Part 104 (2/2)
And Harley's voice was more cordial to Randal than it had ever been before. He then began to inquire what Randal thought of the rumours that had reached himself as to the probable defeat of the Government, and how far Audley's spirits were affected by such risks. But Randal here, seeing that Harley could communicate nothing, was reserved and guarded.
”Loss of office could not, I think, affect a man like Audley,” observed Lord L'Estrange. ”He would be as great in opposition--perhaps greater; and as to emoluments--”
”The emoluments are good,” interposed Randal, with a half-sigh.
”Good enough, I suppose, to pay him back about a tenth of what his place costs our magnificent friend. No, I will say one thing for English statesmen, no man amongst them ever yet was the richer for place.”
”And Mr. Egerton's private fortune must be large, I take for granted,”
said Randal, carelessly.
”It ought to be, if he has time to look to it.”
Here they pa.s.sed by the hotel in which lodged the Count di Peschiera.
Randal stopped. ”Will you excuse me for an instant? As we are pa.s.sing this hotel, I will just leave my card here.” So saying he gave his card to a waiter lounging by the door. ”For the Count di Peschiera,” said he, aloud.
L'Estrange started; and as Randal again took his arm, said, ”So that Italian lodges here; and you know him?”
”I know him but slightly, as one knows any foreigner who makes a sensation.”
”He makes a sensation?”
”Naturally; for he is handsome, witty, and said to be very rich,--that is, as long as he receives the revenues of his exiled kinsman.”
”I see you are well informed, Mr. Leslie. And what is supposed to bring hither the Count di Peschiera?”
”I did hear something, which I did not quite understand, about a bet of his that he would marry his kinsman's daughter, and so, I conclude, secure to himself all the inheritance; and that he is therefore here to discover the kinsman and win the heiress. But probably you know the rights of the story, and can tell me what credit to give to such gossip.”
”I know this at least, that if he did lay such a wager, I would advise you to take any odds against him that his backers may give,” said L'Estrange, dryly; and while his lip quivered with anger, his eye gleamed with arch ironical humour.
”You think, then, that this poor kinsman will not need such an alliance in order to regain his estates?”
”Yes; for I never yet knew a rogue whom I would not bet against, when he backed his own luck as a rogue against Justice and Providence.”
Randal winced, and felt as if an arrow had grazed his heart; but he soon recovered.
”And indeed there is another vague rumour that the young lady in question is married already--to some Englishman.” This time it was Harley who winced. ”Good heavens! that cannot be true,--that would undo all! An Englishman just at this moment! But some Englishman of correspondent rank I trust, or at least one known for opinions opposed to what an Austrian would call Revolutionary doctrines?”
”I know nothing. But it was supposed merely a private gentleman of good family. Would not that suffice? Can the Austrian Court dictate a marriage to the daughter as a condition for grace to the father?”
”No,--not that!” said Harley, greatly disturbed. ”But put yourself in the position of any minister to one of the great European monarchies.
Suppose a political insurgent, formidable for station and wealth, had been proscribed, much interest made on his behalf, a powerful party striving against it; and just when the minister is disposed to relent, he hears that the heiress to this wealth and this station is married to the native of a country in which sentiments friendly to the very opinions for which the insurgent was proscribed are popularly entertained, and thus that the fortune to be restored may be so employed as to disturb the national security, the existing order of things,--this, too, at the very time when a popular revolution has just occurred in France, and its effects are felt most in the very land of the exile;--suppose all this, and then say if anything could be more untoward for the hopes of the banished man, or furnish his adversaries with stronger arguments against the restoration of his fortune? But pshaw! this must be a chimera! If true, I should have known of it.”
[As there have been so many revolutions in France, it may be convenient to suggest that, according to the dates of this story, Harley no doubt alludes to that revolution which exiled Charles X.
and placed Louis Philippe on the throne.]
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