Part 73 (1/2)
Manners's mind when he lea'd here. There was a laird in't, sir, an' a fortune. An' unless these come soon, I'm thinking I can spae th' en'.”
In truth, a much greater fool than McAndrews might have predicted that end.
On Monday Judge Bordley accompanied me as far as Dingley's tavern, and showed much emotion at parting.
”You need have no fears for your friends at Gordon's Pride, Richard,”
said he. ”And when the General comes back, I shall try to give him a good account of my stewards.h.i.+p.”
The General! That t.i.tle brought old Stanwix's cobwebbed prophecy into my head again. Here, surely, was the war which he had foretold, and I ready to embark in it.
Why not the sea, indeed?
CHAPTER LI. HOW AN IDLE PROPHECY CAME TO Pa.s.s
Captain Clapsaddle not being at his lodgings, I rode on to the Coffee House to put up my horse. I was stopped by Mr. Claude.
”Why, Mr. Carvel,” says he, ”I thought you on the Eastern Sh.o.r.e. There is a gentleman within will be mightily tickled to see you, or else his protestations are lies, which they may very well be. His name? Now, 'Pon my faith, it was Jones--no more.”
This thing of being called for at the Coffee House stirred up unpleasant a.s.sociations.
”What appearance does the man make?” I demanded.
”Merciful gad!” mine host exclaimed; ”once seen, never forgotten, and once heard, never forgotten. He quotes me Thomson, and he tells me of his estate in Virginia.”
The answer was not of a sort to allay my suspicions.
”Then he appears to be a landowner?” said I.
”'Ods! Blest if I know what he is,” says Mr. Claude. ”He may be anything, an impostor or a high-mightiness. But he's something to strike the eye and hold it, for all his Quaker clothes. He is swarth and thickset, and some five feet eight inches--full six inches under your own height. And he comes asking for you as if you owned the town between you. 'Send a fellow to Marlboro' Street for Mr. Richard Carvel, my good host!' says he, with a snap of his fingers. And when I tell him the news of you, he is prodigiously affected, and cries--but here's my gentleman now!”
I jerked my head around. Coming down the steps I beheld my old friend and benefactor, Captain John Paul!
”Ahoy, ahoy!” cries he. ”Now Heaven be praised, I have found you at last.”
Out of the saddle I leaped, and straight into his arms.
”Hold, hold, Richard!” he gasped. ”My ribs, man! Leave me some breath that I may tell you how glad I am to see you.”
”Mr. Jones!” I said, holding him out, ”now where the devil got you that?”
”Why, I am become a gentleman since I saw you,” he answered, smiling.
”My poor brother left me his estate in Virginia. And a gentleman must have three names at the least.”
I dropped his shoulders and shook with laughter.
”But Jones!” I cried. ”'Ad's heart! could you go no higher? Has your imagination left you, captain?”
”Republican simplicity, sir,” says he, looking a trifle hurt. But I laughed the more.
”Well, you have contrived to mix oil and vinegar,” said I. ”A landed gentleman and republican simplicity. I'll warrant you wear silk-knit under that gray homespun, and have a cameo in your pocket.”