Part 24 (1/2)

”That is he! I am almost sure it is,” said one. ”Oh! then it's all smooth sailing,” replied the other.

”But, bless my eyes! you must be mistaken! See whom he's talking to now!”

At that moment Captain de Burgh Smith, mounted on the brown mare, stopped Philip.

”Well, you see, I've bought her,--hope she'll turn out well. What do you really think she's worth? Not to buy, but to sell?”

”Sixty guineas.”

”Well, that's a good day's work; and I owe it to you. The old faellow would not have trusted me if you had not served me at Elmore's--ha! ha!

If he gets scent and looks shy at you, my lad, come to me. I'm at the Star Hotel for the next few days. I want a tight faellow like you, and you shall have a fair percentage. I'm none of your stingy ones. I say, I hope this devil is quiet? She c.o.c.ks up her ears dawmnably!”

”Look you, sir!” said Philip, very gravely, and rising up in his break; ”I know very little of you, and that little is not much to your credit.

I give you fair warning that I shall caution my employer against you.”

”Will you, my fine faellow? then take care of yourself.”

”Stay, and if you dare utter a word against me,” said Philip, with that frown to which his swarthy complexion and flas.h.i.+ng eyes gave an expression of fierce power beyond his years, ”you will find that, as I am the last to care for a threat, so I am the first to resent an injury!”

Thus saying, he drove on. Captain Smith affected a cough, and put his brown mare into a canter. The two men followed Philip as he drove into the yard.

”What do you know against the person he spoke to?” said one of them.

”Merely that he is one of the cunningest swells on this side the Bay,”

returned the other. ”It looks bad for your young friend.”

The first speaker shook his head and made no reply.

On gaining the yard, Philip found that Mr. Stubmore had gone out, and was not expected home till the next day. He had some relations who were farmers, whom he often visited; to them he was probably gone.

Philip, therefore, deferring his intended caution against the gay captain till the morrow, and musing how the caution might be most discreetly given, walked homeward. He had just entered the lane that led to his lodgings, when he saw the two men I have spoken of on the other side of the street. The taller and better-dressed of the two left his comrade; and crossing over to Philip, bowed, and thus accosted him,--

”Fine evening, Mr. Philip Morton. I am rejoiced to see you at last. You remember me--Mr. Blackwell, Lincoln's Inn.”

”What is your business?” said Philip, halting, and speaking short and fiercely.

”Now don't be in a pa.s.sion, my dear sir,--now don't. I am here on behalf of my clients, Messrs. Beaufort, sen. and jun. I have had such work to find you! Dear, dear! but you are a sly one! Ha! ha! Well, you see we have settled that little affair of Plaskwith's for you (might have been ugly), and now I hope you will--”

”To your business, sir! What do you want with me?”

”Why, now, don't be so quick! 'Tis not the way to do business. Suppose you step to my hotel. A gla.s.s of wine now, Mr. Philip! We shall soon understand each other.”

”Out of my path, or speak plainly!”

Thus put to it, the lawyer, casting a glance at his stout companion, who appeared to be contemplating the sunset on the other side of the way, came at once to the marrow of his subject.

”Well, then,--well, my say is soon said. Mr. Arthur Beaufort takes a most lively interest in you; it is he who has directed this inquiry. He bids me say that he shall be most happy--yes, most happy--to serve you in anything; and if you will but see him, he is in the town, I am sure you will be charmed with him--most amiable young man!”

”Look you, sir,” said Philip, drawing himself up ”neither from father, nor from son, nor from one of that family, on whose heads rest the mother's death and the orphans' curse, will I ever accept boon or benefit--with them, voluntarily, I will hold no communion; if they force themselves in my path, let them beware! I am earning my bread in the way I desire--I am independent--I want them not. Begone!”