SOLDIER OF FORTUNE, In Fancy Boards, ONE SHILLING each; Under tlie above title are now published the following popular STANDARD WORKS BY CELEBRATED AUTHORS. the following are now ready :— Martin Beck A. Harris Valerie Capt. Marry at Night Side of Nature Mrs, Crowe ZlNGRA THE GlPSEY A.M.MAILLARD Self-Cqntrol . .*. Mrs. Brunton Discipline Mrs. Brunton Jew of Denmark.. From the Danish Lilias Davenant Miss Stewart Recluse of Norway . Miss Porter Grace and Isabel . Miss M'Intosh The Scottish Cavalier, 2 vols James Grant Adelaide Lindsay .. by the Author of Emilia Wyndham JasperLyle; aTale of Kafirland. 2vd1. Mrs. Ward The Knight of St. John Miss Porter House of the Seven Gables N.Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter N. Hawthorne Whitefriars, 2 Vols by the Author of Whitehall The Aide-de-camp, 1st & 2nd Series .... J. Grant The Conspirator, a Historical Romance . A. E. Dupuy The Little Wife Mrs. Grey Cinq, Mars, or the Conspiracy De Vigny Charms and Counter-Charms MissM'Intosh Romance of War, 1st & 2nd Series James Grant Dark Scenes of History G. P. R. James Lilly Dawson Mrs. Crowe Hope Leslie Miss Sedgwick Longbeard, or the Revolt of the Saxons .. C. Mackay Light Dragoon G. R. Gleig The Clarionet, Dead Boxer, &c Carleton Last of the Mohicans J. F. Cooper Pioneers J. F. Cooper The Spy J. F. Cooper Jane Sinclair and Neal Malone .... Carleton The Pilot J. F. Cooper Lionel Lincoln J. F. Cooper Pride and Prejudice Miss Austen On the 1st 1852, will be published, SOLDI FORTUNE, biA^^^^Rurling. LONDONUHURGF ROUTLEDGE & CO., AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. IM^^g^«!g^«!g^f#f^i§ NEW WORK ON JAPAN. JUST READY, IN ONE VOLUME, JAPAN, AN P Account, Geographical and Historical, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD AT WHICH THE ISLANDS COMPRISING THIS EMPIRE WERE KNOWN TO EUROPEANS, DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME, Expedition fitted out in the United States, &c. CHARLES MAC FARLANE, ESQ., Author of " British India," " Life of Wellington," &c. &c. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. I?1 LONDON : GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & CO THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. BY HENRY CURLING, ESQ. " Oh, Heaven! that one might read the book of fate; Oh, if this were seen, The happiest youth,—viewing his progress through, What perils past, what crosses to ensue,— Would shut the book, and sit him down and die." Shakspebe. LONDON: G. ROUTLEDGE & CO., EARRINGDON STREET. 1852. ADVERTISEMENT. The following story records the life of a man, who, be- cause he met with frequent misfortunes, believed himself to be languishing under the ban of fate—a notion consonant to a popular fallacy. A more dangerous delusion, however, cannot be entertained. It is one that deadens our en- deavours; precludes a scrutiny into the character of those means which, as they often miscarry, ought at least to be sus- pected; hinders us from adopting new schemes of life, and new modes of action; and tempts us to lay on chance the blame more justly attributable to ourselves. The hero of this tale, then, shows the folly and madness of unbridled passion and reckless impulse, which never fail to produce disastrous results. His sophistical reasoning is, in fact, only the blind solace of self-love—of that unhappy flattery and egotism which veil from us one of the most im- portant truths, namely, that—" Conduct is Fate." THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. CHAPTER I. " A heavier task could not have been imposed, Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable; Yet that the world may witness that my encF Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence, I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave." Siiakspeake. I am a native of that pleasant county of England, called Yorkshire: and my parents are descended from one of the most ancient families in that part of our island. I was born heir to a considerable estate, and the only child of my parents. My mother died when I was about ten years of age; she was considered extremely beautiful, and my father doated on her to excess, consequently, after her death he refused all consolation, and withdrew himself almost entirely from society. He was a good, but rather violent tempered man. Indeed, without partiality, I may say he was superior to the usual order of country gentlemen. In early youth, he had served for many years in the army; but, after marrying, he quitted the profession of arms, in order to live in case and retirement amongst his native woods and fields. My early education was at a school in the neighbouring town, and 1 also made some further progress at home under a private tutor. Having thus a great deal of my own way allowed me, my father generally preferring to live secluded and alone, I saw little of society in my nonage. The few folks who used to come to our house were, for the most part, some of his old army friends, and one or two intimate acquain- tances whom he much esteemed. He, however, was passion- ately fond of the chase, kept a good stable, and I always had my choice amongst his stud. Occasionally he used to accompany mo in my excursions: b 2 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. but at otber times I was allowed to pursue my own erratic disposition, and as be frequently took periodical fits of seclu- sion, during which he liked none (not even myself) to trespass upon his solitude, I was then left entirely to my own control and guidance, and being of a roving disposition, wandered over the country, wherever chance or my steed might lead me. Being thus left to myself in my peregrinations, I became of a thoughtful and romantic disposition, frequently _ spending whole days in the solitude of the forest,_ or in loitering about the ruins of an old castle which was situate in our domain, and had been the residence of our crusading ancestors: trying in such vicinity to fancy myself some doughty champion or knight errant of the olden time. Thus, then, the most lonely haunts and the most picturesque ruins were often sought out with feelings of delight. Had I lived some centuries back, I should doubtless have been the veriest "redresser of grievances" in Christendom; as, however, I could not be a knight cased in panoply of steel, I resolved to become a man-at-arms of the time being, aud accordingly solicited my sire's leave to enter a regiment of dragoons. No opposition being made to my wishes, a letter was forthwith dispatched to the Commander-in-Chief, recom- mending me for the purchase of a cornetcy of horse. In due course an official letter was received from the Com- mander-in-Chief, saying that my application would be granted on the first favourable opportunity; which serving for the present to tranquillize my mind, I somewhat prematurely visited, and in a measure took leave of, all my old haunts and favourite resorts. The mossy and gnarled oak, beneath whose shade I had ofttimes spent whole days, I prepared to part from, as from a dear and beloved friend. The ruined archway, too,, and the ivy-clad wall, I loved as intensely; whilst the mouldering towers, which in former times had owned my ancestors as lords, had witnessed all their feudal pride, and seen them depart for the crusade, seemed ever to look down upon me with protecting influence. I loved, too, each remaining iron stanchion of those ruined windows, which had so long survived the captives they once enthralled, and every stone of the building was an old and cherished acquaintance. Indeed, I almost wept at the idea of parting from these intimate friends of my youth; and at such times well nigh resolved to give up my military mania, content to live and die as my father so often urged me, a quiet, respect- able country squire. Such, however, was not to be my career, and I felt that such existence would be almost a living death to me. In short, as I before hinted, my brain being quixotically constructed, I was as violently carried away by the idea of the stirring the soldier of fortune. 3 adventures, the new scenes, fresh quarters, and the uncommon exploits incident to enrolment amongst a squadron of hussars as the Knight of La Mancha was confounded by his perusal of the chivalrous feats of Amadis de Gaul and Don Lellianis of Greece. _ It chanced, that having one day set out on a fishing excur- sion, mounted on a spirited hunter, and carrying my rod athwart my saddle-bow, in making a short cut through some plantations, I saw, at a little distance before me, in a glade of the wood, a fierce struggle between two men ; one of them I perceived was on horseback, endeavouring to defend himself against his more powerful adversary, who, having captured his bridle, was endeavouring to bring him to the ground. The efforts of the horseman to defend himself I perceived were growing every instant more feeble; and although he managed to parry some of the ruffianly blows of his assailant, and clung tenaciously to his saddle, it was evident the strife was drawing towards a conclusion. As I gazed with surprise upon this scene, I quickened my pace towards the combatants, and observing that the eques- trian was evidently an elderly gentleman, and his assailant a common-looking ruffian, I considered it a regular case of' stand and deliver.' Galloping, therefore, to the rescue, I charged the combatants with such impetuosity that I completely overacted my part, and driving them " horse and foot" to the earth, with the violence of the shock, came myself also to the ground some few paces from them. Like a champion in the lists I had so often read of, I leaped to my feet in an instant, and, disengaging myself from my fallen steed, sought to repair my fortune and renew the onset. My blood was up; like Juan, " though young, I wras a tartar," and making for the assailant of the horseman, I resolved to arrest him on the spot. He also had gained his feet, and was quickly hurrying from the field ; but I rushed upon and forced him to turn and de- fend himself. Our combat was short and decisive; evading the heavy blow with which he sought to tame my vehement attack, I struck him so quickly and truly upon the head, that I fractured his skull. The fellow, staggering a few paces, fell heavily upon the greensward; his limbs quivered for a moment; and his eyes, after glaring wildly at the heavens for an instant, closed in death. At first, I could scarcely credit what I had so valorously achieved, and almost expected my antagonist would recover, and attempt a renewal of the contest. As I continued, however, to gaze upon his blood-stained visage, I began to feel a sort of tremor stealing over me, at, for the first time in my life, beholding a dead body at my feet, b 2 4 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. not to mention that the unhandsome corpse I saw before me was one of my own killing. The lonely spot in which this encounter had taken place also had its effect upon my nerves ; and gladly turning from the contemplation of the body of the slain, I turned in quest of the person who had been assailed. He, too, I perceived, was unable to rise. Supposing that he had been stunned by the violence of the overthrow, I hastened to his assistance, and endeavoured to raise him in my arms. To my extreme terror, however, I found that he was, apparently, a corpse. Laying him gently on the ground, I felt for the beating of his heart, tried to find his pulse, and even, in the extremity of my consternation and alarm, shook him violently, as if to awaken him from a deep sleep. It was, however, in vain. To my horror and dismay, all my efforts at restoring him to life were unavailing. He bad evi- dently received so violent a fall, that, being an elderly man, it had deprived him of life. For the first few minutes I felt bewildered at this most un- toward event, and as I continued gazing upon the pallid visage before me, I suddenly remembered the features as those of the proprietor of the domain to which the plantation belonged. Sir Walter Villeroy had been personally a stranger to me, and even my permission to angle in the rivulet which mean- dered through his park, had recently been obtained through the intervention of our keepers. Here, then, was a dilemma of a most unpleasant nature; as, although I had acted with the best intentions, I had evidently brought about the very catastrophe I was seeking to prevent. It w ill readily be imagined that I felt considerable horror at this double slaughter. The very sun which gilded the foliage around me, and tinged the fern at my feet with his rays, seemed to shine unnaturally upon the bodies»of the dead ; whilst the free birds, twittering and chirping on the adjacent boughs, appeared to mock me in their joyous mood. With dismayed glance I looked around, in the hope of some persons making their appearance in the wood, in order to relieve the solitude in which I was the only remaining actor. I felt, indeed, as if I had committed a murder, for although I had attempted the rescue of a gentleman from the savage attack of a common cut-throat, yet, as I neither knew the exact provocation of the assault, nor whether it was upon the purse or life of the defender that the ruffian was making this attempt, I felt that I ought to have given my assistance with somewhat more discretion and less impetuosity. As these thoughts flashed through my brain, I withdrew a short dis- tance from the vicinity of the bodies, and with some difficulty the soldier of fortune. 5 succeeded in catching my horse. Leaping into the saddle, I felt somewhat reassured, and resolved to ride off'instantly t-o Marston Hall, and inform the inmates of the situation of its owner. Putting spurs, therefore, to my steed, I turned my hack upon the lists in which I had thus made my first essay in arms, and almost flew till I found myself in the darksome shade of the old avenue leading to the Hall, and then I drew bridle, to consider in what way I was to introduce so untoward a subject, and account for the catastrophe. I knew nothing of the family, as they generally resided either in London, or at a seat they possessed in Gloucestershire; neither did I even know if there was wife or child of the man I had killed, to whom I was to give the necessary intelligence. Whilst I thus slackened my pace, under the shade of melan- choly boughs, and apimoached nearer to the Hall, I suddenly came to the determination of concealing my own share in the unlucky part of this transaction. It was the resolve of the moment, and I stopped not to consider its propriety; but I felt that I was quite unable to tell the story, and name myself as the cause (even although the almost innocent cause) of the old gentleman's death. CHAPTER II. " O when my eyes did see Olivia first, Methouglit she purg'd the air of pestilence. That instant was i turned into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursued me." SlIAKSPEABE. Marston Hall, the residence of Sir Walter Villeroy, was a noble pile. It had been built in the reign of bluff King Harry the Eighth. I have already said, I knew nothing of the pre- sent occupiers, except by name, they having but lately thought fit to remove to our neighbourhood; but ofttimes in my wander- ings, I had loved to explore the precincts of a building so time- honoured and curious in architecture. I was now about to introduce myself to its inhabitants, though the unpleasant mission I found myself necessitated to undertake robbed me of any sort of curiosity or anticipated pleasure in my visit. The stately trees of the avenue I stood in, as I dismounted in order to approach the main entrance, rendered the spot dark as twilight, and the rooks, wheeling over the topmost boughs of the stately oaks, alone disturbed the deep solitude by their incessant cawing. 6 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. As the gates were open, I entered the fore-court, which seemed deserted and melancholy. I called aloud for some one to take my horse, but no David Gellatly came capering and singing wild snatches of antique ballads, in answer to the sum- mons. I tied my steed to one of the iron rails of the great gates which opened into the stately-looking fore-court, passed the murmuring fountain which played in its centre, ascended the flight of stone steps, and entered the hall of the mansion. As no one yet appeared, I paused to observe the splendour of the place. Several suits of polished armour hung around, together with the trophies of the chase ; pikes and guns, and bows of the olden time, also graced its walls ; and the proud banners of ancestral chivalry floated from either side of its carved and gilded roof. At any other time, the objects of interest I now beheld would have fully occupied my attention; at the present moment I felt anxious, without disturbing the family, to discover the servants of the establishment, and dispatch them to the assist- ance of the sometime owner of the grandeur I saw around me. Whilst I deliberated upon the propriety of venturing farther into the interior of the mansion, or of returning to seek for some of the out-door dependants, a light step approached, the door at the farther end of the apartment opened, and a female entered, the sight of whom by no means lessened the difficul- ties of my situation, for she was apparently under twenty years of age, and lovely as the goddess of spring. At first, supposing it was her father who had returned home, she came bounding towards me; but the next moment dis- covering her mistake, she stopped, and, looking like some inhabitant of the skies, who had suddenly alighted upon the marble floor of the hall, awaited, in some little surprise, the explanation of my intrusion. To give that explanation, and escape an abrupt and prema- ture disclosure of the catastrophe which had happened, required more tact, self-possession, and management than an unsophisticated and secluded rustic like myself was likely to possess. "The might, the majesty of loveliness," for the first minute, struck me dumb ; the awkwardness of my situation completely perplexed me, and after muttering some incohe- rent excuses, so much of my secret escaped, that Miss Villeroy, guessing either that her father was killed, or had at least met writh some dreadful accident, uttered a piercing cry and fell senseless upon the floor. I now awoke the echoes of the mansion with my cries for assistance, and, lifting Miss Villeroy from the ground, gazed upon her chiselled features with the wonder of a savage who sees beauty for the first time. In a few minutes I was surrounded by the liveried atten- THE SOLDIER OE FORTUNE. 7 dants of the hall, and, informing them of the catastrophe which had happened, dispatched them in search of their unfortunate master, and to procure medical assistance. The alarm now quickly spreading through the mansion, its quiet was soon changed into female lamentations and outcries. Meanwhile I placed my lovely burthen upon an outer bench on one side of the ample fireplace, and, with the assistance of her maids, tried every means I could think of to restore her to consciousness. Her long dark hair almost covering her face, nearly hid her features, as she reclined partially sup- ported in my arms. I shaded back these tresses, sprinkled water in her face, and forgot her father and the recent drama I had helped to enact, as I continued to gaze upon her beauty. At length, by the aid of such restoratives as were at hand, we succeeded in recovering Miss Villeroy from her death-like swoon, although only to behold her again relapse into uncon- sciousness, at the dreadful sight of her father's body, which was borne into the hall by the servants I had dispatched in its search. Luckily, the medical man from the adjacent village quickly arrived. He was a shrewd and clever person, one of those eagle-eyed men who ofttimes at a single glance perceive that which would take a duller practitioner half an hour to con si- der. He soon found his art was of no avail, where he had first given his attendance, and stepping from the circle of domestics who crowded around Sir Walter Villeroy's pros- trate body, he approached, with lancet in hand, the seat on which I still continued to support my fair charge. " I'll relieve you of your patient, fair Sir," he said ; "this is a sad business; Sir Walter Villeroy has received a concussion of the brain. He has been dead some time ; I may perhaps be of more use here." He accordingly immediately ordered the young lady to be conveyed to her chamber, and attended her removal himself. Meanwhile, after the domestics had carried the body of their late master to his apartment, I became, as harbinger of the unwelcome tidings, the next object of curiosity and cross examination. The corpse of the ruffian had been found on the spot where I had slain him. In telling the story as it had hap- pened, I concealed, however, so much of the share which I had in the old gentleman's death as my impetuous zeal had helped to anticipate. Indeed, I considered that the crime, by this means, would only be visited upon the memory of the ruffian whom I had already placed beyond the vengeance of the law, and who, I certainly had reason to believe, would have quickly effected his purpose, had I not made my appearance upon the scene. I therefore resolved to have it supposed that he was the 8 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. actual perpetrator of the murder. Like Sir Edward Mortimer, I rounded my tale with a lie— " Guilt's offspring and its guard." Erom Dr. Probe I learned tliat Miss Yilleroy -was an only cliild, and heiress of all her father's immense wealth; that they were unaccompanied at that time by any other members of their family, and were just on the eve of leaving England on a continental tour. He also informed me, that the ruffian who had assailed the Baronet was well known as one of the most abandoned characters in the county,— " A fellow by the hand of nature marked, Quoted and signed, to do a deed of shame and that Sir Walter had but lately prosecuted him for fre- quent trespass upon his preserves. From these circumstances my version of the story was the more easily believed, and glad enough I felt that it was so, for to have been recognised by Miss Yilleroy as the cause, although the innocent cause, of her only parent's death, would, I felt, have led her to regard me with feelings of dislike and horror. Dr. Probe, who was well acquainted with the family, and had been much esteemed by Sir Walter Yilleroy, was a shrewd and clever man. He took upon himself whatever arrange- ments were requisite and necessary, on this sudden emergency, until the relatives and friends should arrive. He wrote and dispatched letters to the Earl of Marston, brother of the de- ceased, during the intervals of his attendance upon his lovely patient. He also dispatched an express to an elderly lady residing some thirty miles distant, also a relative of the family's, desiring her immediate presence at the Hall, where he himself prepared to remain in constant attendance until she arrived. I myself would fain have taken my leave, as the evening approached, but he requested me to remain, and as I felt no inclination, in reality, to leave a roof now so interesting to me, I remained there all night; and, during the intervals of his attendance upon his patient, assisted him in the office he had assumed of writing letters to the various members of the family. Her Grace the Duchess of Hurricane, I was informed, was the aunt of Miss Yilleroy; she was abroad at this time, and to her, amongst others, we dispatched a letter, apprising her of the calamitous event. THE SOLDIER OE FORTUNE. 9 CHAPTER III. " Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown More than your enemies." As You Like It. It was, indeed, with feelings of no small uneasiness, that I found Dr. Probe entertained considerable apprehension in regard to his young patient. Early in the morning he had dispatched an express to the nearest town for a physician of eminence residing there, she having been delirious during the greater part of the night, and violent fever having supervened in the morning. Although I felt the greatest anxiety on her account, and longed to stay at Marston Hall, yet, being so utterly a stranger there, after lingering on till towards the evening of this day, I then mounted my horse to return home, a changed man and a sadder than I had sallied from it in the morning previous. As I leisurely paced along I revolved in my mind the various incidents that had transpired. The reflection that, for the first time, I had deviated from the truth, weighed heavily upon me, and I could not shake it off my conscience; it seemed to press upon my heart, and to bode me evil fortune in my future career. Our residence was called Wharncliffe Grange. It was a castellated and half monastic building, nearly hidden in the midst of luxuriant and venerable trees, surrounded by a deep moat, and approached by an ancient drawbridge. The dark waters surrounding the old building lay tranquil and sombre, as I approached; and, reflecting the lowering heavens in the twilight, black as ink, were only agitated now and again by the heavy splash of some enormous fish, which had tenanted their depths, during perhaps many generations of our family. Methought, as I paused upon the drawbridge, and contcm- plated my home, looking into this dark pool, whilst the night bird shrieked in the woods around, that some water spirit, some evil genius of my fortunes might be, perhaps, plotting the mischief and misfortune of my future destiny. In fact, I was somewhat troubled on that evening with " thick coming fancies," and presentiments of evil, a sort of feeling which had never before so wholly beset me. The clatter of my horse's hoofs across the wooden bridge summoning my groom, I resigned my steed, and entered the mansion of my fathers. An ancient dame, who for years had lived in our family as a sort of housekeeper, and always took the most maternal interest in all my actions, intercepted me 10 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. as I was about to ascend to my chamber, in order to have her accustomed gossip, and inform me of all that had happened during my absence. It was my intention, after altering my dress, to have sought and conferred with my father. To my surprise, however, Mrs. Sweetapple informed me, that having been visited on the previous evening by a stranger, who had arrived from the neighbouring town, in a postchaise, and who she believed was a lawyer, my father, after some hours' con- ference with him, had ordered his carriage early the next morning, and both had then started off for the great metropolis. " He has left a letter for you," continued the old dame, " in his study, which he desired you should receive, as soon as you arrived." Proceeding to the library without delay, I perused the con- tents of the epistle. I learned from it, that my father un- expectedly found himself involved in a chancery suit, and having been visited by his solicitqr, he had thought fit (such was the urgency of the matter) instantly to leave his home for London. He added that he should have preferred my accom- panying him, and if I chose to do so, I might still follow.^ But he left me to pursue the bent of my own inclination in the matter, giving me the address of the hotel where he intended to remain whilst in town. I certainly did not at that moment feel any inclination to be in London. Indeed, I could not have gone at that time, had I wished it, as I expected to be summoned on the inquest, which would doubtless be held upon the bodies found in the plantation. After the inquiry was over, I made frequent visits to Marston Hall. Indeed, I spent more time in its vicinity than at my own home. Like Roland, I" loved to breathe the neighbouring air," and the sight even of the massive Elizabethian chimneys, seen from afar, was pleasant to me to contemplate; then as the gloom of the coming night enveloped the surround- ing scenery, and " the crow wing'd to the rooky wood," I would spur apace, and reach my home. Meanwhile, Miss Villeroy, after having been in considerable danger, was gra- dually recovering. It was a few days after the funeral of Sir Walter Villeroy had taken place, that having, as usual, ridden over to Marston, I received a message from the servant, requesting me to alight; Mrs. Allworthy, the lady before mentioned as residing in the neighbourhood, having arrived, and being desirous of seeing me. I accordingly dismounted from my steed, and entering the hall, was ushered into the withdrawing-room, a vast apart- ment, extending nearly from end to end of the building. Whilst I stood at the window, waiting the coming of this lady, and contemplating the beauty of the scene before me, I beheld a travelling carriage, with four horses, sweep round the road, at THE SOLDIER OE FORTUNE. 11 some distance in the park, and approach the mansion at full speed. As it advanced, a second vehicle, laden with an im- perial and other appointments, also made its appearance. _ I immediately surmised that these arrivals must be the dis- tinguished relatives of Miss Villeroy, whom we had summoned from abroad, on the late melancholy occasion; and a shy and uncomfortable feeling unconsciously stole over me, as I watched their approach, I felt there was something irksome and dis- agreeable in having to introduce myself to strangers, and once or twice I almost resolved to escape before they arrived. Recollecting, however, that Mrs. Allworthy, who was, I concluded, in the chamber of the invalid, would be likely to make her appearance before they came, which would in some measure relieve me from the awkwardness of my situation, I resolved to remain, and in a few minutes more the door of the apartment was thrown open by the servant, and in walked the portly person of the Duchess of Hurricane. A younger female accompanied her, who was extremely handsome and distinguee in appearance. They advanced into the room with all that presence and dignity belonging to persons in their rank of life; and the Duchess quickly observing me, as I stood before the open window, immediately approached, slightly bowing as she did so. Being rather short-sighted, she at first took me for Dr. Probe, with whom she was slightly acquainted. On seeing, however, her error, she stopped short. The high-bred, I have observed, are always courteous, even when distant in their manners. The Duchess of Hurricane, however, was one of those persons who could freeze a forward tongue into silence by a glance. Hot even the glorious Siddons, in Lady Mac- beth, could be more awful when she chose. She looked her surprise for the moment, at seeing a strange youth instead of the medical attendant, whom she expected to find in the apart- ment; and, after a short pause, addressed me :— " I am extremely happy to hear my niece is so much re- covered," she said. " Can you inform me if Dr. Probe is in the house ; as, if unattended with danger, I should like to see Miss Villeroy immediately." I ventured to observe that, to the best of m,y belief, the doctor was at that moment in the chamber of the invalid. The Duchess again bowed, drew herself up, and turned to address her young companion. " So," she said, stepping to one of the ample windows, " this, then, is Marston Hall? "What think you, Constance ? —rather a handsome mansion! I feel surprised, now I see it, that my brother did not oftener reside here." " I call it a most lovely spot, mamma," returned Constance; " one of the most delightful places I ever beheld. Look at 12 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. those glorious old oaks in tlie distance yonder. One would tliink that, as Scott says, they must have witnessed the stately march of the Roman soldiery." " Nay," said the Duchess, with a yawn, "if you begin again with your romance, I have done. Ring the bell, Constance, and let us summon the medical man: the people here seem all bewildered with this late untoward event." During the short pause which now ensued I felt extremely uncomfortable. The haughty bearing of the Duchess forbade all further attempts, on my part, at conversation, and I felt confused and awkward. At length, to my relief, Mrs. A11 worthy made her appearance. After the first greetings and inquiries were over, she intro- duced me to the Duchess and her daughter, the Lady Con- stance de Clifford; and the trio soon afterwards leaving the room for the apartment of the invalid, I gladly prepared to take my departure. As I passed through the great hall, I encountered the per- sons who had arrived in the second carriage; the Earl of Marston and his son, Lord Hardenbrass of the hussars. Having travelled from Venice, where Dr. Probe's letters had reached them, with the news of the late melancholy event, they were making inquiry of Haverill, the butler of the hall, into the particulars of Sir Walter Yilleroy's death. I heard Haverill mention my name to them as I passed out; but feel- ing no desire at that time to make the acquaintance of any of the other members of the family, I mounted my horse, and rode homewards. It was about a week after this meeting, that a servant en- taring the library at the Grange, as I was one morning en- gaged in writing to my father, delivered a couple of cards, an- nouncing that two gentlemen were on horseback at the gate, and had desired the favour of an interview. " Admit the gentlemen, instantly," I said; and my visitors were accordingly ushered into my presence. The Earl of Marston was a fine specimen of the English noble of the old school. His manners were those of the polished gentleman. Perhaps lie was rather too dignified ; but yet so graceful in his deportment, that you invariably forgot his high rank in admiration of his pleasing address. His son, although like his father, "a good man's picture," was in style and bearing imperious and haughty. He evi- dently could not forget his Norman shield. His arrogant style, indeed, belied not his disposition, since he was a kind of modern Tybalt, and being of an overbearing, fiery temper, was ready almost to fight with his own shadow. It was unlucky that a youth of this sort was destined to cross my path in life, as the association could not possibly lead to good. The old earl THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. 13 seemed even himself to lie in awe of his son's irritable temper. He sought to take the lead in the conversation during this visit, and, by his professions of service, to do away with the contemptuous and rude manners of his companion. " I have great pleasure, Mr. Blount," he commenced, " in making the acquaintance of the son of an old friend. Your father I had the pleasure of knowing in America, whilst he commanded the —th dragoons. We served together during a campaign there, and a better soldier, or more estimable man never existed. Indeed, it has been my especial loss that, for many years we have not met. Permit me to introduce my son, Lord Hardenbrass." Lord Hardenbrass made a sort of motion, which he perhaps intended for a bow, stared impudently in my face, but uttered no word of greeting. " We have called to return you thanks, Mr. Blount," con- tinued the Earl, taking the seat I offered him, "for your display of gallantry, on the late melancholy occasion. Your kindness also to Miss Yilleroy, and the attention you have offered since that unhappy affair, merit our warmest acknow- ledgments. We are also the bearers of a message from the Duchess of Hurricane, who, I believe, has already had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. She desires me to say that, although at present she receives few visitors at Marston, she will feel obliged by your favouring her with a call at your earliest convenience." During this visit, two things more especially annoyed me : the one was, that I was necessitated to recapitulate, even to its minutest particular, the late untoward rencontre; the other was the very marked and contemptuous bearing of my younger visitor. Sprung from ancestry, time-honoured as his own, I could ill brook the hauteur with which he bore himself, and in any other circumstances, I should doubtless have returned the scorn it was his pleasure to treat me with. At the present time, however, I felt rebuked in mine own esteem; the sort of lie I had been obliged to round my story with, in regard to the death of his relative, kept me in some measure within bounds, and I felt humbled; added to which the strong love I bore his cousin made a tame snake of me. As it was, however, that "cankered hate," which is ofttimcs felt by two persons towards each other, at first sight; that " pernicious rage" which, like the animosity of Montague and Capulet, was only to be quenched "with purple fountains issuing from our veins," was first engendered during this visit; and notwithstanding the conciliatory address and pleasing manners of the old earl, and my own caution in regard to taking offence from his son, we parted on terms so distant, that I felt I had almost commenced a quarrel with a member of 14 the: soedier or fortune. the family with which I most wished to he on terms of friendship. CHAPTEE IY. " There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune, Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is hound in shallows and in miseries : On such full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures." Shakspeare. In a few days, I visited the Duchess as she had desired. I was received by her with great civility, and she made her acknowledgments to me for the services I had rendered. The fair Constance, her daughter, who was, indeed, a lovely crea- ture, treated me with marked kindness, and had I not before seen her cousin, I should, doubtless, have been captivated by the sweetness of her manners and her beauty. During one or two visits subsequently made, I saw only the Lady Constance, the Duchess not making her appearance; and we quickly grew more intimately acquainted. On calling one morning, I found this young lady about to walk in the pleasure grounds of the hall, whither she invited me to accompany her. Indeed, I had every reason to feel highly complimented by the marked kindness with which she invariably treated me. The pleasure grounds and gardens of Marston were quite in the old style and in keeping writh the antiquity of the mansion. Nothing, even without doors, had been modernised; a specimen of good taste not often to be observed in these latter times. The extensive gardens resembled a scene in one of Watteau's pictures, where we see the dramatis personce, with their car- pets spread under the shade of melancholy boughs, the guitar tinkling, the flask passing merrily round, and the song, the jest, and the roar of mirth, filhng'the circumambient air, whilst here and again, half hidden in the leafy screen of some verdant alley, is to be partially seen a gentle swrain whispering the lady of his heart, and apparently, by her glance of love, not wThispering in vain. Here, then, in such lovely retreat, I accompanied the beautiful Lady Constance de Clifford. We appeared to have become as intimately acquainted as if we hadf been friends from child- liood._ Constance was a great lover of the old poets, whose beauties afforded us an endless theme of conversation. Had I but returned the feelings of interest she regarded me with at THE SOLDIEK OF FOBTUNE. 15 this time, and sought her love, I should, perhaps, have met a better fate than I have since experienced. But, insensible of her excellence and beauty, I treated her marked preference with neglect. " Come," said Constance, looking round, as I stood regard- ing the distant mansion, and trying to identify the particular window which belonged to the chamber of the invalid: " one would suppose you an admirer of Miss Yilleroy, you seem so wrapt and lost in contemplation of her lattice. We shall have you, guitar in hand, serenading there, I suppose, ere long—• ' To beauty shy, by lattice liigl), Sings high-born cavalier,' But beware of that, Sir Cavalier ; my cousin, who, you may have heard, hath store of rose nobles in her coffers, will live to be as old as Sybilla, unless she be obtained by the manner of her father's will, like Portia. Doubtless the four winds would have blown in from every coast renowned suitors; and, indeed, I might go on and tell you that many Jasons have come in quest of one so fair, but that she has been for some time en- gaged to a gentleman, whom I believe you have once met— Lord Marston's son—and he is not a man to endure a rival; he is the very 'butcher of a silk button.' We shall have swords out, and tilting at each other's breasts in line style, if you but look upon his iady bright with an eye of admiration." " Indeed!" I exclaimed, stopping short; " Lord Harden- brass, then, is the lover of Miss Yilleroy ? and is he, think you, beloved again?" With all my endeavour at carelessness in the question, I could hardly conceal my interest. Lady Constance paused, and looked at me. "That's an odd question," she said, "but I will answer it as bluntly. I do not think that Isabella cares much for Lord Hardenbrass ; his manners are haughty and overbearing, and he is too much wrapped up in his own self-conceit to take the trouble of trying to gain her affections. They have been en- gaged, I think, ever since she left school, so that he has never found it necessary to play the devoted slave and servant in his wooing, feeling, as he does, so very secure of her fair self and broad lands, without the effort." " But how," I observed, "did she become thus engaged, since I think you have satisfactorily proved that she cares nothing for him?" " Why," she returned, " it was her father's wish ; he had so entirely set his mind upon this match, and she so doated on her parent, that had he urged her to engage herself to Mephisto- phelis, she would scarce, I think, have said him nay; and young as she was, when the engagement was made, she cared 16 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. little about the matter. The baronet, I have heard, has left it in his will, that unless she marries Lord Hardenbrass, the greater part of his immense property will go to a nephew now m India. His will, indeed, directly expresses the wish that, by her becoming Lady Hardenbrass, and joining in wedlock, the adjoining estates in Gloucestershire should also be made one. Fathers have Ilinty hearts, Mr. Blount, in these matter o' money jointures. She will, therefore, in all probability, be one day Countess of Marston. But I know not," she observed, stopping suddenly, "why I am thus telling you all our family affairs: you are so very lately known to us. INray, indeed, except to myself, I can hardly say you are known at all; for by those members of our family, to whom you have been thus introduced by adverse circumstances, you are not liked : that is to say," she continued, seeing me stop abruptly and in dis- pleasure, "you are not, I think, properly appreciated. For my own part, I consider myself a more penetrating person than many of our house, and able to pierce the windows of the human breast, somewhat quicker than either my mother the duchess, who ofttimes takes most unconquerable aversions at sight, or any of the rest of the family. They are, I should say, impenetrable themselves, rather than the pene- trators of the hearts of others." In this lively strain, the Lady Constance continued the con- versation, whilst we strolled about the gardens of the hall. "I am, as you may perceive," she said, " a sort of Diana Vernon in manners, and utter whatever I think at the moment without dread of being considered, by such freedom, bold or unlady-like." From the gardens, we walked into the shrubberies of the hall, which extended for many miles around the domain, and it was somewhat late when we returned from our ramble. My companion was rather alarmed, with all her boasted heedless- ness of control, when she found how much old Time had been a winner during our promenade, and that she would be most likely questioned by the duchess. During this day's promenade, I discovered, from the conver- sation of my lively companion, that by her family, although so little known, I was not much liked, but merely tolerated from the supposed service I had rendered. Uncertain fancy! the bare supposition galled me. On the heart of Lady de Clifford however, the overweening vanity of youth led me to think I had already made some slight impression. Had it so happened that at this period I had received my commission, I should perhaps have escaped ever again renewing my acquaintance with the inmates of Marston Hall, and, thereby avoided much unhappiness. Indeed, after this conver- sation with Lady de Clifford, I half resolved to lea ve my home THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. 17 and join my father in London; but such resolve required more firmness of purpose than a youth of my years was likely to possess, and eventually gave place to the desire of again being in the company, if but for once more, of Miss Villeroy. Added also, to that fatal longing, was the circumstance of my father haying constitutedme, in his absence, the manager of those affairs which required the personal eye of a master in superintending, and which, indeed, made it a matter of absolute duty for me to remain at the Grange. I, therefore, did remain, and became more and more entangled in the meshes of a hopeless passion for the mistress of Marston Hall. Meanwhile, Miss Villeroy had been repeatedly urged, by the duchess to accompany her to Scotland: but as she raised many objections to the journey, and begged to remain in solitude tiff she had a little recovered her spirits, after some considerable con- troversy on the duchess's part, it was settled that Mrs. All- worthy should remain with her, together with Lady de Clifford, whilst the duchess herself visited the north. These matters I learned afterwards, for it was some little time, owing to several short journeys I found myself obliged to take on business, before I was again a visitor of my new friends. When I next was ushered into the drawing-room of the hall, I found myself, for the second time, in the company of the beautiful creature, who, from the first glance, had made so deep an impression on my imagination. At first I thought she looked uneasy in my presence, my name being evidently asso- ciated in her mind with the horrible catastrophe of which I had been the harbinger. This, however, wore off, and she became less reserved in manner, whilst I staid. Mrs. Allworthy was pre- sent during my visit, and Lady de Clifford, fully accoutred in riding gear, was about to proceed to the little post-town, some five miles distant, on a trifling commission for her friend. When, therefore, her horse was announced, I offered to be her escort. Mounted upon the beautiful animal she rode, Constance ap- peared to the greatest advantage; she was a perfect horse- woman, and as bold as her spirited steed. Behold me, then, brought out under these pleasant auspices; from a secluded youth, who, since childhood, had been kept from mixing with his equals, and who had, therefore, lived in a world of his own creation, I at once became the intimate companion of some such creations as I had been wont to imagine in my Shakspe- rian dreams. Had I, indeed, suddenly found myself trans- ported into Arden, consorting the witty Rosalind, or contem- plating the beauty of the radiant Olivia, I could not have been more happily situated, or have found two beings so nearly approaching to those fair creations of the poet's brain. The fair Constance putting her steed into a gallop, I rode c 18 THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. like a true esquire ever at her bridle rein. In tliis part of Yorkshire, the scenery is wild, but very beautiful; that plea* sant and lively watering-place, Harrowgate, is not far distant. Sometimes we galloped across a bleak looking and extensive common, and then again we drew bridle and. breathed our horses, where the sandy road was on either side shaded with the fragrant pine. Whilst we thus rode together, and I listened to the lively con- versation of my companion, and gazed on her animated and glowing countenance, with her beautiful tresses streaming in the wind, I felt that it was even possible to be in love with two beings, although so different, at the same time. Indeed, there was something so spirited and noble, and yet so gentle, in the bearing of this young lady, and the pride of conscious virtue made her apparently so perfectly independent of control, that it was impossible to be long in her society and not her admirer. As we galloped across one of those open wastes or commons I have mentioned, a horseman suddenly appeared from the pine-shadowed road, towards which we were crossing, and the quick eye of the lady descried her relative, Lord Hardenbrass. He came forward at the gallop, and pulled up when he reached us. Shaking his .cousin by the hand, he bowed slightly to me ; indeed, the very sight of me seemed to " puddle his clear spirit." " You seem to have ridden hard, Constance," he said, "and you have I see mounted Cottager to-day. I thought Isabella allowed no person to ride my present but herself." " Then you thought wrong, Sir Knight," she returned, laugh- ing, " as, alas the clay ! you so often manage to do. But we have not had the honour of your society, my Lord, for some time : may I ask where you have been sojourning of late?" " I have been staying at Biverdale for the last week," he an- swered: " and I this morning started early to gallop over and see Isabella; I return again to-morrow for a few days, and then, my leave being up, I rejoin my regiment at Nottingham. In return for all this," he continued, turning his horse and riding close beside Lady de Clifford, " may I beg the favour of a few words with you?" " Sir, a whole history," replied the lively Constance, " though I utterly detest all cross-examination," she added, stopping her horse, " and I know well by the look of your countenance that you are about to be inquisitive." " I must speak with you alone, Constance," he said, taking her horse's rein in his hand, and leading her forwards. As they proceeded slowly on, I reined up my horse, in order to be out of hearing of their conference. Lord Hardenbrass, it was easy for me to perceive, was by no means pleased at THE SOLDIER OK FORTUNE. 19 finding Jne the escort of liis cousin, and his communication, whatever it might be, I felt pretty sure had reference to myself. It apparently, however, made little or no impression on my lovely friend, and as their vehement debate drew near its con- elusion, I could not help observing the scorn, which looked beautiful in the contempt and anger of her lip. " You have spoken your speech," I could hear her say, " and heard my reply, Farewell, my lord, I stay no further question." Shs glanced round to me as she said this, and I was quickly at her bide ; shaking then the reins of her steed, we left his lordshipj, apparently in a most unpleasant state of ill-temper and anrjioyance. I did not, indeed, myself feel in the most amiable | disposition after this meeting. The interruption of one disagreeable and ill-conditioned guest will ofttimes mar the feast, or spoil a whole party's pleasure. As it was, this second interview with Lord Harclenbrass served to augment the fixed hate we ihad both, at first sight, taken to each other. As for Lady de Clifford, although she had carried it with a high hand in liis presence, she evidently feared her fiery relative, and during the remainder of our ride she never once alluded to this meeting yvith him, nor even mentioned his name. CHAPTER Y. " Matter deep and dangerous ; As full of peril, and advent'rous spirit, As to o'er-walk a current, roaring loud, On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.' SHAKSrEAItE. Wheist we reached the little village of Monkspath, I found that my1 companion's horse had cast a shoe. We, therefore, dismounted, and resigning the steeds to the groom, desired him to seek for a farrier and have him shod. " Youj will find us," said Lady de Clifford to the servant, " either at the mercer's shop in the village, or beside the old ruin on the Harrowgate road. I know you are fond of antiqui- ties, and!a lover of the picturesque, Mr. Blouut," she said to me, " so jwe may just as well stroll onwards, after I have made my purcl;aases, as remain in this somewhat dirty little town." The In unlet had once evidently been tributary to the frown- ing castLi she had alluded to, and together we strolled through its straggling street. When Constance had made her pur- chases atj the shop she had mentioned, we clambered over the ruinous if all of-the park in which the fortress was situated, c 2 20 the soldier of fortune. crossed over what had once been the bed of the castle lake, now, alas! but a rushy swamp, and made our way towards the old building. Constance regained her high spirits, which had beeh some- what dashed by our previous rencontre ; and her laughjot per- feet enjoyment once more returned, as I assisted her oyer the rough ground we traversed; which assistance, owing jto her long riding-habit, she was glad to avail herself of occasionally. I felt, indeed, as if in the company of a dearly loved_ sister; nay, perhaps, I felt even more than that, for I, at this time, hardly knew the feelings of my own heart. I was greatly fasci- nated with so exquisite a creature, and yet devotedly in love with another. As Orlando says, I had even before me, " a Rosalind, of a better leer than her and yet I felt that I could have willingly died to have saved her from harm. I question if a finer creature than Lady Constance de Clifford, after her own style of beauty, lived. Her faultless form was shown to the greatest advantage in the habit she wore, and with the glow of perfect health in her cheek, it would be diffi- cult to picture a more dangerous companion for an unsophisti- cated youth like myself. When, also, it is remembered, what a lovely spot we were sauntering in; the park-like forest scene, with its hundreds of stunted oaks, and the frowning castle near at hand, and withal, that my companion was high-born, being the daughter of a noble duke, and that this park and these domains, together with the worm-eaten hold of ragged stone we were approaching, had once been part of the feudal posses- sions of her ancestors, and that their Horman shield was to be found, carved in at least a hundred places upon its walls and chambers ; that she was fair as the most lovely of her line, and highly endowed ; and that she took care to let me see the good figure of a companion, whose quarterings were as time-honoured as those of her own family, and whose lively conversation was not altogether lost upon her, it will be wondered that I could possibly help becoming distractedly in love with her, and her alone;—but it was not so. The very consciousness of her regarding me with interest and favour, kept down my growing admiration for this superior being, which has oftentimes since surprised me. For the very recollection of her, in after times, has made me love her far more than when I was her intimate friend and companion. Such, alas ! is the state of man, to one thing constant never: an after-life of continual medita- tions might ofttim.es be spent in considering the wilful mistakes and headstrong misconduct, during our progress from eighteen to five-and-twenty. Often have I passed whole hours, when, unfriended, I have stood a lonely sentinel in a foreign land, like some hired cut-throat in a bad cause. Yes, often by the loopboled and THE SOLDIER OP FORTUNE. 21 grated walls of a Spanish, convent, a solitary sentinel, I have almost neglected to challenge the rounds during the watches of the night, whilst thinking over each expression and beautiful action of Constance de Clifford, in those brief but happy hours. We continued to amuse ourselves in examining the old tower, and imagining it in its palmy days, now picturing to ourselves the scenes of splendour and gaiety which had there been ofttimes enacted, and then again the bustle of the feudal Baron's everyday existence. We fancied how those walls were once manned and garrisoned—the stables filled with steeds add their attendants, whilst the halls and chambers, " braying with minstrelsy," looked a sea of waving plumes. We imagined th|e strict watch and ward, when contention and civil butchery h