CHAPTER XV 



The death of Mr. Beaumont Raby, and the installation of the hero into a regular 

 sporting establishment, the details of which are given at some length. 



(3n the day followiiio- the date of this epistle, our hero re- 

 ceived a letter from liis father, informing him of the dangerous 

 situation in which his uncle's life was placed, by an accident 

 that occurred to him as he was stepping into his carriage to go 

 to the opera. The extent of it was a mere simple fracture of 

 the left leg, which, had it happened to his brother, instead of 

 himself, would have shortly yielded to common medical treat- 

 ment ; but it was not so with the indolent and highly fed 

 Mr. Beaumont Raby. Unpleasant symptoms appeared about 

 the fifth day ; and by the time his nephew arrived in London, 

 having been sent for by express, at the earnest desire of the 

 sufferer, he was considered to be beyond the reach of all human 

 aid. Moreover, he was himself aware that his hour was near 

 at hand ; but, having a perfect command over his intellectual 

 faculties, he thus addressed his nephew, at the second interview 

 between them : — 



' Now, my dear Frank, having recovered myself from the 

 emotion which your presence occasioned, " Richard is himself 

 again." Draw a chair towards my bed, and not only hear, but 

 mark what I am about to say. But why do you weep, my 

 dear boy i If tears were becoming, they should fall from me, 

 inasmuch as I have reason to believe I am about to quit a 

 world with which I have no small cause to be satisfied, and I 

 should be a hj^pocritc to say I shall not leave it with regret. 

 But shall we receive good, and shall we not receive evil ? Vain 

 hope ! and such I now find it. I have, however, one consolation 

 in this evil hour, and that is — in the station I now hold in 

 society being about to be filled by yourself. You will succeed 

 to all I possess, beyond a few legacies to friends, and annuities 

 for their lives to old and faithful servants ; and I pray to 

 God, that you may make a better use of the means at your 



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