 CHAPTER 36 OF EASTER WATERS One afternoon Fred Parsons came into the bar of the King's Head. He wore the cap and jersey of the Salvation Army. He was now Captain Parsons. The bars were empty. It was a time when business was slackest. The morning spitting was over. The crowd had dispersed and would not collect again until the evening standard had come in. William had gone for a walk. Esther and the pot boy were alone in the house. The pot man was at work in the backyard. Esther was suing in the parlor. Hearing steps, she went into the bar. Fred looked at her abashed. He was a little perplexed. He said, Is your husband in? I should like to speak to him. No, my husband is out. I don't expect him back for an hour or so. Can I give him any message? She was on the point of asking him how he was. But there was something so harsh and formal in his tone and manner that she refrained. But the idea in her mind must have expressed itself in her face, for suddenly his manner softened. He drew a deep breath and passed his hand across his forehead. Then, putting aside the involuntarily thought, he said, Perhaps it will come through you as well as any other way. I had intended to speak to him, but I can explain the matter better to you. It is about the betting that is being carried on here. We mean to put a stop to it. That's what I came to tell him. It must be put a stop to. No right-minded person. It cannot be allowed to go on. Esther said nothing. Not a change of expression came upon her grave face. Fred was agitated. The words stuck in his throat, and his hands were restless. Esther raised her calm eyes and looked at him. His eyes were pale, restless eyes. I have come to warn you, he said, that the law will be set in motion. It is very painful for me, but something must be done. The whole neighborhood is devoured by it. Esther did not answer, and he said, Why don't you answer Esther? What is there for me to answer? You tell me that you are going to get up a prosecution against us. To prevent you, I'll tell my husband what you say. This is a very serious matter, Esther. He had come into command of his voice, and he spoke with earnest determination. If we get a conviction against you for keeping a betting house, you will not only be heavily fined, but you will also lose your license. All we ask is that the betting shall cease. No, he said interrupting. Don't deny anything. It is quite useless. We know everything. The whole neighborhood is demoralized by this betting. Nothing is thought of but tips. The day's racing, that is all they think about. The evening papers, and the latest information. You do not know what harm you're doing. Every day we hear of some new misfortune. A home broken up, the mother in the workhouse, the daughter on the streets, the father in prison, and all on account of this betting. Oh Esther, it is horrible. Think of the harm you're doing. Fred Parsons high round forehead, his weak eyes, his whole face, was expressive of fear and hatred of the evil, which a falsetto voice denounced with much energy. Suddenly he seemed to grow nervous and perplexed. Esther was looking at him, and he said, You don't answer Esther. What would you have me answer? You used to be a good religious woman. Do you remember how we used to speak when we used to go for walks together when you were in service in the Avondale Road? I remember you agreeing with me that much good could be done by those who were determined to do it. You seem to have changed very much since those days. For a moment Esther seemed affected by these remembrances. Then she said in a low musical voice, No, I'm not changed Fred, but things has turned out different. One doesn't do the good that one would like to in the world. One has to do the good that comes to one to do. I'm my husband and my boy to look to. Them's my good. At least that's how I see things. Fred looked at Esther and his eyes expressed all the admiration and love that he felt for her character. One owes a great deal, he said, to those who are near to one, but not everything. Even for their sakes one should not do wrong to others, and you must see that you are doing a great wrong to your fellow creatures by keeping on this betting. Public houses are bad enough, but when it comes to gambling as well as drink, there is nothing for us to do but to put the law in motion. Look you Esther, there isn't a shop boy earning 18 shillings a week that hasn't been round here to put his half crown on some horse. This house is the moral center of the neighborhood. No one's money is refused. The boy that pawned his father's watch to back a horse went to the king's head to put his money on. His father forgave him again and again. Then the boy stole from the lodgers. There was an old woman of 75 who got nine shillings a week for looking after some offices. He had half a crown of her. Then the father told the magistrate that he could do nothing with him since he had taken to betting on horse races. The boy is 14. Is it not shocking? It cannot be allowed to go on. We have determined to put a stop to it. That's what I came to tell your husband. Are you sure, said Esther, and she beat her lips while she spoke, that it is entirely for the neighborhood that you want to get up prosecution? You don't think there's any other reason, Esther? You surely don't think that I'm doing this because it took you away from me? Esther didn't answer. And then Fred said, and there was pain and pathos in his voice. I am sorry you think this of me. I'm not getting up the prosecution. I couldn't prevent the law being put in motion against you even if I wanted to. I only know that it is going to be put in motion, so for the sake of all times I would save you from harm if I could. I came round to tell you, if you did not put a stop to the betting, you'd get into trouble. I have no right to do what I have done, but I do anything to save you and yours from harm. I am sorry for what I said. It was very good of you. We have not any proofs as yet. We know of course all about the betting, but we must have sworn testimony before the law can be set in motion, so you'll be quite safe if you can persuade your husband to give it up, Esther did not answer. It is entirely an account of the friendship I feel for you that made me come to warn you of the danger. You don't bear me any ill will, Esther, I hope? No, Fred, I don't. I think I understand. The conversation paused again. I suppose we have said everything. Esther turned her face from him. Fred looked at her, and though her eyes were averted from him, she could see that he loved her. In another moment he was gone. In her plain and ignorant way, she thought on the romance of destiny, for if she had married Fred, her life would have been quite different. She would have led the life that she wished to lead, but she had married William, and, well, she must do the best she could. If Fred, or Fred's friends, got the police to prosecute them for betting, they would, as he said, not only have to pay a heavy fine, but would probably lose their license. Then what would they do? William had no health to go about from race course to race course, as he used to. He had lost a lot of money in the last six months. Jack was at school. They must think of Jack. The thought of their danger lay on her heart all that evening, but she had had no opportunity of speaking to William alone. She had to wait until they were in their room. Then, as she untied the strings of her petticoats, she said, I had a visit from Fred Parsons this afternoon. That's the fellow you were engaged to marry. Is he after you still? No, he came to speak to me about the betting. About the betting? What is he to do with him? He says that if it isn't stopped, that we shall be prosecuted. So he came here to tell you that, did he? I wish I had been in the bar. I'm glad you wasn't. What good could you have done to have a row and make things worse? William lit his pipe and unlaced his boots. Esther slipped on her nightdress and got into a large brass bedstead without curtains. On the chest of drawers Esther had placed the books her mother had given her, and William had hung some sporting prints on the walls. He took his night shirt from the pillow and put it on without removing his pipe from his mouth. He always finished his pipe in bed. It is revenge, he said, pulling the bed cloth up to his chin, because I got you away from him. I don't think it is that. I did think so at first, and I said so. What did he say? He said he was sorry I thought so badly of him that he came to warn us about danger. If he had wanted to do us injury, he wouldn't have said nothing about it. Don't you think so? It seems reasonable. Then what do you think they're doing it for? He says that keeping a bedding house is corruption in the neighborhood. You think he thinks that? I know he do, and there is many like him. I came of them that thinks like that, so I know. Bedding and drink is what my fault the brethren hopes as most evil. But you forgot all about them, brethren. No, one never forgets what ones brought up in. But what do you think now? I've never said nothing about it. I don't believe in a wife interfering with her husband, and business was that bad. And your elf hasn't been the same since them colds you caught standing about in them bedding rings. So I don't see how you could help it. But now that business is being to come back to us. It might be as well to give up the bedding. It is the bedding that brings the business. We shouldn't take five pounds a week. Was it not for the bedding? What's the difference between bedding on the course and bedding in the bar? No one says nothing against it on the course. The police is there, and they go after the Welshers and persecute them. Then the bedding that's done are Tattersoles and the Albed Club. What is the difference? The stock exchange too, where thousands and thousands is bedded every day. It's the old story. One law for the rich and another for the poor. Why shouldn't the poor man have his half-crown worth of excitement? The rich man can have his thousand pounds worth whenever he pleases. The same with the public houses. There's a lot of hypocritical folk that is for talking the poor man of his beer. But there's no one that's for interfering with them that drinks champagne in the clubs. It's all bloody rot, and it makes me sick when I think of it. Them hypocritical folk, bedding, isn't everything bedding? How can they put down bedding? Hasn't it been going on since the world began? Rots as I. They can just ruin a poor devil like me, and that's about all. We are ruined, and the rich go scot-free. Hypocritical. Mealy-mouthed lot. Let's say our prayers and sand the sugar. That's about it. I hate them that always fratting about religion. When I hear too much religion going about, I say snouse the time to look into their accounts. William lean out of bed to light his pipe from the candle on the night-table. There's good people in the world, people that never thinks but of doing good and do not live for pleasure. All work and now play makes Jack a dull-boy, Esther. Their only pleasure is a bit. When they've won on, they've something to look forward to. Whether they win or lose, they ask their money's worth. You know what I say is true. You've seen them how they look forward to the evening paper to see how the osse is going on in betting. Man can't live without hope. It is their only hope, and I say no one has a right to take it from them. What about their poor wives? Very little good their betting is to them. It is all very well to talk like that, William. But you know, and you can't say you don't, that a great deal of mischief comes of betting. You know that once they think of it and nothing else, they neglect their work. They're stuck. He lost his place as porter. There's journeyman, too. He's out of work. And a good thing for them. They've done a great deal better since they chucked it. For the time may be. But who says it will go on? Look at old John. He's going about in rags. And his poor wife. She was in here the other night. A terrible life she is out of it. You says that no arm comes of it. What about that boy that was out of the other day and said that it was all through betting? He began by pawning his father's watch. It was here that he made the first bet. You won't tell me that it is right to bet with bits of boys like that. The horse he backed with me won. So much the worse. The boy'll never do another honest day's work as long as he lives. When they win, they ask a drink for luck. When they lose, they ask a drink to cheer them up. I'm afraid, Esther, you ought to marry the other chap. He'd have given you the life that you'd have been happy in. This public house ain't suited to you. Esther turned round and her eyes met her husbands. There was a strange remoteness in his look, and they seemed very far from each other. I was brought up to think so differently. She said her thoughts going back to her early years in the little southern seaside home. I suppose this betting and drinking will always seem to me sinful and wicked. I should have liked quite a different kind of life, but we don't choose our lives. We just makes the best of them. You was the father of my child, and it all dates from that. I suppose it too. William lay on his back and blew the smoke swiftly from his mouth. If you smoke much more, we shan't be able to breathe in this room. I won't smoke no more. Shall I blow the candle out? Yes, if you like. When the room was in darkness, just before they settled their faces on their pillow for sleep, William said, It was good of that fellow to come and warn us. I must be very careful for the future with whom I bet. End of CHAPTER 36 Read by Lorsch Rolander CHAPTER 37 OF ETHTER WATERS This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. ETHTER WATERS with George Moore CHAPTER 37 On Sunday, as soon as dinner was over, ETHTER had intended to go to East Dulwich to see Mrs. Lewis. But as she closed the door behind her, she saw Sarah coming up the street. Ah, I see you're going out. It don't matter. Won't you come in if it's only for a minute? No, thank you. I won't keep you. But which way are you going? We might go a little way together. They walked down Waterloo Place and along Pearl Mall. In Trafalgar Square, there was a demonstration and Sarah lingered in the crowd so long that when they arrived at Charing Cross, Ester found that she could not get to Ludgate Hill in time to catch her train. So they went into the embankment gardens. It had been raining and the women wiped the seats with their handkerchiefs before sitting down. There was no fashion to interest them and the band sounded foolish in the void of the grey London Sunday. Sarah's chatter was equally relevant and Ester wondered how Sarah could talk so much about nothing and regretted her visit to East Delwich more and more. Suddenly Bill's name came into the conversation but I thought you didn't see him anymore. You promised us you wouldn't. I couldn't help it. It was quite an accident. One day, coming back from church with Annie, that's a new housemate, he came up and spoke to us. What did he say? He said, how are you? Who had thought of meeting you? And what did you say? I said I didn't want to have nothing to do with him. Annie walked on and then he said he was very sorry that it was bad luck that drove him to it. And you believed him? I dare say it is very foolish of me but one can't help oneself. Did you ever really care for a man? And without waiting for an answer, Sarah continued her babbling chatter. She had asked him not to come after her. She thought he was sorry for what he had done. She mentioned incidentally that he had been away in the country and had come back with very particular information regarding a certain horse for the seas air bridge. If the horse won, he'd be all right. At last Esther's patience was tired out. It must be getting late, she said, looking towards where the sun was setting. The river rippled and the edges of the warehouses had perceptively softened. A wind too had come up with the tide and the women shivered as they passed under the arch of Waterloo Bridge. They ascended a flight of high steps and walked through a passage into the Strand. I was miserable enough with him. We used to have hardly anything to eat but I'm more miserable away from him. Esther, I know you laugh at me but I'm that heartbroken. I can't live without him. I'd do anything for him. He isn't worth it. That don't make no difference. You don't know what love is. A woman who hasn't loved a man who don't love her don't. We used to live near here. Do you mind coming up Drury Lane? I should like to show you the house. I'm afraid it'll be out of our way. No, it won't. Round by the church and up Newcastle Street. Look, there's a shop we used to go to sometimes. I've eaten many a good sausage and onions in there and there's a pub where we often used to go for a drink. The courts and alleys had vomited their population into the lane. Fat girls clad in shawls sat around the slum opening nursing their babies. Old women crouched in decrepit doorways, fumbled their aprons. Skipping groups whirled in the roadway. A little higher up, a vendor of cheap izes had set up a store and was rapidly absorbing all the pennies of the neighborhood. Esther and Sarah turned into a dilapidated court where a hag argued the price of trotters with a family leaning one over the other out of a second floor window. This was the block in which Sarah had lived. A space had been cleared by the builder and the other side was shut in by the great wall of the old theater. That's where we used to live, said Sarah, pointing up to the third floor. I fancy our house will soon come down. When I see the old place, it all comes back to me. I remember pawning a dress over the way in the lane. They would only lend me a shilling on it. And you see that chop? The shutters is up, it being Sunday. It is the sort of butchers, cheap meat, livers and lights, trotters and such like. I bought a bullock's heart there and stewed it down with some potatoes. We did enjoy it, I can tell you. Sarah topped so eagerly of herself that Esther had not the heart to interrupt her. They made their way out into Catherine Street and then to Endill Street and to St Giles Church they plunged into the labyrinth of Sir Ho. I'm afraid I'm tiring you. I don't see what interest all this can be to you. We've known each other a long time. Sarah looked at her and then, unable to resist the temptation, she continued her narrative. Bill had said this, she had said that. She rattled on until they came to the corner of Old Compton Street. Esther, who was a little tired of her, held out her hand. I suppose you must be getting back. Would you like a drop of something? It is going on for seven o'clock, but since you're that kind, I think I'd like a glass of beer. Do you listen much to the betting talk here of an evening? Sarah asked as she was leaving. I don't pay much attention, but I can't help hearing a good deal. Do they talk much about Ben Johnson for the seas air, Rich? They do, indeed. He's all the girl. Sarah's face brightened perceptively and Esther said, have you backed him? Only a trifle, half a crown that a friend put me on. Do they say he'll win? They say that if he don't break down, he'll win by half a mile. It all depends on his leg. Is he coming on in the betting? Yes, I believe they're now taking twelve to one about him. But I'll ask William if you like. No, no. I only wanted to know if you had heard anything new. End of Chapter 37. Chapter 38 of Esther Waters This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander Esther Waters by George Moore Chapter 38 During the next fortnight, Sarah came several times to the king's head. She came in about nine in the evening and stayed for half an hour or more. The ostensible object of her visit was to see Esther, but she declined to come into the private bar where they would have chatted comfortably and remained in the public bar listening to the men's conversation, listening and nodding while old John explained the horse's staying power to her. On the following evening all her interest was in Ketley. She wanted to know if anything had happened that might be considered as an omen. She said she had dreamt about the race, but her dream was only a lot of foolish rubbish without head or tail. Ketley argued earnestly against this view of a serious subject, and in the hope of convincing her of her error, offered to walk as far as Oxford Street with her and put her into her bus. But on the following evening all her interest was centred in Mr. Journeyman, who declared that he could prove that according to the weight it seemed to him to look more and more like a certainty. He had let the horse in at six stone ten pounds. The official handicapper had only given him six stone seven pounds. They is sending off him alone this week, and if the leg don't go it is a hundred pound to a brass fathering on the old horse. How many times will they gallop him? Sarah asked. He goes a mile and a half every day now. The day after tomorrow they'll try him just to see that he hasn't lost his turn of spate. And if he don't break down in the trial you can take it from me that it will be all right. When will you know the result of the trial? I expect a letter on Friday morning, said Stack. If you come in in the evening I'll let you know about it. Thank you very much, Mr. Stack. I must be getting home now. I'm going your way, Mr. Tucker. If you like we'll go together, and I'll tell you he whispered all about the horse. When they had left the bar the conversation turned on racing as an occupation for women. Fancy my wife making a book on the cart. I bet she'd overlay it and then turn round and back the favorite at a shorter price than she'd been laying. I don't know that we should be any foolisher than you, said Esther. Don't you never go and overlay your book? What about syntax and the horse you told me about last week? William had been heavily hit last week through overlaying his book against a horse he didn't believe in and the whole bar joined in the laugh against him. I don't say nothing about book making, said Yoneman, but there's a great many women nowadays who is mighty sharp at spotting a horse that the handicapper had let in pretty easy. This one, said Ketley, jerking his thumb up in their direction that Stark and Sarah had gone, seems to have got hold of something. We must ask Stark when he comes back and Yoneman winked at William. We mean to get excited over Trive Falls, oh, John, remarked sarcastically. Trant got about half a crown on the horse, if that. She don't care about the horse or the race. No woman ever did. It's all about some sweet heart that's been piling it on. I wonder if you're right, said Esther reflectively. I never knew her before to take such an interest in a horse race. On the day of the race, Sarah came into the private bar about three o'clock. The news was not yet in. Wouldn't you like to step into the parlor? You'd be more comfortable, said Esther. No, thank you, dear. It's not worthwhile. I thought I'd like to know which one that's all. Have you much on? No, five shillings altogether. But a friend of mine stands to win a good bit. I see you've got a new dress, dear. When did you get it? I've had the stuff by me some time. I only had it made up last month. Do you like it? Sarah answered that she thought it very pretty. But Esther could see that she was thinking of something quite different. The race is over now. It's run at half past two. Yes, but they're never quite punctual. There may be a delay at the post. I see you know all about it. One never hears of anything else. Esther asked Sarah when her people came back to town and was surprised at the change of expression that the question brought to her friend's face. They expected back tomorrow, she said. Why do you ask? Oh, nothing, something to say that's all. The conversation paused and the two women looked at each other. At that moment a voice coming rapidly towards them was heard calling. Wainer! Wainer! I'll send out for the paper, said Esther. No, no, suppose she shouldn't have won. Well, it won't make any difference. Oh, Esther, no, someone will come in and tell us. The race can't be over yet. It's a long race and takes some time to run. By this time the boy was far away and fainter and fainter the terrible word, Wainer! Wainer! Wainer! It's too late now, said Sarah. Someone will come in presently and tell us about it. I dare say it ain't the paper at all. Them boys cry out anything that will sell. Wainer! Wainer! The voice was coming towards them. If he's won, Bill is too merry. Somehow I feel as if he hasn't. Wainer! We shall soon know, Esther took a heypony from the hill. Don't you think we'd better wait. It can't be printed in the papers, not the true account, and if it was wrong. Esther didn't answer. She gave Charles the heypony, he went out, and in a few minutes came back with a paper in his hand. Tornado first, Ben Johnson second, Woodcraft third, he read out. That's a good thing for the governor. There was very few that backed Tornado. He's only lost some place money. So he was only second. Sarah said turning deadly pale. They said he was certain to win. I hope you've not lost much, said Esther. It wasn't with William that you backed him. No, it wasn't with William. I only had a few shilling songs. It don't matter. Let me have a drink. What will you have? Sarah drank it neat. Esther looked at her doubtfully. The bars would be empty for the next two hours. Esther wished to utilize this time. She had some shopping to do and asked Sarah to come with her. But Sarah complained of being tired and said she would see her when she came back. Esther went out a little perplexed. She was detained longer than she expected and when she returned Sarah was staggering about in the bar room asking Charles for one more drink. Oh bloody rot! Who says I'm drunk? I ain't. Look at me. The oars did not win, did he? I say it did. Papers owe so much bloody rot. Oh Sarah, what is this? Oh, they sleep, go I say. Mr. Stack, won't you ask her to come upstairs? Don't encourage her. Upstairs? I'm a free woman. I don't want to go upstairs. I'm a free woman. Tell me. She said balancing herself with difficulty and staring at Esther with dull fishy eyes. Tell me if I'm not a free woman. What do I want upstairs for? Oh Sarah, come upstairs and lie down. Don't go out. I'm going home. Hands off, hands off. She said slapping Esther's hands from her arm. Everyone was drunk last night and drunk the night before. And if we don't get drunk tonight we don't get drunk no more. Now you will have the drink with me and I will drink with you for we're the very rowdy slot of the rowdy Irish crew. That's what we used to sing in the lane, you know. Should have seen the coaster girls dancing and clinking their pewters. Rippin' day, bank holiday. Aping under the trees. Oh, they did romp them gals. We all was roaring drunk last night and drunk the night before. And if we don't get drunk tonight we don't get drunk no more. Girls and boys, you know, all together. Sarah, listen to me. Listen, come and have a drink, old girl. Just another drink. She staggered up to the counter. One more just for luck, do you hear? Before Charles could stop her she had ceased the whiskey that had just been served. That's my whiskey, exclaimed gentlemen. He made a rapid movement but was too late. Sarah had drained the glass and stood vacantly looking into space. Journeyman seemed so disconcerted at the loss of his whiskey that everyone laughed. A few moments after Sarah staggered forward and fell insensible into his arms. He and Esther carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed in the spare room. She'll be precious bed tomorrow, said Journeyman. I don't know how you could have gone on helping her. Esther said to Charles when she got inside the bar and she seemed so pained that out of difference to her feelings the subject was dropped out of the conversation. Esther felt that something shocking had happened. Sarah had deliberately got drunk. She would not have done that unless she had some great trouble on her mind. William, too, was of this opinion something serious must have happened. As they went up to their room, Esther said, It's all the fault of this betting. The neighborhood is completely ruined. They're losing their homes and their furniture and you'll bear the blame of it. It do make me so wide to hear you talking that way, Esther. People will bet you can't stop them. Are they fair prices and they sure of their money? Yet you say they're losing their furniture and that I shall have to bear the blame. When they got to the top of the stairs, she said, I must go and see how Sarah is. Where am I? What's happened? Take that candle out of my eyes. Oh, my head is that painful. She fell back on the pillow and Esther thought she had gone to sleep again. But she opened her eyes. Where am I? That's you, Esther. Yes. Can't you remember? No, I can't. I'll remember that the oars didn't win but don't remember nothing after. I got drunk, didn't I? It feels like it. The oars didn't win and then you took too much. It's very foolish of you to give way. Give way, drunk, what matter? I'm done for. Did you lose much? It wasn't what I lost. It was what I took. I gave Bill the plate to pledge. It's all gone and Master and Mrs. coming back tomorrow. Don't talk about it. I got drunk so that I shouldn't think of it. Oh, Sarah. I didn't think it was as bad as that. You must tell me all about it. I don't want to think about it. They'll come soon enough to take me away. Besides, I cannot remember nothing now. My mouth that awful. Give me a drink. Never mind the glass. Give me the water bottle. She drank ravenously and seemed to recover a little. Esther pressed her to tell her about the pledged plate. You know that I'm your friend. You'd better tell me. I want to help you out of this grave. No one can help me now. I'm done for. Let them come and take me. I'll go with them. I shan't say nothing. How much is it in for? Don't cry like that. Esther said and she took out her handkerchief and wiped Sarah's eyes. How much is it in for? Perhaps I can get my husband to lend me the money to get it out. It's no use trying to help me, Esther. I can't talk about it now. I shall go mad if I do. Tell me how much you got on it. Thirty pounds. It took a long time to undress her. Every now and then she made an effort and another article of clothing was got off. When Esther returned to her room, William was asleep and Esther took him by the shoulder. It is more serious than I thought, she shouted. I want to tell you about it. What about it? He said, opening his eyes. She has pledged the plate for thirty pounds to back that oars. What oars? Ben Johnson. He broke down at the bushes. If he hadn't, I should have been broke up. The whole neighborhood was on him. So she pledged the plate to back him. She didn't do that to back him herself. Someone must have put her up to it. Yes, it was Bill Evans. Ah, that black-eyed put her up to it. I thought she had left him for good. She promised us that she'd never speak to him again. You see, she was that fond of him that she couldn't help herself. There's many that can't. How much did they get on the plate? Thirty pounds. William blew a long whistle. Then, starting up in the bed, he said, She can't stop here. If it comes out that it was through betting, it won't do this house any good. We're already suspected. There's that old sweetheart of yours, the Salvation Cove, on the lookout for evidence of betting being carried on. She'll go away in the morning, but I thought that you might lend her the money to get the plate out. What? Thirty pounds? It's a deal of money, I know. But I thought that you might be able to manage it. You've been lucky with this race. Yes, but think of all I've lost this summer. This is the first bit of luck I've had for a long while. I thought you might be able to manage it. Esther stood by the bedside. Her knee leaned against the edge. She seemed to him at that moment as the best woman in the world, and he said, Thirty pounds is no more to me than toughness, apony, if you wish it, Esther. I haven't been an extravagant wife, have I? She said getting into bed and taking him in her arms. I never ask you for money before. She's my friend. She's yours too. We've known her all our lives. We can't see her go to prison, can we, Bill, without raising a finger to save her? She had never called him Bill before, and the familiar abbreviation touched him, and he said, I owe everything to you, Esther. Everything that's mine is yours. But, he said, drawing away so that he might see her better. What do you say if I ask something of you? What are you going to ask me? I want to say that you won't bother me no more about the bedding. You were brought up to think it wicked. I know all that, but you see, we can't do without it. Do you think not? Don't the thirty pounds you're asking for Sarah come out of bedding? I suppose it do. Most certainly do. I can't help feeling, Bill, that we shan't always be so lucky as we have been. You mean that you think that one of these days we shall have the police down upon us? Don't you sometimes think that we can't always go on without being caught? Every day I hear of the police being down on some bedding club or other. They've been down on a great number lately, but what can I do? We always come back to that. I haven't the health to work round from race course to race course as I used to, but I've got an idea, Esther. I've been thinking of things a great deal lately, and give me my pipe. There, it's just by you. Now, hold the candle like a good girl. William pulled at his pipe until it was fully lighted. He threw himself on his back, and then he said, I've been thinking things over. The bedding has brought us a nice bit of trade here. If we can work up the business a bit more, we might, let's say in a year from now, be able to get as much for the house as we gave. What do you think of buying a business in the country, a house doing a steady trade? I've had enough of London. The climate don't suit me as it used to. Our fancy are should be much better in the country, somewhere on the south coast. Bournemouth way, what do you think? Before Esther could reply, William was taken with a fit of coughing, and his great broad frame was shaken as if it were so much paper. I'm sure, said Esther, when he had recovered himself a little, that a good deal of your trouble comes from that pipe. It's never out of your mouth. I feel like choking myself. Ah, dare say I smoke too much. I'm not the man I was. I can feel it plain enough. Put my pipe down and blow out the candle. I didn't ask you how Sarah was. Very bad. She was half dazed and didn't tell me much. She didn't tell you where she had pledged the plate. No, I will ask her about that tomorrow morning. Leaning forward, she blew out the candle. The wicks mouldered red for a moment, and they fell asleep happy in each other's love, seeming to find new bonds of union in pity for their friend's misfortune. End of Chapter 38 Read by Lange Rolander Chapter 39 of Esther Waters This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Bridget Gage Esther Waters by George Moore Chapter 39 Sarah, you must make an effort and try to dress yourself. Oh, I do feel that bad. I wish I was dead. You must not give way like that. Let me help you put on your stockings. Sarah looked at Esther. You are very good to me, but I can manage. When she had drawn on her stockings, her strength was exhausted, and she fell back on the pillow. Esther waited a few minutes. Here are your petticoats. Just tie them round you. I'll lend you a dressing-gown and a pair of slippers. William was having breakfast in the parlor. Well, feeling a bit poorly, he said to Sarah, What all you have? There's a nice bit of fried fish. Not feeling up to it? Oh, no. I couldn't touch anything. She let herself drop on the sofa. A cup of tea'll do you good, said Esther. You must have a cup of tea, and a bit of toast, just to nibble. William, pour her out a cup of tea. When she had drunk the tea, she said she felt a little better. Now, said William, let's hear all about it. Esther has told you, no doubt, that we intend to do all we can to help you. You can't help me. I'm done for, she replied, dullfully. I don't know about that, said William. You gave that brute Bill Evans the plate to pawn, so far as I know. There isn't much more to tell. He said the horse was sure to win. He was at thirty to one at that time. A thousand to thirty. Bill said with that money we could buy a public house in the country. He wanted to settle down. He wanted to get out of. I don't want to say nothing against him. He said if I would only give him this chance of leading a respectable life, we was to be married immediately after. He told you all that, did he? He said he'd give you a oom of your own, I know. A regular robber, that man is about as bad as they make him. And you believed it all. It wasn't so much what I believed as what I couldn't help myself. He had got that influence over me that my will wasn't my own. I don't know how it is. I suppose men have stronger natures than women. I hardly knew what I was doing. It was like sleep-walking. He looked at me and said, You'd better do it. I did it, and I suppose I'll have to go to prison for it. What I says is just the truth. But no one believes tales like that. How long do you think they'll give me? I hope we shall be able to get you out of this scrape. You got thirty pounds on the plate. Esther has told you that I'm ready to lend you the money to get it out. Will you do this? You are good friends indeed. But I shall never be able to pay you back such a lot of money. We won't say nothing about paying back. All we want you to do is to say that you'll never see that fellow again. A change of expression came over Sarah's face, and William said, You're surely not still hankering after him. No, indeed I'm not. But whenever I meet him, he somehow gets his way with me. It's terrible to love a man as I love him. I know he don't really care for me. I know he is all you say, and yet I can't help myself. It is better to be honest with you. William looked puzzled. At the end of a long silence he said, If it's like that, I don't see that we can do anything. Half-patience, William. Sarah don't know what she's saying. She'll promise not to see him again. You are very kind to me. I know I'm very foolish. I promised before not to see him. And I couldn't keep my promise. You can stop with us until you get a situation in the country, said Esther, where you'll be out of his way. I might do that. I don't like to part with my money, said William, It is to do no one any good. Esther looked at him, and he added, It is just as Esther wishes, of course. I'm not giving you the money. It is she. It is both of us, said Esther. You'll do what I said, Sarah. Oh yes, anything you say, Esther. And she flung herself into her friend's arms, and wept bitterly. Now we want to know where you pond the plate, said William. A long way from here, Bill said he knew a place where it would be quite safe. I was to say that my mistress left it to me. He said that would be sufficient. It was in the mile-end road. You'd know the shop again, said William. But she's got the ticket, said Esther. No, I ain't got the ticket. Bill has it. Then I'm afraid the game's up. Do be quiet, said Esther angrily. If you want to get out of lending the money, say so, and have done with it. That's not true, Esther. If you want another thirty to pay him to give up the ticket, you can have it. Esther thanked her husband with one quick look. I'm sorry, she said. My temper is that hasty. But you know where he lives, she said, turning to the wretched woman who sat on the sofa, pale and trembling. Yes, I know where he lives. Thirteen Millward Square, mile-end road. Then we've no time to lose. We must go after him at once. No, William, dear, you must not. You'd only lose your temper, and he might do you an injury. An injury. I'd soon show him which was the best man of the two. I'll not hear of it, Sarah. He mustn't go with you. Come, Esther, don't be foolish. Let me go. He had taken his hat from the peg. Esther got between him and the door. I forbid it, she said. I will not let you go, perhaps to have a fight, and with that cough. William was coughing. He had turned pale, and he said, leaning against the table. Give me something to drink, a little milk. Esther poured some into a cup. He sipped it slowly. I'll go upstairs, she said, for my hat and jacket. You've got your bedding to attend to. William smiled. Sarah, mind, he's not to go with you. You forget what you said last night about the bedding. Never mind what I said last night about the bedding. What I say now is that you are not to leave the bar. Come upstairs, Sarah, and dress yourself, and let's be off. Stack and journeymen were waiting to speak to him. They had lost heavily over old Ben, and didn't know how they'd pulled through. And the whole neighborhood was in the same plight. The bar was filled with gloomy faces. And as William scanned their disconcerted faces, clerks, hairdressers, waiters from the innumerable eating houses, he could not help thinking that perhaps more than one of them had taken money that did not belong to them back to Ben Johnson. The unexpected disaster had upset all their plans, and even the wary ones, who had a little reserve fund, could not help backing outsiders, hoping by the longer odds to retrieve yesterday's losses. At two the bar was empty, and William waited for Esther and Sarah to return from Mile End. It seemed to him that they were a long time away. But Mile End is not close to Soho, and when they returned, between four and five, he saw at once that they had been unsuccessful. He lifted up the flap in the counter, and all three went into the parlor. He left Millward Square yesterday, Esther said, then we went to another address, and then to another. We went to all the places Sarah had been to with him, but no tidings anywhere. Sarah burst into tears. There's no more hope, she said. I'm done for. They'll come and take me away. How much do you think I'll get? They won't give me ten years, will they? I can see nothing else for you to do, said Esther, but to go straight back to your people and tell them the whole story, and throw yourself on their mercy. Do you mean that she should say that she pawned the plate to get money to back a horse? Of course I do. It will make the police more keen than ever on the bedding houses. That can't be helped. She'd better not be took here, said William. It will do a great deal of harm. It don't make no difference to her where she's took, do it? Esther did not answer. I'll go away. I don't want to get no one into trouble, Sarah said, and she got up from the sofa. At that moment Charles opened the door and said, You were wanted in the bar, sir. William went out quickly. He returned a moment after. There was a scared look on his face. They're here, he said. He was followed by two policemen. Sarah uttered a little cry. Your name is Sarah Tucker, said the first policeman. Yes, you're charged with robbery by Mr. Sheldon, 34 Cumberland Place. Shall I be taken through the streets? If you'd like to pay for it, you can go on a cab. The police officer replied. I'll go with you, dear, Esther said. William plucked her by the sleeve. It will do no good. Why should you go? End of chapter 39 Chapter 40 of Esther Waters This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander Esther Waters by George Moore Chapter 14 The magistrate, of course, sent the case for trial and the £30 which William had promised to give to Esther when to pay for the defense. There seemed at first some hope that the prosecution would not be able to prove its case, but fresh evidence connecting Sarah with the abstraction of the plate was forthcoming. And in the end it was thought advisable that the plea of not guilty should be withdrawn. The efforts of counsel were therefore directed towards a mitigation of sentence. Counsel called Esther and William for the purpose of proving the excellent character that the prisoner had hitherto borne. Counsel spoke of the evil influence into which the prisoner had fallen and urged that she had no intention of actually stealing the plate. Tempted by promises, she had been persuaded to pledge the plate in order to back a horse which she had been told was certain to win. If that horse had won, the plate would have been redeemed and returned to its proper place in the owner's house and the prisoner would have been able to marry him. Possibly the marriage on which the prisoner had set her heart would have turned out more unfortunate for the prisoner than the present proceedings. Counsel had not word strong enough to stigmatize the character of a man who, having induced a girl to imperil her liberty for his own vile ends, was cowardly enough to abandon her in the hour of her deepest distress. Counsel drew attention to the trusting nature of the prisoner who had not only pledged her employer's plate at his base instigation but had likewise been foolish enough to confide the pawn ticket to his keeping. Such was the prisoner's story and he submitted that it bore on the face of it the stamp of truth. A very sad story but one full of simple foolish trusting humanity and having regard to the excellent character the prisoner had borne, Counsel hoped that his lordship would see his way to dealing leniently with her. His lordship, whose gallantries had been prolonged over half a century and whose betting transactions for matters of public common purged up his ancient lips and fixed his dead glassy eyes on the prisoner. He said he regretted that he could not take the same view of the prisoner's character as learned Counsel had done. The police had made every effort to apprehend the man Evans who according to the prisoner's story was the principal culprit but the efforts of the police had been unavailing. They had however found traces of the man Evans who undoubtedly did exist and need not be considered a near relative of our friend Mrs. Harris and the little joke provoked some amusement in the court. Learned Counsel set the ropes becomingly and lent forward to listen. They were in for a humorous speech and the prisoner would get off with a light sentence. But the grim smile waxed duller and it was clear that lordship was determined to make the law a terror to evildoers. Lordship drew attention to the fact that during the course of their investigations the police had discovered that the prisoner had been living for some considerable time with the man Evans during which time several robberies had been affected. There was no evidence it was true to connect the prisoner with these robberies. The prisoner had left the man Evans and had obtained a situation in the house of her present employers. When the characters she had received from her former employers were being examined she had accounted for the years she had spent with the man Evans by saying that she had been staying with the latches the publicans who had given evidence in her favor. It had also come to the knowledge of the police that the man Evans used to frequent the king's head that was the house owned by the latches. It was probable that she had made there the acquaintance of the man Evans. The prisoner had referred her employers to the latches who had lent their sanction to the falsehood regarding the year she was supposed to have spent with them but which she had really spent in cohabitation with their notorious thief. Here Lordship indulged in severe remarks against those who enabled not fully irreproachable characters to obtain situations by false pretenses a very common habit and one attended with great danger to society one which society would do well to take precautions to defend itself against. The plate his Lordship remarked was said to have been pawned but there was nothing to show that it had been pawned the prisoner's explanation being that she had given the pawn ticket to the man Evans she could not tell where she had pawned the plate her tale being that she and the man Evans had gone down to Whitechapel together and pawned it in the mile end road but she did not know the number of the pawn brokers nor could she give any indications as to its whereabouts beyond the mere fact in the mile end road she could say nothing all the pawn brokers in the mile end road had been searched but no plate answering to the description furnished by the prosecution could be found learned counsel had endeavored to show that it had been in a measure unpremeditated that it was the result of a passing but irresistible temptation learned counsel had endeavored to introduce some element of romance into the case he had described the theft as the outcome of the prisoner's desire of marriage but Lordship could not find such purity of motive in the prisoner's crime there was nothing to show that there was any thought of marriage in the prisoner's mind the crime was the result not of any desire of marriage but rather the result of concubinage regarding the plea that the crime was unpremeditated it was only necessary to point out that it had been committed for a distinct purpose and had been carried out in conjunction with an accomplished thief there is now only one more point which I wish to refer to and that is the plea that the prisoner did not intend to steal the plate but only to obtain money upon it and enable her and the partner in her guilt to back a horse for a race which they believed to be his lordship was about to say a certainty for him he stopped himself however in time to be to be which they believed him to be capable of winning the raising question is I think called the Caesar Witch and the name of the horse Lordship had lost 300 Ben Johnson if my memory serves me right here Lordship fumbled amid papers yes the name is as I thought Ben Johnson now the learned counsel for the defense suggested that if the horse had won the plate would have been redeemed and restored his proper place in the pantry cupboards this I venture to point out is a mere hypothesis the money might have been again used for the purpose of gambling I confess that I do not see why we should condone the prisoner's offense because it was committed for the sake of obtaining money for gambling purposes indeed it seems to me a reason for dealing heavily with the offense the vice among the poorer classes is largely on the increase and it seems to me that it is the duty of all in authority to condemn rather than to condone the evil and to use every effort to stamp it out for my part I fail to perceive any romantic element in the vice of gambling it springs from the desire to obtain wealth without work in other words without payment work whether in the past or the present is the natural payment for wealth and any wealth that is obtained without work is in a measure a fraud committed upon the community poverty, despair idleness and every other vice springs from gambling as naturally and in the same profusion as weeds from barren land drink to is gambling's firmest ally at this moment a certain dryness in his lordship's throat reminded him of the pint of excellent clary that lordship always drank with his lunch and the thought enabled lordship to roll out some excellent invective against the evils of bear and spirits and lordship's losses on the horse whose name he could hardly recall helped to a forcible illustration of the theory that drink and gambling mutually uphold and enforce each other when the news that ben johnson had broken down at the bushes came in lordship had drunk a magnum of champagne and memory of this champagne inspired a telling description of the singing feeling consequent on the loss of a wager and the natural inclination of a man to turn to drink to counteract it drink and gambling are growing social evils in a great measure they are circumstantial and only require absolute legislation to stamp them out almost entirely this was not the first case of the kind that had come before him it was one of many but it was a typical case presenting all the familiar features of the vice of which he had therefore spoken at unusual length such cases were on the increase and if they continued to increase the powers of the law would have to be strengthened but even as the law stood at present betting houses public houses in which betting was carried on were illegal and it was the duty of the police to leave no means untried to unearth the offenders and bring them to justice lordship then glanced at the trembling woman in the dock he condemned her to 18 months hard labour and gathering up the papers on the desk dismissed her forever from his mind the court adjourned for lunch and estrange william edged the way out of the crowded lawyers and their clerks neither spoke for some time william was much exercised by his lordships remarks on betting public houses and his advice that the police should increase their vigilance and leave no means untried to uproot that which was the curse and the ruin of the lower classes it was the old story one law for the rich another for the poor william did not seek to probe the question any further this examination seemed to him to have exhausted it and he remembered after all that the hypocritical judge had said how difficult it would be to escape detection when he was caught he would be fined a hundred pounds and probably lose his license what would he do then he did not confine his fears to ester she had promised to say no more about the betting but she had not changed her opinion she was one of those stubborn ones who would rather die than admit they were wrong then he wondered what she thought of the ship's speech ester was thinking of the thin gruel sarah would have to eat the plank bed on which she would have to sleep and the miserable future that awaited her when she should be released from jail it was a bright winter's day the city folk were walking rapidly tightly buttoned up in top coats and in a windy sky a flock of pigeons floated on straightened wings with rough wires fleet street was full of journalists going to luncheon bars and various eating houses their hurry and animation were remarkable and ester noticed how laggard was Williams walked by comparison how his clothes hung loose about him and the sharp air was at work on his lungs making him cough she asked him to button himself up more closely is not that old John's wife ester said yes that's her said William she'd have seen us if that cove hadn't given her the chilling lord I didn't think they was as badly off as that did you ever see such rags and that thick leg wrap up in that awful stocking the morning had been full of sadness and Mrs. Strandl's wandering rags had seemed to ester like a foreboding she grew frightened as the cattle do in the fields when the sky darkens and the storm draws near she suddenly remembered Mrs. Barfield and she heard it telling her of the unhappiness that she had seen come from betting where was Mrs. Barfield should she ever see her again Mrs. Barfield was frightened Miss May was forced to leave abroad for the sake of her health all that time of long ago was over and done with some words that Mrs. Barfield had said came back to her she had never quite understood them but she had never quite forgotten them they seemed to chime through her life my girl Mrs. Barfield has said I'm more than twenty years older than you and I assure you the time has passed like a dream life is nothing we must think of what comes after cheer up old girl eighteen months is her long while but it ain't a life time she'll get through it all right and when she comes out we'll try to see what we can do for her William's voice has been a mystery from the depth of a dream she looked at him vaguely and he saw that she had been thinking of something different from what he had suspected I thought it was on account of Sarah that you was looking so sad no she said I was not thinking of Sarah then taking it for granted that she was thinking of the wickedness of betting he was always troubling about things that couldn't be helped the first person they saw on entering the bar was old John and he sat in the corner of the bar on a high stool his gray death-like face sunk in the old unstarched shirt collar the thin wrinkled throat was hid with the remains of a cravat it was passed twice round and tied according to the fashions of fifty years ago the trousers are grey dirty brown were torn as high up as the ankle they had been mended and the patches hardly held together the frock coat green with age with huge flaps over the pockets frayed and torn and many sizes too large hung upon his starvelling body he seemed very feeble and there was neither light nor expression in his glassy watery eyes 18 months a devil of a stiff for a first offence said William aww just dropped in Charles said you sure to be back you're later than I expected we stopped to have a bit of lunch but you heard what I said she got 18 months who got 18 months Sarah aww Sarah she was trying to day so she got 18 months what's the matter wake up you're half asleep what will you have to drink a glass of milk if you've got such a thing glass of milk what is it old man not feeling well not very well the fact is I'm starving starving then coming to the parlor to help something to eat why didn't you say so before I didn't like to he led the old chap into the parlor and gave him a chair didn't like to tell me that you was as hard up as all that what you mean you didn't use to mind for half a quid that was to back your worries but I didn't like coming to ask for food excuse me I'm too weak to speak much when old John had eaten William asked how it was that things had gone so badly with him aww a terrible bad luck lightly can't get on a win and know how I have backed forces that has been tried to win with two stone more on their backs than they had to carry but just because I was on them they didn't win I don't know how many half crowns I've had on first favorites then I tried the second favorites but they gave way to outsiders or the first favorites when I took to backing them stacks tips and Ketlis omens was all the same as far as I was concerned it's a poor business when you're out of luck it is giving way to fancy that does for the backers the bookmakers advantage is that he bets on principle and not on fancy old John told how unlucky he had been in business he had been dismissed from his employment in the restaurant not from any fault of his own he done his work well but they don't like old waiters there's always a lot of junk Germans about and customers said I smelt bad I suppose it was my close and want of convenience at home for keeping one self tidy we've been so hard up to pay the three and six strength which we owed that the black coat and wait skit had to go to the pawn shop so even if I did meet with a job in the exhibition places where they ain't so particular about your age I should not be able to take it it is terrible to think that I should have to come to this and after having worked around the table this 40 years 50 pounds a year and all found and accustomed always to a big footman and page boy under me but there's plenty more like me it's a poor game you're well out of it I suppose the end of it will be the workers I'm pretty well wore out and the old man's voice died away he made no allusion to his wife his dislike to speak of her was part and parcel of his dislike to speak of his private affairs the conversation then turned on Sarah the severity of the sentence was alluded to and William spoke of how the artist's remarks would put the police on watch and how difficult it would be to continue his betting business without being found out there's no doubt that it is this most unfortunate said old John the only thing for you to do is to be very particular about your introductions and to refuse to bet with all who haven't been properly introduced or to give up betting all together said Esther give up betting all together William answered his face flustered and he gradually work himself into a passion I give you a good ohm don't I you want for nothing do you well that being so I think you might keep your nose out of your husband's business there's plenty of prayer meetings where you can go preaching if you like William would have said a good deal more but his anger brought on a fit of coughing Esther looked at him contemptuously and with that answering she walked into the bar well that's a bad calf of yours said old John yes said Williams and he drank a little water to pass it off I must say the doctor about it it makes one that irritable the messes is in a pretty temper ain't she old John did not reply it was not his habit to notice domestic differences of opinion especially those in which women had a share queer cattle that he knew nothing about the men talked for a long time regarding the danger the judge's remark had brought the house into and they considered all the circumstances of the case illusion was made to the injustice of the law which allowed the rich and forbade the poor to bet anecdotes were related but nothing they said threw new light on the matter in hand and when old John rose to go Williams summoned up the situation in a few words bet I must if I'm to get my living the only thing I can do is to be careful not to bet with strangers I don't see how they can do nothing to you if you are my ex that your principal and sticks to it said old John and he put on the huge shrimp grease he had three sizes too large for him looking in his square cut tattered frog coat as queer as specimen of humanity as you would be likely to meet with in a day's walk if you make that your principal and sticks to it thought William but practice and principal are never reduced to perfect agreement one is always marauding the others territory nevertheless for several months principal distinctly held the upper hand William refused over and over again to make bets with comparative strangers but the day came when his principal relaxed and he took the money of a man whom he thought was all right it was done on the impulse of the moment but the two half crowns wrapped up in the paper with the name of the horse written on the paper had hardly gone into the drawer then he felt that he had done wrong he couldn't tell why but the feeling came across him that he had done wrong in taking the man's money a tall clean shaven man dressed in broad cloth it was too late to draw back the man had finished his spear and had left the bar which in itself was suspicious three days afterwards between twelve and one just the busiest time when the bar was full of people there came a cry of police an effort was made to hide the betting plant a rush was made for the doors it was all too late the sergeant and a constable ordered that no one was to leave the house other police were outside the names and addresses of all present were taken down search was made and the packets of money and the betting books were discovered then they all had to go to Marlborough Street Chapter 41 Next day the following account was given in most of the daily papers raid on a betting man in the West End William Latch 35 landlord of the King's Head Dean Street Soho was charged that he being a licensed person did keep and use his public house for the purpose of betting with persons resorting there to Thomas William 35 billiard marker Golden Street Battersea Arthur Henry Parsons 25 Waiter Northumberland Street Marlebone Joseph Stack 52 Gentleman Harold Journeyman 45 Gentleman High Street Norwood Philip Hutchinson Grocer BC Road Fulham William Tan Randall Street Soho Charles Ketley Butterman Green Street Soho John Randall Frisk Street Soho Charles Muller 44 Taylor Marlebone Lane Arthur Bartram Stationer East Street Buildings William Burton Harness Maker Blue Lion Street Bond Street were charged with using the King's Head for the purpose of betting Evidence was given by the police regarding the room upstairs where a good deal of drinking went on after hours. There had been cases of disorder and the magistrate unfortunately remembered that a servant girl who had pledged her master's place to obtain money to back a horse had been arrested in the King's Head. Taking these facts into consideration it seemed to him that he could not do less than the fine of 100 pounds. The men who were found in Latch's house he ordered to be bound over. Who had first given information? That was the question. Old John's had smoking in his corner. Journeyman leaned against the yellow painted partition. His legs thrust out. Stacks to square his dark crimson tinted skin with sallow-faced little Ketley. Don't the omens throw no light on this air-matter? said Journeyman. Ketley started from his reverie. Ah! said William, if I only knew who the bastard was. Ain't you got no idea of any sort? said Stack. There was a Salvation chap who came in some months ago and told me wife was corrupting the neighborhood that it would have to be put to stop too. It may have been he. You don't ask no one to bet with you. They does as they like. Does as they like? No one does that nowadays. There's a temperance party, a purity party and an anti-gambling party and what they's working for is just to stop folk from doing as they like. That's it, said Journeyman. Stack raised his glass to his lips and said, here's luck. There's not much of that about, said William. We seem to be losing all round. I'd like to know where the money goes. I think it is the house it's gone unlucky and I'm thinking of clearing out. We may live in a house long while before we find what its luck really is, said Ketley. I've been in my old house these twenty years and it ain't nothing like what I thought it. You are superstitious, said Journeyman. If there was anything the matter with the house you'd have known it before now. Ain't you doing the trade you was? said Stack. After an egg trade had fallen dreadful lately. The conversation paused. It was Stack who broke the silence. Do you intend to don't know more betting air? he asked. What? After being fine hundred pounds you heard the way he went on about Sarah and all on account of her being took care. I think he might have left Sarah out. But betting she took the plight, said Journeyman. It was cause her shop said if she did marry her. I wonder if you ever left the course, said Stack. It was on the account of my elf. I called a dreadful cold at Kempton, standing about in the mud. I've never quite got over that cold. I'll remember, said Ketley, your cotton spakebar will whisper for two months. Two months more like three. Fourteen weeks, said Esther. She was in favor of disposing of the house and going to live in the country. But it was soon found that the conviction for keeping a betting house had spoiled their chance of an advantageous sale. If however the license were renewed next year and the business did not in the time, they could be in a position to obtain better terms. So all their energies should be devoted to the improvement of their business. Esther engaged another servant and she provided the best meat and vegetables that money could buy. William ordered beers and spirits of equality that could be produced nowhere else in the neighborhood. But all to no purpose. As soon as it became known that it was no longer possible to pass half a crown or a shilling wrapped up in a piece of paper across the bar, the custom began to decline. At last William could stand it no longer and he obtained his wife's permission to once more begin bookmaking on the course. His health had begun to improve with the spring weather and there was no use keeping home eating his heart out with vexation because they were doing no business. So did Esther reason and it reminded her of old times when he came back with his straight glasses slung round his shoulder. Favourites all beaten to die what have you got for me to eat, old girl? Esther forgot her dislike of racing in the joy of seeing her husband happy. He only picked up a bit of flesh but he seemed to get thinner and thinner and his food didn't seem to do him any good. One day he came home complaining that the ring was six inches of soft mud. He was wet to the skin and he sat shivering the whole evening with a sensation of a long illness upon him. He was laid up for several weeks and his voice seemed as if it would never return to him again. There was little or no occupation for him in the bar and instead of laying he began to take the odds. He backed a few winners it is true but they could not rely on that. Most of their trade had slipped from them so it did not much matter to them if they were found out. He might as well be hung for an old sheep as a lamb obviously at first and then more openly he began to take money across the bar and with every shilling he took for a bit another shilling was spent in drink. Custom came back in ripples and then in stronger waves until once again the bar of the king's head was full to overflowing. Another convictionment drew in but they must risk it so said William like a good wife acquiesced in her husband's decision but he took money only from those whom he was quite sure of he required an introduction and was careful to make inquires concerning every new backer. In this way he said to Ketley so long as one is content to bet on a small scale I think it can be kept dark but if you try to extend your connection you are bound to come across a rung sooner or later it was that room upstairs that did for me I never did think much of that room upstairs, Ketley there was something about it that I didn't like be sure you never bet in that jug and bottle bar whatever you do there's just the same look there as in the room upstairs haven't you noticed it can't say I have nor am I sure that I know exactly what you mean if you don't say it you don't say it but it's fine enough to me and don't you bet with nobody standing in that bar I wouldn't go in there for a sovereign William laughed he thought at first that Ketley was joking but he soon saw that Ketley regarded the jug and bottle entrance with real suspicion when pressed to explain he told journeyman that it wasn't that he was afraid of the place he merely didn't like it there's some places that you like better than others ain't they journeyman was obliged to confess that there were well then that's one of the places I don't like don't you hear a voice talking there a soft low voice with a bit of jeer in it on another occasion he shaded his eyes and peered curiously into the left hand corner what are you looking at ask journeyman I had nothing yet you can say Ketley answered and he drank his whiskey as if lost in consideration of grave and difficult things a few weeks later they noticed that he always got as far from the jug and bottle entrance as possible he was afflicted with a long story concerning a danger that awaited him he's waiting but nothing will happen if I don't go in there he can't follow me he's waiting for me to go to him then keep out of his way said journeyman you might ask your bloody friend if he can tell us anything about the leger I'm trying to keep out of his way but he's always watching and the beckoning of me can you see him now asked stack yes said Ketley he's sitting there and he seems to say that if I don't come to him words will happen don't say nothing to him William whispered to journeyman I don't think he's quite right in the end he's been loosing a lot lightly one day journeyman was surprised to see Ketley sitting quite compulsively in the jug and bottle bar he got me at last I had to go the whispering got so loud in my head as I was coming down the street I tried to get out in the middle of the street but a drunken chap pushed me across the pavement and he was at the door waiting and he said now you better come in you'll know what will happen if you don't down talk wrought old pal come round and have a drink with us I can't just at present am I later on Marty humane said stack Lord I don't know said journeyman it's only his wandering talk they tried to discuss the chances of the various horses they were interested in but they could not detach their thoughts from Ketley and their eyes went back to the queer little shallow faced man was sat on a high stool in the adjoining bar paring his nays they felt something was going to happen and before they could say the word he had plunged the knife deep into his neck and had fallen heavily on the floor William vaulted over the counter as he did so he felt something break in his throat journeyman came to his assistance he was almost as white as the corpse at his feet blood flowed from his mouth and from Ketley's neck in a deep stream that swelled into great pool and thickened on the sawdust I was jumping over that bar William replied faintly I'll see to my husband said Esther a rush of blood cut short his words and leaning on his wife he walked feebly round into the back parlor Esther rang the bell violently go round at once to Dr. Green she said and if he isn't in inquire which is the nearest don't come back without a doctor William had broken a small blood vessel and the doctor said he would have to be very careful for a long time it was likely to prove a long case but Ketley had severed the juggler at once with keen stroke and had died almost instantly of course there was an inquest and the coroner asked many questions regarding the habits of the deceased Mrs. Ketley was one of the witnesses called and she deposed that he had lost a great deal of money lately in betting and that he went to the king's head for the purpose of betting the police deposed that the landlord of the king's head had been £500 for keeping a betting house and the foreman of the jury remarked that betting houses were the ruin of the poor classes and that they ought to be put a stop to the coroner added that such places as the king's head should not be licensed that was the simplest and most effectual way of dealing with the nuisance there was no luck about this house said William and what there was has left us in three months time we shall be turned out of it neck and crop another conviction would mean a fine of a couple of hundred or most likely three months and that would just about be the end of me they'll never license us again said Esther the boy at school and doing so well I'm sorry Esther to have brought this trouble on you we must do the best we can get the best price we can for the house I may be lucky enough to back a few winners that's all there is to be said the house was always an unlucky one I hate the place and should be glad to get out of it Esther sighed she didn't like to hear the house spoken ill of and after so many years it did seem a shame end of chapter 41 read by Lars Rolander