The great shadow (1892)

  I whistled when I came to those words written under his name; for though I had long made up my mind that our lodger could be none other than one of those wonderful soldiers of whom we had heard so much, who had forced their way into every capital of Europe, save only our own, still I had little thought that our roof covered Napoleon's own aide-de-camp and a colonel of his Guard.

  "So," said I, "de Lissac is his name, and not de Lapp. Well, colonel or no, it is as well for him that he got away from here before Jim laid hands upon him. And time enough, too," I added, peeping out at the kitchen window, "for here is the man himself coming through the garden."

  I ran to the door to meet him, feeling that I would have given a deal to have him back in Edinburgh again. He came running, waving a paper over his head; and I thought that maybe he had a note from Edie, and that it was all known to him. But as he came up I saw that it was a big, stiff, yellow paper which crackled as he waved it, and that his eyes were dancing with happiness.

  "Hurrah, Jock!" he shouted. "Where is Edie? Where is Edie?"

  "What is it, man?" I asked.

  "Where is Edie?"

  "What have you there?"

  "It is my diploma, Jock. I can practise when I like. It is all right. I want to show it to Edie."

  "The best you can do is to forget all about Edie," said I.

  Never have I seen a man s face change as his did when I said those words.

  "What! What d'ye mean, Jock Calder?" he stammered.

  He let go his hold of the precious diploma as he spoke, and away it went over the hedge and across the moor, where it stuck flapping on a whin-bush; but he never so much as glanced at it.

  His eyes were bent upon me, and I saw the devil's spark glimmer up in the depths of them.

  "She is not worthy of you," said I.

  He gripped me by the shoulder.

  "What have you done?" he whispered. "This is some of your hanky-panky! Where is she?"

  "She 's off with that Frenchman who lodged here."

  I had been casting about in my mind how I could break it gently to him; but I was always backward in speech, and I could think of nothing better than this.

  "Oh!" said he, and stood nodding his head and looking at me, though I knew very well that he could neither see me, nor the steading, nor anything else. So he stood for a minute or more, with his hands clenched and his head still nodding. Then he gave a gulp in his throat, and spoke in a queer dry, rasping voice.

  "When was this?" said he.

  "This morning."

  "Were they married?

  "Yes."

  He put his hand against the doorpost to steady himself.

  "Any message for me?"

  "She said that you would forgive her."

  "May God blast my soul on the day I do! Where have they gone to?"

  "To France, I should judge?"

  "His name was de Lapp, I think?"

  "His real name is de Lissac; and he is no less than a colonel in Boney's Guards?"

  "Ah! he would be in Paris, likely. That is well! That is well!"

  "Hold up!" I shouted. "Father! Father! Bring the brandy!"

  His knees had given way for an instant, but he was himself again before the old man came running with the bottle.

  "Take it away!" said he.

  "Have a soop, Mister Horscroft," cried my father, pressing it upon him. "It will give you fresh heart!"

  He caught hold of the bottle and sent it flying over the garden hedge.

  "It's very good for those who wish to forget," said he; "I am going to remember!"

  "May God forgive you for sinfu' waste!" cried my father aloud.

  "And for well-nigh braining an officer of his Majesty's infantry!" said old Major Elliott, putting his head over the hedge. "I could have done with a nip after a morning's walk, but it is something new to have a whole bottle whizz past my ear. But what is amiss, that you all stand round like mutes at a burying?"

  In a few words I told him our trouble, while Jim, with a grey face and his brows drawn down, stood leaning against the doorpost. The major was as glum as we by the time I had finished, for he was fond both of Jim and of Edie."

  "Tut, tut!" said he. "I feared something of the kind ever since that business of the Peel Tower. It's the way with the French. They can't leave the women alone. But, at least, de Lissac has married her, and that 's a comfort. But it's no time now to think of our own little troubles, with all Europe in a roar again, and another twenty years' war before us, as like as not."

  "What dye mean?" I asked.

  "Why, man, Napoleon's back from Elba, his troops have flocked to him, and Louis has run for his life. The news was in Berwick this morning."

  "Great Lord!" cried my father. "Then the weary business is all to do over again!"

  "Aye, we thought we were out from the shadow, but it's still there. Wellington is ordered from Vienna to the Low Countries, and it is thought that the Emperor will break out first on that side. Well, it's a bad wind that blows nobody any good. I've just had news that I am to join the 71st as senior major."

  I shook hands with our good neighbour on this, for I knew how it had lain upon his mind that he should be a cripple, with no part to play in the world.

  "I am to join my regiment as soon as I can; and we shall be over yonder in a month, and in Paris, maybe, before another one is over."

  "By the Lord, then, I'm with you, major!" cried Jim Horscroft. "I'm not too proud to carry a musket, if you will put me in front of this Frenchman?"

  "My lad, I 'd be proud to have you serve under me," said the major. "And as to de Lissac, where the Emperor is he will be."

  "You know the man," said I. "What can you tell us of him?"

  "There is no better officer in the French army, and that is a big word to say. They say that he would have been a marshal, but he preferred to stay at the Emperor's elbow. I met him two days before Corunna, when I was sent with a flag to speak about our wounded. He was with Soult then. I knew him again when I saw him."

  "And I will know him again when I see him!" said Horscroft, with the old dour look on his face.

  And then at that instant, as I stood there, it was suddenly driven home to me how poor and purposeless a life I should lead while this crippled friend of ours and the companion of my boyhood were away in the forefront of the storm. Quick as a flash my resolution was taken.

  "I 'll come with you too, major," I cried.

  "Jock! Jock!" said my father, wringing his hands.

  Jim said nothing, but put his arm half round me and hugged me. The major's eyes shone and he flourished his cane in the air.

  "My word, but I shall have two good recruits at my heels," said he. "Well, there's no time to be lost, so you must both be ready for the evening coach."

  And this was what a single day brought about; and yet years pass away so often without a change. Just think of the alteration in that four-and-twenty hours. De Lissac was gone. Edie was gone. Napoleon had escaped. War had broken out. Jim Horscroft had lost everything, and he and I were setting out to fight against the French. It was all like a dream, until I tramped off to the coach that evening, and looked back at the grey farm steading and at the two little dark figures my mother with her face sunk in her Shetland shawl, and my father waving his drover's stick to hearten me upon my way.

(End of chapter 10)

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