高中英語 英文原著旅意英國作家的故事

STORIESBYENGLISHAUTHORSINITALY

AFAITHFULRETAINER

BYJAMESPAYN

WhenIlivedinthecountry,--whichwasalongtimeago,--ournearestneighboursweretheLuscombes.Theywereverygreatpersonagesinthecountryindeed,andthefamilyweregreatly"respected";thoughnot,sofarasIcoulddiscern,foranyparticularreason,exceptfromtheirhavingbeenthereforseveralgenerations.Peoplearesupposedtoimprove,likewine,fromkeeping--eveniftheyarerather"ordinary"atstarting;andtheLuscombes,atthetimeIknewthem,wereconsideredquitea"vintage"family.TheyhadbeguninCharlesII.'stime,anddatedtheirdescentfromgreatnessinthefemaleline.Thattheyhadmanagedtokeepagreatestatenotverymuchimpairedsolongwascertainlyaproofofgreatcleverness,sincetherehadbeenmanyspend-thriftsamongthem;butfortunatelytherehadbeenamiserortwo,whohadrestoredtheaverage,andtheirfortunes.

Mr.RogerLuscombe,thepresentproprietor,wasneithertheonenortheother,buthewasinclinedtofrugality,andnowonder;aburntchilddreadsthefire,eventhoughhemayhavehadnothingtodowithlightingithimself,andhisfatherhadkickeddownagoodmanythousandswiththehelpof"thebones"(asdicewerecalledinhisday)and"thedevil'sbooks"(whichwasthenameforcardswiththosethatdisapprovedofthem)andrace-horses;therewasplentyleft,butitmadetheoldgentlemancarefulandespeciallysolicitoustokeepit.Therewasnostint,however,ofanykindattheCourt,whichtome,wholivedinthelittlevicarageofDaltonwithmyfather,seemedapalace.

Itwasindeedaveryfineplace,withstatuesinthehallandpicturesinthegalleryandpeacocksontheterrace.LadyJane,thedaughterofawealthypeer,whohadalmostputthingsontheiroldfootingwithherampledowry,wasaverygreatlady,andhadbeenused,Iwastold,toanevenmoresplendidhome;buttome,whohadnomother,shewassimplythekindestandmostgraciouswomanIhadeverknown.

MyconnectionwiththeLuscombesarosefromtheironlysonRichardbeingmyfather'spupil.Wewerebothbroughtupathome,butforvery

differentreasons.Inmycaseitwasfromeconomy:thelivingwassmallandourfamilywaslarge,though,asithappened,Ihadnobrothers.Richardwastooprecioustohisparentstobetrustedtothetendermerciesofapublicschool.Hewasindelicatehealth,notsomuchnaturaltohimascausedbyanexcessofcare--coddling.ThoughheandIwereverygoodfriends,unlesswhenwewerequarreling,itmustbeownedthathewasaspoiledboy.

Thereisagooddealofnonsensetalkedofyounggentlemenwhoarebroughtupfromtheircradlesinanatmosphereofflattery/not/beingspoiled;butunlesstheyareangels--whichisaveryexceptionalcase--itcannotbeotherwise.RichardLuscombewasagoodfellowinmanyways;liberalwithhismoney(indeed,apttobelavish),andkind-hearted,butself-willed,effeminate,andimpulsive.Hehadalso--whichwasasourceofgreatalarmandgrieftohisfather--amarkedtasteforspeculation.

Aftertheageof"alleytorsandcommoneys,"ofalbert-rockandhard-bake,inwhichwebothgambledfrightfully,Icouldaffordhimnoopportunitiesofgratifyingthispassion;butifhecouldgetalittlemoney"on"anything,therewasnothingthatpleasedhimbetter--notthathecaredforthemoney,butforthedelightofwinningit.Thenextmomenthewouldgiveitawaytoabeggar.Numbersofgoodpeoplelookupongamblingwithevengreaterhorrorthanitdeserves,becausetheycannotunderstandthis;theattractionofrisk,andthewildjoyof"pullingoff"somethingwhenthechancesareagainstone,areunknowntothem.Itisthesamewiththeloveofliquor.RichardLuscombehadnotasparkofthat(hisfatherlefthimoneofthebestcellarsinEngland,buthenevertouchesevenaglassofclaretafterdinner;"Ishouldassoonthink,"hesays,"ofeatingwhenIamnothungry");buthedearlylikedwhathecalleda"spec."NevershallIforgetthefirsttimeherealisedanythingthatcouldbetermedastake.

Whenhewasaboutsixteen,heandIhaddrivenovertosomelittlecountryracesafewmilesawayfromDalton,without,Ifear,announcingourintentionofsodoing.Freshairwasgoodfor"ourdearRichard,"andsincepedestrianexercise(whichhealsohated)exhaustedhim,hehadagroomanddog-cartalwaysathisowndisposal.Itwasadayofgreat

excitementforme,whohadneverbeforeseenarace-course.Theflags,thegrandstand(arudeerectionofplanks,whichcamedown,by-the-bye,thenextyearduringtheraceforthecup,andreducedthesportingpopulation),theinsinuatinggipsies,thebawlingcard-sellers,andespeciallytheshininghorseswiththeirtwistedmanes,allexcitedmyadmiration.

Iwaswellacquaintedwiththeminfiction;andtheseillustrationsofthebooksIlovedsowelldelightedme.Richard,whohadreadlessandseenmore,wasbentonbusiness.

Hewastallforhisage,butveryslightandyouthful-looking,andthecontrastofhisappearancewiththatofthecompanyinthelittlering,composedasitwasofachoiceselectionoftheroughestblackguardsinEngland,wasverystriking.

Manyoftheseknewwhohewas,andwereverygladtoseehim,butonlyoneofthebook-makerssecuredhispatronage.Thefactwas,MasterRichardhadbutonefive-poundnotetolay;hehadbeensavinguphispocket-moneyforweeksforthisverypurpose,andhetooktentooneaboutanoutsider,"DonSebastian,"--anameIshallrememberwhenallotherhistoricalknowledgehasdepartedfromme,--notbecauseheknewanythingofthehorse,butbecausethelongestoddswerelaidagainsthim.

Ididn'tlikethelookofthe"gentlemansportsman"whotookcustodyofthatfive-poundnote,butRichard(whohadneverseenhimbefore)assuredme,withhisusualconfidence,thathewas"straightasadie"and"ashonestastheday."

Theraceexcitedmeexceedingly;Richardhadlentmeafield-glass(foreverythinghehadwasinduplicate,ifnottriplicate),andIwatchedtheprogressofthatrunningrainbowwithabeatingheart.AtfirstYellowCap(theDon)seemedcompletelyoutofit,thelastofall;butpresentlyhebegantocreepup,andastheydrewnearthewinning-post,shoutsof"YellowCapwins!""YellowCapwins!"renttheair.Hedidwinbyahead,andwithawell-pleasedflushonmyfaceatmyfriend'smarvellousgoodfortune,Iturnedtocongratulatehim.Hewasgone.Thetumultandconfusionwereexcessive;butlookingtowardtheexitgate,Ijustcaughtaglimpseofthebook-makerpassingrapidlythroughit,andthenofRichardinpursuitofhim.

Astoutyoungfarmer,whomIknew,wasstandingbehindme,andinafewhurriedwordsItoldhimwhathadhappened."Comewithme,"hesaid,andoffweran,asthoughwehadbeenenteredforthecupourselves.Theothertwowerealreadyafieldahead,andfarawayfromthecourse;but,fastasthebook-makerran,thedelicateRichardhadcomeupwithhim.Icouldimaginehowpumpedhewas,buttheideaofhavingbeenswindledbythisscoundrel,whowasrunningoffwithhisfive-poundnote,aswellasthefiftypoundsheowedhim,hadnodoubtlenthimwings.Itcouldnot,however,lendhimstrength,norteachhimtheartofself-defence,andafterafewmoments,passeddoubtlessinpoliterequestandbluntrefusal,wesawthemiscreantstrikeoutfromtheshoulderandRichardgodown.

Thetimethuslost,however,short-livedaswasthecombat,wasfataltothevictor.TherewerefewbetterrunnersinDaltonthanmycompanionandmyself,andwegainedonthebook-maker,whohadprobablytrainedonginandbadtobacco,handoverhand.Aswedrewnearhimheturnedroundandinquired,withmanyexpletives,madehalfinarticulatebywantofbreath,whatwewantedwithagentlemanengagedonhisownprivateaffairs.

"Well,"Isaid,--forasIcouldtrustmyagriculturalfriendwiththemorepracticalmeasuresthatwerelikelytofollowIthoughtitonlyfairthatIshoulddothetalking,--"wewantfirstthefive-poundnotewhichthatyounggentleman,whomyouhavejustknockeddown,intrustedtoyourcare,andthenthefiftypoundsyouhavelosttohim."

HecalledHeaventowitnessthathehadnevermadeabetinhislifewithanyyounggentleman,butthat,havingbeenmolested,hebelievedbyafootpad,ashewasreturninghometohisfamily,hehadbeencompelledtodefendhimself.

"Iheardyoumakethebetandsawyoutakethemoney,"Iremarked,withconfidence.

"That'sgoodenough,"saidthefarmer."Nowifyoudon'tshelloutthatmoneythisinstant,I'llhaveyoubackintheringinabraceofshakesandtellthemwhathashappened.Lastyeartheytoreawelsherprettynightopieces,andthisyear,ifyoudon't'part,'they'lldoitquite."

Thebook-makerturnedlivid,--Ineversawamaninsuchafunkinmylife,--andproducedagreasypocket-book,outofwhichhetookRichard'sbank-note,andtenquitenewones;andInoticedthereweremoreleft,sothatpovertywasnothisexcuseforfraud.

"Letmelookat'emagainstthesun,"saidthefarmer,"toseeasthewater-markisallright."

ThiswasaprecautionIshouldneverhavethoughtof,anditgavemeforthefirsttimeasenseofthegreatintelligenceofmyfather'sparishioner.

"Yes,they'reallcorrect.Andnowyoumaygo;butifeveryoushowyourfaceagainonSouthick(Southwick)race-courseitwillbetheworstforyou."

Heslunkaway,andwereturnedtoRichard,whowassittingontheground,lookingathisnose,whichwasbleedingandhadattainedvastdimensions.

"Didyougetthemoney?"werehisfirstwords,whichIthoughtverycharacteristic.

"Yes,thereitis,squire--tenfiversandyourownnote."

"Verygood;Ishouldneverhaveseenashillingofitbutforyouand

Charley,sowewilljustdivideitintothreeshares."

Thefarmersaid,"No,"buteventuallytookhisL1613s.4d.,andquiterighttoo.OfcourseIdidnottakeRichard'smoney,butheafterwardboughtmeariflewithit,whichIcouldnotrefuse.Thefarmer,asmaybewellimagined,couldbetrustedtosaynothingofouradventure;butitwasimpossibletohideRichard'snose.Hewasfartoohonestafellowtotellalieaboutit,andthewholestorycameout.Hisfatherwasdreadfullyshockedatit,andLadyJaneindespair:theoneabouthisgamblingpropensities,andtheotherabouthisnose;shethought,iftheinjurydidnotprovefatal,hewouldbedisfiguredforlife.

Hewaswellinaweek,butthecircumstanceshadthegravestconsequences.ItwasdecidedthatsomethingmustbedonewiththeheiroftheLuscombestoweanhimfromlowcompany(thiswasnotme,butgroomsandracingpeople);buteventhispredilectionwasascribedinparttohisfragileconstitution.Afashionablephysiciancamedownfrom

Londontoconsiderthecase.HecouldnotquitebebroughttothepointdesiredbyLadyJane,tolayRichard'sloveofgamblingatthedoorofthedelicacyofhislungs;buthewasbroughtverynearit.Theyoungfellow,his"opinion"was,hadbeenbroughtuptoomuchlikeahothouseflower;histasteswerewhattheywerechieflybecausehehadnoopportunitiesofformingbetterones;withimprovedstrengthhismoralnaturewouldbecomemoreelevated.Thathewastruthfulwasagreatsourceofsatisfaction(thiswaswithreferencetohisdistinctrefusaltogiveupgamblingtopleaseanybody)andamostwholesomephysicalsign."Myrecommendationisthatheshouldbetemporarilyremovedfromhispresentdullsurroundings;thereisnotscopeinthemforhismind;heshouldbesentabroadforamonthortwowithhistutor.Thatwilldohimaworldofgood."

Ifitwasnotverygoodadvice,itwasprobablyquiteasjudiciousasother"opinions"forwhichahundredandfiftyguineashavebeencheerfullypaid.Itwasatalleventsagreatcomforttohearthattherewasnothingconstitutionallywrongwith"dearestRichard,"andthatheonlywantedatonicformindandbody.Thedoctor'sverdictwasacceptedbybothparents,buttherewasaninsurmountableobstacletoitsbeingcarriedintoeffectinMasterRichardhimself.Myfathercouldnotleavehisparishandhisfamily,andwithnoothertutorcouldtheyounggentlemanbeinducedtogo.

NowithappenedthatthebutlerattheCourt,JohnMaitland,who,asisoftenthecaseinsuchhouseholds,hadthegravityanddignityofabishop,wassofortunateastobeafavouritebothwiththeoldfolksandtheyoungone.Hereallywasasuperiorperson,andnotonly"honestastheday"inRichard'seyes(which,aswehaveseen,wasnotaguaranteeofstraightforwardness),butinthoseofeveryoneelse.Hehadbeenborninthevillage,hadbeenpagetoMr.Luscombe'sfather,andhadlivedmorethanfiftyyearsattheCourt.Therelationsbetweenmasterandservantwerefeudal,mingledwiththemoremodernattachmentthatcomesofgoodserviceproperlyappreciated.HethoughttheLuscombes,ifnottheonlyoldfamilyintheworld,thebest,andworshipped--thoughinadignifiedandecclesiasticalmanner--thegroundtroddenonbothbythe

squireandMasterRichard.Myownimpressionwasthatunderpretenceofgivingwaytothelatterheplayedintotheparentalhands;butasthiswascertainlyformyyoungfriend'sgood,Inevercommunicatedmysuspicionstohim.Maitland,atallevents,hadmoreinfluenceoverhimthananymanexceptmyfather.Stillitastonishedusallnotalittle,notwithstandingthehighopinionweentertainedofhim,whenweheardthatthebutlerwastobeintrustedwiththeguardianshipofRichardabroad.Suchathingcouldnothavehappenedinanyotherfamily,butsoitwasarranged;andpartlyasvalet,partlyasconfidentialcompanionandtreasurerMaitlandstartedwithhisyoungmasteronhistravels.

Theseweretolastfornotlessthansixmonths,andItaly,becauseofitswarmclimate,wasthecountrytowhichtheywerebound.Thatitwoulddotheyoungfellowgood,bothmoralandphysical,weallhoped;butmyfatherhadhisdoubts.HefearedthatMaitland'sinfluenceoverhiscompanionwouldwanewhenawayfromtheCourt;butitneverenteredintohismindthathewouldwillinglypermitanywrongdoing,andstilllessthatthemanwouldhimselfsuccumbtoanytemptationthatinvolveddishonesty.

Theytravelledbyeasystages;thoughtheyusedtherailway,ofcourse,theydidsoonlyforafewhoursaday,andgotoutandremainedatplacesofinterest.Richardwasveryamenable,andindeedshowednodesirefordissipation;hisoneweakness--thatofhavinga"spree"--hadnoopportunityofbeinggratified;andMaitlandwrotehomethemostgratifyingletters,notonlyrespectingthebehaviourofhischarge,butoftheimprovementinhishealth.AstheydrewnearertoItaly,RichardobservedonedaythatheshouldspendadayortwoatMonteCarlo.Maitlandhadneverheardoftheplaceorofitspeculiarattractions;and"MasterRichard"onlytoldhimthatitwasverypicturesque.Thehorrorofthefaithfulretainermaythereforebeimaginedwhenhefoundthatitwasagamblingresort.

Hecouldnotpreventhisyoungmasterfrequentingthetables,andthoughhekeptthepurse,withtheexceptionofafewpounds,andwouldcertainlyhavestoodbetweenhimandruin,hecouldnotpreventhiswinning.Richardhadtheluck,andmore,thatproverbiallyattendsyoung

people--hehadtheluckofthedevil;hisfewnapoleonsswellingtoagreatmanyontheveryfirstday,andhewasintheseventhheavenofhappiness.Thenextdayandthenexthewonlargely,immensely;invainMaitlandthreatenedtowritetohisfather,andeventoleavehim.

"Allright,"repliedtherecklessyouth."Youmaydoasyoulike;evenifthegovernordisinheritsmeIcanmakemyfortunebystoppinghere.Andastoleavingme,gobyallmeans;IshallgetonverywellwithaFrenchvalet."

Itwasdreadful.

Richardgrewhappierandhappiereveryday,asthegoldenfloodflowedinuponhim,butalsoextremelyhectic.Hepassedthewholedayatthetables,andthewantofairandexercise,and,stillmore,theintenseexcitementwhichpossessedhim,begantohavethemostseriouseffect.Thatprescriptionof"seeingtheworld,"and"escapingfromhisdullsurroundings,"washavingaverydifferentresultfromwhathadbeenexpected."Thepathsofgloryleadbuttothegrave";theyoungEnglishmanandhisluckwerethetalkofallMonteCarlo,andheenjoyedhisnotorietyverymuch;but,asthepoorbutlerplaintivelyobserved,whatwasthegoodofthatwhenMasterRichardwas"killinghimself"?

HowthenewswasreceivedattheCourtIhadnomeansofjudging,forthesquirekeptarigidsilence,exceptthathehadlongconferenceswithmyfather;andLadyJanekeptherroom.Itwasindeedaverysoresubject.ThesquirewantedtostartforMonteCarloatonce;buthewassingularlyinsular,detestedtravel,andintruthwasveryunfitforsucha"cutting-outexpedition"aswascontemplated.Hewaited,halfoutofhismindwithanxiety,butinhopesofabetterreport;whathehopedforwasthatluckwouldturn,andRichardloseeveryshilling.

Theveryreverseofthis,however,tookplace;Richardwonmoreandmore.Hewouldcomehometohishotelintheeveningwithaportercarryinghisgains.Hisportmanteauwasfullofnapoleons.Itwascharacteristicofhimthatheneverthoughtofbankingit.Oneeveninghecameinwithverybrighteyes,butamostshrunkenandcadaverousface.

"Thishasbeenmybestdayofall,Johnny,"hesaid."See,Ihavewontwothousandpounds;andyoushallhaveahundredofit."

ButMaitlandrefusedtohaveanythingtodowithsuchill-gottengains,forwhich,too,hisyoungmasterwassacrificinghishealth,andperhapshislife.Still--thoughthisdidnotstrikeRichardtillafterward--hecouldnothelpregardingthegreatheapofgoldwithconsiderableinterest.Addedtothelad'spreviousgains,theamountwasnowverylargeindeed--morethanfivethousandpounds.

"Ishouldreallythink,MasterRichard,asyouhadnowwonenough.""Enough?Certainlynot.Ihavenotbrokenthebankyet.Imeantodo

thatbeforeI'vedonewithit,Johnny."

"Thatwillbeafteryou'vekilledyourself,"saidhonestJohn."Well,thenIshalldie/rich/,"wastherecklessrejoinder.

Richard,whowastooexhaustedforrepose,tossedandtumbledonhisbedforhours,andeventuallydroppedintoaheavyslumber,andsleptfarintothenextmorning.Heawokefeelingveryunwell,buthischiefanxietywaslestheshouldmisstheopeningofthetables;hewasalwaysthefirsttobegin.HeranghisbellviolentlyforMaitland.Therewasnoreply,andwhenherangagain,oneofthehotelservantscameup.

"Whereismyman?"heinquired.

"Monsieur'sman-servanttookmonsieur'sluggagetotherailway-station;heisgonebytheearlytraintoTurin."

"GonetoTurinwithmyluggage?"

"Yes,withthetwoportmanteaus--veryheavyones."

Richardgotoutofbed,anddraggedhiswearylimbsintothedressing-room,aninnerapartment,wheretheportmanteauswerekeptforsafety.Theywerebothgone.

"Whattraindidthescoundrelgoby?Whereismywatch?Why,thevillainhastakenthattoo!Sendforthepolice!No;thereisnotimetobelost--sendatelegram.Why,hehasnotevenleftmeenoughmoneytopayatelegram!"

Allhissmallchangewasgone.HonestJohnhadtakeneverything;hehadnotlefthisyoungmasterasinglesixpence.Atthisrevelationofthestateofaffairs,poorRichard,weakenedashewasbyhislongexcitement,threwhimselfonthebedandburstintotears.Theattendant,towhom,asusual,hehadbeenliberal,wasaffectedbyanemotionsostrangeinan

Englishman.

"Monsieurmustnotfret;thethiefwillbecaughtandthemoneyrestored.Itwillbewell,perhapstotellthe/maitred'hotel/."

Themasterofthehotelappearedwithaverygraveface.Hewasdesolatedtohearofthemisfortunethathadbefallenhisyoungguest.Perhapstherewasnotquitesomuchtakenashadbeenreported.

"Itellyouit'sallgone;morethanfivethousandpounds,andmywatchandchain;Ihavenothalfafrancinmypossession."

"Thatisunfortunateindeed,"saidthe/maitred'hotel/,lookinggraverthanever,"becausethereismybilltosettle."

"Oh,hangyourbill!"criedRichard."/That/willbeallright.Imusttelegraphtomyfatheratonce."

"Buthowismonsieurtotelegraphifhehasnomoney?"

Itwasprobablythefirsttimeinhislifethattheyoungfellowhadeverunderstoodhowinconvenientathingispoverty.Whatalsoamazedhimbeyondmeasurewastheman'smanner;yesterday,andallotherdays,ithadbeenpolitetoobsequiousness;nowitwasdryalmosttoinsolence.Itseemed,indeed,toimplysomedoubtofthebonafidesofhisguest--thathemightnot,inshort,bemuchbetterthanhonestJohnhimself,ofwhomhewaspossiblytheconfederate;thatthewholestorywasatrumped-uponetoaccountfortheinabilitytomeethisbill.Astohishavingwonlargelyatthetables,thatmightbetrueenough;buthealsomighthavelostitall,andmorewithit;moneychangeshandsatMonteCarloveryrapidly.

Intheend,however,andnotwithoutmuchobjection,thelandlordadvancedasufficientsumtoenableRichardtotelegraphhome.Healsopermittedhimtostayonatthehotel,stipulating,however,thatheshouldcallfornowine,norindulgeinanythingexpensive--ahumiliatingarrangementenough,butnotsomuchsoasthetermsofanotherproviso,thathewasnevertoenterthegamblingsaloonorgobeyondthepublicgardens.Eventherehewasundersurveillance,anditwas,inshort,quiteclearthathewassuspectedofanintentiontorunawaywithoutpayinghisbill--perhapsevenofjoininghis"confederate,"Mr.JohnMaitland.

TheonlythingthatcomfortedRichardwastheconvictionthatheshouldhavearemittancefromhisfatherinafewhours;butnothingofthe

sort,notevenatelegram,arrived.Dayafterdaywentby,andtheyoungfellowwasindespair;hefeltlikeapariah,forhehadbeensooccupiedwiththetablesthathehadmadenofriends;andhisfewacquaintanceslookedaskanceathim,asbeingunderacloud,withtheprecisenatureofwhichtheywereunacquainted.Friendlessandpennilessinaforeignland,hisspiritwasutterlybroken,andhebegantounderstandwhatafoolhehadmadeofhimself;especiallyhowungratefullyhehadbehavedtohisfather,withoutwhomitwasnotsoeasyto"geton,"itappeared,ashehadimagined.Hesaw,too,theevilofhisconductinhavingthrustatemptationinthewayofhonestJohntoogreattoberesisted.Thepolicecouldhearnonewsofhim,and,indeed,seemedveryincredulouswithrespecttoRichard'saccountofthematter.

OnthefourthdayRichardreceivedaletterfromhisfatherofthegravestkind,thoughexpressedinthemostaffectionateterms.Hehardlyalludedtotheimmediatemisfortunethathadhappenedtohim,butspokeoftheanxietyandalarmwhichhisconducthadcausedhismotherandhimself."Iencloseyouacheck,"hewrote,"justsufficienttocomfortablybringyouhomeandpayyourhotelbill,andexceedinglyregretthatIcannottrustmysonwithmore--lestheshouldriskitinawaythatgiveshismotherandmyselfmoredistressofmindthanIcanexpress."

Richard'sheartwastouched,asitwellmighthavebeen;thoughperhapstheconditionofmindinwhichhisfather'scommunicationfoundhimhadsomethingtodowithit.Bythatnight'smailhedespatchedaletterhomewhichgavethegreatestdelightattheCourt,andalsoatthevicarage,forMr.Luscombe,fullofprideandjoy,broughtittomyfathertoread."Ihavebeenveryfoolish,sir,andverywicked,"itran."IbelieveIshouldhavebeendeadbythistimehadnotMaitlandstolenmymoney(sothatIhavenoreasontofeelveryangrywithhim)anddeprivedmeofthemeansofsuicide.IgiveyoumywordofhonourthatIwillnevergambleagain."

LadyJanesentatelegramtomeetMasterRichardinParis,tosaywhatadeargoodboyhewas,andhowhappyhehadmadeher.Thisdidnotsurprisehim,butwhatdidastonishhimverymuchonarrivingattheCourtwasthatJohnMaitlandopenedthedoorforhim.

"Why,youoldscoundrel!"

"Yes,sir,Iknow;I'mathiefandallthat,butIdiditforthebest;Idid,indeed."

ThoughthefattedcalfwaskilledforMasterRichard,hehadbynomeansreturnedliketheprodigalson.Onthecontrary,hehadsenthomearemittance,asitwere,bythebutler,ofmorethanfivethousandpounds.ThewholeplothadbeendevisedbyhonestJohnastheonlymethodofextricatingMasterRichardfromthatMonteCarlospider'sweb,andhadbeencarriedoutbythehelpofthe/maitred'hotel/,withthesquire'sapproval.Andtodotheyoungfellowjustice,heneverresentedthetrickthathadbeenplayeduponhim.

Richardwasnotsentabroadagain,buttoCambridge,whereeventuallyhetookafourth-class(poll)degree;andLadyJanewasasproudofitasifhehadbeenseniorwrangler.Hekepthisword,inspiteofalltemptationstothecontrary,andnevertouchedacard--acircumstancewhichdrovehimtotakeafairamountofexercise,and,inconsequence,hesteadilyimprovedinhealth.Hewassometimeschaffedbyhiscompanionsforhisabstinencefromplay;theyshouldhavethoughthewasthelastmantobeafraidoflosinghismoney.

"Youareright,sofar,"hewouldanswer,drily;"butthefactis,Ihavehadenoughofwinning."

Towhichtheywouldreply:

"Ohyes,wedaresay,"anellipticalexpression,whichconveyeddisbelief.

HenevertoldthemthestoryofhisMonteCarloexperiences;butinthevacationshewouldoftentalktohonestJohnaboutthem.Wemaybesurethatthatfaithfulretainerdidnotgounrewardedforhisfraudulentact.

BIANCA

BYW.E.NORRIS

Notlongsince,IwasoneamongacrowdofnobodiesatabigofficialreceptioninPariswhentheMarcheseandMarchesadiSanSilvestrowereannounced.Therewasamomentaryhush;thoseaboutthedoorwayfellbacktoletthisdistinguishedcouplepass,andsomeofusstoodontiptoetogetaglimpseofthem;forSanSilvestroisamanofnosmallimportanceinthepoliticalanddiplomaticworld,andhiswifeenjoysquiteaEuropeanfameforbeautyandamiability,havinghadopportunitiesofdisplayingboththeseattractivegiftsattheseveralcourtswhereshehasactedasItalianambassadress.Theymadetheirwayquicklyupthelongroom,--s