INFATUATION.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE UNHOLY WISH."

I.

ONE summer's evening, two gentlemen were seated at a well-spread dessert-table in an aristocratic quarter of West London. He at its head, its master, was a fine, stately man, wearing in his countenance, in its expression and form of feature, the impress of true nobility-nature's nobility, not that of the peerage, for he was in reality only a merchant, though one of the first class. His lady wife-she was the daughter of a peer-had just quitted the room, and left them to themselves. They were the heads of the well-known City firm "Grubb and Howard." Mr. Howard had walked up from the City at this evening hour to confer upon a matter, which had come to his knowledge, with his senior partnersenior in authority, but his junior in years; a private engagement having brought Mr. Grubb away from the City at mid-day.

"Did you draw a cheque on Saturday morning, before leaving home, in favour of self, and get it cashed?" began James Howard, as Mr. Grubb returned to his seat, from closing the door after Lady Adela. "At Glyn's."

The merchant threw his thoughts back to Saturday morning. The reminiscence was unpleasant. For a scene had then taken place with his wife, painful to him, disgraceful to her. He had drawn no cheque. ," he answered.

"No,"

"A cheque for 500l., in favour of self?" continued Mr. Howard, slowly sipping his port wine.

"I don't draw at Glyn's in favour of self," interrupted the merchant, "only at my private banker's. You know that, Howard, as well as I do."

"Just so. Therefore, upon the fact coming to our notice this afternoon that such a cheque had been drawn and paid, I stepped over to Glyn's and made inquiries."

"Well?"

"Well, there it was, safe enough: a cheque purporting to be drawn and signed by you."

"Charles Grubb?" "

"No; the firm signature, Grubb and Howard.' And a very good imitation it is. But if it is your writing, your hand was nervous when you wrote it, rendering the letters less decided than usual.”

"Who presented it?" inquired Mr. Grubb.

"Mr. Cleveland. And he received the money."

"Cleveland!" uttered Mr. Grubb, in the most astonished tone. "There is some mystery about this."

"So it seemed to me," answered the junior partner.

of town you said to-day."

"Went down yesterday to Brighton, to his father's. the morning. But how did he procure the cheque? resumed the puzzled merchant. Where's the money April-VOL. CVI. NO. CCCCXXIV.

"Cleveland's out

?"

Will be home in
Who drew it ?"

2 D

"It was Saturday morning that you left the cheque-book at home and sent Cleveland for it, if you remember."

"Ah, to be sure it was," echoed the merchant, quickly. “A long while he was gone."

"And during this period, between ten and half-past eleven, the cheque was presented and cashed. I thought he was of improvident habits, but never suspected he was one to help himself

"He cannot have helped himself in this sort of way," interrupted Mr. Grubb, earnestly. "Cleveland is a wild, random species of young fellow, and has his faults, but he is certainly not one to descend to guilt of this nature."

"He is reckless in his expenditure, and is never out of debt-as I hear," urged James Howard.

Very likely. I don't doubt he is of the fast genus. But that does not prove he would defraud us. The thing's impossible, Howard." "He presented the cheque and received the money," dryly remarked Mr. Howard. "What has he done with it?"

"But no madman would go to work in this barefaced way," replied his more generous-minded partner, "bringing immediate detection and punishment down upon his head."

"Suppose you inquire what clothes he took with him," suggested Mr. Howard. "My impression is, that he's off. The Brighton tale may

have been a blind."

Mr. Grubb rose and rang the bell, staggered nearly out of his senses; and, until it was answered, not another word was spoken. Each gentleman was busy with his own thoughts.

"Richard," said the master, "when Mr. Cleveland left for Brighton yesterday morning, did he take much luggage with him?"

"Don't think he took any, sir, unless it was his small portmanteau." "Did you happen to hear him say whether he contemplated making a longer stay than usual ?"

"I did not hear him say anything, sir. But Mr. Cleveland is back.” "Back!" echoed Mr. Howard, surprised into the interference. "He came back a few minutes ago, sir."

"Is he in now ?" asked Mr. Grubb.

"No, sir; he went out again almost directly. The cab waited for him. He is gone to dine at the Army and Navy."

"Then no elucidation can now take place till morning," observed Mr. Grubb, as the servant withdrew. "When he goes out on these dining bouts he is never home till late, sometimes not at all. But rely upon it, Howard, this matter will be cleared up. Cleveland is no forger." "Hope it may,” sarcastically uttered the junior partner.

The merchant was seated, next morning, at his breakfast alone, for the Lady Adela never condescended to breakfast with her husband, and Charles Cleveland had not made his appearance. "Does Mr. Cleveland know I am at breakfast?" he inquired of the servant.

"Mr. Cleveland left word-I beg your pardon, sir, I forgot to mention it-that he was gone out to breakfast with his brother, Captain Cleveland, who sails to-day for India."

Twelve o'clock was heard striking by St. Paul's, in the City premises of Messrs. Grubb and Howard, and no Charles Cleveland had made his appearance. Both partners, with a gentleman from Glyn's, were assem

bled in a private room, the latter gentleman and Mr. Howard fully persuaded that the delinquent had embarked for India with his brother, or for some other place, not speedily accessible to officers of justice. But ere the clock had well finished striking, Charley himself came in, bustling and out of breath.

"I beg your pardon, sir, for being so late," he panted, addressing himself to Mr. Grubb, "especially after my holiday of yesterday. I went early this morning to Woolwich, and on board my brother's ship, intending to be up by business hours, but, what with one delay or another, I was unable to get back till now."

"Take a seat, Mr. Cleveland," was the reply. "We have a few questions to put to you.'

Charles glanced round. In his hurry, he had seen no one but Mr. Grubb. His eye now fell on the banker: he knew him well; and knew that the time was come when he would have need of all his presence of mind and his energies.

"You presented a cheque for 500l. at Glyn's on Saturday morning, and received the amount in notes," began Mr. Grubb. "From whom did you get that cheque?"

No reply.

"Purporting to be drawn and signed by me," continued Mr. Grubb. "I ask from whom you received it?"

"I decline to answer," he said at length, speaking with hesitation, in spite of his resolve for firmness.

"Do you deny having presented the cheque?"

"No. I do not deny that."

"Do you deny having received the money for it?" questioned the banker.

"Nor that either. I acknowledge to have received 5007. It would be waste of folly to deny it," he continued, in a sort of calm desperation, "since the bank could prove the contrary."

"But did you know what you were laying yourself open to ?" asked Mr. Grubb, evidently in a maze of astonishment.

"I know now, sir."

"Will you refund the money?" interposed Mr. Howard. "Out of consideration for your family, connected, as it is, with that of the head of our firm, we are willing to

"I cannot refund it, and I must decline to answer any more questions," interrupted Mr. Cleveland, fast relapsing into agitation. Mr. Howard stepped into the next room; and, soon, a policeman was added to the group.

"It is our duty to give this gentleman into custody for forgery," said James Howard, pointing at Charles Cleveland, who was standing side by side with Mr. Grubb: and the policeman, mistaking the direction, laid his arm on that of the head of the firm.

"Not me," said the merchant, with a slight smile at the mistake. "Why, officer, what are you thinking of?" cried the banker, indignantly. "Don't you know this gentleman yet-Mr. Grubb? You are a City policeman.

"No offence," deprecated the policeman, transferring his attention to Mr. Charles. "I'm sure I beg your pardon, sir, but I thought the gen

tleman pointed to you. And so many, where you'd least expect it, get into trouble now, that if they handed over to us a duke, we should just take him, and make no bones about it. Is the charge to be gone into to-day?"

"Without any delay," peremptorily uttered Mr. Howard.

"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Charles Cleveland, turning to Mr. Grubb, in a high state of excitement, "will you look over this one error? My father will replace the money-I am sure he will, rather than suffer this public disgrace to fall upon the family. Do not force the shame upon him." Mr. Grubb drew him aside from the rest, and spoke to him in private. "If I afford you the opportunity, will you tell me the circumstances of the case ?" he asked, "for I own to you that your conduct appears to me perfectly incomprehensible. There is some mystery in the affair, which I do not fathom. It may be better for you to confide in me." "I cannot," returned Cleveland.

"What if I tell you that, in spite of appearances, I do not myself believe you guilty?"

A bright eager flush, a glance of understanding illumined for a moment Charley's face. It seemed to say that just, honourable natures know, and trust, in each other's innocence, no matter what may be the signs of guilt. But the transient expression faded away to sadness.

"I can explain nothing," he said; "I can only thank you, sir, for this proof of confidence, and implore your clemency on the ground of com. passion alone."

"Then there is no more to be said. Policeman," added the merchant, walking forward, "do your duty."

What a commotion arose in all the clubs! Charles Cleveland in Newgate, on a charge of forgery! Charley Cleveland the popular-Charley Cleveland the grandson of an earl gathered to his fathers, and nephew of the one who stood in his shoes-Charley Cleveland the out-and-out good fellow, who was wont to scare the blue devils away from everybody -Charley Cleveland who, in defiance of his improvidence and his shallow pocket, was known to be of the nicest honour amongst the honourable! "The thing's preposterous altogether," stuttered John Cust. "If Charley had drawn the money, he would have had the money, and I know that on Saturday afternoon he had not a rap, for he borrowed three sovs. of me, to take him down to Brighton, where he went to try and knock some tin out of his governor."

"Which he did," added Lord Deerhum.

"A ten-pounder."

"And paid me back the three, on the Monday night, when he came to his brother's spread at the Rag and Famish. Gammon! Charley has not been making free with Old Grubb's name."

"But he acknowledges to having drawn the money," squeaked Booby Charteries. "That's proved."

"You may take that in, yourself, Booby. We don't."

"But the Lord Mayor"

"Lord Mayor be hanged! If he swears, till he's black in the face, that Charley had it, I know he didn't. There."

"Let's cut down to Newgate, and have a smoke with him," returned Booby Charteries. "It may cheer the fellow up, under the present alarming state of things."

"As if they'd admit us inside Newgate, or a smoke either!" uttered

John Cust. "There's only one thing more difficult than getting in, and that is, if you are in, getting out again. Newgate's no go, Booby."

"I propose that we have a throw which of us shall go and punch Old Grubb's head, for making the charge," proposed Lord Deerhum. "It would do these City plodders good, to be taught what it is to insult one of our order, especially a popular chap, like Charley."

The Honourable Mr. Cleveland came up from Brighton to find his son lying in Newgate on a charge of forgery. At the examination, Charles had attempted no defence, stating to the magistrate that he had none to make; so he was committed for trial, there and then. His father, who obtained an order to visit him in Newgate, found him, even in that short period, greatly changed. His dress was neglected, his hair unkempt, and his face haggard. Charley the fastidious!

Mr. Cleveland was overcome beyond control, and sobbed aloud. He was a venerable-looking man of sixty years, and had always been a fond father. Charley was little less affected.

"Why did you not kill me when you last came down, Charles ?" he moaned. "Better have put me out of this world of pain than bring this misery upon me. Oh, my boy! my boy! you were your mother's favourite: how can you so have disgraced her memory!"

"I would I had been out of the world, rather than be the curse to you I have proved," writhed Charley, wishing Newgate would yawn asunder and engulph him. "Oh, don't-father, don't!" he implored, as Mr. Cleveland's sobs echoed through the cell. "If it will be any consolation to you to know it, I will avow to you that I am not guilty," he added, the sight of his father's affliction momentarily outweighing his precaution. "By all your care of me, by your present grief, by the memory of my dead mother, I swear to you that I am not guilty."

Mr. Cleveland looked up, and his heart leaped within him. He knew Charles was speaking truth.

"Then what is this I hear, about your declining to make a defence ?" Charles hung his head, and relapsed into prudence again.

66

My boy, answer me. How came you to accept as it were—

charge?"

-the

"For your private comfort I have said this, dear father, but it must remain between us as if it had not been spoken. The world must still, and always, believe me guilty."

"But why?-why? What mystery is this?"

"Do not ask me, sir. Believe that you have not a son more free from the guilt of this crime than I am. Nevertheless, I must pay the penalty, for I cannot defend myself."

Mr. Cleveland could get nothing more out of Charles. From Newgate he went to Mr. Grubb's counting-house.

"You are not more pained at this affair than I am," said the latter, closing the door of his private room," and certainly not more astonished." "Oh, Mr. Grubb," cried the old man, "could you not have hushed this wretched disgrace up, for the family's sake?"

"I would have hushed it up. I asked Charles, in this very room, to acknowledge the truth to me privately. Had he done so, even though it was to avow his guilt, I should not have proceeded. But he would not say a word, and told me he would not."