Part 4 (2/2)
With this second bitter insult crushed in her hand, and terrified tears was.h.i.+ng her cheeks, Margaret Walsingham went back, in the surging night wind, to Seven-Oak Waaste.
CHAPTER III.
EVIL FOREBODINGS.
Mid-ocean, a steamer was laboring on her way, beneath a sky like glittering pearl, arching over a waste of phosph.o.r.escent billows, and with a crispy breeze behind her.
The ladies were in their berths, the gentlemen paced the deck, and beguiled the time by discussions many-themed.
But St. Udo Brand, with his hands behind him and his back to all, gazed over the sea to the distant horizon line.
A grim satisfaction illuminated his eye, though the ever-present sneer still marred his lips, as, deep in unaccustomed reverie, he examined his position on all sides.
”Inscrutable are thy ways, oh, Fortune!” mused the captain. ”Thou hast given Seven-Oaks to the humble, and cast the haughty from Castle Brand into outer darkness, where there is grinding and gnas.h.i.+ng of teeth. Yet, wherefore, oh, sand-blind Fortune! hast thou rolled the hypocritical saint in my bank-notes, and hung golden offerings upon her Medusa head, while I, the honest scoundrel, am stripped naked to supply the ovation?
Well, doubtless, she has worked harder for it than ever I could, poor devil! Now for a name and fame, and may be fortune, in yon republic behind the shoulder of this world of waters! And, who knows, I may be happy yet, with my little white cat, instead of the sorceress of yonder castle.”
Back and forth the groups of promenaders pa.s.sed the solitary man, who thus faced his fortunes with satiric stoicism; but no one thought of interfering with his reverie, for Captain Brand had a name for exclusiveness on board the Bellerophon. He may have had a name for some more interesting quality, too, if one might draw conclusions from the earnest scrutiny which two of his fellow-pa.s.sengers were just now bestowing on him.
A little gentleman, wrapped in a cloak, lounged upon the deck, regarding the captain through his eye-gla.s.s with an air at once inquisitive and complacent; and a little behind him stood a tall, elderly man, in servant's livery, fixedly regarding the captain also.
At last the little gentleman rolled off the bench upon his little legs, which were--low be it whispered--somewhat crooked, which is, to say the least, best adapted to equestrianism, and nimbly tripping up to Captain Brand, accosted him with the sunniest air imaginable:
”_Bon jour, monsieur_, a ver' good day to you, my friend. Why vill you turn the back upon our merry company? Throw care to the dogs; so”--with a flourish of the hands--”now he is gone! Be happy, my good friend!”
Captain Brand gloomed down upon the little intruder.
”If you want anything of me,” said he, ironically, ”do me the infinite honor to be plain and brief.”
The stranger stepped back, threw up his hands, and became dignified.
”Monsieur, you English are a vulgar people. You English do not know how to treat gentlemen of the world. _Par la meese!_ You know nothing, except to drink and keep silence. No, monsieur, I want nothing of you but courtesy, and since you have it not to give, _pardieu! bon jour_.”
With inimitable grace, he bowed his adieu, and was retreating, when the captain's genial laugh arrested him.
”I beg pardon, sir,” cried St. Udo, ”for the national want. Pray remain, that I may study you up. With such a model before them, who could remain a boor?”
”Monsieur,” cried the little man, delightedly, ”you are von wag. I like you, monsieur. I present myself. I am called the Chevalier de Calembours; to you I am Ludovic--at your service _mon ami_.”
”Chevalier,” returned the captain, ”I return the confidence. I am called Captain Brand, of the Coldstream Guards--have just sold out, and to all I am merely St. Udo Brand--at your service.”
They shook hands and lit cigars.
The captain felt irresistibly drawn to the little chevalier; he liked him amazingly from the first.
He was handsome; he had a square brow, brown eyes, ruddy cheeks, firm mouth, enormous nut-brown mustache, and a full, glossy beard. He was attractive; there was intelligence in the bold forehead, penetration in the beaming eye, a purpose in the closely-fitting lips, and withal a playful, airy, insolent, cheery frankness which illumined nearly the whole face.
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