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was melancholy to hear his accents as he spoke of that
catastrophe。
Rebecca's object in her journey to London was to
effect a kind of compromise with her husband's numerous
creditors； and by offering them a dividend of ninepence
or a shilling in the pound； to secure a return for him into
his own country。 It does not become us to trace the steps
which she took in the conduct of this most difficult
negotiation； but； having shown them to their satisfaction
that the sum which she was empowered to offer was all
her husband's available capital； and having convinced
them that Colonel Crawley would prefer a perpetual
retirement on the Continent to a residence in this country
with his debts unsettled； having proved to them that there
was no possibility of money accruing to him from other
quarters； and no earthly chance of their getting a larger
dividend than that which she was empowered to offer；
she brought the Colonel's creditors unanimously to
accept her proposals； and purchased with fifteen hundred
pounds of ready money more than ten times that amount
of debts。
Mrs。 Crawley employed no lawyer in the transaction。
The matter was so simple； to have or to leave； as she
justly observed； that she made the lawyers of the
creditors themselves do the business。 And Mr。 Lewis
representing Mr。 Davids； of Red Lion Square； and Mr。 Moss
acting for Mr。 Manasseh of Cursitor Street （chief
creditors of the Colonel's）； complimented his lady upon the
brilliant way in which she did business； and declared
that there was no professional man who could beat her。
Rebecca received their congratulations with perfect
modesty； ordered a bottle of sherry and a bread cake
to the little dingy lodgings where she dwelt； while
conducting the business； to treat the enemy's lawyers：
shook hands with them at parting； in excellent good
humour； and returned straightway to the Continent； to
rejoin her husband and son and acquaint the former
with the glad news of his entire liberation。 As for the
latter； he had been considerably neglected during his
mother's absence by Mademoiselle Genevieve； her French
maid； for that young woman； contracting an attachment
for a soldier in the garrison of Calais； forgot her charge
in the society of this militaire； and little Rawdon very
narrowly escaped drowning on Calais sands at this
period； where the absent Genevieve had left and lost
him。
And so； Colonel and Mrs。 Crawley came to London：
and it is at their house in Curzon Street； May Fair； that
they really showed the skill which must be possessed by
those who would live on the resources above named。
CHAPTER XXXVII
The Subject Continued
In the first place； and as a matter of the greatest
necessity； we are bound to describe how a house
may be got for nothing a year。 These mansions
are to be had either unfurnished； where； if you
have credit with Messrs。 Gillows or Bantings； you
can get them splendidly montees and decorated
entirely according to your own fancy； or they are
to be let furnished； a less troublesome and
complicated arrangement to most parties。 It was so
that Crawley and his wife preferred to hire their house。
Before Mr。 Bowls came to preside over Miss Crawley's
house and cellar in Park Lane； that lady had had
for a butler a Mr。 Raggles； who was born on the family
estate of Queen's Crawley； and indeed was a younger
son of a gardener there。 By good conduct； a handsome
person and calves； and a grave demeanour； Raggles rose
from the knife…board to the footboard of the carriage；
from the footboard to the butler's pantry。 When he had
been a certain number of years at the head of Miss
Crawley's establishment； where he had had good wages；
fat perquisites； and plenty of opportunities of saving； he
announced that he was about to contract a matrimonial
alliance with a late cook of Miss Crawley's； who had
subsisted in an honourable manner by the exercise of a
mangle； and the keeping of a small greengrocer's shop in
the neighbourhood。 The truth is； that the ceremony had
been clandestinely performed some years back； although
the news of Mr。 Raggles' marriage was first brought to
Miss Crawley by a little boy and girl of seven and eight
years of age； whose continual presence in the kitchen
had attracted the attention of Miss Briggs。
Mr。 Raggles then retired and personally undertook the
superintendence of the small shop and the greens。 He
added milk and cream； eggs and country…fed pork to his
stores； contenting himself whilst other retired butlers
were vending spirits in public houses； by dealing in the
simplest country produce。 And having a good connection
amongst the butlers in the neighbourhood； and a
snug back parlour where he and Mrs。 Raggles received
them； his milk； cream； and eggs got to be adopted by
many of the fraternity； and his profits increased every
year。 Year after year he quietly and modestly amassed
money； and when at length that snug and complete bachelor's
residence at No。 201； Curzon Street； May Fair； lately
the residence of the Honourable Frederick Deuceace；
gone abroad； with its rich and appropriate furniture by
the first makers； was brought to the hammer； who should
go in and purchase the lease and furniture of the house
but Charles Raggles？ A part of the money he borrowed； it
is true； and at rather a high interest； from a brother
butler； but the chief part he paid down； and it was with
no small pride that Mrs。 Raggles found herself sleeping in
a bed of carved mahogany； with silk curtains； with a
prodigious cheval glass opposite to her； and a wardrobe
which would contain her； and Raggles； and all the family。
Of course； they did not intend to occupy permanently
an apartment so splendid。 It was in order to let the house
again that Raggles purchased it。 As soon as a tenant
was found； he subsided into the greengrocer's shop once
more； but a happy thing it was for him to walk out of
that tenement and into Curzon Street； and there survey
his househis own housewith geraniums in the
window and a carved bronze knocker。 The footman
occasionally lounging at the area railing； treated him with
respect； the cook took her green stuff at his house and
called him Mr。 Landlord； and there was not one thing
the tenants did； or one dish which they had for dinner；
that Raggles might not know of； if he liked。
He was a good man； good and happy。 The house
brought him in so handsome a yearly income that he was
determined to send his children to good schools； and
accordingly； regardless of expense； Charles was sent to
boarding at Dr。 Swishtail's； Sugar…cane Lodge； and
little Matilda to Miss Peckover's； Laurentinum House；
Clapham。
Raggles loved and adored the Crawley family as the
author of all his prosperity in life。 He had a silhouette of
his mistress in his back shop； and a drawing of the
Porter's Lodge at Queen's Crawley； done by that spinster
herself in India inkand the only addition he made to
the decorations of the Curzon Street House was a print
of Queen's Crawley in Hampshire； the seat of Sir Walpole
Crawley； Baronet； who was represented in a gilded car
drawn by six white horses； and passing by a lake
covered with swans； and barges containing