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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 227
"Yes, sir, I think I know the name," Philip said, thinking
he liked his father better now than he had ever liked him in
his life, and sighing, "Ah, if he had always been frank and
true with me !"
"I took humble lodgings with an obscure family." [If Dr.
Firmin had a prodigious idea of his own grandeur and importance,
you see I cannot help it—and he was long held to be such a
respectable man.] "And there I found a young girl—one of the
most innocent beings that ever a man played with and betrayed.
Betrayed, I own it, Heaven forgive me ! The crime has been the
shame of my life, and darkened my whole career with misery. I
got a man worse than myself, if that could be. I got Hunt for a
few pounds, which he owed me, to make a sham marriage between
me and poor Caroline. My money was soon gone. My creditors
were after me. I fled the country, and I left her."
" A sham marriage ! a sham marriage !" cries the clergyman.
" Didn't you make me perform it by holding a pistol to my throat 1
A fellow won't risk transportation for nothing. But I owed him
money for cards, and he had my bill, and he said he would let
me off, and that's why I helped him. Never mind. I am out of
the business now, Mr. Brummell Firmin, and you are in it. I
have read the Act, sir. The clergyman who performs the marriage
is liable to punishment, if informed against within three years, and
it's twenty years or more. But you, Mr. Brummell Firmin,—your
case is different; and you, my young gentleman with the fiery
whiskers, who strike down old men of a night—you may find
some of us know how to revenge ourselves, though we are down."
And with this, Hunt rushed to his greasy hat, and quitted the
house, discharging imprecations at his hosts, as he passed through
the hall.
Son and father sat a while silent, after the departure of their
common enemy. At last the father spoke.
" This is the sword that has always been hanging over my head,
and it is now falling, Philip."
"What can the man do ? Is the first marriage a good
marriage ?" asked Philip, with alarmed face.
"It is no marriage. It is void to all intents and purposes.
You may suppose I have taken care to learn the law about that.
Your legitimacy is safe, sure enough. But that man can ruin me,
or nearly so. He will try to-morrow, if not to-day. As long as
you or I can give him a guinea, he will take it to the gamblinghouse.
I had the mania on me myself once. My poor father
quarrelled with me in consequence, and died without seeing me.
I married your mother—Heaven help her, poor soul ! and forgive