Clumber Chase, or Love's Riddle solved by a Royal Sphinx. A tale of the Restoration

Front matter

In 2 Vols. 21s. THE CONQUERING HERO. "Its recommendation is the simplicity of style and effort that are apparent in almost every page."— Bell's Messenger. In 1 Vol. 10s. 6d. IN SPITE OF ALL. By HELEN BOULT. " It may safely be recommended." — Examiner. In 3 Vols. 31s. 6d. THE CARYLLS. " Readers who shrink from contact with common people will wel come Sir F. Vincent's book. We are not sure that the ' Carylls ' will not find favour with a large circle of novel readers." — Athenæum. ' ' It will suit the taste of the most ardent seekers after sensation. It is marked by distinct traces of talent." — Bell's Messenger. In 3 Vols. Price 31s. 6d. COLD COMFORT. By the Author of " Even Betting," &c. " Ab extremely amusing novel." — Bell's Messenger. " It is characterised by sustained vivacity, and is well calculated to encourage and sustain perusal." — Morning Post.

In 3 Vols. Price 31s. 6d. .-•ROBERT BLAKE OF RINGWOOD. A Novel. In 1 Vol. Ec. 8vo. Price 4s. (with Frontispiece) PRINCE ALBERT'S LAND. Reminiscences of a pleasant sojourn in COBUKG GOTHA, By CAMPBELL M A C A U L A Y GBEIG. "This volume will be the means of inducing a great number of our English tourists to visit the Duchy, for which purpose it will be found an excellent guide-book as well as a pleasing companion."— Brighton Examiner. i In 1 Vol. Price 7s. 6d. (Second Edition) . THE SPAS OF GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE, ITALY, AND SWITZERLAND. By THOMAS MOKE MADDEN, M.D., Physician to the Botunda Hospital, Dublin, and Author of " Change of Climate," &c. "A work accurate and serviceable in all its important details. The chapter on the art of travel is a small volume in itself." — Morn ing Post. We cordially recommend this book not only to the medical pro fession, but to educated persons of every calling."— Medical Press.

" The great value of the book lies in the judicious directions given to invalids aB to the use and abuse of the individual springs they are enjoined to visit." — The Warder, Dr. Madden's ' Guide to the Spas' will find equal acceptance with medical and non-professional readers, as it supplies what has hitherto been a serious want — namely, a complete manual on the subject of mineral waters." — Irish Times. OE LOVE'S RIDDLE SOLVED BY A ROYAL SPHINX A TALE OF THE RESTORATION. IN THREE VOLUMES. BY GEORGE GORDON SCOTT. " Acerrima proximorum Odia." Tacitus. ** I love th.ee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle light, I love thee freely, as men strive for right ; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with a passion put to use In my old grief, and with my childhood's faith I love thee with a love I seemed to lose "With my lost Saints, I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears of all my life ! — and if God choose I shall but love thee ' better after death.* " E. B. BEOWNiira. VOL. H. London : T. CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER 30, WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. 1871. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

Chapter I

A FEIEND AT COURT. THE BEGINNING OF THE MYSTERY. the time approached that Gilbert Broderick was to sail for Tangier — and it now only wanted a fortnight to it — he became more restless and depressed ; being perfectly aware that the reports his father had so industriously circulated about Lady Jemima Montagu and himself, could not fail to reach Dorothy's ears, he had decided that, coiite qui coute, he would see her, and give into her own hand the voluminous diary he had written to her ever since the morning (two months back) that his father had announced to him the alternative of not making Lady Jemima an offer. But to give her this packet, which he daily added to, and always carried about him, on the chance of an opportunity occurring, was much more easily said than done. In vain had he haunted every public place.

No glimpse had he caught of her. It is true he had seen her shadow nightly on the blind of her chamber window, as he stood effec- \ OL. n. b 1670. tually hidden by the darkness against a large tree on the Mall, directly opposite Mrs. Neville's house ; but Lord "Worcester himself had not yet invented any mode of conveying heavy, sub stantial packets, via shadows on window blinds, so that beyond the intense satisfaction the said shadow afforded him, and the glow it sent through him, even upon those nights wherein he was numbed with cold and drenched with rain, and the foundation for less shadowy dreams that it laid, it really was of no earthly use as a medium of communication ; and although he walked the Mall at least twenty times a day, of course the bricks 'of Mrs. Neville's house " made no sign."

Therefore it was with a thrill of intense delight that one morning towards the end of October he saw the house shut up, and the family evi dently gone out of town, and upon sending a boy on a fool's errand to inquire "if Madam Neville was at home," the boy brought back word that the day before " madam and young misses, and all the family, except the woman in charge of the house, had gone to The Chestnuts." Such was Gilbert's joy at hearing this — for he knew that every branch and blade of grass, and ripple of the river there was, as it were, in complicity with him — that he gave the boy half a crown, at which largesse the philosophical itinerant Mercury was so taken aback that he forgot to thank him, 1670. Clumber Chase. 3 but walked off muttering, " Porridge and pies ! if he gives I half a crown cause the family's out of town, what would have gived had they been in?"

Gilbert now felt no farther anxiety about his packet. He knew it would, that is, he deter mined that it should reach its destination, and he almost rejoiced in the delay that had taken place, inasmuch as he wished, if possible, that the face he loved the most, might be the last he looked upon before he left England. He now left the Mall, and went home to breakfast, calling, how ever, first at Master Hartsfoot's, who, early as it was, was already abroad ; so he asked for pen, ink, and paper, that he might write him a fare well note, in which he promised to hunt up any available Moorish antiquities that were to be had at Tangier, and take care that they were duly forwarded to him. When the door bell rang, at that unwarrantable hour for visitors, and none other ever rang that bell, Mr. Pump concluded that nothing but science, literature, or art, could be so unconventional as to come at such out landish hours.

So, not in the best of humours, he dashed down the pipe he was smoking in the pantry, and exclaimed — " Drat them saveons, if they bain't at it al ready," but upon opening the door, to which he had hurried himself very slowly, and being, b 1670. Clumber Chase. 4 though no respecter of saveons, a very great re spector of persons, and seeing not only a very handsome, elegantly-dressed cavalier, but also perceiving that the said cavalier was Captain Broderick, who was both in his role of filial martyr, and beau sabreur, as popular with all the valetaille of London, as his father was the reverse ; the Pump immediately overflowed with civility, and when asked if his master was at home, replied in most unusually dulcet tones — " I'm sorry to say he's not, sir ; but could you walk in and wait? I don't suppose he'll be very long."

" Well, if you'll have the goodness to give me a pen, and ink, and a sheet of paper, I'll just write him a line, as I fear I shall not be able to call again before I leave England." And Mr. Pump forthwith showed him into " The Cedar Parlour," which, to use his own words, he " kept a purpose for qualitg and Christians." For although he could not deny a goodly portion of the Peerage frequented his master's house, yet, from either being, or affect ing saveons, they so completely lost caste in his estimation, that they ceased to be either " quality" or ** Christians." Seeing no writing materials in ** The Cedar Parlour," Gilbert was walking on towards the door of the laboratory, which was always kept locked — 1670. Clumber Chase. 5 " Not there, sir, if your please; that be always kept under lock and key, as not being safe, as it's master's own private Gunpowder Magazine like," which was an euphuism on Mr. Pump's part, as, in familiar parlance, he always called it the Devil's Work Shop ; and then added, " Be so good as to sit down, sir, and I'll bring you the writing things."

" Oh, I'm sorry to give you so much trouble." *' Don't mention it, sir ; it ain't no trouble at all." He soon returned with the writing materials, and a lighted taper; and when Gilbert had written, and sealed his note, he left it on the table, requesting Mr. Pump would give it to his master on his return ; and as he went out, he again expressed his regret at the trouble he had given the former, and slipped an angel into his hand, that his compensation might at least be equivalent to his exertions. " Ah !" said Mr. Pump, giving a long look after the donor, and then another at the gift, " that's the difference betwixt old bones and old brass, and old blood and bright gold : the old bones's dealings is all with the devil, so, in course, they can't be expected to know anything about angels. My service to you, Cappen, — and you'll never want your health so long as Noah Pump can drink it." 1670.

When Gilbert returned to his lodgings, he found Ferrol, as was now his daily habit, busy about his packing preparations for their voyage, and, as usual, groaning over everything he put up in the trunks and portmanteaus, or locked in drawers, or wardrobes, for Mrs. Swinburne to take care of during their absence, which she had promised to do. To every object of the latter, as he laid it down with a gentle pat, he said — " There — lie at your ease, for Heaven only knows whether you'll ever be worn by your master, or brushed and folded by me again ; — be that as it may, you'll never be worn by anyone that will become you so well, or looked after by anyone that will take better care of you than I have done." And then he'd whistle and talk to the dogs, and fancy himself in high spirits, as he told them it was a fine thing to see the world, and, above all, to do so at the King's expense.

" Nevertheless, my good fellows, as I can't bear not to return obligations, I sincerely hope Sir Allen Broderick — to whom we are beholden for this pleasant little trip — may go farther and fare worse." He had just uttered this pious little wish, when his master entered, and enquired if breakfast was ready, as he wanted to go out again immediately. " So if there is any thing else you think of, 1670. Clumber Chase. 7 Ferrol, that we shall want, tell me, because I am going to the Great Exchange." So it was still called, having been altered from its original name of " The Royal Exchange " during the commonwealth, to prevent its being contaminated by any approximation to royalty. " Well, sir, I think you had better order a dozen new sword belts, and twelve dozens light summer wear Jessamy gloves ; you have plenty of peau d'Espagne, and of rich gauntlet ones.

And I think, with the two dozen you have, six new Point d'Alencon collars will be enough ; and my Lord Peterborough's valet told me, sir, that thin white silk (taffeta in fact) night-gowns* were very useful out there, and French cambrick shirts instead of linen ; so I have got you six dozens of those, and Mrs. Swinburne is having them made ; and I have put away all your Toille du Roi shirts, except what you may want for immediate wear and on the voyage. And you said something about mathematical instruments, sir, and tele scopes ; but not understanding about those, I can only remind you of them." " Thank you, yes ; I've made a memorandum of them, as I will of the things you have now told me." " Oh ! and if you please, sir, there is a man in the Great Exchange," said Ferrol, following him * Viz., dressing-gowns. 1670. into the breakfast room, " one Mildrake, who has invented a most wonderful bath for gentlemen travelling in foreign parts, and going long voyages.

It is of tin, painted oak colour, and apparently no larger than an ordinary foot pan ; but there are several of them, which fit into one another on the principle of a sea captain's spy glass, and when all drawn out form a full-sized bath."* " Thank you, Ferrol ; I'll be sure to order a couple of those. What did you say the man's name was who sells them ?" and he took out his tablets ready to write it down. " Mildrake, sir, at the sign of the Grasshopper, over against Mrs. Lapel's, the milliner's, and next door to Pollidore, the Indian jar, and fan shop." Gilbert wrote down the direction, and as soon as he had despatched his breakfast called the dogs, and set out for the Great Exchange to exe cute the various commissions with which Ferrol had charged him. As he left the glove shop, after having ordered home his purchases, and was proceeding to Martin Mildrake's, at the sign of the Grasshopper, followed by Monk and with Charlie in his arms, who he had picked up, partly on account of the * No doubt considered a wonderful invention in those days, when cachou was unknown. 1670.

Clumber Chase. 9 mud, but much more on account of the crowd, he perceived that he was also followed by two stal wart, burly, rough looking men, with large slouched hats without feathers, dressed in buff jerkins, iron corslets, and large horsemen's jack boots, that came above their knees, and were furnished with unusually large rowelled steel spurs , and each in their dirty leather gauntleted hand carried a heavy looking truncheon. In fact they were a facsimile of the roundhead Parliamentary soldiers that he remembered as a child ; but no specimen of which had he seen since till that moment. These men, who walked arm-in-arm, and with a sort of swaggering gait, were eyeing him from head to foot, and making their remarks relative to the investigation. What these remarks were Gilbert did not hear, but their manner and their proximity annoyed him, and that annoyance was pretty plainly shown in the sharp glance he flung at them.

" Come on, Monk," said he, quickening his own pace. " Humph, Monk !" said one of the men. " Those who follow monkery, or are followed by monks, are Papists ; that's as clear as that two and two make four." " Or, as the mud in the gutter," said Gilbert. " Ha ! ha ! ha !" guffawed one of the men, b 1670. and then added, " I say, young sir, you should fight fair, and not throw mud when you have got your barkers with you ; your great gun at your heels, and that little chap of a pistol in your bosom, which makes a very good holster." " I don't want to fight with you, my men, so I wish you'd just go about your business, and let me go about mine." " Oh ! you do, do you ? Pray how long is it since the Great Exchange has become your private property, that you should order anybody out of it ? I always thought it was free gratis for noth ing for all his Majesty's subjects ; but perhaps though, in such cavalier trim, the 29th of May is not in your calendar.

Did I hear you say ' God bless the Lord Protector ?' " " No, you did not, for God has blessed him, or the reverse long ago." " Well, I don't know how long it is since you were weaned, but I should say that when you were weaned it was on polemics and parchment." As Gilbert plainly saw that the intention of these fellows was to fasten a German quarrel on him, though from what cause, or in what inten tion he had not the remotest idea, he walked on till he reached the Grasshopper, resolved not . to bandy another word with them, let them say what they would. Had they been the least in toxicated, their unprovoked impertinence would 1670. Clumber Chase. 11 not so much have surprised him, but one of the most inexplicable parts of the affair was, that they were evidently perfectly sober, and in full possession of their senses.

So with the enigma unsolved he entered Mr. Mildrake's shop, determined to spin out at least half an hour in examining his wares, so as to give his tormentors ample time to quit the Exchange. But after having made many more purchases than he originally intended, and passed three quarters of an hour in doing so, upon looking through the shop window, he perceived the two men pacing np and down. " Pray," said he, pointing them out to Mr. Mildrake, " do you happen to know who those two tall burly fellows are ?" " I really do not, sir. I don't think I ever saw them before. They are rough-looking cus tomers, though for that matter, everything odd, everything out of the common, foreign or native, is sure to come to the Exchange, as well as the flower of our fine ladies and fine gentlemen." " Well," said Gilbert, leisurely putting on his gloves and arranging his sword-belt, " have the goodness to send the things I have bought to Mrs. Swinburne's in the Pell Mell, for Captain Broderick."

" Thank you, sir, much obliged ; they shall be all sent before to-morrow evening, and packed bo as they would go safe to the world's end ; and 1670. I should be very proud of your recommendation, Captain, to my Lord Dartmouth, that is, if you approve, upon trial, of my telescope-bath, and the other goods I shall have the honour of send ing you." " That I will do, and I shall be happy also to mention your invention to others." " I return you many thanks, sir. What a magnificent dog to be sure ! He's not an Eng lish breed, sir, is he, like this little beauty ?" " No, he's a Mount St. Bernard dog, and has saved many lives ; but you should hear his bark, it's magnificent, deep and booming, like the great bell of St. Paul's." And perceiving through the window that the two men were about to pass before the door again, Gilbert was determined that they should also have the pleasure of hearing Monk's voice.

So just saying to him in an under tone, '* Monk, une avalanche" and Monk forthwith entoned a sort of canine, Gregorian chant of a bark, that made the welkin ring, and caused the two men to come to a full stop before Mr. Mildrake's door, while he who had been spokesmen all along ex claimed — " By St. George and the Dragon to boot! the great gun has gone off, and half-a-dozen such would give us war on sound principles, and make victory certain." After which, they passed on, and Gilbert left 1670. 13 the shop, making a resolution that let them say what they might he would not answer them ; but that if they persisted in following him, he would take water at the nearest stairs, and give them the slip in that way. He was not sorry to find that when he got outside they were in advance of him ; so that he it was who was now following them, and he had not gone many yards before he met Jambres Fairbrace, walking rapidly, as is the wont of men of business ; but Gilbert stopped to shake hands with and thank him for the packet he had taken charge of to Suffolk, and also to compliment him on the feat he had per formed in having been to Suffolk, Norfolk, and Yorkshire, and back, — all within six weeks (a most wonderful exploit in those days).

While he was still speaking, he saw the two men return ; so he said, hastily, to Fairbrace, calling his attention to them — ■* Those two fellows have been following me ever since I entered the Exchange, and saying all sorts of insulting things to provoke a brawl with me. " Oh, take no notice of them," said Fairbrace. " I think I know them : they are informers, touting for Popish plots, and persons disaffected to the present Government; — but, like all bullies, they are great cowards, and can sniff a lawyer a mile off. I think they know me by sight, — from 1670. 14 my having once had a Nisi Prius case against them, so that they'd rather have my room than my company any day. They are coming this way, and if they speak to you again as they pass, I'll settle them." "Monk, my fine fellow," said the taller of the two men as they passed, staring Gilbert full in the face.

" Of course, you are called after my Lord Duke of Albemarle, but you don't take after him, for he's the ugliest dog that ever was seen, and you the handsomest, to say nothing of your being thoroughbred, — and there is not as much blood to be found in him and his duchess to gether, as you'd find in a flea after a week's fast." " I should think you'd know this gentleman again, if your memory is equal to your stare," said Fairbrace. "I don't know but what I should, My Lord Chancellor," rejoined the fellow, taking off his hat, and bowing with mock civility. " I tell you what it is, you Cutters, make your selves scarce before I can count two, or perhaps you may chance to hear from My Lord Chancellor in a way that you won't like." " Well," cried the fellow, as they turned about, and instantly walked off, " don't forget our respects to the woolsack ; and tell his Lordship he's nothing to fear from us, as we never go wool gathering." 1670.

Clumber Chase. 15 " I'm so much obliged to you," said Gilbert, "for putting them to flight, for you know one can't wrestle with a sweep, — and I should not have liked to get into a brawl with them, which was what they were evidently driving at ; and I never could have got rid of them, had you not come to the rescue." " Of course not," laughed Fairbrace. " Set a thief to catch a thief, — excuse the tautology, but I'm a lawyer, you know. Well now, I must say good-bye, but I shall see you again before you sail ; and remember, anything I can do during your absence, and at all times, and in all places, that I am, literally, yours to command — Jambres Fairbrace." And the two shook hands cordially, and went their different ways. Just as Gilbert was turn ing out of the Exchange he heard a voice hailing him, f- Surprise, a-hoy !"

Now " The Surprise" was the name of the vessel he was to sail for Tangier in, therefore he concluded this was ad dressed to him ; and upon turning round he saw Tom Killigrew improvising a speaking trumpet with a hand open at each side of his mouth. " Why, old fellow," said he, laying one hand on Gilbert's shoulder, " I thought you were going to weigh anchor without saying a word to any of us, so I was determined to run you down." 1670. " A work of supererogation," smiled young Broderick; "but the fact is, my dear fellow, I have been so busy making preparations for this confounded voyage, that I have not had a moment to call my own, or do anything I'd like." " Or like enough you'd have come to me." « Just so." " That's right ; I want to make a courtier of you, and I'm the man to court ; for perhaps you are not aware that I do actually draw a bond tide stipend from the exchequer as the king's fool, though it goes somewhat against my conscience to take it, when I see the number of much greater fools, without any salaries at all, by whom he is surrounded.

But one must follow the fashion, and every one robs the King, including himself, and that is the worst of all. Yet it is astonishing that a man who has such good sense and clear judgment on some points as Charles Stuart, should have neither on any point as Charles Rex. It was only the other day he was saying that he thought the very best thing Sir Allan Broderick could do would be to join his quondam patron, my Lord Clarendon, in exile ; and that, indeed, he thought it very ungrateful of him that he did not do so." Gilbert smiled a melancholy smile, and shook his head. 1670. Clumber Chase. 17 " Oh, well," resumed the other, " I won't meddle with edged tools ; but in my capacity of King's Fool, I am preparing a masque. No, for that would be nothing new at Court ; but a morality ! an it please you ; and that will indeed be a novelty !

I know the King will approve of it, and next to him my ambition is to please your noble self." " You forget that I shall be some thousands of miles away." " Perhaps not; a few months soon pass." " Months ! it will be years — three at least." " Well, and are not years made up of months? and all time and eternity itself comprised of minutes ? which shows us, as the preachers would tell us, that we cannot scan our words and deeds too minutely. But Tangier, or Algier, I envy your getting out of England, that you may see Madame Nature a little au naturel, which one never does in this confounded block machinery country of ours ; for the British character is ex ceedingly like the national cuisine, divided into two great opposite extremes ; the one being the unimpeachably insipid, without a suspicion of flavour ; in fact the cold veal without salt school ; the other the violently prononce, horse radish, common vinegar, mustard, and Cayenne pepper school.

But nothing ever blent, as both characters and cookery should be, into one smooth, delicate, 1670. refined, yet full-flavoured harmonious whole, in which nothing either jars or predominates. By all that is pretty to see in propinquity," suddenly added Killigrew, " here comes Mr. Pepys. Now you shall see how I'll roast him." " Don't over do it," laughed Gilbert, " for over-roasted Pepys would not be " A dainty dish to set before the King." " Mr. Pepys," said Killigrew, taking off his hat, " the top of the morning to you, as they say in Ireland ; or if you prefer any other part pray take it without scruple, as all quarters of it are alike to me." "I do take in good part all you say, Mr. Killigrew, for I know what good company you are ; and you, Captain, I do wish you joy of the fine vessel you will sail in.

She is one of our fastest, and I am mighty glad to hear that Mr. Sheres goes out to Tangier with you." And having involuntarily blurted out this truth, Mr. Pepys, with his usual worldly wisdom, immediately turned it into a false direction by adding — " I do mean only because of his being such a good engineer." " For that matter," said Killigrew, " wives are the best engineers after all ; for they under stand the art of blowing-up to perfection." 1670. Clumber Chase. 19 As Mr. Pepys rather winced under this home thrust, he endeavoured to parry it by laying his hand on Gilbert's arm, and saying — " At your age, Captain, and with your good looks and fair prospects, you must banish sadness, and bid misgivings as to the future retire. I have no doubt that what with the sea air, and the notion of seeing foreign parts — for I always do think to hear men who have travelled, telling even about Greece and Rome, is the finest dis course in the world — I do have not doubt, I say, that before you are half way to Tangier you will feel quite happy."

" People generally do," said Killigrew, "when they are half-seas over." And then putting on an exceedingly sly look, and giving Mr. Pepys a gentle poke in the side, he added, " By-the-bye, Mr. Pepys, I heard of you last Sunday at St. Dunstan's Church; capital sermon, wasn't it?" " Good Lord !" exclaimed Mr. Pepys, throwing up his hands and eyes ; "to think that a man can't say his prayers without its being the town-talk." " Well, it was not exactly your prayers, though I don't say it was not your devotions," rejoined Killigrew. " Oh !" said Mr. Pepys, finding there was no escape, and therefore thinking it best to make a clean breast of it ; "I do know now what you do 1670. 20 Clumber Chase. mean. I did indeed stand near a mighty pretty modest looking maid, and I did try to take her hand, but she did get away from me, and did take pins out of her pocket, ready to stick into me ; and I was glad I did perceive her design, for then I did move further off, and so let her alone."