CHAPTER V
I ASSIST AT AN INTERVIEW WITH A GREAT MAN
I found the household in Essex Street in a state of perturbationwhich was soon explained. News had come that Margaret's brotherArchibald had been arrested, as Lady Jane had foreseen, and wasnow confined in Fort William. Margaret, though distressed greatly,was such an ardent Jacobite that I verily believe she would ratherhave seen her brother in some danger of losing his head than havehad him out of the business altogether.
She was neither so distressed nor elated, however, that she wasoblivious to my altered appearance, and I could see Lady Janeherself was well pleased that her Hughie should cut somewhat of afigure in the eyes of her protegee. She had a natural desire tojustify her affections.
But I simply mark this in passing; the real business in hand wasto devise some means for young Nairn's safety. This was the lessserious inasmuch as he certainly had never been in arms for thePrince, and had been prudent enough to destroy all evidence of hissecret mission--in fact, his letter informed us that the one mancapable of giving evidence against him was withheld by circumstancesso disgraceful to himself there was no danger of any direct testimonyon this point.
The position could not be more favourable, and it was only a questionof the most judicious plan of succour.
The Vicomte, though desirous of alleviating Margaret's anxiety,was debarred by his position from taking any active part, acircumstance of which I was not backward in taking advantage; forthough the late distressing revelation--I refer to my meeting withMistress Routh--prevented my making any personal advances towardsMargaret, common humanity prompted me to my utmost efforts for herrelief.
Finally it was determined that Lady Jane should obtain a privateinterview with the Duke of Newcastle, and, accompanied by Margaret,make a personal appeal, which, from Lady Jane's connections, weflattered ourselves had some hopes of success.
"Cousin," I said, "I have a proposal. Let me go with you. I amquite unknown, my accent at least is not that of a Scotchman, soI shall not in any way imperil your success, and I have had somesmall experience with my superiors which may not be without itsuse."
"Well, Hughie, I may not have the same admiration as yourself foryour accent, but I have the firmest belief in your confidence: thatwill not betray you in any strait. And I am as firm a believer inhaving a man about; they are bothersome creatures often, but havetheir uses at times. At all events, I feel safer in their company;they bring out the best in me. Yes, on the whole, I think you hadbetter come."
The following week, through the services of the Vicomte, we wereenabled to arrange for a meeting with the Duke at his house, andaccordingly one morning we took our way by coach to Lincoln's InnFields.
We were ushered into his presence with marvellously little ceremony,and found him seated at a desk covered with a litter of papersbefore a blazing fire, for it was early in January.
He did not pay the slightest attention to the announcement of ournames, beyond raising his head and saying rapidly, without evenreturning our salutation, "Yes, yes, yes; be seated, be seated,"with such a hurried, stuttering stammer that I felt reassured atonce, though I could see both my companions were somewhat overawednow they were in the presence of the Great Man.
As he kept shuffling over his papers, now reading a few words fromone, then throwing it down, and mixing a dozen others up in hopelessconfusion, now writing a bit, and then frowning and waving his pen,I felt still more assured, for it all went to show he was only anordinary human creature under all his titles and dignities, andwas no more free from little affectations than any other mortalmight be.
At length he ceased his pretence of work, for it was nothing else,and took notice of us.
"Ladies, I ask your pardon--your pardon. Yes, yes, let me see, youhave some appointment with me. Eh, what was it again? Oh, I remember,you are Lady Enderby. Yes, yes--"
"No, your Grace; I am Lady Jane Drummond; this is my ward, MissMargaret Nairn, and this my cousin, Captain Geraldine; our businessis to implore your Grace's assistance towards the release of herbrother, Captain Nairn, arrested in error, and now confined in FortWilliam."
"Awkward, eh? Mistakes like that might be very awkward--very awkwardindeed. No doubt he is one of these pestilent rebels--eh?"
"Indeed, your Grace, he has never drawn sword in the matter at all;and what is more, he is an officer in the French service, holdinghis full commission therein."
"Oh, I have no doubt he is the most innocent creature in the world!but will you explain, madam, what he was doing in Scotland justwhen the rebels happened to be in full swing--eh?"
"Indeed, your Grace, he never put foot in Scotland until thisunhappy business was ended at Culloden."
"That's a pity, now, a great pity. As the vulgar say, he came 'justa day too late for the fair.' Had he only come in time, his Majestymight have had one rebel less to deal with, and--"
But he was cut short by poor Margaret, who, unable to stand thetorture any longer, wailed out: "Oh, your Grace, do not say that!My father was buried only a few months before my brother wasarrested, and he is the only one near to me now left."
Even the abominable flippancy of the man before us was arrested bythe sight of the anguish of this dear soul, and with some approachto sensibility he said:
"There, there, my dear! We cannot mend matters now." And for someminutes he heard and questioned Lady Jane with some shew of decency,but evidently with an effort, for it was not long before he brokeout again: "How much simpler it would all be if you did not interfere,madam!"
This angered her beyond control, and she replied: "Your Grace mayhave no feeling for the sorrow that breaks the hearts of others,but this is only a case for common justice."
"You, you, you have a keen sense of justice, madam," he stammered,much nettled. "You are not wanting in courage, either; 'tis a pityyou could not have turned your talents to some account."
Poor Margaret, seeing the turn things were taking, now advanced,and throwing herself at his feet, poured forth her heart to him inentreaties with the tears running down her lovely face. At firsthe seemed much moved, and shifted himself in his chair mostuncomfortably, fairly squirming like a worm on a pin; but, to mydisappointment, I soon saw he was coming back to his usual humour,even as she was entreating--"Oh, your Grace, your Grace, he is allI have left in the world! I have been a motherless girl since Ican remember; I have been away from my father, at school for years;and my brother whom I played with, the one person whom I have prayedfor more than all others, is now in danger of his life"--and sheended in a burst of sobs.
"Oh, Your Grace, Your Grace, he is all I haveleft in the world."]
For answer he merely yawned, and said, turning to me, "What didyou say your name was--eh?"
"Geraldine, your Grace."
"Oh! No particular family, I suppose?"
"No, your Grace, of no family in particular," I answered.
"He! he! he!" cackled his Grace. "Oh, I can see farther than I getcredit for! You, you, you'll remedy that some day--eh? Miss--Miss--What did you say your name was?"
"Nairn, your Grace," answered poor Margaret, still sobbing, whileLady Jane stood glowering behind her. My gorge rose at hisheartlessness.
"Nairn. Umph! That's an evil-smelling name these days for any suchpetition," he grumbled.
Then suddenly turning to face me, "Now I suppose you had nothingto do with this barelegged rebellion?" he went on, to my dismay,but answered it himself with a self-satisfied chuckle: "But no, ofcourse not. You never would have come here if you had. No, no! Noman of sense would."
"I should think not!" snorted Lady Jane, fairly beside herself.
"Quite right, madam, quite right. You are a woman, of perspicacity,"answered his lordship, without a ruffle. Then he turned to meagain:
"And pray what did bring you here, sir?"
"Your Grace, it was at my earnest recommendation these ladies weremoved to appear in person to lay their case before the most powerfulnobleman in the Three Kingdoms. They com
e here, your Grace, not toplead, but to explain. Their explanation is now made, and they aresatisfied it is in the hands of one who is ever ready to listen tothe suit of innocence, whose whole life is a guarantee for theexercise of justice, and whose finger need but be lifted to relievethe unfortunate from unmerited disgrace."
To my surprise, he did not seem so taken with my effort as I hadhoped. Even as I was speaking he had thrown himself back in hischair, and sate resting his elbows on the arms, staring at me overhis finger-tips in the most disconcerting fashion without movinga muscle of his face. I was positively afraid to venture a wordmore under the spell of that equivocal gaze.
"Yes, yes, yes," he broke out, suddenly, drawing himself close upto his desk and seizing a pen, with which he began making slownotes on the paper before him.
"What did you say the young man's name was?" he muttered. "Oh, yes,Nairn--Archibald Nairn. Yes. Fort William--eh? French officer inactive service. And you can give me your word he was not in arms--eh?"
"I can, your Grace, without hesitation."
The moment I had spoken I saw my mistake. So did his Grace, whowheeled round on me like a flash.
"Then, sir, I take it you are in a position to know!"
My blood fairly ran cold, for I saw only too clearly his folly ofmanner was but a cloak, and that now it was quite as much a questionof myself as of Nairn.
"I am, your Grace," I answered, in my most assured tones.
"Perhaps you are able to produce a muster-roll of the rebelforces--eh, Captain Fitzgerald? That would be highly satisfactoryin more ways than one."
"Surely, your Grace, this is no laughing matter. Your Grace has myword of honour that Captain Nairn was not in Scotland until afterCulloden was fought--"
"--And lost--Captain Fitzgerald? Surely that is not the way for aloyal subject to put it."
"I cannot cross swords with your Grace," I returned, with a lowbow to cover my trepidation; "even if our positions did not makeit an impossibility, it would be too unequal a contest."
The flattery was gross, and only my apprehensions could excuse itsclumsiness, but to my intense relief it availed, and he turned tohis desk again, while I held my breath expectant of his next attack.But none came. He muttered and mumbled to himself, while we stoodstock-still, scarce venturing to look at each other, for the fateof Nairn was hanging in the balance, and a straw might turn iteither way. At length he picked up his pen and wrote rapidly fora few moments; then carefully sanding the paper he read it overslowly, still muttering and shaking his head; but at last, turningto Margaret, who all this time had remained on her knees, he handedit to her, saying:
"There, miss; take it, take it. Get married; get your brothermarried; but for Heaven's sake don't bring up any little rebels!And Captain Fitzgerald," he added, meaningly, "don't imagine Ican't see as far as other men! No thanks! No! I hate thanks, andtears--and--and--Good-morning, ladies, good-morning!" whereuponhe rose and shuffled over in front of the fire, where he stoodrubbing his hands, leaving us to bow ourselves out to a full viewof his back, which, upon my soul, was a fairer landscape than hisface--but with Margaret holding fast the order for her brother'srelease.