Tales and Novels, vol 7 | Page 8

his affair, not ours. We must not be too nice. He
is well disposed towards you; and, my dear sir, I should take it as a
very particular favour if you would introduce me to his lordship."
"With great pleasure," said Mr. Percy, "the very first opportunity."
"We must make opportunities--not wait for them," said the
commissioner, smiling. "Let me entreat that you will pay your respects
to his lordship as soon as he comes into the country. It really is but
civil--and take me in your hand."
"With all my heart," said Mr. Percy; "but mine shall only be a visit of
civility."
Well satisfied with having obtained this promise, Commissioner
Falconer departed.
Besides his general desire to be acquainted with the great, the
commissioner had particular reasons for wishing to be introduced at
this time to Lord Oldborough, and he had a peculiar cause for being

curious about M. de Tourville.--Mr. Falconer was in possession of the
packet which that diplomatist had lost. It had been found by one of the
commissioner's sons, Mr. John Falconer; or rather by Mr. John
Falconer's dog, Neptune, who brought it to his master when he was
bathing in the sea the day after the shipwreck. It had been thrown by
the tide among some sea-weed, where it was entangled, and where it
lay hid till it was discovered by the dog. Mr. John Falconer had carried
it home, and boasting of his dog's sagacity, had produced it rather as a
proof of the capital manner in which he had taught Neptune to fetch
and carry, than from any idea or care for the value of the packet; John
Falconer being one of those men who care for very little in this world,
"Whilst they have their dog and their gun."
Not so the commissioner, who immediately began to examine the
papers with serious curiosity, to discover whether they could by any
means be productive of advantage to him or his family. The sea-water
had injured only the outer pages; but though the inner were not in the
least damaged, it was difficult to make out their contents, for they were
written in cipher. Commissioner Falconer, however, was skilled in the
art of deciphering, and possessed all the ingenuity and patience
necessary for the business. The title, superscription, and signature of
the paper were obliterated, so that he could not guess from whom they
came, or to whom they were addressed; he perceived that they were
political; but of what degree of importance they might be he could not
decide, till he heard of M. de Tourville the diplomatist, and of his
distress at the loss of this packet. The commissioner then resolved to
devote the evening, ensuing day, and night, if requisite, to the business,
that he might have it in readiness to carry with him when he went to
pay his respects to Lord Oldborough. Foreseeing that something might
be made of this intercepted despatch, and fearing that if he mentioned it
to Mr. Percy, that gentleman might object to opening the papers, Mr.
Falconer left Percy-hall without giving the most remote hint of the
treasure which he possessed, or of the use that he intended to make of
his discovery.
Early in the ensuing week Mr. Percy went to pay his visit of civility,

and Mr. Falconer his visit of policy, to Lord Oldborough. His lordship
was so much altered, that it was with difficulty Mr. Percy recollected in
him any traces of the same person. The Lord Oldborough he had
formerly known was gay, gallant, and rather dissipated; of a frank,
joyous air and manner. The Lord Oldborough whom he now saw was a
serious, reserved-looking personage, with a face in which the lines of
thought and care were deeply marked; large eyebrows, vigilant eyes,
with an expression of ability and decision in his whole countenance,
but not of tranquillity or of happiness. His manner was well-bred, but
rather cold and formal: his conversation circumspect, calculated to
draw forth the opinions, and to benefit by the information of others,
rather than to assert or display his own. He seemed to converse, to
think, to live, not with any enjoyment of the present, but with a view to
some future object, about which he was constantly anxious.
Mr. Percy and Mr. Falconer both observed Lord Oldborough
attentively during this visit: Mr. Percy studied him with philosophical
curiosity, to discover what changes had been made in his lordship's
character by the operation of ambition, and to determine how far that
passion had contributed to his happiness; Mr. Falconer studied him
with the interested eye of a man of the world, eager to discern what
advantage could be made by ministering to that ambition, and to decide
whether there was about his lordship