know where you would have been now； and in what sort
of a position in society； if I had not looked after you。〃
Indeed； nobody wanted poor old Rawdon at the parties
whither Becky used to go。 She was often asked without
him now。 She talked about great people as if she had the
fee…simple of May Fair； and when the Court went into
mourning； she always wore black。
Little Rawdon being disposed of； Lord Steyne； who
took such a parental interest in the affairs of this amiable
poor family； thought that their expenses might be very
advantageously curtailed by the departure of Miss Briggs；
and that Becky was quite clever enough to take the
management of her own house。 It has been narrated in a
former chapter how the benevolent nobleman had given
his protegee money。to pay off her little debt to Miss
Briggs； who however still remained behind with her
friends； whence my lord came to the painful conclusion
that Mrs。 Crawley had made some other use of the
money confided to her than that for which her generous
patron had given the loan。 However； Lord Steyne was
not so rude as to impart his suspicions upon this head to
Mrs。 Becky； whose feelings might be hurt by any
controversy on the money…question； and who might have a
thousand painful reasons for disposing otherwise of his
lordship's generous loan。 But he determined to satisfy
himself of the real state of the case； and instituted the
necessary inquiries in a most cautious and delicate
manner。
In the first place he took an early opportunity of
pumping Miss Briggs。 That was not a difficult operation。
A very little encouragement would set that worthy woman
to talk volubly and pour out all within her。 And one day
when Mrs。 Rawdon had gone out to drive （as Mr。 Fiche；
his lordship's confidential servant； easily learned at the
livery stables where the Crawleys kept their carriage and
horses； or rather； where the livery…man kept a carriage
and horses for Mr。 and Mrs。 Crawley）my lord dropped
in upon the Curzon Street houseasked Briggs for a cup
of coffeetold her that he had good accounts of the little
boy at schooland in five minutes found out from her
that Mrs。 Rawdon had given her nothing except a black
silk gown； for which Miss Briggs was immensely grateful。
He laughed within himself at this artless story。 For the
truth is； our dear friend Rebecca had given him a most
circumstantial narration of Briggs's delight at receiving
her moneyeleven hundred and twenty…five pounds
and in what securities she had invested it； and what a
pang Becky herself felt in being obliged to pay away such
a delightful sum of money。 〃Who knows；〃 the dear
woman may have thought within herself； 〃perhaps he
may give me a little more？〃 My lord； however； made no
such proposal to the little schemervery likely thinking
that he had been sufficiently generous already。
He had the curiosity； then； to ask Miss Briggs about
the state of her private affairsand she told his lordship
candidly what her position washow Miss Crawley had
left her a legacyhow her relatives had had part of it
how Colonel Crawley had put out another portion； for
which she had the best security and interestand how
Mr。 and Mrs。 Rawdon had kindly busied themselves with
Sir Pitt； who was to dispose of the remainder most
advantageously for her； when he had time。 My lord asked
how much the Colonel had already invested for her； and
Miss Briggs at once and truly told him that the sum was
six hundred and odd pounds。
But as soon as she had told her story； the voluble
Briggs repented of her frankness and besought my lord
not to tell Mr。 Crawley of the confessions which she had
made。 〃The Colonel was so kindMr。 Crawley might
be offended and pay back the money； for which she
could get no such good interest anywhere else。〃 Lord
Steyne； laughing； promised he never would divulge their
conversation； and when he and Miss Briggs parted he
laughed still more。
〃What an accomplished little devil it is！〃 thought he。
〃What a splendid actress and manager！ She had almost
got a second supply out of me the other day； with her
coaxing ways。 She beats all the women I have ever seen
in the course of all my well…spent life。 They are babies
compared to her。 I am a greenhorn myself； and a fool in
her handsan old fool。 She is unsurpassable in lies。〃
His lordship's admiration for Becky rose immeasurably
at this proof of her cleverness。 Getting the money was
nothingbut getting double the sum she wanted； and
paying nobodyit was a magnificent stroke。 And Crawley；
my lord thoughtCrawley is not such a fool as he
looks and seems。 He has managed the matter cleverly
enough on his side。 Nobody would ever have supposed
from his face and demeanour that he knew anything
about this money business； and yet he put her up to it；
and has spent the money； no doubt。 In this opinion my
lord； we know； was mistaken； but it influenced a good
deal his behaviour towards Colonel Crawley； whom he
began to treat with even less than that semblance of
respect which he had formerly shown towards that
gentleman。 It never entered into the head of Mrs。
Crawley's patron that the little lady might be making a
purse for herself； and； perhaps； if the truth must be told；
he judged of Colonel Crawley by his experience of other
husbands； whom he had known in the course of the long
and well…spent life which had made him acquainted with
a great deal of the weakness of mankind。 My lord had
bought so many men during his life that he was surely
to be pardoned for supposing that he had found the price
of this one。
He taxed Becky upon the point on the very first occasion
when he met her alone； and he complimented her；
good…humouredly； on her cleverness in getting more than
the money which she required。 Becky was only a little
taken aback。 It was not the habit of this dear creature
to tell falsehoods； except when necessity compelled； but
in these great emergencies it was her practice to lie very
freely； and in an instant she was ready with another neat
plausible circumstantial story which she administered to
her patron。 The previous statement which she had made
to him was a falsehooda wicked falsehoodshe
owned it。 But who had made her tell it？ 〃Ah； my Lord；〃
she said； 〃you don't know all I have to suffer and bear
in silence； you see me gay and happy before youyou
little know what I have to endure when there is no
protector near me。 It was my husband； by threats and
the most savage treatment； forced me to ask for that
sum about which I deceived you。 It was he who；
foreseeing that questions might be asked regarding the
disposal of the money； forced me to account for it as I
did。 He took the money。 He told me he had paid Miss
Briggs； I did not want； I did not dare to doubt him。
Pardon the wrong which a desperate man is forced to
commit； and pity a miserable； miserable woman。〃 She
burst into tears as she spoke。 Persecuted virtue never
looked more bewitchingly wretched。
They had a long conversation； driving round and round
the Regent's Park in Mrs。 Crawley's carriage together；
a conversation of which it is not necessary to repeat
the details； but the upshot of it was that； when Becky
came home； she flew to her dear Briggs with a smiling
face and announced that she had some very good news
for her。 Lord Steyne had acted in the noblest and most
generous manner。 He was always thinking how and when
he could do good。 Now that little Rawdon was gone to
school； a dear companion and friend was no longer
necessary to her。 She was grieved beyond measure to part
with Briggs； but her means required that she should
practise every retrenchment； and her sorrow was
mitigated by the idea that her dear Briggs would be far
better provided for by her generous patron than in her
humble home。 Mrs。 Pilkington； the housekeeper at Gauntly
Hall； was growing exceedingly old； feeble； and rheumatic：
she was not equal to the work of superintending
that vast mansion； and must be on the look out for a
successor。 It was a splendid position。 The family did not
go to Gauntly once in two years。 At other times the
housekeeper was the mistress of the magnificent
mansionhad four covers daily for her table； was visited by
the clergy and the most respectable people of the county
was the lady of Gauntly； in fact； and the two last
housekeepers before Mrs。 Pilkington had married rectors
of Gauntlybut Mrs。 P。 could not； being the aunt of
the present Rector。 The place was not to be hers yet；
but she might go down on a visit to Mrs。 Pilkington and
see whether she would like to succeed her。
What words can paint the ecstatic gratitude of Briggs！
All she stipulated for was that little Rawdon should be
allowed to come down and see her at the Hall。 Becky
promised thisanything。 She ran up to her husband when
he came home and told him the joyful news。 Rawdon
was glad； deuced glad； the weight was off his conscience
about poor Briggs's money。 She was provided for； at any
rate； butbut his mind was disquiet。 He did not seem
to be all right； somehow。 He told little Southdown what
Lord Steyne had done； and the young man eyed Crawley
with an air which surprised the latter。
He told Lady Jane of this second p