The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. —-- She said no more; and there was another long pause. The tipsy individual in the corner now woke up; and having slept off the fumes of his former potations, he appeared to think it was necessary to renew them, He accordingly drew forth a case-bottle from his pocket; and taking out the cork, applied it first to his nose to inhale the smell, and next to his lips to imbibe the liquor. Having taken a deep draught, he wiped the mouth of the bottle with his sleeve, and prof- fered it to Amy, who declined it with disgust—then to Christian, who refused it with cold civility. . * Well, then,” said the drunken gentleman, “ there is all the more for me:’—and he forth- with proceeded to empty the bottle. He then observed, for the behoof of his lis- teners, that he could replenish it at Ashford—but that he wished he had done so at Reigate, where the brandy was better: and then it occurred to him that there was very good rum to be got at the Ashford station—and he thought it might agree with him best. He next noticed that the crops looked very fine: though how he could manage to see them at all, was a perfect miracle, inasmuch as he had one eye closed and the other blinking like an owl’s. So, having delivered bim- self of the sage observations just recorded, he fell into the corner and into a sound sleep simul- taneously, In about half-an-hour the train stopped at Headeorn; and there Amy Sutton took leave of Christian Ashton—for she had reached her desti- nation. At Ashford the intoxicated gentleman woke up, and contrived to alight for the purpose of replenishing his flask, When he had returned to his seat, he applied himself with much industry to the said flask,—the effects of which, instead of making him sleepy, rendered him quarrelsome : so that, to Christian’s surprise and astonishment, he began to pull off his coat, hiccoughing out an ex- pression of his deep regret at the necessity under which he laboured of polishing our hero off. For this polishing purpose he rose up from his seat ; but Christian, in order to put an, end to these pugnacious displays, forced him back into it again, with the assurance that if they did come to a fight it would be much the worse for him who pro- voked it. Fortunately the city of Canterbury was soon reached; and there the drunken gentle- man was claimed by his wife and three grown-up daughters, who were waiting to receive him, and who assailed him in no measured terms on behold- ing the condition in which he had brought him- self back to the bosom of his family. Ramsgate was reached in due time; and the Hon, Talbot Sycamore took up his quarters at the Royal Hotel. Cee CHAPTER LXI. CHRISTIAN S NEW EMPLOYER, WETHER it were under the bracing influence of the sea-air—or whether it were because even the most fashionable people keep more natural hours when at watering-places,—we cannot take it upon ourselves to decide: but certain it was that the Hon, Talbot Sycamore did actually and positively ES er ee 319 leave his couch at nine in the morning aiter his arrival, and did with an equal degree of certitude sit down to breakfast at half-past nine when he had taken a short lounge upon the sands in his flowered silk dressing-gown, his morocco slippers, nd a red cap with a gold tassel very much resem- ling a Turkish fez. While still at breakfast, he somewhat senten- - tiously inquired of the waiter whether his private secretary had partaken of his breakfast P—and on receiving an answer in the affirmative, he desired that Mr. Christian Ashton might be requested to walk up. Our hero accordingly repaired to Mr. Sycamore’s sitting-room ; and that gentleman said, “If you place yourseif at the side-table near the window. you can write a few letters to my dictation—and during the intervals when I am wearied of talking, you can gaze out upon the har- bour and the sea.” This last recommendation might have been very considerate indeed if it were not somewhat puerile ; and while Mr. Sycamore went on discussing his muffin, his egg, and his ham, Christian arranéed the writing-materials at the side-table. The waiter entered the room with a hot muffin; and Mr. Sycamore said, with an air of easy indifference, “The first letter, Mr. Ashton, is to my London bankers. Just put the address and date—don’t write the word ‘Gentlemen’—but. put ‘My dear sirs’, as I am devilish intimate with them. Waiter, some more cream.” While the waiter was absent, Mr. Sycamore remained silent; and Christian certainly thought it was rather a singular coincidence that he should only begin dictating again when the waiter re- appeared. Yet such was the fact. “Write thus,” said Mr. Sycamore: “‘T will thank you to remit to the Ramsgate banker five thousand pounds to my account. With regard to that sum of twenty thousand which Lord Todding- ton paid into your hands on my behalf the other day’ 33 But here Mr. Sycamore stopped ‘short, as the - door had just closed behind the waiter. It might have been that he had dictated enough at a stretch for one of his languid temperament: but it cer- tainly appeared to Christiaan very much as if he desisted then and there simply because the indi- vidual for whose behoof he was thus parading his financial concerns was no longer present. How- ever, after a little while the letter was concluded with some special instructions as to the laying-out of the twenty thousand pounds paid in by Lord Toddington; and by the time it was. finished, the waiter entered to clear away the breakfast- things. “Now, My. Ashton,” said the Hon. Talbot Sycamore, “we must write a letter to my friend, the Duke of Arlington. Put the place and date ; and then begin ‘ My dear Arlington.’ Now goon to say—‘ Here I am installed in devilish comfort- able quarters at Ramsgate. Do you mean, my dear fellow, to fulfil your promise of joining me here for six weeks? If so, let me know by re- turn of post; as the place is most disgustingly crowded, and I must bespeak rooms for you at the hotel three or four days beforehand. Tell Lord Toddington that I find I have lost my wager of five thousand guineas, and shall send him up a cheque by this same post, He paid me twenty (C(O)IAN) 0)(0)(0) S CO)