Volume I Part 45 (2/2)
Betty Cobb.
LETTER XL. KENNY I. DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF.
Constance, Switzerland.
My dear Tom,--Before pa.s.sion gets the better of me, and I forget all about it, let me acknowledge the welcome arrival of your post bill for one hundred, but for which, Heaven knows in what additional embarra.s.sment I might now be in. You will see, by the address, that I am in Switzerland. How we came here I 'll try and explain, if Providence grants me patience for the effort; this being the third time I have addressed myself to the task unsuccessfully.
I need not refer to the situation in which my last letter to you left us. You may remember that I told you of the various preparations that were then in progress for a certain auspicious event, whose accomplishment was fixed for the ensuing week. Amongst others, I wrote to Morris for some articles of dress and finery to be procured at Baden, and for, if possible, a comfortable travelling-carriage, with a sufficiency of boxes and imperials.
Of course in doing so it was necessary, or at least it was fitting, that I should make mention of the cause for these extraordinary preparations, and I did so by a very brief allusion to the coming event, and to the rank of my future son-in-law, the youthful Baron and heir of Wolfenfels.
I am not aware of having said much more than this, for my letter was so crammed with commissions, and catalogues of purchases, that there was little s.p.a.ce disposable for more intelligence. I wrote on a Monday, and on the following Wednesday evening I was taking a stroll with James through the park, chatting over the approaching event in our family, when a mounted postboy galloped up with a letter, which being marked ”Most pressing and immediate,” the postmaster had very properly forwarded to me with all expedition. It was in Morris's hand, and very brief. I give it to you verbatim:--
”My dear Sir,--For Heaven's sake do not advance another step in this affair. You have been grossly imposed upon. As soon as I can procure horses I will join you, and expose the most scandalous trick that has ever come to the knowledge of yours truly,
”E. Morris.
”Post-House, t.i.te See. 2 o'clock p.m. Wednesday.”
You may imagine--I cannot attempt to describe--the feelings with which James and I read and re-read these lines. I suppose we had pa.s.sed the letter back and forwards to each other fully a dozen times, ere either of us could summon composure to speak.
”Do you understand it, James?” said I.
”No,” said he. ”Do _you?_”
”Not unless the scoundrel is married already,” said I.
”That was exactly what had occurred to me,” replied he. ”'Most scandalous trick,' are the words; and they can only mean that.”
”Morris is such a safe fellow,--so invariably sure of whatever he says.”
”Precisely the way I take it,” cried James. ”He is far too cautious to make a grave charge without ample evidence to sustain it! We may rely upon it that he knows what he is about.”
”But bigamy is a crime in Germany. They send a fellow to the galleys for it,” said I. ”Is it likely that he 'd put himself in such peril?”
”Who knows!” said James, ”if he thought he was going to get an English girl of high family, and with a pot of money!”
Shall I own to you, Tom, that remark of James's nearly stunned me,--carelessly and casually as it fell from _him_, it almost overwhelmed me, and I asked myself, Why should he think she was of high family? Why should he suppose she had a large fortune? Who was it that propagated these delusions? and if there really was a ”scandalous trick,” as Morris said, could I affirm that all the roguery was on one side? Could I come into court with clean hands, and say, ”Mrs. Dodd has not been cheating, neither has Kenny James ”? Where are these broad acres of arable and pasture,--these verdant forests and swelling lawns, that I have been bestowing with such boundless munificence? How shall we prove these fourteen quarterings that we have been quoting incessantly for the past three weeks? ”No matter for _that_,” thought I, at length.
”If the fellow has got another wife, I 'll break every bone in his skin!” I must have pondered this sentiment aloud, for James echoed it even more forcibly, adding, by way of sequel, ”And kick him from this to Rotterdam!”
I mention this in detail to show that we both jumped at once to the same conclusion, and, having done so, never disputed the correctness of our guess. We now proceeded to discuss our line of action,--James advising that he should be ”brought to book” at once; I overruling the counsel by showing that we could do nothing whatever till Morris arrived.
”But to-morrow is fixed for the wedding!” exclaimed James.
”I know it,” said I, ”and Morris will be here to-night. At all events, the marriage shall not take place till he comes.”
<script>