Part 97 (1/2)

Vulgar some might call Mr. Levy from his a.s.surance, but it was not the vulgarity of a man accustomed to low and coa.r.s.e society,--rather the mauvais ton of a person not sure of his own position, but who has resolved to swagger into the best one he can get. When it is remembered that he had made his way in the world, and gleaned together an immense fortune, it is needless to add that he was as sharp as a needle, and as hard as a flint. No man had had more friends, and no man had stuck by them more firmly--so long as there was a pound in their pockets!

Something of this character had Randal heard of the baron, and he now gazed, first at his card, and then at him with--admiration.

”I met a friend of yours at Borrowell's the other day,” resumed the baron,--”young Hazeldean. Careful fellow--quite a man of the world.”

As this was the last praise poor Frank deserved, Randal again smiled.

The baron went on: ”I hear, Mr. Leslie, that you have much influence over this same Hazeldean. His affairs are in a sad state. I should be very happy to be of use to him, as a relation of my friend Egerton's; but he understands business so well that he despises my advice.”

”I am sure you do him injustice.”

”Injustice! I honour his caution. I say to every man, 'Don't come to me: I can get you money on much easier terms than any one else; and what's the result! You come so often that you ruin yourself; whereas a regular usurer without conscience frightens you. 'Cent percent,' you say; 'oh, I must pull in.' If you have influence over your friend, tell him to stick to his bill-brokers, and have nothing to do with Baron Levy.”

Here the minister's bell rung, and Randal, looking through the window, saw Dr. F----- walking to his carriage, which had made way for Baron Levy's splendid cabriolet,--a cabriolet in the most perfect taste, baron's coronet on the dark-brown panels, horse black, with such action! harness just relieved with plating. The servant now entered, and requested Randal to step in; and addressing the baron, a.s.sured him that he would not be detained a minute.

”Leslie,” said the minister, sealing a note, ”take this back to Lord ------, and say that I shall be with him in an hour.”

”No other message?--he seemed to expect one.”

”I dare say he did. Well, my letter is official, my message is not: beg him to see Mr. ----- before we meet,--he will understand,--all rests upon that interview.”

Egerton then, extending the letter, resumed gravely, ”Of course you will not mention to any one that Dr. F----- was with me: the health of public men is not to be suspected. Hum,--were you in your own room or the ante-room?”

”The ante-room, sir.”

Egerton's brow contracted slightly. ”And Mr. Levy was there, eh?”

”Yes--the baron.”

”Baron! true. Come to plague me about the Mexican loan, I suppose. I will keep you no longer.”

Randal, much meditating, left the house, and re-entered his hack cab.

The baron was admitted to the statesman's presence.

CHAPTER XIV.

Egerton had thrown himself at full length on the sofa, a position exceedingly rare with him; and about his whole air and manner, as Levy entered, there was something singularly different from that stateliness of port common to the austere legislator. The very tone of his voice was different. It was as if the statesman, the man of business, had vanished; it was rather the man of fas.h.i.+on and the idler who, nodding languidly to his visitor, said, ”Levy, what money can I have for a year?”

”The estate will bear very little more. My dear fellow, that last election was the very devil. You cannot go on thus much longer.”

”My dear fellow!” Baron Levy hailed Audley Egerton as ”my dear fellow”!

And Audley Egerton, perhaps, saw nothing strange in the words, though his lip curled.

”I shall not want to go on thus much longer,” answered Egerton, as the curl on his lip changed to a gloomy smile. ”The estate must, meanwhile, bear L5,000 more.”

”A hard pull on it. You had really better sell.”