The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

re aes 6 PRS eee Dione a RE EG | oe ( ' "" He nevertheless did manifest some uneasiness | about a young woman and her brother named Mel- moth, and who, he said, lived with Daniel Coffin. He told me that he and these Melmoths had been brought up together, and that he had a sort of af- fection for them. | assured him that from what I had learnt they did not appear to be at all involved in Coffin’s troubles: and 1 even went so far as to declare that 1 would see something was done for them in case Coffin should go out of the world leaving them destitute, This assurance evidently gave voung Jack very great satisfaciion ; and look- ing hard at me, he said, ‘ J suppose, sir, you are the hind friend who has been in the back-ground all the while and who has interested himselfin me ?’—* Well, well. my boy, perhape Jam, said 1, ‘perhaps Iam: but ] don’t say so, mind; and you must not ask me any more questions,’—That vas the way I managed him, your Royal Highness,” added Tash; “for a man who can parry a thrust .with a rapier is not likely to be at a loss to dv the same with a search- ing question.” . “You acted most prudently, my dear fellow,” said the Prince, laughing. “ Come, fill your tain- bler again, and then proceed.” “ This wine is excellent,” observed Tash, when he had poured another quantum down his throat: | he then went on to say, “ You see, sir, 1 played my part so well that the Jad soon had confidence in me; and may-be he thought that I was either his father, or some very near relation, having particu- far reasons not toacknowledge him openly. How- ever, be that as it may, he certainly received the i impression that I was the kind friend who had been in the back-ground during his residence at the surgeon’s, and that I had at length come for- ward to take some deoisive step respecting his future prospects.” “ And of course you suffered that impression to remain upon his mind?” said his Royal [lighness iuterrogatively. “To be sure I did,” responded Tash, ‘“ Was it not in obedience to the hiuts you had previously given me for my guidance in the m&tter? IMow- ever, to make a long Story as short as possible,” continued the Captaing “1 went on to explain the plan which was proposed for the future benefit of the youth. I told him that if he liked to go out to Jamaica, a comfortable situation in a met- cantile house, with a good salary, was at his ser- vice in that island—that there was a ship then in the Downs to sil with the next fair wmd—aud that if he would go down with me to Deal agd embark m that vessel, I would place a hundred guineas in his hands ere taking leave of him on board. I showed him the letter from the London branch of the Jamaica house, guaranteeing the situation; and I also showed him the money. He did not take many minutes to consider, but gave his consent with joy aud gfatitude. The business being thus settled, I sent and ordered a post chaise; and away we sped into Kent. We refiched Deal that evening, and went at once to a slop- dealer's, or outfitter’s, where I bonght him a sea- chest and everything suited for tie voyage. Next morning we went on board the ship: but as the eee] Fa ET A a —_ ee ee ee —_ = ee ee —ee a ee ee owe = ee se ee ee ee ee oe eee wind did not change favourably till yesterday, the, vessel had to remaiu at anchor in the Downs fur some days, I staid with him on board: for hav- bg dace succeeded in getting him there, 1 did not! “1 really don’t think it a1 —— = 7 _ cere egercene * ae Ty ares A eS, 1 M YSTERIES OF THE OOUOnRT. a choose to trust him out of my gight, or give him the chance of slipping away in some boat, in case he altered hisemind. But he did not appear to repent of his decision: on the contrary, his spirits rose in proportion as hd became accustomed to shipboard. As fur me, I managed to puss the time pretty pleasantly: for the Captaic: of the vessel was a jovial good chap, and there were six or eight merry blades of passengers on board. So I amused myself by making them all drunk every night, and when I parted from them yes- terday afternoon, they swore I was the best fellow in existence. As for Master Jack, I pave him his hundred guineas at parting, and he wept with gratitude. I saw the ship sail; and this morning letvok a post-chaise and retuyned straight to Lon- don, to report all these particulars to your Royal Highness, So here J am—and that’s my history.” “You have acquitted ‘yourself most admirably, my dear Captaip.” said the Prince. ‘I knew full wcll that you would not fail to execute my com- mission with delicacy, prudence, and. caution— keeping me altogether out of sight and out of the question, while conversing with the lad. But tell me—he had not the slizhtest suspicion that 1 had ever interested myself concerning him ?” “Not the slightest,” responded Tash. The surgeon had evidently been most discreet and re- served during the many months the young fellow was under his roof. Besites, have I not already told you, sir, that so far from even dreaming of your intervention in his behalf, Master Jack was perfectly canvinced that he saw his previously un- known friend in me?’ “True, to be sure!” cjaculated the Prince. “ But now let us talk of other things. While you were pone I lost my young friend, yyur boon com- panion——” ‘‘What, Sackville?” exclaimed the Captain. * Ah! I knew full well, before I went, that he would leave your Roya) Highness. Those letters he received grom his wife made him quite spoony ; and when Sir Valentine Malvern paid his debts, it recularly clinched the nail of his sentimentalism. And so he is pone? Well, he behaved very hand- somely to me. When, I want and told him last Sunday thit 1 should most likely have to leave town for u few days, he took me by the hand, say- ing, ‘ Jash, my dear fellow, you have been my com- panion for some months past, in many a frolic; and though I am going to turn over anew leaf, I do not mean at the sage time to show you the cold shoulder. All my debis are paid, and all the bills on which your name appeared together with mine, are got in ang burnt. So you have nothing to fear on that score; and there are five hundred guineas for you as a token of friendship.’—In this manner was it that we parted; and therefore I have nothing to say against Sackville. Depend upon it,‘sir, he will settle down into a quict, steady, domesticated husband, always keeping regular hours—taking | his supper every night at nine with his wife—and going to bed at half-past ten or eleven at the latest, excépt when they receive company.” * Ah! I wish, mydear Tash,” said the Prince, with a sigh, “that you could bring Venetia back to me: but I am very much afraid that all your ingenuity will not suffice for such an achieve- ment.” would, sir,” rejoined the « * é =; ‘5 - — noe ot ss. Si ae ~ ie err cr a FE ECOMNIE OG O) cS) — — — eS EE Ren aS a es De ga I Egg SP mr TE PEP ST I I a gs Ts I ED LE SSS ee, . - cos a renee —— ee 2 al CO