`It will be well to leave that in our charge, perhaps,' said John. `But do not mind it now.'
As he said this, he held up his hand to bespeak Martin's attention. It was already fixed upon the man before him, who, after a short silence said, in a low, weak, hollow voice:
`What relation was Mr. Anthony Chuzzlewit, who--'
`Who died--to me?' said Martin. `He was my grandfather's brother.'
`I fear he was made away with. Murdered!'
`My God!' said Martin. `By whom?'
The young man, Lewsome, looked up in his face, and casting down his eyes again, replied:
`I fear, by me.'
`By you?' cried Martin.
`Not by my act, but I fear by my means.'
`Speak out!' said Martin, `and speak the truth.'
`I fear this is the truth.'
Martin was about to interrupt him again, but John Westlock saying softly, `Let him tell his story in his own way,' Lewsome went on thus:
`I have been bred a surgeon, and for the last few years have served a general practitioner in the City, as his assistant. While I was in his employment I became acquainted with Jonas Chuzzlewit. He is the principal in this deed.'
`What do you mean?' demanded Martin, sternly. `Do you know he is the son of the old man of whom you have spoken?'
`I do,' he answered.
He remained silent for some moments, when he resumed at the point where he had left off.
`I have reason to know it; for I have often heard him wish his old father dead, and complain of his being wearisome to him, and a drag upon him. He was in the habit of doing so, at a place of meeting we had--three or four of us--at night. There was no good in the place you may suppose, when you hear that he was the chief of the party. I wish I had died myself, and never seen it!'
He stopped again; and again resumed as before.
`We met to drink and game; not for large sums, but for sums that were large to us. He generally won. Whether or no, he lent money at interest to those who lost; and in this way, though I think we all secretly hated him, he came to be the master of us. To propitiate him we made a jest of his father: it began with his debtors; I was one: and we used to toast a quicker journey to the old man, and a swift inheritance to the young one.'
He paused again.
`One night he came there in a very bad humour. He had been greatly tried, he said, by the old man that day. He and I were alone together: and he angrily told me, that the old man was in his second childhood; that he was weak, imbecile, and drivelling; as unbearable to himself as he was to other people; and that it