Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion Part 4

"Your father must have infinite penetration then," said Hansford, "for I really do not think the young gentleman looks much as though he could tear himself from the mirror long enough to use his pen."

"Well, but he has written a masque, to be performed day-after-to-morrow night, at the palace, to celebrate Lady Frances' birth-day. Are you not going to the ball. Of course you'll be invited."

"No, dearest," said Hansford, with a sigh. "Sir William Berkeley might give me a more unwelcome welcome than to a masque."

"What on earth do you mean?" said Virginia, turning pale with alarm.

"You have not-"

"Nay, you shall know all to-morrow," replied Hansford.

"Tom," cried Colonel Temple, in his loud, merry voice, "stop cooing there, and tell me where you have been all this time. I'll swear, boy, I thought you had been helping Berkeley to put down that d-d renegade, Bacon."

"I am surprised," said Hansford, with a forced, but uneasy smile, "that you should suppose the Governor had entrusted an affair of such moment to me."

"Zounds, lad," said the Colonel, "I never dreamed that you were at the head of the expedition. Oh, the vanity of youth! No, I suppose my good friends, Colonel Ludwell and Major Beverley, are entrusted with the lead. But I thought a subordinate office-"

"You are mistaken altogether, Colonel," said Hansford. "The business which detained me from Windsor Hall had nothing to do with the suppression of this rebellion, and indeed I have not been in Jamestown for some weeks."

"Well, keep your own counsel then, Tom; but I trust it was at least business connected with your profession. I like to see a young lawyer give his undivided attention to business. But I doubt me, Tom, that you cheat the law out of some of the six hours that Lord c.o.ke has allotted to her."

"I have, indeed, been attending to the preparation of a cause of some importance," said Hansford.

"Well, I'm glad of it, my boy. Who is your client? I hope he gives you a good retainer."

"My fee is chiefly contingent," replied the young lawyer, sorely pressed by the questions of the curious old Colonel.

"Why, you are very laconic," returned Temple, trying to enlist him in conversation. "Come, tell me all about it. I used to be something of a lawyer myself in my youth, didn't I, Bessy?"

"Yes, indeed," said his wife, who was nearly dozing over her eternal knitting; "and if you had stuck to your profession, and not mingled in politics, my dear, we would have been much better off. You know I always told you so."

"I believe you did, Bessy," said the Colonel. "But what's done can't be undone. Take example by me, Tom, d'ye hear, and never meddle in politics, my boy. But I believe I retain some cobwebs of law in my brain yet, and I might help you in your case. Who is your client?"

"The Colony is one of the parties to the cause," replied Hansford; "but the details cannot interest the ladies, you know; I will confer with you some other time on the subject, and will be very happy to have your advice."

All this time, Alfred Bernard had been silently watching the countenance of Hansford, and the latter had been unpleasantly conscious of the fact.

As he made the last remark, he saw the keen eyes of Bernard resting upon him with such an expression of suspicion, that he could not avoid wincing. Bernard had no idea of losing the advantage which he thus possessed, and with wily caution he prepared a snare for his victim, more sure of success than an immediate attack would have been.

"I think I have heard something of the case," he said, fixing a penetrating glance on Hansford as he spoke, "and I agree with Mr.

Hansford, that its details here would not be very interesting to the ladies. By the way, Colonel, your conjecture, that Mr. Hansford was employed in the suppression of the rebellion, reminds me of a circ.u.mstance that I had almost forgotten to mention. You have heard of that fellow Bacon's perjury-"

"Perjury!" exclaimed the Colonel. "No! on the contrary I had been given to understand that, with all his faults, his personal honour was so far unstained, even with suspicion."

"Such was the general impression," returned Bernard, "but it is now proven that he is as capable of the greatest perfidy as of the most daring treason."

"You probably refer, sir, to an affair," said Hansford, "of which I have some knowledge, and on which I may throw some light which will be more favorable to Mr. Bacon."

"Your being able to conjecture so easily the fact to which I allude,"

said Bernard, "is in itself an evidence that the general impression of his conduct is not so erroneous. I am happy," he added, with a sneer, "that in this free country, a rebel even can meet with so disinterested a defender."

"If you refer, Mr. Bernard," replied Hansford, disregarding the manner of Bernard, "to the alleged infraction of his parole, I can certainly explain it. I know that Colonel Temple does not, and I hope that you do not, wish deliberately to do any man an injustice, even if he be a foe or a rebel."

"That's true, my boy," said the generous old Temple. "Give the devil his due, even he is not as black as he is painted. That's my maxim. How was it, Tom? And begin at the beginning, that's the only way to straighten a tangled skein."

"Then, as I understand the story," said Hansford, in a slow, distinct, voice, "it is this:-After Mr. Bacon returned to Henrico from his expedition against the Indians, he was elected to the House of Burgesses. On attempting to go down the river to Jamestown, to take his seat, he was arrested by Captain Gardiner, on a charge of treason, and brought as a prisoner before Sir William Berkeley. The Governor, expressing himself satisfied with his disclaimer and open recantation of any treasonable design, released him from imprisonment on parole, and, as is reported, promised at the same time to grant him the commission he desired. Mr. Bacon, hearing of the sickness of his wife, returned to Henrico, and while there, secret warrants were issued to arrest him again. Upon a knowledge of this fact he refused to surrender himself under his parole."

"You have made a very clear case of it, if the facts be true," said Bernard, in a taunting tone, "and seem to be well acquainted with the motives and movements of the traitor. I have no doubt there are many among his deluded followers who fail to appreciate the full force of a parole d'honneur."

"Sir!" said Hansford, his face flus.h.i.+ng with indignation.

"I only remarked," said Bernard, in reply, "that a traitor to his country knows but little of the laws which govern honourable men. My remark only applied to traitors, and such I conceive the followers and supporters of Nathaniel Bacon to be."

Hansford only replied with a bow.

"And so does Tom," said Temple, "and so do we all, Mr. Bernard. But Hansford knew Bacon before this late movement of his, and he is very loth to hear his old friend charged with anything that he does not deserve. But see, my wife there is nodding over her knitting, and Jeanie's pretty blue eyes, I know, begin to itch. Our motto is, Mr.

Bernard, to go to bed with the chickens and rise with the lark. But we have failed in the first to-night, and I reckon we will sleep a little later than lady lark to-morrow. So, to bed, to bed, my lord."

So saying, the hospitable old gentleman called a servant to show the gentlemen to their separate apartments.

"You will be able to sleep in an old planter's cabin, Mr. Bernard," he said, "where you will find all clean and comfortable, although perhaps a little rougher than you are accustomed to. Tom, boy, you know the ways of the house, and I needn't apologize to you. And so pleasant dreams and a good night to you both."

After the Colonel had gone, and before the servant had appeared, Hansford touched Bernard lightly on the shoulder. The latter turned around with some surprise.

"You must be aware, Mr. Bernard," said Hansford, "that your language to-night remained unresented only because of my respect for the company in which we were."

"I did not deem it of sufficient importance," replied Bernard, a.s.suming an indifferent tone, "to inquire whether your motives for silence were respect for the family or regard for yourself."

"You now at least know, sir. Let me ask you whether you made the remark to which I refer with a full knowledge of who I was, and what were my relations towards Mr. Bacon."

"I decline making any explanation of language which, both in manner and expression, was sufficiently intelligible."

"Then, sir," said Hansford, resolutely, "there is but one reparation that you can make," and he laid his hand significantly on his sword.

"I understand you," returned Bernard, "but do not hold myself responsible to a man whose position in society may be more worthy of my contempt than of my resentment."

"The company in which you found me, and the gentleman who introduced us, are sufficient guarantees of my position. If under these circ.u.mstances you refuse, you take advantage of a subterfuge alike unworthy of a gentleman or a brave man."

"Even this could scarcely avail you, since the family are not aware of the treason by which you have forfeited any claim to their protection.

But I waive any such objection, sir, and accept your challenge."

"Being better acquainted with the place than yourself," said Hansford, "I would suggest, sir, that there is a little grove in rear of the barn-yard, which is a fit spot for our purpose. There will there be no danger of interruption."

"As you please, sir," replied Bernard. "To-morrow morning, then, at sunrise, with swords, and in the grove you speak of."

The servant entered the room at this moment, and the two young men parted for the night, having thus settled in a few moments the preliminaries of a mortal combat, with as much coolness as if it had been an agreement for a fox-hunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] A c.o.xcomb, a popinjay.