The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

94 REYNOLDS’ WORKS — twopence change, dropped a guinea into the hand of the tall, stiff footman who held the front door open; so that the flunky became all in a moment as obsequiously polite as possible, handed Mr. Gunthorpe into the vehicle, and having ascertained the place of destination, felt himself by no means shocked at having to bawl out, “ All right, cabman, Bell and Crown, Holborn! ” Lord Harold Staunton and Lord Saxondale knew not exactly what to think of their friend Mr. Gunthorpe. The five-thousand-pound cheque seemed certainly an evidence that he was by no means the keen, cautious, and sharp- witted individual they had at first expected, but on the other hand, there appeared to have been a slightly per- ceptible undercurrent of sarcasm in many of the observations he had made. However, the two young aristocrats came to the conclusion that, though sharp in one sense, he was ‘“oreen ’’? enough in others, and that he was most anxious to become introdueed to the sphere of fashion. On the following morning, long before Lord Harold had risen, a letter was delivered at his lodgings, and when he perused it, he found the contents to run thus: ‘“ BELL AND CROWN, HOLBORN. “My pear Lorp Haroutp: — Having maturely reflected upon your various kind propositions of last might, I feel myself so utterly unworthy of such an overwhelming mass of bounties that I am compelled to decline them. I know that I am but a vulgar citizen, and consequently but little fitted for the perfumed atmosphere of your aristocracy. I think that Mr. Snuffley’s idea of an estate will come up to the standard of my ambition, and until I succeed in pro- curing one, I feel too comfortable at the Bell and Crown to render it necessary to change my quarters to a West End hotel. As for a drag or trap, 1 am of opinion that a coach- builder in Long Aere may be safely entrusted with the order, and until it is completed I shall doubtless find the omnibuses commodious enough for my purposes. In respect to horses, the hostler of the Bell and Crown is an excellent judge, and will put me in the way of getting what I want. Relative to an opera box, I am not formed to shine in one, and being conscious of my own defects, do not wish to_make myself ridiculous, As for a mistress, with which fashionable appur- EORMIE OOS (E(@)