it—
take
it
,
old
chap
,
"
whispered
Dunstable
:
"
you
can
turn
that
second
thousand
into
ten
.
"
"
Or
into
nothing
—
like
the
first
,
"
murmured
Egerton
,
with
a
sickly
smile
:
but
still
he
took
the
money
.
He
then
played
rapidly
—
wildly
—
desperately
,
—
drinking
wine
after
each
new
loss
,
and
inwardly
cursing
his
unlucky
stars
.
The
second
thousand
pounds
were
soon
gone
;
and
Dunstable
whispered
to
Crockford
,
"
That
's
enough
for
to-night
.
We
must
make
him
a
member
in
a
day
or
two
—
and
then
you
'll
give
me
back
the
little
I
.
O
.
U
.
you
hold
of
mine
.
"
"
Certainly
—
certainly
,
"
answered
the
hell-keeper
.
"
But
mind
you
does
n't
fail
to
bring
him
again
.
"
"
Never
fear
,
"
returned
Dunstable
;
—
then
turning
towards
his
party
,
he
said
aloud
,
"
Well
,
I
think
it
is
pretty
nearly
time
to
be
off
.
"
"
So
do
I
,
my
lord
—
—
hic
,
"
stammered
Egerton
,
catching
joyfully
at
the
chance
of
an
immediate
escape
from
the
place
where
fortunes
were
so
speedily
engulphed
;
—
for
tipsy
as
he
now
was
again
,
the
idea
of
his
losses
was
uppermost
in
his
mind
.
"
Well
,
my
lord
—
well
gentlemen
,
"
said
Crockford
,
bowing
deferentially
;
"
I
wishes
you
all
a
wery
good
night
—
or
rather
morning
.
But
perhaps
your
friend
,
my
lord
,
would
just
give
me
his
little
I
.
O
.
U
.
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
certainly
,
he
will
"
interrupted
Dunstable
.
"
Here
,
Egerton
,
my
boy
—
give
your
I
.
O
.
U
.
for
the
two
thousand
—
—
"
"
I
'd
ra-a-ther
—
hic
—
give
my
draft
,
"
returned
the
young
man
.
But
,
as
his
hand
trembled
and
his
visual
faculties
were
duplicated
for
the
time
,
he
was
ten
minutes
ere
he
could
fill
up
a
printed
cheque
in
a
proper
manner
.
The
business
was
,
however
,
accomplished
at
last
,
and
the
party
withdrew
,
amidst
the
bows
of
decoy-ducks
,
croupiers
,
waiters
,
groom-porters
,
door-porters
,
and
all
the
menials
of
the
establishment
.
William
Crockford
was
the
founder
of
the
Club
which
so
long
bore
his
name
,
and
which
was
only
broken
up
a
short
time
ago
.
He
began
life
as
a
fishmonger
;
and
when
he
closed
his
shop
of
an
evening
,
was
accustomed
to
repair
to
some
of
the
West
End
hells
,
where
he
staked
the
earnings
of
the
day
.
Naturally
of
a
shrewd
and
far-seeing
disposition
,
he
was
well
qualified
to
make
those
calculations
which
taught
him
the
precise
chances
of
the
hazard-table
;
and
a
lucky
bet
upon
the
St.
Leger
suddenly
helped
him
to
a
considerable
sum
of
ready
money
,
with
which
he
was
enabled
to
extend
his
ventures
at
the
gaming-house
.
In
due
time
he
gave
up
the
fish-shop
,
and
joined
some
hellites
in
partnership
at
the
West
End
.
Fortune
continued
to
favour
him
;
and
he
was
at
length
in
a
condition
to
open
No.
50
,
St.
James
's
Street
,
as
a
Club
.
The
moment
the
establishment
was
ready
for
the
reception
of
members
,
announcements
of
the
design
were
made
in
the
proper
quarters
;
and
it
was
advertised
that
all
persons
belonging
to
other
Clubs
were
eligible
to
have
their
names
enrolled
without
ballot
as
members
of
the
St.
James
's
.
The
scheme
succeeded
beyond
even
the
most
sanguine
hopes
of
Crockford
himself
;
and
hundreds
of
peers
,
nobles
,
and
gentlemen
,
who
were
fond
of
play
,
but
who
dared
not
frequent
the
common
gaming-houses
,
gladly
became
supporters
and
patrons
of
the
new
Club
.
In
the
course
of
a
short
time
No.
51
was
added
to
the
establishment
;
and
No.
52
was
subsequently
annexed
.
The
rules
and
regulations
were
made
more
stringent
,
because
several
notorious
black-legs
had
obtained
admission
;
but
,
until
the
very
last
,
any
member
was
permitted
to
introduce
a
stranger
for
one
evening
only
,
with
the
understanding
that
such
visitor
should
be
balloted
for
in
due
course
.
The
entrance-fee
was
fixed
at
twenty
guineas
a
year
;
and
an
annual
payment
of
ten
guineas
was
required
from
every
member
.
The
three
houses
,
thrown
into
one
,
were
soon
found
to
be
too
small
for
the
accommodation
of
the
members
:
they
were
accordingly
pulled
down
,
and
the
present
magnificent
building
was
erected
on
their
site
.
It
is
impossible
to
say
how
much
money
was
expended
upon
this
princely
structure
;
but
we
can
assert
upon
undoubted
authority
that
the
internal
decorations
alone
cost
ninety-four
thousand
pounds
!
The
real
nature
of
this
most
scandalous
and
abominable
establishment
soon
transpired
.
Hundreds
of
young
men
,
who
entered
upon
life
with
fortune
and
every
brilliant
prospect
to
cheer
them
,
were
immolated
upon
the
infernal
altar
of
that
aristocratic
pandemonium
.
Many
of
them
committed
suicide
:
—
others
perpetrated
forgeries
,
to
obtain
the
means
of
endeavouring
to
regain
what
they
had
lost
,
and
ended
their
days
upon
the
scaffold
;
—
and
not
a
few
became
decoy-ducks
and
bonnets
in
the
service
of
the
Arch-demon
himself
.
Even
noblemen
of
high
rank
did
not
hesitate
to
fill
these
ignominious
offices
;
and
for
every
flat
whom
they
took
to
the
house
,
they
received
a
recompense
proportionate
to
the
spoil
that
was
obtained
.
To
keep
up
appearances
with
their
fellow
members
,
these
ruined
lacqueys
of
the
great
hellite
actually
paid
their
subscriptions
with
the
funds
which
he
furnished
them
for
the
purpose
.
So
infamous
became
the
reputation
of
Crockford
's
,
that
it
was
deemed
necessary
to
devise
means
to
place
the
establishment
apparently
upon
the
same
footing
with
other
Clubs
.
A
committee
of
noblemen
and
gentlemen
(
what
precious
noblemen
and
gentlemen
,
good
reader
!
)
was
formed
to
administer
the
affairs
of
the
institution
;
but
this
proceeding
was
a
mere
blind
.
The
Committee
's
jurisdiction
extended
only
to
the
laws
affecting
the
introduction
of
new
members
,
the
expulsion
of
unruly
ones
,
and
the
choice
of
the
wines
laid
in
for
the
use
of
the
Club
.
The
French
Hazard
Bank
and
all
matters
relating
to
the
gambling-rooms
were
under
the
sole
control
of
Crockford
,
who
reaped
enormous
advantages
from
that
position
.
Thus
was
it
that
a
vulgar
and
illiterate
man
—
a
professed
gambler
—
a
wretch
who
lived
upon
the
ruin
of
the
inexperienced
and
unwary
,
as
well
as
on
the
vices
of
the
hoary
sinner
,
—
thus
was
he
enabled
to
make
noble
lords
and
high-born
gentlemen
his
vile
tools
,
and
thrust
them
forward
as
the
ostensible
managers
of
a
damnable
institution
,
the
infamous
profit
of
which
went
into
his
own
purse
!
[
36
]
CHAPTER
CCXLII
.
THE
AUNT
.
Albert
Egerton
now
became
the
constant
companion
of
the
fashionable
acquaintances
whom
he
had
accidentally
picked
up
—
or
rather
,
who
had
cunningly
picked
up
him
.
He
dined
with
them
at
Long
's
;
—
he
formed
with
them
parties
to
eat
fish
at
Greenwich
and
Blackwall
;
—
he
became
a
member
of
Crockford
's
;
—
and
every
day
he
lost
considerable
sums
to
them
in
one
shape
of
gambling
or
another
.
They
had
ascertained
that
he
was
possessed
,
on
coming
of
age
a
few
weeks
previously
,
of
the
handsome
fortune
of
sixty
thousand
pounds
;
and
they
determined
to
appropriate
the
best
portion
of
it
to
their
own
uses
.
The
Honourable
Colonel
Cholmondeley
most
obligingly
acted
as
his
Mentor
in
the
choice
of
magnificent
furnished
apartments
in
Stratton
Street
;
—
Lord
Dunstable
was
kind
enough
to
purchase
two
thorough-breds
for
him
,
the
price
being
only
eight
hundred
guineas
—
a
little
transaction
by
which
his
lordship
quietly
pocketed
three
hundred
as
his
own
commission
;
—
Mr
.
Chichester
thought
it
no
trouble
to
select
a
rare
assortment
of
wines
at
one
of
the
most
fashionable
merchants
of
the
West
End
,
and
actually
carried
his
good-nature
so
far
as
to
see
them
carefully
stowed
away
in
the
young
dupe
's
cellar
;
—
and
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
generously
surrendered
to
him
his
cast-off
mistress
.
The
four
friends
also
conceived
so
violent
an
attachment
towards
Mr.
Egerton
,
that
they
never
lost
sight
of
him
.
They
managed
matters
so
well
that
he
had
no
time
for
compunctious
reflections
;
for
they
invariably
made
him
drunk
ere
they
took
him
home
to
his
bed
;
and
when
he
awoke
in
the
morning
,
the
obliging
Mr.
Chichester
was
sure
to
be
already
there
to
give
him
sherry
and
soda-water
.
Then
Harborough
would
drop
in
to
breakfast
;
and
while
Egerton
was
performing
the
duties
of
the
toilette
,
Dunstable
and
Cholmondeley
were
sure
to
make
their
appearance
.
Perhaps
Egerton
would
complain
of
headach
.
"
Do
n't
talk
of
headach
,
my
dear
fellow
,
"
Lord
Dunstable
exclaimed
:
"
you
were
quite
sober
last
night
in
comparison
with
me
.
My
losses
were
terrific
!
A
thousand
to
Cholmondeley
—
fifteen
hundred
to
Chichester
—
and
double
as
much
to
Harborough
.
"
"
It
is
very
strange
that
I
seldom
win
any
thing
,
"
observed
Egerton
on
one
of
these
occasions
:
"
and
yet
we
ca
n't
all
lose
.
Some
one
must
be
the
gainer
.
"
"
Every
one
has
his
turn
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
cried
Harborough
.
"
But
what
shall
we
do
to-day
?
Any
thing
going
on
at
Tattersall
's
,
Colonel
?
"
"
Nothing
particular
,
"
was
the
reply
,
lazily
delivered
.
"
Suppose
we
have
some
claret
and
cigars
for
an
hour
or
two
,
and
then
play
a
rub
of
billiards
till
dinner-time
.
Of
course
we
all
dine
together
this
evening
.
"
"
Oh
!
of
course
,
"
chimed
in
Lord
Dunstable
.
"
What
do
you
think
the
Duke
of
Highgate
said
of
us
all
yesterday
,
Egerton
?
"
"
I
know
not
what
he
could
have
said
of
you
,
"
was
the
answer
;
"
but
I
am
sure
he
could
have
said
nothing
of
me
—
for
he
cannot
be
aware
that
there
is
such
a
person
in
existence
.
"
"
Nonsense
,
my
dear
fellow
!
"
exclaimed
Dunstable
:
"
you
are
as
well
known
now
in
the
fashionable
world
as
any
one
of
us
.
Every
body
is
speaking
of
you
;
and
it
will
be
your
own
fault
if
you
do
not
marry
an
heiress
.
We
must
introduce
you
at
Almack
's
in
due
course
.
But
I
was
speaking
about
my
friend
the
Duke
.
His
Grace
met
me
yesterday
as
I
was
on
my
way
to
join
you
all
at
the
Clarendon
:
and
when
I
told
him
where
I
was
going
,
he
said
with
a
laugh
,
'
Ah
!
I
call
you
five
the
Inseparables
!
'
—
and
away
he
went
.
"
Egerton
was
profoundly
gratified
with
the
absurd
flattery
thus
constantly
poured
in
his
ear
;
and
as
he
really
possessed
a
handsome
person
,
he
saw
no
difficulty
in
carrying
out
the
idea
of
marrying
an
heiress
.
And
this
same
belief
has
proved
fatal
to
thousands
and
thousands
of
young
men
placed
in
the
same
situation
as
Albert
Egerton
.
They
pursue
a
career
of
reckless
extravagance
and
dissipation
,
buoying
themselves
up
with
the
hope
that
when
their
present
resources
shall
have
passed
away
,
it
will
be
the
easiest
thing
possible
to
rebuild
their
fortunes
by
means
of
marriage
.
A
month
slipped
away
,
and
Egerton
found
himself
on
intimate
terms
with
many
"
men
about
town
"
—
one
of
the
most
popular
members
at
Crockford
's
—
a
great
favourite
in
certain
titled
but
not
over-particular
families
,
where
there
were
portionless
daughters
to
"
get
off
,
"
and
at
whose
house
Lord
Dunstable
enjoyed
the
entrée
—
and
the
pride
and
delight
(
as
he
believed
)
of
his
four
dear
friends
who
had
done
so
much
for
him
!
And
sure
enough
they
had
done
a
great
deal
in
his
behalf
;
for
he
had
already
sold
out
twenty
thousand
pounds
,
or
one
third
of
his
entire
fortune
;
but
he
was
purposely
kept
in
such
an
incessant
whirl
of
excitement
,
pleasure
,
dissipation
,
and
bustle
,
that
he
had
no
time
for
reflection
.
One
morning
—
it
was
about
eleven
o'clock
—
the
young
man
awoke
with
aching
head
and
feverish
pulse
,
after
the
usual
night
's
debauch
;
and
it
happened
that
none
of
his
dear
friends
had
yet
arrived
.
Egerton
rang
the
bell
for
some
white
wine
and
soda-water
to
assuage
the
burning
thirst
which
oppressed
him
;
and
when
his
livery-boy
,
or
"
tiger
,
"
appeared
with
the
refreshing
beverage
,
the
young
rake
learnt
that
a
lady
was
waiting
to
see
him
in
the
drawing-room
.
"
A
lady
!
"
exclaimed
Egerton
:
"
who
the
deuce
can
she
be
?
"
"
She
is
a
stout
,
elderly
lady
,
sir
,
"
said
the
tiger
.
"
And
did
she
give
no
name
?
"
inquired
Egerton
,
beginning
to
suspect
who
his
visitor
was
.
"
No
,
sir
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
I
assured
her
that
you
were
not
up
yet
,
and
that
you
never
received
any
one
at
so
early
an
hour
;
but
she
declared
that
you
would
see
her
;
and
I
was
obliged
to
show
her
into
the
drawing-room
.
"
"
Ah
!
it
must
be
my
aunt
,
then
!
"
muttered
Egerton
to
himself
.
"
Bring
me
up
some
hot-water
this
minute
,
you
young
rascal
:
"
—
fashionable
upstarts
always
vent
their
annoyances
upon
their
servants
;
—
"
and
then
go
and
tell
the
lady
that
I
will
be
with
her
in
five
minutes
.
"
The
tiger
disappeared
—
returned
with
the
hot-water
—
and
then
departed
once
more
,
to
execute
the
latter
portion
of
his
master
's
orders
.
Egerton
felt
truly
wretched
and
ashamed
of
himself
when
he
surveyed
his
pale
cheeks
and
haggard
eyes
in
the
glass
,
and
thought
of
the
course
which
he
had
lately
been
pursuing
.
But
then
he
remembered
the
flattery
of
his
fashionable
friends
,
and
soothed
his
remorseful
feelings
by
the
idea
that
he
was
on
intimate
terms
with
all
the
"
best
men
about
town
,
"
was
a
member
of
Crockford
's
,
and
had
the
entrée
of
several
families
of
distinction
.
Moreover
,
when
he
was
shaved
and
washed
,
—
oiled
and
perfumed
,
—
and
attired
in
a
clean
shirt
,
black
trousers
,
red
morocco
slippers
,
and
an
elegant
dressing-gown
,
his
appearance
was
so
much
more
satisfactory
to
himself
that
he
felt
quite
equal
to
the
task
of
encountering
his
relative
.
He
accordingly
proceeded
,
with
a
smile
upon
his
lips
and
an
easy
unconstrained
manner
,
to
the
drawing-room
,
where
a
respectable
,
motherly-looking
,
stout
old
lady
was
anxiously
awaiting
him
.
"
My
dear
Albert
,
"
she
exclaimed
,
as
he
entered
the
apartment
,
"
what
have
you
been
doing
with
yourself
this
last
month
,
that
you
never
come
near
us
—
no
,
not
even
on
Sundays
,
as
you
used
to
do
?
"
And
,
while
she
spoke
,
the
good-natured
woman
made
a
motion
as
if
she
were
anxious
to
embrace
her
nephew
;
but
he
—
well
aware
that
it
is
improper
to
give
way
to
one
's
feelings
in
the
fashionable
world
—
retreated
a
step
or
two
,
and
graciously
allowed
his
aunt
to
shake
the
tip
of
his
fore-finger
.
"
Lor
,
Albert
,
how
strange
you
are
!
"
exclaimed
the
baffled
relative
.
"
But
do
tell
me
,
"
she
continued
,
quietly
resuming
her
seat
,
"
what
you
have
been
doing
with
yourself
.
Why
did
you
leave
your
nice
little
lodging
in
Budge
Row
?
why
do
you
never
come
near
us
?
why
have
you
moved
up
into
this
part
of
the
town
?
and
why
did
n't
you
even
write
to
tell
us
where
you
was
living
?
If
it
had
n't
been
for
Storks
,
your
stock-broker
,
I
should
n't
have
known
how
to
find
you
out
;
but
he
gave
me
your
address
.
"
"
Storks
!
"
murmured
Egerton
,
turning
very
pale
.
"
Did
he
tell
you
—
any
thing
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
yes
,
"
continued
the
aunt
,
speaking
with
great
volubility
;
"
he
told
me
that
you
had
sold
out
a
power
of
money
;
—
but
when
he
saw
that
I
was
annoyed
,
he
assured
me
that
it
could
only
be
for
some
good
purpose
.
And
it
is
so
,
Albert
dear
—
is
n't
it
?
"
"
Certainly
—
to
be
sure
,
aunt
—
Oh
!
certainly
,
"
stammered
the
young
man
,
as
he
glanced
uneasily
towards
the
door
.
"
Well
,
now
—
I
am
glad
of
that
,
Albert
,
"
said
the
old
lady
,
apparently
relieved
of
a
serious
misgiving
.
"
I
said
to
your
eldest
cousin
Susannah
Rachel
,
says
I
,
'
Albert
is
a
good
young
man
—
quiet
—
steady
—
and
firm
in
his
resolve
to
follow
in
the
footsteps
of
his
dear
lamented
father
'
:
—
here
the
aunt
wiped
her
eyes
;
—
'
and
,
'
says
I
,
'
if
he
has
sold
out
fifteen
or
twenty
thousand
pounds
,
depend
,
upon
it
he
has
bought
a
nice
snug
little
estate
;
and
he
means
to
surprise
us
all
by
asking
us
to
dine
with
him
some
Sunday
at
his
country-house
.
'
Am
I
right
,
Albert
dear
?
"
"
Oh
!
quite
right
,
aunt
,
"
exclaimed
the
young
man
,
overjoyed
to
find
that
his
dissipated
courses
were
unknown
to
his
relatives
.
"
And
that
was
the
reason
why
I
did
not
go
near
you
—
nor
yet
write
to
you
.
But
have
a
little
patience
—
and
,
in
a
few
weeks
,
I
promise
you
and
my
cousins
a
pleasant
day
—
—
"
"
Well
,
well
—
I
do
n't
want
to
penetrate
into
your
little
secrets
,
you
know
,
"
interrupted
the
aunt
.
"
But
how
late
you
get
up
.
Why
,
it
is
near
twelve
,
I
declare
;
and
I
rose
this
morning
before
day-light
.
"
"
I
was
detained
last
evening
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
by
your
man
of
business
,
no
doubt
,
"
cried
the
voluble
old
lady
.
"
Many
papers
to
read
over
and
sign
—
contracts
to
make
—
leases
to
consider
—
deeds
to
study
—
Oh
!
I
understand
it
all
;
and
I
am
delighted
,
Albert
,
to
find
you
so
prudent
.
"
"
It
is
quite
necessary
,
my
dear
aunt
,
"
said
Egerton
,
in
a
hurried
and
nervous
tone
,
for
a
thundering
double-knock
at
that
moment
reverberated
through
the
house
.
"
But
I
am
afraid
—
that
is
,
I
think
—
some
one
is
coming
,
who
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
never
mind
me
,
dear
Al
,
"
observed
the
old
lady
.
"
I
shall
just
rest
myself
for
half
an
hour
or
so
,
before
I
take
the
omnibus
back
to
the
Pavement
.
"
"
Certainly
,
my
dear
aunt
—
but
—
—
"
The
door
opened
;
and
Lord
Dunstable
entered
the
room
.
"
Ah
!
my
dear
Egerton
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
rushing
forward
,
with
out-stretched
hand
,
to
greet
his
young
friend
:
but
,
perceiving
the
lady
,
who
had
risen
from
the
sofa
,
he
stopped
short
,
and
bowed
to
her
with
distant
politeness
—
for
it
struck
him
at
the
moment
that
she
might
be
a
washerwoman
,
or
the
mother
of
Egerton
's
servant
,
or
a
shirt-maker
,
or
some
such
kind
of
person
.
"
How
d'ye
do
,
sir
?
"
said
the
aunt
,
in
acknowledgment
of
the
bow
;
and
,
resuming
her
seat
,
she
observed
,
"
I
find
it
very
warm
for
the
time
of
year
.
But
then
I
was
scrooged
up
in
an
omnibus
for
near
an
hour
—
all
packed
as
close
as
herrings
in
a
barrel
;
and
that
's
not
pleasant
—
is
it
,
sir
?
"
"
By
no
means
,
madam
,
"
answered
Dunstable
,
in
a
cold
tone
;
while
Egerton
bit
his
lips
—
at
a
loss
what
to
do
.
"
Well
—
it
is
not
pleasant
,
"
continued
the
garrulous
lady
.
"
And
now
,
when
I
think
of
it
,
I
have
a
call
to
make
in
Aldgate
to-day
;
and
so
,
when
I
leave
here
,
I
shall
take
a
Whitechapel
'
bus
.
Nasty
place
that
Aldgate
,
sir
?
"
"
Really
,
madam
,
I
never
heard
of
it
until
now
,
"
said
Lord
Dunstable
,
with
marvellous
stiffness
of
manner
.
"
Never
heard
of
Aldgate
,
sir
?
"
literally
shouted
the
lady
.
"
Why
,
you
must
be
very
green
in
London
,
then
.
"
"
I
know
no
place
east
of
Temple
Bar
,
madam
,
"
was
the
cold
reply
.
"
I
am
aware
that
there
are
human
habitations
on
the
other
side
;
and
I
could
perhaps
find
my
way
to
the
Bank
—
but
nothing
more
,
madam
,
I
can
assure
you
.
"
And
he
turned
towards
Egerton
,
who
was
pretending
to
look
out
of
the
window
.
"
Well
—
I
never
!
"
exclaimed
the
lady
,
now
eyeing
the
nobleman
with
sovereign
contempt
.
"
My
dear
aunt
,
"
said
Egerton
,
desperately
resolved
to
put
an
end
if
possible
to
this
awkward
scene
;
"
allow
me
to
introduce
my
friend
Lord
Dunstable
:
Lord
Dunstable
—
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
"
Oh
!
delighted
at
the
honour
!
"
cried
the
nobleman
,
instantly
conquering
his
surprise
at
this
announcement
of
the
relationship
existing
between
his
young
friend
and
the
vulgar
lady
who
complained
of
having
been
"
scrooged
up
in
an
omnibus
:
"
—
"
proud
,
madam
,
to
form
your
acquaintance
!
"
And
his
features
instantly
beamed
with
smiles
—
a
relaxation
from
his
former
chilling
manner
,
which
appeared
like
a
sudden
transition
from
the
north
pole
to
the
tropics
.
On
her
side
,
the
aunt
had
started
up
from
the
sofa
,
quite
electrified
by
the
mention
of
the
magic
words
—
"
Lord
Dunstable
;
"
and
there
she
stood
,
cruelly
embarrassed
,
and
bobbing
up
and
down
in
a
rapid
series
of
curtseys
at
every
word
which
the
nobleman
addressed
to
her
.
For
this
was
the
first
time
in
her
life
that
she
had
ever
exchanged
a
syllable
with
a
Lord
,
unless
it
were
with
a
Lord
Mayor
on
one
or
two
occasions
—
but
that
was
only
"
cakes
and
gingerbread
"
in
comparison
with
the
excitement
of
forming
the
acquaintance
of
a
real
Lord
whose
title
was
not
the
temporary
splendour
of
a
single
year
.
"
I
really
must
apologise
,
my
dear
madam
,
"
said
the
nobleman
,
now
speaking
in
the
most
amiable
manner
possible
,
"
for
having
affected
ere
now
not
to
know
anything
of
the
City
.
I
cannot
fancy
how
I
could
have
been
so
foolish
.
As
for
the
Mansion
House
,
it
is
the
finest
building
in
the
world
;
and
Lombard
Street
is
the
very
focus
of
attraction
.
With
Aldgate
I
am
well
acquainted
;
and
a
pleasant
spot
it
is
,
too
.
The
butchers
'
shops
in
the
neighbourhood
must
be
quite
healthy
for
consumptive
people
.
Then
you
have
Whitechapel
,
madam
;
—
fine
—
wide
—
and
open
:
the
Commercial
Road
—
delightful
proof
of
the
industry
of
this
great
city
;
—
and
,
best
of
all
,
there
is
the
Albion
in
Aldersgate
Street
,
—
where
,
by
the
by
,
Egerton
,
"
he
added
,
turning
towards
his
friend
,
"
we
will
all
dine
to-day
,
if
you
like
.
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
certainly
,
"
said
Egerton
,
smiling
faintly
.
But
Dunstable
was
too
good
a
judge
to
show
that
he
even
perceived
the
honest
vulgarity
of
his
friend
's
aunt
:
he
accordingly
seated
himself
near
her
upon
the
sofa
,
and
rattled
away
,
in
the
most
amiable
manner
possible
,
upon
the
delights
of
the
City
.
He
then
listened
with
great
apparent
interest
to
the
long
story
which
the
old
lady
told
him
,
—
how
she
kept
a
haberdashery
warehouse
on
the
Pavement
,
and
did
a
very
tidy
business
,
—
how
she
had
five
daughters
all
"
well-edicated
gals
as
could
be
,
and
which
was
Albert
's
own
first
cousins
,
"
—
how
her
late
husband
had
once
been
nearly
an
alderman
and
quite
a
sheriff
,
—
how
she
and
her
deceased
partner
dined
with
the
Lord
Mayor
"
seven
years
ago
come
next
November
,
"
—
how
she
had
been
lately
plundered
of
three
hundred
pounds
'
worth
of
goods
by
a
French
Marchioness
,
who
turned
out
to
be
an
English
swindler
,
—
and
how
she
strongly
suspected
that
young
Tedworth
Jones
,
the
only
son
of
the
great
tripe-man
in
Bishopsgate
Street
Without
,
was
making
up
to
her
third
daughter
,
Clarissa
Jemima
.
To
all
this
,
we
say
,
Lord
Dunstable
listened
with
the
deepest
interest
;
and
,
at
the
conclusion
,
he
expressed
a
hope
that
if
the
anticipated
match
did
come
off
between
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
and
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
Bustard
,
he
should
have
the
honour
of
receiving
an
invitation
on
the
happy
occasion
.
Even
Egerton
himself
was
rendered
more
comfortable
by
the
distinguished
politeness
with
which
his
aunt
was
treated
;
but
he
was
not
the
less
delighted
when
she
rose
and
took
her
departure
.
As
soon
as
the
door
was
shut
behind
her
,
Dunstable
hastened
to
observe
,
"
There
goes
an
estimable
woman
—
I
can
vouch
for
it
!
What
would
England
's
commerce
be
without
such
industrious
,
plodding
,
intelligent
persons
as
your
aunt
?
Egerton
,
my
boy
,
you
ought
to
be
proud
of
her
—
as
I
am
of
her
acquaintance
.
But
there
is
Chichester
's
knock
,
I
'll
swear
!
"
In
a
few
moments
the
gentleman
alluded
to
made
his
appearance
;
and
the
scene
with
the
aunt
was
soon
forgotten
.
The
day
was
passed
in
the
usual
profitless
manner
;
and
the
greater
portion
of
the
night
following
was
spent
in
gaming
and
debauchery
.
CHAPTER
CCXLIII
.
THE
FIGHT
.
—
THE
RUINED
GAMESTER
.
The
day
on
which
the
fight
was
to
take
place
between
the
Birmingham
Bruiser
and
the
Haggerstone
Pet
,
now
drew
near
.
Great
was
the
excitement
of
the
sporting
world
on
the
occasion
;
and
all
those
,
who
were
not
in
the
secret
of
the
"
cross
,
"
felt
confident
that
the
Bruiser
must
win
.
Indeed
the
odds
had
risen
in
his
favour
from
five
to
four
,
to
eleven
to
five
.
There
were
numerous
betters
,
and
the
takers
were
willing
.
The
following
paragraph
appeared
in
Bell
's
Life
,
on
the
Sunday
preceding
the
contest
:
—
"
The
Approaching
Fight
.
—
The
mill
between
the
Birmingham
Bruiser
and
the
Haggerstone
Pet
is
to
come
off
on
Thursday
next
,
at
Wigginton
Bottom
,
near
Snodsnook
Park
,
in
Essex
.
We
are
assured
by
persons
who
have
seen
the
Bruiser
in
training
at
Bexley
Heath
,
and
the
Pet
at
Cheshunt
,
that
the
men
are
in
first-rate
condition
,
and
full
of
confidence
.
The
Bruiser
has
vowed
that
if
he
is
beaten
in
this
fight
,
he
will
retire
altogether
from
the
Ring
;
but
his
friends
do
not
for
a
moment
apprehend
that
the
result
will
be
such
as
to
occasion
such
a
step
.
The
admirers
of
this
truly
British
sport
have
begun
to
flock
to
the
neighbourhood
of
the
scene
of
action
;
and
every
bed
at
Wigginton
is
already
let
.
In
fact
we
know
of
two
guineas
having
been
offered
and
refused
for
a
mere
'
shake-down
'
in
the
tap
of
the
Green
Lion
,
at
that
beautiful
little
village
.
The
odds
in
favour
of
the
Bruiser
have
risen
within
these
few
days
to
eleven
to
five
.
The
Bruiser
's
backers
are
not
known
:
they
are
most
likely
some
swell
nobs
,
who
prefer
keeping
out
of
sight
.
Some
thousands
of
pounds
will
change
hands
next
Thursday
.
"
On
the
appointed
day
Lord
Dunstable
drove
his
friends
Egerton
,
Chichester
,
Harborough
,
and
Cholmondeley
,
down
to
Wigginton
in
his
four-in-hand
—
an
equipage
that
he
had
only
very
recently
set
up
,
and
which
had
been
purchased
and
was
still
maintained
by
the
coin
extracted
from
the
pocket
of
the
credulous
son
of
the
deceased
outfitter
.
The
scene
of
the
contest
was
thronged
with
as
miscellaneous
a
collection
of
persons
as
could
possibly
be
gathered
together
.
There
were
specimens
of
all
classes
,
from
the
peer
down
to
the
beggar
.
The
fashionable
exquisite
was
jostled
by
the
greasy
butcher
;
—
the
sporting
tradesman
was
crushed
between
two
sweeps
;
—
the
flat
was
knocked
down
by
one
black-leg
and
picked
up
by
another
;
—
the
country-squire
was
elbowed
by
the
horse-chaunter
;
—
the
newspaper
reporter
was
practically
overwhelmed
by
the
influence
of
the
"
press
;
"
—
and
,
in
short
,
there
was
such
a
squeezing
that
many
who
had
paid
a
guinea
to
be
conveyed
thither
,
would
have
gladly
given
ten
to
be
removed
away
again
.
Presently
a
tremendous
shout
of
applause
welcomed
the
arrival
of
Lord
Snodsnook
's
carriage
,
from
which
leapt
the
Haggerstone
Pet
,
who
was
immediately
surrounded
by
his
friends
;
and
shortly
afterwards
a
"
slap-up
turn-out
,
"
"
tooled
"
by
a
sporting
publican
of
the
West
End
,
to
whom
it
belonged
,
brought
the
Birmingham
Bruiser
upon
the
scene
of
action
,
amidst
renewed
vociferations
and
another
rush
of
supporters
.
The
preliminaries
being
all
settled
,
the
combatants
stripped
,
entered
the
ring
,
attended
by
their
seconds
,
and
then
shook
hands
.
The
newspapers
subsequently
declared
that
no
two
pugilists
ever
"
peeled
"
better
,
nor
seemed
more
confident
.
It
is
not
our
purpose
,
however
,
to
dwell
upon
the
disgusting
exhibition
:
—
those
brutal
displays
are
loathsome
to
us
,
and
,
to
our
mind
,
are
a
disgrace
to
the
English
character
.
Suffice
it
to
say
,
that
the
Birmingham
Bruiser
was
quite
able
to
beat
the
Haggerstone
Pet
,
if
he
had
so
chosen
:
but
he
had
made
his
appearance
there
on
purpose
to
lose
.
For
upwards
of
twenty
rounds
,
however
,
he
secured
to
himself
the
advantage
;
and
the
general
impression
amongst
the
uninitiated
was
that
he
must
win
.
Those
who
were
in
the
secret
accordingly
bet
heavily
upon
the
Haggerstone
Pet
;
and
we
need
hardly
say
that
,
as
Egerton
backed
the
Bruiser
,
he
found
several
of
his
dear
friends
perfectly
willing
to
accept
the
odds
at
his
hands
.
By
the
twenty-fifth
round
,
the
Bruiser
began
to
grow
"
groggy
,
"
and
to
hit
at
random
.
Of
course
this
was
mere
pretence
on
his
part
:
but
it
gave
the
Pet
renewed
courage
;
and
in
proportion
as
the
latter
acquired
confidence
,
the
former
seemed
to
lose
ground
rapidly
.
Many
of
the
backers
of
the
Bruiser
now
exhibited
elongating
countenances
;
and
,
when
that
champion
was
thrown
heavily
at
the
thirty-first
round
,
his
former
supporters
manifested
a
desperate
inclination
to
"
hedge
.
"
Egerton
,
however
,
remained
confident
in
favour
of
the
Bruiser
;
but
then
he
knew
nothing
about
prize-fighting
—
it
was
the
first
combat
of
the
kind
he
had
ever
seen
in
his
life
—
and
,
even
if
he
had
been
inclined
to
hedge
his
bets
,
he
would
have
found
no
persons
willing
at
this
stage
of
the
proceeding
to
afford
him
the
chance
.
The
Bruiser
played
his
game
so
well
,
that
even
the
most
experienced
in
the
pugilistic
science
were
unable
to
detect
the
fraud
that
was
being
practised
upon
them
;
and
thousands
were
deceived
into
a
belief
that
he
was
really
doing
his
best
to
win
.
At
the
fortieth
round
he
fell
,
apparently
through
sheer
weakness
;
and
it
was
highly
ludicrous
to
behold
the
discomfited
looks
of
those
who
had
bet
most
heavily
upon
him
.
He
stood
up
for
three
rounds
more
;
but
time
was
called
in
vain
for
the
forty-fourth
—
and
the
Haggerstone
Pet
was
declared
to
be
the
conqueror
.
The
Bruiser
seemed
to
be
in
a
horrible
plight
:
for
some
time
he
remained
motionless
upon
the
ground
,
obstinately
resisting
all
the
efforts
that
were
made
to
recover
him
,
until
one
of
his
friends
thrust
a
huge
pinch
of
snuff
up
his
nose
—
and
then
he
was
compelled
to
sneeze
.
He
was
now
borne
to
the
Green
Lion
at
Wigginton
,
and
put
to
bed
.
A
surgeon
in
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
's
pay
volunteered
his
services
to
attend
upon
him
;
and
,
although
the
Bruiser
had
nothing
more
serious
the
matter
with
him
than
a
few
bruises
and
a
couple
of
black
eyes
,
the
medical
gentlemen
assured
the
multitudes
who
flocked
to
the
inn
,
that
"
the
poor
fellow
could
not
possibly
be
worse
.
"
A
great
deal
of
medicine
was
also
purchased
at
the
village
apothecary
's
shop
;
but
it
was
all
quietly
thrown
away
by
the
surgeon
,
and
the
Bruiser
was
regaled
,
in
the
privacy
of
his
chamber
,
with
a
good
cut
off
a
sirloin
of
beef
and
a
bottle
of
Port-wine
.
Lord
Dunstable
,
Mr.
Chichester
,
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
and
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
divided
equally
amongst
themselves
the
money
won
by
this
"
cross
;
"
—
they
sacked
a
thousand
pounds
each
,
Egerton
alone
having
lost
fifteen
hundred
upon
the
fight
.
The
five
friends
returned
to
town
in
his
lordship
's
four-in-hand
,
and
dined
that
evening
at
Limmer
's
,
where
Egerton
speedily
drowned
the
recollection
of
his
heavy
losses
in
bumpers
of
champagne
and
claret
.
The
party
afterwards
repaired
to
Crockford
's
;
but
just
as
they
were
ascending
the
steps
,
they
beheld
one
of
the
waiters
in
altercation
with
a
person
of
emaciated
form
,
haggard
countenance
,
and
shabby
attire
,
but
who
had
evidently
seen
better
—
far
better
days
;
for
his
language
was
correct
,
and
even
beneath
his
rags
there
was
an
air
of
gentility
which
no
tatters
could
conceal
—
no
penury
altogether
subdue
.
"
Come
,
Major
,
none
of
this
nonsense
—
it
wo
n't
do
here
,
"
said
the
waiter
,
in
an
insolent
tone
.
"
Be
off
with
you
—
there
's
gentlemen
coming
in
.
"
"
I
care
not
who
hears
me
!
"
cried
the
person
thus
addressed
:
"
Mr.
Crockford
is
within
—
I
know
he
is
;
and
I
must
see
him
.
"
"
No
—
he
's
not
here
—
and
he
never
comes
now
,
"
returned
the
waiter
.
"
If
you
do
n't
make
yourself
scarce
,
I
'll
call
a
policeman
.
Pray
walk
in
,
my
lord
—
walk
in
,
gentlemen
.
"
These
last
words
were
addressed
to
Lord
Dunstable
and
his
party
;
but
,
instead
of
entering
the
Club
,
they
remained
on
the
steps
to
hear
the
issue
of
the
dispute
.
"
Call
a
policeman
—
oh
!
do
,
"
ejaculated
the
Major
.
"
I
wish
you
would
—
for
I
should
at
least
have
a
roof
over
my
head
to-night
;
whereas
I
now
stand
the
chance
of
wandering
about
the
streets
.
But
you
dare
not
give
me
in
charge
—
no
,
you
dare
not
!
You
know
that
I
should
expose
all
the
infamy
of
this
den
before
the
magistrate
to-morrow
morning
.
However
—
in
one
word
,
will
you
deliver
my
message
to
Mr.
Crockford
?
"
"
I
tell
you
that
he
is
not
here
,
"
repeated
the
waiter
,
insolently
.
"
Did
you
give
him
my
note
?
"
asked
the
Major
,
in
an
imploring
tone
.
"
Yes
—
and
he
said
there
was
no
answer
,
"
replied
the
menial
,
placing
his
thumbs
in
the
arm-holes
of
his
waistcoat
.
"
My
God
!
no
answer
for
me
!
"
cried
the
miserable
man
,
in
a
voice
of
bitter
despair
.
"
No
answer
for
me
—
and
I
lost
so
much
in
his
house
!
Surely
—
surely
he
could
spare
a
guinea
from
the
thousands
which
he
has
received
of
me
?
I
only
asked
him
for
a
guinea
—
and
he
does
not
condescend
to
answer
me
!
"
"
Well
,
I
tell
you
what
it
is
,
"
said
the
waiter
,
perceiving
that
not
only
Lord
Dunstable
's
party
lingered
upon
the
steps
,
but
that
there
was
also
another
listener
—
a
gentleman
in
a
military
cloak
—
standing
at
a
short
distance
:
—
"
if
you
will
go
away
now
,
I
'll
give
you
half-a-crown
out
of
my
own
pocket
,
and
I
will
undertake
that
Mr.
Crockford
shall
send
you
up
a
sovereign
to-morrow
.
"
"
God
knows
with
what
reluctance
I
accept
that
miserable
trifle
from
you
!
"
exclaimed
the
unhappy
man
,
tears
rolling
down
his
cheeks
,
as
he
extended
his
hand
for
the
pittance
offered
.
At
the
same
instant
Egerton
,
who
was
much
moved
by
all
he
had
just
overheard
,
drew
forth
his
purse
with
the
intention
of
presenting
five
sovereigns
to
the
poor
Major
:
but
the
waiter
,
perceiving
his
intention
,
hastened
to
drop
the
half-crown
into
the
miserable
wretch
's
palm
with
a
view
to
get
rid
of
him
at
once
;
—
for
the
domestic
wisely
argued
to
himself
that
every
guinea
which
Egerton
might
give
away
would
be
so
much
lost
to
his
master
's
bank
up-stairs
.
The
half-crown
piece
had
just
touched
the
Major
's
hand
,
when
the
individual
in
the
cloak
sprang
forward
—
seized
it
—
threw
it
indignantly
in
the
servant
's
face
—
and
,
dragging
the
Major
away
from
the
door
,
exclaimed
,
"
No
—
never
shall
it
be
said
that
a
soldier
and
an
officer
received
alms
from
an
insolent
lacquey
!
Mine
be
the
duty
of
relieving
your
wants
.
"
And
,
leading
the
Major
a
few
paces
up
the
street
,
the
stranger
bade
him
enter
a
carriage
that
was
waiting
,
and
into
which
he
immediately
followed
him
.
The
servant
closed
the
door
,
received
some
whispered
instructions
from
his
master
,
and
got
up
behind
the
vehicle
,
which
immediately
rolled
away
at
a
rapid
pace
.
But
to
return
to
Lord
Dunstable
and
his
party
.
The
moment
that
the
individual
in
the
cloak
sprang
forward
in
the
manner
described
,
and
the
light
of
the
hall
lamps
streamed
full
upon
his
countenance
,
both
Harborough
and
Chichester
uttered
ejaculations
of
surprise
,
and
hastened
precipitately
into
the
Club
,
followed
by
Dunstable
,
Egerton
,
and
Cholmondeley
.
"
What
's
the
matter
?
"
demanded
Dunstable
,
when
the
baronet
and
Chichester
were
overtaken
on
the
stairs
:
"
and
who
's
that
person
?
"
"
The
Prince
of
Montoni
,
"
replied
Harborough
,
whose
countenance
was
very
pale
.
"
Yes
,
"
said
Chichester
,
hastily
;
"
we
know
him
well
—
and
,
as
he
is
very
particular
in
his
notions
,
we
did
not
wish
him
to
see
us
coming
here
.
But
,
enough
of
that
—
let
us
adjourn
to
the
Hazard
Room
.
"
The
conversation
between
the
Major
and
the
waiter
,
displaying
as
it
did
a
fearful
instance
of
the
results
of
gaming
,
had
made
a
deep
impression
upon
Albert
Egerton
;
and
for
some
time
he
was
thoughtful
and
serious
.
But
Dunstable
attacked
him
so
adroitly
with
the
artillery
of
flattery
—
the
waiter
offered
him
claret
so
frequently
—
the
excitement
of
the
play
appeared
so
agreeable
—
and
the
fear
of
losing
ground
in
the
good
opinion
of
his
aristocratic
acquaintances
was
so
strong
in
his
mind
,
that
he
seized
the
dice-box
,
staked
his
money
,
lost
as
usual
,
and
was
conducted
home
in
a
state
of
intoxication
at
about
half-past
three
in
the
morning
.
In
the
meantime
the
unfortunate
Major
Anderson
—
for
such
was
his
name
—
had
received
substantial
proofs
of
that
goodness
of
heart
which
prompted
the
Prince
of
Montoni
to
espouse
his
cause
against
the
brutal
insolence
of
Crockford
's
waiter
.
Immediately
after
the
carriage
rolled
away
from
the
corner
of
St.
James
's
Street
,
Richard
drew
forth
his
pocket-book
,
and
placed
a
bank-note
,
accompanied
by
his
card
,
in
the
Major
's
hand
.
"
By
means
of
this
temporary
relief
,
sir
,
"
he
said
,
"
you
can
place
yourself
in
a
somewhat
more
comfortable
position
than
that
in
which
I
deeply
regret
to
find
you
;
and
,
when
you
feel
inclined
to
see
me
again
,
be
good
enough
to
write
me
a
note
to
that
effect
,
so
that
I
may
call
upon
you
.
For
,
if
it
would
not
be
impertinently
prying
into
your
affairs
,
I
should
wish
to
learn
the
sad
narrative
of
those
reverses
which
have
so
reduced
a
gentleman
of
your
rank
and
station
.
"
"
Oh
!
sir
—
whoever
you
are
,
"
exclaimed
the
Major
—
for
it
was
too
dark
to
permit
him
to
read
his
benefactor
's
card
,
—
"
how
can
I
ever
sufficiently
thank
you
for
this
noble
—
this
generous
conduct
?
But
think
not
that
your
bounty
will
have
been
bestowed
in
vain
—
think
not
that
I
would
risk
one
sixpence
of
this
sum
—
whatever
be
its
amount
—
at
the
gaming-table
!
Oh
!
my
God
—
who
would
ever
play
again
,
that
had
been
in
such
misery
as
I
?
No
,
sir
—
no
:
I
would
rather
throw
myself
headlong
from
one
of
the
bridges
into
the
silent
waters
of
the
Thames
,
than
enter
the
gamblers
'
den
!
"
"
Then
let
me
tell
you
frankly
,
"
said
Markham
,
much
moved
by
the
touching
sincerity
of
the
ruined
officer
's
tone
and
manner
,
—
"
let
me
tell
you
frankly
that
my
object
,
in
wishing
to
see
you
again
,
was
to
satisfy
myself
that
you
had
in
reality
abjured
the
detestable
vice
which
has
beggared
you
,
and
that
you
are
deserving
of
all
I
am
prepared
to
do
for
your
benefit
.
"
"
To-morrow
afternoon
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
Major
,
"
I
will
take
the
liberty
of
writing
to
you
;
for
by
that
time
I
shall
once
more
be
the
possessor
of
some
humble
lodging
.
And
now
,
with
your
permission
,
I
will
alight
here
.
"
Richard
pulled
the
check-string
;
and
the
carriage
stopped
in
Oxford
Street
.
The
Major
alighted
—
pressed
our
hero
's
hand
fervently
—
and
hurried
away
.
When
the
carriage
had
disappeared
,
and
the
poor
man
's
feelings
were
somewhat
composed
,
he
stopped
beneath
a
lamp
to
learn
the
name
of
his
benefactor
.
"
The
Prince
of
Montoni
!
"
he
exclaimed
joyfully
:
"
oh
!
then
I
am
saved
—
I
am
saved
;
he
will
never
let
me
want
again
!
All
London
rings
with
the
fame
of
his
goodness
:
his
whole
time
seems
to
be
passed
in
benefiting
his
fellow-creatures
!
Wherever
poverty
is
known
to
exist
,
thither
does
he
send
in
secret
his
unostentatious
charity
!
But
such
good
deeds
cannot
remain
concealed
;
and
I
—
I
for
one
will
proclaim
to
all
who
have
spurned
me
in
my
bitter
need
,
that
a
stranger
has
saved
me
—
and
that
stranger
a
great
Prince
whose
shoes
they
are
not
worthy
to
touch
!
"
Such
were
the
words
which
the
grateful
man
uttered
aloud
in
the
open
street
;
but
when
he
glanced
at
the
bank-note
,
and
found
himself
suddenly
possessed
of
fifty
pounds
,
he
burst
into
a
flood
of
tears
—
tears
of
the
most
heart-felt
joy
!
And
Richard
returned
home
with
the
satisfaction
of
having
done
another
charitable
action
:
—
we
say
another
,
because
charitable
deeds
with
him
were
far
more
common
than
even
promises
on
the
part
of
many
richer
men
.
But
Markham
delighted
in
doing
good
.
Often
of
an
evening
,
would
he
repair
into
London
,
and
,
leaving
his
carriage
at
the
corner
of
some
street
,
wander
about
the
immediate
neighbourhood
to
succour
the
poor
houseless
wretches
whom
he
might
meet
,
and
to
discover
new
cases
in
which
his
bounty
might
be
usefully
bestowed
.
Without
hesitation
—
without
disgust
,
did
he
penetrate
into
the
wretched
abodes
of
want
—
go
down
even
into
the
cellars
,
or
climb
up
into
the
attics
,
where
poverty
was
to
be
relieved
and
joy
to
be
shed
into
the
despairing
heart
.
And
when
he
returned
home
,
after
such
expeditions
as
these
,
to
his
beloved
wife
and
darling
child
,
—
for
he
was
now
a
father
—
the
happy
father
of
a
lovely
boy
,
whom
he
had
named
Alberto
,
—
he
found
his
reward
in
the
approving
smiles
of
the
Princess
,
even
if
he
had
not
previously
reaped
an
adequate
recompense
in
the
mere
fact
of
doing
so
much
good
.
Indeed
,
there
was
not
a
happier
house
in
the
world
than
Markham
Place
;
—
for
not
only
was
the
felicity
of
Richard
complete
—
save
in
respect
to
his
anxiety
concerning
his
long-lost
brother
Eugene
,
—
but
that
of
his
sister
was
also
ensured
.
United
to
Mario
Bazzano
,
Katherine
and
her
husband
resided
at
the
mansion
—
beneath
the
same
roof
where
Mr.
Monroe
and
Ellen
also
continued
to
enjoy
a
home
!
But
let
us
continue
the
thread
of
our
narrative
.
True
to
his
promise
,
Major
Anderson
wrote
on
the
following
day
to
acquaint
our
hero
with
his
place
of
abode
,
and
to
renew
the
expression
of
his
most
fervent
gratitude
for
the
generous
conduct
he
had
experienced
at
the
hands
of
the
Prince
of
Montoni
.
In
the
evening
Richard
proceeded
to
the
humble
but
comfortable
lodging
which
the
Major
now
occupied
in
the
neighbourhood
of
the
Tottenham
Court
Road
;
and
from
the
lips
of
the
individual
whom
his
bounty
had
restored
to
comparative
happiness
,
did
our
hero
learn
the
following
terrible
narrative
of
a
Gambler
's
Life
.
CHAPTER
CCXLIV
.
THE
HISTORY
OF
A
GAMESTER
.
"
I
was
born
in
1790
,
and
am
consequently
in
my
fifty-third
year
.
My
father
was
a
merchant
,
who
married
late
in
life
,
upon
his
retirement
from
business
;
and
I
was
an
only
child
.
Your
Highness
may
therefore
well
imagine
that
I
was
spoilt
by
my
affectionate
parents
,
whose
mistaken
tenderness
would
never
permit
me
to
be
thwarted
in
any
inclination
which
it
was
possible
for
them
to
gratify
.
Instead
of
being
sent
to
school
at
a
proper
age
,
I
was
kept
at
home
,
and
a
master
attended
daily
to
give
me
instruction
in
the
rudiments
of
education
;
but
as
I
preferred
play
to
learning
,
and
found
that
if
I
pleaded
headach
my
mother
invariably
suggested
the
propriety
of
giving
me
a
holiday
,
I
practised
that
subterfuge
so
constantly
,
that
my
master
's
place
was
a
sinecure
,
and
I
could
scarcely
read
two
words
correctly
when
I
was
ten
years
old
.
"
At
that
period
my
mother
died
;
and
my
father
,
yielding
to
the
representations
of
his
friends
,
agreed
to
send
me
to
a
boarding-school
.
The
resolution
was
speedily
carried
into
effect
;
and
during
the
next
six
years
of
my
existence
,
I
made
up
for
the
previously
neglected
state
of
my
education
.
At
the
school
alluded
to
,
and
which
was
in
a
town
about
fifteen
miles
from
London
,
there
were
youths
of
all
ages
between
eight
and
eighteen
;
and
the
younger
ones
thought
that
nothing
could
be
more
manly
than
to
imitate
the
elder
in
all
shapes
and
ways
.
Thus
I
was
scarcely
twelve
when
I
began
to
play
pitch
and
toss
,
odd
man
,
shuffle-halfpenny
,
and
other
games
of
the
kind
;
and
as
my
father
gave
me
a
more
liberal
weekly
allowance
of
pocket-money
than
any
other
lad
of
my
own
age
possessed
,
I
was
enabled
to
compete
with
the
elder
youths
in
the
spirit
of
petty
gambling
.
The
passion
grew
upon
me
;
and
that
which
I
had
at
first
commenced
through
a
merely
imitative
motive
,
gradually
became
a
pleasure
and
delight
.
"
I
had
just
completed
my
sixteenth
year
,
and
was
one
afternoon
passing
the
half-holiday
at
pitch
and
toss
with
several
other
boys
in
a
remote
corner
of
the
spacious
play-ground
,
when
an
usher
came
to
inform
me
that
my
father
had
just
arrived
,
and
was
waiting
in
the
parlour
.
Thither
I
accordingly
repaired
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
after
I
had
been
closeted
with
my
parent
,
I
learnt
that
he
had
just
purchased
an
ensign
's
commission
for
me
in
the
—
th
regiment
of
Light
Infantry
,
and
that
I
was
to
return
home
with
him
that
very
day
to
prepare
my
outfit
previously
to
joining
the
corps
.
Thus
was
I
suddenly
transformed
from
a
raw
school-boy
into
an
officer
in
His
Majesty
's
service
.
"
Two
months
afterwards
I
joined
my
regiment
,
which
was
quartered
at
Portsmouth
.
My
father
had
intimated
his
intention
of
allowing
me
three
hundred
a-year
in
addition
to
my
pay
:
I
was
therefore
enabled
to
keep
a
couple
of
horses
,
and
to
cut
a
better
figure
in
all
respects
than
any
other
subaltern
in
the
regiment
.
The
lieutenant-colonel
,
who
was
in
command
of
the
regiment
,
and
whose
name
was
Beaumont
,
was
a
young
man
of
scarcely
eight-and-twenty
;
but
his
father
was
the
member
for
a
county
,
a
stanch
supporter
of
the
Tories
,
and
therefore
possessed
of
influence
sufficient
to
push
his
son
on
with
astonishing
rapidity
.
It
was
a
ridiculous
—
nay
,
a
cruel
thing
to
see
lieutenants
of
five
or
six-and-thirty
,
captains
of
eight-and-forty
,
and
the
major
of
nearly
sixty
,
under
the
command
of
this
colonel
,
who
was
a
mere
boy
in
comparison
with
them
.
But
so
it
was
—
and
so
it
is
still
with
many
,
many
regiments
in
the
service
;
and
the
fact
is
most
disgraceful
to
our
military
system
.
"
Colonel
Beaumont
was
mightily
annoyed
when
he
heard
that
a
merchant
's
son
had
obtained
a
commission
in
his
regiment
;
for
,
aristocratic
as
military
officers
are
even
now-a-days
in
their
opinions
,
they
were
far
more
illiberal
and
proud
at
the
time
when
I
entered
the
army
.
It
was
then
the
year
1807
—
during
the
war
,
and
when
the
deaths
of
Pitt
and
Fox
,
which
both
occurred
in
the
previous
year
,
had
left
the
country
in
a
very
distracted
condition
.
When
,
however
,
the
colonel
learnt
that
my
father
was
a
rich
man
,
that
I
had
a
handsome
allowance
,
and
was
possessed
of
a
couple
of
fine
horses
,
his
humour
underwent
an
immediate
change
,
and
he
received
me
with
marked
politeness
.
"
I
had
not
been
many
weeks
in
the
regiment
when
I
discovered
that
several
of
the
officers
were
accustomed
to
meet
in
each
other
's
rooms
for
the
purpose
of
private
play
;
and
I
speedily
became
one
of
the
party
.
The
colonel
himself
joined
these
assemblies
,
which
took
place
under
the
guise
of
'
wine-parties
;
'
and
though
the
play
was
not
high
,
the
losses
were
frequently
large
enough
to
cause
serious
embarrassment
to
those
officers
whose
means
were
not
extensive
.
Thus
they
were
very
often
compelled
to
absent
themselves
from
the
wine-parties
for
several
weeks
until
they
received
fresh
supplies
from
their
agents
or
friends
;
whereas
those
who
had
capital
sufficient
to
continue
playing
,
were
sometimes
enabled
to
retrieve
in
the
long
run
what
they
had
previously
lost
.
This
was
the
case
with
the
colonel
,
myself
,
and
two
or
three
others
;
and
we
soon
obtained
the
credit
of
being
the
only
winners
.
Such
a
reputation
was
by
no
means
an
enviable
one
;
for
though
not
a
suspicion
existed
against
the
fairness
of
our
play
,
we
were
looked
upon
with
aversion
by
those
officers
who
never
joined
the
parties
,
and
with
something
like
hatred
by
those
who
lost
to
us
.
We
stood
in
the
light
of
individuals
who
made
use
of
the
advantages
of
superior
income
to
prey
upon
those
of
far
more
slender
means
;
and
although
there
was
no
open
hostility
towards
us
,
yet
we
certainly
made
many
private
enemies
.
For
the
very
atmosphere
in
which
gamblers
live
is
tainted
by
the
foulness
of
their
detestable
vice
!
"
One
evening
—
when
I
had
been
about
a
year
in
the
regiment
—
it
was
my
turn
to
give
the
wine-party
in
my
room
;
but
at
the
usual
hour
of
meeting
no
one
made
his
appearance
save
the
colonel
.
'
Well
,
'
he
said
,
laughing
,
'
I
suppose
we
cleaned
the
others
out
so
effectually
last
night
,
that
they
have
not
a
feather
left
to
fly
with
.
But
that
need
not
prevent
us
from
having
a
game
together
.
'
—
I
readily
assented
,
for
cards
and
dice
already
possessed
extraordinary
fascinations
in
my
eyes
;
and
we
sat
down
to
écarté
.
At
first
we
played
for
small
stakes
,
and
drank
our
wine
very
leisurely
;
but
as
I
won
nearly
every
game
,
the
colonel
became
excited
,
and
made
more
frequent
applications
to
the
bottle
.
Still
he
lost
—
and
the
more
he
lost
,
the
more
wine
he
took
;
until
,
getting
into
a
passion
,
he
threw
down
the
cards
,
exclaiming
,
'
Curse
my
ill-luck
to-night
!
I
have
already
paid
over
to
you
a
hundred
and
seventeen
guineas
at
this
miserable
peddling
work
;
and
I
will
have
no
more
of
it
.
Damn
it
,
Anderson
,
if
you
've
any
pluck
you
'll
let
me
set
you
fifty
guineas
at
hazard
?
'
—
'
Done
!
'
cried
I
;
and
the
cards
being
thrown
aside
,
we
took
to
the
dice
.
My
luck
still
continued
:
I
won
three
hundred
pounds
—
all
the
ready
money
the
colonel
had
about
him
;
and
he
then
played
on
credit
,
scoring
his
losses
on
a
sheet
of
paper
.
His
excitement
increased
to
a
fearful
pitch
,
and
he
drank
furiously
.
Still
we
played
on
,
and
the
grey
dawn
of
morning
found
us
at
our
shameful
work
.
At
length
Beaumont
started
up
,
dashed
the
dice-box
upon
the
floor
,
crushed
it
beneath
his
heel
,
and
uttered
a
terrible
imprecation
upon
his
ill-luck
.
He
drank
soda-water
to
cool
himself
;
and
we
then
examined
the
account
that
had
been
kept
.
The
colonel
owed
me
four
thousand
four
hundred
pounds
,
in
addition
to
the
ready
money
he
had
already
lost
.
Pale
as
death
,
and
with
quivering
lip
,
he
gave
me
his
note
of
hand
for
the
amount
;
and
having
enjoined
me
in
a
low
hoarse
voice
not
to
mention
the
affair
to
a
single
soul
,
rushed
out
of
the
room
.
I
retired
to
bed
,
as
happy
as
if
I
had
performed
some
great
and
honourable
achievement
.
"
The
colonel
did
not
make
his
appearance
all
day
—
nor
for
several
days
afterwards
;
and
the
answer
to
all
inquiries
was
that
he
was
indisposed
.
On
the
evening
of
the
sixth
day
after
the
night
of
his
losses
,
I
received
a
message
requesting
me
to
visit
him
at
his
rooms
.
Thither
I
immediately
repaired
,
taking
his
note
of
hand
with
me
under
the
pleasing
supposition
that
I
was
about
to
be
paid
the
amount
.
When
I
entered
his
sitting-apartment
,
I
was
shocked
to
find
him
ghastly
pale
—
the
cadaverous
expression
of
his
countenance
being
enhanced
by
the
six
days
'
beard
which
no
razor
had
touched
.
He
was
sitting
near
the
fire
—
for
it
was
still
early
in
Spring
—
wrapped
in
a
dressing-gown
.
Pointing
to
a
chair
,
he
said
in
a
mournful
voice
,
'
Anderson
,
you
must
think
it
strange
that
I
have
not
yet
settled
the
little
memorandum
which
you
hold
;
but
the
fact
is
I
am
totally
dependant
upon
my
father
,
and
I
wrote
to
him
confessing
my
loss
,
and
soliciting
the
means
to
defray
it
.
There
is
his
answer
:
'
—
and
he
tossed
me
a
letter
which
,
by
the
date
,
he
had
received
that
morning
.
I
perused
it
,
and
