Mr. Fortescue

“ After Guiseppe Griscelli’s attempt on his life, I prevailed on Mr. Fortescue never to go outside the park gates unaccompanied; when he went to town, or to Amsterdam, Ramon always went with him, and both were armed. ”

“ Shortly afterward I fell in with Keyworth, and as a matter of course we talked about Mr. Fortescue.
“Do you know anything about him?” I asked.
“Not much. I believe he is rich—and respectable.”
“That is pretty evident, I think.”
“I am not sure. A man who spends a good deal of money is presumably rich; but it by no means follows that he is respectable. There are such people in the world as successful rogues and wealthy swindlers. Not that I think Mr. Fortescue is either one or the other. ”

“ It remained to be proved, he said, that Griscelli was a burglar, and his death accidental. And even burglars had their rights. The law assumed them to be innocent until they were proved to be guilty, and it could be permitted neither to Mr. Fortescue nor to any other man to take people’s lives, merely because he suspected them of an intention to come in by the window instead of the door. By what right, he asked, did Mr. Fortescue place on his window an appliance as dangerous as forked lightning, and as deadly as dynamite? ”

“ You mean Ramon.”
“No, I don’t; I mean Rumun,” returned Tawney, doggedly. “I thought it was an uncommon rum name, and I asked Jim twice—he calls at the kennels sometimes—I asked him twice, and he said he was cock sure it was Rumun.”
“Rumun let it be then. Altogether, this Mr. Fortescue seems to be rather a mysterious personage.”
“You are right there, Mr. Bacon, he is. I only wish I was half as mysterious. Why, he must be worth thousands upon thousands. And he spends his money like a gentleman, he does—thinks less of a sovereign than you think of a bob. ”

“ He looks after everything, and an uncommon sharp domo he is, too, Jim says. Nobody can do him a penny piece. And then there is Mr. Fortescue’s body-servant; he’s a dark man, with a big scar on one cheek, and rings in his ears. ”

“ E. B. K. Fortescue, Provost of the Episcopal Cathedral at Perth, Mr. Fortescue first adopted the Royal Navy as a career. In 1870, however, he secured an appointment as assistant librarian at the British Museum. He was made superintendent of the Reading Room in 1884, and soon became very popular among the frequenters of the room owing to his courtesy to readers and the cheerful alacrity with which he helped them in their researches. It was the inquiries of readers which suggested to him the compilation in non-official hours of his first subject index. ”

“ Keyworth—he was at the kennels only yesterday—asked me the very same question. He thought Jim Rawlings might ha’ told me something. But bless you, Jim knows no more than anybody else. All as he can tell is as Mr. Fortescue sometimes goes to London, that he is uncommon fond of hosses, and either rides or drives tandem nearly every day, and has ordered a slap-up four-in-hand drag. And he has got a ’boratory and no end o’ chemicals and stuff, and electric machines, and all sorts o’ gimcracks.”
“Is there a Mrs. Fortescue?”
“Not as I knows on. There is not a woman in the house, except servants.” ”

“ But unhappily he suffers from an enlarged aorta and it is impossible for him to take his place in our line of defences, though that impossibility has caused him the sorrow of his life. It happens, however, that Nature has blessed Mr. Fortescue with abundant gifts while denying him his health, and in the pages of that work of reference known as 'Who's Who'--pages that I fear few among you will ever adorn--may be found the distinguished name of the Honourable Howard Fortescue in connection with notable achievements. For Mr. Fortescue is a votary of the Muses. ”

“ In fact, he will give himself no rest at all until he has seen you."
"Do you know why?"
"I haven't the least idea. Perhaps you know, Mr. Fortescue."
"How should I know?"
"Did you not send the Earl a letter when you were here last? I remember writing an answer at his dictation. Now, whatever that letter of yours contained, I should imagine would be the reason of his wishing to see you now."
At this moment Sir Lawrence Taylor entered, and Mr. Milroy introduced Mr. Fortescue to him.
"The earl wishes to see you at once, Mr. Fortescue. It was quite against my judgment that he should see any one. ”

“ Fortescue, I owe my warmest acknowledgments to Mary, Lady Ilchester, and her son, for the permission to examine some of the papers of Henry Fox; a character of great interest, whose life is yet to be written. But I hope that this will soon be presented by Lord Ilchester, whose capacity for such work is already proved. I render my sincere thanks both to him and to his mother; but my dedication, written long before I had access to the Holland House papers, must remain unchanged; for without Mr. Fortescue's family collection of papers at Dropmore this book could never have been begun. ”

“ The man who goes to law surrenders his liberty of action and becomes the sport of chicaning lawyers and hair-splitting judges. I would rather lose a hundred thousand pounds!”
Mr. Fortescue passed the remainder of the day at his desk, writing and arranging his papers. The next morning I heard, without surprise, that he and Ramon were going abroad. ”

“ Sometimes Ramon gave us an exhibition of his skill as a gaucho. One of the wildest of the horses would be let loose in the park, and the old soldier, armed with a lasso and mounted on an animal trained by himself, and equipped with a South American saddle, would follow and try to “rope” the runaway, Mr. Fortescue, Rawlings, and myself riding after him. It was “good fun,” but I fancy Mr. Fortescue regarded this sport, as he regarded hunting, less as an amusement than as a means of keeping him in good health and condition. ”

“ Fortescue got in and sat down in the fourth seat, facing Beatrix.
And Joe got his order to drive on towards Blackville.
Scarcely a word was spoken for the first mile. It was Sybil who broke the silence.
"Will my counsel meet me at the court, Mr. Fortescue?" she inquired.
"They are waiting for you, Madam. Mr. Worth has arrived, and is in earnest consultation with Mr. Sheridan," gently replied Mr. Fortescue.
"How long do you think the trial will last, Mr. Fortescue?" tremblingly inquired Sybil.
"It is quite impossible to form an opinion, madam," replied the Sheriff. ”

“ Fortescue.
The farmer had full confidence in his wife, and would have trusted her with anybody, but he did not calculate with anything like exactness the viper he was cherishing in his household.
“You’re looking a little pale and jaded, Mr. Fortescue,” said he. “Leastways, it strikes me so—​I hope I’m mistaken, sir.”
“I’m tolerably well, thank you,” returned the visitor. “But I could not sleep well last night;” here he glanced at Patty.
“That be a bad job,” cried Ashbrook. “When a man can’t sleep there must be summat the matter wi’ him.” ”

“ Fortescue; if you aint out of this house by to-night’s dusk or afore then, I’ll tell Mr. Ashbrook, and he’ll pitch ’ee out; aye, and I’ll help ’im, too. D’ye see this arm? it’s bigger than your’n, and it’s stronger than your’n, and it’s thrashed a better man than you, for all your fine beard and cloth clothes and women’s scents.”
Mr. Fortescue was perfectly unmoved. He looked languidly at the speaker, and said, carelessly—
“You are a brave champion, I admit; but you are a silly girl, nevertheless—​a very silly girl. I have no intention of acting badly towards your mistress ”

“ As the horses, without exception, were of the right sort, most of them perfect hunters, and it was known that Mr. Fortescue would not have an unsound or vicious animal in his stables, they fetched high prices. The sale brought me over six thousand pounds. Two-thirds of this I put out at interest on good security; with the remainder I bought a house and practice in a part of the county as to which I will merely observe that it is pleasantly situated and within reach of three packs of hounds. The greater part of the year I work hard at my profession ”

“ When I went outside, the horses were waiting in the patio, each of them held by a black groom. Everything was in order. A cobija was strapped behind either saddle, both of which were furnished with holsters and bags.
“I have had some tasajo (dried beef) put in the saddle-bags, as much as will keep you going three or four days,” said Señor Carera. “You won’t find many hotels on the road. And you will want a sword, Mr. Fortescue. Do me the favor to accept this as a souvenir of our friendship. It is a fine Toledo blade, with a history. ”

“ Fortescue made me keen to know more; but as the cryptographic narrative did not begin at the beginning, he proposed that I should write this, as also any other missing parts, to his dictation.
“Who knows that you may not make a book of it?” he said.
“Do you think I am intelligent enough?” I asked, resentfully; for his uncomplimentary references to my mental capacity were still rankling in my mind.
“I should hope so. Everybody writes in these days. Don’t worry yourself on that score, my dear Mr. Bacon. Even though you may write a book, nobody will accuse you of being exceptionally intelligent.” ”

“ To prevent any of the maids being “shocked,” I told Ramon (who acted as his master’s body servant) to connect the battery every night and disconnect it every morning. From time to time, moreover, I overhauled the apparatus to see that it was in good working order, and kept up its strength by occasionally recharging the cells.
Once, when I was doing this, Mr. Fortescue said, laughingly: “I don’t think it is any use, Bacon; Griscelli won’t come in that way. If, as some people say, it is the unexpected that happens, it is the expected that does not happen.” ”

“ Rawlings has got a fine place, he has that.”
“I am surprised he should have left the kennels, though. He loses his chance of ever becoming huntsman.”
“He is as good as that now, sir. He had a present of fifty pounds to start with, gets as many shillings a week and all found, and has the entire management of the stables, and with a gentleman like Mr. Fortescue there’ll be some nice pickings.”
“Very likely. But why does Mr. Fortescue want a pilot? He rides well, and his horses seem to know their business.”
“He won’t have any as doesn’t. Yes, he rides uncommon well for an aged man, does Mr. ”

“ The post was obviously quite out of the question, and no Spanish creole could land at any port held by the Royalists without the almost certainty of being promptly strangled or shot. “An Englishman, however—especially an Englishman who had fought under Wellington in Spain—might undertake the mission with comparative impunity,” said Señor Moreña.
“I understand perfectly,” I answered. “I have to go in the character of an ordinary travelling Englishman, and act as an emissary of the insurgent junta. But if my true character is detected, what then?”
“That is not at all likely, Mr. Fortescue.” ”

“ They put on more speed; so did we. Then came loud shouts of “Halte!” These producing no effect, several pistol shots were fired.
“Dios mio!” said Carmen; “they will rouse the camp, and the road will be barred. Look here, Fortescue; about two miles farther on is an open glade which we have to cross, and which the fellows must also cross if they either meet or intercept us. The trail to the left leads to the llanos. It runs between high banks, and is so narrow that one resolute man may stop a dozen. If any of the gauchos get there before us we are lost. Your horse is the fleetest. ”

“ Are you not grateful, señor Fortescue?”
“No; why should I be grateful for a death more terrible than hanging. Kill us at once, and have done with it. You are a disgrace to the noble profession of arms, general, and the time will come—”
“Another word, and I will throw you to the hounds without further parley,” broke in Griscelli, savagely.
“Better keep quiet; there is nothing to be gained by roiling him,” whispered Carmen. ”

“ Señor Fortescue was a prisoner on parole when the general saw him. I believe Griscelli obtained his parole and took him to the quebrada for no other purpose than to compromise him with the patriots. And that I, who have killed more than a hundred Spaniards with my own hand, should be suspected of deserting to the enemy is too monstrous for belief.”
“Of course, it is an absurd mistake. Appearances are certainly rather against us—at any rate, against me; but a word of explanation will put the matter right. Let us go to the camp at once and have it out.” ”

“ Mr. Barclay too, was much confused; and Beatrice was greatly relieved when Mrs. Fortescue turned the conversation. She had long remarked to herself, there was a mystery about Mr. Barclay which she could not understand. There was, at times, a reserve she attributed to pride. If not well born, he was quite au fait in all the usages of well–bred society. He never spoke of his family, but Mrs. Fortescue once asked him if he had any sisters, when he replied, "Two, such as any brother might be proud of;" ”

“ A group of people were gathered on the wharf to see the steamer come in.
'Why, there are the Fortescues—father, mother, and daughters,' Mrs. Dean exclaimed, 'Captain Armstrong and Mr. Fitzwarren. One cannot get out of London.'
A moment later they were exchanging greetings on the wharf. The Fortescues had arrived that morning in a postcarriage from Milan. Captain Armstrong and Fitzwarren had got in an hour before by diligence from Como. Both parties were going down by the boat to Lucerne.
'It is too hot for anything in Italy,' Mrs. Fortescue said ”

“ Fortescue for an indefinite period, yet left him at liberty to dismiss me at a moment’s notice; and if he went on living, I might have to stay at Kingscote till I was old and gray. All the same, the position was a good one. I had four hundred a year (the price at which I had modestly appraised my services) , free quarters, a pleasant life, and lots of hunting—all I could wish for, in fact; and what can a man have more? ”