Japhet in Search of a Father

“What the devil did his lordship mean about ear-rings, Newland?” inquired the major.

“I told him that I was examining the lady’s ear-rings as very remarkable,” replied I.

“You appear to be able to deceive everybody but me, my good fellow. I know that you were examining the lady herself.” I left the major in his error, by making no reply.

Part 2—Chapter V

I borrow Money upon my Estate, and upon very favourable Terms.

When I came down to breakfast the next morning, the major said, “My dear Newland, I have taken the liberty of requesting a very old friend of mine to come and meet you this morning. I will not disguise from you that it is Emmanuel, the money-lender. Money you must have until my affairs are decided, one way or the other; and, in this instance, I will most faithfully repay the sum borrowed, as soon as I receive the amount of my bets, or am certain of succeeding to the title, which is one and the same thing.”

I bit my lips, for I was not a little annoyed; but what could be done? I must have either confessed my real situation to the major, or have appeared to raise scruples, which, as the supposed heir to a large fortune, would have appeared to him to be very frivolous. I thought it better to let the affair take its chance. “Well,” replied I, “if it must be, it must be; but it shall be on my own terms.”

“Nay,” observed the major, “there is no fear but that he will consent, and without any trouble.”

After a moment’s reflection I went up stairs and rang for Timothy. “Tim,” said I, “hear me; I now make you a solemn promise, on my honour as a gentleman, that I will never borrow money upon interest, and until you release me from it, I shall adhere to my word.”

“Very well, sir,” replied Timothy; “I guess your reason for so doing, and I expect you will keep your word. Is that all?”

“Yes; now you may take up the urn.”

We had finished our breakfast, when Timothy announced Mr Emmanuel, who followed him into the room. “Well, Old Cent per Cent, how are you?” said the major. “Allow me to introduce my most particular friend, Mr Newland.”

“Auh! Master Major,” replied the descendant of Abraham, a little puny creature, bent double with infirmity, and carrying one hand behind his back, as if to counterbalance the projection of his head and shoulders. “You vash please to call me Shent per Shent. I wish I vash able to make de monies pay that. Mr Newland, can I be of any little shervice to you?”

“Sit down, sit down, Emmanuel. You have my warrant for Mr Newland’s respectability, and the sooner we get over the business the better.”

“Auh, Mr Major, it ish true, you was recommend many good—no, not always good—customers to me, and I was very much obliged. Vat can I do for your handsome young friend? De young gentlemen always vant money; and it is de youth which is de time for de pleasure and enjoyment.”

“He wants a thousand pounds, Emmanuel.”

“Dat is a large sum—one tousand pounds! he does not vant any more?”

“No,” replied I, “that will be sufficient.”

“Vell, den, I have de monish in my pocket. I will just beg de young gentleman to sign a little memorandum, dat I may von day receive my monish.”

“But what is that to be?” interrupted I.

“It will be to promise to pay me my monish and only fifteen per shent, when you come into your own.”

“That will not do,” replied I; “I have pledged my solemn word of honour, that I will not borrow money on interest.”

“And you have given de pledge, but you did not swear upon de book?”

“No, but my word has been given, and that is enough; if I would forfeit my word with those to whom I have given it, I would also forfeit my word with you. My keeping my promise, ought to be a pledge to you that I wilt keep my promise to you.”

“Dat is vell said—very vell said; but den we must manage some oder way. Suppose—let me shee—how old are you, my young sir?”

“Past twenty.”

“Auh, dat is a very pleasant age, dat twenty. Vell, den, you shall shign a leetle bit of paper, that you pay me 2000 pounds ven you come into your properties, on condition dat I pay now one tousand. Dat is very fair—ish it not Mr Major?”

“Rather too hard, Emmanuel.”

“But de rishque—de rishque, Mr Major.”

“I will not agree to those terms,” replied I; “you must take your money away, Mr Emmanuel.”

“Vell, den—vat vill you pay me?”

“I will sign an agreement to pay you 1500 pounds for the thousand, if you please; if that will not suit you, I will try elsewhere.”

“Dat is very bad bargain. How old, you shay?”

“Twenty.”

“Vell, I shuppose I must oblige you, and my very goot friend, de major.”

Mr Emmanuel drew out his spectacles, pen, and inkhorn, filled up a bond, and handed it to me to sign. I read it carefully over, and signed it; he then paid down the money, and took his leave.

It may appear strange to the reader that the money was obtained so easily, but he must remember that the major was considered a person who universally attached himself to young men of large fortune; he had already been the means of throwing many profitable speculations into the hands of Emmanuel, and the latter put implicit confidence in him. The money-lenders also are always on the look out for young men with large fortunes, and have their names registered. Emmanuel had long expected me to come to him; and although it was his intention to have examined more particularly, and not to have had the money prepared, yet my refusal to sign the bond, bearing interest, and my disputing the terms of the second proposal, blinded him completely, and put him off his usual guard.

“Upon my word, Newland, you obtained better terms than I could have expected from the old Hunks.”

“Much better than I expected also, major,” replied I; “but now, how much of the money would you like to have?”

“My dear fellow, this is very handsome of you; but, I thank Heaven, I shall be soon able to repay it; but what pleases me, Newland, is your perfect confidence in one, whom the rest of the world would not trust with a shilling. I will accept your offer as freely as it is made, and take 500 pounds, just to make a show for the few weeks that I am in suspense, and then you will find, that, with all my faults, I am not deficient in gratitude.” I divided the money with the major, and he shortly afterwards went out.

“Well, sir,” said Timothy, entering, full of curiosity, “what have you done?”

“I have borrowed a thousand to pay fifteen hundred when I come into my property.”

“You are safe then. Excellent, and the Jew will be bit.”

“No, Timothy, I intend to repay it as soon as I can.”

“I should like to know when that will be.”

“So should I, Tim, for it must depend upon my finding out my parentage.” Heigho, thought I, when shall I ever find out who is my father?

Part 2—Chapter VI

The Major is very fortunate and very unfortunate—He receives a large Sum in Gold and one Ounce of Lead.

I dressed and went out, met Harcourt, dined with him, and on my return the major had not come home. It was then past midnight, and feeling little inclination to sleep, I remained in the drawing-room, waiting for his arrival. About three o’clock he came in, flushed in the face, and apparently in high good humour.

“Newland,” said he, throwing his pocket-book on the table, “just open that, and then you will open your eyes.”