Part 34 (1/2)

These are hardly measures likely, I think, to commend themselves to some of your allies, Mr. Barron!”

Barron had sprung up in his chair.

”What my allies may or may not think is nothing to me. I am of course guided by my own judgment and conscience. And I altogether protest against the word you have just employed. I came to you, Mr. Flaxman, I can honestly say, in the interests of peace!--in the interests of Meynell himself.”

”But you admit that there is really no evidence worthy of the name connecting Meynell with the story at all!” said Flaxman, turning upon him. ”The crazy impression of a woman dying of brain disease--some gossip about Sir Ralph's will--a likeness that many people have never perceived!

What does it amount to? Nothing!--nothing at all!--less than nothing!”

”I can only say that I disagree with you.” The voice was that of a rancorous obstinacy at last unveiled. ”I believe that the woman's identification was a just one--though I admit that the proof is difficult. But then perhaps I approach the matter in one way, and you in another. A man, Mr. Flaxman, in my belief, does not throw over the faith of Christ for nothing! No! Such things are long prepared. Conscience, my dear sir, conscience breaks down first. The man becomes a hypocrite in his private life before he openly throws off the restraints of religion.

That is the sad sequence of events. I have watched it many times.”

Flaxman had grown rather white. The man beside him seemed to him a kind of monstrosity. He thought of Meynell, of the eager refinement, the clean idealism, the visionary kindness of the man--and compared it with the ”muddy vesture,” mental and physical, of Meynell's accuser.

Nevertheless, as he held himself in with difficulty he began to perceive more plainly than he had yet done some of the intricacies of the situation.

”I have nothing to do,” he said, in a tone that he endeavoured to make reasonably calm, ”nor has anybody, with generalization of that kind, in a case like this. The point is--could Meynell, being what he is, what we all know him to be, have not only betrayed a young girl, but have then failed to do her the elementary justice of marrying her? And the reply is that the thing is incredible!”

”You forget that Meynell was extremely poor, and had his brothers to educate--”

Flaxman shrugged his shoulders in laughing contempt.

”Meynell desert the mother of his child--because of poverty--because of his brothers' education!--_Meynell_! You have known him some years--I only for a few months. But go into the cottages here--talk to the people--ask them, not what he believes, but what he _is_--what he has been to them. Get one of them, if you can, to credit this absurdity!”

”The Rector's intimate friends.h.i.+p with Miss Puttenham has long been an astonishment--sometimes a scandal--to the village!” exclaimed Barron, doggedly.

Flaxman stared at him in a blank amazement, then flushed. He took a turn up and down the room, after which he returned to the fireside, composed.

What was the use of arguing with such a disputant? He felt as though the mere conversation were an insult to Meynell, in which he was forced to partic.i.p.ate.

He took a seat deliberately, and put on his magisterial manner, which, however, was much more delicately and una.s.sumingly authoritative than that of other men.

”I think we had better clear up our ideas. You bring me a story--a painful story--concerning a lady with whom we are both acquainted, which may or may not be true. Whether it is true or not is no concern of ours.

Neither you nor I have anything to do with it, and legal penalties would certainly follow the diffusion of it. You invite me to connect with it the name of a man for whom I have the deepest respect and admiration; who bears an absolutely stainless record; and you threaten to make use of the charge in connection with the heresy trials now coming on. Now let me give you my advice--for what it may be worth. I should say--as you have asked my opinion--have nothing whatever to do with the matter! If anybody else brings you anonymous letters, tell them something of the law of libel--and something too of the guilt of slander! After all, with a little good will, these are matters that are as easily quelled as raised.

A charge so preposterous has only to be firmly met to die away. It is your influence, and not mine, which is important in this matter. You are a permanent resident, and I a mere bird of pa.s.sage. And”--Flaxman's countenance kindled--”let me just remind you of this: if you want to strengthen Meynell's cause--if you want to win him thousands of new adherents--you have only to launch against him a calumny which is sure to break down--and will inevitably recoil upon you!”

The two men had risen. Barron's face, handsome in feature, save for some thickened lines and the florid tint of the cheeks, had somehow emptied itself of expression while Flaxman was speaking.

”Your advice is no doubt excellent,” he said quietly, as he b.u.t.toned his coat, ”but it is hardly practical. If there is one anonymous letter, there are probably others. If there are letters--there is sure to be talk--and talk cannot be stopped. And in time everything gets into the newspapers.”

Flaxman hesitated a moment. Something warned him not to push matters to extremities--to make no breach with Barron--to keep him in play.

”I admit, of course, if this goes beyond a certain point it may be necessary to go to Meynell--it may be necessary for Meynell to go to his Bishop. But at present, if you _desire_ to suppress the thing, you have only to keep your own counsel--and wait. Dawes is a good fellow, and will, I am sure, say nothing. I could, if need be, speak to him myself. I was able to get his boy into a job not long ago.”

Barron straightened his shoulders slowly.

”Should I be doing right--should I be doing my duty--in a.s.sisting to suppress it--always supposing that it could be suppressed--my convictions being what they are?”

Then--suddenly--it was borne in on Flaxman that in the whole interview there had been no genuine desire whatever on Barron's part for advice and consultation. He had come determined on a certain course, and the object of the visit had been, in truth, merely to convey to one of Meynell's supporters a hint of the coming attack, and some intimation of its strength. The visit had been in fact a threat--a move in Barron's game.