This youth had been well educated, and was allowed an ample income to live on.
But he looked upon commerce as something degrading, and felt ashamed to own among the gay gallants of the town that he was anything less than a person of noble blood.
His propensities for gambling had well nigh ruined his father more than once.
But the fond old parent had overlooked his son’s misdemeanours very frequently.
At last it was discovered that Phillip had so far forgotten himself as to forge his father’s name to certain heavy bills, and squandered the money on gay persons of the town.
From that time forth a great coldness existed between father and son, and Phillip was told for the last time that he must make his annual allowance suffice for his pleasures, and that should he again so disgrace the time-honoured name of Redgill, he would take the consequences, for the law should be enforced, which in those days was “death for forgery.”
Phillip, however, had become so accustomed to high life about town, that he looked upon his father’s conduct as something very cruel, and resolved to rob him all he could rather than be lowered in the estimation of his “lordly” acquaintances.
A libertine soon brings many a good and rich parent to ruin.
But old Redgill was a man of firm purpose; when he once had made up his mind to anything, and although he did not tell any one of his intentions, he frequently informed Phillip privately that his conduct was bringing sorrows and misery on his old age, and that if he did not reform he would disinherit him.
All this Phillip Redgill looked upon as a good joke, and set his wits to work to get money as best he could by hook or by crook, so as to still keep up the reputation he had already gained among the gayest of the gay, as “Reckless Redgill.”