The Sapphire Cross Part 42

A VISITOR TO HIS LORDs.h.i.+P.

Lord George Maudlaine had been making rather a long stay at Merland; but things were, he told himself, going on very satisfactorily. Brace seemed to have been driven off, and in a few days would be at sea. Sir Murray was all that could be desired, and favoured more strongly than ever the matrimonial projects of his lords.h.i.+p, telling him, with a grim smile, that he need fear no rival now. In fact, at times, his lords.h.i.+p thought him almost too eager, and tried to make out whether, by any means, he was going to be what he called "taken in." He was lying one morning about nine o'clock, indolently going over the matter in his not very logical mind. He had had a cup of coffee brought him by his valet, and had added to the dense odour he had already imparted to the pale blue satin hangings of his bed, by smoking a cigar, and spilling the ash about the delicate linen in which he lay.

"Let me see," said his lords.h.i.+p, yawning, and going over the matter for the twentieth time. "I don't think I can get anything more out of it.

I can't see how it can prove a 'sell.' She's very pretty and lady-like, and well-bred, and all that sort of thing. Don't much care for me, but then, that don't matter. The Castle, and every penny the old man has, comes to her at his death, and he comes down handsome as to marriage settlements. Why, there can't be anything wrong, though the more she hangs away, the more he pushes the matter forward. I'd run back in a moment if I thought I was being 'done'; but, then, I don't see how I can be; and, besides, it was my own seeking at first. It's all right, and in a few months I shall be able to shake myself clear of those precious Hebrews. Come in! Well, Willis?"

"Gentleman wishes to see your lords.h.i.+p on important business."

"Must be some one wants his little bill," thought his lords.h.i.+p. "Tell him I'm particularly engaged," he said, aloud. "What the deuce does he mean by coming at such an hour as this? Know who it is?"

"Yes, my lord," said the valet, meaningly, for as his own salary was regularly paid, and his perquisites were many, he had a very profound contempt for all duns. "Think it's Mr Braham, my lord."

"What?" exclaimed his lords.h.i.+p, completely thrown off his equanimity, for he had judged the visitor to be one of the tradesmen of the little town--one of the unfortunates whom he had favoured with his orders.

"You don't mean to say--"

"Come down to Marshton last night, m' lord, and driven over this morning."

"Has--has any one--has Sir Murray seen him, do you think?"

"Can't say, m' lord, but he drove up to the grand entrance quite cheeky, in as wretched an old gig as ever your lords.h.i.+p see--saw," added the valet, correcting himself.

"You'd better show him up," said his lords.h.i.+p, with a blank look of misery in his face, as he first threw off, and then replaced, his silken night-cap. "Say I'm ill, Willis."

"Yes, m' lord," said the valet, and he went out with his tongue in his cheek. "I heered him say as he'd hold the string, that day he went away from us in town, and it strikes me as he's come to pull it now. Step this way, sir, if you please," he continued, entering the breakfast-room, where he found Mr Braham making himself perfectly at home with some coffee and "devilled" chicken, breakfast being a meal that strangers at the Castle took at their pleasure. The meal was prepared, and allowed to remain in the breakfast-room for a couple of hours, ready for those who liked to partake thereof. Hence, Mr Braham, being hungry from his early ride, judged himself to be one who would like to partake, and acted accordingly.

"I'll have another cup of coffee first, my man," he said, coolly.

"Lords.h.i.+p quite well?"

"Well, no, sir," said the valet; "but if you'll step up, he'll see you in his bed-room."

And, for his own sake, having his lord's future somewhat at heart, the servant could not refrain from displaying his eagerness to get the inopportune visitor away from the breakfast-room, lest Sir Murray or some guest should encounter him.

"It's all right, my man--never mind me. I'm hungry, and if Sir Murray Gernon does come, I'm only his lords.h.i.+p's confidential man of business, d'yer see?"

The valet nodded, and stood staring while the early visitor displayed his vigorous appet.i.te.

"That the young lady I met in the hall?" said Mr Braham, coolly.

"Young lady, sir?" said the valet, inquiringly.

"Now, look here, my fine fellow," said the money-lender: "take my advice. Keep friends with me, and, I think, it will be better for you in the long run. I might find it necessary to write and ask you a few questions, and I should expect satisfactory answers. I dare say you have a pencil--haven't you?"

The valet nodded, while the visitor busied himself with his pocket-book.

"Look here, then! here's a sc.r.a.p of paper for you to make memorandums on, ready to tell me anything I want, specially keeping in mind any movements his lords.h.i.+p may make. You see, he's forgetful, and don't write to me, and a long journey like this, to find him gone, would be rather a nuisance, do you see? Ah! I see you understand; and, I dare say, when you've fairly worn out that piece of paper, I can find you another."

Now, as the said piece of paper was a five-pound note, Mr Willis, his lords.h.i.+p's valet, had no difficulty at all in promising to make the necessary memoranda. It was strange, too, how very much Mr Braham appeared to change in his sight. It would be a queer thing, thought the valet, if his lords.h.i.+p's confidential man of business couldn't have a bit of breakfast after his journey; so, requesting the visitor to ring when he was ready to go up to his lords.h.i.+p's room, he prepared to leave.

"No, don't go, my man," said Braham, "I've just done. That was the young lady, I suppose?"

"Yes, sir; that's her," said Willis.

"Ah! Nice girl. Thanks--yes, you in ay open a bottle of claret. Fine place this, my man. If I were you, I should stick to his lords.h.i.+p.

Money is tight in the city, sometimes--eh? Ha--ha--ha! We know--eh?

But it will all come right; and if I were you, I should go in for the butlers.h.i.+p. It'll come to that by-and-by, I dare say."

Mr Braham condescended to wink at the servant, and the valet made bold to wink in reply; and, at last rising, Mr Braham was ushered into Lord Maudlaine's room.

"De do, Mr Braham?" said his lords.h.i.+p, languidly; and then, as the door closed on the valet: "Con-found you! what the deuce brought you here?"

"Customary conveyance, my lord," said the Jew, coolly.

"But what could induce you to come down here and spoil all?" exclaimed the Viscount.

"Your honourable lords.h.i.+p's extreme want of punctuality," said the unwelcome visitor.

"Punctuality!--what do you mean?" said his lords.h.i.+p, fiercely.

"Nothing--nothing," said the Jew, nonchalantly, as he lolled back in his chair, after helping himself to one of the cigars on the table, and preparing to smoke. "I see from your lords.h.i.+p's freedom of conversation, that you possess the happy independent spirit given by money. I see you are quite prepared."

"Prepared--prepared for what?" gasped the rec.u.mbent debtor.

"Oh! only to meet my demands! I did wait a week; but as I did not hear from you, I was obliged to come and remind you."

"Remind me of what?" exclaimed the Viscount.

"Oh! only that time's up!"

Lord Maudlaine sank back upon his pillow, half stupefied.

"Impossible," he pondered: he had made no memorandum--he never did of these disagreeable transactions; but it was impossible that six months could have elapsed, and he said so.

"Six months, my lord? Why, what put it into your head that the paper had six months to run?"

"Why, I asked you to make it six months, and you said you would try."

"Well, I did try, my clear lord. But you astonish me! Did you not read the bills over, when you put your name to them?"

"Confound you! you know I did not!" cried the Viscount, angrily. "They were only for three months, then?"

"That's all, my lord. But there--what does it matter? Give me a cheque for the amount, and have done with it. There will be so much weight off your mind."

Lord Maudlaine grinned in a manner that indicated how gladly he would have liked to wring his tormentor's neck, but he crushed down his wrath.

"Well, what's to be done? I can't pay."

"Very sorry, my lord--but you know the result, without Sir Murray Gernon would--"