 | CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE SECRETARY—THE AUTHOR—THE BELLE. Freaks of fortune, or, The history and
adventures of Ned Lorn |  |
39. CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE SECRETARY—THE AUTHOR—THE BELLE.
At the appointed hour, Ned presented himself at the
mansion of Col. H., and was met by Mallex himself, who
introduced him as a particular friend to the polite and
gentlemanly host. In the glitter of that brilliant assembly,
composed of many of the most distinguished men and
women in the country, the astute secretary foresaw that
the elastic mind of the youthful author would be fascinated
by the flattering attentions usually accorded the real or
supposed proteges of powerful cabinet ministers. It was
his purpose to prevent the young author from bestowing
any deliberate thought upon his own affairs until he should
have finally decided in the premises; and therefore he constrained
him to attend at his side during his progress
through the assembly. Ned was introduced to the most
intimate friends of Mallex; and he could not avoid noticing
the expressions of surprise which frequently escaped the
lips of those who repeated his name.
After completing the round of ceremony, Mallex whispered
some brief request to Col. H., who disappeared.
He then turned to Ned, who had not yet been separated
from him, and observed in a low tone, but with a smile,
“You must prepare for a surprise. You will be astonished,
but you must not lose your presence of mind.”
“Oh, if the surprise be not likewise very dangerous, I
Ned.
“It may, or it may not be dangerous. Tender eyes
and ruby lips sometimes inflict fatal wounds.”
“If that be the danger, let it come. I am proof against
such assaults. There was a time when—but no matter!”
“Very well. I have warned you. And, remember,
if an exigency should arise for my interposition, you may
command me. Here they come. Stand at my back. I
will confront the enemy first, and open the way for you.
Where is the book? Oh, here in my pocket. They will
not recognize the author. That secret is safe.”
The gigantic stature of Mallex could not prevent Ned,
whose curiosity was highly excited, from perceiving who it
was that approached from the opposite end of the saloon.
Led by Col. H., Alice and her mother, both richly but
rather flashily attired, came forward and greeted the distinguished
guest with marks of pleasure. Mallex, in the
meantime, by an occasional motion of the elbow, or intercepting
movement, seemed to strive to prevent the ladies
from discovering the young author in his rear.
“I promised you a book, you know,” said the burly
secretary, after the usual unmeaning but indispensable
compliments.
`Oh, yes!” said Alice, banteringly; “and I am glad
you did not forget the promise.”
“They say that great secretaries are addicted to the
vice of forgetfulness,” observed Mrs. Lonsdale, striving to
be satirically witty, as was then the fashion.
“I am an exception. I do not believe I forget anything,”
replied the secretary, somewhat gravely.
“Not even your enemies, I suppose,” rejoined Mrs. L.,
while Alice was turning over the leaves of the book.
“I forget only injuries. For instance, when I was a
younger man, I was made almost the victim of certain detractors.
Their evil report arose from certain misapprehensions,
I can readily presume; and I forgive them.
You see if one does not deserve the enmity of the world,
no enemies can injure him. My path has not been obstructed.
And now the sweetest gratification I enjoy, is
me harshly, nobly coming forward and virtually admitting
that I did not merit their condemnation.”
This speech probably awakened a certain unpleasant
reminiscence in the mind of the lady, and she could utter
no satisfactory reply. She was relieved, however, by her
daughter.
“I shall be delighted with this book, sir,” said she.
Miss Z—, who you know is the President's niece, paid
me a visit yesterday”—the voice of the belle was slightly
raised as she mentioned the President's niece—“and she
declares it is a most charming novel, only the hero is made
to be too unhappy under the infliction of his slanderers.”
“She sympathizes then with the hero?”
“Certainly. And she says the author, who is understood
to be quite a young gentleman, has, as usual in such
cases, expressed many of his own experiences in the traits
and feelings of his hero. But what a horrid title! Why
should he be termed `The Dishonoured,' when, as Miss
Z—, the president's niece, assures me, he is made to do
nothing at all dishonourable? But Miss Z. says I will be
delighted with the book, and that you could not have done
me a greater pleasure than in procuring it for me, unless,
indeed, you had undertaken to present the author!”
Notwithstanding the crowd, constantly in motion, had
become extremely dense, and conversation and laughter
were echoing in every direction, Mallex did not fail to
perceive that the young author had been startled by the
words just uttered, and his quick ear caught the low sound
of a deep drawn sigh.
“To present the author!” iterated the great man.
“Well, perhaps I might do that, also. My friends suppose
I can do anything. I believe I shall send for this delightful
young man for your especial gratification. But
you must not fall in love with him without first consulting
your mother.”
“I am sure I shall like him!” said Alice.
“Alice is her own guardian in love affairs,” said Mrs.
L., attracted by the reference to her, notwithstanding she
was apparently listening to the gallantries of a very old,
and very distinguished military officer. “She has discarded
and smiles upon as many whom I could never
admire. She is her own mistress.”
“And will remain so,” said Alice, archly.
“Unless,” said Mallex, “this Mr. Mark Mayfield should
be so fortunate as to succeed in obtaining the reins.”
“I think I should like to be the wife of an author,”
said Alice. “I shall expect you to present Mr. Mayfield.
I am `fancy free.' My heart is whole.”
It would be difficult to describe the emotions of our
hero during this conversation. He had almost ceased to
think of Alice as an object of pursuit; he had quite resolved
never to make another effort to obtain her hand;
and absence, and other absorbing excitments, had diminished
the ardour of his youthful affection. But when he
heard her encomiums on his book, and the apparently
earnest expressions of desire to meet with the author, he
could not wholly resist the potent influences of gratified
vanity; and for a moment she seemed to resume the place
in his affections which she had once so completely occupied.
But when he reflected that her language was not prompted
by any thoughts of her old companion; when he heard the
declaration that she was “fancy free,” and that her heart
was whole, it was impossible to avoid the sad conclusion
that all remembrance of himself had long since been banished
from her breast.
“In the meatime,” said Mallex, “I have a young friend
here whom I will present as a sort of substitute until I
can lay hands on this lucky author. Where is Mr. Lorn?”
continued he, looking to the right and left.
“Lorn! Lorn, did you say?” exclaimed both the
mother and daughter.
“Yes, Ned Lorn—the same Ned Lorn, concerning whom
my enemies once slandered me so much. He is an accomplished
young gentleman, and was not at all to blame for
the acts and pretensions of others. Where is he? Oh,
here, just behind me! Since you are already acquainted
with each other, I will leave you a moment. I see the
President has arrived.” Saying this, the secretary withdrew
from the position he had occupied, with an expression
of dignified equanimity which he well knew how to assume.
“It has been some time since we had the pleasure of
seeing Mr. Lorn,” observed Mrs. L., who really seemed
to survey the manly form of Ned with some degree of
pleasure.
“And he has enjoyed very good health, if one may
judge from external appearances,” said Alice, quite recovered
from the momentary perturbation which the sudden
announcement of the name of our hero had occasioned.
“Oh yes,” replied Ned. “My health has been excellent.
And it is gratifying to perceive that time has made so little
impression upon you both. You, madam, appear to be
quite as young as when I first beheld you, many years ago.
And your complexion (addressing Alice) has certainly improved.
A happy life and cheerful spirits are the best
defences against the assaults of time.”
“It is certainly the wisest philosophy to seek them,”
said Alice; and one may easily suppose you have likewise
derived benefit from the enjoyment of them.”
“Yes,” said Mrs. L., “Mr. Lorn has improved amazingly,
and I shall hope to see him more frequently hereafter.
The old nonsense between you, no doubt, has been
long since forgotten. I will leave you. Yonder is Gen.
S—. I must go to him. He is so very agreeable!”
“The old nonsense, Alice! Is it forgotten?” asked
Ned, in tones of sadness, when Mrs. L.'s retiring satin
ceased to rustle in his ears.
“Nonsense should be forgotten,” was the reply, as
Alice nodded smilingly to the salutations of several of her
admirers who were passing.
“Never fear that I shall seek to revive it. I would not
dispel the rational delights which surround you; the enjoyments
which have added such a bloom to your cheeks. It
would be cruel and unjust, even if I had the power, to
diminish the happiness you find in the gay society of the
many ardent admirers who constantly surround you. And
it is surprising to me that some one of them, more fortunate
than the rest, has not captivated your heart. Nay,
do not stare so gravely; but pardon me for being an involuntary
listener, a short time since, to the declaration
that your heart was whole, &c.”
“You heard that? Have you read the book?” she continued,
with her jewelled fingers.
“Yes, I have read the book,” said Ned, assuming an air
of indifference.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes; I must confess to a favourable opinion of it.”
“Do you know the author?”
“I do.”
“Let me beg of you, then, to bring him to our house in
Philadelphia. We are here on a short visit to uncle H.,
but will return home in a few days to prepare for the
reception of Mr. Lonsdale. Is Mr. Mayfield handsome and
agreeable? You have no idea how much I should be delighted
to see him before Miss Z. meets with him. We are
to correspond, when I return, and I should like to fill a
letter with the description of the author. She has a
passion for authors. But is he handsome?”
“Some say he is. But you could not admire him, I
fear.”
“Why?”
“He is inclined to be serious and silent; and despises
the frivolities of merely fashionable society.”
“No matter. It will be a novelty, and he may afford
amusement for us. Miss Z. will be so much pleased.”
Miss Z. was an old maid.
“No doubt Mr. Mayfield would feel highly honoured at
the thought of having pleased Miss Z., the niece of the
President.”
“You knew she was his niece? Oh, you heard me say
so. But I know another lady fond of authors, and particularly
of poets.”
“And may I learn her name?”
“Oh yes; for you are a poet. But you certainly do
know her already; and she is young, beautiful and rich.
I used to correspond with her, too, and I don't know why
she ceased to write to me.”
“You say I know her?”
“Undoubtedly, for she mentioned you in her letters.
It is Elgiva Bloomville. Did you not blush at the mention
of her name?”
“Not that I am aware of,” said Ned, very gravely, almost
which had taken place in one whom he had so fondly loved,
so often worshipped.
“Mercy on me! Who was that?” cried Alice, hearing
a heart-rending scream at the distant end of the saloon,
where there was a circle around General S—.”
Some one had mentioned the unexpected arrival of a
steamer, which had sailed before its time from Liverpool,
and among the items of news detailed, mention was made
of the sudden death of Mr. Lonsdale. The scream had
been uttered by Mrs. L.
The announcement had been made by one who was not
aware of the presence of Mrs. Lonsdale, and he had taken
the precaution to observe that the Colonel, who was his
intimate friend, was not within hearing.
A general dispersion ensued; and Mallex, still keeping
in view of Ned, followed him down the marble steps, and
joined him in his walk towards his lodgings.
“A widow again, Ned,” said the secretary, “but quite
young enough to find a third husband.”
“I suppose, however, she is not to be reconciled by considerations
of that nature,” was the young man's reply.
“Not yet. Not yet awhile. Drive home, Charles, I will
walk,” said he, addressing his last words to his coachman.
“By your leave, Ned,” he continued, familiarly, “I will
accompany you to your hotel. I have some things to propose,
and I don't know a better time than the present.”
Ned assented with the politeness inseparable from his
nature, but was not flattered by the condescension. His
interview with Alice had abated the ardour of his spirits,
and dispelled the intoxication of the moment which had been
so skilfully contrived by the penetrating mind of the secretary.
The object of his mission to Washington recurred
to him, and he reflected that it had not yet been followed
by any decisive result. However, the one to whom his
communication had been made had intimated his intention
to make certain propositions, and these he hoped might be
of such a nature as could be acceded to.
And as our hero thus reflected, and while they walked
along without the interchange of many words, the banker-minister
considered finally what should be his decision in
was determined. Nothing was to be admitted, nothing
conceded, in regard to the estates of the deceased Parkes.
His name would be mingled with the proceedings as the
partner of Bainton; his origin and the whole history of
his career, as far as it could be known, would be detailed
in a court of law, and perhaps in the newspapers. These
things could not be otherwise than unpleasant to one occupying
his present position, and might furnish occasion for
ill-natured detraction. But then he was not or could not
be known, as a responsible and interested party; he did
not withhold any money from the heir, if indeed an heir
existed; and if it should be established that his partner
had acted unjustly, whether intentionally or not, why
should it affect his character? The only one living who
could prove his criminal complicity in the transaction, was
in his power, and debarred the opportunity of making any
disclosures. Besides, if Susan recovered the estate of
Daniel L. Parke, of course she would be the rightful heir
of John Parke; and if the principal and interest of their
claims were computed from the beginning of the partnership
of the bankers, the amount to be demanded would
approximate the sum of $250,000! Such a relinquishment
was altogether out of the question.
“Ned,” said the secretary, when they were seated together
in a private apartment of the hotel, “since I have had
the satisfaction of becoming acquainted with you, I feel an
interest in your welfare. I admire your talents and am
pleased with your address. It is my wish to do something
for you, and unless you have unreasonable expectations and
extravagant desires—”
“I expect nothing, sir, beyond what justice may give me
the right to demand. As to my desires, if they be extravagant—”
“You do not understand me, Ned. The claims of yourself
and of Susan Mulvany to the estates of the Parkes, will
result in nothing. They will be resisted. They cannot be
substantiated.”
“Then my business here is ended. I was directed
merely to present myself before you and deliver the statement
of facts which we are prepared to prove. You know
have volunteered, for they are so confident of success that
the case is to be conducted at their risk and expense—
would not be likely to threaten without first being satisfied
of their ability to perform. But knowing the capacity of
your mind, they were induced to afford you an opportunity
of yielding voluntarily that which the law will ultimately
demand, supposing that you might be desirous of avoiding
the unpleasant consequences inseparable from litigious
contests.”
“I feel highly honoured by them! And I could reciprocate
the compliment by applauding their superior penetration.
It was for them to suppose that a banker of some
capital and reputation, and a cabinet minister, enjoying
the confidence of the President, would be extremely desirous
of avoiding the notoriety and scandal attending such
proceedings as they meditated! You can inform them that
they were not in error as it regards the calculation in the
abstract; but they were mistaken in the man.”
“Then the other alternative remains,” said Ned.
“And in the meantime I have thought of something that
might conduce to your advantage, provided you do not become
an active participant in the game played by the lawyers
for their own benefit. I can procure an appointment
for you with a salary of $1500.”
“No, sir; I will not wear a master's collar. I will not
be a dog.”
“I can procure you the hand of Alice, and her fortune.”
“No, sir! Pardon me—perhaps you could—I will not
doubt it. But I would have no honourable title to either,
without her heart. Sir, she has no heart! Make me no
other offers! Give me that which is my own. It is all I
ask. And if you will not, I shall endeavour to make you!”
“Inexperienced, impracticable boy!”
“Inexperienced, sir, in villainy—impracticable, I hope,
in the iniquitous operations—”
“Enough, sir!” said Mallex, rising.” You have my
answer. It is scornful defiance!”
He withdrew abruptly, and hastened to telegraph his instructions
to Radley. Ned employed the remainder of the
evening in writing to his friends in Philadelphia and Summerton.
since proceedings at law were to be commenced immediately.
And hence there was a note in the letter to Susan
for Tim, informing him of the importance of the documents
he had so fortunately preserved.
| CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE SECRETARY—THE AUTHOR—THE BELLE. Freaks of fortune, or, The history and
adventures of Ned Lorn | |