The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

226 “ Well,” muttered the Scot, as he gazed after Fitz- gerald’s receding figure, “that’s a fellow one must be cautious with. He must be high in favour with the old fool. What, give him a picture worth five hun- dred pounds? A fine joke indeed! I am not such an idiot as to consent to that. Five hundred pounds!” he continued, dwelling complacently upon the sum; “ T’ll see him damned first! Can the old man be rich ?” he muttered to himself, as he pushed his way through the muddy streets towards his cheap lodgings in the Strand. “Can he have saved any thing, or possess resources with which Iam unacquainted? No, no— he lives too freely for that. Why, then, should I covet his favour, or fear his hatred, since estates, plate, pic- tures, all must be mine, whether he will or no? And that’s the reason he hates. me. I wish he would die,” _ he continued; “his constitution must be nearly gone. | He cannot live long, b om certain, despite the predic- | tions of this insolent fellow, who is some needy fortune- hunter. But he will not get a stivér from my uncle— I will take care of that. Well—well. Patienee— | patience. I'll to Lord Selkirk and judge in the morning, and press them to accept the old fool’s invitation. They are hard drinkers and no flinchers; a little more excess will perhaps accomplish all, the broad lands of Bamff than I imagine? The old vault may soon receive another tenant.” With this reflection, the impatient heir, already termed it, to indulge in the comforts of an hotel. uncle, and being on the spot to watch for his long- anticipated wealth, reconciled him to the expense of a near at hand. Fitzgerald arrived at the mansion of his patron time enough to join the family at suppera circum. stance which did not displease him, for he felt sadly of his nephew were vulgar and offensive. “And so you have been dining with old Bamff!” exclaimed Lord Erringcourt, as soon as our hero was seated. ‘Upon my honour, I congratulate you upon your courage. I endured it once, when we wanted his vote for a representative peer. If his wines were as sour as his temper, he would be liable to the imputa- tion of poisoning his friends—no constitution could survive then.” “ His wines,” replied the secretary, “ are excellent. I confess I cannot as conscientiously recommend his temper. But he has had much to contend with in the world, no doubt.” * Perhaps,” observed Lady Penelope, trying to look sentimental, “he may have been blighted in his young affections ?’’ “Blighted in his young affections!” repeated his lordship; “he never had any, Pen—such men never have any affections, either young or old. He is one of those in whose system gall supplies the place of blowd; his feelings towards mankind are as bitter as though he had been suckled on wormwood. As for your sex, he positively hates it, and I believe would as soon admit the plague into his house as a woman. _ I once heard him rejoice that his mother died before Who knows but I may be nearer my inheritance of possessed of more wealth than he had the heart to enjoy, made his way to his lodgings in an obscure street; for he was too economical, or too wise, as he Indeed, nothing but the wish of looking after his residence in the metropolis. That night he retired to rest with a lighter spirit than usual, for the realisation of the long-cherished hope of his uncle’s death seemed vut of spirits and harassed by the tediousness of the day he had passed at Lord Bamff’s, whose principles were as little congenial to his feelings as the manners such people?” THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, he was old enough to have remembered her, lest he should have been guilty of the folly of loving her,” “The monster!” exclaimed the countess, “You judge like the rest of the men, brother,” replied Lady Penelope. “This bitterness in poor Lord Bamff may be but an affectation put on like a mask, to hide his heart. Come, Mr. Fitzgerald, you have seen much of the world, are a traveller and a scholar —what is your opinion? Is Lord Bamff a misan- thrope, or does he only affect to be one?” “TI fear,” replied our hero, “that the treachery of the world may have made that which at first was an assumed character his natural one,” “Then you consider that his lordship deserves the character which my brother has given kim, and that his hatred of mankind is genuine, and not affected?” inquired Lady Pen, determined, if possible, to prolong the conversation with Fitzgerald, whose fine person had made an impression on her very malleable heart. “‘No,” replied the secretary, thus appealed to; “I do not think Lord Bamff’s hatred of mankind so con- firmed as to close every avenue to his feelings; indeed, I should be most ungrateful, did I not defend him against such an assertion, for I can disprove it in my own person. With no other recommendation than that of being the grandson of an old friend, I have been kindly received by him, and experienced much hospitality at his hands. Nor do I consider the least part of his kindness to have been that which procured me a position alike gratifying to my feelings and ad- vantageous to my future prospects—the honour of being an inmate of the mansion of the Earl of Erringcourt.” His lordship’s countenance brightened at the well turned compliment. Like most vain men, he was highly susceptible to flattery. “You are indeed favoured in standing so well with the crabbed old Scot,” he replied. “JI wish he hada good fortune at his disposal, for your sake—you would stand a chance.” “Has he not a good fortune?” demanded Lady Erringcourt, . “Certainly not,” replied his lordship, “No fortune!” repeated the countess, in a pitying tone. “How does the wretched man contrive to exist? Shocking!” “Oh, it is not so bad as that,” said the peer, laughing; “the estates are large, but strictly ene tailed; and although the rent-roll is considerable, still there is little left for his lordship, after the inte- rest of the debts are paid, charged upon the property by the gay life he led when a young man.” “ His lordship’s heir seems likely to retrieve the family prosperity,” observed Fitzgerald; “at least as far as taking care of the family property goes,” “'Who—Grabblestain?” said Lord Erringcourt; “oh, yes, he isa true Scot,—cautious, cunning, and avaricious—a fellow who never leaves a loop-hole even for the shadow of an advantage to escape. Would you believe it?” added the speaker; “ I had not been more than five minutes in his company, on the occasion of the dinner I endured with his uncle when I wanted his vote, than he began to sound me on the possibility of securing the interest of ministers for the reversion of the title, which becomes extinct upon Bamff’s death, and that, too, in the old man’s pre- sence !” “ How unfeeling!” observed Lady Penelope, with scorn. “ Very 1” echoed the countess. “ Uncle and nephew seem to be well matched. How could you dine with — mMIGbooks.co (EC)