Japhet, In Search Of A Father by Frederick Marryat

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"Allow me to observe, Major, that my reason for sending for my bill, was
to pay it before I went into the country, which I must do to-morrow, for
a few days."

"Then I shall certainly recommend Mr Newland not to come here when he
returns, Mr Wallace, for I hold myself, to a certain degree, after the
many dinners we have ordered here, and of which I have partaken, as I
may say, _particeps criminis_, or in other words, as having been a party
to this extortion. Indeed, Mr Wallace, some reduction must be made, or
you will greatly hurt the credit of your house."

Mr Wallace declared, that really he had made nothing but the usual
charges; that he would look over the bill again, and see what he could
do.

"My dear Newland," said the Major, "I have ordered your dinners, allow
me to settle your bill. Now, Mr Wallace, suppose we take off
_one-third_?"

"One-_third_, Major Carbonnell! I should be a loser."

"I am not exactly of your opinion; but let me see--now take your choice.
Take off L20, or you lose my patronage, and that of all my friends. Yes
or no?"

The landlord, with some expostulation, at last consented, he receipted
the bill, and leaving L20 of the money on the salver, made his bow, and
retired.

"Rather fortunate that I supped in, my dear Newland; now there are L20
saved. By-the-bye, I'm short of cash. You've no objection to let me have
this? I shall never pay you, you know."

"I do know you _never_ will pay me, Major; nevertheless, as I should
have paid it to the landlord had you not interfered, I will lend it to
you."

"You are a good fellow, Newland," said the Major, pocketing the money.
"If I had borrowed it, and you had thought you would have had it repaid,
I should not have thanked you; but as you lend it me with your eyes
open, it is nothing more than a very delicate manner of obliging me,
and I tell you candidly, that I will not forget it. So you really are
off to-morrow?"

"Yes," replied I, "I must go, for I find that I am not to make ducks and
drakes of my money, until I come into possession of my property."

"I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the very devil; they have no
feeling. Never mind; there's a way of getting to windward of them. I
dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us."

"With pleasure."

"I shall expect you at seven, Newland," said Harcourt, as he quitted the
room with the Major.

"Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your
money?" cried Timothy. "I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that
we were L20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke."

"And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is
important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be
bought. I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we must pack up, for
I leave this to-morrow morning. I shall go down to ----, and see little
Fleta."

I dined with Harcourt. The Major was rather curious to know what it was
which appeared to flurry Lord Windermear, and what had passed between
us. I told him that his lordship was displeased on money matters, but
that all was right, only that I must be more careful for the future.
"Indeed, Major, I think I shall take lodgings. I shall be more
comfortable, and better able to receive my friends."

Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better plan, when the Major
observed, "Why, Newland, I have a room quite at your service; suppose
you come and live with me?"

"I am afraid I shall not save by that," replied I, laughing, "for you
will not pay your share of the bills."

"No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you fair warning; but as I
always dine with you when I do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving
to you--for you will _have your lodgings_, Newland; and you know the
house is my own, and I let off the rest of it; so as far as that bill is
concerned, you will be safe."

"Make the best bargain you can, Newland," said Harcourt; "accept his
offer, for depend upon it, it will be a saving in the end."

"It certainly deserves consideration," replied I; "and the Major's
company must be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if
Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical--"

"I will, my dear fellow--I will act as your steward, and make your money
last as long as I can, for my _own sake_, as well as yours. Is it a
bargain? I have plenty of room for your servant, and if he will assist
me a little, I will discharge my own." I then consented to the
arrangement.

Chapter XXIV

The Major teaches me how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which
is by playing against each other, and into each other's hands.

The next day I went to the banker's, drew out L150, and set off with
Timothy for ----. Fleta threw herself into my arms, and sobbed with joy.
When I told her Timothy was outside, and wished to see her, she asked
why he did not come in; and, to show how much she had been accustomed to
see, without making remarks, when he made his appearance in his livery,
she did not, by her countenance, express the least surprise, nor,
indeed, did she put any questions to me on the subject. The lady who
kept the school praised her very much for docility and attention, and
shortly after left the room. Fleta then took the chain from around her
neck into her hand, and told me that she did recollect something about
it, which was, that the lady whom she remembered, wore a long pair of
ear-rings, of the same make and materials. She could not, however, call
to mind anything else. I remained with the little girl for three hours,
and then returned to London--taking my luggage from the hotel, and
installed myself into the apartments of Major Carbonnell.

The Major adhered to his promise; we certainly lived well, for he could
not live otherwise; but in every other point, he was very careful not to
add to expense. The season was now over, and everybody of consequence
quitted the metropolis. To remain in town would be to lose caste, and we
had a conference where we should proceed.

"Newland," said the Major, "you have created a sensation this season,
which has done great honour to my patronage; but I trust, next spring,
that I shall see you form a good alliance; for, believe me, out of the
many heartless beings we have mingled with, there are still not only
daughters, but mothers, who are not influenced by base and sordid
views."

"Why, Carbonnell, I never heard you venture upon so long a moral speech
before."

"True, Newland, and it may be a long while before I do so again; the
world is my oyster, which I must open, that I may live; but recollect, I
am only trying to recover my own, which the world has swindled me out
of. There was a time when I was even more disinterested, more confiding,
and more innocent than you were when I first took you in hand. I
suffered, and was ruined by my good qualities; and I now live and do
well by having discarded them. We must fight the world with its own
weapons; but still, as I said before, there is some good in it, some
pure ore amongst the dross; and it is possible to find high rank and
large fortune, and at the same time an innocent mind. If you do marry, I
will try hard but you shall possess both; not that fortune can be of
much consequence to you."

"Depend upon it, Carbonnell, I never will marry without fortune."

"I did not know that I had schooled you so well; be it so--it is but
fair that you should expect it; and it shall be an item in the match, if
I have anything to do with it."

"But why are you so anxious that I should marry, Carbonnell?"

"Because I think you will, in all probability, avoid the gaming-table,
which I should have taken you to myself had you been in possession of
your fortune when I first knew you, and have had my share of your
plucking; but now I do know you, I have that affection for you that I
think it better you should not lose your all; for observe, Newland, my
share of your spoliation would not be more than what I have, and may
still receive, from you; and if you marry and settle down, there will
always be a good house and a good table for me, as long as I find favour
with your wife; and, at all events, a friend in need, that I feel
convinced of. So now you have my reasons; some smack of the
disinterestedness of former days, others of my present worldliness; you
may believe which you please." And the Major laughed as he finished his
speech.

"Carbonnell," replied I, "I will believe that the better feelings
predominate--that the world has made you what you are; and that had you
not been ruined by the world, you would have been disinterested and
generous; even now, your real nature often gains the ascendency, and I
am sure that in all that you have done, which is not defensible, your
poverty, and not your will, has consented. Now, blunted by habit and
time, the suggestion of conscience do not often give you any
uneasiness."

"You are very right, my dear fellow," replied the Major; "and in having
a better opinion of me than the world in general, you do me, I trust, no
more than justice. I will not squander your fortune, when you come to
it, if I can help it; and you'll allow that's a very handsome promise on
my part."

"I'll defy you to squander my fortune," replied I, laughing.

"Nay, don't defy me, Newland, for if you do, you'll put me on my
mettle. Above all, don't lay me a bet, for that will be still more
dangerous. We have only spent about four hundred of the thousand since
we have lived together, which I consider highly economical. What do you
say, shall we go to Cheltenham? You will find plenty of Irish girls,
looking out for husbands, who will give you a warm reception."

"I hate your fortune and establishment hunters," replied I.

"I grant that they are looking out for a good match, so are all the
world; but let me do them justice. Although, if you proposed, in three
days they would accept you; yet once married, they make the very best
wives in the world. But recollect we must go somewhere; and I think
Cheltenham is as good a place as any other. I do not mean for a wife,
but--it will suit my own views."

This last observation decided me, and in a few days we were at
Cheltenham; and having made our appearance at the rooms, were soon in
the vortex of society. "Newland," said Carbonnell, "I dare say you find
time hang rather heavy in this monotonous place."

"Not at all," replied I; "what with dining out, dancing, and
promenading, I do very well."

"But we must do better. Tell me, are you a good hand at whist?"

"Not by any means. Indeed, I hardly know the game."

"It is a fashionable and necessary accomplishment. I must make you
master of it, and our mornings shall be dedicated to the work."

"Agreed," replied I; and from that day, every morning after breakfast
till four o'clock, the Major and I were shut up, playing two dummies
under his instruction. Adept as he was, I very soon learnt all the
finesse and beauty of the game.

"You will do now, Newland," said the Major one morning, tossing the
cards away. "Recollect, if you are asked to play, and I have agreed, do
not refuse; but we must always play against each other."

"I don't see what we shall gain by that," replied I; "for if I win,
you'll lose."

"Never do you mind that; only follow my injunctions, and play as high as
they choose. We only stay here three weeks longer, and must make the
most of our time."

I confess I was quite puzzled at what might be the major's intentions;
but that night we sauntered into the club. Not having made our
appearance before, we were considered as new hands by those who did not
know the Major, and were immediately requested to make up a game. "Upon
my word, gentlemen, in the first place, I play very badly," replied the
Major; "and in the next," continued he, laughing, "if I lose, I never
shall pay you, for I'm cleaned out."

The way in which the Major said this only excited a smile; he was not
believed, and I was also requested to take a hand. "I'll not play with
the Major," observed I, "for he plays badly, and has bad luck into the
bargain; I might as well lay my money down on the table."

This was agreed to by the other parties, and we sat down. The first
rubber of short whist was won by the Major and his partner; with the
bets it amounted to eighteen pounds. I pulled out my purse to pay the
Major; but he refused, saying, "No, Newland, pay my partner; and with
you, sir," said he, addressing my partner, "I will allow the debt to
remain until we rise from the table. Newland, we are not going to let
you off yet, I can tell you."

I paid my eighteen pounds, and we recommenced. Although his partner did
not perhaps observe it, for he was but an indifferent player, or if he
did observe it, had the politeness not to say anything, the Major now
played very badly. He lost three rubbers one after another, and, with
bets and stakes, they amounted to one hundred and forty pounds. At the
end of the last rubber he threw up the cards, exclaiming against his
luck, and declaring that he would play no more. "How are we now, sir?"
said he to my partner.

"You owed me, I think, eighteen pounds."

"Eighteen from one hundred and forty, leaves one hundred and twenty-two
pounds, which I now owe you. You must, I'm afraid, allow me to be your
debtor," continued the Major, in a most insinuating manner. "I did not
come here with the intention of playing. I presume I shall find you here
to-morrow night."

The gentleman bowed, and appeared quite satisfied. Major Carbonnell's
partner paid me one hundred and forty pounds, which I put in my
pocket-book, and we quitted the club.

Chapter XXV

We fund our winnings, and consider to refund, a work of
supererogation--In looking after my father, I obey the old adage,
"Follow your nose."

As soon as we were in the street, I commenced an inquiry as to the
Major's motives. "Not one word, my dear fellow, until we are at home,"
replied he. As soon as we arrived, he threw himself in a chair, and
crossing his legs, commenced: "You observe, Newland, that I am very
careful that you should do nothing to injure your character. As for my
own, all the honesty in the world will not redeem it; nothing but a
peerage will ever set me right again in this world, and a coronet will
cover a multitude of sins. I have thought it my duty to add something to
our finances, and intend to add very considerably to them before we
leave Cheltenham. You have won one hundred and twenty-eight pounds."

"Yes," replied I; "but you have lost it."

"Granted; but, as in most cases, I never mean _to pay_ my losses, you
see that it must be a winning speculation as long as we play against
each other."

"I perceive," replied I; "but am not I a confederate?"

"No; you paid when you lost, and took your money when you won. Leave me
to settle my own debts of honour."

"But you will meet him again to-morrow night."

"Yes, and I will tell you why. I never thought it possible that we could
have met two such bad players at the club. We must now play against
them, and we must win in the long run: by which means I shall pay off
the debt I owe him, and you will win and pocket money."

"Ah," replied I, "if you mean to allow him a chance for his money, I
have no objection--that will be all fair."

"Depend upon it, Newland, when I know that people play as badly as they
do, I will not refuse them; but when we sit down with others, it must be
as it was before--we must play against each other, and I shall owe the
money. I told the fellow that I never would pay him."

"Yes; but he thought you were only joking."

"That is his fault--I was in earnest. I could not have managed this had
it not been that you are known to be a young man of ten thousand pounds
per annum, and supposed to be my dupe. I tell you so candidly; and now
good-night."

I turned the affair over in my mind as I undressed--it was not
honest--but I paid when I lost, and I only took the money when I
won,--still I did not like it; but the bank notes caught my eye as they
lay on the table, and--I was satisfied. Alas! how easy are scruples
removed when we want money! How many are there who, when in a state of
prosperity and affluence, when not tried by temptation, would have
blushed at the bare idea of a dishonest action, have raised and held up
their hands in abhorrence, when they have heard that others have been
found guilty; and yet, when in adversity, have themselves committed the
very acts which before they so loudly condemned! How many of the other
sex, who have expressed their indignation and contempt at those who have
fallen, when tempted, have fallen themselves! Let us therefore be
charitable; none of us can tell to what we may be reduced by
circumstances; and when we acknowledge that the error is great, let us
feel sorrow and pity rather than indignation, and pray that we also may
not be "_led into temptation_"

As agreed upon, the next evening we repaired to the club, and found the
two gentlemen ready to receive us. This time the Major refused to play
unless it was with me, as I had such good fortune, and no difficulty was
made by our opponents. We sat down and played till four o'clock in the
morning. At first, notwithstanding our good play, fortune favoured our
adversaries; but the luck soon changed, and the result of the evening
was, that the Major had a balance in his favour of forty pounds, and I
rose a winner of one hundred and seventy-one pounds, so that in two
nights we had won three hundred and forty-two pounds. For nearly three
weeks this continued, the Major not paying when not convenient, and we
quitted Cheltenham with about eight hundred pounds in our pockets; the
Major having paid about one hundred and twenty pounds to different
people who frequented the club; but they were Irishmen, who were not to
be trifled with. I proposed to the Major that we should pay those debts,
as there still would be a large surplus: he replied, "Give me the
money." I did so. "Now," continued he, "so far your scruples are
removed, as you will have been strictly honest; but, my dear fellow, if
you know how many debts of this sort are due to me, of which I never did
touch one farthing, you would feel as I do--that it is excessively
foolish to _part with money_. I have them all booked here, and may some
day pay--when convenient; but, at present, most decidedly it is not so."
The Major put the notes into his pocket, and the conversation was
dropped.

The next morning we had ordered our horses, when Timothy came up to me,
and made a sign, as we were at breakfast, for me to come out. I followed
him.

"Oh! sir, I could not help telling you, but there is a gentleman with--"

"With what?" replied I, hastily.

"With your nose, sir, exactly--and in other respects very like you--just
about the age your father should be."

"Where is he, Timothy?" replied I, all my feelings in 'search of my
father,' rushing into my mind.

"Down below, sir, about to set off in a post-chaise and four, now waiting
at the door."

I ran down with my breakfast napkin in my hand, and hastened to the
portico of the hotel--he was in his carriage, and the porter was then
shutting the door. I looked at him. He was, as Timothy said, _very like_
me indeed, the _nose_ exact. I was breathless, and I continued to gaze.

"All right," cried the ostler.

"I beg your pardon, sir,--" said I, addressing the gentleman in the
carriage, who perceiving a napkin in my hand, probably took me for one
of the waiters, for he replied very abruptly, 'I have remembered you;'
and pulling up the glass, away whirled the chariot, the nave of the hind
wheel striking me a blow on the thigh which numbed it so, that it was
with difficulty I could limp up to our apartments, when I threw myself
on the sofa in a state of madness and despair.

"Good heavens, Newland, what is the matter?" cried the Major.

"Matter," replied I, faintly. "I have seen my father."

"Your father, Newland? you must be mad. He was dead before you could
recollect him--at least so you told me. How then, even if it were his
ghost, could you have recognised him?"

The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of.

"Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me,
and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him
face to face--that--that--I'm a great fool, that's the fact."

"You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to
face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will
feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have
heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so
much about him."

"I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever
been in my thoughts."

"I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their
fathers' memories--but finish your breakfast, and then we start for
London."

I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our
road. I fell into a reverie--my object was to again find out this
person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys
the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not
inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me.
"Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you,
said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a _little tete
montee_ upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made
no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major
never had any suspicions on this point--yet he certainly never had. We
had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that
my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a
large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect
replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who
was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been
deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous
as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune
arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the
name of _Japhet_ for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear,
after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to
acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in
confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my
own way in the world. Thus do the most cunning overreach themselves, and
with their eyes open to any deceit on the part of others, prove quite
blind when they deceive themselves.

Timothy could not obtain any intelligence from the people of the inn at
the last stage, except that the chariot had proceeded to London. We
arrived late at night, and, much exhausted, I was glad to go to bed.

Chapter XXVI

In following my nose, I narrowly escaped being _nosed_ by a Beak.

And as I lay in my bed, thinking that I was now nearly twenty years old,
and had not yet made any discovery, my heart sank within me. My
monomania returned with redoubled force, and I resolved to renew my
search with vigour. So I told Timothy the next morning, when he came
into my room, but from him I received little consolation; he advised me
to look out for a good match in a rich wife, and leave time to develop
the mystery of my birth; pointing out the little chance I ever had of
success.

Town was not full, the season had hardly commenced, and we had few
invitations or visits to distract my thoughts from their object. My leg
became so painful, that for a week I was on the sofa, Timothy every day
going out to ascertain if he could find the person whom we had seen
resembling me, and every evening returning without success, I became
melancholy and nervous. Carbonnell could not imagine what was the matter
with me. At last I was able to walk, and I sallied forth, perambulating,
or rather running through street after street, looking into every
carriage, so as to occasion surprise to the occupants, who believed me
mad; my dress and person were disordered, for I had become indifferent
to it, and Timothy himself believed that I was going out of my senses.

At last, after we had been in town about five weeks, I saw the very
object of my search, seated in a carriage, of a dark brown colour, arms
painted in shades, so as not to be distinguishable but at a near
approach; his hat was off, and he sat upright and formally. "That is
he!" ejaculated I, and away I ran after the carriage. "It is the nose,"
cried I, as I ran down the street, knocking every one to the right and
left. I lost my hat, but fearful of losing sight of the carriage, I
hastened on, when I heard a cry of "Stop him, stop him!" "Stop him,"
cried I, also, referring to the gentleman in black in the carriage.

"That won't do," cried a man, seizing me by the collar; "I know a trick
worth two of that."

"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I
tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the
crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had
been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and
from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal.
The police took charge of me--I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was
dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the
disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were
certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by
two Bow Street officers.

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