human
My cards, said Randal to himself, as with a deep-drawn sigh he resumed his soliloquy,
gpt
Why, Randal, you are more absent than when you used to steal away from the cricket-ground, muttering Greek verses, at Eton.
human
My dear Frank, said Randal,
gpt
Were you? And kindly, then, I am sure, said Frank Hazeldean, his honest handsome face lighted up with the unsuspecting genial trust of friendship;
human
he added, with a sadder voice, and a graver expression on his eye and lip,--
gpt
Heaven knows I want all the kindness you can give me!
human
I thought, said Randal,
gpt
I have done my best to reform. I have sold off my horses, and I have not touched dice nor card these six months; I would not even put into the raffle for the last Derby.
human
Is it possible? But with such self-conquest, how is it that you cannot contrive to live within the bounds of a very liberal allowance?
gpt
Why, when a man once gets his head under water, it is so hard to float back again on the surface. You see, I attribute all my embarrassments to that first concealment of my debts from my father, when they could have been so easily met, and when be came up to town so kindly.
human
I am sorry, then, that I gave you that advice.
gpt
Oh, you meant it so kindly, I don't reproach you; it was all my own fault.
human
Why, indeed, I did urge you to pay off that moiety of your debts left unpaid, with your allowance. Had you done so, all had been well.
gpt
Yes; but poor Borrowell got into such a scrape at Goodwood, I could not resist him; a debt of honour,--that must be paid; so when I signed another bill for him, he could not pay it, poor fellow! Really he would have shot himself, if I had not renewed it. And now it is swelled to such an amount with that cursed interest, that he never can pay it; and one bill, of course, begets another,--and to be renewed every three months; 't is the devil and all! So little as I ever got for all I have borrowed, added Frank, with a kind of rueful amaze.
human
Not L1,500 ready money; and the interest would cost me almost as much yearly,--if I had it.
gpt
Only L1,500!
human
Well; besides seven large chests of the worst cigars you ever smoked, three pipes of wine that no one would drink, and a great bear that had been imported from Greenland for the sake of its grease.
gpt
That should, at least, have saved you a bill with your hairdresser.
human
I paid his bill with it, said Frank,
gpt
resumed Frank, after a short pause,
human
I have a great mind even now to tell my father honestly all my embarrassments.
gpt
Hum!
human
Judging by the squire's talk, I think that with the first sight of your affairs you would forfeit his favour forever; and your mother would be so shocked, especially after supposing that the sum I brought you so lately sufficed to pay off every claim on you. If you had not assured her of that it might be different; but she, who so hates an untruth, and who said to the squire, 'Frank says this will clear him; and with all his faults, Frank never yet told a lie!'
gpt
Oh, my dear mother!--I fancy I hear her! cried Frank, with deep emotion.
human
But I did not tell a lie, Randal; I did not say that that sum would clear me.
gpt
You empowered and begged me to say so, replied Randal, with grave coldness;
human
No, no! I only said it would clear me for the moment.
gpt
I misunderstood you, then, sadly; and such mistakes involve my own honour. Pardon me, Frank; don't ask my aid in future. You see, with the best intentions, I only compromise myself.
human
If you forsake me, I may as well go and throw myself into the river, said Frank, in a tone of despair;
gpt
I don't see why your father should ever learn the state of your affairs; and it seems to me that you could pay off these usurers, and get rid of these bills, by raising money on comparatively easy terms--
human
How?
gpt
Why, the Casino property is entailed on you, and you might obtain a sum upon that, not to be paid till the property becomes yours.
human
At my poor father's death? Oh, no, no! I cannot bear the idea of this cold-blooded calculation on a father's death. I know it is not uncommon; I know other fellows who have done it, but they never had parents so kind as mine; and even in them it shocked and revolted me. The contemplating a father's death, and profiting by the contemplation it seems a kind of parricide: it is not natural, Randal. Besides, don't you remember what the Governor said,--he actually wept while he said it,--'Never calculate on my death; I could not bear that.' Oh, Randal, don't speak of it!
gpt
I respect your sentiments; but still, all the post-orbits you could raise could not shorten Mr. Hazeldean's life by a day. However, dismiss that idea; we must think of some other device. Ha, Frank! you are a handsome fellow, and your expectations are great--why don't you marry some woman with money?
human
Pooh! exclaimed Frank, colouring.
gpt
You know, Randal, that there is but one woman in the world I can ever think of; and I love her so devotedly, that, though I was as gay as most men before, I really feel as if the rest of her sex had lost every charm. I was passing through the street now--merely to look up at her windows.
human
You speak of Madame di Negra? I have just left her. Certainly, she is two or three years older than you; but if you can get over that misfortune, why not marry her?
gpt
Marry her! cried Frank, in amaze, and all his colour fled from his cheeks.
human
Marry her! Are you serious?
gpt
Why not?
human
But even if she, who is so accomplished, so admired, even if she would accept me, she is, you know, poorer than myself. She has told me so frankly. That woman has such a noble heart,--and--and--my father would never consent, nor my mother either. I know they would not.
gpt
Because she is a foreigner?
human
Yes--partly.
gpt
Yet the squire suffered his cousin to marry a foreigner.
human
That was different. He had no control over Jemima; and a daughter-in- law is so different; and my father is so English in his notions; and Madame di Negra, you see, is altogether so foreign. Her very graces would be against her in his eyes.
gpt
I think you do both your parents injustice. A foreigner of low birth-- an actress or singer, for instance--of course would be highly objectionable; but a woman like Madame di Negra, of such high birth and connections--
human
I don't think the Governor would care a straw about her connections, if she were a king's daughter. He considers all foreigners pretty much alike. And then, you know (Frank's voice sank into a whisper),--
gpt
I don't understand you, Frank.
human
I love her the more, said young Hazeldean, raising his front with a noble pride, that seemed to speak of his descent from a race of cavaliers and gentlemen,--
gpt
I love her the more because the world has slandered her name,--because I believe her to be pure and wronged. But would they at the Hall,--they who do not see with a lover's eyes, they who have all the stubborn English notions about the indecorum and license of Continental manners, and will so readily credit the worst? Oh, no! I love, I cannot help it--but I have no hope.
human
It is very possible that you may be right, exclaimed Randal, as if struck and half convinced by his companion's argument,--
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I have reason to know that Madame di Negra will have as large a portion as your father could reasonably expect you to receive with any English wife. And when this is properly stated to the squire, and the high position and rank of your wife fully established and brought home to him,--for I must think that these would tell, despite your exaggerated notions of his prejudices,--and then, when he really sees Madame di Negra, and can judge of her beauty and rare gifts, upon my word, I think, Frank, that there would be no cause for fear. After all, too, you are his only son. He will have no option but to forgive you; and I know how auxiously both your parents wish to see you settled in life.
gpt
There is no one who understands the squire like you, certainly, said he, with lively joy.
human
He has the highest opinion of your judgment. And you really believe you could smooth matters?
gpt
I believe so; but I should be sorry to induce you to run any risk; and if, on cool consideration, you think that risk is incurred, I strongly advise you to avoid all occasion of seeing the poor marchesa. Ah, you wince; but I say it for her sake as well as your own. First, you must be aware, that, unless you have serious thoughts of marriage, your attentions can but add to the very rumours that, equally groundless, you so feelingly resent; and, secondly, because I don't think any man has a right to win the affections of a woman--especially a woman who seems to me likely to love with her whole heart and soul--merely to gratify his own vanity.
human
Vanity! Good heavens! can you think so poorly of me? But as to the marchesa's affections, continued Frank, with a faltering voice,
gpt
I fear lest they may be half won already, said Randal, with a smile and a shake of the head;
human
I never till now conceived such a hope. My dear Randal, all my cares have vanished! I tread upon air! I have a great mind to call on her at once.
gpt
Stay, stay, said Randal.
human
Let me give you a caution. I have just informed you that Madame di Negra will have, what you suspected not before, a fortune suitable to her birth. Any abrupt change in your manner at present might induce her to believe that you were influenced by that intelligence.
gpt
Ah! exclaimed Frank, stopping short, as if wounded to the quick.
human
And I feel guilty,--feel as if I was influenced by that intelligence. So I am, too, when I reflect, he continued, with a naivete that was half pathetic;
gpt
Make your mind easy, it is but a portion of some twenty or thirty thousand pounds, that would just suffice to discharge all your debts, clear away all obstacle to your union, and in return for which you could secure a more than adequate jointure and settlement on the Casino property. Now I am on that head, I will be yet more communicative. Madame di Negra has a noble heart, as you say, and told me herself, that, until her brother on his arrival had assured her of this dowry, she would never have consented to marry you, never crippled with her own embarrassments the man she loves. Ah! with what delight she will hail the thought of assisting you to win back your father's heart! But be guarded meanwhile. And now, Frank, what say you--would it not be well if I ran down to Hazeldean to sound your parents? It is rather inconvenient to me, to be sure, to leave town just at present; but I would do more than that to render you a smaller service. Yes, I'll go to Rood Hall to-morrow, and thence to Hazeldean. I am sure your father will press me to stay, and I shall have ample opportunities to judge of the manner in which he would be likely to regard your marriage with Madame di Negra,-- supposing always it were properly put to him. We can then act accordingly.
human
My dear, dear Randal, how can I thank you? If ever a poor fellow like me can serve you in return--but that's impossible.
gpt
Why, certainly, I will never ask you to be security to a bill of mine, said Randal, laughing.
human
I practise the economy I preach.
gpt
Ah! said Frank, with a groan,
human
Oh, you will have enough to do some day managing your property. We who have no property must find one in knowledge. Adieu, my dear Frank, I must go home now. By the way, you have never, by chance, spoken of the Riccaboccas to Madame di Negra.
gpt
The Riccaboccas? No. That's well thought of. It may interest her to know that a relation of mine has married her countryman. Very odd that I never did mention it; but, to say truth, I really do talk so little to her: she is so superior, and I feel positively shy with her.
human
Do me the favour, Frank, said Randal, waiting patiently till this reply ended,--for he was devising all the time what reason to give for his request,--
gpt
Why not allude to them?
human
Why, I will tell you. The marchesa conceals nothing from her brother, and he is one of the few Italians who are in high favour with the Austrian court.
gpt
Well!
human
And I suspect that poor Dr. Riccabocca fled his country from some mad experiment at revolution, and is still hiding from the Austrian police.
gpt
But they can't hurt him here, said Frank, with an Englishman's dogged inborn conviction of the sanctity of his native island.
human
I should like to see an Austrian pretend to dictate to us whom to receive and whom to reject.
gpt
Hum--that's true and constitutional, no doubt; but Riccabocca may have excellent reasons--and, to speak plainly, I know he has (perhaps as affecting the safety of friends in Italy)--for preserving his incognito, and we are bound to respect those reasons without inquiring further.
human
Still I cannot think so meanly of Madame di Negra, persisted Frank (shrewd here, though credulous elsewhere, and both from his sense of honour),
gpt
Certainly you are right. But see in what a false position you would place both her brother and herself. If they knew Riccabocca's secret, and proclaimed it to the Austrian Government, as you say, it would be cruel and mean; but if they knew it and concealed it, it might involve them both in the most serious consequences. You know the Austrian policy is proverbially so jealous and tyrannical?
human
Well, the newspapers say so, certainly.
gpt
And, in short, your discretion can do no harm, and your indiscretion may. Therefore, give me your word, Frank. I can't stay to argue now.
human
I'll not allude to the Riccaboccas, upon my honour, answered Frank;
gpt
I rely on your honour,