Part 45 (2/2)
”Yours faithfully,
”Gervais Vyner.
”I hear that the people have just thrown down the walls of my new lodge in Derryvaragh, and vowed that they'll not permit any one to build there. Are they mad? Can they not see that a proprietor, if he ever should come there, must be of use to them, and that all the benefit would be _theirs?_ Grenfell laughs at me, and says he predicted it all.
Perhaps he did: at all events, I shall not be deterred from going on, though neither of my Irish experiences have as yet redounded to my vainglory.
”I have not the shadow of a reason for suspecting it, still you would confer a favour on me if you could a.s.sure me, of your own knowledge, that nothing weightier than a caprice has induced Mademoiselle to recommend that Miss O'H. should not come out here with my daughter.
”All of this letter is to be regarded private and confidential.”
Scarcely had M'Kinlay finished the reading of this letter, than a servant presented him with a small note, sealed with a very large impress of the Wardle arms, and bearing a conspicuous W. W. on the outer corner. Its contents ran thus:
”My dear Mr. M'Kinlay,--Will you allow me to profit by the fortunate accident of your presence in these regions to bespeak the honour and pleasure of your company at a _tete-a-tete_ dinner with me to-day? My carriage will await your orders; and if perfectly in accordance with your convenience, I would beg that they may be to take you over here by an early hour--say four o'clock--as I am desirous of obtaining the benefit of your advice.
”I am very sincerely yours,
”Within Wardle.”
”How provoking!” cried Mr. M'Kinlay; ”and I meant to have caught the night-mail at Wrexham.”
Now Mr. M'Kinlay was not either provoked or disappointed. It had never been his intention to have left the Cottage till the day after; and as to a dinner invitation to Dalradern, and with ”the contingent remainder”
of a consultation, it was in every respect the direct opposite of all that is provoking. Here he was alone. None heard, him as he said these words. This hypocrisy was not addressed to any surrounders. It was the soliloquy of a man who liked self-flattery, and, strange as it may seem, there are scores of people who mix these sweet little draughts for themselves and toss them off in secresy, like solitary drinkers, and then go out into the world refreshed and stimulated by their dram.
”I cannot take his agency, if that's what he is at,” said Mr. M'Kinlay, as he stood with his back to the fire and fingered the seals of his watch; ”I am overworked already--sorely overworked. Clients, now-a-days, I find, have got the habit of employing their lawyers in a variety of ways quite foreign to their callings.” This was a hit at Sir Gervais for his request to take Ada abroad. ”A practice highly to be condemned, and, in fact, to be put down. It is not dignified; and I doubt if even it be profitable,”--his tone was now strong and severe. ”A fine old place, Dalradern,” muttered he, as his eyes fell upon a little engraving of the castle at the top of the note--such vignettes were rarer at that day than at the present--”I think, really, I will give myself a holiday and dine with him. I thought him a bit of a fop--an old fop, too--when I met him here; but he may 'cut up' better under his own roof.”
”Rickards,” said he, as that bland personage entered to remove the breakfast-things, ”I am not going to dine here to-day.”
”Lor, Sir! You an't a going so soon?”
”No. To-morrow, perhaps--indeed, I should say to-morrow certainly; but to-day I must dine at Dalradern.”
”Well, Sir, you'll tell me when you comes home if he's better than Mrs.
Byles for his side-dishes; for I'll never believe it, Sir, till I have it from a knowledgeable gentleman like yourself. Not that I think, Sir, they will play off any of their new-fangled tricks on you--putting cheese into the soup, and powdered sugar over the peas.”
”I have seen both in Paris,” said M'Kinlay, gravely.
”And frogs too, Sir, and snails; and Jacob, that was out in Italy with the saddle-horses, says, he seen fifteen s.h.i.+llings given for a hedgehog, when lamb got too big.”
”Let Mademoiselle Heinzleman know that I should be glad to speak to her,” said the lawyer, who, feeling that he was going to dine out, could afford to be distant.
”Yes, Sir, I'll tell her;” and Rickards stirred the fire, and drew down a blind here, and drew up another there, and fidgeted about in that professionally desultory manner his order so well understand. When he got to the door, however, he stepped back, and in a low confidential whisper said, ”It's the 'Ock, Sir, the 'Ock, at Dalradem, that beats us; eighty odd years in bottle, and worth three guineas a flask.” He sighed as he went out, for the confession cost him dear. It was like a Government whip admitting that his party must be beaten on the next division!
Mr. M'Kinlay was deep in a second perusal of Sir Gervais Vyner's letter when Mademoiselle Heinzleman entered. ”I have a few lines from Sir Gervais here, Mademoiselle,” said he, pompously, for the invitation to Dalradem was still fresh in his mind. ”He wishes me, if it be at all possible, to accompany you and Miss Vyner as far as, let me see”--and he opened the letter--”as far as Ma.r.s.eilles. I own, with whatever pride I should accept the charge, however charmed I should naturally feel at the prospect of a journey in such company----”
”Es macht nichts. I mean, Sare,” said she, impetuously, ”with Franz, the courier, we can travel very well all alone.”
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