the strange caprices of fashion were never more strangely illustrated than by her fixing upon st. barnabas square as one of her favourite localities. there are men yet living among us whose mothers had been robbed on their way from ranelagh in crossing the spot, then a dreary swampy marsh, on which now stands the city of palaces known as cubittopolis. for years on years it remained in its dismal condition, until an enterprising builder, seeing the army of civilisation advancing with grand strides south-westward, and perceiving at a glance the immediate realisation of an enormous profit on his outlay, bought up the entire estate, had it thoroughly cleansed and drained, and proceeded to erect thereon a series of terraces, places, and squares, each vying with the other in size, perfection of finish, and, let it be said, general ghastliness. the houses in st. barnabas square resemble those in chasuble crescent, and scarcely differ in any particular from the eligible residences in reredos road: they are all very tall, and rather thin; they have all enormous porticoes, over which are little conservatories, railed in with ecclesiastical ironwork; dismal little back-rooms no bigger than warm-baths, but described as "libraries" by the house-agents; gaunt drawing-rooms connected by an arch; vast landings, leading on to other little conservatories, where "blacks," old flower-pots, and a few geranium stumps, are principally conserved; and a series of gaunt towny bedrooms. in front they have mr. swiveller's prospect,--a delightful view of over-the-way; across the bit of square enclosure like a green pocket-handkerchief; while at the back they look immediately on to the back-premises of other eligible residences. the enterprising builder has done his best for his neighbourhood, but he has been unable to neutralise the effects of the neighbouring thames; and the consequence is, that during the winter months a chronic fog drifts up from the pleasant kentish marshes, and finding ample room and verge enough, settles permanently down in the st. barnabas district; while in the summer, the new roads which intersect the locality, being mostly composed of a chalky foundation, peel off under every passing wheel, and emit enormous clouds of dust, which are generally drifting on the summer wind into the eyes and mouths of stray passengers, and in at the doors and windows of regular residents. yet this is one of fashion's chosen spots here in this stronghold of stucco reside scores of those whose names and doings the courtly journalist delighteth to chronicle; hither do county magnates bring, to furnished houses, their wives and daughters, leaving them to entertain those of the proper set during the three summer months, while they, the county magnates themselves, are sleeping the sleep of the just on the benches of the house of commons, or nobly discharging their duty to their country by smoking cigars on the terrace; here reside men high up in the great west-end public offices, commissioners and secretaries, anxious to imbue themselves with the scent of the rose, and _vivre près d'elle_, city magnates, judges of the land, and counsel learned in the law. the situation is near to westminster for the lawyers and politicians; and the address has quite enough of the true ring about it to make it much sought after by all those who go-in for a fashionable neighbourhood.
a few hours before the events described in the preceding chapters took place, a brougham, perfectly appointed, and drawn by a splendid horse, came dashing through the fog and driving mist, and pulled up before one of the largest houses in st. barnabas square. the footman jumped from the box, and was running to the door, when, in obedience to a sharp voice, he stopped, and the occupant of the vehicle, who had descended, crossed the pavement with rapid strides, and opened the door with a pass-key. he strode quickly through the hall, up the staircase, and into the drawing-room, round which he took a rapid glance. the room was empty; the gas was lit, and a fire burned brightly on the hearth; while an open piano, covered with music, on the one side of the fireplace, and a book turned down with open leaves, showed that the occupants had but recently left. the newcomer, finding himself alone, walked to the mantelpiece, and leaning his back against it, passed his hands rapidly across his forehead; then plunging both of them into his pockets, seemed lost in thought. the gaslight showed him to be a man of about sixty years of age, tall, wiry, well-proportioned; his head was bald, with a fringe of grayish hair, his forehead broad, his eyes deep-set, his mouth thin-lipped, and ascetic; he wore two little strips of whisker, but his chin was closely shaved. he was dressed in high stiff shirt-collars, a blue-silk neckerchief with white dots, in which gleamed a carbuncle pin; a gray overcoat, under which was a cutaway riding-coat, high waistcoat with onyx buttons, and tight-fitting cord-trousers. this was george brakespere, third earl beauport, of whom and of whose family it behoves one to speak in detail.
they were _novi homines_, the brakesperes, though they always claimed to be sprung from ancient norman blood. only seventy years ago old martin brakespere was a wool-stapler in uttoxeter; and though highly respected for the wealth he was reported to have amassed, was very much jeered at privately, and with bated breath, for keeping an apocryphal genealogical tree hanging up in his back-shop, and for invariably boasting, after his second glass of grog at the greyhound, about his lineage. but when, after old martin had been some score years quietly resting in uttoxeter churchyard, his son sir richard brakespere, who had been successively solicitor and attorney general, was raised to the peerage, and took his seat on the woolsack as baron beauport, lord high chancellor of england, the herald's college, and all the rest of the genealogical authorities, said that the line was thoroughly made out and received the revival of the ancient title with the greatest laudation. a wiry, fox-headed, thin chip of a lawyer, the first baron beauport, as knowing as a ferret, and not unlike one in the face. he administered the laws of his country very well, and he lent some of the money he had inherited from his father to the sovereign of his country and the first gentleman in europe at a very high rate of interest, it is said. rumour reports that he did not get all his money back again, taking instead thereof an increase in rank, and dying, at an advanced age, as earl beauport, succeeded in his title and estates by his only son, theodore brakespere, by courtesy viscount caterham.
when his father died, lord caterham, the second earl beauport, was nearly fifty years old, a prim little gentleman who loved music and wore a wig; a dried-up chip of a little man, who lived in a little house in hans place with an old servant, a big violoncello, and a special and peculiar breed of pug-dogs. to walk out with the pug-dogs in the morning, to be carefully dressed and tittivated and buckled and curled by the old servant in the afternoon, and either to play the violoncello in a beethoven or mozart selection with some other old amateur fogies, or to be present at a performance of chamber-music, or philharmonics, or oratorio-rehearsals in the evening, constituted the sole pleasure of the second earl beauport's life. he never married; and at his death, some fifteen years after his father's, the title and, with the exception of a few legacies to musical charities, the estates passed to his cousin george brakespere, fellow of lincoln college, oxon, and then of little milman street, bedford row, and the northern circuit, briefless barrister.
just in the very nick of time came the peerage and the estates to george brakespere, for he was surrounded by duns, and over head and ears in love. with all his hard work at oxford, and he had worked hard, he had the reputation of being the best bowler at bullingdon, and the hardest rider after hounds; of having the best old port and the finest cigars (it was before the days of claret and short pipes), and the best old oak furniture, library of books, and before-letter proofs in the university. all these could not be paid for out of an undergraduate's income; and the large remainder of unpaid bills hung round him and plagued him heavily long after he had left oxford and been called to the bar. it was horribly up-hill work getting a connection among the attorneys; he tried writing for reviews, and succeeded, but earned very little money. and then, on circuit, at an assize-ball, he fell in love with gertrude carrington, a haughty county beauty, only daughter of sir joshua carrington, chairman of quarter sessions; and that nearly finished him. gertrude carrington was very haughty and very wilful; she admired the clever face and the bold bearing of the young barrister; but in all probability she would have thought no more of him, had not the eminent sir joshua, who kept his eyes very sharply about him, marked the flirtation, and immediately expressed his total disapproval of it. that was enough for gertrude, and she at once went in for george brakespere, heart and soul. she made no objection to a clandestine correspondence, and responded regularly and warmly to george's passionate letters. she gave him two or three secret meetings under an old oak in a secluded part of her father's park,--homershams was a five-hours' journey from town,--and these assignations always involved george's sleeping at an inn, and put him to large expense; and when she came up to stay with her cousins in town, she let him know all the parties to which they were going, and rendered him a mendicant for invitations. when the change of fortune came, and george succeeded to the title, sir joshua succumbed at once, and became anxious for the match. had george inherited money only, it is probable that from sheer wilfulness gertrude would have thrown him over; but the notion of being a countess, of taking precedence and pas of all the neighbouring gentry, had its influence, and they were married. two sons were born to them,--viscount caterham and the hon. lionel brakespere,--and a daughter, who only survived her birth a few weeks. as earl beauport, george brakespere retained the energy and activity of mind and body, the love of exercise and field-sports, the clear brain and singleness of purpose, which had distinguished him as a commoner: but there was a skeleton in his house, whose bony fingers touched his heart in his gayest moments, numbed his energies, and warped his usefulness; whose dread presence he could not escape from, whose chilling influence nor wine, nor work, nor medicine, nor gaiety, could palliate. it was ever present in a tangible shape; he knew his weakness and wickedness in permitting it to conquer him,--he strove against it, but vainly; and in the dead watches of the night often he lay broad awake railing against the fate which had mingled so bitter an ingredient in his cup of happiness.
the door swung open and the countess entered, a woman nearly fifty now, but not looking her age by at least eight years. a tall handsome woman, with the charms of her former beauty mellowed but not impaired; the face was more full, but the firm chiselling of the nose and lips, the brightness of the eyes, the luxurious dark gloss of the hair, were there still. as she entered, her husband advanced to meet her; and as he touched her forehead with his lips, she laid her hand on his, and asked "what news?"
he shook his head sadly, and said, "the worst."
"the worst!" she repeated, faintly; "he's not dead? beauport, you--you would not say it in that way--he's not dead?"
"i wish to god he were!" said lord beauport through his teeth. "i wish it had pleased god to take him years and years ago! no! he's not dead." then throwing himself into a chair, and staring vacantly at the fire, he repeated, "i wish to god he were!"
"anything but that!" said the countess, with a sense of immense relief; "anything but that! whatever he has done may be atoned for, and repented, and--but what has he done? where is he? have you seen mr. farquhar?"
"i have--and i know all. gertrude, lionel is a scoundrel and a criminal--no, don't interrupt me! i myself have prosecuted and transported men for less crimes than he has committed; years ago he would have been hanged. he is a forger!"
"a forger!"
"he has forged the names of two of his friends--old brother officers; lord hinchenbrook is one, and young latham the other--to bills for five thousand pounds. i've had the bills in my hands, and seen letters from the men denying their signatures to-night, and--"
"but lionel--where is he? in prison?"
"no; he saw the crash coming, and fled from it. farquhar showed me a blotted letter from him, written from liverpool, saying in a few lines that he had disgraced us all, that he was on the point of sailing under a feigned name for australia, and that we should never see him again."
"never see him again! my boy, my own darling boy!" and lady beauport burst into an agony of tears.
"gertrude," said her husband, when the first wild storm of grief had subsided, "calm yourself for one instant."
he rang the bell, and to the servant answering it, said:
"tell lord caterham i wish to speak to him, and beg miss maurice to be good enough to step here."
lady beauport was about to speak, but the earl said coldly:
"i wish it, if you please;" and reiterated his commands to the servant, who left the room. "i have fully decided, gertrude, on the step i am about to take. to-morrow those forged bills will be mine. i saw young latham at farquhar's, and he said--" lord beauport's voice shook here--"said everything that was kind and noble; and hinchenbrook has said the same to farquhar. it--it cannot be kept quiet, of course. every club is probably ringing with it now; but they will let me have the bills. and from this moment, gertrude, that boy's name must never be uttered, save in our prayers--in our prayers for his forgiveness and--and repentance--by you, his mother; by me his father,--nor by any one in this house. he is dead to us for ever!"
"beauport, for heaven's sake--"
"i swear it, gertrude, i swear it! and most solemnly will keep the oath. i have sent for caterham, who must know, of course; his good sense will approve what i have done; and for annie, she is part of our household now, and must be told. dead to us all henceforth; dead to us all!"
he sank into a chair opposite the fire and buried his face in his hands, but roused himself at advancing footsteps. the door opened, and a servant entered, pushing before him a library-chair fitted on large wheels, in which sat a man of about thirty, of slight spare frame, with long arms and thin womanly hands--a delicately-handsome man, with a small head, soft grey eyes, and an almost feminine mouth; a man whom nature had intended for an apollo, whom fortune had marked for her sport, blighting his childhood with some mysterious disease for which the doctors could find neither name nor cure, sapping his marrow and causing his legs to wither into the shrunken and useless members which now hung loosely before him utterly without strength, almost without shape, incapable of bearing his weight, and rendering him maimed, crippled, blasted for life. this was viscount caterham, earl beauport's eldest son, and heir to his title and estates. his father cast one short, rapid glance at him as he entered, and then turned to the person who immediately followed him.
this was a tall girl of two-and-twenty, of rounded form and winning expression. her features were by no means regular; her eyes were brown and sleepy; she had a pert inquisitive nose; and when she smiled, in her decidedly large mouth gleamed two rows of strong white teeth. her dark-brown hair was simply and precisely arranged; for she had but a humble opinion of her own charms, and objected to any appearance of coquetry. she was dressed in a tight-fitting black silk, with linen collar and cuffs, and her hands and feet were small and perfectly shaped. darling annie maurice, orphan daughter of a second cousin of my lord's, transplanted from a suburban curacy to be companion and humble friend of my lady, the one bright bit of sunshine and reality in that palace of ghastly stucco and sham. even now, as she came in, lord beauport seemed to feel the cheering influence of her presence, and his brow relaxed for an instant as he stepped forward and offered his hand; after taking which, she, with a bow to the countess, glided round and stood by lord caterham's chair.
lord caterham was the first to speak.
"you sent for us--for annie and me, sir," he said in a low tremulous voice; "i trust you have no bad news of lionel."
lady beauport hid her face in her hands; but the earl, who had resumed his position against the mantelpiece, spoke firmly.
"i sent for you, caterham, and for you, annie, as members of my family, to tell you that lionel brakespere's name must never more be mentioned in this house. he has disgraced himself, and us through him; and though we cannot wipe away that disgrace, we must strive as far as possible to blot him out from our memories and our lives. you know, both of you--at least you, caterham, know well enough,--what he has been to me--the love i had for him--the--yes, my god, the pride i had in him!"
his voice broke here, and he passed his hand across his eyes. in the momentary pause annie maurice glanced up at lord caterham, and marked his face distorted as with pain, and his head reclining on his chest. then, gulping down the knot rising in his throat, the earl continued:
"all that is over now; he has left the country, and the chances are that we shall never see nor even hear from him again." a moan from the countess shook his voice for a second, but he proceeded: "it was to tell you this that i sent for you. you and i, caterham, will have to enter upon this subject once more to-morrow, when some business arrangements have to be made. on all other occasions, recollect, it is tabooed. let his name be blotted out from our memories, and let him be as if he had never lived."
as earl beauport ceased speaking he gathered himself together and walked towards the door, never trusting himself to look for an instant towards where his wife sat cowering in grief, lest his firmness should desert him. down the stairs he went, until entering his library he shut the door behind him, locked it, and throwing himself into his chair, leant his head on the desk, and covering it with his hands gave way to a passion of sobs which shook his strong frame as though he were convulsed. then rising, he went to the book-case, and taking out a large volume, opened it, and turned to the page immediately succeeding the cover. it was a big old-fashioned bible, bound in calf, with a hideous ancient woodcut as a frontispiece representing the adoration of the wise men; but the page to which lord beauport turned, yellow with age, was inscribed in various-coloured inks, many dim and faded, with the names of the old brakespere family, and the dates of their births, marriages, and deaths. old martin brakespere's headed the list; then came his son's, with "created baron beauport" in the lawyer's own skimpy little hand, in which also was entered the name of the musical-amateur peer, his son; then came george brakespere's bold entry of his own name and his wife's, and of the names of their two sons. over the last entry lord beauport paused for a few minutes, glaring at it with eyes which did not see it, but which had before them a chubby child, a bright handsome eton boy, a dashing guardsman, a "swell" loved and petted by all, a fugitive skulking in an assumed name in the cabin of a sea-tossed ship; then he took up a pen and ran it through the entry backwards and forwards until the name was completely blotted out; and then he fell again into his train of thought. the family dinner-hour was long since passed; the table was laid, all was ready, and the french cook and the grave butler were in despair: but lord beauport still sat alone in his library with old martin brakespere's bible open before him.
