Roger Kyffin's Ward Part 10

"Let me ask you, Harry," he said, "are not our own people treated very much in the same way? Look at our ill-fed, ill-clad soldiers, robbed on all sides, and left to perish like dogs from neglect. Then see our sailors. Were you ever on board a man-of-war, Harry? I have been.

Just see the tough dry meat, and weevily biscuit they are fed with; the fearful way in which they are flogged for the slightest offence, at the will, often capricious, of their captains; the little care taken of them in sickness; the ill-paid, half-educated men sent out as surgeons; and the wretched pensions they receive after, if they escape death, when wounded in battle."

So Silas talked on. There was much truth in what he said, but his statements were often exaggerated.

"However, I am but a poor speaker, Harry," he said; "come with me some evening, and you shall hear all that I have said put forth far more forcibly, and in far better language. Don't tell old Kyffin where you have been, that's all. He holds to old-fangled notions, and has no faith in Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. We will look in first at two or three of the clubs to which I belong, and there's no reason why he should not suppose that you have been to one of those. There's the Hums'; you remember my taking you there, at the Blue Posts, in Covent Garden, and the `Rights of Man' Club. I have belonged to that since I came to town. Then we can look in at the Pearl Drinkers', and if by chance our friend presses you, tell him what you saw there. He probably does not guess that I belong to more than one quiet club, and he may be a little astonished at first, but that won't matter. He has no power over me out of the office. Mr. Coppinger knows my merits, I flatter myself, too much to dispense with my services at Mr. Roger Kyffin's bidding."

"I don't like those remarks," thought Harry to himself. "Ought I to go with this man?"

He very often had thought as much, and yet had followed Sleech's lead.

The day's work was over. Harry had thought of proposing to walk home with Mr. Kyffin, but he went out, and had no opportunity afterwards of speaking to him. Was Roger Kyffin pleased with his ward? Not altogether. He thought that he spent too much time in going to places of public amus.e.m.e.nt. He might more frequently have offered to go out to Hampstead. Still he did not like to lecture the young man.

"When I was young I should not have been contented with what now pleases me. Harry will soon have had enough of this sort of life, and then will take to more useful pastimes."

"Come, Harry, let's be off," said Mr. Sleech, taking him by the arm.

Harry did not resist. Mr. Sleech gave him a capital dinner at the "Blue Posts," and looked in afterwards at the "Pearl Drinkers' Club."

"Come now," he said, "we will steer for the `Saracen's Head,' Gerard Street, Soho. I will introduce you there to some liberal-minded men, who will make you open your eyes a little."

Mr. Sleech was a rapid walker, and they quickly got over the ground.

Giving his name, they were admitted into a large room, already full of persons. A considerable number were young men, but there were some already advanced in life. In address and appearance the greater number had imitated the French Republicans, while all, as a sign of their liberality, kept on their hats. A young man was on his legs, his hair escaping from under his hat, hanging over his shoulders. His eyes rolled wildly, while he flung his arms about in every direction, every now and then bringing his doubled fist down upon the palm of his other hand. His oratory was fluent and bold.

"The past must be buried in oblivion!" he exclaimed. "We dare not look at it. A hideous system of the domination of one cla.s.s over the souls and minds and bodies of the vast majority. A new era must be organised, but before a better system can be raised up, the ancient must be levelled with the dust. On a new foundation--the whole of the people-- we must build up a glorious temple, a superb superstructure, in which people of all nations, united in the bonds of fraternity, must come and wors.h.i.+p together the great G.o.ddess of Reason."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN DANGEROUS COMPANY.

Harry's visit to the Jacobin Club was several times repeated. He met there more than one man of note. The members were, however, chiefly those who, carried away by their ardent love of freedom, which in France had degenerated into unbridled licence, and their hatred of tyranny, failed to perceive the happy mean where a settled government and just laws exist.

It would have been surprising had Harry not felt somewhat of the enthusiasm of the speakers. Silas Sleech only once or twice took a part in the debates, and on these occasions he advocated the most extreme measures; and although the a.s.sa.s.sination of the King of England was not mentioned, 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 attending our meetings," said Sleech, as they were walking home. "However, it's your own fault if he finds out. To-morrow we'll play a different sort of game. I am sadly in want of a few hundred pounds, and I have an idea that I shall get them; if you will stand by me, Harry, I will explain matters you by-and-bye."

The next evening Silas led Harry to one of the haunts which they had of late frequented. They entered in the same cautious way as before. At that time the police were actively engaged in endeavouring to destroy the numerous gambling-houses, not improperly known as h.e.l.ls, in London.

Harry knew very well that he had no business to be there, and nearly every day he persuaded himself that he would refuse to go again; but as the 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, why should not he? He had hitherto been wonderfully successful, and he had made up his mind not to stake more than he had won. There was an abundance of sparkling wine and other refreshments on the sideboard.

The room also was brilliantly lighted with wax candles, and Harry felt himself in remarkably good spirits. Silas was already playing, and placing somewhat heavy stakes on the table. Harry approached him, and followed the example of his friend. Fortune seemed to have turned against him. He lost stake after stake. Still Silas signed to him to go on; a strange infatuation seized him. He lost still more. Suddenly he looked up, when he saw the countenance of young Gilby, who was watching him narrowly. The young man came round to him, and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"`Still waters run deep,' old boy. I thought so," he whispered. "I am glad to see you are not such a m.u.f.f as I took you for. I don't know what 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 to them, young one," said Gilby, in a tone which he intended to be good-natured.

"No, thank you," said Harry; "I don't intend to lose more than my purse can bear."

"Oh, oh! the young one has a touch of pride about him!" Gilby whispered, loud enough, however, for Harry to hear him.

Harry drew out his last five guineas. He staked them and lost. Sleech came 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 ruin all."

Harry fully believed that he should recover his loss. One hundred, two hundred pounds soon went. Again Sleech was by his side, and repeated his offer.

"Nonsense; I will take no refusal."

Harry took the gold and lost it. He retained his countenance wonderfully. Gilby smiled.

"You had better borrow of me," he whispered.

"No, thank you; my friend has my purse," answered Harry, with a certain amount of prevarication.

It was getting late. Harry lost still more. Sleech poured out a tumbler of wine, which Harry tossed off. Silas led him away to a desk in a recess.

"Here," he said, "between friends we do not want acknowledgment, but business is business."

Harry signed the paper put before him.

"You need not be afraid of being cross-questioned, Harry," observed Silas, as they walked home. "It is a comfort to think that your straight-laced guardian is safe across the seas in old Ireland. I am afraid you would think I was talking blasphemy, if I was to pray that he might 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 each should benefit. You would get his fortune, and I should step into his shoes."

"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, I pray that he may live to a green old age, and enjoy it himself. I only hope you were joking." And Harry felt himself getting angry, not the less so that he could not help secretly acknowledging that he had been led by the nose by such an arch-hypocrite as Sleech.

"Of course, of course, I was joking," said that individual, in the bland tone he could so well a.s.sume. "There's no man I esteem more than our managing 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 you spend your spare hours."

Some important business with regard to a heavy mortgage on an estate had taken Mr. Kyffin to Ireland; and from the state of the country and other circ.u.mstances it seemed probable that he might be detained there for a considerable time. He little thought how serious an influence his absence would have in the destiny of the youth in whose welfare he was so deeply interested.

Not till the next morning did Harry reflect how completely he had put himself 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 not surprising, for he had had but little sleep. His cousins rallied him.

"A London life does not seem to suit you," said Mr. Coppinger. "You stick closely to business, and I am pleased with your diligence. If you apply to me I will allow you a few days' run down to Hamps.h.i.+re."

Harry thanked his uncle. After dinner Mr. Gilby left the table before the rest of the gentlemen. Harry followed some little time afterwards.

When he got into the drawing-room he found Mr. Gilby stationed before the young ladies, talking eagerly. Looking up, they saw him. They were silent. Harry heard his own name mentioned.

"I could not help it," exclaimed Gilby, as he approached. "I have been telling them what a deep fellow you are, Tryon. Why, there's not a more rollicking blade about town, I suspect, if we come to follow you into all your haunts. I have met you two or three times when you did not see me. Ah! ah! old boy. Well, don't blush and be ashamed; I don't set up to be straight-laced. I am not a punctual man of business, no prim knight in buckram."

Harry felt very much annoyed, but he restrained his temper.

"Mr. Gilby is making merry at my expense," he remarked. "However, he is welcome to do so. I can only say that I wish I had never been to some of the places he speaks of. Until one has been to a place, one cannot tell that it is objectionable."

Harry was beginning to practise some of the lessons in hypocrisy which he had learned from Silas Sleech. He was very uncomfortable all the rest of the evening. Gilby's mocking eye constantly fell on him, and he fancied that even his cousins regarded him with looks of suspicion. He returned home. Silas Sleech was sitting up for him.

"I am glad you have come at last," he said. "I have been fearfully troubled by a business of great importance, and I really do not know how to settle it. You can help me. Indeed, I rather think that you are bound to do so. I handed over to you a pretty large sum last night. I little thought that not twenty-four hours would pa.s.s before I myself should be in want of it."

Sleech dropped his voice.

"Harry, you are a good, honest fellow. I must take you into my confidence. Don't be horrified--I'm an utterly ruined man."