THE INTERVIEW.—See No. 10.
CHAPTER XXV.
PHILLIP REDGILL CONTINUES TO PLAY HIS GAME OF VILLANY—HE DETERMINES TO MARRY AN HEIRESS—THE DISCOVERY OF FALSE NOTES IN THE MONEY-SAFE AT THE INDIA HOUSE—CHARLEY’S REMORSE AND CONFESSION—“LET NOT THE INNOCENT SUFFER FOR THE GUILTY.”
One would have thought that such ill success in his system of villany in thus becoming the slave of Captain Jack would have been a very practical, as it certainly was a very expensive lesson to young Redgill, seeing that he had agreed to pay the great thief-taker five thousand pounds for his silence. Yet, instead of cooling, it only seemed to irritate Phillip, and to such a degree, that he was not sober one day for a whole week after his interview with the renowned thief-taker; but, nevertheless, bore up under his losses with the airs of an honest millionaire.
His father was rich, every one said, and had ships at sea, which, laden with teas and silks, were on their way from China.
“The old man won’t be nice to a thousand or two when they arrive. Why, old Sir Andrew’s office has insured them for five hundred thousand pounds, so their cargoes must be worth a trifle! Go a-head, father! make all the cash you can—I’ll manage to spend it for you when you drop off the books.”
It was certainly true that Mr. Redgill, senior, had extensive dealings on ’Change, for in the single item of two ships homeward bound he held insurance policies for not less, as we have said, than five hundred thousand pounds.
“What a good thing it would be if young Redgill could manage to marry my only daughter, Fanny! I’d see if it can’t be done,” thought the miserly old Sir Andrew. “It would be a capital match! But I see a great many fond parents have the same idea in regard to their daughters, judging from the endless invitations to balls, &c., Phillip is continually receiving. He’ll be a fine ‘catch’ for some one. I’ll see what can be done in that matter, and consult with ‘my lady.’”