108.
CHAPTER CVIII.
THE DECISION AGAINST THE DOCTOR, AND MORE NEWS OF VARNEY, THE VAMPYRE.
It will be remembered that Dr. Chillingworth, although he had, without
doubt, ascertained that Varney had proceeded to London, hesitated about
following him there without the full connivance and consent of the
Bannerworths; and now, at the very first opportunity he had, when he found the
admiral and Henry together, he introduced the subject.
He detailed what he had already done in the way of tracing Varney from
place to place, and ended by declaring his conviction the he was to be found
in London.
"It is not only of importance," he said, "to discover Varney on account
of the property which I think he has taken with him, but it really amounts
almost to a public duty to do so, when we consider the evil he has succeeded
in bringing upon us, and that some other family may be soon suffering from
similar machinations."
"But, doctor," said Henry, "I presume you have no disinclination to admit
that the principal view you take of this subject, is as regards its connexion
with the supposed sum of money which Varney has taken with him?"
"I freely own," said the doctor, "that I should like to place that money
in your hands, because I think you are entitled to it; and, perhaps, that is
my principal motive, but it certainly is not my only one; for, as I consider
Varney quite a curiosity in a medical point of view, I certainly wish to
follow him up, and should be extremely sorry to lose sight of him altogether."
"But you must be aware, doctor," said Henry, "that there really is
something like positive danger in following such a man up; and, although he
feels himself under such great obligations to you, that I do not think he
would willingly do you an injury, yet there is no knowing what so strange and
irascible a temper might not be goaded to."
"I have no dread of danger."
"I dare say you have not," said the admiral; "but I give my vote against
having anything further to do with Varney."
"And," said Henry, "although I cannot withhold an expression of
admiration for the doctor's perseverance, I beg him to think that we oppose
his pilgrimage in search of the vampyre, because we fell more for his personal
safety than we fear any of the machinations of Varney."
"Well, gentlemen," said the doctor, "since I am in a minority, of course
I must give in, and say no more about it. I should certainly have liked to
find the fellow; for it is my impression that he certainly has a good many
thousands of your money in his possession. But, as it is, I will say no more
about it; although I shall retain my opinion that you are ill-advised in not
following him up."
"Oh," said the admiral, "it wouldn't do to follow people up always."
"I don't know that. There's that Quaker, for instance, who has got
possession of Dearbrook."
"The Quaker!" shouted the admiral. "D—n the Quaker! I'll follow him up
while I have a guinea left, or a leg to stand on. What the deuce made you
mention him? for you know the very sound of his name is enough to put me in a
fever. The Quaker be hanged, an infernal thief as he is!"
It was well known to both Henry and the doctor, and, in fact, to all the
family now, that the mention of the Quaker was always enough to drive the
admiral nearly frantic; so that we are inclined to think Dr. Chillingworth was
actuated by a little spirit of vengeance when he made that remark, and that,
on the whole, he was so vexed at the non-participation of the Bannerworths and
the admiral in his views concerning Sir Francis Varney, that, on the
irritation of the moment, he did not scruple to say something which he thought
would be annoying; but his downright good feeling so got the better of
anything of that sort, that, turning to the admiral, he said, —
"I do apologise—I ought to apologise for my calling to your attention
anything of a disagreeable character; for I have no right whatever to do so;
and it was only upon the impulse of a moment, I assure you, that I uttered the
words."
"Doctor," said the admiral, "I know all that as well as you can tell me;
so just say no more about it, if you please, for I don't want to hear one word
upon such a subject."
"Well, then," said the doctor, "now that I stand acquitted of doing or
saying anything of a doubtful or disagreeable character, I can only tell you
that I shall persevere in my opinion, and that it is just possible, though not
very likely, that I may, upon my own account, do something in the matter."
"All of which," said Henry, "I am very sorry to hear you say, doctor."
"But why are you sorry?"
"Because I cannot help anticipating danger. I feel almost certain that
it will ensue, and, in that case, no one will more bitterly regret that you
mixed yourself up in the affair than I shall."
"Oh, do not presume any such thing," said the doctor, jestingly. "You
may depend Varney and I understand each other too well for there to be much
danger in my intercourse with him. There is something about the fellow yet
that will not permit him to do any deliberate wrong to me; and, strange as the
feeling may appear, I cannot help acknowledging that I like him in some
things, and that, having been the means of restoring him to life, I feel,
somehow or another, as if I were bound to look after him."
"Well, that is rather absurd," said the admiral, "I must confess. But,
however, doctor, if you have any such feeling, by all means carry it out—I
won't say nay; but by any means find him out, if you like, and if you can make
him a decent member of society, in Heaven's name do so."
"I do not expect that," said the doctor; "and if I only keep him out of
mischief, I shall be sufficiently satisfied, for that would be accomplishing a
great deal with such a man."
"Promise me one thing," said Henry, "in connection with this affair."
"What may that be?"
"It is that you will not take any step in the matter without letting us
know. Of course, you are a free-agent in the transaction, and have as much
right as anybody to say or to do anything as regards Varney, the vampyre; but
still, knowing so much of him as we do, I, for one, certainly would be glad to
be made aware of anything you were attempting concerning him."
"That I will promise you, so you need be under no possible apprehension
on such a score, but feel completely at your ease that nothing is being done
unless you know of it."
At this juncture, a servant entered the room with a letter, which was
addressed to Henry Bannerworth, and, upon opening it, he uttered a sudden
exclamation of suprise.
"What is it?" said the admiral; "you seem astonished, Henry."
"I am, indeed, astonished, and I may be. Who do you suppose, admiral,
this letter is from?"
"I can't possibly take upon myself to say."
"Why, from no other person than Varney, the vampyre."
"Indeed!" cried Dr. Chillingworth; "and does he offer restitution? —
does he offer to return the money he so wrongfully has got possession of? —
tell me that."
"I cannot answer you, for I have not read one word of the epistle; I only
see by the signature that it is his; but as it is impossible that there can be
any secrets between myself and Varney, I shall read it to you aloud, and you
shall both of you be able to judge concerning it."
The admiral and the doctor assumed attitudes of attention, while Henry,
after glancing his eyes slightly down the contents of the letter, commenced
reading it as follows: —
"To Henry Bannerworth.
"Sir, —Probably the last person in the world from whom you might expect
to receive a communication, is he who now pens this epistle; but as it is
penned with a good feeling towards you and yours, I hope and trust it will be
received in a kindly spirit.
"Admitting that the circumstances under which I left the protection of
your house were such as to require some explanation from me, it is that
explanation which I now proceed to give.
"Circumstances made it imperatively necessary that I should adopt a
course of conduct that should no longer make me a burden to those who had more
cause to wish me dead, than to assist me in maintaining existence.
"Without, then, the least sinister motive towards you or any one
belonging to you, I left your home secretly, and at once, not being willing to
listen to remonstrances that I knew would be spoken kindly, but which I knew
at the same time could not be very serious, inasmuch as my presence cannot
possibly be otherwise than a severe tax upon your kindness and your patience.
"I cannot be so besotted as to think for a moment, that you can forget,
although a generosity of temper, for which I give you full credit, might
enable you to forgive, the injuries you have received from me; but I could not
make up my mind to reside under your roof on such terms; and since my recovery
from the violence of a lawless mob, the question in my mind has been, not
whether I should leave you or not, but how I should leave you, and where I
should betake myself to.
"At length, finding it impossible to come to any rational conclusion upon
these points, and that time was rapidly wearing, so that it became necessary,
if I came to a conclusion at all, I should come to it quickly, I resolved to
leave without giving you any notice of the fact, and set up my staff, as it
were, in the wilderness, and proceed in whatever direction chance might point
out to me.
"This, I say, was my resolve, and I have carried it into execution. All
I ask of you is, to forget me, and not to waste any thought upon the man who
will never do any injury to you, or to any one belonging to you, and who hopes
you will make no inquiry for him; but, should you meet him ever, you will pass
him by as if you knew him not.
"These few words come from him who was
"VARNEY, THE VAMPYRE."
There was a dead silence when this epistle was concluded, and all seemed
busy with their own opinions as regarded this communication, which certainly
was one of a singular nature, and highly calculated to excite their surprise.
Upon the whole, though, there was one extremely evident conclusion to be
drawn from it, and that was, that Varney was extremely anxious not to be
interfered with.
"Can anything be more transparent?" exclaimed the doctor; "it is just as
I say, Varney wants to try some new scheme, and is very much afraid that he
may come across us in some way, and be baulked in it, by our exposing what his
real character is; and, if anything could give me a stronger impulse than
another to follow him and see what he is about, it would certainly be that
letter."
"I do not think you need be afraid," said Henry; "for the letter, bearing
as it does that signification, is such a one as induces me to believe he is
fearful that some circumstances may throw him in our way, and in that case,
that we may spoil his sport; and of the likelihood of such a thing occurring,
he is, of course, a much better judge than we can be. So I should say, let
him alone, and see if anything really turns up concerning him; if it does, we
have a fair principle action before us, for we have no occasion, merely
because he has asked us, to be quiet and peaceable, if we find himi playing
any pranks, or attempting to play any pranks."
"That's my opinion, too," said the admiral; "be quiet and take no notice,
and it will be an odd thing to me, then, if you don't soon hear something of
Master Varney, and that may be a something, too, that may astonish us."
"It that all the letter?" said Dr. Chillingworth.
"Yes, with the exception of these words in a postscript, —
"Any communication addressed to V. V., General Post-office, London, will
reach my hands promptly."
"Ah! then there's the gist of the matter," said the doctor; "the vagabond
wants to be assured that we shall not interfere with him; and then he has got
some rascality in hand, you may depend, which he would set to work about in
real earnest."
"I shall not write to him," said Henry, "but shall pursue quite a
different course of policy, and wait patiently for what may happen, for I am
convinced that is the only plan to pursue with any chance of benefit or
success."
"And you will bear in mind, doctor," said the admiral, "that the fellow
in this letter talks of giving us an explanation, and yet not one word does he
say about jumping upon your back from the garden-wall. The deuce a bit does
he explain that."
"No," said the doctor; "nor did I expect he would. Such a man as Varney
is not likely to criminate himself; and, while there is a doubt about whether
he is that person or not, you may depend he will not be the man to take any
pains to dispel it."
"Of course not—of course not."
"Well," said the doctor, "I can only tell you all one thing, and that is,
that, whatever you may think or flatter yourselves, this affair is very far
indeed from being over, and sooner or later, something yet very serious will
occur in connection with Varney, the vampyre. Do not fancy that you have got
rid of him, for, most certainly, you have not."
The doctor spoke these words so oracularly, that they sounded extremely
like one of those predictions founded upon such a firm basis, that they are
sure to be carried out by future facts, and both Henry and the admiral felt as
if they had heard truth from some one who knew well what he was uttering, and
was not likely to be mistaken.
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