yC-NRLF B 3 3Et OSS !^0 THE ADVENTURES OF ^'M?- LEDBURY •.■*_ .'•'-.V, V>;'.;f ; •'^. - ,, 'V _" ' >'-',y-',-'^''-\- mmM • *7*vr7^.'^-^'";*>,''" I'NivEtsjry Or injBl-ISHED BY LINCOLN. j.». s y THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. THE ADVENTURES MR. EEDBURY AND HIS FRIEND JACK JOHNSON. BY ALBERT SMITH, AUTHOR OF " THE SCATTERGOOD FAMILY, ' "THE POTTI>ETON I.r.fiACY," ETO. PUBLISHED BY BAINBRIDGE'S LINCOLN. LONDON : RICHARD EDWARD KING, }^8, Curtain Road, E.C. PKISTEl) BV KICHAKli KI)WARI> KING, CLKTAIN ROAD. LONDON F.^ CONTENTS. /mi. PACK I. Which Introduces thl Hekoks to the Readeks . i» II. The Voyage, and Arrival at Boulooxe . . .13 III. The Jgurney from Boulogne to Paris . . .19 IV. Mr. Ledbury's First Dilemma 26 V. Ok the Manner in which Mr. Leiujury was Ex- amined BY the Municipal Guard, and of his Interview with the Prefect of Police . . 31 VI. Of THE Quartier Latin, and Mr. Ledbury's LoDoiNiis Therein ......... 36 Vll. Of the Evening Party given by Mr. Ledbury and Jack Johnson to Certain Students and Gri- settes, at their Rooms in the Rue St. Jacques 41 VIII. Of the Bois de Boulogne, ani> Mr. Ledbury's Equestrian Feats Therein 48 IX. Of the Boarding-House on the Boulevards, and ECARTE . . . . . . . . ..')."> X. The Wine-Shop in the Marche des Inno« knts, and THE Murder on the Pont Neuf . . . .62 XL The Bal Masque and the (Juillotine . . .69 XII. Of the Journey- Home 75 XIII. A Few Parti(.:ulars Coni^erning Mr. Ledbury's Family 79 XIV. Jack Johnson has an Interview with a Relative 84 XV. Of the Grand Ball given by Mr. Ledbury's F'riends TO Celebrate his Return to his Native Land !»| XVI. In which we Fivd Jack Johnson at Homk . 101 475 vi. CONTEXTS. 1>A0B XVII. Of the Adventure which M-r. LEDBrRV, in Com- pany WITH HIS Friend, Met with at a Penny Show 106 XVIIf. Of the Diverting Manner in which Mr. Ledhlky Concluded the Evening 112 XIX. The Encampment in Burnham Beeches. . . 117 XX. The Flight of Johnson and Mouris at Savory's Weir 121 XXI. The Night on the Ait 127 XXII. The (tRimleys Try to Cut out the Ledburys; and Get up Private Theatricals .... 13.3 XXIII. Jack Johnson Produces a Great Sensation at the Play 137 XXIV. Mr. Ledbury has a Valentine ; and (ioEs to the "Antediluvians" 146 XXV. Which is more especially Interesting to Jack Johnson and Emma Ledbury .... 153 XXVI. The Old House at Kentish Town .... 159 XXVII. Mr. Ledbury Visits a Cunning Man, wiki Casts his Nativity 164 XXVIII. Of Mr. Rawkins ; his Dome.stic Economy ; and Jack Johnson's Fresh Start in Life .... 170 XXIX. Johnson's First Night in his New Abode . . 174 XXX. In which Mr. Ledbury takes his Sister into the Country ; their Progress and Arrival . . ]79 XXXI. Of THE Diverting Manner in which the (JfiiMLKVs WERE Introduced to Mr. Rawkins . . . 185 XXXII. Which Treats of the Country Connections of the Ledburys . 194 XXXIII. The Opening of the Clumpley Literary and Scien- tific Institution. 199 XXXIV. Ledbury, Johnson, and some Friends Patkonise the Illegitimate Dhama 206 CONTEXTS. vii. PAiiE XXXV. Mrs. Dk Robinson holds a " Conveksazionk " of Talentkd Pkople -16 XXXVI. Mr. Ledb'jry meets an Old AcQrAiNTAXCE behind THE Scenes at the Ch-ERA ..... 224 XXXVII. The Brill at Somers Town 227 XXXVIII. The Escape of Johnson from the Holse on the Canal ......... 233 XXXIX. How Mr. Ledbury Appeared Unexpectedly in a Ballet at Her Majesty's Theatre . . . 23!i XL. Mr. Rawkins Contests an Election for Scrgeon TO A Dispensary with Mr. Koops . . . 242 XLI. Mr. Ledbury Accompanies "The Toirniquets " to the Races 2JI XLII. What Befell Mr. Ledbury and Jack upon .4.scot Racecourse 257 XLIII. Mr. Ledbury Ventures once more to the Opera FOR SlCNOR PlZZIC.\TO's CONCERT .... 265 XLIV. The Break-up of Mr. Raw kinss Medical Estab- lishment ........ 269 XLV. The Unexpected Journey — Ostend and Brussels 274 XLVI. The Tourists Pursue their Journey along the Rhine 282 XL VII. Mr. Ledbury's Inspiration, and Jack Johnson's Version of the Legend of Dr.\chenfels . . 288 XLVIII. The Gallant Manner in which Mr. Ledbury Attacked the Fortress of Ehkenbreitstein . 292 XLIX. Mr. De Rcbinson Junior has an Interview with Mr. Prod(;ers 298 L. The Caravan of Wonders Sets Out for Clumpley 304 LI. The Result ok Mk. Prodgers's Itinerant Specu- lation . . . . . . . . . 307 LII. Mrs. De Robinson's Fete Ciiampeti;e . . . 312 LIII. Ledbury and Jack Continue their Journey up the Rhine The Legend of Lurley . . . 317 viii. coy TESTS. LIV. ZfHKH- TiiK Nk;ht on tiik Hici— Tmk Mistakk o-i-l LV. Tjik I'ass of >St. <;otiiai!i> — Li:i)ri ky and .Jaik Arrive at Milan ^ -WS LVI. Mr. Prodijeks Seeks to Estahlisu Hiisi;i,k . . 'Mu LA^II. (;ooi> Fortune Comes to Jack— A Ijanckkoi s Di- lemma AT Milan ....... .S47 LVIIT. Tiik Flight OVER THE SiMiLoN :^">1 LIX. A Fkte in Paris— I\]r. LK.nv.rKYs Last Arn. vi; vnce IN Public SoT LX. Thk Death of Edward Morris .... 364 LXT. Mr. Ledbury and JaER. Mr. Ledbcky was u pale young gentleman of four-and-twenty, re- siiliug at Islington, having short, light curly hair, a very smooth face, and uo whiskers, being short-sighteil, and standing about tive feet eleven iu hiss improved Albert-boots ("gent's new style''), and one inch less in his pumps. He inclined to ginger-ljeer, tea, cider, and other iiarndess beverages that suited his mild idiosyncrasy ; he rose early, took long walks on fine afternoons to Hampstead and other suburban ruralities ; played the flute a little ; subscribed to a know- ledge-diHu.sing periodical; called Harley "a very humorous per- former," and thought Mrs. Nesbitt a "very fascinating actress." Perhajjs our readers will now recognise him ; indeed, we think some of them have met him before. The season was over, and all Mr. Ledbury's friends — for he had A very large connection — were leaving town. The .Simpsons had started, /)ry Bafavier, for Langen Schwalbach ; his own family were located at Heme liay ; the Grimleys had been heard of iu Brittany ; the finnths had gone to Margate ; and the Smythes to Naples ; indeed, all were otf to spend money, to retrench, to court publicity, or to be out of the way. Mr. Ledbury luTuself had dreamt of Gravesend and a cheap lodging near Windmill hill, having suffered from a mild attack of the ejjidemic which seizes all our compatriots at this period, and produces the results of their experiences, during the next publish- ing season, under the titles of " A i^uniiner amongst the Boarding- houses and the Shrimps," "The Idler iu Worthing,'' "A ride on a donkey to Pegwell Bay, by a Lady," " Rottingdean ; its Manufac- tures and Political Resources," and many others of the same class. But where to go was now the question, and rather difficult it was 10 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. to answer — not because he was /VaV witli having travelled every- where, but simply because he had never been anywhere. But chance at last determined him to the great undertaking we are about to chronicle. r Had Mr. Ledbury been a young man of fortune he would have dined at a club whilst his family were out of toAvn ; as he was not, he chose an eating-house, for being, in common with man in general, naturally gregarious, he loved to feed in flocks ; and there was a restaurant which he frequented in a street near the West End, for the sake of tlie walk, and becauBe it touched on the limits of fashion. From one o'clock daily until six, joints of tempting richness smoked in the windows; indeed, the very odour that stole out into the streets seemed to possess peculiai'Iy nourishing powers, to judge from the hungry crowd that surroumied the premises. In the morning, the appearance of the eating-house was not so tempting as at a more advanced period of the day. Strange cold meats, of unintelligible origin and extraor- dinary sliape. Mere exposed to view, with the remnants of yesterday's bill of fare on small jdates. Round tough puddings, st«dded \yith plums at uncertain intervals, reposed with an air of indigestible solidity upon white and greasy earthenware dishes ; and the soup- tureens were iiUed with a singular coagulation, resembling small pieces of fat and carrots set in dirty glue. But towards afternoon the scene was changed,; the cold joints had all departed — we believe it was never know n where — steaming legs and rounds supplied their places, and a portion of the window was partitioned otf for the recep- tion of verdant-looking mustard and cress, ornamented with rings of beet-root and sticks of celery in tasteful combination. Air. Ledbury was of an inquiring turn of mind. He belonged to a Literary and .Scientific Institution in the neighbourhood ; and, by attending all the lectures thereat, delivered with unremitting regu- larity, had ac(iuired tliat happy jumble of the various branches of Natural Phiiosopliy which sucli a practice generally induces. Hence there was one circumstance in tliis eating-house which constantly exer- cised his reflective powers : the joints in the window were always liot aiul smoking. He never could imagine by what secret acquaintance with the power of controlling tlie radiation of caloric (as lie termed it) tins advantage was gained ; notliing short of the skill of Herr Dobler or the Wizard of the North could accomplish it. The joints net only sent up a light vapour, as hot joints generally do, but they were en- compassed in a ])erfect cloud of steam, which, besides rising like in- cense when they were first placed in the oval pewter hollows formed in the wiiulow for tlieir reception, kept on snu)kiiig all day until they were cut down to the bone ; and then the bone itself steamed away just as comfortably as if it still liad its full compliment of meat. Nay, whcji the bone itself had disappeared, the vapour ascended just the same from the spot it had occupied, as furiously as from the plum- y)uddings of gigantic dimensions whilom useil in pantomimic ban- (ptets, to the great admiration of the little boys in dilapidated <'iivelopes who clustered round the window, and pointeil out to each other what they should like tu have. VIVACIOUS AND VERA CIO US. 11 Tliere was a gentleman of a very vivacious turn of niiml who con- stantly dined at tliis eating-house, at the same table and about the same hour that Mr. Ledbury visited it. He was commonly known as "Jack Johnson" — no one ever presuming to add ''Mr." to the appel- lation ; and he was just the sort of person you would imagine an everybody's Jack Johnson to be. He could play singlestick, make punch, slang coal-heavers, drive hack-cabs, and sing comic sfings better than ai:yl)ody else in London. There was not a night tavern at which he was not as well-known as the head-waiter or the glee- singing chairman. He could always get orders for any of the theatres. He w.is seen one night at an evening party in Uryaustone Square, and the naxt at a shilling ball at the Lowther Rooms ; at one time he might be spied out in the gallery at Covent Garden, and at another in the stage box ; on Monday eating heignefs dt j^ches at Very's ; on Wednesday, discussing haricot mutton at BerthoUini's ; and on Friday dining from alamode beef in Holborn — and all witl^ the sime relish. In fact, he was one of those extraordinary con- glomerations of antithetical attributes constantly turning up in the great world, like the water-rochets at the Surrey Zoological Gardens — sparkling about for a space of time in extreme brilliancy, anon dis- appearing for an equal period from all observation, and then coming lip again at a place where they were n^ver expected, and flourishing about as lively and eccentric as ever. Mr. Ledbury was on terms of intimate acquaintance with Jack Johnson, although the two were as different in their dispositions as a bottle of champagne and a tin of Devonshire cream ; and they always enjoyed a little conversation when they met — Mr. Ledbury usually commencing by a few mild meteorological observations, which Jack Johnson generally replied to by asking his opinion of things in general, and the Romans iu particular — questions, it must certainly be admitted, involving much theory and ingenious speculation. '•'It's very hot," observed Mr. Ledbury one warm day towards the end of August, as he seated himself at the accustomed taljle. "Uncommonly," said Johnson; "and so is this cold meat — I mean to cut it soon. Where do you think of going? " "I had an idea of visiting (iravcsend," gently replied Ledbury. "Ugh!" said Mr. Johnson, expressing disgust; "don't go tliere. Nasty place — swarms with hot clerks — bad bathing too — neither fresh nor salt, but a dash of both ! " " But they say the living is cheap there ? " "Oh, nonsense!" was the reply. "You get overdone with shrimps — nothing else to be had at times, upon my honour. Shrimps for breakfast, dinner, and tea— potted shrimps, shrimp-puddings> shrimp-soup— the very pastry-cooks make their tarts of shrimp-jau), and think nothing so fine as shrimp-ices." "How very odd!" observed Mr. Ledbury. "I never heard that before." "Fact, sir!" continued Jack. "Why don't you go to France? I'm going, and anywhere else chance may take me. Suppose you come too. " 12 THE ADVEXTURES OF MJi. LKDBUIiV. Mr. Ledbury was a little aghast ; the thoughts of a Continental tour liad never entered liis head in his wildest dreams of travel. He inquired — " Will it not be very expensive ?" "Oh, no,' answered .Jack. "I know Paris very wtll. Things are as cheap as dirt there if you know where to buy tluni. Velvet hats sixpence apiece ; kid gloves four sous (that's tw ojieuce) ; and glazed boots half-a-crown a pair; lodgings five .shillings a month." " Th.it certainly is very reasonable," said Mr. Ledbury. "I should think, though, that the lodgings are not very great things at that rate." "1'hey are very comfortable, though," answered .lack. "They let 3^u keep dogs in them, and rabbits, and— in fact, anything you like." " I have read about Paiis in the guide-books." "Ah! I should think so. (4uide-books are collections of lies half- bound in cloth to deceive travellers. You never find much in theiu to be of ser\ ice. Take Mrs. Starke with you, follow her directions, and see where tliey will lead you — that's all." Mr. Ledbury, not having a very clear idea as to who Mrs. Starke was, relapsed into silence. " Paris is a perpetual holiday," continued Mr. Johnson, "a large tub of fun always running over. " " But I don't know the language very well." " Oh, you'll learn it quickly. Go to the balls, and dance with the grisettcii : they'll teach you soon enough." " What's a f/rise/te / " in<]uired Ledbury. "Oh, uice ! I believe you,' replied Johnson, \i inking his eye, and finishing his pint of stout. "A (/risette is a French translation of a Pantheon stall-girl, with a dash of the milliner, and an occasional sprinkling of the washerwoman and Cranbourne Alley bonnet- seller. " " What a singular mixture ! How I should like to see one ! " Mr. Ledbury's curiosity was evidently excited, and .lack Johnson, who knew Paris pretty well, and leally wanted a companion, painted such glowing pictures of life in the French cai)ital, that after a little persuasion he contrived to talk over Mr. Ledbury to accompany him. In the course of a few days everything was arianged for their departure, and Jack diil not shave any more, l)ut alloweil his mus- tachios to grow as Dwy liked— whicli proceeding appear.s to lie a.tually incumbent upon everybody going to France ; and Mr. Ledbury, under his directions, procured a flimsy ])ieney tiicy could migrate where they liked ; and here they deposited! tlKiiiselves with tolerable comfort, amongst some lx>xe3 and carpet- bags ; for, as a damp drizzling mist was falling, theie was no great inducement to go upon deck, except for those directly concernetl iii- the management of the vessel ; and they lii%d enough to do, keeping a sharp look-out, to prevent her coming in contact \\ ith the numbers of barges now ihrongijig up the river. Lights had been suspended fron» the bow.s])rit and mast-head, and were now struggling ineffectually with the dull grey of an autumnal morning ; whilst the only token to tlicise below that they were on the alert overhead «as an occivsional '' ]'>ase her I " " Stop her ! " " Half a tuin ahead I " " Go on ' " as obstacles rose in the way of the packet, or disappeared. 'I'he Emticdd moved on, amidst the crowd of stoamei-s, lighters^ colliers, and ships from every part of the world that bonleied the space allotted to the water thoroughfare ; or, as it has been termed, ill allusion to the unceasing shouting of coal-heavers and swearing of baigemen, " the silent highway.' The docks, \vareliousos, churches, and manufacturing chimneys receded as the pace was (|uickened on gaining a clearer road. The outlines of Greenwich Hospital faded in the distance, anil were soon su})plantod by the liat, uninteresting shores which border the river beyond this point. "There's Blackwall !" ejaculated Joiinson, looking out through one of the glazed portholes that form tlie cabin « iiidows. " Many it- j»rime dinner I have had at the lirunswick, after foiii penn'orth of ropt' on the rail. Do you like whitebait ''. " THE CHOPS OF THE CHANNEL. 15 ■" I never tasted it," replied Ledbury. " Wliat is it like? " "Nothing else in the world — little fish, with large eyes and no bones, dried in flour, and drowned in cold punch — ah !" " And when is the proper time for it ? " " June, sir : tlie balmy month of June. After that they get out of ■season — that means the minnows and little dace get in by mistake — no go then — brown bread and tittle-bats." As they approached Gravesend the preparation of breakfast com- inenced ; and the clinking of the cups and saucers had somewhat of a •comfortable sound, inducing them to make a comfortable meal, under the combined influence of inclination and principle. Inclination, Ijecause tliey were favourably disposed towards the shrimps and cold meat ; and principle, because they were told a roughish passage was anticipated ; and should this prove true it was as well not to allow iihe stomach to contract upon its empty self— a proceeding of that ■organ which is occasionally acutely painful. When they had con- cluded their breakfast tliej' ascended upon deck, and beguiled the time with talking, smoking, and drinking bottled stout, until they arrived off Margate, where they took some people on board. Up to this point of the journey everything had been tolerably quiet ; but on approaching the Foreland the first sensations of qualmish- ness became apparent. The passengers began to retire to the cabins, and compose themselves in dark corners of tlie same. Others, who could not bear the close atmosphere, wrapped themselves up and stretclied out their limbs upon the stools upon deck ; whilst a third party seated tliemselves in a row along the lee-side of the vessel, to be in readiness for any thing chance might bring about. The waves increased in :sizc, and the packet accordingly rose and fell in proportion. Stewai'd's boys were seen hurrying about witli glasses of cold brandy-and-water, 4ind solitary biscuits on cheese-plates ; and occasionally a mop was lowered by a string into the boiling ocean ; or a basin, caught by x\\c wind, now and then performed a journey from one end of tlic deck to the other, all by itself. Of course there were several upon whom the motion of the vessel iliad very little effect : and first and foremost amongst these fortunate individuals was Jack Johnson, who had seated himself upon the roof ^f the cabin entrance, in company with an apparently interminable ■bottle of Guinness's stout, watching the invalids, and making sundry ipleasant remarks upon things in general to Mr. Ledbury, who felt ;particularly queer, but was endeavouring to make himself believe tliat lie was perfectly well. "I wonder," observed Jack Johnson, as he stuck the stout bottle into thepocket of his pea-coat, to keep it from rolling away — "I wonder ■\vhy stewards of steamboats are always fat, and have all got curly hair?" "I don't know," replied Mr. Ledbury; "unless constantly being near the fire plumps them up like cooks and wild ducks." "I rather imagine," continued Jolinson, "that they pick up flesh from living amongst hot oil and boiled mutton." " Oh ! don't talk anything about boiled mutton ! " said Ledbury, nvith an air of disgust, and looking like an animated turnip. Ii; 77/ A* Afn'hWTCh'/JS OF MIL LEniWItY. '• Witli respect to tlieir curly liair," Jolinsou reiiiHiked, "I cannot offer :i theory, unlc^s it be that all tl)ei)' whiskers get blown from their cheeks to the to|) of their heads by the high winds V " 'J'licre was a w ild uttempt on the i)art of the steward to establish dinner about one o'eloe.k ; l>ut tlie sea w as too rough to allow of such a jcoceeding ; nor was the atinospliere of the cabin sufficiently attraetive to tempt anyone down. Onr friends, therefore, had some sandwielies on (leek ; and to do iMr. Ledbury justice, he behaved lemiukably well, for the wind was dead against them, and the sea so turbulent that at one time the captain had tiioughts of going into ^^am^^gate harbour for the nigiit. Abcuit three o'clock it came on to rain, and Ledbury ami his com])anion nestled beneath the tarpaulin of some woolsacks u])(»i !(.s, they pay upon getting in ; we call a pawnbroker ' my uncle,' they call him ' »»a taiilf ' ; Knglish washerwomen put the linen into tubs, French ones get into the tubs themselves, and wash the linen in the rivei. " As the steamer at length stopi)ed at the port, an them (piiet, .lohnson iir(»miseil evi'ryone of them individually that he would make a ])oint of comim; to their hotel : and .Mi-. Ledbury received all their cards with ixln-me all'ai.ilit\ , thanking them 81'verally for their attention, and n'gardinu theni with ndid benignity. FHANOE. 17 Having pushed forwatd with the crowJ through tiie gates of the- custom-liouse, tliey were severally searched — an ordeal which awakened much honest indignation in the breast of Jack Johnson, who finally relieved his wrath by pointing to his Wellingtons, and reconiniending the custom-house officers to detain them, hinting that as one liad caused them so much uneasiness at Waterloo, probably tivo would be doubly annoying. A similar playful allusion to the- Bluchers of Mr. Ledbury, who appeared rather nervous during the inquisition, was also indulged in ; and then, as they emerged from the- Douane, they found all the touters waiting for them. It was only by dint of sheer personal strength, and a few liberal and thorough British oaths, that Mr. Johnson preserved himself and his companion from being torn into divers pieces, and carried in divisions to the various; liotels with which Boulogne abounds ; there being, on an average, by the latest statistics, one house and a half to every single visitor wha arrives tliere. Acting upon the contradictory axiom that the dearest hotels are by- far the cheaper, they determined upon putting up at the Hotel du Nord ; the commissioner whereof promised to clear their luggage in time for them to get everything that night ; and then they strolled out into the town to inquire after the diligences, and look about them. There was plenty to attract Mr. Ledbury's attention at every step ; and he was more especially amazed at hearing the dirty little children, who were luxuriating in the gutters, speaking Frencli with such purity and fluency. Then he stared at the lamps slung across the- streets, and the painted signs of the shops and the large red hands at tlie glove-makers ; and he was finally lost in admiration when they turned up the Grande Rue and entered the Cathedral, at the numerous offerings, including the little sliips hung from the ceiling, and the gaudy trappings of the diflferent altars. Jack Johnson, having seen all these tilings before, Avas not so excited, but withal found new amusement in making faces at an old woman who was sprinkling holy water about witli a Dutch broom ; and when he was tired of this pas- time, in blowing out a mass of caudles, about the size of small rush- lights cut in half, which were flaring, guttering, and melting on a tfiangular stand near the door. As they left the church they found a crowd in the open place in front of it, assembled round a man in a fine suit of clothes, who was standing on the seat of a gig, and evidently preparing to address the assembled multitude. His companion, a female in a flaunting bonnet and feathers, something in tlie style of the women who stand under large umbrellas and keep the al fresco gaming-tables on our race- courses, was playing a tune on the cornet-ti-piston to attract an audience, Wlien she had concluded, the gentleman commenced his speech as follows : — " Messieurs et dames, — ne croyez pas que vous avez devaut les yeux un charlatan, un empirique, un jongleur, un prestidigitateur : nou, messieurs — je meprise ces sciences, autant que je m6priserais moi- meme si j'avais le malheur de les professer. " " What does he say ?" inquired Mr. Ledbury. J 8 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBIUY. " He saj's he's a brick, and no mistake," replied Johnson. " Thank you," returned Mr. Ledbury, with nmcli gravity. " What a flowery language the French must be ! I wish I spoke it." Tl « man continued — " Mon titre est modest ; je suis le premier physicien de I'univers, •tt au.ssi du Eoulvart du Temple a Paris : et j'aurai Ihonnciir, messieurs et dames, de vous ofFrir des m^decines les plus redoutablcs ■k deux sous le paquet ; et les allumettes chimiques Alleniandes i\ uii ^ou la boite. Voyez, messieurs tt-Ics allumettes Allemandes I " " What are they ? " again asked Mr. Ledbury. "They are called, in the Tottenham Court Eoad dialect, ' Con- greves, a halfpenny a box,'" said Johnson. "See! he's going to light one." "A present, du feu!" cried the doctor, using the same grandeur of tone in which the Astley's leader of a storming party would €xclaim, "Storm the ramparts!" But the doctor's importance ex- perienced a slight drop ; for, after various rubs, the obstinate lucifers "woidd not light. A laugh arose from the crowd, to which the *^ }>rtinie.r phi/sickn " calmly replied — " Aliens, allons, messieurs : ce n'est rien. L'Allcmagne abuse -decideinent de notre confiance." "I wish I could understand him," observed Mr. Ledbury. " !)<> tell me what he says." " He says the German opera was a failure, and Herr Dobler is the devil's godson," replied Johnson. " N«w look ! — he is handing ids -goods amongst the crowd. Buy something." " What's this?" asked Mr. Ledbury, taking up a small tinsel roll, -about the thickness of his little finger. The physician returned an answer which to Mr. Ledbury was about as intelligible as double Dutch spoken backwards— a jxilois ever ■extremely diliicult to understand. " It's a bo)il)on," said .Johnson. " Try it." "It's rcmaikaldy nasty," replied Mr. Ledbury, putting a small .'piece in his mouth. The people aiound began to laugh at this proceeding ; and when Mr. Lediniry, blushing very deeply, and imagining that tliey were •amused with his wry face at what was possibly an acquired taste, l>it ■ofl' a large piece and swallowed it boldly, their merriment increased to ■ a roar. " What is it ? " he exclaimed again. The doctoi-, comprehending from his gestures what he wished U> • know, replied, " Monsieur, c'est une grande cosmetique pour lisstr Ie« cheveux. " " What a funny mistake ! " said Johnson. " You have been eating ■a stick of coloured pomatum. Whereat Mr. Le\»i» PLEASANT DREAMS. 1^ use. You have not got too much hair, and what you have is harsh, enough to work into a birdcage. It will do it good." And after this pleasant adventure they returned to their hotel. Here the commissioner tuld tliem that he had taken places for them,' the next morning in the diligence, and they accordingly retired to bed, Mr. Ledbury's head being filled with confused visions of smiling; tjrixeUen in cocked hats and postillions' boots ; and Jack Johnson won- ilering if a charming little honqnetiire, whom he neglected to call upou before he last left Paris, would chance to meet him and upbraid hint with his want of etiquette. CHAPTER III. THE JOURNEY FROM BOULOGNE TO PARIS. The bright sun was shining as impudently as he well might into the- double-bedded room occupied by our travellers at Boulogne, when Mr. Ledbury arose the next morning from his slumbers. It is true his dreams of anticipated pleasure had been somewhat prematurely dis- turbed by Jack Johnson's singular love of harmony. This vivacious- gentleman, always wide awake, and on the present occasion extra vigilant, had been indulging since Hve. o'clock in an extemporaneous vocal and" instrumental concert, as he lay in bed ; vocal, as regarded his executioik of several new and popular comic songs, which would have frightened; John Parry into fits, but were withal very diverting ; and instrunien- tal, from the introduction of a solo on his pocket-comb enveloped in a., piece of newspaper, on which he was imitating the cornet-a-piston,. and performing an intricate air, which he termed "Hallelujah upside- down." They were not long in completing their toilet ; and having locked^ their carpet-lxigs, and bolted their breakfast, they walked down to the- oflfice of the diligence in the Rue de I'Ecu, a quarter of an hour before the time of starting. There was a bustling throng of people, speaking, every language ever known, round the bureaux of the rival con- veyances ; and Mr. Ledbury was all astonishment. Indeed, the lumbering form of the \ehicles, the motley crowd of passengers, the- costume of the postillions aud condnrMurs, and the running accompani- ment of extraorilinai-y oaths, and apparently violent altercations, with- out which the French can never do anything, and which are peculiarly in force during the lading of a diligence— all these things together formed a scene so thoroughly novel and continental that minds less- reflective than Mr. Ledbury's would have been interested iu observing; til cm. 20 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. Tlieir places had been taken in the hanqutttf., that being the most agreeable as well as the cheapest j)art of the diligence ; and Jack Johnson had rushed into a shop as they came along and purchased >. bottle of t-ognar, and also one of r!n ordinaire, for their special solace on the road. When their names were called over, he climbed up to his perch by a series of violent gymnastic exertions ; and then, taking the bottles from Mr. Ledbury, and stowing them away under the seat, he assisted his friend in the ascent to the summit, which was not accomplished until he had several times lost his footing, and, still clinging to the strap, had swung about in the air like a samphire gatherer. At last the reading of the list of travellers was concluded, and the passengers were secured in the diligence ; the luggage tarpaulin had been strained as tight as a drum ; the postillion contrived to collect about fifty reins, more or less, in one hand from all the six horses ; the rondurjfjtr first threw up his porte/euille, and then himself, and the huge machine moved on. Then Jack Jackson put himself into pantomimic attitudes, expressive of deep affection towards all the females he perceived at the windows ; and even Mr. Ledbury, becom- ing rather joyous and excited, nodded familiarly to strange people in the street, and then frightened at his temerity, drew back into a corner of the banquette, blushing deeply. After that. Jack Jolinson asked the covdiirfeur if he would favour him with the loan of iiis horn to play Malbrook with the chill off ; and, on receiving it, performed a wild concerto thereon, which was very effective — especially the note of savage defiance that he blew at a gendarme who was standing at the corner of the Grande Rue, and whose moustachois nearly curled up into the comer of his eyes with indignation at the affront. Those diversions lasted until they got out of tlie town, and where fairly upon the road, when the condnrtenr lighted his pipe and the postillion began to hum a song, which appeared to have neither tune, sense, beginning, nor end, but with which, nevertheless, he seemed greatly delighted, especially a part which he repeated an indefinite number of times, and which ran thus, as well as Johnson could catch it:— " Dhlioii ! flhliou ; illiliou! dliliou Le postilion de Ma'am Ablou, C'est un vwsi' loup-garou, Hi ; hi ! hi ! ■ cr-r-r-r6 noni de I>ieu ! " At every village they passed, wliere there were any French words written on tiie houses or shops, Mr. Ledbury pulled out a pocket ..iit (iioiigli to choke anybody A SUSPECT. 25 lie rang the bell, shut the window, and threw himself upon the bed in the attitude of an uiitrussed fowl." "But he had really no intention of killing liiniself ? " asked Mr. Ledbury. " Will you oblige me by repeating that question ? " replied John- son. " Did he mean to kill himself? Oh ! yes, certainly ; I should rather think he did ! "' and he raised his hand to the level of his nose, ami appeared playing an imaginary cor aet-d- piston with his nngers. " When the (jar<;oii came into the room," he continued, "' he bawled out for the master of the house, who threw a basin of water over Davis, and rapidly brought him round. He told a sad tale about having been robbed of his little all, and created such a sensation that I think they would have lent him fifty francs had he wished it. The excitement soon passed away, for the French are always up to their games in that line, and that afternoon Davis walked out of the hotel, and took the diligence to Boulogne." " But was not all this very dishonest ? " asked Mr. Ledbury. " Very, indeed," replied Jack Johnson, sighing ; " I can assure you the recollection of it cost Davis many bitter moments — very many." And Jack looked very much indeed as if he thought it had done so. About half-past seven the diligence stopped at the barrier, and one of the patrols of the octroi in dark-green clothes, with a sword in his girdle, mounted into the banquette, and took his place by their side, much to Mr. Ledbury's terror, having been informeil by Jack Johnson tliat some one of the passengers would certainly be taken prisoner at the end of the journey. The ddigeiice then crfissed the Boulevards, not particularly lively at this time of the morning, and rumbling down the Rue de Grenelle, finally entered the archway of Laffitt's Afessageries Genera/ es, in the Rue .St. Honors, where the passengers de- scended, and the douanier commenced the almost nominal process of looking at their luggage. ' "What does this man want my keys for?" innuired Ledbury, as the ofiicer spoke to him in a dialect half Englisli, half French. " Eh, what ? " exclaimed Johnson, assuming an air of fright. " You don't mean to say he wants your keys ? '" "Yes, I do," replied Ledbury, growing very nervous. 'MVhat's it for?" " You are suspected of carrying secret despatches, then," replied Johnson. " You hav'n't — no — you can't have taken advantage of coming with me to tamper with the Government ! What papers have you ? " " Nothing,"' answered Ledbury, " but some Penny Magazines." "That's it, then!" said Jack, "(iood heavens! how could you be so imprudent as to bring a Penny Magazine into France ? They saw them at the Boulogne custom-house, and have telegraphed the in- telligence to Paris. We shall be sent to the Bastile ! " " Oh ! " groaned Mr. Ledbury, in acute horror, as the man re- closed his carpet-bag and gave him the keys, telling Johnson in French that he could go when he pleased. 2G THE ADVENTURES OF MIL LEDBURY. " What does he say? " demandeil Mr. Ledhiiry, aaxiously. "That we are in extienie ])eril," rt'iilied Johnson. " He adds tliat ive must go to tlic Hotel de I'Etoile du Nord, and tlieie await the pre- fect of police. How could you think of brin.^ing a I'enny Magazine- into France, when you knew it contained a picture of herring-curing at Yarmouth?" " I did not mean anything — upon my honour I did not ! " cried Ledbury, cuergotically. " I never knew what herrings had to do witU the French (iovcrnment. " "It is now too late," .said Johnson, mysteriously; "our doom is sealed, and here comes one of the Government cabs to convey us." A ciladiuc rattled into the yard, and Jack thrust Mr. Ledbury iu just as he was about to appeal to the passengers of the diligence. Tlien, getting in after him, they drove otf to the Quai St. Michel, Avliere the hotel was situated which Joluison meant to patronise : nor did he undeceive his companion with respect to the treasonable convey- ance of the Penny Magazine until he had amused himself immensely with his extreme fright. Having chosen a pleasant room on the fourth floor, with a cheer- ful view of the Morgue on the other side of the river, and the towers of Notre Dame to the right, our travellers refreshed tiiemsehes with a comfortal)le breakfast and a warm batli, and then made their toilette. Mr. Ledbury carefully unpacked his clothes, and having burnt his Penny Magazines — the mere sight of which gave him a ner- vous tsvitching— he arrayed liiniself in such garments as he thought would be calculated to impress the Parisians witli an idea of his style, including a waistcoat which had been amazingly admired at an evening party at Highbury, and a pair of very severe short Welling- ton boots, ^\'hcn tiiis process was completed, they sallied forth. Jack Johnson acting as guide — a situation widcli he lilled very well, from liis perfect knowledge of the localities of Paris. CHAlTKIl IV. I\rK. I.KDUL'KVS Klli-sr Ull.KMMA. A I'LAN is laid down in some of the itineiaries for seeing Paris in » week ; but Mr. Ledbury, under the au.>if (iod dam poitare beer. "' THE GIDUY DASCE. 29 "Bravo!" cried Ledbury, quite enchanted. "How's your mother ? " " Yes," returned tlie girl, with a pretty smile. The dinner passed off in the most pleasant manner ; and then, as thej' had commenced lighting up the gardens, the party descended, and took their seats at one of the small tables which were placed round the space enclosed for dancing, Johnson ordering a bottle of wine at twelve sous — the ordinary outside-the-barrier price. Our own Vauxhall, as it once existed — and we hope after so many false alarms it will continue to do so — is infinitely superior in the ijoup-d'oeuil of brilliancy and extent to any of the ijuinguet/es of Paris ; but it lacked the style of company that raises all the continental amusements so far above our own. Place the ordinary frequenters of Vauxhall with their unmeaning, noisy mirth in the gardens of the Barriere du Mont Parnasse, and they would sink below notice ; but transfer the spirit and gaiety — the students and i;en in all .probability an awkward conflict, had not the muncipal guards in at- tendance marched up to the spot, and broken through the ranks of the rioters, -a The instant Johnson caught sight of their helmets ap- proaching, he informed Lcdljury of the fact, and daitcd away. His •companion, howevei-, was too much lost in the excitement of the fray, • and the wine he had imbibed, to understand him ; and in anotli«r ARRESTED. 'it instant he was somewhat surprised to find himself forcibly seized by two awful-looking soldiers, armed to the teeth. Explanation was of no use, and if it had been, he could not give it. Half-bewildered, he fell a passive captive into their hands ; for aa somebody was to be taken into custody, of course the Englishman was the victim. Marching between their bayonets, he left the garden, and was conducted through the barriers into the city before he knew clearly what had taken place ; and after a brief interview with the sergeant at the guard-house of the arrondisaement, the unfortunate Rlr" Ledbury found himself the inmate of a cell in a French police- ullice — a prisoner, and alone ! CHAPTER V. OK TIIR MAXNKR IN WHICH MR. LEDP.UKV WAS EXAMINED BT THff. MUMCIPAL GUARD, AND OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE PREFECT OF' POLICE. The cold grey light of morning crept sluggishly, as though it feared^ lo enter, through the rusty bars in the apertures of the cell that served- for ^vindows ; and the ramble of vehicles in the adjacent streets begaa a prelude to the round of noisy traffic, misery, happiness, and crime, which a day in a great city gives birth to, when the luckless Mr. I^edbury woke up, and allowed a clear perception of his not very en- viable situation to burst upon him. His slumbers during the night lud been confused and broken. Occasionally wild screeches and con- vivial yells had sounded from the contiguous cells ; but when tliese iDse to an unpleasant height, or tended in any way to disturb the nerves of the r/arde municipale (who dozed upon luxurious inclined ) lanes of oak and iron in the outer room), a visit from one of thenv generally quelled the riot for a short period, only to return in most cases as soon as the functionary's departing footsteps were heard out- sivle the door. ■ All the excitement of the champagne and vin ordinaire which sparkled from Mr. Ledbury's eyes the night before — all his vapid defiance and valorous demeanour — had passed away. A head-ache, which appeared likely to split his brain into two, had succeeded to liis <»'ay imaginings of the previous evening. His eyelids smarted with inflammation and the want of legitimate rest ; and, moreover, he had broken one of the pebbles of his spectacles. His mouth was dry and parched ; his hands red and swollen, and looking about the nails as if he- Lad been excorticating millions of new walnuts ; whilst his mind re- volting at everything he thought of or perceived about him. Two or 32 THE ADVENTURES OF Mf,\ LEDBURY. three companions of his iinpiisoiiment, of tlie lowest class of society, and of whose presence he had hitherto been entirely unconscious, were disposed about the cell. One was still snoring heavily witli tlie stertor •of intoxication ; another was smacking his lips with thirst, or the lack of the usual morning stimulus from the niarrhaiid de fin to settle his irritable and depraved stomach ; and a thii-il, awake, but scarcely returned to his proper intellects, was gazing listlessly at tlie window, wliich quivered in his disturbed vision, or indulging in occasional un- meaning wailings, half melodious, half lachrymose. Mr. Ledbury's mild temperament was ill calculated to bear up against the first terrible consciousness of iiis position as he awoke. The whole reality by whicli he was surrounded faded away in the appalling visions of the galleys, the mines of Siberia, impalement, underground cells in the Bastile, laden with heavy chains, tl>e guillotine, the bow-string, ami other •continental modes of punishment, which rapidly crowded upon his imtigination. Suppose, by tiie mild intervention of the law, he should ■only be imprisf)ned for two or three j'ears in a fortress ! Gracious powers ! how would his family at Islington V)ear the shock when they ■came to hear of it I — what desolation would brood on tiie hearth I What would all his young lady friends of bygone evening> parties 'think of him when they were informed of his disgrace? and how ■would the Saturday-night organ, that always played " As 1 view those scenes so charming " out of tune, contrive to do without the hebdom- adal peimy which puichased its retreat to an inaxidiblo distance? These were fearful thiiig.-< to reflect upon, and he cried as ho thouglit •about them, or rather gave a very good imitation of having a very bad cold in his liead. He envied the very flies, that flew in and out the bars just as they pleased, without asking permission of anybody. An hour or two passed miserably ;iway until about nine o'clock, when the bolts were withdrawn, and he was summoned to the front •office of the guard-house, and confronted with the cliief officer of the force to be interrfigated ; Ids extreme state of conviviality on the pre- ceding evening having (juite precUuled tlic po.-jsibility of getting •anything like a correct answer fifun him. "Monsieur,* gruffiy demanded the guard, in a voice n)ade d-n times more terrible by its transmission through a pair of formidable unustachios, " dites moi votie nom, s"il vous plait ? '" "Not guilty," replied Ldlbury, who had some faint idea that a species of judicial intjuiry was going on. The supposed cognomination was immediately written down, as near as they could catch it. " Ou est votre passport ? " "Je non pas,"' inswered Ledbury, slightly comprehending the visionary passpf)rt exchanged for Ium travelling ■one ; but this he could not explain. The officer, not understanding him, gave orders that Jiis pockets should be investigated. One of the ror/ts fortiiwith began to search Mr. Ledbury —a procesa A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER. 33 which was exceedingly interesting to the others. The first article they turned out upon the bench was his pocket-handkercliief, covered all over with a representation of the flags of different nations, and a large Union-jack in the middle. This was evidently considered a most important discovery, and immediately entered in the police-sheet as a code of private signals. The standard of Algiers strengthened this belief, and the whole of the garde pointed it out immediately with great exultation ; for, ever since the French won the battle of Con- ■stantina, they have formed a singular idea that there never was another victory in tlie world, and have framed all their toys, bonbons, sports, and public shows accordingly, wherein "les sacres Biidouirui" are alwaj's represented as getting ten to one the worst of it. Then from the other pocket was produced a most suspicious list of the •General Steam Navigation Con^any, evidently in correspondence with the pocket-handkercliief; together with his keys, his little French dictionary, some crumbs of biscuit, and some nuts which he had pocketed from the dinner-table, having heard such proceeilings were customary in France, and proper to be done. His waistcoat gave up all of the cosmeliqut tliat he had not eaten at Boulogne ; a half-crown pencil-case, which he had been lucky enough to win for eight shillings ■at a Ramsgate library last year ; a few francs ; an old pass-check of •Covent Garden theatre, with tlie word "CoMUs" on it— another proof of some secretly organised society — and two or three jiijubea melted into one conglomerate. As soon as the search was completed the guard got under arms, and Mr. Ledbury prepared to accompany them to the prefect of police, ■comparatively, much in the same state of mind as a condemned crimi- iial who takes his last look at the coppers and stewpans of the Newgate kitchen on his djeary journey to pass through the hatch of the debtor's door, and ascend the fatal scaffold to " danser une danse Ou il n'y a pas de plancher." There is generally a crowd of loiterers around the door of tlie Corpa ■de Garde, to see wliat delinquents make their appearance in tlie mom- ■ing ; and when Mr. Ledbury emerged from the portals pertaining to the establishment of " Lieerte, Ordre Public," between twt) of the •municipal guards witli lixed bayonets, he would have given worlds to •have become the inmate of one of his own short Wellingtons ; iu other ■words, he wished, like the charity-boys immortalised in the " Wreck Ashore " by the late Mr. .Jolin Reeve of glorious memory, " to have shrunk into his very half-boots vitli fear." The little boys^and saJ impudent fellows indeed are these Parisian gamins — pleased at his woe- 'begone, yet withal benevolent, aspect, ran by his side and huzzaed ; tlie grisettes who were on their way to market or to work smiled at ■his general tourntire as some of them recollected his waltzing exi>Inits •of thp previous evening ; and a few idlers at the doors of the wine- shops a«l;irti!-ans of Armagnac. In the Rue St. Jacques— whore Mr. Ledliurys new lodging was situated, the piivacy of wliich we shall anon invade — on the dreadful eve of St. Bartholomew, Betliune, the young l)rotiu'r of Sully narrowly escaped assassination by showing a breviary to a soldier, which be bad fortunately caught up in the confusion of the ma*!acre, THE QU ARTIER LATIN. 37 In the adjacent Rue de la Harpe and Cloistres de St. Benoist, this book again saved him ; and, after lying concealed for three days in the College de Bourgogne, M'hich stood on the site of the present medical school, he was liberated and pardoned upon consenting to go to mass. The valiant Philip de Mornay at the same time escaped from his house in the Rue St. Jacques, whilst it was actually in possession of the mob, who were pillaging it, although the landlord was a Catholic. Nor should we omit to mention that at a later date, in the Carmelite convent which stood formerly in the Rue d'Enfer, the beautiful and penitent Louise de la Valli6re retired iu 1680 ; where also, after thirty years of pious seclusion and regret, she died. But there is little now left to recall those bygone events ; for the buildings have been razed, and streets of tall, dirty houses erected on the spots they occupied, if we except the time-hallowed walls of the Hotel de Cluny in the Rue des Mathurins, which alone enclose tangible memorials of the Quartier Latin in the olden time. And although the majority of sight-seekers at Paris know as little about the venerable . edifice as a West-end exquisite does of RatclifF Highway, yet it is M-ell worthy of inspection : with its fine Gothic architecture, its fluted and embossed armour, its curiously-fashioned windows breaking the sunbeams into a hundred fantastic forms upon the polished oaken boards, for daring to intrude where all should be dim and mysterious ; and its domestic relics of other days, which call up with mute and affecting eloquence iudistinct imaginings of those wiio made a home of that old mansion, whose very names have now passed away even from the ancient chronicles. But we will not farther rout up the mouldering archives of blood- shed and crime — our business lies not so much with them as with present records of gallantry and merriment ; for the Quartier Latin derives its interest from other sources doubtless more congenial to the taste of our readers. One-half of the promoters of the real fun and gaiety of Paris reside within its limits. In a word, it is the abode — we think the hive would be a better term, were it not for the ideas of industry connected with that straw tenement — of nearly all the students of law and medicine in Paris ; and very fortunate indeed ia it that they have a quartier to themselves, or the walls of the city would not contain them, to say nothing of the iron gates at the barriers. They are all joyousness and hilarity ; and their hearts are as light ais the summer breeze that sweeps over the pleasant foliage of the Luxembourg gardens, endeared to their memory by so many flirtations on the stone benches. And the French students are not exclusive in their love-making, for they pay their court alike to all. The rosy Cauchoise in her high lace cap — the sprightly Lyonnaise — the " hdle petite Bdye" (and what pretty creatures the Belgian girls are !) — with the laughing, pouting, constant, coquetting grisette — the grisettc, pur sang, of Paul de Kock, Jules Janin, Louis Huart, and Beranger — each in turn receives their protestations of an eternal love for the winter course of lectures, and equally each in turn jilts them. But they feel no very bitter pang when their professions are laughed at. Their love b as light as their hearts ; and when they lose the affectionate glance S^ THE ADVENTUBES OF .MB. LEDBUBY. of one pair of soft eyes, they eiuleavour, without loss of time, to rekuidle the flame, which is sub:Iuenfusi(>n. "Oh! no— not at all. Tlu' loom is latlicr high up, though ; isn't it ? " "'J'hat's the beauty of it,'" replied Jack. "Look at tlie view! If we were lower down we could not see one of those chiiiinoy-puts. USEFUL KNO WLEDGE. 39 nor the towers of St. Sulpice. Besides, the higher we get the more noise we can make. And then the furniture ! " "I don't think that clock goes," said Mr. Ledbury, peering at the face of it. "That's no matter — they never do; the look of it's the thing. Did you never win one of them at a travelling bazaar or fancy fair ? " " I never had that good fortune." "That is because you did not try soon enough," said Jack John- son. "The clocks are always won the first night the establishment opens. People who come afterwards never get anything but back- gammon boards, boxes of soldiers, and mother-of-pearl salt-spoona. How deticient the diffusion of Useful Knowledge is still, in spit« of all the Society's books ! " " This is a fact certainly worth knowing," said Mr. Ledbury. "To be sure," replied Jack. "You may depead upon it, if Government were to start an educational course of ' Dodges for the Million,' it would be of infinite service." " You would make an excellent professor." " Rather ! " said Johnson ; and, from wliat I can make out of the newspaper reports of Hullah's plan with his thumb and four fingers, I should do it in the same style — somehow so." And here candour compels us to state that Jack Johnson forgot himself, and was vulgar enough to indulge in a coarse habit peculiar to the lower classes when they wish to express the word " gammon ! " pantomimically. As soon as their effects arrived, and were stowed away in their proper places. Jack Johnson informed Mr. Ledbury that as they had come to live amongst the French medical students, they had better attire tiiemselves accordingly, lest they should look too particular in the streets, which he thought they did at present. And, indeed, any- one else, with far less powers of observation, would have made the same remark, had they witnessed the crowd of odd beings who were loitering after lecture in the open space between the Caf6 Dupuytren and the Ecole de !Medeciue, when our friends turned out to make some purchases. Some wore their hair flowing down, their backs almost as long as a woman's ; others had it cropped quite close, and covered by a flat cap of bright scarlet, without a poke. These cultivated their mustachios until they grew like pent-houses over their lips ; those allowed their beards to reign on their chins in unshaven luxuriance. The majority wore trousers of a dingy grej', brought down very low over the insteps, and coats with half-inch collars, similar in style to the costume of the seedy foreigners who loiter about the " Quartier da Lester-square" Sbt this time of the year. Some wore dark blouses; others paletots — a species of light t-hooting-jacket ; and a few had frock-coats. Nearly all carried pipes in their [mouths, which they doggedly kept there ; removing them only to address a bright-eyed griselte, who was going by at the instant, and whom they accosted as Clara Fontaine. If you wish to kr.ow whj' this belle was called " Fontaine," inquire in the Quartier Latin, and they will tell you. 40 THE ADVENTURES OF M/i. LEDBURY. Guided as \isual by Jack Johnson, Mr. Ledlniry repaired to a ready- made clothes establishment in the I'alais Royal, attracted by an announcement at tlie door, of " 25,000 Palktoi>s ! ! '' to choose from — a piece of information ^^ hich caused much admiration in the passing reader, at the ingenuity \\ iiich could pack such a legion of coats into so «mall an establishment — the whole concern being about the size of tlie little shops that are let into the wall of Hyde Park, at the commencement of Knightsbridge. There was a great deal of haggling, when they at length dis- covered some apparel which fitted them. Jack Johnson generally commenced the traffic by offering the vendor just half what he asked ; and then he rose liis bidding as the other came doAvn, until a price was obtained satisfactory to botli parties. And very brilliant indeed did Mr. I^edbury look when he turned out in a tifty-franc coat, a twenty- franc pair of pantak)ons, and a ten-franc waistcoat ; and, when a new hat was added to the costume, he felt so thoroughly French that he almost expected the language to come intuitively with the habits of the couMiiy. He did not, it is true, see many of the French students in spectacles ; but then, some of the national guard wore thcni, and tliis was an excellent precedent. "'Diere's something in these clothes " ob-served Mr. Ledbury, with great deliberation, as they entei-ed the Rue St. Honore " The deuce there is ! "' interrupted Jack Jolinson. " What is it ?^ not the moth, I hojje ? "' " No - no," continued Ledbury : " I was going to say— or rather to observe— that tliere is something in these clothes which makes me think I could waltz, if I had a fair trial." " You sliall try with a chair wlien we get home,"' returned Jack ; "and I will teach you." And in live minutes Mr. Ledbury was lost in a day-dream of dclii ious anticipation of the sensation he should create by his ele<'ant maniKrsand C them, which kept the fun going just as well. And when there w;i« AN INVITATION. 45 "a minute's pause, wKich, however, was of rare occurrence, he handed about the plate of biscuit de Rheims with most expressive pantomime ; •or showed the only conjuring trick he could perform, of making a Tout-cake jump into his mouth from his left hand, by slapping it with the right ; in the execution of which piece of dexterity he was allowed by all parties in Islington to be very clever. Everybody had arrived within-an-hour ; and when the coffee was all gone "they burnt brandy over lump-sugar in the saucers, and made what they were pleased to term jmnch. After which, all the dirty cups and plates were shot away into the drawers, and the tables turned outside the door, to malfe room for the dance. The set was soon formed, and Mr. Ledbury perched himself upon the marble slab to play the organ, having volunteered to be the tirtt musician. Jules put in a few occasional notes upon the French horn, "which gave a very inspiriting eft'ect to the orchestra, although they were in another key, and belonged to a different tune. There was no •angi-y-looking Muiicipal Guard or sergent-de-ville to interfere with them ; and if occasionally the dance did get a little reckless, and some- A\iiat livelier than the style adopted in our high circles, yet they 'expressed no more merriment than they felc, and were at no pains Zo mask their natural hilarity, or dress Pleasure up in a suit of starch and buckram. When the quadrille concluded, they rested for some refreshment, and Aimee took Ledbury under her charge for the waltz, in which he succeeded tolerably well, having taken lessons of Jack Johnson for a few days previously. One of the clerks did not waltz ; but having modestly stated that he thought he knew enough of •music to turn the organ, he was forthwith perched npon the drawers, with a bottle of wine, and kept there for the rest of the evening. "Well, this is doing it, LeddjJ^^is it not?" said Johnson, as his frientl concluded the waltz and tumbled up against him. "Oh, capital!" was the reply. "But I say, Jack, do you think 'it's going off well ? " "I sliould rather think it was," returned Johnson. " There's only one man here I don't know. Aimee says he makes a little too free." " Ah ! which is he? " " That sallow-looking fellow with the long moustachios. He came with one of Lisfranc's pupils ; but Henri tells me he is always lurking •about the schools, and is connected with some private gaming-house ■on the Boulevards." " I shouldn't wonder," said Ledbury. " He asked me a little while back if I could play ecarte." " Well, don't do it — that's all." "Law I Jack — I don't know a spade from a club," answered Led- bury, who had about the same idea of pla5dng cards as he had of dancing a hornpipe on his head— perhaps not so much. " I am almost *orry now that I have accepted his insitation." ^' W^hy — where has he asked y-ou to go to ? " " To dine with him to-morrow in the Louis-le-Grand — I think bo iViid — and bring you with me." "And you have said we'll go? " 4G THE ADVENTUBES OF MR. LEDBUIiY. " ^ylly, I ooiild not very well help it," answered Mr. Ledbury, getting rather frightened. " He appeared a very gentlemanly fellow, and I had told him we were not engaged. " "Well, it can't be helped now," said Johnson, "and we must go^ I shall not play at cards tlieie, thougli, for all that." Another quadrille finislied as he was speaking, so their conversa^ tion was interrupted, and Mr. Ledbury was soon engaged looking after their refreshments. As tliey had been dancing a great deal, Jack thought it was time to introduce supper ; and fortliwith wheeled the table back into the room, and then they covered it with the viands. Mr. Ledbury was voted with general consent into the chair ; and exceed- ingly convivial was his deportment therein, being much enlivened l)y a delicious compound of eggs, hot water, brand}-, and lump-sugar, which Jack Johnson concocted and beat up in a soup-tureeu. At last he got so lively that he volunteered a song ; and, as tiie chair was too ignol>le a situation for him to sing it from, Jules and one of the clerks hoisted him on to tlie top of the .secretaiy ; and there, lietweeu two candles, he indulged his audience with a patriotic ballad, which he gave with much spirit, about a certain exceedingly durable flag which had braved all sorts of rows and tempests for a thousand years, and wasn't worn out yet, but quite as good as new — in fact, better, for aught he could tell. He was particularly great in his runs and shakes, and drew down thunders of applause when he finished, al- tliough of course nobody knew wliat it was about, except Jack John- son. When be had concluded, Aim^esang " Le-f LareuMS du Convent ; " and the harmony, once set going was kept up bj' all the guests, excejjt the mild cl«rks, who, nevertheless, made capital listcneis, and admired everything they heard. At last Jack Johnson struck u]> the following, student's song, it the chorus of which they all joined most, euthu^ siastically : — "La vie a des attrnits Pour cjul la I'enil joyeusc: Faut-il clans les regrets La i)assev soiuieuse? Jamais ! .rmiiais ! Le plaisir est Francais. (Chmna, with great energy.) Eh ! ioup ioiip icpiip— frala la la la t Eh! ioup ioup ioup— trala la la la I La la la ! I >» la la I ■• There were about thirty v rses to this .song, and they progressively increased in energy until the lust chorus appearcil to have aroused the ]io]pitlar indignation of the neighbours. A knocking was heard be- neatli the floor, which was at first imagined to be somebody beating time in the wrong place ; but, as it continut>il after the song had finislied. Jack formed the idea that somebodj' below wanted to go to eIcc)). He was not far out in his notion, for in a few seconds tlier© vas a ring at the bell, aiul the door being opened, allowed an en- trance to the landlord. M. Mito, and a very imposing-looking ye»(/unjM CLIMAX. 47 •at his side, who, before anybody had time to ask what they wanted, «aid that it was eleven o'clock, aud that the orders from the maire ■were for every hdtel meubU to be closed by that hour. The order was at first received by Jack Johnson with a permission for the mayor of the arroyidissemtnt to go to a nameless locality which forms the last scene in the opera, and the first in the burlesque, of Don Giovanni. But, recollecting upon second thoughts that little is gained by opposing the French police, he filled up a bumper of brandy, and hoped the new-comers would honour him by joining their party, and drinking " to the health of Marshal Soult, and the battleof Auster- litz ; coupled with the memory of the Emperor and the Charter of 1830." This was a patriotic grouping of toasts that no Frenchman could withstand ; so the (lendarme, having glanced around him to see that he was not observed, entered the room with M. Mito. This fresh addition to their party after a sliort time increased the revelry, which grew fast and furious, until an hour of parting unparalleled in the social annals of the Quartier Latin. More invitations on all sides than ever were known were given and accepted, and the guests finally separated, as the newspapers say, highly delighted with their evening's entertain- ment. At daybreak the next morning ]\Ir. Ledbury found himself sitting on the drawers, and turning the organ the wrong way as he sang " She wore a wreath of roses " to the expiring candles. The gendarme and Jack Johnson were seated on the tloor, playing a random game of dominoes. M. Mito was discovered in the fireplace, crying, as he thought of his grandfather, who was one of the Old Guard, and died -some twenty years before he (M. Mito) was born ; and the gar^o?i of the house found all the keyholes of the different rooms filled with cherry-stones from the cerises d I'eau de fie, and the bell-pulls cut away from the doors, whilst all the lamps on the landings were trimmed Avith vin ordinaire. i And in the midst of the confusion which the room presented, in a comfortable fauteidl that had been borrowed from the porter's lodge, a cloth in her hands, and some clean cups by her side, as if she had fallen asleep from pure weariness in endeavouring to set things -straight for iDreakfast, slumbered poor Aim^e — as pretty and neat as •ever — dreaming, no doubt, that she was in some fairyland, where all 'the trees were laden with peaches and ijahtte, and all the fountains flayed tau sucrie and lemonade. 48 THE ADVES TUBES OF MR. LEDliUHY. CHAPTER VIII. OF THK: BOIS DE BOULOGNE, AND MR. LEDBURYS EQUESTRIAN FEAT* THEREIN. There is oue very gratifying result attendant upon tlie exliikiration produced by a rather more-than-usual indulgence in the various con- vivial beverages \vliicli pure French Cognac lends its aid to concoct. Its elevating e fleets go offwitJi little sy.stematic derangement ; and it leaves none of those extra-uncomfottable reflections upon past folly, wliicli the Acherontic rack-i)unch, the heavy bottled stout, or the coarse fiery tavern brandy of England invarialjly induce. Accordingly, although at the end of t^ie laet chapter vvc left Mr. Ledbury and Jack Johnson in the happy state whicli vould have pre- cluded them, for the moment, fiom casting up an intricate account, or undertaking any piece of work v. hich required mucli cool reflection to- perform, yet by eleven o'clock in the morning they were, to use Jack's expressive phrase, signifying the peculiar amount of coin which he generally selected to express an orderly state of domestic economy, " as right as ninepence. " Aimee had been aroused from her slumbers, as now, Ifke Kathleen Mavourncen, between sleeping and waking (for the head of the little Qrineitt was not quite so strong as those of her companions, and she was slightly drowsy), was making coffee for our two friends. However, everytliing was very comfortable, and the events of the previous night — the "after party," whicli is alwa3'3 so amusing to discuss with people of slightly quizzical powers — furnished them witli much diverting conversation. Tlie fjendarme had cleared liiniself off, to make what excuse he best might for his absence fronj the police-ofSce ; and M. Mito had been earefully carried downstairs, and laid upon a pallet-bed, until returning consciousness should allow him to receive his wife's gentle upbraidiugs with proper feeling and effect. Mr. Ledbury never correctly understood who Madame Mito was,. for he seldom caught a perfect glimpse of her ; but sometimes, when he returned at night, he remeuihered to have seen a strange, m ild- looking female, Avith a red handkerchief tied round lier head, in close oonferenoe with the porter's wife over some mystciious compound of bread, fat, and hot water, which they hail been manufacturing. Wliere on earth she got in the daytime necially when you are close to them in the orchestra of a theatre ! " Mr. Ledbury did not see the great enjoyment derived from such ]>ro\iinity — in fact, he thought quite otherwise, and therefore ventured to ask his friend in what the diversion consisted. "Filling them with peas," answered Jack, "when the musicians go out between the plays. You should see what a shower the per- former blows forth when he comes back again and tries his first note t Are you much of an equestrian ? " " I have ridden donkeys at Hampstead and Blackheath," returned Ledbury, half smiling at his vivacious friend's rapid shots from one subject to another. " That's very low," said Johnson, " unless you mounted without a saddle, and sat quite back iu the true charity-boy style ; then of course, the perfect assumption of the habits of the common classes made the amusement aristocratic. Why didn't you have a pony ? " " Because the donkeys were half-price — ninepence an hour, in- clu'ling the boy to run behind, and the pins in the stick. But why do you ask? " " Not having much to do," said Johnson, "I vote for a trip to the- 50 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. Bois de Boulogne. You luvve never been there, and I wai>t to see how you look outside a horse — I should say very stylish in tliose •clothes." Truth to tell, Ledbury had some misgivings on the subject ; but the desire to distinguish himself overcame his scruples, and lie con- sented to go. Aim^e received a special invitation to accompany them, coupled with the promise of a donkey all to herself when tliey got there ; and they likewise proposed to call upon Jules and Henri, and request the pleasure of their society. Toilets are soon made in the Quartier Latin ; and ten minutes after they had decidcil where to go the trio stood on the landing out- side the chamber of tlie young artists at the Hotel Nassau, in the Ilue de la Harpe, principally guided to tlie door by various diverting sketches and likenesses of the proprietor of the house, drawn with chalk and charcoal on the walls. When they rang at the bell, Henri came to admit them, and they entered the suite of one room and a kitchen pertaining to their friends. The chamber was much in the style of their own, with the exception that it was rather more scantily furnished^the literal ameuhlemenfs consisting of a table, two chairs, a wootlen box, and the bellows. The sleeping-places were foiineil by two lockers artfully let into the wall, which, as they were not very broad, it was charitable to suppose were very deep, and that the occu- pant contrived by some ingenious process, acquired by great stuily, to penetrate their hidden recesses feet first, and then slumber as lie l)est might with his head at the opening, like a human cannon apj>caring at an embrasure or port-liole in the wall of an apartment. They liad apparently been discussing some poached eggs for breakfast, w liicli a culinary odour informed Jack Johnson had been prepared by tlienj- selves over a handful of incandescent charcoal in a small fonnmuu ; and now Henri was drawing " a soldier of the middle ages " on tlie ceiling with a burnt cork tied to the end of an old fencing foil ; and Jules, in an easy attitude, with his feet considerably higher than his head, and without cravat or shoes, was enjoying a morning pipe. As the young artists did not feel much inclined for work that day, and were speculating upon wliat tliey sliould do with tliemselves, they agreed very readily to accompany Ledbury and his companions to the Bois de Boulogne. They were not longer arranging tiieir dress than their pi-edecessors, and in five minutes the party started in procession, Jack Jolinson leading tlie way with Aim6e on his arm — the admiration ^nd envy of all the (jhiartier — and tlien Jules and Henri, with Mr. Ledlinry attached to them, who, beil^g outside, was seldom on tlie pavement, sometimes in tlie mud, and very frequently indeed in the gutter. In this ordt'r tiiey crossed the river to the Tuileries, where, the space being l)ioale ; and not per- ceiving Ledbury in his haste (wlio was peiforming some curious postures on the floor, resembling the antics of \V. H. Payne wiien lie has sat down on a hot warming-pan in a pantomime), tumbled over him, and began to kick blindly and desperately against a sack of haricots hlanes, thinking it was the intruder, until he attected its down- fall also. Johnson was screaming witii laugliter at the door ; Jules and Henri were equally deligiited ; Aimt-e, half amused, half frightened, after a minute's pause, began to laugli as heartily as tlie rest ; and the little boy who ran behind her, f^cared out of his wits, scampered off as fast as his legs would carry him. Of course the marrkand let loose an avalanche of " sacres \ " and "crre nom de tonnerres ! " as soon as he saw how things stood. But Mr. Ledbury, who really took a joke better than an3-one else in the world — and it must be confessed he attributed his downfall to his ))ad riling, rather than to any malice prepense on the part of others — made a rapid offer of payment for the damage committed, which the others volunteered to share as far as their ti-easures would go. A few francs set all to rights ; and in addition, they purchased a quantity of eggs and bread, which were entrusted to the care of Aimee. They then went back to the spot where they had iiired the horses, not saying a word about the probable state of tlie knees of Mr. Ledbury's pony on the morrow ; and having found out a marchaiid de vin, wiu)se establishment appeared likely to suit their purpose, they enter ed for their second diijeiiner, ami a very merry meal, yet strictly reasonable, they found it ; so much so, indeed, that Ledbury and Jack Johnson were surprised to perceive the time go so fast, when the hour approached for them to leave in onler that they might dress and pro- ceed to dine with their aotjuaintance of the preceding evening, accord- ing to promise. M. BLAQUARl 55 CHAPTER IX. OF THE BOARDING-HOUSE ON THE BOULEVARDS, AND ECARTE. The pension, at whose table d'hdte M. Auguste Blaquart, as he was called, had invited Mr. Ledbury and his companion to meet him, was situated at the corner of one of the principal streets leading on to the Boulevard des Italiens, and occupied the entire first and second floors, above the entresol of one of the very line houses which adorn this quarter of Paris. Madame Lagrange, the mistress of the establishment, was about five-and-forty ; but still a perfect symmetry of figure, and, to use a theatrical term, an admirable niakinrj-np, with the assistance of bandoline, rouge, and hair-dye, threw off ten or a dozen years from her real age in the eyes of the casual beholder. She was even now a fine woman — had travelled much and seen more, whilst an easy self- possession, a complete knowledge of the usages of good society, and the power of inspiring her guests with the feeling that they could not make very free with her, proved that she had at some time or other moved in a superior set, and adopted their happiest manners. Evidently French by birth — for every gesture, opinion, and expression showed it — she spoke Italian, German, and English with tolerable accuracy ; and, perfectly competent to associate with the higher classes, she yet had tact enough to remove all uncomfortable feeling from those palpably her inferiors in the common attainments of good bringing up whom chance frequently brought her into contact with at her own table. Her husband, who never appeared until evening, when the card-tables were formed in the salon, was certainly beneath her in every respect. He aspired to the costume and general tournure of the homme comme il faut ; and his gaudy toilet and occasionally bouncing talk dazzled many of the pensionnairc.fi ; but, compared with the really good conversation and demeanour of Madame Lagrange, he reminded one of placing the gayest of Madame Tussaud's creations by the side of one of Canova's statues ; al- though even in this case many lovers of superficial glitter would prefer the former. Who Blaquart himself was nobody had the least idea. He a.lways took the bottom of the table in the absence of M. Lagrange, and there were many surmises that he had a share in the profits of the house. The English people, of whom there were always several staying here, "recommended on" from Boulogne and Calais, thought him a perfect gentleman ; but the Parisians detected now and then some stray, care- less action, or loose word, which had evidently been picked up in some questionable quartier of the city. And, indeed, one or two of the guests were sometimes astonished to meet hina walking with very strange-looking persons, approaching in their dress and manners to those of a chevalier d'industrie — their clothes cut in the extreme style ef S€edy fashion, and wearing their hats in that very scampish manner 56 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. which tlie class known and spoken of in EngUmd as "gents" adopt when they wish to be considered men about town. Ledbury and Jack Johnson were tolerably punctual to their ap- pointment ; and after many various mistakes in the direction, which Mr. Ledbury did not perfectly recollect, having left the thin glazed card, with tlie microscopic name upon it, which Blaquart gave him, at home, tliey at length got to the house. But here again they were some little time finding out precisely where to go, for the port coch^re served as an entrance severally to a printer's, a paper-hanger's, a chocolate manufactory, and the bureau of an asphalte company ; and the sanctity of each of these establishments was invaded before they pitched upon the inscription at the foot of the staircase, "Pension AC PREMIER," which led to Madame Lagrange's nuite of apart- ments. They entered the drawing-room, where most of the guests were assembled ; and Blaquart, who was ready to receive them, immediately came up in a most overwhelmingly polite manner, and introduced theui to the mistress of the house. It was ratlier dark ; and as the French people in every station never light a candle an instant before there is the slightest necessity for one, they could not see the company very distinctly, which somewhat comforted Mr. Ledburj-, who would have been terribly fluttered at facing a large room full of strangers. He backed into an obscure corner of the room with Johnson and Blaquart, where he remained until dinner was announced, much gratified to find that English was as much spoken in the room as French, The appearance of the salle d manner, when the door was thrown open wliieli communicated with the drawing-room, quite dazzled Mr. Ledbury Iiy its brilliancy. There was, however, little time to ruminate, for the guests hurried in, each person taking his proper place, whilst John aiid his companion, being the last comers, occupied the two se.ats at the bottom of the table, one on either side of Blaquart. The table itself looked exceedingly well, with its profusion of cut glass and wax-lights, and the napkins folded and twisted into cocked-hats, fans, roses, fools'-caps, and all kinds of fanciful shapes. Every person had also a handsome carafe of wine before him, which the English usually drank during dinner, and the French made to last for a fortnight — the property of each individual being designated by a card tied round the neck of the bottle, a piece of tape, or occasionally a small chaplet like a candle ornament. A pretty English girl, introduced to Mr. Ledbury as Miss Bernard, sat next to him, and her mother, an exceedingly tine lady in an ap- palling turban, opposite. Then, hlLtlier up, came Mr. Bernard, a good- tempered, Jolm liull sort of a uum, u hose observations drew down per- petual black looks and glances of (•<)»< Itniscd tliundei- froui his wife ; and on the other side was Mr. Jolm lU'tnanl, a very elegant young gentleman indeed, with his hair ouiled, and parted behind, a figured light satin stock, and his wristbands turned over his coat, as if he had washed his hands when too late for dinner, and in the hurry forgotten to turn his culFs down. M. Coquet, an old bachelor, who came there every da)' to dine, was placed opposite to Madame Provost, u very fine ■JOHy BULL ABROAD. 57 woman, with eyes and teeth like a hairdresser's doll in the Burlington Arcade, and about the same expression of countenance. Then liigher up still was a young Frenchman of fortune— at least, a fortune for a Frenchman— named Achille Derval, and facing him an Italian contes-ta or any other rank Madame Lagrange chose to give her for the setting- off of her establishment, who did nothing but talk about her villa at Fiesole, and make ks grands yeux at her vis-d-vis, who was considerably lier junior; and above them were several people, whose names and stations Mr. Ledbury could not catch from the distance. Altogether they sat down about twenty in number ; and, taking one with another, like a bag of mixed biscuits, presented a pleasing variety. There ■»^•as the usual confusion attendant upon settling into their places; and then, when everybody had got their soup and finished it, the usual buzz of boarding-house conversation began. Blaquart inquired of Mrs. Bernard, in broken English, where she had been thtit day. "Oh : we had a delightful walk to the Madeline," replied the laiiring all this time the play had been proceeding at the other tables; and Ledbury and Johnson turned towards one of them to inspect the gamesters. There was none of that agitation and convulsion of countenance which they had expected to find in the faces of the jJayers, They all appeared as collected as if they had merely been. gaui!)ling for sugar-plums ; and, whatever thej' might have felt iuwatdly, they did not betray the least token, of anxiety, by theic ■62 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. outwaid demeanour. Now and then, to be sure, when a heavy stake was swept away, the owner muttered a subdued " nacr^ ! " buttliin was all. The Countess, who was still plaj'ing M-ith Derval, and apparently losing large sums, seemed far more careful in studying an attitude, in wliioli lier round wliite arm might be seen to the best ail vantage upon the dark-gieen velvet of the card-table, than in looking after the chances of the game ; although an attentive observer might have discovered that her lip occasionally quivered — but only for an instant — when her adversaiy made an important point. Lagrange and lila- quart were watching the game very closely, and apparently with any- thing but pleasure, for Derval was winning everything before him : and Jack jolinson had perfection enough to se that the scheme had faileil, and that the intended pigeon was going on in a fair way to break the bank with Mhich the two others had eWdently supplied his fair companion. After a short period had elnpstd, at a signal from Lagrange, the Italian threw down her cards, declaring she could play no more against such a continuous nm of fortune. Ledbury and Johnson were leaving the room with the intention of going home, when Derval came up to them, atid inquired of the latter in which direction their road lay. Finding that they were bound for the Qiiartier Latin, he hoped they would allow him the pleasure of accompanying them, to which tliey immediately acquiesced. ' " 1 live in the Faubourg St. Germain myself," he continued, "but at all events we can go together as far as the river. We will first have a bottle of champagne, and then depart." The wine was ordered in and paid for by Derval, in celebration, as 'he called it, of his good fortune. One bottle produced another, and it was nearly one o'clock in the morning when the party left the pension and proceeded on their way home. CHAPTER X. THE WINE-SHOP IN THE MARCHE DES INNOCENTS, AND TIIK MCRPHR OH THE FONT NEUK. Those whom business or pleasure has compelled to be about at a lat« hour in the streets of Paris must have been struck with tlie dead (piict •which reigns thioughuut the city after the bustle attendant upon th« close of the theatres has subsided, and the principal cafos on the adjacent l)oulevards — the latest quarters of the town— have closed their doors. There are no night-taverns, as in London ; noitht-r ia there that undying murmur and motion in the streets wluch never -allows our city to sleep. By midnight the French capital is as A ROOKERY. 63-. tranquil as a city of the dead — nothing breaking the silence but the- oiilerly round of the garde municipale, or the occasional apparition of some wi-etched wanderer crawling about the most secluded and dimly- lighted streets, because he has no home to go to — not even the miser- able shelter which four sous will procure him in one of the (jam is of tlie low faubourgs. It was a fine clear night ; and not feeling much inclined to go to bed, at the same time that the fresh air added to their excitement, Johnson, Ledbury, and Derval sauntered along the line of boulevards until they arrived at the corner of Rue St. Denis, when, recollecting that they were coming considerably out of their way, they turned down the street. There was little at this time to attract attention, and the very lights in the house had been extinguished, whilst the dull lamps slung across the streets appeared doubly gloomy after the gas in the thoroughfares they had just quitted. On they went until they came to a turning to the right, leading into the INIarche des Innocents, when Derval insisted upon their going through the mar];et and having something to drink at a wine-shop which he knew to be open all night. Neither Ledbury nor Johnson were anxious for this intended treat, having both taken quite enough already ; but Derval, who was sufficiently excited to be extremely obstinate, would make them come with him to Paul Niquet's — a marchaad de vin, who never closes his doors, and who conducts his establishment in the sam& manner as the early houses about Covent Garden Market. A bright lamp over the door guided them to the shop, but this was scarcely necessary, for there was such a tumult Mithin that it might be heard at the other end of the halle. Derval tapped with his knuckles against the door, and was immediately admitted, togetlier with Ledbury and Johnson. The small low room was filled with a throng of the lower orders — who, in point of dirt and repulsive appearance, might have ranked on the same plane as the denizens of that part of St. Giles's known as "The Rookery" — consisting of chiffoniers, porters attached to the market, charretiers, and men belong- ing to the zhantiers, or places where firewood is stored for sale, in company with bargemen from the lighters containing charcoal lielow the Quai de I'Ecole. Some were fast asleep upon the table and benches, waiting for the opening of the markets ; others were quarreling and vociferating loudly in their cups, and the remainder were lounging against the walls aud counter as they drank their wine or brandy, or devoured some coarse bread, and coarser cold meat, for what was to them a breakfast. Two or three of the most sinister-looking amongst them gathered round the fresh comers as they entered, apparently with the intention of hustling them ; and Johnson told Ledbury quietly to put his hand- kerchief into his hat, and keep his hands in his pockets. Indeed, they were both anxious, now they had seen Avhat the place was like, to make tlieii' exit as soon as they could ; but Derval kept pressing them to take some of the cognac he had ordered, continually saj'ing that he was coming away directly. To satisfj' him, they put their lips to it, and then their companions gave the remains to a gigantic porter,. C4 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. who was standing at his side. The men proposed tlie healtli of the uew-comer previously to drinking the spirits, and this being received by the other parties with acclamations, Dei-val announced his inten- tion of treating them all to whatever they liked best. Renewed applause followed this offer, and they crowded round the bar— some of them awakening their fellows to partake of the young Frenchman's bounty, which tlie master of the shop began to serve out as fast as he was able. The riot and noise increased with the supply of liquor : and John- son was more tlian ever anxious to get away, knowing that Derval had a large sum of money about him — the fruits of his winning at the pension — and feeling certain that if he was not robbed, at all events he would make away with a greater portion of it in treating the people about him. At last, however, they prevailed upon him to come with them — .Johnson offering to pay for what had been served out, thinking he could get through it better than his companion, and without tVie chance of being cheated. But this Derval would not allow, and, with the true heedlessness of an intoxica;;ed man, he pulled a handful of five- franc pieces from his pocket, and threw them along the counter with careless force — some of them rolling off upon the floor, and directly provoking a violent struggle between two or three men, \t1io stooped to scramble them up. Taking advantage of this temporary diverston, Johnson gave I^edbury the hint, and, getting Derval between them, they half persuaded, half forced him from the shop, although not with- out some opposition on the part of the chiffoniers, who appeared little inclined that they should part company. " Well, thank God I we are out of that," said Johnson, when tliey once more found themselves in the March^ des Innocents. " There -would have been an awful riot if we had remained there much longer." " They are all good fellows," observed Derval. " No douV>t of it," replied Johnson ; "but they do net carry' their estimable qualities in their countenances. I never saw such a fearful set of ruffians in my life," " I shall not go home," said Derval, leaning back obstinately as tiny came into the Rue St. Honor^. " I am too intoxicated." " Why, what are you to do ? " replied Johnson ; " you cannot keep in the streets all night." " I shall walk about and recover myself," was the answer ; " but I shall not go home." And as they approached the office of Laffitte's Messageries, he -at himself down upon one of the large stones against the wall, ami annfUHued his intention of not procectling any further. " Will lie be safe if we leave him?" asked Ledbury. " He will be quite safe hert if he does not move," replied Johnscii. " The soldiers are always on guard, and will protect him. If he will not come, we cannot remain with him." " And are we to go home, then ?" " I s\ippose so," returned Johnson, again endeavouring, but in vain, to get Derval to accompany tiiem. " If I saw any of the m»inici|Mii guard, 1 would send him to the guard-house. Will you give me your OLD PARIS. 65 watch to take care of, and what money you have ? " he continued, addressing Derval. "You may take my watch and my money," was tlie reply ; "but I won't go home. " , It was in vain that they continued to persuade him. He kept affirm- ing that he should wait to recover himself before he went ro bed ; so that Jolinson, seeing nothing was to be done with him, took the piiise and watch, and, accompanied by Ledbury, left him where he liad seated himself. "He cannot lose much now, however," said Johnson. "I luive got all his money, except a few loose francs, so that he can come to no great harm ; and perhaps it is as well that he should wait a little before he goes home. He might set his curtains on fire if he went to bed in his present state." They crossed the Rue St. Honore, and, turning round the facade of the Louvre, arrived at the toll-gate of the Pont des Arts— a bridge for foot-passengers only, which conducted from tlie building just named to the Institute on the other side of the Seine. The man who took the money at the gate had not expected any more passengers that night, and was ensconced comfortably in his box fast asleep, having drawn down the glass in front of the pigeon-hole where payment was tendered. Jolinson and Ledbury could not think of disturbing bira to pay their two sous, and so walked on to the bridge without any interruption. To our thinking, there is no situation in Paris which presents so picturesque a view as that obtained in looking up the river from the centre of the Pont des Arts towards the He de la Cit6. It require:^ but little stretch of the imaginative faculties to imagine that the fliglit of time has been reversed, and that the fine old city, as it appeared in the romantic days of the moyen ih/e of France, once more rises up before us in its early beauty, so trifling a change has taken place in its general features. Below this point, succeeding epochs have wrought a, great alteration in the leading physiognomy of the river's banks. The Tour de Nesle, with its harrowing associations and dark legends — the names of the infamous Marguerite de Bourgogne and the wily Buridan connected so intimately with its fearful records — have passed away. The grim turrets and fortified walls which formed the boundaries of the old Louvre no longer frown upon the Seine ; whilst the rough Tour de Bois has given place to the finest picture-gallery in the world ; and, lower down, the verdant expanse of the Pre aux Clercs, whereon, each summer's evening, the clerks of the Basoche and 'the students of Cluny mingled in the dance with the (/rlseftes of the city, has been covered by modern and unromantic elevations. But above the bridge all is picturesque as formerly. The venerable and time-blackened towers of Notre Dame still rise in the same sullen grandeur above the surrounding edifices, as in the days when the names of Valois, Medicis, and Navarre were foremost in the chronicles of royalty. There are yet to be seen the pointed minai'ets of the Palais de Justice and Tour d'Horloge, where the first great clock in Paris was set up in 1370; and, nearer to the bridge, the fatal bell of St. 66 THE ADVEXTURES OF MI!. LEDBUIiY. Germain rAuxerrois — that dread tocsin which rang ont the knell of the Huguenots — still sounds across the river at eventide. The only building of importance that now no longer exists is tiie Grand Chatelet, but this intrudes so little upon the line of tlie Quais as to make no great difference in the character of the view seei. from the spot where Ledljury and Jolinson now stopped. The soft calm moonlight slumbered upon the old spires and build- ings of the cit}-, now wrapped in an impressive silence, broken only by the occasional challenges of the night-watcli, or the chafing of the Seine as it whirled through the arches of the l)ridge in its turbulent course below the Pont Xeuf. To the left, the river-front of the Louvre rose like some spectral palace in dreamy outline ; the solitary sentinel who parades to and fro below the./o',-a(/e alone presenting evi- dence of life and motion in its precincts. Tlie towers of the churches along the banks of the Seine now and then gave forth the sound of their sleepy chimes, fainter and fainter in the distance, and echoing for a while, died awaj', leaving the universal stillness more apparent. The tiunquillity of the scene did not fail to have its etIVet upon both our friends, and they looked upon it in silence, each lost in its own reflections — Ledbury simply gazing with interest upon the fine view of a foreign city by moonlight, and Johnson recalling old times and associations with a sentiment which those who knew him most inti- mately wonld have given him little credit for exhibiting ; since the world is apt to forget that the same acute perception of the humorous which imbues its possessor with so keen a relish for fun can assume au opposite aspect whenever matter of graver moment chances to cross its path — and with ele to save him." With the quickness of thought Johnson took his penknife from liis pocket, and cutting the straps of his trousers, hastily drew oft' his boots, and threw tiiem upon the platform of the bridge. Then, put- ting his hat upon one of the seats, he placed in it liis money and iJerval's watch and purse ; and, throwing off" his coat, vaulted over the parapet rail as Ledbury started to arouse the gatekeeper. Clinging to the light iron-work which forms the body of the bridge, and which everywhere aff'orded a firm hold to his muscular grasp, he slung him- self, with fearful haste, from one beam to another ; now swinging from the transverse ties, and now gliding down the uprights, until he reached the stonework from which they spring. The stream was still several feet below him ; but nothing daunted, he threw himself into tlie river at once, casting aside all idea of danger in the excitement of the instant. The cold dark water closed over iiis iiead, and roared and bubbled in his ears as he sank some feet below the surface ; but, re-appearing immediately he struck out towards the spot where he expected to find the victim. The stream was, however, too powerful to make any way against it. He perceived this in an instant, and turning towards one of the piers, he was enabled after nuich exertion, to cling to an iron boat ring, M'hich was fixed into the stonework, for- tunately within his grasp ; and he had barely accomplished this feat wiien the individual he was endeavouring to preserve was borne through the arch, still throwing his arms about vaguely, in the agonies of a ■drowning man. With an additional impetus, obtained from springing from the pier, Johnson immediately dashed througli the current, aneH--te. in one of the mantardt/t over their chamber. And when their toilets « ere all finished, and they sat dow n to coffee in Ledbury's room, there were certainly not three lighter hearts in all Paris — perhaps not in all the world. Aimee appeared to have derived additional attraction from her picjuant costume, Jack Johhson was rollicking about, and singing snatches of twenty different songs as he rode steeple-chases on tiie chairs, to the great dislocation of their joints, and the bewilderment of the lodgers underneath, or occasionally, in tlie joyousness of his heart, threw his wig at Ledbury, covering him with a cloud of powder. And Mr. Ledbury himself, not yet exactly umlcistanding where he was in his new attire, but withal immensely ]»kasfd with it, was only wishing that some of the young ladies he had met at parties in London could see him now ; wouldn't thoy be glad to dance with him ? — that was all I — and how all the other young men at Islington would sink into iusig- nificauce by his side ! * I'reciscly at nudnight they started for the ball. They had but a few yards to go from their door, and it >\as a line night; sfi they walkcfl in tiieir dresses very St. Jacques, at the Barrifere d'Arcueil, in the centre of which the guillotine was erected, a great crowd of spectators had assembled, forming a large semicircle, commencing from the barrier on either side. They were chiefly of the lower orders, but several respectable females were amongst them ; and two or three decent carriages were drawn up outside the ring and under the trees of the inner boulevards, filled with people. Of course all the windows commanding u glimpse of the area were fully occu- pied ; and Ledbury was astonislied to see two or three young girls, some of them evidently belonging to a superior sphere of life, anxiously gazing at the fearful preparations for bloodshed. The mob was certainly amusing itself in a most hilarious manner. Itinerant vendors of cakes and marchavds de coco were perambulating amongst them ; and a stranger would have thought, from their demeanour, that they were waiting during the entr'acte of an exhibition of mounte- banks. The guillotine was erected on a platform about seven feet from the ground, resting upon an open framework of timber, all of which was painted red. 13y the side of the plank on which the criminal was to be confined was a long basket filled with sawdust ; and the box for the reception of the head was strapped to the uprights between which the knife was to fall. On one side of the scaffold was a common market cart, in which two men were calmly sitting, and smoking their pipes — this was to convey the body away ; and on the other was a light waggon to carry off the scaffold itself when taken to pieces after the execution. The circle of spectators was preserved by municipal guards and mounted troops of the line, stationed in pairs at short distances ; and the gendarmes were conversing in small groups in the centre. A little before eight a cloud of dust at the extremity of the Boule- vard d'Enfer proclaimed the approach of the cavalcade — a circumstance which seemed to be hailed with much glee by the mob. A large de- tachment of horse soldiers came first, at a sharp trot ; then some of the city functionaries, in a small four-wheeled fly with one horse ; and 74 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. lastly the criminal van, in w liich were the prisoner, the abbe, and the executioner. The van opened beliind, and was consequently backed against the steps of the guillotine. The priest first alighted, after him the condemned, and then the executioner. The culprit still preserved his firmness, his complexion denoted no internal emotion ; and yet the solemn silence reigning arounil him, which was now but faintly disturbed by the shuddering of the multitude— a minute before so heedless— appeared nevertheless to produce upon him at that awful moment a lively impression. Looking steadily at the knife, which, heavily weighted, and fixed at the top of the uprights, was now tlirowing back the beams of the morning sun, he ascended the steps, listening to the last exhortations of the abbe. On reaching the platform, he shook his head, as if he wished to address the crowd ; but merely exclaiming, "Oh ! Dieu ! " between his teeth, he took his place upon the plank, which was im- mediately lifted up, and pushed liorizontally under the knife. A piece of wood, having a notch to correspond to the neck of the culprit, was then pushed down to prevent him drawing back his head ; and as he was lying upon his face, he was actually looking into the box wherein his head was to fall. All was now still as death; and, the catch being loosened, the knife fell swiftly down the groove ; but the momentary check, as it cut through the vertebrae of the neck, could distinctly be perceived. Two immense jets of blood immediately spouted out from the divided arteries ; but in an instant the body was pushed over into the basket, as well as the box containing the head. The scaffold was then washed down with pailfuls of water, and the crimson stream i)oured down in torrents upon the pavement of the road ; next to this, tlie basket con- taining tlie boily and head was placed in the cart, whicli drove (juickly off; and then the crowd gradually dispersed, apparently mucli grati- fied with the spectacle they had witnessed. In the evening Johnson and Ledbury visited the l)arrier again. All the apparatus was removed, and the ever-gay population of Paris was passing outside the gates, to enjoy themselves at the (juinguetUs. But the stain of blood was still upon the road, and the hearts of our friends sickened at the recollection of the morning's tragedy. " I have seen a great deal," said Ledbury, " since I left home, and shall not readily forget all I have witnessed ; but I do not care to stay in Paris any longer. The winter is coming on, and I shall not be sorry to be once more at home again in England." HOMEWARD BOUND. 75 CHAPTER XII. OF THK JOURNKY HOME. Es'GLAND ! — there is a sturdy look about the very word — a kind of touch-me-if-you-dare expression, which almost forces you to imagine that a few hardy letters of the alphabet had combined together to make a stand against any idle meddlers who wished to disturb their order. The word is a symbol of the nation, and the unflinching letters are emblems of the people who compose it. A fine bracing wind was rollicking about the Nore, tumbling the waves over each other in reckless jollity, or blowing them off in clouds of spray, and rattling amidst the sails and cordage of the vessel, as the Oity of Bou(o;pie, with all her steam on and her sails set, entered the mouth of the Thames, bearing her cargo of foreign importations and homeward-bound travellers. A glow of happy excitement was upon every face ; and as the banks of the river came nearer and nearer on every side, and the little villages and church spires appeared, one after another, upon the shore, there arose ten thousand old asso- ciations, and thoughts of Christmas and its revelry, and all those loved ones who made home ho7ne — whose dear voices had not fallen upon the ear for so long a time, although their images had ever been present to the heart. The very water seemed endowed with life and feeling, and leaped and danced so merrily round the prow, and sparkled so joyously in the bright sunbeams as it was thrown back again to its parent deep in laughing foam, that every drop appeared a messenger of greeting and affection to welcome the wanderers home. "Round the Foreland" is at all seasons a passage of extreme uneasiness to voyagers of delicate fibre and nervous temperament ; but when the packet arrived in the comparatively still water of the river, the passengers became somewhat reassured, and one by one appeared upon deck. Mr. Ledbury and Jack Johnson were amongst the number ; for, having seen all that they considered worth observing in Paris, and, moreover, discovering that the treasury was commencing to run rather low, they were now returning to London. And, indeed, Mr. Ledbury was anxious to eat his Christmas-dinner at home, and drink his elder wine "on his own hearth," as he expressed himself (which Jack Johnson defined as meaning inside the fender, amongst the fire-irons), so that their proceedings had at last been somewhat hurried. Had they been less so, we might have related how they gave a farewell party in their old rooms to their old companions ; how Aimee, Jules, and Henri, came to the office of the " Aigle," in the Place de la Bourse, to see them off ; how Aim^e was very sorrowful indeed at parting with theni ; and how Jules consoled her with a two-franc dinner at the Palais Royal after they had gone ; how Aim^e sought further consolation by going as a ballet-girl into the 76 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. corps of the Academic Royale the next week ; and, finally, how Mr. Ledbury felt one pang, and one only, at returning, which arose from his not having been al)le to achieve a pair of moustachios during his stay, which would have rendered him so distinguished when he walked through Islington on the first Sunday after his return. We would have related all these tilings at length, and many more besides, but we wished to follow the adventures of our hero as closely as time would allow ; and all this would have taken up so much space that we should have experienced some little diflSculty in coming up with him again. So the reader must please to imagine these events in any fashion most congenial to his own fancy ; and having, in company with the two travellers, given a long good-l)ye to Paris, we will all meet again, Ledbury, Johnson, tlie reader, and ourself, on board the steam-boat which is now conveying them up tlie river on their return voyage. Jack Johnson who appeared endowed with a singular propensity always to sit on out-of-tho-way and uncomfortable situations, bad perched himself on the top of a pile of luggage, and was now, in com- pany with Ledbury, making out the various localities as tliey appeared on the edge of the river. " There's old Graveseud ! " cried Jack, as he recognised the piers of what the guide-books call "this agreeable place of salubrious recreation." "And there's Rosherville ! further on," continued Ledbury. "I say. Jack, the dancing there won't go down after the Chaumiere— will it ? " " Not exactly," repliedJJack. " Wouldn't Aimee's waltzing make Mr. Baron Nathan stare ?— wouldn't it put hin on his mettle?— and wouldn't he try to cut her out in his Egg-shell and Tea-service Crackovienne or his Chinese Fandango in scale-armour and hand- cuffs ? " " Purfleet," observed jVIr. Ledbury, as tliey proceeded, " is stated by the guides to be a quiet resort for invalids unwilling to encounter the bustle of a large watering-place. Tliere is sufficient gunpowder in the stores to produce an effect as far as London, if it exploded." "I have read so in the 'Penny Handbook for Travellers, and Coast Companion,' " said Johnson. " I suppose that accounts for the rapid 'communication with all parts of Kent' which I'urfleet enjoys, according to the same authority." " How very like old acquaintances all the names and signs look along the edge of the river ! " remarked Ledbury. " Very," returned Johnson : "and wiiat a time it is since we have seen 'Barclay and Co.'s Entire' painted up! It beats the Com- merce des Vins, tliat we have left, all to nothing. But, however, we must not abuse Paris, now we have come away from it." "Certainly not," returned Ledbury. "I was very happy there, and saw quite enougli to think about all my life afterwards. I wondei how they are all getting on." This led their conversation back again to France, and they soon lost themselves in a chain of " don't you recollecta ?" wliich called ui THE LANDING. 11 •11 their bygone adventures. But we will do them the justice to say that, when they looked round and saw their own fine river, the mighty evidences of wealth and defiance that rode so proudly on its surface, and the tokens of commerce and enterprise that were crowded upon its banks, they agreed that old Thames took a deal of beating, and was a sight not to be despised after all. And so, likewise, thought a ;great many of their foreign fellow-passengers, who, clustering round the fore-part of the vessel, and presenting all tliose eccentric varieties •of caps and cloaks which migratory continentalists love to indulge in, were uttering continuous expressions of admiration at the traffic of •the river, and the " mouvement perpetud " of the ships and steam- t)oats. At last the packet came alongside the wharf ; and, after much pulling and hauling, and many people being requested to stand out of the way, and more being thrust violently into side-cabins, and artfully- contrived kitchens and cupboards in the paddle-boxes, whei-e they reniained in great trepidation and compulsory confinement for an indefinite period — to say nothing of the anxiety of anybody to turn all the luggage topsy-turvy until their own effects were uppermost, and their acute mental agony at the chance of the Custom House officers seizing the bottle of brandy which they had brought from Boulogne with the cork out. After all this, the passengers were per- mitted to land between two rows of awe-inspiring men, who looked suspiciously at everybody, as if they were constructions of gloves, lace, cognac, and jewellery, in the form of men and women. Mr. Ledbury walked ashore with two bottles of eau de Cologne tucked into each of his boots, a packet of gloves in his hat, and Galignani's edition of Byron very boldly carried under his arm ; whilst Jack Johnson had 60 stuffed every available corner of his wardrobe with iabac de r6(jie that he looked like a locomotive pincushion, and, upon emergency, would have made an excellent " fender " to let down with a rope over the side of the boat, and keep her from any damage by concussion against the landing-place ! " There's a pretty girl, Led And she could have made a cloak for herself in the last and prettieafc fashion in less time than tlie young lady who had lent her the pattern would take to finish an orientally-tinted Chinese cockatoo on an em- bossed fire-screen, or completed a set of nothing-holders for the mantel- piece — all straws, card-board, and blue riVjbon, Emma Ledbury was now seventeen ; but she possessed more good sense and information than many young ladies of seven-and-twenty — if, indeed, young ladies will allow that there is such an age. She had not one attribute in common with our friend, her brother Titus, except his unvarying good-temper and kind-heartedness ; nevertheless, they agreed remarkably well, and he entertained the highest notion of everything slie did or advised. Her features were interesting and expressive ; and, although not regularly perfect, far more attractive in their ensemble than those of the inanimate dolls to which the world so frequently assigns the epithet of "beautiful" — the originals of the lithographed divinities who stare or languish at us from the title-pagea of songs in the windows of fancy stationei's. Her eyes were dark and intelligent, and her soft glossy hair was braided over her smooth forehead, neither papered into cork-screws nor vulgarised into plaits. Mr. Ledbury senior was the chief partner of a first-rate London house, the offices of which were situated in the centre of one of those intricate ramifications of bricks, mortar, and dirty windows, which are to be found in various corners of the city ; and are approached by artful alleys and cleverly-concealed courts, known only to the tax- collectors, sweeps, and employes of the establishment. By dint of pru- dent economy, a few lucky speculations, and a very handsome share of the business, he had built up the edifice of his fortune bit by bit, and then perched himself comfortably on tlie top. But he still paid the same unwearied attention to the duties of his firm ; more, how- ever, now, fro!n long habit than any real necessity which existed for such close application. The identical omnibus-cad who had ridden behind the vehicle ever since it first started, never shoiited out "Now, sir!" as it drew up to the door. He knew Mr. Ledbury would be ready, or, if the conveyance was two minutes after its time, that he had walked on ; and his return in the afternoon was so punctual that the neighbours regarded him as an animated chronometer, by which they arranged their clocks and watches. He had never been out of England, and very rarely out of London. He thought the neighbour- hood of the Bank the only spot where a person could breathe a pure, wholesome air ; and looked upon the country as a useful place for growing vegetables, nursing children, and feeding sheep, in order that they might supply the unequalled chops one of which he was in the habit of taking for lunch, direct from the gridiron, at a venerable sawdusted tavern, approached by a species of liorizontal chimney, which perforated the lower part of one of the houses in a bustling thoroughfare. A few days after our hero's return, he was one evening, as usual, giving a long account of what he had witnessed, and much more of what he had not, to his mother and sister ; who, having completed a long debate upon the practicability of cutting down one of Emma'a •82 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. •dresses into a frock for little Ellen, were now making paper patterns •of curious shapes anil figures, wliich gave rise to inuc li surmise in the mind of the spectator as to what portion of the dress thej- could possi- bly be intended for. Mr. Ledbury senior was reading the city article in the paper, occasionallj- indulging in a parenthetical commentary of & most uncomplimentary nature upon France and tlic Freuch — regarding the latter as a species of educated apes, who did nothing but •dance, eat, nothing but frogs, manufactured nothing but sugar-plums, and whose general appearance resembled the foreigners he had seen in pantomimes and penny caricatures. At lengh, Titus having come to the end of one adventure, and not being able, at the instant, to recollect or invent another, there was .a jiause of a few minutes in the conversation. Mrs^ Ledbury looked aXi Junma with an expression of interrogation, and Emma telegraphed a no I of assent in return ; and then Mr. Titns Ledbury elevated his eyebrows in inquiry as he gazed at his motlier and sister, previously to nodding his head sideways towards the old gentleman ; from all which gesture it appeared, taking these mysterious signals one with another, that some dark conspiracy was being formed in the family, of which Mr. Ledbury senior was entirely ignorant, although he was certainly intended for the victim. At last Mrs. Ledbury cut out a pattern in a desperate manner from the advertisement half of the day-before- yesterday's ne\\spaper, and tiien, taking off her spectacles, folded them up gravely, and placed them upon the table, as, after a slight prepara- tory " Hem ! " apparently to raise her courage, she said to her husband — " My dear, we wish to consult j'ou about a little affair we have io contemplation." And then she looked at Emma and Mr. Ledbury (by whom we mean our friend the adventurer — he not being confounded with Mr. Ledbury senior), as much as to say "I wonder whether he will agree to it." " Well, my love," replied the Ledbury pire, " what is it?" "We have been thinking," said ^Irs. Ledbury, with hesitation, .but endeavouring to make it appear a subject of mere commoirplace interest, which she did not care about one way or the other — "we have been thinking that — we ought — that ^\e ought, I say, to give .an evening party." " Um ! I dont see the absolute necessity for such a proceeding," replied her husband. " ]}ut why not, Mr. Ledbury?" "Well, I don't exactly know," was the answer, "but there are £fty things against it." " Perha|)s you will mention one of the fifty, my dear," observed Mrs. Ledbury, looking signiticantly at Emma, and intendijig to .express the words, " I think I Iiave him there." "Oil!" returned Mr. Ledbury senior, "it knocks the house about BO. Besides, our accommotlations are not extensive enough. How .can you cram a hundred puojjie into our drawing-rooms? You women think houses are made of indiarubber, that they will stretch to any- .thing." yECESSAHY VIRTUE. ^"^ "My dear papa !" said Emma, "only look at last year; we had more than that number, and everybody was so much pleased, and so- very comfortable I " "Why, Emmy, what are you talking about?" exclaimed her father; "there was a perfect mob ! Mrs. Hoddle never got further than the landing, and I was blockaded into the window-seat of tlie- back drawing-rofim at ten o'clock ; and couldn't get out until the first lot went down to supper." "And yet they enjoyed themselves," observed Titus, mildly. "Pshaw!" retorted the governor. "What possible enjoyment can people find in kicking their heels about at a time when they ought to be in bed and asleep ? " " Well, my love," said Mrs. Ledbury, softly, and trying to go upon another tack, " no doubt the young people think differently. Besides, we mu.st keep our connection together." "Very true, Mrs. Ledburj'," answered the old gentlemen; " but- your chief idea of connection is a parcel of people nobody cares any- thing about, who wear out the knockers, trouble the servants, wipe their skoes upon tlie carpets, cut up the gravel before the door, and fill the card-basket. Yah ! yovi never ask any of my real business connection." "They are such very odd people, sir," said Titus, "who know nothing about Paris. It is so strange to visit them." " You would find it much stranger if they were to turn their backs- upon us," replied Mr. Ledbury senior. "Now, I don't mind dinner- parties ; j'ou may have one as often as you like." "But, papa," said Emma, "we find so little amusement in your dinner-parties ; and I am certain they are more expensive." "And only entertain such a few peojile ! " said Titus. "And the wine they drink would make all the negus," added Mrs. Ledbury. " Besides, it need not be so good, if you put plenty of nut- meg; and see how the hot water and little custard-cups help it out," Mr. Ledbury senior indulged in a faint groan of resignation. "And they involve so much anxiety and awkward mistakes," con- tinued JNIrs. Ledbury, following up the attack. "At the very last dinner we gave Hipkins took round brandy sauce for the turbot, and kept back the oysters for the plum-pudding. Mrs. Claverly took some — of course — because we wanted her to have everything as good as it could be." "And you will not learn the names of the dishes, my dear papa.' said Emma. " When old Mrs. Hoddle asked for some of the fondue' you sent Hipkins with the mashed potatoes ! " " If you have made up your minds to this discomfort," interrupted Mr. Ledbury senior, quite overcome, and wishing to raise the siege, " why, of course, it is no use endeavouring to make you think dif- ferently." " Then you give us leave ! " exclaimed all three of his companions at once. " Well," said the old gentleman, with great deliberation — " well ! — ■ I give you leave : in fact, I must make a virtue of necessity. Only €4 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. don't tell me when it's going to be ; or the mere anticipation will fidget me for a week beforehand. " " We'll keep it quite a secret, papa," said Emma. •'Or, upon second thoughts, I think you had better let me know," resumed Mr. Ledbury senior ; " because tlieu I will make arrange- ments to go out for the evening." The point was gained, much to the satisfaction of the young people ; and the family tlien relapsed into their own reflections. Mr. Ledbury junior began to calculate upon the eflect his French scarf and boots would produce ; and was almost sorry he had not got his debardeur'a dress ; Mrs. Ledbury had already laid out the supper in imagination ; the old gentleman went back to his citj- article in the newspaper ; and Emma was lost in a mental inquiry as to whether there was time for her to have her lilac challis d3'ed crimson, which, with short sleeves and blonde falls, would look very well and season- Able, considering the time of the year. CHAPTER XIV. JACK JOnNSON HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH A RELATIVE. Amidst the wilderness of houses that are crowded together between St. Giles's ('hurcli and Long Acre there is a labyrinth of streets which a man may spend his whole existence in threading, doubling, and run- ning about, before he can determine in any degree whither they lead, how they are bounded, or in what aspect their various thorougfares run. A confused mass of second-hand sale cellars, breweries, gin- shops, old-iron stores, potato-sheds, and eating-houses, whose windows display cooked meat of the most repulsive and coarsest kind, form tlie chief characteristics of the locality : and the inhabitants are equally squalid, smoke-dried, and poverty-stricken with their abodes. A polluted and steaming atmosphere, like a pall of clouds, laden with noisome fumes and dense vapours from tiie contiguous furnaces, hangs over these regions by day ; and by night tliey are illumined by flaring jets of gas from the different sheds, casting their litful and intermittent light over the cold fried fish, lumps of coal, and bundles of firewood there exposed for sale. The only signs of wealth in this dreary neighbourhood are found in the costly gin-shops — wealth, whicli is obtained by fiery aquafortis, that extracts the metal from the clods of earth whicli it destroys, llcncath the windows of these gaudy estab- lishments, women, in their worst and most degraded nature, are col- lected, huddling tfigether in little knots of two and three, all voci- ferously declaiming in the hoarse thickened accents of disease and intoxication, \\ithout cap or bonnet- a rough dirty shawl only pulled over their shoulders ; and men of sinister aspect are loitering about the A ST. GILES' CELLAR. 85 ■corners of every court, leaning against posts, or quarrelling in a harsh and unintelligible language. Wretched children, too, swarm in every direction ; but they are not like children. The countenances — even of the dirty and uncared for infants— betoken low and precocious cun- ning ; and they creep along under the shade of the walls and buildings or crouch in low, narrow alleys, with the fear of light and publicity which early crime, coupled with the dread of its detection, has rendered habitual. It was through this maze of want and depravity that Jack Johnson was following an ill-clad urchin, who appeared to act as his guide, on the veiy evening of his arrival in London. He had found a large col- lection of letters when he returned to his old lodgings that had arrived in his absence ; and one amongst them, delivered only the day before, had led to his present journey. That it was important might be assumed from the hurry in which he started from home ; and, as he carried the note with him to ascertain the address, he crumpled it in his hand with nervous anxiety, until it was almost illegible. After traversing several streets, the boy at length stopped before a cellar, the mouth of which was garnished with several common theatrical properties, such us iron-combat-swords with basket-handles, scraps of worn and tarnished gold-lace, and patched russet-boots, all intended to captivate the eye, and ease the pocket, of some aspiring supernumerary, or hunter after this histrionic fame of a private theatre. " Take care o' yer head," said the boy as they descended — a caution which was certainly necessary. "You'd best turn your face to the steps, and then you won't fall." Acting upon his advice, Johnson turned round, and carefully watching each of his feet as he placed it on the rickety stair, lowered himself through the smoke that poured up the outlet in dense volumes, and at length found himself in a St. Giles's cellar. The miserable den into which he descended was about twelve feet square, and not above seven from the ground to the ceiling — if the bare joists and rafters deserved that name. There were two or three doorways that led into recesses still more limited and filthy, in which he could just discern, through the smoke which filled them, figures moving about in every direction. Walls, floor, ceiling, and fixtures were all of one uniform cloudy black ; and the inmates par- took of the same hue. The principal occupier of the front cellar was a cobbler, who was plying his calling at the bottom of the steps to benefit by the gas-light of the shop overhead ; and \arious new-footed boots and shoes, at prices scarcely above the value of the old leather — vamped and polislied to the last pitch of ingenuity — were ranged in such pairs as could be selected from them, on a ledge of rough board, amidst the theatrical properties before spoken of. The walls were covered with what had apparently been cheap caricatures, and execu- tion bills, but now illegible, and almost invisible, from dirt. A wretched, featherless bird hopped from one perch to another, in a patched-up cage that depended from one of the rafters ; and some inelancholy rabbits were penned up in a corner of the room by an old 86 THE ADVEXTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. shutter ; whilst several helpless children — untaught as animals, with- out their cleanliness or instinct — were crying on the floor, or crawling through tlie doorways from one cellar to another. What the floor itself was made of it was impossible to distinguish ; but, from its irre- gularity, it appeared paved ; and in one part, where the drip from £k leaky cistern-pipe kept it constantly moist, three or four seeds, which the bird had fluttered from his cage, had taken root in the dirt, and were struggling to push their two small dusky leaflets into exis- tence. In the other rooms were some individuals — whether men or women it is difficult at first to determine, making shell-pincushions, halfpenny dancing-figures, dolls' saucepans, and other articles which may be daily seen selling for a small price in the streets ; and tiie whole range was pervaded by a stench of frying, smoking, and the fumes of gill, that was quite intolerable upon first entering. It would seem that the inmates of the cellar had some idea upon what business their visitor had come. The proprietor looked rather suspiciously over his horn spectacles as he descended ; but when he saw clearly who it was, he laid down his work, and, turning a cat without either ears or tail, in a very unceremonious manner, from the chair on which it was seated, ottered the accommodation thus procured to the new-comer. "Thank you ; no," returned Johnson; "I have merely come here upon a little business in consequence of this note. Do not let me dis- turb you." "You ain't a blue lion," said a man who stood by, fixing an inquiring glance upon Johnson ; " nor a dragon ?" " Indeed — no," replied the other, not having the most remote idea what these zoological terms implied. " I have to see someone here, it appears ; but yon need not fear anything. Where is the person who sent this note ? " The appearance of a well-dressed young man in the cellar had attracted the attention of the other iiunates ; and they now forsook their different employments, and clustered about him, exclaiming — " Here, sir ! — this way !— I'll show you ! " And this was uttered with an eager anxiety that could only have been produced by a reward in perspective. "Now, keep back; there's good people!" said Johnson, as they crowded round him ; " one will be sufficient, yo*/ know what I have come about, and will direct me," he continued, addressing the cobbler. The man immediately rose, and motioning the others to stand out of the way, with an air of temporary importance, derived from the choice made of his services, led Johnson through one of the doorways, and, passing a series of low, vaulted recesses, tliat looked like a ^nite of wine cellars without doors or bottles, stopped at one of the most re- mote. He here lifted aside a dirty patchwork cnrtain that was nailed before the entrance, and allowed the other to pass in. On a miserable bed, which nearly occupied tlie entire space of the cellar, constructed of a dilapidated frame of j)ackingcl<)th, placed upon four oyster tubs, and covered only by a few old sacks, sewed roughly together, lay the writer of the epistle wliioh had brought SQUALOR WITHOUT POVERTY. 87 Johnson to the present scene. He \vas a young man, about seven- and-twenty years old, apparently tall and well-featured ; but his flesh' was wasted, and his eyes sunk and preternaturally brilliant. ^A florid patch upon his cheeks, in striking contrast to his pale countenance, would have otfei-ed sufficient evidence of the relentless disease that ■revelled within with uncontrollable progress, even in the absence of the distressing cough, and quick, laboured respiration, which rendered any lengthened speech a matter of painful di'ficl)lt3^ He raised him- self slowly up as Johnson entered ; and, when the guide left them alone, held out his delicate hand, accompanied by a few faint words of recognition to his cousin — for such was the relationship between the two parties — as he approached. Seating himself on the bed, by the side of the other, Johnson took the wasted fingers in his grasp, and then looked at liim for a minute, with a gaze of mingled surprise and sorrow, ere he exchiiuied — " Morris ! what has happened that you have come to this ? " "I am afraid it's all uj) ! " replied the other, resting between •every two words for a fresh inspiration. "I baulked them though, with all their vigilance : they have not caught me yet." "For God's sake I tell me what you have been doing," said John- son, earnestly. " I thought I left you comfortably settled at the bank. You have been turned away? " "No — no!" returned his cousin; I was not turned aMay — I left on my own account. They would be glad to see me again ; but they won't." " But this wretched den? — this miserable poverty-stricken " "Poverty!" interrupted Morris, with an attempt at a smile — *' poverty ; you are mistaken there." And, having looked suspiciously around, by the light of the dim candle that flickered in a clay candlestick at the head of the bed, he drew forth a small dirty cloth parcel from under the pillow, which he unpinned, and showed his cousin a nixmber of sovereigns concealed in its folds. Johnson uttered an exclamation of supiise as he saw the .gold. ^ "Hush!" exclaimed Morris, in a low voice — "hush! they don t know of it — the people in the house : they would murder me to possess it if they did. Who could tell whether one of the inmates lived or died in this lonely cellar ? I might lie here, and rot — rot like a cur, for aught the police knew. But the seclusion is my safety." " I see it all," said Johnson, as the truth broke upon liim. " You have embezzled the property of your employers, and have sought a refuge in this dreary place from their pursuit." " You have hit it Jack," returned the other, with callous indiffer- •ence ; " I wanted money, and I took it. They stopped the notes ; but I got some changed before the numbers were advertised. And they -watched for me at all the ports, thinking I should go abroad, when I was close to them all the time ! " And he attempted to laugh as he littered these last words ; but the endeavour was checked by a long fit of coughing, which sounded as if it was tearing his lungs to pieces. ■Jolmson supported him in tlie bed during the paroxysm ; but when it 88 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. was over, he fell back on the mass of rags which formed his pillow, perfectly exhausted. "It's — it's only — a cold!" he articulated, after a short pause, a» he saw Johnson watching him with a countenance of tlie deepest commiseration ; "only a slight cold. I'm subject to it, you know ; but I'm a great deal better — than I was." "It is more than a cold, Morris," said Johnson, taking his hand. '• I know enough of surgery to feel your pulse. See ! " he continued, as he counted the time by his watch; "thirty in a quarter of a. minute ! A cold would not raise it to this. " " It is a cold, I tell you ! " answered his cousin, apparently annoyed at having liis word doubted. " I cauglit it in the wet streets, and out- buildings where I slept, almost out of doors, before I came here. I shall get better soon. I know it is ouly a cold. " Well," continued Jolinson, unwilling to contradict him, " I dare- say it is. But now, Morris, of what service can I be to you ? I do- not see clearly what you would have me do." "You must take care of that money forme Jack," answered the- other. "But it is plunder!" said Johnson. "I will return it, if you will give it to me." " Return it ! You have grown punctilious lately," remarked Morris, ironically. "No, I have not, Morris," replied Johnson. "Careless, noisy, and — dissipated, if you choose to call it so, 1 may be ; but I am not yet criminal. If you give me that money, I shall restore it to the- people you took it from." " And leave me to starve ? " '• I do not think that is very likely. I have kicked down a great deal more of my income than perhaps I ought to have done in Paris during the last autumn ; but I can, at least, keep you from starving." " I shall not burden you long witli any expense," continued Morris, still speaking in a lialf -satirical way, half-earnest tone. " If they find me they will hang me out of your way ? or they will give up looking after me, and then I shall go. I don't know where ; but I shall go- away — perhaps a great distance off; for my cold will have got .better then, and I shall be strong." " You will give mo the money, then? " said Johnson, endeavouring to lead up to a reply in the affirmative. "If you will keep it for me — certainly," was the answer. "But if you arc going to give it back, it shall remain hore until thej' find it out ; " and he pointed in the direction where some of the voices of the other inmates were audible. " They will murder me then, and be the only ones to enjoy it." A few minutes of silence on either side succeeded to tlie lust speech, broken only by Morris's harassing cough, wliicli continued almost witliout intermission. At length Johnson was the first to- speak, as follows : — " Now, listen, Morris ; if you will not let me liave tins money to return, let me keep it in charge for you. I need not say that it will TACT. 89 be sacred ; and what little you may require, until you think it advis- able to leave this dreadful place, I will endeavour to supply you with." "You have scarcely got enough to support yourself," replied the other, coldly ; " how can you afford to keep me ? " " We will not argue upon that score," returned Johnson; "leave it to me, and I will do my best. Do you agree to this ? " Morris hesitated for an instant, and then replied "I can do nothing else. Here — take it, but keep it carefully. 1 know how much there is." " You need not be in fear that I shall touch a doit," said Johnson, angrily. " Do you want anything else ? " " Yes ; leave me some silver, if you have it. I do not like trusting them with gold when they go out for me ; they would not bring it back. " Johnson immediately gave him what loose cliange he could spare ; and, in return, received the gold. "I shall see you before long?" asked his cousin, as he rose to depart. "You may depend upon my coming shortly," replied Johnson. "In the meanwhile, think over what I have suggested to you. Your .secret rests with me ; and you will, I am sure, see the advantage of acting as I had advised, if you are not yet quite lost." " You had better take the candle with you," observed Morris, heed- lessly, pretending not to hear the last sentence. " They need not bring it back just yet. I am tired, and shall go to sleep. Good- night ! " And he turned round to iiis pillow as Johnson left him, wondering at the hardened inditference that allowed his cousin to sleep so readily under such circumstances, and in such a dismal chamber. "How is the neighbour, docther ? " asked a woman, in a strong Hibernian accent, as our friend regained the front cellar. Johnson's tact enabled him directly to perceive in what light he was regarded by the inmates of the Cimmerian regions in which he was at present located ; and he directly returned some commonplace, but apparently professional, answer. "It pours o' rain, master," observed the cobbler, who, having re- moved his stock from the entrance of the cellar, had pulled down the trap-door, given up work, and was enjoying a pipe by the hob of a very smoky fire. " It's a back'ards and for'ards, up-;uid-down sort of rain, as won't last long." "I'll stay here for a few minute's, then, until it leaves off," said Johnson. " Why don't you give the docther the seat ? " exclaimed the Irish- woman, knocking a small boy off a stool, upon which he was perched, into the centre of a lieap of rubbish, from which he did not reappear during the sojourn of the visitor. As Johnson accepted the proffered accommodation, a sound arose from a corner of the room in a simultaneous burst of discordancy that directly drew his attention to the spot from whence it proceeded. A 90 THE ADVE^Jl'URES OF MR. LEDBURY. row of dirty chililren, five or six in number, of ages varying from three to thirteen, were standing with their backs against the wall ; and a man in front of them, with some piece of machiner}' fixed on the end of a pole, was apparently directing tlieir vocal efforts. " Hope you're well, sir ! " said he, as Johnson approached, in a voice that had an equal dash of the knave and fool in it, but belonged completely to neither. " Pray don't let me distui-b you," replied Johnson. ** I am curious to see what you are about." " I'm a street professor, sir, of misery for the million. This, sir, is the model of a loom." And pointing to the machine on the top of his staflF, which looked something like the skeleton of a cabinet piano fixed to the end of a four-post bedstead, he pulled a string attached to it, whereby various bits of the apparatus were set in motion, shooting in and out, moving up and down, and performing various intricate evolutions, very curious to behold. "Tliis is the comb, there is the treadles, and that 'ere little thing's the shuttle. Now, the children looks at these, and when the treadles move they sing a hymn — just listen, sir." And as he pulled the string, the children set up a miserable wail that would have been certain to have procured them a commission by purchase to some station in the next street. At a signal they all stopped ; and the man again addressed John- son. " Now, sir, you'll see how I guides them in the bits. Attention ! " Whereupon the children, directed apparently by the motions of the loom, commenced bawling at the top of their voices. " We have not tasted food for three days {pause). Our mother died when we were infants (jmuse). Pity the distress of an industrious family." "Now comes my solo," resumed the man, producing a rapid motion of every part of the loom at once, which checked the children's voices. He then continued, in a solemn measured tone, " My Christian friends, I am ashamed to be seen in such a situation. I am a native of Stockport, in Lancashire. I have been out of work for twelve months. The smallest sum will be gratefully acknowledged by an industrious family of small children. Then, sir," he continued, suddenly changing his voice, and addressing Johnson — "then, sir, we looks miserable ; and if nobody comes to the windows, we starts the hymn again. That's sure to bring 'em out." " And you find this answer? " asked Jack. " Uncommon, sir," replied the man ; " Only it's dry work teaching. P'rhaps yer honour would let us drink your health." " There's a shilling for you," said Johnson ; "it's all the change I have left." " Thank'ee, sir !" returned the man. "I hope yer honour won t split, 'cos it's a profitable line, and it 'ud be a pity to have it spiled." "Oh, no," answered Johnson, smiling, "you may depend upon my secrecy." THE GREAT DAY. 91 TliC cobbler here infoiined him tliat the rain had left off; so Jolmsoii took advantage of the change, and saluting the inmates of the cellar, clambered up the steps, and thoughtfully retraced his ■way home. And when he retired to bed, his rest was broken and nnrefreshing, for he thought of his cousin, and the serious matter in which he him- self was innocently involved ; again picturing the wretched scene he had witnessed, and passing all the events of the day in wearying review through his brain, the only pleasant vision being tlie face of Ennna Ledbury as he had seen her for the few minutes, whose sunny face and bright eyes ever and anon beamed through the dreary visions he had conjured up in his imagination. CHAPTER XV. OF THE GRAND r,AIJ. GIVKN BY MR. LEDBL'RYS FRIENDS TO Cf.I.F.r.RATE HIS RETURN TO HIS NATIVE LAND. As soon as the conspirators of the Ledbury family had gained their point, tl-.e guests were put down, and their invitations sent out — after much discussion as to who should have the French note-paper, who the lace-work envelopes, whose notes it would not do to stick a penny Queen's head upon, and whose could be sent by post, with a comparative rapidity beyond conception, for fear Mr. Ledbury senior should change his mind, and think that a dinner-party to eight or ten of his own peculiar friends would be better after all. The intervening time passed quickly by in planning, ordering, and canvassing different arrangements, and at length tiie eventful day an ived. The early Islington cock had thrice crowed salutation to the morning fog, as the breakfast things were cleared away from the parlour, and the boy in waiting, who sported a calico jacket in the morning, and a firmament of buttons in the afternoon, rubbed the table with a highly- magnified small-tooth-comb-brush, to take out the light marks which the hot saucers had left behind Old l>edbury, foreseeing a domestic tempest, took his depart- re ur: the city with unusual alacrity — indeed, he was ten minutes befoic the omnibus. Not that his business that morning was of extra importance, but he wanted to fly from the approaching confusion. And if he had not luckily possessed his counting-house as a place of refuge, he would have ridden backwards and forwards all day long from the Bank to Lisson Grove from mere dread of returning home. No sooner had he gone than the first note of pi'eparation was sounded by Mrs. Ledbury calling for a candle, 92 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. and then, accompanied by Titus, plunging into the cellar to see how the blanc-manijes and jelly looked — the latter of vliich delicacies had been strained through an inverted flannel fool's cap the night before — and to bring up the wine. The inspection proved satisfactorj' ; and by the time Emma had filled all the pint decanters, some with sherry, and others with marsala (intended to pass muster in the con- fusion of supper), and Mrs. Ledbury had mislaid the keys four times, and Master Walter Ledbury had twice ventured down from the nixrsery, in the absence of Foster, and been twice violently carried back again, after pulling otf two or three of the oranges which Titus had tied to som« laurel-branches in a small conservatory on the first- floor landing — by the time all these things were accomplished, a cart stopped at the door, loaded with long spars of wood, striped canvas, and trestles, on the top of all of which was perched Jack Johnson. A crowd of little boys followed him, who, imagining it was a travelling exhibition, cheered vociferously as the vehicle stopped at the door, and redoubled their greetings when Mr. Ledbury appeared at the window and nodded to his friend. In the short period that had elapsed since the tourists returned from France, Jack had called several times at Ledbury's house, and was now looked upon as the most intimate of their friends. This will account for his appearance at Islington so early on the day of the party — a time when people are generally not at home to anybody, except those actually engaged in the preparations for the evening's festivity. But now his services had actually been solicited by all the family, to assist them in constructing a temporary apartment. Mrs. Ledbury had originally intended to devote her own bedroom to the supper-tabl.es ; but bare hint of such a proceeding met with so decided a negative from Mr. Ledbury senior that she saw the plan must at once be abandoned — the old gentleman not entering into the ideas of fua and convenience which everybody else appeared to see in such a transformation. Then the nursery was talked about for the same purpose, and alike discarded, no domestic ingenuity being able to contrive another bivouac for the infantry therein abiding ; and they were almost giving the whole affair up in des])air, when Jack Joimson, who chanced to be present at one of tlie discussions, suggested to Titus the practicability of covering in the garden — which was a narrow slip between two walls — aiul thus procuring a very roomy apart- ment, to be entered from the French windows of the back drawing- room. The proposal was immediately decided upon ; and Jack undertook to superintend the whole of the arcliitectural proceedings, relying upon the co-operation of a friend — a gentleman in high-lows, who kept stables at the races, and who promised to procure the requisite poles and tarpaulins from certain of his connections in the Crown-and-Ancbor line who provided canvas safoTut for tlie votaries of Terpsichore at various fairs and merrymakings about the country ; and with this cargo, accompanied by the man. Jack now arrivestairs, and would stop on the landing to look at the conservatoiy. wliich pleased Titus when he perceived that his ingenuity was already "ewarded with one- admirer ; and when she finally arrived at the drawing-room, she " would say this, that, amongst her friends, Mrs. Ledbury certainly did contrive to exhibit the greatest taste in her arrangements ; " and then, after the customary courtesies, she began a long story of how fl6 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. dreadfully she and her maid had been frightened the night before by A strange cat, and jone or two other appalling circumstances, which were cut short by the arrival of some more guests. Mrs. Hoddle was then inducted by Titus to a comfortable .seat at the end of the room, where she remained until supper, greatly edified by the quadrilles, which she still called the new-fashioned way of dancing, and occasion- ally considerably terrified by the waltzers. When the hour of invitation to an Islington evening party is stated to be nine o'clock, the guests have a curious custom of assem- bling within a short period of the exact specified time ; and, accord- ingly, they now began to arrive jiretty quickly ; so much so that Titus saw, with honest pride, as he peeped through the blinds, at one time there were actually two cabs and a fly waiting to put down their inmates at the gate. And he felt tlie triumph tiie greater because his family were not exactly on the best of terms witli the Grinileys, next door ; and he only hoped that Mrs. Grimley was at the \\ indow to see what a large connection tiiey had. Besides, he knew there were some private carriages to come — the Claverlys, at all events, never minded taking their horses out at night ; and he was also uncharitable enough to imagine how uncomfortable Miss Grimley would feel as she lay in bed, and listened to the piano, through the wall, playing the various ■dances. But if this trifling circumstance afforded Mr. Ledbury gratifica- tion, how much more was he delighted when he received the con- gratulations of all his friends, by turns, upon his safe return to Eng- land ! And when the thrilling time came for him to commence the quadrille witli one of the prettiest girls in the room, in all the glory of his Paris trousers and little French boots, with glazed toes, he thought all his past dangers were compensated by the power they thus endowed him with of being able to distinguisli himself. And he did not feel awkward by the side of his partner, nor find a difficulty in entering into conversation, as he did when lie first knew him, before he went abroad, but he indulged in a rapid succession of brilliant images and descriptions that almost astonished himself, but at the same time persuaded him of tlie wonderful efficacy of travelling in expanding the mind. Jack Johnson daiiced opposite to him witli Kmma, and there were many telegraphic signals between them, or sly spceclies when they chanced to meet in the quadrille. .\nd now and then, when Jack caught Ledbury's eye, in the confusion of tlie figure, he introduced a quiet imitation of the r.nncan, quite between themselves, and under- stood by nobody else, which instantaneously gave birth to a new train of idea;;, and nouvcnirs of their own party in the Rue St. Jacques, aniiry, "I am not; and I won't go home till morning, until dayliglit doth appear." " Where is your home, then V " asked the policeman. " Mr. Ledhury'.s, you know ; you were at the door last evening. So go away and leaxe me; 'for it'.s my delight of a shiny night, in the season of the year,' to sleep where I choose. It's a wager." The man immediately recognised his intended prisoner, and seeing it was all riglu, and that he was not a burglar, directly altered his tone, coming to the conclusion that Mr. Ledbury was a little fiighty. "You must iind it very cohl, sir," said N. "I think you had better come down." " Cold ! " said Ledbury, still harmonious ; not at all ; it's the warmth of its December, and the sniiles of its July." " There's a fire at the station-house," observed tlie policeman, holding out an inducement for Titus to descend. "Now, don't worry me, there's a good fellow!" replied Mr. Led- bury. " I'm very well here, and mean to stay. Leave me alone, and call me at seven o'clock, if I am not down." Seeing that the gentleman was determined, and not exactly making out how he could be got down, if he did not choose to descend himself, the policeman walked away. But he kept watch still over the bath and its contents, returning at short intervals to see that all was right. At two or three visits Mr. Ledbury was still singing ; but at length he became tired, and, pulling his coat all over the top of the bath, covered himself in, and, it is presumed went into a doze. And when the first grey light of morning crept over the district, before the crowd of passengers bad commenced, he came cautiously down, and returned to his home. The servants were just up, so tiiat he had no occasion to disturb the household ; only telling them not to say any- thing about his entrance, he walked quietlj' up to his own room, and, undressing himself, got into bed — his brain being still a little con- fused, although he was pleased to see the key of the door on the dressing-table, whence he had forgotten to take it the evening before. BUltNUAM BEECHES. IIT CHAPTER XIX. THE ENCAMPMENT AT BURNHAM BEECHES. If the reader wished us to point out to him oue of the loveliest bits of" rural scenery in our leafy England, so tranquil and secluded, and yet comparatively so small a distance from an important and bustling highway, that anyone wishing to live the life of a convivial anchorite could therein combine his retirement with every novelty or luxury that the great world could offer, we would conduct hiin into the centre of a finely wooded district in Buckinghamshire. Its goodly trees may be perceived by the traveller on the (ircat Western Railway, after he has- passed the Slough station, on the headland to the right of the line, between Farnham Common and Dropmore, and it is known as Burnhani Beeches. The tract of land, broken and irregular, is thickly covered with the trees from which it takes its name, presenting some of the finest and most picturesque specimens of forest scenery in the kingdom. Long shady avenues of velvet turf, spangled with daisies, and teeming with quivering harebells, pierce the greenwood in every direction ; now as small footpaths, climbing up the side, and running along the edge of some forsaken and precipitous gi'avel-pit ; and now plunging into the depths of the forest, apart from the beaten track, amidst coverts of fern and underwood, until tliey widen into fair glades. These are bordered on either side by the gnarled and missliapen boles of trees, venerable in their garnitui-e of hoary lichen, whose moss- covered and distorted trunks, far above the ground, offer natural and luxurious settles to the visitor, and induce him to rest a while, as he lingers with a sense of intense pleasure, so exquisite that it almost amounts to pain, upon the deep tranquillity and loveliness around him. And many changes have those old trees seen, during the centuries of smiling summers and stern winters that have rolled their sunshine aiul shadow over their venerable head-tops ; they have budded and put on their foliage when the chimes of Burnham Abbey called the villagers to the compline, and the low chaunt of Saxon prayer fioated on the breeze towards them; they will still put forth their verdure when the very recollection of those who now loiter in their shade shall have passed away. The remembrance of the calm seclusion of Burnham Beeches, when once visited, will never be banished from the mind of the traveller ; but come back fresh and green upon his heart, after many years of worldly toil and harassing existence, and cheer his pilgrimage, by awakening every old and pleasant association con- nected with the time when all was fair and peaceful as the surround- ing prospect. But at the exact period of our story few of these attributes were visible, for it was towards the end of January ; whilst a heavy snow lay upon the ground, and was still falling, from which the huge stems lis THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. of the trees started up like spectres, black ami fantastic from the con- trast. Everything was wrapped in the dead silence of the country, broken only by the occasional report of a gun, sharp and clear in the freezing air, which eclioed for a few seconds through the wood hind and then died away ; or the fall of small heaps of snow, disturbed from their equilibrium by the perching of some intrusive sparrow, restless with hunger, and tumbling through the crisp and naked branches of the trees. Even the waggons and horses, with muffled wheels and feet, -went noiselessly across the common, pulling up the snow after them, and leaving marks like those we see upon removing the ornaments of a twelfth-cake — tlie only evidences of sound which they gave out being the creaking and straining of tlie wlieels as they lumbered over the heavy ground, or the flick of the driver's whip. Along one of the principal avenues of the beeches, about the middle of the day, anyone who had chosen to take his station there at such an uninviting time, and, keep an attentive look-out, miglit have seen a solitary pedestrian trying to make what way he might towards the centre of the wood. Had he been previously acquainted with the person, he would probably have recognised Spriggy Smitlieis — the gentleman in ankle-jacks, the actjuaintance of Jack Johnson, who, it may be recollected, assisted him in building the temporary supper- room on the morning of the party at Ledbury's. We say he would probably have recognised our friend, because he might have been readily pardoned for not perceiving at first who it reallj'- was, Spriggy having swaddled himself up in so many old worsted comforters about his neck, and haybands round his feet and legs, as to destroy all lead- ing traces of identity. His toilet was never very carefully made at the best of times, but now it was even more eceutric than ever ; and he had mounted an additional ornament, in the shape of a red cotton handkerchief tied round his hat, over the band — for wiiat exact pur- pose it is difficult to determine. An old game bag, patched and mended with ))ieces of sacking, carpet, net, and whatever had come uppermost at the time it was required, was shing over his shoulder, offering certain evidence, from its outward appearance, of being well filled ; and he carried a long staff in his hand, which had been without doubt pulled from some eligible spray-pile that had fallen in the line of his journey. It was snowing hard, as we have stated, and the feathery particles iseemed to have combined against tSpriggy, and put all tiieir inventive powers to the stretch, that they might render his progress as uncom- fortable as possible. They had evidently made friends with the wind, •who entered into the joke as well, and blew them into his eyes, when- •ever he opened them wider than usual or lifted up his face, until tliey made him wince again. Tlien they waited for him in sly corners at the tops of avenues, and when he came by they all scullled out at once, and tumbled and wliiliied about his liead, the more desperate getting into his ears and violently rushing down his neck ; but by the time he put up his hand to catch them they had all vanished away. The idler flakes did not personally insult him, but settled gently upon his hat, as well as the perfect absence of nap \\oulil allow them to AN ESCAMPMENT. 119'' remain there, and contented themselves with being carried a little way for nothing, when they quietly disappeared, and were seen no more. But, in spite of these intrusive annoyances, Spriggy still kept on his journey, occasionally turning off along a by-track, whose situa- tion beix:ath the deep snow could be ascertained only by some pecwliar briar or hornbeam in its vicinity, all of which were, howe\er, as well known to him as our various coast landmarks to a Channel pilot. It was heavy walking, to be sure, and there was not a trace left by previous travellers to guide him, for the snow kept falling so thickly that even his own footmarks were soon obliterated, and all was as dazzling and level as before. But he had, as he termed it, put the steam on, which process was accomplished by lighting a short pipe ;; and, setting the snow at defiance, he crunched his way still deeper into the wood, until a sudden turn round a thicket of holly, yew, and other evergreens, brought him to the end of his walk. The spot at which he now arrived was situated on the side of a small but steep declivity, part of which had given way in a landslip, forming the hill, as it were, into two large steps. Upon this platform, and against the embankment above, a large rude tent had been con- structed of poles and ragged canvas, apparently the remnants of some ancient racecourse or fair drinking-bootli. Before it the greater part of the snow had been swept away and two fires lighted, round which a large party of individuals was gathered, more or less disreputable, several having the costume and expression of real gipsies, but the majority evidently belonging to that anomalous class of perambulating manufacturers known as " tramps." A couple of tilted carts with chimneys were stationed near the tent, in one of which a fire was also burning, and to these were attached bundles of the thick sticks used to throw at snufi:'-boxes, as well as poles for building stalls ; and one of them also carried a light deal table with three legs, from which an ingenious observer might have inferred that some of the party were versed in the necromantic mysteries of the pea-and-thimble. A pile of firewood had been collected, and stacked up close at hand ; and lower down the slope, in a decayed cowshed, two miserable horses and a donkey were mumbling such scanty fodder as their ownei's could pro- cure for them. " Well, my beans— here we is," said Spriggy, announcing his own arrival, which was perfectlj' uunecessarj', to judge from the cordial manner in which he was received. " How's the times ? " " Brickish," replied one of the party, showing a small bit of wool to the new comer. " Cooper took something in that line the night afore last from a farm t'other side the Splash." " Cut up ? " inquired Spriggy. "Safe," replied the man, pointing to a large saucepan which was slung over one of the fires. " What have you brought ? " With an air of anticipated triumph, Spriggy ixnslung the game-bag he was carrying, ami, shooting out a quantity of vegetables, at last pi'oduced a very fine jack, of some ten or twelve pounds weight. "There's a jockey!" he exclaimed, admirably. "I took a pair of 'em with trimmers in Sfjuire Who-is-it's fleet last night, and sc«' *• 120 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. one to hirn this morning. Wouldn't the guv'nor swear neither if he know'd it ! '' Whereupon, chuckling at his deception, in that hearty spirit ever ■displayed Ijy the lower orders when they impose upon their superiors, Spriggy was attacked with such a fit of coughing, aggravated by tlie combined influence of night-air and mountain-dew, that it was found necessary to produce some cordial from a flat stone bottle, in possession of one of the party, to bring him round again ; and, after a tolerable draught of its contents, poured into a small pipkin without a handle, he felt considerably relieved. "And now to business," he observed, as soon as he had recovered his breath. " Is the Londoner still here ? " The man nodded his head, and pointed towards the cart. "He's got into rather a okkard fix, then," continued Spriggy. "I've walked ten blessed miles this very morning to get him away, for there's no time to be lost." " Are the beaks fly? " asked the man. " Downey as goslings," I'eturned Srnithers. "They're coming here all in a lump, you may depend upon it, and 'won't do j'ou much good if you ain't careful. How about that nmtton ? " "All right," replied the tramp. "The snow hides it, and it will keep for ever if the frost lasts. But look sharp, if the young 'un is to be got ofl' ; for them rails is terrible things for quick jour- neys. " Following liis advice, Spriggy went towards the cart, from M'hose chimney the smoke was ascending, and knocked at the door, which was fastened on the inner side. It was opened by Edward Morris — the cousin to whom Jack Johnson had paid the visit in St. Giles's, the night of his arrival in London. We have learned already that lie had left the cellar; and he had now joined the present party, with one or two of wliom he became acquainted in his late domicile, in tlie hope of remaining safely, in the refuge which iheir encampment offered, from the vigilance of the London police. One of those delusive changes — the occasional supposed ameliora- tions whicli form, to the professok, -where Sniithers resided. "They're uncommcn crafty birds, them police," he concluded. *' I think they'd find a man in tlie middle of a haystack, when he '^vasn't there even." " Would there be any chance of passing them ? " asked Johnson. "Like enough, like enough," returned the man. "Its nine miles if it's an inch ; and they are sure to have a drain or two upon the journev." "There is a hope yet, then," thought Jack ; and, bestowing another trifling gratuity upon the man for his information, he turned his horse's head, and once more starteil upon his enterprise. The wind howled mournfnlly through the naked branches of the copse, whilst the day was rapidly declining, as he quitted the Beeches and gazed upon the dreary expanse of country before him which he had to traverse, in its one unbroken cloak of snow, now darkening in the cold wintry twilight. Large flakes, the indications of an ap- proaching heavy fall, began to descend, and tlie drifts were in many spots soiiigh that the boundary of tlie road was scarcely perceptible. But, under' the ex<-iteme)it of the position, Johnson urged his horse along a narrow lane, which had apparently remained undisturbecf since the first fall, and, by dint of caution and no small degree of courage— for the snow in some places reached to his stirrups— he passed the more exposed portion of the country, and arrived at the comparatively low grounds below Kast Burnham, wliere the road was somewhat clearer, and allowed him to progress for a trifling distance with tolerable speed. But this was of short duration — the drifts had again collected from the uplands, and wlien he reached the line of the railroad, which crossed the lane, he found the archway completelj^ filled up with snow. This presented, at first sight, an insurmountable obstacle to any further advance. It was im- possible to cross the line, or he would immediately iiave done so, for the embankment directly beyond the ox-rails that bounded it, rising up like a wall, precluded the possil)ility of clearing them by a hap ; nor, indeed, would it have been practicable upon level-ground, from the quantity of snow on either side. There was but one chance left, and that was to ride right through it, trusting to its being a mere curtain, ; but the hor.se refused to charge it, as if it liad been a solid mass, and turned sharp round each time Johnson approached it. At length he hit upon a new plan. Without descending from the saddle, he took out his handkerchief and tied it as a bandage over the animal's eyes ; then applying tiie wliip pretty vigorously, urged him forward against it. Tlie whole body of snow immediately crumplcil down about him, and the horse, alarmed at tlie falling mass, nnide a vif his pahtot, Johnson pro- duced his thin tobacco-box, Mhich, as he offered it to his cousin, affoi ileii ■him a fresh subject for much interesting conversation, as to how he !ia«l knocked it off the middle stick at Moulsey races, in company with a pincushion, seven apples inside oue another, a snake, a pear full of tea- things, and a Japan box containing dirt with a sovereign soldered to the lid ; with a passing allusion to the two-bladed cast-iron knife which fell in the hole, in return for which the two next sticks hit the •man's head and shins bj' accident. Next he procured some more fuel from the punt, and heaped it on to the tire ; and finally, clearing away the snow, with the assistance of a landing-net, lay down as close to the blaze as was convenient, and began to smoke, in company with his ■cousin. An hour or two passed en, tiie progress of time being marked by the bell of Laleham Church, which sounded clearly through the silent might, followed by the chimes from the other villages, more or le.ss dis- tinct in proportion to their distance. It was now midnight, and the wind had abated ; while the moon, at present in her first quarter, bad xisen, and was throwing her cold, faint iight over the glistening river, and the desolate tracts of ground on either side. The fire had ■diminished into a heap of glow ing embers ; and Johnson, still reclin- ing at its side, with his back against the tree, wearied by his exertions, •and drowsy from the cold, had allowed himself to fall into a fitful doze, although his last speech had been a caution to Morris not to give -way to the slightest feeling of drowsiness. From this troubled slum- ber he was, however, aroused by his cousin, who seized him suddenly by the arm, and shaking him with nervous trepidation, uttered, in a low, alarmed voice — "Jack ! see ! there is something moving on the bank of tlie liver ! What can it be ? " Rubbing his eyes, and hurriedly collecting his ideas, Jfiliuson looked in the direction pointed out by his cousin. He could plainly perceive the outline of a human figure moving apparently between the bank and the water, not as if it were walking, but with a uniform gliding progress. Presently it left the shore, and advanced slowly into the stream of the smaller ri\ er, and when it had reached the centre, it bent forward, as if ga/.ing intently upon the deep gurgling "waters. "Heavens and earth!" muttered Johnson, scarcely breathing, " what is this ? " " It is an apparition!" whispcied Morris, clutching Johnson's arm in an agony of terror, until his nails nearly penetrated the flesh. "I never believed in ghosts," returned Johnson; " but this looks more like one than anything I ever imagined. Hist ! see what it is •about." 132 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. The figure, still bending towards tlie river, extended its anus, anfL' apparently drew fioin tiie depths a dark form, bearing tlie indistinct outline of a human body. This it regarded for some seconds wi'h. fixed attention, and then moved again on the surface of the current, in. the direction of tlie ait, dragging tlie other object after it. " It is coming upon us ! '" cried Morris, as the dai'k outline approached nearer and nearer. ."Jack ! save me !" he continue I, in an extreniitj' of fear, as he sank down behind his cousin. " I cannot bear to look at it ! " " It's all as right as twenty trivets, my young swanhoppers !" ex- claimed a voice which Johnson inimediatelj" recognised as belonging; to Spriggy Smithers, who directly afterwartls jumped asliore from a very unsafe water-conveyance, bearing some resemblance to a square washing-tub. < " Smithers ! " cried both of the cousins, in amazement. " The werry identical," replied their acquaintance ; who else did' you suppose it was ? " A few words explained everything. Spriggy's "pardner" — an im- portant personage in all rural firms for the propagation of poaching - having business to transact in the Abbey river, with respect to ccrtaiiv night-lines, had observed the inre on the ait, and communicated the- result of his survey to his friend upon reaching his house. Smithers- had immediately started off in a light boat of his o\\n construction,, used for crossing Hooded meadows in wild-duck shooting ; and follow- ing the course of various overflowed bourns and water-dykes, hail reached the main river by a cutting nearly opposite the islet. " I expected you had got into some mischief," observed Spriggjv " when I found as you had not taken the punt-pole. It's lucky you landed as you iiave done.'' *' I don't think the punr will be of much use again," said Johnson ; •' but we will make it all square with you." " And the police ? " asked Morris ; " where are they ? " "All gone," replieil Spriggy. "I swore I'd seen nothing, and' know'd nobodj' noways ; so you can come back again in safety to my place for to-night ; but I can only put you over one at a time. " "But what did you drag out of the river half-way across?" inquired Johnson. "Something for supper," replied Spriggy. "A wicker-wheel' chuck full of eels." Carefully entering the frail conveyance, Morris was ferried over the river, and then left, in company with the eel trap, which had caused them so much alarm, whilst Smithers returned for Johnson. The small punt was then concealeel in an adjacent ditcli ; and, under the guidance of their friend, the two fugitives returned to iiis cottage across the field.s, \\ liere they rested the remaiiuler of the night. Early the next morning they separated, Johnson returning to Slough with the horse, and Alorris going he scarcelj' knew whither — but in the direction of Loudon — where he felt, after all, the greatest security waa to be found. NEIGHBOURLY FEELING. 13S CHAPTER XXII. THE GRIMLEYS TRY TO CUT OUT THE LEDBURYS ; AND GET UP PRIVATE THEATRICALS. Ever since the awkward termination of the attempt on the part of the boy in buttons to gain information as to what was going on in the supper-room on the night of the party at Ledbury's, the Grimleys had been exceedingly anxious to distinguish themselves in the eyes of the society of Islington, from a double motive of jealousy and revenge — jealousy, because everybody had been saying what a verj' pleasant evening they passed ; and revenge, on account of the page's new green trousers, which had been perfectly spoilt by the mixture of barley- sugar, lamp-oil, and trifle, that he fell amongst. And so they held a family council, to devise the best means of diverting the popular atten- tion from their next-door neighljours. As is usual upon such occasions, the bickerings between the rival houses were generally confined to the female branches of the families ; for old Ledbury and Mr, Grimley senior were exceedingly good friends, usually returning from town together, and at all times very amicable and pleasant. But the respective wives of these gentlemen never hit it exactly ; in fact, they disliked one another amazingly ; which was the more remarkable when you witnessed the exceedingly cordial greetings that passed between them if they chanced to meet in a shop or at a small party ; how affectionate were their inquiries after each other's dear girls ! how unkind it was of them not to drop in very often, and bring their work ; how well the young ladies on either side ^vere looking I and what a very fine little boy Master Ledbury or Master Grimley grew ! All this was so very courteous and friendly ! And then Mrs. Ledbury would go home, and hint it was time .Jane Grimley thought of looking about her, for she began to grow verj' old- maidish ; and Mrs. Grimley would also say what a pity it was someone did not give poor Miss Ledbury a few hints about her dress ; and what an object the poor child, Walter, looked in the frightful plaid cap and tunic he had been stuck into. But, through it all. Miss Grimley was very fond of talking about the period when she went to school with Emma Ledbury'; which, indeed, was the case, although she usually forgot to add that she was just leaving when the otlier arrived as a very little girl ; and her brother, Mr. Horatio Grimley, who was in a West India mer- chant's counting-house, had always been accustomed to regard our friend Mr. Ledbury as a simple and harmless nothing, until he came back from France, and created such a sensation in Islington. This altered the sentiments of the other gentleman, who, finding that he could relate nothing about Ramsgate or Heme Bay equal to Ledbury's stories of Paris and the Quartier Latin, forthwith determined at all hazards to go to Boulogne next autumn, even if the trip cost ten pounds ! " Now, if you are all so anxious to outdo the Ledburys," observed 131 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. Mr. Horatio Grimley, as they proinenaded along High Street — wc are sorry to say, on a Sunday, after a sermon on liuniility — " it is of no use giving a mere commonplace evening party to ti parcel of dreary people, \\ ho will do iiotliing but sit still round the room, make obser- v.ations, cat ice, and aluise us all the next day." "What do you wish us to attempt, then, Horace?" asked Mrs. Griiidey. " Well, I hardly know. I think something in the tumbling and fireworks line." " I'he idea!" ejaculateil j\Iiss Grimley, lowering her parasol to hide her features from the gaze of a very impertinent young gentleman who passed. "Perhaps you would likens to add horsemansiiip and tiglit-iope dancing ? " " Certainly," replied Horatio; " with a sprinkling of fancy dresses and dissolving views ; and, perhaps, some artificial sketching." " My dears ! what nonsense you are talking I ' observed Mrs. Grimley. " Not at all, mother ! we wish to be strikingly original. Talking of dissolving views, what do you say to tableaux / " " Table- wluits, nij' love?" " Don't you know ? " cried Horatio. " You recollect tliose things •we saw at the De Robinsons', when we sat gaping in the dark for half an hour. Look here ? Hamlet and the Ghost ! " Whereon Mr. Grimley seized his sister's parasol, and threw himself Lito an attitude on the pavement, to the great horror of the ladies, and equal admiration of a small charity-boy, who was carrying a dish of baked meats to lus family. "And pri\ate theatricals, Horry!" cried Miss (irimley with energy, as she recovered her parasol. "I tiiink we could manage private theatricals. Tliere have never been any attempted in Isling- ton ; at least, I think not." " I sec, Jane ! famous notion ! " replied her brother, catching at it. " Our house is built for them : two drawing-rooms — folding-doors ; no end of fun ! don't yon think so, mother?" It must be confessed Mrs. Grindey did not at first see her way very clearly ; but overcome by tlie persuasions of her son and ilangl'.ter, at length consented to their wishes, having stipulated that the house was not to l>e knocked about more than absolutely necessary ; that they were not to run into any extravagant expenses ; and that all the Ledburys should be invited to act - at all events, tl>ey were to be asked as \ isitors. "Because," said Mrs. Grimley, "that will show them we are actuated by no petty feelings of jealousy ; and at the same time we shall be able to prove to them that our connections are dramatlque — the two other ladies, still in the light poplins, having placed themselves in the front row to encourage the dramatic members of their family. But the crowning triumph of all was, that not only the Claverlys had arrived, but also the l)e Robinsons — whose names sounded somewhao familiar to Jack Jolinson, and who, at last, he recollected, were friends of the Bernards he had met in tlie boarding- house on the Boulevards at Paris — had accepted Mrs. (irimley's invitation from the very first. This was so very kind of them ; for Eaton Place is not within a mere stone's throw of Islington ; and they had not come alone merely, but brought such an elegant young man with them, with mustachios and a 1 1 ■e front to his shirt, ana white gloves and glazed boots and einhroidmed wristbands turned up over his cuffs, whom young Dj R()!)ins'>n liad met at some aquatic dinner, and who was intrwlucetl as Mr. Roih^-ick Doo. The orcliestra, which comprised Miss Simpson on the cabinet-piano, behind the scenes, and Mr. Ledbury, who had brought his (lute, l>egan the overture to Zampa, during the perform ince of which Mr. Ledbury put on his spectacles, and came in where lie couhl, which was not ''THE PLATS THE THING." 130 always in the right place. This was, however, of no great conse- qiiciice ; for the music was drowned by the buzz of the audience. But, although not listening very attentively, the company were not bliiul ; and tiiey admired every part of the proscenium with the most lavish expressions of approbation, from the painted pilasters at the sides, betwepn which were delineated j^rivate boxes, with elegant ladies, in tall feathers, looking at the play, and limned with matchless skill, after the valuable original of " West's Improved Penny Stage- front, to be used either built or plain," to the gieen drugget of the dining-room, which had been taken up, tiioroughly beaten, and pro- moted to tlie office of drop-scene. Mrs Grimley kindly undertook to prompt, as the performers were not all very perfect ; and the two old gentlemen of the respective families retired quite behind everyone else, in a corner .of the room, where they could slip out unperceived when they gut tired of tlie exhibition, which, in their opinion, did not appear to answer any great commercial end, and was consequently all fiddle-faddle nonsense. The curtain rose, and discovered Master Hoddle, as Nibbs, laying the breakfast, upon which the applause was very encouraging ; and old Mrs. Hoddle told everybody it was her grandson, and tliat he was not much past eleven. But when Mr. Ledbury put his head out of the bedroom door — an ingenious piece of scenic mechanism, formed from the clothes-horse, covered with canvas and {tainted— in his white cotton night-cap and dressing-gown, the audience so laughed that Mrs. Grimley, behind the scenes, began to wish they would keep some of their expressions of delight for her own son. And then Mrs. Ledbury leant over three rows of people, to ask Einina if Titus did not do it very well ; and Master Walter Ledbury, who had been permitted to come, under heavy threats of puni.shinent for misbehaviour, ex- claimed — "That's Titus ; and I know what he said." " What was it, my love ? " asked Mrs. Ledbury, with all a mother's loudness for drawing out her children, looking round upou the com- panj' with an expression that conveyed the words, " Isn't he a dear little child ? " "I shan't tell— but I know," replied Walter. " Yes — now do, Watty dear," said Mis. Ledbury, pei'suasively. " He said he wasn't half so ugly as Mrs Grimley would be in her nightcap," said that young gentleman, with singular distinctness of articulation. Fortunately, there was a little noise upon the stage connected with the scene, and the remark was not generally heard ; nevertheless, Mrs. Ledbury, overcome with confusion, inwardly came to the con- clusion tliat it was a bad plan to ]>ress cliildrea to say anything before company which they appeared, with all the nature of a child's art, anxious to keep to themselves. The farce proceeded, Jack Jolinson and Horatio Griniiey both coming in for their due share of ap I'ause, although the former had been forced into the part somewhat a^aiii.st his will, for which he meant to be revenged. And Miss Grimley' and Miss Simpson were pronounced 140 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. exceedingly clever, only the last-named young lady could not make up her mind to look at the audience, but addressed all her remarks either to the carpet or the Viack-scenes. Wc mast do Mrs. Grimley the justice to say that she prompted remarkiil)ly well — if anything, it was a little too loud ; and as she had to be gi\ing constant directions to the page concerning sundry points connected with the refreshment portion of the entertainment, she sometimes mingled them very curiously together, in the following style, which it must be premised, was distinctly heard by the audience. '■'[My first brief shall he in the court of love) — tell Susan the com- pany will be down almost immediately — (it is the most aickivanl) — here are the keys — (position I ever felt myself in) and keep the front door closed, do yon hear Leonard 1— (Speak, my amjel) — and let Mrs. Claverly's servant keep in the room — (he's very mad— further t/one than I thought he toasj— the rout-cakes are in the chifFoniere, with — (Bltcshiti'jton, in the nearest horse-pond)." At length the piece concluded, and the curtain fell, not, however, before it had refused to drop for two or three minutes, during which time all tlie characters were upon the stage, bowing to the audience. At last it came down with a run that made all the footlights jump from tiie ground, and much alarmed Mrs. Hoddle, who, notwithstanding, thought it part of the entertainment. The company generally went down for refreshment ; and the performers took advantage of the ejitrarte to prepare for the next feature in tlie evening's programme. In about twenty minutes all was ready ; and when the audience had reassembled, the Tableaux Vivants commenced— ^liss Simpson taking her place at the piano, and Jack Johnson enacting a sort of exhibTtor in front of the stage. The lights were partially extinguished, and then, whilst the air was played, the curtain rose slowly, and dis- covered a large frame of fine gauze, to give a pictorial effect to the groupings, which took place behind it. The first tableau introduced Miss Grimley di-essed in an elegant walking costume, from a late fashion in the IllnxIraUd News, addressing her brother, vrho was attired as a theatrical wood-cutter, and was about to corimit some savage injury with a tin axe upon a pasteboard oak at his aide. The performers maintained a fixed attitude, which was very imposing— "quite a picture," as Mrs. Claverly remai-ked— only Mr. (Jrimley somewhat disturbed the illusion by sneezing two or three times in tlie course of the representation. ♦' Tableau the first," said Jack Johnson, pompously speaking "through the music," and looking wickedly at Emma Le.Uniry, " ' Woodman, spare that tree.' Tiie young lady is requesting the rustic to abstain from injuring a single ramification^ ; and while she confesses that it sheltered her when she was younger, she expresses her deter- mination to afford it every protecticm at the present moment. The tree derives some additional interest from tiie circumstance of her ancestors having depositoci it in its present eligible situation, and she therefore resolutely declares that the implement of tiie rustic shall do jt no harm. Obserre the countenance of the woodman -he receives THE TABLEA UX. 141 "twelve shillings a weel< from his employer to do his bidding ; and as •the oak is the property of his master, and not the yoiuig lady's, he is undecided how to act. Let us hope that the tree may be ultimately spared." The curtain now once more descended to slow music and the applause of the audience, who were left to amuse themselves in the dark, as they best might, for the next ten minutes, whilst the second .picture was put upon the stage. Miss Simpson beguiled the time, however, by phiying various waltzes ; and tiien the bell rang, and the ;green drugget rolled up again. The next tableau was very imposing. Tiie lights were turned down, and a long piece of canvas, painted l)liie, and white, and green — in fact, all colours at once — was shaken violently at either end by Master Hoddle and Mr. Horatio Grimley, • and made to portray the sea during a violent storm, witli no end of ■ dust, Walter Ledlniry's little chaise had been fitted up to represent a boat by crafty mechanical appliances, and in this frail conveyance •were stalioiied Miss Grimley and Mr. Ledburj?. Miss Crimley liad changed lier dress, and was now attired in white muslin, with a long .gauze scarf, ^vhich was artfuUj' kept in a semicircle over her liead by -a piece of cane, to give it the appearance of being extended by the wind. Mr. Ledbury was arrayed as a troubadour, steering the vessel "with one hand, and playing the guitar with the other, as lie looked with tender affection at Miss Grimley. " Tableau the second," said Jack Jolinson, who resumed his post in front. " ^ Off\ oJ'\ said the s'raiKjer-l' The lady lias forsaken her ^palace and halls, and is now tiying over the silvery but tempestuous bay in a light bark. The j'oung roving lovers have pledged their vows unknown to mortals, but hallowed — there !" And here Jack Jolmson pointed mysteriously to the ceiling, whitlicr •everybody's eyes liirectly followed him. At the same moment tlie boy iu buttons violently shook a piece of sheet-iron behind the scenes, bor- >rowed from the tinman, to represent thunder. " She is Italy's daughter," continued Jack, with simple pathos. "" You may know it by iny asking, ' Do you see anj'thing in her eye ? ' You see a beam —the same bright beam by which the sky of her -country is illumined. She is sorrowful at quitting her friends; but ■the troubadour touches his guitar gaily, and all is happiness ! " The j'oung ladies were much affected at this picture ; but 'when ■the light bark moved on upoa the concealed wheels of the chaise, and was pulled out of sight, the applause was very great, and this triumph •of machinery served for the audience to comment upon until the .next group was arranged. \\'hen the veil was next drawn aside, a -landscape was shown, very fairly painted, with a cottage and moun- tains. Mr. Horatio Grimley was in the centre, dressed in a bright ;green cut-away coat, a scarlet vest, yellow knee-breeches, blue stockings, and a shillelagh in one hand pointing to the cottage win- -dow, the other being laid upon his heart. The lamps, dark at first, were very gradually turned up, and Mr Ledbury was sent otit upon ■the landing to blow a horn, first with the door open, and then with it jshut, to produce an echo. 142 THE AD VtW TURKS OF MR. LEDBURY. ^'Tableau the third," lecoiMim'TR-eil Jack Jolinson, "^Kathleen Mat'oiirneen.' The scene represents the Lakes of Killainey; and you will perceive the grey dawn is Ijreakiiii; " — (asiV/e to the pcuje, " Turn down the middle lamp ; it has i^one f)iir, anon tlie (irimleys, hit upon a scheme which appeared likely to gratify his most ardent wislies. ^\'e have stated that the back of the drawing- room had been aiiprnpriated for the gentlemen to dress in ; and as soon as the curtain fell, the inlervening scenery M-as always rolled up, so that they might have the benefit of the lights upon the stage. As Johnson was to enact the .Moon in the first part of tlie burl- csfjue, the task of drawing up the curtain was assigned to the page by Mr. Horatio (uimley, with strict injunctions that he should l)e very attentive, and pull the drop up as (piickly as he could when hfr heard the scraud bell ring. Useful Miss Simpson was to plaj' an over- ture in iier high priest's dress, having directly afterwards to appear as Oroveso ; and Ma.ster Hoddle was to assist the gentlemen in making, their toilets. Understanding all this, Jack saw that if he (juietly rang the bell RATHER AWKWARD. 143 •once himself, the regular first signal would become the second ; and as "the boy in buttons had recived such impressive commands to be attentive, the curtain would most probably go up at once. He there- fore took the bell, and indulged in a quiet solo upon it, close to the page's ear. " What is the bell ringing for ? " cried Mr. Horatio Grimley ; "we are not ready yet." "^^othing — nothing!" returned Jack. "I brushed against ifc ^ust this minute. Now, then, for the Moon." "Had we not better let down the scene?" asked Mr. Ledbury, ^who was attiring himself for Adalgisa. ■'No, no!" cried Horatio; "it is rather difficult to manage; I ijnust do it myself." " Hurrah ! " tliought Jack : " how very fortunate ! " Th'^ audience, who had heard the first ring, inamediately settled into their places, not sorry to find that the performances were about =to recommence. Mrs. Grimley was all eager anticipation to see how the stage looked from the front, and was nervously awaiting the cora- imeucement : whilst the "agreeable rattle," having for the time ex- hausted all his clever speeches, was flirting with Miss De Robinson's handkerchief, admiring its embroidered border, and waving it about to diffuse its scent of /luchouH all over the room. At this moment, by Mr. Horatio Grimley's directions, tlie bell rang for the overture. The l)oy in buttons, who had been attentively waiting for the signal, immediately seized the cord, and with all the activity he coulil ■command, rapidly drew up the curtain ; and the following tableau, ifar more animated than any before exhibited, burst upon the ^bewildered eyes of the audience, at the back of the stage : — On the left hand, Mr. Ledbury, half attired in his costume, was •endea\-ouring to make out which was the front of the wig allotted to him for the character he had to assume, as he stood before a small looking-glass, propped up by a plaster Joan of Arc. Mr. Horatio -Grimley, on the opposite side, as Norma, was hurriedly shaving off ihis whiskers, having discovered at the last moment that 'he could not ■very well conceal them ; and in the centre. Jack Johnson, as the Moon, having anticipated the occurrence, was deeply engaged in dis- cussing part of a tankard of half-and-half which had been kept in the " green-room " for tlie refreshment of the gentlemen. Little Master Hoddle, -who was to play on* of the children, was sitting on the .ground in an extreme undress, waiting for his sandals, which were having strings put to them up-stairs, and embracing his knees with his ^hands, in the attitude of little boys on tiie banks of the river, asking itheir swimming companions whether the water is warm or no ; whilst tiie floor was covered with boots, coats, hats, and properties, strewn ■carelessly about in every direction. The audience, at first conceiving this scene to be part of the play, • commenced ipplauding very vigorously. And when Mr. Horatio fi rimley, scared at the sudden and almost pantomimic effect, threw down ■his razor, and rushing from his position to the prompt wing, seized the thapless boy in buttons, and dragging him from the seclusion of the 144 THE ADl'ENTUBES OF MR. LEDBL'llY. side scones, commenced bestowing a hearty cuffing upou him, in the eyes of the spectators, their deliglit knew no l^ounds ; and they laughed and cheered with such rapture that ilie drops of the chandelier quite quivered again. But when Mrs. (irimley started from lier place a^nongst the audience, and stepping over the footlights, drew the page away, crjing " Horace ! my dear Hoiace I pray govern your temper ! " the visitors began to think that something was amiss — a« suppo.sition that was strengthened by the sudden fall of the curtain,. anil a continued altercation of loud and angry voices be]iiaii of getting something to cat ; and other birds of quaint and strange appearance as well, some of them so ■very odd-looking that Mr. Ledbury laughed aloud at their droll • expression and demeanour as they walked imposingly about the grass, •to the great discomfiture of the alien sparrows who had invaded their domain with predatory intentions. There were several swnns ^Iso, who evidently thought no small feathers of themselves, by the liaughty manner in which they glided about, stooping with much THE REFLECTIVE MOOD. UT dignity to take up the piece of bread thrown to them, but •which they seMoiu laid hold of, as the ducks of inferior manners generally ran ia. first, and with their short necks gobbled down the desired morsel before the swan's head was half-way to the water. " Such is life ! " thought Mr. Ledbury, quoting the words of the- celebrated moralist who publishes his thoughts upon motto-wafers and glass-seals. "We everywhere see true dignity of birth losing those- advantages it will not stoop to secure ; whilst common grovelling per- sons, who will cringe to anything, readily appropriate the rewards to- themselves. " And when, during these meditations, an awful-looking bird, with- red legs, and a knob over his bill as big as an orange, and of the same colour, came up with the velocity of a steamboat, and put the ducks, to flight, Mr. Ledbury thought of retriljutive justice, and set the last. bird down as a feudal baron : until he ate the next piece of breadi himself; and then Mr. Ledbury felt convinced that he was a lawyer. And, finally, his reflections took a gastronomic turn, and he pictured' some of the more desirable birds cooked and smoking-hot, about to- be anointed with cayenne pepper and lemon-juice. But these were not the only meditations that occupied Mr. Ledbury's- mind ; for he had that morning received a communication which baffled all his conjectures to discover whom it came from ; the missive- being a valentine, in a lady's handwriting, and perfectly anonymous. He had read and re-perused it a hundred times, but could form no- notion of the writer, which was the more to be regretted because it was very delicate and complimentary ; not an abusive representatioi» of a monkey with long hair, smoking a cigar, accompanied by verses, having for their object the production of mental inquietude ; or a. policeman with knock-knees and a red nose ; or a dandy with a. donkey's head ; but a beautiful lithograph, with a lace border and allegorical illustrations. In the centre a handsome gentleman, on whose face some other artist had lightly sketched a pair of spectacles, to represent Mr. Ledbury, was kneeling in an attitude of adoration, attired in a blue coat, curled hair, white trousers, and very little boots. Then an equally elegant lady was receiving his addresses with her face half averted, as she looked towards a distant village, or rather a very small hamlet, being composed of a church steeple, two trees, and a hackney coach. And, besides a great many Cupids — whf>- appeared to be flying home, and with no end of hearts, of the usual imaginative form, in all probability to be stuffed and eaten for their supper, if love ever eats — there were some original verses, of great ingenuity and power, by some one who Iiad evidently read, and takeo. as models of style and composition, the most popular poets who adorn the advertisement division of our newspapers at the present day. It was an acrostic, and thus it ran : — "T 00 gentle youth ! my young heart's tendrils twine I n clinging fondness round my love's first shrine. T rust in my truth, and let me call thee mine. U nknown to all, in solitude I pine, S till thinking but on thee, my Valkntine 1 " 348 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBUnV. This was very nicely written, and enclosed in a fragrant envelope, -whicli was, moreover, fastened by a wafer, bearing, as Mr. Ledbnry imagiuod, the crest of the writer, by which lie argued tiiat she must be of gentle birtli. The heraldic bearings were a nioiisc-trap pro/>er upon a ground rainbow, with the motto " Inriiiire within;" but, beyond this, tliere was no clue to the author. Mr. Ledl)n(y walkeil about the park for a full hour, without arriving at any certain conclu- sion, and finally agreed to inspect some authentic wofk upon iieraldr}', and see if that could afford him any information. He would, of couise, have consulted the onuiLscient Jack Johnson upon the subject, but he had called several times upon his friend witliout finding him ■at liome ; and, indeed, inul lately remarked, with some nncasinc.ss, •that Jack appeared to iiave something unpleasant hanging over liini. Since the play at Grimley's, when tlie excitement had carried him into •all manner of fun, they iiad not seen nuich of him at Islington ; and when Emma had written him a note with her own fair lumd, to ask ■ him up one evening, lie had declined the invitation, upon the plea of previous engagc-uient. It was so unlike Jack Johnson to decline an •invitation, undoj- any circumstances, that Ennna was sure somctiiiug -Avas the matter. So Mr. Ledbury was completely puzzled : and even the book of • heraldry aflbrded him no information ; for he coulil not lind tliat any peer, baronet, or commoner of England had a mouse-trap for his crest, .And, as his first feeling upon reading his valentine was one of gratifica- tion at the compliment, so his next partook of in\estigation as to tlie originator of it ; and, by the time he got home, being still as much in •the dark as ever, these two sentiments iiad merged into iiritation •contingent upon ungratified curiosity ; and he finally Y>x\t down valentines as exceedingly stupiil things, void of all intellect, and only toleiated by weak and ill-regulated minds. The next morning, however, whilst Mrs. Ledbury was standing in •the passage, directing some arrangements for suspending a lamp therein, there came such a sliarp double rap at the door, tliat she did 'not recover from the siiock all day ; and directly afterwards tlie post- :tnan gave in a letter for Titus. Mr. Ledbury was astonislietl to see tliat the direction was in the same writing as his valentine, and much more bewildered when a printed card made its ajipeaiance upon ■opening the env.dope, which lie did with a tremulous ;uid expectant band, inviting him to a ball at the Hiinover .Squai-e Rooms; the card i>eing a voucher from tlie "Antediluvians," conveying also the informa- tion that gentlemen could not be admitted unless in fancy costume, ■ and tiiat it was customaiy to pay lialf-a-guiiiea for the tickets. The hope of discovering Ids unknown uinmorata was a sufficient inducement for Mr. Ledbury to make up his mind at once that he would go, in spite of all the objections of the old gentleman, wlio indulged gratuitously in a great many jdeasing comments upon fancy balls and dresses — not that he had ever been to one in his life, but he llooke I upon them as a species of May-day dance in lespectjible -society ; lieing enabled to form a slight notion of the eiitertairnneiit from a vague recollection of the ball scene in " tJustaviis," wliicli he THE FANCY DRESS. 149 had seen one night, when he was dragged to the theatre consideral'Iy against his will. But Titus thought differently, and was already absorbed in the choice of a dress, passing every costume he was acquainted with rapidly before his mind, and picturing the sensation he should create in each. It may be conceived that his choice finally rested upon a dehardeur, such being the character which he had so ably sustained at the bed masqu6 in Paris, when pretty Aim^e accom- panied him in the same lively dress. And, moreover, he found that a good costume was not to be obtained under three or four guineas, whilst for less than that sum he could get it made at home ; for Mrs. Ledbury knew a cunning woman, skilled in the needle, who came for a shilling a day and her meals, and could contrive window-curtains, chair-covers, bed-furniture, and pinafores in a manner marvellous to behold ; and to her the manufacture of the dress was entrusted, from Mr. Ledbury's own designs. And, considering her ideas of Parisian life were rather limited— -that she did not even know what station in life a dehardeur was supposed to fill — siie acquitted herself with very great credit. But, having to outfit little Master Hoddle, a day or two after, for an academy at Clapton, she described every part of her late undertaking so very minutely, that in the course of eight-and-forty iiours everybody in Islington, not to mention the frontiers of Pentoa- ville, was aware that Mr. Ledbury was going to a fancy-ball in a tnost singular dress ; and, moreover, perfectly conversant with the dinner carte of the family every day the workwoman had stopped there. At length the evening arrived ; and when Titus was dressed he came down into the parlour, to the great admiration of everybody, ■except old Mr. Ledbury, who contented himself with several quiet " j'ahs ! " and " tom-fools ! " as he looked over his newspaper at his son. Mrs. Hoddle had begged to be permitted to come in and see Titus Jjcfore he started, as a great favour ; because everybody called upon Mrs. Hoddle every day for the news ; and, as she always told the next visitor everything the previous one had said, she became the great promulgator of reports, and general registrar of births, marriages, and other family concerns, for the district. Indeed, Jack Johnson, when he became acquainted with her, had christened her the " Islington ■Chronicle and Hoxton Evening Mail " ; and this he wickedly told to Emma Ledbury, who said it was very sarcastic of him, but laughed, and tliought it very funny, nevertheless. Titus had the gratification of seeing the Grimleys peeping at him at the side of the blinds as he got into the cab ; but, of course, he pretended not to observe them, and drew up the window in a dignified manner ; then, throwing himself back with as much ease as his dress would allow, gave himself up during the journey to surmise, curiosity, and anticipation. There were a great many carriages at the rooms when he arrived at Hanover Square, and he was some time getting up to the door, f i)lace I should wish to be seen at : but it ia proper for a num of the world to wiincs.s all phases of society. Your costume is minutely correct. What is it ? " " A drhanleiir,"' answered Ledbuiy. " Do you know Paris ? " "Oh! yes, yes — perfectly," rcjdied Mr. Doo, in an olF-hand manner ; " that is — I may siiy— yes. " " Which part did you live in ?" inquired Titus. "Oh! generally - genei ally — no particular part— all over. Alii THE FAIR UNKNOWN. lol Jiow d'ye do? — how d'ye do? "he continued, shaking his head to an inlefinite nothing on the stairs. " Excuse me— see a friend— capital to avoid, all animadversions on our conduct in so doing ; for the world will always lend itself as a willing accomplice to those peccadilloes which are not sought to be concealed ; and having ourselves pleaded guilty to our own charge of plagiarism, no one else will now care to accuse us of it. And so we will proceed to show how sundry obstacle* arose to annoy Jack Jackson during tlie period that he was paying his attentions to Emma Ledbury, although the manner in M'hich the- courtship finally ended must for the present remain undivulged to our readers. Some few days after the events of the last chapter, Mr. and Mrs. Ledbury were sitting alone one evening in the parlour ; the old gentleman being engaged, as usual, in perusing the city intelligence of the evening paper ; whilst his consort was performing some curious feats of legerdemain with two whalebone sticks and a ball of worsted, fi'oin whose united manoeuvres the foundation of a triangular shawl was gradually being produced. Titus had gone off with his friend to some theatre, upon the strength of an eleventh-hour order, that had come in unexpectedly : and Enuna was sitting in the nursery, to keep the olive-branches from setting themselves on fire or bundling downstairs in the dark, whilst Foster was in the kitchen. Not that such was her usual avocation ; but the domestic arrangements of the house had been somewhat disturbed from their propriety by the sudden loss of the boy in buttons, and the advent of another page id embryo. " Servants are certainly the greatest plagues in housekeeping," observed Mrs. Ledbury, in a temporary fit of vexation at dropping a. stitch. The old gentleman replied by a motion of his head, something between a shake and a nod, whicli might have been taken as expressive of any- thing ; tor as he had heard the same terms of reproach separately applied by Mrs Ledbury during the past week to washing, butcher's bills, and four-anear him away, Mr. Ledbury laid the fee upon the table, and then left the house, feeling a great deal more courageous in the fresh air of the streets tlian he luid done in the chandjer of fate ; and Hrmly dcteiniined to buy a pair of cork-soled boots on the morrow, for wet days, that his atiections might not be blighted. It was still early in the evening, and he therefore thought he wouhl call upon JacU Johnson, before he went home, and have some couvcr-sation with him. Besides, he knew Jack would be deliu'hted to see him, if it was oidy to receive tidings of Emira ; and he tiieiefore took his way towards liis friend's house in North Street, and foitu- nately found him at homo. " ^V'^ell, Lcddy," said Jack, after they had chatted some little time a))out their own immediate love atlairs on either side, which conversa- tion was more interesting to themselves than to the reader, — " Well, Leddy, I have made up my mind. This is the last evening you will see me here." "Nonsense, .Jack I v hat do you mean?" asked Ledbury, half alarmed. " You arc not going to do anything foolish ? " " Well, that rcnuiins to be proved," returned Jack. " I am going apprentice lo a medical man. You know I commenced the study two or three years ago, ami ought not to have abandoned it ; but I had no motive then for going on with it." And he spoke the last words with a signiticant smile, which was immediately followed up by a very forlorn sigh. "And whom are you going to be with?" asked Ledbury. "Oh! nobody very jmrticular," replied Johnson. "But there LOW SPIRITS. 169 will not be much premium asked, and I shall see some practice — both which things are advantageous. He lives near St. John Street, and his name is Rawkins." " Oh 1 I think I know the place," observed Ledbury. "It is a retail — is it not ? " " Precisely : a blue-bottle shop, as we used to call them, with penny pitch-plasters in the window. Yet it suits my purpose, and — what is of more conseijuence — my purse." " I suppose I can come and see you there, Jack ? " said Titus. " You shall go with me to-night, if you like. All my traps have been taken there this morning, and I lea\e the old rooms in about an hour. It is all for the best, I know ; but I cannot bear going away. " " You will be nearer to us than ever," observed Ledbury, wishing to comfort his friend, who appeared in very low spirits, but evidently trying to fight up a','ainst them. "And what good will that be to me — now?" replied Johnson. "I should have looked forward to it once." " But you have such capital spirits. Jack," said his friend, " I can scarcely imagine you could ever be dull." "Oh ! my spirits are good enough wiien I am excited or amused," replied Johnson ; "but they are very different when I am alone, with nothing but gloomy tl)ings to think about. I wish I had your equal temper— then I sho'.dd not circ so much about leaving these shabby old rooms ; but I liave l)een here so long ! " Ledbury might have replied that, lot our disposition be what it may, there is a sad desolate feeling, inseparable from leaving the abode in which we have dwelt for any length of time. The common inanimate household things about the room — hirelings tliough they be to every new tenant — have become a part and parcel of our being ; there is a familiarity in the very sprigs and flowers on the walls — almost a sym- pathy, which only a long residence can induce ; and, like the poor cap- tive, who, when released from his long imprisonment, crept back, blinded by the sun's glare, to the noisome dungeon which time and misery had taught him to look upon as his house, and turn even its spiders and reptiles into household gods — we still cling to any old residence with regard, although our sojourn therein might have been chequered with sorrow and annoyances. But those very shadows have hallowed it in our remembrance. As there was still some little time to spare before the period ap- pointed for Jack's arrival at his new place, as he termed it, he appro- priated the last hour to the luxury of enjoying a pipe, in company with Mr. Ledbury; and when the j' had puffed themselves into a becoming placidity of spirits, and puffed one another into the idea that they were both extraordinary line fellows, as well as discussed a farewell measure of the peculiar commingled fluid that came from " round the corner," Jack gave a final glance at tlie drawers and closets, to see that nothing was left behind, paid his bill, restored the keys to the landlady, and then set off, accompanied by Ledbury, to enter upon the duties of his new office. 170' THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. CHAPTER XXVIII. ©F MR. RAWKINS ; HIS DOMESTIC ECONOMY ; AND JACK JOHNSON 8 FRESH START IN LIFK. The medical establishment conducted by Mr. Rawkins was situated in one of the streets which would be intersected by a line drawn from the New River Head to Clerkenwell Green ; and the red bull's-eye lamp over the door formed a principal object in the thoroughfare, in the absence of any more remarkable features. It was essentially a doctor's shop, and might have been mistaken by thouglitless pedes- trians for a mere chemist and druggist's, had not the fiamed diploma of the Apothecaries' Company, ostentatiously displayed in the window, borne testimony to the proper graduation of the owner — being, in fact, a licence to kill human game by powder and ball, in the shape of calomel and bolus, which every person regularly qualified for that art must possess. In the same manner, the apprentice's indenture is merely a certificate to carry a gun, or, more properly, a mortar — the missiles from which are frequently as destructive as those sent from its namesake, moivitre, used whilom at Antwerp. The window of Mr. Rawkins' surgery was set out with much elaborate care, and a great eye to display. Besides the legitimate drugs, usually seen, there were elegant arabesques of teeth upon black velvet tablets, as well as mysterious instruments and chemical apparatus, of curioii.sly incomprehensible shapes. These were diversi- fied with packets of soda-powdeis, whose blue and white envelopes gave an animated appearance to the window, heightened by the dusky red of the ready-made pitch-plasters, and the doubtful white of the plaster- of-paris horse, which occupied the centre pane. There were, also, an- nouncements in gold letters upon glass slips, similar to those we see at pastrycooks, except that they notified " Blekding," and "Patent Medicines," instead of ices and ginger-beer. Mr. Koops, the prac- titioner in the next street, who merely lived in a private liouse with a brass-plate on the door, had circulated reports prejudicial to the respectability and high-standing of Mr. Rawkins as a medical man — affirming that he also sold lucifers, Windsor-soap, jujubes, and tooth- brushes ; but this is supposed to have been an idle rumour, not propa- gated until the practitioner in the next street just mentioned had lost the appointment of surgeon to tlie police-force, to which his more fortunate opponent had lately been elected. Mr. Rawkins was so extraordinary a person for a medical prac- titioner, that, had we only read of hiin, instealed to present liimself for examination. In spite of his reckless vivacity, lie had natuial talents of a high order, which CHAIUTY. 177 only wanted a little exertion on his part to bring tliem into play. His faults were more those of bringing up than disposition ; and often- times he was thinking deepest when the world imagined he was all carelessness and jocosity. Mr. Prodgers— resolved upon spending the niglit with his com- panions, free from any disturbance or interruption — as soon as they were all settled, proceeded to tie a leathern glove round the clapper of the niglit-bell ; which he said was his general custom upon retiring to rest, because ho did not like being called up during the hours appro- priated to sleep. " Policemen," observed Mr. Prodgers, "are never ill in the night, they have so much to attend to ; poor people never ought to be ; and so I see no reason for being annoyed with this bell." " And do they never come, then ? " asked Jack. " Not to my knowledge," replied the other. " If they do, finding it is of no use, they probably go to the doctor's in the next street. He is a young man, trying to work his Avay into practice, and, like all the rest of them— a set of bleak, who will jump at anything. It does him good, and keeps his circulation active. / think it's a charity." And having delivered himself of this opinion, Mr. Prodgers took several philosophical whiff's from his pipe, and winked separately at his companions, who had been so deeply wrapped up in their own enjoyments that they had said but very little since they came in ; Init they expressed their approbation of his sentiments by nodding their heads, and patting the table with their hands, after which, as if some spell had been broken- by this ceremony, they entered into conversa- tion. This M'as chiefly to the eff'ect that they had been passing the evening at a private free-and-easy club of medical pupils, somewliere over an eating-house in Grafton Street, who called themselves " The Tourniquets," and gave up a few hours from the harassing labours of their profession to tlie enjoyment of social harmony and diluted alcohol. Mr. Tweak, who was a fresh man, compared to the others, was in raptures at the very pleasant evening he had spent, and recol- lected every song and joke he had heard with wonderful accuracy. " Ah ! you have not been to the ' Eagle ' yet, observed Mr. Simmons, with the patronising air of a senior pupil. " That's the place, my boy ! We will go one of these fine nights. " " What is it like ? " asked Mr. Tweak. "Oh ! a perfect Elysium ! " said Prodgers ; " you walk about and hear oratorios." "Oratorios," quietly returned Mr. Tweak, "ah — um — they are not very lively things, I believe ? " " Pretty well," replied Jack Johnson ; " but they have other music besides that. Have you heard the Exeter Hall Quadrilles 1 " " No. What are they ? " "Arranged by Jullien, for the opposition shop a little nearer. Temple Bar. You will be delighted with hearing them — when you do." From this moment Mr. Prodgers received Jack Johnson into hia warmest friendship. Mr. Simmons felt equally well inclined towards 178 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. him ; and Mr. Tweak, highly gratified at the desire of imparting use- ful knowledge wliicii his new acquaintance evidently possessed, said be should be very happy to see him at all times, and begged to give him his address, which, being at present rather shoit-sighted, he did in the fihape of a sui'gical-instrument maker's card, that a little boy had l)eeu presenting, with a low bow, to all the pupils as they left the hospital, after demonstration in the morning. The time went on, and the quartette still remained in their places, occasionally varying the night's enjoyment with a little harmony. At last they began to get more quiet ; then their heads occasionally nodded towards the table ; and, finally, Mr. .Sinunons threw himself upon one of the beds. From this position however, he was imme- diately driven by Mr. Prodgers, who objected altogether to the pro- ceeding ; stating, by way of palliating the apparent rudeness with which he turned hia friend off, that it had frequently happened, when bis visitors had laid down on the beds, after a time they began to feel cool, and then gem^rally got under the clothes with their boots on, which made Rawkins very angry, and the servant exceedingly out of temper, especially when the above-nani>/d visitors had been previously running about the streets upon wet e\ enings. So Mr. Simmons gave up the point, and returned to his chair, whereon he fell asleep at one end of the table, and Mr. Tweak at the other, like the Count and his eervant in " The Miller and his Men," Piodgcrs and Jack Johnson retiring to their own couches ; and in another quarter of an hour all was silent. The morn, which would doubtlessly have been very rosy-lingered bad it not been for the rain, had illumined the fichls of Coldbath and the turrets of the House of Correction, shedicquence of the clapper being miiflied — the little boys set up such a cheer that it might have been heard at Sadler's Wells, or even at the Angel ; and wlicn he ran after one of them, and inflicted summary chastisement, in the tallt.au of " Hercules and Lichas,' they literally choked with ecstasy. NEIGHBOURLY INTEUEST. \19 Perceiving how things stood, Johnson rushed downstairs witli all the speed he could command, and admitted his new master, braving his ire at all hazards. And, for a few minutes, very terrible to behold was the anger of Mr. Rawkins, until Jack contrived to explain the mistake, which somewliat appeased him ; adding that, in the ignorance of his new locality, he had unconsciously pushed tlie head of bis bed against the bell, which had prevented it from ringing. It appeared that an acquaintance who lived ne\\ards next door ; although their attention had not been summarily attracted by any knock of unwonted assurance, nor did the house of Ledbury present any unusual appearain.e of bustle. But still there was enongli to put them upon the alert ; for the night before, old Mrs. Hoddle's maid had been to the flyman to ask about the price of a conveyance to Hornscy on a particular evening in an- ticipation ; and tliere she had learnt that a fly had been ordered to be at Mr. Ledbury's puiietually at nine o'clock the next morning, to go to the Soutli-Western llaih\ay. Of course, Mrs. Hoddle's maul immediately conveyed this important piece of local intelligcnee to her mistress ; and by that medium the Grimleys also became aeijuainted with it. For dear Miss Grimley had gone in on that vei-y evening, so pleasant and kind as she always was, to take tea witli Mrs. Hi>ddle, and learn bow to make frizzled sjiills of coloured paper for the mantel- piece, which her brother, with liis coarse ideas, always termed fancy pipe-liglits, to her very great horror and disg\ist ; and during this visit they had talked over everything tliey knew alxuit everybody, and a great deal more that they did not, until their stock of subjects was .4.V ELOPEMENT. 181 almost exhausted ; so that this new bit of information came in most opportunely, although they could not conceive what the fly could possibly have been ordered for. It was certainly very strange, and the mystery was not at all cleaied up by a chance visit of the washer- woman, who stated that she had been obliged to take most of the things home on Thursday night instead of Saturday, because they were wanted paiticularly. Airs. Hoddle and her visitor went over •every probable solution of the enigma, with long comments upon each ; and at last came to the conclusion that Emma Ledbury was going to elope the next morning with Mr. Johnson, aided and abetted by her papa and mamma, to save expense, and avoid creating a sen- sation. And this idea was the more strengthened because they had not seen Mr. Johnson go there a great deal lately, which was meant, they were assured, as a blind, to deceive all those neighbours who took an interest in the proceedings ; which class may be reasonably assumed to comprise everybody who lived in the street, upon both sides of the way, including the family at the end, who called their house, /^j, from a belief that this thoroughfare was more respectable than the one which ran at right-angles to it: and implied by their address that they lived therein, although the street-door, from which the locality of a house is generally ascertained, was round the corner. As Miss Grimley conveyed the news home with her that night, we can understand the cause of the vigilance in the family the next morn- ing, and the active look-out that was kept as the time approached. At last, a few minutes after nine, the tly drew up to the door, and presently the new page appeared, with a square box sewed up iii a ■canvas, which obstinately refused to go inside at either of the doors, or in any direction, but was finally placed upon the driving-seat, giving rise to a curious contemporary surmise in inquiring minds, as to where it was possible for the flyman to perch himself when it had been put there. Next Foster appeared with an umbrella, a parasol, and a Berlin-wool frame, taken to pieces, enveloped in a shawl, and tied round with string, which were collectively deposited within the •carriage ; and directly afterwards Master Walter Ledbury, in a dirty pinafore and ancient Ijutf slippers— the debris of a pair purchased last year in the Isle of Thanet — rushed from the house in a paroxysm of excitement ; and having executed a wild dance of triumph roimd the fly, concluded his performance by hugging the muddy hind-wheel, and trying to creep between its spokes, from which perilous situation he was forcibly snatched away bj' Foster, and carried back to the parlour in violent convulsions. Then came more parcels and band- boxes, containing, as the Grimleys supposed, the wedding-clothes ; and finally Titus and Ennna entered the fly, waving their hands to the inmates of the parlour, and nodding to one or two little heads at the nursery window, until the glasses were drawn up and the vehicle moved off'. The Grimleys immediately came to the conclusion tliat Enmia was going to be married, that Titus w^s to give her away, and that Mr. Johnson was waiting for them at some unknown church, in a brown coat, dead gold buttons, and white gloves ; upon which point -ba\ ing set their minds perfectly at rest, Miss Grimley ran in \\ itli the 182 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LKDIIURY. intelligence to Mrs. HodcUe ; and the other bran(.hes of the family ce- sunicd their breakfast, to canvass over the strange manner in which the Ledburys did everytliing. And here we will leave them, and rctiuu to the occupants of the fly. Ennna was in anything but good spirits ; and so far the expression of her countenance bore out the reality of the position in wliich the Grimleys supposed lier to be placed ; it being proper and customary for brides to look exceedingly miserable on their wedding morn, that the mirth of the laughing girls by whom tliey arc surrounded may- be repressed, and a mild warning given to them not to be too pre- cipitate in committing a like indiscretion. 'ihe events of the last fortnight li. id caused her great uneasiness. She had been much hurt at the sudden manner in whicli Johnson had been desired to discon- tinue his attentions by her fatlicr ; indeed, she was scarcely aware to what an extent she had allowed her feelings of attachment to go,, until the object of t'acm was no longer allowed to visit at her home. Still she heard of him from her brother nearly every day, and knew that the pursuits in whicli he was engaged had her happiness and- comfort for their ultini;i.te end ; but now she was about to leave town, and at comparatively so short a notice as to convince her that her father and mother were anxious to break off at once all chance of the attachment being renewed. At any other time, Emma would have looked forward to her visit with extreme happiness, for she was strongly inclined to the country and its tranquil pleasures ; mucli more so, from her gentle nature, than to the false society and noisy excitement of the metropolis. But now, although spring was conung on, and every wilil bud that the sunshine unfolded in the hedges- appearetl to pay joyous homage to the passers-by, by its odour and colours, slie woulii rather have remained in suburban Islington, with all its dusty foliage and struggling attempts at rusticity. Titus was, however, in great glee at the trij). Deeming it com- pulsatively incumy)ent upon everyone who visited the country for a short period to do nothing but try to fish all .lay long, he had laid in a store of rods, hooks, landing-nets, and s])lit shot that was marvellous- to behold ; ami the imaginary jack which he caught the entire way from Islington to the terminus would have supplied all Billingsgate. Not but what, at tlie same time, he was most attentive to his sister, trying to cheer her with his remarks upon anything worth notice which they chanced to pass, or conjuring up anticipations of forth- coming rural delight. So that the diagonal section of London wliich they made from their house to Vauxhall did not seem so very long, in spite of the inlinity of small streets whose labyrinths they threaded — little back thoroughfares, wliere the existence of traffic and animal life is a perfect wonder, and w hich are only found to have names of their o^^n when anylmdy takes an ideal walk in company with a pin over a map of London, with the intention of discovciing sliort cuts from one spot to anotlier. At last they arrived at Nine Kims, amidst a number of other travellers just shot out from the ditlerent eabs and omnibuses about the doors of the terminus; and then Mr. Ledbury^ having procured the requisite passports, exhibited liiem to the police- OFF\ 183 the Royal George." These were interesting curiosities, and were welcomed accordingly. " Mr. Jones — three volumes of the Geiitleman's Magazine for 1745-6; the second volume of an Encyclopaidia, from c.\p to ops ; a large bust, name unknown ; and some pieces of gianite. " Mr. Galley, Di\ Papworth's pupil — skeleton of a cat's head ; thunderbolt found in a cow's heart ; a tooth supposed to have belonged to Julius Cajsar ; and a working model of the guillotine, witii a criminal to match." Mr. Galley was rather a favourite, having promised to give tlio society a lecture upon popular physiology, and therefore these presents elicited much applause. The secretary now appeared as if about to make a communication of extra importance. " The young ladies of Theresa House," he continued — " Two transfer fire-screens for the library : some perforated card flower-baskets ; twa book-marks, worked with ' .sofue/fu- ' and ' /'((?Hi<(V ' in silk and gohl ; some worsted rugs for the curiosities ; a butterfly penwiper, and a drawing of the Institution." Hereat was a great sensation ; the young gentlemen clapped their J UBIQUITOUS GENTLEMAN. 201 hands, and the youag ladies blushed ; whilst the govei'nesses looked blandly round, but with a proper expression of pride, as much as to say, " See what can be done at our academy ! " These, .-with a few more similar bequests, completed the list of donations, and then the secretary begged to introduce the lecturer to the audience. Whereupon he dived into a back room and immediately returned, leading forth a gentleman in black, with his hair curled, ajid wristbands turned up, whom he marshalled into the room as Mr. Wilson, of London. Mr. Ledbury, who was on one of the front benches, directly thought he had seen him before. He mentioned this circumstance to Emma, whose memory of faces was somewhat remark- able and to her he was indebted for the information which he saw was correct as soon as it was given. There was no mistake at all about the matter — tlie gentleman who came forward to address the <5ompany was Mr. Roderick Doo ! And of this he was furthermore convinced when that ubiquitous individual, upon advancing to the table, caught sight of Titus and his sister. For a moment he started ; but then, recovering his placidity, bowed very graciously to them both, upon which the remainder of the audience immediately set Mr. Wilmer's visitors down as people of importance, from tlieir being on such familiar terms jyith a London lecturer. When the applause had subsided, after Mr. Doo bad bent several times very gracefully to the comjiany, he commenced the lecture with an easy assurance at which Mr. Ledbury was perfectly astonished. After a short preliminary address, in which he spoke of the sun of knowledge dispelling the mists of ignorance, through the medium of institutions like the present, at which the committee looked very approvinglj^ as well as hinted at the proud star that Clumpley had become in the scientific hemisphere, since it bad sent a representative to eat and drink at the British Association, and paralyse that learned body by his paper in section Q, upon •' The Totality of Dependence in Phrenologj' and Fireworks upon Metaphysical Electricity," wherein such powerful arguments v/ere adduced in support of the theory that no one was able to refute them in the slightest manner — after this, he proceeded to state that he should divide the lecture into two parts ; the first consisting of various experiments with the gases and other agents, and the second comprising the celebrated Dissolving Views. He also added that, as he should need some trifling assistance in the course of his experiments, he was happy to see in front of the table a ialented gentleman of his acquaintance — Professor Ledbury, of the learned societies— whose valuable aid he should be too happy to secure. Mr. Ledbury started, and turned very red, when he first heard his name mentioned ; but, calculating upon distinguishing him- self, which was always a great ipoinc with him, he yielded to Mr. Doo's solicitations, and took his place at his side amidst the applause of the audience to whom he made an imposing obeisance. And indeed, as Emma remarked to Mr. Wilmer — who felt much temporary gratification at their visitor being so celebrated a person— with his spectacles and mild expression of countenance, he looked very like a philosopher. 202 THE ADVENTUBES OF MB. LEDBUBY. On the table in front of Mr. Doo was a lar^-e array of wide-mouthed stoppered bottles, apparently full of nothing, but whicli in reality con- tained various gases, that he had been preparing iu the lecturer's room during the day in a mysterious manner ; and by the aid of sundry gunbarrelri, wash-tubs, and bladders, to the intense bewilderment of the librarian, who could not conceive what they were intended for ; but settled it at last by putting down Mr. Doo as the Wizard of the North getting ready the celebrated gun-delusion, of which he was more firmly'convinced when that gentleman drew a Union-jack handker- chief from his pocket, and asked the librarian if he could procure him a guinea-pig or a small rabbit, all of which things, he was aware, were in great request witli necromancers in general. Oxygen— the universal sheet-anchor of all lecturers at scientific institutions— was the first element chosen by Mr. Doo for his experi- ments ; and, to give proper effect to them, the lights were put half down by the librarian, who sat in the corner of the room, and turned a handle connected with the gas-meter. First of all, Mr. Doo lighted a match, which he blew out, and introduced into a bottle of gas, when it was immediately rekindled with a vivid flame. This was much applauded ; but when he inserted a piece of incandescent charcoal into another bottle which sparkled into a thousand coruscations, like a brilliant squib, the delight of the boys was so great tiiat they could not contain their approbation, until sundry cuffs and boxes from the usher, re- sounded through the semi-obscurity of the lecture-room. Upon this, order was once more restored, and they were again quiet, except Master Wheeler, an ill-conducted lad, who, having first imitated the ascent of a sky-rocket with his mouth, ami next thrown a piece of chewed paper at Mr. Ledbury's spectacles, was finally discovered, and treated with several thwacks of a cane across the shoulders as a pre- liminary to fartlier punishment when he got home ; which, however, did not prevent him from kissing his hand the next minute to the half-boarder at Theresa House : in which rude act he was detected by the English teacher, who immediately desired Miss Chapman, the half-boiuder in question, to come and sit by her si the lecturer's room, and the vice- president went to inquire about the health of the Fitzfabrics after the alarm. "Well, I\Ir. Ledbury, and Aow are you ?" asked Roderick, as they closed the door after them. " I was surprise! to see you ; you were efjually surprised to see me in such a position, I have no doubt : but I am always happy to lend my poor abilities to the advancement of science." " I certainly did not expect to meet you here," replied Titus. "Of course not! how should you ?— how should you? And the nauie too, —ha ! ha ! Professor Wilson ! it is at the wish of my family I adopt that sobriquet. Allow me the pleasure of taking a glass of wine with you." There was a bottle of sherry and sixpenny-worth of mixed biscuits on the table, provided by the liberality of tlie committee, anil Mr. Doo poured out for Titus and himself, chiding Mr. Ledbury for not having been to see him, which, as he had never been informed by Roderick where he lived, could not be construed into a direct breach of politeness. " All zight ! " said Doo, peeping out at the door. " The porter is hanging up the transparent screen, and tliis is the appaiatus," point- ing to two magic-lantcrus standing side by side on a box, with a winch in front, that shut up the lens of one whilst it opened tiie other. " The contrivance appears very simple," said Mr. Ledbury. "All grand things are so," answered the professor; "look at my aerial ship. But I am rather in a dilemma, for I liave lost the book of reference to the objects. However, we nuist begin, for the audience DISSOLVING VIEWS. 205 are shaffling their feet. Bring out the decanter with you : we cau enjoy ourselves as we like behind the screen." The lights were now gradually lowered, to prevent any new alarm, and when it was quite dark, Mr. Ledbury put in a slide, by Mr. Don's direction, which turned out to be a portrait of Prince Albert as he wouU appear walking on his head. But this was immediately withdrawn as soon as the mistake was perceived, and another substi- tuted. *' What is it ?" inquired Mr. Doo, in a low voice, of his assistant. "A Turk who moves his eyes," replied Titus. "That will do," said Roderick. Speaking loud, "Portrait of Akbar Khan ! " This was received with great applause by all the audience, except a little child in front, who began to cry, and was immediateiy shaken into silence. "The next is a seaside place, with ships," said Ledbury, holding the slide between his eyes and the field of the lantern to see what was on it. "The Harbour of Chusan ! " cried Mr. Doo as the Turk dissolved into the new object. "I think it's meant for Margate," mildly hinted Mr. Ledbury; "yes, there are the wind-mills." " Hush ! " said Roderick, " it will do just as well. Now, what is the next ? " "It is a cottage and a tree. I can't make anything else out of it." " Birthplace of Robert Bloomfield ! " cried Mr. Doo. "I don't think it is very like it," whispered Ledbury. "I have a view at home which is quite different." " We can't be far out," returned Mr. Doo, in the same low tone. "All the poets of that class — Shenstone, Burns, Bloomfield, and Co. — were born in the same kind of houses. I know them well. Little mud liovels, with two windows and a door. Go on." "I can't see this one very plainly," said Ledbury. "It looks like some fortifications, and a tower." " Push it in," replied Mr. Doo, finishing a clandestine glass of wine. " Citadel and ramparts of Ghuznee," he continued, aloud. "That's Windsor Castle!" cried Master Wheeler in front, who lived at Datoo was lodged in one of tiiose secure apartments which the Government, with its usual liberality, provides gratuitously for all who require tliem ; and to which entrance may be obtained at all hours of the night, in the neighbourhood of Bow Street — being very centrically situated, and close to both the large theatres, and other places of pulilic amusement. CHAPTER XXXIV. LEDBURY, JOHNSON, AND SOMK FRIENDS PATRONISE THE ILLEOITIMATS DRAMA. Some years back from the epoch of our story, at a period which brings lis to the days when Mr. Lcdljury went gipsying in a skeleton suit and lie-down collars — wlien Mavor, Dilworth, and Vyse formed his library, or, at least, the most important part of it, and his only use for a pen was found in (lie production of sage maxims and Idgh- Bounding proper names, copied from the copperplate slips, and langing from the imposing Akchipelago of the large hand to the retiring jrwe content must fioio from art and study of the smaller text — lie THE ART OF OBSERVATION. 207 possessed, in common with the rest of his class, a diverting book of miscellaneous selections, called a "Speaker." It consisted principally of modern reasonings in praise of virtue and condemnation of. vice, interspersed with articles of a higher character, thrown in here and there, like the plums in his acadniic dumplings, to beguile him into swallowing the heavier matter. Amidst "these latter papers there was one story particularly amusing, called (if our chronicle quotes aright) " Eyes and no Eyes ; or, The Art of Seeing : " the title is hypothetic- ally given, for the book long ago met with a violent end from the hands of Master Walter Ledbuiy. It treated of a walk in an unde- fined part of the country taken by a tutor — an important personage in all instructive stories — with a certain Tommy, and his acquaintance, Harry, two young gentlemen, who were rejjresented as dressed in knee-breeches and cocked hats. Well, then, in this walk the tutor — whom Mr. Ledbury always imagined to be a near connection of Mr. Barlow, in " Sandford and Merton," wearing a little round hat, and very like the men in Noah's Ark — indulged in many pleasant observa- tions upon things in general, and, when he returned home questioned his two pupils as to what they had seen. Tommy, whose perceptive faculties appear to have been in high order, related various facts in natural history, philosophy, and the use of the globes, which different circumstances in the walk liad given rise to ; whilst Harry, like the man who saw nothing at all in the Falls of Niagara but ever so much water tumbling over a rock, did not find his mind particularly ex- panded by the promenade — in fact, he appears to have regarded the excursion as exceedingly dull and commonplace. This is the abstract meaning of the story, however erroneous we may have been in detail — its end and moral being to prove not only that different people visit- ing the same locality will each be impressed with different sensations respecting its characteristics, but that, if we have our eyes about us, there is always something worth seeing, even in places of the least promise. This feeling perpetually guided Mr. Ledbury in most of his excursions, balancing their occasional questionability with the com- fortable assurance that he was seeing the world, studying mankind, and expanding his mind. A few days after the opening of the Clumpley Literary and Scien- tific Institution, Mr. Ledbury left the village for Islington. He stayed a sliort time to fish, and take long walks, after the manner of most visitors to the country, and was even tempted one day by Mr. Wilmer to mount the old mare — being his first equestrian performance since the ride in the Bois de Boulogne, the morning after their ball in the Quartier L^tin. But being recalled to town by his father, who required his seitices, he left Clumpley, laden with fresh butter, new- laid eggs, and enormous nosegays^Mrs. Wilmer being only sorry that she could not add two fore-quarters of lamb, fed upon the estate — and promising to return again for the race-week. During the few days, however, of his stay, he endeavoured, by his gentlemanly deportment and distinguished manners, to remove the disagreeable notion entertained by tlie villagers that he was a fellow-culpiit with Mr. Roderick Doo, merely at liberty upon bail. And this was not 208 THE A DYES TUBES OF Mil. LEDBURY. effected without some trouble, for when country folks once form an idea that any individual is not exactly what he ought to be, it is a task of exceeding ditiioulty to disabuse them. And so it was in this case ; but more especially with the medical men who did not attend Mr. Wilmer's family. The train returned him and his cargo to tlie great metropolis aa safely as it had taken him down, except in the case of the eggs, 'ndiich he had been lieedless enough to carry in his carpet-bag, thereby caus- ing the vital principal in many of them to escape from t!i« shell before its time. On Ids arrival, his first care was to visit Jack John- son, and tell him a'l the news whicii he thought would be lilceiy to interest liim, and lie fortunately found his friend at home, and alone — Mr. Rawkins having been ])utting his powers of endurance into action at a bad case ever since eleven o'clock the previous night ; and Mr. Pledgers being at what he was facetiously pleased to call his anatomical lecture, which, as far :i.s it iiivoheil the discussion of various chops at a tavern contiguous to the University, certainly came more closely under that category of medical science than any other, if we accept the p!iysiologie5 of deglutition and digestion. " VVell, Jack, and iiow liavc you been?" inquired Titus, when the first greeting.s had sulisidtd. " Oh, much as usual." returned his friend, in a tone tiiat was slightly desponding. "This is not very lively work, after tlie life I have led, as you may imagine ; but I hope it will be all for the best." " You deserve great credit for your exertions," said Ledbury ; " and I am sure Kmma thinks the same." " Does she ? " asked Jack, eagerly. " And what does she say ? " "Oh, a great deal — more tlian I can recollect." " But you must renieinber something that she said," continued Jack, wondering how Ledbury could ever forget such precious words, and not taking into consideration that she was only his sister. "Cmne now, Leddy, try and think." "Well," responded Titus, with provoking hesitation, "let me see. She has said several times that you would he sure to succeed in what- ever you undertook." " Yes," replied Jack, his countenance somewhat brightening ; " go on." " And Fanny Wilmer asked me one day if you M^ere not a brick '" "A brick !" " No, no— you know what I mean — a very nice fellow. I sujipose Emma had been slightly committing herself in talking about you to her," aihled Ledbury, v\ith a smile. " Fanny Wilmer is not such an odd sort of girl as you would sn])pose, after .ill.'' "Never mind Fanny Wilmer," interrupted Jack; "tell me some more about Finina." " I can't exactly call to mind what she said ; but she talked about you to me a great deal, and told me to be sure to come and .see you aa soon as I got back to town." JACK FEELS BETTER. 209 "And did she say, now, that I should succeed in whatever I tried to do ? " " Well, have I not jnst told you so? " answered Ledbury, smiling. " Perhaps j'ou would like to heai- it all over again ? " " No, no ; but it has put me in very good spirits." " I am very glad of it," returned Titus. "Depend upon it. Jack, everything will turn out for the best. I wish I was the governor : you should never hear a word about that bothering money." " I should not mind being troubled with a little," observed John- son. "However, your news, and the sight of your old face again, has somewhat cheered me, for I was beginning to get very gloomy." And, in proof of the sudden amelioration of his spirits, Jack tucked the skirts of his blue check dressing-gown round his waist, and vaulted over the backs of several chairs, one after another, to give vent to his glee — for, from constantly associating with Mr. Rawkins, he had already imbibed a great love for furniture-gymnastics of all kinds. At length, when a deficiency of breath put a stop to his muscular exertions, they ouoe more returned to sober conversation, and were discussing the practicability of going somewhere that evening, as it was so long since they had been out together, when Mr. Rawkins returned in great good-humour — his joy at having got over his case to his entire satisfaction being somewliat heightened by a glass of brandy-and-water that he had imbibed at his accustomed tavern on his way home. He was especiallj' polite in his address to Titus also, because old Mr. Ledbury was a person possessing great interest in all parochial affairs, and he had ascertained from Jack Johnson, since their first meeting, that Titus was his son. " A surgeon's life is not a bed of Roiice Fol., Mr. Ledbury," said the herculean doctor. " Nobody who could be a chimney-sweep, with good prospects and a genteel connection, would be a medical man. Eob, bring my slippers." The last sentence was delivered in stentorian accents, in the direc- tion of the kitchen staircase. " My frame enables me to support the fatigue. That is all pure muscle — feel it," continued Mr. Rawkins, bending his elbow, and calling Mr. Ledbury's attention to a concomitant swelling, half as big as a cocoa-nut, and apparently twice as hard, that rose upon his upper arm. "Tough as a cable," he added, regarding the limb with admiration. " I should think Damien's horses would have been puzzled to stretch that ! " And, with this allusion to the would-have-been assassin of Louia the Fifteenth, and his punishment, which forms a stock anecdote with anatomical professors Avlienever the question relates to the contractile power of the muscles, Mr. Rawkins allowed the limb to sink once more to repose, and, approaching the door, once more vociferated — " Bob, where are my slippers ? " A pause succeeded, and then Bob slowly came upstairs, mi?trust- fully carrying one slipper in his hand, and saying, in great tremor — 210 THE ADVENTURES OF MI,'. LEDBURY. " Please, sir, Tiny's pulled the othei" one all to pieces." After winch he liinched away, in the belief that Mr. Rawkins wa» about to exhibit the force of muscular power again, with his ears, in view towards a more proper demonstration of the same. But Mr. Rawkins was that day inclined to the "quality of mercy," which, oa the authority of Shakespeare, he compared to tincture of aloes, inasmuch as it was not strained, but dropped (through a filter) into the bottle beneath, and was of benefit both to him who gave it (the doctor) and him that took it (the patient). So he merely asked — " And why did you suffer Tiny to pull the other to pieces, sir? " " 'Cause I was mending the hutch where the guinea-pigs had gnawed their way out." The answer proving satisfactory, Bob was dismissed, and returned to his occupation, which was repairing one of his shoes with a bit of tin and some small tacks. A few minutes afterwards Mr. Prodg'-rs came in from lecture, accompanied by his friend Tweak, and replied to Mr. Rawkins' inquiry as to whether he would have anything to eat, by affirming that he had just before, to use his own expression, " walked into two chutton mops and a stint of pout." "I suppose you have come home for good?" asked Mr. Prodgers of the head of the establishment. " It is all over," replied Mr. Rawkins, " and I shall remain in all the evening. You can go wherever you please." Whereat Mr. Prodgers immediately sugL;ested that they should go to the "Falcon," and finish the evening there, into which view both Mr. Ledbury and Jack Johnson immediately fell ; and as their toilet was never particularly soi(jn4e, in a few seconds they started off, leav- ing Mr. Rawkins to the full enjoyment of his muscular power and zoologiciil companions. Half a century ago— when the sober citizens of London were accustomed to set forth on fine afternoons and take their tea in Shepherd and Shepherdess Fields, " in a style of pleasing rusticity," as they say in the advertisements of the Margate Shallows — half a century ago, as they listened to the bells of old St. Mary's Church in " merry Islington " ringing over the green meadows and wooded lanes which surrounded that agreeable village, they little dreamt in how comparatively short a space of time population would sit in triumph over the destruction of their favourite localities, and the songs of the birds be exchanged for the vocal and instrumental eflbits of real musicians. Yet so has it come to pass : the huge metropolis, which stretches out its arms in all directions, like some vast polypus of bricks and mortar, each liinb becoming the centre of a new organisation, lias alreaient, which led to some warm words, as, of course, coming from a demon they ought to be ; in which the imp implied his disbelief in any opinion tending to prove that Mr. Prodgers was a gentleman ; and Mr. Prodgers in return, begged to kiiow, from the demon's own mouth, what would be the probable expense of his nose without the green tinsel ; and in all likelihood this argument would have ended in a combat of two, not expressed in the bills of the day, had not the business of the piece called the demon to a remote corner of the stage. This end of the dispute was not altogether unpleasant to Mr. Ledbury, as he entertained a great dislike of all disturbances ; and. moreover, perceiving by the bills that innocence was to be triumpliant^ was curious to see in what manner this consununation would be repre- sented. It commenced by the appearance of four young ladies, with surpassingly-alabaster couiplexions, and clear muslin dresses, of scanty length, but hien bouffee, so that they somewhat resembled plaster bu.sts put upon mushrooms. Having gone throrigh various slow manoeuvres, thfy danced a pas indicative of joy, looking fondly at the area of tol).icco-smoke before them ; for, as to seeing anything of their audience beyond the three or four front rows, it was all imagination and gas light. Then some red fire was let otf behind the wuigs, and in the midst of the glare the principal danseuse bounded on, amidst the applause of those fortunate spectators who could discern her, and who clapped their ungloved hands as vigorously as the kidded pahna at the opera would have done — perhaps more so — to reward the aerial gyrations of Fanny Kllsler or Cerito. "I say. Jack ! " cried Mr. Ledbury, with unusual animation, to his friend, whose mind during the last half-hour had been more occupied by his ovvu reflections than the progress of the drama ; " look at the face of the girl who is dancing. It is our old patient at the show." Johnson started from his reverie, during which he had been vacantly gazing at the floating wreaths of smoke that rose from his cigar to dissolve into the general haze which filled the saloon, and ■214, THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. turned his eyea to the stage. The dancer at the same moment, as if impelled by some magnetic attraction, looked towards him, and as she met his gaze, gave a start of surprise, which was perceptible to all the party. " One of us has made a conquest," observed Mr. Prodgers, arrang- ing his stock, and endeavouring to twist a most rebellious tuft of hair on the left side of his head into a curl ; after which he put his hat at a slight inclination to the axis of his ears, and displayed one glove. *' Tweak, do you think I look the thing ? " " Immense ! " replied his companion, graciously bowing to the dancer, previous to his exhibiting in pantomime that he was drinking her health — a compliment, however, which she did not appear to set a just value upon. " You are the man, Mr. Ledbury !" observed Mr. Prodgers to their •associate, who was following every pose of the ballet-girl with a smile of almost unearthly serenity; "she sees what a wild young gallant you are." '•Who? what? I ? oh ! nonsense!" replied Mr. Ledbury, blush- ing very much, and then blowing his nose to turn it off. " Shs is an old acquaintance of Johnson's and mine, to be sure." "Speak for yourself, Leddy," said Jack, "and do not make me answerable for all your gallantries. We know what a rake you Tiave been." " Now, Jack, really," replied Mr. Ledbury, much confused, and not knowing precisely how to finish his sentence. But to his relief the curtain fell at this moment upon the conclusion of the perform- ances, shutting out the triumph of innocence from the edified spectators, and veiling the coryphlea irom vulgar si^ht, whilst they fell into a tableau, expressive of fascination as connected with the dithculty of standing upon one leg. The principal dancer, however, in spite of the -applause, and a small fasciculus of wall-flowers hurled at her by a a young "gent" upstairs, kept her eye fixed upon Johnson until ■the drop fell and terminated the temporary existence of tlie unfor- tunate criminals who had been engaged up to that time in murdering the drama. Our quartette fell into the stream of people who were now leaving the saloon upon the close of the entertainment, and passed onwards •to the outer entrance. But as they crossed the garden a female, enveloped in a large common cloak, the hood of which was drawn over her head, emerged from a small door at the side of the principal building, and approaching Jolnison, civillj' requested permission to speak to liim for an instant. There was so much anxiety in her manner that Johnson told the others to i)roceed and wait for him outside, in spite of the badinage whicli such a circumstance might be supposed to give rise to ; and then stej)ped on one side with the person who had accosted him, a little apart from the crowd that was still pouring from the concert-room. " I hojjc, sir, yon will pardon the liberty I am taking," said the iemale, who was tJi*' first to speak. " I believe I am addressing Mr. Johnson ? " XEWS. 215. "That is my name, certainly," replied Jack ; what do you wish ta saj' to me ? " *' It is about — Edward Morris," returned the other, with some hesitation ; " you know now, perhaps, who I am." And partly throwing open the cloak, which had been apparently put on in haste to catch Johnson as he left the saloon, she exhibited her ballet-dress underneath. " Proceed," said Johnson, earnestly, as he recognised the girl witli whom the reader has before become acquainted : what makes you wish to see me ? " " It is at Ids request," rejoined the other, " that I have taken this- liberty ; for it is long since he has heard of you, although he has been very anxious to do so. I went to your old lodgings, but they told me that you had left there some time." " But how did you come to recognise me ? " asked Johnson. " I do not think that I should have known you again if you had not been pointed out to me." " I was not likely to forget you after your attention to one so fallen- as myself ; I have met with so little kindness," replied the girl, in a faltering tone, as a tear stole down her cheek, leaving the track of its progress in the common rouge whicli was still upon her face. " But I have seen j'OU often since then : at evening — in the surgery. I asked tlie boy your name, and then I found out that you were the same person Morris so wished to see." " But why did you not come in to speak to me yourself, my good girl ? " asked Johnson. " I did not dare. I thought you would be angry at my even, appearing to know you. Ami Morris would not trust to a letter." " And what does he want ? " inquired Johnson, inwardly suspecting, the real cause of his cousin's anxiety to meet him again. " I cannot say precisely ; but I know it is something of importance. May I tell him that you will come ? " " You may," returned Johnson, after a minute's pause. And) pencilling down the address which the girl gave him, he then bade- her good-night, and hastily rejoined his friends, who were awaiting his arrival at the gates with much expectancy. But neither jokes nor persuasions could induce him to relate what had passed during the short interview ; indeed, he appeared so uncomfoitable when they pressed him too closely to tell them that they gave up the attempt, and fell into the ordinary manner of conversation. But Jack was too thoughtful to add much to their hilaiity ; and, on arriving at the end. of tlie street leading to hb present abode, he wished them good-night,, and returned to Rawkins' — a proceeding which much increased their curiosity. Finding his friend thus disposed, Mr. Ledbury was about to go home also ; but as neither of the others felt at all homeward bound, he was prevailed upon to keep with them, and they finished the evening together. It has never been precisely handed down in what manner this was done, except that their orgies terminated the next morning, at daybreak, in Co vent Garden, by their breaking their fast 216 THE ADVENTURES OF MH. LEDBUIiY. together at an early house, after Mr. Ledbury had insisted upon making the tour of the market and tlie piazzas in a basket, balanced upon the head of one of the stoutest porters ; from which position he assured a crowd of market people that at the next election he should be found at his post on the hustings in front of the church, pledged to support the agricultural interests, especially in relation to small salad and turfs for larks. CHAPTER XXXV. MHS. DK KOBINSON HOLDS A " CON VERS AZIOXK" OF TALKNTED PEOrLE. The season was now at its height, and the London world, awakened from its hybernal torpor, \\as all life and excitement. The leading thoroughfares of the West End presented a continuous whirl of dust and carriages ; tlie sliops unfolded all their most attractive treasures ; and concerts followed one auotlier so rapidly, tliat it became perfectly marvellous to consider where the singers found sutticient breath to pour out so many consecutive notes, and where the audiences discovered so many half-guineas to procure admission. Foreign gentlemen, of fearful aspect and fantastic apparel, re-appeared upon the pavements of Regent Street and Piccadilly, after a long sojourn in the occult second floors of remote neighbourlioods, which they now strenuously eschewed, like the tinselled dragon-tlies springing from the creeping things at tlie bottom of the pool, and then no longer able to exist in the element from which tliey sprang ; and the summer tlieatres burst out into a blaze of talent and strength to attract their supporters, from the refined hahitiiis of the Italian Opera to the would-be-so's of the French plays, wiio went because they tliought it compulsory to attend, and proved themselves Ijetter actors than those on the stage, in assuming an expression of knowing all about what was going on, and taking their cues for laughter from tlie general mass. Nor did the turmoil cease at night ; for then camellias, from eighteenpence upwards, left tiie cool arcades of tlie flower-marts for the heated drawing-rooms of goodness-knows-where, clinging to per- fumed tresses, or sometimes falling down upon ivory shoulders, and kissing damask cheeks with tiieir petals in a manner ravishing to behold, which almost tempted youths of Byronic temperament to regret they were not camellias. And then, also, drawing-room \vindows were lighted up, and blinds became transparent, and shadowy forms flitted backwards and forwards upon their surface, plainly visible to connnon people in the street by the liberality of tlie owners of the houses, who did not shut their shutters in order tluit THE SEASON. 217 watchful neighbours might observe that tliey also hail connections of their own. Quadrille bands, too, poured forth indistinct sounds, in which the bass predominated, tantalizing the ears of those wha had not receix ctl invitations ; and especially the young gentleman. opposite, wlio knew a certain young lady was to be there, and so lay awake half the night listening to tlie revelry, and tracing all tlie progress of the party by the echoes of the music that readied his bed- room — the orderly anCe-ccenal quadrilles ; the temporary pause during supper ; and the twenty minutes' waltz afterwards, to tire all the guests into thinking about getting home, just as the aforesaid young gentleman could make out the position of his plaster-cast of Taglioni^ and the situation of his wash-stand in the dim grey of morning.. And then the human glowworms, in wooden shoes, whose lanterns had hovered about the steps and scrapers of the house of festival since nine o'clock the previous evening, called their last cab, received their last gratuity, stated their belief for the last time that they were blessed, boxed up their last guests, and clumped off to breakfast at the nearest perambulating coffee-stand that the corner of some street afforded. It was at this pleasant season of the year, so humanely established to preserve intellectual and educated minds from becoming a prey to the ennui which a contemplation of spring sunshine and foliage in the country, with its common-place hedgrows and vulgar primroses ^ must necessarily induce — that Mrs. de Robinson, of Eaton Place, sent -^ out cards with initials stamped thereon, enclosed in envelopes of costly nature, and secured by " piins a cncheter," of coloured isinglass, bearing impi-ess " Luxdi," " Makdi," or " Mercredi," as the case might be, with embossed views of the Tuileries and Hotel des Invalides, requesting that certain friends would gratify lier with their company on a particular evening, about six weeks ahead in the columns of the almanack from the date thereof. The Grimleys received an invitation, and so did the Ledburys — by post, of course ; for the generality of the inhabitants of Eaton Place regard Islington as a remote district, to which no railroad has as yet been contem- plated, but whicli is, for aught tiiey know, celebrated for sea-bathing and volcanoes. It was not long before Mrs. Hoddle, whe knew everything, dis- covered that the anticipated remiloii was to be musical and literary, rather than Terpaichorean, and that all sorts of great people in both, these lines were expected, which secret she immediately imparted to Miss Grimley, during one of that young lady's customary visits for the interchange of news with the old lady, in which a highly-coloured, account had been given of the dissipated manner in which they had found " that Mr. Johnson" spending his time ; and what a sad thing it would be for poor Miss Ledbury if their acquaintance should termuiate, after all, in a match^how very sorry she should be. And so we think Miss Grimley would have been — very sorry indeed. No persuasions could induce either old Mr. Ledbury or Mr. Grimley to say they would go, when they perfectly understood the nature- of the entertainment ; so the Grimleys agreed to share the expense of the 218 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. Hoxton fly with their neighbours (since, Emma being in the country, only Titus and his mother were going), for private bickerings in Islington always yield to mutual interest. They may possibly do the same in other places ; but of this we are not certain. The house belonging to the De Robinsons in Eaton Place was a perfect marvel of collected rarities, and looked somewhat like a curiosity shop from the regions of Soho, that had made its fortune and retired to the West End in affluent ciicumstances. People of average nerves were somewhat perplexed, upon Hrst calling, as to liow they could approach Mrs. De Robinson, after having been shown into the drawing-room, without committing serious damage in threading the various labyrinths of wonderful and costly things which had been constructed with so much cunning and ingenuity about the apartment ; and, if the mistress of the house did not happen to be in the room, they usually remained exactly where they were, without moving, and in extreme trepidation until she came. But when they had been piloted to a seat upon whose trustworthiness they could relj', in contra-distinction to the light, creaky, anatomical preparations of chairs disposed about the apartment, which might have been taken for ■doll's-house furniture that had outgrown its strength, they were enabled to summon up sufficient courage to look around them. The prevailing species of ornament about the loom was the composite •disorder, relieved in some of the furniture by the Pimlico-tlothic, or TTiodern florid, especially as regarded the harp, and piano, which pre- ■sented combinations of the Louis Quatorze and early Christian styles. There were several very large looking-glasses, with marble slabs before them, covered with china shepherds, and books cut out of Pompey's pillar and the rock of Gibraltar, as well as two or three ■extraordiiuiry clocks in Dresden alabaster and ormolu cases, which "would have been very useful in noting the mean time in various parts of the room, only, in common with all their species, they never went ■longer than ten minutes after they had been wound up. Then there were screens, and jars, and ottomans, and doves sitting round card- baskets, together with fragile models of leaning towers at Pisa, and 'bronze letter-weights of every form and device ; besides tall cut bottles for scent, in which there never was any, and small teacups and saucers, pastile burners, pearl paper-cutters, and taper candlesticks ; so that the only problem remaining to be solved was where Mrs. De Robinson could possibly put anything else that she might take a "fancy to. The Grimleys and Ledburys did not arrive at the house until rather late upon the important evening in question ; and when at last they got there, it was some time before they could make any way beyond the landing outside the door. At length they just contrived to get their heads inside the room, and tliere ^lr. Lcilhury iumu'iliatcly recognised tho Bernards, whom he had dined with at the buaiiling- 'house on the Boulevard des Italiens, and who replied very graciously to his salute. Fighting his way to the corner of the apaitment, every inch of ground being contested by the guests already assembled with "the most unflinching valour, he contrived to And a spare six inches of A CRUSH. 219- rout-seat for liis mother, and then wedged himself back again, until he stood side by side with young Bernard, from whom he deris'ed a great deal of information about the company. " This is something like a crowd, Mr. Ledbury," observed that gentleman, as he contrived, after many attempts, to get his handker- chief up to his face. " Phew ! — how long have you been here ? " " I had but just arrived, when I saw you," replied Titus. " You are in luck, then," returned the other. "Our people came two hours ago, and I have never moved from this place since I entered the room. I would if I could, but I can't." And as he uttered these words Mr. John Bernard cast a wistful glance towards a very pretty girl at the end of the room ; but the passage of the Khyber Pass would have been nothing to the attempt to get near her haequentIy his brain, all night long, indulged in one longcontiuucJ pirouette ; and in his visions he pictureil liimself floating on clouds amidst attendant peris, with a coronal of roses round his heail, whilst on every side of liiui, shadowy forms, with undeniable legs, diaphonous undulating tunics, and circling arms of faultless symmetry, were float- ing like motes in the sunbeams. Now he chased the fairest of the atti'iiduit houris througli groves of rare exotics— now she approached BEHIND THE SCENES. 223 to present him with a guerdon of his devotion — and now a rap at t4»a ■tloor, which betokened the arrival of a jag of warm water, with tlie information that it was half-past eighty broke his slumbers, and recalled him to the dull realities of life. The day passed slowly away, and at the appointed liour Mr. Led- Jbury, after bestowing singular attention upon his toilet, called at Signor Pizzicato's lodgings in the Quadrant, and was very courteously rreceived by that gentleman, who was finishing a repast from sonic- tiuug very foreign, with the M.'^. score of a new part propped up against a claret-bottle in front of him, the which he was occasionally humming during the intervals of deglutition. Perceiving that his .guest had arrived, he brought the meal hastily to a conclusion, and then they started off together ; Mr. Ledbury feeling no small degree of self-satisfaction at walking arm-in-arm down Regent Street with so distinguished a character, and looking at all the passengers, sho])- keepers, and people in carriages, as much as to say " Ah ! you little think I am going behind the scenes at the opera." He even fancicil -everybody appeared cheerless who was coming in the opposite direction. As he approached the house he felt slightly nervous ; but this was dispelled when he entered the stage-door, and politely made his obeisance to all the policemen and persons attached to the theatre there assembled. They went across a room, at which a man was sitting at a desk to check all those who entered, and then passing a, •small wicket, guarded by an official, entered a long arched passage, with gas-lights at certain intervals. Threading a number of intricate labyrinths, which Mr. Ledbury conceived to be thus complicateil ia order that any one, having obtained surreptitious entrance at the gate, might here lose his way and die of famine, but ^vitll the windings of •which the signor appeared to be perfectly familiar, they at length emerged suddenly, and stood in the coulisses of the stage. Here the signor was obliged to quit his companion, that he might go and dress, having first conducted Mr. Ledbury across the theatre to the prompt side, where he told him he should look out for him again, and Titua immediately retreated between some scenes, where he was out of ■everybody's way, and could get a glimpse of the stage between the wings now and then. Possibly Mr. Ledbury's first sensations were those of extreme ■disappointment, which were not diminished upon looking at the rough, dirty appearance of everything around him. Xor, indeed, ia -any situation more uncomfortable than that of strangers admitted behfed the scenes of any theatre, whatever visions they may have formed of that sanctum. Knowing nobody, and gazed at bj' every- body ; violently driven into all sorts of corners and extremities by the scene-shifters and carpenters : perfectly unable to form an idea ■of what is going on before the audience, except at the first entrance, :f rom which they are frightened oft' in most cases by a terrific notice in the vicinity of the prompter's box — no more tempted to enter the greeu-roora than to walk across the stage at the foot-lights, or, if they do, to be immediately sent back again by the cold stare of the jnmates ; comprehending, if they have any powers of perception, that II 226 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. they are literally in another world, with usages, customs, and even? language of its own, a knowledge of wliich can onl}' be gained l)y experience, they most probably pass about as unpleasant a time as any one could well imagine. And Mr. Ledbury partook somewhat of these feelings, until a chorus left the stage at the side wliere lie M'as placed ; when, having recognised amongst them a Venttian nobleman, who used to sing of the monks of old— how the}' lauLihed ha ! ha 1 — at a tavern he Mas in the iuibit of patronising for U'cish. rabbits after the theatres, to whicii Jack Johnson had first introduced him, he immediately made himself known ; and then got all the information he desired, wliich carried on time until the commence- ment of the ballet, when he knew the sylplis would api)ear. This, at all events, would be very delightful ; for up to the present time each of the great singers, and indeed the performers generally, instead of walking about elegant salons when they came off the stage, as Mr. Ledbury expected they would do, with the cotnpanj' present, all. vanislied awaj', some through concealed doors, and others up cork- screw staircases, being seen no more until their services were again- required. _^ No sooner had the curtain fallen upon the finale of the opera, than the stage was in an instant covered with tiie carpenter's assistants, who suddenly appeared from all sides, as if by magic; and Mr. Led- bury was driven from his nook by a rush of wingmen after some- fresh scenery. He accordingly went upon the stage, the front of which, immediately behind tlie drop, appeared to be the safest jilacfr — and here he watched the preparations for the ballet. Before long,, peasant girls began to mingle with the scene-shifters, and a few fairies bore them company : one of whom, a little child of five years old^ carrying a pewter-pot, approached a man in a jjaper-cap and fustian trousers, and saluted him with, " Please, father, mother says j'ou're to leave her some." Anon, a few of the second-class dancers, who filled up the intcr\als^ of the grand pas, appeared on tlie stage, and laying hold of tiie side- scenes, went through a series of exercises calculated to get their limbs into pliant working order. And, finally, tlie liappy gentlemen of fashion, who !iad the entree, sauntered round from their boxes to i>ay vapid compliments, and whisper soft — \ery soft — nothings to the premiere danseuse ; or stand speeciiless, like Madame Tussixud's creations, smiling vacantly upon the throng around, with a most unexpressive inanity of countenance. Silly fellows, too, are the majority of these Jldneurs of the side-scenes ; and a great deal of diversion do they afford to the professional frequenters of the green- room, the majority of wliom entertain a vulgar prejudice in favour of wit over wealth ; whilst the humblest author of the establishment could command higher favours than the most popular of these loung- ing butterfiies, in spite of all their would-be attentions and foolish. expenditure. At last, everything was in ordei', and the word was given to clear the stage, when those not engaged in the ojiening business fell back, on either side between the wings, as the performeis took thoir places- A STRANGE MEETING. 227 •and attitudes. Mr. Ledbury found himself enclosed by a group of laughing girls in book-niuslin, who were to go on presently, all chattering at the top of their voices, some speaking P^nglish, and •others French ; whilst Titus, who did not know precisely what to •say or do, now he found himself actually amongst the fairies he had thought so much about, looked very benignantly at all of them, and 'laughed at whatever they said, whether he understood it or not. But, nevertheless, he felt somewhat relieved when they left him, and went on the stage to execute a figure preparatory to the entrance of one of the chief dancers, who was to make her curtsey that night to ■an English audience for the first time, from the Acadt'mie Royale at Paris. Before two minutes had passed, the danseuse walked down to the wing from which she was to go on, preparatory to taking her place -on a cloud of gauze edged with silver leaf, and followed liy her dresser, -who was putting the last touch cf pearl-powder upon her shoulders. As she ascended the nebulous car that was to bear lier before the ■audience, Mr. Ledbury caught siglit of her face, and thought her ■features were familiar to him. In another moment the signal was given for her appearance ; but as she moved from behind the side- ■scene, and the first greeting of the gants jaunes in the stalls and the "omnibus" sounded from the front of the hourse, Ledbury became suddenly conscious that the dibutante was no other than his old acquaintance of the Quartier Latin, who, although set down in the ■bills as Mademoiselle L'Etoile, he could not think of by any other •name than her original one of — Aim^e. CHAPTER XXXVIL THE BRILL AT SOMERS TOWN. The low suburb, upon the precints of which Johnson ascertained that his cousin's present abode was situated, conprehended a poor and thickly-populated district between the New Road and old St. Pancraa •Church, known then, as at present, by the title of " The Brill." It was formerly supposed, but upon somewhat questionable authority, to have been a Roman station ; and seventy or eighty years ago an ingenious antiquary marked off the disposition of the troops, and the station of each general's tent, with singular minuteness, considering that he had nothing to go upon but a most uncertain hypothesis. This conjectural description has been some time contradicted ; the ■various intrenchments spoken of, in all probability, having been lihrown up during the civil wars ; and " this singular glory of London, ••■which rendered the walk over the beautiful fields to the Brill doubly 228 THE ADVENTUBES OF MIL LEDBURY. agreeable, ■when half a mile distant we could tread in the verjr steps of the Roman camp-master, and of the greatest of Rfymaii- generals," is at the present time totally efraceil by those human locusts, the builders, ■who destroy ev'ery green spot and open pasture. But to those who find as much pleasure in contemplating the present as the past, the Brill still presents scenes worth turning a little aside- from the high road to witness. On the Saturday evening subsequent to his interview with tlie- girl in the gardens of the " Falcon," Johnson started from his present home to keep his promise with respect to visiting his cousin. Traversing the small streets in the neiglibonrhooil of Bagnigge Wells,, he crossed Gray's Inn Lane, and finally emerged in the New Road, opposite the small thoroughfare along which tlie greater part of his- journey lay. It was a long narrow street of ill-conditioned shops- and houses, and, viewed from the end, presented an apparently inter- minable row of flaring gas-lights on cither side, which cast their fiiful illumination over the dense mass of people who were jostling each- other up and down the pavement and the road, until all was lost in the fiery haze and dust of tlie distance On the edge of the footpath, ■was a continuous row of stalls, so close together that they formed Sk perfect barrier ; and it was only at certain intervals that the passenger could cross the street between these emporiums of the humblest mer- chandise ; each of which had mounted its own glimmering light, embracing all the vaiieties of old lanterns, baskets, and paper-lxigs, peculiar to open stalls. And eacli of the owners was vaunting the excellence of his wares, or vociferating the low price of them, at the- top of his voice, which added to tlie clianting of the numerous ballad- singers, the drunken clamour at the dooi'S of the gin-sliops, the oaths- of men, the shrill upbraidings of their wives and the cries of the neglected children, together with the glare, dust, and confusion ou every side, produced an ensemhle almost bewildering. The majority of tlie stalls were for the sale of cheap garden-stuff and common shell-tish ; but there were otiiers, like the French barrows, containing specimens of almost every article for domestic use, at one price. One or two — but these were rare — were covered with toys, none of which went l)oyoiid a few pence in value. Tliey did not apjiear to find many purcliascrs ; and how could they, in such a neighl)ourhood ? Of what use were toys to those poor infants, wlio was never destined to know what tlie prerogatives of happy childhood were ? — toys, for those brought up in misery and famine, whose heritage was the gutter, and whose sole reward for ])recocious labour was a liard word, but too often accompanied by a blow, to punish the want of that energy which the scanty meal and poisoned atmosphere had so completely crushed — toys for those who- had no time for play, no lest from the daily drudgery but the few inadequate hours of fevered repose, or tlie parish-grave ! At the windows of one of the sliojis, an catingiiouso of the lowest order, in which were displayed coarse lumjis of cooked meat, of almost repulsix e appearance, stood a little chilil — a shoeless thing of Ihree years old — unliecdcd by the crowd, as it gazed witli large eyes and SL UMMIXG. 22f> famishcJ looks at the steaniiug joints within. As Johnson passed he gave the infant a penny, as much for charity as to see what it would buy. The child entered the shop aud purchased a small quantity of fried potatoes in a piece of paper. Another of the same age, who had known no want, M'oiild lui\ e expended the gift at once ; but penury had already taught this little child the value of the gift, as well as to- husband it, for it took a halfpenny in change. Plunging still farther into the crowd of buyers and sellers, amongst which latter the butchers were most vociferous, as they tried to outdo- each other in disposing of their meat by a species of auction, Johnson at length arrived at the end of the street, where it divides into two or three other thoroughfares. Xot knowing precisely which to take, he entered a large public-house at the corner of two roads for information. The directions were, however, so confused, aud given with such a tot;il disregard to the various positions of right and left by different parties, who all pressed eagerly forMard to answer .lack's questions, as soon as- they perceived him to be respectable, that he thought it best to secure the services of an urchin who was handing lucifers about for sale to act as guide. The proposal being embraced with the utmost readiness by the boy in question, he started off again, possibly without pa}'ing that attention to the wish of the remaining com[)any that they might drink his health, coupled with their creating him a noble captain, which the compliments demanded. The wilderness of streets througli wdiich Johnson followed hi* guide appeared to be without end ; but by degrees the tumult of traffic and concourse of people got less and less. Then they turned from the chief thorouglifare into smaller ones ; and these in turn gave off various courts and alleys, to be again subdivided into dark passages and narrow entrances, wiiich would have looked suspicious even ii\ the broad open daylight, but now, in the obscurity of the straggling lamps, appeared so especially unsafe that Johnson grasped his stick with a firmer hold, and set his muscles for resisting any sudden attack as he threaded their intricacies. At length the houses ceased to be con- tinuous, and became scattered in* short rows of dwellings one storey high, with small gardens, or rather pieces of ground, more or less enclosed b}' rickety palings in front of them. The footpath, too, was no longer clearly defined, but degenerated to a mere track over the ground, which was in some places broken and intersected by dry ditches aud unfinished foundations, and only lighted at long intervals, except where, now and then, some contiguous brick clamp dispelled the gloom in its immediate vicinity. But on looking back in the direc- tion of the busy locality he had just before quitted, Johnson could make out its exact position from the cloud of red light which hung over the houses, illumined by the jets of gas in the streets below, and which almost bore the appearance of a distant conflagration. They now approached the banks of a caiual, along the side of which a few blackened and leafless trees rose like spectral sentinels, barely perceptible in the gloom ; and, passing along the towing-path, were guided hy the lights in the windows towards a small detached clump of houses, which the buy assui(d Johnson was the place he was seek- 230 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. ing. Dismissing his gui'le witli a few halfpence. Jack approached one of the buildings, from which he heard the sound of several voices pro- ceeding, and knocked witli his stick against the door. An instan- taneous silence followed the noise ; then he heard whispering, and then the door was opened a little way, and a man demanded his business. " Is this place Stevens' Rents ? " inquired Johnson of the interro- gator, who was eyeing him very suspiciously as he shaded the light of the candle with his hand. A sulky answer in the affirmative was the only reply. "I wished to see a person — named Morris," continued Johnson, after a moment's hesitation in pronouncing the name of his cousin. " Uo you know anyone of that name living here ? " " That depends upon what's wanted with him," replied the man in the same surly tones. " Who are you ? " "It's all right, Matthews," exclaimed another voice, which John- son directly knew to be Edward's. " Down with the chain ! " And directly afterwards the door was opened, admitting Jack into the passage. It was apparently a public-house of the lowest description, whereof the man who had opened the door — a bull-headed fellow, something between a convict and a prize-tighter — was the landlord. Lnme- diately behind tlie bar was a large room, in which was an old billiard- table, with the cloth grubbed and pieced in all directions ; but some cues and balls, lying about it, showed that it was still played upon. The apartment was lighted by a Imop, in which were placed two or three candles, somewhat similar to the lamps used in travelling shows ; and on some rough benches against the blackened and plastered walls were seated four or five persons of the most questionable appearance, smoking and drinking, amongst which party Johnson immeiliately perceived his cousin, who rose and came towards him. " I am obliged to you for keeping your promise," said Morris, with somewiiat more courtesy than he usually exhibited. " Mr. Johnson," he continued, by way of introduction to his companions, none of whose names, however, lie mentioned in return. Jack slightly acknowledged the half-insolent "Glad to see you, sir ! " with which he was greeted by the rest of the company, and then looked inquiringly at Morris, as if uncertain « hether their interview was to take place before them. The other guessed his meaning, and taking le, €xcept a couple of guns, hanging over what had once been tiie tire- place, wherein tiie stove had given way to a rough temporary grate, formed of bricks and pieces of iron hoop, in which a fiw embers were still smindilering. The shutter of the window was closed outside, no less for concealnieiit than to exclude the cold, for every other pane of ^lasa in tiie casement was broken. " You can sit down on any of these boxes," said Morrin, as he HONOUR. 231 closed the door after them. "Let me see if I can revive ihe- tire. There is nothing to shelter this house from the wind, and it is as cold to-night as if it were the middle of winter." He threw a few chips and shavings that were heaped in the corner of tlie room upon the embers ; and then, panting with the exertion, took his seat upon a small tub, opposite to his cousin. " You are very ill, Morris," said Johnson, after a few moments of silence, during which he had been gazing at the other, who was evidently in the last stage of his disease. " I begin to think it is something beyond a slight cold, after all," retuiiied Morris; "it has lasted so long. But then I have taken no advice, nor have I been able to live as I ought to do ; possibly, if I could, it would go away." " I fear it has gone too far already," observed Johnson. " Well, then, it may carry me off, and I shall cheat the gaoler," replied Morris, with a ghastly attempt to laugh ; " who cares, or who will ? By the way, that brings us to our business. Have you guessed why I wished to see you ? " "I could tell pretty nearly," replied Jack. "It was about the money which you placed in my hands in tlie winter." "You are right, and you have got it with you?" asked Morris, eagerly. " You have brought it here, have you not ?" "I have not, indeed," replied Johnson coldly. "I did not think you would expect it." " You have spent some of it 1 " continued Morris. "Not one farthing of it have I touched. I told you, when you gave it to me, it should be sacred ; and I have kept my word faith- fully as I intend to do in other respects." "But how am I to get it, then?" asked the other sharply, with less couutesy than he had hitherto used. "Now listen, Morris," said Johnson, calmly, *' and let us under- stand each other. When you made over that money to me, I told you I would keep it untouched. I have done so, although. Heaven knows, a sovereign would have been most welcome to me. But at the same time, I made no condition of restoring it to you ; for it is not your own." " You are bound in honour, sir, to give it to me when I ask it," ex- claimed Morris with excitement. "In honour," returned Johnson, "it should be given up to those from whom you took it. I would have done this long ago ; but I saw no plan which did not involve one or the other of us. Any trifling sum you may absolutely require I will endeavour to supply you with from my own means ; but you must not expect to see that money again." " I will have it ! " screamed Morris, in a paroxysm of rage, as he started from his seat. "Thief! scoundrel!" he continued, as he seized Johnson's coat with all the energy he could command. " I will have that money— it is my own. You shall not go until you promise to restore it." "This is folly, Morris," returned Johnson, easily freeing himself 232 THE ADVEyrUIiES OF MR. LEDUURY. from the grasp of his cousin. " You know tliat I am linn when I have once made up mj' minrl. I have said it.' " You shall not go, I tell you," continued the otlier, advancing to the door. "Here I Wilson — Howard — some of yon — come here." Two or three of the individuals in the adjoining room immediately left tlieir scats and obeyed the summons, and one of them, placing himself in the doorway, attempted to stop Johnson as he made a rush unto the next apartment. But Jack, collecting all his energy, drove him on one side with great violence, so that he reeled and fell as his antagonist darted into the bi'liard-room. "To the door, Matthews!" cried Morris to the landlord. "Do not let him pass ! " The man did not understand the cause of this sudden tumult ; but it was sufficient for him to know that his companions di>l not wish the stranger to go out, and he therefore closed the door and put his back against it. Grasping his stick, Johnson dealt him a heavy blow with it across the face, which was immediatelj' followed by a livid weal, and the next instant his features were covered with blood. But Mattiiewa still kept his post, and before Johnson could drive him away, the rest of the party were close up to him, except Itlorris, who, lacking power in his emaciated limbs sufficient to join the assailants, remained at the end of the room. Throwing away his stick, which had snapped from the force of the last blow, Jack now seized a heavy lancewood cue that was lying upon the table, and prepared to attack afresh the man who was guarding the door ; but as he raised his arm with this intention, he was seized by Bome of the party behind, and dragged forcibly down upon the ground, the back of his head striking the boarenches, as the case might be, in various apartments or recesses of the building, and were now wrapped in a heavy sleep, indi- cated by their thickened and intoxicated respiration. No other sound was heard, except the occasional creaking produced by the barges in the canal, as they grated against the edges of the wharfs, or the scuf- fling of the rats amongst the rafters, and behind the dilapidated wainscoting of the apartments. Now and then some remote bell told the progress of the quarters as the hours passed away ; but its echoes were allowed to disperse in uninterrupted reverberations, and then all was hushed and noiseless as before — possibly appearing the more so from the fleeting sound of the monitor, which thus kept its continuous vigil, whilst all around was wrapped in silence and oblivion. It was not until the night was considerably advanced that Johnson had recovered his senses sufficiently to be conscious of the situation in which he was placed. His first ideas upon reviving from the effects of the attack were confused and indistinct. He thought he was at home in his own chamber. Then a vague recollection of something serious having occurred to him broke in upon liis wandering reflec- tions ; and as his perception returned, a violent pain at the back of Ids head, a feeling of extreme debility from loss of blood, and the uneasi- ness and constraint from the handkerchief whicli was knitted tightly round his swollen ankles, recalled all the circumstances of tlis late outrage, up to the period when he had received the blow. For beyond this ho remembered nothing. The moon was shining at intervals as the patches of black clouds, hurried by the night-wind, passed from befare her face ; and her light fell into the apartment through the open window, enabling Johnson to form some idea of the interior of the dismantled chamber, or rather loft, in -whicli he had been left by the associates of his lawless cousin. It had been used at a former period as a warehouse or granary, and the fragment of a small wooden crane — all that had not been used for fire- wood by the inmates — M^as still fixed to the outer wall, at the side of the window overlooking the dull, half-stagnant water of the canal — the gable end of the building, on the top storey of which the room was situated, coming down to the water's edge. To free liimself from the handkerchief which confined his legs was 234 THE ADVENTURES OF MB. LEDBURY. a very easy task ; and then, assuring himself that all was quiet, he made a survey of the room, in tlie liopc of discovering some chance of esc9-pe. But there was nothing that presented itself. The door was fast closed on the outer side, and even the cliimney, through which he could have gained the roof, and wiiich was but a few feet in height (as he discovered from the faint light that came down it), had been ren- dered partly impracticable by some iron bars placed across it. He looked tlirough the unglazed aperture which had once contained the casement, in the hope of discovering signs that might denote proximity of any life or vigilance. But all was still. The huge barges lay motionless upon the water, like gigantic coffins, with their cover- ings of heavy black tarpaulin. Even these were barely discernible beyond a short distance from the Rents in the uncertain and tilful mooiiliglit ; in spite of a few glimmertng lamps, which hung from the posts along the different wharfs, struggling against the gusts of wind that sported through their broken glass. In spite of his natural couiage and heedlessness of danger, John- son's heart sank within him as he perceived the small chance of escape that offered itself. He was as completely at the disposal of his assailants as if he had been a caged animal. It was true that his pre- sent situation overlooked a comparatively public way ; but when day- light returned they would possibly secure him in some more secluded division of the building, without food, light, or the slightest hope of communicating with those outside. They were men who had long dwelt without the pale of honesty or amenability ; they would murder him for aught he knew ; and by what traces could the deed be dis- covered ? for he had entrusted the object of his mission to no one — not even to Ledbury. A sack — a cord— a few large stones, and the black water of the canal would alone share the secret of the crime a\ ith its perpetiators. For an instant he gave way to the idea that his cousin would perhaps preserve him ; but Morris had gone on from one evil- doing to another, each step the more desperate to cover the preceding one, so that but small reliance could be placed upon his protection. It was evident that Morris was merely a link in the chain of guilt that bound together the interests of himself and his depraved associates ; and as such he would be compelldl to follow wherever the majority of them chose to lead. Nor was it probable, Johnson thought upon re- flection, that they would suH'er him to go, when the next iiour might deliver them up to the police, upon his single word of information. Once more he examined every portion of the room, and once more did he find the utter hopelessness of effecting his escape ; until, worn out in mind and body, he at last threw himself in despair upon the rude floor of the chamber. A few minutes had scarcely elapsed, when a sound, apparently coming from below, attracted his attention. He thought he lieard the staircase creak — it was old and insecure, and the weight of an infant would have caused the alarm. In a few seconds the noise was repeated, and then again and again ; but still with lengthened pauses between each sound, as if someone was ascending witli cautious and subdued steps. It came nearer, until at last it was audililo at the v<>ry A HAZARDOUS DESCENT. 23i> door of the apartment ; and then Johnson, breathless with anxiety, couKl plainly distinguish some person feeling about in the dark on the outsi'le of the panels for the bolt. Next he heartl a chain very gently removed, and as C|uietly dropped at the side, and then the door slowly opened, as he started upon his feet, prepared against all odds to defend himself to the utmost. " Who's there ? " he cried, as tlie visitor entered the room. "Hush! for God's sake, or you are lost," was the reply. "They are all asleep, and I have come to release you. Do you not recollect me?" And then Johnson became aware that he was addressed by the un- fortunate companion of his cousin — tlie girl at whose request he iiad visited Morris that evening. " Tliere is not a moment to be lost," continued the girl. "It will soon be morning, and tliea they will be moving again, for they go o\it early." As she spoke she approached tlie window, and taking a coil of old rope, which she held on her arm, fastened one end of it to the old woodwork of the crane, while she allowed the other to drop down into the water. " I do not think that will bear my weiglit," said Johnson, as he looked at tlie card, whicli was made of several pieces knotted together, and in some parts fearfully insecure. " However, I can swim if I fall into the canal." " This is not for you to escape by," replied the girl, in a whisper; " but they will find it here, and think you have done so. Tliey would kill me if they knew I had let you go. Now, slip off your boots and follow me ; you can carry them in your hand" " Letty," observed Joimson empiiatically, as he hesitated at the door, "you are not playing me false? Remember, it has been through you that all this lias occurred." " False ! " answered the girl, with energy ; " no, on my soul, you may trust me, even if I become the sufferer by it ! Hark ! is not that someone moving below? " They both listened attentively for a few seconds in the keenest suspense ; but the alarm was merely produced by the broken sleep of one of the party in the billiard-room, more restless than the others; and presently all was again still. " Now, then,' continued the girl, " wait on the landing whilst I fasten up the door. I must leave everything precisely as I found it, or they will be sure to suspect me." Carefully drawing the bolt, and replacing the chain, Letty descended the staircase with extreme caution, followed by Johnson. In spite of all their care, however, the stairs creaked with every foot- fall, although their actual steps were inaudii)le ; and it was with great satisfaction that Jack found himself upon tlie ground floor, without having caused any alarm. But now tlie most hazardous part of the venture arrived ; for they had to cross the billiard-room and pass the bar, in the former of which several fellows were lying about upon the benches, floor, and even the table, and in the latter the landlord had 236 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. taken up his position for the night, as much from want of other accommodation as to guard his property, of which it was the chief depository. A dull lamp, whose long smoking wick couhl barely draw up the coarse oil with which it was trimmetl, was burning on the mantelpiece, and, as it threw its quivering sliadows upon the forms and coun- tenances of the inmates, It appeared to endow them with motion, albeit their deep prolonged breathing gave evidence of the heavy slumbers in which they were plunged. But the expiring light was sufficient to keep Johnson and his conductor from disturbing any of the sleepers by inadvertently coming in contact with them. Not a word passed between them, for it would have been imprudent to risk the lowest whisper ; but Letty, impressing caution by signs, and pointing out the direction in which they were to go, moved towards the door, Johnson's Cv'ery sense being rendered doubtly acute by the excitement. In the centre of the room a powerful fellow was lying, stretched at full length upon the boards, and it was absolutely necessary to step over him. The girl passed without the slightest noise ; but as Johnson prepared to follow, the man began to murmur in his sleep a fevv dis- jointed and scarcely intelligible words, as he shifted his position and turned on one side. Fearful that he was about to awake, Johnsoa leaped forward at all hazards, and clearing his prostate form, was again close to Letty ; but in the hurry of his movement he knocked down a large cue that was lying against the billiard-table, and it fell upon the ground with a loud noise, striking the legs of the man who was asleep. They were close to the ti replace, and the same instant Letty extinguished the lamp, and, grasping Johnson's wrist with almost convulsive force, kept him from moving another step. The noise had startled the sleepers, and caused one or t\vo of them to awake from their rei)')s«, as they rublivd their eyes, and en- deavoured to ])enetrate the darkness of tlie apartment, whilst they inquired the cause of the alarm. The man who ha you can, I will once more take the liberty of seeing; you. But I must return to the house, for it will soon be morning. Good-bye- and recollect — do not betray us." Johnson bade her farewell, whilst Letty once more entered the- building, silently closing the door after her. And then he traversed: the waste giound that he had crossed the night before, and, follow- ing the samfi course as well as he could call the localities to mind, at last reache cver-so-many, led by the debutante of the night, re-entered the foun- tain, and another vibration quivered through its framework as it began to sink down to its former level, creaking and shaking in a manner terriric to experience. As it neared the stage Mr. Ledbury's- imagination pictured everybody connected with the theatre waiting, to tear him to pieces for his temerity — for the instant, he endowed the water-nymphs witli divine attributes, and expected little clsc- than meeting with the fate of Orpheus from their hands for daring to- profane their sacred fountains. But a fresh attack of conflicting emotions was in store for him. As the mechanism neared the ground he perceived to his great joy that no one was waiting to receive him» and was congratulating himself upon the auspicious termination of ids- aerial flight, when, instead of stopping where he had first found it. tJ\e dancing water went lower and lower, until his head was level •with the boards. Clinging convulsively to the wood-work, he had but time to cast a wild, imploring glance on either side, to perceive a few people- standing behind the wings, in everyday dresses, by the side of various slim-leggod gentlemen attired as siityrs, when, after a sliort stoppage, to dispose of some of the lower ])ortions of tlie machinery, tlie summit of the tallest jet sank below the stage in company witlu his head, and immediately afterwards a sliding trap met over him„ closing with a shock tliat entered ids very soul. Down — down he kept going, but now it was in comparative- da:kness— in a region of beams and pulleys, of huge wiiecls ami mighty ropes, all in motion ai-ouiul him, and threatening every instant to entangle hi)n in their comj)licated movements, :ind tear liim lindv inj.w liml). Had a high-pressure engine on board a vast Atlantic steamer become desirous of taking a iiltle fiesli air, and mounted for that purpose amidst the shrouds and blocks of the rigging whilst. LOWER DEPTHS. 24B it continued to labour, the scene could not have been more astound- ing. Once he had a f;iint vision of some feminine creation in book- muslin and silk tights, who was prepared to ascend, and whom he- perceived by the dim light of an old lamp as he went down ; but his mind was in such a state of bou!everseme>U that he was not certain, whether he gazed at substance or tlie image of one of the beauties- above, still left upon the bewildered retina, as he had seen atoms in, the sunbeams after he had shut his eyes — small things that danced in insolent hilarity before his pupils, but flew off nowhere the instant- he attempted to direct his gaze towards them. At last, as he thought he was :ii)proacliing the very centre of the earth — a fearful dominion, which he had once seen porti-ayed in> tl)e opening scene of a pantomine — the course of the mechanism was arrested, and came to a standstill, for it could sink no farther. The attention of the men who wereacconiplishiug its descent was directed to- the various windlasses which they had been turning, and Mr. Ledbury jumped off unperceived, and once more stood upon the ground, screened from observation by two enormous wooden supports. Here- lie remained some time, his knowledge of the way out being as vague- as that of Shidljad when immured in the funeral cave ; but in a. manner similar to tiiat celebrated navigator, he determined to follow the first living thing he encountered who might guide him from the- subterraneous locality. At length tlie pot-boy of a neighbouring tavern in the Haymarket. — who enjoyed that unreserved eyifree to the stage which so many- were anxious to possess, albeit he thought but little of the piivilege — passed close to him with some empty pewters from which the rulers- of the spirits and water had been from time to time refreshing them- selves. Following instantly upon his track, Mr. Ledbury threaded an infinity of tortuous passages, and ascended a \ ariety of stairs antl ladders, until he found himself once more in the passage which led to- tUe hall of the stage-door. In another minute, to his intinite relief, he- stood beneath the portico of the theatre ; and, exhausted with fatigue- and embarrassment, rusiied to a contiguous oyster-shop to recruit his shattered energies, and in furtherance of his homeward journey to Islington, to derive all the stamina from his supper that it was in> the power of lobsters and bottled porter to bestow. But independ- ently of his fearful adventure, one' feeling of discontent connectecJ, with the events of the evening was uppermost through all, which was,, that he had not been able to speak to Ainiee. 242 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. CHAPTPm XL. ^IK. 1:AWKIN'S contests AN' ELECTION FOR SORGEON TO A DISrENSARY WITH MR. KOOPS. It may be recollected that in an earlier part of these chronicles wo alluded to the medical man who resided in the next street to Mr. Rawkins' establishment, as having been upon a time instigated by jealousy and irritation, attendant upon losing the situation of surgeon to the police-force — " sparf/ere .i-otef iri vnhjum antbu/aa'i," as Mr. Prodgers expressed it, when he was grinding up his old Latin to p;isa the hall— with the intent of lowering Mr. Rawkins' high professional character in the neighbourhood. But Mr. Rawkins, with the proper bearing of a truly great mind, had paid little attention to these calum- iiies, beyond occasionally expressing the great desire he felt to cou- sidorably derange the normal facial anatomy of the aforesaid prac- titioner — for, although that individual had been known to assert that his opponent retailed Old Brown Windsor-soap and jujubes, with a •suspicion of lucifers, the absence of those arcicles in the shop-window was a sufficient denial to the affirmation. But for all that, tiie asper- sion was not forgotten, and a hatred arose peculiar to the quarrels of •medical men. The other practitioner at all times refusetl to meet Mr. Rawkins in private or public consultation ; and Mr. Rawkins, in return, looked down upon the other practitioner as a paltry fellow, who had neither strength to reduce a dislocation of the weakest joints in the human frame, nor common energy enough to pick up fifty stones, placed a yard apart, with his mouth within a given tiine, ^)oth which performances Mr. Rawkins flattered himself he shone in, ■i-arlu'r. Mr. Koojjs, for so was the other practitioner called, was some •j-oais younger than his adversary, and, consequently, had been but a short time in practice. He was one of that large class of medical men who are perpetually starting up in Loudon, as soon as they have cleared their examination, without any particular prospects or connections, be- lieving they have merely to put a brass-plate on tlieir door, and envelop themselves, when at home, in a fierce dressing-gown, to get at once into extensive jiractice. Looking upon a wife as part of a medical mans stock in-trade, to be established synchronously with his bottlers, pill- . rollers, and spatula.s, Mr. Koops was married, and two infant Koopses completeil his family circle— upon whom one maidservant atten "Mr. Starling," answered Jack, looking at the pamphlet ; "there is a mark of promise against liinv. " " We need not not call there," con*:inued Rawkins. " I've promised iiis boy one of my handsomest tumhlers. " " Glasses?" " No, no — pigeons. It will be sure to find its way back again after -a few days, so that it will be no loss. Who comes after? " "Mrs. Pim, next door : marked ' shy.'" "Ah, yes : that's all through Pr(.dgers' making love to her niece over the dust-bin, and painting her cat all manner of colours. Um ! old girl — always thinks she's ill? nothing of the kind— tough as a cheap turkey, and would talk tlie devil to death about her com- plaints." " Do you mean to call ? " asked Jack. " Of course I do," replied Mr. Rawkins. " I'm not afraid of any living old woman in the universe. Here we are— pull up ! " And p.lthough perfectly aware that his reception by Mrs. Pim would be doubtful, Mr. Rawkins descended, and knocked at the door witli a violence intended to slightly paralyze her faculties, and convey a proper idea of his own importance. It was answered with singular celerity, and then he was forthwith shown by the servant into the little parlour where Mrs. Pim was sitting. " How do you do, ma'am ? " said Mr. Rawkins, with great courtesy, as he entered. " I hope I see you well ? " The old lady, who had drawn herself up in great state the instant she heard Mr. Rawkins' name announced, replied in a tragedy voice, which, as respected its liquidity, might be termed weak Mrs. Siddons- •and-water — " I am ill, sir ; I am never well. Sir, I have a pain as if a black man was screwing a brass-knob into my brain." "Ah! very distressing indeed," said Mr. Rawkins, who did not •exactly know at the moment under what category he should class the symptoms ; a little rheumatism, Mrs. Pim — eh ? " "No, sir," returned the old lady, as grandly as before— " no, sir, no rheumatism ; electricity of the nerves. I am one large living battery, sir." M:-. Rawkins was about to suggest the propriety of coating herself with tinfoil, to collect the electric fluid on the surface, when Mrs. Pim recommenced — " My veins, sir, feel like lucifer matches in a chip box, and all lie over one another. You never heard of spiders in the heart, I dare :say ? " " Can't say I ever did, ma'am," said Mr. Rawkins. " No — of course not — how should you, sir.? I have them," continiieJ the old lady somewhat mysteriously ; yon can do nothing for that though, sir." " There is a great deal of illness about," said Mr. Rawkins, trying to bring round the conversation to the object of his visit. " The dis- pensaries require the greatest experience and attention on the part of the medical officer." 24(i TllK ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBUIiY. "Ah, yes! I suppose so, " replieil Mrs. Pini. " liut, sir, tlic poor people do not know wliat illness is ; it is all fancy \vit)» them, and the- want of i)ioi)('r education."' " Tliey io(|niie a medii'iil man who can distinguish between reality and imposition," observed Mr. Hawkins, getting a chance of speaking : "one whose muscular power and herculean frame can stand per- petual fatigue, and exert proper authority — one whose love of animals will teach him to regard the poor as such, and treat them accordingly." "That is precisely my opinion, sir," returned Mrs. Pim. " 1 respect you for it, madam," continued Mr. Rawkins, thinking he iuid gainecl a point ; " and, in that idea, I have come to solicit your vole. The poor m ill always command my best energies, as well as those of my talented assistants, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Prod go rs." " Sir," exclaimed Mr. Pim, 'with energy, as she heard the last name- mentioiicil, " your young men painted my cat's face like a pantomime- bnlVon's— do you mean to say they would not do the same to their patients' V " " I hope — I trust, ma'am, you labour under a delusion," observed Mr. Ru\vkins, somewhat discotnposed by the charge brought against his " talented assistants." " I never labour under delusion, sir," replied ^[r.^. Pim, witli inci-easing e.xcitement, as she called the bygone insult to mind. *' If I had so, I should not have promised my vote where I have done so." " May I venture to hope -" " 1 ha\e signed my prox}', sir, for Mr. Koops — a deserving young man, with a family of children to feed, instead of guinea-pigs," interrupted the old lady, still firing up with the recollection, and wisiiing to say bitter things. " I was interested for him upou principle." " Jiang your piinciple, and your interest too, madam !" exclaimed Mr. Rawkins, as suddenly changing his tones. " Why did yon not tell me so before ? " And starting up from his chair, he drew himself into a classical attitude of such tlueatening import that the old lady was struck dumb- with tei'iDT, and SL-izing the ornamental hell-rope, pulled it down in mistake for the modest red cord whicli hung behind it. " i sliall recollect this, madam," continued Mr. Raw kins, " and you will repent it. Another time do not occupy the precious moment* of a medical man by your insane twaddle. Good morning, -uadam. When we again meet, may you be in llanwell or Bedlam ! " Hanging the door after him with a force that shook down all the firo- irons, producing that most pleasing of domestic elatteis attendant upon their collision, Mr. Hawkins gave vent to various oaths, i)etter called up in the imagination than put ilown upon pajier ; kicked the cat, who chanced to be in his way, to the bottom of the kitciien 8t;iira ; and then assunung various positions on the doorstep, peculiar to tlie piut of the Monster in " b'rankcnstein," got into his gig, again. CAXVASSIXG. 247 and drove away as he recounted the particulars of the interview to Johnson. They called at several other houses with varying success. Some did not intend to interfere at all in the business : others intended to vote for Mr. Koops, l)ccause they thought Mr. Rawkins would not be able to attend to all his diffeient appointments : and others, again, promised him their interest at once. Altogether, the chances were prettj' well balanceiette, more especially in her present position, he gave full per- mission to Titus to pay her what attentions he pleased, in the event of their again meeting. They were talking over matters and prospects on the day subse- ■quent to the dispensary election, when Mr. Prodgers came in from lecture — as he usually termed all species of amusement — and imme- •diately unfolded a plan, in the carrying out of which he requested the co-operation of the other two. The club of medical young gentlemen who called themselves " The Tourniquets," and met once a week in Grafton Street for harmonious outpourings, had been endeavouring to get together a sufficient number of their companions that a van might be chartered to take them to Ascot, and Prodgers had named Mr. Ledbury and Jack Johnson as likelj' to be of the party. Titus immediately expressed his willingness to join them ; but Jack was not so easily per.suaded. And yet it was not like him, in general, to give up any sort of amusement ; but the events of the last day or two had made him more than usually thoughtful. However, Mr. Ledbury, in his kindness of spirit, hinted that there might be a chance of seeing Emma on the course, and this at once decided the question ; whilst the secession of Mr. Rawkins from practice allowed his two talented assistants to be out together without putting the head of the estab- lishment to any particular inconvenience. As soon as they had agreed upon going, Mr. Prodgers commenced the necessary arrangements, in which Jack, with his usual good- nature, as-sisted him to tlie full ; and, like every amusement he engaged in, although he was occasionally some time making up his mind whether he ought to indulge in it or not, yet, tbis point once cleared, his flow of spirits always resumed their usual fennje. And so, by the united efforts of his fellow-labourer and himself, having plunged into various remote regions over the water, and surrounding the Victoria Theatre, in search of vans and horses, the price was at length fixed, the party collected, and the trip determined upon. As the grand stand at Ascot is distant some three or four miles 252 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. over a score from Hyde Park Corner — as one pair of horses was to perform tlie journey there ami back — and as the numbers to be con- veyed in the van -were not intended to pay the least courtesy to any particular licences or Act of Parliament — it was suggestcil that they should start particularly early in the morning, and stopping to break- fast on the road, allow the horses to bait and recruit their strength at tlie same time. Tiie proprietor of the eating-house in Grafton Street, tipon whose first floor "The Tourniquets" were accustomed to hold their weekly meetings, was appointed purveyor of everything to eat and drink in general to the expedition, with orders upon the morning of the day to be stirring with the lark, in order to supply the necessary auxiliaries to another. And the whole of the party being made acquainted with the expenses, the order of going, and the hour of rendezvous, went to bed on the Wednesday night at an earlier hour than could be called to mind in the memory of the most aged keeper of lodgings who existed in the neighbourhood of the Loudon Uui- versity and subsisted upon the students theret^f. A line summer morning in London is truly delicious. We do not mean that advanced stage of the day's journey usually delined as such by average metropolitan life, when traffic and industry are stretciiing their arms after their repose, and the tide of preparation for the diurnal labour is beginning to flow, but tlie hour which accompanies sunrise ; provided always that it be not witnessed with blinking eyes and jaded disposition, on returning from an evening party ; for then "the daylight comes to upbraid us, and we shrink from its silent reproach. There is a delightful elasticity in the atmosphere, as yet unpolluted by the smoke and noisome vapours inevitable in a great city. The perspective and outlines of the streets and houses stand out clear and sliarp, and the spires of the churches elevate their well-defined tracery in the blue morning air. The caged birds, too, at the windows of the different houses — the poorer the neighbourhood the fuller the concert — despite their imprisonment, are answering one anotlier merrily from comer to corner ; even the plebeian sparrows strut about and chirp as if, for the time, they felt that they were lords of the locality ; and around the parks and squares tiicre is a fresh and grateful odour frnui the foliage, that alone is worth getting up early to drink into the lungs. The clock of the Middlesex Hospital struck four, giving the hint to its neighbour on Percy Chapel tiiat it was time it did the same — a warning obeyed some few minutes afterwards — as Mr. Prodgers, accompanied by Titus and Jack Johnson, arrived at the trysting-place in Grafton Street. The van was already there, and the proprietor of the eating-house had taken down his shutter.s, so that our friends took a slight anack of colil bread and meat, with the smallest possil)le ijuantity of singularly mild ale, to lay a trifling foundation for the order when they stopped, or the choice of trial by battle to prove liis right of command with the whole party whilst they were going on, he immediately assented to the piopo.sition. Titus was not, as we- know, a tiist-rate equestrian ; but they managed to elevate him upon, one of the horses, steadying himself with his ofiF-foot upon the pole ; and then Mr. Pi'odgers gave him an old bugle, which had been, hitherto concealed under the scat, with instructions to sound it per- petually as they went through the town ; so that upon the whole, he looked exceedingly chivalric and imposing, and Mas delighted with being thus distinguished, albeit the buckles of the harness were occasionally productive of inconvenience. There are certainly places in Great Britain more frivolous and dissi- pated than Staines. The trivial occupations of slight minds, evening, parties, dramatic representations, public entertainments, and the- like, are not there in vogue, but orderly reunions, sedate meetings,. and placid society are in the ascendant. It always tempts lively visitors to reflect upon what a place it might be if it were not what it. is. There are noble inns, but few travellers ; there is a tine bridge^ but few tilings to go over it ; a capacious institution, but few lec- turers, or rather, a fair complement of lecturers, but few auditors ; a. goodly river, but few boats ; capabilities for all kinds of amusements, dispositions for none. As such, the novel entree of the van containing our fiiends created no small astonishment, although they were looking forward to the usual turmoil of race company. But the more they appeared amazed, the louder Mr. Ledbury blew his horn, and the more vehemently his friends within sang "Rule Britannia." Indeed, it was only by literal compulsion that Mr. Prodgers could be restrainedr from climbing to the roof of the van and thereon performing a dance, supposed by the frequenters of fairs to be peculiar to the Noith American Indians. But when it was palpably shown that he would, inevitably conclude by breaking through, and descending to the level of the rest, he abandoned the idea, and contented himself with haranguing the little boys who ran behind and cheered the .'orfci/e — sometimes hooking off their caps with his stick, and causing the owners to run much farther than they intended. At length they stopped to breakfast, which consisted chiefly of stout and skittles, at a roadside inn on Egham Causeway. Whilst they were thus occupied, a tramp-cart, containing sticks and snuff"-boxe3 for the idlers behind the booths, with a small three-legged table slung up behind it, stopped at the door, and a man descended. Hearing the noise of the party, he advanced towards them, and made a slight reverence to Jack, who immediately recognised his old friend of the St. Giles's cellar, the Professor of Misery for the Million. " Hallo ! " cried Johnson, as the man saluted him. " Who would have thought of seeing you here ? " :2o6 THE ADVEyTCH/CS OF MI!. LEDBURY. " Always comes to Ascot," replied tlie professor, touching his hat. " That 'ere cart's chuck full of dodges for the races. I shall be veiy ihappy to flrink luck to your lionour wliile we're a-hactiug. " "Oh ! certainly," ausvvered Jack ; " call for wliat you like. WhiLt iiave you got moving inside tlie cart there ? " he continued, as the tilt ■was agitated by the restless motions of someone inside. " That's the hinfant Garrick," replied the man, '' who acts Richard, il reckon he wants his breakfast." Upon Jack's expressing a wish to see the Roscius, the professor lifted out a diminutive creature from the cart, bearing some resemblance to a monkey, in a costume of the middle ages, of Richardson's show. The small performer, imagining lie was called upon to exhibit his histrionic powers, immediately .struck an attitude, and began to enact what he termed the quarrel scene between Romeo and Julius Ciesar ; but upon receiving the intelligence that he was taken out for refresh- ment, he immediately desisted. " You see, he should act the play, sir," said the professor, in an •apologetical tone, " onlj' I don't know the rest of the patter. His governor's got a book, thougli, as tells you all about it." " And where is his governor ? " asked Jack. " Coming after us, sir, along with Jerry, and Follow the Drum, ■ and Tilly-ung-derung ; the doll-trick and the dulcimer has got a oast on ahead." " And what are you going to do yourself?" asked Jack, not exactly comprehending, with all liis experience, who were the individuals • designated by these various names. " Well, sir, now I'll tell you," said the man, mysteriously. " My pardners got a dimunt, star, and hanker-table, and I'm going to play with him when ncbody else does, part of the day ; and when I've done iihere I'm going round amongst the carriages with little Tomm^-. Here he is, sir." And, thus speaking, the man drew a battered little wooden fignre ■of a sailor from his pocket, with whom he commenced a ventriloquinl conversation in his coat-tails and underground, only cut short by the driver of the van coming to tell Johnson that he thought it was time to start again. Accordingly, the party were collected together, and with the promise of seeing the professor and his various talented friends in full force upon the course, they once more set off ; not wisliing to get situated in the fifth rank, half a mile below the distance-post. They had been eo long at breakfast that the road was all bustle • and excitttment when they left the inn. All sorts of vehicles were in motion, from the dashing landau and four, or the private bang-up, ti» the light cart with the covered top, so poetically named a " flyiu:^ bedstead," licensed to carry no end, or the donkey dragging a small painted waggon, rilled with ginger-beer at a penny a bottle ; broa«l- wheeled and tilted waggons, filled with regular holiday-makers, breatl, cheese, and pewter cans ; post-chaises, with three fat people insi^ai Ant/laid." In x\im^e, however, there was not much difference. Her features were somewhat more delicate, and her cheeks had lost the freshness tiiat eight or ten months back characterised the rosy griistlte, but she had gained much in manner and touniure. It appeared that she had re-entered the Academic shortly after Jack and Ledbury left Paris — the ballet being the El Doiado of her class ; and had made such rapid progress therein that she was pronounccil sufficiently effective to undergo the ordeal of our own Opera audience. " And how came you to leave the Wilmers, Titus?" asked Jack, as soon as he found an opportunity of speaking. " Better fun here, Jack," said Mr. Ledbury, adding, moreover, that he was as right as the sum of ninepence is occasionally supposed to be under undefined circumstances. " What amusement was it for me, hopping about after John Wilmer and Miss Seymour ? I thought she was going to walk with me. Never mind — have some wine — hurrah ! " "I think you are getting on, Titus," observed Jack, smiling at his friend s hilarity. " This is life, Jack," replied Mr. Ledbury ; " the life that I was born to lead — isn't it, Aim^e ? " " Je m'appelle Mademoiselle lEloile," returned the danseuse, with a smile and an expie.sHiw ultimately fell a martyr. The only things in the house which remained as usual w-ere the pigeons, rabbits, and guinea-pigs ; and they fluttered, scratched, and fed just the same as ever, awaiting the time when Hoppy sliould agree with Mr. Rawkins for the transfer of a part of them to his zoological bazaar at Cow Cross. '' Wiiat do you mean to do now, Jack?" inquiied Mr. Prodgers of Johnson, as they sat upon the house-top one tine afternoon, towards- the close of Mr. Rawkins' medical career. " Heaven only knows ; I should be very glad to tell you," was the reply. " Every plan I have formed is entirely knocked on the head, and, at a' time, too, when I most wanted to see my way a little clearly. I wish I was in your place. There appears to be a fate against my ever getting on in life, with every exertion that I can make in the attempt." " I wonder you don't look out for some girl with lots of tin,'' ob- served Mr. Prodgers, in his innocence of Johnson's attachment to Emma Ledbury. " You're such a jolly fellow, you know, you ought to find heaps of money." " Look out for some girl with lots of tin ! " Possibly Mr. Prodgers might have turned the advice in this phrase more elegantly, and adapted a more refined style of expression ;* but the meaning would have remained the same. The counsel was, however, thrown away upon Johnson ; and would have been equally so had his feelings towards Emma never risen above the natural flirtation of a young man of six-and-twenty with a pretty girl of eighteen. For lie had noticed in society — whether from looking through the false medium of a dis- tempered observation, or actually from some merciful dispensation of the Fates, we really cannot very well say — that those young ladies wiiose appearance was the strangest, wlu)se manners we>e the least pleasing, and whose toumure altogether partook of tlie old-fashioned and unromantic to a very great degree, were usually pointed out to him as excellent catches, and wortli making up to • wliilst the pretty, interesting girls, who boasted of very few diamonds and rubies, beyond their own eyes and lips, were universally without a penny. But perhaps after all this balance of attractions was very right and proper, although Jack was always certain to which class he should A BITE. 271 incline did he ever feel a desire to cotnniit what, at that time, he deemed the very great impropriety of matrimony. "I cannot make out what Rawkins is about," continued Prodgers, as he did not receive any particular reply from Johnson to his last ob- Bervations. " Writing away, as if for his life," replied Jack. " I cannot think myself what he is after ; he lias been all the week in that back room, as hard at work as a bank-clerk." And this was true. For several days past Mr. Ravvkins had been indefatigablj' employed with his pen, in company with a very small man, who had a very large head, and wore spectacles and a l)lack gam- broon surtout. The first impression of his assistants led to the belief that he was engaged in writing a " Complete Pigeon Fancier, and Rabbit-keeper's Manual ; " but this idea was dispelled when, at the end of ten days, Mr. Rawkins brought down three enormous ledgers, and put them on the desk in the surgery, and disclosed their object to Johnson and Prodgers, of his own accord. "These books," said Mr. Rawkins, "are not deceptions; they are merely the accounts of what my practice ought to have been. How do you think this page sounds ? " And, opening one of the tomes, labelled " D.4Y-Book," he com- menced as follows : — "Die Martin, May nine. — Mrs. Rosamond Pond, Rep: Haunt: six, visit, node maneque (half-a-crown each) ; total, fourteen shil- lings. " Sir Bagnigge Wells's Butler, Extractio Deniis, two-and-six ; paid at the time. "Amwell Hill, Esq., P«^y; Ipecac: Comp : six. Jliat; saline, six «unce ; that makes six shillings. "Mrs. Peerless Poole. Attending — one guinea: taken out in poultry, new-laid eggs, and potatoes. " Extra visit to Sir Hugh Myddleton's head. Hirudines — is that «pelt right, Mr. Prodgers ? leeches, you know — hirudines, eight ; four fihillings ; and two-and-six — six-andsix. "Total of day's receipts — um ! — two, thirteen, thirteen-and-six, and five is — Ah !— altogether, two pounds ten. That will do, I think, pretty well. Don't you think so ? " " Very well indeed, sir ; what is it ? " asked Jack, all in a breath. " Why, you see," said Mr. Rawkins, "my book-keeping has been very much neglected ; but, as people taking a business like to know something about it, M'e have prepared these accounts very carefully and impartially, against anyone should come. You know it is no de- ception, because I might have attended all these people if I had chosen." And the advertisements, after several nibbles, at last got a bite ; for in a f^w mornings from this conversation a hack-cab drove up to the door, from which emerged a gentleman with a very hooky nose, having the air of a cockatoo in a suit of mourning, who, after a lively argument with the cabman, upon the subject of distance as compared to sixteenpence, entered the surgery. 27-2 THE ADVENTUBES OF MR. LEDBURY. Mr. Rawkins cliaiic?il to be in the shop at the moment, and somewhat suspecting his mission, received liim witli great courtesy. " Mr. Hawkins, I presume ? " said the visitor. The head of the establishment bowed in acquiescence. " I believe you have a practice to dispose of. What may be the reason of your giving it up ? " - "Principally ill-health," returned Mr. Rawkins. The other looked at his muscular ciiest and florid face, and said nothing. " And a lucrative appointment to a county hospital," continued Mr. Rawkins. •* I can assure you this is an eligible opportunity seldom to be met with. Look at these books, sir." And giving the gentleman a chair, Mr. Rawkins placed the ledger* before him upon the counter. " And for what consideration do you propose parting with the practice?" asked the visitor. "Two years' purchase," replied Mr. Rawkins. "The annual receipts are five hundred pounds. I will sell it for a thousand, and give you a fortnight's introduction to the principal patients." " Thai is a very short time, is it not ? " "Quite sufficient," replied Mr. Rawkins, "upon mj- honour." And his honour was not at all deteriorated by the affirmation. " I can cuauro you the whole of my present patients. They would employ anybody upon iny recommenuation." " What other outlay m ould there be ? " asked the stranger. " The stock and fixtures to be taken at a valuation. I iiave the finest rabl;its in London, as well as pigeons. I suppose j'ou have heardi of my lops and pouters ? " But, singular to say, the visitor had not, nor did he appear to- comprehend very well what connection lops and pouters had with the normal pursuits of a general practitioner. However, he looked over the books, whilst Mr. Rawkins left the surgery for a few minutes, and going down into the kitchen, told Bob to creep up the area stairs, and come hurriedly into the shop from tlie street, stating that ho — his master — was wanted at Lady Bunhill's immediately. This rune Bob accom- plished with mucli credit to himself ; and the visitor, who gave his name as Mr. Pattle, lato house-surgeon to the Hospital, think- ing Mr. Rawkins was hurried, took his leave, promising to consult with his solicitor, and let the other gentleman know his determination at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, .lolmson and Prodgers took their departure — the latter gentleman to share the abode of a brother student, wherein he was acconnnodated every night with a sofa and two great coats, for the remaining period of his pupilage ; and Jack returned to his old lodgings, which lie found just the same as when he ([uittcd them, with the same fly-teni])les in the windows, tlio same dilapidated screens and stone-fruit u])nn the mantelpiece, and the identical rusty keys anil scroop- ing locks that he iiad left there. Yet ho involuntarily luunmed, " A» I view these scenes so charming," when he entered the old rooms, and surveyed the various humble attempts at second-tloor ornamental furniture with intense satisfaction ; albeit ho had not made any great HIS LAST APPEARANCE. 27J advances in fuilhei !»;g his prospects since he had last dwelt amongst them. But when Titus came to see him again in his ancient quarters, and they had a pipe together as formerly, with some of the celebrated " commingled " that was still to be obtained " round the corner," as- well as talked over their intentions, and unburdened themselves of all their secrets to eacJi other, Jack found, after all, there was nothing like being master of your own time, although he had certainly not much to complain of restraint during his abode with Mr. Rawkins. A fortnight passed away, and one bright sunny afternoon the- Grindeys were taking a walk in the pleasant locality that lies between Islington and Hornsey, when their attention was excited by thff sudden appearance of a mob of people at the end of one of the roads, shouting, cheering, and evidently approaching them at a swift pace. Somewhat alarmed at the tumult, which reached them plainly even- from a distance, they opened the gate of one of the fields, and took their position behind it until the crowd had passed, their first ideas of the assemblage being connected w ith some great political riot. On- came the mass, screaming, jostling, and running as if a regiment of cavalry was at their heels, and then, to their speechless astonishment, the Grimleys perceived Mr. Rawkins in the centre of the great body and its accompanying cloud of dust, bounding like an antelope along the turnpike road, attired in a linen jacket and drawers, with a- handkerchief tied round his head, and a short stick in his hand, with which he appeared to be propelling himself against the air. lie- shot past them like an arrow, and in another minute was concealed, together with his followers, by a turn in the road. This was the last appearance of that remarkable gentleman in- Islington or its vicinity. Like the Irish chieftain O'Donoghue, who- one fine morning galloped across the Lake of Killarney, and then faded from the view of the wondering beholders in the mists that enveloped him, he was never seen again. That he lost his match was subsequently known by popular report ; that he parted with his- practice for a tithe of what he asked for it was promulgated by Mrs. Hoddle, M'ho knew some friends of Mr. Pattle ; and that his pigeons and rabbits found an ultimate home in Cow Cross, Hoppy was enabled to afiirm. -Within a few weeks the retail establishment at the corner also changed hands, and the landlady disappeared as well ; but in what dii ection was not ascertained until long afterwards. And then Mr. Ledbury was the medium of communicating the intelligence to- the public ; it will be given forth in due season, before we quite close this eventful history. Bob remained with Mr. Pattle, together with- his old friend the leech ; but when Mr. Pattle retired from practice, which he did in the course of a few months, from having nothing to- do beside, the small assistant paid a short visit to his Alma Mater, the Union workhouse, and finally found a permanent situation in th* establishment of — somebody we could name, but it is not yet time. 274 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. CHAPTER XLV. THE UNEXPECTED JOLTKNEY— OsTKND AND BRCSSELS. For some weeks after the events of the last cliapter little occiure acme calamity- -but that he would pay the expenses of any experienced person he chose to take with him, provided, of course, that tliey kept within the bounds of prudence. And, as may be imagined, Titus was not long in acquiescing in the suggestion, or making choice of a com- panion. The instant he became acquainted with his father's pro- position, he rushed off to Jack Johnson, who did not appear to throw any difficulties in the way, but by the next morning had calculated the expense, laid out the time, and arranged the route which they should take, by wliich they might see most with very little extra dela}'. For Jack sat up nearly all night, and witii an ancient map and two or three old guide-l)ooks, dotted and pencilled off the whole journey against Titus called upon him. Old Mr. Ledbury himself made no objections. He had been pleased with Johnson's candour at their interview respecting his attentions to Emma, and knew that, witli all his hilarity, he had no lack of honour or common sense. " Tins is a happiness I never expecteil," said Jack, wlien Titus- called the next day. "To think, after all, Leddy, that you and I should be going abroad again I " "Capital," answered Ledbury; "and nothing to pay! I suppose we shall do it in style this time. Jack. Post-carriages, you know, and the best part of the steamers — not like shabbroons." "You leave it all to me," replied Johnson, smiling. "Only recollect, in travelling, the more you pay, the less you always see, or enjoy yourselves. I've marked out such a trip ! " " Where are we going, then ?" "Oh ! the Rhine, Switzerland, the Alps, and I don't know where- all — with, perhaps, a passing glimpse of Paris as we return, to see if any of our old friends are in existence. What do you say to that ? " "I leave evcrytiiing to you, Jack," returned Ledbury. " My head is beginning to get into such a whirl that I shall not be able to think about anything else until we start. But I say, Jack, we shall post sometimes, shun't we ? " "I have told you I will make every proper arrangement," said Johnson, still amused at the evident desire of Titus to travel in at distinguished manner. "I am not quite sure whether we shall ride at all." " Why, Jack, we can't walk from London to Milan ! " said Mr, Ledbury, aghast with terror. "Don't distress yourself, Loddy," replied Johnson; "I'm going out now to buy some things, and you had better corne with me." It did not take Mr. Ledbury long to make up his mind to go with- Jack, and pack up his wardrobe. He longed to let his mustachio* grow ; but all the efforts he had made for years to get them to shoot had been failures ; and the same with regard to his whiskers. None of the wonderful things wiiich the young men who cut his hair always recommended answered ; his consumption of Circassian cream nuist have affected, in no small degree, the trade of the Black Sea and the regions of the Caucasus ; but still his face was smooth. And once, when he had been rash enough to buy a pair of false mustachios, that ^76 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. were fixed with a spring to his nostrils, he hrought on such a wonderful tit of sneezing that he liad well-nigh blown all his brains out by the same route as those of the Egyptiaa mummies are reported by cuauing men who delight in unrolling those bales of pitchy mortality to have left their tenement. So tliat he gave up the notion, fondly as lie clung to it ; and determined upon trusting, as heretofore, to his elegant manners, and knowledge of foreign style generally, to be considered a true Parisian. And, acting under Jack's advice, Mr. Ledbury set off to make purchases for the voyage — the most important being some very serviceable shoes, and two old soldiers' knapsacks, which were pro- cured after diving into some of the incomprehensible thoroughfares in the neighbourliood of Tower Hill. They also bought two candle- boxes, and tliese, in an envelope of ticking, looked very military when placed on the top of the knapsacks — besides being serviceable, as Johnson affirmed, to carry minor articles of the toilet, which could be got at easily, without unstrapping the entire package. And, finally, two stout blouses were ordered, with breast-pockets inside, to contain their passports, and, in Mr. Ledbury's case, the document as well, which was the chief object of tlieir journey. As the outfit was not very extensive, it did not take a great deal of time to get it in readiness ; and, after a short, flying visit to Clumpley, made upon the si}', they fixed tlie day for starting. Previously to this, however, Jack dined with Titus at his fallier's house ; and considerably raised himself in the old gentleman's estimation by the attention he paid to his instructions respecting the business they were going upon, as well as the inteUigence he exliibited about all matters connected Avitii their intended route. So that things, upon the whole, looked tolerably cheering ; and Jack's spirits rose in proportion, until Titus atfirmed that he had never seen him so perfectly like what he used to be since they left Paris. The sun was shining brightly tlie next morning, and the Thames quivered and sparkled in the beams as it caught a tint of unwonted blue from the cloudless sky above, when, about noon, Mr. Ledbury and his friend, fully ecjuipped for tlieir intended pilgrimage, climbed up tiie sides, and stood upon the deck of the good steamship, the Karl cf Liverpool, bound for Ostend. The \\ind vas fair, the tide service- able, the weather fine, and everytiung looked lively and animated. Even tiie old Tower, off which the packet lay, appeared to have become quite juvenile again, and lifted up its numeious turrets amongst the modern warehouses and edifices by which it was sur- rounded, witii an air half supercilious, half companionable ; as if it knew its importance and position in architectural society, but wished to appear upon friendly and visiting terms with the adjacent structures of the present day ; like some old bachelor, who, whilst he does not think hiniself at all too pass6 to associate witli young cavaliers, still cannot help looking down upon them as giddy and inexperienced youths, quite unwoitliy of his patronage. In ten minutes the word was given to "go ahead, ' and tlie packet inoved on. Leilbury and Jack had dcjiosited their knapsacks in an THE MIGHTY DEEP. 277 artful corner of the fore-cabin, and took up their positions at the head ■of the boat as she progressed down the Pool, wliere they were soon joined by other passengers, some bound upon a tour like themselves, with whom they compared intentions and proposed lines of journey. "To those who had deteimined ultimately to arrive in Paris Mr. Led- bury was particularly communicative, speaking with an air of great .authority upon everything connected with that capital. V>\\t whilst he was doing this, he could not help thinking how mueii his mind had expanded, and what a man of the world he had become since tha6 iiime twelvemonth, when he first started to France with .Jack Julmson; how that tour had invested him with those distinguished manners which he always assumed in polite society ; and what a close reiation- •ship the casual voyage with his friend was likely to lead to. There were some very pleasant people on board, and the time passed cheer- fully enough ; for the sea was tolerably well beliaved, except for the last few hours of the voyage, when, as it got dark, and somewhat chilly, the majority of the company went below, and plunged into tea and brandy-and-water for very distraction. And then came that monotonous part of the voyage which all accustomed to long steamboat travelling can so readily call to mind. The close, confined atmosphere of the cabin, dimly lighted by the lamp in the centre, quivering, together with the entire vessel, from •every vibration of the engine and paddle-wheel ; the silence of the •company, after the previous excitement of the early portion of the voyage, as they lounged about in various uneasy fashions upon the seats, luggage, and even the tables — a silence continuously broken by the restless tramp of the passengers overhead ; the rush of water along the sides of the boat ; the creaking of every separate piece of wainscot and timber with her laborious oscillation through the lashing sea, to which the jingling of tea-things and tumblers in cupboards and lockers kept up an undying accompaniment : all this, coupled with the feeling, which could never be entirely dispelled, that the huge ark, •crowded with life — her vast glowing furnaces blazing and roaring, from which a train of bright scintillations flew, whirling off in infernal gambols upon tiie screeching wind — was but a speck upon the leaping wilderness of dark and boiling waters — that her comparative strength was as nothing against the power of the mighty elements with whom :8he was at strife. But in spite of all discomfort, the night wore away. About two in the morning Johnson and Ledbury went upon deck, when the lights of Ostend were plainly visible ahead ; and in another half-hour they came alongside the port, where they were received in great form by a •deputation of douaniers, according to the customary politeness of foreign landing-places. Having merely their knapsacks with them, upon Jack's advice, tiiese were unstrapped and exhibited to the •officers, who, perceiving that there was nothing very important in them, allowed them to go at once on shore. This was a great accom- tnodation ; for all the I'cst of the luggage had to remain in the vessel ■until it was carted up to the custom-house, guarded by patrols with loaded guns, as if the authorities feared the carpet-bags would rise in 278 THE ADVENTURES OF J//,'. LEDBUHY. rebellion, and run away of their own accord witliout being examined. Their passports were, however, demanded of them ; and tiiey were directed to upply for them again at the biirean, as soon after six in t)ie morning us they liked. "Come along, Mr. F. ; Susan, look after the children — come along : " exclaimed a very bustling lady ; one of the saloon -passengers, as she collected her |)arty, and made a sally along the plank, carrying an enormous bandbox. " On ne passe pas avec les cartons, niadame," growled a gendarme, who was watchini^ the egress of passengers ; "on nc passe pas. " " Oui, mons.sou, oui," returned the lady, with great amiability ; " c'est tout droit — j'ai ma passe port — je compron. Xow, Mr. F., pray do not leave everytliing to me; show the man the paasport. " And the lady moved on again. " Non, madamc ! " thundered the gendarme again, charging tlie bandbox with the butt-end of his firelock; "non, madame ; on ue passe p;is — pas passepoit." This final alliteration was beyond all power of comprehension, and the lady remained for an instant in great wrath. " I believe, ma'am," said Johnson, " he will not allow you to leave the boat with tiiat luggage." "I am perfectly aware of what he means, sir ! " replied the lady, haughtily. " Edward ! why don't you lay hold of Susan ? Take her hand directly, sir. Monssou," she continued, turning once more to the officer, " ici sont mes choses du soir, et il me faut besoin beaucoup." "Pouvez-pas sortir avec ces effets," was all the answer made to this confession by the guard. "Now, ma'am," cried one of the steamboat's company, "I must trouble you to go one way or the other; you are blocking up the gang." " Did you ever hear of such an imposition?" exclaimed the lady, in extreme anger, turning lound and addressing the passengers gene: ;)lly, and no one in particular. " 'I'o think the many times that I have gone on shore at Kamsgnte, and never was I so treated. Never again — no, never any more, Mr. Fra/.er, will I come to foreign parts." " I never wished you to now, my dear," said Mr. Frazer, quietly. " Ugh ! " replied the lady ; and forcing her way back to the deck, was soon lo.st, together w ith her train, amidst the throng of passenger* and luggage. " Montez, messieurs — ,\ la Grand Hotel ! " cried the driver of a very curious onniibus surmounted by a tin chanticleer, v.ho turned alK)ut in all directions after he had performed a violent concerto upon the bugle. " Hotel P.ellevue '. " " liath Ifotel, gentlemen and ladies," cried an English voice, whicb there was no mistaking. " Which shall we go to, Jack ? " asked Titus. " Devil a one," replied Johnson ; " we shall be off to Brussels by OSTEXD. 279 the first train. If you think it worth while going to bed at three to get up again at five, you can choose which hotel you like." " Ah, I see," replied Mr. Ledbury ; " but I am very hungry." " Well, come in here, then, and we will get something to eat," answered Jack. Whereupon they turned into the Maison Blanche, a public house situated immediately upon tlie port, where all the people spoke the English language, aud did not particularly object to take English money, after a little persuasion. A shilling covered the expense of 4Some brandy-cherries and the never-failing omelette ; and when they had finished, as day was breaking, and their appetites were somewhat -appeased, they agreed co walk about and see what they could of the 1;own. If all the docks, locks, canals, and basins in and about London were collected together, and upon the banks of these some ingenious architects, who had closely studied the style of the houses contained in the Dutch toy-boxes, were to build various rows and streets of dwellings in the same fashion ; if other industrious people were to paint tlie aforesaid houses blue, green, and yellow, and employ their leisure time in sowing grass-seed between the paving-stones, and jnooring squabby Dutch-built Ijoats against the quays, there to remain perpetually — when all these things had been accomplished, they would have produced a very good imitation of Ostend. The surrounding land is swampy, and the adjacent water treacherous, particularly when the wind blows otf shore ; whilst the town itself, at the best of times dreary enougli to suit the most moping of its inhabitants, did not look over lively to Jack Johnson and his companion at that time in the morning when nobody was about except the sentinels, and all the white Venetian blinds were closely shut. But the mere idea that it was a foreign place invested it with a certain degiee of interest. "I wonder what that means?" said Mr. Ledbury, as he read over -a door the inscription, " verkoopt mex drunken." " The Ostenders are addicted to strong liquors," replied Jack, " and irequent restraint is necessary. Tliat means, 'men are cooped up here when they are drunk.' " "Law !" exclaimed Titus, who for the time took it all in as most veracious information. "They must be a very tipsy people, for I bave seen twenty houses with the same notice." . '■ They are," returned Jack ; and then, smiling, he added, " No, no, Leddy — it's a shame to sell you now — it's only the Flemish for ' allowed to be drunk on the premises.' " They wandered about the town, seeing all that was to be seen, which was nothing, until the time arrived for them to go and look after their passports. A crowd of people were waiting at the doors of the office, as if they had belonged to a theatre on a benefit night ; and when the gate opened, the rush was very great, insomuch that the •fierce-looking patrol in attendance was wedged behind the door, ■against the wall, by the pressure, from which he was quite uiaable to extricate himself. And so he waxed exceedingly spiteful, and swore jnany incomprehensible foreign oaths, in Miiich thunder and hackney 280 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. coaches appeared to play principal parts ; nor was his humour lessened by a request, or rather an order, from Jack. Joluison that ho would assume a state of rapidly-ascending flame, and keep his powder dry ; by which proceedings, and putting his trust in pipe-clay and fireworks, he might eventually prosper ; all \\ hicli advice, being exceedingly figurative, and partaking largely of British idiomatic impertinence, greatly diverted the rest of the travellers, who are ever keenly sus- ceptible of such fun as depends upon putting alien custom-house officers to any species of discomfort. And when the passports had been delivered, the majority of the passengeis went to look after their luggage at the custom-house, and go tiiiough another ordeal of wrangling, misunderstanding, and grumbling. But Ledbury and Jack, having literally all they had with them upon their backs, sauntered once more along the quays, and finally sat down upon their knapsacks in front of the post-office, and conversed upon tilings in general, until the gates of the railway were thrown open for the de- parture of the earliest train, and they took their places in the cheap tvarjou that was to convey them to Brussels. Their third-class carriage was soon filled ; and then, upon a signal from one of the conductors, who blew a horn instead of ringing a bell, the train moved on. They were entirelj' amongst strangers — peasants in blue l>louses, and chubby fresh-looking Flemisii girls in white caps, who talked unceasingly in some strange language, which even Jack Johnson could make nothing of, leaving Mr. Ledbury entirely out of the question. They did not even see any of tlieir fellow-passengers on board the steamer, although they knew many of them were going on by the train ; but the Englisli seldom patronise what is cheap when they travel ; and therefore all the rest had taken their places in the most expensive carriages, wherein, by associating one with another, and not seeing much of the country they were passing, one of their great pleasures of travelling was obtained. Finding that he could not understand tlie patois of his fellow-travellers any more than they could make out his French, Jack thought the best plan he could go upon was to talk English witli a Dutch accent ; by which means he occasionally made himself slightly comprehensihie in endeavouring to find out the names of various places which they passed. As for Mr. Ledlniry, he made important political observations without talk- ing, the chief point of gratification up to the present time being that he had seen tlie name "Cockkhel, Makkr. Likoe," upon one of the engines, to ^\■hich he immediately called Jack Joiinson's attention, a» an evidence of British enterprise in distant lands. The morning was very tine, and the whole journey remarkably exhilarating ; nor had Mr. Ledbury any idea of what a corn country meant, until the train flew l)y the vast fields of ripening grain, for miles and miles, which sometimes came close to the etlge of the line. Here and there tlie landscape was remarkably English in its appear- ance ; but tliis was soon disindied by the proximity of some old Flemish town, with its fortifications and quaint gables, especially at Bruges, where the railway ran through the very centre of the city. Tliey travelled very rapidl}-, sometimes even (|uicker than in England ; BRUSSELS. 281 and although Mr. Ledbury, from want of proper rest the night before, occasionally dozed for a few minutes, until his head reclined upon the shoulders of a good-looking paysanne who sat next to him, from which it was usually heaved off in a very unceremonious manner, yet he cofitrived to see a great deal. As for Jack Johnson, he was as lively as ever, want of sleep not appearing to produce the sliglitest effect upon him ; but having found out that the conductor was a Belgian, they immediately had a pipe together and a glass of schnaps, which people brought up to the carriages whenever the train stopped, as well as cakes, fruit, and various unknown drinks. They arrived at Brussels some time before noon, having accom- plished the journey from the Tower Stairs considerably under four- and-twenty hours, and, once more shouldering their knapsacks, marched into the city in search of an hotel. The very feeling of being abroad again sufficed to put Jack in the highest spirits, and he addressed all sorts of gallant compliments to the {jriaettes who were standing at the doors of tlie various shops, and who, if they had not altogether the tournure of their Parisian sisterhood, were, in most instances, amazingly pretty. And nothing could exceed the placid benignancy of Mr. Ledbury's smile as, in his blue macintosh cap and spectacles, he marched on with a military air and disembarrassed bearing, as if his knapsack had been a mere nothing, now and then turning a look of mild reproof upon the little boys, who, invariably attracted by his appearance, huzzaed him as he went by, or ran after him in quest of small coin, which he distributed from the pocket of his blouse in the form of PInglish halfpence — the remnants of the last change he had taken in London. After wandering about many streets without finding an estaldish- ment likely to suit their purpose, they at last pitched upon the Hotel de rUnion, in the Grand Place, where thej' took possession of a large cheerful room, overlooking the market, and forthwith ordered a very becoming breakfast. And very delighted were they both when the meal appeared in tlie old style — the pure white plates and cups and saucers, the clinking beet-root sugar, the black bottle of vin ordinaire, the capital coffee, the undeniable cdtehttea and the petite vcrre of fine old Cognac to chasftr tlie rest down witli ; all this, laid out by the fair hands of Mademoiselle Vandercammer herself, the host's pretty daughter, well-nigh drove Mr. Ledbury distracted. Besitles, too, it was the period of the Kermasse ; and, from certain announcements Jack had seen upon the walls, he intended to go that night to a ball outside the barrier — how natural it sounded ! — and once more have a taste of his old life. Indeed, when they had made their toilets, and turned out for a walk in the town, it required a very little stretch of the imagination to fancy themselves once more in Paris, with Jules, Henri, Aim6e, and all their other former acquaintances of the Quartier Latin, ready to meet them at' every turn of the streets. 282 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. CHAPTER XLVI. THE TOURISTS PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY ALONG THE RHINE. The two days which Ledbury and Jack devoted to the inspection of Brussels and its neighbourhood passed pleasantly enough ; and they saw everything that unceasing activity from six in tiie morning until nine at night enabled them to do. For, the two great ends of travel being apparently, on the one hand, to progress with moderate speed from any one place to another that fashion may dictate ; and, on the other, to visit everything worthy of genteel notice in foreign localities, the English, with lauilable economy, are invariably accustomed to- combine these two objects, and scamper through museums and galleries as speedily as they traverse the grand 7-jn/(-i, which is a plan highly to be recommended : inasmuch as it does not allow the intellects time to get dull, but enables travellers to draw admirable comparisons between different places, from vivid impressions left of the last interesting spot they visited. And, finally, the tour being accomplished, it leaves tliat agreeable jumble of opinions and recollec- tions in the mind which is so admirably adapted to the general tone of society and conversation at the present day. Of course, the greater part of one out of the two days were devoted to a visit to Waterloo, from which spot Mr. Ledbury brought many interesting souvenirs of the engagement, thinking himself highly favoured in being able to procure such relics after so great a lapse of time. But he was not aware tiiat in the almanacks of the cottagers round Mont St. Jean might be found in the gardening directions, " Noia plant btU/etsfor siimmer crops ; water old s u-ord-s for nitt, and dig up ■stock.'i and barrels" — or that the ingenious artificers in Lii^e were in the habit of exporting numberless eagles, which being duly fledged with mould, and coated with verdigris from bruised grape-stalks, exceeded their original value one hundredfold. Mr. Ledbury only thought of the distinguished effect these souvenirs would have when displayed upon the cheflbnier at his Islington home ; and the interest thej' would excite when admiring visitors were informed that he himself had brought them from the field of battle — a statement which for the tijns, he felt, must associate him with the Duke of Wellington and the last charge of the Imperial (iuard. And he wrote his name in the book at the foot of the steps leading to th^• summit of the mound, wherein it is still to be seen, with a throbbing lieart and an extra ilourish, feeling additional pride because Jack Johnson had just argueil down a foreign gentleman, who was endeavouring to prove that tlie French W'on the battle beyond all doubt, although the Englishmen, comy)areni fills ; Its stei ps ri-call llic inountahi line Of Ilaverstock ami lligli;;;itf hills. 1 irazc upon thy castled erags, liaruiiial hall, or ladyes bnwir ; But memory's chain before me ilraj;p Our own dear C'anonWnry lower 1 In fancy slill, where'er I roam, I thnk of thee, my Iloxton Uome 1 ' " "Capital I famous !" cried Jack, applauding with an empty bottle Agiiiii'^t the Bide of the tub. " Is that all ? " A CERTAIN SAMENESS. 289 "No," said Ledbury; " here's another verse. " "Fire away, then!" said Johnson; "we're all attention." And Mr. Ledbury, encouraged by their praise, continued — "The Brimnens which in Baden spring, Their gravell'd walks and flowery paths, Warm my bosom " "Hallo!" interrupted Jack once more; there's a foot too short there ! " " So there is," replied Ledbury, counting his fingers. " What can we put instead ? " " ' Corazza ' 's a good word," said Jack; "'thrill my corazza ' reads well ; you can take the shirt as symbolical of the heart it covers." "Now, come, Jack, you are joking," said Ledbury in continuation. "This will do :— " — and flowery paths Call up in visions, whilst I sing, The City Sawmills' Tepid Baths. The eagles in their sky-built neste, Each guarding his sublime abode, Boast not the grandeur which invests The 'Eagle' of the City Road. Kor pump-room's dome, nor fountain's foam, Can equal thee, my Uoxton Ilome ! " "Very good indeed, Leddy," said Jack, patronisingly ; " we shall see you publishing now, before long." " They are simple," said Titus, with becoming modesty. "Remarkably," answered Jolinson, in which opinion the pensive gentleman coincided, although silently. There was now plenty of fine scenery upon either bank to occupy the attention of the travellers ; and it was somewhat laughable to see the eager manner in \\liich those who were taking refreshment below rushed upon deck when any fine view was announced ; and, as soon as it was passed, went back quietlj^ to their meal. Mr. Ledbury was principally amused with the manner in which the Rhenish boatmen moved their small craft, wliich were something between punts and canoes. A man sat at each end with a broad-toothed wooden rake, and as the foremost pulled the water towards him, the hinder one pushed it from him, so that, between the two, the boat made a little progress. The continuity of ruins, also, particularly called forth his admiration ; for now the mountains rose up from the very edge of the river, covered at every available spot with vineyards, and in most instances surmounted by the unvarying round tower. "Those ruins of former feulal times are very interesting," said the pensive gentleman. " Yes, but they are all alike," replied Jack. " The two tall chimneys at the base of Primrose Hill, and the round shot manu- factory at Lambeth, cut up into lengths, and perched on the tops of mountains, would furnish quite as many traditions. They are nearly all the same. " 290 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. "Would you favour ua with one of the legends ? " asked the pen- sive gentleman. " Certainly," said Jack ; " which will you have ? " The choice was left to himself ; and as they had not long passed the scene of the story, Jack drew a MS. book from tlie pocket of his blouse, and commenced his own version of ^hc ICcgenb of ^r:u-heiifcls. A LAI' OK THE ANCIK.NT I:III.\E. King Gilibaldus sits at Imic"! In-neath the linden trees, But very nervous doth he seem, with spirits ill at ease; For first of all he rubs this ear, and then he pulls that hair, His sandwich and a splendid glass of ale* he cannot bear. Nor auglit beside they can provide, because a monster dread Has sent to say, without delay, he must the princess wed. To speak unto h s courtiers the monarch does not choose, Until that monarch has been hun-, and they have brought the noose. The monster is a dragon of more hideous shape and mien Than any canvas-cover'd, wicker- basket, huge machine. That Mr. Bradwell ever builf. at merry Christmas time, To be put on by Payne or Stilt iii some gay pantomime. A vast aerial courier he— part fish, part beast, part bird, A flying ichthyosaurus, of which Mantel never heard ; No eye might look upon his form without the deepest awe. His maw (or craw) for victuals raw, his jaw, and paw, and claw Sir Siegfried the Scaly, one of stalwart form and height t hitn in a line. Then tied a millstone round his neck, and sent him " down the Rhine." Sir Siegfried the Scaly played a solo on his horn, Tliat Tuzzi might have envied, but the greeting was forlorn ; For that same morn, at break of dawn, the dragon had been there And carried off thi- princess, as she wulk'd to take the air. ' He wound his tail about her waist, his tail so large and long, As restless as repealer Dans — in niisihief ([uite as strong. Then, like a rocket shooting up, by dint of magic spells. He bore her to his mountain-home on craggy Drakenfels. " Now welcome, brave Sir Siegfried ! " King Gilibald did say ; "I am so glad to see you— nuire especially tO-day. You nay lonimand my daughters hand, and with it half-a-crown, U jyu will climb the Drakenfels, and bring her safely down.'" The dragon, after dhiing, was indulging in a nap, Histinsell'd head reclining in the poor i)rincess's lap, When Siegfried the Scaly, with his good sword Balamung, Just ground for the occasion, up the rocky mountain sprung ; And for the sword's free use, in troth, thiVe also was just ground, The dragon long had been the curse of all the country round. • " CroivUtchcs AUonixcheg gutes altes Bier, mil Butlerbrod und Fleitch new nivtr groschen." (About fourpence English.) ' COBLENTZ. 291 But now he jnmp'd upon his feet, awaken'd by the tread, His nostrils belchiii!;; out tierce flames, to fill the kniglit with dread ; And, but for the opinion that both coarse and low the phrase is, We might have said Sir Siegfried was going fast to blazes I But chivalry and might prevail'd ; the dragon soon was slain, And SioLrfried the princess ))ore to Stromberg back again. The bells were rung, the mass was sung, and, ere the close of day, King Gilibaldus to the kniaht his daughter gave away. On those wild heights Sir .Siegfried his future home did fix, And there a fortress proud, of stone, he built as right as bricks. About the ruins which exists each guide his version tells ; But this is the correct account of castled Drakenfels. " Well, but, Jack," observed Mr. Ledbury, as Johnson finisbed, "alt that never happened, you know." "I can't answer for that," replied Jack ; "it might or it might not. I have my own opinions about it." The pensive gentleman made no comment upon the legend. It was evident that he did not deem it sufficiently romantic to call forth his approbation ; and he gradually sidled off to the after part of the vessel, where the majority of the passengers were dining upon deck under an awning, so that Jack and Ledbury were left alone, w ith the exception of a facetious traveller, of limited intelligence, who came up to them every live minutes, smiling and rubbing his hands, and, after looking amicaldy at Jack for a few seconds, generally said — " Well, how do you find yourself by this time?" To which kind inquiry Jack, who had not been particularly indis- posed in the interim, usually replied that he was as well as could be expected, which the traveller appeared to consider a high joke, judging from the sportive manner iii which he received the intelligence. Titus, who imagined tliat ho had attracted the attention of a fashionable lady on the bax of one of the carriages, assumed several elegant posi- tions, in which he thought his figure might be seen to the best advan- tage, and even went so far as to call out audibly to the waiter, in German, for another dcmi-bouteille of wine. But in this daring feat he was somewhat discouraged by Jack Johnson, who recommended him not to try it again, for fear he should tie his tongue in a knot and experience some difficulty in undoing it again. The poetical associations of the river had not affected the corporeal appetites of i\\e passengers, who all appeared to be making excellent dinners, as they admired the succession of vineyards and cornfields, orchards and villages, frowiung mountains, and fertile plains, that quickly followed each other, now smiling in the afternoon sun. Then some of the restraint which had attended the early part of the voyage wore away, and the various travellers began to compare notes of their intended routes with each other, or tell anecdotes of former excursions. Altogether, the time parsed as pleasantly as well might be, until abend of the river brought them within sight of the tremendous bulwark of the Rhine, towering formidably above all around it ; and in another twenty minutes the Koniginn Victoria came up alongside the busy landing-quay of double-faced Coblentz, which smiles on the river and frowns on the land with equal significance. 292 THE ADVENTUliES OF MB. LEDBURY. CHAPTER XLVIII. THE GAIXAKT MANNER IN WHICH MR. LEDBURY ATTACK KD THE FORTRESS OF EHRENBREITSTEIN. It is a \ery animate'l scene when the steiiiners discharge their passen- gers upon the landing-place at Coblentz : and not the least amusing part of it is the struggle of tlie touters belonging to tlie various inns to attract the attention of the visitors, in common with those of all foreign show-places, as well as the exertions of different porters to seize upon the respective luggage ; for there is always a peifect stack of gay carpet-bags, worked all over with Berlin wool, on board the Rhenish boats, which require transportation to the various destinations of their owners. A powerful band of tliese licensed brigands took possession of the gangway as the boat came alongside the pier ; and before long Mr. Ledbury was engaged in a terrific single-handed combat witli a Ger- man fjamin, who insisted upon forcibly carrying otf his knapsack. The contest was very severe whilst it lasted ; but at length Titus gained the victory, and marclied up the platform leading to the quay, with the air of a Peruvian Rolla, in a mackintosh cape and spectacles, flourishing his luggage in triumph over his head, in the place of the sacred infant who usually personates Cora's cliild. Jack Johnson followed, laughing heartily at his friend's encounter, and keeping ofiF tiie other bandits with his stick ; whilst the pensive gentleman gave up his effects at once, without a struggle, and accompanied the others to land. They went directly to the Hotel du G^ant ; but, finding it was quite full, proceeded along the street in search of anotlier. " What a curious name for an inn ! " said the pensive gentleman. " It is christened after a legend," replied Jack. " Some centuries ago a giant lived in that very house. Ehrenbreitstein was built to attack him." " Indeed ! " said the other, as he peeped through the open windows of one of the .salons, with an air of deep interest. " The rooms are not very large, though. " "The house was not divided into apartments when he lived there," said Jack. " He used to sit with his liead out of the skylight, putting his arms and legs through the windows, like the little men outside shows. They say that is the bell he used to ring when he was hungry." The poetical stranger immediately stopped to make a sketcli of the packet-bell, to which Jack had pointed ; and at this occupation the others, finding that he intended to write a sonnet upon Ehrenbreitstein before he dined, left him, and turned into the open portals of tlie Oasthaus Zum Rheinberg. And having made their dinner-toilet, which consisted in brushing their hair and taking oil" their blouses, they were A RHINE MAIDEN. -293 soon seated at one of the pleasant windows of that inn, before a well- spread table, and enjoying a beautiful view of the Rhine and its opposite banks. The iced hock was so delicious, and so much to Mr. Ledbury's taste, that his poetical inspirations soon returned, and he would have perpetrated several "Stanzas upon a Dinner on the Rhine" if his companion had not continually broken in upon his romantic medi- tations with some every-day remark. As it was, he began to ask Jack if there was any cliance of the glow-worm gilding the elfin flower that evening, since he felt very desiious of wandering on the banks of the blue Moselle, l)eneatli the starry light of a summer's night. And, after the second bottle, he went so far as to contemplate sitting upon the banks of the river above the town all night long, in order that if any relation of Lurline felt inclined to take him to her home beneath the water, he might accompany her ; for which sub-aqueous trip he felt perfectly qualified, having formerly subscribed to Peerless Pool, in his native Islington, as well as been down twice in tlie diving-bell at the Polytechnic Institution, not so much for the actual pleasure he derived from having the drums of his ears tuned during the excursion, as to distinguisli himself in the eyes of the company assembled in the galleries when he came up again. They had been some time at dinner, so long that the moon was beginning to give the sun a mild notice it was time for him to quit, by" just showing her face above the mountains, when they heard the sound of music in the street, and directly afterwards a girl with a i;uitar made her appearance at the open window. She was very pretty, with a slighter figure, and darker hair and eyes, than is common amongst the German women ; and she gazed upon Mr. Led- bury with such a captivating expression of her full lustrous pupil, rendered more bewitching by its dilatation in the twilight, that he was almost in doubt whether one of the naiades he had been think- ing about had not risen from the Rhine to meet him. Nor was the enchantment at all dispelled when she began to sing, with a clear melodious voice, some popular German air, accompanying herself on the guitar, and, what was more extraordinarj', with English words, in which, however, a foreign accent was perceptiV)le. This was too much for Mr. Ledbury, who was always keenly ali\e to the power of female loveliness, and his spectacled eyes twinkled through the smoke of his pipe \\'n\\ tlie deepest sentiment, until, with the com- bined efforts of the hock, the moon, and the music, he put it beyond all question that some baron's daughter upon the Rhine had fallen in love with him, as she saw him pass in the steamer from her father's castle, and had taken this method of disclosing her attachment. With this impression he was somewhat surprised when, upon the conclusion ■of the song, the girl came close up to the window, and said in a subdued mysterious tone — "Does Monsieur wish to buy any fine eau de Cologne or cigars? " "None, my love," replied Jack in a very oft-hand manner, as he produced a fiill tobacco-Wa;/((e, in size somewhat less than a ■carpet-bag. 294 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. " Any gloves, brooches, kirschwasser ? " again asked the singer. "No, no, you gipsy, none !" returned Jack. "There, run along," he continued, thro\\ing her some small coin; "go on to the 'Geant.' They have no end of travellers there, and all English — think of that ! " As the girl smiled at Johnson, and withdrew, Mr. Ledbury's face crimsoned with shame and confusion at the very unceremonious manner in which he imagined she had been treated by his friend. For he had imagined that her appeal to his commercial generosity was- a delicate ruse to obtain an interview ; and when he saw Jack answer her in such an unconcerned manner, and gave her such a trifling amount of coin, he felt assured that her feelings were deeply hurt, and that she had left in painful humility. So, without saying a word, he started up from the table, and hurrying out of the room with a precipitation which at first gave the people of the hotel some slight reason for thinking that his ideas of payment for what he had regaled upon were rather indistinct, he followed the fair 7ninnesinf]er, whom he overtook just as she was entering the adjacent hotel, leaving Jack Johnson completely amazed at his excitement. But the spirit of chivalry held an equal sway over Mr. Ledbury's actions with the spirit of wine ; and the combination of the two, acting upon his natural bland and gentle idiosyncrasy, led him to the commission of most of those daring feats of benevolent gallantry which it has been our happy lot to chronicle. He returned in a minute or two in a very volcanic state, with his head looking as if it only wanted a knock to make it go off with a bang, like a detonating ball, and evidentlj' upon the point of communicating some most important fact to his friend, as he exclaimed — " I say, Jack ; what do you think ? " " Weil, I can't say," replied Johnson ; " what is it?" " She has promised," said Mr. Ledbury, impressively, " to sell me " "I don't doubt it," interrupted Johnson. "Now, Jack, you always make such fun of things! She has promised to sell me some real eau de Cologne at half-price, if I will ga for it after dark ; and where to, do j^ou sujjpose ? " " I don't know," said Jack ; " perhaps where glory waits thee, or to- Bath. " " No, no," i-eplicd Titus, half vexed ; " she will meet me — there ! " And with a very melodramatic expression he pointed to the opposite side of the river, wlieie the mighty batteries were snarling from the mountain, adding lieroically — " There ! in the fortress of Ehrenbreitstcin ! " "Why, you are cracked, Leddy," said Johnson; "what are yoa talking about ? You are not going anywhere, surely ? " "Of course I am," returned Mr. Ledbury, somewhat offended. "Think of the romance of the arl venture— an appointment on the Rhine, and at Ehrenbreitstcin ! It's beautiful ! I shall go, and you shall accompany me.' THE ATTACK. 295 Johnson replied — "If I do I'm " — and here he hesitated an instant — "I'm only anxious to see that you get into no scrape. I think you had better not go." " Excuse me, Jack," answered Titus. " I would not lose the adventure for the world, and you shall share it. " And Jack, in return, seeing that his friend was bent upon doing something foolish, from which nothing would turn him, consented to accompany him ; then, having finished their wine, they strolled towards the Moselle Bridge, and hiring a small boat, amused them- selves with rowing about the river, as well as they were able with the rude oars, until the time which Mr. Ledbury had fixed for his appointment. At length the last glow of sunset, which had long lingered on the horizon, faded away behind the purple hills, and darkness crept over the Rhine. Lights appeared in the windows of the town, as well as in some of the lazy craft that were lying against the quays, the reflec- tion quivering in long vivid lines upon the tranquil river. Everything was hushed and silent, except the occasional roll of drums upon the opposite side, or the cry of warning from the boatman as he guided his apparently endless raft of wood down the stream. " I think we will go now," said Mr. Ledbury ; " it is about the time. We can pull across, and that will save us going round by tlie bridge of boats." Resolved to humour him in whatever he wished, Jack followed all his directions, and in a few minutes their craft touched the foot of th« mountain on the other side, immediately under the fortress. Possiblj'^, at this minute, if Johnson had proposed to return, Mr. Ledbury would have offered no opposition, but, as it was, he stepped on shore with an air of great bravery. " I know where to go," said Titus. " She told me I should see a light in one of the windows of the battlements." " Now, don't be a fool, Leddy, and spend all your money in trash," courteously observed his friend. "No, no. Jack. You had better wait here to mind the boat. Good-bye — I shan't be long." And beginning to ascend the bank, which at this precise spot rose rather abruptly from the water, Mr. Ledbury contrived to whistle some random notes of an impromptu air, indicative of determination and the absence of fear, whilst Jack sat down quietly in the boat wondering what Titus intended doing, to await his return. There was very little light to enable him to see his way clearly, but Mr. Ledbury, sustaining himself by the idea that he was a spirited young traveller carrying out an adventure of gallantry, scrambled up the mountain immediately under the fortified walls, towards where he imagined the beacon was shining for his guidance. Now and then, to be sure, he felt slightly nervous, in spite of all his romance, as he heard the passing tread of the sentinel upon the ramparts over his head, or found himself unexpectedly in the exact line of some mighty })iece of ordnance that bristled from the battlements ; but he .soon got 296 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. beyond these, going higher and higher, until he looked down upon the lamps of Cobleutz and its opposite suburb, far beneath him, and glistening in the river. At last he came to the window, or rather the glazed embrasure at which, to all appearances the fair contrabandist was to meet him- As he listened intently, he could plainly hear the notes of a guitar in the interior of the building, which was a small fort, connecting two curtains of the works. But he would not trust himself to make any vocal sign, so he scraped together a handful of dust, and threw it against the window, which was a little higher than his head. There was no reply, nor did the music cease, and Mr. Ledbury, thinking his projectile was not forcible enough, collected a few small pebbles, and again cast them at the pane, one of somewhat larger dimensions than the rest being included by mistake in the handful, which immediately cracked the glass. But the attempt had succeeded, for the guitar was suddenly hushed, and a shadow passed quickly across the window. "She comes!" thought Titus, approaching closer to the window by climbing up the steep slope of turf that led to it. And placing both his hands upon the sill, he raised his head to a level with the glass, when tlie casement opened, and he found himself face to face, not with the lady-minstrel he had expected, but a gaunt Prussian soldier, of terrific aspect and cast-iron visage, who savagely demanded in German^ •' Who went there ?" It needed no effort of volition on the part of Mr. Ledbury to loose his hold of the sill, for he dropped down the instant his gaze encountered that of the terrible stranger as if he had been shot ; and coming upon the slanting bank, of course lost his footing as well, and bundled down into the pathway. The sentinel, who ought to have been upon guard outside the building, but had been attracted by tlie music of tlie guitar-girl — for she was there, belonging in reality to the canteen — in the surprise of the instant, and before anything could be explained, seized his firelock, and discharged it out of the window to give the alarm, not knowing but that Mr. Ledbury might be the chief of some revolutionary party intending to attaoic the fortress. Titus who expected nothing of a milder character tlian the simultaneous explosion of fifty mines immediately beneath him, started up at tiie report ; and as it was answered from above, set off down the steep track as fast as his long legs would carry him. But, had a chain of wires connected everybody in the fortress with a voltaic battery, the alarm could not have been more sudden and general ; for before the echoes of the first gun had well died away, a roll of drums broke out, apparently from every direction at once, beating an alarm ; and a confusion of hoarse and awful challenges rang from every angle of the fortilications. On went Mr. Ledbury, like an avalanche, driving the gravel before him with his heels, until the big stones bounded down tlie hill, bring- ing fifty others along with them, which increased the general clatter. On he went, taking such strides that those remarkable boots of the fairy chronicles would have dwindled into ordinay highlows by RETREA T. 297 comparison ; and onvvai'd, to all appearance directly at his heels came the tumult after him. In what direction he was flying he had not the least shade of an idea — he only knew that he was going down the mountain, and tliat the descent must eventually lead him to the river. Which it did most literally. The distance was nearly accom- plished, and ten strides more would have brought him to tlie bottom of the hill, when a tuft of turf, upon which he placed his foot, gave way beneath him, and he was directly thrown off his legs. But this ■did not arrest his progress, for the declivity was very rapid ; and after sliding a short distance upon his back, he began to roll head over heels down the slope with a fearful velocity that no living clown could have contested in the most bustling physical pantomime ever put upon the stage. Every effort to stop his course was in vain. He went on, turning all ways at once, like a roulette ball, until the last piece of ground was cleared, and, with a final wild clutch at nothing, he threw a concluding somersault, and plunged into the dark cold waters of the Rhine, which roared in his ears with deafening riot as he sank directly to the very bottom of the river — a matter of six or seven feet in depth. He never knew precisely what followed ; but, adapting a favourite passage from various novelists whose works he had read, he was heard to say, "that it was one of those moments when the sensations of years are concentrated into the intensity of a single second." Jack Johnson, upon the very first alarm, had pushed the boat just away from the shore, to be ready for a start ; and to one of the rakes used to propel it was Titus principally indebted for his preservation — being fished up thereby almost as soon as he touched the water, for he had luckily fallen in close to the spot he started from. They immediately crossed the river, and succeeded in landing quietly at the foot of the Moselle Bridge, whilst the alarms were still rapidly following one another at the fortress. As the distance in- creased between the scene of tumult and themselves, Mr. Ledbury somewhat regained his intellects, and considering a good retreat next to a downright victory, almost imagined that he had been performing a, glorious feat of courageous enterprise. As soon as as they touched the opposite shore, they settled for tlie craft with the owner, who had "been waiting about some little time to receive them ; and then, for fear Mr. Ledbui-y's saturated appearance should attract the attention of the bystanders who were now thronging tlie quays and discussing the probable cause of the excitement at Ehrenbreitstein, they returned directly to their hotel. Here Titus immediately proceeded to his sleeping apartment, and went to bed, leaving Jack to superintend the drying of his garments — the knapsack not allowing an entire change of clothes — wiiich duty his friend divided with paying compliments to the Pretty French souhretle of a family that was staying in the house, and leai'ning from the cook the best way of dressing potnmes de terre frites, im which he intended to instruct Emma on his return, and give old Mr. Ledbury reason to imagine that he was of a domestic turn of mind. To avoid all unpleasantry, and perhaps detention, they determined 298 THE ADVENTURES OF Mil. LEDBURY. to leave Coblentz early the next morning. And Titus also made a re- solve not to liave anything more to say to singing smugglers of the softer sex, although his tirst adventure witli one had terminated by convincing him of a fact upon which he had previously entertained some doul)ts : and this was, that the bottom of the Rhine is not a world of crystal caves and lovely nymphs, as legends had heretofore taught him to believe ; but rather a bed of black mud, relieved by mosaics of old shoes and dilapidated pipkins. CHAPTER XLIX. MR. DE ROBIXSOy JUNIOR HAS AN INTKRVIKW W ITH MR. PRODGER3. Everything in London indicated that the train of gaiety wliich had characterised the last four months was rapidly approaching its terminus, and the close of the season was arriving. One by one the shutters closed their gilded panels upon the drawing-rooms of the far- west dwellings, and the blinds were enveloped in aged copies of the morning newspapers. The Opera advertised its last night, and tliea its stars dispersed to all points of the compass, wherever the eiiga'^e- ments chanced to be most magnetic, whilst the foreign gentlenren forsook the glowing pavements of Regent Street and Leicester Square for the unknown liaunts of northern suburbs, wherein they put oti' the toilet of display for the costume ot obligation, reversing the order of entomological existence, and changing at once from the butterfly to the grub. The chain of society M'as now broken, and its limbs scattered far and wide. The inhabitants of Bel^rave Square removed to Florence and Naples, whilst tliose of Finsbury Circus sought the lodgings and peimon-i of Margate or Boulogne. The moors, tlie lakes, the vine- yards, and the glaziers each found their visitors ; some retired to tlieir own country residences ; others liired cottages on a line of railway. Lower down in tlie school of migration, people wishing to be "out of town " — an indefinite locality, which answers equally as well to Rome as Ramsgate— took simple lodgings within the transit of an onniibus ; and even melting clerks, who knew not what a long vacation meant, after being caged from ten to four in some dark office of tiie city- lanes, hopped from their perches as tlic clock struck the looked-for hour, and rushed to the terminus of the iJhiokwall Railway, where plenty of rope was allowed them to arrive at Brunswick Wharf id time for a CJravesend steamer, that should at last deposit them upoo the welcome piers of Terrace, Town, or liosherville. A THAMES VILLA. 299 Of course the De Robiusons, of Eaton Place, were amongst the .'first to leave London ; not so much from want of change, or because thej' liked the country, as for the reason that other people did so. Mr. De Pkobinson was a fashionable lawyer ; and, according to the usual custom of lawyers, from the day when that celebrated member of the -profession — albeit an anonymous one — swallowed the oyster wliich his clients were contending for, was now benefiting himself by the dis- ;putes of others. For whilst two of his employers were waiting for his decision respecting a furnished cottage, situate'l in Chancery and Surrey, he thought the best thing that could be done was for his family to inhabit it themselves, by which means everything would be nicely taken care of, and kept well aired. And so, although Mrs. De Robinson and her daughter talked much of Wiesbaden, and more about Interlacheu. they found economy finally triumph over inclina- tion, and their Continental dreams awaken to the realities of a country villa-residence on the banks of the Thames, within a lunch- ^nd-dinner-ere/r'ac^e drive of Cluinpley. And here, after some little demur, they finally settled — young De Robinson coming to the con- clusion that it was not so bad after all, because, being upon the river, he could invite those of the Leander men whom he knew to pull up and see him. Their family circle was also increased by Mrs. De Robinson's aunt, Mrs. Waddleston, who was staying for a short period with them. She was a very remarkable personage, and almost tempted one to believe in the existence of cast-iron old ladies, so tough and healthy was her constitution. She had no fixed place of residence, but lived chiefly in steam-boats, first-class carriages, and hotels, occasionally stay- ing with her friends, and sometimes disappearing from their eyes for months together ; after which she would once more become visible, and exhibit curiosities that she had brought from the Pyrenees or Norway, as well as having been half-way to the top of Mont Blanc, in Savoy, and very nearly to the bottom of the coal-mines at White- Jiaven. She knew the Red Book by heart, and the genealogy of almost every person who had one in the Court Guide, and was upon speaking terms with several great people, which made the De Robinsons pay her every attention. But besides this, she was very •well off, whicli chiefly accounted for her independence, keeping her carriage independently of her travelling, and never paying taxes for it, although the collectors were constantly dodging her about all over the United Kingdom, to see where she lived, without ever finding out. And, above all, having no i-elatives so near as the De Robinsons, who expected to receive all her property, they evinced their gratitude in anticipation by the most atfectionate devotion — listening to all her long stories, and admiring everything she pro- posed. They had been settled some weeks, and everybody had called upon ■them — the medicallegion of the neighbourhood being, of course, the first to leave their cards, then the petty gentilities, and lastly tlie cautioua ones, who hung back from making any advances towards familiarity until they saw who and what the new-comers were — when Mrs. De 300 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. Robinson thought it was time to return the numerous invitations with which they had been favoured. As the cottage was comparatively & small one, a set evening party was out of the question, and it was there- fore arranged that they siiould give a ffiM champrjre in the grounds, whicli were tolerably extensive, when many more guests could be ac- connnodated. And there were a great many to be asked, their connec- tions being already very extensive, since nobodies in town became very great people in the country. We do not mean to say exactly that the I)e Robinsons were nobodies, for their connections wei-e respectable, and people knew their relations ; but they were nothing beyond the common sphere of middling London society, although they tried very hard to soar abuve it ; but this is seldom a pi-ofitable task, for. Icarus- like, the nearer the pseudo-votaries of fashion approach the sun, the more treacherous doe? the wax become that constitutes the body of their wings, and when the fall does take place, it is sudden and violent indeed. Invitations are not often refused in the country, and nearly every- body accepted, including Mrs. Ledbury and Emma, who were both at Clumpley, and were to be driven over by Mr. John Wilmer. And then it liecame incumbent upon the De Robinsons to lay down some schemes for the amusement of their guests, at which council all the family assisted, including Mrs. Waddleston. " Of course there must be Chinese lamps and fireworks," observed the old lady authoritatively. "Lord Fulham always has lamps and fireworks." " Oil ! fireworks, of course," said J'oung De Robinson ; " and, I should say, ballet-girls." "Eustace!" exclaimed Mrs. Waddleston, in tones of amazement, " what are you talking about? " "I know, aunt," replied the young gentleman: "'groups of hallerine to promenade tlie grounds,' as they used to say in the bills of the Vauxhall masquerades ; you never saw them, though, when you got in. I beg your pardon for the interruption." "I do not see the policy of having any young dancing females," said Mrs. De Robinson. "But you m(w/' have some strange people dispersed about," replied her son. " It will be very flat if you do not." " Yes ; there you are right," observed Mrs. Waddleston. "When I was at the fete given at the Countess Tigeoni's, several wonderful characters were engaged. I remember there was a wizard, who con- jureil all the plate from the table in the marquee." "The dilhculty is to find out where these individuals live," said Mrs. De Robins the legitimate thing, and no mistake." " Have you been a conjurer long?" inquired Mr. Tweak, "A necromancer, sir, all my life," was the answer, "and my father before me ; only he came the common lianky-panky line more tluvn the higli delusions. I may say that I was born with a pack of cards in my hand." "What an interesting case to have attended!" observed ^^^. Prodgers over his pipe. " Are those the identicals?" A BUBAL SPOT. 307 One of those remarkable anomalies of nature which are ever rising to perplex the physiologist," remarked Mr. Tweak, gravely, and •quoting from one of his lectures. "I should say those cards were worth any money for a museum. " 'I No, sir, — about fifteen pence," answered the Wizard, innocently, whilst he pinched the cards together, and then made them fly from his hand, one after the other, to dififerent parts of the interior. The caravan went leisurely on, now creeping up a steep hill, anon winding round the boundaries of a park, and then turning off from the highway into some fresh green lane, between fields where the yellow sheaves of corn were drying in the sun, or being carted in creaking waggons to the homestead. Mr. Tweak, at every town they arrived at, was nervously anxious to begin their exhibition ; but Prodgers said that they were not yet far enough away from the metropolis to unfold their wonders to the public. They stopped at Kingston to lunch, where they also took up the fantoccini men and their company of flexible puppets ; and then crossing the Thames and passing Hampton Court, finally arrived at the first of those pleasant fishing villages which border the Thames beyond this place, at one of which Mr. Prodgers determined to make his first appearance upon any show in the character of its master. CHAPTER LI. THE KES0LT OF MR. PRODGERS' ITIXF.RANT SPECULATION. It was a fine bright afternoon when the Caravan of Wonders halted, 'for the exhibition of its marvellous appurtenances. The facetious lessee of the concern for the time being had selected the centre of a rural village — a quiet, secluded, sleepydooking place, with fine old trees rising up among the houses here and tliere, in their leafy mantles of waving foliage, and usually overtopping the humble cottages they sheltered ; except in front of the alehouse, where the huge lime that stood at the door looked as if it had grown against the imaginary ceil- ing, and, not being able to shoot upwards, had spread out in proportion, for the express purpose of forming a summer lounging-place for thirsty travellers. It was also very hot. The most argumentative individual would not have contradicted the fact. So thought the waggoner, who was asleep beneath the tilt of his waggon, whilst his horses dreamily mum- bled some warm hay from a rack, or coquetted with the tepid water in the trough ; so thought the host, who was smoking a pipe in his shirt-sleeves, exactly in the centre of the entrance to his inn, as much 308 THE ADVENTURES OF MB. LEDBURY. as to say it was of no use disturbing him by going in, for he was too hot to attend to anybody ; so thought the cows, as they stood knee- deep in water, vainly endeavouring to cliastise impertinent (lies with their tails. And so, doubtless, thought ^Ir. Prodgers and his fellow- student, who were sitting on the shelving turf at the side of tlie river, pelting small pebbles at a water-lily that trembled in the sunlight on the surface of the stream, whose rippling harmonised well with the crackling of tlie seed-pods of the wild plants upon the bank, and pro- duced the only sounds that broke tlie afternoon stillness ; except the occasional wincing of the two horses besieged by insects who were cropping the grass at the side of the show, and now and then rattled their patchwork harness in so restless a manner as to call forth a pass- ing reproof from their owner. The mystic Crindle was still overlooking his apparatus, whilst the talented siffleur had lighted an ancient pipe, and now reposed at full length beneath some trees, apparently taking a few gratuitous lessons in his art from the birds overhead. The Children of Caucasus, together with the Punch and fantoccini, were ensconced in the tap-room. of the inn ; and ^Ir. Prodgers, having come to the termination of a tankard of home-brewed ale, in the discussion of which Mr. Tweak had ably assisted, now turned towards the house, and shouted for the attendant. The host, nothing disturbed, quietly telegraphed the boy from within, and he leisurely approached the customers. "Now, young pot-hook," said Mr. Podgers, " stir yourself a little, and bring me a goblet of cool half-and-half." The boy, as soon as he clearly understood what a goblet meant, took the empty measure, and in a few instants returned witli it ; carry- ing it, howe\er, very leisurely over the small patch of grass between the inn and the ri^■er. "I hope this is good," observed Mr. Tweak. "You ought always to put the ale in first for fear the porter shouldn't leave room for it — it's very apt to behave so. " As the boy retired he was hailed by the driver of the caravan for some additional refection. " Now, look sharp, you small go of humanity," said that individual, who was knov\n to his very particular acquaintances as Joe Bantam. " You seems too tender to move." "It's so precious hot!" said the boy, with a sigh, indulging in a pei'formance with his mouth, analogous to blowing ofY nothing from the tij) of his nose. " Suppose you had to be druv about such weather as this, how would you feel ? " " Well, I likes that, anyhow, my half-pint," returned the other. *' What have my pardners got to do to-night, I should like to know ? " 'Ihe boy expressed his inability to comply with Mr. Bantam's desire for information. "Well, wait, and you'll find out ; but don't complain of work. I comes from Shollield ; look at the boys there. They works, they does. Look at that tcaboard you are carrying. Do you see it ? " As the article in question was about two feet square, it coidd not very well escape the boy's observation. THE TROUPE. 309^ '* Now, all them flj'ing heffuts was painted by babbies in cradles : the hinfant school does it. Was you ever in a hinfant school ? " "Nobody ever taught nie nothink," answered the boy. "I should think so," rejoined Mr. Bantam; "you looks like it. Now, the Sheffield children knows everytliing. Their veiy playthings is screw-taps and hand-vices ; and they gives 'em riveting-hammers, to- keep 'em quiet, instead of lollipops. There — be off, and look after your customers, for our gentlemen is coming up." And indeed, as the afternoon M'as advancing, Mr. Prodgers con- templated commencing tlieir performance ; and now left the river side- for the purpose of collecting his troupe. The Circassians were sum- moned from the tap-room, wherein they had been completing tiieir toilets, and obeyed his orders. The leader of the party, and strongest man, who rejoiced in the Caspian name of Bill, was a fine study for a. sample of his class. He was attired in an old great-coat, in wliicL string, pins, and buttons struggled to possess the greatest power of attachment ; whilst below the skirts, wliich long wear had vandyked' and scalloped in its own peculiar fashion, there appeared a pair of legs, evidentlj'^ destitute of trousers, but encased in cotton tights coarsely pinked. But these legs were not like human legs in ordinary, whicli are usually endowed with one fixed metliod of action : on the contrary, all the joints appeared to be formed upon the principle of the ball and socket rather than the hinge ; and nobody would have been in the least degree astonished to have seen the feet turn round upon their axes, and go heels forward ; or the whole limbs assume that position of indefinite action which a limp sawdust doll exhibits when- made to stand upon its legs. One of his companions was similarly attired, although younger, and of slighter build : his head being covered with an old seal-skin cap, whilst a considerable aperture in the- shoulder of hif upper garment betrayed a pair of red braces, covered with lai'ge tarnished spangles, to the eyes of curious beholders. The other was evidently the senior of the three, and of that pinched up and spare appearance which almost tempted one to believe that he had been compelled by intense poverty to dispose of his inside at a great sacri- fice, without the power of ever redeeming it. Notwithstanding the heat of the (Uiy, he was enveloped in a dingy cloak, which he termed his "rockelo," of a faded puce colour, shot with dust; and this he kept wrapped around him, although his painted face bore evidence that he was considered to be the grotesque, or clown, of the- party. " Well, my man," asked Mr. Prodgers, as he advanced, " how are things looking ? " " tjp-ish," was the reply : " they are talking about us in the inn, and I think we shall do. It's a pity that old grey mare isn't safe to ride in a ring. " "Why so?" " Because Tom could get up an act of horsemanship," replied the Caucasian, pointing to their youngest companion. " He has done the Courier of Peterbburg and the Drunken Hussar often, when he was with Samwell's lot." 310 THE ADVENTURES OF Mil. LEDBUnY. "You'd do something a good deal more curious than them, if you was to get on that old mare, I reckon," observed Mr. Bantam. And this indirect aspersion upon the trustworthy character of one of his stud immediately settled the question. At last the hour arrived when Mr. Prodgers thought it time to open his caravan to the public ; and having directed the younger of the Caucasian children to hoist up the pictures, he set the (lircctors of the fantoccini outside, to attract the audience by a gratuitous exhibition ; and one of them also formed the ochestra. It is true tlie band was not extensive, being composed of a drum and pandean pipes alone ; but much effect was produced by the ingenuity of the performer, who played first one and then the other, and then both together, beating tlie drum \evy hard when his breatli failed him for the pipes. So tliat altogether it might be considered rather efi'ective than otiierwise, and perfectly answered the object of drawing a large assemblage of the villagers together. The speech which Mr. Piodgcrs addressed to the spectators was modelled after the most celebrated specimens of travelling-show declamation — a school of oratory to which he had paid great attention; And he was ably assisted by the grotesque, who drew down shouts of laugliter by his interpolations, in which Mr. Tweak heartily joined ; albeit he felt somewhat nervous, and not altogether witliout apprehen- sion lest any of the Board of Examiners at the College of Surgeons «houlii passed tliat way by chance, and see how they \\ ere engaged. " We shall commence ladies and gentlemen," said Mr. Prodgers, *'■ with the wonderful feats of the Children of Caucasus, who will go tlirough a variety of posturing, balancing, and ground and lofty tumbling ; as mcU as trampolines and somersaults." " As well as trampling on the sunset," observed the merrj'man. " And the celebrated dance which was never performed by the great dancers at Her Majesty's Opera in London, on account of its being too difficult." " That's a lie ! " observed the clown of Caucasus, in a confidential manner to the crowd. " What did you say, sir? " asked Mr. Prodgers, with a stern air of authority. " I said they didn't like to try," replied the grotesque, with much simplicity. "Beautiful Prodgers!" exclaimed Mr. Tweak, in a demi-voice from tiie doorway. "One would thing you had taken lessons in circus etiquette, for many years, of Widdecomb."' " After wliich," continued Mr. Podgers, kicking back liis leg to imply tliat Mr. Tweak's compliment was appreciated, but that he was not to pay any more, "after which the celebrated sitllour, who is on terms of chatting familiarity with every singing-bird in the world, will delight his hearers. The whole to conclude with the mystic delu- sions of the unapproachable wizard of every point in the compass. Admission, ladies and gentlemen, sixpence each j servants and work- ing people, threepence." At tlie conclusion of this address the band struck uj) a lively air, SUCCESS. 311 and the company began to ascend the steps. Mr. Tweak experienced: at times some little ditficulty in drawing the line between the sixpenny- classes and their inferiors, but at last this was happily arranged ; antii then the entertainments commenced to an audience of nine-and-six- pence, who were highly delighted, although the height of the caravan did not admit of the lofty tumbling advertised, for which an apology was made by the manager. When the performance was over, a fresh batch came forward, and then another, and another, until the final close. Mr. Tweak announced to his friend the gratifying intelligence that there was upwards of five pounds in the treasury : a sum which exceeded their most sanguine expectations. As Mr. Prodgers was requested by the members of his troupe to- allow them to turn the interior of the caravan into a many-bedded room without beds, for that night only, he bespoke the best chamber the inn afforded for himself and Mr. Tweak ; as well as an excellent supper of new-laid eggs and home-cured bacon, in which dish ended the host's assurance that they could have anything they pleased to- order. They were received at the inn with the most marked deference^ being regarded as persons of almost supernatural qualities ; and attended to with the greatest alacrity by the boy, whose activity increased as the temperature of the day diminished, And when they finally retired for the night, somewhat fatigued with their exertions,. upon gazing from their bedroom window, which overlooked the green^ a light was still burning in the interior of the caravan ; and occa- sionally sounds of merriment burst from the interior, through the still- ness of the country evening, which proved that their talented company, in the absence of anything to lie down upon, had determined upon making a night of it. " Well, Tweaky," exclaimed Mr. Prodgers to his companion, aa he unpacked his toilet appointments from his nightcap, which he generally used as a carpet-bag on his excursions, "I think we have done pretty well to day. It almost tempts me to give up the study of medicine and take to conjuring. I dont see much difference between the two." "Not much," said Mr. Tweak sleepily. "Good-night." "Good -night," replied Mr. Prodgers, yawning. "lam very tired, and shall have no great wish to unbutton my eyelids and get up to-morrow morning." And then all was still ; whilst Nature unfolded her own mystic wonders to the quiet night, with no witnesses except the stars, who were winking at the silent workings of her laboratory, like the eyes of an old gentleman on the bottom row of the Pi.oyal Institution, when aa experiment of unusual interest defies his conjectures. -312 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. CHAPTER LII. MRS DE Robinson's fete champetre But if all was thus tranquil at the village, the scene was very different at Mrs. De Robinson's villa residence on the Thames. For there the preparations for the gaiety of the morrow kept everybody wide awake until an advanced hour ; and whilst the servants were occupied in their respective departments, Miss De Robinson was cutting out water-lilies in silver paper, under the direction of Mrs. Waddleston, which were to be pinned upon bungs and set floating upon the river, restrained from going down the stream to the next lock by small plummets of curled lead. Mr. De Robinson junior had cleared out tlie summer-house ; and having manufactured a hermit, had seated him 'therein, deeply engaged in studying the daybook of an insolvent :grocer, which he procured from his fatlier's office ; and, this finished, ■he was arranghig small hooks about tlie trees for the illuminated Jamjis, and putting the last touclies to a grand pictorial representation •of Hong Kong, with Mount Vesuvius in the background. This, ■elaborate production had been built up by liim, with tlie assistance of ■an under scene-painter, brought from town for the purpose, and was to be the cheval de hataille of the evening, forming the scene of the pyro- technic exliibiticn. It was constructed, in imitation of more extensive views in the metropolis, upon the edge of the pond, in the field adjoin- ing the lawn ; aud when finished Mr. De Robinson junior, having lighted some bits of wax-candle, sat upon the grass and looked at it, until he had well-nigh fallen asleep, in a mingled state of fatigue and admiration. As Mr. De Robinson's barometer, upon which he set great value, usually prognosticated the weather inversel}', everybody retired to bed very joyously upon hearing that the glass was very low, feeling assured that such a condition foretold a lovely day on the morrow ; and when the morrow arrived, the bright sun confirmed their expectations ; nor was there a cloud in the sky that looked at all as if it meant mischief, to induce that unjileasant suspense which usually attends all out-of- door entertainments in England. The guests had not been asked to assemble before 'ree o'clock ; but shortly after noon Mr. Prodgers made his appearance with liis talented company ; and, having been introduced to the ladies of the liouse, proceeded, with young De Robinson, to assign cacli to his station, and tell them what they were to do. To the wizard was appro- priated a small marquee ujion the lawn, where he was to conjure per- petually ; the Punch and fantoccini were placed at the end of an avenue ; the silUeur, who had arrayed himself in an elegant natit)ual costume of green baize trimmed with shoe strings, was to walk about amongst the guests ; and the Children of Caucasus, wlien called upon, were to exhibit on a small plot of grass in front of a light waggon, which, decorated with boughs, formed the orchestra. And, lastly, Mr. THE FETE. 313^ De Robinson led Messrs. Prodgers and Tweak towards his view of Hong Kong, and explained its mechanism, in which he should take the liberty of requesting them to assist him at night. All these preliminaries were scarcely settled when the visitors began to arrive. Many of them came down by water, and were received with salutes from a small battery of brass cannon placed upon the lawn,, which one of the Leanders of Mr. De Robinson's acquaintance had borrowed from a fast man who kept a yacht ; and these were responded to with cheers from the little boys in the road, who clung to tlie- palings like bees, peeping over into the garden, and lost in admiration at the, to them, mystic preparations. The company was received by Mrs. De Robinson and her daughter in an arbour of the choicest exotics, hired from the adjacent nursery ; and then the old ladies were handed over to the care of Mrs. Waddleston, who entertained them with anecdotes of great people, whilst the young ones promenaded about the grounds, and exclaimed, "Oh, how exceedingly pretty !" to everything they saw. The refreshments were supplied from the window of the dining-room, which made a species of bar on a genteel scale ; and after a little time the visitors dispersed about, in groups of six or seven, beneath the trees, looking like the garden of Boccaccio seen through a multiplying glass, and forming such tableaux as Watteau would most probably have painted, had he lived now instead of when he did. Amongst these latter was Emma Ledbury, looking so radiant and pretty that there was only one opinion as to her being the belle of the assemblage. Indeed, a very elegant gentleman, who had driven down from town in his cab, and took care to let everybody know it, was so- struck with her that he scarcely knew where to find compliments enough to express his admiration ; until a few of Emma's sensible replies, purposely given in a very matter-of-fact and natural manner, disconcerted him to that degree that he quietly lounged away, and en- deavoured to create a greater sensation in other quarters. And when he was gone, a great many young men requested an introduction to her, in the hope of establishing themselves in her favour. But Emma saw nobody amongst them who, in her opinion, at all came up to Jack ; and so she cut all their fine speeches so very short that one bj' one they fell off from her train, putting her down as a very strange girl, and being perfectly unable to make out how Mr. Prodgers finally engrossed her conversation. For Mr. Prodgers was not a cavalier of the first water in the eyes of the elegant gentlemen, who wondered at the patronage he received ; but Emma knew that he had been Jack's friend during his abode with Mr. Rawkins, and this was quite enough to make her think more of him than anybody else there. And, in turn, he was so delighted at being thus noticed, that all the wonderful people under his care were quite forgotten, and allowed to get through their perfor- mances as M-ell as they could. The professionals, however, acquitted themselves very creditably, and some of the guests even contributed to the festivities of the day, especially Master Cripps and his sisters, who performed a scene descriptive of Swiss life on the mountains, and were loudly applaiided. 314 THE ADVEyrUBES OF MB. LEDBURY. by the large circle of surrounding spectators. The Misses Cripps were seated at a grand piano (which was wheeled out into the garden for tlie purpose), in very large straw hats, and first performed a duet ■expressive of a snow-storm, the idea being conveyed by keeping the low notes in a state of unceasing rumble ; after which, in the characters of niotlier and daughter, they expressed their fears that :some merry Swiss boy, named Edwin, in whose welfare they felt an linterest, would get snowed up on the mountains ; the anxiety of the •mother being much increased by her consciousness that he was from home, and her ignorance of where he lingered. But presently, to their surprise and gratification, the notes of a flageolet were heard from behind the contiguous arbour, and tiie j'oung ladies both ex- claimed, "Hark! hark! what sounds are those I hear? "as if the flageolet had been an unknown instrument, and perfectly beyond their most acute conjectures as to its acoustic organisation. But the mystery was soon solveil l)y the appearance of Master 'Cripps, who danced a livel}' measure to the symphony of the piano, and shot out from behind the arbour, amidst the " Bravoes ! " of the bystanders. Master Cripps was attired in a pair of cotton drawers, tied with blue ribands at the knees, as also were his shirt-sleeves above •and below tlie elbows, after the most approved style of peasants dwelling in Helvetia's mountain-bowers, and young rustics in tolerably comfort- able circumstances, like Lothair and Klvino. Besides this. Master Cripps had on glazed pumps, and had also put his feet through a pair ■of mittens, which he had pulled round the calves of his legs, the whole ■costume being strikingly characteristic of humble Swiss life, and peculiarly adapted for leaving tlie wearer perfectly at his ease in the midst of glaciers and snow-drifts, and allowing that free play of the limbs which the chase of the chamois calls forth. Mrs. Waddleston was delighted, and took occasion to inform those within hearing that she had accompanied the Marquis of Hej'down through Switzerland, • and a great way beyond it, during his late tour (which had created so great a sensation in the upper circles that now no traveller's trunk was without it, firmly pasted to the interior), and consequently could •bear witness to the vividness of the personation. And she also regretted that the marquis was not present : for, the De Robinson villa being on the water-side, he would possibly have condescended •to have shown the company how to set the Thames on fire, which he had more than once hinted at his ])ower of being able to accomplish :in that great work. P]mnia Ludliury, who was standing very near to her, leaning on the arm of Mr. I'rodgers, heard this ; but little knew that Jack and Titus were in his lordship's companj' at that very time, many hundred miles away. Master Cii|)i)s soon relieved the anxiety of his fond relatives by telling them that he had nuncly been detained by some indefinite fair — a merry-making, not a female — and had brought them home a ipresent therefrom. This was very elegant, being a rosette with streamers, formed by tricolour ribands of that breadth known in commerce as " fourpenny " ; and, if his relatives kept a carriage, very -eerviceable to put on the left ear of the near horse, and produce tlie FIREWORKS. 3I> one-sided deception practised in a similar manner with respect to the^ black velvet trappings of funerals. The joy of the two ladies was very great to see Master Cripps return ; and then they all three joined in a glee, expressive of love, affection, and contentment, which concluded with great effect, amidst the thanks of the audience generally. And so things went on, everybody imagining that they were enjoying themselves, as is common upon such occasions. The conjurer performed d merveAUe ; the Causicans threw their legs over their shoulders, hopped like frogs, and stood upon one another's heads ; and the other wonders exerted themselves with the same success, under the superintendence of Mr. Tweak, who, having passed his apprenticeship in a remote county union, felt more at his ease amongst the saltimhavques than in the fashionable world. Some of the company looked on, others flirted, more went on the water, and the rest danced until evening arrived, and Mr. De Robinson prepared for his pyro- technic exhibition of Hong Kong, and the ascent of a fire-balloon. And whilst the company partook of tea and syllabub, he proceeded with Mr. Prodgers and his companion to make the necessary arrange- ments for the display. The scene was arranged, as we have described, upon the edge of a pond, in a paddock adjoining the lawn, and separated therefrom by an invisible fence. An additional effect was produced by the model of a junk, borrowed from the museum of the Clumpley Literary Institution, which floated in front : and there was also a whale, thaC was to spout real water from his blowholes by means of a mystic arrangement of subaqueous india-rubber tubes, in which the garden - engine was to be principally cencerned. At the edge of the pond wa* a shed filled with straw, not very Chinese or picturesque in its appear- ance ; but as it could not be moved, Mr. De Robinson had painted it with gay colours, and stuck a transparent lantern on tlie roof, politely furnished from the windows of the waggish tradesman who had christened his establishment '* The Clumpley T Mart." When all was ready, and it was sufficiently dark, Mr. De Robinson rang the dinner-bell to summon the company ; and, after a little delay, caused by moving the rout-seats from the house to the lawn, they were all arranged in order. Mrs. Waddleston took the centre place in the front row, that she might say out loud whether or not it was a resemblance of Vesuvius, and discover if Hong Kong appeared a pleasant place, as she had some thoughts of going there by herself next autumn. As soon as the guests had admired the effect of the illumination ■ lamps, which had been lighted up in their absence, and now sparkled amongst the trees like the jewelled fruit in the fairy gardens of Aladdin, the exhibition commenced by the band playing the overture to "The Bronze Horse." Then artfully constructed fireworks and coloured lights went off in all directions, revealing all the pretty faces of the young ladies, rendered doubly attractive and coquettish by the lace-bordered handkerchiefs they had tied, gipsy-fashion, over their heads. Mr. Prodgers, in his anxiety to light the fireworks, sometime* 31G THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. appeared high above the mountains of the background, like another Polyphemus, or spectre of the lirocken, until he died away in the darkness consequent upon the final bangs of the cases ; after which the fall of tlie rocket-sticks upon the heads of the company diverted their attention. The whale was a great " hit," as well as the outburst •of Vesuvius, wliich Mr. Tweak medically defined as an eruption, preceded by great sub-cutaneous inflammation of maroons and crackers. Then small cannon were discharged from the junk, and answered fi-om the batteries ; and finally a fire-balloon was announced as about to ascend. After the time necessary for its inflation with rariefied air, the Mont- .gollier slowly rose. But, as chance would have it, at this precise moment a breeze sprang up from the river, and, slightly tipping the balloon on one side, caused it to catch fire. The flame spread rapidly, and it fell blazing almost immediately upon the thatched top of the «traw shed, which, perfectly dry fium the heat of the weather, instantly ignited. The audience, who imagined the taking of Hong Kong was to be the chef-d'ceuvre of the spectacle, and conceived this a portion of it, applauded most vigorously, and cries of "Capital!" " Excellently managed ! " " Bravo ! " burst from all quarters. They were soon undeceived. In a terrible alarm at the unrehearsed eff"ect of his aeronautical undertaking, Mr. l)e Robinson junior tore tlic garden-engine away from its communication with the whale, and hurriedly giving the hose to Mr. Prodgers, told him to direct it at the flames, whilst he pumped with all his might, in an agony le.st the fire should communicate with the rest of the building. But Air. Prodgera, a little bewildered at the instant, was somewhat uncertain in his aim ; and the consetjuence was that the ne.Kt moment a deluge of water flew wildly in the faces of the audience, the smoke completely obscuring their position, drenching them to tlie skin, and paralysing the greater part of them with terror. Mr. I)e Robinson, who conceived their cries of alarm to arise from the fall of the burning embers amongst them, worked the engine harder than ever, until IMrs. Waddlcston, who was exposed to all its force, was as completely soaked as if she had tumbled into the river itself ; whilst the whcile company made a mad retreat, tumbling over the seats, shrieking and fainting in every dhection. As might be conceived, this untimclj' confrelemp.t very soon brought the festivities to a close. In vain did Mrs. De Robinson, as soon as she regained her reason, offer shawls and cloaks — the ladies were all anxious to get home as soon as they could ; in vain did Mr. I)e Robinson junior pump, and Mr. Prodgers guide tlie engine in all directions — the entire shed was burnt down, in spite of all their exertions. And, to complete the panic, the pari.sli engine, whicli luid l)een undisturbed for j-ears, came rattling up within five minutes, surrounded by a iiundred boys from tlie village, and forcibly took possession of the grounds, with all its attendants, amidst the confusion of the ditlerent carriages, whipping, jamming, and driving in for their 'Occupiers. This was too much. The guests hurried off in the greatest dismajv THE WIND UP. 317 seizing upon strange flies, and forcibly appropriating other people's vehicles to tliemselves, in their excitement. And, uhen all had departed, tlie Lady De Robinson went into hysterics ; Mrs. Waddle- ston declared her intention of lea\-ing the next morning, never to return, feeling assured that the insult was intended by her nephew, because she had set her face against the engagement of ballec-girls ; and Mr. De Robinson junior got rid of Mr. Prodgers and his company as soon as he could, and in the politest possible manner, promising to call upon him in town and settle everything connected wicli the fes- tival which had terminated so inauspiciously. CHAPTER LIII. LEDBC'RY AND JACK CONTINUE THEIR JOURXEY VV THE RHINE — THK LEGEND OF LURLEY. According to the determination of the previous evening, when Mr. Ledbury had so suddenly raised the seige of Elirenbreitstein, at half- past six the next morning lie was once more on board the steamboat, and, with his friend, again pursuing their course along the turbid waters of the Rhine. Titus felt rather nervous as he reflected on his precipitate retreat from the fortress ; and it was not until a turn in the river shut out the " broad stone of honour " from his view that he entirely recovered his self-possession. Several of their companions in the journey of the preceding day were on board, including the pensive gentleman, and the majority of the English tourists, who had stopped one night at Coblentz, fii-st, to say they had been there ; and secondly, to give an account of its prin- cipal curiosities, its manners, customs, and institutions, when they wrote a book on their return home, for which purpose they were all engaged in taking notes. Jack and Ledbury occupied their old posi- tions on the tubs at the head of the boat, and were soon engaged iu chat with those around them concerning the different localities upon the banks. As thej^ arrived off Boppart, and the vessel stopped for a few minutes to take in passengers, a gentlemen of high bearing and imposing tournure came marching down the platform with his laly, who was in an elegant costume of feathers and satin, adapted for the middle horticultural ye.'e at Chiswick, and therefore perfectly in keep- ing with the scenery of the Rhine. He was followed by the attendant from one of the hotels with whom he seemed to be engaged in high argument respecting a question of remuneration. " Nein, nein Kellner," exclaimed the gentleman; "nothing — I have nothing for you. Want of attention, high charges, and plebeian accommodation. " 318 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. As the speaker stood on the deck of the boat, the waiter let fall a few words of masked impertinence, and turned upon his heel. " Ah, ah ! " continued the gentleman, apparently addressing him- self to everybody, "you may reply, waiter ; but look at the Livre de3 I'oyo'jeurs. One of my party has recorded the entertainment as de- testable, and our names are affixed thereto." "How lucky we are," said Jack to Ledbury, "to see Boppart to- day ! " " Why so, Jack ? " " Why, of course the hotel will shut up after that terrible blow, and that will ruin the town. Boppart is doomed." And so evidently thought the gentleman, from the look of ven- geance that he threw towards it. As his carriage was on board, he hastily assisted the lady into it, as if it had l)een a camphorated asylum from the contagion of the vulgar ; and then, apparently satis- fied that there were no very disreputable people within some distance, he strode to the forepart of the boat, and took his place close to our tourists. But as his arrival did not appear to create any great sensation amongst the party, he drew a gilt-edged morocco note-book from his pocket, and, under pretence of inserting a memorandum therein, held it in such a direction that the others could read the name embossed upon the cover, and be perfectly aware that it was no other than the Mar(inis of Heydown who now honoured them by joining their circle. "I say. Jack," whispered Ledbury, "do you see that? He's a marquis ! " "Very well," replied Johnson, "I know it. Let's ask him how he feels on the whole tliis morning." " Hush !— don't be silly," said Titus. "Perhaps he will not like it." " Pray, sir," interposed the pensive gentleman, speaking to John- son, and coming to the relief of Titus, whose ideas of addressing a marquis were soinewhat vague, " pray, sir, what are those ruins high up on our left ? " " Liebenstcin and Sternfels," answered Jack "They arc called The Brothers." "Beautiful relics of an age gone by!" ejaculated the pensive gentleman, apostrophising the ruins. " Were ye endowed with tongues, what a number of thrilling stories could you relate ! " " Except it were a one-storeyed building," said Jack. But the pensive gentleman, apparently not comprehending him kept gazing with rapt admiration at tlie ruius as he mur- mured — "The tenants of those bleak battlements have passed away, and an unhonourcd grave is all their former lords have gained." " I tliiiik he has drunk a little too much moselle at breakfast," whispered Ledbury. "Not at all," said Jack ; "he has been taken poorly in the same way two or three times since we have travelled witl\ him." " Then he must be slightly mad," continued Titus. A NOBLE TRAVELLER. 319 " Not exactly mad," returned Johnson ; "but I think he"s a poet. I"ll draw hitn out, and then drop hln^." And with this resolve Jack spouted forth, as he looiied towards The Brothers — " Ami there they stand, as stands a lofty mind, Worn, but nnstoopiug to the baser crowd. " The pensive gentleman turned round, and looked at Jack as if he could not believe .such feeling e.xisted in the mind of one whose story of the Draclienfcls had so rudely disturbed his romance. But Jack Was gazing so earnestly at the ruins, with such an expression of en- thusiasm in his features, that the pensive gentleman felt assured, after all, he was a kindred spirit, and replied — " You are right, sir. How has the present degenerated from the emblazoned glories of the past ! " "It has indeed!" exclaimed Johnson. " Tliink of the golden epochs of the Rhine, when no base spirit could call his life or goods his own ; but those great minds, who ruled these castle keeps, rushed like a torrent down upon the vale, sweeping the tiocks and herds ! " "Ah! those were thrilling times!" said the pensive gentleman, "days of giant enterprise. The prowess of those mighty spirits swept away not only the cattle, as you have so well observed, but even the dwellings of their opponents." "Dwellings, sir!" continued Jack, with dramatic energy. "They even swept the chimneys. The whole race for power was one great sweep, where either party tried to save the stake that awaited him if he lost." "They were perpetually fighting with each other," observed the pensive gentleman. " They led a life of unceasing skirmish." " It was tliroiigh these constant brushes that so many things were swept away," replied Jack, no longer able to command his features, but laughing in the middle of his sentence. " I was not in a humour for absurd ridicule, sir," said tlie pensive gentleman, with some warmth, as he perceived Jack's ill-suppressed merriment ; and darting daggers at Johnson, he started up from his seat and sought the other end of the boat. The marquis, who had been all this time looking very exclusive now appeared to unbend a little, and, of his own accord, observed to Johnson — " I am considerably disappointed in the Rhine." "Everybody is, sir," returned Johnson, "that ever I met with; only they do not like to say so, for fear of being shouted at. It's a mere popular delusion, which the guide-books, hotels, and steamers have an interest in keeping up." "They will not do so long," replied the marquis. "I have a book coming out which will set everything to rigiits. Perhaps you do not know M'ith wliom you are conversing." " I have not that plesure," answered Jack, purposely concealing his knowledge of the other's rank. 320 THE ADVENTURES OF MR, LEDBURY. " I am the Marquis of Heydown," said the nobleman. Upon which Jack made a polite bow, and Ledbury tried to do the- same ; but he had tied his cap under his chin with a piece of string, to keep it from being blown away, and could not get it off his head. "I am writing a book," continued the marquis, most patronisingly communicative — "a book which I think has long been wanted. Not a common itinerary, but a view of that exclusive society which travellers of my rank can alone obtain. " "I think such a work would attract notice, my lord," returned Jack, " and be very diverting to pensons like ourselves." " Unquestionably," replied the noble author. " My position and influence with our embassies will procure me admission every- where." " Wherever it was practicable, of course, my lord," said Jack. " Of course," echoed the marquis, somewhat indignantly ; " and where it was not, if I were refused, I would publish my correspondence with them on the subject. A proper exposure would then make it a matter of government, and call down popular indignation. Poof I what insufferable smells pollute these steamboats ! " And, disgusted at a slight odour of hot oil which came up for a moment from the engine-room, the noble tourist sought refuge in his carriage, and appeared no more. The steamer vibrated onwards, but now made slower way ; for they were approaching the most romantic portion of the river, where the stream flows with increased force and rapidity betw een the almost perpendicular boundaries of rugged black granite, which are crowned by the ruins of Rheinfels and Katz. The mind of the nensive gentleman was evidently bursting with emotion ; but, as he could not very well make out the localities, and knew nothing of the traditions, he found it best, for his own convenience, to keep close to Johnson after all. And so he once more sidled up to the end of the boat, and gradually entered into conversation again. " And what are those ruined keeps, sir?" he asked, pointing to a dilapidated tower. " Thej' are the ruins of the Katz," replied Jack. " You know the stoi-y connected with them ? " The pensive gentleman had never heard it. " Well, then," continued the irreclaimable Jack, " after Bishop Hatton had baited liis own trap with himself, and been eaten up by the rats in the Mavs-ltmrm, whicli we shall see by-andby, the Bur- graves built this castle to guard against such another shocking in- stance of shocking voracity." "In what iiKinner, sir?" asked the traveller. " By storing it with hundreds of cats," replied Jack, " from which it derived its name. But in a time of famine, when provisions ran short, they devoured their keepers ; and then the place went to decay, as you see. " Mr. T^edbury here attempted a tepid joke, something about " cataslr{jplio " ; but, upon a look from Jack of wild astonishment, lie felt that the age of the jest was no protection against its enormity. THE LURLEY. 321 and shrank back in great confusion as the word died away from his lips. " I did not expect this from you, Leddy," said Jack, more in sorrow than in censure, " or that you were in such an abject state of jocular destitution. You have only now to call snuffing a candle 'throwing a little light upon the subject,' and then you will have arrived at the last pitch of facetious degradation." Titus made no reply ; but his lip quivered as he acknowledged the justness of his friend's reproaches. A sharp turn of the Rhine, which now swept rapidly round the base of an enormous rock, brought our travellers to the celebrated Lurleyberg. A gun was here fired to call out the echoes from their rocky lionies, and the report, having reverbrated four or five times, gradually diminishing, until it sounded like distant thunder. " What a beautiful echo!" exclaimed Ledbury, glad of diversion. *' How is it produced. Jack ?" " Why, here you have it," replied Johnson, drawing a rough sketch upon the top of the tub with a piece of chalk, as well as several lines running from 1 to 2, and from A to b. " There — that's the whirlpool, and those are the photographic — no^philanthropic — phono- camptic — that's it — phonocamptic centres. Don't you understand ? " " Oh, yes — perfectly." said the pensive gentleman. " I'm glad of it," replied Jack, " because it's more than I do ; but I dare say it's all right. The guide-books have it, so it must be," " What is the tradition of the Lurleyberg ? " asked Ledbury. " I'll tell you," replied Jack. And taking his old MS. note-book from his pocket, he com- menced. THE LEGEND OF LURLEY. " Every traveller hashes up the tradition of the Lurleyberg in a way that ha supposes will be most palatable to his readers." — A Family Tour, etc. The bell for the fiompline, with echoing roar, Had call'd to their mass the young monks of St. Goar, And their banquet they left, and its bacchanal strains, With a little too much Rhenisli wine in their brains ; For in ages of yore, The young monks of St. Goar, Were wilder than other monks since or before ; You'd have thought that each merry-eyed shaven young spark Had come up the Kliine from the Convent of Lark. At last it was over, the prayers were said, And the monks swarm'd giddily off to bed, Like a cluster of tipsy bees. Within 'twas all snug ; but the north wind without Was indulging itself iu a terrible ront, As chimneys and gables it blew in and out And rattled the vanes and the casements about ; NOW mimicking langbter, shriek, whistle, and shout ; Sometimes whirling off a loose pantile or spout To the cloisters beiow, with a deuce of a clout. Or stripping a branch from the trees. 322 THE ADVEXTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. At lencth in the coniiiois oUl was no step heard, But all was as still as the night when Jack Sheppard With footstep as stealthy as panther or leopard, Escaped from his dread doom Ey leaving the " red room," Exclaiming, as if all upbraiding to smother, " Each brick I take out brings me nearer my mother!" (If you ask for the last rhyme to whom I'm in debt, I confess that it comes from the song of " We met," In which some young lady, much given to languish, Ahnses her mother for causing her anjrnish^. But young Father Winkle he went not to sleep. For he had that night an appointment to keep. So stealthily down the back stairs he did creep. And crossing the cloister, whilst sounded the hour, He reached the old gate of the almoner's tower. Where, coaxing the Im-k with a huge gothic key, He let in the guest he expected to see. It was not a penitent come to confess, Nor a foot-weary pilgrim in want of distress, But — pudor ! riwren .'—a beautiful girl ! Who enter'd the roon) with a bound and a twirl, Which the "omnibus " heads would have set in a whirl, Though pretty Cerito most jealous might feel. With Planquet, and Slictfcr, and little Camille, In a very short dress of the loveliest green, More tine and transparent than ever was seen Bouffee'd by a jxipe of the best crinoline. By what chance she First came to be Within St. (ioar's proud monast'ry, We know not well ; But the chronicles tell Qu'elle avoit une gorge extrememejit belU. Young Father Winkle fond'y gazed upon this lovely form, Through whose fair skin the vivid blood was blushing young and warm, And felt how beauty's presence proved a " comfort in a storm." He look'd upon her flowinij hair, so glossy, dark, and long. Her eyes so bright, whose magic might cannot be told in song. And then his con.scieiice whisper'd he was doing very wrong. Although he thought in such a case the fault might be excused ; For when, by some fair creatures guiles, poor mortals are amused, Their just ideas of right and wrong are terribly confused : However firm our self-command, all resolution trips B«neath the mesmerising thrill of woman's ruby lipg. But 'tis an adage known full well, That folk.s should never kiss and tell, Or else we might have shown That the first meeting of the two. And greeting eke which diil ensue, Was not of words alone. "Now come with me," the fair one cried " In these dull cells no longer bide ; I will become thy river bride, And o'er my realms thou shalt preside. Awav- the dawn Is near ; The wind is hush'd -the storm has pass'd— The sky no longer is o'ercast ; LURLISE. 323 And see, the moon begins to shine Vpun the niouiitains of the Rhine In raiiiance luiglit ami clear. Then come with me, and we will go Wliere the rocks of coral jjruw," — (I've heard those lines before, I know) Father Winkle cried "Stay, I've a tritle to say Kre thns from my duties you draw me astray. My beautiful Lurley, one instant delay- Each wish that you utter I burn to obey ; But, in truth, love, I don't very well see my way ; For though many people I've met heretnfore Find keeping their heads above wattr a bore, Yit keeping mine under would puzzle me more, With your own pretty self, as my sentiments prove, I'm over ray head and my ears now in love, And I cannot well see what we gain by the move." Replied l.urline "My oear, You have nothing to fear ; You would sleep just as well in the Rhine's bed as here." Said Winkle, said he, "That bed won't do for me. For its beddii:g would nothing but winding sheets be, And I can't bear wet blankets in any degree. In accepting yuur otfer, to me it seems clear, That I only should get in so novel a sphere, Not my bed and my board, but my bed and my bier." " JMy Winkle," said Lurline, repressing a frown, " The bed of the Rhine is of costliest down." "Yes, down at the bottom, my own one, I know But I'm downy, too : no — I don't think I'll go." Then Lurline looked mournfully up in his eye, With a face at once impudent, tearful and sly, An, When from Winkle's fond eyes she so quickly withdrew. And she said to herself, as she slipp'd through the wall, "I was never yet foild — you'll be mine after all." There's a boat That's alloat On the edge of the Rhine : With a siiil When a gale Should blow on the right line ; And Winkle had heard of a jolly young waterman, Who at St. Goarshausen used to ply. So he stay'd not a second ; you would not have thought a man Not over lean could so rapidly fly. And down to the river he ran like a shot ; But when he arrived there the boatman was not: For, during the nighttime all traflic was dull, And the waterman, takiuj; his rest in the lull, With an eider-down pillow had feather'd his skull. But.there lay the barky, sail, rudder, and oar, All properly stamp'tl with the cross of St. Goar. 324 THE AD YEN TUBES OF MR. LEDBURY, As order'd to be by the Burgraves of yore ; For the Burgraves of yoro were a powerful clique : If tliey wish'd a thing done, they had only to si)eak, And none dare to show, at their visits, his jiique ; Although Victor Hugo, they tell us, was grieved To find that his Burgraves were coldly received. But, though there was no waterman the fragile boat to guide, The fever'd monk push'd off from sliore, and huiuch'd it in the tide ; The wind was right, the bark was light, the father's arm was strong, And, darting through the foaming waves, they swiftly flew along. High on the right the Rheinfels' keep slej)t in the moon's cold gleam, Whilst opposite the lofty Katz was frowning on the stream ; And round the huge basaltic rocks one on the other piled, The roaring waters leapt and chafed, in whirlpools swift and wild, Until, beneath the Lurleyberg, half-hidden by the foam, The monk and boat at last drew near fair Lurline's echoing home, Where every grim basaltic cliff sings to the lashing spray, " The only rock harmonicon that's heard both night and day. And fast unto a mighty stone The monk his vessel made, At other time in spot so lone He had been sore afraid ; But, ere he'd any time to think, Or from his venture wild to shrink. Uprising from the whirlpool's brink, Lurline her furm betray'd And with a voice of magic tone Thus sang she, to an air well known ; " I'm the fairest of Rhine's fairy daughters, Lurley-ety I Though I ought not to say so myself; Each peri that awells 'neath its waters— Lurley-ety I I rule ; and my slave is each elf. Then come, love : oh, come, love, with me, I thy own peri. Winkle, will be Haste, haste to my home I implore, Lurley-ety I And give up the cells cf St. Goar. Lurley-ety ! lurley-ctii ! -now make up your mind Lurley-ety 1 lurlcy-cty .'— or else stay behind. Lurley-ety -y-y-y-y y f The song had concluded, and hush'd was the strain, Except that the echoes sang over again, As the notes died away In the noise of the spray, When Winkle, o'ercome, shouted " Lurline I— oh ! stay, Believe me, yours truly— yours only— for aye 't" He said, and plunged in Midst the clash and the din Of the eddies ne'er i-fasiiig to bubble and spin. And the rock of the I.nrleyberg tried to make fast to, Like the mates of .Kneas in guigite vasto; But soon thruugli the tide Came Lurline to his side. And into the vortex lier lover did guide. One shriek of despair From the monk rent the air As he wliirl'd round and r'>nn i^obody knows where he was born, lived or died." " He must have been something like his eliligy at Rosherville Gar- dens," observed Mr. Crinks, "a man of straw.^ 4. have shot at him often— seven arrows for twopence. By the way, I nevssr believed that ripstone-pippin business myself. " ^^^ " How very sorry I am that you told me all this, Jstek^^" said Mr. Ledbury. " You have destroyed all my romance, and 1 wa^Scred away with every heavy beat of the pendulum, which still kept on its dull unchanging swing, as if to mark the triumph of time over mortality. But still no plan was left untried — no zeal relaxed that appeared likely to assist the process. With the fingers of one hand upon the pulse, and the other placed upon the chest, from whence it M'as but now and then removed, to examine the pupil of the half-closed eye, he directed his companions in their attempts to produce an artificial respiration ; and for upwards of an hour did they persevere. " Hu.sh ! whispered Prodgers, as if fearful of disturbing the silence even by his own voice. "I think the hand seems warmer. Perhaps it is only my fancy." As he spoke he placed his ear upon the chest, in close contact with tlie skin, and listened attentively. You might have heard the spiders creep upon their lurking-places. "■ There is a beat ! " he cried joyfully, after a few seconds' pause ; "another — the heart is acting ! Now— do not lose an instant— she will come to, after all." And, indeed, before long the girl showed signs of returning life. The skin lost the livid hue that had overspread it, and a few rapid convulsive sobs shook the chest. Then the temperature of the hands increased — slowly, it is true, but progressively ; and the action of the 346 THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. pulse commenced, in the irregular beating of a small, thread-like vessel, faint and intermittent, until it was distinct and regular, And :iii a few minutes a series of deep-drawn sighs ended in a copious flood of iiystcrioal tears, wliich were cheerfully hailed as the signs of return- ing consciousness. The woman placed a pillow underneath the head of the patient, and covered her witli fresh blankets, converting the table into a rude bed. It was some little time before slie became clearly sensible of her situation ; but when the truth broke upon her, she again burst into tears. This time, iiowever, tliey were natural. The girl started up as the light broke upon her, and cast a wild glance round the room, and at its occupants. And then, as the cover- lids fell from her shoulders, she gathered them hastily around her, and •clung towards the landlady, wlio was standing at her side, as if she •claimed protection from some impending threat. " Dont be frightened, deary," said the hostess, in a kind tone of -assurance. " You are with friends iiere— nobcftly will harm you." As site spoke, the girl fixed her eye upon the policeman, who was standing at the door. 8he gave a slight start of apprehension, and ilookenot get her to bed. She will still require some care." " .She shall go in miue," said tlie servant; "for it will be morning soon. I can .stay with lier till then." " And 1 Mill come and see her again to-morrow, ' said Prodgers. Tiien turning to the proprietor, he added, " I suppose you can carry .her to her bedroom ?" Tiie man raised iier in his arms, and prepared to carry her upstairs ; but as he did so the girl once nmre asked for her clothes, some of which were steaming on the back of a chair before the lire. The laudhidy took them in her hand, and then the i)arty went slowly from the loom. Ill two minutes tlic owner of the house returned, and "tendered a droj) of something to drive the cold awaj' " to I'lodgors and his com- p.inions. 'i'iien, assuring iiim tiiat every care shonlil l)e taken of the unluip])y girl, he supposed tliere was nothing more to be done, and wished them good-nigiit, as they departeil with the policeman. " And now I shall go liome to bed," saiil Prodgers, sleepily; "for I am very tired. You fellows had better coiin' too." " W'cli, 1 iloii't mind," said Mr. Tweak. " 1 dont see that I can ;go anywhere else." " You are very lucky, gentlemen, to have tinished all your work," •observed the policenun, as tliey stood in the open air again. " Ours is just beginning." " Jlow so?" asked Prodgers. 'Ilie man took the note from liis pocket whidi had been found upon the girl, and tlirowing tlie glare of his lantern upon it, replied— UNDER S UR VEIL LA NCE. 34r " Because this puts lis up to somebody we have been after for the lust twelvemonth. We must be off directly to Somers Town." "I hope you will be successful," replied Prodgers. "Good- night." And, as the police turned ofif along the side of the river, Prodgers,. Tweak, and Simmons bent their steps, with weary limbs and lialf-- closed eyes, towards the residence of the tirst-named gentleman. CHAPTER LVII. WOOD FORTUNE COMES TO JACK— A DANGEROUS DILEMMA AT MILAN. Ui'ON being introduced to the police, it required all Jack's knowledge of foreign tongues to make the authorities understand that Ledbury and himself were not deserters, but that the irregularity in their pass- ports were solely attributable to their own ignorance of the imees that would be required, having forgotten that they had passed from Switzerland to Lombardy. But the Austrian police are not very easily satisfied ; and after much wrangling and uncertainty, during the whole of which time Mr. Ledbury believed the next minute would see him being escorted to the galleys, the authorities finall}' determined that our travellers should deliver up their present informal passports as hos- tages, and should consider themselves, at the same time, under the surveillance of the police, without permission to leave Milan until the pleasure of the Government should be made known to them. They were then allowed to depart. By the recommendation of an Anglo-Italian courier who was wait- ing at the bureau, they proceeded to the Albergo della Croce Bianea, a neat second-rate inn in the Corso di Porta Vercellina, one of the gen- darmes accompanying them to note down their residence. Jack was ac first exceedingly annoyed, for it was uncertain how long they might be detained in the city ; but the feelings of Titus still bordered upon despair. The master of the inn, however, a comfortable Milanese, who spoke the worst French possible, assured them they had nothing to fear, and at the same time ventured to suggest that a good dinner might somewhat tranquillise their excitement. And this had the desired effect, as much from its excellence as its novelty ; for they dined in the open air, in the court of the inn, which had galleries run- ning round it, like our coaching hotels in London, but covered with luxuriant grape-vines. The evening was so lovely that the flame of: the candles never wavered ; and vetturini were arriving and departing the whole time ; whilst several small tables were placed about, at which visitors were drinking, chatting, or playing endless matclies of that peculiar Italian game of fingers which somewhat resembles our schoolboy sport of "Buck, buck — how many horns do I hold up?" All this afforded great amusement to Jack and Titus, who, after a. short stroll in the city, always gay and well-peopled, in the evening,. 348 THE ADVENTURES OF Mil. LEDBCRY. letuined home to bed ;uul slept veiy souiuUy after the toils and annoyances of a very long day. The next morning, having made their toilets with as much nicety as their slender wardroljes would allow, they started off to fulfil the object of their journey, and procure the required signature to the docu- ment with which old Mr. Ledbury had entrusted tneni. Mr. Howard, who had a pleasant carina just \\itliin the Porta Orieutale, received them very politelj' ; and, when he heard of their awkward situation, begged that during their stay at Milan they would make his house their own. He was much taken with Jack's intelligent and frank manner ; and so well did they agree, that before two days had passed, having questioned Titus somewliat closeh' as to his friend's testi- monials, it was arranged that, upon their return to England, if Joiinson chose to become Mr. Howard's a^eiit in London, there was a clear two hundred a year for him as long as he pro\ed deserving of the trust. And this was a piece of fortune Jack never in his wildest dreams looked forward to. Indeed, he went l^ack to the inn in such a whirl that passports, police, and Austrian prisons were alike for- gotten : he thought only of his return to England, and above all, the opporturutj' of making a proud and independent proposal to old Mr. Lc(ll)ury for the hand of his daughter. And Titus, with his good heart, entered into all his friend's happiness. It was fate, he was sure, that had first tiirown them together, and that hail induced them to take this lucky journey ; and, if he had only got his passport all comfortably en regie, he would not have one thing else in the world to care about. In a day or two after their arrival ilr. Howard was compelled to leave ]\Iilan for Padua, where his presence was recjuired upon the pro- jected line of railway. Our travellers dined with him the last even- ing, and then he gave Jack the necessary intioductions and documents for him to enter upon his new office when he returned to England. Jack, who had attended every day at the passport othce without effect, made some allusion to the probability of their still being detained at Milan when he returned, but was again assured by Mr. Howard that all would be settled well, although they did not hurry themselves about such things. And, having accompanied him to the office of the vdociferi, or conveyances at six nules an hour, they saw liim into tlie dilii,'ence, which left for Verona, Padua, and Venice, at elevea at night, and then went back to the Croce Bianca. .\ lively scene awaited them at the inn. A party of wans in I'aris — from the adjacent shops: and at last the do rumble empty, Jack proposed that they should take possession of it, which, after running behind for some little distance, they did, and were carried aa far as Vogogna, bj- one p.m. Here tliey crept down uiiperceived, and trudged on until the voitnre again passed theni, when they got up again. And following tliis plan at the diilerent villages, they finally reached Domo Dossola about four, when they were botli so fatii;ued tnat Jack determined to wait two hours for rest and refreshment, although Ledbury, in spite of being very exliaiistcd, waa anxious for them to keep still on tiie move. The sun liad gone down when they left Domo, and huge dark p;itciiea EXCELSIOR. 3o3 of clouds were coming angrily up from the windward, giving promise of a stormy night. For the first time Jack felt uncomfortable, al- though he kept his inquietude to himself ; for lie knew that the instant Ledbury saw his misgivings it would be all over with him. But yet he did not disguise the fact that an arduous journey was in prospect. "Do you see those mountains?" he asked, pointing to the terrific Simplon before them, whose outline was now rapidly fading iu the approaching darkness. " Well, we must cross them before to-morrow morning. They do not look very inviting." The dinner had somewhat refreshed them, and they speedily traversed the last of those highly-cultivated plains which form so remarkable a contrast to the mountain-road directly beyond them. . It was soon dark, and by the time they had got to the foot of the pass, and ascended the first rise to the magnificent Pont de Crevola, they could not see the turbulent Vedro, which rushes past the mighty single pillar of masonry, although its deafening roar told them tliat it was still hurrying on its rapid course. Neither of them spoke much, for the commencing ascent made heavy demands upon their breath, without wastiug it in words; and, in addition to this, Mr! Ledburj' was in a state of extreme terror, as the scenery becam(* wilder, and the brawling of the torrent at the side of the road more angry, whilst it leaped over and amongst the huge blocks of granite which intercepted its course, that he did not feel at all inclined to operi his mouth, but kept close to Jack, especially when they passed any of the gloomy galleries under which the road is carried at several parts of the passage. And then the scenery got still more wild and savage- doubly friglitful by the gloom in wliich it M'as enveloped. The last traces of cultivation which here and there clung in patches about the sheltered places on the rocks disappeared — one by one the chdlefs and mountain-iuns were left behind, until no buildings appeared but the dismal Refuge, or the small and only chapel — both tokens of hazard and uncertainty. And still they kept ascending — unalteringly, steadily ascending — until they entered the appalling gorge of Isella, impaled by its perpendicular barriers of granite, from whose summits cascades of water, icy cold, were tumbling in all directions, now carried under the road to increase the already swollen Vedro, and now rushing across the pass, with a force that threatened to carry them off their legs, did the}' slip from the perilous stepping-stones, whose situation they could .scarcely determine by feeling with their poles before they ventured forward. And then their path ran close by the side of tlie torrent, which, overlapping its bounds, or impeded in its course, threatened every minute to engulf them in its whirling hell of waters, that every now and then swept over what was three years ago a fine and level carriage -way. At length the road quitted the river, and climbed up the side of the gorge, leaving the water far beneath it. As the noise diminished in the distance, Mr. Ledbury felt somewhat reassured, and hazarded a few questions about the localities. A few stars, too, were beginning to peep out from the sky above the ravine, and presently the hour of ten sounded from some steeple in the direction they were journeying. 354 2' HE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEDBURY. "We have been four hours on the loail, Jack, already," observed Titus. "I'm glad we are coming to something like life again." "You would not be so happy if you knew what place it was," replied Johnson. " This must be Gondo, the Sardinian frontier. Now we shall have to look sharp enough. How are your eyes, Leddy ? " " Rather sleepy," returned Titus, giving a yawn in oonrirmation. "Oh, come," said Jack, "you must not think of anything of that sort yet. We have scarcely done a third of our journey." As they turned an angle of the road, a bright ray of light shot across the path from a building a little way aliead, and the dark outlines of one or two military-looking figures were plainly visible. " There they are," exclaimed Jack, hurriedly. " Who ? " asked Mr. Ledbury ; " the Austrian police ? " " No, no — the douauiers. If they see us, we are done for. We must try and pass the custom-house some other way." " I do not see how," said Titus. "Nor I either," returned Johnson. "Let us reconnoitre." At first he thought of attempting to climb down the carriage-way to the level of the river, and keep along its side until the frontier was passed ; but the descent was so deep and precipitous that this plan was directly abandoned. Going along the road was to ensure instant de- tection ; for the authorities on boundaries have sharp eyes and ears, so that the only plan left was to endeavour and pass behind tlie doiiaue, which was built nearly against the high granite rocks that hemmed in the gorge. Telling Ledbury to use every oaution Jack led the way walking with no little difficulty upon the slanting ground which rose directly from the road. They soon came up to the building, and passed so close behind it that they could look into the room, where one or two of the officials were lying carelessly down upon a wooden couch, or huddling round a fire. Ledbury followed Jack in hiilence. but quite mechanically. The whole business had brought about sucli an overturning ol his ideas, not suited to such exciting excursions, that if anyone liad asked him whether he was marching upon Ins head or his heels, it v^ould have taken some little time for him to collect his intellects, and return a proper answer. Jack was less flurried ; and when they once more gained the road on the other side of the station, and felt somewhat assured, he indulged in a little pantomime, less elegant than expressive, spreading his thumb ;uul fingers into raut we can talk about all that pre- •t'litly. The gooil moidv, \\ lio had acknowledged the hurried introduction of Mr. Crinks with mild courtesy, was now eudeavouiing to get poor 'Jitus upon his legs ; whilst tlie dog, whom he called " Turc," as if RESCUED. 357 |)leased to find tlje traveller in the hands of his master was rollinj^ about on the ground, revelling in the snow, which he threw about him in all directions. "Here, give me the knapsacks," said Mr. Crinks, taking up both of them, and slinging one over each shoulder. " What the deuce have you been about to have tired yourself already, at this unliolj' hour of the morning. ? " "A long story," answered Jack; "but you shall know it all by- ^ud-by. First of all, where are we to go ? " "Not two minutes' walk ; the convent is just round the bend of the road. You would have seen it if you had kept up your courage a Jittle longer. The monk, who was, as Crinks had observed, on his way to the villaf;e of Simplon, now apologised for proceeding ; but begged them to return to the convent directly, which is a branch of the far-famed establishment on the great St. Bernard. And then, with his dog leap- ing and barking before him, he went on his way. " Xow, steady," observed Mr. Crinks, as Ledbury at last rose. " Keep all right upon your pins, and lean on me. We shall be all ^afe directly." Nearly hanging upon their shoulders, Mr. Ledbury staggered w the governor's ways better than you do. He would not have asked you to our house if he had not intended everything to turn out comfortably. You will be my brother-in-law, after all." " If you are about to marry," observed Mr. Prodgers, with much importance, " allow me " And hereupon he presented Jack with his professional card in all due gravity, contituiing — " No connection with Mr. Koops. Indivie suggest yonr union with all reasonable expedition " " 1 desire nothing Ix'iter sir," was the reply. "I am glad of it," continued Mr. I.e