The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

at your house. Bid her bring with her
| all her jewels and finery. 1. for my part,
| will urge the captain to let her accept the
| invitation"
| YAH this is very circumstantial. What
| them"
| Il will promise the captain to find her
| a husband, a man of position. a man of
rank. and. above all. one as virtuous as
myself He said this without the least
| blush or even a smile.
Where is that husband to be found?'
AS yet do not know. He must be q
creation of our own. He must not know;
| he must simply obey. We shall find such
| a person somewhere. 1 have, | believe,
a good many of my former friends in the
| fleet or the kings bench. Now. Anasta-
| STA, to find one of these unsortunates, to
| offer him an allowance, say a guinea a
week. in return for a power of attorney
to administer the property. True. there
| are the creditors. but we might take over
| the detainers.s He must not be suffered to
get out He went on suggesting deceits
and villainies.
You said we What have l to do with
the, scheme? 1t is, you must confess,
Ludovic, one of those arrangements or
| understandings which the world calls a
Conspiracy-"
Lord Fylingdale released her hand. Her
words panied his sensitive soul. IF at
this time. after all We have done togeth-
er. we are to talk of conspiracies we had
better act separately he said cOldly.
No ] am your servant, as you know
sometimes your most unhappy servant.
but always at your command-only now
ana then II pleaSeS me to call things by
their proper names. At such times, Ludo-
vic. look in my glass. and | see not the
Lady Anastasia in a company of fashion.
put a poor wretch sitting in a cart with
her arms tied down. Il white niGhtcap on
herSShe9d and prayerbook in her hand.
Ihere is a coffin in the cart
'Anastasia, you are ridiculousl What
have we done that all the world would
not do If it could? These scruples are alb
surd. and these visions are fantastic
W nat is your share? You know that half
OF mine-all that is mine-is yours as well.
You shall have my hand and my name.
These you should have mad long ago had
they been worth your picking up. Alas.
Anastasia. no one knows better than you
the desperate condition Of my affairs,"
We'll, will obey you. I will go back to
town / will go tomorrow. The other
parties in our innocency-they will also go
back, I SUPPOSE
They win have done their part. Sir
Harry. and the colonel. and the parson:
they will all go back. They cost a great
deal to keep. and they have done their
work
Should see the g.rl before I go?"
Perhaps not. Write to her from
London. Invite her to stay with you. For
my own part, l will look about me for the
man we want-a prisoner; on the poor
side; gentleman, one who will do any
thing for a guinea a week. The girl will
not know that he is a prisoner. 1t will be
quite easy
This he said, concealing his real inten-
ton. and only anxious to get this lady out
of tle vs., but he left her suspicious and
jealous. That is to say. she had already
become both, and this intricate plot of a
husband from the Fleet and the rest made
her still more suspicious and jealous.
Having dismissed tnastasia. there re-
manned the parson ard the poet. The lat
ter he could send way at days notice:
the former he would probably want for a
certain purpose He sent for Mr.. Semple,
his secretary.
''Sempler he said. 81 have now made
enquiry into the truth of your statements
i mean as regards this young ladys for
tune"
1T is as told your lordship?"
1T is. The fortune you have eXagger-
ated. but it is, no doubt considerable.
Well, have sent for You in order to tell
you that am resolved upon carrying out
the project you submitted to me. My own
affairs are. as you found out embarrassed
The girls fortune viii be useful to me
be improved. l have therefore determined
to make her my countess
My lord 1 rejoice to have been the
humble instrument
You have kept the secret so far. I
believe. AT least L have seen no sign
that anyone suspects my intentions. You
have invented "A lie of enormous audacity
in order to bring us all together-myself,
with your project up my sleeve. and GER
tain friends of mine to assist in various
quarters. Your inventions have converted
an ordinary well into health restoring
spring You have caused the elevation of
this town Of common sailors and mechan-
les into a fashionable spa. Semple you
are very ingenious person. l hope that
your are satisfied with your success
"Gratitied. my lord. not satisfied"
II understand. You shall be satisfied
very shortly by the fulfiIlment of my
promise. II is. IL ! remember, to find you
a place under Government worth at least
goo year. with perquisites. You shall
learn: Semple. that ! can be grateful and
that can keep my word, written or spOk-
vice"
He proceeded to give him certain in
structions.
And remember. the greatest secrecy
is to be observed. Neither you nor the
captain is to reveal the fact until the
business is completed. Everything will be
ruined IL anything is revealed. Your own
future depends upon your secrecy. You
are sure that you have your instructions
aright2'
Il am quite sure. my lord. I am your
ambassador. / come with n message OF
great Importance. There are reasons why
the proceeds are TO be kept secret. The
lady will be made a countess before a
pry-ing and impertinent world can be in
formed of your lordship's intentions l
fly, my lord. l fly
"One moment, friend Semple Before
you depart on this mission resolve me as
TO difficulty in my mind
wv hat is that. my lord?'
You are aware, Of course that my plan
of life is not quite what this girl expects
in Il husband. She will expect, in fact,
the bourgeois virtues-constaney, fidelity.
early hours. regularity. piety. You know
very well that she will not find these vir-
tues-You are preparing for the girl. in
fact. "A great disappointment and perhaps
n life OF misery. If l did not want her
money. might pity her"
Sans face darkencd.
Tell me. my friend, in return for " hat
acts of kindness done to, YOU by the cap
tain or by Molly herself are you confer
ring this boon upon the girl?'
The poet made no reply for a while
Then he answered. his eyes on the ground:
The thing is as good as done. l may as
wen let you know. The captain cudgeled
me like dog-like a dog. My gratitude
is 50 great that / have succeeded in mar
rying his ward to you. my lord. What
worse revenge could ] take2'
Frankly. | know of none"
You will waste and dissipate the whole |
of her fortune. and would il it were ten
times as great. in raking and gaming: you
will send her back to her own people bro
ken hearted and ruined. That will be my
doing"
Friend Semple." said his Iordship. "if
L were not F'ylingdale, ] would be Gemple. |
and, to tell the truth, if / saw any other |
way of raising money | would-well-per-
haps-I would even pity the girl and let |
her CO.