RODERICK (V.O.)
And so we rode on slowly towards Dublin, into which city we made our entrance at nightfall. The rattle and splendor of the coaches, the flare of the linkboys, the number and magnificence of the houses, struck me with the greatest wonder; though I was careful to disguise this feeling.
RODERICK (V.O.)
We stopped at length at a house of rather mean appearance, and were let into a passage which had a great smell of supper and punch.
Captain O'Reilly, a stout red-faced man, without a periwig, and in a rather tattered nightgown and cap.
Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, I cannot say how grateful I am for your timely assistance to my wife.
RODERICK
I am only sorry that I was unable to prevent the villain from carrying off all her ladyship's money and pearls.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, we are in your debt, and rest assured, sir, you have friends in this house whenever you are in Dublin.
(pours a glass)
Mister O'Higgins, I wonder if I know your good father?
RODERICK
Which O'Higgins do you know? For I have never heard your name mentioned in my family.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Oh, I am thinking of the O'Higgins of Redmondstown. General O'Higgins was a close friend of my wife's dear father, Colonel Granby Somerset.
RODERICK
Ah -- I see. No, I'm afraid mine are the O'Higgins of Watertown.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I have heard of them.
There are relics of some mutton-chops and onions on a cracked dish before them.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
My love, I wish I had known of your coming, for Bob Moriaty and I just finished the most delicious venison pasty, which His Grace the Lord Lieutenant, sent us, with a flash of sillery from his own cellar. You know the wine, my dear? But as bygones are bygones, and no help for them, what say ye to a fine lobster and a bottle of as good claret as any in Ireland? Betty, clear these things from the table, and make the mistress and our young friend welcome to our home.
Captain O'Reilly searches his pockets for some money to give to Betty.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I'm sorry, Mr. O'Higgins, but I don't seem to have any small change. May I borrow a ten-penny piece to give to the girl?
MRS. O'REILLY
I have some money, my dear. Here, Betty, go to the fishmonger and bring back our supper, and mind you get the right change.
She takes out one of the golden guineas Roderick gave to her.
They are eating.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Our supper was seasoned, if not by any great elegance, at least by a plentiful store of anecdotes, concerning the highest personages of the city, with whom, according to himself, the captain lived on terms of the utmost intimacy. Not to be behind hand with him, I spoke of my own estates and property as if I was as rich as a duke.
The couple wishing Roderick goodnight.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Had I been an English lad, the appearance of the chamber I occupied might, indeed, have aroused instantly my suspicion and distrust. But we are not particular in Ireland on the score of neatness, hence the disorder of my bed-chamber did not strike me so much.
Broken door.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Was there a lock to the door, or a hasp to fasten it to?
Dress lying over bed.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Though my counterpane was evidently a greased brocade dress of Mrs. O'Reilly.
Cracked mirror.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And my cracked toilet-glass not much bigger than a half-crown, yet I was used to these sort of ways in Irish houses, and still thought myself to be in that of a man of fashion.
Drawers, full of junk.
RODERICK (V.O.)
There was no lock to the drawers, which, when they did open, were full of my hostess' rouge-pots, shoes, stays, and rags.
In the middle of the night, Mrs. O'Reilly comes to Roderick's room on a flimsy pretext, and in the course of events, he has his first woman.
Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I needn't ask whether you had a comfortable bed. Young Fred Pimpleton slept in it for seven months, during which he did me the honor to stay with me, and if he was satisfied, I don't know who else wouldn't be.
Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly, their friends. Various cuts.
RODERICK (V.O.)
After breakfast, we drove out to Phoenix Park, where numbers of the young gentry were known to Mrs. O'Reilly, to all of whom she presented me in such a complimentary way that, before half an hour, I had got to be considered as a gentleman of great expectations and large property.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had little notion then that I had got amongst a set of impostors -that Captain O'Reilly was only an adventurer, and his lady a person of no credit. The fact was, a young man could hardly have fallen into worse hands than those in which I now found myself.
An evening of gambling.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Their friends were always welcome on payment of a certain moderate sum for their dinner after which, you may be sure, that cards were not wanting, and that the company who played did not play for love merely.
Various cuts of the characters present.
RODERICK (V.O.)
What could happen to a man but misfortune from associating with such company? And in a very, very short time I became their prey.
Roderick loses two hundred guineas to Captain O'Reilly in a single hand.
We see Captain O'Reilly cheat, but Roderick does not.
He pays him the 18 gold guineas, remaining from the sum his mother gave him.
RODERICK
I shall have to write out a note for the rest of it, Captain O'Reilly.
Roderick exits to the street. The sound of the gambling can still be heard in the street. He is soon joined by Councillor Mulligan.
COUNCILLOR MULLIGAN
Master Roderick, you appear a young fellow of birth and fortune; let me whisper in your ear that you have fallen into very bad hands -- it's a regular gang of swindlers; and a gentleman of your rank and quality should never be seen in such company. The captain has been a gentleman's gentleman, and his lady of no higher rank. Go home, pack your valise, pay the little trifle you owe me, mount your mare, and ride back again to your parents -it's the very best thing you can do.
Roderick does not reply, and walks slowly away from him down the street.
Roderick enters.