Alice, or the Mysteries — Complete
neglect to bring prominently, though incidentally, forward the question
on which it was whispered that there existed some growing difference in
the Cabinet. Lord Vargrave rose late. His temper was excited by the good
fortune of his day's negotiation; he felt himself of more importance
than usual, as a needy man is apt to do when he has got a large sum at
his banker's; moreover, he was exasperated by some personal allusions to
himself, which had been delivered by a dignified old lord who dated his
family from the ark, and was as rich as Croesus. Accordingly, Vargrave
spoke with more than his usual vigour. His first sentences were welcomed
with loud cheers; he warmed, he grew vehement, he uttered the most
positive and unalterable sentiments upon the question alluded to, he
greatly transgressed the discretion which the heads of his party were
desirous to maintain,--instead of conciliating without compromising, he
irritated, galled, _and_ compromised. The angry cheers of the opposite
party were loudly re-echoed by the cheers of the more hot-headed on his
own side. The premier and some of his colleagues observed, however, a
moody silence. The premier once took a note, and then reseated himself,
and drew his hat more closely over his brows. It was an ominous sign
for Lumley; but he was looking the Opposition in the face, and did not
observe it. He sat down in triumph; he had made a most effective and a
most mischievous speech,--a combination extremely common. The leader of
the Opposition replied to him with bitter calmness; and when citing some
of his sharp sentences, he turned to the premier, and asked, "Are these
opinions those also of the noble lord? I call for a reply,--I have a
right to demand a reply," Lumley was startled to hear the tone in which
his chief uttered the comprehensive and significant "_Hear, hear_!"
At midnight the premier wound up the debate; his speech was short, and
characterized by moderation. He came to the question put to him. The
House was hushed,--you might have heard a pin drop; the Commoners
behind the throne pressed forward with anxiety and eagerness on their
countenances.
"I am called upon," said the minister, "to declare if those sentiments,
uttered by my noble friend, are mine also, as the chief adviser of
the Crown. My lords, in the heat of debate every word is not to
be scrupulously weighed, and rigidly interpreted." ("Hear, hear,"
ironically from the Opposition, approvingly from the Treasury benches.)
"My noble friend will doubtless be anxious to explain what he intended
to say. I hope, nay, I doubt not, that his explanation will be
satisfactory to the noble lord, to the House, and to the country; but
since I am called upon for a distinct reply to a distinct interrogatory,
I will say at once, that if those sentiments be rightly interpreted by
the noble lord who spoke last, those sentiments are not mine, and
will never animate the conduct of any cabinet of which I am a member."
(Long-continued cheering from the Opposition.) "At the same time, I am
convinced that my noble friend's meaning has not been rightly construed;
and till I hear from himself to the contrary, I will venture to state
what I think he designed to convey to your lordships." Here the premier,
with a tact that nobody could be duped by, but every one could admire,
stripped Lord Vargrave's unlucky sentences of every syllable that could
give offence to any one; and left the pointed epigrams and vehement
denunciations a most harmless arrangement of commonplace.
The House was much excited; there was a call for Lord Vargrave, and Lord
Vargrave promptly rose. It was one of those dilemmas out of which Lumley
was just the man to extricate himself with address. There was so much
manly frankness in his manner, there was so much crafty subtlety in
his mind! He complained, with proud and honest bitterness, of the
construction that had been forced upon his words by the Opposition.
"If," he added (and no man knew better the rhetorical effect of the _tu
quoque_ form of argument),--"if every sentence uttered by the noble
lord opposite in his zeal for liberty had, in days now gone by, been
construed with equal rigour, or perverted with equal ingenuity, that
noble lord had long since been prosecuted as an incendiary, perhaps
executed as a traitor!" Vehement cheers from the ministerial benches;
cries of "Order!" from the Opposition. A military lord rose to order,
and appealed to the Woolsack.
Lumley sat down as if chafed at the interruption; he had produced the
effect he had desired,--he had changed the public question at issue into
a private quarrel; a new excitement was created; dust was thrown into
the eyes of the House. Several speakers rose to accommodate matters; and
after half-an-hour of public time had been properly wasted, the noble
lord on the one side and the noble lord on the other duly explained,
paid each other the highest possible compliments, and Lumley was left to
conclude his vindication, which now seemed a comparatively flat matter
after the late explosion. He completed his task so as to satisfy,
apparently, all parties--for all parties were now tired of the thing,
and wanted to go to bed. But the next morning there were whispers about
the town, articles in the different papers, evidently by authority,
rejoicings among the Opposition, and a general feeling that though the
Government might keep together that session, its dissensions would break
out before the next meeting of parliament.
As Lumley was wrapping himself in his cloak after this stormy debate,
the Marquess of Raby--a peer of large possessions, and one who entirely
agreed with Lumley's views--came up to him, and proposed that they
should go home together in Lord Raby's carriage. Vargrave willingly
consented, and dismissed his own servants.
"You did that admirably, my dear Vargrave!" said Lord Raby, when they
were seated in the carriage. "I quite coincide in all your sentiments;
I declare my blood boiled when I heard ----- [the premier] appear half
inclined to throw you over. Your hit upon ----- was first-rate,--he will
not get over it for a month; and you extricated yourself well."
"I am glad you approve my conduct,--it comforts me," said Vargrave,
feelingly; "at the same time I see all the consequences; but I can brave
all for the sake of character and conscience."
"I feel just as you do!" replied Lord Raby, with some warmth; "and if I
thought that ----- meant to yield to this question, I should certainly
oppose his administration."
Vargrave shook his head, and held his tongue, which gave Lord Raby a
high idea of his discretion.
After a few more observations on political matters, Lord Raby invited
Lumley to pay him a visit at his country-seat.
"I am going to Knaresdean next Monday; you know we have races in the
park, and really they are sometimes good sport; at all events, it is a
very pretty sight. There will be nothing in the Lords now,--the recess
is just at hand; and if you can spare the time, Lady Raby and myself
will be delighted to see you."
"You may be sure, my dear lord, I cannot refuse your invitation; indeed,
I intended to visit your county next week. You know, perhaps, a Mr.
Merton."
"Charles Merton?--to be sure; most respectable man, capital fellow,
the best parson in the county,--no cant, but thoroughly orthodox; he
certainly keeps in his brother, who, though a very active member, is
what I call a waverer on certain questions. Have you known Merton long?"
"I don't know him at all as yet; my acquaintance is with his wife
and daughter,--a very fine girl, by the by. My ward, Miss Cameron, is
staying with them."
"Miss Cameron! Cameron--ah, I understand. I think I have heard that--But
gossip does not always tell the truth!"
Lumley smiled significantly, and the carriage now stopped at his door.
"Perhaps you will take a seat in our carriage on Monday?" said Lord
Raby.
"Monday? Unhappily I am engaged; but on Tuesday your lordship may expect
me."
"Very well; the races begin on Wednesday: we shall have a full house.
Good-night."
CHAPTER V.
HOMUNCULI quanti sunt, cum recogito.*--PLAUTUS.
* "When I reflect, how great your little men are in their own
consideration!"
IT is obvious that for many reasons we must be brief upon the political
intrigue in which the scheming spirit of Lord Vargrave was employed.
It would, indeed, be scarcely possible to preserve the necessary medium
between too plain a revelation and too complex a disguise. It suffices,
therefore, very shortly to repeat what the reader has already gathered
from what has gone before; namely, that the question at issue was one
which has happened often enough in all governments,--one on which the
Cabinet was divided, and in which the weaker party was endeavouring to
out-trick the stronger.
The malcontents, foreseeing that sooner or later the head of the
gathering must break, were again divided among themselves whether
to resign, or to stay in and strive to force a resignation on their
dissentient colleagues. The richer and the more honest were for the
former course; the poorer and the more dependent for the latter. We
have seen that the latter policy was that espoused and recommended by
Vargrave, who, though not in the Cabinet, always contrived somehow or
other to worm out its secrets. At the same time he by no means rejected
the other string to his bow. If it were possible so to arrange and
to strengthen his faction, that, by the _coup d'etat_ of a sudden
resignation in a formidable body, the whole Government might be broken
up, and a new one formed from among the resignees, it would obviously be
the best plan. But then Lord Vargrave was doubtful of his own strength,
and fearful to play into the hands of his colleagues, who might be able
to stand even better without himself and his allies, and by conciliating
the Opposition take a step onward in political movement,--which might
leave Vargrave placeless and powerless for years to come.
He repented his own rashness in the recent debate, which was, indeed, a
premature boldness that had sprung out of momentary excitement--for the
craftiest orator must be indiscreet sometimes. He spent the next few
days in alternately seeking to explain away to one party, and to sound,
unite, and consolidate the other. His attempts in the one quarter were
received by the premier with the cold politeness of an offended but
careful statesman, who believed just as much as he chose, and preferred
taking his own opportunity for a breach with a subordinate to risking
any imprudence by the gratification of resentment. In the last quarter,
the penetrating adventurer saw that his ground was more insecure than
he had anticipated. He perceived in dismay and secret rage that many
of those most loud in his favour while he was with the Government would
desert him the soonest if thrown out. Liked as a subordinate minister,
he was viewed with very different eyes the moment it was a question
whether, instead of cheering his sentiments, men should trust themselves
to his guidance. Some did not wish to displease the Government; others
did not seek to weaken but to correct them. One of his stanchest
allies in the Commons was a candidate for a peerage; another suddenly
remembered that he was second cousin to the premier. Some laughed at
the idea of a puppet premier in Lord Saxingham; others insinuated to
Vargrave that he himself was not precisely of that standing in the
country which would command respect to a new party, of which, if not the
head, he would be the mouthpiece. For themselves they knew, admired, and
trusted him; but those d-----d country gentlemen--and the dull public!
Alarmed, wearied, and disgusted, the schemer saw himself reduced to