Volume I Part 27 (1/2)
”Yes, Tom; here I have it. These coasting-craft, whose sailing-lines are marked here, will take us and our traps to Cagliari for a mere trifle,--here is the route.”
As the young man bent over the map, the door behind opened, and a stranger entered. ”So I have found you, Fossbrooke!” cried he, ”though they insisted you had left Ireland ten days ago.”
”Mercy on me! Lord Wilmington!” said Sir Brook, as he shaded his eyes to stare at him. ”What could have brought you here?”
”I 'll tell you,” said he, dropping his voice. ”I read a description so very like you in the secret report this morning, that I sent my servant Curtis, who knows you well, to see if it was not yourself; when he came back to me--for I waited for him at the end of the lane--with the a.s.surance that I was right, I came on here. I must tell you that I took the precaution to have your landlord detained, as if for examination, at the Under-Secretary's office; and he is the only one here who knows me.
Mr. Lendrick, I hope you have not forgotten me? We met some months ago on the Shannon.”
”What can I offer you?” said Sir Brook. ”Shall it be tea? We were just going to have it.”
”I 'll take whatever you like to give me; but let us profit by the few moments I can stay. Tell me how was it you failed with the Chief Baron?”
”He wouldn't have me; that's all. He maintains his right to an undivided patronage, and will accept of no dictation.”
”Will he accept of your friend here? He has strong claims on him.”
”As little as myself, my Lord; he grew eloquent on his public virtue, and of course became hopeless.”
”Will he retire and let us compensate him?”
”I believe not. He thinks the country has a vested interest in his capacity, and as he cannot be replaced, he has no right to retire.''
”He may make almost his own terms with us, Fossbrooke,” said the Viceroy. ”We want to get rid of himself and an intractable Solicitor-General together. Will you try what can be done?”
”Not I, my Lord. I have made my first and last advances in that quarter.”
”And yet I believe you are our last chance. He told Pemberton yesterday you were the one man of ability that ever called on him with a message from a Viceroy.”
”Let us leave him undisturbed in his illusion, my Lord.”
”I 'd say, let us profit by it, Fossbrooke. I have been in search of you these eight days, to beg you would take the negotiation in hand. Come, Mr. Lendrick, you are interested in this; a.s.sist me in persuading Sir Brook to accept this charge. If he will undertake the mission, I am ready to give him ample powers to treat.”
”I suspect, my Lord,” said Tom, ”you do not know my grandfather. He is not a very manageable person to deal with.”
”It is for that reason I want to place him in the hands of my old friend here.”
”No, no, my Lord; it is quite hopeless. Had we never met, I might have come before him with some chance of success; but I have already prejudiced myself in his eyes, and our one interview was not very gratifying to either of us.”
”I'll not give in, Fossbrooke, even though I am well aware I can do nothing to requite the service I ask of you.”
”We leave Ireland to-morrow evening. We have a project which requires our presence in the island of Sardinia. We are about to make our fortunes, my Lord, and I 'm sure you 're not the man to throw any obstacle in the way.”
”Give me half an hour of your morning, Fossbrooke; half an hour will suffice. Drive out to the Priory; see the Chief Baron; tell him I intrusted the negotiation to you, as at once more delicate to each of us. You are disconnected with all party ties here. Say it is not a question of advancing this man or that,--that we well know how inferior must any successor be to himself, but that certain changes are all-essential to us. We have not--I may tell you in confidence--the right man as our law adviser in the House; and add, 'It is a moment to make your own terms; write them down and you shall have your reply within an hour,--a favorable one I may almost pledge myself it will be.
At all events, every detail of the meeting is strictly between us, and on honor.' Come, now, Fossbrooke; do this for me as the greatest service I could entreat of you.”
”I cannot refuse you any longer. I will go. I only premise that I am to limit myself strictly to the statement you shall desire me to repeat. I know nothing of the case; and I cannot be its advocate.”
”Just so. Give me your card. I will merely write these words,--'See Sir Brook for me.--Wilmington.' Our object is his resignation, and we are prepared to pay handsomely for it. Now, a word with you, Mr. Lendrick. I heard most honorable mention of you yesterday from the vice-provost; he tells me that your college career was a triumph so long as you liked it, and that you have abilities for any walk in life. Why not continue, then, on so successful a path? Why not remain, take out your degree, and emulate that distinguished relative who has thrown such l.u.s.tre on your family?”