Pelham — Complete

  CHAPTER LXXIII.

  Si ad honestatem nati sumus ea aut sola expetenda est, aut certe omnipondere gravior est habenda quam reliqua omnia.--Tully.

  Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyesthat gentleness, And shew of love as I was wont to have.--JuliusCaesar.

  I rose at my usual early hour; sleep had tended to calm, and, I hope,also, to better my feelings. I had now leisure to reflect, that I hadnot embraced my party from any private or interested motive; it was not,therefore, from a private or interested motive that I was justified indeserting it. Our passions are terrible sophists! When Vincent had toldme, the day before, that it was from men, not measures, that I was tochange, and that such a change could scarcely deserve the name, my heartadopted the assertion, and fancied it into truth.

  I now began to perceive the delusion; were government as mechanicallyperfect as it has never yet been (but as I trust it may yet be), itwould signify little who were the mere machines that regulated itssprings: but in a constitution like ours, the chief character ofwhich--pardon me, ye De Lolmites--is its uncertainty; where meninvariably make the measures square to the dimensions of their owntalent or desire; and where, reversing the maxim of the tailor, themeasures so rarely make the men; it required no penetration to see howdangerous it was to entrust to the aristocratic prejudice of Lincoln,or the vehement imbecility of Lesborough, the execution of the very samemeasures which might safely be committed to the plain sense of Dawton,and, above all, to the great and various talents of his coadjutors. Butwhat made the vital difference between the two parties was less in theleaders than the body. In the Dawton faction, the best, the purest, thewisest of the day were enrolled; they took upon themselves the originof all the active measures, and Lord Dawton was the mere channel throughwhich those measures flowed; the plain, the unpretending, and somewhatfeeble character of Lord Dawton's mind, readily conceded to the ablercomponents of his party, the authority it was so desirable that theyshould exert. In Vincent's party, with the exception of himself, therewas scarcely an individual with the honesty requisite for loving theprojects they affected to propose, or the talents that were necessaryfor carrying them into effect, even were their wishes sincere; nor wereeither the haughty Lincoln, or his noisy and overbearing companion,Lesborough, at all of a temper to suffer that quiet, yet powerfulinterference of others, to which Dawton unhesitatingly submitted.

  I was the more resolved to do all possible justice to Dawton's party,from the inclination I naturally had to lean towards the other; andin all matters, where private pique or self-interest can possiblypenetrate, it has ever been the object of my maturer consideration todirect my particular attention to that side of the question which suchundue partizans are the least likely to espouse. While I was gradually,but clearly, feeling my way to a decision, I received the following notefrom Guloseton:--

  "I said nothing to you last night of what is now to be the subject ofmy letter, lest you should suppose it arose rather from the heat of anextempore conviviality, than its real source, viz. a sincere esteem foryour mind, a sincere affection for your heart, and a sincere sympathy inyour resentment and your interest.

  "They tell me that Lord Dawton's triumph or discomfiture rests entirelyupon the success of the motion upon--, brought before the House ofCommons, on the--. I care, you know, very little for my own part, whichway this question is decided; do not think, therefore, that I make anysacrifice when I request you to suffer me to follow your advice in thedisposal of my four votes. I imagine, of course, that you would wishthem to adopt the contrary side to Lord Dawton; and upon receiving aline from you to that effect, they shall be empowered to do so.

  "Pray, oblige me also by taking the merit of this measure upon yourself,and saying (wherever it may be useful to you), how entirely, both thevoters and their influence are at your disposal. I trust we shall yetplay the Bel to this Dragon, and fell him from his high places.

  "Pity me, my dear friend; I dine out to-day, and feel already, by anintuitive shudder, that the soup will be cold, and the sherry hot.Adieu.

  "Ever your's,

  "Guloseton."

  Now, then, my triumph, my vanity, and my revenge might be fullygratified. I had before me a golden opportunity of displaying my ownpower, and of humbling that of the minister. My heart swelled high atthe thought. Let it be forgiven me, if, for a single moment, my previouscalculations and morality vanished from my mind, and I saw only theoffer of Vincent, and the generosity of Guloseton. But I checked therisings of my heart, and compelled my proud spirit to obedience.

  I placed Guloseton's letter before me, and as I read it once more inorder to reply to it, the disinterested kindness and delicacy of one,whom I had long, in the injustice of my thoughts, censured as selfish,came over me so forcibly, and contrasted so deeply with the hollownessof friends more sounding, alike in their profession and their creeds,that the tears streamed fast and gushingly from my eyes.

  A thousand misfortunes are less affecting than a single kindness.

  I wrote, in answer, a warm and earnest letter of thanks for an offer,the judicious kindness of which penetrated me to the soul. I detailed,at some length, the reasons which induced me to the decision I hadtaken; I sketched also the nature of the very important motion aboutto be brought before the House, and deduced from that sketch theimpossibility of conscientiously opposing Lord Dawton's party inthe debate. I concluded with repeating the expressions my gratitudesuggested, and after declining all interference with Lord Guloseton'svotes, ventured to add, that had I interfered, it would have been insupport of Dawton; not as a man, but a minister--not as an individualfriend, but a public servant.

  I had just despatched this letter, when Vincent entered: I acquaintedhim, though in the most respectful and friendly terms, with mydetermination. He seemed greatly disappointed, and endeavoured to shakemy resolution; finding this was in vain, he appeared at last satisfied,and even affected with my reasons. When we parted, it was with apromise, confirmed by both, that no public variance should ever againalter our private opinions of each other.

  When I was once more alone, and saw myself brought back to the very footof the ladder I had so far and so fortunately climbed; when I sawthat, in rejecting all the overtures of my friends, I was left utterlysolitary and unaided among my foes--when I looked beyond and saw nofaint loophole of hope, no single stepping-stone on which to recommencemy broken, but unwearied career--perhaps one pang of regret andrepentance, at my determination, came across me: but there is somethingmarvellously restorative in a good conscience, and one soon learns tolook with hope to the future, when one can feel justified in turningwith pride to the past.

  My horse came to the door at my usual hour for riding: with whatgladness I sprung upon his back, felt the free wind freshening over myfevered cheek, and turned my rein towards the green lanes that borderthe great city on its western side. I know few counsellors moreexhilarating than a spirited horse. I do not wonder that the Romanemperor made a consul of his steed. On horseback I always best feel mypowers, and survey my resources; on horseback, I always originate mynoblest schemes, and plan their ablest execution. Give me but a lightrein, and a free bound, and I am Cicero--Cato--Caesar; dismount me, andI become a mere clod of the earth which you condemn me to touch; fire,energy, etheriality have departed; I am the soil without the sun--thecask without the wine--the garments without the man.

  I returned home with increased spirits and collected thoughts; I urgedmy mind from my own situation, and suffered it to rest upon what LadyRoseville had told me of Reginald Glanville's interference in my behalf.That extraordinary man still continued powerfully to excite my interest;nor could I dwell, without some yearning of the kindlier affections,upon his unsolicited, and, but for Lady Roseville's communication,unknown exertions in my cause. Although the officers of justice werestill actively employed in the pursuit of Tyrrell's murderer, andalthough the newspapers were still full of speculations on theirindifferent success, public curiosity had began to flag upon
theinquiry. I had, once or twice, been in Glanville's company when themurder was brought upon the tapis, and narrowly examined his behaviourupon a subject which touched him so fearfully. I could not, however,note any extraordinary confusion or change in his countenance; perhapsthe pale cheek grew somewhat paler, the dreaming eye more abstracted,and the absent spirit more wandering than before; but many other causesthan guilt, could account for signs so doubtful and minute.

  "You shall soon know all," the last words which he had addressed to me,yet rang in my ears, and most intensely did I anticipate the fulfilmentof this promise. My hopes too--those flatterers, so often the pleasingantitheses of reason, whispered that this was not the pledge of a guiltyman; and yet he had said to Lady Roseville, that he did not wonder atmy estrangement from him: such words seemed to require a less favourableconstruction than those he had addressed to me; and, in makingthis mental remark, another, of no flattering nature to Glanville'sdisinterestedness, suggested itself; might not his interference for mewith Lord Dawton, arise rather from policy than friendship; might it notoccur to him, if, as I surmised, he was acquainted with my suspicions,and acknowledged their dreadful justice, that it would be advisableto propitiate my silence? Such were among the thousand thoughts whichflashed across me, and left my speculations in debate and doubt.

  Nor did my reflections pass unnoticed the nature of Lady Roseville'saffection for Glanville. From the seeming coldness and austerity of SirReginald's temperament, it was likely that this was innocent, at leastin act; and there was also something guileless in the manner in whichshe appeared rather to exult in, than to conceal, her attachment. Truethat she was bound to no ties; she had neither husband nor children,for whose sake love became a crime: free and unfettered, if she gave herheart to Glanville, it was also allowable to render the gift lawful andperpetual by the blessing of the church.

  Alas! how little can woman, shut up in her narrow and limited circleof duties, know of the wandering life and various actions of herlover. Little, indeed, could Lady Roseville, when, in the heat of herenthusiasm, she spoke of the lofty and generous character of Glanville,dream of the foul and dastardly crime of which he was more thansuspected; nor, while it was, perhaps, her fondest wish to ally herselfto his destiny, could her wildest fancies anticipate the felon's fate,which, if death came not in an hastier and kinder shape, must sooner orlater await him.

  Of Thornton, I had neither seen nor heard aught since my departure fromLord Chester's; that reprieve was, however, shortly to expire. I hadscarcely got into Oxford-street, in my way homeward, when I perceivedhim crossing the street with another man. I turned round to scrutinizethe features of his companion, and, in spite of a great change of dress,a huge pair of false whiskers, and an artificial appearance of increasedage, my habit of observing countenances enabled me to recognize, onthe instant, my intellectual and virtuous friend, Mr. Job Jonson. Theydisappeared in a shop, nor did I think it worth while further to observethem, though I still bore a reminiscetory spite against Mr. JobJonson, which I was fully resolved to wreak, at the first favourableopportunity.

  I passed by Lady Roseville's door. Though the hour was late, and I had,therefore, but a slight chance of finding her at home, yet I thoughtthe chance worth the trouble of inquiry. To my agreeable surprise, Iwas admitted: no one was in the drawing-room. The servant said, LadyRoseville was at that moment engaged, but would very shortly see me, andbegged I would wait.

  Agitated as I was by various reflections, I walked (in the restlessnessof my mood) to and fro the spacious rooms which formed Lady Roseville'sapartments of reception. At the far end was a small boudoir, where nonebut the goddess's favoured few were admitted. As I approached towardsit, I heard voices, and the next moment recognised the deep tones ofGlanville. I turned hastily away, lest I should overhear the discourse;but I had scarcely got three steps, when the convulsed sound of awoman's sob came upon my ear. Shortly afterwards, steps descended thestairs, and the street door opened.

  The minutes rolled on, and I became impatient. The servantre-entered--Lady Roseville was so suddenly and seriously indisposed,that she was unable to see me. I left the house, and, full of bewilderedconjectures, returned to my apartments.

  The next day was one of the most important in my life. I was standingwistfully by my fireplace, listening to a broken-winded hurdy-gurdy,with the most mournful attention, stationed opposite to my window, whenBedos announced Sir Reginald Glanville. It so happened, that I had thatmorning taken the miniature I had found in the fatal field, from thesecret place in which I usually kept it, in order more closely toexamine it, lest any more convincing proof of its owner, than theinitials and Thornton's interpretation, might be discovered by a minuterinvestigation.

  The picture was lying on the table when Glanville entered: my firstimpulse was to seize and secrete it; my second to suffer it to remain,and to watch the effect the sight of it might produce. In followingthe latter, I thought it, however, as well to choose my own time fordiscovering the miniature; and as I moved to the table, I threw myhandkerchief carelessly over it. Glanville came up to me at once, andhis countenance, usually close and reserved in its expression, assumed afranker and bolder aspect.

  "You have lately changed towards me," he said:--"mindful of our formerfriendship, I have come to demand the reason."

  "Can Sir Reginald Glanville's memory," answered I, "supply him with noprobable cause?"

  "It can," replied Glanville, "but I would not trust only to that. Sitdown, Pelham, and listen to me. I can read your thoughts, and I mightaffect to despise their import--perhaps two years since I should--atpresent I can pity and excuse them. I have come to you now, in the loveand confidence of our early days, to claim, as then, your good opinionand esteem. If you require any explanation at my hands, it shall begiven. My days are approaching their end. I have made up my accountswith others--I would do so with you. I confess, that I would fain leavebehind me in your breast, the same affectionate remembrance I mightheretofore have claimed, and which, whatever be your suspicions, I havedone nothing to forfeit. I have, moreover, a dearer interest than my ownto consult in this wish--you colour, Pelham--you know to whom I allude;for my sister's sake, if not for my own, you will hear me."

  Glanville paused for a moment. I raised the handkerchief from theminiature--I pushed the latter towards him--"Do you remember this?" saidI, in a low tone.

  With a wild cry, which thrilled through my heart, Glanville sprungforward and seized it. He gazed eagerly and intensely upon it, and hischeek flushed--his eyes sparkled--his breast heaved. The next moment hefell back in his chair, in one of the half swoons, to which, upon anysudden and violent emotion, the debilitating effects of his diseasesubjected him.

  Before I could come to his assistance he had recovered. He lookedwildly and fiercely upon me. "Speak," he cried, "speak--where got youthis--where?--answer, for mercy's sake!"

  "Recollect yourself," said I, sternly. "I found that token of yourpresence upon the spot where Tyrrell was murdered."

  "True, true," said Glanville, slowly, and in an absent and abstractedtone. He ceased abruptly, and covered his face with his hands; from thisattitude he started with some sudden impulse.

  "And tell me," he said, in a low, inward, exulting tone, "was it--was itred with the blood of the murdered man?"

  "Wretch!" I exclaimed, "do you glory in your guilt?"

  "Hold!" said Glanville, rising, with an altered and haughty air; "it isnot to your accusations that I am now to listen: if you are yet desirousof weighing their justice before you decide upon them, you will have theopportunity: I shall be at home at ten this night; come to me, and youshall know all. At present, the sight of this picture has unnerved me.Shall I see you?"

  I made no other rejoinder than the brief expression of my assent, andGlanville instantly left the room.

  During the whole of that day, my mind was wrought up into a state offeverish and preternatural excitation. I could not remain in the samespot for an instant; my pulse beat with the irregularity of
delirium.For the last hour I placed my watch before me, and kept my eyesconstantly fixed upon it. Should any one think this exaggerated, lethim remember, that it was not only Glanville's confession that I wasto hear; my own fate, my future connection with Ellen, rested uponthe story of that night. For myself, when I called to mind Glanville'sacknowledgment of the picture, and his slow and involuntary remembranceof the spot where it was found, I scarcely allowed my temper, sanguineas it was, to hope.

  Some minutes before the hour of ten I repaired to Glanville's house. Hewas alone--the picture was before him.

  I drew my chair towards him in silence, and accidentally lifting up myeyes, encountered the opposite mirror. I started at my own face; theintensity and fearfulness of my interest had rendered it even morehueless than that of my companion.

  There was a pause for some moments, at the end of which Glanville thusbegan.