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THE TWO ADMIRALS
hood, I have supposed that the celebrated admiral of that
name, has done me the honour to write it.”
“You are not mistaken, sir; Sir Gervaise Oakes is in the
house – ah – here he comes to receive you, accompanied
by Rear-Admiral Bluewater, whom the sailors call his mainmast.”
The foregoing conversation had taken place in a little parlour that led off from the great hall, whither Tom had conducted his guest, and in which the two admirals now made
their appearance. Introductions were scarcely necessary, the
uniform and star – for in that age officers usually appeared in
their robes – the uniform and star of Sir Gervaise at once proclaiming his rank and name; while, between Sir Reginald and
Bluewater there existed a slight personal acquaintance, which
had grown out of their covert, but deep, Jacobite sympathies.
“Sir Gervaise Oakes,” and “Sir Reginald Wychecombe,”
passed between the gentlemen, with a hearty shake of the
hand from the admiral, which was met by a cold touch of the
fingers on the part of the other, that might very well have
passed for the great model of the sophisticated manipulation
of the modern salute, but which, in fact, was the result of temperament rather than of fashion. As soon as this ceremony was
gone through, and a few brief expressions of courtesy were exchanged, the new comer turned to Bluewater, with an air of
greater freedom, and continued –
“And you, too, Sir Richard Bluewater! I rejoice to meet an
acquaintance in this melancholy scene.”
“I am happy to see you, Sir Reginald; though you have conferred on me a title to which I have no proper claim.”
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
“No! – the papers tell us that you have received one of the
lately vacant red ribands?”
“I believe some such honour has been in contemplation – “
“Contemplation! – I do assure you, sir, your name is fairly
and distinctly gazetted – as, by sending to my carriage, it will
be in my power to show you. I am, then, the first to call you Sir
Richard.”
“Excuse me, Sir Reginald – there is some little misapprehension in this matter; I prefer to remain plain Rear-Admiral
Bluewater. In due season, all will be explained.”
The parties exchanged looks, which, in times like those in
which they lived, were sufficiently intelligible to both; and
the conversation was instantly changed. Before Sir Reginald
relinquished the hand he held, however, he gave it a cordial
squeeze, an intimation that was returned by a warm pressure from Bluewater. The party then began to converse of Sir
Wycherly, his actual condition, and his probable motive in
desiring to see his distant kinsman. This motive, Sir Gervaise,
regardless of the presence of Tom Wychecombe, declared to
be a wish to make a will; and, as he believed, the intention of
naming Sir Reginald his executor, if not in some still more
interesting capacity.
“I understand Sir Wycherly has a considerable sum entirely at his own disposal,” continued the vice-admiral; “and I
confess I like to see a man remember his friends and servants,
generously, in his last moments. The estate is entailed, I hear;
and I suppose Mr. Thomas Wychecombe here, will be none the
worse for that precaution in his ancestor; let the old gentleman do as he pleases with his savings.”
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
Sir Gervaise was so much accustomed to command, that
he did not feel the singularity of his own interference in the
affairs of a family of what might be called strangers, though
the circumstance struck Sir Reginald, as a little odd. Nevertheless, the last had sufficient penetration to understand the
vice-admiral’s character at a glance, and the peculiarity made
no lasting impression. When the allusion was made to Tom’s
succession, as a matter of course, however, he cast a cold, but
withering look, at the reputed heir, which almost chilled the
marrow in the bones of the jealous rogue.
“Might I say a word to you, in your own room, Sir Gervaise?” asked Sir Reginald, in an aside. “These matters ought
not to be indecently hurried; and I wish to understand the
ground better, before I advance.”
This question was overheard by Bluewater; who, begging
the gentlemen to remain where they were, withdrew himself,
taking Tom Wychecombe with him. As soon as they were alone,
Sir Reginald drew from his companion, by questions warily
but ingeniously put, a history of all that had occurred within
the last twenty-four hours; a knowledge of the really helpless
state of Sir Wycherly, and of the manner in which he himself
had been summoned, included. When satisfied, he expressed a
desire to see the sick man.
“By the way, Sir Reginald,” said the vice-admiral, with his
hand on the lock of the door, arresting his own movement to
put the question; “I see, by your manner of expressing yourself,
that the law has not been entirely overlooked in your education. Do you happen to know what ‘half-blood’ means? it
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
is either a medical or a legal term, and I understand few but
nautical.”
“You could not apply to any man in England, Sir Gervaise,
better qualified to tell you,” answered the Hertfordshire baronet, smiling expressively. “I am a barrister of the Middle Temple, having been educated as a younger son, and having since
succeeded an elder brother, at the age of twenty-seven; I stand
in the unfortunate relation of the ‘half-blood’ myself, to this
very estate, on which we are now conversing.”
Sir Reginald then proceeded to explain the law to the other, as we have already pointed it out to the reader; performing
the duty succinctly, but quite clearly.
“Bless me! – bless me! Sir Reginald,” exclaimed the directminded and just-minded sailor – “here must be some mistake! A fortieth cousin, or the king, take this estate before
yourself, though you are directly descended from all the old
Wychecombes of the times of the Plantagenets!”
“Such is the common law, Sir Gervaise. Were I Sir Wycherly’s half-brother, or a son by a second wife of our common father, I could not take from him, although that common father
had earned the estate by his own hands, or services.”
“This is damnable, sir – damnable – and you’ll pardon me,
but I can hardly believe we have such a monstrous principle
in the good, honest, well-meaning laws, of good, honest, wellmeaning old England!”
Sir Reginald was one of the few lawyers of his time, who
did not recognize the virtue of this particular provision of the
common law; a circumstance that probably arose from his having so small an interest now in the mysteries of the profession,
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
and so large an interest in the family estate of Wychecombe,
destroyed by its dictum. He was, consequently, less surprised,
and not at all hurt, at the evident manner in which the sailor
repudiated his statement, as doing violence equally to reason,
justice, and probability.
“Good, honest, well-meaning old England tolerates many
grievous things, notwithstanding, Sir Gervaise,” he answered;
“among others, it tolerates the law of the half-blood. Much depends on the manner in which men view these things; that
which seems gold to one, resembling silver in the eyes of another. Now, I dare say,” – this was said as a feeler, and with a
smile that might pass for ironical or confiding, as the listener
pleased to take it – “Now, I dare say, the clans would tell us
that England tolerates an usurper, while her lawful prince was
in banishment; though you and I might not feel disposed to
allow it.”
Sir Gervaise started, and cast a quick, suspicious glance at
the speaker; but there the latter stood, with as open and guileless an expression on his handsome features, as was ever seen
in the countenance of confiding sixteen.
“Your supposititious case is no parallel,” returned the viceadmiral, losing every shade of suspicion, at this appearance of
careless frankness; “since men often follow their feelings in
their allegiance, while the law is supposed to be governed by
reason and justice. But, now we are on the subject, will you tell
me. Sir Reginald, if you also know what a nullus is?”
“I have no farther knowledge of the subject, Sir Gervaise,”
returned the other, smiling, this time, quite naturally; “than is
to be found in the Latin dictionaries and grammars.”
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
“Ay – you mean nullus, nulla, nullum. Even we sailors
know that; as we all go to school before we go to sea. But, Sir
Wycherly, in efforts to make himself understood, called you a
‘half-blood.’”
“And quite correctly – I admit such to be the fact; and that
I have no more legal claim, whatever on this estate, than you
have yourself. My moral right, however, may be somewhat better.”
“It is much to your credit, that you so frankly admit it,
Sir Reginald; for, hang me, if I think even the judges would
dream of raising such an objection to your succeeding, unless
reminded of it.”
“Therein you do them injustice, Sir Gervaise; as it is their
duty to administer the laws, let them be what they may.”
“Perhaps you are right, sir. But the reason for my asking
what a nullus is, was the circumstance that Sir Wycherly, in the
course of his efforts to speak, repeatedly called his nephew and
heir, Mr. Thomas Wychecombe, by that epithet.”
“Did he, indeed? – Was the epithet, as you well term it, fil-
ius nullius?”
“I rather think it was nullus – though I do believe the
word filius was muttered, once or twice, also.”
“Yes, sir, this has been the case; and I am not sorry Sir
Wycherly is aware of the fact, as I hear that the young man
affects to consider himself in a different point of view. A filius
nullius is the legal term for a bastard – the ‘son of nobody,’ as
you will at once understand. I am fully aware that such is the
unfortunate predicament of Mr. Thomas Wychecombe, whose
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
father, I possess complete evidence to show, was never married
to his mother.”
“And yet, Sir Reginald, the impudent rascal carries in his
pocket even, a certificate, signed by some parish priest in London, to prove the contrary.”
The civil baronet seemed surprised at this assertion of his
military brother; but Sir Gervaise explaining what had passed
between himself and the young man, he could no longer entertain any doubt of the fact.
“Since you have seen the document,” resumed Sir Reginald,
“it must, indeed, be so; and this misguided boy is prepared to
take any desperate step in order to obtain the title and the
estate. All that he has said about a will must be fabulous, as
no man in his senses would risk his neck to obtain so hollow
a distinction as a baronetcy – we are equally members of the
class, and may speak frankly, Sir Gervaise – and the will would
secure the estate, if there were one. I cannot think, therefore,
that there is a will at all.”
“If this will were not altogether to the fellow’s liking, would
not the marriage, beside the hollow honour of which you have
spoken, put the whole of the landed property in his possession, under the entail?”
“It would, indeed; and I thank you for the suggestion. If,
however, Sir Wycherly is desirous, now, of making a new will,
and has strength and mind sufficient to execute his purpose,
the old one need give us no concern. This is a most delicate
affair for one in my situation to engage in, sir; and I greatly rejoice that I find such honourable and distinguished witnesses,
in the house, to clear my reputation, should any thing occur to
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
require such exculpation. On the one side, Sir Gervaise, there
is the danger of an ancient estate’s falling into the hands of
the crown, and this, too, while one of no stain of blood, derived
from the same honourable ancestors as the last possessor, is
in existence; or, on the other, of its becoming the prey of one
of base blood, and of but very doubtful character. The circumstance that Sir Wycherly desired my presence, is a great deal;
and I trust to you, and to those with you, to vindicate the fairness of my course. If it’s your pleasure, sir, we will now go to
the sick chamber.”
“With all my heart. I think, however, Sir Reginald,” said
the vice-admiral, as he approached the door; “that even in the
event of an escheat, you would find these Brunswick princes
sufficiently liberal to restore the property. I could not answer
for those wandering Scotchmen; who have so many breechless nobles to enrich; but, I think, with the Hanoverians, you
would be safe.”
“The last have certainly one recommendation the most,”
returned the other, smiling courteously, but in a way so
equivocal that even Sir Gervaise was momentarily struck by
it; “they have fed so well, now, at the crib, that they may not
have the same voracity, as those who have been long fasting.
It would be, however, more pleasant to take these lands from
a Wychecombe – a Wychecombe to a Wychecombe – than to
receive them anew from even the Plantagenet who made the
first grant.”
This terminated the private dialogue, as the colloquists entered the hall, just as the last speaker concluded. Wycherly was
conversing, earnestly, with Mrs. Dutton and Mildred, at the far
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
end of the hall, when the baronets appeared; but, catching the
eye of the admiral, he said a few words hastily to his companions, and joined the two gentlemen, who were now on their
way to the sick man’s chamber.
“Here is a namesake, if not a relative, Sir Reginald,” observed Sir Gervaise, introducing the lieutenant; “and one, I rejoice to say, of whom all of even your honourable name have
reason to be proud.”
Sir Reginald’s bow was courteous and bland, as the admiral proceeded to complete the introduction; but Wycherly felt
that the keen, searching look he bestowed on himself, was disagreeable.
“I am not at all aware, that I have the smallest claim to the
honour of being Sir Reginald Wychecombe’s relative,” he said,
with cold reserve. “Indeed, until last evening, I was ignorant of
the existence of the Hertfordshire branch of this family; and
you will remember, Sir Gervaise, that I am a Virginian.”
“A Virginian!” exclaimed his namesake, taken so much by
surprise as to lose a little of his self-command, “I did not know,
indeed, that any who bear the name had found their way to
the colonies.”
“And if they had, sir, they would have met with a set of
fellows every way fit to be their associates, Sir Reginald. We
English are a little clannish – I hate the word, too; it has such
a narrow Scotch sound – but we are clannish, although generally provided with garments to our nether limbs; and we sometimes look down upon even a son, whom the love of adventure
has led into that part of the world. In my view an Englishman
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
is an Englishman, let him come from what part of the empire
he may. That is what I call genuine liberality, Sir Reginald.”
“Quite true, Sir Gervaise; and a Scotchman is a Scotchman,
even though he come from the north of Tweed.”
This was quietly said, but the vice-admiral felt the merited
rebuke it contained, and he had the good-nature and the good
sense to laugh at it, and to admit his own prejudices. This little
encounter brought the party to Sir Wycherly’s door, where all
three remained until it was ascertained that they might enter.
The next quarter of an hour brought about a great change
in the situation of all the principal inmates of Wychecombe
Hall. The interdict was taken off the rooms of Sir Wycherly,
and in them had collected all the gentlemen, Mrs. Dutton and
her daughter, with three or four of the upper servants of the
establishment. Even Galleygo contrived to thrust his ungainly
person in, among the rest, though he had the discretion to
keep in the background among his fellows. In a word, both
dressing-room and bed-room had their occupants, though the
last was principally filled by the medical men, and those whose
rank gave them claims to be near the person of the sick.
It was now past a question known that poor Sir Wycherly
was on his death-bed. His mind had sensibly improved, nor
was his speech any worse; but his physical system generally
had received a shock that rendered recovery hopeless. It was
the opinion of the physicians that he might possibly survive
several days; or, that he might be carried off, in a moment, by a
return of the paralytic affection.
The baronet, himself, appeared to be perfectly conscious of
his situation; as was apparent by the anxiety he expressed to
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