of California n Regional 7 Facility VENTURES D'HARICOT J. Storcr Clouston /*& 607.75 007.73 Clouston, J. S . Adventures of "M".~ D'Karicot Clonston, J. Storep Adventures of M. D'Earicot THE ADVENTUREStTF M. D'HARICOT BY J. STORER CLOUSTON ILLUSTRATED BY ALBERT LEVERING W- HARPER AND BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON 1902 Copyright, 1902, by HARPER & F.KOTHKRS. All rights reserved. Published November, 1901. THE ADl/ENTURES OF M. D' HARICOT THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Adieu, tbe land of my birth! Henceforth strange faces!" BOULEVARDS. my window-sill lies a faded rose, a rose plucked from an English lane. As I write, my eyes fall upon the gar- dens, the forests, around my ances- tral chateau, but the faint scent is an English perfume. To the land of that rose, the land that sheltered, befriended, amused me, I dedicate these memoirs of my sojourn there. They are a record of incidents and impressions that sometimes have little connection one with another beyond the possession of one character in common myself. I am that individual who with unsteady feet will tread the tight-rope, dance among the eggs, leap through the paper tam- bourine in a word, play clown and hero to the melody of the castanets. I hold out my hat that you may drop in a sou should you chance to be I THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT amused. To the serious I herewith bid adieu, for instruction, I fear, will be conspicuously absent, unless, indeed, my follies serve as a warning. And now without further prologue I raise the curtain. The first scene is a railway carriage swiftly travelling farther and farther from the sea that washes the dear shores of France. Look out of the window and behold the green fields, the heavy hedge-rows enclosing them so tightly, the trees, not in woods, but scattered everywhere as by a restless forester, the brick farms, the hop-fields, the moist, vaporous atmosphere of England. Cast your eyes within and you will see, wrapped in an ulster of a British pattern concealing all that is not British in his appearance, an exile from his native land. Not to make a mystery of this individual, you will see, indeed, myself. And I why did I travel thus enshrouded, why did my eye look with melancholy upon this fertile landscape, why did I sit sad and sombre as I travelled through this strange land? There were many things fresh and novel to stir the mind of an adventurer. The name, the platform, the look of every station we sped past, was a little piece of England, curious in its way. Alany memories of the people and the places I had known in fiction should surely have been aroused and lit my heart with some en- thusiasm. What reason, then, for sadness? 2 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT I shall tell you, since the affair is now no secret, and as it hereafter touches my narrative. I was a Royalist, an adherent of the rightful king of France. I am still; I boast it openly. But at that time a demonstra- tion had been prema- ture, a government was alarmed, and I had fled. Hereafter I shall tell you more of the secret and formidable society of which I was then a young, enthusias- tic member the Une, Deux, Trois League, or U. D. T's, as we styled ourselves in brief, the forlorn hope of royalty in France. At present it is sufficient to say that we had failed. Baffled hopes, doubt as to the future, fear for the present, were my companions; and they are not gay, these friends. I felt I confess it now mirthfully enough sus- picious of the porter of the train, of the guard, of the people who eyed me. I was young, and "political offender" had a terrible sound. The Bastile, Siberia, St. Helena; were not these places built, created, discovered, for 3 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT the sole purpose of returning white-haired, en- feebled unfortunates to their native land, only to find their homes dissolved, their families de- ceased, themselves forgotten? The truth is that I was alread} T in mourning for myself. The pros- pect of entering history by the martyr's postern had seemed noble in the heat of action and the excitement of intrigue. Xow I only desired my liberty and as little public attention as possible. 1 commend this personal experience to all con- spirators. Such a frame of mind begets suspicions fast, and when I found myself in the same compartment with a young man who had already glanced at me in the Gare du Nord, and taken a longer look on board the steamboat, I felt, I admit, decidedly un- comfortable. From beneath the shade of my travel- ling-cap I eyed him for the first half-hour with a deep distrust. Yet since he regarded me with that total lack of interest an Englishman bestows upon the unintroduced, and had, besides, an appearance of honesty written on his countenance, I began to feel somewhat ashamed of my suspicions, until at last I even came to consider him with interest as one type of that strange people among whom for a longer or a shorter time I was doomed to dwell, lie differed, it is true, both from the busts of Shake- speare and the statues of Wellington, yet he was far from unpleasing. An athletic form, good feat- ures, a steady, blue eye, a complexion rosy as a 4 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT girl's, fair hair brushed flat across his forehead, thirty years of truth-telling, cricket-playing, and the practice of three or four elementary ethical prin- ciples, not to mention an excellent tailor, all went to make this young man a refreshing and an en- couraging spectacle. "Bah!" I said to myself. "My friend may not be the poet-laureate or the philanthropic M. Car- negie, but at least he is no spy." By nature I am neither bashful nor immoderately timid, and it struck me that some talk with a native might be of service. My spirits, too, were rising fast. The train had not yet been stopped and searched ; we were nearing the great London, where he who seeks concealment is as one pin in a trayful ; the hour was early in the day, and the sun break- ing out made the wet grass glisten. Yes, it was hard to remain silent on that glori- ous September morning, even though dark thoughts .sat upon the same cushion. "Monsieur," I said, "the sun is bright." With this remark he seemed to show his agree- ment by a slight smile and a murmured phrase. The smile was pleasant, and I felt encouraged to continue. " Yet it does not alwa3 T s follow that the heart is gay. Indeed, monsieur, how often we see tears on a June morning, and hear laughter in March! It must have struck you often, this want of har- mony in the world. Has it not?" 5 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT I had been so carried away by my thoughts that I had failed to observe the lack of sympathy in my fellow-traveller's countenance. "Possibly," he remarked, dryly. "Ah/' I said, with a smile, "you do not appre- ciate. You are English." "I am/' he replied. "And you are French, I suppose?" At his words, suspicion woke in my heart. It was only as a Frenchman that I ran the risk of arrest. "No; I am an American." This was my first attempt to disclaim my nation- ality, and each time I denied my country I, like St. Peter, suffered for it. Fair France, your lovers should be true! That is the lesson. "Indeed," was all he said; but I now began to 6 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT enjoy my first experience of that disconcerting phenomenon, the English stare. Later on I dis- covered that this generally means nothing, and is, in fact, merely an inherited relic of the days when each Englishman carried his "knuckle-duster" (a weapon used in boxing), and struck the instant his neighbor's attention was diverted. It is thanks to this peculiarity that they now find themselves in possession of so large a portion of the globe, but the surviving stare is not a reassuring spectacle. Yet I must not let him see that I was in the slight- est inconvenienced by his attitude. The antidote to suspicion is candor. I was candid. "Yes," I said. "I am told that I do not resem- ble an American, but my name, at least, is good Anglo-Saxon." And I handed him a card prepared for such an emergency. On it I had written, "Nelson Bunyan, Esq." If that sounded French, then I had studied philology in vain. "I am a traveller in search of curios/' I added. "And you?" "I am not," he replied, with a trace of a smile and a humorous look in his blue eyes. He was quite friendly, perfectly polite, but that was all the information about himself I could ex- tract "I am not/' followed by a commonplace concerning the weather. A singular type! Re- pressed, self - restrained, reticent, good - humoredly condescending in a word, British. 7 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT We talked of various matters, and I did my best to pick him, like his native winkle, from the shell. Of my success here is a sample. We had (or I had) been talking of the things that were best worth a young man's study. "And there is love," I Sciid. "What a field for inquiry, what variety of aspects, what practical lessons to be learned!" He smiled at my ardor. "Have you ever been in love?" I asked. "Possibly," he replied, carelessly. " But devotedly, hopelessly, as a man who would sacrifice heaven for his mistress?" " Haven't blown my brains out yet," he answered. " Ah, 3 T ou have been successful ; you have in- variably brought your little affairs to a fortunate issue?" " I don't know that I should call myself a great ladies' man." "Possibly you are engaged?" I suggested, re- membering that I had heard that this operation has a singularly sedative effect upon the English. "No," he said, with an air of ending the dis- cussion, " I am not." Again this "I am not," followed by a compres- sion of the lips and a cold glance into vacancy. "Ah, he is a dolt; a lump of lead!" I said to my- self, and I sighed to think of the people I was leav- ing, the people of spirit, the people of wit. Little did I think how my opinion of my fellow-traveller 8 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT would one day iilter, how my heart would ex- pand. But now I had something else to catch my at- tention. 1 looked out of the window, and, behold, there was nothing to be seen but houses. Below the level of the railway line was spread a sea of dingy brick dwellings, all, save here and there a church-tower, of one uniform height and of one uniform ugliness. Against the houses nearest to the railway were plastered or propped, by way of decoration, vast colored testimonials to the soaps and meat extracts of the country. In lines through this prosaic landscape rose telegraph posts and signals, and trains bustled in every direction. "Pardon me," I said to my companion, "but 1 am new to this country. What city is this?" "London," said he. London, the far-famed ! So this was London. Much need to "paint it red," as the English say of a frolic. "Is it all like this?" I asked. " Not quite," he replied, in his good-humored tone. "Thank God!" I exclaimed, devoutly. "I do not like to speak disrespectfully of any British institution, but this my faith!" We crossed the Thames, gray and gleaming in the sunshine, and now I am at Charing Cross. Just as the train was slowing down I turned to my fellow-traveller. "Have you been vaccinated?" I asked. 9 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "I have," said he, in surprise. You see even reticence has its limits. " I thank you for the confidence," I replied, graveh'. As he stood up to take his umbrella from the rack he handed me back my card. "I say/' he abruptly remarked, in a tone, I thought, of mingled severity and innuendo, "I should have this legend altered, if I were you. Good-morning. " And with that he was gone, and my doubts had returned. He suspected something! Well, there was nothing to be done but maintain a stout heart and trust to fortune. And it takes much to drive gayety from my spirits for long. I was a fugitive, a stranger, a foreigner, but I hummed a tune cheerful^ as I waited my turn for the ordeal of the custom-house. And here came one good omen. My appearance was so deceptively re- spectable, and my air so easy, that not a question was asked me. One brief glance at my dress- shirts and I was free to drive into the streets and lose myself in the life of London. Lose myself, do I say? Yes, indeed, and more than myself, too. My friends, my interests, my language, my home; all these were lost as utterly as though I had dropped them overboard in the Channel. I had not time to obtain even one single introduction before I left, or further counsel than I remembered from reading English books. And 10 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT I assure you it is not so easy to benefit by the ex- periences of Mr. Pickwick and Miss Sharp as it may seem. Stories may be true to life, but, alas ! life is not so true to stories. Fortunately, I could talk and read English well even, I may say, fluently; also I had the spirit of my race; and finally and, perhaps, most fortu- nately I was not too old to learn. THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "In that city, sire, even the manner of breathing -was different." PlZARRO. WAS in London, the vastest collec- 9$? 9Jjj? tion of people and of houses this "*$? / tffc world has ever seen ; the ganglion, 9JJI? <% the museum, the axle of the English ^^^siHJ? race; the cradle of much of their gen- ius and most of their fogs; the home of Dr. John- son, the bishops of Canterbury, the immortal Fal- staff, the effigied Fawkes ; also the headquarters of all the profitable virtues, all the principles of business. With an abandon and receptivity which I am pleased to think the Creator has reserved as a consolation for the non-English, I had hardly been half an hour in the city before I had become infected with something of its spirit. "Goddam! What ho!" I said to myself, in the English idiom. "For months, for years, forever, perhaps, I am to live among this incomprehensi- 12 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARlCOl ble people. Well, 1 shall strive to learn some- thing, and, by Great Scotland ! to enjoy something." So I turned up my trousers and sallied out of my hotel. Ah, this was life, indeed, 1 had come into ; not more so than Paris, but differently so. Stolidly, good-naturedly, and rapidly the citizens struggle along through the crowds on the pavement. They seem like helpless straws revolving in a whirlpool. Yet does one of them wish to cross the street? In- stantly a constable raises a finger, the traffic of London is stopped, and Mr. Benjamin Bull, young- est and least important son of John, passes un- injured to the farther side. " What is this street?" 1 ask one of these officers, as he stands in the midst of a crossing, signalling which cab or dray shall pass him. "Strand," says he, stopping five omnibuses to give me this information. "Where does it lead me?" "Which way do 3 7 ou wish to proceed?" he in- quires, politely, still detaining the omnibuses. "East," I reply, at a venture. "First to the right, second to the left, third to the right again, and take the blue bus as far as the Elephant and Angel," he answers, without any hesitation. "A thousand thanks," I gasp. " I think, on the whole, I should be safer to go westward." He waves his hand, the omnibuses (which by 13 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT this time have accumulated to the number of fourteen) proceed upon their journey, and I, had I the key to the cipher, should doubtless be in pos- session of valuable information. Such is one in- stance of the way in which the Londoner's sub- stitute for Providence does its business. I shall not attempt to give at this point an ex- haustive description of London. The mandates of fortune sent me at different times to enjoy amus- ing and embarrassing experiences in various quarters of the city, and these I shall touch upon in their places. It is sufficient to observe at pres- ent that London is a name for many cities. A great town, like a great man, is made up of various characters strung together. Just as the soldier becomes at night the lover and next morn- ing the philosopher, so a city is on the east a factory, on the west a palace, on the north a lodg- ing-house. So it is with Paris, with Berlin, with all. But London is so large, so devoid of system in its creation and in its improvements, so various- ly populated, that it probably exceeds any in its variety. No emperor or council of city fathers mapped the streets or regulated the houses. What edifice each man wanted that he built, guided only by the length of his purse and the depth of his barbarism ; while the streets on which this arose is either the same roadway as once served the Romans, or else the speculative builder's idea of best advancing 14 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT the interests of his property. Then some day comes a great company who wish to occupy a hun- dred metres of frontage and direct attention to their business. So many houses are pulled down and replaced by an erection twice the height of anything else, and designed, as far as possible, to imitate the cries and costume of a bookmaker. And all this time there are surviving, in nooks and corners, picturesque and venerable buildings of a by-gone age, and also, of late, are arising on all sides worthy and dignified new piles. So that the history of each house and each street, the mental condition of their architects and the financial condition of their occupants, are written upon them plainly with a smoky finger. For you see all this through an atmosphere whose millions of molecules of carbon and of aqueous vapor darken the bricks and the stones, and hang like a veil of fine gauze before them. London is huge, but the eternal mistiness makes it seem huger still, for however high a building you climb, you can see nothing but houses and yet more houses, melting at what looks a vast distance into the blue-and- yellow haze. Really, there may be green woods and the fair slopes of a country-side within a few miles, but since you cannot see them your heart sinks, and you believe that such good things must be many leagues below the brick horizon. More than once upon a Sunday morning, when the air was clear, I have been startled to see from the 15 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Strand itself a glimpse of the Surrey hills quite near and very beautiful, and I have said, " Thank God for this!" I ate It till two It was in the morning that I arrived in London, and my first day I spent in losing my way through the labyrinth of streets, which are set never at a right angle to one another, and are of such different lengths that I could scarcely persuade myself it had not all been specially arranged to mislead me. About one o'clock I entered a restaurant and ordered a genuine English steak the porter-house, it was called. In quality, I admit this segment of an ox was admirable; but as for its quantity my faith! I ate it till half-past two and scarcely had made an impression then. Half stupefied with this orgy, and the British beer I had taken to assist me in the protracted effort, I returned to my hotel, 16 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT and there began the journal on which these memoirs are founded. As showing my sensations at the time, they are now of curious interest to me. I shall give the extract I wrote then: "Amusing, absorbing, entertaining as a Chinese puz- zle where all the pieces are alive ; all these things is the city of London. Why, then, has it already begun to pall upon me? Ah, it is the loneliness of a crowd I In Paris I can walk by the hour and never .see a face I know, and yet not feel this sense of desolation. Friends need not be before the eye, but they must be at hand when you wish to call them. For myself, I call them pretty frequently, yet often can remain for a time con- tent to merely know that they are somewhere not too far away. But here I may turn north, south, east, or west, and walk as far as I like in any direction, and not one should I find! " Shall I ever make a friend among this old, phleg- matic, business-like people? Some day, perhaps, an acquaintance may be struck with some such reticent and frigid monster as my fair-haired companion of the journey. Would such a one console or cheer or share a single sentiment? Impossible! Mon Dieu! I shall leave this town in three days; I swear it. And where then? The devil knows!" At this point the writing of these notes was un- expectedly interrupted, only to he resumed, as it chanced, after some adventurous days. A waiter entered, hearing a letter for me. I sprang up and seized it eagerly. It was addressed 17 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT to Mr. Nelson Bunyan, Esq., and marked "Im- mediate and confidential." These words were written in English and execrably misspelled. It could come from but one source, for who else knew my nom de plume, who else would write " Im- mediate and confidential/' and, I grieve to say it, who else would take their precautions in such a way as instantly to raise suspicions? Had the secretary of the " Une, Deux, Trois " no English dictionary, that he need make the very waiter stare at this very extraordinary address? I did my best to pass it off lightly. "From a lady/' I said to the man. "One not very well educated, perhaps; but is education all we seek in women?" "No, sir," said he, replying to my glance with insufferable familiarity, "not all by no means." Alas that the fugitive cannot afford to take offence ! I opened the letter, and, as I expected, it was headed by the letters U. D. T : " Go at once to the house of Mr. Frederick Hankey, No. 114 or 115 George Road, Streatham. Knock thrice on the third window, and when he comes say distinct- ly 'For the King.' He will give directions for your safety." This missive was only signed F. II, but, of course, I knew the writer our most indefatigable, our most enthusiastic, the secretary himself. 18 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Well, here was something to be done; a friend, perhaps, to be made; a spice of interest suddenly thrown into this city of strangers. After my fash- ion, my spirits rose as quickly as they had fallen. I whistled an air, and began to think this some- what dreary hotel not a bad place, after all. I should only wait till darkness fell and then set out to interview Mr. Frederick Hankey. THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "What door unit fit this key?" CASTILLO SOPRANI. I ate my solitary dinner before starting upon my expedition to Mr. Hankey's house, I began to think less enthusiastically of the adventure. Here was I, comfortable in my hotel, though, I admit, rather lonely ; safe, so far, and apparently suspected by none to be other than the blameless Bunyan. Besides, now that I could find a friend for the seeking, my loneliness suddenly diminished. Also I was buoyed by the thought that I was a real adventurer, a romantic exile, as much so, in fact, as Prince Charles of Scotland or my own beloved king. Now I was to knock upon the window of a house that might be either number 114 or 115, and give myself blindfold to strangers. Yet on second thoughts I reflected that I knew nothing of English laws or English ways. Was 20 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT I not in " perfidious Albion," and might I not be handed over to the French government in defiance of all treaties, in order to promote the insidious policy of Chamberlain? Yes, I should go, after all, and I drank to the success of my adventure in a bottle of wine that sent me forth to the station in as gay a spirit as any gallant could wish. I had made cautious inquiries, asking of differ- ent servants at the hotel, and I had little difficulty in making my way by train as far as the suburb Havin cautious inquiries in which Mr. Hankcy lived. There I encountered the first disquieting circumstance. Inquiring of a policeman, I found there was no such place as George Road, but a St. George's Road was \vell known to him. If F. II had been so inaccurate 21 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT in one statement, might he not be equally so in another? I may mention here that the name of this road is my own invention. The mistake was a similar one to that I have narrated. In all cases I have altered the names of my friends and their houses, as these events happened so recently that annoy- ance might be caused, for the English are a reti- cent nation, and shrink from publicity as M. Zola did from oblivion. Up an immensely long and very dark road I went, studying the numbers of the houses on either side, and here at once a fresh difficulty presented itself. In an English suburb it is the custom to conceal the number provided by the municipal authorities, and decorate the gates instead with a fanciful or high-sounding title. Thus I passed "Blenheim Lodge," "Slrathcory," "Rhododen- dron Grove," and many other such residences, but only here and there could I find a number to guide me. By counting from 84, I came at last upon two houses standing with their gates close together that must either be 114 and 115, or 115 and 116. I could not be sure which, nor in either case did I know whether the one or the other sheltered the conspiring Hankey. The gate on the left was labelled " Chickawungaree Villa," that on the right "Mount Olympus House." In the house I could see through the trees that all was darkness, and the gate was so shabby as to 22 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT suggest that no one lived there. In the villa, on the contrary, I saw two or three lighted windows. I determined to try the villa. The drive wound so as to encircle what appeared in the darkness to be a tennis - court and an ar- bor, and finally emerged through a clump of trees before a considerable mansion. And here I was confronted by another difficulty. My directions said, knock upon the third window. But there were three on either side of the front door, and then how did I know that Hankey might not prefer me to knock upon his back or his side windows? My friend F. II might be a martyr and a patriot; but business-like? No. "Blind fortune is the goddess to-night," I said to myself, and with that I tapped gently upon the third window from the door counting towards the right. I have often since consoled myself by think- ing that I should have exhibited no greater in- tuition had I counted towards the left. I tap three times. No answer. Again three times. Still no answer. It was diabolically dark, and the trees made rustling noises very discon- certing to the nerves of one unaccustomed to prac- tise these preliminaries before calling upon a friend. "The devil!" I say to myself. "This time I shall make Mr. Hankey hear me." And so I knocked very sharply and loudly, so sharply that I cracked the pane. "Unfortunate/' I thought; "but why should I 23 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT not convert Hankey's misfortune into my advan- tage?" With the intention of perhaps obtaining a glimpse into the room, I pushed the pane till, with an alarm- ing crash, a considerable portion fell upon the gravel. With a start I turned, and there,approaching me from either side, were two men. Ilankey had evidently heard me at last. "Who are 3 r ou?" said one of them, a stout gentleman, I could see, with a consequential voice. I came a step towards him. "For the King," I replied. He seemed to be staring at me. "What the devil ?" he exclaimed, in surprise. My heart began to sink. "You are Mr. Hankey?" I inquired. " 1 am not," he replied, with emphasis. Here was a delicate predicament! But I was not yet at the end of my resources. "May I inquire your name?" I asked, politely. "My name is Fisher," he said, with a greater air of consequence than ever, but no greater friend- liness. "What, Fisher himself!" I exclaimed, with pre- tended delight. "This is indeed a fortunate co- incidence! How are J T OU, Fisher?" 24 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT I held out my hand, but this monster of British brutality paid no attention to my overture. "Who are you?" he asked once more. Not having yet made up my mind who I was, 1 thought it better to temporize. "My explanations will take a few minutes, 1 am afraid," I answered. "The hour also is late. May I call upon you in the morning?" " I think you had better step in and explain now," said Fisher, curtly. They were two to one, and very close to me, while I was hampered with my British ulster. I must trust to my wits to get me safely out of this house again. " I shall be charmed, if I am not disturbing you. " "You are disturbing me," said the inexorable Fisher. "In fact, you have been causing a con- siderable disturbance, and I should like to know the reason." Under these cheerful circumstances I entered Chickawungaree Villa, Fisher preceding me, and the other man, whom I now saw to be his butler, walking uncomfortably close behind. "Step in here," said Fisher. He showed me into what was evidently his dining -room, and then, after saying a few words in an undertone to his servant, he closed the door, drew forward a chair so as to cut off my possible line of flight, sat upon it, and breathed heavily towards me. Figure to yourself my situation. A large, red- 25 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT faced, gray-whiskered individual, in a black morn- ing-coat and red slippers, staring stolidly at me from a meat-eating eye ; name Fisher, but all other facts concerning him unknown. A stiff, unin- habited-looking apartment of considerable size, lit with the electric light, upholstered in light wood and new red leather, and ornamented by a life- sized portrait of Fisher himself, this picture being as uncompromising and apoplectic as the original. Finally, standing in an artificially easy attitude before a fireplace containing a frilled arrange- ment of pink paper, picture an exceedingly un- comfortable Frenchman . "You scarcely expected me?" I begin, with a smile. 26 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "I did not," says Fisher. "I did not expect to see you/' I continue; but to this he makes no reply. "I was looking for the house of Mr. Hankey." "Were you?" says Fisher. "Do you know him?" I ask. "No," says Fisher. A pause. The campaign has opened badly; no doubt of that. I must try another move. "You will wonder how I knew him," I say, pleasantly. Fisher only breathes more heavily. "Our mutual friend, Smith," I begin, watching closely to see if his mind responds to this name. I know that Smith is common in England, and think he will surely know some one so called. "Smith mentioned you." But no, there is no gleam of recognition. "Indeed," is all he remarks, very calmly. There is no help for it, I must go on. " I intended to call upon you some day this week. I have heard you highly spoken of 'The great Fisher/ ' The famous Fisher/ Indeed, sir, I assure you, your name is a household word in Scotland." I choose Scotland because I know its accent is different from English. My own also is different. Therefore I shall be Scotch. Unhappy selection! "Do you mean to pretend you are Scotch?" says Fisher, frowning as well as breathing at me. I must withdraw one foot. THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Half Scotch, half Italian," I reply. Ah, France, why did I deny you? I was afraid to own you, I blush to confess it. And I was right- eously punished. "Italian?" says he, with more interest. "Ah, indeed!" He stares more intently, frowns more porten- tously, and respires more loudly than ever. " A charming country," I say. " No doubt, "says Fisher. At this moment the door opens lie- hind him and a lady appears. She -'pretend you. , rr i i are Sccick? has a puny cheek, a pale eye, a com- fortable figure, a curled fringe of gray hair, and slightly projecting teeth; in a word, the mate of Fisher. There can be no mistake, and I am quick to seize the chance. "My dear Mrs. Fisher!" I exclaim, advancing towards her. With a movement like a hippopotamus wallow- ing, Fisher places himself between us. Does he think I have come to elope with her? I assume the indignant role. 28 Do ou mean to THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Mr. Fisher!" I cry, much hurt at this want of confidence. "Who is this gentleman?" asks Mrs. Fisher, looking at me, I think, with a not altogether dis- approving glance. "Ask him," says Fisher. "Madame," I say, with a bow, "I am an un- fortunate stranger, come to pay my respects to Mr. Fisher and his beautiful lady. I wish you could explain my reception." "What is your name?" says Mrs. Fisher, with comparative graciousness, considering that she is a bourgeois Englishwoman taken by surprise, and fearing both to be cold to a possible man of position and to be friendly with a possible no- body. A name I must have, and I must also invent it at once, and it must be something both Scotch and Italian. I take the first two that come into my head. "Dugald Cellaring" I reply. They look at one another dubiously. I must put them at their ease at any cost. "A fine picture," I say, indicating the portrait of my host, "and an excellent likeness. Do you not think so, Mrs. Fisher?" She looks at me as if she had a new thought. "Are you a friend of the artist?" she asks. "An intimate," I reply with alacrity. "We have informed Mr. Benzine that we spe- cially desired him not to bring any more of his 29 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Bohemian acquaintances to our house/' saj's the amiable lady. I am plunging deeper into the morass! Still, I have at last accounted for my presence. "Mr. Benzine did not warn me of this, madame," I reply, coldty. "I apologize and I withdraw." I make a step towards the door, but the large form of Fisher still intervenes. "Then Benzine sent you?" he says. "He did, though evidently under a misappre- hension." "And what about Smith?" asks Fisher, with an approach to intelligence in his bovine eye. "Well, what about him?" I ask, defiantly. "Did he send you, too?" "My reception has been such that I decline to give any further explanations." " That is all very well," says Fisher" that is all very well " He is evidently cogitating what is all very well, when we hear heavy steps in the passage. "They have come at last!" he exclaims, and opens the door. "More visitors!" I say to myself, hoping now for a diversion. In another moment I get it. En- ter the butler and two gigantic policemen. THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Chapter 1Y me out,' said tie mouse, ' I do not care for ibis cheese.' P FABLES OF LAETERTIUS. now this comedy and its $$? actors. Fisher of the porpoise habit, ?|? Mrs. Fisher of the puffy cheek, poor and for an hour or two I had to tear 9&? battle in a highlv amicable frame of jji. _. -g- _ jj. ^? I/I/ **? mind. Going across the park, Lumme f Introduce you to my mistress? I should as soon think of lending you my umbrella!" HERCULE D'EXVILLE. G '-MORNING, General. I have come to return your call." The General stood in the door of his room, holding it half closed behind dm. He wore a very old shooting- coat, smeared with many curious stains. Evidently he was engaged upon some unclean work, and evi- dently, also, he would have preferred me to call at some other hour. I remembered, now, Halfred's dark hints as to his occupation ; but I remembered still more distinctly the dark eyes of Miss Un- known, and, whether he desired my company or not, I was determined to spend that morning in his room. "Morning, mossoo," he said. "Glad to see you, but er I'm afraid I'm rather in a mess at present." 185 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "You are the better company, then, for a con- spirator who is never out of one/' I replied, gayly. Still he hesitated. " My dear General, positively I shall not permit you to treat me with such ceremony/' I insisted. "I shall empty your ink-pot over my coat to keep you company if you persist in considering me too respectable." Well, who could withstand so importunate a visitor? I entered the carefully guarded chamber, smiling at myself at the little denouement that was to follow, and curious in the mean time to see what kind of a den it was that this amorous dragon dwelt in. The first glance solved the mystery of his labors. An easel stood in one corner, a palette and brushes lay on a table, a canvas rested upon the easel ; in a word, my neighbor pursued fhe arts! He looked at me a little awkwardly as I glanced round at these things. "Fact is, I dabble a bit in art," he explained. " I have nothing to do, don't you know, and er I always felt drawn to the arts. Amateur work mere amateur work, as you can see for yourself, but I natter myself this ain't so bad, eh? Miss Ara Ara what the devil's her name? Titch. Done from memory, of course ; I don't want these busybodies here to know what I'm doing." "You keep your proficiency a secret, then?" I said, gazing politely at this wonderful work of 1 86 THE ADl/ENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT memory. It was not very like nor very artistic, and I wished to avoid passing any opinion. "Never told a soul but you, mossoo, and er well, there's only one other in the secret." Again I smiled to myself. Fact-is I in.l>kle Art''-. "It must be delightful to perpetuate the faces of your lady friends," I remarked. The old boy smiled with some complacency. "That's rather my forte, I consider," he replied. "You are fortunate!" I cried. "I would that I had such an excuse for my gallantries!" "Come now, mossoo, I'm an old boy, remember!" he protested, though he did not seem at all dis- pleased by this innuendo. " You are at the most dangerous age for a wom- an's peace of mind." 187 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Tuts nonsense!" said he. "Twenty years ago, I don't mind admitting er " "I understand! And twenty years subsequent to that? Ah, General! He laughed good-humoredly. He admitted that for his years he was certainly as youthful as most men. He had become in an excellent temper both with himself and his guest, when suddenly our conversation was interrupted by a knocking at the door. He barely had time to open it when the denouement arrived. In other words, Miss Un- known stepped into the room. Yet at the threshold she paused, for I could see that at the first glance she recognized me and knew not what to make of this remarkable coincidence. As she stood there she made a picture that put into the shade anything a much greater artist than the General could have painted, with her deep, finely turned chin cast a little upward and her dark, glowing eyes looking half arrogantly, half doubtingly, round the room. I noted again the petulant, wilful expression in the small mouth and the indescribable, untamed air. As before, she was dressed in bright colors, that set her off as a heavy gold frame sets off a picture; only her color this time w r as a vivid shade of purple. She paused but for a moment, and then she evidently made up her mind to treat me as a stranger, for she turned her glance indifferently to my host and asked, in an off-hand tone, 188 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Didn't you know I was coming this morning?" "I? No," said he, with an air as embarrassed as I could have wished. "I left a message yesterday afternoon." "I never got it." "You mean you forgot it." "I mean I never got it," he repeated, irately this time. She made a grimace, as much as to say, " Don't lose your temper," and glanced again at me. "My niece, Miss Kerry," said he, hurriedly, in- troducing me with a jerk of his hand. His "niece"! I smiled to myself at this eu- phonism, but bowed as deferentially as if I had really believed her to be his near relation, for I have always believed that the flattery of respect paves the way more readily than any other. She smiled charmingly, while I by my glance endeavored further to assure her that my dis- cretion was complete. We exchanged a few polite words, and then she turned contemptuously to the canvas. "Are you still at this nonsense?" she asked, with a smile, it is true, but not a very flattering one. "Still at it, Kate," he replied, looking highly annoyed with her tone. Evidently this hobby of his was a sore subject between them and one which did not raise him in her estimation. For a moment I was assailed 189 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT by compunction at having thus let her convict him in the ridiculous act. " Yet, after all, they are May and December/' I reflected, "and if the worst comes to the worst, I can find a much more suitable friend for this 'niece." With a movement that was graceful in spite of its free and easy absence of restraint, she rum- maged first for and then in her pocket and pro- duced a letter which she handed to her "uncle," asking, "What is the meaning of this beastly thing?" Yes, unquestionably her language, like her car- riage and her eyes, had something of the savage queen. The General read the missive with a frown and glanced in my direction uncomfortably as he an- swered, "It is obviously er " " Oh, it's by way of being a bill," she interrupted. "I don't need to be told that. But what am I to do?" "Pay it." "Well, then, I'll need She stopped, glanced at me, and then, with a defiantly careless laugh, said, boldly, "I'll need an advance." "The deuce you will!" said the General. "At this moment I can scarcely go into " "Don't trouble," she interrupted. "Just write me a check, please." Without a word, but with a very sulky expres- 190 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT sion, the General banged open a writing-desk and hastily scribbled in his check-book, while the un- dutiful Miss Kerry turned to me as graciously as ever. But I thought I had carried my plot far enough for the present. Besides, she must come down-stairs, and my room was on the ground floor. "I fear I must leave you, General/' I said. "I must go, too," said Miss Kerry, as I turned to make my adieux to her. "Good-bye, uncle. Much obliged for this." It seemed to my ear that there was a laugh in that word "uncle," and as I saw the unfortunate warrior watch our exit with a face as purple as his " niece's " dress, I heartily pitied the foiled Adonis. Yet if fortune chose so to redistribute her gifts, was it for me to complain? "May I accompany you for a short distance this time?" I asked. And a couple of minutes later I was gayly walk- ing with her from the house, prepared to hail a cab and hurry a\vay my prize upon the first sign of pursuit. No appearance, however, of a bereaved general officer running hatless and distraught with jealousy behind us. Evidently he had re- signed himself to his fate or did he place such reliance in the fidelity and devotion of his "niece "? Well, we should see about thatl "Then you remembered me?" I said. "How do you know?" "By that question. Ah, it has betrayed you! 191 THE ADl/ENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Yes, you do remember the ignorant and importu- nate foreigner who pursued you with his unpleas- ing attentions?" "But it was a mistake, you said," she replied, with a flash of her eyes that seemed to mean much. "A mistake, of course," I said. "And now let us take a cab and have some lunch." She appeared a little surprised at this bold suggestion, and recollecting that an appearance of propriety is very rigorously observed in England, often where one would least expect it, I modified my elan to a more formal gallantry, and very quickly persuaded her to accompany me to the most fashionable restaurant in Piccadilly. Even then, though she was generous of her smiles and those flashing glances that I could well imagine kindling the gallant heart of Gen- eral Sholto, and though her talk was dashed with slang and marked with a straightforward free- dom, yet she always maintained a sufficient dig- nity to check any too presumptuous advances. But by this time all compunction for my gallant neighbor had vanished in the delights of Miss Kerry's society, and I was not to be balked so easily. "To-night I wish you to do me a favor," I said, earnestly. "Yes? What is it?" she smiled. " I have a box at the Gaiety Theatre, and I should 192 THE AD I/ EN 7 URES OF M. D' HARICOT like a friend to dine with me first, and then see the play." As a matter of fact the box was not yet taken, but how was she to know that? "And I am to be the friend?" she asked. "If you will be so kind?" "My uncle is coming, of course?" I smiled at her, and she beamed back at me. "We understand each other," I thought. "But, my faith, how persistently she keeps up this little farce!" Aloud I said : "Of course. Without an uncle by my side I should not even venture to turn out the gas. Would you?" "Of course not!" she replied. And so it was arranged that at half-past seven we were to meet at this same restaurant. In the mean time what dreams of happiness ! THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Chapter XX "Virtue is our euphonism for reaction." LA RABIDE. '-PAST seven had just struck "*$? ?$? upon a church clock close by. Five jf. .. - jj. j ^ ti y a.<3. God be thanked! I felt the side of my prison yield to my kicking, and in another moment I was seated in three inches of water, dizzily watch- '7 257 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT ing a miniature Niagara sweep the stage and foam over the foot -lights into the panic-stricken orchestra. "Down with the curtain!" I heard some one cry from behind, but before it had quite descended the Amphibious Marvel had smashed his way out of his tank and leaped into the unwilling arms of the double-bass. Ah ! that was a night to be remembered though not, I must frankly admit, to be repeated. An- other melee with the exasperated musicians ; a gallant rescue by Teddy and his friends ; a tri- umphant exit from the Umpire borne on the shoul- ders of my cheering admirers ; all the other events of that stirring night still live in the memory of "Good old Juggins." To my fellow undergradu- ates of an evening I dedicate this happy, disrepu- table reminiscence. THE ADVENTURES OF M. Chapter XXVI " So you pushed that little snowball from tbc top? And now it has reached the bottom and become quite large? My faith ! bow sur- prising!" LA RABIDE. is an afternoon in December, gray and chilly and dark ; neither the sea- son nor the hour to exhilarate the heart. I am alone in my room, bend- ing over my writing-table, endeavor- ing to relieve my depression upon paper. Since my appearance upon the music-hall stage I have enjoyed the .society of nvy Oxford friends while they remained in town ; I have revelled with Teddy ; I have had my "burst"; and now the re- action has come. The solace of my most real and intimate friend, Dick Shafthead, is denied me, for he has apparentl} 7 left London for a time ; at any rate, his rooms are shut up and he is not there. TSLo company now but regrets and cynical refleo 259 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT tions. A short time ago what bright fancies were visiting me! "Woman gives and woman takes away/' I said to myself. "But she takes more than she gives!" I felt indeed bankrupt. Opening my journal and glancing back over rose-tinted, deluded eulogies, I came to the inter- Av;oman 'gives and rupted entry, "To d'Haricot from d'Haricot." Ah, that I had profited by my own advice! " Fool- ish friend, beware!" but he had not. I took up my pen and continued the exhorta- tion. "What is woman? A false coin that passes current only with fools! Art thou a fool, then? No longer!" Just then came a tap at the door, followed by the comely face of Aramatilda. "A lady to see you, sir," she said. I started. Could it be ? Impossible! "Who is she?" I asked, indifferently. 260 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "She didn't give her name, sir." "Show her in," I replied, closing my journal, but repeating its last words to myself. Again the door opened. I rose from my seat. Did Kate hope to befool me again? No, it was not Kate who entered and said, in a tone of perfect self-possession : "Are you Mr. d'Haricot?" She was rather small, she was young not more than two-and-twenty. She had a very fresh complexion and a pretty, round little face saved from any dolliness by the steadiness of her blue eyes, the firmness of her mouth, and the expres- sion of quiet self-possession. She reminded me of some one, though for the moment I could not think who. "I am Mr. d'Haricot," I replied. "And you?" "I am Miss Shafthead." "Dick's sister!" I exclaimed. " Yes," she said, with a pleasant glimpse of smile that accentuated the resemblance. "Have you seen him lately?" "Unfortunately, no." She gave me a quick, clear glance as if to test my truth, and then, as though she were satisfied, went on in the same quiet and candid voice: "I tried to find my cousin Teddy Lumme, but, as he was out, I have taken the liberty of calling on you, because I know you are one of Dick's friends and because She hesitated, though 261 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT without any embarrassment, and gave me the same kind of glance again just such a look as Dick would have given, translated into a woman's eye. "Is anything the matter?" I asked, quickly. "Yes," she said. "He has left home and we don't know where he is." "What has happened?" I exclaimed. "He has told you of Agnes Grey, I think?" she answered. "He has given me his confidence." "Dick came home a few days ago, and became engaged to her. My father was angry about it and now they have gone away." She told me this in the same quiet, straight- forward way, looking straight at me in a manner more disconcerting than any suggestion of re- proach. It was I I, the misanthrope, the con- temner of woman, who had urged him, exhorted him to this reckless deed! And evidently she knew what my counsel had been. I could have shot myself before her eyes if I had thought that step would have mended matters. "Then the} 7 have run away together!" I cried. "They have gone away," she repeated, quietly, "and, I suppose, together. I am afraid my father was very hard on them both." "And doubtless 3-011 have learned what ridicu- lous advice I gave him?" "Yes," she replied, "Dick told me." 262 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "And now you abhor inc.' " I should be much obliged if you would help me to find them/' she answered, still keeping her steady eyes upon my distracted countenance. "I ask your pardon/' I said. "It is help you want, not my regrets though, I assure you, I feel them. Have you been to his chambers?" " Yes, I went and knocked, but I could get no answer." "Perhaps they I siiould say he has returned by now. I shall go at once and see." "Thank you/' she replied, still quietly, but with a kinder look in her eyes. "And you will you wait here?" "Oh, I shall come, too, of course," she said, and somehow I found this announcement pleasing. As we drove together towards the Temple, I learned a few more particulars of Dick's escapade. When he told his father his intention of marrying Miss Grey, the indignation of the baronet evidently knew 7 no bounds, for even his daughter admitted that he had been less than courteous to poor Agnes, and what he had said to Dick was discreetly left to my imagination. This all happened yesterday; Agnes had retired, weeping, to her bedroom, and Dick, swearing, towards the stables. The orders he gave the coachman were only discovered after- wards; but his plans were well laid, for it was not till the culprits were missing at dinner that any one discovered they had oiil}' waited till darkness 263 THE ADl/ENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT fell and then driven straight to the station. No message was left, no clew to their whereabouts. You can picture the state of mind the family were thrown into. Morning came, but no letter with it, and by the middle of the day Miss Shafthead could stand the suspense no longer, so, in the same business-like fashion as Dick, without a word to her parents, she had started in pursuit. The aunt she proposed to spend the night with was not as yet informed that she was to have a visitor; business first, and till that was accomplished my fair companion was simply letting fate take charge of her. " With fate's permission, I shall assist," I said to myself. As we drew near to the Temple, she fell silent, and I felt sure that, despite her air of sang-froid, her sisterly heart was beating faster. "Do you think they I mean he will have re- turned?" she said to me, suddenly, as we walked across the quiet court. "Sooner or later he is sure to be in if he is in London. May I ask you to say nothing as we ascend the stairs, and to permit me to make the inquiries?" She gave her consent in a glance, and we tramp- ed up the old wooden staircase till we stopped in silence before Dick's door. These chambers of the Temple are unprovided with any bells or other means of calling the inmates' attention beyond the simple method of knocking. If the heavy outer 264 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT door of oak be closed, and he away from home, or disinclined to receive you, you may knock all after- noon without getting any satisfaction; and it was the latter alternative I feared. At this juncture I could imagine circumstances under which my friend might prefer to remain undisturbed. For a moment I listened, and I was sure I could hear a movement inside. Then I knocked loudly. No answer. I knocked again, but still no answer. "Stciy where you are and make no sound," I whispered to my companion. " Like the badger, he must be drawn." I fumbled at the letter-slit in the door as though I were the postman endeavoring to introduce a packet, and dropped my pocket-book on the floor outside. This I knew to be the habit of these officials when a newspaper proved too bulky. Then, quietly picking up the pocket-book, I descended the stairs with as much noise as possible, till I thought I was out of hearing, when I turned and ran lightly up again. Just as I was quietly ap- proaching the top of the flight I saw the door open and the astonished Dick confront his sister. I stopped. "Daisy!" he exclaimed, in a tone which seemed to be made up of several emotions. "Dick!" she replied, her self-control just failing to keep her voice quite steady. "Was it you who knocked?" he asked, more suspiciously than kindly. 265 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "No, Dick; it was I who took that liberty/' I answered, continuing my ascent. He turned with a start, for he had not seen me. "You?" he said, sharply. "It was a dodge, then, to " To induce you to break from cover. Yes, my friend, to such extremities have you driven us." "In what capacity have you come?" he asked, with ominous coolness. "As friends," I replied. "Friends wlio have come to place ourselves at your service; haven't we, Miss Shafthead?" "Yes," said she, "we are friends. Don't you believe me, Dick?" 266 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT " Who sent you?" he asked. " I came myself." "Does my father know?" "No." Dick's manner changed. " It's very good of you, Daisy. Unfortunate- ly " here he hesitated in some embarrassment "unfortunately, 1 am engaged I mean I have some one with me." At this crisis Miss Daisy rose to the occasion in a \vay that surprised me, even though I had done little but admire her spirit since \ve met. "Of course," she replied, with a smile; "I was sure you would have, Dick, and I want to see you both." "Come in, then," he said. "And 1?" I asked, with a becoming air of diffi- dence. " As I acted on your advice," he answered, " you'd better see what you've done." We entered, and there, standing in the lamp- light, we saw the cause of all this mischief. She was a little, slender figure with a pretty little oval face in which two very soft brown eyes made a mute appeal for sympathy. There was some- thing about her air, something about her demure expression, something about the simplicity of her dress and the Puritan fashion in which she wore her hair, that gave one an indescribably quaint and old-fashioned impression, and this impression 267 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT was altogether pleasant. When she opened her lips, and in a voice that, I know not how, height- ened this effect, and with an expression of sweet- ness and contrition said, simply : " Daisy, what must you think?" I forgot all my worldly wisdom and was ready, if necessary, to egg her lover on to still more gallant courses Daisy herself, how- ever, capitulated more tardily. She did not, as I hoped, rush into the charming little sinner's arms, but only answered, kindly, indeed, yet as if holding her judgment in reserve : "I haven't heard what has happened yet." I gave a sign to Dick to be discreet in answer- ing this inquiry, which he however read as merely calling attention to my presence. "Oh, let me introduce Mr. d'Haricot Miss Grey," he said. So she was still Miss Grey and they had fled together nearly four - and - twenty hours ago. I repeated my signal to be careful in making ad- missions. "Where have you been?" said Daisy. "I have some cousins some cousins of my father's in London," Agnes answered. "I am staying with them." "And you are living here?" I said to Dick. "Where else?" he replied, with a surprise that was undoubtedly genuine. "The arrangement is prudence itself," I pro- nounced. " You see, Miss Shafthead, that these 268 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT voting j)cople have tempered their ardor with a discretion we had scarcely looked for. I do not know what yon intend to do, but, for myself, I kiss Miss Grey's hand and place my ]>oor services at her disposal!" And 1 proceeded to carry out the more imme- diately possible part of this resolution without fur- ther delay. The little mademoiselle was evidently affected by my act of salutation, while Dick exclaimed, with great cordiality: "Good old monsieur; by Jove! you're a sports- man!" Still his sister hung back ; in fact, my impetu- osity seemed to have rather a damping effect upon her. " What are you going to do, Dick?" she asked. "We are going to get married." "What, at once?" " Almost immediately. " "Without father's consent?" "After what he said to us both to Agnes in particular do you think I am going to trouble about his opinion?" " But, Dick, supposing we can get him to change his mind?" " Who is going to change it for him? for he won't do it himself I know the governor well enough for that." "If I try to, will you wait for a little?" 269 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "It's no use/' said Dick. "Wait till we see, Dick!" "Yes, we shall wait," said Agnes. "Dick, you will wait, \von't you?" "If you insist," replied Dick, though not very cordially. "Then you will try?" said Agnes. Daisy came to her side, took her hand, and kiss- ed her at last. "Oh yes, I'll do my very best!" she exclaimed. There followed one of those little displays of womanly affection that are so charming yet so tantalizing when one stands outside the embraces and thinks of the improvement that might be ef- fected by a transposition of either of the actors. "What will you say?" asked Dick, in a minute. "I don't quite know," replied Daisy, candidly. "I suppose I had better say that " She paused, as if considering. "Say that this is one of the matches made in heaven!" I cried. "Say that not even a father has the right to stand between two people who love each other as these do!" "By gad! Daisy," said Dick, "you ought to take the monsieur with you. I don't believe there 'd be any resisting him." "Let me come!" I exclaimed; "I claim the priv- ilege. My rash counsels helped to cause this sit- uation ; permit me to try and make the atone- ment!" 270 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D' HARICOT Daisy looked at me, I am bound to say, rather doubtfully. "He has a wonderful way with him," urged Dick. "We can't do that kind of eloquent appeal- to-the-feelings business in England, but it fetches us if it's properly managed. You see, I don't want to fall out with the governor. I know, Daisy, what a good sort he has been but I am not going to give up Agnes." " If you think Mr. d'llaricot would really do any good " said Diisy. "lie can but try," I broke in. "Please let him," said Agnes, softly. Ah, I had not shown her my devotion in vain! "All right," said Daisy. And so it was arranged that we were to start upon our embassy next morning. THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT Chapter XXVll "High Toryism, High Churcbism, High Farming, and old port forever!" CORLETT. evening, when I came to medi- <^? tate in solitude upon the appeal I c /~ 9$? purposed to make, my confidence etn-f Heavetv that sort of thing," he observed, when I had fin- ished. " You say your friend is a pretty obstinate young fellow?" "Dick Shafthead is obstinacy itself," I replied, letting his name escape by a most fortunate slip ol the tongue. "Shafthead!" said the General. "By Jove! Any relation to Sir Philip Shafthead?" "Since you know his name, and can be trusted 8 273 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT not to repeat it, I may as well say you that Sir Philip is the stern father in question. Do you know him?" "Knew his other son, Major Shafthead. He is the heir, isn't he?" "Yes/' I said. "Dick is the second son." "Ever met Tommy Shafthead as we called him the Major, I mean?" "No; he is stationed abroad, I believe." "Heard about his marriage?" "No," I replied. "Dick has seldom mentioned him." "I wonder if he knows," said the General. " What?" I asked. "About Tommy's marriage." "Is there a mystery?" "Well," said the General, "it's a matter that has been kept pretty quiet; but in case it may be any good to you to know, I might as well tell you. Tommy was in my old regiment ; that's how 1 know all about it. W r hen he was only a subaltern he got mixed up with a girl much beneath him in station. His friends tried to get him out of it, but he was like your friend, pig-headed as the devil. He married her privately, lived with her for a year, found he'd made a fool of himself, and separated for good." "They were divorced?" I asked. "No such luck," said the General. "He can't get rid of her. She's behaving herself properly 274 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT for the sake of getting the title, and naturally she's not going to divorce him. So that's what comes of marrying in haste, mossoo. Not that there isn't a good deal to be said for a young fellow who has er a warm heart and wants to do the right thing by the girl, and so forth. I am no Chester- field, mossoo; right's right and wrong's wrong all the world over, but er there are limits, don't you know." " Has Major Shafthead any family?" I inquired. "No/' said the General. "Then Dick will succeed to the baronetcy one day?" "Or his son." "Ah," I reflected, "I see now why Sir Philip is so stern. He would not have a girl he dislikes the mother of future baronets, and he will not allow the younger son to follow, as he thinks, in the elder's steps." At first sight this seemed only to increase my difficulties; but as I thought more over it, my spirits began to rise. Yes, I might make out a good case for Dick out of this buried story. "Well, good-night, mossoo," said the old boy, rising. "Good luck to you." "And many thanks to you, General." The next morning broke very cold and gray. We were well advanced in December, and the frost was making us his first visit for the winter; in- deed, it was cold enough to give Miss Daisy the 275 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT opportunity of looking charming in a fur coat when I met her at the station. Dick came to see us off, and I must admit that I felt more responsi- bilit3 T than I quite liked in seeing the cheerful con- fidence he reposed in me. "It is but a chance that I can do anything," I reminded him. "I may fail." "No fear/' he replied. "I expect a pardon by return of post. By-the-way, we got the manor of Ilelmscote in Edward the Third's time Edward the Third, remember and the baronetcy after Blenheim. The governor doesn't object to be re- minded of that kind of thing if you do it neatly. But you know the trick." "I should rather depend on your sister's elo- quence," I suggested. "Oh, she's like me; can't stand on her hind legs and catch cake," laughed Dick. "We are plain English." "Not so very plain," I said to myself, glancing at im T travelling companion's fresh little face nest- ling in a collar of fur. She was very silent this morning, and I could now see that the experiment of taking down an advocate inspired her with considerably less con- fidence than it had Dick. "Confess the truth, Miss Shafthead," I said to her, at last. " You fear I shall only make bad into worse." "I don't know what 3 T ou will do," she replied, 276 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT with a smile that was rather nervoqs than en- couraging. " Comniand me, then ; I shall say what you please, or hold my tongue, if you prefer it." can't stand on- Iiet kitvi leg,* atvd eaten, ca k-e. "Oh no," she said, "you had better say some- thing now that you have come with me; only don't be too sentimental, please." " I shall talk turnips till 1 see 1113' opportunity ; then I shall observe coldly that Richard is an af- fectionate lad in spite of his faults." Daisy laughed. "I think I hear you," she replied. Well, at least, my jest served to make her a little more at her ease, and we now fell to planning our arrival. She had left a note before she started for 277 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT town, saying only that she would be away for the night, but giving no intimation of when she might return, so that we expected no carriage at the sta- tion. This, we decided, was all the better. We should walk to Helmscote, attract as little notice as possible on entering the house, and then she would find out how the kind lay before even an- nouncing my presence ; at least, if it were possi- ble to keep me in the background so long. "My father is rather difficult sometimes," she said. "Hasty?" I asked. "I'm afraid so." " He may, then, decline to receive me?" "It is quite possible." The adventure began to assume a more and more formidable aspect. I agreed that great cir- cumspection was required. At last we alighted id a little way-side station in the heart of the country. We were the only travellers who descended, and when we had come out into a quiet road, and watched the train grow smaller and smaller, and rumble more and more faintly till the arms of the signals had all risen behind it, and the shining steel lines stretched still and uninhabited through the fields, we saw no sign of life beyond a cawing flock of rooks. The sun was bright, the hoar-frost only lay under the shadow of the hedge-rows, and not a breath of wind stirred the bare branches of the trees. After a 278 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT word of protest I took the fur coat over my arm, and Daisy's bag in my hand, and we set out at a brisk pace to cover the two miles before us. Presently a .sleepy little village appeared ahead of us ; before we reached it my guide turned off to the left. "It is a little longer round this way," she said, "but I am afraid the people in the village might -well" "Exactly/' I replied. "We are a secret em- bassy." It was a narrow lane we were now in, winding in the shade of high beech-trees and littered with their brown cast leaves. Whether it was the charm of the place, or that we instinctively de- layed the crisis now that it was so near, I can- not say, but gradually our pace slackened. " I am afraid they will be rather anxious about me," said Daisy. "If they value you as they ought," I replied. She smiled a little, and then, in a minute, we rounded a corner, and she said, " That is Helms- cote we see through the trees." I looked, and saw a pile of chimneys and gables close before us and just a little distance removed from the lane. Along that side now ran a high, ancient-looking wall with a single door in it, op- posite the house. Evidently this unostentatious postern was a back entrance, and the gates must open into some other road. 279 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT My fellow - ambassador paused and glanced in both directions, but there was no sign of any one but ourselves. "I think it will be best if I leave you in the garden/' she said, "while I go in and find mother." "Yes, I think it will be wise/' I answered. She took out a key and opened the door in the wall, and I found myself in an old flower-garden screened by a high hedge of evergreens at the farther end. "Give me my coat and bag," she said. "Many thanks for carrying them. Now just wait here. I shall be as quick as I can." I lit a cigar and began to pace the gravel path, keeping myself concealed behind the bushes as far as I could. Decidedly this had a flavor of ad- venture, and the longer I paced, the more did a certain restlessness of nerves grow upon me. I took out my watch. She had been gone ten min- utes. Well, after all, I could scarcely expect her to return so soon as that. I paced and smoked again, and again took out my watch. Twenty minutes now, and no sign of my fellow-ambassa- dor. I began to grow impatient and also to feel less the necessity for caution. No one had dis- covered me so far and no one was likely to ; why should I not explore this garden a little farther? I ventured down to the farther end, till I stood be- hind the hedge. It was charmingly quiet and 280 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT restful and sunny, with high trees looking over the walls and rooks flapping and cawing about their tops, and a glimpse of the house beyond. This glimpse was so pleasing that I thought I should like to see more, and, spying a garden roller propped against the wall and a niche in the stone above it, I gave a wary look round, and in a mo- ment more had scrambled up till my feet were in the niche and my head looking over the top. Below me I saw a grass terrace and a broad walk, and beyond these the mansion of Helmscote. No wonder Dick showed a touch of pride and af- fection when (on very rare occasions, I admit) he had alluded to his home. It was an old brick house of the Tudor period, though some parts were apparently more ancient than that and had been built, I should say, by the first Shafthead who had settled there. The colors the red with diagonal designs of black bricks through it, the stone of the mullioned windows, the old tiles on the roof, the gray of the ancient portions, even, I fancied, the green ivy had all been softened and harmonized by time and by weather till the whole house had become a rich scheme that would have defied the most cunning painter to imitate it. " I know Dick better since I have seen his home," I said to myself. "And his sister? Yes, I think I know her better, too, though not so well as I should like to. Pardieu! what has become of her?" 281 THE ADVENTURES OF M. D'HARICOT "Well, sir/' said a voice behind me, "what are you doing there?" I turned with a start, my grip of the wall slipped, and, with more precipitation than grace, I descend- ed to the garden again to find myself confronted by a decidedly formidable individual. He was a gentleman of something over sixty years of age, I Jesceniei "to "fife- r ar