Crime and Consequences [pp. 749-759]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
"I know nothing about business," I replied, "and
besides, I have neither capital nor credit."
"The law, then? Your talents and education combine to fit you for that profession."
"And what am I to live on, while I pursue the necessary study?"
" That's true; one thing then is clear-money you
must have, and that at once. That being the case,
there is but one way to obtain it."
"And that is-" "By winning it," replied Roberts.
I started from my chair, and walked up and down
the room with violence.
"Now I pray you be calm, and listen to me attentively," continued the tempter. "You would not, I
presume, object to getting back some of your losses by
the same means that you made them?"
"And if I should not, how am I to know that I can?
Has it not been, all along, my endeavor to do so, and
has not each attempt invariably plunged me in deeper?
Besides, I cannot play without a stake."
"Let me put this question to you, W," said Roberts. "Suppose you knew that a man had defrauded
you of a certain sum of money; you had no proof,
however, which cotuld establish his guilt, and enable
you to recover in a court of law. Would you, if he
were by accident placed in your power, hesitate to force
from him what he had deprived you of-nay, would
you not deemt yourself justified in using artifice to place
him in that situation."
I replied that I could not tell; possibly under such
circumstances I might do so.
"To be sure you would," rejoined Roberts, "and all
the world would applaud the deed."
"But whither does your question lead?" asked I.
"Patience, and you shall hear," replied hie. "Do
yotu remember playing a game of brag in company
with C. and F. and myself, on which occasion you and
your humble servant were left minus a few thousands?"
"Certainly," said I, "I remember it but two well."
"Well," resumed Roberts, "we, poor innocent lambs,
were cursing our ill-luck-luck indeed! ha, hla! there
was no luck in the matter; we were fairly pigeoneddamnably cheated, sir!"
"flow do you know, Roberts? By Heaven, if I
thought so, I would make an example of them."
"Oh! sir, you could not prove it!"
"How do yout kyiow the fact, I repeat?"
"Because I have seen them playing together since,
when I was not interested in the game, and could watch
them coolly and closely, and I did so; and I am perfectly satisfied in my own mind that there was collusion
between them. Now, for thie drift of my question; I
say, it would be perfectly justifiable in us to pay these
knaves in their own coin-to turn the tables upon them,
and so get back the cash they fobbed fiom us, and that,
I take it, would be a pretty little capital to begin the
world with again."
"There is certaitily nothing to object to on the score
of justice," said I, " but I question if such a scheme
would be deemed honorable among gentlemen."
"1 cannot answer for their abstract opinions," said
Roberts, "nor do I greatly care for them; but this I
kt,)w, that among the whole circle of my acquainitance,
whItich is tolerably extenisive, there ia sut onu who would
hesitate about tle miatter."
"But what means shall we employ? If they be the
rascals you have described, will they not be keen
enough to detect us?"
"I defy them," said Roberts. "Leave every thing
to me. To-morrow you shall be instructed; it is necessary now that I should sleep. Do you so, likewise,
and be assured that your situation will soon be changed
for the better. In the meantime you will need money;
there are fifty dollars, half of all I have-take them;
you will soon be able to repay me. Good night! and
hark ye, no more despondency, but look the world boldly in the face, and smile with contempt upon fate, as I
do."
Perhaps, Mr. S., you are surprised that I should so
easily have assented to this vile proposal. There had
been a time, sir, when I should have treated it as a personal insult; but I was not then a broken-down gambler. My principles had not been sapped by continual
contact with the unworthy; the degrading and unhallowed desire of gain had not fastened on my soul, and
corroded my sense of honor. One must have been
crushed and miserable as I was, before he can be sure
of his power to resist the tempter.
Our scheme was soon executed; we regained our
losses from, and something more besides, and I was
once more out of the reach of absolute want. I hired
a small house, where, very much against the inclination
of her family, I placed Emily. One of her sisters accompanied her, for her continually declining health
rendered the sympathies of a female friend absolutely
necessary. I once more resolved to abandon play.
The suggestion thrown out by Roberts with regard to
the study of the law, although doubtless not seriously
intended by him, had been frequently present to my
mind. I now determined to pursue that avocation, and
felt every confidence ini my capacity to succeed. I
compared myself with those around me who bore a reputation in the profession, and felt proudly conscious
that in talent I was their equal. I told my wife of this.
Her only answer was a deep sighl, that seemed to shake
her slender frame, and these words: "I hope it may be
so, Charles; for your sake, I hope it may be so." I
felt nettled at the doubt implied, but I replied not. I
had deceived her too often to dare to remonstrate. My
studies were commenced, but I had little calculated on
the difficulties of my task. It had been a long time
since I had taken a book into my hand, and I found it
almost impossible to chain down my attention to the subject before me. My eyes would be fixed on the page, but
my mind would wander far, far away from it. Serlntence after sentence was perused and reperused, but no
distinct meaning was conveyed to my utnderstanding.
I would sit for hours in one fixed attitude, lost in total
abstraction, and when recalled to myself by some accidental circunistance, the visions which had beet floatiiig in my mind were as scattered and unintelligible as
the wildest fancies of a foolish dream. It was impossible to study.
One torning, after repeated and unavailing attempts
to overcome this state of mind, I threw down my book
in despair, and went forth into the open air, to try if exercise would not bring relief. It was a lovely day in
sprin_, the trees lead just shot out their tender leaves,
the birds were pealing forth their joyous notes, a thouSand iien~cs were dancing il the balny air. It was a
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