SELF-RAISED: OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 35, 11 February 1891, Page 6

SELF-RAISED: OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

sequel to "ishmael, or in the depths:

CHAPTER XLL ARREST OF LORD VINCENT AND FAUSTINA. Our plots fall short like darts that rash hands throw With an ill aim that have so far to go, Xor can we lonrr discovery prevent. We deal too much among the innocent. Howard. Lord Vincent was at Castle Cragg. Unable to absent himself long from the syren who was the evil genius of his life, he had come down on a quieb visit bo her. A very quiet visit it was, for he affected jealously to guard the honour of one who in truth had no honour to lose. The guilty who have much to conceal are often more discreet than the innocent whohave nothing to fear. Mrs MaeDonald was still at the castle, playing propriety to bhe beauty. A very complacent person was Mrs MaeDonald. .This precaution deceived no one. The neighbouring gentry rightly estimated the domestic life ab Castle Cragg, and the character of its inmates, and refrained from calling there. This avoidance of her society by the country families galled Faustina. ' Whab do bhey mean by ib ?' she said to herself. ' I am the Honourable Mrs Dugald Ah ! they think I have lost myself" Ah ! they shall know bebber when they see me the Viscountess Vincent, and afterwards, no one know how soon, Countess of Hurstmonceux and Marchioness of Banff! del I what a difference that will make !'

And Faustina consoled hei-self with anbicipabions of a brilliant future, in which she Bhould reign as a queen over those scornful prudes. Bub Faustina reckoned without Nemesis, her creditor. And Nemesis was at bhe door. Ib was a wild night. The snowstorm thab had been threatening all day long came down like avalanches whirled before the northern blast. Ib was a night in which no one would willingly go abroad; when everyone keenly appreciated the comforts of shelcer.

Very comfortable on this evening was Mrs boudoir. The crimson carpet and crimson curtains glowed ruddy red in bhe lamplighb and firelight. Tho thundering dash of the sea upon the castle rock below came, softened into a soothing lullaby, to bhis bower of beauty. Lord Vincenb and Mrs Dugald were seabed ab an eleganb and luxurious libble supper thab would have satisfied the most fastidious and dainty epicure. Three courses had been removed. The fourth— the dessert—was on the table. Rare flowers bloomed in costly vases ; ripe fruits blushed in gilded baskets ; rich wines sparkled in anbique flasks. On one side of the table Fausbina reclined gracefully in a crimson velvet easy-chair. The siren was beautifully dressed in the pure white thab her sin-smooted soul, in ibs falsehood, affected. Her robe was of shining white satin, brimmed wibh sofb whibe swan's down; fine white lace delicately veiled her snowy neck and arms ; white lilies of bhe valley wreathed her raven hair and resbed on her rounded bosom. She looked ' divinely,' as her fool of a lover assured her. Yes, she looked •divinely,' as bhe devil did when he appeared in bhe image of an angel, of lighb. How did she dare, bhat guilty and audacious woman, bo assume a dress bhab symbolised puriby and humiliby? Lord Vincenb lolled in bhe other armchair on the opposite side of the table, and from under his languid and half-tipsy eyelids cast passionate glances upon her. Mrs MaeDonald had withdrawn her chair from bhe table and nearer bhe fire, and had fallen asleep, or complacently affected to do so ; for Mrs MaeDonald was the soul of complacency ! Mrs Dugald declared thab she was a love of an old lady. ' Whab a nighb ib is outside ! It is good to be here,' said Faustina, baking a bunch of ripe grapes and turning towards the * Yes, my angel,' answered the viscounb, drowsily, regarding her from under his eyelids. '"Whab a bore it is !' * Whab is a bore ?' inquired Fausbina, pubting a ripe grape bebvveen her plump lips. , * Thab we are nob married, my sweeb !

' Eh Men ! we soon shall be !' 1 Then why do you keep me ab such a distance, my angel ?' ' Ah bah ! think of something else !' The viscounb poured oub a bumper of rich porb and raised it to hi 3 lips. •Put thab wine down, Malcolm, you have had boo much already !' He obeyed her and seb bhe glass untasbed on bhe board. 'Thab's a duck! now you shall have some grapes !' she said, and, with prebby, childish grace, she began to pick the ripest grapes from her bunch, and to pub bhem one by one into bhe noble noodle's mouth. • It is nice to be here, is ib nob, mon ami ?' B he smilingly asked. «Yes, sweet angel ! he sighed, languishin fly, ' And when one bhinks of bhe black dark and sharp cold and deep snow oubside, and of travellers losing their way, and getting buried in bhe drifts and freezing bo deabh, one feels so happy and comfortable in this warm, light room, eating fruit and drinking wine !' . 'Yes, sweet angel! bub you wont let me have any more wine !' said bhe viscounb, drowsily. ' You have had more than enough ! she smiled, pubbing a ripe grape bebween his gaping lips. ' Jusb as you say, sweeblove ! You know lam your slave ! You do with me as you like !' he answered, sbupidly. •Now,' said Fausbina, her thoughts still running on the contrast between the storm without and the comfort wibhin, 'whab in this world would bempt onebo leave bhe house on such a nighb as bhis ?' • Nothing in bhis world, sweeb love !' • Malcolm, I do nob bhink I would go oub to-night, even in a close carriage, for a thousand pounds.' ' No, my angel, nor for ten thousand Bhould you go !' ■ «I like to think of bhe people that are out in the cold, though ! Ib doubles my enjoymenb,' she said, as she pub anobher fine grape in his moubh. • Yes, sweeb love !' he answered, drowsily closing'his fingers on her hand, and drawing her forcibly towards him. 'Ah ! stop !' she exclaimed, under her breath, and directing his attention to Mrs MaeDonald, who sab with her eyes closed in the easy-chair by the chimney-corner. . «She is asleep !' said the viscounb in a hoarpe whisper. ...... j ' No ! no ! you are nob certain !' whispered Faustina. . . , • Come ! come! sib close bo mc ! exclaimed ilie viscounb, wibh fierce vehemence, drawing her bowards him. , , " You forgeb yourself ! You are drunk, Malcolm!' cried Fausbina, resisting his »fTorts. ~ At bhab momenb bbere came a rap ab tne door; ib was a soft, low bap, yeb ib started the viscounb like a bhunderclap. lie dropped the hand of Fausbina, and demanded, angrily : ' Who bhe fiend is bhere ?' There was no answer, but the rap was gently repeated.

'Speak, then, can't you? Who bhe demon are you ?' he cried fiercely. • Wby don'b you tell them to come in? said Faustina, in a displeased tone. ' Come in, then, set fire to you, whoever you are !' exclaimed Lord Vincent. The door was opened and old Cuthbert softly entered. ; ' What the fiend do you want, sir ? haughtily demanded the viscount; for he llad"labely taken a greab dislike to old Cuthbert, as well as to every respectable servant in bhe house, whose humble integrity was a tacib rebuke to his own dishonour ; and leasb of all would he endure the intrusion of one of them upon his interviews wibh Faustina. "' Whab brings you here, I say ?' he repeated. 'An it please your lairdship, there are bwa poleecemen downstairs, wi' a posse at their tails,' answered the old man, bowing humbly. ' Whab is their business here?' 'I dinna ken, me laird.' 'Something aboub bhat stupid murder, I suppose !' Faustina started; she was evidently thinking of Katie. ] ' I dinna think itis onybhing connected wi Ailsie's death, me laird !' •Whab bhen? Whab mare's nesb have bhey found now, the stupid Dogberries ?' 'I canna tak' upon mesel' to say, me laird, bub bhey are asking for yer lairdship and Mistress Dugald.' 'Me!' This exclamation came from Fausbina, who burned deadly pale, and stared wildly ab the speaker. Indeed, her eyes and her face could be compared to nothing else bub two great black balls set in a marble mask. ' Me !' • Ay, mem, c'en just for yersel, and na ither, forbye ib be his lairdship sel',' replied the old man, bowing with outward humility and secret satisfaction, for Cuthbert cordially disapproved and disliked Faustina. ' del ! I see how it is ! The dead body of bhe black woman has been cast up by the sea, as I knew ib would be ! and we shall all be guillotined—no !—hanged, hanged by the neck till we are dead !' she cried, wringing and twisbing her hands in deadly terror. 'I wish bo Heaven you may be, for an incorrigible fool !' muttered bhe viscount, in irrepressible anger; for, you see, his passion tor bhis woman was nob of a nature to preclude bhe possibility of his falling into a furious passion wibh her upon occasions like this. ' What madness has seized you now?' he continued. • There is no danger ; you have no cause to be alarmed. They have probably come about the murder of Ailsie Dunbar, Satan burn them I—Cuthberb, whab are you lingering here for? Co, see whab ib is !' The old man bowed lowly, and left bhe room. ' Fausbina!' exclaimed the viscount, as soon as Cuthbert had gone, 'your folly will be the ruin of us both some day—will lead bo discovery. Can you nob lob bhe black woman, as you call her, resb? Why will you be so indiscreeb ?' «Oh, del ! Ib is you who are indiscreet now,' exclaimed Faustina, clasping her hands and glancimr towards Mrs MacDonald, whose sleep seemed boo deep to be real. .. , ' Try to govern yourself, then \ said the viscounb. ' Ah, how can I, when I am quaking like a jelly with my terror ?' • You should nob undertake dangerous crimes unless you possess heroic courage,' eaid bhe viscounb. ' Mon Die !ib is you who will ruin us f cried Faustina, stamping her small feeb ana pointing to Mrs MaeDonald. The viscounb laughed. Ab bins moment old Cuthberb re en be red the room. ' Well ?' answered Lord Vincenb. •If you please, me laird, they say they maun see yer lairdship's sel' and the leddy,' said bhe old man. ' Whab bhe blaze 3do they wanb with us ? Was ever anybhingso insolently persistent? Go and tell the fellows bhab I cannob and will nob see bhem bo-night. And if bhey are disappoinbed, ib will serve bhem righb for coming oub on such a nighb as bins. They musb have been mail !' 'Verra weel, me laird. I'll bell bhem,' said bhe old man, departing. • Compose yourself, Fausbina ! bhis business has no reference to you. When they asked for us, they merely wished to see us to pub somo questions aboub the case of Ailsie Dunbar,' said bhe viscounb, who had nob the elighbest suspicion that there was, or could be, a warranb oub for his arrest. He fancied himself entirely secure in his crime. He believed the negroes to be safe beyond the sea; sold into slavery in a land of which they did nob even undersband bhe language, and from which bhey never would be allowed bo return. He believed Claudia to bo crushed under the conspiracy he had formed against her. He believed her father to be far away. And so he considerad himself safe from all interruption of his iniquities, Whab was bhere, in facb, ten arouse his fears ? What had he bo dread ?

Nothing, he thought. And he wa3 still laughing ab Fausbina's weakness as he stood wibh his back to the fire when once more the door and old Cuthbert re-appeared, wearing a frightened countenance and followed by two policemen. Faustina shrieked with terror, covered her face with her hands and shrunk back in her chair. Mrs MaeDonald, aroused by the shriek from her real or feigned sleep, opened her eye 3 and stared. But Lord Vincent, astonished and indignant, strode towards the door and demanded of his old servant: « Whab means bhis intrusion, sir ? Did I nob order you bo say to these persons thab I would not see them to-night? How dare you bring bhem to this room ?' "Deed, me laird, I could na help ib ! When I gi'e bhem yer lairdship's message they c'en just bid me gang before, and sac bhey followed me up, pushing me to the right and lefb ab their am will,' said Cubhbert, sullenly. Lord Vincenb turned to the intruders, and haughtily demanded : ' Whab is bhe meaning of this conduct, fellows 1 Were you not told thab I would nob see you to-night? How dare you push yourselves up inbo bhe private apartmenb of these ladies ? Leave the room and the house instantly.' • We will leave the room and tbe house, my lord ; but, when we do so, you and bhab lady musb go wibh us,'said bhe taller of the bwo policemen, advancing inbo the room. « What ?' demanded the viscounb. • Mon Died ! !' shrieked Faustina. • Gracious, goodness, me, alive !' exclaimed Mrs MaeDonald. •You are wanted,' answered bhe policeman, whose name by bhe way was Mcßae. • Whab do you mean, fellow ? Leave the room, I say, before I order my servanb to kick you oub !' fiercely cried the viscounb. The policeman immediately stepped up to the side of his lordship and laid his hand upon his shoulder, saying : « Malcolm Dugald, Lord Vincent, you are my prisoner 1' 'Your prisoner, you scoundrel! hands off, I say !' cried the viscount. • I arrest you, in bhe queen's name, for bhe abduction and selling into slavery of three negroes, Catherine Mortimer* James Mortimer and Sarah Sims,' said Mcßae, taking a firmer hold of his captive. ' Leb go my collar, you infernal villain ! and show me your warranb !' bhundered Lord Vincent, wrenching himself from the grasp of the policeman. Mcßae camly produced his warranb and placed it in the hands of the viscounb. Lord Vincent, astonished, terrified bub defiant, held bhe document up before his dazed eyes and tried to read it. Bub though he held ib up wibh both hands close

to his blanched face, it trembled so in his grasp thab he could nob trace the characters written upon it. While he held ib thus, Mcßae slyly drew something from his own pocket, approached the viscount and — Click ! Click ! The handcuffs were fastened upon the wrists of his lordship ! Down fluttered the warranb from the relaxed fingers of the viscount, while his face, exposed to view, seemed set in a deadly panic as ho gazed upon his captor. ' Look to him, Ross,' said Mcßae, addressing his comrade and pointing to the viscount. Then he stepped up to the cowering form of Mrs Dugalcl, who had shrunk bo the very back of her deep velvet chair. Laying his hand upon her shoulder, he said : 'Faustina Dugald, you are my prisoner ! I arrest you, in the queen's name, upon tbe charge of having aided and abetted Lord Vincent in the abduction of—' ' Ah ! del ! let me go, you horrid brute !' cried Faustina, suddenly finding her voice, interrupting the officer with her shrieks and'springing from under bis-hand. She rushed towards the passage door wibh the blind impulse of flight and bore ib open, only to find herself stopped by a posse of constables drawn up wibhoub. They had come in force strong enough to overcome resistance if necessary. • Give ycurself up, Fanstina ! It is bhe best bhing you can do,' said the viscount. She stared wildly like a hunted hare, and then turned and made a dash towards her bedroom door, bub only to be caught in the aims of Mcßae, who stepped suddenly thither to inberrupb her mad ttighb. He held her firmly with one hand while with the other he drew something quietly from his pocket and suddenly snapped the handcuffs upon her wrists. She burst into passionate tears. ' I am sorry to do bhis, madam, but you forced me to it,' said Mcßae, gravely and kindly. She was a pitiable object as she stood there, guilty, degraded and powerless. Her wreath "of lilies had been knocked off and trampled under foot in the scuffle. The bouquet of lilies that rested on her bosom was crushed. Her lace and swan's down trimmings' were torn. Her hair was dishevelled, her face palo, and her eyes streaming wibh tears. ' Why do you make me a prisones?' she sobbed. 'I told you, madam, ib was for your share in the abduction of—' ' Abduction ! abduction ! I don'b know what you mean by abduction. I did not kill the black negro person ! I did not pub her into the sea ! Ib was Lord Vincenb. I never helped him. No, nob ab all. He would nob let me. And if ho would, 1 should nob havo dono ib. He did ib all himself. And ib is cruel to make a poor, small, libble woman suffer for whab a big man does !' she cried, amidst piteous tears and sobs. • Faustina, Faustina ! whab are you saying?'exclaimed the viscount, in consternation. ' The truth, my lord viscount; you know it ! The truth, messieurs, I assure you ! Lord Vincenb killed the black negro woman and threw her inbo the sea ! And I had nothing to do with it! 1 did nob even know ib until all was over ! And Lwill tell you all about ib, messieurs, if you will take these dreadful things off my poor, little, small wrists and let me go. It is cruel, messieurs, bo fetter and. imprison a poor, email, little woman for a big man's crime ! Let me go free, messieurs, and I will tell you all aboub him,' pleaded this weeping creature, who for the sake of her own liberty was willing to give her lover up to death. ' Bub you need nob be surprised ab bhis ; for I told you long ago that there can be no honour, faith or love among thieves, let the biographers of the Jack Shepherds and Nancy Sykeses say whab bhey please bo bhe contrary. ' Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?' The criminal is bhe mosb solitary creature upon earth : he has no ties—for the ties of guilb are nothing ; they snap at the lightest breath of self-interest. Faustina's plea dismayed her accomplice and disgusted her captor. 'Madam,' said the latter, 'you had better hold your peace ! Your words criminate yourself as well as Lord Vincenb.' ' How do bhey criminate my.self ? Oh, mon Dieu I whab shall I do, since even my denials are made to toll against me !' she whimpered, wringing her hands. 'Faustina, be tileub I'said bhe viscounb, sternly. •My lord, we are ready to remove you,' said Mcßae, advancing towards the viscount. ' Where do you intend bo take us, bhen ?' demanded bhe viscounb, with a blush of shame, though with a tone of defiance. ' To bhe police sbation-house, for bhe night. In bhe morning you will be broughb before the magistrate for examination.' 'To your beasb of a sbation-house?' indignanbly exclaimed the viscount. The policeman bowed. ' Ah ! Mon Dieu ! will he take us out in bhe snow to-night? I cannob go ! I should freeze bo death ! I should perish in bhe sborm ! It would be murder !' cried Faustina, wringing her hands. ' You see ib would be barbarous bo drag a lady oub in bhis horrible vveabher ! Can you not leave her here for bhe nighb? and if you consider yourself responsible for her safe-keeping, can you not remain and guard her?' inquired his lordship, speaking, however, quite as much, or even more, for himself than for Faustina; for he was well aware thab if she were left he would be also left. ' My lord, it is impossible. I could nob be answerable for my prisoner's safeby if she were permitted to remain here all night, no matter how well guarded she might bo. It was only a few weeks ago that a prisoner—a young girl she was, charged with poisoning—persuaded me to hold her in custody through the night in her own chamber. And I did so, placing a policeman on guard on the outside of each door. And yeb, during bhe night, she eucceeded in making her escape down a secreb sbaircase, and through a subterranean passage, and gob clear off. Ib was in jusb such an ancienb place as bhis, my lord. I came near losing my office by ib, and I made a resolution then, never to trust a prisoner of mine oub of my sight until I gob him or her, as the case mighb be, safe under lock and key in my station-house.' ' But, mon Dieu ! onon Dieu ! what will become of me ?' wailed Faustina. • Ib will kill her ! She is very bender !' urged Lord Vincenb. 4 Your lordship may order your own close carriage for her use. She may wrap up in all hor furs ! And though she may still suffer a good deal from the long, cold ride, she will nob freeze, I assure you,' said Mcßae. ' Ah, bub whab for do you taka me at all ? I say I did nob kill bhe black negro woman; Lord Vincenb did ib.' Madam, neither you nor my lord are accused of murder,' said Mcßae; 'Ah ! whab, bhen, do you accuse us of?' ' You will hear ab bhe magistrate's office, madam,' said the policeman, losing patience. 'I say, what —whabever ib was, Lord Vincenb did ib !' ' Fausbina, be silent! If no remnant of good faith leads you to spare me, spare yourself at least!' said the viscounb. • Will you order your carriage ?' said McRae. ' Cubhbert, go down and have the close carriage brought around. Put the leopard skins inside and bottles of hob water,' ordered the viscounb. • Madam, you had better summon j-our maid, and have your wrappings brought to you, and anything else you may wish to take with yon,' advised Mcßae. • Oh, mon Dieu ! mon Dieu ! must I leave

bhis beautiful place bo go bo a horrid prison. Oh, mon Dienl mon Dieul wepb Fausbina, wringing her hands. . ' Shall I ring for your maii ? inquired Mcßae. . . . ■ . ' No, you monster !' shrieked Fausbina. 'Do you bhink I wanb Desiree, whose ears 1 boxed bhis morning, come here bo see me marched off bo orison ? She would be glad, the beasb ! she would laugh in her s eeve, the wretch ! Madame MaeDonald, will you get my bonneb and sables ?' she said, burning bo her companion. ... , ' Yes, my dear, suffering angel, 1 will ao all bhat you wish me bo do. Ah ! you remind me of your country-woman, yueen Marie Anboinebbe, when she was dragged from bhe luxurious Tuilleries to the dreary Temple,' whined sympabhising complacency. , , „» ' Grande Ciel ! woman, do nob_speak ot her ! She was guillotined.!' cried Faustina, with a shiver of terror. 'But you shall nob be, my dear, you shall come oub clear ; and bhey who have accused you shall be made ashamed ! saia Mrs MaeDonald, as she passed inbo Faustina's dressing-room. Presently she came forth, bearing a quilbed silk bonneb, a velveb sack, a sable cloak, a muff and cuffs and warm gloves and fur-lined boots, and what not; all oi which sho helped Faustina bo pub on. While she was kneeling on bhe floor and putting on the beauty's boobs she eaid : ' I bhink some of bhese men might have the modesty to burn bheir backs, if bhey canna leave bhe room. Ah, my poor dear, now you remind me of my own countrywoman, poor Queen Mary Stuart, when she complained on the scaffold of having to undress before so many men. Now you have bo dress before so many. ' Grande Dieu ! you will be the death ot me, with your guillotined women. You burn my flesh to jelly, and my bones to gristle, and my heart to water !' cried Fausbina, wibh a dreadful shudder, as she arose bo her feeb, quibe ready as far as dress was concerned, for her journey. • Will my poor, dear, suffering angel havo anybhing else ?' said Mrs MaeDonald. • Yes. Oh, dear ! thab I should have to leave this sweet place for a nasty prison. Yes, you may geb together all bhefruib and nuts and cake and wine, and don'b forgeb bhe bonbons, and have bhem pub in bhe carriage, for I don'b believe I could geb such things in the horrid prison. And, stay—Dub me a white wrapper and a lace cap in my little nighb bag ; and, sbop—pub bhab lasb novel of Paul-du-Koch in also. I will be as comforbable as I can make myself in bhab beasb of a place !' ♦Blessed angel ! whab a mind you have ! whab philosophy! whab fortitude ! You now remind me of your illustrious compatriob, Madame Roland, who, when dragged from her eleganb home to bhe dreadful prison of the Concierge, and knowing bhat in a few days-she musb be dragged from that to the scafford ; yet sent for her books, her music, her birds and her flowers, that she might make the mosb of the time left,' said Mrs MaeDonald, as she zealously gathered up bhe desired articles. '• Tout les Diables ! I shall dash my brains oub if you speak to me of another headless woman !' shrieked Faustina, stopping bobh her ears. Old Cuthberb pub his head in bo say bhab the carriage was ready. Lord Vincenb ordered him to load himself with the luxuries thab had been provided for Fausbina, and pub bhem inbo bhe carriage, and bhen in reburning bo fetch him his over shoes, cloak and hab. All of theso orders were duly obeyed. When all was ready, Lord Vincent shook hands wibh Mrs MaeDonald, saying : ' We musb all bow to the law, madam ; but this is only a passing cloud. We shall be liberated soon. And I hope we shall find you here when we return.' •Ye may be sure of thab, my lord. And may Heaven granb you a speedy deliverance,'she answered. : Fausbina'* nexti came up to "bid her goodbye. ' Good-bye! Good-bye 1 my sweet suffering angel. BearSipurideryourafflictiops: fortify your mind by thinking of the martyred queens and heroines who have preceded you,' said Mrs MaeDonald, weeping as Bhe embraced Fausbina. • Grande Dieu ! I shall think only of myself and my deliverance !' said Faustina, breaking from her. They went downstairs, marshalled by the policemen. They entered the carriage, bwo policemen riding inside wibh bhem, and one on bhe box beside bhe coachman. And bhus bhey commenced their stormy nighb journey. ( To be Continued.)