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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
rest。
Here； contrary to the custom of this species of tale； we leave the
General in possession of his apartment until the next morning。
The company assembled for breakfast at an early hour； but without the
appearance of General Browne； who seemed the guest that Lord
Woodville was desirous of honouring above all whom his hospitality had
assembled around him。 He more than once expressed surprise at the
General's absence； and at length sent a servant to make inquiry after him。
The man brought back information that General Browne had been walking
abroad since an early hour of the morning； in defiance of the weather；
which was misty and ungenial。
〃The custom of a soldier；〃 said the young nobleman to his friends。
〃Many of them acquire habitual vigilance； and cannot sleep after the early
hour at which their duty usually commands them to be alert。〃
Yet the explanation which Lord Woodville thus offered to the company
seemed hardly satisfactory to his own mind； and it was in a fit of silence
and abstraction that he waited the return of the General。 It took place
near an hour after the breakfast bell had rung。 He looked fatigued and
feverish。 His hair； the powdering and arrangement of which was at this
time one of the most important occupations of a man's whole day； and
marked his fashion as much as in the present time the tying of a cravat； or
the want of one； was dishevelled； uncurled； void of powder； and dank with
dew。 His clothes were huddled on with a careless negligence； remarkable
in a military man； whose real or supposed duties are usually held to
include some attention to the toilet； and his looks were haggard and
ghastly in a peculiar degree。
〃So you have stolen a march upon us this morning； my dear General；〃
said Lord Woodville； 〃or you have not found your bed so much to your
mind as I had hoped and you seemed to expect。 How did you rest last
night？〃
〃Oh； excellently well！ remarkably well！ never better in my life；〃
said General Browne rapidly； and yet with an air of embarrassment which
was obvious to his friend。 He then hastily swallowed a cup of tea； and
neglecting or refusing whatever else was offered； seemed to fall into a fit
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
of abstraction。
〃You will take the gun to…day； General？〃 said his friend and host； but
had to repeat the question twice ere he received the abrupt answer； 〃No；
my lord； I am sorry I cannot have the opportunity of spending another day
with your lordship； my post horses are ordered； and will be here directly。〃
All who were present showed surprise； and Lord Woodville
immediately replied 〃Post horses； my good friend！ What can you
possibly want with them when you promised to stay with me quietly for at
least a week？〃
〃I believe；〃 said the General； obviously much embarrassed； 〃that I
might； in the pleasure of my first meeting with your lordship； have said
something about stopping here a few days； but I have since found it
altogether impossible。〃
〃That is very extraordinary；〃 answered the young nobleman。 〃You
seemed quite disengaged yesterday； and you cannot have had a summons
to…day； for our post has not come up from the town； and therefore you
cannot have received any letters。〃
General Browne； without giving any further explanation； muttered
something about indispensable business； and insisted on the absolute
necessity of his departure in a manner which silenced all opposition on the
part of his host； who saw that his resolution was taken； and forbore all
further importunity。
〃At least； however；〃 he said； 〃permit me； my dear Browne； since go
you will or must； to show you the view from the terrace； which the mist；
that is now rising； will soon display。〃
He threw open a sash…window； and stepped down upon the terrace as
he spoke。 The General followed him mechanically； but seemed little to
attend to what his host was saying； as； looking across an extended and rich
prospect； he pointed out the different objects worthy of observation。
Thus they moved on till Lord Woodville had attained his purpose of
drawing his guest entirely apart from the rest of the company； when；
turning round upon him with an air of great solemnity； he addressed him
thus：
〃Richard Browne； my old and very dear friend； we are now alone。 Let
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
me conjure you to answer me upon the word of a friend； and the honour of
a soldier。 How did you in reality rest during last night？〃
〃Most wretchedly indeed； my lord；〃 answered the General； in the same
tone of solemnity〃so miserably； that I would not run the risk of such a
second night； not only for all the lands belonging to this castle； but for all
the country which I see from this elevated point of view。〃
〃This is most extraordinary；〃 said the young lord； as if speaking to
himself； 〃then there must be something in the reports concerning that
apartment。〃 Again turning to the General； he said； 〃For God's sake； my
dear friend； be candid with me； and let me know the disagreeable
particulars which have befallen you under a roof； where； with consent of
the owner； you should have met nothing save comfort。〃
The General seemed distressed by this appeal； and paused a moment
before he replied。 〃My dear lord；〃 he at length said； 〃what happened to
me last night is of a nature so peculiar and so unpleasant； that I could
hardly bring myself to detail it even to your lordship； were it not that；
independent of my wish to gratify any request of yours； I think that
sincerity on my part may lead to some explanation about a circumstance
equally painful and mysterious。 To others； the communication I am
about to make； might place me in the light of a weak…minded； superstitious
fool； who suffered his own imagination to delude and bewilder him； but
you have known me in childhood and youth； and will not suspect me of
having adopted in manhood the feelings and frailties from which my early
years were free。〃 Here he paused； and his friend replied；
〃Do not doubt my perfect confidence in the truth of your
communication； however strange it may be；〃 replied Lord Woodville。 〃I
know your firmness of disposition too well； to suspect you could be made
the object of imposition； and am aware that your honour and your
friendship will equally deter you from exaggerating whatever you may
have witnessed。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the General； 〃I will proceed with my story as well as
I can； relying upon your candour； and yet distinctly feeling that I would
rather face a battery than recall to my mind the odious recollections of last
night。〃
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
He paused a second time； and then perceiving that Lord Woodville
remained silent and in an attitude of attention； he commenced； though not
without obvious reluctance； the history of his night's adventures in the
Tapestried Chamber。
〃I undressed and went to bed so soon as your lordship left me
yesterday evening； but the wood in the chimney； which nearly fronted my
bed； blazed brightly and cheerfully； and； aided by a hundred exciting
recollections of my childhood and youth； which had been recalled by the
unexpected pleasure of meeting your lordship； prevented me from falling
immediately asleep。 I ought； however； to say that these reflections were
all of a pleasant and agreeable kind； grounded on a sense of having for a
time exchanged the labour； fatigues； and dangers of my profession for the
enjo