The times., 1901-05-19
CHAPTER XIV.
AT NOIR PERIL.

Rv this time the company We're crowd
ing round. eagerly listening. No one
could understand what had happened.
The bridegroom claimed his bride. The
brides friends denied that she was mai
ried.
YESTERDAY" the vicar went on, there
arrived simultaneously three letters. one
of them. an anonymous letter. was ad-
dressed to Captain Crowle: one, from a
respectable bookseller in London. was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Pentecrosse, master Of the
grammar school, and one from certain
fellow Of his college at Cambridge, was
addressed TO me. All these letters to-
gether contained charges which show how
deeply we have been deceived
Have a caret Have a care!' said Lord
Fylingdale.
At that moment another arrival took
place 1t was Tom Rising. the wounded
man. He was pale and weak. He leaned
upon the arm of two gentlemen. He was
followed by figure strange indeed in a
polite assembly.
by these letters and other sources,
the vicar continued, 4 learn first as TO
the noble lords friends the following par
ticulars;
Il find that the Lady Anastasia Lang
ston hath been lately presented by the
grand jury of Aiddlesex for keeping a
house riotous, of great extravaganza, lux
ury, idIeness, and i'll fame. She is the
third on the list. The ffrst'-the vicar
read from a paper-''is the Lady Mord-
ington and her gambling house in Gov
ent Garden: next. the second, is the Lady
Castle and her gaming house, also in
Covent Garden. and then come the Lady
Anastasia Langston and her gaming
house in or near Hanover Square. all in
this county.
4 am informed that Lady Anastasia
hath held a bank every night in this
place, to the hurt and loss Of many.
y turn next to the case of the Rev
Benjamin Purden, who stands before you
He was the tutor Of Lord Fylingdale. He
is described as the companion of his vices.
He was the cause last year of a grievous
scandal at Bath. He is the author of a
ribald piece of verse, by which he has
corrupted many. No bishop would sane
tion his acceptance Of the smallest pre-
ferment"
This is very surprising said Mr.. Pur-
den, shaking his big head, but we shall
see. we shall see-immediately"
There are next the two gentlemen
known as Sir Harry Malyns ana Colonel
Lanyon, Their occupation is to act as de-
coy ducks. to lure young men to the
gambling table and to plunder them when
they are caught
Both these gentlemen started, but neith-
or replied
i now come to the noble lord before
me. lie is a most notorious prof1igate
He Shares in Lady Anastasia's gaming
house. He has long since been refused
admittance into the houses of persons of
honor He is an inveterate gambler He
has ruined his own estate. sold the family
plate and pictures, library, everything.
He is at this moment unable to borrow or
TO raise the smallest sum Of money The
Fleet and the Kings Bench prisons are
fun Of the unfortunate tradesmen who
trusted him and the young rakes whom
he has ruined.
Ladies and gentlemen, this was the
story which reached Us yesterday, fortu-
n2tely in time. Miss Molly broke of her
promise and wrote to his lordship for ex-
plantations. Captain Crowle called upon
his lordship this morning for expla1a-
tions- He was met with derision. He was
told that he was too Iate-the Young ladv
was already married; there was no ne
cessity for any explanations
The company mUrmured. Voices were
raised demanding explanations.
Ny friends" said his lordship coldlv.
these inventions need no reply. l claim
my wife"
She is not your wife" said the vicar.
We are ready to prove that at O'Clock
The young lady was already engaged with
her mother in the stiliroom or some 9th
er occupation. OF that there is no doubt
possible. But"-and here he lifted
warning finger, but his Iordship paid no
there was a wedding early
this morning. His reverence. Mr.. Purden.
performed the service. The wedding was
in the name Of Mary Miller as bride. The
registers are signed Mary Miller This
Is therefore a conspiracy"
You talk nonsense" said his lordship
VINO certainly carried il of with an amaZ-
ing assurance. 4 claim my wife. Once
more. madam, will you come with me?"
am not your wife"
We must endeaYor.' said the vicar
TO find the woman who personated Miss
Molly. The clerk Of the parish testines to
the wedding. but he does not appear to
have seen the face Of the bride Whoever
she was she wore a domino and had
thrown her hood over her face"
The Lady AnastaSia stepped forward
agttating her fan. Reverend sir" she
said 10 the vicar. ''in matters Of society
you are a very ignorant and a very sim
pie person. It is quite true that / have
been presented by a Middlesex jury for
gambling II Is also true that half Lon
don might also be presented. As for the
rest Of your statements-that, for in
stance. Lord Fyiingdale shares in the
profits of my bank-let me assure you
that your innocence has been abused
These things are not true. However il is
not Tor me to answer public Insults in a
public place Sir Harry, my old friend
they call you q decOy, even you, with
your name and your reputation. A decoyt
Sir. your cloth should shame YOU Sir
Harry, take me TO my chair. If tomorrow
morning the company thinks proper to
dissociate itself from this public insult 1
win remain in this place. where, / own,
j have never found many friends II not
1 shall return 10 London and to the house
presented by the grand jury of Middle
sex"
So saying. she retired smiling and. as
they say Of soldiers, in good order; with
her. also in good order the ancient beau.
with no other signs OF agitation than
trem bling Of the knees, and this might
very well be laid TO the account Of his
three-score years and fifteen or perhaps
1Our-score.
At this point. however. Tom Rising.
supp 3rted by his friends advanced NY
lord, he said. Il have brought an old
friend to meet you-Jack Gizard. Honest
John. the pOultryman of Bond Street You
know him Of old. ] believe. The advan-
tage Of bringing him here to expose you
IS that you cannot fight a pouItryman"
] looked on in admiration. The affair
could not be turned into private quar-
than d dealer in poultry by trade Yet
no better witness could be produced for
no one Yves better known than Jack Giz-
zard-so called from his trade-at all race
meetings at Newmarket. at EPSON, and
at other places. He was. In fact. that
rare creature the man who. not being a
gentleman, is yet admitted 10 the sports
OF gentlemen. is considered as an author
ity, Is allowed to bet freely with them,
yet remains what he is by birth. a me-
clanic, a ShipkcepeT. q farmer, q gFaZier