SELF-RAISED; OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 92, 22 April 1891, Page 7

SELF-RAISED; OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

_ SEQUEL TO "ISHMAEL, OR IN TBS ■ DEPTHS."

CHAPTER LI. (Continued).

this arrangemenb with the Messrs Hudson was satisfactorily completed, Ish. maol entered a cab and drove to Scotland Yard. He succeeded in obtaining an immediate interview wibhlnspector Meadows, to whose hands he committed the task of looking up tho German Jew, Ezra Isaacs.

Nexb he drovo to Broad-street, to tho agency of a celebrated line of ocean stearaers. After looking over thoir programme of steamers advertised to sail, and reading the list of passengers booked for each, he found thab ho could engage berths for his whole party in a fine steamer to sail that day fortnight, from Liverpool for New York.

Ho secured the berths by paying the passage money down and taking tickets at once.

Finally, he re-entered the cab and drove back to his hotel.

He found that Mr Brudenell had walked oub. That did not surprise Ishmael. Mr Brudenell generally did walk out. Like all homeless, solitary, and unoccupied men, Mr Brudenell had formed rambling habits ; and had he been a degree or so lower in tho social scale he must have been classed among the vagrants. Ishmael sab down in the unoccupied parlour to write to Judge Merlin. He told the judge of the satisfactory completion of his business with the solicitor of the Earl of Hurstmonceux ; and that he had the documents affecting the restitution of Lady Vincent's property in his own safe-keeping ; that he did not like to trust them to the mail, but would bring them in person when he should return to Edinboro', which would be as soon as a little aflair that he had in hand could be arrauged ; and he hinted that Mr Brudenell would probably accompany him to Scotland. Finally, he informed the judge that he had engaged passages for bheir party in the Ocean Mail steamer Columbus, to sail on Saturday, the fifteenth, from LiverpoolforNew York. He ended with sending affectionate respects to Lady Vincent and the Countess of Hurstmonceux.

Being anxious to catch the afternoon mail at the last moment, ißhmaol did nob intrust bhe delivery of this letter to the waiters of the hotel, bub took his hat and hurried out to posb ib himself. By paying the exbra penny exacted for late letters he got it in the mail, and then walked back to ihe hotel.

Mr Brudenell had returned, and at the moment of Ishmael's entrance he was in solemn consultation with the waiter after dinner.

Afber dinner that day Ishmael went out to visit the Tower of London, to him the most inboresting of all bhe ancient buildings in that ancient city. At nighb he went with Mr Brudenell to the old classic Drury Lane Theatre to see Kean in Richard 111. After that intellectual festival they returned to Morley's to supper and to bed. On Sunday morning they attended divine service at Sb. Paul's

The next morning, Ishmael with Mr Brudenell, paid a visit to Westminster Abbey, where the tombs of the ancient kings and warriors engaged their attention nearly the"whole day. It was late when' they returned to Motley's, where tho first thing Ishmael heard was that a person was waiting for him in the parlour. Mr Brudenell wentdirectly to his chamber to change his dress. Bub Ishmael repaired to the parlour, where he expected to see some one from Scotland Yard.

He found the German Jew sitting there. ' Why, Isaacs ! Is this you, already ? I am glad to see you 4 Mr Meadows sent you, I 3uppose?'"said Ishmael, advancing and shaking hands with his visitor. ' Misther Meators ? V\ ho is he ? No, Misther Meators tit not zend me here; no one tit; I come myself. I saw your name in te list of arrivals ab dish house, bublished in tish morningßh babers. Anb I zaid—dish is to rame of yon drue shentlomans; ant I'll gall to see him ; and here I am,' replied the Jew, cordially returning Ishmael's shake of the hand.

'Thank you, Isaacs, for your good opinion of me. Sit down. I have been very anxious to see you, to speak Jto you on a subject which I must broach at once, lest v/e should be interrupted before we have discussed it,' said Ishmael, who was deBirous of bringing Isaacs bo confession before the entrance of Mr Brudenell.

• Sbeak ten i' said the Jew, settling himself in the big easy-chair. ' Isaacs, you had a beaubiful kinswoman of whom you used to speak to me on our voyage ; but you never told me her name, 1 said Ishmael, gravely, seating himself near the Jew.

'Titn'b I, verily? Veil, her name vas Berenice, daughter of Zillah; Zillah vas mine moder's shishter, and vas very fair to look upon. She marriet mit a rish Lonton Shew, and tieb leafing yon fair daughter Berenice, mine kinsvoman, who marriet mit an English lort; very olb, very boor, put very mush in love mit my kinsvoman. He marrieb her pecause zhe was fair bo look upon and very rish ; her fader made her marry him pecause he was a lort; and zoon tied and loft her a witow, and zhe never marriet again; zhe lefb be country and vas away many years anb I have nod zeen her zince. My fair kinsvoman ! Zhe hat a greab wrong done her !' said bhe Jew, dropping his chin upon his chest and falling into sad and penitential reverie. 'Yes, Isaacs,' said Ishmael., rising and laying his hand solemnly on the breast of the Jew. ' Yes, Isaacs, she had a greab wrong done her, a greater wrong than even you can imagine; a wrong so greab in its devastating effects upon ber life, that you cannot even estimate ibs enormity! But, Isaacs, you can do something to right this wrong 1' •I! Fader Abraham ! what can I?' exclaimed the Jew, impressed and frightened by the earnestness of Ishmael's words and manner.

* You can make a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the miscreant Dromlie Dugald obtained access to Lady Hurstmonceux's private apartments.' The Jew gazed up in the young man's face, as though he was unable to withdraw his eyes ; he seemed to be held spell-bound by the powerful magnetism of Ishmael's spirit. •Isaacs,' continued the young man, • whatever may be the nature of these disclosures, I promise you that you shall be held froe of consequences—l promise yoa ; and you know the value of my promise.' The Jew did nob answer and did not remove his eyo3 from the earnest, eloquent face of Ishmael. 'So you see, Isaacs, that your disclosures, while they will deliver the countess from the suspicion under which her happiness has drooped for so many years, can do you no injury. And now, Isaacs, I ask you as man speaking to man, a question that I adjure you to answer, as you shall answer, at that great day of account when quick and dead shall stand before the bar of God, and the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed— Did you admit Dromlie Dugald to the private apartments of the Countess of Hurstmonceux, without the knowledge or consent of her ladyship V

1 Cot forgive me, I tit!' exclaimed the Jew, in a low terrified voice. 'That will do, Issaos,' said Ishmael, ringing bhe bell. A waiter came. ' Is there an unoccupied sitting-room that I can have the use of for a short time V inquired Ishmael. ' Yes, sir.' 'Show me to it immediately, then.' The waiter led the way, and Ishmael, beckoning the Israelite to accompany him, followed to a comfortable little parlour, warmed by a bright little tire, such as they kept always ready for chance guests. ' Writing materials, James, said Ishmael. The man went for them; and while he was gone, Ishmael said : ' We might have been interrupted in the obher room, Isaacs ; thab is the reason why I have brought you here.' When the waiter had returned with the writing materials, and arranged them on tho table, and again had withdrawn from tho room, Ishmael drew a chair up to the table, seated himself, took a pen, and said : 'Now, Isaacs, sit down near mo, and relate as faithfully as you can, all bhe circumstances attending tho concealmenb of Dromlie Dugald i» Lady Hurstmonceux's apartments,' Tho Jew, as if acting under tho spell of a powerful spirit, did as he was ordered. He drew a chair to the table, seated himself opposite Ishmael, and—to use a common phrase—' made a clear breast of it.' I will nob attempt to give his confession in detail. I will only give the epitome of ib. He acknowledged thab he had been bribed by captain Dugald bo favour his (tho captain's) addresses to the beautiful young widow. Bub he solemnly declared thab he had supposed himself to be acting as much for bhe lady's good as for his own interest, when he took tho captain's money and admitted him freely into tho houso of his kinswoman, where ho himself was staying, a temporary guest, and where ho received her suitor as his own visitor.

Farther, he more solemnly declared that on that fatal evening when ho secrebly admitted tho captain to the house, and guided him to the boudoir of the countess, he had not tho remotest suspicion of bhe nefarious purpose of the suitor. He thought Dugald merely wished for an opportunity of pressing his suit. Ho had no idea that the unscrupulous villain designed to conceal himself in tho closet of the dressing-room, and so pass the night in Lady Hurstmonceux's privabe apartments, and show himself in the morning in dishabille at her open window, for the benefit of the passengers through the street. Ho affirmed that when in the morning ho heard of this infamous abuse of confidence on the part of his pabron, he had nob had courage to meet his kinswoman at breakfast, but) had decamped from the house in great haste, and had never seen the countess since that evenbful day. He said that he had heard how much she had suffered from the affair, at least for a short time ; and that afterwards he bad heard she had left the country ; that he had since supposed the whole circumstance had been forgotten, and he did not now understand how his disclosures should serve her, since no one now remembeted the escapade of Captain Dugald. As Isaacs spoke, Ishmael took down the statement in writing. When it was finished he turned to the Jew, and said: ' You are mistaken in one thing—nay, indeed, in two things, Isaacs ! Tho first is, in the supposition that your disclosures cannot now serve the countess, since tho world has long ago done her full justice, for there is no lady living more highly esteemed than is the Countess of Hurstmonceur. So if the world were only in question, Isaacs, I need never have troubled you to speak. But there is an individual in question; and this brings me to your second mistake ; namely, in the supposition that' the countess never married again. She did marry again ; bub a few months subsequent to her marriage, her husband heard bhe story of Captain Dugald's advenbure, as it was bhen circulated and believed; and he thought himself the dupe of a cunning [adventuress, and estranged himself from his wife from that day until this.' 'Fader Abraham !' exclaimed the Jew, raising both hands in consternation. ' Providence has lately pub me in possession of all the facts in this case, and has enabled me to pave the way for a reconciliation between the long-severed pair—supposing that you will have the moral courage to do your kinswoman justice.' ' Fader Abraham, I vill do her shustice ! I vill do her more as shustice ! I vill tell te whole truth ! I vill tell more as t« whole truth, and Bhwear to it! I vill do anyding I I vould do anyding alb be time, it I had knowtit!' said the Jew earnestly. 'Thank you, Isaacs, I only want the simple truth ; more than that would do us harm instead of good. This is the simple truth, I hope, that I have taken down from your lips ?■' ' Yesh, tat ish te zimple truth !'

«I will road the whole statement to you, Isaacs, and then you will be able to see whether I have taken down your words correctly,' said Ishmael. And he took up the manuscript and read io carefully through, pausing frequently to give the Jew an opportunity of correcting him, if necessary. • Dab ish all right, 1 said Isaacs, when bhe reading was finished. ' Now sign it, Isaacs.' The Jew affixed his signature.

'Now, Isaacs, that is all I want of you for the present; bub should you be required to make oath to the truth of this, I suppose that you will be found ready to do so.' ' Fader Abraham ! yes, I vill do anyding at all, or anyding else, to servo mine kinavowan,' said the Jew, rising. ' Thank you, Isaacs;! Now tell me where I shall find you, in case you shall be wanted ?' 'lam lotging mib mine fnenb, Samuel Phineas, Bubter Lane, Burrough.' • I will remember ! Thank you, Isaacs ! You have done your kinswoman and her friends good service. She will be grabeful to you. I have no doubt she will send for you ! Would you like to come to her ?' • Mib all my feet! Vere is she ?' 'At her country-seat, Cameron Court, near Edinboro'.' ' I ton'b know id !' • No, you don't know it. It is a comparatively recent purchase of her ladyship, I believe,' said Ishmael, rising to accompany the Jew from the room. As they went out he rang the bell, to warn the waiter that they had evacuated the apartment. In the hall, Isaacs bade him good-after-noon, and Ishmael turned into the sib-ting-room, occupied in common by himself and Mr Brudenell. He found the table laid for dinner and Mr Brudenell walking impatiently up and down the floor. ' Ah, you are there ! I was afraid you would be late ! and the fish and the soup would be spoiled, bub here you are in the very nick of time !' he said, as he touched the bell. 'Dinner immediately,' he continued, addressing himself to the waiter, who answered his summons.

But it was nob until after dinner was over, and the cloth removed, and Mr Brudenell had finished his bobble of clareb and smoked out his principe, that lehmael told him of his interview with Isaacs, and laid the written statement of bhe Jew before him.

Mr Brudenell read it carefully through, with deep interest. When he had finished it, he slowly folded it up and placed it in his breast-pocket, dropped his head upon his chest, and remained in deep thought and perfecb silence: Afber bhe lapse of a few momenta, Ishmael spoke: * If you think it needful, sir, Isaacs is ready to go before a magistrate and make

oath to the truth of that statement.' 'lb is not needful; Ishmael, 1 have not the least doubt of its perfect truth. It is not of that I am thinking ; but—my wife ! How will she receive me ? One thing is certain, that having deeply injured her, I must go to her and acknowledge the wrong and ask her forgiveness. But, oh, Ishmaol! what atonement will that be for years of cruel abandonment! None ! none ! No ! I feel that I can make her no atonement,' said Mr Brudanell, bitterly. ' No,sir ; you can make her no atonement, but, —you can make her happy ! And that is all she will need !' said Ishmael, gravely and sweetly. 'If I thought I could, Ishmael, I would hasten to her at once ! In any case, however, I must go to her, acknowledge the wrong I have dono her and ask for pardon. But, ah ! how will she receive mo ?' ' Only go and see for yourself, sir, I implore you !' said Ishmaol, earnestly. ' When do you return to Scotland, Ishmael ?' ' When you ars ready to accompany me, sir ; I am waiting only for you,' answered Ishmaol, smiling. * Then wo will go by the early express train to-morrow morning,' said Mr Brudenell. 'Very well, sir ; I shall be ready,' smiled Ishmael, Mr Brudenell rang for tea. And when it was set on the table he ordered the waiter to call him at'five o'clock the next morning, to have his bill ready, and get a fly to the door to take them to tbe Great Northern Railroad Station in time to meet the six o'clock express train for Edinboro'. After tea tho two gentlemen remained conversing some littlo time longer, and then retired to their bed-chamber, where being without the help and hindrance of a valet, they packed their own portmanteaus. And then they wont to bed oarly in order to secure a long and good night's rest, preparatory to their proposed journey of the noxt morning.

(To be continued next Wednesday.)