Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell (читать лучшие читаемые книги TXT) 📗

Iffley.

“You must please understand, sir,” he said coldly, “that you are only

permitted to enter here as a legal representative of your nephew. In

short, to be quite frank, I do not intend to introduce you to my

betrothed, so you will look upon this as merely a business interview.

Follow me.”

Saying which, Doctor Syn followed young Cobtree into the hall.

Young Cobtree, who had overheard all and had reached the parlour

first, instructed the ladies that it would not be seemly for either of

them to rise, to curtsey, or in any way greet the scoundrel who

unfortunately had to be admitted to the conference merely as the

guardian of his nephew, and thus it was that when Doctor Syn said, “This

is the Squire of Iffley, and uncle to your acquaintance Nicholas

Tappitt, who is here at the request of your legal representative,”

neither of the ladies so much as bowed an acknowledgment to the Squire’s

elaborate bow in the doorway. Realizing that he was ignored, however,

did not prevent him from raising his quizzing-glas and surveying

with audible sighs the young Imogene.

“I think we will close the windows,” said young Cobtree. “I shall

nver be able to make myself clear to you, sir, with all this noise. In

point of fact, sir, the crowd is grown so hostile against you that on

the completion of our interview I think you will be hard put to it to

reach your home at Iffley with a whole skin. Kindly sit down there.”

And he pointed to an empty chair at the table.

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This the Squire surv eyed through his quizzing-glass as he approached it,

pretended to perceive dust upon the seat, which he flicked away with a

large handkerchief, and continued the insulting gesture till young

Cobtree had closed the window.

“If the chair is not to your liking, sir,” he said, as he sat down in

front of his papers, I am sure the ladies will allow you to stand. It

will at least lend you a show of respect.”

The Squire placed one hand idly on the back of the chair, and raising

his glance once more, surveyed the elder lady quickly, passed on to the

younger, and surveyed her longer, while uttering a sigh of longingness.

“Although these gentlemen,” he said, waving his hand towards Doctor

Syn and young Cobtree, “seem as desirous as their friends without to

place me at a disadvantage with you, I assure you both, dear ladies,

that I am ravished to meet such beauty, and would wish nothing better

than to be your very humble servant.” An elaborate bow before

continuing: “I extend to you a very hearty welcome to E ngland and to

Oxford. Perhaps I owe you an apology. Doctor Syn has already corrected

me for the letter of invitation I sent you at Lympne Castle. It was

supposed to come from my wife. You will ask me why I acted this lie.

My excuse is that I was anxious to play the humble host to you, and am

still anxious to do so. Not being versed in the conversations of Spain,

I feared that, did you know I was a bachelor, you might feel inclined to

refuse my hospitality. Let me assure you that in England the presen ce

of my lady housekeeper ensures that all proper conventions would be

observed. Also when I wrote I was ignorant that this very fortunate

young parson had been more successful than my nephew in having won the

heart of this lady. Had I known of this, I should have extended my

hospitality to him. This I still do. Doctor Syn, you are welcome at

Iffley for as long as these ladies will honour me with their presence.”

Doctor Syn was about to reply, but Imogene interrupted him with a

gesture.

“My mother speaks but little English, sir,” she said, addressing the

Squire, “so no doubt you will allow me as her medium. My mother has

come to England to seek quiet after her bereavement. We are very

comfortable here in these rooms found for us by Doctor Syn. She would

not feel happy if we were to thrust ourselves upon you as guests, lest

our own sadness communicate itself to others of your household.”

“Bless you, my dear young lady,” laughed the Squire, “You may both

of you cry all day, if you be in the mind, and I’ll give orders that all

at Iffley shall cry with you for company and to put you at your ease.”

“I think, sir,” put Doctor Syn, “that we can let any question of your

hospitality alone. Since I have forbidden my own students to visit you,

I shall advise these ladies in the same manner. Mr. Cobtree is a busy

man, and I have my duties at Queen’s College. I suggest that we finish

our business as speedily as possible.”

“Nothing that I can do or say,” laughed the Squire, “appears to have

any weight with any of you. I give in. Since I am thus discredited,

let me at least know how my fool of a nephew stands in your regard. Is

he, or is he not, mentioned in this Almago’s will?”

To which Imogene replied: “Mister Antony Cobtree here is

representing my mother and myself in English law. I have already

translated my dear father’s last testament to him from the Spanish,

which he has put into legal terms in English. As your nephew’s

guardian —and may I say that we are both very attached to your nephe w,

sir?—it is only right that in his behalf you should

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hear my father’s last wishes concerning him. Mister Cobtree, will you

proceed?”

Tony Cobtree afterwards confessed that he not only enjoyed the official

situation, in which he found himself, but went out of his way to sound

the deepest dryness of the legal phrases which he uttered. And in this

vanity he might well be excused, since it was the very first case he had

undertaken. Solemnly he read through the terms of the late Spaniard’s

will, which he had turned into English Law jargon from the translation

supplied by Imogene. But if he had thought to be tiresome to the Squire

of Iffley, he was mistaken, for the bully drank in the news of the

Spanish ladies’ wealth with avidity, and the more wealthy they seemed to

grow according to the young lawyer’s statement, so much the more did the

Squire ogle the beautiful Senorita.

The part of the will which touched the Squire’s nephew stated that

the vessel which the deceased provided and fitted out for Nicholas

Tappitt should be still held in commission with the said Nicholas

Tappitt as sailing-master, and that after payment from each or any

voyage, such profits accuring from the same should be divided into equal

portions, and paid the one to th e sailing-master and the other to the

deceased’s daughter Imogene. This statement concluded the business, and

Cobtree asked if anyone had any comment to make.

At which the Squire got to his feet and, much to Doctor Syn’s

annoyance, took Imogene’s hand and kissed her fingertips.

“It seems, then,” he said with a laugh, “that my wretched nephew will

at least have the felicity to be connected closely with you in the way

of business. Will you object to that, Doctor Syn? Or will you be

sensible enough to pocket the profits which my nephew’s trading brings

to your wife? I warrant it will be higher than the stipend of a

parson.”

“I think we need detain the Squire of Iffley no longer,” rapped out

the attorney.

“I will gladly accompany him downstairs,” added Doctor Syn, “for by

the looks of it the crowd had grown even larger, and I venture to think

that he will need a little protection on the way to his coach.”

“We will both accompany him, with your leave,” added Cobtree.

The Squire surveyed the y oung men haughtily.