University of Virginia Library

37. CHAPTER XXXVII.
THREE LAWYERS IN COUNCIL.

At length the long-looked-for message was received from
Mr. Persever. Ned's presence was at last required by the
lawyers, now increased in number—the astute learned and
experienced legal author and compiler, Mr. W—, being
recently employed. Perhaps Ned had suffered less from
the delay on the part of the lawyers, and from the wound
inflicted on his heart by the conduct of Alice, than almost
any other individual under different circumstances would
have experienced. But one thing had the power of soothing
him, and it was fortunate that its potency was exercised
at the particular juncture when its counteracting influences
were so urgently required. It was the absorbing interest
of successful authorship; which it seems may not only abstract
one's thoughts from the pecuniary cares of life, but
even render the heart less susceptible of the wounds inflicted
by unrequited affection.

“The Dishonoured” was read by thousands, and the
name of “Mark Mayfield,” was repeated by as many approving
tongues. Nor was this all; for, inasmuch, as the

book was meeting with a rapid sale, of course there were
no inconsiderable profits accruing both for the publisher
and author; and hence Ned was no longer assailed by the
phantom want, often at the same time the most familiar
and the most depressing spirit attendant upon the sons of
genius. And whatever sums he received, were almost entirely
added to the little store of Susan's wealth.

It was mid-winter, and Mallex had long been playing an
important part at Washington, but not in the halls of legislation,
where he soon found that his voice, so loud and confident
among his own creatures, shrunk from its own echo
in that vast theatre of intrigue and moral desolation. But
he had the penetration to perceive the great object of
the chief executive officer of the government, and the motives
and designs of several others known to be the most influential
leaders of the party to which he was ostensibly
attached; and he had the tact to convince them all, and
especially the former, that he might have it in his power to
contribute as much, if not more than any other man,
towards the consummation of their hopes, provided the position
he demanded were accorded him. His enormous
wealth thrown into the scale, could not fail to be effective
when large expenditures were demanded to maintain partisans
on the stump or on the editorial tripod; and the reputation
he possessed—and which was undoubtedly deserved
—for vast comprehension of mind and resources of stratagem,
made him an auxiliary such as no party leader was
ever known to despise. But perhaps an instinctive perception
of the absence of any restraining virtue in his composition,
when in the pursuit of an object, inspired those
great characters with whom he conferred with the most
irresistible desire to secure his services. And so the President
himself, unconscious that the millionaire had likewise
conciliated the other aspirants, and above all profoundly
ignorant that he had ambitious views of his own to which
he intended to make every one, high and low, if possible,
subservient, resolved without delay to attach so valuable
an auxiliary to his person by such ligatures as were not
liable, in his opinion, to be ruptured by any inducements
that could be held out by his rivals. He called him into
his cabinet, and placed him at the head of one of the Departments.

It is not to be supposed that such considerations as the
above always have a controlling influence on the action of
the high functionaries of our republican government. It
would be a scandal and a libel to make such an assertion;
and such is by no means the intention here. There are
honest men, there are great and good men, statesmen and
patriots, ever to be found at their posts in the hour of danger;
else, heaven help us! what would become of the ship
of state?

Ned hastened from the wharf towards the office of his
friend Persever. The boat had arrived some fifteen minutes
before the usual time, having been chased by a rival
steamer. Hence the spy sent by Radley to observe the
passengers, did not get down to the wharf in time to see
our hero. But Ned was not fated to pass unobserved. He
fell in with Tom Denny among the omnibusses near the
Exchange.

“How are you, Tom?” he asked, seeing his old friend
looking him full in the face.

“Well, Ned, pretty well, I thank you,” was the slow,
measured response.

“But you don't seem to be so lively and light-spirited as
when I saw you last. What, Tom, has prosperity saddened
you?”

“I believe so,” was the laconic answer, accompanied by
a significant shake of the head.

“I doubt Tom, if there can be any happiness in the enjoyment
of wealth dishonestly obtained. I suppose you
are still supported by—by the Hon. Job Mallex?”

“Yes.”

“I would advise you to leave him.”

“I cannot.”

“Cannot? That is a strange expression for one in a
free country.”

“Nevertheless it is true.”

“But, Tom, you know he is a villain.”

“Say not so—even if you believed it, do not say so.”

“Tom, I suppose it is grating to hear such things said
of any one who bestows benefits on us; but you know it
is true, and that I, of all others, have the justest right to
denounce him. Depend upon it, Tom, there is a fearful

retribution to follow his iniquities; and I advise you, if
you would not be involved in his calamity, to depart from
his house and to hold no intercourse whatever with him.”

Tom paused, and cast a penetrating glance at Ned. The
next moment he turned aside and vanished in the crowd
near the post-office. Ned stood a few moments gazing
after him. At first he thought he had been suddenly
attracted apart, and would soon return. Then, concluding
that his patron had corrupted his heart, and transformed
him into a subservient instrument, he proceeded on
his way, congratulating himself that he had not definitely
hinted at the enterprise then in meditation against the
great bad man. But he had said enough to excite the
fears of Tom, and to quicken the vigilance of Radley.

Ned found all three of the lawyers at the office of his
friend, and he was introduced to Mr. B— and Mr. W—
as the author of “The Dishonoured!” Ned blushed, and
looked in great surprise at Persever, while the old lawyers
smiled.

“It is not without a meaning, Ned. We shall have use
for the author as well as for the heir,” said Persever.

“And we have read your book,” said Mr. W., throwing
back his head, and scrutinizing the young man through his
habitually half-closed eyes, which seemed to be weakened
by much writing. “It is quite a clever production, and
you need not blush so much on being stripped of your
incognito.”

“I am proud of your approbation, sir; but the thing
was so sudden, so unexpected—”

“Nay, never mind, my young friend,” said Mr. W—,
interrupting him. “It was confounded rude and ungentlemanly
in any one but—”

“A lawyer,” said Mr. B.

“Yes,” continued Mr. W. “We are a rough set, and
have a sort of penchant for making unexpected discoveries
and sudden surprises. You must think nothing of it.”

“I was astonished, sir, because I was not aware that
Mr. Persever himself knew me to be the author of that
book.”

“Oho! How did you find it out, Persever?” asked
Mr. W—.

“Gad, it was an accident. Mrs. P. met with the
volume, and I read it. I will not say I liked it, for fear
of producing another blush—”

“No,” said Mr. W. “it is not our vocation to make
blushes.”

“But,” continued Persever, “my curiosity was sufficiently
excited to ask the publisher—in confidence of
course—who was the author. That is the explanation.
Now for business.”

During this little scene, no less than three notes had
been brought into the office by as many different messengers;
and as none of them were of the slightest importance,
Persever believed, and not groundlessly, that
their conference had been noted by the agents of Mallex.
But he had taken effectual precautions to prevent any of
the details of their purposes from becoming prematurely
known to the enemy.

It was then announced to Ned, who was almost speechless
with astonishment, that the first step to be taken was
to have a copy of his book sent to the secretary! And,
moreover, the publisher was to be authorized and requested
to intimate to the Hon. Mr. Mallex, that Mark Mayfield
was no other than Ned Lorn.

“You seem surprised,” said Mr. B., “and I do not
wonder at it. But when you reflect that Mr. Mallex is
now occupying a post of honour, and should be moved by
honourable impulses; that his position can be maintained
only by the skilful discharge of his duties, and the good
report of the country; and that in confronting you as an
author whose productions are stereotyped as they fall from
his pen, and immediately after disseminated over the
union; you see, if he still determines to withhold your
fortune, he must be either reckless of the consequences
which would follow an exposure of his abominable conduct,
or else he must be prepared to rebut the evidence he will
know it is our intention to produce against him.”

“It is decided, then, that I am to wait upon him in
Washington?” asked Ned.

“Certainly,” responded Mr. W. “You are to beard
the lion in his den; and if your cause is gained without
further labour, you must not be precipitate in ascribing the

merit to yourself. It was Macdonald's charge that gained
the field of Wagram, but it was Napoleon's victory! This
charge on the enemy's centre is the result of much deliberation,
and cannot fail to succeed, unless our intentions
have been discovered; in that event the Austrian may be
prepared to repulse the assault, and no good result is to
be anticipated.”

“In short, Ned,” said Persever, “we have everything
in a state of preparation to commence the action. Our
documents are completed, our witnesses are in readiness,
and the enemy is certainly occupying an exposed position.
It is deemed the most prudent plan, however, to offer the
olive branch before we open our batteries.”

“I will endeavour to execute the work assigned me,”
said Ned.

“Of course you will,” said Mr. W., “seeing that you
are somewhat interested in the matter. We have great
confidence in your discretion and judgment, or else we
should not have complimented you by assigning you so
important a part in the drama. Here is a syllabus of all
our points, carefully prepared for the inspection of the
honourable secretary. It embraces both the claims of
yourself and Susan, and will indicate what we are in readiness
to prove. Let him have time to meditate on it deliberately;
do nothing to exasperate him; say nothing to
displease him. Let him read the document, and between
the pauses merely see your face. Mind, you are not to
blush, because he knows who is the author of `The Dishonoured.'
Neither are you to frown—”

“May I smile?” asked Ned, jocosely.

“By no means! You are to look resolutely composed,
determinedly complacent—”

“Ned, have you a copy of Lavater?” asked Persever.

“Lavater!” replied Mr. W., “what is Lavater in comparison
with W—n?”

“Well,” said Ned, “having fixed the faces I am to
make, are there any particular words I am to utter?”

“Now we come to the important part of your mission,”
said Mr. W. “You will be particularly careful to say
nothing at all—don't be precipitate! If you use a seal,
young gentleman, have the words DON'T BE PRECIPITATE

engraved on it for a motto—you are to be careful to say
nothing at all when a reply is not imperatively demanded.
You may nod your head significantly, but non-committally;
you may cross your legs hastily, but not timidly; you
may scratch the left side of your nose very, very deliberately;
you may draw forth your handkerchief, if it be
a clean one, but apply it no higher than your eyes, for he
might suspect your forehead to be moistened, a symptom
of trepidation which all great men are accustomed to observe
in humble individuals seeking favours; and if you
can contrive to get some dust on your boots, you are to
make it a point to remove it—without precipitation, and
apparently without deliberate design—inoffensively, in his
presence. Such employments as these may enable you the
better to maintain the prescribed silence, the `masterly
inactivity,' which is really the most skilful diplomacy in
life.”

“And when you have performed this difficult duty,” said
Mr. B., “you will report to us immediately.”

“But remember,” said Mr. W., “you are not authorized
to settle or conclude anything. That must be left
to us.”

Ned promised to observe everything they enjoined; and
being really delighted at the idea of visiting the federal
capital, he took leave of the legal triumvirate and proceeded
towards the establishment of his publisher, where
he learned there were funds still constantly accruing to his
credit, and whence it was necessary for him to have dispatched
the book and letter to the address of the honourable
secretary.