University of Virginia Library

22. CHAPTER XXII.

The mental eye, like the corporeal, being limited
in its range, can only embrace a certain number of
objects at one view; and to initiate our readers in
secrets with which they are yet unacquainted, it becomes
necessary to revert to events that transpired
on the evening which saw Clifton and the gamblers
placed in durance.

On De Lyle's retiring to rest after the interview
with Burchard, he calmly reflected on the probable
consequences of the bold step he had taken,
and was forced to admit that there was no little peril
involved in the issue if immediate measures were
not devised to prevent it.

Although the plan of decoying Clifton to the
gambling-house was the joint production of Ellingbourne
and himself, yet the subsequent arrest of the
parties, and the public exposure which would necessarily
result, originated entirely with De Lyle, who
was goaded on by the demon of jealousy, and could
not await the slow process by which the gambler

and himself had proposed to destroy the reputation
and prospects of his victim.

While pushing forward his measures by the aid of
Burchard, he did not pause to reflect on the difficulties
connected with their accomplishment; but now
that the excitement of the moment had passed
away, he perceived the necessity of instant action.

That Ellingbourne would be indignant at his arrest,
and lay the onus at his door, was self evident; while
the result would be not only to thwart his scheme of
revenge against Clifton, but in all probability, to expose
the whole of his guilty practices, and the ruinous
method by which he procured the means of their
pursuit. Alarmed at the prospect, he arose, dressed
himself in the utmost haste, and gliding silently to
the front door of his father's mansion, proceeded with
rapid steps to the dwelling of Burchard; and after a
long and anxious conference, it was determined that
Ellingbourne should be exonerated at any hazard.
That the pliable instrument of De Lyle faithfully
obeyed his behest, is apparent from the extract in
a previous chapter, from one of the journals of the
day.

After the great object of De Lyle was accomplished,
he proposed to visit Miss Borrowdale, first proceeding
to the office of the Commercial Advertiser,
where, under a hypocritical affectation of regard for
Clifton, he furnished the editor with minute details
of the transaction; and while soliciting the suppression
of our hero's name, took especial care to have

the curiosity of the public so fully excited that the
story would fly with greater rapidity than if the
name and particulars were at first published. To
add to the effect of his revelations, he visited the extended
circle of his acquaintance, and so introduced
the subject as to have the development seemingly
drawn from him against his will, thus securing for
himself the character of Clifton's friend and apologist,
while he was hurling the poisoned barb that
destroyed his reputation.

When he rang the bell at the residence of Mr.
Elwell, and was admitted, Miss Borrowdale's attendant
was, by previous concert, anxiously awaiting
his appearance; and hastily informing her of
the success of his scheme for our hero's destruction,
he was invited to a seat in the parlour, while the
girl proceeded to inform her mistress of his desire to
pay his respects.

“Mary, say I am engaged, and cannot, this morning,
wait on him,” said Julia to the maid, when
De Lyle's name was announced.

“Why, Miss Borrowdale,” replied the girl, “I told
him you was dressed and jist going out; but he
said he wouldn't keep you a minute, as he only
wanted to make his bow. Forgive me if I did
wrong, for I spoke before I thought; but I suppose
he'll think strange if you don't jist say how do-do
to him.”

“Oh, if you have given him this information, I
will run down in my hat and shawl, and despatch

my intrusive visitor, while cousin Helen is finishing
her toilette.”

Thus saying, Julia descended to the parlour.

“I fear, Miss Borrowdale,” said De Lyle, “that you
will consider me intrusive; but, independent of my
desire to pay my devoirs to a lady in whom I feel a
deep and fervent interest, a circumstance has unfortunately
transpired this morning, which so fatally
affects the character of a young gentleman whom
I have heretofore considered respectable, and with
whom you are acquainted, that I deemed it my
duty, however painful to my feelings, to apprize you
of it. I aliude to Mr. Clifton, to whom I was indebted
for the pleasure of an introduction to yourself
at Mrs. Rainsford's soirée.”

During the delivery of this imposing preface, which
was intended to be marked by due gravity of demeanor,
De Lyle could not entirely conceal his satisfaction
at the opportunity thus afforded him to stab the reputation
of Clifton in the most vital part; and although
Julia was not a little embarrassed, she yet retained
sufficient fortitude to perceive the triumph that beamed
in the eye of De Lyle; and rising as he paused
in his remarks, and drawing up her figure to its full
height, she said,

“Pardon me, sir, if I cannot perceive either the
necessity, or the propriety, of this interference with
matters which, if they do not concern me solely, I
have not yet entrusted to Mr. De Lyle's guardianship.
As this appears to constitute your principal

business with me, and as I was prepared to make
calls on your arrival, I must take the liberty of
wishing you good-morning.”

Having given De Lyle this cut direct, Julia,
with a slight courtesy, left the room; and before
the surprised news-vender had time to collect his
scattered thoughts, she had reached her own apartment.

Throwing herself on the sofa, she burst into tears,
and while her face was buried in her hands, Helen
entered the room, and inquired, with the utmost
astonishment, what was the cause of her grief and
agitation.

This was a question somewhat difficult for her to
answer, as she was totally unacquainted with Clifton's
crime, if crime he had committed; and although she
could fully answer to her own conscience for her
treatment of De Lyle, yet it was less easy to explain
it satisfactorily to a third party.

Desiring Helen, therefore, to make her morning-calls
without her, she said she would explain the
nature and cause of her emotions on her return;
and her cousin, after a fruitless effort to induce Julia
to accompany her, proceeded to her carriage. As
she descended the stairs, De Lyle, who had remained
in the parlour for several minutes after Miss
Borrowdale's sudden exit, opened the door which
communicated with the hall, and was accosted by
Helen, who said,

“Mr. De Lyle, you surely were not going to leave
the house without paying me the courtesy even of a
word, or at all events a silent bow.”

“Understanding that Miss Elwell was about
making her morning calls, I hesitated to inflict my
company on her, and intended to await a more opportune
moment, to pay my respects. In such cases
a gentleman's card is, I believe, more acceptable
than his presence,” replied De Lyle, laughingly.

“While he was delivering his ready reply, Helen
bethought her that his presence, in all probability,
was connected with the agitation of Julia; and
being deeply imbued with that curiosity which has
descended in an especial degree to the daughters of
Eve, she determined to elicit the facts, and therefore
said,

“Mr. De Lyle, my calls are not so urgent that I
cannot spare a few moments for a friend. Besides,
I want you to tell me what is going on in the world.
Positively, I have not mingled with the busy throng
for forty-eight hours, and am, of course, dying with
curiosity to know all the strange and tragical or
comical events that must have happened in that
time. Tell me, now, who is dead, who married; who
has committed suicide,—or who is likely to perform
either of these monstrosities within the next half-a-dozen
hours?”

“Why, Miss Elwell,” said De Lyle, who was
equally desirous to communicate what she wished to
learn, “neither of the unhappy circumstances that

you speak of has occurred; but one of our unlucky
friends has involved himself in such a scrape. You
know Mr. Clifton, our confidential clerk, whom we
so highly esteemed—would you believe it? He was
last night arrested in a notorious gambling-house,
and proof was elicited which fully inculpated him as
one of the most guilty of the gang.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” said Helen; “some unsuccessful
rival has been decoying the poor fellow into
a hell, and then taken the opportunity to expose
him.” The sudden start of De Lyle at once flashed
conviction on her mind, of a truth that she had
scarcely before imagined, for her remark was the
result of a sudden desire to exculpate Clifton, whom
she admired, rather than of any well-defined idea
of his innocence.

Appearing, therefore, not to observe De Lyle's
agitation, she resumed, “I would at least fain think
that so exemplary and accomplished a young gentleman
as Clifton, was drawn into this difficulty,
originally, through inadvertence; if such is not
the case, why either the rope, laudanum, or a speedy
reformation is desirable.”

The conversation between the roué and his fair
and fashionable companion, lasted but for a few moments
after this development, as the lady ascertained
that she was in possession of all the facts, and De
Lyle had accomplished his purpose in communicating
Clifton's disgrace in a quarter whence it must

reach the ears of Julia, before he could obtain an interview
and disabuse her mind.

As De Lyle left the house, he dwelt with no little
chagrin on the marked disgust with which his efforts
to inculpate our hero was received by Julia; but this
untoward circumstance increased his desire to ruin
Clifton, and thereby destroy the happiness of the
fair girl, if he could not induce her to favour his addresses.

The thoughts of Helen, also, rested on the
same subject; and when she was seated in the
carriage, her reflections caused a right interpretation
of De Lyle's embarrassment at her accidentally
alluding to the true causes of Clifton's arrest.

Yet to conceal from Julia her convictions on
this subject, she determined to relate all the circumstances
tending to criminate Clifton, without any
allusion to those which might exhibit the baseness
of De Lyle. This course she was induced
to pursue, not only in consequence of her being
piqued at the preference of our hero for her fair
cousin, but from a vague desire to attract him to
herself, and let him know that to her he was indebted
for his restoration to his former rank in
society.

“If he is indifferent to my regard,” she thought,
“let him float down the stream of time with the
brand of disgrace on his brow:—why should I
stretch out my hand to snatch him from ignominy,

if I cannot thereby ensure his gratitude and devotion?”

While she was absorbed in these selfish reflections,
her carriage rolled along the pavement in
Broadway; and drawing up to the door of Stewart's
fancy store, she alighted among a crowd of
fashionably-dressed ladies, who were about examining
the rich array of silks and satins that was
displayed from every part of the extensive warehouse.

After Helen's departure, Julia pondered deeply on
the proper course to pursue towards her cousin, and
at length resolved ingenuously to inform her of
De Lyle's conduct, and the causes which prevented
her from awaiting the development. Accordingly,
on Helen's return, she related the circumstances
with which the reader is acquainted, adding, that
De Lyle's deportment so distinctly bore the character
of insolence, that she could not brook longer
parley with him. In return, Helen imparted the
particulars of Clifton's disgrace, leaving poor Julia
in the most agonizing state of astonishment and
sorrow.

When left to herself, the mind of the generous
girl at once acquitted Clifton of the crimes imputed
to him, notwithstanding the evident effort of her
cousin to impress her with a conviction of his
guilt.

“Helen neither knows nor appreciates the purity

and elevation of his soul,” she said to herself, “or
she would not, for a moment, believe him unworthy.
Had she listened, as I have done, to his noble and
exalted sentiments, she would not retain her present
impressions.”