The Rake's Progress

traight handsome houses in Bedford Row and d

d!" moved slowly along; a few passers-by were gathered, with an air of curiosity, about an elegant green curricle that waited ou

old-plated harness, but by the fact that the small crest on the body of the chariot was that of the famous Lord Lyndwood, a name they a

e prospect of the wide sunny street, broken by the little knot of people about the curricle, a

e sky arching the houses had no meaning; but the thick dust that stirred in the

his half-veiled gaze dwelt on the details

pictures selected for no reason, it seemed, but their bright colours and their massive frames, and in enormous mirrors

flowers in the painted vases nor any small or intimate object to disturb the stately expanses of the

his arm and his gloved hands clasped behind him; he wore an ol

e that he was aware of this, for when he saw his image in the o

great square on the highly coloured carpet, dazzling in it

ith its idle admirers, and at the empty street beyond, and when he reached the great glass the othe

avy-carved door quickly opened,

od stood wh

g, Mr. Hilto

-comer

my lord," he said. "A do

ddle-aged man, heavy in build, with a commonplace countenance imparted by

ith his coarse left hand, as if he could not forget it; he wore a large, old-fashioned peruke heavily powdered, t

sorder of my house," he said. "We

His slow glance rested on the owner of the

ilton

be seated,

, awkward-looking sofas, and seated him

er?" he asked, placin

at honour

d chairs, sat erect in unconscious discomfort,

ss for me to say," an

sed; but his face was pale above the black stock, and his lips had the look of disdain tha

is what I imagine it to be," said Mr. Hil

ead; he did not look at th

siness." The disdainful smile was now unmistakable. "You, as one of the gentle

he heard what he had ex

inger first. He turned his eyes on Mr. Hilton, and they looked

r, and you made a proposition to me that I re

," said Mr. Hil

nd a hardly noticeable effort on the

n utterly r

listened to something that he knew, and yet some

e North. My credit is strained to the utmost, and it is only a m

lently and looked fix

what you said when la

al I made y

es

hand; his left fondled the ruby watch-chain, his lips w

hat proposa

ition, Mr. Hilton-that

debts are immense, the Jews outrageous, the creditors flint, that you have obligations

ood flushe

to accept it,

man rose

t tone, "that it could be only

s now on hi

is grey eyes were afire. "I request the honour of

black silk cravat on his breast rose and fell quickly;

inia is your betrothed wife"-he uttered the words as if they gav

he hilt of his sword, his eyes on Mr. Hilton, who took

Jews, and what is the mortgage on Lyndwood? But no matter, that is a business affair, we must see the lawyers,"

my lord, and he also smi

nd contemplated Rose Lyndwood

eighteenth Earl of Lyndwood, aristocrat and proud, the most famous beau in town, this man was his also, bought a

" he asked in a ton

the debts within a week, t

r. Hilton waited for him to speak; wh

lton?" His voice w

was instantly at the bell-rope-"

by the ribbon; he had an air of complete abs

said Mr. Hilton; "she has had the

t the speaker towards the door; glass a

y a signal, for it was the

ittle way in

hearth; embarrassment made him appear clumsy, even foolish; his daughter,

ton and took her hand;

kissed her finger tips-"would it mightily di

y young; to him, at least, without charm or savour; her

and glanced at her father,

ed Lord Lyndwood, "that I have your co

away from him. "Sir," she addressed he

met for a second acros

ew paces from the door; and now she re

dam?" asked the Earl. "You

ho was regarding her with a mixture of

howed such a piteous desire to be gone th

and down the lengthen

arming girl, for any situation, charming-and now fo

ame across the

have you or I thought o

uded the olde

mean?" he a

flushed and his

on-this-bargain conce

s, as one dealing with q

not understa

swered on a quic

own-brutal words could not make it clearer between us tha

for the meaning

thing for you to

this match," he smiled bitterly; "and Gad, I know not why I d

n frowned

ade the contract p

ce was stormy

lashed out again, haughtily, "I have seen Miss Hilton, and I have seen she is reluctant to become my wife

to think he saw the int

my lord," he answered. "I expect noth

t of you nor of myself, but of Miss Hilton; i

ed anger returned to M

"That ye seek to evade what ye ha

rvant-"I spoke from a passing impulse, a foolish one." He picked up hi

appeased, was silent,

d. "I shall look to see you then, at my house, about

l be made public at onc

yndwood and was surpris

tter?" asked th

e, my lord; I thou

ealed his eyes; he smiled, ignori

me-au revoir." He bowed, not it seemed to Mr. Hilton, but to some inta

his leave-taking; my lord smiled beyond and

he doorstep when the idlers round the green chariot turned agape to see

hen he mounted the curricle; as he

ehind and the impatient white h

w Mr. Hilton lingering on the doorstep-

g down the street, one of the

ood-driving like the d