THE NOVELIST. | Now First Published. |

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 37

THE NOVELIST. | Now First Published. |

A MODERN DICK WHITTINGTON. ♦ By JAMES PAYN. Author of "For Cash Only," "A Prince of the Blood," "By Proxy," " Lost Sir Massingberd," <f The Confidential Agent," &c. <fee. [all Rights Reserved.] Chapteb XXVII. A Little Favour. "«>§p^^|2*lTH regard to the lad in yimnHlym^ whom you have been so vHl®sßycjw).) B°°d as to interest yourhelf," said Mr Robert, with ?«gpSvj*yjs» his shifty eyes upon the ftM^ttftflr^ carpet, and a certain dog<rJcir«r gedness of manner, as of *» f^«%£^t one com P e^ e d to 6peak **/}€ ' upon a subject disagreeable to him, " I must, notwithstanding your protest, just say one word in justice to my father. He has bad some cause for displeasure — or, rather, let me say for disappointment — in the boy, which may excuse an apparent harshness of manner when speaking of Laurence. He has done his best— or what seemed to be so — for him, with not very satisfactory results ; and he has exerted his influence for him abroad, in hopes that he may succeed better than in England. This will entail a considerable expense in outfit " v "Not if he has the same sort of outfit that he has at home," interposed Sir Charles, drily. "Well, really, if you mean clothe*, and

so on, these little matters have been hitherto left to his Aunt Jane."

" Who naturally knows nothing about them," put in the other sharply. " That is so far an excuse for her. Bub Laurence ia no longer a boy to be left in leading strings. You, Mr Stratton, who have heen a young man yourself, should have understood how humiliating muse be such a position. Even a less sensitive nature than that of your nephew would have resented it. Take your own, for instance. How would you have liked at his age to find yourself without pocket money or a suit of decent clothes 7 Of course, I have no right " "Nay, 'you have every right," murmured the Fquire, in a voice tbat he vainly endeavoured to render conciliatory. It was like the growl of a dog who retreats under the table because the time for biting is not opportune. " Well, at all events, since you have forcQd the subject upon me I will epeak plainly. Tbe lad is starved, as it were, in a land of plenty. There is money at HilL-land for everybodj- but himself, and there is no opportunity mis3ed of making him feel that he is a dependent." 11 1 will see that he haa pocket money and a proper wardrobe. Indeed, I have made such arrangements as were possible- as regards the laiter already. I had represented to my sister that since you had honoured him by an invitation to Hurlby it would be only fitting " " Oh, pray do not bring me into the matter, MrSt,ratton,"exclaimed the baronet,, warmly ; '• it does not mend matters to tell me that if your nephew were not coming t > Hurlby he would remain in rags. The state of his wardrobe is nothing to me; but to be so treated must bo a bitter mortification to any young man, and you know it." There was cause for quatrel, and plenty of it, in the baronet's tone as well as in bis words ; he could not resist the opportunity o£ hinting, not very obscurely, to the squire, • the opinion he had formed of him; but curiously enough Mr Robert, never much influenced by "opinion," was not altogether displeased at the coarse matters had taken. He had persuaded himself tbat Sir Charles was not angry upon Laurence's account, but on his own ; and that he resented tho lad's " rags " because they reflected upon the connection that he himself was about to make with him through marriage with his cousin. Indeed, it was the fact that the Bquire had spoken fo Aunt Jane of the propriety of LaurQDcu'd being a little better dressed with a view to his proposed visit to " the castle," only Aunt Jane hud replied " no ; if the marriage came off, of course the boy must have a wedding garment, but if it didn't, it would in the meantime be an unnecessary expenditure." Mr Robert made a mem in his mind that an ample provision should now be made in this matter ; a resolve that co3t him the less struggle inasmuch as tbe money would cob come out of his own pocket ; but he was also prepared to pay BDtnething, and indeed a good deal, to put his guest in a good humour. The big fish it seemed, was landed after all. Still, the present conversation was nejther a good omen, nor a favourable introduction to the matter the squire, had in his mind. " I hope," he said, " Laurence will show himself giateful for your kindness to him, Sir Charles." " Tbe obligation, so far as his visit to Hurlby U concerned, I consider to be quite on the other side," returned the other. "He is a most agreeable companion." " And I dare pay you find living all alone at the castle a little triste." This was in Mr Robert's opinion quite a Machiavelian remark ; he thought it might even " draw " his companion to admit as much, and hint that that drawback of loneliness was about to be remedied in a very gratifying maner. But it did nothing of the kind. The other smoked on in silence. " 1 hers is a private matter I wish to speak to you about, Sir Charles," said the squire desperately, and taking his courage in both hands. " A private matter ! " Sir Charles raised his eyebrows. " Really 1 " His tone was iaourious, even indifferent. " Yes ; I have got a little favour to ask of you. Witn most people it would be a great favour, but in your case I venture to think tbat though of some magnitude it will cause you no serious inconvenience. I want you, for a few months only, to be so good as to lend me L 5000." "Really," said the baronet again, in exactly the same tone. "That is a large sum." " It would of course, es I have said, seem a large sum to most people." 41 It seems a large sum to vie," said the baronet. * " Well, of coarse in a way it does ; and if the loan was not a merely temporary one I should hesitate to applj for it even to you. It would, however, just now, be of immense service, and I have immediate need of it." " The Derby ? " suggested Sir Charles. " Why, yes ; I had the le.st information about Ganymede — it seemed a moral, but somehow it did not come off." ''Things do go thafc way on the. turf occasionally ; let us hope you will have better luck next time." "Well, no; I have done with it. What has happened will be a lesson to me. Never will I bet again." " In that case the misfortune may prove a blessing in disguise," said tbe baronet philosophically, and nicking at his cigar-ash, which was a very long one. " Perhaps — but in tbe meantime — tbe disguise is so perfect tbab tbe blessing has the appearance of a disaster. I musb raUe the money soirehow, and at once." "And from wbac I gathered the other night of your father's sentiments, he would not, I snppose, be inclined to assist you ? " M He would see me — well, at all events he would not do it, That's certain. Nothing but the urgency of the case would have compelled me to apply to you for assistance. It distresses me to do so very much. To borrow money of one's friend, one's guest, is deplorable, still you will make allowance for my painful position," " This sum is a debt of honour, I conclude, which you have incurred without the means of discharging it, If you had won you would have pulled off a very large stake." " That's just it. I felt I wai dealing with a man of the world, who would understand things." Sir Charles' satire had flown over bis head; he imagined that an excuse had.

been made for him. " May I hope that you will lend me the money."

" You may hope of course," said the other smiling ; " • hope springs eternal in the human breast,' as Laurence would say— the lad is full of quotation ; but at present I can promise you nothing. When I get home I will ask my secretary, who keeps my banking book for me. I have generally a pretty good balance I believe. If I can oblige you, you will heat from me by to-morrow's post. And now I am afraid I must say an revoir as my night will be a short one." He held out his hand, which the other seized and squeezed with effusion. It was like wringing a dry towel. Still the sqnire had Borne hope. He had not at least received that point-blank refusal which had been quite on the cards. Sir Charles had the reputation of keeping a very large balance at his bankers. He had asked for no security which indeed was fortunate, since insistance on that point would have been fatal. And yet Mr Robert was far from comfortable in his mind about tb.6 money. He had certainly not found his friend so " accommodating" as he had expected. If he could have looked into the other's heart, or even into his room, now that the door was between them, he would have felt still less satisfied at the result of their interview. Directly he was alone, Sir Charles had thrown himself upon the sofa and burst out laughirjg. He was not in such a very great hurry to go to bed after all, it seemed, for he sat up smoking cigar after cigar, sometimes with a face grave enough, but .every now and then the recollection of Mr Robert's conciliatory manners — when applying for a loanoccurred to him, and it always evoked his mirth. " He is like a snob in evening dress," he muttered to himself ; " ten times worse than in his ordinary stripes and checks." And he made up his mind that the squire might have as many stripes as Fortune— or Justice might please to send him, but not one cheque from him.