The Argosy — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

Shadow and Substance. 333 could you? Joking apart,” he continued, in a more earnest tone, “ I have set my heart on having my old chum for a brother-in-law, and for two very good reasons: first, because I have a strong suspicion that you like Annie, and secondly, because I am certain Annie likes ou.” ; ‘Did she tell you so?” eagerly inquired Egerton. “Never mind. Perhaps she will tell you if you ask her; and, between ourselves, I shouldn’t be in the least surprised if you did so to-morrow.” Nor I,” said Torrens, heartily ; and with a cordial shake of the hand the friends separated for the night. That the result of the projected interview proved entirely satisfac- tory to both parties concerned may be inferred from our hero’s depar- ture at the end of the week for his father’s seat in Cheshire, by way of personally announcing his intended marriage. ‘‘A mere matter of form,” he said to Fred. ‘‘ Beyond making me a younger son’s allow- ance of five hundred a year, the governor troubles himself very little about myconcerns. Whether I take to myself a wife or remain single, it is perfectly indifferent to him. If I were my brother Augustus and heir to Somerton, any such step on my part would be an affaire d’état ; but as it is, if, like Lord Privilege in ‘ Peter Simple,’ he holds out two fingers instead of one, I shall consider myself highly honoured.” Things, however, turned out far better than Egerton had antici- pated. On hearing that the fiancée was the daughter of his old acquaint- ance, Admiral Thornton, Mr. Torrens senior deigned to express his approval of the match, and, moreover, graciously signified his inten- tion of increasing his son’s allowance to a thousand a year: which, thought the latter, together with Annie’s modest portion, would enable them to set up housekeeping pretty comfortably. He betook him- self, therefore, after a stay of several days, to town in high spirits. The train from Scotland by which his bride elect and her brother were travelling not being yet due, he strolled into his club, where the first person he met was the inevitable Tommy Gabbleton, who fastened on him like a leech. “You have heard the news ?” he gasped in a tremor of excitement. ““What news?” asked Torrens, smiling at the little man’s agita- tion. ‘ Anything fresh from Zululand?” “Bother Zululand!” retorted Tommy, indignantly. ‘‘ Gerestein has bolted !” “Bolted ! what on earth do you mean ?” “Given his creditors leg-bail, if you like it better,” pursued Tommy. ‘ The most complete smash the city has known for years. Offices closed, and not a shilling in the shape of assets ! ” “You do astonish me,” said Egerton. ‘ Gerestein the mil- lionaire ! ” EONNIE OOO KS (E(@) A :