The End of Devil Hawker by Arthur Conan Doyle
The End of Devil Hawker I
The End of Devil Hawker II
The End of Devil Hawker II
IT WAS late in September that the grand old ancestral oaks of Selincourt were given over to the contractor, and that their owner, having at last a large balance at his bankers’, was able to redeem the more pressing of his debts. It was only a day later that Sir John Hawker, with Sir Charles’ note of hand for six thousand pounds in his pocket, found himself riding down the highroad at Six-Mile Bottom near Newmarket. His mount was a great black stallion as powerful and sinister as himself. He was brooding over his own rather precarious affairs, which involved every shilling which he could raise, when there was the click of hoofs beside him and there was Billy Jakes upon his well- known chestnut cob.
“Good evening, my noble sportsman,” said he. “I was looking out for you at the stables, and when I saw you ride away, I thought it was time to come after you. I want my settlement, Sir John.”
“What settlement? What are you talking of?”
“Your written promise to pay three thousand. I know you have had your money.”
“I don’ t know what you are talking about. Keep clear of me or you will get a cut or two from this hunting crop.”
“Oh, that’s the game, is it? We will see about that. Do you deny your signature upon this paper?”
“Have you the paper on you?”
“What’s that to you?”
“It was not wise, Billy Jakes, to trust yourself alone upon a country road with one of the most dangerous men in England. For once your cupidity has been greater than your shrewdness.”
A quick glance of those deadly, dark eyes to right and to left, and then the heavy hunting crop came down with a crash upon the bookmaker’s head. With a cry, he dropped from the cob, and he had hardly reached the ground before the Devil had sprung from the saddle, and, with his left arm through his bridle rein to hold down his plunging horse, he was rapidly running his right hand through the pockets of the protrate man. With a bitter curse, he realised that however imprudent Jakes had been, he had not been such a fool as to carry his papers about with him.
Hawker rose, looked down at his half-conscious enemy, and then slowly drew his spur across his face. A moment later he had sprung into his saddle and was on his way London-wards, leaving the sprawling and bleedIng figure in the dust of the highway. He laughed with exultation as he rode, for vengeance was sweet to him, and he seldom missed it. What could Jakes do? If he took him into the criminal courts, it was only such an assault as was common enough in those days of vlolence. If, on the other hand, he pursued the matter of the card and the agreement, it was an old story now, and who would take the word of the notorious bookmaker against that of one of the best-known men in London! Of course, it was a case of forgery and blackmail. Hawker looked down at his bloody spur and felt well oontent with his morning’s work.
Jakes was raised to his feet by some kindly traveler and was brought back, half-conscious, to Newmarket. There, for three days, he kept his room and nursed both his injuries and his grievance. Upon the fourth day he reached London, and that night he made his way to the Albany and knocked at a door which bore upon a shining brass plate the name or Sir Charles Trevor.
It was the first Tuesday of the month, the day on which the committee of Watier’s Club was wont to assemble. Half a dozen of them had sauntered into the great board-room, decorated with heavy canvases on the walla, and with highly polished dark mahogany furniture, which showed up richly against the huge expanse of red Kidderminster carpet. The Duke of Bridgewater, a splendid, rubicund old gentleman, grey-haired but virile, leaning heavily upon an amber- headed cane, came hobbling in and bowed affably to the waiting committee- men.
“How Is the gout, Your Grace?”
“A little sharp at times. But I can still get my foot into the stirrup. Well, well , I suppose we had better get to work.” He took his seat in the centre of a half-moon table at one end of the room. Raising his quizzing-glass he looked round him.
“Where is Lord Foley?”
“He is racng, Sir. He will not he here.”
“The dog! He takes his duties too lightly. I would rather be on the heath myself.”
“I expect we all would.”
“Ah, is that you, Lord Rufton?… How are you, Colonel D’Acre!… Bunbury, Scott, Poyntz, Vandeleur, good-day to you! Where is Sir Charles Trevor?”
“He is in the members’ room,” said Lord Rufton. “He said he would wait Your Grace’s pleasure. The fact is that he has a personal interest in a case which comes before us, and he thought he should not have a hand in judging it.”
“Ah, very delicate! Very delicate indeed!” The Duke had taken up the agenda paper and stared at it through his glass. “Dear me, dear me! A member accused of cheating at cards! And Sir John Hawker too! One of the best-known men in the club. Too bad! Too bad! Who is the accuser?”
“A bookmaker named Jakes, Your Grace!”
“I know him. Has a stand at Tom Cribb’s. A rascal if ever I saw one. However, we must look into it. Who has the matter in hand?”
“I have been asked to attend to it,” said Lord Rufton.
“I am not lure,” said the Duke, “that we are right in taking notice of what such a fellow says about a member of this club. Surely, the law courts are open.”
“I entirely agree with Your Grace,” said a solemn man upon the Duke’s left. He was General Scott, who was said to live on toast and water, and win ten thousand a year from his more sober companions.
“I would point out to you, sir, that the alleged cheating was at the expense of Sir Charles Trevor, a member of the club. It was not Sir Charles, however, who moved in the matter. There was a violent quarrel between the man Jakes and Sir John Hawker, and this is the result.”
“Then the bookmaker has brought the case before us for revenge,” said the Duke. “We must move carefully in this matter. I think we had best see Sir Charles first. Call Sir Charles.”
The tall red-plushed footman at the door disappeared. A moment later, Sir Charles, dehonair and smiling, stood before the committee.
“Good day, Sir Charles,” said the Duke. “This is a very painful business.”
“Very, Your Grace.”
“I understand from what is on the agenda paper that on May third, of this year, you met Sir John at Cribb’s Parlour and you cut cards with him at three thousand pounds a cut.”
“A single cut, Your Grace.”
“And you lost?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Well, now, did you in any way suspect foul play at the time?”
“Not in the least.”
“Then you have no charge against Sir John!”
“None on my own behalf. Other people have something to say.”
“Well, we can listen to them in their turn. Won’ t you take a chair, Sir Charles? Even if you do not vote, there can be no objection to your presence. Is Sir John in attendance?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“And the witness?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, gentlemen, it is clearly a very serious matter, and I understand that Sir John is a difficult person to deal with. However, we can make no exceptions, and we are numerous enough and have, I trust, sufficient social weight to carry this affair to a conclusion.” He ranG for the footman.
“Place a chair in the centre, please! Now tell Sir John Hawker the committee would be honoured if he would step this way.”
A moment later the formidable face and figure of the Devil had appeared at the door. With a scowl at the members present, he strode forward, bowed to the Duke, and seated himself opposite the semicircle formed by the committee.
“In the first place, Sir John,” said the Duke, “you will allow me to express my regret and that of your fellow members that it should be our unpleasant duty to ask you to appear before us. No doubt the matter will prove to be a mere misunderstanding, but we felt that it was due to your own reputation as well as to that of the club that no time should be lost In setting the matter right.”
“Your Crace,” said Hawker, leaning forward and emphasising his remarks with his clenched hand, “I protest strongly against these proceedings. I have come here because it shall never be said that I was shy of meeting any charge, however preposterous. But I would put it to you, gentlemen, that no man’s reputation is safe if the committee of his club is prepared to take up any vague slander that may circulate against him.”
“Kindly read the terms of the charge, Lord Rufton.”
“The assertion is,” he read, “that at ten o’clock on the night of Thursday, May third, in the parlour of Tom Cribb’a house, the Union Arms, Sir John Hawker did, by means of marked cards, win money from Sir Charles Trevor, both being members of Watier’s Club.”
Hawker sprang from his chair. “It is a lie—a damned lie!” he cried.
The Duke held up a deprecating hand. “No doubt—no doubt. I think, however, Sir John, that you can hardly describe it as a vague slander.”
“It is monstrous! What is to prevent such a charge being leveled at Your Grace? How would you like, sir, to be dragged up before your fellow members?”
“Excuse me, Sir John,” said the Duke urbanely. “The question at present is not what might be preferred against me, but what actually is preferred against you. You will, I am sure, appreciate the distinction. What do you propose, Lord Rufton?”
“It is my unpleaeant duty, Sir John,” said Lord Rufton, “to array the evidence before the committee. You will , I am sure, acquit me of any personal feeling in the matter.”
“I look on you, sir, as a damned mischievous busybody.”
The Duke put up his pudgy many-ringed hand in protest.
“I am afraid, Sir John, that I must ask you to be more guarded in your language. To me, it is immaterial, but I happen to know that General Scott has an objection to swearing. Lord Rufton is merely doing his duty in presenting the case.”
Hawker shrugged his broad shoulders.
“I protest against the whole proceedings,” he said.
“Your protest will be duly entered in the minutes. We have heard, before you entered, the evidence of Sir Charles Trevor. He has no personal complaint. So far as I can see, there is no case.”
“Ha! Your Grace is a man of sense. Was ever an indignity put upon a man or honor on so small a pretext?”
“There is further evidence, Your Grace,” said Lord Rufton. “I will call Mr. William Jakes.”
At a summons the gorgeous footman swung open the massive door and Jakes was ushered in. It was a month or more since the assault, but the spur mark still shone red across his sallow cheek. He held hie cloth cap in his hand, and rounded his back as a tribute to the oompany, but his cunning little eyes, from under their ginger lashes, twinkled knowingly, not to say impudently, as ever.
“You are William Jakes, the bookmaker? ” said the Duke.
“The greatest rascal in London,” interpolated Hawker.
“There is one greater within three yards of me,” the little man snarled. Then, turning to the Duke: “I’m William Jakes, Your Worship, known as Billy Jakes at Tattersall’s. If you want to back a horse, Your WorshIp, or care to buy a game-cock or a ratter, you’ll get the best price—”
“Silence, sir,” said Lord Rufton. “Advance to this chair.”
“Certainly, my noble sportsman.”
“Don’t sit. Stand beside it.”
“At your servlce, gentlemen.”
“Shall I cross-examine, Your Grace?”
“I understand, Jakes, that you were In Cribb’s back parlour on the night of May third of this year?”
“Lord bless you, Sir, I ‘m there every night. It’s where I meet my noble Corinthians.”
“It is a sporting house, I understand.”
“Well, my lord, I can’t teach you much about it.” There was a titter from the committee, and the Duke broke in.
“I dare say we have all enjoyed Tom’s hospitality at one time or another,” he said.
“Yes, indeed, Your Grace. Well I remember the night when you danced on the crossed ‘baccy pipes.”
“Keep your witness to the point,” said the smiling Duke.
“Tell us now what you saw pass between Sir John Hawker and Sir Charles Trevor.”
“I saall there was to see, You can trust little Billy Jakes for that. There was to be a cutting game. Sir John reached out for the cards, which lay on another table. I had seen him look over those cards in advance and turn the end of one or two with his thumb nail.”
“You liar!” cried Si r John.
“It’s an easy trick to mark them so that none can see. I’ve done—I know another man that can do it. You must keep your right thumb nail long and sharp. Well, look at Sir John’s now.”
Hawker sprang from his chair. “Your Grace, am I to be exposed to these insults?”
“Sit down, Sir John. Your indignation is most natural. I suppose it is not a fact that your right thumb-nail—”
“Certainly not!”
“Ask to see!” cried Jakes.
“Perhaps you would not mind showing your nail?”
“I will do nothing of the kind.”
“Of course you are quite within your rights in refusing—quite,” said the Duke. “Whether your refusal might in any way prejudice your case is a point which you have no doubt considered… Pray continue, Jakes.”
“Well, they cut and Sir John won. When be turned his back, I got the winning card, and saw that it was marked. I showed it to Sir John when we were alone.”
“What did he say?”
“Well, my lord, I wouldn’t like to repeat before such select company as this some of the things he laid. He carried on shocking. But after a bit he saw the game was up and he consented to my having half shares.”
“Then,” said the Duke, “you became, by your own admission, the compounder of a felony.”
Jakes gave a comical grimace.
“No breaks here! This ain’t a court, is it? Just a private house, as one might say, with one gentleman chatting easylike with other ones. Well, then, that’s just what I did do.”
The Duke shrugged hie shoulders. “Really, Lord Rufton, I do not see how we can attach any importance to the word of such a witness. On his own confession he is a perfect rascal.”
“Your Grace, I’m surprised at you!”
“I would not condemn any man—far less the member of an honorable club—on this man’s word.”
“I quite agree. Your Grace,” said Rufton. “There are, however, some corroborative documents.”
“Yes, my noble sportsmen,” cried Jake in a sort of ecstasy, “there’s lots more to come. Billy’s got a bit up his sleeve for a finish. How’s that?” He pulled a pack of cards from his pocket and singled one out. “That’s the pack. Look at the ace. You can see the mark yet.”
The Duke examined the card. “There is certainly a mark,” he said, “which might well be made by a sharpened nail.”
Sir John was up once more, his face dark with wrath.
” Really, gentlemen, there should be some limit to this foolery. Of course these are the cards. Is it not obvious that after Sir Charles and I had left, this fellow gathered them up and marked them so as to put forward a blackmailing demand? I only—I only wonder that he has not forged some document to prove that I admitted this monstrous charge.”
Jakes threw up his hands in admiration.
“By George, you have a nerve! I always said it. Give me Devil Hawker for nerve. Grasp the nettle, eh? Here’s the document he talks about.” He handed a paper to Lord Rufton.
“Would you be pleased to read it?” said the Duke.
Rufton read: “‘In consideration of services rendered, I promise William Jakes three thousand pounds when I settle with Sir Charles Trevor. Signed, John Hawke.'”
“A palpable forgery! I guessed as much, cried Sir John.
“Who knows Sir John’s signature?”
“I do,” said Sir Charles Sunbury,
“Is that it?”
“Well, I should say so.”
“Tut, the fellow is a born forger!” cried Hawker.
The Duke looked at the back of the paper, and read: “‘To Thomas Cribb, Licensed Dealer in Beer, Wine, Spirits and Tobacco.’ It is certainly paper from the room alluded to.”
“He could help himself to that.”
“Exactly. The evidence is by no means convincing. At the same time, Sir John, I am compelled to tell you that the way in which you anticipated the evidence has produced a very unpleasant impression in my mind.”
“I knew what the fellow was capable of.”
“Do you admit being intimate with him?”
“Certainly not.”
“You had nothing to do with him?”
“I had occasion recently to horsewhip him for insolence. Hence this charge against me.”
“You knew him very slightly?”
“Hardly at all.”
“You did not correspond!”
“Certainly not.”
“Strange, then, that he should have been able to copy your signature if he had no letter of yours.”
“I know nothing of that.”
“You quarreled with him recently?”
“Yes, sir. He was impertinent and I beat him.”
“Had you any reason to think you would quarrel?”
“No, sir.”
“Does it not seem strange to you then that he should have been keeping the cards all these weeks to buttress up a false charge againt you, if he had no idea that an occasion for such a charge would ever arise?”
“I cannot answer for his actions,” said Hawker in a sullen voice.
“Of course not. At the same time I am forced to repeat, Sir John, that your anticipatlon of this document has seemed to me exactly what might be expected from a man of strong character who knew that such a document existed.”
“I am not responsible for this man’s assertions, nor can I control Your Grace’s speculations, save to say that so far as they threaten my honour, they are contemptible and absurd. I place my case in the bands of the committee. You know, or can easily learn, the character of this man Jakes. Is it possible that you can hesitate between the words of such a man and the character of one who has for years been a fellow member of this club?”
“I am bound to say, Your Grace,” said Sir Charles Dunbury, “that, while I associate myself with every remark which has fallen from you, I am still of the opinion that the evidence is of so corrupt a character that it would be impossible for us to take action upon it.”
“That is also my opinion,” came from several of the committee, and there was a general murmur of acquiescence.
“I thank you, gentlemen,” said Hawker, rising. “With your permission, I shall bring this sitting to an end.”
“Excuse me, sir; there are two more witnesses,” said Lord Rufton.
“Jakes, you can withdraw. Leave the documents with me.”
“Thank you, my lord. Good-day, my noble sportsmen. Should any of you want a cock or a terrier—”
“That will do. Leave the room.” With many bows and backward glances, William Jakes vanished frum the scene.
“I should like to ask Tom Cribb one or two questions,” said Lord Rufton. “Call Tom Cribb.”
A moment later the burly figure of the champion came heavily into the room. He was dressed exactiy like the pictures of John Bull, with blue coat with shining brass buttons, drab trousers and top-boots, while his face, in its broad, bovine serenity, was also the very image of the national prototype. On his head he wore a low-crowned, curly-brimmed hat, which he now whipped off and stuffed under his arm. The worthy Tom was much more alarmed than ever he had been in the ring, and looked helplessly about him like a bull who finds himself in a strange enclosure.
“My respects, gentlemen all!” he repeated several times, touching his forelock.
“Good morning, Tom,” said the Duke affably. “Take that chair. How are you?”
“Damned hot, Your Grace. That is to say, very warm. You see, sir, I do my own marketing these days, and when you’ve been down to Covent Oarden and then on to Smithfield, and then trudge back here, and you two stone above your fighting weight—”
“We quite understand. The chief steward will see to you presently.”
“I want to ask you, Tom,” said Lord Rufton, “do you remember the evening of May third last in your parlour?”
“I heard there was some barney about it, and I’ve been lookin’ it up,” said Tom. “Yes, I remember it well, for it was the night when a novice had the better of old Ben Burn. Lor’, I couldn’t but laugh. Old Ben got one on the mark in the first round, and before he could get his wind—”
“Never mind, Tom. We’ll have that later. Do you recognise these cards?”
“Why, those cards are out of my parlour. I get them a dozen at a time, a shllhng each, from Ned Summers of Oxford Street; the same what—”
“Well, that’s settled then. Now, do you remember seeing Sir John here and Sir Charles Trevor that evening!”
“Yes, I do. I remember saying to Sir John that he must play light with my novices, for there was one cove, Bill Summers hy name, out of Norwich, and when Sir John—”
“Never mind that, Tom, Tell us, now, did you see Sir John and the bookmaker, Jakes, together that night? ”
“Jakes was there, for he says to the girl in the bar, ‘How much money have you, my lass?’ And I said, ‘You dirty dog—'”
“Enough, Tom. Did you see the man Jakes and Sir John together?”
“Yes, sir; when I came into the parlour after the bout between Shelton and Scroggins. I saw the two of them alone, and Jakes, he said that they had done business together. ”
“Did they seem friendly?”
“Well, now you ask it, Sir John didn’t seem too pleased. But, Lord love you, I’m that busy those evenings that if you dropped a shot on my head I’d hardly notice it.”
“Nothing more to tell us?”
“I don’t know as I have. I’d be glad to get back to my bar.”
“Very good, Tom. You can go.”
“I’d just remind you gentlemen that it’s my benefit at the Five Court, St. Martin’s Lane, come Tuesday week.” Tom bobbed hill bullet-head many times and departed.
“Not much in all that,” remarked the Duke. “Does that finish the case?”
“There is one more, Your Grace. Call the girl Lucy. She is the girl of the private bar.”
“Yes, yes, I remember,” cried the Duke. “That is to say, by akk means. What does this young person know ahout it?”
“I believe that she was present.” As Lord Rftton spoke, Lucy, very nervous, but cheered by the knowledge that she was in her best Sunday clothes, appeared at the door.
“Don’t be nervous, my girl. Take this chair,” laid Lord Rufton kindly. “Don’t keep on curtsying. St down.”
The girl sat timidly on the edge of the chair. Suddenly her eyes caught those of the august chairman.
“Why, Lord bless me!” she said. “It’s the little Duke!”
“Hush, my girl, hush”” His Grace held up a warning hand.
“Well, I never!” cried Lucy, and began to giggle and hide her blushing face In her handkerchief.
“Now, now!” said the Duke. “This is a grave business! What are you laughing at?”
“I couldn’t help it, sir. I was thinking of that evening down in the private bar when you bet you could walk a chalk line with a bottle of champarne on your head.”
There was a general laugh, in which the Duke joined.
“I fear, gentlemen , I must have had a couple in my head before 1 ventured such a feat. Now, my good girl, we did not ask you here for the sake of your reminiscences. You may have seen some of us unbending: but we will let that pass… You were in the bar on May the third?”
“I’m always there.”
“Cast your mind back and recall the evening when Sir Charles Trevor and Sir John Hawker proposed to cut cards for money.”
“I remember it well, sir.”
“After the others had left the bar, Sir John and a man named Jakes are said to have remained behind.”
“I saw them.”
“It’s a lie! It’s a plotl” cried Hawker.
“Now, Sir John, I must really beg you!” It was the Duke who was cross- questioning now. “Describe to us what you saw.”
“Well, sir, they began talking over a pack of cards. Sir John up with his hand, and I was about to call for West Country Dick—he’s the chucker-out you know, sir, at the Union Arms—but no blow passed and they talked very earnest-like for a time. Then Mr. Jakes called for paper and wrote something, and that’s all I know except that Sir John seemed very upset.”
“Did you ever see that piece of paper before?” The Duke held it up.
“Why, air. it looks like Mr. Cribb’s bill-head.”
“Exactly. Was It a piece like that which you gave to these gentlemen that night!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Could you distinguish it?”
” Why, sir, now that I come to think of it, I could.”
Hawker sprang up with a convulsed face. “I’ve had enough of this nonsense. I’m going.”
“No, no; Sir John. Sit down again. Your honour demands Your presence… Well, my good girl, you say you could recognise it?”
“Yes, sir, I could. There was a mark, sir. I drew some burgundy for Sir Charles, sir, and some slopped on the counter. The paper Wall marked with It on the aide. I was in doubt if I should give them so soiled a piece.”
The Duke looked very grave. “Gentlemen, this is a serious matter. There is, as you see, a red stain upon the side of the paper. Have you any remark to make, Sir John?”
“A conspiracy, Your Grace! An infernal, devilish plot against a gentleman’s honour.”
“Vou may go, Lucy.” said Lord Rufton, and with curtsies and giggles, the barmaid disappeared.
“You have heard the evidence, gentlemen,” said the Duke. “Some of you may know the character of this girl, which is by all accounts excellent.”
“A drab out of the gutter!”
“I think not, Sir John; nor do you improve your poaition by such assertions. You will each have your own impression as to how far the girl’s account seemed honest and carried conviction with it. You will observe that had she merely intended to injure Sir John, her obvious method would have been to have said she overheard the conversation detailed by the witness, Jakes. This she has not done. Her account, however, tends to corroborate—”
“Your Grace,” cried Hawker, “I have had enough of this!”
“We shall not detain you much longer, Sir John Hawker,” said the chairman, “but for that limited time we must insist upon your presence.”
“Insist, sir!”
“Yes, sir, insist.”
“This is strange talk.”
“Be seated, sir. This matter must go to a finish.”
“Well!” Hawker fell back into his chair.
“Gentlemen,” said the Duke, “Slips of paper are before you. After the custom of the club, you will kindly record your opinion and hand to me. Mr. Poyntz? I thank you. Vandeleur! Bunbury! Hurton! General Scott! Colonel Turton! I thank you.”
He exminded the papers. “Exactly. You are unanimous! I may say that I entirely agree with your opinion.” The Duke’s rosy kindly face had set as hard as flint.
“What am I to understand by this, sir” cried Hawker.
“Bring the club book,” said the Duke. Lord Rufton carried across a large brown volume from the side-table and opened it before the chairman.
“C, D, E, F, G—Ah, here we are—H. Let us see! Houston, Harcourt, Hume, Duke of Hamilton I have it—Hawker. Sir John Hawker, your name is forever erased from the book of Watier’a Club.”
He drew the pen across the page as he spoke. Hawker sprang frantically to his feet.
“You cannot mean it! Consider, sir; this is social ruin! Where shall I show my face if I am cast from my c1ub? I could not walk the streets of London. Take it back, sir! Reconsider it!”
“Sir John Hawker, “we can only refer you to Rule 19. It says: ‘If any member shall be guilty of conduct unworthy of an honourable man, and the said offense be established to the unanimous satisfaction of the committee, then the aforesaid member shall be expelled the club without appeal.'”
“Gentlemen,” cried Hawker, “I beg you not to be precipitate! You have had the evidence of a rascal bookmaker and of a serving wench. Is that enough to ruin a gentleman’s life? I am undone if this goes through.”
“The matter has been considered and is now in order. We can only refer you to Rule 19.”
“Your Grace, you cannot know what this will mean. How can I Iive? Where can I go? I never asked mercy of man bfore. But I ask it now. I implore it, gentlemen. Reconsider your decision!”
“Rule 19.”
“It is ruin, I tell you—disgrace and ruin!”
“Rule 19.”
“Let me resign. Do not expel me.”
“Rule 19.”
It was hopeless, and Hawker knew it. He strode in front of the table.
“Curse your rules! Curse you, too, you silly, babbling jackanapes. Curse you all—you, Vandeleur, and you, Poyntz, and you, Scott, you doddering toast-and-water gamester. You will live to mourn the day you put this indignity upon me. You will answer it—every man of you! I’ll set my mark on you. By the Lord I will! You first, Rufton. One by one, I’II weed you out! I’ve a bullet for each. I’ll number ’em!”
“Sir John Hawker,” said the Duke, “this club is for the use of members only. May I ask you to take yourself out of it?”
“And if I don’t—what then?”
The Duke turned to General Scott. “Will you ask the hall porters to step up?”
“There! I’ll go!” yelled Hawker. “I will not be thrown out—the laughing stock of Jermyn Street. But you will hear more, gentlemen. You will remember me yet. Rascals! Rascals everyone!”
And so it was, raving and stamping, with his clenched hands waving above his head, that Devil Hawker passed out from Watier’s Club and from the social life of London.
For it was his end. In vain he sent furious challenges to the members of the committee. He was outside the pale, and no one would condescend to meet him. In vain he thrashed Sir Charles Bunbury in front of Limmer’s Hotel. Hired ruffians were put upon his track and he was terribly thrashed in return. Even the bookmakers would have no more to do with him, and he was warned off the turf. Down he sank, and down, drinking to uphold his spirits until he was but a bloated wreck of the man that he had been.
And so, at last, one morning in his rooms in Charles Street, that dueling pistol which had so often been the instrument of his vengeance was turned upon himself, and that dark face, terrible even in death, was found outlined against a blood-sodden pillow in the morning.
So put the print back among the pile. You may be the better for having honest Tom Cribb upon your wall, or even the effeminate Brummell. But Devil Hawker never, in life or deat, brought luck to anyone. Leave him there where you found him, In the dusty old shop of Drury Lane.
The End of Devil Hawker by Arthur Conan Doyle
The End of Devil Hawker I
The End of Devil Hawker II
