A Poor Player. A story of Kent

Front matter

A POOE PLATER In October, 1SSS. MEMOIRS OF ERNEST II DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. PERIOD 1818-1850. Two Vols. Demy 8vo. llith Portrait of Ernest II and of his brother, the late Prince Consort of England. 30s. The Standard said of the German Edition of this work — " Sheds new light on the history of the present Royal Family of England, and brings out fresh features in the private life, character, and opinions of the late Prince Consort and in a subordinate degree of her Majesty the Queen." REMINGTON & Co., Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. A POOR PLAYER R jcUn'2 of Unit BY WEST DIGGES IX TWO VOLUMES VOL II LONDON REMINGTON & CO PUBLISHERS HENRIETTA STREET COVENT GARDEN 188S [All Rights Reserved] CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. Fitzroy Engaged lor a New Part. — A Sovereign on Account ... ... ... i II.

The Unexpected Happens ... ... 22 III. Domestic Clouds and Sunshine ... ... 40 IV. Desperate Devices ... ... ... ... 64 V. What the Sovereign Helped Fitzroy and Others to do 86 VI. Wanderers Again. — Dear Old England ... 102 VII. Legal Instead of Clerical Influence Reigns at Chilham ... ... ... ... 1 10 VIII. The Lawyer's Power. — What will he do with it ? ... ... ... ... ... 133 IX. "There's No Place Like Home." even in Adversity ... ... ... ... 145 X. Some Experiences of a Stage-Door Keeper 1 56 XI. Mr. Greatheart's Work Begins to Show Itself 182 XII. "Oh! Violet!" Again 190 XIII. " Old Drury " full of Business 200 XIV. George Leslie Appeals to the Manager ... 229 XV. An Unrehearsed Scene ... ... . .. 243 XVI. Sense and Sensibility ... ... ...

Chapter I. Fitzroy Engaged For

A NEW PART. — A SOVEREIGN ON ACCOUNT. During the rest of that day after the laAAwer's departure, and on the folloAving morning, Mrs. Lambert Avas in a deep study of the one subject upon Avhich her mind had noAv become fixed, her hope centred, and her future action depended, namely, Avere George Leslie and her daughter Edith married or not? If not, she felt that nothing could reconcile her to such a state of social depravity. If other- Avise, she felt that nothing could prevent her from taking such a course as Avould acknow ledge her error, and shoAv her desire to atone for the past. Whatever the result might be, she had re- VOL. II. B solved that the discovery, if contrary to her hopes, should be known only to herself if possible. She kneAV what tOAvn it was in Avhich the Company that week performed.

She Avas restless to get at the truth, no matter Avhat the cost or trouble. She felt convinced it Avould never come to her, therefore she should have to seek it out herself, and to do so without being known was not easy, yet such Avas her intention in case her only fear might be realized, in which case she was resolved never to know either Edith or Leslie again. It Avas last night she had finished reading the story of " East Lynne," an incident in which suggested to her an idea. She had just finished her lonely breakfast, the clock struck ten. There Avas a time-table before her, she opened it, and turning to the page looked for, found that by leaving Canterbury at twelve o'clock she could reach the tOAvn Avhere the Company performed by six o'clock, staying an hour in London to get certain things she Avanted, having to pass through on her way.

She Avas at Canterbury in good time Avith such luggage as she wanted. The carriage stopped at the post office, and she sent a telegram to her nepheAv Lionel, telling him to meet her at the station in FITZRO Y ENGAGED FOR A NE W PAR T. 3 London. It had occurred to her that he might be useful, if only he could be kept from, as she thought, making a fool of him self. At any rate he should know nothing more, she determined, than might make him useful, convenient, or desirable. The telegram reached that youth before he Avas up ; dressing became an unusually nimble performance after reading the contents. He AA'as too much flurried and had too little time to eat any breakfast. After pouring a cup of hot tea into an already highly-fevered system, resulting from the previous night's revels, he hurried off to Charing Cross Station, and found his aunt AA-aiting to receive him instead of its being the other way.

After a vain effort at some trembling excuses, Avith the eye-glass constantly revolving on no axis at all, and the perspiration standing on his engineering brow, Avhich Mrs. Lambert thought Avas caused by hurrying so suddenly from draAving boards in his office — his excuses hinted at something of the kind — his aunt told him to take the luggage on to Euston Station and Avait for her, getting his own portmanteau on the Avay, as she Avanted him to go Avith her to Redford by the four o'clock train. The slightest effort on his part upon an inquiry led to his understanding that he was to ask no questions at present, but do as she desired him Avithout delay. He did so. Mrs. Lambert then proceeded to a celebrated optician's shop in the Strand, and there pro cured an article Avhich she contemplated using.

Then, for the purpose of obtaining information and advice on the same subject, she sought an intervieAv with the famous lady costumier in Boav Street. Having so far completed her arrangements, she proceeded to Euston Station, and found her nepheAV there to receive her this time. On the journey she told him nothing, except that Edith Avas the object of her visit, and that he (Lionel) was strictly to obey her orders in that respect and do or say nothing from himself regarding Edith or Mr. Leslie. Arriving at Redford, they went at once to the principal hotel. After they had dined that evening Mrs. Lambert desired Lionel to visit the theatre, and, Avithout letting Edith or Leslie see him, to find out if possible where they were staying. Now this arrangement exactly suited Lionel, for, having been in the smoking room, he there saw a bill of the theatre, and discovered that Miss Violet De Vere Avas FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW

PART. 5

still a member of Huntley May's Company. From a seat among the rest of the people in the pit Lionel feasted his senses, not only on Leslie's acting, Avhich he much admired, and more than ever noAv, since he no longer experienced those pangs of envy, and even jealousy, he formerly did when Leslie's method of embracing and othenvise addressing a certain lady in the conduct of the scene Avas such that Lionel could not understand hoAV it could be anything but real. Those pangs Avere removed by the knoAvledge of his cousin's position betAveen them ; therefore, the feast of delight Avhen Miss De Vere entered upon the scene was unalloyed by any influence that disturbed the youth's affectionate cupidity, though the affection had often appeared both elastic and changeable Avhen under the spell in London of the tAvo front toavs.

On the fall of the curtain Lionel hastily left the theatre and carefully secreted himself Avithin vieAv of the stage door. Experience had made him perfect in this practice, aided by the eye-glass. When at last he espied Miss De Vere issuing from that dirty aperture of mysterious fascination called the stage door, a spasmodic flutter caused him to drop the glass, pursue her form like the smallest needle to the magnet, but to see the phantom of his delighted fancy suddenly vanish from his sight through a garden into a house curiously shaped and remotely situated. It was an old-fashioned and rather large dAvell ing, approached by a door in the centre, opening into a room lighted by windows at the back, which looked into an orchard. It was a corner house, and in the lane at the side was another door entering to the kitchen.

It was only one story high, and on each side of the door in front Avas an apartment used as bedrooms, with French windoAvs opening to the garden through which Violet De Vere had passed, and of Avhom Lionel had seen nothing since but her shadow for a minute or so through the blind of the right-hand windoAv ; when that went his hopes darkened. As he Avandered back, dull and disconsolate, forgetful of his aunt's request, he passed Leslie on the other side of the road. Turn ing to look Lionel Avalked gently back, and Leslie disappeared from view down the lane at the side of the same house. Lionel, knoAving nothing of the side en trance, returned to the hotel Avith no more neAvs for his aunt than if he had never left FITZROY ENGA GED FOR A NE W

PART. 7

it. He concluded that he had discovered Miss De Vere's abode, Avhereas Leslie and Edith Avere lodging in this house, Avith Avhom Violet De Vere had been asked to supper that night, and she had left the theatre before Leslie to tell Edith that he was stay ing to see the manager. Violet's lodging Avas a feAv doors off. Leslie soon folloAA-ed her from the theatre, which accounted for Lionel meeting him, and he turned down the lane to enter by the side door because he wanted to give the landlady some money she had lent him Avithout the others knoAving it. From this circumstance it may be concluded that business AA-as bad at the theatre, there fore salaries were short. That AA-eek had been the second in the town, and one Avas usually enough in a financial sense. As soon as Mrs. Lambert Avas left alone in her rooms at the hotel, the landlady availed herself of the opportunity to inquire AA'hether she Avas being properly attended to by a per sonal visit.

Being a pleasant, business-like woman, and not above her station, Avhile she commanded respect, Mrs. Lambert received her Avith a consistency of feeling and conduct Avhich came of the neAv and better-conditioned vieAvs of life that lady had noAv entered upon. A POOR PDA YER. 8 Their conversation soon became so easy that Mrs. Lambert resolved to make a confi dant of her hostess as far as Leslie Avas con cerned, but not her daughter. Mrs. Lambert therefore inquired as to Avhether it Avould be possible, without much trouble, to find out Avhere a Mr. Leslie Avas lodging, Avho Avas playing this week at the theatre. The hostess at once drew her mental con clusions represented by the old idea of the fond mother and the long-lost disobedient son, and immediately said to the effect, in her own way, that the boots of the hotel was not the person to let any difficulty of that sort stand in his way.

Besides, he had played "Sam Weller" for an amateur benefit per formance not long ago. Therefore, being known at the theatre, he could speak to the local manager or his people. So she went doAvnstairs to communicate with the person Avho occupied the now historic post. Boots started, and returned in less than ten minutes, emulating the patron saint of his fraternity by giving all the information required, Avhich the hostess took upstairs and imparted in her confidential way what the reader already knows, adding that the house in which Mr. Leslie lodged Avas her husband's FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW

PART. 9

property, and anything she could do with her tenant, Mrs. Perkins, in forwarding Mrs. Lam bert's vieAvs Avould give much pleasure, or Avords to that effect. On the folloAving morning tAvo notable persons, with Avhom the reader is already acquainted, arrived at Redford. They were the very opposite in instinct or desire to anything that could assimilate tAvo beings, yet the strange mutability of human affairs had brought them there on the same errand — one as master, %vith a restless and implacable motive of revenge in one sense, allied Avith the intent of making the basest proposals in another. Such Avas the purpose of Maurice Langel. The other Avas the man Avho had been made the vitiated and unconscious tool of the unscrupulous master, Avho had reduced him to such a state of dependency by first of all setting him up as a country manager, only to knock him doAvn again, and in the process getting him to sigh for drink until he became penniless and abandoned.

Such Avas the state of Fergus Fitzroy, and such the two notables Avho had arrived and located them selves at an obscure hotel, mainly OAving to Fitzroy's dilapidated appearance being un suited to their reception elsewhere. To understand the meaning of Langel's present position it should be mentioned that Charles Dando, the amateur, Avho had forced himself and his money upon Leslie while they Avere together in the Company, had been playing the part all the time of a spy and an emissary of Langel's, laying the foundation upon Avhich the financier meant to Avork his plans. The I. O. U.'s given by Leslie to Dando had passed to Langel, in respect of which there had been legal proceedings, resulting in a warrant for Leslie's commitment to prison. Such Avas the power Langel had obtained for effectually Avorking out his designs.

Through the intercedence of the hotel landlord and landlady, Mrs. Perkins, the lodging-house keeper, had called upon them and been received by Mrs. Lambert. The latter could obtain no information such as she AA'anted about Edith and Leslie. She was still fixed in her determination not to let any one know the secret doubt she had as to her daughter being married or not, and finding, under a very tempting promise of payment, that Mrs. Perkins was willing to do almost anything she Avas desired, the lady of Chilham Manor made her proposition ; the lodging- FITZR 0 Y ENGA GED FO R A NE W

PART. 11

house keeper agreed to it at once, and it Avas arranged that the next day their plans should be put into operation. Thinking that Lionel might be more in the way than otherwise, she sent him to London on business, to return to her the next day. Fitzroy, after " having it out " with Hopper at Chilham Manor, had not been seen in Lon don. He thought that little incident might cause him to be inquired after at the Glow worm, or in his usual haunts, especially as Lionel might speak of seeing him there. Langel had considered that it might not be serving his OAvn object if Fitzroy and Lionel got together often, or even at all. Therefore the method he had adopted for keeping Fitzroy aAA-ay, namely, satisfying his vanity by propping him up in a system of fugitive management in small towns, served another purpose, as it unexpectedly happened to him.

When a bold, unflinching rascal approaches an act of unusual mendacity, he is seldom free from fear or coAvardice, especially in the contemplation of personal conflict, be it even Avith a Avoman only. The financier's position may be said to have exemplified this state of feelings when the desire for a confederate occurred to him, and he resolved upon stopping supplies to Fitzroy for keeping up his petty management in order that he might be reduced as near to poverty as possible, and thereby become amenable to the financier's will in those inconvenient and low-minded tricks inseparably connected Avith the mean business on hand. Langel had found much trouble in keeping Fitzroy away from the theatre, or being seen by Leslie, or by anyone who might know the misguided tragedy star. To make this arrangement secure, an old and never-failing charm Avas freely requisitioned into service by whiskey being made the order of the day, and especially of the night.

The folloAving day, while rehearsal Avas going on at the theatre, Langel, accompanied by Fitzroy, the latter under the influence of several morning nips of the dog that had bitten him overnight, had found the way to the lodging-house kept by Mrs. Perkins. In agricultural toAvns like Redford lodging houses, and, indeed, others, are often left open and unguarded while the oAvner goes market ing, or doing such daily errands ; and such Avas the case as Langel approached the house by the front door, Avhich opened into what proved to be a large room. He entered FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW PART. IS the room, looked about, saAV nobody, then beckoned to Fitzroy, Avho Avent to the door as though someAvhat reluctant, Avhich Langel attributed to Avhiskey. The tragedian stood leaning against the open door, Avhile the financier Avas eyeing all things Avith an interest or curiosity, Avhich Avas folloAved by the remark on his part — "And this is the house they're lodging in, Leslie and — " He stopped himself at the last Avord Avith a sneering and sinister emphasis and expression, Avhile the other looked at him with a moony eye, and speaking in an artful sort of jerky Avay, he mumbled out — " Is it ?

And Avhy are you here ? " " Eh ? " said Langel, sharply ; he didn't like being interrogated in this Avay. " Oh, business brings me here ; you say Leslie is at the theatre rehearsing ? " "Yes, and at the Theatre Royal, Redford. That means Avork. Some people think the player's life is all play. I knoAv Avhat it is. I've been a tragedian. If you want to know Avhat it is, look at me." " What did the people think when they looked at you ? " said Langel, sneeringly again. " Not much. Tragedy made me ambitious. I used to think that my likeness and Shake speare's Avould be seen together some day." " The only time I ever saAV you on the stage, Fitzroy, Avas in a dog piece. The dog Avasn't bad." " But I Avas. Yes. I began Avith tragedy and Avent to the dogs. It's different with Leslie; he's trying to rise by degrees.

What do you want with him ? " " Oh, I don't Avant him, but I know a man Avho does." Langel's meaning by this reply Avas the Sheriff's officer, but he spoke in such a way as to leave a different meaning on Fitzroy's mind, Avho said in a way that indicated either AA'hiskey or wariness, or it may have been both — " What have you brought me to this town for?" " To let you earn some money." Fitzroy, opening his eyes, said — " Is it possible?" " Did you ever earn any before ? " " I can't say I did ; I knoAv I never got it. I've always been ornamental and expensive." " Now I suppose, Fitzroy, you are not in a violent hurry to pay me the money you owe me?" FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW

PART. 15

" I can't say I am." " Very Avell. Then do as I Avish and I'll make you useful, although you have been in for tragedy." " The devil you AArill ! " said Fitzroy, Avith a start. " Hoav are you going to do it ? " " Listen to me, Fergus. Some time ago Leslie ran away with a girl," " I did a similar thing myself once, only different ; she ran away with me." " That must have been a long time ago, before you thought of tragedy." " It was, and before I thought of the frost tragedy AA-ould produce." " Did you marry the girl ? " " No. I married a refrigerator, for it was Avorse than being frost-bitten. I made it Avarm for her, though. She dropped me like a hot potato, and IVe cooled my heels ever since, getting a loan Avherever I can." " When I failed to lend it you? " " Yes," said Fitzroy, taking a side glance of contempt at his companion.

" Pride has been pinched at times betAveen riches and poverty." " You don't look like the sort of thing a girl Avould eArer fall in loA^e Avith, Fergus, and as to sentiment of any kind I shouldn't think there AA-as ever much sentiment about you." " Sentiment ! You're wrong," said Fitzroy, with his head dropped into his chest and in fuddled accents. " Sentiment ! yes there was — once. There ! why do you bring it to my mind ? Why do I think of it now ? " " He's getting silly," thought Langel. " It was a little child," continued Fitzroy, "very little — just so high. I loved her more than anything in the world. I parted from her just when she began to prattle or speak, and after that she was — There, Avhy do I think about it ? All good things go from me through life till I am, Avell — what I am."

" Drunk ! " retorted Langel, sharply. " When you've got over this snivelling sentiment about the past, which means nothing, perhaps you'll think of the future, Avhich means money." Fitzroy, turning his trousers pockets inside out as he still stood against the door, ex claimed — " Look here ! look here ! I'm cleaned out !" " You generally are, Fergus, dear. I may line your pockets with bank-notes if you help me." "Hoav?" said Fitzroy, with an eager start. " The girl Leslie has got hold of is wanted FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW

PART. 17

by her mother, who is rich. She wishes it to be done through me." " But there may be a toav over it,' Avhispered Fitzroy. " Suppose they're mar ried?" "What!" ansAvered Langel, sneeringly, "I can't!" " I can ! " said Fitzroy, reflectively. "Then don't!" exclaimed Langel, resolutely. " I know they're not, and that's enough. Married, indeed ! Those sort of people never are ! " " I'm thinking, Langel, that the poor girl may not Avish to be taken from him." " Eh ! Dear me, Fergus ; Avhy the senti mental fit is coming on again, I suppose." " Don't think the worst of them, think the best," said Fitzroy, almost plaintively. " Oh, that's all humbug ! " said Langel. " You Avouldn't help a mother to reclaim her child, and you talk of sentiment ! Suppose your child Avas in the same position, and someone had led her astray ?

" " I'd kill him ! " exclaimed Fitzroy, Avith an intensity of natural feeling seldom shoAvn in modern tragedy acting, and such as rather upset Langel, causing him to think that it Avould have been better if he could have done VOL. II. C Avithout him, but his OAvn craven duplicity told him that he could not. "There," con tinued Fitzroy, " you're leading me astray now." " And I shouldn't wonder if it led to a drink," said Langel, with a laugh, to turn the subject, which was easily done by such means Avith Fitzroy, who replied — " Nor I, but as I said before I am cleaned out," showing his pockets as he did before. " There's something to go on with." Here the financier gave him a sovereign, Avhich Fitzroy took, and, looking at it Avith his blear eyes like a misty moon that indi cated a good deal of Avit about, he ex claimed — " What ! a sov ?

" " Only on account, mind," continued Langel. " Now I shouldn't wonder if you hurried to the theatre, Avaited for Leslie, took him to the nearest pub. or tavern, and talked about Shakespeare for some time." " The programme you sketch is to me like playing an old part. I shall be all there in that scene." Langel eyed him as he looked at the sovereign again, and said — " By the way, you were in the grounds at FITZROY ENGA GED FOR A NEW

PART. 19

Chilham Manor when I Avas there some time ago. What Avere you doing? " " I was doing Hopper." " Doing Avhat ? " I Avas black-beetle crushing. Hopper was a clerical fraud. He insulted me, and we had it out." He Avent toAvards the door at Avhich they had entered in a boxing attitude, as though Avith an imaginary Hopper before him. Langel, feeling quite sure of his companion's docile subserviency under a golden influence, and regarding the incident as a practical joke of Fitzroy's between the stage and the pulpit Avhen he at Chilham "had it out" Avith Hopper, said — " Well, noAv, you get out, and melt that sovereign by doing as I have told you with Leslie." Standing at the door, looking at the coin, Fitzroy remarked, Avith an expression of curiosity and uncertainty — " And you're going to show me how to earn some money?" at Avhich Langel, Avith determination, said — " There, don't perch yourself on the door step like a scarecrow.

Why don't you go ? " Fitzroy noAV regarded his master with an expression of grim humour, indicating that in comedy instead of tragedy he might have been a success, as he remarked in a serio comic attitude and manner — " I feel like an old bird helping to rob a strange nest of the young one while the mate is away picking up the crumbs they feed upon." Langel regarded this as a symptom of the waggish nonsense Fitzroy Avas fond of, and observed sharply — " Close that door and go ! I shall take cold ! " Fitzroy, after a grotesque wave of his hat, by Avhich action he placed it on his head, replied — " So shall I — cold Scotch ! " and he Avent. Langel went to the door, and opened it iust enough to let him see Fitzroy, and remarked — ■ " He's made pretty safe. That dodge about the mother wanting the child not only threAV dust into his eyes as to my motive, hang me if it didn't bring the salt water into them as well, the old fool !

" He closed the door, and, looking about, continued — " She must be infernally sick of these sort of places after Chilham Manor. I never found any trouble about inducing a girl to chuck up such a life when you dangle a life in London FITZROY ENGAGED FOR A NEW

PART. 21

before her, and all the delusive prospects they see in the picture. I was never so deep in a game of the sort before. I never failed yet, and I Avon't be done this time. That felloAv Leslie stood in my way before, and he knows it. He can never pay the money he owes me, and he shall knoAv what it is to stand in the way of Maurice Langel. She's only fair game like the rest of them. All I've got to do is to keep up the devil in me, and go for her." He took a flask of brandy from his pocket, and Avas drinking from it. He suddenly stopped, and Avent to the AvindoAV looking into the orchard, and gaspingly exclaimed, under the influence of Avhat he saw, and the choking effect of brandy on his bronchial tubes — " There she is ! De Vere Avith her! She's ahArays busying herself in other Avomen's affairs, or running some felloAv hard for his money.

I'd better hang about till she's gone." With the intention of doing so he Avent out by the front door at Avhich he entered, carefully closed it after him, and placed himself in a distant position Avhere he could Avatch the house unobserved, hoping to see Violet De Vere soon take her departure.

Chapter II. The Unexpected Happens

Violet De Vere had no sooner understood the position in which Edith stood to Leslie, and fully satisfied herself that the union was all genuine and legitimate, than she at once became their best friend. Violet Avas not the kind of girl to take such a change of prospect to heart at all. She certainly had, in her way of thinking, Avhich was volatile, arranged more than one superficial pro gramme of Avhat she and Leslie might attain together, but her heart was as light as her love on the subject ; therefore, from the moment Avhen she first knew Leslie was not for her she set herself the task of finding out who was, as if she had never thought of such a thing before. Edith, in the frankness of her disposition with Violet, Avould have confided almost anything to her, and there was nothing concerning herself since she had known Leslie of AA-hich Violet had not been pretty Avell informed, though other features of Edith's life had been comparatively un spoken of.

Violet De Vere, in her unsophisticated Avay, and at her own expense, had often made a joke about Edith cutting her out with George; but Violet's never-failing good nature and high spirits on such occasions, and her Avay of saying Avhat a great man she had meant to make of George, did nothing short of in creasing the friendship betAA^een all three. As to Leslie, he had the greatest confidence in both preserving a perfect understanding. He believed Violet to be incapable of a bad action, and he had knoAvn of her so many good ones ; and as to Edith, it never could be more truly said that a man Avas in love with his Avife than it could be of Leslie. His queen could do no Avrong. Langel had scarcely planted himself at his post of observation in front of the house Avhen Edith and Violet ascended some brick steps at the back, and entered the room through a French AvindoAV level Avith the floor.