In the abstract there was nothing very remarkable in this pair, forservility waiting on a handsome suit of clothes and a cane--not tospeak of gold and silver sticks, or wands of office--is commonenough. But there was that about the well-dressed man, yes, andabout the other likewise, which struck Mr Haredale with no pleasantfeeling. He hesitated, stopped, and would have stepped aside andturned out of his path, but at the moment, the other two facedabout quickly, and stumbled upon him before he could avoid them.
The gentleman with the cane lifted his hat and had begun to tenderan apology, which Mr Haredale had begun as hastily to acknowledgeand walk away, when he stopped short and cried, "Haredale! Gadbless me, this is strange indeed!"
"It is," he returned impatiently; "yes--a--"
"My dear friend," cried the other, detaining him, "why such greatspeed? One minute, Haredale, for the sake of old acquaintance."
"I am in haste," he said. "Neither of us has sought this meeting.
Let it be a brief one. Good night!"
"Fie, fie!" replied Sir John (for it was he), "how very churlish!
We were speaking of you. Your name was on my lips--perhaps youheard me mention it? No? I am sorry for that. I am reallysorry.--You know our friend here, Haredale? This is really a mostremarkable meeting!"
The friend, plainly very ill at ease, had made bold to press SirJohn"s arm, and to give him other significant hints that he wasdesirous of avoiding this introduction. As it did not suit SirJohn"s purpose, however, that it should be evaded, he appearedquite unconscious of these silent remonstrances, and inclined hishand towards him, as he spoke, to call attention to him moreparticularly.
The friend, therefore, had nothing for it, but to muster up thepleasantest smile he could, and to make a conciliatory bow, as MrHaredale turned his eyes upon him. Seeing that he was recognised,he put out his hand in an awkward and embarrassed manner, which wasnot mended by its contemptuous rejection.
"Mr Gashford!" said Haredale, coldly. "It is as I have heard then.
You have left the darkness for the light, sir, and hate those whoseopinions you formerly held, with all the bitterness of a renegade.
You are an honour, sir, to any cause. I wish the one you espouseat present, much joy of the acquisition it has made."
The secretary rubbed his hands and bowed, as though he would disarmhis adversary by humbling himself before him. Sir John Chesteragain exclaimed, with an air of great gaiety, "Now, really, this isa most remarkable meeting!" and took a pinch of snuff with hisusual self-possession.
"Mr Haredale," said Gashford, stealthily raising his eyes, andletting them drop again when they met the other"s steady gaze, istoo conscientious, too honourable, too manly, I am sure, to attachunworthy motives to an honest change of opinions, even though itimplies a doubt of those he holds himself. Mr Haredale is too just, too generous, too clear-sighted in his moral vision, to--"
"Yes, sir?" he rejoined with a sarcastic smile, finding thesecretary stopped. "You were saying"--Gashford meekly shrugged his shoulders, and looking on the groundagain, was silent.
"No, but let us really," interposed Sir John at this juncture, "letus really, for a moment, contemplate the very remarkable characterof this meeting. Haredale, my dear friend, pardon me if I thinkyou are not sufficiently impressed with its singularity. Here westand, by no previous appointment or arrangement, three oldschoolfellows, in Westminster Hall; three old boarders in aremarkably dull and shady seminary at Saint Omer"s, where you,being Catholics and of necessity educated out of England, werebrought up; and where I, being a promising young Protestant at thattime, was sent to learn the French tongue from a native of Paris!"
"Add to the singularity, Sir John," said Mr Haredale, "that some ofyou Protestants of promise are at this moment leagued in yonderbuilding, to prevent our having the surpassing and unheard-ofprivilege of teaching our children to read and write--here--in this land, where thousands of us enter your service every year, and topreserve the freedom of which, we die in bloody battles abroad, inheaps: and that others of you, to the number of some thousands asI learn, are led on to look on all men of my creed as wolves andbeasts of prey, by this man Gashford. Add to it besides the barefact that this man lives in society, walks the streets in broadday--I was about to say, holds up his head, but that he does not-andit will be strange, and very strange, I grant you."
"Oh! you are hard upon our friend," replied Sir John, with anengaging smile. "You are really very hard upon our friend!"
"Let him go on, Sir John," said Gashford, fumbling with his gloves.
"Let him go on. I can make allowances, Sir John. I am honouredwith your good opinion, and I can dispense with Mr Haredale"s. MrHaredale is a sufferer from the penal laws, and I can"t expect hisfavour."
"You have so much of my favour, sir," retorted Mr Haredale, with abitter glance at the third party in their conversation, "that I amglad to see you in such good company. You are the essence of yourgreat Association, in yourselves."
"Now, there you mistake," said Sir John, in his most benignant way.
"There--which is a most remarkable circumstance for a man of yourpunctuality and exactness, Haredale--you fall into error. I don"tbelong to the body; I have an immense respect for its members, butI don"t belong to it; although I am, it is certainly true, theconscientious opponent of your being relieved. I feel it my dutyto be so; it is a most unfortunate necessity; and cost me a bitterstruggle.--Will you try this box? If you don"t object to atrifling infusion of a very chaste scent, you"ll find its flavourexquisite."
"I ask your pardon, Sir John," said Mr Haredale, declining theproffer with a motion of his hand, "for having ranked you among thehumble instruments who are obvious and in all men"s sight. Ishould have done more justice to your genius. Men of your capacityplot in secrecy and safety, and leave exposed posts to the dullerwits."
"Don"t apologise, for the world," replied Sir John sweetly; "oldfriends like you and I, may be allowed some freedoms, or the deuceis in it."