Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

> oa % dn. * SS seu 118 smiling, and said, “’Pon my soul, Miss Perey— hur! a very handsome young lady! Don’t blush —hur! I’m old enough to be your grandfather. Why, if you went out to India you'd marry a Rajah—or a Nizam—or a Sultaun—hur! Better not, though !—all rascals—hur !—precious rascals! —arrant scoundrels, I can tell you! India a fine country though, Miss—capital shooting in the jungles—hur !—rather dangerous though! Was once under a tree, with a tiger in front—a boa constrictor up in the boughs—and a cobra close at my feet—hur! Pleasant that — hur! — wasn’t it P” “Tt was a predicament, Sir Robert,” I said, “from which I should think that you must have experienced some little trouble in escaping ?” ’ © Not a bit of it, Miss!” he replied. “ Rifle ready levelled at tiger—hur! Double-barrelled —one shot at tiger—down he fell! Up went the rifle—second shot into the tree—down came the boa constrictor !—hur!—sixty feet long! No lie, this, Miss Percy !—Skin in Madras museum— whole story well known in India—hur !” * But what about the cobra di capello ?”’ I in- quired, willing to humour the old gentleman for the worthy young William Lardner’s sake. * Ah, cobra?—hur! Cobra didn’t like the way his friends were despatched—deuced sharp work he thought it!— glided away—hur! Snake- ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “ Not another word!—hur! hur!” and he tapped his stick with violent satisfaction upon the carpet. “1’d take him blindfold on such a recommendation ! I’ve already got—hur!—a very good fellow—that rascal Reuben—attentive as man can be—civil and obliging—hur! I blow him up at times—in fact I’m always blowing him up; but I don’t mean it —and he knows it, the scoundrel !—he knows it— hur! You see, Miss Percy, I’m very infirm—and that’s the truth of it. I want more than one faithful dependant—hur! Accustomed to dozens in India—hur !—find I can’t do without them here —hur! You see, Miss Percy—eh, Miss Percy ?— hur! SolI shall take William—they won’t quar- rel—Reuben isn’t jealous—and William is too young to be. He shall have a good master—hur! —but he must put up with all my nonsense; for I tell you what, Miss Perey—I'll give you a practical receipt, which you can mention amongst your friends. If any of them get the gout, let them have some one to blow up—hur! There’s nothing affords such relief as giving a fellow a good blow- ing-up. It can’t hurt him—and it does a wonder- ful deal of good—hur!—to the sufferer. *Pon my soul, this Madeira—I really think—hur !—lI shall trespass on your hospitality for another glass— hur! hur! Oh! bother take Strychnia! Let him go to the—the Beg pardon, Miss Perey! —was going to mention a name which musn’t be charmer came by at the very moment — hur! | breathed to ears polite—hur! hur!” Got the snake—snake danced for ten years after- wards on his tail, to the sound of a pipe. preserved in a jar—spirits of wine—hur! him with me at my hotel—bought him of the snake-charmer—hur ! Sir Robert Temple filled his third glass; and as Died— | he imbibed it with infinite gusto, his face became Got | fiery and the water ran out of his eyes. * Ah!” he said, with a long sigh of pleasure, as Very fine girls in India, | with trembling hand he deposited the empty glass Miss Percy,” he added, almost in the same breath: | upon the salver, “I wish I dared finish the bottle. * nautch girls—devilish fine !—hur !” * And were you long in India, Sir Robert ?” I asked. “Thirty years, Miss: that must be at least ten more than your own age. Brought home the rupees — hur! hur!”—here he chuckled plea- santly: “but left my constitution behind !”—here he made a wincing grimace. ‘“’Pon my soul, this Madeira’s so good—hur !—and that infernal seoun- drel Strychnia not being here—must have another glass! Don’t know though—hur! What do you think about it?—hur! Well, here goes! In for a perny they say—hur !—you know the rest ?” He accordingly helped himself to a second glass, taking care to fill to the very brim; and as he drank it, his countenance became more rubicund and his eyes more watery. “ About that young fellow, Miss—hur !— William what’s-his-name ?” “Lardner,” I suggested. * Ab, Lardner!—hur! Good name that !—great philosopher bore it—Doctor Dionysius! Read his Cyclopedia—hur !—could point out, though, plenty of mistakes!—hur! About that boy again—likely looking chap —swarthy—gipsy cast — none the worse for that, if the gipsy vices are weeded out of him—hur !—lying, thieving, and all that sort of thing—eh, Miss Perey ? eh, Miss Perey ?” “T can assure you, Sir Robert,” I said, “that to the best of my knowledge, William Lardner is an excellent young man. I have had opportunities of putting his good principles to the test—I can answer for his honourable feelings—his fidelity to- wards those whom he undertakes to serve -———” | availed himself, It’s nectar for the gods!—hur! Hah! hah! how I’ve cheated old Strychnia!—got my three glasses here—and shall have them again in the evening after dinner—hur! But now, Miss Percy, that I’ve had the honour of making your acquaintance and tasting your beautiful wine—hur! hur! I hope it won’t be the last time—for with your permission I shall now and then drop in, just to tell you how William gets on—hur!—for I mean to take him—he is evidently a good youth—hur! —and he shall have good wages—good food Does he like curry,do you know? MHar! hur! Ah, that you can’t tell!—but we shall see. How- ever, it’s a bargain; I take the boy! I’ve hired a house up in the Regent’s Park: the upholsterers— hur! hur!—are all at work—great rascals, Miss Percy, these fellows! precious scoundrels !—bur! Want constant looking after! Got a beautiful carriage building—hur! Carriage-builders great rogues—try to take you in—hur!—but it won’t do with me !—and I shall very soon let them see it— hur! hur! Now, with your permission—hur !— I'll make my bow.” I rang the bell: Reuben and William made their appearance: Sir Robert shook hands with me; and then commenced the process of getting him back to the yellow barouche. This was even more difficult than his introduction into the house : for the three glasses of Madeira seemed to have aggravated the pain of the gout, and to have ren- dered him more irritable than ever. It did indeed appear necessary that he should have some one to blow up; and of the present opportunity he fully However, when once he was i EORNICLOOOKS (E)