down, and took up the letter; he was in suchconfusion of thought, he knew not what to do or say for several minutes.At length he called his servants about him; the first question he askedwas--
"Where is Edmund?"
"They could not tell.
"Has he been called?"
"Yes, my Lord, but nobody answered, and the key was not in the door."
"Where is Joseph?"
"Gone into the stables."
"Where is father Oswald?"
"In his study."
"Seek him, and desire him to come hither."
By the time the Baron had read the letter over again, he came.
He had been framing a steady countenance to answer to allinterrogatories. As he came in he attentively observed the Baron, whosefeatures were in strong agitation; as soon as he saw Oswald, he spoke asone out of breath.
"Take that key, and read this letter!"
He did so, shrugged up his shoulders, and remained silent.
"Father," said my lord, "what think you of this letter?"
"It is a very surprising one."
"The contents are alarming. Where is Edmund?"
"I do not know."
"Has nobody seen him?"
"Not that I know of."
"Call my sons, my kinsmen, my servants."
The servants came in.
"Have any of you seen or heard of Edmund?"
"No," was the answer.
"Father, step upstairs to my sons and kinsmen, and desire them to comedown immediately."
Oswald withdrew; and went, first, to Mr. William's chamber.
"My dear sir, you must come to my lord now directly--he has somethingextraordinary to communicate to you."
"And so have I, father--see what I have found upon my pillow!"
"Pray, sir, read it to me before you shew it to any body; my lordis alarmed too much already, and wants nothing to increase hisconsternation."
William read his letter, while Oswald looked as if he was an utterstranger to the contents, which were these:--
"Whatever may be heard or seen, let the seal of friendship be upon thylips. The peasant Edmund is no more; but there still lives a man whohopes to acknowledge, and repay, the Lord Fitz-Owen's generous careand protection; to return his beloved William's vowed affection, and toclaim his friendship on terms of equality."
"What," said William, "can this mean?"
"It is not easy to say," replied Oswald.
"Can you tell what is the cause of this alarm?"
"I can tell you nothing, but that my lord desires to see youdirectly--pray make haste down; I must go up to your brothers andkinsmen, nobody knows what to think, or believe."
Master William went down stairs, and Father Oswald went to themalcontents. As soon as he entered the outward door of their apartment,Mr. Wenlock called out. "Here comes the friend--now for some newproposal!"
"Gentlemen," said Oswald, "my lord desires your company immediately inthe breakfast parlour."
"What! to meet your favourite Edmund, I suppose?" said Mr. Wenlock.
"No, sir."
"What, then, is the matter?" said Sir Robert.
"Something very extraordinary has happened, gentlemen. Edmund is not tobe found--he disappeared from the haunted apartment, the key of whichwas conveyed to my lord in a strange manner, with a letter from anunknown hand; my lord is both surprised and concerned, and wishes tohave your opinion and advice on the occasion."
"Tell him," said Sir Robert, "we will wait upon him immediately."
As Oswald went away, he heard Wenlock say, "So Edmund is gone, it is nomatter how, or whither."
Another said, "I hope the ghost has taken him out of the way." The restlaughed at the conceit, as they followed Oswald down stairs. They foundthe Baron, and his son William, commenting upon the key and the letter.My lord gave them to Sir Robert, who looked on them with marks ofsurprise and confusion.
The Baron addressed him--
"Is not this a very strange affair? Son Robert, lay aside your illhumours, and behave to your father with the respect and affection histenderness deserves from you, and give me your advice and opinion onthis alarming subject."
"My Lord," said Sir Robert, "I am as much confounded as yourself--Ican give no advice--let my cousins see the letter--let us have theiropinion."
They read it in turn--they were equally surprised; but when it came intoWenlock's hand, he paused and meditated some minutes.
At length--"I am indeed surprised, and still more concerned, to see mylord and uncle the dupe of an artful contrivance; and, if he will permitme, I shall endeavour to unriddle it, to the confusion of all that areconcerned in it."
"Do so, Dick," said my lord, "and you shall have my thanks for it."
"This letter," said he, "I imagine to be the contrivance of Edmund, orsome ingenious friend of his, to conceal some designs they have againstthe peace of this family, which has been too often disturbed upon thatrascal's account."
"But what end could be proposed by it?" said the Baron.
"Why, one part of the scheme is to cover Edmund's departure, that isclear enough; for the rest, we can only guess at it--perhaps he may beconcealed somewhere in that apartment, from whence he may rush out inthe night, and either rob or murder us; or, at least, alarm and terrifythe family."
The Baron smiled.
"You shoot beyond the mark, sir, and overshoot yourself, as you havedone before now; you shew only your inveteracy against that poor lad,whom you cannot mention with temper. To what purpose should he shuthimself up there, to be starved?"
"Starved! no, no! he has friends in this house (looking at Oswald), whowill not suffer him to want anything; those who have always magnifiedhis virtues, and extenuated his faults, will lend a hand to help him intime of need; and, perhaps, to assist his ingenious contrivances."
Oswald shrugged up his shoulders, and remained silent.
"This is a strange fancy of yours, Dick," said my lord; "but I am willingto pursue it,--first, to discover what you drive at; and, secondly, tosatisfy all that are here present of the truth or falsehood of it, thatthey may know what value to set upon your sagacity hereafter. Let us allgo over that apartment together; and let Joseph be called to attend usthither."
Oswald offered to call him, but Wenlock stopped him. "No, father," saidhe, "you must stay with us; we want your ghostly counsel and advice;Joseph shall have no private conference with you."
"What mean you," said Oswald, "to insinuate to my lord against me orJoseph? But your ill-will spares nobody. It will one day be known who isthe disturber of the peace of this family; I wait for that time, and amsilent."
Joseph came; when he was told whither they were going, he looked hard atOswald. Wenlock observed them.
"Lead the way, father," said he, "and Joseph shall follow us."
Oswald smiled.
"We will go where Heaven permits us," said he; "alas! the wisdom of mancan neither hasten, nor retard, its decrees."
They followed the father up stairs, and went directly to the hauntedapartment. The Baron unlocked the door; he bid Joseph open the shutters,and admit the daylight, which had been excluded for many years. Theywent over the rooms above stairs, and then descended the staircase, andthrough the lower rooms in the same manner. However, they overlooked thecloset, in which the fatal secret was concealed; the door was coveredwith tapestry, the same as the room, and united so well that it seemedbut one piece. Wenlock tauntingly desired Father Oswald to introducethem to the ghost. The father, in reply, asked them where they shouldfind Edmund. "Do you think," said he, "that he lies hid in my pocket, orin Joseph's?"
"'Tis no matter," answered he; "thoughts are free."
"My opinion of you, Sir," said Oswald, "is not founded upon thoughts--Ijudge of men by their actions,--a rule, I believe, it will not suit youto be tried by."
"None of your insolent admonitions, father!" returned Wenlock; "this isneither the time nor the place for them."
"That is truer than you are aware of, sir
; I meant not to enter into thesubject just now."
"Be silent," said my Lord.
"I shall enter into this subject with you hereafter--then look you beprepared for it. In the mean time, do you, Dick Wenlock, answer to myquestions:--Do you think Edmund is concealed in this apartment?"
"No, sir."
"Do you think there is any mystery in it?"
"No, my lord."
"Is it haunted, think you?"
"No, I think not."
"Should you be afraid to try?"
"In what manner, my