Bear and forbear

I called Captain Synders and Waddie from their hiding-place, and hastened to the hotel, intending to reach it about as soon as Mr. Overton, for I was rather fearful that his lordship would take the alarm, and leave before I had an opportunity to introduce him to the constable.

“I promised to tell Lord Palsgrave where Miss Dornwood is,” said I, as we hurried towards the rear entrance of the hotel, while Mr. Overton had gone to the front door. “Have you any objection, Waddie?”

“I don’t know that I have. It is useless to try to hide her from him,” he replied, as we entered the hotel.

I saw Mr. Overton go into the parlor; and, after placing the constable where he would be available when his services were needed, Waddie and I followed the anxious guardian. We found him talking to an elegantly dressed lady, who, I concluded, was his wife.

“Lord Palsgrave is not here just now,” said Mr. Overton, as we approached the spot where he stood.

“He has gone up stairs to dress for dinner,” added the lady. “He said he would be down in a few moments.”

“We are somewhat in a hurry,” I continued, anxiously; for I was afraid his lordship might obtain a hint of the presence of a constable on the premises.

“If you are in a hurry, it will be quite as proper for you to impart your information to me,” said Mr. Overton.

“I promised to give it to Lord Palsgrave only,” I added, wishing him to understand that I would give it to no other person.

I was very much afraid of making a blunder. Of course his lordship, having just returned from robbing a bank, would naturally be very excitable and suspicious. I walked across the room with Waddie, in order to obtain an opportunity to speak with him in private.

“Go to the office, Waddie, and ascertain the number of Lord Palsgrave’s room, and don’t let him leave the house,” I said to him, in a low tone. “Don’t say anything unless he attempts to leave.”

“I understand,” replied Waddie, as he left the parlor to execute his mission.

“I hope you will not leave till you have seen Lord Palsgrave,” said Mr. Overton, perhaps afraid that I should follow the example of my companion.

“I will not, sir,” I answered, walking with him over to the place where the lady was seated.

“We are very anxious indeed about Miss Dornwood,” he added; “but more for her own sake than for any other reason. She is young and giddy.”

“I think you need not be disturbed about her.”

“How can we help being worried about her?” said the lady.

“Well, madam, I can assure you she is with excellent people, who will be very careful of her.”

“Did I understand you to say that you conveyed Miss Dornwood away in your boat?” asked Mr. Overton.

“Whatever the facts may be, I did not say so. Did I understand you to say that Miss Dornwood is engaged to Lord Palsgrave?”

“I did say so.”

“I suppose you have been acquainted with his lordship for a long time, then?”

“No, only a few weeks.”

“Of course you are satisfied that he is what he represents himself to be.”

“What, Lord Palsgrave?” demanded Mr. Overton, with a frown. “Why do you ask such a question?”

“I suppose you are aware, sir, that all people who pass themselves off as noblemen in the United States are not really so.”

“I think such a suggestion is an insult to his lordship. Did Miss Dornwood intimate to you that Lord Palsgrave was an impostor?”

“She did not. On the contrary, I am confident that she believes he is just what he claims to be.”

“There can be no doubt about that. May I ask if you know anything about Lord Palsgrave?”

“I do know something about him, though I have not yet even met his lordship.”

“I think you ask rather remarkable questions concerning him. But here comes his lordship,” added he, as an elegantly-dressed young gentleman entered the parlor.

Mr. Overton hastened to meet Lord Palsgrave, and spoke to him for a moment in private. While they were thus engaged, Waddie entered the room, and came to my side. We had an opportunity to examine his lordship’s elegantly-fitting garments, which were certainly very creditable to his tailor. I had obtained a single glance at his face, and if his voice had been familiar to me, there was also something in his looks which seemed to remind me that I had seen him before, though I did not then recognize him.

Lord Palsgrave was in full dress, with a white vest and black dress coat. His patent-leather boots were unexceptionable, and his pants were a capital fit. From his neck an eye-glass dangled at the end of a silken cord. He wore a light mustache, which had evidently been colored within a recent period, and every hair on his head was adjusted with the nicest care. If I had met him in the street I should have called him a dandy without any compunction of conscience. I wish to say that I have since seen a live duke and a live earl; but both of them, though they looked and acted like gentlemen, were very plainly dressed.

“He’s a swellish-locking fellow—isn’t he?” said Waddie, as he joined me in the parlor.

“The chief end of man with him is to keep up appearances,” I replied.

“I think I have seen that fellow before.”

“So do I, but I can’t make him out.”

“Did you get a good view of him, Wolf?”

“I only obtained a single glance at his face when he came in; but I pity Miss Dornwood if she is compelled to throw herself away upon such a puppy as he.”

“That match will be broken up, I think.”

“Did you see him up stairs, Waddie?”

“No. I knocked at his door, and satisfied myself he was in his room; but I cleared out as soon as he answered me. I did not let him see me when he came out.”

“Where is Captain Synders now?” I asked.

“I told him to stand by the door when I came in, and he is all ready to pounce upon his victim.”

“Here comes Mr. Overton,” I added, as his lordship turned and walked over to the place where Mrs. Overton was seated.

“Excuse me, but I have not your name,” said Mr. Overton.

“Captain Penniman,” I replied.

I walked with him into the immediate presence of his august lordship.

“Lord Palsgrave, Captain Penniman,” said Mr. Overton.

His lordship had adjusted his eye-glass as he raised his head from the lady.

“Captain Penniman!” exclaimed he; and his face turned as red as a blood beet.

“Nick Van Wolter!” I almost shouted, as I recognized the distinguished nobleman. “I hope your lordship is quite well.”

“By the great horn spoon! It is Nick Van Wolter!” cried Waddie.

“Do you know these persons, Mr. Overton?” said his lordship, recovering his self-possession, and adjusting his eye-glass with particular care.

“I do not.”

“Don’t you know me, Lord Nick Van Wolter?” I asked, laughing heartily at the airs of his lordship.

“Certainly not,” he answered.

“Then I have the advantage of your lordship.”

“So have I,” added Waddie; “and that’s two against one.”

“Who are these persons?” demanded his lordship, still squinting at us through his eye-glass.

“I don’t know them; but one of them informs me that he knows where Miss Dornwood is, and is willing to inform your lordship,” replied Mr. Overton.

“I am that person, and I shall be happy to give his lordship all the information in my power,” I answered.

“What do you know of the lady?” asked his lordship, in supercilious tones.

“She went down the lake in the Belle last night—his lordship knows the Belle very well.”

“The belle—pray, sir, do you refer to Miss Dornwood?” said Lord Palsgrave, squinting at me through the glass.

“I do not. I refer to the sloop boat Belle, in which your lordship has sailed more than once.”

“What do you mean by that, fellow?”

“Come, Nick, this farce is played out.”

“Nick! What do you mean, fellow, by applying such an insulting epithet to me?” exclaimed his lordship.

“I hope you will treat Lord Palsgrave with proper respect,” interposed Mr. Overton.

“Well, sir, I happen to know that Lord Palsgrave and Nick Van Wolter, the son of the present captain of the steamer Ucayga, are one and the same person. In other words, Mr. Overton, he is a humbug.”

“Fellow!” ejaculated his lordship. “How dare you insult me?”

“O, I dare, it you call the simple truth an insult,” I replied.

“I will not endure this insolence,” said his lordship, rushing towards the door.

“Yes, you will,” I interposed, placing myself before him.

“I will call the landlord, and have you ejected from the premises.”

“Not yet. I will send for the landlord, and save you that trouble. Waddie, will you call him?” and I nodded to him to indicate that Captain Synders might also be introduced.

By this time there was a great excitement in the parlor. The guests of the house who were waiting for dinner had become interested in the affair. Nick Van Wolter, while he still attempted to maintain his assumed character, was evidently very much disconcerted, and was thinking how he should get out of the room, and make his escape. When Captain Synders entered the parlor, his jaw fell.

“Nick Van Wolter, as true as you live,” said the constable, as he came in, Waddie having previously informed him who the victim was.

“Captain Penniman, you promised to tell his lordship where Miss Dornwood is,” interposed Mr. Overton.

“I am entirely willing to do so,” I replied. “But I am surprised to find that his lordship does not remember the Belle. Why, when his lordship and the other gentleman—who, I believe, does not pretend to be a lord—were crossing the lake last night, after midnight, the Belle actually ran into his boat. I will add that Miss Dornwood was on board of the Belle at the time, though she was asleep in the cabin.”

“His lordship in a boat?” repeated Mr. Overton.

“Exactly so; and if his lordship will pardon the freedom of my speech, he and the other gentleman—who is not a lord—robbed the Centreport Bank of fifty or sixty thousand dollars.”

“Robbed a bank!” exclaimed Mr. Overton.

Lord Palsgrave’s face was deadly pale, and his frame quivered with emotion.

“His lordship is well acquainted with Captain Synders, constable of Centreport, who is here for the purpose of arresting him.”

“O, yes! I know his lordship like a book,” replied the constable. “I have known him for a good many years, and I’m sorry to say, I never knew much good of him.”

At this moment the gong for dinner sounded; but none of the guests in the parlor manifested any disposition to regard the summons.

“I have heard enough of this nonsense. Mrs. Overton, allow me to escort you to the table,” said his lordship, trying to stiffen his joints again, as he stepped up to the lady, and extended his arm to her.

“I hope Mrs. Overton will excuse your lordship, for we have not finished our business yet,” I remarked, as the constable stepped up to his victim.

His lordship was evidently very much disgusted and disheartened.