Tom Burke Of "Ours" Volume I Part 23

"My dear captain," cried he, putting his hand on Bubbleton's arm, "I never was so sorry in my life; but I must hurry away to the Privy Council. I shall be here, however, at four; and if you will meet me at that time with the other security, we can arrange this little matter at once." So saying, he seized his hat, bowed politely round the room, and left us.

"Come along, Tom!" cried Bubbleton, taking me by the arm. "Devilish good fellow that! Knew I 'd tickle him with the tiger; nothing to what I could have told him, however, if he had waited."

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Barton, interposing between us and the door; "Mr. Burke is in custody until the formality at least of a bail be gone through."

"So he is," said Bubbleton; "I forgot all about it. So good-by, Tom, for half an hour; I 'll not be longer, depend on it."

With this he shook me warmly by the hand, bustled out of the room, and hurried downstairs, humming a tune as he went, apparently in capital spirits, while I knew from his manner that the bail he was in search of had about as much existence as the tiger in the Neelgharries.

"You can wait in this room, sir," said Barton, opening the door of a small apartment which had no other exit save through this office.

I sat down in silence and in sorrow of heart, to speculate, as well as I was able, on the consequences of my misfortune. I knew enough of Bubbleton to be certain that all chance of a.s.sistance in that quarter was out of the question: the only source he could draw upon being his invention; the only wealth he possessed, the riches of his imagination, which had, however, this advantage over any other species of property I ever heard of,--the more he squandered it, the more affluent did he become. Time wore on; the clock struck four, and yet no appearance of Bubbleton. Another hour rolled by,--no one came near me; and at length, from the perfect stillness without, I believed they had forgotten me.

CHAPTER XVI. THE BAIL.

Six o'clock, seven, and even eight struck; and yet no one came. The monotonous tread of the sentry on guard at the Castle gate and the occasional challenge to some pa.s.sing stranger were the only sounds I heard above the distant hum of the city, which grew fainter gradually as evening fell. At last I heard the sound of a key moving in a lock, the bang of a door, and then came the noise of many voices as the footsteps mounted the stairs, amid which Bubbleton's was pre-eminently loud. The party entered the room next to where I sat, and from the tones I could collect that Major Barton and Mr. Cooke were of the number. Another there was, too, whose voice was not absolutely new or strange to my ears, though I could not possibly charge my memory where I had heard it before.

While I was thus musing, the door opened noiselessly, and Bubbleton entering without a word, closed it behind him, and approached me on tiptoe.

"All right, my boy; they're doing the needful outside; ready in ten minutes: never was such a piece of fortune; found out a glorious fellow; heard of him from Hicks the money-lender; he'll go security to any amount; knows your family well; knew your father, grandfather, I believe; delighted to meet you; says he 'd rather see you than fifty pounds."

"Who is he, for Heaven's sake?" said I, impatiently; for it was a new thing to me to receive anything like kindness on the score of my father's memory.

"Eh! who is he? He 's a kind of a bill-broking, mortgaging, bail-giving, devilish good sort of fellow. I 've a notion he 'd do a bit of something at three months."

"But his name? what 's he called?"

"His name is,--let me see,--his name is--But who cares for his name?

He can write it, I suppose, on a stamp, my boy; that 's the mark. Bless your heart, I only spoil a stamp when I put my autograph across it; it would be worth prime cost till then. What a glorious thing is youth,--unfledged, unblemished youth,--to possess a name new to the Jews, a reputation against which no one has 'protested' I Tom Burke, my boy, I envy you. Now, when I write George Frederick Augustus Bubbleton on any bill, warrant, or quittance, straightway there 's a grin around the circle,--a kind of a d.a.m.ned impertinent sort of a half-civil smile, as though to say 'nulla bona,' payable nowhere. But hold! that was a tap at the door. Oh, they want us."

So saying, the captain opened the door and introduced me.

"I say, Tom," cried he, "come here, and thank our kind friend, Mr.--Mr.--"

"Mr. Ba.s.set!" said I, starting back, as my eyes beheld the pale, sarcastic features of the worthy attorney, who stood at the table, conversing in a low tone with the Under-Secretary.

"Eh I what 's the matter?" whispered Bubbleton as he saw my color come and go, and perceived that I leaned on a chair for support. "What the devil 's wrong now?"

"You 've betrayed me to my greatest enemy," said I, in a low, distinct voice.

"Eh! what? Why, you seem to have nothing but foes in the world. Confound it, that's always my luck; my infernal good-nature is everlastingly making a wrong plunge."

"In that case, if I understand the matter aright, the bail is unnecessary," said Mr. Cooke, addressing Ba.s.set, who never turned his head to the part of the room where we stood.

"No, sir; it is not necessary. While the law a.s.sists me to resume my guardianship of this young gentleman, I am answerable for his appearance."

"The indentures are quite correct," said Barton, as he laid the papers on the table, "as I believe Mr. Ba.s.set's statement to be also."

"No bail necessary," interrupted Bubbleton, rubbing his hands pleasantly; "so much the better. Wish them good evening, Tom, my hearty; we shall be back in time for supper. You wouldn't take an oyster, Mr.

Cooke?"

"I thank you very much, but I am unfortunately engaged."

"Not so fast, captain, I beg you," said Ba.s.set, with a most servile but malignant expression in his features. "The habits I would inculcate to my apprentice are not exactly consistent with mess parties and barrack suppers."

"Apprentice! apprentice!" said Bubbleton, starting as if stung by a wasp. "Eh! you 're surely not--not the--the--"

"Yes, sir; there's the indenture, signed and sealed, if you are desirous to satisfy yourself. The young gentleman himself will not deny his father's instructions concerning him."

I hung down my head, abashed and ashamed. The tears started to my eyes; I turned away to wipe them, and feared to face the others again. I saw that Bubbleton, my only friend, believed I had practised some deceit on him; and how to explain, without disclosing what I dare not.

There was a bustle in the room; a sound of voices; the noise of feet descending the stairs; and when I again looked round, they were all gone save Ba.s.set, who was leisurely collecting his papers together and fastening them with a string. I turned my eyes everywhere, to see if Bubbleton had not remained. But no; he had left me like the rest, and I was alone with the man I most dreaded and disliked of all the world.

"Well, sir," said Ba.s.set, as he thrust the papers into the pocket of his greatcoat, "I'm ready now."

"Where to, sir?" replied I, sternly, as he moved to leave the room; for without thinking of how and why I was to succeed in it, a vague resolution of defiance flitted through my mind.

"To my house, sir; or to Newgate, if you prefer it. Don't mistake, young gentleman, for a moment, the position you occupy; you owe your liberation at this moment not to any merits of your own. Your connection with the disaffected and rebellious body is well known: my interest with the Government is your only protection. Again, sir, let me add, that I have no peculiar desire for your company in my family; neither the habits nor the opinions you have acquired will suit those you 'll meet there."

"Why, then, have you interfered with me?" said I, pa.s.sionately. "Why not have left me to my fate? Be it what it might, it would have been not less acceptable, I a.s.sure you, than to become an inmate of your house."

"That question were very easily answered," said he, interrupting me.

"Then, why not do so?"

"Come, come, sir; these are not the terms which are to subsist between us, nor is this the place to discuss our difference. Follow me."

He led the way downstairs as he spoke, and, taking my arm within his, turned into the street. Without a word on either side, we proceeded down Parliament Street, and crossing Ess.e.x Bridge, followed the quays for some time; then turning into Stafford Street, we arrived at a house, when having taken a latchkey from his pocket. Ba.s.set opened the door and ushered me in, muttering half aloud as he turned the key in the lock, and fastened the bolt, "Safe at last!" We turned from the narrow hall into a small parlor, which, from its dingy furniture of writing-desk and stools, I guessed to serve as an office. Here my companion lit a candle from the embers of the fire, and having carefully closed the door, he motioned me to a seat.

"I have already told you, sir, that I am not in the least covetous of your company in my house; circ.u.mstances which I may or may not explain hereafter have led me to rescue you from the disgrace you must eventually have brought upon your family."

"Hold, sir; I have none, save a brother--"

"Well, sir; and your brother's feelings are, I trust, not to be slightingly treated--a young gentleman whose position and prospects are of the very highest order."

"You are his agent, I perceive Mr. Ba.s.set," said I, with a significant smile.

"I am, sir," replied he, with a deep flush that mounted even to his forehead.

"Then let me save you all further trouble on my account," said I, calmly. "My brother's indifference to me or my fate has long since absolved me from any regret I might feel for the consequences which my actions might induce on his fortunes. His own conduct must stamp him, as mine must me. I choose to judge for myself; and not even Mr.

Ba.s.set shall decide for me, although I am well aware his powers of discrimination have had the double advantage of experience on both sides of the question."

As I said this, his face became almost livid, and his white lips quivered with pa.s.sion. He knew not before that I was acquainted with his history, nor that I knew of his having sold to the Government information which brought his schoolfellow and benefactor to the scaffold.

"Come, come," continued I, gaining courage, as I saw the effect my words produced, "it is not your interest to injure me, however it may be your wish. Is there no arrangement we can come to, mutually advantageous? We shall be but sorry companions. I ought to have some property under my grandfather's will."

"There is, I believe, five hundred pounds," said Ba.s.set, with a slow distinctness, as if not rejecting the turn the conversation had taken.