A Cabinet Secret : Chapter 7

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter seven of a Cabinet secret by guy Boothby this
libribox recording is in the public domain ready by Maperrard,
Chapter seven. The state of mind into which England was
plunged by the news of the disappearance of the commander
in chief cannot be fittingly described by a pen so

(00:25):
weak as mine. It is not that we had lost
anything of our former courage, or that we had resigned
all hope of coming out victors in the struggle. We
were as resolved as ever to carry this war through
to the bitter end. Yet the news clanged like a
death knell upon a thousand hearts. Of my own feelings,

(00:48):
I will not speak that expressed by the nation voices
my own. I was sad. How sad few can guess.
But despite my sorrow, I declared that the war must
go on, that the end should be reached. And now
to turn to a brighter subject. On the Tuesday before

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the day I was due to dine at Wiltshire House,
I have a good fortune to receive a visit from
an old friend. He was none other than the Duke
of Rotherhithe, the gentleman who had been obliging enough to
convey the Countess de Vanazza and her father from Constantinople
to Naples on a certain memorable occasion, and who was

(01:31):
known to entertain a great admiration for her Having had
a somewhat busy morning, I did not reach home until
after two o'clock. I had scarcely sat down to lunch
before Thompson, my butler informed me that the Duke of
Rotherhithe was anxious to see me. My dear fellow, this

(01:52):
is friendly of you, I said, as we shook hands
a few moments later. You are just in time for lunch.
I have only this minute commenced. You couldn't offer me
anything better, he replied, I have eaten nothing all the morning.
By jove, how good it is to see your face again,
old man, And what a swell you have become, to

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be sure, since I saw you last cabinet minister, and
I don't know what else besides, you'll be premier before
you're done. Not quite so high as that, I answered.
I have my ambitions, I will admit, but I am
afraid that the premiership is scarcely the one that will

(02:35):
be likely to be realized. One thing was quite certain
Rotherhithe was in the most excellent spirits. His honest, manly
face was wreathed in smiles, and had an artist been present,
he might have used it for the personification of happiness.
Throughout the meal, he laughed and joked, continually, recalled old

(02:57):
day's old escapades long since forgotten on my side, and
vowed that we were both of us growing younger instead
of older. That there was something unusual about it. All
I could plainly see. But what that something was I
had not then the least idea. My suspicions, however, were

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aroused very soon by the way I said, when we
had finished lunch, let me tell you that I have
lately had the pleasure to be of some service to
an old friend of yours, an old friend of mine.
He said, with what I could not help thinking was
pretended surprise. Who is the friend the Countess de Vanezza,

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I replied, the lady whose wealth and beauty have made
her such a prominent figure in London society of late.
She told me that she had been yachting with you
in the Mediterranean and spoke quite feelingly of your kind
to herself and her father. Do you mean to tell
me that you don't recollect her. Recollect her. Of course

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I do, he said, still with the same sheepish look
upon his face. Oh yes, I remember her well enough,
and so you've been kind to her. Have you here?
He laughed in a foolish fashion to himself. Humph, I
said to myself. Surely he cannot have been idiotic enough

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to have I stopped myself abruptly. I knew very well
that I should hear all the news he had to tell.
Quite soon enough at last Thompson and the men left
the room, and an expression of great solemnity, took possession
of my friend's countenance. What was more, he drew his
chair a little closer to mine. My dear old fellow,

(04:53):
he said, laying his hand on my arm, we have
been friends many years. In point of fact, I don't
know of a man whose good wishes I should so
thoroughly appreciate. By Jove, old fellow, I am the happiest
being in the world, so happy, in fact, that I'm
dashed if I know whether I am standing on my
head or my heels. Let me reassure you, then, I said, dryly,

(05:20):
you are standing on your heels at the present moment.
Confound your silly jokes, he said angrily. Any One but
a cabinet minister would have seen that I was speaking metaphorically.
Now I want to tell you that, if you are
going to be confidential, I replied, let us adjourn to

(05:40):
the smoking room. I shall give you much better attention
over a cigar, and you will doubtless prove more eloquent.
We accordingly adjourned to the room in question, where he
produced a box of cigars, furnished the dew with the light,
and then, when we had seated ourselves, bade him commence
his tale. I have often noticed that when a man

(06:03):
who is anxious to be communicative is invited to begin
his confidences, he finds that his stream of loquacity has
dried up. It was so in Rotherhite's case. He hummed
and hawed, gazed very steadily at the ceiling for some seconds,
and finally rose from his chair and began to pace
the room. You may remember he began, in the tone

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of a man addressing a public meeting, that you and
several other of my friends have continually endeavored to impress
upon me that it is my bound in duty not
only to myself but to the name. I bear to
marry and settle down. You can't grumble. Therefore, if I
take you at your word, you couldn't do better, I said, reflectively,

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examining the ash of my cigar as I spoke. There
is only one objection to the scheme, so far as
I can see objection, he cried, firing up as usual.
What sort of objection can there be to such a thing.
It is just possible you may marry the wrong girl,
I said, quietly. You must admit that that would be

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a very decided one. I am not likely to be
such an idiot, he returned. What is more, I am
not about to marry a girl. I was becoming more
and more convinced that my suspicions were correct. In that case,
the objection is removed, I said, And now let me

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offer you my heartiest congratulations. I sincerely hope you may
be happy. But hang it all, you haven't asked me
yet who the lady is. You might have done that.
If I wanted to waste time, I might very well
have done it, I replied. There is no need, however,
seeing that I already know who she is the deuce

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you do, then who is she? The Countess dava Nezza,
I answered, shaking the ash of my cigar into the
tray beside me. I had my suspicions at lunch, and
you afterwards confirmed them. I presume I am correct, quite correct,
he said, in a tone of relief. And by Jove,

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don't you think I am a lucky man? Isn't she
simply beautiful? I offered no reply to the first question.
On the second point, however, I was fortunate enough to
be in a position to reassure him. Whatever else she
might be or might not be, the Countess was certainly
very beautiful. I shall have her painted by Collier, he continued,

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or another of those artist fellows. She will be in
black velvet, holding the folds of a curtain in her hand,
and I'll hang it in the gallery at the old place,
with all the other family pictures round her. There will
not be another there to equal her. In my own heart,
I wondered what those stately old ladies in frills and

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brocades would say to the newcomer. I did not mention
the fact, however, to rather hide in his present condition,
he was ready to take offense at anything, at least
where she was concerned, and When will the wedding take place?
I inquired? And where? I can't quite say, he replied.

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There's such a lot to be settled first to see.
I want her to let it be in London, but
so far she hasn't given me a definite answer. And
her respected father, what has he to say upon the subject. Oh,
he's pleased enough. I had a telegram from him this
morning between ourselves. I think foreigners over do it a bit,

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don't you. They certainly express their feelings somewhat more warmly
than we usually do, I said, as if in explanation
of my own conduct. But in this case one feels
justified in launching out a little Might I ask how
long you have known the lady? I put the question listlessly,

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seeing that the chance of my learning a little of
her past history was a poor one. Oh, I have
known her a long time, he answered vaguely. We were
together in Cairo and Algiers and other places. What a
fellow you are to be sure to ask questions? Does
it mean that you think he stopped and glared at me?

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But I sit and down, my dear fellow, I think
nothing at all except that the Countess is a most
charming lady, and that you will doubtless live a most
happy life together. I am sure, I hope you may.
He looked at me queerly for a moment, and then
brought his hand down with a whack upon my shoulder.

(10:58):
By jove, do you know I believe you have been
in love with her yourself? He said, Now own up,
It is very possible, I answered, feeling that my only
safety delay in answering as I did. I have been
in love with her ever since I have known her,
and with all due respect to you, I shall remain

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so after she has become her grace, The Duchess of Rotherhithe.
If you are jealous, you will have to forbid me
the house. He laughed uproariously, his confidence quite restored by
my candor. Then, with an assurance that I had better
not let him catch me flirting with her, he informed

(11:41):
me that it was time for him to get off,
as he had promised to call at Wiltshire House that afternoon.
One last question, I said, as we walked towards the door,
and I mean it seriously, What does cousin Conrad say
to the arrangement? I don't know what he says in

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the least, and what is more, I don't care, he replied,
an angry look coming into his face between ourselves. George,
I don't like that, young fellow. I shall take care
once I am married that he doesn't enter my doors.
I think you would be wise, I said, and there

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the matter dropped. When he had gone, I sat myself
down to consider the situation. It displeased me for more
reasons than one Rotherhithe was my old friend. I was
exceedingly fond of him, and I had no desire that
his married life should prove a failure. Yet what reason
had I for supposing that it would. It is true

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I had seen a good deal of the Countess lately,
but not sufficient to be able to declare that I
knew her intimately. She was a beautiful woman, an excellent hostess,
the possessor of great wealth, and though beyond her father
I knew nothing of her family, evidently of gentle blood.
This much was in her favor. Yet there were other

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things which rankled in my memory, and which had I
aspired to the honor of her hand, I should have
wanted explained to me. How was it that no one
had ever heard of her before she appeared to dazzle
all London. Was Count Riefenburg really her cousin? Who was
that mysterious foreigner who had plainly been threatening her on

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the morning that I had met her in the park?
And last, but not least, what was the real story
of that old tramp's entrance into Wiltshire House on the
night of the supposed burglary. The most alarming question, and
the most difficult of all to decide, was whether it
was my duty to say anything to Rotherhithe upon the subject.

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He was, in the main an easy going, happy go
lucky fellow, not overburdened with brains, but in every other
respect I high minded English gentleman. Yet I knew him
well enough to feel sure that in a case like
this he would have been the first to resent and
looked at from his own light quite rightly too, any

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aspersion that might be thrown upon the character of the
woman he loved. That he was in love with her,
there could be no sort of doubt. One had only
to look into his face to see it. But I
was also fond of him, And if I knew there
were anything hidden from him which he ought to know,

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was it not my duty as his friend to risk
his anger and the possible rupture of our friendship in
order to make him acquainted with it. For the remainder
of the day, I debated this question seriously with myself.
But try how I would, I was quite unable to
arrive at a satisfactory decision regarding it. This much, however,

(14:58):
I did do common politeness demanded it of me. I
sat down and wrote a note of congratulation to the Countess.
Though I knew in my heart it was a somewhat
traitorous proceeding. Yet when the note had been despatched, I
must confess I felt easier in my mind. A twinge

(15:19):
of conscience, however, still remained to plague me. If only
I had not taken the walk that night, or if
only I had been too late to see the old
man enter the house, I should have been able to
regard the whole affair, if not with pleasure, at least
with a measure of equanimity. Now, however, it was otherwise.

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Next morning, a charming little note arrived from the Countess,
thanking me for my good wishes and referring to herself
as one of the most fortunate women in the world.
As a letter it was delightful as an expression of
the writer's true feelings. Well, I was not quite so
satisfied as to its genuineness. Charming, though the lady undeniably

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was and sympathetic to an eminent degree, I found it
extremely difficult to imagine her in love, if by chance
she were so. However, Rotherhithe was certainly the last man
whom it would have been with the news of his
engagement had caused quite a stir, even at that time

(16:23):
of almost daily sensations in the fashionable world. In consequence
of it, however, those who had hitherto been inclined to
hold a little aloof from her, as one of whose
antecedents were not sufficiently well known to warrant the intimacy,
now that the Duke had, so to speak, stood sponsor

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for her, were prepared to admit her into their inmost circle.
As for Rotherhithe, he conducted himself like an amiable lunatic,
frequented Wilchiir House to an extent that almost bordered on
the indecent, and was making plans for the future with
the impetuous recklessness of the fifteen year old schoolboy. His

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beautiful home in the Midlands was to be prepared for occupation,
a new yacht was to be built that would be
the finest of her kind, while Rotherhyde House in London
was to be refurnished and decorated throughout altogether. As somebody said,
the Duke's love affair would be likely to prove the
costliest hobby he had indulged in since his majority. But

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as I have said before, if he desired to marry
the Countess and was convinced that his happiness lay in
that direction, it was no business of mind to contradict him.
From the tone I have adopted in speaking of this matter,
it may be surmised that I was jealous of Rotherhide's success.
Allow me to assure you most emphatically that such was

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not the case. I am quite prepared to admit that
I admired Countess as not only a beautiful but also
an exceedingly clever woman, as I have once or twice remarked. However,
I am a confirmed bachelor, and I do not think
it would be in the power of the fairest daughter
of Eve to induce me to change my state. It

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was in this frame of mind that I entered the
portals of Wiltshire House on the evening of the Countess's dinner.
In some ways my interests had departed from it. I
was merely a looker on at a game which was
being extremely well played, and knowing something of the rules
by which it is governed, I was able to appreciate

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the importance of the various moves, while being in no
way dependent upon their skill. The Countess, looking like the
queen of beauty, received me in the drawing room. Rotherhithe
had already arrived and, as was plainly to be seen,
was ensconced on the summit of happiness. I am glad

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you should be the first to arrive, she said, as
if her fiancee counted for nothing. And while I have
the opportunity, I must thank you once more for your
charming letter and for the kindly sentiments it expressed. It
was awfully noose of you, by jove, put in the Duke,

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and then added, with boyish naivete Manerville always knows how
to do and say the right thing. He's a past
master of tact I happened to be looking at the
Countess's face as he said it, and if, as I
feel sure I did I read it correctly. It spoke volumes.
She does not care about him and Adam, I said

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to myself, and then I added, if that's so, God
help my poor old friend. A few moments later, when
we were nearly at the end of our stock of commonplaces,
the other guests arrived. So far as they were concerned,
the dinner was likely to prove it success. Besides the Countess,

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Rotherhithe and myself, there was Lady Deiesford, who, besides being
one of the prettiest women in England, is also one
of the wittiest. Desford himself, who had just returned from
the Pemiers, and who, while being one of the geographical
lions of the day, was also a well informed man

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of the world. Montague Wordley, the dramatist, whose wit was
a puzzle even to himself, And pretty Missus van Houden,
the American actress, famous alike for her beauty and her talent.
These with Lady Susan Pedthorpe, whose powers are too well
known to need description, completed the list. The honor of

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escorting our hostess in to dinner was given to me,
while Rotherhithe gave his arm to Lady Desford, the latter's
husband took Lady Susan wordly. Missus van Houghten. To attempt
a description of the meal to which we sat down
would be impossible. Let it suffice that it was unique

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in every sense of the word. Looking back over a
period of more years than I care to think about,
I am unable to recall one entertainment that in any
way equaled it. The whole thing was original, from end
to end. The earth seemed to have been ransacked for
our delectation. The ones were of the choicest vintages, and

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the waiting was all that could be desired. By reason,
I suppose of what followed later. Every detail of the
entertainment is indelibly impressed upon my memory. I can recall
the smallest items connected with it. The Countess's southern beauty,
rather High's jovial countenance, Missus van Houten's rippling laugh, the

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perfect modulation of Lady Susan's voice, even the glitter of
a splendid sapphire on one of Lady Desbord's shapely fingers,
are as deeply engraved upon my memory as if it
were but yesterday. One thing I must confess surprise me,
while at the same time it added to my pleasure
that was the absence of our hostess's cousin Riefenberg. Unable

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to account for it, I was later on induced to
inquire after him. He has gone into the country, she replied.
He has heard of some shooting that would appear to
be perfection, and he has gone to prove it. Conrad
is rapidly becoming anglicized. Consequently, discovering a fine day, he

(22:41):
inquires what he shall kill. I put in that pleasant illusion,
I fear is fast passing away, said Dsword from across
the table. With the abolition of bull baiting, badger drawing,
cock fighting in similar sports, the old order has changed.
Fox hunting is deteriorating before the steady advance of barbed wire.

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Deer hunting is declared to be an inhuman sport, while
pigeon shooting is fast becoming a purely mechanical performance played
with an inverted saucer and spring. The conversation drifted into
another channel, and after that nothing more was said about
the count Vound Riefenberg's absence. Personally, I could not help

(23:30):
feeling sure that the reason the Countess had advanced to
account for it was far from being the correct one.
As I have said elsewhere, I had long ago arrived
at the conclusion that the young man entertained a more
than cousinly regard for the lady. His absence from the dinner, therefore,
was merely an arrangement to ensure his not meeting his

(23:53):
more successful rival. The engagement, by this time was known
throughout London, so that I was only voicing a popular sentiment.
At dessert, when I proposed the health and happiness of
the affiance de pair. The Countess murmured her thanks, while
Rotherhithe declared that it was jolly good of us to

(24:14):
wish them luck, and, by way of adding to the
general cheerfulness, hoped that we should all be as friendly
after his marriage as we had been before that. The
ladies left the room. Half an hour later, we joined
them in the drawing room, where I was fortunate enough
to be able to induce the Countess to play to us.

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She complied without hesitation, and, if the truth must be told,
her music was to me the greatest pleasure I received
that evening. As I listened to her, I could not
help recalling that memorable afternoon when she had played to me.
Before after she had finished, a famous musician then in London,
and whom she had induced to come to her house,

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played to us superbly. Me However, this performance was insipidity
itself compared with that to which I had just listened.
At a quarter to twelve, the various carriages were announced,
and the guests departed, until only rather high than I
were left. Well, Sir George, said the Countess, as she

(25:20):
stood before the fireplace, one dainty hand up on the mantelpiece,
and a pretty foot resting upon the brass bar of
the fender. I hope I have succeeded in demonstrating to
you the fact that, even at the close of the
nineteenth century, it is possible to be original in one
of the most prosaic actions of life. You have certainly

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given us a delightful proof, I answered. When my turn arrives,
I fear I shall find it difficult to equal, much
less to eclipse your effort. I thought nothing was impossible
to a cabinet minister, put in Rotherhithe, who had of
course been informed of our rivalry. We shall look forward

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to seeing what you can do. I fear you will
be disappointed in the result, I replied, and now I
must be going. Good night. Countess. When I say that
you have equipsed even yourself to night, I cannot pay
you a greater compliment. Praise from Sir George Mandeville is praise, indeed,

(26:28):
she quoted demurely, and then she added, with a gracious kindness,
good night. I held out my hand to Rotherhithe, but
he did not take it. Look here, George, he said,
if you are willing to walk home, I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll come with you. Brahms are not
much in my line. If we walk, we can smoke

(26:50):
us a guard together. I would far rather have gone
home by myself, but it was impossible to put Rotherevee off.
I accordingly consented, though I knew very well that what
the result would be. Being anxious to leave them alone
for a moment, I strolled into the hall, where Rotherhithe

(27:10):
presently joined me. We doned our hats and coats and
set off my shadow, picking me up at the foot
of the steps. According to custom, well old fellow, said Rotherhithe,
slipping his arm through mine after we had turned the corner.
What do you think of her? Isn't she simply perfect?

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Don't you think I'm the luckiest fellow on earth? Three
questions in one breath, I said, how on earth do
you expect me to answer them? Of course you're a
lucky fellow, and of course we all envy you your happiness. Then,
with an air of seriousness, I continued, I suppose, Rotherhithe,

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you are quite convinced that she is the one woman
in the world for you comest. He replied, with a
short laugh at the absurdity of the question. Of course,
I am convinced, why, my dear old chap, if I
were to hunt the whole world over, I shouldn't find

(28:13):
her equal. You've no idea how good she is. What's more,
do you know she's the soul of caution. She's got
what I lack, the business instinct. Indeed, I said, where
this side of the Countess's character had never been revealed
to me? So she is business like? Is she? I

(28:35):
should think she is? Why when I spoke to her
of what I thought of doing at Rotherhithe house, that
is to say, of pulling a lot of it down,
you know, and rebuilding it, to say nothing of redecorating
and refurnishing it throughout. She wouldn't hear of it. Wait,
she said, and let us see how we like it.

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It will be quite time enough, when we have been
married a few years, to think of making changes in
what has served so long. A very sensible remark, too,
I replied. I am glad she is not going to
lead you into useless expenditure. It's no business of mine,
I know. But that colette of diamonds must have cost

(29:19):
a fortune thirty thousand pounds, he answered, But it's worth
every penny of it to see it round her neck.
She is passionately fond of diamonds. They are the only
stones she cares for. Decidedly, I began to think that
Countess was a business woman. Had I aspired to the

(29:40):
honor of her hand, she would perforce have had to
be content with a single string of pearls. Colettes of
diamonds costing thirty thousand pounds are the peculiar guests of
millionaires now ratherhide, I knew, while a rich man was
far from being overburdened with money, I wished that he

(30:02):
had not done it. Though why I should have done
it so? It would have puzzled me to say. When
we reached my house, I invited him to accompany me inside.
You would not hear of it, however, No, he said,
I'll be getting home now late hours. Don't agree with me.
But before we part, old friend, there's one thing I

(30:24):
want to say to you. I'm going to make a
rather big settlement on my wife, that is to be,
and I want to know if you have any objection
to my putting you down as one of the trustees.
If you could manage it, I should be more than
grateful to you should anything happen to me. There is
nobody else I know who would look after her interests

(30:47):
so well, I scarcely knew what answer to make. The
proposal was one that did not commend itself to me
for several reasons. But what objection could I raise to it?
I was his friend, and presumably hers also. It would
be only natural that he should ask me, and in

(31:09):
the ordinary course of things, it would be only natural
that I should accept. For some vague reason. However, events
seem to be moving outside the ordinary course of things,
so I determined not to give him an answer. Then
don't disappoint me. There's a good fellow, he went on,

(31:29):
You can have no idea what importance I attached to
your acceptance of the position. Let me have until tomorrow
morning to decide, I replied. It is not my habit,
as you are aware to do anything in a hurry,
and I should like to think it over before giving
my consent. There are many things to be considered. You

(31:50):
may be sure, however, that if I can possibly convince
myself that I shall be really serving your interests and
hers by acceding to your request, that I shall do so.
If I did not think so, I should ask you
to find some one else at once, and trust to
our old friendship to make you believe that I am right,

(32:14):
very good. Then we will leave it like that, and
you shall give me an answer tomorrow. And now good night, George.
You may not think so, but this has been the
happiest evening of my life. Here we shook hands. Let
us hope. I said that this is only the beginning
of your happiness. You will possess a wife of whom

(32:37):
you are sure to be proud. You have rank, wealth
and innumerable friends. What more could any man desire? Good Night?
He waved his hand to me in farewell, and then
set off down the street. When he had disappeared, I
beckoned my shadow to me and bide him good night.
Also then I, in my turn, retired from the world.

(33:01):
Not feeling in the humor for bed, I went to
my study, and, contrary to my usual habit lit another cigar.
I had a variety of papers to look through, so
I seated myself in a comfortable chair and set to
work to peruse them. It was a useless endeavor, however,
for try how I would to rivet my attention upon them.

(33:24):
I found my thoughts reverting continually to the entertainment I
had been present at that evening for more than an hour.
I remained in my study. Then, feeling that I should
be better in bed, I went upstairs. I had scarcely
reached my dressing room, however, before the sound of a
bell reached my ears. A few minutes later, there was

(33:46):
a tap upon the door, and Williams entered with a note.
I took it from him and looked first at the
address and then at the back. Greatly, to my surprise,
I found that it was from Rotherhide, to whom I
had said good bye on the pavement outside the house
an hour or so before. The Countess ran as follows,

(34:07):
Dear George, something terrible has happened. For the sake of
our old friendship. I implore you to come to me
at once. I am sending my carriage to fetch you,
for Heaven's sake. Don't delay a moment longer than you
can help. Ever, your friend Rotherhithe, What on earth could
be the matter? I asked myself. Had the Countess changed

(34:30):
her mind or had Rotherhithe met with an accident. Not
knowing what might be asked of me, I changed my
dressed clothes for a morning suit as quickly as possible,
informed Williams of the fact that I was going to
Rotherhithe house, and then descended the stairs. A brown with
servants in the well known Rotherhithe livery was drawn up

(34:52):
beside the pavement, and in it I took my place.
The door was then closed and we set off. End
of Chapter seven