The times., 1901-05-19
CHAPTER XVII.
MoLLYs FORTUNE.

| When six months later | returned from
a cruise, ] found that Lord Fylingdale.
| having agreed to leave Molly free, had
| been put into possession without resist
ance Of the bulk OF her fortune and was
making ducks and brakes" with it in
London.
| There came into my head the thought
1 that / might somehow, by going to Lon
| don, find out what manner of life was
| led by my lord and in what ways he
| wasted and scattered Molly's substance.
1 could do nothing to stop or to hinder the
waste, yet when one knows the truth it
/ is generally more tolerable than the un-
I certainty. The truth is an open enemy
! which one can see and avoid or submit to
or fight the unknown is an unknown and
an unseen enemy who may attack from
any quarter and by any weapon.
thought over the plan for some days
It assumed clearer shape. 1t became a
purpose. Molly. for her part neither ap-
proved nor disapprovec She was for let
ting the man who pretended TO be her
husband work his wicked viii and do
what he pleased provided that he left her
in peace.
The end of il was that / went to Lon
don. riding with small company and
meeting with no adventures on the way;
that ! put up at one Of the inns outside
! Bishopsgate and that I found out my
/ cousin and put the whole case before him
He was a grave and responsible citizen, a
| churchwardeu and of good standing in
| the Stationers' company.
| You want to know how Lord Fyiing-
! dale spends his money / can help you in
| this business
! 1t was by the kind Offices OF this gen
! tlemau, whom found to be person OF
! quick wit and ready understanding, be-
sides being OF a most obliging disposition
that l was enabled TO see with my own
eyes an evening such as my lord loved
AS for the details, you must, if you
please, hold me excused. Let it suffice
! that our observations began at a gaming
house and ended at a tavern. At both
places 1 kept in the background because
| ] would not be recognized by Lord Fly
/ lingdale. 4
He came into the gambling room with
the same lofty. cold carriage which he
had shown at our humble assembly He
advanced to the table: he began to play
No one could ten from his lordships face
whether he lost or won. In half an hour
or so my friend returne. to my corner
He has lost cool GJOJ. They are
whispering round the table that he loses
hundreds every evening. All the world
is asking what gold mine he possesses
that he -an stand these losses"
Il know his gold mine / replied with
a sigh. But it is nearly exhausted %
We stayed little longer It was about
10 or II in the evening that his lordship
left the table
Come" said my friend. 'T know the
tavern where he will spend the next three
or four hours. / can take you there The
bowls Of punch and the company and
everything is provided at his lordships $
expense. Mr.. PentecrOsse, it must b = not
gold mine, but Il mine OF GOlcondd, to
1 bear this pr0fusiOn."
Il tell YOU sir, whatever il Is, the mine
Is nearly run out
1t will not be bad for the morals of the
town when il has quite run out"
As regards the tavern and its company,
IL is indeed astonishing to me thar any
man should fine pleasure In such COM
pany and in such discourse. AT the head
OF the table sat my lord. He appeared 10
be neither pleased nor displeased. The
drink flowed Ike a stream Of running
water. II seized on all and made sheir
faces red, their voices thick. The noble
leader sat unmOved. or. If moved al all,
then by kind Of contempt Al 2 o'clock
he arose and walked out into the street,
where his chair awaited him.
i his Is humOr, said my guide. ''Play
is his passion. 1t IS one thing that he
lives for.
So had learned all that 1 wanted to
know II was now quite certain that we
were within very short distance from
the end The lands and houses in the
market would find purchaser. The feet
and the business would then be sold
What neEtE
The day after this experience in the
life OF a rake / paid a visit for the first
and only time TO St. James park in the
afternoon. IL was, / remember, q cold
but clear and bright day in January At
the gates stood a crowd Of lackeys and
fellows waiting for their ladies and
stamping on the ground to keep off the
cold WitlSh a goodly company walked
bTiskiy up and down They were the
great people of London whom I saw here
While / looked on. admiring the dresses
Of the ladies and the extravagances Of
the gentlemen, who seemed to vie with
each other in calling attention TO them
selves by their dress and by their gest-
ures. there passed me, walking alone, a
lady whom at first / did not recognize
She started, however, and smartly tapped
my hand with her fan She carried the
ran. although II was winter. just as the
he2us dangied their canes from their
wrists.