THE DRUCE DIARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 December 1907, Page 4

THE DRUCE DIARY.

EXTRACTS FROM MISS ROBINSON'S ENTRIES. Miss Robinsonv diary, which has figured so prominently in the cable messages of late concerning the Druce case is in the highest degree an interesting and romantic document. A copy of the diary which was landed to a representative of the Melbourne Argus shows that Miss Robinson's entries date from October, 18C.8, to October, 1870. The story, as disclosed by the diary, opens in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Miss Robinson describes how the "old Duko ot Portland" died very mysteriously after the Doncaster rates in October, 1868. After the old Duke's death another man came to fill his place. He was a great traveller, and was supposed to have belonged to a secret society in Europe, for he lived as though ho had committed some crime. Worksop people said that he must have had a "prico upon his head." Miss Robinson's next entry deals with an incident in which Dickens is concerned. She relates how Dickens took Mrs Pearcc—with whom she was staying—for a drive. Afterwards Miss Robinson asked Mrs Pcarce what she thought of tho novelist, and she replied—"l have seen him liefore, but I did not know his name. He puts up at the Red Lion, and he is a very great actor, for I have seen him myself. He is a very canny man—his twinkling eyes and his long legs do make him look very odd. How he puts his eyebrows up when he talks to a body! But when he reads his books he is quite another body " A SECRET UNDERGROUND EN-

TRANCE. After relating that Mrs PeaTce had said that at the Duke's seat, Welbcck Abbey, thero was a secret entrance by an underground tunnel, Miss Robinson again introduces Dickens. The diarystill dated October, 1868, reads:—"The next day Dickens took me with him to Welbeck, but wo went on foot. . . He introduced me to an old friend of his, Mr Druce, of Baker street, London. I recognised my aunt's friend at once, and thought he must be the Duke's chambermaid or steward, for I remembered that he belonged to the House of Portland. He wore blue spectacles, dressed rather oddly, and looked very careworn. Mr Dickens said to Mr Druce, 'This is the young lady I recommend to you. She is a good correspondent, and can keep a secret like all Americans.' His answer was ; I wish to see you to-morrow evening, at the same time and place.' . . . When Mr Druce left us, Mr Dickens said, -Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A little word is a bonny word, so let all secrets in correspondence be yours and youis only.' ... On Friday I met Mr Druce, and he said, 'You come from America, and act as seeret correspondent for different people. I expect, like everyone else, you can do with a little money. You will be at great expense now and again. 1 have placed a bank note for you in the small envelope, and in the large one there is correspondence which 1 want you to post at once.' The address was 'Mr Van Aisch, Amsterdam, Holland.' In return I would receive «ne under cover for him directed to myself, which I was to carry to him at the same place."

Subsequent records in the diary during November explain that on several occasions Miss Robinson had met Mr Druce and ogrced to post letters for him and receive them. "On December 15," continues the diary, "Mr Druce said he was going to make mo a present of a piano, ac to!d luc that he sometimes took a midnight trip to London, and from tlienrt to ihu Continent, and asked if J wi-uid like the irip too. On December -v. a piano by Theobald, in a beautifully muilial ruse wood case, was delivered at my lodging. When 1 thanked Mr Druie m said, 'f>'o thanks to mo, 1 am doubly indebted to you. You are my right baud, ii you like you can go up to London until JiurLh. Air Dickens will be back in Lonuon reading ut St. James's Hall, and he will be pleased to 6ce you." Under the date March 10, 1869, there is an entry in which Mr Druce thus comments upon Dickens's bad health:—"Mr Dickens had a large family to keep. His readings were profitable to him as a means of ready money. Besides, he was a private correspondent with a good connection. he was a good author, but he wrote a good deal more than was good for him. He (Dickens) knew more about his (urucc's) affairs than any other man. -Mr Dickens could keep a secret when paid for it as well as he could himself." On April 4 the diary reads:—"l received some important correspondence from Lon- j don by a gentleman who wished me to deliver it verbally to the Duke of Port- j land. He said lie could not get an interview with him. He was too well guarded. I set off for Wclbeck and gave Mr Druce his letters. I also told him I had an information for the Duke o' Portland himself. He said I would only see the Duke through him (Mr Druce). April s—ln the morning the same gentleman called, and when I told him I could not see the Duke, as he was indisposed, he said, 'That be hanged for a yarn. I will let you into a secret. You take this card and give it to Mr Druce, and then the J)uke will soon get vivcr hist indisposi,.

butjfs I saw J. was followed by two gentlemen in heavy fur coats Mid caps I did not go to Mr Drii<x>." DICKENS READS FROM PICKWICK. A fortnight later Miss Robinson writes that she met Mr Druce, and he said : "Now that I know I can trust you I will ten you something you do not know concerning myself." The diary makes no reterence to the secret at that stage, however. Under the date July 1 is an entry, "Mr Druce (referring to men who had annoyed me) said those man were the curse of his life." That there was considerable human nature in the compiler 01 the diary is evidenced by the following memorandum:—"October 29th. At \ork a great many people plant their land with liquorice. Some I bought and some I stole fresh from the ground. I liked the stolen best." Subsequent entries relate how Mr Druce evaded Mr Van Aisch. Mr Druce's generosity is again rclerrcd to on January 15th, when he gave Miss Robinson a set of furs. Frequent allusion is made to letteTs passing between Druce and Dickens. In March, 1870, Miss Robinson writes :—"I find myself at St. Juines's Hall, listening to tho last readings of Mr Dickens—for a time. The pieces selected were the Christmas Carol' and the trial scene from 'Pickwick.' At the close oi the readings Mr Dickens made a speech, and concluded, In but two short weeks I hope that you muy enter in your own homes on a new scries of readings . . . but from these garish lights I vanish now for evermore, with a heartfelt, grateful, respectful farewell.' I made it my business to see Mr Dickens. He said he was at a great e.\pcn.*, had a big family, and did not know what would become of him but for Mr Druce. . . . On April Ist I mot Mr Dickens again near Hyde Park. He told me he was in lodgings at 5 Tark Pla<e, and said he was run down by hard work. On one occasion when I met him in Hyde Park he told mo the life of Mr Druce as he knew it. He said, '1 will try to explain to you as simply' and as concisely as possible. Mr Druce and the Duke of Portland are one man." A DUAL EXISTENCE.

•lou know the words, 'And one man in his time plays many parts.' He was known as Mr Druce in Ruker street, London, when he was the proprietor of the furnishing bazaar, and bad something to do with a steam bakery. On the Continent he dabbled in many things, and is .still knewn there as .Mr Druce ibe Duke. He had been twice married, and Iwth wives had children. During the fourth Duke's time Mr Druce ivtis known as bord Bentinek, and the heir to the title and estates was the Earl of Tichfield, who died before the fourth duke. On the fourth Duke's death Mr Druce took the title of the Duke of Portland, but he still went by the name of Druce amongst his old friends. He is a man after my own heart, and can play a theatrical part well. In order to carry out his double-part farces lie has to live at Welbeck, .sc.-luded, unknown, and unheard of. His estates are large and his wealth is immense. He is thoroughly handicapped, however, for the things he dabbled in whilst on the Continent are a •load stone' about his neck. He is blackmailed on all sides by those who personally knew him, and as yon know lie lives a hunted life. Have no fear of him. It is only those who dog his footsteps y. u must fear. He wished me to break the i,e to you. You have gained his confidence. Re sure you do not. lose it.' Mr Dickens then said .good bye." On June 10th a paragraph contains the following :—"I hear Mr Dickens died at his residence quite suddenly, I feel that I have lost one of my best friends." Subseouent-

ly, in September, an entry occurs relative to a conversation with Drmc, in which the latter explains the annoyance "which leading to the double existence entails. Miss Robinson, in her later entries, refers to Druce as "her cavalier." On October 17th, 1870, she wrote tli.it DriKc's careworn look luul disappeared, and that Van Aistii was dead. "Another () f , n y oM friends has gone where all tongues arc silent," was Deuce's comment when he heard the news.