Davenport Dunn, a Man of Our Day. Volume 1. Lever Charles James
like a country parsonage dropped down in the midst of London, with honeysuckles over the porch, and peacocks on the lawn in front of it. O’Kelly and Payne lived there together, – the two pleasantest bachelors that ever joined in partnership. The Prince dined with them by agreement every Friday. The charm of the thing was no state, no parade, whatever. It was just as if O’Reilly here were to take this villa, and say, ‘Now, Lackington, I am rich enough to enjoy myself; I don’t want the worry and fatigue of hunting out the pleasant people of the world; but you know them all, you understand them, – their ways, their wants, and their requirements; just tell me, frankly, could n’t we manage to make this their rallying-spot throughout Europe? Settled down here in the midst of the most lovely scenery in the world, with a good cook and a good cellar, might not this place become a perfect Paradise?’”
“If I only knew that your Lordship, just yourself alone, and, of course, the present company,” added O’Reilly, with a bow round the table, “would vouchsafe me the honor of a visit, I’d be proud to be the owner of this place to-morrow. Indeed, I don’t see why we would n’t be as well here as traipsing over the world in dust and heat. If, then, the girls see no objection – ”
“I should like it of all things, papa,” broke in Miss O’Reilly.
“I am charmed with the very thought of it,” cried Molly.
“Capital thought – romantic notion – save any amount of money, and no taxes,” muttered Twining.
“There’s no approach by land whatever,” said Spicer, who foresaw that all his horse capabilities would receive no development here.
“All the better,” broke in Twining; “no interlopers – no fellows cantering down to luncheon, or driving over to dine – must come by boat, and be seen an hour beforehand.”
“If I know anything of my friend here,” said the Viscount, “his taste will rather lie in the fashion of a warm welcome than a polite denial to a visitor. You must talk to Lanfranchi about the place to-morrow, O’Reilly. He ‘s a shrewd fellow, and knows how to go about these things.”
“Faith, my Lord, I see everything in sunshine so long as I sit in such company. It’s the very genial kind of thing I like. A few friends – if I ‘m not taking too great a liberty – ”
“No, by no means, O’Reilly. The esteem I feel for you, and that Twining feels for you “ – here his Lordship looked over at Spicer and slightly nodded, as though to say, “There is another there who requires no formal mention in the deed “ – “are not passing sentiments, and we sincerely desire they may be accepted as true friendship.”
“To be sure – unquestionably – great regard – unbounded admiration – what fun!” muttered Twining, half aloud.
The evening wore along in pleasant projects for the future. Spicer had undertaken to provide workmen and artificers of various kinds to repair and decorate the villa and its grounds. He knew of such a gardener, too; and he thought, by a little bribery and a trip down to Naples, he might seduce the Prince of Syracuse’s cook, – a Sicilian, worth all the Frenchmen in the world for an ultramontane “cuisine.” In fact, ere the bright moonlight on the lake reminded them of their journey homeward, they had arranged a plan of existence for the O’Reillys almost Elysian in its enjoyments.
Few things develop more imaginative powers than the description of a mode of life wherein “money is no object,” and wishing and having are convertible terms. Let a number of people – the least gifted though they be with the graces of fancy – so picture forth such an existence, and see how, by the mere multiplication of various tastes, they will end by creating a most voluptuous and splendid tableau. O’Reilly’s counsellors were rather adepts in their way, and certainly they did not forget one single ingredient of pleasure; till, when the boat glided into the little bay of the D’Este, such a story of a life was sketched out as nothing out of fairy-land could rival.
“I ‘ll have it, my Lord; the place is as good as mine this minute,” said O’Reilly, as he stepped on shore; and as he spoke his heart thrilled with the concentrated delights of a whole life of happiness.
CHAPTER X. A “SMALL DINNER”
Lady Lackington and Lady Grace Twining passed the morning together. Their husbands’ departure on the picnic excursion offered them a suitable subject to discuss those gentlemen, and they improved the occasion to some purpose.
The Viscountess did not, indeed, lean very heavily on her Lord’s failings; they were, as she described them, the harmless follies of certain middle-aged gentlemen, who, despite time and years, would still be charming and fascinating. “He likes those little easy conquests he is so sure of amongst vulgar people,” said she. “He affects only to be amused by them, but he actually likes them; and then, as he never indulges in this sort of thing except in out-of-the-way places, why, there ‘s no great harm in it.”
Lady Grace agreed with her, and sighed. She sighed, because she thought of her own burden, and how far more heavily it pressed. Twining’s were no little foibles, no small weaknesses; none of his faults had their root in any easy self-deceptions. Everything he did or said or thought was maturely weighed and considered; his gay, laughing manner, his easy, light-hearted gesticulation, his ready concurrence in the humor about him, were small coin that he scattered freely while he pondered over heavy investments.
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