A month has elapsed,--and we stand in the bedchamber of Sir JohnChester. Through the half-opened window, the Temple Garden looksgreen and pleasant; the placid river, gay with boat and barge, anddimpled with the plash of many an oar, sparkles in the distance;the sky is blue and clear; and the summer air steals gently in,filling the room with perfume. The very town, the smoky town, isradiant. High roofs and steeple-tops, wont to look black andsullen, smile a cheerful grey; every old gilded vane, and ball, andcross, glitters anew in the bright morning sun; and, high amongthem all, St Paul"s towers up, showing its lofty crest in burnishedgold.
Sir John was breakfasting in bed. His chocolate and toast stoodupon a little table at his elbow; books and newspapers lay ready tohis hand, upon the coverlet; and, sometimes pausing to glance withan air of tranquil satisfaction round the well-ordered room, andsometimes to gaze indolently at the summer sky, he ate, and drank,and read the news luxuriously.
The cheerful influence of the morning seemed to have some effect,even upon his equable temper. His manner was unusually gay; hissmile more placid and agreeable than usual; his voice more clearand pleasant. He laid down the newspaper he had been reading;leaned back upon his pillow with the air of one who resignedhimself to a train of charming recollections; and after a pause,soliloquised as follows:
"And my friend the centaur, goes the way of his mamma! I am notsurprised. And his mysterious friend Mr Dennis, likewise! I amnot surprised. And my old postman, the exceedingly free-and-easyyoung madman of Chigwell! I am quite rejoiced. It"s the very bestthing that could possibly happen to him."
After delivering himself of these remarks, he fell again into hissmiling train of reflection; from which he roused himself at lengthto finish his chocolate, which was getting cold, and ring the bellfor more.
The new supply arriving, he took the cup from his servant"s hand;and saying, with a charming affability, "I am obliged to you,Peak," dismissed him.
"It is a remarkable circumstance," he mused, dallying lazily withthe teaspoon, "that my friend the madman should have been within anace of escaping, on his trial; and it was a good stroke of chance(or, as the world would say, a providential occurrence) that thebrother of my Lord Mayor should have been in court, with othercountry justices, into whose very dense heads curiosity hadpenetrated. For though the brother of my Lord Mayor was decidedlywrong; and established his near relationship to that amusing personbeyond all doubt, in stating that my friend was sane, and had, tohis knowledge, wandered about the country with a vagabond parent,avowing revolutionary and rebellious sentiments; I am not the lessobliged to him for volunteering that evidence. These insanecreatures make such very odd and embarrassing remarks, that theyreally ought to be hanged for the comfort of society."
The country justice had indeed turned the wavering scale againstpoor Barnaby, and solved the doubt that trembled in his favour.
Grip little thought how much he had to answer for.
"They will be a singular party," said Sir John, leaning his headupon his hand, and sipping his chocolate; "a very curious party.
The hangman himself; the centaur; and the madman. The centaurwould make a very handsome preparation in Surgeons" Hall, andwould benefit science extremely. I hope they have taken care tobespeak him.--Peak, I am not at home, of course, to anybody but thehairdresser."
This reminder to his servant was called forth by a knock at thedoor, which the man hastened to open. After a prolonged murmur ofquestion and answer, he returned; and as he cautiously closed theroom-door behind him, a man was heard to cough in the passage.
"Now, it is of no use, Peak," said Sir John, raising his hand indeprecation of his delivering any message; "I am not at home. Icannot possibly hear you. I told you I was not at home, and myword is sacred. Will you never do as you are desired?"
Having nothing to oppose to this reproof, the man was about towithdraw, when the visitor who had given occasion to it, probablyrendered impatient by delay, knocked with his knuckles at thechamber-door, and called out that he had urgent business with SirJohn Chester, which admitted of no delay.
"Let him in," said Sir John. "My good fellow," he added, when thedoor was opened, "how come you to intrude yourself in thisextraordinary manner upon the privacy of a gentleman? How can yoube so wholly destitute of self-respect as to be guilty of suchremarkable ill-breeding?"
"My business, Sir John, is not of a common kind, I do assure you,"
returned the person he addressed. "If I have taken any uncommoncourse to get admission to you, I hope I shall be pardoned on thataccount."
"Well! we shall see; we shall see," returned Sir John, whose facecleared up when he saw who it was, and whose prepossessing smilewas now restored. "I am sure we have met before," he added in hiswinning tone, "but really I forget your name?"
"My name is Gabriel Varden, sir."
"Varden, of course, Varden," returned Sir John, tapping hisforehead. "Dear me, how very defective my memory becomes! Vardento be sure--Mr Varden the locksmith. You have a charming wife, MrVarden, and a most beautiful daughter. They are well?"
Gabriel thanked him, and said they were.
"I rejoice to hear it," said Sir John. "Commend me to them whenyou return, and say that I wished I were fortunate enough toconvey, myself, the salute which I entrust you to deliver. Andwhat," he asked very sweetly, after a moment"s pause, "can I do foryou? You may command me freely."
"I thank you, Sir John," said Gabriel, with some pride in hismanner, "but I have come to ask no favour of you, though I come onbusiness.--Private," he added, with a glance at the man who stoodlooking on, "and very pressing business."
"I cannot say you are the more welcome for being independent, andhaving nothing to ask of me," returned Sir John, graciously, "for Ishould have been happy to render you a service; still, you arewelcome on any terms. Oblige me with some more chocolate, Peak,and don"t wait."
The man retired, and left them alone.