第7章

TowhichDeleroymockedinanswer:

"Good！I"llgo,mygentlecousin,whichitsuitsmewelltodowhohavecertainbusinessoftheKing"sawaitingmeinFrance。Aye,I"llgoandleaveyoutosettlewiththisworthytraderwhomayholdthatyouhavedupedhim。Doitasyouwill,exceptinonefashion,ofwhichyouknow。NowawordwithmycousinBlancheandanotheratthePalaceandIrideforDover。Farewell,CousinAleys。Farewell,worthymerchantforwhoselossIshouldgrieve,didInotknowthatsoonyouwillrecoupyourselfoutofgentlepockets。Mournnotovermeovermuch,eitherofyou,sincedoubtlesseresoverylongIshallreturn。"

NowmybloodflamedupandIanswered:

"Iprayyoudonothurry,mylord,lestyoushouldfindmewaitingforyouwithashieldandaswordinplaceofawarrantandapen。"

Heheardandcalledout,"ForeGod,thischapmanthinkshimselfaknight！"

Thenwithamockinglaughhewent。

CHAPTERVI

MARRIAGE——ANDAFTER

SirRobertandIstoodfacingeachotherspeechlesswithrage,bothofus。Atlengthhesaidinahoarsevoice:

"Yourpardon,MasterHastings,fortheaffrontsthatthisbastardlordlinghasputuponyou,anhonestman。Itellyouthatheisaloose—livingknave,asyouwouldagreeifyouknewallhisstory,acockatricethatformysinsIhavenurturedinmybosom。"Tishethathaswastedallmysubstance;"tishethathasmadefreeofmyname,sothatIfearmeyouaredefrauded。"Tishethatusesmyhouseasthoughitwerehisown,bringingintoitvilewomenoftheCourt,andmenthatarevilerstill,howeverhightheirnamesandgaudytheirattire,"andhechokedwithhiswrathandstopped。

"Whydoyousufferthesethings,sir？"Iasked。

"ForsoothbecauseImust,"heansweredsullenly,"forhehasmeandminebythethroat。ThisDeleroyisverypowerful,MasterHastings。AtawordfromhimwhisperedintheKing"sear,I,oryou,oranymanmightfindourselvesintheToweraccusedoftreason,whenceweshouldappearnomore。"

Then,asthoughhewishedtogetawayfromthesubjectofDeleroyandhisholduponhim,hewenton:

"Ifearmethatyourmoney,ormuchofit,isindangerforDeleroy"sbondisworthless,andsincethelandisalreadypledgedwithoutmyknowledge,Ihavenowheretoturnforgold。ItellyouthatIamanhonestmanifonewhohasfallenintoillcompany,andthiswickednesscutsmedeep,forIknownothowyouwillberepaid。"

Nowathoughtcametome,andaswasmyboldfashioninallbusiness,Iactedonitinstantly。

"SirRobertAleys,"Isaid,"shoulditbepleasingtoyouandanother,Icanseeawayinwhichthisdebtmaybecancelledwithoutshametoyouandyettomyprofit。"

"TheninGod"snamespeakit！ForIseenone。"

"Sir,inbygonetime,asitchancedIwasableyonderatHastingstodosomeservicetoyourdaughterandinthathourshetookmyheart。"

Hestartedbutmotionedtometocontinue。

"Sir,Ilovehertrulyanddesiremorethananythingtomakehermywife。Iknowsheisfarabovemeinstation,stillalthoughbutamerchant,IamofgooddescentasIcanprovetoyou。Moreover,Iamrich,forthismoneythatIhaveadvancedtoyou,ortothelordDeleroy,isbutasmallpartofmywealthwhichgrowsdaybydaythroughhonesttrade。Sir,ifmysuitwereacceptedIshouldbeready,notonlytohelpyoufurtheroncertainterms,butbydeedandwilltosettlemostofitupontheladyBlancheanduponourchildren。Sir,whatsayyou？"

SirRoberttuggedathisredbeardandstareddownatthefloor。

PresentlyheliftedhisheadandIsawthathisfacewastroubled,thefaceofaman,indeed,whoisstrugglingwithhimself,or,asI

thought,withhispride。

"Afairofferfairlyput,"hesaid,"butthequestionis,notwhatI

say,butwhatsaysBlanche。"

"Sir,Idonotknowwhohaveneveraskedher。YetattimesIhavethoughtthathermindtowardsmeisnotunkind。"

"Isitso？Well,perhapsnowthathe——well,letthatlie。MasterHastings,youhavemyleavetotryyourfortuneandItellyoustraightthatIhopeitwillbegood。WithyourwealthyourrankmaybesoonmendedandyouareanhonestmanwhomIshouldbegladtowelcomeasason,forIhavehadenoughoftheseCourtknavesandpaintedJezebels。ButifsuchisyourfancytowardsBlanche,mycounseltoyouisthatyouputitquicklytotheproof——aye,man,atonce。Markmywords,forsuchaswanassheismanysnaresaresetbeneaththedirtywatersofthisCourt。"

"Thesoonerthebetter,sir。"

"Good。I"llsendhertoyouand,onewordmore——benotovershy,orreadytotakethefirst"no"forananswer,ortolistentothetaleofbygonefancies,suchasallwomenhave。"

Thensuddenlyhewent,leavingmetherewonderingathiswordsandmanner,whichIdidnotunderstand。ThisIunderstood,however,thathedesiredthatIshouldmarryBlanche,whichconsideringallthingsI

heldsomewhatstrange,althoughIhadthewealthshelacked。

Doubtless,Ithought,itmustbebecausehishonourhadbeentouchedonthematterofthetrickthathadbeenplayeduponhimwithouthisknowledge。ThenIceasedfromthesewonderingsandgavemythoughttowhatIshouldsaytoBlanche。

Iwaitedalongwhileandstillshedidnotcome,tillatlastI

believedthatshewasawayfromthehouse,orguessingmybusiness,hadrefusedtoseeme。Atlength,however,sheenteredtheroom,sosilentlythatIwhowasstaringatthegreatabbeythroughawindow—

placeneverheardthedooropenorclose。Ithinkthatsomesenseofherpresencemusthavedrawnme,sincesuddenlyIturnedtoseeherstandingbeforeme。Shewascladallinwhite,havingaroundcaporcoronetuponherheadbeneathwhichhershiningfairhairwasloopedinbraids。Herlittlecoat,trimmedwithermine,wasfastenedwithasinglejewel,thatrubyheartembracedbyserpentswhichIhadgivenher。Sheworenootherornament。Thusseenshelookedmostlovelyandmostsweetandallmyheartwentoutinyearningforher。

"Myfathertellsmethatyouwishtospeakwithme,soIhavecome,"

shesaidinherlowclearvoice,searchingmyfacecuriouslywithherlargeeyes。

Ibowedmyheadandpaused,notknowinghowtobegin。

"HowcanIserveyou,who,Ifear,havebeenillserved？"shewentonwithalittlesmileasthoughshefoundamusementinmyconfusion。

"Inonewayonly,"Iexclaimed,"bygivingyourselfinmarriagetome。

ForthatIseek,noless。"

Nowherfairfacethathadbeenpalebecamestainedwithredandshelethereyesfallasthoughsheweresearchingforsomethingamongtherushesthatstrewedthefloor。

"Hearkenbeforeyouanswer,"Icontinued。"WhenfirstIspokewithyouonthatbloodydayatHastingsandyouhadbutjustcometowomanhood,IlovedyouandsworetomyselfthatIwoulddietosaveyou。Isavedyouandwekissedandwereparted。AfterwardsItriedtoputyououtofmyheart,knowingthatyouweresetfarabovemeandnomeatforsuchasI,thoughstillforyoursakeIwooednootherwomaninmarriage。Theyearswentbyandfortunebroughtustogetheragain,andlo！theoldlovewasstrongerthanbefore。IknowthatIamnotworthyofyouwhoaresohighandgoodandpure。Still————"andIstopped,lackingwords。

Shemoveduneasilyandtheredcolourlefthercheeksasthoughshehadbeensuddenlypained。

"Bethinkyou,"shesaidwithatouchofhardnessinhervoice,"canonewholivesthelifeIliveandkeepsmycompany,remainasholyandunstainedasyoubelieve？Ifyouwouldgathersuchalily,surelyyoushouldseekitinacountrygarden,notinthereekofLondon。"

"Ineitherknownorcare,"Ianswered,whosebloodwasallafire。"I

knowonlythatwhereveryougrowandfromwhateversoil,youaretheflowerIwouldpluck。"

"Bethinkyouagain;anuglyslugmighthavesmearedmywhiteness。"

"IfsothehonestsunandrainwillrecoverandwashitandIamagardenerwhoscatterslimetoshrivelslugs。"

"Iftothisoneyouwillnotlisten,thenhearanotherargument。

PerchanceIdonotloveyou。Wouldyouwinalovelessbride？"

"Perchanceyoucanlearnoflove,orifnot,Ihaveenoughtoservefortwo。"

"Bymyfaith！itshouldnotbedifficultwithamansohonestandsowellfavoured。Andyet——afurtherplea。MycousinDeleroyhascheatedyou"（hereherfacehardened）,"andIthinkIamofferedtoyoubymyfatherinsatisfactionofhishonour,asmenwhohavenogoldofferahouseorahorsetocloseadebt。"

"Itisnotso。Iprayedyouofyourfather。Theloss,iflosstherebe,isbutachanceoftrade,suchasIfaceeveryday。Still,IwillbeplainandtellyouthatIriskeditwithopeneyes,expectingnothingless,thatImightcomeneartoyou。"

Nowshesatherselfdowninachair,coveringherfacewithherhands,andIsawfromthetremblingofherbodythatshewassobbing。WhileI

wonderedwhattodo,forthesightwrungme,sheletfallherhandsandthereweretearsuponherface。

"ShallItellyouallmystory,yougood,simplegentleman？"sheasked。

"Nay,onlytwothings。Areyouthewifeofsomeotherman？"

"Notso,thoughperhaps——onceIwentneartoit。Whatistheotherquestion？"

"Doyoulovesomeothermansothatyourhearttellsyouitisnotpossiblethatyoushouldeverloveme？"

"No,Idonot,"sheansweredalmostfiercely,"butbytheRood！Ihateone。"

"Whichisnoaffairofmine,"Isaid,laughing。"Fortherest,letitsleep。Fewaretheythatknowlife"swarswhohavenoscartohide,andIamnotoneofthem,thoughintruthyourlipsmadethedeepestyonderbythecaveatHastings。"

Whensheheardthisshecolouredtoherbrowandforgettinghertears,laughedoutright,whileIwenton:

"Thereforeletthepastbeandifitisyourwill,letussetoureyesuponthefuture。OnlyonepromisewouldIaskofyou,thatneveragainwillyoubealonewiththelordDeleroy,sinceonesolight—fingeredwithapenwould,Ithink,stealotherthings。"

"Bymysoul！thelastthingIdesireistobealonewithmycousinDeleroy。"

Nowsherosefromthechairandforalittlewhilewestoodfacingeachother。Thensheveryslightlyopenedherarmsandliftedherfacetowardsme。

ThusdidBlancheAleysandIbecomeaffianced,thoughafterwards,whenIthoughtthebusinessover,Irememberedthatneveroncedidshesaythatshewouldmarryme。This,however,troubledmelittle,sinceinsuchmattersitiswhatwomendothatweighs,notwhattheysay。FortherestIwasmadwithloveofher,alsoboththenandasthedayswentby,moreandmoredidsheseemtobetravellingonthissameroadofLove。Ifnot,indeedsheactedwell。

WithinamonthwewerewedonacertainOctoberdayinthechurchofSt。Margaret"satWestminster。Onceitwasagreedalldesiredtopushonthismarriage,andnotleastBlancheherself。SirRobertAleyssaidthathewishedtobegonefromLondontohisestatesinSussex,havinghadenoughoftheCourtanditsways,desiringtheretolivequietlytilltheend;I,beingsomuchinlove,wasonfireformybride,andBlancheherselfvowedthatshewaseagertobecomemywife,sayingthatourcourtship,whichbeganonHastingsHill,hadlastedlongenough。Fortherest,therewasnothingtocausedelay。IcancelledSirRobert"sdebttomeandsignedadeedinfavourofhisdaughterandheroffspring,whereofIgaveacopytohislawyerandtherewasnoughtelsetobedoneexcepttopreparemyhouseforherwhich,withmoneyatcommand,waseasy。

Nogreatbusinesswasmadeofthismarriage,sinceneitherhiskinnorSirRoberthimselfwishedtonoiseitaboutthathisonlychild,thelastofhisHouse,wastakingamerchantforherhusbandtosaveherandhimfromwreck。NordidI,themerchant,wishtoprovoketalkamongstthoseofmyownstation,especiallyasitwasknownthatIhadadvancedmoneystothesefinefolksoftheCourt。Soitcameaboutthatfewwereaskedtotheceremonythatwasfixedforanearlyhour,andofthesenotmanycame,becauseonthatday,althoughitwasbutOctober,agreatgalewithstormsofrainbegantoblow,thegreatestindeedthatIhadknowninmylife。

Thusitchancedthatwewerewedinanalmostemptychurchwhilethefiercewind,thunderingagainstthewindows,overcamethefeeblevoiceoftheoldpriest,sothathelookedlikeoneactinginashowwithoutwords。Thedarknesscausedbythethickrainwassodeep,also,thatscarcecouldIseemybride"slovelyfaceorfindthefingeruponwhichImustsetthering。

AtlengthitwasdoneandwewentdowntheaisletofindourhorseswhereonwemustridetomyhouseinCheapside,wheretherewastobeafeastformydependentsandsuchofmyfewfriendsascaredtocome,amongwhomwerenotnumberedanygrandfolkfromWestminster。AswedrewnearthechurchdoorInotedamongthosewhowerepresentthosetwogaudyladiesbetweenwhomDeleroyhadsatatthatmealafterthebusinessoftheloanwassettled。Moreover,Iheardoneofthemsay:

"WhatwillDeleroydowhenhecomesbacktofindhisdarlinggone？"

andtheotheranswerwithahighlaugh:

"Seekanother,doubtless,orborrowmoremoneyfromthemerchant,and————"HereIlosttheirtalkintherushofthewindthroughtheopeneddoor。

IntheporchwasoldSirRobertAleys。

"MotherofGod！"heshouted,"maytherestofthelivesofyoutwobesmootherthanyournuptials。NoCheapsidefeastforme,I"mforhomeinsuchfiend"sweather。Farewell,sonHubert,andalljoytoyou。

Farewell,Blanche。Learntobeobedientasawifeandkeepyoureyesforyourhusband"sface,thatismycounseltoyou。TillwemeetagainatChristmastideinSussex,whitherIrideto—morrow,farewelltobothofyou。"

Farewell,itwasindeed,forneverdideitherofuslookonhimagain。

Wrappedcloseinourcloakswebattledthroughthestormandatlength,somewhatbreathless,reachedmyhouseintheCheapwherethegarlandsofautumnflowersandgreenerythatIhadcausedtobewreathedfrompostsbeforethedoorwerealltornawaybythegale。

HereIwelcomedmywifeasbestIcould,kissingherasshecrossedthethresholdandsayingcertainsweetwordsthatIhadprepared,towhichshesmiledananswer。Thenthewomentookhertoherchambertomakeherselfreadyandafterwardscamethefeast,whichwassumptuousofitssort,thoughtheevilweatherkeptsomeoftheguestsaway。

ScarcelyhaditbegunwhenKari,whooflatehadbeensad—facedandbrooding,andwhodidnoteatwithus,enteredandwhisperedtomethatmyMasterofLadingfromthedocksprayedtoseemeatonceonamatterwhichwouldbrooknodelay。MakingexcusetoBlancheandthecompany,Iwentouttoseehimintheshopandfoundthemanmuchdisturbed。ItseemedthatacertainvesselofminethatIhadrechristened/Blanche/inhonourofmywife,whichlayinthestreamreadytosail,wasingreatdangerbecauseofthetempest。Indeed,shewasdraggingatheranchor,anditwasfearedthatunlessmoreanchorscouldbeletdownshewouldcomeashoreandbewreckedagainstthejetty—headsorotherwise。Thereasonwhythishadnotbeendone,wasthatonlythemasterandonesailorwereonboardthevessel;therestwerefeastingashoreinhonourofmymarriage,andrefusedtorowouttoher,sayingthattheboatwouldbeswampedinthegale。

Nowthisship,althoughnotverylarge,wasthebestandstaunchestthatIowned,beingalmostnew;moreover,thecargoonboardofher,ladenfortheMediterranean,wasofgreatvalue,sogreatindeedthatitslosswouldhavebeenverygrievoustome。Therefore,itwasplainthatImustseetothematterwithoutdelay,sincefrommyservant"saccounttherewasnohopethattheserebellioussailorswouldlistentoanylessermanthanmyself。So,ifIwouldsavetheshipandhercargo,Imustrideforthedocksatonce。

Goingbacktotheeating—chamber,inafewwordsItoldmywifeandtheguestshowthematterstood,prayingtheoldestmanamongthelattertotakemyplacebythebride,whichhedidunwillingly,mutteringthatthiswasanunluckymarriagefeast。

ThenitwasthatBlancherose,beseechingmeearnestlyandalmostwithtearsthatIwouldtakeherwithmetothedocks。Ilaughedather,asdidthecompany,butstillshebesoughtwithmuchpersistence,tillI

begantobelievethatshemustbeafraidofsomething,thoughtheotherscriedthatitwasbutloveandfearlestIshouldcometoharm。

IntheendImadeherdrinkacupofwinewithme,butherhandshooksomuchthatshespilledthecupandtherichredwinerandownherbreast,stainingthewhitenessofherrobe,whereatsomewomenamongthecompanymurmured,thinkingitabadomen。AtlengthwithakissI

toremyselfaway,forIcouldbidenolongerandthehorseswerewaitingpresently。SoIwasridingforthedocksasfastasthestormwouldsuffer,withtilesfromtheroofs,andwhenwewereclearofthesethetorn—offlimbsoftreeshurtlingroundme。Kari,Ishouldsay,wouldhaveaccompaniedme,butItookaserving—man,biddingKaribidewherehewasinthehouseincasehemightbeofservice。

AtlastwecamesafelytothedockswhereIfoundallasmycargo—

masterhaddescribed。Theship/Blanche/wasingreatperilanddraggingeveryminutetowardsapierheadwhich,ifshestruck,wouldstaveherinandmakeanendofher。Themen,too,werestillfeastingintheinnwiththeirwharfsidetrollops,andsomeofthemhalfdrunk。

Ispoketothem,showingthemtheirshame,andsayingthatiftheywouldnotcome,Iandmymanwouldtakeaboatandgetaboardaloneandthisuponmyweddingday。Thentheyhungtheirheadsandcame。

Wewontotheshipsafelythoughwithmuchtoilanddanger,andtherefoundthemasteralmostcrazedwithfearanddoubtoftheissue,andthemanwithhiminjuredbyafallingblock。Indeed,thispoorcaptainclungtotherail,watchingthecableasitdraggedtheanchorandfearingeverymomentlestitshouldpart。

Therestissoontold。Wegotouttwomoreanchorsanddidotherthingssuchassailorsknow,tohelpinsuchacase。Whenallwasassafeasitcouldbemade,Iandmymanandfoursailorsstartedforthequay,tellingthemasterthatIwouldreturnuponthemorrow。Thewindandcurrentaidingus,welandedsafeandsoundandatonceI

rodebacktoCheapside。

Now,thoughitisshorttotell,allthishadtakenalongwhile,alsothewaywasfartorideinsuchastorm。Thusitcameaboutthatitwasnightoteno"clockatnightwhen,thankingGod,Idismountedatthegateofmyhouseandbadetheservanttakethehorsestothestable。AsIdrewnearthedoor,itopened,whichastonishedmeand,asthelightwithinshowed,therestoodKari。Whatastonishedmestillmore,hehadthegreatsword,Wave—Flame,inhishand,thoughnotdrawn,whichswordhemusthavefetchedfromwhereitwaskeptwiththeFrenchknight"sarmourandtheshieldthatborethreearrowsasacognizance。

Layinghisfingeronhislipsheshutthedoorsoftly,thensaidinalowvoice:

"Master,thereisamanupyonderwiththelady。"

"Whatman？"Iasked。

"Thatsamelord,Master,whocameherewithheroncebeforetobuyjewelsandborrowgold。Hearken。Thefeastbeingfinishedtheguestswentawayatfallofnight,butthewife—ladywithdrewherselfintothechamberthatiscalledsun—room（thesolar）,thatupthestairs,whichlooksoutonthestreet。Aboutonehourgonetherecameaknockatthedoor。Iwhowaswatching,opened,thinkingitwasyoureturned,andtherestoodthatlord。Hespoketome,saying:

""Moor—man,Iknowthatyourmasterisfromhome,butthattheladyishere。Iwouldspeakwithher。"

"NowIwouldhaveturnedhimaway,butatthatmomenttheladyherself,whoitseemedwaswatching,camedownthestairs,lookingverywhite,andsaid:

""Kari,letthelordcomein。Ihavemattersofyourmaster"sbusinessaboutwhichImusttalkwithhim。"So,Master,knowingthatyouhadlentmoneytothislord,Iobeyed,thoughIlikeditnot,andhavingfetchedtheswordwhichIthoughtperchancemightbeneeded,I

waited。"

Thiswasthesubstanceofwhathesaid,thoughhistalkwasmorebrokensinceheneverlearnedtospeakEnglishwellandhelpeditoutwithwordsofhisowntongue,ofwhich,asIhavetold,hehadtaughtmesomething。

"Idonotunderstand,"Iexclaimed,whenhehadfinished。"Doubtlessitislittleornothing。Yetgivemethesword,forwhoknows？andcomewithme。"

Kariobeyed,andasIwentupthestairsIbuckledWave—Flameaboutme。AlsoKaribroughttwocandlesofItalianwaxlightedupontheirstands。ComingtothedoorofthesolarItriedtoopenit,butitwasbolted。

"God"struth！"Isaid,"thisisstrange,"andhammeredonthepanelwithmyfist。

Presentlyitopened,butbeforeenteringit,forIfearedsometrick,Istoodwithoutandlookedin。Theroomwaslitbyahanginglampandafireburnedbrightlyonthehearth,forthenightwascold。InanoakchairbythefireandstaringintoitsatBlanchestillasanystatue。SheglancedroundandsawmeinthelightofthecandlesthatKariheld,andagainstaredintothefire。Half—waybetweenherandthedoorstoodDeleroy,dressedaseverinfineclothes,thoughI

notedthathiscapewasoffandhungoverastoolnearthefireasthoughtodry。Inotedalsothatheworeaswordandadagger。I

enteredtheroom,followedbyKari,shutthedoorbehindmeandshotthebolt。ThenIspoke,asking:

"Whyareyouherewithmywife,LordDeleroy？"

"Itisstrange,Mastermerchant,"heanswered,"butIwasabouttoputmuchthesamequestiontoyou:namely,whyis/my/wifeinyourhouse？"

Now,whileIreeledbeneaththesewords,withoutturningherhead,Blanchebythefiresaid:

"Helies,Hubert。Iamnothiswife。"

"Whyareyouhere,myLordDeleroy？"Irepeated。

"Well,ifyouwouldknow,Mastermerchant,Ibringapaperforyou,orratheracopyofit,forthewrititselfwillbeservedonyouto—morrowbytheKing"sofficers。ItcommitsyoutotheTowerundertheroyalsealfortradingwiththeKing"senemies,atreasonthatcanbeprovedagainstyou,ofwhichasyouknow,orwillshortlylearn,thepunishmentisdeath,"andashespokehethrewawritingdownuponasidetable。

"Iseetheplot,"Iansweredcoldly。"TheKing"sunworthyfavourite,forgerandthief,usestheKing"sauthoritytotrytobringtheKing"shonestsubjecttobondsanddeathbyafalseaccusation。Itisacommontrickinthesedays。Butletthatbe。ForthethirdtimeIaskyou——whyareyouherewithmynew—wedwifeandatthishourofthenight？"

"Socourteousaquestiondemandsacourteousanswer,Mastermerchant,buttogiveitImusttroubleyoutolistentoatale。"

"Thenletitbelikemypatience,brief,"Ireplied。

"Itshall,"hesaidwithamockingbow。

Thenveryclearlyandquietlyhesetoutadreadfulstory,givingdatesandcircumstances。Letthatstorybe。ThesubstanceofitwasthathehadmarriedBlanchesoonaftershereachedwomanhoodandthatshehadbornehimachildwhichdied。