Tom Burke Of "Ours" Volume I Part 25

"As to that," said I, interrupting him, and my blood somewhat chafed by his manner, "this piece of trumpery tumbled down when I leaned my arm on it. I had no idea--"

"No, no; to be sure not," broke in Bubbleton, in an ecstasy. "The thing was delicious; such a bit of stage effect. She was there, as it might be, combing her hair, and all that sort of thing; Tom was here, raving about absence and eternal separation. You are an angry father, or uncle,--all the same; and I 'm Count Neitztachenitz, the old friend and brother officer of Tom's father. Now, let Miss Nelly--But where is she?

Why, she's gone! Eh, and Ba.s.set? Ba.s.set! Why, he 's gone! Come, Tom, don't you go too. I say, my boy, devilish well got up that. You ought to have had a white satin doublet and hose, slashed with pale cherry-colored ribbons to match, small hat looped, aigrette and white plume. She was perfect; her leg and foot were three certain rounds of applause from the pit and gallery."

"What nonsense!" said I, angrily; "we weren't playing a comedy."

"Were n't you, though? Well, I 'm deuced sorry for it, that 's all; but it did look confoundedly like an undress rehearsal."

"Come, come, no foolery, I beg. I'm here in a very sad plight, and this piece of nonsense may not make matters any better. Listen to me, if you can, patiently for five minutes, and give me your advice."

I took him by the arm as I spoke, and leading him from the room,--where I saw that everything was only suggesting some piece of scenic effect,--and in as few words as I could command, explained how I was circ.u.mstanced; omitting, of course, any detail of my political bias, and only stated so much of my desire as implied my wish to be free of my contract with Ba.s.set, and at liberty to dispose of myself as I liked in future.

"I see," cried Bubbleton, as I finished; "the old fox has this five hundred pounds of yours."

"No, I didn't say that; I only mean--"

"Well, well, it 's all the same. If he has n't, you know he ought."

"No; that 's not essential either."

"No matter, he would if he could; it just comes to the same thing, and you only wish to get clear out of his hands at any cost. Is n't that it?"

"Exactly; you have it all perfectly."

"Bless your heart, boy, there 's nothing easier; if I were in your place, should arrange the affair in less than a week. I 'd have fits,--strong fits,--and burn all the papers in the office during the paroxysm. I 'd make a pile of deeds, leases, bonds, and settlements in the backyard."

"I don't fancy your plan would be so successful as you flatter yourself," said a dry, husky voice behind; "there 's rather a stringent law for refractory apprentices, as Mr. Burke may learn." We turned round, and there stood Mr. Ba.s.set, with a grin of most diabolical malignity in his by no means pleasant features. "At the same time,"

continued he, "your suggestions are of infinite value, and shall be duly appreciated in the King's Bench."

"Eh,--King's Bench! Lord bless you, don't speak of it. Mere trifles,--I just threw them out as good hints; I had fifty far better to come. There 's the young lady, now. To be sure, he has started that notion himself, so I must not pretend it was mine. But Miss Nelly, I think, Tom--"

"Mr. Ba.s.set is well aware," interrupted I, "that I am only desirous to be free and untrammelled; that whatever little means I may derive from my family, I 'm willing to surrender all, short of actual beggary, to attain this object,--that I intend quitting Ireland at once. If, then, he consent to enter into an arrangement with me, let it be at once, and on the spot. I have no desire, I have no power, to force him by a threat, in case of refusal; but I hope he will make so much of amends to one of whose present desolation and poverty he is not altogether innocent."

"There, there; that's devilish well said. The whole thing is all clear before me. So come along, Ba.s.set; you and I will settle all this. Have you got a private room where we can have five minutes' chat together?

Tom, wait for me here."

Before either of us could consent or oppose his arrangement, he had taken Ba.s.set's arm, and led him downstairs; while I, in a flurry of opposing and conflicting resolves, sat down to think over my fortunes.

Tired at length with waiting, and half suspecting that my volatile friend had forgotten me and all my concerns, I descended to the parlor in hopes to hear something of the pending negotiation. At the head of a long, narrow table sat my fair acquaintance, Miss Nelly, her hair braided very modestly at each aide of her pretty face, which had now a.s.sumed an almost Quakerish propriety of expression. She was busily engaged in distributing tea to three pale, red-eyed, emaciated men, whose spongy-looking, threadbare garments bespoke to be attorney's clerks, A small imp, a kind of embryo pract.i.tioner, knelt before the fire in the act of toasting bread, but followed with his sharp piercing eyes every stir in the apartment and seemed to watch with malicious pleasure the wry faces around, whenever any undue dilution of the bohea, or any curtailment of the blue milk, pressed heavily on the guests.

These were not exactly the circ.u.mstances to renew my acquaintance with my fair neighbor, had I been so minded; so having declined her offer of breakfast, I leaned moodily on the chimneypiece, my anxiety to know my fate becoming each instant more painful. Meanwhile not a word was spoken,--a sad, moody silence, unbroken save by the sounds of eating, pervaded all, when suddenly the door of the front parlor was flung open, and Bubbleton's pleasant voice was heard as he talked away unceasingly; in an instant he entered, followed by Ba.s.set, over whose hard countenance a shade of better nature seemed to pa.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration: May Good Digestion Wait on Appet.i.te 171]

"In that case," cried the captain, "I'm your man, not that I 'm anything of a performer at breakfast or dinner; supper 's rather my forte,--an odor of a broiled bone at three in the morning, a herring smeared with chetna and grilled with brandy, two hundred of small oysters, a few hot ones to close with, a gla.s.s of seltzer dashed with hollands for health, and, then any number you like of gla.s.ses, of hot brandy and water afterwards for pleasure."

While Bubbleton ran on in this fas.h.i.+on, he had broken about half a dozen eggs into the slop basin, and seasoning the mess with pepper and vinegar, was busily engaged in ill.u.s.trating the moderation of his morning appet.i.te.

"Try a thing like this, Tom," cried he, not defining how it was to be effected under the circ.u.mstances; while he added in a whisper, "your affair's all right."

These few words brought courage to my heart; and I ventured to begin the breakfast that had lain untasted before me.

"I think, Mr. Burke," said Ba.s.set, as soon as he recovered from the surprise Bubbleton's mode of breakfasting had excited,--"I think and trust that all has been arranged to your satisfaction." Then turning to the clerks, who ate away without even lifting their heads,--"Mr.

Muggridge, you will be late at the Masters' Office; Jones, take that parcel to Hennet; Kit, carry my bag up to the Courts."

Miss Nelly did not wait for the part destined for her, but with a demure face rose from the table and left the room; giving me, however, one sly glance as she pa.s.sed my chair that I remembered for many a day after.

"You 'll excuse me, gentlemen, if I am pressed for time this morning; a very particular case comes on in the Common Pleas."

"Never speak of it, my dear fellow," said Bubbleton, who had just addressed himself to a round of spiced beef; "business has its calls just as pleasure has,--ay, and appet.i.te too. That would make an excellent bit of supper, with some mulled port, after a few rubbers of shorts."

Ba.s.set paid little attention to this speech, but turning to me, continued:

"You mentioned your intention of leaving Ireland, I think. Might I ask where you have decided on,--from where? Is it possible that your brother--"

"My brother's anxieties on my account, Mr. Ba.s.set, can scarcely be very poignant, and deserve no particular respect or attention at my hands.

I suppose that this morning has concluded all necessary intercourse between us; and if you have satisfied my friend Captain Bubbleton--"

"Perfectly, perfectly. Another cup of tea, if you please. Yes, nothing could be more gratifying than Mr. Ba.s.set's conduct; you are merely to sign the receipt for the legacy, and he hands you over one hundred pounds. Isn't that it?"

"Yes, quite correct; my bill for one hundred at three months."

"That's what I mean. But surely you're not done breakfast; why, Tom, you 've eaten nothing. I have been picking away this half hour, just to encourage you a bit. Well, well! I lunch in Stephen's Green at three; so here goes."

Mr. Ba.s.set now took from his pocket-book some papers, which, having glanced his eye over, he handed to me.

"This is a kind of acknowledgment, Mr. Burke, for the receipt of a legacy to which you could be only ent.i.tled on attaining your majority.

Here are your indentures to me; and this is my acceptance for one hundred pounds."

"I am content," said I, eagerly, as I seized the pen. The thought of my liberty alone filled my mind, and I cared little for the conditions provided I secured that.

Ba.s.set proffered his hand. I was in no humor to reject anything that even simulated cordiality; I shook it heartily. Bubbleton followed my example, and having pledged himself to see more of his pleasant acquaintance, thrust his arm through mine and bustled out; adding, in a tone loud enough to be overheard,--

"Made a capital fight of it; told him you were a Defender, a United Irishman, a Peep-o'-day Boy, and all that sort of thing. Devilish glad to get rid of you, even on Miss Nelly's account."

And so he rattled away without ceasing, until we found ourselves at the George's Street Barracks, my preoccupation of mind preventing my even having remarked what way we came.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS

I WAS not sorry to find that Miss Bubbleton did not respond to the noisy summons of the captain, as he flourished about from one room to the other, making the quarters echo to the sweet name of "Anna Maria."

"Saladin," "Grimes," "Peter," were also shouted out unsuccessfully; and with a fierce menace against various grooms of the chambers, waiting-men, and lackeys, who happily were still unborn, Bubbleton flung himself into a seat, and began to conjecture what had become of the inhabitants.

"She's paying a morning call,--gone to see the d.u.c.h.ess; that 's it. Or perhaps she 's looking over that suit of pearls I bought yesterday at Gallon's; pretty baubles, but dear at eight hundred pounds. Never mind; what 's money for, eh, Tom?"

As he looked at me for a reply, I drew my chair closer towards him, and a.s.suming as much of importance as my manner could command, I besought his attention for a moment. Hitherto, partly from my own indecision, partly from his flighty and volatile bearing, I never had an opportunity either to explain my real position or my political sentiments, much less my intentions for the future. The moment had at length arrived, and I resolved to profit by it; and in as few words as I was able, gave a brief narrative of my life, from the hour of my father's death to the day in which I fell into his own hands in Dublin, only omitting such portions as might, by the mention of names, compromise others concerned.

Nothing could possibly be more attentive than he was during the entire detail. He leaned his head on his hand, and listened with eager curiosity to all my sc.r.a.pes and difficulties, occasionally nodding in a.s.sent, and now evincing by his excited air his desire to learn farther; and when I at last wound up by avowing my long cherished desire to enter the French service, he sat perfectly silent, and seemed to reflect gravely on the whole.