The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 339: what you’re looking at

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Ei i an me 7 874 MID MYSTENICS OF LONDON. A a SS ty “Al! that was salutary advico which Paul gave to sinrothy—' @ Mette wince for the stomach’s sake,” drawied out tho oxcellent Mr. Sheepshanks ;—and to prove that he really thourht co, ho filled a tumbler with clarct and imbibed the delicious draught without a pause. By this timo a plate, containing tho wing, leg, aud part of tho breast of a duck, was placed before him; and, with a hollow groan as if ho thought ho should never get through it all, he commenced tho attack, Wo may hero observe that tho Doctor, who was a widower, was fond of good living himself, and was woll pleased when he found any ono inclined to kocp him company in the onjoymont of the ploasures of the table. For this reason he especially admired the Reverend Mr. Sheepshanks; and he well know that when his chaplain pretended to have no appo- tile at all, hoe was in reality prepared to do ample justico to ovory dish. Henco the copious supply of duck which tho physician had sent him; and that hospitable gentleman heard with secret pleasure the groan which Mr. Sheepshanks had given, and which was 2 sure indication that the modesty of tho reverend glutton would ho so far overcome as to induce him to allow the Doctor to help him again presently. And here wo may likowiso remark that Swinton was no niggard of his good cheer. If he kept an excellent table, he liked to seo justice done to the viands served up; and, as he received handsomo remuneration from the friends of his first-class pationts, ho could well afford to regalo them sump- tuously, and amass a splendid fortuno out of them into tho bargain. ° In conversation of the trivial kind of which we have Just recorded a specimen, did the Doctor and Shecpshanks pass the time during suppor,— the pationts all maintaining a profound silonce, and conducting themselves with the most perfect pro- priety. Indeed, wero it not for a certain vacancy in the cyes of some, and a peculiar but inexplicable expression in the looks of the rest, it wero impos- sible for a stranger to belicvo that thero were any lunatics at all in tho room. After supper Mr. Sheepshanke dolivered himself ofa long prayer;—but as his libations had been somewhat copious, in spite of his bilious attack, his voico was occasionally so thick as to be unintelligi- ble,—and it appeared as if bo at times fancicd him- self to be an Irvingito speaking in the unknown tongues. Towards the conclusion of his oration, which very much resembled a funeral sermon in those paris where the meaning and senso conld be caught, the reverend gentleman becamo s0 much affected that he began to weep; and had a malici- ously-disposed person been present, ho would have probably entertained the derogatory notion that Mr. Sheepshanks was in that maudlin condition vulgarly termed “ crying drunk.” However, the affair passed off to tho satisfac- tion of the worthy Doctor, who, as he thought of all that his chaplain had eaten and drunk during the evening, felt really proud of having beneath his roof a man of such splendid qualifications. The aftor-supper oration being concluded, thie keepers, all dressed in plain clothes, mado tliir appearance to conduct the patients to their respec- tivo chambers; but as this was Granby’s first night in tho houso, the Doctor voluntocred to show him to the apartment prepared for his reception. The new inmate of the asylum immodiately obeyed the hint which the physician gave him relative to, the hour for retiring; and howas forthwith escortad ~ up = handsome staircase to a long corridor on the second floor. From this passayo, which was car- peted, adorned with statucs in recesses, and lighted by lamps hanging to the ceiling, opened sovera. |: rooms, the doors of which wero numbered, At the entranco to the passage the Doctor pulled a wire which communicated with a bell on the storoy overhead; and a matronly, respectable- looking womon.made her appearance in answer to the summons. “Which chamber is Mr. Granby to occupy, Mrs. Probert ?”’ said tho Doctor to his housekeeper—for such was the situation filled by the female. “J hlayo moved tho gentloman—you know whom } mean, sir—that was in Number 7——” “Ah! ET understand,” interrupted tho physician, with some degree of impatience, as if he were afraid that his housokeopor was about to bo more com- municative than was necessary in tho presence of the stranger. ‘ Woll—you have removed a certain persou——” “Yo Number 12, sir,” replied Mrs, Probert; “and thereforo Mr. Granby will please to occnpy Num- ber 7.” “Very good,” said the Doctor. ‘“ Now, Mr. Granby, my dear friend—havo the kindness to fol- low me.” The request was instantancously obeyed; and the physician conducted his docile patient into tho room that had been selected for him, and which was indeed the most spacious, airy, and elegantly-fur- nished bed-chamber in the whole establishment. It was usually appropriated to any new-comer of tlio first class whoso friends appoared to take an in- terest in him; s0 that on the occasion of their first visit after his location in tho asylum, the doctor might be enabled to show thom, with pride, ond oven triumph, the magnificent apartment in which the patient was lodged. It was afterwards an casy matter to remove him to another and inferior, though still comfortable chamber—so as to mako room for*another arrival; and it was very seldom that a lunatic ever thought of mentioning to his friends, when they visited him again, the change of apartments that had taken place. , Having introduced Mr. Granby into the clepantly furnished chamber, the Doctor placed tho candle upon tho tablo, wishcd the young gentleman a good night’s rest, and thon retired—closing, but not locking, the door behind him. The momont he had departed, a remarkable and signal change took placo in tho appearanco and manner of Mr. Granby. His countenance lost its stolid vacancy of expression, and became animated with its natural intelligenco; and, instead of scom- ing a dull, drivolling idiot, he stood crect—a fine, intrepid young man, conscious of the possession cf superior mental facultics, and prepared to carry out effectually tho schomo which bad already been +s successfully commenced. Indeed, all further mystery in this respect being unnecessary, Wo may as well at once declare that the, fictitious Mr. Granby was tho real Lord William Trevelyan—and that Smithson, who had so well porformed tho part of an afflicted and faithful ‘friend, was none other than tho astuto valet, Firz- rCOreo. Tho young nobleman had made confidants of his ~— SG EConnicloooks (SO)