A Cheap Let Off.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 343, 16 February 1889, Page 5

A Cheap Let Off.

' Dear boy, Seaton's is a house you must go to. Just as there are certain lesfcauranfcs where you must dine, and certain racecourses on which you must put in an appearance, so you must be in Seabon's set. One of the smaitest, 1 assure you.' And Percy Cray ton, the beardlees bon of a country magnate, whose name would bo honoietf abCox'.sfor a good many thousands, drank in the words of Lord Delavarr, his gut.lc, philosopher, and mundane-mentor. JSeedlesb to say. he took the ad\ice so candidly oflered, accepted the proposed introduction, and found himselt shortly alter midnight in the room.-- in Piccadilly, wheie Chai le* liarthome Seaton had installed his la es ami penates. Nice rooms they were, too, and furnished in a wuv that could not tail to create confidence in their propiiotor. As you lounged in an eac-y chair, watched the winding wreaths of a choice Havanna, and sipped a whi-k}', you would have to be made of sbiong sbuft if you did not feel that Seaton was indeed a man to be cultivated. But neither whisky, cijjars, nor decorations was what attracted Crayton's attention on the GCCcibion of his first visit, or rather they only aroused in him a very subordidatc inteiesb. He had only eyes for the mistress of the house, for Mrs Seaton, t ho exceedingly lovely wife of his altogether di Mirhtful host. How he envied the latter hi- i.ieaMire ! French by birth, Mrs Seaton !);>(.! all that inimitable charm which seems to be t 1 c secret of the captivating daughter of la belle France. Her every gesture was a tacit invitation to worship, while her tliyht foreign accenb gave a ring to her speech which was calculated to woik w nder.- in susceptible hearts. As most men were, young Ciayton, whose lot had luthcito been ea«b amongst cottage queens and p.xnincial beauties, was completely ensnartd by this divinity bedecked by Woith. While he played at baccarat his looks would wander fiom the fateful pa.-leboards to the %me of his hos-tefs. Now on this side, now on that, hhe would n>k her sovereign, explaining her readouts for her momentary piefeienee. Whimsical enough they weic but they amused hrr guest*, keeping them in the best possible humour. Sou could «cc the disappearance of one pony after anothei with pomeMiing like complacency so long a-3 you were soothed by their enchanting chatter, and could watch tne changes ot expie?sion that ilibted across the fair player's face. As a matter of fact this source of diveision was not wibhoutite> die-advantages. Caids were undeniable the puce iltrni>t(mn at Seaton's so far as entei tainment went, and as the play was invariably high, it was as well to avoid making blundeit- through want of paying attention to the game. However, Ciayton, who had no liking for gambling, in\ariably confined himself to small stakes. The banker might turn up nines ten times in succession oo long as those lien, blown, eyes would now and again meet his, to fall swiftly, as if in modest embarrassment. It was soon a matter of geneial remark that Mrs Seaton singled him out ior decidedly special attention. He frequently called during the afternoon, and one afternoon, when they were alone, Ciayton made what amounted to a declaiation ot love. After some pretty skirmishing, which should have told him that his adoive was no novice at the game, a kind of compromise was effected. It was arranged that he should come to tea on the following Thursday, when Mr Seaton would be from home. Cray ton begged haid lor an immediate pi oof of confidence, and ultimately he was given a latchkey. 'It will keep the seivants out of our little secret,' whispered his charmer. Needless to say, Percy Cray ton kept the appointment, even arriving at Piccadilly before his time. Alter paying his cabman double hi 3 proper fare, for very joy. he walked to the tirst Moor and looked ior a moment at the precious key, which had hardly been out of his hand since it left its owner's. Noiselessly the door opened, and he cassed quietly into the dining-room, doubtful how bo announce his presence. The apaibment led into another room, which was only separated from it by a curtained doorway. As he entered, a well-known voice caught his ear — the voice of Mr Seaton. Paralysed with emotion he stood still — an unwilling eavesdropper. 'A monkey, by to-monow morning; that's what I want, and what I must ha\e, which is more.' And then there Cdme a voice in answer, which first caused his heart to beat with joy, and then made his flu.sh crimson as the draperies of the room — ' There'll be no difficulty. Percy is under my thumb, as you English oay. I will tell him he must play higher to-night, when, of course, you will do the test ; or J will tell him he musb pay my debts cc gui sccrati mieux da rested ' Is he worth so much ?' ' Mon cher, I get a thousand before the end of the week, or Bub Cray ton waited to hear no more. Drawing from his pocket the key he had replaced there, he wrapped ib in a hundred pound note, placed it on a table, and quietly letraced his steps. You would have thrashed Seaton before his wife's eyes ?' Very likely. But then, you see, Percy Cray ton was scarcely of age, and he was in love.