The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

ALEXIS OLIVER 115 Our young hero bowed in acknowledgment of this compliment, he and Stanley sat down at the same table with Alexis Oliver, and more claret was called for. After a little conversation on the light, floating topics of the day, Christian rose from his seat, ostensibly to glance at an evening paper which lay upon an adjacent table, but in reality to afford Captain Stanley an opportunity of whispering a few words, according to Pinta under- standing, in the ear of Alexis Oliver. ‘‘ Who is this young Craven? ” inquired Alexis, in a sub- dued tone, when Christian had left his seat in the manner just described. ‘“‘ He is quite a youth, at least two years younger than I am, but exceedingly handsome, — what the ladies would call a perfect specimen of masculine beauty.” ‘He is a desperate wild young fellow,’’ replied Stanley, ‘‘ with plenty of money, for his guardians make him a splen- did allowance until he comes of age. He gambles and drinks, and, in snort, my dear Oliver, he is twenty times wilder than you yourself are.’ ‘The deuce!’ ejaculated Alexis, ‘‘ he must indeed be a precious young blade. So you have taken him in tow, Stan- ley, and are showing him, I suppose, a little of London life? But how the devil is this? I thought you were the very pattern of steadiness.”’ “To tell you the truth, my dear Oliver,”’ il iaa eet Stan- ley, with a significant smile, “‘ I am heartily sick and tired of what the world calls a steady life, and perhaps, too, the stillest water sometimes runs the deepest. You see, my governor is rather strict and severe, and therefore what with partially being under terrorism, and what with having hitherto felt no inclination to be particularly wild, ih have got the reputation of being altogether steady.”’ ‘‘ And now you mean to break out at last?’’ exclaimed Oliver, laughing merrily. ‘‘ Well, this is capital, and I like you ten thousand times better than ever I did before. In- deed, I do not know that I ever liked you at all until the present occasion.’ “Oh, if you only like wild people,” responded Man Stanley, smiling, ‘* you will henceforth like me well enough, I can tell you. I mean to break out thoroughly and com- pletely. In fact, I have begun. This young Craven and I are now constantly together — ” ERM PSST ERR COMnuicloooks (S©)