Coningsby
;
or
,
the
New
Generation
.
By
B
.
Disraeli
,
esq.
M.P.
Author
of
"
Contarini
Fleming
.
"
Second
Edition
.
In
Three
Vols.
London
:
Henry
Colburn
,
publisher
;
Great
Marlnorough
Street
.
1844.
TO
HENRY
HOPE
.
It
is
not
because
these
volumes
were
conceived
and
partly
executed
amid
the
glades
and
galleries
of
the
Deepdene
,
that
I
have
inscribed
them
with
your
name
.
Nor
merely
because
I
was
desirous
to
avail
myself
of
the
most
graceful
privilege
of
an
author
,
and
dedicate
my
work
to
the
friend
,
whose
talents
I
have
always
appreciated
and
whose
virtues
I
have
ever
admired
.
But
because
in
these
pages
I
have
endeavoured
to
picture
something
of
that
development
of
the
new
and
,
as
I
believe
,
better
mind
of
England
,
that
has
often
been
the
subject
of
our
converse
and
speculation
.
In
these
volumes
you
will
find
many
a
thought
illustrated
and
many
a
principle
attempted
to
be
established
that
we
have
often
together
partially
discussed
and
canvassed
.
Doubtless
you
may
encounter
some
opinions
with
which
you
may
not
agree
,
and
some
conclusions
the
accuracy
of
which
you
may
find
cause
to
question
.
But
if
I
have
generally
succeeded
in
my
object
:
to
scatter
some
suggestions
that
may
tend
to
elevate
the
tone
of
public
life
;
ascertain
the
true
character
of
political
parties
;
and
induce
us
for
the
future
more
carefully
to
distinguish
between
facts
and
phrases
,
realities
and
phantoms
;
I
believe
that
I
shall
gain
your
sympathy
,
for
I
shall
find
a
reflex
to
their
efforts
in
your
own
generous
spirit
and
enlightened
mind
.
Grosvenor
Gate
,
May-Day
,
1844.
VOL.
I
.
Book
I
.
CHAPTER
I
.
It
was
a
bright
May
morning
some
twelve
years
ago
,
when
a
youth
of
still
tender
age
,
for
he
had
certainly
not
entered
his
teens
by
more
than
two
years
,
was
ushered
into
the
waiting-room
of
a
house
in
the
vicinity
of
St.
James
's
Square
,
which
,
though
with
the
general
appearance
of
a
private
residence
,
and
that
too
of
no
very
ambitious
character
,
exhibited
at
this
period
symptoms
of
being
occupied
for
some
public
purpose
.
The
house
door
was
constantly
open
,
and
frequent
guests
even
at
this
early
hour
crossed
the
threshold
.
The
hall
table
was
covered
with
sealed
letters
;
and
the
hall
porter
inscribed
in
a
book
the
name
of
every
individual
who
entered
.
The
young
gentleman
we
have
mentioned
found
himself
in
a
room
which
offered
few
resources
for
his
amusement
.
A
large
table
amply
covered
with
writing
materials
,
and
a
few
chairs
were
its
sole
furniture
,
except
the
grey
drugget
that
covered
the
floor
,
and
a
muddy
mezzotinto
of
the
Duke
of
Wellington
that
adorned
its
cold
walls
.
There
was
not
even
a
newspaper
;
and
the
only
books
were
the
Court
Guide
and
the
London
Directory
.
For
some
time
,
he
remained
with
patient
endurance
planted
against
the
wall
,
with
his
feet
resting
on
the
rail
of
his
chair
;
but
at
length
in
his
shifting
posture
he
gave
evidence
of
his
restlessness
,
rose
from
his
seat
,
looked
out
of
the
window
into
a
small
side
court
of
the
house
surrounded
with
dead
walls
,
paced
the
room
,
took
up
the
Court
Guide
,
changed
it
for
the
London
Directory
,
then
wrote
his
name
over
several
sheets
of
foolscap
paper
,
drew
various
landscapes
and
faces
of
his
friends
;
and
then
,
splitting
up
a
pen
or
two
,
delivered
himself
of
a
yawn
,
which
seemed
the
climax
of
his
weariness
.
And
yet
the
youth
's
appearance
did
not
betoken
a
character
that
,
if
the
opportunity
had
offered
,
could
not
have
found
amusement
and
even
instruction
.
His
countenance
,
radiant
with
health
and
lustre
of
innocence
,
was
at
the
same
time
thoughtful
and
resolute
.
The
expression
of
his
deep
blue
eye
was
serious
.
Without
extreme
regularity
of
features
,
the
face
was
one
that
would
never
have
passed
unobserved
.
His
short
upper
lip
indicated
a
good
breed
;
and
his
chestnut
curls
clustered
over
his
open
brow
,
while
his
shirt
collar
thrown
over
his
shoulders
was
unrestrained
by
handkerchief
or
ribbon
.
Add
to
this
,
a
limber
and
graceful
figure
,
which
the
jacket
of
his
boyish
dress
exhibited
to
great
advantage
.
Just
as
the
youth
,
mounted
on
a
chair
,
was
adjusting
the
portrait
of
the
Duke
which
he
had
observed
to
be
awry
,
the
gentleman
for
whom
he
had
been
all
this
time
waiting
entered
the
room
.
"
Floreat
Etona
!
"
hastily
exclaimed
the
gentleman
in
a
sharp
voice
,
"
you
are
setting
the
Duke
to
rights
.
I
have
left
you
a
long
time
a
prisoner
;
but
I
found
them
so
busy
here
,
that
I
myself
made
my
escape
with
difficulty
.
"
He
who
uttered
these
words
was
a
man
of
middle
size
and
age
,
originally
in
all
probability
of
a
spare
habit
,
but
now
a
little
inclined
to
corpulency
.
Baldness
perhaps
contributed
to
the
spiritual
expression
of
a
brow
,
which
was
however
essentially
intellectual
,
and
gave
some
character
of
openness
to
a
countenance
which
,
though
not
ill-favoured
,
was
unhappily
stamped
by
a
sinister
character
that
was
not
to
be
mistaken
.
His
manner
was
easy
,
but
rather
audacious
than
well-bred
.
Indeed
,
while
a
visage
which
might
otherwise
be
described
as
handsome
was
spoilt
by
a
dishonest
glance
,
so
a
demeanour
that
was
by
no
means
deficient
in
self-possession
and
facility
,
was
tainted
by
an
innate
vulgarity
,
which
in
the
long
run
,
though
seldom
,
yet
surely
,
developed
itself
.
The
youth
had
jumped
off
his
chair
on
the
entrance
of
the
gentleman
,
and
then
taking
up
his
hat
,
said
:
"
Shall
we
go
to
grand-papa
now
,
sir
?
"
"
By
all
means
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
said
the
gentleman
,
putting
his
arm
within
that
of
the
youth
;
and
they
were
just
on
the
point
of
leaving
the
waiting-room
,
when
the
door
was
suddenly
thrown
open
and
two
individuals
,
in
a
state
of
very
great
excitement
,
rushed
into
the
apartment
.
"
Rigby
—
Rigby
!
"
they
both
exclaimed
at
the
same
moment
.
"
By
G
—
they
're
out
.
"
"
Who
told
you
?
"
"
The
best
authority
;
one
of
themselves
.
"
"
Who
—
who
?
"
"
Paul
Evelyn
;
I
met
him
as
I
passed
Brookes
'
,
and
he
told
me
that
Lord
Grey
had
resigned
,
and
the
King
had
accepted
his
resignation
.
"
But
Mr.
Rigby
,
who
,
though
very
fond
of
news
and
much
interested
in
the
present
,
was
extremely
jealous
of
any
one
giving
him
information
,
was
sceptical
.
He
declared
that
Paul
Evelyn
was
always
wrong
;
that
it
was
morally
impossible
that
Paul
Evelyn
could
ever
be
right
;
that
he
knew
,
from
the
highest
authority
,
that
Lord
Grey
had
been
twice
yesterday
with
the
King
;
that
on
the
last
visit
nothing
was
settled
;
that
if
he
had
been
at
the
palace
again
to-day
,
he
could
not
have
been
there
before
twelve
o'clock
;
that
it
was
only
now
one
quarter
to
one
;
that
Lord
Grey
would
have
called
his
colleagues
together
on
his
return
;
that
at
least
an
hour
must
have
elapsed
before
anything
could
possibly
have
transpired
.
Then
he
compared
and
criticised
the
dates
of
every
rumoured
incident
of
the
last
twenty-four
hours
;
(
and
nobody
was
stronger
in
dates
than
Mr.
Rigby
)
;
counted
even
the
number
of
stairs
which
the
minister
had
to
ascend
and
descend
in
his
visit
to
the
palace
,
and
the
time
their
mountings
and
dismountings
must
have
absorbed
,
(
detail
was
Mr.
Rigby
's
forte
)
;
and
finally
,
what
with
his
dates
,
his
private
information
,
his
knowledge
of
palace
localities
,
his
contempt
for
Paul
Evelyn
,
and
his
confidence
in
himself
,
he
succeeded
in
persuading
his
downcast
and
disheartened
friends
,
that
their
comfortable
intelligence
had
not
the
slightest
foundation
.
They
all
left
the
room
together
;
they
were
in
the
hall
;
the
gentlemen
who
brought
the
news
looking
somewhat
depressed
but
Mr.
Rigby
gay
even
amid
the
prostration
of
his
party
,
from
the
consciousness
that
he
had
most
critically
demolished
a
piece
of
political
gossip
,
and
conveyed
a
certain
degree
of
mortification
to
a
couple
of
his
companions
;
when
a
travelling
carriage
and
four
with
a
ducal
coronet
drove
up
to
the
house
.
The
door
was
thrown
open
,
the
steps
dashed
down
,
and
a
youthful
noble
sprang
from
his
chariot
into
the
hall
.
"
Good
morning
,
Rigby
,
"
said
the
Duke
.
"
I
see
your
Grace
well
,
I
am
sure
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
with
a
very
softened
manner
.
"
You
have
heard
the
news
,
gentlemen
?
"
he
continued
.
"
What
news
?
Yes
—
no
—
that
is
to
say
—
Mr.
Rigby
thinks
—
"
"
You
know
,
of
course
,
that
Lord
Lyndhurst
is
with
the
King
?
"
"
It
is
impossible
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
I
do
n't
think
I
can
be
mistaken
,
"
said
the
Duke
smiling
.
"
I
will
show
your
Grace
that
it
is
impossible
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
Lord
Lyndhurst
slept
at
Wimbledon
.
Lord
Grey
could
not
have
seen
the
King
until
twelve
o'clock
;
it
is
now
five
minutes
to
one
.
It
is
impossible
,
therefore
,
that
any
message
from
the
King
could
have
reached
Lord
Lyndhurst
in
time
for
his
Lordship
to
be
at
the
palace
at
this
moment
.
"
"
But
my
authority
is
a
very
high
one
,
"
said
the
Duke
.
"
Authority
is
a
phrase
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
;
"
we
must
look
to
time
and
place
,
dates
and
localities
,
to
discover
the
truth
.
"
"
Your
Grace
was
saying
that
your
authority
—
"
ventured
to
observe
Mr.
Tadpole
,
emboldened
by
the
presence
of
a
duke
,
his
patron
,
to
struggle
against
the
despotism
of
a
Rigby
,
his
tyrant
.
"
Was
the
highest
,
"
rejoined
the
Duke
smiling
;
"
for
it
was
Lord
Lyndhurst
himself
.
I
came
up
from
Nuneham
this
morning
,
passed
his
Lordship
's
house
in
Hyde
Park
Place
as
he
was
getting
into
his
carriage
in
full
dress
,
stopped
my
own
,
and
learned
in
a
breath
,
that
the
Whigs
were
out
,
and
that
the
King
had
sent
for
the
Chief
Baron
.
So
I
came
on
here
at
once
.
"
"
I
always
thought
the
country
was
sound
at
bottom
,
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Taper
,
who
,
under
the
old
system
,
had
sneaked
into
the
Treasury
Board
.
Tadpole
and
Taper
were
great
friends
.
Neither
of
them
ever
despaired
of
the
Commonwealth
.
Even
if
the
Reform
Bill
were
passed
,
Taper
was
convinced
that
the
Whigs
would
never
prove
men
of
business
;
and
when
his
friends
confessed
among
themselves
that
a
Tory
Government
was
for
the
future
impossible
,
Taper
would
remark
in
a
confidential
whisper
,
that
for
his
part
he
believed
before
the
year
was
over
,
the
Whigs
would
be
turned
out
by
the
clerks
.
"
There
is
no
doubt
that
there
is
considerable
re-action
,
"
said
Mr.
Tadpole
.
"
The
infamous
conduct
of
the
Whigs
in
the
Amersham
case
,
has
opened
the
public
mind
more
than
anything
.
"
"
Aldborough
was
worse
,
"
said
Mr.
Taper
.
"
Terrible
!
"
said
Tadpole
.
"
They
said
there
was
no
use
discussing
the
Reform
Bill
in
our
house
.
I
believe
Rigby
's
great
speech
on
Aldborough
has
done
more
towards
the
re-action
than
all
the
violence
of
all
the
political
Unions
together
.
"
"
Let
us
hope
for
the
best
,
"
said
the
Duke
mildly
.
"
'
Tis
a
bold
step
on
the
part
of
the
Sovereign
,
and
I
am
free
to
say
I
could
have
wished
it
postponed
;
but
we
must
support
the
King
like
men
.
What
say
you
,
Rigby
?
You
are
silent
.
"
"
I
am
thinking
what
an
unfortunate
circumstance
it
was
for
the
Sovereign
,
the
country
,
and
the
party
,
that
I
did
not
breakfast
with
Lord
Lyndhurst
this
morning
,
as
I
was
nearly
doing
,
instead
of
going
down
to
Eton
.
"
"
To
Eton
,
and
why
to
Eton
?
"
"
For
the
sake
of
my
young
friend
here
;
Lord
Monmouth
's
grandson
.
By
the
bye
,
you
are
kinsmen
.
Let
me
present
to
your
Grace
—
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
CHAPTER
II
.
The
political
agitation
which
for
a
year
and
a
half
had
shaken
England
to
its
centre
,
received
if
possible
an
increase
to
its
intensity
and
virulence
,
when
it
was
known
in
the
early
part
of
the
month
of
May
,
1832
,
that
the
Prime
Minister
had
tendered
his
resignation
to
the
King
,
which
resignation
had
been
graciously
accepted
.
The
amendment
carried
by
the
Opposition
in
the
House
of
Lords
on
the
evening
of
the
7th
of
May
,
that
the
enfranchising
clauses
of
the
Reform
Bill
should
be
considered
before
entering
into
the
question
of
disfranchisement
,
was
the
immediate
cause
of
this
startling
event
.
The
Lords
had
previously
consented
to
the
second
reading
of
the
Bill
with
the
view
of
preventing
that
large
increase
of
their
numbers
with
which
they
had
been
long
menaced
;
rather
indeed
by
mysterious
rumours
than
by
any
official
declaration
;
but
nevertheless
in
a
manner
which
had
carried
conviction
to
no
inconsiderable
portion
of
the
Opposition
that
the
threat
was
not
without
foundation
.
During
the
progress
of
the
Bill
through
the
Lower
House
,
the
journals
which
were
looked
upon
as
the
organs
of
the
ministry
,
had
announced
with
unhesitating
confidence
,
that
Lord
Grey
was
armed
with
what
was
then
called
a
carte
blanche
to
create
any
number
of
peers
necessary
to
insure
its
success
.
Nor
were
public
journalists
under
the
control
of
the
ministry
,
and
whose
statements
were
never
contradicted
,
the
sole
authorities
for
this
prevailing
belief
.
Members
of
the
House
of
Commons
,
who
were
strong
supporters
of
the
cabinet
,
though
not
connected
with
it
by
any
official
tie
,
had
unequivocally
stated
in
their
places
that
the
Sovereign
had
not
resisted
the
advice
of
his
counsellors
to
create
peers
,
if
such
creation
were
required
to
carry
into
effect
what
was
then
styled
"
the
great
national
measure
.
"
In
more
than
one
instance
,
ministers
had
been
warned
,
that
,
if
they
did
not
exercise
that
power
with
prompt
energy
,
they
might
deserve
impeachment
.
And
these
intimations
and
announcements
had
been
made
in
the
presence
of
leading
members
of
the
government
,
and
had
received
from
them
at
least
the
sanction
of
their
silence
.
It
did
not
subsequently
appear
that
the
Reform
ministers
had
been
invested
with
any
such
power
;
but
a
conviction
of
the
reverse
fostered
by
these
circumstances
had
successfully
acted
upon
the
nervous
temperament
,
or
the
statesman-like
prudence
,
of
a
certain
section
of
the
peers
,
who
consequently
hesitated
in
their
course
;
were
known
as
being
no
longer
inclined
to
pursue
their
policy
of
the
preceding
session
,
and
who
had
thus
obtained
a
title
at
that
moment
rife
in
everybody
's
mouth
—
the
title
of
"
the
Waverers
.
"
Notwithstanding
therefore
the
opposition
of
the
Duke
of
Wellington
and
of
Lord
Lyndhurst
,
the
Waverers
carried
the
second
reading
of
the
Reform
Bill
;
and
then
scared
at
the
consequences
of
their
own
headstrong
timidity
,
they
went
in
a
fright
to
the
Duke
and
his
able
adviser
to
extricate
them
from
the
inevitable
result
of
their
own
conduct
.
The
ultimate
device
of
these
distracted
councils
,
where
daring
and
poltroonery
,
principle
and
expediency
,
public
spirit
and
private
intrigue
,
all
threw
an
ingredient
in
the
turbulent
spell
;
was
the
celebrated
and
successful
amendment
to
which
we
have
referred
.
But
the
Whig
ministers
,
who
,
whatever
may
have
been
their
faults
,
were
at
least
men
of
intellect
and
courage
,
were
not
to
be
beaten
by
"
the
Waverers
.
"
They
might
have
made
terms
with
an
audacious
foe
;
they
trampled
on
a
hesitating
opponent
.
Lord
Grey
hastened
to
the
Palace
.
Before
the
result
of
this
appeal
to
the
Sovereign
was
known
,
for
its
effects
were
not
immediate
,
on
the
second
morning
after
the
vote
in
the
House
of
Lords
,
Mr.
Rigby
had
made
that
visit
to
Eton
which
had
summoned
very
unexpectedly
the
youthful
Coningsby
to
London
.
He
was
the
orphan
child
of
the
youngest
of
the
two
sons
of
the
Marquis
of
Monmouth
.
It
was
a
family
famous
for
its
hatreds
.
The
eldest
son
hated
his
father
;
and
,
it
was
said
,
in
spite
,
had
married
a
lady
to
whom
that
father
was
attached
,
and
with
whom
Lord
Monmouth
then
meditated
a
second
alliance
.
This
eldest
son
lived
at
Naples
,
and
had
several
children
,
but
maintained
no
connexion
either
with
his
parents
or
his
native
country
.
On
the
other
hand
,
Lord
Monmouth
hated
his
younger
son
,
who
had
married
against
his
consent
a
woman
to
whom
that
son
was
devoted
.
A
system
of
domestic
persecution
,
sustained
by
the
hand
of
a
master
,
had
eventually
broken
up
the
health
of
its
victim
,
who
died
of
a
fever
in
a
foreign
country
,
where
he
had
sought
some
refuge
from
his
creditors
.
His
widow
returned
to
England
with
her
child
;
and
,
not
having
a
relation
,
and
scarcely
an
acquaintance
in
the
world
,
made
an
appeal
to
her
husband
's
father
,
the
wealthiest
noble
in
England
,
and
a
man
who
was
often
prodigal
,
and
occasionally
generous
.
After
some
time
and
more
trouble
,
after
urgent
and
repeated
,
and
what
would
have
seemed
heart-rending
,
solicitations
,
the
solicitor
of
Lord
Monmouth
called
upon
the
widow
of
his
client
's
son
,
and
informed
her
of
his
Lordship
's
decision
.
Provided
she
gave
up
her
child
and
permanently
resided
in
one
of
the
remotest
counties
,
he
was
authorised
to
make
her
in
four
quarterly
payments
,
the
yearly
allowance
of
three
hundred
pounds
,
that
being
the
income
that
Lord
Monmouth
,
who
was
the
shrewdest
accountant
in
the
country
,
had
calculated
a
lone
woman
might
very
decently
exist
upon
in
a
small
market
town
in
the
county
of
Westmoreland
.
Desperate
necessity
,
the
sense
of
her
own
forlornness
,
the
utter
impossibility
to
struggle
with
an
omnipotent
foe
,
who
,
her
husband
had
taught
her
,
was
above
all
scruples
,
prejudices
and
fears
,
and
who
though
he
respected
law
,
despised
opinion
,
made
the
victim
yield
.
But
her
sufferings
were
not
long
;
the
separation
from
her
child
,
the
bleak
clime
,
the
strange
faces
around
her
,
sharp
memory
,
and
the
dull
routine
of
an
unimpassioned
life
,
all
combined
to
wear
out
a
constitution
originally
frail
,
and
since
shattered
by
many
sorrows
.
Mrs.
Coningsby
died
the
same
day
that
her
father-in-law
was
made
a
Marquess
.
He
deserved
his
honours
.
The
four
votes
he
had
inherited
in
the
House
of
Commons
had
been
increased
by
his
intense
volition
and
unsparing
means
to
ten
;
and
the
very
day
he
was
raised
to
his
Marquisate
,
he
commenced
sapping
fresh
corporations
,
and
was
working
for
the
strawberry
leaf
.
His
honours
were
proclaimed
in
the
London
Gazette
,
and
her
decease
was
not
even
noticed
in
the
County
Chronicle
;
but
the
altars
of
Nemesis
are
beneath
every
outraged
roof
,
and
the
death
of
this
unhappy
lady
,
apparently
without
an
earthly
friend
or
an
earthly
hope
,
desolate
and
deserted
,
and
dying
in
obscure
poverty
,
was
not
forgotten
.
Coningsby
was
not
more
than
nine
years
of
age
when
he
lost
his
last
parent
;
and
he
had
then
been
separated
from
her
for
nearly
three
years
.
But
he
remembered
the
sweetness
of
his
nursery
days
.
His
mother
too
had
written
to
him
very
frequently
since
he
quitted
her
,
and
her
fond
expressions
had
cherished
the
tenderness
of
his
heart
.
He
wept
very
bitterly
when
his
schoolmaster
broke
to
him
the
news
of
his
mother
's
death
.
True
it
was
,
they
had
been
long
parted
,
and
their
prospect
of
again
meeting
was
vague
and
dim
;
but
his
mother
seemed
to
him
his
only
link
to
human
society
.
It
was
something
to
have
a
mother
,
even
if
he
never
saw
her
.
Other
boys
went
to
see
their
mothers
;
he
at
least
could
talk
of
his
.
Now
he
was
alone
.
His
grandfather
was
to
him
only
a
name
.
Lord
Monmouth
resided
almost
constantly
abroad
,
and
during
his
rare
visits
to
England
had
found
no
time
or
inclination
to
see
the
orphan
with
whom
he
felt
no
sympathy
.
Even
the
death
of
the
boy
's
mother
,
and
the
consequent
arrangements
,
were
notified
to
his
master
by
a
stranger
.
The
letter
which
brought
the
sad
intelligence
was
from
Mr.
Rigby
.
It
was
the
first
time
that
name
had
been
known
to
Coningsby
.
Mr.
Rigby
was
a
member
for
one
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
boroughs
.
He
was
the
manager
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
parliamentary
influence
,
and
the
auditor
of
his
vast
estates
.
He
was
more
;
he
was
Lord
Monmouth
's
companion
when
in
England
,
his
correspondent
when
abroad
—
hardly
his
counsellor
,
for
Lord
Monmouth
never
required
advice
;
but
Mr.
Rigby
could
instruct
him
in
matters
of
detail
,
which
Mr.
Rigby
made
amusing
.
Rigby
was
not
a
professional
man
indeed
,
his
origin
,
education
,
early
pursuits
,
and
studies
,
were
equally
obscure
;
but
he
had
contrived
in
good
time
to
squeeze
himself
into
Parliament
,
by
means
which
no
one
could
ever
comprehend
,
and
then
set
up
to
be
a
perfect
man
of
business
.
The
world
took
him
at
his
word
,
for
he
was
bold
,
acute
,
and
voluble
;
with
no
thought
,
but
a
good
deal
of
desultory
information
;
and
though
destitute
of
all
imagination
and
noble
sentiment
,
was
blessed
with
a
vigorous
,
mendacious
fancy
,
fruitful
in
small
expedients
,
and
never
happier
than
when
devising
shifts
for
great
men
's
scrapes
.
They
say
that
all
of
us
have
one
chance
in
this
life
,
and
so
it
was
with
Rigby
.
After
a
struggle
of
many
years
,
after
a
long
series
of
the
usual
alternatives
of
small
successes
and
small
failures
,
after
a
few
cleverish
speeches
and
a
good
many
cleverish
pamphlets
,
with
a
considerable
reputation
indeed
for
pasquinades
,
most
of
which
he
never
wrote
,
and
articles
in
reviews
to
which
it
was
whispered
he
had
contributed
,
Rigby
,
who
had
already
intrigued
himself
into
a
subordinate
office
,
met
with
Lord
Monmonth
.
He
was
just
the
animal
that
Lord
Monmouth
wanted
,
for
Lord
Monmouth
always
looked
upon
human
nature
with
the
callous
eye
of
a
jockey
.
He
surveyed
Rigby
,
and
he
determined
to
buy
him
.
He
bought
him
;
with
his
clear
head
,
his
indefatigable
industry
,
his
audacious
tongue
,
and
his
ready
and
unscrupulous
pen
;
with
all
his
dates
,
all
his
lampoons
;
all
his
private
memoirs
,
and
all
his
political
intrigues
.
It
was
a
good
purchase
.
Rigby
became
a
great
personage
,
and
Lord
Monmouth
's
man
.
Mr.
Rigby
,
who
liked
to
be
doing
a
great
many
things
at
the
same
time
,
and
to
astonish
the
Tadpoles
and
the
Tapers
with
his
energetic
versatility
,
determined
to
superintend
the
education
of
Coningsby
.
It
was
a
relation
which
identified
him
with
the
noble
house
of
his
pupil
,
or
properly
speaking
,
his
charge
:
for
Mr.
Rigby
affected
rather
the
graceful
dignity
of
the
governor
than
the
duties
of
a
tutor
.
The
boy
was
recalled
from
his
homely
,
rural
school
,
where
he
had
been
well
grounded
by
a
hard-working
curate
,
and
affectionately
tended
by
the
curate
's
unsophisticated
wife
.
He
was
sent
to
a
fashionable
school
preparatory
to
Eton
,
where
he
found
about
two
hundred
youths
of
noble
families
and
connexions
lodged
in
a
magnificent
villa
,
that
had
once
been
the
retreat
of
a
minister
,
superintended
by
a
sycophantic
Doctor
of
Divinity
,
already
well
beneficed
,
and
not
despairing
of
a
bishopric
by
favouring
the
children
of
great
nobles
.
The
Doctor
's
lady
clothed
in
cashmeres
,
sometimes
inquired
after
their
health
,
and
occasionally
received
a
report
as
to
their
linen
.
Mr.
Rigby
had
a
classical
retreat
,
not
distant
from
this
establishment
,
which
he
esteemed
a
Tusculum
.
There
,
surrounded
by
his
busts
and
books
,
he
wrote
his
lampoons
and
articles
;
massacred
a
she
liberal
,
(
it
was
thought
that
no
one
could
lash
a
woman
like
Rigby
)
cut
up
a
rising
genius
whose
politics
were
different
from
his
own
,
or
scarified
some
unhappy
wretch
who
had
brought
his
claims
before
parliament
,
proving
by
garbled
extracts
from
official
correspondence
that
no
one
could
refer
to
,
that
the
malcontent
,
instead
of
being
a
victim
,
was
on
the
contrary
a
defaulter
.
Tadpole
and
Taper
would
back
Rigby
for
a
"
slashing
reply
"
against
the
field
.
Here
too
at
the
end
of
a
busy
week
,
he
found
it
occasionally
convenient
to
entertain
a
clever
friend
or
two
of
equivocal
reputation
,
with
whom
he
had
become
acquainted
in
former
days
of
equal
brotherhood
.
No
one
was
more
faithful
to
his
early
friends
than
Mr.
Rigby
;
particularly
if
they
could
write
a
squib
.
It
was
in
this
refined
retirement
that
Mr.
Rigby
found
time
enough
,
snatched
from
the
toils
of
official
life
and
parliamentary
struggles
,
to
compose
a
letter
on
the
study
of
History
,
addressed
to
Coningsby
.
The
style
was
as
much
like
that
of
Lord
Bolingbroke
as
if
it
had
been
written
by
the
authors
of
the
"
Rejected
Addresses
,
"
and
it
began
,
"
My
dear
young
friend
.
"
This
polished
composition
,
so
full
of
good
feeling
and
comprehensive
views
,
and
all
in
the
best
taste
,
was
not
published
.
It
was
only
privately
printed
and
a
few
thousand
copies
were
distributed
among
select
personages
as
an
especial
favour
and
mark
of
high
consideration
.
Each
copy
given
away
seemed
to
Rigby
like
a
certificate
of
character
,
a
property
which
like
all
men
of
dubious
repute
he
thoroughly
appreciated
.
Rigby
intrigued
very
much
that
the
head-master
of
Eton
should
adopt
his
discourse
as
a
class
book
.
For
this
purpose
he
dined
with
the
Doctor
;
told
him
several
anecdotes
of
the
King
,
which
intimated
personal
influence
at
Windsor
;
but
the
head-master
was
immovable
;
and
so
Mr.
Rigby
was
obliged
to
be
content
by
his
Letter
on
History
being
canonized
as
a
classic
in
the
Preparatory
Seminary
,
where
the
individual
to
whom
it
was
addressed
was
a
scholar
.
This
change
in
the
life
of
Coningsby
contributed
to
his
happiness
.
The
various
characters
,
which
a
large
school
exhibited
,
interested
a
young
mind
whose
active
energies
were
beginning
to
stir
.
His
previous
acquirements
made
his
studies
light
;
and
he
was
fond
of
sports
in
which
he
was
qualified
to
excel
.
He
did
not
particularly
like
Mr.
Rigby
.
There
was
something
jarring
and
grating
in
that
gentleman
's
voice
and
modes
from
which
the
chords
of
the
young
heart
shrank
.
He
was
not
tender
;
though
perhaps
he
wished
it
,
scarcely
kind
;
but
he
was
good-natured
,
at
least
to
children
.
However
,
this
connexion
was
on
the
whole
a
very
agreeable
one
for
Coningsby
.
He
seemed
suddenly
to
have
friends
;
he
never
passed
his
holidays
again
at
school
.
Mr.
Rigby
was
so
clever
that
he
contrived
always
to
quarter
Coningsby
on
the
father
of
one
of
his
school-fellows
,
for
Mr.
Rigby
knew
all
his
school-fellows
and
all
their
fathers
.
Mr.
Rigby
also
called
to
see
him
,
not
unfrequently
;
would
give
him
a
dinner
at
the
Star
and
Garter
,
or
even
have
him
up
to
town
for
a
week
to
Whitehall
.
Compared
with
his
former
forlorn
existence
,
these
were
happy
days
when
he
was
placed
under
the
gallery
as
a
member
's
son
,
or
went
to
the
play
with
the
butler
!
When
Coningsby
had
attained
his
twelfth
year
,
an
order
was
received
from
Lord
Monmouth
who
was
at
Rome
,
that
he
should
go
at
once
to
Eton
.
This
was
the
first
great
epoch
of
his
life
.
There
never
was
a
youth
who
entered
into
that
wonderful
little
world
with
more
eager
zest
than
Coningsby
.
Nor
was
it
marvellous
.
That
delicious
plain
,
studded
with
every
creation
of
graceful
culture
;
hamlet
and
hall
,
and
grange
;
garden
and
grove
,
and
park
;
that
castle-palace
,
grey
with
glorious
ages
;
those
antique
spires
hoar
with
faith
and
wisdom
,
the
chapel
and
the
college
;
that
river
winding
through
the
shady
meads
;
the
sunny
glade
and
the
solemn
avenue
;
the
room
in
the
Dame
's
house
where
we
first
order
our
own
breakfast
and
first
feel
we
are
free
;
the
stirring
multitude
,
the
energetic
groups
,
the
individual
mind
that
leads
,
conquers
,
controls
;
the
emulation
and
the
affection
;
the
noble
strife
and
the
tender
sentiment
;
the
daring
exploit
and
the
dashing
scrape
;
the
passion
that
pervades
our
life
,
and
breathes
in
everything
,
from
the
aspiring
study
to
the
inspiring
sport
—
oh
!
what
hereafter
can
spur
the
brain
and
touch
the
heart
like
this
;
can
give
us
a
world
so
deeply
and
variously
interesting
;
a
life
so
full
of
quick
and
bright
excitement
—
passed
in
a
scene
so
fair
!
CHAPTER
III
.
Lord
Monmouth
,
who
detested
popular
tumults
as
much
as
he
despised
public
opinion
,
had
remained
during
the
agitating
year
of
1831
in
his
luxurious
retirement
in
Italy
,
contenting
himself
with
opposing
the
Reform
Bill
by
proxy
.
But
when
his
correspondent
,
Mr.
Rigby
,
had
informed
him
in
the
early
part
of
the
spring
of
1832
of
the
probability
of
a
change
in
the
tactics
of
the
Tory
party
,
and
that
an
opinion
was
becoming
prevalent
among
their
friends
,
that
the
great
scheme
must
be
defeated
in
detail
rather
than
again
withstood
on
principle
,
his
Lordship
,
who
was
never
wanting
in
energy
,
when
his
own
interests
were
concerned
,
immediately
crossed
the
Alps
,
and
travelled
rapidly
to
England
.
He
indulged
a
hope
that
the
weight
of
his
presence
and
the
influence
of
his
strong
character
,
which
was
at
once
shrewd
and
courageous
,
might
induce
his
friends
to
relinquish
their
half
measure
,
a
course
to
which
his
nature
was
very
repugnant
.
At
all
events
,
if
they
persisted
in
their
intention
,
and
the
Bill
went
into
committee
,
his
presence
was
indispensable
,
for
in
that
stage
of
a
parliamentary
proceeding
proxies
become
ineffective
.
The
councils
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
though
they
coincided
with
those
of
the
Duke
of
Wellington
,
did
not
prevail
with
the
Waverers
.
Several
of
these
high-minded
personages
had
had
their
windows
broken
,
and
they
were
not
of
opinion
that
a
man
who
lived
at
Naples
was
a
competent
judge
of
the
state
of
public
feeling
in
England
.
Besides
,
the
days
are
gone
by
for
Senates
to
have
their
beards
plucked
in
the
Forum
.
We
live
in
an
age
of
prudence
.
The
leaders
of
the
people
,
now
,
generally
follow
.
The
truth
is
,
the
peers
were
in
a
fright
.
'
Twas
a
pity
;
there
is
scarcely
a
less
dignified
entity
than
a
patrician
in
a
panic
.
Among
the
most
intimate
companions
of
Coningsby
at
Eton
,
was
Lord
Henry
Sydney
,
his
kinsman
.
Coningsby
had
frequently
passed
his
holidays
of
late
at
Beaumanoir
,
the
seat
of
the
Duke
,
Lord
Henry
's
father
.
The
Duke
sate
next
to
Lord
Monmouth
during
the
debate
on
the
enfranchising
question
,
and
to
wile
away
the
time
,
and
from
kindness
of
disposition
spoke
,
and
spoke
with
warmth
and
favour
,
of
his
grandson
.
The
polished
Lord
Monmouth
bowed
as
if
he
were
much
gratified
by
this
notice
of
one
so
dear
to
him
.
He
had
too
much
tact
to
admit
that
he
had
never
yet
seen
his
grandchild
;
but
he
asked
some
questions
as
to
his
progress
and
pursuits
,
his
tastes
and
habits
,
which
intimated
the
interest
of
an
affectionate
relative
.
Nothing
,
however
,
was
ever
lost
upon
Lord
Monmouth
.
No
one
had
a
more
retentive
memory
,
or
a
more
observant
mind
.
And
the
next
day
,
when
he
received
Mr.
Rigby
at
his
morning
levee
,
(
Lord
Monmouth
performed
this
ceremony
in
the
high
style
of
the
old
court
,
and
welcomed
his
visitors
in
bed
)
,
he
said
with
imperturbable
calmness
,
and
as
if
he
had
been
talking
of
trying
a
new
horse
,
"
Rigby
,
I
should
like
to
see
the
boy
at
Eton
.
"
There
might
be
some
objection
to
grant
leave
to
Coningsby
at
this
moment
;
but
it
was
a
rule
with
Mr.
Rigby
never
to
make
difficulties
,
or
at
least
to
persuade
his
patron
,
that
he
,
and
he
only
,
could
remove
them
.
He
immediately
undertook
that
the
boy
should
be
forthcoming
,
and
,
notwithstanding
the
excitement
of
the
moment
,
he
went
off
next
morning
to
fetch
him
.
They
arrived
in
town
rather
early
,
and
Rigby
wishing
to
know
how
affairs
were
going
on
,
ordered
the
servant
to
drive
immediately
to
the
head-quarters
of
the
party
;
where
a
permanent
committee
watched
every
phasis
of
the
impending
revolution
;
and
where
every
member
of
the
opposition
of
note
and
trust
was
instantly
admitted
to
receive
or
to
impart
intelligence
.
It
was
certainly
not
without
emotion
,
that
Coningsby
contemplated
his
first
interview
with
his
grandfather
.
All
his
experience
of
the
ties
of
relationship
,
however
limited
,
were
full
of
tenderness
and
rapture
.
His
memory
often
dwelt
on
his
mother
's
sweet
embrace
;
and
ever
and
anon
a
fitful
phantom
of
some
past
passage
of
domestic
love
haunted
his
gushing
heart
.
The
image
of
his
father
was
less
fresh
in
his
mind
;
but
still
it
was
associated
with
a
vague
sentiment
of
kindness
and
joy
;
and
the
allusions
to
Mr.
Coningsby
in
his
mother
's
letters
had
cherished
these
impressions
.
To
notice
lesser
sources
of
influence
in
his
estimate
of
the
domestic
tie
,
he
had
witnessed
under
the
roof
of
Beaumanoir
,
the
existence
of
a
family
bound
together
by
the
most
beautiful
affections
.
He
could
not
forget
how
Henry
Sydney
was
embraced
by
his
sisters
when
he
returned
home
;
what
frank
and
fraternal
love
existed
between
his
cousin
and
his
elder
brother
;
how
affectionately
the
kind
Duke
had
welcomed
his
son
once
more
to
the
house
where
they
had
both
been
born
;
and
the
dim
eyes
and
saddened
brows
,
and
tones
of
tenderness
which
rather
looked
than
said
farewell
,
when
they
went
back
to
Eton
.
And
these
rapturous
meetings
and
these
mournful
adieus
were
occasioned
only
by
a
separation
at
the
most
of
a
few
months
,
softened
by
constant
correspondence
,
and
the
communication
of
mutual
sympathy
.
But
Coningsby
was
to
meet
a
relation
,
his
nearest
,
almost
his
only
,
relation
for
the
first
time
;
the
relation
too
to
whom
he
owed
maintenance
,
education
—
it
might
be
said
,
existence
.
It
was
a
great
incident
for
a
great
drama
;
something
tragical
in
the
depth
and
stir
of
its
emotions
.
Even
the
imagination
of
the
boy
could
not
be
insensible
to
its
materials
;
and
Coningsby
was
picturing
to
himself
a
beneficent
and
venerable
gentleman
pressing
to
his
breast
an
agitated
youth
,
when
his
reverie
was
broken
by
the
carriage
stopping
before
the
gates
of
Monmouth
House
.
The
gates
were
opened
by
a
gigantic
Swiss
,
and
the
carriage
rolled
into
a
huge
court
yard
.
At
its
end
,
Coningsby
beheld
a
Palladian
palace
with
wings
and
colonnades
encircling
the
court
.
A
double
flight
of
steps
led
into
a
circular
and
marble
hall
adorned
with
colossal
busts
of
the
Cæsars
;
the
staircase
in
fresco
by
Sir
James
Thornhill
,
breathed
with
the
loves
and
wars
of
Gods
and
heroes
.
It
led
into
a
vestibule
painted
in
arabesque
,
hung
with
Venetian
girandoles
,
and
looking
into
gardens
.
Opening
a
door
in
this
chamber
,
and
proceeding
some
little
way
down
a
corridor
,
Mr.
Rigby
and
his
companion
arrived
at
the
base
of
a
private
staircase
.
Ascending
a
few
steps
,
they
reached
a
landing
place
hung
with
tapestry
.
Drawing
this
aside
,
Mr.
Rigby
opened
a
door
and
ushered
Coningsby
through
an
ante-chamber
into
a
small
saloon
of
beautiful
proportion
,
and
furnished
in
a
brilliant
and
delicate
taste
.
"
You
will
find
more
to
amuse
you
here
than
where
we
were
before
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
and
I
shall
not
be
nearly
so
long
absent
.
"
So
saying
,
he
entered
into
an
inner
apartment
.
The
walls
of
the
saloon
,
which
were
covered
with
light
blue
satin
,
held
in
silver
pannels
portraits
of
beautiful
women
painted
by
Boucher
.
Couches
and
easy
chairs
of
every
shape
invited
in
every
quarter
to
luxurious
repose
,
while
amusement
was
afforded
by
tables
covered
with
caricatures
,
French
novels
,
and
endless
miniatures
of
foreign
dancers
,
princesses
,
and
Sovereigns
.
But
Coningsby
was
so
impressed
with
the
impending
interview
with
his
grandfather
,
that
he
neither
sought
nor
required
diversion
.
Now
that
the
crisis
was
at
hand
,
he
felt
agitated
and
nervous
;
and
wished
that
he
was
again
at
Eton
.
The
suspense
was
sickening
,
yet
he
dreaded
still
more
the
summons
.
He
was
not
long
alone
;
the
door
opened
—
he
started
—
grew
pale
—
he
thought
it
was
his
grandfather
;
it
was
not
even
Mr.
Rigby
.
It
was
Lord
Monmouth
's
valet
.
"
Monsieur
Konigby
?
"
"
My
name
is
Coningsby
,
"
said
the
boy
.
"
Milor
is
ready
to
receive
you
,
"
said
the
valet
.
Coningsby
sprang
forward
with
that
desperation
which
the
scaffold
requires
.
His
face
was
pale
;
his
hand
was
moist
;
his
heart
beat
with
tumult
.
He
had
occasionally
been
summoned
by
Dr.
Keate
;
that
too
was
awful
work
,
but
compared
with
the
present
,
a
morning
visit
.
Music
,
artillery
,
the
roar
of
cannon
,
and
the
blare
of
trumpets
,
may
urge
a
man
on
to
a
forlorn
hope
;
ambition
,
one
's
constituents
,
the
hell
of
previous
failure
,
may
prevail
on
us
to
do
a
more
desperate
thing
—
speak
in
the
House
of
Commons
;
but
there
are
some
situations
in
life
,
such
for
instance
as
entering
the
room
of
a
dentist
,
when
the
prostration
of
the
nervous
system
is
absolute
.
The
moment
had
at
length
arrived
,
when
the
desolate
was
to
find
a
benefactor
,
the
forlorn
a
friend
,
the
orphan
a
parent
;
when
the
youth
,
after
a
childhood
of
adversity
,
was
to
be
formally
received
into
the
bosom
of
the
noble
house
from
which
he
had
been
so
long
estranged
,
and
at
length
to
assume
that
social
position
to
which
his
lineage
entitled
him
.
Manliness
might
support
,
affection
might
soothe
,
the
happy
anguish
of
such
a
meeting
;
but
it
was
undoubtedly
one
of
those
situations
which
stir
up
the
deep
fountains
of
our
natures
,
and
before
which
the
conventional
proprieties
of
our
ordinary
manners
instantaneously
vanish
.
Coningsby
with
an
uncertain
step
followed
his
guide
through
a
bed-chamber
,
the
sumptuousness
of
which
he
could
not
notice
,
into
the
dressing-room
of
Lord
Monmouth
.
Mr.
Rigby
,
facing
Coningsby
as
he
entered
,
was
leaning
over
the
back
of
a
large
chair
,
from
which
as
Coningsby
was
announced
by
the
valet
,
the
Lord
of
the
house
slowly
rose
,
for
he
was
suffering
slightly
from
the
gout
,
and
his
left
hand
rested
on
an
ivory
stick
.
Lord
Monmouth
was
in
height
above
the
midde
size
,
but
somewhat
portly
and
corpulent
.
His
countenance
was
strongly
marked
;
sagacity
on
the
brow
,
sensuality
in
the
mouth
and
jaw
.
His
head
was
bald
,
but
there
were
remains
of
the
rich
brown
locks
on
which
he
once
prided
himself
.
His
large
deep
blue
eye
,
madid
and
yet
piercing
,
showed
that
the
secretions
of
his
brain
were
apportioned
,
half
to
voluptuousness
,
half
to
common
sense
.
But
his
general
mien
was
truly
grand
;
full
of
a
natural
nobility
,
of
which
no
one
was
more
sensible
.
Lord
Monmouth
was
not
in
dishabille
;
on
the
contrary
,
his
costume
was
exact
,
and
even
careful
.
Rising
as
we
have
mentioned
when
his
grandson
entered
,
and
leaning
with
his
left
hand
on
his
ivory
cane
,
he
made
Coningsby
such
a
bow
as
Louis
Quatorze
might
have
bestowed
on
the
ambassador
of
the
United
Provinces
.
Then
extending
his
right
hand
,
which
the
boy
tremblingly
touched
,
Lord
Monmouth
said
:
"
How
do
you
like
Eton
?
"
This
contrast
to
the
reception
which
he
had
imagined
,
hoped
,
feared
,
paralysed
the
reviving
energies
of
young
Coningsby
.
He
felt
stupified
;
he
looked
almost
aghast
.
In
the
chaotic
tumult
of
his
mind
,
his
memory
suddenly
seemed
to
receive
some
miraculous
inspiration
.
Mysterious
phrases
heard
in
his
earliest
boyhood
,
unnoticed
then
,
long
since
forgotten
,
rose
to
his
ear
.
Who
was
this
grandfather
,
seen
not
before
,
seen
now
for
the
first
time
?
Where
was
the
intervening
link
of
blood
between
him
and
this
superb
and
icy
being
?
The
boy
sank
into
the
chair
which
had
been
placed
for
him
,
and
leaning
on
the
table
burst
into
tears
.
Here
was
a
business
!
If
there
was
one
thing
which
would
have
made
Lord
Monmouth
travel
from
London
to
Naples
at
four
and
twenty
hours
'
notice
,
it
was
to
avoid
a
scene
.
He
hated
scenes
—
he
hated
feelings
.
He
saw
instantly
the
mistake
he
had
made
in
sending
for
his
grandchild
.
He
was
afraid
that
Coningsby
was
tender-hearted
like
his
father
.
Another
tender-hearted
Coningsby
!
Unfortunate
family
!
Degenerate
race
!
He
decided
in
his
mind
that
Coningsby
must
be
provided
for
in
the
Church
,
and
looked
at
Mr.
Rigby
,
whose
principal
business
it
always
was
to
disembarrass
his
patron
from
the
disagreeable
.
Mr.
Rigby
instantly
came
forward
and
adroitly
led
the
boy
into
the
adjoining
apartment
,
Lord
Monmouth
's
bed-chamber
,
closing
the
door
of
the
dressing-room
behind
him
.
"
My
dear
young
friend
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
what
is
all
this
?
"
A
sob
the
only
answer
,
"
What
can
be
the
matter
?
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
I
was
thinking
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
of
poor
mamma
!
"
"
Hush
!
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
Lord
Monmouth
never
likes
to
hear
of
people
who
are
dead
;
so
you
must
take
care
never
to
mention
your
mother
or
your
father
.
"
In
the
meantime
Lord
Monmouth
had
decided
on
the
fate
of
Coningsby
.
The
Marquess
thought
he
could
read
characters
by
a
glance
,
and
in
general
he
was
very
successful
;
for
his
natural
sagacity
had
been
nurtured
by
great
experience
.
His
grandson
was
not
to
his
taste
;
amiable
,
no
doubt
,
but
a
spooney
.
We
are
too
apt
to
believe
that
the
character
of
a
boy
is
easily
read
.
'
Tis
a
mystery
the
most
profound
.
Mark
what
blunders
parents
constantly
make
as
to
the
nature
of
their
own
offspring
,
bred
too
under
their
eyes
,
and
displaying
every
hour
their
characteristics
.
How
often
in
the
nursery
does
the
genius
count
as
a
dunce
because
he
is
pensive
;
while
a
rattling
urchin
is
invested
with
almost
supernatural
qualities
because
his
animal
spirits
make
him
impudent
and
flippant
!
The
school-boy
above
all
others
is
not
the
simple
being
the
world
imagines
.
In
that
young
bosom
are
often
stirring
passions
as
strong
as
our
own
,
desires
not
less
violent
,
a
volition
not
less
supreme
.
In
that
young
bosom
what
burning
love
,
what
intense
ambition
,
what
avarice
,
what
lust
of
power
;
envy
that
fiends
might
emulate
,
hate
that
man
might
fear
!
CHAPTER
IV
.
"
Come
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
when
Coningsby
was
somewhat
composed
,
"
come
with
me
,
and
we
will
see
the
house
.
"
So
they
descended
once
more
the
private
staircase
,
and
again
entered
the
vestibule
.
"
If
you
had
seen
these
gardens
when
they
were
illuminated
for
a
fête
to
George
IV
,
"
said
Rigby
,
as
crossing
the
chamber
he
ushered
his
charge
into
the
state-apartments
.
The
splendour
and
variety
of
the
surrounding
objects
soon
distracted
the
attention
of
the
boy
,
for
the
first
time
in
the
palace
of
his
fathers
.
He
traversed
saloon
after
saloon
hung
with
rare
tapestry
and
the
gorgeous
products
of
foreign
looms
;
filled
with
choice
pictures
and
creations
of
curious
art
;
cabinets
that
sovereigns
might
envy
,
and
colossal
vases
of
malachite
presented
by
Emperors
.
Coningsby
alternately
gazed
up
to
ceilings
glowing
with
colour
and
with
gold
,
and
down
upon
carpets
bright
with
the
fancies
and
vivid
with
the
tints
of
Aubusson
and
of
Axminster
.
"
This
grandfather
of
mine
is
a
great
prince
,
"
thought
Coningsby
,
as
musing
he
stood
before
a
portrait
in
which
he
recognised
the
features
of
the
being
from
whom
he
had
so
recently
and
so
strangely
parted
.
There
he
stood
,
Philip
Augustus
,
Marquess
of
Monmouth
,
in
his
robes
of
estate
,
with
his
new
coronet
on
a
table
near
him
,
a
despatch
lying
at
hand
that
indicated
the
special
mission
of
high
ceremony
of
which
he
had
been
the
illustrious
envoy
,
and
the
garter
beneath
his
knee
.
"
You
will
have
plenty
of
opportunities
to
look
at
the
pictures
,
"
said
Rigby
,
observing
that
the
boy
had
now
quite
recovered
himself
.
"
Some
luncheon
will
do
you
no
harm
after
our
drive
,
"
and
he
opened
the
door
of
another
apartment
.
It
was
a
pretty
room
,
adorned
with
a
fine
picture
of
the
chase
:
at
a
round
table
in
the
centre
sate
two
ladies
interested
in
the
meal
to
which
Rigby
had
alluded
.
"
Ah
,
Mr.
Rigby
!
"
said
the
eldest
,
yet
young
and
beautiful
,
and
speaking
,
though
with
fluency
,
in
a
foreign
accent
,
"
come
and
tell
me
some
news
.
Have
you
seen
Milor
?
"
and
then
she
threw
a
scrutinizing
glance
from
a
dark
flashing
eye
at
his
companion
.
"
Let
me
present
to
your
Highness
,
"
said
Rigby
with
an
air
of
some
ceremony
,
"
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
"
My
dear
young
friend
,
"
said
the
Lady
,
extending
her
white
hand
with
an
air
of
joyous
welcome
,
"
this
is
Lucretia
,
my
daughter
.
We
love
you
already
.
Lord
Monmouth
will
be
so
charmed
to
see
you
.
What
beautiful
eyes
he
has
,
Mr.
Rigby
!
Quite
like
Milor
.
"
The
young
lady
,
who
was
really
more
youthful
than
Coningsby
,
but
of
a
form
and
stature
so
developed
,
that
she
appeared
almost
a
woman
,
bowed
to
the
guest
with
some
ceremony
,
and
a
faint
sullen
smile
,
and
then
proceeded
with
her
chicken-pie
.
"
You
must
be
so
hungry
after
your
drive
,
"
said
the
elder
lady
,
placing
Coningsby
at
her
side
,
and
herself
filling
his
plate
.
This
was
true
enough
;
and
while
Mr.
Rigby
and
the
lady
talked
an
infinite
deal
about
things
which
he
did
not
understand
,
and
persons
of
whom
he
had
never
heard
,
our
little
hero
made
his
first
meal
in
his
paternal
house
with
no
ordinary
zest
;
and
renovated
by
the
pasty
and
a
glass
of
sherry
,
felt
altogether
a
very
different
being
to
what
he
was
,
when
he
had
undergone
the
terrible
interview
in
which
,
he
began
to
reflect
,
he
had
considerably
exposed
himself
.
His
courage
revived
,
his
senses
rallied
,
he
replied
to
the
interrogations
of
the
lady
with
calmness
,
but
with
promptness
and
propriety
.
It
was
evident
that
he
had
made
a
favourable
impression
on
her
Highness
,
for
ever
and
anon
she
put
a
truffle
or
some
small
delicacy
in
his
plate
,
and
insisted
upon
his
taking
some
particular
confectionary
,
because
it
was
a
favourite
of
her
own
.
When
she
rose
,
she
said
:
"
In
ten
minutes
the
carriage
will
be
at
the
door
;
and
if
you
like
,
my
dear
young
friend
,
you
shall
be
our
beau
.
"
"
There
is
nothing
I
should
like
so
much
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
Ah
!
"
said
the
lady
with
the
sweetest
smile
,
"
he
is
frank
.
"
The
ladies
bowed
and
retired
;
Mr.
Rigby
returned
to
the
Marquess
,
and
the
groom
of
the
chambers
led
Coningsby
to
his
room
.
This
lady
,
so
courteous
to
Coningsby
,
was
the
Princess
Colonna
,
a
Roman
dame
,
the
second
wife
of
Prince
Paul
Colonna
.
The
Prince
had
first
married
when
a
boy
,
and
into
a
family
not
inferior
to
his
own
.
Of
this
union
,
in
every
respect
unhappy
,
the
Princess
Lucretia
was
the
sole
offspring
.
He
was
a
man
dissolute
,
and
devoted
to
play
;
and
cared
for
nothing
much
but
his
pleasures
and
billiards
,
in
which
latter
he
was
esteemed
unrivalled
.
According
to
some
,
in
a
freak
of
passion
,
according
to
others
,
to
cancel
a
gambling
debt
,
he
had
united
himself
to
his
present
wife
,
whose
origin
was
obscure
;
but
with
whom
he
contrived
to
live
on
terms
of
apparent
cordiality
,
for
she
was
much
admired
,
and
made
the
society
of
her
husband
sought
by
those
who
contributed
to
his
enjoyment
.
Among
these
especially
figured
the
Marquess
of
Monmouth
,
between
whom
and
Prince
Colonna
the
world
recognised
as
existing
the
most
intimate
and
entire
friendship
,
so
that
his
Highness
and
his
family
were
frequent
guests
under
the
roof
of
the
English
nobleman
,
and
now
accompanied
him
on
a
visit
to
England
.
CHAPTER
V.
In
the
meantime
,
while
ladies
are
luncheoning
on
chicken
pie
,
or
coursing
in
whirling
britskas
,
performing
all
the
singular
ceremonies
of
a
London
morning
in
the
heart
of
the
season
;
making
visits
where
nobody
is
seen
,
and
making
purchases
which
are
not
wanted
;
the
world
is
in
agitation
and
uproar
.
At
present
the
world
and
the
confusion
are
limited
to
St.
James
's
Street
and
Pall
Mall
;
but
soon
the
boundaries
and
the
tumult
will
be
extended
to
the
intended
metropolitan
boroughs
;
to-morrow
they
will
spread
over
the
manufacturing
districts
.
It
is
entirely
evident
,
that
before
eight
and
forty
hours
have
passed
,
the
country
will
be
in
a
state
of
fearful
crisis
.
And
how
can
it
be
otherwise
?
Is
it
not
a
truth
,
that
the
subtle
Chief
Baron
has
been
closeted
one
whole
hour
with
the
King
;
that
shortly
after
,
with
thoughtful
brow
and
compressed
lip
,
he
was
marked
in
his
daring
chariot
entering
the
court-yard
of
Apsley
House
.
Great
was
the
panic
at
Brookes
'
,
wild
the
hopes
of
Carlton
Terrace
;
All
the
gentlemen
who
expected
to
have
been
made
peers
,
perceived
that
the
country
was
going
to
be
given
over
to
a
rapacious
oligarchy
.
In
the
meantime
,
Tadpole
and
Taper
,
who
had
never
quitted
for
an
instant
the
mysterious
head-quarters
of
the
late
opposition
,
were
full
of
hopes
and
fears
,
and
asked
many
questions
which
they
chiefly
answered
themselves
.
"
I
wonder
what
Lord
Lyndhurst
will
say
to
the
King
,
"
said
Taper
.
"
He
has
plenty
of
pluck
,
"
said
Tadpole
.
"
I
almost
wish
now
that
Rigby
had
breakfasted
with
him
this
morning
,
"
said
Taper
.
"
If
the
King
be
firm
,
and
the
country
sound
,
"
said
Tadpole
,
"
and
Lord
Monmouth
keep
his
boroughs
,
I
should
not
wonder
if
Rigby
were
made
a
privy
counsellor
.
"
"
There
is
no
precedent
for
an
under
secretary
being
a
privy
counsellor
,
"
said
Taper
.
"
But
we
live
in
revolutionary
times
,
"
said
Tadpole
.
"
Gentlemen
,
"
said
the
groom
of
the
chambers
,
in
a
loud
voice
,
entering
the
room
,
"
I
am
desired
to
state
that
the
Duke
of
Wellington
is
with
the
King
.
"
"
There
is
a
Providence
!
"
exclaimed
an
agitated
gentleman
,
the
patent
of
whose
intended
peerage
had
not
been
signed
the
day
that
the
Duke
had
quitted
office
in
1830.
"
I
always
thought
the
King
would
be
firm
,
"
said
Mr.
Tadpole
.
"
I
wonder
who
will
have
the
India
Board
,
"
said
Taper
.
At
this
moment
,
three
or
four
gentlemen
entered
the
room
in
a
state
of
great
bustle
and
excitement
;
they
were
immediately
surrounded
.
"
Is
it
true
?
Quite
true
;
not
the
slightest
doubt
.
Saw
him
myself
.
Not
at
all
hissed
;
certainly
not
hooted
.
Perhaps
a
little
hissed
.
One
fellow
really
cheered
him
.
Saw
him
myself
.
Say
what
they
like
there
is
re-action
.
But
Constitution
Hill
they
say
?
Well
,
there
was
a
sort
of
inclination
to
a
row
on
Constitution
Hill
;
but
the
Duke
quite
firm
;
pistols
and
carriage
doors
bolted
.
"
Such
may
give
a
faint
idea
of
the
anxious
inquiries
,
and
the
satisfactory
replies
that
were
occasioned
by
the
entrance
of
this
group
.
"
Up
guards
and
at
them
!
"
exclaimed
Tadpole
,
rubbing
his
hands
in
a
fit
of
patriotic
enthusiasm
.
Later
in
the
afternoon
,
about
five
o'clock
,
the
high
change
of
political
gossip
,
when
the
room
was
crowded
,
and
every
one
had
his
rumour
,
Mr.
Rigby
looked
in
again
to
throw
his
eye
over
the
evening
papers
,
and
catch
in
various
chit-chat
the
tone
of
public
or
party
feeling
on
the
'
crisis
.
'
Then
it
was
known
that
the
Duke
had
returned
from
the
King
,
having
accepted
the
charge
of
forming
an
administration
.
An
administration
to
do
what
?
Portentous
question
!
Were
concessions
to
be
made
?
And
if
so
,
what
?
Was
it
altogether
impossible
,
and
too
late
,
stare
super
vias
antiquas
?
Questions
altogether
above
your
Tadpoles
and
your
Tapers
,
whose
idea
of
the
necessities
of
the
age
was
that
they
themselves
should
be
in
office
.
Lord
Eskdale
came
up
to
Mr.
Rigby
.
This
peer
was
a
noble
Croesus
,
acquainted
with
all
the
gradations
of
life
;
a
voluptuary
who
could
be
a
Spartan
;
clear-sighted
,
unprejudiced
,
sagacious
;
the
best
judge
in
the
world
of
a
horse
or
a
man
;
he
was
the
universal
referee
;
a
quarrel
about
a
bet
or
a
mistress
was
solved
by
him
in
a
moment
,
and
in
a
manner
which
satisfied
both
parties
.
He
patronised
and
appreciated
the
fine
arts
,
though
a
jockey
;
respected
literary
men
,
though
he
only
read
French
novels
;
and
without
any
affectation
of
tastes
which
he
did
not
possess
,
was
looked
upon
by
every
singer
and
dancer
in
Europe
,
as
their
natural
champion
.
The
secret
of
his
strong
character
and
great
influence
was
his
self-composure
,
which
an
earthquake
or
a
Reform
Bill
could
not
disturb
,
and
which
in
him
was
the
result
of
temperament
and
experience
.
He
was
an
intimate
acquaintance
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
for
they
had
many
tastes
in
common
;
were
both
men
of
considerable
,
and
in
some
degree
similar
abilities
;
and
were
the
two
greatest
proprietors
of
close
boroughs
in
the
country
.
"
Do
you
dine
at
Monmouth
House
to-day
?
"
inquired
Lord
Eskdale
of
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
Where
I
hope
to
meet
your
Lordship
.
The
Whig
papers
are
very
subdued
,
"
continued
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
Ah
!
they
have
not
the
cue
yet
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
.
"
And
what
do
you
think
of
affairs
?
"
inquired
his
companion
.
"
I
think
the
hounds
are
too
hot
to
hark
off
now
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
.
"
There
is
one
combination
,
"
said
Rigby
,
who
seemed
meditating
an
attack
on
Lord
Eskdale
's
button
.
"
Give
us
it
at
dinner
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
;
who
knew
his
