"Many thanks for the honor." And Edward's lip curled with intense scorn.
But Gerald sat like a statue, his teeth set, his eyes fiery, his brows
bent, waiting for the end.
"The passionate boy nearly killed his brother, but I turned the
affair to good account, and bewitched Monsieur by playing nurse,
till Vashti (the icicle) interfered. Then I enacted injured virtue,
and kept out of his way, knowing that he would miss me, I mystified
him about S. by sending a letter where S. would not get it, and got
up all manner of soft scenes to win this proud creature. I get on
well and meanwhile privately fascinate Sir J. by being daughterly
and devoted. He is a worthy old man, simple as a child, honest as
the day, and generous as a prince. I shall be a happy woman if I win
him, and you shall share my good fortune; so wish me success.
"This is the third, and contains something which will surprise you,"
Edward said, as he lifted another paper.
"Hortense: "I've done what I once planned to do on another occasion. You know
my handsome, dissipated father married a lady of rank for his second
wife. I never saw Lady H----d but once, for I was kept out of the
way. Finding that this good Sir J. knew something of her when a
girl, and being sure that he did not know of the death of her little
daughter, I boldly said I was the child, and told a pitiful tale of
my early life. It worked like a charm; he told Monsieur, and both
felt the most chivalrous compassion for Lady Howard's daughter,
though before they had secretly looked down on me, and my real
poverty and my lowliness. That boy pitied me with an honest warmth
and never waited to learn my birth. I don't forget that and shall
repay it if I can. Wishing to bring Monsieur's affair to a
successful crisis, I got up a theatrical evening and was in my
element. One little event I must tell you, because I committed an
actionable offense and was nearly discovered. I did not go down to
supper, knowing that the moth would return to flutter about the
candle, and preferring that the fluttering should be done in
private, as Vashti's jealousy is getting uncontrollable. Passing
throught the gentlemen's dressing room, my quick eye caught sight of
a letter lying among the costumes. It was no stage affair, and an
odd sensation of fear ran through me as I recognized the hand of S.
I had feared this, but I believe in chance; and having found the
letter, I examined it. You know I can imitate almost any hand. When
I read in this paper the whole story of my affair with S., truly
told, and also that he had made inquiries into my past life and
discovered the truth, I was in a fury. To be so near success and
fail was terrible, and I resolved to risk everything. I opened the
letter by means of a heated knife blade under the seal, therefore
the envelope was perfect; imitating S.'s hand, I penned a few lines
in his hasty style, saying he was at Baden, so that if Monsieur
answered, the reply would not reach him, for he is in London, it
seems. This letter I put into the pocket whence the other must have
fallen, and was just congratulating myself on this narrow escape,
when Dean, the maid of Vashti, appeared as if watching me. She had
evidently seen the letter in my hand, and suspected something. I
took no notice of her, but must be careful, for she is on the watch.
After this the evening closed with strictly private theatricals, in
which Monsieur and myself were the only actors. To make sure that he
received my version of the story first, I told him a romantic story
of S.'s persecution, and he believed it. This I followed up by a
moonlight episode behind a rose hedge, and sent the young gentleman
home in a half-dazed condition. What fools men are!"