Sketches by Seymour Part 33

I tried to console him, and found, upon a further confession, that he had flown to spirits "now and then," to blunt the sharp tooth of mental misery.

Here, then, was the chief cause of his want of success, which he blindly attributed to fate--the common failing of all weak minds. For my part, notwithstanding the imperial authority of the great Napoleon himself, I have no faith in Fate, believing that the effect, whether good or bad, may invariably be traced to some cause in the conduct of the individual, as certainly as the loss of a man, in a game of draughts, is the consequence of a "wrong move" by the player!--And poor Matthew's accusation of Fate put me in mind of the school-boy, who, during a wet vacation, rushed vindictively at the barometer, and struck it in the face, exclaiming--"Only three holidays left, and still this plaguey gla.s.s says 'very wet;'--I can't bear it--I can't--and I won't."

I did all in my power to comfort the little porter, exhorting him to diligence and sobriety.

"You were always a kind friend," said he, pathetically; "and perhaps--perhaps you will give me something to drink your health, for old-acquaintance sake." This unexpected turn compelled me to laughter.

I gave him sixpence.

Alas! Matthew, I found, was but a piece of coa.r.s.e gingerbread, tricked out with the Dutch metal of false sentiment.

CHAPTER XVI.--The Loss of a Friend.

"I say, ma'am, do you happen to have the hair of 'All round my hat I vears a green villow?'"

I was startled by the batho-romantic sentiment of Matthew, somewhat in the same manner as the young lady at the bookseller's, when she was accosted by a musical dustman, with--"I say, ma'am, do you happen to have the hair of 'All round my hat I vears a green villow?'"

But, however ridiculous they may appear, such incongruous characters are by no means caricatures--nay, are "as plentiful as blackberries,"

especially in the lower grades of society.

I was indulging in a reverie of this sort, when Monsieur Dubois, my kind and gentlemanly tutor, abruptly entered the office. I felt proud in having obtained his friendship--for he was to me a mine of wealth, and appeared master of every subject upon which my curiosity prompted me to inquire, whilst the worthy Frenchman was so flattered by my sincere respect, that he took a delight in imparting his knowledge to so willing and diligent a scholar.

Mr. Crobble had promised that I should continue my studies, being much pleased with the proof I had been fortunate enough to give him of my progress, generously offering to defray the charges of tuition; and I found in my new place, even more time than when in the employ of Mr.

Timmis: for, indeed, half-a-clerk would have been sufficient to have conducted the whole business.

I was no less surprised at the unusual abruptness of approach, than at the extraordinary excitement apparent in the manner of Monsieur Dubois; for he always boasted of his coolness and philosophy under all circ.u.mstances.

"Peace, peace!--'mon cher ami'--peace is proclaim"--cried he, raising his hat and his eyes to the dingy ceiling of our office--"Grace a Dieu!--le tyran Napoleon--le charlatan est renverse de son piedestal--oui, mon eleve--I vill see, again once more my dear France!"

He grasped my hand in his ecstasy, and tears filled his eyes to overflowing. I had heard rumours of the restoration of the Bourbons, but I had not antic.i.p.ated the loss of my inestimable tutor.

I was almost ashamed of my selfishness; but vanquished my feelings so far as to congratulate him on his prospects, with as much cordiality and appearance of truth as I could a.s.sume.

"I trust, however," said I, "that restored to your country, and your friends, you will find that happiness you so much deserve. Go where you will, you will be followed by the regrets of your English friends."

"Ah! les Anglais!--'combien'--how motch 'reconnaissance?'" said he, "I vill have for them! I sall them forget nevare!"

Mr. Crobble interrupted our colloquy. "All right t'other side the channel, Mounseer," cried be, elated; "we've licked Boney: he's done up; stocks are up; and Timmis, (your old master, Andrew) is as busy as a bee --only he's making money instead of honey!"

He shook hands with Monsieur Dubois; and congratulated him upon the restoration of Louis the Eighteenth.

I mentioned to him Monsieur Dubois' intention of proceeding immediately to France. "He's right," cried he; "let every man stick to his King and his country; and I say"--he suddenly checked himself, and beckoning me aside, continued in an under tone--"Andrew, you understand this Mounseer better than I do; he appears a good fellow in the main: if he should want a lift, to fit him out for the voyage, or any thing of that sort, tell him Corny Crobble will lend him a hand, for old acquaintance sake; I shan't stick at a matter of forty or fifty pound--you understand--put it to him, as a matter of business; for that'll suit his proud stomach best, perhaps"--then, turning to Monsieur, he said, "Excuse whispering before company, Mounseer Dubois. Good morning."

"Bon jour, Monsieur," replied Dubois, making my obese governor one of his most graceful bows.

I was highly gratified at being selected as the medium of this generous offer; which Monsieur Dubois received without hesitation, as one who intended to repay it; but, at the same time, with the most grateful acknowledgments of Mr. Crobble's considerate kindness.

CHAPTER XVII.--Promotion.

"I, think there must be something wrong about your rowing,"

"My rowing!" cried I; "nonsense!--it's because you don't steer right."

"I remember, when I was a young man, I once took a fancy to rowing," said Mr. Crobble one day to me. "I wasn't then quite so round as I am at present. Cousin Tom and I hired a wherry, but somehow we found we didn't make much way. Tom was steering, and I took the sculls, sitting my back to him like a gaby!"

"I, think there must be something wrong about your rowing," said Tom.

"My rowing!" cried I; "nonsense!--it's because you don't steer right.

Well, at last a waterman came alongside, and grinning (the fellow couldn't help it) good-naturedly, pointed out the cause of our dilemma; at which we both laughed heartily. Ever since that time I've been of opinion, that unless people, 'who row in the same boat,' understand each other, they'll never get along--"

I smiled at this lengthy prologue, not conceiving to what it could possibly lead.

"Now, Mr. Andrew," resumed he, "I mean to be very industrious, and devote a whole day to giving you an insight into the business; after which I expect you'll pull away, while I only steer, which will suit me to a T--, you understand."

"Exactly, sir," I replied; and, in consequence, he really set about the task; and I soon acquired sufficient knowledge in the business, as not only to row in the same boat with him, but, what was still more agreeable to my patron's indolence, to manage the "craft" without his a.s.sistance.

Six months after the departure of Monsieur Dubois, he sent a remittance, with interest on the amount, advanced by Mr. Crobble, with a long epistle to me, stating, that he had entered into partnership with his elder brother, and commenced the business of a banker, under the firm of "Dubois Freres," at the same time informing me that they were already doing a large stroke of business, and wanted an agent in London, requesting me to inform him if it would be agreeable to Mr. Crobble for them to draw upon his respectable house.

I saw at once the advantages of this correspondence, and so warmly solicited Mr. Crobble to accede, that he at last consented, provided I undertook the whole management of the affair.

The English were now daily flocking to Paris, and the money required for their lavish expenditure in the gay capital of France compelled their application to the bankers.

Messrs. Dubois Freres had their share of this lucrative business, and, as their agents in London, we necessarily became partic.i.p.ators in their large transactions.

In three months these operations had increased so enormously, and the profits were so considerable, that Mr. Crobble not only advanced my salary, but consented to engage the a.s.sistance of two junior clerks. I was now a man of some consideration. I was the senior clerk of the establishment, although the youngest of the three.

In two years I found myself at the head of six clerks, and had as much business as I could possibly manage.

My star was in the ascendant. I had not only more money than I required for my expenses, but was enabled to maintain my poor old father, who daily became more and more infirm.

I rented a small cottage at the rural village of Hackney, but my labour occupied me early and late, and it was only on a Sunday I could really enjoy my home.

Three years after quitting the office of Mr. Timmis, I had the inexpressible pleasure of employing him to purchase stock for his errand boy! I was proud as a king.

"I said that boy would turn out well," said the good-natured Mr. Wallis; "he always had a good principle."

"And now bids fair," said Mr. Timmis, "to have both princ.i.p.al and interest."

Mr. Crobble having lately had a large property left him in Hertfordshire, rarely came to the office above once a-quarter, to settle accounts.

"A good dividend--a very good dividend!" said he, upon receipt of the last quarter's profits. "But, Mr. Mullins, I cannot forget that this business is your child."