The Captain looked at the handsome stripling for a few seconds in silent surprise.
You dont mean to tell me, he said slowly, that you gamble?
Indeed I do, replied Lewis, with a bland smile, and something of a twinkle in his eye.
For money? asked the Captain.
For money, assented the youth; what have you to say against it?
Why, Ive to say that its mean.
Thats strong language, said Lewis, flushing.
It ant strong enough by a long way, returned the Captain, with indignation, its more than mean, its contemptible; its despicable.
The flush on Lewiss face deepened, and he looked at his companion with the air of one who meditates knocking another down. Perhaps the massive size and strength of the Captain induced him to change his mind. It may be that there occurred to him the difficultyif not impossibilityof knocking down a man who was down already, and the want of space in a cab for such violent play of muscle. At all events he did nothing, but looked daggers.
Look ee here, my lad, continued the Captain, laying his huge hand on his companions knee, and gazing earnestly into his face, I dont mean for to hurt your feelins by sayin that you are mean, or contemptible, or despicable, for I dont suppose youve thought much about the matter at all, and are just following in the wake of older men who ought to know better; but I say that the thinggambling for moneyis the meanest thing a man can do, short of stealing. What does it amount to? Simply thisI want another mans money, and the other man wants mine. We darent try open robbery, we would be ashamed of that; were both too lazy to labour for money, and labour doesnt bring it in fast enough, therefore well go play for it. Ill ask him to submit to be robbed by me on condition that I submit to be robbed by him; and which is to be the robbed, and which the robber, shall depend on the accidental turn of a dice, or something equally trifling
But I dont gamble by means of dice, interrupted Lewis, I play, and bet, on billiards, which is a game of skill, requiring much practice, judgment, and thought.
That makes no odds, my lad, continued the Captain. There is no connection whatever between the rolling of a ball and the taking away of a mans money, any more than there is between the turning of a dice and the taking of a mans money. Both are dishonourable subterfuges. They are mere blinds put up to cover the great and mean fact, which is, that I want to get possession of my neighbours cash.
But, Captain, retorted Lewis, with a smilefor he had now entered into the spirit of the argumentyou ignore the fact that while I try to win from my friend, I am quite willing that my friend should try to win from me.
Ignore it? no! cried Captain Wopper. Putt it in this way. Isnt it wrong for me to have a longing desire and itching fingers to lay hold of your cash?
Well, put in that simple form, said Lewis, with a laugh, it certainly is.
And isnt it equally wrong for you to have a hungering and thirsting after my cash?
Of course that follows, assented Lewis.
Well, then, pursued the Captain, can any agreement between you and me, as to the guessing of black or white or the turning of dice or anything else, make a right out of two wrongs?
Still, said Lewis, a little puzzled, there is fallacy somewhere in your argument. I cannot see that gambling is wrong.
Mark me, my lad, returned the Captain, impressively, it is no sufficient reason for the doing of a thing that you cannot see it to be wrong. You are not entitled to do anything unless you see it to be right. But there are other questions connected with gambling which renders it doubly meanthe question, for instance, whether a man is entitled to risk the loss of money which he calls his own, but which belongs to his wife and children as much as to himself. The mean positions, too, in which a gambler places himself, are numerous. One of these is, when a rich man wins the hard-earned and much-needed gains of a poor one.
But one is not supposed to know anything about the affairs of those from whom one wins, objected Lewis.
All the more reason, replied Captain Wopper, why a man should never gamble, lest, unwittingly, he should become the cause of great sufferingit might be, of death.
Still Lewis could not see the wrong of gambling, and the discussion was cut short by the sudden stopping of the cab at a door in the Strand, over which hung a lamp, on which the Captain observed the word Billiards.
Well, ta-ta, old fellow, said Lewis, gaily, as he parted from his new friend, well finish the argument another day. Meanwhile, dont forget the houreight, sharp.
Chapter Four.
Shows how the Captain came to an Anchor, and conceived a Deep Design
When Captain Wopper parted from his young friend, he proceeded along the Strand in an unusually grave mood, shaking his head to such a degree, as he reflected on the precocious wickedness of the rising generation, that a very ragged and pert specimen of that generation, observing his condition, gravely informed him that there was an hospital for incurables in London, which took in patients with palsy and St. Wituses dance werry cheap.
This recalled him from the depths of sorrowful meditation, and induced him to hail a cab, in which he drove to the docks, claimed his chesta solid, seamanlike structure, reminding one of the wooden walls of Old Englandand returned with it to the head of the lane leading to Grubbs Court. Dismissing the cab, he looked round for a porter, but as no porter appeared, the Captain, having been accustomed through life to help himself, and being, as we have said, remarkably strong, shouldered the nautical chest, and bore it to the top of Mrs Robys staircase.
Here he encountered, and almost tumbled over, Gillie White, who saluted him with
Hallo! ship ahoooy! starboard hard! breakers ahead! Why, Cappn, youve all but run into me!
Why dont you show a light then, retorted the Captain, or blow your steam-whistle, in such a dark hole? Whats that youve got in your arms?
The baby, replied Gillie.
What baby? demanded the Captain.
Our baby, of course, returned the imp, in a tone that implied the non-existence of any other baby worth mentioning. I brought it up to show it to the sick ooman next door but one to Mrs Robys cabin. Shes very sick, she is, an took a great longing to see our baby, cos she thinks its like what her son was wen he was a baby. If he ever was, he dont look much like one now, for hes six-feet nothin in his socks, an drinks like a fish, if he dont do nothin wuss. Good-night Cappn. Babyll ketch cold if I keep on jawin here. Mind your weather eye, and port your helm when you reach the landin. If youll take the advice of a young salt, youll clew up your mainsail an dowse some of your top-hamperah! I thought so!
This last remark, delivered with a broad grin of delight, had reference to the fact that the Captain had run the corner of his chest against the low roof of the passage with a degree of violence that shook the whole tenement.
Holding his breath in hopeful anticipation, and reckless of the babys ketching cold, the small boy listened for more. Nor was he disappointed. In his progress along the passage Captain Wopper, despite careful steering, ran violently foul of several angles and beams, each of which mishaps sent a quiver through the old house, and a thrill to the heart of Gillie White. In his earnest desire to steer clear of the sick womans door, the luckless Captain came into collision with the opposite wall, and anxiety on this point causing him to forget the step on which he had struck once before, he struck it again, and was precipitated, chest and all, against Mrs Robys door, which, fortunately for itself, burst open, and let the avalanche of chest and man descend upon Mrs Robys floor.
This last remark, delivered with a broad grin of delight, had reference to the fact that the Captain had run the corner of his chest against the low roof of the passage with a degree of violence that shook the whole tenement.
Holding his breath in hopeful anticipation, and reckless of the babys ketching cold, the small boy listened for more. Nor was he disappointed. In his progress along the passage Captain Wopper, despite careful steering, ran violently foul of several angles and beams, each of which mishaps sent a quiver through the old house, and a thrill to the heart of Gillie White. In his earnest desire to steer clear of the sick womans door, the luckless Captain came into collision with the opposite wall, and anxiety on this point causing him to forget the step on which he had struck once before, he struck it again, and was precipitated, chest and all, against Mrs Robys door, which, fortunately for itself, burst open, and let the avalanche of chest and man descend upon Mrs Robys floor.
Knowing that the climax was now reached, the imp descended the stair filled with a sort of serene ecstasy, while Captain Wopper gathered himself up and sat down on his nautical portmanteau.
I tell ee what it is, old ooman, said he, stroking his beard, the channel into this port is about the wust I ever had the ill-luck to navigate. I hope I didnt frighten ee?
Oh, dear no! replied Mrs Roby, with a smile.
To say truth, the old woman seemed less alarmed than might have been expected. Probably the noise of the Captains approach, and previous experience, had prepared her for some startling visitation, for she was quite calm, and a humorous twinkle in her eyes seemed to indicate the presence of a spirit somewhat resembling that which actuated Gillie White.
Well, thats all right, said the Captain, rising and pushing up the trap-door that led to his private berth in the new lodging; and now, old lady, havin come to an anchor, I must get this chest sent aloft as fast as I can, seein that Ive to clean myself an rig out for a dinner at eight oclock at the west end.
Dear me, said Mrs Roby, in surprise, you must have got among people of quality.
It wont be easy to hoist it up, said the Captain, ignoring the remark, and eyeing the chest and trap-door in the roof alternately.
Just then a heavy step was heard in the passage; and a young man of large and powerful frame, with a gentle as well as gentlemanly demeanour, appeared at the door.
Come income in, said Mrs Roby, with a bright look, this is only my new lodger, a friend of dear Wil
Why, bless you, old ooman, interrupted Captain Wopper, he knows me well enough. I went to him this morning and got Mrs Stoutleys address. Come in, Dr Lawrence. I may claim to act the host here now in a small way, perhaps, and bid visitors welcomeeh! Mrs Roby?
Surely, surely, replied the old woman.
Thank you both for the welcome, said the visitor with a pleasant smile, as he shook hands with Mrs Roby. I thought I recognised your voice, Captain Wopper, as you passed Mrs Levens door, and came out to see how you and my old friend here get on together.
Is she any better to-night, sir? asked Mrs Roby, anxiously.
Lawrence shook his head sadly and said she was no better, and that he feared she had little chance of getting better while her dissipated son dwelt under the same roof with her. It is breaking her heart, he added, and, besides that, the nature of her disease is such that recovery is impossible unless she is fed on the most generous diet. This of course she cannot have, because she has no means of her own. Her son gambles away nearly all his small salary, and she refuses to go to an hospital lest her absence should be the removal of the last restraining link between him and destruction. It is a very sad casevery.
Captain Wopper was struck with this reference to gambling coming so soon after his recent conversation on that subject, and asked if there were no charitable societies or charitable people in London who would help in a case so miserable.
Yes, there were plenty of charitable institutions, Lawrence told him, but he feared that this woman had no special claim on any of them, and her refusal to go to an hospital would tell against her. There were also, he said, plenty of charitable people, but all of those he happened to be acquainted with had been appealed to by him so often that he felt ashamed to try them again. He had already given away as much of his own slender means as he could well spare, so that he saw no way out of the difficulty; but he had faith in Providential supervision of human affairs, and he believed that a way would yet be opened up.
Youre right, sirright, said Captain Wopper, with emphasis, while he looked earnestly into the face of the young doctor. This world wasnt made to be kicked about like a foot-ball by chance, or circumstances, or anything of the sort. Look ee here, sir; it has bin putt into my heart to feel charitable leanings, and a good bit o cash has bin putt into my pocket, so that, bein a lone sort o man, I dont have much use for it. Thats on the one hand. On the other hand, here are you, sir, the son of a friend o my chum Willum Stout, with great need of aid from charitable people, an here we two are met togetherboth ready for action. Now, I call that a Providential arrangement, so please putt me down as one of your charitable friends. Its little I can boast of in that way as yet but its not too late to begin. Ive long arrears to pull up, so Ill give you that to begin with. Itll help to relieve Mrs Leven in the meantime.
As he spoke, the Captain drew a black pocketbook from his breast pocket and, taking a piece of paper therefrom, placed it in the doctors hands.
This is a fifty-pound note! said Lawrence, in surprise.
Well, what then? returned the Captain. You didnt expect a thousand-pound note, did you?
Not quite that, replied Lawrence, laughing, but I thought that perhaps you had made a mistake.
Ah! you judged from appearances, young man. Dont you git into the way of doin that, else youll be for ever sailin on the wrong tack. Take my advice, an never look as if you thought a man gave you more than he could afford. Nobody never does that.
Far be it from me, returned Lawrence, to throw cold water on generous impulses. I accept your gift with thanks, and will gladly put you on my list. If you should find hereafter that I pump you rather hard, please to remember that you gave me encouragement to do so.
Pump away, sir. When youve pumped dry, Ill tell you!
Well, said Lawrence, rising, Ill go at once and bring your liberality into play; and, since you have done me so good a turn, remember that you may command my services, if they can ever be of any use to you.
The Captain cast a glance at the trap-door and the chest.
Well, said he, I can scarcely ask you to do it professionally, but if youd lend a hand to get this Noahs ark o mine on to the upper deck, Id
Come along, cried Lawrence, jumping up with a laugh, and seizing one end of the ark.
Captain Wopper grasped the other end, and, between them, with much puffing, pushing, and squeezing, they thrust the box through the trap to the upper regions, whither the Captain followed it by means of the same gymnastic feat that he performed on his first ascent. Thrusting his head down, he invited the doctor to come aloft, which the doctor did in the same undignified fashion, for his gentle manner and spirit had not debarred him from the practice and enjoyment of manly exercises.