Part 4 (1/2)
”But, my dear Mr. Grey, you would not have used the word without some meaning. Why did you think it impossible? impossible is such a peculiar word.” And here the Marquess looked up with great earnestness to a portrait of himself, which hung over the fire-place. It was one of Sir Thomas's happiest efforts; but it was not the happiness of the likeness, or the beauty of the painting, which now attracted his Lords.h.i.+p's attention; he thought only of the costume in which he appeared in that portrait: the court dress of a Cabinet Minister. ”Impossible, Mr. Grey, you must confess, is a very peculiar word,” reiterated his Lords.h.i.+p.
”I said impossible, my Lord, because I did conceive, that had your Lords.h.i.+p been of a disposition to which such overtures might have been made with any probability of success, the Marquess of Carabas would have been in a situation which would have precluded the possibility of those overtures being made at all.”
”Hah!” and the Marquess nearly started from his seat.
”Yes, my Lord, I am a young, an inexperienced young man, ignorant of the world's ways; doubtless I was wrong, but I have much to learn,” and his voice faltered; ”but I did conceive, that having power at his command, the Marquess of Carabas did not exercise it, merely because he despised it: but what should I know of such matters, my Lord?”
”Is power a thing so easily to be despised, young man?” asked the Marquess. His eye rested on a vote of thanks from the ”Merchants and Bankers of London to the Right Honourable Sydney Lorraine, President, &c., &c., &c.,” which, splendidly emblazoned, and gilt, and framed, and glazed, was suspended opposite the President's portrait.
”Oh, no! my Lord, you mistake me,” eagerly burst forth Vivian. ”I am no cold-blooded philosopher that would despise that, for which, in my opinion, men, real men, should alone exist. Power! Oh! what sleepless nights, what days of hot anxiety! what exertions of mind and body! what travel! what hatred! what fierce encounters! what dangers of all possible kinds, would I not endure with a joyous spirit to gain it! But such, my Lord, I thought were feelings peculiar to inexperienced young men: and seeing you, my Lord, so situated, that you might command all and everything, and yet living as you do, I was naturally led to believe that the object of my adoration was a vain glittering bauble, of which those who could possess it, knew the utter worthlessness.”
The Peer sat in a musing mood, playing the Devil's tattoo on the library table; at last he raised his eyes, and said in a low whisper, ”Are you so certain that I can command all and everything?”
”All and everything! did I say all and everything? Really, my Lord, you scan my expressions so critically! but I see your Lords.h.i.+p is smiling at my boyish nonsense! and really I feel that I have already wasted too much of your Lords.h.i.+p's valuable time, and displayed too much of my own ignorance.”
”My dear sir! I am not aware that I was smiling.”
”Oh! your Lords.h.i.+p is so very kind.”
”But, my dear sir! you are really labouring under a great mistake. I am desirous, I am particularly desirous, of having your opinion upon this subject.”
”My opinion, my Lord! what should my opinion be, but an echo of the circle in which I live, but a faithful representation of the feelings of general society?”
”And, Mr. Grey, I should be glad to know what can possibly be more interesting to me than a faithful representation of the feelings of general society on this subject?”
”The many, my Lord, are not always right.”
”Mr. Grey, the many are not often wrong. Come, my dear sir, do me the favour of being frank, and let me know why the public is of opinion that all and everything are in my power, for such, after all, were your words.”
”If I did use them, my Lord, it was because I was thinking, as I often do, what, after all, in this country is public life? Is it not a race in which the swiftest must surely win the prize; and is not that prize power? Has not your Lords.h.i.+p treasure? There is your moral steam which can work the world. Has not your Lords.h.i.+p's treasure most splendid consequence, pure blood and aristocratic influence? The Millionaire has in his possession the seeds of everything, but he must wait for half a century till his descendant finds himself in your Lords.h.i.+p's state; till he is yclept n.o.ble, and then he starts fair in the grand course. All these advantages your Lords.h.i.+p has apparently at hand, with the additional advantage (and one, oh! how great!) of having already proved to your country that you know how to rule.”
There was a dead silence, which at length the Marquess broke. ”There is much in what you say; but I cannot conceal it from myself, I have no wish to conceal it from you; I am not what I was.” O, ambition! art thou the parent of truth?
”Ah! my Lord!” eagerly rejoined Vivian, ”here is the terrible error into which you great statesmen have always fallen. Think you not, that intellect is as much a purchasable article as fine parks and fair castles? With your Lords.h.i.+p's tried and splendid talents, everything might be done; but, in my opinion, if, instead of a practised, an experienced, and wary Statesman, I was now addressing an idiot Earl, I should not see that the great end might not equally be consummated.”
”Say you so, my merry man, and how?”
”Why, my Lord: but, but, I feel that I am trespa.s.sing on your Lords.h.i.+p's time, otherwise I think I could show why society is of opinion that your Lords.h.i.+p can do all and everything; how, indeed, your Lords.h.i.+p might, in a very short time, be Prime Minister.”
”No, Mr. Grey; this conversation must be finished. I will just give orders that we may not be disturbed, and then we shall proceed immediately. Come, now! your manner takes me, and we shall converse in the spirit of the most perfect confidence.”
Here, as the Marquess settled at the same time his chair and his countenance, and looked as anxious as if Majesty itself were consulting him on the formation of a ministry, in burst the Marchioness, notwithstanding all the remonstrances, entreaties, threats, and supplications of Mr. Sadler.
Her Ladys.h.i.+p had been what they style a splendid woman; that was now past, although, with the aid of cashmeres, diamonds, and turbans, her general appearance was still striking. Her Ladys.h.i.+p was not remarkable for anything save a correct taste for poodles, parrots, and bijouterie, and a proper admiration of Theodore Hook and John Bull.
”Oh! Marquess,” exclaimed her Ladys.h.i.+p, and a favourite green parrot, which came flying in after its accustomed perch, her Ladys.h.i.+p's left shoulder, shrieked at the same time in concert, ”Oh! Marquess, my poor Julie! You know we have noticed how nervous she has been for some days past, and I had just given her a saucer of arrow-root and milk, and she seemed a little easier, and I said to Miss Graves. 'I really do think she is a leetle better' and Miss Graves said, 'Yes, my Lady, I hope she is; 'when just as we flattered ourselves that the dear little creature was enjoying a quiet sleep, Miss Graves called out, 'Oh, my Lady! my Lady! Julie's in a fit!' and when I turned round she was lying on her back, kicking, with her eyes shut.' And here the Marchioness detected Mr. Grey, and gave him as sublime a stare as might be expected from a lady patroness of Almack's.