The miscellaneous works of Henry Mackenzie

He had just finished this letter when Harriet entered the room : ' Will my dear papa forgive me/ said she, ' if I inclose a few lines under this cover ?*—*' Forgive you, my dear! it cannot offend me.' She laid her hand on his letter, and looked as if she would have said something more; he pressed her hand in his; a tear, which had just budded in her eye, now dropped to the ground. * You have not been harsh to my Billy;' she blushed as she spoke ; and her father kissed her cheek as it blushed.—She inclosed the following note to her brother:

* Did my dearest Billy but know the sorrow which he has given the most indulgent of fathers, he could not less than his Harriet regret the occasion of it.

' But things may be represented worse than they really are—»I am busy at framing excuses; but I will say nothing more on a subject, which, by this time, my brother must have thought enough on.

* Alas ! that you should leave this seat of innocent delight; but men were made for bustle and society; yet we might have been happy

here together: there are in other hearts, wishes which they call ambition; mine shrinks at the thoug it, and would shelter for ever amidst the sweets of this humble spot. Would, that its y Google

THE MAN OF THE WORLD. 65

partner were here to taste them! the shrub*walk you marked out through the little grove, I have been careful to trim in your absence

—'tis wild, melancholy, and thoughtful. It is there that I think most of my Billy.

' But at this time, besides his absence, there is another cause to allay the pleasure which the beauties of nature should bestow. My dear papa is far from being well. He has no fijced complaint; but he looks thin and pale, and his appetite is almost entirely gone; yet he will Dot let me say that he ails. Oh! my brother! I dare not think more that way. Would you were here to comfort me; in the mean time, remember your ever affectionate

Harriet.'

Annesly was just about to dispatch these letters, when he received one expressed in the most sympathising terms from Sir Thomas Sindall. That young gentleman, after touching, in the tenderest manner, on the pain which a father must feel for the errors of his children, administered the only comfort that was left to administer, by representing, that young Annesly's fault had been exaggerated much beyond the truth, and that it was entirely owing to the effects of a warm temper, accidentally inflamed with liquor, and provoked by some degree of insolence in the officer to whom the outrage had been offered. He particularly regretted that his present disposition towards sobriety had prevented him from being present at that meeting, in which case, he said, he was pretty F3

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fid ttTX MAK O* TJ*K woitim Certain this unlucky affair had never happened; that, as it was, the only thing left for his friendship to do, was to amend what it had not lain within his power to prevent; and he begged, as a testimony of the old gentleman's regard, that he might honour him so far as to commit to him the care of setting matters to rights with regard to the character of his son, which he hoped to be soon able effectually to restore*

The earliest Consolation which a man receives after any calamity, is hallowed for ever in his regard, as a benighted traveller caresses the dog, whose barking first announced him to be near the habitations of men. It was so with Annesly; his unsuspecting heart overflowed with gratitude towards this friend of his son, and he now grew lavish of his confidence towards him, in proportion as he recollected ha* ving once (in his present opinion unjustly) denied it.

He returned, therefore, an answer to Sir Thomas, with all those genuine expressions of acknowledgment, which the honest emotions of his soul could dictate. He accepted, as the greatest obligation, that concern which he took in the welfare of his son, and cheerfully reposed on his care the trust which his friendship desired; and, as a proof of it, he inclosed to him the letter he had wrote to William, to be delivered at what time, and enforced in what manner, his prudence should suggest.

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£HS MAW OF tUM WOftt* 0)

CHAP. XIL

*HE PLAN WHICH SINDALL FORMS FOR OBLITERATING THE

STAIN WHICH THE CHAi RACTER OF HIS FRIEND HAD

SUFFERED.

out Thomas did accordingly deliver this letter of Aonesly's to his son

; and as the penitence Which the young man then felt for his recent ofience, made the assumption of a character of sobriety proper, he accompanied this paternal remonstrance with advices of his own, dictated alike by friendship and prudence.

They were at this time, indeed, but little necessary ; in the interval between the paroxysms of pleasure and dissipation, the genuine feelings of his nature had time to arise; and, awakened as they now were by the letters of his father and sister, their voice was irresistible.

He kissed the signature of their names a. thousand times, and, weeping on Sindall's neck, impre* cated the wrath of Heaven on his own head, that could thus heap affliction on the age of the best of parents.

He expressed at the. same time his intention of leaving Oxford, and returning home, as an immediate instance of his desire of reformation. Sir Thomas, though he gave all the praise to this purpose which its filial piety deserved, yet doubted the propriety of putting it in exe* cution. He said, that in the little circles of the country, Annesly's penitence would not so immediately blot out his offence, but that the

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68 THE MAN OV THIS WOBLO.

weak and the illiberal would shun the contagion, as it were, of his company, and that he would meet every day with affronts and neglects, which the sincerity ox his repentance ill -deserved, and his consciousness of that since* rity might not easily brook. He told him, that a young gentleman, a friend of his, who was, just going to set out on a tour abroad, had but a few days before written to him, desiring his recommendation of somebody, with the manners and education of a gentleman, to accompany him on his travels, and that he believed he could easily procure that station for his friend, which would have the double advantage of removing him from the obloquy to which the late accident had subjected him, and of improving him in

every respect, by the opportunity it would give of observing the laws, customs, and polity of our neighbours on the Continent.

While the depression produced by Annesly's consciousness of his offences remained strong upon his mind, this proposal met with no very warm reception; but, in proportion as the comfort and encouragement of his friend pre* vailed, the ambition which a man of his age naturally feels to see something of the world, began to speak in its behalf; he mentioned, however, the consent of his father as an indissensible preliminary. This Sir Thomas al* lowed to be just; and shewing him that confidential letter which the old gentleman had written him, undertook to mention this scheme for hip approbation in the answer he intended

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?HE MAM Of THE WORLD. 69

making to it. la this, too, was inclosed his young friend's return to the letters of his father and sister, which were contained in the preceding chapter, full of that contrition which, at the time, he really felt, and of those good resolutions* which, at the time, he sincerely formed. As to the matter of his going abroad, he only touched on it as a plan of Sir Thomas Sindall's, whose friendship had dictated the proposal, and whose judgment of its expediency his own words were to contain.

His father received it, not without those pangs, which the thought of separation from a son on whom the peace of his soul rested must cause; but he examined it with that impartiality which his wisdom suggested in every thing that concerned his children: ' My own satis*

faction,' he would often say, * has for its object only the few years of a waning life; the situation of my children, my hopes would extend to the importance of a much longer period*' He held the balance, therefore, in an even hand; the arguments of Sindall had much of the specious, as his inducement to use them had much of the friendly. .

The young gentleman whom Billy was to accompany, had connections of such weight in the state, that the fairest prospects

seemed to open from their patronage ; no£ could the force of that argument be denied, which supposed conveniency in the change of place to Anneslyat the present, and improvement for the future There were not, however, wanting some considerations of rei y Google

son to side with a parent's tears against the journey; but Sindall had answers for them all; and at last he wrung from him his slow leave, on condition that William should return home, for a single day, to bi£

the last farewell to his father and his Harriet. *

Meantime, the punishment of Annesly's late offence in the university was mitigated by the interest of Sindall, and the intercession of Mr Jephson. Expulsion, which had before been insisted on, was changed into a sentence of less indignity, to wit, that of being publicly reprimanded by the head of the college to whidi he belonged; after submitting to which, he set out, accompanied by Sir Thomas, to bid adieu to his father's house, preparatory to his going abroad.

His father, at meeting, touched on his late irregularities with that delicacy of which a good mind cannot divest itself, even amidst the purposed severity of reproof; and, having thus far sacrificed to justice and parental authority, he opened his soul to all that warmth of affection which his Billy had always experienced; nor was the mind of his son yet so perverted by his former course of dissipation, as to be in* sensible to that sympathy of feelings which this indulgence should produce. The, tear which he offered to it was the sacrifice "of his heart wrung by the recollection of the past, and swelling with the purpose of the future.

When the morning of his departure arrived, he stole softly into his father's chamber, mean*

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THE MAN OF THB WORLD. 71

ing to take leave of him without being seen by his sister, whose tenderness of soul could not easily bear the pangs of a solemn farewell. He found his father on his knees. The good man, rising with that serene dignity of aspect which those sacred duties ever conferred on him, turned to his son: * You go, my boy/ said he, * to a distant land, far from the guidance and protection of your earthly parent; I was recommending you to the care of Him who is at all times present with you; though I am not superstitious, yet I confess I feel something about me as if I should never see you more; if these are my last words let them be treasured in your remembrance.—Live as becomes a man and a Christian; live as becomes him who is to live for ever !*

As he spoke, his daughter entered the room. * Ah! my Billy,' said she, * could you have been so cruel as to go without seeing your Harriet ? it would have broken my heart! Oh! I have much to say, and many farewells to take; yet now, methinks I can say nothing, and scarce dare bid you farewell F—' My children/ interrupted her father,

« m this cabinet is a present I have always intended for each of you ; and this, which is perhaps the last time we shall meet together, I think the fittest to bestow them. Here, my Harriet, is a miniature of that angel your mother; imitate her virtues, and be happy.—Here, my Billy, is its counterpart, a picture of your father; whatever he is, Heaven knows his affection to you j let that endear the y Google

78 THE MAN O* THE WORL».

memorial, and recommend that conduct to his son, which will make his fathers grey hairs go down to the grave in peace f Tears were the only answer that either could give. Annesly embraced his son, and blessed him. Harriet blubbered on his neck! Twice he offered to go, and twice the agony of his sister pulled him back; at last she flung herself into the arms of her father, who beckoning to Sir Thomas Sindall, just then arrived to carry off his companion, that young gentleman, who was himself not a little affected with the scene, took his friend by the hand, and led him to the car* riage that waited them.

CHAP. XIII.

HE REACHES LONDON, WHERE HE REMAINS LONGER THAN

WAS EXPECTED—THE EFFECTS OF HIS STAY THERE.

In a few days Annesly and his friend the baronet arrived in the metropolis. His father had been informed, that the gentleman whom be was to accompany in his travels was to meet him in that city, where they proposed to remain only a week or two, for the purpose of feeing any thing curious in town, and of settling some points of accommodation on their route through the countries they meant to visit; an intelligence be confessed very agreeable to y Google

him, because he knew the temptations to which a young man is exposed by a life of idleness in London.

But, in truth, the intention of Sir Thomas Sindall never was, that (lis present pupil (if we may so call him) should travel any farther. The young gentleman, for whose companion he had pretended to engage Annesly, was indeed to set out very soon after on the tour of Europe; but he had already been provided with a travelling governor, who was to meet him upon his arrival at Calais, (for the air of England agreed so ill with this gentleman's constitution, that he never crossed the channel), and who had made the same journey several times before with some English young men of great fortunes, whom he had the honour of returning to their native country with the same sovereign contempt for it that he himself entertained- The purpose of Sindall was merely to remove the son to a still greater distance from his father, and to a scene where his own plan, of entire conversion, should meet with every aid which the society of the idle and the profligate could give it.

For some time, however, he found the disposition of Annesly averse to his designs. The figure of his father venerable in virtue, of his sister lovely in innocence, were imprinted on his mind ; and the

variety of public places of entertainment to which Sir Thomas conducted him, could not immediately efface the kn« pression.

Vol.IJ. Q

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But as their novelty at first delighted, their frequency at last subdued him; his mind began to accustom itself to the hurry of thoughtless amusement, and to feel a painful vacancy, when the bustle of the scene was at any time changed for solitude. The unrestrained wannth and energy of his temper yielded up his understanding to the company of fools, and his resolutions of reformation to the society of the dissolute, because it caught the fervour of the present moment, before reason could pause on the disposal of the next; and, by the industry of Sindall, he found every day a set of friends, among whom the most engaging were always the most licentious, and joined to every thing which the good detest, every thing which the unthinking admire. I have often, indeed, been tempted to imagine that there is something unfortunate, if not blameable, in that harshness and austerity which virtue too often assumes ; and have seen, with regret, some excellent men, the authority of whose understanding, and the attraction of whose wit, might have retained many a deserter under the banners of goodness, lose all that power of service by the unbending distance which they kept from the little pleasantries and sweetness of life. This conduct may be safe, but there is something ungenerous and cowardly in it; to keep their forces, like an over-cautious commander, in fastnesses and fortified towns, while they suffer the enemy to waste and ravage the champaign. Praise is indeed due to him who can any way preserve his integrity; yGo®gIe(

but surely the heart that can retain it, even while it opens to all the warmth of social feeling, will be an offering more acceptable in the eye of Heaven.

Annesly was distant from any counsel or example, that might counterbalance the contagious influence of the dissolute society with which his time was now engrossed; but his seduction was not complete, till the better principles which his soul still retained, were made accessary to its accomplishment.

Sindall procured a woman infamous enough for his purpose, the cast mistress of one of his former companions, whom he tutored to invent a plausible story of distress and misfortune, which he contrived in a manner seemingly accidental, to have communicated to Annesly. His native compassion, and his native warmth, were interested in her sufferings and her wrongs; and he applauded himself for the protection which he afforded her, while she was the abandoned instrument of his undoing. After having retained, for some time, the purity of her guardian and protector, in an hour of intoxication, he ventured to approach her on a looser footing; and she had afterwards the address to make him believe, that the weakness of her gratitude had granted to him, what to any other her virtue would have refused; and during the criminal intercourse in which he lived with her, she continued to maintain a character of affection and tenderness, which might excuse the guilt of her own conduct, and account for the infatuation of his. G2

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Th this fatal connection, every remembrance of that weeping home which he had so lately left, with the resolutions of penitence and reformation, was erazed from his mind; or, if at times it intruded, it came not that gentle guest, at whose approach his bosom used to be thrilled with reverence and love, but approached in the form of some ungracious monitor, whose business was to banish pleasure, and awaken remorse; and therefore the next amusement, folly, or vice, was called in to his aid to banish and expel it. As it was sometimes necessary to write to his father, he fell upon an expedient, even to save himself the pain of thinking so long as that purpose required, on a subject now grown so irksome to him, and employed that woman, in whose toils he was thus shamefully

entangled, to read the letters he received, and dictate such answers as her cunning could suggest, to mislead the judgment of his unsuspecting parent.

All this while Sindall artfully kept so much aloof, as to preserve, even with the son, something of that character which he had acquired with the father. He was often absent from parties of remarkable irregularity, and sometimes ventured a gentle censure on his friend for having been led into them. But while he seemed to check their continuance under this cloak of prudence, he encouraged it in the report he made of the voice of others; for while the scale of character for temperance, sobriety, and morals, sinks on one side, there is a balance

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of fame in the mouths of part of the world rising on the other.—

Annesly could bear to be told of his spirit, his generosity, and his honour.

CHAP. XIV.

HE FEELS THE DISTRESSES OF POVERTYHE IS PUT ON A METHOD OF RELIEVING THEM.—AN ACCOUNT OF ITS

SUCCESS.

JL he manner of life which Annesly now pursued without restraint, was necessarily productive of such expence as he could very ill afford. But the craft of his female associate was not much at a loss for pretences to make frequent demands on the generosity of his father. The , same excuses which served to account for his stay in London, in some measure apologized for the largeness of the sums he drew for; if it was necessary for him to remain there, expeqce, if not unavoidable, ws£ at least difficult %o be avoided ; and for th,e causes of his stay in that city, he had only to repeat the accounts which he daily received from Sindall, of various accidents which obliged his young friend tQ postpone his intended tour.

Though in the country there was little opportunity of knowing the town irregularities of Annesly, yet there were not wanting surmises of it among some, of which it is likely his father might have heard enough to alarm him, G3

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had he not been at this time in such a state of health as prevented him from much society with his neighbours; a slow anguish disorder, which followed those symptoms his daughter's letter to her brother had described, having confined him to his chamber almost constantly from the time of his son's departure.

Annesly had still some blushes left ; and when he had pushed his father's indulgence in the article of supply, as far as shame would allow him, he looked round for some other source whence present relief might be drawn, without daring to consider how the arrearages of the future should be cancelled. Sindall for some time answered his exigencies without reluct* ance; but at last he informed him, as he said, with regret, that he could not from particular * circumstances afford him, at that immediate juncture, any farther assistance than a small sum, which he then put into Annesly's hands, and which the very next day was squandered by the prodigality of his mistress.

The next morning he rose without knowing how the wants of the day were to be provided for, and strolling out into one of his accustomed walks, gave himself up to all the pangs which the retrospect of the past, and the idea of the present, suggested. But he felt not that contrition which results from ingenious sorrow for our offences; his soul was ruled by that gloomy demon, who looks only to the anguish of their punishment, and* accuses the hand of Providence for calamity which himself has occasioned.

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In this situation he was met by one of his new acquired friends, who was walking off the impression of last night's riot. The melancholy of his countenance was so easily observable, that it could not escape

the notice of his companion, who rallied him on the seriousness of his aspect, in the cant phrase of those brutes of our species, who are professed enemies to the faculty of thinking. Though Annesly's pride for a while kept him silent, it was at last overcome by the others importunity, and he confessed the desperation of his circumstances to be the cause of his present depression. His companion, whose purse, as himself informed Annesly, had been flushed by the success of the preceding night, animated by the liberality which attends sudden good fortune, freely offered him the use of twenty pieces till better times should enable him to repay them. * But,' said he gaily, ' it is a shame for a fellow of your parts to want money, when fortune has provided so many rich fools for the harvest of the wise and the industrious. If you'll allow me to be your conductor this evening, I will shew you where, by the traffic of your wits, in a very short time you may convert these twenty guineas into fifty/ • At play,'

replied Annesly coolly. • Ay, at play/ returned the other, ' and fair play too ; 'tis the only profession left for a man of spirit and honour to pursue; to cheat as a merchant, to quibble as a lawyer, or to cant as a churchman, is confined to fellows who have no fire in their composition* Give

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me but a bold set, and a fair throw for it, and then for the life of a lord, or the death of a gentleman.' ' I have had but little experience in the profession/ said Annesly, ' and should but throw away ^your money.' ' Never fear/ replied the other; * do but mark me, and I will ensure you; I will shew you our men ; pigeons, mere pigeons, by Jupiter f

It was not for a man in Annesly's situation to baulk the promise of such a golden opportunity ; they dinSd together, and afterwards repaired to a gaming-house, where Annesly's companion introduced him as a friend of his just arrived from the country, to several young gentlemen, who seemed to be waiting his arrival. —* 1 promised you your revenge/ said he, ' my dears, and you shall have it; some of my

friend's lady-day rents, too, have accompanied him to London: if you win you shall wear them. To business, to business.

In the course of their play, Annesly, though but moderately skilled in the game, discovered that the oompany to whom he had been introduced were in reality such bubbles as his companion had represented them; after being heated by some small success in the beginning, they began to bet extravagantly against every calculation of chances; and in an hour or two, his associate and he had stripped them of a very considerable sum, of which his own share though much the smaller, was. upwards of threescore guineas. When they left the house, he offered his conductor the sum he had lent him, y Google

with a profusion of thanks both for the use and the improvement of it.

• No, my boy,' said he, ' not now; your note is sufficient; I will rather call for it when I am at a pinch ; you tee now the road to wealth and independence; you will meet me here to morrow/ He promised to meet him accordingly.

They had been but a few minutes in the room this second night, when a gentleman entered, whom the company saluted with the appellation of Squire; the greater part of them seemed to be charmed with his presence, but the countenance of Annesly's companion fell at his approach; ( Damn him,' said he in a whisper to Annesly, * he's a knowing one.'

In some degree, indeed, he deserved the title, for he had attained from pretty long experience, assisted by natural quickness of parts, a considerable knowledge in the science; and in strokes of genius, at games where genius was required, was excelled by few. But after all, he was far from being successful in the profession ; nature intended him for something better ; and as he spoiled a wit, an orator, and perhaps a poet, by turning gambler, so he often spoiled a gambler by the ambition, which was not yet entirely quenched, of shining occasionally in all those characters. And as a companion, he was too pleasing, and too well-pleased, to keep that cool indifference which

is the characteristic of him who should always be possessed of himself, and consider every other

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82 THE MAN OF THE WORLD.

man only as the spunge from whom he is to squeeze advantage.

To the present party, however, he was un* questionably superior; and, of course, in a short time began to levy large contributions, not only on the more inexperienced, whom Annesly arid his conductor had marked for their own booty, but likewise on these two gentlemen themselves, whose winnings of the former evening were now fast diminishing before the superior skill of this new antagonist.

But in the midst of his success, he was interrupted by the arrival of another gentleman, who seemed also to be a well known character in this temple of fortune, being saluted by the familiar name of Black Beard. This man possessed an unmoved equality both of temper and aspect; and though in reality he was of no very superior abilities, yet had acquired the re~ putation both of depth and acuteness, from being always accustomed to think on his own interest, and pursuing with the most sedulous at* tention every object which led to it, unseduced by one single spark of those feelings which the world terras Weakness.

In the article of gaming, which he had early pitched on as the means of advancement, he had availed himself of that industry and saturnine complexion, to acquire the most consummate knowledge of its principles, which indeed he had attained to a very remarkable degree of perfection.

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THE MAN OF THE frORLD* 83

Opposed to this man, even the skill of the hitherto-successful squire was unavailing; and consequently, he not only stripped that gentleman of the gains he had made, but gleaned whatever he had left in the purses of the inferior members of the party, amongst whom An* nesly and his associates were reduced to their last guinea.

This they agreed to spend together at a tavern in the neighbourhood, where they cursed fortune, their spoiler, and themselves, in all the bitterness of rage and disappointment. Annesly did not seek to account for their losses otherwise than in the real way, to wit, from the superior skill of their, adversary; but his companion, who often boasted of his own, threw out some insinuations of foul play and connivance.

* If I thought that,' said Annesly, laying his hand on his sword, while hi* cheeks burnt with indignation,—' Poh!' replied the other, ' 'tis in vain to be angry; here's damnation to him in a bumper/

The other did not fail his pledge; and by a liberal application to the bottle, they so far overcame their losses, that Annesly reeled home, singing a catch, forgetful of the past, and regardless of to-morrow.

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84 THS MAN OF THE WOM.B.

CHAP. XV.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE HIS CIRCUMSTANCES, THE

CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH ARE STILL MORE FATAL.

J. hough the arrival of to-morrow might be overlooked, it could not be prevented. It rose on Annesly, one of the most wretched of mankind.

Poverty, embittered by disgrace, was now approaching him, who knew of no friend to ward off the blow, and had no consolation in himself by which it might be lightened: if any thing could add tq his present distress, it was increased by the absence of Sindall, who was then in the country, and the upbraidings of his female

companion, who now exclaimed against the folly which herself had caused, and the extravagance herself had participated.

About mid-day, his last night's fellow-sufferer paid him a visit; their mutual chagrin at meeting, from the recollection of misfortune which it produced, was evident in their countenances ; but it was not a little increased, when the other told Annesly, he came to put him in mind of the sum he had advanced him, two days before, for which he had now very particular occasion. Annesly answered, that he had frankly told him the state of his finances at the time of the loan, and accepted it on no condition of speedy payment; that he had, that same evening, offered to repay him when it was in his power* and that he could not but

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think the demand ungentlemanlike, at a time when he must know his utter inability to comply with it.

* Ungentlemanlike!' said the other; ' I don't understand what you mean, Sir, by such a phrase: will you pay me my money or not?'— '

1 cannot.'—' Then, Sir, you must expect me to employ some gentleman for the recovery of it, who will speak to you, perhaps, in a more ungentlemanlike style than I do.' And, so saying, he flung out of the room.

* Infamous wretch!' exclaimed Annesly, and walked about with a hurried step, gnawing his lips, and muttering curses on him and on himself.—There was another gentleman wanted to see him below stairs.—'Twas a mercer, who came to demand payment of some fineries his lady, as he termed her, had purchased; he was, with difficulty, dismissed—In a quarter of an hour there was another call

—'Twas a dun of a taylor for clothes to himself—he would take no excuse—' Come,' said Annesly, with a look of desperation, ' to-morrow morning, and I will pay you.'

But how ?—he stared wildly on the ground, then knocked his head against *he wall, and acted all the extravagances of a madman. At

last, with a more settled horror in his eye, he put on his sword, and without knowing whither he should go, sallied into, the street.

He happened to meet in his way some .of those boon companions, with whom his nights of jollity had been spent; but their terms of Yol.IL H

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salutation were so cold and forbidding, as obviously to-show that the account of his circumstances had already reached them; and, with them, he who had every thing to ask, and nothing to bestow, could possess no quality attractive of regard. After sauntering from street to street, and from square to square, he found himself, towards the close of the day, within a few paces of that very gaming-house where he had been so unfortunate the evening before. A sort of malicious curiosity, and some hope of he knew not what, tempted him to re-enter it. He found much the same company he had seen the preceding night, with the exception, however, of his former associate, and one or two of the younger members of their party, whom the same cause prevented from attending.'

Strolling into another room, he found an inferior set of gamesters, whose stakes were lower, though their vociferation was infinitely more loud. In the far corner sat a man, who preserved a composure of countenance, undisturbed by the clamour and confusion'that surrounded him. After a little observation, Annesly discovered that he was a money-lender, who advanced certain sums at a very exorbitant premium to the persons engaged in the play. Some of those he saw, who could offer no other security satisfying to this usurer, procure a few guineas from him, on pawning a watch, ring, or some other appendage of former finery. Of such he had before divested himself for urgent demands, and had nothing y Google

superfluous about him but big sword, which he had kept the latest, and which he nowdepo* sited in the hands of the old gentleman in the corner, who furnishecl him with a couple of pieces upon it, that with them he might once more try his fortune at the table.

The success exceeded his expectation; it was so rapid, that in less than an hour he had increased his two guineas to forty, with which he determined to retire contented; but when he would have redeemed his sword, he was in* formed that the keeper of it was just gone into the other room, where, as he entered to demand it, he unfortunately overheard the same gentleman who had gained his money the former night, offering a bet, -to the amount of the sum Annesly then possessed, on a cast where he imagined the chance to

.be much against it* Stimulated with the desire of doubling his gain, and the sudden provocation, as it were, of the offer, be accepted it; and, in one moment, lost all the fruits of his former good fortune—

The transport of his passion could not express itself in words; but taking up one of the dice, with the seeming coolness of exquisite anguish, he fairly bit it in two, and casting a look of frenzy on his sword, which he was now unable to ransom, he rushed out of the house, uncovered as he was, his hat hanging on a peg in the other apartment.

The agitation of his mind was such as denied all attention to common things; and, instead of taking the direct road to his lodgings, H2

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he wandered off the street into an oWcure alley, where he had not advanced far, till he was accosted by a fellow, who, in a very peremptory tone, desired him to deliver his money, or he would instantly blow out his brains, presenting a pistol at less than half a yard's distance. —c I can give you nothing,' said Annesly,, * because I have nothing to give/—* Damn you,' returned the other, 'do you think TH be robbed off so ? your money and be damn'd to you, or 111 send you to hell in a twinkling*— advancing his pistol, at the same time, within a hand's-breadth of his face. Annesly, at that

instant, struck up the muzzle with his arm, and laying hoM of the barrel, by a sudden wrench forced the weapon out of the hands of the villain, who, not chusing to risk any farther combat, made the best of his way down the alley, and left Annesly master of his arms.

He stood for a moment entranced in thought.*—' Whoever thou art/

said he, * I thank thee; by Heaven, thou instructest and armest me; this may provide tor to-morrow, or make its provivision unnecessary.'

He now returned with a hurried pace to the mouth of the alley, where in the shade of a jutting wall he could mark, unperceived, the objects on the street. He had stood there but a few seconds, and began already to waver in his purpose, when he saw come out of the gaming-house, which he had left, the very man who had plundered him of his all. The richness of the prize, with imme* diate revenge, awakened together in his mind;

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THE MAN OF THE WORLD, 80

and the suspicion of foul play, which his companion had hinted the night before, gave him a sanction of something like justice; he waited till the chair, in which the gamester was conveyed, came opposite to the place where he stood ; then covering his face with one band, and assuming a tone different from his natural, he pulled out his pistol, and commanded the leading chairman to stop. This effected, he went up to the chair, and the gentleman within having let down one of the glasses to know the reason of its stop, the stopper clapped the pistol to his breast, and threatened him with instant death if he did not deliver his money. The other, after some little hesitation, during which Annesly repeated his threats with the .most horrible oaths, drew a purse of gold from his pocket, which Annesly snatched out of his hand, and running down the alley, made his escape at the other end; and, after turning through several streets, in different directions, so as to elude pursuit, arrived safely at home with the booty he had taken*

Meantime, the gamester returned to the house he had just quitted, with the account of his disaster. The whole fraternity, who could

make no allowance for a robber of this sort, were alarmed at the accident; every one was busied in inquiry, and a thousand questions were asked about his appearance, his behaviour, and the rout he had taken. The chairmen, who had been somewhat more ppssessed of themselves, at the time of the robbery, than H3

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90 9HB MAN OF THE WORLD.

their master, had remarked the circumstance of the robber's wanting his hat: this was no sooner mentioned, than a buz ran through the company, that the young gentleman, who had gone off a little while before, had been observed to be uncovered when he left the house; and upon search made, his hat was actually found with his name marked on the inside. This was a ground of suspicion too strong to be overlooked; messengers were dispatched in quest of the friend who had introduced him there the preceding night; upon his being found, and acquainting them of Annesly's lodgings, proper warrants were obtained for a search.

When that unfortunate young man arrived at home, he was met on the stairs by the lady we have formerly mentioned, who, in terms of the bitterest reproach, interrupted with tears, inveighed against the cruelty of his neglect, in thus leaving her to pine alone, without even the common comforts of a miserable life. Her censure, indeed, was the more violent, as there was little reason for its violence ; for she had that moment dismissed at a back door, a gallant who was more attentive than Annesly. He, who could very well allow the grounds of her complaint, only pleaded necessity for his excuse; he could but mutter this apology in imperfect words, for the perturbation of his mind almost deprived him of the powers of speech. Upon her taking notice of this, with much seeming concern for his health, he beckoned her into a chamber, and dashing the purse on the floor,

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pointed to it with a look of horror, as an answer to her uphraidings.

* What have you done for this ?' said she, taking it up: He threw himself into a chair, without answering a word.

At that moment, the officers of justice, who had lost no time in prosecuting their information, entered the house; and some of them, accompanied by an attorney, employed by the gentleman who had been robbed, walked softly up stairs to the room where Annesly was, and bursting into it before he could prepare for any defence, laid hold of him in rather a violent manner, which the lawyer observing, desired them to use the gentleman civilly, till he should ask him a few questions. ' I will answer none,' said Annesly; ' do your duty.' * Then, Sir,' replied the other, 'you must attend us to those who can question you with better authority; and I must make bold to secure this lady, till she answer some questions also.* The lady saved him the trouble; for being now pretty well satisfied, that her hero was at the end of his career, she thought it most prudent to break off a connection where nothing was to be gained, and make a merit of contributing her endeavours to bring the offender to justice. She called, therefore, this leader of the party into another room, and being informed by him that the young gentleman was suspected of having committed a robbery scarce an hour before, she pulled out the purse which she had just received from him, and asked the lawyer, if it was that y Google

which had been taken from his client ? ' Ay, that it is, 111 be sworn,'

said he; 'and here (pouring out its contents) is the ring he mentioned at the bottom.'—' But,' said she, pausing a little, * it will prove the thing as well without the guineas.' ' I protest,' returned the lawyer, *

thou art a girl of excellent invention—-Hum —here are fourscore; one half of them might have been spent—or dropt out by the way, or

•—any thing may be supposed; and so we shall have twenty apiece.

—Some folks, to be sure, would take more, but I love conscience in those matters.'

Having finished this transaction, in such a manner as might give no offence to the conscience of this honest pettifogger, they returned to the prisoner, who contented himself with darting a look of indignation

at his female be* trayer; and, after being some time in the custody of the lawyer and his assistants, he was carried, in the morning, along with her before a magistrate. The several circumstances I have related being sworn to, Annesly was committed to Newgate, and the gamester bound over to prosecute him at the next sessions, which were not then very distant.

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CHAP. XVI.

THE MISERIES OF HIM WHOSE PUNISHMENT r IS INFLICTED

BY CONSCIENCE.

JL hough Anneslymust have suffered much during the agitation of these proceedings, yet that was little to what he felt, when left to reflection, in the solitude of his new abode. Let the virtuous remember, amidst their affliction, that though the heart of the good man may bleed even to death, it will never feel a torment equal to the rendings of remorse.

For some time the whirling of his brain gave him no leisure to exercise any faculty that could be termed thinking; when that sort of delirium subsided, it left him only to make room for more exquisite though less turbulent anguish.

After he had visited every corner of resource, and found them all dark and comfortless, he started at last from that posture of despair in which he sat, and turning the glare of his eye intently upwards:—

*Take back/ said he, 'thou Power that gavest me being! take back that life which thou didst breathe into me for the best of purposes, but which I have profaned by actions equally mischievous to thy government, and ignominious to myself. The passions which thou didst implant in me, that reason which should balance them, is unable to withstand: from one only I received useful admonition; the shame

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that could not prevent, now punishes my crimes* Her voice for once I will obey; and leave a state, in which if I remain, I continue a blot to nature,, and an enemy to man.'

He drew a penknife, now his only weapon, from its sheath—he bajed his bosom for the horrid deed—when the picture of his father, which the good man had bestowed on him at parting, and he had worn ever since in his bosom, struck his eye—(it was drawn in the mildness of holy meditation, with the hands folded together, and the eyes lifted to heaven), * Merciful God!' said Annesly—he would have uttered a prayer; but his soul was wound up to a pitch that could but one way be let downhe flung himself on the ground, and burst into an agony of tears.

The door of the apartment opening, discovered the jailor, followed by Sir Thomas Sindall—* My friend in this place !' said he to Annesly,—

who covered his face with his hands, and replied only by a groan.

Sindall made signs for the keeper of the prison to leave them ;—'

Come,' said he, * my dear Annesly, be not so entirely overcome; I flatter myself, you know my friendship too well to suppose that it will desert you even here* I may, perhaps, have opportunities of comforting you in many ways; at least I shall feel and pity your distresses.'—'Leave me,' answered the other, ' leave me ; I deserve no pity, and rethinks there is a pride in refusing it.'—* You must not say so; my love has much to plead