The Loving Cup (45 page)

Cartwright sighed again, in good causes, Poldark, it is sometimes only the impractical that succeeds. Determination to do a good thing is all.'

They argued more or less amicably for another five minutes, and then the mixture changed and Ross was first with Samuel Bamford and after that with Robert Owen again. The party broke up about one o'clock, and, the night being fine, Ross walked down to Westminster steps and took a boat to the Adelphi and his George Street lodgings. There had been no conclusion to the discussion, no product of it all, no promises asked for, no undertakings given. But clearly Ma
jor Cartwright was disappointed
with Ross's response.

Ross was not happy about it himself. He was irritated for not having perceived more clearly where the visit was likely to lead. He should have had the mental honesty to work it out beforehand and to have made his choice then. Go to the party with a willingness to do something definite for the group, or not go.

Yet he was also irritated with Cartwright Surely one could accept an invitation to a casual evening supper to show one's approbation of Radical aims, without expecting to be
recruited.

Of course the true Radicals, those represented tonight and their colleagues, were, as they said, desperately short of parliamentary support. Their proposals were too advanced for reformers like Wilberforce, who saw them as extremists. The name of Poldark, though meaning nothing to the masses, would be a valuable recruitment.

And he
did
support them. Though aware that some of the programme was too idealistic, he acknowledged the justice of it all. And if any abstract word meant anything to so essentially a practical man as himself, it was the word justice. Was he not therefore letting himself down when he turned away such a straightforward request for help with an evasive answer?

Yet the obstacle to his speaking for them in Parliament was genuine and could not be evaded. To resign and to seek re-election elsewhere would need a dedication he was sure he did not possess. Nor was it in his nature, as he had said to Demelza, to attend big rallies making speeches, nor was it among his talents to be persuasive in print. His sole use in such a cause
was as a member of the House.
He got into bed and blew out the candle and for a while lay unsleeping, watching the light from the passing cart or flickering torch: they made bizarre patterns of wolves and bats on his ceiling. It was one occasion when he needed to talk to Demelza. Not necessarily to seek her advice but to use her as a sounding board, arguing his own case with his own conscience. Not that
Demel
za
's advice would have not been worth having. Or that it would have been predictable.

He began to wonder about her and to worry about
her,
just for a change. In the days before he left she had seemed subdued, but there had been no hint of her again taking too much to drink. A sort of tacit understanding had grown up -a glance at the bottle, a couple of glasses but no more. When he left he had begun to mention it but she had put her finger to his lips and said: 'Don't say it,' so he had not said it. He hoped she would be all right on her own every night, both Jeremy and Clowance gone, only the younger children and the servants for company.

One day he had noticed several nasty scratches on her hands and she seemed-to have sore knees, but she said she had slipped on the rocks coming back from Wheal Leisure.

She had also found an interesting small silver cup on the beach, which had cleaned up very nicely. Sometimes these days she seemed to prefer taking walks on her own instead of with the children.

Who would ever have supposed t
hat the unsubtle starving child
he had brought home from Redruth Fair should become such a complicated woman?

Anything anyway so long as she did not take to drink
...

It was hours before he got to sleep, and then he dreamed of drowning miners.

II

Another meeting of a very different kind took place on the following Monday. A letter was delivered by hand.

Fife House.
24
November.

Dear Captain Poldark,

I understand that you are in London, and should consider it a favour if you could call upon me this afternoon at Downing Street about
4
p.m. If that should not be suitable perhaps you could name a time on Wednesday, a day on which I am likely to be free. Believe me to be, etc., Liverpool.

The messenger was waiting. Ross wrote an acceptance
saying he would attend u
pon the Prime Minister at four,
which he did with an open
mind, not having the least idea
what to expect when he arrived.

Robert Banks Jenkinson, second Earl of Liverpool, was some years younger than Ross, slight of build turning to stoutness, unpretentious, amiable, astute, economical of movement and speech.
Two
and a half years ago, when Perceval was murdered, Liverpool had taken over as head of a temporary administration which gradually had come to have an aura of permanence. Overshadowed by and squeezed between his more brilliant colleagues, particularly Castlereagh and Canning, he had somehow so far preserved a balance pleasing to the Prince Regent and not altogether displeasing to the country. He had happened to be at the helm when Britain achieved victory in its endless war, and even now with that great pressure gone there was no obvious movement gathering to unseat him.

He said: 'Sit down, Poldark; it's good of you to come at such short notice. I had not heard until Friday that you were in Westminster, and as I gather the Committee will complete its hearings this week I thought to have a word with you before you went home.'

'The last meeting is on Thursday,' said Ross,
I
shall hope to leave on Friday morning.'

'Just so.' Lord Liverpool pulled a bell,
I
often take tea at this time of day. It is a habit I have caught from my wife. But I have a good brandy or a more than passable canary if you'd prefer it,'

'Thank you, my lord. I am content with tea.'

The ser
vant silently came and as silentl
y went.

'Have you heard from George Canning recently?'

'No, sir, not since he left.'

'There are reports of severe storms in the Bay. I think his ship is due in Lisbon this week, but I shall await with some anxiety for news of his safety.'

It was a long room with tall sash windows, and they sat at one end of it looking out over the Horse Guards Parade.

'Were you here for the opening of Parliament?'

'No, I came by sea and was embayed for several days in the Solent.'

'Whitbread made a fierce attack on Canning's appointment in the debate on the Address. Suggested it was merely an expensive and pointless emolument we had created for him. He was answered, of course; Charles Ellis made a sincere and moving reply. But since then
The
Morning Chronicle
has taken up the cry.'

I
didn't know.'

‘
in fact Canning's task will be a formidable one in Lisbon. . Relations between ourselves and the Council of Regency have never been at a lower ebb. And even when the Regent returns Canning will have to walk a knife-edge of tact and diplomacy.'

Tea came in. The servant poured it out Ross was offered milk and sugar, both of which he refused.

When they were alone again Lord Liverpool said: 'You know of course Canning and I were at Christchurch together. We have been friends ever since. Though with many ups and downs. He is a brilliant fellow.'

'So I think, Prime Minister.'
'Sometimes too clever for his own good. I often think he is his own worst enemy.'

The last light of day was fading
from the sky. Ross had often n
oted the shortness of the twilight in London compared to Cornwall. People were shouting outside, their voices hollow in the accumulating dusk.

Lord Liverpool said:
I
did not offer him Lisbon as a sinecure. He was glad to go for his son's sake, and also I believe it will do him no harm - no political harm - to be away from the House for a year or so. Castlereagh will have a freer hand in Vienna, and Canning will come back refreshed.'

'No
doubt'

'You have been one of his closest associates, Poldark. He holds a high opinion of you. You were one of his "group", were you not? Sincere and believing friends who could be relied upon to support him in the House: Leveson-Gower, Huskisson, Boringdon
...
you know their names. Some of them even refused opportunities of preferment out of loyalty for him.'

I
don't think I did that'

'No
...
Of course you sought none. But it does not remove the condition of - what?- obligation? Perhaps not so much; but loyalty need n
ot be weighed: it is enough in
itself.'

'Loyalty on my part,' said Ross, 'was simply a matter of conviction. His views and mine on many subjects were close.'

'Yes
...'
Liverpool blinked and sipped his tea. He was known as 'Old Jenky' to his rivals and a few friends, or somedmes 'Blinking Jenky' because of an affection of his right eyelid which caused it to flutter. 'Before Canning went, he and I talked long on this subject. In going to Lisbon, in leaving the House—at least for a year or so - he was aware that he was leaving his friends. Many of them would miss him.' ido.'

'And he felt that it was his duty and his pleasure to take some regard for their future. I agreed with him. We came to an amicable understanding. As a result of it I have recendy offered William Huskisson the position of First Commissioner of Woods and Forests. Leveson-Gower has accepted a viscountcy. Boringdon will become an earl. These peerages will be granted in the New Year. I have not entirely decided yet about Bourne
...
There are, as you will no doubt know, many trials and hazards in the path of a Prime Minister of England; but one of its rewards is that he can dispense patronage where it seems to him it should be good to dispense it. He can reward good, honest, loyal service; and that is what I have done in these cases.'

After a pause Ross said:
I
am glad to know it.'

Lord Liverpool stirred his tea.
I
have it in my mind to offer you a baronetcy, Captain Poldark.'

The servant came in again and refilled their cups. He also lit six extra candles on the mantelpiece. He was going to draw the curtains but the Prime Minister stopped him. Presently they were alone again.

Ross said: 'You are very kind, my lord. More than kind. But I seek no reward for following my own inclinations. I was an admirer of Pitt. Since he died I have become an admirer of Canning. These loyalties if that is what you would call them - have cost me nothing. It is not fitting to be rewarded merely for following one's own inclinations.'

Liverpool smiled. 'Oh, come, Poldark, that is not all there is to it. While it is true that your name came before me because you are Canning's friend, it is not
all
you have been, is it Three missions abroad on behalf of the government, and another one with tacit government approval. You have more than once found yourself in situations of personal danger in the course of those missions. Whether they were following your own inclinations or not, they were all of value to the country. Is it not therefore suitable that your country should see fit to reward you?'

Ross nodded his head,
I
am greatly obliged for the thought, my lord.'

Silence fell. A bell rang in the house. Liverpool rose to his feet and went to the window. A light fog was creeping up from the river, resisting the lights.

'If you wish to take time to consider it, you may do so. Give me your answer before you leave London.'

'Thank you, my lord, but I don't need time. It is a very gracious offer and I am fully sensible to the honour you do me. If I refuse, it is not out of a sense of ingratitude.'

'But you do refuse?'

'Yes.'

I
will not ask why.'

‘I
t would be hard to explain, sir. Partly it is a feeling that service to one's country should not be directly related to some later award. Partly it is a feeling that the Poldarks and the Poldark name have been so long rooted in Western Cornwall that they need no tide to distinguish them from their neighbours.'

His Lordship smiled thinly. 'This kind of pride is something I have come upon before, particularly in the shires where some men of ancient name consider a title vulgar. I think it is an old-fa
shioned concept, but naturally I
respect it.'

'Thank you. And thank you for the thought.'

Ross was prepared to rise and leave, but the Prime Minister seemed in no hurry to end the interview. Back at his desk he picked up a pen, ran his finger along the quill, put his empty tea cup back on the silver tray.