A Set of Rogues

by Frank Barrett

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  _Don Sanchez proposes a very artful way to make Mr. Godwin a party toour knavery, etc._

  I returned to Hurst Court the following day in the forenoon, and there Ifound Mr. Godwin, with Moll clinging to his arm, in an upper roomcommanding a view of the northern slopes, discussing their future, andMoll told me with glee how this room was to be her husband's workroom,where he would paint pictures for the admiration of all the world,saying that he would not (nor would she have him) renounce his callingto lead the idle life of a country gentleman.

  "If the world admire my pictures, the world shall pay to have them,"says he, with a smile; then turning to her he adds very tenderly: "Iwill owe all my happiness to you, sweetheart; yet guard my independencein more material matters. No mercenary question shall ever castsuspicion on my love."

  Seeing I was not wanted here, I left them to settle their prospectives,and sought Don Sanchez, whom I found reading in a room below, seated ina comfortable chair before a good fire of apple logs. To please me, heshut up his book and agreed to take a stroll in the park while dinnerwas a-dressing. So we clap on our hats and cloaks and set forth, talkingof indifferent matters till we are come into a fair open glade (whichsort of place the prudent Don did ever prefer to holes and corners forsecret conference), and then he told me how Moll and Mr. Godwin hadalready decided they would be married in three weeks.

  "Three weeks?" says I. "I would it were to be done in three days." Towhich desire the Don coincides with sundry grave nods, and then tells mehow Moll would have herself cried in church, for all to know, and thatnothing may be wanting to her husband's dignity.

  "After all," says I, "three weeks is no such great matter. And now,Senor, do tell me what you think of all this."

  "If you had had the ordering of your own destiny, you could not havecontrived it better," answers he. "'Tis a most excellent game, and youcannot fail to win if" (here he pauses to blow his nose) "if the cardsare played properly."

  This somehow brought Dawson into my thoughts, and I told the Don of myvisit to him, and how he did purpose to come down to see Moll; whereatthe Don, stopping short, looked at me very curiously with his eyebrowsraised, but saying nothing.

  "'Tis no more than natural that a father should want to see what kind ofman is to be his daughter's husband," says I, in excuse, "and if he_will_ come, what are we to do?"

  "I know what I should do in your place, Mr. Hopkins," says he, quietly.

  "Pray, Senor, what is that?"

  "Squeeze all the money you can out of old Simon before he comes,"answers he. "And it wouldn't be amiss to make Mr. Godwin party to thisbusiness by letting him have a hundred or two for his presentnecessities at once."

  Acting on this hint, when Moll left us after supper and we three menwere seated before the fire, I asked Mr. Godwin if he would permit me tospeak upon a matter which concerned his happiness no less than hiscousin Judith's.

  "Nay, sir," replies he, "I do pray you to be open with me, for otherwiseI must consider myself unworthy of your friendship."

  "Well, sir," says I, "my mind is somewhat concerned on account of whatyou said this morning; namely, that no pecuniary question shall ever bediscussed betwixt you and your wife, and that you will owe nothing toher but happiness. This, together with your purpose of painting picturesto sell, means, I take it, that you will leave your wife absolutemistress of her present fortune."

  "That is the case exactly, Mr. Hopkins," says he. "I am not indifferentto the world's esteem, and I would give no one reason to suspect that Ihad married my dear cousin to possess her fortune."

  "Nevertheless, sir, you would not have it thought that she begrudged youan equal share of her possessions. Your position will necessitate acertain outlay. To maintain your wife's dignity and your own, you mustdress well, mount a good horse, be liberal in hospitality, give largelyto those in need, and so forth. With all due respect to your genius inpainting, I can scarcely think that art will furnish you at once withsupplies necessary to meet all these demands."

  "All this is very true, Mr. Hopkins," says he, after a littlereflection; "to tell the truth, I have lived so long in want thatpoverty has become my second nature, and so these matters have notentered into my calculations. Pray, sir, continue."

  "Your wife, be she never so considerate, may not always anticipate yourneeds; and hence at some future moment this question of supplies mustarise--unless they are disposed of before your marriage."

  "If that could be done, Mr. Hopkins," says he, hopefully.

  "It may be done, sir, very easily. With your cousin's consent and yours,I, as her elected guardian, at this time will have a deed drawn up to besigned by you and her, settling one-half the estate upon you, and theother on your cousin. This will make you not her debtor, but herbenefactor; for without this deed, all that is now hers becomes yours bylegal right upon your marriage, and she could not justly give away ashilling without your permission. And thus you assure to her the sameindependence that you yourself would maintain."

  "Very good," says Don Sanchez, in a sonorous voice of approval, as helies back in his high chair, his eyes closed, and a cigarro in thecorner of his mouth.

  "I thank you with all my heart, Mr. Hopkins," says Mr. Godwin, warmly."I entreat you have this deed drawn up--if it be my wife's wish."

  "You may count with certainty on that," says I; "for if my argumentslacked power, I have but to say 'tis your desire, and 'twould be donethough it took the last penny from her."

  He made no reply to this, but bending forward he gazed into the fire,with a rapture in his face, pressing one hand within the other as if itwere his sweetheart's.

  "In the meantime," says I, "if you have necessity for a hundred or twoin advance, you have but to give me your note of hand."

  "Can you do me this service?" cries he, eagerly. "Can you let me havefive hundred by to-morrow?"

  "I believe I can supply you to the extent of six or seven."

  "All that you can," says he; "for besides a pressing need that will takeme to London to-morrow, I owe something to a friend here that I wouldfain discharge."

  Don Sanchez waived his hand cavalierly, though I do believe the subtleSpaniard had hinted at this business as much for his own ends as for ourassurance.

  "I will have it ready against we meet in the morning," says I. "You areso certain of her sanction?" he asks in delight, as if he could not toomuch assure himself of Moll's devotion.

  "She has been guided by me in all matters relating to her estate, andwill be in this, I am convinced. But here's another question, sir,which, while we are about business, might be discussed with advantage.My rule here is nearly at an end. Have you decided who shall govern theestate when I am gone?"

  "Only that when I have authority that rascal Simon shall be turned fromhis office, neck and crop. He loves me as little as he loves hismistress, that he would set us by the ears for his own advantage."

  "An honest man, nevertheless--in his peculiar way," observes the Don.

  "Honest!" cries Mr. Godwin, hotly. "He honest who would have sufferedJudith to die in Barbary! He shall go."

  "Then you will take in your own hands the control of your joint estate?"

  "I? Why, I know no more of such matters than the man in the moon."

  "With all respect to your cousin's abilities, I cannot think herqualified for this office."

  "Surely another steward can be found."

  "Undoubtedly," says I. "But surely, sir, you'd not trust all to himwithout some supervision. Large sums of money must pass through hishands, and this must prove a great temptation to dishonest practices.'Twould not be fair to any man."

  "This is true," says he. "And yet from natural disinclination,ignorance, and other reasons, I would keep out of it." Then after somereflection he adds, "My cousin has told me how you have lost all yourfortune in saving her, and that 'tis not yet possible to repay you. MayI ask, sir, without offence, if you have any occupation for your timewhen you leave us?"

 
"I went to London when I left you to see what might be done; but amerchant without money is like a carpenter without tools."

  "Then, sir, till your debt is discharged, or you can find some morepleasant and profitable engagement, would you not consent to governthese affairs? I do not ask you to stay here, though assuredly you willever be a welcome guest; but if you would have one of the houses on theestate or come hither from time to time as it might fit your otherpurposes, and take this office as a matter of business, I should regardit as a most generous, friendly kindness on your part."

  I promised him with some demur, and yet with the civility his offerdemanded, to consider of this; and so our debate ended, and I went tobed, very well content with myself, for thus will vanity blind us to ourfaults.