CHAPTER VII.
THE GREAT QUESTION.
Neither were the arguments of Mrs. Roden nor the adhesion of Mrs.Vincent of any power in persuading George Roden. He answered hismother gently, kindly, but very firmly. Had anything, he said, beennecessary to strengthen his own feeling, it would have been found inhis mother's determination to keep his old name. "Surely, mother, ifI may say so without disrespect, what is sauce for the goose is saucefor the gander." At this the mother smiled, kissing her son to showthat the argument had been taken in good part. "In this matter," hecontinued, "we certainly are in a boat together. If I am a Duke youwould be a Duchess. If I am doomed to make an ape of myself at thePost Office, you must be equally ridiculous in Paradise Row,--unlessyou are prepared to go back to Italy and live your life there."
"And you?"
"I could not live there. How could I earn my bread there? How couldI pass my days so as to be in any degree useful? What could be moremean? My uncle, though he has been civil, and to a certain degreegenerous, would be specially anxious not to see me in public life.You and I together would have just means enough for existence. Ishould be doomed to walk about the streets of some third-rate Italiantown, and call myself by my grand name. Would a life like thatsatisfy your ambition on my behalf?" Then she thought of the girl whowas in love with him, of the friends whom he had made for himself, ofthe character which belonged to him, and she was driven to confessthat, by whatever name he might be called, he must continue to livean Englishman's life, and to live in England. Nevertheless, she toldherself that the title would not be abolished, because it might be inabeyance. She might, she thought, still live to hear her son calledby the name of which she herself had been proud till she had becomethoroughly ashamed of the husband who had given it to her.
But there were others besides Crocker and Mrs. Vincent, and hismother and Sir Boreas, who were much interested by George Roden'scondition. Mrs. Roden returned home on the 2nd of March, and, as maybe remembered, the tidings respecting her son had reached Englandbefore she came. By the end of the month many persons were muchexercised as to the young man's future name, and some people ofhigh rank had not only discussed the subject at great length, buthad written numerous letters concerning it. It was manifest to LadyPersiflage that no further attempt should now be made to throwobstacles in the way of Lady Frances and her lover. Lady Persiflagehad never believed in the obstacles from the first. "Of coursethey'll marry," she had said to her one daughter, who was now almostas good as married herself, and equally trustworthy. "When a girlis determined like that, of course nothing will stop her. My sistershouldn't have let her meet the young man at first." But this hadbeen said before the young man had turned out to be an Italian Duke.Since the news had come Lady Persiflage had been very eager inrecommending her sister to discontinue the opposition. "Make the mostof him," she had said in one of her letters. "It is all that can bedone now. It is a fine name, and though Italian titles do not countlike ours, yet, when they are as good as this, they go for a gooddeal. There are real records of the Di Crinola family, and there isno manner of doubt but that he is the head of them. Take him by thehand, and have him down at Trafford if Kingsbury is well enough. Theytell me he is quite presentable, with a good figure and all that;--byno means a young man who will stand shivering in a room because hedoesn't know how to utter a word. Had he been like that Fanny wouldnever have set her heart upon him. Persiflage has been talking abouthim, and he says that something will be sure to turn up if he isbrought forward properly, and is not ashamed of his family name.Persiflage will do whatever he can, but that can only be if you willopen your arms to him." Lady Kingsbury did feel that she was calledupon to undergo a terrible revulsion of sentiment. Opening her armsto the Duca di Crinola might be possible to her. But how was she toopen her arms to Lady Frances Trafford? The man whom she had seen butonce might appear before her with his new title as a young noblemanof whose antecedents she was not bound to remember anything. Shemight seem to regard him as a new arrival, a noble suitor for herstepdaughter's hand, of whom she had not before heard. But how wasshe to receive Fanny Trafford, the girl whom she had locked up atKoenigsgraaf, whose letters she had stopped as they came from the PostOffice? Nevertheless she consented,--as far at least as her sisterwas concerned. "I shall never like Fanny," she had said, "because sheis so sly." Girls are always called sly by their friends who want toabuse them. "But of course I will have them both here, as you thinkit will be best. What they are to live upon Heaven only knows. But ofcourse that will be no concern of mine."
As a first result of this Lady Persiflage asked George Roden down toCastle Hautboy for the Easter holidays. There was a difficulty aboutthis. How was he to be addressed? Hampstead was consulted, and he,though he was not much in heart just then for the arrangement of sucha matter, advised that for the present his friend's old name shouldbe used. Lady Persiflage therefore wrote to--George Roden, Esq., atthe General Post Office. In this letter it was signified that LordPersiflage was very anxious to make the acquaintance of--Mr. Roden.Lady Persiflage was also very anxious. Lady Persiflage explained thatshe was aware of,--Well! Lady Frances Trafford was to be at CastleHautboy, and that she thought might act as an inducement to--Mr.Roden. The letter was very cleverly managed.
Though it never once mentioned the grand title it made allusionswhich implied that the real rank of the Post Office clerk was wellknown to every one at Castle Hautboy. And though nothing of coursewas said as to any possible relations between Lord Persiflage asa member of the British Cabinet and the clerk's uncle as a memberof the Italian Cabinet, nevertheless as to this also there wereallusions which were intelligible. This letter was altogether verygracious,--such a one as few young men would be able to resist comingfrom such a person as Lady Persiflage. But the special offer whichprevailed with our Post Office clerk was no doubt the promise of thepresence of Fanny Trafford. In all the rest, gracious as the wordswere, there was nothing but trouble for him. It was clear enoughto him that Lady Persiflage was on the same side as Crocker. LadyPersiflage would no doubt prefer a Duca di Crinola to a Post Officeclerk for Lady Frances. And he could see also that the Secretary ofState for Foreign Affairs was on the same side. The Secretary ofState would not have expressed a special desire to see him, the PostOffice clerk, at Castle Hautboy, and have, as it were, welcomed himto the possession of his brother-in-law's daughter, had nothing beentold of the Duca di Crinola. He heard as much from Lord Hampstead,who advised him to go to Castle Hautboy, and make himself acquaintedwith Fanny's family friends. It was all manifest. And as it was allbeing done in opposition to his own firm resolution, he would nothave gone,--but that the temptation was too great for him. FannyTrafford would be there,--and he was quite open to the charm of theoffer which was almost being made to him of Lady Fanny's hand. Hearranged the matter at the office, and wrote to Lady Persiflageaccepting the invitation.
"So you're going to Castle Hautboy?" said Crocker to him. Crocker wasin torments at the time. He had been made to understand that he wouldbe doing quite wrong in calling the Duca "Your Grace." Roden, if aDuke at all, could be only an Italian Duke--and not on that account"Your Grace." This had been explained by Bobbin, and had disturbedhim. The title "Duca" was still open to him; but he feared Roden'swrath if he should use it too freely.
"How do you know?" asked Roden.
"I have been there myself, you know;--and am in the habit of hearingfrom Castle Hautboy." His father was agent on the property, and ofcourse he heard tidings, if not from his father, at any rate from hissisters.
"Yes; I am going to Castle Hautboy."
"Hampstead will be there probably. I met Hampstead there. A man inLord Persiflage's position will, of course, be delighted to welcomethe--the--Duca di Crinola." He shrank as though he feared that Rodenwould strike him--but he uttered the words.
"Of course, if you choose to annoy me, I cannot well help myself,"said Roden as he left the room.
On his first arrival at the Castle things were allowed to go quietlyw
ith him. Every one called him "Mr. Roden." Lady Persiflage receivedhim very graciously. Lady Frances was in the house, and her name wasmentioned to him with the whispered intimacy which on such occasionsindicates the triumph of the man's position. She made no allusioneither to his rank or to his office, but treated him just as shemight have done any other suitor,--which was exactly what he wanted.Lord Llwddythlw had come down for his Easter holidays of two days,and was very civil to him. Lady Amaldina was delighted to make hisacquaintance, and within three minutes was calling upon him topromise that he would not get himself married before August inconsideration for her bevy. "If I was to lose Fanny now," she said,"I really think I should give it up altogether." Then before dinnerhe was allowed to find himself alone with Fanny, and for the firsttime in his life felt that his engagement was an acknowledged thing.
All this was made very pleasant to him by the occasional use ofhis proper name. He had been almost ashamed of himself because ofthe embarrassment which his supposed title had occasioned him. Hefelt that he had thought of the matter more than it was worth. Theannoyances of Crocker had been abominable to him. It was not likelythat he should encounter a second Crocker, but still he dreaded hehardly knew what. It certainly was not probable that these people atCastle Hautboy should call him by a name he had never used withoutconsulting him. But still he had dreaded something, and was gratifiedthat the trouble seemed to pass by him easily. Lady Persiflage andLady Amaldina had both used his legitimate name, and Lord Llwddythlwhad called him nothing at all. If he could only be allowed to goaway just as he had come, without an allusion from any one to theDi Crinola family, then he should think that the people at CastleHautboy were very well-bred. But he feared that this was almost toomuch to hope. He did not see Lord Persiflage till a moment beforedinner, when he specially remarked that he was introduced as Mr.Roden. "Very glad to see you, Mr. Roden. I hope you're fond ofscenery. We're supposed to have the finest view in England from thetop of the tower. I have no doubt my daughter will show it you. Ican't say that I ever saw it myself. Beautiful scenery is all verywell when you are travelling, but nobody ever cares for it at home."Thus Lord Persiflage had done his courtesy to the stranger, and theconversation became general, as though the stranger were a strangerno longer. When Roden found that he was allowed to give his arm toLady Frances, and go out and eat his dinner quietly and comfortablywithout any reference to the peculiarity of his position, he thoughtthat perhaps no further troubles were in store for him.
The whole of the next day was devoted to the charms of love andscenery. The spring weather was delightful, and Roden was allowed toramble about where he pleased with Lady Frances. Every one about theplace regarded him as an accepted and recognized lover. As he hadnever been in truth accepted by one of the family except by the girlherself;--as the Marquis had not condescended even to see him whenhe had come, but had sent Mr. Greenwood to reject him scornfully;as the Marchioness had treated him as below contempt; as even hisown friend Lord Hampstead had declared that the difficulties wouldbe insuperable, this sudden cessation of all impediments did seemto be delightfully miraculous. Assent on the part of Lord and LadyPersiflage would, he understood, be quite as serviceable as that ofLord and Lady Kingsbury. Something had occurred which, in the eyes ofall the family, had lifted him up as it were out of the gutter andplaced him on a grand pedestal. There could be no doubt as to thissomething. It was all done because he was supposed to be an Italiannobleman. And yet he was not an Italian nobleman; nor would he allowany one to call him so, as far as it might be in his power to preventit.
His visit was limited to two entire days. One was passed amidst allthe sweets of love-making. With the pleasures of that no allusionswere allowed to interfere. On the following morning he found himselfalone with Lord Persiflage after breakfast. "Delighted to have hadyou down here, you know," began his lordship. To this Roden simplybowed. "I haven't the pleasure of knowing your uncle personally, butthere isn't a man in Europe for whom I have a higher respect." AgainRoden bowed. "I've heard all about this romance of yours from D'Ossi.You know D'Ossi?" Roden declared that he had not the honour ofknowing the Italian Minister. "Ah; well, you must know D'Ossi, ofcourse. I won't say whether he's your countryman or not, but you mustknow him. He is your uncle's particular friend."
"It's only by accident that I know my uncle, or even learnt that hewas my uncle."
"Just so. But the accident has taken place, and the resultfortunately remains. Of course you must take your own name."
"I shall keep the name I have, Lord Persiflage."
"You will find it to be quite impossible. The Queen will not allowit." Upon hearing this Roden opened his eyes; but the Secretary ofState for Foreign Affairs looked him full in the face as though toassure him that, though he had never heard of such a thing before,such, in fact, was the truth. "Of course there will be difficulties.I'm not prepared at the present moment to advise how this should bedone. Perhaps you had better wait till Her Majesty has signified herpleasure to receive you as the Duca di Crinola. When she has done soyou will have no alternative."
"No alternative as to what I may call myself?"
"None in the least, I should say. I am thinking now in a greatmeasure as to the welfare of my own relative, Lady Frances. Somethingwill have to be done. I don't quite see my way as yet; but something,no doubt, will be done. The Duca di Crinola will, I have no doubt,find fitting employment." Then a little bell was rung, and Vivian,the private secretary, came into the room. Vivian and Roden knew eachother, and a few pleasant words were spoken; but Roden found himselfobliged to take his departure without making any further protests inregard to Her Majesty's assumed wishes.
About five o'clock that evening he was invited into a littlesitting-room belonging to Lady Persiflage up-stairs. "Haven't I beenvery good to you?" she said, laughing.
"Very good, indeed. Nothing could be so good as inviting me down hereto Castle Hautboy."
"That was done for Fanny's sake. But have I said one word to youabout your terrible name?"
"No, indeed; and now, Lady Persiflage, pray go on and be good to theend."
"Yes," she said, "I will be good to the end,--before all the peopledown-stairs. I haven't said a word of it even to Fanny. Fanny is anangel."
"According to my thinking."
"That's of course. But even an angel likes to have her proper rank.You mustn't allow yourself to suppose that even Fanny Trafford isindifferent to titles. There are things that a man may expect a girlto do for him, but there are things which cannot be expected, let herbe ever so much in love. Fanny Trafford has got to become Duchess ofCrinola."
"I am afraid that that is more than I can do for her."
"My dear Mr. Roden, it must be done. I cannot let you go away fromhere without making you understand that, as a man engaged to bemarried, you cannot drop your title. Did you intend to remain single,I cannot say how far your peculiar notions might enable you toprevail; but as you mean to marry, she, too, will have rights. Iput it to you whether it would be honest on your part to ask her toabandon the rank which she will be entitled to expect from you. Justyou think of it, Mr. Roden. And now I won't trouble you any more uponthe subject."
Not a word more was said on the subject at Castle Hautboy, and on thenext day he returned to the Post Office.