Mistress of mistresses (13 page)

"Tis
not altogether thus,' said the Chancellor. The offer is now to me in my own
particular.'

Jeronimy
opened his lips as if to speak, but there was
a
moment ere the words came: 'To you, my lord? Good:
and upon like condition?'

'Upon
like condition.'

'Of
suzerainty?' said Jeronimy. ‘Well, and do you mean to take it? No, no,' he
said, meeting the Chancellor's cold eye: ‘I meant not that. I meant, in what
estate left you this business with him? did you in
a
manner temporize?'

Beroald
answered, ‘I did handle the thing in such
a
vein as that I must give him yea or nay
to-morrow.'

The
Admiral pulled off his black velvet cap plumed with
a
white estridge-feather set in a diamond brooch,
mopped his head, and put on his cap again.

The
Lord Beroald gazed steadily before him on Acrozayana, two or three miles away,
mirrored in the glassy lake. His speech came cool and glassy, like the thing he
looked on, remote and passionless as if it were his own thought speaking to
itself. 'It is needful,' he said, 'in this business, that we hold heedy guard,
and reckon well our strength. Now is ten days to-day that this Lessingham,
treating with full powers on behalf of the Vicar, hath dealt with us touching
the Meszrian regency; and if there be any alteration made in these ten days,
'tis to their advantage, not ours. First his offer unto you, my lord Admiral,
that the Vicar would receive and acknowledge you as regent in Meszria
conformably in all points to the King's testament, and upon condition (which he
stiffly maintained to be in that same testament supposed and implicit) that you
should do him homage as, pending the Queen's minority, your overlord. That
condition you did, in agreement with the Duke, with Roder, and with myself,
after mature deliberation of counsel, flatly refuse. The next day after your so
refusing, he did offer the regency upon like condition to the Duke, who did
refuse it. That was but yesterday. And now, this very morning, did send for me
and propound to me the self-same offer; which I, forbearing all private closer
conference, fobbed off until to-morrow. Thus standeth it, then. What follows?
If I refuse,' (upon that 'if the Admiral pulled out his handkerchief and mopped
his head), 'next move belike is overture of regency to Roder, and then, if
he'll not take it, war. I like it not. The Duke I do trust but as you do, my
lord: very discreetly. These Meszrian lords, not at all. The Vicar hath a fair
solicitor, hath got the right ear of Zapheles, and Melates, too, or I am much
mistook: young fools, that have not the wit to see in all the Vicar's promises
but fair sunshining, sweetly spoken and but sourly to be performed. Prince
Ercles in the north, too, is not so good to rest on, even if Barganax be safe:
if the Vicar make war upon the Duke and us upon pretext of enforcing of the
King's testament, you shall not see Ercles nor Aramond put their finger too
far in the fire o' the Duke's behalf; Lessingham, I am told, hath made friends
with 'em both of late.'

'That
Lessingham is a subtle devil,' said Jeronimy.

'This
latest offer thus made to me', said the Chancellor, 'hath given us the chance
if need be to afterthink us. That were pity were it appear in the end that our
eyes were greater than our bellies. I would remember you of this, my lord
Admiral, that in point of construction the Vicar's claim of suzerainty is good
in law. We are precisely bound to uphold the testament. It can be said that,
going against him in this, we do merely violate it. The Parry himself none but
a ninny would trust further than
a
might see him; but here 'tis not to deal with him
direct, but through Lessingham.'

'As
't should be handed us,' said Jeronimy, 'in a fair gilded cup, to make his
poison go down the smoother.'

'I
see it not altogether so,' said Beroald. ' 'Tis a young man of most supposed
abilities both in the council and
a
soldier of renown. I have these ten days studied
him like
a
book,
and I find no point to question, but all to confirm and justify what
reputation saith of him: an honourable man, and a man with the power to hold
his principal to whatsoever he shall stand warrant for of his behalf. And he
hath, in no qualified way but at large, took it upon his honour that upon
agreement made betwixt us the Vicar will perform the King's 'testament unto the
littlest letter.'

Jeronimy
said, 'He is a subtle devil.

'It
is for you, not me, to determine,' said the Chancellor. 'Only I would have you
consider of all this, not as somewhat to be swept up with a sudden and tumultuous
judgement, but as a thing of heaviest import. For you see, you may, upon this
offer thus made to me, open your dealings anew with him, and take up the
regency upon condition of suzerainty and upon his proper warranty of the
Vicar's performance.'

'And
so, in a manner,—' said the Admiral slowly, and fell silent. The Chancellor
said no more, judging it good to give time for these matters to digest

They
sat in shadow. The sun had for some time now gone behind the hill on their
left. The shadows lengthened over the lake. The horses munched on. After
a
while the Chancellor spoke: 'Will you not change
your mind?'

The
Lord Jeronimy rose heavily from his seat and stood looking at him a minute in
silence; then said, 'No. And no more must you, my lord Chancellor.'

'We
stand together,' said Beroald, and rose up too. 'Yet remember, things worsen as
time goeth by. These country lords are quite debauched by him. 'Tis time to end
talking and fall to action.'

The
Admiral's black mare, at her lord's stirring, came to him and nuzzled her nose
in his neck. He fondled and petted her. ' 'Tis time indeed,' he said. 'Time
indeed.'

'Better
we were not seen too much in conference tonight,' said Beroald. 'Better not
enter the gates together.'

'Will
you ride first,' said the Admiral, 'or shall I? Truth is, I had been minded for
Sestola to-night, 'bout some business of the fleet. But as things shape, I will
let that go by and sleep in Zayana.'

'I
pray you ride first,' said the Chancellor.

The
Admiral came down through the wood at a walking pace, his mind heavy with
thought. His men, that had waited this while in the wood with the Chancellor's,
rode a score of paces or so behind him. 'Lessingham,' he said in himself. 'A
very subtle devil: a devil full of all seduction and charm. Hath a not charmed
me too? Ay, but not too far: not to danger. Like to that son of mine, drowned
in the Sound of Tabarey: should a been of about his years too, had he lived.
Pish! 'tis foolery. And yet, 'tis in the Duke too. Lessingham: Barganax.
Strange: so unlike, and yet, in a manner, so like; both of the grape, as
'twere. Red wine: white wine. Away, 'tis foolery. Still, like a shying horse:
ride her up to it, let her see and examine it well as to its nature: it
frighteth her not another time.' His mind stood still awhile. Then he said
again in himself, 'Hath charmed Beroald. Nay, but that's not true neither.
Nay, I trust Beroald.'

He
drew rein for a moment as the path rounded the verge of a jutting cliff giving
a fair wide prospect over the water. An owl hooted. Jeronimy said in himself,
'If he can handle Horius Parry, as folk say he can: tickle him, make him serve
his turn; what wonder in the world can he not do then?' He rode on. 'Beroald is
a man of law. There's his element. But with me 'tis substance and intention,
not form and accident. And yet indeed, a great wise man; prudent and
foreseeing. Ay, "time to afterthink us," that's wisdom. Worse weather
than that we put to sea in: ay, 'tis pure truth. There's many would take his
rede and think no more on't. Safer. Safer take his rede.

'Ay,
but I do know 'tis wrong. In my bones I know it' He struck spurs into the
mare's flanks: she started forward violently: he leaned forward calming her,
patting her neck. 'No, I'll not change my mind. Nor you must not neither, my
lord Chancellor. But then, what next? Action, next. An end of these talkings:
'tis time indeed.' He stroked her neck again, softly, meditatively. 'And I the
main actor. Regent of Meszria. Lieth upon me. Well, we have long since
considered on't With right of our side; and with the Duke of our side. "I
am of your opinion," said he. Well: now cometh this silver to the trying.
Barganax: is he to trust to? 'Tis a doubt whereon hangeth all, on this one thin
thread. Trust him discreetly. The word is wiser than the deed, now I consider
on't O, the down-bearing weight of this immense charge. Tis a fine toy, make up
alliance with a royal prince on terms he must but figure bass for such a man as
me to run the divisions on't; comfort and uphold me at all points whiles I sit
i' the seat he looked for as his by right. If he have a spice of pride in him
still, (and he is made up and compounded of pride, opinion, and disdain), shall
he not hate me every while, and seek but first fair occasion to ding me down
and take his own back? And yet the man's mind is so noble, I'd trust him, where
his word's engaged, even to breaking-point. And yet, no, 'tis midsummer
madness: 'tis but the spell of his masterful youth and grace, like t'other's. I
had done with this ten minutes since: 'tis 'foolery. And yet, and yet: have I
not proof ofs loyal mind within reason: his refusing on't when Lessingham did
offer it? Nay, but 'twas but stinking fish then: 'twas under suzerainty. And he
of the royal ancient family of Fingiswold.'

He
halted, as with a sudden thought then with a shake of the rein went on. 'Of
Fingiswold. Ay, and of Memison. I'll do it. Better hazard sinking there, than
sink for sure where we stand. And there's some hope. Say they be corrupted
indeed, these young quats, with Lessingham's words and promises: 'tis certain
their corruption, even as their fealty, is but skin-deep. They'll follow their
own liege sovereign prince of Meszrian blood and line a thousand times, where,
were it but me, they'd take but the happy instant to throw me off and so rid
them at last of the prime scourge and hate of all their liberties for years.
I'll do it. Ay, I'll do it to-night'

That
same night after supper the Chancellor was sat in his chamber writing out fair
this letter, which being writ he signed by his name and sealed with his seal.
And the letter was conceived in terms following:

'Unto
thonorable my very goode Lo. Lessynghame as wyth fulle powre and awtoritee
dymysed and prorogate to speke trette and determyn on byhalve of his hyghnes
Horyus Parye Lo. Protector and Vicker of the Qwene in Reyrek:

I
have bin carefull my Lo. to waighe and conseder of hys Highnes proposes
wherewithall hys hyghnes hath honored me thorow your lops, mowth to thende that
for the bettere setlying and doynge awaie of these presente diffrences I schold
in myn owne persoun accept of the Regensy of Meszrya upon condicyons exposed
att lardge bi your lop., and bi asspeciall thus condicyon that the Regent
schalbe in al poyntes His Hyghnes subgytte and uery leage man. Al whilke I
hauing with carefull mind perpended and revuiewed am lefte att length wyth noe
other choys that semeth to me agreable unto my propre honor and my dwte ylike
to the Qwene (hoom the Goddes tender and preserue) and to thadmerall bi royalle
testement named regent but bi hys hyghnes set asyde upon refusell of condicyoun
a forseyd, saue to conclud that yt is nat fytt I schold accept of the sed
Regensy. Whilke resolue thus consederately taken I will vnmoueably stand upon,
and wold dessire your lop. to acqweynt Hys Highnes accordynge.

The
Goddes leade your lo. bi the hande.

I
haue thonor to bee with greatt trewth and respecte your lops, most obedient
humble Servaunt,

Beroald'

The
ink was scarce dry and the wax* yet warm when there came in a gentleman of his
to say the High Admiral was here and would have speech of him. The Chancellor
smiled. 'That saveth me a journey,' he said: ‘I was this instant upon going to
see him;' and he bade admit him straight. When they were private, 'My lord
Chancellor,' said Jeronimy, and his face was flushed, 'I bring you good
tidings. I have seen the Duke upon this matter we talked on.'

The
Chancellor lifted a cold eye upon him. 'You have seen the Duke?'

Jeronimy's
eyes took on that look that a dog's eyes have when, under a detecting gaze, he
suddenly bethinks him that this eating of that bit of meat or chewing up of
that bird, albeit good and reasonable in his estimation, was yet questionable
in the sight of others, and fraught, may be, with consequences he till then ne'er
thought upon. 'I'm sorry,' he said. ‘I am come straight from him to you.
Perhaps I should a seen you first. I'm sorry, my lord.'