'
'I am.'
'Chosen by the people.'
'Yes.'
'Faithful to both.'
'To the block!'
It would be difficult to convey an adequate idea of the excited manner
in which he gave these answers to the secretary's promptings; of the
rapidity of his utterance, or the violence of his tone and gesture; in
which, struggling through his Puritan's demeanour, was something wild
and ungovernable which broke through all restraint. For some minutes he
walked rapidly up and down the room, then stopping suddenly, exclaimed,
'Gashford--YOU moved them yesterday too. Oh yes! You did.'
'I shone with a reflected light, my lord,' replied the humble secretary,
laying his hand upon his heart. 'I did my best.'
'You did well,' said his master, 'and are a great and worthy instrument.
If you will ring for John Grueby to carry the portmanteau into my room,
and will wait here while I undress, we will dispose of business as
usual, if you're not too tired.'
'Too tired, my lord!--But this is his consideration! Christian from head
to foot.' With which soliloquy, the secretary tilted the jug, and looked
very hard into the mulled wine, to see how much remained.
John Willet and John Grueby appeared together.
Pages:
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480