With the fine breeze then blowing, the chasse-mare stood in for the coast of England, not without some apprehension on the part of the Captain of falling in with either a privateer or a cruiser under British colours, though Monsieur Plessis assured him he would be perfectly safe, and incur no risk whatever of being detained.
But it so happened that he made the coast during the night, and about early dawn was standing into the little, and then neglected, bay of Babicomb. He was, however, seen by the coast-guard, and, immediately after coming to an anchor, a boat, pulled by six oars, and an officer in the stern sheets, came off. The Ca-Ira had hoisted English colours. On coming alongside, Madame Coulancourt explained matters to the lieutenant of the coast-guard, and, as the captain of the Ca-Ira called himself a fisherman, and had neither arms, nor ammunition, nor cargo on board, but had incurred a great risk to save English subjects and French Royalists from persecution and imprisonment, the officer was quite willing that he should land his passengers and set sail for France again.
Before the expiration of an hour the whole party on board the Ca-Ira, with the kind assistance of the coast-guard, were safely landed with their effects, and the shelter of the station was afforded them till post-chaises could be procured to carry them to Torquay.
The joy Madame Coulancourt and Mabel would otherwise have felt on setting foot once more upon England’s soil was damped by the uncertainty they felt respecting the fate of our hero and Julian Arden. Still they began to look forward with hope, and after two or three days’ residence at an inn in Torquay, then but an insignificant village, they started for London, where Monsieur Plessis had previously gone and hired a furnished house ready for their reception.
The morning after their arrival their joy and happiness was complete, for in looking over the Times paper, hoping for news, they saw a paragraph headed, “Brilliant action of the Onyx corvette with the fine French frigate the Virginie, of twenty-eight guns, and capture of the latter, after a desperately contested action of nearly four hours. The Onyx corvette arrived the day before yesterday in Plymouth, with the Virginie French frigate of twenty-eight guns in tow, and under the temporary command of Lieutenant Thornton, of the Diamond. The famous French privateer, La Vengeance, was also in company. It seems that this celebrated privateer is the one the Diamond frigate, under the command of Sir Sidney Smith, attempted to cut out of the Port of Havre, but owing to untoward circumstances, caused by wind and tide, failed, and Sir Sidney Smith, with his officers, became prisoners. The Vengeance, it seems, was a second time attempted to be cut out of a French port by the boats of the Onyx, commanded by Captain O’Loughlin and Lieutenant Thornton; and this time they successfully accomplished their object, capturing a fine armed brig at the same time. The Vengeance made a most furious resistance, being chained to the shore and assisted by a body of troops on the beach; but the gallantry of our sailors overcame all obstacles. We regret to add that in the contest with the Virginie Captain O’Loughlin was severely wounded, as well as his first lieutenant, Mr. Charles Pole. The Onyx was in consequence placed under the command of Lieutenant Thornton, and after a severe contest the Virginie, being dismasted and unmanageable, surrendered. There is a good deal of mystery in this gallant affair, which we are unable to explain; but it is confidently rumoured in naval circles that this Lieutenant Thornton claims to be the only son and heir of the late Sir Oscar de Bracy, Governor of ——; and that a volunteer on board the Onyx, who behaved most gallantly in action, of the name of Julian Arden, claims to be the next representative to the title and estates of Sir Granby Etherton. Be this as it may, to all appearance there will be something to be done in our law courts if these rumours turn out correct.”
“Dear mother,” said Mabel, her cheeks glowing with excitement and delight, “all are safe and well, except generous Captain O’Loughlin, and I trust in God he will soon recover.”
“How merciful and how gracious,” returned Madame Coulancourt, her eyes moist with tears of thankfulness, “is Divine Providence, in not only shielding all those dear to us, but covering them with well merited fame.”
“Ah! deeply grateful indeed we ought to be,” said Mabel, and, throwing her arms round her mother’s neck, she fairly shed tears of joy at being thus suddenly relieved from deep anxiety.
Julia Plessis became extremely thoughtful, and apparently in much less joyous spirits after her arrival in London. Mabel perceived this change in her friend, but imputed it to her secret regret at leaving France. Therefore she did not make any remark upon it.
Whilst waiting anxiously, but with grateful and contented hearts, for the arrival in London of Lieutenant Thornton and Julian Arden, we will take a glance at the proceedings of Sir Howard Etherton during the four years from the period when he first became possessed of the title and estates of the Etherton’s. Though perfectly aware of Mabel’s claims to the fortune bequeathed her out of those estates, yet, satisfied in his own mind that she would never be able to prove either her birth or right, he congratulated himself on his selfish and unnatural conduct. So intensely disagreeable did Sir Howard render their home that two of the sisters made runaway marriages, neither of them, as far as birth was concerned, very distinguished. Though entitled to a certain amount of fortune, Sir Howard refused to give a shilling till they were of age, and left the two girls and their young husbands, ensigns in a marching regiment, to make the best of it. Miss Jane remained sole mistress of Etherton Hall, but so closely watched, and so limited in her expenditure, that even she, if she could have found an ensign bold enough to take her, would have gladly abandoned her single state of blessedness. She was not destined, however, long to remain even the nominal mistress of Etherton Hall, for Sir Howard, penurious and avaricious, and inwardly prompted by some feeling of insecurity as to his hold of the Etherton estates, resolved to marry, and to marry for mere wealth.