Blind Policy Part 16

"Well, Orthur, putting that and that together--his quick, jerky, excited way, and his fierce-looking eyes, and his ignorance of Society etiquette as to strangers calling, and wanting to see everybody, just as if he was one of the oldest friends of the family--I should say that he's one of those chaps who get a few names o' people out o' Directories, and then goes and calls."

"For swindling and picking up anything as is not out of his reach, sir, or about money?"

"Well, say a bit touched in the head, Orthur." The butler put his hand to his throat to try whether the tie of his white cravat was in its place, and looked up the street and down, acts imitated exactly by his lieutenant, and for some minutes nothing more was said. Then the footman in very respectful tones--

"Ever try your 'and, Mr Roach, sir, at any of those gambling shops abroad?"

"Well, once or twice, Orthur," said the butler, relaxing a little to his junior. "I was with a young n.o.bleman out at Homburg and Baden and one or two other places."

"And how did you get on, sir?"

"Oh, I made a few louis, Orthur, and I should have made more if we had stopped, I daresay."

"Lor'! How I should like to have a bit of a try there, sir," said the footman, eagerly.

"You would, Orthur, eh? You mean it?"

"Mean it, sir? I should just think I should. That's what Mr Robert's after now, I'll bet; and look at the money, Mr Dennis--Mr Paddy-- pockets over his flutters there, let alone over every race and event coming off. Ah, it's fine to be them."

"Well, yes, Orthur, my good lad, I suppose they do pretty well. You see, if I or you were disposed to put a sov'rin or two on the next event--"

"Half-a-crown's 'bout my figure, sir."

"Ah, well, say half-a-crown, Orthur; it may turn up a pound, or two pound, or three pound. It might even be a fiver. But with them when they win, it's hundreds or thousands."

"Ah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the footman, smacking his lips.

"By the way, there's Newmarket coming again next week."

"Yes, sir; got anything on?"

"Well, no, not yet, Orthur; perhaps I may."

"Do, sir, and I will, too. Mr Roach, sir," whispered the young man behind his hand, as the butler turned upon him with a look of reproof for his a.s.sumption, "Black Pepper, sir."

"What, my good boy! Why, that horse is at fifty to one."

"That's it, sir; and I'm going half-a-crown on him."

"Better keep it in your pocket, my lad," said the butler, blandly.

"No, sir; I think not. I've got the tip."

"Eh?" said the butler, eagerly. "Where from?"

"I heered Mr Paddy tell Mr James, sir, that it was a sure thing, and Mr James gave him gold out of his cash-box in the lib'ry--little rolls out of that big tin box of his. I didn't hear no more, but that was quite enough for me."

"Eh? Yes," said the butler, dropping his superior way of speaking to whisper confidentially, "it will do for me too, Orthur. I'll give you half-a-sovereign to put on at the same time. Let me see, Orthur, we're not very busy this afternoon, and I shall be about to answer the door.

Come down to the pantry, and I'll give you the money, and you can go and make the bets before they get to a different price."

"All right, sir, I will," said the footman excitedly. "Beg pardon, sir," he continued, as the door closed and they stood together in the elaborately-furnished hall. "Yes, Orthur, what is it?"

"Could you oblige me with half-a-crown, sir, till I get my wages?"

"Humph! Well, my lad, I do make it a rule never to lend money, but seeing that it is you, Orthur, a lad that I can trust--"

"Oh, yes, sir, you may trust me."

"I will let you have the money."

"Thank ye, sir, and I'll go at once."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A FATAL ATTRACTION.

"You, Isabel dear!" cried Laura one day, as the visitor whom she had looked upon as a sister was shown into the room.

"Yes, dear, I felt obliged to come. Don't, pray don't be ashamed of me and think me weak," pleaded the poor girl, as they embraced and then sat down together upon the couch.

"How can you say such things!" cried Laura, warmly, as she pa.s.sed her arm about her friend's waist.

"Because I feel that I deserve it, dear. I know how weak and foolish I am. I have been watching for an hour till I saw him go out."

"You have been watching, Bel?"

"Yes, dear; from a brougham with the blinds partly drawn down. We are in town now. Papa says I must have a change, and we are staying here for a few days before they take me over to Paris. Laura dear, I was obliged to come. Don't betray me, please, to anyone. They would be so angry if they knew, and say that I was shameless. I suppose I am, dear, but I hope you can sympathise with me a little."

"Not a little, Bel dear," cried Laura, warmly, and Isabel flung her arms about her friend's neck, buried her face in her breast and sobbed violently for a few minutes before she raised her thin white face and said quite calmly, with a piteous smile on her lip--

"There, I told you how weak I was. I feel so much better now. I would have given anything for days and days to cry like that, but I could not.

My head has been hot, and my brain seemed dry and burnt up. Now I can talk. But tell me, is--is he likely to come back?"

"No," said Laura, shaking her head. "He will not be back till night, and even if he did return he would not come here, but go straight to his room and shut himself in."

"Has--has he told you anything?"

"No, dear; he hardly ever speaks either to me or aunt. He did say that he was kept away to attend an important patient."

"Yes, yes, of course. That must be it."

Laura was silent. Aunt Grace had sown a seed in her heart which had begun to grow rapidly, in spite of her sisterly efforts to check it as a noxious weed.

"Well, why don't you speak?" cried the visitor, sharply.

"Because I have nothing to say."