Rank and Talent; A Novel, Vol. 3 (of 3)

by William Pitt Scargill

The daughter of the late John Martindale was not slow in apprehending the feeling of Horatio Markham; and it was pleasant to Clara to hear such conversation between the barrister and her mother.

This conversation was presently interrupted by the entrance of that frightful-looking priest, whose inquisitor-like visage had so horrified Markham a short time before. The young man would have retired, but Signora Rivolta desired him to stay, and forthwith she introduced him by name to the dreaded priest. And when Father Martini spoke to the barrister, there was in his voice something not altogether unpleasant. There was solemnity and formality, but there was also kindness and even persuasiveness; and as Markham entered more particularly into conversation with him, there were in his sentiments and expressions strong manifestations of liberal feelings and comprehensive views. Now as Markham knew that Father Martini was zealous for the faith and discipline of his own church, he also supposed that he must be grossly ignorant and illiberal. Markham’s reasoning run thus: Father Martini professes a religion which is absurd and irrational; therefore Father Martini must be an absurd and irrational man: Father Martini professes a religion which assumes to be the only way of salvation; Father Martini, therefore, must suppose that all the rest of the world must be lost, and therefore he must be exceedingly illiberal. Older men than Markham, and men of greater pretence than he, have used the same leaky logic, without perhaps acknowledging it to themselves. Not frequently is it forgotten that nine times out of ten a man’s character has more influence on his religion than his religion has on his character; as a man’s shoe more frequently takes the shape of his foot, than his foot takes the shape of his shoe. But discussions of this nature are for shoemakers and theologians. So we proceed with our narrative.

Markham became rather pleased with the aged priest, and was also pleased with himself for his own liberality. The priest also was pleased with Markham, and thought him a very promising subject for conversion, on account of the great candour with which he spoke of the Catholic church, and the temperate manner in which he discussed divers points on which, in their interview, they happened to touch. The logic of the priest was not indeed much better than the logic of Markham; for candour towards an opponent is not always a symptom of conversion to the said opponent’s creed or theory. There needs, in order to conversion, a strong principle of partisanship. This our young friend possessed not. Nevertheless, the two happened to be well pleased with each other; and there is some good, some religion even, in brotherly love. There is not a great superabundance of that article in the world; whenever therefore it does appear, it should be greeted well.

Markham, after a long conversation with Father Martini, retired. When he was gone, the priest observed to Signora Rivolta that he could not think that so ingenuous a young man could be a very obstinate heretic; but that, in all probability, if some few of his prejudices could be removed, he might be induced, as being a man of good sense, to embrace the Catholic faith. Precisely the same opinion did Markham entertain concerning Father Martini. It was a great pity, the barrister thought, that a man of such liberal feelings, enlightened views, and benevolent disposition, should have been brought up in a faith so contradictory to common sense, and so revolting to the understanding, and all the best feelings of the mind. Both were thus happy in their own thoughts, and pleased with their own theories.

Clara Rivolta now listened with unusual interest and earnestness to the conversation which passed between her mother and Father Martini; and every moment was she in expectation, in trembling expectation, of hearing something said concerning the arrangement recommended, in order to keep herself in the steady profession of the Catholic faith. But the conversation took a more secular turn, and mention was made of the will of the late Mr. Martindale.

Signora Rivolta was a little surprised at the very particular and earnest manner in which Father Martini inquired concerning the will and its particulars.

“You should have inquired, father,” said she, “when the gentleman who has just left us was present. He is one of the executors, and is in possession of all the several specifications and items of the will.”

“And who,” said the priest, “is inheritor of the greater part of the property?”

“That,” replied the lady, “is doubtful. From the little that I can recollect of the will, I believe it was Mr. Martindale’s design to give the greater part of his property to the Earl of Trimmerstone; but, in consequence of some error or misapprehension as to the extent and value of the property, I understand that a very large proportion, perhaps nearly half, devolves to Mr. Markham as residuary-legatee.”