Like one who accepts an indifferent gift, rather to pleasure a friend than for his own gratification, Sir Robert Linne held his reprieve1 in his pocket, as it were, with a careless hand, and, accompanied by the lawyer, re-entered the humming lists of life.
Silently the two made their way westwards, the man of deeds accommodating his pace, with some secret chafing2, to the leisurely3 progress of his companion. Now and again he would glance stealthily aside into the latter’s face, and give a half-comical shrug4 of chagrin5 over its expression of tranquil6 good-humour that seemed such a genial7 satire8 upon the situation.
“If he hobnobs with death so calmly, how will his philosophy accept a living estate?” thought the uneasy scrivener; and, “light come, light go,” he groaned9 in his heart.
Presently they were in Holborn, without the rag of a sentence to pass between them; and so came opposite the block of houses known as Middle Row.
Here suddenly Sir Robert stopped, and took his companion by the arm.
“You itch10 to improve on the situation,” said he, with a twinkling gravity. “Harkee! Now’s your opportunity. Here am I;—yonder stands Branscome’s lottery11 office. Draw your moral, my friend, and ease you of your load.”
The lawyer drew in his breath, his face crinkling.
“Well,” said he—fore-read and embarrassed but conscious of right—“the man was an earl’s fellow once.”
“It proves him the more admirable for being a rich man now!”
“Sir Robert, Sir Robert! ’tis an evil system and a mistaken. How is he rich? On the pitiful savings12 of shoeblacks and servant wenches. ’Tis such as he bid industry sit hands in lap and starve on illusive13 hopes. For a single chance in fifty thousand he buys her ruin; and what is all this but bitter gambling14?”
“Ha, ha! old gentleman. We reach the point at once. But, believe me, sir, I never starved a servant wench or took anything from her but a kiss—and that I returned.”
The lawyer sighed.
“Go your ways,” he said. “You have your father’s laugh.”
“What—you knew him?”
“I had the fortune to do him a service once—’twas during the riots of ’68, when foul15 John Wilkes was committed to King’s Bench, on a writ16 of capias utlagatum, and the red-coats let fly at the mob. Your father commanded. They called it the St. George’s Fields massacre17, and all concerned in it gained a mighty18 unpopularity.”
“Yet he was but a simple soldier and obeyed orders.”
“Well, sir, an unpopular king must needs have unpopular ministers, and so down the scale. Let a tyrant19 fall (I speak in illustration only—God bless his Majesty20!) and his very scullions come down with him. I did Sir Robert a service, I say; and he repaid me with his confidence.”
“His son is beholden to you. You repeat yourself on behalf of a scapegrace, I fear. You were not his adviser21?”
“In one matter only that you shall learn. Now, my friend?”
The last words were addressed to an odd-looking individual who had come up to them as they talked, and who now presented certain savoury goods to their inspection22 with a dumb gesture of invitation.
The creature was a lank23, middle-sized man, with a meagre face of decorum and rather delicate features set in an expression of confident apathy24. He was scrupulously25 attired26 in dress-coat, vest and knee-breeches of stainless27 black broadcloth; and black silk stockings, ending in shoes decorated with large steel buckles28, encased his neat deliberate legs. A great shirt-frill stood out from his breast, like a table napkin from a tumbler, and his neck cherished the spotless embrace of a lawny cravat29. On his head he wore no covering save its natural one; but this was so clipt and bepowdered as almost to give the appearance of a close cap of linen30. A short apron31 of the softest texture32, which concealed33 a third of his glories, seemed designed rather to advertise his calling than to protect his broadcloth.
Thus apparelled, he presented to the talkers a little round tray, on which was set for consideration a pudding, neatly34 sliced and sugared, that gave out a pleasant fragrance35. To the obvious merits of this he silently drew attention with a short, bright spatula36 which he carried in his other hand.
“No, no,” said the lawyer. “Not to-day, my friend; not to-day.”
He smiled good-humouredly; and the oddling dropped a courtly bow—“the loss is mutual,” it expressed—and carried his comestible elsewhere.
“Sir Robert,” said the attorney, with a droll37, kindly38 look, “the lottery office missed fire; but I have another moral for you.”
“It shall have my respectful attention, sir, in honour of my father’s friend.”
The words were spoken with gravity. The other gave a twitch39 of surprise. Then said he in a pretty gentle voice:
“’Tis from him with the pudding. They call him the Flying Pieman; but his proper business is to paint pictures, at which he has a fine skill, they say. Fortune missed him, however. He married ‘for love’—a course for which there is plenty of precedent40, but no authority—and love begets41 a family, but nothing to put in its empty crops. At the last pinch he kicked over his easel and went out to sell puddings. He did nought42 by halves. If his pictures are half as good as his victuals43 he deserves the Presidency44. He hath made himself a character in the neighbourhood, but a finer one in God’s eyes, I will venture. ’Tis said that, no whit45 faithless to his art, he trades all day that he may indulge his real bent46 after hours. That is to be a man and an example.”
“To me, sir, to me, you would say; and so he is. I have no family; but that is an accident—not an excuse. I take the pieman to my heart, and see no ostentatious vanity in his shirt-frill. I read another moral here too. This is ‘Heavy Hill,’ and goes to Tyburn.”
“Oh, Heaven send you to the House of Correction! Come on, I beg. My office is close by.”
The lawyer smacked48 in his lips as if he were sampling some sharp but not disagreeable berry; regarded his incorrigible49 companion a moment through covert50 eyelids51; then turned and led the way across the road and under the old gate-arch of Gray’s Inn.
Beyond this portal, a short distance, pleasant tranquillity52 prevailed. It is the humour of the Law to hatch in antique solitudes53 the plots that vex54 many lives with turmoil55 and disquiet56. Around its Inn Halls the Devil’s cloisters57 invite to peripatetic58 contemplation of quibble and sophistry59; and its silent gardens cherish that grimy tree of Death whose trunk is freckled60 like the serpent’s with discs of yellow.
Up a step or two, through a venerable doorway61 with fluted62 pilasters, the long man ushered63 his visitor, and so to a dusty comfortable room on the first floor, where tiers of japanned boxes, the caskets of dead passions and aspirations64, were piled high against the walls like coffins65 in a family vault66.
“Mr. Creel?” said the baronet, sitting up on a high stool and crossing his legs.
The lawyer bowed.
“So I read it on the door, sir. Believe me, I hold the name in honour for my father’s sake.”
“It is a good sign,” said the other; “and so far of happy augury67. Here, I hope, is soil that may be renewed and yield yet a plentiful68 crop of wholesome69 grain.”
He sat himself down, and, toying with a pencil, fixed70 his eyes steadily71 and gravely on the young man.
“I crave72 your permission,” he said gently, “to speak very plainly, very freely, and—within proper limits—without reserve.”
“Surely, sir; for should I not be dead by now? ’Tis a post-mortem examination. Out with your scalpel, and cut and dissect73 as you list.”
“It is a family matter and very private to your ear.”
“Mr. Creel, who so taciturn as a ghost? Even a lawyer may give his confidence to a shadow.”
“You please to jest. Will you be serious for once? What I have to say affects you nearly. I represent your dead father—am his agent, not in authority, but in loving-kindness.”
“I listen, I listen. Perhaps I am a little light-headed. I have thrown out all my ballast, remember.”
“You saw but little of the late Sir Robert?”
“I was eleven years old when he died. That was in the war of ’80. He fought under Clinton and lies in Charleston where he fell. He was always a soldier in my vague memory of him—saturnine, pre-occupied, with a rare smile for odd moments.”
“He feared God and loved his king—rest his memory! He had one other love—his only child; but him he was troubled for.”
“Troubled for? But why should I ask?”
“The boy was of high spirit, reckless, generous. He wore, even at that age, his heart on his sleeve for daws to peck at.”
“They have left all threadbare. Well, well!”
“Sir Robert’s was not a great fortune; but it was sufficient, with management, for his wants.”
“They were fewer than mine, good man. I feel sure, sir, this retrospect74 is for a worthy75 purpose. Otherwise—well, it is obvious I was acquainted with the extent of my own inheritance.”
“I ask no account of your stewardship76. That is no part of the solemn commission I accepted from my friend. Maybe you have been more sinned against than sinning. Yet, is it not true that your father’s apprehensions77 were justified78?”
“Why else was I in the wherry?”
“You are ruined?”
“I am ruined.”
The lawyer sighed.
“It was foreseen,” he said, “by him who was dearest to you—foreseen and provided against.”
“Provided against?”
Mr. Creel made no answer; but he quietly arose, went to one of the japanned boxes, unlocked it and took thence a bundle of papers.
“These,” he said, “are the title-deeds of an estate that is yours—on certain conditions.”
The young man had no word to say; but watched the other in amazement79 as he took from the little heap a certain paper that was folded and sealed with his father’s monogram80.
“I follow my direction,” said the lawyer, “and break this seal. The contents of the document are for your ear, but they are addressed to me. I ask your attention while I make them known to you.”
He shifted so as to secure a full light, knitted his brow, and, without pause or comment, read out in a brassy legal voice the lines before him:—
“To my honoured friend, Mr. James Creel, of Gray’s Inn, I have committed, to hold in trust for certain purposes, the estate of ‘Delsrop,’ in the county of Hampshire; whereof are dwelling-house and messuage, ninety-four acres, together with two farms held on long leases, the which it is not my desire to particularize in this the present connection. But rather to state clearly that in event of the bankruptcy81 at any time after my death of my only son, Robert (which calamity82 I, considering the bent of his nature, do sorrowfully foresee), and in no other event, the said estate is to be handed over to him, to work to a profit if he will, and so redeem83 the past; but on the condition that from that time being he shall forego his honourable84 title and know himself and be known as Robert Tuke, which name of Tuke hath his mother borne before him to her maiden85 honour and renown86. And this I state clearly, that he may take or reject without further question, knowing the estate to be mine to give, and else seeking to know nothing. And I offer it, a last chance of redemption, that he, sloughing87 all that foulness88 of the past with his dishonoured89 name may turn the fruits of evil to the account of good.”
In the minute of amazed silence, during which the listener sought to ponder the import of this astonishing message, Mr. Creel refolded the paper, returned it to the packet, and, sitting down again, tapped and scraped his chin with the latter in a dry manner of expectancy90.
“Well?” he said at length.
“I am at sea!” he cried, in a lost voice. “What does it all mean? I never heard of this estate; nor, I protest, did the executors. How did it come to him, and when?”
“That I may answer you. It was in the year ’79—not many months before his death.”
“And from whom?”
The lawyer shook his head grimly.
“Ah!” said the baronet. “You love a secret, of course. Am I never to know more than this?”
“Sir, you understand the conditions. You are to take or reject.”
“A messuage and the rest of it? And where is the working capital?”
“These many years I have nursed the property against this contingency93. It has yielded fairly, and there will be an accumulated sum to your credit.”
“And if I reject?”
The young man’s eyes took a sudden softness. He was only thirty-one, and susceptible95 yet to impressions of unworldliness.
“I fail to see your profit in the matter,” he said.
“My profit,” answered the lawyer sternly, “was in a good man’s confidence.”
Then he went on more gently:
“I sought no profit in the transaction. I would have sacrificed more than the estate to save you and myself the necessity of this explanation. It was my affection for your father bound me to this solemn compact, as it was my regard for the latter drove me unknown to you to set an anxious eye upon your career.”
“And so pluck a fool from the burning and lose an estate.”
Sir Robert advanced impetuously and seized the other’s corded hand.
“You are a noble soul. I will learn to pray, and you shall be my saint to intercede96. I take my life from you and this strange trust; doing my duty by it and asking no questions.”
The old lawyer’s eyes moistened; but he answered somewhat caustically97:
“I won’t say it is your deserts. But the gift is from Heaven, where your father, his battles over, sits at peace. ’Tis he hath interceded98, and the Almighty—to satisfy his importunity99, maybe—gives you a new house, as erst he did to Job, but for a better reason.”
Then he added a little inconsequently:
“You’ll find it in a damned bad state of repair.”
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1
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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2
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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3
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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4
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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5
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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10
itch
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| n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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illusive
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| adj.迷惑人的，错觉的 | |
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14
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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15
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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16
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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18
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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24
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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25
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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26
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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28
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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30
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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35
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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36
spatula
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| n.抹刀 | |
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37
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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38
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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39
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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40
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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41
begets
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| v.为…之生父( beget的第三人称单数 )；产生，引起 | |
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42
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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43
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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44
presidency
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| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
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45
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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46
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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47
maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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48
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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50
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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51
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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52
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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53
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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54
vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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55
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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56
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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57
cloisters
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| n.（学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的）走廊( cloister的名词复数 )；回廊；修道院的生活；隐居v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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58
peripatetic
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| adj.漫游的，逍遥派的，巡回的 | |
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59
sophistry
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| n.诡辩 | |
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60
freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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62
fluted
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| a.有凹槽的 | |
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63
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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65
coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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66
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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67
augury
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| n.预言，征兆，占卦 | |
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68
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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69
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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70
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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71
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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72
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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73
dissect
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| v.分割；解剖 | |
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retrospect
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| n.回顾，追溯；v.回顾，回想，追溯 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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stewardship
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| n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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monogram
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| n.字母组合 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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sloughing
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| v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的现在分词 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
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foulness
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| n. 纠缠, 卑鄙 | |
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dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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rumpling
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的现在分词 ) | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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reverts
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| 恢复( revert的第三人称单数 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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intercede
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| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
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caustically
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| adv.刻薄地；挖苦地；尖刻地；讥刺地 | |
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interceded
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| v.斡旋，调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 )；说情 | |
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importunity
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| n.硬要，强求 | |
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