The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 332: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

880 had been cash transactions, was instantly paid, and the half-plucked pigeon rushed from the house—a loser only of ten thousand pounds, instead of a beggar. “The devil must have served him!” exclaimed his host; “ but for that one throw he would have been penniless, Damn him—damn him!” “ Come, be reasonable,” replied the pretended peer, apologetically ; “‘ten thousand pounds for one night’s work is not so bad, after all,” “It’s not the gold—it’s not the gold—’tis that its owner will escape me.” “You hate him, then?” “ Ay, as men like me only hate, When I first met the fellow he was rich, and condescended to patronise me—made me feel the bitter sting of dependence— won from me the only wotan I ever really loved; and I,’’ he added, grinding his teeth with bitterness at the recollection, “ was compelled to assist him to her.” “That was the worst part of all. But you are a philosopher.” - “In hate I certainly am,” réplied the captain, cooling down, “No matter, let ws divide the spoil. It is not so heavy as we expected; but there is more to come,” The division was duly made, the speaker receiv- ing half the winnings as his share for introducing the poor dupe, and keeping open house. The rest, who were chiefly needy men, whom the gaming table had ruined, divided the remaining fivé thousand pounds between them. Some were astonished at their good fortune, and resolved to pursue it; but Lord Blarney, who had never in his life been pos: sessed of so large a sum as a thousand pounds, de- termined to use it wisely, and break off all connection with the gang for ever, The very next Week he started for the continent, and from thence to Amética, where in time, by prudence, hé becanie a respectable man. The next day, when Wilmott called upon his false friend, he was réceived with the tstial kindfess Although stunned by the magnittide of his loss, the infatuated dupe had not the least suSpicion of unfair play. If such an idea had struck him—and probably at the early part of the night it had done so—the success of his last throw, which was indeed nothing more than a lucky accident, had brought him into con- fidence again. He was anxious to pursue what he called his good fortune, and obtain his revenge, “ So,” said the tempter, “ you made a pretty affair of it last night. At the very moment Fortune smiled you turned your back upun her. Such an opportunity may not occur again.” “T was to blame.” “Blame,” repeated Faddle, in a mocking tone; “call it by its right name—madness, Blarney was excited—irritated—and at such a moment would have ventured every thing. You might have doubled your fortune.” “ You really think so?” “JT am sure so. I never saw 86 lucky a throw,” “The occasion may present itself again,’ replied the poor dupe. “The fact is, I had taken too much champagne. The infernal wine threw me off my guard, I was nervous—imiserable, Could I but once recover the sum which I have lost, I would forsake the gaming-table for ever,” “And seek for happiness with Rose, Pretty poetical idea enough.” “ Happiness,” replied the young man, “I shall never know again. Have you heard the news?” — i seme ee —_—-—_ THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, > A —— “ No,” “My cousin Ellen is dying, and I have been her | murderer. Not a word; you cannot reproach me more bitterly than I do myself, Rose, too, is pining in her dear-bought splendour. When I reflect how nearly I was last night reduced to beggary and suicide, I tremble like a man who has escaped a pre- cipice.”’ “Say rather like a fool, who had within his reach, yet wanted cou his hand and pluck them. Blarney dent of his family states in Ireland, which are large, The accumulations of his minority amount to a hun- dred thousand pounds.” , Wilmott was excited by the idea, and fell into the snare. He eag that a second meeting should be brought about, promising to act with more decision and nervé for the future, little dreaming that the futtre to which he alluded was to him beggaty and rain. But all gamesters indulge in similar dreams, Which are never to be realised; for the money lost and won at play, while it ruins the loser, seldom enriches the winner. “ Lightly got and lightly spent” is a proverb a8 old as em After some further chat the friends separated Faddle to take a morning drive with Nanty, who, after the first shock of hor degradation, launched into all the follies and extravagance in which the mad sion of her seducer could indulge her, — and ilmott to return to Rose, whose dejection hourly “And when do Wwe start for Patis?” she demanded, | — for sie was alarmed at her husband’s absence the | previous night, and still more gloomy manner in the | morning. Unfortunately, she was no stranger to his predilection for the table, “In a few days, perhaps,” “ You fixed Saturday.” * And have since changed my mind,” | The meek brokén-hearted wife was silat, She | felt that sho had no right either to complaif Or influ- ence him. She had gold hetself, and feceived the price. Laying her hand upon her bosom to still its | throbbings, 8hé confessed that Walter’s curse was | working. Uzing his knowledge of the weak points of Wil- mott’s character as the lever to move him to his | > purpose, Haddle so worked upon his hopes and fears, — exciting him alternately by wine, wit, reproaches, or | praise, that the infatuated dupe became a con- | stant attendant on the gaming-table, where he was | gradually stripped of the wreck of his once splendid | fortune, which was divided amongst men whom he credulously believed to be his best friends. But such is the world. How frequently it mistakes in for friendship! Amongst the arrangements which | had been made, on the dissolution of partnership | between Wilmott and his uncle, were several bills, of } various dates, which Briarton had signed. They had | © been given to his nephew in part payment of his share | in the concern. As his losses at the table gradually | ~ required it, the unhappy dupe took them one by one | to Gripe, the usurer and discounter, who, to oblig | him, let him have the money at the very moderate | rate of twenty per cent. But then, it must be ob- | served that they had had too many transactions | together, and that the signature of Mr, Briarton was | considered as safe upon ’Change as that of the Bank | of England, otherwise he would searcely have been } so moderate in his charges. The last bill had been {| discounted about four months ¢ftar U y * | 1, OOKS 4 ‘