Room in the Dragon Volant | Page 7

This English peer, I may mention, stood very high in the political world,
and was named as the most probable successor to the distinguished post
of English Minister at Paris. I received it with a low bow, and read:
My Dear Beckett,
I beg to introduce my very dear friend, the Marquis d'Harmonville, who
will explain to you the nature of the services it may be in your power to
render him and us.
He went on to speak of the Marquis as a man whose great wealth,
whose intimate relations with the old families, and whose legitimate
influence with the court rendered him the fittest possible person for
those friendly offices which, at the desire of his own sovereign, and of
our government, he has so obligingly undertaken. It added a great deal
to my perplexity, when I read, further:
By-the-bye, Walton was here yesterday, and told me that your seat was
likely to be attacked; something, he says, is unquestionably going on at
Domwell. You know there is an awkwardness in my meddling ever so
cautiously. But I advise, if it is not very officious, your making Haxton
look after it and report immediately. I fear it is serious. I ought to have
mentioned that, for reasons that you will see, when you have talked
with him for five minutes, the Marquis--with the concurrence of all our
friends--drops his title, for a few weeks, and is at present plain
Monsieur Droqville. I am this moment going to town, and can say no
more.
Yours faithfully, R----
I was utterly puzzled. I could scarcely boast of Lord R----'s I
acquaintance. I knew no one named Haxton, and, except my hatter, no
one called Walton; and this peer wrote as if we were intimate friends! I
looked at the back of the letter, and the mystery was solved. And now,

to my consternation--for I was plain Richard Beckett--I read:
"_To George Stanhope Beckett, Esq., M.P._"
I looked with consternation in the face of the Marquis.
"What apology can I offer to Monsieur the Mar---- to Monsieur
Droqville? It is true my name is Beckett--it is true I am known, though
very slightly, to Lord R----; but the letter was not intended for me. My
name is Richard Beckett--this is to Mr. Stanhope Beckett, the member
for Shillingsworth. What can I say, or do, in this unfortunate situation?
I can only give you my honor as a gentleman, that, for me, the letter,
which I now return, shall remain as unviolated a secret as before I
opened it. I am so shocked and grieved that such a mistake should have
occurred!"
I dare say my honest vexation and good faith were pretty legibly
written in my countenance; for the look of gloomy embarrassment
which had for a moment settled on the face of the Marquis, brightened;
he smiled, kindly, and extended his hand.
"I have not the least doubt that Monsieur Beckett will respect my little
secret. As a mistake was destined to occur, I have reason to thank my
good stars that it should have been with a gentleman of honor.
Monsieur Beckett will permit me, I hope, to place his name among
those of my friends?"
I thanked the Marquis very much for his kind expressions. He went on
to say:
"If, Monsieur, I can persuade you to visit me at Claironville, in
Normandy, where I hope to see, on the 15th of August, a great many
friends, whose acquaintance it might interest you to make, I shall be too
happy."
I thanked him, of course, very gratefully for his hospitality. He
continued: "I cannot, for the present, see my friends, for reasons which
you may surmise, at my house in Paris. But Monsieur will be so good

as to let me know the hotel he means to stay at in Paris; and he will find
that although the Marquis d'Harmonville is not in town, that Monsieur
Droqville will not lose sight of him."
With many acknowledgments I gave him, the information he desired.
"And in the meantime," he continued, "if you think of any way in
which Monsieur Droqville can be of use to you, our communication
shall not be interrupted, and I shall so manage matters that you can
easily let me know."
I was very much flattered. The Marquis had, as we say, taken a fancy to
me. Such likings at first sight often ripen into lasting friendships. To be
sure it was just possible that the Marquis might think it prudent to keep
the involuntary depositary of a political secret, even so vague a one, in
good humor.
Very graciously the Marquis took his leave, going up the stairs of the
Belle Étoile.
I remained upon the steps for a minute, lost in speculation upon this
new