Part 22 (1/2)
He made no reply to this, but bending forward he gazed into the fire, with a rapture in his face, pressing one hand within the other as if it were his sweetheart's.
”In the meantime,” says I, ”if you have necessity for a hundred or two in advance, you have but to give me your note of hand.”
”Can you do me this service?” cries he, eagerly. ”Can you let me have five hundred by to-morrow?”
”I believe I can supply you to the extent of six or seven.”
”All that you can,” says he; ”for besides a pressing need that will take me to London to-morrow, I owe something to a friend here that I would fain discharge.”
Don Sanchez waived his hand cavalierly, though I do believe the subtle Spaniard had hinted at this business as much for his own ends as for our a.s.surance.
”I will have it ready against we meet in the morning,” says I. ”You are so certain of her sanction?” he asks in delight, as if he could not too much a.s.sure himself of Moll's devotion.
”She has been guided by me in all matters relating to her estate, and will be in this, I am convinced. But here's another question, sir, which, while we are about business, might be discussed with advantage.
My rule here is nearly at an end. Have you decided who shall govern the estate when I am gone?”
”Only that when I have authority that rascal Simon shall be turned from his office, neck and crop. He loves me as little as he loves his mistress, that he would set us by the ears for his own advantage.”
”An honest man, nevertheless--in his peculiar way,” observes the Don.
”Honest!” cries Mr. G.o.dwin, hotly. ”He honest who would have suffered Judith to die in Barbary! He shall go.”
”Then you will take in your own hands the control of your joint estate?”
”I? Why, I know no more of such matters than the man in the moon.”
”With all respect to your cousin's abilities, I cannot think her qualified for this office.”
”Surely another steward can be found.”
”Undoubtedly,” says I. ”But surely, sir, you'd not trust all to him without some supervision. Large sums of money must pa.s.s through his hands, and this must prove a great temptation to dishonest practices.
'Twould not be fair to any man.”
”This is true,” says he. ”And yet from natural disinclination, ignorance, and other reasons, I would keep out of it.” Then after some reflection he adds, ”My cousin has told me how you have lost all your fortune in saving her, and that 'tis not yet possible to repay you. May I ask, sir, without offence, if you have any occupation for your time when you leave us?”
”I went to London when I left you to see what might be done; but a merchant without money is like a carpenter without tools.”
”Then, sir, till your debt is discharged, or you can find some more pleasant and profitable engagement, would you not consent to govern these affairs? I do not ask you to stay here, though a.s.suredly you will ever be a welcome guest; but if you would have one of the houses on the estate or come hither from time to time as it might fit your other purposes, and take this office as a matter of business, I should regard it as a most generous, friendly kindness on your part.”
I promised him with some demur, and yet with the civility his offer demanded, to consider of this; and so our debate ended, and I went to bed, very well content with myself, for thus will vanity blind us to our faults.
CHAPTER XXIV.
_I overcome Moll's honest compunctions, lay hold of three thousand pounds more, and do otherwise play the part of rascal to perfection._
I got together six hundred pounds (out of the sum left us after paying Don Sanchez his ten thousand), and delivered 'em to Mr. G.o.dwin against his note of hand, telling him at the same time that, having slept upon his proposal, I was resolved to be his steward for three months, with freedom on both sides to alter our position, according to our convenience, at the end of that time, and would serve him and his lady to the best of my power. Thanking me very heartily for my friendly service to him (though, G.o.d knows, with little reason), he presently left us. And Moll, coming back from taking tender leave of him at her gates, appeared very downcast and pensive. However, after moping an hour in her chamber, she comes to me in her hood, and begs I will take her a walk to dispel her vapours. So we out across the common, it being a fine, brisk, dry morning and the ground hard with a frost. Here, being secure from observation, I showed her how I had settled matters with Mr.