While Williams explained to him the nature of my claim, he scanned me
with great intentness. His austere and inflexible brow afforded me
little room to hope for success, and this hopelessness was confirmed by
his silence and perplexity when Williams had made an end. "To-be-sure," said he, after some pause, "the contract was explicit. To-be-sure, the conditions on Mr. Mervyn's side have been performed. Certain it is, the bills are entire and complete, but Mrs. Maurice will
not consent to do her part, and Mrs. Maurice, to whom the papers were
presented, is the person by whom, according to the terms of the
contract, the reward must be paid." "But Mrs. Maurice, you know, sir, may be legally compelled to pay," said
Williams. "Perhaps she may; but I tell you plainly, that she never will do the
thing without compulsion. Legal process, however, in this case, will
have other inconveniences besides delay. Some curiosity will naturally
be excited, as to the history of these papers. Watson disappeared a
twelvemonth ago. Who can avoid asking, Where have these papers been
deposited all this while, and how came this person in possession of
them?" "That kind of curiosity," said I, "is natural and laudable, and gladly
would I gratify it. Disclosure or concealment in that case, however,
would nowise affect my present claim. Whether a bond, legally executed,
shall be paid, does not depend upon determining whether the payer is
fondest of boiled mutton or roast beef. Truth, in the first case, has no
connection with truth in the second. So far from eluding this curiosity,
so far from studying concealment, I am anxious to publish the truth." "You are right, to-be-sure," said Hemmings. "Curiosity is a natural, but
only an incidental, consequence in this case. I have no reason for
desiring that it should be an unpleasant consequence to you." "Well, sir," said Williams, "you think that Arthur Mervyn has no remedy
in this case but the law?" "Mrs. Maurice, to-be-sure, will never pay but on compulsion. Mervyn
should have known his own interest better. While his left hand was
stretched out to give, his right should have been held forth to receive. As it is, he must be contented with the aid of law. Any attorney will
prosecute on condition of receiving _half the sum_ when recovered." We now rose to take our leave, when Hemmings, desiring us to pause a
moment, said, "To-be-sure, in the utmost strictness of the terms of our
promise, the reward was to be paid by the person who received the
papers; but it must be owned that your claim, at any rate, is
equitable. I have money of the deceased Mr. Maurice in my hands. These
very bills are now in my possession. I will therefore pay you your due,
and take the consequences of an act of justice on myself. I was prepared
for you. Sign that receipt, and there is a _check_ for the amount." CHAPTER XLIII. This unexpected and agreeable decision was accompanied by an invitation
to supper, at which we were treated by our host with much affability and
kindness. Finding me the author of Williams's good fortune as well as
Mrs. Maurice's, and being assured by the former of his entire conviction
of the rectitude of my conduct, he laid aside all reserve and distance
with regard to me. He inquired into my prospects and wishes, and
professed his willingness to serve me. I dealt with equal unreserve and frankness. "I am poor," said I. "Money
for my very expenses hither I have borrowed from a friend, to whom I am,
in other respects, much indebted, and whom I expect to compensate only
by gratitude and future services. "In coming hither, I expected only an increase of my debts; to sink
still deeper into poverty; but happily the issue has made me rich. This
hour has given me competence, at least." "What! call you a thousand dollars competence?" "More than competence. I call it an abundance. My own ingenuity, while I
enjoy health, will enable me to live. This I regard as a fund, first to
pay my debts, and next to supply deficiencies occasioned by untoward
accidents or ill health, during the ensuing three or four years at
least." We parted with this new acquaintance at a late hour, and I accepted
Williams's invitation to pass the time I should spend at Baltimore,
under his sister's roof. There were several motives for prolonging this
stay. What I had heard of Miss Fanny Maurice excited strong wishes to be
personally acquainted with her. This young lady was affectionately
attached to Mrs. Watson, by whose means my wishes were easily
accomplished. I never was in habits of reserve, even with those whom I had no reason
to esteem. With those who claimed my admiration and affection, it was
impossible to be incommunicative. Before the end of my second interview,
both these women were mistresses of every momentous incident of my life,
and of the whole chain of my feelings and opinions, in relation to every
subject, and particularly in relation to themselves. Every topic
disconnected with these is comparatively lifeless and inert. I found it easy to win their attention, and to render them communicative
in their turn. As full disclosures as I had made without condition or
request, my inquiries and example easily obtained from Mrs. Watson and
Miss Maurice. The former related every event of her youth, and the
circumstances leading to her marriage. She depicted the character of her
husband, and the whole train of suspenses and inquietudes occasioned by
his disappearance. The latter did not hide from me her opinions upon any
important subject, and made me thoroughly acquainted with her actual
situation. This intercourse was strangely fascinating. My heart was buoyed up by a
kind of intoxication. I now found myself exalted to my genial element,
and began to taste the delights of existence. In the intercourse of
ingenuous and sympathetic minds, I found a pleasure which I had not
previously conceived. The time flew swiftly away, and a fortnight passed almost before I was
aware that a day had gone by. I did not forget the friends whom I had
left behind, but maintained a punctual correspondence with Stevens, to
whom I imparted all occurrences. The recovery of my friend's kinsman allowed him in a few days to return
home. His first object was the consolation and relief of Carlton, whom,
with much difficulty, he persuaded to take advantage of the laws in
favour of insolvent debtors. Carlton's only debt was owing to his uncle,
and, by rendering up every species of property, except his clothes and
the implements of his trade, he obtained a full discharge. In
conjunction with his sister, he once more assumed the pen, and, being
no longer burdened with debts he was unable to discharge, he resumed,
together with his pen, his cheerfulness. Their mutual industry was
sufficient for their decent and moderate subsistence. The chief reason for my hasty return was my anxiety respecting Clemenza
Lodi. This reason was removed by the activity and benevolence of my
friend.