Beaumanoir,
Mr.
Melton
and
Sir
Charles
Buckhurst
formed
the
party
.
They
seemed
profuse
in
their
congratulations
to
Lady
Everingham
,
having
already
learnt
the
intelligence
from
her
brother
.
Coningsby
stopped
to
speak
to
Lady
St.
Julians
,
who
had
still
a
daughter
to
marry
.
Both
Augustina
who
was
at
Coningsby
Castle
,
and
Clara
Isabella
who
ought
to
have
been
there
,
had
each
secured
the
right
man
.
But
Adelaide
Victoria
had
now
appeared
,
and
Lady
St.
Julians
had
a
great
regard
for
the
favourite
grandson
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
and
also
for
the
influential
friend
of
Lord
Vere
and
Sir
Charles
Buckhurst
.
In
case
Coningsby
did
not
determine
to
become
her
son-in-law
himself
,
he
might
counsel
either
of
his
friends
to
a
judicious
decision
on
an
inevitable
act
.
"
Strawberries
and
cream
?
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
to
Mr.
Ormsby
who
seemed
occupied
with
some
delicacies
.
"
Egad
!
no
,
no
,
no
;
those
days
are
passed
.
I
think
there
is
a
little
easterly
wind
with
all
this
fine
appearance
.
"
"
I
am
for
in-door
nature
myself
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
.
"
Do
you
know
I
do
n't
half
like
the
way
Monmouth
is
going
on
.
He
never
gets
out
of
that
villa
of
his
.
He
should
change
his
air
more
.
Tell
him
.
"
"
It
's
no
use
telling
him
anything
.
Have
you
heard
anything
of
Miladi
?
"
"
I
had
a
letter
from
her
to-day
;
she
writes
in
very
good
spirits
.
I
am
sorry
it
broke
up
,
and
yet
I
never
thought
it
would
last
as
long
.
"
"
I
gave
them
two
years
,
"
said
Mr.
Ormsby
,
"
Lord
Monmouth
lived
with
his
first
wife
two
years
.
And
afterwards
with
the
Mirandola
at
Milan
,
at
least
nearly
two
years
,
it
was
a
year
and
ten
months
.
I
must
know
,
for
he
called
me
in
to
settle
affairs
.
I
took
the
lady
to
the
Baths
of
Lucca
on
the
pretence
that
Monmouth
would
meet
us
there
.
He
went
to
Paris
.
All
his
great
affairs
have
been
two
years
.
I
remember
I
wanted
to
bet
Cassilis
at
White
's
on
it
when
he
married
,
but
I
thought
being
his
intimate
friend
,
the
oldest
friend
he
has
indeed
,
and
one
of
his
trustees
,
it
was
perhaps
as
well
not
to
do
it
.
"
"
You
should
have
made
the
bet
with
himself
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
,
"
and
then
there
never
would
have
been
a
separation
.
"
"
Hah
,
hah
,
hah
!
Do
you
know
I
feel
the
wind
.
"
About
an
hour
after
this
Coningsby
who
had
just
quitted
the
Duchess
,
met
on
the
terrace
by
the
river
Lady
Wallinger
walking
with
Mrs.
Guy
Flouncey
and
a
Russian
Prince
whom
that
lady
was
enchanting
.
Coningsby
was
about
to
pass
with
some
slight
courtesy
,
but
Lady
Wallinger
stopped
and
would
speak
to
him
:
on
very
slight
subjects
;
the
weather
and
the
fête
;
but
yet
enough
adroitly
managed
to
make
him
turn
and
join
her
.
Mrs.
Guy
Flouncey
walked
on
a
little
before
with
her
Russian
admirer
.
Lady
Wallinger
followed
with
Coningsby
.
"
The
match
that
has
been
proclaimed
today
has
greatly
surprised
me
,
"
said
Lady
Wallinger
.
"
Indeed
!
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
I
confess
I
was
long
prepared
for
it
.
And
it
seems
to
me
the
most
natural
alliance
conceivable
and
one
that
every
one
must
approve
.
"
"
Lady
Everingham
seems
very
much
surprised
at
it
.
"
"
Ah
!
Lady
Everingham
is
a
very
brilliant
personage
,
and
cannot
deign
to
observe
obvious
circumstances
.
"
"
Do
you
know
,
Mr.
Coningsby
,
that
I
always
thought
you
were
engaged
to
Lady
Theresa
?
"
"
I
!
"
"
Indeed
we
were
informed
more
than
a
month
ago
,
that
you
were
positively
going
to
be
married
to
her
.
"
"
I
am
not
one
of
those
who
can
shift
their
affections
with
such
rapidity
,
Lady
Wallinger
.
"
Lady
Wallinger
looked
distressed
.
"
You
remember
our
meeting
you
on
the
stairs
at
—
House
,
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
"
Painfully
.
It
is
deeply
graven
on
my
brain
.
"
"
Edith
had
just
been
informed
that
you
were
going
to
be
married
to
Lady
Theresa
.
"
"
Not
surely
by
him
to
whom
she
is
herself
going
to
be
married
,
"
said
Coningsby
reddening
.
"
I
am
not
aware
that
she
is
going
to
be
married
to
any
one
.
Lord
Beaumanoir
admires
her
;
has
always
admired
her
.
But
Edith
has
given
him
no
encouragement
,
at
least
gave
him
no
encouragement
as
long
as
she
believed
—
but
why
dwell
on
such
an
unhappy
subject
,
Mr.
Coningsby
.
I
am
to
blame
,
I
have
been
to
blame
perhaps
before
,
but
indeed
I
think
it
cruel
,
very
cruel
that
Edith
and
you
are
kept
asunder
.
"
"
You
have
always
been
my
best
,
my
dearest
friend
;
and
are
the
most
amiable
and
admirable
of
women
.
But
tell
me
,
is
it
indeed
true
that
Edith
is
not
going
to
be
married
?
"
At
this
moment
Mrs.
Guy
Flouncey
turned
round
,
and
assuring
Lady
Wallinger
that
the
Prince
and
herself
had
agreed
to
refer
some
point
to
her
about
the
most
transcendental
ethics
of
flirtation
,
this
deeply
interesting
conversation
was
arrested
,
and
Lady
Wallinger
with
becoming
suavity
was
obliged
to
listen
to
the
lady
's
lively
appeal
of
exaggerated
nonsense
,
and
the
Prince
affected
protests
,
while
Coningsby
walked
by
her
side
pale
and
agitated
,
and
then
offered
his
arm
to
Lady
Wallinger
which
she
accepted
with
an
affectionate
pressure
.
At
the
end
of
the
terrace
they
met
some
other
guests
,
and
soon
were
immersed
in
the
multitude
that
thronged
the
lawn
.
"
There
is
Sir
Joseph
,
"
said
Lady
Wallinger
,
and
Coningsby
looked
up
,
and
saw
Edith
on
his
arm
.
They
were
unconsciously
approaching
them
.
Lord
Beaumanoir
was
there
,
but
he
seemed
to
shrink
into
nothing
to-day
before
Buckhurst
,
who
was
captivated
for
the
moment
by
Edith
,
and
hearing
that
no
knight
was
resolute
enough
to
try
a
fall
with
the
Marquess
,
was
impelled
by
his
talent
for
action
to
enter
the
lists
.
He
had
talked
down
everybody
,
unhorsed
every
cavalier
.
Nobody
had
a
chance
against
him
;
he
answered
all
your
questions
before
you
asked
them
;
contradicted
everybody
with
the
intrepidity
of
a
Rigby
;
annihilated
your
anecdotes
by
historiettes
infinitely
more
piquant
;
and
if
anybody
chanced
to
make
a
joke
which
he
could
not
excel
,
declared
immediately
that
it
was
a
Joe
Miller
.
He
was
absurd
,
extravagant
,
grotesque
,
noisy
;
but
he
was
young
,
rattling
,
and
interesting
from
his
health
and
spirits
.
Edith
was
extremely
amused
by
him
;
and
was
encouraging
by
her
smile
his
spiritual
excesses
,
when
they
all
suddenly
met
Lady
Wallinger
and
Coningsby
.
The
eyes
of
Edith
and
Coningsby
met
for
the
first
time
since
they
so
cruelly
encountered
on
the
staircase
of
—
House
.
A
deep
,
quick
blush
suffused
her
face
;
her
eyes
gleamed
with
a
sudden
corruscation
;
suddenly
and
quickly
she
put
forth
her
hand
.
Yes
!
he
presses
once
more
that
hand
which
permanently
to
retain
is
the
passion
of
his
life
,
yet
which
may
never
be
his
!
It
seemed
that
for
the
ravishing
delight
of
that
moment
,
he
could
have
borne
with
cheerfulness
all
the
dark
and
harrowing
misery
of
the
year
that
had
past
away
since
he
embraced
her
in
the
woods
of
Hellingsley
,
and
pledged
his
faith
by
the
waters
of
the
rushing
Darl
.
He
seized
the
occasion
which
offered
itself
,
a
moment
to
walk
by
her
side
,
and
to
snatch
some
brief
instants
of
unreserved
communion
.
"
Forgive
me
!
"
she
said
.
"
Ah
!
how
could
you
ever
doubt
me
!
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
I
was
unhappy
.
"
"
And
now
we
are
to
each
other
as
before
?
"
"
And
will
be
;
come
what
come
may
.
"
BOOK
IX
.
CHAPTER
I
.
It
was
merry
Christmas
at
St.
Geneviève
.
There
was
a
Yule
log
blazing
on
every
hearth
in
that
wide
domain
,
from
the
hall
of
the
squire
to
the
peasant
's
roof
.
The
Buttery
Hatch
was
open
for
the
whole
week
from
noon
to
sunset
;
all
comers
might
take
their
fill
,
and
each
carry
away
as
much
bold
beef
,
white
bread
,
and
jolly
ale
as
a
strong
man
could
bear
in
a
basket
with
one
hand
.
For
every
woman
a
red
cloak
,
and
a
coat
of
broad
cloth
for
every
man
.
All
day
long
,
carts
laden
with
fuel
and
warm
raiment
were
traversing
the
various
districts
,
distributing
comfort
and
dispensing
cheer
.
For
a
Christian
gentleman
of
high
degree
was
Eustace
Lyle
.
Within
his
hall
too
he
holds
his
revel
,
and
his
beauteous
bride
welcomes
their
guests
from
her
noble
parents
to
the
faithful
tenants
of
the
house
.
All
classes
are
mingled
in
the
joyous
equality
that
becomes
the
season
,
at
once
sacred
and
merry
.
There
are
carols
for
the
eventful
Eve
,
and
mummers
for
the
festive
Day
.
The
Duke
and
Duchess
and
every
member
of
the
family
had
consented
this
year
to
keep
their
Christmas
with
the
newly
married
couple
.
Coningsby
too
was
there
,
and
all
his
friends
.
The
party
was
numerous
,
gay
,
hearty
and
happy
;
for
they
were
all
united
by
sympathy
.
They
were
planning
that
Henry
Sydney
should
be
appointed
Lord
of
Misrule
,
or
ordained
Abbot
of
Unreason
at
the
least
,
so
successful
had
been
his
revival
of
the
Mummers
,
the
Hobby-horse
not
forgotten
.
Their
host
had
intrusted
to
Lord
Henry
the
restoration
of
many
old
observances
,
and
the
joyous
feeling
which
this
celebration
of
Christmas
had
diffused
throughout
a
very
extensive
district
,
was
a
fresh
argument
in
favour
of
Lord
Henry
's
principle
,
that
a
mere
mechanical
mitigation
of
the
material
necessities
of
the
humbler
classes
,
a
mitigation
which
must
inevitably
be
very
limited
,
can
never
alone
avail
sufficiently
to
ameliorate
their
condition
;
that
their
condition
is
not
merely
"
a
knife
and
fork
question
,
"
to
use
the
coarse
and
shallow
phrase
of
the
Utilitarian
school
;
that
a
simple
satisfaction
of
the
grosser
necessities
of
our
nature
will
not
make
a
happy
people
;
that
you
must
cultivate
the
heart
as
well
as
seek
to
content
the
belly
;
and
that
the
surest
means
to
elevate
the
character
of
the
people
is
to
appeal
to
their
affections
.
There
is
nothing
more
interesting
than
to
trace
predisposition
.
An
indefinite
yet
strong
sympathy
with
the
Peasantry
of
the
realm
had
been
one
of
the
characteristic
sensibilities
of
Lord
Henry
at
Eton
.
Yet
a
schoolboy
,
he
had
busied
himself
with
their
pastimes
and
the
details
of
their
cottage
economy
.
As
he
advanced
in
life
,
the
horizon
of
his
views
expanded
with
his
intelligence
and
his
experience
,
and
the
son
of
one
of
the
noblest
of
our
houses
,
to
whom
the
delights
of
life
are
offered
with
fatal
facility
,
on
the
very
threshold
of
his
career
,
he
devoted
his
time
and
thought
,
labour
and
life
,
to
one
vast
and
noble
purpose
,
the
elevation
of
the
condition
of
the
great
body
of
the
people
.
"
I
vote
for
Buckhurst
being
Lord
of
Misrule
,
"
said
Lord
Henry
,
"
I
will
be
content
with
being
his
Gentleman
Usher
.
"
It
shall
be
put
to
the
vote
,
"
said
Lord
Vere
.
"
No
one
has
a
chance
against
Buckhurst
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
Now
,
Sir
Charles
,
"
said
Lady
Everingham
,
"
your
absolute
sway
is
about
to
commence
.
And
what
is
your
will
.
"
"
The
first
thing
must
be
my
formal
installation
,
"
said
Buckhurst
.
"
I
vote
the
Boar
's
head
be
carried
in
procession
thrice
round
the
hall
,
and
Beau
shall
be
the
champion
to
challenge
all
who
question
my
right
.
Duke
,
you
shall
be
my
chief
butler
;
the
Duchess
my
herbwoman
.
She
is
to
walk
before
me
,
and
scatter
rosemary
.
Coningsby
shall
carry
the
Boar
's
head
.
Lady
Theresa
and
Lady
Everingham
shall
sing
the
canticle
.
Lord
Everingham
shall
be
Marshal
of
the
lists
,
and
put
all
in
the
stocks
who
are
found
sober
and
decorous
.
Lyle
shall
be
the
palmer
from
the
Holy
Land
,
and
Vere
shall
ride
the
Hobby-horse
.
Some
must
carry
cups
of
Hippocrass
;
some
lighted
tapers
;
all
must
join
in
chorus
.
"
He
ceased
his
instructions
and
all
hurried
away
to
carry
them
into
effect
.
Some
hastily
arrayed
themselves
in
fanciful
dresses
,
the
ladies
in
robes
of
white
with
garlands
of
flowers
,
some
drew
pieces
of
armour
from
the
wall
,
and
decked
themselves
with
helm
and
hauberk
,
others
waved
ancient
banners
.
They
brought
in
the
Boar
's
head
on
a
large
silver
dish
,
and
Coningsby
raised
it
aloft
.
They
formed
into
procession
,
the
Duchess
distributing
rosemary
,
Buckhurst
swaggering
with
all
the
majesty
of
Tamerlane
,
his
mock
court
irresistibly
humorous
with
their
servility
,
and
the
sweet
voice
of
Lady
Everingham
chaunting
the
first
verse
of
the
Canticle
,
followed
in
the
second
by
the
rich
tones
of
Lady
Theresa
.
I
.
Caput
Apri
defero
Reddens
laudes
Bomino
The
Boar
's
heade
in
hande
bring
I
,
With
garlandes
gay
and
rosemary
,
I
pray
you
all
singe
merrily
,
Qui
estis
in
conbibio
.
II
.
Caput
Apri
defero
Reddens
laudes
Bomino
The
Boar
's
head
I
understande
Is
the
chief
serbyee
in
this
lande
Loke
whereeber
it
be
fande
Serbite
cum
cantico
.
The
procession
thrice
paraded
the
Hall
.
Then
they
stopped
,
and
the
Lord
of
Misrule
ascended
his
throne
and
his
courtiers
formed
round
him
in
circle
.
Behind
him
they
held
the
ancient
banners
and
waved
their
glittering
arms
;
and
placed
on
a
lofty
and
illuminated
pedestal
the
Boar
's
head
covered
with
garlands
.
It
was
a
good
picture
and
the
Lord
of
Misrule
sustained
his
part
with
untiring
energy
.
He
was
addressing
his
court
in
a
pompous
rhapsody
of
merry
nonsense
,
when
a
servant
approached
Coningsby
and
told
him
that
he
was
wanted
without
.
Our
hero
retired
unperceived
.
A
despatch
had
arrived
for
him
from
London
.
Without
any
prescience
of
its
purpose
,
he
nevertheless
broke
the
seal
with
a
trembling
hand
.
His
presence
was
immediately
desired
in
town
—
Lord
Monmouth
was
dead
.
CHAPTER
II
.
This
was
a
crisis
in
the
life
of
Coningsby
;
yet
,
like
many
critical
epochs
,
the
person
most
interested
in
it
was
not
sufficiently
aware
of
its
character
.
The
first
feeling
which
he
experienced
at
the
intelligence
was
sincere
affliction
.
He
was
fond
of
his
grandfather
;
had
received
great
kindness
from
him
,
and
at
a
period
of
life
when
it
was
most
welcome
.
The
neglect
and
hardships
of
his
early
years
,
instead
of
leaving
a
prejudice
against
one
who
by
some
might
be
esteemed
their
author
,
had
only
rendered
by
their
contrast
Coningsby
more
keenly
sensible
of
the
solicitude
and
enjoyment
which
had
been
lavished
on
his
happy
youth
.
The
next
impression
on
his
mind
was
undoubtedly
a
natural
and
reasonable
speculation
on
the
effect
of
this
bereavement
on
his
fortunes
.
Lord
Monmouth
had
more
than
once
assured
Coningsby
that
he
had
provided
for
him
as
became
a
near
relative
to
whom
he
was
attached
;
and
in
a
manner
which
ought
to
satisfy
the
wants
and
wishes
of
an
English
gentleman
.
The
allowance
which
Lord
Monmouth
had
made
him
,
as
considerable
as
usually
accorded
to
the
eldest
sons
of
wealthy
peers
,
might
justify
him
in
estimating
his
future
patrimony
as
extremely
ample
.
He
was
aware
indeed
that
at
a
subsequent
period
,
his
grandfather
had
projected
for
him
fortunes
of
a
still
more
elevated
character
.
He
looked
to
Coningsby
as
the
future
representative
of
an
ancient
Barony
,
and
had
been
purchasing
territory
with
the
view
of
supporting
the
title
.
But
Coningsby
did
not
by
any
means
firmly
reckon
on
these
views
being
realized
.
He
had
a
suspicion
that
in
thwarting
the
wishes
of
his
grandfather
in
not
becoming
a
candidate
for
Darlford
,
he
had
at
the
moment
arrested
arrangements
which
,
from
the
tone
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
communication
,
he
believed
were
then
in
progress
for
that
purpose
;
and
he
thought
it
improbable
,
with
his
knowledge
of
his
grandfather
's
habits
,
that
Lord
Monmouth
had
found
either
time
or
inclination
to
resume
before
his
decease
the
completion
of
these
plans
.
Indeed
there
was
a
period
when
in
adopting
the
course
which
he
pursued
with
respect
to
Darlford
,
Coningsby
was
well
aware
that
he
perilled
more
than
the
large
fortune
which
was
to
accompany
the
Barony
.
Had
not
a
separation
between
Lord
Monmouth
and
his
wife
taken
place
simultaneously
with
Coningsby
's
difference
with
his
grandfather
,
he
was
conscious
that
the
consequences
might
have
been
even
altogether
fatal
to
his
prospects
;
but
the
absence
of
her
evil
influence
at
such
a
conjuncture
,
its
permanent
removal
indeed
from
the
scene
,
coupled
with
his
fortunate
though
not
formal
reconciliation
with
Lord
Monmouth
,
had
long
ago
banished
from
his
memory
all
those
apprehensions
to
which
he
had
felt
it
impossible
at
the
time
to
shut
his
eyes
.
Before
he
left
town
for
Scotland
,
he
had
made
a
farewell
visit
to
his
grandfather
,
who
,
though
not
as
cordial
as
in
old
days
,
had
been
gracious
;
and
Coningsby
,
during
his
excursion
to
the
moors
,
and
his
various
visits
to
the
country
,
had
continued
at
intervals
to
write
to
his
grandfather
,
as
had
been
for
some
years
his
custom
.
On
the
whole
,
with
an
indefinite
feeling
which
,
in
spite
of
many
a
rational
effort
,
did
nevertheless
haunt
his
mind
,
that
this
great
and
sudden
event
might
exercise
a
very
vast
and
beneficial
influence
on
his
worldly
position
,
Coningsby
could
not
but
feel
some
consolation
in
the
affliction
which
he
sincerely
experienced
,
in
the
hope
that
he
might
at
all
events
now
offer
to
Edith
a
home
worthy
of
her
charms
,
her
virtues
,
and
her
love
.
Although
he
had
not
seen
her
since
their
hurried
yet
sweet
reconciliation
in
the
gardens
of
Lady
Everingham
,
Coningsby
was
never
long
without
indirect
intelligence
of
the
incidents
of
her
life
;
and
the
correspondence
between
Lady
Everingham
and
Henry
Sydney
,
while
they
were
at
the
moors
,
had
apprised
him
that
Lord
Beaumanoir
's
suit
had
terminated
unsuccessfully
almost
immediately
after
his
brother
had
quitted
London
.
It
was
late
in
the
evening
when
Coningsby
arrived
in
town
:
he
called
at
once
on
Lord
Eskdale
,
who
was
one
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
executors
;
and
he
persuaded
Coningsby
,
whom
he
saw
depressed
,
to
dine
with
him
alone
.
"
You
should
not
be
seen
at
a
Club
,
"
said
the
good-natured
peer
;
"
and
I
remember
myself
in
old
days
what
was
the
wealth
of
an
Albanian
larder
.
"
Lord
Eskdale
at
dinner
talked
very
frankly
of
the
disposition
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
property
.
He
spoke
as
a
matter
of
course
that
Coningsby
was
his
grandfather
's
principal
heir
.
"
I
do
n't
know
whether
you
will
be
happier
with
a
large
fortune
?
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
.
"
It
's
a
troublesome
thing
;
nobody
is
satisfied
with
what
you
do
with
it
;
very
often
not
yourself
.
To
maintain
an
equable
expenditure
;
not
to
spend
too
much
on
one
thing
,
too
little
on
another
,
is
an
art
.
There
must
be
a
harmony
,
a
keeping
,
in
disbursement
,
which
very
few
men
have
.
Great
wealth
wearies
.
The
thing
to
have
is
about
ten
thousand
a-year
,
and
the
world
to
think
you
have
only
five
.
There
's
some
enjoyment
then
;
one
is
let
alone
.
But
the
instant
you
have
a
large
fortune
,
duties
commence
.
And
then
impudent
fellows
borrow
your
money
,
and
if
you
ask
them
for
it
again
,
they
go
about
town
saying
you
are
a
Screw
.
"
Lord
Monmouth
had
died
suddenly
at
his
Richmond
villa
,
which
latterly
he
never
quitted
,
at
a
little
supper
;
with
no
persons
near
him
but
those
who
were
very
amusing
.
He
suddenly
found
he
could
not
lift
his
glass
to
his
lips
,
and
being
extremely
polite
waited
a
few
minutes
before
he
asked
Clotilde
,
who
was
singing
a
very
sparkling
drinking
song
,
to
do
him
that
service
.
When
in
accordance
with
his
request
she
reached
him
,
it
was
too
late
.
The
ladies
shrieked
,
being
very
frightened
:
at
first
they
were
in
despair
,
but
after
reflection
,
they
evinced
some
intention
of
plundering
the
house
.
Villebecque
who
was
absent
at
the
moment
arrived
in
time
;
and
every
body
became
orderly
and
broken-hearted
.
The
body
had
been
removed
to
Monmouth
House
,
where
it
had
been
embalmed
and
laid
in
state
.
The
funeral
was
not
numerously
attended
.
There
was
nobody
in
town
;
some
distinguished
connexions
however
came
up
from
the
country
,
though
it
was
a
period
inconvenient
for
such
movements
.
After
the
funeral
,
the
will
was
to
be
read
in
the
principal
saloon
of
Monmouth
House
,
one
of
those
gorgeous
apartments
that
had
excited
the
boyish
wonder
of
Coningsby
on
his
first
visit
to
that
paternal
roof
,
and
now
hung
in
black
adorned
with
the
escutcheon
of
the
deceased
peer
.
The
testamentary
dispositions
of
the
late
Lord
were
still
unknown
,
though
the
names
of
his
executors
had
been
announced
by
his
family
solicitor
,
in
whose
custody
the
will
and
codicils
had
always
remained
.
The
executors
under
the
will
were
Lord
Eskdale
,
Mr.
Ormsby
,
and
Mr.
Rigby
.
By
a
subsequent
appointment
,
Sidonia
was
added
.
All
these
individuals
were
now
present
.
Coningsby
,
who
had
been
chief
mourner
,
stood
on
the
right
hand
of
the
solicitor
,
who
sat
at
the
end
of
a
long
table
,
round
which
in
groups
were
ranged
all
who
had
attended
the
funeral
,
including
several
of
the
superior
members
of
the
household
;
among
them
M
.
Villebecque
.
The
solicitor
rose
and
explained
that
though
Lord
Monmouth
had
been
in
the
habit
of
very
frequently
adding
codicils
to
his
will
,
the
original
will
however
changed
or
modified
had
never
been
revoked
;
it
was
therefore
necessary
to
commence
by
reading
that
instrument
.
So
saying
he
sate
down
,
and
breaking
the
seals
of
a
large
packet
,
he
produced
the
will
of
Philip
Augustus
,
Marquess
of
Monmouth
,
which
had
been
retained
in
his
custody
since
its
execution
.
By
this
will
,
of
the
date
of
1829
,
the
sum
of
ten
thousand
pounds
was
left
to
Coningsby
,
then
unknown
to
his
grandfather
;
the
same
sum
to
Mr.
Rigby
.
There
were
a
great
number
of
legacies
,
none
of
inferior
amount
,
most
of
them
of
a
less
;
these
were
chiefly
left
to
old
male
companions
and
women
in
various
countries
.
There
was
an
almost
inconceivable
number
of
small
annuities
to
faithful
servants
,
decayed
actors
,
and
obscure
foreigners
.
The
residue
of
his
personal
estate
was
left
to
four
gentlemen
;
three
of
whom
had
quitted
this
world
before
the
legator
;
the
bequests
therefore
had
lapsed
.
The
fourth
residuary
legatee
,
in
whom
according
to
the
terms
of
the
will
all
would
have
consequently
centred
was
Mr.
Rigby
.
There
followed
several
codicils
which
did
not
materially
effect
the
previous
disposition
;
one
of
them
leaving
a
legacy
of
£
20
,
000
to
the
Princess
Colonna
;
until
they
arrived
at
the
latter
part
of
the
year
1832
,
when
a
codicil
increased
the
£
10
,
000
left
under
the
will
to
Coningsby
to
£
50
,
000.
After
Coningsby
's
visit
to
the
Castle
in
1836
a
very
important
change
occurred
in
the
disposition
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
estate
.
The
legacy
of
£
50
,
000
in
his
favour
was
revoked
,
and
the
same
sum
left
to
the
Princess
Lucretia
.
A
similar
amount
was
bequeathed
to
Mr.
Rigby
;
and
Coningsby
was
left
sole
residuary
legatee
.
The
marriage
led
to
a
considerable
modification
.
An
estate
of
about
nine
thousand
a
year
which
Lord
Monmouth
had
himself
purchased
,
and
was
therefore
in
his
own
disposition
was
left
to
Coningsby
.
The
legacy
to
Mr.
Rigby
was
reduced
to
£
20
,
000
,
and
the
whole
of
his
residue
left
to
his
issue
by
Lady
Monmouth
;
in
case
he
died
without
issue
,
the
estate
bequeathed
to
Coningsby
to
be
taken
into
account
,
and
the
residue
then
to
be
divided
equally
between
Lady
Monmouth
and
his
grandson
.
It
was
under
this
instrument
that
Sidonia
had
been
appointed
an
executor
,
and
to
whom
Lord
Monmouth
left
,
among
others
,
his
celebrated
picture
of
the
Holy
Family
by
Murillo
,
as
his
friend
had
often
admired
it
.
To
Lord
Eskdale
he
left
all
his
female
miniatures
,
and
to
Mr.
Ormsby
his
rare
and
splendid
collection
of
French
novels
,
and
all
his
wines
,
except
his
Tokay
,
which
he
left
,
with
his
library
to
Sir
Robert
Peel
;
though
this
legacy
was
afterwards
revoked
in
consequence
of
Sir
Robert
's
conduct
about
the
Irish
Corporations
.
The
solicitor
paused
and
begged
permission
to
send
for
a
glass
of
water
.
While
this
was
arranging
there
was
a
murmur
at
the
lower
part
of
the
room
,
but
little
disposition
to
conversation
among
those
in
the
vicinity
of
the
lawyer
.
Coningsby
was
silent
,
his
brow
a
little
knit
;
Mr.
Rigby
was
extremely
pale
and
restless
,
but
said
nothing
.
Mr.
Ormsby
took
a
pinch
of
snuff
,
and
offered
his
box
to
Lord
Eskdale
who
was
next
to
him
.
They
exchanged
glances
,
and
made
some
observation
about
the
weather
.
Sidonia
stood
apart
with
his
arms
folded
.
He
had
not
of
course
attended
the
funeral
,
nor
had
he
as
yet
exchanged
any
recognition
with
Coningsby
.
"
Now
,
gentlemen
,
"
said
the
solicitor
,
"
if
you
please
I
will
proceed
.
"
They
came
to
the
year
1839
,
the
year
Coningsby
was
at
Hellingsley
.
This
appeared
to
be
a
very
critical
period
in
the
fortunes
of
Lady
Monmouth
;
while
Coningsby
's
reached
to
the
culminating
point
.
Mr.
Rigby
was
reduced
to
his
original
legacy
under
the
will
of
£
10
,
000
;
a
sum
of
equal
amount
was
bequeathed
to
Armand
Villebecque
in
acknowledgment
of
faithful
services
;
all
the
disposition
in
favour
of
Lady
Monmouth
were
revoked
,
and
she
was
limited
to
her
moderate
jointure
of
£
3
,
000
per
annum
,
under
the
marriage
settlement
;
while
everything
without
reserve
was
left
absolutely
to
Coningsby
.
A
subsequent
codicil
determined
that
the
£
10
,
000
left
to
Mr.
Rigby
should
be
equally
divided
between
him
and
Lucian
Gay
,
but
as
some
compensation
,
Lord
Monmouth
left
to
the
Right
Honourable
Nicholas
Rigby
the
bust
of
that
gentleman
,
which
he
had
himself
presented
to
his
Lordship
,
and
which
at
his
desire
had
been
placed
in
the
vestibule
at
Coningsby
Castle
,
from
the
amiable
motive
that
after
Lord
Monmouth
's
decease
Mr.
Rigby
might
wish
perhaps
to
present
it
to
some
other
friend
.
Lord
Eskdale
and
Mr.
Ormsby
took
care
not
to
catch
the
eye
of
Mr.
Rigby
.
As
for
Coningsby
he
saw
nobody
.
He
maintained
during
the
extraordinary
situation
in
which
he
was
placed
a
firm
demeanour
;
but
serene
and
regulated
as
he
appeared
to
the
spectators
,
his
nerves
were
really
strung
to
a
high
pitch
.
There
was
yet
another
codicil
.
It
bore
the
date
of
June
1840
;
and
was
made
at
Brighton
immediately
after
the
separation
with
Lady
Monmouth
.
It
was
the
sight
of
this
instrument
that
sustained
Rigby
at
this
great
emergency
.
He
had
a
wild
conviction
that
after
all
,
it
must
set
all
right
.
He
felt
assured
that
as
Lady
Monmouth
had
already
been
disposed
of
,
it
must
principally
refer
to
the
disheritance
of
Coningsby
—
secured
by
Rigby
's
well-timed
and
malignant
mis-representations
of
what
had
occurred
in
Lancashire
during
the
preceding
summer
.
And
then
to
whom
could
Lord
Monmouth
leave
his
money
?
However
he
might
cut
and
carve
up
his
fortunes
,
Rigby
,
and
especially
at
a
moment
when
he
had
so
served
him
,
must
come
in
for
a
considerable
slice
.
His
prescient
mind
was
right
.
All
the
dispositions
in
favour
of
"
my
grandson
Harry
Coningsby
"
were
revoked
;
and
he
inherited
from
his
grandfather
only
the
interest
of
the
sum
of
£
10
,
000
which
had
been
originally
bequeathed
to
him
in
his
orphan
boyhood
.
The
executors
had
the
power
of
investing
the
principal
in
any
way
they
thought
proper
for
his
advancement
in
life
,
provided
always
it
was
not
placed
in
"
the
capital
stock
of
any
manufactory
.
"
Coningsby
turned
pale
;
he
lost
his
abstracted
look
,
he
caught
the
eye
of
Rigby
,
he
read
the
latent
malice
of
that
nevertheless
anxious
countenance
.
What
passed
through
the
mind
and
being
of
Coningsby
was
thought
and
sensation
enough
for
a
year
,
yet
it
was
as
the
flash
that
reveals
a
whole
country
,
yet
ceases
to
be
ere
one
can
say
it
lightens
.
There
was
a
revelation
to
him
of
an
inward
power
that
should
baffle
these
conventional
calamities
;
a
natural
and
sacred
confidence
in
his
youth
and
health
,
and
knowledge
and
convictions
.
Even
the
recollection
of
Edith
was
not
unaccompanied
with
some
sustaining
associations
.
At
least
the
mightiest
foe
to
their
union
was
departed
.
All
this
was
the
impression
of
an
instant
,
simultaneous
with
the
reading
of
the
words
of
form
with
which
the
last
testamentary
disposition
of
the
Marquess
of
Monmouth
left
the
sum
of
£
30
,
000
to
Armand
Villebecque
;
and
all
the
rest
,
residue
,
and
remainder
of
his
unentailed
property
wheresoever
and
whatsoever
it
might
be
,
amounting
in
value
to
nearly
a
million
sterling
,
was
given
devised
and
bequeathed
to
Flora
,
commonly
called
Flora
Villebecque
,
the
step-child
of
the
said
Armand
Villebecque
,
"
but
who
is
my
natural
daughter
by
Marie
Estelle
Matteau
,
an
actress
at
the
Théâtre
Français
in
the
years
1811-15
by
the
name
of
Stella
.
"
CHAPTER
III
.
"
This
is
a
crash
,
"
said
Coningsby
with
a
grave
rather
than
agitated
countenance
to
Sidonia
,
as
his
friend
came
up
to
greet
him
without
however
any
expression
of
condolence
.
"
This
time
next
year
,
you
will
not
think
so
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
Coningsby
shrugged
his
shoulders
.
"
The
principal
annoyance
of
this
sort
of
miscarriage
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
is
the
condolence
of
the
gentle
world
.
I
think
we
may
now
depart
.
I
am
going
home
to
dine
.
Come
and
discuss
your
position
.
For
the
present
we
will
not
speak
of
it
.
"
So
saying
Sidonia
good-naturedly
got
Coningsby
out
of
the
room
.
They
walked
together
to
Sidonia
's
house
in
Carlton
Gardens
,
neither
of
them
making
the
slightest
allusion
to
the
catastrophe
;
Sidonia
inquiring
where
he
had
been
,
what
he
had
been
doing
,
since
they
last
met
,
and
himself
conversing
in
his
usual
vein
,
though
with
a
little
more
feeling
in
his
manner
than
was
his
custom
.
When
they
had
arrived
there
,
Sidonia
ordered
their
dinner
instantly
,
and
during
the
interval
between
the
command
and
its
appearance
,
he
called
Coningsby
's
attention
to
an
old
German
painting
he
had
just
received
,
its
brilliant
colouring
and
quaint
costumes
.
"
Eat
,
and
an
appetite
will
come
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
when
he
observed
Coningsby
somewhat
reluctant
.
"
Take
some
of
that
Chablis
;
it
will
put
you
right
;
you
will
find
it
delicious
.
"
In
this
way
some
twenty
minutes
past
;
their
meal
was
over
,
and
they
were
alone
together
.
"
I
have
been
thinking
all
this
time
of
your
position
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
"
A
sorry
one
,
I
fear
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
I
really
cannot
see
that
,
"
said
his
friend
"
You
have
experienced
this
morning
a
disappointment
;
but
not
a
calamity
.
If
you
had
lost
your
eye
it
would
have
been
a
calamity
:
no
combination
of
circumstances
could
have
given
you
another
.
There
are
really
no
miseries
except
natural
miseries
:
conventional
misfortunes
are
mere
illusions
.
What
seems
conventionally
in
a
limited
view
a
great
misfortune
,
if
subsequently
viewed
in
its
results
,
is
often
the
happiest
incident
in
one
's
life
.
"
"
I
hope
the
day
may
come
when
I
may
feel
this
.
"
"
Now
is
the
moment
when
philosophy
is
of
use
;
that
is
to
say
,
now
is
the
moment
when
you
should
clearly
comprehend
the
circumstances
which
surround
you
.
Holiday
philosophy
is
mere
idleness
.
You
think
,
for
example
,
that
you
have
just
experienced
a
great
calamity
,
because
you
have
lost
the
fortune
on
which
you
counted
?
"
"
I
must
say
I
do
.
"
"
I
ask
you
again
:
which
would
you
have
rather
lost
,
your
grandfather
's
inheritance
or
your
right
leg
?
"
"
Most
certainly
my
inheritance
.
"
"
Or
your
left
arm
?
"
"
Still
the
inheritance
.
"
"
Would
you
have
received
the
inheritance
on
condition
,
that
your
front
tooth
should
have
been
knocked
out
.
"
"
No
;
certainly
not
.
"
"
Would
you
have
given
up
a
year
of
your
life
for
that
fortune
trebled
?
"
"
Even
at
twenty-three
,
I
would
have
refused
the
terms
.
"
"
Come
,
come
,
Coningsby
,
the
calamity
cannot
be
very
great
.
"
"
Why
you
have
put
it
in
a
very
ingenious
point
of
view
;
and
yet
it
is
not
easy
to
convince
a
man
that
he
should
be
content
who
has
lost
everything
.
"
"
You
have
a
great
many
things
at
this
moment
that
you
separately
prefer
to
the
fortune
that
you
have
forfeited
.
How
then
can
you
be
said
to
have
lost
everything
?
"
"
What
have
I
?
"
said
Coningsby
,
despondingly
.
"
You
have
health
,
youth
,
good
looks
,
great
abilities
,
considerable
knowledge
,
a
fine
courage
,
a
lofty
spirit
,
and
no
contemptible
experience
.
With
each
of
these
qualities
one
might
make
a
fortune
;
the
combination
ought
to
command
the
highest
.
"
"
You
console
me
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
with
a
faint
blush
and
a
fainter
smile
.
"
I
teach
you
the
truth
.
That
is
always
solacing
.
I
think
you
are
a
most
fortunate
young
man
;
I
should
not
have
thought
you
more
fortunate
if
you
had
been
your
grandfather
's
heir
;
perhaps
less
so
.
But
I
wish
you
to
comprehend
your
position
:
if
you
understand
it
,
you
will
cease
to
lament
.
"
"
But
what
should
I
do
?
"
"
Bring
your
intelligence
to
bear
on
the
right
object
.
I
make
you
no
offers
of
fortune
,
because
I
know
you
would
not
accept
them
,
and
indeed
I
have
no
wish
to
see
you
a
lounger
in
life
.
If
you
had
inherited
a
great
patrimony
,
it
is
possible
your
natural
character
and
previous
culture
might
have
saved
you
from
its
paralysing
influence
;
but
it
is
a
question
even
with
you
.
Now
you
are
free
—
that
is
to
say
you
are
free
,
if
you
are
not
in
debt
.
A
man
who
has
not
seen
the
world
,
whose
fancy
is
harassed
with
glittering
images
of
pleasures
he
has
never
experienced
,
cannot
live
on
£
300
per
annum
;
but
you
can
.
You
have
nothing
to
haunt
your
thoughts
,
or
disturb
the
abstraction
of
your
studies
.
You
have
seen
the
most
beautiful
women
;
you
have
banquetted
in
palaces
;
you
know
what
heroes
and
wits
and
statesmen
are
made
of
;
and
you
can
draw
on
your
memory
instead
of
your
imagination
for
all
those
dazzling
and
interesting
objects
that
make
the
inexperienced
restless
,
and
are
the
cause
of
what
are
called
scrapes
.
But
you
can
do
nothing
if
you
be
in
debt
.
You
must
be
free
.
Before
therefore
we
proceed
,
I
must
beg
you
to
be
frank
on
this
head
.
If
you
have
any
absolute
or
contingent
incumbrances
,
tell
me
of
them
without
reserve
,
and
permit
me
to
clear
them
at
once
to
any
amount
.
You
will
sensibly
oblige
me
in
so
doing
:
because
I
am
interested
in
watching
your
career
,
and
if
the
racer
start
with
a
clog
my
psychological
observations
will
be
imperfect
.
"
"
You
are
indeed
a
friend
;
and
had
I
debts
I
would
ask
you
to
pay
them
.
I
have
nothing
of
the
kind
.
My
grandfather
was
so
lavish
in
his
allowance
to
me
that
I
never
got
into
difficulties
.
Besides
there
are
horses
and
things
without
end
which
I
must
sell
,
and
money
at
Drummond
's
.
"
"
That
will
produce
your
outfit
,
whatever
the
course
you
adopt
.
I
conceive
there
are
two
careers
which
deserve
your
consideration
.
In
the
first
place
there
is
Diplomacy
.
If
you
decide
upon
that
,
I
can
assist
you
.
There
exists
between
me
and
the
Minister
such
relations
that
I
can
at
once
secure
you
that
first
step
which
is
so
difficult
to
obtain
.
After
that
much
,
if
not
all
,
depends
on
yourself
.
But
I
could
advance
you
,
provided
you
were
capable
.
You
should
at
least
not
languish
for
want
of
preferment
.
In
an
important
post
,
I
could
throw
in
your
way
advantages
which
would
soon
permit
you
to
control
cabinets
.
Information
commands
the
world
.
I
doubt
not
your
success
,
and
for
such
a
career
,
speedy
.
Let
us
assume
it
as
a
fact
.
Is
it
a
result
satisfactory
?
Suppose
yourself
in
a
dozen
years
a
Plenipotentiary
at
a
chief
court
or
at
a
critical
post
;
with
a
red
ribbon
and
the
Privy
Council
in
immediate
perspective
;
and
after
a
lengthened
career
,
a
pension
and
a
peerage
.
Would
that
satisfy
you
?
You
do
n't
look
excited
.
I
am
hardly
surprised
.
In
your
position
,
it
would
not
satisfy
me
.
A
Diplomatist
is
after
all
a
phantom
.
There
is
a
want
of
nationality
about
his
being
.
I
always
look
upon
Diplomatists
as
the
Hebrews
of
politics
;
without
country
,
political
creeds
,
popular
convictions
,
that
strong
reality
of
existence
which
pervades
the
career
of
an
eminent
citizen
in
a
free
and
great
country
.
"
"
You
read
my
thoughts
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
I
should
be
sorry
to
sever
myself
from
England
.
"
"
There
remains
then
the
other
,
the
greater
,
the
nobler
career
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
which
in
England
may
give
you
all
—
the
Bar
.
I
am
absolutely
persuaded
that
with
the
requisite
qualifications
and
with
perseverance
,
success
at
the
Bar
is
certain
.
It
may
be
retarded
or
precipitated
by
circumstances
;
but
cannot
be
ultimately
affected
.
You
have
a
right
to
count
with
your
friends
on
no
lack
of
opportunities
when
you
are
ripe
for
them
.
You
appear
to
me
to
have
all
the
qualities
necessary
for
the
Bar
:
and
you
may
count
on
that
perseverance
,
which
is
indispensable
,
for
the
reason
I
have
before
mentioned
,
because
it
will
be
sustained
by
your
experience
.
"
"
I
have
resolved
,
"
said
Coningsby
;
"
I
will
try
for
the
Great
Seal
.
"
CHAPTER
IV
.
Alone
in
his
chambers
,
no
longer
under
the
sustaining
influence
of
Sidonia
's
converse
and
counsel
,
the
shades
of
night
descending
and
bearing
gloom
to
the
gloomy
,
all
the
excitement
of
his
spirit
evaporated
,
the
heart
of
Coningsby
sank
.
All
now
depended
on
himself
,
and
in
that
self
he
had
no
trust
.
Why
should
he
succeed
?
Success
was
the
most
rare
of
results
.
Thousands
fail
;
units
triumph
.
And
even
success
could
only
be
conducted
to
him
by
the
course
of
many
years
.
His
career
,
even
if
prosperous
,
was
now
to
commence
by
the
greatest
sacrifice
which
the
heart
of
man
could
be
called
upon
to
sustain
.
Upon
the
stern
altar
of
his
fortunes
,
he
must
immolate
his
first
and
enduring
love
.
Before
,
he
had
a
perilous
position
to
offer
Edith
;
now
he
had
none
.
The
future
might
then
have
aided
them
;
there
was
no
combination
which
could
improve
his
present
.
Under
any
circumstances
,
he
must
after
all
his
thought
and
studies
,
commence
a
new
novitiate
,
and
before
he
could
enter
the
arena
,
must
pass
years
of
silent
and
obscure
preparation
.
'
Twas
very
bitter
.
He
looked
up
,
his
eye
caught
that
drawing
of
the
towers
of
Hellingsley
which
she
had
given
him
in
the
days
of
their
happy
hearts
.
That
was
all
that
was
to
remain
of
their
loves
.
He
was
to
bear
it
to
the
future
scene
of
his
labours
,
to
remind
him
through
revolving
years
of
toil
and
routine
,
that
he
too
had
had
his
romance
,
had
roamed
in
fair
gardens
,
and
whispered
in
willing
ears
the
secrets
of
his
passion
.
That
drawing
was
to
become
the
altar
piece
of
his
life
.
Coningsby
passed
an
agitated
night
of
broken
sleep
,
waking
often
with
a
consciousness
of
having
experienced
some
great
misfortune
,
yet
with
a
very
indefinite
conception
of
its
nature
.
He
woke
exhausted
and
dispirited
.
It
was
a
gloomy
day
,
a
raw
north-easter
blowing
up
the
cloisters
of
the
Albany
,
in
which
the
fog
was
lingering
,
the
newspaper
on
his
breakfast
table
full
of
rumoured
particulars
of
his
grandfather
's
will
,
which
had
of
course
been
duly
digested
by
all
who
knew
him
:
What
a
contrast
to
St.
Geneviève
!
To
the
bright
bracing
morn
of
that
merry
Christmas
!
That
radiant
and
cheerful
scene
,
and
those
gracious
and
beaming
personages
,
seemed
another
world
and
order
of
beings
to
the
one
he
now
habited
and
the
people
with
whom
he
must
now
commune
.
The
Great
Seal
indeed
!
It
was
the
wild
excitement
of
despair
,
the
frenzied
hope
that
blends
inevitably
with
absolute
ruin
,
that
could
alone
have
inspired
such
a
hallucination
!
His
unstrung
heart
deserted
him
.
His
energies
could
rally
no
more
.
He
gave
orders
that
he
was
at
home
to
no
one
;
and
in
his
dressing
gown
and
slippers
,
with
his
feet
resting
on
the
fire-place
,
the
once
high-souled
and
noble-hearted
Coningsby
delivered
himself
up
to
despair
.
The
day
passed
in
a
dark
trance
rather
than
a
reverie
.
Nothing
rose
to
his
consciousness
.
He
was
like
a
particle
of
Chaos
;
at
the
best
,
a
glimmering
entity
of
some
shadowy
Hades
.
Towards
evening
the
wind
changed
,
the
fog
dispersed
,
there
came
a
clear
starry
night
,
brisk
and
bright
.
Coningsby
roused
himself
,
dressed
,
and
wrapping
his
cloak
around
him
sallied
forth
.
Once
more
in
the
mighty
streets
,
surrounded
by
millions
,
his
petty
griefs
and
personal
fortunes
assumed
their
proper
position
.
Well
had
Sidonia
taught
him
,
view
everything
in
its
relation
to
the
rest
.
'
Tis
the
secret
of
all
wisdom
.
Here
was
the
mightiest
of
modern
cities
;
the
rival
even
of
the
most
celebrated
of
the
ancient
.
Whether
he
inherited
or
forfeited
fortunes
,
what
was
it
to
the
passing
throng
?
They
would
not
share
his
splendour
,
or
his
luxury
,
or
his
comfort
.
But
a
word
from
his
lip
,
a
thought
from
his
brain
expressed
at
the
right
time
,
at
the
right
place
,
might
turn
their
hearts
,
might
influence
their
passions
,
might
change
their
opinions
,
might
affect
their
destiny
.
Nothing
is
great
but
the
personal
.
As
civilisation
advances
,
the
accidents
of
life
become
each
day
less
important
.
The
power
of
man
,
his
greatness
and
his
glory
,
depend
on
essential
qualities
.
Brains
every
day
become
more
precious
than
blood
.
You
must
give
men
new
ideas
,
you
must
teach
them
new
words
,
you
must
modify
their
manners
,
you
must
change
their
laws
,
you
must
root
out
prejudices
,
subvert
convictions
,
if
you
wish
to
be
great
.
Greatness
no
longer
depends
on
rentals
;
the
world
is
too
rich
;
nor
on
pedigrees
;
the
world
is
too
knowing
.
"
The
greatness
of
this
city
destroys
my
misery
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
and
my
genius
shall
conquer
its
greatness
!
"
This
conviction
of
power
in
the
midst
of
despair
was
a
revelation
of
intrinsic
strength
.
It
is
indeed
the
test
of
a
creative
spirit
.
From
that
moment
all
petty
fears
for
an
ordinary
future
quitted
him
.
He
felt
that
he
must
be
prepared
for
great
sacrifices
,
for
infinite
suffering
;
that
there
must
devolve
on
him
a
bitter
inheritance
of
obscurity
,
struggle
,
envy
and
hatred
,
vulgar
prejudice
,
base
criticism
,
petty
hostilities
,
but
the
dawn
would
break
,
and
the
hour
arrive
,
when
the
welcome
morning
hymn
of
his
success
and
his
fame
would
sound
and
be
re-echoed
.
He
returned
to
his
rooms
;
calm
,
resolute
.
He
slept
the
deep
sleep
of
a
man
void
of
anxiety
;
that
has
neither
hope
nor
fear
to
haunt
his
visions
,
but
is
prepared
to
rise
on
the
morrow
collected
for
the
great
human
struggle
.
And
the
morrow
came
.
Fresh
,
vigorous
,
not
rash
or
precipitate
,
yet
determined
to
lose
no
time
in
idle
meditation
,
Coningsby
already
resolved
at
once
to
quit
his
present
residence
was
projecting
a
visit
to
some
legal
quarter
,
where
he
intended
in
future
to
reside
,
when
his
servant
brought
him
a
note
.
The
handwriting
was
feminine
.
The
note
was
from
Flora
.
The
contents
were
brief
.
She
begged
Mr.
Coningsby
with
great
earnestness
to
do
her
the
honour
and
the
kindness
of
calling
on
her
at
his
earliest
convenience
,
at
the
hotel
in
Brook
Street
where
she
now
resided
.
It
was
an
interview
which
Coningsby
would
rather
have
avoided
;
yet
it
seemed
to
him
,
after
a
moment
's
reflection
,
neither
just
nor
kind
,
nor
manly
to
refuse
her
request
.
Flora
had
not
injured
him
.
She
was
after
all
his
kin
.
Was
it
for
a
moment
to
be
supposed
that
he
was
envious
of
her
lot
?
He
replied
,
therefore
,
that
in
an
hour
he
would
wait
upon
her
.
In
an
hour
then
two
individuals
are
to
be
brought
together
,
whose
first
meeting
was
held
under
circumstances
most
strangely
different
.
Then
Coningsby
was
the
patron
,
a
generous
and
spontaneous
one
,
of
a
being
obscure
,
almost
friendless
,
and
sinking
under
bitter
mortification
.
His
favour
could
not
be
the
less
appreciated
because
he
was
the
chosen
relative
of
a
powerful
noble
.
That
noble
was
no
more
;
his
vast
inheritance
had
devolved
on
the
disregarded
,
even
despised
actress
,
whose
suffering
emotions
Coningsby
had
then
soothed
,
and
whose
fortune
had
risen
on
the
destruction
of
all
his
prospects
,
and
the
baulk
of
all
his
aspirations
.
Flora
was
alone
when
Coningsby
was
ushered
into
the
room
.
The
extreme
delicacy
of
her
appearance
was
increased
by
her
deep
mourning
,
and
seated
in
a
cushioned
chair
,
from
which
she
seemed
to
rise
with
an
effort
,
she
certainly
presented
little
of
the
character
of
a
fortunate
and
prosperous
heiress
.
"
You
are
very
good
to
come
to
me
,
"
she
said
,
faintly
smiling
.
Coningsby
extended
his
hand
to
her
affectionately
in
which
she
placed
her
own
,
looking
down
much
embarrassed
.
"
You
have
an
agreeable
situation
here
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
trying
to
break
the
first
awkwardness
of
their
meeting
.
"
Yes
;
but
I
hope
not
to
stay
here
long
.
"
"
You
are
going
abroad
?
"
"
No
;
I
hope
never
to
leave
England
!
"
There
was
a
slight
pause
;
and
then
Flora
sighed
and
said
:
"
I
wish
to
speak
to
you
on
a
subject
that
gives
me
pain
;
yet
of
which
I
must
speak
.
You
think
I
have
injured
you
?
"
"
I
am
sure
,
"
said
Coningsby
in
a
tone
of
great
kindness
,
"
that
you
could
injure
no
one
.
"
"
I
have
robbed
you
of
your
inheritance
.
"
"
It
was
not
mine
by
any
right
legal
or
moral
.
There
were
others
who
might
have
urged
an
equal
claim
to
it
;
and
there
are
many
who
will
now
think
that
you
might
have
preferred
a
superior
one
.
"
"
You
had
enemies
;
I
was
not
one
.
They
sought
to
benefit
themselves
by
injuring
you
.
They
have
not
benefited
themselves
;
let
them
not
say
,
that
they
have
at
least
injured
you
.
"
"
We
will
care
not
what
they
say
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
I
can
sustain
my
lot
.
"
"
Would
that
I
could
mine
!
"
said
Flora
.
She
sighed
again
with
a
downcast
glance
.
Then
looking
up
embarrassed
and
blushing
deeply
,
she
added
:
"
I
wish
to
restore
to
you
that
fortune
of
which
I
have
unconsciously
and
unwillingly
deprived
you
.
"
"
The
fortune
is
yours
,
dear
Flora
,
by
every
right
;
"
said
Coningsby
much
moved
;
"
and
there
is
no
one
who
wishes
more
fervently
,
that
it
may
contribute
to
your
happiness
than
I
do
.
"
"
It
is
killing
me
,
"
said
Flora
,
mournfully
;
then
speaking
with
unusual
animation
,
with
a
degree
of
excitement
,
she
continued
:
"
I
must
tell
what
I
feel
.
This
fortune
is
yours
.
I
am
happy
in
the
inheritance
,
if
you
generously
receive
it
from
me
,
because
Providence
has
made
me
the
means
of
baffling
your
enemies
.
I
never
thought
to
be
so
happy
as
I
shall
be
if
you
will
generously
accept
this
fortune
,
always
intended
for
you
.
I
have
lived
then
for
a
purpose
;
I
have
not
lived
in
vain
;
I
have
returned
to
you
some
service
,
however
humble
,
for
all
your
—
goodness
to
me
in
my
unhappiness
.
"
"
You
are
,
as
I
have
ever
thought
you
,
the
kindest
and
most
tender-hearted
of
beings
.
But
you
misconceive
our
mutual
positions
,
my
gentle
Flora
.
The
custom
of
the
world
does
not
permit
such
acts
to
either
of
us
as
you
contemplate
.
The
fortune
is
yours
.
It
is
left
you
by
one
on
whose
affections
you
had
the
highest
claim
.
I
will
not
say
that
so
large
an
inheritance
does
not
bring
with
it
an
alarming
responsibility
;
but
you
are
not
unequal
to
it
.
Have
confidence
in
yourself
.
You
have
a
good
heart
;
you
have
good
sense
;
you
have
a
well-principled
being
.
Your
spirit
will
mount
with
your
fortunes
,
and
blend
with
them
.
You
will
be
happy
.
"
"
And
you
?
"
"
I
shall
soon
learn
to
find
content
,
if
not
happiness
,
from
other
sources
,
"
said
Coningsby
;
"
and
mere
riches
,
however
vast
,
could
at
no
time
have
secured
my
felicity
.
"
"
But
they
may
secure
that
which
brings
felicity
,
"
said
Flora
,
speaking
in
a
choaking
voice
,
and
not
meeting
the
glance
of
Coningsby
.
"
You
had
some
views
in
life
which
displeased
him
who
has
done
all
this
;
they
may
be
,
they
must
be
,
affected
by
this
fatal
caprice
.
Speak
to
me
,
for
I
cannot
speak
,
dear
Mr.
Coningsby
;
do
not
let
me
believe
that
I
,
who
would
sacrifice
my
life
for
your
happiness
,
am
the
cause
of
such
calamities
!
"
"
Whatever
be
my
lot
,
I
repeat
I
can
sustain
it
,
"
said
Coningsby
with
a
cheek
of
scarlet
.
"
Ah
!
he
is
angry
with
me
,
"
exclaimed
Flora
,
"
he
is
angry
with
me
,
"
and
the
tears
stole
down
her
pale
cheek
.
"
No
,
no
,
no
,
dear
Flora
;
I
have
no
other
feelings
to
you
but
those
of
affection
and
respect
,
"
and
Coningsby
much
agitated
drew
his
chair
nearer
to
her
and
took
her
hand
.
"
I
am
gratified
by
these
kind
wishes
,
though
they
are
utterly
impracticable
;
but
they
are
the
witnesses
of
your
sweet
disposition
and
your
noble
spirit
.
There
never
shall
exist
between
us
,
under
any
circumstances
,
other
feelings
but
those
of
kin
and
kindness
.
"
He
rose
as
if
to
depart
.
When
she
saw
that
,
she
started
,
and
seemed
to
summon
all
her
energies
.
"
You
are
going
,
"
she
exclaimed
,
"
and
I
have
said
nothing
,
I
have
said
nothing
.
And
I
shall
never
see
you
again
.
Let
me
tell
you
what
I
mean
.
This
fortune
is
yours
;
it
must
be
yours
.
It
is
an
arrow
in
my
heart
.
Do
not
think
I
am
speaking
from
a
momentary
impulse
.
I
know
myself
.
I
have
lived
so
much
alone
;
I
have
had
so
little
to
deceive
or
to
delude
me
;
that
I
know
myself
,
If
you
will
not
let
me
do
justice
,
you
declare
my
doom
.
I
cannot
live
if
my
existence
is
the
cause
of
all
your
prospects
being
blasted
,
and
the
sweetest
dreams
of
your
life
being
defeated
.
When
I
die
,
these
riches
will
be
yours
;
that
you
cannot
prevent
.
Refuse
my
present
offer
,
and
you
seal
the
fate
of
that
unhappy
Flora
,
whose
fragile
life
has
hung
for
years
on
the
memory
of
your
kindness
.
"
"
You
must
not
say
these
words
,
dear
Flora
,
you
must
not
indulge
in
these
gloomy
feelings
.
You
must
live
,
and
you
must
live
happily
.
You
have
every
charm
and
virtue
which
should
secure
happiness
.
The
duties
and
the
affections
of
existence
will
fall
to
your
lot
.
It
is
one
that
will
always
interest
me
,
for
I
shall
ever
be
your
friend
.
You
have
conferred
on
me
one
of
the
most
delightful
of
feelings
—
gratitude
,
and
for
that
I
bless
you
.
I
will
soon
see
you
again
.
"
Mournfully
he
bade
her
farewell
.
CHAPTER
V.
About
a
week
after
this
interview
with
Flora
,
as
Coningsby
one
morning
was
about
to
sally
forth
from
the
Albany
to
visit
some
chambers
in
the
Temple
to
which
his
notice
had
been
attracted
,
there
was
a
loud
ring
,
a
bustle
in
the
hall
,
and
Henry
Sydney
and
Buckhurst
were
ushered
in
.
There
never
was
such
a
cordial
meeting
;
and
yet
the
faces
of
his
friends
were
serious
.
The
truth
is
,
the
paragraphs
in
the
newspapers
had
circulated
in
the
country
,
they
had
written
to
Coningsby
,
and
after
a
brief
delay
he
had
confirmed
their
worst
apprehensions
.
Immediately
they
came
up
to
town
.
Henry
Sydney
,
a
younger
son
,
could
offer
little
but
sympathy
,
but
he
declared
that
it
was
his
intention
also
to
study
for
the
Bar
,
so
they
should
not
be
divided
.
Buckhurst
after
many
embraces
,
and
some
ordinary
talk
,
took
Coningsby
aside
,
and
said
,
"
My
dear
fellow
,
I
have
no
objection
to
Henry
Sydney
hearing
everything
I
say
;
but
still
these
are
subjects
which
men
like
to
be
discussed
in
private
.
Of
course
I
expect
you
to
share
my
fortune
.
There
is
enough
for
both
.
We
will
have
an
exact
division
.
"
There
was
something
in
Buckhurst
's
servent
resolution
very
loveable
and
a
little
humorous
,
just
enough
to
put
one
in
a
good
temper
with
human
nature
and
life
.
If
there
were
any
fellow
's
fortune
in
the
world
that
Coningsby
would
share
,
Buckhurst
's
would
have
had
the
preference
,
but
while
he
pressed
his
hand
,
and
with
a
glance
in
which
a
tear
and
a
smile
seemed
to
contend
for
mastery
,
he
gently
indicated
why
such
arrangements
were
with
our
present
manners
impossible
.
"
I
see
,
"
said
Buckhurst
after
a
moment
's
thought
.
"
I
quite
agree
with
you
.
The
thing
cannot
be
done
;
and
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
a
fortune
is
