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520 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
house in Fifth Avenue last night. Is Washington White shunned
by his fellow-men because he has been a bankrupt three times?
Anything more elegant or profuse than his entertainment I have
not witnessed on this continent. His lady had diamonds which a
duchess might envy. The most costly wines, the most magnificent
supper, and myriads of canvas-backed ducks covered his board.
Dear Charlotte, my friend Captain Colpoys brings you over three
brace of these from your father-in-law, who hopes they will furnish
your little dinner-table. We eat currant jelly with them here, but
I like an old English lemon and cayenne sauce better.
"By the way, dear Philip, I trust you will not be inconvenienced
by a little financial operation, which necessity (alas!)
has compelled me to perform. Knowing that your quarter with
the Upper Ten Thousand Gazette was now due, I have made so
bold as to request Colonel ________ to pay it over to me. Promises
to pay must be met here as with us—an obdurate holder of an
unlucky acceptance of mine (I am happy to say there are very
few such) would admit of no delay, and I have been compelled
to appropriate my poor Philip's earnings. I have only put you
off for ninety days : with your credit and wealthy friends you can
easily negotiate the bill enclosed, and I promise you that when
presented it shall be honoured by my Philip's ever affectionate
father, G. B. F.
"By the way, your Philalethes' letters are not quite spicy
enough, my worthy friend the Colonel says. They are elegant and
gay, but the public here desires to have more personal news ; a
little scandal about Queen Elizabeth, you understand? Can't
you attack somebody ? Look at the letters and articles published
by my respected friend of the New York Emerald ! The readers
here like a high-spiced article: and I recommend P. F. to put
a little more pepper in his dishes. What a comfort to me it is
to think, that I have procured this place for you, and have been
enabled to help my son and his young family ! G. B. F."
Enclosed in this letter was a slip of paper which poor Philip
supposed to be a cheque when he first beheld it, but which turned
out to be his papa's promissory note, payable at New York four
months after date. And this document was to represent the money
which the elder Firmin had received in his son's name ! Philip's
eyes met his friend's when they talked about this matter. Firmin
looked almost as much ashamed as if he himself had done the
wrong.
"Does the loss of this money annoy you?" asked Philip's friend.