"To none but me!" exclaimed the knight, pausing in the act ofraising his cup to his lips with a perfectly steady hand, andcurling up his little finger for the better display of a brilliantring with which it was ornamented: "but me!--My dear Mr Varden,how very preposterous, to select me for his confidence! With youat his elbow, too, who are so perfectly trustworthy!"
"Sir John, Sir John," returned the locksmith, "at twelve tomorrow,these men die. Hear the few words I have to add, and do not hopeto deceive me; for though I am a plain man of humble station, andyou are a gentleman of rank and learning, the truth raises me toyour level, and I KNOW that you anticipate the disclosure withwhich I am about to end, and that you believe this doomed man,Hugh, to be your son."
"Nay," said Sir John, bantering him with a gay air; "the wildgentleman, who died so suddenly, scarcely went as far as that, Ithink?"
"He did not," returned the locksmith, "for she had bound him bysome pledge, known only to these people, and which the worst amongthem respect, not to tell your name: but, in a fantastic pattern onthe stick, he had carved some letters, and when the hangman askedit, he bade him, especially if he should ever meet with her son inafter life, remember that place well."
"What place?"
"Chester."
The knight finished his cup of chocolate with an appearance ofinfinite relish, and carefully wiped his lips upon hishandkerchief.
"Sir John," said the locksmith, "this is all that has been told tome; but since these two men have been left for death, they haveconferred together closely. See them, and hear what they can add.
See this Dennis, and learn from him what he has not trusted to me.
If you, who hold the clue to all, want corroboration (which you donot), the means are easy."
"And to what," said Sir John Chester, rising on his elbow, aftersmoothing the pillow for its reception; "my dear, good-natured,estimable Mr Varden--with whom I cannot be angry if I would--towhat does all this tend?"
"I take you for a man, Sir John, and I suppose it tends to somepleading of natural affection in your breast," returned thelocksmith. "I suppose to the straining of every nerve, and theexertion of all the influence you have, or can make, in behalf ofyour miserable son, and the man who has disclosed his existence toyou. At the worst, I suppose to your seeing your son, andawakening him to a sense of his crime and danger. He has no such sense now. Think what his life must have been, when he said in myhearing, that if I moved you to anything, it would be to hasteninghis death, and ensuring his silence, if you had it in your power!"
"And have you, my good Mr Varden," said Sir John in a tone of mildreproof, "have you really lived to your present age, and remainedso very simple and credulous, as to approach a gentleman ofestablished character with such credentials as these, fromdesperate men in their last extremity, catching at any straw? Ohdear! Oh fie, fie!"
The locksmith was going to interpose, but he stopped him:
"On any other subject, Mr Varden, I shall be delighted--I shall becharmed--to converse with you, but I owe it to my own character notto pursue this topic for another moment."
"Think better of it, sir, when I am gone," returned the locksmith;"think better of it, sir. Although you have, thrice within as manyweeks, turned your lawful son, Mr Edward, from your door, you mayhave time, you may have years to make your peace with HIM, SirJohn: but that twelve o"clock will soon be here, and soon be pastfor ever."
"I thank you very much," returned the knight, kissing his delicatehand to the locksmith, "for your guileless advice; and I only wish,my good soul, although your simplicity is quite captivating, thatyou had a little more worldly wisdom. I never so much regrettedthe arrival of my hairdresser as I do at this moment. God blessyou! Good morning! You"ll not forget my message to the ladies, MrVarden? Peak, show Mr Varden to the door."
Gabriel said no more, but gave the knight a parting look, and lefthim. As he quitted the room, Sir John"s face changed; and thesmile gave place to a haggard and anxious expression, like that ofa weary actor jaded by the performance of a difficult part. Herose from his bed with a heavy sigh, and wrapped himself in hismorning-gown.
"So she kept her word," he said, "and was constant to her threat!
I would I had never seen that dark face of hers,--I might have readthese consequences in it, from the first. This affair would make anoise abroad, if it rested on better evidence; but, as it is, andby not joining the scattered links of the chain, I can afford toslight it.--Extremely distressing to be the parent of such anuncouth creature! Still, I gave him very good advice. I told him he would certainly be hanged. I could have done no more if I hadknown of our relationship; and there are a great many fathers whohave never done as much for THEIR natural children.--Thehairdresser may come in, Peak!"
The hairdresser came in; and saw in Sir John Chester (whoseaccommodating conscience was soon quieted by the numerousprecedents that occurred to him in support of his lastobservation), the same imperturbable, fascinating, elegantgentleman he had seen yesterday, and many yesterdays before.