Tom Burke Of "Ours" Volume I Part 20

Bubbleton had too much experience of similar instances of neglect to be either afflicted or offended at this silence; on the contrary, he satisfied his mind by an excuse of his own inventing, and went about saying, "I think we 'll have Castlereagh down to-day to see Burke,"

until it became a cant on parade and a jest at mess.

Meanwhile his active mind was not lying dormant. Indignant that no inquiries had been made after me, and astonished that no aide-de-camp--not even a liveried menial of the Viceroy's household--had come down to receive the daily bulletin of my health, and somewhat piqued, perhaps, that his own important services regarding me remained unacknowledged, he set about springing a mine for himself which very nearly became my ruin.

After about ten days spent by me in this state of painful vacillation, my mind vibrating between two opposite courses, and seeing arguments for either, both in the matter-of-fact shortness of Miss Bubbleton's not over-courteous manner, and the splendidly liberal and vast conceptions of her brother, I went to my bed one night resolved that on the very next morning I would hesitate no longer; and as my strength would now permit of my being able to walk una.s.sisted, I would explain freely to Bubbleton every circ.u.mstance of my life, and take my leave of him, to wander, I knew not where. This decision at length being come to, I slept more soundly than I had slept for many nights, nor awoke until the loud step and the louder voice of the captain had aroused me from my slumbers.

"Eh, Tom! a good night, my lad? How soundly you sleep! Just like the Lachigong Indians; they go to bed after the hunting season, and never wake till the bears come in next fall. I had the knack myself once; but then I always took six or seven dozen of strong Burton ale first; and that, they said, was n't quite fair. But for a white man, I 'd back myself for a thousand to-morrow. But what 's this I have to tell you?

Something or other was in my head for you. Oh, I have it! I say, Tom, old fellow, I think I have touched them up to some purpose. They did n't expect it. No, hang it! they little knew what was in store for them; they weren't quite prepared for it. By Jove, that they were n't!"

"Who are they?" said I, sitting up in my bed, and somewhat curious to hear something of these astonished individuals.

"The Government, my lad; the Castle; the Private Sec.; the Major; the Treasury; the Board of Green Cloth; the--what d' ye call them?--the Privy Council."

"Why, what has happened them?"

"I 'll show you what 's happened. Lie down again and compose yourself.

He won't be here before twelve o'clock; though, by the bye, I promised on my honor not to say a word about his coming. But it 's over now."

"Who is it?" said I, eagerly.

"Oh, I can't tell now. You 'll see him very soon; and right glad he 'll be to see you, so he says. But here they are; here 's the whole affair."

So saying, he covered the bed with a ma.s.s of news' papers, and blotted, ill-written ma.n.u.scripts, among which he commenced a vigorous search at once.

"Here it is; I've found it out. Listen to this: 'The Press, Friday, August 10. The magnificent ourang-outang that Captain Bubbleton is about to present to the Lady-Lieutenant--' No, that is n't it; it must be in Faulkner. Ay, here we have it: 'In Captain Bubbleton's forthcoming volume, which we have been favored with a private perusal of, a very singular account is given of the gigantic mouse found in Candia, which grows to the size of a common mastiff--'No, that 's not it. You 've heard of that, Tom, though, have n't you?"

"Never," said I, trying to repress a smile.

"I 'm amazed at that; never heard of my curious speculations about the Candian mouse! The fellow has a voice like a human being; you 'd hear him crying in the woods, and you 'd swear it was a child. I 've a notion that the Greeks took their word 'mousikos' from this fellow. But that 's not what I 'm looking for; no, but here it is. This is squib No. 1: 'Tuesday morning. We are at length enabled to state that the young gentleman who took such a prominent part in defending the military against the savage and murderous attack of the mob in the late riot in College Green is now out of danger; being removed to Captain Bubbleton's quarters in George's Street Barracks, he was immediately trepanned--'"

"Eh? trepanned!"

"No, you weren't trepanned; but Pepper said you might have been though, and he 'd just as soon do it as not; so I put in trepanned. 'The pia mater was fortunately not cut through.' That you don't understand; but no matter,--hem, hem! 'Congestion of--' hem, hem! 'In our next, we hope to give a still more favorable report.' Then here's the next: 'To the aide-decamp sent to inquire after the "hero of College Green," the answer this morning was, "Better; able to sit up."' Well, here we go,--No. 3: 'His Excellency mentioned this morning at the Privy Council the satisfaction he felt at being able to announce that Mr. (from motives of delicacy we omit the name) is now permitted to take some barley gruel, with a spoonful of old Madeira. The Bishop of Ferns and Sir Boyle Roach both left their cards yesterday at the barracks.' I waited a day or two after this; but--would you believe it?--no notice was taken; not even the Opposition papers said a word, except some insolent rascal in 'The Press' asks, 'Can you tell your readers, Are we to have anything more from Captain Bubbleton?' So then I resolved to come out in force, and here you see the result: 'Friday, 20th. It is now our gratifying task to announce the complete restoration of the young gentleman whose case has, for some weeks past, been the engrossing topic of conversation of all ranks and cla.s.ses, from the table of the Viceroy to the humble denizen of Mud Island. Mr. Burke is the only son and heir to the late Matthew Burke, of Cremore, county of Galway. His family have been long distinguished for their steady, uncompromising loyalty; nor is the hereditary glory of their house likely to suffer in the person of the ill.u.s.trious youth, who, we learn, is now to be raised to the baronetcy under the t.i.tle of Sir Thomas Bubbleton Burke, the second name a.s.sumed to commemorate the services of Captain Bubbleton, whose--'Of course I dilated a little here to round the paragraph. Well, this did it; here was the sh.e.l.l that exploded the magazine. For early this morning I received a polite note from the Castle,--I won't tell you the writer, though; I like a good bit of surprise. And egad, now I think on 't, I won't say anything more about the letter either, only that we 're in luck, my lad, as you 'll soon acknowledge. What 's the hour now? Ah!

a quarter to twelve. But wait, I think I hear him in the next room. Jump up, and dress as fast as you can, while I do the honors."

With this the captain bustled out of the room; and, although he banged the door after him, I could hear his voice in the act of welcoming some new arrival.

In spite of the sea of nonsense and absurdity through which I had waded in the last half-hour, the communication he had made me excited my curiosity to the utmost, and in some respect rendered me uneasy. It was no part whatever of my object to afford any clue to Ba.s.set by which he might trace me; and although much of the fear I had formerly entertained of that dreaded personage had evaporated with increased knowledge of the world, yet old instincts preserved their influence over me, and I felt as though Tony Ba.s.set would be a name of terror to me for my life long.

It was quite clear, however, that the application from the Castle to which he alluded could have no reference to the honest attorney; and with this comforting reflection, which I confess came somewhat late, I finished my dressing, and prepared to leave my room.

"Oh, here he comes!" cried Bubbleton, as he flung open my door, and announced my approach. "Come along, Tom, and let us see if your face will let you be recognized."

I scarcely had crossed the threshold when I started back with affright, and had it not been for the wall against which I leaned, must have fallen. The stranger, whose visit was to afford me so much of pleasure was no other than Major Barton; there he stood, his arm leaning on the chimney-piece, the same cool malicious smile playing about the angles of his mouth which I noticed the first day I saw him in the glen. His sharp eyes shot on me one quick, searching glance, and then turned to the door; from which again they were directed to me as if some pa.s.sing thought had moved them.

Bubbleton was the first to speak, for not noticing either the agitation I was under or the stern expression of Barton's features, he ran on:--

"Eh, Major! that's your friend, isn't it? Changed a bit, I suppose; a little blanched, but in a good cause, you know,--that's the thing. Come, Tom, you don't forget your old friend. Major--what 's the name?"

"Barton," repeated the other, dryly.

"Yes, Major Barton; he 's come from his Excellency. I knew that last paragraph would do it,--eh. Major?"

"You were quite right, sir," said Barton, slowly and distinctly, "that paragraph did do it; and very fortunate you may esteem yourself, if it will not do you also."

"Eh, what! how me? What d' you mean?"

"How long, may I beg to ask," continued Barton, in the same quiet tone of voice, "have you known this young gentleman?"

"Burke,--Tom Burke? Bless your heart, since the height of that fender.

His father and mine were schoolfellows. I 'm not sure he was n't my G.o.dfather, or, at least, one of them; I had four." Here the captain began counting on his fingers. "There was the Moulah, one; the Cham, two--"

"I beg your pardon for the interruption," said Barton, with affected politeness; "how long has he occupied these quarters? That fact may possibly not be too antiquated for your memory."

"How long?" said Bubbleton, reflectingly. "Let me see: here we are in August--"

"Three weeks on Tuesday last," said I, interfering, to prevent any further drain on so lavish an imagination.

"Then you came here on the day of the riots?" said Barton.

"On that evening," was my reply.

"On that evening,--just so. Before or after, may I isk?"

"I shall answer no further questions," said I, resolutely. "If you have any charge against me, it is for you to prove it."

"Charge against you!" said Bubbleton, laughing. "Bless your heart, boy, don't mistake him; they've sent him down to compliment you. Lord Castlereagh mentions in his note--Where the devil did I throw that note?"

"It's of no consequence, Captain," said Barton, dryly; "his lords.h.i.+p usually intrusts the management of these matters to me. May I learn, is this young gentleman known in your regiment? Has he been at your mess?"

"Tom Burke known among us! Why, man, he 's called nothing but 'Burke of Ours.' He 's one of ourselves; not gazetted, you know, but all the same in fact. We could n't get on without him; he's like the mess-plate, or the orderly-book, or the regimental snuffbox."

"I 'm sincerely sorry, sir," rejoined Barton, slowly, "to rob you and the gallant Forty-fifth of one upon whom you place such just value; but 'Burke of Ours' must consent to be Burke of mine at present."

"To be sure, my dear major, of course; anything convivial,--nothing like good fellows.h.i.+p. We'll lend him to you for to-day,--one day, mark me,--we can't spare him longer. And now I think of it, don't press him with his wine; he 's been poorly of late."

"Have no fears on that score," said Barton, laughing outright; "our habits of life, in his circ.u.mstances, are rigidly temperate." Then, turning to me, he continued, in an altered voice: "I need scarcely explain to you, sir, the reason of my visit. When last we parted I did not antic.i.p.ate that our next meeting would have been in a royal barrack; but you may thank your friend here for my knowledge of your abode--"

Bubbleton attempted to interpose here a panegyric on himself; but Barton went on,--

"Here is an order of the Privy Council for your apprehension; and here--"

"Apprehension!" echoed the captain, in a voice of wonderment and terror.

"Here, sir, is your committal to Newgate. I suppose you'll not give me the trouble of using force; I have a carriage in waiting below, and request that we may lose no more time."

"I am ready, sir," said I, as stoutly as I was able.

"To Newgate!" repeated Bubbleton, as, overcome with fright, he sank back in a chair, and crossed his arms on his breast. "Poor fellow! poor fellow! perhaps they 'll bring it in manslaughter, eh?--or was it a bank robbery?"