"Dr. Riccabocca--nothing. But--" here Randal put his lip close to the Italian"s ear, and whispered a brief sentence. Then retreating a step, but laying his hand on the exile"s shoulder, he added, "Need I say that your secret is safe with me?"
Riccabocca made no answer. His eyes rested on the ground musingly.
Randal continued, "And I shall esteem it the highest honour you can bestow on me, to be permitted to a.s.sist you in forestalling danger."
RICCABOCCA (slowly).--"Sir, I thank you; you have my secret, and I feel a.s.sured it is safe, for I speak to an English gentleman. There may be family reasons why I should avoid the Count di Peschiera; and, indeed, he is safest from shoals who steers clearest of his relations."
The poor Italian regained his caustic smile as he uttered that wise, villanous Italian maxim.
RANDAL.--"I know little of the Count of Peschiera save from the current talk of the world. He is said to hold the estates of a kinsman who took part in a conspiracy against the Austrian power."
RICCABOCCA.--"It is true. Let that content him; what more does he desire? You spoke of forestalling danger; what danger? I am on the soil of England, and protected by its laws."
RANDAL.--"Allow me to inquire if, had the kinsman no child, the Count di Peschiera would be legitimate and natural heir to the estates he holds?"
RICCABOCCA.--"He would--What then?"
RANDAL.--"Does that thought suggest no danger to the child of the kinsman?"
Riccabocca recoiled, and gasped forth, "The child! You do not mean to imply that this man, infamous though he be, can contemplate the crime of an a.s.sa.s.sin?"
Randal paused perplexed. His ground was delicate. He knew not what causes of resentment the exile entertained against the count. He knew not whether Riccabocca would not a.s.sent to an alliance that might restore him to his country,--and he resolved to feel his way with precaution.
"I did not," said he, smiling gravely, "mean to insinuate so horrible a charge against a man whom I have never seen. He seeks you,--that is all I know. I imagine, from his general character, that in this search he consults his interest. Perhaps all matters might be conciliated by an interview!"
"An interview!" exclaimed Riccabocca; "there is but one way we should meet,--foot to foot, and hand to hand."
"Is it so? Then you would not listen to the count if he proposed some amicable compromise,--if, for instance, he was a candidate for the hand of your daughter?"
The poor Italian, so wise and so subtle in his talk, was as rash and blind when it came to action as if he had been born in Ireland and nourished on potatoes and Repeal. He bared his whole soul to the merciless eye of Randal.
"My daughter!" he exclaimed. "Sir, your very question is an insult."
Randal"s way became clear at once. "Forgive me," he said mildly; "I will tell you frankly all that I know. I am acquainted with the count"s sister. I have some little influence over her. It was she who informed me that the count had come here, bent upon discovering your refuge, and resolved to wed your daughter. This is the danger of which I spoke. And when I asked your permission to aid in forestalling it, I only intended to suggest that it might be wise to find some securer home, and that I, if permitted to know that home, and to visit you, could apprise you from time to time of the count"s plans and movements."
"Sir, I thank you sincerely," said Riccabocca, with emotion; "but am I not safe here?"
"I doubt it. Many people have visited the squire in the shooting season, who will have heard of you,--perhaps seen you, and who are likely to meet the count in London. And Frank Hazeldean, too, who knows the count"s sister--"
"True, true" interrupted Riccabocca. "I see, I see. I will consider, I will reflect. Meanwhile you are going to Hazel dean. Do not say a word to the squire. He knows not the secret you have discovered."
With those words Riccabocca turned slightly away, and Randal took the hint to depart.
"At all times command and rely on me," said the young traitor, and he regained the pale to which he had fastened his horse.
As he remounted, he cast his eyes towards the place where he had left Riccabocca. The Italian was still standing there. Presently the form of Jackeymo was seen emerging from the shrubs. Riccabocca turned hastily round, recognized his servant, uttered an exclamation loud enough to reach Randal"s ear, and then, catching Jackeymo by the arm, disappeared with him amidst the deep recesses of the garden.
"It will be indeed in my favour," thought Randal, as he rode on, "if I can get them into the neighbourhood of London,--all occasion there to woo, and if expedient, to win, the heiress."
CHAPTER VIII.
"Br the Lord, Harry!" cried the squire, as he stood with his wife in the park, on a visit of inspection to some first-rate Southdowns just added to his stock,--"by the Lord, if that is not Randal Leslie trying to get into the park at the back gate! Hollo, Randal! you must come round by the lodge, my boy," said he. "You see this gate is locked to keep out trespa.s.sers."
"A pity," said Randal. "I like short cuts, and you have shut up a very short one."
"So the trespa.s.sers said," quoth the squire; "but Stirn insisted on it--valuable man, Stirn. But ride round to the lodge. Put up your horse, and you"ll join us before we can get to the house."
Randal nodded and smiled, and rode briskly on. The squire rejoined his Harry.
"Ah, William," said she, anxiously, "though certainly Randal Leslie means well, I always dread his visits."
"So do I, in one sense," quoth the squire, "for he always carries away a bank-note for Frank."
"I hope he is really Frank"s friend," said Mrs. Hazeldean. "Who"s else can he be? Not his own, poor fellow, for he will never accept a shilling from me, though his grandmother was as good a Hazeldean as I am. But, zounds, I like his pride, and his economy too. As for Frank--"
"Hush, William!" cried Mrs. Hazeldean, and put her fair hand before the squire"s mouth. The squire was softened, and kissed the fair hand gallantly,--perhaps he kissed the lips too; at all events, the worthy pair were walking lovingly arm-in-arm when Randal joined them.
He did not affect to perceive a certain coldness in the manner of Mrs.
Hazeldean, but began immediately to talk to her about Frank; praise that young gentleman"s appearance; expatiate on his health, his popularity, and his good gifts, personal and mental,--and this with so much warmth, that any dim and undeveloped suspicions Mrs. Hazeldean might have formed soon melted away.
Randal continued to make himself thus agreeable, until the squire, persuaded that his young kinsman was a first-rate agriculturalist, insisted upon carrying him off to the home-farm; and Harry turned towards the house; to order Randal"s room to be got ready: "For," said Randal, "knowing that you will excuse my morning dress, I venture to invite myself to dine and sleep at the Hall."
On approaching the farm-buildings, Randal was seized with the terror of an impostor; for, despite all the theoretical learning on Bucolics and Georgics with which he had dazzled the squire, poor Frank, so despised, would have beat him hollow when it came to the judging of the points of an ox, or the show of a crop.
"Ha, ha," cried the squire, chuckling, "I long to see how you"ll astonish Stirn. Why, you"ll guess in a moment where we put the top-dressing; and when you come to handle my short-horns, I dare swear you"ll know to a pound how much oil-cake has gone into their sides."
"Oh, you do me too much honour,--indeed you do. I only know the general principles of agriculture; the details are eminently interesting, but I have not had the opportunity to acquire them."
"Stuff!" cried the squire. "How can a man know general principles unless he has first studied the details? You are too modest, my boy. Ho!
there "s Stirn looking out for us!" Randal saw the grim visage of Stirn peering out of a cattleshed, and felt undone. He made a desperate rush towards changing the squire"s humour.
"Well, sir, perhaps Frank may soon gratify your wish, and turn farmer himself."
"Eh!" quoth the squire, stopping short,--"what now?"
"Suppose he were to marry?"
"I"d give him the two best farms on the property rent free. Ha, ha! Has he seen the girl yet? I"d leave him free to choose; sir, I chose for myself,--every man should. Not but what Miss Stick-to-rights is an heiress, and, I hear, a very decent girl, and that would join the two properties, and put an end to that law-suit about the right of way, which began in the reign of King Charles the Second, and is likely otherwise to last till the day of judgment. But never mind her; let Frank choose to please himself."
"I"ll not fail to tell him so, sir. I did fear you might have some prejudices. But here we are at the farmyard."
"Burn the farmyard! How can I think of farmyards when you talk of Frank"s marriage? Come on--this way. What were you saying about prejudices?"
"Why, you might wish him to marry an Englishwoman, for instance."
"English! Good heavens, sir, does he mean to marry a Hindoo?"