Chapter XXV: A Villain’s Work

“His gain is loss, for he that wrongs his friend,
Wrongs himself more, and ever bears about
A silent court of justice in his breast;
Himself the judge and jury, and himself
The prisoner at the bar, ever condemned.”--TENNYSON.

“Call a carriage for me, Charlton,” Judge Leigh says, feebly, when he has left Vivian’s house after a short call. “My limbs fail me; I cannot walk to the hotel.”

He seems to rally his strength surprisingly when he and Charlton are alone in a room together. His almost livid face turns purplish red, his eyes flash fire, he strides up and down the floor, muttering wrathfully to himself. Charlton, regarding him in troubled curiosity, hears such words as “Robber! Thief! To beggar an old man! The cowardly, drunken scoundrel!”

“What is it, father? Has Essex been up to any more deviltry?” the young man exclaims anxiously.

“Mischief! The villain!” Judge Leigh repeats, in a dazed way, and he continues to heap wild terms of approbrium on the object of his wrath.

“Father, please explain yourself. This is alarming. You have had some terrible shock!”

“A shock! Good heavens, Charlton!” striding up and down in wild excitement. “Don’t you understand yet? That scoundrel has beggarded me!”

“Father!”

“By forged checks on the bank. He has gambled away thousands upon thousands, and even overdrawn my account. We are ruined! Leigh Place will have to be sold!”

“Poor father!”

“Poor Charlton, you should say, my boy, for a life of poverty lies before you. I am old! Life’s sands are ebbing fast. I----” he reels, and falls in an apoplectic fit.

A physician is summoned, and does all he can, but human skill is powerless now. Judge Leigh never speaks again, and before the dawn of another day he is lying dead.