The morning after the dinner to which we have been recently introduced, there was one individual absent from the breakfast-table whose non-appearance could scarcely be pa.s.sed over without notice; and several inquired with some anxiety, whether their host were indisposed.
"The Duke has received some letters from London which detain him,"
replied the d.u.c.h.ess. "He will join us."
"Your Grace will be glad to hear that your son Henry is very well," said Mr. Rigby; "I heard of him this morning. Harry Coningsby enclosed me a letter for his grandfather, and tells me that he and Henry Sydney had just had a capital run with the King"s hounds."
"It is three years since we have seen Mr. Coningsby," said the d.u.c.h.ess.
"Once he was often here. He was a great favourite of mine. I hardly ever knew a more interesting boy."
"Yes, I have done a great deal for him," said Mr. Rigby. "Lord Monmouth is fond of him, and wishes that he should make a figure; but how any one is to distinguish himself now, I am really at a loss to comprehend."
"But are affairs so very bad?" said the d.u.c.h.ess, smiling. "I thought that we were all regaining our good sense and good temper."
"I believe all the good sense and all the good temper in England are concentrated in your Grace," said Mr. Rigby, gallantly.
"I should be sorry to be such a monopolist. But Lord Fitz-b.o.o.by was giving me last night quite a glowing report of Mr. Tadpole"s prospects for the nation. We were all to have our own again; and Percy to carry the county."
"My dear Madam, before twelve months are past, there will not be a county in England. Why should there be? If boroughs are to be disfranchised, why should not counties be destroyed?"
At this moment the Duke entered, apparently agitated. He bowed to his guests, and apologised for his unusual absence. "The truth is," he continued, "I have just received a very important despatch. An event has occurred which may materially affect affairs. Lord Spencer is dead."
A thunderbolt in a summer sky, as Sir William Temple says, could not have produced a greater sensation. The business of the repast ceased in a moment. The knives and forks were suddenly silent. All was still.
"It is an immense event," said Tadpole.
"I don"t see my way," said Taper.
"When did he die?" said Lord Fitz-b.o.o.by.
"I don"t believe it," said Mr. Rigby.
"They have got their man ready," said Tadpole.
"It is impossible to say what will happen," said Taper.
"Now is the time for an amendment on the address," said Fitz-b.o.o.by.
"There are two reasons which convince me that Lord Spencer is not dead,"
said Mr. Rigby.
"I fear there is no doubt of it," said the Duke, shaking his head.
"Lord Althorp was the only man who could keep them together," said Lord Fitz-b.o.o.by.
"On the contrary," said Tadpole. "If I be right in my man, and I have no doubt of it, you will have a radical programme, and they will be stronger than ever."
"Do you think they can get the steam up again?" said Taper, musingly.
"They will bid high," replied Tadpole. "Nothing could be more unfortunate than this death. Things were going on so well and so quietly! The Wesleyans almost with us!"
"And Shabbyton too!" mournfully exclaimed Taper. "Another registration and quiet times, and I could have reduced the const.i.tuency to two hundred and fifty."
"If Lord Spencer had died on the 10th," said Rigby, "it must have been known to Henry Rivers. And I have a letter from Henry Rivers by this post. Now, Althorp is in Northamptonshire, mark that, and Northampton is a county--"
"My dear Rigby," said the Duke, "pardon me for interrupting you.
Unhappily, there is no doubt Lord Spencer is dead, for I am one of his executors."
This announcement silenced even Mr. Rigby, and the conversation now entirely merged in speculations on what would occur. Numerous were the conjectures hazarded, but the prevailing impression was, that this unforeseen event might embarra.s.s those secret expectations of Court succour in which a certain section of the party had for some time reason to indulge.
From the moment, however, of the announcement of Lord Spencer"s death, a change might be visibly observed in the tone of the party at Beaumanoir.
They became silent, moody, and restless. There seemed a general, though not avowed, conviction that a crisis of some kind or other was at hand.
The post, too, brought letters every day from town teeming with fanciful speculations, and occasionally mysterious hopes.
"I kept this cover for Peel," said the Duke pensively, as he loaded his gun on the morning of the 14th. "Do you know, I was always against his going to Rome."
"It is very odd," said Tadpole, "but I was thinking of the very same thing."
"It will be fifteen years before England will see a Tory Government,"
said Mr. Rigby, drawing his ramrod, "and then it will only last five months."
"Melbourne, Althorp, and Durham, all in the Lords," said Taper. "Three leaders! They must quarrel."
"If Durham come in, mark me, he will dissolve on Household Suffrage and the Ballot," said Tadpole.
"Not nearly so good a cry as Church," replied Taper.
"With the Malt Tax," said Tadpole. "Church, without the Malt Tax, will not do against Household Suffrage and Ballot."
"Malt Tax is madness," said Taper. "A good farmer"s friend cry without Malt Tax would work just as well."
"They will never dissolve," said the Duke. "They are so strong."
"They cannot go on with three hundred majority," said Taper. "Forty is as much as can be managed with open const.i.tuencies."
"If he had only gone to Paris instead of Rome!" said the Duke.
"Yes," said Mr. Rigby, "I could have written to him then by every post, and undeceived him as to his position."
"After all he is the only man," said the Duke; "and I really believe the country thinks so."
"Pray, what is the country?" inquired Mr. Rigby. "The country is nothing; it is the const.i.tuency you have to deal with."
"And to manage them you must have a good cry," said Taper. "All now depends upon a good cry."
"So much for the science of politics," said the Duke, bringing down a pheasant. "How Peel would have enjoyed this cover!"
"He will have plenty of time for sport during his life," said Mr. Rigby.