The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

MR. GUNTHORPE 95 tenance your lordship so generously offered to supply me, I do not wish to deprive you of your own, nor yet have to support one for the benefit of my noble friends. With regard to presentation at court, 1 am too much occupied with Snuffley for the present to think of kicking my heels at St. James’s. The baronetcy, which your lordship volunteered to obtain for me, will be quite in time when I reach the rank of lord mayor of London, or something of that sort. Lastly, in respect to a wife, I should be truly sorry to deprive your lordship of the chance of obtaining the fair hand of the dowager countess, or hooking the splendid baroness with eight thousand pounds a year. “T remain, my dear Lord Harold, “ Your most obliged and obedient servant, “ JONATHAN GUNTHORPE.”’ Lord Harold Staunton was at first inclined to be angry on reading this letter, but as he glanced over it a second time, he could not help bursting out into a laugh, which had searcely subsided when his friend Lord Saxondale made his appearance. “ Well, after all,” exclaimed Harold, “ the old fellow saw through us completely. Here, read this letter. The sarcasm that marks it is beyond mistake.”’ ‘But why on earth did he lend you the money? ”’ cried Saxondale, when he had perused the letter which his friend handed to him. “Oh, I suppose merely through purse-proud vanity,” was the response. “ But, after all, it is perhaps just as well that we should be quit of him, for it would have been a horrid bore to introduce such a comical old blade as that to our friends. So let us think only of enjoying ourselves with his money, and leave him in peace to his boiled beef and bitter ale at the Bell and Crown.”’ CONnNIECLOOOKS (FO)