Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09] Read online

  The mention of Mary Desmond's name in such a connection of course caught my attention, but I de- ferred all question about it until I could draw from Marcel the narration of what had occurred at 123

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  Catron's room when I did not come to arrange the duel.

  " We had a game, a most beautiful game," said Marcel, in reply. " Vincent Moore and I were partners, and we won everything that the others ci)uld transfer from their pockets to the table. Upon my soul, Bob, I love that Irishman almost as much as I do you ! "

  " But the duel ? " I said ; " what explanation did you make for me ? "

  " By my faith," he cried, " Vivian and Belfort and Catron wanted us to explain how we could win so handsomely and so continuously. They said that Old Nick was surely at our elbow, and if you con- sider the invisible character of the gentleman afore- said, I cannot deny that he was or was n't."

  "But the duel, the duel?" I said. "Marcel, be serious for two consecutive minutes ! "

  " Oh, that little affair of yours and Belfort's I I had forgotten about it in the midst of more impor- tant subjects. Why do you bother so much over trifles, Chester? It's that confounded Quakerish sense of responsibility you have. Get rid of it. It will never do you any good in this world or the next, and will spoil many otherwise pleasant mo- ments. But your little affair? I see that you are growing red in the face with impatience or annoy- ance, and are not to be satisfied without a narration. Well, I arrived at Catron's room on time, and ex- plained that you had been summoned by Sir William Howe, and would communicate with us as soon as you could escape from the honor conferred upon you 124

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  by the Commander-in-chief. All of which I spoke in most stately and proper fashion, and the result seemed extremely satisfactory to every gentleman present, saving his High Mightiness, Lieutenant Reginald Belfort, who was disposed to impugn your courage or at least your zeal for a trial at arms, whereupon I offered to fight him myself, without delay, in that very room and at that very minute. Moore was eager for it, saying that the proposition was most becoming to a gentleman like myself (I gave him my best bow) and was in the highest interest of true sport, but the others lacked his fine perceptions and ju.st appreciation of a «it na- tion and would not allow it. Then Moore proposed cards, and we sat down to the game at exactly ten minutes past four o'clock by my watch, and we did not rise until ten minutes past four o'clock this morning by the same watch, rounding out the twelve hours most handsomely. At some point in those twelve hours, I do not remember just when, for I held a most beautiful hand at that moment, Sir William's secretary came in with a report that you had been installed for the night in his place, which, of course, checked any further aspersion on your honor that Belfort might have had in store for you."

  Then I told him that Sir William Howe knew of the projected duel and had forbidden it.

  " What do you say now, Marcel ? " I asked.

  " Why, it was a pretty affair before," he exclaimed, and his face expressed supreme satisfaction, " but it is famous now. A duel is a duel at any time, but a 125

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  forbidden duel is best of all. You and Belfort are bound to fight since the commander-in-chief has forbidden it. I can conceive of no possible set of circumstances able to drive us away from Phila- delphia until the edges of your swords shall have met."

  " But how ? " I asked helplessly.

  " Don't worry," he said with confidence. " Moore and I will arrange it. With that man to help me, I would agree to arrange anything. Now, Bob, you just be calm and trust me. Don't bother yourself at all about this duel until you get your sword in your hand and Belfort before you ; then do your best."

  It is the truth that I had no wish to fight a duel, but I did not intend that I alone should appear un- willing ; so I left the affair in Marcel's hands, mean- while seeming to look forward to the meeting as a man does to his wedding. Then I asked Marcel what he meant by the appearance of Miss Desmond in the play.

  " I was going to tell you of that," he said. " You know the little theatre in South Street. It has been the scene of some famous plays during the past win- ter. They have officers here who write them and act them too. There 's ' The Mock Doctor,' and * The Devil is in it,' and ' The Wonder,' the wonder of which last is a woman who kept a secret, and maybe a dozen more. Well, they are going to give one to-night that has in it many parts for gallant knights and beautiful ladies. The British officers are, of course, the gallant knights, and our Tory maidens are the beautiful ladies. They asked 126

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  Miss Desmond to take a leading part. She objected to appearing on the stage, and her father, the crusty old merchant, sustained her in the refusal. But they tacked about and poured in n broadside from another quarter, it was a naval officer who told me about it. They said that she was the most conspicuous of the Tory young ladies in Philadelphia, and she would seem lacking in zeal if she refused to share in an affair devised, given, and patronized by the most loyal. Whereupon she withdrew her refusal, and I suppose has prevailed upon her father to with- draw his also, at least he has made no further objection. You will go, of course, Robert, and see her act."

  Yes, I would go, but I was conscious in my heart of a secret dislike to the appearance of Mary Des- mond upon ttie stage. It was an affair for ladies and gentlemen, and but few of tiie general public would be present ; still it was not a time when play acting was regarded with very favorable eyes, es- pecially in America. Yet I was conscious that my objection was not founded upon that feeling. I did not wish to sec Mary Desmond, to whom I was naught, seeking the applause of a crowd, and above all, I was not willing to hear these men from Eng- land discussing her as they would discuss some stage queen of their own London.

  Belfort, who was a fine actor, so Marcel told me, was to have the hcro'h part, and he was to make love to Miss Desmond.

  " Rut I promise you it's all in the play, Bob," said Phil, looking at me from under his eyebrows. 127

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  I was not so sure of that, but this additional news increased my distaste for the play, and I would have changed my mind and stayed away if Marcel had not assured me that it could not be done.

  " You are to go with us behind the scenes, Bob," he said. "We have already arranged for that. Moore is one of the managers, and he has made me his assistant. Behold, how invaluable I have be- come to the British army in the few days that we have been in Philadelphia ! We may need your help, too. You are to be held in reserve, and Moore will never forgive you if you do not come."

  I was a little surprised at his eagerness on the point, but at the appointed time I went with him to the theatre. It had never lacked for attendance when the plays were given in the course of the winter, and to-night, as usual, it was crowded with British and Hessian officers, and Philadelphia Tories with their wives and daughters. I peeped at the audience from my place behind the curtain, and it had been a long time since I had seen so much white powder and rose-pink and silk ribbon and golden epaulet.

  I do not remember much about the play or even its name, only that it had in it a large proportion of love-making, and fighting with swords, all after the approved fashion. I might have taken more careful note, had not Reginald Belfort and Mary Desmond filled the principal parts, and my eyes and ears were for them in particular rather than for the play in general. There was a great chorus of " Bravos," and a mighty clapping of hands when she appeared upon 128

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  the stage as the oppressed and distressed daughter of a medheval English Lord whom the brave knight, Lieutenant Reginald BL'Ifort, was to win, sword in hand, and to whom he was to make the most ardent love. Belfort did his part well. I give him full credit for that. He did not miss ;i sigh or vow of passion, and his voice, his looks, his gestures were so true, so earnest, that the audience thundered its applause.

  "Doesn't he play it splendidly?" said Marcel, in an ecstasy to me.

 
; " Yes, damn him ! " I growled.

  And she! she merely walked through the part for a long time, but she gradually caught the spirit of the lines |» erliaps in spite of herself, I hoped and became the persecuted and distressed maiden that the play would have her. Then her acting was real and sincere, and, with her wondrous beauty to aid her, the audience gave her an applause even ex- ceeding that they had yielded to Bel fort.

  " It *s a dazzling success ! " said Marcel to me, with continued enthusiasm at the end of the second act.

  I was bound to own that it was.

  " But the best scene is to come yet," said Marcel, as he hurried away. " It will close the play."

  The curtain soon fell on the last act and the dis- tressed maiden and the gallant knight who had res- cued her, drawn sword yet in hand, had been united forever amid the applause of all. This I supposed was the best scene, though I could not see why Marcel should say so, and I was about t » leave, when he re- appeared again and seemed to be in great haste. 9 129

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  11 Come this way, Bob ! " he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. " If you go in that direction, you will lose yourself among the scenes and stage trappings."

  I let him lead me as he wished, and in a few mo- ments we came out, not into the street as I had ex- pected, but in an open space at the rear of the theatre, where the moonlight was shining upon five men who were standing there. They were Vivian, Catron, Moore, Harding, and two others in plain dress who looked like surgeons. Marcel put a sword in my hand.

  " This is to be that last, the best scene, of which I told you," he said gleefully.

  At that moment Belfort appeared escorted by Moore. Belfort still held in his hand the sword that he had carried on the stage.

  There was no time for either of us to take thought ; perhaps we would not have taken it if there had been. The love-making scenes of the play were fresh in my memory, and as for Belfort he hated me with sin- cerity and persistency. We faced each other, sword in hand.

  " Is n't it glorious ? " I heard Marcel say behind me. "Moore and I arranged it. Could we have conceived of a prettier situation ? And as the finish- ing act, the last perfect touch to the play ! "

  Belfort's eye was upon mine, and it was full of malice. He seemed glad that this opportunity had come. I was only a fair swordsman, but I was cool and felt confident. We raised our swords and the blades clashed together.

  But the duel was not destined to be. The fine 130

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  erection of circumstance which Marcel and Moore fit spirits well matched had raised with so much care and of which they were so proud, crumbled at a stroke to the ground.

  Mary Desmond, still in her costume of the play, but changed from the distressed maiden to an indig- nant goddess, rushed amongst us.

  " For shame ! " she cried. " How dare you fight when Sir William Howe has forbidden this duel! Are you so eager to kill each other that you must slip from a stage at midnight to do it?"

  I have always remembered the look of comic dis may on the faces of Marcel and Moore at this unhappy interference with their plans, but Marcel spoke up promptly.

  "So far as time and place are concerned, Miss Desmond," he said, " Lieutenant Melville and Lieu- tenant Ik'lfort are not to blame. Moore and I ar- ranged it." (Moore bowed in assent.)

  She paid no attention to them, but reminded Belfort and me of our obligations to obey the orders of the commander-in-chief. She looked very beautiful in her indignation, the high color rising in her cheeks, and, even with a fear of the charge that I dreaded the combat, I was inclined to promise her that I would not fight Lieutenant Belfort.

  " Lieutenant Melville, will you not escort me back to the dressing-room in the theatre ? " she asked suddenly of me.

  I bowed, handed my sword to Marcel, and went with her, happy that she had chosen me, though hardly knowing why.

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  " I have no wish to hurt Lieutenant Belfort, and certainly none to be hurt by him," I said, as we passed between stage scenery. " If it grieves you to think that perchance he should be wounded by me, I will not fight him at all."

  Perhaps I was not wholly sincere in that, but I said it.

  " I saw him to-night in the play," I continued, " and he was most earnest and successful."

  " But it was a play, and a play only. Do not for- get that," she said, and was gone.

  When I returned to the court, I found no one there, save Waters, who had helped that night in moving the scenery.

  " You arc disappointed, Lieutenant Melville," he said, leering at me with his cunning eyes. " You cannot have your duel. I came up just as you left with Miss Desmond; there was an alarm that the provost guard was at hand, and they all ran away, carrying Lieutenant Belfort with them. It may have been part of Miss Desmond's plan."

  I did not even thank the man for his information, so much did I resent his familiarity, and I resented, too, the fear which I felt of him and which I could not dismiss despite myself. I went to my room, and found Marcel waiting for me.

  " We have concluded to abandon the duel, Bob," he said. " Fate is apparently against it. But 't is a great pity that 't is so. The finest situation that I ever knew spoiled when it seemed to be most suc- cessful. But don't think, Bob, that I wanted the life of you, my best friend, put in risk merely for 132

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  sport. Since I could not get the chance, I hoped that you would give the insolent fellow some punish- ment, and I can tell you in confidence, too, that Moore and the others had the same wish."

  I needed uo apology from Marcel, as I knew that if necessary he would go through fire for me ; and I U)id him HO.

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  CHAPTER ELEVEN A Man Hunt

  THE next day was dull, and the night began the same way, but it was not destined to remain so. Great results accrue from small causes, and it seemed that the arrival of Marcel and myself had given a fillip to the quiet city and the lazy army reposing there. At least it flattered our vanity to think so.

  Having nothing to do in the evening, our footsteps inevitably took us toward Catron's quarters. I had not intended to go there, but the way of amusement and luxury is easy, and I went. Moreover it was policy, I persuaded myself, for us in our situation to live this rapid life, as it would divert suspicion, and I found my conscience somewhat eased by the thought.

  Catron had most comfortable quarters, and he was rarely troubled with useless messages about military duty. So it had become a habit with the others to gather there, and when we arrived we found Moore, Blake, who was now quite well, and several others already present. Vivian was on duty at Sir William's headquarters and could not come. They received us warmly. Moore and Marcel indulged in some laments over their upset plans of the night before, told each other how much better the affair would 134

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  have terminated had they been the principals in- stead of the seconds, and then forgot it Belfort came in promptly, and nodded to us in a manner that indicated neither friendship nor hostility. I believed that lie had given up, unwilling to risk more failures, or perhaps convinced that we were really what we claimed to be, but I decided to remain wary and watch him.

  The night was dark, the clouds making threats of rain, and we felt it was a good time to be indoors. Taking advantage of this feeling, Tatron and Moore began to urge cards. I feared the fascination of gaming, and would have avoided the challenge, but I knew that I should have thought of that before coming. Being there, it was not permitted me to escape, and I sat down to picquct with the others. About the beginning of the second hour of the play we heard a musket-shot, and in a moment or so, several others, fired in a scattering volley.

  We threw down the cards and ran to the door. The night had darkened further, and rain had begun to fall in a fine drizzle. Just as we reached the door, we saw the flash of another musket-shot and the dim forms of men running.

  " What is it ? " we cried, stirred
by the flash and the report and the beat of flying feet.

  " The American prisoners have broken from the jail and the guards arc pursuing them ! " some one replied.

  " A chase ! a chase ! " cried Moore and Catron, at once. " Come, lads, and help the guards ! "

  Hastily buckling on our swords, we rushed into the 133

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  street and joined in the pursuit. It was far from the thoughts of either Marcel or me to aid in the seizure of any countrymen of ours who might be in the way of escape, but in trutli we were compelled to take up the chase with the others. It was our duty as British officers, and I reflected with some degree of pleasure that it was easy to pretend zeal and have it not.

  Brief as was my stay in Philadelphia, I had often looked at the gloomy building on Washington Square, the Walnut Street jail, where so many of my coun- trymen were confined and where so many of them suffered so grievously. Once, in truth, I had been inside of it, at the harrying of Alloway, and that visit did not increase my love for the place. It was of such strength, and guarded with such care, that the report of all the prisoners breaking from it seemed past belief. In truth, we soon found that only a score had escaped, the score the next minute became a dozen, then three or four, and, at last, only one.