Found fault almost with everything, bullied and harassed the servants beyond human endurance.
He strutted or lounged about, picking his teeth, and ogling the ladies with all the airs and manners of an unlimitedly-credited ambassador or Nabob.
By borrowing money from former associates and acquaintance, but more with the manner of one who was conferring a favour rather than begging one, he contrived to meet incidental expenses, and played cards, and attended bear baitings with his former elegant manners, but very adroitly contrived to postpone the adjustment of all bills presented to him.
After two months’ residence at the hotel the polite and gentlemanly proprietor presented his bill, and hinted at the desirability of payment.
Phillip Redgill, Esq., towered into a fearful rage, strutted about, spoke of his “honour,” credit and family, and left the hotel that same day, telling the proprietor in an indifferent, but tragic manner, to send in his bill to the “St. Charles Hotel,” where he intended for the future to reside, intimating in a mildly ferocious style that did he consider the proprietor to be a “gentleman” he should feel no hesitation or compunction of conscience in treating him to an ordeal of fire, ball, and brimstone over in Battersea, or in the secluded Wormwood Scrubbs.
By such method of procedure Mr. Redgill and his “lady” lived for several months during Charley Warbeck’s incarceration, and all he did when bills were presented was to find fault, fall into a violent passion, and go elsewhere, or anywhere where his name or appearance would admit or credit him.
Everything has an end, and so had Redgill’s braggadocio and credit.
For the sake of past memories few would trouble his own personal effects for debt; but at last he had fallen so low in the social scale that he deserted the hotels, and sought accommodations for himself and wife in private lodgings.
He “hated the noise and bustle of hotels and public thoroughfares,” he said.
“Retirement and quiet suited him best.”