One of Our Conquerors | Page 9

that. And who's the culprit?'
'Old days! They won't let me have another dozen out of the house now.'
'They'll never hit on such another discovery in their cellar, unless they
unearth a fifth corner.'
'I don't blame them for making the price prohibitive. And sound as
ever!'
Mr. Radnor watched the deliberate constant ascent of bubbles through
their rose-topaz transparency. He drank. That notion of the dish of

turtle was an inspiration of the right: he ought always to know it for the
want of replenishment when such a man as he went quaking. His latest
experiences of himself were incredible; but they passed, as the dimples
of the stream. He finished his third glass. The bottle, like the
cellar-wine, was at ebb: unlike the cellar-wine, it could be set flowing
again: He prattled, in the happy ignorance of compulsion:
'Fenellan, remember, I had a sort of right to the wine--to the best I
could get; and this Old Veuve, more than any other, is a bridal wine!
We heard of Giulia Sanfredini's marriage to come off with the Spanish
Duke, and drank it to the toast of our little Nesta's godmother. I 've told
you. We took the girl to the Opera, when quite a little one--that
high:--and I declare to you, it was marvellous! Next morning after
breakfast, she plants herself in the middle of the room, and strikes her
attitude for song, and positively, almost with the Sanfredini's voice--
illusion of it, you know,--trills us out more than I could have believed
credible to be recollected by a child. But I've told you the story. We
called her Fredi from that day. I sent the diva, with excuses and
compliments, a nuptial present-necklace, Roman goldwork,
locket-pendant, containing sunny curl, and below a fine pearl; really
pretty; telling her our grounds for the liberty. She replied, accepting the
responsible office; touching letter--we found it so; framed in Fredi's
room, under her godmother's photograph. Fredi has another heroine
now, though she worships her old one still; she never abandons her old
ones. You've heard the story over and over!'
Mr. Fenellan nodded; he had a tenderness for the garrulity of Old
Veuve, and for the damsel. Chatter on that subject ran pleasantly with
their entertainment.
Mr. Radnor meanwhile scribbled, and despatched a strip of his
Note-book, bearing a scrawl of orders, to his office. He was now fully
himself, benevolent, combative, gay, alert for amusement or the
probeing of schemes to the quick, weighing the good and the bad in
them with his fine touch on proportion.
'City dead flat? A monotonous key; but it's about the same as fetching a
breath after a run; only, true, it lasts too long--not healthy! Skepsey will

bring me my letters. I was down in the country early this morning,
looking over the house, with Taplow, my architect; and he speaks fairly
well of the contractors. Yes, down at Lakelands; and saw my first
lemon butterfly in a dell of sunshine, out of the wind, and had half a
mind to catch it for Fredi,--and should have caught it myself, if I had!
The truth is, we three are country born and bred; we pine in London.
Good for a season; you know my old feeling. They are to learn the
secret of Lakelands to-morrow. It 's great fun; they think I don't see
they've had their suspicion for some time. You said--somebody
said--"the eye of a needle for what they let slip of their secrets, and the
point of it for penetrating yours":--women. But no; my dear souls didn't
prick and bother. And they dealt with a man in armour. I carry them
down to Lakelands to-morrow, if the City's flat.'
'Keeping a secret's the lid on a boiling pot with you,' Mr. Fenellan said;
and he mused on the profoundness of the flavour at his lips.
'I do it.'
'You do: up to bursting at the breast.'
'I keep it from Colney!'
'As Vesuvius keeps it from Palmieri when shaking him.'
'Has old Colney an idea of it?'
'He has been foretelling an eruption of an edifice.'
The laugh between them subsided to pensiveness.
Mr. Fenellan's delay in the delivery of his news was eloquent to reveal
the one hateful topic; and this being seen, it waxed to such increase of
size with the passing seconds, that prudence called for it.
'Come!' said Mr. Radnor.
The appeal was understood.

'Nothing very particular. I came into the City to look at a warehouse
they want to mount double guard on. Your idea of the fireman's night-
patrol and wires has done wonders for the office.'
'I guarantee the City if all my directions are followed.'
Mr. Fenellan's remark, that he had nothing very particular to tell,
reduced it to the mere touch upon