Part 137 (1/2)

”What, Mr. Hazeldean, have you just left your brother's house? Is it possible?”

”Why, you advised me to go there, and I did. I scarcely knew what I was about. I am very glad I did go. Hang politics! hang the landed interest!

what do I care for either now?”

”Foiled with Madame di Negra?” asked Randal, drawing the squire aside.

”Never speak of her again!” cried the squire, fiercely. ”And as to that ungrateful boy--but I don't mean to behave harshly to him,--he shall have money enough to keep her if he likes, keep her from coming to me, keep him, too, from counting on my death, and borrowing post-obits on the Casino--for he'll be doing that next--no, I hope I wrong him there; I have been too good a father for him to count on my death already.

After all,” continued the squire, beginning to relax, ”as Audley says, the marriage is not yet made; and if the woman has taken him in, he is young, and his heart is warm. Make yourself easy, my boy. I don't forget how kindly you took his part; and before I do anything rash, I'll at least consult with his poor mother.”

Randal gnawed his pale lip, and a momentary cloud of disappointment pa.s.sed over his face.

”True, sir,” said he, gently; ”true, you must not be rash. Indeed, I was thinking of you and poor dear Frank at the very moment I met you. It occurred to me whether we might not make Frank's very embarra.s.sments a reason to induce Madame di Negra to refuse him; and I was on my way to Mr. Egerton, in order to ask his opinion, in company with the gentleman yonder.”

”Gentleman yonder. Why should he thrust his long nose into my family affairs? Who the devil is he?”

”Don't ask, sir. Pray let me act.”

But the squire continued to eye askant the dark-whiskered personage thus interposed between himself and his son, and who waited patiently a few yards in the rear, carelessly readjusting the camellia in his b.u.t.ton-hole.

”He looks very outlandish. Is he a foreigner too?” asked the squire at last.

”No, not exactly. However, he knows all about Frank's embarra.s.sments; and--”

”Embarra.s.sments! what, the debt he paid for that woman? How did he raise the money?”

”I don't know,” answered Randal; ”and that is the reason I asked Baron Levy to accompany me to Egerton's, that he might explain in private what I have no reason--”

”Baron Levy!” interrupted the squire. ”Levy, Levy--I have heard of a Levy who has nearly ruined my neighbour Thornhill,--a money-lender.

Zounds! is that the man who knows my son's affairs? I'll soon learn, sir.”

Randal caught hold of the squire's arm: ”Stop, stop; if you really insist upon learning more about Frank's debts, you must not appeal to Baron Levy directly, and as Frank's father: he will not answer you. But if I present you to him as a mere acquaintance of mine, and turn the conversation, as if carelessly, upon Frank, why, since, in the London world, such matters are never kept secret, except from the parents of young men, I have no doubt he will talk out openly.”

”Manage it as you will,” said the squire.

Randal took Mr. Hazeldean's arm, and joined Levy--”A friend of mine from the country, Baron.” Levy bowed profoundly, and the three walked slowly on.

”By the by,” said Randal, pressing significantly upon Levy's arm, ”my friend has come to town upon the somewhat unpleasant business of settling the debts of another,--a young man of fas.h.i.+on,--a relation of his own. No one, sir (turning to the squire), could so ably a.s.sist you in such arrangements as could Baron Levy.”

BARON (modestly, and with a moralizing air).--”I have some experience in such matters, and I hold it a duty to a.s.sist the parents and relations of young men who, from want of reflection, often ruin themselves for life. I hope the young gentleman in question is not in the hands of the Jews?”

RANDAL.--”Christians are as fond of good interest for their money as ever the Jews can be.”

BARON.--”Granted, but they have not always so much money to lend. The first thing, sir” (addressing the squire),--”the first thing for you to do is to buy up such of your relation's bills and notes of hand as may be in the market. No doubt we can get them a bargain, unless the young man is heir to some property that may soon be his in the course of nature.”

RANDAL.--”Not soon--Heaven forbid! His father is still a young man,--a fine healthy man,” leaning heavily on Levy's arm; ”and as to post-obits--”

BARON.--”Post-obits on sound security cost more to buy up, however healthy the obstructing relative may be.”

RANDAL.--”I should hope that there are not many sons who can calculate, in cold blood, on the death of their fathers.”