CHAPTER XXXIII.
MISERIES ACCUMULATE THICK AND FAST—FEARFUL SITUATION OF SON AND FATHER-IN-LAW.
Every one did take care of themselves.
No sooner had the news spread that the insurance office had closed up its business than a whole host of tradesmen sent in their “little bills,” and Sir Andrew’s residence was besieged with creditors.
In order to escape their annoyance and importunities it was resolved that the much-persecuted gentleman should make a sojourn in the country, by which time “the storm would have blown over.”
“How much money did you draw from the bank to-day on your sister’s account, wife?” asked old Sir Andrew, of his spouse, as they both sat before the parlour fire, talking of his intended journey.
“Five thousand pounds, my dear,” was the reply. “Thinking you would prefer it, and that it would be more safe, I drew it in a single package of notes. I went very early, and escaped much notice. Phillip Redgill is a clerk there, now, I see. The bank messenger brought the packet. It is in the safe.”
Evening had now closed in, and the parlour blinds were drawn.
A loud knock was heard at the door, and rudely shoving the servant out of the way, Phillip Redgill somewhat intoxicated, ushered himself without ceremony into the parlour.
“How often must I forbid you my house, Phillip Redgill?” Sir Andrew began, rising in fatherly majesty and wrath. “How often will you compel me to insult you, sir?
“You have been the cause of all my losses and humiliations, and I curse the hour I ever saw you.
“You have robbed me of my only daughter; you have repeatedly dishonoured that miserable old man, your late father; you have lost all honour yourself, and now you dishonour me.
“For the last time I tell you to be gone!
“Leave my house, sir, and never place foot in it again!
“My daughter is now yours——Be calm, my wife, and don’t interrupt me——You have clandestinely married her, contrary to my hopes and wishes, and now you must provide for her the best way you can.
“I have disowned her!
“She has married the poor, penniless beggar, forger, and blackleg, as you are, sir, and no longer has any claims on me.
“You are a beggar, yourself, and a blackleg, a scoundrel, I repeat; but don’t imagine for one moment you will ever receive a penny of mine—no, not a farthing. Go!”
“Dishonoured you, you old scoundrel!” Phillip began, laughing and grinning, “dishonoured you? Why, it is you who have dishonoured me! Why don’t you pay the insurance policies on my father’s ships, you old rascal? If you were to do so all the debts would be paid, and to the utmost fraction; but you managed to fail, did you? Well, your turn will come one of these days.
“I donotcome, sir, to ask from you anything for myself. I wouldscornto receive a penny from your miserly dishonest hands, but I come to demand from you, in the name of my wife, the £5,000 which you hold that belongs to her, as her aunt’s legacy;thisis my business with you, sir, and I shall not stir until you pay it.”
“You won’t, eh?” said Sir Andrew, rising. “I suppose you saw my wife drawing from the bank this morning, as you are a clerk there now, and thought it a proper time to come and bully me, eh? No, no,” said the old man, opening a small safe and taking the packet of notes therefrom, “no, no, I am penniless. I am a ruined man, and all throughyou, Phillip, I haven’t a penny of my own now. I am totally dependent on my wife. I am a beggar, and can pay no one. You needn’t trouble yourself by calling again, sir; I shall be out of town for several months.This, sir, flourishing the packet of notes,thissum, sir, is all I can now call my own, and part of it is my travelling expenses.”
He placed the notes upon the table, saying,
“This miserable sum is all I can now call my own. Tell your be-lov-ed wife, sir, that when my affairs are a little settled, and I can see my way clear, I will,perhaps, pay her aunt’s legacy; but even, inthatcase, she must call for itherself, for I wouldn’t trustyou, Phillip Redgill, with a penny piece.”
“You will not pay her then, eh? you old villain,” said Phillip, intently eyeing the old man, who was undoing the packet of notes. “Well, then, I’lltakeit,” said he.
Rushing towards the table, he nearly succeeded in seizing the packet, but the old man’s hold upon it was so firm and tiger-like, that Phillip was unable to do so.
In the scuffle which ensued, the packet fell to the ground, and the notes were strewn about in all directions; but, to the horror of both parties, it wasnota package of bank notes, but nought else than a package of bank scrip given in mistake!
This sudden discovery startled both father, mother, and son.
They stood looking at the bank scrip as if in a dream!
Sir Andrew sank in his chair, hiding his face with his hands.
“There is roguery and robbery on every side,” said he, in a husky voice. “Thatpacket came from the South Sea Bank, Mr. Redgill, and should have contained bank notes.
“There is some one about that establishment who is a deep-dyed scoundrel!Youhave succeeded in getting a situation there lately, I hear,” said the old man with fiery eyes, “and perhapsyoumight guess his name, sir,!” he added, rising, and looking Phillip full in the face.
“When the bank opens in the morning, I shall inform the directors of this beautiful little trick, and seek redress. So you have imitated Charley Warbeck’s knavery already, eh, sir, I find? You will live to repent it.”
“It will avail you little to tell the bank of your suspicions, old man,” Phillip answered, with a triumphant scowling look, “for I beg leave to inform you that the South Sea Bank, of which I am a clerk, suspended payment at three o’clock this afternoon! Their notes are exactly worth nothing!”
Sir Andrew convulsively clasped his temples; his limbs trembled under him, and he sank upon the sofa, like an inanimate heap of humanity.
He groaned despairingly, and most furiously gave vent to his Christian feelings in a volley of oaths.
His wife, in tears, was kneeling by his side, and would fain console him.
Phillip Redgill, demon-like, and laughing, stalked forth into the street again, triumphant and beggared, yet a villain to the heart’s core!