Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as
he concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of
fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him
kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes.
"I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my
behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed
your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life."
"Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost
unable to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss
Emmy as happy--as I know she ought to be."
"But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's
affection for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular
circumstance, the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at
your hotel."
Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company.
"Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and
Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an
engagement to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going
to his sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter
previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business
relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House,
and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first
interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been
had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the
general. The letter he gave me was from the Spanish ambassador, claiming
a right to require Mrs. Fitzgerald from our government, and deprecating
my using an influence to counteract his exertions"--
"Which you refused," said Emily, eagerly.
"Not refused," answered the earl, smiling at her warmth, while he
admired her friendly zeal, "for it was unnecessary: there is no such
power vested in the ministry. But I explicitly told the general, I would
oppose any violent measures to restore her to her country and a convent.
From the courts, I apprehended nothing for my fair friend."
"Your honor--my lord," said Peter, who had been listening with great
attention, "if I may presume just to ask two questions, without
offence."
"Say on, my good friend," said Pendennyss, with an encouraging smile.
"Only" continued the steward--hemming, to give proper utterance to his
thoughts--"I wish to know, whether you stayed in that same street after
you left the hotel--for Mr. John Moseley and I had a slight difference
in opinion about it."
The earl smiled, having caught the arch expression of John, and replied-
-
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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