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THE TWO ADMIRALS
A long pause succeeded, during which time Sir Wycherly
was deliberating what to do with the rest of his ready money.
At length his wandering eye rested on the pale features of Mrs.
Dutton; and, while he had a sort of liking, that proceeded from
habit, for her husband, he remembered that she had many
causes for sorrow. With a feeling that was creditable to his
own heart, he uttered her name, and the sum of £2000. The
clause was written, accordingly, read and approved.
“We have still £3000 certainly, if not £4000,” added Sir
Gervaise.
“Milly – dear little – Milly – pretty Milly,” stammered out
the baronet, affectionately.
“This must go into a codicil, Sir Gervaise,” interrupted
Atwood; “there being already one legacy in the young lady’s
favour. Shall it be one, two, three, or four thousand pounds,
Sir Wycherly, in favour of Miss Mildred, to whom you have
already bequeathed £3000.”
The sick man muttered the words “three thousand,” after a
short pause, adding “codicil.”
His wishes were complied with, and the whole was read
and approved. After this, Sir Gervaise inquired if the testator
wished to make any more devises. Sir Wycherly, who had in
effect bequeathed, within a few hundred pounds, all he had to
bestow, bethought himself, for a few moments, of the state of
his affairs, and then he signified his satisfaction with what had
been done.
“As it is possible, Sir Wycherly, that you may have overlooked something,” said Sir Gervaise, “and it is better that
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
nothing should escheat to the crown, I will suggest the expediency of your making some one residuary legatee.”
The poor old man smiled an assent, and then he succeeded
in muttering the name of “Sir Reginald Wychecombe.”
This clause, like all the others, was written, read, and approved. The will was now completed, and preparations were
made to read it carefully over to the intended testator. In order
that this might be done with sufficient care for future objections, the two admirals and Atwood, who were selected for the
witnesses, each read the testament himself, in order to say that
nothing was laid before the testator but that which was fairly
contained in the instrument, and that nothing was omitted.
When all was ready, the will was audibly and slowly read to Sir
Wycherly, by the secretary, from the beginning to the end. The
old man listened with great attention; smiled when Mildred’s
name was mentioned; and clearly expressed, by signs and
words, his entire satisfaction when all was ended. It remained
only to place a pen in his hand, and to give him such assistance
as would enable him to affix his name twice; once to the body
of the instrument; and, when this was duly witnessed, then
again to the codicil. By this time, Tom Wychecombe thought
that the moment for interposing had arrived. He had been on
thorns during the whole proceeding, forming desperate resolutions to sustain the bold fraud of his legitimacy, and thus
take all the lands and heirlooms of the estate, under the entail;
still he well knew that a subordinate but important question
might arise, as between the validity of the two wills, in connection with Sir Wycherly’s competency to make the last. It was
material, therefore, in his view of the case, to enter a protest.
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
“Gentlemen,” he said, advancing to the foot of the bed; “I
call on you all to observe the nature of this whole transaction.
My poor, beloved, but misled uncle, no longer ago than last
night, was struck with a fit of apoplexy, or something so very
near it as to disqualify him to judge in these matters; and here
he is urged to make a will – “
“By whom, sir?” demanded Sir Gervaise, with a severity of
tone that induced the speaker to fall back a step.
“Why, sir, in my judgment, by all in the room. If not with
their tongues, at least with their eyes.”
“And why should all in the room do this? Am I a legatee? –
is Admiral Bluewater to be a gainer by this will? – can witnesses to a will be legatees?”
“I do not wish to dispute the matter with you, Sir Gervaise
Oakes; but I solemnly protest against this irregular and most
extraordinary manner of making a will. Let all who hear me,
remember this, and be ready to testify to it when called on in
a court of justice.”
Here Sir Wycherly struggled to rise in the bed, in evident
excitement, gesticulating strongly to express his disgust, and
his wish for his nephew to withdraw. But the physicians endeavoured to pacify him, while Atwood, with the paper spread
on a port-folio, and a pen in readiness, coolly proceeded to obtain the necessary signatures. Sir Wycherly’s hand trembled so
much when it received the pen, that, for the moment, writing
was out of the question, and it became necessary to administer
a restorative in order to strengthen his nerves.
“Away – out of sight,” muttered the excited baronet, leaving no doubt on all present, that the uppermost feeling of the
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
moment was the strong desire to rid himself of the presence
of the offensive object. “Sir Reginald – little Milly – poor servants – brothers – all the rest, stay.”
“Just be calming the mind, Sir Wycherly Wychecombe,” put
in Magrath, “and ye’ll be solacing the body by the same effort.
When the mind is in a state of exaltation, the nervous system
is apt to feel the influence of sympathy. By bringing the two in
harmonious co-operation, the testamentary devises will have
none the less of validity, either in reality or in appearances.”
Sir Wycherly understood the surgeon, and he struggled
for self-command. He raised the pen, and succeeded in getting its point on the proper place. Then his dim eye lighted,
and shot a reproachful glance at Tom; he smiled in a ghastly
manner, looked towards the paper, passed a hand across his
brow, closed his eyes, and fell back on the pillow, utterly unconscious of all that belonged to life, its interests, its duties, or
its feelings. In ten minutes, he ceased to breathe.
Thus died Sir Wycherly Wychecombe, after a long life, in
which general qualities of a very negative nature, had been
somewhat relieved, by kindness of feeling, a passive if not an
active benevolence, and such a discharge of his responsible
duties as is apt to flow from an absence of any qualities that
are positively bad; as well as of many of material account, that
are affirmatively good.
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CHAPTER XV
“Come ye, who still the cumbrous load of life
Push hard up hill; but at the farthest steep
You trust to gain, and put on end to strife,
Down thunders back the stone with mighty sweep,
And hurls your labours to the valley deep;”
Thomson.
The sudden, and, in some measure, unlooked-for event, related in the close of the last chapter, produced a great change
in the condition of things at Wychecombe Hall. The first step
was to make sure that the baronet was actually dead; a fact
that Sir Gervaise Oakes, in particular, was very unwilling to
believe, in the actual state of his feelings. Men often fainted,
and apoplexy required three blows to kill; the sick man might
still revive, and at least be able to execute his so clearly expressed intentions.
“Ye’ll never have act of any sort, testamentary or matrimonial, legal or illegal, in this life, from the late Sir Wycherly
Wychecombe of Wychecombe Hall, Devonshire,” coolly observed Magrath, as he collected the different medicines and
instruments he had himself brought forth for the occasion.
“He’s far beyond the jurisdiction of My Lord High Chancellor of the college of Physicians and Surgeons; and therefore,
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
ye’ll be acting prudently to consider him as deceased; or, in the
light in which the human body is placed by the cessation of all
the animal functions.”
This decided the matter, and the necessary orders were
given; all but the proper attendants quitting the chamber of
death. It would be far from true to say that no one lamented
Sir Wycherly Wychecombe. Both Mrs. Dutton and Mildred
grieved for his sudden end, and wept sincerely for his loss;
though totally without a thought of its consequences to themselves. The daughter did not even once think how near she had
been to the possession of £6000, and how unfortunately the
cup of comparative affluence had been dashed from her lips;
though truth compels us to avow that the mother did once
recall this circumstance, with a feeling akin to regret. A similar
recollection had its influence on the manifestations of sorrow
that flowed from others. The domestics, in particular, were too
much astounded to indulge in any very abstracted grief, and
Sir Gervaise and Atwood were both extremely vexed. In short,
the feelings, usual to such occasions were but little indulged
in, though there was a strict observance of decorum.
Sir Reginald Wychecombe noted these circumstances attentively, and he took his measures accordingly. Seizing a favourable moment to consult with the two admirals, his decision was soon made; and, within an hour after his kinsman’s
death, all the guests and most of the upper servants were assembled in the room, which it was the usage of the house to
call the library; though the books were few, and seldom read.
Previously, there had been a consultation between Sir Reginald and the two admirals, to which Atwood had been admit-
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
ted, ex officio. As every thing, therefore, had been arranged in
advance, there was no time lost unnecessarily, when the company was collected; the Hertfordshire baronet coming to the
point at once, and that in the clearest manner.
“Gentlemen, and you, good people, domestics of the late
Sir Wycherly Wychecombe,” he commenced; “you are all acquainted with the unfortunate state of this household. By the
recent death of its master, it is left without a head; and the
deceased departing this life a bachelor, there is no child to assume his place, as the natural and legal successor. In one sense,
I might be deemed the next of kin; though, by a dictum of the
common law I have no claim to the succession. Nevertheless,
you all know it was the intention of our late friend to constitute me his executor, and I conceive it proper that search
should now be made for a will, which, by being duly executed,
must dispose of all in this house, and let us know who is entitled to command at this solemn and important moment. It
strikes me, Sir Gervaise Oakes, that the circumstances are so
peculiar as to call for prompt proceedings.”
“I fully agree with you, Sir Reginald,” returned the viceadmiral; “but before we proceed any further, I would suggest
the propriety of having as many of those present as possible,
who have an interest in the result. Mr. Thomas Wychecombe,
the reputed nephew of the deceased, I do not see among us.”
On examination, this was found to be true, and the man
of Tom Wychecombe, who had been ordered by his master to
be present as a spy, was immediately sent to the latter, with
a request that he would attend. After a delay of two or three
minutes, the fellow returned with the answer.
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
“Sir Thomas Wychecombe’s compliments, gentlemen,” he
said, “and he desires to know the object of your request. He is
in his room, indulging in natural grief for his recent loss; and
he prefers to be left alone with his sorrows, just at this moment, if it be agreeable to you.”
This was taking high ground in the commencement; and,
as the man had his cue, and delivered his message with great
distinctness and steadiness, the effect on the dependants of
the household was very evident. Sir Reginald’s face flushed,
while Sir Gervaise bit his lip; Bluewater played with the hilt
of his sword, very indifferent to all that was passing; while Atwood and the surgeons shrugged their shoulders and smiled.
The first of these persons well knew that Tom had no shadow
of a claim to the title he had been in so much haste to assume,
however, and he hoped that the feebleness of his rights in all
particulars, was represented by the mixed feebleness and impudence connected with this message. Determined not to be
bullied from his present purpose, therefore, he turned to the
servant and sent him back with a second message, that did not
fail of its object. The man was directed to inform his master,
that Sir Reginald Wychecombe was in possession of facts that,
in his opinion, justified the course he was taking, and if “Mr.
Thomas Wychecombe” did not choose to appear, in order to
look after his own interests, he should proceed without him.
This brought Tom into the room, his face pale with uncertainty, rather than with grief, and his mind agitated with such
apprehensions as are apt to beset even the most wicked, when
they take their first important step in evil. He bowed, however,
to the company with an air that he intended to represent the
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manner of a well-bred man acknowledging his duties to respected guests.
“If I appear remiss in any of the duties of a host, gentlemen,” he said, “you will overlook it, I trust, in consideration
of my present feelings. Sir Wycherly was my father’s elder
brother, and was very dear, as he was very near to me. By this
melancholy death, Sir Reginald, I am suddenly and unexpectedly elevated to be the head of our ancient and honourable
family; but I know my own personal unworthiness to occupy
that distinguished place, and feel how much better it would
be filled by yourself. Although the law has placed a wide and
impassable barrier between all of your branch of the family
and ourselves, I shall ever be ready to acknowledge the affinity, and to confess that it does us quite as much honour as it
bestows.”
Sir Reginald, by a great effort, commanded himself so far as
to return the bow, and apparently to receive the condescending admissions of the speech, with a proper degree of respect.
“Sir, I thank you,” he answered, with formal courtesy; “no
affinity that can be properly and legally established, will ever
be disavowed by me. Under present circumstances, however,
summoned as I have been to the side of his death-bed, by the
late Sir Wycherly, himself, and named by him, as one might
say, with his dying breath, as his executor, I feel it a duty to inquire into the rights of all parties, and, if possible, to ascertain
who is the successor, and consequently who has the best claim
to command here.”
“You surely do not attach any validity, Sir Reginald, to the
pretended will that was so singularly drawn up in my dear
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
uncle’s presence, an hour before he died! Had that most extraordinary instrument been duly signed and sealed, I cannot
think that the Doctor’s Commons would sustain it; but un-
signed and unsealed, it is no better than so much waste paper.”
“As respects the real estate, sir, though so great a loser by
the delay of five minutes, I am willing to admit that you are
right. With regard to the personals, a question in equity – one
of clearly-expressed intention – might possibly arise; though
even of that I am by no means certain.”
“No, sir; no – “ cried Tom, a glow of triumph colouring his
cheek, in spite of every effort to appear calm; “no English court
would ever disturb the natural succession to the personals! I
am the last man to wish to disturb some of these legacies –
particularly that to Mr. Rotherham, and those to the poor,
faithful domestics,” – Tom saw the prudence of conciliating
allies, at such a critical moment, and his declaration had an
instant and strong effect, as was evident by the countenances
of many of the listeners; – “and I may say, that to Miss Mildred Dutton; all of which will be duly paid, precisely as if my
beloved uncle had been in his right mind, and had actually
made the bequests; for this mixture of reason and justice, with
wild and extraordinary conceits, is by no means uncommon
among men of great age, and in their last moments. However,
Sir Reginald, I beg you will proceed, and act as in your judgment the extraordinary circumstances of what may be called a
very peculiar case, require.”
“I conceive it to be our duty, sir, to search for a will. If Sir
Wycherly has actually died intestate, it will be time enough
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