elinor wyllys-2-第20章

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onic　wars｝

It　was　evident　that　Mr。　Stryker　was　not　in　the　least　convinced　by　Harry's　defence　of　honest　diplomacy。

〃The　ladies　must　find　great　fault　with　Washington　diplomacy；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Mrs。　Creighton　and　Elinor：　〃they　are　never　employed；　not　a　single　fair　American　has　ever　figured　among　les　belles　diplomats　of　European　saloons；　I　believe。〃

〃Perhaps　the　ladies　in　this　country　would　not　condescend　to　be　employed；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Don't　say　so；　Miss　Wyllys！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Creighton；　laughing；　〃I　should　delight　in　having　some　delicate　mission　to　manage：　when　Mr。　Stryker　gets　into　the　cabinet；　he　may　send　me　as　special　envoy　to　any　country　where　I　can　find　a　French　milliner。〃

〃You　had　better　go　to　Russia　with　Mr。　Henley　and　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　I　have　not　the　least　doubt　but　they　would　find　your　finesse　of　great　service；〃　said　the　gentleman。　Mrs。　Creighton　blushed；　and　Harry　coloured；　too。

〃The　very　idea　of　such　an　ally　would　frighten　Mr。　Henley　out　of　his　wits；〃　said　the　lady；　recovering　herself；　〃he　is　an　incorrigible　old　bachelor；　that；　you　must　allow；　is　a　great　fault　of　his；　Mr。　Hazlehurst。〃

〃If　he　be　incorrigible；〃　said　Harry。

〃But　that　is　not　clear；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker　to　the　lady；　〃he　is　a　great　admirer　of　yours。〃

〃Come；　a　truce　to　diplomacy；　Josephine；　I　am　going　to　beg　Miss　Wyllys　for　a　song；〃　said　Ellsworth。

Elinor　sang　very　readily；　and　very　sweetly；　the　Swiss　airs　sounded　charmingly　among　the　hills；　and　she　was　accompanied　by　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　while　Charlie；　with　the　two　Hazlehursts；　made　up　a　respectable　second　for　several　songs。

Some　gathering　clouds　at　length　warned　the　party　to　turn　inn…ward　again。

〃It　is　to　be　hoped　the　shower　won't　reach　us；　for　your　sake；　ladies；〃　said　Robert　Hazlehurst。

〃I　hope　not；　for　the　sake　of　my　bibi！〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃It　is　the　prettiest　little　hat　I　have　had　these　three　years；　it　would　be　distressing　to　have　it　spoilt　before　it　has　lost　its　freshness。〃

｛〃bibi〃　=　a　stylish　hat　of　the　1830s｝

〃There　is　no　danger；　marm；〃　said　one　of　the　boatmen；　with　a　good…natured　gravity；　that　made　Mrs。　Creighton　smile。　〃Them　'ere　kind　of　clouds　often　goes　over　the　lake；　without　coming　up　this　way。〃

And　so　it　proved；　the　party　reached　the　hotel　safely；　all　agreeing　that　they　had　had　a　very　pleasant　day；　and　were　not　at　all　more　tired　than　was　desirable　after　such　an　excursion。



CHAPTER　X。　｛XXXIII｝

〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。　Sebastian　are　you？　If　spirits　can　assume　both　form　and　suit；　You　come　to　fright　us！〃　SHAKSPEARE。　｛sic｝

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃Twelfh　Night〃；　V。i。221；　235…236｝

ON　their　return　to　Saratoga；　the　Wyllyses　and　Hazlehursts　found　startling　intelligence　awaiting　them。　Letters　had　just　arrived　for　Harry；　for　Mrs。　Stanley；　and　for　Mr。　Wyllys；　all　of　a　similar　nature；　and　all　of　a　character　that　was　astounding　to　those　who　received　them。　They　could　scarcely　credit　their　senses　as　they　read　the　fact；　that　the　executors　of　the　late　John　William　Stanley；　Esquire；　were　called　upon　to　account　for　all　past　proceedings；　to　William　Stanley；　his　son　and　heir。　Hazlehurst　was　also　summoned　to　resign　that　portion　of　the　property　of　which　he　had　taken　possession　two　years　since；　when　he　had　reached　the　age　of　twenty…five。

The　letters　were　all　written　by　Mr。　Clapp；　Charlie　Hubbard's　brother…in…law；　who　announced　himself　as　the　attorney　of　William　Stanley；　Esquire。

〃Here　are　the　letters　addressed　to　myself；〃　said　Mrs。　Stanley；　who　had　immediately　sent　for　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Hazlehurst；　as　soon　as　they　returned　from　Lake　George：　she　had　not　yet　recovered　from　the　first　agitation　caused　by　this　extraordinary　disclosure。　〃This　is　the　letter　purporting　to　come　from　my　husband's　son；　and　this　is　from　the　lawyer；〃　she　added；　extending　both　to　Hazlehurst。　Harry　read　them　aloud。　The　first　ran　as　follows：

〃MADAM：

〃I　have　not　the　honour　of　being　acquainted　with　you；　as　my　late　father　was　not　married　to　you　when　I　went　to　sea；　not　long　before　his　death。　But　I　make　no　doubt　that　you　will　not　refuse　me　my　rights；　now　that　I　step　forward　to　demand　them；　after　leaving　others　to　enjoy　them　for　nearly　eighteen　years。　Things　look　different　to　a　man　near　forty；　and　to　a　young　chap　of　twenty；　I　have　been　thinking　of　claiming　my　property　for　some　time；　but　was　told　by　lawyers　that　there　was　too　many　difficulties　in　the　way；　owing　partly　to　my　own　fault；　partly　to　the　fault　of　others。　As　long　as　I　was　a　youngster；　I　didn't　care　for　anything　but　having　my　own　wayI　snapped　my　fingers　at　all　the　world；　but　now　I　am　tired　of　a　sea…faring　life；　and　have　had　hardships　enough　for　one　man：　since　there　is　a　handsome　property　mine；　by　right；　I　am　resolved　to　claim　it；　through　thick　and　thin。　I　have　left　off　the　bottle；　and　intend　to　do　my　best　to　be　respectable　for　the　rest　of　my　days。　I　make　no　doubt　but　we　shall　be　able　to　come　to　some　agreement；　nor　would　I　object　to　a　compromise　for　the　past；　though　my　lawyers　advise　me　to　make　no　such　offer。　I　shall　be　pleased；　Madam；　to　pay　my　respects　to　you；　that　we　may　settle　our　affairs　at　a　personal　meeting；　if　it　suits　you　to　do　so。

〃Your　obedient　servant；　and　step…son；

〃WILLIAM　STANLEY。〃

〃Can　that　be　my　husband's　son！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Stanley；　in　an　agitated　voice；　as　Harry　finished　reading　the　letter；　and　handed　it　to　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃It　will　take　more　than　this　to　convince　me；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　who　had　been　listening　attentively。　The　handwriting　was　then　carefully　examined　by　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mr。　Wyllys；　and　both　were　compelled　to　admit　that　it　was　at　least　a　good　imitation　of　that　of　William　Stanley。

〃A　most　extraordinary　proceeding　in　either　case！〃　exclaimed　Harry；　pacing　the　room。

Mr。　Clapp's　letter　was　then　read：　it　began　with　the　following　words：

〃MADAM：

〃I　regret　that　I　am　compelled　by　the　interests　of　my　client；　Mr。　William　Stanley；　Esquire；　to　address　a　lady　I　respect　so　highly；　upon　a　subject　that　must　necessarily　prove　distressing　to　her；　in　many　different　ways。〃

Then　followed　a　brief　statement　of　his　first　acquaintance　with　Mr。　Stanley；　his　refusing　to　have　anything　to　do　with　the　affair；　his　subsequent　conviction　that　the　ragged　sailor　was　the　individual　he　represented　himself　to　be；　his　reluctance　to　proceed；　&c。；　&c。　But　since　he　was　now　convinced；　by　the　strongest　proofs；　of　the　justice　of　Mr。　Stanley's　demand；　and　had　at　length　undertaken　to　assist　him　with　his　advice；　he　was；　therefore；　compelled　by　duty　to　give　the　regular　legal　notice；　that　Mrs。　Stanley；　as　executrix；　would　be　required　to　account　for　her　proceedings　since　her　husband's　death。　His　client；　he　said；　would　much　prefer　an　amicable　arrangement；　but；　if　necessary；　would　proceed　to　law　immediately。　He　wished　to　know　what　course　Mrs。　Stanley　was　disposed　to　take；　as　his　client's　steps　would　necessarily　be　guided　by　her　own；　and　those　of　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Mr。　Hazlehurst。　He　concluded　with　a　civil　hope　that　the　case　might　be　privately　adjusted。

〃Clapp　all　over；〃　said　Harry；　as　he　finished　reading　the　letter。

〃A　most　bare…faced　imposition；　depend　upon　it！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Wyllys；　with　strong　indignation。

Mrs。　Stanley　was　listening　with　anxious　eagerness　for　the　opinion　of　the　two　gentlemen。

〃I　am　strongly　disposed　to　mistrust　anything　that　comes　through　Clapp's　hands；〃　said　Harry；　pacing　the　room　thoughtfully；　with　the　letters　in　his　hand。　〃Still；　I　think　it　behooves　us；　sir；　to　act　with　deliberation；　the　idea　that　it　is　not　impossible　that　this　individual　should　be　the　son　of　Mr。　Stanley；　must　not　be　forgottenthat　possibility　alone　would　make　me　sift　the　matter　to　the　bottom　at　once。〃

〃Certainly；　it　must　be　looked　into　immediately。〃

〃What　has　the　lawyer　written　to　you？〃　asked　Mrs。　Stanley。

The　letters　to　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Harry　were　then　read　aloud；　they　were　almost　identical　in　their　contents　with　that　to　Mrs。　Stanley。　The　tone　of　each　was　civil　and　respectful；　though　each　contained　a　technical　legal　notice；　that　they　would　be　required　to　surrender　to　William　Stanley；　the　property　of　his　late　father；　according　to　the　will　of　the　said　John　William　Stanley；　which　the　said　William；　his　son；　had　hitherto　neglected　to　claim；　though　legally　entitled　to　it。

〃There：　is　certainly　an　air　of　confidence　about　those　letters　of　Clapp's；〃　said　Harry；　〃as　if　he　felt　himself　on　a　firm　foothold。　It　is　very　extraordinary！〃

〃Of　course：　he　would　never　move　in　such　a　case；　without　some　plausible　proof；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃But　how　could　he　get　any　proof　whatever；　on　this　occasion？〃　said　Mrs。　Stanley。　〃For　these　eighteen　years；　nearly；　William　Stanley　has　been　lying　at　the　bottom　of　the　ocean。　We　have　believed　so；　at　least。〃

〃Proofs　have　been　manufactured　by　lawyers　before　now；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃Do　you　suppose　that　if　William　Stanley　had　been　living；　we　never　should　have　heard　one　trace　of　him　during　eighteen　years？at　a　time；　too；　when　his　father's　death　had　left　him　a　large　property。〃

〃What　sort　of　a　man　is　this　Mr。　Clapp？〃　asked　Mrs。　Stanley。　〃His　manners　and　appearance；　whenever　I　have　accidentally　seen　him　with　the　Hubbards；　struck　me　as　very　unpleasant：　but　is　it　possible　he　can　be　so　utterly　devoid　of　all　principle；　as　wilfully　to　countenance　an　impostor？〃

〃He　is　a　man　whom　I　do　not　believe　to　possess　one　just　principle！〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃Within　the　last　year　or　two；　I　have　lost　all　confidence　in　his　honesty；　from　facts　known　to　me。〃

〃I　have　always　had　a　poor　opinion　of　him；　but　I　have　never　had　much　to　do　with　him；〃　said　Harry；　〃still；　I　should　not　have　thought　him　capable　of　entering　into　a　conspiracy　so　atrocious　as　this　must　be；　if　the　story　be　not　true。〃

〃He　would　do　any　dirty　work　whatever；　for　money。　I　KNOW　the　man；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　with　emphasis。

〃It　is　possible　he　may　be　deceived　himself；〃　observed　Mrs。　Stanley。

〃Very　improbable；〃　replied　Mr。　Wyllys；　shaking　his　head。

〃A　shrewd；　cunning；　quick…witted　fellow；　as　I　remember　him；　would　not　be　likely　to　undertake　such　a　case；　unless　he　had　some　prospect　of　success；〃　said　Harry；　pacing　the　room　again。　〃He　must　know　perfectly　well　that　it　is　make　or　break　with　him。　If　he　does　not　succeed；　he　will　be　utterly　ruined。〃

〃He　will　give　us　trouble；　no　doubt；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃He　must　have　got　the　means　of　putting　together　a　plausible　story。　And　yet　his　audacity　confounds　me！〃　

〃Eighteen　years；　is　it　not；　since　William　Stanley's　death？〃　asked　Harry；　turning　to　Mrs。　Stanley。

〃It　will　be　eighteen　years　next　October；　since　he　sailed。　I　was　married　in　November；　and　from　that　time　we　have　never　heard　anything　from　the　poor　boy；　excepting　the　report　that　the　Jefferson；　the　ship　in　which　he　sailed；　had　been　shipwrecked　on　the　coast　of　Africa；　the　following　winter；　and　all　hands　lost。　That　report　reached　us　not　long　before　my　husband's　death；　and　caused　him　to　word　his　will　in　the　way　it　is　now　expressed；　giving　to　the　son　of　his　kinsman　and　old　friend；　half　his　property；　in　case　his　son's　death　should　be　confirmed。　The　report　WAS　confirmed；　some　months　later；　by　the　arrival　of　an　American　vessel；　which　had　ridden　out　the　storm　that　wrecked　the　Jefferson：　she　saw　the　wreck　itself；　sent　a　boat　to　examine　it；　but　could　find　no　one　living；　although　several　bodies　were　picked　up；　with　the　hope　of　reviving　them。　But　you　have　heard　the　whole　sad　story　before；　Harr