The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

a ee eee -—it—eE Te rn _— _— + oe ——-- —-—-—- = —_— — os ee ie ee 184 » Lord Linton, Osmond, Pitt, Digby, and: several others were at table. The dinner passed quietly enough, more wine was drank «than did them good, and more professions made than ever were remem- “Of what family is Mr. Fitzgerald?” whispered Moreton to his host after the bottle had circulated freely. Digby heard the question and listened anxiously for the reply. “Hang his family,” said Lord Harry, “I know nothing about it. He is a devilish good fellow, I can answer for that. His grandfather is a friend of the governor’s, who wrote to me to:be civil to him.” “A parvenu,” whispered Osmond to the peer, who smiled assent. “Are there many freshmen up, Pitt?’? demanded Moreton of the future minister. “Not that lam aware of,” replied the young map, “ but I lead so quiet a life. Mr. Fitzgerald,’’ he added, is the only one I have had the honour of meeting.” “ None of any rank, I dare say, or we should have known,” observed Osmond. “JT beg your pardon, sir,”’ exclaimed the young Scotch lord, “ but two kinsmen of my ain are up— Charles and Ned Graham. I’d no advise ye, Mister Osmond, to rin them doun, if ye have ony dis- cretion.” “ And why not?” said the young man, haughtily. He had the reputation of being the best shot in the university. ‘For fear of your lordship’s displeasure? I never yet feared to meet any man.” “You are na likely to meet me in that way,” an- swered the wary Scot. «“ You ‘are not exactly the sort of man I shonld accept a challenge from; but if you wish for a turn, either of the lads will oblige you. They have not practised in a gallery,” he added, “to take the lives of their fellow creatures, but they dinna lack skill in bringing doun a black cock upon the bills. I shall be happy to introduce ye to each other.” The serious manner in which the offer was made raised a laugh at the expense of the young duellist, in which his friend Lord Moreton joined. “ Take the offer,” exclaimed Pitt. “I'll bet on the Highlander.” “ Perhaps,” said Osmond, with a sneer, looking towards Linton, “they may partake of their noble kinsman’s objection.” “ Little fear of that,” observed Fitzgerald; “ High- landers seldom lack courage on such occasions. “ You speak as if you were a Highlander,” retorted the young man to Mr, Fitzgerald—*“of a Scotch family,” he added, with a sneer. “ No,” answered our hero, coolly, “ but ofa north- country one, and sufficiently connected with Scotland to respect the character and courage of her sons, And now permit me to ask, of what family is Mr. Osmond ?” “ Of Corbridge,” replied the young man, haughtily, —*not quite unknown.” Fitzgerald was indeed surprised; Corbridge was the name of a seat and village formerly the property of the Derwentwaters; and Osmond was the name of the steward of the fallen family, who had contrived to enrich himself at their expense, and even to purchase of the commissioners to whom the estates had been granted the place in question. “ Formerly, I think, the property of the Derwent~ water family.” The young man bowed with an assumption of dig- a | eee THE MYSTERIES OFr | LONDON. it was ‘evident he had the weakness to wish it tobe | _ understood that he was connected with that novle but | _ unfortunate race—a belief universal amongst the party. “Come, come,” cried Lord Harry, “ what's all this , stuff about family? We are all descended from | Adam. Leave genealogies to heralds. | aie ee the ) bottle.” ' >i 4 ‘Pardon me,” said Osmond, who had come deter- | mined to pick a quarrel, “but I cannot permit any insult to my family to pass unnoticed, Your friend | — must apologise, or——” “T thought it would come to this,” amuttered Digby. : Every one looked upon Fitzgerald, whose. eyes , flashed fire; but, although excited with wine, he had | — sufficient control over himself to answer his autagoniet calmly. : mn fhe “ Apology to you, Mr. Osmond, i is quite out of the question.” «“ Then, sir, I shall expect the satisfaction due to ‘my rank and name.” “ You shall have it,” replied our hero, fixing onhim | a glance of contempt, “as soon as I can procure a horsewhip to.discharge the debt.” In an instant all was.confasion. Osmond seized a | — decanter, and would have sent it at the head of his | antagonist, had not Lord Harry prevented him. . Pitt and Digby stood. aloof, quiet spectators of the scene, As soon as silence was sat their host was the first to speak. “Really, Mr. Fitzgerald, 4 he Medes: - horsewbip is is not the reply to meet the challenge of a gentleman surely ?”? , “ Shameful!” exclaimed Lord Moreton, in whieh . .. was chorussed by his friends. | “ Gentlemen,” said our hero, “ you shall decide for me. What other reply could l.make to the son of my grandfather’s steward, when I found him not only impudently thrusting himself into your society, but — assuming a right to vindicate the name and honour h of my family ?” | Had a thunderbolt at that moment fallen into the | room, it could not have more astounded the party | than did this declaration. “ Your family!” repeated Lord Harry ; “why cer- | tainly your grandfather’s mame is Radcliff, but I | never understood thaft—hem !’’ “T trust, my lord, I am not doubted, when I state that my grandfather is Richard Radcliff, titular Earl of Derwentwater. Mr, Osmond has acknow- ledged himself to be of Corbridge, by which cireum- stance I know him to be the son of a former servant. of my family and one Jane .Hewson, «an illegitimate daughter of the late earl. However, that there may. be no doubt of my position with respect to the unfor- — tunate family alluded to, perhaps Mr. Pitt will conde- — scend to vouch for me.” As he spoke, he presented the letter of the minister to hisson, All eyes were fixed on Pitt while perus- ing his father’s letter. After carefully reading it and — placing it in his pocket-book, he cordially extended his hand to our hero, and said: “Mr, Fitzgerald, I am happy to make your ace quaintance; my father writes highly of you. Wel gentlemen,” he continued, “ I presume you do re- quire my evidence to corroborate my friend’s asser= tion?” | com pow “Perhaps,” exclaimed 92131) K4 9 @ 0) <5) high-born Mr, Osmond will require some further