Tales and Novels, vol 8 | Page 9

has been asserted to me, that a hint was given to the Marquis of Twickenham of the danger of suffering that--what is the man's name?--Bellamy, to be so near his wife; and that the hint was disregarded."
"The marquis did very weakly or very wickedly," said Alfred.
"All wickedness is weakness, sir, you know: but to our point. I have been assured that the actual discovery of the intrigue was made to the marquis some months previously to the birth of his child--and that he forbore to take any notice of this, lest it might affect the legitimacy of that child. After the birth of the infant--a boy--subsequent indiscretions on the part of the marchioness, the marquis would make it appear, gave rise to his first suspicions. Now, sir, these are the points, of which, as my friend, and as a professional man, I desire you to ascertain the truth. If the facts are as I have thus heard, I presume no divorce can be legally obtained."
"Certainly not, my lord."
"Then I will direct you instantly to the proper channels for information."
Whilst Lord Oldborough wrote directions, Alfred assured him he would fulfil his commission with all the discretion and celerity in his power.
"The next step," continued Lord Oldborough--"for, on such a subject, I wish to say all that is necessary at once, that it may be banished from my mind--your next step, supposing the facts to be ascertained, is to go with this letter--my answer to the Duke of Greenwich. See him--and see the marquis. In matters of consequence have nothing to do with secondary people--deal with the principals. Show in the first place, as a lawyer, that their divorce is unattainable--next, show the marquis that he destroys his son and heir by attempting it. The duke, I believe, would be glad of a pretext for dissolving the political connexion between me and the Greenwich family. He fears me, and he fears the world: he dares not abandon me without a pretence for the dissolution of friendship. He is a weak man, and never dares to act without a pretext; but show him that a divorce is not necessary for his purpose--a separation will do as well--Or without it, I am ready to break with him at council, in the House of Lords, on a hundred political points; and let him shield himself as he may from the reproach of desertion, by leaving the blame of quarrel on my impracticability, or on what he will, I care not--so that my family be saved from the ignominy of divorce."
As he sealed his letter, Lord Oldborough went on in abrupt sentences.
"I never counted on a weak man's friendship--I can do without his grace--Woman! Woman! The same--ever since the beginning of the world!"
Then turning to Alfred to deliver the letter into his hand, "Your brother, Major Percy, sir--I think I recollect--He was better in the West Indies."
"I was just thinking so, my lord," said Alfred.
"Yes--better encounter the plague than a fool."
Lord Oldborough had never before distinctly adverted to his knowledge of his niece's partiality for Godfrey, but his lordship now added, "Major Percy's honourable conduct is not unknown: I trust honourable conduct never was, and never will be, lost upon me.--This to the Duke of Greenwich--and this to the marquis.--Since it was to be, I rejoice that this Captain Bellamy is the gallant.--Had it been your brother, sir--could there have been any love in the case--not, observe, that I believe in love, much less am I subject to the weakness of remorse--but a twinge might have seized my mind--I might possibly have been told that the marchioness was married against her inclination.--But I am at ease on that point--my judgment of her was right.--You will let me know, in one word, the result of your negotiation without entering into particulars--divorce, or no divorce, is all I wish to hear."
Alfred did not know all the circumstances of the Marchioness of Twickenham's marriage, nor the peremptory manner in which it had been insisted upon by her uncle, otherwise he would have felt still greater surprise than that which he now felt, at the stern, unbending character of the man. Possessed as Lord Oldborough was by the opinion, that he had at the time judged and acted in the best manner possible, no after-events could make him doubt the justice of his own decision, or could at all shake him in his own estimation.
Alfred soon brought his report. "In one word--no divorce, my lord."
"That's well--I thank you, sir."
His lordship made no farther inquiries--not even whether there was to be a separation.
Alfred was commissioned by the Duke of Greenwich to deliver a message, which, like the messages of the gods in Homer, he delivered verbatim, and without comment: "His grace of Greenwich trusts Lord Oldborough will believe, that, notwithstanding the