Confessions Of Con Cregan, the Irish Gil Blas. Lever Charles James

tarnished by such a proceeding. Against such reasonings there could be no opposition; and Broughton only took to himself all the benefits he had destined for his friend.

      At last the eventful day came; and although Sir Dudley had arranged that Lady Broughton should accompany him to the course, she was taken with some kind of nervous attack that prevented her leaving her bed. Her husband was provoked at this ill-timed illness, for he was still vain of her appearance in public; but knowing that he could do nothing for hysterics, he sent for Doctor Barham, and then with all speed he started for the race.

      Among the friends who were to go along with him, the count had promised to make one; but despatches – that admirable excuse of diplomatists, from the great secretary to the humblest unpaid attaché – despatches had just arrived; and if he could manage to get through his business early enough, “he’d certainly follow.”

      Scarcely had Sir Dudley reached the ground when a carriage drove up to the stand, and a gentleman descended in all haste. It was Mr. Taperton, his solicitor, – his trusty man of loans and discounts for many a day, “Eh, Tappy!” cried Broughton, “come to sport a fifty on the filly?”

      “Walk a little this way, Sir Dudley,” said he, gravely; and his voice soon convinced the hearer that something serious was in the wind.

      “What’s the matter, man? You look as if Cardinal was dead lame.”

      “Sir Dudley, you must start from this at once. Holdsworth has taken proceedings on the bills; Lord Corthern has foreclosed; the whole body of the creditors are up; and you ‘ll be arrested before you leave the field!”

      If the threat had conveyed the ignominious penalty of felony, Broughton could not have looked more indignant. “Arrested! You don’t mean that we cannot raise enough to pay these rascals?”

      “Your outstanding bills are above twenty thousand, sir.”

      “And if they be; do you tell me that with my estate – ”

      “My dear Sir Dudley, how much of it is unencumbered? What single portion, save the few hundreds a year of Lady Broughton’s jointure, is not sunk under mortgage? But this is no time for discussion; get into the chaise with me; we ‘ll reach London in time for the mail; to-morrow you can be in Boulogne, and then we shall have time at least for an arrangement.”

      “The race is just coming off! how can I leave? I’m a steward; besides, I have a tremendous book. Do you know how many thousands I stand to win here?”

      “To lose, you mean,” said the solicitor. “You ‘re sold!” The words were whispered so low as to be almost inaudible; but Broughton actually staggered as he heard them.

      “Sold! how? what? Impossible, man! Who could sell me?”

      “Only one man, perhaps, but he has done it! Is it true you have backed Calliope?”

      “Yes!” said he, staring wildly.

      “She was found hamstrung this morning in the stable, then,” said Taperton; “if you want to hear further particulars, you must ask your friend the Count Radchoffsky!”

      “The scoundrel! the black-hearted villain! I see it all!” cried Broughton. “Come, Taperton, let us start! I’ll go with you; by Jove, you have found a way to make me eager for the road!”

      The lawyer read in the bloodshot eye and flushed face the passion for vengeance that was boiling within him, but he never spoke as they moved on and entered the carriage.

      It was full three hours before the expected time of his return, when the chaise in which they travelled drew up at the Clarendon, and Broughton, half wild with rage, dashed upstairs to the suite of splendid rooms he occupied.

      “Oh, dear, Sir Dudley,” cried the maid, as she saw him hastening along the corridor, “oh, I ‘m sure, sir, how you ‘ll alarm my lady if she sees you so flurried!”

      “Stand out of the way, woman!” said he, roughly, endeavoring to push her to one side, for she had actually placed herself between him and the door of the drawing-room.

      “Surely, sir, you’ll not terrify my lady! Surely, Sir Dudley – ”

      Despite her cries, for they had now become such, Broughton pushed her rudely from the spot, and entered the room.

      Great was his astonishment to find Lady Broughton, whom he had left so ill, not only up, but dressed as if for the promenade; her face was flushed, and her eye restless and feverish; and her whole manner exhibited the highest degree of excitement.

      Broughton threw down his hat upon the table, and then, returning to the door, locked and bolted it.

      “Good Heavens, Dudley!” exclaimed she, in a voice of terror, “what has happened?”

      “Everything!” said he; “utter ruin! The whole crew of creditors are in full chase after me, and in a few hours we shall be stripped of all we possess.”

      She drew a long full breath as she listened; and had her husband been in a mood to mark it, he might have seen how lightly his terrible tidings affected her.

      “I must fly! Taperton – he’s in the carriage below – says France, at least for some weeks, till we can make some compromise or other; but I have one debt that must be acquitted before I leave.”

      There was a terrible significance in the words, and she was sick to the heart as she asked, “What, and to whom?”

      “Radchoffsky!” cried he, savagely; “that scoundrel whom I trusted like a brother!”

      Lady Broughton fell back, and for a moment her motionless limbs and pallid features seemed like fainting; but with a tremendous effort rallying herself, she said, “Go on!”

      “He betrayed me, – told every circumstance of my book! And the mare I had backed for more than thirty thousand is dying this instant; so that I am not only ruined, but dishonored!”

      She sat with wide staring eyes and half-open lips while he spoke, nor did she seem, in the fearful confusion of her fear, to understand fully all he said.

      “Have I not spoken plainly?” said he, angrily. “Don’t you comprehend me when I say that to-morrow I shall be branded as a defaulter at the settling? But enough of this. Tell Millar to get a portmanteau ready for me. I ‘ll start this evening; the interval is short enough for all I have to do.” As he spoke, he hastened to his bedroom, and, providing himself with a case containing his duelling-pistols, he hurried downstairs, ordering the postilion to drive to the Russian Embassy.

      The carriage was scarce driven from the door when Lady Broughton, taking a key from her pocket, opened a small door which led from the drawing-room into her dressing-room, from which the count walked forth, – his calm features unruffled and easy as though no emotion had ever stirred them.

      “You heard what Broughton said?” whispered she, in an accent of faltering agitation.

      “Oui, parbleu, every word of it!” replied he, laughing gently. “The people of the house might almost have heard him.”

      “And is it true?” asked she, while a cold sickness crept over her, and her mouth was shaken convulsively.

      “I believe so,” said he, calmly.

      “Oh, Alexis, do not say so!” cried she, in an agony of grief; “or, least of all, in such a voice as that.”

      He shrugged his shoulders; and then, after a moment’s pause, said, “I confess myself quite unprepared for this show of affection, madame – ”

      “Not so, Alexis. It is for you I am concerned; for your honor as a gentleman; for your fair fame among men – ”

      “Pardon, madame, if I interrupt you; but the defence of my honor must be left to myself – ”

      “If I had but thought this of you – ”

      “It is never too late for repentance, madame. I should be sorry to think I could deceive you.”

      “Oh, it is too late, far too late!” cried she, bursting into tears. “Let us