The Knight Of Gwynne Volume II Part 20

"And what has been the result here? Is it a repulse?"

"You can scarcely call it that, since they never attacked. They looked at the place, sailed round it, and, like the King of France in the story, they marched away again. But here we are at length at the door; let us try if we cannot accomplish a landing better than Lord Keith and General Moore."

Through a crowd of anxious faces, whose troubled looks tallied with the evil tidings, Lord Castlereagh and Darcy ascended the stairs and reached the antechamber, now densely thronged by officers of every grade of the service. His Lordship was immediately recognized and surrounded by many of the company, eager to hear his opinion.

"You don't appear to credit the report, my Lord," said Darcy, who had watched with some interest the air of quiet incredulity which he a.s.sumed.

"It is all true, notwithstanding," said he, in a whisper; "I heard it early this morning at the Council, and came here to see how it would be received. They say that war will be soon as unpopular with the red-coats as with the no-coats; and really, to look at these sombre faces, one would say there was some truth in the rumor. But here comes Taylor." And so saying, Lord Castlereagh moved forward, and laid his hand on the arm of an officer in a staff uniform.

"I don't think so, my Lord," said he, in reply to some question from Lord Castlereagh; "I 'll endeavor to manage it, but I 'm afraid I shall not succeed. Have you heard of Elliot's death? The news has just arrived."

"Indeed! So then the government of Chelsea is to give away. Oh, that fact explains the presence of so many veteran generals! I really was puzzled to conceive what martial ardor stirred them."

"You are severe, my Lord," said Darcy; "I hope you are unjust."

"One is rarely so in attributing a selfish motive anywhere," said the young n.o.bleman, sarcastically. "But, Taylor, can't you arrange this affair? Let me present my friend meanwhile: The Knight of Gwynne--Colonel Taylor."

Before Taylor could more than return the Knight's salutation he was summoned to attend his Royal Highness; and at the same moment the folding-doors at the end of the apartment were thrown open, and the reception began.

Whether the sarcasm of Lord Castlereagh was correct, or that a n.o.bler motive was in operation, the number of officers was very great; and although the Duke rarely addressed more than a word or two to each, a considerable time elapsed before Lord Castlereagh, with the Knight following, had entered the room.

"It is against a positive order of his Royal Highness, my Lord," said an aide-de-camp, barring the pa.s.sage; "none but field-officers, and in full uniform, are received by his Royal Highness."

Lord Castlereagh whispered something, and endeavored to move on; but again the other interposed, saying, "Indeed, my Lord, I'm deeply grieved at it, but I cannot--I dare not transgress my orders."

The Duke, who had been up to this moment engaged in conversing with a group, suddenly turned, and perceiving that the presentations were not followed up, said, "Well, gentlemen, I am waiting." Then recognizing Lord Castlereagh, he added, "Another time, my Lord, another time: this morning belongs to the service, and the color of your coat excludes you."

"I ask your Royal Highness's pardon," said Lord Castlereagh, in a tone of great deference, while he made the apology an excuse for advancing a step into the room. "I have but just left the Council, and was anxious to inform you that your Royal Highness's suggestions have been fully adopted."

"Indeed! is that the case?" said the Duke, with an elated look, while he drew his Lordship into the recess of a window. The intelligence, to judge from the Duke's expression, must have been both important and satisfactory, for he looked intensely eager and pleased by turns.

"And so," said he, aloud, "they really have determined on Egypt? Well, my Lord, you have brought me the best tidings I 've heard for many a day."

"And like all bearers of good despatches," said Lord Castlereagh, catching up the tone of the Duke, "I prefer a claim to your Royal Highness's patronage."

"If you look for Chelsea, my Lord, you are just five minutes too late.

Old Sir Harry Belmore has this instant got it."

"I could have named as old and perhaps a not less distinguished soldier to your Royal Highness, with this additional claim,--a claim I must say, your Royal Highness never disregards"--

"That he has been unfortunate with the unlucky," said the Duke, laughing, and good-naturedly alluding to his own failure in the expedition to the Netherlands; "but who is your friend?"

"The Knight of Gwynne,--an Irish gentleman."

"One of your late supporters, eh, Castlereagh?" said the Duke, laughing.

"How came he to be forgotten till this hour? Or did you pa.s.s him a bill of grat.i.tude payable at nine months after date?"

"No, my Lord, he was an opponent; he was a man that I never could buy, when his influence and power were such as to make the price of his own dictating. Since that day, fortune has changed with him."

"And what do you want with him now?" said the Duke, while his eyes twinkled with a sly malice; "are you imitating the man that bowed down before statues of Hercules and Apollo at Rome, not knowing when the time of those fellows might come up again? Is that your game?"

"Not exactly, your Royal Highness; but I really feel some scruples of conscience that, having a.s.sisted so many unworthy candidates to pensions and peerages, I should have done nothing for the most upright man I met in Ireland."

"If we could make him a Commissary-General," said the Duke, laughing, "the qualities you speak of would be of service now: there never was such a set of rascals as we have got in that department! But come, what can we do with him? What 's his rank in the army? Where did he serve?"

"If I dare present him to your Royal Highness without a uniform," said Lord Castlereagh, hesitatingly, "he could answer these queries better than I can."

"Oh, by Jove! it is too late for scruples now,--introduce him at once."

Lord Castlereagh waited for no more formal permission, but, hastening to the antechamber, took Darcy's hand, and led him forward.

"If I don't mistake, sir," said the Duke, as the old man raised his head after a deep and courteous salutation, "this is not the first time we have met. Am I correct in calling you Colonel Darcy?"

The Knight bowed low in acquiescence.

"The same officer who raised the Twenty-eighth Light Dragoons, known as Darcy's Light Horse?"

The Knight bowed once more.

"A very proud officer in command," said the Duke, turning to Lord Castlereagh with a stern expression on his features; "a colonel who threatened a prince of the blood with arrest for breach of duty."

"He had good reason, your Royal Highness, to be proud," said the Knight, firmly; "first, to have a prince to serve under his command; and, secondly, to have held that station and character in the service to have rendered so unbecoming a threat pardonable."

"And who said it was?" replied the Duke, hastily.

"Your Royal Highness has just done so."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, my Lord Duke," said Darcy, with a calm and unmoved look, "that your Royal Highness would never have recurred to the theme to one humbled as I am, if you had not forgiven it."

"As freely as I trust you forgive me, Colonel Darcy," said the Duke, grasping his hand and shaking it with warmth. "Now for _my_ part: what can I do for you?--what do you wish?"

"I can scarcely ask your Royal Highness; I find that some kind friend has already applied on my behalf. I could not have presumed, old and useless as I am, to prefer a claim myself."

"There's your own regiment vacant," said the Duke, musing. "No, by Jove! I remember Lord Netherby asking me for it the other day for some relative of his own. Taylor, is the colonelcy of the Twenty-eighth promised?"

"Your Royal Highness signed it yesterday."

"I feared as much. Who is it?--perhaps he'd exchange."

"Colonel Maurice Darcy, your Royal Highness, unattached."

"What! have I been doing good by stealth? Is this really so?"

"If it be, your Royal Highness," said Darcy, smiling, "I can only a.s.sure you that the officer promoted will not exchange."

"The depot is at Gosport, your Royal Highness," said Taylor, in reply to a question from the Duke.