CHAPTER IX.

CONVERSATIONS.

OUR good-natured Begum was at first so much enraged at this last instance of her husband's duplicity and folly, that she refused to give Sir Francis Clavering any aid in order to meet his debts of honor, and declared that she would separate from him, and leave him to the consequences of his incorrigible weakness and waste. After that fatal day's transactions at the Derby, the unlucky gambler was in such a condition of mind that he was disposed to avoid everybody; alike his turf-associates with whom he had made debts which he trembled lest he should not have the means of paying, and his wife, his long-suffering banker, on whom he reasonably doubted whether he should be allowed any longer to draw. When Lady Clavering asked the next morning whether Sir Francis was in the house, she received answer that he had not returned that night, but had sent a messenger to his valet, ordering him to forward clothes and letters by the bearer. Strong knew that he should have a visit or a message from him in the course of that or the subsequent day, and accordingly got a note beseeching him to call upon his distracted friend, F. C., at Short's Hotel, Blackfriars, and ask for Mr. Francis there. For the Baronet was a gentleman of that peculiarity of mind that he would rather tell a lie than not, and always began a contest with fortune by running away

wing himself. The Boots of Mr. Short's estabSent, who carried Clavering's message to GrosHor Place, and brought back his carpet-bag, was santly aware who was the owner of the bag, and emparted his information to the footman who vas laving the breakfast-table, who carried down the ews to the servants' hall, who took it to Mrs. Boner my lady's housekeeper and confidential maid, vo carried it to my lady. And thus every single Person in the Grosvenor Place establishment knew

Sir Francis was in hiding, under the name of Francis, at an inn in the Blackfriars Road. And Sir rancis's coachman told the news to other gentlemen's oachmen, who carried it to their masters, and to the

aboring Tattersall's, where very gloomy anticipations were formed that Sir Francis Clavering was out to make a tour in the Levant.

In the course of that day the number of letters adressed to Sir Francis Clavering, Bart., which found

way to his hall table, was quite remarkable. French cook sent in his account to my lady; the who supplied her ladyship's table, and Finer and Gimcrack, the mercers and ornadealers, and Madame Crinoline, the eminent 'so forwarded their little bills to her company with Miss Amory's private, means inconsiderable, account at each

e alternoon of the day after the Derby, when a ter a colloquy with his principal at Short's o he found crying and drinking Curaçoa) esact business according to his custom at cace Pace, he found all these suspicious docu

ed the Baronet's study; and began to open ALERine them with a rueful countenance.

Mrs. Bonner, my lady's maid and housekeeper, came down upon him whilst engaged in this occupation. Mrs. Bonner, a part of the family, and as necessary to her mistress as the Chevalier was to Sir Francis, was of course on Lady Clavering's side in the dispute between her and her husband, and as by duty bound even more angry than her ladyship herself.

and say

"She won't pay, if she takes my advice," Mrs. Bonner said. "You'll please to go back to Sir Francis, Captain and he lurking about in a low public-house and don't dare to face his wife like a man! that we won't pay his debts no longer. We made a man of him, we took him out of jail (and other folks too perhaps), we've paid his debts over and over again

we set him up in Parliament and gave him a house in town and country, and where he don't dare show his face, the shabby sneak! We've given him the horse he rides and the dinner he eats and the very clothes he has on his back; and we will give him no more. Our fortune, such as is left of it, is left to ourselves, and we won't waste any more of it on this ungrateful man. We'll give him enough to live upon and leave him, that's what we 'll do: and that's what you may tell him from Susan Bonner."

Susan Bonner's mistress hearing of Strong's arrival sent for him at this juncture, and the Chevalier went up to her ladyship not without hopes that he should find her more tractable than her factotum Mrs. Bonner. Many a time before had he pleaded his client's cause with Lady Clavering and caused her good-nature to relent. He tried again once more. He painted in dismal colors the situation in which he had found Sir Francis: and would not answer for any consequences which might ensue if he could not find means of meeting his engagements.

laughed M. Kommer. "kill hisself,

ng's the best time that he had found in it at this, in her "He do

s a shilling left

His life's mus.

on that. 41: =

> on him.”

se than the is. m

ump. “He was & the had the

he could do." with the razors Lady Clavering no harm, as he can rob a Captain: you

as a bad day that

whan's the use

cried out my

he was—a

of a man

of my lady

and selling ber diamonds, and for.ie 'll be as bad again next year. The he has he & cheating of her, her; and her money will go to keep es and swinders-I don't mean you, e been a good tend to us enough, we'd never se eyes on you"

saw from the wards which Mrs. slip regarding the diamonds, that was disposed to relent once more there were hopes still for his

i, Ma'am," he said, with a real feelfor Lady Clavering's troubles, and er untiring good-nature, and with a

which advanced not a little his cause "anything you say against Bonner here cries out against me, ve deserve, both of us, and it was you when you saw either. He to you: and if you were not the ergiving woman in the world, I

know there would be no chance for him. But you can't let the father of your son be a disgraced man, and send little Frank into the world with such a stain upon him. Tie him down; bind him by any promises you like: I vouch for him that he will subscribe them."

"And break 'em," said Mrs. Bonner.

"And keep 'em this time," cried out Strong. "He must keep them. If you could have seen how he wept, Ma'am! 'Oh, Strong,' he said to me, 'it's not for myself I feel now: it's for my boy -it's for the best woman in England, whom I have treated basely -I know I have.' He did n't intend to bet upon this race, Ma'am—indeed he did n't. He was cheated into it: all the ring was taken in. might make the bet quite safely, without the least risk. And it will be a lesson to him for all his life long. To see a man cry Oh, it's dreadful." "He don't think much of making my dear Missus cry," said Mrs. Bonner "poor dear soul! he does, Captain."

-

He thought he

look if

"If you've the soul of a man, Clavering," Strong said to his principal, when he recounted this scene to him, "you'll keep your promise this time: and, so help me, Heaven! if you break word with her, I'll turn against you and tell all."

"What, all?” cried Mr. Francis, to whom his ambassador brought the news back at Short's Hotel, where Strong found the Baronet crying and drinking Curaçoa.

"Psha! Do you suppose I am a fool?" burst out Strong. "Do you suppose I could have lived so long in the world, Frank Clavering, without having my eyes about me? You know I have but to speak and