The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 309: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1 THE BOY SOLDIERS.OR, GARIBALDIS YOUNG CAPTAIN. 383 He could not see any one Hon. Charles Frimley, : He was thinking what might be the best thing to do next when laughter from one of the boxes attracted his attention. He turned round, and, at a single glance, per- ceived there were two persons:in ttie box. One wasgnone other than the young géntleman he was in search of. “But who’s the other, I wonder?” thought Morris. He levelled his opera-glass at the other person, and in a moment felt satisfied, in any way like the ~~ Tt was ‘“Con * Williams, or, as he was generally called, “Captain” Williams, one of the most un- scrupulous gamblers and cheats in all the world. “So, that’s it, eh, Con?” thought Morris, ‘‘ You are plucking the ‘pigeon’ very nicely, I perceive, and the Honourable Charles has no notion of your real character. ” ee? “TI must be very.careful how I proceed in this matter,” thought Morris, ‘This Con belongs to a desperate band of scoundrels, and might murder me if they knew who and really what I was. © “But, then, they don’t,’ thought he, “It is many a good year since he and his friends ‘plucked ’ me out of a hundred or two, and they’ll never expect I am other than 'a gentleman of means from my dress and conversation.” | ‘Fora moment a red flush came over the face of Morris as he remembered how, long ago, this same Con Williams cheated him out of his money at garde, and afterwards turned round and laughed at im. “Never mind,” thought Morris, “I always imagined that I should have revenge out of him in the long run, and now I am in a fair way of getting it; but if they only suspect, if they have the very shadow of a doubt about me, I am a gone man, therefore, I had better arm myself with a revolver against all emergencies, for I have no desire to be stabbed in the dark by any of his French or German friends,” tik So thinking, Morris left the opera-house; and went to his lodgings for a’ revolver, and soon re- turned again. But, this time, jhe did fnot' go into’ the pit, but walked boldly round to the box wherein, he had seen the Honourable Charles Frimley inccompany. with this so-called “‘ Captain Con Williams,” As luck would have it, the door of the box was on ajar, and he could hear the “ Captain’’ and Charles Frimley conversing. | | | “You were very successful, last. night,’’ said Charles, of Well, yes, perhaps so ; but to no great extent. See how you have won occasionally ; why, you/are the very devil at cards; but you can’t expect to win always, though.” : ' No, certainly not; but; I have had a fearful Pil run of ‘bad luck lately.” “Oh, never mind, better fortune next time. give you revenge to-night, if you like.” ‘No, I don’t think I’shall play at all to-night.” ‘Why not? Why, .come, man, you are not going to desert us in that way, I hope? ‘Who knows I may be the loser to-night?” : “Well, I don’t mind having a game or two ; but for a small stake, mind, TI can’t afford to lose any more thousands, you know.’ | ; i “Certainly not ; but. it was all perfectly fair and honourable, you will admit?” “ Yes, oh, yes.” ‘© Tt was luck, my boy, mere luck.” ‘Was it 2”? thought Morrts, as he listened, and a fiendish grin flitted across his face. ff Was it all luck though ?”’ thought the officer, “‘ I don't know so much about that ; we shall see.”’ He entered the box, to the no small surprise of the “ captain,” who, after a quick-look, recognised the new comer, | “Beg pardon, sir,” said: Morris, bowing to the Honourable Charles, ‘I beg pardon. for intruding ; but I recognised in your companion.an old friend I have not seen for years.’ . “Why, Morris, my dear fellow, how are you?” said the “captain ’’ shaking the new comer by the hand. “ITheard you were dead,” “Dead! no; I’m better than ten thousand.dead men,’ , “Glad to see you, my, friend, yery glad,’’ said the ‘captain,’ introducing Morris to the Honourable Charles Frimley. ‘“‘I had not the least idea of ever seeing you again, -When.did.you come up from the country?” — pte MES ic ce To-day.” “Oh ! indeed !” “The old gentleman died lately.” ‘What! your rich uncle you used to speak of ?” “ Yes; and left me £30,000.” | ‘“Well done; come, tbat isn’t very bad news, is it, Charley?” ‘said the captain,’ thus familiarly addressing the young nobleman. Yao | “No, by Jove! quite the contrary. I wish some one would leave me‘half that amount, I shouldn’t grumble.” fe9 ‘‘Nor me neither,” said the captain, laughing. “ You aré married, I suppose, Morris?) 99998)" “Oh, yes, and steady, very steady ; no’ more larks bout town for me, you know.” © <- i } “ Oh! of course not!” said the captain, laughing heartily. “A man with £30,000 can’t afford a night or two in frolic; but you shall, my boy, shan’t he, Cnarleyen: ~4 “T should not,object to your friend’s company, by any means,” said the Honourable Charles, yawning. “ Anything you like; I'll make one.” , : “Wellsaid,” Williams replied. “ Let's leave this dull affair, and go over to some snug coffee-room “I know of. We'll have a jolly good feed, and after- wards—why, anything, or anywhere yon like.”’ Captain Williams left the house, followed, by Morris and Charles Frimley. | ; They went to the supper-room, and the “captain ” ordered a very fine and savoury supper, which Morris partook of with great relish. — ' | He had not enjoyed such a repast for many along day, and, therefore, did ample justice to it, ~The only excess he guarded against was that of drinking, or mixing his wine... °” ) * And so fortune has turned up ‘trumps’ once again, eh,’Morris ?” said the ‘‘ captain,” picking his teeth. ‘“ Well, I’m deuced glad to hear it, my boy.” “T dare say you are,’? thought Morris, who, from the captain’s sparkling eye, imagined, and truly, that the sharper was planning some game to ruin him, as he had done years before. eno “Tt isa very long time since I have seen my old friend, Morris,’’ said the captain:to the Hon. Charles, “but I can assure you there wasn’t a gayer fellow about town at/one time than he was,’ He threw his money about like sand,” said Williams 5 “ and as to fast horses, and the like, there wasn’t one to.compare to Hint ; “So much the worse for me,’’? thought Morris ; ‘but I hadn’t the sense I have now, as.the captain will soon find. : 1 was totally ruined through this same cool-handed villain, and myself and» poor wife reduced to the utmost and most abject poverty ; EOmMicsoo S i ee ee ae CO