Tales and Novels, Vol. VII by Maria Edgeworth

M >> Maria Edgeworth >> Tales and Novels, Vol. VII

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From this moment Rosamond's opinion of M. de Tourville changed. She
gave him up altogether, and denied, or at least gave him grudgingly,
that praise, which he eminently deserved for agreeable manners and
conversational talents. Not a foible of his now escaped her quick
observation and her lively perception of ridicule.

Whether from accident, or from some suspicion that he had lost ground with
the ladies, M. de Tourville the next day directed the principal part of
his conversation to the gentlemen of the family: comforting himself with
the importance of his political and official character, he talked grandly
of politics and diplomacy. Rosamond, who listened with an air of arch
attention, from time to time, with a tone of ironical simplicity, asked
explanations on certain points relative to the diplomatic code of morality,
and professed herself much edified and enlightened by the answers she
received.

She wished, as she told Caroline, that some one would write Advice to
Diplomatists, in the manner of Swift's advice to Servants; and she observed
that M. de Tourville, charge d'affaires, &c., might supply anecdotes
illustrative, and might embellish the work with a portrait of a finished
diplomatist. Unfortunately for the public, on the third morning of the
diplomatist's visit, a circumstance occurred, which prevented the farther
development of his character, stopped his flow of anecdote, and snatched
him from the company of his hospitable hosts. In looking over his papers,
in order to show Mr. Percy a complimentary letter from some crowned head,
M. de Tourville discovered that an important packet of papers belonging
to his despatches was missing. He had in the moment of danger and terror
stuffed all his despatches into his great-coat pocket; in getting out of
the boat he had given his coat to Comtois to carry, and, strange to tell,
this charge d'affaires had taken it upon trust, from the assertion of his
valet, that all his papers were safe. He once, indeed, had looked them
over, but so carelessly that he never had missed the packet. His dismay was
great when he discovered his loss. He repeated at least a thousand times
that he was an undone man, unless the packet could be found.--Search was
made for it, in the boat, on the shore, in every probable and improbable
place--but all in vain; and in the midst of the search a messenger came to
announce that the wind was fair, that the ship would sail in one hour, and
that the captain could wait for no man. M. de Tourville was obliged to take
his departure without this precious packet.

Mrs. Percy was the only person in the family who had the humanity to pity
him. He was too little of a soldier for Godfrey's taste, too much of a
courtier for Mr. Percy, too frivolous for Caroline, and too little romantic
for Rosamond.

"So," said Rosamond, "here was a fine beginning of a romance with a
shipwreck, that ends only in five square merchants, who do not lose even
a guilder of their property, and a diplomatist, with whom we are sure of
nothing but that he has lost a bundle of papers for which nobody cares!"

In a few days the remembrance of the whole adventure began to fade from
her fancy. M. de Tourville, and his snuff-box, and his essences, and his
flattery, and his diplomacy, and his lost packet, and all the circumstances
of the shipwreck, would have appeared as a dream, if they had not been
maintained in the rank of realities by the daily sight of the wreck, and by
the actual presence of the Dutch sailors, who were repairing the vessel.

CHAPTER II.

A few days after the departure of M. de Tourville, Commissioner Falconer, a
friend, or at least a relation of Mr. Percy's, came to pay him a visit. As
the commissioner looked out of the window and observed the Dutch carpenter,
who was passing by with tools under his arm, he began to talk of the late
shipwreck. Mr. Falconer said he had heard much of the successful exertions
and hospitality of the Percy family on that occasion--regretted that he had
himself been called to town just at that time--asked many questions about
the passengers on board the vessel, and when M. de Tourville was described
to him, deplored that Mr. Percy had never thought of trying to detain this
foreigner a few days longer.

For, argued the commissioner, though M. de Tourville might not be an
accredited charge d'affaires, yet, since he was a person in some degree in
an official capacity, and intrusted with secret negotiations, government
might have wished to know something about him. "And at all events," added
the commissioner, with a shrewd smile, "it would have been a fine way of
paying our court to a certain great man."

"So, commissioner, you still put your trust in great men?" said Mr. Percy.

"Not in all great men, but in some," replied the commissioner; "for
instance, in your old friend, Lord Oldborough, who, I'm happy to inform
you, is just come into our neighbourhood to Clermont-park, of which he
has at last completed the purchase, and has sent down his plate and
pictures.--Who knows but he may make Clermont-park his summer residence,
instead of his place in Essex? and if he should, there's no saying of what
advantage it might be, for I have it from the very best authority, that
his lordship's influence in _a certain quarter_ is greater than ever. Of
course, Mr. Percy, you will wait upon Lord Oldborough, when he comes to
this part of the country?"

"No, I believe not," said Mr. Percy: "I have no connexion with him now."

"But you were so intimate with him abroad," expostulated Mr. Falconer.

"It is five-and-twenty years since I knew him abroad," said Mr. Percy; "and
from all I have heard, he is an altered man. When I was intimate with Lord
Oldborough, he was a generous, open-hearted youth: he has since become a
politician, and I fear he has sold himself for a riband to the demon of
ambition."

"No matter to whom he has sold himself, or for what," replied the
commissioner; "that is his affair, not ours. We must not be too nice. He
is well disposed towards you; and, my dear sir, I should take it as a very
particular favour if you would introduce me to his lordship."

"With great pleasure," said Mr. Percy, "the very first opportunity."

"We must make opportunities--not wait for them," said the commissioner,
smiling. "Let me entreat that you will pay your respects to his lordship as
soon as he comes into the country. It really is but civil--and take me in
your hand."

"With all my heart," said Mr. Percy; "but mine shall only be a visit of
civility."

Well satisfied with having obtained this promise, Commissioner Falconer
departed.

Besides his general desire to be acquainted with the great, the
commissioner had particular reasons for wishing to be introduced at this
time to Lord Oldborough, and he had a peculiar cause for being curious
about M. de Tourville.--Mr. Falconer was in possession of the packet which
that diplomatist had lost. It had been found by one of the commissioner's
sons, Mr. John Falconer; or rather by Mr. John Falconer's dog, Neptune, who
brought it to his master when he was bathing in the sea the day after the
shipwreck. It had been thrown by the tide among some sea-weed, where it
was entangled, and where it lay hid till it was discovered by the dog. Mr.
John Falconer had carried it home, and boasting of his dog's sagacity, had
produced it rather as a proof of the capital manner in which he had taught
Neptune to fetch and carry, than from any idea or care for the value of the
packet; John Falconer being one of those men who care for very little in
this world,

"Whilst they have their dog and their gun."

Not so the commissioner, who immediately began to examine the papers
with serious curiosity, to discover whether they could by any means be
productive of advantage to him or his family. The sea-water had injured
only the outer pages; but though the inner were not in the least damaged,
it was difficult to make out their contents, for they were written
in cipher. Commissioner Falconer, however, was skilled in the art of
deciphering, and possessed all the ingenuity and patience necessary for
the business. The title, superscription, and signature of the paper were
obliterated, so that he could not guess from whom they came, or to whom
they were addressed; he perceived that they were political; but of what
degree of importance they might be he could not decide, till he heard of
M. de Tourville the diplomatist, and of his distress at the loss of this
packet. The commissioner then resolved to devote the evening, ensuing
day, and night, if requisite, to the business, that he might have it in
readiness to carry with him when he went to pay his respects to Lord
Oldborough. Foreseeing that something might be made of this intercepted
despatch, and fearing that if he mentioned it to Mr. Percy, that gentleman
might object to opening the papers, Mr. Falconer left Percy-hall without
giving the most remote hint of the treasure which he possessed, or of the
use that he intended to make of his discovery.

Early in the ensuing week Mr. Percy went to pay his visit of civility, and
Mr. Falconer his visit of policy, to Lord Oldborough. His lordship was so
much altered, that it was with difficulty Mr. Percy recollected in him any
traces of the same person. The Lord Oldborough he had formerly known was
gay, gallant, and rather dissipated; of a frank, joyous air and manner. The
Lord Oldborough whom he now saw was a serious, reserved-looking personage,
with a face in which the lines of thought and care were deeply marked;
large eyebrows, vigilant eyes, with an expression of ability and decision
in his whole countenance, but not of tranquillity or of happiness. His
manner was well-bred, but rather cold and formal: his conversation
circumspect, calculated to draw forth the opinions, and to benefit by the
information of others, rather than to assert or display his own. He seemed
to converse, to think, to live, not with any enjoyment of the present, but
with a view to some future object, about which he was constantly anxious.

Mr. Percy and Mr. Falconer both observed Lord Oldborough attentively during
this visit: Mr. Percy studied him with philosophical curiosity, to discover
what changes had been made in his lordship's character by the operation
of ambition, and to determine how far that passion had contributed to his
happiness; Mr. Falconer studied him with the interested eye of a man of the
world, eager to discern what advantage could be made by ministering to that
ambition, and to decide whether there was about his lordship the making of
a good patron.

There was, he thought, the right twist, if he had but skill to follow,
and humour it in the working; but this was a task of much nicety. Lord
Oldborough appeared to be aware of the commissioner's views, and was not
disposed to burden himself with new _friends_. It seemed easy to go to a
certain point with his lordship, but difficult to get farther; easy to
obtain his attention, but impossible to gain his confidence.

The commissioner, however, had many resources ready; many small means of
fastening himself both on his lordship's private and public interests. He
determined to begin first with the despatch which he had been deciphering.
With this view he led Mr. Percy to speak of the shipwreck, and of M. de
Tourville. Lord Oldborough's attention was immediately awakened; and when
Mr. Falconer perceived that the regret for not having seen M. de Tourville,
and the curiosity to know the nature of his secret negotiations had been
sufficiently excited, the commissioner quitted the subject, as he could go
no farther whilst restrained by Mr. Percy's presence. He took the first
opportunity of leaving the room with his lordship's nephew, Col. Hauton, to
look at some horses, which were to run at the ensuing races.

Left alone with Mr. Percy, Lord Oldborough looked less reserved, for he
plainly saw, indeed Mr. Percy plainly showed, that he had nothing to ask
from the great man, but that he came only to see his friend.

"Many years since we met, Mr. Percy," said his lordship, sitting down and
placing his chair for the first time without considering whether his face
or his back were to the light.--"A great many years since we met, Mr.
Percy; and yet I should not think so from your appearance; you do not look
as if--shall I say it?--five-and-twenty years had passed since that time.
But you have been leading an easy life in the country--the happiest life: I
envy you."

Mr. Percy, thinking that these were words of course, the mere polite _cant_
of a courtier to a country gentleman, smiled, and replied, that few who
were acquainted with their different situations in the world would imagine
that Mr. Percy could be an object of envy to Lord Oldborough, a statesman
at the summit of favour and fortune.

"Not the summit," said Lord Oldborough, sighing; "and if I were even at
the summit, it is, you know, a dangerous situation. Fortune's wheel never
stands still--the highest point is therefore the most perilous." His
lordship sighed again as deeply as before; then spoke, or rather led to
the subject of general politics, of which Mr. Percy gave his opinions with
freedom and openness, yet without ever forgetting the respect due to Lord
Oldborough's situation. His lordship seemed sensible of this attention,
sometimes nodded, and sometimes smiled, as Mr. Percy spoke of public men or
measures; but when he expressed any sentiment of patriotism, or of public
virtue, Lord Oldborough took to his snuff-box, shook and levelled the
snuff; and if he listened, listened as to words superfluous and irrelevant.
When Mr. Percy uttered any principle favourable to the liberty of the
press, or of the people, his lordship would take several pinches of snuff
rapidly, to hide the expression of his countenance; if the topics were
continued, his averted eyes and compressed lips showed disapprobation, and
the difficulty he felt in refraining from reply. From reply, however, he
did absolutely refrain; and after a pause of a few moments, with a smile,
in a softer and lower voice than his usual tone, he asked Mr. Percy some
questions about his family, and turned the conversation again to domestic
affairs;--expressed surprise, that a man of Mr. Percy's talents should live
in such absolute retirement; and seeming to forget what he had said himself
but half an hour before, of the pains and dangers of ambition, and all that
Mr. Percy had said of his love of domestic life, appeared to take it for
granted that Mr. Percy would be glad to shine in public, if opportunity
were not wanting. Upon this supposition, his lordship dexterously pointed
out ways by which he might distinguish himself; threw out assurances of his
own good wishes, compliments to his talents; and, in short, sounded his
heart, still expecting to find corruption or ambition at the bottom. But
none was to be found. Lord Oldborough was convinced of it--and surprised.
Perhaps his esteem for Mr. Percy's understanding fell some degrees--he
considered him as an eccentric person, acting from unaccountable motives;
but still he respected him as that rarest of all things in a politician's
eye--a really honest independent man. He believed also that Mr. Percy had
some regard for him; and whatever portion it might be, it was valuable and
extraordinary--for it was disinterested: besides, they could never cross
in their objects--and as Mr. Percy lived out of the world, and had no
connexion with any party, he was a perfectly safe man. All these thoughts
acted so powerfully upon Lord Oldborough, that he threw aside his reserve,
in a manner which would have astonished and delighted Mr. Falconer. Mr.
Percy was astonished, but not delighted--he saw a noble mind corroded and
debased by ambition--virtuous principle, generous feeling, stifled--a
powerful, capacious understanding distorted--a soul, once expatiating
and full of high thoughts, now confined to a span--bent down to low
concerns--imprisoned in the precincts of a court.

"You pity me," said Lord Oldborough, who seemed to understand Mr. Percy's
thoughts; "you pity me--I pity myself. But such is ambition, and I cannot
live without it--once and always its slave."

"A person of such a strong mind as Lord Oldborough could emancipate himself
from any slavery--even that of habit."

"Yes, if he wished to break through it--but he does not."

"Can he have utterly--"

"Lost his taste for freedom? you would say. Yes--utterly. I see you pity
me," said his lordship with a bitter smile; "and," added he, rising
proudly, "I am unused to be pitied, and I am awkward, I fear, under the
obligation." Resuming his friendly aspect, however, in a moment or two, he
followed Mr. Percy, who had turned to examine a fine picture.

"Yes; a Corregio. You are not aware, my dear sir," continued he, "that
between the youth you knew at Paris, and the man who has now the honour to
speak to you, there is nothing in common--absolutely nothing--except regard
for Mr. Percy. You had always great knowledge of character, I remember; but
with respect to my own, you will recollect that I have the advantage of
possessing _la carte du pays_. You are grown quite a philosopher, I find;
and so am I, in my own way. In short, to put the question between us at
rest for ever, _there is nothing left for me in life but ambition_. Now let
us go to Corregio, or what you please."

Mr. Percy followed his lordship's lead immediately to Italy, to France, to
Paris, and talking over old times and youthful days, the conversation grew
gay and familiar. Lord Oldborough seemed enlivened and pleased, and yet,
as if it were a reminiscence of a former state of existence, he often
repeated, "Ah! those were young days--very young: I was a boy then--quite
a boy." At last Mr. Percy touched upon love and women, and, by accident,
mentioned an Italian lady whom they had known abroad.--A flash of pale
anger, almost of frenzy, passed across Lord Oldborough's countenance:
he turned short, darted full on Mr. Percy a penetrating, imperious,
interrogative look.--Answered by the innocence, the steady openness of Mr.
Percy's countenance, Lord Oldborough grew red instantly, and, conscious
of his unusual change of colour, stood actually abashed. A moment
afterward, commanding his agitation, he forced his whole person to an air
of tranquillity--took up the red book which lay upon his table, walked
deliberately to a window, and, looking earnestly through his glass, asked
if Mr. Percy could recollect who was member for some borough in the
neighbourhood? The conversation after this languished; and though some
efforts were made, it never recovered the tone of ease and confidence. Both
parties felt relieved from an indefinable sort of constraint by the return
of the other gentlemen. Mr. Falconer begged Mr. Percy to go and look at a
carriage of a new construction, which the colonel had just brought from
town; and the colonel accompanying Mr. Percy, the stage was thus left clear
for the commissioner to open his business about M. de Tourville's packet.
He did it with so much address, and with so little circumlocution, that
Lord Oldborough immediately comprehended how important the papers might
be to him, and how necessary it was to secure the decipherer. When Mr.
Percy returned, he found the commissioner and his lordship in earnest and
seemingly confidential conversation. Both Mr. Falconer and Mr. Percy were
now pressed to stay to dine and to sleep at Clermont-park; an invitation
which Mr. Percy declined, but which the commissioner accepted.

In the evening, when the company who had dined at Clermont-park were
settled to cards and music, Lord Oldborough, after walking up and down the
room with the commissioner in silence for some minutes, retired with him
into his study, rang, and gave orders that they should not be interrupted
on any account till supper. The servant informed his lordship that such and
such persons, whom he had appointed, were waiting.--"I cannot possibly see
them till to-morrow," naming the hour. The servant laid on the table before
his lordship a huge parcel of letters. Lord Oldborough, with an air of
repressed impatience, bid the man send his secretary, Mr. Drakelow,--looked
over the letters, wrote with a pencil, and with great despatch, a few words
on the back of each--met Mr. Drakelow as he entered the room--put the
unfolded letters all together into his hands--"The answers on the back--to
be made out in form--ready for signature at six to-morrow."

"Yes, my lord. May I ask--"

"Ask nothing, sir, if you please--I am busy--you have your directions."

Mr. Drakelow bowed submissive, and made his exit with great celerity.

"Now to our business, my dear sir," said his lordship, seating himself at
the table with Mr. Falconer, who immediately produced M. de Tourville's
papers.

It is not at this period of our story necessary to state precisely their
contents; it is sufficient to say, that they opened to Lord Oldborough a
scene of diplomatic treachery abroad, and of ungrateful duplicity at home.
From some of the intercepted letters he discovered that certain of his
colleagues, who appeared to be acting along with him with the utmost
cordiality, were secretly combined against him; and were carrying on an
underplot, to deprive him at once of popularity, favour, place, and power.
The strength, firmness, hardness of mind, which Lord Oldborough exhibited
at the moment of this discovery, perfectly amazed Mr. Falconer. His
lordship gave no sign of astonishment, uttered no indignant exclamation,
nor betrayed any symptoms of alarm; but he listened with motionless
attention, when Mr. Falconer from time to time interrupted his reading, and
put himself to great expense of face and lungs to express his abhorrence
of "such inconceivable treachery." Lord Oldborough maintained an absolute
silence, and waiting till the commissioner had exhausted himself in
invective, would point with his pencil to the line in the paper where he
had left off, and calmly say--"Have the goodness to go on--Let us proceed,
sir, if you please."

The commissioner went on till he came to the most important and interesting
point, and then glancing his eye on his intended patron's profile, which
was towards him, he suddenly stopped. Lord Oldborough, raising his head
from the hand on which it leaned, turned his full front face upon Mr.
Falconer.

"Let me hear the whole, if you please, sir.--To form a judgment upon any
business, it is necessary to have the whole before us.--You need not fear
to shock my feelings, sir. I wish always to see men and things as they
are." Mr. Falconer still hesitating, and turning over the leaves--"As my
friend in this business, Mr. Falconer," continued his lordship, "you will
comprehend that the essential point is to put me as soon as possible in
possession of the facts--then I can decide, and act. If it will not fatigue
you too much, I wish to go through these papers before I sleep."

"Fatigue! Oh, my lord, I am not in the least--cannot be fatigued! But the
fact is, I cannot go on; for the next pages I have not yet deciphered--the
cipher changes here."

Lord Oldborough looked much disappointed and provoked; but, after a few
minutes' pause, calmly said, "What time will it take, sir, to decipher the
remainder?"

The commissioner protested he did not know--could not form an idea--he and
his son had spent many hours of intense labour on the first papers before
he could make out the first cipher--now this was a new one, probably more
difficult, and whether he could make it out at all, or in what time, he
was utterly unable to say. Lord Oldborough replied, "Let us understand one
another at once, Commissioner Falconer, if you please. My maxim, and the
maxim of every man in public life is, or ought to be--Serve me, and I will
serve you. I have no pretensions to Mr. Falconer's friendship on any other
grounds, I am sensible; nor on any other terms can he have a claim to
whatever power of patronage I possess. But I neither serve nor will be
served by halves: my first object is to make myself master, as soon as
possible, of the contents of the papers in your hands; my next to secure
your inviolable secrecy on the whole transaction."

The commissioner was going to make vows of secrecy and protestations of
zeal, but Lord Oldborough cut all that short with "Of course--of course,"
pronounced in the driest accent, and went on with, "Now, sir, you know
my object; will you do me the honour to state yours?--you will excuse my
abruptness--time in some circumstances is every thing--Do me and yourself
the justice to say at once what return I can make for the service you have
done or may do me and government."

"My only hesitation in speaking, my lord, was--"

"Have no hesitation in speaking, I beseech you, sir."

I _beseech_, in tone, was in effect, I _command_ you, sir;--and Mr.
Falconer, under the influence of an imperious and superior mind, came at
once to that point, which he had not intended to come to for a month, or to
approach till after infinite precaution and circumlocution.