Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09] Read online

  Sir W r illiam*s Revel

  and quality that I had never seen before. In the adjoining chambers were stationed two of the regi- mental bauds, the one to play while the other rested. Scores of wax candles in magnificent candelabra shed a brilliant light over gold and silver plate and the gorgeous uniforms of the gathering guests. Of u truth the British army lived well. How could we blame our ragged and starving men for leaving us sometimes ?

  Sir William, as a matter of course, presided, with the general officers on either side of him. But a seat or two away from him was a large man in civilian's dress. This man was of a noble but worn counte- nance, and I guessed at once that he was John Des- mond. I soon found that I was right, and I wondered why Sir William had brought him to the banquet, but supposed it was for his daughter's sake.

  Miss Desmond was near the upper end of the table, with Belfort by her side. Nor was she the only beauty at the banquet, as the wives and daugh- ters of our rich Philadelphia!!* were very partial to the British, whose triumph in America they consid- ered certain. This fact was not a matter of pleasure and encouragement to good patriots.

  I would have liked to be near Miss Desmond, as I wished to draw her out further in regard to her political principles. I did not understand why an American woman could be so bitter against the best of her countrymen, and moreover there is a certain pleasure in opposition. We soon grow tired of people who always agree with us. But it was not my fortune to be near enough to converse with her. 47

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  Nevertheless I could watch the changing expression of her brilliant countenance.

  The viands and the liquors were of surpassing quality, and under their satisfying influence the din- ner proceeded smoothly. There was much talk, mostly of the war and its progress, and everybody was in fine feather. Despite the late successes of the Americans in the North, there seemed to be no one present who did not anticipate the speedy and complete triumph of the British arms.

  " Sir William expects to be made a marquis at least," said Blake, who was one of my neighbors, to me, " and if he should take Mr. Washington he would deserve it."

  " Of a certainty he would deserve it if he should do that," I said.

  Miss Desmond was talking with great animation to some officers of high rank, but my attention pres- ently wandered from her to her father, and was held there by his square, strong, Quakerish face and moody look. This man wore the appearance of a prisoner rather than that of a guest, and replied but curtly to the questions addressed to him, even when Sir William himself was the questioner. I was near enough to hear some of these questions and replies.

  " It is a gay and festal scene, is it not, Mr. Des- mond ? " said Sir William. " It seems to me that the pinched condition of the rebels, of which we hear so much, would contrast greatly with this."

  "You speak truly, Sir William," said Mr. Des- mond, " but you do not say in whose favor the con- trast would be."

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  Sir William's Revel

  inwardly rejoiced at the bold and blunt reply, but Sir William only smiled. In truth I soon saw that he and some of the high officers around him had set out to badger the old Philadelphia!), which I deemed to be a most ungallant thing, OH he wan wholly in their power.

  "Mr. Desmond still feels some lingering sympathy for his misguided countrymen," said a general. 14 But perhaps it is as well that he does, is it not, Sir William » they will need it. '

  " It is a characteristic of my countrymen to show patience and endurance in adversity, " said Mr. Des- mond, proudly.

  " I^ct us attribute that to their British blood," said Sir William.

  " And the bad qualities that they show," added a colonel, " we will attribute to their American birth."

  " If you will pardon me for making the observa- tion, gentlemen," said Mr. Desmond, with great dig- nity, "it was such attempts at discrimination, such reflections upon the American birth of British sul» - jccfes that were among the many causes of this pres- ent unfortunate war."

  I would have applauded the stanch old merchant had I dared, and I listened without any reproach of my conscience for more, but Sir William's reply was lost amid a jangle of talk and the clinking of glasses. Moreover, at that precise moment an insinuating voice at my elbow asked me if I would have my wineglass filled again. There was a familiar tone in the voice, and, turning my head slightlv, I beheld 4 49

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  the leering visage of Waters. At least there seemed to me to be a leer upon his face, though I am will- ing to admit that imagination may have played a trick upon me.

  Either this man was dogging me, or it was a curi- ous chance that put him so often at my elbow. But I preserved my equanimity and curtly ordered him to fill my glass again. This he did, and then passed on about his business, leaving me much vexed, and all the more so because I had lost the thread of the most interesting dialogue between Mr. Desmond and the British officers. Mr. Desmond's face was flushed, and there was a sparkle in his eye that told of much anger.

  "They're worrying the old rebel," said Blake to me, " but he has a stern spirit, and, as he is aware that his opinions are known, it is not likely that he will try to curry favor."

  "It seems to me to be scarce fair to treat him thus," I said.

  " Perhaps not," he replied, " but it is not so bad as it would appear, for by my faith the old man has a sharp tongue and the spirit to use it."

  " Do you have many such events as this in Phila- delphia ? " I asked, meaning the banquet.

  " We do not suffer from a lack of food and drink," replied Blake, with a lau-jjli, "and on the whole we manage to while away the hours in a pleasurable manner. But we have a bit of the real military life now and then also. For instance, the day we rescued you and Montague from the rebels, we were out looking for that troublesome fellow Wildfoot and his 50

  Sir William** Revel

  hand. A loyal farmer brought us word that he was lying in the woods within a few miles of the city."

  " Did you find him ? " I asked.

  "No," said Blake, with an expression of disap- pointment, " but we found where he had been, for every horse and cow of the aforesaid loyal farmer had been carried off in his absence."

  " It was not very far from serving him right," I said.

  " From the standpoint of an American it was ex- tremely even-handed justice," said Blake.

  Now, tins Wildfoot was a most noted partisan or ranker who had come up from Virginia, and, though I had not seen him yet, our army and the British army also, I doubt not was filled with the tale of his deeds, such as the cutting off of British scouting and skirmishing parties and the taking of wagons loaded with provisions, which last were worth much more to us than the taking of prisoners ; for we could not eat the prisoners, though I have seen the time when I was sorely tempted to do so.

  In consequence of these things, nil patriotic Amer- icans regarded Wildfoot with pride and gratitude. But, as the tale went, I had been so short a time in America it was not meet that I should know much about him ; so I requested Blake to enlighten my understanding on the point, which he proceeded to do, and to my great delight, gave a most marvellous account of the pestiferous fellow's misdeeds.

  " He is here, there, and everywhere, chiefly every- where," said Blake ; " and I must admit that so far his ways are past finding out He is doing more 51

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  harm to us than a big battle lost. What is most annoying is the fellow's impertinence. One after- noon he and his band rode up to the river within full sight of the city and stopped a barge loaded with soldiers. They could not carry off the men, but they took their muskets and bayonets and all their am- munition, and, what is more, they got away without a scratch."

  I had heard of the deed. In truth, some of the muskets taken on that occasion by Wildfoot and his men found their way to^our regiment, where they proved a most welcome and serviceable addition, for, as I have said before, the British always arm and equip their soldiers well.


  Blake was going into some further account of Wildfoot's exploits, when he was interrupted by the toast. Very heavy inroads had been made upon the wine supplied by his Majesty to his officers in Amer- ica, and though the guests were not so far advanced into a state of hilarity as to render the absence of the ladies necessary, yet it was manifest that their spirits were rising. It was in truth fit that the toast-making should not be put off much longer, for, though the capacity of the British stomach is one of the wonders of the world, there is a limit to all things.

  Sir William rose in a very stately manner, con- sidering his deep potations, and called for a toast to his Britannic Majesty.

  "And may he soon triumph over his rebellious subjects here and wherever else they choose to raise their heads ! " said Sir William. 52

  Sir William's Revel

  My glass had been filled before this toast by the ready Waters, as those of all the others had been filled for till-ill, and I was even compelled to drink it. I looked across at Marcel and caught his eye. It twinkled with humor. It was easy to see that he did not look at the matter in the same serious light as I, and that reconciled me to it somewhat. But as I swallowed the wine I changed the toast and said to myself,

  " Here is to the long life and success of General Washington and his patriot army ! "

  This eased my conscience still further. Then there was another toast to the " apeccly destruction of Mr. Washington ami his rebels.'

  I drank to this also, as drink I must, but again I said to myself,

  " I drink to the speedy destruction of the army of Sir William Howe and of all the other armies of the oppressor in America, even as the army of Burgoyne was destroyed."

  These and other toasts were accompanied by great applause ; and when there was some subsi- dence of the noise, Sir William, whose face, through over-much drinking, was now a fine mottle of red and purple, turned towards Mr. Desmond and exclaimed,

  " We have had loyal and heartfelt expressions for our king and country, but they have all come from Britons. His Majesty has other subjects who owe him allegiance. I call upon my guest, the loyal Mr. Desmond of the good city of Philadelphia, to propound a toast for MM. Fill up your glasses, 53

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  gentlemen. We await jour sentiments, Mr. Des- mond."

  The noise of the talk ceased at once, for I think all were surprised at this request from Sir William, knowing as they did that Mr. Desmond thought not much of their cause. I wondered how the old mer- chant would evade the matter, and looked at his daughter, who was watching his face with evident anxiety. But Mr. Desmond, though the traces of anger were still visible on his countenance, seemed to be in no state of perplexity. He rose promptly to his feet with a full glass in his hand, and said, in a voice that was very firm and clear,

  "Yes, gentlemen, you shall have a toast from a loyal American, loyal to what is right. I drink to the health of General Washington, the best and the greatest of men, and likewise to the health of his gallant and devoted soldiers."

  So saying, and before a hand could be lifted to stop him, he raised the glass to his lips and emptied it at a draught, I and many others doing likewise, I because it was a toast that I liked, and the others because it was the wine that they liked, and they seized the opportunity to drink it before their dazed brains comprehended the nature of the toast. Re- placing the glass upon the table, Mr. Desmond looked defiantly about him. For a moment there was the heavy hush which so often succeeds impressive events, and then the company burst into a confused and angry clamor. One officer, who had been per- forming most notably at the wine-cup, leaned over, his face quite gray with passion, and would have 54

  Sir William''* Revel

  struck at the daring speaker, but another less heated seized him and threw him not lightly back into his seat. Sir William turned furiously upon the old man and exclaimed,

  11 How dare you, sir, how dare you speak thus in my presence and in the presence of all these gentle- men, loyal subjects of the king ? "

  "Sir William," said a clear voice, "you must not forget that you asked him for a toast. I say it with all due respect; but you knew his principles, and perhaps you could not have expected anything else. Let his daughter plead for his forgiveness, Sir William."

  Miss Desmond was standing. One hand rested upon the table in front of her, the other was slightly raised. Her eyes were aflame, her attitude was that of fearlessness. Above her white brow shone the black masses of her hair like a coronet, and a ruby placed there gathered the light and flashed it back in a thousand rays. Tory and traitor though she was, she seemed to mo then as noble as she was beautiful.

  " I need no defence," said Mr. Desmond, rising ; " at least not from my own daughter."

  She flushed deeply at the rebuke, but she went on nevertheless.

  " Sir William," she said, " remember that this was said at a banquet where much wine has been drunk, and under provocation."

  " Sir William must yield to her," said Blake to me.

  " Why ? " I asked. "

  " Because it is as she says," he replied. " Bear in

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  mind the place a nd the incitement. Sir William brought the retort upon himself. If he punishes the old rebel, the report of this is sure to get back to England, and see what a reflection it would be upon the dignity and duty of the commander-in- chief. High though his favor be, the king and the ministers are but ill pleased with Sir William's con- duct of the war, and the tale of such an incident as this would do him much hurt in their esteem."

  It was even as Blake said. Sir William hesitated. Moreover, I am. not loath to relate that many of the British officers were ruled by a spirit of gallantry and fair play. They crowded around Sir William and told him to let the matter pass as a jest. I suspect he was glad of their interference, because he soon yielded.

  " Since the daughter pleads for the father's for- giveness, it shall even be awarded to her," he said. "To beauty and loyalty we could forgive greater sins."

  Miss Desmond bowed, but the frown gathered more deeply on the old patriot's face.

  " I admire his spirit," said Blake, " but I would that it were displayed on the right side. It is such stubborn men as he that make this country so hard to conquer."

  " There are many such," I said, and I spoke with more knowledge than Blake suspected.

  " I doubt it not," he replied.

  The banquet proceeded, but all the spirit and zest had gone out of it, and very soon it ended, as in truth it was time it should. When we withdrew 56

  S/'r irilliam's Revel

  fruin tlie apartment, I came near to Miss Desmond. She had thrown a rich cloak over her shoulders in preparation for her departure, and some traces of excitement or other emotion were still visible on her face. Bel fort was standing near. The man was always hovering about her.

  "lieutenant Melville," said Miss Desmond, "you arc only a short time in this country, but you find that strange things happen here.''

  "Not so strange, perhaps, as interesting," I re- plied. " However much I may condemn your father's sentiments, Miss Desmond, I would be a churl in truth to refuse admiration for the boldness and spirit with which they have been expressed to-night."

  I spoke my opinion thus, knowing that she had the events of the evening in mind. But she turned upon me sharply.

  " If it is unwise in my father to speak such senti- ments so openly, it is still more unwise in you to commend him for them, as he is an American and may have some excuse, while you are an English- man and can have none," she said.

  Then she turned away with Belfort. who took her triumphantly to her father.

  "Chester," said Marcel, when we were back in our quarters and were sleepily going to l» ed, " the old Desmond hath a tcmj» er of which 1 approve, and his daughter is fair, very fair."

  " But she has the tongue of a shrew," 1 said.

  " I am not sorry for that," he replied, " for she may exercise it on that fellow Belfort whe
n she is Madame Belfort."

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  " Marcel," said I, after a silence of some minutes, " do you not think our position is growing more dangerous every hour? Suppose Sir William detects us."

  " Sir William," said Marcel, half asleep, " is not a great general, but his wine is good, very good, and there was a noble supply of it."

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  CHAPTER FOUR On a New Service

  WIIKX we awoke the next morning we found that the man who Imcl put our uniforms in order and attended to the other duties about the quarters was Waters. There he was, grinning at us in the fa- miliar way that made my anger rise. Again I became suspicious of the fellow, although there was nothing particular upon which I could rest my ap- prehensions, unless it was the air of secret knowledge and importance I fancied I saw so often on his face. But I reflected that such looks were ;i- much the characteristic of fools as of sages, and with this reflection I turned very cheerfully to receive the morning draught which Waters handed to me. The taste of it left no doubt that he was a noble coin- pounder of beverages, and when I had drunk it all I readily forgave him his wise looks, for, as everybody knows, a cool draught in the morning is a necessity after a revel of the night before. Moreover, in a. talkative way he volunteered us much information ^ concerning the army ami its prospects. Suspecting that this would be useful to us, we had no hesitancy in listening to him.