She would herself get married, but for that crooked clause in the deceased storekeeper’s will, which is all-powerful to prevent her!
“Poor Fan Swinton!”
So a moralist might have said, who saw her, six months after, driving through the Park, with a parasol upon her whip, and a pair of high-steppers in the traces—both whip and steppers paid for by one who is not her husband.
Perhaps there were but few moralists in the Park to make the reflection!
“And poor Dick Swinton!”
There were still fewer to say that, as the ex-guardsman stood in the dock of a criminal court, charged not only with an attempt at bigamy, but murder!
Fewer still, after both charges had been proved; and with hair close cropped he took forced departure for a far-distant land!
The “other count” went in the same ship with him, into a like involuntary exile, and from causes somewhat similar!
And the Honourable Geraldine Courtney in time followed suit: she losing her luxuriant tresses for having changed from the profession of “horse coper” to the less reputable calling of coiner!
She had a long “innings,” however, before it came to that: time enough to bring to ruin more than one young swell—among others Frank Scudamore, the “spooney” of the Haymarket supper.