youagain
.
Oh
!
I
cannot
blame
you
for
what
you
have
done
:
—
I
commiserate
—
I
pity
you
!
Could
any
sacrifice
that
I
am
capable
of
making
,
restore
you
to
happiness
and
—
and
—
"
"
Honour
,
you
would
say
,
"
exclaimed
Diana
,
firmly
.
"
I
would
gladly
make
that
sacrifice
,
"
added
Richard
.
"
From
this
moment
we
will
be
friends
—
very
sincere
friends
.
I
will
be
your
brother
,
dearest
Diana
—
and
you
shall
be
my
sister
!
"
The
young
man
rose
from
the
sofa
,
as
he
uttered
these
disjointed
sentences
in
a
singularly
wild
and
rapid
manner
;
and
Diana
,
without
making
any
reply
,
but
apparently
deeply
touched
,
pressed
his
hand
for
some
moments
between
both
her
own
.
Richard
then
hastily
escaped
from
the
presence
of
that
charming
and
fascinating
creature
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
"
THE
SERVANTS
'
ARMS
.
"
UPON
the
same
day
that
this
event
took
place
,
Mr.
Whittingham
,
the
butler
of
Richard
Markham
,
had
solicited
and
obtained
permission
to
pass
the
evening
with
a
certain
Mr.
Thomas
Suggett
,
who
occupied
the
distinguished
post
of
valet
de
chambre
about
the
person
of
the
Honourable
Arthur
Chichester
.
Whittingham
was
determined
to
enjoy
himself
:
—
he
seemed
suddenly
to
have
cast
off
twenty
years
from
his
back
,
and
to
walk
the
more
upright
for
having
rid
himself
of
the
burthen
;
—
his
hat
was
slightly
cocked
on
one
side
;
and
,
as
he
walked
along
,
with
Mr.
Thomas
Suggett
tucked
under
his
arm
,
he
struck
his
silver-headed
bamboo
,
which
he
always
carried
with
him
when
he
went
abroad
on
Sundays
and
holidays
,
very
forcibly
upon
the
pavement
.
Mr.
Suggett
declared
"
that
,
for
his
part
,
he
was
very
well
disposed
for
a
spree
;
"
and
he
threw
into
his
gait
a
most
awful
swagger
,
which
certainly
excited
considerable
attention
,
because
all
the
small
boys
in
the
streets
laughed
at
him
as
he
wended
on
his
way
.
"
I
wonder
what
them
urchins
are
garping
at
so
,
"
said
Whittingham
.
"
It
mystificates
me
in
no
inconsiderable
degree
.
Raly
the
lower
orders
of
English
is
exceedingly
imperlite
.
I
feel
the
most
inwigorated
disgust
and
the
most
unboundless
contempt
for
their
manners
.
"
"
That
's
jist
like
me
,
"
observed
Suggett
:
"
I
ca
n't
a-bear
the
lower
orders
.
I
hate
everythink
wulgar
.
—
But
,
by
the
bye
,
Mr.
Whittingham
,
do
you
smoke
?
"
"
I
ca
n't
say
but
what
I
like
a
full-flavoured
Havannah
—
a
threepenny
,
mind
,
"
added
the
butler
,
pompously
.
"
Just
my
taste
,
Mr.
Whittingham
.
If
I
ca
n't
afford
threepennies
,
I
wo
n't
smoke
at
all
.
"
Mr.
Suggett
entered
a
cigar
shop
,
purchased
half-a-dozen
real
Havannahs
(
manufactured
in
St.
John-street
,
Clerkenwell
)
,
joked
with
the
young
lady
who
served
him
,
and
then
presented
the
one
which
he
considered
the
best
to
his
companion
.
The
two
gentlemen
's
gentlemen
accordingly
lighted
their
cigars
,
and
then
continued
their
walk
along
the
New
Road
,
in
the
vicinity
of
which
Mr.
Whittingham
had
met
Mr.
Suggett
by
appointment
upon
this
memorable
afternoon
.
In
a
short
time
Mr.
Suggett
stopped
suddenly
at
the
door
of
a
large
white
public-house
,
not
a
hundred
miles
distant
from
the
new
church
,
St.
Pancras
.
"
This
is
a
nice
crib
,
"
said
he
.
"
Excellent
company
;
and
to-night
there
is
a
supper
at
eleven
.
"
"
The
very
identified
thing
,
"
acquiesced
Mr.
Whittingham
;
and
into
the
public-house
they
walked
.
Nothing
could
be
more
neat
and
cleanly
than
the
bar
of
the
Servants
'
Arms
—
no
one
more
obliging
nor
bustling
than
the
"
young
lady
"
behind
the
bar
.
The
Servants
'
Arms
was
reported
to
draw
the
best
liquor
in
all
the
neighbourhood
;
and
its
landlord
prided
himself
upon
the
superiority
of
his
establishment
over
those
which
sold
beer
"
at
three-pence
a-pot
in
your
own
jugs
.
"
And
then
what
a
rapid
draught
the
landlord
had
for
all
his
good
things
;
and
how
crowded
was
the
space
before
the
bar
with
customers
.
"
Glass
of
ale
—
mild
,
Miss
,
if
you
please
,
"
said
one
.
"
A
quartern
of
gin
and
three
outs
,
Caroline
,
"
cried
a
second
,
who
was
more
familiar
.
"
Pint
of
half-and-half
,
here
,
"
exclaimed
a
third
.
"
Six
of
brandy
,
warm
,
Miss
—
four
of
gin
,
cold
,
and
a
pint
of
ale
with
the
chill
off
—
parlour
!
"
ejaculated
the
waiter
,
who
now
made
his
appearance
at
the
bar
.
"
Pot
of
porter
;
and
master
's
compliments
,
and
can
you
lend
him
yesterday
's
Advertiser
for
half
an
hour
or
so
?
"
said
a
pretty
little
servant
girl
,
placing
a
large
yellow
jug
on
the
bright
lead
surface
of
the
bar
.
"
Pot
of
ale
,
and
a
screw
,
Miss.
"
"
Pint
of
gin
,
for
mixing
,
please
.
"
"
Bottle
of
Cape
wine
,
at
eighteen
,
landlord
.
"
"
Four-penn'orth
of
rum
,
cold
without
.
"
"
Half
pint
of
porter
,
and
a
pipe
,
Caroline
.
"
Such
were
the
orders
,
issued
from
all
quarters
at
the
same
moment
,
and
to
which
Caroline
responded
with
incredible
alacrity
;
finding
time
to
crack
a
joke
with
the
known
frequenters
of
the
house
,
and
to
make
a
pleasant
observation
upon
the
weather
to
those
whose
faces
were
strange
to
her
;
—
while
the
landlord
contented
himself
with
looking
on
,
or
every
now
and
then
drawing
a
pot
of
beer
,
apparently
as
a
great
favour
and
in
a
lazy
independent
manner
.
Nevertheless
,
he
was
a
good
,
civil
kind
of
a
man
;
only
somewhat
independent
,
because
he
was
growing
rich
.
He
was
never
afraid
at
the
end
of
month
to
see
Truman
and
Hanbury
's
collector
,
and
Nicholson
's
man
,
alight
from
their
gigs
at
his
door
.
They
were
always
sure
to
find
the
money
ready
for
them
,
when
they
sate
down
to
write
their
receipts
in
the
little
narrow
slip
of
a
parlour
behind
the
bar
.
In
fact
,
the
landlord
of
the
Servants
'
Arms
,
was
reported
to
be
doing
"
a
very
snug
business
:
"
—
and
so
he
was
.
Messrs.
Whittingham
and
Suggett
sauntered
leisurely
into
the
parlour
of
the
Servants
'
Arms
,
and
took
their
seats
at
the
only
table
which
remained
unoccupied
.
"
Good
evening
,
Sir
,
"
said
the
waiter
,
addressing
Mr.
Suggett
with
a
sort
of
semi-familiarity
,
which
showed
that
the
latter
gentleman
was
in
the
habit
of
"
using
the
house
.
"
"
How
are
you
,
William
?
"
cried
Mr.
Suggett
,
in
a
patronising
manner
.
"
George
been
here
lately
?
"
"
Not
very
:
I
think
he
's
down
in
the
country
.
"
"
Oh
!
Well
,
what
shall
we
have
,
Mr.
Whittingham
—
brandy
and
water
?
"
"
That
's
my
inwariable
beverage
,
Mr.
Suggett
.
"
"
Two
sixes
,
gentlemen
?
"
said
the
waiter
.
"
No
,
"
answered
Mr.
Whittingham
,
solemnly
;
"
two
shillings
'
worth
,
to
begin
with
.
"
The
liquor
was
supplied
,
and
when
the
two
gentlemen
had
tasted
it
,
and
found
it
to
their
liking
,
they
glanced
around
the
room
to
survey
the
company
.
It
soon
appeared
that
Mr.
Suggett
was
well
known
to
many
of
the
gentlemen
present
;
for
,
upon
making
his
survey
,
he
acknowledged
,
with
a
nod
or
a
short
phrase
,
the
bows
or
salutations
of
those
with
whom
he
was
acquainted
.
"
Ah
!
Mr.
Guffins
,
always
up
in
the
same
corner
,
eh
?
"
said
he
,
addressing
a
middle-aged
man
in
seedy
black
:
"
got
a
new
work
in
the
press
,
'
spose
?
You
literary
men
contrive
to
enjoy
yourselves
,
I
know
.
How
do
you
do
,
Mr.
Mac
Chizzle
?
"
looking
towards
a
short
,
pock-marked
man
,
with
a
quick
grey
eye
,
and
black
hair
combed
upright
off
his
forehead
:
"
how
get
on
the
clients
?
Plenty
of
business
,
eh
?
Ah
!
you
lawyers
always
contrive
to
do
well
.
Mr.
Drummer
,
your
servant
,
sir
.
Got
a
good
congregation
still
,
sir
?
"
"
The
chapel
thriveth
well
,
I
thank
you
—
as
well
as
can
be
expected
in
these
times
of
heathen
abominations
,
"
answered
a
demure-looking
middle-aged
gentleman
,
who
was
clad
in
deep
black
and
wore
a
white
neck-cloth
,
which
seemed
(
together
with
the
condition
of
his
shirt
and
stockings
)
to
denote
that
although
he
had
gained
the
confidence
of
his
flock
,
he
had
certainly
lost
that
of
his
washer-woman
.
After
having
taken
a
long
draught
of
a
pint
of
half-and-half
which
stood
before
him
,
he
added
,
"
There
is
a
many
savoury
vessels
in
my
congregation
—
reputable
,
pious
,
and
prayer-full
people
,
which
pays
regular
for
their
sittings
and
fears
the
Lord
.
"
"
Well
,
I
am
glad
of
that
,
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Suggett
.
"
But
,
ah
!
"
he
cried
,
observing
a
thin
white-haired
old
gentleman
,
with
huge
silver
spectacles
hanging
half-way
down
his
nose
,
—
"
I
'm
glad
to
see
Mr.
Cobbington
here
.
How
gets
on
the
circulating
library
,
eh
—
sir
?
"
"
Pretty
well
—
pretty
well
,
thank'ee
,
"
returned
the
bookseller
:
"
pretty
well
—
considering
.
"
A
great
many
people
qualify
their
observations
and
answers
by
the
addition
of
the
word
"
considering
;
"
but
they
seldom
vouchsafe
an
explanation
of
what
is
to
be
considered
.
Sometimes
they
use
the
phrase
"
considering
all
things
;
"
and
then
the
mind
has
so
much
to
consider
,
that
it
cannot
consider
any
one
thing
definitively
.
It
would
be
much
more
straightforward
and
satisfactory
if
persons
would
relieve
their
friends
of
all
suspense
,
and
say
boldly
at
once
,
as
the
case
may
be
,
"
considering
the
execution
I
have
got
in
my
house
;
"
or
"
considering
the
writ
that
's
out
against
me
;
"
or
even
"
considering
the
trifling
annoyance
of
not
having
a
shilling
in
my
pocket
,
and
not
knowing
where
to
look
for
one
.
"
But
,
somehow
or
another
,
people
never
will
be
candid
now-a-days
;
and
Talleyrand
was
right
when
he
said
that
"
language
was
given
to
man
to
enable
him
to
conceal
his
thoughts
.
"
But
to
continue
.
Mr.
Suggett
glanced
a
little
further
around
the
room
,
and
recognized
another
old
acquaintance
.
"
Ah
!
Snoggles
,
how
are
you
?
"
"
Very
well
,
thank'ee
—
how
be
you
?
"
"
Blooming
;
but
how
come
you
here
?
"
"
I
dropped
in
quite
permiscuously
,
"
answered
Snoggles
,
"
and
finding
good
company
,
stayed
.
But
it
is
up'ards
o
'
three
years
since
I
see
you
,
Mr.
Suggett
.
"
"
About
.
What
grade
do
you
now
fill
in
the
profession
?
Any
promotion
?
"
"
I
'm
sorry
to
say
not
,
"
replied
Mr.
Snoggles
,
shaking
his
head
mournfully
.
"
I
've
tumbled
off
the
box
down
to
a
level
with
the
osses
;
"
which
,
being
interpreted
,
means
that
Mr.
Snoggles
had
fallen
from
the
high
estate
of
coachman
to
the
less
elevated
rank
of
ostler
.
"
But
what
rank
do
you
now
hold
?
"
"
I
left
off
the
uniform
of
tiger
last
month
,
"
answered
Mr.
Suggett
,
"
and
received
the
brevet
of
walley-de-chambre
.
"
"
That
gentleman
one
of
the
profession
?
"
demanded
Snoggles
,
alluding
to
Mr.
Whittingham
.
"
Mr.
Markham
's
butler
,
sir
,
at
your
service
,
"
said
Whittingham
,
bowing
with
awe-inspiring
stiffness
:
"
and
I
may
say
,
without
exag-gerating
,
sir
,
and
in
no
wise
compromising
my
indefatigable
character
for
weracity
,
that
I
'm
also
Mr.
Markham
's
confidential
friend
.
And
what
's
more
,
gen'leman
,
"
added
the
butler
,
glancing
proudly
around
the
room
,
"
Mr.
Richard
Markham
is
the
finest
young
man
about
this
stupendous
city
of
the
whole
universe
—
and
that
's
as
true
as
that
this
is
a
hand
.
"
As
Mr.
Whittingham
concluded
this
sentence
,
he
extended
his
arm
to
display
the
hand
relative
to
which
he
expressed
such
confidence
;
and
while
he
flourished
the
arm
to
give
weight
to
his
language
,
the
aforesaid
hand
encountered
the
right
eye
of
the
dissenting
parson
.
"
A
case
of
assault
and
battery
,
"
instantly
exclaimed
Mr.
Mac
Chizzle
,
the
lawyer
;
"
and
here
are
upwards
of
a
dozen
witnesses
for
the
plaintiff
.
"
"
I
really
beg
the
gentleman
's
pardon
,
"
said
Whittingham
.
"
Special
jury
—
sittings
after
term
—
damages
five
hundred
pounds
;
"
exclaimed
Mac
Chizzle
.
"
No
harm
was
intended
,
"
observed
Suggett
.
"
Not
a
bit
,
"
added
Snoggles
.
"
Verdict
for
Plaintiff
—
enter
up
judgment
—
issue
execution
—
ca.
sa
.
in
no
time
,
"
said
Mac
Chizzle
doggedly
.
"
I
am
used
to
flagellations
and
persecutions
at
the
hands
of
the
ungodly
,
"
said
the
Reverend
Mr.
Drummer
,
rubbing
his
eye
with
his
fist
,
and
thereby
succeeding
in
inflaming
it
.
"
Perhaps
the
reverend
gentleman
would
n't
take
it
amiss
if
I
was
to
offer
him
my
apologies
in
a
extra
powerful
glass
of
brandy
and
water
?
"
exclaimed
Whittingham
.
"
Bribery
,
"
murmured
Mac
Chizzle
.
"
No
,
let
us
have
a
bowl
of
punch
at
once
,
"
exclaimed
Suggett
.
"
And
corruption
,
"
added
the
lawyer
.
The
bowl
of
punch
was
ordered
,
and
the
company
generally
was
invited
to
partake
of
it
.
Even
Mr.
Mac
Chizzle
did
not
hesitate
;
and
the
dissenting
minister
,
in
order
to
convince
Mr.
Whittingham
that
he
entirely
forgave
him
,
consented
to
partake
of
the
punch
so
often
that
he
at
length
began
slapping
Mr.
Whittingham
upon
the
back
,
and
declaring
that
he
was
the
best
fellow
in
the
world
.
The
conversation
became
general
;
and
some
of
it
is
worth
recording
.
"
I
hope
to
have
your
patronage
,
sir
,
for
my
circulating
library
,
"
said
Mr.
Cobbington
to
the
butler
.
"
Depends
,
sir
,
upon
the
specified
nature
of
the
books
it
contains
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
I
have
nothing
but
moral
romances
in
which
vice
is
always
punished
and
virtue
rewarded
.
"
"
That
conduct
of
yours
is
highly
credulous
to
you
.
"
"
All
books
is
trash
,
except
one
,
"
observed
Mr.
Drummer
,
winking
his
eyes
in
an
extraordinary
manner
.
"
They
teaches
naught
but
swearing
,
lewd
conversation
,
ungodliness
,
and
that
worst
of
all
vices
—
intemperance
.
"
"
I
beg
you
to
understand
,
sir
,
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Guffins
,
who
had
hitherto
remained
a
silent
spectator
of
the
proceedings
,
although
a
persevering
partaker
of
the
punch
;
"
I
beg
you
to
understand
,
Mr.
Drummer
,
my
works
,
sir
,
are
not
the
trash
you
seem
to
allude
to
.
"
"
I
wo
n't
understand
nothing
nor
nobody
,
"
answered
the
reverend
gentleman
,
swaying
backwards
and
forwards
in
his
chair
.
"
Leave
me
to
commune
with
myself
upon
the
vanities
of
this
wicked
world
,
and
—
and
—
drink
my
punch
in
quiet
.
"
"
Humbug
!
"
exclaimed
the
literary
man
,
swallowing
his
resentment
and
the
remainder
of
his
punch
simultaneously
.
"
Ah
!
"
said
the
bookseller
,
after
a
pause
;
"
nothing
now
succeeds
unless
it
's
in
the
comic
line
.
We
have
comic
Latin
grammars
,
and
comic
Greek
grammars
;
indeed
,
I
do
n't
know
but
what
English
grammar
,
too
,
is
a
comedy
altogether
.
All
our
tragedies
are
made
into
comedies
by
the
way
they
are
performed
;
and
no
work
sells
without
comic
illustrations
to
it
.
I
have
brought
out
several
new
comic
works
,
which
have
been
very
successful
.
For
instance
,
'
The
Comic
Wealth
of
Nations
;
'
'
The
Comic
Parliamentary
Speeches
;
'
'
The
Comic
Report
of
the
Poor-Law
Commissioners
,
'
with
an
Appendix
containing
the
'
Comic
Dietary
Scale
;
'
and
the
'
Comic
Distresses
of
the
Industrious
Population
.
'
I
even
propose
to
bring
out
a
'
Comic
Whole
Duty
of
Man
.
'
All
these
books
sell
well
:
they
do
admirably
for
the
nurseries
of
the
children
of
the
aristocracy
.
In
fact
they
are
as
good
as
manuals
and
text-books
.
"
"
This
rage
for
the
comic
is
most
unexpressedly
remarkable
,
"
observed
the
butler
.
"
It
is
indeed
!
"
ejaculated
Snoggles
;
and
,
in
order
to
illustrate
the
truth
of
the
statement
,
he
jerked
a
piece
of
lemon-peel
very
cleverly
into
the
dissenting
parson
's
left
eye
.
"
That
's
right
—
stone
me
to
death
!
"
murmured
the
reverend
gentleman
.
"
My
name
is
Stephen
—
and
it
is
all
for
righteousness
'
sake
!
I
know
I
'm
a
chosen
vessel
,
and
may
become
a
martyr
.
My
name
is
Stephen
,
I
tell
you
—
Stephen
Drum
—
um
—
ummer
!
"
He
then
began
an
eulogium
upon
meekness
and
resignation
under
injuries
,
and
reiterated
his
conviction
that
he
was
a
chosen
vessel
;
but
,
becoming
suddenly
excited
by
a
horse-laugh
which
fell
upon
his
ear
,
he
forgot
all
about
the
chosen
vessel
,
and
lifted
another
very
savagely
from
the
table
.
In
a
word
,
he
seized
a
pewter
pot
in
his
hand
,
and
would
have
hurled
it
at
Mr.
Snoggles
'
head
,
had
not
Mr.
Whittingham
stopped
the
dangerous
missile
in
time
,
and
pacified
the
reverend
gentleman
by
calling
for
more
punch
.
"
We
must
certainly
have
those
two
men
bound
over
to
keep
the
peace
,
"
said
Mac
Chizzle
;
"
two
sureties
in
fifty
,
and
themselves
in
a
hundred
,
each
.
"
"
I
shall
dress
the
whole
scene
up
for
one
of
the
Monthlies
,
"
observed
Mr.
Guffins
.
"
If
you
do
,
you
'll
be
indictable
for
libel
,
"
said
Mac
Chizzle
.
"
The
greater
the
truth
,
the
greater
the
libel
.
"
In
the
meanwhile
Suggett
and
his
friend
Snoggles
drew
close
to
each
other
,
and
entered
into
conversation
.
"
It
must
be
about
three
years
since
I
saw
you
last
,
"
said
the
latter
.
"
Three
year
,
come
January
,
"
observed
Suggett
.
"
Ah
!
I
've
seed
some
strange
wicissitudes
in
the
interval
,
"
continued
Snoggles
.
"
I
went
abroad
as
coachman
,
with
a
dashing
young
chap
of
the
name
of
Winchester
—
"
"
The
devil
you
did
!
how
singular
!
why
my
present
guvner
's
name
is
Chichester
.
"
"
Well
,
I
des
say
they
're
cousins
then
,
"
said
the
ostler
;
"
but
I
hope
your'n
wo
n't
treat
you
as
mine
did
me
.
He
seemed
to
have
no
end
of
tin
for
some
months
,
and
lived
—
my
eye
,
how
he
lived
!
King
's
Bench
dinners
ai
n't
nothin
'
to
what
his'n
was
;
and
yet
I
've
heard
say
that
the
prisoners
live
there
better
than
their
creditors
outside
.
Howsomever
—
things
did
n't
always
go
on
swimmingly
.
We
went
to
Baden
—
called
so
cos
of
the
baths
;
and
there
my
guvner
got
involved
in
some
gambling
transactions
,
as
forced
him
to
make
his
name
Walker
.
Well
,
he
bolted
,
leaving
all
his
traps
behind
,
and
me
amongst
them
,
and
not
a
skurrick
to
pay
the
hotel
bill
and
find
my
way
back
agin
to
England
.
The
landlord
he
seized
the
traps
,
and
I
was
forced
to
walk
all
the
way
to
—
I
forget
the
name
of
the
place
—
"
"
Constantinople
,
perhaps
,
"
said
Suggett
,
kindly
endeavouring
to
assist
his
friend
in
his
little
geographical
embarrassments
.
"
No
;
that
ai
n't
it
,
"
returned
Snoggles
.
"
Howsomever
,
I
had
every
kind
of
difficulty
to
fight
up
against
;
and
I
never
see
my
guvner
from
that
day
to
this
.
He
owed
me
eight
pound
,
nineteen
,
and
sixpence
for
wages
;
and
he
was
bound
by
contract
to
bring
me
back
to
England
.
"
"
Disgraceful
raskel
,
that
he
was
!
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Suggett
.
"
I
raly
think
that
we
gentlemen
ought
to
establish
a
society
for
our
protection
.
The
Licensed
Witlers
have
their
Association
;
why
should
n't
we
have
the
Gentlemen
's
Gentlemen
organized
into
a
society
?
"
"
Why
not
?
"
said
Snoggles
.
The
waiter
now
acquainted
the
company
that
supper
was
ready
in
an
upstairs
room
for
those
who
liked
to
partake
of
it
.
All
the
gentlemen
whose
names
have
been
introduced
to
the
reader
in
connection
with
the
parlour
of
the
Servants
'
Arms
,
removed
to
the
banqueting
saloon
,
where
the
table
was
spread
with
a
snow-white
cloth
and
black
handled
knives
and
forks
.
At
intervals
stood
salt-cellars
and
pepper
boxes
,
the
latter
resembling
in
shape
the
three
little
domes
upon
the
present
National
Gallery
in
Trafalgar
Square
.
A
huge
round
of
boiled
beef
tripe
both
boiled
and
fried
,
and
rump
steaks
,
formed
the
supper
.
The
methodist
parson
insisted
upon
being
allowed
to
say
grace
—
or
,
as
he
expressed
it
,
"
ask
a
blessing
,
"
for
which
purpose
the
same
neighbours
who
had
kindly
helped
him
up
the
stairs
,
now
sustained
him
upon
his
legs
.
Dread
was
the
havoc
then
made
upon
the
various
dainties
on
the
table
,
Mr.
Guffins
being
especially
characterised
by
a
good
appetite
upon
this
occasion
.
The
Reverend
Mr.
Drummer
was
also
far
from
being
behind-hand
in
this
onslaught
upon
the
luxuries
supplied
by
the
Servants
'
Arms
;
and
while
he
bolted
huge
mouthfuls
of
boiled
beef
,
he
favoured
the
company
with
an
excellent
moral
dissertation
upon
abstemiousness
and
self-mortification
.
Mr.
Drummer
was
,
however
,
one
of
those
who
content
themselves
with
inculcating
morality
,
and
do
not
consider
it
necessary
to
set
an
example
in
their
own
persons
;
for
,
after
having
clearly
demonstrated
that
gluttony
and
drunkenness
lead
to
blasphemy
,
ungodliness
,
and
profane
swearing
,
he
abruptly
turned
to
the
landlord
,
who
presided
at
the
supper-table
,
and
,
holding
his
plate
to
be
filled
for
the
fourth
time
,
exclaimed
,
"
D
—
n
your
eyes
,
do
n't
cut
it
so
infernally
thick
!
"
After
supper
,
"
glasses
round
"
of
hot
brandy
and
water
were
introduced
,
and
the
conversation
was
carried
on
with
considerable
spirit
.
It
was
midnight
before
the
party
thought
of
breaking
up
,
although
several
of
the
gentlemen
present
had
already
begun
to
see
three
or
four
Dutch
clocks
staring
them
in
the
face
besides
the
one
which
graced
the
wall
.
As
for
the
Reverend
Mr.
Drummer
,
he
declared
that
he
was
so
affected
by
the
ungodly
proceedings
of
those
present
that
he
should
forthwith
endeavour
to
wash
away
their
guilt
with
his
tears
;
and
it
is
distressing
to
be
compelled
to
observe
that
all
the
reward
this
truly
pious
and
deserving
man
experienced
at
the
hands
of
the
ungrateful
company
,
was
the
cruel
accusation
that
he
was
"
crying
drunk
.
"
This
disgraceful
behaviour
produced
such
an
effect
upon
his
naturally
nervous
temperament
,
that
he
fell
flat
upon
the
floor
,
and
was
compelled
to
be
taken
in
a
wheelbarrow
to
his
own
house
close
by
.
We
may
also
add
here
that
on
the
following
day
this
proceeding
was
rumoured
abroad
,
so
that
the
much
injured
minister
was
necessitated
to
justify
his
conduct
from
the
pulpit
on
the
ensuing
sabbath
.
This
he
did
so
effectually
,
that
two
old
ladies
,
who
carried
small
flasks
of
brandy
in
their
pockets
,
were
conveyed
out
of
the
chapel
in
a
peculiar
state
—
no
doubt
overpowered
by
the
minister
's
eloquence
.
They
however
recovered
at
the
expiration
of
some
hours
,
and
immediately
opened
a
subscription
to
present
a
piece
of
plate
to
the
Reverend
Stephen
Drummer
,
together
with
a
vote
of
thanks
and
confidence
on
the
part
of
the
congregation
.
The
vote
was
respectfully
,
but
gratefully
declined
by
this
holy
man
;
but
,
after
some
little
entreaty
,
he
was
prevailed
upon
to
accept
the
plate
.
From
that
time
to
the
present
day
his
congregation
has
been
rapidly
increasing
;
and
,
although
envy
and
jealousy
have
declared
that
he
himself
helped
to
augment
its
numbers
in
the
shape
of
three
innocent
little
children
by
different
servant-girls
,
he
very
properly
disdained
to
contradict
the
report
,
and
is
considered
by
his
flock
to
be
a
chosen
and
savoury
vessel
of
the
Lord
.
CHAPTER
XII
.
THE
BANK-NOTES
.
WHEN
Richard
left
the
presence
of
Diana
,
after
the
full
confession
of
her
frailty
,
he
hurried
home
on
horseback
at
a
rate
which
kept
pace
with
his
thoughts
.
Upon
reaching
his
dwelling
,
he
retired
to
his
apartment
,
and
sate
himself
down
seriously
to
consider
all
that
had
taken
place
.
His
eyes
were
now
open
to
two
facts
:
—
in
the
first
instance
he
saw
that
he
had
been
giving
way
to
a
passion
which
was
dishonourable
in
respect
to
the
relations
existing
between
its
object
and
another
individual
—
the
baronet
;
and
,
secondly
,
he
perceived
that
even
if
that
barrier
were
removed
,
Diana
was
not
the
being
whom
he
ought
to
make
the
partner
of
his
fortunes
.
He
was
endowed
with
feelings
and
notions
of
the
most
scrupulous
honour
;
and
he
deeply
regretted
that
he
should
ever
have
been
induced
to
utter
a
word
or
manifest
a
sentiment
towards
Diana
,
which
he
would
have
been
ashamed
for
the
baronet
to
become
acquainted
with
.
To
such
an
extent
did
he
carry
his
notions
of
honour
,
that
if
,
for
instance
,
he
had
pledged
himself
to
keep
a
secret
,
he
would
sooner
have
suffered
himself
to
be
put
to
death
than
have
forfeited
his
word
.
Even
were
a
crime
communicated
to
him
in
confidence
,
he
would
not
have
benefitted
society
by
handing
the
perpetrator
over
to
justice
.
He
thus
fell
into
an
extreme
almost
as
dangerous
and
fatal
as
the
total
absence
of
moral
rectitude
.
If
the
reader
should
marvel
how
a
young
man
possessing
such
punctilious
sentiments
,
could
have
so
far
forgotten
himself
as
to
declare
his
affection
to
one
who
stood
in
the
light
of
a
friend
's
wife
,
—
let
it
be
remembered
that
he
was
surprised
into
a
partial
avowal
of
that
passion
:
and
that
a
certain
impulse
,
favoured
by
a
rapid
succession
of
visits
,
parties
,
and
tête-â-tête
interviews
,
in
which
the
object
thereof
was
always
present
,
had
hurried
him
onward
up
to
that
point
when
a
word
was
to
decide
his
fate
.
Love
is
a
stream
so
rapid
that
he
who
embarks
upon
it
does
not
observe
that
his
rude
boat
crushes
the
beauteous
flowers
upon
the
banks
between
which
it
passes
:
—
it
is
a
river
whose
waters
are
those
of
oblivion
,
in
which
all
other
passions
,
sentiments
,
and
ideas
are
swallowed
up
.
O
woman
,
what
power
hast
thou
over
the
heart
of
man
!
Thou
wast
born
a
creature
of
grace
and
fascination
:
to
whatever
clime
thou
dost
belong
,
neither
habit
nor
costume
can
deface
in
thee
that
natural
charm
of
witchery
and
love
which
characterises
thee
in
all
the
relations
of
life
.
Richard
had
not
been
long
alone
,
when
a
knock
at
his
door
aroused
him
from
the
reverie
in
which
had
been
plunged
;
and
Mr.
Chichester
entered
the
room
.
"
My
dear
Markham
,
"
said
he
,
"
you
must
excuse
the
liberty
which
I
take
in
thus
intruding
upon
your
privacy
;
but
what
is
the
meaning
of
this
?
You
were
to
lunch
with
Harborough
to-day
,
and
we
were
all
to
dine
together
in
the
evening
.
You
called
at
Diana
's
;
and
from
what
you
said
upon
leaving
,
she
fancied
you
were
coming
straight
home
.
So
I
have
galloped
all
this
way
after
you
.
You
shut
yourself
up
from
your
friends
as
if
you
had
a
design
upon
your
life
.
"
"
I
am
not
well
—
I
am
anxious
to
be
alone
.
"
"
But
I
shall
not
allow
you
to
remain
alone
,
"
said
Chichester
.
"
If
you
should
feel
melancholy
,
what
guarantee
have
I
that
you
will
not
commit
suicide
,
or
do
what
is
nearly
as
bad
—
sit
down
and
write
sentimental
poetry
?
"
"
I
am
not
very
likely
to
do
either
.
"
"
You
must
come
and
join
us
:
the
baronet
—
—
"
"
I
would
rather
—
—
"
"
I
can
take
no
excuse
.
Order
round
your
chestnut
,
and
let
us
be
off
.
"
"
Well
—
at
all
events
I
must
go
straight
into
the
City
first
,
"
said
Markham
.
"
I
have
occasion
to
call
at
my
guardian
's
banker
.
"
"
Will
you
join
me
at
seven
precisely
this
evening
,
at
Harborough
's
own
lodgings
in
Conduit-street
?
We
shall
expect
you
.
"
"
You
may
rely
upon
me
,
"
answered
Markham
who
now
suddenly
experienced
an
anxiety
for
society
and
bustle
.
"
But
who
will
be
there
?
"
"
Only
the
baronet
,
you
,
I
,
and
Talbot
—
a
partie
quarre
.
Talbot
is
really
a
good
fellow
at
heart
,
and
has
taken
a
great
liking
to
you
.
Besides
,
he
is
the
most
liberal
and
generous
fellow
in
existence
.
He
sent
a
hundred
pounds
to
every
hospital
in
London
yesterday
morning
—
his
annual
donations
;
and
he
thinks
that
no
one
knows
anything
about
it
.
He
always
puts
himself
down
as
X
.
Y
.
Z
.
in
the
lists
of
charitable
subscriptions
:
he
is
so
unostentatious
!
"
"
Those
are
admirable
traits
in
his
character
.
"
"
They
are
,
indeed
.
Just
now
,
for
instance
,
he
heard
of
a
horrid
case
of
distress
.
Only
conceive
a
poor
man
,
with
nine
small
children
and
a
wife
just
ready
to
present
him
with
a
tenth
,
dragged
to
Whitecross
Street
Prison
,
for
a
paltry
hundred
pounds
!
Talbot
instantly
called
me
aside
,
and
said
,
'
Chichester
,
my
dear
fellow
,
I
have
not
time
to
attend
to
any
business
to-day
.
There
is
a
five
hundred
pound
note
;
have
the
kindness
to
get
it
changed
for
me
,
and
devote
a
hundred
pounds
to
save
the
unhappy
family
.
'
Those
were
Talbot
's
own
words
,
"
added
Mr.
Chichester
surveying
Richard
in
a
peculiar
manner
from
under
his
eyebrows
.
"
How
liberal
!
how
grand
!
how
noble
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
forgetting
all
Mr.
Talbot
's
vulgarity
and
coarseness
,
as
he
listened
to
these
admirable
traits
of
philanthropy
.
"
To
be
candid
with
you
,
I
am
myself
going
to
the
banker
's
to
draw
some
money
;
and
when
I
see
you
this
evening
,
I
shall
be
happy
to
place
twenty
pounds
in
your
hands
for
the
use
of
that
poor
family
.
"
"
No
,
my
dear
fellow
,
keep
your
money
:
the
baronet
and
I
shall
take
care
of
those
poor
people
.
"
"
Nay
—
I
insist
—
"
"
Well
—
I
am
sorry
now
that
I
told
you
of
the
circumstance
.
"
"
And
I
am
very
glad
.
"
"
There
—
you
shall
have
your
own
way
then
.
But
,
by
the
by
,
"
added
Chichester
,
a
sudden
thought
appearing
to
strike
him
,
"
you
are
going
into
the
City
,
and
to
your
banker
's
?
"
"
Yes
.
And
you
?
"
"
I
am
anxious
to
get
back
to
the
West
End
as
hastily
as
possible
,
"
answered
Chichester
.
"
You
could
do
me
a
service
,
if
you
would
?
"
"
Name
it
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Get
this
note
changed
for
me
in
the
City
,
"
returned
Chichester
:
and
as
he
spoke
he
drew
a
Bank
of
England
note
for
five
hundred
pounds
from
his
pocket
.
"
Oh
!
certainly
,
"
cried
Markham
;
and
he
took
charge
of
the
note
accordingly
.
He
and
Mr.
Chichester
then
separated
.
Richard
mounted
his
horse
and
rode
towards
the
City
,
while
his
friend
proceeded
to
the
West
End
.
At
seven
o'clock
Richard
was
ushered
into
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
's
drawing-room
in
Conduit-street
,
Hanover
Square
.
"
There
!
"
exclaimed
Chichester
,
who
was
lounging
upon
the
sofa
;
"
I
knew
that
my
melancholy
young
gentleman
would
be
punctual
.
"
"
Delighted
to
see
you
,
Markham
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
pressing
his
hand
with
more
than
usual
fervour
.
"
How
are
you
,
my
tulip
?
"
shouted
Talbot
.
"
Why
,
Chichester
said
you
had
the
blue
devils
!
"
"
I
really
felt
unequal
to
society
to-day
,
"
returned
Richard
;
"
and
I
fancied
that
a
little
rest
—
—
"
"
A
little
humbug
!
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Talbot
.
"
That
's
all
my
eye
and
my
elbow
,
Markham
.
A
d
—
d
good
bottle
of
champagne
will
soon
put
you
to
rights
.
But
when
I
'm
ill
,
what
do
you
think
I
always
take
?
"
"
I
really
ca
n't
guess
.
"
"
Why
,
going
to
bed
I
always
take
a
pint
of
dog
's
nose
.
There
's
nothing
like
dog's-nose
for
getting
into
the
system
.
You
must
have
it
in
the
pewter
,
you
know
—
and
nice
and
hot
:
you
will
then
sweat
a
bucket-full
in
the
course
of
the
night
,
and
get
up
in
the
morning
as
right
as
a
trivet
.
I
can
assure
you
there
's
nothing
like
dog's-nose
.
"
"
And
pray
what
is
dog's-nose
!
"
enquired
Richard
.
"
Well
,
may
I
be
hanged
!
you
are
jolly
green
not
to
know
what
dog's-nose
is
!
You
take
half
a
pint
of
the
best
half-and-half
—
or
you
may
have
ale
all
alone
,
if
you
like
—
a
quartern
of
blue
ruin
—
—
"
"
It
is
a
mixture
of
gin
,
beer
,
and
sugar
,
"
said
Mr.
Chichester
,
impatiently
.
"
Well
,
and
why
could
n't
you
let
me
tell
the
gentleman
how
to
make
dog's-nose
in
my
own
manner
?
"
asked
Talbot
,
somewhat
sulkily
.
"
However
,
there
's
nothing
better
than
dog's-nose
for
the
gripes
,
or
wind
on
the
stomach
,
or
the
rheumatics
.
For
my
part
—
—
"
"
D
—
n
your
part
!
"
cried
the
Honourable
Arthur
Chichester
,
now
absolutely
losing
all
patience
.
Fortunately
for
all
parties
,
the
door
was
at
that
moment
thrown
open
,
and
a
valet
announced
that
dinner
was
served
up
.
Richard
took
advantage
of
the
haste
with
which
Mr.
Talbot
rushed
down
stairs
to
the
dining-room
,
to
slip
a
bundle
of
Bank
of
England
notes
and
a
quantity
of
gold
into
Chichester
's
hand
,
whispering
at
the
same
time
"
There
is
your
change
,
together
with
my
twenty
pounds
for
the
poor
family
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
my
boy
,
"
said
Chichester
,
and
over
Markham
's
shoulder
,
he
exchanged
with
the
baronet
a
significant
glance
of
satisfaction
amounting
almost
to
joy
.
Meantime
Mr.
Talbot
had
rushed
to
his
place
at
the
dinner-table
,
declaring
that
"
he
was
uncommonly
peckish
,
"
and
began
sharpening
his
two
knives
one
against
the
other
.
The
baronet
took
his
seat
at
the
top
of
the
table
;
Mr.
Chichester
at
the
bottom
;
and
Markham
sate
opposite
to
Talbot
.
"
This
soup
is
unexceptionable
,
"
observed
Chichester
:
"
I
never
tasted
better
save
once
—
and
that
was
at
the
King
of
Prussia
's
table
.
"
"
Ah
!
I
once
had
d
—
d
good
pea-soup
,
I
remember
,
at
the
Duke
of
Lambeth
's
table
,
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Talbot
.
"
But
,
I
say
,
who
the
devil
's
that
kicking
my
unfortunate
soft
corn
?
"
"
A
glass
of
wine
,
Markham
?
"
said
Chichester
"
I
suppose
we
'd
all
better
join
in
,
"
suggested
Talbot
.
"
I
shall
be
happy
to
drink
wine
with
you
,
Mr.
Talbot
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
with
a
reproving
emphasis
upon
the
pronouns
.
"
Just
as
you
please
,
"
returned
the
man
of
charity
,
who
certainly
required
some
virtue
or
another
to
cover
such
a
multitude
of
sins
of
vulgarity
.
"
I
wonder
what
's
coming
next
.
I
say
,
Harborough
,
you
have
n't
ordered
any
tripe
,
have
you
?
I
am
so
fond
of
tripe
.
There
's
nothing
like
tripe
and
onions
for
supper
.
"
The
dinner
passed
away
;
and
the
bottle
was
circulated
pretty
freely
.
Richard
regained
his
good
spirits
,
and
offered
no
objection
when
Chichester
proposed
a
stroll
up
Regent's-street
with
a
cigar
.
The
baronet
and
Talbot
went
together
first
;
and
Markham
was
about
to
follow
,
when
Chichester
drew
him
back
into
the
dining-room
,
and
said
,
"
Excuse
me
:
but
you
went
to
your
banker
's
to-day
.
If
you
have
much
money
about
you
,
it
is
not
safe
to
carry
it
about
the
streets
of
London
at
night-time
.
"
"
I
have
fifty-five
pounds
in
gold
and
fifty
pounds
in
notes
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
Notes
are
safe
enough
,
"
returned
Chichester
;
"
but
gold
is
dangerous
.
Some
one
would
be
sure
to
frisk
your
purse
.
Here
—
I
tell
you
how
we
can
manage
it
—
give
me
fifty
sovereigns
,
and
I
will
give
you
a
fifty
pound
note
in
exchange
.
I
can
then
lock
up
the
gold
in
the
baronet
's
writing-desk
,
the
key
of
which
,
I
see
,
he
has
fortunately
left
in
the
lock
.
"
Chichester
glanced
,
as
he
spoke
,
to
the
writing-desk
,
which
stood
upon
a
little
table
between
the
windows
.
"
I
am
much
obliged
to
you
for
the
thought
,
"
said
Richard
:
"
it
is
very
considerate
of
you
.
"
He
accordingly
handed
over
his
purse
of
gold
to
his
kind
friend
,
and
received
in
exchange
a
fifty
pound
note
,
which
Mr.
Chichester
selected
from
a
huge
roll
that
he
took
from
his
pocket
.
The
two
gentlemen
then
hastened
to
rejoin
the
baronet
and
Talbot
,
whom
they
overtook
in
Regent-street
.
They
all
walked
leisurely
along
towards
the
Quadrant
;
and
while
Talbot
engaged
Markham
in
conversation
upon
some
trivial
topic
or
another
,
Chichester
related
in
a
few
words
to
the
baronet
the
particulars
of
the
little
pecuniary
arrangement
which
had
just
taken
place
.
CHAPTER
XIII
.
THE
HELL
.
AFTER
having
taken
a
few
turns
in
Regent-street
,
the
baronet
observed
"
that
it
was
devilish
slow
work
;
"
Mr.
Talbot
suggested
the
propriety
of
"
a
spree
;
"
and
Mr.
Chichester
declared
"
that
as
his
friend
Markham
was
anxious
to
see
life
,
the
best
thing
they
could
all
do
was
to
drop
in
for
an
hour
at
No.
—
—
,
Quadrant
.
"
"
What
place
is
that
?
"
demanded
Markham
.
"
Oh
;
only
an
establishment
for
cards
and
dice
,
and
other
innocent
diversions
,
"
carelessly
answered
Chichester
.
The
Quadrant
of
an
evening
is
crowded
with
loungers
of
both
sexes
.
Beneath
those
arcades
walk
the
daughters
of
crime
,
by
ones
and
twos
—
dressed
in
the
flaunting
garb
that
tells
so
forcibly
the
tale
of
broken
hearts
,
and
blighted
promise
,
and
crushed
affections
,
—
to
lose
an
hour
amidst
the
haunts
of
pleasure
and
of
vice
,
and
to
court
the
crime
by
which
alone
they
live
.
The
young
men
that
saunter
arm-in-arm
up
and
down
,
and
the
hoary
old
sinners
,
whose
licentious
glances
seem
to
plunge
down
into
the
depths
of
the
boddices
of
those
frail
but
beauteous
girls
,
little
think
of
the
amount
of
mental
suffering
which
is
contained
beneath
those
gay
satins
and
rustling
silks
.
They
mark
the
heaving
of
the
voluptuous
bosom
,
but
dream
not
of
the
worm
that
gnaws
eternally
within
:
—
they
behold
smiles
upon
the
red
lips
,
and
are
far
from
suspecting
that
the
hearts
of
those
who
laugh
so
joyfully
are
all
but
broken
!
Thus
is
it
that
in
the
evening
the
Quadrant
has
a
characteristic
set
of
loungers
of
its
own
:
—
or
,
at
least
,
it
is
frequented
after
dusk
by
a
population
whose
characters
are
easily
to
be
defined
.
A
bright
lamp
burnt
in
the
fan-light
over
the
door
of
No.
—
—
.
Mr.
Chichester
gave
a
loud
and
commanding
knock
;
and
a
policeman
standing
by
,
who
doubtless
had
several
golden
reasons
for
not
noticing
anything
connected
with
that
establishment
,
instantly
ran
across
the
road
after
a
small
boy
whom
he
suspected
to
be
a
thief
,
because
the
poor
wretch
wore
an
uncommonly
shabby
hat
.
The
summons
given
by
Mr.
Chichester
was
not
immediately
answered
.
Five
minutes
elapsed
ere
any
attention
was
paid
to
it
;
and
then
the
door
was
only
opened
to
the
small
extent
allowed
by
a
chain
inside
.
A
somewhat
repulsive
looking
countenance
was
at
the
same
time
protruded
from
behind
the
door
.
"
Well
?
"
said
the
man
to
whom
the
countenance
belonged
.
"
All
right
,
"
returned
Chichester
.
The
chain
was
withdrawn
,
and
the
door
was
opened
to
its
full
extent
.
The
party
was
thereupon
admitted
,
with
some
manifestations
of
impatience
on
the
part
of
the
porter
,
who
no
doubt
thought
that
the
door
was
kept
open
too
long
,
into
a
passage
at
the
end
of
which
was
a
staircase
covered
with
a
handsome
carpet
.
Chichester
led
the
way
,
and
his
companions
followed
,
up
to
a
suite
of
rooms
on
the
first
floor
.
These
were
well
furnished
,
and
brilliantly
lighted
;
and
red
moreen
curtains
,
with
heavy
and
rich
fringes
,
were
carefully
drawn
over
the
windows
.
Splendid
mirrors
stood
above
the
mantels
,
which
were
also
adorned
with
French
timepieces
in
or
molu
,
and
candelabra
of
the
same
material
.
On
one
side
of
the
front
room
stood
a
bouffet
covered
with
wines
and
liquors
of
various
descriptions
.
In
the
middle
of
that
same
front
apartment
was
the
rouge
et
noir
table
.
On
each
side
sate
a
Croupier
,
with
a
long
rake
in
his
hand
,
and
a
green
shade
over
his
eyes
.
Before
one
of
them
was
placed
a
tin
case
:
this
was
the
Bank
;
—
and
on
each
side
of
that
cynosure
of
all
attention
,
stood
little
piles
of
markers
,
or
counters
.
Two
or
three
men
—
well
but
flashily
dressed
,
and
exhibiting
a
monstrous
profusion
of
Birmingham
jewellery
about
their
persons
—
sate
at
the
table
.
These
were
the
Bonnets
—
individuals
in
reality
in
the
pay
of
the
proprietor
of
the
establishment
,
and
whose
duties
consist
in
enticing
strangers
and
visitors
to
play
,
or
in
maintaining
an
appearance
of
playing
deeply
when
such
strangers
and
visitors
first
enter
the
room
.
The
countenances
of
the
croupiers
were
cold
,
passionless
,
and
totally
devoid
of
any
animation
.
They
called
the
game
,
raked
up
the
winnings
,
or
paid
the
losings
,
without
changing
a
muscle
of
their
features
.
For
all
that
regarded
animation
or
excitement
,
they
might
have
been
easily
passed
off
as
automatons
.
Not
so
was
it
with
the
Bonnets
.
These
gentlemen
were
compelled
to
affect
exuberant
joy
when
they
won
,
and
profound
grief
or
rage
when
they
lost
.
From
time
to
time
they
paid
a
visit
to
the
sideboard
,
and
helped
themselves
to
wine
or
spirits
,
or
regaled
themselves
with
cigars
.
These
refreshments
were
supplied
gratuitously
to
all
comers
by
the
proprietor
:
this
apparent
liberality
was
upon
the
principle
of
throwing
out
a
sprat
to
catch
a
whale
.
When
none
save
the
Croupiers
and
Bonnets
are
present
,
they
throw
aside
their
assumed
characters
,
and
laugh
,
and
joke
,
and
chatter
,
and
smoke
,
and
drink
;
but
the
moment
steps
are
heard
upon
the
staircase
,
they
all
relapse
with
mechanical
exactitude
into
their
business
aspect
.
The
Croupiers
put
on
their
imperturbable
countenances
as
easily
as
if
they
were
masks
;
and
the
Bonnets
appear
to
be
as
intent
upon
the
game
,
as
if
its
results
were
to
them
perspective
life
or
death
.
The
Croupiers
are
usually
trustworthy
persons
well
known
to
the
proprietor
,
or
else
shareholders
themselves
in
the
establishment
.
The
Bonnets
are
young
men
of
education
and
manners
,
who
have
probably
lost
the
ample
fortunes
wherewith
they
commenced
life
,
in
the
very
whirlpool
to
which
,
for
a
weekly
stipend
,
they
are
employed
to
entice
others
.
In
one
of
the
inner
rooms
there
was
a
roulette-table
;
but
this
was
seldom
used
.
A
young
lad
held
the
almost
sinecure
office
of
attending
upon
it
.
The
front
room
was
tolerably
crowded
on
the
evening
when
Chichester
,
Markham
,
the
baronet
,
and
Talbot
,
honoured
the
establishment
with
a
visit
.
The
moment
they
entered
the
apartment
,
Richard
instinctively
drew
back
,
and
,
catching
hold
of
Chichester
's
arm
,
whispered
to
him
in
a
hurried
and
anxious
manner
,
"
Tell
me
,
is
this
a
Gambling-House
?
is
it
what
I
have
heard
called
a
Hell
?
"
"
It
is
a
Gambling-House
,
if
you
will
,
my
dear
fellow
,
"
was
the
reply
;
"
but
a
most
respectable
one
.
Besides
—
you
must
see
life
,
you
know
!
"
With
these
words
he
took
Markham
's
arm
,
and
conducted
him
up
to
the
rouge
et
noir
table
.
A
young
officer
,
whose
age
could
not
have
exceeded
twenty
,
was
seated
at
the
further
end
of
the
green-baize
covered
board
.
A
huge
pile
of
notes
and
gold
lay
before
him
;
but
at
rapid
intervals
one
of
the
Croupiers
raked
away
the
stakes
which
he
deposited
;
and
thus
his
heap
of
money
was
gradually
growing
smaller
.
"
Well
,
this
is
extraordinary
!
"
ejaculated
the
young
officer
;
"
I
never
saw
the
luck
set
so
completely
in
against
me
.
However
—
I
can
afford
to
lose
a
little
;
for
I
broke
your
bank
for
you
last
night
,
my
boys
?
"
"
What
does
that
mean
?
"
demanded
Richard
in
a
whisper
.
"
He
won
all
the
money
which
the
proprietor
deposited
in
that
tin
case
,
he
means
,
"
replied
Chichester
.
"
And
how
much
do
you
suppose
that
might
be
?
"
"
About
fifteen
hundred
to
two
thousand
pounds
.
"
"
Here
—
waiter
!
"
exclaimed
the
young
officer
,
who
had
just
lost
another
stake
,
—
"
a
glass
of
claret
.
"
The
waiter
handed
him
a
glass
of
the
wine
so
demanded
.
The
young
officer
did
not
notice
him
for
a
moment
,
but
waited
to
see
the
result
of
the
next
chance
.
He
lost
again
.
He
turned
round
to
seize
the
glass
of
wine
;
but
when
his
eyes
caught
sight
of
it
,
his
countenance
became
almost
livid
with
rage
.
"
Fool
!
idiot
!
"
he
ejaculated
,
starting
from
his
seat
:
"
bring
me
a
tumbler
—
a
large
tumbler
full
of
claret
;
my
mouth
is
as
parched
as
h
—
l
,
and
my
stomach
is
like
a
lime-kiln
.
"
The
waiter
hastened
to
comply
with
the
wishes
of
the
young
gambler
.
The
tumbler
of
claret
was
supplied
;
and
the
game
continued
.
Still
the
officer
lost
.
"
A
cigar
!
"
he
shouted
,
in
a
fearful
state
of
excitement
—
"
bring
me
a
cigar
!
"
The
waiter
handed
him
a
box
of
choice
Havannahs
,
that
he
might
make
his
selection
.
"
Why
the
devil
do
n't
you
bring
a
light
at
the
same
time
,
you
d
—
d
infernal
rascal
?
"
cried
the
gamester
;
and
while
the
domestic
hastened
to
supply
this
demand
also
,
he
poured
a
volley
of
most
horrible
oaths
at
the
bewildered
wretch
's
head
.
Again
the
play
proceeded
.
And
again
the
young
officer
lost
.
His
pile
of
gold
was
gone
:
the
Croupier
who
kept
the
bank
changed
one
of
his
remaining
notes
.
"
That
makes
three
thousand
that
I
have
lost
already
,
by
G
—
d
!
"
ejaculated
the
young
officer
.
"
Including
the
amount
you
won
last
night
,
I
believe
,
"
said
one
of
the
Bonnets
.
"
Well
,
sir
,
and
suppose
it
is
—
what
the
deuce
is
that
to
you
?
"
demanded
the
officer
fiercely
.
"
Have
I
not
been
here
night
after
night
for
these
six
weeks
?
and
have
I
not
lost
thousands
—
thousands
?
When
did
I
ever
get
a
vein
of
good
luck
until
last
night
?
But
never
mind
—
I
'll
play
on
—
I
'll
play
till
the
end
:
I
will
either
win
all
back
,
or
lose
everything
together
.
And
then
—
in
the
latter
case
—
"
He
stopped
:
he
had
just
lost
again
.
His
countenance
grew
ghastly
pale
,
and
he
bit
his
lips
convulsively
.
"
Claret
—
more
claret
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
throwing
away
the
Havannah
:
"
that
cigar
only
makes
me
the
more
thirsty
.
"
And
again
the
play
proceeded
.
"
I
am
really
afraid
to
contemplate
that
young
man
's
countenance
,
"
whispered
Markham
to
Chichester
.
"
Why
so
?
"
"
I
have
an
idea
that
if
he
should
prove
unsuccessful
he
will
commit
suicide
.
I
have
a
great
mind
just
to
mention
my
fears
to
these
men
in
the
green
shades
,
who
seem
to
be
winning
all
his
money
.
"
"
Pray
be
quiet
.
They
will
only
laugh
at
you
.
"
"
But
the
life
of
a
fellow-creature
?
"
"
What
do
they
care
?
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
say
they
are
such
wretches
—
"
"
I
mean
that
they
do
not
care
one
fig
what
may
happen
so
long
as
they
get
the
money
.
"
Markham
was
struck
speechless
with
horror
as
he
heard
this
cold-blooded
announcement
.
Chichester
had
however
stated
nothing
but
the
truth
.
The
proceedings
were
now
fearfully
interesting
.
The
young
officer
was
worked
up
to
a
most
horrible
state
of
excitement
:
his
losses
continued
to
be
unvaried
by
a
single
gleam
of
good
fortune
.
Still
he
persisted
in
his
ruinous
career
:
note
after
note
was
changed
.
At
length
his
last
was
melted
into
gold
.
He
now
became
absolutely
desperate
:
his
countenance
was
appalling
;
—
the
frenzy
of
gambling
and
the
inflammatory
effects
of
the
liquors
he
had
been
drinking
,
rendered
his
really
handsome
features
positively
hideous
.
Markham
had
never
beheld
such
a
scene
before
,
and
felt
afraid
.
His
companions
surveyed
it
with
remarkable
coolness
.
The
play
proceeded
;
and
in
a
few
moments
the
officer
's
last
stake
was
swept
away
.
Then
the
croupiers
paused
,
as
it
were
,
by
common
consent
;
and
all
eyes
were
directed
towards
the
object
of
universal
interest
.
"
Well
—
I
said
I
would
play
until
I
won
all
or
lost
all
,
"
he
said
;
"
and
I
have
done
so
.
Waiter
,
give
me
another
tumbler
of
claret
:
it
will
compose
me
.
"
He
laughed
bitterly
as
he
uttered
these
words
.
The
claret
was
brought
:
he
drained
the
tumbler
,
and
threw
it
upon
the
table
,
where
it
broke
into
a
dozen
pieces
.
"
Clear
this
away
,
Thomas
,
"
said
one
of
the
Croupiers
,
completely
unmoved
.
"
Yes
,
sir
;
"
and
the
fragments
of
the
tumbler
disappeared
forthwith
.
The
Bonnets
,
perceiving
the
presence
of
other
strangers
,
were
now
compelled
to
withdraw
their
attention
from
the
ruined
gambler
,
and
commence
playing
.
And
so
the
play
again
proceeded
.
"
Where
is
my
hat
,
waiter
?
"
demanded
the
young
officer
,
after
a
pause
,
during
which
he
had
gazed
vacantly
upon
the
game
.
"
In
the
passage
,
sir
—
I
believe
.
"
"
No
—
I
remember
,
it
is
in
the
inner
room
.
But
do
not
trouble
yourself
—
I
will
fetch
it
myself
.
"
"
Very
good
,
sir
;
"
and
the
waiter
did
not
move
.
The
young
officer
sauntered
,
in
a
seeming
leisurely
manner
,
into
the
innermost
room
of
the
suite
.
"
What
a
shocking
scene
!
"
whispered
Markham
to
Chichester
.
"
I
am
glad
I
came
hither
this
once
:
it
will
be
a
lesson
for
me
which
I
can
never
forget
.
"
At
this
instant
the
report
of
a
pistol
echoed
sharply
through
the
rooms
.
There
was
a
simultaneous
rush
to
the
inner
apartment
:
—
Markham
's
presentiments
were
fulfilled
—
the
young
officer
had
committed
suicide
.
His
brains
were
literally
blown
out
,
and
he
lay
upon
the
carpet
weltering
in
his
blood
.
A
cry
of
horror
burst
from
the
strangers
present
;
and
then
,
with
one
accord
,
they
hastened
to
the
door
.
The
baronet
,
Chichester
,
and
Talbot
,
were
amongst
the
foremost
who
made
this
movement
,
and
were
thereby
enabled
to
effect
their
escape
.
Markham
stood
rivetted
to
the
spot
,
unaware
that
his
companions
had
left
him
,
and
contemplating
with
feelings
of
supreme
horror
the
appalling
spectacle
before
him
.
Suddenly
the
cry
of
"
The
police
"
fell
upon
his
ears
;
and
heavy
steps
were
heard
hurrying
up
the
staircase
.
"
The
Bank
!
"
ejaculated
one
of
the
Croupiers
.
"
All
right
!
"
cried
the
other
;
and
in
a
moment
the
lights
were
extinguished
,
as
by
magic
,
throughout
the
entire
suite
of
rooms
.
Obeying
a
natural
impulse
,
Markham
hastened
towards
the
door
;
but
his
progress
was
stopped
by
a
powerful
hand
,
and
in
an
instant
the
bull's-eye
of
a
lantern
glared
upon
his
countenance
.
He
was
in
the
grasp
of
a
police
officer
.
CHAPTER
XIV
.
THE
STATION-HOUSE
.
OF
all
the
persons
who
were
in
the
gambling-house
at
the
moment
when
the
police
,
alarmed
by
the
report
of
the
pistol
,
broke
in
,
Richard
Markham
was
alone
captured
.
The
others
,
aware
of
the
means
of
egress
in
emergencies
of
this
kind
,
had
rushed
up
stairs
,
entered
upon
the
leads
,
and
thus
obtained
admittance
into
the
adjacent
dwelling
,
from
whose
friendly
doors
they
subsequently
issued
one
by
one
when
all
was
once
more
quiet
in
the
street
.
The
police-officer
conducted
Markham
to
the
nearest
station-house
.
They
entered
a
low
dark
gloomy
apartment
,
which
was
divided
into
two
parts
by
means
of
a
thick
wooden
bar
running
across
the
room
,
about
two
feet
and
a
half
from
the
ground
.
There
was
a
small
dull
fire
in
the
grate
;
and
in
a
comfortable
arm-chair
near
it
,
was
seated
the
inspector
—
a
short
,
stout
,
red-faced
,
consequential-looking
man
,
with
a
pen
stuck
behind
his
left
ear
.
A
policeman
in
uniform
was
standing
at
a
high
desk
,
turning
over
the
leaves
of
a
large
book
;
and
another
officer
in
plain
clothes
(
and
very
plain
and
shabby
they
were
too
)
was
lounging
before
the
fire
,
switching
the
dust
out
of
his
trousers
with
a
thin
cane
.
"
Well
,
what
now
?
"
said
the
inspector
,
gruffly
,
as
Markham
was
conducted
into
the
office
,
and
led
behind
the
bar
,
towards
the
fire
.
"
Me
,
and
Jones
,
and
Jenkins
,
broke
into
No.
—
,
in
the
Quadrant
,
as
we
heard
a
pistol
—
or
else
we
should
ha
'
known
ourselves
better
;
and
this
young
feller
is
all
we
caught
.
Jones
and
Jenkins
is
staying
in
the
house
along
with
the
dead
body
of
the
man
as
killed
his
self
.
"
The
inspector
indulged
in
a
good
long
stare
at
Markham
