Roland Cashel Volume I Part 39

"The old masters are so good," said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k; "I delight in their fine, vigorous touch."

"Why don't they put more clothes on their figures," said Aunt f.a.n.n.y, "even a warm climate is no excuse for the way the creatures went about."

"If you saw them in Hickweretickanookee," said Peter, "King John never wore anything but a c.o.c.ked-hat and a pair of short black gaiters the missionary gave him for learning the Lord's Prayer."

"I hear that Lady Janet said Cary would be an excellent study for Helen M'Gregor," said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k. "It was scarcely civil, however."

"It was more,--downright rude," said Cashel, reddening; "but Miss Kennyf.e.c.k can afford to pay the penalty beauty always yields to its opposite."

"There, my dear, that's a compliment," said Aunt f.a.n.n.y, "and don't be displeased. I say, darling, did n't he say a while ago you were like somebody at Carlow?"

"A Carlo Dolce, aunt," broke in both sisters, laughing; and so the dinner proceeded amid commonplaces, relieved occasionally from their flatness by the absurdities of Aunt f.a.n.n.y, who seemed as good-naturedly proof against ridicule, as she was likely to evoke it.

Peter was the first to rise from table, as he was anxious to go to "the play," and the ladies soon retired to the drawing-room, Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k slyly whispering, as she pa.s.sed behind Roland's chair, an entreaty that he would not long delay in following them. Cashel's anxiety to close his _tete-a-tete_ arose from another cause,--his burning anxiety to finish Enrique's letter; while Kennyf.e.c.k himself seemed beating about, uncertain how to open subjects he desired to have discussed. After a long pause, he said,--

"I was speaking to Pepystell yesterday, and he is of opinion that there is no use in preserving any part of the old structure at Tubbermore,--the great difficulty of adapting a new character of architecture to the old would not repay the cost."

Cashel nodded a careless a.s.sent, and, after a pause, Kennyf.e.c.k resumed:--

"It might be of some convenience at present, however, to let the building stand as it is. A residence of one kind or other you will want, particularly as the elections are approaching."

Another nod in silence was all the reply.

"Pepystells estimate is large,--don't you think so?"

He nodded again.

"Nearly seventy thousand pounds! And that does not include the gate tower, which seems a point for after consideration."

"I remember," muttered Cashel, in a voice that implied anything rather than a mind attentive to the subject before it.

"Now, it would be as well," said Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k, drawing a long breath, and, as it were, preparing himself for a great effort, "to put a little order into our affairs. Your first year or two will be costly ones,--building expenses, equipage, horses, furniture, election charges.

Much of your capital is vested in foreign securities, which it would be injurious to sell at this moment. Don't you think"--here he changed his voice to an almost insinuating softness--"don't you think that by devoting a certain portion of your income,--say a third, or one-half, perhaps,--for the present, to meet these charges--" He paused, for he saw from Cashel's occupied look that he was not attending to his words.

"Well--continue," said Roland, affecting to wait for his conclusion.

"I was about to ask, sir," said Kennyf.e.c.k, boldly, "what sum would you deem sufficient for your yearly expenditure?"

"What is the amount of my income?" asked Cashel, bluntly.

"In good years, something above sixteen thousand pounds; in bad ones, somewhat less than twelve."

"Well, then,--you have the scale of my expenditure at once."

"Not your whole income?" exclaimed Kennyf.e.c.k, astonished.

"Even so. I see no earthly reason for h.o.a.rding. I do not find that squandering money is any very high enjoyment; I am certain sc.r.a.ping and saving it would afford me still less pleasure."

"But there are always casualties demanding extraordinary expense,--a contested election, for instance."

"I 'll not try it,--I don't intend to enter Parliament."

"When you marry--"

"Perhaps I shall not do that either."

"Well, sums lost at play,--the turf has pressed on many a strong pocket."

"Play has no fascination for me; I can give it up: I may almost say I have done so."

"Not without paying a heavy penalty, however," said Kennyf.e.c.k, whose animation showed that he had at last approached the territory he was so long in search of.

"How do you mean?" said Cashel, blus.h.i.+ng deeply, as he began to fear that by some accident his secret visit to the money-lender had reached Kennyf.e.c.k's ears.

"Your drafts on Latrobe, sir, whose account I have received to-day, are very heavy."

"Oh, is that all?" said Cashel, carelessly.

"All! all!" repeated Kennyf.e.c.k; then, suddenly correcting himself, he added, "I am almost certain, sir, that your generous habits have over-mastered your prudence. Are you aware of having drawn fifty thousand pounds?"

"No, I really was not," replied Cashel, smiling more at the attorney's look of consternation than anything else. "I fancied about half as much.

Pray tell me some of the items. No, no! not from book; that looks too formal,--just from memory."

"Well, there are horses without number,--one bought with all his engagements for the Oaks, which amount to a forfeiture of four thousand pounds."

"I remember that,--a piece of Linton's blundering; but he lost more heavily himself, poor fellow, our steed Lanz-knecht having turned out a dead failure."

"Then there is something about a villa at Cowes, which I am certain you never saw."

"No; but I have a drawing of it somewhere--a pretty thing under a cliff, with a beautiful bay of deep water, and good anchorage. Linton knows all about it."

"Twelve thousand pounds is a large sum to give without ever seeing the purchase."

"So it is; but go on."

"I cannot remember one-half; but there is plate and jewels; sums advanced for building; subscriptions to everything and everybody; a heavy amount transmitted to the Havannah."

"Very true; and that reminds me of a letter which I received at the very moment I was leaving home. Have I your leave to finish the reading? It is from an old and valued comrade."

"Of course,--don't think of me for an instant," said Kennyf.e.c.k, scarcely able to repress an open acknowledgment of his amazement at the coolness which could turn from so interesting a topic to the, doubtless commonplace, narrative of some Mexican sailor.

Cashel was, meanwhile, searching every pocket for the letter, which he well remembered, after reading in the carriage, to have crushed in his hand as he ascended the stairs. "I have dropped this letter," said he, in a voice of great agitation. "May I ask if your servants have found it?"

The bell was rung, and the butler at once interrogated. He had seen nothing, neither had the footman. They both remembered, however that Mr.

Phillis had accompanied his master to the foot of the stairs to receive some directions, and then left him to return with the carriage.

"So, then, Phillis must have found it," said Cashel, rising hastily; and, without a word of apology or excuse, he bade his host a hurried good evening, and left the room.

"Won't you have the carriage? Will you not stay for a cup of tea?" cried Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k, hastening after him. But the hall-door had already banged heavily behind him, and he was gone. When Cashel reached his house, it was to endure increased anxiety; for Mr. Phillis had gone out, and, like a true gentleman's gentleman, none of the other servants knew anything of his haunts, or when he would return. Leaving Cashel, then, to the tortures of a suspense which his fervid nature made almost intolerable, we shall return for a brief s.p.a.ce to the house he had just quitted, and to the drawing-room, where, in momentary expectation of his appearance, the ladies sat, maintaining that species of "staccato" conversation which can afford interruption with least inconvenience. It is our duty to add, that we bring the reader back here less with any direct object as to what is actually going forward, than to make him better acquainted with the new arrival.