CHAPTER CXVII.

AN EXPLANATORY CONVERSATION.

Three days had elapsed since that eventful evening on which so many

exciting incidents occurred; and the scene now changes to the dwelling

of Dr. Lascelles in Grafton Street.

It was about four in the afternoon and the physician was seated in his

study, Lord Ellingham being his companion at the time.

“At length, my dear doctor,” said the nobleman, “you have found leisure

to accord me an hour to give me those explanations which my afflicted

brother feels himself incapable to enter into at present. The loss of

Tamar, whose funeral is to take place the day after to-morrow, has

proved almost a mortal blow to his generous heart: but the kindness of

Mr. de Medina and Esther, who insisted upon having him with them at

Finchley, must in some degree mitigate his grief. And yet, alas! that

bereaved father and mourning sister have themselves such bitter need of

solace! Just heaven! it was a frightful catastrophe!”

“And the murderer perished in a frightful manner,” added the physician.

“But now that the excitement created by these appalling events, and

by all the other circumstances which Old Death’s crime was the means

of bringing to light, has somewhat subsided,--not only in respect to

the public, but likewise with regard to the minds of those persons

privately interested in the whole affair,--we may venture to converse

upon the topic in the hope of approaching it with some degree of

calmness. In the first place, my dear Arthur, tell me how you fared

with the Home Secretary--I mean, give me the details of your visit to

that Minister.”

“On my arrival at his official residence,” said the Earl, “on the

dreadful night in question, I sent up my card with a message soliciting

an immediate and private audience; and the favour was instantaneously

granted. In as succinct a manner as possible, I explained to the

Minister all that it was necessary to communicate. I told him that

Thomas Rainford, who had been doomed to death and publicly executed,

had survived the frightful ordeal of the scaffold; but relative

to the means or the agents of his resuscitation, I proffered no

explanation--and none was demanded of me. The Minister instantly

recollected the circumstance of having signed a full and complete

pardon on behalf of Rainford, some weeks ago, and at the intercession

of the King; and, doubtless knowing well the wayward character of

George the Fourth, he perhaps thought that the less he enquired into

the business, the better. I then gave him as much information relative

to the recent proceedings of Rainford as was known to myself; and

when the Minister heard that he was the individual who had played so

mysterious a part in the affair of Torrens, his brow lowered. But

I immediately showed him the document signed by George the Fourth;

and I gave him to understand that Rainford was acquainted with such

proofs of the King’s profligacy and unprincipled character, as would

positively compromise the safety of the throne if they were published.

This species of threat I was compelled to hold out, inasmuch as the

Home Secretary seemed inclined to permit matters to take their course

without any interference on his part. But, when he heard that the King

had given that solemn acknowledgment of obligation in order to hush up

some affair of which he was ashamed and likewise seriously alarmed, the

Minister intimated his readiness to do any thing I required to avoid a

scandal that might compromise his royal master. He nevertheless urged

that an immense excitement had already been created in the metropolis,

and which would of course spread to the provinces, by that sudden

discovery that Thomas Rainford had not only escaped the scaffold, but

had actually taken upon himself the functions of a judge in disposing

of the murderers of Sir Henry Courtenay, according to his own caprice

and will. ‘_In fact_,’ said the Minister, ‘_the public will imagine

that Rainford himself was an accomplice in the assassination of the

baronet; and every one will ask what has been done with the two men,

Splint and Pedler, who have thus been spirited away_.’--To this I could

only reply that I was well assured of Rainford’s complete innocence

in respect to the murder of Sir Henry Courtenay; that he had adopted

certain opinions relative to the reformation of criminals, and had

chosen to test his system by applying it to those men; that the men

were no longer in the country, but whither they had been sent I knew

full well Rainford would never divulge to the Government; and that

the Minister must decide between two alternatives--namely, whether he

would dare public opinion in the case, or whether he would have his

royal master seriously compromised. I can assure you, my dear doctor,

that it gave me great pain and was most repugnant to my feelings to be

compelled to hold out any menace of this kind but could I leave a stone

unturned that would serve the interest of my generous half-brother?”

“You already to some extent know the motives which induced Rainford

to return to England instead of proceeding to America, and adopt the

disguise under the cloak of which he broke up Old Death’s gang?” said

the physician, enquiringly.

“I gathered a few rapid and broken details from the Medinas, during

the ride from Finchley to Red Lion Street, on that fatal evening

when Jacob Smith came to the Manor, where I happened to be at the

time, to announce the awful event which had occurred,” replied the

Earl. “But you may readily believe that both Mr. de Medina and Esther

were too profoundly afflicted to be able to give me any very minute

explanations. Moreover, I was myself so terribly excited, and so full

of serious apprehensions----”

“I understand--’twas quite natural,” interrupted the doctor. “But pray

proceed with your narrative of the interview with the Secretary of

State.”

“I have little more to say upon that subject,” observed Lord

Ellingham. “The Minister balanced for some minutes between the

alternatives which I submitted to him, and it was evident that he

felt deeply grieved and chagrined at the consequences of the royal

indiscretions,--indiscretions which had led the King to sign two

important papers, both seriously affecting the proper and legitimate

course of justice. But, in the end, he yielded to the alternative

which was favourable to our wishes; and, placing himself at his desk,

he wrote the order to set Thomas Rainford free, which I delivered to

the Bow Street officers on my return to Red Lion Street shortly after

midnight.”

“It is therefore certain that no further apprehensions need be

entertained on that head?” enquired the physician.

“None,” answered the Earl of Ellingham. “The Coroner’s Inquest,

which sate upon the bodies of Tamar and Benjamin Bones yesterday,

elicited, as you are well aware, the fact that the old man had been

imprisoned by Rainford, and visited first by Esther, and on the last

and fatal occasion by her unfortunate sister, merely with a view to his

reformation and redemption from a course of crime----”

“And, therefore,” added the physician, “public opinion is actually

in favour of Rainford at this moment. But how happened it that Lady

Hatfield was enabled to procure that document which conferred a full

pardon upon him?”

“That woman possesses a most generous--a most noble heart!”

exclaimed the Earl. “The voluptuous monarch sought to render her the

victim of his lust; and it suddenly struck her, when his designs

became unmistakeably apparent, that she might avail herself of the

circumstance to perform an act calculated to exhibit her sincere

friendship for me. She accordingly affected to yield in a certain

measure to his disgusting overtures: she overcame the natural scruples

of a pure soul, so far as to give vague promises and encourage the

King’s passion, in order to obtain from him the document which she

required. And she succeeded. But, on the occasion of that interview

with the King at which he presented her with the precious paper, she

was nearly falling a victim to her generous conduct and to his brutal

violence. An extraordinary combination of circumstances, however,

had led Rainford into the palace on that very evening; and accident

enabled him not only to deliver Georgiana from the power of the King,

but likewise to extort from his Majesty that written promise of deep

obligation which has proved so vitally important to his interests.”

“The entire affair is truly romantic,” observed the doctor. “And now

you wish me to give you in detail an explanation of all Rainford’s late

proceedings?”

“I am already acquainted with much concerning them, and conjecture

enables me to comprehend more,” resumed the nobleman: “at the same

time, I should be pleased to hear a connected account from your lips.”

“It is by no means a disagreeable task for me to narrate incidents

which prove the existence of so many generous traits in the heart of

that man whom I was the means of restoring to life and to the world,”

said Dr. Lascelles; “for since that day on which he opened his eyes

in my laboratory, I have regarded him almost in the light of a son.

I must begin by informing you that Rainford was deeply touched by a

conversation which he had with you, relative to the miseries and crimes

of the poor and ignorant classes of society----”

“That conversation took place in the evening following his

resuscitation,” observed Arthur,--“the same evening on which I captured

Benjamin Bones, as he was ascending from the subterranean.”

“The discourse which yourself and your half-brother had together on

that occasion,” resumed the doctor, “induced him to reflect profoundly

upon the nature of crime--the circumstances which engender, and

afterwards encourage it--and the best modes of producing a reformation.

That train of thought led him to ponder upon other matters, essentially

regarding yourself. For he saw that Benjamin Bones would prove your

most implacable enemy: he knew that old man’s character well--and he

felt assured that he would devise and carry into effect some atrocious

schemes of vengeance against you. These convictions filled Rainford’s

mind with the gloomiest apprehensions, although he contrived to veil

them from you. He trembled lest you should fall into the snares which

that incarnate fiend--God forgive me for speaking ill of the dead--was

certain to spread at your feet; and he resolved to adopt some means

to counteract the effects of that man’s malignant spite. In a word,

he determined, at any sacrifice, to watch over that brother who had

acted so generously and nobly towards him. But not to a soul did he

communicate his ideas, until he had safely embarked, with Tamar,

Jacob Smith, and Charley Watts, on board the American packet-ship at

Havre-de-Grace. Then he revealed his intentions to Tamar; and she

immediately fell into his views--for she knew no will save his own.

The captain of the ship consented, for a reward, to touch at Guernsey;

and there Rainford, his wife, the youth, and the boy, were landed in

the middle of the night. The next morning, your half-brother and Cæsar

appeared in the disguise of blackamoors; and from Saint Peter’s Port,

the capital of the island, they sailed for Weymouth--Tamar with Charley

Watts proceeding by way of Southampton. The rendezvous was London; and

all Rainford’s plans, so far as he could forecast them, were already

arranged. On her arrival in the metropolis, Tamar immediately sent for

her father and sister to the inn at which she alighted; and to them she

communicated her husband’s design. It was of course necessary to keep

the entire scheme concealed from yourself; as it was well known that

you would never rest until you had persuaded your brother to quit the

country again, were you aware of his return. At that time you were not

engaged to Esther; and she had therefore no hesitation in maintaining

this much of duplicity towards you. Subsequently--I mean, after your

engagement together--she felt herself bound still to guard inviolably

a secret that had your welfare as its basis. Well, then, Mr. de Medina

and Esther lent themselves to the project--and cheerfully too, because

they recognised all the importance of allowing Rainford to adopt the

necessary measures to ensure your complete safety. Tamar and Charley

Watts accordingly took up their abode at Finchley Manor, the proper

precautions being taken to enable them to dwell there in the strictest

privacy, and the fidelity of the servants being well assured in respect

to their presence at that house. So far all proceeded satisfactorily;

and in the meantime Rainford, accompanied by Jacob Smith, whom he

named Cæsar, arrived in London. You may conceive my surprise when

one evening, having been informed by my servant that an East Indian

gentleman was waiting to see me in the drawing-room, I proceeded to

that apartment and found myself in the presence of Thomas Rainford! I

did not recognize him at once; but he speedily made himself known to

me; and, when his plans were developed, I readily agreed to aid him

in their accomplishment. As he had expected and indeed calculated, I

had full and complete control over the houses in Red Lion and Turnmill

Streets; and he felt convinced that you would never think of visiting

them. You had purchased them merely to deprive Benjamin Bones of the

power of plunging his victims into the subterranean cells; and you

allowed me the use of the premises for my laboratory. Under all these

circumstances, the house in Red Lion Street was the best suited to

Rainford’s designs; and it was speedily furnished in a suitable manner.

The neighbours believed that a retired East Indian merchant had taken

the place; and therefore no surprise--no excitement was occasioned,

when they perceived that the new tenant had his private carriage

and numerous dependants. But how did Rainford manage to obtain the

assistance of several faithful persons, who were blindly obedient to

his will, and to one of whom--named Wilton--he entrusted his entire

history? They were all poor and deserving persons whom I knew well--men

who had at different times been my patients, and in whom I felt an

interest. Thus, in a very few days, the most complete arrangements were

effected; and just at the moment when Rainford was prepared to commence

operations, and when he had succeeded in tracing the abode of Benjamin

Bones, chance threw him in the way of a certain John Jeffreys, whom

he resolved to render subservient to his purposes in uprooting the

atrocious gang.”

The physician then proceeded to relate the manner in which Rainford

had drawn Jeffreys into his service,--the revelations made to him by

that individual’s unfolding all the dreadful schemes of vengeance

contemplated by Old Death, and directed against the happiness of

the Earl himself,--the projected exhumation of the coffin in Saint

Luke’s church-yard, and the ferocious idea of blinding Lady Hatfield

and Esther de Medina,--the mode in which these diabolical aims were

frustrated by the arrest of all the members of Old Death’s gang,--and

the faithful conduct of Jeffreys. Dr. Lascelles also narrated the

proceedings of Rainford in the difficult affair of Mr. Torrens,--how,

disguised as an old man, and admirably sustaining that character, he

had entrapped Sir Christopher Blunt to the house in Red Lion Street

to preside at the examination of the two prisoners,--and how he (Dr.

Lascelles) had become a party to that transaction,--all of which

particulars are well known to the reader. Finally, the physician made

the Earl acquainted with the nature and the results of the system

of reformation applied to all the members of the gang,--how it had

succeeded in respect to Tidmarsh, the Bunces, Pedler and Splint,--and

how Esther de Medina had deputed her unfortunate sister to visit

Benjamin Bones on that fatal evening which was characterised by a

savage murder!

There was only one point connected with Rainford’s affairs, on which

the Earl and the physician did not touch; and this was the parentage

of little Charley Watts. The doctor was unacquainted with the fact

that Rainford had some years back forcibly violated the person of

Lady Hatfield, and that the issue of this crime was the boy who still

bore the name by which we have just called him. The Earl of Ellingham

naturally veiled the circumstance even from a friend so intimate and

sincere as Lascelles; and though the doctor knew that Lady Hatfield had

been a mother, he also kept this knowledge to himself, and was very far

from suspecting the true history of Charley Watts. Lascelles, it will

be remembered, had made the discovery relative to Georgiana on that

occasion when he attended her in her severe illness, and when he gave

her a soporific, as recorded in the early part of this work: but he had

never mentioned that discovery to a soul;--and the Earl of Ellingham

was as far from supposing that Lady Hatfield’s loss of chastity was

known to the physician, as the physician was from entertaining even the

remotest idea relative to the parentage of the boy.

But Rainford was already aware that this boy was his own son--the issue

of the outrage which he had perpetrated upon Lady Hatfield! Yes--on the

evening before this interview between the Earl of Ellingham and Dr.

Lascelles, the former had so far intruded upon his brother’s profound

grief, as to make to him a revelation which a sense of duty forbade

him to delay. Rainford also learnt, at the same time, that Georgiana

was herself acquainted with the fact of her child being in his

care--placed under his protection as it were by the inscrutable decrees

of Providence! But for the sake of the honour of Lady Hatfield, and of

sparing Rainford from the necessity of giving unpleasant and degrading

explanations to his friends, it had been determined between Lord

Ellingham and himself that the boy should still continue to bear the

name of Watts, and that his real parentage should be unacknowledged--at

least for the present.

In order not to dwell with tedious minuteness upon this portion of our

narrative, we shall briefly state that the funeral of Tamar took place

on the day appointed; and if the tears of heart-felt grief streaming

from the eyes of true mourners can avail for the souls of the departed,

then the spirit of the murdered Jewess must have received ample solace

and full propitiation in those regions to which it had taken wing!

But how deep a gloom had fallen upon the family of Medina;--and

how poignant was the anguish which the bereaved father and sister

experienced for the departed!

Nor less acute was the sorrow of the husband who survived that fair but

prematurely crushed flower of Israel;--for immense was thy love for

her, Tom Rain!