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CHAPTER VIII.

The Captain strode into the hall with a stout heart, and said, in his usual peremptory way, "Is my Lord Milverstoke in the Castle?

THAT simple-minded and gallant offi- | had done, or ordered him to do, his cer, Captain Lutteridge, performed his commanding officer. But Captain promise to Mr Hylton to the very let- Lutteridge recollected that his promise ter, but felt exceedingly disconcerted had been given, and that, too, on a as he rode rapidly along to the Castle. matter of life and death; and suddenFor, at what a moment, and on what a ly urging his horse into a rapid pace, subject, was he approaching the Earl soon made his way along the winding of Milverstoke? On the very day on gloomy road leading to the Castle, and which his son's publicly-proved mur-reined up his reeking horse, and disderer had been capitally convicted; mounted, just as a couple of tall serthe Captain having little or no per- vants, startled by his attendant's apsonal acquaintance with his lordship, peal to the bell, slowly drew open half beyond having experienced his splen- the great central door, and came out did hospitalities; intent upon tearing to inquire who it was that had arrived open cruel wounds, just as they might at so unusual an hour. A great wood be imagined beginning to heal-by fire, that had blazed in the hall during suggesting all sorts of painful and agi- the day, was now burnt down to red tating surmises to the Earl concerning embers; and only a dull flickering his deceased son, if his lordship were light fell from the antique lamp susindeed unacquainted with the facts con-pended from the lofty roof. cerning which Captain Lutteridge was coming to speak. Egad," thought he, "I shall be thought a paltry, gossiping, meddling mischief-maker and eaves-dropper! What business had 1 to have said one syllable about a private conversation at the Castle? Why must I mention it at all? Bah!" The Captain bit his lips; his gallop subsided into a canter, then into a trot, and the trot into a walk, as he thought of all these things; and by the time that he had reached the park gates, which his attendant had gone forward to get opened, greatly to the astonishment of the sleepy gate-keeper, the Captain walked his horse very slowly indeed slower and slower, and at length fairly stood still for some minutes, as did also his mechanical follower, who indeed would have stood so for a fortnight, or any longer given period, as a matter of course, without inward questioning or surprise, if so

"He is, sir."

"Send some one hither immediately, who may take a message to his lordship: I am Captain Lutteridge."

For a moment or two he was left alone, and inwardly protested that he would give a hundred pounds to see himself decently at the end of this strange and bootless expedition; for he felt now certain that he should appear before the harassed peer in no other light than that of a very impertinent and unfeeling intruder. Presently came the personage for whom he had sent, who with an air of great politeness assured the Captain that on no account could his lordship be disturbed at that hour, being just about to retire to his chamber, and being, moreover, somewhat indisposed.

Captain Lutteridge, I beg your pardon," said the Earl loftily, "if any. thing in my demeanour has offended you. I am not well, sir, as I think; and you may possibly be able to guess that this has been a day not calculated to compose my spirits.'

"Take his lordship, nevertheless, | commission, and has had also the honmy name, sir, immediately; assuring our to be a guest of your lordship's." him that were my errand not most pressing, I would not trespass on his lordship's privacy in this manner." On this the gentleman bowed and withdrew, leaving the Captain with all the comfortable composure of one consciously standing on a mine certain to explode within a minute or two. He was presently invited into an adjoining chamber, where he saw a gentleman in black, who begged to be favoured with the nature of his business at that hour with the Earl of Milverstoke.

"Is it not enough, sir, for me to say who I am, and that I must see his lordship, if it be only for a few minutes, on business that admits of no delay ? In short, life and death being, possibly, concerned!"

The gentleman gave him a strange look, and then withdrew, promising to return very shortly, with the Earl's pleasure on the matter.

"My Lord was about retiring, and is indisposed to see any one, sir," said he, reappearing after the lapse of a few minutes; "but I am to say, that after what you have mentioned, sir, his lordship cannot but receive you for a short time. Will you follow me, sir?"

So the Captain did, with a certain quaint, cheerless determination, mixed of courage and shame; and presently was ushered into a magnificent apartment, where sat the Earl, alone, in evening dress, in deep mourning, with a melancholy countenance, and a restrained demeanour.

"I have the honour to receive you, Captain Lutteridge," said his lordship, with a courtesy manifestly tinged with stern surprise, at a very unusual hour, at your pressing instance. I am told that you represent it as concerning matters of life and death. What can you possibly mean, sir?"

แ

This last was said with real dignity and sorrow, and his frank visitor's pique vanished as the words were uttered.

Being a soldier, my Lord," said he, with a frank, courteous air, "I will come instantly to the point. Your lordship has of course heard all that took place at the trial of—of the man— to-day?"

Sir, I have," replied his lordship, gloomily.

""Tis about something which happened during the trial that I have felt compelled to come to your lordship, in this untimely manner; the man dies on Monday morning, my Lord, if the law takes its course.

The Earl gazed at him in silence for some moments, with a very peculiar expression of countenance, and the Captain gazed at the Earl; and both were silent.

Well, sir, and what then?" inquired the Earl, slowly.

Oh, my Lord, do not mistake me; I am not come to plead for a murderer!"

I earnestly entreat you, sir, to be so good as to inform me immediately of the object of this your most extraordinary errand to me; I protest that I am quite confounded, sir, at present."

"Your lordship's known firmness of character will, I am sure, tolerate my alluding for a moment to the-noble victim of the convicted "

"In the name of Heaven, sir, what are you talking about ?" inquired the Earl, with startling vehemence of

manner.

Though I feel, my Lord," replied "Do not, my Lord, be distressed; Captain Lutteridge, firmly, "that II will come at once to the matter which appear intrusive, and a great effort it has cost me to come,-I don't relish, I must own, the tone in which your lordship is pleased to address one who has the honour to bear His Majesty's

has brought me hither. On the fatal evening which made your lordship sonless, I had the distinction of being one of your lordship's guests: I remained with the late lamented Lord

ed from head to foot-" and one or two others, after your lordship and others had withdrawn; and to-day, in Court, the Judge, it seems, inquired'

Alkmond"-the Earl visibly shudder- | in the proper quarter to get the man's life spared long enough for further inquiry, if so be there remain time; that is, the man at present having to die, by his sentence, on Monday morning: therefore, my Lord, I, thinking it only just to stir in this, when unfortunately having chanced this day to let fall to others that which, till now, had never passed my lips, am here, as I said to your lordship, on matters of life and death "-here the Castle clock struck eleven; and the Captain added suddenly, "if it be not, my Lord, already too late, the coach passing through Milverstoke in an hour hence."

"I have heard, sir," said the Earl, in a subdued tone, but still with great sternness, and making evidently a strong effort to overcome his emotion, "that the Chief Justice asked a question, which was not answered.-Have you heard, sir, what that question was?"

"Yes, my Lord; it was concerning the strangeness of the Lord Alkmond's quitting the Castle at such an hour." The Earl involuntarily closed his eyes for a few seconds, in manifest mental agony. "I cannot tell, my Lord, what was the cause of his lordship's leaving on that occasion."

"Captain Lutteridge, I may see you," said the Earl, with an agonised look, "another day

"I pledge to your lordship the honour of an officer and a gentleman, that the few words which I have to utter must be said now, or never!

"

"Do you wish, sir, to see me fall prostrate at your feet?" inquired the Earl, with an air of extreme misery.

Captain Lutteridge was so completely absorbed with his own earnest feelings, and the not very complicated movements of his own mind-at best, moreover, no particularly acute observer of the manner of others—that he did not see the tremendous agitation which his noble companion was doing his utmost to suppress. Had the light, too, been somewhat brighter, the Captain might have observed evidences in Lord Milverstoke's striking countenance, of the shock which his straightforward and unthinking visitor had occasioned him, by the strange account which he had given concerning the mysterious conversation at the banquet, immediately preceding Lord Alkmond's exit from the Castle into the woods, from which he was destined never to return alive. At length the restrained breathing of Lord Milverstoke, becoming every moment more and more violent, attracted the attention of Captain Lutteridge.

"No, my Lord; and I will conclude in a moment. My Lord, I recollect, on the occasion to which I allude, a conversation arising after your lordship had withdrawn. I took no part in it. I saw that, for some reason, the subject talked of grew more and more distressing to my Lord Alkmond: I tried to change the topic, but it seemed fated to be persevered with; and at length his lordship was so disturbed that I, with whom he was talking, arose, much concerned, Why, my Lord, I fear much that to quit the room: whether others ob- I have disquieted your lordship-that served it I know not, but we parted-you are ill. God forbid, my Lord, that I going to the ball-room, his lordship I should have occasioned you this distowards the corridor leading to the tress; but I never thought it would terrace. That is all, my Lord, that I have come to this point, or I would know; this has brought me hither; not have stirred in the matter. I hope and I am to ask your lordship for I have your lordship's pardon for an leave to tell all this, signifying much, untimely visit; one which, I begin to or signifying little, to those who fear, is somewhat unmannerly even. may say it is likely-in short, my But did your lordship never hear of Lord, 'tis said by some-that there is all this before? seeing three or four a mystery hanging over this case, others knew it besides me, and now I and that efforts will be forthwith made wish I had not. My Lord! my Lord!

you seem ill; shall I call for assist- | small degree tinged with displeasure; ance?"

the latter, with grief and misgiving. Lord Milverstoke heaved a vast The unbidden visitor before him, on sigh, and stretched forth his hand whose face the Earl's eye was fixed, violently, deprecating the threatened half unconsciously, had, as it were, movement of the Captain, who was ruthlessly opened the grave of Lord quite bewildered by the sight of such Alkmond, that his miserable figure fearful mental agony, which he could might glide reproachfully and in ternot account for satisfactorily, merely ror before a father who had ever, by by referring to his present visit and his own austerity and pride, checked the communication which he had made. and disheartened that son, when he "Shall I retire, my Lord ?" said he. might have meditated reposing hearty Lord Milverstoke rose hastily, shak-confidence in his father, as between ing his head, and walked to and fro man and man. "What may not my rapidly, with even increasing agi- poor Alkmond have been burthened tation, having, indeed, a far deeper with when he-when he implored me cause for it than was dreamed of by -in vain,"-thought the Earl, pressthe Captain, though he had unknowing both his hands to his forehead, ingly called it into action. The Earl walked with heavy step to the door, and secured it; then returned to his seat, and in a low smothered voice said, "What was the subject that you talked of?"

The Captain told him, in a single word, which caused Lord Milverstoke suddenly to sink back in his chair, as though he had been seized with a fit. Captain Lutteridge instantly rose and went towards the door, saying to himself, aloud, "Now will I have help; " which words, added to the loud sound of his footfalls hastening to the door, roused Lord Milverstoke, and with a great effort he exclaimed, "Sir-Captain Lutteridge-pray, sir, let us remain alone: this is my house; surely, sir, I am master here!"

Both remained silent for some minutes, during which the flustered faculties of Captain Lutteridge were occupied with only one thought— "Could any man living have supposed all this would have come out of the business?"

Language, indeed, could not adequately describe the feelings which were at that moment convulsing the very soul of Lord Milverstoke within him; for a new and fearful light had been suddenly reflected on some scenes between him and his late son, which had always occasioned the Earl, even in his son's lifetime, anxiety; and, after his death, serious disquietude. The former, however, had been in no

and then rising and pacing the chamber to and fro, with an expression of countenance which led Captain Lutteridge to fear the possibility of his being alone with one who was about to burst out into madness. The Captain resolved, therefore, simply to be on his guard, making his observations in silence upon the perturbed spirit before him. The Earl appeared to start from one reverie only to sink into some other, more agitating; but gradually the violence of his feelings seemed to be somewhat abating.

At length, "My Lord, it is long since the clock struck eleven," abruptly exclaimed the Captain, rising.

"Is it, sir?" inquired the Earl, languidly, and as though he did not comprehend why the Captain had made the observation.

"Yes, my Lord, nearly half an hour: the coach goes by at twelve, and Mr Hylton starts

'What, sir? what sir?" interrupted the Earl, sternly. Oh, I had forgotten; private circumstances, Captain Lutteridge, which you know not of, nor ever can, have caused your words this night to stab me as with a knife! And besides, sir, sorrow has of late not a little shaken my nerves."

"My Lord, I cannot adequately express my regret: but time presses— what is to be done?"

The Earl looked as though evidently making a strong effort to address his

Why, my Lord, perhaps," said Captain Lutteridge, stoutly and calm-to the best of my power: and I myself ly," he may not be rightly condemned."

"No, sir!" answered the Earl, again in a voice of thunder; and his eye "Do you not think, sir, that if I beseemed to glance lightning at his com-lieved there were any reasonable doubt panion; who bowed and said, rather of the guilt which has been openly sternly, proved to-day, according to law, against the prisoner, I would not, from mere justice, wish him to escape ?"