corner of Princes Street we came nose to
-nose with him, and but for great presence of mind
-on my part when, without an instant's hesitation, I
-ran straight at him and butted him in the Stomach
-so that he lost his Balance for the moment and only
-recovered complete Consciousness after we had
-disappeared round the corner of the Street, he no
-doubt would have recognised us and betrayed our
-naughty Secret.
-
-Oh, what a fright we had! I can see You now,
-leaning, breathless and panting, against the street
-corner, your Hand pressed to your Bosom, your
-Eyes shining like Stars!
-
-As for the rest, it is all confusion in my mind.
-The Crowd, the Bustle, the Noise, this great
-Assembly, the like of which I had never seen before.
-I do not know how we came to our seats. All I
-know is that we were there, looking down upon the
-moving throng. I remember that some Worthy of
-obvious note was sitting next to me, and was
-perpetually treading upon my toes. But this I did not
-mind, for he was good enough to point out to me
-the various Notabilities amongst the Audience or
-upon the Stage; and I was greatly marvelled and
-awed by the wonderful familiarity with which he
-spoke of all these distinguished People.
-
-"There sits General Monk. Brave old George!
-By gad! 'twere interesting to know what goes on
-inside that square Head of his! King or Protector,
-which is it to be? Or Protector *and* King!
-George knows; and you mark my words, young Sir,
-George will be the one to decide. Old Noll is sick;
-he can't last long. And Master Richard hath not
-much affection for his Father's Friends—calls them
-Reprobates and ungodly. Well! can you see George
-being rebuked by Master Richard for going to the
-Play?"
-
-And I, not being on such intimate terms with the
-Lord Protector's Son or with General Monk, could
-offer no opinion on the subject. And after a while
-my Neighbour went on glibly:
-
-"Ah! here comes my Lady Viner, flaunting silks
-and satins. Aye, the fair Alice—his third Wife,
-mark you!—knows how to spend the money which
-her Lord hath been at such pains to scrape together.
-By gad! who'd have thought to see red-haired Polly
-Ann so soon after the demise of His Grace! See,
-not an inch of widows' Weeds doth she wear in
-honour of the old Dotard who did her the infinite
-favour of dying just in the nick of time...."
-
-And so on, the Man would babble in a continuous
-stream of talk. You, Mistress, listened to him
-open-mouthed, your great brown Eyes aglow with
-curiosity and with excitement. You and I knew
-but little of those great Folk, and seeing them all
-around us, prepared for the same enjoyment which
-we had paid to obtain, made us quite intoxicated
-with eagerness.
-
-Our Neighbour, who of a truth seemed to know
-everything, expressed great surprise at the fact that
-Old Noll—as he so unceremoniously named the
-Lord Protector—had tolerated the opening of the
-Cockpit. "But," he added sententiously, "Bill
-Davenant could wheedle a block of ice out of the
-devil, if he chose."
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-Of the Play I remember but little. I was in truth
-much too excited to take it all in. And sitting so
-near You, Mistress—for the Place was
-overcrowded—my Knee touching yours, your dear little
-hand darting out from time to time to grip mine
-convulsively during the more palpitating moments
-of the Entertainment, was quite as much as an
-humble Clerk's brain could hold.
-
-There was a great deal of Music—that I do
-remember. Also that the entertainment was termed
-an opera and that the name of the piece was "The
-Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru." My omniscient
-Neighbour told me presently that no doubt the
-Performance was an artful piece of Flattery on the part
-of Bill (meaning, I suppose, Sir William Davenant)
-who, by blackening the Spaniards, made Old Noll's
-tyranny appear like bountiful Mercies.
-
-But I did not like to hear our Lord Protector
-spoken of with such levity. Moreover, my
-Neighbour's incessant Chatter distracted me from the
-Stage.
-
-What I do remember more vividly than anything
-else on that memorable Day was your cry of
-delight when Mr. Betterton appeared upon the
-Stage. I do not know if you had actually spoken
-with him before; I certainly had never even seen
-him. Mr. Betterton was then apprenticed to
-Mr. Rhodes, the Bookseller, and it was entirely against
-the Judgment and Wishes of Mistress Euphrosine
-Baggs, his Sister, that he adopted the Stage as an
-additional calling. I know that there were many
-high Words on that subject between Mr. Betterton
-and Mistress Euphrosine, Mr. Rhodes greatly
-supporting the young Man in his Desire, he having
-already formulated schemes of his own for the
-management of a Theatre, and extolling the virtues of
-the Actor's Art and the vastly lucrative State
-thereof.
-
-But Mistress Euphrosine would have none of it.
-Actors were Rogues and Vagabonds, she said,
-ungodly Reprobates who were unfit, when dead, to be
-buried in consecrated ground. She would never
-consent to seeing a Brother of hers follow so
-disreputable a Calling. From high words it came to
-an open Quarrel, and though I had been over a year
-in the House of Mr. Theophilus Baggs, I had never
-until this day set eyes on young Mr. Betterton.
-
-He was not taking a very important part in the
-Opera, but there was no denying the fact that as
-soon as he appeared upon the Stage his very
-Presence did throw every other Actor into the shade.
-The Ladies in the Boxes gave a deep sigh of content,
-gazing on him with admiring eyes and bestowing
-loud Applause upon his every Word. And when
-Mr. Betterton threw out his Arms with a gesture
-expressive of a noble Passion and spoke the ringing
-lines: "And tell me then, ye Sons of England..."—his
-beautiful Voice rising and falling with the
-perfect cadence of an exquisite Harmony—the uproar
-of Enthusiasm became wellnigh deafening. The
-Ladies clapped their Hands and waved their
-Handkerchiefs, the Gentlemen stamped their feet upon the
-floor; and some, lifting their Hats, threw them with
-a flourish upon the Stage, so that anon Mr. Betterton
-stood with a score or more Hats all round his
-feet, and was greatly perturbed as to how he should
-sort them out and restore them to their rightful
-Owners.
-
-Ah, it was a glorious Day! Nothing could mar
-the perfection of its Course. No! not even the
-Rain which presently began to patter over the
-Spectators, and anon fell in torrents, so that those who
-were in the Pit had to beat a precipitate retreat,
-scrambling helter-skelter over the Benches in a wild
-endeavour to get under cover.
-
-This incident somewhat marred the Harmony of
-the Ending, because to see Ladies and Gentlemen
-struggling and scrambling to climb from bench to
-bench under a Deluge of Rain, was in truth a very
-droll Spectacle; and the attention of those in the
-Boxes was divided between the Happenings on
-the Stage and the antics of the rest of the Audience.
-
-You and I, fair Mistress, up aloft in our humble
-place, were far better sheltered than the more grand
-Folk in the Pit. I put your Cloak around your
-Shoulders to protect You against the Cold, and thus
-sitting close together, my knee still resting against
-yours, we watched the Performance until the end.
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-How we went home that afternoon I do not
-remember. I know that it was raining heavily and
-that we got very wet. But this caused me no
-Inconvenience, because it gave me the privilege of
-placing my Arm round your Shoulders so as to keep
-your Cloak from falling. Also my Mind was too
-full of what I had seen to heed the paltry
-discomfort of a Wetting. My thoughts were of the Play,
-the Music, the brilliant Assembly; yours, Mistress,
-were of Mr. Betterton. Of him you prattled all
-the way home, to the exclusion of every other Topic.
-And if your enthusiastic Eulogy of that talented
-Person did at times send a pang of Sorrow through
-my Heart, You at least were unaware of my
-Trouble. Not that I took no share in your
-Enthusiasm. I did it whole-heartedly. Never had I
-admired a Man before as I did Mr. Betterton on
-that Day. His Presence was commanding, his Face
-striking, his Voice at times masterful and full of
-Power, at others infinitely sweet. My officious and
-talkative Neighbour, just before the Rain came
-down and rendered him dumb, had remarked to me
-with a great air of Knowledge and of Finality:
-"Mark my word, young Sir, England will hear
-something presently of Tommy Betterton."
-
-It was not until we reached the corner of
-Chancery Lane that we were forced to descend to the
-Realities of Life. We had had a glorious Day, and
-for many Hours had wholly forgotten the many
-Annoyances and Discomforts with which our lives
-were beset. Now we were a little tired and exceedingly
-wet. Mistress Euphrosine's Scoldings, our oft
-empty stomachs, hard Beds and cheerless Lives
-loomed once more largely upon the Horizon of our
-mental vision.
-
-Our Pace began to slacken; your glib Tongue was
-stilled. Holding Hands now, we hurried home in
-silence, our Minds stirred by a still vague Sense of
-Fear.
-
-Nor was that Fear unjustified, alas! as
-subsequent Events proved. No sooner had We entered
-the House than We knew that We were discovered.
-Mr. Baggs' cloak, hung up in the Hall, revealed the
-terrifying Fact that he and his indomitable Spouse
-had unaccountably returned at this hour. No doubt
-that the Weather was the primary cause of this
-untoward Event: its immediate result was a Volley
-of abuse poured upon our Heads by Mistress
-Euphrosine's eloquent Tongue. We were
-Reprobates, Spawns and Children of the Devil! We were
-Liars and Cheats and Thieves! We had deserved
-God's wrath and eternal punishment! Heavens
-above! how she did talk! And we, alas! could not
-escape that vituperative Torrent.
-
-We had fled into the Kitchen as soon as We had
-realised that we were fairly caught; but Mistress
-Euphrosine had followed us thither and had closed
-the door behind her. And now, standing facing
-Us, her large, gaunt Body barring every egress, she
-talked and talked until You, fair Mistress, gave way
-to a passionate Flood of tears.
-
-All our Pleasure, our Joy, had vanished; driven
-hence by the vixenish Tongue of a soured Harridan.
-I was beside myself with Rage. But for your
-restraining influence, I could have struck that
-shrieking Virago, and for ever after have destroyed what
-was the very Essence of my Life. For she would
-have turned me out of Doors then and there, and I
-should have been driven forth from your Presence,
-perhaps never to return.
-
-The sight of your Patience and of your Goodness
-helped to deaden my Wrath. I hung my Head
-and bit my Tongue lest it should betray me into
-saying things which I should have regretted to the
-end of my Days.
-
-And thus that memorable Day came to a close.
-Somehow, it stands before my mind as would the
-first legible Page in the Book of my Life. Before
-it, everything was blurred; but that Page is clear.
-I can read it now, even after four years. For the
-first time, destiny had writ on it two Names in bold,
-indelible Characters—yours, Mistress, and that of
-Mr. Betterton. Henceforth, not a Day in my Life
-would pass without one of You looming largely in
-its Scheme.
-
-Mary Saunderson! Tom Betterton! My very
-pulses seem to beat to the tune of those two Names!
-I knew then, by one of those subtle intuitions which
-no Man has ever succeeded in comprehending, that
-Heaven itself had intended You for one another.
-How then could I stand by and see the Wickedness
-of Man striving to interfere with the decrees of God?
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- CHAPTER II
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- THE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE
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-After that memorable Day, Mistress, we were like
-naughty Children who were being punished for
-playing truant out of School. For Weeks and
-Months our Lives went on with dreary monotony,
-with never a chance of seeing Something of that
-outside World of which we had caught a glimpse.
-You continued to sew and to scrub and to be at the
-beck and call of a Scold. I went on copying legal
-Documents till my very Brain appeared atrophied,
-incapable of a single happy Thought or of a joyous Hope.
-
-Out there in the great World, many things were
-happening. The Lord Protector died; his Son
-succeeded. And then England woke to the fact that
-she had never cared for these Regicides, Republicans
-and Puritans; that in her Heart she had always
-loved the martyred King and longed to set his Son
-once more upon his Throne.
-
-I often thought of my loquacious Neighbour at
-the Play, with his talk of Old Noll and Master
-Richard and of George. For George Monk in
-truth had become the Man of the hour; for he it
-was who was bringing King Charles back into his
-Kingdom again.
-
-Two years had gone by since our memorable Day
-at the Play, and as that same Neighbour had also
-foretold, England was hearing a great deal about
-Tom Betterton. His Name was on every one's lips.
-Mr. Rhodes, the Bookseller, had obtained a licence
-from General Monk to get a Company of Actors
-together, and the palmy Days of the Cockpit had
-begun. Then it was that some faint Echo of the
-Life of our great City penetrated as far as the dull
-Purlieus of Mr. Baggs' Household; then it was that
-the ring of the Fame of Mr. Betterton even caused
-Mistress Euphrosine to recall her former arbitrary
-Judgments.
-
-Every one now was talking of her illustrious
-Brother. General Monk himself had made a Friend
-of him, so had Sir John Grenville, who was the
-King's own Envoy; and those who were in the
-know prophesied that His Majesty Himself would
-presently honour the eminent Player with his
-regard. My Lord Rochester was his intimate Friend;
-Sir George Etherege was scarce ever seen in public
-without him. Lord Broghill had vowed that the
-English Stage was made famous throughout the
-Continent of Europe by the superlative excellence of
-Mr. Betterton.
-
-To such Eulogies, coming from the most exalted
-Personages in the Land, Mistress Euphrosine could
-not turn an altogether deaf Ear; and being a
-Woman of character and ambition, she soon realised
-that her Antagonism to her illustrious Brother not
-only rendered her ridiculous, but might even prove
-a bar to Mr. Theophilus Baggs' Advancement.
-
-The first Step towards a Reconciliation was taken
-when Mr. Baggs and his Spouse went together to
-the Play to see Mr. Betterton act *Solyman* in a play
-called "The Siege of Rhodes." You and I,
-Mistress, were by great favour allowed to go too, and
-to take our places in that same Gallery where two
-Years previously You and I had spent such happy
-hours. We spoke little to one another, I remember.
-Our hearts were full of Memories; but I could see
-your brown Eyes lighten as soon as the eminent
-Actor walked upon the Stage. The same Glamour
-which his personality had thrown over You two
-years ago was still there. Nay! it was enhanced
-an hundredfold, for to the magnetic presence of the
-Man was now added the supreme Magic of the
-Artist. I am too humble a Scrivener, fair Lady,
-to attempt to describe Mr. Betterton's acting, nor
-do I think that such Art as his could be adequately
-discussed. Your enjoyment of it I did fully share.
-You devoured him with your Eyes while he was on
-the Stage, and the Charm of his Voice filled the
-crowded Theatre and silenced every other sound.
-I knew that the World had ceased to exist for You
-and that the mysterious and elusive god of Love
-had hit your Heart with his wayward dart.
-
-I thank God that neither then nor later did any
-feeling of Bitterness enter into my Soul. Sad I
-was, but of a gentle Sadness which made me feel
-mine own Unworthiness, even whilst I prayed that
-You might realise your Heart's desire.
-
-Strangely enough, it was at the very moment
-when I first understood the state of your Feelings
-that mine eyes, a little dimmed with tears, were
-arrested by the Sight of a young and beautiful Lady,
-who sat in one of the Boxes, not very far from our
-point of vantage. I wondered then what it was
-about her that thus enchained mine Attention. Of
-a truth, she was singularly fair, of that dainty and
-translucent Fairness which I for one have never been
-able to admire, but which is wont to set Men's pulses
-beating with an added quickness—at least, so I've
-heard it said. The Lady had blue Eyes, an
-exquisitely white Skin, her golden Hair was dressed
-in the new modish Fashion, with quaint little
-Ringlets all around her low, square Brow. The face
-was that of a Child, yet there was something about
-the firm Chin, something about the Forehead
-and the set of the Lips which spoke of
-Character and of Strength not often found in one
-so young.
-
-Immediately behind her sat a young Cavalier of
-prepossessing Appearance, who obviously was
-whispering pleasing Words in the Lady's shell-like ear.
-I confess that for the moment I longed for the
-presence of our loquacious Neighbour of two years ago.
-He, without doubt, would have known who the
-noble young Lady was and who was her attentive
-Cavalier. Soon, however, the progress of the Play
-once more riveted mine Attention upon the Stage,
-and I forgot all about the beautiful Lady until it
-was time to go. Then I sought her with mine
-Eyes; but she had already gone. And I, whilst
-privileged to arrange your Cloak around your
-shoulders, realised how much more attractive brown
-Hair was than fair, and how brilliant could be the
-sparkle of dark Eyes as against the more
-languorous expression of those that are blue.
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-I was not present at the time that You, Mistress,
-first made the acquaintance of Mr. Betterton. He
-came to the House originally for the sole purpose
-of consulting with his Brother-in-law on a point of
-Law, he having an idea of joining Sir William
-Davenant in the Management of the new Theatre
-which that Gentleman was about to open in
-Lincoln's Inn Fields.
-
-The season in London promised to be very
-brilliant. His Majesty the King was coming into his
-own once more. Within a Month or two at the
-latest, he would land at Dover, and as even through
-his misfortunes and exile he had always been a
-great Patron of the Arts of Drama and Literature,
-there was no doubt that he would give his gracious
-Patronage to such enterprises as Sir William
-Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, not to mention others, had
-already in view.
-
-No doubt that Sir William Davenant felt that no
-Company of Actors could be really complete
-without the leadership of Mr. Betterton; and we all
-knew that both he and Mr. Killigrew were literally
-fighting one another to obtain the great Actor's
-services.
-
-In the end, of course, it was Sir William who
-won, and thus Mr. Betterton came to visit
-Mr. Theophilus Baggs to arrange for an Indenture
-whereby he was to have a Share of the Profits
-derived from the Performances at the new Theatre
-in Lincoln's Inn Fields.
-
-You, Mistress, will remember that Day even
-better than I do, for to me it only marked one more
-Stage on the dreary road of my uneventful Life,
-whilst for You it meant the first Pearl in that
-jewelled Crown of Happiness which Destiny hath
-fashioned for You. Mr. Baggs had sent me on that
-day to Richmond, to see a Client of his there.
-Whether he did this purposely, at the instance of
-Mistress Euphrosine, in order to get me out of the
-way, I know not. In her Estimation I was supposed
-to have leanings for the Actor's profession in those
-days—surely a foolish Supposition, seeing how
-unprepossessing was my Appearance and how
-mediocre my Intellect.
-
-Without doubt, however, could she have read the
-Secrets of your Soul, dear Mistress, she would have
-sent You on an errand too, to a remote corner of
-England, or had locked You up in your Room, ere
-you came face to face with the great Man whose
-Personality and Visage were already deeply graven
-upon your Heart.
-
-But her futile, unamiable Mind was even then
-torn between the desire to make a brave show of
-Prosperity before her illustrious Brother and to
-welcome him as the Friend and Companion of great
-Gentlemen, and the old puritanical Spirit within her
-which still looked upon Actors as Rogues and
-Vagabonds, Men upon whom God would shower some
-very special, altogether terrible Curses because of
-their loose and immoral Lives.
-
-Thus Mistress Euphrosine's treatment of the
-distinguished Actor was ever contradictory. She did
-her best to make him feel that she despised him for
-his Calling, yet nevertheless she fawned upon him
-because of his connection with the Aristocracy.
-Even subsequently, when Mr. Betterton enjoyed not
-only the Patronage but the actual Friendship of His
-Majesty the King, Mistress Euphrosine's attitude
-towards him was always one of pious scorn. He
-might be enjoying the protection of an earthly King,
-but what was that in comparison with his Sister's
-intimacy with God? He might consort with Dukes,
-but she would anon make one in a company of
-Angels, amongst whom such Reprobates as Actors
-would never find a place.
-
-That, I think, was her chief Attitude of Mind,
-one that caused me much Indignation at the time;
-for I felt that I could have knelt down and
-worshipped the heaven-born Genius who was delighting
-the whole Kingdom with his Art. But Mr. Betterton,
-with his habitual kindliness and good humour,
-paid no heed to Mistress Euphrosine's sour Disposition
-towards him, and when she tried to wither him
-with lofty Speeches, he would quickly make her
-ridiculous with witty Repartee.
-
-He came more and more frequently to the House,
-and mine Eyes being unusually sharp in such
-matters, I soon saw that You had wholly won his
-regard. Those then became happy times. Happy ones
-for You, Mistress, whose Love for a great and good
-Man was finding full Reciprocity. Happy ones for
-him, who in You had found not only a loving Heart,
-but rare understanding, and that great Talent which
-he then and there set himself to develop. They were
-happy times also for me, the poor, obscure Scrivener
-with the starved Heart and the dreary Life, who
-now was allowed to warm his Soul in the Sunshine
-of your joint Happiness.
-
-It was not long before Mr. Betterton noticed the
-profound Admiration which I had for him, not long
-before he admitted me to his Friendship and
-Intimacy. I say it with utmost pride, that I was the
-first one with whom he discussed the question of
-your Career and to whom he confided the fact that
-You had a conspicuous talent for the Stage, and
-that he intended to teach and to train You until You
-could appear with him on the Boards. You may
-imagine how this Idea staggered me at first—aye! and
-horrified me a little. I suppose that something
-of the old puritanical middle-class Prejudice had
-eaten so deeply into my Soul that I could not be
-reconciled to the idea of seeing any Woman—least
-of all you, Mistress—acting a part upon the Stage.
-Hitherto, young Mr. Kynaston and other
-boy-actors had represented with perfect grace and charm
-all the parts which have been written for Women;
-and I could not picture to myself any respectable
-Female allowing herself to be kissed or embraced
-in full view of a large Audience, or speaking some
-of those Lines which our great Dramatists have
-thought proper to write.
-
-But Mr. Betterton's Influence and his unanswerable
-Arguments soon got the better of those
-old-fashioned Ideas, and anon I found myself looking
-eagerly forward to the happy time when You would
-be freed from the trammels of Mistress Euphrosine's
-Tyranny and, as the Wife and Helpmate of
-the greatest Actor of our times, take your place
-beside him among the Immortals.
-
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-
-It was not until the spring of the following Year
-that I first noticed the cloud which was gathering
-over your happiness. Never shall I forget the day
-when first I saw Tears in your Eyes.
-
-You had finally decided by then to adopt the Stage
-as your Profession, and at the instance of Mr. Betterton,
-Sir William Davenant had promised You a
-small part in the new Play, wherewith he was about
-to open his new Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields.
-The piece chosen was called "Othello," written by
-one William Shakespeare, and Sir William had
-finally decided that the parts written in this Play by
-the Author for Women should be enacted by
-Women; an arrangement which was even then
-being worked quite successfully by Mr. Killigrew at
-his Theatre in Clare Market.
-
-I knew that a brilliant Future lay before You;
-but Mistress Euphrosine, who had constituted
-herself your Guardian and Mentor, tried in vain to turn
-You from your Career. The day when You made
-your Decision was yet another of those momentous
-ones which will never fade from my Memory. You
-had hitherto been clever enough to evade Mistress
-Euphrosine's Vigilance whilst you studied the Art
-of speaking and acting under the guidance of
-Mr. Betterton. She thought that his frequent Visits to
-the House were due to his Regard for her, whereas
-he came only to see You and to be of service to You
-in the pursuit of your Studies.
-
-But the time came when You had to avow openly
-what were your Intentions with regard to the
-Future. Sir William Davenant's Theatre in Lincoln's
-Inn Fields was to be opened in June, and You,
-Mistress, were, together with his principal Actresses, to
-be boarded after that by him at his own House, in
-accordance with one of the Provisions of the
-Agreement. The Question arose as to where You should
-lodge, your poor Mother having no home to offer
-You. Mistress Euphrosine made a great Show of
-her Abhorrence of the Stage and all the Immorality
-which such a Career implied. My cheeks blush with
-shame even now at the recollection of the
-abominable language which she used when first You told
-her what You meant to do, and my Heart is still
-filled with admiration at your Patience and
-Forbearance with her under such trying circumstances.
-
-Fortunately for us all, Mr. Betterton arrived in
-the midst of all this wrangle. He soon succeeded
-in silencing Mistress Euphrosine's exacerbating
-tongue, and this not so much by the magic of his
-Persuasion as by the aid of the golden Key which
-is known to open every door—even that which leads
-to a scolding Harridan's heart. Mr. Betterton
-offered his Sister a substantial Sum of Money if
-she in return would undertake to give You a
-comfortable lodging until such time as he himself would
-claim You as his Wife. He stipulated that You
-should be made comfortable and that no kind of
-menial work should ever be put upon You.
-
-"Mistress Saunderson," he said impressively,
-"must be left absolutely free to pursue her Art,
-unhampered by any other consideration."
-
-Even so, Mistress Euphrosine could not restrain
-her malicious tongue, and the whole equitable
-arrangement might even then have fallen through but
-for your gentleness and quiet determination.
-Finally, Mistress Euphrosine gave in. She accepted
-the liberal terms which her illustrious Brother was
-offering her for your Maintenance, but she reserved
-unto herself the right of terminating the Arrangement
-at her will and pleasure. Obviously, she meant
-to be as disagreeable as she chose; but You had to
-have a respectable roof over your head until such
-time as You found a Haven under the ægis of your
-future Husband's Name.
-
-After that, it seemed as if no cloud could ever
-come to obscure the Heavens of your happiness.
-Nevertheless, it was very soon after that Episode
-that I chanced upon You one evening, sitting in the
-parlour with the Book of a Play before You, yet
-apparently not intent upon reading. When I spoke
-your name You started as if out of a Dream and
-quickly You put your handkerchief up to your eyes.
-
-I made no remark then; it would have been
-insolence on my part to intrude upon your private
-Affairs. But I felt like some faithful cur on the
-watch.
-
-For awhile dust was thrown in my eyes from the
-fact that Mr. Betterton announced to us his
-projected trip abroad, at the instance of Sir William
-Davenant, who desired him to study the Scenery
-and Decorations which it seems were noted
-Adjuncts to the Stage over in Paris. If Mr. Betterton
-approved of what he saw there, he was to bring
-back with him a scheme for such Scenery to be
-introduced at the new Theatre in Lincoln's Inn
-Fields, which would be a great triumph over
-Mr. Killigrew's Management, where no such innovations
-had ever been thought of.
-
-Naturally, Mr. Betterton, being a Man and an
-Artist, was eager and excited over this journey,
-which showed what great confidence Sir William
-Davenant reposed in his Judgment. This,
-methought, accounted for the fact that You, Mistress,
-seemed so much more dejected at the prospect of
-his Absence than he was. I also was satisfied that
-this Absence accounted for your tears.
-
-Fool that I was! I should have guessed!
-
-Mr. Betterton was absent two months, during
-which time I oft chanced upon You, dear Mistress,
-with a book lying unheeded on your lap and your
-dark eyes glistening with unnatural brilliancy. But
-I still believed that it was only Mr. Betterton's
-Absence that caused this sadness which had of late
-fallen over your Spirits. I know that he did not
-write often, and I saw—oh! quite involuntarily—that
-when his Letters came they were unaccountably short.
-
-Then, one day—it was in May—seeing You more
-than usually depressed, I suggested that as the
-weather was so fine we should repair to the Theatre
-in Clare Market, and there see Mr. Killigrew's
-company enact "The Beggar's Bush," a play in which
-Major Mohun was acting the part of *Bellamente*
-with considerable success.
-
-Had I but known what we were destined to see
-in that Theatre, I swear to God that I would sooner
-have hacked off my right leg than to have taken
-You thither. Yet We both started on our way,
-oblivious of what lay before Us. Time had long
-since gone by when such expeditions had to be done
-in secret. You, Mistress, were independent of
-Mistress Euphrosine's threats and tantrums, and I had
-come to realise that my Employer could nowhere
-else in the whole City find a Clerk who would do
-so much for such very scanty pay, and that he would
-never dismiss me, for fear that he would never again
-meet with such a willing Drudge.
-
-So, the day being one on which Mr. Baggs and
-Mistress Euphrosine were absenting themselves
-from home, I persuaded You easily enough to come
-with me to the Play.
-
-Your spirits had risen of late because you were
-expecting Mr. Betterton's home-coming. In fact,
-You had received authentic news that he would
-probably be back in England within the week.
-
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-At once, when I took my seat in the Gallery
-beside you, I noticed the beautiful fair Lady in the
-Box, whom I had not seen since that marvellous
-day a year ago, when you and I sat together at the
-Play. She was more radiantly beautiful than ever
-before.
-
-Discreet enquiries from my Neighbour elicited
-the information that she was the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury,
-and the acknowledged Belle among the Debutantes
-of the season. I understood that nothing had been
-seen of the Lady for the past year or more, owing
-to the grave and lingering illness of her Mother,
-during the whole course of which the young Girl
-had given up her entire life to the tending of the
-Invalid.
-
-Now that his Lordship was a Widower, he had
-insisted on bringing his Daughter to London so
-that she might be brought to the notice of His
-Majesty and take her place at Court and in Society,
-as it beseemed her rank. That place the Lady
-Barbara conquered quickly enough, by her Beauty, her
-Charm and her Wit, so much so that I was told that
-all the young Gallants in the City were more or less
-over head and ears in love with her, but that her
-affections had remained steadfastly true to the
-friend and companion of her girlhood, the young
-Earl of Stour who, in his turn had never swerved
-in his Allegiance and had patiently waited for the
-day when her duty to her Mother would cease and
-her love for him be allowed to have full sway.
-
-All this, of course, sounded very pretty and very
-romantic; and you, Mistress, gave ungrudging
-admiration to the beautiful girl who was the cynosure
-of all eyes. She sat in the Box, in the company of
-an elderly and distinguished Gentleman, who was
-obviously her Father, and of another Man, who
-appeared to be a year or two older than herself and
-whose likeness of features to her own proclaimed
-him to be her Brother. At the rear of the box a
-number of brilliant Cavaliers had congregated, who
-had obviously come in order to pay court to this
-acknowledged Queen of Beauty. Foremost among
-these we noticed a tall, handsome young Man whose
-noble features looked to me to suggest a somewhat
-weak yet obstinate disposition. He was undeniably
-handsome: the huge, fair periwig which he wore
-lent a certain manly dignity to his countenance. We
-quickly came to the conclusion that this must be the
-Earl of Stour, for it was obvious that the Lady
-Barbara reserved her most welcoming smile and her
-kindliest glances for him.
-
-The company in the Box kept us vastly amused
-for a time, in the intervals of watching the Actors
-on the Stage; and I remember that during the
-second Act the dialogue in the Play being somewhat
-dull, both You and I fell to watching the Lady
-Barbara and her throng of Admirers. Suddenly we
-noticed that all these Gentlemen gave way as if to a
-New-comer who had just entered at the rear of the
-Box and was apparently desirous of coming
-forward in order to pay his respects. At first we could
-not see who the New-comer was, nor did we greatly
-care. The next moment, however, he was behind
-the Lady Barbara's chair. Anon he stooped
-forward in order to whisper something in her ear.
-
-And I saw who it was.
-
-It was Mr. Betterton.
-
-For the moment, I remember that I felt as if I
-were paralysed; either that or crazed. I could not
-trust mine eyes.
-
-Then I turned my head and looked at You.
-
-You too had seen and recognised. For the
-moment You did not move, but sat rigid and silent.
-Your face had become a shade or two paler and
-there was a scarce perceptible tremor of your lips.
-
-But that was all. I alone knew that You had
-just received a stab in your loving and trusting
-Heart, that something had occurred which would
-for ever mar the perfect trustfulness of your early
-love ... something which you would never forget.
-
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- 5
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-You sat out the rest of the Play, dear Mistress,
-outwardly quite serene. Never, I think, has my
-admiration for your Character and for your Worth
-been more profound. I believe that I suffered
-almost as much as You. I suffered because many
-things were made clear to me then that I had ignored
-before. Your tears, your many Silences, that look
-of trustful happiness now gone from your eyes. I
-understood that the Incident was only the
-confirmation of what you had suspected long since.
-
-But you would not let any one see your heart.
-No! not even me, your devoted Bondsman, who
-would gladly die to save You from pain. Yet I
-could not bring my heart to condemn Mr. Betterton
-utterly. I did not believe even then that he had
-been unfaithful—led away no doubt by the glamour
-of the society Beauty, by the talk and the swagger
-of all the idle Gentlemen about town—but not
-unfaithful. His was not a Nature to love more than
-the once, and he loved You, Mistress—loved You
-from the moment that he set eyes on You, from
-the moment that he knew your Worth. His fancy
-had perhaps been captured by the beautiful Lady
-Barbara, his Heart wherein your image was
-eternally enshrined, had been momentarily
-bewitched by her wiles; but he was not responsible for
-these Actions—that I could have sworn even then.
-
-Mr. Betterton is above all an Artist, and in my
-humble judgment Artists are not to be measured
-by ordinary standards. Their mind is more fanciful,
-their fancy more roving; they are the Butterflies
-of this World, gay to look at and light on the wing.
-
-You never told me, Mistress, what course You
-adopted after that eventful afternoon; nor would I
-have ventured to pry into your secrets. That You
-and Mr. Betterton talked the whole matter over, I
-make no doubt. I could even tell You, methinks,
-on which day the heart to heart talk between You
-took place. That there were no Recriminations on
-your part I dare aver; also that Mr. Betterton
-received his final dismissal on that day with a greater
-respect than ever for You in his Heart, and with
-deep sorrow weighing upon his Soul.
-
-After that, his visits to the house became more
-and more infrequent; and at first You would
-contrive to be absent when he came. But, as I have
-always maintained, his love for You still filled his
-innermost Being, even though the Lady Barbara
-ruled over his fancy for the time. He longed for
-your Presence and for your Friendship, even
-though at that time he believed that You had totally
-erased his image from your Heart.
-
-And so, when he came, and I had perforce to
-tell him that You were absent, he would linger on
-in the hope that You would return, and he would
-go away with a bitter sigh of regret whenever he
-had failed to catch a glimpse of You.
-
-You never told me in so many Words that you
-had definitely broken off your Engagement to
-Mr. Betterton, nor do I believe that such was your
-intention even then. Mistress Euphrosine certainly
-never realised that You were smarting under so
-terrible a blow, and she still spoke glibly of your
-forthcoming marriage.
-
-It was indeed fortunate for You, fortunate for us
-all, that both she and Mr. Baggs were too
-self-absorbed—he in his Business and she in her Piety—and
-too selfish, to be aware of what went on around
-them. Their self-absorption left You free to
-indulge in the luxury of suffering in silence; and I
-was made almost happy at times by an occasional
-surreptitious pressure of your Hand, a glance from
-your Eyes, telling me that my Understanding and
-Sympathy were not wholly unwelcome.
-
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-.. _`a criminal folly`:
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- CHAPTER III
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-
- A CRIMINAL FOLLY
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- 1
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-In June, you made your debut upon the stage,
-dear Mistress. Though You only played a small
-Part, your Grace and Charm soon won universal
-approval. I have so often told You of my feelings,
-my hopes, my tremors and my joy on the occasion
-when first I saw You upon the boards, that I will
-not weary You with the re-telling of them once
-again. Securely hidden behind a pillar, I only lived
-through the super-acuteness of my Senses, which
-drank in your Presence from the moment when You
-stepped out from behind the Curtain and revealed
-your gracious personality to an admiring Audience.
-
-As long as I live, every word which You spoke
-on that day will continue to ring in mine ear, and
-ere mine eyes close for ever in their last long Sleep,
-I shall see your exquisite Image floating dreamlike
-before their gaze.
-
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-
-From that day onward, I saw you more seldom
-than I had been wont to do before. Your Success
-at the new Theatre had been so pronounced that
-Sir William Davenant soon entrusted You with
-more important parts. Thus your time was greatly
-taken up both with Performances and with
-Rehearsals and with the choosing and trying on of
-dresses. Of necessity, your work threw you often
-in the company of Mr. Betterton, he being the
-leading Actor in Sir William's Company, and the most
-popular as he was the most eminent of His
-Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants. In fact, his
-Fame at this time was reaching its Apogee. He
-was reckoned one of the Intimates of His Majesty
-himself; Gentlemen and Noblemen sought his
-company; great Ladies were zealous to win his favours.
-
-Needless to say that concurrently with his rise to
-pre-eminence, an army of Enemies sprung up
-around him. Hungry curs will ever bay at the
-moon. Set a cat upon a high post and in a moment
-others will congregate down below and spit and
-yowl at their more fortunate kind. Scandal and
-spite, which had never been so rife as in these days,
-fastened themselves like evil tentacles on Mr. Betterton's
-fair Name.
-
-He was too proud to combat these, and You too
-proud to lend an ear to them. You met him now
-upon an easy footing of Friendship, of gentle
-gratitude as of a successful Pupil towards a kindly
-Teacher. To any one who did not know You as I
-do, You must at that time have seemed completely
-happy. You were independent now, earning a good
-salary, paying Mistress Euphrosine liberally for the
-lodgings which she placed at your disposal; free to
-come and go as You pleased, to receive the visits of
-Gentlemen who were desirous of paying their
-respects to You. You were, in fact, Mistress
-Saunderson, the well-known Actress, who was busy
-climbing—and swiftly, too—the Ladder of Fame.
-
-Of your proposed Marriage with Mr. Betterton
-there was of course no longer any talk. For some
-reason best known to herself, and which I myself
-never tried to fathom, even Mistress Euphrosine
-had ceased to speak of it.
-
-Did she, within the depths of her ambitious and
-avaricious Heart, harbour the belief that her
-Brother would one day wed one of those great
-Ladies, who were wont to hang entranced upon his
-lips, when he spoke the immortal words of the late
-Mr. William Shakespeare or of Mr. John Dryden?
-I know not; nor what benefit she would have
-derived from it if such an unlikely Event had indeed
-taken place.
-
-Towards me, she was still frigidly contemptuous.
-But as to that, I did not care. I was determined to
-endure her worst gibes for the sake of dwelling
-under the same roof which still had the privilege
-of sheltering You.
-
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- 3
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-
-It was one day early in September—just something
-over a year ago, in fact—that my Lord Stour
-called at the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs. I
-knew him at once for the Cavalier who was ever in
-attendance upon the Lady Barbara Wychwoode and
-whom rumour had assigned to her as her future Husband.
-
-Frankly, I had never liked him from the first.
-I thought him overbearing and arrogant. His
-manner towards those who were inferior to him in
-station was always one of contempt. And I often
-wondered how Mr. Theophilus Baggs, who was an
-Attorney of some standing in the City of London,
-could endure the cool insolence wherewith young
-Gentlemen like my Lord Stour and others were
-wont to treat him. Not only that, but he seemed
-to derive a sort of gratification from it, and was
-wont to repeat—I was almost going to say that he
-would boast of—these acts of overbearance to which
-he was so often subjected.
-
-"Another of the stiff-necked sort," he would say
-after he had bowed one of these fine Gentlemen
-obsequiously out of his office. "An honest,
-God-fearing Man is as dirt beneath the feet of these
-Gallants."
-
-My Lord Stour, of a truth, was no exception to
-the rule. I have since been assured that he was
-quite kindly and gracious in himself, and that his
-faults were those of the Milieu in which he had
-been brought up, rather than of himself.
-
-Of course, You, dear Mistress, were out of the
-house during the whole of that never-to-be-forgotten
-day of which I am about to speak, and
-therefore knew nothing of the terrible Event which
-then occurred and which, in my humble judgment,
-completely revolutionized Mr. Betterton's character
-for the time being. But Fate had decreed that
-I should see it all. Every moment of that awful
-afternoon is indelibly graven upon my Memory. I
-had, however, neither the Chance nor the Opportunity
-to speak to You of it all. At first I did not
-think that it would be expedient. The humiliation
-which Mr. Betterton was made to endure on that
-day was such that I could not bear to speak of it,
-least of all to You, who still held him in such high
-esteem. And later on, I still thought it best to be
-silent. Mr. Betterton and You seemed to have
-drifted apart so completely, that I did not feel that
-it would do any good to rake up old hurts, and to
-submit them to the cruel light of day.
-
-But now everything is changed. The Lady
-Barbara's influence over Mr. Betterton has gone,
-never to return; whilst his Heart once more yearns
-for the only true Love which has ever gladdened it.
-
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- 4
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-My Lord Stour came to call upon Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs at three o'clock of the afternoon. Kathleen,
-the maid of all work, opened the door to him, and
-Mistress Euphrosine received him in the Parlour,
-where I was also sitting at my desk, engaged in
-copying out a lengthy Indenture.
-
-"Master Baggs awaits me, I think," my Lord
-said as he entered the room.
-
-Mistress Euphrosine made a deep curtsey, for she
-was ever fond of the Aristocracy.
-
-"Will you deign to enter, my Lord?" she said.
-"My husband will wait upon your pleasure."
-
-"Tell him to be quick, then," said my Lord; "for
-I have not a great deal of time to spare."
-
-He seated himself beside the table and drew off
-his gloves. He had taken absolutely no notice of
-my respectful salutation.
-
-Mistress Euphrosine sailed out of the room and
-a moment or two later Mr. Baggs came in, carrying
-a sheaf of papers and looking very fussy and
-obsequious.
-
-My Lord did not rise to greet him, only turned
-his head in his direction and said curtly:
-
-"You are Mr. Theophilus Baggs, Attorney-at-law?"
-
-"At your Lordship's service," replied my employer.
-
-"Brother-in-law of Tom Betterton, the Actor, so
-I am told," my Lord went on with quiet condescension.
-
-This innocent remark, however, appeared to upset
-Mr. Baggs. He stammered and grew as red as a
-turkey-cock, not realizing that his connection with
-the great Actor was truly an honour upon his Name.
-He hemmed and hawed and looked unutterably
-foolish, as he mumbled confusedly:
-
-"Er ... that is ... only occasionally, my
-Lord ... very occasionally, I may say
-... that is ... I..."
-
-"Pray calm yourself," broke in my Lord
-haughtily. "I admire the fellow's acting ... the
-Man himself does not exist for me."
-
-"You are most gracious, my Lord," murmured
-Mr. Baggs promptly, whilst I could have struck
-him for his obsequiousness and his Lordship for his
-arrogance.
-
-It seems that the matter which had brought Lord
-Stour to Mr. Baggs' office was one of monies
-connected with the winding-up of the affairs of the
-late Earl, uncle of the present Peer. I was busy
-with my work during the time that these affairs
-were being discussed and did not pay much heed to
-the conversation. Only two fragments thereof
-struck mine ear. I remember, chiefly because they
-were so characteristic of the two men—the Aristocrat
-and the Plebeian—and of the times in which we live.
-
-At one time Mr. Baggs ventured to enquire after
-the health of the Honourable Mrs. Stourcliffe, his
-Lordship's mother; and you should have heard the
-tone of frigid pride wherewith my Lord seemed to
-repel any such presumptuous enquiries.
-
-The other fragment which I overheard was
-towards the end of the interview, when Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs, having counted over the Money before
-his Lordship, placed a Paper before him and
-bade me bring him a pen.
-
-"What's this?" queried my Lord, astonished.
-
-"Oh!" Mr. Baggs stammered, with his habitual
-humility of demeanour, "a mere formality, my
-Lord ... er ... h'm ... only a ... er
-... receipt."
-
-"A receipt?" my Lord asked, with an elevation
-of his aristocratic brows. "What for?"
-
-"Er ... er..." Mr. Baggs stammered.
-"For the monies, my Lord. That is ... er
-... if you will deign to count it over yourself
-... and see that it is correct."
-
-At this, my Lord rose from his seat, waved me
-aside, took and pocketed the money. Then he said
-coolly to Mr. Baggs:
-
-"No, Sir; I do not care to count. My Uncle
-knew You to be honest, or he would not have placed
-his affairs in your hands. That is sufficient for
-me. I, on the other hand, have received the money....
-That is sufficient for You."
-
-"But——!" ejaculated Mr. Baggs, driven out of
-his timidity by such summary procedure.
-
-"Egad, Sir!" broke in my Lord, more haughtily
-than before. "Are you perchance supposing that I
-might claim money which I have already had?"
-
-"No ... no!" protested Mr. Baggs hastily.
-"I assure you, my Lord ... er ... that it is
-... h'm ... a mere formality ... and..."
-
-"My word," retorted my Lord coolly, "is
-sufficient formality."
-
-Whereupon he turned to the door, taking no more
-notice of me than if I were the doormat. He
-nodded to Mr. Baggs, who was of a truth too deeply
-shaken to speak, and with a curt "I wish you
-good-day, Mr. Notary!" strode out of the room.
-
-I doubt not, Mistress, that You and many others
-of gentle Manners if not of gentle Birth, would
-think that in recounting this brief interview between
-my employer and the young Earl of Stour, I have
-been guilty of exaggeration in depicting my Lord's
-arrogance. Yet, on my word, it all occurred just
-as I have told it. No doubt that Mr. Baggs'
-obsequiousness must have been irritating, and that it
-literally called forth the haughty Retort which
-otherwise might have remained unspoken. I
-myself, humble and insignificant as I am, have oft felt
-an almost uncontrollable impulse to kick my worthy
-Employer into some measure of manliness.
-
-For let me assure You that, though subsequently
-I became more closely acquainted with my Lord
-Stour, I never heard him use such haughty
-language to any of his Dependents, nor do I think that
-so gentle a Lady as Lady Barbara Wychwoode
-would have bestowed her fondness and regard upon
-him had his Nature been as supercilious and as
-insolent as his Words.
-
-
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-That afternoon was indeed destined to be fuller
-of events than I ever could have anticipated. No
-sooner had I closed the door upon my Lord Stour,
-when I heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and
-then my Lord's voice raised once more, this time
-with a tone of pleasure mingled with astonishment.
-
-"Wychwoode, by gad!" he exclaimed. "And
-what in Heaven's name have you come to do in
-the old fox's lair?"
-
-I did not hear the immediate reply. More fussy
-than ever, Mr. Baggs had already signed to me to
-reopen the door.
-
-"Lord Douglas Wychwoode," he murmured
-hurriedly in my ear. "One of the younger sons of the
-Marquis of Sidbury. I am indeed fortunate to-day.
-The scions of our great Nobility do seek my help
-and counsel..." and more such senseless words
-did he utter, whilst the two young Gentlemen paused
-for a moment upon the landing, talking with one
-another.
-
-"I thought you still in France," Lord Douglas
-said to his friend. "What hath brought you home
-so unexpectedly?"
-
-"I only arrived this morning," the other replied;
-"and hoped to present my respects this evening, if
-your Father and the Lady Barbara will receive me."
-
-"Indeed, they'll be delighted. *Cela va sans dire*,
-my friend. My sister has been rather pensive of
-late. Your prolonged absence may have had
-something to do with her mood."
-
-"May you speak the truth there!" my Lord Stour
-remarked with a sigh.
-
-"But now you have not told me," rejoined Lord
-Douglas, as he and his friend finally went into the
-room and curtly acknowledged Mr. Baggs' reiterated
-salutations, "what hath brought you to the house
-of this bobbing old Thief yonder."
-
-"Private business," replied Lord Stour. "And you?"
-
-"The affairs of England," said the other, and
-tossed his head proudly like some young Lion
-scenting battle.
-
-Before his friend could utter another remark,
-Lord Douglas strode rapidly across the room, took
-some papers out of the inner pocket of his coat,
-and called to Mr. Baggs to come up closer to him.
-
-"I want," he said in a quick and peremptory
-whisper, "a dozen copies of this Deed done at once
-and by a sure hand. Can you do it?"
-
-"Yes, I think so," replied Mr. Baggs. "May I
-see what the paper is?"
-
-I was watching the pair of them; so was my Lord
-Stour. On his face there came a sudden frown as
-of disapproval and anxiety.
-
-"Wychwoode——!" he began.
-
-But the other did not heed him. His eyes—which
-were so like those of his Sister—were fixed with an
-eager, questioning gaze upon my Employer. The
-latter's face was absolutely expressionless and
-inscrutable whilst he scanned the paper which Lord
-Douglas, after a scarce perceptible moment of
-hesitation, had handed to him for perusal.
-
-"Yes," he said quietly, when he had finished reading.
-"It can be done."
-
-"At once?" asked Lord Douglas.
-
-"At once. Yes, my Lord."
-
-"By a sure hand?"
-
-"Discretion, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs, with
-the first show of dignity I have ever seen him
-display, "is a virtue in my profession, the failing in
-which would be a lasting disgrace."
-
-"I rely even more upon your convictions,
-Mr. Baggs," Lord Douglas rejoined earnestly, "than
-upon your virtues."
-
-"You and your friends, my Lord, have deigned
-to talk those matters over with me many a time
-before. You and they know that You can count on me."
-
-Mr. Baggs spoke with more Quietude and
-Simplicity than was his wont when dealing with some
-of these noble Lords. You may be sure, dear
-Mistress, that I was vastly astonished at what I heard,
-still more at what I guessed. That Mr. Baggs and
-his Spouse belonged to the old Puritan Party which
-had deplored the Restoration of the Kingship, I
-knew well enough. I knew that both he and
-Mistress Euphresine looked with feelings akin to horror
-upon a system of Government which had for its
-supreme head a King, more than half addicted to
-Popery and wholly to fast living, with women,
-gambling and drinking all the day. But what I had
-never even remotely guessed until now was that he
-had already lent a helping hand to those numerous
-Organisations, which had for their object the
-overthrow of the present loose form of Government, if
-not that of the Monarchy itself.
-
-I did not know, in fact, that beneath a weak and
-obsequious exterior, my Employer hid the stuff of
-which dangerous Conspirators are often made.
-
-For the nonce, however, I imagine that he
-contented himself with writing out Deeds and
-Proclamations for the more important Malcontents, of
-whom apparently my Lord Douglas Wychwoode
-was one. He had never taken me into his
-confidence, even though he must have known that he
-could always rely upon my Discretion. What
-caused him to trust me now more than he had
-done before, I do not know. Perhaps he had
-come to a final decision to throw in his lot with the
-ultra-Protestant party, who viewed with such
-marked disfavour the projects of the King's
-marriage with the Popish Princess of Portugal.
-Certain it is that he came to me without any hesitation
-with the Papers which Lord Douglas had just
-entrusted to him, and that he at once ordered me to
-make the twelve copies which his Lordship desired.
-
-I retired within the window-recess which You
-know so well, and wherein I am wont to sit at my
-copying work. Mr. Baggs then set me to my task,
-after which he drew the screen across the recess,
-so that I remained hidden from the view of those
-who were still in the room. I set to with a Will, for
-my task was a heavy one. Twelve copies of a
-Manifesto, which in itself covered two long pages.
-
-A Manifesto, in truth!
-
-I could scarce believe mine eyes as I read the
-whole rambling, foolish, hot-headed Rigmarole.
-Did I not have the Paper actually in my hand, had
-I not seen Lord Douglas Wychwoode handing it
-himself over to Mr. Baggs, I could not have believed
-that any Men in their sober senses could have lent
-a hand to such criminal Folly.
-
-Folly it was; and criminal to boot!
-
-The whole matter is past History now, and there
-can be no harm in my relating it when so much of
-it hath long ago been made public.
-
-That Manifesto was nothing more or less than an
-Appeal to certain Sympathizers to join in one of the
-maddest enterprises any man could conceive. It
-seems that my Lady Castlemaine's house was to be
-kept watched by Parties of these same Conspirators,
-until one night when the King paid her one of his
-customary evening Visits. Then the signal was to
-be given, the House surrounded, my Lady
-Castlemaine kidnapped, His Majesty seized and forced to
-abdicate in favour of the young Duke of Monmouth,
-who would then be proclaimed King of England,
-with the Prince of Orange as Regent.
-
-Now, have you ever heard of anything more
-mad? I assure You that I was literally staggered,
-and as my Pen went wearily scratching over the
-Paper I felt as if I were in a dream, seeing before
-me visions of what the end of such a foolish
-Scheme would be: the Hangman busy, the Prisons
-filled, sorrow and desolation in many homes that
-had hoped to find peace at last after the turmoil of
-the past twenty years. For the appeals were
-directed to well accredited people outside London,
-some of whom were connected with the best known
-Families in the Country. I must, of course, refrain
-from mentioning names that have been allowed to
-fall into oblivion in connection with the affair; but
-You, dear Mistress, would indeed be astonished if
-You heard them now.
-
-And what caused me so much worry, whilst I
-wrote on till my hand felt cramped and stiff, was
-mine own Helplessness in the matter. What could I
-do, short of betraying the trust which was reposed
-in me?—and this, of course, was unthinkable.
-
-I wrote on, feeling ever more dazed and dumb.
-From the other side of the screen the Voices of the
-two young Gentlemen came at times to mine ear with
-unusual clearness, at others only like an intermittent
-hum. Mr. Baggs had apparently left the room, and
-the others had no doubt become wholly oblivious of
-my Presence. Lord Douglas Wychwoode had told
-his Friend something of his madcap Schemes; his
-voice sounded both eager and enthusiastic. But my
-Lord Stour demurred.
-
-"I am a Soldier," he said at one time; "not a
-Politician."
-
-"That's just it!" the other argued with
-earnestness. "It is Men like you that we want. We must
-crush that spendthrift Wanton who holds the King
-in her thrall, and we must force a dishonoured
-Monarch to give up the Crown of England to one
-who is worthier to wear it, since he himself, even in
-these few brief months, has already covered it with
-infamy."
-
-"You have set yourself a difficult task, my
-friend," my Lord Stour urged more soberly; "and
-a dangerous one, too."
-
-"Only difficult and dangerous," retorted Lord
-Douglas, "whilst such Men as you still hold aloof."
-
-"I tell you, I am no Politician," his Friend
-rejoined somewhat impatiently.
-
-"But You are a Man, and not a senseless
-profligate—an earnest Protestant, who must loathe that
-cobweb of Popery which overlies the King's every
-Action, and blurs his vision of duty and of dignity."
-
-"Yes—but——"
-
-Then it was that Lord Douglas, with great
-patience and earnestness, gave to his Friend a detailed
-account of his criminal Scheme—for criminal it was,
-however much it might be disguised under the cloak
-of patriotism and religious fervour. How Lord
-Stour received the communication, I could not say.
-I had ceased to listen and was concentrating my
-mind on my uncongenial task. Moreover, I fancy
-that Lord Stour did not say much. He must have
-disapproved of it, as any right-minded Man would,
-and no doubt tried his best to bring Lord Douglas
-to a more rational state of mind. But this is mere
-conjecture on my part, and, of course, I could not
-see his face, which would have been a clear index
-to his thoughts. At one time I heard him exclaim
-indignantly:
-
-"But surely You will not entrust the distribution
-of those Manifestos, which may cost you your head,
-to that obsequious and mealy-mouthed notary?"
-
-Mr. Baggs should have heard the contempt
-wherewith my Lord uttered those words! It would
-have taught him how little regard his servile ways
-had won for him, and how much more thoroughly
-would he have been respected had he adopted a more
-manly bearing towards his Clients, however highly
-these may have been placed.
-
-After this, Lord Douglas Wychwoode became
-even more persuasive and eager. Perhaps he had
-noted the first signs of yielding in the Attitude of
-his Friend.
-
-"No, no!" he said. "And that is our serious
-trouble. I and those who are at one with me feel
-that we are surrounded with spies. We do want a
-sure Hand—a Hand that will not err and that we
-can trust—to distribute the Manifestos, and, if
-possible, to bring us back decisive Answers. Some of
-the Men with whom we wish to communicate live
-at some considerable distance from town. We only
-wish to approach influential people; but some of
-these seldom come to London; in fact, with the
-exception of the Members of a venal Government and
-of a few effete Peers as profligate as the King
-himself, but few Men, worthy of the name, do elect to
-live in this degenerate City."
-
-His talk was somewhat rambling; perhaps I did
-not catch all that he said. After awhile Lord Stour
-remarked casually:
-
-"And so You thought of me as your possible Emissary?"
-
-"Was I wrong?" retorted Lord Douglas hotly.
-
-"Nay, my friend," rejoined the other coldly. "I
-am honoured by this trust which You would place
-in me; but——"
-
-"But You refuse?" broke in Lord Douglas with
-bitter reproach.
-
-I imagine that my Lord Stour's reply must have
-been an unsatisfactory one to his Friend, for the
-latter uttered an exclamation of supreme impatience.
-I heard but little more of their conversation just
-then, for the noise in the Street below, which had
-been attracting my Attention on and off for some
-time, now grew in intensity, and, curious to know
-what it portended, I rose from my chair and
-leaned out of the window to see what was happening.
-
-From the window, as You know, one gets a view
-of the corner of our Street as it debouches into Fleet
-Street by the *Spread Eagle* tavern, and even the
-restricted View which I thus had showed me at once
-that some kind of rioting was going on. Not
-rioting of an ordinary kind, for of a truth we who live
-in the heart of the City of London are used to its
-many cries; to the "Make way there!" of the Sedan
-Chairman and the "Make room there!" of the
-Drivers of wheel-barrows, all mingling with the
-"Stand up there, you blind dog!" bawled by every
-Carman as he tries to squeeze his way through the
-throngs in the streets.
-
-No! this time it seemed more than that, and I,
-who had seen the crowds which filled the Streets of
-London from end to end on the occasion of the
-death of the Lord Protector, and had seen the
-merry-makers who had made those same streets
-impassable when King Charles entered London a
-little more than a year ago, I soon realized that the
-Crowd which I saw flocking both up and down
-Fleet Street was in an ugly mood.
-
-At first I thought that some of those abominable
-vagabonds from Whitefriars—those whom we call
-the Alsatians, and who are in perpetual conflict with
-the law—had come out in a body from their sink of
-iniquity close by and had started one of their
-periodical combats with the Sheriffs' Officers; but
-soon I recognized some faces familiar to me among
-the crowd as they ran past the corner—Men,
-Women and Boys who, though of a rough and
-turbulent Character, could in no way be confounded
-with the law-breaking Alsatians.
-
-There was, for instance, the Tinker, whom I
-knew well by sight. He was running along, knocking
-his skillets and frying-pans against one another
-as he passed, shouting lustily the while. Then there
-was a sooty chimney-sweep, whom I knew to be an
-honest Man, and the broom Men with their Boys,
-and many law-abiding Pedestrians who, fearful of
-the crowd, were walking in the traffic way, meekly
-giving the wall to the more roisterous throng. They
-all seemed to be a part of that same Crowd which
-was scampering and hurrying up and down Fleet
-Street, shouting and causing a disturbance such as
-I do not remember ever having seen before.
-
-I should have liked to have gazed out of the
-Window until I had ascertained positively what the
-noise was about; but I remembered that my task
-was only half-accomplished and that I had at the
-least another half-dozen Manifestos to write out.
-I was on the point of sitting down once more to
-my Work when I heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode's
-voice quite close to the screen, saying
-anxiously, as if in answer to some remark made by
-his friend:
-
-"I trust not. My Sister is out in her chair
-somewhere in this neighbourhood, and only with
-her two Bearers."
-
-Apparently the two Gentlemen's attention had
-also been arrested by the tumult. The next moment
-Mr. Theophilus Baggs came in, and immediately
-they both plied him simultaneously with questions.
-"What were those strange cries in the street? Was
-there likely to be a riot? What was the cause of
-the tumult?" All of which Mr. Baggs felt himself
-unable to answer. In the end, he said that he would
-walk down to the corner of the Street and ascertain
-what was happening.
-
-Ensconced within the window recess and hidden
-from view by the screen, I soon gave up all attempt
-at continuing my work. Somehow, the two
-Gentlemen's anxiety about the Lady Barbara had
-communicated itself to me. But my thoughts, of course,
-were of You. Fortunately for my peace of mind, I
-knew that You were safe; at some distance, in fact,
-from the scene of the present tumult. Nevertheless,
-I had already made up my mind that if the rioting
-spread to the neighbouring streets, I would slip out
-presently and go as far as Dorset Gardens, where
-you were busy at rehearsal, and there wait for you
-until you came out of the Theatre, when, if you
-were unattended, I could escort you home.
-
-I could not myself have explained why the Noise
-outside and the obvious rough temper of the People
-should have agitated me as they undoubtedly did.
-
-Anon, Mr. Baggs returned with a veritable sackful of news.
-
-"There is a great tumult all down the
-neighbourhood," said he, "because Lady Castlemaine is
-even now at the India House drinking tea, and a lot
-of rowdy folk have made up their minds to give her
-a rough welcome when she comes out. She is not
-popular just now, my Lady Castlemaine,"
-Mr. Baggs continued complacently, as he gave a look of
-understanding to Lord Douglas Wychwoode,
-"And I fancy that she will experience an
-unpleasant quarter of an hour presently."
-
-"But, surely," protested my Lord Stour, "a
-whole mob will not be allowed to attack a
-defenceless woman, however unpopular she may be!"
-
-"Oh, as to that," rejoined Mr. Baggs with an
-indifferent shrug of the shoulders, "a London mob
-is not like to be squeamish when its temper is
-aroused; and just now, when work is scarce and
-food very dear, the sight of her Ladyship's gorgeous
-liveries are apt to exasperate those who have an
-empty stomach."
-
-"But what will they do to her?" urged my
-Lord, whose manly feelings were evidently
-outraged at the prospect of seeing any Woman a prey
-to an angry rabble.
-
-"That I cannot tell you, my Lord," replied
-Mr. Baggs. "The crowd hath several ways of showing
-its displeasure. You know, when a Frenchman or
-some other Foreigner shows his face in the Streets
-of London, how soon he becomes the butt of passing
-missiles. The sweep will leave a sooty imprint upon
-his coat; a baker's basket will cover him with dust;
-at every hackney-coach stand, some facetious
-coachman will puff the froth of his beer into his face.
-Well! you may draw your own conclusions, my
-Lord, as to what will happen anon, when my Lady
-Castlemaine hath finished drinking her dish of tea!"
-
-"But surely no one would treat a Lady so?" once
-more ejaculated my Lord Stour hotly.
-
-"Perhaps not," retorted Mr. Baggs drily. "But
-then you, see, my Lord, Lady Castlemaine is
-... Well; she is Lady Castlemaine ... and at the
-corner of our street just now I heard murmurs of
-the Pillory or even worse for her——"
-
-"But this is monstrous—infamous——!"
-
-"And will be well deserved," here broke in Lord
-Douglas decisively. "Fie on You, Friend, to worry
-over that baggage, whilst we are still in doubt if
-my Sister be safe."
-
-"Yes!" murmured Lord Stour, with a sudden
-note of deep solicitude in his voice. "My God! I
-was forgetting!"
-
-He ran to the window—the one next to the recess
-where I still remained ensconced—threw open the
-casement and gazed out even more anxiously than I
-had been doing all along. Mr. Baggs in the
-meanwhile endeavoured to reassure Lord Douglas.
-
-"If," he said, "her Ladyship knows that your
-Lordship hath come here to visit me, she may seek
-shelter under my humble roof."
-
-"God grant that she may!" rejoined the young
-Man fervently.
-
-We all were on tenterhooks, I as much as the
-others; and we all gazed out agitatedly in the
-direction of Fleet Street. Then, all at once, my Lord
-Stour gave a cry of relief.
-
-"There's the chaise!" he exclaimed. "It has
-just turned the corner of this street....
-No! not that way, Douglas ... on your right....
-That is Lady Barbara's chaise, is it not?"
-
-"Yes, it is!" ejaculated the other. "Thank
-Heaven, her man Pyncheon has had the good
-sense to bring her here. Quick, Mr. Notary!" he
-added. "The door!"
-
-The next moment a Sedan chair borne by two
-men in handsome liveries of blue and silver came
-to a halt just below. Already Mr. Baggs had
-hurried down the stairs. He would, I know, yield to no
-one in the privilege of being the first to make the
-Lady Barbara welcome in his House. The
-Excitement and Anxiety were momentarily over, and I
-could view quite composedly from above the
-beautiful Lady Barbara as she stepped out of her Chair, a
-little flurried obviously, for she clasped and
-unclasped her cloak with a nervy, trembling hand.
-
-A second or two later, I heard her high-heeled
-shoes pattering up the stairs, whilst her Men with
-the Chair sought refuge in a quiet tavern higher up
-in Chancery Lane.
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- CHAPTER IV
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- MORE THAN A PASSING FANCY
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-I would that You, fair Mistress, had seen the
-Lady Barbara Wychwoode as I beheld her on that
-never-to-be-forgotten afternoon, her Cheeks of a
-delicate pallor, her golden Hair slightly disarranged,
-her Lips trembling with excitement. You, who are
-so inexpressibly beautiful, would have been generous
-enough to give ungrudging Admiration to what was
-so passing fair.
-
-She was panting a little, for obviously she had
-been scared, and clung to her Brother as if for
-protection. But I noticed that directly she entered the
-room her Eyes encountered those of my Lord Stour,
-and that at sight of him a happy smile at once
-over-spread and illumined her Face.
-
-"I am so thankful, Douglas, dear," she said,
-"that Pyncheon happened to know you were here.
-He also knew the way to Mr. Baggs' house, and as
-soon as he realized that the crowd in Fleet Street
-was no ordinary one, he literally took to his heels
-and brought me along here in amazingly quick time.
-But, oh!" she added lightly, "I can tell You that I
-was scared. My heart went thumping and I have
-not yet recovered my breath."
-
-Her cheeks now had become suffused with a blush
-and her blue eyes sparkled, more with excitement
-than fear, I imagined. Certain it is that her Beauty
-was enhanced thereby. But Lord Douglas, with a
-Brother's privilege, shrugged his shoulders and said
-with a show of banter:
-
-"Methinks, Babs, dear, that your heart hath
-chiefly gone a-thumping because you are surprised
-at finding Stour here."
-
-She gave a gay little laugh—the laugh of one who
-is sure of Love and of Happiness; the same laugh,
-dear Mistress, for which I have hearkened of late
-in vain from You.
-
-"I only arrived in London this morning," my
-Lord Stour explained.
-
-"And hastened to pay your respects to the law
-rather than to me," Lady Barbara taunted him
-lightly.
-
-"I would not have ventured to present myself at
-this hour," he rejoined. "And, apparently, would
-have found the Lady Barbara from home."
-
-"So a beneficent Fairy whispered to You to go
-and see Mr. Notary, and thus arranged everything
-for the best."
-
-"The beneficent Fairy had her work cut out,
-then," Lord Douglas remarked, somewhat
-impatiently, I thought.
-
-"How do you mean?" she retorted.
-
-"Why," said he, "in order to secure this tryst,
-the beneficient Fairy had first to bring me hither as
-well as Stour, and Lady Castlemaine to the India
-House. Then she had to inflame the temper of a
-whole Crowd of Roisterers sufficiently to cause the
-worthy Pyncheon to take to his heels, with you in
-the chair. In fact, the good Fairy must have been
-to endless trouble to arrange this meeting 'twixt
-Lady Barbara and her Lover, when but a few hours
-later that same meeting would have come about quite
-naturally."
-
-"Nay, then!" she riposted with perfect good
-humour, "let us call it a happy Coincidence, and
-say no more about it."
-
-Even then her Brother uttered an angry exclamation.
-He appeared irritated by the placidity and
-good humour of the others. His nerves were
-evidently on edge, and while my Lord Stour, with the
-egoism peculiar to Lovers, became absorbed in
-whispering sweet nothings in Lady Barbara's ears,
-Lord Douglas took to pacing up and down the Room
-like some impatient Animal.
-
-I watched the three of them with ever-growing
-interest. Being very sensitive to outward influences,
-I was suddenly obsessed with the feeling that
-through some means or other these three Persons, so
-far above me in station, would somehow become
-intermixed with my Life, and that it had suddenly
-become my Duty to watch them and to listen to what
-they were saying.
-
-I had no desire to pry upon them, of course; so
-I pray You do not misunderstand nor condemn me
-for thus remaining hidden behind the screen and for
-not betraying my Presence to them all. Certainly my
-Lord Stour and Lord Douglas Wychwoode had
-known at one time that I was in the Room. They
-had seen me installed in the window-recess, with
-the treasonable Manifestos which I had been set to
-copy. But since then the two Gentlemen had
-obviously become wholly oblivious of my Presence,
-and the Lady Barbara did not of course even know
-of my Existence, whilst I did not feel disposed to
-reveal myself to any of them just yet.
-
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-
-Lord Douglas, thereafter, was for braving the
-Rioters and for returning home. But Lady
-Barbara and Lord Stour, feeling happy in one another's
-Company, were quite content to bide for a time
-under Mr. Baggs' sheltering roof.
-
-"You must have patience, Douglas," she said to
-her Brother. "I assure you that the Streets are
-not safe. Some rowdy Folk have set themselves to
-attacking every chair they see and tearing the gold
-and silver lace from the Chairmen's liveries. Even
-the side-streets are thronged. Pyncheon will tell
-you of the difficulty he had in bringing me here."
-
-"But we cannot wait until night!" Lord Douglas
-urged impatiently.
-
-"No!" said she. "Only an hour or two. As
-soon as the people have seen Lady Castlemaine and
-have vented their wrath on her, they will begin to
-disperse, chiefly into the neighbouring Taverns, and
-then we can slip quietly away."
-
-"Or else," broke in Lord Stour hotly, "surely
-the watchmen will come anon and disperse that
-rabble ere it vents its spite upon a defenceless
-Woman!"
-
-"A defenceless Woman, you call her, my Lord?"
-Lady Barbara retorted reproachfully. "She is the
-most dangerous Enemy England hath at this
-moment!"
-
-"You are severe, Lady Barbara——"
-
-"Severe!" she exclaimed, with a vehement tone
-of resentment. "Ah! you have been absent, my
-Lord. You do not know—You do not understand!
-Over abroad You did not realise the Misery, the
-Famine, that is stalking our land. Money that
-should be spent on reclaiming our Industries, which
-have suffered through twenty years of civil strife,
-or in helping the poor to tide over these years of
-lean Harvests, is being lavished by an irresponsible
-Monarch upon a greedy Wanton, who——"
-
-"Barbara!"
-
-She paused, recalled to herself by the stern voice
-of her Brother. She had allowed her Indignation
-to master her maidenly reserve. Her cheeks were
-aflame now, her lips quivering with Passion. Of a
-truth, she was a Woman to be admired, for, unlike
-most of her sex, she had profound feelings of
-Patriotism and of Charity; she had valour,
-enthusiasm, temperament, and was not ashamed to speak
-what was in her mind. I watched my Lord Stour
-while she spoke, and saw how deeply he worshipped
-her. Now she encountered his Gaze, and heavy
-tears came into her Eyes.
-
-"Ah, my Lord," she said gently, "you will see
-sadder sights in the Streets of London to-day than
-ever you did in the Wars after the fiercest Battles."
-
-"'Tis no use appealing to him, Babs," Lord
-Douglas interposed with obvious exacerbation. "A
-moment ago I told him of our Plans. I begged him
-to lend us his sword and his hand to strike a blow
-at the Profligacy and Wantonness which is sending
-England to perdition worse than ever before——"
-
-Lady Barbara turned great, reproachful eyes on
-my Lord.
-
-"And you refused?" she whispered.
-
-My Lord looked confused. All at once, I knew
-that he was already wavering. A weak Man,
-perhaps; he was deeply, desperately enamoured. I
-gathered that he had not seen the Lady Barbara for
-some months. No doubt his Soul hungered for her
-Smiles. He was the sort of Man, methinks, who
-would barter everything—even Honour—for the
-Woman he loved. And I do not think that he cared
-for much beyond that. His Father, an you
-remember, fought on the Parliament side. I do not say
-that he was one of the Regicides, but he did not
-raise a finger to help or to serve his King. And he
-had been a rigid Protestant. All the Stourcliffes of
-Stour were that; and the present Earl's allegiance to
-King Charles could only have been very perfunctory.
-Besides which, this is the age of Conspiracies
-and of political Factions. I doubt not but it will be
-another twenty years before the Country is really
-satisfied with its form of Government. I
-myself—though God knows I am but a humble Clerk—could
-wish that this Popish marriage for the King had
-not been decided on. We do not want religious
-factions warring with one another again.
-
-But all this is beside the mark, nor would I dwell
-on it save for my desire to be, above all, just to these
-three People who were destined to do the Man I
-love best in the world an irreparable injury.
-
-As I said before, I could see that my Lord Stour
-was hesitating. Now Lady Barbara invited him to
-sit beside her upon the Sofa, and she began talking
-to him quietly and earnestly, Lord Douglas only
-putting in a word or so now and again. What they
-said hath little to do with the portent of my
-Narrative, nor will I plague You with the telling of it.
-Those people are nothing to You; they have nothing
-to do with humble Plebeians like ourselves; they are
-a class apart, and we should never mix ourselves up
-with them or their affairs, as Mr. Betterton hath
-since learned to his hurt.
-
-
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-While they were talking together, the three of
-them, I tried once more to concentrate my mind
-upon my work, and finished off another two or three
-copies of the treasonable Manifesto.
-
-All this while, you must remember that the noise
-and rowdiness in the streets had in no way
-diminished. Rather had it grown in intensity. The
-people whom I watched from time to time and saw
-darting down Chancery Lane or across the corner
-of Fleet Street, looked more excited, more bent on
-mischief, than before. I had seen a few stones
-flying about, and once or twice heard the ominous
-crash of broken glass.
-
-Then suddenly there came an immense Cry, which
-was not unlike the snarling of hundreds of angry
-Beasts. I knew what that meant. My Lady Castlemaine
-was either on the point of quitting the India
-House or had been otherwise spied by the Populace.
-I could no longer restrain my Curiosity. Once more
-I cast my papers aside and leaned out of the window.
-The shouting and booing had become more and more
-ominous. Apparently, too, a company of the City
-Watchmen had arrived. They were trying to force
-through the throng, and their calls of "Make way
-there!" sounded more and more peremptory. But
-what was a handful of Watchmen beside an excited
-crowd of Rioters determined to wreak their temper
-upon an unpopular bit of baggage? I doubt not but
-that His Majesty's Body-guard could alone restore
-order now and compass the safety of the Lady.
-
-As I leaned out of the Window I could see stones
-and miscellaneous missiles flying in every direction;
-and then suddenly I had a clear vision of a gorgeous
-Sedan Chair escorted by a dozen or more City
-Watchmen, who were trying to forge a way for it
-through the Crowd. They were trying to reach the
-corner of our Street, hoping no doubt to turn up
-this way and thus effect an escape by way of the
-Lower Lincoln's Inn Fields and Drury Lane, while
-the Crowd would of necessity be kept back through
-the narrowness of the Streets and the intricacies of
-the Alleys.
-
-The whole point now was whether the Chairmen
-could reach our corner before the Roisterers had
-succeeded in beating back the Watchmen, when of
-course they meant to tear Lady Castlemaine out of
-her chair. Poor, wretched Woman! She must
-have been terribly frightened. I know that I
-myself felt woefully agitated. Leaning out toward the
-street, I could see Lady Barbara's pretty head at
-the next window and my Lord Stour and Lord
-Douglas close beside her. They too had forgotten all
-about their talk and their plans and Conspiracies,
-and were gazing out on the exciting Spectacle with
-mixed feelings, I make no doubt. As for me, I feel
-quite sure that but for my sense of utter helplessness,
-I should have rushed out even then and tried
-to lend a hand in helping an unfortunate Woman out
-of so terrible a Predicament, and I marvelled how
-deep must have been the hatred for her, felt by
-Gentlemen like my Lord Stour and Lord Douglas
-Wychwoode, that their Sense of Chivalry forsook
-them so completely at this Hour, that neither of
-them attempted to run to her aid or even suggested
-that she should find shelter in this House.
-
-As for Mr. Baggs, he was not merely idly curious;
-he was delighted at the idea that my Lady
-Castlemaine should be maltreated by the mob; whilst
-Mistress Euphrosine's one idea was the hope that
-if the Rioters meant to murder the Baggage, they
-would not do so outside this door. She and
-Mr. Baggs had come running into the Parlour the
-moment the rioting reached its height, and of a truth,
-dear Mistress, you would have been amused to see
-us all at the three front windows of the house—three
-groups watching the distant and wildly exciting
-happenings in Fleet Street. There was I at one
-window; Mr. and Mrs. Baggs at the other; Lady
-Barbara and the two Gallants at the third. And the
-ejaculations which came from one set of Watchers
-or the other would fill several pages of my narrative.
-
-Mistress Euphrosine was in abject fear. "Oh!
-I hope," cried she now and again, "that they won't
-come this way. There'll be murder upon our doorstep!"
-
-My Lord Stour had just one revulsion of feeling
-in favour of the unfortunate 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 Lord Douglas said with a rough laugh:
-"I would not lift a finger to defend her. Let the
-Devil befriend her, an he list."
-
-And all the while the mob hissed and hooted, and
-stones flew like hail all around the Chaise.
-
-"Oh! they'll murder her! They'll murder her!"
-called Mistress Euphrosine piously.
-
-"And save honest men a vast deal of trouble
-thereby," Mr. Baggs concluded sententiously.
-
-The Watchmen were now forging ahead. With
-their sticks and staves they fought their way through
-bravely, heading the chair towards our street. But
-even so, methought that they stood but little Chance
-of saving my Lady Castlemaine in the end. The
-Crowd had guessed their purpose already, and were
-quite ready to give Chase. The Chairmen with their
-heavy burden could be no match against them in a
-Race, and the final capture 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 what I saw. Let me try and put
-the picture clearly before you, dear Mistress; 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 turning the corner of our Street. They
-were heading towards us with only a comparatively
-small knot of roisterers to contend against, and the
-panting, struggling Chairmen with the Sedan Chair
-were immediately behind them.
-
-As far as I could see, the Crowd had not
-expected this Manoeuvre, and the sudden turning off
-of their prey at right angles disconcerted the
-foremost among them, for the space of a second or two.
-This gave the Chairmen a brief start up the street.
-But the very next moment the Crowd realized the
-situation, and with a wild war-cry, turned to give
-Chase, when a Man suddenly stepped out from
-nowhere in particular that I could see, unless it was
-from the *Spread Eagle* tavern, and stood at the
-bottom 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
-Crowd always will when something totally
-unexpected doth occur. The Man, of course, had his
-back towards us, but I had recognized him, nor was
-I surprised that his Appearance did have the effect
-of checking for an instant that spirit of Mischief
-which was animating the throng. Lady Barbara
-and the young Gentlemen at the other window were
-even more astonished than I at this wholly
-unforeseen occurrence. They could not understand the
-sudden checking of the Rioters and the comparative
-silence 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 in amazement.
-
-"Who is it?" queried Lady Barbara.
-
-"Not a Gentleman," rejoined Lord Douglas;
-"for he would not thus stop to parley with so foul
-a mob. Meseems I know the figure," he added, and
-leaned still further out of the window, the better
-to take in the whole of 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 voice in defence of that baggage."
-
-"But, who is it?" insisted my Lord Stour impatiently.
-
-"Why, Betterton the Actor," replied Lord
-Douglas with a laugh. "Do you not know him?"
-
-"Only from seeing him on the stage," said the
-other. Then he added: "An Actor 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 of themselves."
-
-"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 to describe. 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 his Interposition had given my Lady
-Castlemaine's Chairmen and also the Watchmen, who were
-guarding her, a distinct advance. They were
-making the most of the respite by hurrying up our street
-as fast as they were able, 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
-some Sally 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, so that we all could hear
-Mr. Betterton's rich and powerful Voice quite plainly.
-
-"Come, come, Friends!" he was saying; "the
-Lady will get there without your help some day,
-I'll warrant. Aye! and further too, an the Devil
-gives her her due! Now, now," he continued, when
-cries and murmurs, boos and hisses, strove to
-interrupt him. "You are not going to hiss a
-hard-working Actor off the Stage like this. Do, in the
-name of Sport, which every sound-minded Englishman
-loves, after all, await a fitter opportunity for
-molesting a defenceless Woman. What say You to
-adjourning to the *Spread Eagle* tavern, where mine
-Host hath just opened 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! every one who goes there now—and there's
-room for three or four hundred of You—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 and a 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 of beer at the invitation of Tom
-Betterton? You know him! Is he not a jolly,
-good fellow?..."
-
-Of course, he did not deliver this speech
-uninterruptedly. It was only snatches of it that came to
-our ear. But we Listeners soon caught the drift of
-it, and watched its reception by the Crowd. Well! the
-Fire-eaters gradually cooled down. The
-prospect of the ale at the *Spread Eagle* caused many a
-smack of the lips, which in its turn smothered the
-cries of Rage and Vituperation. Anon, One could
-perceive one forearm after another drawn with
-anticipatory Pleasure across lips that had ceased to
-boo.
-
-Just then, too, Heaven interposed in a conciliatory
-spirit in the form of a few drops of heavy Rain,
-presaging a Storm. The next moment the stampede
-in the direction of the *Spread Eagle* tavern had
-begun, whilst my 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 way to stop the Rabble's
-howls, whilst my Lady Baggage finds safety in
-flight."
-
-But Lady Barbara added thoughtfully: "Methinks
-'twas plucky to try and defend a Woman
-single-handed."
-
-
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-I watched the turbulent throng, filing now in
-orderly procession through the hospitably open
-doors of the *Spread Eagle* tavern. Mr. Betterton
-remained for awhile standing at the door, marshalling
-the more obstreperous of his invited Guests and
-parleying with Mr. Barraclough, the Host of the
-*Spread Eagle*—no doubt making arrangements for
-the quenching of three or four hundred thirsts at his
-expense. Then he suddenly turned on his heel and
-came up the Street. Lord Douglas gave one of his
-rough, grating laughs, and said:
-
-"So now I see that, like a wise man, Mr. Betterton
-mistrusts his Popularity and proposes to seek
-refuge from his ebullient Friends."
-
-"I believe," said Mistress Euphrosine to her Lord
-in an awed whisper; "I believe that Thomas is
-coming here."
-
-Which possibility greatly disconcerted Mr. Baggs.
-He became quite agitated, 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 Majesty. Surely then you may
-invite him without shame under your roof!"
-
-"And I've never seen the great Actor close to,"
-remarked Lord Stour lightly. "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 have of
-late thought themselves Somebodies, just because 'tis
-the fashion for Gentlemen to write plays and to go
-to the Theatre. My Lord Rochester, Sir George
-Etherege and the others have so spoilt them by going
-about constantly with them, that the Fellows scarce
-know their place now. This man Betterton is the
-worst of the lot. He makes love to the Ladies of the
-Court, forgets that he is naught but a Rogue and a
-Vagabond and not worthy to be seen in the company
-of Gentlemen. Oh! I've oft had an itching 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 Spite wherewith Lord Douglas
-spoke at this moment, or the look of Contempt
-which for the moment quite disfigured his
-good-looking Face. That he had been made aware at
-some time of Mr. Betterton's admiration for Lady
-Barbara became at once apparent to me, also that
-he looked upon that admiration as a Presumption
-and an Insult.
-
-I was confirmed in this Supposition by the look
-which he gave then and there to his Sister, a look
-which caused her to blush to the very roots of her
-hair. I fancy, too, that he also whispered
-something on that Subject to my Lord Stour, for a dark
-frown of Anger suddenly appeared upon 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 practising Christian; but just at that
-moment I felt that I hated Lord Douglas Wychwoode
-and his Friend with a bitter and undying
-hatred.
-
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-Meseemed as if the air within the room had
-become surcharged with a subtle and heady fluid akin
-to an Intoxicant, so many Passions were even then
-warring in the innermost hearts of us all. There
-was Hatred and Spite, and Fervour and Love. We
-were all of us alive at that moment, if You know
-what I mean. We were Individuals who felt and
-thought individually and strongly; not just the mere
-sheeplike Creatures swayed hither and thither by the
-Modes and Exigencies of the hour. And I can
-assure you that even then, when we heard
-Mr. Betterton's quick step ascending the stairs, we all
-held our breath and watched the door as if
-something Supernatural was about to be revealed to us.
-
-The next moment that door was thrown open and
-Mr. Betterton appeared upon the threshold.
-
-Ah! if only You had seen him then, Mistress,
-your heart would have rejoiced, just as mine did, at
-the sight. Personally, I could never tell 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 one else; he seems to
-dwarf every other Man by the Picturesqueness of
-his Personality.
-
-And now—oh! You should have seen him as he
-stood there, framed in the doorway, the grey
-afternoon light of this dull September day falling full
-upon his Face, with those glittering Eyes of his and
-the kindly, firm Mouth, round which there slowly
-began to spread a gently mocking Smile. He was
-richly dressed, as was his wont, with priceless lace
-frills at throat and wrists, and his huge Periwig
-set off to perfection the 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 he has.
-His glance swept over Lady Barbara's exquisite
-comeliness, her somewhat 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 not that his keen Eyes had
-also spied me watching his every Movement from
-behind the screen.
-
-The mocking Smile broadened upon his Face.
-With one shapely leg extended forward, his right
-arm holding his hat, his arm executing a superb
-flourish, he swept to the assembled Company an
-elaborate Bow.
-
-"My Lords, your servant," he said. Then bowed
-more gravely to Lady Barbara and added, with a
-tone of subtle and flattering deference: "I am, as
-always, your Ladyship's most humble and most
-devoted Slave."
-
-Whereupon her Ladyship swept him one of those
-graceful Curtsies which I understand have become
-the Mode in fashionable Society of late. But the
-young Gentlemen seemed to have lost count of their
-Manners. They were either too wrathful or too
-much taken aback to speak. Mistress Euphrosine,
-with her nose in the air, was preparing to sail
-majestically out of the room.
-
-Mr. Betterton then stepped in. He threw down
-his hat and playfully made pretence to intercept
-Mistress Euphrosine.
-
-"Sister, I do entreat You," he said with mock
-concern, "do not carry your well-shaped nose so
-high. The scent of Heaven will not reach your
-nostrils, try how you may.... 'Tis more likely
-that you will smell the brimstone which clings to
-my perruque."
-
-And before Mistress Euphrosine had time to think
-of a retort, he had turned to her Ladyship with that
-gentle air of deference which became him so well.
-
-"How comes it," he asked, "that I have the
-privilege of meeting your Ladyship here?"
-
-"A mere accident, Sir," my Lord Stour
-interposed, somewhat high-handedly I thought. "Her
-Ladyship, fearing to be molested by the Crowd,
-came to meet 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 was in
-the presence of this exquisitely beautiful Woman
-who had enchained his Fancy. He stood like one
-transfixed, his eyes fastened almost in wonderment
-upon the graceful Apparition before him. I should
-not be exaggerating, fair Mistress, if I said that he
-seemed literally to be drinking in every line of her
-dainty Figure; the straight, white throat, the
-damask cheek and soft, fair hair, slightly disarranged.
-He had of a truth lost consciousness of his
-surroundings, and this to such an extent that it
-apparently set my Lord Stour's nerves on edge; for
-anon he said with evident Irritation and a total
-Disregard both of polite Usage and of 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 her Ladyship."
-
-He had to repeat the Query twice, and with
-haughty impatience, before Mr. 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 was studied Insolence, seeing
-that he was addressing one of the most famous
-Men in England. "I have heard the Name before
-... but where, I cannot remember.... Let
-me see, you are...?"
-
-"An Actor, Sir," Mr. Betterton gave haughty
-answer. "Therefore an Artist, even though an
-humble one; but still a World contained in one Man."
-
-Then his manner changed, the stiffness and pride
-went out of it and he added in his more habitual
-mode of good-natured banter, whilst pointing in the
-direction of Mistress Euphrosine:
-
-"That, however, is not, I imagine, the opinion
-which my worthy Sister—a pious Lady, Sir—hath
-of my talents. She only concedes me a Soul when
-she gloats over the idea that it shall be damned."
-
-"You are insolent!" quoth Mistress Euphrosine,
-as she stalked majestically to the door. "And I'll
-not stay longer to hear you blaspheme."
-
-Even so, her Brother's lightly mocking ripple of
-Laughter pursued her along the course of her
-dignified exit through the door.
-
-"Nay, dear Sister," he said. "Why not stay
-and tell these noble Gentlemen your doubts as to
-which half of me in the hereafter will be stoking the
-Fires of Hell and which half be wriggling in the
-Flames?" Then he added, turning gaily once more
-to the Visitors as Mistress Euphrosine finally
-departed and banged the door to behind her:
-"Mistress Baggs, Sir, is much troubled that she cannot
-quite make up her mind how much of me is Devil
-and how much a lost Soul."
-
-"Of a surety, Sir," retorted Lord Douglas, with
-the same tone of malicious Spite wherewith he had
-originally spoken of Mr. Betterton, "every
-Gentleman is bound to share your worthy Sister's doubts
-on that point ... and as to whether your right
-Hand or your sharp Tongue will fizzle first down below."
-
-There was a moment's silence in the room—oh! the
-mere fraction of a second—whilst I, who knew
-every line of Mr. Betterton's face, saw the quick
-flash of Anger which darted from his eyes at the
-insolent speech. Lady Barbara too had made an
-instinctive movement, whether towards him in
-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 with quiet
-Mockery:
-
-"Your Lordship, I feel sure, will be able to have
-those doubts set at rest presently. I understand that
-vast intelligence will be granted to Gentlemen down
-there."
-
-At once my Lord's hand went to his sword.
-
-"Insolent!—" he muttered; and my Lord Stour
-immediately stepped to his Friend's side.
-
-Like the Fleet Street crowd awhile ago, these two
-Gentlemen meant mischief. For some reason which
-was not far to seek, they were on the verge of a
-Quarrel with Mr. Betterton—nay! I believe that
-they meant to provoke him into one. In wordy
-Warfare, however, they did not stand much chance
-against the great Actor's caustic Wit, and no doubt
-their sense of Impotence made them all the more
-wrathful and quarrelsome.
-
-Mr. Baggs, of course, servile and obsequious as
-was his wont, was ready enough to interpose. A
-Quarrel inside his house, between valued Clients and
-his detested Brother-in-law, was not at all to his
-liking.
-
-"My Lords ..." he mumbled half-incoherently,
-"I implore you ... do not heed him ... he..."
-
-His futile attempts at Conciliation tickled
-Mr. Betterton's sense of humour. The last vestige of
-his Anger vanished in a mocking Smile.
-
-"Nay, good Master Theophilus," he said coolly,
-"prithee do not interfere between me and the Wrath
-of these two Gentlemen. Attend to thine own
-Affairs ... and to thine own Conspiracies," he
-added—spoke suddenly under Mr. Baggs' very nose,
-so that the latter gave a jump and involuntarily
-gasped:
-
-"Conspiracies? ... What—what the devil do
-you mean, Sir, by Conspiracies?"
-
-"Oh, nothing—nothing—my good Friend,"
-replied Mr. Betterton lightly. "But when I see two
-hot-headed young Cavaliers in close conversation
-with a seedy Lawyer, I know that somewhere in the
-pocket of one of them there is a bit of Handwriting
-that may send the lot of them to the Tower first
-and to—well!—to Heaven afterwards."
-
-My Heart was in my Mouth all the time that he
-spoke. Of course he could not know how near the
-Truth he was, and I firmly believe that his banter
-was a mere Arrow shot into the air; but even so it
-grazed these noble Lords' equanimity. Lord
-Douglas had become very pale, and my Lord Stour
-looked troubled, or was it my fancy? But I am
-sure that her Ladyship's blue eyes rested on
-Mr. Betterton with a curious searching gaze. She too
-wondered how much Knowledge of the Truth lay
-behind his easy Sarcasm.
-
-Then Lord Douglas broke into a laugh.
-
-"There, for once, Sir Actor," he said lightly,
-"your perspicacity is at fault. My Lord the Earl
-of Stour and I came to consult your Brother-in-law
-on a matter of business."
-
-"And," exclaimed Mr. Betterton with mock
-concern, "I am detaining you with my foolish talk. I
-pray you, Gentlemen, take no further heed of me.
-Time treads hard on your aristocratic Heels, whilst
-it is the Slave of a poor, shiftless Actor like myself."
-
-"Yes, yes," once more interposed the mealy-mouthed
-Mr. Baggs. "I pray you, my Lords—your
-Ladyship—to come to my inner office——"
-
-There was a general movement amongst the
-Company, during which I distinctly heard Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode whisper to my Lord Stour:
-
-"Can you wonder that I always long to lay a
-stick across that Man's shoulders? His every word
-sounds like insolence ... And he has dared to
-make love to Barbara...."
-
-Her Ladyship, however, seemed loth to linger.
-The hour, of a truth, was getting late.
-
-"Father will be anxious," she said. "I have
-stayed out over long."
-
-"Are the streets safe, I wonder?" my Lord Stour
-remarked.
-
-"Perfectly," broke in Mr. Betterton. "And if
-her Ladyship will allow me, I will conduct her to
-her Chair."
-
-Again my Lord Stour flashed out angrily, and
-once more the brooding Quarrel threatened to burst
-the bounds of conventional Intercourse. This time
-the Lady Barbara herself interposed.
-
-"I pray you, my good Lord," she said, "do not
-interfere. Mr. Betterton and I are old Friends. By
-your leave, he shall conduct me to my chair. Do we
-not owe it to him," she added gaily, "that the
-streets are quiet enough to enable us all to get home
-in peace?"
-
-Then she turned to Mr. Betterton and said gently:
-
-"If You would be so kind, Sir—my men are
-close by—I should be grateful if You will tell them
-to bring my chair along."
-
-She held out her hand to him and he bowed low
-and kissed the tips of her fingers. Then he went.
-
-
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-
-Lord Douglas' spiteful glance followed the distinguished
-Actor's retreating figure until the door
-had closed upon him. Then he said drily:
-
-"Perhaps you are right, Babs. He may as well
-fetch your chair. It is raining hard and one
-Lacquey is as good as another."
-
-He turned to Mr. Baggs, who, standing first on
-one leg then on the other, presented a truly pitiable
-spectacle of Servility and Unmanliness. I think he
-had just come to realize that I had been in the room
-behind the screen all this while, and that my
-Presence would be unwelcome to their Lordships if they
-knew that I had overheard all their Conversation.
-Certain it is that I saw him give a quick glance in
-my direction, and then he became even more fussy
-and snivelling than before.
-
-"In my inner Office," he murmured. "I pray
-you to honour me, my Lords.... A glass of
-wine, perhaps ... until the copies are finished.
-I should be so proud ... and ... and ... we
-should be quite undisturbed ... whereas
-here ... I only regret..."
-
-I despised him for all that grovelling, and so did
-the Gentlemen, I make no doubt. Nevertheless, they
-were ready to follow him.
-
-"We must wait somewhere," Lord Douglas said
-curtly. "And I should be glad of a glass of wine."
-
-Lady Barbara was standing in the window-recess,
-waiting for her chair. She insisted on my Lord
-Stour going with her Brother into the inner room.
-Undoubtedly, she did not wish either of them to
-meet Mr. Betterton again.
-
-"I promise you," she said with quiet Determination,
-"that I'll not stop to speak with him. I'll
-watch through the window until my Men bring the
-chair; then I will go down at once."
-
-"But——" protested his Lordship.
-
-"I entreat you to go, my Lord," she reiterated
-tartly. "And you too, Douglas. My temper is on
-edge, and if I am not left to myself for a few
-moments I shall have an attack of Nerves."
-
-She certainly spoke with unwonted Sharpness.
-Thus commanded, it would have been churlish to
-disobey. The young Gentlemen, after a second or
-two longer of Hesitation, finally followed Mr. Baggs
-out of the room.
-
-Now, I could not see the Lady Barbara, for she
-was ensconced in a window-recess, just as I was;
-but I heard her give a loud Sigh of Impatience.
-There was no doubt that her Nerves had been jarred.
-Small wonder, seeing all that she had gone through—the
-noise and rioting in the streets, her Terror and
-her Flight; her unexpected meeting with her Lover;
-then the advent of Mr. Betterton and that brooding
-Quarrel between him and the two Gentlemen, which
-threatened to break through at any moment.
-
-The next minute I saw her Ladyship's chair
-brought to a halt down below, and she crossed the
-Line of my Vision between the window and the
-sofa, where she had left her cloak. She picked it
-up and was about to wrap it round her shoulders,
-when the door was flung open and Mr. Betterton
-came in. He gave a quick glance round the room
-and saw that the Lady Barbara was alone—or so he
-thought, for, of course, he did not see me. He
-carefully closed the door behind him and came
-quickly forward, ostensibly to help her Ladyship on
-with her cloak.
-
-"It is kind of you, Sir, thus to wait on me," she
-said coldly. "May I claim your Arm to conduct
-me to my chair?"
-
-She was standing close in front of him just then,
-with her back to him and her hands raised up to her
-shoulders in order to receive her cloak, which he had
-somewhat roughly snatched out of her grasp.
-
-"My Arm?" he riposted, with a vibrating note
-of passion in his mellow voice. "My Life,
-myself, are all at your Ladyship's service. But will
-not you wait one little moment and say one kind
-word to the poor Actor whose Art is the delight of
-Kings, and whose Person is the butt of every
-Coxcomb who calls himself a Gentleman?"
-
-He flung the cloak upon a chair and tried to take
-her hand, which, however, she quickly withdrew,
-and then turned, not unkindly, to face him.
-
-"My Brother is hasty, Sir," she said more gently.
-"He has many prejudices which, no doubt, time and
-experience of life will mend. As for me," she
-added lightly, "I am quite ready to extend the
-hand of Friendship, not only to the Artist but to
-the Man."
-
-She held out her hand to him. Then, as he did
-not take it, but stood there looking at her with
-that hungry, passionate look which revealed the
-depth of his Admiration for her, she continued with
-a bantering tone of reproach:
-
-"You will not take my hand, Sir?"
-
-"No," he replied curtly.
-
-"But I am offering You my Friendship," she
-went on, with a quick, nervy little laugh; for she
-was Woman enough, believe me, to understand his look.
-
-"Friendship between Man and Woman is impossible,"
-he said in a strange, hoarse voice, which
-I scarce recognized as his.
-
-"What do you mean?" she retorted, with a
-sudden stiffening of her Figure and a haughty
-Glance which he, of a truth, should have known
-boded no good for his suit.
-
-"I mean," he replied, "that between a Man and
-a Woman, who are both young and both endowed
-with Heart and Soul and Temperament, there may
-be Enmity or Love, Hatred or Passion; but
-Friendship, never."
-
-"You talk vaguely, Sir," she rejoined coldly. "I
-pray You, give me my cloak."
-
-"Not," he retorted, "before I have caused your
-Ladyship to cast one short Glance back over the
-past few months."
-
-"With what purpose, I pray You?"
-
-"So that You might recognize, as You gaze
-along their vista, the man who since he first beheld
-you hath madly worshipped You."
-
-She stood before him, still facing him, tall and of
-a truth divinely fair. Nay! this no one could
-gainsay. For the moment I found it in my Heart to
-sympathize with his Infatuation. You, dear
-Mistress, were not there to show him how much lovelier
-still a Woman could be, and the Lady Barbara had
-all the subtle flavour, too, of forbidden fruit.
-Mr. Betterton sank on one knee before her; his mellow
-Voice sounded exquisitely tender and caressing.
-Oh! had I been a Woman, how gladly would I have
-listened to his words. There never was such a
-Voice as that of Mr. Betterton. No wonder that
-he can sway the hearts of thousands by its Magic;
-no wonder that thousands remain entranced while
-he speaks. Now, I assure You, Mistress, that tears
-gathered in my eyes, there was such true Passion,
-such depth of feeling in his tone. But Lady
-Barbara's heart was not touched. In truth, she loved
-another Man, and her whole outlook on Life and
-Men was distorted by the Environment amidst
-which she had been brought up.
-
-The exquisite, insinuating Voice with its note of
-tender Appeal only aroused her contempt. She
-jumped to her feet with an angry exclamation.
-What she said, I do not quite remember; but it was
-a Remark which must have stung him to the quick,
-for I can assure You, dear Mistress, that Mr. Betterton's
-pride is at least equal to that of the greatest
-Nobleman in the land. But all that he did say was:
-
-"Nay, Madam; an Artist's love is not an insult,
-even to a Queen."
-
-"Possibly, Sir," she riposted coldly. "But I at
-least cannot listen to You. So I pray You let me
-rejoin my Servants."
-
-"And I pray You," he pleaded, without rising,
-"humbly on my knees, to hear me just this once!"
-
-She protested, and would have left him there,
-kneeling, while she ran out of the room; but he had
-succeeded in getting hold of her Hand and was
-clinging to it with both his own, whilst from his
-lips there came a torrent of passionate pleading such
-as I could not have thought any Woman capable
-of resisting for long.
-
-"I am not a young Dandy," he urged; "nor yet
-a lank-haired, crazy Poet who grows hysterical over
-a Woman's eyebrow. I am a Man, and an Artist,
-rich with an inheritance such as even your
-Ancestors would have envied me. Mine inheritance is
-the Mind and Memory of cultured England and a
-Name which by mine Art I have rendered immortal."
-
-"I honour your Genius, Sir," she rejoined
-coolly; "and because of it, I try to excuse your
-folly."
-
-"Nay!" he continued with passionate insistence.
-"There are Passions so sweet that they excuse all
-the Follies they provoke. Oh! I pray You listen
-... I have waited in silence for months, not
-daring to approach You. You seemed immeasurably
-above me, as distant as the Stars; but whilst I,
-poor and lowly-born, waited and worshipped
-silently, success forged for me a Name, so covered
-with Glory that I dare at last place it at your feet."
-
-"I am touched, Sir, and honoured, I assure You,"
-she said somewhat impatiently. "But all this is
-naught but folly, and reason should teach you that
-the Daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury can be
-nothing to You."
-
-But by this time it was evident that the great
-and distinguished Actor had allowed his Folly to
-conquer his Reason. I closed my eyes, for I could
-not bear to see a Man whom I so greatly respected
-kneeling in such abject humiliation before a Woman
-who had nothing for him but disdain. Ah! Women
-can be very cruel when they do not love. In truth,
-Lady Barbara, with all her Rank and Wealth, could
-not really have felt contempt for a Man whom the
-King himself and the highest in the land delighted
-to honour; yet I assure You, Mistress, that some of
-the things she said made me blush for the sake of
-the high-minded Man who honours me with his
-Friendship.
-
-"Short of reason, Sir," she said, with unmeasured
-hauteur at one time, "I pray you recall your
-far-famed sense of humour. Let it show you Thomas
-Betterton, the son of a Scullion, asking the hand of
-the Lady Barbara Wychwoode in marriage."
-
-This was meant for a Slap in the Face, and was
-naught but a studied insult; for we all know that the
-story of Mr. Betterton's Father having been a
-menial is utterly without foundation. But I assure
-You that by this time he was blind and deaf to all
-save to the insistent call of his own overwhelming
-passion. He did not resent the insult, as I thought
-he would do; but merely rejoined fervently:
-
-"I strive to conjure the picture; but only see Tom
-Betterton, the world-famed Artist, wooing the
-Woman he loves."
-
-But what need is there for me to recapitulate here
-all the fond and foolish things which were spoken
-by a truly great Man to a chit of a Girl, who was
-too self-centred and egotistical to appreciate the
-great Honour which he was conferring on her by his
-Wooing. I was holding my breath, fearful lest I
-should be seen. To both of these proud People
-before me, my known Presence would have been an
-added humiliation. Already Lady Barbara,
-impatient of Mr. Betterton's importunity, was raising her
-Voice and curtly bidding him to leave her in peace.
-I thought every moment that she would call out to
-her Brother, when Heaven alone would know what
-would happen next.
-
-"Your importunity becomes an insult, Sir," she
-said at last. "I command You to release my hand."
-
-She tried to wrench it from his Grasp, but I
-imagine that his hold on her wrist was so strong
-that she could not free herself. She looked around
-her now with a look of Helplessness, which would
-have gone to my Heart if I had any feeling of
-sympathy left after I had poured out its full measure
-for my stricken Friend. He was not himself then,
-I assure You, Mistress. I know that the evil tongue
-of those who hate and envy him have poured
-insidious poison in your ears, that they told you that
-Mr. Betterton had insulted the Lady Barbara past
-forgiveness and had behaved towards her like a Cad
-and a Bully. But this I swear to be untrue. I was
-there all the time, and I saw it all. He was on his
-knees, and never attempted to touch her beyond
-clinging to her Hand and covering it with kisses.
-He was an humbled and a stricken Man, who saw
-his Love rejected, his Passion flouted, his Suffering
-mocked.
-
-I tell you that all he did was to cling to her hand.
-
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- 7
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-Then, all at once, I suppose something frightened
-her, and she called loudly:
-
-"Douglas! Douglas!"
-
-I don't think that she meant to call, and I am
-sure that the very next moment she had already
-regretted what she had done.
-
-Mr. Betterton jumped to his feet, sobered in the
-instant; and she stood alone in the middle of the
-room, gazing somewhat wild-eyed in the direction
-of the door, which had already been violently flung
-open and through which my Lord Stour and Lord
-Douglas now hurriedly stepped forward.
-
-"What is it, Babs?" Lord Douglas queried
-roughly. "Why are You still here? ... And what...?"
-
-He got no further. His glance had alighted on
-Mr. Betterton, and I never saw quite so much
-concentrated Fury and Hatred in any one's eyes as
-now appeared in those of Lord Douglas Wychwoode.
-
-But already the Lady Barbara had recovered
-herself. No doubt she realized the Mischief which
-her involuntary call had occasioned. The Quarrel
-which had been slowly smouldering the whole
-Afternoon was ready to burst into living flame at this
-moment. Even so, she tried to stem its outburst,
-protesting that she had been misunderstood. She
-even tried to laugh; but the laugh sounded pitiably
-forced.
-
-"But it's nothing, Douglas, dear," she said. "I
-protest. Did I really call? I do not remember.
-As a matter of fact, Mr. Betterton was good enough
-to recite some verses for my delectation ... My
-Enthusiasm must have run away with me
-... and, unwittingly, I must have called out..."
-
-Obviously the Explanation was a lame one. I
-felt myself that it would not be believed. On the
-face of my Lord Stour thunderclouds of Wrath
-were fast gathering, and though Mr. Betterton had
-recovered his presence of mind with all the Art at
-his command, yet there was a glitter in his eyes
-which he was powerless to veil, whilst the tremor
-of her Ladyship's lips while she strove to speak
-calmly aroused my Lord Stour's ever-wakeful
-Jealousy.
-
-Lord Douglas, as was his wont apparently
-whenever he was deeply moved, was pacing up and down
-the room; his hands were clasped behind his back
-and from time to time I could see their convulsive
-twitching. Lord Stour now silently helped her
-Ladyship on with her cloak. I was thankful that
-Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine were keeping
-in the background, else I verily believe that their
-obsequious Snivellings would have caused my
-quivering Nerves to play me an unpleasant trick.
-
-Mr. Betterton had retired to the nearest window
-recess, so that I could not see him. All that I did
-see were the two Gentlemen and the threatening
-Clouds which continued to gather upon their Brows.
-I also heard my Lord Stour whisper hurriedly in
-Lord Douglas' ear:
-
-"In the name of our Friendship, Man, let me deal
-with this."
-
-I felt as if an icy hand had gripped my Heart.
-I could not conjecture what that ominous Speech
-could portend. Lady Barbara now looked very pale
-and troubled; her hands as they fumbled with her
-cloak trembled visibly. Lord Stour, with a
-masterful gesture, took one of them and held it firmly
-under his arm.
-
-He then led her towards the door. Just before
-she went with him, however, her Ladyship turned,
-and I imagine sought to attract Mr. Betterton's
-attention.
-
-"I must thank you, Sir," she said, with a final
-pathetic attempt at Conciliation, "for your beautiful
-Recitation. I shall be greatly envied, methinks, by
-those who have only heard Mr. Betterton declaim
-upon the Stage."
-
-Lord Douglas had gone to the door. He opened
-it and stood grimly by whilst my Lord Stour
-walked out, with her Ladyship upon his arm.
-
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-.. _`the outrage`:
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- CHAPTER V
-
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-
- THE OUTRAGE
-
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-
- 1
-
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-
-A great Sadness descends upon my Soul, dear
-Mistress, even as I write. Cold shivers course up
-and down the length of my spine and mine eyes feel
-hot with tears still unshed—tears of Sorrow and of
-Shame, aye! and of a just Anger that it should have
-been in the power of two empty-headed Coxcombs
-to wreak an irreparable Injury upon one who is as
-much above them as are the Stars above the
-grovelling Worms.
-
-I use the words "irreparable Injury" advisedly,
-dear Lady, because what happened on that late
-September afternoon will for ever be graven upon the
-Heart and Memory of a great and noble Man, to the
-exclusion of many a gentle feeling which was wont
-to hold full sway over his Temperament before then.
-Time, mayhap, and the triumph of a great Soul over
-overwhelming temptation, have no doubt somewhat
-softened the tearing ache of that cruel brand; but
-only your Hand, fair Mistress, can complete the
-healing, only your Voice can, with its tender gentleness,
-drown the insistent call of Pride still smarting
-for further Revenge.
-
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- 2
-
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-
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode did not speak to
-Mr. Betterton after her Ladyship and my Lord Stour
-had gone out of the room, but continued his
-restless pacing up and down. I thought his Silence
-ominous.
-
-Half consciously, I kept my attention fixed upon
-the street below, and presently saw the Lady
-Barbara get into her chair and bid adieu to his Lordship,
-who remained standing on our doorstep until the
-Sedan was borne away up the street and out of sight.
-Then, to my astonishment, he walked down as far
-as the *Spread Eagle* tavern and disappeared within
-its doors.
-
-The Silence in our parlour was getting on my
-nerves. I could not see Mr. Betterton, only Lord
-Douglas from time to time, when in his ceaseless
-tramping his short, burly figure crossed the line of
-my vision.
-
-Anon I once more thought of my Work. There
-were a couple more copies of the Manifesto to be
-done, and I set to, determined to finish them. Time
-went on, and the afternoon light was now rapidly
-growing dim. Outside, the weather had not
-improved. A thin rain was coming down, which
-turned the traffic-way of our street to sticky mud.
-I remember, just after I had completed my Work
-and tidied up my papers, looking out of the window
-and seeing, in the now fast-gathering gloom, the
-young Lord of Stour on the doorstep of the *Spread
-Eagle* tavern, in close conversation with half a dozen
-ill-clad and ill-conditioned Ruffians. But I gave the
-matter no further thought just then, for my mind
-happened to be engrossed with doubts as to how I
-should convey the Copies I had made to my
-Employer without revealing my presence to Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode.
-
-His Lordship himself, however, soon relieved me
-of this perplexity, for presently he came to a halt
-by the door which led to the inner office and quite
-unceremoniously pushed it open and walked through.
-I heard his peremptory demands for the Copies, and
-Mr. Baggs' muttered explanations. But I did not
-wait a moment longer. This was obviously my best
-opportunity for reappearing upon the Scene without
-his Lordship realizing that I had been in the parlour
-all the time. I slipped out from my hiding place and
-carefully rearranged the screen in its former
-position, then I tiptoed across the room.
-
-In the gloom, I caught sight of Mr. Betterton
-standing in one of the Recesses, his slender white
-hands, which were so characteristic of his refined,
-artistic Personality, were clasped behind his back.
-I would have given a year or two of my humdrum
-life for the privilege of speaking to him then and of
-expressing to him some of that Sympathy with
-which my heart was overflowing. But no one knows
-better than I how proud a Man he is, and how he
-would have resented the thought that any one else
-had witnessed his Humiliation.
-
-So I executed the Manoeuvre which I had in my
-mind without further delay. I opened the door
-which gave on the stairs noiselessly, then closed it
-again with a bang, as if I had just come in. Then I
-strode as heavily as I could across the room to the
-door of the inner office, against which I then rapped
-with my knuckles.
-
-"Who's that?" Mr. Baggs' voice queried immediately.
-
-"The Copies, Sir, which you ordered," I replied
-in a firm voice. "I have finished them."
-
-"Come in! come in!" then broke in Lord
-Douglas impatiently. "I have waited in this
-accursed hole quite long enough."
-
-The whole thing went off splendidly, and even
-Mr. Baggs did subsequently compliment me on my
-clever Ruse. Lord Douglas never suspected the
-fact that I had not been out of the Parlour for a
-moment, but had heard from the safe shelter of
-the window-recess everything that had been going on.
-
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- 3
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-
-When, a few moments later, I returned to the
-Parlour, eager to have a few minutes' speech with
-Mr. Betterton, I saw that he had gone. Anon,
-Kathleen, the maid, brought in the candles and
-closed the shutters. I once more took my place at
-my desk, but this time made no use of the screen.
-After awhile, Lord Douglas came in, followed by
-the ever-obsequious Mr. Baggs, and almost directly
-after that, my Lord Stour came back.
-
-His clothes were very wet and he shook the rain
-out from the brim of his hat.
-
-"What a time You have been!" Lord Douglas
-said to him. "I was for going away without seeing You."
-
-"I wanted to find out what had happened in
-here," my Lord Stour gave reply, speaking in a whisper.
-
-"What do you mean?"
-
-"The Fellow had the audacity to pay his
-addresses to Lady Barbara," my Lord Stour went on,
-still speaking below his breath. "I guessed as much,
-but wanted to make sure."
-
-Lord Douglas uttered an angry Oath, and Lord
-Stour continued hurriedly:
-
-"Such Insolence had to be severely punished, of
-course; and I saw to it."
-
-"How?" queried the other eagerly.
-
-"I have hired half a dozen Ruffians from the
-tavern yonder, to waylay him with sticks on his way
-from here, and to give him the sound thrashing he
-deserves."
-
-It was with the most terrific effort at self-control
-that I succeeded in smothering the Cry of Horror
-which had risen to my lips. As it was, I jumped to
-my feet and both my chair and the candle from my
-desk fell with a clatter to the floor. I think that
-Mr. Baggs hurled a Volley of abuse upon me for
-my clumsiness and chided me in that the grease from
-the candle was getting wasted by dripping on the
-floor. But the Gentlemen paid no heed to me. They
-were still engaged in their abominable conversation.
-While I stooped to pick up the chair and the candle,
-I heard my Lord Stour saying to his Friend:
-
-"Come with me and see the Deed accomplished.
-The Mountebank must be made to know whose
-Hand is dealing him the well-merited punishment.
-My Hirelings meant to waylay him at the corner
-of Spreadeagle Court, a quiet place which is not far
-from here, and which leads into a blind Alley.
-Quickly, now," he added; "or we shall be too late."
-
-More I did not hear; for, believe me, dear
-Mistress, I felt like one possessed. For the nonce, I
-did not care whether I was seen or not, whether
-Mr. Baggs guessed my purpose or not. I did not care if
-he abused me or even punished me later for my
-strange behaviour. All that I knew and felt just
-then was that I must run to the corner of Spreadeagle
-Court, where one of the most abominable Outrages
-ever devised by one Man against Another was
-even then being perpetrated. I tore across the room,
-through the door and down the stairs, hatless, my
-coat tails flying behind me, like some Maniac
-escaping from his Warders.
-
-I ran up Chancery Lane faster, I think, than any
-man ever ran before. Already my ears were
-ringing with the sound of distant shouts and scuffling.
-My God! grant that I may not come too late. I,
-poor, weak, feeble of body, could of course do
-nothing against six paid and armed Ruffians; but at
-least I could be there to ward off or receive some of
-the blows which the arms of the sacrilegious
-Miscreants were dealing, at the instance of miserable
-Coxcombs, to a man whose Genius and Glory should
-have rendered him almost sacred in their sight.
-
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-As long as I live will that awful picture haunt me
-as I saw it then.
-
-You know the Blind Alley on the left-hand side of
-Spreadeagle Court, with, at the end of it, the great
-double doorway which gives on the back premises
-of Mr. Brooks' silk warehouse. It was against that
-doorway that Mr. Betterton had apparently sought
-some semblance of refuge when first he was set upon
-by the Ruffians. By the time that I reached the
-corner of the Blind Alley, he had fallen against the
-door; for at first I could not see him. All that I
-saw was a group of burly backs, and arms waving
-sticks about in the air. All that I heard, oh, my
-God! were ribald cries and laughter, and sounds
-such as wild animals must make when they fall,
-hungry, upon their Prey. The Ruffians, I make no
-doubt, had no grudge against their Victim; but
-they had been well instructed and would be well
-paid if their foul deed was conscientiously accomplished.
-
-My Wrath and Anxiety gave me the strength
-which I otherwise lack. Pushing, jostling, crawling,
-I contrived to work my way through the hideous
-Barrier which seethed and moved and shouted
-betwixt me and the Man whom I love.
-
-When I at last kneeled beside him, I saw and
-heard nothing more. I did not feel the blows which
-one or two of the Ruffians thought fit to deal to
-Me. I only saw him, lying there against the door,
-panting, bleeding from forehead and hands, his
-clothes torn, his noble Face of a deathly Pallor. I
-drew his handkerchief from his coat pocket and
-staunched the wounds upon his face; I pillowed his
-head against my Shoulder; I helped him to struggle
-to his feet. He was in mortal pain and too weak
-to speak; but a ray of kindliness and of gratitude
-flashed through his eyes when he recognised me.
-
-The Ruffians were apparently satisfied with their
-hideous work; but they still stood about at the top
-of the Alley, laughing and talking, waiting no doubt
-for their Blood Money. Oh! if wishes could have
-struck those Miscreants dumb or blind or palsied,
-my feeble voice would have been raised to Heaven,
-crying for Vengeance on such an infamous Deed.
-Hot tears came coursing down my cheeks, my temples
-throbbed with pain and Misery, as my arm stole
-round the trembling figure of my Friend.
-
-Then all at once those tears were dried, the
-throbbing of my temples was stilled. I felt no longer
-like a Man, but like a petrified Statue of Indignation
-and of Hate. The sound of my Lord Stour's
-Voice had just struck upon mine ear. Vaguely
-through the gloom I could see him and Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode parleying with those abominable
-Ruffians.... I heard the jingle of Money
-... Blood Money ... the ring of ribald
-laughter, snatches of a bibulous song.
-
-These sounds and the clang of the Gentlemen's
-footsteps upon the cobble-stones also reached
-Mr. Betterton's fast-fading Senses. I felt a tremor
-coursing right through his limbs. With an almost
-superhuman Effort, he pulled himself together and
-drew himself erect, still clinging with both hands
-to my arms. By the time that the two young
-Cavaliers had reached the end of the blind Alley, the
-outraged Man was ready to confront them. Their
-presence there, those sounds of jingling money and
-of laughter, had told him the whole abominable tale.
-He fought against his Weakness, against Pain and
-against an impending Swoon. He was still livid,
-but it was with Rage. His eyes had assumed an
-unnatural Fire; his whole appearance as he stood
-there against the solid background of the massive
-door, was sublime in its forceful Expression of
-towering Wrath and of bitter, deadly Humiliation.
-
-Even those two miserable Coxcombs paused for
-an instant, silenced and awed by what they saw.
-The laughter died upon their lips; the studied sneer
-upon their Face gave place to a transient expression
-of fear.
-
-Mr. Betterton's arm was now extended and with
-trembling hand he pointed at Lord Stour.
-
-"'Tis You——" he murmured hoarsely. "You—who
-have done—this thing?"
-
-"At your service," replied the young Man, with
-a lightness of manner which was obviously forced
-and a great show of Haughtiness and of Insolence.
-"My friend Lord Douglas here, has allowed me the
-privilege of chastising a common Mountebank for
-daring to raise his eyes to the Lady Barbara Wychwoode——"
-
-At mention of the Lady's name, I felt
-Mr. Betterton's clutch on my arm tighten convulsively.
-
-"Does she——" he queried, "does she—know?"
-
-"I forbid You," interposed Lord Douglas curtly,
-"to mention my Sister's name in the matter."
-
-"'Tis to my Lord Stour I am speaking," rejoined
-Mr. Betterton more firmly. Then he added:
-"You will give me satisfaction for this outrage,
-my Lord——"
-
-"Satisfaction?" riposted his Lordship coolly.
-"What do you mean?"
-
-"One of us has got to die because of this,"
-Mr. Betterton said loudly.
-
-Whereupon my Lord Stour burst into a fit of
-hilarious laughter, which sounded as callous as it
-was forced.
-
-"A Duel?" he almost shrieked, in a rasping
-voice. "Ha! ha! ha! a Duel!!!—a duel with
-You? ... With Tom Betterton, the Son of a Scullion....
-By my faith! 'tis the best joke you ever
-made, Sir Actor ... 'tis worth repeating upon
-the Stage!"
-
-But the injured Man waited unmoved until his
-Lordship's laughter died down in a savage Oath.
-Then he said calmly:
-
-"The day and hour, my Lord Stour?"
-
-"This is folly, Sir," rejoined the young Cavalier
-coldly. "The Earl of Stour can only cross swords
-with an Equal."
-
-"In that case, my lord," was Mr. Betterton's
-calm reply, "you can only cross swords henceforth
-with a Coward and a Liar."
-
-"Damned, insolent cur!" cried Lord Stour,
-maddened with rage no doubt at the other's calm
-contempt. He advanced towards us with arm uplifted—then
-perhaps felt ashamed, or frightened—I know
-not which. Certain it is that Lord Douglas
-succeeded in dragging him back a step or two, whilst
-he said with well-studied contempt:
-
-"Pay no further heed to the fellow, my Friend.
-He has had his Punishment—do not bandy further
-Words with him."
-
-He was for dragging Lord Stour away quickly
-now. I do believe that he was ashamed of the
-abominable Deed. At any rate, he could not bear
-to look upon the Man who had been so diabolically
-wronged.
-
-"Come away, Man!" he kept reiterating at
-intervals. "Leave him alone!"
-
-"One moment, my Lord," Mr. Betterton called
-out in a strangely powerful tone of Voice. "I wish
-to hear your last Word."
-
-By now we could hardly see one another. The
-Blind Alley was in almost total gloom. Only against
-the fast-gathering dusk I could still see the hated
-figures of the two young Cavaliers, their outlines
-blurred by the evening haze. Lord Stour was
-certainly on the point of going; but at Mr. Betterton's
-loudly spoken Challenge, he paused once more, then
-came a step or two back towards us.
-
-"My last Word?" he said coldly. Then he
-looked Mr. Betterton up and down, his every
-Movement, his whole Attitude, a deadly Insult. "One
-does not fight with such as You," he said, laughed,
-and would have turned away immediately, only that
-Mr. Betterton, with a quick and unforeseen
-Movement, suddenly reached forward and gripped him
-by the Wrist.
-
-"Insolent puppy!" he said in a whisper, so hoarse
-and yet so distinct that not an Intonation, not a
-syllable of it was lost, "that knows not the Giant
-it has awakened by its puny bark. You refuse to
-cross swords with Tom Betterton, the son of a
-Menial, as you choose to say? Very well, then,
-'tis Thomas Betterton, the Artist of undying
-renown, who now declares war against You. For
-every Jeer to-day, for every Insult and for every
-Blow, he will be even with You; for he will launch
-against You the irresistible Thunderbolt that kills
-worse than death and which is called *Dishonour*! ... Aye!
-I will fight You, my Lord; not to your
-death, but to your undying Shame. And now," he
-added more feebly, as he threw his Lordship's arm
-away from him with a gesture of supreme contempt,
-"go, I pray You, go! I'll not detain You any
-longer. You and your friend are free to laugh for
-the last time to-day at the name which I, with my
-Genius, have rendered immortal. Beware, my
-Lord! The Ridicule that kills, the Obloquy which
-smirches worse than the impious hands of paid
-Lacqueys. This is the Word of Tom Betterton,
-my Lord; the first of his name, as you, please God,
-will be the last of yours!"
-
-Then, without a groan, he fell, swooning, upon
-my shoulder. When consciousness of my surroundings
-once more returned to me, I realized that the
-two Gentlemen had gone.
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-.. _`the gathering storm`:
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- CHAPTER VI
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-
- THE GATHERING STORM
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-It was after that never-to-be-forgotten Episode
-that Mr. Betterton honoured me with his full and
-entire Confidence. At the moment that he clung so
-pathetically to my feeble arms, he realized, I think
-for the first time, what a devoted Friend he would
-always find in me. Something of the powerful
-magical Fluid of my devotion must have emanated
-from my Heart and reached his sensitive Perceptions.
-He knew from that hour that, while I lived
-and had Health and Strength, I should never fail
-him in Loyalty and willing Service.
-
-Soon afterwards, if you remember, Mr. Betterton
-went again to Paris, by command of His
-Majesty this time, there to study and to master the
-whole Question of Scenery and scenic Effects upon
-the Stage, such as is practised at the Theatre de
-Molière in the great City. That he acquitted
-himself of his task with Honour and Understanding
-goes without saying. The rousing Welcome which
-the public of London gave him on his return testified
-not only to his Worth but also to his Popularity.
-
-The scenic Innovations, though daring and at
-times crudely realistic, did, in the opinion of
-Experts, set off the art of Mr. Betterton to the greatest
-possible Advantage. No doubt that his overwhelming
-Success at that time was in a great measure
-due to his familiarity with all those authentic-looking
-doors and trees and distant skies which at
-first bewildered such old-fashioned actors as
-Mr. Harris or the two Messrs. Noakes.
-
-Never indeed had Mr. Betterton been so great
-as he was now. Never had his Talents stood so high
-in the estimation of the cultured World. His
-success as *Alvaro* in "Love and Honour," as *Solyman*
-in the "Siege of Rhodes," as *Hamlett* or *Pericles*,
-stand before me as veritable Triumphs. Bouquets
-and Handkerchiefs, scented Notes and Love-tokens,
-were showered upon the brilliant Actor as he stood
-upon the Stage, proudly receiving the adulation of
-the Audience whom he had conquered by the Magic
-of his Art.
-
-His Majesty hardly ever missed a Performance
-at the new Duke's Theatre when Mr. Betterton
-was acting, nor did my Lady Castlemaine, who was
-shamelessly vowing about that time that she was
-prepared to bestow upon the great Man any Favour
-he might ask of her.
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-But outwardly at any rate, Mr. Betterton had
-become a changed Man. His robust Constitution
-and splendid Vitality did in truth overcome the
-physical after-effects of the abominable Outrage of
-which he had been the Victim; but the moral
-consequences upon his entire character and demeanour
-were indeed incalculable. Of extraordinary purity
-in his mode of living, it had been difficult, before
-that Episode, for evil Gossip to besmirch his fair
-name, even in these lax and scandalous times. But
-after that grim September afternoon it seemed as
-if he took pride in emulating the least
-estimable characteristics of his Contemporaries. His
-Majesty's avowed predilection for the great Actor
-brought the latter into daily contact with all those
-noble and beautiful Ladies who graced the Court
-and Society, more by virtue of their outward
-appearance than of their inner worth. Scarce ever
-was a banquet or fête given at While Hall 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's but the famous
-Actor was present there. He was constantly in the
-company of His Grace of Buckingham, of my Lord
-Rochester and others of those noble young Rakes;
-his name was constantly before the Public; he was
-daily to be seen on the Mall, or in St. James's Park,
-or at the more ceremonious parade in Hyde Park.
-His elegant clothes were the talk of every young
-Gallant that haunted Fop's Corner; his sallies were
-quoted by every Cavalier who strove for a
-reputation as a wit. In fact, dear Lady, You know just
-as well as I do, that for that brief period of his
-life Mr. Betterton became just one of the gay, idle,
-modish young Men about town, one of that
-hard-drinking, gambling, scandal-mongering crowd of
-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 all that gay, butterfly
-Existence which he led was only on the surface. To me
-he was like some poor Animal stricken by a mortal
-wound, who, nevertheless, capers and gyrates
-before a grinning Public with mechanical movements
-of the body that have nothing in common with the mind.
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-Of the beautiful Lady Barbara I saw but little
-during the autumn.
-
-There was much talk in the Town about her
-forthcoming Marriage to my Lord of Stour, which was
-to take place soon after the New Year. Many were
-the conjectures as to why so suitable a Marriage
-did not take place immediately, and it seemed
-strange that so humble and insignificant a Person as
-I was could even then have supplied the key to the
-riddle which was puzzling so many noble Ladies
-and Gentlemen. I knew, in my humble capacity as
-Spectator of great events, that the Marriage would
-only take place after the vast and treasonable
-projects which had originated in my Lord Douglas
-Wychwoode's turbulent mind had come to a successful 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 to leave my
-present humdrum employment and to allow myself
-to be attached to his Person as his private Secretary
-and personal Friend. For a long time I refused his
-offers—tempting and generous though they were—chiefly
-because if I had gone then to live with
-Mr. Betterton, I should have been irretrievably
-separated from You. But in my Heart I knew 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, I vow, did not exist
-than my humble self; and when, during the early
-part of the autumn, You, dear Mistress, finally
-decided to leave your present uncomfortable quarters
-for lodgings more befitting your growing Fame and
-your Talents, there was nothing more to keep me
-tied to my dour and unsympathetic Employer, and
-to his no less unpleasant Spouse.
-
-I therefore gave Mr. Theophilus Baggs notice
-that I had resolved to quit his Employ, hoping that
-my Decision would meet with his Convenience.
-
-I could not help laughing to myself when I saw
-the manner in which he received this Announcement.
-To say that he was surprised and indignant
-would be to put it mildly; indeed, he used every
-Mode of persuasion to try and make me alter my
-decision. He began by chiding me for an Ingrate,
-vowing that he had taught me all I knew and had
-lavished Money and Luxuries upon me, and that I
-was proposing to leave him just when the time had
-come for him to see some slight return for his
-Expenditure and for his pains, in my growing
-Efficiency. He went on to persuade, to cajole and to
-bribe, Mistress Euphrosine joining him both in
-Vituperation and in Unctuousness. But, as You
-know, I was adamant. I knew the value of all this
-soft-sawder and mouth-honour. I had suffered too
-many Hardships and too many Indignities at the
-hands of these selfish Sycophants, to turn a deaf
-ear now that friendship and mine own future
-happiness called to me so insistently.
-
-Finally, however, I yielded to the extent of agreeing
-to stay a further three months in the service of
-Mr. Baggs, whilst he took steps to find another
-Clerk who would suit his purpose. But I only
-agreed to this on the condition that I was to be
-allowed a fuller amount of personal Freedom than
-I had enjoyed hitherto; that I should not be set any
-longer to do menial tasks, which properly pertained
-to a Scullion; and that, whenever my clerical work
-for the day was done, I should be at liberty to
-employ my time as seemed best to me.
-
-Thus it was that I had a certain amount of leisure,
-and after You left us, fair Mistress, I was able to
-take my walks abroad, there where I was fairly
-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 and company upon the seedy
-Attorney's Clerk, who of a truth was not worthy to be
-seen walking in the Park or in Mulberry Gardens
-beside the beautiful and famous Mistress Saunderson,
-who by this time had quite as many Followers and
-Adorers as any virtuous Woman could wish for.
-You never mentioned Mr. Betterton to me in those
-days, even though I knew that You must often have
-been thrown in his Company, both in the Theatre
-and in Society. That your love for him had not
-died in your Heart, I knew from the wistful look
-which was wont to come into your eyes whenever
-You chanced to meet him in the course of a
-Promenade. You always returned his respectful and
-elaborate bow on those occasions with cool
-Composure; but as soon as he had passed by and his rich,
-mellow Voice, so easily distinguishable amongst
-others, had died away in the distance, I, who knew
-every line of your lovely face, saw the familiar
-look of Sorrow and of bitter Disappointment once
-more mar its perfect serenity.
-
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-We had an unusually mild and prolonged autumn
-this past year, if you remember, fair Mistress; and
-towards the end of October there were a few sunny
-days which were the veritable aftermath of
-Summer. The London Parks and Gardens were
-crowded day after day with Ladies and Gallants,
-decked in their gayest attire, for the time to don
-winter clothing still appeared remote.
-
-I used to be fond of watching all these fair Ladies
-and dazzling Cavaliers, and did so many a time on
-those bright mornings whilst waiting to see You
-pass. On one occasion I saw the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode, in company with my Lord Stour.
-
-Heaven knows I have no cause to think kindly
-of her; but truth compels me to say that she
-appeared to me more beautiful than ever before. She
-and his Lordship had found two chairs, up against
-a tree, somewhat apart from the rest of the glittering
-throng. I, as a Spectator, could see that they
-were supremely happy in one another's company.
-
-"How sweet the air is!" she was sighing
-contentedly. "More like spring than late autumn.
-Ah, me! How happily one could dream!"
-
-She threw him a witching glance, which no doubt
-sent him straight to Heaven, 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 they said. My Lord Stour was
-obviously very deeply enamoured of the Lady
-Barbara. Because of this I seemed to hate and despise
-him all the more. Oh! when the whole World
-smiled on him, when Fortune and Destiny showered
-their most precious gifts into his lap, what right had
-he to mar the soul which God had given him with
-such base Passions as Jealousy and Cruelty? With
-his monstrous Act of unwarrantable violence he had
-ruined the happiness of a Man greater, finer than
-himself; he had warped a noble disposition, soured
-a gentle and kindly spirit. Oh! I hated him! I
-hated him! God forgive me, but I had not one
-spark of Christian spirit for him within my heart.
-If it lay in my power, I knew that I was ready 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: "'Tis unspeakable
-joy to look into your eyes, joyous madness to
-hold your little hand!" And more of such stuff,
-as Lovers know how to use.
-
-And she, too, looked supremely happy. There
-was a sparkle in her eyes which spoke of a Soul
-intoxicated with delight. She listened to him as if
-every word from his lips was heaven-sent Manna
-to her hungering heart. And I marvelled why this
-should be; why she should listen to this
-self-sufficient, empty-headed young Coxcomb and have
-rejected with such bitter scorn the suit of a Man
-worthy in every sense to be the Mate of a Queen.
-And I thought then of Mr. Betterton kneeling
-humbly before her, his proud Head bent before this
-ignorant and wilful Girl, who had naught but cruel
-words for him on her lips. And a great wrath
-possessed me, greater than it ever had been before. I
-suppose that I am very wicked and that the Devil
-of Revenge had really possessed himself of my
-Soul; but then and there, under the trees, with the
-translucent Dome of blue above me, I vowed bitter
-hatred against those two, vowed that Fate should
-be even with them if I, the humble Clerk, could
-have a say in her decrees.
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- 5
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-Just now, they were like two Children playing at
-love. He was insistent and bold, tried to draw her
-to him, to kiss her in sight of the fashionable throng
-that promenaded up and down the Avenue less than
-fifty yards away.
-
-"A murrain on the Conventions!" he said with
-a light laugh, as she chided him for his ardour.
-"I want the whole Universe to be witness of my joy."
-
-She placed her pretty hand playfully across his mouth.
-
-"Hush, my dear Lord," she said with wonderful
-tenderness. "Heaven itself, 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 that sometimes 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 caught sight of Mr. Betterton
-walking at a distant point of the Avenue, in the
-Company of a number of admiring Friends.
-
-They were hanging round him, evidently vastly
-amused by some witty sallies of his. Never had I
-seen him look more striking and more brilliant.
-He wore a magnificent coat of steel-grey velvet
-with richly embroidered waistcoat, and a cravat and
-frills of diaphanous lace, whilst the satin breeches,
-silk stockings and be-ribboned shoes set off his
-shapely limbs to perfection. His Grace of
-Buckingham was walking beside him, and he had my
-Lady Shrewsbury upon his arm, whilst among his
-Friends I recognised my Lords Orrery and
-Buckhurst, and the Lord Chancellor himself.
-
-The Lady Barbara caught sight of Mr. Betterton,
-too, I imagine, for as I moved 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 are like toothless, ill-tempered
-curs. They bark, but they are powerless to bite!"
-
-Oh, I hated him! Heavens above! how I hated him!
-
-How puny and insignificant he was beside his
-unsuccessful Rival should of 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 a halt not very far from
-where those two were sitting; and it was very
-characteristic of him that, even whilst the Duke of
-Buckingham was whispering in his ear and the Countess
-of Shrewsbury was smiling archly at him, his eyes
-having found me, he nodded and waved his hand to me.
-
-
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-
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-
-A minute or two later, another group of Ladies
-and Gallants, amongst whom Her Grace the
-Duchess of York was conspicuous by her elegance
-and the richness of her attire, literally swooped
-down upon Mr. Betterton and his Friends, and Her
-Grace's somewhat high-pitched voice came ringing
-shrilly to mine ear.
-
-"Ah, Mr. Betterton!" she exclaimed. "Where
-have you hid yourself since yesterday, you wicked,
-adorable Man? And I, who wished to tell you how
-entirely splendid was your performance in that
-supremely dull play you call 'Love and Honour.' You
-were superb, Sir, positively superb! ... I
-was telling His Grace a moment ago that every
-Actor in the world is a mere Mountebank when
-compared with Mr. Betterton's Genius."
-
-And long did she continue in the same strain,
-most of the Ladies and Gentlemen agreeing with
-her and engaging in a chorus of Eulogy, all delivered
-in high falsetto voices, which in the olden days,
-when first I knew him, would have set Mr. Betterton's
-very teeth on edge. But now he took up the
-ball of airy talk, tossed it back to the Ladies, bowed
-low and kissed Her Grace's hand—I could see that
-she gave his a significant pressure—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 Majesty
-himself lent his own Coronation Suit to the great Actor,
-so that he might worthily represent the part of
-*Prince Alvaro*. This Success put the crowning
-Glory to his reputation, although in my humble
-opinion it was unworthy of so great an Artist as
-Mr. Betterton to speak the Epilogue which he had
-himself written in eulogy of the Countess of
-Castlemaine, and which he delivered with such magnificent
-Diction at the end of the Play, that His Majesty
-waxed quite enthusiastic in his applause.
-
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- 7
-
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-Standing somewhat apart from that dazzling
-group, I noticed my Lord Douglas Wychwoode, in
-close conversation with my Lord Teammouth and
-another Gentleman, who was in clerical attire.
-After awhile, my Lord Stour joined them, the
-Lady Barbara having apparently slipped away unobserved.
-
-My Lord Stour was greeted by his friends with
-every mark of cordiality.
-
-"Ah!" the Cleric exclaimed, and extended both
-his hands—which were white and plump—to my
-Lord. "Here is the truant at last!" Then he
-waxed playful, put up an accusing finger and added
-with a smirking laugh: "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 dogmatic way which he was
-pleased to affect: "Youth will ever smile, even in
-the midst of dangers; and my Lord Stour is a great
-favourite with the Ladies."
-
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode was as usual petulant
-and impatient, and rejoined angrily:
-
-"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 her beauty."
-
-This, of course, was News to me. I am so little
-versed in Court and Society gossip and had not
-heard the latest piece of scandal, which attributed to
-the Lady Castlemaine a distinct *penchant* for the
-young Nobleman. Not that it surprised me
-altogether. The newly created Countess of
-Castlemaine, who was receiving favours from His
-Majesty the King with both hands, never hesitated
-to deceive him, and even to render him ridiculous
-by flaunting her predilections for this or that young
-Gallant who happened to have captured her
-wayward fancy. My Lord Sandwich, Colonel Hamilton,
-the handsome Mr. Wycherley, and even such a
-vulgar churl as Jacob Hill, the rope dancer, had all,
-at one time or another, been favoured with the lady's
-fitful smiles, and while responding to her advances
-with the Ardour born of Cupidity or of a desire for
-self-advancement rather than of true love, they had
-for the most part lost some shreds of their
-Reputation and almost all of their Self-respect.
-
-But at the moment I paid no heed to Lord Douglas'
-taunt levelled at his Friend, 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 was only in face of later events that I
-was presently to be reminded of it all.
-
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-
-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 I made
-bold to advance nearer to the dazzling group of
-Ladies and Gentlemen that stood about,
-talking—jabbering, I might say, like a number of
-gay-plumaged birds, for they seemed to me irresponsible
-and unintellectual in their talk.
-
-Of course, I could not hear everything, and I
-had to try and make my unfashionably attired
-Person as inconspicuous as possible. So I drew a book
-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 conspicuous Triumphs.
-
-The book, and my seeming absorption in it, gave
-me the countenance of an earnest young Student
-intent on the perusal of Classics, even whilst it
-enabled me to draw quite near to the brilliant
-Throng of Distinguished People, who, if they paid
-any heed to me at all, would find excuses for my
-Presumption in my obvious earnest Studiousness.
-I was also able to keep some of my attention fixed
-upon Mr. Betterton, who was surrounded by
-admiring Friends; whilst at some little distance close by,
-I could see Mr. Harris—also of the Duke's Theatre—who
-was holding forth in a didactic manner
-before a group of Ladies and gay young Sparks, even
-though they were inclined to mock him because of
-his Conceit in pitting his talent against that of
-Mr. Betterton.
-
-There was no doubt that a couple of years ago
-Mr. Harris could be, and was considered, the
-greatest Actor of his time; but since Mr. Betterton
-had consolidated his own triumph by playing the
-parts of *Pericles*, of *Hamlett* and of *Prince Alvaro*
-in "Love and Honour," the older Actor's reputation
-had undoubtedly suffered by comparison with
-the Genius of his younger Rival, at which of course
-he was greatly incensed. I caught sight now and
-then of his florid face, so different in expression to
-Mr. Betterton's more spiritual-looking countenance,
-and from time to time his pompous, raucous voice
-reached my ears, as did the more strident,
-high-pitched voices of the Ladies. I heard one young
-Lady say, to the accompaniment of some pretty,
-mincing gestures:
-
-"Mr. Betterton was positively rapturous last
-night ... enchanting! You, Mr. Harris, will in
-truth have to look to your laurels."
-
-And an elderly Lady, a Dowager of obvious
-consideration and dignity, added in tones which brooked
-of no contradiction:
-
-"My opinion is that there never has been or ever
-will be a Player equal to Mr. Betterton in Purity
-of Diction and Elegance of Gesture. He hath indeed
-raised our English Drama to the level of High Art."
-
-I could have bowed low before her and kissed
-her hand for this; aye! and have paid homage, too,
-to all these gaily-dressed Butterflies who, in truth,
-had more Intellectuality in them than I had given
-them credit for. Every word of Eulogy of my
-beloved Friend was a delight to my soul. I felt
-mine eyes glowing with enthusiasm and had grave
-difficulty in keeping them fixed upon my book.
-
-I had never liked Mr. Harris personally, for I
-was wont to think his conceit quite overweening
-beside the unalterable modesty of Mr. Betterton,
-who was so incomparably his Superior; and I was
-indeed pleased to see that both the Dowager
-Lady—who, I understood, was the Marchioness of
-Badlesmere—and the younger Ladies and Gentlemen felt
-mischievously inclined to torment him.
-
-"What is your opinion, Mr. Harris?" my Lady
-Badlesmere was saying to the discomfited Actor.
-"It would be interesting to know one Player's
-opinion of another."
-
-She had a spy-glass, through which she regarded
-him quizzically, whilst a mocking smile played
-around her thin lips. This, no doubt, caused poor
-Mr. Harris to lose countenance, for as a rule he is
-very glib of tongue. But just now he mouthed and
-stammered, appeared unable to find his words.
-
-"It cannot be denied, your Ladyship," he began
-sententiously enough, "that Mr. Betterton's
-gestures are smooth and pleasant, though they perhaps
-lack the rhythmic grandeur ... the dignified
-sweep ... of ... of ... the..."
-
-He was obviously floundering, and the old Lady
-broke in with a rasping laugh and a tone of
-somewhat acid sarcasm.
-
-"Of the gestures of Mr. Harris, you mean, eh?"
-
-"No, Madam," he retorted testily, and distinctly
-nettled. "I was about to say 'of the gestures of
-our greatest Actors.'"
-
-"Surely the same thing, dear Mr. Harris," a
-young Lady rejoined with well-assumed demureness,
-and dropped him a pert little curtsey.
-
-I might have been sorry for the Man—for of a
-truth these small pin-pricks must have been very
-irritating to his Vanity, already sorely wounded by
-a younger Rival's triumph—but for the fact that
-he then waxed malicious, angered no doubt by
-hearing a veritable Chorus of Eulogy proceeding from
-that other group of Ladies and Gentlemen of which
-Mr. Betterton was the centre.
-
-I do not know, as a matter of fact, who it was
-who first gave a spiteful turning to the bantering,
-mocking Conversation of awhile ago; but in my
-mind I attributed this malice to Lord Douglas
-Wychwoode, who came up with his clerical friend
-just about this time, in order to pay his respects to
-the Marchioness of Badlesmere, who, I believe, is
-a near Relative of his. Certain it is that very soon
-after his arrival upon the scene, I found that every
-one around him was talking about the abominable
-Episode, the very thought of which sent my blood
-into a Fever and my thoughts running a veritable
-riot of Revenge and of Hate. Of course,
-Mr. Harris was to the fore with pointed Allusions to the
-grave Insult done to an eminent Artist, and which,
-to my thinking, should have been condemned by
-every right-minded Man or Woman who had a
-spark of lofty feeling in his or her heart.
-
-"Ah, yes!" one of the Ladies was saying; "I
-heard about it at the time ... a vastly diverting
-story...."
-
-"Which went the round of the Court," added another.
-
-"Mr. Betterton's shoulders," a gay young Spark
-went on airily, "are said to be still very sore."
-
-"And his usually equable Temper the sorer of the two."
-
-Lord Douglas did not say much, but I felt his
-spiteful Influence running as an undercurrent
-through all that flippant talk.
-
-"Faith!" concluded one of the young Gallants,
-"were I my Lord Stour, I would not care to have
-Mr. Betterton for an enemy."
-
-"An Actor can hit with great accuracy and
-harshness from the Stage," Mr. Harris went on
-pompously. "He speaks words which a vast Public
-hears and goes on to repeat *ad infinitum*. Thus a
-man's—aye! or a Lady's—reputation can be made
-or marred by an Epilogue spoken by a popular
-Player at the end of a Drama. We all remember
-the case of Sir William Liscard, after he had
-quarrelled with Mr. Kynaston."
-
-Whereupon that old story was raked up, how
-Mr. Kynaston had revenged himself for an insult upon
-him by Sir William Liscard by making pointed
-Allusions from the Stage to the latter's secret
-intrigue with some low-class wench, and to the
-Punishment which was administered to him by the
-wench's vulgar lover. The Allusions were
-unmistakable, because that punishment had taken the form
-of a slit nose, and old Sir William had appeared in
-Society one day with a piece of sticking plaster
-across the middle of his face.
-
-Well, we all know what happened after that. Sir
-William, covered with Ridicule, had to leave
-London for awhile and bury himself in the depths of the
-Country, for, in Town he could not show his face
-in the streets but he was greeted with some vulgar
-lampoon or ribald song, hurled at him by passing
-roisterers. It all ended in a Tragedy, for Lady
-Liscard got to hear of it, and there was talk of
-Divorce proceedings, which would have put Sir
-William wholly out of Court—His Majesty being
-entirely averse to the dissolution of any legal Marriage.
-
-But all this hath naught to do with my story, and
-I only recount the matter to You to show You how,
-in an instant, the temper of all these great Ladies
-and Gentlemen can be swayed by the judicious
-handling of an evil-minded Person.
-
-All these Ladies and young Rakes, who awhile
-ago were loud in their praises of a truly great Man,
-now found pleasure in throwing mud at him,
-ridiculing and mocking him shamefully, seeing that,
-had he been amongst them, he would soon have
-confounded them with his Wit and brought them back
-to Allegiance by his magic Personality.
-
-Once again I heard a distinct Allusion to the
-Countess of Castlemaine's avowed predilection for
-Lord Stour. It came from one of the Cavaliers,
-who said to Lord Douglas, with an affected little laugh:
-
-"Perhaps my Lord Stour would do well to place
-himself unreservedly under the protection of Lady
-Castlemaine! 'Tis said that she is more than willing
-to extend her Favours to him."
-
-"Nay! Stour hath nothing to fear," Lord Douglas
-replied curtly. "He stands far above a mere
-Mountebank's spiteful pin-pricks."
-
-Oh! had but God given me the power to strike
-such a Malapert dumb! I looked around me,
-marvelling if there was not one sane Person here who
-would stand up in the defence of a great and
-talented Artist against this jabbering of irresponsible
-Monkeys.
-
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- 9
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-
-I must admit, however, that directly Mr. Betterton
-appeared upon the scene the tables were quickly
-turned once more on Mr. Harris, and even on Lord
-Douglas, for Mr. Betterton is past Master in the
-art of wordy Warfare, and, moreover, has this great
-Advantage, that he never loses control over his
-Temper. No malicious shaft aimed at him will ever
-ruffle his Equanimity, and whilst his Wit is most
-caustic, he invariably retains every semblance of
-perfect courtesy.
-
-He now had the Duchess of York on his arm,
-and His Grace of Buckingham had not left his side.
-His Friends were unanimously chaffing him about
-that Epilogue which he had spoken last night, and
-which had so delighted the Countess of Castlemaine.
-My Lord Buckhurst and Sir William Davenant were
-quoting pieces out of it, whilst I could only feel
-sorry that so great a Man had lent himself to such
-unworthy Flattery.
-
-"'Divinity, radiant as the stars!'" Lord Buckhurst
-quoted with a laugh. "By gad, you Rogue,
-you did not spare your words."
-
-Mr. Betterton frowned almost imperceptibly, and
-I, his devoted Admirer, guessed that he was not a
-little ashamed of the fulsome Adulation which he
-had bestowed on so unworthy an Object, and I was
-left to marvel whether some hidden purpose as yet
-unknown to me had actuated so high-minded an
-Artist thus to debase the Art which he held so dear.
-It was evident, however, that the whole Company
-thought that great things would come from that
-apparently trivial incident.
-
-"My Lady Castlemaine," said Sir William
-Davenant, "hath been wreathed in smiles ever since you
-spoke that Epilogue. She vows that there is nothing
-she would not do for You. And, as already You are
-such a favourite with His Majesty, why, Man! there
-is no end to your good fortune."
-
-And I, who watched Mr. Betterton's face again,
-thought to detect a strange, mysterious look in his
-eyes—something hidden and brooding was going on
-behind that noble brow, something that was
-altogether strange to the usually simple, unaffected and
-sunny temperament of the great Artist, and which
-I, his intimate Confidant and Friend, had not yet
-been able to fathom.
-
-Whenever I looked at him these days, I was
-conscious as of a sultry Summer's day, when nature is
-outwardly calm and every leaf on every tree is still.
-It is only to those who are initiated in the mysteries
-of the Skies that the distant oncoming Storm is
-revealed by a mere speck of cloud or a tiny haze
-upon the Bosom of the Firmament, which hath no
-meaning to the unseeing eye, but which foretells
-that the great forces of Nature are gathering up
-their strength for the striking of a prodigious blow.
-
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-.. _`an assembly of traitors`:
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- CHAPTER VII
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- AN ASSEMBLY OF TRAITORS
-
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- 1
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-
-I, in the meanwhile, had relegated the
-remembrance of Lord Douglas Wychwoode and his
-treasonable Undertakings to a distant cell of my
-mind. I had not altogether forgotten them, but
-had merely ceased to think upon the Subject.
-
-I was still nominally in the employ of Mr. Baggs,
-but he had engaged a new Clerk—a wretched, puny
-creature, whom Mistress Euphrosine already held in
-bondage—and I was to leave his Service definitely
-at the end of the month.
-
-In the meanwhile, my chief task consisted in
-initiating the aforesaid wretched and puny Clerk
-into the intricacies of Mr. Theophilus Baggs'
-business. The boy was slow-witted and slow to learn,
-and Mr. Baggs, who would have liked to prove to
-me mine own Worthlessness, was nevertheless
-driven into putting some of his more important
-work still in my charge.
-
-Thus it came to pass that all his Correspondence
-with Lord Douglas Wychwoode went through my
-Hands, whereby I was made aware that the Traitors—for
-such in truth they were—were only waiting
-for a favourable opportunity to accomplish their
-damnable Purpose.
-
-They meant to kidnap His Majesty's sacred
-Person, to force him to sign an Abdication in favour
-of the son of Mistress Barlow—now styled the Duke
-of Monmouth—with the Prince of Orange as
-Regent during the Duke's minority.
-
-A more abominable and treasonable Project it
-were impossible to conceive, and many a wrestling
-match did I have with mine own Conscience, whilst
-debating whether it were my Duty or no to betray
-the confidence which had been reposed in me, and
-to divulge the terrible Secret of that execrable plot,
-which threatened the very life of His Majesty the King.
-
-I understood that the Manifestos which it had
-been my task to multiplicate, had met with some
-success. Several Gentlemen, who held rigidly
-Protestant views, had promised their support to a
-project which ostensibly aimed at the overthrow of
-the last vestiges of Popery in the Country. My
-Lord Stour, who had also become a firm Adherent
-of the nefarious scheme, in deference, I presume,
-to the Lady Barbara's wishes in the matter, had, it
-seems, rendered valuable service to the cause, by
-travelling all over the Country, seeing these
-proposed Adherents in person and distributing the fiery
-Manifestos which were to rally the Waverers to the
-cause.
-
-I imagined, however, that the whole project was
-in abeyance for the moment, for I had heard but
-little of it of late; until one day I happened to be
-present when the Conspirators met in the house of
-Mr. Theophilus Baggs.
-
-How it came to pass that these Gentlemen—who
-were literally playing with their lives in their
-nefarious undertaking—talked thus openly of their
-Plans and Projects in my hearing, I do not pretend
-to say. It is certain that they did not suspect me;
-thought me one of themselves, no doubt, since I
-had written out the Manifestos and was Clerk to
-Mr. Baggs, who was with them Body and Soul.
-No doubt, had Mr. Baggs been on the spot on that
-day, he would have warned the Traitors of my
-presence, and much of what happened subsequently
-would never have occurred.
-
-Thus doth Fate at times use simple tools to gain
-her own ends, and it was given to an insignificant
-Attorney's Clerk to rule, for this one day, the future
-Destinies of England.
-
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- 2
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-
-My Lord Stour was present on that memorable
-afternoon. I am betraying no Secret nor doing him
-an injury by saying that, because his connection
-with the Affair is of public knowledge, as is that of
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode. The names of the other
-Gentlemen whom I saw in Mr. Baggs' room that
-day I will, by your leave, keep hidden behind the
-veil of Anonymity, contenting myself by calling the
-most important among them my Lord S., and
-another Sir J., whilst there was also present on that
-occasion the gentleman in clerical Attire whom I
-had seen of late in Lord Douglas' Company, and
-who was none other than the Lord Bishop of D.
-
-My Lord Stour was in great favour amongst
-them all. Every one was praising him and shaking
-him by the hand. His Lordship the Bishop took it
-upon himself to say, as he did most incisively:
-
-"Gentlemen! I am proud and happy to affirm
-that it is to the Earl of Stour that we shall owe
-to-night the Success of our Cause. It is he who
-has distributed our Appeal and helped to rally round
-us some of our most loyal Friends!"
-
-Lord Stour demurred, deprecated his own efforts.
-His Attitude was both modest and firm; I had not
-thought him capable of so much Nobility of Manner.
-
-But, believe me, dear Mistress, that I felt literally
-confounded by what I heard. Mr. Baggs, who had
-pressing business in town that day, had commanded
-me to remain at home in order to receive certain
-Gentlemen who were coming to visit him. I had
-introduced some half-dozen of them, and they had
-all gone into the inner office, but left the
-communicating door between that room and the parlour wide
-open, apparently quite acquiescing in my presence
-there. In fact, they had all nodded very familiarly
-to me as they entered; evidently they felt absolutely
-certain of my Discretion. This, as you will readily
-understand, placed me in a terrible Predicament.
-Where lay my duty, I did not know; for, in truth,
-to betray the Confidence of those who trust in You
-is a mean and low trick, unworthy of a right-minded
-Christian. At the same time, there was His
-Majesty the King's own sacred Person in peril, and
-that, as far as I could gather, on this very night;
-and surely it became equally the duty of every loyal
-Subject in the land to try and protect his Sovereign
-from the nefarious attacks of Traitors!
-
-Be that as it may, however, I do verily believe
-that if my Lord—Stour whom I hated with so
-deadly a hatred, and who had done my dear, dear
-Friend such an irreparable injury—if he, I say, had
-not been mixed up in the Affair, I should have done
-my duty as a Christian rather than as a subject of
-the State.
-
-But You, dear Mistress, shall be judge of mine
-actions, for they have a direct bearing upon those
-subsequent events which have brought Mr. Betterton
-once again to your feet.
-
-I have said that my Lord Stour received his
-Friends' congratulations and gratitude with
-becoming Modesty; but his Lordship the Bishop and also
-Lord S. insisted.
-
-"It is thanks to your efforts, my dear Stour,"
-Lord S. said, "that at last success is assured."
-
-"But for you," added the Bishop, "our plan
-to-night might have miscarried."
-
-My God! I thought, then it *is* for to-night! And
-I felt physically sick, whilst wondering what I
-should do. Even then, Lord Douglas Wychwoode's
-harsh Voice came quite clearly to mine ear.
-
-"The day is ours!" he said, with a note of
-triumph in his tone. "Ere the sun rises again over
-our downtrodden Country, her dissolute King and
-his Minions will be in our hands!"
-
-"Pray God it may be so!" assented one of the
-others piously.
-
-"It shall and will be so," protested Lord Douglas
-with firm emphasis. "I know for a fact that the
-King sups with the Castlemaine to-night. Well! we
-are quite ready. By ten o'clock we shall have
-taken up our Positions. These have all been most
-carefully thought out. Some of us will be in hiding
-in the Long Avenue in the Privy Garden; others
-under the shadow of the Wall of the Bowling
-Green; whilst others again have secured excellent
-points of vantage in King Street. I am in
-command of the Party, and I give you my word that
-my Company is made up of young Enthusiasts.
-They, like ourselves, have had enough of this
-corrupt and dissolute Monarch, who ought never to
-have been allowed to ascend the Throne which his
-Father had already debased."
-
-"You will have to be careful of the Night Watchmen
-about the Gardens, and of the Bodyguard at
-the Gate," one of the Gentlemen broke in.
-
-"Of course we'll be careful," Lord Douglas
-riposted impatiently. "We have minimized our
-risks as far as we are able. But the King, when he
-sups with the Castlemaine, usually goes across to her
-House unattended. Sometimes he takes a Man with
-him across the Privy Gardens, but dismisses him
-at the back door of Her Ladyship's House. As for
-the City Watchmen over in King Street, they will
-give us no trouble. If they do, we can easily
-overpower them. The whole thing is really perfectly
-simple," he added finally; "and the only reason why
-we have delayed execution is because we wanted as
-many Sympathizers here in London as possible."
-
-"Now," here interposed His Lordship the Bishop,
-"thanks to my Lord Stour's efforts, a number of
-our Adherents have come up from the country and
-have obtained lodgings in various Quarters of the
-town, so that to-morrow morning, when we
-proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the Prince
-of Orange Regent of the Realm, we shall be in
-sufficient numbers to give to our successful Coup
-the appearance of a national movement."
-
-"Personally," rejoined Lord Douglas, with
-something of a sneer, "I think that the Populace will be
-very easily swayed. The Castlemaine is not popular.
-The King is; but it is a factitious Popularity, and
-one easily blown upon, once we have his Person
-safely out of the way. And we must remember
-that the 'No Popery' cry is still a very safe
-card to play with the mob," he added with a dry laugh.
-
-Then they all fell to and discussed their
-abominable Plans all over again; whilst I, bewildered,
-wretched, indignant, fell on my knees and marvelled,
-pondered what I should do. My pulses were throbbing,
-my head was on fire; I had not the faculty for
-clear thinking. And there, in the next room, not
-ten paces away from where I knelt in mute and
-agonized Prayer, six Men were planning an outrage
-against their King; amidst sneers and mirthless
-laughter and protestations of loyalty to their
-Country, they planned the work of Traitors. They drew
-their Swords and there was talk of invoking God's
-blessing upon their nefarious Work.
-
-God's blessing! Methought 'twas Blasphemy, and
-I put my hands up to mine ears lest I should hear
-those solemn words spoken by a consecrated Bishop
-of our Church, and which called for the Almighty's
-help to accomplish a second Regicide.
-
-Aye! A Regicide! What else was it? as all
-those fine Gentlemen knew well enough in their
-hearts. Would not the King resist? He was young
-and vigorous. Would he not call for help? Had
-not my Lady Castlemaine Servants who would rush
-to His Majesty's assistance? What then? Was
-there to be murder once more, and bloodshed and
-rioting—fighting such as we poor Citizens of this
-tortured land had hoped was behind us forever?
-
-And if it came to a hand-to-hand scuffle with the
-King's most Sacred Majesty? My God! I shuddered
-to think what would happen then!
-
-There was a mighty humming in my ears, like
-the swarm of myriads of bees; a red veil gradually
-spread before my eyes, which obscured the familiar
-Surroundings about me. Through the haze which
-gradually o'er-clouded my brain, I heard the voices
-of those Traitors droning out their blasphemous Oaths.
-
-"Swear only to draw your swords in this just
-cause, and not to shed unnecessary blood!"
-
-And then a chorus which to my ears sounded like
-the howling of Evil Spirits let loose from hell:
-
-"We swear!"
-
-"Then may God's blessing rest upon You. May
-His Angels guard and protect You and give You
-the strength to accomplish what You purpose to do!"
-
-There was a loud and prolonged "Amen!" But
-I waited no longer. I rose from my knees, suddenly
-calm and resolved. Do not laugh at me, dear
-Mistress, for my conceit and my presumption when I
-say that I felt that the destinies of England rested
-in my hands.
-
-Another Regicide! Oh, my God! Another era
-of civil Strife and military Dictatorship such as we
-had endured in the past decade! Another era of
-Suspicions and Jealousies and Intrigues between the
-many Factions who would wish to profit by this
-abominable crime! It was unthinkable. Whether
-the King was God's Anointed or not, I, for one, am
-too ignorant to decide; but this I know, that the
-Stuart Prince was chosen little more than a year
-ago by the will of his People, that he returned to
-England acclaimed and beloved by this same Populace
-which was now to be egged on to treason against
-him by a handful of ambitious Malcontents, who
-did not themselves know what it was they wanted.
-
-No! It should not be! Not while there existed
-an humble and puny subject of this Realm who had
-it in his power to put a spoke in the wheel of that
-Chariot of Traitors.
-
-Ah! there was no more wavering in my heart
-now! no more doubts and hesitation! I would not
-be betraying the confidence of a trusting Man;
-merely disposing of a secret which Chance had
-tossed carelessly in my path—a Secret which
-pertained to abominable Miscreants, one of whom was
-the man whom I detested more than any one or
-anything on God's earth—a flippant, arrogant young
-Reprobate who had dared to level a deadly insult
-against a Man infinitely his superior in Intellect and
-in Worth, and before whom now he should be made
-to lick the dust of Ignominy.
-
-I was now perfectly calm. From my desk I took
-a copy of the Manifesto which had remained in my
-possession all this while. I read the contents through
-very carefully, so as to refresh my memory. Then
-I took up my pen and, at the foot of the treasonable
-document, I wrote the word: "To-night." Having
-done that, I took a sheet of notepaper and
-carefully wrote down the names of all the Gentlemen
-who were even now in the next room, and of several
-others whom I had heard mentioned by the Traitors
-in the course of their Conversation. The two
-papers I folded carefully and closed them down with
-sealing wax.
-
-My hand did not shake whilst I did all this. I
-was perfectly deliberate, for my mind was
-irrevocably made up. When I had completed these
-preparations, I slipped the precious Documents into
-my pocket, took up my hat and cloak, and went out
-to accomplish the Errand which I had set myself to do.
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- CHAPTER VIII
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- THE LION'S WRATH
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-His Majesty the King was, of course, inaccessible
-to such as I. And the time was short.
-
-Did I say that the hour was even then after six?
-The streets were very dark, for overhead the sky
-was overcast, and as I walked rapidly down the
-Lane to the Temple Stairs, a thin, penetrating
-drizzle began to fall.
-
-My first thought had been to take boat to Westminster
-and to go to the house of Mr. Betterton in
-Tothill Street, there to consult with him as to what
-would be my best course to pursue. But I feel sure
-that You, dear Mistress, will understand me when I
-say that I felt a certain pride in keeping my present
-Project to myself.
-
-I was not egotistical enough to persuade myself
-that love of Country and loyalty to my King were
-the sole motive powers of my Resolve. My innermost
-Heart, my Conscience perhaps, told me that an
-ugly Desire for Revenge had helped to stimulate my
-patriotic Ardour. I had realized that it lay in my
-power to avenge upon an impious Malapert the
-hideous Outrage which he had perpetrated against
-the Man whom I loved best in all the World.
-
-I had realized, in fact, that I could become the
-instrument of Mr. Betterton's revenge.
-
-That my Denunciation of the abominable
-Conspiracy would involve the Disgrace—probably the
-Death—of others who were nothing to me, I did
-not pause to consider. They were all Traitors,
-anyhow, and all of them deserving of punishment.
-
-So, on the whole, I decided to act for myself.
-When I had seen the Countess of Castlemaine and
-had put her on her guard, I would go to Mr. Betterton
-and tell him what I had done.
-
-I beg you to believe, however, dear Mistress, that
-no thought of any reward had entered my mind,
-other than a Word of Appreciation from my Friend.
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-I had, as perhaps you know, a slight acquaintance
-with Mistress Floid, who is one of my Lady Castlemaine's
-tire-women. Through her, I obtained
-speech with her Ladyship.
-
-It was not very difficult. I sent in the two
-Documents through Mistress Floid's hands. Five
-minutes later I was told that my Lady desired speech
-with me.
-
-I was a little bewildered and somewhat dazzled
-to be in the presence of so great a lady. The
-richness of the House, the liveries of the Servants, the
-superciliousness of the Lacqueys, all tended to
-discompose me; whilst the subtle Scent of Spice and
-Perfumes which hung in the air and the chorus of
-bird-song which came from an unseen Aviary,
-helped to numb my Senses. I was thankful that I
-had not trusted to Speech and Memory, but had set
-documentary Evidence forward to prove what I
-had to say.
-
-Of my interview with her Ladyship I have only
-a confused memory. I know that she asked many
-questions and listened to my stammering replies
-with obvious impatience; but I have only a very
-vague recollection of her flashing Eyes, of her Face,
-flaming with anger, of her jewelled Hand clutching
-the documents which I had brought, and of the
-torrent of vituperative abuse which she poured upon
-the Traitors, who she vowed would pay with their
-lives for their Infamy. I know that, in the end, I
-was allowed to kiss her hand and that she thanked
-me in her own Name and that of His Majesty for
-my Loyalty and my Discretion.
-
-I went out of the room and out of the house like
-a Man in a dream. A whirl of conflicting Emotions
-was rending my heart and my brain, until sheer
-physical nausea caused me nigh to swoon.
-
-Truly it was a terrible Experience for a simple-minded
-Clerk to go through, and it is a marvel to
-me that my brain did not give way under the Strain.
-
-But my instinct—like that of a faithful dog
-seeking shelter—led me to the lodgings of Mr. Betterton
-in Tothill Street, the very house in which his
-father had lived before him.
-
-He had not yet returned from the Theatre, where
-he was at Rehearsal; but his Servant knew me well
-and allowed me to go up into the parlour and to lie
-down upon the sofa for a moment's rest.
-
-It was then nearing seven, and I knew that
-Mr. Betterton would soon be coming home. I now
-felt infinitely weary; numbness of body and brain
-had followed the conflicting Emotions of the past
-hours, and I was only conscious of an overwhelming
-desire to rest.
-
-I closed my eyes. The place was warm and still;
-a veritable Haven of Quietude. And it was the
-place where dwelt the Man for whose sake I had
-just done so much. For awhile I watched the play
-of the firelight upon the various articles of
-furniture in the room; but soon a pleasing Torpor
-invaded my tired Brain, and I fell asleep.
-
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-The sound of Voices upon the landing outside, the
-opening and closing of one door and then another,
-recalled me to myself. The familiar sound of my
-Friend's footsteps gave me an infinity of Pleasure.
-
-The next moment Mr. Betterton came into the
-room. He was preceded by his Servant, who
-brought in a couple of Candles which he placed upon
-the table. Apparently he had said nothing to his
-Master about my presence here, for Mr. Betterton
-seemed vastly surprised when he saw me. I had
-just jumped to my feet when I heard him entering
-the room, and I suppose that I must have looked
-somewhat wild and dishevelled, for he expressed
-great astonishment at my Appearance.
-
-Astonishment, and also Pleasure.
-
-"Why, friend Honeywood!" he exclaimed, and
-came to greet me with both hands outstretched.
-"What favourable Wind hath blown you to this port?"
-
-He looked tired and very much aged, methought.
-He, a young Man, then in the prime of Life, looked
-harassed and weary; all the Elasticity seemed to
-have gone out of his Movements, all the Springiness
-from his Footstep. He sat down and rested his
-elbows on his knees, clasped his slender hands
-together and stared moodily into the fire.
-
-I watched him for awhile. His clear-cut Profile
-was outlined like an Italian Cameo against the
-dark angle of the room; the firelight gave a strange
-glow to his expressive Eyes and to the sensitive
-Mouth with the firm lips pressed closely together,
-as if they would hold some Secret which was even
-then threatening to escape.
-
-That look of dark and introspective Brooding sat
-more apparent now than ever upon his mobile
-face, and I marvelled if the News which I was about
-to impart would tend to dissipate that restless,
-searching glance, which seemed for ever to be
-probing into the future decrees of Fate.
-
-"I have come to tell you news, Sir," I said after
-a while.
-
-He started as from a Reverie, and said half-absently:
-
-"News? What news, friend? Good, I hope."
-
-"Yes," I replied very quietly, even though I felt
-that my heart was beating fast within my breast
-with excitement. "Good news of the Man You hate."
-
-He made no reply for the moment, and even by
-the dim, uncertain light of the fire I could see the
-quick change in his face. I cannot explain it exactly,
-but it seemed as if something Evil had swept over
-it, changing every noble line into something that was
-almost repellent.
-
-My heart beat faster still. I was beginning to
-feel afraid and a queer, choking Sensation gripped
-me by the throat and silenced the Words which were
-struggling to come to my lips.
-
-"Well?" queried Mr. Betterton a second or two
-later, in a calm, dull, unemotional Voice. "What is
-thy news, friend Honeywood?"
-
-"There is a plot," I replied, still speaking with an
-effort, "against His Majesty and the Countess of
-Castlemaine."
-
-"I knew that," he rejoined. "'Tis no news.
-There is more than one plot, in fact, against the
-King and the Castlemaine. You surely haven't
-come out on this wet night," he added with a
-mirthless laugh, "in order to tell me that!"
-
-After all that I had gone through, after my tussle
-with my conscience and my fight against myself, I
-felt nettled by his flippant tone.
-
-"I know not," I said firmly, "if there is more
-than one plot against His Majesty the King. But I
-do know that there is one which aims at striking at
-his sacred Person to-night."
-
-"That also is possible," he retorted, with still that
-same air of flippant Carelessness. "But even so, I
-do not see, my dear Friend, what You can do in
-the matter."
-
-"I can denounce the Plot," I riposted warmly,
-"and help to save the life of His Majesty the King."
-
-"So you can, my dear Honeywood," he said with
-a smile, amused at my vehemence. "So you can!
-And upon the King's gratitude you may lay the
-foundations of your future Fortune."
-
-"I was not thinking of a Fortune," I retorted
-gruffly; "only of Revenge."
-
-At this he looked up suddenly, leaned forward
-and in the firelight tried to read my face.
-
-"Revenge?" he queried curtly. "What do you mean?"
-
-"I mean," I replied earnestly, "that the Plot of
-which I speak is real, tangible and damnable. That
-a set of young Gallants have arranged between
-themselves to waylay His Majesty the King this night
-in the house of the Countess of Castlemaine, to
-kidnap his sacred person, force him to abdicate, then
-proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the
-Prince of Orange Regent of the Realm."
-
-"How do you know all this, Honeywood?" Mr. Betterton
-rejoined quietly, dragged, meseemed, out
-of his former Cynicism by the earnestness of my
-manner.
-
-"I was one of the first to know of it," I replied,
-"because on a certain day in September I was
-employed in copying the Manifesto wherewith that
-pack of Traitors hoped to rally distant Friends
-around their Standard. For awhile I heard nothing
-more of the Affair, thought the whole thing had
-sizzled out like a fire devoid of fuel; until to-day,
-when the Conspirators once more met in the house
-of Mr. Theophilus Baggs and arranged to carry
-their execrable Project through to-night. Careless
-of my presence, they planned and discussed their
-Affairs in my hearing. They thought, I suppose,
-that I, like Mr. Baggs, was one of their Gang."
-
-Gradually, while I spoke, I could see the Dawn
-of Comprehension illumining Mr. Betterton's face.
-He still was silent, and let me speak on to the end.
-He was once more gazing into the fire; his arms
-were resting on his knees, but his hands were beating
-one against the other, fist to palm, with a violent,
-intermittent Gesture, which proclaimed his growing
-Impatience.
-
-Then suddenly he raised his head, looked me once
-more straight in the eyes, and said slowly, reiterating
-some of my words:
-
-"The Conspirators met in the house of Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs—then—he——"
-
-I nodded.
-
-"My Lord Stour," I said, deliberately measuring
-my words, "is up to his neck in the damnable
-Conspiracy."
-
-Still his searching gaze was fixed upon me; and
-now he put out his hand and clutched my forearm.
-But he did not speak.
-
-"I was burning with rage," I said, "at the insult
-put upon you by my Lord Stour ... I longed to
-be revenged..."
-
-His clutch upon my arm tightened till it felt like
-a Vice of Steel, and his Voice came to my ear,
-hoarse and almost unrecognizable.
-
-"Honeywood," he murmured, "what do You
-mean? What have You done?"
-
-I tried to return his gaze, but it seemed to sear
-my very Soul. Terror held me now. I scarce
-could speak. My voice came out in a husky whisper.
-
-"I had the copy of the Manifesto," I said, "and
-I knew the names of the Conspirators. I wrote
-these out and placed them with the Manifesto in
-the hands of my Lady Castlemaine."
-
-Dear Mistress, you know the beautiful picture by
-the great Italian artist Michael Angelo which
-represents Jove hurling his thunderbolt at some puny
-human Creature who hath dared to defy him. The
-flash of Anger expressed by the Artist in the mighty
-god's eyes is truly terrifying. Well! that same
-Expression of unbounded and prodigious Wrath
-flashed out in one instant from the great Actor's
-eyes. He jumped to his feet, towered above me like
-some Giant whom I, in my presumption, had dared
-to defy. The flickering candle light, warring with
-the fireglow, and its play of ruddy Lights and deep
-phantasmagoric Shadows, lent size and weirdness
-to Mr. Betterton's figure and enhanced the dignity
-and magnitude of his Presence. His lips were
-working, and I could see that he had the
-greatest difficulty in forcing himself to speak
-coherently.
-
-"You have done that?" he stammered. "You...?"
-
-"To avenge the deadly insult——" I murmured,
-frightened to death now by his violence.
-
-"Silence, you fool!" he riposted hoarsely. "Is
-it given to the Mouse to avenge the hurt done to
-the Lion?"
-
-I guessed how deeply he was moved by these
-Words which he spoke, more even than by his
-Attitude. Never, had he been in his normal frame of
-mind, would he have said them, knowing how their
-cruel intent would hurt and wound me.
-
-He was angry with me. Very angry. And I,
-as yet, was too ignorant, too unsophisticated, to
-know in what way I had injured him. God knows
-it had been done unwittingly. And I could not
-understand what went on in that noble and obviously
-tortured Brain. I could only sit there and gaze upon
-him in helpless Bewilderment, as he now started to
-pace up and down the narrow room in very truth
-like a caged Lion that hath been teased till it can
-endure the irritation no longer.
-
-"You are angry with me?" I contrived to stammer
-at last; and indeed I found much difficulty in
-keeping the tears which were welling up to mine eyes.
-
-But my timid query only appeared to have the
-effect of bringing his Exasperation to its highest
-pitch. He did in truth turn on me as if he were
-ready to strike me, and I slid down on my Knees,
-for I felt now really frightened, as his fine voice
-smote mine ears in thunderous Accents of unbridled Wrath.
-
-"Angry?" he exclaimed. "Angry...? I..."
-
-Then he paused abruptly, for he had caught sight
-of me, kneeling there, an humble and, I doubt not,
-a pathetic Figure; and, as you know, Mr. Betterton's
-heart is ever full of Pity for the Lowly and the
-Weak. By the flickering candle light I could
-distinguish his noble Features, a moment ago almost
-distorted with Passion, but now, all of a sudden,
-illumined by tender Sympathy.
-
-He pulled himself together. I almost could see
-the Effort of Will wherewith he curbed that
-turbulent Passion which had threatened to overmaster
-him. He passed his hand once or twice across his
-brow, as if he strove to chase away, by sheer
-physical Force, the last vestige of his own Anger.
-
-"No—no——," he murmured gently, bent down
-to me and helped me to my feet. "No, my dear
-Friend; I am not angry with You ... I—I
-forgot myself just now ... something seemed to
-snap in my Brain when you told me that
-... When you told me that——" he reiterated slowly;
-then threw back his head and broke into a laugh.
-Oh! such a laugh as I never wish to hear again.
-It was not only mirthless, but the Sound of it did
-rend my heart until the tears came back to mine
-eyes; but this time through an overwhelming feeling
-of Pity.
-
-And yet I did not understand. Neither his Anger
-nor his obvious Despair were clear to my
-Comprehension. I hoped he would soon explain, feeling
-that if he spoke of it, it would ease his heartache.
-Mine was almost unendurable. I felt that I could
-cry like a child, Remorse warring with Anxiety
-in my heart.
-
-Then suddenly Mr. Betterton came close to me,
-sat down on the sofa beside me and said, with a
-Recrudescence of his former Vehemence:
-
-"Friend Honeywood, you must go straightway
-back to my Lady Castlemaine."
-
-"Yes," I replied meekly, for I was ready to do
-anything that he desired.
-
-"Either to my Lady Castlemaine," he went on,
-his voice trembling with agitation, "or to her menial
-first, but ultimately to my Lady Castlemaine. Go
-on your hands and knees, Honeywood; crawl,
-supplicate, lick the dust, swear that the Conspiracy had
-no existence save in your own disordered brain
-... that the Manifesto is a forgery ... the list of
-Conspirators a fictitious one ... swear above all
-that my Lord Stour had no part in the murderous
-Plot——"
-
-I would, dear Lady, that mine was the pen of a
-ready Writer, so that I might give you a clear idea
-of Mr. Betterton's strange aspect at that moment.
-His face was close to mine, yet he did not seem like
-himself. You know how serene and calm is the
-Glance of his Eyes as a rule. Well! just then they
-were strangely luminous and restless; there was a
-glitter in them, a weird, pale Light that I cannot
-describe, but which struck me as coming from a
-Brain that, for the moment, was almost bereft
-of Reason.
-
-That he was not thinking coherently was obvious
-to me from what he said. I, who was ready and
-prepared to do anything that might atone for the
-Injury, as yet inexplicable, which I had so unwittingly
-done to him, felt, nevertheless, the entire
-Futility of his Suggestion. Indeed, was it likely that
-my Lady Castlemaine's Suspicions, once roused,
-could so easily be allayed? Whatever I told her
-now, she would of a surety warn the King—had
-done so, no doubt, already. Measures would be
-taken—had already been taken—to trap the
-infamous Plotters, to catch them red-handed in the
-Act; if indeed they were guilty. Nay! I could not
-very well imagine how such great Personages would
-act under the Circumstances that had come about.
-But this much I did know; that not one of them
-would be swayed by the Vagaries of a puny Clerk,
-who had taken it upon himself to denounce a number
-of noble Gentlemen for Treason one moment and
-endeavoured to exonerate them the next. So I
-could only shake my head and murmur:
-
-"Alas, Sir! all that now would be too late."
-
-He looked at me searchingly for a second or two.
-The strange glitter died out from his eyes, and he
-gave a deep sigh of weariness and of disappointment.
-
-"Aye!" he said. "True! true! It is all too late!"
-
-Imagine, dear Mistress, how puzzled I was.
-What would You have thought of it all, yourself,
-had your sweet Spirit been present then at that hour,
-when a truly good, yet deeply injured Man bared
-his Soul before his Friend?
-
-Just for a second or two the Suspicion flashed
-through my mind that Mr. Betterton himself was
-in some secret and unaccountable manner mixed up
-with the abominable Conspiracy. But almost at
-once my saner Judgment rejected this villainous
-Suggestion; for of a truth it had no foundation
-save in Foolishness engendered by a bewildered
-brain. In truth, I had never seen Mr. Betterton
-in the Company of any of those Traitors whose
-names were indelibly graven upon the tablets of my
-Memory, save on that one occasion—that unforgettable
-afternoon in September, when he entered the
-house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs at the hour when
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode had just entrusted his
-Manifesto to me. What was said then and what
-happened afterwards should, God help me! have
-convinced me that no sort of intimate Connection,
-political or otherwise, could ever exist between my
-Lord Stour, Lord Douglas Wychwoode or their
-Friends, and Mr. Betterton.
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-Even while all these Thoughts and Conjectures
-were coursing through my brain, my innermost
-Consciousness kept my attention fixed upon my friend.
-
-He had once more resumed his restless pacing up
-and down the narrow room. His slender hands
-were closely linked together behind his back, and
-at times he strode quite close to me, so close that
-the skirts of his fashionably cut coat brushed against
-my knee. From time to time disconnected Phrases
-came to his lips. He was talking to himself, a thing
-which I had never known him do before.
-
-"I, who wished to return Taunt for Taunt and
-Infamy for Infamy!" he said at one time. And at
-another: "To-day ... in a few hours perhaps,
-that young Coxcomb will be in the Tower
-... and then the Scaffold!"
-
-I listened as attentively as I could, without
-seeming to do so, thinking that, if I only caught more
-of these confused Mutterings, the Puzzle, such as it
-was, would become more clear to me. Picture the
-two of us then, dear Mistress, in the semi-darkness,
-with only fitful candle light to bring into occasional
-bold relief the fine Figure of the great Actor pacing
-up and down like a restless and tortured Beast; and
-mine own meagre Form cowering in an angle of
-the sofa, straining mine ears to catch every syllable
-that came from my Friend's lips, and mine eyes to
-note every Change of his Countenance.
-
-"She will think 'twas I who spied upon him," I
-heard him say quite distinctly through his clenched
-teeth. "I who betrayed him, her Friends, her
-Brother."
-
-"He will die a Martyr to the cause she loves,"
-he murmured a few moments later. "A Hero to
-his friends—to *her* a demi-god whose Memory she
-will worship."
-
-Then he paused, and added in a loud and firm
-voice, apostrophizing, God knows what Spirits of
-Hate and of Vengeance whom he had summoned:
-
-"And *that* is to be my Revenge for the deadliest
-Insult Man ever put upon Man! ... Ha! ha! ha! ha!"
-he laughed, with weird Incontinence. "God
-above us, save me from my Friends and let me deal
-alone with mine Enemies!"
-
-He fell back into the nearest chair and, resting
-his elbows on his knees, he pressed his forehead
-against his clenched fists. I stared at him, mute,
-dumbfounded. For now I understood. I knew
-what I had done, knew what he desired, what he
-had striven for and planned all these past weary
-weeks. His Hopes, his Desires, I had frustrated.
-I, his Friend, who would have given my Life for
-his welfare!
-
-I had been heart-broken before. I was doubly
-so now. I slid from the sofa once more on my
-knees and, not daring to touch him, I just remained
-there, sobbing and moaning in helpless Dejection
-and Remorse.
-
-"What can I do?—what can I do?"
-
-He looked at me, obviously dazed, had apparently
-become quite oblivious of my presence. Once more
-that look of tender Commiseration came into his
-eyes, and he said with a gently ironical smile:
-
-"You? Poor little, feeble Mouse, who has
-gnawed at the Giant's prey—what can you do?
-... Why, nothing. Go back to our mutual
-Friend, Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and tell him to make
-his way—and quickly too—to some obscure corner
-of the Country, for he also is up to the neck in that
-damnable Conspiracy."
-
-This set my mind to a fresh train of thought.
-
-"Shall I to my Lord Stour by the same token?"
-I asked eagerly.
-
-"To my Lord Stour?" he queried, with a puzzled
-frown. "What for?"
-
-"To warn him," I replied. "Give him a chance
-of escape. I could tell him you sent me," I added
-tentatively.
-
-He laughed.
-
-"No, no, my Friend," he said drily. "We'll not
-quite go to that length. Give him a chance of
-Escape?" he reiterated. "And tell him I sent
-You? No, no! He would only look upon my
-supposed Magnanimity as a sign of cringing Humility,
-Obsequiousness and Terror of further Reprisals.
-No, no, my Friend; I'll not give the gay young
-Spark another chance of insulting me.... But
-let me think ... let me think ... Oh, if only
-I had a few days before me, instead of a mere few
-hours! ... And if only my Lady Castlemaine..."
-
-He paused, and I broke in on the impulse of the
-moment.
-
-"Oh, Sir! hath not the Countess of Castlemaine
-vowed often of late that she would grant any Favour
-that the great Mr. Betterton would ask of her?"
-
-No sooner were the words out of my mouth than
-I regretted them. It must have been Instinct, for
-they seemed innocent enough at the time. My only
-thought in uttering them was to suggest that at
-Mr. Betterton's request the Traitors would be pardoned.
-My Lady Castlemaine in those days held the King
-wholly under her Domination. And I still believed
-that my Friend desired nothing so much at this
-moment than that my Lord Stour should not die a
-Hero's death—a Martyr to the cause which the
-beautiful Lady Barbara had at heart.
-
-But since that hour, whenever I have looked
-back upon the Sequence of Events which followed
-on my impulsive Utterance, I could not help but
-think that Destiny had put the words into my mouth.
-She had need of me as her tool. What had to be,
-had to be. You, dear Mistress, can now judge
-whether Mr. Betterton is still worthy of your Love,
-whether he is still worthy to be taken back into your
-heart. For verily my words did make the turning
-point in the workings of his Soul. But I should
-never have dared to tell you all that happened, face
-to face, and I desired to speak of the matter
-impartially. Therefore I chose the medium of a pen,
-so that I might make You understand and,
-understanding, be ready to forgive.
-
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- CHAPTER IX
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-
- A LAST CHANCE
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- 1
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-Of course, what happened subsequently, I can
-only tell for the most part from what Mr. Betterton
-told me himself, and also from one or two facts
-revealed to me by Mistress Floid.
-
-At the moment, Mr. Betterton commended me
-for my Suggestion, rested his hand with all his
-former affectionate Manner upon my shoulder, and
-said quite simply:
-
-"I thank you, friend, for reminding me of this.
-My Lady Castlemaine did indeed last night intimate
-to me that she felt ready to grant any Favour I
-might ask of her. Well! I will not put her
-Magnanimity to an over severe test. Come with me,
-friend Honeywood. We'll to her Ladyship. There
-will be plenty of time after that to go and warn that
-worthy Mr. Baggs and my equally worthy Sister.
-I should not like them to end their days upon the
-Scaffold. So heroic an ending doth not seem
-suitable to their drabby Existence, and would war with
-all preconceived Dramatic Values."
-
-He then called to his man and ordered a couple
-of linkmen to be in readiness to guide us through the
-Streets, as these were far from safe for peaceful
-Pedestrians after dark! Then he demanded his hat
-and cloak, and a minute or so later he bade me
-follow him, and together we went out of the house.
-
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-It was now raining heavily, and we wrapped our
-Cloaks tightly round our Shoulders, speeding along
-as fast as we could. The streets were almost
-deserted and as dreary as London streets alone can be
-on a November evening. Only from the closed
-Windows of an occasional Tavern or Coffee-house
-did a few rays of bright light fall across the road,
-throwing a vivid bar of brilliance athwart our way,
-and turning the hundreds of Puddles into shining
-reflections, like so many glimmering Stars.
-
-For the rest, we were dependent on the linkmen,
-who walked ahead of us, swinging their Lanterns
-for Guidance on our path. Being somewhat timid
-by nature, I had noted with satisfaction that they
-both carried stout Cudgels, for of a truth there were
-many Marauders about on dark nights such as this,
-Footpads and Highway Robbers, not to mention
-those bands of young Rakes, who found pleasure in
-"scouring" the streets o' nights and molesting the
-belated Wayfarer.
-
-Mr. Betterton, too, carried a weighted stick, and
-he was a Man whom clean, sturdy living had
-rendered both athletic and powerful. We were soon,
-both of us, wet to the Skin, but Mr. Betterton
-appeared quite oblivious of discomfort. He walked
-with a quick step, and I perforce had to keep up
-with him as best I could.
-
-He had told me, before we started out, that he
-was bent for my Lady Castlemaine's House, the
-rear of which looks down upon the Gardens of
-White Hall. I knew the way thither just as well as
-he did. Great was my astonishment, therefore,
-when having reached the bottom of King Street,
-when we should have turned our steps northwards,
-Mr. Betterton suddenly ordered the linkmen to
-proceed through Palace Yard in the direction of
-Westminster Stairs.
-
-I thought that he was suffering from a fit of
-absent-mindedness, which was easily understandable
-on account of his agitated Frame of Mind; and
-presently I called his attention to his mistake. He paid
-no heed to me, however, and continued to walk on
-until we were some way up Canon's Row.
-
-Here he called to his linkmen to halt, and himself
-paused; then caught hold of my cloak, and dragged
-me under the shelter of a great gateway belonging to
-one of those noble Mansions which front the River.
-And he said to me, in a strange and peremptory
-Voice, hardly raised above a Whisper:
-
-"Do You know where we are, Honeywood?"
-
-"Yes," I said, not a little surprised at the
-question. "We are at the South End of Canon's Row.
-I know this part very well, having often——"
-
-"Very well, then," he broke in, still in the same
-imperious Manner. "You know that we are under
-the gateway belonging to the Town Mansion of the
-Earl of Stour, and that the house is some twenty
-yards up the fore-court."
-
-"I know the house," I replied, "now you mention it."
-
-"Then you will go to my Lord Stour now,
-Honeywood," my Friend went on.
-
-"To warn him?" I queried eagerly, for of a
-truth I was struck with Admiration at this excess
-of Magnanimity on the part of an injured Man.
-
-"No," Mr. Betterton replied curtly. "You will
-go to my Lord Stour as my Friend and Intermediary.
-You will tell him that I sent You,
-because I desire to know if he hath changed his mind,
-and if he is ready to give me Satisfaction for the
-Insult, which he put upon me nigh on two months ago."
-
-I could not restrain a gasp of surprise.
-
-"But——" I stammered.
-
-"You are not going to play me false,
-Honeywood," he said simply.
-
-That I swore I would not do. Indeed, he knew
-well enough that if he commanded me to go to
-the outermost ends of the Earth on his errand, or
-to hold parley with the Devil on his behalf, I
-would have been eager and ready to do it.
-
-But I must confess that at this moment I would
-sooner have parleyed with the Devil than with the
-Earl of Stour. The Man whom I had denounced,
-You understand. I felt that the shadow of
-Death—conjured by me, menacing and unevasive—would
-perhaps lie 'twixt him and me whilst I spoke with
-him. Yet how could I demur when my Friend
-besought me?—my Friend, who was gravely troubled
-because of me.
-
-I promised that I would do as he wished. Whereupon
-he gave me full instructions. Never had
-so strange a task been put upon a simple-minded
-Plebeian: for these were matters pertaining to
-Gentlemen. I knew less than nothing of Duels,
-Affairs of Honour, or such like; yet here was
-I—John Honeywood, an humble Attorney's Clerk—sent
-to convey a challenge for a Duel to a high and
-noble Lord, in the manner most approved by
-Tradition.
-
-I was ready to swoon with Fright; for, in truth,
-I am naught but a timid Rustic. In spite of the cold
-and the rain I felt a rush of hot blood coursing up
-and down my Spine. But I learned my Lesson from
-end to end, and having mastered it, I did not waver.
-
-Leaving Mr. Betterton under the shelter of the
-gateway, I boldly crossed the fore-court and
-mounted the couple of steps which led up to the
-front door of the Mansion. The fore-court and the
-front of the House were very dark, and I was not
-a little afraid of Night Prowlers, who, they do say,
-haunt the immediate Purlieus of these stately
-Abodes of the Nobility, ready to fall upon any
-belated Visitor who might be foolish enough to
-venture out alone.
-
-Indeed, everything around me was so still and
-seemed so desolate that an Access of Fear seized
-me, whilst I vainly tried to grope for the bell-handle
-in the Darkness. I very nearly gave way to my
-Cowardice then and there, and would have run back
-to my Friend or called out to the Linkmen for their
-Company, only that at the very moment my Hand
-came in contact with the iron bell pull, and fastened
-itself instinctively upon it.
-
-Whereupon the clang of the Bell broke the
-solemn Silence which reigned around.
-
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-I had grave Difficulty in obtaining access to my
-Lord Stour, his Servant telling me in the first
-instance that his Lordship was not at home, and in
-the second that he was in any event too busy to
-receive Visitors at this hour. But I have oft been
-told that I possess the Obstinacy of the Weak, and
-I was determined that, having come so far, I would
-not return to Mr. Betterton without having
-accomplished mine Errand. So, seeing that the Servant,
-with the Officiousness and Insolence of his kind, was
-about to slam the door in my face, an Inspiration
-seized me, and taking on a haughty Air, I stepped
-boldly across the Threshold and then commanded
-the Menial to go to his Lordship at once and
-announce the visit 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 good deal of hem-ming and
-hawing, the Varlet apparently felt that non-compliance
-with my Desire might bring contumely upon
-himself; so he went, leaving me most unceremoniously
-to cool my heels in the Hall, and returned but a very
-few minutes later looking distinctly crestfallen and
-not a little astonished.
-
-His Lordship would see me at once, he announced.
-Then bade me follow him up the stairs.
-
-To say that my Heart was beating furiously
-within my Breast would be but a bald Statement of
-my Frame of Mind. I fully expected that his
-Lordship, 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 not given
-much time to indulge in my Conjectures and my
-Fears, for presently I was ushered into a large room,
-dimly lighted by a couple of wax candles and the
-Walls of which, I noticed, were entirely lined with Books.
-
-After the Menial had closed the door behind me,
-a Voice bade me curtly to come forward and to state
-mine Errand. Then I saw that my Lord Stour was
-not alone. He was sitting in a chair in front of the
-fire, and opposite to him sat the beautiful Lady
-Barbara, whilst standing in front of the hearth, with
-legs apart and hands thrust in the pockets of his
-breeches, was Lord Douglas Wychwoode.
-
-What Courage was left in me now went down
-into my shoes. I felt like a Man faced with three
-Enemies where he had only expected to meet one.
-My Throat felt very dry and my Tongue seemed to
-cleave to my Palate. Nevertheless, in response to a
-reiterated curt Command to state mine Errand, I
-did so unfalteringly.
-
-"Mr. Thomas Betterton, one of His Majesty's
-Well-Beloved Servants," I said, "hath sent me to
-his Lordship the Earl of Stour."
-
-My Words were greeted with an angry Oath from
-Lord Douglas, an ironical Laugh 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 have been 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——" his Lordship began coldly, and
-would no doubt have dismissed me then and there,
-but that the Lady Barbara interposed gently yet with
-great Firmness.
-
-"I pray You, my Lord," she said, "do not be
-over-hasty. We might at least listen to what
-Mr. Betterton's Messenger has to say."
-
-"Yes," added Lord Douglas in his habitual
-brusque Manner. "Let us hear what the Fellow wants."
-
-This was not encouraging, you will admit; but,
-like many over-timid People, there are times when
-I am conscious of unwonted Calm and Determination.
-So even now I confronted these two
-supercilious Gentlemen with as much Dignity as I could
-command, and said, addressing myself directly to
-the Earl of Stour:
-
-"Mr. Betterton hath sent me to You, my Lord,
-to demand Satisfaction for the abominable Outrage
-which You perpetrated upon his Person nigh on two
-months 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 brought saner Reflection. Mr. Betterton's
-Fame and his Genius have raised him to a
-level far above that conferred by mere Birth."
-
-"Have made a Gentleman of him, You mean?"
-Lord Stour rejoined with a sarcastic 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 worthy Friend that two hundred
-years hence my Descendants might fight him on a
-comparatively equal Footing. But until then," he
-added firmly and conclusively, "I must repeat for
-the last time what I have already told Mr.—er—Betterton:
-the Earl of Stour cannot cross Swords
-with a Mountebank."
-
-"Take care, my Lord, take care——"
-
-The Exclamation had burst quite involuntarily
-from my Lips. The next moment I felt ashamed
-to have uttered it, for my Lord Stour looked me up
-and down as he would an importunate Menial, and
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode strode 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 desired to retain one last
-Shred of Dignity both for myself and for the great
-Artist who—in my Person this time—had once
-again been so profoundly humiliated.
-
-My wet cloak I had left down in the Hall, but I
-still held my hat in my hands. I now bowed with
-as much Grace as I could muster. Lord Douglas
-still pointed a peremptory finger towards the door,
-making it clear that I was not going of mine own
-Accord, like the Intermediary of any Gentleman
-might be, but that I was being kicked out like some
-insolent Varlet.
-
-Oh! the shame of it! The shame!
-
-My ears were tingling, my temples throbbing. A
-crimson Veil, thrust before mine eyes by invisible
-Hands, caused my footsteps to falter. Oh! if only
-I had had the strength, I should even then have
-turned upon those 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 suffered such 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 as I crossed the landing
-meseemed that I heard the Lady Barbara's voice raised
-in a kind of terrified Appeal.
-
-"Would to God, my dear Lord," she appeared to
-plead with passionate Earnestness, "You had not
-incurred the Enmity of that Man. Ever since that
-awful day I have felt as if You were encompassed
-by Spirits of Hate and of Vengeance which threaten
-our Happiness."
-
-Her Voice broke in a sob. And, indeed, I found
-it in my heart to pity her, for she seemed deeply
-grieved. I still could hear him—her Lover and
-mine Enemy, since he was the Enemy of my
-Friend—trying to laugh away her fears.
-
-"Nay, sweetheart," he was saying tenderly. "A
-Man like that can do us no harm. Mine own
-Conscience is clear—my Life honourable—and to-night
-will 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 a toothless cur.
-So do not waste these precious moments, my
-Beloved, by thinking 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 the
-House.
-
-Never should I have believed that a human Heart
-could contain so much Hatred as mine held for my
-Lord Stour at that moment.
-
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-I found Mr. Betterton waiting for me under the
-Gateway where I had left him a quarter of an hour ago.
-
-As soon as he heard my footsteps upon the
-uneven pavement of the fore-court, he came forward
-to meet me, took hold of my cloak and dragged me
-back into shelter.
-
-He only said the one word: "Well?" but it is
-not in my power, dear Mistress, to render adequately
-all that there was of Anxiety, Impatience and of
-Passion in that one brief Query.
-
-I suppose that I hesitated. Of a truth the
-Message which I was bringing was choking me. And he
-who is so sensitive, so understanding, learned
-everything, 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 a wounded Animal, escaped his
-Throat and for a moment we were both silent—so
-silent that the patter of the rain appeared like some
-thunderous Noise: and the divers sounds of the
-great City wrapped in the Cloak of Evening came
-to us with sharp and eerie Distinctness. Far away,
-a dog barked; some belated Chairman called:
-"Make room, there!"; a couple of Watchmen
-passed close by, clinking their halberts against the
-ground, and from one of the noble Mansions nigh
-to us there came the sound of Revelry and of
-Laughter.
-
-I felt like in a Dream, conscious only that the
-Finger of Destiny was pointing to the Dial of a
-Clock, and that I was set here to count the Seconds
-and the Minutes until that ghostly Finger had
-completed its task and registered the final Hour when
-the Decrees of God would inevitably be fulfilled.
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- CHAPTER X
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-
- THE HOUR
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- 1
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-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 renewed Outrage that had been put
-upon my beloved Friend, I had well-nigh forgotten
-that secret conspiracy which was even now threatening
-the stability of our Country, and in which my
-former Employer and his Spouse were 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 more
-aristocratic co-traitors. And, strangely enough,
-Mr. Betterton thought of this at the very same time.
-He had been sunk in moody Reverie ever since my
-Silence had told him the grim tale of my
-unsuccessful Embassy to the Earl of Stour, and through
-the darkness it was impossible even for my devoted
-eyes to watch the Play of Emotions upon his
-tell-tale face, or to read in his eyes the dark thoughts
-which I knew must be coursing through his Brain.
-
-In myself, I could not help but be satisfied at the
-turn of Events. The Conspirators, denounced by
-me to the Countess of Castlemaine, would of a
-certainty meet the Punishment which they so fully
-deserved. Lord Stour was one of them, so was Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode. The Scaffold, or at least,
-Banishment, would be their lot, and how could I
-grieve—I, who hated them so!—that the Earth
-would presently be rid of two arrogant and
-supercilious Coxcombs, Traitors to their King,
-vainglorious and self-seeking. True, the Lady Barbara
-would weep. But when I remembered the many
-bitter tears which you, dear Mistress, have shed
-these past months 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 Shame at the hands of Men unworthy to
-lick the dust at his feet; when I remembered all
-that, I could find no Pity in my heart for the Lady
-Barbara, but rather a Hope that one so exquisitely
-fair would pass through Sorrow and Adversity the
-purer and softer for the Ordeal.
-
-True again, that for some reason still unexplained
-Mr. Betterton appeared to desire with an almost
-passionate intensity that his successful Rival should
-escape the fate of his fellow-Conspirators. Such
-Magnanimity was beyond my Comprehension, and
-I felt that the Sentiment which engendered it could
-not be a lasting one. Mr. Betterton was for the
-moment angry with me—very angry—for what I
-had done; but his 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 latter had expiated his Treachery and his
-Arrogance upon the Scaffold. The whole of this
-hideous past Episode would then become a mere
-Memory, like unto a nightmare which the healthful
-freshness of the newly-born Day so quickly dispels.
-
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-So on the whole it was with a lightened heart
-that I stepped into the boat in the wake of
-Mr. Betterton. I thanked the Lord that the Rain had
-ceased for the moment, for truly I was chilled to
-the Marrow and could not have borne another wetting.
-
-Every Angle and Stone and Stair and Landing
-Stage along the Embankment was of course familiar
-to me; and I could not help falling into a Reverie
-at sight of those great houses which were the City
-homes of some of the noblest Families in the Land.
-How many of these stately walls, thought I,
-sheltered a nest of Conspirators as vile and as disloyal
-as were Lord Douglas Wychwoode and his friends?
-Suffolk House and Yorke House, Salisbury House
-and Worster House, to mention but a few. How
-did the mere honest Citizen know what went on
-behind their Portals, what deadly secrets were
-whispered within their doors?
-
-I had been taught all my life to respect those who
-are above me in Station and to reverence our titled
-Nobility; but truly my short Experience of these
-high-born Sparks was not calculated to enhance my
-Respect for their Integrity or my Admiration for
-their Intellect. Some older Gentlemen there were,
-such as the Lord Chancellor himself, who were
-worthy of Everybody's regard; but I must confess
-that the Behaviour of the younger Fops was oft
-blameworthy.
-
-I might even instance our Experience this dark
-night after we had landed at the Temple Stairs, and
-were hurrying along our way up Middle Temple
-Lane in the wake of our linkmen. We were
-speeding on, treading carefully so as to avoid as much
-as was possible the mud which lay ankle-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, did it in prowling about the Streets, insulting
-or maltreating peaceable Passers-by, molesting
-Women, breaking Tavern windows, stealing
-Signboards and otherwise rendering themselves noxious
-to honest Citizens, and helping to make the Streets
-of our great City an object of terror by night, in
-emulation of highway Robbers and other foul
-Marauders.
-
-No doubt Mr. Betterton and I would—despite the
-aid of our two linkmen and of their stout Cudgels—have
-fallen a victim to these odious Miscreants,
-and the great Actor would of a surety have been
-very rudely treated, since he had so often denounced
-these Mal-practices from the Stage and held up to
-public Ridicule not only the young Rakes who took
-part in the riotous Orgies, but also our Nightwatchmen,
-who were too stupid or too cowardly to cope
-with them. But, knowing our danger, we avoided
-it, and hearing the young Mohocks coming our way
-we slipped up Hare Alley and bided our time until
-the noise of Revels and Riotings were well behind us.
-
-I heard afterwards that those Abominable
-Debauchees—who surely should have known better,
-seeing that they were all Scions of great and noble
-Families—had indeed "scoured" that night with
-some purpose. They broke into Simond's Inn in
-Fleet Street, smashed every Piece of Crockery they
-could find there, assaulted the Landlord, beat the
-Customers about, broke open the money-box, stole
-some five pounds in hard cash and insulted the
-waiting-maids. Finally they set a seal to their
-Revels by falling on the Nightwatchmen who had
-come to disperse them, beating them with their own
-halberts and with sticks, and wounding one so
-severely that he ultimately died in Hospital, while
-the Miscreants themselves got off scot-free.
-
-Truly a terrible state of Affairs in such a noble
-City as London!
-
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-As for Mr. Betterton and myself, we reached the
-corner of Chancery Lane without serious
-Adventure. As we neared the house of Mr. Theophilus
-Baggs, however, I felt my Courage oozing down
-into my shoes. Truly I could 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 shaming force.
-
-I begged Mr. Betterton, therefore, to go and
-speak with Mr. Baggs whilst I remained waiting
-outside upon the doorstep.
-
-Of all that miserable day, this was perhaps to me
-the most painful moment. From the instant that
-Mr. Betterton was admitted into the house until he
-returned to me some twenty minutes later, I was
-in a cold sweat, devoured with Apprehension and
-fighting against Remorse. I could not forget that
-Mr. Baggs had been my Master and Employer—if
-not too kind an one—for years, and if he had been
-sent to the Tower and accompanied his fellow
-Conspirators upon the Scaffold, I verily believe that I
-should have felt like Judas Iscariot and, like him,
-would have been unable to endure my life after such
-a base Betrayal.
-
-Fortunately, however, Mr. Betterton was soon
-able to reassure me. He had, he said, immediately
-warned Mr. Baggs that something of the Secret
-of 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 be
-wise 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 of losing his Head and committing
-some act of Folly through sheer fright. But
-Mr. Betterton's quieting Influence soon prevailed. The
-worthy Attorney, on thinking the matter over,
-realized that if he destroyed certain Documents
-which might prove incriminating to himself, he
-would have little else to fear. He himself had never
-written a compromising Letter—he was far too
-shrewd to have thus committed himself—and there
-was not a scrap of paper in any one else's
-possession which bore his Name or might mark his
-Identity, whilst he had not the slightest fear that the
-other Conspirators—who were all of them
-Gentlemen—would betray the Complicity of an humble
-Attorney who had rendered them loyal Service.
-
-Strangely enough, Mr. Baggs never suspected me
-of having betrayed the whole thing; or, if he did,
-he never said so. So many People plotted these
-days, so many Conspiracies were hatched then blown
-upon, that I for one imagine that Mr. Baggs had a
-hand in several of these and was paid high Fees
-for his share in them. Then, when anything
-untoward happened, when mere Chance, or else a
-Traitor among the Traitors, caused the Conspiracy
-to abort, the worthy Attorney would metaphorically
-shake the dust of political Intrigue from his shabby
-shoes, and make a bonfire of every compromising
-Document that might land him in the Tower and
-further. After which, he was no doubt ready to
-begin all over again.
-
-So it had occurred in this instance. Mr. Betterton
-did not wait to see the bonfire, which was just
-beginning to blaze merrily in the old-fashioned
-hearth. He told me all about it when he joined me
-once more upon the doorstep, and for the first time
-that day I heard him laugh quite naturally and
-spontaneously while he recounted to me Mr. Baggs'
-Terrors and Mistress Euphrosine's dignified
-Fussiness.
-
-"She would have liked to find some Pretext," he
-said quite gaily, "for blaming me in the Matter.
-But on the whole, I think that they were both
-thankful for my timely Warning."
-
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-
-But, as far as I was concerned, this ended once
-and for all my Connection with the house of
-Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and since that memorable night
-I have never once slept under his roof.
-
-I went back with Mr. Betterton to his House in
-Tothill Street. By the time we reached it, it was
-close on ten o'clock. Already he had intimated to
-me that henceforth I was to make my home with
-him; and as soon as we entered the House he
-ordered his Servant to make my room and bed ready
-for me. My Heart was filled with inexpressible
-gratitude at his Kindness. Though I had, in an
-altogether inexplicable manner, run counter to his
-Plans, he was ready to forgive me and did not
-withdraw his Friendship from me.
-
-As time went on, I was able to tell him something
-of the Emotions which coursed through my Heart
-in recognition of his measureless Kindness to me;
-but on that first evening I could not speak of it.
-When I first beheld the cosy room which he had
-assigned to me, with its clean and comfortable bed
-and substantial furniture, I could only bow my
-Head, take his Hand and kiss it reverently. He
-withdrew it as if he had been stung.
-
-"Keep such expressions of Respect," he said
-almost roughly, "for one who is worthy."
-
-"You," I riposted simply, "are infinitely worthy,
-because You are good."
-
-Then once again his harsh, mirthless Laugh—so
-unlike his usual light-hearted Merriment—grated
-upon mine ear.
-
-"Good!" he exclaimed. "Nay, friend Honeywood,
-You are not, meseems, a master of intuition.
-Few Hearts in London this night," he added
-earnestly, "harbour such evil Desires as mine."
-
-But in spite of what he said, in spite of that
-strange look in his eyes, that Laugh which
-proclaimed a perturbed Soul, I could not bring myself
-to believe that his noble Heart was a Prey to aught
-but noble Desires, and that those awful and subtle
-Schemes of deadly Revenge which have subsequently
-threatened to ruin his own Life were even now
-seething in his Brain.
-
-For the moment, I only remembered that when
-first he had requested me to accompany him on his
-evening Peregrinations, it had been with a view to
-visiting the Countess of Castlemaine, and I now
-reminded him of his Purpose, thinking that his
-desire had been to beg for my Lord Stour's pardon.
-I did so, still insisting upon her Ladyship's avowed
-Predilection for himself, and I noticed that while
-I spoke thus he smiled grimly to himself and
-presently said with slow Deliberation:
-
-"Aye! Her Ladyship hath vowed that out of
-Gratitude for his public Eulogy of her Virtue and
-her Beauty, she would grant Mr. Thomas Betterton
-any Favour he might ask of her."
-
-"Aye! and her Ladyship is not like to go back
-on her word," I assented eagerly.
-
-"Therefore," he continued, not heeding me, "the
-Countess of Castlemaine, who in her turn can
-obtain any Favour she desires from His Majesty the
-King, will at my request obtain a full and gracious
-Pardon for the Earl of Stour."
-
-"She will indeed!" I exclaimed, puzzled once
-more at this strange trait of Magnanimity—Weakness,
-I called it—on the part of a Man who had on
-two occasions been so monstrously outraged. "You
-are a hero, Sir," I added in an awed whisper, "to
-think of a pardon for your most deadly Enemy."
-
-He turned and looked me full in the eyes. I
-could scarce bear his Glance, for there seemed to
-dwell within its glowing depths such a World of
-Misery, of Hatred and of thwarted Passion, that
-my Soul was filled with dread at the sight. And
-he said very slowly:
-
-"You are wrong there, my Friend. I was not
-thinking of a pardon for mine Enemy, but of
-Revenge for a deadly Insult, which it seems cannot
-be wiped out in Blood."
-
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- 5
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-I would have said something more after that, for
-in truth my Heart was full of Sympathy and of
-Love for my Friend and I longed to soothe and
-console him, as I felt I could do, humble and
-unsophisticated though I was. Thoughts of You, dear
-Mistress, were running riot in my Brain. I longed
-at this momentous hour, when the Fate of many
-Men whom I knew was trembling in the balance, to
-throw myself at Mr. Betterton's feet and to
-conjure him in the name of all his most noble Instincts
-to give up all thoughts of the proud Lady who had
-disdained him and spurned his Affections, and to
-turn once more to the early and pure Love of his
-Life—to You, dear Mistress, whose Devotion had
-been so severely tried and yet had not been found
-wanting, and whose influence had always been one
-of Gentleness and of Purity.
-
-But, seeing him sitting there brooding, obviously a
-Prey to Thoughts both deep and dark, I did not dare
-speak, and remained silent in the hope that, now that
-I was settled under his roof, an Opportunity would
-occur for me to tell him what weighed so heavily on
-my Heart.
-
-Presently the Servant came in and brought
-Supper, and Mr. Betterton sat down to it, bidding
-me with perfect Grace and Hospitality to sit
-opposite to him. But we neither of us felt greatly
-inclined to eat. I was hungry, it is true; yet every
-Morsel which I conveyed to my mouth cost me an
-effort to swallow. This was all the more remarkable
-as at the moment my whole Being was revelling
-in the Succulence of the fare spread out before me,
-the Excellence of the Wine, the snowy Whiteness of
-the Cloths, the Beauty of Crystal and of Silver,
-all of which bore testimony to the fastidious Taste
-and the Refinement of the great Artist.
-
-Of the great Events which were even then shaping
-themselves in White Hall, we did not speak. We
-each knew that the Other's mind was full of what
-might be going on even at this hour. But
-Mr. Betterton made not a single Reference to it, and
-I too, therefore, held my tongue. In fact, we spoke
-but little during Supper, and as I watched my
-dearly loved Friend toying with his food, and I
-myself felt as if the next mouthful would choke me,
-I knew his Mind was far away.
-
-It was fixed upon White Hall and its stately
-Purlieus and upon the house of the Countess of
-Castlemaine, which overlooked the Privy Gardens,
-and of His Majesty the King. His senses, I knew,
-were strained to catch the sound of distant
-Murmurs, of running Footsteps, of the grinding of Arms
-or of pistol shots.
-
-But not a Sound came to disturb the peaceful
-Silence of this comfortable Abode. The Servant
-came and went, bringing food, then clearing it away,
-pouring Wine into our glasses, setting and removing
-the silver Utensils.
-
-Anon Mr. Betterton and I both started and
-furtively caught one another's Glance. The tower
-clock of Westminster was striking eleven.
-
-"For Good or for Evil, all is over by now,"
-Mr. Betterton said quietly. "Come, friend
-Honeywood; let's to bed."
-
-I went to bed, but not to sleep. For hours I lay
-awake, wondering what had happened. Had the
-Conspirators succeeded and was His Majesty a
-Prisoner in their hands? or were they themselves
-Captives in that frowning Edifice by the Water,
-which had witnessed so many Deaths and such grim
-Tragedies, and from which the only Egress led
-straight to the Scaffold?
-
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- CHAPTER XI
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- RUMOURS AND CONJECTURES
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- 1
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-Very little of what had actually occurred came to
-the ear of the Public. In fact, not one Man in ten
-in the whole of the Cities of London and
-Westminster knew that a couple of hours before
-midnight, when most simple and honest Citizens were
-retiring to their beds, a batch of dangerous
-Conspirators had been arrested even within the
-Precincts of White Hall.
-
-I heard all that there was to know from
-Mr. Betterton, who went out early the following
-Morning and returned fully informed of the events of the
-preceding Night. Subsequently too, I gleaned a
-good deal of information through the instrumentality
-of Mistress Floid. As far as I could gather,
-the Conspirators did carry out their Project just
-as they had decided on it in my Presence. They did
-assemble in King Street and in the by-lanes leading
-out of it, keeping my Lady Castlemaine's House in
-sight, whilst others succeeded in Concealing
-themselves about the Gardens of White Hall, no doubt
-with the Aid of treacherous and suborned Watchmen.
-
-The striking of the hour of ten was to be the
-signal for immediate and concerted Action. Those
-in the Gardens stood by on the watch, until after
-His Majesty the King had walked across from his
-Palace to Her Ladyship's House. His Majesty, as
-was his wont when supping with Lady Castlemaine,
-entered her house by the back door, and his Servants
-followed him into the house.
-
-Then the Conspirators waited for the Hour to
-strike. Directly the last clang of church bells had
-ceased to reverberate through the humid evening air,
-they advanced both from the Back and the Front
-of the House simultaneously, when they were set
-upon on the one side by a Company of His Majesty's
-Body Guard under the Command of Major
-Sachvrell, who had remained concealed inside the
-Palace, and on the other by a Company of
-Halberdiers under the Command of Colonel Powick.
-
-When the Traitors were thus confronted by loyal
-Troops, they tried to put up a Fight, not realizing
-that such measures had been taken by Major
-Sachvrell and Colonel Powick that they could not
-possibly hope to escape.
-
-A scuffle ensued, but the Conspirators were very
-soon overpowered, as indeed they were greatly
-outnumbered. The Neighbourhood—even then
-slumbering peacefully—did no more than turn over in
-bed, marvelling perhaps if a party of Mohocks on
-mischief bent had come in conflict with a Posse of
-Night-watchmen. The Prisoners were at once
-marched to the Tower, despite the Rain which had
-once more begun to fall heavily; and during the
-long, wearisome Tramp through the City, their
-Ardour for Conspiracies and Intrigues must have
-cooled down considerably.
-
-The Lieutenant of the Tower had everything
-ready for the Reception of such exalted Guests; for
-in truth my Lady Castlemaine had not allowed
-things to be done by halves. Incensed against her
-Enemies in a manner in which only an adulated and
-spoilt Woman can be, she was going to see to it
-that those who had plotted against her should be as
-severely dealt with as the Law permitted.
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-Later on, I had it from my friend, Mistress
-Floid, that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode visited
-the Countess of Castlemaine during the course of
-the morning. She arrived at her Ladyship's House
-dressed in black and with a Veil, as if of mourning,
-over her fair Hair.
-
-Mistress Floid hath oft told me that the Interview
-between the two Ladies was truly pitiable, and that
-the Lady Barbara presented a heart-rending
-Spectacle. She begged and implored her Ladyship to
-exercise Mercy over a few young Hotheads, who
-had been misled into Wrong-doing by inflammatory
-Speeches from Agitators, these being naught but
-paid Agents of the Dutch Government, she averred,
-set to create Discontent and if possible Civil War
-once again in England, so that Holland might
-embark upon a War of Revenge with some Certainty
-of Success.
-
-But the Countess of Castlemaine would not listen
-to the Petition at all, and proud Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode then flung herself at the other Woman's
-feet and begged and implored for Pardon for her
-Brother, her Lover and her Friends. Mistress Floid
-avers that my Lady Castlemaine did nothing but
-laugh at the poor Girl's pleadings, saying in a
-haughty, supercilious Manner:
-
-"Beauty in tears? 'Tis a pretty sight, forsooth!
-But had your Friends succeeded in their damnable
-Plot, would You have shed tears of sympathy for
-Me, I wonder?"
-
-And I could not find it in me to be astonished at
-my Lady Castlemaine's Spitefulness, for in truth the
-Lady Barbara's Friends had plotted her Disgrace
-and Ruin. Not only that, they had taken every
-opportunity of vilifying her Character and making
-her appear as odious in the Eyes of the People as
-they very well could.
-
-You must not infer from this, dear Mistress, that
-I am upholding my Lady Castlemaine in any way.
-Her mode of life is abhorrent to me and I deeply
-regret her Influence over His Majesty and over the
-public Morals of the Court Circle, not to say of the
-entire Aristocracy and Gentry. I am merely noting
-the fact that human Nature being what it is, it is
-not to be wondered at that when the Lady had a
-Chance of hitting back, she did so with all her
-Might, determined to lose nothing of this
-stupendous Revenge.
-
-However secret the actual Arrest of the
-Conspirators was kept from public Knowledge, it soon
-transpired that such great and noble Gentlemen as
-Lord Teammouth, Lord Douglas Wychwoode, the
-Earl of Stour, not to mention others, were in the
-Tower, and that a sensational Trial for Conspiracy
-and High Treason was pending.
-
-Gradually the History of the Plot had leaked
-out, and how it had become abortive owing to an
-anonymous Denunciation (for so it was called).
-The Conspiracy became the talk of the Town.
-Several Ladies and Gentlemen, though not directly
-implicated in the Affair, but of known ultra-Protestant
-views, thought it best to retire to their Country
-Estates, ostensibly for the benefit of their Health.
-
-Sinister Rumours were afloat that the
-Conspirators would be executed without Trial—had
-already suffered the extreme Penalty of the Law;
-that the Marquis of Sidbury, Father of Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode, had suddenly died of Grief;
-that Torture would be applied to the proletarian
-Accomplices of the noble Lords—of whom there
-were many—so as to extract further Information
-and Denunciations from them. In fact, the Town
-seethed with Conjectures; People talked in
-Whispers and dispersed at sight of any one who was
-known to belong to the Court Circle. The Theatres
-played to empty Benches, the Exchanges and Shops
-were deserted, for no one liked to be abroad when
-Arrests and Prosecutions were in the Air.
-
-Through it all, very great Sympathy was evinced
-for the Lady Barbara Wychwoode, whose pretty
-Face was so well-known in Town and whose Charm
-of Manner and kindly Disposition had endeared her
-to many who had had the privilege of her Acquaintance.
-Public Opinion is a strange and unaccountable
-Factor in the Affairs of Men, and Public
-Opinion found it terribly hard that so young and
-adulated a Girl as was the Lady Barbara should
-at one fell swoop lose Brother, Lover and Friends.
-And I may truly say that Satisfaction was
-absolutely genuine and universal when it became known
-presently that the young Earl of Stour had
-received a full and gracious Pardon for his supposed
-Share in the abominable Plot.
-
-Whether, on closer Investigation, he had been
-proved innocent or whether the Pardon was due to
-exalted or other powerful Influences, no one knew
-as yet: all that was a Certainty was that my Lord
-Stour presently left the Tower a free Man even
-whilst his Friends were one and all brought to
-Trial, and subsequently most of them executed for
-High Treason, or otherwise severely punished.
-
-Lord Teammouth suffered Death upon the
-Scaffold, so did Sir James Campsfield and Mr. Andrew
-Kinver; and there were others, whose Names escape
-me for the moment. Lord Douglas Wychwoode
-succeeded in fleeing to Scotland and thence to
-Holland; most people averred owing to the marvellous
-Pluck and Ingenuity of his Sister. A number of
-Persons of meaner degree were hanged; in fact, a
-Reign of Terror swept over the country, and many
-thought that the Judges had been unduly harsh and
-over free with their Pronouncements of Death
-Sentences.
-
-But it was obvious that His Majesty himself
-meant to make an Example of such abominable
-Traitors, before political Intrigues and Rebellion
-spread over the Country once again.
-
-It was all the more strange, therefore, that one
-of the Conspirators—the Earl of Stour, in fact,
-whose name had been most conspicuous in connection
-with the Affair—should thus have been the only
-one to enjoy Immunity. But, as I said before,
-nothing but Satisfaction was expressed at first for
-this one small Ray of Sunshine which came to
-brighten poor Lady Barbara Wychwoode's Misery.
-
-As for me, I did not know what to think. Surely
-my heart should have been filled with Admiration
-for the noble Revenge which a great Artist had
-taken upon a hot-headed young Coxcomb. Such
-Magnanimity was indeed unbelievable; nay, I felt
-that it showed a Weakness of Character of which in
-my innermost Heart I did not believe Mr. Betterton
-capable.
-
-To say that I was much rejoiced over the
-Clemency shown to my Lord Stour would be to deviate
-from the Truth. Looking back upon the Motives
-which had actuated me when I denounced the
-infamous Plot to the Countess of Castlemaine, I could
-not help but admit to myself that Hatred of a young
-Jackanapes and a Desire for Vengeance upon his
-impudent Head had greatly influenced my Course
-of Action. Now that I imagined him once more
-kneeling at the Lady Barbara's feet, an accepted
-Lover, triumphant over Destiny, all the Sympathy
-which I may have felt for him momentarily in the
-hour of his Adversity, died out completely from my
-Heart, and I felt that I hated him even more
-virulently than before.
-
-His Image, as he had last stood before me in the
-dimly-lighted room of his noble Mansion,
-surrounded by Books, costly Furniture, and all the
-Appurtenances of a rich and independent Gentleman,
-was constantly before my Mind. I could, just by
-closing mine eyes, see him sitting beside the hearth,
-with the lovely Lady Barbara beaming at him from
-the place opposite, and his Friend standing by,
-backing him up with Word and Deed in all his
-Arrogance and Overbearing.
-
-"The Earl of Stour cannot cross swords with a
-Mountebank."
-
-I seemed to hear those Words reverberating
-across the street like the clank of some ghostly
-Bell; and whenever mine ears rang to their sound
-I felt the hot Blood of a just Wrath surge up to
-my cheeks and my feeble Hands would close in a
-Clutch, that was fierce as it was impotent.
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-The reported Death from grief of the Marquis
-of Sidbury proved to be a false Rumour. But the
-aged Peer did suffer severely from the Shame put
-upon him by his Son's Treachery. The Wychwoodes
-had always been loyal Subjects of their
-King. At the time of the late lamented Monarch's
-most crying Adversity, he knew that he could always
-count on the Devotion of that noble Family, the
-Members of which had jeopardized their entire
-Fortune, their very Existence, in the royal Cause.
-
-Of course, the present Marquis's two Children
-were scarce out of the Nursery 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 thought that his only Son, as soon
-as he had reached Man's Estate, should have raised
-his Hand against his Sovereign.
-
-No doubt owing to the disturbed State of many
-influential Circles of Society that Winter, and the
-number of noble Families who were in mourning
-after the aborted Conspiracy and the wholesale
-Executions that ensued, the Marriage between the
-Lady Barbara Wychwoode and the Earl of Stour
-was postponed until the Spring, and then it would
-take place very quietly at the Bride's home in
-Sussex, whither she had gone of late with her
-Father, both living there for a while in strict
-Retirement.
-
-Lord Douglas Wychwoode, so it was understood,
-had succeeded in reaching Holland, where, I doubt
-not, he continued to carry on those political
-Intrigues against his lawful Sovereign which would
-of a surety one day bring him to an ignominious End.
-
-I was now living in the greatest Comfort and was
-supremely happy, in the House of Mr. Betterton.
-He employed me as his Secretary, and in truth my
-place was no sinecure, for I never could have
-believed that there were so many foolish Persons in
-the World who spent their time in writing
-Letters—laudatory or otherwise—to such great Men as
-were in the public Eye. I myself, though I have
-always been a wholehearted Admirer of Men of
-Talent and Erudition, would never have taken it
-upon myself to trouble them with Effusions from my
-Pen. And yet Letter after Letter would come to
-the house in Tothill Street, addressed to
-Mr. Thomas Betterton. Some written by great and
-noble Ladies whose Names would surprise You,
-dear Mistress, were I to mention them; others were
-from Men of position and of learning who desired
-to express to the great Artist all the Pleasure that
-they had derived from his rendering of noble
-Characters.
-
-Mr. Pepys, a Gentleman of great knowledge and
-a Clerk in the Admiralty, wrote quite frequently to
-Mr. Betterton, sometimes to express unstinted
-Praise for the great Actor's Performance in one of
-his favourite Plays, or sometimes venturing on
-Criticism, which was often shrewd and never disdained.
-
-But, after all, am I not wasting time by telling
-You that which You, dear Mistress, know well
-enough from your own personal Experience? I
-doubt not but you receive many such Letters, both
-from Admirers and from Friends, not to mention
-Enemies, who are always to the fore when a Man
-or Woman rises by Talent or Learning above the
-dead level of the rest of Humanity.
-
-It was then my duty to read those Letters and
-to reply to them, which I did at Mr. Betterton's
-Dictation, and in my choicest Caligraphy with many
-Embellishments such as I had learned whilst I was
-Clerk to Mr. Baggs. Thus it was that I obtained
-Confirmation of the Fact which was still agitating
-my Mind: namely, Mr. Betterton's share in the
-Events which led to His Majesty's gracious Pardon
-being extended to the Earl of Stour. I had, of
-course, more than suspected all along that it was my
-Friend who had approached the Countess of
-Castlemaine on the Subject, yet could not imagine
-how any Man, who was smarting under such a
-terrible Insult, as Mr. Betterton had suffered at the
-hands of my Lord Stour, could find it in his Heart
-thus to return Good for Evil, and with such splendid
-Magnanimity.
-
-But here I had Chapter and Verse for the whole
-Affair, because my Lady Castlemaine wrote to
-Mr. Betterton more than once upon the Subject, and
-always in the same bantering tone, chaffing him for
-his Chivalry and his Heroism, saying very much
-what I should myself, if I had had the Courage or
-the Presumption to do so. She kept him well
-informed of her Endeavours on behalf of Lord Stour,
-referring to the King's Severity and Obstinacy in
-the matter in no measured Language, but almost
-invariably closing her Epistles with a reiteration
-of her promise to the great Artist 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 You
-would 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 His Majesty; but You cannot
-conceive in what a Predicament You have placed me,
-for His Majesty hath shown signs of Suspicion
-since I plead so earnestly on behalf of Lord Stour.
-If my Insistence were really to arouse his Jealousy
-your Protégé would certainly lose his Head and I
-probably my Place in the King's Affections."
-
-And then again:
-
-"It greatly puzzles me why You should thus
-favour my Lord Stour. Is it not 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 You enjoin 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 that for 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, the
-Secret was so well kept that, even in this era of
-ceaseless Gossip and Chatter, every one, even in the
-most intimate Court Circle, was ignorant of the
-subtle Intrigue which had been set in motion on
-behalf of the young Gallant.
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- CHAPTER XII
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- POISONED ARROWS
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-Do you remember, dear Mistress, those lovely
-days we had in February this year? They were
-more like days of Spring than of Winter. For a
-fortnight we revelled in sunshine and a temperature
-more fitting for May than for one of the Winter
-months.
-
-In London, Rich and Poor alike came out into
-the Air like flies; the public Gardens and other
-Places of common resort were alive with
-Promenaders; the Walks and Arbours in the Gray's Inn
-Walks or the Mulberry Garden were astir with
-brilliant Company. All day, whether you sauntered in
-Hyde Park, refreshed yourself with a collation in
-Spring Gardens or strolled into the New Exchange,
-you would find such a crowd of Men and Women
-of Mode, such a Galaxy of Beauty and Bevy of fair
-Maids and gallant Gentlemen as had not been seen
-in the Town since that merry month of May, nigh
-on two years ago now, when our beloved King
-returned from Exile and all vied one with the other
-to give him a cheerful Welcome.
-
-To say that this period was one of unexampled
-Triumph for Mr. Betterton would be but to repeat
-what You know just as well as I do. He made
-some truly remarkable hits in certain Plays of the
-late Mr. William Shakespeare, notably in
-"Macbeth," in "King Lear," and in "Hamlett." Whether
-I like these Plays myself or not is beside
-the point; whatever I thought of them I kept to
-myself, but was loud in my Admiration of the great
-Actor, who indeed had by now conquered all Hearts,
-put every other Performer in the Shade and raised
-the Status of the Duke's Company of Players 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 the younger generation of
-Play-goers who flock to the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn
-Fields, even while the King's House in Vere Street
-is receiving but scanty Patronage. Of course my
-Judgment may not be altogether impartial, seeing
-that in addition to Mr. Betterton, who is the finest
-Actor our English Stage has ever known, the Duke's
-House also boasts of the loveliest Actress that ever
-walked before the Curtain.
-
-You, dear Mistress, were already then, as You
-are now, at the zenith of your Beauty and Fame,
-and your damask Cheeks would blush, I know, if
-you were to read for yourself some of the Eulogies
-which the aforementioned Mr. Samuel Pepys in his
-Letters to Mr. Betterton bestows upon the exquisite
-Mistress Saunderson—"Ianthe," as he has been
-wont to call you ever since he saw You play that
-part in Sir William Davenant's "The Siege of Rhodes."
-
-Of course I know that of late no other sentimental
-tie hath existed outwardly between Mr. Betterton
-and Yourself save that of Comradeship and friendly
-Intercourse; but often when sitting in the Pit of the
-Theatre I watched You and Him standing together
-before the curtain, and receiving the Plaudits of an
-enthusiastic Audience, I prayed to God in my Heart
-to dissipate the Cloud of Misunderstanding which
-had arisen between You; aye! and I cursed
-fervently the Lady Barbara and her noble Lover, who
-helped to make that Cloud more sombre and impenetrable.
-
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-I naturally heard a great deal more of Society
-Gossip these days than I was wont to do during
-the time that I was a mere Clerk in the Employ
-of Mr. Theophilus Baggs. My kind Employer
-treated me more as a Friend than a Servant. I
-had fine Clothes to wear, accompanied him on
-several Occasions when he appeared in Public, and was
-constantly in his tiring-room at the Theatre, where
-he received and entertained a never-ending Stream
-of Friends.
-
-Thus, towards the end of the Month, I gathered
-from the Conversation of Gentlemen around me
-that the Marquess of Sidbury had come up to Town
-in the Company of his beautiful Daughter. He had,
-they said, taken advantage of the fine Weather to
-make the Journey to London, as he desired to consult
-the Court Physician on the Matter of his Health.
-
-I shall never forget the strange Look that came
-into Mr. Betterton's face when first the Subject was
-mentioned. He and some Friends—Ladies as well
-as Gentlemen—were assembled in the small
-Reception Room which hath lately been fitted up behind
-the Stage. Upholstered and curtained with a
-pleasing Shade of Green, the Room is much frequented
-by Artists and their Friends, and it is always
-crowded during the Performance of those 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 the occasion of a performance
-of Mr. Webster's "Duchess of Malfy," in which
-You, dear Mistress, had no part, a very brilliant
-Company was assembled. Sir William Davenant
-was there, as a matter of course, so was Sir George
-Etherege, and that brilliant young dramatist
-Mr. Wycherley. In addition to that, there were one or
-two very great Gentlemen there, members of the
-Court Circle and enthusiastic Playgoers, who were
-also intimate Friends of Mr. Betterton. I am
-referring particularly to the Duke of Buckingham, to
-my Lord Rochester, Lord Orrery and others. A
-brilliant Assembly forsooth, which testified to the
-high Esteem in which the great Artist 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 in the Green Room, a
-strange Glance, which I was unable to interpret, shot
-out of Mr. Betterton's eyes, and as I gazed upon that
-subtle, impalpable Change which suddenly transformed
-his serene Expression of Countenance into
-one that was almost Evil, I felt a curious sinking of
-the Heart—a dread Premonition of what was to
-come. You know how his lips are ever ready to
-smile: now they appeared thin and set, while the
-sensitive Nostrils quivered almost like those of the
-wild Beasts which we have all of us frequently
-watched in the Zoological Gardens, when the
-Attendants bring along the food for the day and they,
-eager and hungry, know that the Hour of
-Satisfaction is nigh.
-
-"The fair Lady Babs," one of the young
-Gallants was saying with studied Flippancy, "is more
-beautiful than ever, methinks; even though she goes
-about garbed in the Robes of Sorrow."
-
-"Poor young thing!" commented His Grace of
-Buckingham kindly. "She has been hard hit in that
-last Affair."
-
-"I wonder what has happened to Wychwoode,"
-added Lord Rochester, who had been a known
-Friend of Lord Douglas.
-
-"Oh! he reached Holland safely enough,"
-another Gentleman whom I did not know averred. "I
-suppose he thinks that it will all blow over
-presently and that he will obtain a free pardon——"
-
-"Like my Lord Stour," commented Mr. Betterton drily.
-
-"Oh! that's hardly likely," interposed Sir George
-Etherege. "Wychwoode was up to the neck in the
-Conspiracy, whilst Stour was proved to be innocent
-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 know it?"
-
-"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," here interposed my Lord of Rochester.
-
-"He was granted a free Pardon," asserted His
-Grace of Buckingham, "two days 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 some purpose; and oh! that Purpose
-I simply dared not guess. I was watching him,
-remember, watching him as only a devoted Friend
-or a fond Mother know how to watch; and I saw
-that set look on his Face grow harder and harder
-and a steely, glittering Light flash out of his Eyes.
-
-My God! how I suffered! For with that Intuition
-which comes to us at times when those whom
-we love are in deadly peril, I had suddenly beheld
-the Abyss of Evil into which my Friend was about
-to plunge headlong. Yes! I understood now why
-Mr. Betterton had pleaded with my Lady Castlemaine
-for his Enemy's Life. It was not in order
-to confer upon him a lasting benefit and thus shame
-him by his Magnanimity; but rather in order to do
-him an Injury so irreparable that even Death could
-not wipe it away.
-
-But you shall judge, dear Mistress; and thus
-judging You will understand much that has been
-so obscure in my dear Friend's Character and in his
-Actions of late. And to understand All is to
-forgive All. One thing you must remember, however,
-and that is that no Man of Mr. Betterton's Worth
-hath ever suffered in his Pride and his innermost
-Sensibilities as he hath done at the Hands of that
-young Jackanapes whom he hated—as I had good
-cause to know now—with an Intensity which was
-both cruel and relentless. He meant to be even with
-him, to fight him with his own Weapons, which
-were those of Contempt and of Ridicule. He meant
-to wound there, where he himself had suffered most,
-in Reputation and in Self-Respect.
-
-I saw it all, and was powerless to do aught save
-to gaze in mute Heart-Agony on the marring of a
-noble Soul. Nay! I am not ashamed to own it:
-I did in my Heart condemn my Friend for what he
-had set out to do. I too hated Lord Stour, God
-forgive me! but two months ago I would gladly
-have seen his arrogant Head fall upon the Scaffold;
-but this subtle and calculating Revenge, this cold
-Intrigue to ruin a Man's Reputation and to
-besmirch his Honour, was beyond my ken, and I could
-have wept to see the great Soul of the Man, whom
-I admired most in all the World, a prey to such an
-evil Purpose.
-
-"We all know," one of the young Sparks was
-saying even now, "that my Lady Castlemaine
-showed Stour marked favour from the very
-moment he appeared at Court."
-
-"We also know," added Mr. Betterton with
-quiet Irony, "that the whisper of 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 slight Elevation of the Eyebrows.
-
-"Because he is a Stourcliffe of Stour, Sir," broke
-in Sir George Etherege in that loud, blustering way
-he hath at times; "and bears one of 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 Lord Orrery.
-
-"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 glad I was that he, at any rate, had had
-nothing to do with that abominable Affair."
-
-"Well?" came eagerly from every one. "What
-did she say?"
-
-His Grace remained thoughtful for a time, as if
-trying to recollect Something 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 one of Her Ladyship's
-Supper Parties. His Majesty was present. We all
-fell to talking about the Conspiracy, and the King
-said some very bitter things. Then I thought I
-would say something about Stour. You remember?"
-
-"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! I recollect the Circumstance
-perfectly now, though I attached no importance to
-it at the time. But I can see it all before me. His
-Majesty frowned and continued to look glum, whilst
-the Countess of Castlemaine vowed with a laugh
-that, anyway, my lord Stour was the handsomest
-Gentleman in London, and that 'twere a pity to
-allow such a beautiful Head to fall on the Scaffold."
-
-"It certainly sounds very strange," mused my
-Lord Rochester, and fell to talking in Whispers with
-Sir George Etherege, whilst His Grace of Buckingham
-went and sat down beside Mr. Betterton,
-and obviously started to discuss the Incident of the
-Supper Party all over again with the great Actor.
-Other isolated Groups also formed themselves, and
-I knew that my Lord Stour's Name was on every
-one's lips.
-
-Traducement and Gossip is Meat and Drink to
-all these noble and distinguished Gentlemen, and
-here they had something to talk about, which would
-transcend in Scandal anything that had gone
-before. The story about my Lord Stour would
-spread with the Rapidity which only evil-loving
-Tongues can give. Alas! my poor Friend knew that
-well enough when he shot his poisoned Arrows into
-the Air. I was watching him whilst His Grace of
-Buckingham conversed with him: I saw the feverishly
-keen look in his eyes as he, in his turn, watched
-the Ball of Slander and Gossip being tossed about
-from one Group to another. He said but little,
-hardly gave Answer to His Grace; but I could see
-that he was on the alert, ready with other little
-poisoned Darts whenever he saw Signs of weakening
-in the Volume of Backbiting, which he had so
-deliberately set going.
-
-"I liked Stour and I admired him," Lord
-Rochester said at one time. "I could have sworn
-that Nature herself had written 'honest man' on
-his face."
-
-"Ah!——" interposed Mr. Betterton, with that
-quiet Sarcasm which I had learned to dread.
-"Nature sometimes writes with a very bad Pen."
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-It was not to be wondered at that the Scandal
-against my Lord Stour, which was started in the
-Green Room of the Theatre, grew in Magnitude
-with amazing Rapidity. I could not tell you, dear
-Mistress, what my innermost feelings were in
-regard to the Matter: being an humble and ignorant
-Clerk and devoted to the one Man to whom I owe
-everything that makes life pleasing. I had neither
-the Wish nor the mental Power to tear my Heart
-to Pieces, in order to find out whether it beat in
-Sympathy with my Friend, or with the Victim of
-such a complete and deadly Revenge.
-
-My Lord Stour was not then in London. He too,
-like many of his Friends—notably the Marquis of
-Sidbury and others not directly accused of Participation
-in the aborted Plot—had retired to his Country
-Estate, probably unwilling to witness the gaieties
-of City Life, while those he cared for most were
-in such dire Sorrow. But now that the Lady
-Barbara and her Father were once more in Town, there
-was little doubt that he too would return there
-presently. Since he was a free Man, and Lord
-Douglas Wychwoode had succeeded in evading the
-Law, there was no doubt that the natural Elasticity
-of Youth coupled with the prospect of the happy
-future which lay before him, would soon enable him
-to pick up the Threads of Life, there where they
-had been so unexpectedly and ruthlessly entangled.
-
-I imagine that when his Lordship first arrived in
-Town and once more established himself in the
-magnificent Mansion in Canon's Row which I had
-bitter cause to know so well, he did not truly
-visualize the Atmosphere of brooding Suspicion which
-encompassed him where e'er he went. If he did
-notice that one or two of his former Friends did
-give him something of a cold shoulder, I believe that
-he would attribute this more to political than to
-personal Reasons. He had undoubtedly been
-implicated in a Conspiracy which was universally
-condemned for its Treachery and Disloyalty, and no
-doubt for a time he would have to bear the brunt
-of public Condemnation, even though the free
-Pardon, which had so unexpectedly been granted
-him, proved that he had been more misguided than
-really guilty.
-
-His Arrival in London, his Appearance in Public
-Places, his obvious ignorance of the Cloud which
-was hanging over his fair Name, were the subject
-of constant Discussion and Comment in the Green
-Room of the Theatre as well as elsewhere. And I
-take it that his very Insouciance, the proud
-Carelessness wherewith he met the cold Reception which
-had been granted him, would soon have got over
-the scandalous tale which constant Gossip alone
-kept alive, except that one tongue—and one
-alone—never allowed that Gossip to rest.
-
-And that Tongue was an eloquent as well as a
-bitter one, and more cunning than even I could ever
-have believed.
-
-How oft in the Green Room, in the midst of a
-brilliant Company, have I listened to the flippant
-talk of gay young Sparks, only to hear it drifting
-inevitably toward the Subject of my Lord Stour,
-and of that wholly unexplainable Pardon, which
-had left him a free Man, whilst all his former
-Associates had either perished as Traitors, or were forced
-to lead the miserable life of an Exile, far from
-Home, Kindred and Friends.
-
-Drifting, did I say? Nay, the Talk was
-invariably guided in that direction by the unerring
-Voice of a deeply outraged Man who, at last, was
-taking his Revenge. A word here, an Insinuation
-there, a witty Remark or a shrug of the shoulders,
-and that volatile sprite, Public Opinion, would veer
-back from any possible doubt or leniency to the
-eternally unanswered Riddle: "When so many of
-his Friends perished upon the Scaffold, how was it
-that my Lord Stour was free?"
-
-How it had come about I know not, but it is
-certain that very soon it became generally known
-that his Lordship had been entrusted by his Friends
-with the distribution of Manifestos which were to
-rally certain Waverers to the cause of the
-Conspirators. And it was solemnly averred that it was
-in consequence of a Copy of this same Manifesto,
-together with a list of prominent Names, coming
-into the hands of my Lady Castlemaine, that so
-many Gentlemen were arrested and executed,
-and my Lord Stour had been allowed to go scot-free.
-
-How could I help knowing that this last Slander
-had emanated from the Green Room, with the object
-of laying the final stone to the edifice of Calumnies,
-which was to crush an Enemy's Reputation and fair
-Fame beyond the hope of Retrieval?
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-A day or two later my Lord Stour, walking with
-a Friend in St. James's Park, came face to face with
-Mr. Betterton, who had Sir William Davenant and
-the Duke of Albemarle with him as well as one or
-two other Gentlemen, whilst he leaned with his
-wonted kindness and familiarity on my arm.
-Mr. Betterton would, I think, have passed by; but my
-Lord Stour, ignoring him as if he were dirt under
-aristocratic feet, stopped with ostentatious good-will
-to speak with the General.
-
-But his Grace did in truth give the young Lord a
-very cold shoulder and Sir William Davenant,
-equally ostentatiously, started to relate piquant
-Anecdotes to young Mr. Harry Wordsley, who was
-just up from the country.
-
-I saw my Lord Stour's handsome face darken
-with an angry frown. For awhile he appeared to
-hesitate as to what he should do, then with scant
-Ceremony he took the Duke of Albemarle by the
-coat-sleeve and said hastily:
-
-"My Lord Duke, You and my Father fought side
-by side on many occasions. Now, I like not your
-Attitude towards me. Will you be pleased to
-explain?"
-
-The General tried to evade him, endeavoured to
-disengage his coat-sleeve, but my Lord Stour was
-tenacious. A kind of brooding Obstinacy sat upon
-his good-looking face, and after awhile he reiterated
-with almost fierce Insistence:
-
-"No! no! you shall not go, my Lord, until You
-have explained. I am tired," he added roughly,
-"of suspicious looks and covert smiles, an
-atmosphere of ill-will which greets me at every turn.
-Politically, many may differ from Me, but I have
-yet to learn that a Gentleman hath not the right to
-his own Opinions without being cold-shouldered by
-his Friends."
-
-The Duke of Albemarle allowed him to talk on
-for awhile. His Grace obviously was making up
-his mind to take a decisive step in the matter. After
-a while he did succeed in disengaging his
-coat-sleeve from the persistent Clutch of his young
-Friend, and then, looking the latter straight between
-the eyes, he said firmly:
-
-"My Lord, as You say, your Father and I were
-Friends and Comrades in Arms. Therefore You
-must forgive an old Man and a plain Soldier a
-pertinent question. Will you do that?"
-
-"Certainly," was my Lord Stour's quiet Reply.
-
-"Very well then," continued His Grace, while all
-of us who were there held our breath, feeling that
-this Colloquy threatened to have a grave issue.
-"Very well. I am glad that You have given me
-this opportunity of hearing some sort of Explanation
-from You, for in truth, Rumour of late hath
-been over busy with your Name."
-
-"An Explanation, my Lord?" the young Man
-said, with an added frown.
-
-"Aye!" replied His Grace. "That's just the
-Word. An Explanation. For I, my Lord, as your
-Father's Friend, will ask You this: how is it that
-while Teammouth, Campsfield and so many of your
-Associates perished upon the Scaffold, You alone,
-of those implicated in that infamous Plot, did obtain
-an unconditional Pardon?"
-
-Lord Stour stepped back as if he had been hit in
-the face. Boundless Astonishment was expressed in
-the Gaze which he fixed upon the General, as well
-as wrathful indignation.
-
-"My Lord!" he exclaimed, "that Question is an
-insult!"
-
-"Make me swallow mine own Words," retorted
-His Grace imperturbably, "by giving me a straight
-Answer."
-
-"Mine Answer must be straight," rejoined Lord
-Stour firmly, "since it is based on Truth. I do
-not know."
-
-The Duke shrugged his Shoulders, and there came
-a sarcastic laugh from more than one of the
-Gentlemen there.
-
-"I give your Lordship my Word of Honour,"
-Lord Stour insisted haughtily. Then, as His Grace
-remained silent, with those deep-set eyes of his fixed
-searchingly upon the young Man, the latter added
-vehemently: "Is then mine Honour in question?"
-
-Whereupon Mr. Betterton, who hitherto had
-remained silent, interposed very quietly:
-
-"The honour of some Gentlemen, my Lord, is
-like the Manifestation of Ghosts—much talked of
-... but always difficult to prove!"
-
-You know his Voice, dear Mistress, and that
-subtle carrying Power which it has, although he
-never seems to raise it. After he had spoken You
-could have heard the stirring of every little twig in
-the trees above us, for no one said another Word
-for a moment or two. We all stood there, a
-compact little Group: Lord Stour facing the Duke of
-Albemarle and Mr. Betterton standing a step or two
-behind His Grace, his fine, expressive Face set in a
-mask of cruel Irony. Sir William Davenant and
-the other Gentlemen had closed in around those
-three. They must have felt that some strange Storm
-of Passions was brewing, and instinctively they tried
-to hide its lowering Clouds from public gaze.
-
-Fortunately there were not many Passers-by just
-then, and the little Scene remained unnoted by the
-idly curious, who are ever wont to collect in Crowds
-whenever anything strange to them happens to
-attract their Attention.
-
-My Lord Stour was the first to recover Speech.
-He turned on Mr. Betterton with unbridled Fury.
-
-"What!" he cried, "another sting from that
-venomous Wasp? I might have guessed that so
-miserable a Calumny came from such a vile Caitiff
-as this!"
-
-"Abuse is not Explanation, my Lord," interposed
-the Duke of Albemarle firmly. "And I must
-remind you that you have left my Question unanswered."
-
-"Put it more intelligibly, my Lord," retorted
-Lord Stour haughtily. "I might then know how
-to reply."
-
-"Very well," riposted His Grace, still apparently
-unmoved. "I will put it differently. I understand
-that your Associates entrusted their treasonable
-Manifestos to you. Is that a fact?"
-
-"I'll not deny it."
-
-"You cannot," rejoined the Duke drily. "Sir
-James Campsfield, in the course of his Trial,
-admitted that he had received his Summons through
-You. But a Copy of that Manifesto came into the
-hands of my Lady Castlemaine just in time to cause
-the Conspiracy to abort. How was that?"
-
-"Some Traitor," replied Lord Stour hotly, "of
-whom I have no Cognizance."
-
-"Yet it was You," riposted the General quietly,
-"who received a free Pardon ... no one else.
-How was that?" he reiterated more sternly.
-
-"I have sworn to You that I do not know,"
-protested my Lord Stour fiercely.
-
-He looked now like a Man at Bay, trapped in a
-Net which was closing in around him and from
-which he was striving desperately to escape. His
-face was flushed, his eyes glowed with an unnatural
-fire. And always his restless gaze came back to
-Mr. Betterton, who stood by, calm and impassive,
-apparently disinterested in this Colloquy wherein a
-man's Honour was being tossed about to the Winds
-of Slander and of Infamy. Now Lord Stour gazed
-around him, striving to find one line of genuine
-Sympathy on the stern Faces which were confronting him.
-
-"My word of Honour, Gentlemen," he exclaimed
-with passionate Earnestness, "that I do not know."
-
-Honestly, I think that one or two of them did
-feel for him and were inclined to give him Credence.
-After all, these young Fops are not wicked; they
-are only mischievous, as Children or young Puppies
-are wont to be, ready to snarl at one another, to
-yap and to tear to pieces anything that happens to
-come in their way. Moreover, there was the great
-bond of Caste between these People. They were,
-in their innermost Hearts, loth to believe that one
-of themselves—a Gentleman, one bearing a great
-Name—could be guilty of this type of foul Crime
-which was more easily attributable to a Plebeian.
-It was only their Love of Scandal-monging and of
-Backbiting that had kept the Story alive all these
-weeks. Even now there were one or two
-sympathetic Murmurs amongst those present when my
-Lord Stour swore by his Honour.
-
-But just then Mr. Betterton's voice was heard
-quite distinctly above that Murmur:
-
-"Honour is a strangely difficult word to
-pronounce on the Stage," he was saying to Sir William
-Davenant, apparently *á propos* of something the
-latter had remarked just before. "You try and
-say it, Davenant; you will see how it always
-dislocates your Jaw, yet produces no effect."
-
-"Therefore, Mr. Actor," Lord Stour broke in
-roughly, "it should only be spoken by those who
-have a glorious Ancestry behind them to teach them
-its true Significance."
-
-"Well spoken, my Lord," Mr. Betterton rejoined
-placidly. "But you must remember that but few
-of His Majesty's Servants have a line of glorious
-Ancestry behind them. In that way they differ from
-many Gentlemen who, having nothing but their
-Ancestry to boast of, are very like a Turnip—the best
-of them is under the ground."
-
-This Sally was greeted with loud Laughter, and
-by a subtle process which I could not possibly define,
-the wave of Sympathy which was setting in the
-direction of my Lord Stour, once more receded
-from him, leaving him wrathful and obstinate, His
-Grace of Albemarle stern, and the young Fops
-flippant and long-tongued as before.
-
-"My Lord Stour," the General now broke in once
-more firmly, "'tis You sought this Explanation, not
-I. Now You have left my Question unanswered.
-Your Friends entrusted their Manifestos to You.
-How came one of these in Lady Castlemaine's hands?"
-
-And the young Man, driven to bay, facing half
-a dozen pairs of eyes that held both Contempt and
-Enmity in their glance, reiterated hoarsely:
-
-"I have sworn to You that I do not know."
-Then he added: "Hath Loyalty then left this
-unfortunate Land, that You can all believe such a vile
-thing of me?"
-
-And in the silence that ensued, Mr. Betterton's
-perfectly modulated Voice was again raised in
-quietly sarcastic accents:
-
-"As You say, my Lord," he remarked. "Loyalty
-hath left this unfortunate Country. Perhaps," he
-added with a light shrug of the shoulders, "to take
-Refuge with your glorious Ancestry."
-
-This last Gibe, however, brought my Lord Stour's
-exasperation to a raging Fury. Pushing
-unceremoniously past His Grace of Albemarle, who stood
-before him, he took a step forward and confronted
-Mr. Betterton eye to eye and, drawing himself up
-to his full Height, he literally glowered down upon
-the great Artist, who stood his Ground, placid and
-unmoved.
-
-"Insolent Varlet!" came in raucous tones from
-the young Lord's quivering lips. "If you had a
-spark of chivalry or of honour in You——"
-
-At the arrogant Insult every one drew their
-breath. A keen Excitement flashed in every eye.
-Here was at last a Quarrel, one that must end in
-bloodshed. Just what was required—so thought
-these young Rakes, I feel sure—to clear the
-Atmosphere and to bring abstruse questions of
-Suspicion and of Honour to a level which they could all
-of them understand. Only the Duke of Albemarle,
-who, like a true and great Soldier, hath the greatest
-possible Abhorrence for the gentlemanly Pastime
-of Duelling, tried to interpose. But Mr. Betterton,
-having provoked the Quarrel, required no interference
-from any one. You know his way, dear
-Mistress, as well as I do—that quiet Attitude which he
-is wont to assume, that fraction of a second's
-absolute Silence just before he begins to speak. I know
-of no Elocutionist's trick more telling than that. It
-seems to rivet the Attention, and at the same time
-to key up Excitement and Curiosity to its greatest strain.
-
-"By your leave, my Lord," he said slowly, and
-his splendid Voice rose just to a sufficient pitch of
-Loudness to be distinctly heard by those immediately
-near him, but not one yard beyond. "By your
-leave, let us leave the word 'honour' out of our
-talk. It hath become ridiculous and obsolete, now
-that every Traitor doth use it for his own ends."
-
-But in truth my Lord Stour now was beside
-himself with Fury.
-
-"By gad!" he exclaimed with a harsh laugh.
-"I might have guessed that it was your pestilential
-Tongue which stirred up this Treason against me.
-Liar!—Scoundrel!——"
-
-He was for heaping up one Insult upon the other,
-lashing himself as it were into greater Fury still,
-when Mr. Betterton's quietly ironical laugh broke
-in upon his senseless ebullitions.
-
-"Liar?—Scoundrel, am I?" he said lightly, and,
-still laughing, he turned to the Gentlemen who stood
-beside him. "Nay! if the sight of a Scoundrel
-offends his Lordship, he should shut himself up in
-his own Room ... and break his Mirror!"
-
-At this, my Lord Stour lost the last vestige of his
-self-control, seized Mr. Betterton by the Shoulder
-and verily, I thought, made as if he would strike him.
-
-"You shall pay for this Insolence!" he cried.
-
-But already, with perfect *sang-froid*, the great
-Artist had arrested his Lordship's uplifted hand and
-wrenched it away from his shoulder.
-
-"By your leave, my Lord," he said, and with
-delicate Fingers flicked the dust from off his coat.
-"This coat was fashioned by an honest tailor, and
-hath never been touched by a Traitor's hand."
-
-I thought then that I could see Murder writ
-plainly on My Lord's face, which was suddenly
-become positively livid. The Excitement around us
-was immense. In truth I am convinced that every
-Gentleman there present at the moment, felt that
-something more deep and more intensely bitter lay
-at the Root of this Quarrel, between the young
-Lord and the great and popular Artist. Even now
-some of them would have liked to interfere, whilst
-the younger ones undoubtedly enjoyed the Spectacle
-and were laying, I doubt not, imaginary Wagers as
-to which of the two Disputants would remain
-Master of the Situation.
-
-His Grace of Albemarle tried once more to interpose
-with all the Authority of his years and of his
-distinguished Position, for indeed there was
-something almost awesome in Lord Stour's Wrath by
-now. But Mr. Betterton took the Words at once
-out of the great General's mouth.
-
-"Nay, my Lord," he said with quiet Firmness,
-"I pray You, do not interfere. I am in no danger,
-I assure You. My Lord Stour would wish to kill
-me, no doubt. But, believe me, Fate did not ordain
-that Tom Betterton should die by such a hand
-... the fickle Jade hath too keen a Sense of
-Humour."
-
-Whereupon he made a movement, as if to walk
-away. I felt the drag upon my arm where his
-slender hand was still resting. The Others were
-silent. What could they say? Senseless Numskulls
-though they were for the most part, they had enough
-Perception to realize that between these two Men
-there was Hatred so bitter that no mere
-Gentlemanly Bloodshed could ever wipe it away.
-
-But ere Mr. Betterton finally turned to go, my
-Lord of Stour stepped out in front of him. All the
-Rage appeared to have died out of him. He was
-outwardly quite calm, only a weird twitching of his
-lips testified to the Storm of Passion which he had
-momentarily succeeded in keeping under control.
-
-"Mr. Actor," he said slowly, "but a few Weeks
-ago You asked me to cross swords with You....
-I refused then, for up to this hour I have never
-fought a Duel save with an Equal. But now, I
-accept," he added forcefully, even while the Words
-came veiled and husky from his throat. "I accept.
-Do You hear me? ... for the laws of England
-do not permit a Murder, and as sure as there's a
-Heaven above me, I am going to kill You."
-
-Mr. Betterton listened to him until the end. You
-know that Power which he hath of seeming to tower
-above every one who stands nigh him? Well! he
-exercised that Power now. He stepped quite close
-to my Lord Stour, and though the latter is of more
-than average height, Mr. Betterton literally
-appeared to soar above him, with the sublime
-Magnificence of an outraged Man coming into his own
-at last.
-
-"My Lord of Stour," he said, with perfect
-quietude, "a few weeks ago you insulted me as
-Man never dared to insult Man before. With every
-blow dealt upon my shoulders by your Lacqueys,
-You outraged the Majesty of Genius ... yes! its
-Majesty! ... its Godhead! ... You raised
-your insolent hand against me—against me, the
-Artist, whom God Himself hath crowned with
-Immortality. For a moment then, my outraged
-Manhood clamoured for satisfaction. I asked You to
-cross swords with me, for You seemed to me
-... then ... worthy of that Honour. But to-day,
-my Lord of Stour," he continued, whilst every
-Word he spoke seemed to strike upon the ear like
-Blows from a relentless Hammer; "Traitor to your
-Friends, Liar and Informer!!!! Bah! His
-Majesty's Well-Beloved Servant cannot fight with
-such as You!"
-
-In truth I do not remember what happened after
-that. The unutterable Contempt, the Disgust, the
-Loathing expressed in my Friend's whole Attitude,
-seemed to hit even me between the eyes. I felt as if
-some giant Hands had thrown a kind of filmy grey
-veil over my Head, for I heard and saw nothing
-save a blurred and dim Vision of uplifted Arms, of
-clenched Fists and of a general Scrimmage, of which
-my Lord Stour appeared to be the Centre, whilst
-my ears only caught the veiled Echo of Words flung
-hoarsely into the air:
-
-"Let me go! Let me go! I must kill him! I must!"
-
-Mr. Betterton, on the other hand, remained
-perfectly calm. I felt a slight pressure on my arm and
-presently realized that he and I had turned and were
-walking away down the Avenue of the Park, and
-leaving some way already behind us, a seething mass
-of excited Gentlemen, all intent on preventing
-Murder being committed then and there.
-
-What the outcome of it all would be, I could not
-visualize. Mr. Betterton had indeed been able to
-give Insult for Insult and Outrage for Outrage at
-last. For this he had schemed and worked and
-planned all these weeks. Whether God and Justice
-were on his side in this terrible Revenge, I dared
-not ask myself, nor yet if the Weapon which he had
-chosen were worthy of his noble Character and of
-his Integrity. That public Opinion was on his side,
-I concluded from the fact that the Duke of
-Albemarle and Sir William Davenant both walked a few
-yards with him after he had turned his back on my
-Lord, and that His Grace constituting himself
-Spokesman for himself and Sir William, offered
-their joint Services to Mr. Betterton in case he
-changed his mind and agreed to fight my Lord Stour
-in duel.
-
-"I thank your Grace," was Mr. Betterton's
-courteous reply; "but I am not like to change my
-Mind on that Score."
-
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- CHAPTER XIII
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-
- THE LADY PLEADS
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- 1
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-
-I am not able quite to determine in my own mind
-whether the Lady Barbara Wychwoode did hear and
-see something of the violent Scene which I have
-just attempted to describe.
-
-I told You, dear Mistress, that fortunately for
-us all, this part of the Park where the Scene
-occurred was for the moment practically deserted. At
-any rate, no Crowd collected around us, for which,
-methinks, we were, every one of us, thankful. If
-a few of the Passers-by heard anything of the
-altercation, they merely hurried past, thinking no doubt,
-that it was only one or two young City Sparks, none
-too sober even at this morning hour, who were
-quarrelling among themselves.
-
-When we walked away down the Avenue which
-leads in the direction of Knight's Bridge,
-Mr. Betterton's well-known, elegant figure was remarked
-by a few Pedestrians on their way to and fro, as
-was also the familiar one of the Duke of Albemarle,
-and some People raised their hats to the great Artist,
-whilst others saluted the distinguished General.
-
-Presently His Grace and Sir William Davenant
-took leave of Mr. Betterton, and a few moments
-later the latter suggested that we should also begin
-to wend our way homewards.
-
-We retraced our steps and turned back in the
-direction of Westminster. Mr. Betterton was
-silent; he walked quite calmly, with head bent and
-firm footsteps, and I, knowing his humour, walked
-along in silence by his side.
-
-Then suddenly we came upon the Lady Barbara.
-
-That she had sought this meeting I could not
-doubt for a moment. Else, how should a Lady of
-her Rank and Distinction be abroad, and in a public
-Park, unattended? Indeed, I was quite sure that
-she had only dismissed her maid when she saw
-Mr. Betterton coming along, and that the Wench was
-lurking somewhere behind one of the shrubberies,
-ready to accompany her Ladyship home when the
-interview was at an end.
-
-I said that I am even now doubtful as to whether
-the Lady Barbara saw and heard something of the
-violent Altercation which had taken place a quarter
-of an hour ago between her Lover and the great
-Actor. If not, she certainly displayed on that
-occasion that marvellous intuition which is said to be
-the prerogative of every Woman when she is in love.
-
-She was walking on the further side of Rosamond
-Pond when first I caught sight of her, and
-when she reached the Bridge, she came deliberately
-to a halt. There is no other way across the Pond
-save by the Bridge, so Mr. Betterton could not have
-escaped the meeting even if he would. Seeing the
-Lady, he raised his hat and made a deep bow of
-respectful salutation. He then crossed the Bridge
-and made as if he would pass by, but she held her
-Ground, in the very centre of the Path, and when
-he was quite near her, she said abruptly:
-
-"Mr. Betterton, I desire a word with you."
-
-He came at once to a halt, and replied with
-perfect deference:
-
-"I await your Ladyship's commands."
-
-
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-
-I was for hurrying away, thinking that my
-Presence would be irksome both to the Lady and to my
-Friend; but an unmistakable pressure of Mr. Betterton's
-hand on my arm caused me to stay where
-I was. As for the Lady, she appeared not to care
-whether I stayed or went, for immediately she
-retorted:
-
-"My commands, Sir Actor? They are, that you
-at once and completely do Reparation for the wrong
-which you are trying to do to an innocent Man."
-
-She looked proud and commanding as a Queen,
-looking through the veil of her lashes at Mr. Betterton
-as if he were a supplicating Slave rather than
-the great Artist whom cultured Europe delighted to
-honour. Never did I admire my Friend so much
-as I did then. His self-possession was perfect: his
-attitude just the right balance 'twixt deference due
-to a beautiful Woman and the self-assurance which
-comes of conscious Worth. He looked splendid,
-too—dressed in the latest fashion and with unerring
-taste. The fantastic cut of his modish clothes
-became his artistic Personality to perfection: the soft
-shade of mulberry of which his coat was fashioned
-made an harmonious note of colour in the soft grey
-mist of this late winter's morning. The lace at his
-throat and wrists was of unspeakable value, filmy
-and gossamer-like in texture as a cobweb; and in
-his cravat glittered a diamond, a priceless gift to the
-great English Artist from the King of France.
-
-Indeed, the Lady Barbara Wychwoode might
-look the world-famous Actor up and down with
-well-studied superciliousness; she might issue her
-commands to him as if she were his royal Mistress
-and he but a Menial set there to obey her behest;
-but, whatever she did, she could not dwarf his
-Personality. He had become too great for disdain or
-sneers ever to touch him again; and the shafts of
-scorn aimed at him by those who would set mere
-Birth above the claims of Genius, would only find
-their points broken or blunted against the
-impenetrable armour of his Glory and his Fame.
-
-For the nonce, I think that he was ready enough
-to parley with the Lady Barbara. He had not to
-my knowledge spoken with her since that never
-forgotten day last September; and I, not
-understanding the complex workings of an Artist's heart,
-knew not if his Love for her had outlived the crying
-outrage, or had since then turned to Hate.
-
-In answer to her peremptory command, he
-assumed an air of innocent surprise.
-
-"I?" he queried. "Your Ladyship is pleased to
-speak in riddles."
-
-"Nay!" she retorted. "'Tis you, Sir, who
-choose not to understand. But I'll speak more
-plainly, an you wish. I am a woman, Mr. Actor,
-and I love the Earl of Stour. Now, you know just
-as well as I do, that his Lordship's honour has of
-late been impugned in a manner that is most
-mysterious. His Friends accuse him of treachery; even
-mere Acquaintances prefer to give him the cold
-shoulder. And this without any definite Indictment
-being levelled against him. Many there are who
-will tell You that they have not the faintest
-conception of what crime my Lord Stour stands
-accused. Others aver that they'll not believe any
-Slander that may be levelled against so high-souled
-a Gentleman. Nevertheless, the Slander continues.
-Nay! it gathers volume as it worms its way from
-one house to another, shedding poison in its wake
-as it drifts by; and more and more People now
-affect to look another way when the Earl of Stour
-comes nigh them, and to be otherwise engaged when
-he desires to shake them by the hand."
-
-She paused for a moment, obviously to regain her
-Composure, which was threatening to leave her.
-Her cheeks were pale as ashes, her breath came and
-went in quick, short gasps. The Picture which she
-herself had drawn of her Lover's plight caused her
-heart to ache with bitterness. She seemed for the
-moment to expect something—a mere comment,
-perhaps, or a word of Sympathy, from Mr. Betterton.
-But none came. He stood there, silent and
-deferential, with lips firmly set, his slender Hand
-clutched upon the gold knob of his stick, till the
-knuckles shone creamy-white, like ivory. He
-regarded her with an air of Detachment rather than
-Sympathy, and though by her silence she appeared
-to challenge him now, he did not speak, and after
-awhile she resumed more calmly:
-
-"My Lord of Stour himself is at his wits' ends
-to interpret the attitude of his Friends. Nothing
-tangible in the way of a spoken Calumny hath as
-yet reached his ears. And his life has been rendered
-all the more bitter that he feels that he is being
-struck by a persistent but mysterious Foe in what
-he holds dearer than aught else on earth, his
-Integrity and his Honour."
-
-"'Tis a sad case," here rejoined Mr. Betterton,
-for her Ladyship had paused once more. "But, by
-your leave, I do not see in what way it concerns me."
-
-"Nay! but I think you do, Sir Actor," Lady
-Barbara riposted harshly. "Love and Hate,
-remember, see clearly where mere Friendship and
-Indifference are blind. Love tells me that the Earl
-of Stour's Integrity is Unstained, his Honour
-unsullied. But the Hatred which you bear him,"
-added her Ladyship almost fiercely, "makes me look
-to You for the cause of his Disgrace."
-
-No one, however, could have looked more utterly
-astonished, more bland and uncomprehending, as
-Mr. Betterton did at that moment. He put up his
-hand and regarded the Lady with an indulgent
-smile, such as one would bestow on a hot-headed Child.
-
-"Nay, your Ladyship!" he said courteously.
-"I fear that you are attributing to an humble
-Mountebank a power he doth not possess. To
-disgrace a noble Gentleman?" he exclaimed with
-well-feigned horror. "I?—a miserable Varlet—an
-insolent cur whom one thrashes if he dares to bark!"
-
-"Ah!" she broke in, with a swift exclamation.
-"Then I have guessed the truth! This is your Revenge!"
-
-"Revenge?" he queried blandly. "For what?"
-
-"You hate the Earl of Stour," she retorted.
-
-Once more his well-shaped hand went up, as if in
-gentle protest, and he uttered a kind and deprecating "Oh!"
-
-"You look upon the Earl of Stour as your
-enemy!" she insisted.
-
-"I have so many, your Ladyship," he riposted
-with a smile.
-
-"'Twas you who obtained his Pardon from my
-Lady Castlemaine."
-
-"The inference is scarcely logical," he retorted.
-"A man does not as a rule sue for pardon for his Enemy."
-
-"I think," she rejoined slowly, "that in this case
-Mr. Betterton did the illogical thing."
-
-"Then I do entreat your Ladyship," he
-protested with mock terror, "not to repeat this
-calumny. *I*, accused of a noble action! Tom Betterton
-pardoning his Enemies! Why, my friends
-might believe it, and it is so difficult these days to
-live down a good Reputation."
-
-"You choose to sharpen your wit at my expense,
-Sir Actor," the lady rejoined with her former
-haughtiness, "and to evade the point."
-
-"What is the point, your Ladyship?" he queried
-blandly.
-
-"That you set an end to all these Calumnies
-which are levelled against the Earl of Stour."
-
-"How can we stay the Sun in his orbit?" he
-retorted; "or the Stars in their course?"
-
-"You mean that your Campaign of Slander has
-already gone too far? But remember this,
-Mr. Betterton: that poisoned darts sometimes wound the
-hand that throws them. You may pursue the Earl
-of Stour with your Hatred and your Calumnies,
-but God will never allow an innocent Man to suffer
-unjustly."
-
-Just for a few seconds Mr. Betterton was silent.
-He was still regarding the Lady with that same
-indulgent smile which appeared to irritate her nerves.
-To me, the very air around seemed to ring as if
-with a clash of ghostly arms—the mighty clash of
-two Wills and two Temperaments, each fighting for
-what it holds most dear: she for the Man whom she
-loved, he for his Dignity which had been so cruelly
-outraged.
-
-"God will never allow," she reiterated with slow
-emphasis, "an innocent Man to suffer at the hands
-of a Slanderer."
-
-"Ah!" riposted Mr. Betterton suavely. "Is
-your Ladyship not reckoning over-confidently on
-Divine interference?"
-
-"I also reckon," she retorted, "on His Majesty's
-sense of justice—and on the Countess of Castlemaine,
-who must know the truth of the affair."
-
-"His Majesty's senses are very elusive," he
-rejoined drily, "and are apt to play him some
-wayward tricks when under the influence of the
-Countess of Castlemaine. The Earl of Stour, it seems,
-disdained the favours which that Lady was willing
-to bestow on him. He preferred the superior
-charms and intellect of the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode. A very natural preference, of course," he
-added, with elaborate gallantry. "But I can assure
-your Ladyship that, as Helpmeets to heavenly
-Interference, neither His Majesty nor the Countess
-of Castlemaine are to be reckoned with."
-
-She bit her lip and cast her eyes to the ground.
-I could see that her lovely face expressed acute
-disappointment and that she was on the verge of tears.
-I am not versed in the ways of gentle Folk nor yet
-in those of Artists, but I could have told the Lady
-Barbara Wychwoode that if she wanted to obtain
-Sympathy or Leniency from Mr. Betterton, she had
-gone quite the wrong way to work.
-
-Even now, I think if she had started to plead
-... but the thought of humbling herself before
-a Man whom she affected to despise was as far
-from this proud Woman's heart, as are thoughts
-of self-glorification from mine.
-
-A second or two later she had succeeded in
-forcing back the tears which had welled to her eyes,
-and she was able once more to look her Adversary
-straight in the face.
-
-"And will you tell me, Sir Actor," she queried
-with cold aloofness, "how far you intend to carry
-on this Infamy?"
-
-And Mr. Betterton replied, equally coldly and
-deliberately:
-
-"To the uttermost limits of the Kingdom, Madam."
-
-"What do you mean?" she riposted.
-
-He drew a step or two nearer to her. His face
-too was pale by now, his lips trembling, his eyes
-aglow with Passion masterfully kept under control.
-His perfect voice rose and fell in those modulated
-Cadences which we have all learned to appreciate.
-
-"Only this, your Ladyship," he began quite
-slowly. "For the present, the History of the Earl
-of Stour's treachery is only guessed at by a few.
-It is a breath of Scandal, born as you say somewhat
-mysteriously, wafted through Palaces and noble
-Mansions to-day—dead, mayhap, to-morrow. But
-I have had many opportunities for thought of late,"
-he continued—and it seemed to me as if in his
-quivering voice I could detect a tone of Threat as
-well as of Passion—"and have employed my leisure
-moments in writing an Epilogue which I propose
-to speak to-morrow, after the Play, His Majesty and
-all the Court being present, and many Gentlemen
-and Ladies of high degree, as well as Burgesses and
-Merchants of the City, and sundry Clerks and other
-humbler Folk. A comprehensive Assembly, what? and
-an attentive one; for that low-born Mountebank,
-Tom Betterton, will be appearing in a new
-play and the Playhouse will be filled to the roof in
-order to do him honour. May I hope that the Lady
-Barbara Wychwoode herself——"
-
-"A truce on this foolery, Sir," she broke in
-harshly. "I pray you come to the point."
-
-She tried to look brave and still haughty, but I
-knew that she was afraid—knew it by the almost
-unearthly pallor of her skin, and the weird glitter
-in her eyes as she regarded him, like a Bird
-fascinated by a Snake.
-
-"The point is the Epilogue, my Lady," Mr. Betterton
-replied blandly. "And after I have spoken
-it to-morrow, I shall speak it again and yet again,
-until its purport is known throughout the length
-and breadth of the Land. The subject of that
-Epilogue, Madam, will be the secret History of a certain
-aborted Conspiracy, and how it was betrayed in
-exchange for a free Pardon by one of our noblest
-Gentlemen in England. Then, I pray your
-Ladyship to mark what will happen," he continued, and
-his melodious voice became as hard and trenchant as
-the clang of metal striking metal. "After that
-Epilogue has been spoken from the Stage half a dozen
-times after His Majesty has heard it and shrugged
-his shoulders, after my Lady Castlemaine has
-laughed over it and my Lord of Rochester aped it
-in one of his Pasquinades, there will be a man whose
-Name will be a by-word for everything that is most
-infamous and most false—a Name that will be
-bandied about in Taverns and in drinking Booths,
-quipped, decried, sneered at, anathematized; a
-Name that will be the subject of every lampoon and
-every scurrilous rhyme that finds over-ready
-purchasers—a Name, in fact, that will for ever be
-whispered with bated breath or bandied about in a
-drunken brawl, whene'er there is talk of treachery
-and of dishonour!"
-
-At this, she—great Lady to her finger tips—threw
-up her head proudly, still defying him, still
-striving to hide her Fears and unwilling to
-acknowledge Defeat.
-
-"It will be your Word against his," she said with
-a disdainful curl of her perfect lips. "No one
-would listen to such calumnies."
-
-And he—the world-famed Artist—at least as
-proud as any high born Gentleman in the Land,
-retorted, equally haughtily:
-
-"When Tom Betterton speaks upon the Stage,
-my Lady, England holds her breath and listens
-spellbound."
-
-I would I could render the noble Accent of his
-magnificent Voice as he said this. There was no
-self-glorification in it, no idle boasting; it was the
-accent of transcendent Worth conscious of its Power.
-
-And it had its effect upon the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode. She lowered her Eyes, but not before
-I had perceived that they were full of Tears; her
-Lips were trembling still, but no longer with
-Disdain, and her hands suddenly dropped to her side
-with a pathetic gesture of Discouragement and of
-Anguish.
-
-The next moment, however, she was again
-looking the great Actor fully in the face. A change
-had come over her, quite suddenly methought—a
-great Change, which had softened her Mood and to
-a certain extent lowered her Pride. Whether this
-was the result of Mr. Betterton's forceful
-Eloquence or of her own Will-power, I could not guess;
-but I myself marvelled at the Tone of Entreaty
-which had crept into her Voice.
-
-"You will not speak such Falsehoods in Public,
-Sir," she said with unwonted softness. "You will
-not thus demean your Art—the Art which you love
-and hold in respect. Oh, there must be some
-Nobility in You! else you were not so talented. Your
-Soul must in truth be filled with Sentiments which
-are neither ignoble nor base."
-
-"Nay!" he exclaimed, and this time did not
-strive to conceal the intense Bitterness which, as
-I knew well enough, had eaten into his very Soul;
-"but your Ladyship is pleased to forget. I am
-ignoble and base! There cannot be Nobility in me.
-I am only the low-born Lout! Ask my Lord of
-Stour; ask your Brother! They will tell you that I
-have no Feelings, no Pride, no Manhood—that I
-am only a despicable Varlet, whom every Gentleman
-may mock and insult and whip like a dog. To You
-and to your Caste alone belong Nobility, Pride and
-Honour. Honour!!!"—and he broke into a
-prolonged laugh, which would have rent your Heart to
-hear—"Honour! Your false Fetish! Your counterfeit
-God!! Very well, then so be it!! That
-very Honour which he hath denied me, I will wrench
-from him. And since he denied me Satisfaction by
-the Sword, I turn to my own weapon—my Art—and
-with it I will exact from him to the uttermost
-fraction, Outrage for Outrage—Infamy for Infamy."
-
-His wonderful Voice shook, broke almost into a
-sob at last. I felt a choking sensation in my Throat
-and my Eyes waxed hot with unshed Tears. As if
-through a mist, I could see the exquisite Lady
-Barbara Wychwoode before me, could see that she, too,
-was moved, her Pride crushed, her Disdain yielding
-to involuntary Sympathy.
-
-"But he is innocent!" she pleaded, with an
-accent verging on Despair.
-
-"And so was I!" was his calm retort.
-
-"He——" she entreated, "he loves me——"
-
-"And so do I!" he exclaimed, with a depth of
-Passion which brought the hot Blood to her pale
-Cheeks. "*I* would have given my Life for one
-Smile from your Lips."
-
-Whereupon, womanlike, she shifted her ground,
-looked him straight between the Eyes, and, oh! I
-could have blushed to see the Wiles she used in order
-to weaken his Resolve.
-
-"You love me?" she queried softly, and there
-was now a tone of almost tender Reproach in her
-Voice. "You love me! yet you would drag the
-Man who is dearer to me than Life to Dishonour
-and to Shame. You trap him, like a Fowler does
-a Bird, then crush him with Falsehoods and
-Calumnies! No, no!" she exclaimed—came a step
-or two nearer to him and clasped her delicate Hands
-together in a Gesture that was akin to Prayer. "I'll
-not believe it! You will tell the Truth, Mr. Betterton,
-publicly, and clear him.... You
-will.... You will! For my sake—since You
-say You love me."
-
-But the more eager, the more appealing she grew,
-the calmer and more calculating did he seem. Now
-it was his turn to draw away from Her, to measure
-Her, as it were, with a cold, appraising Look.
-
-"For Your sake?" he said with perfect quietude,
-almost as if the matter had become outside himself.
-I cannot quite explain the air of detachment which
-he assumed—for it was an assumption, on that I
-would have staked my Life at the moment. I, who
-know him so well, felt that deep down within his
-noble Heart there still burned the fierce flames of
-an ardent Passion, but whether of Love or Hate,
-I could not then have told You.
-
-She had recoiled at the coolness of his Tone;
-and he went on, still speaking with that strange,
-abnormal Calm:
-
-"Yes!" he said slowly, "for *Your* love I would
-do what You ask ... I would forego that Feast
-of Satisfaction, the Thought of which hath alone
-kept me sane these past few months.... Yes! for
-the Love of Lady Barbara Wychwoode I could
-bring myself to forgive even his Lordship of Stour
-for the irreparable wrong which he hath done to
-Me. I would restore to him his Honour, which
-now lies, a Forfeit, in my Hands: for I shall then
-have taken Something from him which he holds
-well-nigh as dear."
-
-He paused, and met with the same calm relentlessness
-the look of Horror and of Scorn wherewith
-she regarded him.
-
-"For my Love?" she exclaimed, and once more
-the warm Blood rushed up to her face, flooding her
-wan Cheeks, her pale Forehead, even her delicate
-Throat with crimson. "You mean that
-I? ... Oh! ... what Infamy! ... So, Mr. Actor,
-that was your reckoning!" she went on with
-supreme Disdain. "It was not the desire for
-Vengeance that prompted You to slander the Earl of Stour,
-but the wish to entrap *me* into becoming your Wife.
-You are not content with Your Laurels. You want
-a Coat of Arms ... and hoped to barter one
-against Your Calumnies!"
-
-"Nay, your Ladyship!" he rejoined simply, "in
-effect, I was actually laying a Name famed
-throughout the cultured world humbly at your feet. You
-made an appeal to my Love for You—and I laid a
-test for your Sincerity. Mine I have placed beyond
-question, seeing that I am prepared to drag my
-Genius in the dust before Your Pride and the
-Arrogance of Your Caste. An Artist is a Slave of his
-Sensibilities, and I feel that if, in the near Future,
-I could see a Vision of your perfect hand resting
-content in mine, if, when You pleaded again for my
-Lord Stour, You did so as my promised Wife—not
-his—I would do all that You asked."
-
-She drew herself up to her full height and glanced
-at him with all the Pride which awhile ago had
-seemed crushed beyond recall.
-
-"Sir Actor," she said coldly, "shame had gripped
-me by the throat, or I should not have listened so
-long to such an Outrage. The Bargain You
-propose is an Infamy and an Insult."
-
-And she gathered up her Skirts around her, as
-if their very contact with the Soil on which he trod
-were a pollution. Then she half turned as if ready
-to go, cast a rapid glance at the Shrubberies close
-by, no doubt in search of her Attendant. Why it
-was that she did not actually go, I could not say,
-but guessed that, mayhap, she would not vacate the
-Field of Contention until quite sure that there was
-not a final Chance to soften the Heart of the Enemy.
-She had thrown down yet another Challenge when
-she spoke of his proposed Bargain as an Infamy;
-but he took up the Gage with the same measured
-Calm as before.
-
-"As you will," he said. "It was in Your
-Ladyship's name that the Earl of Stour put upon Me
-the deadliest Insult which any Man hath ever put
-on Man before. Since then, every Fibre within Me
-has clamoured for Satisfaction. My Work hath
-been irksome to me ... I scarce could think
-... My Genius lay writhing in an agony of
-Shame. But now the hour is mine—for it I have
-schemed and lied—aye, lied—like the low-born cur
-You say I am. A thousand Devils of Hate and of
-Rage are unchained within me. I cannot grapple
-with them alone. They would only yield—to your kiss."
-
-"Oh!" she cried in uttermost despair, "this is
-horrible!"
-
-"Then let the Man you love," he rejoined coldly,
-"look to himself."
-
-"Conscious of his Innocence, my Lord Stour and
-I defy you!"
-
-"Ah, well!" he said imperturbably, "the Choice
-is still with Your Ladyship. Remember that I do
-not speak my Epilogue until to-morrow. When I
-do, it will be too late. I have called my Phantasy
-'The Comedie of Traitors.'"
-
-Whereupon he bowed low before her, in the most
-approved Fashion. But already she was fleeing up
-the path in the direction of Westminster. Soon her
-graceful Figure was lost to our sight behind an
-intervening clump of Laurels. Here no doubt her
-Ladyship's Attendant was waiting for her Mistress,
-for anon I spied two figures hurrying out of the Park.
-
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-For a long time Mr. Betterton remained standing
-just where he was, one hand still clutching the knob
-of his Stick, the other thrust in the pocket of his
-capacious Coat. I could not see his Face, since his
-Back was turned towards me, and I did not dare
-move lest I should be interrupting his Meditations.
-But to Me, even that Back was expressive. There
-was a listlessness, hardly a stoop, about it, so unlike
-my Friend's usual firm and upright Carriage. How
-could this be otherwise, seeing what he had just
-gone through—Emotions that would have swept
-most Men off their mental balance. Yet he kept
-his, had never once lost control of himself. He had
-met Disdain with Disdain in the end, had kept
-sufficient control over his Voice to discuss with absolute
-calm, that Bargain which the Lady Barbara had
-termed infamous. There had been a detachment
-about his final Ultimatum, a "take it or leave it"
-air, which must have been bitterly galling to the
-proud Lady who had stooped to entreat. He was
-holding the winning Hand and did not choose to yield.
-
-And it was from his attitude on that Day that I,
-dear Mistress, drew an unerring inference.
-Mr. Betterton had no Love for the Lady Barbara, no
-genuine, lasting Affection such as, I maintain, he
-has never ceased to feel for You. Passion swayed
-him, because he has, above all, that unexplainable
-artistic Temperament which cannot be measured by
-everyday Standards. Pride, Bitterness,
-Vengefulness—call it what you will; but there was not a
-particle of Love in it all. I verily believe that his
-chief Desire, whilst he stood pondering there at the
-bridgehead, was to humiliate the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode by forcing her into a Marriage which
-she had affected to despise. He was not waiting for
-her with open, loving Arms, ready to take her to his
-Heart, there to teach her to forget the Past in the
-safe haven of his Love. He was not waiting to lay
-his Service at her feet, and to render her happy as
-the cherished Wife and Helpmate of the great Artist
-whom all England delighted to honour. He was
-only waiting to make her feel that She had been
-subjected to his Will and her former Lover brought
-down to Humiliation, through the Power of the
-miserable Mountebank whom they had both deemed
-less than a Man.
-
-Thus meditating, I stood close to my Friend, until
-Chance or a fleeting Thought brought him back to
-the realities of Life. He sighed and looked about
-him, as a Man will who hath just wakened from a
-Dream. Then he spied me, and gave me his wonted
-kindly smile and glance.
-
-"Good old John!" he said, with a self-deprecating
-shrug of the shoulders. "'Twas not an edifying
-Scene You have witnessed, eh?"
-
-"'Twas a heartrending one," I riposted almost
-involuntarily.
-
-"Heartrending?" he queried, in a tone of intense
-bitterness, "to watch a Fool crushing every Noble
-Instinct within him for the sake of getting even
-with a Man whom he neither honours nor esteems?"
-
-He sighed again, and beckoned to me to follow him.
-
-"Let us home, good Honeywood," he said. "I
-am weary of all this wrangle, and pine to find solace
-among the Poets."
-
-Nor did he mention the name of the Lady Barbara
-again to me, and I was left to ponder what was
-going on in his Mind and whether his cruelly
-vengeful Scheme for the final undoing of my Lord Stour
-would indeed come to maturity on the following
-day. I knew that a great and brilliant Representation
-of the late Mr. William Shakespeare's play,
-"Twelfth Night," was to be given at the Duke's
-Theatre, with some of the new Scenery and realistic
-scenic Effects brought over last Autumn from Paris
-by Mr. Betterton. His Majesty had definitely
-promised that he would be present and so had the
-Countess of Castlemaine, and there would doubtless be
-a goodly and gorgeous Company present to applaud
-the great Actor, whose Performance of Sir Toby
-Belch was one of the Marvels of histrionic Art,
-proclaiming as it did his wonderful versatility, by
-contrast with his equally remarkable exposition of
-the melancholy Hamlett, Prince of Denmark.
-
-That I now awaited that Day with Sorrow in
-my Heart and with measureless Anxiety, You, dear
-Mistress, will readily imagine. Until this morning
-I had no idea of the terrible Thunderbolt which my
-Friend had in preparation for those who had so
-shamefully wronged him; and I still marvelled
-whether in his talk with the Lady Barbara there had
-not lurked some idle Threats rather than a serious
-Warning. How could I think of the Man whom
-I had learned to love and to reverence as one who
-would nurture such cruel Schemes? And yet, did
-not the late Mr. Shakespeare warn us that
-"Pleasure and Revenge have ears more deaf than Adders
-to the voice of any true decision"? Ah, me! but
-I was sick at heart.
-
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- CHAPTER XIV
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-
- THE RULING PASSION
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- 1
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-And now, dear Mistress, I come to that memorable
-Evening wherein happened that which causes
-You so much heart-ache at this Hour.
-
-I know that the Occurrences of that Night have
-been brought to your Notice in a garbled Version,
-and that Mr. Betterton's Enemies have placed the
-Matter before You in a manner calculated to blacken
-his Integrity. But, as there is a living Judge above
-Us all, I swear to You, beloved Mistress, that what
-I am now purposing to relate is nothing but the
-Truth. Remember that, in this miserable Era of
-Scandal and Backbiting, of loose Living and
-Senseless Quarrels, Mr. Betterton's Character has always
-stood unblemished, even though the evil Tongue of
-Malice hath repeatedly tried to attack his
-untarnished Reputation. Remember also that the great
-Actor's few but virulent Enemies are all Men who
-have made Failures of their Lives, who are Idlers,
-Sycophants or Profligates, and therefore envious of
-the Fame and Splendour of one who is thought
-worthy to be the Friend of Kings.
-
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-We spoke but little together that day on our way
-home from the Park. Mr. Betterton was moody,
-and I silent. We took our dinner in quietude.
-There being no Performance at the Theatre that
-day, Mr. Betterton settled down to his Desk in the
-afternoon, telling me that he had some writing to do.
-
-I, too, had some of his Correspondence to attend
-to, and presently repaired to my room, my Heart
-still aching with Sorrow. Did I not guess what
-Work was even now engrossing the Attention of
-my Friend? He was deep in the Composition of
-that cruel Lampoon which he meant to speak on the
-Stage to-morrow, in the presence of His Majesty
-and of a large and brilliant Assembly. Strive as I
-might, I could not to myself minimize the probable
-Effect of the Lampoon upon the Mind of the Public.
-It is not for me, dear Mistress, to remind You of
-the amazing Popularity of Mr. Betterton—a
-Popularity which hath never been equalled ere this by
-any Actor, Artist or Poet in England. Whatever
-he spoke from the Stage would be treasured and
-reiterated and commented upon, until every Citizen
-of London and Westminster became himself a
-storehouse of Mud that would be slung at the unfortunate
-Earl of Stour. And the latter, by refusing to
-fight Mr. Betterton when the Latter had been the
-injured Party, had wilfully cast aside any Weapon
-of Redress which he might after this have called
-to his Aid.
-
-Well! we all know the Effect of scurrilous Quips
-spoken from the Stage; even the great Mr. Dryden
-or the famous Mr. Wycherley have not been above
-interpolating some in their Plays, for the Confusion
-of their Enemies; and many a Gentleman's or a
-Lady's Reputation has been made to suffer through
-the Vindictiveness of a noted Actor or Playwright.
-But, as you know, Mr. Betterton had never hitherto
-lent himself to such Scandal-monging; he stood far
-above those petty Quarrels betwixt Gentlemen and
-Poets that could be settled by wordy Warfare across
-the Footlights. All the more Weight, therefore,
-would the Public attach to an Epilogue specially
-written and spoken by him on so great an occasion.
-And, alas! the Mud-slinging was to be of a very
-peculiar and very clinging Nature.
-
-"Then let the Man you love look to himself!"
-the outraged Artist had said coldly, when
-confronted for the last time by the Lady Barbara's
-Disdain. And in my Mind I had no doubt that, for
-Good or for Evil, if Tom Betterton set out to do a
-Thing, he would carry it through to its bitter End.
-
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-When, having finished my work, I went into
-Mr. Betterton's study, I found him sitting beside his
-Desk, though no longer writing. He was leaning
-back against the cushions of his chair with eyes
-closed, his face set and hard. Some loose papers,
-covered with his neat, careful Caligraphy, lay in
-an orderly heap upon the Desk.
-
-His Work was evidently finished. Steeped in
-Bitterness and in Vengeance, his Pen had laboured
-and was now at rest. The Eloquence of the
-incomparable Actor would now do the rest.
-
-As I entered the Room, the tower clock of
-Westminster was just striking seven. The deep bay
-Window which gave on a solitary corner of
-St. James's Park, was wide open, and through it there
-came from afar, wafted upon the evening breeze, the
-strains of a masculine Voice, warm and mellow,
-singing to the accompaniment of one of those
-stringed Instruments which have been imported of
-late from Italy.
-
-The Voice rose and fell in pleasing Cadences, and
-some of the Words of the Song reached mine Ear.
-
- | "You are my Life. You ask me why?
- | Because my hope is in your love."
- |
-
-Whether Mr. Betterton heard them or not, I could
-not say. He sat there so still, his slender Hands—white
-and tapering, the veritable Hands of an Artist—rested
-listlessly upon the arms of his chair.
-
- | "Through gloomy Clouds to sunlit Skies,
- | To rest in Faith and your dear Eyes."
- |
-
-So sang the sweet Minstrel out there in the fast
-gathering Gloom. I went up to the window and
-gazed out into the open Vista before me. Far away
-I could see the twinkling lights from the windows
-of St. James's Palace, and on my right those of
-White Hall. The Singer I could not see. He
-appeared to be some distance away. But despite
-the lateness of the hour, the Park was still alive
-with people. And indeed as I leaned my Head
-further out of the Window, I was struck by the
-animated spectacle which it presented.
-
-No doubt that the unwonted mildness of this
-early spring evening had induced young Maids and
-Gallants, as well as more sober Folk and Gentlemen,
-to linger out in the open. The charm of the
-Minstrel and his Song, too, must have served as an
-additional Attraction, for as I watched the People
-passing to and fro, I heard snatches of Conversation,
-mostly in praise of the Singer or of the Weather.
-
-Anon I espied Sir William Davenant walking with
-Mr. Killigrew, and my Lord of Rochester dallying
-with a pretty Damsel; one or two more Gentlemen
-did I recognize as I gazed on the moving Sight, until
-suddenly I saw that which caused me to draw my
-Head back quickly from the Window and to gaze
-with added Anxiety on the listless Figure of my Friend.
-
-What I had seen down below had indeed filled
-my Heart with Dread. It was the Figure of my
-Lord Stour. I could have sworn to it, even though
-his Lordship was wrapped in a mantle from Head to
-Foot and wore a broad-rimmed Hat, both of which
-would indeed have disguised his Person completely
-before all Eyes save those of Love, of Hate, or of
-an abiding Friendship.
-
-What was my Lord Stour doing at this Hour,
-and in disguise, beneath the Window of his bitterest
-Foe? My Anxiety was further quickened by the
-Certainty which I had that neither he nor the Lady
-Barbara would allow Mr. Betterton's Schemes to
-mature without another Struggle. Even as I once
-more thrust my Head out of the Window, in order
-to catch another glimpse of the moody and solitary
-Figure which I had guessed to be Lord Stour,
-methought that close by the nearest Shrubbery I espied
-the Figure of the Lady Barbara, in close
-conversation with her Attendant. Both Women were
-wrapped in dark Mantles and wore thick veils to
-cover their Hair.
-
-A dark presentiment of Evil now took possession
-of my Soul. I felt like a Watch-dog scenting
-Danger from afar. The Man whom I loved better than
-any other on Earth was in peril of his Life, at the
-hands of an Enemy driven mad by an impending
-Doom—of that I felt suddenly absolutely convinced.
-And somehow, I felt equally convinced at the
-moment that we—I, the poor, insignificant Clerk, as
-well as my illustrious Friend—were standing on the
-Brink of an overwhelming Catastrophe.
-
-I had thought to warn him then and there, yet
-dared not do so in so many words. Men in the
-prime of Life and the plentitude of their mental
-Powers are wont to turn contemptuous and obstinate
-if told to be on their guard against a lurking
-Enemy. And I feared that, in his utter contempt
-for his Foe, Mr. Betterton might be tempted to do
-something that was both unconsidered and perilous.
-
-So I contented myself for the nonce with turning
-to my Friend, seeing that he had wakened from his
-reverie and was regarding me with that look of
-Confidence and Kindliness which always warmed
-my heart when I was conscious of it, I merely
-remarked quite casually:
-
-"The Park is still gay with Ladies and Gallants.
-'Tis strange at this late hour. But a Minstrel is
-discoursing sweet Music somewhere in the distance.
-Mayhap people have assembled in order to listen
-to him."
-
-And, as if to confirm my Supposition, a merry
-peal of laughter came ringing right across the Park,
-and we heard as it were the hum and murmur of
-Pedestrians moving about. And through it all the
-echo of the amorous Ditty still lingering upon the
-evening air:
-
- | "For you are Love—and I am yours!"
- |
-
-"Close that window, John," Mr. Betterton said,
-with an impatient little sigh. "I am in no mood
-for sentimental Ballads."
-
-I did as he desired, and whilst in the act of closing
-the Window, I said guardedly:
-
-"I caught sight of my Lord Stour just now,
-pacing the open Ground just beneath this Window. He
-appeared moody and solitary, and was wrapped
-from head to foot in a big Mantle, as if he wished
-to avoid Recognition."
-
-"I too am moody and solitary, good Honeywood,"
-was Mr. Betterton's sole comment on my
-remark. Then he added, with a slight shiver of his
-whole body: "I prithee, see to the Fire. I am
-perished with the cold."
-
-I went up to the Hearth and kicked the dying
-embers into a Blaze; then found some logs and
-threw them on the Fire.
-
-"The evening is warm, Sir," I said; "and you
-complained of the Heat awhile ago."
-
-"Yes," he rejoined wearily. "My head is on
-fire and my Spine feels like ice."
-
-It was quite dark in the Room now, save for the
-flickering and ruddy firelight. So I went out and
-bade the Servant give me the candles. I came back
-with them myself and set them on the Desk. As
-I did so, I glanced at Mr. Betterton. He had once
-more taken up his listless Attitude; his Head was
-leaning against the back of his Chair, and I could
-not fail to note how pallid his Face looked and how
-drawn, and there was a frown between his Brows
-which denoted wearying and absorbing Thoughts.
-Wishing to distract him from his brooding Melancholy,
-I thought of reminding him of certain artistic
-and social Duties which were awaiting his Attention.
-
-"Will you send an Answer, Sir," I asked him
-with well-assumed indifference, "to the Chancellor?
-It is on the Subject of the Benefit Performance in
-aid of the Indigent Poor of the City of Westminster.
-His Lordship again sent a messenger this
-afternoon."
-
-"Yes!" Mr. Betterton replied readily enough,
-and sought amongst his Papers for a Letter which
-he had apparently written some time during the
-Day. "If His Lordship's Messenger calls again,
-let him have this Note. I must arrange for the
-Benefit Performance, of course. But I doubt if
-many members of the Company will care to give
-their Services."
-
-"I think that Mr. Robert Noakes would be
-willing," I suggested. "Also Mr. Lilleston."
-
-"Perhaps, perhaps!" he broke in listlessly. "But
-we must have Actresses too, and they——"
-
-He shrugged his shoulders, and I rejoined with
-great alacrity:
-
-"Oh! I feel sure that Mistress Saunderson would
-be ready to join in any benevolent Scheme for the
-betterment of the Poor."
-
-"Ah! but she is an Angel!" Mr. Betterton
-exclaimed. And, believe me, dear Mistress, that those
-words came as if involuntarily to his Lips, out of
-the Fulness of his Heart. And even when he had
-spoken, a Look of infinite Sadness swept over his
-Face and he rested his Head against his Hand,
-shading his Eyes from the light of the Candles, lest
-I should read the Thoughts that were mirrored
-therein.
-
-"There came a messenger, too, this afternoon,"
-I reminded him, "from Paris, with an autograph
-Letter from His Majesty the King of France."
-
-"Yes!" he replied, and nodded his Head, I
-thought, uncomprehendingly.
-
-"Also a letter from the University of Stockholm.
-They propose that You should visit the City
-in the course of the Summer and——"
-
-"Yes, yes! I know!" he rejoined impatiently.
-"I will attend to it all another time ... But not
-to-night, good Honeywood," he went on almost
-appealingly, like a Man wearied with many Tasks.
-"My mind is like a squeezed Orange to-night."
-
-Then he held out his Hand to me—that beautiful,
-slender Hand of his, which I had so often kissed
-in the excess of my Gratitude—and added with
-gentle Indulgence:
-
-"Let me be to-night, good Friend. Leave me to
-myself. I am such poor Company and am best alone."
-
-I took his hand. It was burning hot, as if with
-inward Fever. All my Friendship for him, all my
-Love, was at once on the alert, dreading the
-ravages of some inward Disease, brought on mayhap
-by so much Soul-worry.
-
-"I do not relish leaving You alone to-night," I
-said, with more gruffness than I am wont to
-display. "This room is easy of Access from the Park."
-
-He smiled, a trifle sadly.
-
-"Dost think," he asked, with a slight shrug of
-the shoulders, "that a poor Mountebank would
-tempt a midnight Robber?"
-
-"No!" I replied firmly. "But my Lord Stour,
-wrapped to the eyes in his Mantle, hath prowled
-beneath these Windows for an hour." Then, as he
-made no comment, I continued with some Fervour:
-"A determined Man, who hates Another, can easily
-climb up to a first floor Window——"
-
-"Tush, friend!" he broke in sharply. "I am
-not afraid of his Lordship ... I am afraid of
-nothing to-night, my good Honeywood," he added
-softly, "except of myself."
-
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-
-You certainly will not wonder, dear Mistress,
-that after that I did not obey his Commands to leave
-him to himself. I am nothing of an Eavesdropper,
-God knows, nor yet would I pry into the Secrets of
-the Soul of the one Man whom I reverence above
-all others. But, even as I turned reluctantly away
-from him in order to go back to my Room, I
-resolved that, unless he actually shut the Door in my
-Face, I would circumvent him and would remain
-on the watch, like a faithful Dog who scents Danger
-for his Master. In this I did not feel that I was
-doing any Wrong. God saw in my Heart and knew
-that my Purpose was innocent. I thank Him on
-my Knees in that He strengthened me in my
-Resolve. But for that Resolve, I should not have been
-cognizant of all the details of those Events which
-culminated in such a dramatic Climax that night,
-and I would not have been able to speak with
-Authority when placing all the Facts before You. Let
-me tell You at once that I was there, in Mr. Betterton's
-Room, during the whole of the time that the
-Incident occurred which I am now about to relate.
-
-He had remained sitting at his Desk, and I went
-across the Room in the direction of the
-communicating Door which gave on my own Study. But I
-did not go through that Door. I just opened and
-shut it noisily, and then slipped stealthily behind the
-tall oaken Dresser, which stands in a dark Angle
-of the Room. From this point of Vantage I could
-watch closely and ceaselessly, and at the slightest
-Suspicion of immediate Danger to my Friend I
-would be free to slip out of my Hiding-place and to
-render him what Assistance he required. I had to
-squat there in a cramped Position, and I felt half
-suffocated with the closeness of the Atmosphere
-behind so heavy a Piece of Furniture; but this I
-did not mind. From where I was I could command
-a view of Mr. Betterton at his Desk, and of the
-Window, which I wished now that I had taken the
-Precaution to bar and bolt ere I retired to my
-Corner behind the Dresser.
-
-For awhile, everything was silent in the Room;
-only the great Clock ticked loudly in its case, and
-now and again the blazing logs gave an intermittent
-Crackle. I just could see the outline of
-Mr. Betterton's Shoulder and Arm silhouetted against
-the candle light. He sat forward, his elbow resting
-upon the Desk, his Head leaning against his Hand,
-and so still that presently I fell to thinking that he
-must have dropped to sleep.
-
-But suddenly he gave that quick, impatient Sigh
-of his, which I had learned to know so well, pushed
-back his chair, and rose to his Feet. Whereupon,
-he began pacing up and down the Room, in truth
-like some poor, perturbed Spirit that is denied the
-Solace of Rest.
-
-Then he began to murmur to himself. I know
-that mood of his and believe it to be peculiar to the
-artistic Temperament, which, when it feels itself
-untrammelled by the Presence of Others, gives vent
-to its innermost Thoughts in mumbled Words.
-
-From time to time I caught Snatches of what he
-said—wild Words for the most part, which showed
-the Perturbation of his Spirit. He, whose Mind
-was always well-ordered, whose noble Calling had
-taught him to co-ordinate his Thoughts and to
-subdue them to his Will, was now murmuring
-incoherent Phrases, disjointed Sentences that would
-have puzzled me had I not known the real Trend of
-his Mood.
-
-"Barbara!..." he said at one time. "Beautiful,
-exquisite, innocent Lady Babs; the one pure
-Crystal in that Laboratory of moral Decomposition,
-the Court of White Hall...." Then he paused,
-struck his Forehead with his Hand, and added with
-a certain fierce Contempt: "But she will yield
-... she is ready now to yield. She will cast aside her
-Pride, and throw herself into the arms of a Man
-whom she hates, all for the sake of that young
-Coxcomb, who is not worthy to kiss the Sole of
-her Shoe!"
-
-Again he paused, flung himself back into his
-Chair, and once more buried his Face in his Hands.
-
-"Oh, Woman, Woman!" I could hear him
-murmuring. "What an Enigma! How can the mere
-Man attempt to understand thee?"
-
-Then he laughed. Oh! I could not bear the sound
-of that laugh: there was naught but Bitterness in
-it. And he said slowly muttering between his Teeth:
-
-"The Philosopher alone knows that Women are
-like Melons: it is only after having tasted them that
-one knows if they are good."
-
-Of course, he said a great deal more during the
-course of that dreary, restless hour, which seemed
-to me like a Slice out of Eternity. His
-Restlessness was intense. Every now and then he would
-jump up and walk up and down, up and down,
-until his every Footstep had its counterpart in the
-violent beatings of my Heart. Then he would fling
-himself into a Chair and rest his Head against the
-Cushions, closing his Eyes as if he were in bodily
-Pain, or else beat his Forehead with his Fists.
-
-Of course he thought himself unobserved, for
-Mr. Betterton is, as You know, a Man of great
-mental Reserve. Not even before me—his faithful
-and devoted Friend—would he wittingly have
-displayed such overmastering Emotion. To say that
-an equally overwhelming Sorrow filled my Heart
-would be but to give You, dear Mistress, a feeble
-Statement of what I really felt. To see a Man of
-Mr. Betterton's mental and physical Powers so
-utterly crushed by an insane Passion was indeed
-heartrending. Had he not everything at his Feet
-that any Man could wish for?—Fame, Honours, the
-Respect and Admiration of all those who mattered
-in the World. Women adored him, Men vied with
-one another to render him the sincerest Flattery by
-striving to imitate his Gestures, his Mode of Speech,
-the very Cut of his Clothes. And, above all—aye,
-I dare assert it, and You, beloved Mistress will, I
-know, forgive me—above all, he had the Love of a
-pure and good Woman, of a talented Artist—yours,
-dear Lady—an inestimable Boon, for which many a
-Man would thank his Maker on his Knees.
-
-Ah! he was blind then, had been blind since that
-fatal Hour when the Lady Barbara Wychwoode
-crossed his Path. I could endorse the wild Words
-which he had spoken to her this forenoon. A
-thousand devils were indeed unchained within him; but
-'tis not to her Kiss that they would yield, but rather
-to the gentle Ministration of exquisite Mistress
-Saunderson.
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- CHAPTER XV
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-
- MORE DEAF THAN ADDERS
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- 1
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-
-I felt so cramped and numb in my narrow hiding-place
-that I verily believe I must have fallen into a
-kind of trance-like Slumber.
-
-From this I was suddenly awakened by the loud
-Clang of our front-door Bell, followed immediately
-by the Footsteps of the Serving Man upon the
-Landing, and then by a brief Colloquy between him
-and the belated Visitor.
-
-Seriously, at the moment I had no Conception of
-who this might be, until I glanced at Mr. Betterton.
-And then I guessed. Guessed, just as he had already
-done. Every line of his tense and expectant
-Attitude betrayed the Fact that he had recognized the
-Voice upon the Landing, and that its sound had
-thrilled his very Soul and brought him back from
-the Land of Dreams and Nightmare, where he had
-been wandering this past hour.
-
-You remember, dear Lady, the last time
-Mr. Betterton played in a Tragedy called "Hamlett,"
-wherein there is a Play within a Play, and the
-melancholy Prince of Denmark sets a troupe of
-Actors to enact a Representation of the terrible
-Crime whereof he accuses both his Uncle and his
-Mother? It is a Scene which, when played by
-Mr. Betterton, is wont to hold the Audience enthralled.
-He plays his Part in it by lying full length on the
-Ground, his Body propped up by his Elbow and his
-Chin supported in his Hand. His Eyes—those
-wonderful, expressive Eyes of his—he keeps fixed upon
-the guilty Pair: his Mother and his Uncle. He
-watches the play of every Emotion upon their
-faces—Fear, Anger, and then the slowly creeping,
-enveloping Remorse; and his rigid, stern Features
-express an Intensity of Alertness and of Expectancy,
-which is so poignant as to be almost painful.
-
-Just such an Expression did my dear Friend's
-Face wear at this Moment. He had pushed his
-Chair back slightly, so that I had a fuller view of
-him, and the flickering light of the wax Candles
-illumined his clear-cut Features and his Eyes, fixed
-tensely upon the door.
-
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- 2
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-
-The next moment the serving Man threw open
-the door and the Lady Barbara walked in. I could
-not see her until she had advanced further into the
-middle of the Room. Then I beheld her in all her
-Loveliness. Nay! I'll not deny it. She was still
-incomparably beautiful, with, in addition, that
-marvellous air of Breeding and of Delicacy, which
-rendered her peerless amongst her kind. I hated
-her for the infinite wrong which she had done to my
-Friend, but I could not fail to admire her. Her
-Mantle was thrown back from her Shoulders and a
-dark, filmy Veil, resembling a Cloud, enveloped her
-fair Hair. Beneath her Mantle she wore a Dress
-of something grey that shimmered like Steel in the
-Candlelight. A few tendrils of her ardent Hair had
-escaped from beneath her Veil, and they made a
-kind of golden Halo around her Face. She was
-very pale, but of that transparent, delicate Pallor
-that betokens Emotion rather than ill-health, and her
-Eyes looked to me to be as dark as Sloes, even
-though I knew them to be blue.
-
-For the space of one long Minute, which seemed
-like Eternity, these two remained absolutely still,
-just looking at one another. Methought that I could
-hear the very heart-beats within my breast. Then
-the Lady said, with a queer little catch in her Throat
-and somewhat hesitatingly:
-
-"You are surprised to see me, Sir, no doubt
-... but ..."
-
-She was obviously at a loss how to begin. And
-Mr. Betterton, aroused no doubt by her Voice from
-his absorption, rose quickly to his Feet and made
-her a deep and respectful Obeisance.
-
-"The Angels from Heaven sometimes descend to
-Earth," he said slowly; "yet the Earth is more
-worthy of their Visit than is the humble Artist of
-the Presence of his Muse." Then he added more
-artlessly: "Will You deign to sit?"
-
-He drew a Chair forward for her, but She did
-not take it, continued to speak with a strange,
-obviously forced Gaiety and in a halting Manner.
-
-"I thank you, Sir," she said. "That is
-... no ... not yet ... I like to look about me."
-
-She went close up to the Desk and began to finger
-idly the Books and Papers which lay scattered
-pell-mell upon it, he still gazing on her as if he had
-not yet realized the Actuality of her Presence.
-Anon she looked inquiringly about her.
-
-"What a charming room!" she said, with a little
-cry of wonder. "So new to me! I have never seen
-an Artist's room before."
-
-"For weeks and months," Mr. Betterton rejoined
-simply, "this one has been a temple, hallowed by
-thoughts of You. Your Presence now, has henceforth
-made it a Sanctuary."
-
-She turned full, inquiring Eyes upon him and
-riposted with childlike Ingenuousness:
-
-"Yet must You wonder, Sir, at my Presence
-here ... alone ... and at this hour."
-
-"In my heart," he replied, "there is such an
-Infinity of Happiness that there is no Room for
-Wonder."
-
-"An Infinity of Happiness?" she said with a
-quaint little sigh. "That is what we are all
-striving for, is it not? The Scriptures tell us that this
-Earth is a Vale of Tears. No wonder!" she added
-naïvely, "since we are so apt to allow Happiness to
-pass us by."
-
-Oh! how I wished I had the Courage then and
-there to reveal myself to these Twain, to rush out of
-my Hiding-place and seize that wily Temptress who,
-I felt sure, was here only for the undoing of a Man
-whom she hated with unexampled Bitterness. Oh,
-why hath grudging Nature made me weak and
-cowardly and diffident, when my whole Soul yearns at
-times to be resourceful and bold? Believe me, dear
-Mistress, that my Mind and my Will-power were
-absolutely torn between two Impulses—the one
-prompting me to put a stop to this dangerous and
-purposeless Interview, this obvious Trap set to catch
-a great and unsuspecting Artist unawares; and the
-other urging me not to interfere, but rather to allow
-Destiny, Fate or the Will of God alone to straighten
-out the Web of my Friend's Life, which had been
-embroiled by such Passions as were foreign to his
-noble Nature.
-
-And now I am thankful that I allowed this latter
-Counsel to prevail. The Will of God did indeed
-shape the Destinies of Men this night for their
-Betterment and ultimate Happiness. But, for the
-moment, the Threads of many a Life did appear to
-be most hopelessly tangled: the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury,
-the fiancée of the Earl of Stour, was in the house of
-Tom Betterton, His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servant,
-and he was passionately enamoured of her and
-had vowed Vengeance against the Man she loved.
-As he gazed on her now there was no Hatred in
-his Glance, no evil Passion disturbed the Look of
-Adoration wherewith he regarded her.
-
-"Barbara," he pleaded humbly, "be merciful to
-me.... For pity's sake, do not mock me with
-your smile! My dear, do you not see that I scarce
-can believe that I live ... and that you are here?
-... You! ... You!" he went on, with
-passionate Earnestness. "My Divinity, whom I only
-dare approach on bended Knees, whose Garment I
-scarce dare touch with my trembling Lips!"
-
-He bent the Knee and raised the long, floating
-End of her cloudlike Veil to his Lips. I could have
-sworn at that Moment that she recoiled from him
-and that she made a Gesture to snatch away the
-Veil, as if his very Touch on it had been Pollution.
-That Gesture and the Recoil were, however, quite
-momentary. The next second, even whilst he rose
-once more to his Feet, she had already recovered
-herself.
-
-"Hush!" she said gently, and drew herself
-artlessly away from his Nearness. "I want to listen....
-People say that Angels wait upon Mr. Betterton
-when he studies his Part ... and I want to
-hear the flutter of their Wings."
-
-"The Air vibrates with the Echo of your sweet
-Name," he rejoined, and his exquisite Voice sounded
-mellow and vibrant as a sensitive Instrument
-touched by a Master's Hand. "Your name, which
-with mad longing I have breathed morning, noon
-and eve. And now ... now ... I am not
-dreaming ... You are near me! ... You, the
-perfect Lady Barbara ... my Lady Babs....
-And you look—almost happy!"
-
-She gave him a Look—the true Look of a Siren
-set to enchain the Will of Man.
-
-"Happy?" she queried demurely. "Nay, Sir
-... puzzled, perhaps."
-
-"Puzzled?" he echoed. "Why?"
-
-"Wondering," she replied, "what magic is in the
-air that could make a Woman's Heart ... forsake
-one Love ... for ... for Another."
-
-Yes! She said this, and looked on him straight
-between the Eyes as she spoke. Yet I knew that she
-lied, could have screamed the Accusation at her, so
-convinced was I that she was playing some subtle
-and treacherous Game, designed to entrap him and
-to deliver him helpless and broken into her Power.
-But he, alas! was blinded by his Passion. He saw
-no Siren in her, no Falsehood in her Smile. At her
-Words, I saw a great Light of Happiness illumine
-his Face.
-
-"Barbara!" he pleaded. "Have pity on me, for
-my Reason wanders. I dare not call it back, lest this
-magic hour should prove to be a Dream."
-
-He tried to take her in his Arms, but she evaded
-him, ran to the other side of the Desk, laughing
-merrily like a Child. Once again her delicate
-Fingers started to toy with the Papers scattered
-there.
-
-"Oh, ho!" she exclaimed, with well-feigned
-astonishment. "Your desk! Why, this," she said,
-placing her Hand upon the neat pile before her,
-"must be that very Thunderbolt wherewith
-to-morrow you mean to crush an arrogant Enemy!"
-
-"Barbara!" he rejoined with ever growing passion,
-and strove to take her Hand. "Will you not
-let me tell You——"
-
-"Yes, yes!" she replied archly, and quietly
-withdrew her Hand from his grasp. "You shall speak
-to me anon some of those Speeches of our great
-Poets, which your Genius hath helped to
-immortalize. To hear Mr. Betterton recite will be an
-inestimable Privilege ... which your many
-Admirers, Sir, will envy me."
-
-"The whole world would envy me to-night," he
-retorted, and gazed on her with such Ardour that
-she was forced to lower her Eyes and to hide their
-Expression behind the delicate Curtain of her Lashes.
-
-I, who was the dumb Spectator of this cruel
-Game, saw that the Lady Barbara was feeling her
-way towards her Goal. There was so much Excitement
-in her, such palpitating Vitality, that her very
-Heart-beats seemed to find their Echo in my breast.
-Of course, I did not know yet what Game it was
-that she was playing. All that I knew was that it
-was both deadly and treacherous. Even now, when
-Mr. Betterton once more tried to approach her and
-she as instinctively as before recoiled before him, she
-contrived to put strange softness into her Voice, and
-a subtle, insidious Promise which helped to confuse
-his Brain.
-
-"No—no!" she said. "Not just yet ... I
-pray you have pity on my Blushes. I—I still am
-affianced to my Lord Stour ... although..."
-
-"You are right, my beloved," he rejoined simply.
-"I will be patient, even though I am standing on the
-Threshold of Paradise. But will You not be
-merciful? I cannot see you well. Will you not take off
-that Veil? ... It casts a dark shadow over your Brow."
-
-This time she allowed him to come near her, and,
-quite slowly, she unwound the Veil from round her
-Head. He took it from her as if it were some
-hallowed Relic, too sacred to be polluted by earthly
-Touch. And, as her back was turned towards him,
-he crushed the Gossamer between his Hands and
-pressed its Fragrance to his Lips.
-
-"There!" she said coolly. "'Tis done. Your
-magic, Sir Actor, has conquered again."
-
-It seemed to me that she was more self-possessed
-now than she had been when first she entered the
-Room. Indeed, her Serenity appeared to grow as his
-waned perceptibly. She still was a little restless,
-wandering aimlessly about the Room, fingering the
-Books, the Papers, the Works of Art that lay
-everywhere about; but it seemed like the restlessness of
-Curiosity rather than of Excitement. In her own
-Mind she felt that she held the Winning Hand—of
-this I was convinced—and that she could afford to
-toy with and to befool the Man who had dared to
-measure his Power against hers.
-
-After awhile, she sat down in her Chair which he
-had brought forward for her, and which stood close
-to the Desk.
-
-"And now, Sir," she said with cool composure,
-"'tis You who must humour me. I have a fancy
-... now, at this moment ... and my Desire
-is to be thoroughly spoiled."
-
-"Every Whim of yours," he rejoined, "is a
-Command to your humble Slave."
-
-"Truly?" she queried.
-
-"Truly."
-
-"Then will You let me see you ... sitting at
-your Desk ... Pen in hand ... writing
-something just for me?"
-
-"All my work of late," he replied, "has been done
-because of You ... but I am no Poet. What I
-speak may have some Merit. What I write hath none."
-
-"Oh!" she protested with well-simulated
-Coquetry, "what I desire You to write for me, Sir
-Actor, will have boundless Merit. It is just a couple
-of Lines designed to ... to ... prove your
-Love for me—Oh!" she added quickly, "I scarce
-dare believe in it, Sir ... I scare understood
-... You remember, this morning in the Park, I
-was so excited, yet you asked me—to be—your Wife!"
-
-"My Wife!" he cried, his Voice ringing with
-triumphant Passion. "And you would consent?——"
-
-"And so I came," she riposted, evading a direct
-Answer, "to see if I had been dreaming ... if,
-indeed, the great and illustrious Mr. Betterton had
-stooped to love a Woman ... and for the sake
-of that Love would do a little Thing for Her."
-
-Lies! Lies! I knew that every Word which she
-spoke was nothing but a Lie. My God! if only I
-could have unriddled her Purpose! If only I could
-have guessed what went on behind those marvellous
-Eyes of hers, deep and unfathomable as the Sea!
-All I knew—and this I did in the very Innermost of
-my Soul—was that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode
-had come here to-night in order to trick Mr. Betterton,
-and to turn his Love for her to Advantage for
-my Lord Stour. How carefully she had thought out
-the Part which she meant to play; how completely
-she meant to have him at her Mercy, only in order
-to mock and deride him in the End, I had yet to learn.
-
-Even now she completed his Undoing, the
-Addling of his noble Mind, by casting Looks of
-shy Coquetry upon him. What Man is there who
-could have resisted them? What Man, who was
-himself so deeply infatuated as was Mr. Betterton,
-could believe that there was Trickery in those
-Glances? He sat down at his Desk, as she had
-desired him to do, and drew Pen, Ink and Paper
-closer to his Hand.
-
-"An you asked my Life," he said simply, "I
-would gladly give it to prove my Love for You." Then,
-as she remained silent and meditative, he
-added: "What is your Ladyship's wish?"
-
-"Oh!" she replied, "'tis a small matter
-... It concerns the Earl of Stour ... We were
-Friends ... once ... Playmates when we were
-Children ... That Friendship ripened into
-a—a—Semblance of Love. No! No!" she went on
-rapidly, seeing that at her Words he had made a
-swift Movement, leaning towards her. "I pray you,
-listen. That Semblance of Love may have gone
-... but Friendship still abides. My Lord Stour,
-the Playmate of my Childhood, is in sore trouble
-... I, his Friend, would wish to help him, and
-cannot do this without your Aid. Will You—will
-You grant me this Aid, Sir," she queried shyly, "if
-I beg it of You?"
-
-"Your Ladyship has but to command," he
-answered vaguely, for, in truth, his whole Mind
-was absorbed in the contemplation of her Loveliness.
-
-"'Twas You," she asserted boldly, "who begged
-for his Lordship's pardon from the Countess of
-Castlemaine ... 'Twas not he who betrayed his
-Friends. That is a Fact, is it not?"
-
-"A Fact. Yes," he replied.
-
-"Then I pray you, Sir, write that down," she
-pleaded, with an ingenuous, childish Gesture, "and
-sign it with your Name ... just to please me."
-
-She looked like a lovely Child begging for a Toy.
-To think of Guile in connection with those Eyes,
-with that Smile, seemed almost a Sacrilege. And
-my poor Friend was so desperately infatuated just
-then! Has any Man ever realized that Woman is
-fooling him, when she really sets her Wiles to
-entrap him? Surely not a Man of Mr. Betterton's
-keen, artistic and hot-blooded Temperament. I saw
-it all now, yet I dared not move. For one thing,
-the time had gone by when I might have done it with
-good Effect. Now it was too late. Any interference
-on my part would only have led to Ignominy
-for myself and the severance of a Friendship that
-I valued more than Life itself. Betwixt a Friend's
-warning and a Woman's Cajolery, what Man would
-hesitate? What could I, in any event, have done
-now, save to hold up the inevitable Catastrophe for
-a few Moments—a few Seconds, perhaps? Truly,
-my hour was past. I could but wait now in Silence
-and Misery until the End.
-
-There she sat, pleading, speaking that eternal
-Phrase, which since the beginning of primeval times
-hath been used by wily Woman for the undoing of a
-generous-minded Man.
-
-"Will You do this, Sir—just to please me?"
-
-"I swear to You that it shall be done," he
-rejoined with passionate fervour. "But will you not
-let me tell you first——"
-
-"No!—No!" she said quickly, clasping her
-delicate hands. "I pray You—not just yet. I—I so
-long to see You write ... there ... at this
-Desk, where lie piled letters from every illustrious
-Person and every crowned Head in Europe. And
-now You will write," she entreated, in the tone of an
-indulged and wayward Child. "You will? Just
-one little Document for me, because ... because
-You say You love me, and ... because ... I..."
-
-"Barbara!" he cried in an Ecstasy of Happiness.
-"My Beloved!"
-
-He was on the point of falling on his Knees, but
-once more a demure Gesture, a drawing back of her
-whole Figure, restrained him.
-
-"No! No!" she reiterated firmly. "When you
-have written, I will listen——"—another Glance,
-and he was vanquished. Then she completed her
-Phrase—"to all you have to say."
-
-He drew back with a sigh, and took up his Pen.
-
-"As you command," he said simply, and made
-ready to write.
-
-
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-Even now, whene'er I close mine Eyes, I can see
-those twain as a vivid Picture before me. The
-Massive Desk, littered with papers, the Candles
-flickering in their Sconces, illumining with their
-elusive Light the Figure of the great Actor, sitting
-with shoulders slightly bent forward, one Arm
-resting upon the Desk, half buried in the filmy folds of
-her Ladyship's Veil, his Face upturned towards the
-Enchantress, who held him at this Hour an absolute
-Slave to her Will. She had risen from her Chair
-and stood immediately behind him; her Face I could
-not see, for her back was towards me, but the light
-caught the loose Tendrils of her fair Hair, and from
-where I stood watching, this looked just like a
-golden Aureole around her small Head, bent slightly
-towards him. She too was leaning forward, over
-him, with her Hand extended, giving him Directions
-as to what he should write.
-
-"Oh, I pray You," she said with an impatient
-little Sigh, "do not delay! I will watch You as You
-write. I pray You write it as a Message addressed
-to the Court of White Hall. Not in Poetry," she
-added, with a nervous little Laugh; "but in Prose,
-so that all may understand."
-
-He bent to his task and began to write, and she
-straightened out her elegant Figure and murmured,
-as if oppressed: "How hot this room is!"
-
-Slowly, as if in Absence of Mind, She wandered
-towards the Window.
-
-"I have heard it said," she remarked, "that
-Mr. Betterton's worst enemy is the cold. But a
-fire! ... on such a glorious Evening. The first Kiss
-of awakening Spring."
-
-She had reached the Window now, and stood for
-awhile in the Bay, leaning against the Mullion; and
-I could not help but admire her Duplicity and her
-Pluck. For, indeed, She had risked Everything that
-Woman holds most dear, for the sake of the Man
-she loved. And She could not help but know that
-She herself and her fair Name would anon be at
-the mercy of a Man whom her Cajoleries and her
-Trickery would have rendered desperate.
-
-Anon, as if quite overcome by the Heat, she threw
-open the Casement, and then leaned out, peering into
-the Darkness beyond. Ensconced in my Corner at
-some distance from the Window, I was conscious
-of the Movement and subdued Noise which came up
-from the still crowded Park. A number of People
-appeared to be moving out there, and even as I
-strained my Ears to listen, I caught the sweet sound
-of the selfsame Song of awhile ago, wafted hither
-on the cool night Air:
-
- | "You are my Life! You ask me why?
- | Because my Hope is in Your Love."
- |
-
-I caught myself marvelling if the Ladies and
-Gallants of the Court had strolled out into the Park
-at this hour, drawn thither by the amorous Melodies
-sung by the unknown Minstrel; or by the balmy Air
-of Spring; or merely by the passing Whim of some
-new Fashion or Fancy. I even strained my Ears
-so that I might recognise the sound of Voices that
-were familiar to me. I heard my Lord of
-Rochester's characteristic Laugh, Sir William
-Davenant's dictatorial tones and the high-pitched
-Cackle of Mr. Killigrew.
-
-So doth our Mind oft dwell on trivial Thoughts
-at times of gravest Stress. Her Ladyship had sat
-down on a low Stool beside the Window. I could
-only see the vague outline of her—the Expression
-of her Face, the very Poise of her Head, were wrapt
-in the surrounding Gloom.
-
-For awhile there was perfect Silence in the Room,
-save for the monotonous ticking of the old Clock
-and the scratching of Mr. Betterton's Pen as he
-wrote with a rapid and unhesitating Hand.
-
-The Minutes sped on, and anon he had completed
-his Task. I saw him lay down his Pen, then raise
-the Paper and read through very carefully all that
-he had written, and finally strew Sand upon the
-momentous Document. For awhile after that he
-remained perfectly still, and I observed his clear-cut
-Face, with Eyes fixed as it were inwards into his
-own Soul, and sensitive Lips pressed tightly one
-against the other. The Hand which held the
-Document was perfectly steady, an obedient slave to his
-Will. And yet that Sign-manual, as directed by her
-Ladyship, was a direct Avowal of a dastardly Deed,
-of the gratuitous Slandering of an innocent Man's
-Honour, without Provocation or Justification, seeing
-that no mention was made in the Confession of the
-abominable Outrage which had brought about this
-grim Retaliation, or of the Refusal on the part of
-his Lordship to grant the Satisfaction that is
-customary between Gentlemen. It was, in fact, his own
-Integrity and his own Honour that the eminent
-Actor was even now bartering for a Woman's Love.
-This will prove to You, dear Mistress, that
-Mr. Betterton's Love for the Lady Barbara Wychwoode
-did not at any time resemble true Affection, which,
-of all the Passions to which the human Heart is apt
-to become Slave, is the one that leads the Mind to
-the highest and noblest Thoughts; whereas an
-Infatuation can only be compared to a Fever. Man
-hath no more control over the one than he hath over
-the other, and cannot curb its Violence or the
-Duration of its Attack.
-
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-
-The next thing that I remember most clearly is
-seeing Mr. Betterton put the fateful Paper down
-again, take up her Ladyship's Veil and bury his Face
-in its cloudy Folds. I heard him murmur faintly,
-after awhile:
-
-"Now, if I dared, I would believe myself almost happy!"
-
-Then he rose, picked up the Paper, and with it
-went up to the Lady Barbara.
-
-"'Tis done, as you did command," he said quite
-quietly, and placed the Document in her Hand. She
-took it from him and rose to her Feet.
-
-"A Light, I pray You," she said coldly.
-
-He brought one of the Candles across and stood
-beside her, holding it aloft. She read the Paper
-through with great Deliberation, nodding Approval
-from time to time as she did so. Then she folded
-it into a very small Compass, while she thanked him
-coldly and guardedly. He then went back to the
-Desk with the Candle and put it down. During
-these few Seconds, whilst his back was turned to
-her, I noticed that the Lady Barbara took a heavy,
-jewelled Brooch from her Gown and fastened it by
-its pin to the Document. Her movements were
-methodical but very quick, and my own Mind
-worked too slowly to guess at her Intention.
-
-The next moment, Mr. Betterton was once more
-by her side. Eager, alert, and with the glow of
-Triumph in his Eyes, he flung himself at her Feet.
-She was his now!—his by Right of Conquest! He
-had won her by measureless Self-Sacrifice, and now
-he meant to hold the Guerdon for which he had paid
-so heavy a Price.
-
-"Because you deigned to cross this humble
-Threshold," he said, and his arms encircled her
-Waist with the masterful and passionate Gesture
-of a Victor, "the poor Actor places his Name and
-Fame, his Pride and baffled Revenge, at your feet."
-
-"At the World's Feet, Sir Mountebank!" she
-cried exultantly, and with a swift movement she
-flung the weighted Paper far out through the
-Window. Then, leaning out into the Darkness, she
-called at the top of her Voice: "To me, Adela!
-Here is the Message from Mr. Betterton. Take it
-to my Lord Sidbury at once!"
-
-But Mr. Betterton was no longer in a mental State
-to care what happened after this; I doubt if he
-realized just what was impending. He was still on
-his Knees, holding on to her with both Arms.
-
-"Nay!" he said wildly. "That is as You please.
-Let the whole World think me base and abject.
-What care I for Honour, Fame or Integrity now
-that You are here, and that You will be my Wife?"
-
-Ah! the poor, deluded Fool! How could he be
-so blind? Already the Lady Barbara had turned
-on him with flashing Eyes, and a loud, hysterical
-Laugh of measureless Contempt broke from her Lips.
-
-"Your Wife!" she exclaimed, and that harsh
-laugh echoed through the Silence of the House.
-"So, Mr. Actor, you thought to entrap the Daughter
-of the Marquis of Sidbury into becoming your
-Wife! ... Nay! you miserable Fool! 'Twas I
-entrapped and cheated you.... Your Wife!
-Ye Saints in Heaven, hear him! His Wife! The
-Wife of Thomas Betterton, the Mountebank!! I!!!"
-
-Her Words, her Laughter, the Bitterness of her
-Contempt, stung him like a Whip-lash. In an
-instant, he was on his Feet, staggered back till he
-came in contact with the Desk, to which he clung
-with both hands, while he faced her, his Cheeks
-pale as Ashes, his Eyes glowing with a Light that
-appeared almost maniacal.
-
-"You cheated me?" he murmured inarticulately.
-"You lied to me? ... You ... I'll not
-believe it ... I'll not believe it...."
-
-She appeared not to heed him, was gazing out of
-the Window, shouting directions to some one—her
-waiting-maid, no doubt, or other Confidante—who
-was searching for the Paper down below.
-
-"There, Adela!" she called out eagerly. "Dost
-see ... just by those bushes ... something
-white ... my brooch.... Dost see?"
-
-Suddenly she gave a Cry of Triumph, and then
-turned back exultantly to her baffled Foe.
-
-"My maid," she said, somewhat wildly, and
-panting as if she were exhausted with fast running.
-"We had planned it all ... She is devoted to me
-... She has been on the Watch ... She has
-the paper now ... There!" she added, and with
-outstretched arm pointed out into the Gloom
-beyond. "There; Do you see?"
-
-Can You wonder that her Trickery, her Contempt
-had made him mad? Indeed, even I felt that at that
-moment I could have held her slender throat between
-my two Hands and crushed the Life out of her. To
-a Man of Mr. Betterton's temperament, the
-Provocation was obviously beyond his Powers of
-Endurance. Even in the dim Light, I could see a positive
-Fury of Passion akin to Hate literally distorting his
-Face. The next second he was once more by her
-side, and whilst she still cried wildly: "Do you see?
-Do you see? Run, Adela, run!" he seized her in
-his arms and retorted roughly:
-
-"I see nothing now but your Beauty, and that
-has made me mad."
-
-"Run, Adela! Run!" she cried again. "That
-message from Mr. Betterton is for the whole World
-to see!"
-
-But he held her tightly round the Shoulders now,
-and she, probably realizing her Danger for the first
-time, strove to struggle against his Embrace.
-
-"Let me go!" she commanded. "Let me go! or
-I swear by God in Heaven that I will find the
-Strength to kill myself and You."
-
-"I love You," was his only reply to her Threat.
-"Nay!" he added, speaking in rapid, jerky Phrases,
-the while she continued to struggle with ever
-growing loss of Power. "You shall kill me later if You
-will, but not till I have lived. My Dear, my Love,
-my Saint! Have I not worshipped you for days and
-months? Have I not held You in Dream in my
-Arms? You are my Muse, my Divinity, my Hope!
-Mine! Mine! Exquisite, adorable Lady Barbara!
-No! No! You cannot escape, struggle how You
-might. This is my hour! 'Tis you who gave it me,
-and I defy Heaven itself to rob me of a single instant!"
-
-My God! what could I do? More and more did
-I curse the Folly and Cowardice which had kept me
-riveted to this Spot all this while. Now there was
-nothing for it but to reveal my Presence, to draw
-upon my foolish Head the Contempt and Anger of a
-Man for whom I would gladly have laid down my
-Life. My Brain became confused. I ceased to see
-clearly. A ruddy Mist was gathering before my
-Eyes. I was on the Verge of losing Consciousness
-and was struggling pitifully to retain Command over
-my Senses. Through this fast approaching Swoon
-I could hear, as through an intervening Veil, the
-hoarse and broken Accents of the Voice that I loved
-so well:
-
-"You are here alone with me. The last shred
-of my Reason is scattered to the Winds. England,
-Fame, the World, are empty Words to me. Do you
-not see that now I am ready to die an hundred
-Deaths, for at last I shall have lived ... I shall
-have held You in my Arms."
-
-And one great and pitiful Appeal from her Lips:
-"Oh, God! If there is Justice in Heaven—defend
-me now——"
-
-And, even half conscious as I was, I saw her—yes,
-saw her quite distinctly give a sudden wrench
-which freed her right Arm. She plunged her Hand
-into the bosom of her Gown, and the next instant
-the flickering light of the Candle flashed a vivid
-gleam upon the narrow steel blade of a dagger
-which she held. This, with the swiftness of
-lightning, brought me back to the Consciousness of the
-present, grim Reality. With a loud and sudden Cry,
-I darted out of my Hiding Place and stood there
-before them both, pale no doubt with a well-nigh
-unearthly Pallor, which must have given me the
-Appearance of a Ghost.
-
-It was now the Lady Barbara who was nigh to
-Swooning. But, with that coolness which comes at
-times to the Helpless and the Weak, I had already
-snatched her Veil from the Desk, and whilst she
-tottered and almost fell into my Arms, I wrapped
-it around her Head.
-
-"Quick! The Door!" I said. "You are quite safe!"
-
-I dared not look at Mr. Betterton. Indeed, I
-could not even now tell You in what Attitude or
-with what Expression of Face he watched me whilst
-I seemed thus to take Command of the Situation.
-The Lady Barbara was trembling so violently that
-some few moments elapsed before she was able to
-walk across the Room. When she finally did so,
-her Foot kicked against the Dagger which had
-dropped from her Hand when I so suddenly
-appeared before her. She gave a faint Cry of Horror,
-and I stooped and picked up the Dagger and placed
-it back in her Hand without looking at her.
-
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-Her Ladyship then went on towards the door.
-But suddenly she came to a halt, and I, who was
-close to her heels, paused likewise, for I felt that
-every drop of Blood within me had turned to Ice.
-From the Hall below there had come the sound of
-angry Altercation and a Man's voice was raised
-loudly and peremptorily, saying:
-
-"Let me pass, man! I will speak with Mr. Betterton."
-
-The voice was that of my Lord Stour.
-
-The Lady Barbara stood quite still for a moment,
-rigid as a carved Statue. Then a low, inexpressibly
-pathetic Moan rose to her Lips.
-
-"Oh! for the Earth to open!" she cried pitiably,
-"and bury me and this Shame——"
-
-She was overwrought and weak with Emotion,
-but in any Event it was a terrible Position for any
-Lady of Rank to be found in, at this late hour, and
-alone. Overcome no doubt with the superabundance
-of harrowing Sensations, she tottered as if
-about to swoon. Mr. Betterton caught her as she fell.
-
-"My Divinity! My Queen!" he murmured
-quickly. "No one shall harm you, I swear it! No
-one shall!" Then he added under his breath:
-"Heaven above me, help me to protect her!"
-
-Whereupon he lifted her up in his Arms as if
-she were a Child, and carried her as far as the
-Embrasure of the Window. Then, with one of
-those quick movements which were so characteristic
-of him, he drew the Curtains together, which shut
-off the Bay from the rest of the Room and screened
-its fair Occupant completely from view.
-
-He was a different Man now to the Passion-racked
-Creature of awhile ago; absolutely calm; the
-Man I had known and loved and respected all these
-years. Though my whole Being was still convulsed
-in an Agony of Apprehension, I felt that from him
-now would come moral Comfort for me and
-Protection for the unfortunate Lady, whose Burden of
-Sorrow had at last touched his Heart. And I do
-verily believe, dear Lady, that in that Instant of
-supreme Danger for us all, his Passion fell from him
-like a Curtain from before his Eyes. It had gone
-through its culminating Anguish when he discovered
-that she whom he loved had lied to him and cheated
-him. Now, when she stood here before him, utterly
-helpless and utterly crushed, his Infatuation
-appeared to writhe for one Moment in the Crucible of
-his own Manliness and Chivalry, and then to emerge
-therefrom hallowed and purified.
-
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-In the meanwhile, less than a minute had elapsed.
-My Lord Stour had ascended the Stairs, undeterred
-by the Protestations of Mr. Betterton's Servant.
-The next moment he had violently wrenched the
-Door open and now stood before us, pale, trembling
-with Rage or Excitement, hatless, his Mantle
-thrown back from his Shoulders. His right Hand
-clutched his naked Sword, and in his Left he had
-a crushed ball of paper, held together by her
-Ladyship's brooch. His entire Attitude was one of firm
-and deadly Menace.
-
-"I heard a Voice!" he exclaimed, staring wildly
-around him. "I saw a Face—a Form.... This
-Paper was flung out from yonder Window
-... was picked up by a serving Wench.... What
-does it mean?" he queried harshly, and advanced
-threateningly towards Mr. Betterton, who was
-standing midway between him and the curtained Bay.
-
-"How can I tell?" riposted the great Actor
-blandly, with a careless Shrug of his Shoulders. "I
-was not moon-gazing, as your Lordship appears to
-have done. A paper, did You say?"
-
-"You are not alone," retorted my Lord roughly.
-"I heard a voice ... just now...."
-
-"We are all apt to hear voices in the moonlight,
-my Lord," Mr. Betterton rejoined simply. "The
-Artist hears his Muse, the Lover his Mistress, the
-Criminal his Conscience."
-
-His unruffled calm seemed to exasperate his
-Lordship's fury, for he now appeared even more
-menacing than before.
-
-"And did You perchance hear a Voice to-night,
-Sir Actor," he queried, his voice hoarse with
-Passion, "warning You of Death?"
-
-"Nay!" replied Mr. Betterton. "That Voice
-whispers to Us all, and always, my Lord, even in
-our Cradles."
-
-"Then hear it for the last time now, and from my
-Lips, you abominable Mountebank!" my Lord cried,
-beside himself in truth. "For unless You draw
-aside that Curtain, I am going to kill You."
-
-"That is as you please," retorted Mr. Betterton
-simply.
-
-"Stand aside!" commanded his Lordship.
-
-But Mr. Betterton looked him calmly up and
-down and did not move one inch.
-
-"This is a most unwarrantable Interference," he
-said quietly, "with the Freedom of His Majesty's
-well-beloved Servant. Your Lordship seems to
-forget that every inch of this Floor is mine, and that I
-stand on it where I please. I pray you, take that
-Paper—that Message—elsewhere. An it came
-down from Heaven, read it—but leave me in Peace."
-
-"I'll not go," asserted my Lord harshly, "till
-you have drawn aside that Curtain."
-
-"Then we'll see whose Legs will weary first, my
-Lord, yours or mine," was Mr. Betterton's unruffled
-rejoinder.
-
-"Draw then and defend yourself!" cried my
-Lord, who before his Enemy's unbroken Calm, had
-lost what Semblance of Self-Control he still possessed.
-
-"I am unarmed," riposted Mr. Betterton simply.
-
-"Then let Satan have his due," exclaimed the
-young Hothead, and raised his Sword ready to
-strike, "for your Soul shall go down to Hell at last!"
-
-In a moment, of course, I was on him. But he
-had the vigour of a trained Soldier, enhanced by an
-overwhelming Passion of Enmity and of Rage; and
-though I seized him unawares—I doubt if he had
-realized that I was in the Room—he shook me off
-in an instant, as a Dog might shake off an
-importunate Rat. Before I had time to recover my breath
-from his quick and furious Defence, he had turned
-on me and dealt me such a vigorous Blow with his
-Fist between the Eyes, that the whole Room began
-to gyrate around me and the Atmosphere became
-peopled with Stars. I staggered and half fell
-against the Dresser that had sheltered me awhile
-ago. For the space of half a dozen seconds mine
-Eyes were closed.
-
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-When I opened them again, the Scene had indeed
-changed. Her Ladyship had pushed the Curtains
-aside and stood there in the window Embrasure,
-revealed to her irate Lover. And he, though he
-must have known that she was there all the Time,
-appeared so staggered by her Apparition that his
-Arm dropped by his side and his Sword fell with a
-clatter to the Ground, while he murmured as if in
-the last Throes of mental Suffering:
-
-"Barbara ... my Barbara .. here—alone—at
-night ... with this Man!..."
-
-Her Ladyship, however, appeared perfectly
-composed. The light of the Candles revealed her
-exquisite Face, pale but serene, and her small Head
-crowned with the Aureole of her golden Hair, held
-up proudly as one who hath naught to fear, naught
-for which she need be ashamed. She pointed with
-perfect steadiness to the Paper which my Lord still
-held tightly clasped in his left Hand.
-
-"That paper!" she said, and only a slight veiling
-of her Voice betrayed the Emotion which she felt.
-"I sent it. 'Tis for you, my Lord. It will clear
-your Honour, and proclaim your Innocence."
-
-But his Lordship did not appear to hear her. He
-continued to murmur to himself mechanically, and
-in tones of the deepest Despair:
-
-"Barbara ... alone ... with him!"
-
-"Read that Paper, my dear Lord," her Ladyship
-insisted with calm dignity, "ere with another
-Thought you further dare to wrong me!"
-
-These simple Words, however, so full of
-conscious Worth and of Innocence, let loose the
-Floodgates of my Lord's pent-up, insensate jealousy.
-
-"Wrong you!" he cried, and a harsh, almost
-maniacal laugh broke from his choking Throat.
-"Wrong you! Nay! I suppose I must be grateful
-and thank Heaven on my Knees that You, my
-promised Bride, deigned to purchase mine Honour
-at the Price of your Kisses!"
-
-At this gross Insult her Ladyship uttered a pitiful
-Moan; but ere she could give Reply, Mr. Betterton,
-who hitherto had not interfered between the Twain,
-now did so, and in no measured Tone.
-
-"Silence, Madman!" he commanded, "ere You
-blaspheme."
-
-But my Lord had apparently lost his last Shred
-of Reason. Jealousy was torturing him in a
-manner that even Hatred had failed to do.
-
-"God!" he exclaimed repeatedly, calling to the
-Almighty to witness his Soul-Misery. "I saw her
-at that Window.... Who else saw her?...
-How many Varlets and jabbering Coxcombs know
-at the present moment that the Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode spends the night alone with a Mountebank?" In
-an excess of ungoverned Rage he tore the Paper
-to shreds and threw the Scraps almost into her
-Ladyship's Face. "Take back your Proofs!" he
-cried. "I'll not take mine Honour from Your
-hands! Ah!" he added, and now turned once more
-toward Mr. Betterton, who, I could see, was calmly
-making up his Mind what next to do. "Whoever
-you are—Man or Devil—are you satisfied with your
-Revenge? Was it not enough to cover *me* with
-Infamy; what need had You to brand *Her* with
-Dishonour?"
-
-Overcome with Emotion, his Soul on the Rack,
-his Heart wounded and bleeding, he appeared like a
-lost Spirit crying out from an Abyss of Torment.
-But these last Ravings of his, these final, abominable
-Insults, levelled against the Woman who had done
-so much for him, and whom he should have been the
-first to protect, lashed Mr. Betterton's ire and
-contempt into holy Fury.
-
-"Ye gods in Heaven, hear him!" he cried, with
-an outburst of Rage at least as great as that of the
-other Man. "He loves her, and talks of Dishonour,
-whilst I love her and only breathe of Worship!
-By all the Devils in Hell, my Lord Stour, I tell you
-that you lie!"
-
-And before any of us there realized what he
-meant to do, he ran to the Window, threw open all
-the Casements with such violence that the glass
-broke and fell clattering down upon the gravelled
-place below.
-
-"Hallo!" he called in a stentorian Voice.
-"Hallo, there!"
-
-My Lord Stour, bewildered, un-understanding,
-tried to bluster.
-
-"What are you doing, man?" he queried
-roughly. "Silence! Silence, I say!"
-
-But Mr. Betterton only shouted the louder.
-
-"Hallo, there! Friends! Enemies! England! Here!"
-
-I could hear the Tumult outside. People were
-running hither from several directions, thinking, no
-doubt, that a Fire had broken out or that Murder
-was being done. I could hear them assembling
-beneath the window, which was not many feet from
-the Ground. "Why! it's Tom Betterton!" some of
-them said. And others added: "Hath he gone
-raving mad?"
-
-"Is any one there who knows me?" queried
-Mr. Betterton loudly.
-
-"Yes! Yes!" was the ready response.
-
-"Who is it?" he asked, peering into the darkness
-below.
-
-I heard Sir William Davenant's voice give reply.
-
-"Killigrew and I are down here, Tom. What in
-the Name of —— is the matter?"
-
-"Come round to my rooms, Davenant," Mr. Betterton
-replied; "and bring as many friends with you
-as you can."
-
-He was standing in the Bay of the Window, and
-his Figure, silhouetted against the Light in the
-Room, must have been plainly visible to the crowd
-outside. That a number of People had assembled by
-now was apparent by the Hum and Hubbub which
-came to us from below. Unable to restrain my
-Curiosity, I too approached the open Casements and
-peered out into the Gloom. Just as I thought, quite
-a Crowd had collected down there, some of whom
-were making ready to climb up to the Window by
-way of the Gutter-pipes or the solid stems of the
-Ivy, whilst others were trooping down the narrow
-little Alley which connects Tothill Street with the
-Park at the base of Mr. Betterton's house. There
-was a deal of talking, laughing and shouting.
-"Tom Betterton is up to some Prank," I heard
-more than one Person say.
-
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-Perhaps You will wonder what was my Lord's
-Attitude during the few minutes—it was less than
-five—which elapsed between the Instant when
-Mr. Betterton first threw open the Casements, and that
-when the Crowd, headed by Sir William Davenant
-and Mr. Killigrew, trooped down the Alley on their
-Way to this House. To me he seemed at first
-wholly uncomprehending, like a Man who has
-received a Blow on the Head—just as I did from his
-Fist a moment ago—and before whose Eyes the
-Walls of the Room, the Furniture, the People, are
-all swimming in an Ocean of Stars. I imagine that
-at one time the Thought flashed as Lightning
-through his Mind that this was but the culminating
-Outrage, wherewith his Enemy meant to pillory him
-and his Bride before a jeering Public. That was
-the moment when he turned to her Ladyship and,
-uttering a hoarse Cry, called to her by Name. She
-was, just then, leaning in semi-consciousness against
-the Angle of the Bay. She did not respond to his
-Call, and Mr. Betterton, quick in his Movements,
-alert now like some Feline on the prowl, stepped
-immediately in front of Her, facing my Lord and
-screening Her against his Approach.
-
-"Stand back, Man," he commanded. "Stand
-back, I tell You! You shall not come nigh Her
-save on bended Knees, with Head bowed in the
-Dust, suing for Pardon in that you dared to Insult
-her."
-
-Everything occurred so quickly, Movements,
-Events, High Words, threatening Gestures from
-both sides, followed one another in such rapid
-Succession, that I, overcome with Agitation and the
-Effect of the stunning Blow which I had received,
-was hardly able to take it all in. Much less is it in
-my Power to give You a faithful Account of it
-all. Those five Minutes were the most spirit-stirring
-ones I have ever experienced throughout my
-Life—every Second appeared surcharged with an
-exciting Fluid which transported Me to supernal
-Regions, to Lands of Unrealities akin to vivid Dreams.
-
-At one Moment, I remember seeing my Lord
-Stour make a rapid and furtive movement in the
-direction of his Sword, which lay some little
-Distance from him on the Ground, but Mr. Betterton
-was quicker even than his Foe, more alert, and with
-one bound he had reached the Weapon, ere my
-Lord's Hand was nigh it, had picked it up and,
-with a terrific Jerk, broke it in half across his Knee.
-Then he threw the mangled Hilt in one direction, the
-Point in another, and my Lord raised his Fists,
-ready, methinks, to fly at his Throat.
-
-But, as I have already told You, dear Mistress,
-the whole Episode stands but as a confused Mirage
-before my Mind; and through it all I seemed to see
-a mere Vision of her Ladyship, pale and ethereal,
-leaning against the Angle of the Bay; one delicate
-Hand was clutching the heavy Curtain, drawing
-it around her as it were, as if in a pathetic and
-futile Desire to shield herself from view.
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- CHAPTER XVI
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-
- THE GAME OF LOVE
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- 1
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-In the meanwhile, the Crowd all round the House
-had visibly swelled. Some People were still
-standing immediately beneath the Bow-window, whilst
-Others swarmed into Tothill Street; the foremost
-amongst the Latter had given a vigorous Tug at
-the Bell-pull, and the front Door being opened for
-them by the bewildered Servant, they had made a
-noisy Irruption into the House. We could hear
-them clattering up the Stairs, to the Accompaniment
-of much Laughing and Talking, and the
-oft-reiterated Refrain: "Tom Betterton is up to some
-Prank! Hurrah!"
-
-Some few again, more venturesome and certainly
-more Impudent than most, had indeed succeeded in
-scrambling up to the Window, and, one after
-another, Heads and Shoulders began to appear in the
-Framework of the open Casements.
-
-Her Ladyship had no doubt realized from the first
-that Escape became impossible, within two Minutes
-of Mr. Betterton's first Summons to the Public.
-Just at first, perhaps, if my Lord had preserved his
-entire Presence of Mind, he might have taken her
-by the Hand and fled with Her out of the House,
-before the unruly Crowd had reached Tothill Street.
-But my Lord, blinded by jealous Rage, had not
-thought of Her quickly enough, and now the Time
-was past, and he remained impotent, gasping with
-Fury, hardly conscious of his Actions. He had
-been literally swept off his Feet by Mr. Betterton's
-eagle-winged *coup de main*, which left him puzzled
-and the prey to a nameless Terror as to what was
-about to follow.
-
-Now, when he saw a number of Gentlemen trooping
-in by the Door, he could but stare at them in
-utter Bewilderment. Most of these Gallants were
-personally known to him: Sir William Davenant
-was in the forefront with Mr. Thomas Killigrew of
-the King's Theatre, and the Earl of Rochester was
-with them, as well as Mr. Wycherley. I also
-recognized Sir Charles Sedley and old Sir John Denham,
-as well as my Lord Roscommon, among the crowd.
-
-They had all rushed in through the Door, laughing
-and jesting, as was the wont of all these gay
-and courtly Sparks; but at sight of the Lady
-Barbara, they halted. Gibes and unseemly Jokes broke
-upon their Lips, and for the most part their Hands
-went up to their Hats, and they made her Ladyship
-a deep obeisance. Indeed, just then she looked more
-like a Wraith than a living Woman, and the Light
-of the Candles, which flickered wildly in the
-Draught, accentuated the Weirdness of her Appearance.
-
-"What is it, Tom? What is amiss?" Sir
-William Davenant was thus the first to speak.
-
-"We thought You were playing some Prank."
-
-"You did call from that Window, did You not,
-Tom?" my Lord Rochester insisted.
-
-And one or two of the Gentlemen nodded
-somewhat coldly to my Lord Stour.
-
-"Yes. I did call," Mr. Betterton replied, quite
-firmly. "But 'twas no Whim on my Part thus to
-drag You into my House. It was not so much my
-Voice that you heard as the Trumpet blast of Truth."
-
-At this, my Lord Stour broke into one of those
-harsh, mirthless Fits of Laughter which betokened
-the perturbation of his Spirit.
-
-"The Truth!" he exclaimed with a cutting Sneer.
-"From You?"
-
-"Aye! the Truth!" Mr. Betterton rejoined with
-perfect calm, even whilst his Friends glanced,
-puzzled and inquiring, from my Lord Stour to him,
-and thence to her Ladyship's pale face, and even to
-Me. "The Truth," he added with a deep Sigh as
-of intense Relief; "The Truth, at Last!"
-
-He stood in the centre of the Room, with one
-Hand resting upon the Desk, his Eyes fixed
-fearlessly upon the Sea of Faces before him. Not the
-slightest Tremor marred the perfect Harmony of
-his Voice, or the firm poise of his manly Figure.
-You know as well as I do, dear Mistress, the
-marvellous Magnetism of Mr. Betterton's Personality,
-the Way he hath of commanding the Attention of
-a Crowd, whenever he chooseth to speak. Think of
-him then, dear Lady, with Head thrown back, his
-exquisite Voice rising and falling in those subtle
-and impressive Cadences wherewith he is wont to
-hold an Audience enthralled. Of a truth, no
-experienced Manager in Stage-Craft could have devised
-so thrilling an Effect, as the Picture which
-Mr. Betterton—the greatest Actor of this or of any
-Time—presented at that Moment, standing alone,
-facing the Crowd which was thrilled into deadly
-Silence, and with the wraith-like Figure of that
-exquisitely beautiful Woman as a Foil to his own
-self-possessed, virile Appearance.
-
-"Gentlemen," he began, with slow, even
-Emphasis, "I pray you bear with me; for what I have
-to say will take some time in telling. Awhile ago his
-Lordship of Stour put upon me such an Insult as
-the Mind of Man can hardly conceive. Then, on
-the Pretence that I was not a born Gentleman as
-he was, he refused me Satisfaction by the Sword.
-For this I hated him and swore that I would be even
-with him, that I would exact from his Arrogance,
-Outrage for Outrage, and Infamy for Infamy." He
-then turned to my Lord Stour and spoke to him
-directly. "You asked me just now, my Lord, if
-my Revenge was satisfied. My answer to that is:
-not yet! Not until I see You on Your bended
-Knees here, before these Gentlemen—my Friends
-and Yours—receiving from the miserable
-Mountebank whom you mocked, the pitiful cur whom You
-thrashed, that which you hold—or should hold—more
-precious than all the Treasures of this earth:
-your Honour and the good Name of the Lady who
-honours You with her Love! Gentlemen!" he went
-on, and once more faced the Crowd. "You know
-the Aspersions which have been cast on my Lord
-Stour's Loyalty. Rumours have been current that
-the late aborted Conspiracy was betrayed by him to
-the Countess of Castlemaine, and that She obtained
-his Pardon, whilst all or most of his Associates
-were driven into Exile or perished on the Scaffold.
-Well, Gentlemen, 'twas I who begged for my Lord's
-pardon from the Countess of Castlemaine. His
-Degradation, his Obloquy, was the Revenge which
-I had studiously planned. Nay! I pray you, hear
-me unto the End," he continued, as a loud Murmur
-of Horror and of Indignation followed on this
-Self-Accusation. "My Lord Stour is no Traitor, save
-to Her whom he loves and whom in his Thoughts
-he hath dared to outrage. The Lady Barbara
-Wychwoode deigned to plead with me for the Man whom
-she honoured with her Love. She pleaded with me
-this afternoon, in the Park, in sight of many
-Passers-by; but I in my Obstinacy and Arrogance
-would not, God forgive me, listen to her."
-
-He paused, and I could see the beads of
-Perspiration glittering upon his Forehead, white now
-like Italian Alabaster. They all stood before him,
-subdued and silent. Think of Sir William
-Davenant, dear Mistress, and his affection for
-Mr. Betterton; think of my Lord Roscommon and of Sir
-Charles Sedley and his Lordship of Rochester,
-whose Admiration for Mr. Betterton's Talent was
-only equalled by their Appreciation for His Worth!
-It was before them all, before all these fastidious
-Gentlemen, that the great and sensitive Artist had
-elected to humble his Pride to the dust.
-
-But you shall judge.
-
-"Gentlemen," Mr. Betterton went on after a
-brief while; "We all know that Love is a Game
-at which one always cheats. I loved the Lady
-Barbara Wychwoode. I had the presumption to dream
-of her as my future Wife. Angered at her Scorn
-of my Suit, I cheated her into coming here to-night,
-luring her with the Hope that I would consent to
-right the Man for whose sake she was willing to
-risk so much, for whom she was ready to sacrifice
-even her fair Name. Now I have learned to my
-hurt that Love, the stern little god, will not be
-trifled with. When we try to cheat him, he cheats
-us worse at the last; and if he makes Kings of us,
-he leaves us Beggars in the End. When my Lord
-Stour, burning with sacrilegious jealousy, made
-irruption into my Room, the Lady Barbara had
-just succeeded in wringing from me an Avowal
-which proclaimed his Integrity and my Shame. She
-was about to leave me, humbled and crushed in my
-Pride, she herself pure and spotless as the Lilies,
-unapproachable as the Stars."
-
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-Mr. Betterton had ceased speaking for some time;
-nevertheless, Silence profound reigned in the dark,
-wainscotted Room for many seconds after the final
-echo of that perfect Voice had ceased to reverberate.
-Indeed, dear Mistress, I can assure You that, though
-there were at least fifty Persons present in the
-Room, including those unknown to Me who were
-swarming around the Framework of the Casements,
-you might have heard the proverbial Pin drop just
-then. A tense Expression rested on every Face.
-Can You wonder that I scanned them all with the
-Eagerness born of my Love for the great Artist,
-who had thus besmirched his own fair Name in
-order to vindicate that of his bitterest Foe? That
-I read Condemnation of my Friend in many a
-Glance, I'll not deny, and this cut me to the Quick.
-
-True! Mr. Betterton's Scheme of Vengeance had
-been reprehensible if measured by the high
-Standards of Christian Forbearance. But remember how
-he had been wronged, not once, but repeatedly; and
-even when I saw the Frown on my Lord
-Roscommon's brow, the Look of Stern Reproof in Sir
-Charles Sedley's Face, there arose before mine Eyes
-the Vision of the great and sensitive Artist, of the
-high-souled Gentleman, staggering beneath the
-Blows dealt by a band of hired Ruffians at the
-Bidding of this young Coxcomb, whose very Existence
-was as naught in the Eyes of the cultured World
-beside the Genius of the inimitable Mr. Betterton.
-
-I said that the Silence was tense. Meseemed that
-no one dared to break it. Even those idly Curious
-who had swarmed up the Rainpipes of this House
-in order to witness one of Tom Betterton's Pranks,
-felt awed by the Revelation of this Drama of a
-great Man's Soul. Indeed, the Silence became
-presently oppressive. I, for one, felt a great Buzzing
-in mine Ears. The Lights from the Candles
-assumed weird and phantasmagoric Proportions till
-they seared my aching Eyes.
-
-Then slowly my Lord Stour approached her
-Ladyship, sank on his Knees before Her and raised the
-Hem of her Robe to his Lips. A sob broke from
-her Throat; she tried to smother it by pressing her
-Handkerchief into her Mouth. It took Her a second
-or two to regain her Composure. But Breeding and
-Pride came to her Aid. I saw the stiffening of her
-Figure, the studied and deliberate Movement
-wherewith She readjusted her Mantle and her Veil.
-
-My Lord Stour was still on his Knees. At a
-sign from her Ladyship he rose. He held out his
-left Arm and she placed her right Hand on it, then
-together they went out of the Room. The Crowd of
-Gentlemen parted in order to make way for the
-Twain, then when they had gone through, some of
-the Gentlemen followed them immediately; others
-lingered for awhile, hesitating. Sir William
-Davenant, Mr. Killigrew, my Lord Rochester, all
-of Mr. Betterton's Friends, appeared at first inclined
-to remain in order to speak with him. They even
-did me the Honour of consulting me with a Look,
-asking of my Experience of the great Actor whether
-they should stay. I slowly shook my Head, and
-they wisely acted on my Advice. I knew that my
-Friend would wish to be alone. He, so reserved,
-so proud, had laid his Soul bare before the Public,
-who was wont to belaud and to applaud him. The
-Humiliation and the Effort must have been a terrible
-Strain, which only Time and Solitude could
-effectually cure.
-
-He had scarce moved from his Position beside the
-Desk, still stood there with one slender Hand
-resting upon it, his Gaze fixed vaguely upon the Door
-through which his Friends were slowly filing out.
-
-Within two minutes or less after the Departure of
-my Lord Stour and her Ladyship, the last of the
-Crowd of Gentlemen and of Idlers had gone. Anon
-I went across the Room and closed the Door behind
-them. When I turned again, I saw that the knot of
-quidnuncs no longer filled the Casements, and a
-protracted hum of Voices, a crackling of Ivy twigs
-and general sound of Scrimmage and of Scrambling
-outside the Window, proclaimed the Fact that even
-they had had the Sense and the Discretion to retire
-quietly from this Spot, hallowed by the Martyrdom
-of a great Man's Soul.
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-Thus I was left alone with my Friend.
-
-He had drawn his habitual Chair up to the Desk
-and sat down. Just for a few Moments he rested
-both his Elbows on the Desk and buried his Face
-in his Hands. Then, with that familiar, quick little
-Sigh of His, He drew the Candles closer to him and,
-taking up a Book, he began to read.
-
-I knew what it was that he was reading, or,
-rather, studying. He had been absorbed in the
-Work many a time before now, and had expressed
-his ardent Desire to give public Readings of it one
-day when it was completed. It was the opening
-Canto of a great Epic Poem, the manuscript of
-which had been entrusted to Mr. Betterton for
-Perusal by the author, Mr. John Milton, who had
-but lately been liberated from prison through the
-untiring Efforts of Sir William Davenant on his
-behalf. Mr. Milton hoped to complete the Epic in
-the next half-dozen years. Its Title is "Paradise Lost."
-
-I remained standing beside the open Window,
-loath to close it as the Air was peculiarly soft and
-refreshing. Below me, in the Park, the idle,
-chattering Crowd had already dispersed. From far
-away, I still could hear the sweet, sad Strains of the
-amorous Song, and through the Stillness of the
-Evening, the Words came to mine Ear, wafted on
-the Breeze:
-
- | "You are my Faith, my Hope, my All!
- | What e'er the Future may unfold,
- | No trial too great—no Thing too small.
- | Your whispered Words shall make me bold
- | To win at last for Your dear Sake
- | A worthy Place in Future's World."
- |
-
-I felt my Soul enwrapt in a not unpleasant
-reverie; an exquisite Peace seemed to have
-descended on my Mind, lately so agitated by Thoughts
-of my dear, dear Friend.
-
-Suddenly a stealthy Sound behind Me caused me
-to turn; and, in truth, I am not sure even now if
-what I saw was Reality, or the Creation of mine
-own Dreams.
-
-The Lady Barbara had softly and surreptitiously
-re-entered the Room. She walked across it on tip-toe,
-her silken Skirts making just the softest possible
-*frou-frou* as she walked. Her cloud-like Veil
-wrapped her Head entirely, concealing her fair Hair,
-and casting a grey Shadow over her Eyes. Mr. Betterton
-did not hear her, or, if he did, he did not
-choose to look up. When her Ladyship was quite
-close to the Desk, I noticed that she had a Bunch
-of white Roses in her Hand such as are grown in
-the Hot-houses of rich Noblemen.
-
-For a few Seconds she stood quite still. Then
-she raised the Roses slowly to her Lips, and laid
-them down without a word upon the Desk.
-
-After which, she glided out of the Room as
-silently, as furtively, as she came.
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-And thus, dear Mistress, have I come to the end
-of my long Narrative. I swear to You by the living
-God that everything which I have herein related is
-the Truth and Naught but the Truth.
-
-There were many People present in Mr. Betterton's
-room during that memorable Scene, when he
-sacrificed his Pride and his Revenge in order to
-right the Innocent. Amongst these Witnesses there
-were some, whom Malice and Envy would blind
-to the Sublimity of so noble an Act. Do not listen
-to them, honoured Mistress, but rather to the
-promptings of your own Heart and to that unerring
-Judgment of Men and of Events which is the
-Attribute of good and pure Women.
-
-Mr. Betterton hath never forfeited your Esteem
-by any Act or Thought. The Infatuation which
-momentarily dulled his Vision to all save to the Beauty
-of the Lady Barbara, hath ceased to exist. Its
-course was ephemeral and hath gone without a
-Trace of Regret or Bitterness in its wake. The
-eminent Actor, the high-souled Artist, whom all
-cultured Europe doth reverence and admire, stands
-as high to-day in that same World's Estimation as
-he did, before a young and arrogant Coxcomb dared
-to measure his own Worth against that of a Man
-as infinitely above him as are the Stars. But, dear
-Mistress, Mr. Betterton now is lonely and sad. He
-is like a Man who hath been sick and weary, and is
-still groping after Health and Strength. Take pity
-on his Loneliness, I do conjure You. Give him back
-the inestimable Boon of your Goodwill and of your
-Friendship, which alone could restore to him that
-Peace of Mind so necessary for the furtherance of
-his Art.
-
-And if, during the Course of my Narrative, I
-have seemed to you over-presumptuous, then I do
-entreat your Forgiveness. Love for my Friend and
-Reverence for your Worth have dictated every
-Word which I have written. If, through my
-Labours, I have succeeded in turning away some
-of the just Anger which had possessed your Soul
-against the Man whom, I dare aver, you still honour
-with your Love, then, indeed, I shall feel that even
-so insignificant a Life as mine hath not been wholly
-wasted.
-
-I do conclude, dear and honoured Mistress, with
-a Prayer to Almighty God for your Welfare and
-that of the Man whom I love best in all the World.
-I am convinced that my Prayer will find Favour
-before the Throne of Him who is the Father of us
-All. And He who reads the innermost Secrets of
-every Heart, knows that your Welfare is coincident
-with that of my Friend. Thus am I content to
-leave the Future in His Hands.
-
-.. class:: left medium white-space-pre-line
-
- And I myself do remain, dear Mistress,
- Your humble and obedient Servant,
- JOHN HONEYWOOD.
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. _`epilogue`:
-
-.. class:: center large
-
- EPILOGUE
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-Ring down the Curtain. The Play is ended.
-The Actors have made their final Bow before You
-and thanked You for your Plaudits. The chief
-Player—a sad and lonely Man—has for the nonce
-spoken his last upon the Stage.
-
-All is Silence and Mystery now. The Lights are
-out. And yet the Audience lingers on, loath to
-bid Farewell to the great Artist and to his minor
-Satellites who have helped to wile away a few
-pleasant Hours. You, dear Public, knowing so much
-about them, would wish to know more. You wish
-to know—an I am not mistaken—whether the
-Labour of Love wrought by good Master Honeywood
-did in due course bear its Fruitfulness. You
-wish to know—or am I unduly self-flattered—whether
-the Play of Passion, of Love and of
-Revenge, set by the worthy Clerk before You, had
-an Epilogue—one that would satisfy your Sense of
-Justice and of Mercy.
-
-Then, I pray You, turn to the Pages of History,
-of which Master Honeywood's Narrative forms an
-integral and pathetic Part. One of these Pages will
-reveal to You that which You wish to know.
-Thereon You will see recorded the Fact that, after a
-brief and distinguished Visit during that Summer to
-the City and University of Stockholm, where
-Honours without number were showered upon the
-great English Actor, Mr. Betterton came back to
-England, to the delight of an admiring Public,
-for he was then in the very Plenitude of his Powers.
-
-Having read of the Artist's triumph, I pray You
-then to turn over the Page of the faithful Chronicle
-of his Career, and here You will find a brief Chapter
-which deals with his private Life and with his
-Happiness. You will see that at the End of this
-self-same year 1662, the Register of St. Giles',
-Cripplegate, contains the Record of a Marriage
-between Thomas Betterton, Actor, of the parish
-of St. Margaret's, Westminster, and Mary
-Joyce Saunderson, of the aforesaid parish of St. Giles'.
-
-That this Marriage was an exceptionally happy
-one we know from innumerable Data, Minutes and
-Memoranda supplied by Downes and others; that
-Master John Honeywood was present at the
-Ceremony itself we may be allowed to guess. Those
-of us who understand and appreciate the artistic
-Temperament, will readily agree with the worthy
-Clerk when he said that it cannot be judged by
-ordinary Standards. The long and successful Careers
-of Thomas Betterton and of Mistress Saunderson
-his Wife testify to the Fact that their Art in no
-way suffered, while their Souls passed through the
-fiery Ordeal of Passion and of Sorrow; but rather
-that it became ennobled and purified, until they
-themselves took their place in the Heart and
-Memory of the cultured World, among the Immortals.
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. class:: center medium
-
-THE END
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-----
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. class:: center large
-
- By BARONESS ORCZY
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-.. class:: left medium white-space-pre-line
-
- His Majesty's Well-Beloved
- The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel
- Flower o' the Lily
- The Man in Grey
- Lord Tony's Wife
- A Sheaf of Bluebells
- Leatherface
- The Bronze Eagle
- A Bride of the Plains
- The Laughing Cavalier
- "Unto Cæsar"
- El Dorado
- Meadowsweet
- The Noble Rogue
- The Heart of a Woman
- Petticoat Rule
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. class:: medium center
-
- GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
-
- NEW YORK
-
-.. vspace:: 6
-
-.. pgfooter::
diff --git a/39787-rst/images/img-cover.jpg b/39787-rst/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 20b5ec6..0000000 --- a/39787-rst/images/img-cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/39787.txt b/39787.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9e74a37..0000000 --- a/39787.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8954 +0,0 @@ - HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: His Majesty's Well-Beloved - An Episode in the Life of Mr. Thomas Betteron as told by His - Friend John Honeywood - -Author: Baroness Orczy - -Release Date: May 24, 2012 [EBook #39787] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - - - HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED - - AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF MR. - THOMAS BETTERTON AS TOLD BY - HIS FRIEND JOHN HONEYWOOD - - - BY - - BARONESS ORCZY - - AUTHOR OF "THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET - PIMPERNEL," "FLOWER O' THE LILY," - "LORD TONY'S WIFE," ETC. - - - - - NEW YORK - - GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - - - - _Copyright, 1919,_ - - _By George H. Doran Company_ - - - - _Printed in the United States of America_ - - - - CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER - - I. How it all Began - II. The Rift Within the Lute - III. A Criminal Folly - IV. More than a Passing Fancy - V. The Outrage - VI. The Gathering Storm - VII. An Assembly of Traitors - VIII. The Lion's Wrath - IX. A Last Chance - X. The Hour - XI. Rumours and Conjectures - XII. Poisoned Arrows - XIII. The Lady Pleads - XIV. The Ruling Passion - XV. More Deaf than Adders - XVI. The Game of Love - - - - - HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED - - - - CHAPTER I - - - How it all Began - - - 1 - - -_From Mr. John Honeywood, clerk to Mr. Theophilus Baggs, -attorney-at-law, to Mistress Mary Saunderson, of the Duke's Theatre in -Lincoln's Inn Fields._ - - -1662. October the 10th at 85, Chancery Lane in the City of London. -Honoured Mistress,-- - -May it please you that I, an humble Clerk and Scrivener, do venture to -address so talented a Lady; but there is that upon my Conscience which -compels me to write these lines. The Goodness and Charity of Mistress -Saunderson are well known, and 'tis not as a Suppliant that I crave -pardon for my Presumption, but rather as one whose fidelity and loyalty -have oft been tried and never been found wanting. 'Tis said, most -gracious Mistress, that your fancy hath been touched by the tenderness -and devotion of a Man who is as dear to me as if he were mine own -Brother, but that You hesitate to bestow upon him that for which he -craves more than for anything in the world, your Hand and Heart. And -this because of many Rumours which have sullied his fair Name. Mr. -Betterton, Madam, hath many enemies. How could this be otherwise seeing -that so vast a measure of Success hath attended his career, and that the -King's most gracious Majesty doth honour him with Friendship and Regard -to the exclusion of others who are envious of so great a fame? Those -Enemies now, Madam, seeing that your Heart hath been touched with the -man's grace and bearing, rather than with his undying Renown, have set -themselves the task of blackening Mr. Betterton's character before your -eyes, thus causing you mayhap grievous Sorrow and Disappointment. But -this I do swear by all that I hold most sacred, that Mr. Betterton hath -never committed a mean Act in his life nor done aught to forfeit your -Regard. Caustic of wit he is, but neither a Braggart nor a Bully; he -hath been credited with many good Fortunes, but so hath every Gentleman -in the Kingdom, and there is no discredit attached to a man for -subjugating the Hearts of those that are both frail and fair. My Lady -Castlemaine hath bestowed many favours on Mr. Betterton, so hath the -Countess of Shrewsbury, and there are others, at least the Gossips do -aver it. But on my Soul and Honour, he hath never ceased to love You, -until the day when a certain great Lady came across his path for his -misfortune and his undying Regret. And even so, Madam, though -appearances are against him, I own, let me assure You that the swerving -of his Allegiance to You was not only transitory but it was never one of -the Heart--it was a mere aberration of the senses. He may never forget -the Lady--he certainly will never forget her Cruelty--but he no longer -loves Her, never did love Her as he loves You, with his Heart and Mind, -with Tenderness and Devotion. The other was only a Dream--a fitful -fancy: his Love for You is as immortal as his Fame. Therefore, gracious -Mistress, I, the humble Friend of so great a Man, have ventured to set -forth for your perusal that which he himself would be too proud to put -before you--namely, his Justification. As for the rest, what I am about -to relate is the true Historie of Mr. Betterton's Romance, the only one -which might give you cause for sorrow, yet none for uneasiness, because -that Romance is now a thing of the past, like unto a Flower that is -faded and without fragrance, even though it still lies pressed between -the pages of a great man's Book of Life. Everything else is mere -Episode. But this which I have here set down will show you how much -nobility of heart and grandeur of Character lies hidden beneath the -flippant and at times grim exterior of the Man whom you have honoured -with your regard. - -The writing of the Historie hath caused me much anxiety and deep -thought. I desired to present the Truth before you, and not the -highly-coloured effusions of a Partisan. I have slurred over nothing, -concealed nothing. An you, gracious Mistress, have the patience to read -unto the End, I am confident that any Hesitation as to your Future which -may still linger in your Heart will vanish with the more intimate -Knowledge of the true Facts of the case, as well as of the Man whose -faults are of his own Time and of his Entourage, but whose Merits are -for the whole World to know and to cherish, for as many Cycles of years -as there will be Englishmen to speak the Words of English Poets. - - - - 2 - - -Dare I take you back, honoured Mistress, to those humble days, five -years ago, when first I entered the Household of your worthy Uncle, Mr. -Theophilus Baggs, and of his still more worthy Spouse, Mistress -Euphrosine, where for a small--very small--stipend, and free board and -lodging, I copied legal documents, Leases, Wills and Indentures for my -Employer? - -You, fair Lady, were then the only ray of Sunshine which illumined the -darkness of my dreary Life. Yours was a Gaiety which nothing could -damp, a Courage and Vitality which not even the nagging disposition of -Mistress Euphrosine succeeded in crushing. And when, smarting under her -many Chidings, my stomach craving for a small Measure of satisfaction, -my Bones aching from the hardness of my bed, I saw your slim Figure -flitting, elf-like, from kitchen to living-room, your full young Throat -bursting with song like that of a Bird at the first scent of Spring, I -would find my lot less hard, the bread less sour, even Mistress -Euphrosine's tongue less acrimonious. My poor, atrophied Heart felt the -warmth of your Smile. - -Then sometimes, when my Work was done and my Employers occupied with -their own affairs, You used to allow me to be of service to you, to help -you wash the dishes which your dainty Hands should never have been -allowed to touch. - -Oh! how I writhed when I heard Mistress Euphrosine ordering You about as -if You were a kitchen-wench, rather than her husband's Niece, who was -honouring his House with your presence! You, so exquisite, so perfect, -so cultured, to be the Handmaid of a pair of sour, ill-conditioned -Reprobates who were not worthy to tie the lacets of your dainty shoes. -With what Joy I performed the menial tasks which never should have been -allotted to You, I never until now have dared to tell. I did not think -that any Man could find dish-washing and floor-scrubbing quite so -enchanting. But then no other Man hath ever to my knowledge performed -such tasks under such happy circumstances; with You standing before me, -smiling and laughing at my clumsiness, your shapely arms akimbo, your -Voice now rippling into Song, now chaffing me with Words full of -kindness and good-humour. - -I have known many happy Hours since that Day, Mistress, and many Hours -full of Sorrow, but none so full of pulsating Life as those which -outwardly had seemed so miserable. - -And then that wonderful afternoon when Mr. Theophilus Baggs and his -Spouse being safely out of the way, we stole out together and spent a -few hours at the Play! Do you remember the day on which we ventured on -the Escapade? Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine had gone to Hampton -Court: he to see a noble Client and she to accompany him. The day being -fine and the Client being a Lady possessed of well-known charms, -Mistress Euphrosine would not have trusted her Lord alone in the company -of such a forward Minx--at least, those were her Words, which she -uttered in my hearing two Days before the memorable Expedition. - -Memorable, indeed, it was to me! - -Mr. Baggs left a sheaf of Documents for me to copy, which would--he -thought--keep me occupied during the whole course of a long Day. You -too, fair Mistress, were to be kept busy during the worthy couple's -absence, by scrubbing and polishing and sewing--Mistress Euphrosine -holding all idleness in abhorrence. - -I marvel if you remember it all! - -I do, as if it had occurred yesterday! We sat up half the Night -previous to our Taskmasters' departure; you polishing and sewing, and I -copying away for very life. You remember? Our joint Savings for the -past six Months we had counted up together. They amounted to three -shillings. One shilling we spent in oil for our lamps, so that we might -complete our Tasks during the Night. This left us free for the great -and glorious Purpose which we had in our Minds and which we had planned -and brooded over for Days and Weeks. - -We meant to go to the Play! - -It seems strange now, in view of your Renown, fair Mistress, and of mine -own intimacy with Mr. Betterton, that You and I had both reached an age -of Man and Womanhood without ever having been to the Play. Yet You -belonged from childhood to the household of Mistress Euphrosine Baggs, -who is own sister to Mr. Betterton. But that worthy Woman abhorred the -Stage and all that pertained to it, and she blushed--aye, blushed!--at -thought of the marvellous Fame attained by her illustrious Brother. - -Do you remember confiding to me, less than a month after I first entered -the household of Mr. Baggs, that You were pining to go to the Play? You -had seen Mr. Betterton once or twice when he came to visit his -Sister--which he did not do very often--but you had never actually been -made acquainted with him, nor had you ever seen him act. And You told me -how handsome he was, and how distinguished; and your dark Eyes would -flash with enthusiasm at thought of the Actor's Art and of the Actor's -Power. - -I had never seen him at all in those Days, but I loved to hear about -him. Strange what a fascination the Stage exercised over so -insignificant and so mean a creature as I! - - - - 3 - - -Will you ever forget the dawn of that glorious Day, fair Mistress? - -Mr. Baggs and his Spouse went off quite early, to catch the chaise at La -Belle Sauvage which would take them to Hampton Court. But however early -they went, we thought them mighty slow in making a start. An hundred -Recommendations, Orderings, Scoldings, had to be gone through ere the -respectable Couple, carrying provisions for the day in a Bandana -Handkerchief, finally got on the way. - -It was a perfect Morning early in March, with the first scent and feel -of Spring in the air. Not a Cloud in the Sky. By Midday our tasks were -entirely accomplished and we were free! Free as the Birds in the air, -free as two 'prentices out for a holiday! But little did we eat, I -remember. We were too excited for hunger; nor had Mistress Euphrosine -left much in the larder for us. What did we care? Our Enthusiasm, our -Eagerness, were Cook and Scullion for us, that day! - -We were going to the Play! - -Oh! how we tripped to Cockpit Lane, asking our way from passers-by, for -we knew so little of London--fashionable London, that is; the London of -Gaiety and Laughter, of careless Thoughts and wayward Moods. Holding -hands, we hurried through the Streets. You wore a dark Cape with a Hood -to hide your pretty Face and your soft brown Hair, lest some -Acquaintance of your Uncle's should chance to see You and betray our -guilty secret. - -Do you remember how we met Mr. Rhodes, the bookseller, and friend of Mr. -Baggs?--he to whom young Mr. Betterton was even then apprenticed. At the -corner of Princes Street we came nose to nose with him, and but for -great presence of mind on my part when, without an instant's hesitation, -I ran straight at him and butted him in the Stomach so that he lost his -Balance for the moment and only recovered complete Consciousness after -we had disappeared round the corner of the Street, he no doubt would -have recognised us and betrayed our naughty Secret. - -Oh, what a fright we had! I can see You now, leaning, breathless and -panting, against the street corner, your Hand pressed to your Bosom, -your Eyes shining like Stars! - -As for the rest, it is all confusion in my mind. The Crowd, the Bustle, -the Noise, this great Assembly, the like of which I had never seen -before. I do not know how we came to our seats. All I know is that we -were there, looking down upon the moving throng. I remember that some -Worthy of obvious note was sitting next to me, and was perpetually -treading upon my toes. But this I did not mind, for he was good enough -to point out to me the various Notabilities amongst the Audience or upon -the Stage; and I was greatly marvelled and awed by the wonderful -familiarity with which he spoke of all these distinguished People. - -"There sits General Monk. Brave old George! By gad! 'twere interesting -to know what goes on inside that square Head of his! King or Protector, -which is it to be? Or Protector _and_ King! George knows; and you mark -my words, young Sir, George will be the one to decide. Old Noll is -sick; he can't last long. And Master Richard hath not much affection -for his Father's Friends--calls them Reprobates and ungodly. Well! can -you see George being rebuked by Master Richard for going to the Play?" - -And I, not being on such intimate terms with the Lord Protector's Son or -with General Monk, could offer no opinion on the subject. And after a -while my Neighbour went on glibly: - -"Ah! here comes my Lady Viner, flaunting silks and satins. Aye, the -fair Alice--his third Wife, mark you!--knows how to spend the money -which her Lord hath been at such pains to scrape together. By gad! who'd -have thought to see red-haired Polly Ann so soon after the demise of His -Grace! See, not an inch of widows' Weeds doth she wear in honour of the -old Dotard who did her the infinite favour of dying just in the nick of -time...." - -And so on, the Man would babble in a continuous stream of talk. You, -Mistress, listened to him open-mouthed, your great brown Eyes aglow with -curiosity and with excitement. You and I knew but little of those great -Folk, and seeing them all around us, prepared for the same enjoyment -which we had paid to obtain, made us quite intoxicated with eagerness. - -Our Neighbour, who of a truth seemed to know everything, expressed great -surprise at the fact that Old Noll--as he so unceremoniously named the -Lord Protector--had tolerated the opening of the Cockpit. "But," he -added sententiously, "Bill Davenant could wheedle a block of ice out of -the devil, if he chose." - - - - 4 - - -Of the Play I remember but little. I was in truth much too excited to -take it all in. And sitting so near You, Mistress--for the Place was -overcrowded--my Knee touching yours, your dear little hand darting out -from time to time to grip mine convulsively during the more palpitating -moments of the Entertainment, was quite as much as an humble Clerk's -brain could hold. - -There was a great deal of Music--that I do remember. Also that the -entertainment was termed an opera and that the name of the piece was -"The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru." My omniscient Neighbour told me -presently that no doubt the Performance was an artful piece of Flattery -on the part of Bill (meaning, I suppose, Sir William Davenant) who, by -blackening the Spaniards, made Old Noll's tyranny appear like bountiful -Mercies. - -But I did not like to hear our Lord Protector spoken of with such -levity. Moreover, my Neighbour's incessant Chatter distracted me from -the Stage. - -What I do remember more vividly than anything else on that memorable Day -was your cry of delight when Mr. Betterton appeared upon the Stage. I -do not know if you had actually spoken with him before; I certainly had -never even seen him. Mr. Betterton was then apprenticed to Mr. Rhodes, -the Bookseller, and it was entirely against the Judgment and Wishes of -Mistress Euphrosine Baggs, his Sister, that he adopted the Stage as an -additional calling. I know that there were many high Words on that -subject between Mr. Betterton and Mistress Euphrosine, Mr. Rhodes -greatly supporting the young Man in his Desire, he having already -formulated schemes of his own for the management of a Theatre, and -extolling the virtues of the Actor's Art and the vastly lucrative State -thereof. - -But Mistress Euphrosine would have none of it. Actors were Rogues and -Vagabonds, she said, ungodly Reprobates who were unfit, when dead, to be -buried in consecrated ground. She would never consent to seeing a -Brother of hers follow so disreputable a Calling. From high words it -came to an open Quarrel, and though I had been over a year in the House -of Mr. Theophilus Baggs, I had never until this day set eyes on young -Mr. Betterton. - -He was not taking a very important part in the Opera, but there was no -denying the fact that as soon as he appeared upon the Stage his very -Presence did throw every other Actor into the shade. The Ladies in the -Boxes gave a deep sigh of content, gazing on him with admiring eyes and -bestowing loud Applause upon his every Word. And when Mr. Betterton -threw out his Arms with a gesture expressive of a noble Passion and -spoke the ringing lines: "And tell me then, ye Sons of England..."--his -beautiful Voice rising and falling with the perfect cadence of an -exquisite Harmony--the uproar of Enthusiasm became wellnigh deafening. -The Ladies clapped their Hands and waved their Handkerchiefs, the -Gentlemen stamped their feet upon the floor; and some, lifting their -Hats, threw them with a flourish upon the Stage, so that anon Mr. -Betterton stood with a score or more Hats all round his feet, and was -greatly perturbed as to how he should sort them out and restore them to -their rightful Owners. - -Ah, it was a glorious Day! Nothing could mar the perfection of its -Course. No! not even the Rain which presently began to patter over the -Spectators, and anon fell in torrents, so that those who were in the Pit -had to beat a precipitate retreat, scrambling helter-skelter over the -Benches in a wild endeavour to get under cover. - -This incident somewhat marred the Harmony of the Ending, because to see -Ladies and Gentlemen struggling and scrambling to climb from bench to -bench under a Deluge of Rain, was in truth a very droll Spectacle; and -the attention of those in the Boxes was divided between the Happenings -on the Stage and the antics of the rest of the Audience. - -You and I, fair Mistress, up aloft in our humble place, were far better -sheltered than the more grand Folk in the Pit. I put your Cloak around -your Shoulders to protect You against the Cold, and thus sitting close -together, my knee still resting against yours, we watched the -Performance until the end. - - - - 5 - - -How we went home that afternoon I do not remember. I know that it was -raining heavily and that we got very wet. But this caused me no -Inconvenience, because it gave me the privilege of placing my Arm round -your Shoulders so as to keep your Cloak from falling. Also my Mind was -too full of what I had seen to heed the paltry discomfort of a Wetting. -My thoughts were of the Play, the Music, the brilliant Assembly; yours, -Mistress, were of Mr. Betterton. Of him you prattled all the way home, -to the exclusion of every other Topic. And if your enthusiastic Eulogy -of that talented Person did at times send a pang of Sorrow through my -Heart, You at least were unaware of my Trouble. Not that I took no -share in your Enthusiasm. I did it whole-heartedly. Never had I -admired a Man before as I did Mr. Betterton on that Day. His Presence -was commanding, his Face striking, his Voice at times masterful and full -of Power, at others infinitely sweet. My officious and talkative -Neighbour, just before the Rain came down and rendered him dumb, had -remarked to me with a great air of Knowledge and of Finality: "Mark my -word, young Sir, England will hear something presently of Tommy -Betterton." - -It was not until we reached the corner of Chancery Lane that we were -forced to descend to the Realities of Life. We had had a glorious Day, -and for many Hours had wholly forgotten the many Annoyances and -Discomforts with which our lives were beset. Now we were a little tired -and exceedingly wet. Mistress Euphrosine's Scoldings, our oft empty -stomachs, hard Beds and cheerless Lives loomed once more largely upon -the Horizon of our mental vision. - -Our Pace began to slacken; your glib Tongue was stilled. Holding Hands -now, we hurried home in silence, our Minds stirred by a still vague -Sense of Fear. - -Nor was that Fear unjustified, alas! as subsequent Events proved. No -sooner had We entered the House than We knew that We were discovered. -Mr. Baggs' cloak, hung up in the Hall, revealed the terrifying Fact that -he and his indomitable Spouse had unaccountably returned at this hour. -No doubt that the Weather was the primary cause of this untoward Event: -its immediate result was a Volley of abuse poured upon our Heads by -Mistress Euphrosine's eloquent Tongue. We were Reprobates, Spawns and -Children of the Devil! We were Liars and Cheats and Thieves! We had -deserved God's wrath and eternal punishment! Heavens above! how she did -talk! And we, alas! could not escape that vituperative Torrent. - -We had fled into the Kitchen as soon as We had realised that we were -fairly caught; but Mistress Euphrosine had followed us thither and had -closed the door behind her. And now, standing facing Us, her large, -gaunt Body barring every egress, she talked and talked until You, fair -Mistress, gave way to a passionate Flood of tears. - -All our Pleasure, our Joy, had vanished; driven hence by the vixenish -Tongue of a soured Harridan. I was beside myself with Rage. But for -your restraining influence, I could have struck that shrieking Virago, -and for ever after have destroyed what was the very Essence of my Life. -For she would have turned me out of Doors then and there, and I should -have been driven forth from your Presence, perhaps never to return. - -The sight of your Patience and of your Goodness helped to deaden my -Wrath. I hung my Head and bit my Tongue lest it should betray me into -saying things which I should have regretted to the end of my Days. - -And thus that memorable Day came to a close. Somehow, it stands before -my mind as would the first legible Page in the Book of my Life. Before -it, everything was blurred; but that Page is clear. I can read it now, -even after four years. For the first time, destiny had writ on it two -Names in bold, indelible Characters--yours, Mistress, and that of Mr. -Betterton. Henceforth, not a Day in my Life would pass without one of -You looming largely in its Scheme. - -Mary Saunderson! Tom Betterton! My very pulses seem to beat to the -tune of those two Names! I knew then, by one of those subtle intuitions -which no Man has ever succeeded in comprehending, that Heaven itself had -intended You for one another. How then could I stand by and see the -Wickedness of Man striving to interfere with the decrees of God? - - - - - CHAPTER II - - - THE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE - - - 1 - - -After that memorable Day, Mistress, we were like naughty Children who -were being punished for playing truant out of School. For Weeks and -Months our Lives went on with dreary monotony, with never a chance of -seeing Something of that outside World of which we had caught a glimpse. -You continued to sew and to scrub and to be at the beck and call of a -Scold. I went on copying legal Documents till my very Brain appeared -atrophied, incapable of a single happy Thought or of a joyous Hope. - -Out there in the great World, many things were happening. The Lord -Protector died; his Son succeeded. And then England woke to the fact -that she had never cared for these Regicides, Republicans and Puritans; -that in her Heart she had always loved the martyred King and longed to -set his Son once more upon his Throne. - -I often thought of my loquacious Neighbour at the Play, with his talk of -Old Noll and Master Richard and of George. For George Monk in truth had -become the Man of the hour; for he it was who was bringing King Charles -back into his Kingdom again. - -Two years had gone by since our memorable Day at the Play, and as that -same Neighbour had also foretold, England was hearing a great deal about -Tom Betterton. His Name was on every one's lips. Mr. Rhodes, the -Bookseller, had obtained a licence from General Monk to get a Company of -Actors together, and the palmy Days of the Cockpit had begun. Then it -was that some faint Echo of the Life of our great City penetrated as far -as the dull Purlieus of Mr. Baggs' Household; then it was that the ring -of the Fame of Mr. Betterton even caused Mistress Euphrosine to recall -her former arbitrary Judgments. - -Every one now was talking of her illustrious Brother. General Monk -himself had made a Friend of him, so had Sir John Grenville, who was the -King's own Envoy; and those who were in the know prophesied that His -Majesty Himself would presently honour the eminent Player with his -regard. My Lord Rochester was his intimate Friend; Sir George Etherege -was scarce ever seen in public without him. Lord Broghill had vowed -that the English Stage was made famous throughout the Continent of -Europe by the superlative excellence of Mr. Betterton. - -To such Eulogies, coming from the most exalted Personages in the Land, -Mistress Euphrosine could not turn an altogether deaf Ear; and being a -Woman of character and ambition, she soon realised that her Antagonism -to her illustrious Brother not only rendered her ridiculous, but might -even prove a bar to Mr. Theophilus Baggs' Advancement. - -The first Step towards a Reconciliation was taken when Mr. Baggs and his -Spouse went together to the Play to see Mr. Betterton act _Solyman_ in a -play called "The Siege of Rhodes." You and I, Mistress, were by great -favour allowed to go too, and to take our places in that same Gallery -where two Years previously You and I had spent such happy hours. We -spoke little to one another, I remember. Our hearts were full of -Memories; but I could see your brown Eyes lighten as soon as the eminent -Actor walked upon the Stage. The same Glamour which his personality had -thrown over You two years ago was still there. Nay! it was enhanced an -hundredfold, for to the magnetic presence of the Man was now added the -supreme Magic of the Artist. I am too humble a Scrivener, fair Lady, to -attempt to describe Mr. Betterton's acting, nor do I think that such Art -as his could be adequately discussed. Your enjoyment of it I did fully -share. You devoured him with your Eyes while he was on the Stage, and -the Charm of his Voice filled the crowded Theatre and silenced every -other sound. I knew that the World had ceased to exist for You and that -the mysterious and elusive god of Love had hit your Heart with his -wayward dart. - -I thank God that neither then nor later did any feeling of Bitterness -enter into my Soul. Sad I was, but of a gentle Sadness which made me -feel mine own Unworthiness, even whilst I prayed that You might realise -your Heart's desire. - -Strangely enough, it was at the very moment when I first understood the -state of your Feelings that mine eyes, a little dimmed with tears, were -arrested by the Sight of a young and beautiful Lady, who sat in one of -the Boxes, not very far from our point of vantage. I wondered then what -it was about her that thus enchained mine Attention. Of a truth, she -was singularly fair, of that dainty and translucent Fairness which I for -one have never been able to admire, but which is wont to set Men's -pulses beating with an added quickness--at least, so I've heard it said. -The Lady had blue Eyes, an exquisitely white Skin, her golden Hair was -dressed in the new modish Fashion, with quaint little Ringlets all -around her low, square Brow. The face was that of a Child, yet there -was something about the firm Chin, something about the Forehead and the -set of the Lips which spoke of Character and of Strength not often found -in one so young. - -Immediately behind her sat a young Cavalier of prepossessing Appearance, -who obviously was whispering pleasing Words in the Lady's shell-like -ear. I confess that for the moment I longed for the presence of our -loquacious Neighbour of two years ago. He, without doubt, would have -known who the noble young Lady was and who was her attentive Cavalier. -Soon, however, the progress of the Play once more riveted mine Attention -upon the Stage, and I forgot all about the beautiful Lady until it was -time to go. Then I sought her with mine Eyes; but she had already gone. -And I, whilst privileged to arrange your Cloak around your shoulders, -realised how much more attractive brown Hair was than fair, and how -brilliant could be the sparkle of dark Eyes as against the more -languorous expression of those that are blue. - - - - 2 - - -I was not present at the time that You, Mistress, first made the -acquaintance of Mr. Betterton. He came to the House originally for the -sole purpose of consulting with his Brother-in-law on a point of Law, he -having an idea of joining Sir William Davenant in the Management of the -new Theatre which that Gentleman was about to open in Lincoln's Inn -Fields. - -The season in London promised to be very brilliant. His Majesty the -King was coming into his own once more. Within a Month or two at the -latest, he would land at Dover, and as even through his misfortunes and -exile he had always been a great Patron of the Arts of Drama and -Literature, there was no doubt that he would give his gracious Patronage -to such enterprises as Sir William Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, not to -mention others, had already in view. - -No doubt that Sir William Davenant felt that no Company of Actors could -be really complete without the leadership of Mr. Betterton; and we all -knew that both he and Mr. Killigrew were literally fighting one another -to obtain the great Actor's services. - -In the end, of course, it was Sir William who won, and thus Mr. -Betterton came to visit Mr. Theophilus Baggs to arrange for an Indenture -whereby he was to have a Share of the Profits derived from the -Performances at the new Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. - -You, Mistress, will remember that Day even better than I do, for to me -it only marked one more Stage on the dreary road of my uneventful Life, -whilst for You it meant the first Pearl in that jewelled Crown of -Happiness which Destiny hath fashioned for You. Mr. Baggs had sent me -on that day to Richmond, to see a Client of his there. Whether he did -this purposely, at the instance of Mistress Euphrosine, in order to get -me out of the way, I know not. In her Estimation I was supposed to have -leanings for the Actor's profession in those days--surely a foolish -Supposition, seeing how unprepossessing was my Appearance and how -mediocre my Intellect. - -Without doubt, however, could she have read the Secrets of your Soul, -dear Mistress, she would have sent You on an errand too, to a remote -corner of England, or had locked You up in your Room, ere you came face -to face with the great Man whose Personality and Visage were already -deeply graven upon your Heart. - -But her futile, unamiable Mind was even then torn between the desire to -make a brave show of Prosperity before her illustrious Brother and to -welcome him as the Friend and Companion of great Gentlemen, and the old -puritanical Spirit within her which still looked upon Actors as Rogues -and Vagabonds, Men upon whom God would shower some very special, -altogether terrible Curses because of their loose and immoral Lives. - -Thus Mistress Euphrosine's treatment of the distinguished Actor was ever -contradictory. She did her best to make him feel that she despised him -for his Calling, yet nevertheless she fawned upon him because of his -connection with the Aristocracy. Even subsequently, when Mr. Betterton -enjoyed not only the Patronage but the actual Friendship of His Majesty -the King, Mistress Euphrosine's attitude towards him was always one of -pious scorn. He might be enjoying the protection of an earthly King, -but what was that in comparison with his Sister's intimacy with God? He -might consort with Dukes, but she would anon make one in a company of -Angels, amongst whom such Reprobates as Actors would never find a place. - -That, I think, was her chief Attitude of Mind, one that caused me much -Indignation at the time; for I felt that I could have knelt down and -worshipped the heaven-born Genius who was delighting the whole Kingdom -with his Art. But Mr. Betterton, with his habitual kindliness and good -humour, paid no heed to Mistress Euphrosine's sour Disposition towards -him, and when she tried to wither him with lofty Speeches, he would -quickly make her ridiculous with witty Repartee. - -He came more and more frequently to the House, and mine Eyes being -unusually sharp in such matters, I soon saw that You had wholly won his -regard. Those then became happy times. Happy ones for You, Mistress, -whose Love for a great and good Man was finding full Reciprocity. Happy -ones for him, who in You had found not only a loving Heart, but rare -understanding, and that great Talent which he then and there set himself -to develop. They were happy times also for me, the poor, obscure -Scrivener with the starved Heart and the dreary Life, who now was -allowed to warm his Soul in the Sunshine of your joint Happiness. - -It was not long before Mr. Betterton noticed the profound Admiration -which I had for him, not long before he admitted me to his Friendship -and Intimacy. I say it with utmost pride, that I was the first one with -whom he discussed the question of your Career and to whom he confided -the fact that You had a conspicuous talent for the Stage, and that he -intended to teach and to train You until You could appear with him on -the Boards. You may imagine how this Idea staggered me at first--aye! -and horrified me a little. I suppose that something of the old -puritanical middle-class Prejudice had eaten so deeply into my Soul that -I could not be reconciled to the idea of seeing any Woman--least of all -you, Mistress--acting a part upon the Stage. Hitherto, young Mr. -Kynaston and other boy-actors had represented with perfect grace and -charm all the parts which have been written for Women; and I could not -picture to myself any respectable Female allowing herself to be kissed -or embraced in full view of a large Audience, or speaking some of those -Lines which our great Dramatists have thought proper to write. - -But Mr. Betterton's Influence and his unanswerable Arguments soon got -the better of those old-fashioned Ideas, and anon I found myself looking -eagerly forward to the happy time when You would be freed from the -trammels of Mistress Euphrosine's Tyranny and, as the Wife and Helpmate -of the greatest Actor of our times, take your place beside him among the -Immortals. - - - - 3 - - -It was not until the spring of the following Year that I first noticed -the cloud which was gathering over your happiness. Never shall I forget -the day when first I saw Tears in your Eyes. - -You had finally decided by then to adopt the Stage as your Profession, -and at the instance of Mr. Betterton, Sir William Davenant had promised -You a small part in the new Play, wherewith he was about to open his new -Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. The piece chosen was called "Othello," -written by one William Shakespeare, and Sir William had finally decided -that the parts written in this Play by the Author for Women should be -enacted by Women; an arrangement which was even then being worked quite -successfully by Mr. Killigrew at his Theatre in Clare Market. - -I knew that a brilliant Future lay before You; but Mistress Euphrosine, -who had constituted herself your Guardian and Mentor, tried in vain to -turn You from your Career. The day when You made your Decision was yet -another of those momentous ones which will never fade from my Memory. -You had hitherto been clever enough to evade Mistress Euphrosine's -Vigilance whilst you studied the Art of speaking and acting under the -guidance of Mr. Betterton. She thought that his frequent Visits to the -House were due to his Regard for her, whereas he came only to see You -and to be of service to You in the pursuit of your Studies. - -But the time came when You had to avow openly what were your Intentions -with regard to the Future. Sir William Davenant's Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields was to be opened in June, and You, Mistress, were, together -with his principal Actresses, to be boarded after that by him at his own -House, in accordance with one of the Provisions of the Agreement. The -Question arose as to where You should lodge, your poor Mother having no -home to offer You. Mistress Euphrosine made a great Show of her -Abhorrence of the Stage and all the Immorality which such a Career -implied. My cheeks blush with shame even now at the recollection of the -abominable language which she used when first You told her what You -meant to do, and my Heart is still filled with admiration at your -Patience and Forbearance with her under such trying circumstances. - -Fortunately for us all, Mr. Betterton arrived in the midst of all this -wrangle. He soon succeeded in silencing Mistress Euphrosine's -exacerbating tongue, and this not so much by the magic of his Persuasion -as by the aid of the golden Key which is known to open every door--even -that which leads to a scolding Harridan's heart. Mr. Betterton offered -his Sister a substantial Sum of Money if she in return would undertake -to give You a comfortable lodging until such time as he himself would -claim You as his Wife. He stipulated that You should be made -comfortable and that no kind of menial work should ever be put upon You. - -"Mistress Saunderson," he said impressively, "must be left absolutely -free to pursue her Art, unhampered by any other consideration." - -Even so, Mistress Euphrosine could not restrain her malicious tongue, -and the whole equitable arrangement might even then have fallen through -but for your gentleness and quiet determination. Finally, Mistress -Euphrosine gave in. She accepted the liberal terms which her -illustrious Brother was offering her for your Maintenance, but she -reserved unto herself the right of terminating the Arrangement at her -will and pleasure. Obviously, she meant to be as disagreeable as she -chose; but You had to have a respectable roof over your head until such -time as You found a Haven under the aegis of your future Husband's Name. - -After that, it seemed as if no cloud could ever come to obscure the -Heavens of your happiness. Nevertheless, it was very soon after that -Episode that I chanced upon You one evening, sitting in the parlour with -the Book of a Play before You, yet apparently not intent upon reading. -When I spoke your name You started as if out of a Dream and quickly You -put your handkerchief up to your eyes. - -I made no remark then; it would have been insolence on my part to -intrude upon your private Affairs. But I felt like some faithful cur on -the watch. - -For awhile dust was thrown in my eyes from the fact that Mr. Betterton -announced to us his projected trip abroad, at the instance of Sir -William Davenant, who desired him to study the Scenery and Decorations -which it seems were noted Adjuncts to the Stage over in Paris. If Mr. -Betterton approved of what he saw there, he was to bring back with him a -scheme for such Scenery to be introduced at the new Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields, which would be a great triumph over Mr. Killigrew's -Management, where no such innovations had ever been thought of. - -Naturally, Mr. Betterton, being a Man and an Artist, was eager and -excited over this journey, which showed what great confidence Sir -William Davenant reposed in his Judgment. This, methought, accounted -for the fact that You, Mistress, seemed so much more dejected at the -prospect of his Absence than he was. I also was satisfied that this -Absence accounted for your tears. - -Fool that I was! I should have guessed! - -Mr. Betterton was absent two months, during which time I oft chanced -upon You, dear Mistress, with a book lying unheeded on your lap and your -dark eyes glistening with unnatural brilliancy. But I still believed -that it was only Mr. Betterton's Absence that caused this sadness which -had of late fallen over your Spirits. I know that he did not write -often, and I saw--oh! quite involuntarily--that when his Letters came -they were unaccountably short. - -Then, one day--it was in May--seeing You more than usually depressed, I -suggested that as the weather was so fine we should repair to the -Theatre in Clare Market, and there see Mr. Killigrew's company enact -"The Beggar's Bush," a play in which Major Mohun was acting the part of -_Bellamente_ with considerable success. - -Had I but known what we were destined to see in that Theatre, I swear to -God that I would sooner have hacked off my right leg than to have taken -You thither. Yet We both started on our way, oblivious of what lay -before Us. Time had long since gone by when such expeditions had to be -done in secret. You, Mistress, were independent of Mistress -Euphrosine's threats and tantrums, and I had come to realise that my -Employer could nowhere else in the whole City find a Clerk who would do -so much for such very scanty pay, and that he would never dismiss me, -for fear that he would never again meet with such a willing Drudge. - -So, the day being one on which Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine were -absenting themselves from home, I persuaded You easily enough to come -with me to the Play. - -Your spirits had risen of late because you were expecting Mr. -Betterton's home-coming. In fact, You had received authentic news that -he would probably be back in England within the week. - - - - 4 - - -At once, when I took my seat in the Gallery beside you, I noticed the -beautiful fair Lady in the Box, whom I had not seen since that -marvellous day a year ago, when you and I sat together at the Play. She -was more radiantly beautiful than ever before. - -Discreet enquiries from my Neighbour elicited the information that she -was the Lady Barbara Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury, and -the acknowledged Belle among the Debutantes of the season. I understood -that nothing had been seen of the Lady for the past year or more, owing -to the grave and lingering illness of her Mother, during the whole -course of which the young Girl had given up her entire life to the -tending of the Invalid. - -Now that his Lordship was a Widower, he had insisted on bringing his -Daughter to London so that she might be brought to the notice of His -Majesty and take her place at Court and in Society, as it beseemed her -rank. That place the Lady Barbara conquered quickly enough, by her -Beauty, her Charm and her Wit, so much so that I was told that all the -young Gallants in the City were more or less over head and ears in love -with her, but that her affections had remained steadfastly true to the -friend and companion of her girlhood, the young Earl of Stour who, in -his turn had never swerved in his Allegiance and had patiently waited -for the day when her duty to her Mother would cease and her love for him -be allowed to have full sway. - -All this, of course, sounded very pretty and very romantic; and you, -Mistress, gave ungrudging admiration to the beautiful girl who was the -cynosure of all eyes. She sat in the Box, in the company of an elderly -and distinguished Gentleman, who was obviously her Father, and of -another Man, who appeared to be a year or two older than herself and -whose likeness of features to her own proclaimed him to be her Brother. -At the rear of the box a number of brilliant Cavaliers had congregated, -who had obviously come in order to pay court to this acknowledged Queen -of Beauty. Foremost among these we noticed a tall, handsome young Man -whose noble features looked to me to suggest a somewhat weak yet -obstinate disposition. He was undeniably handsome: the huge, fair -periwig which he wore lent a certain manly dignity to his countenance. -We quickly came to the conclusion that this must be the Earl of Stour, -for it was obvious that the Lady Barbara reserved her most welcoming -smile and her kindliest glances for him. - -The company in the Box kept us vastly amused for a time, in the -intervals of watching the Actors on the Stage; and I remember that -during the second Act the dialogue in the Play being somewhat dull, both -You and I fell to watching the Lady Barbara and her throng of Admirers. -Suddenly we noticed that all these Gentlemen gave way as if to a -New-comer who had just entered at the rear of the Box and was apparently -desirous of coming forward in order to pay his respects. At first we -could not see who the New-comer was, nor did we greatly care. The next -moment, however, he was behind the Lady Barbara's chair. Anon he -stooped forward in order to whisper something in her ear. - -And I saw who it was. - -It was Mr. Betterton. - -For the moment, I remember that I felt as if I were paralysed; either -that or crazed. I could not trust mine eyes. - -Then I turned my head and looked at You. - -You too had seen and recognised. For the moment You did not move, but -sat rigid and silent. Your face had become a shade or two paler and -there was a scarce perceptible tremor of your lips. - -But that was all. I alone knew that You had just received a stab in -your loving and trusting Heart, that something had occurred which would -for ever mar the perfect trustfulness of your early love ... something -which you would never forget. - - - - 5 - - -You sat out the rest of the Play, dear Mistress, outwardly quite serene. -Never, I think, has my admiration for your Character and for your Worth -been more profound. I believe that I suffered almost as much as You. I -suffered because many things were made clear to me then that I had -ignored before. Your tears, your many Silences, that look of trustful -happiness now gone from your eyes. I understood that the Incident was -only the confirmation of what you had suspected long since. - -But you would not let any one see your heart. No! not even me, your -devoted Bondsman, who would gladly die to save You from pain. Yet I -could not bring my heart to condemn Mr. Betterton utterly. I did not -believe even then that he had been unfaithful--led away no doubt by the -glamour of the society Beauty, by the talk and the swagger of all the -idle Gentlemen about town--but not unfaithful. His was not a Nature to -love more than the once, and he loved You, Mistress--loved You from the -moment that he set eyes on You, from the moment that he knew your Worth. -His fancy had perhaps been captured by the beautiful Lady Barbara, his -Heart wherein your image was eternally enshrined, had been momentarily -bewitched by her wiles; but he was not responsible for these -Actions--that I could have sworn even then. - -Mr. Betterton is above all an Artist, and in my humble judgment Artists -are not to be measured by ordinary standards. Their mind is more -fanciful, their fancy more roving; they are the Butterflies of this -World, gay to look at and light on the wing. - -You never told me, Mistress, what course You adopted after that eventful -afternoon; nor would I have ventured to pry into your secrets. That You -and Mr. Betterton talked the whole matter over, I make no doubt. I -could even tell You, methinks, on which day the heart to heart talk -between You took place. That there were no Recriminations on your part -I dare aver; also that Mr. Betterton received his final dismissal on -that day with a greater respect than ever for You in his Heart, and with -deep sorrow weighing upon his Soul. - -After that, his visits to the house became more and more infrequent; and -at first You would contrive to be absent when he came. But, as I have -always maintained, his love for You still filled his innermost Being, -even though the Lady Barbara ruled over his fancy for the time. He -longed for your Presence and for your Friendship, even though at that -time he believed that You had totally erased his image from your Heart. - -And so, when he came, and I had perforce to tell him that You were -absent, he would linger on in the hope that You would return, and he -would go away with a bitter sigh of regret whenever he had failed to -catch a glimpse of You. - -You never told me in so many Words that you had definitely broken off -your Engagement to Mr. Betterton, nor do I believe that such was your -intention even then. Mistress Euphrosine certainly never realised that -You were smarting under so terrible a blow, and she still spoke glibly -of your forthcoming marriage. - -It was indeed fortunate for You, fortunate for us all, that both she and -Mr. Baggs were too self-absorbed--he in his Business and she in her -Piety--and too selfish, to be aware of what went on around them. Their -self-absorption left You free to indulge in the luxury of suffering in -silence; and I was made almost happy at times by an occasional -surreptitious pressure of your Hand, a glance from your Eyes, telling me -that my Understanding and Sympathy were not wholly unwelcome. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - - A CRIMINAL FOLLY - - - 1 - - -In June, you made your debut upon the stage, dear Mistress. Though You -only played a small Part, your Grace and Charm soon won universal -approval. I have so often told You of my feelings, my hopes, my tremors -and my joy on the occasion when first I saw You upon the boards, that I -will not weary You with the re-telling of them once again. Securely -hidden behind a pillar, I only lived through the super-acuteness of my -Senses, which drank in your Presence from the moment when You stepped -out from behind the Curtain and revealed your gracious personality to an -admiring Audience. - -As long as I live, every word which You spoke on that day will continue -to ring in mine ear, and ere mine eyes close for ever in their last long -Sleep, I shall see your exquisite Image floating dreamlike before their -gaze. - - - - 2 - - -From that day onward, I saw you more seldom than I had been wont to do -before. Your Success at the new Theatre had been so pronounced that Sir -William Davenant soon entrusted You with more important parts. Thus -your time was greatly taken up both with Performances and with -Rehearsals and with the choosing and trying on of dresses. Of -necessity, your work threw you often in the company of Mr. Betterton, he -being the leading Actor in Sir William's Company, and the most popular -as he was the most eminent of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants. In -fact, his Fame at this time was reaching its Apogee. He was reckoned -one of the Intimates of His Majesty himself; Gentlemen and Noblemen -sought his company; great Ladies were zealous to win his favours. - -Needless to say that concurrently with his rise to pre-eminence, an army -of Enemies sprung up around him. Hungry curs will ever bay at the moon. -Set a cat upon a high post and in a moment others will congregate down -below and spit and yowl at their more fortunate kind. Scandal and -spite, which had never been so rife as in these days, fastened -themselves like evil tentacles on Mr. Betterton's fair Name. - -He was too proud to combat these, and You too proud to lend an ear to -them. You met him now upon an easy footing of Friendship, of gentle -gratitude as of a successful Pupil towards a kindly Teacher. To any one -who did not know You as I do, You must at that time have seemed -completely happy. You were independent now, earning a good salary, -paying Mistress Euphrosine liberally for the lodgings which she placed -at your disposal; free to come and go as You pleased, to receive the -visits of Gentlemen who were desirous of paying their respects to You. -You were, in fact, Mistress Saunderson, the well-known Actress, who was -busy climbing--and swiftly, too--the Ladder of Fame. - -Of your proposed Marriage with Mr. Betterton there was of course no -longer any talk. For some reason best known to herself, and which I -myself never tried to fathom, even Mistress Euphrosine had ceased to -speak of it. - -Did she, within the depths of her ambitious and avaricious Heart, -harbour the belief that her Brother would one day wed one of those great -Ladies, who were wont to hang entranced upon his lips, when he spoke the -immortal words of the late Mr. William Shakespeare or of Mr. John -Dryden? I know not; nor what benefit she would have derived from it if -such an unlikely Event had indeed taken place. - -Towards me, she was still frigidly contemptuous. But as to that, I did -not care. I was determined to endure her worst gibes for the sake of -dwelling under the same roof which still had the privilege of sheltering -You. - - - - 3 - - -It was one day early in September--just something over a year ago, in -fact--that my Lord Stour called at the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs. I -knew him at once for the Cavalier who was ever in attendance upon the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode and whom rumour had assigned to her as her future -Husband. - -Frankly, I had never liked him from the first. I thought him overbearing -and arrogant. His manner towards those who were inferior to him in -station was always one of contempt. And I often wondered how Mr. -Theophilus Baggs, who was an Attorney of some standing in the City of -London, could endure the cool insolence wherewith young Gentlemen like -my Lord Stour and others were wont to treat him. Not only that, but he -seemed to derive a sort of gratification from it, and was wont to -repeat--I was almost going to say that he would boast of--these acts of -overbearance to which he was so often subjected. - -"Another of the stiff-necked sort," he would say after he had bowed one -of these fine Gentlemen obsequiously out of his office. "An honest, -God-fearing Man is as dirt beneath the feet of these Gallants." - -My Lord Stour, of a truth, was no exception to the rule. I have since -been assured that he was quite kindly and gracious in himself, and that -his faults were those of the Milieu in which he had been brought up, -rather than of himself. - -Of course, You, dear Mistress, were out of the house during the whole of -that never-to-be-forgotten day of which I am about to speak, and -therefore knew nothing of the terrible Event which then occurred and -which, in my humble judgment, completely revolutionized Mr. Betterton's -character for the time being. But Fate had decreed that I should see it -all. Every moment of that awful afternoon is indelibly graven upon my -Memory. I had, however, neither the Chance nor the Opportunity to speak -to You of it all. At first I did not think that it would be expedient. -The humiliation which Mr. Betterton was made to endure on that day was -such that I could not bear to speak of it, least of all to You, who -still held him in such high esteem. And later on, I still thought it -best to be silent. Mr. Betterton and You seemed to have drifted apart -so completely, that I did not feel that it would do any good to rake up -old hurts, and to submit them to the cruel light of day. - -But now everything is changed. The Lady Barbara's influence over Mr. -Betterton has gone, never to return; whilst his Heart once more yearns -for the only true Love which has ever gladdened it. - - - - 4 - - -My Lord Stour came to call upon Mr. Theophilus Baggs at three o'clock of -the afternoon. Kathleen, the maid of all work, opened the door to him, -and Mistress Euphrosine received him in the Parlour, where I was also -sitting at my desk, engaged in copying out a lengthy Indenture. - -"Master Baggs awaits me, I think," my Lord said as he entered the room. - -Mistress Euphrosine made a deep curtsey, for she was ever fond of the -Aristocracy. - -"Will you deign to enter, my Lord?" she said. "My husband will wait upon -your pleasure." - -"Tell him to be quick, then," said my Lord; "for I have not a great deal -of time to spare." - -He seated himself beside the table and drew off his gloves. He had -taken absolutely no notice of my respectful salutation. - -Mistress Euphrosine sailed out of the room and a moment or two later Mr. -Baggs came in, carrying a sheaf of papers and looking very fussy and -obsequious. - -My Lord did not rise to greet him, only turned his head in his direction -and said curtly: - -"You are Mr. Theophilus Baggs, Attorney-at-law?" - -"At your Lordship's service," replied my employer. - -"Brother-in-law of Tom Betterton, the Actor, so I am told," my Lord went -on with quiet condescension. - -This innocent remark, however, appeared to upset Mr. Baggs. He -stammered and grew as red as a turkey-cock, not realizing that his -connection with the great Actor was truly an honour upon his Name. He -hemmed and hawed and looked unutterably foolish, as he mumbled -confusedly: - -"Er ... that is ... only occasionally, my Lord ... very occasionally, I -may say ... that is ... I..." - -"Pray calm yourself," broke in my Lord haughtily. "I admire the -fellow's acting ... the Man himself does not exist for me." - -"You are most gracious, my Lord," murmured Mr. Baggs promptly, whilst I -could have struck him for his obsequiousness and his Lordship for his -arrogance. - -It seems that the matter which had brought Lord Stour to Mr. Baggs' -office was one of monies connected with the winding-up of the affairs of -the late Earl, uncle of the present Peer. I was busy with my work -during the time that these affairs were being discussed and did not pay -much heed to the conversation. Only two fragments thereof struck mine -ear. I remember, chiefly because they were so characteristic of the two -men--the Aristocrat and the Plebeian--and of the times in which we live. - -At one time Mr. Baggs ventured to enquire after the health of the -Honourable Mrs. Stourcliffe, his Lordship's mother; and you should have -heard the tone of frigid pride wherewith my Lord seemed to repel any -such presumptuous enquiries. - -The other fragment which I overheard was towards the end of the -interview, when Mr. Theophilus Baggs, having counted over the Money -before his Lordship, placed a Paper before him and bade me bring him a -pen. - -"What's this?" queried my Lord, astonished. - -"Oh!" Mr. Baggs stammered, with his habitual humility of demeanour, "a -mere formality, my Lord ... er ... h'm ... only a ... er ... receipt." - -"A receipt?" my Lord asked, with an elevation of his aristocratic brows. -"What for?" - -"Er ... er..." Mr. Baggs stammered. "For the monies, my Lord. That is -... er ... if you will deign to count it over yourself ... and see that -it is correct." - -At this, my Lord rose from his seat, waved me aside, took and pocketed -the money. Then he said coolly to Mr. Baggs: - -"No, Sir; I do not care to count. My Uncle knew You to be honest, or he -would not have placed his affairs in your hands. That is sufficient for -me. I, on the other hand, have received the money.... That is -sufficient for You." - -"But----!" ejaculated Mr. Baggs, driven out of his timidity by such -summary procedure. - -"Egad, Sir!" broke in my Lord, more haughtily than before. "Are you -perchance supposing that I might claim money which I have already had?" - -"No ... no!" protested Mr. Baggs hastily. "I assure you, my Lord ... er -... that it is ... h'm ... a mere formality ... and..." - -"My word," retorted my Lord coolly, "is sufficient formality." - -Whereupon he turned to the door, taking no more notice of me than if I -were the doormat. He nodded to Mr. Baggs, who was of a truth too deeply -shaken to speak, and with a curt "I wish you good-day, Mr. Notary!" -strode out of the room. - -I doubt not, Mistress, that You and many others of gentle Manners if not -of gentle Birth, would think that in recounting this brief interview -between my employer and the young Earl of Stour, I have been guilty of -exaggeration in depicting my Lord's arrogance. Yet, on my word, it all -occurred just as I have told it. No doubt that Mr. Baggs' -obsequiousness must have been irritating, and that it literally called -forth the haughty Retort which otherwise might have remained unspoken. -I myself, humble and insignificant as I am, have oft felt an almost -uncontrollable impulse to kick my worthy Employer into some measure of -manliness. - -For let me assure You that, though subsequently I became more closely -acquainted with my Lord Stour, I never heard him use such haughty -language to any of his Dependents, nor do I think that so gentle a Lady -as Lady Barbara Wychwoode would have bestowed her fondness and regard -upon him had his Nature been as supercilious and as insolent as his -Words. - - - - 5 - - -That afternoon was indeed destined to be fuller of events than I ever -could have anticipated. No sooner had I closed the door upon my Lord -Stour, when I heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and then my Lord's -voice raised once more, this time with a tone of pleasure mingled with -astonishment. - -"Wychwoode, by gad!" he exclaimed. "And what in Heaven's name have you -come to do in the old fox's lair?" - -I did not hear the immediate reply. More fussy than ever, Mr. Baggs had -already signed to me to reopen the door. - -"Lord Douglas Wychwoode," he murmured hurriedly in my ear. "One of the -younger sons of the Marquis of Sidbury. I am indeed fortunate to-day. -The scions of our great Nobility do seek my help and counsel..." and -more such senseless words did he utter, whilst the two young Gentlemen -paused for a moment upon the landing, talking with one another. - -"I thought you still in France," Lord Douglas said to his friend. "What -hath brought you home so unexpectedly?" - -"I only arrived this morning," the other replied; "and hoped to present -my respects this evening, if your Father and the Lady Barbara will -receive me." - -"Indeed, they'll be delighted. _Cela va sans dire_, my friend. My -sister has been rather pensive of late. Your prolonged absence may have -had something to do with her mood." - -"May you speak the truth there!" my Lord Stour remarked with a sigh. - -"But now you have not told me," rejoined Lord Douglas, as he and his -friend finally went into the room and curtly acknowledged Mr. Baggs' -reiterated salutations, "what hath brought you to the house of this -bobbing old Thief yonder." - -"Private business," replied Lord Stour. "And you?" - -"The affairs of England," said the other, and tossed his head proudly -like some young Lion scenting battle. - -Before his friend could utter another remark, Lord Douglas strode -rapidly across the room, took some papers out of the inner pocket of his -coat, and called to Mr. Baggs to come up closer to him. - -"I want," he said in a quick and peremptory whisper, "a dozen copies of -this Deed done at once and by a sure hand. Can you do it?" - -"Yes, I think so," replied Mr. Baggs. "May I see what the paper is?" - -I was watching the pair of them; so was my Lord Stour. On his face -there came a sudden frown as of disapproval and anxiety. - -"Wychwoode----!" he began. - -But the other did not heed him. His eyes--which were so like those of -his Sister--were fixed with an eager, questioning gaze upon my Employer. -The latter's face was absolutely expressionless and inscrutable whilst -he scanned the paper which Lord Douglas, after a scarce perceptible -moment of hesitation, had handed to him for perusal. - -"Yes," he said quietly, when he had finished reading. "It can be done." - -"At once?" asked Lord Douglas. - -"At once. Yes, my Lord." - -"By a sure hand?" - -"Discretion, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs, with the first show of dignity -I have ever seen him display, "is a virtue in my profession, the failing -in which would be a lasting disgrace." - -"I rely even more upon your convictions, Mr. Baggs," Lord Douglas -rejoined earnestly, "than upon your virtues." - -"You and your friends, my Lord, have deigned to talk those matters over -with me many a time before. You and they know that You can count on -me." - -Mr. Baggs spoke with more Quietude and Simplicity than was his wont when -dealing with some of these noble Lords. You may be sure, dear Mistress, -that I was vastly astonished at what I heard, still more at what I -guessed. That Mr. Baggs and his Spouse belonged to the old Puritan -Party which had deplored the Restoration of the Kingship, I knew well -enough. I knew that both he and Mistress Euphresine looked with -feelings akin to horror upon a system of Government which had for its -supreme head a King, more than half addicted to Popery and wholly to -fast living, with women, gambling and drinking all the day. But what I -had never even remotely guessed until now was that he had already lent a -helping hand to those numerous Organisations, which had for their object -the overthrow of the present loose form of Government, if not that of -the Monarchy itself. - -I did not know, in fact, that beneath a weak and obsequious exterior, my -Employer hid the stuff of which dangerous Conspirators are often made. - -For the nonce, however, I imagine that he contented himself with writing -out Deeds and Proclamations for the more important Malcontents, of whom -apparently my Lord Douglas Wychwoode was one. He had never taken me -into his confidence, even though he must have known that he could always -rely upon my Discretion. What caused him to trust me now more than he -had done before, I do not know. Perhaps he had come to a final decision -to throw in his lot with the ultra-Protestant party, who viewed with -such marked disfavour the projects of the King's marriage with the -Popish Princess of Portugal. Certain it is that he came to me without -any hesitation with the Papers which Lord Douglas had just entrusted to -him, and that he at once ordered me to make the twelve copies which his -Lordship desired. - -I retired within the window-recess which You know so well, and wherein I -am wont to sit at my copying work. Mr. Baggs then set me to my task, -after which he drew the screen across the recess, so that I remained -hidden from the view of those who were still in the room. I set to with -a Will, for my task was a heavy one. Twelve copies of a Manifesto, -which in itself covered two long pages. - -A Manifesto, in truth! - -I could scarce believe mine eyes as I read the whole rambling, foolish, -hot-headed Rigmarole. Did I not have the Paper actually in my hand, had -I not seen Lord Douglas Wychwoode handing it himself over to Mr. Baggs, -I could not have believed that any Men in their sober senses could have -lent a hand to such criminal Folly. - -Folly it was; and criminal to boot! - -The whole matter is past History now, and there can be no harm in my -relating it when so much of it hath long ago been made public. - -That Manifesto was nothing more or less than an Appeal to certain -Sympathizers to join in one of the maddest enterprises any man could -conceive. It seems that my Lady Castlemaine's house was to be kept -watched by Parties of these same Conspirators, until one night when the -King paid her one of his customary evening Visits. Then the signal was -to be given, the House surrounded, my Lady Castlemaine kidnapped, His -Majesty seized and forced to abdicate in favour of the young Duke of -Monmouth, who would then be proclaimed King of England, with the Prince -of Orange as Regent. - -Now, have you ever heard of anything more mad? I assure You that I was -literally staggered, and as my Pen went wearily scratching over the -Paper I felt as if I were in a dream, seeing before me visions of what -the end of such a foolish Scheme would be: the Hangman busy, the Prisons -filled, sorrow and desolation in many homes that had hoped to find peace -at last after the turmoil of the past twenty years. For the appeals -were directed to well accredited people outside London, some of whom -were connected with the best known Families in the Country. I must, of -course, refrain from mentioning names that have been allowed to fall -into oblivion in connection with the affair; but You, dear Mistress, -would indeed be astonished if You heard them now. - -And what caused me so much worry, whilst I wrote on till my hand felt -cramped and stiff, was mine own Helplessness in the matter. What could -I do, short of betraying the trust which was reposed in me?--and this, -of course, was unthinkable. - -I wrote on, feeling ever more dazed and dumb. From the other side of the -screen the Voices of the two young Gentlemen came at times to mine ear -with unusual clearness, at others only like an intermittent hum. Mr. -Baggs had apparently left the room, and the others had no doubt become -wholly oblivious of my Presence. Lord Douglas Wychwoode had told his -Friend something of his madcap Schemes; his voice sounded both eager and -enthusiastic. But my Lord Stour demurred. - -"I am a Soldier," he said at one time; "not a Politician." - -"That's just it!" the other argued with earnestness. "It is Men like -you that we want. We must crush that spendthrift Wanton who holds the -King in her thrall, and we must force a dishonoured Monarch to give up -the Crown of England to one who is worthier to wear it, since he -himself, even in these few brief months, has already covered it with -infamy." - -"You have set yourself a difficult task, my friend," my Lord Stour urged -more soberly; "and a dangerous one, too." - -"Only difficult and dangerous," retorted Lord Douglas, "whilst such Men -as you still hold aloof." - -"I tell you, I am no Politician," his Friend rejoined somewhat -impatiently. - -"But You are a Man, and not a senseless profligate--an earnest -Protestant, who must loathe that cobweb of Popery which overlies the -King's every Action, and blurs his vision of duty and of dignity." - -"Yes--but----" - -Then it was that Lord Douglas, with great patience and earnestness, gave -to his Friend a detailed account of his criminal Scheme--for criminal it -was, however much it might be disguised under the cloak of patriotism -and religious fervour. How Lord Stour received the communication, I -could not say. I had ceased to listen and was concentrating my mind on -my uncongenial task. Moreover, I fancy that Lord Stour did not say -much. He must have disapproved of it, as any right-minded Man would, -and no doubt tried his best to bring Lord Douglas to a more rational -state of mind. But this is mere conjecture on my part, and, of course, -I could not see his face, which would have been a clear index to his -thoughts. At one time I heard him exclaim indignantly: - -"But surely You will not entrust the distribution of those Manifestos, -which may cost you your head, to that obsequious and mealy-mouthed -notary?" - -Mr. Baggs should have heard the contempt wherewith my Lord uttered those -words! It would have taught him how little regard his servile ways had -won for him, and how much more thoroughly would he have been respected -had he adopted a more manly bearing towards his Clients, however highly -these may have been placed. - -After this, Lord Douglas Wychwoode became even more persuasive and -eager. Perhaps he had noted the first signs of yielding in the Attitude -of his Friend. - -"No, no!" he said. "And that is our serious trouble. I and those who -are at one with me feel that we are surrounded with spies. We do want a -sure Hand--a Hand that will not err and that we can trust--to distribute -the Manifestos, and, if possible, to bring us back decisive Answers. -Some of the Men with whom we wish to communicate live at some -considerable distance from town. We only wish to approach influential -people; but some of these seldom come to London; in fact, with the -exception of the Members of a venal Government and of a few effete Peers -as profligate as the King himself, but few Men, worthy of the name, do -elect to live in this degenerate City." - -His talk was somewhat rambling; perhaps I did not catch all that he -said. After awhile Lord Stour remarked casually: - -"And so You thought of me as your possible Emissary?" - -"Was I wrong?" retorted Lord Douglas hotly. - -"Nay, my friend," rejoined the other coldly. "I am honoured by this -trust which You would place in me; but----" - -"But You refuse?" broke in Lord Douglas with bitter reproach. - -I imagine that my Lord Stour's reply must have been an unsatisfactory -one to his Friend, for the latter uttered an exclamation of supreme -impatience. I heard but little more of their conversation just then, for -the noise in the Street below, which had been attracting my Attention on -and off for some time, now grew in intensity, and, curious to know what -it portended, I rose from my chair and leaned out of the window to see -what was happening. - -From the window, as You know, one gets a view of the corner of our -Street as it debouches into Fleet Street by the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, -and even the restricted View which I thus had showed me at once that -some kind of rioting was going on. Not rioting of an ordinary kind, for -of a truth we who live in the heart of the City of London are used to -its many cries; to the "Make way there!" of the Sedan Chairman and the -"Make room there!" of the Drivers of wheel-barrows, all mingling with -the "Stand up there, you blind dog!" bawled by every Carman as he tries -to squeeze his way through the throngs in the streets. - -No! this time it seemed more than that, and I, who had seen the crowds -which filled the Streets of London from end to end on the occasion of -the death of the Lord Protector, and had seen the merry-makers who had -made those same streets impassable when King Charles entered London a -little more than a year ago, I soon realized that the Crowd which I saw -flocking both up and down Fleet Street was in an ugly mood. - -At first I thought that some of those abominable vagabonds from -Whitefriars--those whom we call the Alsatians, and who are in perpetual -conflict with the law--had come out in a body from their sink of -iniquity close by and had started one of their periodical combats with -the Sheriffs' Officers; but soon I recognized some faces familiar to me -among the crowd as they ran past the corner--Men, Women and Boys who, -though of a rough and turbulent Character, could in no way be confounded -with the law-breaking Alsatians. - -There was, for instance, the Tinker, whom I knew well by sight. He was -running along, knocking his skillets and frying-pans against one another -as he passed, shouting lustily the while. Then there was a sooty -chimney-sweep, whom I knew to be an honest Man, and the broom Men with -their Boys, and many law-abiding Pedestrians who, fearful of the crowd, -were walking in the traffic way, meekly giving the wall to the more -roisterous throng. They all seemed to be a part of that same Crowd -which was scampering and hurrying up and down Fleet Street, shouting and -causing a disturbance such as I do not remember ever having seen before. - -I should have liked to have gazed out of the Window until I had -ascertained positively what the noise was about; but I remembered that -my task was only half-accomplished and that I had at the least another -half-dozen Manifestos to write out. I was on the point of sitting down -once more to my Work when I heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode's voice quite -close to the screen, saying anxiously, as if in answer to some remark -made by his friend: - -"I trust not. My Sister is out in her chair somewhere in this -neighbourhood, and only with her two Bearers." - -Apparently the two Gentlemen's attention had also been arrested by the -tumult. The next moment Mr. Theophilus Baggs came in, and immediately -they both plied him simultaneously with questions. "What were those -strange cries in the street? Was there likely to be a riot? What was -the cause of the tumult?" All of which Mr. Baggs felt himself unable to -answer. In the end, he said that he would walk down to the corner of -the Street and ascertain what was happening. - -Ensconced within the window recess and hidden from view by the screen, I -soon gave up all attempt at continuing my work. Somehow, the two -Gentlemen's anxiety about the Lady Barbara had communicated itself to -me. But my thoughts, of course, were of You. Fortunately for my peace -of mind, I knew that You were safe; at some distance, in fact, from the -scene of the present tumult. Nevertheless, I had already made up my -mind that if the rioting spread to the neighbouring streets, I would -slip out presently and go as far as Dorset Gardens, where you were busy -at rehearsal, and there wait for you until you came out of the Theatre, -when, if you were unattended, I could escort you home. - -I could not myself have explained why the Noise outside and the obvious -rough temper of the People should have agitated me as they undoubtedly -did. - -Anon, Mr. Baggs returned with a veritable sackful of news. - -"There is a great tumult all down the neighbourhood," said he, "because -Lady Castlemaine is even now at the India House drinking tea, and a lot -of rowdy folk have made up their minds to give her a rough welcome when -she comes out. She is not popular just now, my Lady Castlemaine," Mr. -Baggs continued complacently, as he gave a look of understanding to Lord -Douglas Wychwoode, "And I fancy that she will experience an unpleasant -quarter of an hour presently." - -"But, surely," protested my Lord Stour, "a whole mob will not be allowed -to attack a defenceless woman, however unpopular she may be!" - -"Oh, as to that," rejoined Mr. Baggs with an indifferent shrug of the -shoulders, "a London mob is not like to be squeamish when its temper is -aroused; and just now, when work is scarce and food very dear, the sight -of her Ladyship's gorgeous liveries are apt to exasperate those who have -an empty stomach." - -"But what will they do to her?" urged my Lord, whose manly feelings were -evidently outraged at the prospect of seeing any Woman a prey to an -angry rabble. - -"That I cannot tell you, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs. "The crowd hath -several ways of showing its displeasure. You know, when a Frenchman or -some other Foreigner shows his face in the Streets of London, how soon -he becomes the butt of passing missiles. The sweep will leave a sooty -imprint upon his coat; a baker's basket will cover him with dust; at -every hackney-coach stand, some facetious coachman will puff the froth -of his beer into his face. Well! you may draw your own conclusions, my -Lord, as to what will happen anon, when my Lady Castlemaine hath -finished drinking her dish of tea!" - -"But surely no one would treat a Lady so?" once more ejaculated my Lord -Stour hotly. - -"Perhaps not," retorted Mr. Baggs drily. "But then you, see, my Lord, -Lady Castlemaine is ... Well; she is Lady Castlemaine ... and at the -corner of our street just now I heard murmurs of the Pillory or even -worse for her----" - -"But this is monstrous--infamous----!" - -"And will be well deserved," here broke in Lord Douglas decisively. -"Fie on You, Friend, to worry over that baggage, whilst we are still in -doubt if my Sister be safe." - -"Yes!" murmured Lord Stour, with a sudden note of deep solicitude in his -voice. "My God! I was forgetting!" - -He ran to the window--the one next to the recess where I still remained -ensconced--threw open the casement and gazed out even more anxiously -than I had been doing all along. Mr. Baggs in the meanwhile endeavoured -to reassure Lord Douglas. - -"If," he said, "her Ladyship knows that your Lordship hath come here to -visit me, she may seek shelter under my humble roof." - -"God grant that she may!" rejoined the young Man fervently. - -We all were on tenterhooks, I as much as the others; and we all gazed -out agitatedly in the direction of Fleet Street. Then, all at once, my -Lord Stour gave a cry of relief. - -"There's the chaise!" he exclaimed. "It has just turned the corner of -this street.... No! not that way, Douglas ... on your right.... That is -Lady Barbara's chaise, is it not?" - -"Yes, it is!" ejaculated the other. "Thank Heaven, her man Pyncheon has -had the good sense to bring her here. Quick, Mr. Notary!" he added. -"The door!" - -The next moment a Sedan chair borne by two men in handsome liveries of -blue and silver came to a halt just below. Already Mr. Baggs had -hurried down the stairs. He would, I know, yield to no one in the -privilege of being the first to make the Lady Barbara welcome in his -House. The Excitement and Anxiety were momentarily over, and I could -view quite composedly from above the beautiful Lady Barbara as she -stepped out of her Chair, a little flurried obviously, for she clasped -and unclasped her cloak with a nervy, trembling hand. - -A second or two later, I heard her high-heeled shoes pattering up the -stairs, whilst her Men with the Chair sought refuge in a quiet tavern -higher up in Chancery Lane. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - - MORE THAN A PASSING FANCY - - - 1 - - -I would that You, fair Mistress, had seen the Lady Barbara Wychwoode as -I beheld her on that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon, her Cheeks of a -delicate pallor, her golden Hair slightly disarranged, her Lips -trembling with excitement. You, who are so inexpressibly beautiful, -would have been generous enough to give ungrudging Admiration to what -was so passing fair. - -She was panting a little, for obviously she had been scared, and clung -to her Brother as if for protection. But I noticed that directly she -entered the room her Eyes encountered those of my Lord Stour, and that -at sight of him a happy smile at once over-spread and illumined her -Face. - -"I am so thankful, Douglas, dear," she said, "that Pyncheon happened to -know you were here. He also knew the way to Mr. Baggs' house, and as -soon as he realized that the crowd in Fleet Street was no ordinary one, -he literally took to his heels and brought me along here in amazingly -quick time. But, oh!" she added lightly, "I can tell You that I was -scared. My heart went thumping and I have not yet recovered my breath." - -Her cheeks now had become suffused with a blush and her blue eyes -sparkled, more with excitement than fear, I imagined. Certain it is -that her Beauty was enhanced thereby. But Lord Douglas, with a -Brother's privilege, shrugged his shoulders and said with a show of -banter: - -"Methinks, Babs, dear, that your heart hath chiefly gone a-thumping -because you are surprised at finding Stour here." - -She gave a gay little laugh--the laugh of one who is sure of Love and of -Happiness; the same laugh, dear Mistress, for which I have hearkened of -late in vain from You. - -"I only arrived in London this morning," my Lord Stour explained. - -"And hastened to pay your respects to the law rather than to me," Lady -Barbara taunted him lightly. - -"I would not have ventured to present myself at this hour," he rejoined. -"And, apparently, would have found the Lady Barbara from home." - -"So a beneficent Fairy whispered to You to go and see Mr. Notary, and -thus arranged everything for the best." - -"The beneficent Fairy had her work cut out, then," Lord Douglas -remarked, somewhat impatiently, I thought. - -"How do you mean?" she retorted. - -"Why," said he, "in order to secure this tryst, the beneficient Fairy -had first to bring me hither as well as Stour, and Lady Castlemaine to -the India House. Then she had to inflame the temper of a whole Crowd of -Roisterers sufficiently to cause the worthy Pyncheon to take to his -heels, with you in the chair. In fact, the good Fairy must have been to -endless trouble to arrange this meeting 'twixt Lady Barbara and her -Lover, when but a few hours later that same meeting would have come -about quite naturally." - -"Nay, then!" she riposted with perfect good humour, "let us call it a -happy Coincidence, and say no more about it." - -Even then her Brother uttered an angry exclamation. He appeared -irritated by the placidity and good humour of the others. His nerves -were evidently on edge, and while my Lord Stour, with the egoism -peculiar to Lovers, became absorbed in whispering sweet nothings in Lady -Barbara's ears, Lord Douglas took to pacing up and down the Room like -some impatient Animal. - -I watched the three of them with ever-growing interest. Being very -sensitive to outward influences, I was suddenly obsessed with the -feeling that through some means or other these three Persons, so far -above me in station, would somehow become intermixed with my Life, and -that it had suddenly become my Duty to watch them and to listen to what -they were saying. - -I had no desire to pry upon them, of course; so I pray You do not -misunderstand nor condemn me for thus remaining hidden behind the screen -and for not betraying my Presence to them all. Certainly my Lord Stour -and Lord Douglas Wychwoode had known at one time that I was in the Room. -They had seen me installed in the window-recess, with the treasonable -Manifestos which I had been set to copy. But since then the two -Gentlemen had obviously become wholly oblivious of my Presence, and the -Lady Barbara did not of course even know of my Existence, whilst I did -not feel disposed to reveal myself to any of them just yet. - - - - 2 - - -Lord Douglas, thereafter, was for braving the Rioters and for returning -home. But Lady Barbara and Lord Stour, feeling happy in one another's -Company, were quite content to bide for a time under Mr. Baggs' -sheltering roof. - -"You must have patience, Douglas," she said to her Brother. "I assure -you that the Streets are not safe. Some rowdy Folk have set themselves -to attacking every chair they see and tearing the gold and silver lace -from the Chairmen's liveries. Even the side-streets are thronged. -Pyncheon will tell you of the difficulty he had in bringing me here." - -"But we cannot wait until night!" Lord Douglas urged impatiently. - -"No!" said she. "Only an hour or two. As soon as the people have seen -Lady Castlemaine and have vented their wrath on her, they will begin to -disperse, chiefly into the neighbouring Taverns, and then we can slip -quietly away." - -"Or else," broke in Lord Stour hotly, "surely the watchmen will come -anon and disperse that rabble ere it vents its spite upon a defenceless -Woman!" - -"A defenceless Woman, you call her, my Lord?" Lady Barbara retorted -reproachfully. "She is the most dangerous Enemy England hath at this -moment!" - -"You are severe, Lady Barbara----" - -"Severe!" she exclaimed, with a vehement tone of resentment. "Ah! you -have been absent, my Lord. You do not know--You do not understand! Over -abroad You did not realise the Misery, the Famine, that is stalking our -land. Money that should be spent on reclaiming our Industries, which -have suffered through twenty years of civil strife, or in helping the -poor to tide over these years of lean Harvests, is being lavished by an -irresponsible Monarch upon a greedy Wanton, who----" - -"Barbara!" - -She paused, recalled to herself by the stern voice of her Brother. She -had allowed her Indignation to master her maidenly reserve. Her cheeks -were aflame now, her lips quivering with Passion. Of a truth, she was a -Woman to be admired, for, unlike most of her sex, she had profound -feelings of Patriotism and of Charity; she had valour, enthusiasm, -temperament, and was not ashamed to speak what was in her mind. I -watched my Lord Stour while she spoke, and saw how deeply he worshipped -her. Now she encountered his Gaze, and heavy tears came into her Eyes. - -"Ah, my Lord," she said gently, "you will see sadder sights in the -Streets of London to-day than ever you did in the Wars after the -fiercest Battles." - -"'Tis no use appealing to him, Babs," Lord Douglas interposed with -obvious exacerbation. "A moment ago I told him of our Plans. I begged -him to lend us his sword and his hand to strike a blow at the Profligacy -and Wantonness which is sending England to perdition worse than ever -before----" - -Lady Barbara turned great, reproachful eyes on my Lord. - -"And you refused?" she whispered. - -My Lord looked confused. All at once, I knew that he was already -wavering. A weak Man, perhaps; he was deeply, desperately enamoured. I -gathered that he had not seen the Lady Barbara for some months. No -doubt his Soul hungered for her Smiles. He was the sort of Man, -methinks, who would barter everything--even Honour--for the Woman he -loved. And I do not think that he cared for much beyond that. His -Father, an you remember, fought on the Parliament side. I do not say -that he was one of the Regicides, but he did not raise a finger to help -or to serve his King. And he had been a rigid Protestant. All the -Stourcliffes of Stour were that; and the present Earl's allegiance to -King Charles could only have been very perfunctory. Besides which, this -is the age of Conspiracies and of political Factions. I doubt not but -it will be another twenty years before the Country is really satisfied -with its form of Government. I myself--though God knows I am but a -humble Clerk--could wish that this Popish marriage for the King had not -been decided on. We do not want religious factions warring with one -another again. - -But all this is beside the mark, nor would I dwell on it save for my -desire to be, above all, just to these three People who were destined to -do the Man I love best in the world an irreparable injury. - -As I said before, I could see that my Lord Stour was hesitating. Now -Lady Barbara invited him to sit beside her upon the Sofa, and she began -talking to him quietly and earnestly, Lord Douglas only putting in a -word or so now and again. What they said hath little to do with the -portent of my Narrative, nor will I plague You with the telling of it. -Those people are nothing to You; they have nothing to do with humble -Plebeians like ourselves; they are a class apart, and we should never -mix ourselves up with them or their affairs, as Mr. Betterton hath since -learned to his hurt. - - - - 3 - - -While they were talking together, the three of them, I tried once more -to concentrate my mind upon my work, and finished off another two or -three copies of the treasonable Manifesto. - -All this while, you must remember that the noise and rowdiness in the -streets had in no way diminished. Rather had it grown in intensity. -The people whom I watched from time to time and saw darting down -Chancery Lane or across the corner of Fleet Street, looked more excited, -more bent on mischief, than before. I had seen a few stones flying -about, and once or twice heard the ominous crash of broken glass. - -Then suddenly there came an immense Cry, which was not unlike the -snarling of hundreds of angry Beasts. I knew what that meant. My Lady -Castlemaine was either on the point of quitting the India House or had -been otherwise spied by the Populace. I could no longer restrain my -Curiosity. Once more I cast my papers aside and leaned out of the -window. The shouting and booing had become more and more ominous. -Apparently, too, a company of the City Watchmen had arrived. They were -trying to force through the throng, and their calls of "Make way there!" -sounded more and more peremptory. But what was a handful of Watchmen -beside an excited crowd of Rioters determined to wreak their temper upon -an unpopular bit of baggage? I doubt not but that His Majesty's -Body-guard could alone restore order now and compass the safety of the -Lady. - -As I leaned out of the Window I could see stones and miscellaneous -missiles flying in every direction; and then suddenly I had a clear -vision of a gorgeous Sedan Chair escorted by a dozen or more City -Watchmen, who were trying to forge a way for it through the Crowd. They -were trying to reach the corner of our Street, hoping no doubt to turn -up this way and thus effect an escape by way of the Lower Lincoln's Inn -Fields and Drury Lane, while the Crowd would of necessity be kept back -through the narrowness of the Streets and the intricacies of the Alleys. - -The whole point now was whether the Chairmen could reach our corner -before the Roisterers had succeeded in beating back the Watchmen, when -of course they meant to tear Lady Castlemaine out of her chair. Poor, -wretched Woman! She must have been terribly frightened. I know that I -myself felt woefully agitated. Leaning out toward the street, I could -see Lady Barbara's pretty head at the next window and my Lord Stour and -Lord Douglas close beside her. They too had forgotten all about their -talk and their plans and Conspiracies, and were gazing out on the -exciting Spectacle with mixed feelings, I make no doubt. As for me, I -feel quite sure that but for my sense of utter helplessness, I should -have rushed out even then and tried to lend a hand in helping an -unfortunate Woman out of so terrible a Predicament, and I marvelled how -deep must have been the hatred for her, felt by Gentlemen like my Lord -Stour and Lord Douglas Wychwoode, that their Sense of Chivalry forsook -them so completely at this Hour, that neither of them attempted to run -to her aid or even suggested that she should find shelter in this House. - -As for Mr. Baggs, he was not merely idly curious; he was delighted at -the idea that my Lady Castlemaine should be maltreated by the mob; -whilst Mistress Euphrosine's one idea was the hope that if the Rioters -meant to murder the Baggage, they would not do so outside this door. -She and Mr. Baggs had come running into the Parlour the moment the -rioting reached its height, and of a truth, dear Mistress, you would -have been amused to see us all at the three front windows of the -house--three groups watching the distant and wildly exciting happenings -in Fleet Street. There was I at one window; Mr. and Mrs. Baggs at the -other; Lady Barbara and the two Gallants at the third. And the -ejaculations which came from one set of Watchers or the other would fill -several pages of my narrative. - -Mistress Euphrosine was in abject fear. "Oh! I hope," cried she now and -again, "that they won't come this way. There'll be murder upon our -doorstep!" - -My Lord Stour had just one revulsion of feeling in favour of the -unfortunate 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 Lord -Douglas said with a rough laugh: "I would not lift a finger to defend -her. Let the Devil befriend her, an he list." - -And all the while the mob hissed and hooted, and stones flew like hail -all around the Chaise. - -"Oh! they'll murder her! They'll murder her!" called Mistress -Euphrosine piously. - -"And save honest men a vast deal of trouble thereby," Mr. Baggs -concluded sententiously. - -The Watchmen were now forging ahead. With their sticks and staves they -fought their way through bravely, heading the chair towards our street. -But even so, methought that they stood but little Chance of saving my -Lady Castlemaine in the end. The Crowd had guessed their purpose -already, and were quite ready to give Chase. The Chairmen with their -heavy burden could be no match against them in a Race, and the final -capture 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 what -I saw. Let me try and put the picture clearly before you, dear -Mistress; 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 turning -the corner of our Street. They were heading towards us with only a -comparatively small knot of roisterers to contend against, and the -panting, struggling Chairmen with the Sedan Chair were immediately -behind them. - -As far as I could see, the Crowd had not expected this Manoeuvre, and -the sudden turning off of their prey at right angles disconcerted the -foremost among them, for the space of a second or two. This gave the -Chairmen a brief start up the street. But the very next moment the Crowd -realized the situation, and with a wild war-cry, turned to give Chase, -when a Man suddenly stepped out from nowhere in particular that I could -see, unless it was from the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, and stood at the -bottom 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 Crowd -always will when something totally unexpected doth occur. The Man, of -course, had his back towards us, but I had recognized him, nor was I -surprised that his Appearance did have the effect of checking for an -instant that spirit of Mischief which was animating the throng. Lady -Barbara and the young Gentlemen at the other window were even more -astonished than I at this wholly unforeseen occurrence. They could not -understand the sudden checking of the Rioters and the comparative -silence 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 in -amazement. - -"Who is it?" queried Lady Barbara. - -"Not a Gentleman," rejoined Lord Douglas; "for he would not thus stop to -parley with so foul a mob. Meseems I know the figure," he added, and -leaned still further out of the window, the better to take in the whole -of 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 voice -in defence of that baggage." - -"But, who is it?" insisted my Lord Stour impatiently. - -"Why, Betterton the Actor," replied Lord Douglas with a laugh. "Do you -not know him?" - -"Only from seeing him on the stage," said the other. Then he added: "An -Actor 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 of -themselves." - -"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 to -describe. 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 his -Interposition had given my Lady Castlemaine's Chairmen and also the -Watchmen, who were guarding her, a distinct advance. They were making -the most of the respite by hurrying up our street as fast as they were -able, 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 some -Sally 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, so -that we all could hear Mr. Betterton's rich and powerful Voice quite -plainly. - -"Come, come, Friends!" he was saying; "the Lady will get there without -your help some day, I'll warrant. Aye! and further too, an the Devil -gives her her due! Now, now," he continued, when cries and murmurs, -boos and hisses, strove to interrupt him. "You are not going to hiss a -hard-working Actor off the Stage like this. Do, in the name of Sport, -which every sound-minded Englishman loves, after all, await a fitter -opportunity for molesting a defenceless Woman. What say You to -adjourning to the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, where mine Host hath just -opened 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! every -one who goes there now--and there's room for three or four hundred of -You--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 and -a 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 of -beer at the invitation of Tom Betterton? You know him! Is he not a -jolly, good fellow?..." - -Of course, he did not deliver this speech uninterruptedly. It was only -snatches of it that came to our ear. But we Listeners soon caught the -drift of it, and watched its reception by the Crowd. Well! the -Fire-eaters gradually cooled down. The prospect of the ale at the -_Spread Eagle_ caused many a smack of the lips, which in its turn -smothered the cries of Rage and Vituperation. Anon, One could perceive -one forearm after another drawn with anticipatory Pleasure across lips -that had ceased to boo. - -Just then, too, Heaven interposed in a conciliatory spirit in the form -of a few drops of heavy Rain, presaging a Storm. The next moment the -stampede in the direction of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern had begun, whilst -my 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 way -to stop the Rabble's howls, whilst my Lady Baggage finds safety in -flight." - -But Lady Barbara added thoughtfully: "Methinks 'twas plucky to try and -defend a Woman single-handed." - - - - 4 - - -I watched the turbulent throng, filing now in orderly procession through -the hospitably open doors of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern. Mr. Betterton -remained for awhile standing at the door, marshalling the more -obstreperous of his invited Guests and parleying with Mr. Barraclough, -the Host of the _Spread Eagle_--no doubt making arrangements for the -quenching of three or four hundred thirsts at his expense. Then he -suddenly turned on his heel and came up the Street. Lord Douglas gave -one of his rough, grating laughs, and said: - -"So now I see that, like a wise man, Mr. Betterton mistrusts his -Popularity and proposes to seek refuge from his ebullient Friends." - -"I believe," said Mistress Euphrosine to her Lord in an awed whisper; "I -believe that Thomas is coming here." - -Which possibility greatly disconcerted Mr. Baggs. He became quite -agitated, 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 Majesty. Surely then you may -invite him without shame under your roof!" - -"And I've never seen the great Actor close to," remarked Lord Stour -lightly. "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 have -of late thought themselves Somebodies, just because 'tis the fashion for -Gentlemen to write plays and to go to the Theatre. My Lord Rochester, -Sir George Etherege and the others have so spoilt them by going about -constantly with them, that the Fellows scarce know their place now. -This man Betterton is the worst of the lot. He makes love to the Ladies -of the Court, forgets that he is naught but a Rogue and a Vagabond and -not worthy to be seen in the company of Gentlemen. Oh! I've oft had an -itching 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 Spite -wherewith Lord Douglas spoke at this moment, or the look of Contempt -which for the moment quite disfigured his good-looking Face. That he -had been made aware at some time of Mr. Betterton's admiration for Lady -Barbara became at once apparent to me, also that he looked upon that -admiration as a Presumption and an Insult. - -I was confirmed in this Supposition by the look which he gave then and -there to his Sister, a look which caused her to blush to the very roots -of her hair. I fancy, too, that he also whispered something on that -Subject to my Lord Stour, for a dark frown of Anger suddenly appeared -upon 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 practising -Christian; but just at that moment I felt that I hated Lord Douglas -Wychwoode and his Friend with a bitter and undying hatred. - - - - 5 - - -Meseemed as if the air within the room had become surcharged with a -subtle and heady fluid akin to an Intoxicant, so many Passions were even -then warring in the innermost hearts of us all. There was Hatred and -Spite, and Fervour and Love. We were all of us alive at that moment, if -You know what I mean. We were Individuals who felt and thought -individually and strongly; not just the mere sheeplike Creatures swayed -hither and thither by the Modes and Exigencies of the hour. And I can -assure you that even then, when we heard Mr. Betterton's quick step -ascending the stairs, we all held our breath and watched the door as if -something Supernatural was about to be revealed to us. - -The next moment that door was thrown open and Mr. Betterton appeared -upon the threshold. - -Ah! if only You had seen him then, Mistress, your heart would have -rejoiced, just as mine did, at the sight. Personally, I could never -tell 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 one -else; he seems to dwarf every other Man by the Picturesqueness of his -Personality. - -And now--oh! You should have seen him as he stood there, framed in the -doorway, the grey afternoon light of this dull September day falling -full upon his Face, with those glittering Eyes of his and the kindly, -firm Mouth, round which there slowly began to spread a gently mocking -Smile. He was richly dressed, as was his wont, with priceless lace -frills at throat and wrists, and his huge Periwig set off to perfection -the 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 he -has. His glance swept over Lady Barbara's exquisite comeliness, her -somewhat 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 not -that his keen Eyes had also spied me watching his every Movement from -behind the screen. - -The mocking Smile broadened upon his Face. With one shapely leg extended -forward, his right arm holding his hat, his arm executing a superb -flourish, he swept to the assembled Company an elaborate Bow. - -"My Lords, your servant," he said. Then bowed more gravely to Lady -Barbara and added, with a tone of subtle and flattering deference: "I -am, as always, your Ladyship's most humble and most devoted Slave." - -Whereupon her Ladyship swept him one of those graceful Curtsies which I -understand have become the Mode in fashionable Society of late. But the -young Gentlemen seemed to have lost count of their Manners. They were -either too wrathful or too much taken aback to speak. Mistress -Euphrosine, with her nose in the air, was preparing to sail majestically -out of the room. - -Mr. Betterton then stepped in. He threw down his hat and playfully made -pretence to intercept Mistress Euphrosine. - -"Sister, I do entreat You," he said with mock concern, "do not carry -your well-shaped nose so high. The scent of Heaven will not reach your -nostrils, try how you may.... 'Tis more likely that you will smell the -brimstone which clings to my perruque." - -And before Mistress Euphrosine had time to think of a retort, he had -turned to her Ladyship with that gentle air of deference which became -him so well. - -"How comes it," he asked, "that I have the privilege of meeting your -Ladyship here?" - -"A mere accident, Sir," my Lord Stour interposed, somewhat high-handedly -I thought. "Her Ladyship, fearing to be molested by the Crowd, came to -meet 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 was -in the presence of this exquisitely beautiful Woman who had enchained -his Fancy. He stood like one transfixed, his eyes fastened almost in -wonderment upon the graceful Apparition before him. I should not be -exaggerating, fair Mistress, if I said that he seemed literally to be -drinking in every line of her dainty Figure; the straight, white throat, -the damask cheek and soft, fair hair, slightly disarranged. He had of a -truth lost consciousness of his surroundings, and this to such an extent -that it apparently set my Lord Stour's nerves on edge; for anon he said -with evident Irritation and a total Disregard both of polite Usage and -of 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 her -Ladyship." - -He had to repeat the Query twice, and with haughty impatience, before -Mr. 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 was -studied Insolence, seeing that he was addressing one of the most famous -Men in England. "I have heard the Name before ... but where, I cannot -remember.... Let me see, you are...?" - -"An Actor, Sir," Mr. Betterton gave haughty answer. "Therefore an -Artist, even though an humble one; but still a World contained in one -Man." - -Then his manner changed, the stiffness and pride went out of it and he -added in his more habitual mode of good-natured banter, whilst pointing -in the direction of Mistress Euphrosine: - -"That, however, is not, I imagine, the opinion which my worthy Sister--a -pious Lady, Sir--hath of my talents. She only concedes me a Soul when -she gloats over the idea that it shall be damned." - -"You are insolent!" quoth Mistress Euphrosine, as she stalked -majestically to the door. "And I'll not stay longer to hear you -blaspheme." - -Even so, her Brother's lightly mocking ripple of Laughter pursued her -along the course of her dignified exit through the door. - -"Nay, dear Sister," he said. "Why not stay and tell these noble -Gentlemen your doubts as to which half of me in the hereafter will be -stoking the Fires of Hell and which half be wriggling in the Flames?" -Then he added, turning gaily once more to the Visitors as Mistress -Euphrosine finally departed and banged the door to behind her: "Mistress -Baggs, Sir, is much troubled that she cannot quite make up her mind how -much of me is Devil and how much a lost Soul." - -"Of a surety, Sir," retorted Lord Douglas, with the same tone of -malicious Spite wherewith he had originally spoken of Mr. Betterton, -"every Gentleman is bound to share your worthy Sister's doubts on that -point ... and as to whether your right Hand or your sharp Tongue will -fizzle first down below." - -There was a moment's silence in the room--oh! the mere fraction of a -second--whilst I, who knew every line of Mr. Betterton's face, saw the -quick flash of Anger which darted from his eyes at the insolent speech. -Lady Barbara too had made an instinctive movement, whether towards him -in 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 with -quiet Mockery: - -"Your Lordship, I feel sure, will be able to have those doubts set at -rest presently. I understand that vast intelligence will be granted to -Gentlemen down there." - -At once my Lord's hand went to his sword. - -"Insolent!--" he muttered; and my Lord Stour immediately stepped to his -Friend's side. - -Like the Fleet Street crowd awhile ago, these two Gentlemen meant -mischief. For some reason which was not far to seek, they were on the -verge of a Quarrel with Mr. Betterton--nay! I believe that they meant -to provoke him into one. In wordy Warfare, however, they did not stand -much chance against the great Actor's caustic Wit, and no doubt their -sense of Impotence made them all the more wrathful and quarrelsome. - -Mr. Baggs, of course, servile and obsequious as was his wont, was ready -enough to interpose. A Quarrel inside his house, between valued Clients -and his detested Brother-in-law, was not at all to his liking. - -"My Lords ..." he mumbled half-incoherently, "I implore you ... do not -heed him ... he..." - -His futile attempts at Conciliation tickled Mr. Betterton's sense of -humour. The last vestige of his Anger vanished in a mocking Smile. - -"Nay, good Master Theophilus," he said coolly, "prithee do not interfere -between me and the Wrath of these two Gentlemen. Attend to thine own -Affairs ... and to thine own Conspiracies," he added--spoke suddenly -under Mr. Baggs' very nose, so that the latter gave a jump and -involuntarily gasped: - -"Conspiracies? ... What--what the devil do you mean, Sir, by -Conspiracies?" - -"Oh, nothing--nothing--my good Friend," replied Mr. Betterton lightly. -"But when I see two hot-headed young Cavaliers in close conversation -with a seedy Lawyer, I know that somewhere in the pocket of one of them -there is a bit of Handwriting that may send the lot of them to the Tower -first and to--well!--to Heaven afterwards." - -My Heart was in my Mouth all the time that he spoke. Of course he could -not know how near the Truth he was, and I firmly believe that his banter -was a mere Arrow shot into the air; but even so it grazed these noble -Lords' equanimity. Lord Douglas had become very pale, and my Lord Stour -looked troubled, or was it my fancy? But I am sure that her Ladyship's -blue eyes rested on Mr. Betterton with a curious searching gaze. She -too wondered how much Knowledge of the Truth lay behind his easy -Sarcasm. - -Then Lord Douglas broke into a laugh. - -"There, for once, Sir Actor," he said lightly, "your perspicacity is at -fault. My Lord the Earl of Stour and I came to consult your -Brother-in-law on a matter of business." - -"And," exclaimed Mr. Betterton with mock concern, "I am detaining you -with my foolish talk. I pray you, Gentlemen, take no further heed of -me. Time treads hard on your aristocratic Heels, whilst it is the Slave -of a poor, shiftless Actor like myself." - -"Yes, yes," once more interposed the mealy-mouthed Mr. Baggs. "I pray -you, my Lords--your Ladyship--to come to my inner office----" - -There was a general movement amongst the Company, during which I -distinctly heard Lord Douglas Wychwoode whisper to my Lord Stour: - -"Can you wonder that I always long to lay a stick across that Man's -shoulders? His every word sounds like insolence ... And he has dared to -make love to Barbara...." - -Her Ladyship, however, seemed loth to linger. The hour, of a truth, was -getting late. - -"Father will be anxious," she said. "I have stayed out over long." - -"Are the streets safe, I wonder?" my Lord Stour remarked. - -"Perfectly," broke in Mr. Betterton. "And if her Ladyship will allow -me, I will conduct her to her Chair." - -Again my Lord Stour flashed out angrily, and once more the brooding -Quarrel threatened to burst the bounds of conventional Intercourse. -This time the Lady Barbara herself interposed. - -"I pray you, my good Lord," she said, "do not interfere. Mr. Betterton -and I are old Friends. By your leave, he shall conduct me to my chair. -Do we not owe it to him," she added gaily, "that the streets are quiet -enough to enable us all to get home in peace?" - -Then she turned to Mr. Betterton and said gently: - -"If You would be so kind, Sir--my men are close by--I should be grateful -if You will tell them to bring my chair along." - -She held out her hand to him and he bowed low and kissed the tips of her -fingers. Then he went. - - - - 6 - - -Lord Douglas' spiteful glance followed the distinguished Actor's -retreating figure until the door had closed upon him. Then he said -drily: - -"Perhaps you are right, Babs. He may as well fetch your chair. It is -raining hard and one Lacquey is as good as another." - -He turned to Mr. Baggs, who, standing first on one leg then on the -other, presented a truly pitiable spectacle of Servility and -Unmanliness. I think he had just come to realize that I had been in the -room behind the screen all this while, and that my Presence would be -unwelcome to their Lordships if they knew that I had overheard all their -Conversation. Certain it is that I saw him give a quick glance in my -direction, and then he became even more fussy and snivelling than -before. - -"In my inner Office," he murmured. "I pray you to honour me, my -Lords.... A glass of wine, perhaps ... until the copies are finished. I -should be so proud ... and ... and ... we should be quite undisturbed -... whereas here ... I only regret..." - -I despised him for all that grovelling, and so did the Gentlemen, I make -no doubt. Nevertheless, they were ready to follow him. - -"We must wait somewhere," Lord Douglas said curtly. "And I should be -glad of a glass of wine." - -Lady Barbara was standing in the window-recess, waiting for her chair. -She insisted on my Lord Stour going with her Brother into the inner -room. Undoubtedly, she did not wish either of them to meet Mr. Betterton -again. - -"I promise you," she said with quiet Determination, "that I'll not stop -to speak with him. I'll watch through the window until my Men bring the -chair; then I will go down at once." - -"But----" protested his Lordship. - -"I entreat you to go, my Lord," she reiterated tartly. "And you too, -Douglas. My temper is on edge, and if I am not left to myself for a few -moments I shall have an attack of Nerves." - -She certainly spoke with unwonted Sharpness. Thus commanded, it would -have been churlish to disobey. The young Gentlemen, after a second or -two longer of Hesitation, finally followed Mr. Baggs out of the room. - -Now, I could not see the Lady Barbara, for she was ensconced in a -window-recess, just as I was; but I heard her give a loud Sigh of -Impatience. There was no doubt that her Nerves had been jarred. Small -wonder, seeing all that she had gone through--the noise and rioting in -the streets, her Terror and her Flight; her unexpected meeting with her -Lover; then the advent of Mr. Betterton and that brooding Quarrel -between him and the two Gentlemen, which threatened to break through at -any moment. - -The next minute I saw her Ladyship's chair brought to a halt down below, -and she crossed the Line of my Vision between the window and the sofa, -where she had left her cloak. She picked it up and was about to wrap it -round her shoulders, when the door was flung open and Mr. Betterton came -in. He gave a quick glance round the room and saw that the Lady Barbara -was alone--or so he thought, for, of course, he did not see me. He -carefully closed the door behind him and came quickly forward, -ostensibly to help her Ladyship on with her cloak. - -"It is kind of you, Sir, thus to wait on me," she said coldly. "May I -claim your Arm to conduct me to my chair?" - -She was standing close in front of him just then, with her back to him -and her hands raised up to her shoulders in order to receive her cloak, -which he had somewhat roughly snatched out of her grasp. - -"My Arm?" he riposted, with a vibrating note of passion in his mellow -voice. "My Life, myself, are all at your Ladyship's service. But will -not you wait one little moment and say one kind word to the poor Actor -whose Art is the delight of Kings, and whose Person is the butt of every -Coxcomb who calls himself a Gentleman?" - -He flung the cloak upon a chair and tried to take her hand, which, -however, she quickly withdrew, and then turned, not unkindly, to face -him. - -"My Brother is hasty, Sir," she said more gently. "He has many -prejudices which, no doubt, time and experience of life will mend. As -for me," she added lightly, "I am quite ready to extend the hand of -Friendship, not only to the Artist but to the Man." - -She held out her hand to him. Then, as he did not take it, but stood -there looking at her with that hungry, passionate look which revealed -the depth of his Admiration for her, she continued with a bantering tone -of reproach: - -"You will not take my hand, Sir?" - -"No," he replied curtly. - -"But I am offering You my Friendship," she went on, with a quick, nervy -little laugh; for she was Woman enough, believe me, to understand his -look. - -"Friendship between Man and Woman is impossible," he said in a strange, -hoarse voice, which I scarce recognized as his. - -"What do you mean?" she retorted, with a sudden stiffening of her Figure -and a haughty Glance which he, of a truth, should have known boded no -good for his suit. - -"I mean," he replied, "that between a Man and a Woman, who are both -young and both endowed with Heart and Soul and Temperament, there may be -Enmity or Love, Hatred or Passion; but Friendship, never." - -"You talk vaguely, Sir," she rejoined coldly. "I pray You, give me my -cloak." - -"Not," he retorted, "before I have caused your Ladyship to cast one -short Glance back over the past few months." - -"With what purpose, I pray You?" - -"So that You might recognize, as You gaze along their vista, the man who -since he first beheld you hath madly worshipped You." - -She stood before him, still facing him, tall and of a truth divinely -fair. Nay! this no one could gainsay. For the moment I found it in my -Heart to sympathize with his Infatuation. You, dear Mistress, were not -there to show him how much lovelier still a Woman could be, and the Lady -Barbara had all the subtle flavour, too, of forbidden fruit. Mr. -Betterton sank on one knee before her; his mellow Voice sounded -exquisitely tender and caressing. Oh! had I been a Woman, how gladly -would I have listened to his words. There never was such a Voice as -that of Mr. Betterton. No wonder that he can sway the hearts of -thousands by its Magic; no wonder that thousands remain entranced while -he speaks. Now, I assure You, Mistress, that tears gathered in my eyes, -there was such true Passion, such depth of feeling in his tone. But -Lady Barbara's heart was not touched. In truth, she loved another Man, -and her whole outlook on Life and Men was distorted by the Environment -amidst which she had been brought up. - -The exquisite, insinuating Voice with its note of tender Appeal only -aroused her contempt. She jumped to her feet with an angry exclamation. -What she said, I do not quite remember; but it was a Remark which must -have stung him to the quick, for I can assure You, dear Mistress, that -Mr. Betterton's pride is at least equal to that of the greatest Nobleman -in the land. But all that he did say was: - -"Nay, Madam; an Artist's love is not an insult, even to a Queen." - -"Possibly, Sir," she riposted coldly. "But I at least cannot listen to -You. So I pray You let me rejoin my Servants." - -"And I pray You," he pleaded, without rising, "humbly on my knees, to -hear me just this once!" - -She protested, and would have left him there, kneeling, while she ran -out of the room; but he had succeeded in getting hold of her Hand and -was clinging to it with both his own, whilst from his lips there came a -torrent of passionate pleading such as I could not have thought any -Woman capable of resisting for long. - -"I am not a young Dandy," he urged; "nor yet a lank-haired, crazy Poet -who grows hysterical over a Woman's eyebrow. I am a Man, and an Artist, -rich with an inheritance such as even your Ancestors would have envied -me. Mine inheritance is the Mind and Memory of cultured England and a -Name which by mine Art I have rendered immortal." - -"I honour your Genius, Sir," she rejoined coolly; "and because of it, I -try to excuse your folly." - -"Nay!" he continued with passionate insistence. "There are Passions so -sweet that they excuse all the Follies they provoke. Oh! I pray You -listen ... I have waited in silence for months, not daring to approach -You. You seemed immeasurably above me, as distant as the Stars; but -whilst I, poor and lowly-born, waited and worshipped silently, success -forged for me a Name, so covered with Glory that I dare at last place it -at your feet." - -"I am touched, Sir, and honoured, I assure You," she said somewhat -impatiently. "But all this is naught but folly, and reason should teach -you that the Daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury can be nothing to You." - -But by this time it was evident that the great and distinguished Actor -had allowed his Folly to conquer his Reason. I closed my eyes, for I -could not bear to see a Man whom I so greatly respected kneeling in such -abject humiliation before a Woman who had nothing for him but disdain. -Ah! Women can be very cruel when they do not love. In truth, Lady -Barbara, with all her Rank and Wealth, could not really have felt -contempt for a Man whom the King himself and the highest in the land -delighted to honour; yet I assure You, Mistress, that some of the things -she said made me blush for the sake of the high-minded Man who honours -me with his Friendship. - -"Short of reason, Sir," she said, with unmeasured hauteur at one time, -"I pray you recall your far-famed sense of humour. Let it show you -Thomas Betterton, the son of a Scullion, asking the hand of the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode in marriage." - -This was meant for a Slap in the Face, and was naught but a studied -insult; for we all know that the story of Mr. Betterton's Father having -been a menial is utterly without foundation. But I assure You that by -this time he was blind and deaf to all save to the insistent call of his -own overwhelming passion. He did not resent the insult, as I thought he -would do; but merely rejoined fervently: - -"I strive to conjure the picture; but only see Tom Betterton, the -world-famed Artist, wooing the Woman he loves." - -But what need is there for me to recapitulate here all the fond and -foolish things which were spoken by a truly great Man to a chit of a -Girl, who was too self-centred and egotistical to appreciate the great -Honour which he was conferring on her by his Wooing. I was holding my -breath, fearful lest I should be seen. To both of these proud People -before me, my known Presence would have been an added humiliation. -Already Lady Barbara, impatient of Mr. Betterton's importunity, was -raising her Voice and curtly bidding him to leave her in peace. I -thought every moment that she would call out to her Brother, when Heaven -alone would know what would happen next. - -"Your importunity becomes an insult, Sir," she said at last. "I command -You to release my hand." - -She tried to wrench it from his Grasp, but I imagine that his hold on -her wrist was so strong that she could not free herself. She looked -around her now with a look of Helplessness, which would have gone to my -Heart if I had any feeling of sympathy left after I had poured out its -full measure for my stricken Friend. He was not himself then, I assure -You, Mistress. I know that the evil tongue of those who hate and envy -him have poured insidious poison in your ears, that they told you that -Mr. Betterton had insulted the Lady Barbara past forgiveness and had -behaved towards her like a Cad and a Bully. But this I swear to be -untrue. I was there all the time, and I saw it all. He was on his -knees, and never attempted to touch her beyond clinging to her Hand and -covering it with kisses. He was an humbled and a stricken Man, who saw -his Love rejected, his Passion flouted, his Suffering mocked. - -I tell you that all he did was to cling to her hand. - - - - 7 - - -Then, all at once, I suppose something frightened her, and she called -loudly: - -"Douglas! Douglas!" - -I don't think that she meant to call, and I am sure that the very next -moment she had already regretted what she had done. - -Mr. Betterton jumped to his feet, sobered in the instant; and she stood -alone in the middle of the room, gazing somewhat wild-eyed in the -direction of the door, which had already been violently flung open and -through which my Lord Stour and Lord Douglas now hurriedly stepped -forward. - -"What is it, Babs?" Lord Douglas queried roughly. "Why are You still -here? ... And what...?" - -He got no further. His glance had alighted on Mr. Betterton, and I -never saw quite so much concentrated Fury and Hatred in any one's eyes -as now appeared in those of Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -But already the Lady Barbara had recovered herself. No doubt she -realized the Mischief which her involuntary call had occasioned. The -Quarrel which had been slowly smouldering the whole Afternoon was ready -to burst into living flame at this moment. Even so, she tried to stem -its outburst, protesting that she had been misunderstood. She even -tried to laugh; but the laugh sounded pitiably forced. - -"But it's nothing, Douglas, dear," she said. "I protest. Did I really -call? I do not remember. As a matter of fact, Mr. Betterton was good -enough to recite some verses for my delectation ... My Enthusiasm must -have run away with me ... and, unwittingly, I must have called out..." - -Obviously the Explanation was a lame one. I felt myself that it would -not be believed. On the face of my Lord Stour thunderclouds of Wrath -were fast gathering, and though Mr. Betterton had recovered his presence -of mind with all the Art at his command, yet there was a glitter in his -eyes which he was powerless to veil, whilst the tremor of her Ladyship's -lips while she strove to speak calmly aroused my Lord Stour's -ever-wakeful Jealousy. - -Lord Douglas, as was his wont apparently whenever he was deeply moved, -was pacing up and down the room; his hands were clasped behind his back -and from time to time I could see their convulsive twitching. Lord -Stour now silently helped her Ladyship on with her cloak. I was -thankful that Mr. Baggs and Mistress Euphrosine were keeping in the -background, else I verily believe that their obsequious Snivellings -would have caused my quivering Nerves to play me an unpleasant trick. - -Mr. Betterton had retired to the nearest window recess, so that I could -not see him. All that I did see were the two Gentlemen and the -threatening Clouds which continued to gather upon their Brows. I also -heard my Lord Stour whisper hurriedly in Lord Douglas' ear: - -"In the name of our Friendship, Man, let me deal with this." - -I felt as if an icy hand had gripped my Heart. I could not conjecture -what that ominous Speech could portend. Lady Barbara now looked very -pale and troubled; her hands as they fumbled with her cloak trembled -visibly. Lord Stour, with a masterful gesture, took one of them and -held it firmly under his arm. - -He then led her towards the door. Just before she went with him, -however, her Ladyship turned, and I imagine sought to attract Mr. -Betterton's attention. - -"I must thank you, Sir," she said, with a final pathetic attempt at -Conciliation, "for your beautiful Recitation. I shall be greatly -envied, methinks, by those who have only heard Mr. Betterton declaim -upon the Stage." - -Lord Douglas had gone to the door. He opened it and stood grimly by -whilst my Lord Stour walked out, with her Ladyship upon his arm. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - - THE OUTRAGE - - - 1 - - -A great Sadness descends upon my Soul, dear Mistress, even as I write. -Cold shivers course up and down the length of my spine and mine eyes -feel hot with tears still unshed--tears of Sorrow and of Shame, aye! and -of a just Anger that it should have been in the power of two -empty-headed Coxcombs to wreak an irreparable Injury upon one who is as -much above them as are the Stars above the grovelling Worms. - -I use the words "irreparable Injury" advisedly, dear Lady, because what -happened on that late September afternoon will for ever be graven upon -the Heart and Memory of a great and noble Man, to the exclusion of many -a gentle feeling which was wont to hold full sway over his Temperament -before then. Time, mayhap, and the triumph of a great Soul over -overwhelming temptation, have no doubt somewhat softened the tearing -ache of that cruel brand; but only your Hand, fair Mistress, can -complete the healing, only your Voice can, with its tender gentleness, -drown the insistent call of Pride still smarting for further Revenge. - - - - 2 - - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode did not speak to Mr. Betterton after her Ladyship -and my Lord Stour had gone out of the room, but continued his restless -pacing up and down. I thought his Silence ominous. - -Half consciously, I kept my attention fixed upon the street below, and -presently saw the Lady Barbara get into her chair and bid adieu to his -Lordship, who remained standing on our doorstep until the Sedan was -borne away up the street and out of sight. Then, to my astonishment, he -walked down as far as the _Spread Eagle_ tavern and disappeared within -its doors. - -The Silence in our parlour was getting on my nerves. I could not see -Mr. Betterton, only Lord Douglas from time to time, when in his -ceaseless tramping his short, burly figure crossed the line of my -vision. - -Anon I once more thought of my Work. There were a couple more copies of -the Manifesto to be done, and I set to, determined to finish them. Time -went on, and the afternoon light was now rapidly growing dim. Outside, -the weather had not improved. A thin rain was coming down, which turned -the traffic-way of our street to sticky mud. I remember, just after I -had completed my Work and tidied up my papers, looking out of the window -and seeing, in the now fast-gathering gloom, the young Lord of Stour on -the doorstep of the _Spread Eagle_ tavern, in close conversation with -half a dozen ill-clad and ill-conditioned Ruffians. But I gave the -matter no further thought just then, for my mind happened to be -engrossed with doubts as to how I should convey the Copies I had made to -my Employer without revealing my presence to Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -His Lordship himself, however, soon relieved me of this perplexity, for -presently he came to a halt by the door which led to the inner office -and quite unceremoniously pushed it open and walked through. I heard his -peremptory demands for the Copies, and Mr. Baggs' muttered explanations. -But I did not wait a moment longer. This was obviously my best -opportunity for reappearing upon the Scene without his Lordship -realizing that I had been in the parlour all the time. I slipped out -from my hiding place and carefully rearranged the screen in its former -position, then I tiptoed across the room. - -In the gloom, I caught sight of Mr. Betterton standing in one of the -Recesses, his slender white hands, which were so characteristic of his -refined, artistic Personality, were clasped behind his back. I would -have given a year or two of my humdrum life for the privilege of -speaking to him then and of expressing to him some of that Sympathy with -which my heart was overflowing. But no one knows better than I how -proud a Man he is, and how he would have resented the thought that any -one else had witnessed his Humiliation. - -So I executed the Manoeuvre which I had in my mind without further -delay. I opened the door which gave on the stairs noiselessly, then -closed it again with a bang, as if I had just come in. Then I strode as -heavily as I could across the room to the door of the inner office, -against which I then rapped with my knuckles. - -"Who's that?" Mr. Baggs' voice queried immediately. - -"The Copies, Sir, which you ordered," I replied in a firm voice. "I -have finished them." - -"Come in! come in!" then broke in Lord Douglas impatiently. "I have -waited in this accursed hole quite long enough." - -The whole thing went off splendidly, and even Mr. Baggs did subsequently -compliment me on my clever Ruse. Lord Douglas never suspected the fact -that I had not been out of the Parlour for a moment, but had heard from -the safe shelter of the window-recess everything that had been going on. - - - - 3 - - -When, a few moments later, I returned to the Parlour, eager to have a -few minutes' speech with Mr. Betterton, I saw that he had gone. Anon, -Kathleen, the maid, brought in the candles and closed the shutters. I -once more took my place at my desk, but this time made no use of the -screen. After awhile, Lord Douglas came in, followed by the -ever-obsequious Mr. Baggs, and almost directly after that, my Lord Stour -came back. - -His clothes were very wet and he shook the rain out from the brim of his -hat. - -"What a time You have been!" Lord Douglas said to him. "I was for going -away without seeing You." - -"I wanted to find out what had happened in here," my Lord Stour gave -reply, speaking in a whisper. - -"What do you mean?" - -"The Fellow had the audacity to pay his addresses to Lady Barbara," my -Lord Stour went on, still speaking below his breath. "I guessed as -much, but wanted to make sure." - -Lord Douglas uttered an angry Oath, and Lord Stour continued hurriedly: - -"Such Insolence had to be severely punished, of course; and I saw to -it." - -"How?" queried the other eagerly. - -"I have hired half a dozen Ruffians from the tavern yonder, to waylay -him with sticks on his way from here, and to give him the sound -thrashing he deserves." - -It was with the most terrific effort at self-control that I succeeded in -smothering the Cry of Horror which had risen to my lips. As it was, I -jumped to my feet and both my chair and the candle from my desk fell -with a clatter to the floor. I think that Mr. Baggs hurled a Volley of -abuse upon me for my clumsiness and chided me in that the grease from -the candle was getting wasted by dripping on the floor. But the -Gentlemen paid no heed to me. They were still engaged in their -abominable conversation. While I stooped to pick up the chair and the -candle, I heard my Lord Stour saying to his Friend: - -"Come with me and see the Deed accomplished. The Mountebank must be made -to know whose Hand is dealing him the well-merited punishment. My -Hirelings meant to waylay him at the corner of Spreadeagle Court, a -quiet place which is not far from here, and which leads into a blind -Alley. Quickly, now," he added; "or we shall be too late." - -More I did not hear; for, believe me, dear Mistress, I felt like one -possessed. For the nonce, I did not care whether I was seen or not, -whether Mr. Baggs guessed my purpose or not. I did not care if he -abused me or even punished me later for my strange behaviour. All that -I knew and felt just then was that I must run to the corner of -Spreadeagle Court, where one of the most abominable Outrages ever -devised by one Man against Another was even then being perpetrated. I -tore across the room, through the door and down the stairs, hatless, my -coat tails flying behind me, like some Maniac escaping from his Warders. - -I ran up Chancery Lane faster, I think, than any man ever ran before. -Already my ears were ringing with the sound of distant shouts and -scuffling. My God! grant that I may not come too late. I, poor, weak, -feeble of body, could of course do nothing against six paid and armed -Ruffians; but at least I could be there to ward off or receive some of -the blows which the arms of the sacrilegious Miscreants were dealing, at -the instance of miserable Coxcombs, to a man whose Genius and Glory -should have rendered him almost sacred in their sight. - - - - 4 - - -As long as I live will that awful picture haunt me as I saw it then. - -You know the Blind Alley on the left-hand side of Spreadeagle Court, -with, at the end of it, the great double doorway which gives on the back -premises of Mr. Brooks' silk warehouse. It was against that doorway -that Mr. Betterton had apparently sought some semblance of refuge when -first he was set upon by the Ruffians. By the time that I reached the -corner of the Blind Alley, he had fallen against the door; for at first -I could not see him. All that I saw was a group of burly backs, and -arms waving sticks about in the air. All that I heard, oh, my God! were -ribald cries and laughter, and sounds such as wild animals must make -when they fall, hungry, upon their Prey. The Ruffians, I make no doubt, -had no grudge against their Victim; but they had been well instructed -and would be well paid if their foul deed was conscientiously -accomplished. - -My Wrath and Anxiety gave me the strength which I otherwise lack. -Pushing, jostling, crawling, I contrived to work my way through the -hideous Barrier which seethed and moved and shouted betwixt me and the -Man whom I love. - -When I at last kneeled beside him, I saw and heard nothing more. I did -not feel the blows which one or two of the Ruffians thought fit to deal -to Me. I only saw him, lying there against the door, panting, bleeding -from forehead and hands, his clothes torn, his noble Face of a deathly -Pallor. I drew his handkerchief from his coat pocket and staunched the -wounds upon his face; I pillowed his head against my Shoulder; I helped -him to struggle to his feet. He was in mortal pain and too weak to -speak; but a ray of kindliness and of gratitude flashed through his eyes -when he recognised me. - -The Ruffians were apparently satisfied with their hideous work; but they -still stood about at the top of the Alley, laughing and talking, waiting -no doubt for their Blood Money. Oh! if wishes could have struck those -Miscreants dumb or blind or palsied, my feeble voice would have been -raised to Heaven, crying for Vengeance on such an infamous Deed. Hot -tears came coursing down my cheeks, my temples throbbed with pain and -Misery, as my arm stole round the trembling figure of my Friend. - -Then all at once those tears were dried, the throbbing of my temples was -stilled. I felt no longer like a Man, but like a petrified Statue of -Indignation and of Hate. The sound of my Lord Stour's Voice had just -struck upon mine ear. Vaguely through the gloom I could see him and -Lord Douglas Wychwoode parleying with those abominable Ruffians.... I -heard the jingle of Money ... Blood Money ... the ring of ribald -laughter, snatches of a bibulous song. - -These sounds and the clang of the Gentlemen's footsteps upon the -cobble-stones also reached Mr. Betterton's fast-fading Senses. I felt a -tremor coursing right through his limbs. With an almost superhuman -Effort, he pulled himself together and drew himself erect, still -clinging with both hands to my arms. By the time that the two young -Cavaliers had reached the end of the blind Alley, the outraged Man was -ready to confront them. Their presence there, those sounds of jingling -money and of laughter, had told him the whole abominable tale. He fought -against his Weakness, against Pain and against an impending Swoon. He -was still livid, but it was with Rage. His eyes had assumed an -unnatural Fire; his whole appearance as he stood there against the solid -background of the massive door, was sublime in its forceful Expression -of towering Wrath and of bitter, deadly Humiliation. - -Even those two miserable Coxcombs paused for an instant, silenced and -awed by what they saw. The laughter died upon their lips; the studied -sneer upon their Face gave place to a transient expression of fear. - -Mr. Betterton's arm was now extended and with trembling hand he pointed -at Lord Stour. - -"'Tis You----" he murmured hoarsely. "You--who have done--this thing?" - -"At your service," replied the young Man, with a lightness of manner -which was obviously forced and a great show of Haughtiness and of -Insolence. "My friend Lord Douglas here, has allowed me the privilege of -chastising a common Mountebank for daring to raise his eyes to the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode----" - -At mention of the Lady's name, I felt Mr. Betterton's clutch on my arm -tighten convulsively. - -"Does she----" he queried, "does she--know?" - -"I forbid You," interposed Lord Douglas curtly, "to mention my Sister's -name in the matter." - -"'Tis to my Lord Stour I am speaking," rejoined Mr. Betterton more -firmly. Then he added: "You will give me satisfaction for this outrage, -my Lord----" - -"Satisfaction?" riposted his Lordship coolly. "What do you mean?" - -"One of us has got to die because of this," Mr. Betterton said loudly. - -Whereupon my Lord Stour burst into a fit of hilarious laughter, which -sounded as callous as it was forced. - -"A Duel?" he almost shrieked, in a rasping voice. "Ha! ha! ha! a -Duel!!!--a duel with You? ... With Tom Betterton, the Son of a -Scullion.... By my faith! 'tis the best joke you ever made, Sir Actor -... 'tis worth repeating upon the Stage!" - -But the injured Man waited unmoved until his Lordship's laughter died -down in a savage Oath. Then he said calmly: - -"The day and hour, my Lord Stour?" - -"This is folly, Sir," rejoined the young Cavalier coldly. "The Earl of -Stour can only cross swords with an Equal." - -"In that case, my lord," was Mr. Betterton's calm reply, "you can only -cross swords henceforth with a Coward and a Liar." - -"Damned, insolent cur!" cried Lord Stour, maddened with rage no doubt at -the other's calm contempt. He advanced towards us with arm -uplifted--then perhaps felt ashamed, or frightened--I know not which. -Certain it is that Lord Douglas succeeded in dragging him back a step or -two, whilst he said with well-studied contempt: - -"Pay no further heed to the fellow, my Friend. He has had his -Punishment--do not bandy further Words with him." - -He was for dragging Lord Stour away quickly now. I do believe that he -was ashamed of the abominable Deed. At any rate, he could not bear to -look upon the Man who had been so diabolically wronged. - -"Come away, Man!" he kept reiterating at intervals. "Leave him alone!" - -"One moment, my Lord," Mr. Betterton called out in a strangely powerful -tone of Voice. "I wish to hear your last Word." - -By now we could hardly see one another. The Blind Alley was in almost -total gloom. Only against the fast-gathering dusk I could still see the -hated figures of the two young Cavaliers, their outlines blurred by the -evening haze. Lord Stour was certainly on the point of going; but at -Mr. Betterton's loudly spoken Challenge, he paused once more, then came -a step or two back towards us. - -"My last Word?" he said coldly. Then he looked Mr. Betterton up and -down, his every Movement, his whole Attitude, a deadly Insult. "One -does not fight with such as You," he said, laughed, and would have -turned away immediately, only that Mr. Betterton, with a quick and -unforeseen Movement, suddenly reached forward and gripped him by the -Wrist. - -"Insolent puppy!" he said in a whisper, so hoarse and yet so distinct -that not an Intonation, not a syllable of it was lost, "that knows not -the Giant it has awakened by its puny bark. You refuse to cross swords -with Tom Betterton, the son of a Menial, as you choose to say? Very -well, then, 'tis Thomas Betterton, the Artist of undying renown, who now -declares war against You. For every Jeer to-day, for every Insult and -for every Blow, he will be even with You; for he will launch against You -the irresistible Thunderbolt that kills worse than death and which is -called _Dishonour_! ... Aye! I will fight You, my Lord; not to your -death, but to your undying Shame. And now," he added more feebly, as he -threw his Lordship's arm away from him with a gesture of supreme -contempt, "go, I pray You, go! I'll not detain You any longer. You and -your friend are free to laugh for the last time to-day at the name which -I, with my Genius, have rendered immortal. Beware, my Lord! The -Ridicule that kills, the Obloquy which smirches worse than the impious -hands of paid Lacqueys. This is the Word of Tom Betterton, my Lord; the -first of his name, as you, please God, will be the last of yours!" - -Then, without a groan, he fell, swooning, upon my shoulder. When -consciousness of my surroundings once more returned to me, I realized -that the two Gentlemen had gone. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - - THE GATHERING STORM - - - 1 - - -It was after that never-to-be-forgotten Episode that Mr. Betterton -honoured me with his full and entire Confidence. At the moment that he -clung so pathetically to my feeble arms, he realized, I think for the -first time, what a devoted Friend he would always find in me. Something -of the powerful magical Fluid of my devotion must have emanated from my -Heart and reached his sensitive Perceptions. He knew from that hour -that, while I lived and had Health and Strength, I should never fail him -in Loyalty and willing Service. - -Soon afterwards, if you remember, Mr. Betterton went again to Paris, by -command of His Majesty this time, there to study and to master the whole -Question of Scenery and scenic Effects upon the Stage, such as is -practised at the Theatre de Moliere in the great City. That he -acquitted himself of his task with Honour and Understanding goes without -saying. The rousing Welcome which the public of London gave him on his -return testified not only to his Worth but also to his Popularity. - -The scenic Innovations, though daring and at times crudely realistic, -did, in the opinion of Experts, set off the art of Mr. Betterton to the -greatest possible Advantage. No doubt that his overwhelming Success at -that time was in a great measure due to his familiarity with all those -authentic-looking doors and trees and distant skies which at first -bewildered such old-fashioned actors as Mr. Harris or the two Messrs. -Noakes. - -Never indeed had Mr. Betterton been so great as he was now. Never had -his Talents stood so high in the estimation of the cultured World. His -success as _Alvaro_ in "Love and Honour," as _Solyman_ in the "Siege of -Rhodes," as _Hamlett_ or _Pericles_, stand before me as veritable -Triumphs. Bouquets and Handkerchiefs, scented Notes and Love-tokens, -were showered upon the brilliant Actor as he stood upon the Stage, -proudly receiving the adulation of the Audience whom he had conquered by -the Magic of his Art. - -His Majesty hardly ever missed a Performance at the new Duke's Theatre -when Mr. Betterton was acting, nor did my Lady Castlemaine, who was -shamelessly vowing about that time that she was prepared to bestow upon -the great Man any Favour he might ask of her. - - - - 2 - - -But outwardly at any rate, Mr. Betterton had become a changed Man. His -robust Constitution and splendid Vitality did in truth overcome the -physical after-effects of the abominable Outrage of which he had been -the Victim; but the moral consequences upon his entire character and -demeanour were indeed incalculable. Of extraordinary purity in his mode -of living, it had been difficult, before that Episode, for evil Gossip -to besmirch his fair name, even in these lax and scandalous times. But -after that grim September afternoon it seemed as if he took pride in -emulating the least estimable characteristics of his Contemporaries. -His Majesty's avowed predilection for the great Actor brought the latter -into daily contact with all those noble and beautiful Ladies who graced -the Court and Society, more by virtue of their outward appearance than -of their inner worth. Scarce ever was a banquet or fete given at While -Hall 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's -but the famous Actor was present there. He was constantly in the -company of His Grace of Buckingham, of my Lord Rochester and others of -those noble young Rakes; his name was constantly before the Public; he -was daily to be seen on the Mall, or in St. James's Park, or at the more -ceremonious parade in Hyde Park. His elegant clothes were the talk of -every young Gallant that haunted Fop's Corner; his sallies were quoted -by every Cavalier who strove for a reputation as a wit. In fact, dear -Lady, You know just as well as I do, that for that brief period of his -life Mr. Betterton became just one of the gay, idle, modish young Men -about town, one of that hard-drinking, gambling, scandal-mongering crowd -of 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 all -that gay, butterfly Existence which he led was only on the surface. To -me he was like some poor Animal stricken by a mortal wound, who, -nevertheless, capers and gyrates before a grinning Public with -mechanical movements of the body that have nothing in common with the -mind. - - - - 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 my -Lord of Stour, which was to take place soon after the New Year. Many -were the conjectures as to why so suitable a Marriage did not take place -immediately, and it seemed strange that so humble and insignificant a -Person as I was could even then have supplied the key to the riddle -which was puzzling so many noble Ladies and Gentlemen. I knew, in my -humble capacity as Spectator of great events, that the Marriage would -only take place after the vast and treasonable projects which had -originated in my Lord Douglas Wychwoode's turbulent mind had come to a -successful 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 to -leave my present humdrum employment and to allow myself to be attached -to his Person as his private Secretary and personal Friend. For a long -time I refused his offers--tempting and generous though they -were--chiefly because if I had gone then to live with Mr. Betterton, I -should have been irretrievably separated from You. But in my Heart I -knew 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, I -vow, did not exist than my humble self; and when, during the early part -of the autumn, You, dear Mistress, finally decided to leave your present -uncomfortable quarters for lodgings more befitting your growing Fame and -your Talents, there was nothing more to keep me tied to my dour and -unsympathetic Employer, and to his no less unpleasant Spouse. - -I therefore gave Mr. Theophilus Baggs notice that I had resolved to quit -his Employ, hoping that my Decision would meet with his Convenience. - -I could not help laughing to myself when I saw the manner in which he -received this Announcement. To say that he was surprised and indignant -would be to put it mildly; indeed, he used every Mode of persuasion to -try and make me alter my decision. He began by chiding me for an -Ingrate, vowing that he had taught me all I knew and had lavished Money -and Luxuries upon me, and that I was proposing to leave him just when -the time had come for him to see some slight return for his Expenditure -and for his pains, in my growing Efficiency. He went on to persuade, to -cajole and to bribe, Mistress Euphrosine joining him both in -Vituperation and in Unctuousness. But, as You know, I was adamant. I -knew the value of all this soft-sawder and mouth-honour. I had suffered -too many Hardships and too many Indignities at the hands of these -selfish Sycophants, to turn a deaf ear now that friendship and mine own -future happiness called to me so insistently. - -Finally, however, I yielded to the extent of agreeing to stay a further -three months in the service of Mr. Baggs, whilst he took steps to find -another Clerk who would suit his purpose. But I only agreed to this on -the condition that I was to be allowed a fuller amount of personal -Freedom than I had enjoyed hitherto; that I should not be set any longer -to do menial tasks, which properly pertained to a Scullion; and that, -whenever my clerical work for the day was done, I should be at liberty -to employ my time as seemed best to me. - -Thus it was that I had a certain amount of leisure, and after You left -us, fair Mistress, I was able to take my walks abroad, there where I was -fairly 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 and -company upon the seedy Attorney's Clerk, who of a truth was not worthy -to be seen walking in the Park or in Mulberry Gardens beside the -beautiful and famous Mistress Saunderson, who by this time had quite as -many Followers and Adorers as any virtuous Woman could wish for. You -never mentioned Mr. Betterton to me in those days, even though I knew -that You must often have been thrown in his Company, both in the Theatre -and in Society. That your love for him had not died in your Heart, I -knew from the wistful look which was wont to come into your eyes -whenever You chanced to meet him in the course of a Promenade. You -always returned his respectful and elaborate bow on those occasions with -cool Composure; but as soon as he had passed by and his rich, mellow -Voice, so easily distinguishable amongst others, had died away in the -distance, I, who knew every line of your lovely face, saw the familiar -look of Sorrow and of bitter Disappointment once more mar its perfect -serenity. - - - - 4 - - -We had an unusually mild and prolonged autumn this past year, if you -remember, fair Mistress; and towards the end of October there were a few -sunny days which were the veritable aftermath of Summer. The London -Parks and Gardens were crowded day after day with Ladies and Gallants, -decked in their gayest attire, for the time to don winter clothing still -appeared remote. - -I used to be fond of watching all these fair Ladies and dazzling -Cavaliers, and did so many a time on those bright mornings whilst -waiting to see You pass. On one occasion I saw the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode, in company with my Lord Stour. - -Heaven knows I have no cause to think kindly of her; but truth compels -me to say that she appeared to me more beautiful than ever before. She -and his Lordship had found two chairs, up against a tree, somewhat apart -from the rest of the glittering throng. I, as a Spectator, could see -that they were supremely happy in one another's company. - -"How sweet the air is!" she was sighing contentedly. "More like spring -than late autumn. Ah, me! How happily one could dream!" - -She threw him a witching glance, which no doubt sent him straight to -Heaven, 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 they -said. My Lord Stour was obviously very deeply enamoured of the Lady -Barbara. Because of this I seemed to hate and despise him all the more. -Oh! when the whole World smiled on him, when Fortune and Destiny -showered their most precious gifts into his lap, what right had he to -mar the soul which God had given him with such base Passions as Jealousy -and Cruelty? With his monstrous Act of unwarrantable violence he had -ruined the happiness of a Man greater, finer than himself; he had warped -a noble disposition, soured a gentle and kindly spirit. Oh! I hated -him! I hated him! God forgive me, but I had not one spark of Christian -spirit for him within my heart. If it lay in my power, I knew that I was -ready 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: "'Tis -unspeakable joy to look into your eyes, joyous madness to hold your -little hand!" And more of such stuff, as Lovers know how to use. - -And she, too, looked supremely happy. There was a sparkle in her eyes -which spoke of a Soul intoxicated with delight. She listened to him as -if every word from his lips was heaven-sent Manna to her hungering -heart. And I marvelled why this should be; why she should listen to -this self-sufficient, empty-headed young Coxcomb and have rejected with -such bitter scorn the suit of a Man worthy in every sense to be the Mate -of a Queen. And I thought then of Mr. Betterton kneeling humbly before -her, his proud Head bent before this ignorant and wilful Girl, who had -naught but cruel words for him on her lips. And a great wrath possessed -me, greater than it ever had been before. I suppose that I am very -wicked and that the Devil of Revenge had really possessed himself of my -Soul; but then and there, under the trees, with the translucent Dome of -blue above me, I vowed bitter hatred against those two, vowed that Fate -should be even with them if I, the humble Clerk, could have a say in her -decrees. - - - - 5 - - -Just now, they were like two Children playing at love. He was insistent -and bold, tried to draw her to him, to kiss her in sight of the -fashionable throng that promenaded up and down the Avenue less than -fifty yards away. - -"A murrain on the Conventions!" he said with a light laugh, as she -chided him for his ardour. "I want the whole Universe to be witness of -my joy." - -She placed her pretty hand playfully across his mouth. - -"Hush, my dear Lord," she said with wonderful tenderness. "Heaven -itself, 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 that -sometimes 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 caught -sight of Mr. Betterton walking at a distant point of the Avenue, in the -Company of a number of admiring Friends. - -They were hanging round him, evidently vastly amused by some witty -sallies of his. Never had I seen him look more striking and more -brilliant. He wore a magnificent coat of steel-grey velvet with richly -embroidered waistcoat, and a cravat and frills of diaphanous lace, -whilst the satin breeches, silk stockings and be-ribboned shoes set off -his shapely limbs to perfection. His Grace of Buckingham was walking -beside him, and he had my Lady Shrewsbury upon his arm, whilst among his -Friends I recognised my Lords Orrery and Buckhurst, and the Lord -Chancellor himself. - -The Lady Barbara caught sight of Mr. Betterton, too, I imagine, for as I -moved 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 are -like toothless, ill-tempered curs. They bark, but they are powerless to -bite!" - -Oh, I hated him! Heavens above! how I hated him! - -How puny and insignificant he was beside his unsuccessful Rival should -of 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 a -halt not very far from where those two were sitting; and it was very -characteristic of him that, even whilst the Duke of Buckingham was -whispering in his ear and the Countess of Shrewsbury was smiling archly -at 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, amongst -whom Her Grace the Duchess of York was conspicuous by her elegance and -the richness of her attire, literally swooped down upon Mr. Betterton -and his Friends, and Her Grace's somewhat high-pitched voice came -ringing shrilly to mine ear. - -"Ah, Mr. Betterton!" she exclaimed. "Where have you hid yourself since -yesterday, you wicked, adorable Man? And I, who wished to tell you how -entirely splendid was your performance in that supremely dull play you -call 'Love and Honour.' You were superb, Sir, positively superb! ... I -was telling His Grace a moment ago that every Actor in the world is a -mere Mountebank when compared with Mr. Betterton's Genius." - -And long did she continue in the same strain, most of the Ladies and -Gentlemen agreeing with her and engaging in a chorus of Eulogy, all -delivered in high falsetto voices, which in the olden days, when first I -knew him, would have set Mr. Betterton's very teeth on edge. But now he -took up the ball of airy talk, tossed it back to the Ladies, bowed low -and kissed Her Grace's hand--I could see that she gave his a significant -pressure--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 Majesty -himself lent his own Coronation Suit to the great Actor, so that he -might worthily represent the part of _Prince Alvaro_. This Success put -the crowning Glory to his reputation, although in my humble opinion it -was unworthy of so great an Artist as Mr. Betterton to speak the -Epilogue which he had himself written in eulogy of the Countess of -Castlemaine, and which he delivered with such magnificent Diction at the -end of the Play, that His Majesty waxed quite enthusiastic in his -applause. - - - - 7 - - -Standing somewhat apart from that dazzling group, I noticed my Lord -Douglas Wychwoode, in close conversation with my Lord Teammouth and -another Gentleman, who was in clerical attire. After awhile, my Lord -Stour joined them, the Lady Barbara having apparently slipped away -unobserved. - -My Lord Stour was greeted by his friends with every mark of cordiality. - -"Ah!" the Cleric exclaimed, and extended both his hands--which were -white and plump--to my Lord. "Here is the truant at last!" Then he -waxed playful, put up an accusing finger and added with a smirking -laugh: "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 dogmatic -way which he was pleased to affect: "Youth will ever smile, even in the -midst of dangers; and my Lord Stour is a great favourite with the -Ladies." - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode was as usual petulant and impatient, and rejoined -angrily: - -"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 her -beauty." - -This, of course, was News to me. I am so little versed in Court and -Society gossip and had not heard the latest piece of scandal, which -attributed to the Lady Castlemaine a distinct _penchant_ for the young -Nobleman. Not that it surprised me altogether. The newly created -Countess of Castlemaine, who was receiving favours from His Majesty the -King with both hands, never hesitated to deceive him, and even to render -him ridiculous by flaunting her predilections for this or that young -Gallant who happened to have captured her wayward fancy. My Lord -Sandwich, Colonel Hamilton, the handsome Mr. Wycherley, and even such a -vulgar churl as Jacob Hill, the rope dancer, had all, at one time or -another, been favoured with the lady's fitful smiles, and while -responding to her advances with the Ardour born of Cupidity or of a -desire for self-advancement rather than of true love, they had for the -most part lost some shreds of their Reputation and almost all of their -Self-respect. - -But at the moment I paid no heed to Lord Douglas' taunt levelled at his -Friend, 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 was -only in face of later events that I was presently to be reminded of it -all. - - - - 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 I -made bold to advance nearer to the dazzling group of Ladies and -Gentlemen that stood about, talking--jabbering, I might say, like a -number of gay-plumaged birds, for they seemed to me irresponsible and -unintellectual in their talk. - -Of course, I could not hear everything, and I had to try and make my -unfashionably attired Person as inconspicuous as possible. So I drew a -book 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 conspicuous -Triumphs. - -The book, and my seeming absorption in it, gave me the countenance of an -earnest young Student intent on the perusal of Classics, even whilst it -enabled me to draw quite near to the brilliant Throng of Distinguished -People, who, if they paid any heed to me at all, would find excuses for -my Presumption in my obvious earnest Studiousness. I was also able to -keep some of my attention fixed upon Mr. Betterton, who was surrounded -by admiring Friends; whilst at some little distance close by, I could -see Mr. Harris--also of the Duke's Theatre--who was holding forth in a -didactic manner before a group of Ladies and gay young Sparks, even -though they were inclined to mock him because of his Conceit in pitting -his talent against that of Mr. Betterton. - -There was no doubt that a couple of years ago Mr. Harris could be, and -was considered, the greatest Actor of his time; but since Mr. Betterton -had consolidated his own triumph by playing the parts of _Pericles_, of -_Hamlett_ and of _Prince Alvaro_ in "Love and Honour," the older Actor's -reputation had undoubtedly suffered by comparison with the Genius of his -younger Rival, at which of course he was greatly incensed. I caught -sight now and then of his florid face, so different in expression to Mr. -Betterton's more spiritual-looking countenance, and from time to time -his pompous, raucous voice reached my ears, as did the more strident, -high-pitched voices of the Ladies. I heard one young Lady say, to the -accompaniment of some pretty, mincing gestures: - -"Mr. Betterton was positively rapturous last night ... enchanting! You, -Mr. Harris, will in truth have to look to your laurels." - -And an elderly Lady, a Dowager of obvious consideration and dignity, -added in tones which brooked of no contradiction: - -"My opinion is that there never has been or ever will be a Player equal -to Mr. Betterton in Purity of Diction and Elegance of Gesture. He hath -indeed raised our English Drama to the level of High Art." - -I could have bowed low before her and kissed her hand for this; aye! and -have paid homage, too, to all these gaily-dressed Butterflies who, in -truth, had more Intellectuality in them than I had given them credit -for. Every word of Eulogy of my beloved Friend was a delight to my -soul. I felt mine eyes glowing with enthusiasm and had grave difficulty -in keeping them fixed upon my book. - -I had never liked Mr. Harris personally, for I was wont to think his -conceit quite overweening beside the unalterable modesty of Mr. -Betterton, who was so incomparably his Superior; and I was indeed -pleased to see that both the Dowager Lady--who, I understood, was the -Marchioness of Badlesmere--and the younger Ladies and Gentlemen felt -mischievously inclined to torment him. - -"What is your opinion, Mr. Harris?" my Lady Badlesmere was saying to the -discomfited Actor. "It would be interesting to know one Player's opinion -of another." - -She had a spy-glass, through which she regarded him quizzically, whilst -a mocking smile played around her thin lips. This, no doubt, caused -poor Mr. Harris to lose countenance, for as a rule he is very glib of -tongue. But just now he mouthed and stammered, appeared unable to find -his words. - -"It cannot be denied, your Ladyship," he began sententiously enough, -"that Mr. Betterton's gestures are smooth and pleasant, though they -perhaps lack the rhythmic grandeur ... the dignified sweep ... of ... of -... the..." - -He was obviously floundering, and the old Lady broke in with a rasping -laugh and a tone of somewhat acid sarcasm. - -"Of the gestures of Mr. Harris, you mean, eh?" - -"No, Madam," he retorted testily, and distinctly nettled. "I was about -to say 'of the gestures of our greatest Actors.'" - -"Surely the same thing, dear Mr. Harris," a young Lady rejoined with -well-assumed demureness, and dropped him a pert little curtsey. - -I might have been sorry for the Man--for of a truth these small -pin-pricks must have been very irritating to his Vanity, already sorely -wounded by a younger Rival's triumph--but for the fact that he then -waxed malicious, angered no doubt by hearing a veritable Chorus of -Eulogy proceeding from that other group of Ladies and Gentlemen of which -Mr. Betterton was the centre. - -I do not know, as a matter of fact, who it was who first gave a spiteful -turning to the bantering, mocking Conversation of awhile ago; but in my -mind I attributed this malice to Lord Douglas Wychwoode, who came up -with his clerical friend just about this time, in order to pay his -respects to the Marchioness of Badlesmere, who, I believe, is a near -Relative of his. Certain it is that very soon after his arrival upon -the scene, I found that every one around him was talking about the -abominable Episode, the very thought of which sent my blood into a Fever -and my thoughts running a veritable riot of Revenge and of Hate. Of -course, Mr. Harris was to the fore with pointed Allusions to the grave -Insult done to an eminent Artist, and which, to my thinking, should have -been condemned by every right-minded Man or Woman who had a spark of -lofty feeling in his or her heart. - -"Ah, yes!" one of the Ladies was saying; "I heard about it at the time -... a vastly diverting story...." - -"Which went the round of the Court," added another. - -"Mr. Betterton's shoulders," a gay young Spark went on airily, "are said -to be still very sore." - -"And his usually equable Temper the sorer of the two." - -Lord Douglas did not say much, but I felt his spiteful Influence running -as an undercurrent through all that flippant talk. - -"Faith!" concluded one of the young Gallants, "were I my Lord Stour, I -would not care to have Mr. Betterton for an enemy." - -"An Actor can hit with great accuracy and harshness from the Stage," Mr. -Harris went on pompously. "He speaks words which a vast Public hears -and goes on to repeat _ad infinitum_. Thus a man's--aye! or a -Lady's--reputation can be made or marred by an Epilogue spoken by a -popular Player at the end of a Drama. We all remember the case of Sir -William Liscard, after he had quarrelled with Mr. Kynaston." - -Whereupon that old story was raked up, how Mr. Kynaston had revenged -himself for an insult upon him by Sir William Liscard by making pointed -Allusions from the Stage to the latter's secret intrigue with some -low-class wench, and to the Punishment which was administered to him by -the wench's vulgar lover. The Allusions were unmistakable, because that -punishment had taken the form of a slit nose, and old Sir William had -appeared in Society one day with a piece of sticking plaster across the -middle of his face. - -Well, we all know what happened after that. Sir William, covered with -Ridicule, had to leave London for awhile and bury himself in the depths -of the Country, for, in Town he could not show his face in the streets -but he was greeted with some vulgar lampoon or ribald song, hurled at -him by passing roisterers. It all ended in a Tragedy, for Lady Liscard -got to hear of it, and there was talk of Divorce proceedings, which -would have put Sir William wholly out of Court--His Majesty being -entirely averse to the dissolution of any legal Marriage. - -But all this hath naught to do with my story, and I only recount the -matter to You to show You how, in an instant, the temper of all these -great Ladies and Gentlemen can be swayed by the judicious handling of an -evil-minded Person. - -All these Ladies and young Rakes, who awhile ago were loud in their -praises of a truly great Man, now found pleasure in throwing mud at him, -ridiculing and mocking him shamefully, seeing that, had he been amongst -them, he would soon have confounded them with his Wit and brought them -back to Allegiance by his magic Personality. - -Once again I heard a distinct Allusion to the Countess of Castlemaine's -avowed predilection for Lord Stour. It came from one of the Cavaliers, -who said to Lord Douglas, with an affected little laugh: - -"Perhaps my Lord Stour would do well to place himself unreservedly under -the protection of Lady Castlemaine! 'Tis said that she is more than -willing to extend her Favours to him." - -"Nay! Stour hath nothing to fear," Lord Douglas replied curtly. "He -stands far above a mere Mountebank's spiteful pin-pricks." - -Oh! had but God given me the power to strike such a Malapert dumb! I -looked around me, marvelling if there was not one sane Person here who -would stand up in the defence of a great and talented Artist against -this jabbering of irresponsible Monkeys. - - - - 9 - - -I must admit, however, that directly Mr. Betterton appeared upon the -scene the tables were quickly turned once more on Mr. Harris, and even -on Lord Douglas, for Mr. Betterton is past Master in the art of wordy -Warfare, and, moreover, has this great Advantage, that he never loses -control over his Temper. No malicious shaft aimed at him will ever -ruffle his Equanimity, and whilst his Wit is most caustic, he invariably -retains every semblance of perfect courtesy. - -He now had the Duchess of York on his arm, and His Grace of Buckingham -had not left his side. His Friends were unanimously chaffing him about -that Epilogue which he had spoken last night, and which had so delighted -the Countess of Castlemaine. My Lord Buckhurst and Sir William Davenant -were quoting pieces out of it, whilst I could only feel sorry that so -great a Man had lent himself to such unworthy Flattery. - -"'Divinity, radiant as the stars!'" Lord Buckhurst quoted with a laugh. -"By gad, you Rogue, you did not spare your words." - -Mr. Betterton frowned almost imperceptibly, and I, his devoted Admirer, -guessed that he was not a little ashamed of the fulsome Adulation which -he had bestowed on so unworthy an Object, and I was left to marvel -whether some hidden purpose as yet unknown to me had actuated so -high-minded an Artist thus to debase the Art which he held so dear. It -was evident, however, that the whole Company thought that great things -would come from that apparently trivial incident. - -"My Lady Castlemaine," said Sir William Davenant, "hath been wreathed in -smiles ever since you spoke that Epilogue. She vows that there is -nothing she would not do for You. And, as already You are such a -favourite with His Majesty, why, Man! there is no end to your good -fortune." - -And I, who watched Mr. Betterton's face again, thought to detect a -strange, mysterious look in his eyes--something hidden and brooding was -going on behind that noble brow, something that was altogether strange -to the usually simple, unaffected and sunny temperament of the great -Artist, and which I, his intimate Confidant and Friend, had not yet been -able to fathom. - -Whenever I looked at him these days, I was conscious as of a sultry -Summer's day, when nature is outwardly calm and every leaf on every tree -is still. It is only to those who are initiated in the mysteries of the -Skies that the distant oncoming Storm is revealed by a mere speck of -cloud or a tiny haze upon the Bosom of the Firmament, which hath no -meaning to the unseeing eye, but which foretells that the great forces -of Nature are gathering up their strength for the striking of a -prodigious blow. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - - AN ASSEMBLY OF TRAITORS - - - 1 - - -I, in the meanwhile, had relegated the remembrance of Lord Douglas -Wychwoode and his treasonable Undertakings to a distant cell of my mind. -I had not altogether forgotten them, but had merely ceased to think upon -the Subject. - -I was still nominally in the employ of Mr. Baggs, but he had engaged a -new Clerk--a wretched, puny creature, whom Mistress Euphrosine already -held in bondage--and I was to leave his Service definitely at the end of -the month. - -In the meanwhile, my chief task consisted in initiating the aforesaid -wretched and puny Clerk into the intricacies of Mr. Theophilus Baggs' -business. The boy was slow-witted and slow to learn, and Mr. Baggs, who -would have liked to prove to me mine own Worthlessness, was nevertheless -driven into putting some of his more important work still in my charge. - -Thus it came to pass that all his Correspondence with Lord Douglas -Wychwoode went through my Hands, whereby I was made aware that the -Traitors--for such in truth they were--were only waiting for a -favourable opportunity to accomplish their damnable Purpose. - -They meant to kidnap His Majesty's sacred Person, to force him to sign -an Abdication in favour of the son of Mistress Barlow--now styled the -Duke of Monmouth--with the Prince of Orange as Regent during the Duke's -minority. - -A more abominable and treasonable Project it were impossible to -conceive, and many a wrestling match did I have with mine own -Conscience, whilst debating whether it were my Duty or no to betray the -confidence which had been reposed in me, and to divulge the terrible -Secret of that execrable plot, which threatened the very life of His -Majesty the King. - -I understood that the Manifestos which it had been my task to -multiplicate, had met with some success. Several Gentlemen, who held -rigidly Protestant views, had promised their support to a project which -ostensibly aimed at the overthrow of the last vestiges of Popery in the -Country. My Lord Stour, who had also become a firm Adherent of the -nefarious scheme, in deference, I presume, to the Lady Barbara's wishes -in the matter, had, it seems, rendered valuable service to the cause, by -travelling all over the Country, seeing these proposed Adherents in -person and distributing the fiery Manifestos which were to rally the -Waverers to the cause. - -I imagined, however, that the whole project was in abeyance for the -moment, for I had heard but little of it of late; until one day I -happened to be present when the Conspirators met in the house of Mr. -Theophilus Baggs. - -How it came to pass that these Gentlemen--who were literally playing -with their lives in their nefarious undertaking--talked thus openly of -their Plans and Projects in my hearing, I do not pretend to say. It is -certain that they did not suspect me; thought me one of themselves, no -doubt, since I had written out the Manifestos and was Clerk to Mr. -Baggs, who was with them Body and Soul. No doubt, had Mr. Baggs been on -the spot on that day, he would have warned the Traitors of my presence, -and much of what happened subsequently would never have occurred. - -Thus doth Fate at times use simple tools to gain her own ends, and it -was given to an insignificant Attorney's Clerk to rule, for this one -day, the future Destinies of England. - - - - 2 - - -My Lord Stour was present on that memorable afternoon. I am betraying -no Secret nor doing him an injury by saying that, because his connection -with the Affair is of public knowledge, as is that of Lord Douglas -Wychwoode. The names of the other Gentlemen whom I saw in Mr. Baggs' -room that day I will, by your leave, keep hidden behind the veil of -Anonymity, contenting myself by calling the most important among them my -Lord S., and another Sir J., whilst there was also present on that -occasion the gentleman in clerical Attire whom I had seen of late in -Lord Douglas' Company, and who was none other than the Lord Bishop of D. - -My Lord Stour was in great favour amongst them all. Every one was -praising him and shaking him by the hand. His Lordship the Bishop took -it upon himself to say, as he did most incisively: - -"Gentlemen! I am proud and happy to affirm that it is to the Earl of -Stour that we shall owe to-night the Success of our Cause. It is he who -has distributed our Appeal and helped to rally round us some of our most -loyal Friends!" - -Lord Stour demurred, deprecated his own efforts. His Attitude was both -modest and firm; I had not thought him capable of so much Nobility of -Manner. - -But, believe me, dear Mistress, that I felt literally confounded by what -I heard. Mr. Baggs, who had pressing business in town that day, had -commanded me to remain at home in order to receive certain Gentlemen who -were coming to visit him. I had introduced some half-dozen of them, and -they had all gone into the inner office, but left the communicating door -between that room and the parlour wide open, apparently quite -acquiescing in my presence there. In fact, they had all nodded very -familiarly to me as they entered; evidently they felt absolutely certain -of my Discretion. This, as you will readily understand, placed me in a -terrible Predicament. Where lay my duty, I did not know; for, in truth, -to betray the Confidence of those who trust in You is a mean and low -trick, unworthy of a right-minded Christian. At the same time, there -was His Majesty the King's own sacred Person in peril, and that, as far -as I could gather, on this very night; and surely it became equally the -duty of every loyal Subject in the land to try and protect his Sovereign -from the nefarious attacks of Traitors! - -Be that as it may, however, I do verily believe that if my Lord--Stour -whom I hated with so deadly a hatred, and who had done my dear, dear -Friend such an irreparable injury--if he, I say, had not been mixed up -in the Affair, I should have done my duty as a Christian rather than as -a subject of the State. - -But You, dear Mistress, shall be judge of mine actions, for they have a -direct bearing upon those subsequent events which have brought Mr. -Betterton once again to your feet. - -I have said that my Lord Stour received his Friends' congratulations and -gratitude with becoming Modesty; but his Lordship the Bishop and also -Lord S. insisted. - -"It is thanks to your efforts, my dear Stour," Lord S. said, "that at -last success is assured." - -"But for you," added the Bishop, "our plan to-night might have -miscarried." - -My God! I thought, then it _is_ for to-night! And I felt physically -sick, whilst wondering what I should do. Even then, Lord Douglas -Wychwoode's harsh Voice came quite clearly to mine ear. - -"The day is ours!" he said, with a note of triumph in his tone. "Ere -the sun rises again over our downtrodden Country, her dissolute King and -his Minions will be in our hands!" - -"Pray God it may be so!" assented one of the others piously. - -"It shall and will be so," protested Lord Douglas with firm emphasis. -"I know for a fact that the King sups with the Castlemaine to-night. -Well! we are quite ready. By ten o'clock we shall have taken up our -Positions. These have all been most carefully thought out. Some of us -will be in hiding in the Long Avenue in the Privy Garden; others under -the shadow of the Wall of the Bowling Green; whilst others again have -secured excellent points of vantage in King Street. I am in command of -the Party, and I give you my word that my Company is made up of young -Enthusiasts. They, like ourselves, have had enough of this corrupt and -dissolute Monarch, who ought never to have been allowed to ascend the -Throne which his Father had already debased." - -"You will have to be careful of the Night Watchmen about the Gardens, -and of the Bodyguard at the Gate," one of the Gentlemen broke in. - -"Of course we'll be careful," Lord Douglas riposted impatiently. "We -have minimized our risks as far as we are able. But the King, when he -sups with the Castlemaine, usually goes across to her House unattended. -Sometimes he takes a Man with him across the Privy Gardens, but -dismisses him at the back door of Her Ladyship's House. As for the City -Watchmen over in King Street, they will give us no trouble. If they do, -we can easily overpower them. The whole thing is really perfectly -simple," he added finally; "and the only reason why we have delayed -execution is because we wanted as many Sympathizers here in London as -possible." - -"Now," here interposed His Lordship the Bishop, "thanks to my Lord -Stour's efforts, a number of our Adherents have come up from the country -and have obtained lodgings in various Quarters of the town, so that -to-morrow morning, when we proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the -Prince of Orange Regent of the Realm, we shall be in sufficient numbers -to give to our successful Coup the appearance of a national movement." - -"Personally," rejoined Lord Douglas, with something of a sneer, "I think -that the Populace will be very easily swayed. The Castlemaine is not -popular. The King is; but it is a factitious Popularity, and one easily -blown upon, once we have his Person safely out of the way. And we must -remember that the 'No Popery' cry is still a very safe card to play with -the mob," he added with a dry laugh. - -Then they all fell to and discussed their abominable Plans all over -again; whilst I, bewildered, wretched, indignant, fell on my knees and -marvelled, pondered what I should do. My pulses were throbbing, my head -was on fire; I had not the faculty for clear thinking. And there, in -the next room, not ten paces away from where I knelt in mute and -agonized Prayer, six Men were planning an outrage against their King; -amidst sneers and mirthless laughter and protestations of loyalty to -their Country, they planned the work of Traitors. They drew their -Swords and there was talk of invoking God's blessing upon their -nefarious Work. - -God's blessing! Methought 'twas Blasphemy, and I put my hands up to -mine ears lest I should hear those solemn words spoken by a consecrated -Bishop of our Church, and which called for the Almighty's help to -accomplish a second Regicide. - -Aye! A Regicide! What else was it? as all those fine Gentlemen knew -well enough in their hearts. Would not the King resist? He was young -and vigorous. Would he not call for help? Had not my Lady Castlemaine -Servants who would rush to His Majesty's assistance? What then? Was -there to be murder once more, and bloodshed and rioting--fighting such -as we poor Citizens of this tortured land had hoped was behind us -forever? - -And if it came to a hand-to-hand scuffle with the King's most Sacred -Majesty? My God! I shuddered to think what would happen then! - -There was a mighty humming in my ears, like the swarm of myriads of -bees; a red veil gradually spread before my eyes, which obscured the -familiar Surroundings about me. Through the haze which gradually -o'er-clouded my brain, I heard the voices of those Traitors droning out -their blasphemous Oaths. - -"Swear only to draw your swords in this just cause, and not to shed -unnecessary blood!" - -And then a chorus which to my ears sounded like the howling of Evil -Spirits let loose from hell: - -"We swear!" - -"Then may God's blessing rest upon You. May His Angels guard and -protect You and give You the strength to accomplish what You purpose to -do!" - -There was a loud and prolonged "Amen!" But I waited no longer. I rose -from my knees, suddenly calm and resolved. Do not laugh at me, dear -Mistress, for my conceit and my presumption when I say that I felt that -the destinies of England rested in my hands. - -Another Regicide! Oh, my God! Another era of civil Strife and military -Dictatorship such as we had endured in the past decade! Another era of -Suspicions and Jealousies and Intrigues between the many Factions who -would wish to profit by this abominable crime! It was unthinkable. -Whether the King was God's Anointed or not, I, for one, am too ignorant -to decide; but this I know, that the Stuart Prince was chosen little -more than a year ago by the will of his People, that he returned to -England acclaimed and beloved by this same Populace which was now to be -egged on to treason against him by a handful of ambitious Malcontents, -who did not themselves know what it was they wanted. - -No! It should not be! Not while there existed an humble and puny -subject of this Realm who had it in his power to put a spoke in the -wheel of that Chariot of Traitors. - -Ah! there was no more wavering in my heart now! no more doubts and -hesitation! I would not be betraying the confidence of a trusting Man; -merely disposing of a secret which Chance had tossed carelessly in my -path--a Secret which pertained to abominable Miscreants, one of whom was -the man whom I detested more than any one or anything on God's earth--a -flippant, arrogant young Reprobate who had dared to level a deadly -insult against a Man infinitely his superior in Intellect and in Worth, -and before whom now he should be made to lick the dust of Ignominy. - -I was now perfectly calm. From my desk I took a copy of the Manifesto -which had remained in my possession all this while. I read the contents -through very carefully, so as to refresh my memory. Then I took up my -pen and, at the foot of the treasonable document, I wrote the word: -"To-night." Having done that, I took a sheet of notepaper and carefully -wrote down the names of all the Gentlemen who were even now in the next -room, and of several others whom I had heard mentioned by the Traitors -in the course of their Conversation. The two papers I folded carefully -and closed them down with sealing wax. - -My hand did not shake whilst I did all this. I was perfectly -deliberate, for my mind was irrevocably made up. When I had completed -these preparations, I slipped the precious Documents into my pocket, -took up my hat and cloak, and went out to accomplish the Errand which I -had set myself to do. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - - THE LION'S WRATH - - - 1 - - -His Majesty the King was, of course, inaccessible to such as I. And the -time was short. - -Did I say that the hour was even then after six? The streets were very -dark, for overhead the sky was overcast, and as I walked rapidly down -the Lane to the Temple Stairs, a thin, penetrating drizzle began to -fall. - -My first thought had been to take boat to Westminster and to go to the -house of Mr. Betterton in Tothill Street, there to consult with him as -to what would be my best course to pursue. But I feel sure that You, -dear Mistress, will understand me when I say that I felt a certain pride -in keeping my present Project to myself. - -I was not egotistical enough to persuade myself that love of Country and -loyalty to my King were the sole motive powers of my Resolve. My -innermost Heart, my Conscience perhaps, told me that an ugly Desire for -Revenge had helped to stimulate my patriotic Ardour. I had realized -that it lay in my power to avenge upon an impious Malapert the hideous -Outrage which he had perpetrated against the Man whom I loved best in -all the World. - -I had realized, in fact, that I could become the instrument of Mr. -Betterton's revenge. - -That my Denunciation of the abominable Conspiracy would involve the -Disgrace--probably the Death--of others who were nothing to me, I did -not pause to consider. They were all Traitors, anyhow, and all of them -deserving of punishment. - -So, on the whole, I decided to act for myself. When I had seen the -Countess of Castlemaine and had put her on her guard, I would go to Mr. -Betterton and tell him what I had done. - -I beg you to believe, however, dear Mistress, that no thought of any -reward had entered my mind, other than a Word of Appreciation from my -Friend. - - - - 2 - - -I had, as perhaps you know, a slight acquaintance with Mistress Floid, -who is one of my Lady Castlemaine's tire-women. Through her, I obtained -speech with her Ladyship. - -It was not very difficult. I sent in the two Documents through Mistress -Floid's hands. Five minutes later I was told that my Lady desired -speech with me. - -I was a little bewildered and somewhat dazzled to be in the presence of -so great a lady. The richness of the House, the liveries of the -Servants, the superciliousness of the Lacqueys, all tended to discompose -me; whilst the subtle Scent of Spice and Perfumes which hung in the air -and the chorus of bird-song which came from an unseen Aviary, helped to -numb my Senses. I was thankful that I had not trusted to Speech and -Memory, but had set documentary Evidence forward to prove what I had to -say. - -Of my interview with her Ladyship I have only a confused memory. I know -that she asked many questions and listened to my stammering replies with -obvious impatience; but I have only a very vague recollection of her -flashing Eyes, of her Face, flaming with anger, of her jewelled Hand -clutching the documents which I had brought, and of the torrent of -vituperative abuse which she poured upon the Traitors, who she vowed -would pay with their lives for their Infamy. I know that, in the end, I -was allowed to kiss her hand and that she thanked me in her own Name and -that of His Majesty for my Loyalty and my Discretion. - -I went out of the room and out of the house like a Man in a dream. A -whirl of conflicting Emotions was rending my heart and my brain, until -sheer physical nausea caused me nigh to swoon. - -Truly it was a terrible Experience for a simple-minded Clerk to go -through, and it is a marvel to me that my brain did not give way under -the Strain. - -But my instinct--like that of a faithful dog seeking shelter--led me to -the lodgings of Mr. Betterton in Tothill Street, the very house in which -his father had lived before him. - -He had not yet returned from the Theatre, where he was at Rehearsal; but -his Servant knew me well and allowed me to go up into the parlour and to -lie down upon the sofa for a moment's rest. - -It was then nearing seven, and I knew that Mr. Betterton would soon be -coming home. I now felt infinitely weary; numbness of body and brain -had followed the conflicting Emotions of the past hours, and I was only -conscious of an overwhelming desire to rest. - -I closed my eyes. The place was warm and still; a veritable Haven of -Quietude. And it was the place where dwelt the Man for whose sake I had -just done so much. For awhile I watched the play of the firelight upon -the various articles of furniture in the room; but soon a pleasing -Torpor invaded my tired Brain, and I fell asleep. - - - - 3 - - -The sound of Voices upon the landing outside, the opening and closing of -one door and then another, recalled me to myself. The familiar sound of -my Friend's footsteps gave me an infinity of Pleasure. - -The next moment Mr. Betterton came into the room. He was preceded by -his Servant, who brought in a couple of Candles which he placed upon the -table. Apparently he had said nothing to his Master about my presence -here, for Mr. Betterton seemed vastly surprised when he saw me. I had -just jumped to my feet when I heard him entering the room, and I suppose -that I must have looked somewhat wild and dishevelled, for he expressed -great astonishment at my Appearance. - -Astonishment, and also Pleasure. - -"Why, friend Honeywood!" he exclaimed, and came to greet me with both -hands outstretched. "What favourable Wind hath blown you to this port?" - -He looked tired and very much aged, methought. He, a young Man, then in -the prime of Life, looked harassed and weary; all the Elasticity seemed -to have gone out of his Movements, all the Springiness from his -Footstep. He sat down and rested his elbows on his knees, clasped his -slender hands together and stared moodily into the fire. - -I watched him for awhile. His clear-cut Profile was outlined like an -Italian Cameo against the dark angle of the room; the firelight gave a -strange glow to his expressive Eyes and to the sensitive Mouth with the -firm lips pressed closely together, as if they would hold some Secret -which was even then threatening to escape. - -That look of dark and introspective Brooding sat more apparent now than -ever upon his mobile face, and I marvelled if the News which I was about -to impart would tend to dissipate that restless, searching glance, which -seemed for ever to be probing into the future decrees of Fate. - -"I have come to tell you news, Sir," I said after a while. - -He started as from a Reverie, and said half-absently: - -"News? What news, friend? Good, I hope." - -"Yes," I replied very quietly, even though I felt that my heart was -beating fast within my breast with excitement. "Good news of the Man -You hate." - -He made no reply for the moment, and even by the dim, uncertain light of -the fire I could see the quick change in his face. I cannot explain it -exactly, but it seemed as if something Evil had swept over it, changing -every noble line into something that was almost repellent. - -My heart beat faster still. I was beginning to feel afraid and a queer, -choking Sensation gripped me by the throat and silenced the Words which -were struggling to come to my lips. - -"Well?" queried Mr. Betterton a second or two later, in a calm, dull, -unemotional Voice. "What is thy news, friend Honeywood?" - -"There is a plot," I replied, still speaking with an effort, "against -His Majesty and the Countess of Castlemaine." - -"I knew that," he rejoined. "'Tis no news. There is more than one plot, -in fact, against the King and the Castlemaine. You surely haven't come -out on this wet night," he added with a mirthless laugh, "in order to -tell me that!" - -After all that I had gone through, after my tussle with my conscience -and my fight against myself, I felt nettled by his flippant tone. - -"I know not," I said firmly, "if there is more than one plot against His -Majesty the King. But I do know that there is one which aims at -striking at his sacred Person to-night." - -"That also is possible," he retorted, with still that same air of -flippant Carelessness. "But even so, I do not see, my dear Friend, what -You can do in the matter." - -"I can denounce the Plot," I riposted warmly, "and help to save the life -of His Majesty the King." - -"So you can, my dear Honeywood," he said with a smile, amused at my -vehemence. "So you can! And upon the King's gratitude you may lay the -foundations of your future Fortune." - -"I was not thinking of a Fortune," I retorted gruffly; "only of -Revenge." - -At this he looked up suddenly, leaned forward and in the firelight tried -to read my face. - -"Revenge?" he queried curtly. "What do you mean?" - -"I mean," I replied earnestly, "that the Plot of which I speak is real, -tangible and damnable. That a set of young Gallants have arranged -between themselves to waylay His Majesty the King this night in the -house of the Countess of Castlemaine, to kidnap his sacred person, force -him to abdicate, then proclaim the Duke of Monmouth King and the Prince -of Orange Regent of the Realm." - -"How do you know all this, Honeywood?" Mr. Betterton rejoined quietly, -dragged, meseemed, out of his former Cynicism by the earnestness of my -manner. - -"I was one of the first to know of it," I replied, "because on a certain -day in September I was employed in copying the Manifesto wherewith that -pack of Traitors hoped to rally distant Friends around their Standard. -For awhile I heard nothing more of the Affair, thought the whole thing -had sizzled out like a fire devoid of fuel; until to-day, when the -Conspirators once more met in the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs and -arranged to carry their execrable Project through to-night. Careless of -my presence, they planned and discussed their Affairs in my hearing. -They thought, I suppose, that I, like Mr. Baggs, was one of their Gang." - -Gradually, while I spoke, I could see the Dawn of Comprehension -illumining Mr. Betterton's face. He still was silent, and let me speak -on to the end. He was once more gazing into the fire; his arms were -resting on his knees, but his hands were beating one against the other, -fist to palm, with a violent, intermittent Gesture, which proclaimed his -growing Impatience. - -Then suddenly he raised his head, looked me once more straight in the -eyes, and said slowly, reiterating some of my words: - -"The Conspirators met in the house of Mr. Theophilus -Baggs--then--he----" - -I nodded. - -"My Lord Stour," I said, deliberately measuring my words, "is up to his -neck in the damnable Conspiracy." - -Still his searching gaze was fixed upon me; and now he put out his hand -and clutched my forearm. But he did not speak. - -"I was burning with rage," I said, "at the insult put upon you by my -Lord Stour ... I longed to be revenged..." - -His clutch upon my arm tightened till it felt like a Vice of Steel, and -his Voice came to my ear, hoarse and almost unrecognizable. - -"Honeywood," he murmured, "what do You mean? What have You done?" - -I tried to return his gaze, but it seemed to sear my very Soul. Terror -held me now. I scarce could speak. My voice came out in a husky -whisper. - -"I had the copy of the Manifesto," I said, "and I knew the names of the -Conspirators. I wrote these out and placed them with the Manifesto in -the hands of my Lady Castlemaine." - -Dear Mistress, you know the beautiful picture by the great Italian -artist Michael Angelo which represents Jove hurling his thunderbolt at -some puny human Creature who hath dared to defy him. The flash of Anger -expressed by the Artist in the mighty god's eyes is truly terrifying. -Well! that same Expression of unbounded and prodigious Wrath flashed out -in one instant from the great Actor's eyes. He jumped to his feet, -towered above me like some Giant whom I, in my presumption, had dared to -defy. The flickering candle light, warring with the fireglow, and its -play of ruddy Lights and deep phantasmagoric Shadows, lent size and -weirdness to Mr. Betterton's figure and enhanced the dignity and -magnitude of his Presence. His lips were working, and I could see that -he had the greatest difficulty in forcing himself to speak coherently. - -"You have done that?" he stammered. "You...?" - -"To avenge the deadly insult----" I murmured, frightened to death now by -his violence. - -"Silence, you fool!" he riposted hoarsely. "Is it given to the Mouse to -avenge the hurt done to the Lion?" - -I guessed how deeply he was moved by these Words which he spoke, more -even than by his Attitude. Never, had he been in his normal frame of -mind, would he have said them, knowing how their cruel intent would hurt -and wound me. - -He was angry with me. Very angry. And I, as yet, was too ignorant, too -unsophisticated, to know in what way I had injured him. God knows it -had been done unwittingly. And I could not understand what went on in -that noble and obviously tortured Brain. I could only sit there and -gaze upon him in helpless Bewilderment, as he now started to pace up and -down the narrow room in very truth like a caged Lion that hath been -teased till it can endure the irritation no longer. - -"You are angry with me?" I contrived to stammer at last; and indeed I -found much difficulty in keeping the tears which were welling up to mine -eyes. - -But my timid query only appeared to have the effect of bringing his -Exasperation to its highest pitch. He did in truth turn on me as if he -were ready to strike me, and I slid down on my Knees, for I felt now -really frightened, as his fine voice smote mine ears in thunderous -Accents of unbridled Wrath. - -"Angry?" he exclaimed. "Angry...? I..." - -Then he paused abruptly, for he had caught sight of me, kneeling there, -an humble and, I doubt not, a pathetic Figure; and, as you know, Mr. -Betterton's heart is ever full of Pity for the Lowly and the Weak. By -the flickering candle light I could distinguish his noble Features, a -moment ago almost distorted with Passion, but now, all of a sudden, -illumined by tender Sympathy. - -He pulled himself together. I almost could see the Effort of Will -wherewith he curbed that turbulent Passion which had threatened to -overmaster him. He passed his hand once or twice across his brow, as if -he strove to chase away, by sheer physical Force, the last vestige of -his own Anger. - -"No--no----," he murmured gently, bent down to me and helped me to my -feet. "No, my dear Friend; I am not angry with You ... I--I forgot -myself just now ... something seemed to snap in my Brain when you told -me that ... When you told me that----" he reiterated slowly; then threw -back his head and broke into a laugh. Oh! such a laugh as I never wish -to hear again. It was not only mirthless, but the Sound of it did rend -my heart until the tears came back to mine eyes; but this time through -an overwhelming feeling of Pity. - -And yet I did not understand. Neither his Anger nor his obvious Despair -were clear to my Comprehension. I hoped he would soon explain, feeling -that if he spoke of it, it would ease his heartache. Mine was almost -unendurable. I felt that I could cry like a child, Remorse warring with -Anxiety in my heart. - -Then suddenly Mr. Betterton came close to me, sat down on the sofa -beside me and said, with a Recrudescence of his former Vehemence: - -"Friend Honeywood, you must go straightway back to my Lady Castlemaine." - -"Yes," I replied meekly, for I was ready to do anything that he desired. - -"Either to my Lady Castlemaine," he went on, his voice trembling with -agitation, "or to her menial first, but ultimately to my Lady -Castlemaine. Go on your hands and knees, Honeywood; crawl, supplicate, -lick the dust, swear that the Conspiracy had no existence save in your -own disordered brain ... that the Manifesto is a forgery ... the list of -Conspirators a fictitious one ... swear above all that my Lord Stour had -no part in the murderous Plot----" - -I would, dear Lady, that mine was the pen of a ready Writer, so that I -might give you a clear idea of Mr. Betterton's strange aspect at that -moment. His face was close to mine, yet he did not seem like himself. -You know how serene and calm is the Glance of his Eyes as a rule. Well! -just then they were strangely luminous and restless; there was a glitter -in them, a weird, pale Light that I cannot describe, but which struck me -as coming from a Brain that, for the moment, was almost bereft of -Reason. - -That he was not thinking coherently was obvious to me from what he said. -I, who was ready and prepared to do anything that might atone for the -Injury, as yet inexplicable, which I had so unwittingly done to him, -felt, nevertheless, the entire Futility of his Suggestion. Indeed, was -it likely that my Lady Castlemaine's Suspicions, once roused, could so -easily be allayed? Whatever I told her now, she would of a surety warn -the King--had done so, no doubt, already. Measures would be taken--had -already been taken--to trap the infamous Plotters, to catch them -red-handed in the Act; if indeed they were guilty. Nay! I could not -very well imagine how such great Personages would act under the -Circumstances that had come about. But this much I did know; that not -one of them would be swayed by the Vagaries of a puny Clerk, who had -taken it upon himself to denounce a number of noble Gentlemen for -Treason one moment and endeavoured to exonerate them the next. So I -could only shake my head and murmur: - -"Alas, Sir! all that now would be too late." - -He looked at me searchingly for a second or two. The strange glitter -died out from his eyes, and he gave a deep sigh of weariness and of -disappointment. - -"Aye!" he said. "True! true! It is all too late!" - -Imagine, dear Mistress, how puzzled I was. What would You have thought -of it all, yourself, had your sweet Spirit been present then at that -hour, when a truly good, yet deeply injured Man bared his Soul before -his Friend? - -Just for a second or two the Suspicion flashed through my mind that Mr. -Betterton himself was in some secret and unaccountable manner mixed up -with the abominable Conspiracy. But almost at once my saner Judgment -rejected this villainous Suggestion; for of a truth it had no foundation -save in Foolishness engendered by a bewildered brain. In truth, I had -never seen Mr. Betterton in the Company of any of those Traitors whose -names were indelibly graven upon the tablets of my Memory, save on that -one occasion--that unforgettable afternoon in September, when he entered -the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs at the hour when Lord Douglas -Wychwoode had just entrusted his Manifesto to me. What was said then -and what happened afterwards should, God help me! have convinced me that -no sort of intimate Connection, political or otherwise, could ever exist -between my Lord Stour, Lord Douglas Wychwoode or their Friends, and Mr. -Betterton. - - - - 4 - - -Even while all these Thoughts and Conjectures were coursing through my -brain, my innermost Consciousness kept my attention fixed upon my -friend. - -He had once more resumed his restless pacing up and down the narrow -room. His slender hands were closely linked together behind his back, -and at times he strode quite close to me, so close that the skirts of -his fashionably cut coat brushed against my knee. From time to time -disconnected Phrases came to his lips. He was talking to himself, a -thing which I had never known him do before. - -"I, who wished to return Taunt for Taunt and Infamy for Infamy!" he said -at one time. And at another: "To-day ... in a few hours perhaps, that -young Coxcomb will be in the Tower ... and then the Scaffold!" - -I listened as attentively as I could, without seeming to do so, thinking -that, if I only caught more of these confused Mutterings, the Puzzle, -such as it was, would become more clear to me. Picture the two of us -then, dear Mistress, in the semi-darkness, with only fitful candle light -to bring into occasional bold relief the fine Figure of the great Actor -pacing up and down like a restless and tortured Beast; and mine own -meagre Form cowering in an angle of the sofa, straining mine ears to -catch every syllable that came from my Friend's lips, and mine eyes to -note every Change of his Countenance. - -"She will think 'twas I who spied upon him," I heard him say quite -distinctly through his clenched teeth. "I who betrayed him, her -Friends, her Brother." - -"He will die a Martyr to the cause she loves," he murmured a few moments -later. "A Hero to his friends--to _her_ a demi-god whose Memory she -will worship." - -Then he paused, and added in a loud and firm voice, apostrophizing, God -knows what Spirits of Hate and of Vengeance whom he had summoned: - -"And _that_ is to be my Revenge for the deadliest Insult Man ever put -upon Man! ... Ha! ha! ha! ha!" he laughed, with weird Incontinence. -"God above us, save me from my Friends and let me deal alone with mine -Enemies!" - -He fell back into the nearest chair and, resting his elbows on his -knees, he pressed his forehead against his clenched fists. I stared at -him, mute, dumbfounded. For now I understood. I knew what I had done, -knew what he desired, what he had striven for and planned all these past -weary weeks. His Hopes, his Desires, I had frustrated. I, his Friend, -who would have given my Life for his welfare! - -I had been heart-broken before. I was doubly so now. I slid from the -sofa once more on my knees and, not daring to touch him, I just remained -there, sobbing and moaning in helpless Dejection and Remorse. - -"What can I do?--what can I do?" - -He looked at me, obviously dazed, had apparently become quite oblivious -of my presence. Once more that look of tender Commiseration came into -his eyes, and he said with a gently ironical smile: - -"You? Poor little, feeble Mouse, who has gnawed at the Giant's -prey--what can you do? ... Why, nothing. Go back to our mutual Friend, -Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and tell him to make his way--and quickly too--to -some obscure corner of the Country, for he also is up to the neck in -that damnable Conspiracy." - -This set my mind to a fresh train of thought. - -"Shall I to my Lord Stour by the same token?" I asked eagerly. - -"To my Lord Stour?" he queried, with a puzzled frown. "What for?" - -"To warn him," I replied. "Give him a chance of escape. I could tell -him you sent me," I added tentatively. - -He laughed. - -"No, no, my Friend," he said drily. "We'll not quite go to that length. -Give him a chance of Escape?" he reiterated. "And tell him I sent You? -No, no! He would only look upon my supposed Magnanimity as a sign of -cringing Humility, Obsequiousness and Terror of further Reprisals. No, -no, my Friend; I'll not give the gay young Spark another chance of -insulting me.... But let me think ... let me think ... Oh, if only I -had a few days before me, instead of a mere few hours! ... And if only -my Lady Castlemaine..." - -He paused, and I broke in on the impulse of the moment. - -"Oh, Sir! hath not the Countess of Castlemaine vowed often of late that -she would grant any Favour that the great Mr. Betterton would ask of -her?" - -No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I regretted them. It must -have been Instinct, for they seemed innocent enough at the time. My -only thought in uttering them was to suggest that at Mr. Betterton's -request the Traitors would be pardoned. My Lady Castlemaine in those -days held the King wholly under her Domination. And I still believed -that my Friend desired nothing so much at this moment than that my Lord -Stour should not die a Hero's death--a Martyr to the cause which the -beautiful Lady Barbara had at heart. - -But since that hour, whenever I have looked back upon the Sequence of -Events which followed on my impulsive Utterance, I could not help but -think that Destiny had put the words into my mouth. She had need of me -as her tool. What had to be, had to be. You, dear Mistress, can now -judge whether Mr. Betterton is still worthy of your Love, whether he is -still worthy to be taken back into your heart. For verily my words did -make the turning point in the workings of his Soul. But I should never -have dared to tell you all that happened, face to face, and I desired to -speak of the matter impartially. Therefore I chose the medium of a pen, -so that I might make You understand and, understanding, be ready to -forgive. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - - A LAST CHANCE - - - 1 - - -Of course, what happened subsequently, I can only tell for the most part -from what Mr. Betterton told me himself, and also from one or two facts -revealed to me by Mistress Floid. - -At the moment, Mr. Betterton commended me for my Suggestion, rested his -hand with all his former affectionate Manner upon my shoulder, and said -quite simply: - -"I thank you, friend, for reminding me of this. My Lady Castlemaine did -indeed last night intimate to me that she felt ready to grant any Favour -I might ask of her. Well! I will not put her Magnanimity to an over -severe test. Come with me, friend Honeywood. We'll to her Ladyship. -There will be plenty of time after that to go and warn that worthy Mr. -Baggs and my equally worthy Sister. I should not like them to end their -days upon the Scaffold. So heroic an ending doth not seem suitable to -their drabby Existence, and would war with all preconceived Dramatic -Values." - -He then called to his man and ordered a couple of linkmen to be in -readiness to guide us through the Streets, as these were far from safe -for peaceful Pedestrians after dark! Then he demanded his hat and -cloak, and a minute or so later he bade me follow him, and together we -went out of the house. - - - - 2 - - -It was now raining heavily, and we wrapped our Cloaks tightly round our -Shoulders, speeding along as fast as we could. The streets were almost -deserted and as dreary as London streets alone can be on a November -evening. Only from the closed Windows of an occasional Tavern or -Coffee-house did a few rays of bright light fall across the road, -throwing a vivid bar of brilliance athwart our way, and turning the -hundreds of Puddles into shining reflections, like so many glimmering -Stars. - -For the rest, we were dependent on the linkmen, who walked ahead of us, -swinging their Lanterns for Guidance on our path. Being somewhat timid -by nature, I had noted with satisfaction that they both carried stout -Cudgels, for of a truth there were many Marauders about on dark nights -such as this, Footpads and Highway Robbers, not to mention those bands -of young Rakes, who found pleasure in "scouring" the streets o' nights -and molesting the belated Wayfarer. - -Mr. Betterton, too, carried a weighted stick, and he was a Man whom -clean, sturdy living had rendered both athletic and powerful. We were -soon, both of us, wet to the Skin, but Mr. Betterton appeared quite -oblivious of discomfort. He walked with a quick step, and I perforce -had to keep up with him as best I could. - -He had told me, before we started out, that he was bent for my Lady -Castlemaine's House, the rear of which looks down upon the Gardens of -White Hall. I knew the way thither just as well as he did. Great was -my astonishment, therefore, when having reached the bottom of King -Street, when we should have turned our steps northwards, Mr. Betterton -suddenly ordered the linkmen to proceed through Palace Yard in the -direction of Westminster Stairs. - -I thought that he was suffering from a fit of absent-mindedness, which -was easily understandable on account of his agitated Frame of Mind; and -presently I called his attention to his mistake. He paid no heed to me, -however, and continued to walk on until we were some way up Canon's Row. - -Here he called to his linkmen to halt, and himself paused; then caught -hold of my cloak, and dragged me under the shelter of a great gateway -belonging to one of those noble Mansions which front the River. And he -said to me, in a strange and peremptory Voice, hardly raised above a -Whisper: - -"Do You know where we are, Honeywood?" - -"Yes," I said, not a little surprised at the question. "We are at the -South End of Canon's Row. I know this part very well, having often----" - -"Very well, then," he broke in, still in the same imperious Manner. -"You know that we are under the gateway belonging to the Town Mansion of -the Earl of Stour, and that the house is some twenty yards up the -fore-court." - -"I know the house," I replied, "now you mention it." - -"Then you will go to my Lord Stour now, Honeywood," my Friend went on. - -"To warn him?" I queried eagerly, for of a truth I was struck with -Admiration at this excess of Magnanimity on the part of an injured Man. - -"No," Mr. Betterton replied curtly. "You will go to my Lord Stour as my -Friend and Intermediary. You will tell him that I sent You, because I -desire to know if he hath changed his mind, and if he is ready to give -me Satisfaction for the Insult, which he put upon me nigh on two months -ago." - -I could not restrain a gasp of surprise. - -"But----" I stammered. - -"You are not going to play me false, Honeywood," he said simply. - -That I swore I would not do. Indeed, he knew well enough that if he -commanded me to go to the outermost ends of the Earth on his errand, or -to hold parley with the Devil on his behalf, I would have been eager and -ready to do it. - -But I must confess that at this moment I would sooner have parleyed with -the Devil than with the Earl of Stour. The Man whom I had denounced, -You understand. I felt that the shadow of Death--conjured by me, -menacing and unevasive--would perhaps lie 'twixt him and me whilst I -spoke with him. Yet how could I demur when my Friend besought me?--my -Friend, who was gravely troubled because of me. - -I promised that I would do as he wished. Whereupon he gave me full -instructions. Never had so strange a task been put upon a simple-minded -Plebeian: for these were matters pertaining to Gentlemen. I knew less -than nothing of Duels, Affairs of Honour, or such like; yet here was -I--John Honeywood, an humble Attorney's Clerk--sent to convey a -challenge for a Duel to a high and noble Lord, in the manner most -approved by Tradition. - -I was ready to swoon with Fright; for, in truth, I am naught but a timid -Rustic. In spite of the cold and the rain I felt a rush of hot blood -coursing up and down my Spine. But I learned my Lesson from end to end, -and having mastered it, I did not waver. - -Leaving Mr. Betterton under the shelter of the gateway, I boldly crossed -the fore-court and mounted the couple of steps which led up to the front -door of the Mansion. The fore-court and the front of the House were -very dark, and I was not a little afraid of Night Prowlers, who, they do -say, haunt the immediate Purlieus of these stately Abodes of the -Nobility, ready to fall upon any belated Visitor who might be foolish -enough to venture out alone. - -Indeed, everything around me was so still and seemed so desolate that an -Access of Fear seized me, whilst I vainly tried to grope for the -bell-handle in the Darkness. I very nearly gave way to my Cowardice -then and there, and would have run back to my Friend or called out to -the Linkmen for their Company, only that at the very moment my Hand came -in contact with the iron bell pull, and fastened itself instinctively -upon it. - -Whereupon the clang of the Bell broke the solemn Silence which reigned -around. - - - - 3 - - -I had grave Difficulty in obtaining access to my Lord Stour, his Servant -telling me in the first instance that his Lordship was not at home, and -in the second that he was in any event too busy to receive Visitors at -this hour. But I have oft been told that I possess the Obstinacy of the -Weak, and I was determined that, having come so far, I would not return -to Mr. Betterton without having accomplished mine Errand. So, seeing -that the Servant, with the Officiousness and Insolence of his kind, was -about to slam the door in my face, an Inspiration seized me, and taking -on a haughty Air, I stepped boldly across the Threshold and then -commanded the Menial to go to his Lordship at once and announce the -visit 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 good -deal of hem-ming and hawing, the Varlet apparently felt that -non-compliance with my Desire might bring contumely upon himself; so he -went, leaving me most unceremoniously to cool my heels in the Hall, and -returned but a very few minutes later looking distinctly crestfallen and -not a little astonished. - -His Lordship would see me at once, he announced. Then bade me follow him -up the stairs. - -To say that my Heart was beating furiously within my Breast would be but -a bald Statement of my Frame of Mind. I fully expected that his -Lordship, 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 not -given much time to indulge in my Conjectures and my Fears, for presently -I was ushered into a large room, dimly lighted by a couple of wax -candles and the Walls of which, I noticed, were entirely lined with -Books. - -After the Menial had closed the door behind me, a Voice bade me curtly -to come forward and to state mine Errand. Then I saw that my Lord Stour -was not alone. He was sitting in a chair in front of the fire, and -opposite to him sat the beautiful Lady Barbara, whilst standing in front -of the hearth, with legs apart and hands thrust in the pockets of his -breeches, was Lord Douglas Wychwoode. - -What Courage was left in me now went down into my shoes. I felt like a -Man faced with three Enemies where he had only expected to meet one. My -Throat felt very dry and my Tongue seemed to cleave to my Palate. -Nevertheless, in response to a reiterated curt Command to state mine -Errand, I did so unfalteringly. - -"Mr. Thomas Betterton, one of His Majesty's Well-Beloved Servants," I -said, "hath sent me to his Lordship the Earl of Stour." - -My Words were greeted with an angry Oath from Lord Douglas, an ironical -Laugh 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 have -been 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----" his -Lordship began coldly, and would no doubt have dismissed me then and -there, but that the Lady Barbara interposed gently yet with great -Firmness. - -"I pray You, my Lord," she said, "do not be over-hasty. We might at -least listen to what Mr. Betterton's Messenger has to say." - -"Yes," added Lord Douglas in his habitual brusque Manner. "Let us hear -what the Fellow wants." - -This was not encouraging, you will admit; but, like many over-timid -People, there are times when I am conscious of unwonted Calm and -Determination. So even now I confronted these two supercilious Gentlemen -with as much Dignity as I could command, and said, addressing myself -directly to the Earl of Stour: - -"Mr. Betterton hath sent me to You, my Lord, to demand Satisfaction for -the abominable Outrage which You perpetrated upon his Person nigh on two -months 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 brought -saner Reflection. Mr. Betterton's Fame and his Genius have raised him -to a level far above that conferred by mere Birth." - -"Have made a Gentleman of him, You mean?" Lord Stour rejoined with a -sarcastic 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 worthy -Friend that two hundred years hence my Descendants might fight him on a -comparatively equal Footing. But until then," he added firmly and -conclusively, "I must repeat for the last time what I have already told -Mr.--er--Betterton: the Earl of Stour cannot cross Swords with a -Mountebank." - -"Take care, my Lord, take care----" - -The Exclamation had burst quite involuntarily from my Lips. The next -moment I felt ashamed to have uttered it, for my Lord Stour looked me up -and down as he would an importunate Menial, and Lord Douglas Wychwoode -strode 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 desired -to retain one last Shred of Dignity both for myself and for the great -Artist who--in my Person this time--had once again been so profoundly -humiliated. - -My wet cloak I had left down in the Hall, but I still held my hat in my -hands. I now bowed with as much Grace as I could muster. Lord Douglas -still pointed a peremptory finger towards the door, making it clear that -I was not going of mine own Accord, like the Intermediary of any -Gentleman might be, but that I was being kicked out like some insolent -Varlet. - -Oh! the shame of it! The shame! - -My ears were tingling, my temples throbbing. A crimson Veil, thrust -before mine eyes by invisible Hands, caused my footsteps to falter. Oh! -if only I had had the strength, I should even then have turned upon -those 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 suffered -such 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 as -I crossed the landing meseemed that I heard the Lady Barbara's voice -raised in a kind of terrified Appeal. - -"Would to God, my dear Lord," she appeared to plead with passionate -Earnestness, "You had not incurred the Enmity of that Man. Ever since -that awful day I have felt as if You were encompassed by Spirits of Hate -and of Vengeance which threaten our Happiness." - -Her Voice broke in a sob. And, indeed, I found it in my heart to pity -her, for she seemed deeply grieved. I still could hear him--her Lover -and mine Enemy, since he was the Enemy of my Friend--trying to laugh -away her fears. - -"Nay, sweetheart," he was saying tenderly. "A Man like that can do us -no harm. Mine own Conscience is clear--my Life honourable--and to-night -will 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 a -toothless cur. So do not waste these precious moments, my Beloved, by -thinking 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 the -House. - -Never should I have believed that a human Heart could contain so much -Hatred as mine held for my Lord Stour at that moment. - - - - 4 - - -I found Mr. Betterton waiting for me under the Gateway where I had left -him a quarter of an hour ago. - -As soon as he heard my footsteps upon the uneven pavement of the -fore-court, he came forward to meet me, took hold of my cloak and -dragged me back into shelter. - -He only said the one word: "Well?" but it is not in my power, dear -Mistress, to render adequately all that there was of Anxiety, Impatience -and of Passion in that one brief Query. - -I suppose that I hesitated. Of a truth the Message which I was bringing -was choking me. And he who is so sensitive, so understanding, learned -everything, 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 a -wounded Animal, escaped his Throat and for a moment we were both -silent--so silent that the patter of the rain appeared like some -thunderous Noise: and the divers sounds of the great City wrapped in the -Cloak of Evening came to us with sharp and eerie Distinctness. Far -away, a dog barked; some belated Chairman called: "Make room, there!"; a -couple of Watchmen passed close by, clinking their halberts against the -ground, and from one of the noble Mansions nigh to us there came the -sound of Revelry and of Laughter. - -I felt like in a Dream, conscious only that the Finger of Destiny was -pointing to the Dial of a Clock, and that I was set here to count the -Seconds and the Minutes until that ghostly Finger had completed its task -and registered the final Hour when the Decrees of God would inevitably -be 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 renewed -Outrage that had been put upon my beloved Friend, I had well-nigh -forgotten that secret conspiracy which was even now threatening the -stability of our Country, and in which my former Employer and his Spouse -were 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 more -aristocratic co-traitors. And, strangely enough, Mr. Betterton thought -of this at the very same time. He had been sunk in moody Reverie ever -since my Silence had told him the grim tale of my unsuccessful Embassy -to the Earl of Stour, and through the darkness it was impossible even -for my devoted eyes to watch the Play of Emotions upon his tell-tale -face, or to read in his eyes the dark thoughts which I knew must be -coursing through his Brain. - -In myself, I could not help but be satisfied at the turn of Events. The -Conspirators, denounced by me to the Countess of Castlemaine, would of a -certainty meet the Punishment which they so fully deserved. Lord Stour -was one of them, so was Lord Douglas Wychwoode. The Scaffold, or at -least, Banishment, would be their lot, and how could I grieve--I, who -hated them so!--that the Earth would presently be rid of two arrogant -and supercilious Coxcombs, Traitors to their King, vainglorious and -self-seeking. True, the Lady Barbara would weep. But when I remembered -the many bitter tears which you, dear Mistress, have shed these past -months 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 Shame -at the hands of Men unworthy to lick the dust at his feet; when I -remembered all that, I could find no Pity in my heart for the Lady -Barbara, but rather a Hope that one so exquisitely fair would pass -through Sorrow and Adversity the purer and softer for the Ordeal. - -True again, that for some reason still unexplained Mr. Betterton -appeared to desire with an almost passionate intensity that his -successful Rival should escape the fate of his fellow-Conspirators. -Such Magnanimity was beyond my Comprehension, and I felt that the -Sentiment which engendered it could not be a lasting one. Mr. Betterton -was for the moment angry with me--very angry--for what I had done; but -his 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 latter -had expiated his Treachery and his Arrogance upon the Scaffold. The -whole of this hideous past Episode would then become a mere Memory, like -unto a nightmare which the healthful freshness of the newly-born Day so -quickly dispels. - - - - 2 - - -So on the whole it was with a lightened heart that I stepped into the -boat in the wake of Mr. Betterton. I thanked the Lord that the Rain had -ceased for the moment, for truly I was chilled to the Marrow and could -not have borne another wetting. - -Every Angle and Stone and Stair and Landing Stage along the Embankment -was of course familiar to me; and I could not help falling into a -Reverie at sight of those great houses which were the City homes of some -of the noblest Families in the Land. How many of these stately walls, -thought I, sheltered a nest of Conspirators as vile and as disloyal as -were Lord Douglas Wychwoode and his friends? Suffolk House and Yorke -House, Salisbury House and Worster House, to mention but a few. How did -the mere honest Citizen know what went on behind their Portals, what -deadly secrets were whispered within their doors? - -I had been taught all my life to respect those who are above me in -Station and to reverence our titled Nobility; but truly my short -Experience of these high-born Sparks was not calculated to enhance my -Respect for their Integrity or my Admiration for their Intellect. Some -older Gentlemen there were, such as the Lord Chancellor himself, who -were worthy of Everybody's regard; but I must confess that the Behaviour -of the younger Fops was oft blameworthy. - -I might even instance our Experience this dark night after we had landed -at the Temple Stairs, and were hurrying along our way up Middle Temple -Lane in the wake of our linkmen. We were speeding on, treading -carefully so as to avoid as much as was possible the mud which lay -ankle-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, did -it in prowling about the Streets, insulting or maltreating peaceable -Passers-by, molesting Women, breaking Tavern windows, stealing -Signboards and otherwise rendering themselves noxious to honest -Citizens, and helping to make the Streets of our great City an object of -terror by night, in emulation of highway Robbers and other foul -Marauders. - -No doubt Mr. Betterton and I would--despite the aid of our two linkmen -and of their stout Cudgels--have fallen a victim to these odious -Miscreants, and the great Actor would of a surety have been very rudely -treated, since he had so often denounced these Mal-practices from the -Stage and held up to public Ridicule not only the young Rakes who took -part in the riotous Orgies, but also our Nightwatchmen, who were too -stupid or too cowardly to cope with them. But, knowing our danger, we -avoided it, and hearing the young Mohocks coming our way we slipped up -Hare Alley and bided our time until the noise of Revels and Riotings -were well behind us. - -I heard afterwards that those Abominable Debauchees--who surely should -have known better, seeing that they were all Scions of great and noble -Families--had indeed "scoured" that night with some purpose. They broke -into Simond's Inn in Fleet Street, smashed every Piece of Crockery they -could find there, assaulted the Landlord, beat the Customers about, -broke open the money-box, stole some five pounds in hard cash and -insulted the waiting-maids. Finally they set a seal to their Revels by -falling on the Nightwatchmen who had come to disperse them, beating them -with their own halberts and with sticks, and wounding one so severely -that he ultimately died in Hospital, while the Miscreants themselves got -off 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 Lane -without serious Adventure. As we neared the house of Mr. Theophilus -Baggs, however, I felt my Courage oozing down into my shoes. Truly I -could 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 shaming -force. - -I begged Mr. Betterton, therefore, to go and speak with Mr. Baggs whilst -I remained waiting outside upon the doorstep. - -Of all that miserable day, this was perhaps to me the most painful -moment. From the instant that Mr. Betterton was admitted into the house -until he returned to me some twenty minutes later, I was in a cold -sweat, devoured with Apprehension and fighting against Remorse. I could -not forget that Mr. Baggs had been my Master and Employer--if not too -kind an one--for years, and if he had been sent to the Tower and -accompanied his fellow Conspirators upon the Scaffold, I verily believe -that I should have felt like Judas Iscariot and, like him, would have -been unable to endure my life after such a base Betrayal. - -Fortunately, however, Mr. Betterton was soon able to reassure me. He -had, he said, immediately warned Mr. Baggs that something of the Secret -of 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 be -wise 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 of -losing his Head and committing some act of Folly through sheer fright. -But Mr. Betterton's quieting Influence soon prevailed. The worthy -Attorney, on thinking the matter over, realized that if he destroyed -certain Documents which might prove incriminating to himself, he would -have little else to fear. He himself had never written a compromising -Letter--he was far too shrewd to have thus committed himself--and there -was not a scrap of paper in any one else's possession which bore his -Name or might mark his Identity, whilst he had not the slightest fear -that the other Conspirators--who were all of them Gentlemen--would -betray the Complicity of an humble Attorney who had rendered them loyal -Service. - -Strangely enough, Mr. Baggs never suspected me of having betrayed the -whole thing; or, if he did, he never said so. So many People plotted -these days, so many Conspiracies were hatched then blown upon, that I -for one imagine that Mr. Baggs had a hand in several of these and was -paid high Fees for his share in them. Then, when anything untoward -happened, when mere Chance, or else a Traitor among the Traitors, caused -the Conspiracy to abort, the worthy Attorney would metaphorically shake -the dust of political Intrigue from his shabby shoes, and make a bonfire -of every compromising Document that might land him in the Tower and -further. After which, he was no doubt ready to begin all over again. - -So it had occurred in this instance. Mr. Betterton did not wait to see -the bonfire, which was just beginning to blaze merrily in the -old-fashioned hearth. He told me all about it when he joined me once -more upon the doorstep, and for the first time that day I heard him -laugh quite naturally and spontaneously while he recounted to me Mr. -Baggs' Terrors and Mistress Euphrosine's dignified Fussiness. - -"She would have liked to find some Pretext," he said quite gaily, "for -blaming me in the Matter. But on the whole, I think that they were both -thankful for my timely Warning." - - - - 4 - - -But, as far as I was concerned, this ended once and for all my -Connection with the house of Mr. Theophilus Baggs, and since that -memorable night I have never once slept under his roof. - -I went back with Mr. Betterton to his House in Tothill Street. By the -time we reached it, it was close on ten o'clock. Already he had -intimated to me that henceforth I was to make my home with him; and as -soon as we entered the House he ordered his Servant to make my room and -bed ready for me. My Heart was filled with inexpressible gratitude at -his Kindness. Though I had, in an altogether inexplicable manner, run -counter to his Plans, he was ready to forgive me and did not withdraw -his Friendship from me. - -As time went on, I was able to tell him something of the Emotions which -coursed through my Heart in recognition of his measureless Kindness to -me; but on that first evening I could not speak of it. When I first -beheld the cosy room which he had assigned to me, with its clean and -comfortable bed and substantial furniture, I could only bow my Head, -take his Hand and kiss it reverently. He withdrew it as if he had been -stung. - -"Keep such expressions of Respect," he said almost roughly, "for one who -is worthy." - -"You," I riposted simply, "are infinitely worthy, because You are good." - -Then once again his harsh, mirthless Laugh--so unlike his usual -light-hearted Merriment--grated upon mine ear. - -"Good!" he exclaimed. "Nay, friend Honeywood, You are not, meseems, a -master of intuition. Few Hearts in London this night," he added -earnestly, "harbour such evil Desires as mine." - -But in spite of what he said, in spite of that strange look in his eyes, -that Laugh which proclaimed a perturbed Soul, I could not bring myself -to believe that his noble Heart was a Prey to aught but noble Desires, -and that those awful and subtle Schemes of deadly Revenge which have -subsequently threatened to ruin his own Life were even now seething in -his Brain. - -For the moment, I only remembered that when first he had requested me to -accompany him on his evening Peregrinations, it had been with a view to -visiting the Countess of Castlemaine, and I now reminded him of his -Purpose, thinking that his desire had been to beg for my Lord Stour's -pardon. I did so, still insisting upon her Ladyship's avowed -Predilection for himself, and I noticed that while I spoke thus he -smiled grimly to himself and presently said with slow Deliberation: - -"Aye! Her Ladyship hath vowed that out of Gratitude for his public -Eulogy of her Virtue and her Beauty, she would grant Mr. Thomas -Betterton any Favour he might ask of her." - -"Aye! and her Ladyship is not like to go back on her word," I assented -eagerly. - -"Therefore," he continued, not heeding me, "the Countess of Castlemaine, -who in her turn can obtain any Favour she desires from His Majesty the -King, will at my request obtain a full and gracious Pardon for the Earl -of Stour." - -"She will indeed!" I exclaimed, puzzled once more at this strange trait -of Magnanimity--Weakness, I called it--on the part of a Man who had on -two occasions been so monstrously outraged. "You are a hero, Sir," I -added in an awed whisper, "to think of a pardon for your most deadly -Enemy." - -He turned and looked me full in the eyes. I could scarce bear his -Glance, for there seemed to dwell within its glowing depths such a World -of Misery, of Hatred and of thwarted Passion, that my Soul was filled -with dread at the sight. And he said very slowly: - -"You are wrong there, my Friend. I was not thinking of a pardon for -mine Enemy, but of Revenge for a deadly Insult, which it seems cannot be -wiped out in Blood." - - - - 5 - - -I would have said something more after that, for in truth my Heart was -full of Sympathy and of Love for my Friend and I longed to soothe and -console him, as I felt I could do, humble and unsophisticated though I -was. Thoughts of You, dear Mistress, were running riot in my Brain. I -longed at this momentous hour, when the Fate of many Men whom I knew was -trembling in the balance, to throw myself at Mr. Betterton's feet and to -conjure him in the name of all his most noble Instincts to give up all -thoughts of the proud Lady who had disdained him and spurned his -Affections, and to turn once more to the early and pure Love of his -Life--to You, dear Mistress, whose Devotion had been so severely tried -and yet had not been found wanting, and whose influence had always been -one of Gentleness and of Purity. - -But, seeing him sitting there brooding, obviously a Prey to Thoughts -both deep and dark, I did not dare speak, and remained silent in the -hope that, now that I was settled under his roof, an Opportunity would -occur for me to tell him what weighed so heavily on my Heart. - -Presently the Servant came in and brought Supper, and Mr. Betterton sat -down to it, bidding me with perfect Grace and Hospitality to sit -opposite to him. But we neither of us felt greatly inclined to eat. I -was hungry, it is true; yet every Morsel which I conveyed to my mouth -cost me an effort to swallow. This was all the more remarkable as at -the moment my whole Being was revelling in the Succulence of the fare -spread out before me, the Excellence of the Wine, the snowy Whiteness of -the Cloths, the Beauty of Crystal and of Silver, all of which bore -testimony to the fastidious Taste and the Refinement of the great -Artist. - -Of the great Events which were even then shaping themselves in White -Hall, we did not speak. We each knew that the Other's mind was full of -what might be going on even at this hour. But Mr. Betterton made not a -single Reference to it, and I too, therefore, held my tongue. In fact, -we spoke but little during Supper, and as I watched my dearly loved -Friend toying with his food, and I myself felt as if the next mouthful -would choke me, I knew his Mind was far away. - -It was fixed upon White Hall and its stately Purlieus and upon the house -of the Countess of Castlemaine, which overlooked the Privy Gardens, and -of His Majesty the King. His senses, I knew, were strained to catch the -sound of distant Murmurs, of running Footsteps, of the grinding of Arms -or of pistol shots. - -But not a Sound came to disturb the peaceful Silence of this comfortable -Abode. The Servant came and went, bringing food, then clearing it away, -pouring Wine into our glasses, setting and removing the silver Utensils. - -Anon Mr. Betterton and I both started and furtively caught one another's -Glance. The tower clock of Westminster was striking eleven. - -"For Good or for Evil, all is over by now," Mr. Betterton said quietly. -"Come, friend Honeywood; let's to bed." - -I went to bed, but not to sleep. For hours I lay awake, wondering what -had happened. Had the Conspirators succeeded and was His Majesty a -Prisoner in their hands? or were they themselves Captives in that -frowning Edifice by the Water, which had witnessed so many Deaths and -such grim Tragedies, and from which the only Egress led straight to the -Scaffold? - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - - RUMOURS AND CONJECTURES - - - 1 - - -Very little of what had actually occurred came to the ear of the Public. -In fact, not one Man in ten in the whole of the Cities of London and -Westminster knew that a couple of hours before midnight, when most -simple and honest Citizens were retiring to their beds, a batch of -dangerous Conspirators had been arrested even within the Precincts of -White Hall. - -I heard all that there was to know from Mr. Betterton, who went out -early the following Morning and returned fully informed of the events of -the preceding Night. Subsequently too, I gleaned a good deal of -information through the instrumentality of Mistress Floid. As far as I -could gather, the Conspirators did carry out their Project just as they -had decided on it in my Presence. They did assemble in King Street and -in the by-lanes leading out of it, keeping my Lady Castlemaine's House -in sight, whilst others succeeded in Concealing themselves about the -Gardens of White Hall, no doubt with the Aid of treacherous and suborned -Watchmen. - -The striking of the hour of ten was to be the signal for immediate and -concerted Action. Those in the Gardens stood by on the watch, until -after His Majesty the King had walked across from his Palace to Her -Ladyship's House. His Majesty, as was his wont when supping with Lady -Castlemaine, entered her house by the back door, and his Servants -followed him into the house. - -Then the Conspirators waited for the Hour to strike. Directly the last -clang of church bells had ceased to reverberate through the humid -evening air, they advanced both from the Back and the Front of the House -simultaneously, when they were set upon on the one side by a Company of -His Majesty's Body Guard under the Command of Major Sachvrell, who had -remained concealed inside the Palace, and on the other by a Company of -Halberdiers under the Command of Colonel Powick. - -When the Traitors were thus confronted by loyal Troops, they tried to -put up a Fight, not realizing that such measures had been taken by Major -Sachvrell and Colonel Powick that they could not possibly hope to -escape. - -A scuffle ensued, but the Conspirators were very soon overpowered, as -indeed they were greatly outnumbered. The Neighbourhood--even then -slumbering peacefully--did no more than turn over in bed, marvelling -perhaps if a party of Mohocks on mischief bent had come in conflict with -a Posse of Night-watchmen. The Prisoners were at once marched to the -Tower, despite the Rain which had once more begun to fall heavily; and -during the long, wearisome Tramp through the City, their Ardour for -Conspiracies and Intrigues must have cooled down considerably. - -The Lieutenant of the Tower had everything ready for the Reception of -such exalted Guests; for in truth my Lady Castlemaine had not allowed -things to be done by halves. Incensed against her Enemies in a manner -in which only an adulated and spoilt Woman can be, she was going to see -to it that those who had plotted against her should be as severely dealt -with as the Law permitted. - - - - 2 - - -Later on, I had it from my friend, Mistress Floid, that the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode visited the Countess of Castlemaine during the course of the -morning. She arrived at her Ladyship's House dressed in black and with -a Veil, as if of mourning, over her fair Hair. - -Mistress Floid hath oft told me that the Interview between the two -Ladies was truly pitiable, and that the Lady Barbara presented a -heart-rending Spectacle. She begged and implored her Ladyship to -exercise Mercy over a few young Hotheads, who had been misled into -Wrong-doing by inflammatory Speeches from Agitators, these being naught -but paid Agents of the Dutch Government, she averred, set to create -Discontent and if possible Civil War once again in England, so that -Holland might embark upon a War of Revenge with some Certainty of -Success. - -But the Countess of Castlemaine would not listen to the Petition at all, -and proud Lady Barbara Wychwoode then flung herself at the other Woman's -feet and begged and implored for Pardon for her Brother, her Lover and -her Friends. Mistress Floid avers that my Lady Castlemaine did nothing -but laugh at the poor Girl's pleadings, saying in a haughty, -supercilious Manner: - -"Beauty in tears? 'Tis a pretty sight, forsooth! But had your Friends -succeeded in their damnable Plot, would You have shed tears of sympathy -for Me, I wonder?" - -And I could not find it in me to be astonished at my Lady Castlemaine's -Spitefulness, for in truth the Lady Barbara's Friends had plotted her -Disgrace and Ruin. Not only that, they had taken every opportunity of -vilifying her Character and making her appear as odious in the Eyes of -the People as they very well could. - -You must not infer from this, dear Mistress, that I am upholding my Lady -Castlemaine in any way. Her mode of life is abhorrent to me and I deeply -regret her Influence over His Majesty and over the public Morals of the -Court Circle, not to say of the entire Aristocracy and Gentry. I am -merely noting the fact that human Nature being what it is, it is not to -be wondered at that when the Lady had a Chance of hitting back, she did -so with all her Might, determined to lose nothing of this stupendous -Revenge. - -However secret the actual Arrest of the Conspirators was kept from -public Knowledge, it soon transpired that such great and noble Gentlemen -as Lord Teammouth, Lord Douglas Wychwoode, the Earl of Stour, not to -mention others, were in the Tower, and that a sensational Trial for -Conspiracy and High Treason was pending. - -Gradually the History of the Plot had leaked out, and how it had become -abortive owing to an anonymous Denunciation (for so it was called). The -Conspiracy became the talk of the Town. Several Ladies and Gentlemen, -though not directly implicated in the Affair, but of known -ultra-Protestant views, thought it best to retire to their Country -Estates, ostensibly for the benefit of their Health. - -Sinister Rumours were afloat that the Conspirators would be executed -without Trial--had already suffered the extreme Penalty of the Law; that -the Marquis of Sidbury, Father of Lord Douglas Wychwoode, had suddenly -died of Grief; that Torture would be applied to the proletarian -Accomplices of the noble Lords--of whom there were many--so as to -extract further Information and Denunciations from them. In fact, the -Town seethed with Conjectures; People talked in Whispers and dispersed -at sight of any one who was known to belong to the Court Circle. The -Theatres played to empty Benches, the Exchanges and Shops were deserted, -for no one liked to be abroad when Arrests and Prosecutions were in the -Air. - -Through it all, very great Sympathy was evinced for the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode, whose pretty Face was so well-known in Town and whose Charm -of Manner and kindly Disposition had endeared her to many who had had -the privilege of her Acquaintance. Public Opinion is a strange and -unaccountable Factor in the Affairs of Men, and Public Opinion found it -terribly hard that so young and adulated a Girl as was the Lady Barbara -should at one fell swoop lose Brother, Lover and Friends. And I may -truly say that Satisfaction was absolutely genuine and universal when it -became known presently that the young Earl of Stour had received a full -and gracious Pardon for his supposed Share in the abominable Plot. - -Whether, on closer Investigation, he had been proved innocent or whether -the Pardon was due to exalted or other powerful Influences, no one knew -as yet: all that was a Certainty was that my Lord Stour presently left -the Tower a free Man even whilst his Friends were one and all brought to -Trial, and subsequently most of them executed for High Treason, or -otherwise severely punished. - -Lord Teammouth suffered Death upon the Scaffold, so did Sir James -Campsfield and Mr. Andrew Kinver; and there were others, whose Names -escape me for the moment. Lord Douglas Wychwoode succeeded in fleeing -to Scotland and thence to Holland; most people averred owing to the -marvellous Pluck and Ingenuity of his Sister. A number of Persons of -meaner degree were hanged; in fact, a Reign of Terror swept over the -country, and many thought that the Judges had been unduly harsh and over -free with their Pronouncements of Death Sentences. - -But it was obvious that His Majesty himself meant to make an Example of -such abominable Traitors, before political Intrigues and Rebellion -spread over the Country once again. - -It was all the more strange, therefore, that one of the -Conspirators--the Earl of Stour, in fact, whose name had been most -conspicuous in connection with the Affair--should thus have been the -only one to enjoy Immunity. But, as I said before, nothing but -Satisfaction was expressed at first for this one small Ray of Sunshine -which came to brighten poor Lady Barbara Wychwoode's Misery. - -As for me, I did not know what to think. Surely my heart should have -been filled with Admiration for the noble Revenge which a great Artist -had taken upon a hot-headed young Coxcomb. Such Magnanimity was indeed -unbelievable; nay, I felt that it showed a Weakness of Character of -which in my innermost Heart I did not believe Mr. Betterton capable. - -To say that I was much rejoiced over the Clemency shown to my Lord Stour -would be to deviate from the Truth. Looking back upon the Motives which -had actuated me when I denounced the infamous Plot to the Countess of -Castlemaine, I could not help but admit to myself that Hatred of a young -Jackanapes and a Desire for Vengeance upon his impudent Head had greatly -influenced my Course of Action. Now that I imagined him once more -kneeling at the Lady Barbara's feet, an accepted Lover, triumphant over -Destiny, all the Sympathy which I may have felt for him momentarily in -the hour of his Adversity, died out completely from my Heart, and I felt -that I hated him even more virulently than before. - -His Image, as he had last stood before me in the dimly-lighted room of -his noble Mansion, surrounded by Books, costly Furniture, and all the -Appurtenances of a rich and independent Gentleman, was constantly before -my Mind. I could, just by closing mine eyes, see him sitting beside the -hearth, with the lovely Lady Barbara beaming at him from the place -opposite, and his Friend standing by, backing him up with Word and Deed -in all his Arrogance and Overbearing. - -"The Earl of Stour cannot cross swords with a Mountebank." - -I seemed to hear those Words reverberating across the street like the -clank of some ghostly Bell; and whenever mine ears rang to their sound I -felt the hot Blood of a just Wrath surge up to my cheeks and my feeble -Hands would close in a Clutch, that was fierce as it was impotent. - - - - 3 - - -The reported Death from grief of the Marquis of Sidbury proved to be a -false Rumour. But the aged Peer did suffer severely from the Shame put -upon him by his Son's Treachery. The Wychwoodes had always been loyal -Subjects of their King. At the time of the late lamented Monarch's most -crying Adversity, he knew that he could always count on the Devotion of -that noble Family, the Members of which had jeopardized their entire -Fortune, their very Existence, in the royal Cause. - -Of course, the present Marquis's two Children were scarce out of the -Nursery 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 thought -that his only Son, as soon as he had reached Man's Estate, should have -raised his Hand against his Sovereign. - -No doubt owing to the disturbed State of many influential Circles of -Society that Winter, and the number of noble Families who were in -mourning after the aborted Conspiracy and the wholesale Executions that -ensued, the Marriage between the Lady Barbara Wychwoode and the Earl of -Stour was postponed until the Spring, and then it would take place very -quietly at the Bride's home in Sussex, whither she had gone of late with -her Father, both living there for a while in strict Retirement. - -Lord Douglas Wychwoode, so it was understood, had succeeded in reaching -Holland, where, I doubt not, he continued to carry on those political -Intrigues against his lawful Sovereign which would of a surety one day -bring him to an ignominious End. - -I was now living in the greatest Comfort and was supremely happy, in the -House of Mr. Betterton. He employed me as his Secretary, and in truth my -place was no sinecure, for I never could have believed that there were -so many foolish Persons in the World who spent their time in writing -Letters--laudatory or otherwise--to such great Men as were in the public -Eye. I myself, though I have always been a wholehearted Admirer of Men -of Talent and Erudition, would never have taken it upon myself to -trouble them with Effusions from my Pen. And yet Letter after Letter -would come to the house in Tothill Street, addressed to Mr. Thomas -Betterton. Some written by great and noble Ladies whose Names would -surprise You, dear Mistress, were I to mention them; others were from -Men of position and of learning who desired to express to the great -Artist all the Pleasure that they had derived from his rendering of -noble Characters. - -Mr. Pepys, a Gentleman of great knowledge and a Clerk in the Admiralty, -wrote quite frequently to Mr. Betterton, sometimes to express unstinted -Praise for the great Actor's Performance in one of his favourite Plays, -or sometimes venturing on Criticism, which was often shrewd and never -disdained. - -But, after all, am I not wasting time by telling You that which You, -dear Mistress, know well enough from your own personal Experience? I -doubt not but you receive many such Letters, both from Admirers and from -Friends, not to mention Enemies, who are always to the fore when a Man -or Woman rises by Talent or Learning above the dead level of the rest of -Humanity. - -It was then my duty to read those Letters and to reply to them, which I -did at Mr. Betterton's Dictation, and in my choicest Caligraphy with -many Embellishments such as I had learned whilst I was Clerk to Mr. -Baggs. Thus it was that I obtained Confirmation of the Fact which was -still agitating my Mind: namely, Mr. Betterton's share in the Events -which led to His Majesty's gracious Pardon being extended to the Earl of -Stour. I had, of course, more than suspected all along that it was my -Friend who had approached the Countess of Castlemaine on the Subject, -yet could not imagine how any Man, who was smarting under such a -terrible Insult, as Mr. Betterton had suffered at the hands of my Lord -Stour, could find it in his Heart thus to return Good for Evil, and with -such splendid Magnanimity. - -But here I had Chapter and Verse for the whole Affair, because my Lady -Castlemaine wrote to Mr. Betterton more than once upon the Subject, and -always in the same bantering tone, chaffing him for his Chivalry and his -Heroism, saying very much what I should myself, if I had had the Courage -or the Presumption to do so. She kept him well informed of her -Endeavours on behalf of Lord Stour, referring to the King's Severity and -Obstinacy in the matter in no measured Language, but almost invariably -closing her Epistles with a reiteration of her promise to the great -Artist 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 You -would 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 His -Majesty; but You cannot conceive in what a Predicament You have placed -me, for His Majesty hath shown signs of Suspicion since I plead so -earnestly on behalf of Lord Stour. If my Insistence were really to -arouse his Jealousy your Protege would certainly lose his Head and I -probably my Place in the King's Affections." - -And then again: - -"It greatly puzzles me why You should thus favour my Lord Stour. Is it -not 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 You -enjoin 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 that -for 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, the -Secret was so well kept that, even in this era of ceaseless Gossip and -Chatter, every one, even in the most intimate Court Circle, was ignorant -of the subtle Intrigue which had been set in motion on behalf of the -young Gallant. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - - POISONED ARROWS - - - 1 - - -Do you remember, dear Mistress, those lovely days we had in February -this year? They were more like days of Spring than of Winter. For a -fortnight we revelled in sunshine and a temperature more fitting for May -than for one of the Winter months. - -In London, Rich and Poor alike came out into the Air like flies; the -public Gardens and other Places of common resort were alive with -Promenaders; the Walks and Arbours in the Gray's Inn Walks or the -Mulberry Garden were astir with brilliant Company. All day, whether you -sauntered in Hyde Park, refreshed yourself with a collation in Spring -Gardens or strolled into the New Exchange, you would find such a crowd -of Men and Women of Mode, such a Galaxy of Beauty and Bevy of fair Maids -and gallant Gentlemen as had not been seen in the Town since that merry -month of May, nigh on two years ago now, when our beloved King returned -from Exile and all vied one with the other to give him a cheerful -Welcome. - -To say that this period was one of unexampled Triumph for Mr. Betterton -would be but to repeat what You know just as well as I do. He made some -truly remarkable hits in certain Plays of the late Mr. William -Shakespeare, notably in "Macbeth," in "King Lear," and in "Hamlett." -Whether I like these Plays myself or not is beside the point; whatever I -thought of them I kept to myself, but was loud in my Admiration of the -great Actor, who indeed had by now conquered all Hearts, put every other -Performer in the Shade and raised the Status of the Duke's Company of -Players 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 the -younger generation of Play-goers who flock to the Theatre in Lincoln's -Inn Fields, even while the King's House in Vere Street is receiving but -scanty Patronage. Of course my Judgment may not be altogether -impartial, seeing that in addition to Mr. Betterton, who is the finest -Actor our English Stage has ever known, the Duke's House also boasts of -the loveliest Actress that ever walked before the Curtain. - -You, dear Mistress, were already then, as You are now, at the zenith of -your Beauty and Fame, and your damask Cheeks would blush, I know, if you -were to read for yourself some of the Eulogies which the aforementioned -Mr. Samuel Pepys in his Letters to Mr. Betterton bestows upon the -exquisite Mistress Saunderson--"Ianthe," as he has been wont to call you -ever since he saw You play that part in Sir William Davenant's "The -Siege of Rhodes." - -Of course I know that of late no other sentimental tie hath existed -outwardly between Mr. Betterton and Yourself save that of Comradeship -and friendly Intercourse; but often when sitting in the Pit of the -Theatre I watched You and Him standing together before the curtain, and -receiving the Plaudits of an enthusiastic Audience, I prayed to God in -my Heart to dissipate the Cloud of Misunderstanding which had arisen -between You; aye! and I cursed fervently the Lady Barbara and her noble -Lover, who helped to make that Cloud more sombre and impenetrable. - - - - 2 - - -I naturally heard a great deal more of Society Gossip these days than I -was wont to do during the time that I was a mere Clerk in the Employ of -Mr. Theophilus Baggs. My kind Employer treated me more as a Friend than -a Servant. I had fine Clothes to wear, accompanied him on several -Occasions when he appeared in Public, and was constantly in his -tiring-room at the Theatre, where he received and entertained a -never-ending Stream of Friends. - -Thus, towards the end of the Month, I gathered from the Conversation of -Gentlemen around me that the Marquess of Sidbury had come up to Town in -the Company of his beautiful Daughter. He had, they said, taken -advantage of the fine Weather to make the Journey to London, as he -desired to consult the Court Physician on the Matter of his Health. - -I shall never forget the strange Look that came into Mr. Betterton's -face when first the Subject was mentioned. He and some Friends--Ladies -as well as Gentlemen--were assembled in the small Reception Room which -hath lately been fitted up behind the Stage. Upholstered and curtained -with a pleasing Shade of Green, the Room is much frequented by Artists -and their Friends, and it is always crowded during the Performance of -those 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 the -occasion of a performance of Mr. Webster's "Duchess of Malfy," in which -You, dear Mistress, had no part, a very brilliant Company was assembled. -Sir William Davenant was there, as a matter of course, so was Sir George -Etherege, and that brilliant young dramatist Mr. Wycherley. In addition -to that, there were one or two very great Gentlemen there, members of -the Court Circle and enthusiastic Playgoers, who were also intimate -Friends of Mr. Betterton. I am referring particularly to the Duke of -Buckingham, to my Lord Rochester, Lord Orrery and others. A brilliant -Assembly forsooth, which testified to the high Esteem in which the great -Artist 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 in -the Green Room, a strange Glance, which I was unable to interpret, shot -out of Mr. Betterton's eyes, and as I gazed upon that subtle, impalpable -Change which suddenly transformed his serene Expression of Countenance -into one that was almost Evil, I felt a curious sinking of the Heart--a -dread Premonition of what was to come. You know how his lips are ever -ready to smile: now they appeared thin and set, while the sensitive -Nostrils quivered almost like those of the wild Beasts which we have all -of us frequently watched in the Zoological Gardens, when the Attendants -bring along the food for the day and they, eager and hungry, know that -the Hour of Satisfaction is nigh. - -"The fair Lady Babs," one of the young Gallants was saying with studied -Flippancy, "is more beautiful than ever, methinks; even though she goes -about garbed in the Robes of Sorrow." - -"Poor young thing!" commented His Grace of Buckingham kindly. "She has -been hard hit in that last Affair." - -"I wonder what has happened to Wychwoode," added Lord Rochester, who had -been a known Friend of Lord Douglas. - -"Oh! he reached Holland safely enough," another Gentleman whom I did not -know averred. "I suppose he thinks that it will all blow over presently -and that he will obtain a free pardon----" - -"Like my Lord Stour," commented Mr. Betterton drily. - -"Oh! that's hardly likely," interposed Sir George Etherege. "Wychwoode -was up to the neck in the Conspiracy, whilst Stour was proved to be -innocent 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 know -it?" - -"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," here -interposed my Lord of Rochester. - -"He was granted a free Pardon," asserted His Grace of Buckingham, "two -days 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 some -purpose; and oh! that Purpose I simply dared not guess. I was watching -him, remember, watching him as only a devoted Friend or a fond Mother -know how to watch; and I saw that set look on his Face grow harder and -harder and a steely, glittering Light flash out of his Eyes. - -My God! how I suffered! For with that Intuition which comes to us at -times when those whom we love are in deadly peril, I had suddenly beheld -the Abyss of Evil into which my Friend was about to plunge headlong. -Yes! I understood now why Mr. Betterton had pleaded with my Lady -Castlemaine for his Enemy's Life. It was not in order to confer upon -him a lasting benefit and thus shame him by his Magnanimity; but rather -in order to do him an Injury so irreparable that even Death could not -wipe it away. - -But you shall judge, dear Mistress; and thus judging You will understand -much that has been so obscure in my dear Friend's Character and in his -Actions of late. And to understand All is to forgive All. One thing -you must remember, however, and that is that no Man of Mr. Betterton's -Worth hath ever suffered in his Pride and his innermost Sensibilities as -he hath done at the Hands of that young Jackanapes whom he hated--as I -had good cause to know now--with an Intensity which was both cruel and -relentless. He meant to be even with him, to fight him with his own -Weapons, which were those of Contempt and of Ridicule. He meant to -wound there, where he himself had suffered most, in Reputation and in -Self-Respect. - -I saw it all, and was powerless to do aught save to gaze in mute -Heart-Agony on the marring of a noble Soul. Nay! I am not ashamed to -own it: I did in my Heart condemn my Friend for what he had set out to -do. I too hated Lord Stour, God forgive me! but two months ago I would -gladly have seen his arrogant Head fall upon the Scaffold; but this -subtle and calculating Revenge, this cold Intrigue to ruin a Man's -Reputation and to besmirch his Honour, was beyond my ken, and I could -have wept to see the great Soul of the Man, whom I admired most in all -the World, a prey to such an evil Purpose. - -"We all know," one of the young Sparks was saying even now, "that my -Lady Castlemaine showed Stour marked favour from the very moment he -appeared at Court." - -"We also know," added Mr. Betterton with quiet Irony, "that the whisper -of 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 slight -Elevation of the Eyebrows. - -"Because he is a Stourcliffe of Stour, Sir," broke in Sir George -Etherege in that loud, blustering way he hath at times; "and bears one -of 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 Lord -Orrery. - -"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 glad -I was that he, at any rate, had had nothing to do with that abominable -Affair." - -"Well?" came eagerly from every one. "What did she say?" - -His Grace remained thoughtful for a time, as if trying to recollect -Something 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 one -of Her Ladyship's Supper Parties. His Majesty was present. We all fell -to talking about the Conspiracy, and the King said some very bitter -things. Then I thought I would say something about Stour. You -remember?" - -"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! I -recollect the Circumstance perfectly now, though I attached no -importance to it at the time. But I can see it all before me. His -Majesty frowned and continued to look glum, whilst the Countess of -Castlemaine vowed with a laugh that, anyway, my lord Stour was the -handsomest Gentleman in London, and that 'twere a pity to allow such a -beautiful Head to fall on the Scaffold." - -"It certainly sounds very strange," mused my Lord Rochester, and fell to -talking in Whispers with Sir George Etherege, whilst His Grace of -Buckingham went and sat down beside Mr. Betterton, and obviously started -to discuss the Incident of the Supper Party all over again with the -great Actor. Other isolated Groups also formed themselves, and I knew -that my Lord Stour's Name was on every one's lips. - -Traducement and Gossip is Meat and Drink to all these noble and -distinguished Gentlemen, and here they had something to talk about, -which would transcend in Scandal anything that had gone before. The -story about my Lord Stour would spread with the Rapidity which only -evil-loving Tongues can give. Alas! my poor Friend knew that well -enough when he shot his poisoned Arrows into the Air. I was watching -him whilst His Grace of Buckingham conversed with him: I saw the -feverishly keen look in his eyes as he, in his turn, watched the Ball of -Slander and Gossip being tossed about from one Group to another. He -said but little, hardly gave Answer to His Grace; but I could see that -he was on the alert, ready with other little poisoned Darts whenever he -saw Signs of weakening in the Volume of Backbiting, which he had so -deliberately set going. - -"I liked Stour and I admired him," Lord Rochester said at one time. "I -could have sworn that Nature herself had written 'honest man' on his -face." - -"Ah!----" interposed Mr. Betterton, with that quiet Sarcasm which I had -learned to dread. "Nature sometimes writes with a very bad Pen." - - - - 3 - - -It was not to be wondered at that the Scandal against my Lord Stour, -which was started in the Green Room of the Theatre, grew in Magnitude -with amazing Rapidity. I could not tell you, dear Mistress, what my -innermost feelings were in regard to the Matter: being an humble and -ignorant Clerk and devoted to the one Man to whom I owe everything that -makes life pleasing. I had neither the Wish nor the mental Power to -tear my Heart to Pieces, in order to find out whether it beat in -Sympathy with my Friend, or with the Victim of such a complete and -deadly Revenge. - -My Lord Stour was not then in London. He too, like many of his -Friends--notably the Marquis of Sidbury and others not directly accused -of Participation in the aborted Plot--had retired to his Country Estate, -probably unwilling to witness the gaieties of City Life, while those he -cared for most were in such dire Sorrow. But now that the Lady Barbara -and her Father were once more in Town, there was little doubt that he -too would return there presently. Since he was a free Man, and Lord -Douglas Wychwoode had succeeded in evading the Law, there was no doubt -that the natural Elasticity of Youth coupled with the prospect of the -happy future which lay before him, would soon enable him to pick up the -Threads of Life, there where they had been so unexpectedly and -ruthlessly entangled. - -I imagine that when his Lordship first arrived in Town and once more -established himself in the magnificent Mansion in Canon's Row which I -had bitter cause to know so well, he did not truly visualize the -Atmosphere of brooding Suspicion which encompassed him where e'er he -went. If he did notice that one or two of his former Friends did give -him something of a cold shoulder, I believe that he would attribute this -more to political than to personal Reasons. He had undoubtedly been -implicated in a Conspiracy which was universally condemned for its -Treachery and Disloyalty, and no doubt for a time he would have to bear -the brunt of public Condemnation, even though the free Pardon, which had -so unexpectedly been granted him, proved that he had been more misguided -than really guilty. - -His Arrival in London, his Appearance in Public Places, his obvious -ignorance of the Cloud which was hanging over his fair Name, were the -subject of constant Discussion and Comment in the Green Room of the -Theatre as well as elsewhere. And I take it that his very Insouciance, -the proud Carelessness wherewith he met the cold Reception which had -been granted him, would soon have got over the scandalous tale which -constant Gossip alone kept alive, except that one tongue--and one -alone--never allowed that Gossip to rest. - -And that Tongue was an eloquent as well as a bitter one, and more -cunning than even I could ever have believed. - -How oft in the Green Room, in the midst of a brilliant Company, have I -listened to the flippant talk of gay young Sparks, only to hear it -drifting inevitably toward the Subject of my Lord Stour, and of that -wholly unexplainable Pardon, which had left him a free Man, whilst all -his former Associates had either perished as Traitors, or were forced to -lead the miserable life of an Exile, far from Home, Kindred and Friends. - -Drifting, did I say? Nay, the Talk was invariably guided in that -direction by the unerring Voice of a deeply outraged Man who, at last, -was taking his Revenge. A word here, an Insinuation there, a witty -Remark or a shrug of the shoulders, and that volatile sprite, Public -Opinion, would veer back from any possible doubt or leniency to the -eternally unanswered Riddle: "When so many of his Friends perished upon -the Scaffold, how was it that my Lord Stour was free?" - -How it had come about I know not, but it is certain that very soon it -became generally known that his Lordship had been entrusted by his -Friends with the distribution of Manifestos which were to rally certain -Waverers to the cause of the Conspirators. And it was solemnly averred -that it was in consequence of a Copy of this same Manifesto, together -with a list of prominent Names, coming into the hands of my Lady -Castlemaine, that so many Gentlemen were arrested and executed, and my -Lord Stour had been allowed to go scot-free. - -How could I help knowing that this last Slander had emanated from the -Green Room, with the object of laying the final stone to the edifice of -Calumnies, which was to crush an Enemy's Reputation and fair Fame beyond -the hope of Retrieval? - - - - 4 - - -A day or two later my Lord Stour, walking with a Friend in St. James's -Park, came face to face with Mr. Betterton, who had Sir William Davenant -and the Duke of Albemarle with him as well as one or two other -Gentlemen, whilst he leaned with his wonted kindness and familiarity on -my arm. Mr. Betterton would, I think, have passed by; but my Lord Stour, -ignoring him as if he were dirt under aristocratic feet, stopped with -ostentatious good-will to speak with the General. - -But his Grace did in truth give the young Lord a very cold shoulder and -Sir William Davenant, equally ostentatiously, started to relate piquant -Anecdotes to young Mr. Harry Wordsley, who was just up from the country. - -I saw my Lord Stour's handsome face darken with an angry frown. For -awhile he appeared to hesitate as to what he should do, then with scant -Ceremony he took the Duke of Albemarle by the coat-sleeve and said -hastily: - -"My Lord Duke, You and my Father fought side by side on many occasions. -Now, I like not your Attitude towards me. Will you be pleased to -explain?" - -The General tried to evade him, endeavoured to disengage his -coat-sleeve, but my Lord Stour was tenacious. A kind of brooding -Obstinacy sat upon his good-looking face, and after awhile he reiterated -with almost fierce Insistence: - -"No! no! you shall not go, my Lord, until You have explained. I am -tired," he added roughly, "of suspicious looks and covert smiles, an -atmosphere of ill-will which greets me at every turn. Politically, many -may differ from Me, but I have yet to learn that a Gentleman hath not -the right to his own Opinions without being cold-shouldered by his -Friends." - -The Duke of Albemarle allowed him to talk on for awhile. His Grace -obviously was making up his mind to take a decisive step in the matter. -After a while he did succeed in disengaging his coat-sleeve from the -persistent Clutch of his young Friend, and then, looking the latter -straight between the eyes, he said firmly: - -"My Lord, as You say, your Father and I were Friends and Comrades in -Arms. Therefore You must forgive an old Man and a plain Soldier a -pertinent question. Will you do that?" - -"Certainly," was my Lord Stour's quiet Reply. - -"Very well then," continued His Grace, while all of us who were there -held our breath, feeling that this Colloquy threatened to have a grave -issue. "Very well. I am glad that You have given me this opportunity of -hearing some sort of Explanation from You, for in truth, Rumour of late -hath been over busy with your Name." - -"An Explanation, my Lord?" the young Man said, with an added frown. - -"Aye!" replied His Grace. "That's just the Word. An Explanation. For -I, my Lord, as your Father's Friend, will ask You this: how is it that -while Teammouth, Campsfield and so many of your Associates perished upon -the Scaffold, You alone, of those implicated in that infamous Plot, did -obtain an unconditional Pardon?" - -Lord Stour stepped back as if he had been hit in the face. Boundless -Astonishment was expressed in the Gaze which he fixed upon the General, -as well as wrathful indignation. - -"My Lord!" he exclaimed, "that Question is an insult!" - -"Make me swallow mine own Words," retorted His Grace imperturbably, "by -giving me a straight Answer." - -"Mine Answer must be straight," rejoined Lord Stour firmly, "since it is -based on Truth. I do not know." - -The Duke shrugged his Shoulders, and there came a sarcastic laugh from -more than one of the Gentlemen there. - -"I give your Lordship my Word of Honour," Lord Stour insisted haughtily. -Then, as His Grace remained silent, with those deep-set eyes of his -fixed searchingly upon the young Man, the latter added vehemently: "Is -then mine Honour in question?" - -Whereupon Mr. Betterton, who hitherto had remained silent, interposed -very quietly: - -"The honour of some Gentlemen, my Lord, is like the Manifestation of -Ghosts--much talked of ... but always difficult to prove!" - -You know his Voice, dear Mistress, and that subtle carrying Power which -it has, although he never seems to raise it. After he had spoken You -could have heard the stirring of every little twig in the trees above -us, for no one said another Word for a moment or two. We all stood -there, a compact little Group: Lord Stour facing the Duke of Albemarle -and Mr. Betterton standing a step or two behind His Grace, his fine, -expressive Face set in a mask of cruel Irony. Sir William Davenant and -the other Gentlemen had closed in around those three. They must have -felt that some strange Storm of Passions was brewing, and instinctively -they tried to hide its lowering Clouds from public gaze. - -Fortunately there were not many Passers-by just then, and the little -Scene remained unnoted by the idly curious, who are ever wont to collect -in Crowds whenever anything strange to them happens to attract their -Attention. - -My Lord Stour was the first to recover Speech. He turned on Mr. -Betterton with unbridled Fury. - -"What!" he cried, "another sting from that venomous Wasp? I might have -guessed that so miserable a Calumny came from such a vile Caitiff as -this!" - -"Abuse is not Explanation, my Lord," interposed the Duke of Albemarle -firmly. "And I must remind you that you have left my Question -unanswered." - -"Put it more intelligibly, my Lord," retorted Lord Stour haughtily. "I -might then know how to reply." - -"Very well," riposted His Grace, still apparently unmoved. "I will put -it differently. I understand that your Associates entrusted their -treasonable Manifestos to you. Is that a fact?" - -"I'll not deny it." - -"You cannot," rejoined the Duke drily. "Sir James Campsfield, in the -course of his Trial, admitted that he had received his Summons through -You. But a Copy of that Manifesto came into the hands of my Lady -Castlemaine just in time to cause the Conspiracy to abort. How was -that?" - -"Some Traitor," replied Lord Stour hotly, "of whom I have no -Cognizance." - -"Yet it was You," riposted the General quietly, "who received a free -Pardon ... no one else. How was that?" he reiterated more sternly. - -"I have sworn to You that I do not know," protested my Lord Stour -fiercely. - -He looked now like a Man at Bay, trapped in a Net which was closing in -around him and from which he was striving desperately to escape. His -face was flushed, his eyes glowed with an unnatural fire. And always -his restless gaze came back to Mr. Betterton, who stood by, calm and -impassive, apparently disinterested in this Colloquy wherein a man's -Honour was being tossed about to the Winds of Slander and of Infamy. -Now Lord Stour gazed around him, striving to find one line of genuine -Sympathy on the stern Faces which were confronting him. - -"My word of Honour, Gentlemen," he exclaimed with passionate -Earnestness, "that I do not know." - -Honestly, I think that one or two of them did feel for him and were -inclined to give him Credence. After all, these young Fops are not -wicked; they are only mischievous, as Children or young Puppies are wont -to be, ready to snarl at one another, to yap and to tear to pieces -anything that happens to come in their way. Moreover, there was the -great bond of Caste between these People. They were, in their innermost -Hearts, loth to believe that one of themselves--a Gentleman, one bearing -a great Name--could be guilty of this type of foul Crime which was more -easily attributable to a Plebeian. It was only their Love of -Scandal-monging and of Backbiting that had kept the Story alive all -these weeks. Even now there were one or two sympathetic Murmurs amongst -those present when my Lord Stour swore by his Honour. - -But just then Mr. Betterton's voice was heard quite distinctly above -that Murmur: - -"Honour is a strangely difficult word to pronounce on the Stage," he was -saying to Sir William Davenant, apparently _a propos_ of something the -latter had remarked just before. "You try and say it, Davenant; you -will see how it always dislocates your Jaw, yet produces no effect." - -"Therefore, Mr. Actor," Lord Stour broke in roughly, "it should only be -spoken by those who have a glorious Ancestry behind them to teach them -its true Significance." - -"Well spoken, my Lord," Mr. Betterton rejoined placidly. "But you must -remember that but few of His Majesty's Servants have a line of glorious -Ancestry behind them. In that way they differ from many Gentlemen who, -having nothing but their Ancestry to boast of, are very like a -Turnip--the best of them is under the ground." - -This Sally was greeted with loud Laughter, and by a subtle process which -I could not possibly define, the wave of Sympathy which was setting in -the direction of my Lord Stour, once more receded from him, leaving him -wrathful and obstinate, His Grace of Albemarle stern, and the young Fops -flippant and long-tongued as before. - -"My Lord Stour," the General now broke in once more firmly, "'tis You -sought this Explanation, not I. Now You have left my Question -unanswered. Your Friends entrusted their Manifestos to You. How came one -of these in Lady Castlemaine's hands?" - -And the young Man, driven to bay, facing half a dozen pairs of eyes that -held both Contempt and Enmity in their glance, reiterated hoarsely: - -"I have sworn to You that I do not know." Then he added: "Hath Loyalty -then left this unfortunate Land, that You can all believe such a vile -thing of me?" - -And in the silence that ensued, Mr. Betterton's perfectly modulated -Voice was again raised in quietly sarcastic accents: - -"As You say, my Lord," he remarked. "Loyalty hath left this unfortunate -Country. Perhaps," he added with a light shrug of the shoulders, "to -take Refuge with your glorious Ancestry." - -This last Gibe, however, brought my Lord Stour's exasperation to a -raging Fury. Pushing unceremoniously past His Grace of Albemarle, who -stood before him, he took a step forward and confronted Mr. Betterton -eye to eye and, drawing himself up to his full Height, he literally -glowered down upon the great Artist, who stood his Ground, placid and -unmoved. - -"Insolent Varlet!" came in raucous tones from the young Lord's quivering -lips. "If you had a spark of chivalry or of honour in You----" - -At the arrogant Insult every one drew their breath. A keen Excitement -flashed in every eye. Here was at last a Quarrel, one that must end in -bloodshed. Just what was required--so thought these young Rakes, I feel -sure--to clear the Atmosphere and to bring abstruse questions of -Suspicion and of Honour to a level which they could all of them -understand. Only the Duke of Albemarle, who, like a true and great -Soldier, hath the greatest possible Abhorrence for the gentlemanly -Pastime of Duelling, tried to interpose. But Mr. Betterton, having -provoked the Quarrel, required no interference from any one. You know -his way, dear Mistress, as well as I do--that quiet Attitude which he is -wont to assume, that fraction of a second's absolute Silence just before -he begins to speak. I know of no Elocutionist's trick more telling than -that. It seems to rivet the Attention, and at the same time to key up -Excitement and Curiosity to its greatest strain. - -"By your leave, my Lord," he said slowly, and his splendid Voice rose -just to a sufficient pitch of Loudness to be distinctly heard by those -immediately near him, but not one yard beyond. "By your leave, let us -leave the word 'honour' out of our talk. It hath become ridiculous and -obsolete, now that every Traitor doth use it for his own ends." - -But in truth my Lord Stour now was beside himself with Fury. - -"By gad!" he exclaimed with a harsh laugh. "I might have guessed that it -was your pestilential Tongue which stirred up this Treason against me. -Liar!--Scoundrel!----" - -He was for heaping up one Insult upon the other, lashing himself as it -were into greater Fury still, when Mr. Betterton's quietly ironical -laugh broke in upon his senseless ebullitions. - -"Liar?--Scoundrel, am I?" he said lightly, and, still laughing, he -turned to the Gentlemen who stood beside him. "Nay! if the sight of a -Scoundrel offends his Lordship, he should shut himself up in his own -Room ... and break his Mirror!" - -At this, my Lord Stour lost the last vestige of his self-control, seized -Mr. Betterton by the Shoulder and verily, I thought, made as if he would -strike him. - -"You shall pay for this Insolence!" he cried. - -But already, with perfect _sang-froid_, the great Artist had arrested -his Lordship's uplifted hand and wrenched it away from his shoulder. - -"By your leave, my Lord," he said, and with delicate Fingers flicked the -dust from off his coat. "This coat was fashioned by an honest tailor, -and hath never been touched by a Traitor's hand." - -I thought then that I could see Murder writ plainly on My Lord's face, -which was suddenly become positively livid. The Excitement around us -was immense. In truth I am convinced that every Gentleman there present -at the moment, felt that something more deep and more intensely bitter -lay at the Root of this Quarrel, between the young Lord and the great -and popular Artist. Even now some of them would have liked to -interfere, whilst the younger ones undoubtedly enjoyed the Spectacle and -were laying, I doubt not, imaginary Wagers as to which of the two -Disputants would remain Master of the Situation. - -His Grace of Albemarle tried once more to interpose with all the -Authority of his years and of his distinguished Position, for indeed -there was something almost awesome in Lord Stour's Wrath by now. But -Mr. Betterton took the Words at once out of the great General's mouth. - -"Nay, my Lord," he said with quiet Firmness, "I pray You, do not -interfere. I am in no danger, I assure You. My Lord Stour would wish -to kill me, no doubt. But, believe me, Fate did not ordain that Tom -Betterton should die by such a hand ... the fickle Jade hath too keen a -Sense of Humour." - -Whereupon he made a movement, as if to walk away. I felt the drag upon -my arm where his slender hand was still resting. The Others were -silent. What could they say? Senseless Numskulls though they were for -the most part, they had enough Perception to realize that between these -two Men there was Hatred so bitter that no mere Gentlemanly Bloodshed -could ever wipe it away. - -But ere Mr. Betterton finally turned to go, my Lord of Stour stepped out -in front of him. All the Rage appeared to have died out of him. He was -outwardly quite calm, only a weird twitching of his lips testified to -the Storm of Passion which he had momentarily succeeded in keeping under -control. - -"Mr. Actor," he said slowly, "but a few Weeks ago You asked me to cross -swords with You.... I refused then, for up to this hour I have never -fought a Duel save with an Equal. But now, I accept," he added -forcefully, even while the Words came veiled and husky from his throat. -"I accept. Do You hear me? ... for the laws of England do not permit a -Murder, and as sure as there's a Heaven above me, I am going to kill -You." - -Mr. Betterton listened to him until the end. You know that Power which -he hath of seeming to tower above every one who stands nigh him? Well! -he exercised that Power now. He stepped quite close to my Lord Stour, -and though the latter is of more than average height, Mr. Betterton -literally appeared to soar above him, with the sublime Magnificence of -an outraged Man coming into his own at last. - -"My Lord of Stour," he said, with perfect quietude, "a few weeks ago you -insulted me as Man never dared to insult Man before. With every blow -dealt upon my shoulders by your Lacqueys, You outraged the Majesty of -Genius ... yes! its Majesty! ... its Godhead! ... You raised your -insolent hand against me--against me, the Artist, whom God Himself hath -crowned with Immortality. For a moment then, my outraged Manhood -clamoured for satisfaction. I asked You to cross swords with me, for -You seemed to me ... then ... worthy of that Honour. But to-day, my -Lord of Stour," he continued, whilst every Word he spoke seemed to -strike upon the ear like Blows from a relentless Hammer; "Traitor to -your Friends, Liar and Informer!!!! Bah! His Majesty's Well-Beloved -Servant cannot fight with such as You!" - -In truth I do not remember what happened after that. The unutterable -Contempt, the Disgust, the Loathing expressed in my Friend's whole -Attitude, seemed to hit even me between the eyes. I felt as if some -giant Hands had thrown a kind of filmy grey veil over my Head, for I -heard and saw nothing save a blurred and dim Vision of uplifted Arms, of -clenched Fists and of a general Scrimmage, of which my Lord Stour -appeared to be the Centre, whilst my ears only caught the veiled Echo of -Words flung hoarsely into the air: - -"Let me go! Let me go! I must kill him! I must!" - -Mr. Betterton, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm. I felt a -slight pressure on my arm and presently realized that he and I had -turned and were walking away down the Avenue of the Park, and leaving -some way already behind us, a seething mass of excited Gentlemen, all -intent on preventing Murder being committed then and there. - -What the outcome of it all would be, I could not visualize. Mr. -Betterton had indeed been able to give Insult for Insult and Outrage for -Outrage at last. For this he had schemed and worked and planned all -these weeks. Whether God and Justice were on his side in this terrible -Revenge, I dared not ask myself, nor yet if the Weapon which he had -chosen were worthy of his noble Character and of his Integrity. That -public Opinion was on his side, I concluded from the fact that the Duke -of Albemarle and Sir William Davenant both walked a few yards with him -after he had turned his back on my Lord, and that His Grace constituting -himself Spokesman for himself and Sir William, offered their joint -Services to Mr. Betterton in case he changed his mind and agreed to -fight my Lord Stour in duel. - -"I thank your Grace," was Mr. Betterton's courteous reply; "but I am not -like to change my Mind on that Score." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - - THE LADY PLEADS - - - 1 - - -I am not able quite to determine in my own mind whether the Lady Barbara -Wychwoode did hear and see something of the violent Scene which I have -just attempted to describe. - -I told You, dear Mistress, that fortunately for us all, this part of the -Park where the Scene occurred was for the moment practically deserted. -At any rate, no Crowd collected around us, for which, methinks, we were, -every one of us, thankful. If a few of the Passers-by heard anything of -the altercation, they merely hurried past, thinking no doubt, that it -was only one or two young City Sparks, none too sober even at this -morning hour, who were quarrelling among themselves. - -When we walked away down the Avenue which leads in the direction of -Knight's Bridge, Mr. Betterton's well-known, elegant figure was remarked -by a few Pedestrians on their way to and fro, as was also the familiar -one of the Duke of Albemarle, and some People raised their hats to the -great Artist, whilst others saluted the distinguished General. - -Presently His Grace and Sir William Davenant took leave of Mr. -Betterton, and a few moments later the latter suggested that we should -also begin to wend our way homewards. - -We retraced our steps and turned back in the direction of Westminster. -Mr. Betterton was silent; he walked quite calmly, with head bent and -firm footsteps, and I, knowing his humour, walked along in silence by -his side. - -Then suddenly we came upon the Lady Barbara. - -That she had sought this meeting I could not doubt for a moment. Else, -how should a Lady of her Rank and Distinction be abroad, and in a public -Park, unattended? Indeed, I was quite sure that she had only dismissed -her maid when she saw Mr. Betterton coming along, and that the Wench was -lurking somewhere behind one of the shrubberies, ready to accompany her -Ladyship home when the interview was at an end. - -I said that I am even now doubtful as to whether the Lady Barbara saw -and heard something of the violent Altercation which had taken place a -quarter of an hour ago between her Lover and the great Actor. If not, -she certainly displayed on that occasion that marvellous intuition which -is said to be the prerogative of every Woman when she is in love. - -She was walking on the further side of Rosamond Pond when first I caught -sight of her, and when she reached the Bridge, she came deliberately to -a halt. There is no other way across the Pond save by the Bridge, so -Mr. Betterton could not have escaped the meeting even if he would. -Seeing the Lady, he raised his hat and made a deep bow of respectful -salutation. He then crossed the Bridge and made as if he would pass by, -but she held her Ground, in the very centre of the Path, and when he was -quite near her, she said abruptly: - -"Mr. Betterton, I desire a word with you." - -He came at once to a halt, and replied with perfect deference: - -"I await your Ladyship's commands." - - - - 2 - - -I was for hurrying away, thinking that my Presence would be irksome both -to the Lady and to my Friend; but an unmistakable pressure of Mr. -Betterton's hand on my arm caused me to stay where I was. As for the -Lady, she appeared not to care whether I stayed or went, for immediately -she retorted: - -"My commands, Sir Actor? They are, that you at once and completely do -Reparation for the wrong which you are trying to do to an innocent Man." - -She looked proud and commanding as a Queen, looking through the veil of -her lashes at Mr. Betterton as if he were a supplicating Slave rather -than the great Artist whom cultured Europe delighted to honour. Never -did I admire my Friend so much as I did then. His self-possession was -perfect: his attitude just the right balance 'twixt deference due to a -beautiful Woman and the self-assurance which comes of conscious Worth. -He looked splendid, too--dressed in the latest fashion and with unerring -taste. The fantastic cut of his modish clothes became his artistic -Personality to perfection: the soft shade of mulberry of which his coat -was fashioned made an harmonious note of colour in the soft grey mist of -this late winter's morning. The lace at his throat and wrists was of -unspeakable value, filmy and gossamer-like in texture as a cobweb; and -in his cravat glittered a diamond, a priceless gift to the great English -Artist from the King of France. - -Indeed, the Lady Barbara Wychwoode might look the world-famous Actor up -and down with well-studied superciliousness; she might issue her -commands to him as if she were his royal Mistress and he but a Menial -set there to obey her behest; but, whatever she did, she could not dwarf -his Personality. He had become too great for disdain or sneers ever to -touch him again; and the shafts of scorn aimed at him by those who would -set mere Birth above the claims of Genius, would only find their points -broken or blunted against the impenetrable armour of his Glory and his -Fame. - -For the nonce, I think that he was ready enough to parley with the Lady -Barbara. He had not to my knowledge spoken with her since that never -forgotten day last September; and I, not understanding the complex -workings of an Artist's heart, knew not if his Love for her had outlived -the crying outrage, or had since then turned to Hate. - -In answer to her peremptory command, he assumed an air of innocent -surprise. - -"I?" he queried. "Your Ladyship is pleased to speak in riddles." - -"Nay!" she retorted. "'Tis you, Sir, who choose not to understand. But -I'll speak more plainly, an you wish. I am a woman, Mr. Actor, and I -love the Earl of Stour. Now, you know just as well as I do, that his -Lordship's honour has of late been impugned in a manner that is most -mysterious. His Friends accuse him of treachery; even mere -Acquaintances prefer to give him the cold shoulder. And this without -any definite Indictment being levelled against him. Many there are who -will tell You that they have not the faintest conception of what crime -my Lord Stour stands accused. Others aver that they'll not believe any -Slander that may be levelled against so high-souled a Gentleman. -Nevertheless, the Slander continues. Nay! it gathers volume as it worms -its way from one house to another, shedding poison in its wake as it -drifts by; and more and more People now affect to look another way when -the Earl of Stour comes nigh them, and to be otherwise engaged when he -desires to shake them by the hand." - -She paused for a moment, obviously to regain her Composure, which was -threatening to leave her. Her cheeks were pale as ashes, her breath came -and went in quick, short gasps. The Picture which she herself had drawn -of her Lover's plight caused her heart to ache with bitterness. She -seemed for the moment to expect something--a mere comment, perhaps, or a -word of Sympathy, from Mr. Betterton. But none came. He stood there, -silent and deferential, with lips firmly set, his slender Hand clutched -upon the gold knob of his stick, till the knuckles shone creamy-white, -like ivory. He regarded her with an air of Detachment rather than -Sympathy, and though by her silence she appeared to challenge him now, -he did not speak, and after awhile she resumed more calmly: - -"My Lord of Stour himself is at his wits' ends to interpret the attitude -of his Friends. Nothing tangible in the way of a spoken Calumny hath as -yet reached his ears. And his life has been rendered all the more -bitter that he feels that he is being struck by a persistent but -mysterious Foe in what he holds dearer than aught else on earth, his -Integrity and his Honour." - -"'Tis a sad case," here rejoined Mr. Betterton, for her Ladyship had -paused once more. "But, by your leave, I do not see in what way it -concerns me." - -"Nay! but I think you do, Sir Actor," Lady Barbara riposted harshly. -"Love and Hate, remember, see clearly where mere Friendship and -Indifference are blind. Love tells me that the Earl of Stour's -Integrity is Unstained, his Honour unsullied. But the Hatred which you -bear him," added her Ladyship almost fiercely, "makes me look to You for -the cause of his Disgrace." - -No one, however, could have looked more utterly astonished, more bland -and uncomprehending, as Mr. Betterton did at that moment. He put up his -hand and regarded the Lady with an indulgent smile, such as one would -bestow on a hot-headed Child. - -"Nay, your Ladyship!" he said courteously. "I fear that you are -attributing to an humble Mountebank a power he doth not possess. To -disgrace a noble Gentleman?" he exclaimed with well-feigned horror. -"I?--a miserable Varlet--an insolent cur whom one thrashes if he dares -to bark!" - -"Ah!" she broke in, with a swift exclamation. "Then I have guessed the -truth! This is your Revenge!" - -"Revenge?" he queried blandly. "For what?" - -"You hate the Earl of Stour," she retorted. - -Once more his well-shaped hand went up, as if in gentle protest, and he -uttered a kind and deprecating "Oh!" - -"You look upon the Earl of Stour as your enemy!" she insisted. - -"I have so many, your Ladyship," he riposted with a smile. - -"'Twas you who obtained his Pardon from my Lady Castlemaine." - -"The inference is scarcely logical," he retorted. "A man does not as a -rule sue for pardon for his Enemy." - -"I think," she rejoined slowly, "that in this case Mr. Betterton did the -illogical thing." - -"Then I do entreat your Ladyship," he protested with mock terror, "not -to repeat this calumny. _I_, accused of a noble action! Tom Betterton -pardoning his Enemies! Why, my friends might believe it, and it is so -difficult these days to live down a good Reputation." - -"You choose to sharpen your wit at my expense, Sir Actor," the lady -rejoined with her former haughtiness, "and to evade the point." - -"What is the point, your Ladyship?" he queried blandly. - -"That you set an end to all these Calumnies which are levelled against -the Earl of Stour." - -"How can we stay the Sun in his orbit?" he retorted; "or the Stars in -their course?" - -"You mean that your Campaign of Slander has already gone too far? But -remember this, Mr. Betterton: that poisoned darts sometimes wound the -hand that throws them. You may pursue the Earl of Stour with your -Hatred and your Calumnies, but God will never allow an innocent Man to -suffer unjustly." - -Just for a few seconds Mr. Betterton was silent. He was still regarding -the Lady with that same indulgent smile which appeared to irritate her -nerves. To me, the very air around seemed to ring as if with a clash of -ghostly arms--the mighty clash of two Wills and two Temperaments, each -fighting for what it holds most dear: she for the Man whom she loved, he -for his Dignity which had been so cruelly outraged. - -"God will never allow," she reiterated with slow emphasis, "an innocent -Man to suffer at the hands of a Slanderer." - -"Ah!" riposted Mr. Betterton suavely. "Is your Ladyship not reckoning -over-confidently on Divine interference?" - -"I also reckon," she retorted, "on His Majesty's sense of justice--and -on the Countess of Castlemaine, who must know the truth of the affair." - -"His Majesty's senses are very elusive," he rejoined drily, "and are apt -to play him some wayward tricks when under the influence of the Countess -of Castlemaine. The Earl of Stour, it seems, disdained the favours -which that Lady was willing to bestow on him. He preferred the superior -charms and intellect of the Lady Barbara Wychwoode. A very natural -preference, of course," he added, with elaborate gallantry. "But I can -assure your Ladyship that, as Helpmeets to heavenly Interference, -neither His Majesty nor the Countess of Castlemaine are to be reckoned -with." - -She bit her lip and cast her eyes to the ground. I could see that her -lovely face expressed acute disappointment and that she was on the verge -of tears. I am not versed in the ways of gentle Folk nor yet in those of -Artists, but I could have told the Lady Barbara Wychwoode that if she -wanted to obtain Sympathy or Leniency from Mr. Betterton, she had gone -quite the wrong way to work. - -Even now, I think if she had started to plead ... but the thought of -humbling herself before a Man whom she affected to despise was as far -from this proud Woman's heart, as are thoughts of self-glorification -from mine. - -A second or two later she had succeeded in forcing back the tears which -had welled to her eyes, and she was able once more to look her Adversary -straight in the face. - -"And will you tell me, Sir Actor," she queried with cold aloofness, "how -far you intend to carry on this Infamy?" - -And Mr. Betterton replied, equally coldly and deliberately: - -"To the uttermost limits of the Kingdom, Madam." - -"What do you mean?" she riposted. - -He drew a step or two nearer to her. His face too was pale by now, his -lips trembling, his eyes aglow with Passion masterfully kept under -control. His perfect voice rose and fell in those modulated Cadences -which we have all learned to appreciate. - -"Only this, your Ladyship," he began quite slowly. "For the present, -the History of the Earl of Stour's treachery is only guessed at by a -few. It is a breath of Scandal, born as you say somewhat mysteriously, -wafted through Palaces and noble Mansions to-day--dead, mayhap, -to-morrow. But I have had many opportunities for thought of late," he -continued--and it seemed to me as if in his quivering voice I could -detect a tone of Threat as well as of Passion--"and have employed my -leisure moments in writing an Epilogue which I propose to speak -to-morrow, after the Play, His Majesty and all the Court being present, -and many Gentlemen and Ladies of high degree, as well as Burgesses and -Merchants of the City, and sundry Clerks and other humbler Folk. A -comprehensive Assembly, what? and an attentive one; for that low-born -Mountebank, Tom Betterton, will be appearing in a new play and the -Playhouse will be filled to the roof in order to do him honour. May I -hope that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode herself----" - -"A truce on this foolery, Sir," she broke in harshly. "I pray you come -to the point." - -She tried to look brave and still haughty, but I knew that she was -afraid--knew it by the almost unearthly pallor of her skin, and the -weird glitter in her eyes as she regarded him, like a Bird fascinated by -a Snake. - -"The point is the Epilogue, my Lady," Mr. Betterton replied blandly. -"And after I have spoken it to-morrow, I shall speak it again and yet -again, until its purport is known throughout the length and breadth of -the Land. The subject of that Epilogue, Madam, will be the secret -History of a certain aborted Conspiracy, and how it was betrayed in -exchange for a free Pardon by one of our noblest Gentlemen in England. -Then, I pray your Ladyship to mark what will happen," he continued, and -his melodious voice became as hard and trenchant as the clang of metal -striking metal. "After that Epilogue has been spoken from the Stage -half a dozen times after His Majesty has heard it and shrugged his -shoulders, after my Lady Castlemaine has laughed over it and my Lord of -Rochester aped it in one of his Pasquinades, there will be a man whose -Name will be a by-word for everything that is most infamous and most -false--a Name that will be bandied about in Taverns and in drinking -Booths, quipped, decried, sneered at, anathematized; a Name that will be -the subject of every lampoon and every scurrilous rhyme that finds -over-ready purchasers--a Name, in fact, that will for ever be whispered -with bated breath or bandied about in a drunken brawl, whene'er there is -talk of treachery and of dishonour!" - -At this, she--great Lady to her finger tips--threw up her head proudly, -still defying him, still striving to hide her Fears and unwilling to -acknowledge Defeat. - -"It will be your Word against his," she said with a disdainful curl of -her perfect lips. "No one would listen to such calumnies." - -And he--the world-famed Artist--at least as proud as any high born -Gentleman in the Land, retorted, equally haughtily: - -"When Tom Betterton speaks upon the Stage, my Lady, England holds her -breath and listens spellbound." - -I would I could render the noble Accent of his magnificent Voice as he -said this. There was no self-glorification in it, no idle boasting; it -was the accent of transcendent Worth conscious of its Power. - -And it had its effect upon the Lady Barbara Wychwoode. She lowered her -Eyes, but not before I had perceived that they were full of Tears; her -Lips were trembling still, but no longer with Disdain, and her hands -suddenly dropped to her side with a pathetic gesture of Discouragement -and of Anguish. - -The next moment, however, she was again looking the great Actor fully in -the face. A change had come over her, quite suddenly methought--a great -Change, which had softened her Mood and to a certain extent lowered her -Pride. Whether this was the result of Mr. Betterton's forceful -Eloquence or of her own Will-power, I could not guess; but I myself -marvelled at the Tone of Entreaty which had crept into her Voice. - -"You will not speak such Falsehoods in Public, Sir," she said with -unwonted softness. "You will not thus demean your Art--the Art which -you love and hold in respect. Oh, there must be some Nobility in You! -else you were not so talented. Your Soul must in truth be filled with -Sentiments which are neither ignoble nor base." - -"Nay!" he exclaimed, and this time did not strive to conceal the intense -Bitterness which, as I knew well enough, had eaten into his very Soul; -"but your Ladyship is pleased to forget. I am ignoble and base! There -cannot be Nobility in me. I am only the low-born Lout! Ask my Lord of -Stour; ask your Brother! They will tell you that I have no Feelings, no -Pride, no Manhood--that I am only a despicable Varlet, whom every -Gentleman may mock and insult and whip like a dog. To You and to your -Caste alone belong Nobility, Pride and Honour. Honour!!!"--and he broke -into a prolonged laugh, which would have rent your Heart to -hear--"Honour! Your false Fetish! Your counterfeit God!! Very well, -then so be it!! That very Honour which he hath denied me, I will wrench -from him. And since he denied me Satisfaction by the Sword, I turn to -my own weapon--my Art--and with it I will exact from him to the -uttermost fraction, Outrage for Outrage--Infamy for Infamy." - -His wonderful Voice shook, broke almost into a sob at last. I felt a -choking sensation in my Throat and my Eyes waxed hot with unshed Tears. -As if through a mist, I could see the exquisite Lady Barbara Wychwoode -before me, could see that she, too, was moved, her Pride crushed, her -Disdain yielding to involuntary Sympathy. - -"But he is innocent!" she pleaded, with an accent verging on Despair. - -"And so was I!" was his calm retort. - -"He----" she entreated, "he loves me----" - -"And so do I!" he exclaimed, with a depth of Passion which brought the -hot Blood to her pale Cheeks. "_I_ would have given my Life for one -Smile from your Lips." - -Whereupon, womanlike, she shifted her ground, looked him straight -between the Eyes, and, oh! I could have blushed to see the Wiles she -used in order to weaken his Resolve. - -"You love me?" she queried softly, and there was now a tone of almost -tender Reproach in her Voice. "You love me! yet you would drag the Man -who is dearer to me than Life to Dishonour and to Shame. You trap him, -like a Fowler does a Bird, then crush him with Falsehoods and Calumnies! -No, no!" she exclaimed--came a step or two nearer to him and clasped her -delicate Hands together in a Gesture that was akin to Prayer. "I'll not -believe it! You will tell the Truth, Mr. Betterton, publicly, and clear -him.... You will.... You will! For my sake--since You say You love -me." - -But the more eager, the more appealing she grew, the calmer and more -calculating did he seem. Now it was his turn to draw away from Her, to -measure Her, as it were, with a cold, appraising Look. - -"For Your sake?" he said with perfect quietude, almost as if the matter -had become outside himself. I cannot quite explain the air of detachment -which he assumed--for it was an assumption, on that I would have staked -my Life at the moment. I, who know him so well, felt that deep down -within his noble Heart there still burned the fierce flames of an ardent -Passion, but whether of Love or Hate, I could not then have told You. - -She had recoiled at the coolness of his Tone; and he went on, still -speaking with that strange, abnormal Calm: - -"Yes!" he said slowly, "for _Your_ love I would do what You ask ... I -would forego that Feast of Satisfaction, the Thought of which hath alone -kept me sane these past few months.... Yes! for the Love of Lady -Barbara Wychwoode I could bring myself to forgive even his Lordship of -Stour for the irreparable wrong which he hath done to Me. I would -restore to him his Honour, which now lies, a Forfeit, in my Hands: for I -shall then have taken Something from him which he holds well-nigh as -dear." - -He paused, and met with the same calm relentlessness the look of Horror -and of Scorn wherewith she regarded him. - -"For my Love?" she exclaimed, and once more the warm Blood rushed up to -her face, flooding her wan Cheeks, her pale Forehead, even her delicate -Throat with crimson. "You mean that I? ... Oh! ... what Infamy! ... So, -Mr. Actor, that was your reckoning!" she went on with supreme Disdain. -"It was not the desire for Vengeance that prompted You to slander the -Earl of Stour, but the wish to entrap _me_ into becoming your Wife. You -are not content with Your Laurels. You want a Coat of Arms ... and -hoped to barter one against Your Calumnies!" - -"Nay, your Ladyship!" he rejoined simply, "in effect, I was actually -laying a Name famed throughout the cultured world humbly at your feet. -You made an appeal to my Love for You--and I laid a test for your -Sincerity. Mine I have placed beyond question, seeing that I am -prepared to drag my Genius in the dust before Your Pride and the -Arrogance of Your Caste. An Artist is a Slave of his Sensibilities, and -I feel that if, in the near Future, I could see a Vision of your perfect -hand resting content in mine, if, when You pleaded again for my Lord -Stour, You did so as my promised Wife--not his--I would do all that You -asked." - -She drew herself up to her full height and glanced at him with all the -Pride which awhile ago had seemed crushed beyond recall. - -"Sir Actor," she said coldly, "shame had gripped me by the throat, or I -should not have listened so long to such an Outrage. The Bargain You -propose is an Infamy and an Insult." - -And she gathered up her Skirts around her, as if their very contact with -the Soil on which he trod were a pollution. Then she half turned as if -ready to go, cast a rapid glance at the Shrubberies close by, no doubt -in search of her Attendant. Why it was that she did not actually go, I -could not say, but guessed that, mayhap, she would not vacate the Field -of Contention until quite sure that there was not a final Chance to -soften the Heart of the Enemy. She had thrown down yet another Challenge -when she spoke of his proposed Bargain as an Infamy; but he took up the -Gage with the same measured Calm as before. - -"As you will," he said. "It was in Your Ladyship's name that the Earl -of Stour put upon Me the deadliest Insult which any Man hath ever put on -Man before. Since then, every Fibre within Me has clamoured for -Satisfaction. My Work hath been irksome to me ... I scarce could think -... My Genius lay writhing in an agony of Shame. But now the hour is -mine--for it I have schemed and lied--aye, lied--like the low-born cur -You say I am. A thousand Devils of Hate and of Rage are unchained -within me. I cannot grapple with them alone. They would only yield--to -your kiss." - -"Oh!" she cried in uttermost despair, "this is horrible!" - -"Then let the Man you love," he rejoined coldly, "look to himself." - -"Conscious of his Innocence, my Lord Stour and I defy you!" - -"Ah, well!" he said imperturbably, "the Choice is still with Your -Ladyship. Remember that I do not speak my Epilogue until to-morrow. -When I do, it will be too late. I have called my Phantasy 'The Comedie -of Traitors.'" - -Whereupon he bowed low before her, in the most approved Fashion. But -already she was fleeing up the path in the direction of Westminster. -Soon her graceful Figure was lost to our sight behind an intervening -clump of Laurels. Here no doubt her Ladyship's Attendant was waiting -for her Mistress, for anon I spied two figures hurrying out of the Park. - - - - 3 - - -For a long time Mr. Betterton remained standing just where he was, one -hand still clutching the knob of his Stick, the other thrust in the -pocket of his capacious Coat. I could not see his Face, since his Back -was turned towards me, and I did not dare move lest I should be -interrupting his Meditations. But to Me, even that Back was expressive. -There was a listlessness, hardly a stoop, about it, so unlike my -Friend's usual firm and upright Carriage. How could this be otherwise, -seeing what he had just gone through--Emotions that would have swept -most Men off their mental balance. Yet he kept his, had never once lost -control of himself. He had met Disdain with Disdain in the end, had -kept sufficient control over his Voice to discuss with absolute calm, -that Bargain which the Lady Barbara had termed infamous. There had been -a detachment about his final Ultimatum, a "take it or leave it" air, -which must have been bitterly galling to the proud Lady who had stooped -to entreat. He was holding the winning Hand and did not choose to -yield. - -And it was from his attitude on that Day that I, dear Mistress, drew an -unerring inference. Mr. Betterton had no Love for the Lady Barbara, no -genuine, lasting Affection such as, I maintain, he has never ceased to -feel for You. Passion swayed him, because he has, above all, that -unexplainable artistic Temperament which cannot be measured by everyday -Standards. Pride, Bitterness, Vengefulness--call it what you will; but -there was not a particle of Love in it all. I verily believe that his -chief Desire, whilst he stood pondering there at the bridgehead, was to -humiliate the Lady Barbara Wychwoode by forcing her into a Marriage -which she had affected to despise. He was not waiting for her with -open, loving Arms, ready to take her to his Heart, there to teach her to -forget the Past in the safe haven of his Love. He was not waiting to -lay his Service at her feet, and to render her happy as the cherished -Wife and Helpmate of the great Artist whom all England delighted to -honour. He was only waiting to make her feel that She had been -subjected to his Will and her former Lover brought down to Humiliation, -through the Power of the miserable Mountebank whom they had both deemed -less than a Man. - -Thus meditating, I stood close to my Friend, until Chance or a fleeting -Thought brought him back to the realities of Life. He sighed and looked -about him, as a Man will who hath just wakened from a Dream. Then he -spied me, and gave me his wonted kindly smile and glance. - -"Good old John!" he said, with a self-deprecating shrug of the -shoulders. "'Twas not an edifying Scene You have witnessed, eh?" - -"'Twas a heartrending one," I riposted almost involuntarily. - -"Heartrending?" he queried, in a tone of intense bitterness, "to watch a -Fool crushing every Noble Instinct within him for the sake of getting -even with a Man whom he neither honours nor esteems?" - -He sighed again, and beckoned to me to follow him. - -"Let us home, good Honeywood," he said. "I am weary of all this -wrangle, and pine to find solace among the Poets." - -Nor did he mention the name of the Lady Barbara again to me, and I was -left to ponder what was going on in his Mind and whether his cruelly -vengeful Scheme for the final undoing of my Lord Stour would indeed come -to maturity on the following day. I knew that a great and brilliant -Representation of the late Mr. William Shakespeare's play, "Twelfth -Night," was to be given at the Duke's Theatre, with some of the new -Scenery and realistic scenic Effects brought over last Autumn from Paris -by Mr. Betterton. His Majesty had definitely promised that he would be -present and so had the Countess of Castlemaine, and there would -doubtless be a goodly and gorgeous Company present to applaud the great -Actor, whose Performance of Sir Toby Belch was one of the Marvels of -histrionic Art, proclaiming as it did his wonderful versatility, by -contrast with his equally remarkable exposition of the melancholy -Hamlett, Prince of Denmark. - -That I now awaited that Day with Sorrow in my Heart and with measureless -Anxiety, You, dear Mistress, will readily imagine. Until this morning I -had no idea of the terrible Thunderbolt which my Friend had in -preparation for those who had so shamefully wronged him; and I still -marvelled whether in his talk with the Lady Barbara there had not lurked -some idle Threats rather than a serious Warning. How could I think of -the Man whom I had learned to love and to reverence as one who would -nurture such cruel Schemes? And yet, did not the late Mr. Shakespeare -warn us that "Pleasure and Revenge have ears more deaf than Adders to -the voice of any true decision"? Ah, me! but I was sick at heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - - THE RULING PASSION - - - 1 - - -And now, dear Mistress, I come to that memorable Evening wherein -happened that which causes You so much heart-ache at this Hour. - -I know that the Occurrences of that Night have been brought to your -Notice in a garbled Version, and that Mr. Betterton's Enemies have -placed the Matter before You in a manner calculated to blacken his -Integrity. But, as there is a living Judge above Us all, I swear to -You, beloved Mistress, that what I am now purposing to relate is nothing -but the Truth. Remember that, in this miserable Era of Scandal and -Backbiting, of loose Living and Senseless Quarrels, Mr. Betterton's -Character has always stood unblemished, even though the evil Tongue of -Malice hath repeatedly tried to attack his untarnished Reputation. -Remember also that the great Actor's few but virulent Enemies are all -Men who have made Failures of their Lives, who are Idlers, Sycophants or -Profligates, and therefore envious of the Fame and Splendour of one who -is thought worthy to be the Friend of Kings. - - - - 2 - - -We spoke but little together that day on our way home from the Park. -Mr. Betterton was moody, and I silent. We took our dinner in quietude. -There being no Performance at the Theatre that day, Mr. Betterton -settled down to his Desk in the afternoon, telling me that he had some -writing to do. - -I, too, had some of his Correspondence to attend to, and presently -repaired to my room, my Heart still aching with Sorrow. Did I not guess -what Work was even now engrossing the Attention of my Friend? He was -deep in the Composition of that cruel Lampoon which he meant to speak on -the Stage to-morrow, in the presence of His Majesty and of a large and -brilliant Assembly. Strive as I might, I could not to myself minimize -the probable Effect of the Lampoon upon the Mind of the Public. It is -not for me, dear Mistress, to remind You of the amazing Popularity of -Mr. Betterton--a Popularity which hath never been equalled ere this by -any Actor, Artist or Poet in England. Whatever he spoke from the Stage -would be treasured and reiterated and commented upon, until every -Citizen of London and Westminster became himself a storehouse of Mud -that would be slung at the unfortunate Earl of Stour. And the latter, -by refusing to fight Mr. Betterton when the Latter had been the injured -Party, had wilfully cast aside any Weapon of Redress which he might -after this have called to his Aid. - -Well! we all know the Effect of scurrilous Quips spoken from the Stage; -even the great Mr. Dryden or the famous Mr. Wycherley have not been -above interpolating some in their Plays, for the Confusion of their -Enemies; and many a Gentleman's or a Lady's Reputation has been made to -suffer through the Vindictiveness of a noted Actor or Playwright. But, -as you know, Mr. Betterton had never hitherto lent himself to such -Scandal-monging; he stood far above those petty Quarrels betwixt -Gentlemen and Poets that could be settled by wordy Warfare across the -Footlights. All the more Weight, therefore, would the Public attach to -an Epilogue specially written and spoken by him on so great an occasion. -And, alas! the Mud-slinging was to be of a very peculiar and very -clinging Nature. - -"Then let the Man you love look to himself!" the outraged Artist had -said coldly, when confronted for the last time by the Lady Barbara's -Disdain. And in my Mind I had no doubt that, for Good or for Evil, if -Tom Betterton set out to do a Thing, he would carry it through to its -bitter End. - - - - 3 - - -When, having finished my work, I went into Mr. Betterton's study, I -found him sitting beside his Desk, though no longer writing. He was -leaning back against the cushions of his chair with eyes closed, his -face set and hard. Some loose papers, covered with his neat, careful -Caligraphy, lay in an orderly heap upon the Desk. - -His Work was evidently finished. Steeped in Bitterness and in -Vengeance, his Pen had laboured and was now at rest. The Eloquence of -the incomparable Actor would now do the rest. - -As I entered the Room, the tower clock of Westminster was just striking -seven. The deep bay Window which gave on a solitary corner of St. -James's Park, was wide open, and through it there came from afar, wafted -upon the evening breeze, the strains of a masculine Voice, warm and -mellow, singing to the accompaniment of one of those stringed -Instruments which have been imported of late from Italy. - -The Voice rose and fell in pleasing Cadences, and some of the Words of -the Song reached mine Ear. - - "You are my Life. You ask me why? - Because my hope is in your love." - - -Whether Mr. Betterton heard them or not, I could not say. He sat there -so still, his slender Hands--white and tapering, the veritable Hands of -an Artist--rested listlessly upon the arms of his chair. - - "Through gloomy Clouds to sunlit Skies, - To rest in Faith and your dear Eyes." - - -So sang the sweet Minstrel out there in the fast gathering Gloom. I -went up to the window and gazed out into the open Vista before me. Far -away I could see the twinkling lights from the windows of St. James's -Palace, and on my right those of White Hall. The Singer I could not -see. He appeared to be some distance away. But despite the lateness of -the hour, the Park was still alive with people. And indeed as I leaned -my Head further out of the Window, I was struck by the animated -spectacle which it presented. - -No doubt that the unwonted mildness of this early spring evening had -induced young Maids and Gallants, as well as more sober Folk and -Gentlemen, to linger out in the open. The charm of the Minstrel and his -Song, too, must have served as an additional Attraction, for as I -watched the People passing to and fro, I heard snatches of Conversation, -mostly in praise of the Singer or of the Weather. - -Anon I espied Sir William Davenant walking with Mr. Killigrew, and my -Lord of Rochester dallying with a pretty Damsel; one or two more -Gentlemen did I recognize as I gazed on the moving Sight, until suddenly -I saw that which caused me to draw my Head back quickly from the Window -and to gaze with added Anxiety on the listless Figure of my Friend. - -What I had seen down below had indeed filled my Heart with Dread. It -was the Figure of my Lord Stour. I could have sworn to it, even though -his Lordship was wrapped in a mantle from Head to Foot and wore a -broad-rimmed Hat, both of which would indeed have disguised his Person -completely before all Eyes save those of Love, of Hate, or of an abiding -Friendship. - -What was my Lord Stour doing at this Hour, and in disguise, beneath the -Window of his bitterest Foe? My Anxiety was further quickened by the -Certainty which I had that neither he nor the Lady Barbara would allow -Mr. Betterton's Schemes to mature without another Struggle. Even as I -once more thrust my Head out of the Window, in order to catch another -glimpse of the moody and solitary Figure which I had guessed to be Lord -Stour, methought that close by the nearest Shrubbery I espied the Figure -of the Lady Barbara, in close conversation with her Attendant. Both -Women were wrapped in dark Mantles and wore thick veils to cover their -Hair. - -A dark presentiment of Evil now took possession of my Soul. I felt like -a Watch-dog scenting Danger from afar. The Man whom I loved better than -any other on Earth was in peril of his Life, at the hands of an Enemy -driven mad by an impending Doom--of that I felt suddenly absolutely -convinced. And somehow, I felt equally convinced at the moment that -we--I, the poor, insignificant Clerk, as well as my illustrious -Friend--were standing on the Brink of an overwhelming Catastrophe. - -I had thought to warn him then and there, yet dared not do so in so many -words. Men in the prime of Life and the plentitude of their mental -Powers are wont to turn contemptuous and obstinate if told to be on -their guard against a lurking Enemy. And I feared that, in his utter -contempt for his Foe, Mr. Betterton might be tempted to do something -that was both unconsidered and perilous. - -So I contented myself for the nonce with turning to my Friend, seeing -that he had wakened from his reverie and was regarding me with that look -of Confidence and Kindliness which always warmed my heart when I was -conscious of it, I merely remarked quite casually: - -"The Park is still gay with Ladies and Gallants. 'Tis strange at this -late hour. But a Minstrel is discoursing sweet Music somewhere in the -distance. Mayhap people have assembled in order to listen to him." - -And, as if to confirm my Supposition, a merry peal of laughter came -ringing right across the Park, and we heard as it were the hum and -murmur of Pedestrians moving about. And through it all the echo of the -amorous Ditty still lingering upon the evening air: - - "For you are Love--and I am yours!" - - -"Close that window, John," Mr. Betterton said, with an impatient little -sigh. "I am in no mood for sentimental Ballads." - -I did as he desired, and whilst in the act of closing the Window, I said -guardedly: - -"I caught sight of my Lord Stour just now, pacing the open Ground just -beneath this Window. He appeared moody and solitary, and was wrapped -from head to foot in a big Mantle, as if he wished to avoid -Recognition." - -"I too am moody and solitary, good Honeywood," was Mr. Betterton's sole -comment on my remark. Then he added, with a slight shiver of his whole -body: "I prithee, see to the Fire. I am perished with the cold." - -I went up to the Hearth and kicked the dying embers into a Blaze; then -found some logs and threw them on the Fire. - -"The evening is warm, Sir," I said; "and you complained of the Heat -awhile ago." - -"Yes," he rejoined wearily. "My head is on fire and my Spine feels like -ice." - -It was quite dark in the Room now, save for the flickering and ruddy -firelight. So I went out and bade the Servant give me the candles. I -came back with them myself and set them on the Desk. As I did so, I -glanced at Mr. Betterton. He had once more taken up his listless -Attitude; his Head was leaning against the back of his Chair, and I -could not fail to note how pallid his Face looked and how drawn, and -there was a frown between his Brows which denoted wearying and absorbing -Thoughts. Wishing to distract him from his brooding Melancholy, I -thought of reminding him of certain artistic and social Duties which -were awaiting his Attention. - -"Will you send an Answer, Sir," I asked him with well-assumed -indifference, "to the Chancellor? It is on the Subject of the Benefit -Performance in aid of the Indigent Poor of the City of Westminster. His -Lordship again sent a messenger this afternoon." - -"Yes!" Mr. Betterton replied readily enough, and sought amongst his -Papers for a Letter which he had apparently written some time during the -Day. "If His Lordship's Messenger calls again, let him have this Note. -I must arrange for the Benefit Performance, of course. But I doubt if -many members of the Company will care to give their Services." - -"I think that Mr. Robert Noakes would be willing," I suggested. "Also -Mr. Lilleston." - -"Perhaps, perhaps!" he broke in listlessly. "But we must have Actresses -too, and they----" - -He shrugged his shoulders, and I rejoined with great alacrity: - -"Oh! I feel sure that Mistress Saunderson would be ready to join in any -benevolent Scheme for the betterment of the Poor." - -"Ah! but she is an Angel!" Mr. Betterton exclaimed. And, believe me, -dear Mistress, that those words came as if involuntarily to his Lips, -out of the Fulness of his Heart. And even when he had spoken, a Look of -infinite Sadness swept over his Face and he rested his Head against his -Hand, shading his Eyes from the light of the Candles, lest I should read -the Thoughts that were mirrored therein. - -"There came a messenger, too, this afternoon," I reminded him, "from -Paris, with an autograph Letter from His Majesty the King of France." - -"Yes!" he replied, and nodded his Head, I thought, uncomprehendingly. - -"Also a letter from the University of Stockholm. They propose that You -should visit the City in the course of the Summer and----" - -"Yes, yes! I know!" he rejoined impatiently. "I will attend to it all -another time ... But not to-night, good Honeywood," he went on almost -appealingly, like a Man wearied with many Tasks. "My mind is like a -squeezed Orange to-night." - -Then he held out his Hand to me--that beautiful, slender Hand of his, -which I had so often kissed in the excess of my Gratitude--and added -with gentle Indulgence: - -"Let me be to-night, good Friend. Leave me to myself. I am such poor -Company and am best alone." - -I took his hand. It was burning hot, as if with inward Fever. All my -Friendship for him, all my Love, was at once on the alert, dreading the -ravages of some inward Disease, brought on mayhap by so much Soul-worry. - -"I do not relish leaving You alone to-night," I said, with more -gruffness than I am wont to display. "This room is easy of Access from -the Park." - -He smiled, a trifle sadly. - -"Dost think," he asked, with a slight shrug of the shoulders, "that a -poor Mountebank would tempt a midnight Robber?" - -"No!" I replied firmly. "But my Lord Stour, wrapped to the eyes in his -Mantle, hath prowled beneath these Windows for an hour." Then, as he -made no comment, I continued with some Fervour: "A determined Man, who -hates Another, can easily climb up to a first floor Window----" - -"Tush, friend!" he broke in sharply. "I am not afraid of his Lordship -... I am afraid of nothing to-night, my good Honeywood," he added -softly, "except of myself." - - - - 4 - - -You certainly will not wonder, dear Mistress, that after that I did not -obey his Commands to leave him to himself. I am nothing of an -Eavesdropper, God knows, nor yet would I pry into the Secrets of the -Soul of the one Man whom I reverence above all others. But, even as I -turned reluctantly away from him in order to go back to my Room, I -resolved that, unless he actually shut the Door in my Face, I would -circumvent him and would remain on the watch, like a faithful Dog who -scents Danger for his Master. In this I did not feel that I was doing -any Wrong. God saw in my Heart and knew that my Purpose was innocent. -I thank Him on my Knees in that He strengthened me in my Resolve. But -for that Resolve, I should not have been cognizant of all the details of -those Events which culminated in such a dramatic Climax that night, and -I would not have been able to speak with Authority when placing all the -Facts before You. Let me tell You at once that I was there, in Mr. -Betterton's Room, during the whole of the time that the Incident -occurred which I am now about to relate. - -He had remained sitting at his Desk, and I went across the Room in the -direction of the communicating Door which gave on my own Study. But I -did not go through that Door. I just opened and shut it noisily, and -then slipped stealthily behind the tall oaken Dresser, which stands in a -dark Angle of the Room. From this point of Vantage I could watch -closely and ceaselessly, and at the slightest Suspicion of immediate -Danger to my Friend I would be free to slip out of my Hiding-place and -to render him what Assistance he required. I had to squat there in a -cramped Position, and I felt half suffocated with the closeness of the -Atmosphere behind so heavy a Piece of Furniture; but this I did not -mind. From where I was I could command a view of Mr. Betterton at his -Desk, and of the Window, which I wished now that I had taken the -Precaution to bar and bolt ere I retired to my Corner behind the -Dresser. - -For awhile, everything was silent in the Room; only the great Clock -ticked loudly in its case, and now and again the blazing logs gave an -intermittent Crackle. I just could see the outline of Mr. Betterton's -Shoulder and Arm silhouetted against the candle light. He sat forward, -his elbow resting upon the Desk, his Head leaning against his Hand, and -so still that presently I fell to thinking that he must have dropped to -sleep. - -But suddenly he gave that quick, impatient Sigh of his, which I had -learned to know so well, pushed back his chair, and rose to his Feet. -Whereupon, he began pacing up and down the Room, in truth like some -poor, perturbed Spirit that is denied the Solace of Rest. - -Then he began to murmur to himself. I know that mood of his and believe -it to be peculiar to the artistic Temperament, which, when it feels -itself untrammelled by the Presence of Others, gives vent to its -innermost Thoughts in mumbled Words. - -From time to time I caught Snatches of what he said--wild Words for the -most part, which showed the Perturbation of his Spirit. He, whose Mind -was always well-ordered, whose noble Calling had taught him to -co-ordinate his Thoughts and to subdue them to his Will, was now -murmuring incoherent Phrases, disjointed Sentences that would have -puzzled me had I not known the real Trend of his Mood. - -"Barbara!..." he said at one time. "Beautiful, exquisite, innocent Lady -Babs; the one pure Crystal in that Laboratory of moral Decomposition, -the Court of White Hall...." Then he paused, struck his Forehead with -his Hand, and added with a certain fierce Contempt: "But she will yield -... she is ready now to yield. She will cast aside her Pride, and throw -herself into the arms of a Man whom she hates, all for the sake of that -young Coxcomb, who is not worthy to kiss the Sole of her Shoe!" - -Again he paused, flung himself back into his Chair, and once more buried -his Face in his Hands. - -"Oh, Woman, Woman!" I could hear him murmuring. "What an Enigma! How -can the mere Man attempt to understand thee?" - -Then he laughed. Oh! I could not bear the sound of that laugh: there -was naught but Bitterness in it. And he said slowly muttering between -his Teeth: - -"The Philosopher alone knows that Women are like Melons: it is only -after having tasted them that one knows if they are good." - -Of course, he said a great deal more during the course of that dreary, -restless hour, which seemed to me like a Slice out of Eternity. His -Restlessness was intense. Every now and then he would jump up and walk -up and down, up and down, until his every Footstep had its counterpart -in the violent beatings of my Heart. Then he would fling himself into a -Chair and rest his Head against the Cushions, closing his Eyes as if he -were in bodily Pain, or else beat his Forehead with his Fists. - -Of course he thought himself unobserved, for Mr. Betterton is, as You -know, a Man of great mental Reserve. Not even before me--his faithful -and devoted Friend--would he wittingly have displayed such overmastering -Emotion. To say that an equally overwhelming Sorrow filled my Heart -would be but to give You, dear Mistress, a feeble Statement of what I -really felt. To see a Man of Mr. Betterton's mental and physical Powers -so utterly crushed by an insane Passion was indeed heartrending. Had he -not everything at his Feet that any Man could wish for?--Fame, Honours, -the Respect and Admiration of all those who mattered in the World. -Women adored him, Men vied with one another to render him the sincerest -Flattery by striving to imitate his Gestures, his Mode of Speech, the -very Cut of his Clothes. And, above all--aye, I dare assert it, and -You, beloved Mistress will, I know, forgive me--above all, he had the -Love of a pure and good Woman, of a talented Artist--yours, dear -Lady--an inestimable Boon, for which many a Man would thank his Maker on -his Knees. - -Ah! he was blind then, had been blind since that fatal Hour when the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode crossed his Path. I could endorse the wild Words -which he had spoken to her this forenoon. A thousand devils were indeed -unchained within him; but 'tis not to her Kiss that they would yield, -but rather to the gentle Ministration of exquisite Mistress Saunderson. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - - MORE DEAF THAN ADDERS - - - 1 - - -I felt so cramped and numb in my narrow hiding-place that I verily -believe I must have fallen into a kind of trance-like Slumber. - -From this I was suddenly awakened by the loud Clang of our front-door -Bell, followed immediately by the Footsteps of the Serving Man upon the -Landing, and then by a brief Colloquy between him and the belated -Visitor. - -Seriously, at the moment I had no Conception of who this might be, until -I glanced at Mr. Betterton. And then I guessed. Guessed, just as he had -already done. Every line of his tense and expectant Attitude betrayed -the Fact that he had recognized the Voice upon the Landing, and that its -sound had thrilled his very Soul and brought him back from the Land of -Dreams and Nightmare, where he had been wandering this past hour. - -You remember, dear Lady, the last time Mr. Betterton played in a Tragedy -called "Hamlett," wherein there is a Play within a Play, and the -melancholy Prince of Denmark sets a troupe of Actors to enact a -Representation of the terrible Crime whereof he accuses both his Uncle -and his Mother? It is a Scene which, when played by Mr. Betterton, is -wont to hold the Audience enthralled. He plays his Part in it by lying -full length on the Ground, his Body propped up by his Elbow and his Chin -supported in his Hand. His Eyes--those wonderful, expressive Eyes of -his--he keeps fixed upon the guilty Pair: his Mother and his Uncle. He -watches the play of every Emotion upon their faces--Fear, Anger, and -then the slowly creeping, enveloping Remorse; and his rigid, stern -Features express an Intensity of Alertness and of Expectancy, which is -so poignant as to be almost painful. - -Just such an Expression did my dear Friend's Face wear at this Moment. -He had pushed his Chair back slightly, so that I had a fuller view of -him, and the flickering light of the wax Candles illumined his clear-cut -Features and his Eyes, fixed tensely upon the door. - - - - 2 - - -The next moment the serving Man threw open the door and the Lady Barbara -walked in. I could not see her until she had advanced further into the -middle of the Room. Then I beheld her in all her Loveliness. Nay! -I'll not deny it. She was still incomparably beautiful, with, in -addition, that marvellous air of Breeding and of Delicacy, which -rendered her peerless amongst her kind. I hated her for the infinite -wrong which she had done to my Friend, but I could not fail to admire -her. Her Mantle was thrown back from her Shoulders and a dark, filmy -Veil, resembling a Cloud, enveloped her fair Hair. Beneath her Mantle -she wore a Dress of something grey that shimmered like Steel in the -Candlelight. A few tendrils of her ardent Hair had escaped from beneath -her Veil, and they made a kind of golden Halo around her Face. She was -very pale, but of that transparent, delicate Pallor that betokens -Emotion rather than ill-health, and her Eyes looked to me to be as dark -as Sloes, even though I knew them to be blue. - -For the space of one long Minute, which seemed like Eternity, these two -remained absolutely still, just looking at one another. Methought that -I could hear the very heart-beats within my breast. Then the Lady said, -with a queer little catch in her Throat and somewhat hesitatingly: - -"You are surprised to see me, Sir, no doubt ... but ..." - -She was obviously at a loss how to begin. And Mr. Betterton, aroused no -doubt by her Voice from his absorption, rose quickly to his Feet and -made her a deep and respectful Obeisance. - -"The Angels from Heaven sometimes descend to Earth," he said slowly; -"yet the Earth is more worthy of their Visit than is the humble Artist -of the Presence of his Muse." Then he added more artlessly: "Will You -deign to sit?" - -He drew a Chair forward for her, but She did not take it, continued to -speak with a strange, obviously forced Gaiety and in a halting Manner. - -"I thank you, Sir," she said. "That is ... no ... not yet ... I like to -look about me." - -She went close up to the Desk and began to finger idly the Books and -Papers which lay scattered pell-mell upon it, he still gazing on her as -if he had not yet realized the Actuality of her Presence. Anon she -looked inquiringly about her. - -"What a charming room!" she said, with a little cry of wonder. "So new -to me! I have never seen an Artist's room before." - -"For weeks and months," Mr. Betterton rejoined simply, "this one has -been a temple, hallowed by thoughts of You. Your Presence now, has -henceforth made it a Sanctuary." - -She turned full, inquiring Eyes upon him and riposted with childlike -Ingenuousness: - -"Yet must You wonder, Sir, at my Presence here ... alone ... and at this -hour." - -"In my heart," he replied, "there is such an Infinity of Happiness that -there is no Room for Wonder." - -"An Infinity of Happiness?" she said with a quaint little sigh. "That -is what we are all striving for, is it not? The Scriptures tell us that -this Earth is a Vale of Tears. No wonder!" she added naively, "since we -are so apt to allow Happiness to pass us by." - -Oh! how I wished I had the Courage then and there to reveal myself to -these Twain, to rush out of my Hiding-place and seize that wily -Temptress who, I felt sure, was here only for the undoing of a Man whom -she hated with unexampled Bitterness. Oh, why hath grudging Nature made -me weak and cowardly and diffident, when my whole Soul yearns at times -to be resourceful and bold? Believe me, dear Mistress, that my Mind and -my Will-power were absolutely torn between two Impulses--the one -prompting me to put a stop to this dangerous and purposeless Interview, -this obvious Trap set to catch a great and unsuspecting Artist unawares; -and the other urging me not to interfere, but rather to allow Destiny, -Fate or the Will of God alone to straighten out the Web of my Friend's -Life, which had been embroiled by such Passions as were foreign to his -noble Nature. - -And now I am thankful that I allowed this latter Counsel to prevail. -The Will of God did indeed shape the Destinies of Men this night for -their Betterment and ultimate Happiness. But, for the moment, the -Threads of many a Life did appear to be most hopelessly tangled: the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode, daughter of the Marquis of Sidbury, the fiancee -of the Earl of Stour, was in the house of Tom Betterton, His Majesty's -Well-Beloved Servant, and he was passionately enamoured of her and had -vowed Vengeance against the Man she loved. As he gazed on her now there -was no Hatred in his Glance, no evil Passion disturbed the Look of -Adoration wherewith he regarded her. - -"Barbara," he pleaded humbly, "be merciful to me.... For pity's sake, -do not mock me with your smile! My dear, do you not see that I scarce -can believe that I live ... and that you are here? ... You! ... You!" he -went on, with passionate Earnestness. "My Divinity, whom I only dare -approach on bended Knees, whose Garment I scarce dare touch with my -trembling Lips!" - -He bent the Knee and raised the long, floating End of her cloudlike Veil -to his Lips. I could have sworn at that Moment that she recoiled from -him and that she made a Gesture to snatch away the Veil, as if his very -Touch on it had been Pollution. That Gesture and the Recoil were, -however, quite momentary. The next second, even whilst he rose once -more to his Feet, she had already recovered herself. - -"Hush!" she said gently, and drew herself artlessly away from his -Nearness. "I want to listen.... People say that Angels wait upon Mr. -Betterton when he studies his Part ... and I want to hear the flutter of -their Wings." - -"The Air vibrates with the Echo of your sweet Name," he rejoined, and -his exquisite Voice sounded mellow and vibrant as a sensitive Instrument -touched by a Master's Hand. "Your name, which with mad longing I have -breathed morning, noon and eve. And now ... now ... I am not dreaming -... You are near me! ... You, the perfect Lady Barbara ... my Lady -Babs.... And you look--almost happy!" - -She gave him a Look--the true Look of a Siren set to enchain the Will of -Man. - -"Happy?" she queried demurely. "Nay, Sir ... puzzled, perhaps." - -"Puzzled?" he echoed. "Why?" - -"Wondering," she replied, "what magic is in the air that could make a -Woman's Heart ... forsake one Love ... for ... for Another." - -Yes! She said this, and looked on him straight between the Eyes as she -spoke. Yet I knew that she lied, could have screamed the Accusation at -her, so convinced was I that she was playing some subtle and treacherous -Game, designed to entrap him and to deliver him helpless and broken into -her Power. But he, alas! was blinded by his Passion. He saw no Siren in -her, no Falsehood in her Smile. At her Words, I saw a great Light of -Happiness illumine his Face. - -"Barbara!" he pleaded. "Have pity on me, for my Reason wanders. I dare -not call it back, lest this magic hour should prove to be a Dream." - -He tried to take her in his Arms, but she evaded him, ran to the other -side of the Desk, laughing merrily like a Child. Once again her -delicate Fingers started to toy with the Papers scattered there. - -"Oh, ho!" she exclaimed, with well-feigned astonishment. "Your desk! -Why, this," she said, placing her Hand upon the neat pile before her, -"must be that very Thunderbolt wherewith to-morrow you mean to crush an -arrogant Enemy!" - -"Barbara!" he rejoined with ever growing passion, and strove to take her -Hand. "Will you not let me tell You----" - -"Yes, yes!" she replied archly, and quietly withdrew her Hand from his -grasp. "You shall speak to me anon some of those Speeches of our great -Poets, which your Genius hath helped to immortalize. To hear Mr. -Betterton recite will be an inestimable Privilege ... which your many -Admirers, Sir, will envy me." - -"The whole world would envy me to-night," he retorted, and gazed on her -with such Ardour that she was forced to lower her Eyes and to hide their -Expression behind the delicate Curtain of her Lashes. - -I, who was the dumb Spectator of this cruel Game, saw that the Lady -Barbara was feeling her way towards her Goal. There was so much -Excitement in her, such palpitating Vitality, that her very Heart-beats -seemed to find their Echo in my breast. Of course, I did not know yet -what Game it was that she was playing. All that I knew was that it was -both deadly and treacherous. Even now, when Mr. Betterton once more -tried to approach her and she as instinctively as before recoiled before -him, she contrived to put strange softness into her Voice, and a subtle, -insidious Promise which helped to confuse his Brain. - -"No--no!" she said. "Not just yet ... I pray you have pity on my -Blushes. I--I still am affianced to my Lord Stour ... although..." - -"You are right, my beloved," he rejoined simply. "I will be patient, -even though I am standing on the Threshold of Paradise. But will You -not be merciful? I cannot see you well. Will you not take off that -Veil? ... It casts a dark shadow over your Brow." - -This time she allowed him to come near her, and, quite slowly, she -unwound the Veil from round her Head. He took it from her as if it were -some hallowed Relic, too sacred to be polluted by earthly Touch. And, -as her back was turned towards him, he crushed the Gossamer between his -Hands and pressed its Fragrance to his Lips. - -"There!" she said coolly. "'Tis done. Your magic, Sir Actor, has -conquered again." - -It seemed to me that she was more self-possessed now than she had been -when first she entered the Room. Indeed, her Serenity appeared to grow -as his waned perceptibly. She still was a little restless, wandering -aimlessly about the Room, fingering the Books, the Papers, the Works of -Art that lay everywhere about; but it seemed like the restlessness of -Curiosity rather than of Excitement. In her own Mind she felt that she -held the Winning Hand--of this I was convinced--and that she could -afford to toy with and to befool the Man who had dared to measure his -Power against hers. - -After awhile, she sat down in her Chair which he had brought forward for -her, and which stood close to the Desk. - -"And now, Sir," she said with cool composure, "'tis You who must humour -me. I have a fancy ... now, at this moment ... and my Desire is to be -thoroughly spoiled." - -"Every Whim of yours," he rejoined, "is a Command to your humble Slave." - -"Truly?" she queried. - -"Truly." - -"Then will You let me see you ... sitting at your Desk ... Pen in hand -... writing something just for me?" - -"All my work of late," he replied, "has been done because of You ... but -I am no Poet. What I speak may have some Merit. What I write hath -none." - -"Oh!" she protested with well-simulated Coquetry, "what I desire You to -write for me, Sir Actor, will have boundless Merit. It is just a couple -of Lines designed to ... to ... prove your Love for me--Oh!" she added -quickly, "I scarce dare believe in it, Sir ... I scare understood ... -You remember, this morning in the Park, I was so excited, yet you asked -me--to be--your Wife!" - -"My Wife!" he cried, his Voice ringing with triumphant Passion. "And -you would consent?----" - -"And so I came," she riposted, evading a direct Answer, "to see if I had -been dreaming ... if, indeed, the great and illustrious Mr. Betterton -had stooped to love a Woman ... and for the sake of that Love would do a -little Thing for Her." - -Lies! Lies! I knew that every Word which she spoke was nothing but a -Lie. My God! if only I could have unriddled her Purpose! If only I -could have guessed what went on behind those marvellous Eyes of hers, -deep and unfathomable as the Sea! All I knew--and this I did in the very -Innermost of my Soul--was that the Lady Barbara Wychwoode had come here -to-night in order to trick Mr. Betterton, and to turn his Love for her -to Advantage for my Lord Stour. How carefully she had thought out the -Part which she meant to play; how completely she meant to have him at -her Mercy, only in order to mock and deride him in the End, I had yet to -learn. - -Even now she completed his Undoing, the Addling of his noble Mind, by -casting Looks of shy Coquetry upon him. What Man is there who could -have resisted them? What Man, who was himself so deeply infatuated as -was Mr. Betterton, could believe that there was Trickery in those -Glances? He sat down at his Desk, as she had desired him to do, and -drew Pen, Ink and Paper closer to his Hand. - -"An you asked my Life," he said simply, "I would gladly give it to prove -my Love for You." Then, as she remained silent and meditative, he -added: "What is your Ladyship's wish?" - -"Oh!" she replied, "'tis a small matter ... It concerns the Earl of -Stour ... We were Friends ... once ... Playmates when we were Children -... That Friendship ripened into a--a--Semblance of Love. No! No!" she -went on rapidly, seeing that at her Words he had made a swift Movement, -leaning towards her. "I pray you, listen. That Semblance of Love may -have gone ... but Friendship still abides. My Lord Stour, the Playmate -of my Childhood, is in sore trouble ... I, his Friend, would wish to -help him, and cannot do this without your Aid. Will You--will You grant -me this Aid, Sir," she queried shyly, "if I beg it of You?" - -"Your Ladyship has but to command," he answered vaguely, for, in truth, -his whole Mind was absorbed in the contemplation of her Loveliness. - -"'Twas You," she asserted boldly, "who begged for his Lordship's pardon -from the Countess of Castlemaine ... 'Twas not he who betrayed his -Friends. That is a Fact, is it not?" - -"A Fact. Yes," he replied. - -"Then I pray you, Sir, write that down," she pleaded, with an ingenuous, -childish Gesture, "and sign it with your Name ... just to please me." - -She looked like a lovely Child begging for a Toy. To think of Guile in -connection with those Eyes, with that Smile, seemed almost a Sacrilege. -And my poor Friend was so desperately infatuated just then! Has any Man -ever realized that Woman is fooling him, when she really sets her Wiles -to entrap him? Surely not a Man of Mr. Betterton's keen, artistic and -hot-blooded Temperament. I saw it all now, yet I dared not move. For -one thing, the time had gone by when I might have done it with good -Effect. Now it was too late. Any interference on my part would only -have led to Ignominy for myself and the severance of a Friendship that I -valued more than Life itself. Betwixt a Friend's warning and a Woman's -Cajolery, what Man would hesitate? What could I, in any event, have -done now, save to hold up the inevitable Catastrophe for a few -Moments--a few Seconds, perhaps? Truly, my hour was past. I could but -wait now in Silence and Misery until the End. - -There she sat, pleading, speaking that eternal Phrase, which since the -beginning of primeval times hath been used by wily Woman for the undoing -of a generous-minded Man. - -"Will You do this, Sir--just to please me?" - -"I swear to You that it shall be done," he rejoined with passionate -fervour. "But will you not let me tell you first----" - -"No!--No!" she said quickly, clasping her delicate hands. "I pray -You--not just yet. I--I so long to see You write ... there ... at this -Desk, where lie piled letters from every illustrious Person and every -crowned Head in Europe. And now You will write," she entreated, in the -tone of an indulged and wayward Child. "You will? Just one little -Document for me, because ... because You say You love me, and ... -because ... I..." - -"Barbara!" he cried in an Ecstasy of Happiness. "My Beloved!" - -He was on the point of falling on his Knees, but once more a demure -Gesture, a drawing back of her whole Figure, restrained him. - -"No! No!" she reiterated firmly. "When you have written, I will -listen----"--another Glance, and he was vanquished. Then she completed -her Phrase--"to all you have to say." - -He drew back with a sigh, and took up his Pen. - -"As you command," he said simply, and made ready to write. - - - - 3 - - -Even now, whene'er I close mine Eyes, I can see those twain as a vivid -Picture before me. The Massive Desk, littered with papers, the Candles -flickering in their Sconces, illumining with their elusive Light the -Figure of the great Actor, sitting with shoulders slightly bent forward, -one Arm resting upon the Desk, half buried in the filmy folds of her -Ladyship's Veil, his Face upturned towards the Enchantress, who held him -at this Hour an absolute Slave to her Will. She had risen from her -Chair and stood immediately behind him; her Face I could not see, for -her back was towards me, but the light caught the loose Tendrils of her -fair Hair, and from where I stood watching, this looked just like a -golden Aureole around her small Head, bent slightly towards him. She -too was leaning forward, over him, with her Hand extended, giving him -Directions as to what he should write. - -"Oh, I pray You," she said with an impatient little Sigh, "do not delay! -I will watch You as You write. I pray You write it as a Message -addressed to the Court of White Hall. Not in Poetry," she added, with a -nervous little Laugh; "but in Prose, so that all may understand." - -He bent to his task and began to write, and she straightened out her -elegant Figure and murmured, as if oppressed: "How hot this room is!" - -Slowly, as if in Absence of Mind, She wandered towards the Window. - -"I have heard it said," she remarked, "that Mr. Betterton's worst enemy -is the cold. But a fire! ... on such a glorious Evening. The first -Kiss of awakening Spring." - -She had reached the Window now, and stood for awhile in the Bay, leaning -against the Mullion; and I could not help but admire her Duplicity and -her Pluck. For, indeed, She had risked Everything that Woman holds most -dear, for the sake of the Man she loved. And She could not help but -know that She herself and her fair Name would anon be at the mercy of a -Man whom her Cajoleries and her Trickery would have rendered desperate. - -Anon, as if quite overcome by the Heat, she threw open the Casement, and -then leaned out, peering into the Darkness beyond. Ensconced in my -Corner at some distance from the Window, I was conscious of the Movement -and subdued Noise which came up from the still crowded Park. A number -of People appeared to be moving out there, and even as I strained my -Ears to listen, I caught the sweet sound of the selfsame Song of awhile -ago, wafted hither on the cool night Air: - - "You are my Life! You ask me why? - Because my Hope is in Your Love." - - -I caught myself marvelling if the Ladies and Gallants of the Court had -strolled out into the Park at this hour, drawn thither by the amorous -Melodies sung by the unknown Minstrel; or by the balmy Air of Spring; or -merely by the passing Whim of some new Fashion or Fancy. I even -strained my Ears so that I might recognise the sound of Voices that were -familiar to me. I heard my Lord of Rochester's characteristic Laugh, -Sir William Davenant's dictatorial tones and the high-pitched Cackle of -Mr. Killigrew. - -So doth our Mind oft dwell on trivial Thoughts at times of gravest -Stress. Her Ladyship had sat down on a low Stool beside the Window. I -could only see the vague outline of her--the Expression of her Face, the -very Poise of her Head, were wrapt in the surrounding Gloom. - -For awhile there was perfect Silence in the Room, save for the -monotonous ticking of the old Clock and the scratching of Mr. -Betterton's Pen as he wrote with a rapid and unhesitating Hand. - -The Minutes sped on, and anon he had completed his Task. I saw him lay -down his Pen, then raise the Paper and read through very carefully all -that he had written, and finally strew Sand upon the momentous Document. -For awhile after that he remained perfectly still, and I observed his -clear-cut Face, with Eyes fixed as it were inwards into his own Soul, -and sensitive Lips pressed tightly one against the other. The Hand -which held the Document was perfectly steady, an obedient slave to his -Will. And yet that Sign-manual, as directed by her Ladyship, was a -direct Avowal of a dastardly Deed, of the gratuitous Slandering of an -innocent Man's Honour, without Provocation or Justification, seeing that -no mention was made in the Confession of the abominable Outrage which -had brought about this grim Retaliation, or of the Refusal on the part -of his Lordship to grant the Satisfaction that is customary between -Gentlemen. It was, in fact, his own Integrity and his own Honour that -the eminent Actor was even now bartering for a Woman's Love. This will -prove to You, dear Mistress, that Mr. Betterton's Love for the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode did not at any time resemble true Affection, which, of -all the Passions to which the human Heart is apt to become Slave, is the -one that leads the Mind to the highest and noblest Thoughts; whereas an -Infatuation can only be compared to a Fever. Man hath no more control -over the one than he hath over the other, and cannot curb its Violence -or the Duration of its Attack. - - - - 4 - - -The next thing that I remember most clearly is seeing Mr. Betterton put -the fateful Paper down again, take up her Ladyship's Veil and bury his -Face in its cloudy Folds. I heard him murmur faintly, after awhile: - -"Now, if I dared, I would believe myself almost happy!" - -Then he rose, picked up the Paper, and with it went up to the Lady -Barbara. - -"'Tis done, as you did command," he said quite quietly, and placed the -Document in her Hand. She took it from him and rose to her Feet. - -"A Light, I pray You," she said coldly. - -He brought one of the Candles across and stood beside her, holding it -aloft. She read the Paper through with great Deliberation, nodding -Approval from time to time as she did so. Then she folded it into a -very small Compass, while she thanked him coldly and guardedly. He then -went back to the Desk with the Candle and put it down. During these few -Seconds, whilst his back was turned to her, I noticed that the Lady -Barbara took a heavy, jewelled Brooch from her Gown and fastened it by -its pin to the Document. Her movements were methodical but very quick, -and my own Mind worked too slowly to guess at her Intention. - -The next moment, Mr. Betterton was once more by her side. Eager, alert, -and with the glow of Triumph in his Eyes, he flung himself at her Feet. -She was his now!--his by Right of Conquest! He had won her by -measureless Self-Sacrifice, and now he meant to hold the Guerdon for -which he had paid so heavy a Price. - -"Because you deigned to cross this humble Threshold," he said, and his -arms encircled her Waist with the masterful and passionate Gesture of a -Victor, "the poor Actor places his Name and Fame, his Pride and baffled -Revenge, at your feet." - -"At the World's Feet, Sir Mountebank!" she cried exultantly, and with a -swift movement she flung the weighted Paper far out through the Window. -Then, leaning out into the Darkness, she called at the top of her Voice: -"To me, Adela! Here is the Message from Mr. Betterton. Take it to my -Lord Sidbury at once!" - -But Mr. Betterton was no longer in a mental State to care what happened -after this; I doubt if he realized just what was impending. He was -still on his Knees, holding on to her with both Arms. - -"Nay!" he said wildly. "That is as You please. Let the whole World -think me base and abject. What care I for Honour, Fame or Integrity now -that You are here, and that You will be my Wife?" - -Ah! the poor, deluded Fool! How could he be so blind? Already the Lady -Barbara had turned on him with flashing Eyes, and a loud, hysterical -Laugh of measureless Contempt broke from her Lips. - -"Your Wife!" she exclaimed, and that harsh laugh echoed through the -Silence of the House. "So, Mr. Actor, you thought to entrap the Daughter -of the Marquis of Sidbury into becoming your Wife! ... Nay! you -miserable Fool! 'Twas I entrapped and cheated you.... Your Wife! Ye -Saints in Heaven, hear him! His Wife! The Wife of Thomas Betterton, -the Mountebank!! I!!!" - -Her Words, her Laughter, the Bitterness of her Contempt, stung him like -a Whip-lash. In an instant, he was on his Feet, staggered back till he -came in contact with the Desk, to which he clung with both hands, while -he faced her, his Cheeks pale as Ashes, his Eyes glowing with a Light -that appeared almost maniacal. - -"You cheated me?" he murmured inarticulately. "You lied to me? ... You -... I'll not believe it ... I'll not believe it...." - -She appeared not to heed him, was gazing out of the Window, shouting -directions to some one--her waiting-maid, no doubt, or other -Confidante--who was searching for the Paper down below. - -"There, Adela!" she called out eagerly. "Dost see ... just by those -bushes ... something white ... my brooch.... Dost see?" - -Suddenly she gave a Cry of Triumph, and then turned back exultantly to -her baffled Foe. - -"My maid," she said, somewhat wildly, and panting as if she were -exhausted with fast running. "We had planned it all ... She is devoted -to me ... She has been on the Watch ... She has the paper now ... -There!" she added, and with outstretched arm pointed out into the Gloom -beyond. "There; Do you see?" - -Can You wonder that her Trickery, her Contempt had made him mad? -Indeed, even I felt that at that moment I could have held her slender -throat between my two Hands and crushed the Life out of her. To a Man -of Mr. Betterton's temperament, the Provocation was obviously beyond his -Powers of Endurance. Even in the dim Light, I could see a positive Fury -of Passion akin to Hate literally distorting his Face. The next second -he was once more by her side, and whilst she still cried wildly: "Do you -see? Do you see? Run, Adela, run!" he seized her in his arms and -retorted roughly: - -"I see nothing now but your Beauty, and that has made me mad." - -"Run, Adela! Run!" she cried again. "That message from Mr. Betterton -is for the whole World to see!" - -But he held her tightly round the Shoulders now, and she, probably -realizing her Danger for the first time, strove to struggle against his -Embrace. - -"Let me go!" she commanded. "Let me go! or I swear by God in Heaven -that I will find the Strength to kill myself and You." - -"I love You," was his only reply to her Threat. "Nay!" he added, -speaking in rapid, jerky Phrases, the while she continued to struggle -with ever growing loss of Power. "You shall kill me later if You will, -but not till I have lived. My Dear, my Love, my Saint! Have I not -worshipped you for days and months? Have I not held You in Dream in my -Arms? You are my Muse, my Divinity, my Hope! Mine! Mine! Exquisite, -adorable Lady Barbara! No! No! You cannot escape, struggle how You -might. This is my hour! 'Tis you who gave it me, and I defy Heaven -itself to rob me of a single instant!" - -My God! what could I do? More and more did I curse the Folly and -Cowardice which had kept me riveted to this Spot all this while. Now -there was nothing for it but to reveal my Presence, to draw upon my -foolish Head the Contempt and Anger of a Man for whom I would gladly -have laid down my Life. My Brain became confused. I ceased to see -clearly. A ruddy Mist was gathering before my Eyes. I was on the Verge -of losing Consciousness and was struggling pitifully to retain Command -over my Senses. Through this fast approaching Swoon I could hear, as -through an intervening Veil, the hoarse and broken Accents of the Voice -that I loved so well: - -"You are here alone with me. The last shred of my Reason is scattered -to the Winds. England, Fame, the World, are empty Words to me. Do you -not see that now I am ready to die an hundred Deaths, for at last I -shall have lived ... I shall have held You in my Arms." - -And one great and pitiful Appeal from her Lips: "Oh, God! If there is -Justice in Heaven--defend me now----" - -And, even half conscious as I was, I saw her--yes, saw her quite -distinctly give a sudden wrench which freed her right Arm. She plunged -her Hand into the bosom of her Gown, and the next instant the flickering -light of the Candle flashed a vivid gleam upon the narrow steel blade of -a dagger which she held. This, with the swiftness of lightning, brought -me back to the Consciousness of the present, grim Reality. With a loud -and sudden Cry, I darted out of my Hiding Place and stood there before -them both, pale no doubt with a well-nigh unearthly Pallor, which must -have given me the Appearance of a Ghost. - -It was now the Lady Barbara who was nigh to Swooning. But, with that -coolness which comes at times to the Helpless and the Weak, I had -already snatched her Veil from the Desk, and whilst she tottered and -almost fell into my Arms, I wrapped it around her Head. - -"Quick! The Door!" I said. "You are quite safe!" - -I dared not look at Mr. Betterton. Indeed, I could not even now tell -You in what Attitude or with what Expression of Face he watched me -whilst I seemed thus to take Command of the Situation. The Lady Barbara -was trembling so violently that some few moments elapsed before she was -able to walk across the Room. When she finally did so, her Foot kicked -against the Dagger which had dropped from her Hand when I so suddenly -appeared before her. She gave a faint Cry of Horror, and I stooped and -picked up the Dagger and placed it back in her Hand without looking at -her. - - - - 5 - - -Her Ladyship then went on towards the door. But suddenly she came to a -halt, and I, who was close to her heels, paused likewise, for I felt -that every drop of Blood within me had turned to Ice. From the Hall -below there had come the sound of angry Altercation and a Man's voice -was raised loudly and peremptorily, saying: - -"Let me pass, man! I will speak with Mr. Betterton." - -The voice was that of my Lord Stour. - -The Lady Barbara stood quite still for a moment, rigid as a carved -Statue. Then a low, inexpressibly pathetic Moan rose to her Lips. - -"Oh! for the Earth to open!" she cried pitiably, "and bury me and this -Shame----" - -She was overwrought and weak with Emotion, but in any Event it was a -terrible Position for any Lady of Rank to be found in, at this late -hour, and alone. Overcome no doubt with the superabundance of harrowing -Sensations, she tottered as if about to swoon. Mr. Betterton caught her -as she fell. - -"My Divinity! My Queen!" he murmured quickly. "No one shall harm you, -I swear it! No one shall!" Then he added under his breath: "Heaven -above me, help me to protect her!" - -Whereupon he lifted her up in his Arms as if she were a Child, and -carried her as far as the Embrasure of the Window. Then, with one of -those quick movements which were so characteristic of him, he drew the -Curtains together, which shut off the Bay from the rest of the Room and -screened its fair Occupant completely from view. - -He was a different Man now to the Passion-racked Creature of awhile ago; -absolutely calm; the Man I had known and loved and respected all these -years. Though my whole Being was still convulsed in an Agony of -Apprehension, I felt that from him now would come moral Comfort for me -and Protection for the unfortunate Lady, whose Burden of Sorrow had at -last touched his Heart. And I do verily believe, dear Lady, that in -that Instant of supreme Danger for us all, his Passion fell from him -like a Curtain from before his Eyes. It had gone through its -culminating Anguish when he discovered that she whom he loved had lied -to him and cheated him. Now, when she stood here before him, utterly -helpless and utterly crushed, his Infatuation appeared to writhe for one -Moment in the Crucible of his own Manliness and Chivalry, and then to -emerge therefrom hallowed and purified. - - - - 6 - - -In the meanwhile, less than a minute had elapsed. My Lord Stour had -ascended the Stairs, undeterred by the Protestations of Mr. Betterton's -Servant. The next moment he had violently wrenched the Door open and now -stood before us, pale, trembling with Rage or Excitement, hatless, his -Mantle thrown back from his Shoulders. His right Hand clutched his -naked Sword, and in his Left he had a crushed ball of paper, held -together by her Ladyship's brooch. His entire Attitude was one of firm -and deadly Menace. - -"I heard a Voice!" he exclaimed, staring wildly around him. "I saw a -Face--a Form.... This Paper was flung out from yonder Window ... was -picked up by a serving Wench.... What does it mean?" he queried -harshly, and advanced threateningly towards Mr. Betterton, who was -standing midway between him and the curtained Bay. - -"How can I tell?" riposted the great Actor blandly, with a careless -Shrug of his Shoulders. "I was not moon-gazing, as your Lordship -appears to have done. A paper, did You say?" - -"You are not alone," retorted my Lord roughly. "I heard a voice ... just -now...." - -"We are all apt to hear voices in the moonlight, my Lord," Mr. Betterton -rejoined simply. "The Artist hears his Muse, the Lover his Mistress, -the Criminal his Conscience." - -His unruffled calm seemed to exasperate his Lordship's fury, for he now -appeared even more menacing than before. - -"And did You perchance hear a Voice to-night, Sir Actor," he queried, -his voice hoarse with Passion, "warning You of Death?" - -"Nay!" replied Mr. Betterton. "That Voice whispers to Us all, and -always, my Lord, even in our Cradles." - -"Then hear it for the last time now, and from my Lips, you abominable -Mountebank!" my Lord cried, beside himself in truth. "For unless You -draw aside that Curtain, I am going to kill You." - -"That is as you please," retorted Mr. Betterton simply. - -"Stand aside!" commanded his Lordship. - -But Mr. Betterton looked him calmly up and down and did not move one -inch. - -"This is a most unwarrantable Interference," he said quietly, "with the -Freedom of His Majesty's well-beloved Servant. Your Lordship seems to -forget that every inch of this Floor is mine, and that I stand on it -where I please. I pray you, take that Paper--that Message--elsewhere. -An it came down from Heaven, read it--but leave me in Peace." - -"I'll not go," asserted my Lord harshly, "till you have drawn aside that -Curtain." - -"Then we'll see whose Legs will weary first, my Lord, yours or mine," -was Mr. Betterton's unruffled rejoinder. - -"Draw then and defend yourself!" cried my Lord, who before his Enemy's -unbroken Calm, had lost what Semblance of Self-Control he still -possessed. - -"I am unarmed," riposted Mr. Betterton simply. - -"Then let Satan have his due," exclaimed the young Hothead, and raised -his Sword ready to strike, "for your Soul shall go down to Hell at -last!" - -In a moment, of course, I was on him. But he had the vigour of a -trained Soldier, enhanced by an overwhelming Passion of Enmity and of -Rage; and though I seized him unawares--I doubt if he had realized that -I was in the Room--he shook me off in an instant, as a Dog might shake -off an importunate Rat. Before I had time to recover my breath from his -quick and furious Defence, he had turned on me and dealt me such a -vigorous Blow with his Fist between the Eyes, that the whole Room began -to gyrate around me and the Atmosphere became peopled with Stars. I -staggered and half fell against the Dresser that had sheltered me awhile -ago. For the space of half a dozen seconds mine Eyes were closed. - - - - 7 - - -When I opened them again, the Scene had indeed changed. Her Ladyship -had pushed the Curtains aside and stood there in the window Embrasure, -revealed to her irate Lover. And he, though he must have known that she -was there all the Time, appeared so staggered by her Apparition that his -Arm dropped by his side and his Sword fell with a clatter to the Ground, -while he murmured as if in the last Throes of mental Suffering: - -"Barbara ... my Barbara .. here--alone--at night ... with this Man!..." - -Her Ladyship, however, appeared perfectly composed. The light of the -Candles revealed her exquisite Face, pale but serene, and her small Head -crowned with the Aureole of her golden Hair, held up proudly as one who -hath naught to fear, naught for which she need be ashamed. She pointed -with perfect steadiness to the Paper which my Lord still held tightly -clasped in his left Hand. - -"That paper!" she said, and only a slight veiling of her Voice betrayed -the Emotion which she felt. "I sent it. 'Tis for you, my Lord. It will -clear your Honour, and proclaim your Innocence." - -But his Lordship did not appear to hear her. He continued to murmur to -himself mechanically, and in tones of the deepest Despair: - -"Barbara ... alone ... with him!" - -"Read that Paper, my dear Lord," her Ladyship insisted with calm -dignity, "ere with another Thought you further dare to wrong me!" - -These simple Words, however, so full of conscious Worth and of -Innocence, let loose the Floodgates of my Lord's pent-up, insensate -jealousy. - -"Wrong you!" he cried, and a harsh, almost maniacal laugh broke from his -choking Throat. "Wrong you! Nay! I suppose I must be grateful and -thank Heaven on my Knees that You, my promised Bride, deigned to -purchase mine Honour at the Price of your Kisses!" - -At this gross Insult her Ladyship uttered a pitiful Moan; but ere she -could give Reply, Mr. Betterton, who hitherto had not interfered between -the Twain, now did so, and in no measured Tone. - -"Silence, Madman!" he commanded, "ere You blaspheme." - -But my Lord had apparently lost his last Shred of Reason. Jealousy was -torturing him in a manner that even Hatred had failed to do. - -"God!" he exclaimed repeatedly, calling to the Almighty to witness his -Soul-Misery. "I saw her at that Window.... Who else saw her?... How -many Varlets and jabbering Coxcombs know at the present moment that the -Lady Barbara Wychwoode spends the night alone with a Mountebank?" In an -excess of ungoverned Rage he tore the Paper to shreds and threw the -Scraps almost into her Ladyship's Face. "Take back your Proofs!" he -cried. "I'll not take mine Honour from Your hands! Ah!" he added, and -now turned once more toward Mr. Betterton, who, I could see, was calmly -making up his Mind what next to do. "Whoever you are--Man or Devil--are -you satisfied with your Revenge? Was it not enough to cover _me_ with -Infamy; what need had You to brand _Her_ with Dishonour?" - -Overcome with Emotion, his Soul on the Rack, his Heart wounded and -bleeding, he appeared like a lost Spirit crying out from an Abyss of -Torment. But these last Ravings of his, these final, abominable Insults, -levelled against the Woman who had done so much for him, and whom he -should have been the first to protect, lashed Mr. Betterton's ire and -contempt into holy Fury. - -"Ye gods in Heaven, hear him!" he cried, with an outburst of Rage at -least as great as that of the other Man. "He loves her, and talks of -Dishonour, whilst I love her and only breathe of Worship! By all the -Devils in Hell, my Lord Stour, I tell you that you lie!" - -And before any of us there realized what he meant to do, he ran to the -Window, threw open all the Casements with such violence that the glass -broke and fell clattering down upon the gravelled place below. - -"Hallo!" he called in a stentorian Voice. "Hallo, there!" - -My Lord Stour, bewildered, un-understanding, tried to bluster. - -"What are you doing, man?" he queried roughly. "Silence! Silence, I -say!" - -But Mr. Betterton only shouted the louder. - -"Hallo, there! Friends! Enemies! England! Here!" - -I could hear the Tumult outside. People were running hither from -several directions, thinking, no doubt, that a Fire had broken out or -that Murder was being done. I could hear them assembling beneath the -window, which was not many feet from the Ground. "Why! it's Tom -Betterton!" some of them said. And others added: "Hath he gone raving -mad?" - -"Is any one there who knows me?" queried Mr. Betterton loudly. - -"Yes! Yes!" was the ready response. - -"Who is it?" he asked, peering into the darkness below. - -I heard Sir William Davenant's voice give reply. - -"Killigrew and I are down here, Tom. What in the Name of ---- is the -matter?" - -"Come round to my rooms, Davenant," Mr. Betterton replied; "and bring as -many friends with you as you can." - -He was standing in the Bay of the Window, and his Figure, silhouetted -against the Light in the Room, must have been plainly visible to the -crowd outside. That a number of People had assembled by now was -apparent by the Hum and Hubbub which came to us from below. Unable to -restrain my Curiosity, I too approached the open Casements and peered -out into the Gloom. Just as I thought, quite a Crowd had collected down -there, some of whom were making ready to climb up to the Window by way -of the Gutter-pipes or the solid stems of the Ivy, whilst others were -trooping down the narrow little Alley which connects Tothill Street with -the Park at the base of Mr. Betterton's house. There was a deal of -talking, laughing and shouting. "Tom Betterton is up to some Prank," I -heard more than one Person say. - - - - 8 - - -Perhaps You will wonder what was my Lord's Attitude during the few -minutes--it was less than five--which elapsed between the Instant when -Mr. Betterton first threw open the Casements, and that when the Crowd, -headed by Sir William Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, trooped down the Alley -on their Way to this House. To me he seemed at first wholly -uncomprehending, like a Man who has received a Blow on the Head--just as -I did from his Fist a moment ago--and before whose Eyes the Walls of the -Room, the Furniture, the People, are all swimming in an Ocean of Stars. -I imagine that at one time the Thought flashed as Lightning through his -Mind that this was but the culminating Outrage, wherewith his Enemy -meant to pillory him and his Bride before a jeering Public. That was -the moment when he turned to her Ladyship and, uttering a hoarse Cry, -called to her by Name. She was, just then, leaning in -semi-consciousness against the Angle of the Bay. She did not respond to -his Call, and Mr. Betterton, quick in his Movements, alert now like some -Feline on the prowl, stepped immediately in front of Her, facing my Lord -and screening Her against his Approach. - -"Stand back, Man," he commanded. "Stand back, I tell You! You shall -not come nigh Her save on bended Knees, with Head bowed in the Dust, -suing for Pardon in that you dared to Insult her." - -Everything occurred so quickly, Movements, Events, High Words, -threatening Gestures from both sides, followed one another in such rapid -Succession, that I, overcome with Agitation and the Effect of the -stunning Blow which I had received, was hardly able to take it all in. -Much less is it in my Power to give You a faithful Account of it all. -Those five Minutes were the most spirit-stirring ones I have ever -experienced throughout my Life--every Second appeared surcharged with an -exciting Fluid which transported Me to supernal Regions, to Lands of -Unrealities akin to vivid Dreams. - -At one Moment, I remember seeing my Lord Stour make a rapid and furtive -movement in the direction of his Sword, which lay some little Distance -from him on the Ground, but Mr. Betterton was quicker even than his Foe, -more alert, and with one bound he had reached the Weapon, ere my Lord's -Hand was nigh it, had picked it up and, with a terrific Jerk, broke it -in half across his Knee. Then he threw the mangled Hilt in one -direction, the Point in another, and my Lord raised his Fists, ready, -methinks, to fly at his Throat. - -But, as I have already told You, dear Mistress, the whole Episode stands -but as a confused Mirage before my Mind; and through it all I seemed to -see a mere Vision of her Ladyship, pale and ethereal, leaning against -the Angle of the Bay; one delicate Hand was clutching the heavy Curtain, -drawing it around her as it were, as if in a pathetic and futile Desire -to shield herself from view. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - - THE GAME OF LOVE - - - 1 - - -In the meanwhile, the Crowd all round the House had visibly swelled. -Some People were still standing immediately beneath the Bow-window, -whilst Others swarmed into Tothill Street; the foremost amongst the -Latter had given a vigorous Tug at the Bell-pull, and the front Door -being opened for them by the bewildered Servant, they had made a noisy -Irruption into the House. We could hear them clattering up the Stairs, -to the Accompaniment of much Laughing and Talking, and the -oft-reiterated Refrain: "Tom Betterton is up to some Prank! Hurrah!" - -Some few again, more venturesome and certainly more Impudent than most, -had indeed succeeded in scrambling up to the Window, and, one after -another, Heads and Shoulders began to appear in the Framework of the -open Casements. - -Her Ladyship had no doubt realized from the first that Escape became -impossible, within two Minutes of Mr. Betterton's first Summons to the -Public. Just at first, perhaps, if my Lord had preserved his entire -Presence of Mind, he might have taken her by the Hand and fled with Her -out of the House, before the unruly Crowd had reached Tothill Street. -But my Lord, blinded by jealous Rage, had not thought of Her quickly -enough, and now the Time was past, and he remained impotent, gasping -with Fury, hardly conscious of his Actions. He had been literally swept -off his Feet by Mr. Betterton's eagle-winged _coup de main_, which left -him puzzled and the prey to a nameless Terror as to what was about to -follow. - -Now, when he saw a number of Gentlemen trooping in by the Door, he could -but stare at them in utter Bewilderment. Most of these Gallants were -personally known to him: Sir William Davenant was in the forefront with -Mr. Thomas Killigrew of the King's Theatre, and the Earl of Rochester -was with them, as well as Mr. Wycherley. I also recognized Sir Charles -Sedley and old Sir John Denham, as well as my Lord Roscommon, among the -crowd. - -They had all rushed in through the Door, laughing and jesting, as was -the wont of all these gay and courtly Sparks; but at sight of the Lady -Barbara, they halted. Gibes and unseemly Jokes broke upon their Lips, -and for the most part their Hands went up to their Hats, and they made -her Ladyship a deep obeisance. Indeed, just then she looked more like a -Wraith than a living Woman, and the Light of the Candles, which -flickered wildly in the Draught, accentuated the Weirdness of her -Appearance. - -"What is it, Tom? What is amiss?" Sir William Davenant was thus the -first to speak. - -"We thought You were playing some Prank." - -"You did call from that Window, did You not, Tom?" my Lord Rochester -insisted. - -And one or two of the Gentlemen nodded somewhat coldly to my Lord Stour. - -"Yes. I did call," Mr. Betterton replied, quite firmly. "But 'twas no -Whim on my Part thus to drag You into my House. It was not so much my -Voice that you heard as the Trumpet blast of Truth." - -At this, my Lord Stour broke into one of those harsh, mirthless Fits of -Laughter which betokened the perturbation of his Spirit. - -"The Truth!" he exclaimed with a cutting Sneer. "From You?" - -"Aye! the Truth!" Mr. Betterton rejoined with perfect calm, even whilst -his Friends glanced, puzzled and inquiring, from my Lord Stour to him, -and thence to her Ladyship's pale face, and even to Me. "The Truth," he -added with a deep Sigh as of intense Relief; "The Truth, at Last!" - -He stood in the centre of the Room, with one Hand resting upon the Desk, -his Eyes fixed fearlessly upon the Sea of Faces before him. Not the -slightest Tremor marred the perfect Harmony of his Voice, or the firm -poise of his manly Figure. You know as well as I do, dear Mistress, the -marvellous Magnetism of Mr. Betterton's Personality, the Way he hath of -commanding the Attention of a Crowd, whenever he chooseth to speak. -Think of him then, dear Lady, with Head thrown back, his exquisite Voice -rising and falling in those subtle and impressive Cadences wherewith he -is wont to hold an Audience enthralled. Of a truth, no experienced -Manager in Stage-Craft could have devised so thrilling an Effect, as the -Picture which Mr. Betterton--the greatest Actor of this or of any -Time--presented at that Moment, standing alone, facing the Crowd which -was thrilled into deadly Silence, and with the wraith-like Figure of -that exquisitely beautiful Woman as a Foil to his own self-possessed, -virile Appearance. - -"Gentlemen," he began, with slow, even Emphasis, "I pray you bear with -me; for what I have to say will take some time in telling. Awhile ago -his Lordship of Stour put upon me such an Insult as the Mind of Man can -hardly conceive. Then, on the Pretence that I was not a born Gentleman -as he was, he refused me Satisfaction by the Sword. For this I hated him -and swore that I would be even with him, that I would exact from his -Arrogance, Outrage for Outrage, and Infamy for Infamy." He then turned -to my Lord Stour and spoke to him directly. "You asked me just now, my -Lord, if my Revenge was satisfied. My answer to that is: not yet! Not -until I see You on Your bended Knees here, before these Gentlemen--my -Friends and Yours--receiving from the miserable Mountebank whom you -mocked, the pitiful cur whom You thrashed, that which you hold--or -should hold--more precious than all the Treasures of this earth: your -Honour and the good Name of the Lady who honours You with her Love! -Gentlemen!" he went on, and once more faced the Crowd. "You know the -Aspersions which have been cast on my Lord Stour's Loyalty. Rumours -have been current that the late aborted Conspiracy was betrayed by him -to the Countess of Castlemaine, and that She obtained his Pardon, whilst -all or most of his Associates were driven into Exile or perished on the -Scaffold. Well, Gentlemen, 'twas I who begged for my Lord's pardon from -the Countess of Castlemaine. His Degradation, his Obloquy, was the -Revenge which I had studiously planned. Nay! I pray you, hear me unto -the End," he continued, as a loud Murmur of Horror and of Indignation -followed on this Self-Accusation. "My Lord Stour is no Traitor, save to -Her whom he loves and whom in his Thoughts he hath dared to outrage. -The Lady Barbara Wychwoode deigned to plead with me for the Man whom she -honoured with her Love. She pleaded with me this afternoon, in the -Park, in sight of many Passers-by; but I in my Obstinacy and Arrogance -would not, God forgive me, listen to her." - -He paused, and I could see the beads of Perspiration glittering upon his -Forehead, white now like Italian Alabaster. They all stood before him, -subdued and silent. Think of Sir William Davenant, dear Mistress, and -his affection for Mr. Betterton; think of my Lord Roscommon and of Sir -Charles Sedley and his Lordship of Rochester, whose Admiration for Mr. -Betterton's Talent was only equalled by their Appreciation for His -Worth! It was before them all, before all these fastidious Gentlemen, -that the great and sensitive Artist had elected to humble his Pride to -the dust. - -But you shall judge. - -"Gentlemen," Mr. Betterton went on after a brief while; "We all know -that Love is a Game at which one always cheats. I loved the Lady -Barbara Wychwoode. I had the presumption to dream of her as my future -Wife. Angered at her Scorn of my Suit, I cheated her into coming here -to-night, luring her with the Hope that I would consent to right the Man -for whose sake she was willing to risk so much, for whom she was ready -to sacrifice even her fair Name. Now I have learned to my hurt that -Love, the stern little god, will not be trifled with. When we try to -cheat him, he cheats us worse at the last; and if he makes Kings of us, -he leaves us Beggars in the End. When my Lord Stour, burning with -sacrilegious jealousy, made irruption into my Room, the Lady Barbara had -just succeeded in wringing from me an Avowal which proclaimed his -Integrity and my Shame. She was about to leave me, humbled and crushed -in my Pride, she herself pure and spotless as the Lilies, unapproachable -as the Stars." - - - - 2 - - -Mr. Betterton had ceased speaking for some time; nevertheless, Silence -profound reigned in the dark, wainscotted Room for many seconds after -the final echo of that perfect Voice had ceased to reverberate. Indeed, -dear Mistress, I can assure You that, though there were at least fifty -Persons present in the Room, including those unknown to Me who were -swarming around the Framework of the Casements, you might have heard the -proverbial Pin drop just then. A tense Expression rested on every Face. -Can You wonder that I scanned them all with the Eagerness born of my -Love for the great Artist, who had thus besmirched his own fair Name in -order to vindicate that of his bitterest Foe? That I read Condemnation -of my Friend in many a Glance, I'll not deny, and this cut me to the -Quick. - -True! Mr. Betterton's Scheme of Vengeance had been reprehensible if -measured by the high Standards of Christian Forbearance. But remember -how he had been wronged, not once, but repeatedly; and even when I saw -the Frown on my Lord Roscommon's brow, the Look of Stern Reproof in Sir -Charles Sedley's Face, there arose before mine Eyes the Vision of the -great and sensitive Artist, of the high-souled Gentleman, staggering -beneath the Blows dealt by a band of hired Ruffians at the Bidding of -this young Coxcomb, whose very Existence was as naught in the Eyes of -the cultured World beside the Genius of the inimitable Mr. Betterton. - -I said that the Silence was tense. Meseemed that no one dared to break -it. Even those idly Curious who had swarmed up the Rainpipes of this -House in order to witness one of Tom Betterton's Pranks, felt awed by -the Revelation of this Drama of a great Man's Soul. Indeed, the Silence -became presently oppressive. I, for one, felt a great Buzzing in mine -Ears. The Lights from the Candles assumed weird and phantasmagoric -Proportions till they seared my aching Eyes. - -Then slowly my Lord Stour approached her Ladyship, sank on his Knees -before Her and raised the Hem of her Robe to his Lips. A sob broke from -her Throat; she tried to smother it by pressing her Handkerchief into -her Mouth. It took Her a second or two to regain her Composure. But -Breeding and Pride came to her Aid. I saw the stiffening of her Figure, -the studied and deliberate Movement wherewith She readjusted her Mantle -and her Veil. - -My Lord Stour was still on his Knees. At a sign from her Ladyship he -rose. He held out his left Arm and she placed her right Hand on it, -then together they went out of the Room. The Crowd of Gentlemen parted -in order to make way for the Twain, then when they had gone through, -some of the Gentlemen followed them immediately; others lingered for -awhile, hesitating. Sir William Davenant, Mr. Killigrew, my Lord -Rochester, all of Mr. Betterton's Friends, appeared at first inclined to -remain in order to speak with him. They even did me the Honour of -consulting me with a Look, asking of my Experience of the great Actor -whether they should stay. I slowly shook my Head, and they wisely acted -on my Advice. I knew that my Friend would wish to be alone. He, so -reserved, so proud, had laid his Soul bare before the Public, who was -wont to belaud and to applaud him. The Humiliation and the Effort must -have been a terrible Strain, which only Time and Solitude could -effectually cure. - -He had scarce moved from his Position beside the Desk, still stood there -with one slender Hand resting upon it, his Gaze fixed vaguely upon the -Door through which his Friends were slowly filing out. - -Within two minutes or less after the Departure of my Lord Stour and her -Ladyship, the last of the Crowd of Gentlemen and of Idlers had gone. -Anon I went across the Room and closed the Door behind them. When I -turned again, I saw that the knot of quidnuncs no longer filled the -Casements, and a protracted hum of Voices, a crackling of Ivy twigs and -general sound of Scrimmage and of Scrambling outside the Window, -proclaimed the Fact that even they had had the Sense and the Discretion -to retire quietly from this Spot, hallowed by the Martyrdom of a great -Man's Soul. - - - - 3 - - -Thus I was left alone with my Friend. - -He had drawn his habitual Chair up to the Desk and sat down. Just for a -few Moments he rested both his Elbows on the Desk and buried his Face in -his Hands. Then, with that familiar, quick little Sigh of His, He drew -the Candles closer to him and, taking up a Book, he began to read. - -I knew what it was that he was reading, or, rather, studying. He had -been absorbed in the Work many a time before now, and had expressed his -ardent Desire to give public Readings of it one day when it was -completed. It was the opening Canto of a great Epic Poem, the -manuscript of which had been entrusted to Mr. Betterton for Perusal by -the author, Mr. John Milton, who had but lately been liberated from -prison through the untiring Efforts of Sir William Davenant on his -behalf. Mr. Milton hoped to complete the Epic in the next half-dozen -years. Its Title is "Paradise Lost." - -I remained standing beside the open Window, loath to close it as the Air -was peculiarly soft and refreshing. Below me, in the Park, the idle, -chattering Crowd had already dispersed. From far away, I still could -hear the sweet, sad Strains of the amorous Song, and through the -Stillness of the Evening, the Words came to mine Ear, wafted on the -Breeze: - - "You are my Faith, my Hope, my All! - What e'er the Future may unfold, - No trial too great--no Thing too small. - Your whispered Words shall make me bold - To win at last for Your dear Sake - A worthy Place in Future's World." - - -I felt my Soul enwrapt in a not unpleasant reverie; an exquisite Peace -seemed to have descended on my Mind, lately so agitated by Thoughts of -my dear, dear Friend. - -Suddenly a stealthy Sound behind Me caused me to turn; and, in truth, I -am not sure even now if what I saw was Reality, or the Creation of mine -own Dreams. - -The Lady Barbara had softly and surreptitiously re-entered the Room. -She walked across it on tip-toe, her silken Skirts making just the -softest possible _frou-frou_ as she walked. Her cloud-like Veil wrapped -her Head entirely, concealing her fair Hair, and casting a grey Shadow -over her Eyes. Mr. Betterton did not hear her, or, if he did, he did -not choose to look up. When her Ladyship was quite close to the Desk, I -noticed that she had a Bunch of white Roses in her Hand such as are -grown in the Hot-houses of rich Noblemen. - -For a few Seconds she stood quite still. Then she raised the Roses -slowly to her Lips, and laid them down without a word upon the Desk. - -After which, she glided out of the Room as silently, as furtively, as -she came. - - - - 4 - - -And thus, dear Mistress, have I come to the end of my long Narrative. I -swear to You by the living God that everything which I have herein -related is the Truth and Naught but the Truth. - -There were many People present in Mr. Betterton's room during that -memorable Scene, when he sacrificed his Pride and his Revenge in order -to right the Innocent. Amongst these Witnesses there were some, whom -Malice and Envy would blind to the Sublimity of so noble an Act. Do not -listen to them, honoured Mistress, but rather to the promptings of your -own Heart and to that unerring Judgment of Men and of Events which is -the Attribute of good and pure Women. - -Mr. Betterton hath never forfeited your Esteem by any Act or Thought. -The Infatuation which momentarily dulled his Vision to all save to the -Beauty of the Lady Barbara, hath ceased to exist. Its course was -ephemeral and hath gone without a Trace of Regret or Bitterness in its -wake. The eminent Actor, the high-souled Artist, whom all cultured -Europe doth reverence and admire, stands as high to-day in that same -World's Estimation as he did, before a young and arrogant Coxcomb dared -to measure his own Worth against that of a Man as infinitely above him -as are the Stars. But, dear Mistress, Mr. Betterton now is lonely and -sad. He is like a Man who hath been sick and weary, and is still -groping after Health and Strength. Take pity on his Loneliness, I do -conjure You. Give him back the inestimable Boon of your Goodwill and of -your Friendship, which alone could restore to him that Peace of Mind so -necessary for the furtherance of his Art. - -And if, during the Course of my Narrative, I have seemed to you -over-presumptuous, then I do entreat your Forgiveness. Love for my -Friend and Reverence for your Worth have dictated every Word which I -have written. If, through my Labours, I have succeeded in turning away -some of the just Anger which had possessed your Soul against the Man -whom, I dare aver, you still honour with your Love, then, indeed, I -shall feel that even so insignificant a Life as mine hath not been -wholly wasted. - -I do conclude, dear and honoured Mistress, with a Prayer to Almighty God -for your Welfare and that of the Man whom I love best in all the World. -I am convinced that my Prayer will find Favour before the Throne of Him -who is the Father of us All. And He who reads the innermost Secrets of -every Heart, knows that your Welfare is coincident with that of my -Friend. Thus am I content to leave the Future in His Hands. - -And I myself do remain, dear Mistress, - Your humble and obedient Servant, - JOHN HONEYWOOD. - - - - - EPILOGUE - - -Ring down the Curtain. The Play is ended. The Actors have made their -final Bow before You and thanked You for your Plaudits. The chief -Player--a sad and lonely Man--has for the nonce spoken his last upon the -Stage. - -All is Silence and Mystery now. The Lights are out. And yet the -Audience lingers on, loath to bid Farewell to the great Artist and to -his minor Satellites who have helped to wile away a few pleasant Hours. -You, dear Public, knowing so much about them, would wish to know more. -You wish to know--an I am not mistaken--whether the Labour of Love -wrought by good Master Honeywood did in due course bear its -Fruitfulness. You wish to know--or am I unduly self-flattered--whether -the Play of Passion, of Love and of Revenge, set by the worthy Clerk -before You, had an Epilogue--one that would satisfy your Sense of -Justice and of Mercy. - -Then, I pray You, turn to the Pages of History, of which Master -Honeywood's Narrative forms an integral and pathetic Part. One of these -Pages will reveal to You that which You wish to know. Thereon You will -see recorded the Fact that, after a brief and distinguished Visit during -that Summer to the City and University of Stockholm, where Honours -without number were showered upon the great English Actor, Mr. Betterton -came back to England, to the delight of an admiring Public, for he was -then in the very Plenitude of his Powers. - -Having read of the Artist's triumph, I pray You then to turn over the -Page of the faithful Chronicle of his Career, and here You will find a -brief Chapter which deals with his private Life and with his Happiness. -You will see that at the End of this self-same year 1662, the Register -of St. Giles', Cripplegate, contains the Record of a Marriage between -Thomas Betterton, Actor, of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, -and Mary Joyce Saunderson, of the aforesaid parish of St. Giles'. - -That this Marriage was an exceptionally happy one we know from -innumerable Data, Minutes and Memoranda supplied by Downes and others; -that Master John Honeywood was present at the Ceremony itself we may be -allowed to guess. Those of us who understand and appreciate the -artistic Temperament, will readily agree with the worthy Clerk when he -said that it cannot be judged by ordinary Standards. The long and -successful Careers of Thomas Betterton and of Mistress Saunderson his -Wife testify to the Fact that their Art in no way suffered, while their -Souls passed through the fiery Ordeal of Passion and of Sorrow; but -rather that it became ennobled and purified, until they themselves took -their place in the Heart and Memory of the cultured World, among the -Immortals. - - - - - THE END - - - - - ---- - - - - - By BARONESS ORCZY - - -His Majesty's Well-Beloved -The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel -Flower o' the Lily -The Man in Grey -Lord Tony's Wife -A Sheaf of Bluebells -Leatherface -The Bronze Eagle -A Bride of the Plains -The Laughing Cavalier -"Unto Caesar" -El Dorado -Meadowsweet -The Noble Rogue -The Heart of a Woman -Petticoat Rule - - - - GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - NEW YORK - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS MAJESTY'S WELL-BELOVED *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39787 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. 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