CHAPTER XI.
_In Which Captain Armine Unexpectedly Resumes His Acquaintance with Lord Catchimwhocan, Who Introduces Him to Mr. Bond Sharpe_.
FERDINAND quitted his kind friend Mr. Levison in no very amiable mood;but just as he was leaving the house, a cabriolet, beautifully painted,of a brilliant green colour picked out with a somewhat cream-colouredwhite, and drawn by a showy Holstein horse of tawny tint, with a flowingand milk-white tail and mane, and caparisoned in harness almost asprecious as Mr. Levison's sideboard, dashed up to the door.
'Armine, by Jove!' exclaimed the driver, with great cordiality.
'Ah! Catch, is it you?' said Ferdinand. 'What! have you been here?'said Lord Catchimwhocan. 'At the old work, eh? Is "me and my pardner"troublesome? for your countenance is not very radiant.'
'By Jove, old fellow!' said Ferdinand, in a depressed tone, 'I am in ascrape, and also in a rage. Nothing is to be done here.'
'Never mind,' said his lordship; 'keep up your spirits, jump into mycab, and we will see how we can carry on the war. I am only going tospeak one word to "me and my pardner."'
So saying, his lordship skipped into the house as gay as a lark,although he had a bill for a good round sum about to be dishonoured inthe course of a few hours.
'Well, my dear Armine,' he resumed, when he reappeared and took thereins; 'now as I drive along, tell me all about it; for if there be aman in the world whom I should like to "sarve," it is thyself, my nobleFerdinand.'
With this encouragement, Captain Armine was not long in pouring hiscares into a congenial bosom.
'I know the man to "sarve" you,' said Catchimwhocan.
'The fact is, these fellows here are regular old-fashioned humbugs. Theonly idea they have is money, money. They have no enlightened notions.I will introduce you to a regular trump; and if he does not do ourbusiness, I am much mistaken. Courage, old fellow! How do you like thisstart?'
'Deuced neat. By-the-bye, Catch, my boy, you are going it rather, Isee.'
'To be sure. I have always told you there is a certain system in affairswhich ever prevents men being floored. No fellow is ever dished who hasany connection. What man that ever had his run was really ever fairlyput _hors de combat_, unless he was some one who ought never to haveentered the arena, blazing away without any set, making himself a damnedfool and everybody his enemy. So long as a man bustles about and is in agood set, something always turns up. I got into Parliament, you see; andyou, you are going to be married.'
All this time the cabriolet was dashing down Regent-street, twistingthrough the Quadrant, whirling along Pall Mall, until it finally enteredCleveland-row, and stopped before a newly painted, newly pointed, andexceedingly compact mansion, the long brass knocker of whose dark greendoor sounded beneath the practised touch of his lordship's tiger. Eventhe tawny Holstein horse, with the white flowing mane, seemed consciousof the locality, and stopped before the accustomed resting-place in themost natural manner imaginable. A tall serving-man, well-powdered, andin a dark and well-appointed livery, immediately appeared.
'At home?' enquired Lord Catchimwhocan, with a peculiarly confidentialexpression.
'To you, my lord,' responded the attendant.
'Jump out, Armine,' said his lordship; and they entered the house.
'Alone?' said his lordship.
'Not alone,' said the servant, ushering the friends into thedining-room, 'but he shall have your lordship's card immediately. Thereare several gentlemen waiting in the third drawing-room; so I have shownyour lordship in here, and shall take care that he sees your lordshipbefore anyone.'
'That's a devilish good fellow,' said Lord Catchimwhocan, putting hishand into his waistcoat pocket to give him a sovereign; but not findingone, he added, 'I shall remember you.'
The dining-room into which they were shown was at the back of the house,and looked into agreeable gardens. The apartment was in some littleconfusion at this moment, for their host gave a dinner to-day, andhis dinners were famous. The table was arranged for eight guests; itsappointments indicated refined taste. A candelabrum of Dresden china wasthe centre piece; there was a whole service of the same material, evento the handles of the knives and forks; and the choice variety of glassattracted Ferdinand's notice. The room was lofty and spacious; it wassimply and soberly furnished; not an object which could distract thetaste or disturb the digestion. But the sideboard, which filled a recessat the end of the apartment, presented a crowded group of gold platethat might have become a palace; magnificent shields, tall vases,ancient tankards, goblets of carved ivory set in precious metal, andcups of old ruby glass mounted on pedestals, glittering with gems.This accidental display certainly offered an amusing contrast to theperpetual splendour of Mr. Levison's buffet; and Ferdinand was wonderingwhether it would turn out that there was as marked a difference betweenthe two owners, when his companion and himself were summoned to thepresence of Mr. Bond Sharpe.
They ascended a staircase perfumed with flowers, and on eachlanding-place was a classic tripod or pedestal crowned with a bust. Andthen they were ushered into a drawing-room of Parisian elegance; buhlcabinets, marqueterie tables, hangings of the choicest damask suspendedfrom burnished cornices of old carving. The chairs had been rifled froma Venetian palace; the couches were part of the spoils of the Frenchrevolution. There were glass screens in golden frames, and a clockthat represented the death of Hector, the chariot wheel of Achillesconveniently telling the hour. A round table of mosaic, mounted on agolden pedestal, was nearly covered with papers; and from an easy-chair,supported by air cushions, half rose to welcome them Mr. Bond Sharpe. Hewas a man not many years the senior of Captain Armine and his friend; ofelegant appearance, pale, pensive, and prepossessing. Deep thought wasimpressed upon his clear and protruding brow, and the expression ofhis grey sunken eyes, which were delicately arched, was singularlysearching. His figure was slight but compact. His dress was plain, buta model in its fashion. He was habited entirely in black, and his onlyornament were his studs, which were turquoise and of great size: butthere never were such boots, so brilliant and so small!
He welcomed Lord Catchimwhocan in a voice scarcely above a whisper, andreceived Captain Armine in a manner alike graceful and dignified.
'My dear Sharpe,' said his lordship, 'I am going to introduce to youmy most particular friend, and an old brother officer. This is CaptainArmine, the only son of Sir Ratcliffe, and the heir of Armine Castle.He is going to be married very soon to his cousin, Miss Grandison, thegreatest heiress in England.'
'Hush, hush,' said Ferdinand, shrinking under this false representation,and Mr. Sharpe with considerate delicacy endeavoured to check hislordship.
'Well, never mind, I will say nothing about that,' continued LordCatchimwhocan. 'The long and the short of it is this, that my friendArmine is hard up, and we must carry on the war till we get into winterquarters. You are just the man for him, and by Jove, my dear Sharpe,if you wish sensibly to oblige me, who I am sure am one of your warmestfriends, you will do everything for Armine that human energy canpossibly effect.'
'What is the present difficulty that you have?' enquired Mr. Sharpe ofour hero, in a calm whisper.
'Why, the present difficulty that he has,' said Lord Catchimwhocan, 'isthat he wants 1,500L.'
'I suppose you have raised money, Captain Armine?' said Mr. Sharpe.
'In every way,' said Captain Armine.
'Of course,' said Mr. Sharpe, 'at your time of life one naturally does.And I suppose you are bothered for this 1,500L.'
'I am threatened with immediate arrest, and arrest in execution.'
'Who is the party?'
'Why, I fear an unmanageable one, even by you. It is a house at Malta.'
'Mr. Bolus, I suppose?'
'Exactly.'
'I thought so.'
'Well, what can be done?' said Lord Catchimwhocan.
'Oh! there is no difficulty,' said Mr. Sharpe quietly. 'Captain Arminecan have any money he likes.'
'I shall
be happy,' said Captain Armine, 'to pay any consideration youthink fit.'
'Oh! my dear sir, I cannot think of that. Money is a drug now. I shallbe happy to accommodate you without giving you any trouble. You can havethe 1,500L., if you please, this moment.'
'Really, you are very generous,' said Ferdinand, much surprised, 'but Ifeel I am not entitled to such favours. What security can I give you?'
'I lend the money to you. I want no security. You can repay me when youlike. Give me your note of hand.' So saying, Mr. Sharpe opened a drawer,and taking out his cheque-book drew a draft for the 1,500L. 'I believeI have a stamp in the house,' he continued, looking about. 'Yes, hereis one. If you will fill this up, Captain Armine, the affair may beconcluded at once.'
'Upon my honour, Mr. Sharpe,' said Ferdinand, very confused, 'I do notlike to appear insensible to this extraordinary kindness, but reallyI came here by the merest accident, and without any intention ofsoliciting or receiving such favours. And my kind friend here has givenyou much too glowing an account of my resources. It is very probable Ishall occasion you great inconvenience.'
'Really, Captain Armine,' said Mr. Sharpe with a slight smile, 'if wewere talking of a sum of any importance, why, one might be a little morepunctilious, but for such a bagatelle we have already wasted too muchtime in its discussion. I am happy to serve you.'
Ferdinand stared, remembering Mr. Levison and the coals. Mr. Sharpehimself drew up the note, and presented it to Ferdinand, who signed itand pocketed the draft.
'I have several gentlemen waiting,' said Mr. Bond Sharpe; 'I am sorry Icannot take this opportunity of cultivating your acquaintance, CaptainArmine, but I should esteem it a great honour if you would dine with meto-day. Your friend Lord Catchimwhocan favours me with his company, andyou might meet a person or two who would amuse you.'
'I really shall be very happy,' said Ferdinand.
And Mr. Bond Sharpe again slightly rose and bowed them out of the room.
'Well, is not he a trump?' said Lord Catchimwhocan, when they were oncemore in the cab.
'I am so astonished,' said Ferdinand, 'that I cannot speak. Who in thename of fortune is this great man?'
'A genius,' said Lord Catchimwhocan. 'Don't you think he is a deucedgood-looking fellow?'
'The best-looking fellow I ever saw,' said the grateful Ferdinand.
'And capital manners?'
'Most distinguished.'
'Neatest dressed man in town!'
'Exquisite taste!'
'What a house!'
'Capital!'
'Did you ever see such furniture? It beats your rooms at Malta.'
'I never saw anything more complete in my life.'
'What plate!' 'Miraculous!' 'And, believe me, we shall have the bestdinner in town.'
'Well, he has given me an appetite,' said Ferdinand. 'But who is he?'
'Why, by business he is what is called a conveyancer; that is to say, heis a lawyer by inspiration.'
'He is a wonderful man,' said Ferdinand. 'He must be very rich.'
'Yes; Sharpe must be worth his quarter of a million. And he has made itin such a deuced short time!'
'Why, he is not much older than we are!'
'Ten years ago that man was a prizefighter,' said Lord Catchimwhocan.
'A prizefighter!' exclaimed Ferdinand.
'Yes; and licked everybody. But he was too great a genius for the ring,and took to the turf.'
'Ah!'
'Then he set up a hell.'
'Hum!'
'And then he turned it into a subscription-house.'
'Hoh!'
'He keeps his hell still, but it works itself now. In the mean time heis the first usurer in the world, and will be in the next Parliament.'
'But if he lends money on the terms he accommodates me, he will hardlyincrease his fortune.'
'Oh! he can do the thing when he likes. He took a fancy to you. The factis, my dear fellow, Sharpe is very rich and wants to get into society.He likes to oblige young men of distinction, and can afford to risk afew thousands now and then. By dining with him to-day you have quiterepaid him for his loan. Besides, the fellow has a great soul; and,though born on a dung-hill, nature intended him for a palace, and he hasplaced himself there.'
'Well, this has been a remarkable morning,' said Ferdinand Armine, asLord Catchimwhocan set him down at his club. 'I am very much obliged toyou, dear Catch!'
'Not a word, my dear fellow. You have helped me before this, and glad amI to be the means of assisting the best fellow in the world, and that weall think you. _Au revoir!_ We dine at eight.'