CHAPTER XV
Twas when fleet Snowball's head was woxen grey, A luckless lev'ret met him on his way.-- Who knows not Snowball--he, whose race renown'd Is still victorious on each coursing ground? Swaffhanm Newmarket, and the Roman Camp, Have seen them victors o'er each meaner stamp-- In vain the youngling sought, with doubling wile, The hedge, the hill, the thicket, or the stile. Experience sage the lack of speed supplied, And in the gap he sought, the victim died. So was I once, in thy fair street, Saint James, Through walking cavaliers, and car-borne dames, Descried, pursued, turn'd o'er again, and o'er, Coursed, coted, mouth'd by an unfeeling bore. &c. &c. &c,
The Park of Saint James's, though enlarged, planted with verdant alleys,and otherwise decorated by Charles II., existed in the days of hisgrandfather, as a public and pleasant promenade; and, for the sake ofexercise or pastime, was much frequented by the better classes.
Lord Glenvarloch repaired thither to dispel the unpleasant reflectionswhich had been suggested by his parting with his trusty squire, RichieMoniplies, in a manner which was agreeable neither to his pride nor hisfeelings; and by the corroboration which the hints of his late attendanthad received from the anonymous letter mentioned in the end of the lastchapter.
There was a considerable number of company in the Park when he enteredit, but, his present state of mind inducing him to avoid society,he kept aloof from the more frequented walks towards Westminsterand Whitehall, and drew to the north, or, as we should now say, thePiccadilly verge of the enclosure, believing he might there enjoy, orrather combat, his own thoughts unmolested.
In this, however, Lord Glenvarloch was mistaken; for, as he strolledslowly along with his arms folded in his cloak, and his hat drawn overhis eyes, he was suddenly pounced upon by Sir Mungo Malagrowther,who, either shunning or shunned, had retreated, or had been obliged toretreat, to the same less frequented corner of the Park.
Nigel started when he heard the high, sharp, and querulous tones of theknight's cracked voice, and was no less alarmed when he beheld his tallthin figure hobbling towards him, wrapped in a thread-bare cloak, onwhose surface ten thousand varied stains eclipsed the original scarlet,and having his head surmounted with a well-worn beaver, bearing a blackvelvet band for a chain, and a capon's feather for an ostrich plume.
Lord Glenvarloch would fain have made his escape, but, as our mottointimates, a leveret had as little chance to free herself of anexperienced greyhound. Sir Mungo, to continue the simile, had long agolearned to run cunning, and make sure of mouthing his game. SoNigel found himself compelled to stand and answer the hackneyedquestion--"What news to-day?"
"Nothing extraordinary, I believe," answered the young nobleman,attempting to pass on.
"O, ye are ganging to the French ordinary belive," replied the knight;"but it is early day yet--we will take a turn in the Park in themeanwhile--it will sharpen your appetite."
So saying, he quietly slipped his arm under Lord Glenvarloch's, in spiteof all the decent reluctance which his victim could exhibit, by keepinghis elbow close to his side; and having fairly grappled the prize, heproceeded to take it in tow.
Nigel was sullen and silent, in hopes to shake off his unpleasantcompanion; but Sir Mungo was determined, that if he did not speak, heshould at least hear.
"Ye are bound for the ordinary, my lord?" said the cynic;--"weel, yecanna do better--there is choice company there, and peculiarly selected,as I am tauld, being, dootless, sic as it is desirable that youngnoblemen should herd withal--and your noble father wad have been blitheto see you keeping such worshipful society."
"I believe," said Lord Glenvarloch, thinking himself obliged to saysomething, "that the society is as good as generally can be found insuch places, where the door can scarcely be shut against those who cometo spend their money."
"Right, my lord--vera right," said his tormentor, bursting out into achuckling, but most discordant laugh. "These citizen chuffs and clownswill press in amongst us, when there is but an inch of a door open. Andwhat remedy?--Just e'en this, that as their cash gies them confidence,we should strip them of it. Flay them, my lord--singe them as thekitchen wench does the rats, and then they winna long to come backagain.--Ay, ay--pluck them, plume them--and then the larded capons willnot be for flying so high a wing, my lord, among the goss-hawks andsparrow-hawks, and the like."
And, therewithal, Sir Mungo fixed on Nigel his quick, sharp, greyeye, watching the effect of his sarcasm as keenly as the surgeon, in adelicate operation, remarks the progress of his anatomical scalpel.
Nigel, however willing to conceal his sensations, could not avoidgratifying his tormentor by wincing under the operation. He colouredwith vexation and anger; but a quarrel with Sir Mungo Malagrowtherwould, he felt, be unutterably ridiculous; and he only muttered tohimself the words, "Impertinent coxcomb!" which, on this occasion,Sir Mungo's imperfection of organ did not prevent him from hearing andreplying to.
"Ay, ay--vera true," exclaimed the caustic old courtier--"Impertinentcoxcombs they are, that thus intrude themselves on the society of theirbetters; but your lordship kens how to gar them as gude--ye have thetrick on't.--They had a braw sport in the presence last Friday, how yesuld have routed a young shopkeeper, horse and foot, ta'en his _spoliaofima_, and a' the specie he had about him, down to the very silverbuttons of his cloak, and sent him to graze with Nebuchadnezzar, Kingof Babylon. Muckle honour redounded to your lordship thereby.--We weretauld the loon threw himsell into the Thames in a fit of desperation.There's enow of them behind--there was mair tint on Flodden-edge."
"You have been told a budget of lies, so far as I am concerned, SirMungo," said Nigel, speaking loud and sternly.
"Vera likely--vera likely," said the unabashed and undismayed Sir Mungo;"naething but lies are current in the circle.--So the chield is notdrowned, then?--the mair's the pity.--But I never believed that part ofthe story--a London dealer has mair wit in his anger. I dare swear thelad has a bonny broom-shank in his hand by this time, and is scrubbingthe kennels in quest after rusty nails, to help him to begin his packagain.--He has three bairns, they say; they will help him bravely togrope in the gutters. Your good lordship may have the ruining of himagain, my lord, if they have any luck in strand-scouring."
"This is more than intolerable," said Nigel, uncertain whether to makean angry vindication of his character, or to fling the old tormentorfrom his arm. But an instant's recollection convinced him, that, to doeither, would only give an air of truth and consistency to the scandalswhich he began to see were affecting his character, both in the higherand lower circles. Hastily, therefore, he formed the wiser resolution,to endure Sir Mungo's studied impertinence, under the hope ofascertaining, if possible, from what source those reports arose whichwere so prejudicial to his reputation.
Sir Mungo, in the meanwhile, caught up, as usual, Nigel's last words, orrather the sound of them, and amplified and interpreted them in his ownway. "Tolerable luck!" he repeated; "yes, truly, my lord, I am told thatyou have tolerable luck, and that ye ken weel how to use that jiltingquean, Dame Fortune, like a canny douce lad, willing to warm yourself inher smiles, without exposing yourself to her frowns. And that is what Ica' having luck in a bag."
"Sir Mungo Malagrowther," said Lord Glenvarloch, turning towards himseriously, "have the goodness to hear me for a moment."
"As weel as I can, my lord--as weel as I can," said Sir Mungo, shakinghis head, and pointing the finger of his left hand to his ear.
"I will try to speak very distinctly," said Nigel, arming himself withpatience. "You take me for a noted gamester; I give you my word thatyou have not been rightly informed--I am none such. You owe me someexplanation, at least, respecting the source from which you have derivedsuch false information."
"I never heard ye were a _great_ gamester, and never thought or said yewere such, my lord," said Sir Mungo, who found it impossible toavoid hearing what Nigel said with peculiarly deliberate and distinctpronunciation. "I repeat it--I nev
er heard, said, or thought thatyou were a ruffling gamester,--such as they call those of the firsthead.--Look you, my lord, I call _him_ a gamester, that plays with equalstakes and equal skill, and stands by the fortune of the game, good orbad; and I call _him_ a ruffling gamester, or ane of the first head, whoventures frankly and deeply upon such a wager. But he, my lord, who hasthe patience and prudence never to venture beyond small game, such as,at most, might crack the Christmas-box of a grocer's 'prentice, who vieswith those that have little to hazard, and who therefore, having thelarger stock, can always rook them by waiting for his good fortune, andby rising from the game when luck leaves him--such a one as he, mylord, I do not call a _great_ gamester, to whatever other name he may beentitled."
"And such a mean-spirited, sordid wretch, you would infer that I am,"replied Lord Glenvarloch; "one who fears the skilful, and preys upon theignorant--who avoids playing with his equals, that he may make sureof pillaging his inferiors?--Is this what I am to understand has beenreported of me?"
"Nay, my lord, you will gain nought by speaking big with me," said SirMungo, who, besides that his sarcastic humour was really supported bya good fund of animal courage, had also full reliance on the immunitieswhich he had derived from the broadsword of Sir Rullion Rattray, and thebaton of the satellites employed by the Lady Cockpen. "And for the truthof the matter," he continued, "your lordship best knows whether youever lost more than five pieces at a time since you frequentedBeaujeu's--whether you have not most commonly risen a winner--andwhether the brave young gallants who frequent the ordinary--I meanthose of noble rank, and means conforming--are in use to play upon thoseterms?"
"My father was right," said Lord Glenvarloch, in the bitterness of hisspirit; "and his curse justly followed me when I first entered thatplace. There is contamination in the air, and he whose fortune avoidsruin, shall be blighted in his honour and reputation."
Sir Mungo, who watched his victim with the delighted yet wary eye of anexperienced angler, became now aware, that if he strained the line onhim too tightly, there was every risk of his breaking hold. In order togive him room, therefore, to play, he protested that Lord Glenvarloch"should not take his free speech _in malam partem_. If you were a trifleower sicker in your amusement, my lord, it canna be denied that itis the safest course to prevent farther endangerment of your somewhatdilapidated fortunes; and if ye play with your inferiors, ye arerelieved of the pain of pouching the siller of your friends andequals; forby, that the plebeian knaves have had the advantage, _tecumcertasse_, as Ajax Telamon sayeth, _apud Metamorphoseos_; and for thelike of them to have played with ane Scottish nobleman is an honest andhonourable consideration to compensate the loss of their stake, whilk, Idare say, moreover, maist of the churls can weel afford."
"Be that as it may, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, "I would fain know--"
"Ay, ay," interrupted Sir Mungo; "and, as you say, who cares whether thefat bulls of Bashan can spare it or no? gentlemen are not to limit theirsport for the like of them."
"I wish to know, Sir Mungo," said Lord Glenvarloch, "in what company youhave learned these offensive particulars respecting me?"
"Dootless--dootless, my lord," said Sir Mungo; "I have ever heard, andhave ever reported, that your lordship kept the best of company in aprivate way.--There is the fine Countess of Blackchester, but I thinkshe stirs not much abroad since her affair with his Grace of Buckingham;and there is the gude auld-fashioned Scottish nobleman, Lord Huntinglen,an undeniable man of quality--it is pity but he could keep caup and canfrae his head, whilk now and then doth'minish his reputation. And thereis the gay young Lord Dalgarno, that carries the craft of gray hairsunder his curled love-locks--a fair race they are, father, daughter,and son, all of the same honourable family. I think we needna speak ofGeorge Heriot, honest man, when we have nobility in question. So thatis the company I have heard of your keeping, my lord, out-taken those ofthe ordinary."
"My company has not, indeed, been much more extended than amongst thoseyou mention," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but in short--"
"To Court?" said Sir Mungo, "that was just what I was going to say--LordDalgarno says he cannot prevail on ye to come to Court, and that does yeprejudice, my lord--the king hears of you by others, when he should seeyou in person--I speak in serious friendship, my lord. His Majesty,when you were named in the circle short while since, was heard to say,_'Jacta est alea!_--Glenvarlochides is turned dicer and drinker.'--MyLord Dalgarno took your part, and he was e'en borne down by the popularvoice of the courtiers, who spoke of you as one who had betaken yourselfto living a town life, and risking your baron's coronet amongst theflatcaps of the city."
"And this was publicly spoken of me," said Nigel, "and in the king'spresence?"
"Spoken openly?" repeated Sir Mungo Malagrowther; "ay, by my trothwas it--that is to say, it was whispered privately--whilk is as openpromulgation as the thing permitted; for ye may think the Court is notlike a place where men are as sib as Simmie and his brother, and roarout their minds as if they were at an ordinary."
"A curse on the Court and the ordinary both!" cried Nigel, impatiently.
"With all my heart," said the knight; "I have got little by a knight'sservice in the Court; and the last time I was at the ordinary, I lostfour angels."
"May I pray of you, Sir Mungo, to let me know," said Nigel, "the namesof those who thus make free with the character of one who can be butlittle known to them, and who never injured any of them?"
"Have I not told you already," answered Sir Mungo, "that the king saidsomething to that effect--so did the Prince too;--and such being thecase, ye may take it on your corporal oath, that every man in the circlewho was not silent, sung the same song as they did."
"You said but now," replied Glenvarloch, "that Lord Dalgarno interferedin my behalf."
"In good troth did he," answered Sir Mungo, with a sneer; "but the youngnobleman was soon borne down--by token, he had something of a catarrh,and spoke as hoarse as a roopit raven. Poor gentleman, if he had had hisfull extent of voice, he would have been as well listened to, dootless,as in a cause of his ain, whilk no man kens better how to plead topurpose.--And let me ask you, by the way," continued Sir Mungo, "whetherLord Dalgarno has ever introduced your lordship to the Prince, or theDuke of Buckingham, either of whom might soon carry through your suit?"
"I have no claim on the favour of either the Prince or the Duke ofBuckingham," said Lord Glenvarloch.--"As you seem to have made myaffairs your study, Sir Mungo, although perhaps something unnecessarily,you may have heard that I have petitioned my Sovereign for payment of adebt due to my family. I cannot doubt the king's desire to do justice,nor can I in decency employ the solicitation of his Highness the Prince,or his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, to obtain from his Majesty whateither should be granted me as a right, or refused altogether."
Sir Mungo twisted his whimsical features into one of his most grotesquesneers, as he replied--
"It is a vera clear and parspicuous position of the case, my lord; andin relying thereupon, you show an absolute and unimprovable acquaintancewith the King, Court, and mankind in general.-But whom have we gothere?--Stand up, my lord, and make way--by my word of honour, they arethe very men we spoke of--talk of the devil, and--humph!"
It must be here premised, that, during the conversation, LordGlenvarloch, perhaps in the hope of shaking himself free of Sir Mungo,had directed their walk towards the more frequented part of the Park;while the good knight had stuck to him, being totally indifferent whichway they went, provided he could keep his talons clutched upon hiscompanion. They were still, however, at some distance from the livelierpart of the scene, when Sir Mungo's experienced eye noticed theappearances which occasioned the latter part of his speech to LordGlenvarloch. A low respectful murmur arose among the numerous groups ofpersons which occupied the lower part of the Park. They first clusteredtogether, with their faces turned towards Whitehall, then fell backon either hand to give place to a splendid party of gallants, who,advancing from the Palace, came onward
through the Park; all the othercompany drawing off the pathway, and standing uncovered as they passed.
Most of these courtly gallants were dressed in the garb which thepencil of Vandyke has made familiar even at the distance of nearly twocenturies; and which was just at this period beginning to supersedethe more fluttering and frivolous dress which had been adopted from theFrench Court of Henri Quatre.
The whole train were uncovered excepting the Prince of Wales, afterwardsthe most unfortunate of British monarchs, who came onward, having hislong curled auburn tresses, and his countenance, which, even in earlyyouth, bore a shade of anticipated melancholy, shaded by the Spanish hatand the single ostrich feather which drooped from it. On his righthand was Buckingham, whose commanding, and at the same time graceful,deportment, threw almost into shade the personal demeanour and majestyof the Prince on whom he attended. The eye, movements, and gesturesof the great courtier were so composed, so regularly observant of alletiquette belonging to his situation, as to form a marked and strongcontrast with the forward gaiety and frivolity by which he recommendedhimself to the favour of his "dear dad and gossip," King James. Asingular fate attended this accomplished courtier, in being at oncethe reigning favourite of a father and son so very opposite in manners,that, to ingratiate himself with the youthful Prince, he was obligedto compress within the strictest limits of respectful observance thefrolicsome and free humour which captivated his aged father.
It is true, Buckingham well knew the different dispositions both ofJames and Charles, and had no difficulty in so conducting himself asto maintain the highest post in the favour of both. It has indeed beensupposed, as we before hinted, that the duke, when he had completelypossessed himself of the affections of Charles, retained his hold inthose of the father only by the tyranny of custom; and that James,could he have brought himself to form a vigorous resolution, was, inthe latter years of his life especially, not unlikely to have discardedBuckingham from his counsels and favour. But if ever the king indeedmeditated such a change, he was too timid, and too much accustomed tothe influence which the duke had long exercised over him, to summon upresolution enough for effecting such a purpose; and at all events itis certain, that Buckingham, though surviving the master by whom he wasraised, had the rare chance to experience no wane of the most splendidcourt-favour during two reigns, until it was at once eclipsed in hisblood by the dagger of his assassin Felton.
To return from this digression: The Prince, with his train, advanced,and were near the place where Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo had stoodaside, according to form, in order to give the Prince passage, andto pay the usual marks of respect. Nigel could now remark that LordDalgarno walked close behind the Duke of Buckingham, and, as he thought,whispered something in his ear as they came onward. At any rate, boththe Prince's and Duke of Buckingham's attention seemed to be directedby such circumstance towards Nigel, for they turned their heads in thatdirection and looked at him attentively--the Prince with a countenance,the grave, melancholy expression of which was blended with severity;while Buckingham's looks evinced some degree of scornful triumph.Lord Dalgarno did not seem to observe his friend, perhaps because thesunbeams fell from the side of the walk on which Nigel stood, obligingMalcolm to hold up his hat to screen his eyes.
As the Prince passed, Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo bowed, as respectrequired; and the Prince, returning their obeisance with that graveceremony which paid to every rank its due, but not a tittle beyondit, signed to Sir Mungo to come forward. Commencing an apology for hislameness as he started, which he had just completed as his hobbling gaitbrought him up to the Prince, Sir Mungo lent an attentive, and, as itseemed, an intelligent ear, to questions, asked in a tone so low, thatthe knight would certainly have been deaf to them had they been put tohim by any one under the rank of Prince of Wales. After about a minute'sconversation, the Prince bestowed on Nigel the embarrassing notice ofanother fixed look, touched his hat slightly to Sir Mungo, and walkedon.
"It is even as I suspected, my lord," said Sir Mungo, with an airwhich he designed to be melancholy and sympathetic, but which, infact, resembled the grin of an ape when he has mouthed a scaldingchestnut--"Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, unfriends--or, to beplain, enemies--about the person of the Prince."
"I am sorry to hear it," said Nigel; "but I would I knew what theyaccuse me of."
"Ye shall hear, my lord," said Sir Mungo, "the Prince's vera words--'SirMungo,' said he, 'I rejoice to see you, and am glad your rheumatictroubles permit you to come hither for exercise.'--I bowed, as in dutybound--ye might remark, my lord, that I did so, whilk formed the firstbranch of our conversation.--His Highness then demanded of me, 'if hewith whom I stood, was the young Lord Glenvarloch.' I answered, 'thatyou were such, for his Highness's service;' whilk was the secondbranch.--Thirdly, his Highness, resuming the argument, said, that 'trulyhe had been told so,' (meaning that he had been told you were thatpersonage,) 'but that he could not believe, that the heir of that nobleand decayed house could be leading an idle, scandalous, and precariouslife, in the eating-houses and taverns of London, while the king'sdrums were beating, and colours flying in Germany in the cause of thePalatine, his son-in-law.'--I could, your lordship is aware, do nothingbut make an obeisance; and a gracious 'Give ye good-day, Sir MungoMalagrowther,' licensed me to fall back to your lordship. And now,my lord, if your business or pleasure calls you to the ordinary,or anywhere in the direction of the city--why, have with you; for,dootless, ye will think ye have tarried lang enough in the Park, as theywill likely turn at the head of the walk, and return this way--and youhave a broad hint, I think, not to cross the Prince's presence in ahurry."
"_You_ may stay or go as you please, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, with anexpression of calm, but deep resentment; "but, for my own part, myresolution is taken. I will quit this public walk for pleasure of noman--still less will I quit it like one unworthy to be seen in places ofpublic resort. I trust that the Prince and his retinue will return thisway as you expect; for I will abide, Sir Mungo, and beard them."
"Beard them!" exclaimed Sir Mungo, in the extremity of surprise,--"Beardthe Prince of Wales--the heir-apparent of the kingdoms!--By my saul, youshall beard him yourself then."
Accordingly, he was about to leave Nigel very hastily, when someunwonted touch of good-natured interest in his youth and experience,seemed suddenly to soften his habitual cynicism.
"The devil is in me for an auld fule!" said Sir Mungo; "but I mustneeds concern mysell--I that owe so little either to fortune ormy fellow-creatures, must, I say, needs concern mysell--with thisspringald, whom I will warrant to be as obstinate as a pig possessedwith a devil, for it's the cast of his family; and yet I maun e'enfling away some sound advice on him.--My dainty young Lord Glenvarloch,understand me distinctly, for this is no bairn's-play. When the Princesaid sae much to me as I have repeated to you, it was equivalent toa command not to appear in his presence; wherefore take an auld man'sadvice that wishes you weel, and maybe a wee thing better than he hasreason to wish ony body. Jouk, and let the jaw gae by, like a cannybairn--gang hame to your lodgings, keep your foot frae taverns, and yourfingers frae the dice-box; compound your affairs quietly wi' some anethat has better favour than yours about Court, and you will get a roundspell of money to carry you to Germany, or elsewhere, to push yourfortune. It was a fortunate soldier that made your family four or fivehundred years syne, and, if you are brave and fortunate, you may findthe way to repair it. But, take my word for it, that in this Court youwill never thrive."
When Sir Mungo had completed his exhortation, in which there was more ofsincere sympathy with another's situation, than he had been heretoforeknown to express in behalf of any one, Lord Glenvarloch replied, "I amobliged to you, Sir Mungo--you have spoken, I think, with sincerity, andI thank you. But in return for your good advice, I heartily entreat youto leave me; I observe the Prince and his train are returning down thewalk, and you may prejudice yourself, but cannot help me, by remainingwith me."
"And that is true,"--
said Sir Mungo; "yet, were I ten years younger,I would be tempted to stand by you, and gie them the meeting. But atthreescore and upward, men's courage turns cauldrife; and they thatcanna win a living, must not endanger the small sustenance of theirage. I wish you weel through, my lord, but it is an unequal fight." Sosaying, he turned and limped away; often looking back, however, as ifhis natural spirit, even in its present subdued state, aided by hislove of contradiction and of debate, rendered him unwilling to adopt thecourse necessary for his own security.
Thus abandoned by his companion, whose departure he graced with betterthoughts of him than those which he bestowed on his appearance, Nigelremained with his arms folded, and reclining against a solitary treewhich overhung the path, making up his mind to encounter a moment whichhe expected to be critical of his fate. But he was mistaken in supposingthat the Prince of Wales would either address him, or admit him toexpostulation, in such a public place as the Park. He did not remainunnoticed, however, for, when he made a respectful but haughtyobeisance, intimating in look and manner that he was possessed of, andundaunted by, the unfavourable opinion which the Prince had so latelyexpressed, Charles returned his reverence with such a frown, as is onlygiven by those whose frown is authority and decision. The train passedon, the Duke of Buckingham not even appearing to see Lord Glenvarloch;while Lord Dalgarno, though no longer incommoded by the sunbeams, kepthis eyes, which had perhaps been dazzled by their former splendour, bentupon the ground.
Lord Glenvarloch had difficulty to restrain an indignation, to which,in the circumstances, it would have been madness to have given vent. Hestarted from his reclining posture, and followed the Prince's train soas to keep them distinctly in sight; which was very easy, as they walkedslowly. Nigel observed them keep their road towards the Palace, wherethe Prince turned at the gate and bowed to the noblemen in attendance,in token of dismissing them, and entered the Palace, accompanied only bythe Duke of Buckingham, and one or two of his equerries. The rest ofthe train, having returned in all dutiful humility the farewell of thePrince, began to disperse themselves through the Park.
All this was carefully noticed by Lord Glenvarloch, who, as he adjustedhis cloak, and drew his sword-belt round so as to bring the hilt closerto his hand, muttered--"Dalgarno shall explain all this to me, for it isevident that he is in the secret!"