The Four Swans (48 page)

Presently Ross said: `What of his Bill to relieve and help the poor? How has that fared?

Basset looked, puzzled, as if for a moment he could not recall the measure, and George secretly smiled. `You mean…’ ‘A fund for pensions. for old’ people, parish loans to enable poor people to buy a cow, Schools of Industry

’

`Oh … It is finished. It was withdrawn for amendment and is never likely to be re-introduced. It met with great opposition.’

`From whom?’

`Oh, most people in authority, I believe. Particularly the magistrates. It was a, well-meant but ill-conceived Bill which would have ruined public morals. Mr Jeremy Bentham argued cogently against it, as did most men experienced in law.’

`Perhaps they were not sufficiently experienced in compassion.’

Basset raised his eyebrows., `I do not think compassion or lack of it was the essence of the objection. But in any event the financial crisis of this year rendered it impractical. Taxes and rates are already a sufficiently alarming burden. The prime objective now is to win the war.’

Ross put his empty glass back on the littered table. `I should have thought that measure one of the most positive in helping to win the war by preventing disaffection at home.’..

`We have our ways of preventing disaffection at home,’ George commented.

Shortly afterwards the dinner broke up and they walked out on the terrace. Lady Basset and whatever other ladies had been present did not reappear. Ross would have made his excuses and left if it had not been apparent that the other guests were about to do the same. George began to talk, rather expansively for him, of plays he had seen in London, of, Mr Kemble and Mrs Jordan, of the private theatres of Westminster and of the amateur theatricals that took place there. It was all, Ross suspected, largely for his benefit. Then, as they were leaving, George said to him

`Oh, Ross, I learn that your brother-in-law is taking part in a wrestling contest with one of my gamekeepers.’

Ross’s eyes were not raised from their gaze over the greenery of the park. `I believe so.’

`Incautious of him, to say the least. Tom Harry is a champion and has taken many prizes.’

‘I should have thought from his stomach he was past his best.’

`I do not suspect your brother-in-law will find him so.’

`It remains to be seen.’

The others looked mildly inquiring at this, so Ross explained that the local feast day was next week, and, some challenge having been issued, Sam Carne, a miner and his brother-in-law (as Mr Warleggan had pointed out), and Tom Harry, a gamekeeper, had agreed to a match, the winner to be for the best of three falls. The four other Members of Parliament, being none of them Cornish, had to have something of the method of the wrestling explained to them, and the general procedure that surrounded it. Wallace fancied he had seen something like it in London and had to be persuaded otherwise.

In the middle of this George said to Ross : `So you think your Methody brother-in-law has a chance of victory?’

Ross at last looked-at him. ‘I hope so. It is time your gamekeeper was taught to behave.’

`Perhaps you would like to lay some money on the contest”

`One which you consider so unequal?’

‘If you think different, back your opinion with a few guineas.’ The others were all listening, half amused, half serious; conscious of the bite in the conversation. De Dunstanville was taking snuff and

frowning.

`What do you suggest?’

`A hundred?’

For a moment Ross looked over the gardens again. `I accept on one condition.’

Ah!…’

`That whoever loses: shall pay the money to my Lord, here, to dispose of in some charitable way for the benefit of the miners.’

`Pray let us settle on that,’ Basset said quickly, dusting his nose with his handkerchief. `It shall be given towards the new hospital.’ He sneezed. `A first contribution!’

Neither man could openly quarrel with Basset’s quick solution, so the bargain was made. General conversation went on for ten minutes or so, George and Ross exchanging no further words, and then one by one, the others took their leave until only the local trio were left. Then reluctantly George asked for his horse and. Galloped away.’

Basset watched him go and said: `My displeasure at your neighbourly spite has no effect in lessening it; but on this occasion it seems that I shall be the benefactor.’

‘To the satisfaction of neither party to the wager,’ Ross said. `Why not?’

`George, if he won, would not want his winnings to go to any charity. I, if I won had looked for some more direct and immediate aid for the miners than a hospital not yet built’

Basset smiled. `A mercy that I out-generaled you both.”

`I suspect that the guineas will come from me, but, who knows the, unexpected may happen.

`If it is to be an unequal contest it were a sharp practice on his part to force you into this wager.’

`Happily, as you say, the miners will benefit, though at a far remove. It’s a better outcome than our labours of three weeks ago.’

De Dunstanville’s lips tightened. `They are both, aspects of the same objective. To reward and help the deserving, to curb and quell. those who take the law into their own hands.’

A few rare clouds were obscuring the sun but it was still warm; and the gentle breeze wafted the scent of roses from the garden below the terrace.

`In principle,’ Ross said, `I agree that that is the desirable aim. In practice - in this particular case - I wonder if any real purpose will be served by the death of one man?’

`Hoskin? Oh, it has all been decided. As you will know, we considered the matter most carefully after the trial, and two men were reprieved. This decision was only arrived at as a result of the most careful weighing of the facts, and it was concluded that justice could be tempered with mercy and that an example need only be made of the most vicious and the most profligate of the three.’ .

`Yes …’ said Ross. `Yes

’

Basset said : `It is a misfortune :for the good name of British justice that the crime for which a man is actually sentenced is often only an insignificant part of his misdemeanours.’ Officially Hoskin goes to his death for entering a dwelling house and stealing corn to a value in excess of 40s. But in fact he has been known for years as a malcontent and has been in and out of trouble all his life. His nickname of Wildcat is not unmerited.’

‘Perhaps I should indicate my interest,’ Ross said. `John Hoskin has a brother, Peter who works in my mine. Peter says that his brother, though a little hot-tempered and by no means of a blameless disposition, has yet never had any great malefaction in him. It may be that a brother’s estimate is not unbiased, but I think it’s often true in these cases of riot and commotion that the noisiest is not the worst. However. ‘ He paused as Basset seemed about to interrupt him.

‘Go on.’

`I was about to say that I have a more selfish interest in his fate than that - namely a wish to sleep easy in my bed of nights.’

`How does it affect you?’

`It happened that I was in charge of the constables who went to the Hoskin cottage.’

Lady de Dunstanville came out on the terrace, but her husband waved her away.

`My dear Poldark, it is gratuitous of you to take this personally! How do you think I feel? The matter of sentence or pardon was laid quite unfairly on my shoulders at Bodmin. It was a most disagreeable decision I had come to! Indeed the whole affair has been a worry and concern to me that has done my sleep no good, I assure you ! If

’

`Why not, then, let us both command an easier conscience?’ ‘How?’

`By initiating a petition for Hoskin’s reprieve. We still have five days. A movement begun from the top is the only one which could have due effect. There is ample time. Many a man has been reprieved at the foot of the scaffold.’

They continued to stare at each other. Basset’s lips tightened again but he did not speak.

Ross said: `It’s a difficult time to be merciful, I know. Men have recently been hanged for mutiny in the, navy and rightly so.’ Men like their ringleader Parker, while prating of freedom, would be the first to impose a rigid rule more onerous than the one they seek to overthrow. But the earlier mutinies were mutinies against unbearable conditions, and the Admiralty, who have been so stupid over so many things, had the wisdom to treat the early mutineers lightly. This riot - these riots in Cornwall, I believe, have nothing of the later type of mutiny in them and everything of the earlier. Empty bellies and dead fires and sick wives and wasting children are powerful; advocates of unlawful riot. I do not believe Sampson or Barnes or Hoskin are anything but willing to abide by the law of the land. Their grievance is not against you or against me or against such others as are put in authority. Their grievance is against merchants and millers who grow fat in trade while the majority starve. To reprieve the one condemned man now would be no sign of weakness but would convince everyone that justice had been better served.’

Basset had turned away, and it was as if he had turned not merely his face but his mind away from the arguments that had been put to him.

He said: `You talk of these men being patriotic, Poldark. Did you know that last month a. Patriotick Club was formed in Camborne? Its members are all young men, I understand, and all wear buttons they have obtained directly from France engraved with the words Liberty and Equality. They have a song which they sing which praises the Revolution and all that it stands for. Mind that, all that it stands for, in perfidy and tyranny and bloodshed. Moreover, any French victory on land or sea is hailed with acclaim, any English one with disgust. Nor are they content to keep their views to themselves! They go out among the miners, among the poor, spreading their gospel of sedition and unrest. I happen to know that they were in touch with the leaders of this riot. Were no such clubs, no such people in existence, who knows what might be done … Not now.’

The sky was darkening. Instead of dispersing as they had often done this summer, the clouds were gathering and looked like rain.

Ross said: `I respect your view, my Lord. Things have come to such a pretty pass that no one can say with any certainty which is the right or the wrong attitude to take. But what - surely, what created the revolution in France was the degrading poverty of ordinary people compared with a licentious court and a weak government which was also a cruelly severe one. Here we now have conditions of poverty and distress scarcely more favourable than in the France of 1789. That is why Pitt’s Bill looked such a beacon of hope, and why it is, in my view, such a tragedy that it should have been withdrawn. But in any event our government is not weak. Need it is it even politic - that it should seem severe?’

`We have not been severe in condemning one man. We have been merciful in reprieving two.’

`It’s a way of looking at it.’

Basset was becoming nettled. `Do you consider yourself in a position to pass judgement on the judges?’

`The last thing I feel entitled to do is pass judgement on anyone. That is what would have made me such a poor magistrate. But it is not judgement as such I am thinking of. It is clemency - in the narrowest sense - and wisdom in a wider.’

Basset pursed his lips. `Who was it said - some great justiciar, I believe - that all men who are engaged in judgement upon others should be devoid of anger, of friendship, of hatred, and of soft-heartedness. That is what, in my way, I try to be. I am sorry you find me lacking.’

‘I did not say; that

‘

Basset said: ‘I’m sure you speak from, conviction. You know I do. We must differ … Ah, my dear, come and join us. Captain Poldark is just leaving.’

I

On his way home Ross caught sight of Sam Carne doing something in the cramped little chapel near Wheal Maiden, so he got off his horse and went in. Sam was alone, and Ross was able to tell him that any reprieve for John Hoskin was now unlikely.

‘Sam said: `Thank ee, brother. Twas very brave of ee to try. I did not know you was going to try. I’ll tell Peter tomorrow. But I think he know tes likely that his brother will hang.’

Ross glanced at Sam, a little surprised at his resigned tone. Life and death were cheap in the mining districts, and especially so to Sam who spent so much of his spare time helping the sick.

Sam said: `Peter wish to go, and I shall go along of him.’

`With him? Where? To Bodmin?’

`Yes. At first I tried to tell him no, but really tis right that John’s family should be there.’

‘But why you? You’re not of the family.’

`Peter is my partner, and I shouldn’t wish for him to walk all that way there and back alone.’

`What of his parents?’

`Peter’s mother and father will be there day, before, hoping see him. The others: will make their way separate.’

Ross glanced round the bare little meeting house with its forms and primitive chairs, and its bible on the table by the window.

`It’s to be Tuesday. Do no forget you have a wrestling match; on Thursday.’

`No,’ said Sam. `I haven’t forgot.’

‘D’you think you will win?’

`I don’t rightly know. I’m more used to wrestling with the spirit within us.’

`How much did you ever do?’

‘A fair lot. But I haven’t been in a ring, not since I were reconciled with God.’

‘Would you not be well advised to get some practice?’

Sam smiled. `Thank ee, brother, but where would I, get it?’ `I could try you with a few falls.’ `You used to wrestle?’

`Oh, yes.’

Sam considered their respective situations. `I do not believe twould be seemly.’

`Let me be the judge of that.’

`Well, thank ee, brother, maybe twould be of assistance to me. I’ll think on it.’

`Think on it soon. You have a few days only.’

When Ross got home he told Demelza the result of his visit to Tehidy.

‘It’s not to be wondered at,’ she said. `And he won’t thank you for going, Ross. He thought he was being generous pardoning two, and it will not please him to be thought harsh after all.’