Part 34 (1/2)

Instantly Captain Falconer's footman leaped from the box of the coach, and, while the maid was at the chair door to help her mistress, dashed into the porch and stood so as to prevent any one's reaching the door of the house. The captain himself, springing out of the coach, was at Madge's side as soon as she had emerged from the chair. Philip and I, gliding unseen across the street, saw him hand something to the front chair-man which made that rascal open his mouth in astonishnent--'twas, no doubt, a gold piece or two--and heard him say:

”You and your fellow, begone, and divide that among you. Quick!

Vanis.h.!.+”

The men obeyed with alacrity, bearing their empty chair past Phil and me toward Gerrard Street at a run. The captain, by similar means, sent the boy with the light scampering off in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, Philip and I having stopped behind a pillar of the next porch for a moment's consultation, Madge was bidding the footman stand aside from before her door. This we could see by the rays of a street lamp, which were at that place sufficient to make a carried light not absolutely necessary.

”Come into the coach, madam,” said Falconer, seizing one of her hands.

”You remember my promise. I swear I shall keep it though I hang for it! Don't make a disturbance and compel me to use force, I beg. You see, the street is deserted.”

”You scoundrel!” she answered. ”If you really think you can carry me off, you're much--”

”Nay,” he broke in, ”actresses _are_ carried off, and not always for the sake of being talked about, neither! Fetch the maid, Richard--I wouldn't deprive a lady of her proper attendance. Pray pardon this--you put me to it, madam!”

With which, he grasped her around the waist, lifted her as if she were a child, and started with her toward the coach. The footman, a huge fellow, adopted similar measures with the waiting-woman, who set up a shrill screaming that made needless any cries on Madge's part.

Philip and I dashed forward at this, and while I fell upon the footman, Phil staggered the captain with a blow. As Falconer turned with an exclamation, to see by whom he was attacked, Madge tore herself from his relaxed hold, ran to the house door, and set the knocker going at its loudest. A second blow from Philip sent the captain reeling against his coach wheel. I, meanwhile, had drawn the footman from the maid; who now joined her mistress and continued shrieking at the top of her voice. The fellow, seeing his master momentarily in a daze, and being alarmed by the knocking and screaming, was put at a loss. The house door opening, and the noise bringing people to their windows, and gentlemen rus.h.i.+ng out of Jack's tavern hard by, Master Richard recovered from his irresolution, ran and forced his master into the coach, got in after him to keep him there, and shouted to the coachman to drive off.

”Very well, madam,” cried Falconer through the coach door, before it closed with a bang, ”but I'll keep my word yet, I promise you!”

Whereupon, the coach rolled away behind galloping horses.

Forgetting, in the moment's excitement, my intention of d.o.g.g.i.ng the captain to his residence, I accompanied Philip to the doorway, where stood Madge with her maid and a house servant. She was waiting to thank her protectors, whom, in the rush and partial darkness, she had not yet recognised. It was, indeed, far from her thoughts that we two, whom she had left so many years before in America, should turn up at her side in London at such a moment.

We took off our hats, and bowed. Her face had already formed a smile of thanks, when we raised our heads into the light from a candle the house servant carried. Madge gave a little startled cry of joy, and looked from one to the other of us to make sure she was not under a delusion: then fondly murmuring Phil's name and mine in what faint voice was left her, she made first as if she would fall into his arms; but recollecting with a look of pain how matters stood between them, she drew back, steadied herself against the door-post, and dropped her eyes from his.

”We should like to talk with you a little, my dear,” said Phil gently.

”May we come in?”

There was a gleam of new-lighted hope in her eyes as she looked up and answered tremulously:

”'Twill be a happiness--more than I dared expect.”

We followed the servant with the candle up-stairs to a small drawing-room, in which a table was set with bread, cheese, cold beef, and a bottle of claret.

”'Tis my supper,” said Madge. ”If I had known I should have such guests--you will do me the honour, will you not?”

Her manner was so tentative and humble, so much that of one who scarce feels a right even to plead, so different from that of the old petted and radiant Madge, that 'twould have taken a harder man than Philip to decline. And so, when the servant had placed additional chairs, down we sat to supper with Miss Warren, of Drury Lane Theatre, who had sent her maid to answer the inquiries of the alarmed house concerning the recent tumult in the street.

CHAPTER XX.

_We Intrude upon a Gentleman at a Coffee-house._

Little was eaten at that supper, to which we sat down in a constraint natural to the situation. Philip was presently about to a.s.sume the burden of opening the conversation, when Madge abruptly began:

”I make no doubt you recognised him, Bert--the man with the coach.”

”Yes. Philip and I saw him outside the theatre.”