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Colonel Ashley spent two busy days, most of his time being given over to investigating Aaron Grafton. And the more he saw of that gentleman the more the detective became convinced that the merchant knew something of the crime. "I wouldn't admit, even to myself," mused the colonel, "that he had a hand in it, or that he was an accessory before or after.
And these he rehearsed in such merry spirit and new guise that we scarce recognized them, and Colonel Lloyd so choked with laughter that more than once he had to be hit between the shoulders. No boyhood could have been happier than mine, and throughout it, ever present with me, were a shadow and a light. The shadow was my Uncle Grafton.
To the former class belonged Pratt, now Lord Camden, who accepted the Great Seal, and Lord Shelburne, who was made one of the Secretaries of State. To the latter class belonged the Duke of Grafton, who became First Lord of the Treasury, and Conway, who kept his old position both in the government and in the House of Commons.
The death of the Marquess caused a vacancy in the stewardship of the approaching Doncaster. Sir Lucius Grafton was the other steward, and he proposed to the Duke of St. James, as he was a Yorkshireman, to become his colleague. His Grace, who wished to pay a compliment to his county, closed with the proposition.
I spoke with a vehemence, for the thought carried me beyond myself, that this upstart parson his Lordship had but a year since sent among us should question our family reputation. "Remember that Mr. Allen is of the Church, Richard," said my grandfather, severely. "I fear he has little respect for Church or State, sir," Grafton put in. "You are now reaping the fruits of your indulgence."
"I have been told that she ceases to love me." "You do not believe it, I trust?" "He who wrote me so does not sign his letter." "An anonymous denunciation! some treachery, be assured," said Miss Grafton.
After greeting his father with his usual ceremony, he came to my bedside and asked gravely how I did. "How now, Grafton!" cried Mr. Carvel; "this is no funeral. The lad has only a scratch, thank God!" My uncle looked at me and forced a smile. "Indeed I am rejoiced to find you are not worried over this matter, father," said he.
I was pressed with invitations to go into the country to ride this or that horse. His Grace the Duke of Grafton had a mount he would have me try at Wakefield Lodge, and was far from pleasant over my refusal of his invitation.
He hesitated, and drummed on the table. He was the man of business again. "What security am I to have, Mr. Carvel?" he asked. "My word," I said. "It has never yet been broken, I thank God, nor my father's before me. And hark ye, Mr. Dix, you shall not be able to say that of Grafton." Truly I thought the principal and agent were now well matched. "Very good, Mr. Carvel," he said; "ten per cent.
These readings, which took place sometimes in the greenroom or Beefsteak Room at the Lyceum, sometimes at his house in Grafton Street, were wonderful. Never were the names of the characters said by the reader, but never was there the slightest doubt as to which was speaking. Henry Irving swiftly, surely, acted every part in the piece as he read.
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