The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 358: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

332 THE COURT OF LONDON paid his debts, it regularly clinched the nail of his senti- mentalism. And so he is gone? Well, he behaved very handsomely to me. When I went and told him, last Sunday, that I should most likely have to leave town for a few days, he took me by the hand, saying, ‘ Tash, my dear fellow, you have been my companion for some months past, in many a frolic, and though I am going to turn over a new leaf, I do not mean at the same time to show you the cold shoulder. All my debts are paid, and all the bills on which your name appeared together with mine are got in and burned. So you have nothing to fear on that score; and there are five hundred guineas for you, as a token of friend- ship.’ In this manner was it that we parted, and therefore I have nothing to say against Sackville. Depend upon it, sir, he will settle down into a quiet, steady, domesticated husband, always keeping regular hours, taking his supper every night at nine with his wife, and going to bed at half- past ten or eleven, at the latest, except when they receive company.” “Ah! I wish, my dear Tash,” said the prince, with a sigh, “‘ that you could bring Venetia back to me; but I am very much afraid that all your ingenuity will not suffice for such an achievement.” “T really don’t think it would, sir,”’ rejoined the captain, as he refilled his tumbler, “ for everybody who knows Venetia at all must be aware that she is a woman of strong mind and has got a will of herown. Take my advice, prince, and look about you for some other mistress.”’ ‘“‘ Well, I suppose I must resign myself to that alternative,” answered his Royal Highness. ‘‘ But now, Tash, tell me what I can do for you? In this matter of the lad whom we have just shipped off to the Colonies, you have done me a particular favour. I have not told you why I am at all interested in him, I do not mean to tell you, and I know that you are too discreet to ask me any questions.” ‘‘ T would sooner shave my moustache and cut off my whis- kers,’’ exclaimed Tash, ‘“‘ than display an impertinent curi- osity. Whenever your Royal Highness commands, there is at least one who will yield blind and implicit obedience, and that one is honest Rolando Tash. But I think,” he continued, again filling his tumbler, ‘‘ that your Royal Highness was at the moment graciously condescending CORmmicloo S (CO) im