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Page 20
To this silly woman did this silly fellow introduce the GREAT
WILD, informing her at the same time of their school acquaintance
and the many obligations he had received from him. This simple
woman no sooner heard her husband had been obliged to her guest
than her eyes sparkled on him with a benevolance which is an
emanation from the heart, and of which great and noble minds,
whose hearts never dwell but with an injury, can have no very
adequate idea; it is therefore no wonder that our hero should
misconstrue, as he did, the poor, innocent, and ample affection of
Mrs. Heartfree towards her husband's friend, for that great and
generous passion, which fires the eyes of a modern heroine, when
the colonel is so kind as to indulge his city creditor with
partaking of his table to-day, and of his bed tomorrow. Wild,
therefore, instantly returned the compliment as he understood it,
with his eyes, and presently after bestowed many encomiums on her
beauty, with which, perhaps, she, who was a woman, though a good
one, and misapprehended the design, was not displeased any more
than the husband.
When breakfast was ended, and the wife retired to her household
affairs, Wild, who had a quick discernment into the weaknesses of
men, and who, besides the knowledge of his good (or foolish)
disposition when a boy, had now discovered several sparks of
goodness, friendship, and generosity in his friend, began to
discourse over the accidents which had happened in their
childhood, and took frequent occasions of reminding him of those
favours which we have before mentioned his having conferred on
him; he then proceeded to the most vehement professions of
friendship, and to the most ardent expressions of joy in this
renewal of their acquaintance. He at last told him, with great
seeming pleasure, that he believed he had an opportunity of
serving him by the recommendation of a gentleman to his custom,
who was then on the brink of marriage. "And, if he be not already
engaged, I will," says he, "endeavour to prevail on him to furnish
his lady with jewels at your shop."
Heartfree was not backward in thanks to our hero, and, after many
earnest solicitations to dinner, which were refused, they parted
for the first time.
But here, as it occurs to our memory that our readers may be
surprised (an accident which sometimes happens in histories of
this kind) how Mr. Wild, the elder, in his present capacity,
should have been able to maintain his son at a reputable school,
as this appears to have been, it may be necessary to inform him
that Mr. Wild himself was then a tradesman in good business, but,
by misfortunes in the world, to wit, extravagance and gaming, he
had reduced himself to that honourable occupation which we have
formerly mentioned.
Having cleared up this doubt, we will now pursue our hero, who
forthwith repaired to the count, and, having first settled
preliminary articles concerning distributions, he acquainted him
with the scheme which he had formed against Heartfree; and after
consulting proper methods to put it in execution, they began to
concert measures for the enlargement of the count; on which the
first, and indeed only point to be considered, was to raise money,
not to pay his debts, for that would have required an immense sum,
and was contrary to his inclination or intention, but to procure
him bail; for as to his escape, Mr. Snap had taken such
precautions that it appeared absolutely impossible.
CHAPTER TWO
GREAT EXAMPLES OF GREATNESS IN WILD, SHEWN AS WELL BY HIS
BEHAVIOUR TO BAGSHOT AS IN A SCHEME LAID, FIRST, TO IMPOSE ON
HEARTFREE BY MEANS OF THE COUNT, AND THEN TO CHEAT THE COUNT OF
THE BOOTY.
Wild undertook therefore to extract some money from Bagshot, who,
notwithstanding the depredations made on him, had carried off a
pretty considerable booty from their engagement at dice the
preceding day. He found Mr. Bagshot in expectation of his bail,
and, with a countenance full of concern, which he could at any
time, with wonderful art, put on, told him that all was
discovered; that the count knew him, and intended to prosecute him
for the robbery, "had not I exerted (said he) my utmost interest,
and with great difficulty prevailed on him in case you refund the
money--" "Refund the money!" cryed Bagshot, "that is in your
power: for you know what an inconsiderable part of it fell to my
share." "How!" replied Wild, "is this your gratitude to me for
saving your life? For your own conscience must convince you of
your guilt, and with how much certainty the gentleman can give
evidence against you." "Marry come up!" quoth Bagshot; "I believe
my life alone will not be in danger. I know those who are as
guilty as myself. Do you tell me of conscience?" "Yes, sirrah!"
answered our hero, taking him by the collar; "and since you dare
threaten me I will shew you the difference between committing a
robbery and conniving at it, which is all I can charge myself
with. I own indeed I suspected, when you shewed me a sum of money,
that you had not come honestly by it." "How!" says Bagshot,
frightened out of one half of his wits, and amazed out of the
other, "can you deny?" "Yes, you rascal," answered Wild, "I do
deny everything; and do you find a witness to prove it: and, to
shew you how little apprehension I have of your power to hurt me,
I will have you apprehended this moment."--At which words he
offered to break from him; but Bagshot laid hold of his skirts,
and, with an altered tone and manner, begged him not to be so
impatient. "Refund then, sirrah," cries Wild, "and perhaps I may
take pity on you." "What must I refund?" answered Bagshot. "Every
farthing in your pocket," replied Wild; "then I may have some
compassion on you, and not only save your life, but, out of an
excess of generosity, may return you something." At which words
Bagshot seeming to hesitate, Wild pretended to make to the door,
and rapt out an oath of vengeance with so violent an emphasis,
that his friend no longer presumed to balance, but suffered Wild
to search his pockets and draw forth all he found, to the amount
of twenty-one guineas and a half, which last piece our generous
hero returned him again, telling him he might now sleep secure.
but advised him for the future never to threaten his friends.
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