Roger Kyffin's Ward
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be raised up, the ancient must belevelled with the dust. On a new foundation--the whole of the people--we must build up a glorious temple, a superb superstructure, in whichpeople of all nations, united in the bonds of fraternity, must come andworship together the great Goddess of Reason."
CHAPTER TWELVE.
IN DANGEROUS COMPANY.
Harry's visit to the Jacobin Club was several times repeated. He metthere more than one man of note. The members were, however, chieflythose who, carried away by their ardent love of freedom, which in Francehad degenerated into unbridled licence, and their hatred of tyranny,failed to perceive the happy mean where a settled government and justlaws exist.
It would have been surprising had Harry not felt somewhat of theenthusiasm of the speakers. Silas Sleech only once or twice took a partin the debates, and on these occasions he advocated the most extrememeasures; and although the assassination of the King of England was notmentioned, the regicides of the first Charles were lauded to the skies,as among the truest patriots of which history makes note.
"I wonder what your old mentor would say, if he heard of your attendingour meetings," said Sleech, as they were walking home. "However, it'syour own fault if he finds out. To-morrow we'll play a different sortof game. I am sadly in want of a few hundred pounds, and I have an ideathat I shall get them; if you will stand by me, Harry, I will explainmatters you by-and-bye."
The next evening Silas led Harry to one of the haunts which they had oflate frequented. They entered in the same cautious way as before. Atthat time the police were actively engaged in endeavouring to destroythe numerous gambling-houses, not improperly known as hells, in London.Harry knew very well that he had no business to be there, and nearlyevery day he persuaded himself that he would refuse to go again; but asthe evening came round, the tempter's persuasion overcame his scruples.On this occasion a considerable number of well-dressed men were present,many of them evidently men of rank and position. If they went, whyshould not he? He had hitherto been wonderfully successful, and he hadmade up his mind not to stake more than he had won. There was anabundance of sparkling wine and other refreshments on the sideboard.The room also was brilliantly lighted with wax candles, and Harry felthimself in remarkably good spirits. Silas was already playing, andplacing somewhat heavy stakes on the table. Harry approached him, andfollowed the example of his friend. Fortune seemed to have turnedagainst him. He lost stake after stake. Still Silas signed to him togo on; a strange infatuation seized him. He lost still more. Suddenlyhe looked up, when he saw the countenance of young Gilby, who waswatching him narrowly. The young man came round to him, and placed hishand on his shoulder.
"`Still waters run deep,' old boy. I thought so," he whispered. "I amglad to see you are not such a muff as I took you for. I don't knowwhat our friends in Broad Street would say to you, if they saw you here.However, mum's the word with me. Go on and prosper."
Harry felt himself abashed. He could make no reply.
"If one or two hundred pounds are of any use to you, you are welcome tothem, young one," said Gilby, in a tone which he intended to begood-natured.
"No, thank you," said Harry; "I don't intend to lose more than my pursecan bear."
"Oh, oh! the young one has a touch of pride about him!" Gilbywhispered, loud enough, however, for Harry to hear him.
Harry drew out his last five guineas. He staked them and lost. Sleechcame up to him, and put a roll of gold into his hand.
"You can pay me at your convenience. Don't stop now, or it would ruinall."
Harry fully believed that he should recover his loss. One hundred, twohundred pounds soon went. Again Sleech was by his side, and repeatedhis offer.
"Nonsense; I will take no refusal."
Harry took the gold and lost it. He retained his countenancewonderfully. Gilby smiled.
"You had better borrow of me," he whispered.
"No, thank you; my friend has my purse," answered Harry, with a certainamount of prevarication.
It was getting late. Harry lost still more. Sleech poured out atumbler of wine, which Harry tossed off. Silas led him away to a deskin a recess.
"Here," he said, "between friends we do not want acknowledgment, butbusiness is business."
Harry signed the paper put before him.
"You need not be afraid of being cross-questioned, Harry," observedSilas, as they walked home. "It is a comfort to think that yourstraight-laced guardian is safe across the seas in old Ireland. I amafraid you would think I was talking blasphemy, if I was to pray that hemight never come back again, always provided he has left you his heir,which I have an idea he intends to do. In that case, my boy, we eachshould benefit. You would get his fortune, and I should step into hisshoes."
"Don't talk so, Sleech," said Harry. "He's the best friend I ever had,and I don't expect to get another like him; and as to his fortune, Ipray that he may live to a green old age, and enjoy it himself. I onlyhope you were joking." And Harry felt himself getting angry, not theless so that he could not help secretly acknowledging that he had beenled by the nose by such an arch-hypocrite as Sleech.
"Of course, of course, I was joking," said that individual, in the blandtone he could so well assume. "There's no man I esteem more than ourmanaging clerk, Mr. Kyffin, and I admire you for your affection for him,only I don't think he would be quite satisfied if he knew the way youspend your spare hours."
Some important business with regard to a heavy mortgage on an estate hadtaken Mr. Kyffin to Ireland; and from the state of the country and othercircumstances it seemed probable that he might be detained there for aconsiderable time. He little thought how serious an influence hisabsence would have in the destiny of the youth in whose welfare he wasso deeply interested.
Not till the next morning did Harry reflect how completely he had puthimself in Mr. Sleech's power. He was to dine that day at his uncle's.He was far from happy; he felt ill; he looked pale. It was notsurprising, for he had had but little sleep. His cousins rallied him.
"A London life does not seem to suit you," said Mr. Coppinger. "Youstick closely to business, and I am pleased with your diligence. If youapply to me I will allow you a few days' run down to Hampshire."
Harry thanked his uncle. After dinner Mr. Gilby left the table beforethe rest of the gentlemen. Harry followed some little time afterwards.When he got into the drawing-room he found Mr. Gilby stationed beforethe young ladies, talking eagerly. Looking up, they saw him. They weresilent. Harry heard his own name mentioned.
"I could not help it," exclaimed Gilby, as he approached. "I have beentelling them what a deep fellow you are, Tryon. Why, there's not a morerollicking blade about town, I suspect, if we come to follow you intoall your haunts. I have met you two or three times when you did not seeme. Ah! ah! old boy. Well, don't blush and be ashamed; I don't set upto be straight-laced. I am not a punctual man of business, no primknight in buckram."
Harry felt very much annoyed, but he restrained his temper.
"Mr. Gilby is making merry at my expense," he remarked. "However, he iswelcome to do so. I can only say that I wish I had never been to someof the places he speaks of. Until one has been to a place, one cannottell that it is objectionable."
Harry was beginning to practise some of the lessons in hypocrisy whichhe had learned from Silas Sleech. He was very uncomfortable all therest of the evening. Gilby's mocking eye constantly fell on him, and hefancied that even his cousins regarded him with looks of suspicion. Hereturned home. Silas Sleech was sitting up for him.
"I am glad you have come at last," he said. "I have been fearfullytroubled by a business of great importance, and I really do not know howto settle it. You can help me. Indeed, I rather think that you arebound to do so. I handed over to you a pretty large sum last night. Ilittle thought that not twenty-four hours would pass before I myselfshould be in want of it."
Sleech dropped his voice.
"Harry, you are a good, honest fellow. I mus
t take you into myconfidence. Don't be horrified--I'm an utterly ruined man."
"I'm sorry to hear it," said Harry.
"There's little use expressing sorrow unless you are disposed to helpme. You can do it if you please, I can assure you. All I want you todo is to put your name to a few bits of paper and ask no questions. Iknow it's like begging you to put unbounded confidence in me. Perhapsyou will say I don't deserve it, and yet I wish you knew my heart,Harry, how anxious I am to serve you."
Several decanters stood on the table before Mr. Sleech. Harry hadalready taken a good deal of wine at his uncle's. Sleech urged him totake more. The weather was hot. He felt thirsty. Those were drinkingdays, the