V.
‘What's the matter?’ he cried.
‘What have you to tell me?’
Cousin John.
What! have you not heard?
Lord Alfred.
Heard what?
Cousin John.
This sad business—
Lord Alfred.
I? no, not a word.
Cousin John.
You received my last letter?
Lord Alfred.
I think so. If not,
What then?
Cousin John.
You have acted upon it?
Lord Alfred.
On what?
Cousin John.
The advice that I gave you—
Lord Alfred.
Advice?—let me see!
You always are giving advice, Jack, to me.
About Parliament was it?
Cousin John.
Hang Parliament! no,
The Bank, the Bank, Alfred!
Lord Alfred.
What Bank?
Cousin John.
Heavens! I know
You are careless;—but surely you have not forgotten,—
Or neglected ... I warn'd you the whole thing was rotten.
You have drawn those deposits at least?
Lord Alfred.
No. I meant
To have written to-day; but the note shall be sent
To-morrow, however.
Cousin John.
To-morrow? too late!
Too late! oh, what devil bewitch'd you to wait?
Lord Alfred.
Mercy save us! you don't mean to say...
Cousin John.
Yes, I do.
Lord Alfred.
What! Sir Ridley?...
Cousin John.
Smash'd, broken, blown up, bolted too!
Lord Alfred.
But his own niece?...In heaven's name, Jack...
Cousin John.
Oh, I told you
The old hypocritical scoundrel would...
Lord Alfred.
Hold! you
Surely can't mean we are ruin'd?
Cousin John.
Sit down!
A fortnight ago a report about town
Made me most apprehensive. Alas, and alas!
I at once wrote and warn'd you. Well, now let that pass.
A run on the Bank about five days ago
Confirm'd my forebodings too terribly, though.
I drove down to the City at once: found the door
Of the Bank closed: the Bank had stopp'd payment at four.
Next morning the failure was known to be fraud:
Warrants out for MacNab; but MacNab was abroad:
Gone—we cannot tell where. I endeavour'd to get
Information: have learn'd nothing certain as yet—
Not even the way that old Ridley was gone:
Or with those securities what he had done:
Or whether they had been already call'd out:
If they are not, their fate is, I fear, past a doubt.
Twenty families ruin'd, they say: what was left,—
Unable to find any clue to the cleft
The old fox ran to earth in,—but join you as fast
As I could, my dear Alfred?
