What has become, all this time, of the Falconer family? Since the marriage of Miss Falconer with Sir Robert Percy, all intercourse between the Falconers and our branch of the Percy family had ceased. But one morning, Alfred was surprised by a visit from Commissioner Falconer. The Commissioner looked thin, pale, and wretched.——He began by condoling with Alfred on their mutual family misfortunes. ——Alfred received this condolence with politeness, but with a proud consciousness, that, notwithstanding his father's imprisonment, and the total ruin of fortune with which he was threatened, neither his father, nor any individual in his family, would change places with any one of the Falconers, since nothing dishonorable could be imputed to Mr. Percy, nor were his misfortunes occasioned by any imprudence of his own.
A deep sigh from the Commissioner, at the moment these thoughts were passing in Alfred's mind, excited his compassion, for he perceived, that the same reflexions had occurred to Mr. Falconer.
After taking an immoderate quantity of snuff, the Commissioner went on, and disclaimed in strong terms all knowledge of his son in law Sir Robert's cruel arrest of his cousin. The Commissioner said, that Sir Robert Percy had, since his marriage with Bell Falconer, behaved very ill, and had made his wife show great ingratitude to her own family—— that in Mrs. Falconer's distress, when she and Georgiana were most anxious to retire from town for a short time, and when Mrs. Falconer had naturally looked to the house of her married daughter as a sure asylum, the doors of Percy-Hall had been actually shut against her, Sir Robert declaring, that he would not be involved in the difficulties and disgrace of a family, who had taken him in to marry a girl without any fortune.
Alfred was perfectly convinced, both from the cordial hatred with which the Commissioner now spoke of his son-in-law, and from Mr. Falconer's disposition, that he had nothing to do with the cruel measures, which Sir Robert had taken against Mr. Percy. Commissioner Falconer was not a malevolent, but a weak man——incapable of being a disinterested friend——equally incapable of becoming a malicious enemy. The Commissioner now proceeded to his own affairs, and to the business of his visit.—— He said, that he had been disappointed in all his hopes from the Greenwich party, that when that sad business of Mrs. Falconer's came out, they had seized this as a pretence for dropping him altoge ther——that when they had, by Lord Oldborough's retreat from office, obtained every thing they wanted, and had no more occasion for assistance or information, they had shamefully forgotten or disowned all their former promises to Cunningham Falconer.——They had refused to accredit him at the court of Denmark, refused even to defray the expenses of his journey thither, which, in the style in which he had thought it necessary for an ambassador to travel, had been considerable. Upon the hopes held out, he had taken a splendid house in Copenhagen, and had every day, for some weeks, been in expectation of the arrival of his credentials. When it was publicly known, that another ambassador was appointed, Cunningham's creditors became clamorous; he contrived to escape from Copenhagen in the night, and was proceeding incog. in his journey homewards, when he was stopped at one of the small frontier towns, and was there actually detained in prison for his debts.
The poor Commissioner produced his son's letter, giving an account of his detention, and stating, that, unless the money he had raised in Copenhagen was paid, there was no hope of his being liberated.——He must perish in a foreign jail.
We spare the reader the just reproaches which the unhappy father, at this moment, uttered against the son's duplicity. ——It was his fate, he said, to be ruined by those, for whom he had been laboring and planning, night and day, for so many years.——"And now," concluded Mr. Falconer,——"here am I, reduced to sell the last acre of my paternal estate ... I shall literally have nothing left but Falconer-Court, the demesne, and my annuity!——Nothing!——But it must be done, ill as he has used me, and impossible as it is, ever, even at this crisis, to get the truth from him ... I must pay the money——he is in jail, and cannot be liberated without this sum——I have here, you see, under the hand of the chief magistrate, sufficient proof ... I will not, however, trouble you, my dear Sir, with showing more of these letters.——Only it is a comfort to me to speak to one, who will listen with some sympathy ... Ah! Sir, when out of place! ... out of favor! ... selling one's estate! ... how people change!—— But I am taking up your time.——Since these lands are to be sold, the sooner, the better.——Your father, you know, is trustee to my marriage settlements, and, I believe, his consent, his signature, will be necessary——will it not?——I am no lawyer——I really am not clear what is necessary——and my solicitor, Mr.Sharpe, I have dismissed——perhaps, you will allow me to put the business into your hands."——
Alfred undertook it, and kindly told the Commissioner, that if he would send him his papers, he would, without putting him to any expense, look them over carefully——have all the necessary releases drawn——and make his title clear to any purchaser who should apply.
The Commissioner was full of gratitude for this friendly offer, and immediately begged, that he might leave his title deeds with Alfred. Accordingly the servant was desired to bring in the box, which he had left in the carriage.——The Commissioner then rose to take leave, but Alfred begged he would stay, till he had written a list of the deeds, as he made it a rule never to take charge of any papers, without giving a receipt for them. The Commissioner thought this "a superfluous delicacy between friends and relatives;" but Alfred observed, that relations would, perhaps, oftener continue friends, if in matters of business they took care always to be as exact as if they were strangers.
The Commissioner looked at his watch ——said he was in haste——he was going to wait upon Lord somebody, from whom, in spite of all his experience, he expected something.
"You will find a list of the deeds, I have a notion," said he, "in the box, Mr. Alfred Percy, and you need only sign it——that will be quite sufficient."
"When I have compared the papers with the list I will sign it," said Alfred, ——"my clerk and I will do it as quickly as possible."——
The Commissioner, secretly cursing Alfred's accuracy, and muttering something of the necessity for his own punctuality, was, however, obliged to submit ——He sat down——the clerk was sent for ——the box was opened.——The list of the papers was, as Alfred found, drawn out by Buckhurst Falconer; and the Commissioner now recollected the time, "Just when poor Buckhurst," said the father, with a sigh——"was arguing with me against going into the church——At that time I remember he was desperately in love with your sister Caroline."——
——"Why, in truth," said Alfred, smiling, as he read over the scrawled list, "this looks a little as if it were written by a man in love——Here's another reason for our comparing the papers and the list."
"Well——well——I took it all upon trust, I am no lawyer——I never looked at them——never opened the box, and am very sorry to be obliged to do it now."——
The essential care, either of papers or estate, the Commissioner had evermore neglected, while he had all his life been castle-building, or pursuing some phantom of fortune at court. Whilst Alfred was comparing the papers and the list, the Commissioner went on talking of the marriage of Caroline with Count Altenberg, asking when they expected the Count to return, or when Caroline would go to him. It was possible, that Count Altenberg might be moved to make some remonstrance in favor of Cunningham; and a word or two from him to the Duke of Greenwich would do the business—— The Commissioner longed to hint this to Alfred, but Alfred was so intent upon these bundles of parchment, that till every one of them was counted, it would be in vain to make the attempt. So the Commissioner impatiently stood by, while the clerk went on calling over the papers, and Alfred, in equal strains, replying—— "Thank Heaven!" said he to himself, they have got to the last bundle."
"Bundle eighteen," cried the clerk.
"Bundle eighteen"——replied Alfred ——"How many numbers does it contain?"
"Six!——no, seven, if you please," said Alfred. "But six in the list, Sir."
"I will read them over," said Alfred.
"Number one, Deed of Assignment to Filmer Griffin, Esq. No.2. Deed of Mortgage to Margaret Simpson, widow. No. 3. Deed of Lease and Release. No.4. Lease for a Year."
"No 4. no such thing ... Stop, Sir, Deed!"
Alfred gave one look at the paper, and starting up, snatched it from the hands of his clerk, with an exclamation of joy——rang the bell——ordered a coach to be called instantly——then signed the receipt for the Commissioner, put it into his hands——locked the box; and all was done with such rapidity, that the Commissioner had neither time to recover from his surprise, nor to express his curiosity.
Whilst the coach was coming to the door, Alfred being now a little more composed, explained——It was Sir John Percy's Deed——the long lost Deed——the loss of which had deprived his father of his estate——and of his liberty.
Buckhurst Falconer, it seems, had, by mistake, put it into this box; the Commissioner now recollected, that several of Mr. Percy's papers had been lying on the table at the time Buckhurst was packing these up, and he had been charged not to mix them——But he was careless, and in love——Alfred, at that time, was not in the country, and the Deed had never been thought of, or missed, till the night of the fire at Percy-Hall. ——And then, after the most diligent search, it was concluded, that it must have been consumed in the flames. ——Alfred could not stay to listen either to the Commissioner's congratulations, or to his apologies for Buckhurst's carelessness, but hurried away to be the bearer of the joyful tidings to his father, mother, and Caroline.
Rosamond and his wife he put into the coach with him, and drove off, telling them they would see presently where they were going, and for what——All the way Rosamond exercised her ingenuity in vain, trying to find out her brother's purpose. When they arrived within sight of the King's-Bench-prison; her imagination went beyond the truth, and she was sure that Alfred had obtained an order some way or other, for her father's release. Alfred, provoked by her imagining something beyond the reality, represented to her the absurdity, the impossibility of her supposition; and that, in England, there is no obtaining any order to supersede the course of law. Rosamond's next guess was, if not a legal, a moral impossibily. She fancied, that Sir Robert Percy had relented, and that he had sent his father-in-law, Commissioner Falconer, to make terms with Alfred, and to grant her father release——To this one point of her father's release all her ideas tended, but she could get no further.
The moment Mr. Percy saw his son, he said——"Alfred, I am sure, by your countenance, that you have some good news to tell me."——
Caroline and Mrs. Percy, almost at the same moment, repeated the same thing.
Alfred answered, by producing Sir John Percy's deed, which he quietly laid down on the table before his father, telling him how it had been found——A few minutes Alfred staid to hear the exclamations of joy, then suddenly snatched up his hat, and said, "I must leave you, or, after all, I may be the cause of my father's being detained some months longer in prison——No, my dear Rosamond, I can't stay——Term begins next week——not a moment to be lost—— can't explain, you would not understand my lawyer-reasons——Good by——God bless you all——happier faces I never saw."
Alfred wrote immediately to Sir Robert Percy, informing him, "that Sir John Percy's deed was found, that it should be shown to whoever he should send to Alfred's house to see it"——He added, "that he trusted Sir Robert would, when he should be satisfied of the existence, and identity of the deed, stop his present proceedings, and release Mr. Percy; as a continuance of the suit could only ultimately increase the costs and damages, which, in the event of a new trial, must fall entirely, and heavily, upon Sir Robert."
No answer was received for some days from Sir Robert; Mr. Sharpe, his Solicitor, called, however, on Alfred, and in his presence——for Alfred would not let it out of his hands——examined the deed ——noted down in his pocket-book the date, names of the witnesses, and some other particulars, of which, he observed, it was necessary he should inform Sir Robert, before he could be satisfied as to the identity of the conveyance——Sharpe was particularly close and guarded in his looks and words during this interview; would neither admit nor deny that he was satisfied, and went away, leaving nothing certain, but that he would write to Sir Robert——Alfred thought he saw, that they meant to avoid giving an answer, in order to keep possession and detain his father prisoner some months longer; till another term. He took all the necessary steps to bring the matter to trial immediately, without waiting for any answer from Sir Robert——No letter came from him, but Alfred received from his Solicitor the following note:
"I am directed by Sir Robert Percy, to acquaint you, in reply to yours of the 20th instant, that conceiving his title to the Percy estate to be no way affected by the instrument to which you allude therein, he cannot withdraw his present suit for the mesne rates.
"Sir Robert Percy has ordered me, as his Solicitor, to take defence against your ejectment, stating to be, for the recovery of aforesaid lands——forthwith,
And am, Sir, your humble servant,
Alfred was surprised, disappointed, and alarmed, by this answer——for he had imagined, that their utmost malice could only have attempted to prolong the period of his father's imprisonment, by continuing the present suit, which must, as he had thought, fall to the ground, in consequence of the recovery of the deed——But the idea of their taking defence, and standing a new trial against this deed, had never occurred to him as possible even to their effrontery in villainy ——He consulted Mr. Friend, who, after considering Sharpe's letter, could not devise what defence they intended to make, as the deed, upon most accurate examination, appeared duly executed, according to the provision of the statute of frauds. Upon the whole, Mr. Friend was of opinion, that the letter was meant merely to alarm the plaintiffs, and to bring them to offer or consent to a compromise. In this opinion Alfred was confirmed the next day, by an interview with Sharpe, accidental on Alfred's part, but designed and prepared by the Solicitor, who watched Alfred as he was coming out of the Courts, and dogged him till he parted from some gentlemen, with whom he was walking, then joining him, he said, in a voice which Mr. Allscrip might have envied for it's power of setting sense at defiance:
"I am happy, Mr. Alfred Percy, to chance to see you to day ... for, with a view to put an end to litigation and difficulties, I had a few words to suggest——premising, that I do not act or speak now, in any wise, as or for Sir Robert Percy, or with reference to his being my client, nor as a solicitor in this cause——be it understood, but merely and solely as one gentleman to another, upon honor——and not bringing forward any idea to be taken advantage of hereafter, as tending to any thing in the shape of an offer to compromise, which, in a legal point of view, you know, Sir, I could not be warranted to hazard for my client, and of consequence, which I hereby declare, I do not in any degree mean."
"Would you be so good, Mr. Sharpe, to state at once what you do mean——for I confess I do not, in any degree, understand you."
"Why then, Sir, what I mean is, simply, and candidly, and frankly, this, that if I could, without compromising the interest of my client, which, as an honest man, I am bound not to do or appear to do, I should wish to put an end to this litigation between relations; and though your father thinks me his enemy, would convince him to the contrary, if he would allow me, and could point out the means of shortening that confinement, which has occasioned so much scandal; and moreover, could devise an accommodation, which might be agreeable to both parties, and save you a vast deal of trouble and vexation; possession," added he, laughing, "being nine tenths of the law."——
Mr. Sharpe paused, as if hoping that something would now be said by Alfred, that might direct him whether to advance or recede; but Alfred only observed, that the end Mr. Sharpe proposed to himself by speaking, was to be understood, and that this desirable end he had not yet attained.
"Why, Sir, in some cases, one cannot venture to make one self understood any way but by innuendoes."——
"Then, good morning to you, Sir, you and I can never understand one another."
"Pardon me, Sir, unless you are in a hurry," cried Mr. Sharpe, catching Alfred by the button, "which (when so large an estate, to which you might eventually succeed, and your father's liberty moreover are in question) you are too much a man of feeling, and a man of business to be——In one word then, for I wont detain you another moment, and I throw myself open, and trust to your honor."
"Put a parallel case.——"You plaintiff A——, I defendant B——, I should, if I were A——, but no way advising it, being B——, offer to divide the whole property; and that the offer would be accepted, I'd engage upon my honor, supposing myself witnessing the transaction, only just as a gentleman."
"Impossible, Sir," cried Alfred, with indignation. "Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I would give up half my father's estate, knowing that he has a right to the whole?——It is true we are anxious, to see my father released from that prison into which he has been unjustly and cruelly thrown, but, be assured Sir, that though we, his children, would think no price that we could pay too great, to purchase his liberty, even a few months sooner than the course of law will give it to him, yet, he would never permit me to make such a sacrifice, as that which you propose."
"Propose ... pardon me, Sir——I proposed nothing——far from it——only suggested an A.B. case——But one word more Sir," cried Mr. Sharpe, holding Alfred who was breaking from him,——"for your own ... your father's interest,——you see this thing quite in a wrong point of view, when you talk of a few months more or less imprisonment, and delay of getting possession, being all there is between us, ——Depend upon it, if it goes to trial, you will never get possession."
"Then Sir, if you think so, you are betraying the interest of your client, in advising me not to let it go to trial."
"Good God, Sir! but that is between you and me only."
"Pardon me Sir, it is between you and your conscience."——
"Oh, if that's all!——My conscience is at ease, when I'm trying to prevent the scandal of litigation between relations. ... Therefore, just let me mention to you for your private information, what I know Sir Robert would not wish to come out before the trial."
"Don't tell it to me Sir——I will not hear it——Excuse me," cried Alfred,—— breaking from him, and walking on very fast.
Faster still Sharpe pursued,——"you'll remember Sir at all events, that what has been said is not to go farther,——you'll not forget."——
"I shall never forget, that I am a man of honor Sir,"——said Alfred.——
Sharpe parted from him muttering, "that if he lived to the day of trial, he would repent this."
"And if I live to the day of judgment, I shall never repent it," thought Alfred.
Now fully convinced, that Sir Robert desired a compromise, and wanted only to secure, whilst in possession, some portion of that property, which he knew the law would ultimately force him to relinquish; Alfred persevered in his course, freed from the alarm into which he had been thrown, when he first learned that his opponents intended to take defence. ——Alfred felt assured, that they would never let the matter come to trial——But time passed on, and they still persisted—— A hint was given to Alfred, by one of his father's old tenants. ... But we will not forestal this part of the story.——
Whilst Alfred was comparing various reports and suspicions, calculating moral and legal possibilities, and preparing for the decisive day of trial, the following letter arrived from Godfrey.
"Dear father, mother, brothers, sisters, all! I hope, you are not under any anxiety about me, for here I am safe and sound, and in excellent quarters, at the house of Mynheers Grinderweld, Groensveld, and Slidderschild, Amsterdam——the Dutch merchants who were shipwrecked on our coast years ago——If it had happened yesterday, the thing could not be fresher in their memories—— My dear Rosamond, when we laughed at their strange names, square figures, and formal advice at parting, to apply to them if ever we should in the changes and chances of human events be reduced to distress, we little thought, that I a prisoner should literally come to seek shelter at their door.——And most hospitably have I been received——National prejudices, which I early acquired, I don't know how, against the Dutch, made me fancy that a Dutchman could think only of himself, and would give nothing for nothing. I can only say from experience, I have been as hospitably treated in Amsterdam, as ever I was in London. These honest merchants have overwhelmed me with civilities and substantial services, and still they seem to think, they can never do enough for me——I wish I may ever see them on English ground again——But we have no Percy-Hall to receive them in now, and as well as I remember the Hills, we could not conveniently stow more than one at a time——Side by side as they stood after breakfast, I recollect, at Percy-Hall, they would fill up the parlor at the Hills.——
"I have reason to be in high spirits to day, for these good people have just been telling me, that the measures they have been taking to get my exchange effected have so far succeeded, they have reason to believe, that in a week or a fortnight at farthest, I shall be under way for England.——
"In the mean time, you will wonder perhaps how I got here——for I perceive that I have subjected myself to Rosamond's old reproach of never beginning my story at the beginning——My father says, half the mistakes in the conduct of human affairs arise from our taking for granted; but I think I may take it for granted, that either from the newspapers, or from Gascoigne, who must be in England before this time, you have learned, that the transport I was on board, with my division of the regiment, parted convoy in the storm of the 18th, in the night, and at day break fell in with two Dutchmen——Our brave boys fought, as English sailors always do. ... But it is all over now, and it does not signify prosing about it——Two to one was too much——we were captured. I had not been five minutes on the Dutchman's deck, when I observed one of the sailors eyeing me very attentively——Presently he came up and spoke to me, and asked, if my name was not Percy, and if I did not recollect to have seen him before——He put me in mind of the shipwreck, and told me he was one of the sailors, who were harboured in one of my father's out houses, whilst they were repairing the wreck——I asked him what had become of the drunken carpenter, and told him the disaster that ensued in consequence of that rascal's carelessness——My sailor was excessively shocked at the account of the fire at Percy-Hall,——he thumped his breast, till I thought he would have broken his breast-bone; and after relieving his mind, by cursing and swearing, in high Dutch, low Dutch, and English, against the drunken carpenter, he told me, that there was no use in saying any more, for that he had punished himself.——He was found dead one morning behind a barrel, from which in the night he had been drinking spirits surreptitiously with a straw!——Pray tell this to our good old steward, who used always to prophecy, that this fellow would come to no good——Assure him however at the same time, that all the Dutch sailors do not deserve his maledictions. Tell him, I can answer for the poor fellow who recognised me, and who during the whole passage never failed to show me and my fellow prisoners, down to the lowest soldiers of the regiment, every little attention in his power. When we got to Amsterdam, it was he reminded me of the Dutch merchants, told me their names, which, without his assistance, I might have perished before I could ever have recollected, showed me the way to their house, and never rested, till he saw me well settled.
"You will expect from me some account of this place, ...——you need not expect any, for just as I had got to this line in my letter, appeared one who has put all the lions of Amsterdam fairly out of my head——Mr. Gresham!——He has been for some weeks in the country, and has just returned——The Dutch merchants not knowing of his being acquainted with my family, had never mentioned him to me——or me to him——So our surprise at meeting was great——and mutual——what pleasure it is in a foreign country, and to a poor prisoner, to see any one from dear England——and one who knows our own friends. I had never known Mr. Gresham myself, but you have all by your letters made me well acquainted with him——I like him prodigiously,——to use a lady's word——(not yours, Rosamond)——Letters from Mr. Henry were waiting for him here——He has just opened them, and the first news he tells me is, that Caroline is going to be married——Is it possible?——Count Altenberg!——The last time I heard from you, you mentioned nothing of this? Some of your letters must have been lost——Pray write again immediately, and do not take it for granted, that I shall be at home before a letter can reach me, but give me a full history of every thing up to the present moment——How I wish I was with you!——Groensveld is sealing his letters for London, and says, he must have mine now or never——Adieu——Pray write fully——you can't be too minute for a poor prisoner!——Yours affectionately, burning with curiosity,——
It was fortunate that Mr. Henry's letters had been sent before Caroline's wedding; as it prevented Godfrey's knowing any thing of the melancholy confusion of that day, and of the imprisonment of his father——While his family were debating, whether they should or should not comply with his request of writing him a full account of all things, a letter arrived from Mr. Gresham to Mr. Henry, with information, that Godfrey's exchange had been actually effected, and that he had just secured his passage on board a vessel for England, which would sail the ensuing week; no letter therefore could possibly reach him before he should quit Amsterdam.
In a committee of dates, held by the whole family——Rosamond exclusive,——who never knew any thing about dates, it was settled, that, wind and weather permitting, Godfrey would arrive just about the time, when the trial was to come on.
This somewhat encreased Alfred's anxiety for the event. Other circumstances also contributed to raise it to the highest pitch.
Lord Oldborough, surprised at neither seeing Mr. Temple, nor hearing from him of his marriage, wrote to inquire what delayed his promised return to Clermont-Park. Taking it for granted, that he was married, his Lordship, in the most polite manner, begged "that he would prevail upon his bride, to enliven the retirement of an old statesman by her sprightly company——As the friend of her father he made this request, with a confidence in her hereditary disposition to show him kindness."
In reply to this letter, Mr. Temple told his friend and master what had delayed his marriage, and why he had hitherto forborne to trouble him on the subject.——Lord Oldborough, astonished and indignant, uttered once, and but once, contemptuous exclamations against the "Inconceivable meanness of Lord Skrimpshire," and the "infinitely small mind of his Grace of Greenwich."——Then, without condescending to any communication with inferior powers, his Lordship applied directly to the highest authority. The consequence was, that a place, double the value of that which had been promised to his secretary, was given to Mr. Temple, with apologies for the delay, which, as "Mr. Secretary Cole had it in command to assure his Lordship, had arisen solely from the anxious desire of Ministers, to mark their respect for his Lordship's recommendation, and their sense of Mr. Temple's merit, by doing more than had been originally proposed.——An opportunity, for which they had impatiently waited, had now put it in their power to evince the sincerity of their intentions in a mode, which, they trusted, would prove to the entire satisfaction of his Lordship."
The greatest care was taken, both in substance and manner, to gratify Lord Oldborough, whose loss had been felt, and whose value had, upon comparison, increased in estimation. Mr. Temple was immediately put in possession of his place, and he had the additional pleasure of feeling, that the delicacy with which he had refrained from complaint, and the patience with which he endured suspense, were estimated by his noble friend and master. Rosamond was rewarded by seeing the happiness of the man she loved, and hearing him declare, that he owed it to her prudence.
"Rosamond's prudence!——Who ever expected to hear this?" Mr. Percy exclaimed——"And yet the praise is just ——So, henceforward, none need ever despair of grafting prudence upon generosity of disposition and vivacity of temper."
Mr. Temple obtained from Rosamond a promise to be his, as soon as her father should be released from his prison; till then, she could not think of leaving him.
Alfred heard this promise repeated with silent agony of mind.——"The happiness of all who are most dear to me at stake——How much depends on the event of this trial!"
Next came letters from Count Altenberg——Briefly——in the laconic style of a man who is pressed at once by sudden events and strong feelings, he relates, that "at the siege of the city of ——by the French, early in the morning of the day on which it was expected that the enemy would attempt to storm the town, his Prince, while inspecting the fortifications, was killed by a cannonball, on the very spot where the Count had been standing but a moment before. ——All public affairs were changed in his country by the death of the Prince——His successor, of a weak character, was willing to purchase present ease, and to secure his low pleasures, at any price——ready to give up the honor of his country, and to submit to the conqueror.——That he had been secretly intriguing with the enemy had been suspected; and this suspicion was confirmed by his dastardly capitulation, when the means of defence were in his power, and the spirit of his people eager for resistance.
"With indignation, heightened by grief, contrast, and despairing patriotism——Count Altenberg had remonstrated ——in vain——had refused, as minister, to put his signature to the capitulation——had been solicited urgently to concede ——offers of wealth and dignities pressed upon him——These he rejected with scorn ——Released from all his public engagements by the death of his friend the late Prince, and by the retiring of the Princess from Court, Count Altenberg refused to act as minister under his successor——and seeing that, under such a successor to the Government, no means of serving or saving the country remained, he at once determined to quit it for ever. Resolved to live in a free country, already his own half by birth, and wholly by inclination, where he has property sufficient to secure him independence, sufficient for all his own wishes, and for the still more moderate desires of the woman he loves. Where he can enjoy, better than on any other spot now in the whole compass of the civilised world, the blessings of real liberty, and of domestic tranquillity and happiness."
His decision made, it was promptly executed——He left to a friend the transacting the sale of that part of his German property, of which he had not already disposed, and concluded his letter to Caroline thus,
"Passports obtained!——Every thing done but to pay my duty to the Princess before I leave the country——Early next week I shall set out for England——May the cloud, which hung over your father when we parted, my beloved Caroline, be dissipated! May we meet in perfect happiness!"
Caroline's eyes involuntarily turned on Alfred as she read the last words——It was only by strong effort and habitual command of mind, that he could preserve his self-possession under the action of such desperately strong motive, and the sense of such deep responsibility.——Many of his brother lawyers were not only doubtful, but more inclined to despond than to encourage him as to the event of the trial——Several regretted, that he had not accepted of Mr. Sharpe's offered compromise. "Half the estate certain, and his father's release from all difficulties, they thought was too good an offer to have been rejected!"——he might, "as Sharpe had prophesied, live to repent his rejection of that proposal."
Others observed, that though Mr. Alfred Percy was certainly a young man of great talents, and had been successful at the Bar, yet still he was a young lawyer.——It was a bold and hazardous, not to say rash thing, to take upon himself the conduct of a suit against such opponents as Sharpe, and Sir Robert Percy ——practised in law——hardened in iniquity ——and now driven to desperation.
Mr. Friend was the only man, who stood steadily by Alfred, and never wavered in his opinion——"Trust to truth and justice," said he,——"You did right not to compromise——Be firm——If you fail, you will have this consolation, you will have done all that man could do to deserve success."——
——The day of trial approached.——
Mr. Friend had hoped, till very late in the business, that the object of their adversaries was only to intimidate, and that they would never let it go to trial——Now it was plain they would——But on what grounds?——Again and again Mr. Friend and Alfred perused and reperused Sir John Percy's deed, and examined the opinions of counsel of the first eminence.——Both law and right appeared to be clearly on their side; but it was not likely, that their experienced opponents should persist without having some strong resource.
A dread silence was preserved by Sir Robert Percy and by Mr. Solicitor Sharpe.——They must have some deep design; what it could be remained to be discovered even till the day of trial.
