Part 26 (2/2)
”That was under very different circ.u.mstances,” continued Sparkle; ”in defence of a woman I would risk my life at any time, but I would by no means incur the imputation of being a gambler--it is a character I abhor. I have before said I would never venture into those dens again, to herd with swindlers of all descriptions.”
”They all seem gay fellows, too,” said Bob.
”Yes,” replied Sparkle; ”but the character and conduct of a young man has ere now been altered in one night: the evil effects produced by initiation to those h.e.l.ls are incalculable.”
”Moralizing at midnight,” said Tom; ”an excellent t.i.tle for a volume _sparkling_ contemplations.”
~202~~”To be written by the Hon. Tom Dashall, or the Merry Devil of Piccadilly,” was the reply.
”Huzza!” said Merrywell, ”if this is the case, our time will not be lost in this excursion. Did you hear that Lord ---- has been compelled to put down his establishment in consequence of his losses at play? pray don't forget to mention that in the work.”
”Tis no new thing,” continued Sparkle, ”for Lords of the present day, since I believe there are few of the n.o.bility who are not either Greeks or Pigeons; indeed, the list of visitors to these places contains names of many persons who should set better examples to the humbler cla.s.ses of the community; for the unfortunate results of this too fatal propensity to parents and society have been severely felt. Among many instances on record, a very interesting one is related of a young Subaltern in a regiment of cavalry, who, by successive losses, was reduced to such a state of distress, as to form the desperate resolution of trying the road. In a moment of agony, he accidentally met with an opportunity which seemed to favour his design, having learned that a certain Baronet, recently returned from India with abundance of wealth, had laid it out on landed estates in England, and that he would on a certain day cross the country with a large sum of money, after collecting his rents.
”He laid his plan for a meeting on a retired spot, and succeeded in stopping the carriage--' Your money or your life,' said he, presenting his pistol with a trembling hand. The Baronet, perceiving there was a sort of gentlemanly air about him which indicated something more than might be calculated on in the character of a highwayman, presented him with his purse, a watch, and a valuable diamond ring, remarking, he could not help conceiving that he was unaccustomed to the trade, and that it was most desirable he should abandon it for ever. The young Officer, though considerably confused and embarra.s.sed by this observation, was not to be disappointed of his booty, returned this property, and demanded the larger sum, which for safety had been concealed in the bottom of the carriage. The manner however in which this was done, only served to confirm the suspicions of the Baronet, which he could not help expressing, as he acknowledged the accuracy of the Highwayman's information, and produced the property, observing, he was sure that ~203~~circ.u.mstances of no common kind could have impelled him to this flagrant breach of the laws. He asked as a favour, that he would grant him an interview at some future period, pledging his honour that he should have no occasion to repent such a singular mark of confidence.
”The Officer replied that he had, and he felt he could with safety trust both his life and his honour in the veracity of Sir ----, and appointed a meeting at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, only stipulating, that at such meeting both parties were to be unattended.
As the day of meeting approached, the Baronet thought seriously of the solicited rencontre, and after enjoining perfect secresy on the part of his friend, Col. ----, entreated him to be his companion. The Colonel laughed at the idea, that any man who had robbed another should so indiscreetly place his life in his hands, had no conception of his keeping his appointment, and solemnly a.s.sured the Baronet that he would in no case divulge who or what he was, that he might become acquainted with.
”The Colonel ridiculed his friend's credulity as they entered the house, and were shewn to a private room. The appointed hour was eight in the evening, and, as the clock of St. Paul's struck, a Gentleman inquiring for Sir ---- was shewn into the room--wine was ordered, and for an hour a general conversation on the popular topics of the day ensued, when the Gentleman, evidently under deeply impressed feelings of embarra.s.sment and disappointment, in which the Colonel seemed to partake, arose, and politely took his leave.
”' Well,' said the Baronet, 'what think you of my Highwayman now 1--am I not right?--is he not a gentleman?'
”' And this is the robber, is it, Sir?' said the Colonel--'Be a.s.sured he shall swing for it--why, Sir, I know him well, he is a ---- in my own regiment.'
”'Hold,' said the Baronet, 'don't be rash, remember the solemn promise you have given, and do not deceive me--I hold you bound to me, and will not permit you to break your engagement--I have better objects in view than the death of a fellow-creature.'
”He then requested to be informed of the general tenor of the young man's conduct, which he found to be excellent, and that he was an indefatigable officer--'Indeed,' said the Colonel, 'it would give me the greatest ~204~~pain to lose him--an incomparably affectionate husband and father. He has but one vice, to which may be attributed his destruction, viz. his inordinate pa.s.sion for gaming; but I cannot feel justified in screening so flagrant an offender--the law must take its course.'
”'Moderate your indignation,' said the worthy Baronet, a.s.suming a more serious tone, 'and remember you must be personalty answerable to me for any disclosure you may think proper to make; and that inasmuch as you injure him, you must injure me. You have already given him so high a character in every respect but one, that I must interest you further in his behalf, and beg you to a.s.sist me in my endeavours to reclaim, instead of punis.h.i.+ng him.'
”The Colonel was surprised; but the Baronet was inflexible. In vain he urged that the magnitude of the crime utterly precluded such a proceeding.
”' It must be done,' said the Baronet, 'it shall be done. Leave all the consequences to me; he has now left us in extreme, though suppressed agitation--There is no time to lose--fly to save him.'
”The Colonel expressed his readiness to try the experiment.
”' Then,' said the Baronet, 'follow him immediately, a.s.sure him of my forgiveness, and that if he will pledge his word to forsake this dangerous vice, what he has already obtained he may hold as a gift, and I will add whatever may be necessary to extricate him from any temporary embarra.s.sment.'
”It was an important emba.s.sy--life or death was to be decided by it. The Colonel took his departure, certain of finding him at home taking leave of his family, and, reaching his habitation a short time after his arrival, witnessed a scene of misery which, although he had partly antic.i.p.ated, he could not have conceived. He found him, surrounded by his wife and children, in an agony of desperation and despair.
”When he entered the apartment, the poor culprit, convinced by the presence of his Colonel that all was lost, fell on his knees, and supplicated if possible that his fame, not his life, might be spared for the sake of his afflicted but innocent and injured family. Language has no power to describe the surprise and consternation with which, after a severe lecture, he received the joyful intelligence of ~205~~which his Colonel was the bearer. He returned with his Commanding Officer to ---- Square, where he was received by the Baronet as a repentant friend; and has lived to repair his error, and become deservedly distinguished as an ornament to society, civil and religious as well as military.”
”That must be truly gratifying to the worthy Baronet,{1}' said Tom.
”No doubt of it,” continued Sparkle, ”it must be a source of continued pleasure to find his labours have had so beneficial a result, having in all probability saved a whole family from destruction. Surely it may be said, that
”Among the idiot pranks of Wealth's abuse, None seem so monstrous, none have less excuse, Than those which throw an heritage away Upon the lawless chance of desperate play; Nor is there among knaves a wretch more base Than he who steals it with a smiling face, Who makes diversion to destruction tend, And thrives upon the ruin of a friend.”
--”Yet the Greek, like the swindler{l} and the horse jockey,
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