Part 12 (1/2)
”Show me into the library, and hand this card to Miss Effingham,” said Arthur to a servant at the foot of the staircase. The footman first looked at him, then at the name on the card, then said, with a low bow, ”Certainly, sir, certainly,” and ushered the Captain to rather a snug little apartment which was used as a library. Edith was dancing when the footman entered. On the conclusion of the waltz he approached and quietly handed her the card. A flush of pleasure lit up her beautiful features, and joy sparkled in her brilliant eyes, as she read the name, and without a word to any one, followed the servant and pa.s.sed straight to the room where her lover waited for her. We will pa.s.s over the transports of their first meeting,--it can be easily imagined, as the reader, is already aware of their engagement, and that he had returned to England for the sole purpose of their union. After the emotion of the first few moments had subsided Arthur related to her the accident by which Sir Ralph had been killed, and of the existence of her uncle's will, and the way it had been stolen by Mrs. Fraudhurst, and Sir Ralph's complicity in the plot.
A feeling of regret at the untimely end of the unhappy man, as he had been hurried into eternity without preparation, came over her for a few moments, this was chased away by indignation at the fraudulent and base part that had been played by her late governess and companion. ”What has become of her?” she inquired.
”Decamped, and no doubt fled the country ere this; all that is known of her is that she left Vellenaux on the plea of rendering all the a.s.sistance in her power to Sir Ralph, but she did not make her appearance in that neighbourhood,” was Arthur's answer. The reader knows more of her movements than any of her acquaintances at Vellenaux or London.
”And we shall have dear old Vellenaux to live in. Oh! Arthur dear, I am so happy, with all the friends I hold most dear on earth residing around us. You will of course leave the service now? How kind of my poor, dear uncle to think of us both in his will. But Mrs. Barton may notice my absence, and become uneasy, so let us return;” and in another moment or two, leaning on the arm of her handsome affianced husband, Edith re-entered the ball room, much to the relief and surprise of Pauline Barton. Arthur Carlton took an opportunity during the evening of relating to Mr. Barton the change that had taken place in Edith's circ.u.mstances by the death of, and disclosures made by, the late Baronet.
”Meet me at breakfast in the morning, and we will consult as to what immediate steps should be taken on this extraordinary occasion; but of course you will sleep here,” said Horace. Arthur a.s.sented, and was soon again at Edith's side, who had told confidentially to Mrs. Barton all that he had told her: and that little lady could not restrain her delight, and before eleven o'clock that evening, every one in the room became aware that the beautiful Miss Effingham was worth twenty thousand pounds a year as heiress of Vellenaux.
Mr. and Mrs. Denham, previous to the ball, took their departure for Devons.h.i.+re, and were comfortably settled in the Rectory before Horace returned to the Willows. He had postponed their journey in order that Arthur and Edith might have the benefit of his advice and a.s.sistance in such matters as might arise during the establishment of their claims, set forth in the will of the late Sir Jasper, now produced.
Mr. Septimus Jones was a lawyer of good repute, carrying on his practice now, and had been doing so for upwards of fifteen years in the main street of Hammersmith leading to the Suspension Bridge.
”Nicholas,” said that gentleman one morning, as he laid on his desk a copy of the _Times_ newspaper, which he had been carefully perusing for upwards of an hour, ”Nicholas, do you remember a youth named Edward Crowquill, that I had in my office some ten years since?”
The old and confidential clerk ceased writing, and thrusting his pen behind his ear, rubbed his hands softly together, and said, ”Most certainly I do. He was not fit for the business, and gave it up through ill health; studied medicine for a time, and is now a chemist and druggist, residing some hundred yards down the street.”
”Exactly so,” replied his employer, ”you will be good enough to put on your hat and go and request him to do me the favor to step up here for a few moments.” Nicholas did his master's bidding, and returned shortly, accompanied by Mr. Crowquill. Mr. Jones, after requesting him to be seated, and directing his clerk to pay attention, took up the newspaper, and read, in a clear voice the following advertis.e.m.e.nt: ”To Lawyers and otters.--If the party who drew the will of the late Sir Jasper Coleman of Vellenaux, Devons.h.i.+re, and those who witnessed the same doc.u.ment some ten years ago, will call at the office of Messrs. Deeds, Chancery, and Deeds, Solicitors, Gray's Inn Lane, they will be handsomely rewarded for their trouble.” ”Now, gentlemen,” continued he, ”I drew this will, and you both witnessed it. Do you both remember the circ.u.mstance.” After a little reflection they both recollected the circ.u.mstance.
”Oh! since you have not forgotten the occurrence, I will show you a rough draft of the will which I made at the time, and by reading this it will refresh your memories, and you will be better able to swear to the real will if it should be produced.”
”When do you purpose calling upon the Solicitors?” enquired Crowquill.
”To-morrow morning we will call for you on our road to town,” replied Mr. Jones, politely bowing his visitor out of the office.
CHAPTER XVII.
Of the early history of Sir Lexicon Chutny very little was known. He was of Dutch extraction that was obvious, had served for a time in the Madras Civil Service, but on acquiring a large property by the death of a distant relative, he retired from that service and settled on one of his plantations in Pallamcotta. How he obtained his t.i.tle no one knew or enquired, his relative, now deceased, was so called, and in his will he directed that his heir should a.s.sume his name and rank. He was thoroughly Indian in his tastes and habits, sensual and self indulgent; saw very little European society, and report said that he had several native mistresses, and was reputed very wealthy. He had never married, for European ladies at that period were rarely to be met with in Pallamcotta. It must have been business of no ordinary importance to induce him to leave the land wherein he had been born, to visit Hamburg, where he made his stay as short as possible. He was not favorably impressed with the Frauleins and fair-haired daughters of Holland, and was now returning home in the ”Great Mogul,” a Dutch Indiaman bound to Madras.
”Wreck on the lee bow!” shouted a look out from the mast-head. This excited quite a commotion on deck, from whence the object was soon discernable through the telescope, and soon after by the naked eye. The s.h.i.+p's course was altered and she bore down upon the unfortunate craft to render such a.s.sistance as might be necessary. She proved to be the s.h.i.+p ”Kaffir Chief,” from Cork, bound to the Cape; she had been dismasted in one of those terrific storms which so frequently occur in these lat.i.tudes, and was now lying completely water-logged on the bosom of the treacherous ocean. The day previous to the wreck had been remarkably fine, but as night closed in the wind rose and continued to increase until it blew a perfect hurricane. In spite of the utmost exertions of the crew the sails were blown clear of the bolt ropes, yards and spars were carried away, when the foremast went by the board and the main topmast fell with a crash into the sea, seventeen of the crew were hurled into the wild waste of waters. A little before daylight a tremendous sea struck her stern, uns.h.i.+pping the rudder, carrying away the wheel, round-house and lockers, rendering her unmanageable, and she was tossed helplessly like a log upon the mighty billows. As the day broke the storm somewhat subsided, a scene of wild desolation was realized by those on board the unfortunate vessel, as the flashes of broad sheet lightning, with which the heavy clouds were surcharged, occasionally shot forth. The scene was startling and terrific, the wild waves were breaking over her and three more of the crew were swept overboard. As the light increased the sea began gradually to go down, and spars and pieces of wreck were seen floating all around, lifted upon the surging waves, to which some of the unfortunate seamen had clung with the grasp of despair, only to be again thrown into the dark trough of the sea to rise no more.
Although the hurricane had subsided, so much water had been s.h.i.+pped that the pumps had to be kept continually going to prevent the hull from going down: to this laborious task all had to exert themselves to the utmost, and only by this means could the s.h.i.+p be kept afloat. The self-styled Mrs. Grenville rendered good service in this hour of peril, she voluntarily took the place of the steward, now called to the pumps, and served out rations of biscuits and spirits to all hands, nor did she forget herself on the occasion. The danger of her position appeared in no way to appal her, and having to undergo no bodily fatigue beyond her strength, she was very little affected by the disasters and hards.h.i.+ps of the past few days. Such of the officers and crew as had not been swallowed up by the boiling surf were in a very weak and exhausted condition, owing to their great labor at the pumps, when rescued from their perilous position by the boats of the ”Great Mogul.” These particulars were gathered from time to time from some of the crew, but from Mrs. Grenville a more detailed account of the wreck was obtained.
That lady thought it necessary to keep to her cabin for the first week, during which time she had to sketch out a fresh plan of action for the future.
This she soon effected, having received all the required information from the little fat Dutch stewardess concerning the s.h.i.+p, its destination, and the names and positions of the pa.s.sengers.
”My dear madam,” said the polite Captain, addressing Mrs. Grenville, ”you really must allow me to recommend you to try an airing on the quarter deck this beautiful morning; after the long seclusion of your cabin you will, I am sure, find it both agreeable and refres.h.i.+ng.” In a graceful manner, and with a pleasing smile, she replied,
”I shall be happy to adopt your suggestion Captain Hanstein, and if it is not interfering with your professional duties, may I request the favour of your arm for a promenade, as I feel scarcely equal to the effort unattended.”
The Captain bowed and a.s.sisted the lady to the quarterdeck.
The Indigo planter, who had sat opposite Mrs. Grenville at breakfast, felt somewhat annoyed that he had not solicited the pleasure of accompanying the lady in her walk on deck; he had been struck with her appearance at first sight, for the widow knowing the effect of first impressions, had been exceedingly careful with her toilette that morning, and certainly did look her best.
Sir Lexicon had never yet seen any one who came up to his idea of a handsome woman, until he encountered Mrs. Grenville that morning; her curling dark hair, superb neck and shoulders, stately figure and sparkling black eyes, and well modulated voice fascinated him, as no woman as yet ever had done. She was not young, it is true; but this he regarded as fortunate. She was still some years younger than Sir Lexicon; but as to who or what she was he was a stranger; but this he was determined to ascertain if possible, and betook himself on deck for the purpose. As the professional duties of the Captain called him for a time away, he took his place beside the lady and endeavoured to interest her in his conversation. He found her charmingly condescending, and apparently frank and friendly in her remarks, and after about an hour's chit chat allowed him to conduct her to her state room.
Poor Captain Costigan had been killed by a falling spar and knocked overboard. The remainder of the crew and pa.s.sengers that had been rescued from their precarious situation on the wreck had been on board the ”Great Mogul” about a couple of weeks, when she let go her anchor in Table Bay. These, with the exception of Mrs. Grenville, went on sh.o.r.e in the first boat that came off to the s.h.i.+p. She, that morning, had an interview with Captain Hanstein, and some hours after the others had left, the obliging Captain took her ash.o.r.e in his own boat, in which also sat Sir Lexicon Chutny. He put up at the same hotel as Mrs.
Grenville, and was seen escorting her about Cape Town.