CHAPTER XXXIII. VA SATAN AMUSES HIMSELF. "We can die; And, dying nobly, though we leave behind us Our living souls fly crowned with living conquests." Beaumont and Fletcher. ANCE sat in his room at the St. Charles. He seemed plunged in meditation. His fingers were playing with a little gold cross he wore round his neck; a trinket made very precious by the dying kiss and pious faith of Estelle. It recalled to him daily those memorable moments of their last earthly parting. And she now seemed so near to him, so truly alive to him, in all his perplexities, that he would hardly have been surprised to see her suddenly standing in immortal youth by his side. How could he, while thus possessed with her enchanting image, evoke from his heart any warmer sentiment than that of friendship for any other woman? He thought of the so-called Perdita. He feared he would have to leave the city without getting any further light than Miss Tremaine had vouchsafed on the mystery that surrounded that interesting young person. One thing, on reconsideration, puzzled him and excited his distrust in Laura's story. Perdita had pretended that the name Brown was improvised for the occasion, - assumed while she was conversing with him. Could she have been deceiving? There were still other reflections that brought anxiety. He had not yet heard from Peek. Could that faithful friend have failed in all his inquiries for Hyde? The immediate matter for consideration, however, was the danger that began to darken over Vance's own path. It had been ascertained by leading Secessionists, interested in providing for the financial wants of the Rebellion, that Vance had drawn more than a hundred thousand dollars of special depos its of gold from the banks since the fall of Sumter. The question was now put to him by the usurpers, What had been done with that money? He was summoned to appear before the authorities with an explanation. A committee would be in session that very evening to hear his statement. There was still another subject to awaken his concern. Kenrick had been called on to set at rest certain unfavorable reports, by appearing before that same committee, and accepting a captaincy in the confederate army. Onslow was to be presented with a colonel's commission. Vance had made preparations for the escape of Kenrick and himself. A little steam-tug called the Artful Dodger, carrying the Confederate flag, lay in the river. Everybody supposed she was a sort of spy on United States cruisers. For two days she had lain there with steam all up, ready to start at a moment's warning. Her crew appeared to be all ashore, except the captain, mate, engineer, cook, and two stewards. The last three were black men. The other three, if they were not Yankees, had caught some peculiarities of pronunciation which the schoolmaster is vainly striving to extirpate at the North. These men said beeyownd for bound, and neeyow for now. While Vance was meditating on his arrangements, a card was brought to him. It bore the name "Simon Winslow." "Show him in," said Vance to the servant. As Simon entered, Vance recognized him as the individual who had aided him the day of the rescue of Quattles from the mob. "There's a sort of freemasonry, Mr. Vance," said Winslow, "that assures me I may trust you. Your sympathies, sir, are with the Union." Wary and suspicious, Vance bowed, but made no reply. "Do not doubt me," continued Winslow. "True, I've been a slaveholder. But 't is now several years since I owned a slave. Mr. Vance, I want your counsel, and, it may be, your aid. Still distrustful? How shall I satisfy you that I'm not a traitor knave?" "Enough, Mr. Winslow! I'll trust your threescore years and your loyal face. Tell me what I can do for you. seated." Be They sat down, and the old man resumed: "I have lived in this city more than forty years, Mr. Vance, but for some time I've foreseen that there would be little hope for a man of Northern birth unless he would consent to howl with the pack for secession and a slave confederacy. Now I'm too old to tune my bark to any such note. The consequence is, I am a marked man, liable at any moment to be seized and imprisoned. My property here is nearly all in real estate; so if that is confiscated, as it will be, I've no fear but Uncle Sam will soon come to give it back to me. The rest of my assets it will be hard for the keenest-scented inquisitor to find. Today, by the death of Mrs. Ratcliff —” "Of what Mrs. Ratcliff?" inquired Vance. "Mrs. Carberry Ratcliff. By her death I become the legally irresponsible, and therefore all the more morally the responsible, manager of an estate of more than half a million, of which a considerable portion is to be used by me for the benefit of two women at present slaves." "But her husband will never consent to it!" interposed Vance. "Fortunately," replied Winslow, "all the property was some time since sent North and converted into gold. Well: I've just come from an interview with Ratcliff himself. He came to tell me of his wife's death. He brought with him a quasi will, signed a year ago, in which his wife requests me to hand over to him such property as I may consider at her disposal. He called on me to demand that I should forthwith surrender my trust; said he was in immediate need of three hundred thousand dollars. He did not dream of a rebuff. He was in high spirits. The news from Bull Run had greatly elated him. His wife's death he plainly regarded as a happy relief. Conceive of his wrath, when, in the midst of his lofty hopes and haughty demands, I handed him a copy of the memoranda, noted down by me this very day, in which Mrs. Ratcliff makes a very different disposition of the property." "I know something of the man's temper," said Vance. "He laughed a scornful laugh," resumed Winslow, "and, shaking his forefinger at me, said: "You shall swing for this, you damned old Yankee! Your trusteeship is n't worth a straw. I'll have you compelled to disgorge, this very hour.' But when I told him that the whole half-million, left in my hands by his wife's father, was safely deposited in gold in a Northern city, the man actually grew livid with rage. He drew his Derringer on me, and would probably have shot me but for the sober second thought that told him he could make more out of me living than dead. In a frenzy he left my office. This was about half an hour ago. After reflection on our interview I concluded it would be prudent in me to escape from the city if possible, and I have come to ask if you can aid me in doing it.” You "Nothing could be more opportune," replied Vance, “than your coming. I have laid all my plans to leave in a small steamer this very night. A young friend goes with me. shall accompany us. Have you any preparations to make?" None, except to find some trustworthy person with whom I can leave an amount of money for the two slave-women of whom I spoke. For it would be dangerous, if not impracticable, to attempt to take them with us." 66 "Yes, use your golden keys to unlock their chains in this case," said Vance. "Do not show yourself again on the street. Ratcliff will at once have detectives at your heels. Hark! There's a knock at the door. Pass into my chamber, and lock yourself in, and open only to my rapping, thus, — one, two — one, two-one." Winslow obeyed, and Vance, opening his parlor door, met Kenrick. Well, cousin," asked Vance, "are you all ready? You look pale, man! What's the matter?" "Nothing," replied Kenrick; "that is, everything. I wish I'd never seen that Perdita Brown! Look here! They've got her photograph in the print-shops. Beautiful, is it not?" "Yes; it almost does her justice. Could you draw out from the Tremaines no remark which would afford a further clew?" "After you had failed, what could I hope to do? But I'll tell you what I ventured upon. All stratagems in love and war are venial, I suppose. Seeing that Miss Tremaine was deeply interested in your conquering self, I tried to pique her by making her think you were secretly enamored of Miss Brown. She denied it warmly. I then said: 'Reflect! Has n't he been very inquisitive in trying to find out all he could about her?' She was obliged to confess that you had; and at last, after considerable skirmishing between us, she dropped this remark: Those who would fall in love with her had better first find out whether she's a lady.' 'She certainly appears one,' I replied. Yes,' said Miss Tremaine, and so does many a Creole who has African blood in her veins.'" "Ah! what could that mean?" exclaimed Vance, thoughtfully. "Can that story of a paternal Brown be all a lie?” Here there was a low knock at the door. Vance opened it, and there stood Peek. "Come in!" said Vance, grasping him by the hand, drawing him in, and closing the door. "What news?" And then, seeing the negro's hesitation, Vance turned to Kenrick, and said: "Cousin, this is the man to whom you need no introduction. He was christened Peculiar Institution; but, for brevity, we call him Peek." Kenrick put out his hand with a face so glowing with a cordial respect that Peek could not resist the proffer. 66 Now, Peek," said Vance, "pull off that hot wig and those green spectacles, and, unless you would keep us standing, sit down and be at ease. There! That's right. Now, first of all, did you hit upon any trace of your wife and boy?" "None, Mr. Vance. I think they cannot be in Texas." "Then what of Colonel Delancy Hyde?" "The Colonel was said to have attached himself to the fortunes of General Van Dorn. That's all I could find out about Hyde." 66 "Pity! I must unearth the fellow somehow. The fate of that poor little girl of the Pontiac haunts me night and day. My suspicions of foul play have been fully confirmed. When you have time, read this letter which I had written to send you. It will tell you of all I learnt from Quattles and Amos Slink. But you have something to ask. What is it?" "Where shall I find Captain Onslow of the Confederate army?" Vance pointed to Kenrick, who replied: "I know him well. He is probably now in this house. 'Tis his usual time for dressing for dinner." |