The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

212 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘““T never was a fellow who could work much as long as there was any ready money to spend, and so I lived com- fortably until I changed my last sovereign, when I began to think of something else. So I took to the Christmas hamper dodge.”’ ‘What do you mean? ”’ asked Ben Limber. ‘Why, out of the change for my last sovereign,’ replied Mr. Bealby, “‘ I paid seven and sixpence for an advertise- ment in the Times, which ran to the following effect: ‘ Bealby Co., old established wine merchants, continue to despatch their famous Christmas hampers, but on reduced terms. To every person remitting one guinea, Bealby Co. will forward a hamper containing one bottle of old port, one of rich brown sherry, one of old East India Madeira, one of French brandy, one of Jamaica rum, and one of prime Hollands.’ You would be astonished at the way in which the guineas came pouring in. So | kept up the advertisements during the Christmas week, then I renewed them for the New Year’s week, and when that was over, I changed the name and address, and advertised splendid twelfth-cakes on similar terms. I reaped a golden harvest, and lived comfortably upon it for the next three months. At length one morning I sallied out, wondering what I should do next, with only eishiteenpence in my pocket.”’ ‘And what did you do then?” inquired Ben Limber. “What could you possibly do with eighteenpence? ”’ ‘“T went and took a theatre,’ was the cool reply. “A theatre with eighteenpence!’’ exclaimed Limber. ‘“ Well, after all, my knowledge of the world is really nothing to yours! ”’ ‘“T told you so just now,” said Mr. Bealby. “ Yes, it’s a fact, I went and took a theatre at a rental of about a thousand a year.”’ ‘But what use could you turn it to?’”’ asked his friend. “ Underlet it the very next day to some one else; and as he paid me the rent, but as I paid none myself, it was all clear profit as long as it lasted. But the proprietor sued me, I was put into prison, and had to petition the Insolvents’ Court a second time.” “T should think you got remanded for that? ”’ observed Ben Limber, interrogatively. e Nothing of the sort,’’ exclaimed Mr. Bealby. “I de- Eomichbooks.co mn