University of Virginia Library

26. CHAPTER XXVI.
THE LETTERS CONTRASTED.

It was at night, the candles burned brightly, and the fire blazed cheerfully,
while the Governor's family and guests were seated in the same room in
which we first presented them. A more than usual cheerfulness pervaded
the family circle, not only on account of the Governor's brightening prospects,
with regard to the great enterprise of his life, but likewise on account of
John's returning health. They all thought the mystery now cleared up, and
that henceforth his bright career would go on brightening as in days of yore.
Essex had already announced June's arrival from the capital, having just
learned the fact from a little negro who conveyed the important tidings from
the kitchen. He went out to bring in any letters or messages which June
might have brought, and soon returned with the two epistles alluded to in the
last chapter.

The consternation of the circle may be imagined, when the following letter
was read from Hall. They had all before perceived that something therein
contained, had moved the Governor greatly. It ran as follows:

“James City Jail, Williamsburg.
“To His Excellency, Sir Alexander Spotswood.

“Dear Sir.—You will no doubt be surprised that I date this letter from
the county jail, instead of the barracks, but, Sir, so it is—deeply mortifying
as it is to me to state the fact. I had scarcely alighted in the capital, after
marching the soldiers to the garrison, before I was waited upon by the Deputy
Sheriff of the county, with a bail writ, (or whatever that process is called
by which the law seizes a man's person,) at the suit of Henry Lee, Esq.,
and for the very money which your Excellency was mainly instrumental in
procuring at his hands for me. You will recollect, no doubt, that as a mere
matter of form, (so the gentleman expressed it,) I gave him a note of hand
for the amount. Unfortunately I paid away part of the sum for my passage
money, and the remainder to recruit my dilapidated wardrobe, so that instant
payment was out of the question. None of my new and kind friends were
in the city. I had, indeed, hoped to find the good Doctor at home, but unfortunately
for me he was absent in the country.

“I had no other friend upon whom I dared call—indeed, to confess the
truth to your Excellency, I have not a friend left in the whole world, now
living, upon whom I have any right to make a demand for such help as my
circumstances require. This, my honored Sir, is but a passage in the chapter
of accidents which have fallen to my lot in the last few years, and until
the storm has spent its fury, it would seem useless to attempt to assist me.
I will honestly confess to you, that I came to this country at this time to
avoid those very difficulties (or kindred ones) which have assailed me here.
A superstitious man might be inclined under such circumstances to imagine
himself pursued by some invisible agency, but I have no such idle fears. I
know my persecutors well, and I can afford, even in my humble lodgings, to
pity them. I am very sure that I am a happier man this evening, than he at
whose suit I am thus deprived of my liberty.

“I have accidentally heard that he utters very bitter and unwarrantable

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things against me, and even threatens a prosecution for swindling. My ears
tingle as I write the word, but I may as well write that which I may soon be
compelled to endure the odium of in a more tangible shape. All that I can
say to your Excellency, and to those who have hitherto espoused my humble
cause, is, that I rest for the present in the calm and perfect security of an injured
and innocent man, trusting that that God who has permitted the snares
of the wicked thus to gather round me, will clear them away in his own good
time. This, you may think and say, is poor evidence with which to furnish
you, against one so rich and powerful as my adversary; but, Sir, it is even
so—it is all I have to give at present. Under such circumstances, I shall not
be the least surprised to find that you have turned me over to the tender mercies
of my creditor. I cannot hope that my unsustained protestations of innocence
of the charges that I hear he brings against me, will be sustained.
So let it be. I am willing to sojourn even in this dreary prison for a while,
well assured that the time will come, when my name will once again be redeemed
from reproach—until then, I must be content to subscribe myself
your Excellency's obliged humble servant.

Harry Hall.”

A profound silence prevailed while the Governor (spectacles on nose) read
over this letter. The letter remained in his hand, and his hand on his knee,
while with the other he raised the spectacles upon his forehead, in a thoughtful
abstracted mood. The young ladies waited in respectful silence for a
few moments, expecting every instant that he would burst out into some vehement
exclamation—they could not long suppress their own indignation. Ellen
Evylin was the first to give utterance to her excited feelings, which she
did in no measured terms. Kate took the same view of the subject—while
Lady Spotswood remained entirely silent, watching the changes of her husband's
countenance with not a little interest, heightened no doubt by the late
circumstances which had happened under her own eye.

Dorothea wanted to know how the Sheriff could take Mr. Hall for borrowing
his own money from Mr. Lee.

“A very pertinent question,” said her father, with a nod of approbation.

Carter declared the denouement was what he had been looking for for some
time, and appealed to Moore, whether he had not predicted it when they
were last at the capital.

Moore confirmed the fact of the statement, but demurred to the truth of the
charges, alleging his still undiminished confidence in Hall, whatever might
be the apparent suspicious circumstances against him. “Suppose your Excellency
would read Lee's version of the affair—I see his seal upon the letter
before you,” said he.

“True, true, I had overlooked it, in the first excitement produced by Hall's
letter—let us hear the other side.” Saying which he broke the seal, and read
as follows:

“Williamsburg.
“To his Excellency, Sir Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia,
and Commander of Her Majesty's forces.

“Dear Sir: I owe you an apology for the very abrupt manner in which I
left your house, where I had been tacitly, as it were, left in charge of the
ladies; but the fact is, Sir, that I found the young person whom you had hastily
employed as Tutor, presumptuous and impertinent, and that I must either
degrade myself by a personal encounter with him, or leave the premises. I
chose the latter, and had hoped to have paid my respects to your Excellency
before you left the capital, but was detained by unavoidable legal business until
you had unfortunately left the city. It is useless now to enter into particulars
as to his conduct in your absence; for the evidence is now before
me, that he is such a gross impostor and swindler, that it is scarcely worth
while to inquire into minor particulars of conduct. While I was in the very

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act of consulting Attorney General Clayton, (who is also my own legal adviser,)
about the steps necessary to be taken in order to repossess the funds
out of which I weakly suffer myself to be cheated, I received a ship letter by
way of York. Whom does your Excellency suppose that letter was from?
Why, sir, from Mr. Henry Hall, my cousin, the real gentleman, whose name
and character this base impostor had assumed for the lowest purposes. You
will recollect that I had written to the young man before this person appeared
at your house, informing him of my aunt's will. This letter which I
have received is in answer to that one, and states among other things that
the writer would sail in the very first vessel for this country after the one
which would bring the letter, so that by the time that this pseudo Mr. Hall
manages to release himself from prison, where I have snugly stowed him,
the real personage, whose name he has assumed, will be here to confront
him. I am delighted that I am thus able to relieve your Excellency from
the disagreeable duty of unmasking the impostor; for if your Excellency
will permit me to say so, your kindly nature had so far led you astray with
regard to this man, that you might have found it rather unpleasant to deal
with him. Leave all that to me, Sir—I will give him his deserts, be well assured;
and if he escapes with whole ears and a sound skin, he may thank
the clemency of the law, and not mine.

“I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,

“Henry Lee, of Westmoreland,”

The party was truly astonished by these two letters, both conveying such
surprising news. The Governor took a few turns hastily through the room,
pained and excited. He was very loth to give up one for whom he had
taken such a liking, and for whom he intended such an important share in
the great enterprise; but the evidence was too plain and palpable to be resisted,
and he resolved to let the law take its course. As he came to this
conclusion, he threw himself into a chair and exclaimed, “By heavens I
would have believed nothing less!” “And I do not believe this,” said Ellen
vehemently, her eye bright with excitement, and her frame quivering with
the thoughts which oppressed her.

The Governer was reclining in his arm chair in an attitude almost of hopelessness,
but when Ellen uttered her bold challenge of the truth of Lee's
statement, he sat bolt upright, as if his mind would seize upon the slightest
pretext to reinstate his favorite. “Why, what reason have you to doubt
Harry Lee's veracity, Miss Evylin?” said he.

“The best evidence in the world, Governor Spotswood. He has committed
as great mistakes as this before.”

“Indeed, do you mean to say that the young gentleman has ever knowingly
swerved from the truth.”

“I cannot say whether it was knowingly or whether it is his remarkable
obliquity of moral vision, but I assert the fact, that he has before wronged
others, as much as I believe he now wrongs this unfortunate young gentleman.”

“You surprise me exceedingly—do tell me, I pray you, who the person was?”

“Well, Sir, I have no objection to saying that it was myself.”

All the gentlemen exclaimed at once, “What, a lady!”

“Further than that,” continued Ellen, “I do not say at present.”

The Governor seemed very much perplexed to know what to do—he strode
rapidly about the room—his lips compressed, and his shaggy brows louring
over his eyes, and muttering violent expressions through his clenched teeth.
While he was thus swayed by contending emotions, Moore rose hastily, took
his hat, and left the room. In a few minntes he was followed by Ellen Evylin,
and soon afterwards by Kate. The latter found Ellen in a most earnest
conversation with the former in the verandah. She had never seen her
friend under such excitement. She was pressing upon Mr. Moore a purse

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“No, no, no,” said Moore, “I will attend to all that—guilty or innocent,
he shall have the benefit of the bare doubt. To-morrow morning's sun shall
see him a free man. Will that not content you?”

“No, indeed, Mr. Moore—it will not—I claim to have rights in this matter
which you have not. I beg of you not to deny me.”

“But my dear young lady, if I take your gold and offer it to him, it will
be the very way to make him refuse the assistance; many a sensitive man
will accept aid from his own sex, when he would peremptorily refuse it from
one of your's.”

“Well, take it and give it, without letting him know from whom it comes.
I ask it as a particular favor.”

“Do, Mr. Moore,” said Kate pleadingly, and with a look which was irresistible.

“By all that's lovely,” said Moore gaily, as he pocketed the gold, and
threw on his cloak for the night's ride, “I think I will coutrive some way to
get into jail myself, if it is only to excite the tears of sympathy in so many
lovely eyes. Suppose I find myself in the young man's position before morning,
do you think I should have a couple of as fair damsels contriving my
release?”

“Indeed you shall,” said Kate.

“Good night,” said Moore, kissing his hand gallantly, and striking his
spurs into his horse at the same moment.

The girls returned to their own apartment, and there Ellen informed Kate
of all that had transpired in her absence, but still there were many things
wanting, even to them, to unravel the mystery of the two Halls.

A very keen encounter of tongues was going on below meanwhile, between
Dorothea and Carter. The latter contended that Hall was a bold
bungling impostor, and that he had seen through him at a glance, and that he
had no pretensions to gentility whatever.”

“How comes it, then, Mr. Carter,” asked Dorothea, “that he overmastered
so many of you at accomplishments considered quite refined? How was it at
the small sword?”

“Oh, any French dancing-master may and often does possess such tricks.”

“Aye, but French dancing-masters do not often read the classics very elegantly,
if at all; and here is Dr. Blair, who says that Mr. Hall is an elegant
scholar.”

“Doubtless a schoolmaster, then, some broken down pedagogue.”

“But papa says, he is an accomplished and scientific soldier.”

“Learned no doubt, while acting as drummer or fifer to some marching
regiment—said you not a while ago that he played upon the flute?”

“Yes,” said Dorothea, “he is a musician.”

“I'll tell you what it is, Carter,” interposed the Governor, “if Hall is a
hypocrite and impostor, he is one of the most accomplished swindlers that
ever I have met with. It is a rare thing in my experience of human nature—
and it has not been confined in its range—to see a man descending in villainy,
and elevating himself at the same time in all the elegant courtesies of life.
Neither is it common to see men of that stamp cultivating their minds highly.”

“Oh I grant you,” said Carter, “that he is no common vagabond—he is a
very accomplished rogue, if you will, but still a sly rogue for all that.”

“I am not so sure about that,” replied the Governor. “There may be some
mistake, or Harry Lee may have been imposed upon, or his own feelings may
have colored the matter too highly.”

“What! your Excellency? When he has actually received a letter—a
foreign letter too—with the European post mark, from his real cousin—could

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“It has an ugly aspect to be sure,” said the Governor musingly, and dropping
off into a brown study, while Carter turned once more to the playful and
amusing combat with his little lady antagonist. But we must follow the
main thread of our narrative; while they are thus agreeably employed.