VI. MRS. CALVERLEY RENDERS CHETWYND AN IMPORTANT SERVICE.
Next morning while the party were assembled at breakfast, Captain Danvers announced his intention of terminating his visit, which he declared had been most agreeable; and, though pressed to stay by Mrs. Calverley, he declined.
“I have promised to spend a few days with Lady Barfleur before my return to town,” he said, “and must not disappoint her. I have written to tell her she may expect me at dinner to-day.”
“Then you really mean to leave us?” said Mrs. Calverley. “This is a very short visit. I hoped you would spend at least a week here. But you won't be far off, and can come back again if you are so inclined. I shall be very glad to see you.”
Mildred did not say a word. If she had spoken, he would have assented.
“You are very good,” he rejoined; “but it is possible I may be summoned to town.”
“It is quite certain you will find Brackley very dull after this lively house, Charles,” said Emmeline. “Take my advice and stay where you are.”
“A little solitude will suit my present mood,” he rejoined. “If I feel very, very lonely, I'll ride over here.”
“Well, we offer you our society,” said Mrs. Calverley.
“All of you?” asked the captain, glancing at Mildred, who was on the opposite side of the table.
But she did not look at him.
“If you are positively going, I'll ride over to Brackley with you this afternoon,” observed Chet-wynd.
“And stay to dinner,” said the captain. “My aunt will be very glad of your company.”
“That she will, I'm sure,” observed Emmeline. “Suppose we all go? What say you?” she added to Mildred.
The young lady appealed to shook her head.
“The drive will do you good,” said Emmeline. “Be persuaded.”
“No, thank you; not to-day,” replied Mildred.
Captain Danvers looked at her imploringly; but she remained steadfast.
“Well, since you are so perverse, you deserve to be left behind,” said Emmeline. “You shall drive me in your pony-carriage, dear Mrs. Calverley.”
“With greatest pleasure,” replied the lady. “But I can't promise you an adventure—”
Then feeling that the remark might awaken painful recollections, she stopped short.
During the latter part of this discourse, Norris had entered the room, and, approaching Chetwynd, told him, in a whisper, that two persons wanted to see him on important business.
“Who are they?” inquired Chetwynd, thinking there was something strange in the butler's manner.
“They didn't give their names, sir,” replied Norris; “and I've never seen them before. I've shown them into the library.”
“Quite right. I'll come to them after breakfast.”
“Better see them at once, I think, sir,” observed Norris, significantly.
On this Chetwynd got up, without disturbing the party, and following the butler out of the room, repaired to the library, where he found the two personages.
Looks, dress, and deportment proclaimed their vocation. Coarse, stout, red-faced, vulgar-looking dogs, they seemed up to their business. Each was provided with a stout stick.
Having seen such fellows before, Chetwynd instantly understood what they were. But they would not have left him long in doubt.
As he entered the room, one of the twain stepped up to him, and said, with an attempt at a bow.
“Mr. Chetwynd Calverley, I presume?”
Chetwynd replied in the affirmative.
“My name's Grimsditch,” said the fellow, “and my mate's name is Hulse. We are officers. We have a writ against you for seven hundred pounds.”
“But I owe no such sum,” replied Chetwynd.
“Beg pardon, sir,” said Grimsditch. “But we have the particulars. You gave a bill for six hundred pounds to Philip Marsh Romney, Esq. With costs and interest it now amounts to a hundred more.”
“You'll find it quite correct, sir,” added Hulse. “I dare say you'll recollect all about it.”
“I recollect something about a gambling debt to Mr. Romney for six hundred pounds; but I was told I ought not to pay it, and I won't.”
“Sorry to hear you say so, sir,” replied Grimsditch. “We hoped the matter would be quietly settled. But if it can't be, you must come along with us.”
Chetwynd looked very angry for a moment, and seemed inclined to kick them both out of the room.
“We can't help it, sir,” said Grimsditch. “We must do our duty.”
“However unpleasant it may be to us,” added Hulse.
“Make no excuses—I don't want them,” said Chetwynd. “I'll be back directly.”
“Can't part with you, sir!” said Grimsditch, planting himself before the door, so as to prevent egress. “Against rule. Hulse will ring the bell if you wish it.”
“Do so, then,” said Chetwynd.
The bell was rung, and the summons immediately answered by Norris, who must have been close at hand.
Chetwynd then sat down at a table on which writing materials were placed, and traced a few hurried lines on a sheet of paper, which he enclosed in an envelope.
“Take this note to Mrs. Calverley,” he said to Norris.
“Instantly, sir,” replied the butler, glancing indignantly at the officers.
While Norris went on his errand, Chetwynd remained seated at the table with his back towards the officers.
In a few minutes the door opened, and Captain Danvers came in with a note in his hand.
“Out of my way, men!” he said, as he marched past them.
“Mrs. Calverley has sent you a cheque on the Chester Bank for the amount you require—seven hundred pounds,” he added to Chetwynd. “Pay these fellows, and get rid of them!”
“Here's the bill, with charges and all particulars,” said Grimsditch, following him to the table.
“And there's the cheque,” said Chetwynd, giving it to him after he had endorsed it.
“All right, sir,” replied Grimsditch. “On Chester, I see; my own bank can't be better. Always glad to have one of them cheques in my pocket-book. And now, sir,” he added, “if you'll allow me to sit down, I'll give you a receipt.”
This business completed, Grimsditch got up, bowed, and was retiring with his companion, when Chetwynd called out to them.
“Stay a minute!” he said, in a stern tone. “I wish you to understand that I consider this as a most nefarious transaction. I have been robbed!”
“Sir!” exclaimed both officers.
“Not by you, but by your employer. Philip Marsh Romney is a consummate scoundrel! Tell him so!”
“We won't do you such a bad turn, sir,” rejoined Grimsditch. “Mr. Romney might bring an action for libel.”
“No, he won't,” said Chetwynd. “He knows better. He may have done with me, but I have not done with him. Tell him that, at all events.”
“We will,” replied the officers, as they disappeared.
“I'm glad you've got rid of those rascals, Chetwynd,” said Captain Danvers. “Upon my soul! I think Mrs. Calverley has behaved remarkably well. On receiving your note, she got up to write the cheque at once, and begged me to take it to you. She wouldn't bring it herself, you see, as her presence might have annoyed you.”
“Yes, it was very well done, I admit; and I am greatly obliged to her.”
“But you don't seem half grateful enough,” said Danvers.
“Oh, yes, I am grateful—very grateful!” replied Chetwynd.
Shortly afterwards he went to Mrs. Calverley, and said:
“You have rendered me a great service; but I don't know when I shall be able to repay you.”
“Repay me whenever it may be convenient,” she replied; “or not at all. Just give me a memorandum that I have advanced you seven hundred pounds; that is all I require.”