The scheme now projected by Cecilia, was to acquaint the surgeon who
had already attended Mr. Belfield with his present situation and
address, and to desire him to continue his visits, for the payment
of which she would herself be accountable.
The raillery of young Delvile, however, had taught her to fear the
constructions of the world, and she therefore purposed to keep both
the surgeon and Mr Belfield ignorant to whom they were indebted. She
was aware, indeed, that whatever might be her management, that high-spirited and unfortunate young man would be extremely hurt to find himself thus detected and pursued; but she thought his life too well worth preserving to let it be sacrificed to his pride, and her internal conviction of being herself the immediate cause of its present danger, gave to her an anxious and restless desire to be herself the means of extricating him from it.
Rupil, the name of the surgeon, she had already heard mentioned by
Mr. Arnott, and in getting into her chair, she ordered Ralph, her
man, to enquire where he lived.
"I know already where he lives, madam," answered Ralph, "for I saw
his name over a door in Cavendish-street, Oxford-road; I took
particular notice of it, because it was at the house where you stood
up that day on account of the mob that was waiting to see the
malefactors go to Tyburn."
This answer unravelled to Cecilia a mystery which had long perplext
her; for the speeches of young Delvile when he had surprised her in
that situation were now fully explained. In seeing her come out of
the surgeon's house, he had naturally concluded she had only entered
it to ask news of his patient, Mr. Belfield; her protestations of
merely standing up to avoid the crowd, he had only laughed at; and
his hints at her reserve and dissimulation, were meant but to
reproach her for refusing his offer of procuring her intelligence, at the very time when, to all appearance, she anxiously, though clandestinely, sought it for herself.
This discovery, notwithstanding it relieved her from all suspense of
his meaning, gave her much vexation: to be supposed to take an
interest so ardent, yet so private, in the affairs of Mr Belfield, might well authorise all suspicions of her partiality for him: and even if any doubt had yet remained, the unlucky meeting upon the stairs at his lodgings, would not fail to dispel it, and confirm the notion of her secret regard. She hoped, however, to have soon some opportunity of clearing up the mistake, and resolved in the mean time to be studiously cautious in avoiding all appearances that might strengthen it.
No caution, however, and no apprehension, could intimidate her
active humanity from putting into immediate execution a plan in
which she feared any delay might be fatal; and therefore the moment
she got home, she wrote the following note to the surgeon.
"To———Rupil, Esq.
March 27, 1779.
"A friend of Mr Belfield begs Mr Rupil will immediately call upon
that gentleman, who is in lodgings about the middle of Swallow-street, and insist upon visiting him till he is perfectly recovered. Mr Rupil is entreated not to make known this request, nor to receive from Mr Belfield any return for his attendance; but to attribute the discovery of his residence to accident, and to rest assured he shall be amply recompensed for his time and trouble by the friend who makes this application, and who is willing to give any security that Mr Rupil shall think proper to mention, for the performance of this engagement."
Her next difficulty was in what manner to have this note conveyed; to send her own servant was inevitably betraying herself, to employ any other was risking a confidence that might be still more dangerous, and she could not trust to the penny-post, as her proposal required an answer. After much deliberation, she at length determined to have recourse to Mrs Hill, to whose services she was entitled, and upon whose fidelity she could rely.
The morning was already far advanced, but the Harrels dined late, and she would not lose a day where even an hour might be of importance. She went therefore immediately to Mrs. Hill, whom she found already removed into her new habitation in Fetter-lane, and equally busy and happy in the change of scene and of employment. She gave to her the note, which she desired her to carry to Cavendish-street directly, and either to deliver it into Mr. Rupil's own hands, or to bring it back if he was out; but upon no consideration to make known whence or from whom it came.