Golden Fetters

Front matter

GOLDEN FETTEES. GOLDEN FETTERS BY MARK LEMON, Author o: Wait for the End," "Loved at Last," " Falkner Lyle, "Leyton Hali," etc., etc. Be merry, man ! and tak not sair in mind The wavering of this wretched world of sorrow ; To God be humble, to thy friend be kind, And with thy neighbour gladly lend and borrow ; His chance to-night, it may be thine to-morrow ! Dunbar. IN THREE VOLUMES, VOL. II. LONDON : BRADBURY, EVANS, & CO., 11, BOUVERIE ST., E.C. 1867. [The Right of Translation is reserved,] LONDON : BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. GOLDEN FETTEKS.

Chapter I

There is a story told of an old woman who had carried the same pitcher to the well for twenty years, and broke it at last. "I knew I should do it some day," she exclaimed, " I said it would be an unlucky pitcher when I bought it." And so, we suppose, old saws, old superstitions, and evil omens, receive occasional fulfilment, enough to retain their hold on the popular niiud. At least Mrs. Hobbs's not unusual dread of the consequence of making her will, appeared to be on the point of realisation, as Mr. Daw received the following communication from his excellent voi. II. B friend, as he had been accustomed to call his con fiding client. The letter was addressed to " Mr. Doors, Bidford Row, at Mr. Dalton's office. London," and was as follows : " Sir, " Mrs. Hobbs presents respectful comps. to Mr. Doors, and is very badly, which has con tinued for some days.

Will you please come down as soon as you can possibily do so, as Mrs. Hobbs is uneasy in her mind, " I remain, " Your obegient serv1., " Susan Hobbs. Mr. Daw pondered for some time over this epistle, and was sufficiently disturbed by it to resolve — Mr. Dalton being at Hartsden — upon going at once to Moscow Row, Hampstead, where Mrs. Hobbs resided. He rang his bell, and Mr. Perry answered it. " I shall not be back until two or three, perhaps, Perry," he said, " and mind you don't leave the office until I return, though it is Wednesday." " I never do leave, sir, when you and Mr. Dalton are out," replied Perry, mildly. " I dare say you are no better than the rest of your fellows," replied Daw, sharply, putting on his hat and overcoat. " A skulking lot, all of you ;" and then he went his way.

Mr. Perry made no reply, the conscia mens recti kept him silent upon this, as upon many other occasions of late, when Mr. Daw had said uncivil things. Mr. Daw had become very bump tious, as many mean men will when they are getting on in the world, or believe they are. In the course of an hour or so, a Hampstead coach set Mr. Daw down at the turning leading to Moscow Row — a colony of about twenty small houses skirting the border of Hampstead Heath, but intruding in no way whatever upon that Elysian field of the smoke-dried cockney. B Another half-century, perhaps, will find that health-giving space destroyed by the brick and mortar epidemic, which seems to be blasting all the green spots around London. Mr. Daw had not paid his excellent friend a visit for some time, and he was greatly surprised to see how much she had changed.

Her round florid face had become flaccid and veiny, and her eyes dim and moist, like those of one who had established too intimate relations with the spirit bottle. " Well, Mr. Doors, this is kind of you to come so immegiately," said Mrs. Hobbs, whimpering a little. Mr. Daw professed himself always at her ser vice, and the more so, when she complained of illness and distress of mind. Mrs. Hobbs turned up her poor watery eyes, and shook her head as she replied, "And both of them is mine, I assure you, Mr. Doors, or I woon't ha' brought you down here ; and perhaps you would take something after your ride, sir ? " Mr. Daw acknowledged himself equal to a glass of gin-and-water and a crust of bread, having a conviction that both were to be found on the premises. Whilst Mary, the maid, was procuring these homely refreshments, Mrs. Hobbs went on.

" I was took badly, sir, that very day two year, when I signed that will and testament, and sorry I am I did it." " Surely you do not connect your present indis position with the performance of that act of duty ? " asked Mr. Daw, smiling. "You may smile, sir," replied Mrs. Hobbs, solemnly, "but I doose. It has never been off my mind, as Mary knows. Here's to your good health, Mr. Doors." Mr. Daw " reciprocated," and Mrs. Hobbs went on. "I feel as if a spell was upon me ; the very night I come home, after signing my name to that paper, I thought I heard the death-watch in the chimney." " Well, but you didn't die, my dear madam, replied Daw, cheerfully. " No, I certainly didn't, as it turned out to be splots of rain coming down the chimney, and it frightened me all the same. I'm always dream ing of weddings, and that's a sure sign of a death."

" A — suppose we say that you've been thinking of some of your old lovers, and so " "0 pray don't talk in that way, Mr. Doors. It seems wicked — indeed it does, and me that badly that the doctor calls every day." " Perhaps that accounts for your indisposition," said Mr. Daw, anxious to disabuse his excellent friend of the absurd notion which had taken possession of her. But Mrs. Hobbs was dull at taking a joke, although an old one. " There's another thing, Mr. Doors, which perhaps you won't laugh at. For this ten days past a dog has howled every night under my window. A nasty cantankerous brute, as belongs to the milkman over the way, and kills all the cats he can lay hold on." " Then perhaps his conscience troubles him, and he can't rest at nights. I'll speak to the milkman," replied Daw, pleasantly.

" 0 sir, I wish I'd your nerves, and spirits like you," said Mrs. Hobbs, adding, after a moderate sip at her glass, " and then them relations of mine " " Miserable, degraded wretches ! " exclaimed Daw, " surely they've not been here to annoy " 0 dear, no ; I've never clapped eyes on them for years — not since they was babies," replied Mrs. Hobbs. " But their mother and me was friends, and if we should meet " " Rely upon it," said Daw, not quite liking the turn the conversation was taking, — " rely upon injustice — although undeserved — shall be done to your unworthy relatives : I'll see to that." " You're very good, I'm sure, and mean well," replied Mrs. Hobbs ; " but if it makes no dif ference, I should feel so much easier in my mind if that thing of a will was put in the fire. I should get better, I'm sure I should if it was."

" And have another prepared in favour of your relatives ? " asked Daw, quietly. " 0 dear, no ! I'd never put my name to another thing of the sort, if all my money should go to Hospitals, or Income Tax, or paying off the National Debts." " Distress yourself no further, my excellent friend," said Daw, taking Mrs. Hobbs by the hand ; " consider your will as gone — consumed : and now get well as soon as you can." Mr. Daw spoke truly. Mrs. Hobbs had no longer any will of her own as far as the disposition of her savings was concerned. Mr. Daw would take care of that. He was vexed, however, that his excellent friend had thought so much about the matter, as it would become a duty to himself to maintain a more constant watch upon the old lady ; for though he believed his right to her money indisputable, he had no desire to have the fact known, as the proceeding, he was aware — though according to law — was not according to equity or the honourable practice of his profession.

He had, however, determined to become rich, and he had not much conscience to satisfy. Mr. Daw, having received his instruc tions, pleaded the absence of his principal as an excuse for departure. He had given Mary an intimation that he wished to speak to her, and the girl followed him to the garden gate professedly to show him where the milkman lived. " Is your mistress really ill ? " asked Daw. " Well, sir, by the way she worrits herself and me, I should say she was very bad at times," replied Mary. " And drinks ? "Well, it's no use disguising the truth, sir. She has left off tea entirely," replied Mary, rather ambiguously. " What does the doctor say ? " " I've heard nothing from him," replied Mary ; "but his young man who comes for him some times, told me yesterday he thought she was a bursting up."

" Breaking up, perhaps." " Yes, it was ' breaking up.' She's indigestion of the liver," he says, " and some other long word. You see, I asked him because I've put up with a good deal, looking forward like to — what shall I say ? " " A legacy, eh ? " "Well, something of that sort, or I couldn't have stopped, and wouldn't. She's promised me a deal, but she's been wearing a nut-brown silk every day until it's quite shiny at the elbows, and only yesterday she talked of having it turned. Now that's not fair ! " " Mary, you're a sharp girl, and deserve to be rewarded for what you have undergone," said Daw, kindly. " Whenever anything happens to Mrs. Hobbs, I will take care of you." " Thank you, sir. You're a gentleman, I know, and I can trust to you." Mary was a clever girl. "I should not — if I were you — allow your mistress to get too low-spirited," said Daw.

" I fancy it don't much matter what she takes — brandy if she likes it." " Likes it!" said Mary. " She'd live on it if I'd let her." " Then let her," replied Daw — adding, after a momentary pause, " You're a good girl, I am sure, Mary, and there is half a sovereign. Good day : and, by-the-by, should any stranger call on Mrs. Hobbs, you will please let me know in stantly. You can write ? " " 0 yes, sir, quite as well as missus." " Or your young man wouldn't ask you to write so often," said Mr. Daw, patting Mary's shoulder. "What nonsense, Mr. Daw!" but Mary tittered and ran back to the house, evidently pleased at the supposition that she had a young man with whom she corresponded. Mr. Daw crossed the road and then made his way to the highway along which the public coaches passed, without however calling on the milkman.

There was very little sentiment in the com position of Mr. Daw, no regard whatever for the weaknesses of others ; and the more he reflected upon the superstitious fears of Mrs. Hobbs, the more he derided them. He was gratified by the indifference she displayed as to the ultimate disposition of her property, and by the time he had arrived at Bedford Row he had determined to disregard her instructions, convinced that the deed of gift which he held was the most rational act Mrs. Hobbs ever performed in her life. Having arrived at this conclusion, he allowed some compunctious feelings to find a place in his bosom, and resolved to devise some means by which the perturbed mind of his excellent friend could be set at rest. In the course of a few days he again visited Moscow Row, and had the — well, satisfaction to find Mrs. Hobbs rather worse than better.

It was evident that the old house keeper had received her last warning, and probably would not stay out " her month." Mr. Daw therefore determined not to be in any way accessory to her "taking off" unnecessarily, and having, therefore, requested Mary to leave him and her mistress together, he produced from an inside pocket a long envelope elaborately sealed and fastened. " Will you open that packet, my dear madam," he said, with his blandest tone and manner. " Please do it, sir," replied Mrs. Hobbs. To hear, was to obey, and the fastenings of the packet being loosened, Mr. Daw exhibited to his excellent friend a handful of paper ashes, as evidence that her will and testament bad been consumed by fire. Quite true, Mr. Perry's fair copy of her first instructions had been so de stroyed, but not the deed of gift.

No, no, Mr. Daw was not such an honest fool as that ! The poor deluded one expressed her thankful ness, but though fully believing her own eyes, the specific for her cure was of no avail, and in about a fortnight more Mrs. Hobbs was gathered to her fathers and mothers and other relations. " The funerial," as Mary wrote to her young man, "was most respectable, being black cloth, with a angle blowing a trumpet a top and stuck all over with cherubs looking for all the world bke apple dumplings with wings." Of course Mr. Daw thought that the spirit of the departed would be comforted by such trum pery, and he knew also that he should have the credit for liberality with Mary, whom he was desirous to concibate. The whole of the excellent lady's wardrobe was presented to Mary, (Mr. Daw could not personally adapt any of it to his own use,) and the charwoman, who set up a claim to certain personalties, was satisfied by two or three pounds.

A broker was readily found to pur chase the furniture, and set off the proceeds against the cost of the funeral, and so in less than ten days the key of No. 4, Moscow Row was handed to its proprietor, and Mary, with a month's wages and other gratuities in pocket, was on her way to her friends in the country. To secure bis valuable windfall was Mr. Daw's " most important business in the city," and for a long time no one — not even Mr. Perry — heard one word from Mr. Daw of the decease of Mrs. Hobbs. Mr. Daw had a long head, and he determined upon a singular course of action, whose policy it was not easy to understand. K- He resolved to look up " The Commissioner," or Mr. Richard Alderwinkle, and having borrowed a Bell's Life from a neighbouring pubbc-house, he referred to the column headed " Canine," and found to his satisfaction that a dog show was to be held that evening at the same place as he had visited in the company of Mr. Bob, and that " the chair would be taken at eight o'clock by ' The Commissioner,' faced by Mr. Bloggs."

It would be a rough gathering, Mr. Daw knew, but he had plenty of physical pluck, and had learned what is technically called "the use of his hands." Having removed as much as he could of the professional gentleman from his outward ap pearance, by the substitution of " a bird's-eye fogle " for his customary long black satin stock, and the absence of shirt collars, he put on a loose overcoat and proceeded at the appointed time to the place of meeting. The flash house at which the dog show was to be held was up a broad court running out of a street in the neighbourhood of the Haymarket, and as Mr. Daw was about half an hour in advance of the appointed time he took a survey of the locality. The public house looked satis factory enough externally, and the cluster of small shops about it gave the court an air of respectability.

In a barber's window besides the placards announcing "Easy shaving," "Razors carefully set," " Hair cut for 3d.," illuminated from within, was an announcement in florid pen manship which gave some indication of " the doings" at the public. It ran thus: "Gentle men's black eyes carefully painted out." Mr. Daw was so far impressed by this announcement that he waited a few minutes near the door of the tavern he was about to enter, to note what sort of customers were to be bis companions. The men passing in were mostly well dressed for their class, generally wearing loose shooting coats whose pockets VOL. n. c bulged out more or less. Their easy, confident manner showed they were on good terms with themselves, whatever might be their relations with the world in general. The light of the public-house lamp falling full on the face of Mr. Daw, an approaching visitor stopped suddenly and said : " Why, Mr. Daw !

It is Mr. Daw ! " For a moment the gentleman addressed did not recognise the speaker, indeed not until the man had spoken again. " Are you for in here, sir? And then Mr. Daw recalled the features of a certain kind of ticket porter who had no ticket, and who hung about the Law Offices in Chancery Lane ready to run on messages. He was there called " Joe," and a very civil, trust worthy fellow he was always. He was a changed man now in appearance. He too had the shooting coat, the bulged pockets, the con fident manner of the other arrivals. "Well, I was thinking of going in," repbed Mr. Daw, " if I should not — be in the way." " Not in the least on it, sir. You'll go in as my friend, and nobody'll say nothing to you." " You are known here, then ? " " Rather, I should say, sir, rather. I'm going to face the chair to-night," repbed Joe.

" Then — are you Mr. Bloggs ? " asked Daw. " I am Mr. Bloggs, sir, or Joe Bloggs, if you like it better, sir. You see, Mr. Daw, we must all have our relaxations and our fancies ; now mine is dogs — toy-dogs," and he here explained the mystery of the bulged pockets by showing that his own contained each a diminutive spaniel about to contend for the prize of the evening — " a silver watch jewelled in eight holes." Mr. Daw now felt that he was entering the canine world under the best auspices, the more especially as the mention of Mr. Bob Gore's name drew forth from Mr. Bloggs an expression of great respect for the worthy dealer. c Mr. Daw having taken two refreshment tickets, and Mr. Bloggs having paid certain "entrance fees" for his two "toys," they went into the room set apart for the show.

It was an ordinary public-house parlour, having tables and chairs ranged on its sides and ends, the walls being covered with sporting prints chiefly having reference to the exploits of dogs — fight ing and rat-killing. The Commissioner was a man of business and already seated on a slightly elevated chair at the end of the room, having a background of rather dingy red curtains, whilst before him — in humble imitation of the Cup display at Ascot and Good wood — stood on a cigar-box, suspended to a miniature gallows, the silver watch to be awarded later in the evening. The room soon filled, and the chief peculiarity observable was, the number of dogs' heads resting on the edges of the table, their bodies being secured in the capacious pockets of their owners. The show commenced ; but for the reasons ahead}7 given, we shall make no record of the proceedings, merely observing that, under the presidency of the Commissioner and Mr. Bloggs, much better order and decent behaviour prevailed.

Mr. Bloggs was unsuccessful, but he bore bis defeat with as much equanimity as his Grace, or my Lord, or Sir Toby, when disappointed of the blue riband of the Derby. Whatever was his mortification, he concealed it ; and as the business of the evening was over, led off the vocal harmony with a song of many verses and a thundering chorus. Having given bis toast and sentiment and made his next call, he had leisure for con versation with his friend Mr. Daw; who soon contrived to lead it in the direction most agreeable to himself. " 0 yes, sir — I've knowed the Commissioner this ten year or more," replied Mr. Bloggs, in answer to a question; "and I'm afeard he's a little shady, sir. He's got a good friend in a sister, I fancy — but that's bread I shouldn't like to eat, sir." " I understand," said Mr. Daw ; " and now, Bloggs, you must undertake a little bit of business for me.

I can't stand this noise and smoke any longer ; but I had intended to have waited until I could have spoken to the Com missioner. You must bring him to our office to morrow morning. Come in first yourself, in case I shouldn't be alone. I wTant a word or two with your friend." " Well, of course I could bring him," replied Mr. Bloggs, "but it wouldn't be pleasant for me among these here gentlemen if I put the Commissioner in trouble." " Do you think I'd ask you to do so ? " said Mr. Daw, apparently slightly offended. " Of course I don't ! " replied Bloggs — but he had thought it possible that Mr. Daw had some legal intentions to carry out not quite to the Commissioner's advantage ; but when he was as sured that the " worthy chair " would be the richer for the visit, the equally " worthy vice " promised to bring him.

The Commissioner looked very rosy about the face and eyes the next morning when presented to Mr. Daw, and it was evident that the orgie of the preceding night had been heavy and pro tracted. He was quite collected, however, and assumed his very best " commission " manner. " I believe I address Mr. Richard Alder winkle ? " said Mr. Daw, after they were seated in his private room. " Yes, sir," replied the Commissioner, sharply, " that is my name ; and yours Mr. Daw, I believe ? " Mr. Daw bowed assent, adding : — " You are a native, I think, of Chuckley, are you not ? " The Commissioner crossed his legs and clasped his knees with his hands before replying, and then, looking Mr. Daw steadfastly in the face, said, " I beg pardon, Mr. Daw, but I must ask you to excuse the freedom of the few remarks I am about to make before we go any further.

It has been my misfortune to cut my eye teeth rather early. I never had much schooling and less pocket-money, and have had to scramble my way through the world as I best could." Mr. Daw smiled and bowed slightly. " Now, sir, among other observations which I have made is this — that nobody ever looks you up unless he wants to get something out of you. Perhaps you may have made the same observation, Mr. Daw ? " Mr. Daw smiled, and said, " Possibly — partially." "Very well, sir. Now, as some men 'make wood ' from their capital, some from their credit, and some from the knowledge of things in general, I have long made it a rule never to give away the only valuable stock-in-trade I possess — my experience. And so, sir, I think we shall get on better if, before you proceed with your examination of me, you just state your case."

" I respect your caution and your prudence," replied Daw, pleasantly, " and I am sure you will respect the same qualities in myself." " Sir, of course," said the Commissioner, changing his attitude, and assuming one of at tention by thrusting his hands into his trowsers pockets and extending his legs. " I am anxious to know — before I proceed to particulars — I am anxious to know if you are Mr. Richard Alderwinkle, of Chuckley." " I am," replied Richard. " The son of Peter and Jemima Alderwinkle, sometime deceased ? " " Vide parish register," answered the Com missioner. " That being so, you had a relative of the name of Hobbs — Susan Hobbs ? " " Ye-es, a cousin of my mother. She was housekeeper in the Fortescue family. I looked her up a year or two ago." " Indeed !" said Mr. Daw, somewhat interested by the answer.

" Did you find her ? " " Well, not exactly," replied the Commissioner, coolly. " I heard she was living on a small ter minable annuity, and with that information my interest in the old lady ceased." " I understand," said Daw, laughing ; " a troublesome old lady with only an annuity did not promise a profitable investment for your experience." " Precisely so. Annuities are d deceptive things, sir. Many a relation has been swindled out of a good deal of time and money and soft sawder by an annuity." " Well, sh, Mrs. Hobbs is dead," said Daw. " Ditto her annuity," added the Commissioner. " Of course. She was a client of this office, and when she was in extremis " "Where might that be?" asked the Com missioner. " I mean, when she was at the point of death she sent for some one from here, and it chanced to be my duty to attend her."

" What for ? What could she want with a lawyer, and only an annuity? I thought old ladies at such times sent for a gentleman in the other line." " It was, Mr. Alderwinkle, to confide to our office the execution of her last wishes. To see her decently buried, and to take charge of a small sum of money which she had scraped together." "Oh, made a will!" "No, sir; she did not make a will. She placed in my hands a small tea-caddy in which she had invested her property, consisting of two hundred and odd pounds," said Daw, pausing. " Don't let me interrupt you, sir," observed the Commissioner, having given a short cough. " ' That money,' she said, ' I wish to go to my cousin Jemima Alderwinkle's children, Richard and Caroline. I don't know where you'll find them, but they were born at Chuckley. My furniture will pay my funeral — let it be a decent one ; my clothes you will give to my faithful servant, Mary."1 Her instructions have been obeyed.

She was buried decently, her furniture has paid the expenses, and her clothes have been disposed of as desired." " Well, sir, I'm obliged," said the Commis sioner ; " and this transaction shall have a clean page to itself in my ledger." " On that paper you will see that after pay ment to you and to your sister of one hundred pounds each, there remains a small balance of nine pounds " "Costs," said the Commissioner — "costs; say no more, sir. You've saved me trouble and a shilling, as I should have looked up Doctors' Commons when I'd heard of her death — just as a matter of curiositv." It was to stifle the curiosity of Mr. Alder winkle that Mr. Daw had resolved to make this sacrifice of money ; and as he employed himself in counting out the crisp bank-notes for the sum of two hundred pounds, he congratulated himself on his cunning and liberality.

" As I have not the pleasure of knowing your sister's address, I presume I do no wrong in con fiding her share of this legacy to you." " None in the least, sir," replied the Commis sioner, with alacrity, wondering much, however, at the want of legal acumen displayed by Mr. Daw. " I manage all Carry's money affairs for her" — and this was strictly true, as he never allowed her to have five pounds unemployed. Mr. Daw had drawn up an acknowledgment for the money, which Mr. Richard Alderwinkle signed for self and sister in a handwriting that was more remarkable for the boldness than the symmetry of its character. The Commissioner then produced a large business-like bill-case, within whose ample folds he deposited the bank-notes, taking the whole matter as coolly as though it had been an ex pected and everyday transaction.

He was one of those cool-headed men that it is difficult to surprise by either good or evil fortune. It was his daily business to be ready for anything which turned up, relying upon his " experience " to make the best of it. " Mr. Daw," said the Commissioner, holding out his hand as though he and that gentleman had been acquainted all their lives, " good morn ing. I'm a good deal about in the commercial world, and if I can help you to anything in cigars, furniture, wines — specially wines — dogs, or horses, I shall be proud to undertake the com mission. A line to me — care of Jones, the waiter, at Garraway's — finds me in a post or two. Good morning " — and shaking Mr. Daw's hand again and again, the two worthies parted for a time, each equally satisfied with their morning's work.