第195章

But Gertrude looked as though she did not think it to be exactly the same. Such deficiency as that, however, she had to endure;and she received from her sister after the Captain's departure full congratulations as to her lover's return. "To tell you the truth," said Augusta, "I didn't think that you would ever see him again. After what papa said to him in the City he might have got off and nobody could have said a word to him. Now he's fixed."Captain Batsby effected his escape as quickly as he could, and went home a melancholy man. He, too, was aware that he was fixed;and, as he thought of this, a dreadful idea fell upon him that the Honourable Mr Traffick had perhaps played him false.

In the meantime Mr Traffick was true to his word and went into the City. In the early days of his married life his journeys to Lombard Street were frequent. The management and investing of his wife's money had been to him a matter of much interest, and he had felt a gratification in discussing any money matter with the man who handled millions. In this way he had become intimate with the ways of the house, though latterly his presence there had not been encouraged. "I suppose I can go in to Sir Thomas," he said, laying his hand upon a leaf in the counter, which he had been accustomed to raise for the purpose of his own entrance. But here he was stopped. His name should be taken in, and Sir Thomas duly apprised. In the meantime he was relegated to a dingy little waiting room, which was odious to him, and there he was kept waiting for half an hour. This made him angry, and he called to one of the clerks. "Will you tell Sir Thomas that I must be down at the House almost immediately, and that I am particularly anxious to see him on business of importance?"For another ten minutes he was still kept, and then he was shown into his father-in-law's presence. "I am very sorry, Traffick,"said Sir Thomas, "but I really can't turn two Directors of the Bank of England out of my room, even for you.""I only thought I would just let you know that I am in a hurry.""So am I, for the matter of that. Have you gone to your father's house today, so that you would not be able to see me in Queen's Gate?"This was intended to be very severe, but Mr Traffick bore it.

It was one of those rough things which Sir Thomas was in the habit of saying, but which really meant nothing. "No. My father is still at his house as yet, though they are thinking of going every day. It is about another matter, and I did not want to trouble you with it at home.""Let us hear what it is."

"Captain Batsby has been with me."

"Oh, he has, has he?"

"I've known him ever so long. He's a foolish fellow.""So he seems."

"But a gentleman."

"Perhaps I am not so good a judge of that. His folly I did perceive.""Oh, yes; he's a gentleman. You may take my word for that. And he has means.""That's an advantage."

"While that fellow Houston is hardly more than a beggar. And Batsby is quite in earnest about Gertrude.""If the two of them wish it he can have her tomorrow. She has made herself a conspicuous ass by running away with him, and perhaps it's the best thing she can do.""That's just it. Augusta sees it quite in the same light.""Augusta was never tempted. You wouldn't have run away.""It wasn't necessary, Sir Thomas, was it? There he is -- ready to marry her tomorrow. But, of course, he is a little anxious about the money.""I dare say he is."

"I've been talking to him -- and the upshot is, that I have promised to speak to you. He isn't at all a bad fellow.""He'd keep a house over his wife's head, you think?" Sir Thomas had been particularly irate that morning, and before the arrival of his son-in-law had sworn to himself that Traffick should go.

Augusta might remain, if she pleased, for the occurrence; but the Honourable Septimus should no longer eat and drink as an inhabitant of his house.