Part 48 (1/2)

'So, then, he knows of your secret,' said the Cardinal with a sly malice.

'He knew of this youth's birth and station ere I did myself: he was the confessor of the Fitzgerald family, and attended Grace on her deathbed.'

'Hussey, then, believes this story?'

'He would swear to its truth, your Eminence.'

'He is a crafty fellow, and one not easily to be deceived,' said Caraffa, musing. 'Let me see his letter.'

He took the letter from the Pere, and perused it carefully.

'I see little in this,' said he, handing it back, 'that you have not already told me.'

'I have endeavoured to make your Eminence acquainted with everything that occurred,' said Ma.s.soni with downcast eyes, but yet contriving to watch the countenance of the other attentively.

'Monsignor Hussey, then, recommends in case of any backwardness--such is his phrase--that you yourself should reveal to this youth the story of his descent. Have you thought over this counsel?'

'I have, your Eminence.'

'Well, and to what conclusion has it led you?'

'That there was no other course open to me,' said Ma.s.soni firmly.

The Cardinal's brow darkened, and he turned upon the Pere a look of insolent defiance.

'So, then, Pere Ma.s.soni, this is to be a trial of skill between us; but I will not accept the challenge, sir. It is without shame that I confess myself unequal to a Jesuit in craftiness.'

The Pere never spoke, but stood with arms crossed and bent-down head as if in thought.

'It must be owned, sir,' continued Caraffa scoffingly, 'that you have no craven spirit. Most men, situated as you are, would have hesitated ere they selected for their adversary a Prince of the Church.'

Still was Ma.s.soni silent.

'While, as to your _protege_, with one word of mine to the Minister of Police, he would be driven out of Rome--out of the States of the Church--as a vagabond.'

The word had scarcely been uttered, when the door opened, and Gerald stood before them. For an instant he hesitated, abashed at his intrusion; but Ma.s.soni stepped hastily forward, and taking his hand, said--

'Your Eminence, this is the Chevalier!'

Caraffa, who had known Charles Edward in his early life, stood actually like one thunderstruck before the youth, so exactly was he his counterpart. His full and soft blue eyes, the long silky hair of a rich brown colour, falling heavily on his neck, the mouth, half pouting and half proud, and the full chin, roundly moulded as a woman's, were all there; while in his air and mien a resemblance no less striking was apparent. By artful thoughtfulness of the Jesuit father, the youth's dress was made to a.s.sist the schemes, for it was a suit of black velvet, such as Charles Edward used to wear when a young man; a blue silk under-vest, barely appearing, gave the impression that it was the ribbon of the garter, which the young Prince rarely laid aside.

Not all the eloquence and all the subtlety of Ma.s.soni could have accomplished the result which was in a moment effected by that apparition; and as Gerald stood half timidly, half haughtily there, Caraffa bowed low, and with all the deference he would have accorded to superior rank. For a second the dark eyes of the Jesuit flashed a gleam of triumph, but the next moment his look was calm and composed. The crafty Pere saw that the battle was won if the struggle could be but concluded at once, and so, addressing Gerald in a tone of marked deference, he said--

'I have long wished for the day when I should see this meeting; that its confidence may be unbroken and undisturbed, I will withdraw,' and with a separate reverence to each, the Pere backed to the door and retired.

Whatever suspicions might have occurred to the Cardinal's mind had he but time for reflection, there was now no opportunity to indulge. All had happened so rapidly, and above all there was still the spell over him of that resemblance, which seemed every moment to increase; such indeed was its influence, that it at once routed all the considerations of his prudent reserve, and made him forget everything save that he stood in the presence of a Stuart.

'If I am confused, sir, and agitated,' began he, 'at this our first meeting, lay it to the account of the marvellous resemblance by which you recall my recollection of the Prince, your father. I knew him when he was about your own age, and when he graciously distinguished me by many marks of his favour.'

'My father!' said Gerald, over whose face a deep crimson blush first spread, and then a pallor equally great succeeded--'did you say my father?'