CHAPTER XLVI.

MR TOM FORSTER LEARNS SOMETHING WHICH DOES NOT WHOLLY PLEASE HIM.

UPON the mind of Mr Tom Forster the words of Père Martin had a somewhat astonishing effect. There was so great an air of truth and simplicity about the man, that, in spite of his coolness and his cunning, the old Bow Street runner was assured that what he said was true. At the same time, the reflection occurred, again and again, that all was not right with Mr Edgar Wade. That learned young barrister had been out at all hours; had paid little or no attention to the poor sick lady at home; and was, indeed, himself far from well. Excitement and the disappointment in love began to tell upon him. Pale, languid, and with a hacking cough, the barrister moved restlessly about from his chambers to Queen Anne Street, almost without a purpose, and doing little in his business or at home.

"What," asked Old Daylight of himself, "is the secret influence this woman has over him? The coolest and wisest men lose their heads when in love. I will go and see her. I may find out some way to help him yet. It is a pity he should suffer so much, just now especially."

With Old Daylight a resolve was half the battle. What he determined to do was soon done. He soon ascertained from his friend, Mr Rolt, the whereabouts of Natalie; and, on the very afternoon upon which he had determined to see her, stood outside the little villa, where the apple trees were showing yellow leaves, and autumn was tinting with its sober hues the elms of the neighbouring park and the "grove" which rejoiced in the name of "Lisson." The Virginian creeper which ran up the front of the house was turning to a dusky yellow brown, not yet having achieved the brilliant red hue in which it gloriously dies; and the sad, dull autumn evening harmonised with the quiet and stillness of the suburban dwelling.

Y

"A snug little box," said Forster to himself. "Just the kind of nest to find such a bird in. I suppose there's some theatrical swell about, for I noticed his trap outside."

The trap outside was a well-appointed hooded cab, with a footboard outside at the back, upon which a smart groom perched, swinging by two leather straps pendent from the hood. When the master was out, the groom jumped inside, as had the gentleman who looked after the trap in question, and who was quietly walking the horse up and down, in sight of the villa gate, voting the occupation an "infernal slow” one.

"These pretty birds," said the old man, "might well be called decoy ducks, because they do draw empty young men, with lots of money, after them. I wonder what the drama would be without them? And dramatic authors, too. I heard one of them talking to Rolt. 'Have you seen my piece?' says he.

'How the people crowd to see it!' When Rolt had just been telling me that the great attraction was a new actress, the next was the scenery, the third the orchestra, and the fourth the fittings of the house. It's a mixed life we lead, to be sure!" continued the old gentleman, after a pause. "It's all right, I dare say; but there's nothing pure-there's no man out without lots of mixed motives. They talk about the poetic drama now. Poetic drama!—as if anybody but an old fool like me goes and sees things for the poetry in them."

He had rung the bell; and the neat English servant ushered him into the small dining-room, and took his card, before he had hardly made up his mind what to say. The small villas such as we have described-built at a bad time, when slight brickwork and plenty of stucco served for substantialitywere admirable places to hear in; and Mr Forster had not been long in the quiet little house before he heard an excellent, merry little French song, given with great spirit; and then two gruff voices uttering applauding sounds.

Why, I am right about that cab," said Old Daylight. "It is a new manager. The little woman has made a hit with her

benefit."

"Bravo! Natalie," said the loud, high-toned, coarse voice. "You do the thing to-rights. I always said you could. She's a dangerous little woman, ar'n't she, Peter?"

"She is very clever and beguiling, no doubt; and understands her profession," returned a gentleman in a more sober voice.

"Umph! two of them," returned Daylight. "They ar'n't professionals. That's not the way they would talk."

Then Old Daylight heard the door open, and the subdued voice of the servant as she presented the card.

"Forster!-don't know such man," said Natalie. like is he?"

"Whose

"A stout gentleman," or some such words, was the answer; for Natalie said

"Stout! what means stout?"

"Fat-gras, brave homme, comme moi," said the first voice. "Some one come to make you an offer of marriage, Natalie." "Very good; tell him wait." And she added, firmly, "He must be a rich man and a nobleman. I do not ally myself with common people-I, who am artiste."

There was a roar of laughter at this from one of the gentlemen-no others than Lord Montcastel and the Hon. and Rev. Peter Boor; but the gentleman who did not laugh was just the one whose laughter would have hurt Natalie. She saw her advantage; and looking at the nobleman, with a sigh and a pretty look, she passed her soft hand over his forehead in a caressing way, and called him "a dear, sweet, good papa."

"It is not any sweetheart," she told his lordship, in effect, "but some one upon business;" and after seeing him she would dismiss him, and come back again. And so away she sailed, flinging a Parthian glance after her, and rendering his enamoured lordship more in love than ever.

"Peter, my boy," said that nobleman, after a pause, when the door had closed behind Natalie, "I think I shall settle." "You will, indeed," said the clergyman, who had a wife, one sweet infant named Dermot, and a large family in perspective. "And if you do, what is to become of us?" he thought; but he said nothing about that-" You will, indeed, you marry an actress; and you a nobleman in the peerage of Great Britain !"

if

"What does that matter? Did not our grandfather marry the servant at a Swiss hotel? and are we any the worse for it?"

"I don't know that we are any the better; and I know that we are a precious deal poorer. Why can't you do as others do? There are many fortunes would be glad of your title; and would put up with you, in your old age, for the sake of it."

"Umph!" grunted his lordship, showing his teeth unpleasantly.

That little reference to his age nettled him. He was of that mature time of life in which a man finds that there are very few enjoyments left him; that he cannot eat as he did when young, nor drink, nor racket, nor stay up late; and that play damages his fortune, as well as ruins his health; and that he had better husband what resources he has, and go in for a quiet life. Selfish as Lord Montcastel always was, and always would be, he was shrewd enough to know that money did not purchase everything; and that a wife of a rich family, with her money carefully settled upon herself and her children, would not add greatly to his own happiness. And so, saturnine and dull in temper himself, and extremely taken with the lightsome flow of spirits that Natalie always assumed when she saw him, he determined long before this, and had taken the necessary steps, to make a matrimonial alliance such as that which his clerical brother, who was his heir-presumptive, had always dreaded. And it must be said, in justice to that reverend gentleman, and in exculpation of the too faithful historian who has shown him, in those rude days, behind the scenes, and at the house of an actress, that he went with his brother as a mentor, and to save his house from any trouble or disgrace. Natalie approached Mr Tom Forster in so winning a way, that that gentleman could not but be taken with her. The little woman was an artist in her dress, and never threw a smile or a courtesy away. Clear and clever as the old man was, he hesitated before he spoke to her; and Mdlle. Fifine had to inquire the purpose of his visit twice before she received an answer. At length he said, in a low tone-for he did not wish the gentlemen in the other room to overhear him—

"I am a friend of Mr Edgar Wade-a very old friend, mademoiselle; and I claim the privilege of visiting you on his behalf. You know him, I am sure, for he visits you."

once.

"Oh yes," said Natalie, her cheerful smile vanishing at "A very nice gentleman, who loves art, and who has made me some presents. Did he send you to me? Has he sent a letter? If so, let me have it, and rejoin my guests."

"I cannot say that he has sent a letter, or any message," returned Old Forster, bluntly. "I am come to say that he is very ill at ease about you."

"Are you his doctor? Poor man, he must get well. do nothing with him."

I can

'He, I believe, loves you very dearly, and would put his future in your hands. He is at present but a poor barrister." "What is that?"

"What you call an avocat," returned Forster. "You know that, I suppose. He may rise, and become a great man."

'Ah," thought the old fellow, "if she only knew what a great man he really is, how the little Delilah would snap him up!"

"I hope he will; but he is poor now, he tells me."

She said this simply.

"Yes," returned Forster.

"Not so rich as he will be."

"Ah! that will be.' My good friend, I am impatient at

waiting for it. It never comes-never!

young girls grow old women waiting for what I can get."

"Have you told Mr Wade so?"

I have known many will be.' I will take

"Yes. If he were here now, I should tell him so more plainly. I am going, I hope, to marry a rich man-an English milord. You may tell your friend so, if you come to. bother me with an offer. Your friend is good-looking and tall, a fine man; but so triste, so dull-like an English day in autumn. I do not like these young men. They are so selfish, too. I have told him to go away."

This was not exactly true, as it was only within the last few hours that Lord Montcastel and Natalie had come to an understanding. Old Forster whistled as she said this. So it had come to that! The infatuated young man had offered to marry her, and she had refused him! Well, it was as well as it was. But, poor young fellow, to be so treated just as a brilliant prospect opened before him !