Читать книгу The Miser's Daughter - William Harrison Ainsworth - Страница 13

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Beau Villiers's residence looked upon St. James's Park, and had a small garden attached to it. It was by no means a large house, but exquisitely furnished; the whole of the internal decorations being French, and in the gorgeous taste of Louis the Fourteenth. The visitors were admitted by a couple of powdered footmen in sumptuous liveries, and passing a large snow-white French poodle, of a peculiar breed, lying on a rug near the door, traversed a hall crowded with busts, statues, bronzes, and large porcelain jars. A page, in a fanciful costume, who might have played a part in one of Watteau's pictures, met them at the foot of the stairs, and mounting before them, ushered them along a corridor, to the entrance of a chamber, before which stood two grinning Africans, arrayed in oriental habiliments, and wearing great brass earrings, and large muslin turbans, with brazen crescents upon them. One of them threw open the door, and the two visitors entered a waiting-room, in which a number of persons were assembled. Most of these were known to Trussell, and he very courteously returned their salutations.

"Ah, mon ami," he said, to a little bowing and cringing personage, very ill-dressed (as tailors are apt to be), from whose pockets depended a measuring-tape, while he carried a pattern book under his arm, "how are you? This is my nephew, Desmartins. I have told him he must put himself under your skilful hands."

"Proud to undertake him, Mr. Trussell,—enchante,—" replied the Frenchman. "Your nephew has a very fine figure, ma foi! But his dress is not at all a-la-mode. Very clownish—what you call it?—countrified—ha! ha!"

"So I told him, Desmartins," replied Trussell. "We shall look in upon you to-day or to-morrow, and put that to rights."

"Enchanted to see you, Mr. Trussell, and you, sare," replied the tailor, bowing to Randulph.

"Ah, Mr. Penrose, is that you?" pursued Trussell, turning to a slight, effeminate-looking young man with a paper box, and a casket under his arm; "I suppose you have got a new importation of gloves and perfumes—tuberose, orange, jasmine, essence d'Espagne—eh?"

"I have just invented a new scent, sir," replied the perfumer, "and am come to solicit Mr. Villiers's permission to give it his name."

"And if he grants it, your fortune is made," replied Trussell. "The bouquet a-la-Villiers will carry all before it. Ah, Chipchase," turning to a little fellow, whose stunted figure, velvet cap, boots, and other equipments, left no doubt as to his being a jockey, "what news from Newmarket? Has Lord Haversham won the cup, or Sir John Fagg?"

"Neither, sir," replied the jockey. "Mr. Villiers is the winner."

"Bravo! bravissimo!" cried Trussell, clapping his hands. "That's famous! Why, your news is worth twenty pounds to me, Chipchase. I took Mr. Villiers against the field, though,—I may now say it,—without a notion he would win, but merely out of compliment to him."

"The knowin' 'uns has been taken in this time, that's certain, sir," replied the jockey, with a sly wink. "Sir John thought himself safe, but he now finds he's on the wrong side of the hedge. I hope your honour will allow me the pleasure of drinking your health."

"That I will," returned Trussell, taking out his purse, and giving him a piece of money; "and in a crown bowl of punch too. Ah, Ned Oglethorpe," he added, passing on to another person in a white flannel jacket, and with an open collar; "how are the rackets? My nephew Randulph, Ned. We will come and play a match at tennis with you one of these days. Let me know when the next main is to be fought at the cockpit. Captain Culpepper, your most obedient. Nay, don't walk away, Captain, I'm not going to dun you for the few crowns you lost to me at trick-track, at the British. Randulph, this is Captain Culpepper, as brave a man as ever drew a sword, or brought off his friend from a street row, or," he added, in a lower tone, "ever revenged a secret quarrel. Egad, at Mr. Villiers' levees one is sure to meet all one's friends. Here, nephew," he added, addressing a lithe, active-looking man, in a close-fitting linen dress with a couple of foils under his arm, "here is the first master of fence in the world—Mr. Hewitt. You must have a few lessons in carte and tierce from him."

While Randulph was returning the fencing-master's bow, the door of the inner room was opened by Mr. Cripps. On discerning Trussell and his companion, the valet immediately hastened towards them, and entreated them to step in to his master, who, he affirmed, had been expecting them for some time.

The apartment into which they were ushered was the beau's dressing-chamber—that part of it, however, devoted to the toilette-table and its appliances being separated from the rest by a magnificent Indian japanned screen. It was furnished with the most refined and luxurious taste. Rose-coloured curtains drawn across the windows subdued the light, and threw a warm tint on all around, while the air was loaded with delicious perfumes. A very diminutive monkey, clothed in a scarlet coat, and wearing a bag-wig and a little sword, played its diverting tricks in one corner, while a gaudily plumaged macaw screamed in the opposite angle. Choice flowers in pots added their fragrance to the artificial odours; and a couple of exquisite little spaniels of Charles the Second's breed, with the longest and silkiest ears imaginable, and large, gazelle like eyes, occupied a cushion on the hearth. At a table, covered with the whitest and finest linen, and glittering with silver of the rarest workmanship, together with a superb service of china, sat, or rather reclined, in the easiest of easy chairs, Beau Villiers. He did not rise on the appearance of his guests; but moving slightly, and graciously, to them, though with somewhat, Randulph fancied, of a patronizing air, motioned Mr. Cripps to set them chairs. He was quite in dishabille; his graceful figure being enveloped in a loose dressing-robe of the richest brocade, while the place of a peruke was supplied by a green silk cap, very becomingly put on. His shirt was open at the throat, and decorated with a profusion of lace at the bosom and wrists. Pink silk hose and velvet slippers completed his costume. There were two other persons present; Sir Singleton Spinke, and a very portly gentleman with puffed-out, inflamed cheeks, who was introduced as Sir Bulkeley Price, and whom Randulph concluded must be the hero of the story he had just heard related by the barber—a circumstance which gave him a peculiar interest in his eyes. Meanwhile, Mr. Cripps, who, together with the page, officiated at breakfast, proceeded to do the honors, and twirling the mill of a richly chased silver chocolate-pot, poured out two well-frothed cups of the unctuous beverage, and handed them to the new comers.

A small modicum of a Strasbourg pate, washed down by a cup of green tea and a glass of claret, constituted the beau's breakfast. Sir Singleton Spinke took chocolate, picked the wing of a chicken, and wound himself up with a glass of usquebaugh. Ample justice was done to the cutlets, the broils, and various other dishes with which the covers were filled, by Sir Bulkeley Price; nor did Trussell or Randulph come far behind him, notwithstanding the preliminary breakfast of the latter. Just before the introduction of the usquebaugh, Sir Bulkeley, after looking round and coughing significantly, said, in a low tone, to the chief valet, "I suppose, Mr. Cripps, there is no ale in the house?"

"No what! Sir Bulkeley?" rejoined Mr. Cripps, staring as if he could not possibly imagine he had heard aright.

"Ale, rascal—ale!" replied the knight, emphatically, and rather angrily.

"No, Sir Bulkeley," replied Mr. Cripps, bowing; "there is no ale, but there is toasted cheese, if that will serve your turn."

Angry as he was, the knight could not help laughing at the valet's impertinence; and a glass of usquebaugh, in which he pledged the old beau, entirely appeased him. The conversation during the meal was lively enough, and was chiefly maintained by the beau and Trussell, their discourse running on all sorts of fashionable topics, scandal, women, play, public amusements; in which, as he knew so little about the matters discussed, Randulph took no great interest. His attention, however, was instantly aroused, when Trussell, turning laughingly to Sir Bulkeley, told him he had heard of his "new way of paying old debts."

"I mentioned the matter to Villiers before your arrival," returned Sir Bulkeley; "and it diverted him as much as it appears to do you. Egad! we had to ride hard though. Several of my tradesmen met me at Highgate, and offered to escort me through the town, but I declined the attention, being of opinion that we were a sufficiently large party without them. You should have seen how the folks stared as we rode along the streets."

"I don't wonder at it," replied Trussell, laughing; "I am almost surprised the train-bands were not sent after you."

"The cream of the adventure was its close," pursued the knight. "Never was fury equal to that displayed by the miser at his disappointment. I declare I almost pitied him. His daughter is a charming girl—beautiful as an angel, and rich—nay, i'faith, it is impossible to say how rich she must be. Villiers you ought to take her off her father's hands."

"I'll think of it," replied the beau, carelessly, "for I am desperately in want of money. Like yourself, I have had some dealings with old Scarve, and know him to be as great an extortioner as Shylock or Sir Giles Overreach. I don't think, however, I could marry his daughter, if she had the wealth of the Indies."

"You have never seen her, or you would alter your opinion," replied Sir Bulkeley. "She is the most beautiful creature I have beheld for this many a day."

"You pique my curiosity," replied the beau. "I must see this paragon of perfection. Apropos of beauty," he added to Randulph, who could scarcely hide his uneasiness, "don't you think Clementina Brabazon a fine girl, Mr. Crew?"

"Remarkably so," replied the young man distractedly.

"She is nothing to what her mother was," observed Sir Singleton. "Twenty years ago, Lady Brabazon, then Miss Norcote was, with one exception, the loveliest creature in existence."

"And who might be the exception?" enquired Trussell.

"I am glad you have asked me," replied Sir Singleton; "because it is a gratification to me to tell you that it was your sister Sophia—the mother of this young gentleman. Delicious creature that she was! She quite won my heart, Mr. Crew; and if she had not been insensible to my suit, I might have had the honor of being your father."

"The supposition is highly flattering," replied Randulph, smiling.

"It makes one melancholy to think of the beauties of by-gone days," continued the old beau, sentimentally consoling himself at the same time with a pinch of snuff. "Not having seen the miser's daughter, I cannot speak to her attractions; but Sir Bulkeley is a good judge, and his opinion may be relied on. To my taste, the prettiest woman of the day is Kitty Conway, the actress at the little theatre in the Haymarket."

"What, the fair Orinda, as she is called, from the part she played in the opera?" remarked Trussell. "She is certainly a vastly pretty creature. But you need scarcely sigh in vain there, Sir Singleton."

And thus they rattled on, till the beau, rising, said, "Mr. Cripps, tell Antoine I shall now make my toilette. How shall we spend the morning, gentlemen? At the Cockpit, the Groom Porter's, the Cocoa-tree, or White's?"

"If you desire something new, sir," observed Mr. Cripps, who lingered for a moment, "there is a grand musical entertainment this morning at the Folly on the Thames. I think you would be much diverted by going thither, 'pon rep!"

"A good suggestion!" cried the Beau. "I have often rowed past the Folly, but have never been inside it."

"Then don't neglect the present opportunity of seeing it," said Sir Singleton. "It used to be a pleasant place, when we were young fellows, Trussell. Many a fine woman we have seen there, eh?"

"Many a one, many, Sir Singleton," replied the other; "and made love to them too. I shall be glad to see the place again."

"The Folly be it, then," cried the beau; "and some folks would say it was a proper place for us. Excuse me for a few moments, gentlemen. I will dress as rapidly as possible." So saying, he retired behind the screen, which was drawn still further across the room. Not feeling much interest in the conversation which ensued after the beau's withdrawal, Randulph arose to look at some exquisite miniatures and other articles of virtu scattered about the room, and was engaged in examining a magnificent snuff-box, when Mr. Cripps, who had returned from attending his master, came up to him, and said, in a low tone, "I am charged with a letter for you, sir. Here it is."

Randulph was prevented from making any remark by the significant looks of the valet, who, giving him to understand, by sundry winks and slight gestures, that his uncle was to know nothing of the matter, glided away. Glancing at the group at the table, the young man perceived that Trussell's back was towards him, and that he was, moreover, occupied in recounting some jest to the others; he therefore moved nearer the window, broke the seal of the note, and read as follows:—

"Young Man.—The letter committed to your charge by your mother, and which was of the last importance, though you appear to have attached so little to it, has fortunately reached its destination. Otherwise, the consequences might have been serious. It is necessary I should have an interview with you, and that without delay. I shall be in the south ambulatory of the cloisters of Westminster Abbey at six o'clock to-morrow, and shall expect you. Fail not in the appointment, as you regard your own safety and that of your Mother. Not a word of this to your Uncles, or to any one. The slightest imprudence will place you in jeopardy. Cordwell Firebras."

"Cordwell Firebras!" exclaimed Randulph, to himself. "Ay, now I remember, it was the name of the person to whom the missing letter was addressed. The whole affair is most mysterious; and the language of this note strange, and even alarming. I'll question Mr. Cripps about it. But hold! I am desired not to mention the matter to my uncles, or to any one. Why should I observe the caution? And yet prudence tells me I had better do so. The note is dated yesterday. A few hours, therefore, will solve the riddle. I will keep the appointment."

As he uttered the last words, almost unconsciously aloud, and with some emphasis, he was startled by hearing a loud laugh behind him, and, turning at the sound, perceived Trussell's round face peeping over his shoulder. He instantly crushed the letter between his fingers.

"Nay, you had better let me see it," laughed Trussell; "I overheard your exclamation. What fair dame has fallen in love with you, eh? Not the miser's daughter, surely? And yet she is almost the only woman you can have seen. But I won't ask impertinent questions, or make impertinent remarks. I see they annoy you. You are right to keep the secret, as well as the appointment. Ha! ha!"

"You are mistaken, uncle!" cried Randulph, hastily; "my appointment is with—" and he checked himself.

"Poh, poh! boy, no excuses with me," interrupted Trussell. "Keep your own counsel. Fortunate dog! I was as lucky myself when I was as young. Ha! ha! But," he added, with a look of some perplexity, "what Mercury brought you the billet?"

"I did, sir," interposed Mr. Cripps, who having observed what was going forward, flew to the rescue. "I was entrusted with it—by a lady, ahem! Your nephew makes his way rapidly, Mr. Trussell, 'pon rep."

"So it appears," rejoined Trussell, laughing louder than ever. "Myself over again—ha! ha!"

Randulph was about to contradict the valet's assertion, and set his uncle right, as far as he was able, but at this moment the screen was drawn aside, and discovered the beau fully dressed. He was habited in a coat of the finest scarlet cloth, richly embroidered with gold lace, a white waistcoat of the richest silk, flowered with gold in a large pattern, and a full-flowing flaxen periwig. On seeing his master, Mr. Cripps hastened to fetch his feathered hat and clouded cane, while the page brought him his hat and gloves. Antoine, the French servant who had assisted him to dress, then advanced with his handkerchief, which was of the finest cambric, edged with lace, and on which he poured a perfume from a scent bottle, while a fourth attendant handed him his snuff-box.

"And now, gentlemen, I am at your service," said the beau, carefully adjusting his hat. "Mr. Cripps you will attend us. We may need you at the Folly."

The favorite valet bowed, and opened the door of the anti-chamber. Mr. Villiers paused for a moment, to exchange a few words with the assemblage,—applauding the jockey for his success—announcing to the perfumer that he had just tried his scent, and would accord him permission to put his name to it—commanding a court suit from the tailor—and nodding to Ned Oglethorpe, Captain Culpepper, and the fencing master. He then passed forth with his friends.

The party first took a turn on the Mall. The morning being extremely fine, the walks were filled with a gay throng, as on the preceding day. Wherever they went, Beau Villiers drew all eyes upon him, and to Randulph's amusement, and Trussell's delight, they were followed by a crowd of curious gazers. Among those Randulph noticed the stranger whom he had met at the barber's shop; but the latter did not seem to court his observation, and he soon afterwauls lost sight of him.

Having sauntered as far as Buckingham House, the party returned their steps, and quitting the park, repaired to the Cockpit at Whitehall. Here Sir Bulkeley Price quitted them, having first engaged Randulph, and his uncle to dine with him at his house in St. James's Square on the following day. A quarter of an hour was next whiled away at the Cockpit, after which they proceeded to the Groom-porter's, whose rooms closely adjoined it, where even at that hour they found high play going forward. Beau Villiers, who was a desperate gamester, and seldom liked to miss an opportunity, approached the table where they were playing hazard, and in a short space of time came off the winner of a hundred pounds. Elated with his success, and in high good humour, he left the rooms, and repaired with his companions to Whitehall Stairs, where Mr. Cripps called a boat, in which they all embarked for the Folly.

Randulph had detected the stranger among the crowd of lookers-on at the Groom-porter's, and their boat had not got many yards from shore, when he observed him descend the stairs, and get into another wherry, with the intention, as it appeared from his gestures, of following them.