16 The day was near its close, and the keen, clear, easterly wind, had in the end, swept all clouds amissed from the air, leaving the features of the landscape sharp and defined, in the peculiar purple light of the evening, when a man with a brass-bound mahogany box upon his back, stopped at the door of the little hovel on the wide, wild, common, to which I have so frequently had occasion to refer. About three-quarters of an hour before, in trudging with his pack, out of the neighbouring little town, he had been passed by a post-cheese coming from the side of London, and on turning his head he had seen that it contained only a single traveller, a handsome and fashionably dressed young man, with a complexion considerably darker than is usually found amongst an Englishman. The peddler very naturally concluded that the stranger was nothing to him, nor he to the stranger, and that he should never behold his face again. And trudging upon his way, over the common, he turned a few steps aside to see if the inhabitants of the hovel, who had more than once purchased bodkins and needles and such little articles of him, would now be tempted by any of his wares. Peddlers, although by continual traffering with every different variety of human beings, they usually acquire a great deal of shrewdness, not to say cunning, may be deceived in their calculations as well as other people, and it proved so in the present case. He knocked at the door of the cottage, and then shook it, saying to himself, The old woman's in one of her moping fits, I dare say. But still he received no answer, and then going to the little window he tried to look in. There was a board up in the inside, however, which effectually prevented him from seeing, and he was about to turn away when he perceived a tall figure advancing towards him from the side of the high road. Now the peddler was a stout, broad-shouldered, clean-limbed man of about fifty years of age, and having passed the greater part of his life in hardy exercise, he was a match for most men in point of strength. But having had occasion more than once to fight for the worldly goods and chattels which he carried on his back, he always cast a suspicious eye towards anyone who approached him hastily, which was the case with the stranger, and therefore, unslinging his pack, he put it down behind him that he might have his right to arm more at liberty for the exercise of the stout, open staff with which it was armed. At the moment when he first perceived the figure advancing towards him, it was coming up between the high sandy banks through which a little rivulet flowed, and the evening sun cast a deep shadow upon it. The instant after, however, it emerged into the broad light, and the whole dress and appearance removed at once anything like apprehension which he had previously felt. Another minute showed him the face which he had seen in the post-shays, and, touching his hat, he replaced his box upon his shoulders in order to walk away with it, when he saw the stranger approach the door of the hovel and knock for admission. "'There's no one in there, sir,' said the peddler, in a civil tone. "'They are all gone, poor people, I suppose. Perhaps the old lady is dead, for she was in a failing sort of way when last I passed.' "'No, she is not dead,' replied the stranger. "'But it is probable a friend of mine, who took an interest in her, has provided for her more comfortably than she could be here. I did not think he would have been so rapid in his proceedings, or I might have spared myself a journey. I wonder where the boy is, who I hear was with her. Are you sure he is not in the cottage?' "'He is not there, sir.  "'He's a good boy, and was very kind to the poor woman, though the people said they were not relations, and indeed I always thought she must have been a gentle woman at one time.' "'You were not far wrong,' replied Henry Haley, for he it was. "'I suppose you are well acquainted with the country around,' he continued, turning away from the hovel and walking on by the peddler's side towards the high road. "'I know every inch of it,' answered the man, for fifty miles round and more, and many another part of the country besides. I have spent more than twenty years of my life in wandering about with my pack on my back, so there is hardly a cottage in the counties I travel that I do not know. "'Perhaps, then, you can tell me my best way to the house of a farmer named Graves,' said Henry Haley. "'I think it is some six or seven miles off.' "'I can tell you the way well enough, sir,' replied the man, but I doubt with all my telling that you'll find it, for you see it lies on the other road, and the cross-country lanes are rather crooked. "'Can you show me the way?' asked Henry again. "'I shall be inclined to pay you well for your trouble.' The man hesitated for a moment, but then replied, "'I may as well go that way as another, though it is out of my regular beat. But is it the old man or the young one you want to see, sir?' "'The old one, I think,' replied Henry, "'what is his age?' "'Oh, he is well nigh upon seventy,' replied the peddler, "'and a strange old man, too. I don't know whether he'll be civil to you, but he's not to most people, though he's a kind old man at bottom, I hear. He had some troubles when he was younger, and that has made him very cross ever since. But we had better cut across the common here, for it lies away there, to the westward.' Henry turned according to his guide's directions, and followed him for some little way in silence. But at length he said, "'What troubles were they that you alluded to just now, as having befallen the old man?' "'Troubles that the rich sometimes bring upon the poor, sir,' answered the peddler. "'Just about the time when I first took to this trade, I remember him as a finer-looking man of forty-three or forty-four as any in the whole country, and as gay and light-hearted, too. He had then two children, a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, and this young man who now holds the great farm. He was not about fourteen then, and the girl was the prettiest creature I ever saw in my life, and quite like a lady. Poor Mary Graves, I shan't forget her in a hurry. When she fell in love, one unlucky day, with a gentleman who came down into these parts from London, a rich merchant they said he was. He did not behave well by the old man, though not so bad as they said at first, but he coaxed the girl to go away with him, without her father's knowledge, and for a long time Farmer Graves thought he had seduced her, and it well nigh broke his heart. In the end, however, he found that they were really married, but she died with her first child, poor thing, and the old man has never got over it. "'Poor man,' said Henry, in a very grave tone. It is a sad tale, indeed. Did his daughter's husband never do anything to compensate for the pain he had inflicted? There are some things, sir,' said the peddler, for which there is no compensation. He could not give him back his child again. He could not wipe out a long year of misery during which the old man was ruined and dishonoured. He could never make his mind what it was before. Nor take out of his heart or the bitterness he had planted there. I have heard, indeed, that he did offer to do a great deal which Farmer Graves would not accept of, and the people say that it was through him that the young man was enabled to take this great farm he now holds, and to stock it. They never knew rightly who he really was, for they say the name he was married under was a famed one, and all they could find out was that he was a great merchant in London. For the child was put out to nurse for some time, and then the father came suddenly and took it away, and nothing more was ever heard of it, by the family at least. Henry Haley fell into deep thought, and the reader acquainted with the early part of his history, may easily conceive the nature of his meditation. After a time, however, as they walked on, he resumed the conversation with his companion, but changed the subject entirely, talking of the state of the country and the condition of the country people, of the residents in the neighbourhood, and of the curious state of wandering commerce by which his companion gained his livelihood. He found him a shrewd, intelligent man who was evidently accustomed during the solitary hours he passed in proceeding from place to place, to think a great deal and deeply of the many different things that came to his knowledge in his travels over the face of the country. It seemed that while disposing of his wares he gained in exchange not only money, but the history of those with whom he dealt, and that in journeying onwards he turned over and over in thought all the little facts he had acquired, or the scenes that he had witnessed, reasoning upon them with great acuteness and good sense, so that he was ever ready to comment with a degree of caustic precision, unusual in the small trader of a town, who has little leisure for any thoughts unconnected with his business. Curiosity of course was one trait in his character, and he did not fail to make sundry efforts to learn more of his companion, and to discover what could be his business with old farmer graves. Henry however set all questions at defiance, and in the end the peddler, seeing that it was in vain to inquire, gave up his efforts in despair. "'That is a poor looking house,' said Henry, as they were approaching the opposite side of the common. It seems hardly fit for the habitation of a human being. Has it any occupants now?' "'No, sir, none at present,' replied his companion. "'It is a poor place, surely, and yet it is better than it was a twelve-month ago. For the gentleman who lives in the large house on the hill there, you cannot see it for the trees, had the thatch mended. He does not think like a great many of the gentlemen about, and sets to work in a different way with the poor. "'It answers pretty well,' sometimes, and did in the instance of the lad who lived here. "'How is that?' asked the young wanderer. "'I should like to have an example of his way of dealing with the poor. The subject is a very interesting one.' "'Why, sir, it was this way,' answered the peddler. I had it from the gamekeeper who was with him when it all happened, and he's an honest fellow, so I'm sure the story's true.' "'Mr. Payne, the gentleman who lives up there, was coming home from shooting one day last October. He's very fond of shooting, and as he was crossing this bit of the common about the time of sunset with his two keepers, he saw this hut and looked up at it. I must tell you, it was raining as hard as it could pour, and blowing fit to freeze one. So he said to the headkeeper, I suppose nobody lives in that place. "'I beg your pardon, sir,' said the keeper, "'but there does.' And then he told him all about it. There was a poor lad who had lived in the parish a good many years, an orphan, and as he had neither father nor mother to look after him.  That was Billy Small's first misfortune. The people pitted him a little, and some of the farmers gave him a bit of work to do, from time to time. But Bill was idle, and Bill was wild. And he got turned off here, and he got turned off there, and in the end everybody abused him, and would have nothing to do with him. Well, to make matters worse, when he was half starved himself, he must needs have someone to starve with him. And so he married a poor girl who had worked in the same fields with him. And you may guess what a to-do there was in the parish. I believed they'd have hanged him for it if they could have but proved that the marriage was a felony. He tried to get work, and his wife tried, but no one would have anything to say to him, though he promised hard to do better. They all said he was lazy and idle, which was true enough, and they said his wife was as bad, which might be true too, for ought I know. But however the two poor things went from bad to worse, till they took refuge in that hovel we passed just now. The boy said he would not go into the house to be separated from his wife, and there they lived, or I should say, there they were dying, when Mr. Payne passed. The keeper told him how terribly they were off, and that they were both ill of pure starvation and want of covering. Well, the gentleman said he would go in and see with his own eyes, and he found them, the boy, and the girl, and their baby, all crouched up together on some straw, with nothing on earth to cover them during the night, but the rags they had on during the day. As half the thatch was off the rain was pouring in at the other end of the hut, and the wind blowing through at all quarters. The lad had just had a fit of some kind, brought on the doctor afterwards said, by privation, and the girl was bathed in tears, thinking he was going to die. Well Mr. Payne is not a bad hearted man, as gentlemen go, and he was very sorry to see them in such a state. He had some sandwiches in his pocket, and some sherry and water in a bottle, and that made them the best meal they had had for many a day. He stayed and talked with them, too, for an hour or more, and though he did not promise them much, yet he spoke to them kindly, and did not throw in the lad's teeth all the foolish things he had done, but asked him if he were well again, and work were given him, whether he would be steady and industrious. The lad looked at his little wife and said with tears in his eyes that he would try, and that he was sure that nobody would take him, for he had asked for employment everywhere in vain. Then Mr. Payne told him not to be down-hearted, for that when he was well enough to work, he would give a stray job or two and try him, and in the meantime the girl might come down to the house for some soup and bread. Hopes are good medicines, sir, and that he left them, and as he went home he thought how he might do them good, and that very night he sent for two of the farmers who were guardians of the poor, and talked to them about the young man. At first they were very hard about it, and called William all sorts of names for marrying when he had no means of supporting himself, and worse still for not coming into the work-house, and they declared that if people would but let him alone and not help him, he would soon be starved out of his obstinacy. Mr. Payne thought differently, however. He said he believed there were many people who would rather die of starvation and go in, and as to his marriage, he said, though it was certainly a very foolish thing, yet he had already been punished more than enough for what was no crime after all. And he told them too, that he thought from what he had seen of the lad, it would do him good rather than harm, for that he would work more steadily now that he had somebody to work for, than he had ever done before. What he said made no impression on one of the farmers, but the other seemed to think there might be some truth in it, and promised if the lad got well to give him a trial. Mr. Payne took care that he should get well, for all that he and the poor girl wanted was food and covering, and a very little medicine. And Mr. Payne sent his own doctor to him, and had the thatch mended, and sent them soup and bread every day. And now an' then some meat, not much indeed, for he afterwards told the keeper that the whole did not cost five pounds. Nevertheless it was quite enough, for William got strong and hearty again, and so did his wife, and the baby, which was but a little bag of bones, throw wonderfully. It is strange what fine, hardy babies starving people will have sometimes. A rich man's child would have been killed by one half, what that little thing went through. But to cut my story short, sir, when they were all well again, and had some clothes given to them, flannel petticoats and jackets and things that Mrs. Payne keeps for the poor, they turned out very tidy, and Mr. Payne first tried the lad himself to work a bit in his garden, though he did not want him, but just for a trial like, and when he had satisfied himself that the lad was inclined to do well, he put farmer Slade in mind of his promise. The farmer was very willing, when he found all her gone right, and took him upon the farm as a labourer. He has been well nice six months at it now, and everyone says that there is not a more industrious, clever lad in all the place, and things have changed with him altogether, for he has gone down to live in one of the nice little cottages by the farm, for which he pays a shilling a week quite regular, and they have contrived to pick up a good lot of furniture, part of which he made for himself, by the way, for he is not a bad hand at carpentering, and his wife's always neat and tidy, and so is the baby. The girl told me herself that she got all their clothes and such things by her own work in picking and towing, that Bill might be able to save a little out of his wages in case another rainy day should come. But I don't think it will, sir, for if they go on as they are going, they will make sunshine for themselves. Father Petler was telling his story, the truth of every word of which the author has had an opportunity of ascertaining. He had led the way up the slope of a little hill, and Henry Haley turned round to take another look at the miserable hovel which had given rise to the narrative, and which was now about a quarter of a mile behind them. Either my eyes deceived me, he said, or you are mistaken in saying that the place is uninhabited. There is smoke rising up out of it, don't you see?  There used to be good fish in that pond, it belongs to Mr. Payne. As he spoke the figure of another man appeared at the door of the hut, and they could hear a low whistle which apparently caused the man at the pond to turn round and walk quickly towards the hut. We have better get on it, sir, said the Petler. There are some bad sort of folks down here just now, and there's no knowing what they may do. What have they been doing? asked Henry, walking on as he led. Oh, thieving and sheep-stealing and poaching and all manner of things, replied the Petler. The people in London are at the bottom of it all, for these men would not dare to go on as they do if they could not easily and quickly dispose of what they steal. They were once caught by a cunning contrivance, and that stopped them for a long time. How was that affected? asked Henry. Why, you see, sir, replied the man. The way they carried on their trade was this. They went into a field, killed half a dozen sheep or so, skinned them upon the spot, and left the head, skin and feet in the field. Then upon the commons, you know, there's a great number of donkeys, while they used to gather them all together, or as many as they wanted, put the mutton on their backs and drive them away ten or twelve miles to market. They found plenty of butchers ready to buy the carcasses, without asking where they came from, just as men buy game nowadays. However, a man who had a donkey on the common found that every now and then he lost him for a whole day, and sometimes when he came back home his back was bloody, and that roused suspicions as to how the stolen sheep were disposed of. For a long time they could not trap them, but at last a shrewd old fellow fell upon a plan, and getting the asses all together one night, they stuffed their hoofs with a compound of red ochre, and something else to make it stiff, and then turned them loose, well knowing they would not go very far before morning. The next day ten or twelve of the donkeys were missing, and a whole heap of people set out upon the track, for there were plenty of marks of red ochre near the field, where some sheep had been stolen the night before. They had no great difficulty now, for all along the road the thieves had taken, one stone had a mark, and another stone had a mark, for nine or ten miles or more, till they came to the place where the carcasses had been carried, and there they found thieves, and sheep, and asses at all. That stopped the business for some time, but now they have got another plan, which is safer. A man comes down from London in a light cart, and there are five or six different places at each of which his stops, gets out, and goes into the next field. There he finds whatever has been stolen during the night, and whatever it may be, whether it be dead sheep, fowls, or game, linen, clothes, or anything else, there is sure to be a ticket upon it, with the price marked. If he likes the price he takes the goods, and he almost always does, for they never put half the value upon them, and then he sends down the money every week to what they call their bankers, in some of the towns near, and they take the fellow ticket to that which they left upon the goods, and get the money, giving the banker his share. Is it possible that such a system is tolerated in England, exclaimed Henry, why it could not be carried on even in Spain, where heaven knows justice is lax enough, and it's true not withstanding, said the peddler, they would have been caught long ago by the bow street runners, for they would have pounced upon the people in London, but you see sir, we go on improving this country of ours, we are always improving, that is to say, mending one thing and spoiling another. The streets of London are, I dare say, a great deal quieter and safer, though we hear of bad things enough still, considering how much is paid for keeping them quiet. But then, if a great crime is committed or a gang of scoundrels formed for robbing and plundering honest men, months go by before these men in the blue coats find out anything about it. As Henry Haley knew very little of the affairs of the London police, he did not enter into the question of its efficiency with its worthy companion, and still conversing, though upon other subjects, they walked on more quickly after they had reached the summit of the rise, passed the lodge gates of Mr Payne, and soon after entered upon another heath, more wild and desolate looking than the first. The sun had by this time set, but they had yet full half an hour of the long twilight of northern lands before them, and the rich purple tints of the whole landscape were a compensation, in the eyes of one at least of the two, for the brighter beams of the day, passing onward across the heath, the grey shades of night gaining perceptibly upon the lingering light, they came suddenly upon the edge of a small sandpit, from which was rising up a glare that tinged with red the thick bushes of gorse near the edge. Both Henry and the peddler stopped and looked over, when, certainly greatly to the surprise of the former, a group was seen seated round a good warm fire, engaged in an occupation, perhaps the least to be expected in the world at such a spot and in such circumstances. The party was composed of three, a man of fifty-four or fifty-five years of age, another of four or five and thirty, and a good-looking but rather robust young woman of six or seven and twenty. Some kettles and pots, a pair of bellows and various other articles of the tinker's trade, with a bundle, apparently of clothes, sufficiently denoted the calling of the party. But that which was worthy of admiration and surprise was, as I have said, the occupation in which they were engaged. The young woman was seated by the side of the younger man, her head resting on his shoulder and her arm thrown carelessly across his knee. But her eyes, as well as his, were fixed upon their elder companion, who, sitting with his back against the bank and his knees drawn up, so as to form a sort of desk, was reading to them out of a large quarter volume, very neatly covered with green bays. The clear, strong voice rose up distinctly, and Henry heard a part of the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew. He would willingly have listened long, for there is something which seemed to him so fine and touching in the sounds of those holy words, read by such a man, in such a situation, that the exquisite beauty and sublimity of the truths there written, seemed to acquire, if possible, a deeper force than when read in the crowded church or even in the solemn cathedral. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I, in the midst of them, read the poor man below. And Henry thought, surely it is so, even here. But his companion, who did not understand the feelings which had been excited by the sounds, interrupted the reading with little reverence, saying aloud, ah, Master Barnes, is that you? How is it that you are not at Slade's tonight, and so near? The barn is quite full, said the old man, as they all looked up, and so we came here. We shall do very well, and Master Slade was very sorry he couldn't take us in, and gave us some milk to make up, so that's something. How do you do, James? said the peddler, nodding at the younger man. I say, if any fellows should come and ask if you have seen us, and which way we have gone, tell them we have taken to the right. I don't half like the looks of things under Knight's Hill. Why, I saw two men go down through the gully there about five minutes ago, said the younger man. I don't know who they were, strangers, I think, but I'll tell them what you say if I see anyone. Go on, Father, I want to hear that out. Henry Haley and the peddler walked on, and very naturally the former inquired into the history and character of the persons he had just seen. They are very good, respectable people, said the peddler, who was more a man of thought than a feeling. The father has travelled this country for a great many years, mending pots and kettles and all kinds of tinware. He always charges the same sum, which is moderate, bad times are good, and is supposed to be quite rich enough to lodge at a public house if he likes. But he never sets his foot in one of them, and the farmers are all generally well content to give him lodging in a barn or outhouse, for they are certain that there will be no pilfering at the farm that night. When he can't get such accommodation he passes the night anywhere, in a copse or in a sandpit, as you have seen just now. He always goes to church on a Sunday in a good, clean suit, and the other tinkers and trampers call him gentleman barns. The young man is his son-in-law, and I can assure you, sir, his daughter was as much courted as if she had been a great lady. But the old gentleman would not let her marry if she had been inclined, which she did not seem to be, till he found a man to his mind. And I will say, James Staples promises to be just such another as himself. We are not far from Mr. Graves' farm now. You can see the chimneys up there just over the trees. Imagination or memory must have helped the worthy peddler for Henry Haley could see nothing at any distance, and it was, in fact, quite dark. The only objects visible were two rows of trees, one on either side of the lane they were entering, and some stars peeping out of the sky above. Once through the trees, indeed, the young gentleman thought he caught the glimmer of a light, probably in a cottage window, and being somewhat impatient to arrive at least so far on the way as the house of Mr. Graves, Henry strode forward a little in advance of the peddler, as the lane there seemed to have no probability of missing the road. He had proceeded thus for the distance of about a third of a mile when the young gentleman suddenly stopped and turned round, on hearing a sort of choking cry behind him, and he had just time in the dim and obscure light of the night to see two men pulling the peddler backwards by the leaden strap which supported his pack. When he himself received a violent blow on the head from a thick stick which made him stagger and fall towards the bank, he had heard no one approach, for the lane was sandy and the light sound of their own footfalls was all that met the ears of the travellers. The fire flashed from Henry's eyes and his brain reeled with the blow he had received, but he was accustomed to perils of all kinds, and while two of the assailants were engaged apparently in plundering the peddler of his pack, he sprang upon the third, as soon as he regained his feet, closed with him at once, and by an exertion of his great strength had mastered him and thrown him down, when a fourth man leaped from the bank above and cast himself at once upon the young soldier. The contest would not have been so unequal even then, as it might have seemed, for Henry was a far more powerful man than either of his assailants, but one of the others who had been engaged with the peddler left his companion to hold the wandering merchant down and hastened to join the affray which was going on a few steps farther forward. It still took the whole of their united efforts to master a man of great natural strength, rendered available in a moment by the habit of robust exercises, but he was at length brought to the ground by a tremendous blow of a stick, and for a moment or two lay unconscious of all that was passing around. When Henry Haley revived to a sense of what was going on about him, he found his head supported on somebody's knee and a pair of hands at his throat, busily untying his black handkerchief. Nature has an instinctive abhorrence of being meddled with in places whence the road to the life-blood is short and especially about the throat, so that Henry's first impulse was to raise himself as well as he could and thrust away the busy hands. It's all right, sir, said the voice of the peddler. He's come into. Thank you, James. Thank you. If you had not taken it into your head to follow us, none for us that's clear enough.  It's John Whirling, one of Mr Graves's men, said a voice which Henry remembered, and then it added addressing him, well, sir, how are you getting on now? You have spoiled one of the rogues anyhow, for he ran as if he could hardly get along. I should not wonder I hope you won't try, said the peddler, though they've got my pack. But they'll turn on him to a certainty. No, no, here he comes. With a giddy and aching head, Henry Haley now raised himself from the ground, and all that had happened after he was stunned was explained to him in a few moments. Seeing some men walking rapidly after the travellers and knowing that two others had gone on before, the younger of the two tinkers seen in the sand pit had followed as fast as possible getting the assistance of a labouring man as he went. They had come up just as the villains were rifling Henry's pockets and had scared them from their work before it was completed. As the man who took upon himself the task of explanation concluded, Henry suddenly put his hand into his pocket with an exclamation of alarm.   I would rather that they had taken all I have in the world than that. That is unlucky indeed, sir, exclaimed the peddler, but if it has got nothing but papers in it, perhaps we may get it back. It contains nothing but papers and those only valuable to myself, replied Henry. They have left my purse, which I should have cared little about, and taken that which it is impossible to replace. Well, sir, leave it to me, said the peddler. I marked one of the men well, and I'll see if we cannot get it, for I know somewhat of these people's ways as you may have seen by what I told you. And now, sir, we have better trot on if you are going to Mr. Graves's. For you've had a bad knock on the head, and may as well have something done for it. Whoever obtains that pocket-book for me with its contents shall have a hundred guineas for his pains, and all that he expends shall be paid," repeated Henry. And after having given his address at a hotel in London, to the two men who had come up to his assistance, and bestowed on them a considerable part of the money in his purse, he followed his guide with a slow step and an anxious and thoughtful air. End of Chapter 16 CHAPTER 17 OF THE FORGERY by George Paine Rainsford James. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. CHAPTER 17 An old brick house of a good size with a little green court in front stood before Henry Haley and the peddler at the end of the lane. Across the court which was surrounded by low walls was a narrow gravel path leading from a little gate in the wall to the door of the house, and on each side of this path was a range of yew trees which had fantastic shapes according to the principles of the topiary and art. An art long now disused in this our land of England. For many years it is true the shears and the pruning knife had not been used on the venerable yews and the cocks and hens and obelisks and pyramids which they had once represented had now burgeoned and sprouted still leaving descendants to the animal or thing first represented in the midst of the efforts of nature to restore the native form of the tree. By this time the pale edge of the moon was rising over the flat lines of the common which lay below and the gleam shone through the intervals between the trees paving the little avenue with checkered light and shade. Along this varied pathway Henry Haley was pursuing his course with a calm saying you have better let me go first sir Master Graves is a difficult man to deal with for a stranger but I have known him for many years and can manage him I think. Henry suffered him to lead the way and advancing towards the door of the house which was sheltered from the winds by a projecting porch with a peaked roof thicker at one end than the other somewhat like a pestle of a mortar they had not waited half a minute when the door was suddenly thrown open and the master of the house himself appeared before then he was a very tall man perhaps six feet two or six feet three in height with a forehead equally broad and high rising from a pair upon the temples and at the back though curling likely was as white as snow his frame must once have been very powerful and the broad shoulders and well-knit limbs seemed still not in the least affected by time although he must have been very nearly 70 years of age his hand was thin and bony and his skin somewhat wrinkled his teeth however seemed clear as ever time had not certainly bent him with his iron hand though it had thinned his flowing hair for he stood straight and upright rolling his eyes for a moment from the face of the peddler to that of the stranger behind him and then demanded in a loud stern tone what do you want you forget me master graves said the peddler though I have often sold you many a little my wares proved good I don't forget you Joshua answer the farmer sharply I never forget but what do you want at this time of night and who is that he's a gentleman to whom I was showing his way Mr. Graves said the peddler hastily seemed that Henry was about to answer for himself we were attacked and robbed by four men in his pocketbook and had very nearly killed him into the bargain for he had to fight three of them while one held me down I thought he was dead for that matter for two or three minutes but he was only stunned by the beating about the head and so I brought him on here for I was quite sure you would never refuse to let us rest a bit after what has happened you know Joshua I never received visitors who replied the farmer gazing first at one and then the other with evident hesitation if men want to speak with me on business they can find me at the market in the fields or in the farmyard if they want to speak of anything else but business they have better not speak to me at all well sir said the peddler in a tone of grave reproach I did not think that of you but we can go elsewhere Henry felt inclined to interpose but he did not intend to go elsewhere if he could help it but the farmer who was better understood by his old acquaintance replied more kindly to this appeal no no Joshua he answered I did not say that I will not be wanting in hospitality England was famous for it when Englishmen were honest and man could trust man and I will keep to it still those times I must break through my rule coming coming sir you shall be welcome though there are few feet that have ever crossed that threshold for seven and twenty years thus saying and telling the peddler to shut the door after him and bolted he led the way into a small sitting room on the right hand side Henry followed him and when he entered the room the farmer still holding his hand gazed at him gravely from head to foot with a deliberate meditating look he seemed struck with his guest's appearance but after a moment as if conscious that his stare was rude he said I should think few men would like to deal with you single handed sir you must be nearly as tall as I am and a great deal stronger now I am upwards of six feet replied Henry and not easily overpowered in the daylight I think I could have matched all three but in the darkness I could not see whence the blows came that's a bad knock upon your forehead there said the farmer sit down sir and I'll make the old woman bring you some vinegar you seem one who would not like to carry a great black lump on his forehead about the world there's a worse wound on the back of my head replied the young gentleman I believe it would have fractured my skull but fortunately my hair is very thick let me look at the wound said the farmer I understand something about those things and holding down the candle he parted the large curls of the young gentleman's hair and as he did so Henry hurt him murmur I never saw any but one who had hair like that nor I either caught the sound of the words likewise ha exclaimed the farmer starting up to his full height and gazing at the man with a look of surprise do you recollect her then to be sure I do replied the other in a calm and quiet tone I shall never forget her as long as I live nor her beautiful hair either it was so thick so soft and so dark except when the light was like gold I put it in a comb for her once and recollect quite well the tears rolled from the old man's eyes and going hurriedly to the door he called a loud mage mage bring some vinegar here and some of the balsam he remained looking down the passage for about a minute and when he returned the tears were gone when the vinegar and the balsam were brought by a servant woman apparently nearly as old as himself he applied his remedies with his own hands and often in doing so he muttered something to himself but taking care that what he now said should not be heard when he had done he sat down and gazed very earnestly at Henry's countenance speaking however at the same time as if to cover the scrutiny he was making and so sir you have lost your pocket book he said to me of the utmost value replied Henry a paper that can never be replaced and a lock of my poor mother's hair which I have carried over almost all the world with me is she living or dead asked the farmer with a good deal of agitation in his tone dead replied the young gentleman she died almost immediately after my birth now six and twenty years ago Farmer Graves moved uneasily in his chair but he answered looking up towards the ceiling it must be found that pocket books it must be recovered I have offered a reward of a hundred guineas to anyone who will bring it to me replied the young gentleman for one of your men and a man from the common came to help us Mr. Graves when we were attacked otherwise I believe we should both have been murdered I think I can get it back said the peddler my own pack gone forever but that's a small matter what will you take sir said the farmer abruptly still looking at Henry I should think a little tea is the best thing for you if you please replied the young gentleman but I think I must soon go on no no said the farmer warmly you had a great deal better stay here for tonight there's a room my son sometimes has it can be got ready for you in a minute and I'll contrive to lodge friend Joshua here I never thought to let two strange men into my house again but now I am glad I did not shut you out why so demanded Henry with a grave smile there don't look so quite the farmer turning away his head you put me more and more in mind of her every minute young gentleman he continued laying his large hand upon Henry's arm you think me very strange I dare say and I am strange misfortunes have made me strange but I'll tell you why I've shut all men out up to this day and why I am glad I have not shut you out I was once as glad to see my fellow quinches as anyone and I let one man into my house a stranger to me as you may be a gentleman too who paid me a high price for a horse I had to sell and was rich and smart in his apparel I let him in I say and he stole away the most precious thing I had he well nigh broke my heart sir and well nigh turned my brain and I have never let another in within these doors till now but you know master graves said the peddler that he did not do you the wrong that you once thought so that should be some consolation to you yes yes I was wrong said the old man hastily I wronged him and I wronged my poor girl too by my suspicions but yet what could I think as she was his wife why couldn't he acknowledge her as his wife but she was his wife I saw the certificate with my own eyes she showed it to me when she was dying have you got it inquired Henry Haley in as calm a tone as he could assume no replied the father I rushed out of the house like a madman and came back here as soon as the last breath was drawn I could not wait to put her in the earth to see the dust shoveled upon the head of my poor beautiful Mary I came away at once and when I came back it was all over the house empty and the poor child too gone there was a dead silence for several minutes and then Henry said in a low tone you should not think too hardly of her husband there may be many most important motives to lead him to conceal his marriage at all events you should forgive as you would be forgiven I do forgive answered the old man I have long forgiven but there has been a bitter tree planted in my heart which bears its fruit still and now young gentlemen let me ask your name for you are so strangely like my own dear girl that I feel glad I have opened those long closed doors to you I have always had a notion that before I die I should see my poor Mary's boy and though I know that the name the man took was a false one yet I caught a sight of the real one in the certificate and I should recollect it if your name came somewhat near I looked at it but little it is true in that terrible hour but still I think I should remember Henry paused thoughtfully for a moment or two and then replied I am called Frank Middleton but we will talk more about this Mr Graves hereafter for there are some strange circumstances connected with my own birth too at present I feel rather giddy I forgot, I forgot said the old man we will have the tea and talk more tomorrow it is almost too much for my head and must be too much for yours he rang the bell as he spoke and then returning to the subject which he seemed to find a difficulty in leaving he said where were you brought up sir principally upon the continent replied Henry in Italy and Spain and for some time in Mexico he was a merchant said the old man and would have the means of sending the boy abroad but Middleton that was not the name I have some reason to believe that my father's real name was not Middleton replied Henry though that is the name I have gone by for many years and perhaps by inquiring we could discover more however tomorrow morning will be time enough the last sentence was uttered the old woman's servant came in with the tea which from her master's well-known habits she judged was the object of his ringing the bell she had brought but one cup however for never having seen a human creature entertained in that room she did not seem to grasp the possibility of two strangers being invited to share Farmer Graves's meal his orders were given however to bring more cups and saucers and more bread and butter and prepare two rooms for the accommodation of his unexpected guests as soon as she was gone Henry inquired in the same quiet and low tone which he had studiously used if Mr. Graves was acquainted with the name of the church at which his daughter had been married the old man shook his head no, no he replied no I did not remark the name but they were living then at least she had been living at a small village in Hartfordshire a little beyond Harrow not much above ten miles from London and I think I understood that they had been there ever since she left me ah poor thing poor thing she little knew what she was doing when she quitted her father's house God help and forgive us all but as you say we had better not talk more about it tonight I feel the well of bitterness pouring forth all its waters again and yet when I look at your face it seems to carry me back for nearly thirty years and I can hardly think my child dead and gone in the cold grave she who was all life and brightness while I am left here upon the sunny face of the earth like a withered leaf in a summer's day there don't let us talk any more of it tonight Henry judged that it might be better not to press the conversation any farther and indeed he wished in some degree to collect his own thoughts and to determine fully upon his course of action before he did so that he was in the house of his mother's father he was well aware but he had entertained no idea that his resemblance to his mother was so great as at once to awaken suspicion of the fact in the mind of the old man himself he had consequently prepared in no degree for such a contingency and he was well pleased to have time for consideration in regard to the next step which he should take to avow his real name and at once give Mr Graves an explanation of all the circumstances did not, as the reader may conceive enter at all into his plans but yet he feared that the discovery of so great a likeness would render the task of getting full information from the old man more difficult than he had at first imagined he contented himself therefore in the evening with studying his companion's character it was not very difficult to comprehend indeed Frank straightforward and decided but yet kindly and affectionate the apparent sternness preceded more from rapidity of thought and feeling than from any real harshness perhaps after all thought Henry towards the close of the evening I have obtained as much information from the good old man as he is able to give and although in the future I shall certainly tell him the whole perhaps the best way at present may be to leave him ignorant of any further particulars till I can clear away all clouds at once the farmer seemed very willing to give him the opportunity of doing so for till they retired to rest he studiously avoided all further reference to the subject which had already engrossed so much of their time that he was thinking of it still was apparent for he often fell into deep reveries but he made an effort to find other topics of conversation and Henry was surprised to find that in speaking of books or arts he was by no means an illiterate or ill informed person he seemed to have taken a delight in studying the older English poets he had not only that general knowledge of English history which is sufficient to carry a man through ordinary conversation or through the House of Commons where facts misstated or quotations garbled and perverted are sufficient for the purposes of party and very little likely to be exposed especially if delivered with emphasis and the reputation of a good memory but he had also that thorough and minute acquaintance with particular periods of history which very few men possess but which is absolutely necessary to all who would view philosophically the motives deeds and results of past times and see their bearings upon the state of society at present at a very early hour for one accustomed to courts and cities Henry received an intimation from his host that the usual period of rest at his house was calm the old woman servant two or three other women and several laboring men were called in and the good farmer producing a small volume from a cupboard read several short prayers to his household and dismissed them to repose he then led Henry to the room which had been prepared for him provided him with whatever articles of apparel he might need and when turning to leave him held up his hand with the air and look of a patriarch saying God bless you young man and watch over you during the night I do believe that my child's blood flows in your veins if not fortune has strangely sent you to renew and yet to soften the memories of the past end of chapter 17 chapter 18 of the forgery by George Payne Rainsford James this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 18 love often keeps men awake knocks on the head will have the same effect if they be not too hard when they sometimes prove very soporific and agitating thoughts of any kind with the generality of mortals have the same tendency it is not always so indeed for I know some people who when they are very unhappy or very anxious go sound to sleep they are wise it is the best thing they can do nevertheless although Henry Haley was not one of the latter class was in love had received two severe blows on the head and had had a great many strong emotions within him he slept very soundly for he was weary and exhausted there is something to inhabit for the mind is very much more like the body than we imagine and either will learn to bear almost anything by custom if it be not sufficiently strong to break down all powers of resistance at first now Henry had in the course of his life gone through so many agitating moments and had so frequently encountered difficulty, danger and distress that he bore them now more likely than most men gave to thought the time due to thought and to repose the time necessary for refreshment thus as I have said he slept soundly and well till daylight on the following morning and he had just raised himself on his arm and was looking at the sunshine playing with the white dimity curtains of the windows when he heard a knock at the door come in he said and his friend the peddler appeared good morning sir said the man I have just come up for a minute while Farmer Graves is out to have a chat with you upon what happened last night I don't mean about the robbery but about the marriage and all that now Joshua Brown was somewhat forcibly in possession of a portion of Henry Haley's confidence I say forcibly because our young friend was not a man to entrust his affairs to the discretion of a wandering peddler who he had only known for a few hours although all that he had seen of him was favourable but the peddler having been present when so much had passed regarding his early history had that degree of command of the story which rendered it a nice point of discretion whether he should be told more or not Henry resolved to see father however before he decided and to allow the man to take the lead maintaining for his own part what may be called the defensive in the conversation well my good friend he said in reply it is a very curious circumstance that this good farmer should see so strong a likeness between myself and his daughter I don't know sir said the peddler that is as it may be that you are very like her is certain for I remember her well and if you do not know who your mother was it is just as likely that she was your mother as any other woman this proposition Henry did not think fit to contradict and the next moment the peddler went a step further saying besides sir I rather think that you must yourself have some cause to believe that you are this poor young lady's child because although Farmer Graves from the way I took with him does not know anything about it I know that you came over seeking him I might have a thousand other things to talk to him about replied Henry although he could not help feeling that this was a home thrust well sir answered the peddler I do not want to pry into your affairs it is not curiosity or anything of that kind that makes me speak but I think I can perhaps help you in what you want that is to say if I am right in believing I know what you do want if you will tell me what you suppose me to want replied Henry Haley I will at once answer you yes or no and will moreover ask you a few questions in return your answers to which will soon satisfy us both as to whether you can afford me the assistance I require and for the wish to render which I am very much obliged why you see sir rejoined the man last night you asked Mr Graves quite quietly whether he had got the certificate and some time after whether he knew at what church the marriage took place now I fancy that your object is to prove that you are legitimate and that you may think fit to acknowledge your mother's family or not for I can see clearly that you have been bred up as a very high gentleman Henry Haley smiled my good friend he said let me assure you in whatsoever rank I may have been brought up I would never disclaim as relations good and honourable men to whom I am really tied by kindred blood a much higher rank than ever I shall attain to or justify such evil pride I will acknowledge however that my object is that which you state and I will reward anyone very handsomely who will enable me to prove the marriage of Miss Graves I think I can do it sir said the peddler rubbing his hands slowly one over the other I don't doubt it this wondering trade of mine is one of the best and most interesting in the world we see all that happens round about us in every part of the country hear a great number of curious stories and as we go very quickly from one place to another we often get the two ends of a history which itself takes a very long turn between them and learn more about it than people who have more to do with it but how do you intend to act in this instance demanded Henry have you any particular information not much sir replied the man but I will work it out notwithstanding I should like to hear how said the young gentleman raising himself higher in bed when we were talking with Mr Graves you seemed to have no further information than that which you had previously given to me and I should be very glad to hear what more you know that is hardly fair sir said the peddler with a smile I can assure you replied Henry that whatever you tell me the difference whatever as to the recompense I shall give if by your means I can prove the fact of the marriage that is not the point at all sir answered Joshua Brown I'm quite sure you would behave like a gentleman I should know a gentleman when I see him I think or I have walked the world for well now 30 years to no purpose but you see sir there's a pleasure in working a thing of this kind out by oneself it's a thing I'm very fond of and often when I see something happen that I don't understand I set to work to make it out and I get a little bit of information here and a little bit there till the whole thing is as clear as possible I don't mind telling you this much however if you just let me follow the string my own way some seven and twenty years ago it was in the month of August as I was trudging along with my box on my shoulders down in Halfordshire just about the place where Farmer Graves told us last night he was sent for to his daughter a post-chase passed me and I saw in it a face I thought I knew it was a woman's face and one not likely to be forgotten but she had on a white bonnet and a white feather in it and a white lace veil partly hanging down and as I had never seen the young lady so dressed I was puzzled for a long time to think who it could be I went along say if he's surely pretty Mary Graves but I was not quite certain about a mile farther on I came to a church and looking over the wall of the churchyard I saw the clerk or the sexton or somebody shutting the vestry door so I hurled out to him Master Clerk do you want anything in my way he was a sulky old fellow and he said no then I answered come come you want a ribbon for a wedding favour for the two young people who have just passed who have been tying the knot with their tongue they can never untie with their teeth so he laughed a little at that but he said no I don't but if they wanted me to wear a favour they might have given me one then speaking quietly just as you did last night when asking about the certificate I said pray who are they Master Clerk but he answered quite short what's that to you and I couldn't get another word out of him but he walked away some nine or ten months after that I came down here I always take these parts about the end of May or the beginning of June and I began to ask the people questions I soon found that Mary Graves had gone away with a rich young merchant was married to him and was dead in short I heard the whole story that I told you it was two years after that before I saw her father again but then I found him quite heartbroken still do you know the name of the church asked Henry eagerly no I do not sir replied the man but I'll find it out and see the register for that year only I don't know what name to look for Mary Graves of course replied Henry adding the moment after bring me a certificate of her having been married in that year and I will make you a rich man for the rest of your life but my good friend it may be months before you trace the whole of this business and from particular circumstances it is necessary for me to ascertain the facts immediately I shan't belong sir said the peddler I must go back to London for I have no pack now and so I travel light what might be the value of your pack my good friend asked the young gentleman oh not very much sir answered the man for I had sold a good deal out of it there were ten pairs of spectacles some gold pins and two or three wedding rings but the whole wasn't worth more than nine pounds I think and the box wasn't worth a pound more for it was an old one do you think you can get me a pen and ink and a sheet of paper oh certainly said the peddler walking away and when he returned he found the young gentleman up and partly dressed I will pay you for your pack my good friend he said as it was lost in consequence of your guiding me here I have not got money enough about me for I gave the greater part of what I had to the men who came to help us but to check upon my banker I dare say will do as well I'm very much obliged to you indeed sir replied the peddler though it is scarcely fair to take it I think Henry however drew the check and gave it to the peddler whose eyes instantly fixed upon the words Frank Middleton written at the bottom a look of some surprise came upon his face evidently showing he had not quite believed that the name which had been given to the farmer was the real one nevertheless he made no comment but only said now sir will you let me have your address in London I think in three or four days you shall hear something more of me Henry gave his address accordingly at the hotel where he was lodging and merely reading the words Colonel Middleton the peddler seemed about to retire when the young gentleman stopped him saying there is another thing we have to discuss my good friend namely the recovery of my pocketbook for there are some papers in it of the utmost importance I will put that in train sir before I go replied the man and I don't mind telling you how for you must give me authority as to trying to catch these men and get it from them by force that is out of the question the only way to do it is to apply to some of what they call their bankers they call them blinds in London I believe now I have heard the names of two or three of these scoundrels in the different towns round about and I'll go to them and tell them that you will give £100 to get the book back again with all it contains you may say I will give that to the people who have got it replied Henry and £50 more to whichever of these so-called bankers gets it for me and no inquiries made said the peddler that will soon settle the matter I think but now I'll go sir for there I see Farmer Graves coming up the walk and it's well he shouldn't know that we've been talking over these matters I have not the slightest objection to his knowing replied the young gentleman for it is my intention to tell him this morning a great deal more concerning myself than I did last night as I think he will now be able to talk over the matter more calmly he will like your telling him and he's telling you much better than my having anything to do with it the peddler and therefore I had better go goodbye sir a weak sharp pass without your hearing from me thus saying he quitted the room leaving Henry to finish his toilet and Henry dressed and descended the large wide staircase which to say the truth occupied nearly a third of the whole house he entered the room where he had taken tea the night before and seeing that although it was untenanted the table was laid for breakfast he sat down and gazed out of the window obtaining a view to the left of the double row of yew trees over the top of the neighbouring copses to the wide extended heath of which he had traversed apart during the preceding evening the country lay soft and fair in the hazy morning light but though Henry's eyes were fixed upon it he saw little except that a sweet picture was hung up before him for his mind was occupied with thoughts too eager and too active to suffer the volatile part of the mind to stray after the ordinary sources of enjoyment he had not much faith in the success of good Joshua Brown's efforts to recover his lost pocket book but when he came to consider all that it contained the necessity of regaining it became every moment more and more evident to his eyes there was in it first the paper given to him by his father immediately before he started for the continent besides this there was his passport under the name of Frank Middleton and there were documents of various kinds which went a great way to establish the identity of the person so named with the Henry Haley who had fled from England more than 10 years before whether the possession of these papers would ever be of any great service to himself he might doubt in the undecided state of his mind as to the course he should pursue but yet he saw clearly that they might be very dangerous in the hands of another if ever the person who had possessed himself of them should obtain a clue to the history of the real owner yet however much he thought over the circumstances he could see no better plan for recovering the property than that which had been proposed to employ an officer of police would have been more dangerous than to leave it where it was to search for it in person offered very small prospect of success as he was but little aware of the haunts and habits of the persons by whom he had been assailed he resolved however to consult the good old farmer as to the best means of proceeding and the opportunity was not long wanting for in about 10 minutes Mr Graves entered the room he advanced towards Henry with an outstretched hand and with his eye fixed I must call it anxiously upon his guests countenance he asked how he was how he had slept how his head felt and then he told him that his guide of the night before had just departed he's an honest fellow Joshua Brown said the old man I have dealt with him in small things for many years and never found him deceived me I would willingly have kept him to breakfast but he would take nothing but a slice of bread and a cup of beer and then posted off upon his way I must go very soon likewise replied Henry but before I go and before breakfast is served let me say one word to you my dear sir I have many reasons to believe that we are very near akin to each other my early history is still a mystery in some degree to myself but I will now tell you fairly which I did not choose to do last night that the name of Mary Graves has been mentioned to me once in my life as that of my mother the old man threw his arms round him pressed him to his heart and Henry clasped his hand warmly but he said do not let us yet feel too secure Mr Graves I have determined to investigate the whole matter to the bottom and to discover all the facts nor will I delay at all in so doing my father has been dead some years otherwise the whole would have been made perfectly clear before now for many circumstances which I cannot well explain at present during a long period from holding any communication with me regarding my birth of this however be assured Mr Graves that as soon as ever all the facts are in my possession I will see you again and if it be as I think will gladly claim that connection with you which my father did not acknowledge not from any feeling of pride on his part but from motives so powerful that you yourself when you hear them will admit their force the old man mused with tears in his bright dark eyes they should be powerful indeed he said to justify no to palliate such conduct as his but perhaps after all he knew not how I loved her perhaps he knew not the full bitterness of the cup he forced me to drink often have I cursed him but I curse him not now I have learned to forgive and I pray that God will forgive me amen said Henry every man needs forgiveness and he who has caused another pain and grief however it may have happened requires it march as he ended the woman servant came in with the materials for breakfast and he and the old man sat down together avoiding as if by mutual consent any reference to the subject of their previous conversation Henry spoke at large however with regard to his pocketbook and explained to Mr. Graves as well as he could without describing the contents how important it was for him to recover it I could wish he added though I don't know if it be possible that it should be restored to me without being opened I would not look into the inside for the world replied the old man but if it be still within ten miles of this place I think I will have it before night for immediately after breakfast I will mount my horse and I will get all my own men and my sons together and will sweep the whole country between this and Frimley without leaving a hole unsearched in which any one of the villains could harbour but where are you going to now cannot you stay and help us I am afraid not replied Henry I have promised to be in London tonight but I will write down my address and hope to hear from you tell me that is as good as writing I never forget since that terrible day it seems as if everything that happens to me is dug into my memory as if with a pen knife like names that boys carve on the bark of trees the marks grow larger and stronger as time passes these things touch different men in different ways I have heard of some men who have quite lost their memory under misfortunes with me the effect has been the reverse what is the address when Henry told him he murmured Colonel Middleton that is not the name I do not believe it is replied Henry I do not believe it is my own name but that will be all explained to you hereafter and now is it possible to get a chaise to Hartford Bridge I left my portmanteau there last night and must go back for it you can go in my gig said the old man tell the people at the white line to send it back I will order it directly then go on your way while I go on mine and success attend us both End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of the forgery by George Payne Rainsford James this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 19 Maria Moncton was dressing for dinner when she heard a loud double knock at the door of her aunt's house it wanted fully half an hour of the time at which any guest but a lover could be reasonably expected and while she herself hurried her toilet she bade the maid look out and see who was the visitor it's only your uncle ma'am said the Abigail it is his cab and servant is Lady Fleetwood dressed demanded Maria rather anxiously oh dear yes ma'am she's been down these 10 minutes replied the maid settling setting hard to work again upon her lady's hair now if Maria had been anxious to hasten all her proceedings when she thought that the early guest was Henry Haley she was even more desirous of getting down soon when she found that it was her uncle who had arrived not that her love for Mr. Scriven was at all eager the heaven knows that however affectionate a heart might be it would have found it a hard task to love him very warmly green ivy and blushing honeysuckle will twine it is true round a cold stiff post but it would have required a still more clinging passion than even love to make any heart attach itself to Mr. Scriven avarice perhaps might do no Maria's haste proceeded from other causes there was never any telling what Lady Fleetwood might say or what Lady Fleetwood might do and her niece very much wished to prevent her from saying or doing much with Mr. Scriven that day indeed had she been at all aware that her aunt had asked him to dinner Maria would have prepared accordingly and gone to dress earlier but dear Lady Fleetwood had always her own little secrets and as she fully concurred in her brother's desire that Maria should marry Charles Marston she had resolved to invite Mr. Scriven without letting her niece know anything of the fact in order that her own efforts both offensive and defensive might be well seconded for Charles who she was afraid would not fall in love with Maria and Colonel Middleton who she was afraid would fall in love with Maria were both to be there at dinner perhaps this does not explain very clearly why she kept the invitation secret from her niece but the truth is Lady Fleetwood was afraid Maria would dissuade her from sending it now Lady Fleetwood as the reader knows was the most persuadable woman in the world and she had an internal consciousness of this sort of persuadability I may as well manufacture another word while I am about it which made her reluctant to expose that particular side of her character to the assault of an antagonist as she wished very much to have Mr. Scriven there and had determined that it would be quite right and proper to do so and moreover as she knew that Maria could persuade her not to ask him and thought it very likely she would do so Lady Fleetwood with a little ruse upon herself quietly wrote a note to her brother, sent it off in secret and then was afraid to tell her niece what she had done till Mr. Scriven was actually in the house as I have said Maria addressed herself with the utmost expedition and descended as fast as possible to the drawing room she found her aunt and uncle full tilt however in what seemed a very interesting conversation for Maria had rarely beheld Mr. Scriven's face so full of expression her entrance took place with Lady Light Grace just as Lady Fleetwood was finishing a sentence as like as it is possible to conceive Quoth Lady Fleetwood exactly the same person only taller and older Maria saw it all in a moment and though she was a good deal agitated and somewhat alarmed by what she did see she composed herself as best she might and gallantly hurried forward into the scene of combat ah Maria good evening said her uncle your aunt has just been telling me who are to be her guests tonight amongst them is a Colonel Middleton I find a friend of yours he brought me a letter from Charles replied Maria struggling desperately against emotion do you know him sir that would have been scarcely fairer of Maria if it had not been that Mr. Scriven had spoken in a tone very fairly be interpreted to imply that he had some acquaintance with the gentleman of whom he spoke no I don't know him at all replied Mr. Scriven pray do you see this extraordinary likeness between him and young Henry Hayley that perhaps you do not recollect the lad for you were but a child when he ran away oh yes I remember him perfectly replied Maria in as indifferent a tone as she could assume you forget my dear uncle I was between 13 and 14 when he went there is a likeness certainly though Colonel Middleton is darker in complexion and has darker hair there are various other differences too but still I can see the likeness which my aunt has discovered I always doubted the story of that boy's death said Mr. Scriven dryly looking first at his niece and then at his sister oh dear me how can you fancy such a thing exclaimed Lady Fleetwood why the officer saw him lying dead the officer never saw him alive said Mr. Scriven but you don't suppose that Colonel Middleton is the same exclaimed his sister who saw that she had excited suspicions which she had not the slightest wish in the world to arouse why this gentleman has been all his life in Spain and Mexico the other eye here was a Spanish lady I suppose nothing at all replied Mr. Scriven I never suppose anything but if it were Henry Hayley he would of course take a different name and fabricate some history for himself such a one as you have just told is as likely as any other we will soon find out however for if he be a Spaniard or half a Spaniard he must be known to Spaniards Maria smiled for there she felt herself upon strong ground in consequence of what Henry had told her you seem pleased or amused Maria said her uncle a little amused she answered for poor Henry Hayley seems to be what the French would call your bet noir my dear uncle you see him in every bush however Colonel Middleton in conversation the other day mentioned the names of a great number of Spanish gentlemen with whom he is acquainted and amongst the rest that of the Conde de Flaga the secretary of the Duke of San Carlos the ambassador as my aunt knows the young Conde she has invited him here tonight to meet Colonel Middleton so you will soon see if they are acquainted Mr. Scriven had just time to say before Charles Master was announced then came Lady Anne Mellon and she was succeeded by Colonel Middleton himself Henry's eye as he entered the room fell at once upon Mr. Scriven but he took not the slightest notice and betrayed no knowledge of him even by a chance of expression he paid his compliments to Lady Fleetwood gracefully and easily spoke for a moment to Lady Anne in a gay and laughing tone and then took a chair by Maria who though standing before he entered had seated herself immediately feeling her heart beat so violently that she feared she should fall during the whole of this time and while Charles Master crossed over and shook hands with his friend Mr. Scriven continued to examine his sister's guest with a keen scrutinizing stare there he was before him tall, handsome, commanding graceful, dressed with the most perfect taste and having a star and a smaller order on his left breast but still very, very like what he should have expected to see in Henry Haley had there not been good reason for believing him dead still there was some slight difference and perhaps a discolored mark on the forehead left by the blow he had so lately received made him less like his former self than he otherwise would have been the young officer did not seem to perceive the rude examination he was doing and was giving a sketch of the attack which had been made upon him the night before to Charles and Maria when Mr. Scriven touched his nephew's arm saying Charles you have not introduced me to your friend with perfect ease which showed that he at least was unconscious of even a likeness between Colonel Middleton and Henry Haley Charles Master presented his uncle to his aunt's guest Henry rose and bowed looking slightly at Mr. Scriven but even a glance of recognition and then proceeded with his tail Mr. Scriven stood by and listened but it was less the words than the tones he attended to and they produced a very strong effect Henry's voice as I have said was very peculiar rich full and exceedingly melodious and the merchant felt almost sure that he had heard those sounds before upon my word Master said Henry in conclusion you who boast yourselves to be and probably are the most civilized people in the world should look a little better to your police in my country such things are expected torn and divided as it has been by factions but in England they should not take place I am very sorry to find you do not count yourself an Englishman Colonel Middleton said Mr. Scriven and yet you speak our language as a purity both in accent and grammar which I never yet heard in a foreigner Henry made him a low bow as if he supposed that a compliment was intended he replied however at the same time my father's language was the first I learnt and I have always taken care to keep it up by seeking this society in conversation of Englishmen of whom plenty are to be found both in Spain and Mexico oh you have been in Mexico said Mr. Scriven pray did you ever meet with my friend Mr. Odell there yes replied Henry he was a great friend of my uncle Ston Balthazar Hamosa but he has been dead for many years now Mr. Odell had been dead so long that Mr. Scriven had great difficulty in reconciling his suspicion that Henry Haley and Colonel Middleton were the same person with the knowledge that the latter seemed to have had of him he resolved to inquire further Porro Del had a very beautiful place I believe in the city of Mexico he said quite a palace I have been told not exactly in the city replied Henry he had only a counting house in the town but about three miles in the country towards the foot of the mountains he had one of the most beautiful villas I ever saw in the gardens quite in your English style it was called Casilla and was in fact a palace his hospitality was unbounded I have passed many a pleasant day there now the assertion was perfectly true for the Casilla had for some years belonged to Mr. Odell's son after his father's death and during Henry's stay in Mexico the greater part of the young gentleman's time had been spent there Mr. Scriven was becoming more and more puzzled but further questions were prevented by the entrance of a Conde de Fraga and his young Countess his compliments were first of course paid to Lady Fleetwood who proceeded to introduce him and his wife who could speak but very few words of English to the rest of her guests and this operation was proceeding when the young lady's eyes lighted upon Henry and her whole face beamed with pleasure seeing one whom she knew so well and who could converse with her in her own language the woman friendly recognition which then took place between the young Spanish nobleman and the object of suspicion did not escape the eyes of Mr. Scriven and it would undoubtedly have removed all his pre-possessions had it been possible ever perfectly to eradicate an idea which had once taken possession of his mind the expected guests had now all arrived and Lady Fleetwood had ordered dinner to be served but before it was announced Mr. Scriven, who was slightly acquainted with the Conde took an opportunity of drawing him aside and questioning him in regard to Colonel Middleton Henry saw the manoeuvre and it must be acknowledged that even while carrying on a gay conversation with the young Countess he listened to what was passing behind him with a good deal of interest he could not exactly catch Mr. Scriven's first question but he heard the young Count reply in very tolerable English oh, a most respectable person of a very high family in my country by the mother's side related to all the Hamosas and grand-nephew to Don Balthazar who left him a very handsome fortune have you known him long? asked Mr. Scriven yes, answered the Count from my boyhood we were at school together and in the same regiment afterwards indeed we are distantly related but my grandmother's niece married Don Balthazar's brother's son who likewise inherited a part of his large fortune Mr. Scriven seemed satisfied but he was not and very shortly after the whole party went down to the dinner-room now in her arrangements in regard to that very difficult but yet important process of her guests, Lady Fleetwood with the strongest possible desire to make everybody happy usually contrived with that ill-luck which frequently attended her best efforts to part all those who would have liked to be together and to put together those who were least likely to suit each other thus on the present occasion there was only one person well-satisfied the Condé of course as highest in rank they were down to dinner but Maria was bestowed upon Charles Marston Mr. Scriven gave his arm to Lady Anne who hated him mortally and Henry was put in charge of the young Spanish lady with which part of the arrangement she was better contented than himself the dinner-wood nevertheless have passed off very quietly notwithstanding the inconvenient manner in which the guests were planted for there was only one person there who was not fully aware that in society, be it great or small that it consist of two or of thousands at a dinner table or in the great sense of the world everyone must sacrifice something for the happiness of the whole and to make the best of our own position is the condition of our own felicity as well as that of all who surround us the dinner would have passed off very pleasantly I say if Mr. Scriven could have rested satisfied and left Henry at peace he was certainly shaken in his belief that Colonel Middleton and Henry Haley were one but yet he was displeased with his great resemblance to the object of his persevering dislike I do not call it hate for hate almost implies emotions of a stronger kind than Mr. Scriven usually gave way to it would have taken a great deal of trouble he would have spent a considerable portion of time he would even have devoted no inconsiderable sum of money to prosecute Henry Haley and to hang him but yet he would have done it all coolly deliberately systematically without any of the false emotions I do not know that this can be called hate but perhaps the secret of the passion or whatever it was being so purdurable was the absence of all emotion as machines which are much shaken in their operation wear out soon so feelings accompanied by much agitation are generally of short duration on the present occasion however Mr. Scriven could not be content to let the young officer alone he was not what can be called uncivil for the words were all perfectly polite and as addressed to a perfect stranger only gave the idea of his being what is called in England a bore he asked him a multitude of questions about Spain about his own private history about things which had happened fourteen, fifteen, sixteen years ago he cut across his conversation with the fair Spaniard at his side some six or seven times and though as I have said perfectly civil there was a sort of cool superciliousness in his tone which annoyed Henry and aroused him to resist on the young officer's other side sat Lady Anne Mellon Lady Anne Mellon and just at the period when the fish was being removed she took advantage of the butler's body being thrust between her and Mr. Scriven to say a few words to Henry in a low tone and a foreign language they were only two or three and what they were did not transpire but they seemed to work a great change upon her left hand companion for from that moment his demeanor became more free and unconstrained his manner especially towards Mr. Scriven not exactly supercilious but ironical there was a sort of playful but yet rather bitter mockery in his replies which grew even more assert as dinner went on Pray Colonel Middleton were you at the taking of the Trocadero demanded Mr. Scriven after a very brief pause if I had been there at all replied Henry I should have been at his defense but I happened then to be at school boys are not admitted into the Spanish army Mr. Scriven I should suppose not replied the merchant but boys do strange things sometimes very true and men too answered Henry otherwise the French would never have been there and the English would never have let them and he resumed his conversation in Spanish with the lady by his side I am afraid from what I have heard said Mr. Scriven that the improvements introduced by Florida Blanca into the commercial and financial regulations of Spain have not had any permanent effect I am ashamed to say replied Henry that I know as little of the subject Mr. Scriven as you would probably know of a regiment of dragoons perhaps I may know more of military matters than you suppose answered Mr. Scriven of the city light horse replied the other with a slight smile but I certainly shall not categorise you on the subject and you must grant me the same indulgence with respect to commerce I know nothing about it though I have a very great respect for it in the abstract as you probably have for the army no dear no replied Mr. Scriven with the utmost coolness I have no respect at all for the army I can assure you I look upon it as a necessary evil which should be diminished as soon as possible and as far as possible and the navy too you should have a little gratitude for the navy at all events said Henry laughing as if it had not been for the navy many rich ships filled with English merchandise would have found their way into French and American ports during the late wars gratitude is altogether out of the question answered Mr. Scriven in fact it is a mere name soldiers fight and sailors fight because they are paid to fight why should I be grateful to them for doing what they receive my money to do if they don't do their duty they are broke or shot as they ought to be and if they do they are paid for it the account is balanced and there is nothing more to be settled on either part a very commercial view of the subject indeed replied Henry but I cannot help thinking Mr. Scriven that if soldiers and sailors fought upon such principles neither merchants nor others would receive much effectual protection and that if all British merchants acted upon such principles they would find very few soldiers or sailors to fight for them silk, cotton, molasses ironware, broad cloth, machinery corn, wine and oil are not the only things to be considered in life it seems to me neither are gold and silver we have heard of such things as honour and glory which can only be worth having when obtained in a just cause and generosity and benevolence and even gratitude and if these things are all to be swept away as mere names I do not see why honesty and integrity should not go to there are moral as well as material goods and high principles of action national honour and national glory love are in my mind not only compatible with but inseparable from a due consideration of the material interests of a country oh doubtless answer Mr. Scriven though the notions that we attach to such names are very vague and fallacious derived from the rodomentad ages of chivalry and feudality and only serving to mislead imaginative boys you are in no fear then of their influence replied Henry Lady Anne may I have the pleasure of taking wine with you with a great deal of pleasure replied Lady Anne for the conversation has been so heavy that I certainly do want something to enliven me and in pity you two gentlemen forbear recollecting that I neither send forth ships nor command armies and neither a merchant nor a field marshal the conversation now took another turn Lady Anne spoke in French to the fair Spaniard Lady Fleetwood did her best to effect the same Charles Marston talked to her in bad Spanish and good Italian and till dinner was over and the ladies retired all went on gaily and cheerfully the sole person left out was Mr. Scriven who though he wrote several languages with sufficient facility was but little accustomed to speak any tongue but his own he was not well pleased indeed not so much because he was excluded a good deal from the conversation for he was usually as economical of his words as of his money but because he clearly saw that those around him had recourse to another tongue in order to put an end to discussions which were pleasant to nobody but himself his first attack after dinner was upon his nephew to whom he said in a low turn why Charles you seem peculiarly lively tonight how is that I was afraid the news I gave you yesterday might have somewhat depressed your spirits not at all dear sir thank you for all your good intentions said Charles Marston I never was more cheerful in my life and as to the how is that I have many reasons for being cheerful a little misfortune sometimes rightly viewed changes to a benefit in the first place in the first place I have an opportunity of proving to my dear father how grateful I am for his past kindnesses which I never should have had if he had gone on in perfect prosperity and then again I have had proofs of the sincerity and disinterestedness of several very dear friends whose generosity I might never have known to its full extent had not this reverse occurred very philosophical view said Mr. Scriven between his teeth but as I suppose you do not intend to live dependent upon these friends let me ask if you have considered the hints I threw out with regard to your future course I have not given them a thought replied Charles I saw at once that they could be of no service to me and therefore judged my dear uncle but it might be bad economy to waste much reflection upon them you are as polite as wise my good nephew rejoined his uncle dryly oh it is what you call due course of exchange answered Charles you have told me a thousand times that you are fond of plain speaking and have proved a fact to me in many instances Middleton you have not yet been to see our excellent friend Mr. Winkworth and he is half angry with you I was out of town all yesterday replied Henry he did not arrive today till it was just time to dress and was very sorry indeed to find from your note that he had met with such an unpleasant adventure I hope he is better going on quite well said Charles and though still obliged to keep his bed will be very glad to see you I will call early tomorrow replied Henry and now shall we not join the ladies this sitting after dinner seems as very strange custom for foreign eyes as he spoke he rose and the rest followed his example in the drawing room the whole party were more at ease for they divided themselves according to their several tastes and Henry was by Maria's side during a great part of the evening the moments flew happily with them for though she was a little anxious in regard to the keen and searching look with which her uncle observed the open attentions of her lover yet there was a counterbalancing pleasure in his society and his conversation which fully made up for the slight uneasiness she experienced she was too frank and straightforward in her nature to conceal together the happiness she felt although she strove to do so as far as possible and endeavoured to show every attention to her aunt's guests who were soon increased by two or three visitors from the neighbourhood she even fancied that she succeeded very well but nevertheless there was hardly an eye in the room which did not remark certain small differences of manner when speaking with Colonel Middleton a look of bright intelligence a happy hearted smile which betrayed the secret to more than one talkative person who was quite ready to carry the news over the whole town Henry too seemed either carried away by passion or perversely determined to display his love when obliged to converse with others although his conversation was very different from that of most men of the world in the great capital deep, powerful going to the very heart of the matter in question yet with all there was a sparkling gaiety of manner a laughing and almost ironical spirit veiling the depths of the ideas it was like one of those fine toned and plaintive heirs in the works of the Italian composers which is attached to gaiety and fluttering accompaniment as if to bide under an airy mockery the strength of the feelings expressed but when he conversed with her it was all very different the language though not the language of love was all deep toned warm and impassioned and the manner though it might not be sad was in perfect harmony with the words Mr. Scriven marked the whole very much displeased and determined promptly to interfere though he somewhat miscalculated the extent of his power excellent lady Fleetwood too was very uneasy having made up her mind that Charles Marston ought somehow or other to marry his cousin she saw all sorts of dangers and perplexities in the very marked attentions of Colonel Middleton and the favourable manner in which Maria received them she looked at Charles several times to see how he bore it and was very willing had it been possible to have bestowed a good deal of unnecessary compassion upon her nephew but Charles seemed obstinately resolved to show that he wanted no compassion at all he talked a great deal to Lady Anne Mellon and Lady Anne to him and every now and then a quiet little ray of loving light stole out of her eyes and she lifted them to Charles Marston's which might have undecede anyone but an aunt or a parent in the end however Lady Anne sent him away from her saying in a low voice there go and talk to somebody else we have flirted together enough tonight perhaps too much Charles and now I am going to flirt with Colonel Middleton to make up for it and her ladyship kept her word for she took an opportunity very soon after of calling Henry to her side and to the eyes of most people in the room seemed to be cocketing with him in a very determined manner it were vain to deny that Charles Marston felt a little uncomfortable I will not say exactly jealous for that would imply more than he felt but he wished that Lady Anne would be a little more cautious and thought that she and Frank Middleton need not exactly talk in so lower tone or with their heads quite so close together he spoke worse Spanish than ever to the fair young Countess beside whom he had sat down and he was going on step by step to make himself seriously uneasy when Lady Anne's eyes were suddenly turned towards him and found his fixed upon her face a very grave look instantly came over it it seemed to him like a look of reproach and the words of warning which she had spoken to him the moment before instantly he occurred to his mind there is some secret here he said to himself she warned me of the very course she is now pursuing and told me she had a motive for it it is difficult to conceive what it can be and yet it is strange how I myself have always felt towards Middleton ever since I knew him from the first moment he seemed like an old friend and his face too was familiar to me the moment he had been brought up all his life in Spain I should have fancied we had been at eating together at that moment his uncle approached and bending down his head he said there must have some conversation with you child about this friend of yours do you know much of his history oh dear yes replied his nephew I heard the whole of it from the Spanish ambassador at Rome who is a relation of his he is the son of Donna Eleonora the niece of Don Balthazar a rich old grandee who died some time ago during some of the troubles in Spain she was sent to a convent for protection and thence ran away with and married an English gentleman of the name of Middleton they soon quarrelled however and separated and the old gentleman took her boy and brought him up at his own son do you happen to recollect the face of your old school fellow Henry Haley asked Mr. Scriven good heaven so he is very like indeed said Charles I have been puzzling myself to think who it is to whom he bears so great a resemblance great indeed said Mr. Scriven so great that I do not understand it it is impossible I suppose that they can be the same person Charles Marston laughed utterly my dear uncle here is Fraga who has known him from his boyhood and depend upon it Spaniards are not such disinterested people as to suffer a stranger to deprive them of a large fortune without being very sure that he has a right to it now I know that Middleton came in for one third of old Balthazar's riches you may ask anyone in Spanish society the thing is perfectly well known hmm said Mr. Scriven he had suggested thoughts to his nephew's mind however which did not so speedily retire the likeness when it had been once pointed out struck him more and more every moment the strange intimacy which had arisen between the young officer and Lady Anne to whom he was almost a stranger and the evident regard which existed between him and Maria whose heart was little likely to be captivated at first sight by the extraordinary circumstances which seemed to favour the suspicions that his uncle entertained and were with difficulty accounted for on any other ground but then on the other hand the information he had received in regard to his friend's birth and history was so precise and had been given by persons necessarily so well informed that it was impossible for him to doubt that the young officer was exactly what he represented himself to be Charles was in a maze of perplexity and remained so all the evening to let Length Lady Anne beckoned him to her side again and playfully scolded him for his thoughts Charles laughingly evaded the attack but she asked do you think I cannot read your looks I will tell you one thing Charles if you could see what is going on in my heart as well as I can see what is going on in yours I should have no such looks to complain of and now for your pains I will torment you for a week longer the latter part of which you shall come and spend with me in Northumberland there do not suppose I am going to insist upon your marrying me directly for I do not intend any such thing but I have engaged dear aunt Fleetwood and Maria while you four gentlemen were downstairs drinking too much wine after the satish custom of the land and I asked Colonel Middleton just now so you must come and be jealous but Winkworth said Charles I do not like to leave him in his present state he must come too said the fair lady I will call and ask him tomorrow so pray tell him that I never suffer myself to be contradicted by anybody can you not put it off for a week asked Charles I do not think Winkworth will be well enough to travel Lady Anne mused no she said I cannot for I have determined to take Frank Middleton down there on Thursday next and you know Charles it would not do for him and me to go down and live together by ourselves to you and your friend were ready to come Propriety think of propriety and she looked up in his face with a gay and meaning laugh no no get your friend well as soon as you can Maria and I and Lady Fleetwood will go down on Wednesday Colonel Milton will come down on Thursday and you and Mr. Winkworth must join us afterwards so now goodbye for I am going home Charles saw her to her carriage and then without returning to his aunt's drawing room walked across to his own hotel but during a great part of the night his thoughts were occupied with Henry Haley and Colonel Middleton and the same objects formed the subject of his dreams End of chapter 19