Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 75

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

It was Jack's last day in town. Tomorrow he would be at Earl's Court, and in the evening would be riding as fast as a horse could carry him to Una.

The hours seemed to drift with leaden wings.

It was no use going to Park Lane, for the blinds were down, and Lady Bell was at Earl's Court. It was no use going to the club, for the whitewashers had taken possession of it; never had Jack been so utterly bored and wearied. At last he strolled into the park, and sat on one of the seats and stared at the Row, giving himself up to thoughts of Una, and picturing their meeting on the morrow.

He lingered in the park till dusk: then he went home to dress.

"Still writing, old man?" he said, as he entered, and laid his hand on Leonard's shoulder.

"Halloa! is that you, Jack?" said Leonard, throwing down his pen. "I have been expecting you."

"Why for?" asked Jack, yawning. Then he looked up curiously. "I wish I'd known it; I'd have come home. Look here, Len, we'll go and dine somewhere; if there is anything left to eat in this howling desert of a London. If ever any man was bored to death and sick of it, I am this day. Twenty-four hours more of it, and I should chuck myself into the Serpentine! I never spent such a day----"

He stopped suddenly, for he became conscious that Leonard was standing, looking down at him with a grave and earnest regard.

"What's the matter, old man?" he asked.

Leonard hesitated.

"Jack," he said, at last, "Moss has been here."

"Oh, has he?" said Jack, carelessly.

"Yes, and there is trouble about. He is pressing for his money."

"What!" exclaimed Jack.

Leonard nodded.

"Yes, he means mischief; he made quite a fuss here. Said he had a heavy claim to meet----"

"Oh, I know that old yarn."

"And that he must and would have money to meet those bills of yours."

Jack looked grave.

"Did he mean it?"

"Yes," said Leonard. "Thanks to you, I know Mr. Levy Moss by this time, and I am sure he was in earnest."

"Confound him!" muttered Jack.

"Confounding him won't pay him," said Leonard, sensibly.

Jack rose and paced the room.

"What am I to do, Len?"

"I don't know," said Leonard. "If I could help you--but all I have wouldn't meet one bill."

"And I wouldn't take it if it would," said Jack. "But I can't understand it! Only last week he was bothering me to take a hundred or two."

Leonard shook his head.

"All I can tell you is, that he was simply furious. He said that he must and would have some money, that if you did not pay him he would----"

"Well?" said Jack, grimly.

"That he would put you through the Court," said Leonard.

Jack turned pale.

"What am I to do?" he said. "I have been relying on the commissioners.h.i.+p that Stephen promised, and Moss seemed quite willing to wait. I can't find any money."

Leonard shook his head.

"The man was furious. Worse than I have ever seen him. You will have to find some money somewhere. How much do you owe him?"

Jack tilted his hat on one side and scratched his head.

"Hanged if I know. He has let me have a great deal lately. Five hundred, perhaps."

"Jack, you have been a fool," said Leonard. "I told you that it was no use counting upon the place your cousin Stephen promised you."

"I don't so much care for myself, but Una, Una," said Jack, with a groan. Then he jumped up. "Let us go and get some dinner, and think it over."

They went to a well-known house in Strand, and Jack, careless Jack, ordered a dinner fit for a prince, and enjoyed it as he would have enjoyed it if he had been going to be hanged on the morrow.

"I don't understand Moss," he said. "He was everything that was agreeable and pleasant a few days ago."

"And today he was like a wolf hunting for a bone," said Leonard. "h.e.l.lo, who's this?" for a gentleman had entered the dining-room and approached their table.

"Why, it's Stephen!" exclaimed Jack, forgetting Moss in a moment. "Just in time, Stephen, we'll have another bottle of claret up. What on earth brings you to town? And how is--how are they all?"

Stephen sat down with a grave smile, and just sipped the claret, the best the house had on its list. And he sat and talked till the wine was finished, the greater part of which Jack drank, then he said:

"Jack, I want you to come to my chambers; I have something to tell you."

"All right," said Jack. "Leonard can find his way home very well."

Stephen called a hansom, and they were rattled away to the Albany.

As they ascended the stairs, Stephen laid his hand on Jack's arm.