The Eustace Diamonds (71 page)

Mr Emilius was after Portray Castle, and had been after Portray Castle in a silent, not very confident, but yet not altogether
hopeless, manner ever since he had seen the glories of that place, and learned something of truth as to the widow's income. Mrs Carbuncle was led to her conclusion not simply by the wedding present, but in part also by the diligence displayed by Mr Emilius in removing the doubts which had got abroad respecting his condition in life. He assured Mrs Carbuncle that he had never been married. Shortly after his ordination, which had been effected under the hands of that great and good man the late Bishop of Jerusalem, he had taken to live with him a lady who was – Mrs Carbuncle did not quite recollect who the lady was, but remembered that she was connected in some way with a step-mother of Mr Emilius who lived in Bohemia. This lady had for awhile kept house for Mr Emilius; but ill-natured things had been said, and Mr Emilius, having respect to his cloth, had sent the poor lady back to Bohemia. The consequence was that he now lived in a solitude which was absolute and, as Mr Emilius added, somewhat melancholy. All this Mr Emilius explained very fully, not to Lizzie herself, but to Mrs Carbuncle. If Lady Eustace chose to entertain such a suitor, why should he not come? It was nothing to Mrs Carbuncle.

Lizzie laughed when she was told that she might add the reverend gentleman to the list of her admirers. ‘Don't you remember,' she said, ‘how we used to chaff Miss Macnulty about him?'

‘I knew better than that' replied Mrs Carbuncle.

‘There is no saying what a man may be after' said Lizzie. ‘I didn't know but what he might have thought that Macnulty's connections would increase his congregation'

‘He's after you, my dear, and your income. He can manage a congregation for himself'

Lizzie was very civil to him, but it would be unjust to her to say that she gave him any encouragement. It is quite the proper thing for a lady to be on intimate, and even on affectionate, terms with her favourite clergyman, and Lizzie certainly had intercourse with no clergyman who was a greater favourite with her than Mr Emilius. She had a dean for an uncle, and a bishop for an uncle-in-law; but she was at no pains to hide her contempt for these old fogies of the Church. ‘They preach now and then
in the cathedral' she said, to Mr Emilius, ‘and everybody takes the opportunity of going to sleep' Mr Emilius was very much amused at this description of the eloquence of the dignitaries. It was quite natural to him that people should go to sleep in church who take no trouble in seeking eloquent preachers. ‘Ah' he said, 'the Church of England, which is my Church – the Church which I love – is beautiful She is as a maiden, all glorious with fine raiment. But, alas! she is mute. She does not sing. She has no melody. But the time cometh in which she shall sing. I, myself – I am a poor singer in the great choir.' In saying which Mr Emilius, no doubt, intended to allude to his eloquence as a preacher.

He was a man who could listen as well as sing, and he was very careful to hear well that which was being said in public about Lady Eustace and her diamonds. He had learned thoroughly what was her condition in reference to the Portray estate, and was rejoiced rather than otherwise to find that she enjoyed only a life-interest in the property. Had the thing been better than it was, it would have been the further removed from his reach. And in the same way, when rumours reached him prejudicial to Lizzie in respect of the diamonds, he perceived that such prejudice might work weal for him. A gentleman once, on ordering a mackerel for dinner, was told that a fresh mackerel would come to a shilling. He could have a stale mackerel for sixpence. ‘Then bring me a stale mackerel' said the gentleman. Mr Emilius coveted fish, but was aware that his position did not justify him in expecting the best fish in the market. The Lord Fawns and the Frank Greystocks of the world would be less likely to covet Lizzie, should she, by any little indiscretion, have placed herself under a temporary cloud. Mr Emilius had carefully observed the heavens, and knew how quickly such clouds will disperse themselves when they are tinged with gold. There was nothing which Lizzie had done, or would be likely to do, which could materially affect her income. It might indeed be possible that the Eustaces should make her pay for the necklace; but, even in that case, there would be quite enough left for that modest, unambitious comfort which Mr Emilius desired. It was by preaching, and not by
wealth, that he must make himself known in the world! – but for a preacher to have a pretty wife with a title and a good income – and a castle in Scotland – what an Elysium it. would be! In such a condition he would envy no dean, no bishop – no archbishop! He thought a great deal about it, and saw no positive bar to his success.

She told him that she was going to Scotland. ‘Not immediately! ' he exclaimed.

‘My little boy is there' she said.

‘But why should not your little boy be here. Surely, for people who can choose, the great centre of the world offers attractions which cannot be found in secluded spots.'

‘I love seclusion' said Lizzie, with rapture.

‘Ah; yes; I can believe that.' Mr Emilius had himself witnessed the seclusion of Portray Castle, and had heard, when there, many stories of the Ayrshire hunting. ‘It is your nature – but, dear Lady Eustace, will you allow me to say that our nature is implanted in us in accordance with the Fall?'

‘Do you mean to say that it is wicked to like to be in Scotland better than in this giddy town?'

‘I say nothing about wicked, Lady Eustace; but this I do say, that nature alone will not lead us always aright. It is good to be at Portray part of the year, no doubt; but are there not blessings in such a congregation of humanity as this London which you cannot find at Portray?'

‘I can hear you preach, Mr Emilius, certainly.'

‘I hope that is something, too, Lady Eustace; – otherwise a great many people who kindly come to hear me must sadly waste their time. And your example to the world around; – is it not more serviceable amidst the crowds of London than in the solitudes of Scotland? There is more good to be done, Lady Eustace, by living among our fellow-creatures than by deserting them. Therefore I think you should not go to Scotland before August, but should have your little boy brought to you here.'

‘The air of his native mountains is everything to my child,' said Lizzie. The child had, in fact, been both at Bobsborough, but that probably would make no real difference.

‘You cannot wonder that I should plead for your stay' said Mr Emilius, throwing all his soul into his eyes. ‘How dark would everything be to me if I missed you from your seat in the house of praise and prayer!'

Lizzie Eustace, like some other ladies who ought to be more appreciative, was altogether deficient in what may perhaps be called good taste in reference to men. Though she was clever, and though, in spite of her ignorance, she at once knew an intelligent man from a fool, she did not know the difference between a gentleman and a – ‘cad.' It was in her estimation something against Mr Emilius that he was a clergyman, something against him that he had nothing but what he earned, something against him that he was supposed to be a renegade Jew, and that nobody knew whence he came, nor who he was. These deficiencies or drawbacks Lizzie recognized. But it was nothing against him in her judgement that he was a greasy, fawning, pawing, creeping, black-browed rascal, who could not look her full in the face, and whose every word sounded like a lie. There was a twang in his voice which ought to have told her that he was utterly untrustworthy. There was an oily pretence at earnestness in his manner which ought to have told that he was not fit to associate with gentlemen. There was a foulness of demeanour about him which ought to have given to her, as a woman at any rate brought up among ladies, an abhorrence of his society. But all this Lizzie did not feel. She ridiculed to Mrs Carbuncle the idea of the preacher's courtship. She still thought that in the teeth of all her misfortunes she could do better with herself than marry Mr Emilius. She conceived that the man must be impertinent if Mrs Carbuncle's assertion were true; but she was neither angry nor disgusted, and she allowed him to talk to her, and even to make love to her, after his nasty pseudo-clerical fashion.

She could surely still do better with herself than marry Mr Emilius! It was now the twentieth of March, and a fortnight had gone since an intimation had been sent to her from the headquarters of the police that Patience Crabstick was in their hands. Nothing further had occurred, and it might be that Patience Crabstick had told no tale against her. She could not bring herself
to believe that Patience had no tale to tell, but it might be that Patience, though she was in the hands of the police, would find it to her interest to tell no tale against her late mistress. At any rate, there was silence and quiet, and the affair of the diamonds seemed almost to be passing out of people's minds. Grey-stock had twice called in Scotland Yard, but had been able to learn nothing. It was feared, they said, that the people really engaged in the robbery had got away scot-free. Frank did not quite believe them, but he could learn nothing from them. Thus encouraged, Lizzie determined that she would remain in London till after Lucida's marriage – till after she should have received the promised letter from Lord Fawn, as to which, though it was so long in coming, she did not doubt that it would come at last. She could do nothing with Frank – who was a fool! She could do nothing with Lord George – who was a brute! Lord Fawn would still be within her reach, if only the secret about the diamonds could be kept a secret till after she should have become his wife.

About this time Lucinda spoke to her respecting her proposed journey. ‘You were talking of going to Scotland a week ago, Lady Eustace.'

‘And am still talking of it'

‘Aunt Jane says that you are waiting for my wedding. It is very kind of you; – but pray don't do that.'

‘I shouldn't think of going now till after your marriage. It only wants ten or twelve days.'

‘I count them. I know how many days it wants. It may want more than that.'

‘You can't put it off now, I should think' said Lizzie; ‘and as I have ordered my dress for the occasion I shall certainly stay and wear it.'

‘I am very sorry for your dress. I am very sorry for it all. Do you know; – I sometimes think I shall – murder him.'

‘Lucinda – how can you say anything so horrible! But I see you are only joking' There did come a ghastly smile over that beautiful face, which was so seldom lighted up by any expression of mirth or good humour. ‘But I wish you would not say such horrible things.'

‘It would serve him right; – and if he were to murder me, that would serve me right. He knows that I detest him, and yet he goes on with it. Iliave told him so a score of times, but nothing will make him give it up. It is not that he loves me, but he thinks that that will be his triumph.'

‘Why don't you give it up, if it makes you unhappy?'

‘It ought to come from him – ought it not?'

‘I don't see why' said Lizzie.

‘He is not bound to anybody as I am bound to my aunt. No one can have exacted an oath from him. Lady Eustace, you don't quite understand how we are situated. I wonder whether you would take the trouble to be good to me?'

Lucinda Roanoke had never asked a favour of her before; – had never, to Lizzie's knowledge, asked a favour of any one. ‘In what way can I be good to you?' she said.

‘Make him give it up. You may tell him what you like of me. Tell him that I shall only make him miserable, and more despicable than he is; – that I shall never be a good wife to him. Tell him that I am thoroughly bad, and that he will repent it to the last day of his life. Say whatever you like – but make him give it up'

‘When everything has been prepared!'

‘What does all that signify compared to a life of misery? Lady Eustace, I really think that I should – kill him, if he really were – were my husband.' Lizzie at last said that she would, at any rate, speak to Sir Griffin.

And she did speak to Sir Griffin, having waited three or four days for an opportunity to do so. There had been some desperately sharp words between Sir Griffin and Mrs Carbuncle, with reference to money. Sir Griffin had been given to understand that Lucinda had, or would have, some few hundred pounds, and insisted that the money should be handed over to him on the day of his marriage. Mrs Carbuncle had declared that the money was to come from property to be realized in New York, and had named a day which had seemed to Sir Griffin to be as the Greek Kalends.
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He expressed an opinion that he was swindled, and Mrs Carbuncle, unable to restrain herself, had turned upon him full of
wrath. He was caught by Lizzie as he was descending the stairs, and in the dining-room he poured out the tale of his wrongs. ‘That woman doesn't know what fair dealing means' said he.

‘That's a little hard, Sir Griffin, isn't it?' said Lizzie.

‘Not a bit. A trumpery six hundred pounds! And she hasn't a shilling of fortune, and never will have, beyond that! No fellow ever was more generous or more foolish than I have been.' Lizzie, as she heard this, could not refrain from thinking of the poor departed Sir Florian. ‘I don't look for fortune, or say a word about money, as almost every man does – but just took her as she was. And now she tells me that I can't have just the bit of money that I wanted for our tour. It would serve them both right if I were to give it up.'

‘Why don't you?' said Lizzie. He looked quickly, sharply, and closely into her face as she asked the question. ‘I would, if I thought as you do.'

‘And lay myself in for all manner of damages' said Sir Griffin.

‘There wouldn't be anything of that kind, I'm sure. You see, the truth is, you and Miss Roanoke are always having – having little tiffs together. I sometimes think you don't really care a bit for her.'