Much as O"Donoghue marvelled at the change effected in his own appearance by the court dress, he was still more surprised at finding what a complete transformation his friend Talbot had undergone. The scarlet uniform seemed to make him appear larger and fatter; while the a.s.sumption of a pair of dark whiskers added several years to his apparent age, and totally changed the character of his countenance.
"I see by your face, Mark," said he, laughing, "that the disguise is complete. You could scarcely recognise me--I may safely defy most others?"
"But you are taller, I think?"
"About an inch and a-half only--false heels inside my boots give me a slight advantage over you. Don"t be jealous, however, I"m not your match on a fair footing."
This flattery seemed successful, for Mark smiled, and reddened slightly.
As they drove along, Talbot entered minutely into an account of the people they should meet with--warning Mark of the necessity there existed to avoid any, even the most trivial, sign of astonishment at anything he saw--to mix with the crowd, and follow the current from room to room, carefully guarding against making any chance acquaintance--and, above all, not to be recognised by his cousin Kate, if by any accident he should be near her.
In the midst of these directions, Talbot was interrupted by the sudden stoppage of the carriages in the line, which already extended above a mile from the Castle gate.
"Here we are at last, Mark, in the train of the courtiers--does your patriotism burn for the time when your homage shall be rendered to a native Sovereign. Ha! there goes one of the privileged cla.s.s--that carriage, with the two footmen, is the Lord Chancellor"s, he has the right of the private "entree," and takes the lead of such humble folk as we are mixed up with."
A deep groan from the mob burst forth, as the equipage, thus noticed, dashed forward. Such manifestations of public feeling were then frequent, and not always limited to mere expressions of dislike. The very circ.u.mstance of quitting the regular line, and pa.s.sing the rest, seemed to evoke popular indignation, and it was wonderful with what readiness the mob caught up allusions to the public or private life of those, thus momentarily exposed to their indignation. Some speech or vote in Parliament--some judicial sentence--or some act or event in their private history, was at once recalled and criticised, in a manner far more frank than flattering. None escaped this notice, for, notwithstanding the strong force of mounted police that kept the street clear, some adventurous spirit was always ready to rush forward to the carriage window, and in a moment announce to the others the name of its occupant. By all this, Mark was greatly amused--he had few sympathies with those in little favour with the mult.i.tude, and could afford to laugh at the sallies which a.s.sailed the members of the Government. The taunting sarcasms and personal allusions, of which the Irish members were not sparing in the house, were here repeated by those, who suffered the severity to lose little of its sting in their own version.
"Look at Flood, boys--there"s the old vulture with broken beak and cadaverous aspect--a groan for Flood," and the demand was answered by thousands.
"There"s Tom Connolly," shouted a loud voice, "three cheers for the Volunteers--three cheers for Castletown."
"Thank you, boys, thank you," said a rich mellow voice, as in their enthusiasm the mob pressed around the carriage of the popular member, and even shook hands with the footmen behind the carriage.
"Here"s Luttrel, here"s Luttrel," cried out several together, and in a moment the excitement, which before was all of joy, a.s.sumed a character of deepest execration.
Aware of the popular feeling towards him, this gentleman"s carriage was guarded by two troopers of the horse police--nor was the precaution needless, for no sooner was he recognised, than a general rush was made by the mob, and for a moment or two the carriage was separated from the rest of the line.
"Groan him, boys, groan him, but don"t touch the traitor," shouted a savage-looking fellow, who stood a head and shoulders above the crowd.
"Couldn"t you afford to buy new liveries with the eighty thousand pounds the Government gave you," yelled another, and the sally was responded to with a burst of savage laughter.
"Throw us out a penny," called a third, "it will treat all your friends in Ireland--let him go, boys, let him go on, he"s only stopping the way of his betters."
"Here"s the man that knows how to spend his money--three cheers for the Englishman from Stephen"s-green--three cheers for Sir Marmaduke Travers," and the cheers burst forth with an enthusiasm that showed, how much more a character for benevolence and personal kindness conciliated mob estimation, than all the attributes of political partizanship.
"Bring us a lamp here, bring us a lamp," cried a miserable object in tattered rags, "take down a lamp, boys, till we have a look at the two beauties," and strange as the suggestion may seem, it was hailed with a cry of triumphal delight, and in another moment a street lamp was taken from its place and handed over the heads of the mob, to the very window of Sir Marmaduke"s carriage; while the old Baronet, kindly humouring the eccentricity of the people, lowered the gla.s.s to permit them to see in.
A respectful silence extended over that crowd, motley and miserable as it was, and they stood in mute admiration, not venturing upon a word nor a remark, until as it were overcome by a spontaneous feeling of enthusiasm they broke forth into one loud cheer that echoed from the College to the very gates of the Castle; and with blessings deep and fervent, as they would have bestowed for some real favour, the carriage was allowed to proceed on its way once more.
"Here"s Morris, here"s the Colonel," was now the cry, and a burst of as merry laughter as ever issued from happy hearts, welcomed the new arrival; "make him get out, boys, make him get out, and show us his legs, that"s the fellow ran away in Flanders," and before the mirth had subsided, the unhappy Colonel had pa.s.sed on.
"Who"s this in the hackney-coach?" said one, as the carriage in which Talbot and Mark were seated came up. The window was let down in a moment, and Talbot, leaning his head out, whispered a few words in a low voice; whatever their import, their effect was magical, and a hurra, as wild as the war-cry of an Indian, shook the street.
"What was it you said?" cried Mark.
"Three word in Irish," said Talbot, laughing; "they are the only three in my vocabulary, and their meaning is "wait awhile;" and somehow, it would seem a very significant intimation to Irishmen."
The carriage moved on, and the two friends soon alighted in the brilliantly-illuminated vestibule, now lined with battleaxe-guards, and resounding with the clangor of a bra.s.s band. Mixing with the crowd that poured up the staircase, they pa.s.sed into the first drawing-room, without stopping to write their names, as was done by the others, Talbot telling Mark, in a whisper, to move up and follow him closely.
The distressing impression, that he himself would be an object of notice and remark to others, and which had up to that very moment tortured him, gave way at once, as he found himself in that splendid a.s.semblage, where beauty, in all the glare of dress and jewels, abounded, and where, for the first time, the world of fashion and elegance burst upon his astonished senses. The courage that, with dauntless nerve, would have led him to the cannon"s mouth, now actually faltered, and made him feel faint-hearted, to find himself mixing with those among whom he had no right to be present. Talbot"s shrewd intelligence seemed to divine what was pa.s.sing in Mark"s mind, for he took him by the arm, and as he led him forward, whispered, from time to time, certain particulars of the company, intended to satisfy him, that, however distinguished by rank and personal appearance, in reality, their characters had little claim to his respect. With such success did he demolish reputations--so fatally did his sarcasms depreciate those against whom they were directed--that, ere long, Mark moved along in utter contempt for that gorgeous throng, which at first had impressed him so profoundly. To hear that the proud-looking general, his coat a blaze of orders, was a coward; that the benign and mild-faced judge was a merciless, unrelenting tyrant; that the bishop, whose simple bearing and gentle quietude of manner were most winning, was in reality a crafty place-hunter and a subtle "intrigant"--such were the lessons Talbot poured into his ear, while amid the ranks of beauty still more deadly calumnies pointed all he said.
"Society is rotten to the very core here, Mark," said he, bitterly.
"There never was a land nor an age when profligacy stood so high in the market. It remains to be seen if our friends will do better--for a time, at least, they are almost certain to do so; but now, that I have shown you something of the company, let us separate, lest we be remarked.
This pillar can always be our rallying spot. Whenever you want me, come here;" and so saying, and with a slight pressure of his hand, Talbot mixed with the crowd, and soon was lost to Mark"s view.
Talbot"s revelations served at first to impair the pleasure Mark experienced in the brilliant scene around him; but when once more alone, the magnetic influence of a splendour so new, and of beauty so dazzling, appealed to his heart far more powerfully than the cold sarcasms of his companion. Glances which, directed to others, he caught in pa.s.sing, and felt with a throb of ecstasy within his own bosom; bright eyes, that beamed not for him, sent a glow of delight through his frame. The atmosphere of pleasure which he had never breathed before, now warmed the current of his blood, and his pulse beat high and madly. All the bitter thoughts he had harboured against his country"s enemies could not stand before his admiration of that gorgeous a.s.semblage, and he felt ashamed to think that he, and such as he, should conspire the downfall of a system, whose very externals were so captivating. He wandered thus from room to room in a dream of pleasure--now stopping to gaze at the dancers, then moving towards some of the refreshment-rooms, where parties were seated in familiar circles, all in the full enjoyment of the brilliant festivity. Like a child roaming at will through some beauteous garden, heightening enjoyment by the rapid variety of new pleasures, and making in the quick transition of sensations a source of more fervid delight, so did he pa.s.s from place to place, and in this way time stole by, and he utterly forgot the rendezvous he had arranged with Talbot. At last, suddenly remembering this, he endeavoured to find out the place, and in doing so was forced to pa.s.s through a card-room, where several parties were now at play. Around one of the tables a greater crowd than usual was a.s.sembled. There, as he pa.s.sed, Mark thought he overheard Talbot"s voice. He stopped and drew near, and, with some little difficulty, making his way through, perceived his friend seated at the table, deeply engaged in what, if he were to judge from the heap of gold before him, seemed very high play. His antagonist was an old, fine-looking man, in the uniform of a general officer; but while Mark looked, he arose, and his place was taken by another--the etiquette being, that the winner should remain until he ceased to win.
"He has pa.s.sed eleven times," said a gentleman to his friend, in Mark"s hearing; "he must at least have won four hundred pounds."
"Do you happen to know who he is?"
"No; nor do I know any one that does. There!--see!--he has won again."
"He"s a devilish cool player--that"s certain. I never saw a man more collected."
"He studies his adversary far more than his cards--I remark that."
"Oh! here"s old Clangoff come to try his luck:" and an opening of the crowd was now made to permit a tall and very old man to approach the table. Very much stooped in the shoulders, and with snow-white hair, Lord Clangoff still preserved the remains of one who in his youth had been the handsomest man of his day. Although simply dressed in the Windsor uniform, the brilliant rings he wore upon his fingers, and the splendour of a gold snuff-box surrounded by enormous diamonds, evinced the taste for magnificence for which he was celebrated. There was an air of dignity with which he took his seat, saluting the acquaintances he recognised about him, very strikingly in contrast with the familiar manners then growing into vogue, while in the courteous urbanity of his bow to Talbot, his whole breeding was revealed.
"It is a proud thing even to encounter such an adversary, sir," said he, smiling. "They have just told me that you have vanquished our best players."
"The caprice of Fortune, my lord, that so often favours the undeserving," said Talbot, with a gesture of extreme humility.
"Your success should be small at play, if the French adage have any truth in it," said his lordship, alluding to Talbot"s handsome features, which seemed to indicate favour with the softer s.e.x.
"According to that theory, my lord, I have the advantage over you at present."
This adroit flattery of the other"s earlier reputation as a gallant, seemed to please him highly; for, as he presented his box to one of his friends near, he whispered--"A very well-bred fellow, indeed," Then turning to Talbot, said, "Do you like a high stake?"
"I am completely at your service, my lord--whatever you please."
"Shall we say fifty?--or do you prefer a hundred?"
"If the same to you, I like the latter just twice as well."
The old lord smiled at having found an adversary similarly disposed with himself, and drew out his pocket-book with an air of palpable satisfaction; while in the looks of increased interest among the bystanders could be seen the anxiety they felt in the coming struggle.
"You have the deal, my lord," said Talbot, presenting the cards. "Still, if any gentleman cares for another fifty on the game----"
"I"ll take it, sir," said a voice from behind Lord Clangoff s chair, and Mark, struck by the accent, fixed his eyes on the speaker. The blood rushed to his face at once, for it was Hemsworth who stood before him--the ancient enemy of his house--the tyrant, whose petty oppressions and studied insults had been a theme he was familiar with from boyhood.
All fear of his being recognised himself was merged in the savage pleasure he felt in staring fixedly at the man he hated.
He would have given much to be able to whisper the name into Talbot"s ear; but remembering how such an attempt might be attended by a discovery of himself, he desisted, and with a throbbing heart awaited the result of the game. Meanwhile Hemsworth, whose whole attention was concentrated on Talbot, never turned his eyes towards any other quarter.
The moment seemed favourable for Mark, and gently retiring through the crowd, he at last disengaged himself, and sat down on a bench near a door-way. His mind was full of its own teeming thoughts, thoughts that the hated presence of his enemy sent madly thronging upon him; he lost all memory of where he was, nor did he remark that two persons had entered, and seated themselves near him, when a word, a single word, fell upon his ear. He turned round, and saw his cousin Kate sitting beside Frederick Travers. The start of surprise he could not restrain attracted her notice. She turned also, and as a deadly pallor came over her features, she uttered the one word, "Mark." Travers immediately caught the name, and, leaning forward, the two young men"s eyes met, and for some seconds never wandered from each other.
"I should have gone to see you, cousin Kate," said Mark, after a momentary struggle to seem calm and collected, "but I feared--that is, I did not know----"
"But, Mark, dear Mark, why are you here?" said she, in a tone of heartfelt terror. "Do you know that none save those presented at the Levees, and known to the Lord Lieutenant, dare to attend these b.a.l.l.s?"
"I came with a friend," said Mark, in a voice where anger and self-reproach were mingled. "If he misled me, he must answer for it."