“The hell informed passion, avarice.”
“Really,” said Lady Morven, as she lolled back in her seat at the supper
table, after asking Mr. Graham to help her to some wine and water, “my
nerves can’t stand such alarms! and I dare say you are quite ill too, Mr.
Graham.”
“This is the first time Sir Archy has shewn symptoms of violence,”
observed Lady Arandale, “hitherto he has been quite harmless, an object
more of commiseration than of fear.”
“I must, I believe,” said Lord Arandale, “be under the necessity of
requesting my nephew, Mr. St. Aubin, to take a few days sport with
some of the neighbouring gentlemen, while Sir Archibald remains here;
for never shall my door,” and he spoke with the honest energy of good
feeling, “be closed against the shattered remnant, in mind and in body,
which still exists of poor Oswald—the once gay companion of many a merry,
many a thoughtless hour, spent, some of them beneath his own hospitable
roof, where, even I, may have possibly, though innocently, contributed
my share to his ultimate ruin!” Then, addressing our hero in particular,
he continued, “At the age of fifteen he was his own master, and at that
early period commenced the career of folly, dissipation, and gaming
which led, finally, to his destruction. St. Aubin was one of the set,”
he proceeded, lowering his tone; “it was he who drew him into high
play, and who won from him the principal part of his estates, unfairly
too it is generally believed. There was some agreement also, about the
winner paying the loser’s then existing debts; but when St. Aubin got
possession he sold the estates, or his interest in them, to Jews, and
disappeared, leaving Oswald to answer his creditors as he might. There
were informalities in the sale, it is thought; but however that is, or
was, the Jews keep possession, and Oswald has not a title or paper of any
kind to shew: St. Aubin, on various pretexts, had got all into his own
hands. Poor Oswald’s state of mind, too, adds greatly to the difficulty
of clearing up any part of the unfortunate business. In some of his
ravings he declares vehemently that he staked but his own life use, and
that, could he find the villain St. Aubin, and make him produce certain
papers, his boy, (Oswald’s boy I mean,) would enjoy the whole property at
his father’s death.”