Can You Forgive Her?

  CHAPTER LXXVI.

  The Landlord's Bill.

  "You are in trouble, Mr. Fitzgerald, I fear," said Mr. Palliser,standing over Burgo as he lay upon the ground. They were nowaltogether beyond the gas-lights, and the evening was dark. Burgo,too, was lying with his face to the ground, expecting that thefootsteps which he had heard would pass by him.

  "Who is that?" said he, turning round suddenly; but still he was notat once able to recognize Mr. Palliser, whose voice was hardly knownto him.

  "Perhaps I have been wrong in following you," said Mr. Palliser, "butI thought you were in distress, and that probably I might help you.My name is Palliser."

  "Plantagenet Palliser?" said Burgo, jumping up on to his legs andlooking close into the other's face. "By heavens! it is PlantagenetPalliser! Well, Mr. Palliser, what do you want of me?"

  "I want to be of some use to you, if I can. I and my wife saw youleave the gaming-table just now."

  "Is she here too?"

  "Yes;--she is here. We are going home, but chance brought us up tothe salon. She seemed to think that you are in distress, and that Icould help you. I will, if you will let me."

  Mr. Palliser, during the whole interview, felt that he could afford tobe generous. He knew that he had no further cause for fear. He had nolingering dread of this poor creature who stood before him. All thatfeeling was over, though it was as yet hardly four months since hehad been sent back by Mrs. Marsham to Lady Monk's house to save hiswife, if saving her were yet possible.

  "So she is here, is she;--and saw me there when I staked my lastchance? I should have had over twenty thousand francs now, if thecards had stood to me."

  "The cards never do stand to any one, Mr. Fitzgerald."

  "Never;--never,--never!" said Burgo. "At any rate, they never did tome. Nothing ever does stand to me."

  "If you want twenty thousand francs,--that's eight hundred pounds, Ithink--I can let you have it without any trouble."

  "The devil you can!"

  "Oh, yes. As I am travelling with my family--" I wonder whether Mr.Palliser considered himself to be better entitled to talk of hisfamily than he had been some three or four weeks back--"As I amtravelling with my family, I have been obliged to carry large billswith me, and I can accommodate you without any trouble."

  There was something pleasant in this, which made Burgo Fitzgeraldlaugh. Mr. Palliser, the husband of Lady Glencora M'Cluskie, and theheir of the Duke of Omnium happening to have money with him! As ifMr. Palliser could not bring down showers of money in any quarterof the globe by simply holding up his hand. And then to talk ofaccommodating him,--Burgo Fitzgerald, as though it were simply alittle matter of convenience,--as though Mr. Palliser would of coursefind the money at his bankers' when he next examined his book! Burgocould not but laugh.

  "I was not in the least doubting your ability to raise the money,"said he; "but how would you propose to get it back again?"

  "That would be at your convenience," said Mr. Palliser, who hardlyknew how to put himself on a proper footing with his companion, sothat he might offer to do something effectual for the man's aid.

  "I never have any such convenience," said Burgo. "Who were thosewomen whose tubs always had holes at the bottom of them? My tubalways has such a hole."

  "You mean the daughters of Danaus," said Mr. Palliser.

  "I don't know whose daughters they were, but you might just as welllend them all eight hundred pounds apiece."

  "There were so many of them," said Mr. Palliser, trying a little joke."But as you are only one I shall be most happy, as I said before, tobe of service."

  They were now walking slowly together up towards the hills, and nearto them they heard a step. Upon this, Burgo turned round.

  "Do you see that fellow?" said he. Mr. Palliser, who was somewhatshort-sighted, said that he did not see him. "I do, though. I don'tknow his name, but they have sent him out from the hotel with me, tosee what I do with myself. I owe them six or seven hundred francs,and they want to turn me out of the house and not let me take mythings with me."

  "That would be very uncomfortable," said Mr. Palliser.

  "It would be uncomfortable, but I shall be too many for them. If theykeep my traps they shall keep me. They think I'm going to blow mybrains out. That's what they think. The man lets me go far enough offto do that,--so long as it's nowhere about the house."

  "I hope you're not thinking of such a thing?"

  "As long as I can help it, Mr. Palliser, I never think of anything."The stranger was now standing near to them,--almost so near that hemight hear their words. Burgo, perceiving this, walked up to him,and, speaking in bad French, desired him to leave them. "Don't yousee that I have a friend with me?"

  "Oh! a friend," said the man, answering in bad English. "Perhaps defriend can advance moneys?"

  "Never mind what he can do," said Burgo. "You do as you are bid, andleave me."

  Then the gentleman from the hotel retreated down the hill, but Mr.Palliser, during the rest of the interview, frequently fancied thathe heard the man's footfall at no great distance.

  They continued to walk on up the hill very slowly, and it was sometime before Mr. Palliser knew how to repeat his offer.

  "So Lady Glencora is here?" Burgo said again.

  "Yes, she is here. It was she who asked me to come to you," Mr.Palliser answered. Then they both walked on a few steps in silence,for neither of them knew how to address the other.

  "By George!--isn't it odd," said Burgo, at last, "that you and I, ofall men in the world, should be walking together here at Baden? It'snot only that you're the richest man in London, and that I'm thepoorest, but--; there are other things, you know, which make it sofunny."

  "There have been things which make me and my wife very anxious togive you aid."

  "And have you considered, Mr. Palliser, that those things make you thevery man in the world,--indeed, for the matter of that, the only manin the world,--from whom I can't take aid. I would have taken it allif I could have got it,--and I tried hard."

  "I know you have been disappointed, Mr. Fitzgerald."

  "Disappointed! By G----! yes. Did you ever know any man who had somuch right to be disappointed as I have? I did love her, Mr. Palliser.Nay, by heavens! I do love her. Out here I will dare to say as mucheven to you. I shall never try to see her again. All that is over, ofcourse. I've been a fool about her as I have been about everything.But I did love her."

  "I believe it, Mr. Fitzgerald."

  "It was not altogether her money. But think what it would have beento me, Mr. Palliser. Think what a chance I had, and what a chanceI lost. I should have been at the top of everything,--as now I amat the bottom. I should not have spent that. There would have beenenough of it to have saved me. And then I might have done somethinggood instead of crawling about almost in fear of that beast who iswatching us."

  "It has been ordered otherwise," said Mr. Palliser, not knowing whatto say.

  "Yes; it has been ordered, with a vengeance! It seems to have beenordered that I'm to go to the devil; but I don't know who gave theorders, and I don't know why."

  Mr. Palliser had not time to explain to his friend that the orders hadbeen given, in a very peremptory way, by himself, as he was anxiousto bring back the conversation to his own point. He wished to givesome serviceable, and, if possible, permanent aid to the poorne'er-do-well; but he did not wish to talk more than could be helpedabout his own wife.

  "There is an old saying, which you will remember well," said he,"that the way to good manners is never too late."

  "That's nonsense," said Burgo. "It's too late when the man feels theknot round his neck at the Old Bailey."

  "Perhaps not, even then. Indeed, we may say, certainly not, if theman be still able to take the right way. But I don't want to preachto you."

  "It wouldn't do any good, you know."

  "But I do want to be of service to you. There is something of truthin what you say. You have been disappointed; and I, perhaps, of allmen am the mo
st bound to come to your assistance now that you are inneed."

  "How can I take it from you?" said Burgo, almost crying.

  "You shall take it from her!"

  "No;--that would be worse; twenty times worse. What! take her money,when she would not give me herself!"

  "I do not see why you should not borrow her money,--or mine. Youshall call it which you will."

  "No; I won't have it."

  "And what will you do then?"

  "What will I do? Ah! That's the question. I don't know what I willdo. I have the key of my bedroom in my pocket, and I will go to bedto-night. It's not very often that I look forward much beyond that."

  "Will you let me call on you, to-morrow?"

  "I don't see what good it will do? I shan't get up till late, forfear they should shut the room against me. I might as well have asmuch out of them as I can. I think I shall say I'm ill, and keep mybed."

  "Will you take a few napoleons?"

  "No; not a rap. Not from you. You are the first man from whom I everrefused to borrow money, and I should say that you'll be about thelast to offer to lend it me."

  "I don't know what else I can offer?" said Mr. Palliser.

  "You can offer nothing. If you will say to your wife from me thatI bade her adieu;--that is all you can do for me. Good night, Mr.Palliser; good night."

  "Good night, Mr. Palliser."]

  Mr. Palliser left him and went his way, feeling that he had no furthereloquence at his command. He shook Burgo's hand, and then walkedquickly down the hill. As he did so he passed, or would have passedthe man who had been dodging them.

  "Misther, Misther!" said the man in a whisper.

  "What do you want of me?" asked Mr. Palliser, in French.

  Then the man spoke in French, also. "Has he got any money? Have yougiven him any money?"

  "I have not given him any money," said Mr. Palliser, not quite knowingwhat he had better do or say under such circumstances.

  "Then he will have a bad time with it," said the man. "And he mighthave carried away two thousand francs just now! Dear, dear, dear! Hashe got any friends, sir?"

  "Yes, he has friends. I do not know that I can assist him, or you."

  "Fitzgerald;--his name is Fitzgerald?"

  "Yes," said Mr. Palliser; "his name is Fitzgerald."

  "Ah! There are so many Fitzgeralds in England. Mr. Fitzgerald,London--he has no other address?"

  "If he had, and I knew it, I should not give it you without hissanction."

  "But what shall we do? How shall we act? Perhaps with his own hand hewill himself kill. For five weeks his pension he owes; yes, for fiveweeks. And for wine, oh so much! There came through Baden a my lord,and then, I think he got money. But he went and played. That was ofcourse. But; oh my G----! he might have carried away this night twothousand francs; yes, two thousand francs!"

  "Are you the hotelkeeper?"

  "His friend, sir; only his friend. That is, I am the headCommissionaire. I look after the gentlemen who sometimes are notall--not all--" exactly what they should be, the commissionerintended to explain; and Mr. Palliser understood him although thewords were not quite spoken. The interview was ended by Mr. Pallisertaking the name of the hotel, and promising to call before Mr.Fitzgerald should be up in the morning--a purposed visit, which weneed not regard as requiring any very early energy on Mr. Palliser'spart, when we remember Burgo's own programme for the following day.

  Lady Glencora received her husband that night with infinite anxiety,and was by no means satisfied with what had been done. He describedto her as accurately as he could the nature of his interview withBurgo, and he described to her also his other interview with the headcommissioner.

  "He will; he will," said Lady Glencora; when she heard from herhusband the man's surmise that perhaps he might destroy himself."He will; he will; and if he does, how can you expect that I shallbear it?" Mr. Palliser tried to soothe her by telling her of hispromised visit to the landlord; and Lady Glencora, accepting this assomething, strove to instigate her husband to some lavish expenditureon Burgo's behalf. "There can be no reason why he should not takeit," said Glencora. "None the least. Had it not been promised to him?Had he not a right to it?" The subject was one which Mr. Palliserfound it very hard to discuss. He could not tell his wife thatFitzgerald ought to accept his bounty; but he assured her that hismoney should be forthcoming, almost to any extent, if it could bemade available.

  On the following morning he went down to the hotel, and saw thereal landlord. He found him to be a reasonable, tranquil, and verygood-natured man,--who was possessed by a not irrational desire thathis customers' bills should be paid; but who seemed to be much lesseager on the subject than are English landlords in general. His chiefanxiety seemed to arise from the great difficulty of doing anythingwith the gentleman who was now lying in his bed up-stairs. "Has hehad any breakfast?" Mr. Palliser asked.

  "Breakfast! Oh yes;" and the landlord laughed. He had been veryparticular in the orders he had given. He had desired his cutlets tobe dressed in a particular way,--with a great deal of cayenne pepper,and they had been so dressed. He had ordered a bottle of Sauterne;but the landlord had thought, or the head-waiter acting for him hadthought, that a bottle of ordinary wine of the country would do aswell. The bottle of ordinary wine of the country had just that momentbeen sent up-stairs.

  Then Mr. Palliser sat down in the landlord's little room, and hadBurgo Fitzgerald's bill brought to him. "I think I might venture topay it," said Mr. Palliser.

  "That was as monsieur pleased," said the landlord, with somethinglike a sparkle in his eye.

  What was Mr. Palliser to do? He did not know whether, in accordancewith the rules of the world in which he lived, he ought to pay it,or ought to leave it; and certainly the landlord could not tell him.Then he thought of his wife. He could not go back to his wife withouthaving done something; so, as a first measure, he paid the bill. Thelandlord's eyes glittered, and he receipted it in the most becomingmanner.

  "Should he now send up the bottle of Sauterne?"--but to this Mr.Palliser demurred.

  "And to whom should the receipted bill be given?" Mr. Palliser thoughtthat the landlord had better keep it himself for a while.

  "Perhaps there is some little difficulty?" suggested the landlord.

  Mr. Palliser acknowledged that there was a little difficulty. He knewthat he must do something more. He could not simply pay the billand go away. That would not satisfy his wife. He knew that he mustdo something more; but how was he to do it? So at last he let thelandlord into his confidence. He did not tell the whole of Burgo'spast history. He did not tell that little episode in Burgo's lifewhich referred to Lady Glencora. But he did make the landlordunderstand that he was willing to administer money to Mr. Fitzgerald,if only it could only be administered judiciously.

  "You can't keep him out of the gambling salon, you know, sir; thatis, not if he has a franc in his pocket." As to that the landlord wasvery confident.

  It was at last arranged, that the landlord was to tell Burgo that hisbill did not signify at present, and that the use of the hotel was tobe at Burgo's command for the next three months. At the end of thattime he was to have notice to quit. No money was to be advanced tohim;--but the landlord, even in this respect, had a discretion.

  "When I get home, I will see what can be done with his relationsthere," said Mr. Palliser. Then he went home and told his wife.

  "But he'll have no clothes," said Lady Glencora.

  Mr. Palliser said that the judicious landlord would manage that also;and in that way Lady Glencora was appeased,--appeased, till somethingfinal could be done for the young man, on Mr. Palliser's return home.

  Poor Burgo! He must now be made to end his career as far as thesepages are concerned. He soon found that something had been done forhim at the hotel, and no doubt he must have made some guess nearthe truth. The discreet landlord told him nothing,--would tell himnothing; but that his bill did not signify as yet. Burgo, thinkingabout it, resolved to write
about it in an indignant strain to Mr.Palliser; but the letter did not get itself written. When in England,Mr. Palliser saw Sir Cosmo Monk, and with many apologies, told himwhat he had done.

  "I regret it," said Sir Cosmo, in anger. "I regret it; not for themoney's sake, but I regret it." The amount expended, was howeverrepaid to Mr. Palliser, and an arrangement was made for remittinga weekly sum of fifteen pounds to Burgo, through a member of thediplomatic corps, as long as he should remain at a certain smallGerman town which was indicated, and in which there was no publicgambling-table. Lady Glencora expressed herself satisfied for thepresent; but I must doubt whether poor Burgo lived long in comforton the allowance made to him.

  Here we must say farewell to Burgo Fitzgerald.