The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 397: what you’re looking at

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

380 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘ Well, sir,” said the waiter, “ I'll tell you exactly all I know of Mr. Sycamore. He has been three months at the hotel, and he never paid his bill till to-day. He gets up at about noon, and comes home to bed at three or four in the morning. He hired a cabriolet from the livery-stables, and never paid for that till this morning. But all his bills he has settled, and now you know as much of him as I do.” ‘““ He keeps one servant, I suppose? ’”’ said Christian. ‘Yes, the groom that you have seen, sir,” and then, after glancing toward the door and looking out of the window, the waiter added, “‘ And that groom, sir, is as downy a little fellow as ever you could wish to see in a day’s walk.”’ ‘““T do not precisely comprehend you,’ remarked Christian. “Why, sir, | mean that he is up to all sorts of snuffs, and down to all kinds of dodges. He knows a thing or two; he is as artful a cove as here and there one. He gets up uncom- mon early in the morning; no one gets up earlier. He is wide-awake, and can’t be done.”’ At this moment a couple of gentlemen entered the coffee- room to take some refreshments, and Christian’s discourse with the waiter ended abruptly. Our young hero did not altogether like the character he had heard of Mr. Syeamore, but as for that of the groom James. it had been explained to him in so figurative a manner, with so many rhetorical flourishes and allegorical illustrations, that he knew not precisely how to estimate it. ‘“‘ After all,’ said Christian to himself, ‘‘I have heard nothing actually or substantially prejudicial to Mr. Syea- more. He has paid his debts at last, and will leave the hotel in an honourable manner. Perhaps it is one of his pecu- liarities to keep his creditors waiting and pay them in a mass. It may be that he considers them a set of ‘low people,’ and likes to show his contempt for them. At all events, I had better keep to my engagement; it will be easy for me to throw it up if it does not please me.”’ Searcely had our young hero arrived at this conclusion, when James entered to inform him that Mr. Syeamore was ready to start. A couple of cabs were at the door, as Chris- tian’s new employer travelled with a considerable quantity of luggage. That gentleman entered one of the vehicles, to the box of which James ascended, and Christian followed in the other. They proceeded to the railway-station at Lon- CORNICE OO! KS (E(©) m