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with the resolutions of penitence and reformation, was erased from his mind; or, if at times it intruded, it came not that gentle guest, at whose approach his bosom used to be thrilled with reverence and love, but approached in the form of some ungracious monitor, whose business was to banish pleasure and awaken remorse; and, therefore, the next amusement, folly, or vice, was called in to his aid to banish and expel it. As it was sometimes necessary to write to his father, he fell upon an expedient, even to save himself the pain of thinking so long as that purpose required, on a subject now grown so irksome to him, and employed that woman, in whose toils he was thus shamefully entangled, to read the letters he received, and dictate such answers as her cunning could suggest, to mislead the judgment of his unsuspecting parent. All this while Sindall artfully kept so much aloof, as to preserve, even with the son, something of that character which he had acquired with the father; he was often absent from parties of remarkable irregularity, and sometimes ventured a gentle censure on his friend for having been led into them. But while he seemed to check their continuance under this cloak of prudence, he encouraged it in the report he made of the voice of others; for while the scale of character, for temperance, sobriety, and morals, sinks on one side, there is a balance of fame in the mouths of part of the world rising on the other-Annesly could bear to be told of his spirit, his generosity, and his honour.

CHAP. XIV.

He feels the distresses of Poverty. He is put on a method of relieving them. An account of its

success.

THE manner of life which Annesly now pursued, without restraint, was necessarily productive of such expence as he could very ill afford. But the craft of his female associate was not much at a loss for pretences, to make frequent demands on the generosity of his father. The same excuses which served to account for his stay in London, in some measure apologized for the largeness of the sums he drew for; if it was necessary for him to remain there, expence, if not unavoidable, was at least difficult to be avoid ed; and for the causes of his stay in that city, he had only to repeat the accounts which he daily received from Sindall, of various accidents which obliged his young friend to postpone his intendcd tour.

Though in the country there was little opportunity of knowing the town irregularities of Annesly, yet there were not wanting surmises of it among some, of which it is likely his father might have heard enough to alarm him, had he not been at this time in such a state of health

as prevented him from much society with his neighbours; a slow aguish disorder, which followed those symptoms his daughter's letter to her brother had described, having confined him to his chamber almost constantly from the time of his son's departure.

Annesly had still some blushes left; and when he had pushed his father's indulgence, in the article of supply, as far as shame would allow him, he looked round for some other source whence present relief might be drawn, without daring to consider how the arrearages of the future should be cancelled. Sindall for some time answered his exigencies without reluctance; but at last he informed him, as he said with regret, that he could not, from particular circumstances, afford him, at that immediate juncture, any farther assistance than a small sun, which he then put into Annesly's hands, and which the very next day was squandered by the prodigality of his mistress.

The next morning he rose without knowing how the wants of the day were to be provided for; and strolling out into one of his accustomed walks, gave himself up to all the pangs which the retrospect of the past, and the idea of the present, suggested. But he felt not that contrition which results from ingenious sorrow of our offences; his soul was ruled by that gloomy demon, who looks only to the anguish of their punishment, and accuses the hand of Providence, for calamity which himself has occasioned.

In this situation he was met by one of his new-acquired friends, who was walking off the oppression of last night's riot. The melancholy of his countenance was so easily observable, that it could not escape the notice of his companion, who rallied him on the seriousness of his aspect, in the cant-phrase of those brutes of our species, who are professed enemies to the faculty of thinking. Though Annesly's pride for a while kept him silent, it was at last overcome by the other's importunity, and he confessed the desperation of his circumstances to be the cause of his present depression. His companion, whose purse, as himself informed Annesly, had been flushed by the success of the preceding night, animated by the liberality which attends sudden good fortune, freely offered him the use of twenty pieces, till better times should enable him to repay them. "But," said he, gaily, "it is a shame for a fellow of your parts to want money, when fortune has provided so many rich fools for the harvest of the wise and the industrious. If you'll allow me to be your conductor this evening, I will shew you where, by the traffic of your wits, in a very short time you may convert these twenty guineas into fifty."-" At play," replied Annesly, coolly. 66 Ay, at play," returned the other, "and fair play too; 'tis the only profession left for a man of spirit and honour to pursue; to cheat as a merchant, to quib

ble as a lawyer, or to cant as a churchman, is confined to fellows who have no fire in their composition. Give me but a bold set, and a fair throw for it, and then for the life of a lord, or the death of a gentleman."-" I have had but little experience in the profession," said Annesly," and should but throw away your money." "Never fear," replied the other; " do but mark me, and I will ensure you: I will shew you our men; pigeons, mere pigeons, by Jupiter!"

It was not for a man in Annesly's situation to baulk the promise of such a golden opportunity; they dined together, and afterwards repaired to a gaming-house, where Annesly's companion introduced him, as a friend of his just arrived from the country, to several young gentlemen, who seemed to be waiting his arrival.-"I promised you your revenge," said he, "my dears, and you shall have it ; some of my friend's Lady-day rents, too, have accompanied him to London; if you win, you shall wear them. To business, to business."

In the course of their play, Annesly, though but moderately skilled in the game, discovered, that the company, to whom he had been introduced, were in reality such bubbles as his companion had represented them: after being heated by some small success in the beginning, they began to bet extravagantly against every calculation of chances; and in an hour two, his associate and he had stripped them of a very considerable sum, of which his own share, though much the smaller, was upwards of three score guineas. When they left the house, he offered his conductor the sum he had lent him, with a profusion of thanks, both for the use and the improvement of it."No, my boy," said he, "not now; your note is sufficient: I will rather call for it when I am at a pinch; you see now the road to wealth and independence; you will meet me here to-morrow." He promised to meet him accordingly.

They had been but a few minutes in the room this second night, when a gentleman entered, whom the company saluted with the appellation of Squire; the greater part of them seemed to be charmed with his presence; but the countenance of Annesly's companion fell at his approach :-"Damn him," says he, in a whisper to Annesly, "he's a knowing one."

In some degree indeed he deserved the title; for he had attained, from pretty long experience, assisted by natural quickness of parts, a considerable knowledge in the science; and in strokes of genius, at games where genius was required, was excelled by few. But after all, he was far from being successful in the profession : nature intended him for something better; and as he spoiled a wit, an orator, and perhaps a poet, by turning gambler; so he often spoiled a gambler by the ambition, which was not yet entirely

quenched, of shining occasionally in all those characters. And as a companion, he was too pleasing, and too well pleased, to keep that cool indifference, which is the characteristic of him, who should be always possessed of himself, and consider every other man only as the spunge from whom he is to squeeze advantage.

To the present party, however, he was unquestionably superior; and of course, in a short time began to levy large contributions, not only on the more inexperienced, whom Annesly and his conductor had marked for their own booty, but likewise on these two gentlemen themselves, whose winnings of the former evening were now fast diminishing before the superior skill of this new antagonist.

But in the midst of his success, he was interrupted by the arrival of another gentleman, who seemed also to be a well-known character in this temple of fortune, being saluted by the familiar name of Black-beard. This man possessed an unmoved equality both of temper and aspect; and though, in reality, he was of no very superior abilities, yet had acquired the reputation both of depth and acuteness, from being always accustomed to think on his own interest, and pursuing with the most sedulous attention every object which led to it, unseduced by one single spark of those feelings which the world terms weakness.

In the article of gaming, which he had early pitched on as the means of advancement, he had availed himself of that industry, and saturnine complexion, to acquire the most consummate knowledge of its principles, which indeed he had attained to a very remarkable degree of perfection.

Opposed to this man, even the skill of the hitherto-successful Squire was unavailing ; and consequently he not only stripped that gentleman of the gains he had made, but gleaned whatever he had left in the purses of the inferior members of the party, amongst whom Annesly and his associate were reduced to their last guinea.

This they agreed to spend together at a tavern in the neighbourhood, where they cursed fortune, their spoiler, and themselves, in all the bitterness of rage and disappointment. Annesly did not seek to account for their losses otherwise than in the real way, to wit, from the superior skill of their adversary; but his companion, who often boasted of his own, threw out some insinuations of foul play and connivance.

"If I thought that," said Annesly, laying his hand on his sword, while his cheeks burnt with indignation. "Poh!" replied the other, "'tis in vain to be angry; here is damnation to him in a bumper."

The other did not fail his pledge; and, by a liberal application to the bottle, they so far overcame their losses, that Annesly reeled home,

singing a catch, forgetful of the past, and re- last, with a more settled horror in his eye, he gardless of to-morrow.

CHAP. XV.

Another attempt to retrieve his Circumstances, the consequences of which are still more fatal. THOUGH the arrival of to-morrow might be overlooked, it could not be prevented. It rose on Annesly, one of the most wretched of mankind. Poverty, embittered by disgrace, was now approaching him, who knew of no friend to ward off the blow, and had no consolation in himself by which it might be lightened: if any thing could add to his present distress, it was increased by the absence of Sindall, who was then in the country, and the upbraidings of his female companion, who now exclaimed against the folly which herself had caused, and the extravagance herself had participated.

About mid-day, his last night's fellow-sufferer paid him a visit: their mutual chagrin at meeting, from the recollection of misfortune which it produced, was evident in their countenances; but it was not a little increased, when the other told Annesly he came to put him in mind of the sum he had advanced him two days before, for which he had now very particular occasion. Annesly answered, that he had frankly told him the state of his finances at the time of the loan, and accepted it on no condition of speedy payment; that he had, that same evening, offered to repay him when it was in his power; and that he could not but think the demand ungentlemanlike, at a time when he inust know his utter inability to comply with it.

"Ungentlemanlike!" said the other; "I don't understand what you mean, sir, by such a phrase; will you pay me my money, or not?" "I cannot."" Then, sir, you must expect me to employ some gentleman for the recovery of it, who will speak to you, perhaps, in a more ungentlemanlike style than I do.” And, so saying, he flung out of the room.

"Infamous wretch!" exclaimed Annesly, and walked about with a hurried step, gnawing his lips, and muttering curses on him, and on himself.- -There was another gentleman wanted to see him below stairs-'Twas a mercer, who came to demand payment of some fineries his lady, as he termed her, had purchased: he was, with difficulty, dismissed. In a quarter of an hour there was another call-'Twas a dun of a tailor for clothes to himself-he would take no excuse. Come," said Annesly, with a look of desperation, "to-morrow morning, and I will pay you."

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But how?-he stared wildly on the ground, then knocked his head against the wall, and acted all the extravagancies of a madman. At

put on his sword, and without knowing whither he should go, sallied into the street.

He happened to meet in his way some of those boon companions with whom his nights of jollity had been spent ; but their terms of salutation were so cold and forbidding, as obviously to shew that the account of his circumstances had already reached them; and, with them, he who had every thing to ask, and nothing to bestow, could possess no quality attractive of regard. After sauntering from street to street, and from square to square, he found himself, towards the close of the day, within a few paces of that very gaming-house where he had been so unfortunate the evening before. A sort of malicious curiosity, and some hope of he knew not what, tempted him to re-enter it. He found much the same company he had seen the preceding night, with the exception, however, of his former associate, and one or two of the younger members of their party, whom the same cause prevented from attending.

Strolling into another room, he found an inferior set of gamesters, whose stakes were lower, though their vociferation was infinitely more loud. In the far corner sat a man, who preserved a composure of countenance undisturbed by the clamour and confusion that surrounded him. After a little observation, Annesly discovered that he was a money-lender, who advanced certain sums, at a very exorbitant premium, to the persons engaged in the play. Some of those he saw, who could offer no other security satisfying to this usurer, procure a few guineas from him, on pawning a watch, ring, or some other appendage of former finery. Of such he had before divested himself for urgent demands, and had nothing superfluous about him but his sword, which he had kept the latest, and which he now deposited in the hands of the old gentleman in the corner, who furnished him with a couple of pieces upon it, that with them he might once more try his fortune at the table.

The success exceeded his expectation: it was so rapid, that in less than an hour he had increased his two guineas to forty, with which he determined to retire contented; but when he would have redeemed his sword, he was informed that the keeper had just gone into the other room, where, as he entered to demand it, he unfortunately overheard the same gentleman who had gained his money the former night, offering a bet, to the amount of the sum Annesly then possessed, on a cast where he imagined the chance to be much against it. Stimulated with the desire of doubling his gain, and the sudden provocation, as it were, of the offer, he accepted it; and, in one moment, lost all the fruits of his former good fortune. The transport of his passion could not express itself in words, but taking up one of the dice, with the seeming cool

ness of exquisite anguish, he fairly bit it in two, and, casting a look of frenzy on his sword, which he was now unable to ransom, he rushed out of the house, uncovered as he was, his hat hanging on a peg in the other apartment.

Meantime, the gamester returned to the house he had just quitted, with the account of his disaster. The whole fraternity, who could make no allowance for a robber of this sort, were alarmed at the accident; every one was busied in inquiry, and a thousand questions were asked about his appearance, his behaviour, and the route he had taken. The chairmen, who had been somewhat more possessed of themselves at the time of the robbery than their master, had remarked the circumstance of the robber's wanting his hat. This was no sooner mentioned, than a buzz ran through the company, that the young gentleman, who had gone off a little while before, had been observed to be uncovered when he left the house; and upon search made, his hat was actually found, with his name marked on the inside. This was a ground of suspicion too strong to be overlooked: messengers were dispatched in quest of the friend who had introduced him there the preceding night; upon his being found, and acquainting them of Annesly's lodgings, proper warrants were obtained for a search.

When that unfortunate young man arrived at home, he was met on the stairs by the lady we have formerly mentioned, who, in terms of bitter reproach, interrupted him with tears, inveighed against the cruelty of his neglect, in thus leaving her to pine alone, without even the common comforts of a miserable life. Her censure indeed was the more violent, as there was little reason for its violence; for she had that moment dismissed, at a back-door, a gallant who was more attentive than Annesly. He, who could very well allow the grounds of her complaint, only pleaded necessity for his excuse. He could but mutter this apology in imperfect words; for the perturbation of his mind almost deprived him of the powers of speech. Upon her taking notice of this, with much seeming concern for his health, he beckoned her into a chamber, and dashing the purse on the floor, pointed to it with a look of horror, as an answer to her upbraidings.

The agitation of his mind was such as denied all attention to common things; and, instead of taking the direct road to his lodgings, he wandered off the street into an obscure alley, where he had not advanced far, till he was accosted by a fellow, who, in a very peremptory tone, desired him to deliver his money, or he would instantly blow out his brains, presenting a pistol at less than half a yard's distance. "I can give you nothing," said Annesly," because I have nothing to give."-" Damn you," returned the other, "do you think I'll be fobbed off so? Your money, and be damned to you, or I'll send you to hell in a twinkling," advancing his pistol, at the same time, within a hand'sbreadth of his face. Annesly, at that instant, struck up the muzzle with his arm, and, laying hold of the barrel, by a sudden wrench forced the weapon out of the hands of the villain, who, not choosing to risk any farther combat, made the best of his way down the alley, and left Annesly master of his arms. He stood for a moment entranced in thought." Whoever thou art," said he, "I thank thee; by Heaven! thou instructest and armest me; this may provide for to-morrow, or make its provision unnecessary." He now returned with a hurried pace to the mouth of the alley, where, in the shade of a jutting wall, he could mark, unperceived, the objects on the street. He had stood there but a few seconds, and began already to waver in his purpose, when he saw come out of the gaming-house which he had left, the very man who had plundered him of his all. The richness of the prize, with immediate revenge, awakened together in his mind; and the suspicion of foul play, which his companion had hinted the night before, gave them a sanction of something like justice. He waited till the chair, in which the gamester was conveyed, came opposite to place where he stood; then covering his face with one hand, and assuming a tone different from his natural, he pulled out his pistol, and At that moment the officers of justice, who commanded the leading chairman to stop. This had lost no time in prosecuting their informaeffected, he went up to the chair, and the gen- tion, entered the house; and some of them, actleman within having let down one of the glass-companied by an attorney, employed by the genes to know the reason of its stop, the stopper clapped the pistol to his breast, and threatened him with instant death if he did not deliver his money. The other, after some little hesitation, during which Annesly repeated his threats with the most horrible oaths, drew a purse of gold from his pocket, which Annesly snatched out of his hand, and running down the alley, made his escape at the other end; and, after turning through several streets, in different directions, so as to elude pursuit, arrived safely at home with the booty he had taken.

"What have you done for this?" said she, taking it up. He threw himself into a chair, without answering a word.

tleman who had been robbed, walked softly up stairs to the room where Annesly was, and bursting into it before he could prepare for any defence, laid hold of him in rather a violent manner; which the lawyer observing, desired them to use the gentleman civilly, till he should ask him a few questions. "I will answer none," said Annesly; "do your duty."-" Then, sir,” replied the other, "you must attend us to those who can question you with better authority; and I must make bold to secure this lady, till she answer some questions also. The lady saved

him the trouble; for being now pretty well satisfied that her hero was at the end of his career, she thought it most prudent to break off a connexion where nothing was to be gained, and make a merit of contributing her endeavours to bring the offender to justice. She called, therefore, this leader of the party into another room, and being informed by him that the young gentleman was suspected of having committed a robbery scarce an hour before, she pulled out the purse which she had just received from him, and asked the lawyer, "If it was that which had been taken from his client?"-" Ay, that it is, I'll be sworn," said he ; " and here (pouring out its contents,) is the ring he mentioned at the bottom." "But," said she, pausing a little," it will prove the thing as well without the guineas."-" I protest," returned the lawyer, Ithou art a girl of excellent invention— Hum-here are fourscore; one half of them might have been spent or dropt out by the way, or any thing may be supposed; and so we shall have twenty a-piece. Some folks to be sure would take more, but I love conscience in those matters."

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Having finished this transaction in such a manner as might give no offence to the conscience of this honest pettifogger, they returned to the prisoner, who contented himself with darting a look of indignation at his female betrayer; and, after being some time in the custody of the lawyer and his assistants, he was carried in the morning, along with her, before a magistrate. The several circumstances I have related being sworn to, Annesly was committed to Newgate, and the gamester bound over to prosecute him at the next sessions, which were not then very distant.

CHAP. XXI.

gavest me being! take back that life which thou didst breathe into me for the best of purposes, but which I have profaned by actions equally mischievous to thy government, and ignominious to myself. The passions which thou didst implant in me, that reason which should balance them is unable to withstand: from one only I receive useful admonition; the shame, that could not prevent, now punishes my crimes. Her voice for once I will obey; and leave a state, in which if I remain, I continue a blot to nature, and an enemy to man."

He drew a penknife, now his only weapon, from its sheath-he bared his bosom for the horrid deed-when the picture of his father, which the good man had bestowed on him at parting, and he had worn ever since in his bosom, struck his eye-(it was drawn in the mildness of holy meditation, with the hands folded together, and the eyes lifted to heaven)—“ Merciful God!" said Annesly-he would have uttered a prayer, but his soul was wound up to a pitch that could but one way be let down-he flung himself on the ground, and burst into an agony of tears.

The door of the apartment opening, discovered the jailor, followed by Sir Thomas Sindall"My friend in this place?" said he to Annesly,-who covered his face with his hands, and replied only by a groan.

Sindall made signs for the keeper of the prison to leave them ;-" Come," said he, "my dear Annesly, be not so entirely overcome; I flatter myself, you know my friendship too well, to suppose that it will desert you even here. í may, perhaps, have opportunities of comforting you in many ways; at least I shall feel and pity your distresses.' -"Leave me," answered the other, "leave me; I deserve no pity, and methinks there is a pride in refusing it."-" You must not say so; my love has much to plead

The Miseries of him whose Punishment is inflicted for you; nor are you without excuse even to

by Conscience.

THOUGH Annesly must have suffered much during the agitation of these proceedings, yet that was little to what he felt, when left to reflection, in the solitude of his new abode. Let the virtuous remember, amidst their affliction, that though the heart of the good man may bleed even to death, it will never feel a torment equal to the rendings of remorse.

For some time the whirling of his brain gave him no leisure to exercise any faculty that could be termed thinking; when that sort of delirium subsided, it left him only to make room for more exquisite, though less turbulent anguish. After he had visited every corner of resource, and found them all dark and comfortless, he started at last from that posture of despair in which he sat, and turning the glare of his eye intently upwards:

"Take back," said he, "thou Power that

the world."-"Oh! Sindall," said he, "I am without excuse to myself! when I look back to that peace of mind, to that happiness I have squandered !—I will not curse, but-oh! fool, fool, fool!"-" I would not," said Sir Thomas, "increase that anguish which you feel, were I not obliged to mention the name of your father."- "My father!" cried Annesly; "O hide me from my father!"-"Alas!" replied Sindall, "he must hear of your disaster from other hands; and it were cruel not to acquaint him of it in a way that should wound him the least.” -Annesly gazed with a look of entrancement on his picture; "Great God!" said he, "for what hast thou reserved me? Sindall, do what thou wilt-think not of such a wretch as I am; but mitigate, if thou canst, the sorrows of a father, the purity of whose bosom must bleed for the vices of mine."-" Fear not," returned Sir Thomas; "I hope all will be better than you imagine. It grows late, and I must leave you

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