menu_book Chapter 15

VOLUME I CHAPTER XV. A SPIRITUAL ADVISER. while the sports are in progress outside llangorren court inside glingog house is being eaten that dinner to commence with salmon in season and end with pheasant out it is early but the murdochs often glad to eat what americans call a square meal have no set hours for eating while the priest is not particular in the faces of the trio seated at the table a physiognomist might find interesting study and note expressions which would puzzle lavater himself nor could they be interpreted by the conversation which at first only refers to topics of a trivial nature but now and then a moe of double meaning let down by rogier and a glance surreptitiously exchanged between him and his countrymen

tell that the thoughts of these two are running upon themes different from those about which are their words murdoch by no means of a trusting disposition but ofttimes furiously jealous has nevertheless in this respect no suspicion of the priest less from confidence than a sort of contempt for the pallid puny creature whom he feels he could crush in a moment of mad anger and broken though he be the stalwart and once strong englishman could still do that to imagine such a man as rogier a rival in the affections of his own wife would be to belittle himself besides he holds fast to that proverbial faith in the spiritual adviser not always well founded in his case certainly misplaced knowing naught of this however their exchanged looks however markedly significant escape his observation even if he did observe he could not read in them aught relating to love for this day there is not the thoughts of both are absorbed by a different passion cupidity they are bent upon a scheme of no common magnitude but grand and comprehensive neither more nor less than to get possession of an estate worth ten thousand pounds a year that llangorren they know its value as well as the steward who gives receipts for its rents

it is no new notion with them but one for some time entertained and steps considered still nothing definite either conceived or determined on a task so herculean as dangerous and difficult will need care in its conception and time for its execution true it might be accomplished almost instantaneously with six inches of steel or as many drops of belladonna nor would two of the three seated at the table stick at employing such means olympe renault and grgoire rogier have entertained thoughts of them if not more in the third is the obstructor lewin murdock would cheat at dyson cards do money-lenders without remorse and tradesmen without mercy aye steal if occasion offered but murder that is different being a crime not only unpleasant to contemplate but perilous to commit he would be willing to rob gwendoline wynne of her property glad to do it if he only knew how but to take away her life he is not yet up to that but he is drawing up to it urged by desperate circumstances and spurred on by his wife who loses no opportunity of bewailing their broken fortunes and reproaching him for them at her back the jesuit secretly instructing and dictating

not till this day have they found him in the mood for being made more familiar with their design whatever his own disposition his ear has been hitherto deaf to their hints timidly and ambiguously given but to-day things appear more promising as evinced by his angry exclamation never hence their delight at hearing it during the earlier stages of the dinner as already said they converse about ordinary subjects like the lovers in the pavilion silent upon that paramount in their minds how different the themes as love itself from murder and just as the first word was unspoken in the summer-house at llangorren so is the last unheard in the dining-room of glingog while the blotcher is being carved with a spoon there is no fish slice among the chattels of mr murdock the priest in good appetite and high glee pronounces it crimp he speaks english like a native and is even up in its provincialisms few in herefordshire whose dialect is of the purest the phrase of the fishmonger received smilingly the salmon is distributed and handed across the table the attendants of the slavey with claws not over clean and ears that might be unpleasantly sharp having been dispensed with

there is wine without stint for although murdoch's town tradesman may be hard of heart in the welsh harp there is a tender string he can still play upon the boniface of the ruggs ferry hostelry having a belief in his post-obit expectations not such an indifferent wine either but some of the choicest vintage the guests of the harp however rough in external appearance and rude in behaviour have wonderfully refined ideas about drink and may be often heard calling for fizz some of them as well acquainted with the qualities of moet and clicot as a connoisseur of the most fashionable club profiting by their esthetic tastes lewin murdoch is enabled to set wine upon his table of the choicest brands light bordeaux first with the fish then sherry with the heavier greens and bacon followed by champagne as they get engaged upon the pheasant at this point the conversation approaches a topic hitherto held in reserve murdoch himself starting it so my cousin gwen's going to get married eh are you sure of that father rogier

i wish i were as sure of going to heaven but what sort of man is he you haven't told us yes i have you forget my description monsieur cross between mars and phoebus strength herculean sure to be father to a progeny numerous as that which spring from the head of medusa enough of them to make heirs for llangorren to the end of time keep you out of the property if you live to be the age of methuselah ah a fine-looking fellow i can assure you against whom the baronet's son with his rubicund cheeks and hay-coloured hair wouldn't stand the slightest chance even if there were nothing more to recommend the martial stranger, but there is. What more? The mode of his introduction to the lady, that quite romantic. How was he introduced? Well, he made her acquaintance on the water. It appears Mademoiselle

Wynne and her companion Lise were out on the river for a row alone. Unusual, that. Thus out, some fellows, Forest of Dean dwellers, offered them insult, from which a gentleman angler, who chanced to be whipping the stream close by, saved them. He no other than Le Capitain Rycroft. With such commencement of acquaintance a man couldn't be much worth who didn't know how to improve it, even to terminating in a marriage if he wished. And with such a rich heiress as

Mademoiselle Gwendolyn Wynne, to say naught of her personal charms, there are few men who wouldn't wish it so to end. That he, the hussar officer, captain, colonel, whatever his rank, does, I've good reason to believe, as also that he will succeed in accomplishing his desires. No more doubt of it than of my being seated at this table. Yes, sure as I sit here that man will be the master of Langoran. I suppose he will. Must, rejoins Murdoch, drawing out the words as

though not greatly concerned one way or the other. Olympe looks dissatisfied, but not Rogier, nor she, after a glance from the priest, which seems to say, wait. He himself intends waiting till the drink has done its work. Taking the hint she remains silent, her countenance showing calm, as with the content of innocence, while in her heart is the guilt of hell, and the deceit of the devil. She preserves her composure all through, and soon as the last course is ended,

with a show of dessert placed upon the table, poor and pro forma, obedient to a look from Rogier, with a slight nod in the direction of the door, she makes her congé and retires. Murdoch lights his meerschaum, the priest one of his paper cigarettes, of which he carries a case, and for some time they sit smoking and drinking, talking, too, but upon matters with no relation to that uppermost in their minds. They seem to fear touching it, as though it were a thing to

contaminate. It is only after repeatedly emptying their glasses their courage comes up to the standard required, that of the Frenchman first, who nevertheless approaches the delicate subject with cautious circumlocution. By the way, monsieur, he says, we've forgotten what we were conversing about when summoned to dinner, a meal I've greatly enjoyed, notwithstanding your depreciation of the menu. Indeed a very bon bouche, your English bacon, and the greens excellent, and also the

pomme de terre. You were speaking of some event or circumstance to be conditional on your death. What is it? Not the deluge, I hope. True, your why is subject to sudden floods. Might it have ought to do with them why should it asks murdoch not comprehending the drift because people sometimes get drowned in these inundations indeed often scarce a week passes without some one falling into the river and there remaining at least till life is extinct what with its whirls and rapids it's a very dangerous stream i wonder at mademoiselle wynne venturing so courageously so carelessly upon it the peculiar intonation of the last speech with emphasis on the word carelessly gives murdoch a glimpse of what it is intended to point to she's got courage enough he rejoins without appearing to comprehend about her carelessness i don't know

but the young lady certainly is careless recklessly so that affair of her going out alone is proof of it what followed may make her more cautious still boating is a perilous occupation and boats whether for pleasure or otherwise are awkward things to manage fickle and capricious as women themselves suppose hers should some day go to the bottom she being in it that would be bad of course it would though m murdoch many men situated as you instead of grieving over such an accident would but rejoice at it no doubt they would but what's the use of talking of a thing not likely to happen oh true still boat accidents being of such common occurrence one is as likely to befall mademoiselle wynne as anybody else a pity if it should a misfortune but so is the other thing what other thing that such a property as llangorren should be in the hands of heretics having but a lame title too if what i have heard is true you yourself have as much right to it as your cousin it were better it belonged to a true son of the church as i know you to be monsieur

murdoch receives the compliment with a grimace he is no hypocrite still with all his depravity he has a sort of respect for religion or rather its outward forms regularly attends rogier's chapel and goes through all the ceremonies and genuflections just as the italian bandit after cutting a throat will drop on his knees and repeat a paternoster at hearing the distant bell of the angelus a very poor one he replies with a half smile half grin in a worldly sense you mean i'm aware you're not very rich in more senses than that your reverence i've been a great sinner i admit admission is a good sign giving promise of repentance which need never come too late if a man be disposed to it it is a deep sin the church cannot condone a dark crime indeed oh i haven't done anything deserving the name only such as a great many others but you might be tempted some day whether or not it's my duty as your spiritual adviser to point out the true doctrine how the vatican views such things

it is after all only a question of balance between good and evil that is how much evil a man may have done and the amount of good he may do this world is a ceaseless war between god and the devil and those who wage it in the cause of the former have often to employ the weapons of the latter in our service the end justifies the means even though these be what the world calls criminal aye even to the taking of life else why should the great and good loyola have counselled drawing the sword himself using it true grunts murdoch smoking hard you're a great theologian father rogier i confess ignorance in such matters still i see reason in what you say you may see it clearer if i set the application before you as for instance if a man have the right to a certain property or estate and is kept out of it by a quibble any steps he might take to possess himself would be justifiable providing he devote a portion of his gains to the good cause, that is, upholding the true faith,

and so benefiting humanity at large. Such an act is held by the best of our church authorities to compensate for any sin committed, supposing the money donation sufficient to make the amount of good it may do, preponderate over the evil, and such a man would not only merit absolution, but freely receive it. Now, monsieur, do you comprehend me? Quite, says Murdoch, taking the pipe from his mouth, and gulping down a half-tumbler of brandy, for he has dropped the wine. Withal,

he trembles at the programme thus metaphorically put before him, and fears admitting the application to himself. Soon the more potent spirit takes away his last remnant of timidity, which the tempter perceiving says, You say you have sinned, monsieur, and if it were only for that you ought to make amends. In what way could I? The way I've been speaking of. Bestow upon the church the means of doing good, and so deserve indulgence. Ah! where am I to find this means? On the other side

of the river. You forget that there's more than the stream between. Not much to a man who would be true to himself. I'm that man all over. The brandy had made him bold, at length untying his tongue while unsteadying it. Yes, Père Rogier, I'm ready for anything that will release me from this damnable fix. Debt over the years, duns every day. Ha! I'd be true to myself, never fear. it needs being true to the church as well i'm willing to be that when i have the chance if ever i have it and to get it i'd risk life not much if i lose it it's become a burden to me heavier than i can bear

you may make it as light as a feather monsieur cheerful as that of any of those gage entree you saw disporting themselves on the lawn at llangorren even that of its young mistress how pere by yourself becoming its master ah if i could you can with safety perfect safety and without committing he fears to speak the ugly english word but expresses the idea in french set dernier coup certainly who dreams of that not i monsieur but how is it to be avoided easily tell me father rogier not to-night murdoch he has dropped the distant monsieur not to-night it's a matter that calls for reflections consideration calm and careful time too ten thousand livres esterilis per annum we must both ponder upon it sleep nights and think days over it possibly have to draw coracle dick into our deliberations but not to-night pardieu it's ten o'clock and i have business to do before going to bed i must be off no your reverence not till you've had another glass of wine one more then but let me take it standing the tas de strop as you call it

murdoch assents and the two rise up to drink the stirrup-cup but only the frenchman keeps his feet till the glasses are emptied the other now dead drunk dropping back into his chair bonsoir monsieur says the priest slipping out of the room his host answering only by a snore for all father rogier does not leave the house so unceremoniously in the porch outside he takes more formal leave of a woman he there finds waiting for him as he joins her going out she asks sotto voce c'est arranger pas encore serait tout this is the sole speech that passes between them but something besides which if seen by her husband would cause him to start from his chair perhaps some little sober him End of Volume 1, Chapter 15