The Claverings

  CHAPTER XXXIX.

  FAREWELL TO DOODLES.

  At last came the day on which the two Claverings were to go downto Harwich and put themselves on board Jack Stuart's yacht. Thehall of the house in Berkeley Square was strewed with portmanteaus,gun-cases, and fishing-rods, whereas the wine and packets ofpreserved meat, and the bottled beer and fish in tins, and the largebox of cigars, and the prepared soups, had been sent down by Boxall,and were by this time on board the boat. Hugh and Archie were toleave London this day by train at 5 P.M., and were to sleep on board.Jack Stuart was already there, having assisted in working the yachtround from Brightlingsea.

  On that morning Archie had a farewell breakfast at his club withDoodles, and after that, having spent the intervening hours in thebilliard-room, a farewell luncheon. There had been something ofmelancholy in this last day between the friends, originating partlyin the failure of Archie's hopes as to Lady Ongar, and partly perhapsin the bad character which seemed to belong to Jack Stuart and hiscraft. "He has been at it for years, and always coming to grief,"said Doodles. "He is just like a man I know, who has been huntingfor the last ten years, and can't sit a horse at a fence yet. He hasbroken every bone in his skin, and I don't suppose he ever saw a goodthing to a finish. He never knows whether hounds are in cover, orwhere they are. His only idea is to follow another man's red coattill he comes to grief;--and yet he will go on hunting. There aresome people who never will understand what they can do, and whatthey can't." In answer to this, Archie reminded his friend that onthis occasion Jack Stuart would have the advantage of an excellentdry-nurse, acknowledged to be very great on such occasions. Wouldnot he, Archie Clavering, be there to pilot Jack Stuart and hisboat? But, nevertheless, Doodles was melancholy, and went on tellingstories about that unfortunate man who would continue to break hisbones, though he had no aptitude for out-of-door sports. "He'll becarried home on a stretcher some day, you know," said Doodles.

  "What does it matter if he is?" said Archie, boldly, thinking ofhimself and of the danger predicted for him. "A man can only dieonce."

  "I call it quite a tempting of Providence," said Doodles.

  But their conversation was chiefly about Lady Ongar and the Spy. Itwas only on this day that Doodles had learned that Archie had intruth offered his hand, and been rejected; and Captain Clavering wassurprised by the extent of his friend's sympathy. "It's a dooseddisagreeable thing,--a very disagreeable thing indeed," said Doodles.Archie, who did not wish to be regarded as specially unfortunate,declined to look at the matter in this light; but Doodles insisted."It would cut me up like the very mischief," he said. "I know that;and the worst of it is, that perhaps you wouldn't have gone on, onlyfor me. I meant it all for the best, old fellow. I did, indeed.There; that's the game to you. I'm playing uncommon badly thismorning; but the truth is, I'm thinking of those women." Now asDoodles was playing for a little money, this was really civil on hispart.

  And he would persevere in talking about the Spy, as though therewere something in his remembrance of the lady which attracted himirresistibly to the subject. He had always boasted that in hisinterview with her he had come off with the victory, nor did he nowcease to make such boasts; but still he spoke of her and her powerswith an awe which would have completely opened the eyes of any one alittle more sharp on such matters than Archie Clavering. He was sointent on this subject that he sent the marker out of the room sothat he might discuss it with more freedom, and might plainly expresshis views as to her influence on his friend's fate.

  "By George! she's a wonderful woman. Do you know I can't helpthinking of her at night. She keeps me awake;--she does, upon myhonour."

  "I can't say she keeps me awake, but I wish I had my seventy poundsback again."

  "Do you know, if I were you, I shouldn't grudge it. I should think itworth pretty nearly all the money to have had the dealing with her."

  "Then you ought to go halves."

  "Well, yes;--only that I ain't flush, I would. When one thinks of it,her absolutely taking the notes out of your waistcoat-pocket, upon myword it's beautiful! She'd have had it out of mine, if I hadn't beendoosed sharp."

  "She understood what she was about, certainly."

  "What I should like to know is this: did she or did she not tell LadyOngar what she was to do;--about you I mean? I daresay she did afterall."

  "And took my money for nothing?"

  "Because you didn't go high enough, you know."

  "But that was your fault. I went as high as you told me."

  "No, you didn't, Clavvy; not if you remember. But the fact is, Idon't suppose you could go high enough. I shouldn't be surprised ifsuch a woman as that wanted--thousands! I shouldn't indeed. I shallnever forget the way in which she swore at me;--and how she abused meabout my family. I think she must have had some special reason fordisliking Warwickshire, she said such awful hard things about it."

  "How did she know that you came from Warwickshire?"

  "She did know it. If I tell you something don't you say anythingabout it. I have an idea about her."

  "What is it?"

  "I didn't mention it before, because I don't talk much of those sortof things. I don't pretend to understand them, and it is better toleave them alone."

  "But what do you mean?"

  Doodles looked very solemn as he answered. "I think she's amedium--or a media, or whatever it ought to be called."

  "What! one of those spirit-rapping people?" And Archie's hair almoststood on end as he asked the question.

  "They don't rap now,--not the best of them, that is. That was the oldway, and seems to have been given up."

  "But what do you suppose she did?"

  "How did she know that the money was in your waistcoat-pocket, now?How did she know that I came from Warwickshire? And then she had away of going about the room as though she could have raised herselfoff her feet in a moment if she had chosen. And then her swearing,and the rest of it,--so unlike any other woman, you know."

  "But do you think she could have made Julia hate me?"

  "Ah, I can't tell that. There are such lots of things going onnow-a-days that a fellow can understand nothing about! But I've nodoubt of this,--if you were to tie her up with ropes ever so, I don'tin the least doubt but what she'd get out."

  Archie was awe-struck, and made two or three strokes after this; butthen he plucked up his courage and asked a question,--

  "Where do you suppose they get it from, Doodles?"

  "That's just the question."

  "Is it from--the devil, do you think?" said Archie, whispering thename of the Evil One in a very low voice.

  "Well, yes; I suppose that's most likely."

  "Because they don't seem to do a great deal of harm with it afterall. As for my money, she would have had that any way, for I intendedto give it to her."

  "There are people who think," said Doodles, "that the spirits don'tcome from anywhere, but are always floating about."

  "And then one person catches them, and another doesn't?" askedArchie.

  "They tell me that it depends upon what the mediums or medias eat anddrink," said Doodles, "and upon what sort of minds they have. Theymust be cleverish people, I fancy, or the spirits wouldn't come tothem."

  "But you never hear of any swell being a medium. Why don't thespirits go to a prime minister or some of those fellows? Only thinkwhat a help they'd be."

  "If they come from the devil," suggested Doodles, "he wouldn't letthem do any real good."

  "I've heard a deal about them," said Archie, "and it seems to me thatthe mediums are always poor people, and that they come from nobodyknows where. The Spy is a clever woman I daresay--"

  "There isn't much doubt about that," said the admiring Doodles.

  "But you can't say she's respectable, you know. If I was a spirit Iwouldn't go to a woman who wore such dirty stockings as she had on."

  "That's nonsense, Clavvy. What does a spirit care about a woman'sstockings?"

  "But why don't they ever go to the wise
people? that's what I wantto know." And as he asked the question boldly he struck his ballsharply, and, lo, the three balls rolled vanquished into threedifferent pockets. "I don't believe about it," said Archie, as hereadjusted the score. "The devil can't do such things as that orthere'd be an end of everything; and as to spirits in the air, whyshould there be more spirits now than there were four-and-twentyyears ago?"

  "That's all very well, old fellow," said Doodles, "but you and Iain't clever enough to understand everything." Then that subject wasdropped, and Doodles went back for a while to the perils of JackStuart's yacht.

  After the lunch, which was in fact Archie's early dinner, Doodleswas going to leave his friend, but Archie insisted that his brothercaptain should walk with him up to Berkeley Square, and see the lastof him into his cab. Doodles had suggested that Sir Hugh would bethere, and that Sir Hugh was not always disposed to welcome hisbrother's friends to his own house after the most comfortable modesof friendship; but Archie explained that on such an occasion as thisthere need be no fear on that head; he and his brother were goingaway together, and there was a certain feeling of jollity about thetrip which would divest Sir Hugh of his roughness. "And besides,"said Archie, "as you will be there to see me off, he'll know thatyou're not going to stay yourself." Convinced by this, Doodlesconsented to walk up to Berkeley Square.

  Sir Hugh had spent the greatest part of this day at home, immersedamong his guns and rods, and their various appurtenances. He also hadbreakfasted at his club, but had ordered his luncheon to be preparedfor him at home. He had arranged to leave Berkeley Square at four,and had directed that his lamb chops should be brought to him exactlyat three. He was himself a little late in coming downstairs, and itwas ten minutes past the hour when he desired that the chops might beput on the table, saying that he himself would be in the drawing-roomin time to meet them. He was a man solicitous about his lamb chops,and careful that the asparagus should be hot; solicitous also asto that bottle of Lafitte by which those comestibles were to beaccompanied and which was, of its own nature, too good to be sharedwith his brother Archie. But as he was on the landing, by thedrawing-room door, descending quickly, conscious that in obedience tohis orders the chops had been already served, he was met by a servantwho, with disturbed face and quick voice, told him that there was alady waiting for him in the hall.

  "D---- it!" said Sir Hugh.

  "She has just come, Sir Hugh, and says that she specially wants tosee you."

  "Why the devil did you let her in?"

  "She walked in when the door was opened, Sir Hugh, and I couldn'thelp it. She seemed to be a lady, Sir Hugh, and I didn't like not tolet her inside the door."

  "What's the lady's name?" asked the master.

  "It's a foreign name, Sir Hugh. She said she wouldn't keep you fiveminutes." The lamb chops, and the asparagus, and the Lafitte were inthe dining-room, and the only way to the dining-room lay through thehall to which the foreign lady had obtained an entrance. Sir Hugh,making such calculations as the moments allowed, determined that hewould face the enemy, and pass on to his banquet over her prostratebody. He went quickly down into the hall, and there was encounteredby Sophie Gordeloup, who, skipping over the gun-cases, and rushingthrough the portmanteaus, caught the baronet by the arm before he hadbeen able to approach the dining-room door. "Sir 'Oo," she said, "Iam so glad to have caught you. You are going away, and I have thingsto tell you which you must hear--yes; it is well for you I havecaught you, Sir 'Oo." Sir Hugh looked as though he by no meansparticipated in this feeling, and saying something about his greathurry begged that he might be allowed to go to his food. Then headded that, as far as his memory served him, he had not the honour ofknowing the lady who was addressing him.

  "You come in to your little dinner," said Sophie, "and I will tellyou everything as you are eating. Don't mind me. You shall eat anddrink, and I will talk. I am Madame Gordeloup,--Sophie Gordeloup.Ah,--you know the name now. Yes. That is me. Count Pateroff is mybrother. You know Count Pateroff? He knowed Lord Ongar, and I knowedLord Ongar. We know Lady Ongar. Ah,--you understand now that I canhave much to tell. It is well you was not gone without seeing me? Eh;yes! You shall eat and drink, but suppose you send that man into thekitchen!"

  Sir Hugh was so taken by surprise that he hardly knew how to act onthe spur of the moment. He certainly had heard of Madame Gordeloup,though he had never before seen her. For years past her name had beenfamiliar to him in London, and when Lady Ongar had returned as awidow it had been, to his thinking, one of her worst offences thatthis woman had been her friend. Under ordinary circumstances hisjudgment would have directed him to desire the servant to put her outinto the street as an impostor, and to send for the police if therewas any difficulty. But it certainly might be possible that thiswoman had something to tell with reference to Lady Ongar which itwould suit his purposes to hear. At the present moment he was notvery well inclined to his sister-in-law, and was disposed to hearevil of her. So he passed on into the dining-room and desired MadameGordeloup to follow him. Then he closed the room door, and standingup with his back to the fireplace, so that he might be saved from thenecessity of asking her to sit down, he declared himself ready tohear anything that his visitor might have to say.

  "But you will eat your dinner, Sir 'Oo? You will not mind me. I shallnot care."

  "Thank you, no;--if you will just say what you have got to say, Iwill be obliged to you."

  "But the nice things will be so cold! Why should you mind me? Nobodyminds me."

  "I will wait, if you please, till you have done me the honour ofleaving me."

  "Ah, well,--you Englishmen are so cold and ceremonious. But LordOngar was not with me like that. I knew Lord Ongar so well."

  "Lord Ongar was more fortunate than I am."

  "He was a poor man who did kill himself. Yes. It was always thatbottle of Cognac. And there was other bottles was worser still. Nevermind; he has gone now, and his widow has got the money. It is shehas been a fortunate woman! Sir 'Oo, I will sit down here in thearm-chair." Sir Hugh made a motion with his hand, not daring toforbid her to do as she was minded. "And you, Sir 'Oo;--will not yousit down also?"

  "I will continue to stand if you will allow me."

  "Very well; you shall do as most pleases you. As I did walk here, andshall walk back, I will sit down."

  "And now if you have anything to say, Madame Gordeloup," said SirHugh, looking at the silver covers which were hiding the chops andthe asparagus, and looking also at his watch, "perhaps you will begood enough to say it."

  "Anything to say! Yes, Sir 'Oo, I have something to say. It is a pityyou will not sit at your dinner."

  "I will not sit at my dinner till you have left me. So now, if youwill be pleased to proceed--"

  "I will proceed. Perhaps you don't know that Lord Ongar died in thesearms?" And Sophie, as she spoke, stretched out her skinny hands, andput herself as far as possible into the attitude in which it would bemost convenient to nurse the head of a dying man upon her bosom. SirHugh, thinking to himself that Lord Ongar could hardly have receivedmuch consolation in his fate from this incident, declared that he hadnot heard the fact before. "No; you have not heard it. She have tellnothing to her friends here. He die abroad, and she has come backwith all the money; but she tell nothing to anybody here, so I musttell."

  "But I don't care how he died, Madame Gordeloup. It is nothing tome."

  "But yes, Sir 'Oo. The lady, your wife, is the sister to Lady Ongar.Is not that so? Lady Ongar did live with you before she was married.Is not that so? Your brother and your cousin both wishes to marry herand have all the money. Is not that so? Your brother has come to meto help him, and has sent the little man out of Warwickshire. Is notthat so?"

  "What the d---- is all that to me?" said Sir Hugh, who did not quiteunderstand the story as the lady was telling it.

  "I will explain, Sir 'Oo, what the d---- it is to you; only I wishyou were eating the nice things on the table. This Lady Ongar istreating me very bad. She treat my bro
ther very bad too. My brotheris Count Pateroff. We have been put to--oh, such expenses for her!It have nearly ruined me. I make a journey to your London herealtogether for her. Then, for her, I go down to that accursed littleisland;--what you call it?--where she insult me. Oh! all my timeis gone. Your brother and your cousin, and the little man out ofWarwickshire, all coming to my house,--just as it please them."

  "But what is this to me?" shouted Sir Hugh.

  "A great deal to you," screamed back Madame Gordeloup. "You see Iknow everything,--everything. I have got papers."

  "What do I care for your papers? Look here, Madame Gordeloup, you hadbetter go away."

  "Not yet, Sir 'Oo; not yet. You are going away to Norway--I know; andI am ruined before you come back."

  "Look here, madame; do you mean that you want money from me?"

  "I want my rights, Sir 'Oo. Remember, I know everything;--everything;oh, such things! If they were all known,--in the newspapers, youunderstand, or that kind of thing, that lady in Bolton Street wouldlose all her money to-morrow. Yes. There is uncles to the littlelord; yes! Ah, how much would they give me, I wonder? They would nottell me to go away."

  Sophie was perhaps justified in the estimate she had made of SirHugh's probable character from the knowledge which she had acquiredof his brother Archie; but, nevertheless, she had fallen into a greatmistake. There could hardly have been a man then in London lesslikely to fall into her present views than Sir Hugh Clavering. Notonly was he too fond of his money to give it away without knowing whyhe did so; but he was subject to none of that weakness by which somemen are prompted to submit to such extortions. Had he believed herstory, and had Lady Ongar been really dear to him, he would neverhave dealt with such a one as Madame Gordeloup otherwise than throughthe police.

  "Madame Gordeloup," said he, "if you don't immediately take yourselfoff, I shall have you put out of the house."

  He would have sent for a constable at once, had he not feared that bydoing so, he would retard his journey.

  "What!" said Sophie, whose courage was as good as his own. "Me putout of the house! Who shall touch me?"

  "My servant shall; or if that will not do, the police. Come, walk."And he stepped over towards her as though he himself intended toassist in her expulsion by violence.

  "Well, you are there; I see you; and what next?" said Sophie. "You,and your valk! I can tell you things fit for you to know, and yousay, Valk. If I valk, I will valk to some purpose. I do not oftenvalk for nothing when I am told--Valk!" Upon this, Sir Hugh rang thebell with some violence. "I care nothing for your bells, or for yourservants, or for your policemen. I have told you that your sister oweme a great deal of money, and you say,--Valk. I vill valk." Thereuponthe servant came into the room, and Sir Hugh, in an angry voice,desired him to open the front door. "Yes,--open vide," said Sophie,who, when anger came upon her, was apt to drop into a mode ofspeaking English which she was able to avoid in her cooler moments."Sir 'Oo, I am going to valk, and you shall hear of my valking."

  "Am I to take that as a threat?" said he.

  "Not a tret at all," said she; "only a promise. Ah, I am good to keepmy promises! Yes, I make a promise. Your poor wife,--down with thedaises; I know all, and she shall hear too. That is another promise.And your brother, the captain. Oh! here he is, and the little manout of Warwickshire." She had got up from her chair, and had movedtowards the door with the intention of going; but just as she waspassing out into the hall, she encountered Archie and Doodles. SirHugh, who had been altogether at a loss to understand what she hadmeant by the man out of Warwickshire, followed her into the hall, andbecame more angry than before at finding that his brother had broughta friend to his house at so very inopportune a moment. The wrath inhis face was so plainly expressed that Doodles could perceive it, andwished himself away. The presence also of the Spy was not pleasantto the gallant captain. Was the wonderful woman ubiquitous, thathe should thus encounter her again, and that so soon after all thethings that he had spoken of her on this morning? "How do you do,gentlemen?" said Sophie. "There is a great many boxes here, and Iwith my crinoline have not got room." Then she shook hands, firstwith Archie, and then with Doodles; and asked the latter why hewas not as yet gone to Warwickshire. Archie, in almost mortal fear,looked up into his brother's face. Had his brother learned the storyof that seventy pounds? Sir Hugh was puzzled beyond measure atfinding that the woman knew the two men; but having still an eye tohis lamb chops, was chiefly anxious to get rid of Sophie and Doodlestogether.

  "This is my friend Boodle,--Captain Boodle," said Archie, trying toput a bold face upon the crisis. "He has come to see me off."

  "Very kind of him," said Sir Hugh. "Just make way for this lady, willyou? I want to get her out of the house if I can. Your friend seemsto know her; perhaps he'll be good enough to give her his arm."

  "Who;--I?" said Doodles. "No; I don't know her particularly. I didmeet her once before, just once,--in a casual way."

  "Captain Booddle and me is very good friends," said Sophie. "He cometo my house and behave himself very well; only he is not so handy aman as your brother, Sir 'Oo."

  Archie trembled, and he trembled still more when his brother, turningto him, asked him if he knew the woman.

  "Yes; he know the woman very well," said Sophie. "Why do you notcome any more to see me? You send your little friend; but I like youbetter yourself. You come again when you return, and all that shallbe made right."

  But still she did not go. She had now seated herself on a gun-casewhich was resting on a portmanteau, and seemed to be at her ease. Thetime was going fast, and Sir Hugh, if he meant to eat his chops, musteat them at once.

  "See her out of the hall, into the street," he said to Archie; "andif she gives trouble, send for the police. She has come here to getmoney from me by threats, and only that we have no time, I would haveher taken to the lock-up house at once." Then Sir Hugh retreated intothe dining-room and shut the door.

  "Lock-up-ouse!" said Sophie, scornfully. "What is dat?"

  "He means a prison," said Doodles.

  "Prison! I know who is most likely be in a prison. Tell me of aprison! Is he a minister of state that he can send out order for meto be made prisoner? Is there lettres de cachet now in England? Ithink not. Prison, indeed!"

  "But really, Madame Gordeloup, you had better go; you had, indeed,"said Archie.

  "You, too--you bid me go? Did I bid you go when you came to me? Did Inot tell you, sit down? Was I not polite? Did I send for a police? ortalk of lock-up-ouse to you? No. It is English that do these things;only English."

  Archie felt that it was incumbent on him to explain that his visitto her house had been made under other circumstances,--that he hadbrought money instead of seeking it; and had, in fact, gone to hersimply in the way of her own trade. He did begin some preliminariesto this explanation; but as the servant was there, and as his brothermight come out from the dining-room,--and as also he was aware thathe could hardly tell the story much to his own advantage, he stoppedabruptly, and, looking piteously at Doodles, implored him to take thelady away.

  "Perhaps you wouldn't mind just seeing her into Mount Street," saidArchie.

  "Who; I?" said Doodles, electrified.

  "It is only just round the corner," said Archie.

  "Yes, Captain Booddle, we will go," said Sophie. "This is a badhouse; and your Sir 'Oo,--I do not like him at all. Lock-up, indeed!I tell you he shall very soon be locked up himself. There is what youcall Davy's locker. I know;--yes."

  Doodles also trembled when he heard this anathema, and thought oncemore of the character of Jack Stuart and his yacht.

  "Pray go with her," said Archie.

  "But I had come to see you off."

  "Never mind," said Archie. "He is in such a taking, you know. Godbless you, old fellow; good-by! I'll write and tell you what fish weget, and mind you tell me what Turriper does for the Bedfordshire.Good-by, Madame Gordeloup--good-by."

  There was no escape for him, so Doodles put on his hat and
preparedto walk away to Mount Street with the Spy under his arm,--the Spyas to whose avocations, over and beyond those of her diplomaticprofession, he had such strong suspicions! He felt inclined to beangry with his friend, but the circumstances of his parting hardlyadmitted of any expression of anger.

  "Good-by, Clavvy," he said. "Yes; I'll write; that is, if I've gotanything to say."

  "Take care of yourself, captain," said Sophie.

  "All right," said Archie.

  "Mind you come and see me when you come back," said Sophie.

  "Of course I will," said Archie.

  "And we'll make that all right for you yet. Gentlemen, when they haveso much to gain, shouldn't take a No too easy. You come with yourhandy glove, and we'll see about it again." Then Sophie walked offleaning upon the arm of Captain Boodle, and Archie stood at the doorwatching them till they turned out of sight round the corner of thesquare. At last he saw them no more, and then he returned to hisbrother.

  And as we shall see Doodles no more,--or almost no more,--we will nowbid him adieu civilly. The pair were not ill-matched, though the ladyperhaps had some advantage in acuteness, given to her no doubt by theexperience of a longer life. Doodles, as he walked along two sidesof the square with the fair burden on his arm, felt himself to bein some sort proud of his position, though it was one from which hewould not have been sorry to escape, had escape been possible. Aremarkable phenomenon was the Spy, and to have walked round BerkeleySquare with such a woman leaning on his arm, might in coming years bean event to remember with satisfaction. In the meantime he did notsay much to her, and did not quite understand all that she said tohim. At last he came to the door which he well remembered, and thenhe paused. He did not escape even then. After a while the door wasopened, and those who were passing might have seen Captain Boodle,slowly and with hesitating steps, enter the narrow passage before thelady. Then Sophie followed, and closed the door behind her. As far asthis story goes, what took place at that interview cannot be known.Let us bid farewell to Doodles, and wish him a happy escape.

  "How did you come to know that woman?" said Hugh to his brother, assoon as Archie was in the dining-room.

  "She was a friend of Julia's," said Archie.

  "You haven't given her money?" Hugh asked.

  "O dear, no," said Archie.

  Immediately after that they got into their cab; the things werepitched on the top; and,--for a while,--we may bid adieu to themalso.