The King's Men: A Tale of To-morrow Page 4

  CHAPTER IV.

  JARLEY JAWKINS.

  The library of Ripon House was an apartment panelled in oak, blackenedby time and smoke. The high and richly carved mantelpiece bore the armsof the Ripon family, three wolves on a field, or, surmounted by a wildman from Borneo rampant, bearing a battle-axe, gules. Shelves which oncewere filled with fine books were then empty, the void being covered byold tapestries. The furniture was old and gaunt, save for a few modernsoft-cushioned chairs which seemed to have been recently depositedthere, and were, by the brilliant color of their coverings, not at allin harmony with the faded tapestries of their high-backed and carvenpredecessors. On one of the gaunt old chairs Abraham Windsor was seated,holding in his right hand the London _Times_, which slowly issued from a"ticker" upon the table at his side. After looking sharply at thefinancial news, which just then was being recorded in the "Thunderer,"he glanced quickly toward the door, as if he expected some one to enter.Abraham Windsor was a man of sixty, and each year seemed to have leftits impress upon the man who had battled through it, so that he seemedhis own living history, and by close observation you might read of ayouth of scant schooling in books, not spent among folks of gentlebreeding, nor protected from the world, but left to shift for itselfagainst the numerous kicks and scanty half pence of the hard world; thenone might discern the period of restless scheming and speculation, andfinally the look of successful yet of unsatisfied ambition. Still hisface was not a hard and stern one, but shrewd and kindly. He seemed aman who would drive careful bargains, but who was too large-minded andhonest to be mean or overreaching. His large head was thatched withthick, bristling iron-gray hair, his face was swarthy and clean-shaven,his black eyes were deep-set and keen, his nose prominent, yetwell-shaped, and his mouth firm and resolute, having a humorous curve;he was plainly dressed in a black broadcloth suit which hung looselyover his bony frame. He threw down the ribbons upon the floor with animpatient gesture, and watched the news of the world, as it coiled athis feet in the white spirals, for a moment; then he arose from hischair and touched an electric knob. Instantly a stately footman in adark livery and a powdered wig entered the room.

  "Mr. Jawkins has arrived?" Mr. Windsor asked.

  "No, sir. Thank you, sir."

  "Has Miss Windsor returned from her walk?"

  "She has come into the house, sir."

  "Has Mr. Jawkins sent word when we are to expect him?"

  "Yes, sir; we are awaiting him every moment, sir. I think I hear wheelsnow, sir."

  "Very well; ask him to come to me here when he is at leisure."

  The tall footman bowed and noiselessly left the room, and Mr. Windsorpicked up the _Times_ and looked at it for a moment. Presently a short,pudgy man in travelling dress, with thin, smoothly-brushed hair,mutton-chop whiskers and a very red face, was ushered into the room, andMr. Windsor stretched out his hand in welcome.

  "Mr. Jawkins, I believe?"

  "Yes, Mr. Windsor; I am Jarley Jawkins, very much at your service."

  "Glad to see you, Jawkins," said the American; "take a cigar, won't you?I will ring for some whiskey and water if you care for a snifter."

  "I beg to be excused," replied Jawkins, deprecatingly. "You Americangentlemen must have the constitutions of horses; you seem to be able tosmoke and take 'snifters,' as you drolly call them, at all hours, but Ireally cannot do it, you know. Do you find things to suit you here, Mr.Windsor? I could have given you many finer houses; to tell you thetruth, I was rather surprised when you chose Ripon House out of my list.There is so little furniture in it that my men have not been able to putin all the necessary articles yet, but it will be wholly in order in afew hours."

  "Yes; your men seem very busy," replied Mr. Windsor. "The upper floorsare all ready, but I have been driven into this room on the ground floorthis morning."

  "Oh! dear me, what a pity, sir," said Mr. Jawkins, looking around theroom. "It is very bare and uncomfortable; but you will not know the roomwhen my fellows are through with it. You will have one of the finestcollections of books here in all England in a few hours. I havepurchased the Marquis of Queensberry's collection, and ordered them senthere. Nothing gives so good an effect of color in a room as a library ofhandsome books, you know. They have turned the _Times_ on, I see," heremarked, pointing to the ticker. "I saw in it this morning that RichardLincoln and his daughter were to be your guests here. Your friend, sir,I suppose? He certainly is not down in my list; great man, sir, but notone of us."

  "Mr. Lincoln is one of the men whom I most highly respect in the world,"answered Mr. Windsor, curtly. "When do you expect the people in yourlist to arrive?"

  "Oh, they will come at all hours," answered Jawkins. "I must send a lotof traps to the station to meet them. Have you been out to the stables,sir? I have sent you one of the finest studs in all England. Do youhunt, Mr. Windsor?"

  "Never," answered Mr. Windsor.

  "Since the farmers have taken to shooting the foxes," continued Mr.Jawkins, "the noble old sport has gone all to pieces, even here; but youdrive four-in-hand, I hope. I have ordered a beautiful new break foryour use. But you will see, sir, all I have done for you. Now, if youare at leisure for the list of the guests whom I have been able toengage. When you have gone over it with me, Mr. Windsor, I think thatyou will admit that it is a charming country-house party to have gottogether on such short notice. First, you see, we have the Duke andDuchess of Bayswater. I have engaged them for the first three days ofyour stay here to give _eclat_ to your hospitality, at the price of adiva and her accompanying tenor, I must admit. It is their very firstappearance professionally, and I think that I have done very well byyou."

  Mr. Windsor gave a little groan, which Mr. Jawkins did not seem tonotice, however, as he continued:

  "I fear that His Grace will not be in the best of spirits at first. Heis a grand type of a great nobleman, however, and worth double the moneywhich we pay him. Her Grace is of one of the few families in GreatBritain which are found in the Almanach de Gotha. She is like amagnificent old ruin, almost feudal in fact, and as proud as Lucifer.Her stare is said to be withering, and the poise of her head makes aman's tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth."

  "And I shall have to take her in to dinner for the next three days?"groaned Windsor.

  "Of course, my dear sir; but, believe me, you will enjoy it more thanHer Grace will," replied Jawkins. "Next comes the Archbishop ofCanterbury in point of order on my list, though he is of higher rankthan their Graces. Since the disestablishment of the Church, and theforfeiture of the Church properties, he has, of course, been muchstraitened financially. He must have a comfortable room and a warm fire,and will conduct family prayers. There is some doubt about his coming,though, I see, as he is far from well, but it will be easy to get aprelate at short notice; I have dozens on my list, ready at call. Nextwe have Lord Carrington, who is not very good company, but ofwonderfully fine family. His ancestors came over with William theConqueror, but as he has only L200 a year, he was not loath to puthimself under my charge. He is exceedingly particular as to his food anddrink, and is one of the best card-players in London. He used to make afine income from his cards; indeed, he does now in I. O. U.'s. By theway, he inquired whether you played 'piquet' or 'bezique,' from which Iinfer that he is looking for an antagonist with ready money."

  Mr. Windsor laughed and slapped his knee with his thin, bony hand.

  "Ah! the wind sets in that corner, does it?" he asked.

  "I am afraid so," answered Jawkins.

  "I do not mind taking chances, I admit," said Windsor; "but in thestock-market I am in the position of the banker at the gaming-table. Theodds are in my favor. While at piquet this noble lord can get the betterof me. Who else have you, Jawkins?"

  "I forgot my greatest prize, sir," said Jawkins, handing Mr. Windsor aphotograph. "What do you think of her?"

  Mr. Windsor looked at the picture with a peculiar smile.

  "She is a fine woman, Jawkins. We have as fine, however, in the States.Who is she
?"

  "Mrs. Oswald Carey, to be sure. Have you never seen her face before, Mr.Windsor? She is considered to be the most beautiful woman in London. Herhusband, of course, is left there; he cares only for brandy and soda andbaccarat, and would be very much in the way. I believe that he used tohave a place under government, but was ousted last year, probably forcause, wonderful as that seems now. But she is a charming woman, and Ifind that she is the most sought after of any one on my list--that is tosay, with the hosts; though the hostesses sometimes object to her,simply from envy of her good looks, for her good name cannot bequestioned while her husband is satisfied with her."

  Mr. Windsor hummed a little; he was too new to the world of society notto have old-fashioned views on the subject of a woman's fame.

  "Go on with the list, please, Jawkins; time flies, and your presencemust be required to arrange the drawing-rooms."

  "Very well, Mr. Windsor. Then Sir John Dacre, one of the biggest men inEngland; I never have understood, sir, how I got him on my list. He isso proud that I should have fancied that he would have--saving yourpresence, sir--have broken stones in the street rather than bread as ahired guest. For he is a noble fellow."

  "Some woman at the bottom of it?" asked Mr. Windsor, carelessly.

  "Something mysterious, certainly, for he absolutely refused to take anyfee," replied Mr. Jawkins. "Next comes Colonel Charles Featherstone, awild, scatter-brained soldier, who lost all his fortune in speculationin your American cotton and grain futures. He is a great friend of JohnDacre, and they joined me at the same time. I am really giving you thegems of my whole collection."

  A flush of triumph spread over the man's round face as he continued hislist. "Next, I have three of the 'artiste' class, and here I am not sosuccessful, though to be sure I pick them up for almost nothing. Thereis Erastus Prouty, who does the satirical 'society' articles andcollects fashionable gossip for the _Saturday Review_, a sniggering,sneering chap, with a single eye-glass and immense self-conceit. Hecalled me a cad in his paper once, but I am above personal feeling, anddo not cut the man off from his income. Then, you have Herr Diddlej, thegreat Norwegian pianist, who will shatter your piano in half an hour;and, finally, Sydney, the wit, who, by the way, has disappointed megreatly, as he has not made a repartee in a twelvemonth, nor has he setthe table in a roar. I reasoned with him the other day on the subject,and gave him fair warning that this visit should be his last chance.Still, I pity the man; he is a great _bon vivant_, and if he should losehis reputation as a wit I fear that he would have to go to a workhouseor on the London _Punch_. I have finished the list. How does it pleaseyou?"

  "I never say that I have made money until the shares are sold and paidfor," answered Mr. Windsor. "Your list sounds well, but I think I likethe old-fashioned way of asking friends to stay with me better. Still,your plan is novel."

  Mr. Jawkins seemed hurt, as an author would who had looked up fromreading the finest passage in his epic only to perceive that his auditorwas asleep and not spellbound. Jawkins believed in the "_idee_" Jawkinsas Napoleon did in his destiny.

  "By your leave, Mr. Windsor, I shall go to my own room to arrange mytoilet, and then I must see about the disposition of the furniture,bibelots and pictures, and attend to the preparations for the receptionof the guests. You need not meet them until just before dinner, when Ishall be on hand to present them to you. I cannot be here afterto-night. I must start to-morrow morning for Hampshire, where PrincePetroloff demands my services. You see, I am a hard-worked man, Mr.Windsor."

  "So you are for an Englishman, Mr. Jawkins. Then I suppose that it isnecessary that you should attend to all the details of your professionpersonally. By the way, my daughter tells me that she has asked youngGeoffrey Ripon, who used to be on the British Legation at Paris, wherewe were two summers ago. You must arrange for him at the dinner-table."

  "Ah, the Earl of Brompton! He is not a client of mine, but I have myeye on him. His earthly possessions consist of about five acres of land,a tumble-down hut near by, and a double-barrelled shotgun, and he losthis secretaryship when the new administration made its clean sweep ofthe offices. They said he was going to marry a rich girl once, Ibelieve."

  "It seems that he did not," said Mr. Windsor, rising from his seat.

  Mr. Jawkins bowed and bustled from the room, and Mr. Windsor soon heardhis sharp voice ordering the army of workmen in the adjacent rooms withthe precision and authority of a field-marshal.

  The situation amused and at the same time disconcerted the humorousAmerican, as he settled back in a chair before the great wood fire whichcrackled in the chimney. Though the chair was soft and yielding he didnot look comfortable, for men with long, bony, angular figures neverseem to look at their ease.

  Abraham Windsor's name twenty years before the date of this story wouldnot have added to the marketable value of the most modest promissorynote in the money markets of Chicago, to which city he had come freshfrom his father's farm in upper Illinois; but at this time it was atower of strength in financial quarters, and men counted his wealth bytens of millions.

  He was the Jupiter of the financial world, and men said that when hisiron-gray locks fell over each other, as he nodded, Wall Street trembledand Lombard Street crashed; so that it seemed only from forbearance thathe did not sweep all the chips upon the great gaming-table of the worldinto his deep pockets. His sudden trip to Europe had caused muchdiscussion. Some knowing ones whispered that he had bought acontrolling interest in the Bank of England from the assignees inbankruptcy of the Brothkinders, with the object of making a panic intrade by a sudden raise of the rate of discount to six per cent; others,that he had come over to unload upon the British public his shares inthe Hudson Bay and Cape Horn Railroad Company.

  He was amused by the wild rumors, for he had, in truth, come to Englandwith no deep-laid scheme or motive, but simply because his daughter hadordered his doing so; for while Abraham Windsor ruled the shares marketand the world of speculation, a certain young woman ruled him, and thehard-headed man of affairs, who could outwit an Israelite banker, was aswax under her dainty fingers. At the close of the last season atNewport, Miss Margaret had ordered her father, as she poured out hiscoffee at breakfast, to engage a country house in England for thewinter. Mr. Windsor looked up from the New York _Herald_, which likenedhim to his Satanic Majesty in one column and described his new steamyacht in another, and he said, "Aye, aye, miss," to her order.

  And straightway after breakfast he went to the Casino Club andtelephoned to Jarley Jawkins for his list of estates to rent in England,for he knew full well that whether Wall Street or the heavens crashedMiss Maggie's orders were to be obeyed. She selected Ripon House fromJawkins's list, and her father hired it, although he had a leaningtoward Windsor Castle, which the Republic wished to lease for a term ofyears, or to sell upon easy terms.

  Every one in Paris two years before had said that the penniless youngEnglishman, Lord Ripon, wished to make a rich marriage, and that thecapricious Miss Windsor, after having broken, cracked or temporarilydiscouraged a sufficient number of hearts, was at last ready to accept alord and perhaps a master. But in the middle of the season the BritishLegation was recalled, and Geoffrey, after a few words of farewell,disappeared, and from the day of his leaving Paris Miss Windsor hadheard nothing of him. She did not know herself whether she cared forhim; he was good-natured and amusing, and she liked to have him talk toher and be her slave, but when he was gone, the world was not a blank toher.

  Still, it piqued her that Lord Brompton had effaced himself socompletely from her life. "He might, at least, have written to let meknow that he lived," she kept thinking. Of course she knew the name ofhis old estate, and she knew that he owned the porter's lodge and thefew acres around it, for he had told her once that he still owned alittle box in England, and that when the worst came to the worst heintended to crawl into it and shut the lid. When Jawkins sent his listof estates for rent, and she saw the name of Ripon House on it, herheart gave a little jump. Mr. Windsor h
ad, of course, known of theaffair between Lord Geoffrey and his daughter, and had neither approvednor disapproved of it. He knew that, if she made up her mind to marry,he would be consulted only as a matter of form. When she had informedhim on their arrival that Lord Brompton was living in the neighborhood,and that she meant to invite him to dinner very soon, the shrewd old mansmiled grimly, and acquiesced in her plan.

  As her father sat musing before the fire, the door opened suddenly, andMaggie bounded into the room.

  "Has Jawkins arrived, papa?" she asked.

  "Yes; we have just been going over his list of guests together. By theway, Maggie, is your young man to be our guest?"

  "Oh, papa!" Maggie exclaimed, perching herself upon one of his knees andstroking his chin with one of her dimpled hands, "how can you be soill-bred as to speak of any one as my young man? Surely I have noproprietary rights over any man, save one very nice old fellow, who isso loyal to his sovereign that he never thinks of complaining of theinjustice of taxation without representation."

  "You reverse the ordinary process with me; subjects have been wont toblow up their sovereigns," answered her father, with a chuckle, "and youblow up me. You have not told me about Lord Brompton. It is a long timesince you have seen him before to-day."

  "Two whole years. He seems so dispirited."

  "At not having escaped you?"

  "Oh, you wicked old capitalist; not at all. At having been so longseparated from me. It was very pleasant to see him again. He is such afriend of mine. I should say that he interested me more than any of theothers."

  "Ah, that unfortunate panorama of others," laughed her father.

  "Yes, poor fellows," said Maggie, a little regretfully, "but then Ithink that most of them had an eye to the main chance, papa. LordBrompton has not, I know."

  Mr. Windsor smiled.

  "I hope not, my dear. What is he doing here?"

  "What the world has forgotten to do; what he can do more graciously thanany man I know--nothing," she answered.

  "I should think that a young man with the world before him might findsomething better to do than to mope in a porter's lodge, lookingmournfully at the lands which were his father's. What does he intend todo in the world?"

  "Oh, he said nothing of his plan of life," said Miss Windsor; "but heseemed blue and restless. I think that there is something on his mind."

  "These aristocrats, fallen from their high estate, are really in apitiable condition," said Windsor. "I feel like a cad to have made thearrangement which I have with Jawkins. I wish that I were scot free fromthe whole business. Poor people, how they must hate me in advance, andwhat a vulgarian they must think me to be."

  "Jawkins says that it is a recognized system, papa, you remember,"answered Maggie. "After all, if you wish a great tenor or aviolin-player at your parties, you pay them for it. If you wish a duketo awe or a beauty to charm your guests, why should you not hire them?This is a commercial age. The poor people must live, and if they canonly awe or charm, there is no harm in their receiving pay for theirsole merits."

  "You should have been bred to the bar, Maggie," laughed her father. "Youare an eloquent advocate."

  There was a rattling of wheels up the driveway, and the great hall doorswere heard to open.

  "Some of our guests have arrived," remarked Mr. Windsor. "I hope thatJawkins has made all his arrangements for their reception."

  Just then the door opened and Mr. Jawkins entered carefully dressed. Hismanner was quiet and his voice subdued, as if he were whispering in acathedral, as he said:

  "Their Graces the Duke and Duchess have done you the honor of comingunder your roof, Mr. Windsor. They are very much fatigued by theirjourney, and have retired to their apartments."

  "We shall meet them at Philippi before the action, shall we not?" askedMiss Windsor.

  "Yes, and meanwhile I shall do everything that I can for the comfort ofyour guests and the arrangement of the house. Believe me, I deeply feelthe gravity of the situation," he continued, as he bowed himself out ofthe room.

  "And so do I," said Mr. Windsor to his daughter. "I would rather face anarmy of irate stockholders than our guests this evening."