Part 7 (1/2)
”Of Grosvenor Street you mean--the East India director?”
”Yes, his son; and that reminds me that the declaration in that everlasting exchequer case must be filed to-morrow. Confound it, how this flying about the country puts one out! I thought some one had kidnapped her son, or fired Compton Castle at least. By the way, I am much deceived if there isn't a wedding there before long.”
”Indeed!”
”Yes, Miss Dalston with Sir Jasper's eldest hope.”
”You don't mean it?”
”_They_ do at all events, and that is much more to the purpose. A fine young fellow enough, and sufficiently rich too”--
”All which rambling talk and anecdote,” cried I, interrupting him, ”means, if I have any skill in reading Mr. Ferret, that that gentleman, having some ulterior purpose in view, which I cannot for the moment divine, is determined to have this writ, and does not wish to be pestered with any argument on the subject. Be it so: it is your affair, not mine.
And now, as it is just upon three o'clock, let me see your affidavit.”
I ran it over. ”Rather loose this, Mr. Ferret, but I suppose it will do.”
”Well, it _is_ rather loose, but I could not with safety sail much closer to the wind. By the by, I think you had better first apply for a rule to stay proceedings against the bail in that case of Turner; and after that is decided, just ask for this writ, off-hand as it were, and as a matter of course. His lords.h.i.+p may not then scrutinize the affidavit quite so closely as if he thought counsel had been brought to chambers purposely to apply for it.”
”Cautious, Mr. Ferret! Well, come along, and I'll see what I can do.”
The writ was obtained without difficulty; few questions were asked; and at my request the judge made it returnable immediately. By four o'clock, Mr. Ferret, who could fortunately sleep as well in a postchaise as in a feather-bed, was, as he had promised himself, on his road to Lancas.h.i.+re once more, where he had the pleasure of serving Major Brandon personally; at the same time tendering in due form the one s.h.i.+lling per mile fixed by the statute as preliminary traveling charges. The vituperative eloquence showered upon Mr. Ferret by the Major's lady was, I afterwards heard, extremely copious and varied, and was borne by him, as I could easily believe, with the most philosophic composure.
In due time the parties appeared before Mr. Justice Bailey. Miss Brandon was accompanied by her uncle, his wife, and a solicitor; and spite of everything I could urge, the judge, as I had forseen, refused to interfere in the matter. The poor girl was dreadfully agitated, but kept, nevertheless, her eyes upon Mr. Ferret, as the source from which, spite of what was pa.s.sing around her, effectual succor was sure to come. As for that gentleman himself, he appeared composedly indifferent to the proceedings; and indeed, I thought, seemed rather relieved than otherwise when they terminated. I could not comprehend him. Mrs. Brandon, the instant the case was decided, clutched Clara's arm within hers, and, followed by her husband and the solicitor, sailed out of the apartment with an air of triumphant disdain and pride. Miss Brandon looked round for Ferret, but not perceiving him--he had left hastily an instant or two before--her face became deadly pale, and the most piteous expression of hopeless despair I had ever beheld broke from her troubled but singularly-expressive eyes. I mechanically followed, with a half-formed purpose of remonstrating with Major Brandon in behalf of the unfortunate girl, and was by that means soon in possession of the key to Mr. Ferret's apparently inexplicable conduct.
The Brandon party walked very fast, and I had scarcely got up with them as they were turning out of Chancery Lane into Fleet Street, when two men, whose vocation no accustomed eye could for an instant mistake, arrested their further progress. ”This lady,” said one of the men, slightly touching Miss Brandon on the shoulder, ”is, I believe, Clara Brandon?”
”Yes she is; and what of that, fellow?” demanded the major's lady with indignant emphasis.
”Not much, ma'am,” replied the sheriff's officer, ”when you are used to it. It is my unpleasant duty to arrest her for the sum of eighty-seven pounds, indorsed on this writ, issued at the suit of one Susan Hopley.”
”Arrest her!” exclaimed Mrs. Brandon; ”why, she is a minor!”
”Minor or major, ma'am, makes very little difference to us. She can plead that hereafter, you know. In the meantime, miss, please to step into this coach,” replied the officer, holding the door open.
”But she's a person of unsound mind,” screamed the lady, as Clara, nothing loath, sprang into the vehicle.
”So are most people that do business with our establishment,” responded the imperturbable official, as he shut and fastened the door. ”Here is my card, sir,” he added, addressing the attorney, who now came up. ”You see where to find the lady, if her friends wish to give bail to the sheriff, or, what is always more satisfactory, pay the debt and costs.” He then jumped on the box, his follower got up behind, and away drove the coach, leaving the discomfited major and his fiery better-half in a state of the blankest bewilderment!
”Why, what _is_ the meaning of this?” at length gasped Mrs. Brandon, fiercely addressing the attorney, as if _he_, were a _particeps criminis_ in the affair.
”The meaning, my dear madame, is, that Miss Clara Brandon is arrested for debt, and carried off to a sponging-house; and that unless you pay the money, or file bail, she will tomorrow be lodged in jail,” replied the unmoved man of law.
”Bail! money! How are we to do either in London, away from home?”
demanded the major with, for him, much emotion.
I did not wait to hear more, but, almost suffocated with laughter at the success of Ferret's audacious _ruse_, hastened over to the Temple. I was just leaving chambers for the night--about ten o'clock I think it must have been--when Ferret, in exuberant spirits, burst into the room.
”Well, sir, what do you think _now_ of a writ _ad sub._?”