little novels-第55章

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Charlotte　followed　Percy　into　the　passage。　〃I　shall　be　here　to…morrow；　dearest！〃　he　said；　and　tried　to　raise　her　hand　to　his　lips。　She　abruptly　drew　it　away。　〃Not　that　hand！〃　she　answered。　〃Captain　Bervie　has　just　touched　it。　Kiss　the　other！〃

〃Do　you　still　doubt　the　Captain？〃　said　Percy；　amused　by　her　petulance。

She　put　her　arm　over　his　shoulder；　and　touched　the　plaster　on　his　neck　gently　with　her　finger。　〃There's　one　thing　I　don't　doubt；〃　she　said：　〃the　Captain　did　_that！_〃

Percy　left　her；　laughing。　At　the　front　gate　of　the　cottage　he　found　Arthur　Bervie　in　conversation　with　the　same　shabbily…dressed　man…servant　who　had　announced　the　Captain's　visit　to　Charlotte。

〃What　has　become　of　the　other　servant？〃　Bervie　asked。　〃I　mean　the　old　man　who　has　been　with　Mr。　Bowmore　for　so　many　years。〃

〃He　has　left　his　situation；　sir。〃

〃Why？〃

〃As　I　understand；　sir；　he　spoke　disrespectfully　to　the　master。〃

〃Oh！　And　how　came　the　master　to　hear　of　_you？_〃

〃I　advertised；　and　Mr。　Bowmore　answered　my　advertisement。〃

Bervie　looked　hard　at　the　man　for　a　moment；　and　then　joined　Percy　at　the　carriage　door。　The　two　gentlemen　started　for　London。

〃What　do　you　think　of　Mr。　Bowmore's　new　servant？〃　asked　the　Captain　as　they　drove　away　from　the　cottage。　〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　the　fellow。〃

〃I　didn't　particularly　notice　him；〃　Percy　a　nswered。

There　was　a　pause。　When　the　conversation　was　resumed；　it　turned　on　common…place　subjects。　The　Captain　looked　uneasily　out　of　the　carriage　window。　Percy　looked　uneasily　at　the　Captain。

They　had　left　Dartford　about　two　miles　behind　them；　when　Percy　noticed　an　old　gabled　house；　sheltered　by　magnificent　trees；　and　standing　on　an　eminence　well　removed　from　the　high…road。　Carriages　and　saddle…horses　were　visible　on　the　drive　in　front；　and　a　flag　was　hoisted　on　a　staff　placed　in　the　middle　of　the　lawn。

〃Something　seems　to　be　going　on　there；〃　Percy　remarked。　〃A　fine　old　house！　Who　does　it　belong　to？〃

Bervie　smiled。　〃It　belongs　to　my　father；〃　he　said。　〃He　is　chairman　of　the　bench　of　local　magistrates；　and　he　receives　his　brother　justices　to…day；　to　celebrate　the　opening　of　the　sessions。〃

He　stopped　and　looked　at　Percy　with　some　embarrassment。　〃I　am　afraid　I　have　surprised　and　disappointed　you；〃　he　resumed；　abruptly　changing　the　subject。　〃I　told　you　when　we　met　just　now　at　Mr。　Bowmore's　cottage　that　I　had　something　to　say　to　you；　and　I　have　not　yet　said　it。　The　truth　is；　I　don't　feel　sure　whether　I　have　been　long　enough　your　friend　to　take　the　liberty　of　advising　you。〃

〃Whatever　your　advice　is；〃　Percy　answered；　〃trust　me　to　take　it　kindly　on　my　side。〃

Thus　encouraged；　the　Captain　spoke　out。

〃You　will　probably　pass　much　of　your　time　at　the　cottage；〃　he　began；　〃and　you　will　be　thrown　a　great　deal　into　Mr。　Bowmore's　society。　I　have　known　him　for　many　years。　Speaking　from　that　knowledge；　I　most　seriously　warn　you　against　him　as　a　thoroughly　unprincipled　and　thoroughly　dangerous　man。〃

This　was　strong　languageand；　naturally　enough；　Percy　said　so。　The　Captain　justified　his　language。

〃Without　alluding　to　Mr。　Bowmore's　politics；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　can　tell　you　that　the　motive　of　everything　he　says　and　does　is　vanity。　To　the　gratification　of　that　one　passion　he　would　sacrifice　you　or　me；　his　wife　or　his　daughter；　without　hesitation　and　without　remorse。　His　one　desire　is　to　get　into　Parliament。　You　are　wealthy；　and　you　can　help　him。　He　will　leave　no　effort　untried　to　reach　that　end；　and；　if　he　gets　you　into　political　difficulties；　he　will　desert　you　without　scruple。〃

Percy　made　a　last　effort　to　take　Mr。　Bowmore's　partfor　the　one　irresistible　reason　that　he　was　Charlotte's　father。

〃Pray　don't　think　I　am　unworthy　of　your　kind　interest　in　my　welfare；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Can　you　tell　me　of　any　_facts_　which　justify　what　you　have　just　said？〃

〃I　can　tell　you　of　three　facts；〃　Bervie　said。　〃Mr。　Bowmore　belongs　to　one　of　the　most　revolutionary　clubs　in　England；　he　has　spoken　in　the　ranks　of　sedition　at　public　meetings；　and　his　name　is　already　in　the　black　book　at　the　Home　Office。　So　much　for　the　past。　As　to　the　future；　if　the　rumor　be　true　that　Ministers　mean　to　stop　the　insurrectionary　risings　among　the　population　by　suspending　the　Habeas　Corpus　Act；　Mr。　Bowmore　will　certainly　be　in　danger；　and　it　may　be　my　father's　duty　to　grant　the　warrant　that　apprehends　him。　Write　to　my　father　to　verify　what　I　have　said；　and　I　will　forward　your　letter　by　way　of　satisfying　him　that　he　can　trust　you。　In　the　meantime；　refuse　to　accept　Mr。　Bowmore's　assistance　in　the　matter　of　your　claim　on　Parliament；　and；　above　all　things；　stop　him　at　the　outset；　when　he　tries　to　steal　his　way　into　your　intimacy。　I　need　not　caution　you　to　say　nothing　against　him　to　his　wife　and　daughter。　His　wily　tongue　has　long　since　deluded　them。　Don't　let　him　delude　_you！_　Have　you　thought　any　more　of　our　evening　at　Doctor　Lagarde's？〃　he　asked；　abruptly　changing　the　subject。

〃I　hardly　know；〃　said　Percy；　still　under　the　impression　of　the　formidable　warning　which　he　had　just　received。

〃Let　me　jog　your　memory；〃　the　other　continued。　〃You　went　on　with　the　consultation　by　yourself；　after　I　had　left　the　Doctor's　house。　It　will　be　really　doing　me　a　favor　if　you　can　call　to　mind　what　Lagarde　saw　in　the　trancein　my　absence？〃

Thus　entreated　Percy　roused　himself。　His　memory　of　events　were　still　fresh　enough　to　answer　the　call　that　his　friend　had　made　on　it。　In　describing　what　had　happened；　he　accurately　repeated　all　that　the　Doctor　had　said。

Bervie　dwelt　on　the　words　with　alarm　in　his　face　as　well　as　surprise。

〃A　man　like　me；　trying　to　persuade　a　woman　like〃　he　checked　himself；　as　if　he　was　afraid　to　let　Charlotte's　name　pass　his　lips。　〃Trying　to　induce　a　woman　to　go　away　with　me；〃　he　resumed；　〃and　persuading　her　at　last？　Pray；　go　on！　What　did　the　Doctor　see　next？〃

〃He　was　too　much　exhausted；　he　said；　to　see　any　more。〃

〃Surely　you　returned　to　consult　him　again？〃

〃No；　I　had　had　enough　of　it。〃

〃When　we　get　to　London；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃we　shall　pass　along　the　Strand；　on　the　way　to　your　chambers。　Will　you　kindly　drop　me　at　the　turning　that　leads　to　the　Doctor's　lodgings？〃

Percy　looked　at　him　in　amazement。　〃You　still　take　it　seriously？〃　he　said。

〃Is　it　_not_　serious？〃　Bervie　asked。　〃Have　you　and　I；　so　far；　not　done　exactly　what　this　man　saw　us　doing？　Did　we　not　meet；　in　the　days　when　we　were　rivals　（as　he　saw　us　meet）；　with　the　pistols　in　our　hands？　Did　you　not　recognize　his　description　of　the　lady　when　you　met　her　at　the　ball；　as　I　recognized　it　before　you？〃

〃Mere　coincidences！〃　Percy　answered；　quoting　Charlotte's　opinion　when　they　had　spoken　together　of　Doctor　Lagarde；　but　taking　care　not　to　cite　his　authority。　〃How　many　thousand　men　have　been　crossed　in　love？　How　many　thousand　men　have　fought　duels　for　love？　How　many　thousand　women　choose　blue　for　their　favorite　color；　and　answer　to　the　vague　description　of　the　lady　whom　the　Doctor　pretended　to　see？〃

〃Say　that　it　is　so；〃　Bervie　rejoined。　〃The　thing　is　remarkable；　even　from　your　point　of　view。　And　if　more　coincidences　follow；　the　result　will　be　more　remarkable　still。〃

Arrived　at　the　Strand；　Percy　set　the　Captain　down　at　the　turning　which　led　to　the　Doctor's　lodgings。　〃You　will　call　on　me　or　write　me　word；　if　anything　remarkable　happens？〃　he　said。

〃You　shall　hear　from　me　without　fail；　〃　Bervie　replied。

That　night；　the　Captain's　pen　performed　the　Captain's　promise；　in　few　and　startling　words。

〃Melancholy　news！　Madame　Lagarde　is　dead。　Nothing　is　known　of　her　son　but　that　he　has　left　England。　I　have　found　out　that　he　is　a　political　exile。　If　he　has　ventured　back　to　France；　it　is　barely　possible　that　I　may　hear　something　of　him。　I　have　friends　at　the　English　embassy　in　Paris　who　will　help　me　to　make　inquiries；　and　I　start　for　the　Continent　in　a　day　or　two。　Write　to　me　while　I　am　away；　to　the　care　of　my　father；　at　'The　Manor　House；　near　Dartford。'　He　will　always　know　my　address　abroad；　and　will　forward　your　letters。　For　your　own　sake；　remember　the　warning　I　gave　you　this　afternoon！　Your　faithful　friend；　A。　B。〃

CHAPTER　IX。

OFFICIAL　SECRETS

THERE　WAS　a　more　serious　reason　than　Bervie　was　aware　of；　at　the　time；　for　the　warning　which　he　had　thought　it　his　duty　to　address　to　Percy　Linwood。　The　new　footman　who　had　entered　Mr。　Bowmore's　service　was　a　Spy。

Well　practiced　in　the　infamous　vocation　that　he　followed；　the　wretch　had　been　chosen　by　the　Department　of　Secret　Service　at　the　Home　Office；　to　watch　the　proceedings　of　Mr。　Bowmore　and　his　friends；　and　to　report　the　result　to　his　superiors。　It　may　not　be　amiss　to　add　that　the　employment　of　paid　spies　and　informers；　by　the　English　Government　of　that　time；　was　openly　acknowledged　in　the　House　of　Lords；　and　was　defended　as　a　necessary　measure　in　the　speeches　of　Lord　Redesdale　and　Lord　Liverpool。*

The　reports　furnished　by　the　Home　Office　Spy；　under　these　circumstances；　begin　with　the　month　of　March；　and　take　the　form　of　a　series　of　notes　introduced　as　follows：

〃MR。　SECRETARYSince　I　entered　Mr。　Bowmore's　service；　I　have　the　honor　to　inform　you　that　my　eyes　and　ears　have　been　kept　in　a　state　of　active　observation；　and　I　can　further　certify　that　my　means　of　making　myself　useful　in　the　future　to　my　honorable　employers　are　in　no　respect　diminished。　Not　the　slightest　suspicion　of　my　true　character　is　felt　by　any　person　in　the　house。

FIRST　NOTE。

〃The　young　gentleman　now　on　a　visit　to　Mr。　Bowmore　is；　as　you　have　been　correctly　informed；　Mr。　Percy　Linwood。　Although　he　is　engaged　to　be　married　to　Miss　　Bowmore；　he　is　not　discreet　enough　to　conceal　a　certain　want　of　friendly　feeling；　on　his　part；　toward　her　father。　The　young　lady　has　noticed　this；　and　has　resented　it。　She　accuses　her　lover　of　having　allowed　himself　to　be　prejudiced　against　Mr。　Bowmore　by　some　slanderous　person　unknown。

〃Mr。　Percy's　clumsy　defense　of　himself　led　（in　my　hearing）　to　a　quarrel！　Nothing　but　his　prompt　submission　prevented　the　marriage　engagement　from　being　broken　off。

〃　'If　you　showed　a　want　of　confidence　in　Me'　（I　heard　Miss　Charlotte　say）；　'I　might　forgive　it。　But　when　you　show　a　want　of　confidence　in　a　man　so　noble　as　my　father；　I　have　no　mercy　on　you。'　After　such　an　expression　of　filial　sentiment　as　this；　Mr。　Percy　wisely　took　the　readiest　way　of　appealing　to　the　lady's　indulgence。　The　young　man　has　a　demand　on　Parliament　for　moneys　due　to　his　father's　estate；　and　he　pleased　and　flattered　Miss　Charlotte　by　asking　Mr。　Bowmore　to　advise　him　as　to　the　best　means　of　asserting　his　claim。　By　way　of　advancing　his　political　interests；　Mr。　Bowmore　introduced　him　to　the　local　Hampden　Club；　and　Miss　Charlotte　rewarded　him　with　a　generosity　which　must　not　be　passed　over　in　silence。　Her　lover　was　permitted　to　put　an　engagement　ring　on　her　finger；　and　to　kiss　her　afterward　to　his　heart's　content。〃

SECOND　NOTE。

〃Mr。　Percy　has　paid　more　visits　to　the　Republican　Club；　and　Justice　Bervie　（father　of　the　Captain）　has　heard　of　it；　and　has　written　to　his　son。　The　result　that　might　have　been　expected　has　followed。　Captain　Bervie　announces　his　return　to　England；　to　exert　his　influence　for　political　good　against　the　influence　of　Mr。　Bowmore　for　political　evil。

〃In　the　meanwhile；　Mr。　Percy's　claim　has　been　brought　before　the　House　of　Commons