Rodney Stone

e craving was all the stronger because I durst not speak openly about it, for the least hint of it brought the tears into my mother's eyes. But now there was the less reason that I should stay

ry in the war time to see the sails of the French chasse-marées and privateers. Again and again I have heard the roar of the guns coming from far out over the waters. Seamen would tell us how they had left London and been engaged ere nightfall, or sailed out of Portsmouth and been yard-arm to yard-arm before they had lost sight of St. Helen's light. It was this imminence of the danger which warmed o

e. It was this one side of life which first presented itself to me, and so, as a boy, I used to picture the City as a gigantic stable with a huge huddle of coaches, which were for ever streaming off down the country roads. But, then, Champion Harrison told me how the fighting-men lived there, and my father how the heads of the Navy lived there, and my mother how her brother and his grand friends were there, until at last

een and ardent mind of Boy Jim. It was but a few days after the coming of my uncle's lette

es in it, and there it is finished. Then I do it again and again, and blow up the bellows and feed the forge, and rasp a hoof or two, a

tall, sinewy figure, and I wondered whether in

vy is the place for

re likely to do, you go as an officer, and it is you who do the o

his orders from

-swain's whip. 'Who ordered that?' I asked. 'The captain,' said he. 'And what would you have had if you had struck him dead?' said I. 'The yard-arm,' he answered. 'Then if I had been you that's wh

are as proud as

ould be easier if I could. I was made to be my own maste

is that

it as well as I do to listen. I have it all laid out in my mind, and I can see where the playhouses are, and how the river runs,

ow

ays, and my aunt the same. Why should I wait? What am I to wait for? No, Roddy, I'll stay no longer eating my heart out in this little village, but I'

d a driving-coat to match, with a servant in dark livery behind. They flashed past us in a rolling cloud of dust, and I had just a glimpse of the pale, handsome face of the master, and of the dark, shrivelled features

for home at the top of my speed. At the door was standing the dark-face

upposing that this is the house of Lieutenant Stone? In that case you will, perhaps, do me the favour t

d face, and sharp little dark eyes, which took in me and the house and my mother's startled face at the window all

may restore me to a condition in which I may fitly pay my compliments to a lady. Meantime, I send you Fidelio as a hostage. Pray give him

Come in, Mr. Fidelio. Every man to his own taste, and six drops to the half-p

ant, but his features reset themselves instantly

me to say so. My name is Ambrose, and I have the honour to be the

ave him down by the fireside. Why should he have

will tell Sir Charles that his wishes shall be carried o

swiftly, but was back in a few

certain wines, so that we usually bring them with us when we visit." He opened the basket, and in a minute he had the table all shining with si

s as stout as your fingers are quick," said he. "Did you

I desire no other master," he answered. "But I will convey

der his arm, and close at his heels was the gen

h from my lips-that monstrous, glistening eye. But the next instant I perceived that he held a round glass in the front of it, which mag

sister in the Mall. I am your servant, sir," he continued, holding out his hand to my father. "It was but last week that I had the honour of dining with my friend, Lord St. Vincent, and I took occasion to mention you to him. I may tell you that yo

you, nephew

nteen

ry-very passable, indeed. He has not the bel air, the tournure-in our uncouth

and handsome, with a prominent chin, a jutting nose, and large blue staring eyes, in which a sort of dancing, mischievous light was for ever playing. He wore a deep brown coat with a collar as high as his ears and tails as low as his knees. His black breeches and silk stockings ended in very small pointed shoes, so highly polished that they twinkled with every movement. His vest was of black velvet, open at the top to show an embroidered

d, bronze-faced image by the door, with the big silver-bou

o your bedchamber, S

m travelling. I cannot readily forget the agonies which I endured some years ago through neglecting this precaution. I will do Ambrose the justice to say that it was before he took charge of my affairs. I was co

eyes danced and gleamed. He handed his open snuff-box to

trious company by dipping your f

" said my fat

t intimate sign of my goodwill. Outside ourselves there are four, I think, who have had access to it-the Prince, of course; Mr Pit

at his guest from under his shaggy eyebrows, for with that grave

ch of morals. Only the other day, as I was seated in Watier's, my box of prime macouba open upon the table beside me, an Irish bishop thrust in his intrusive fing

father. "You draw you

e; "I wish no better epi

nwhile descended, and we

e. Abernethy has me under his orders, and I must eschew your rich country dainties. A li

said my father. "Salt junk and weevilly biscuits, with a rib of a tough Bar

of the Nile and of the Toulon blockade, and the siege of Genoa, and all that he had seen and done. But whenever he

. T. does this,' or 'Sir C. T. says the other,' so I take them no longer. But if a man is in my position all knowledge comes to him. The Duke of York tells me of the Army in the morning,

t Almack's, but all in the same light, fanciful way, so that one never knew whether to laugh or to take him gravely. I think it flattered him to see the way in which we all three hung upon h

de famille there; and even with you I can scarce

keep him from ill

alty, for a sneer and a gibe are more the fashions in town. The King is grateful to me for the interest

sked my mother. "Is

And he has some taste in dress, though he gets slovenly if I am too long

e, for the evening had turned chilly. The lam

that this is your first

urned suddenly ve

. "I was but one-and-twenty years of age when

urder, and I saw by her face that my mother knew it also. My father, h

e inn you sta

as the occasion when he was accused of slaying

close my eyes now, I can see the light upon his proud, handsome face, and see also my dear father, concerned at

attle or wreck, and that you have put him out of your mind in the routine of your daily life, until suddenly some wo

ther

s perhaps my senior, but our tastes, our judgments, and our characters were alike, save only that he had in him a touch of pride such as I have never known in any other man.

, to such a crime?

shook h

that question, and it comes hom

f his manner, and he had turned s

t he did it, Charle

hrugged hi

it was this very pride, turning suddenly to madness, which drove him

nothing of it," m

w little, save that he was not of the best repute, and was deep in the hands of the Jews. Sir Lothian has made an evil name for himself since-'tis the same Sir Lothian who shot Lord Carton in the affair at Cha

ell upon my ears, and then a second louder one, coming from the direction of Captain Barrington's room. Five minutes later I heard steps passing down the passage, and, without striking a light, I opened my door and peeped out, thinking that some one was taken unwell. There was Lord Avo

awakened by findin

that you should have lost this money in my h

I should most certainly have claimed my money had I won, so that it

ch it,' said he. 'There it lies, an

oom like a madman. But perhaps these details are familia

taring eyes, and his forgott

r the end of it,

st. His experience had been the same as my own, and he was eager to see Captain Barrington; and to ascertain why he had directed his brothe

h the vividness of the memory, and

Captain's room, and there we found him lying with the bone gleaming white through his throat. A hunting-knife lay in the room-and the knife was Lord Avon's. A lace ruffle was found in the dead ma

was clear and plain, with none of those strange London ways which had so amazed me. Here wa

Lord Avon?" c

l murder against him, the constables came for him in full cry. But they found him fled. There was a rumour that he had been seen in Westminster in the next week, and then that he had escaped

s. My uncle held out his hands towards the blaze, and I notic

eery house, even before this shadow fell upon it. A fitter stage was never set forth for

ears the st

They never took their wondering eyes off me as I told my story, and my heart swelled with pride when my uncle said

on plays us strange tricks, and though I have as steady a nerve as a man might wish, I cannot

fire, and I heard the steps as clearly as I hear the crack

said be, thoughtfully. "Yo

s too

nly a

k outlin

reated up t

es

shed into

es

wall?" cried a voi

d with a catch of my breath, and there was the valet, Ambrose, his body in the shadow of

he meaning of this,

ce, and the demure mask of the valet replace it. His eyes still smou

you had any orders for me, and I did not like to interrupt the young gen

orget yourself befo

l to mind the relation in which I stood to Lord Avon." He spok

claim consideration. The fact is that the poor fellow was valet to Lord Avon, that he was at Cliffe Royal upon the fatal night of which I have spoken, and that he is most devote