Japhet In Search Of A Father Part 1 by Frederick Marryat (unputdownable books TXT) 📕

"And I Have Assented,  Sir. I Have Taken A Name Instead Of My Real One."

"May I Ask What It Is?"

"I Call Myself Mr Japhet Newland."

"Well,  It Is Singular,  But Perhaps As Good As Any Other. I Will Take It

Down,  In case I Have To Write To You. Your Address Is--"

"Piazza--Covent Garden."

Mr Masterton Took My Name And Address,  I Took The Papers,  And Then We

Both Took Leave Of One Another,  With Many Expressions Of Pleasure And

Good-Will.

I Returned To The Hotel,  Where I Found Timothy Waiting For Me,  With

Impatience. "Japhet," Said He,  "Lord Windermear Has Not Yet Left Town. I

Have Seen Him,  For I Was Called Back After I Left The House,  By The

Footman,  Who Ran After Me--He Will Be Here Immediately."

"Indeed," Replied I. "Pray What Sort Of Person Is He,  And What Did He

Say To You?"

"He Sent For Me In The Dining-Parlour,  Where He Was At Breakfast,  Asked

When You Arrived,  Whether You Were Well,  And How Long I Had Been In Your

Service. I Replied That I Had Not Been More Than Two Days,  And Had Just

Put On My Liveries. He Then Desired Me To Tell Mr Newland That He Would

Call Upon Him In about Two Hours. Then,  My Lord," Replied I,  "I Had

Better Go And Tell Him To Get Out Of Bed."

"The Lazy Dog!" Said He,  "Nearly One O'Clock,  And Not Out Of Bed; Well,

Go Then,  And Get Him Dressed As Fast As You Can."

Shortly Afterwards A Handsome Carriage With Greys Drew Up To The Door.

His Lordship Sent In His Footman To Ask Whether Mr Newland Was At Home.

The Reply Of The Waiter Was,  That There Was A Young Gentleman Who Had

Been There Two Or Three Days,  Who Had Come From Making A Tour,  And His

Name Did Begin With An _N_. "That Will Do,  James; Let Down The Steps."

His Lordship Alighted,  Was Ushered Up Stairs,  And Into My Room. There We

Stood,  Staring At Each Other.

"Lord Windermear,  I Believe," Said I,  Extending My Hand.

"You Have Recognised Me First,  John," Said He,  Taking My Hand,  And

Looking Earnestly In My Face. "Good Heavens! Is It Possible That An

Awkward Boy Should Have Grown Up Into So Handsome A Fellow? I Shall Be

Proud Of My Nephew. Did You Remember Me When I Entered The Room?"

"To Tell The Truth,  My Lord,  I Did Not; But Expecting You,  I Took It For

Granted That It Must Be You."

"Nine Years Make A Great Difference,  John;--But I Forget,  I Must Now

Call You Japhet. Have You Been Reading The Bible Lately,  That You Fixed

Upon That Strange Name?"

"No,  My Lord,  But This Hotel Is Such A Noah'S Ark,  That It'S No Wonder I

Thought Of It."

"You'Re An Undutiful Dog,  Not To Ask After Your Mother,  Sir."

"I Was About--"

"I See--I See," Interrupted His Lordship; "But Recollect,  John,  That She

Still Is _Your Mother_. By-The-By,  Have You Read The Papers Yet?"

"No,  Sir," Replied I,  "There They Are," Pointing To Them On The Side

Table. "I Really Do Not Like To Break The Seals."

"That They Will Not Contain Pleasant Intelligence,  I Admit," Replied His

Lordship; "But Until You Have Read Them,  I Do Not Wish To Converse With

You On The Subject,  Therefore," Said He,  Taking Up The Packet,  And

Breaking The Seals,  "I Must Now Insist That You Employ This Forenoon In

Reading Them Through. You Will Dine With Me At Seven,  And Then We Will

Talk The Matter Over."

"Certainly,  Sir,  If You Wish It,  I Will Read Them."

"I Must _Insist_ Upon It,  John; And Am Rather Surprised At Your

Objecting,  When They Concern You So Particularly."

"I Shall Obey Your Orders,  Sir."

"Well,  Then,  My Boy,  I Shall Wish You Good Morning,  That You May

Complete Your Task Before You Come To Dinner. To-Morrow,  If You Wish

It--But Recollect,  I Never Press Young Men On These Points,  As I Am

Aware That They Sometimes Feel It A Restraint--If You Wish It,  I Say,

You May Bring Your Portmanteaus,  And Take Up Your Quarters With Me.

By-The-Bye," Continued His Lordship,  Taking Hold Of My Coat,  "Who Made

This?"

"The Tailor To His Serene Highness The Prince Of Darmsradt Had That

Honour,  My Lord," Replied I.

"Humph! I Thought They Fitted Better In Germany; It'S Not Quite The

Thing--We Must Consult Stulz,  For With That Figure And Face,  The Coat

Ought To Be Quite Correct. Adieu,  My Dear Fellow,  Till Seven."

His Lordship Shook Hands With Me,  And I Was Left Alone. Timothy Came In

As Soon As His Lordship'S Carriage Had Driven Off. "Well,  Sir," Said He,

"Was Your Uncle Glad To See You?"

"Yes," Replied I; "And Look,  He Has Broken Open The Seals,  And Has

Insisted Upon My Reading The Papers."

"It Would Be Very Undutiful In You To Refuse,  So I Had Better Leave You

To Your Task," Said Timothy,  Smiling,  As He Quitted The Room.

     I Open An Account With My Bankers,  Draw Largely Upon Credulity,  And

     Am Prosperous Without A _Check_.

I Sat Down And Took Up The Papers. I Was Immediately And Strangely

Interested In all That I Read. A Secret!--It Was,  Indeed,  A Secret,

Involving The Honour And Reputation Of The Most Distinguished Families.

One That,  If Known,  The Trumpet Of Scandal Would Have Blazoned Forth To

The Disgrace Of The Aristocracy. It Would Have Occasioned Bitter Tears

To Some,  Gratified The Petty Malice Of Many,  Satisfied The Revenge Of

The Vindictive,  And Bowed With Shame The Innocent As Well As The Guilty.

It Is Not Necessary,  Nor,  Indeed,  Would I,  On Any Account,  State Any

More. I Finished The Last Paper,  And Then Fell Into A Reverie. This Is,

Indeed,  A Secret,  Thought I; One That I Would I Never Had Possessed. In

A Despotic Country My Life Would Be Sacrificed To The Fatal

Knowledge--Here,  Thank God,  My Life As Well As My Liberty Are Safe.

The Contents Of The Papers Told Me All That Was Necessary To Enable Me

To Support The Character Which I Had Assumed. The Reason Why The Party,

Whom I Was Supposed To Be,  Was Intrusted With It,  Was,  That He Was In a

Direct Line,  Eventually Heir,  And The Question Was Whether He Would

Waive His Claim With The Others,  And Allow Death To Bury Crime In

Oblivion. I Felt That Were I In His Position I Should So Do--And

Therefore Was Prepared To Give An Answer To His Lordship. I Sealed Up

The Papers,  Dressed Myself,  And Went To Dinner; And After The Cloth Was

Removed,  Lord Windermear,  First Rising And Turning The Key In The Door,

Said To Me,  In a Low Voice,  "You Have Read The Papers,  And What Those,

Nearly As Much Interested As You Are In This Lamentable Business,  Have

Decided Upon. Tell Me,  What Is Your Opinion?"

"My Opinion,  My Lord,  Is,  That I Wish I Had Never Known What Has Come To

Light This Day--That It Will Be Most Advisable Never To Recur To The

Subject,  And That The Proposals Made Are,  In My Opinion,  Most Judicious,

And Should Be Acted Upon."

"That Is Well," Replied His Lordship; "Then All Are Agreed,  And I Am

Proud To Find You Possessed Of Such Honour And Good Feeling. We Now Drop

The Subject For Ever. Are You Inclined To Leave Town With Me,  Or What Do

You Intend To Do?"

"I Prefer Remaining In Town,  If Your Lordship Will Introduce Me To Some

Of The Families Of Your Acquaintance. Of Course I Know No One Now."

"Very True; I Will Introduce You,  As Agreed,  As Mr Newland. It May Be As

Well That You Do Not Know Any Of Our Relations,  Whom I Have Made To

Suppose,  That You Are Still Abroad--And It Would Be Awkward,  When You

Take Your Right Name By-And-Bye. Do You Mean To See Your Mother?"

"Impossible,  My Lord,  At Present; By-And-Bye I Hope To Be Able."

"Perhaps It'S All For The Best. I Will Now Write One Note To Major

Carbonnell,  Introducing You As My Particular Friend,  And Requesting That

He Will Make London Agreeable. He Knows Everybody,  And Will Take You

Everywhere."

"When Does Your Lordship Start For The Country?"

"To-Morrow; So We May As Well Part To-Night. By-The-By,  You Have Credit

At Drummond'S,  In The Name Of Newland,  For A Thousand Pounds; The Longer

You Make It Last You The Better."

His Lordship Gave Me The Letter Of Introduction. I Returned To Him The

Sealed Packet,  Shook Hands With Him,  And Took My Departure.

"Well,  Sir," Said Timothy,  Rubbing His Hands,  As He Stood Before Me,

"What Is The News; For I Am Dying To Hear It--And What Is This Secret?"

"With Regard To The Secret,  Tim,  A Secret