Volume I Part 9 (2/2)
Clint of Russell Square--for he it was--made a very strong impression upon me. As the family lawyer of the Heaths, and one who had always greatly interested himself in Marmaduke, he had been sent for by my tutor to give his opinion as to what steps should be taken respecting the future disposal of the poor lad. I guessed by his grave face that he had been put in possession, not only of all that had happened through the agency of Sir Ma.s.singberd, but of all that had been designed to happen.
”If you have any doubt still remaining, Mr. Clint, as to the propriety of removing Marmaduke Heath from the custody of his uncle,” observed my tutor, after introducing me to this venerable beau, ”I think this gentleman can dissipate it. Now, Peter, tell us, in confidence, what sort of footing do you consider your young friend and Sir Ma.s.singberd to stand upon; are they good--”
”Stop, stop, Mr. Long,” interrupted the lawyer, taking an enormous pinch of snuff from a silver-box, and holding up his laden fingers in a prohibitory manner; ”we must not have any leading questions if you please. Mr. Meredith, it is most important that you state to us the truth, without mitigation or exaggeration. You heard your tutor's first inquiry, which was a most correct one. How does Mr. Marmaduke Heath stand with respect to his uncle?”
”Well, sir,” said I quietly, ”he stands, as it were, upon the brink of a deep river, with his back towards a person who is bent upon pus.h.i.+ng him in.”
A total silence ensued upon this remark. Mr. Long and Mr. Gerard interchanged very meaning glances.
”Very good,” returned the lawyer coolly, administering half the snuff to his nose, and dropping the other half among his s.h.i.+rt-ruffles. ”That is a form of speech, I suppose, by which you would imply that Marmaduke is afraid of his uncle?”
”Very much,” said I; ”afraid of his life.”
”And you have had no previous conversation upon this subject with either of these gentlemen, that is--you must forgive me if I press this somewhat hardly--they have never asked your opinion on the matter before?”
”Certainly not, sir.”
”You are speaking, too, I conclude from your own observation of course, from your own knowledge of Mr. Marmaduke Heath's sentiments and position, and not from any hearsay rumour?”
”I am perfectly convinced, Mr. Clint,” returned I gravely, ”that Sir Ma.s.singberd Heath wishes to get rid of his nephew, and that Marmaduke knows it.”
”Then Sir Ma.s.singberd shall be gratified,” observed Mr. Gerard, with energy; ”he shall get rid of him from this day.”
”Stop, stop, my dear sir,” interposed the lawyer. ”Even supposing that all this is true, both the facts that I have received from you and Mr.
Long, and the surmises entertained by this young gentleman, we are still only at the threshold of the matter. From the manner in which Sir Ma.s.singberd expressed himself when he wrote to me to demand the custody of the boy, and from his whole conduct since, I am certain that he will not give up his position as guardian without a severe struggle. We must steadily look our difficulties in the face. Supposing that, having been a.s.sured of Marmaduke's convalescence, he should send a post-chaise over here next week, or the week after, with a note, insisting upon his immediate return to Fairburn Park, what is to be done then?”
”I should send the post-chaise back again,” returned Mr. Gerard, calmly, ”with the verbal reply, that Mr. Marmaduke was not coming.”
”But suppose he wrote to Marmaduke himself?”
”The reply would come from me all the same, Mr. Clint.”
”But if Sir Ma.s.singberd appeals to the law?”
”He dare not!” exclaimed my host; ”his audacity, great as it is, stops short of that. If he did, as sure as the sun is s.h.i.+ning, I would meet him with the charge of attempted murder.”
Mr. Clint took out of his other coat-tail a second snuff-box, which he never made use of except in cases of great emergency. ”You are prepared to go that length, are you?”
”I am, sir,” returned Mr. Gerard, firmly.
”You have not a shadow of foundation for such an a.s.sertion,” pursued Mr.
Clint, reflectively. ”The slander will be p.r.o.nounced malicious; you will be cast in swingeing damages.”
”That is possible,” remarked my host; ”but there, nevertheless, will be such revelations of Sir Ma.s.singberd's mode of life, as may well cause the chancellor to reflect whether Fairburn Hall is a fitting educational establishment for a minor.”
”John Lord Eldon is not an ascetic--”
<script>