A PRECIOUS VILLAIN.

Western Star, Issue 2216, 24 June 1898, Page 3

A PRECIOUS VILLAIN.

BY GROSVENOR BUNSTER. CHAPTER IV (Continued.) The people who visited at the house at Lancaster Gate were essentially Bohemian. In course of a few days the lad learned, indeed, that he had happened upon a class whose tastes and habits were very much to his liking. Although undeveloped, there was scarce a vice for which this youth was not ready, and so he entered with enthusiasm into the gambling and somewhat hard drinking, which, as he soon found, were usual at the nightly parties at his new friends' house. But much to the captain’s amazement and chagrin, it was discovered that this boy in his teens was not to be drawn like a budger. There was not a game of cards with which he was not familiar. He ‘took them down’ at billiards in th«S.easiest manner. He never played hazard, frankly informing the captain that he did not play for amusement—but profit. The gallant captain bit his finger-nails. ‘ My dearest Bertha,’ said he to his cousin, ‘ I can make nothing out of that sour visaged cub. He is but half a week from the nursery, yet he seems to know as much as yours truly.’ ‘Not quite,’ said Mrs. Vallers — ‘Jennie can master him.’ ‘•But is he worth it ? Hang it! the young devil won j£s° rom me other night at piquet. From vie! And I hadn’t a chance to foist a card. Those small eyes of his go through and through you,’ ‘ My dear cousin—you are a donkey. That youth is—well —not to put it too delicately—the devil and all.’ ‘ But what shall we do with him ?’

‘ I’ve been thinking of that,’ she answered ; ‘ and I really think that the only profit we can hope to make out of him is to deliver him up to his uncle.’ ‘ But ’

‘Jennie has got it all out of him. The young fiend (he is a fiend, I am sure) ran away from school, and when he came up to London had an idea of seeing life, as he says.’ He has seen it. The beggar has won in this house.’ ‘ Well now, if I were you I should communicate with the Admiral. 1 ell him that we met his precious nephew in the coach, and that pitying his inexperience and innocence ’

‘Oh Lord!’ ‘We invited him to our house. These sailors are great fools. The old man will be very grateful, and no doubt if you know how to go about the business, you may gain some profit by it. For me, if the Admiral is at all susceptible—well, 1 am getting on in years, Frank, and I might do worse than become an admiral’s wife and mistress of Harborough House We might be very snug there, Frank, in our o'd age.’

The captain did not reply. His gaze was fixed upon the handsome face of his cousin. It was with a sigh that he at last said: ‘ I see. My poor little romance counts for nothing.’ Mrs. Vallers looked up—then she laughed nervously. ‘ We can’t afford to be fools, Frank, and you know it. No, no. I must meet some gold fish, that is certain. This life is killing me. I want rest —certainly, security. Write to the Admiral, my dear boy—show me the letter before you post it. The old gentleman will come hither blazing with wrath—in just such a temper as I would have him. Tis given, Frank, to woman to soothe the angry passions of man. Write then, at once, for the longer this young man remains under our roof, the worse for our reputation. That I can see, plain enough.’ The captain’s face was a picture. All that was saturnine and indeed sinister in that face was no longer seen, and for a few brief moments this tough old campayne in the world’s battles felt all the genuine influence of a strong and honest passion. Then, as he noted the indifferent air with which Mrs. Vallers arranged some flowers in a vase, he pulled himself together. He laughed very softly. ‘Very well, Bertha. That idol is shattered. You are quite right. In this world we must not permit sentiment to get even a half-inch of its nose into the doorway. I will do as you desire.’ And so he left the room. As his feet echoed down the stairs the woman stood erect, threw up her arms, and cried aloud: ‘ My God ! —is life worth living ?’ CHAPTER V. When Admiral Archison in his cosy seat in Yorkshire received from Dr. Uppercut a letter informing him of the course his nephew and ward had taken, he chuckled. The old man was not averse to the rebellious spirit of which the communication informed him. He was of the old school and liked a ‘ spice of the devil ’ in a boy. And so, although he primed himself with a severe lecture, to be delivered at the head of the delinquent, so soon as he should make his appearance it the Hall, he was secretly well disposed to forgive and forget. But when, day after day passed, and there was no appearance of Master Knatchbuli, the Admiral’s temper changed. What could be the meaning of such conduct ? Had the young rascal run away for good ? Not at all likely when he knew that he was about to be appointed to a ship as midshipman. And yet—no note, not a scrap of writing from the rascal. What with gout and anger and anxiety the Admiral became ill. ‘ I’ll have nothing more to say to him, Kate,’ he cried, addressing his only daughter, a young woman of great beauty. ‘ I’ve worked until I’ve

sweated—pardon the coarse expression—to get that fellow well placed in the Navy—and this is my reward. Ah ! I know. He had some money. He is in London spending it in debauchery.’ ‘ Papa—a boy !’ Boy, be 1 beg pardon. You don’t know the world. I do. Boys ! Faith, I’ve known some—but never mind. Well, well—bring me my drops. I believe I’m dying.’

Such was the Admiral’s temper when Captain Jenkin’s letter reached him. It ran as follows r

‘Sir,—ln our journey to London, some three weeks ago, we passed through Worcester —I speak of myself, my cousin, and my niece. It hap* pened that at Worcester a young gentleman entered the coach, with whom, in the long journey, we naturally became acquainted. As he appeared (and is, I am sure) a gentleman, and as he frankly said that he knew nought of London (a wicked place), my' cousin, Mrs. Vallers, persuaded me to invite him to rest at our house, Lancaster Gate. ‘He is here now. But I fear for any further responsibility, and as he informs me he has not yet written to you in respect to his movements, I have, under the advice of Mrs. Vallers, determined to address you on the subject. ‘ As I learn from the youth, he proposes entering the Navy; and as I judge that you, a distinguished member of that honourable service, would wish that your nephew should, under our political condition, be prompted to join his ship, I have been the more impelled to ask your advice.

‘ I beg sir, that you will understand that I and my cousin are in no sense responsible for your nephew’s reticence, and that, so far as we may in delicacy say so, we strongly disapprove of the course he has taken. Still he is a brave lad, and should make a sailor worthy of his uncle’s reputation. Your Obedient Servant,

Frank H. Jenkins.’

The Admiral looked up from perusal of this letter in sheer bewilderment. He threw it to his daughter across the breakfast-table.

‘There, then, Kate,' he gasped. ‘ See ! Read ! Tell me what you make of it, for by the sacred name of Benbow, I cannot make head or tail of the matter. The young scoundrel!’

Miss Archison read the letter carefully. Then she folded it and returned it to the Admiral.

‘ The course is plain, papa. You must go to London,'

‘ Yes. This boy, I think, has fallen into the hands of adventurers.’ ‘ Adventurers! Is that the letter of an adventurer ?’

The young lady smiled

‘ I may be wrong, and perhaps I do Mr. Jenkins an injustice. But I frankly confess that I fancy my cousin is not in safe hands. I think, papa, you will find there is a lady in the case.’

The Admiral’s face grew purple. ‘ A what ? A lady ? Why you forget. I'he cub is scarce eighteen.’ ‘My cousin, papa, is precocious. At any rate, I think that he needs guidance at this juncture.’ The Admiral groaned. He was an easy going old gentleman, fond of his home, and a slave to half-a-dozen harmless hobbies. ‘ It is too bad,’ he muttered. ‘ But at any rate, Kate, you must come with me. Mistress Gatheron will see to the Hall. Oh! it is Lard that an old man may not be left in peace. Go my girl and see my things packed. I am utterly exhausted. By the jibboom of a first-rater, this is too much!’

In those days, gentlemen of means used to travel by post-chaise, and so at midday following upon the receipt of the captain’s letter, the Admiral and his daughter were driven from the Hall in a chaise drawn by four spanking bays. They made the first twenty miles in ‘record ’ time, therefore they had to depend upon such horseflesh as they could rent upon the road. This, as it iiappened, was so good, that upon the third day following upon the receipt of the captain’s letter, the Admiral and his daughter were comfortably housed at the Fairstock.

The old gentleman lost no time in waiting upon Captain Jenkins, and fortunately found that worthy gentleman at home. It was about lunch hour, and the Admiral was in no better humour from the fact—since he reckoned that his business would interfere with his participation in a meal which he valued. But he was set at rest by the captain. ‘ My dear sir,’ said the captain, ‘let me beg of you to partake of luncheon. Your nephew, and my Nellie—a charming girl, sir—have gone —well, I don’t know where. Young folk are not old folk, Sir Ralph. Come, come. I take no refusal ; there is no one here but my cousin—a plain body, Sir Ralph—a most admirable housekeeper. Come, come,’ —and before

the worthy old gentleman could gather his wits together, he was led by the captain into the luncheonroom.

It was a pretty room. The walls were painted sea-green ; there were a few choice engravings hung against them. A bright fire burned in the grate. There were three or four deepchested arm-chairs by the hearthrug. In one of these reposed Mrs. Vallers, She did not seem to notice the entrance of the gentlemen. ‘ Cousin,’ cried the captain, ‘ here is Admiral Archison.’

Mrs Vallers arose, and bowed profoundly', with an air, too, that flattered the old sailor—so respectful it seemed. Then she said, with a sweet smile : ‘ This is indeed an honour, Admiral Archison. I did not dream that my cousin’s letter would bring y r ou to London. And you came alone ?’ ‘ No, madam, my daughter came with me. lam not so young as I was, and suffer from gout attacks. My' daughter has then to nurse me.’ 1 Indeed ! Ah, Admiral! we poor women are of some service to you men sometimes,’ and she smiled archly. The old sailor, as he looked at her, thought that he had never seen a more beautiful creature. She was attired in a dark merino, close fitting to her queenly figure, and really justified the admiration she excited in the old gentleman’s breast.

She made the old man sit next to her at table, which was covered with such delicacies as he delighted in—reindeer’s tongue, boiled cod, a ham, jam kidneys tossed in claret, and so forth. For wine there was Madura and sherry. ‘ Come,’ thought the sailor, 1 1 don’t think Kate would call these people adventurers !’ ‘ Your nephew and my niece, Admiral, are abroad,’ said the lady', ‘ and will probably take luncheon in town. Pray, try this raised pie.’ ‘ The young scamp,’ cried the old sailor, who was now in high good humour, ‘ ’twas a lucky matter that he fell into such good care. With his ignorance of life and innocence of the way's of the world, there is no saying what might not have befallen him had you not so generously succoured him.’

The worthy old gentleman was too busy with his plate to notice the glance which passed between Mrs Vallers and the captain ; nor did he observe the strenuous efforts the lady made to restrain her mirth at her cousin’s eloquent grimaces. ‘ Yes,’ said the captain, ‘ I take it that it was a lucky matter we met Master Knatchbuli in the coach.’ ‘ Tire more so that it has secured a visit from Admiral Archison, and the honour of his acquaintance.’ said the lady graciously —to which compliment the Admiral bowed, and requested the pleasure of taking wine with Mrs Vallers.

‘ Ah, madam !’ said he, ‘ I cannot be angry with that young rascal, since his delinquency has led to this pleasurable meeting. But ’ Here the door was opened, and a servant ushered in young Knatchbuli and Miss Jennie Marker. The- young man started when he saw his uncle comfortably seated at the table. Then he smiled. _ His quick wit informed him how this had come to pass, and he chuckled at the audacity of the movement. 1 Why, uncle,’ he cried, advancing with outstretched hand, ‘ this is surprise. How knew you I was here?’ < That is my business, sir,’ answered the old man sternly. ‘ Enough that I have tracked you. What means you by such conduct ?’ « Sir, I shall be ‘pleased to explain to you anon. At present, I think we might find something more interesting to these kind friends of mine to talk about.’

‘ Humph! Why, yes,’ said the old gentleman, regarding Jennie fixedly ; « am l—eh —upon my word—er—er — you have some excuse —some excuse. Mrs Vallers, pray introduce me to your niece—a most charming young lady. Ah! Master Dick, you are surely in luck’s way !’ Miss Jennie smiled, and blushed, and looked very innocent and attractive; yet all the while she was watching the little comedy with that keen relish for intrique and plotting, which, both by nature and education, she delighted in. These women are extraordinary actresses. Looking at, and listening to, Miss Jennie Barker, no one would dream that she could shuffle cards to her liking, or, that standing behind a visitor’s chair, watching the play, she would by the simplest signs and an uplifted eyebrow, a flourish of her handkerchief, and many another method, convey to her worthy relatives how the innocent visitor’s hand stood. She never played herself, oh, no ; but she would sit at the piano and idly finger the keys, the while she had full view of any strangers cards. Her aunt and uncle knew the meaning of every note she played, and so ‘ worked the oracle.’ The honourable gentlemen and ladies who frequented the little card parties at the house at Lancaster Gate, and whither they brought such game as they chanced to regarded Jennie with genuine admiration. To Be Continued.