The Poacher Part 23

"He is married, sir, to a very amiable woman."

"Any family, sir?"

"Not that I know of; they have a young _protege_, I believe, now at school--a boy they call Joey."

"Indeed! how very kind of them; really, now, it's quite refres.h.i.+ng for me to see so much goodness of heart still remaining in this bad world.

Adopted him, I presume?"

"I really cannot exactly say that; I know that they treat him as their own child."

"Have you seen Major McShane lately, sir?"

"Saw him this morning, sir, just after he got up."

"Indeed! This is remarkably good ale, sir--will you honour me by tasting it?"

"Sir, you are very kind; but the fact is I never drink malt liquor.

Here, girl, bring a half pint of brandy. I trust, sir, you will not refuse to join me in a gla.s.s, although I cannot venture to accept your polite offer."

Furness drank off his pot of ale, and made ready for the brandy which had been offered him; McShane filled his own gla.s.s, and then handed the decanter over to Furness.

"I have the pleasure of drinking your good health, sir," said McShane.

"You are from the country, I presume; may I inquire from what part?"

"I am from Devons.h.i.+re; I was formerly head of the grammar school at ---; but, sir, my principles would not allow me to retain my situation; rect.i.tude of conduct, sir, is absolutely necessary to the profession which inculcates morality and virtue, as well as instruction to youth, sir. Here's to our better acquaintance, sir."

"Sir, to your's; I honour your sentiments. By the powers! but you're right, Mr ---, I beg your pardon--but I don't catch your name exactly."

"Furness, sir, at your service. Yes, sir, the directors of the foundation which I presided over, I may say, with such credit to myself, and such advantage to the pupils under my care, wished to make a job-- yes, sir--of a charity; I could not consent to such deeds, and I resigned."

"And you have been in London ever since?"

"No, sir; I repaired to the small village of Gra.s.sford, where I set up a school, but circ.u.mstances compelled me to resign, and I am now about to seek for employment in another hemisphere; in short, I have an idea of going out to New South Wales as a preceptor. I understand they are in great want of tuition in that quarter."

"I should think so," replied McShane; "and they have a great deal to unlearn as well as to learn."

"I speak of the junior branches--the scions or offsets, I may say--born in the colony, and who I trust, will prove that crime is not hereditary."

"Well, I wish you luck, sir," replied McShane; "you must oblige me by taking another gla.s.s, for I never shall be able to finish this decanter myself."

"I gladly avail myself of the pleasure of your company, sir."

As the reader is well aware that Furness was an intemperate man, it is not surprising that he accepted the offer; and before the second gla.s.s was finished, the ale and brandy had begun to have the effect, and he had become very communicative.

"What was the name of the village which you stated you had resided in lately, sir?" inquired McShane.

"The village of Gra.s.sford."

"There is something I recollect about that village; let me see-- something that I read in the newspapers. I remember now--it was the murder of a pedlar."

"Very true, sir, such a circ.u.mstance did take place; it was a dreadful affair--and, what is more strange, committed by a mere child, who absconded."

"Indeed! What was his name?"

"Rushbrook, sir; his father was a well-known poacher--a man who had been in the army, and had a pension for wounds. There is an old saying, sir, of high authority--'Bring up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it.' I instructed that boy, sir; but alas! what avails the instruction of a preceptor when a father leads a child into evil ways?"

"That's the truth, and no mistake," replied McShane. "So the boy ran away? Yes; I recollect now. And what became of the father?"

"The father, sir, and mother have since left the village, and gone n.o.body knows where."

"Indeed! are you sure of that?"

"Quite sure, sir; for I was most anxious to discover them, and took great pains, but without success."

"What did the people say thereabouts? Was there no suspicion of the father being implicated?"

"I do not think there was. He gave evidence at the inquest, and so did I, sir, as you may suppose, most unwillingly; for the boy was a favourite of mine. I beg your pardon, sir--you say you are acquainted with Major McShane, and saw him this morning; is the interesting little boy you speak of as under his protection now at home or still at school?"

"I really cannot positively say," replied McShane; "but this is not holiday-time. Come, sir, we must not part yet; your conversation is too interesting. You must allow me to call for some more brandy; poor as I am, I must treat myself and you too. I wish I knew where I could pick up a little money; for, to tell you the truth, cash begins to run low."

Furness was now more than half drunk. "Well, sir," said he; "I have known money picked up without any difficulty: for instance, now, suppose we should fall in with this young rascal who committed the murder; there is 200 pounds offered for his apprehension and conviction."

"I thought as much," muttered McShane; "the infernal scoundrel! I suspect that you will find him where you are going to, Mr Furbish, he's got that far by this time."

"Between you and I, I think not, sir. My name is Furness, sir--I beg your pardon--not Furbish."

"Why you do not think he would be such a fool as to remain in the country after such an act?"

"The wicked are foolish, sir, as well as others," replied Furness, putting his finger to his nose, and looking very knowingly.

"That's truth, sir. Help yourself; you drink nothing. Excuse me one minute; I'll be back directly."

McShane left the box for a few minutes to explain to his wife what he was about, and to give time for the liquor to operate upon Furness. As he expected, he found, on his return, that Furness had finished his gla.s.s, and was more tipsy than when he left him.

The conversation was renewed, and McShane again pleading his poverty, and his wish to obtain money, brought out the proposal of Furness, who informed him that he had recognised the _protege_ of Major McShane to be the identical Joseph Rushbrook; that the boy had absconded from the school, and was concealed in the house. He concluded by observing to McShane, that, as he was so intimate with the major, it would be very easy for him to ascertain the fact, and offered him 50 pounds, as his share of the reward, if he would a.s.sist him in the boy's capture. It was lucky for Furness that McShane was surrounded by others, or in all probability there would have been another murder committed. The major, however, said he would think of it, and fell back in deep thought; what he was thinking of was what he should do to punish Furness. At last an idea came into his head; the rascal was drunk, and he proposed that he should go to another house, where they might find the major, and he would present him. Furness consented, and reeled out of the box; McShane, although he would as soon have touched a viper, controlled himself sufficiently to give Furness his arm, and leading him down by two or three back courts, he took him into an ale-house where there was a rendezvous for enlisting marines for the navy. As soon as they were seated, and had liquor before them, McShane spoke to the sergeant, tipped him a guinea, and said he had a good recruit for him, if he could be persuaded to enlist. He then introduced the sergeant as the major, and advised Furness to pretend to agree with him in everything. The sergeant told long stories, clapped Furness, who was now quite intoxicated, on the back, called him a jolly fellow, and asked him to enlist. "Say 'yes,' to please him," said McShane in his ear. Furness did so, received the s.h.i.+lling, and when he came to his senses next day, found his friend had disappeared, and that he was under an escort for Portsmouth. All remonstrances were unavailing; McShane had feed [paid a fee to] the sergeant, and had promised him a higher fee not to let Furness off; and the latter, having but a few s.h.i.+llings in his pocket, was compelled to submit to his fate.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN WHICH OUR HERO AGAIN FALLS IN WITH AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

For nearly two years Joey had filled his situation as chancellor of the exchequer to Mrs Chopper. He certainly did not feel himself always in the humour or the disposition for business, especially during the hard winter months, when, seated almost immovably in the boat during the best portion of the day, he would find his fingers so completely dead, that he could not hold his pen. But there is no situation, under any of the powers that be, that has not some drawback. People may say that a sinecure is one that has not its disadvantages; but such is not the case--there is the disgrace of holding it. At all events, Joey's place was no sinecure, for he was up early, and was employed the whole of the day.

Nancy, the young woman we have introduced to our readers, had contracted a great regard for our hero, ever since his offering her his money; and Joey was equally partial to her, for she possessed a warm heart and much good feeling, she would very often run upstairs into Mrs Chopper's room, to talk with the old lady and to see Joey, and would then take out her thimble and needle, examine his clothes, and make the necessary repairs.

"I saw you walking with little Emma Phillips, Peter," said Nancy: "where did you come to know her?"