The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 125: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 111 who had pounced upon him. He was astonished and affrighted, not knowing whether it might not immediately become his turn to fall into the hands of ill-disposed fellows lurking about. In 4» very few moments he heard a tremendous splash in the water at the bottom of the avenue; and ejaculat- ing to himself, “It is a trick on the part of the Duchess,” he began to beat a retreat as rapidly as his infirm limbs would permit. In a few minutes he reached the fence, over which he clambered by the help of the servant who remained in charge of the phaeton, and who inquired whether they were to stop for his master ? ““Yes—no—well—a few minutes perhaps — I really can’t say,” faltered out the usurer, who was utterly bewildered and enraged at what had hap- pened. “You know, sir,” said the coachman, “ Sir Abel’s orders werg that if he did not return with you, I was not to wait for him, but that I was to drive you away as quick as possible.” “Well then, do just as you think fit,” answered the usurer, climbing up into the vehicle: and then he muttered to himself, ‘“‘They could scarcely have drowned him ?—it was no doubt intended only to give him a good ducking for his impudence and presumption ? at all events I may as well get away from the premises as soon as possible. I wish I had never come here at all.” And as the equipage drove away, Mr. Casey thought to himself, “‘ It is all up with the Baronet now. Perhaps the Duke has found out the in- tended intrigue? At all events he can have no further hope in that quarter ; and now I must get my money in the best way that I can——r else Pll punish him—by heaven I’ll punish him !” Matters had not however progressed precisely as Mr. Casey snpposed, or as the reader himself has doubtless been imagining. Tim Gaffney and Jack Peppercorn hurried Sir Abel Kingston along to- wards the tank at the bottom of the steps: but there the Baronet exerting all his power, made one more tremendous effort to release himself from the fellows who had him in their grasp—and he succeeded. Then quick as lightning the tables were turned ; and still inspired with a strength which even astonished himself, Sir Abel Kingston hurled Gaffney and Peppercorn forward with a violence which sent them headlong into the middle of the ornamental water. It was the work of an instant ; and such was the simultaneousness of the double blow which was thus struck, that the sound seemed exactly as if only one body had been hurled into the tank. It was at this moment that the usurer Casey darted away from his place of -coneealment, in the manner already described. Tim Gaffney had dropped his stick upon the marble steps in the swift brief final struggle wherein Sir Abel got the better of his opponents: the Baronet now picked up that stick as the readiest means of de fence which presented itself in case of being again attacked by the two men ; but he found that in. stead of having a light dandy cane in his hand, it was in reality a loaded life-preserver ; and thus he was suddenly furnished with a really formi- dable weapon. Indeed he had much reason to be thankful that Tim Gaffney had not an opportunity of using it; for if one good blow were dealt therewith upon a human skull, it would scarcely be necessary to inflict a second. “Now, villains,” exclaimed Sir Abel, flourish- ing the life-preserver, .‘‘ dare to approach me and I will show you no mercy |! Na “ The game’s up, Jack!” said Tim Gaffney, in a sulky manner to his companion, as they both rose out of the water, drenched and dripping all over. ‘If there’s a disturbance and we’re caught, no one would ever bélieve our tale, and the Duchess would swear it’s all a lie. We'd better hook it at once.” These observations did not reach the ear of Sir Abel Kingston, for the two fellows were flounder- ing through the water towards the bank on the side which was opposite to where they had been thrown in. Jack Peppercorn completely agreed with the prudential course suggested by his com- rade ; and away therefore they sped through the grounds, giving vent to bitter imprecations on their ill luck, as they called if, and laying upon each other the fault of their discomfiture. But let us return to Sir Abel Kingston. The instant he found that he was master of the field and that the enemy were flying precipitately, he turned upon his heel; and springing up the steps, looked all along the avenue to see if the young Duchess were approaching. But he beheld no one; and with the deep concentrated emphasis of rage, he muttered to himself, ‘“ By heaven, if I thought that she had played me this trick, I should be mad with fury! Ah, Casey! I -had forgotten him !” Sir Abel Kingston sped towards the spot where he had left the usurer, in order to explain how he had come off victorious : but Mr. Casey was no longer there. The Baronet called first in a low voice—then in a little louder tone—but there was still no answer; and then Kingston penetrated amidst the evergreens. Casey was not to bex found. ‘Well, no matter,” thought Sir Abel to him- self. ‘I must see the Duchess immediately. If she will not come to me I will gotoher. But that she comes not, is almost « proof that she played me this trick. By heaven! if I were convinced of it Ah! to be made a fool of by a woman ! But we shall see.” He now advanced towards the mansion: he had no fear of meeting the Duke of Ardleigh, for he knew that his Grace was in London: he had seen him only a few minutes before he himself had started from the metropolis. But it was now eleven o’clock ; and would he not be compromis= ing the Duchess by calling at that late hour ? And supposing that she had noé played him a trick, but that the men were really burglars in~ tending to break into the place, was it not quite possible that some unforeseen circumstance had prevented her Grace from coming out to keep the appointment? Such were the reflections which swept rapidly through the mind of Sir Abel Kingston ; and he began to think whether he had not better strive to seek an interview with the Duchess by some method that should not stand a chance of compro- mising her to the knowledge of the entire house- hold. What if by any means he could manage to fall in with one of her handmaidens and send a message to her Grace? Yes—this would be the better plan, thought Kingston. He accordingly passed along towards the side of the premises, with the intention of proceeding round the rear oi COMO YN Wn) Colin