’Lord Silverbridge may be sure of absolute secrecy.
‘Crasham Court, Crutched Friars, Sept 15, 18-.’
The other despatch was a telegram from Mr Moreton,
saying that he would be in Carlton Terrace by noon
on the following day.
There Shall Not be Another Word About It.
Early in October the Duke was at Matching with his
daughter, and Phineas Finn and his wife were both
with them. On the day after they parted at Ischl
the first news respecting Prime Minister had reached
him,—namely, that his son’s horse
had lost the race. This would not have annoyed
him at all, but that the papers which he read contained
some vague charge of swindling against somebody, and
hinted that Lord Silverbridge had been a victim.
Even this would not have troubled him,—might
in some sort have comforted him,—were it
made evident to him that his son had been closely
associated with swindlers in these transactions.
If it were a mere question of money, that might be
settled without difficulty. Even though the sum
lost might have grown out of what he might have expected
into some few thousands, still he would bear it without
a word, if only he could separate his boy from bad
companions. Then came Mr Moreton’s letter
telling him the whole.
At the meeting which took place between Silverbridge
and his father’s agent at Carlton Terrace it
was settled that Mr Moreton should write the letter.
Silverbridge tried and found that he could not do
it. He did not know how to humiliate himself
sufficiently, and yet could not keep himself from making
attempts to prove that according to all recognised
chances his bets had been good bets.
Mr Moreton was better able to accomplish the task.
He knew the Duke’s mind. A very large discretion
had been left in Mr Moreton’s hands in regard
to moneys which might be needed on behalf of that
dangerous heir!-so large that he had been able to tell
Lord Silverbridge that if the money was in truth lost
according to Jockey Club rules, it should be all forthcoming
on the settling-day,—certainly without
assistance from Messrs Comfort and Criball. The
Duke had been nervously afraid of such men of business
as Comfort and Criball, and from the earliest days
of his son’s semi-manhood had been on his guard
against them. Let any sacrifice be made so that
his son might be kept clear from Comforts and Criballs.
To Mr Moreton he had been very explicit. His own
pecuniary resources were so great that they could bear
some ravaging without serious detriment. It was
for his son’s character and standing in the
world, for his future respectability and dignity that
his fears were so keen, and not for his own money.
By one so excitable, so fond of pleasure as Lord Silverbridge,
some ravaging would probably be made. Let it
be met by ready money. Such had been the Duke’s
instructions to his own trusted man of business, and,
acting on these instructions, Mr Moreton was able
to tell the heir that the money should be forthcoming.
