Nevertheless he went to see the race run, and everybody seemed to be touched with pity for him. He carried himself well, saying as little as he could of his own horse, and taking, or affecting to take, great interest in the race. After the race he managed to see all those to whom he has lost heavy stakes,--having to own to himself as he did so that not one of them was a gentleman to whom who should like to give his hand. To them he explained that his father was abroad,--that probably his liabilities could not be settled till after his father's return. He however would consult his father's agent and would then appear on settling-day. They were all full of their blandest courtesies. There was not one of them who had any doubt as to getting his money,--unless the whole thing might be disputed on the score of Tifto's villainy. Even then payment could not be disputed unless it was proved that he who demanded the money had been one of the actual conspirators.
After having seen his creditors he went away up alone to London.
When in London he went to Carlton Terrace and spent the night in absolute solitude. It had been his plan to join Gerald for some partridge-shooting at Matching, and then to go yachting till such time as he should be enabled to renew his suit to Miss Boncassen.
Early in November he would again ask her to be his wife. These had been his plans. But now it seemed that everything was changed.
Partridge-shooting and yachting must be out of the question till this terrible load was taken off his shoulders. Soon after his arrival at the house two telegrams followed him from Doncaster.
One was from Gerald. 'What is all this about Prime Minister? Is it a sell? I am so unhappy.' The other was from Lady Mabel,--for among other luxuries Mrs Montacute Jones had own telegraph-wire at Killancodlem. 'Can this be true? We are all so miserable. I do hope it is not much.' From which he learned that his misfortune was already known to all his friends.
And now what was he to do? He ate his supper, and then without hesitating for a moment--feeling that if he did hesitate the task would not be done on that night,--he sat down and wrote the following letter.
'Carlton Terrace, Sept. 14, 18-.
'MY DEAR MR MORETON, 'I have just come up from Doncaster. You have probably heard what has been Prime Minister's fate. I don't know whether any horse has been such a favourite for the Leger. Early in the morning he was taken out and picked up a nail. The consequence was he could not run.
'Now I must come to the bad part of my story. I have lost seventy thousand pounds! It is no use beating about the bush. The sum is something over that. What am I to do? If I tell you that I shall give up racing altogether I dare say you will not believe me. It is a sort of thing a man always says when he wants money; but I feel now I cannot help saying it.
'But what shall I do? Perhaps, if it be not too much trouble, you will come up to town and see me. You can send me a word by the wires.
'You may be sure of this. I shall make no attempt to raise the money elsewhere, unless I find that my father will not help me.
You will understand that of course it must be paid. You will understand also what I must feel about telling my father, but I shall do so at once. I only wait till I can hear from you.
'Yours faithfully, 'SILVERBRIDGE.'
During the next day two despatches reached Lord Silverbridge, both of them coming as he sat down to his solitary dinner. The first consisted of a short but very civil note.
'Messrs Comfort and Criball present their compliments to the Earl of Silverbridge.
'Messrs C and C beg to offer their apologies for interfering, but desire to inform his Lordship that should cash be wanting to any amount in consequence of the late races, they will be happy to accommodate his Lordship on most reasonable terms at a moment's notice, upon his Lordship's ****** bond.
'Lord Silverbridge may be sure of absolute secrecy.
'Crasham Court, Crutched Friars, Sept 15, 18-.'
The other despatch was a telegram from Mr Moreton, saying that he would be in Carlton Terrace by noon on the following day.