The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

\ 4 , d \ i { ' : D Cleve ‘ Pd + <e éh. « . * * - ke your parting bow?” “ LIGHTS AND SHACLOWS OF LONDON LIFE. Fitagerald tock the hint, | humouredly given to be cffensi “TI will no longer encroac for a greater weathercock thau your patron that is to time, or prevent your enjoy be never yet existed. So much for him, Now for | which habit I dare say has portant personage | He hesitated for the word. “ My bottle of claret,” added the peer, sentence for him; “right, lad; and now fectly understand each other, | disposition Pil be as pliant as he is chanze- | { : _ » | “By my soul, then, lad, but ye'll be another Proteus! | the next, or perhaps the maist ithe family—his wife. The co r woman, with a talent for intrigue which would (aon Daley d attra gdh dere her séx frequently blind her judgment. Hitherto her Teputation stands above the breath of she has stood, ere now, upon the brink of a precipice, A woman so fond of adulation,” he added, “ must fall it last. I need not point out to you,” he continued, antess is a shrewd, slander, and yet , if possible, by any means, an interest in __“ Not well,” replied our hero, colouring to the tem- pl the evident bearing of the speaker’s advice, n, if not his principles, made h disgust. “You have been wiser than your grandfather,” Said his lordship, “who informed me that in his system of education all trivial accomplishments had een rejected. Many a man’s fortune has been made or marred by a bow. Mazarine danced, although a fi cardinal, to obtain the favour of Ann of Austria: the lightly judging censured him, the wise applauded him, for his knowledge of the sex. The countess must be © Ann of Austria; dance, bow, sing, or any thing élse that may please her.” _ “Has his lordship any family?” demanded Fitz- _ “Two infast children — girls, I believe—and a m iden sister, whose fortuneghe holds in trust, and world says, would find it inconve last secretary was discharged ssed—because Lady Penelope and he were too mate to suit his Jordship’s‘views.” “ Surely he was not so imprudent as to trifle with lady, or attempt any intrigue?” _“ Pstaw!” interrupted L+rd Bamff; “you are a eenhorn, with all your study and wit. But a little perience will improve you. No; the 28 honourable,” added the peer, hn a peculiar emphasis. trigue, E-ringcourt would have. honourable union that he fea Gerald was silent. He was at fi nient to pay it. —I beg pardon, marking the word “Had it been a mere shut his eyes. It , rst shocked, but last became greatly amuscd by the frankness of s host, his shrewd sarcastic observations, and know- ofmankind. He must have studied, he thought, @ Strange school, te bave thus drawn from it such ag, and such principles. His lordship read, or her guessed, his thoughts, You think me a strange old fellow, Mr. Fitzgerald lamso. You must remember, however, ea we never met till to-day, that the tie tuid is between us, and that your grandfather was earliest friend. Many men who think as I do ir morality on their lips as a mask to conceal it. me the necessity for dissimulation js past, for ‘Gream of life is all but ended. But come,” he con- » “shall I treat you as an old acquaintance, and alge in my usual nap—I am tired of t ‘you avail yourself of an old man’s Sary ceremony.” “When am | to see your lordship “ Ob! I will send you the Jetter of introduction to Erringcourt in the morning, which will spare you the trouble of another visit,” replied Lord Bamff. “ But,” h a glance of peculiar meaning, “ the advantage of | he added, seeing that his guést was not altogether , || Satisfied with the reply, “I am, thanks to the gout, quarter. She is likely to be taken with a showy | generally at home. Come at any time when I can be of use to you.” “And only then?” demanded the a smile. “Why, out upon thee for an ungrateful loon!” exclaimed the peer, laughingly. . my Own lessons against me? fellow that his society can be an which was too godd- ve, and rising, said - bh upon your lordship’s ing your usual sleep, made as necessary as—” lerable bore to a young spirit ?” Fitzgerald’s hand was placed upon the door to depart, “Stay,” continued his lordship; “Jet me act honestly by you. My estates are entailed; there- ore———’ obtain them,”’ “‘ Exactly so,” said Lord Bamff, pleased with his guest’s frankness, ‘* And now to expect beyond the chat of a gouty old man, a moderate dinner, a bottle of good wine, and a hearty welcome in the devil’s name, come when you will,” Our hero laughingly accep thus strangely given, and made his bow to the invalid peer, -_—_--_— CHAPTER IX, The coward’s courage rises to revenge, The brave man’s to forgiveness. “ As soon as you have read this, post down to Cam- © bridge, and drive direct to my chambers in Trinity, | I shall require your services in an affair of importance. — It is nece:sary that you should appear as a gentleman of the old school, and sink the lawyer. you by to-morrow, at the latest. You may draw the leases as you suggested, and bring the money wit: Moreton.” “ Moreton! umph!” muttered Prim, as he removed the spectacles from his nose, after having twice — perused the letter; “ his lordshi n well,” he added, rnbbing his b you. some fresh piece of villany, will be young men.” Since his last interview with Gipsy George, when nated him, the lawyer — had Jed comparatively a quiet life; nothing more exciting than the general chicenery of his profas- ruin, robbery, cruelty, lace. His active he had so cleverly ch sion—the usual amount of and oppression, having taken p mind absolutely longed fer an enlarged sphere of action, for he was never so much in his element as when mixed up in some dark of Lord Moreton came aa an His arrangements were soon following morning he started intrigue, and the letter absolute relief to him. made, and early on the again ?” 207 closing the that we per- let there be no unneces- young man, with “ Wouldst practise Flatter a gouty old y thing but an into- “It is useless my acting the fortune-hunter to that you have nothing ted the general invitation, I shall expect p seems very anxious; © doubt; but he pays | ands, “and young men | for the univa(o) an (C en Se te ee eT - ett-steteeeee — - eee a EEE eee Ee < er . = S (EC) mM