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 do _not_ come, sir, to ask from you anything for myself. I would
_scorn_ to 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; _this_ is 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
through _you_, 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,
_this_ sum, 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, in
_that_ case, she must call for it _herself_, for I wouldn’t trust
_you_, 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’ll _take_ it,” 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 was _not_ a 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. “_That_ packet 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! _You_ have succeeded in getting a situation there lately,
I hear,” said the old man with fiery eyes, “and perhaps _you_ might
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!