登陆注册
4708600000114

第114章

This was the best side of his character; the worst, probably, was that which was brought into play by the fact that he was not a fool. He would have a better chance of redemption in this world--perhaps also in another--had he been a fool. As it was, he was no fool: he was not to be done, not he; he knew, no one better, the value of a shilling; he knew, also, how to keep his shillings, and how to spend them. He consorted much with blacklegs and such-like because blacklegs were to his taste. But he boasted daily, nay, hourly to himself, and frequently to those around him, that the leeches who were stuck round him could draw but little blood from him. He could spend his money freely; but he would so spend it that he himself might reap the gratification of the expenditure. He was acute, crafty, knowing, and up to every damnable dodge practised by men of the class with whom he lived. At one-and-twenty he was that most odious of all odious characters-a close-fisted reprobate.

He was a small man, not ill-made by Nature, but reduced to unnatural tenuity by dissipation-a corporeal attribute of which he was apt to boast, as it enabled him, as he said, to put himself up at 7st 7lb without any 'd--- nonsense of not eating and drinking'. The power, however, was one of which he did not often avail himself, as his nerves were seldom in a fit state for riding. His hair was dark red, and he wore red moustaches, and a great deal of red beard beneath his chin, cut in a manner to make him look like an American. His voice also had a Yankee twang, being a cross between that of an American trader and an English groom; and his eyes were keen and fixed, and cold and knowing.

Such was the son whom Sir Roger saw standing at his bedside when first he awoke to his consciousness. It must not be supposed that Sir Roger looked at him with our eyes. To him he was an only child, the heir of his wealth, the future bearer of his title; the most heart-stirring remembrancer of those days, when he had been so much a poorer, and so much a happier man. Let that boy be bad or good, he was all Sir Roger had; and the father was still able to hope, when others thought that all ground for hope was gone.

The mother also loved her son with a mother's natural love; but Louis had ever been ashamed of his mother, and had, as far as possible, estranged himself from her. Her heart, perhaps, fixed itself almost with almost a warmer love on Frank Gresham, her foster-son. Frank she saw but seldom, but when she did see him he never refused her embrace.

There was, too, a joyous, genial lustre about Frank's face which always endeared him to women, and made his former nurse regard him as the pet creation of the age. Though she but seldom interfered with any monetary arrangement of her husband's, yet once or twice she had ventured to hint that a legacy left to the young squire would make her a happy woman. Sir Roger, however, on these occasions had not appeared very desirous of making his wife happy.

'Ah, Louis! is that you?' ejaculated Sir Roger, in tones hardly more than half-formed: afterwards in a day or two that is, he fully recovered his voice; but just then he could hardly open his jaws, and spoke almost through his teeth. He managed, however, to put out his hand and lay it on the counterpane, so that his son could take it.

'Why, that's well, governor,' said the son; 'you'll be as right as a trivet in a day or two--eh, governor?'

The 'governor' smiled with a ghastly smile. He already pretty well knew that he would never again be 'right' as his son called it, on that side of the grave. It did not, moreover, suit him to say much just at that moment, so he contented himself with holding his son's hand. He lay still in this position for a moment, and then, turning round painfully on his side, endeavoured to put his hand to the place where his dire enemy usually was concealed. Sir Roger, however, was too weak now to be his own master; he was at length, though too late, a captive in the hands of nurses and doctors, and the bottle had now been removed.

Then Lady Scatcherd came in, and seeing that her husband was not longer unconscious, she could not but believe that Dr Thorne had been wrong; she could not but think that there must be some ground for hope. She threw herself on her knees at the bedside bursting into tears as she did so, and taking Sir Roger's hand in hers and covered it with kisses.

'Bother!' said Sir Roger.

She did not, however, long occupy herself with the indulgence of her feelings; but going speedily to work, produced such sustenance as the doctors had ordered to be given when the patient might awake. A breakfast-cup was brought to him, and a few drops were put into his mouth; but he soon made it manifest that he would take nothing more of a description so perfectly innocent.

'A drop of brandy--just a little drop,' said he, half-ordering, half-entreating.

'Ah, Roger,' said Lady Scatcherd.

'Just a little drop, Louis,' said the sick man, appealing to his son.

'A little will be good for him; bring the bottle, mother,' said the son.

After some altercation the brandy bottle was brought, and Louis, with what a thought a very sparing hand, proceeded to pour about half a wine--glass into the cup. As he did so, Sir Roger, weak as he was, contrived to shake his son's arm, so as greatly to increase the dose.

'Ha! ha! ha!' laughed the sick man, and then greedily swallowed the dose.

同类推荐
  • 佛说五十颂圣般若波罗蜜经

    佛说五十颂圣般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 曲藻

    曲藻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 清代文学史简明年表

    清代文学史简明年表

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞玄灵宝自然九天生神玉章经解

    洞玄灵宝自然九天生神玉章经解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 议兵

    议兵

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 洋铁桶的故事

    洋铁桶的故事

    “洋铁桶”姓吴名贵,是晋东南沁源县的一条好汉,他自幼跟随父亲上上打猎,练得一手好枪法。日本鬼子打来了“养铁桶”参加了八路军。他领导的民兵和八路军一道,把鬼子、汉奸和特务打得狼狈逃窜。“洋铁桶”也从此威名远洋。故事酣畅淋漓,情节跌宕起伏,引人入胜。
  • 幸福是一场修行

    幸福是一场修行

    一个天真单纯的女人带着对婚姻生活的美好憧憬嫁给了一个比她大五岁的成熟男人。婚后生活短暂甜蜜过后,只剩下柴米油盐、鸡零狗碎的日子了。女人对于婚姻家庭的美好想象全部破碎,这让她一度对丈夫极其失望,争吵不休,怀疑人生,几近崩溃。偶然机缘,女人接触习练了瑜伽,找到了心灵的寄托与开悟的良方。从瑜伽习练者到瑜伽会所经营者,瑜伽修行让她心智成熟,心胸豁达。修练瑜伽后的她遇见了更好的自己,并通过沟通解开了夫妻之间的心结,从此坦诚相待,相爱如初。
  • 王石管理课

    王石管理课

    他,眼界深远,在地产界叱咤风云,开企业家代言之先河;他走遍了世界两极和七大最高峰,以花甲之年成为户外极限运动健将……他就是中国地产第一品牌万科集团董事长王石。虽已风光无限,他却不愿坐享其成,而是一直在前行,向着自己内心的巅峰攀爬。其实,王石对万科的管理、运行丝毫没有放松过神经,只不过他找到了治理的良策,其倡导的“用制度管人”的方法和理念是任何人都无法替代的。因此我们看到,一方面王石有些不务正业,而另一方面万科保持着高速成长,这艘商业航母乘风破浪,一路前进。难怪有人说:“王石简直是一个传奇。”
  • 美漫之灵魂主宰

    美漫之灵魂主宰

    一名对平凡生活失望透顶,麻木活着的普通人,被轮回者战斗波及死亡,重生在漫威世界宇宙,茫然的王羽发现自己竟然可以穿梭于不同位面世界。从此王羽走在变态,不,是变强的道路上一去不返......PS:想去的世界有:超能英雄、成龙历险记、邪恶力量、守望者、超体、超人钢铁之躯、闪电侠第一季、星球大战、强殖装甲凯普、生化危机、七龙珠、特种部队之眼镜蛇的崛起、铁血战士、星河舰队、极乐空间、地下城与勇士、红色警戒、辐射3......等等还有许多不同的世界。书友群:419128099
  • 秋暮八月十五夜与王

    秋暮八月十五夜与王

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 主神大道

    主神大道

    时间游荡,生命掌握在谁的手上?星河浩瀚,尘埃浮游漂向到何方?悠悠苍古,是谁在历史的长廊歌唱?长发满头,忽抬头凝望一生的时光?朝花夕拾,物飞流光。谁才是历史长河中璀璨的星光?成王败寇,悲凉枭雄。胜者绘画历史歌卷,败者悲愤浅吟歌唱。古来圣贤皆寂寞,遥遥千载时光过。命运究竟掌握在谁的手中?博弈天地棋局,笑谈百世人生。渺渺众生,皆为棋子。一生奋斗却不过是别人棋盘上的一卒。多元纵横,睥睨一切。无限挣扎只是我手指间的一抹余晖。欢迎来到主神的世界,欢迎来到我的世界……古月的主神空间:234250428全订书友群:451985924
  • 银河帝国:基地

    银河帝国:基地

    在机器人的帮助下,人类迅速掌握了改造外星球的技术,开启了恢弘的星际殖民运动;人类在银河系如蝗虫般繁衍扩张,带着他们永不磨灭的愚昧与智慧、贪婪与良知,登上了一个个荒凉的星球,并将银河系卷入漫长的星际战国时代,直至整个银河被统一,一个统治超过2500万个住人行星、疆域横跨十万光年、总计数兆亿人口的庞大帝国崛起——银河帝国。
  • 风华绝代红颜决

    风华绝代红颜决

    一朝穿越当小姐,回首再顾成皇后。只因微微回眸,却再难割舍。也许这就是现实,不论身在何方,仍是挣扎的生活。深宅的积怨,争王的血腥,后宫的残酷。如履薄冰,小心翼翼,步步为营。我所追求的,不过是在残酷的斗争中获得久违的温暖,获得属于自己的爱情!只是,当尘埃落定,留下的只有一地繁华……
  • 网游之宠你没道理

    网游之宠你没道理

    他是对外高冷实则话痨的腹黑总裁;他是看似正直实则柔媚的女装大佬;他跟他因食物相识,因工作相知,因共处相爱,但相同的性别让他们的爱情变得艰难,家族的阻止,朋友的不解,外人的鄙视,他们该何去何从?他是外人眼中的完美校草,无所不能;她是外人眼中的高冷校花,可远观不可亵渎;可外人怎会知:他喜欢她却不敢告白;他假装偶遇却被无视;他多次靠近却不敢继续前进;而她,高冷的外表下却藏着一颗闷骚的心;封闭的心终于打开却闷不吭声;当‘胆小鬼’遇到‘闷骚怪’,故事的发展该去往何方......忠告:内有高能,不喜勿喷~么么哒~
  • 林黛玉笔记

    林黛玉笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。