L I E) R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 U N I VLRS ITY 
 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
 823 
 
 B2G9me
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Lane, Darlinp;, and Co. Leadenhall-Street.
 
 THE 
 
 MIETliOFOILISi 
 
 J 
 
 OR, 
 
 A CURE FOR GAMING. 
 
 Interspersed with 
 ANECDOTES OF LIVING CHARACTERS IN HIGH LIFE. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 BY 
 
 CERVANTES HOGG, ESQ. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 THE niSING SUN, TUE SETTING SUN, SfC. S^'C. 
 
 How now, my hearts ! did yon never see the picture of we three ? 
 
 How, Mercury, endue thee with pleasing, for thou speak'st well of fools. 
 
 Clowa, Twelfth Night, 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED AT THE 
 
 TOR A. K. NEWMAIsT AND CO. 
 
 CSuccessors to Lane, Netcman, and Co.J 
 
 LEACENIIALL-STREXT. 
 1811. 
 
 S
 
 ^«"t
 
 8^i 
 
 THE METMOFOLIS. 
 
 =«»«©■**«« 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Sage Advice of a Father to a Son, on leaving the 
 Country for London — A Love Affair, and an 
 Affair of Honour zcith a Box-lobby Lounger. 
 
 >| i-viLY dear child/' said the Reverend 
 ^Mr. Bonnycastle to his son Brian, on the 
 leve of his setting out from a remote part 
 |of Devonshire/on a journey to London, 
 ^" you are now going to vibit either the 
 ^est or the worst city in the universe, ac- 
 cording to the use which you may make 
 J- 
 
 ^Jof your time, or of the acquaintance 
 t VOL. I, B which
 
 2 THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 ■which you may form in it. Business 
 must be your chief aim, which will keep 
 you from destructive idleness; and you 
 must choose for the amusement of your 
 vacant hours^ only such companions as - 
 possess a more than common share of j 
 understanding. Do not suffer yourself 
 to be flattered by the common-place of- 
 fers of friendship, nor implicitly believe 
 mankind, when they promise to serve ! 
 you ; but carefully conceal your distrust i 
 of their offers and promises, and place all \ 
 your reliance on yourself. The profli- 
 gate, the vicious, and the foolish, are, I i 
 am sorry to say it, by far the greater \ 
 number of the inhabitants of the vast me- ; 
 tropolis; and your chief care must be, to i 
 shun these, as baneful to your future | 
 happiness. To associate with profligates, ] 
 threatens a disgraceful career, and, most < 
 4 probably, j
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 3 
 
 probably^ a still more ignominious end ; 
 
 to be the companion of the vicious^ will 
 
 destroy the most essential part of man — 
 
 his character ; and to herd with fools, is 
 
 a disgrace to your understanding, and 
 
 levels you almost with the brute creation. 
 
 Pleasure will lure you to one side, and 
 
 prudence will beckon you to the other: 
 
 let vour choice be like that of Hercules. 
 
 The madj senseless, riotous pleasures of 
 
 this age, are merely intoxications ; and 
 
 all the actors in such depraved scenes, 
 
 close their parts in beggary, in loathsome 
 
 disease, or by infamous punishment. Stick 
 
 to business, and that will stick bv vou, to 
 
 your latest hour." 
 
 The reverend admonisher was vicar of 
 
 a small living on the borders of Durt- 
 
 moor, of the annual value of about ninety 
 
 pounds, which was but a trifling pittance 
 
 B 'i for
 
 4 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 for a family of seven children. A rich 
 merchant, a Mr. Ilewson, of St. Mary- 
 Axe, London, an old acquaintance of the 
 vicar, had offered to ease him of part of 
 his heavy family, by taking Brian, the 
 eldest son, into his counting-house, which 
 offer of disinterested friendship Mr. Bon- 
 iiycastle had joyfully accepted ; and the 
 foregoing words were his last advice to 
 his son, on his taking leave of him. They 
 had made so proper an impression on 
 Brian, that, during a year after his arrival 
 in London, Mr. Hewson was extremely 
 satisfied with his integrity, skill, and at- 
 tention. The accounts which he trans- 
 mitted to his friend the vicar, of his son's 
 conduct, drew from the fond parent the 
 most heartfelt congratulations to his son, 
 which incited him to new efforts, to give 
 encreasing satisfaction to his worthy em- 
 ployer.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 5 
 
 pioyer. How irksome it is to the eye, 
 to behold the fairest fruits prematurely 
 blighted^ is well known to the feeling 
 mind ! 
 
 Another year passed on in the same 
 manner, and Mr. Hewson wrote to the 
 vicar a letter, in which he expressed so 
 much satisfaction at Brian's endeavours 
 to serve him, that he declared, if he should 
 persevere in the same line of conduct to 
 the end of his clerkship, he should think 
 it an indispensable duty to omit nothing 
 in his power to make his future life happy 
 and respectable. 
 
 Adversity now seemed to grow jealous 
 of the reign of the favourite, and out- 
 stretched its long arm to pluck him fiom 
 his elevated seat of happiness. Mr. Hew- 
 son 's family consisted of a son, Mr, Ed- 
 ward Hewsoji (who had gone through 
 
 B 3 the
 
 6 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the routine of the counting-house at 
 home, and was then abroad, for the dou- 
 ble purpose of seeing the world, and 
 forming a personal acquaintance with his 
 father's correspondents), and of a daugh- 
 ter, Miss Charlotte Hewson, who was then 
 about seventeen years of age, and too 
 highly rated on the list of female excel- 
 lence, to be looked at with impunity. 
 There was a symmetry in her whole form, 
 a gfracefulness in her every motion, a re- 
 gularity in her features, a brilliancy in 
 her eyes, and a glow in her complexion, 
 which, however, charmed not so much as 
 her other and more durable attractions : 
 she was possessed of a strong understand- 
 ing, and a refined and polished taste; 
 her voice, even in common conversation, 
 touched the soul by its softness and me- 
 lody ; but, when she threw it out in uni- 
 son
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 7 
 
 son with her piano-forte, the senses of 
 the hearers were thrilled with rapture — 
 " What a charming companion/' said 
 Brian to himself, with a deep sigh, " must 
 she be to the man who is destined to be 
 so happy as to make an impression on 
 her heart ! But fortune has debarred me 
 from that happiness." 
 
 Brian had a very difficult part to play 
 — he was fast noosed in that silken chain, 
 which, however, is more difficult to rend 
 asunder than an adamantine one ; his 
 eyes, his actions, momentarily and invo- 
 luntarily, betrayed his sensations, not- 
 withstanding his apprehensions that they 
 might discover more tenderness for the 
 object of his affections than her father 
 would approve of. The respectful, yet 
 tender air, with which he accosted her, 
 which were the effect of his love for the 
 
 B 4 daughter.
 
 8 THE METROPOLIS. | 
 
 daughter, and fear of offending the father, ] 
 the languor of his expressive eyes, and ! 
 the softness of his voice, were quickly I 
 perceived by Miss Charlotte (as Nature ■ 
 seems to have instinctivelv tauo-ht the ' 
 
 J 
 
 fair sex the meaning of these things^ to J 
 
 put thciYi upon their guard against the 
 
 i 
 
 artifices of man), and her heart was -| 
 
 1 
 
 touched by them, in a most forcible man- i 
 
 ner. She blushed Vv-henever her eyes ac- ■! 
 
 cidentallv met his; she si<^hed, as she j 
 
 received with pleasure his continual at- | 
 
 1 
 tentions to her; but she was silent, 
 
 through the idea that prudence would 
 
 frown, on her making either acknow- ' 
 
 ledgments or returns. In short, they ' 
 
 were both ripened into love. 
 
 Mr. Ilewson either did not observe the i 
 
 situation of the two lovers, or he was not i 
 
 displeased at it. He was more compla- "; 
 
 cent
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 9 
 
 cent than ever, and even affectionate to- 
 wards Brian, and gave him every oppor- 
 tunity of beino- alone with Charlotte: he 
 would often propose, as a relaxation from 
 the sedentary employment of a counting- 
 house, an excursion, in which he would 
 sometimes be a partv, and at others would 
 permit Brian to escort his daughter rt/owe. 
 Brian, however, had too much honour or 
 timidity, to take any improper advantage 
 of these opportunities, so favourable to 
 declare and plead his passion, although 
 there was nothing in Miss Charlotte's be- 
 haviour to discourage him. Their pas- 
 sions were in the stale of a gun which is 
 loaded, pointed, and cocked, and only 
 waits for the slightest impulse of the 
 trigger to make a report. 
 
 Although Mr. Ilewson was a person of 
 rather austere principles, even for the 
 
 B 5 eastern
 
 10 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 eastern side of Temple-bar, vet he had 
 no objection to theatrical exhibitions in 
 general, but only to some particular dra- 
 itias, which were notoriously licentious. 
 One afternoon, when Brian had nearly 
 closed a preceding week of heavv corre- 
 spondence, Mr. Hewson, after having 
 consulted the newspaper, and found that 
 the drama which was to be exiiibited on 
 that night, was not one of those that he 
 deemed objectionable, proposed to Brian 
 to relax a little, and to accompany his 
 daushter to Drurv-lane theatre, leaving 
 to himself the care of making up the 
 packets for the mail. Brian required no 
 persuasion to accede to so agreeable a 
 proposal as that of attending Miss Char- 
 lotte, and they set off together, in a hack- 
 ney-coach. 
 
 During the entertainme?\t. Miss Char- 
 lotte
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 11 
 
 lotte had been much annoved by two of 
 those box-lobhij loungers, who, being them- 
 selves devoid of every kind of relish for 
 the mental part of the drama^ seek only 
 to annov those who come to the theatre 
 with very different feelin2;s. Thev seated 
 themselves sometimes in the same box, 
 and at others in the next^ always keeping 
 close behind, or at the side of Miss Char- 
 lotte, as the theatre was not much throng- 
 ed. Their conversation was so loud, a*; 
 to annoy all those who were so unfortu- 
 nate as to be near them ; and it consisted 
 of imoertinent and licentious i-emarks, 
 and ribaldry, on some of the females pre- 
 sent, with whom thev either were, or 
 boasted of being, in a state of scandalous 
 intimacy. 
 
 Brian's bosom burned with indignation 
 at the wounds which their lan^uacje was 
 
 B G momentarily
 
 12 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 momentarily inflicting on the chaste ears 
 of his fair companionj who^ he well knew, 
 could not help hearing what they said, 
 although she pretended to be too deeply 
 interested in the business of the stage. 
 Brian was naturally 2;ood-natured, affable, 
 and not apt to take offence; but a slight 
 offence to the object of a man's affections, 
 is sufficient to stir the blood of even a 
 poltroon. He was, however, far, very 
 Tar from being of the white-livered class 
 of mankind. As gentle as he naturally 
 was, when not provoked beyond a certain 
 measure, as much a lover as he was of the 
 peaceable Christian doctrine, which his 
 father had inculcated into him with the 
 greatest pains, and which had not been 
 in the least impaired by his abode under 
 the orderly roof of Mr. Hewson, yet Na- 
 ture had also implanted in his bosom the 
 
 seeds
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 13 
 
 seeds of the utmost contempt of danger^ 
 where firmness and fortitude became ne- 
 cessary. He had hitherto imbibed no 
 imaginary notions of false honour, but 
 he had laid down certain fixed ideas of 
 true honour, of which he could not 
 tamely bear an infringement : among 
 these, he looked upon a decorous and 
 respectful behaviour towards the fair sex, 
 as an indispensable duty of his own ; and 
 the two lounoers had, for awhile, e;one 
 beyond those limits which he conceived 
 to be pardonable, towards a young lady 
 under his immediate protection. Often 
 was he tempted to have given a check to 
 their insolence, but he was unwillincr to 
 be himself the occasion of that disturb- 
 ance to other orderly people,* which he 
 burned to chastise. 
 
 Immediately after the entertainment, 
 
 Brian
 
 14 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Brian handed Miss Charlotte into the 
 lobby ; and had scarcely left her to call a 
 coach, before the two loungers approach- 
 ed, stopped immediately before her, and 
 stared her in the face. As she turned 
 away to avoid their impertinent gaze, 
 one of them raised the edge of her hat, 
 and exclaimed — " A pretty cit, by Gad! 
 It is a pity that so much beauty should 
 be confined to the smoky regions of the 
 east end of the town. Will you be my 
 chere amic, and exchange a shop for ele- 
 gant apartments, and a hackney-coach for 
 your own chariot ?" 
 
 This insolent action and lansfuafre were 
 interrupted by a blow, which felled the 
 unmanly puppy to the ground, after 
 making him reel to a distance of some 
 paces. It was the hand of Brian which 
 inflicted this chastisement : he had been 
 
 suspicious
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 13 
 
 suspicious that Charlotte might suffer 
 some farther annoyance from these in- 
 truders, and he had returned with the ut- 
 most expedition, and just in time to wit- 
 ness the rude action, although passion 
 prevented him from distinctly hearing 
 the words of the aearessor. 
 
 OJ3 
 
 Brian had no sooner disengaged Char- 
 lotte from one of the authors of her ter- 
 ror and confusion^ than he took her arm 
 under his own, and was walking off with- 
 out farther ceremony, when he was ar- 
 rested by the companion of the fallen 
 hero, who exclaimed — " Stop, Sir — the 
 affair will not end here : my friend is a 
 gentleman, a man of fortune and of spi- 
 rit, and will expect satisfaction." 
 
 " Your Friend is a scoundrel !" replied 
 Brian — " and you know the old adage — 
 
 Birds of a feather If you pretend to 
 
 give me any farther interruption, I will 
 
 instantly
 
 16 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 instantly inflict upon you a similar chas- 
 tisement," 
 
 " It is easy to be seen/' retorted the 
 coxcomb, " that you are only a low-bred 
 cit ; but my friend will, for once^ con- 
 descend to overlook the inecjuality of 
 your condition, to teach ycu to meddle 
 only with your equals in future." 
 
 The fallen hero had, by this time, re- 
 covered those few senses which Nature 
 had bestowed upon him, and the use of 
 his legs ; and, hopping towards Brian, he 
 demanded his address with a shake of his 
 head, either occasioned by the violence 
 of the blow, or intended to convey a 
 menace. 
 
 " I have no card about me," replied 
 Brian. 
 
 " Then pray let me have one of your 
 or your master's shop-bills." 
 
 Brian was inflamed at the contempt 
 
 ■with
 
 THE METROPOMS. 17 
 
 with which this imicndo was conveyedj 
 and going to the length of Charlotte's 
 arm, but without quitting her hand, he 
 drew near to the hero, and told him, in 
 a low tone of voice, that if he did not 
 wish to make an ostentatious display of 
 his courage before the ladies, with a view 
 to have a meeting, of which he pretended 
 to be desirous, prevented, he would be 
 satisfied with knowing that he would be 
 at the Gloucester Coffee-house in Picca- 
 dilly, at eight o'clock the next morning, 
 prepared to vindicate his conduct to any 
 extremity. 
 
 " You must be prepared. Sir," said the 
 hero, *' to make me an apology as public 
 as the indignity which you have put upon 
 me, or " 
 
 '' Or what. Sir?" 
 
 " You must have pistols, and a second 
 with you." 
 
 " Enough
 
 18 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 '' Enough for the present — I shall not 
 fail you," said Brian ; and turning about^ 
 he walked offj without any farther inter- 
 ruption. 
 
 Miss Charlotte's bosom, which had 
 been, for some months before, disquieted 
 on Brian's account, was now violently 
 agitated, by mixed emotions of gratitude 
 for the spirit with which he had repelled 
 the insult offered to her, of admiration at 
 the unusual dio:nitv of his manner durinsr 
 the whole of the transaction, and of un- 
 easiness at the probable consequences of 
 it. She had not heard the appointment, 
 but she dreaded that something to that 
 effect had passe 1 between them : her ap- 
 prehensions made her forget the restraints 
 which she had of late laboured under when 
 in his company, and particularly when 
 alone with him ; as female modesty, when 
 once rendered a captive, tries every mode 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 19 
 
 to disguise its chains, until the conceal- 
 ment becomes too painful, or no longer 
 necessary. Imagining that the present 
 was an occasion which demanded an 
 abatement of the extreme rigidity of de- 
 corum, she thanked him for his care of 
 her, and praised his gallantry, in terms 
 which her tongue would have been un- 
 able Xo utter at any other time. She ex- 
 pressed her fears that the affair was not 
 yet over, and conjured him not to en- 
 danger his life, by deigning to take any 
 further notice of persons who had shewn, 
 by their ungentlemanlike conduct, that 
 they were unworthy of if. 
 
 Brian declared, that the satisfaction 
 which he felt at having punished an in- 
 sult offered to her, was too proud a con- 
 sideration to permit him to bestow a 
 single thought on the consequences of 
 
 it;
 
 20 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 it; and he was involuntarily drawn into 
 those declarations of the wannest attach- 
 mentj which would have afforded her the 
 iU,most satisfaction at any other time, but 
 her joy was damped by his not positively 
 assuring her that no meeting was intend- 
 ed. She pressed him in the strongest 
 terms, to give her his word of honour, 
 that he would not sufiTer himself to be 
 drawn away by any ideas of false honour; 
 and Brian promised equivocalljj to despise 
 the objects of her terror, on condition 
 that she would endeavour to compose 
 her spirits, and not give her father rea- 
 son to suspect that any disagreeable event 
 had disturbed the evening's amusement. 
 Charlotte consented, and Brian ratified 
 the treaty with his lips upon her hand. 
 Charlotte's face was crimsoned with this 
 first liberty which he had ever taken with 
 
 her;
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 21 
 
 her; but considering the occasion of it, 
 the darkness which enveloped them, and 
 that they were not exposed to the eyes 
 of a third person, she thought proper not 
 to take the least notice of it, not even so 
 much as to withdraw her hand, which the 
 happy Brian held in his till the coach 
 brought them home. 
 
 Brian afiTected the utmost «aietv and 
 cheerfulness during the time of supper, 
 to lull the suspicions of Charlotte, who 
 did not fail to observe him narrowly, but 
 without deriving: anv cause for imaginins: 
 that he intended to deceive her. He was, 
 however, very far from being easy in his 
 mind, as he could not leave the house 
 that night, to seek for some person to ac- 
 company him, and to provide him.self 
 with pistols. These considerations kept 
 him from closing his eyes during the 
 
 whole
 
 22 THE METKOPOLIS. 
 
 whole night, and rising soon after break 
 of day, he left the house with as little 
 noise as possible, as well to prevent in- 
 terruption, as to make the necessary pre- 
 parations for the rencounter. He has- 
 tened towards Piccadilly ; but as none of 
 the shops were open at so early an hour, 
 he entered St. James's Park, to stroll away 
 the interval. Not the least idea of fear 
 occupied his breast; on the contrar}', he 
 thought himself so grossly ofTended in the 
 person of Charlotte, that he burned to 
 inflict a more severe chastisement on the 
 rude assressor, since he was not satisfied 
 with the manual one which he had al- 
 ready received. 
 
 The time passed away so heavily, that 
 it appeared to In'm the lapse of an age, 
 before the clock at the Horse Guards 
 struck seven. He then left the Park, but 
 
 was
 
 THE METROPOMS. 23 
 
 was chagrined at not finding any shops 
 yet open. Strolling towards the place of 
 rendezvous, he beheld a gentleman pa- 
 rading before the door, and imagining 
 that he misht be the bearer of some mes- 
 
 o 
 
 sage to him from his antagonist, he ad- 
 vanced towards him. The gentleman sa- 
 luted him with his hat, and looking at his 
 "vvatch, addressed him thus — " You are 
 more than punctual. Sir; but as I do not 
 see you accompanied by a friend, may I 
 take the liberty of asking if you have not 
 had time to provide yourself with one ?" 
 " That is exactly my situation. Sir," 
 replied Brian ; " but, rather than not 
 keep my appointment, I intend to go 
 without one. I dared not to leave the 
 house last night, for fear of exciting the 
 suspicions of the lady who was with me^ 
 -iand who resides under the same roof, 
 
 which
 
 24 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 %vhicTi might have led to disappoint- 
 ment/' 
 
 " You acted perfectly rights Sir. I am 
 a stranger to yon, but that makes very 
 little difference between men of honour, 
 in similar cases. I perfectly understand 
 the etiquette, and shall be happy to be 
 permitted to act as your friend." 
 
 '' Are vou not a friend to the other 
 party, Sir?" said Brian. 
 
 " No, Sir; I have only a slight, a cof- 
 fee-house acquaintance with them ; but, 
 if I had been upon a more intimate foot- 
 ing, that circumstance would not prevent 
 me from seeing as much justice done to 
 yourself, as if your were my brother." 
 
 " Pray, Sir, give me leave to ask how 
 you became acquainted with this intended 
 meeting V 
 
 " Why, Sir, I was at the theatre last 
 
 night.
 
 THF, METROPOI.IS, 25 
 
 iiightj and witnessed the misconduct of 
 your antagonist, as well as your very pro- 
 per resentment of it. I likewise heard 
 the challenge given, and accepted; and 
 judging that it might be with you as I 
 now find it to be the case, I came hither 
 on purpose to prevent your being taken 
 unprovided. I admire your spirit, and 
 should be sorry that you should go to 
 the ground without a friend.'' 
 
 " I accept your offer, with the greatest 
 pleasure and gratitude, Sir,"replied Brian; 
 '' but I still labour under another disad- 
 vantase : as this is the first time that I 
 ever had occasion for pistols, I am with- 
 out them, and there is no shop open, at 
 which I may procure a pair." 
 
 " I am happy. Sir, to have it in my 
 
 power to prevent the necessity of your 
 
 trusting to any rubbish whiph may be 
 
 • VOL. I. c picked
 
 26 , THE METROPOMS. 
 
 picked up at a moment's warning. My 
 lodgings are at a very little distance ; and 
 as the people of the coffee-house are not 
 yet stirring, if you will walk, with me, I 
 can furnish you with a tried pair — hair 
 triggers; not made for shew, but service; 
 will neither dip, swerve, kick, nor hang- 
 fire." 
 
 Brian once more thanked his unex- 
 pected friend, and accompanied him to 
 his lodgings in Half Moon-street, where 
 he was furnished with the needful appa- 
 ratus for supporting the character of a 
 man of lionour. * 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 27 
 
 -* CHAP. II. 
 
 A Duel — Love's Alarms — Love, Friendship^ and 
 Gratitude- — Lovers'' Dreams. 
 
 On their return to the Gloucester cofTee- 
 house, they beheld the two persons who 
 were expected ; and Brian's new friend sa- 
 luted the principal aaS/r Charles RusliUglit, 
 and the second as Mr. Shadow. Thev, in 
 return, saluted him as Captain Fascine; 
 and enquired, with evident symptoms of 
 surprise, if he was to be the friend of the 
 other party ? The Captain replied in the 
 p-ffirmativCj and asked if they had thought 
 
 c 2 of
 
 28 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of any particular spot for the scene of 
 action ? Mr. Shadow observed, that every 
 place was alike, provided they could be 
 free from interruption. After some con- 
 sultation between the seconds, it was 
 agreed that, as Hvde Park was a too well 
 known scene of such affairs, the parties 
 should send for a couple of post-chaises 
 to take them to Uxbridge, where they 
 should walk out together till they could 
 find a place suited to their purpose. The 
 post-chaises were soon at the door, and 
 Sir Charles and his friend drove ofT in 
 one, followed by the Captain and Brian 
 in the other. 
 
 During the journey, the conversation- 
 of the Captain and Brian was so lively, 
 and on such indifferent subjects, that any 
 one who could have heard it, would have 
 imagined that their excursion had been 
 
 rather
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 29 
 
 rather on an affair of pleasure than on so 
 serious an occasion. On their arrival at 
 Uxbridge, the parties breakfasted toge- 
 ther to prevent suspicion, and then walk- 
 ed out into the fields. When they had 
 found a retired spot, the seconds agreed 
 upon a distance of twelve paces, which 
 were marked out; and as each of them 
 insisted that their principal was entitled 
 to the first fire^ they settled the point by 
 tossing up for it. Mr. Shadow won ; and 
 when the principals had taken their sta- 
 tions_, he asked if Brian was willing to 
 make as public an apology as had been 
 the indisnitv which he had offered to his 
 friend ? Brian firmly replied, that he 
 should dictate to his pistols the only 
 apology which he would ever make. — 
 Sir Charles then took deliberate aim, 
 and fired ; Brian received the shot in his 
 
 c 3 right
 
 so THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 right breast ; but, as he did not appear in 
 the least affected by it^ every one con- 
 cluded that it had missed him. Brian 
 then asked, in turn, if Sir Charles would 
 make such an apology as his friend the 
 Captain should declare himself to be 
 satisfied with, to the young lady whom 
 he had so grossly affronted whilst under 
 his protection ? On Sir Charles's refusal, 
 Brian fired : the shot broke the Baro- 
 net's right arm, and the discharged pistol 
 fell from his hand : he himself was pre- 
 vented from falling to the ground by his 
 second, who caught him in his arms. The 
 Captain running up to him, expressed his 
 hopes that he was not mortally wounded, 
 and that each party would be satisfied 
 with the proofs they had given of their 
 being men of courage, and drop their 
 animosity. As the Baronet was unable 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 31 
 
 to make any reply, the Captain returned 
 to Brian, and told him that it was high 
 time for them to look to themselves, and 
 to send a surgeon lo his opponent, whom 
 he believed lo have received a very dan- 
 gerous hurt. Brian, however, began to 
 grow very faint, his face exhibited the 
 most alarming paleness, and the Captain 
 now first perceived the streams of blood 
 which flowed over his clothes. " You 
 are wounded. Sir," cried the Captain — 
 " let me help you to reach the town, 
 that we may proceed with all expedition 
 to London, and get your wound skilfully 
 dressed." They returned to Uxbridge 
 with as much expedition as Brian's situa- 
 tion would permit ; but he was then so 
 ill, that it was judged dangerous to take 
 him any farther. 
 
 A medical professor was sent for, who 
 
 c 4 appeared
 
 5!2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 appeared very doubtful of the case ; and 
 giving the usual shake of the head, de- 
 clared that, as it was more than probable 
 that the patient ^vould expire under his 
 hands during the operation of extracting 
 the ball, he would not risk his own repu- 
 tation so far as to venture upon it, with- 
 out the assistance of some eminent sur- 
 geon of London. This shake of the head 
 was attributed by the Captain, who had 
 seen much of the world, to its true source 
 — ignorance; although, by persons who 
 are as ignorant as the professors that 
 make use of it, the verv same token is 
 accounted a symptom of great foresight 
 in the professor, and of imminent danger 
 tOxthe patient. The fact was, that the 
 medical gentleman had been no more 
 than a compounder of medicines under 
 an eminent practitioner in London, and 
 « preferring
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 33 
 
 preferring to be a master in any other 
 place to a servitude in the metropolis, 
 he had ventured to set up in business at 
 Uxbridge, on his own stock of knowledge. 
 In matters of barely administering: medi- 
 cines or external applications, such as 
 potions, lotions, blisters, glysters (where 
 it is very dilncult to discern between skill 
 and ignorance), and even in the articles 
 of tooth drawing and blood-letting, he 
 was as bold as a lion ; but in the routine 
 of more arduous surgical operations, 
 ■where unskilfulness is most easily de- 
 tected, he was as timid as a hare. It was^ 
 therefore, customary with him to pursue 
 the same mode as he took in the present 
 case, that of sending for a surgeon from 
 town to perform the operation ; after 
 which he would pour in drugs, to pre- 
 vent fevers, mortifications, and such like 
 
 c 5 consequences.
 
 34 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 consequences^ and to make up the usual 
 items of a long bill. This mode was cer- 
 tainly the safest for the patient and for 
 the doctor, as the latter could sav that 
 the patient was incurable, or lay his death 
 at the door of the operator, if such was 
 the consequence; or, if a cure took place, 
 he could (as he never failed to do) take 
 all the merit of it to himself. The Cap- 
 tain, however, was not to be so blinded ; 
 and having desired the surgeon to put a 
 stop to the haemorrhage as well as he 
 could, he jumped into the post-chaise, 
 and drove back to London, where he 
 found a skilful professional gentleman of 
 his acquaintance, a Mr. Handaside, who 
 instantly set out with him for Uxbridge. 
 ^i\\ Handaside had no sooner probed 
 the wound, than he pronounced it to be 
 more formidable in appearance than in 
 
 reality ;
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 35 
 
 reality; and, without the slightest hesita- 
 tion, he performed that operation, which 
 had appeared so arduous to the other sur- 
 geon. Brian bore the pain of the ex- 
 traction, excruciating as it must have 
 been, without flinching, or even groan- 
 rns:. It was no sooner finished, than, to 
 the surprise of all present, he expressed 
 his fears for his wounded antagonist, and 
 his wish that he mioht eniov the benefit 
 of that skill to which he was likely to be 
 indebted for the preservation of his own 
 life. His firmness was now less admired 
 than his generosity; and Mr. Ilandaside, 
 after having recommended to him to en- 
 deavour to compose himself, promised 
 that he would be readv to lend his assist- 
 ance to the other gentleman, if he was 
 not already taken care of. 
 
 Brian, however, could by no means 
 
 c G rest
 
 36 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 rest under the ideas of the anxietv which 
 his friends, Mr. Hewson and Charlotte, 
 would experience at his absence, parti- 
 cularly the latter, who must suspect the 
 cause of it. Having made known the oc- 
 casion of his uneasiness to the Captain, 
 the latter addressed him thus : ^' Mv dear 
 fellow, you need not retard your reco- 
 very on that account: your friends un- 
 doubtedly will be more gratified by hear- 
 ing that you have behaved like a man of 
 spirit, although you will smart a little for 
 \\, than that you preferred your safety to 
 your honour: that such will be the senti- 
 ments of the lady at least, I am perfectly 
 convinced, from my experience in the 
 sex. It may be proper, however, not to 
 let them remain in suspense ; and I can 
 write a letter to them, treating the wound 
 as a slight matter, and informing them 
 
 that
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 37 
 
 that it is the opinion of one of the most 
 skilful surgeons in London, that your 
 cure is certain, and will be speedy; or, 
 if you think that my going, in person will 
 be more satisfactory to them, command 
 me — you have only to say the word." 
 
 Brian was about to pour out a string 
 of apologies and thanks, but the Captain 
 prevented him, by saying that, where an 
 offer was sincerely made on one side, 
 there was no occasion for many apolo- 
 gies from the other side for accepting it; 
 and, in the present case, an elTusion of 
 words, after an effusion of blood, should 
 be particularly avoided. He then asked 
 if he should go or write? Brian preferred 
 the former; and after the Captain had 
 obtained Mr. Hewson's address, he was 
 presently again on the road to London. 
 
 Mr. Ilewson and his daughter were, at 
 
 that
 
 38 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 that time, in the most cruel suspense and 
 anxiety. At breakfast time, they waited 
 for Brian ; and at length a servant was 
 sent to seek him, who brought back word 
 that he was not in the house; and that, 
 as the door had been found unbolted, it 
 was probable that he had gone out early. 
 As Mr. Hewson knew nothing of the pre- 
 ceding night's affair, he sat down to his 
 breakfast; but Charlotte stood like one 
 thunderstruck at the news, and the co- 
 lour had wholly forsaken her cheeks. 
 Mr. Hewson, after waiting for some mi- 
 nutes, in expectation of her pouring out 
 hfs tea as usual, looked at her, and ob- 
 served her standing, and quite lost in 
 thought — " Come, come, my dear," said 
 he, smiling, ''we can surely breakfast ^or 
 C7ice without Mv. Bonnycastle." 
 
 Charlotte endeavoured to resume her- 
 4 self.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 39 
 
 self, and began to perform the honours 
 of the table, but in so awkward a manner, 
 that her father passed several jokes upon 
 her inattention. Charlotte put on a 
 feigned composure, that she might not 
 afflict her father with imaginary fears, al- 
 though she dreaded that her own would 
 prove but too real. 
 
 Mr. Hewson had no sooner finished his 
 breakfast, and withdrawn to the counting- 
 house, than, after many sighs, the unhap- 
 py Charlotte could not refrain from giv- 
 ing; vent to her direful forebodings in a 
 shower of tears. In this situation, and 
 before she could clear away the pearly 
 drops, was she surprised by her father, 
 who exclaimed — " Something must be 
 amiss, Charlotte: tell me truly, T charge 
 you on the authority of a parent, v.'hat 
 
 has
 
 40 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 has happened, or what you suspect to 
 have happened." 
 
 Charlotte related what had passed at 
 the theatre, and excused herself for not 
 mentioning it to her father, as she thought 
 she had obtained Mr. Bonnycastle's pro- 
 mise to take no further notice of the 
 affair. 
 
 " It is too late now/* said Mr. Hewson 
 — " the mischief, if anv is to ensue, is 
 over before this time. We must await 
 the event with patience, as it will be in 
 vain to endeavour, at this time, to trace 
 the rash youth, who undoubtedly went 
 out very early to prevent detention," 
 
 Charlotte uttered not a svllable: but 
 she no longer so';;Tht to restrain her sobs 
 and groans. Her 'uther Wiis touched with 
 her situation, and strove to relieve it — 
 
 " Brian
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 41 
 
 " Brian is brave/' continued he; " and 
 his cause is just, if there can be any jus- 
 tice in duelling. As for his antagonist, 
 I have no idea that he can be a brave 
 man who will insult a female; and al- 
 though he may muster sufficient resolu- 
 tion to shew his face upon the ground, 
 yet he may perhaps be glad to find a hole 
 to creep away from fighting. I have 
 often read in the newspapers, of the dis- 
 putes of these hox-lobby heroes, some of 
 which have been accommodated with an 
 if, others with an exchange of powder 
 alone, and I don't doubt but that was 
 terrifying enough to the principals. — • 
 Brian's antagonist is probably one of 
 these gentry ; but, should he be a fight- 
 ing man, Brian may as well prove victo- 
 rious as otherwise." 
 
 Mr. Hewson uttered this speech with a 
 
 feigned
 
 42 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 feigned composure; and leaving the 
 room, he dispatched a messenger to the 
 public office in Bow-street, to give no- 
 tice of the apprehended meeting, that 
 steps might be taken to prevent it, if not 
 too late. He had but just returned to 
 his daughter, when they heard a chaise 
 stop at the door, and a thundering knock- 
 ing at it. Charlotte jumped up, exclaim- 
 ing — " Ah ! he would never return in a 
 chaise ! no — he must be brought back, 
 either severely wounded, or a corpse I" 
 
 Mr. Hewson entertained a similar dread, 
 especially when a servant announced that 
 a gentleman wished to see him on private 
 business. Leaving Charlotte to X\\e care 
 of, the servant, he hastened to obey the 
 summons, which came from Captain 
 Fascine. 
 
 The Captain briefly related the whole 
 
 affair.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 43 
 
 aflhii*;, of which he had been a \vitiiess al- 
 most from the beginning to the end, in 
 the most favourable point of view, on 
 Brian's side ; and concluded with giving 
 Mr. Handaside's opinion of his wound. 
 
 As Mr. Hewson had often heard Mr. 
 Handaside's name and professional skill 
 mentioned, he was somewhat relieved by 
 this intelligence, alarming as it was, upon 
 the whole. He was afraid to break it to 
 his daughter (but it could not be avoid- 
 ed), as her fears would conceive the 
 worst. Having asked the Captain when 
 he should see Mr. Bonnycnstle again ? 
 and being answered that he should return 
 so soon as a change of horses could be 
 procured, Mr. Hewson expressed a desire 
 to accompany him, if he would have the 
 goodness to wait a short time. The Cap- 
 tain readily acquiesced ; and Mr. Hewson 
 
 returned
 
 i'l THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 returned to his daughter, to whom he 
 broke the news without the least altera- 
 tion, except that the surgeon had found 
 Brian's wound to be so slight that he 
 would be able to return to town within 
 two or three days at farthest : he added, 
 that to assure her, as well as himself, that 
 this report was not more favourable than 
 strictly true, he was going off with the 
 messenger, who had acted as Brian's 
 friend on the occasion ; and that he 
 should take care that nothing should be 
 wanting that might expedite his cure 
 and return. 
 
 After Charlotte had expressed herself 
 to be somewhat reconciled to the news, 
 and to approve of her father's intention, 
 Mr. Hewson recommended to her not to 
 torment herself with useless fears; and 
 getting into the chaise with the Captain, 
 
 thev
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 45 
 
 they drove to the Gloucester Coffee- 
 house, changed horses, and took the road 
 to Uxbridge. 
 
 Although Mr. Hevvson had always pro- 
 fessed the utmost abhorrence of duelling, 
 yet he had so high an opinion of Brian's 
 peaceable disposition, and entertained so 
 much regard for the defender of his be- 
 loved daughter, that he had perfectly 
 justified it to himself in this instance. 
 
 On arriving at Uxbridge, Mr. Ilanda- 
 side, who had never left the patient, ^vas 
 summoned to the parlour, and informed 
 his friends that his patient had dozed for 
 upwards of an hour, and had awoke so 
 much refreshed and relieved, that he was 
 confirmed in his former opinion of a 
 speedy cure. He, however, desired Mr. 
 Hewson, if he considered that his pre- 
 sence would be any way liable to agitate 
 
 his
 
 iG THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 his patient, to refrain from visiting him 
 for the present. 
 
 After some little hesitation, Mr. Hew- 
 son, who had clearly perceived the grow- 
 ing attachment between his daughter and 
 Brian, concluded that his presence might 
 discompose him, and he contented him- 
 self with writins: a most consolatorv let- 
 ter to himj painting his high sense of that 
 gallantry, which had put him to the risk 
 of his life on his daughter's account, and 
 expressing his hopes of his speedy return 
 to receive the heartfelt acknowledgments 
 of himself and his daughter. 
 
 Having communicated the contents of 
 the letter to the Captain and Mr. Handa- 
 side, who both approved them, the for- 
 mer carried it to Brian's room, exclaim- 
 ing, as he opened the door — " Here, my 
 dear boy, here is an effectual cure for 
 
 you !
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 47 
 
 you ! The old gentleman and the young 
 kdy are brimful of gratitude and admira- 
 tion. I hope there is a fortune of half 
 a plum at least for you/' 
 
 Brian perused the letter several times, 
 until he dropped asleep with it in his 
 hand ; and Mr. Hewson returned to Lon- 
 don in the evening, firmly relying on 
 Mr. Handaside's assurance that the worst 
 was past. 
 
 The Captain and Mr. Handaside never 
 left Brian during his confinement, unless 
 "when their own affairs required their 
 presence in town ; and^ in those cases, 
 they always returned to him at night. 
 Mr. Hewson was daily informed of the 
 progress of the cure ; and when Mr. 
 Handaside was of opinion that his pa- 
 tient could bear the journey to town, he 
 
 came
 
 43 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 came in person to carry him back with 
 him. Besides making a very handsome 
 compliment to Mr, Ilandaside, Mr. Hew- 
 son insisted on paying the whole of the 
 expences at the inn, alledging that they 
 had been incurred solely on hU oivn ac- 
 count. 
 
 Mr. Hewson, Brian, the Captain, and 
 Mr. Handaside^ then returned to town in 
 two post-chaises, and reached Mr. Hew- 
 son's door after dark: he had planned 
 it so, in order that the meeting between 
 Charlotte and Brian might be deferred 
 till the next morning, to allow time to 
 prepare for it, and to prevent any dan- 
 ger of a relapse in Brian. Immediately 
 after their arrival^ therefore, Brian, not- 
 withstanding his eagerness, and almost 
 entreaties, to be permitted to see Miss 
 
 Charlotte,
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 49 
 
 Charlotte, was prevailed upon, by Mr. 
 Hewson and his other friends, to retire to 
 bis chamber. 
 
 Mr. Hewson detained the Captain and 
 Mr. Ilandaside to supper, and gave them 
 an opportunity o^ admiring the person 
 and manners of his daughter, and of en- 
 vying the happiness of Brian, of which 
 they had not the least doubt. The guest.?, 
 in return, were incessant in their praises 
 of the conduct of Brian, which kind of 
 conversation they observed to be ex- 
 tremely gTateful to Mr. Hewson and his 
 daughter, particularly the latter, whose 
 face glowed with the praises of the ob- 
 ject of her attachment. 
 
 At taking leave, Mr. Hewson gave the 
 
 two gentlemen a general invitation to 
 
 call and see their friend, Mr, Bonnycastle. 
 
 Charlotte and Brian were both a Ion 2: 
 
 . VOL. r. D time
 
 50 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 time in composing themselves to rest on 
 that night, and then they slept only to 
 dream of happiness^ that is to say, of each 
 other. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 TBE METROFOLISc M 
 
 CHAP. IIT. 
 
 Who rMst glorious Prospects blighted hy a JVant 
 of Resolution to Jli) from bad Company — -The\ 
 first Steps to Dissipation hard to be retraced^ 
 and the Gulph of Wretchedness begins to i/azvn. 
 
 When the breakfast hour arrived, Brian 
 descended into the parlour, where he be- 
 held Charlotte alone. For an instant, her 
 joy at beholding him, after so cruel an 
 absence, called up the crim'son in her 
 cheeks ; but she no sooner observed the 
 pallid hue on his, than her own resem- 
 bled the lily. She turned her head aside, 
 to conceal the sigh which struggled iu 
 
 D 2 her 

 
 52 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 her bosom, and tlie tear which started 
 into her eye. Brian approached, took 
 her trembling hand respectfully, and ad- 
 dressed her thus, in the tenderest accents: 
 *' Will not Miss Charlotte pardon me 
 then for the deception which I practised 
 upon her, and which mv honour imperi- 
 ously dictated to me? If I have sti]# her 
 displeasure to encounter, lam only sorry 
 that I have lived to deserve it, and that 
 the bail had not been friendly enou";h \o 
 close my eyes for ever." 
 
 " How can you suppose. Sir," replied 
 Charlotte, with much emotion, " that I 
 tan entertain any such sentiment as anger 
 against you, after your having so gene- 
 rously exposed your life for my sake ? 
 It was to preserve a life which could not 
 but be dear to me, both from esteem and 
 gratitude, that I extorted a promise from 
 
 you
 
 THE METROrOLIS. 53 
 
 you not to endanger it. If you have 
 broken it, your suflerings have been so 
 severe, that I should rather V;ish to alle- 
 viate than to encrease them." 
 
 "■ Ah, my Charlotte, I h.^ve sufTered 
 nothing, since you confess that my life 
 is dear to vou i .How life-restoring must 
 be that confession, which informs me of 
 what I dared not even suspect, which 
 gives me to understand how inextricably 
 my happiness is interwoven with yours ! 
 How doatingly fond my heart is of you !" 
 
 At these words, a glow of transport 
 seemed to animate Charlotte's whole 
 frame; at first she trembled with delight, 
 and then a soft languor succeeding to her 
 tremor, she sunk upon Brian's bosom, 
 exclaiming, as she concealed her blush- 
 ing face, in the softest accents — " Do 
 you then indeed love me ?■' 
 
 D 3 Brian
 
 54 THE METROFOLrS. 
 
 Brian v.as so lost in' ecstacy, tbat he 
 inade no answer; perhaps he did not dis- 
 tinctly hear the question; till Charlotte, 
 looking earnestly in his face, as if she 
 had her dcc.bts, as if she feared to be mis- 
 taken^ repeated it. Brian made such ar- 
 dent protestations of the most unalter- 
 able attachment_, that she scrupled no 
 longer to give way to her feelings : she 
 suffered Brian to press her to his bosom, 
 and asked him why he had never told her 
 before that he loved her ? 
 
 " Because I had firmly resolved/* re- 
 plied he, " never to make that disclosure; 
 for which I cannot now justify myself: 
 love has triumphed over reason, and ren- 
 dered me ungrateful to my benefactor — 
 to your father !*' 
 
 " What is the meanins: of this sudden 
 change?" cried Charlotte, looking very 
 
 scriouslv—
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 55 
 
 seriously — " Do you repent of having 
 made nie happy by your confession ? Do 
 you wish to retract it ?" 
 
 " No ; I shall never repent of making 
 youhappy^my dearest Charlotte: I would 
 ■willingly make your happiness the sole 
 aim of my life, but it will never be in my 
 pcnver — Mr. Hewson will never consent 
 to give me his daughter; no — I am des- 
 tined to love, and to be miserable," 
 
 " Do not say so ; you may be happy, 
 if I can make you so. I am very well 
 assured, and so ought you to be, that my 
 father entertains the hiirhest esteem for 
 you ; and if you were to declare to him 
 an attachment to me " 
 
 " How can I venture to make such a 
 declaration, when there is so great a su- 
 periority of fortune on your side ? I 
 must banish every thought of an union 
 
 D 4 with
 
 56 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 with you, which could only appear in a 
 ihercenary point of view, on my side." 
 
 " But I shall not think so: fortune is 
 well exchanged for happiness ; and you 
 must promise me to banish all such no- 
 tions of imaginary honour." 
 
 Brian seized her hand, and kissed it 
 with a glow of rapture, which was inter- 
 rupted by the opening of the door, and 
 the entrance of Mr. Hewson. Brian was 
 as much shocked at being surprised with 
 Charlotte's hand enclosed in his, as he 
 would have been at being caught picking 
 a pocket; for, according to the princi- 
 ples which he had imbibed from his fa- 
 ther, and which had not been at that time 
 impaired by any vicious intercourse with 
 the" world, he thought that the highway- 
 man, who robbed from necessity, was a 
 better character than the man who would 
 
 steal
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 67 
 
 Steal a woman's ailections, without the 
 approbation of her parents. Brian look- 
 ed, as he felt, very much disconcerted ; 
 but he was somewhat restored to his ease, 
 by observing the utmost complacency 
 and kindness in Mr. Mevvson's looks and 
 conduct. Charlotte was not in the least 
 constrained by her father's presence; she 
 directed the most en<yno;ino: smiles and 
 speeches to Brian, who v.^ould have been 
 happy, but for the want of that paternal 
 sanction which he timidly despaired of. 
 lie was not, however, to remain long in 
 a state of suspense. 
 
 One day, when Brian was walking across 
 the parlour, with his arms folded, and his 
 eyes fixed on the floor, revolving whether 
 it was honourable in himself to remain 
 any longer under Mr. Ilewson's roof un- 
 tler existing circumstances, Mr. Hewson 
 
 D 5 entered
 
 53 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 entered the roorn. After having talked 
 a little on affairs of business^ Mr. Hewson 
 enquired where Charlotte was ? lookin^^, 
 at the same time, full in Brian's face. 
 Brian was disconcerted by the question, 
 and hesitated before he could stammer 
 out that he did not know. To complete 
 his confusion, Mr. Hewson turned short 
 upon him, and asked him if he did not 
 love his daughter? Brian started, the 
 blood flushed his pallid checks, and he 
 faintly articulated — " Love Miss Char- 
 lotte, Sir?" 
 
 '' Aye, do you love Charlotte, my 
 dau^!:^ht:er ? — Is it not a plain question? 
 and cannot you give me as plain an ant- 
 swer?" 
 
 '♦ I fear. Sir," replied Brian, " that I 
 have not acted as plainly with you as I 
 ought to have done. I confess that I love 
 
 M m
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 5-9- 
 
 Miss riev/son more rhan my life; and to- 
 prove the truth and disinterestedness of 
 my attachment to her, I was just now 
 thinking of asking you for your recom- 
 mendation to some mercantile house that 
 may be in want of a traveller. I should 
 have been void of sensibility, to have 
 witnessed so many rharms and so many 
 virtues unmoved; but I ought to have 
 quitted your house on the first discovery 
 which I myself made of my presumptuous, 
 passion — It is not too late now," » 
 
 Mr. Hewson sui'veyed him from head 
 to foot ; he saw, he could not avoid per- 
 ceiving, that he was in a very great agi- 
 tation^ that his eyes dared not to meet 
 the glances of a man whom he thousjht he 
 had injured — '•' Why," said Mr. IlewsoDy 
 *' do you think of leaving a girl, to whoin 
 
 D G y an
 
 60 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 yon confess that yon are attached, before 
 you have satisfied yourself that it is ne- 
 cessary you should do so?" 
 
 ^' I am already satisfied. Sir, that I can 
 have no pretensions to a lady of Miss 
 Hewson's fortune. You, and every other 
 person, might have deemed me merce- 
 nary, if I had addressed Miss Hev/son ; 
 and have concluded, not unnaturally, 
 that her fortune would have been mv 
 principal object : I therefore carefully 
 concealed from her the emotions with 
 which she had inspired me, until an un- 
 foreseen accident made me lose sight of 
 so honourable a reserve; till that time, 
 the secret never burst from mv labour- 
 ing bosom ; and, ever since, I have been 
 forming a resolution to avoid disturbing 
 the peace and happiness of yourself and 
 
 your
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 61 
 
 your daughter. At the very moment you 
 joined me^ I was planning the best me- 
 thod of accomplishing this design." 
 
 " I suppose. Sir/' said Mr. Ilewson^. 
 ■who had been smilinir durinoj the whole 
 of this speech, " that my daughter is as 
 much attached to you as you are to her.'* 
 
 '' If you shall please to ask her that 
 question," replied Brian, " I am certain 
 that she has too much candour, as well as 
 too hio;h a sense of filial dutv, to dissem- 
 ble with you on that or any other point." 
 
 Mr. Hewson left the room, without ut- 
 tering another syllable; and in about a 
 quarter of an hour he returned, leading 
 in the blushing Charlotte. Having placed 
 her hand in Brian's, he said — " There, 
 Sir, is my daughter's hand ; and be as- 
 sured, that if I imagined I could have 
 found a more worthy person than your- 
 self,
 
 62 THE METROrOLIS^, 
 
 self, vou would never have received it 
 with my consent." 
 
 Brian thanked Mr. Hewson in the best 
 manner his raptures would permit him^ 
 for this inestimable gift; and then turn- 
 ing to Charlotte, he asked her if it would 
 be offering the least violence to her in- 
 clinations, to consent to his happiness.^ 
 
 " No, Sir," replied she; " I bestow 
 my hand freely upon you, for the very 
 same reason that my father has already 
 given it to you." 
 
 Brian's happiness now seemed to have 
 attained nearly the pinnacle of fortune* 
 and to rest on a most solid foundation — 
 But what is the foundation of all human 
 ha p p i n ess .? — Sand. 
 
 Mr. Hewson declared, that he would 
 delay the marriage-ceremon^y no longer 
 than till the return of his son, who had 
 
 written
 
 TEE METROPOLIS. C3 
 
 Vvritten that he was about to embark at 
 Leghorn, and expected to be in London 
 soon after his letter. He did arrive, and 
 his arrival, which Brian had looked for- 
 ward to as the signal of complete happi- 
 ness, proved that of the most abject 
 misery. 
 
 Mr. Robert Hewson, the son, finding 
 how high Brian stood in the estimation 
 of his family, was excessively polite to 
 him ; and among other offers, which were 
 intended as acts of kindness, he desired' 
 his father to give him leave to introduce 
 him to some young persons of fashion, 
 with whom he had made acquaintance on 
 his travels. As Brian had never been in 
 any mixed company, except the trading 
 part of the city, whom he met at coffee- 
 houses on business, he was very doubtful 
 of his being able to conduct himself with 
 
 ease
 
 61 TIIE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ease in a higher sphere ; and he woulct 
 have readilv declined the offer. Robert, 
 however, gave so advantageous a charac- 
 ter of his acquaintance, that, as Mr. Hew- 
 son made no sort of objection, a natural 
 curiositv of vouth beiran to make Brian 
 wish to be admitted into such company. 
 When the evening came, Robert conduct- 
 ed him to a hotel, under Coven t-garden 
 Piazza. Brian had often heard the place 
 mentioned, but he had never felt the 
 least curiosity to visit such houses, be- 
 lieving them to be the temples of riot, 
 ebriety, dissipation, and ruin. 
 
 Brian was introduced \o a very gen- 
 teel-dressed party of young men, who 
 received him with the greatest polite- 
 ness. His heart was dilated with his re- 
 ception, and with the expectation of en- 
 joying a charming evening amidst such a 
 
 brilliant
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 65 
 
 brilliant company^ whose taste and con- 
 versation, from their knowledge of the 
 town and of foreign parts^ he presumed- 
 to have been of a superior cast. He was^, 
 however, miserably disappointed : the 
 interval before supper was trifled away 
 in recounting their schoolboy tricks at 
 the time of breaking up, their feats at 
 the last Newmarket meeting, and in lay- 
 ing bets for the next. They then fell 
 upon the subject of ladies of the town; 
 and from that they began to criticise up- 
 on theatrical performers and pieces, if 
 that could be styled criticism, which ex- 
 tended no farther than an insipid narra- 
 tion of Thespian anecdotes, that had ap- 
 peared in magazines years before. 
 
 The supper put an end to this sort of 
 trash; but it was only to give place \o 
 ^vorse. An hour was wasted over the 
 
 meal.
 
 (36 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 meal, in giving reasons why one of the 
 company would not eat of any high-sea- 
 soned dish. This subject, disgusting as 
 it was, was rendered still more nauseous, 
 by the chyming of the waiters in the 
 laugh, at certain appropriate stories which 
 they were called upon to witness. From 
 the very great familiarity which apparent- 
 ly subsisted betwixt them and the guests-, 
 Brian almo'ot expected that the former 
 would have taken chairs, after the supper 
 was removed. 
 
 At lenoth the cloth was taken awav, 
 the table replenished with bottles and 
 glasses, and a presi<lent and vice-presi- 
 dent appointed, previously to proceed- 
 ing to what was termed the business of 
 the cvl rang : this was nothing more than 
 an observance of the laws and ceremo- 
 nies of giving toasts, singing songs, and 
 
 drinking
 
 THE METKOPOLIS. 67 
 
 drinkin^^ bumpers. It was to no purpose 
 that Brian pleaded his inability to drink, 
 and that he had business of great conse- 
 quence to transact on the next morning; 
 Robert Hewson pronousiced him a green- 
 . horn, who had never been entered ; and 
 the whole company persisted in urging 
 him to do as the rest, and swallow bum- 
 per after bumper, to a routine of toasts 
 and sentiments, which he afterwards found 
 to have been long hackneyed through the 
 night-cellars. 
 
 This- prelude was, however, harmless, 
 to the scenes which followed. As it is 
 impossible for any club o^ 'bucks, Hoods, 
 eccentrics, odd fellows, high felloivs, or 
 free and accepted brethren, to pa?,s a wliole 
 evening on their own stock of v,it, or 
 whatever their heads can carry of other 
 people's, some auxiliaries, such as wo- 
 men
 
 C8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 men or hazard^ are resorterl to, that the 
 fun may be kept up. U the guests are 
 backward at mentioning women, the 
 waiters are sure to remind them of them, 
 because those houses a^re never without 
 plyers, who are penned up, like sheep in 
 Sinithfield, waiting to be sent for. 
 
 Some of these unhappy females were 
 introduced, and as the company were 
 some w'ay gone in the second bottle to 
 each man, Brian regarded the one who 
 was recommended to himself as a most 
 beautiful woman. Already inflamed vyith 
 wine, he drank her health in a goblet- 
 ful, challenged the companv to follow 
 the example, promised to meet the com- 
 panv again on the next night, and was 
 dignified with the appellation of a d — d 
 high fdlow. 
 
 To all that ensued he was totally in- 
 sensible.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 09 
 
 sensible, till he awoke in the morning, in 
 a strange place, with a violent pain in his 
 head, his lips scorched, and his ideas in 
 the utmost confusion. It was a Ions; time 
 before he could call to remembrance some 
 faint traces of the preceding night's de- 
 bauch : he started up, as if terrified at 
 himself, and beheld the fair one, who, the 
 night before, had so fascinated him, now 
 so changed, that he left her as much a 
 vestal as he found her, paid his quota of 
 a most extravagant bill, and returned 
 home, afraid to meet the eves of Mr. 
 Kewson and his daughter. 
 
 Robert Kewson undertook their ex- 
 cuse, which was, that having been de- 
 tained late, they had preferred accepting 
 a bed at a friend's house, to disturbinfi 
 the family at an unusual hour. The well- 
 known sobriety of Brian's past conduct, 
 
 made
 
 70 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 made this excuse pass without the least 
 suspicion: he hugged himself in the de- 
 ception ; and when Robert reminded him 
 of his engagement to meet the same com- 
 pany in the evening, he told him the re- 
 solution which he had formed of never 
 Turning such another risk. Robert ridi- 
 culed his fears, by asserting that his fa- 
 ther and sister might be always kept in 
 the same darkness ; and insinuating that 
 his honour demanded that he should keep 
 this one engagement, if he never made 
 another. Brian was tricked out of his 
 resolution ; and, rather than appear ridi- 
 culous in the eyes of those whom he 
 now despised, he consented to become 
 wretched. 
 
 The meeting was polite and sociable, 
 but the company appeared rather flag- 
 ged ; novelty was w^orn off — Brian was 
 
 considered
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 71 
 
 considered as one of them, and the mask 
 was dropped. A repetition of the pre- 
 ceding night's amusements was slightly 
 proposed, and rejected ; but a challenge 
 given by one of the company to throw a 
 main, was rapturously received, and dice 
 were called for. 
 
 For a while, Brian was only a mere 
 spectator; but as the game of hazard ap- 
 peared to him extremely fair, and he was 
 much pressed to trv his fortune, he took 
 the box, and tlirew in five hands. Em- 
 boldened by this success, when it came 
 to his turn again, he threw with spirit; 
 and at the breaking u}) of the party, was 
 a winner of sixty guineas, A play-club 
 was established, to meet twite a-week ; 
 and as they returned home that night, 
 Brian w^as overjoyed, not only with his 
 present good fortune, but with the pros- 
 pect
 
 72 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 pect of gaining considerably in future, 
 Mi'ithout being suspected by Mr. Hewson 
 of such practices. On the next day, he 
 purchased the Doctrine of Chances, 
 Hoyle's Games, and all the treatises on 
 the subject, and studied theiii with the 
 most profound attention. As he had 
 been much used to business, he was coo], 
 could lay his bets better than any of the 
 other members of the club, and was more 
 successful than any of them. 
 
 He had been for some time so deeply 
 involved in calculating the probability of 
 winning against that of losing, that he 
 became almost insensible of any change 
 in his own conduct, till he could not 
 help observing that Mr. Ilewson and his 
 dauohter orcw verv reserved, and rather 
 ceremoniously polite than alTcctionate 
 and tender, as they had formerly been. 
 
 Avarice,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 7S 
 
 Avarice, however, solely possessed him; 
 and he imagined that when the fortune 
 with which he flattered himself, was once 
 gained, he should easily gain more of the 
 ■esteem of Mr. and Miss Hewson, than he 
 could possiblylose in the pursuit of it. 
 He was dreadfully staggered, however, 
 when, on entering the breakfast-parlour 
 one morning, after being up the greater 
 part of the preceding night at the club, 
 he saw nothing of Miss Charlotte. On. 
 •enquiring after her, he was coolli/ told by 
 Mr. Hewson, that he had consented, at 
 her own express desire, to her paying a 
 visit, for a month or two months, to a 
 boarding-school acquaintance, in Wor- 
 cestershire. Brian was thunderstruck, 
 both at the matter and manner of com- 
 municating this intelligence, as he had 
 never before received the slightest inti- 
 voL. I. E matioa
 
 T4 THE METPxOPOLIS. 
 
 mation of such a visit being intended. 
 Besides the coolness of Mr. Plevvson's re- 
 ply, he never gave the slightest hint of 
 (he marriage, and even appeared to avoid 
 studiously any private conversation with 
 his late favourite. 
 
 Brian now began to perceive the folly 
 of his laie disgraceful pursuits, and he 
 bitterly reproached Robert Hew son with 
 having drawn him into them, to the de- 
 struction of all his happiness. Robert 
 Ilewson laughed at his groundless fears, 
 as he termed them, and assured him^ tl.at 
 his sister's visit was only a preliminary 
 step to his marriage, which she was gone 
 to propose to a distant relation, from 
 whom she had a great evpectation ; and 
 that he had heard his father declare, that 
 the marriage should take place immedi- 
 ately after her return. 
 
 Improbable^
 
 I'RK METROPOLIS. 75 
 
 Improbable, and really untrue as was 
 this assurance, Brian wns so infatuated as 
 to suffer himself to be lulled by it, and 
 to be drawn that very evening into ano- 
 ther fertile source of misfortune. Robert 
 Hevvson carried him to a house, where 
 he introduced him to tvvo females, whom 
 he represented as in high-keeping, and 
 desirous to keep it up for a day or two, 
 their friends being gone out of town for 
 that time. 
 
 Brian's passion for gallantry had long 
 been whollv absorbed by that of gamingj 
 but the Champaigne flew about briskly, 
 the ladies were in high spirits, sung well, 
 and were so charmingly beautiful, that ■ 
 he was surprised into a consent to join in 
 an excursion for a day or two. Post- 
 chaises were hired, the parti quarrc set 
 off for Windsor, and were so mutually 
 
 E 2 delighted
 
 76 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 delighted with each other, that they de- 
 layed their return till the end of the sixth 
 day. The consequence was, that Brian's 
 partner lost her friend, who had returned 
 during her absence; but she declared, 
 that the loss of such a scrub would never 
 sive her a moment's uneasiness, and that 
 she would rather live with Brian upon 
 bread and water. 
 
 As Brian had been the means of her 
 losins: a good allowance, he thouirht he 
 was bound in honour not to desert her ; 
 and to support this additional expence, 
 he doubled his assiduity at the play- table 
 with such success, that, besides making 
 his mistress many valuable presents, he 
 accumulated upwards of two th .^Msaiid 
 pounds at the end of six weeks fiom the 
 commencement of their acquai. tance. 
 His infatuation encreased — he saw no- 
 thing
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 77 
 
 thing but golden prospects before him ; 
 but one fatal night dissolved the club, 
 and all his dreams of happiness. 
 
 A dispute took place between Robert 
 Hewson and another of the cUib; words 
 ran very high ; but, by the interference 
 of Brian and others, the affair was seem- 
 ingly adjusted. When the rest of the 
 coir.pany, however, had returned to their 
 employment, the two disputants slipped 
 away unheeded, retired to an adjoining 
 bagnio, fought, and about four o'clock 
 in the morninof, Robert Hewson was 
 brought to his father's house, desperately 
 wounded. 
 
 Mr. Hewson *s agony was not to be de- 
 scribed ; and when Brian knocked at the 
 door about an hour afterwards, totally 
 ignorant of his companion's fate, he was 
 told that, as Mr. Hewson had, in all pro- 
 
 E 3 bability.
 
 7S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 babilitVj lost his son^ through a quarrel 
 at a garaing-house, of which he himself 
 was a principal inepaber, and also kept a 
 mistressj Mr Ilewson thought it inconsis- 
 tent with his reputation, and the interest 
 of his daughter, to suffer him ever to 
 enter his door again. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 79 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 A Mistress Jinishes what the Gaming-tables had 
 begun — Characters of tzco Men of the Town — • 
 A Club of dramatic Censors' described — Their 
 Chastisement hjj an odd Character — The Know- 
 ing Ones taken in — A Midnight Street Kobberij. 
 
 Bkian's trunk and clothes were handed in- 
 to the hacknev-coach which had broiig^ht 
 him home, and he ordered it to be driven 
 to his mistress's house. He did not con- 
 ceal from her the full extent of his mis- 
 fortunes; but she made light of them, 
 and represented that, as he had already 
 been so successful at play, he might find 
 
 E 4 the
 
 80 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the gaming-house a surer and more pro- 
 fitable card than the counting-house. — 
 Brian observed, that the club would be 
 inevitably broken up by the unhappy 
 catastrophe of his companion ; but she 
 assured him, that every gaming-house, 
 every company, in whatever circle, was 
 open to a man of his appearance, who 
 could make a show of plenty of ready 
 cash. This was some alleviation to his 
 -misery, although it was v/orse than death 
 to him to appear more criminal than he 
 really was in the eyes of Miss Hcwson, 
 for whom his love returned with redoub- 
 led violence, now that he considered her 
 as irrecoverably lost. He sent a letter to 
 Mr. Hewson the next morning, in which 
 he stated all that had passed since the ar- 
 rival of his unfortunate son in England, 
 and assuring him that he had not the 
 
 , least
 
 TETE METROPOLIS. • SI 
 
 least idea of the duel which had termi- 
 nated so fatally, till he was informed of 
 it at his own door by the servant^ who 
 announced to him the heart-rending de- 
 cree which was to separate them for ever. 
 He wished not to appear, in his eyes, 
 worse than he really had been ; and con- 
 jured him, in his report to his father, ta 
 ^commiserate the feelings of a friend. 
 
 This letter was immediately transmit- 
 ted by Mr. Hewson to Mr. Bonnycastle, 
 the father, who wrote to his son, that it 
 had proved a terrible shock to his aged 
 frame, to find that he had so madly over- 
 thrown the fairest prospects of earthly 
 happiness, by plunging into an abyss of 
 vice. He gave him the most salutary ad- 
 vice respecting his future conduct, and 
 concluded with informing him, that he 
 should never wish to hear from him again, 
 
 E.5 unless;
 
 8^ THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 unless it were to assure him of the utmost 
 remorse for his past vicious conduct;, and 
 that he was engaged in some industrious, 
 honest pursuit. 
 
 This letter plunged Brian into the ut- 
 most despair^, as he considered himself an 
 outcast from all the society that he held 
 dear in the world. He was roused, how- 
 ever, by his mistress, who ridiculed his- 
 pitiful behaviour; and urged him, now 
 that he was dismissed from his last lead- 
 ing-string, to assume the man. Her art- 
 ful remonstrances, taunts, and insinua- 
 tions, mollified at intervals by caresses, 
 and the most violent protestntions of 
 eternal attachment, at length banished 
 all symptoms of remorse, and inflamed 
 him against the world, which he deter- 
 mined to make his future prey. He com- 
 menced man of llie town, frequented the 
 
 most
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 83^ 
 
 most noted taverns, and assumed that pi- 
 tiful consequence which every street- 
 lounger puts on, to practise upon the 
 unwary. These airs of consequence 
 which he ga\e himself, did Fsot, howc^'er,. 
 sit very easy upon him, either from a na- 
 tural bash fulness, a consciousness of hiS' 
 wretched situation, or a want of practice. 
 He soon made a numerous acquaintance^ 
 because he appeared to have plenty of 
 money ; and he would often sigh at the 
 happy nonchalance and gaiety of some of 
 them, %vho were sometimes even reduced 
 to the necessity of borrowing two or 
 three guineas from him to pay their share 
 of an entertainment, which they had en~ 
 joyed as if they hatl been possessed of 
 thousands. This indifTerence, he observ- 
 ed, was not only a source of happiness t» 
 themselves, but made them most welcome. 
 
 E 6 guests
 
 84 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 guests in every company, as, without the 
 least pretensions to genuine wit or learn- 
 ing, they dispelled the gloom of melan- 
 choly by the rapidity and whimsicality 
 of their nonsense. 
 
 Brian endeavoured to analyze this ap^ 
 parently-happy temperament, which he- 
 found to consist of a feigned contempt 
 of worldly affairs, intended to pass for 
 the ease and indifference of high life and 
 affluence, and of a consummate effron- 
 tery — the present characteristic of good' 
 breeding. He wished to attain it; but,, 
 notwithstanding all his assiduity, that re- 
 flection, which never fails to attend up- 
 on deeds, the reverse of those dictated 
 by early and well-grounded principles, 
 would cross his path, and make him walk 
 as if he trod upon thorns. 
 
 His two principal types were young 
 
 men
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 85 
 
 men of the tozvn, of the names of Glare 
 and Burnhh, whose every word betrayed 
 their ignorance of even their mother- 
 tongue ; but their numerous anecdotes of 
 people in high life, seemed to announce 
 that they frequented their places of re- 
 sort : although the words families, and 
 dirty faniili/ acres, were frequently in 
 their mouths^ yet they ever avoided say- 
 ing where they were situated. They 
 lived as expensively, and apparently free 
 from every care for the future, as if they 
 had been possessed of great wealth; al- 
 though the difference of their situations, 
 being sometimes flush of money, and at 
 others without a single guinea, made 
 Brian imagine that their onlv resources 
 ivere, like his own, the doctrine of chances. 
 They had, however, the advantage of 
 knowing men and life infinitely better: 
 
 Brian
 
 S3 THE METROPOLIS', 
 
 Brian felt himself perfectly at ease iiT 
 their company, because they fjave hint 
 implicit confidence for all the airs which 
 he assumed, without enquiring into the 
 foundation of them — a politeness of 
 which they undoubtedly expected a re- 
 turn. 
 
 Those two friends introduced Brian, 
 one evening after a lounge at Covcnt- 
 garden Theatre, iiito one of those houses 
 in the neighbourhood, which are resorted 
 to by the second-hand dramatic censors, 
 whom they represented to him as the 
 greatest geniuses of the aa^e, and the fates 
 who held the dramatic scissars. Brian 
 was excessivelv attentive to their conver- 
 sation ; but, to his great surprise, he 
 found that it was wholly mechanical, and 
 a mere repetition of speeches from \\\q 
 works of diOerent authors^ without the 
 
 les5t
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 87 
 
 least efTusion of spontaneous, genuine 
 wit, or the least spice of sound criticism. 
 At intervals, the company were surprised 
 and disconcerted in their remarks by an 
 elderly person, genteelly dressed, who 
 exclaimed, loud enough to be heard 
 throughout the room — "Mouthers ! Mur- 
 derers of English ! Monldes ! Parrots !"' 
 
 The critics passed over the affront as 
 long as they could, consistently v.'ith the 
 lofty character which they assumed, and 
 the high opinion which they entertained 
 of themselves; but at length the chairman^ 
 tipping a wink to the rest of the com- 
 pany, observed, that it gave himself, and 
 must afford the rest of the company infi- 
 nite satisfaction, to find that their judg- 
 jiients on dramatic productions were ge- 
 nerally those which afterwards issued to 
 the public thiough the medium of the 
 
 periodical
 
 S8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 periodical publications, and that no man 
 of sense would find fault with them : 
 some few persons indeed might be dis- 
 pleasedj such as those iinforfunare pre- 
 tenders, whose bantlings had been d — d 
 on the first nights of representation. 
 
 The rest caught his meaning, and ad- 
 dressing the chair, at the same time that 
 they kept their eyes fixed on the in- 
 truder, they began to take him ofT, as 
 they thought, most unmercifully. The 
 gentleman perceived their drift, and 
 answered for a while only by the most 
 contemptuous sneers; but at last paying 
 his reckoning, and rising from his chair, 
 he addressed them thus: ''Gentlemen^ I 
 must confess that you utter more of other 
 people's wit, and less of your own, than, 
 any other set of men in the kingdom ; 
 but as you are mere public machines by 
 
 profession^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 89 
 
 professionj inonkies by action and gri- 
 mace, and parrots by speech, I will never 
 trouble you with my company again^ till 
 you shall have attained (which I think 
 will never be the case, from your present 
 ignorance) a greater number of ideas, 
 and a less share of impertinence. How- 
 ever, I'll not quite desert you; I'll now 
 and then drop a few shillings at the the- 
 atre-door, to have an opportunity to 
 stare at you from a distance, as I would 
 at wild beasts." 
 
 He instantly retired, and the hypercri- 
 tics endeavoured to conceal their asto- 
 nishment and confusion at his severe 
 chastisement, under a hearty laugh, and 
 shouts of, " Who is he?" — " What was the 
 title of his condemned piece?" and^ 
 *' May his next attempt be crowned with 
 a dinner !" 
 
 Brian was so strongly impressed by the 
 
 ^ rx -r^ *» ■»• -^ »-» ♦
 
 90 THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 apparent eccentricity and bluntncss of ^ 
 the stranger, that he expressed a \vish to 
 Glare and Burnish to follow him to one 
 of his hniintSj and make some enquiry in- 
 to his real occnpafion and character; but 
 thev informed him that he needed not 
 take that trouble at present, as he was a 
 very well known character, and they 
 could introduce him into his company 
 again almost every evening, and pro- 
 bably they might pop in upon him that 
 very night. 
 
 In fact, after leaving the dramatic club, 
 as it was the market morning at Covent- 
 garden, they called at the Finish, where 
 they found the stranger, whom Glare and 
 Burnish saluted by the name of Verjuice, 
 and congratulated him upon the success 
 with which he had blown up the pretend- 
 ers to dramatic criticism. 
 
 " There h uo matter of triumph," re- 
 plied
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 91 
 
 plied Verjuice^ '' in detecting such igno- 
 rant iiTiposlors — I should have thought 
 
 them beneath mv notice, if thev would 
 
 J ^ J 
 
 but have deemed me unworthy of theirs; 
 but this is the age of pretenders : we have 
 pretenders to high life, whose origin 
 might be traced to the plough-tail ; pre- 
 tenders to wealth, who are only runners 
 to gaming-houses; pretenders to wit, 
 who are only retailers of Joe Miller's 
 jests; pretenders to politics, who pick 
 up their knowledge from the servants of 
 parliament-men in the public-houses near 
 St. Stephen's; and pretenders to gallan- 
 try, who are qualified to guard the sera- 
 glio of the grand sultan. I shall leave to 
 yourselves, gentlemen, to fix which class 
 vou belong to." 
 
 " Why, to the same class in which you 
 rank/' rejoined Glare — " We pretend to 
 
 enjoy
 
 52 THE METROPOLrS. 
 
 enjoy life at the expence of the fools, 
 upon whose heels v/e tread at every slep."^ 
 
 " It is a happy world/' observed Ver- 
 juice, "when fools can enjoy themselves 
 at tlie expence of fools." 
 
 " There is no folly, however^ in those 
 \vho laugh/' said Burnish. 
 
 " They are only the wisest of fools/' 
 cried Verjuice — " But pray, gentlemen, 
 did you leave the club of critics to follow 
 me hither, and take me ofi'? If so, I shall 
 take myself off, without even intruding 
 upon you so far as to ask you to lend me 
 as much money as will pay my reckoning 
 — a custom very prevalent among you 
 gentlemen rn high life." 
 
 Brian observed the sneer which accom- 
 panied this last speech, as did his compa- 
 nions, who burst into a laugh, and de- 
 clared that they came only to have their 
 
 appetites
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 93 
 
 appetites whetted by a few of his cynical 
 remarks, before sitting down at the Hum- 
 mums, to a turbot and brace of pheasants, 
 of which they invited him to partake 
 
 " Don't hum us — to sprats and a brace 
 of cowheels, in some night-cellar^ I rather 
 suppose," replied Verjuice — " WeM, I be- 
 lieve I have still cighteenpence left in my 
 pocket, which will be sufficient to defray 
 my share of any supper you will have 
 to-night; so I don't care if I do for once 
 descend to keep you company." 
 
 They all went to the coffee-house, where 
 they were regaled with a most sumptuous 
 supper; and when they had drunk about 
 a bottle apiece, Glare and Burnish pro- 
 posed to make out the niglit, either by 
 beating up the watch, and retiring to 
 some of the houses under Covent-oarden 
 piazzas, or by talking a hand aJ 'hist. 
 
 ;:.oi!>fht
 
 9i THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 '' I thought it would end," said Ver- 
 jiiice, "in your wishing to sup at the ex- 
 pencc of myself and your friend : but, 
 be it as it will, if he will be my partner, 
 wc will try whether we cannot make you 
 ap;^-iV to your sle-vard for the next re- 
 mittance, before it is due." 
 
 ' They then called for Cards, and in about 
 three hours' time, Brian and his partner 
 had won ail their adversaries' rcadv cash, 
 a.mountin<? to twenty-seven ^i-nneas.-— 
 Tliey would then have borrowed from 
 Brian, but X'crjuice dissuaded him from 
 lending, saying that none but a madman 
 would lend a knife to cut h«s own throat; 
 and that, for his part, he would not play, 
 unless they could raise a supply else- 
 where. Glare and Burnish proposed play- 
 ing upon tick on both sides, till they could 
 meet again, prepared to renew the con- 
 test
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 95 
 
 test with the ready; but Verjuice would 
 stay no longer, aiul walked oiTwith Brian, 
 leavin<; Glare and Burnish to take bed^ ia 
 the i:ouse, as they had not monev to de- 
 fiav their reckoning!. 
 
 " I tliought/' said Verjuice, '' that, 
 unless you plajjcd boolij, we should oliiige 
 the gentlemen to luuig up the reckoidng. 
 The waiter v. ill not pcilirr-i be afraid to 
 trust tl-ein, as they are weli known to be 
 iiien of honour, and not long together out 
 of cash." 
 
 " They nre men of independent for- 
 tunes,, I presume/' said Brian. 
 
 " Have they really palmed tliat upon 
 you?" asked Verjuice, in return; "or 
 are you going to run it upon me.^ — ■ 
 Don't you know better.?" 
 
 '' Upon my honour," replied Brian, 
 " although I have been often in their 
 
 company.
 
 96 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 company, yet I never put to them any 
 questions respecting their means of sub- 
 sistence." 
 
 " "Why, the gaming-houses are their 
 only estates/' said Verjuice, " and the 
 family stock all their funds; and if you 
 are not a bird of the same feather, they 
 W'iH surely rook you." 
 
 Brian felt mucli confused at this insi- 
 nuation ; he assured Verjuice that he had 
 never yet made a livelihood by gaming, 
 but that he had a little ready money, 
 which he wished to embark in some mer- 
 cantile employ. 
 
 " You have fallen upon a very bad 
 method then," said Verjuice; *' for, if 
 your friends do not soon ease you of 
 your capital, yet they are so well known 
 vpvn the torcn, that every respectable 
 house will be shut against you : you 
 
 must
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 97 
 
 must then either be a gamester or no- 
 thing. But excuse me^ Sir, your gay 
 turn of mind does not seem suited to the 
 confinement of a countinii-house." 
 
 " And yet, till lately, I have known no 
 other," said Brian; " but, I confess, it 
 does not altogether suit me. If I could 
 bestow my money with any person pos- 
 sessed of sufficient interest to procure me 
 a genteel post under Government " 
 
 " Take care how you proceed there," 
 said Verjuice — " There arc persons who 
 make it their business to take in the un- 
 wary, by getting their money, and pro- 
 mising places, which they could not ob- 
 tain for themselves." 
 
 " But would a person of consequence, 
 a nobleman, act thus ?" 
 
 " jMany of them would, and do every 
 day : the profligacy of many young men 
 
 VOL. I. F , of
 
 98 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of rank of the present day, renders them 
 callous to shame; and, of the two, I would 
 rather risk my money at the gaming-table, 
 than trust it to their promises. But I must 
 now wish you a good-night, as I perceive 
 your route lies a different way." Brian 
 was going through Piccadilly, and Ver- 
 juice stopped to turn up Prince's-street, 
 Soho — " But, before we part, ]et me give 
 you a piece of advice : be out of the way 
 to-morrow, for I suspect that Glare and 
 Burnish will send to borrow money from 
 you, to release themselves from the house 
 where we have left them." 
 
 Brian thanked him for the hint, and 
 expressed a wish to keep up the acquaint- 
 ance ; giving him an invitation at the 
 same time, to dine with him the next day. 
 Verjuice accepted the invitation ; and, 
 after receiving Brian's address, left him. 
 
 He
 
 THE METJtOPOLIS. 99 
 
 He had scarcely walked fifty yards^ be- 
 fore he heard a voice exclaim — "Watch! 
 watch!" From the sound of the voice, 
 and the direction whence it came, it im- 
 mediately struck him that it proceeded 
 from the old gentleman whom he had 
 just quitted. He turned back, ran up 
 Prince's-street, and was just in time to 
 observe two men forcing another down 
 an alley leading into Rupert-street. He 
 followed, and cried up, to terrify the 
 thieves, '^ Here they are ! run rounds and 
 cut off their retreat in Rupert-street !" — 
 The ruffians instantly quitted their prey, 
 fired a pistol in the direction in which 
 our adventurer stood, happily without 
 doing him any mischief, and ran off in 
 the opposite one. Brian hastened to 
 raise the person whom they had thrown 
 on the ground, and were then in the act 
 
 F 2 ^of
 
 100 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of rifling, and found that it was indeed 
 his new acquaintance. Brian asked if he 
 was hurt? and not receiving any answer 
 but a stifled groan, supposed he had been 
 stabbed, and roared out for the w^atch. 
 When they came however, by the addi- 
 tional light of their lanthorns, they per- 
 ceived a handkerchief tied over the mouth 
 of the supposed murdered person, which 
 being removed, they had the satisfaction 
 of hearing him say that he believed he 
 was not much hurt. 
 
 Having got him on his legs, and exa- 
 mined his clothes, to see if there was any 
 blood upon them, but could find none, 
 Brian congratulated Verjuice on his 
 escape. 
 
 ''' But how have you yourself escaped?" 
 demanded the old man ; '' for they fired 
 a pistol at you, as you ran up." 
 
 '' I feel
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 101 
 
 " I feel nothing amiss," replied Brian. 
 
 His own clothes now underwent a si- 
 milar examination^ and a hole was disco- 
 vered in the left skirt of his coat, appa- 
 rently made by a ball, which must have 
 narrowly missed the thigh. Brian desired 
 one of the watchmen to get a hackney- 
 coach to the corner of the alley, where 
 he put Verjuice into it; and, after hav- 
 injr siven a crown to the guardians of the 
 night to drink, he desired to accompany 
 him home; but the old man declined the 
 ofTer with many thanks, assuring him that 
 he was in no fear of further danger now, 
 and was neither so frightened nor hurt as 
 to prevent him from keeping his ap- 
 pointment to dine with him. 
 
 P 3 CHAP.
 
 I0!2 XMK METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 A Kept-Misfress dissected — The Buplicitij and 
 Tricks of Bagnio-Keepers exposed — A further 
 Acquaintance with an odd Character. 
 
 As Verjuice had foreseen, a note was 
 brought, the next morning, from Glare 
 and Burnish ; but Brian had given orders 
 to the servant, to tell any one who should 
 ask for him, that he was gone out for the 
 dav. 
 
 At dinner-time. Verjuice was punctual; 
 and he and Mrs. Fisher (Brian's mistress) 
 eyed one another with no little keenness. 
 
 After
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 103 
 
 After dinner. Verjuice proposed a walk; 
 and Mrs. Fisher would have prevented 
 Brian from accompanying him, by ex- 
 pressing a wish to have him go out with 
 her; but Brian pretended particular bu- 
 siness, and left her. 
 
 " Pray, is the lady, to whom you have 
 done me the honour to introduce me, 
 really your wife ?" enquired Verjuice. 
 
 " Not legally so." 
 
 " I thought so — her face seems not 
 new to me." 
 
 '' Have you any knowledge of her?" 
 
 "None in particular: when we often 
 see a face, we remember it, without far- 
 ther acquaintance." 
 
 *' I think her an honest woman, of the 
 sort." 
 
 " Like all the rest of them, I dare say.'» 
 
 The lady was then dropped, and they 
 
 F 4 walked
 
 J04r THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 walked into Hyde Park, where Verjuice 
 highly entertained Brian with the charac- 
 ters of the principal personages, not one 
 of wi;om but he knew_, and he received 
 nods from several of them. 
 
 When they returned to supper^ Brian 
 was informed that the messenger who had 
 been there that morning, had returned 
 several times, and, the last time, had left 
 
 a message, desiring him to come to , 
 
 at his return. Verjuice asked Brian 
 sneerinolv, if he did not mean to com- 
 ply with the request? but he replied 
 only by bidding the servant continue to 
 deny him to any person from the same 
 place. 
 
 Mrs. Fisher was very polite to Ver- 
 juice, but it was evidently constrained 
 civility ; and, after his departure, she 
 asked Brian where he had picked up that 
 
 suspicious
 
 THE METROPOLIS. lOJ 
 
 suspicious character, and who and what he 
 was ? 
 
 Brian re})liedj that he knew nothing of 
 him, but tiiat he was a humourist, whom 
 chance threw in his way ; but that he was 
 fiir from entertaining any suspicion of 
 him, as he stroNe to put him on his guard 
 aoainst those who mijiht wish to take ad- 
 vantage of him, 
 
 " Aye, mv dear Brian, to have you all 
 to himself" 
 
 " I think he has no such views; but I 
 shall put his own advice in practice against 
 himself, till I know more of him." 
 
 " I am very much misjtaken, if he be 
 not a designing person. However, keep 
 vour secrets to vourself — male friends 
 are no less dangerous than female ones." 
 
 Probably the reader will have penetra- 
 tion enou<ih to c;uess whv Mrs. Fisher 
 
 p 5 wished
 
 106 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 wished to break up this intimacy ; if not, 
 the reason will be presently disclosed to 
 him. Brian was so taken with the eccen- 
 tricities of Verjuice, who seemed to as- 
 sociate with mankind solely to make sport 
 of them, that he began to imbibe much 
 of his cynical humour, to which he was 
 no doubt predisposed, by his own disap- 
 pointment in his tenderest hopes, which, 
 notwithstanding Mrs. Fisher's caresses^ 
 would, at intervals, give him the most 
 excruciating pangs — he experienced that 
 he could never drive Miss Charlotte Hew- 
 son from his heart, although he despaired 
 of obtainino- her. He was now more than 
 ever with Verjuice, as Mrs. Fisher began 
 to make home uneasy to him, by drop- 
 ping all her former gaiety, and appearing 
 sad, taciturn, and gloomy : sighs would 
 every now and then escape her, although 
 
 she
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 107 
 
 she wished it to appear that she endea- 
 voured to suppress them. Brian pressed 
 her repeatedly to tell the cause of her 
 uneasiness. " What !" replied she, " that 
 you might expose me to the ridicule of 
 your satirical friend Verjuice! No; I 
 will die first " 
 
 Brian was so easfer to find out the cause 
 of her secret grief, that he applied to her 
 servant^ and became the dupe of as stale 
 a trick as could be played off, although 
 he had heard much of the artifices of fe- 
 inales of that description^ and had re- 
 solved never to suffer himself to be 
 duped by them. He had, however, pre- 
 sented her with jewels, which she accept- 
 ed with a well-fcisrned reluctance, to the 
 amount of three hundred pounds; and 
 he had advanced several sums towards 
 expences of housekeeping, having de- 
 
 F G - sired
 
 108 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 sired the servant to call upon her mistress 
 for as little as possible, without giving 
 her reason to think that she was not at 
 the whole expence. There was not the 
 least occasion for this delicacy, as Mrs. 
 Fisher and her servant had the best un- 
 derstanding ; and the latter only waited 
 for her cue, to break ground against 
 Brian. He had no sooner put the ques- 
 tion to her, than she beoan a Ion '2; dis- 
 mal storv, about how well her mistress 
 liad lived with the last friend, whom she 
 left for him ; but that she had been run- 
 ninsr behindhand ever since. Her love 
 for him would not let her disclose her 
 present situation to him, lest he should 
 think her in ercc Ft m-jj ; but, as c,he hoped' 
 to be savedj her mistress went in fear of 
 beins: arrested everv day, as she had ^ivcn 
 lip all company for his. Brian snapt at 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 109 
 
 the bait, and ordered her to get a list of 
 her mistress's debts, -uithout sav'iig a 
 word to her about it. She had it ready, 
 she said, and had been coinrj. to shew it 
 to him several times, but fear of her mis- 
 tress's anger had prevented her. Even 
 this ready-wrote out list did not open his 
 eyes, he was infatuated for the moment, 
 and he gave the giri the money to pay the 
 whole amount, nearly to the tune of seven 
 hundred pounds. 
 
 This folly may appear incredible in a 
 gamester; but Brian was young, of warm 
 passions, and vain of the possession of so 
 fine a woman as Mrs. Fisher certainly was; 
 he, moreover, thought it a mcritoiious 
 act, to save a girl from that ruin to which 
 she had reduced herself for luve of him. 
 
 Brian was now reduced to about one 
 
 thousand
 
 110 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 thousand guineas, and he began to reflect 
 thai it was time to leave lounging and 
 betake himself to the gaming-tables, 
 which he had shunned whilst he was richj 
 dreading a reverse of fortune. He was 
 to meet Verjuice that evening, by ap- 
 pointment; and when the time came, he 
 was so unusually thoughtful, that Ver- 
 juice asked what ailed him ? and whether 
 his njistress had drawn heavily upon his 
 banker that mornin;^? — Brian had long 
 wished to open the real state of his affairs 
 to Verjuice, whom he thought capable of 
 givinuj hi:n the best advice, but bashful- 
 ness had hitherto prevented him : the 
 present question afforded him a fair op- 
 portunity, and he frankly gave him a 
 skeich of his past life, not concealing 
 Mrs. Fisher's affair. 
 
 *' From
 
 THE METROPOLIS. Ill 
 
 '' From the first moment I beheld that 
 woman," cried Verjuice, " I thought she 
 was duping you." 
 
 " Duping ! — Do you imagine that this 
 was a planned thing ?" 
 
 '' Certainly, to pay either her real or 
 pretended debts. She always looked shy 
 upon me, because she must have guessed 
 that I was no greenhorn, and she dreaded 
 lest I should split upon her. Her gloom 
 and sighs were intended to excite your 
 curiosity, and try what hold she had up- 
 on vou : when she thouirht you were 
 wrought up to her purpose, the maid 
 was set at work, and you wore caught." 
 
 *' But do you really think, if I were 
 distressed, she would not make away with 
 every thing to set me up again ?" 
 
 " On the contrary, she would turn her 
 back upon you, and her door would be 
 
 closed
 
 119 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 closed against voii, fiom that moment. 
 'Tis easv to make the trial, and nnich 
 better to do it in jest tiian in earnest. 
 Feign yourself reduced to that distress, 
 and see what reception you will meet 
 with: 'twill never recover what is lost, 
 bill may save from her grasp what is still 
 left." 
 
 Brian resolved to make the trial in- 
 stantlv ; and having appointed a place 
 of meeting;, he returned to Mrs. Fisher's. 
 The servant informed him, that she was 
 gone to a house in Hart-street. Ccvent- 
 garden — a resort not only for the com- 
 mon class, but for those in high keeping, 
 when they were inclined for a lounge. 
 Brian had often accompanied her thither, 
 and the master and mistress had alwavs 
 expressed the lv.o^t cordial friendsliip for 
 hiin ; nay, they had several times offered 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 113 
 
 to lend liim any sum of money he might 
 want; adding, that it was only to ask and 
 have. He found his mistress sitting with 
 the landlord and landlady, who, so soon 
 as he opened the door, rushed towards 
 him to welcome him ; and the landlord 
 said, it was well he was not of a jealous 
 disposition, for his wife was as fond of 
 Mr. Bonn V castle as of himself. 
 
 " Nay, for that matter," cried the land- 
 lady, " vou are as fond of his Honour as 
 I can be ; and have often told me, he was 
 the finest gemman in England. I woiider 
 indeed what makes all the men and wo- 
 men so fond of him : I'm sure, if he want- 
 ed it, he might have all we were worth in 
 the world." 
 
 " Aye, that he should, and heartily 
 welcome," said her hu'iband, vanishing, 
 and returning with a bottle of claret, out 
 
 of
 
 114 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of which he drank to his guest's heahh^ 
 with the most fervent protestations of 
 kindness. 
 
 Mrs. Fisher^ holding her glass in one 
 hand and seizing Brian's with the other,, 
 looked him full in the face, and wished 
 the most bitter bad luck might befal her, 
 if she ever refused to share her last six- 
 pence with him. 
 
 Brian could not have found a fairer 
 opportunity of putting all these protes- 
 tations to the test, and he immediately- 
 declared,, that some unlucky circumstan- 
 ces had made it necessary for him to bor- 
 row from some of his friends, two hun- 
 dred pounds for a month. During the 
 latter part of his speech^ he took notice 
 that the landlord was trying to put the 
 cork into the bottle aiiain ; and it was no 
 sooner ended, than, turning to the door, 
 
 he
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 115 
 
 he cried—" Coming ! coming !" and in- 
 stantly left the room, followed by his 
 wife. 
 
 Brian then turned to Mrs. Fisher, who 
 gave a start, as if just awakened, and 
 asked her what she thought of the beha- 
 viour of these people ? 
 
 " Lord, I don't know ; to be sure, they 
 know their own affairs best. Do ring the 
 bell — I want somebody to get me a chair." 
 
 *' Where are you going ?" 
 
 " To the Kei/, in Chandos-street." 
 
 " I came on purpose to spend the 
 evening with you." 
 
 " I can't stay. Is it to be expected 
 that a girl, who has her living to get, can 
 waste her time for nothing?" 
 
 Before he could reply, the landlord and 
 landlady came back ; and, after some little 
 altercation between them who should 
 
 speak
 
 116 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 speak firstj the former got the start, and 
 addressed Brian thus: " I scorn to be 
 worse than my word; and if I had any 
 money in the house, you should be wel- 
 come to it; for I'd do any thing to help 
 a gcmmnn in distress. But indeed, Sir, 
 I have so many bad debts, that nobody 
 on earth wants money more than I do. — 
 Here is your bill. Sir — not much — I ne- 
 ver love to spunge upon my friends — 
 only twenty-five pounds in the whole, 
 for yourself and madam. Take your time. 
 Sir, iince it is not convenient now — a 
 week will make no oreat odds " The 
 landlord then left the room, followed by 
 his wife, who told Mrs. Fisher she wanted 
 to speak to her, 
 
 " They are a couple of scrubs," said 
 Mrs. Fisher; *' and, for my part, FU 
 never enter the house a<>ain. You must 
 
 have
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 117 
 
 have a very mean spirit, not to pay them 
 their bill immediately." 
 
 " But how can I do it, unless you will 
 lend me the m.onev ?" 
 
 " If I have any more than this half- 
 o'uinea in the world, mav I never see 
 daylight again ! — You know I would 
 pawn my gown off my back for you !" 
 
 "Well thought of ! You have super- 
 fluous plate enough upon your sideboard 
 at home, to raise what I w.mt." 
 
 " Yes: and then mv servants would 
 miss it, and it would be talked of in the 
 neighbourhood, and my landlord would 
 seize for his rent." 
 
 " Your jewels then " 
 
 " I have not enough, as it is^ to go de- 
 cently to the Opera-house. Ycu ask things 
 out of all reas<5n; unless you would starve 
 me, and that would do neither of us good. 
 
 Before
 
 118 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Before I would let such creatures dun me, 
 I \yould Pray/ are you the first gen- 
 tleman that has been reduced to take a 
 ride ?" 
 
 '' What ! would vou have me turn 
 highwayman ?" 
 
 '' Oh dear i is that such a vast matter? 
 Have not you been a gamester? and tliat, 
 I am sure, is the worst calling of the two. 
 But I see what sort of a spirit you have : 
 either prove that I am mistaken, or never 
 see mv face again.'* 
 
 She was then going to leave the room, 
 but Brian stopped her, coolly observing, 
 that she should at least have the satisfac- 
 tion of seeing the scrubs, as she termed 
 them, paid, before they bade a final adieu 
 to each other. He then rang the bell, 
 and the landlord and landlady reappear- 
 ed. Brian took out of his pocket-book 
 
 twenty-
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 119 
 
 twenty-five pounds in notes, and de- 
 manded a receipt, to the no small sur- 
 prise of the trio. 
 
 " There, by G — d!" cried Mrs. Fisher 
 — " Did not you see me wink at you, so 
 much as to say, he was humming us ? — 
 Well, ray dear Brian, you must at least 
 confess that %ve were even with you.'* 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha !" shouted the landlord — 
 *' I seed you tip me the wink, and you 
 see'd me return it. Why, Bess, what the 
 devil is become of the chirr ui ? sure I 
 brought it in : but one rinirs here, ano- 
 ther there, that one does not know Vv'hat 
 one says or does. Do step to the bar 
 for it, Bess."" 
 
 " The receipt !" cried Brian. 
 
 " Surely your Honour don't take in 
 earnest what was only meant as a joke ?" 
 
 " I have taken it in its true light," re- 
 4 plied
 
 120 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 plied Brian, " and will never set foot in 
 your house again." 
 
 '' As your Honour pleases for that — 
 you may go farther, and fare worse. I'll 
 bring the receipt immediately." 
 
 Whilst he was writing if, Mrs. Fisher 
 and the landlady exerted themselves to 
 make Brian drink, and pass the whole af- 
 fair over as a joke ; but he only hummed 
 a tune. After the business was settled, 
 Brian told Mrs. Fisher that he was sfoins: 
 to her house to remove his \\.\^z-<\<z^ i and 
 as she might probably wish to see what 
 he took away, she might accompany him 
 in a hackney-coach, w^hich he desired to 
 be called. She replied, that she had not 
 the least doubt of his honour; but as he 
 seemed to wish her to go, she would ac- 
 company him. On the road, she tried 
 all her arts, even to tears, to make him 
 
 change
 
 THE METROPOLIS.- 121 
 
 change his mind ; but finding that he was 
 proof against thenij and ordered his trunks 
 into the coachj she pursued him to the 
 door, with loud peals of laughter. He 
 drove away to meet Verjuice, who en- 
 joyed heartily the success of his scheme, 
 which had thus opened his friend's eyes. 
 
 Brian thanked him for having warned 
 him of this shoal, and expressed a desire 
 to get a lodging before night. 
 , " If you are willing to lodge under 
 the same roof with me," said Verjuice, 
 " I believe that vou can be accommo- 
 dated ; and I assure you, that I would not 
 make such a proposal, if I had not a bet- 
 ter opinion of you than of any man I 
 have ever yet seen ; for, to avoid imper- 
 tinent intrusion, I have never entrusted 
 the secret of my abode to any one." 
 
 Brian thanked him for his good opi- 
 VOL. I. G nion.
 
 122 THE METrvOPOLIS. 
 
 nion, and accepted his offer. They got 
 into the conch, and the coachman, after 
 he had received his directions from Ver- 
 juice, drove off. 
 
 The coach stopped on the outskirts of 
 Mary-le bone, before a small neat houses, 
 surrounded by a garden. Verjuice alight- 
 ed^ and desired Brian to remain in the 
 coarh till he had apprised the lady of the 
 house of his having brought a visitant; 
 and, after a lapse of about five minutes, 
 he returned; with an elderly genteel wo- 
 man, who still bore the impression of 
 much youthful beauty, and better days. 
 On approaching the coach-door, she told 
 Brian that she should be very happy to 
 accommodate any friend of Mr. Verjuice, 
 but that the srnallness of her house would 
 only admit of her giving up a bed-room 
 entirely, with the use of the common sit- 
 ting-parlour.
 
 The Metropolis. 123 
 
 iing-parloiir. Brian replied^ that he 
 should be perfectly satisfied with this ac- 
 commodation : and preliminaries being 
 thus adjusted, the coachman was dis- 
 charged. 
 
 Mrs, Marsden shewed Brian a very plea- 
 sant well-furnished bed-chamber; and the 
 terms which she asked were very mode- 
 rate. Verjuice desired her for once to 
 order supper in his own apartment, to 
 which he retired with Brian, who was ra- 
 ther surprised, at the manner in which 
 the house was furnished: every article 
 was excessively genteel, not to say ele- 
 gant, and in plenty; and Brian told his 
 friend, that he enjoyed a paradise within 
 the bounds of an immense city. 
 
 " I have given this house,*' replied 
 Verjuice, " to the lady whom you have 
 seen, on condition of holding mv own 
 
 G 2 two
 
 124 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 two rooms for life, and of her taking 
 every kind of trouble ofl' my hands. She 
 is likewise to admit no other lodger, nor 
 even a visitor, who may entertain any 
 prying curiosity into my concerns: not 
 that I have any secrets at present worth 
 their knowins;-, or my concealino; : but I 
 have long chosen to laugh at the world, 
 •without holding any particular acquaint- 
 ance with it. You are the only person 
 ivho have, for years, tempted me to break 
 through my usual reserve : I could per- 
 ceive that you had received the benefit 
 of a good education, although I have 
 never known the advantage of even a 
 common one. From the first moment 
 that I saw you in the company of Glare 
 and Burnish, I imagined that you were to 
 be their prey, and I wished to rescue you 
 from their clutches : it was with this view 
 
 that
 
 THE MF.TROrOLIS. 125 
 
 that J accepted their invitation, such as it 
 was, to sup with men whom I despised : 
 I closed with their proposal of cards, to 
 discover whether you were really their 
 bubble, oi' a draw for them ; in wliich 
 latter case I would have been satisfied 
 with the loss of a few guineas, and you 
 never would have known any more of 
 me. The result convinced me, that you 
 were, as yet, unhackneyed in their prac- 
 tices, and I met your invitation to a fur- 
 ther acquaintance. I now owe you per- 
 haps my life, and will, if it be agreeable 
 to you, give you a convincing proof of 
 my prepossession in your favour and gra- 
 titude, by making you acquainted with 
 the outlines of my life, which I may do 
 in the interval before supper: the narra- 
 tive may enlighten you, with respect to 
 your own future conduct in life." 
 
 G 3 Brian
 
 126 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Brian thanlved him for this token of 
 his confidence, \vhich he should gladly 
 accept, and hoped he should never prove 
 ungrateful for it. 
 
 Verjuice then began his history, as 
 follows. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 TKB METROPOLIS. 127 
 
 CHAP. vr. 
 
 History of Mr. Verjuice. 
 
 *' I WAS left to the care of the parish of 
 , in the East Riding of York, as 
 both my parents, who were only labour- 
 ing people, died when I was a child: I 
 have no other reason, therefore, to boasj 
 of my ancestry, except that I have heard 
 them spoken of as very industrious ho- 
 nest people, and perhaps those are the 
 most reasonable grounds on which we 
 can be proud of our ancestors. When I 
 was quite a lad, I was taken from the 
 
 G 4 workhouse'.
 
 128 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 workhouse, to serve as an under-helper 
 in the stables of Sir David Whiphand, 
 "vvho was as ig-norant as myself, excepting 
 in those matters which related to racing, 
 hunting, and cocking. In his stables, 
 then (for I was seldom admitted farther, 
 always sleeping under the mangers or in 
 the hay-lofts), I imbibed my first know- 
 ledge of mankind, which I afterwards 
 turned to a good advantage. The head- 
 helper taught me, that we must look up- 
 on our master, as he regarded the foxes 
 in his neighbourhood, as fair game, and 
 jl^in together to run him down. He 
 never failed to enforce this theory by 
 the following kind of practice, whenever 
 the Baronet had rode a hard day's chace: 
 * D — n it, Joe,' he would say, ' the horses 
 are in a sad plight, and we must have 
 double doses. Kun to the housekeeper 
 
 with
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 129 
 
 with our bottle, for a little brandy to 
 rinse out the horses' mouths; take the 
 can too, and get some strong beer from 
 the butler, to make a mash; any of the 
 maids will give thee a little sugar, and 
 thou canst crib a couple of eggs from 
 the poultry-yard ; bring a crust of bread 
 and cheese for a snack; and, by the time 
 "we have lipp'd off our flip, the horses 
 ■will be dry enow to clean, and we shall 
 be fit for work — Look sharp now.' 
 
 " I was so much with the horses, that 
 a kind of intimacy sprang up between 
 us; and my attention to them could not 
 escape the notice of my master, whose 
 chief delight they were. A book of far- 
 riery, which I borrowed from one of the 
 grooms, instructed me in the principal 
 anatomical points of that noble animal; 
 and I easily got by rote such technical 
 
 G 5 phrases
 
 ISO THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 phrases as blood, bone^ strength, cou- 
 rage, fire, speed, &c. 
 
 " Emulation now began to inspire me 
 with a longing to rank among the grooms, 
 and it was not long before I was gratified. 
 My master had made a match for a con- 
 siderable sum, at the ensuing Doncaster 
 races, and none of the grooms were of 
 sufficiently light weight for his purpose i 
 mv size suited exactly, but I was unskilled 
 in the manoeuvres of the turf: I was, how- 
 ever, taken into training and sweating, 
 and exercised the horse so much to the 
 Baronet's satisfaction, that he determined 
 to venture on me; probably the rather, 
 because, from my ignorance, he thougiit 
 himself secured against my selling him. 
 From the moment that the point was 
 settled, I never left the horse which I was 
 to ride; and we came on the ground, 
 
 panting
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 131 
 
 panting equally^ I believe, for victory. 
 My master kept me consUmtly in sight 
 till the signal was given to start, to pre- 
 vent the opposite party from feeling for 
 me; but I verily believe, so anxious was 
 my desire for fame, that I should have re- 
 fused a bribe of a purse of guineas, al- 
 though I had never had one in my hand 
 in my life. Mine and the horse's efforts 
 were successful ; and I shall never forget 
 how my heart expanded, when, on jump- 
 ing out of the saddle, my master shook 
 me by the hand, swore I was a d — d cle- 
 ver lad, and clapped a couple of guineas 
 into my hand, to drink his health. 
 
 ^' I was now placed above my former 
 master, the head-helper, who was ordered 
 to do whatever I bade him ; and, having 
 plenty of leisure time, I studied the dis- 
 tinction between distances, hands, stones, 
 
 G G catch-
 
 132 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 catch-weight, give and take^ and whim 
 plates, post and handicap matches. My 
 master being also very fond of cocking, 
 to ingratiate myself with him, I studied 
 the whole arts of breeding, feeding, and 
 pitting. I was now allowed the run of 
 the house, and a good bed, instead of my 
 litter one; and was upon familiar terms 
 with my master, who, perceiving the ra- 
 pid progress I made in those ai^is and 
 sciences, which alone he deemed useful or 
 honourable to mankind, never attended 
 any races or sporting- matches, without 
 taking me with him. My wages were 
 settled at twenty guineas a-year, besides 
 clothes, and an allowance of five per 
 cent, on the amount of every match I 
 should win. 
 
 " I had no idea of greater happiness 
 than I at present enjoyed, until the pier- 
 cing
 
 THE Mr;TROPOLIS. 133 
 
 cing dark eyes of one of the female ser- 
 vants, which were often cast on me^, and 
 as often withdrawn in swimming confu- 
 sion, whenever I caus;ht their fiances, 
 made me feel that Nature had intended 
 iTie for some other employment besides 
 rearing colts and chickens. As we were 
 both mere children of Nature, unde- 
 bauched by the arts arising from birth, 
 rank, and fortune, we soon came to a 
 mutual explanation, and agreement of 
 iinitins:, so soon as we should have saved 
 money enough to enable us to take a 
 farm, or public- house, in the neighbour- 
 hood. In the meantime, we indulged 
 ourselves in all the innocent freedoms of 
 a pure attachment ; and I made no less 
 sure of having her hand, than of receiv- 
 ing happiness along with it — But she was 
 mere woman, 
 
 I perceived. 
 
 ft
 
 I 
 134 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " I perceived, by degrees, that she be- 
 gan to repulse me, when I attempted a 
 repetition of our usual freedoms; and I 
 thought that she assumed airs of conse- 
 quence. As this behaviour encreased, I 
 went through all the gradations of anxi- 
 ety, grief, despair, and mortification ;; 
 in turns, I begged, entreated, flattered,, 
 railed, raved, cursed and swore at her r 
 my situation appeared to make Iier re- 
 lent, as she really loved me ; but ambi- 
 tion linally steeled her heart against alii 
 the pangs of mine. 
 
 " So well, however, did she manage 
 her cards, that I had no idea of the game 
 she was playing, till the Baronet one day 
 called me aside, and, after praising me as a. 
 most \alualAle servant, informed me, that 
 he was sorry to be necessitated to part 
 with me, but such was the case. As I 
 
 was
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 135 
 
 was too much astonished to be able to 
 return any answer, he added, that he was 
 well aware of my a-Wachment to a certain 
 female in his family, and not having been 
 able to avoid seeing her in the same light 
 as'I had done, he had, that verv morning, 
 made her his wife, which would account 
 for the necessity of our parting. 
 
 *' My eyes were now opened to the 
 
 cause of Betty Duster's treachery ; and 
 
 as I had as little inclination to obey the 
 
 future commands of Lady Betty, as she 
 
 had to blush at laying thera upon a man 
 
 with whom she had been upon such fa- 
 
 iTiiliar terms, I immediately quitted my 
 
 situation To soften my disappointment,. 
 
 Sir David presented me with a bank-note 
 
 for two hundred pounds, and gave me 
 
 such an excellent written character, that 
 
 I should not have long wanted a place, 
 
 if
 
 136 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 if I had wished for one ; but I now began 
 to look higher, and giving myself credit 
 for sufficient knowledge to start upon 
 my own bottom as a sporting gentleman, 
 I hastened up to London, on the outside 
 of the coach. 
 
 " On my arrival, I clothed myself fa-' 
 shionably, bought a hack, and introduced 
 myself into all the second-rate gaming- 
 houses, the tennis-courts, and cockpits: 
 but, for fear that my finances should run 
 out faster than I could recruit them, I 
 took up my abode in a garret, for which 
 I paid two shillings a-week, and lived 
 with the utmost frugality. 
 
 " For a while, I had no other guide in 
 laying my bets, than my own little skill 
 in physiognomy : those faces which were 
 branded with design and suspicion, I 
 marked down for rooks; whilst those 
 
 which
 
 tnE METROPOLIS. 137 
 
 ^vhich were open and frank, I set clown 
 as the characteristics of those children of 
 ease, affluence, and credulity, the pigeons. 
 Trusting to these indices, and siding with 
 the former against the latter, I seldom 
 lost; and scarce a night elapsed without 
 my adding somewhat to my little capital. 
 " My life was as different as day and 
 night : diving into some cellar to take 
 my cheap pennyworths, and retreating 
 to my garret, when the fatigues of a 
 gambling life made rest indispensable, I 
 appeared in public as a man of fortune 
 and fashion ; and although it was strong- 
 ly suspected that I had no other mode of 
 supporting myself than gaming, yet as I 
 dressed well, paid my debts of honour^ 
 and spent my money freely, whenever I 
 indulged, which was very seldom, in cof- 
 fee-house dinners or suppers, I was coun- 
 tenanced
 
 138 THE MKTROPOLIS. 
 
 tenanced by, and intimate with several 
 persons of fashion, nav, noblemen.'* 
 
 " I beg pardon for interrupting you/' 
 said Brian ; " hut, utterly devoid of edu- 
 cation as you \Nere, and having so lately 
 emerged f om the stables, I cannot con- 
 ceive, not only how you could muster 
 sufficient courage, but how you could 
 manage to pass yourself off as a gentle- 
 man in such company." 
 
 " You know nothing yet of high life, 
 I perceive," replied Verjuice, smiling — 
 " I had no occasion to aim at raising my- 
 self to the manners of the nobilitv, as 
 they had sunk down to that of my former 
 situation ; as they assumed the language 
 and manners of grooms and mail-coach 
 drivers, what was only affectation in them, 
 was nature in me. Numbers of them were 
 no better bred than myself, and all their 
 
 little
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 139 
 
 little learning was of the same stamp : 
 the only necessary attainment, was an 
 ease not to be ruffled, and an effrontery 
 not to be shaken. To be polished, in 
 the present age, one needs only to be 
 knowing, or to appear so.'* 
 
 '* I thank you for this explanation," 
 rejoined Brian ; " and, from the very 
 slight experience I have had of fashion- 
 able life, I perfectly agree with you.— • 
 Have the goodness to proceed.'* 
 
 ** A deep scheme was, however, laid 
 by the family-7nen, to make me refund 
 my winnings with interest, as they al- 
 ways attack those professed gamesters, 
 who venture to act independently of 
 them. One of the most adroit was pick- 
 ed out, to insinuate himself into my 
 good opinion, and to lead me as a victim 
 to the altar : indeed they are all adroit ; 
 
 but.
 
 140 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 but, as you will readily guess, some are 
 more so than others, as in every situation 
 of life. The true-bred gamester must be 
 possessed cf the following natural or ac- 
 quired proper; es: he must have an eye, 
 sharp as a hawk's, to catch instantaneous- 
 ly the minutest errors that others may 
 commit, and to turn them as quickly to 
 his advantage; he must have a more than 
 ordinary presence of mind, to enable him 
 to recover any faux pas made by him- 
 self, or to profit by that of others; he 
 must have the nice hand of a surgeon, to 
 fit him for performing any operation ; 
 his countenance must be ingrained, to 
 conceal shame or disappointment; and 
 he must possess courage enow, or the 
 affectation of it, to face out detection. 
 One of the best skilled in the art of dis- 
 simulation was set to work upon me, and 
 
 by
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 14 t 
 
 hy entering into conversation \vhenever 
 he met me, putting me on my guard 
 against certain characters^ and joining 
 me in bets which were 2;enerallv success- 
 ful, I was insensibly drawn deeper into 
 the snare. 
 
 " He made many attempts to sound 
 the depth of my purse; but there I was 
 always upon my guard against him^ be- 
 ing ashamed to confess on how small a 
 capital I supported the figure which I 
 made in public. Being therefore unable 
 to ascertain to what extent he might ex- 
 pect to bubble me, and afraid perhaps of 
 startling me, by setting oflfwith too high 
 a demand, he told me one day, that he 
 would let me into a good thing, as equal 
 sharers, if I could bring about three hun- 
 dred pounds with me, just to make a show 
 at firstj as he had one of the finest Jiats 
 
 in
 
 142 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 in the world in training, and I should be 
 sure to carry oiT treble that sum with 
 ease. As his demand did not amount to 
 quite one half of my present capital^ I 
 agreed, after some little hesitation^ and 
 repaired with the money to the rendez- 
 vous. 
 
 "' The pretended flat, v;ho was a dra^d), 
 was introduced, and we won five hundred 
 pounds from him before midnight. We 
 then left off, just to take our supper; 
 nnd my friend tipped me the wink to en- 
 courage the circulation of the glass, in 
 order to intoxicate the flat. Whether any 
 drug was mixed with the liquor I know 
 not, but I was soon insensible to every 
 thing that passed afterwards. 
 - '^ In the morning, as I had been put to 
 bed in the house, I was roused by my 
 friend, who, in a feigned phrenzy of pas- 
 6 sion.
 
 THE METIIOPOLIS. 143 
 
 sion, exclaimed, that I had ruined both 
 him and myself, because I \vould insist 
 on playing-; and had not only lost all his 
 winnings, but the whole of our stock. 
 As I lay like one thunderstruck, and was 
 incapable of making any answer, he re- 
 sumed his discourse in a gentler tone, 
 by bidding me not to despair, as we 
 were still sure to make the bubble, who 
 was impatient to renew the contest, re- 
 fund his winnings with ample interest, if 
 I could but bring another brace of hun» 
 dreds into play, and resolve to keep sober. 
 
 *' If my eyes were not opened to the 
 trick, yet my suspicions began to awake, 
 and I resolutely refused to have any more 
 to do with any partnership-affair; upon 
 which he left me, heartily cursing my 
 headstrong folly. 
 
 *' I had now experienced such checks 
 
 from
 
 144 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 from love, friendship, and v»'ine, that I 
 resolved to discard them for ever^ and to 
 concentrate all my happiness and efforts 
 within myself. I resumed, with encreas- 
 ing perseverance, my former isolated 
 plan of proceeding ; and, by the utmost 
 stretch of frugality, I soon found my 
 stock encreased to one thoivsand five 
 hundred pounds. Having opened an ac- 
 count with one of the principal banking- 
 houses, to give myself greater credit, I 
 
 now ventured into B s'sand W 's, 
 
 in St. James's-street, and joined in the 
 first circles, till I imagined that years, and 
 a difference of manners and dress, had 
 placed me beyond the knowledge of 
 those who had seen me in my former 
 humble capacity. I then visited all the 
 race-grounds, and had the satisfaction of 
 entering into conversation even with 
 
 some
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 145 
 
 some of my former fellow-servants^ with- 
 out beinj!: reco2:nized bv them. As I as- 
 sociated with them, and treated them 
 freely, and way besides pretty well versed 
 in all the turf-manoeuvres, I wormed my- 
 self into many lucrative secrets, and 
 found this to be my surest hit. To en- 
 sure myself a favourable reception, I ne- 
 ver set out on any expedition, without 
 purchasing an additional hack, and hiring 
 a servant; the former of which I sold, 
 and the latter discharged, so soon as I 
 returned to London, and to my usual 
 economical mode of living. 
 
 *' At the end of about six years, I had 
 amassed a property of about ten thou- 
 sand pounds, which I placed in the funds,' 
 with a determination that nothing should 
 induce me to break in upon the capital ; 
 and I never found a temptation to do it, 
 
 VOL. I. H as
 
 145 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 as my prudence encreased with my for- 
 tune. 
 
 '' About this period, one of the strang- 
 est adventures befel me. I went to Ep- 
 som races, attended by two hired servants, 
 in handsome new liveries; and as I cast 
 my eyes about, to discover, by my skill in 
 pliysiognomy, proper persons to bet with, 
 I was suddenly struck with the sight of my 
 old master, Sir David Whiphand, seated 
 in a curricle with Lady Betty, who was 
 dressed in the highest stvle of fashion. 
 To one of the handsomest faces in the 
 world, she had now added the ease and 
 confidence of the hant ton, and no small 
 share of the graces. I felt, by the flutter- 
 ing of my heart, that my former flame 
 had been only damped, not extinguiished; 
 but, gracious Heavens ! how it leaped^ 
 when I perceived that she had fixed her 
 6 eyes
 
 THE METROPOLIS. J 4/ 
 
 eyes on me ! She gazed eagerly and un- 
 bliishingly ; although the idea that she 
 might recollect ine, crimsoned all my 
 face. I was so awkward and confused, 
 that, without being conscious of what I 
 was doing, I made her a slight bow, which 
 she returned by a nod and a look, (ex- 
 pressive, as I thought, of wishing to say 
 somewhat to me. She then turned her 
 head round towards her husband, as if 
 afraid of his perceiving her attention to 
 me ; but he was too busily engaged with 
 the blacklegs, to take the least notice of 
 her. 
 
 " I drew nearer by degrees, and start- 
 ed, when I first caught Sir David's eye; 
 but I resumed a little more ease, when 
 he exhibited not the least svmntom of 
 retaining any knowledge of my person ; 
 i was even emboldened to propose a 
 
 H 2 triflino-
 
 148 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 trifling bet to him, which he accepted; 
 and, upon the strength of it, I placed 
 myself on the side next to Lady Betty, 
 and entered into conversation with her 
 on indifferent subjects., I lost my bet, 
 and paid it immediately to Sir David, 
 who appeared much elated with the suc- 
 cess of the day. 
 
 " In the course of conversation, Lady- 
 Betty contrived to drop, that they were 
 to dine at one of the inns in Epsom that 
 day, in such a manner as gave me to un- 
 derstand that she should expect to see me 
 there. I gave her a nod of intelligence; 
 and, to avoid the suspicion of Sir David, 
 I removed to a little distance: but I had 
 wholly forgot the business that brought 
 me thither, and had no eyes, no senses, 
 but for Lady Betty. 
 
 I was at length roused from my al- 
 most 
 
 te
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 149 
 
 most incessant contemplation of her 
 charms, by a turf-acquaintance, who ask- 
 ed nie jocularly, if I was caught in the 
 snare of Lady Betty Whiphand ? — I con- 
 fessed that T thought her the handsomest 
 woman I had ever seen in my life; and 
 in order to learn what was her public 
 character, I asked who she was, as if I had 
 never heard her mentioned before. 
 
 * I wonder you know nothing of her,' 
 replied my acquaintance, ' as she has, 
 for some time past, visited all public 
 places with her husband. She once 
 moved in the humble sphere of one of 
 his domestics; but she had no sooner le- 
 gally ascended her master's bed, than she 
 began to give symptoms of a soul far su- 
 perior to her former servile state. Sir 
 David was too well aware of the licenti- 
 ousness of women in general, and of 
 
 n 3 married
 
 150 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 women in particular, in this ini'proxing 
 age, not to wish to keep his charming 
 wife from imitating such examples: his 
 sole aim was to keep her ignorant of the 
 vanities of life, as he termed them; but 
 she panted to figure in new scenes, re- 
 proached him with ill-founded jealousy, 
 as the cause of secluding her from the 
 world, and teazed him, till, with the ut- 
 most reluctance, he consented to intro- 
 duce her into the world. The spark of 
 fashion fell upon tinder, and Lady Betty 
 made such rapid progress in the jargon 
 and etiquette of high life, as made her 
 husband tremble : so violent was her pas- 
 sion for making new conquests, that she 
 had scarcely a moment's rest ; night and 
 day she was studying to vary the decora- 
 lions of her person, to render it more 
 conspicuously attractive, as if it were not 
 
 already
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 151 
 
 already siifTiciently aliuringj and to dis- 
 tinguish herself from all the rest of her 
 sex. Whenever she drew the gazing 
 multitude around her^ then, and not till 
 then^ did she appear tolerably easy ; and 
 she played off a thousand airs and graces, 
 without which personal beauties "fade 
 in the eije, and pall upon the sense," to fix 
 them in her train. At first. Sir David 
 remonstrated with her on the freedom of 
 her conduct ; from remonstrances he 
 came to reproaches, and reproaches 
 brou.o-ht on quarrels: neither remon- 
 strances, reproaches, nor quarrels, could 
 deter, or reclaim -her Ladyship ; and Sir 
 David was at length obliged to give way, 
 and let her take her full swing, to avoid 
 the effects of her dislike and resentment. 
 They are now become one of the most 
 fashionable couples living.' 
 
 II 4 ' Has
 
 152 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ' Has she many admirers at present ? 
 Does she encourage them ?* said I. 
 
 * She has crowds of admirers/ was the 
 reply ; ' but nothing has transpired for 
 certain^ that she gives them any thing 
 more substantial than hopes.' 
 
 " My passion was now^^ inflamed by cu- 
 riosity, to know whether her Ladyship 
 had recognised me, or was only playing 
 off her coquettish arts on me, to encrease 
 her train : I was determined to be satis- 
 fied, and kept my eye on her till the 
 curricle left the ground, when I followed 
 it at a distance. I observed her turn 
 .round, and on beholding me, her face 
 beamed with a smile of pleasure and sa- 
 tisfaction. I was encouraged, and re- 
 solved to encounter all risks to speak to 
 her in private. 
 
 " I alighted at the same inn, which 
 
 was
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 153 
 
 was so thronged with company, that a 
 private room could not be had for any 
 price. I rejoiced at the circumstance, 
 and drawing near to Lady Betty, I ob- 
 tained the next seat to her, by dint of 
 perseverance and no little pushing. 
 
 '' We scarcely spoke during dinner- 
 time, but we exchanged glances; and 
 hers were the softest, sweetest, and, I may 
 add, the tenderest, that were ever cast on 
 the happiest lover. I repaid them in the 
 like coin ; and shewed her the most 
 pointed attention, by helping her to 
 something from every dish within my 
 reach. 
 
 " Soon after dinner, the ladies with- 
 drew into the garden ; and those gentle- 
 men who preferred the pleasures of their 
 conversation to drinking, shortly follow- 
 ed them. I observed with pleasure, that 
 
 H 5 Sir
 
 154i THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Sir David was not of this number; and 
 hastening into the gardenj Lady Betty 
 soon gave me an opportunity of singling 
 her out. She advanced towards me with 
 a languishing smile, and told me that she 
 was happy to meet me again ; adding, 
 with a sigh, that she had long lamented 
 our separation. 
 
 ' Have you recognised me then ?' 
 * Yes; lovers are lynx-eyed ; and your 
 image is too deeply impressed on my 
 heart, to be ever erased. There are 
 now some hopes of returning happiness 
 — a blessing to which I have been wholly 
 a stranger, ever since our separation.' 
 
 '' I felt myself pleased to believe that 
 I could have made her happy, though Sir 
 David had failed, if she had given her 
 hand to me : I ajDpcared, however, to 
 doubt her sincerity ; and a few tears 
 
 dropped
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 155 
 
 dropped from her eyes, to vouch for it. 
 She wiped them away, and strove to con- 
 ceal them from the company which cross- 
 ed the walk ; but she appeared desirous 
 that I should sec them, as she turned her 
 face towards me. It is impossible for 
 me to describe what I felt at seeing those 
 beautiful eyes swimming in tears; I 
 longed to give ease to her throbbing bo- 
 som, at the same time that I enjoyed her 
 disquietude, from the remembrance of 
 her desertion of me. My sensations, for 
 a time, rendered me unable to speak — ^ 
 sighs burst from my overcharged heart ; 
 and they were echoed by those which 
 she did not strive to suppress. 
 
 " We were in this situation, when we 
 heard Sir David's voice near us, and pre- 
 sently discovered him, although he did 
 not appear to have observed us. ' We 
 
 II G return
 
 15l5 TEE MKTROPOLIS. 
 
 return to town to-night/ said Lady Betty 
 hastily — ' I wish to communicate some- 
 thing to you. Can you meet me to- 
 morrow evening at seven^ in Kensington 
 Gardens?' — I had just time to answer-— 
 ' I will most undoubtedly/ and to press 
 her hand, before she flew from me; and 
 I walked off the opposite way. 
 
 " I hastened to the appointment, and 
 found her arrived before me. Her eyes 
 at first seemed to reproach me with tar- 
 diness, but she received me with such an 
 appearance of real satisfaction and jo\, 
 that I was charmed to see her as kind as 
 I had ever known her, and only perhaps 
 restrained from giving me every proof 
 of her love, by the recollection of her 
 detested marriage : she assured me that it 
 •was the cause of all the misery she en- 
 dured — misery which would never end 
 
 but
 
 TKE METROPOLIS. 157 
 
 but with her life, or the dissolution, of 
 her unfortunate bands — * Were I but at 
 liberty/ continued she, ' I would give 
 myself to you for ever; but perhaps yen 
 are engaged to some other female, and I 
 can never expect to taste tranquillity 
 again/ 
 
 " I interrupted her, to assure her that 
 I had never been able to engage my heart 
 to any other of her sex ; and that I only 
 wished she was as much at liberty as my- 
 self, that I might take her to my arms. 
 
 " A torrent of tears rushed from her 
 eyes, and she lamented her ambition and 
 foliy in such pathetic terms, as pierced 
 my soul. I was, however, delighted with 
 this retaliation upon Sir David, who had 
 so ungenerously supplanted me; I ex- 
 erted all the eloquence I was master of 
 
 to
 
 158 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to soothe her^ and so far succeeded, that 
 she raised her drooping head, and dried 
 her weeping eyes, which were directed 
 towards me with all that love and tender- 
 ness, that had given me the highest de- 
 light when she first confessed her attach- 
 ment to me. She thanked mc in the 
 warmest terms, n^or the'generosity with 
 which I overlooked the injury I had re- 
 ceived from her, and entreated me to see 
 her sometimes. Charmed by her conde- 
 scension, I could not forbear clasping her 
 in my arms, and pressing her throbbing 
 bosom to mine. We continued thus for 
 a time entranced, till, lifting up her eyes, 
 which had assumed a meltino-Sanoiior, 
 she murmured out, in broken, touching 
 accents, ' Have you forgiven me, my 
 dear Joseph? for mine you will, you 
 
 must
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 159 
 
 must be. Tell me that you still love me, 
 and that you will see me whenever I can 
 give my tyrant the slip.' 
 
 " Where is the man^ thus tempted by 
 the woman he adores, to forget every 
 moral, every social virtue, to forget even 
 himself, and all the v/orld but her, who 
 could have refrained from assuring her 
 that he would be entirely at her disposal? 
 I was inflamed to a higher pitch, and en- , 
 treated her not to let the present oppor- 
 tunity slip, without giving me unequivo- 
 cal proofs of her love. Silence gave 
 consent ; and I led her, ' nothing loth/ 
 to a convenient house in St. Martin's- 
 lane, where we revelled in guilty plea- 
 sures; but the sting was not far behind. 
 Whether Sir David had observed any 
 thing that had passed between us on the 
 race-ground, or in the garden of the inn 
 
 in
 
 160 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 in particular, or he was actuated by a ge- 
 neral jealousy of his "wife's conduct, he 
 had caused her to be strictly watched, 
 and burst in upon us with two or three 
 followers, when we were the least appre- 
 hensive of, and prepared against such a 
 surprise. As our situation had furnished 
 him with every thing that he wanted, he 
 retired with his followers, without utter- 
 ing a word. Lady Betty and myself v/ere 
 for some time unable to speak; but at 
 last resuming her tongue and her forti- 
 tude, she said tiiat she did not mind it, as 
 she should be as glad of a divorce as Sir 
 David could possibly be; and if that 
 should be the worst of it, she should be 
 more than com.pensated by a continu- 
 ance of my attachment to her. 
 
 " As there was no probability of her 
 being received at home again, I was un- 
 der
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 161 
 
 der the necessity of taking her home with 
 me; and being afraid of having an action 
 commenced against me for damages^ I 
 purchased thi^ house with all expedition, 
 and removed to it with the utmost pri- 
 vacy. For the same reason, I gave up my 
 attendance oh all those public places, 
 where I stood the least chance of being 
 recognized by the injured Baronet, and 
 buried myself with Lady Betty, who is 
 that very person to whom I have just in- 
 troduced you, and who assumed the name 
 of Marsden, Sir David obtained a di- 
 vorce; and as there was no marriage- 
 settlement, his wife was left without a 
 shilling. 
 
 '' When we heard, some years since, that 
 Sir David was dead, being heartily tired 
 of seclusion, I entered the world again^ 
 and resumed my former pursuits; but 
 
 more
 
 IG'i THE METIIOPOLIS, 
 
 more as an object of amusement than 
 of profit. Having more wealth than I 
 make use of, and no relations, I have 
 given up making a prey of the world, 
 for the more innocent pastime of making 
 sport of it. However, I am no misan- 
 thrope, and feel that I should experience 
 a great degree < f additional happiness, 
 in the acquirement of an intelligent con- 
 fidential friend of my own sex, whose 
 inclination may be som.ewhat congenial 
 to my own : I have cast my eye upon 
 you ; I do not wish you to leave the 
 world, but to encrease our mutual enjoy- 
 ment of it, by making our pursuits and 
 rem.arks together. If the proposal suit 
 you, I shall make your fortune my aim ; 
 and will support you, whether you wish 
 to follow your present pursuits, or to 
 enter into any other line of life." 
 
 Brian
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 163 
 
 Brian replied^ that being now an out- 
 cast from th© world, nothing could be 
 more agreeable to him than the offer of 
 such disinterested friendship; and that he 
 would revolve in his own mind first, and 
 then submit to his advice, some plan for 
 his future conduct. 
 
 Supper was soon afterwards served up, 
 and they retired to rest, at an early houn 
 
 CHAP.
 
 1G4 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Wl ] I if I >|| i iiMil n t»« i na» > «> t^ «at««g »a ' " «lgi 
 
 CHAP, VII. 
 
 The Despair of hopeless Love — A Dialogue in 
 high Life—Tiie natin^al Awkwardness and Ti^ 
 miditij of a first Appearance in the higher 
 Circles — The Proverb verijiedy " One Half of 
 the World docs not know how the other Half 
 lives." 
 
 Brian's couch was not like that modern 
 " bed of roses," which seems to benumb 
 and stupify all the faculties of those who 
 repose upon it; they are continually 
 dozing and dreaming, in spite of all the 
 weighty cares which hang upon^ or ought 
 to hang upon their minds; but balmy 
 
 sleep
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 165 
 
 sleep fled from the eyes of Brian : a 
 virtuous education^ the effects of which 
 are seldom eradicated in the most liber- 
 tine bosom, and still more, an ardent de- 
 sire to regain the good opinion of the 
 liewson family, made him wish to return 
 to the paths of virtue; and he resolved 
 to be previously assured, that all hopes 
 of a reconciliation with them w^ere over, 
 before he would come to a conclusion. 
 
 Having acquainted Verjuice with his 
 intention, he went the next day into the 
 neighbourhood of Mr. Hewson's, and 
 discovered that Edward Hewson had re- 
 covered from his wound, and soon after 
 returned to the Continent. Brian then 
 went to a coffee-house, and wrote to Mr. 
 Hewson to the following purport : — ■ 
 That he was overjoyed to hear of his 
 son's recovery, and that he did not en- 
 tertain
 
 166 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 terrain the slightest doubt of liis having 
 done him the justice to nay, that he him- 
 self had led him into those pursuits which 
 had erided so disastrously, and had ac- 
 quitted him of the least knowledge of 
 the duel. He hoped, therefore, that Mr. 
 Hewson would reverse, or at least miti- 
 gate his harsh decree aojainst him^ and 
 restore him to the affection of his once- 
 fond parent, and his ov^n good opinion ,* 
 a continuance of which he hoped to me- 
 rit, by his future conduct. 
 
 Having- dispatched this epistle by a 
 messenger, he awaited the result v>'ith an 
 impatience indescribable. After a lapse 
 of half an hour, the messen2:er returned 
 with a note; and Brian broke the seal, 
 with a tremblins: hand. It contained to 
 the purport, that Edward Hewson had 
 indeed confessed his having drgwn his 
 
 friend
 
 TiiE METROPOLIS. 107 
 
 friend into his vicious courses, and abso- 
 lutely exculpated him Trom all knowledge 
 of his duel: that, at his son's most ear- 
 nest entreaty, he had even consented to 
 enquire into his present pursuits, in hopes 
 of finding a- coiitrition for past follies; 
 but had sorrowfully discovered that he 
 lived pr.blicly with a mistress, and that 
 his other pursuits bespoke not those senti- 
 ments which he should have been happy to 
 have found in him, and which might have 
 entitled him to his pitv and returning 
 esteem : he had even acquainted his old 
 friend with his son's confession, and had 
 concealed from him the result of his later 
 enquiries, sincerely hoping that Brian 
 would yet resume such pursuits, as might 
 be comfortable to the declining age of 
 his father, and honourable to himself; 
 but_, after what had passed, it could never 
 
 be
 
 108 THE METROPiJLIS. 
 
 be expected that he could receive him 
 within his doors, or even maintain any 
 further correspondence with him. He 
 hoped that he retained too much honour^ 
 ever to make any attempt to disturb the 
 repose of his daughter; which, however, 
 would be fruitless, as she was at that mo- 
 ment standing by him, and perfectly co- 
 incided in what he had written, 
 
 Brian now sank into a gloomy and sul- 
 len despair, as, from the rigidity of Mr. 
 Hewson's morals, and his well-known 
 pertinacity to his determination once 
 fixed, the die was cast. Returning to 
 his friend Verjuice, he concealed no- 
 thing from him; and told him, that as 
 his once-dearest prospects were now va- 
 nished, he had only to look to his future 
 support ; and being released from all 
 constraints as to the wavs and means, 
 
 would
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 169 
 
 would submit himself wholly to his guid- 
 ance, whom he now looked upon as his 
 only friend. 
 
 *^ Then make yourself easy/' said Ver- 
 juice ; " it must be your own {■c\\\\{, if 
 you are not soon in fortune's way. Our 
 first step will be to learn somewhat of 
 toivn, or life in London, which, as I be- 
 lieve you to be as apt a scholar as, I flat- 
 ter myself, I am qualified to be a master, 
 you may soon attain, and then you may 
 walk by yourself. But now, as a neces- 
 sary preliminary, let me ask you whether 
 you know any thing of the long shuffle, 
 the slip, the bridge, or the palm ? Can 
 you cog a die, or throw a main, when 
 you please? Did you ever plumb the 
 bones, alias load the doctors?" 
 
 " I am really. Sir, a total stranger even 
 
 VOL. I. I to
 
 170 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to the tcrms^ so that the practice is quite 
 out of the question." 
 
 " How then could you think of ven- 
 turing into genteel coivpa7ijj, without a 
 knowledge of the elementary principles 
 of the profession ? Mark me, I shall teach 
 you all these manoeuvres; not that you 
 should practise theiU;, but that you may 
 be on your guard against, and be able to 
 detect them. I am well assured that you 
 have too much lionour to make any other 
 use of the secrets which I am going to 
 disclose to you." 
 
 Besides teaching all the tricks practised 
 on cards, dice, and at E O tables, some 
 days were wholly taken up by Verjuice, 
 in instilling into his pupil a knowledge 
 of the ways of iozvn, ard qf the leading 
 characters, with which Verjuice was well 
 
 acquainted.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 171 
 
 acquainted, having only dropped their 
 pursuits, not their acquaintance; in 
 short, from his long practice and success 
 in the profession, the knowing ones al- 
 ways dionified him with the title of Fa~ 
 ilier — '' The whole art," said Verjuice, 
 " of being respected in the profession 
 you are about to follow, consists in keep- 
 ing up, appearances. To appear kjiowlng 
 where you are really not so, there needs 
 only to be mysterious; speak unintelli- 
 gibly, in monosyllables or broken sen- 
 tences. As you cannot y?i7.s/z. your birth 
 and estates, let your purse speak for you 
 on those occasions. Take the following- 
 example for your rule: — A gentleman 
 on the race-ground once offered a bet 
 to a very considerable amount, which 
 was accepted by the famous Colonel 
 O'Kelly. The gentleman asked how Mr. 
 
 I 2 O'Kelly
 
 172 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 O'Kelly was to answer such an amount, 
 if he should prove unsuccessful, and 
 where lay his estates? — ' My estates!' 
 
 cried O'Kelly—^ Oh, by J ! if that's 
 
 what you mean, I believe I've a map of 
 them in my pocket.' Then producing 
 his pocket-book, he pulled out bank- 
 noies to ten times the amount of (he bet 
 proposed ; and, in the end, had the plea- 
 sure of making the enquirer add consi- 
 derably to their sum total. As for your 
 behaviour, act as if you yourself were 
 thoroughly convinced of your own im- 
 portance, and others will be ready 
 enough to give you credit for it. Leave 
 the rest to me ; from my well known 
 science and responsibility, you will make 
 an entree under better auspices than most, 
 if any young men have ever had the ad- 
 
 vantage of." 
 
 The
 
 " THE METROPOLIS. 173 
 
 The first sally of th: two friends was to 
 Lord's crickci-ground, where a match for 
 one thousand guineas a-side was adver- 
 tised to be played — " You will under- 
 stand," said Verjuice, as they walked to 
 the spot, " that the match is verij often 
 merely nominal, to create attention, and 
 draw the flats. One party hangs back, 
 and the other takes bets; the party tak- 
 ing bets is allowed to win, the others ac- 
 cepting only to a small amount, as a Mind; 
 and the spoil generally affords not only 
 the expences of a supper, but a hand- 
 some surplus for division. Make your 
 observations, and act accordingly." 
 
 Brian profited so well by this advice, 
 and his friend's hints on the ground, that 
 he pocketed a trifle of thirty guineas. 
 
 After the play, the friends received an 
 invitation to sup with the parties; but 
 
 I 3 VerjuicCj
 
 174 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Verjuice, drawing Brian aside, addressed 
 him thus: " You have made a tolerable 
 day's work, and some greenlioriis would 
 be tempted to follow up tlieir success; 
 and, by accepting the invitation of the 
 parties 'to supper, and making too free 
 with the wine, not only refund their win- 
 nings, but perhaps lose all the loose cash 
 they may have at command. But as we 
 are not altogether in the situation of 
 needy gamblers, we have no occasion to 
 push fortune to extremities: we can 
 aiford a dinner out of our winnings, and 
 therefore we will resort to a coffee-house. 
 Depend upon my losing no opportunity 
 to aid you in your lucrative pursuits; 
 but, at your leisure intervals, I expect 
 yoy to be my partner in my quizzing 
 ones, especially as we may often make 
 the one subservient to the other." 
 
 In
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 173 
 
 In the evening, the friends went to 
 Covent-garden Theatre, where education 
 and the bent of Nature were about to re- 
 sume their sway ; and Brian wished to 
 drown in oblivion all thought o[fnshion- 
 ahle pursuits, by drinking of the pure 
 stream of talent and sjenius. But though 
 he had, for the present, quitted the pur- 
 suits of fashion, it seemed that thev were 
 to pursue him. As Verjuice had laid 
 down the necessity of keeping up appear- 
 ances, Brian had provided himself with a 
 dress-suit ; and his friend chose the lower 
 tier of boxes for their lounge. The house 
 was pretty full that night, and several 
 doors were opened, without finding va- 
 cant seats. At length a box-keeper open- 
 ed one, into which Verjuice peeped: it 
 was not more than half occupied, but he 
 was uncertain whether to withdraw or 
 
 I 4 liot.
 
 ^7 6 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 not, when a lady^ elegantly dressed, hap- 
 pened to turn her head, and familiarly 
 beckoned to him with her fan, to take a 
 seat behind her. Verjuice entered, and 
 introduced his friend to the lady, v/honi 
 he" addressed as Ladjj M' Lackland, and 
 who eyed our adventurer with a fashion- 
 able regard, that is to say, she stared him 
 quite out of countenance. She then 
 turned about, and patting Verjuice on 
 the head with her fan, as a hint for a 
 little private confab, the following dia- 
 logue passed between them, which, tho' 
 perhaps not overheard by the other ladies, 
 of whom there were three in the box, 
 who conversed in their usual tone, that 
 is, two keys higher than Verjuice's enter- 
 tainer, was nevertheless audible enough to 
 our adventurer. 
 
 Ladij — " Wellj you old fright! where 
 
 have
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 177 
 
 have you been eclipsed so long ? We 
 gave you over for lost, little imagining 
 that you would have the heart to absent 
 yourself from us, unless you had received 
 an irresistible call from the lower regions, 
 and were gone to keep the opposite pos- 
 tern to that guarded by your twin-brother 
 Cerberus. The neglect is the more pro- 
 voking, as you reappear dressed like a 
 human being, not, as usual, in the old cy- 
 nical cut of^ Diogenes' s time. What does 
 it portend ? Has love crazed your old 
 gouty brain ? and are you in pursuit of 
 some dam.sel, at whose feet you are go- 
 ing to sigh out your last tooth ?'* 
 
 Verjuice — " It cannot be your Lady- 
 ship then, for your good nature is well 
 known never to give any one time to 
 sigh — 'tis even granted before asked." 
 
 Ladi/ — '^ Filthy fellow ! you had better 
 
 1 5 have
 
 J 78 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 have changed your manners than your 
 dress." 
 
 Verjuice — '''■ Would your Ladyship wish 
 me in an undress?" 
 
 Lachj — " Mercy forbid ! Your dress 
 only reminds one of the monuments in 
 Westminster Abbey — the elegance of art 
 enclosing corruption. How could I bear 
 to see the skeleton displayed ?" 
 
 Verjuice — " Consult your glass^ the in- 
 stant before stepping into bed." 
 
 Lady — " Oh, you monster! — I should 
 cut acquaintance with you, but that you 
 are a necessary kind of a creature, that — 
 A-propos, who is that awkward boy in 
 leading-strings ?" 
 
 Verjuice — " Does your Ladyship wish 
 me to be a kind of a 7iccessarjj creature 
 there?" 
 
 Ladif — " Ridiculous idea! — But tell 
 
 me^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 179 
 
 me, old Gout and Rheum, is he a young 
 fool of fortune ?" 
 
 Verjuice — " He possesses youth, as you 
 may see^ and fortune, but not folly 
 enough to mistake you for tzvo-and- 
 twenty." 
 
 Lady — " Malicious dotard ! — But who 
 is he?" 
 
 Verjuice — ^' Almost young enough to 
 be your grandson — quite young enough 
 to be vour son-in-law.'* 
 
 Lady — " Brute ! Either satisfy my cu- 
 riosity, or never see my face again." 
 
 Verjuice — " I have never yet had that 
 pleasure ; I have indeed seen the weather- 
 board of varnis,h." 
 
 Lady — ''■ Scurvy Jack ! — But say, are 
 you going to dispose of your friend to 
 the highest bidder, or by private con- 
 tract.?" 
 
 1 6 Verjuice-^
 
 ]S0 THE METnOPOLIS., 
 
 Verjuice — " Neither; so you need no! 
 bid." 
 
 .Ladi/ — ^' Oh, I nndeistand you ! He is 
 a greenhorn, about to be launched upon 
 the toi£n, and you are to act in the capa- 
 city of his travelling tutor." 
 
 Verjuice — '^ In a word,, he is forUddeii 
 fruit." 
 
 Lady — '' I see coinpani/ to-night." 
 
 Verjuice — " I knew that your Ladyship 
 was a true daughter of old mother Ere, 
 and that I should set you a longing. But 
 really one would imagine that yourJiUjj's 
 tooth had gone with the rest, and that t\w 
 Chevalier had the credit, or rather that 
 you had credit with him, for the whole 
 set." 
 
 Ladij — " You promise, however, that 
 you will hoth come?" 
 
 Vajuicc — " Yes; but your Ladyship 
 
 knowS'
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 181 
 
 knows that I never am fool enough to 
 pay for my entertainment." 
 
 Lady — " Oh^ you mistake ! you under- 
 rate your own value I V/e pay as readily 
 for a sight of you, as we do for that of 
 the wild beasts in the Tower. You are 
 Iwrrihlu amusing, and almost as mischie- 
 vously entertaining as a chained badoon." 
 
 Verjuice — *■'' Or any other branch of 
 2J0ur Ladyship's family." 
 
 The dialogue was here cut short by 
 one of her Ladyship's female friends ;~ 
 and as it was the first fashionable conver' 
 sation that Brian had ever heard, it no 
 less surprised than entertained him. lii 
 the intervals between the acts, her Ladv- 
 ship would frequently address herself to 
 Verjuice, and two or three times made 
 some trifling remarks to Brian, which he 
 attempted to return with the ease, though 
 
 not
 
 182 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 not the nimiliarity of bis friend. He 
 had not, however, attained to the art of 
 disbi.irthening himself of his natural bash- 
 fulness, and respect for the fair-sex ; but 
 he could perceive that he should not 
 vant for encouragement to lay them en- 
 tirelv aside. 
 
 When the entertainment was finished, 
 her Ladyship patted Verjuice on the 
 cheek with her fan ; and paying the same 
 sort of compliment ro }3rian's elbow, said 
 ■ — " Remember, I shall expect you both;" 
 to which they bowed assent. 
 
 Verjuice and Brian went home in a 
 hackney-coach, to prevent Mrs. Marsden 
 from sitting up for them, and then drove 
 to a coffee-house in Bond-street; Ver- 
 juice inform.ing his friend, that the com- 
 pany would not begin to assemble at her 
 Ladyship's, until the opera, was ended, 
 
 that
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 183 
 
 that is, between twelve and one o'clock. 
 About the latter hour, thev drove to her 
 Ladyship's door in St. James's square ; 
 \vhere, on entering, our adventurer was 
 no less surprised at the glare and magni- 
 ficence which surrounded him, than at 
 the little ceremony which was practised 
 on their introduction. The lady of the 
 house barely looked up from her em- 
 ployment at the hank, and gave them a 
 nod and smile of recollection, without 
 the least notice being taken of them by 
 the rest of the company, any more than 
 if they had entered into a common gam- 
 ing-house, which in truth it very m.uch 
 resembled. 
 
 The inexperienced Brian-, who dreaded 
 the ceremony of a formal introduction, 
 and the undergoing the scrutiny of all 
 the company, felt himself much relieved 
 
 by
 
 184 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 by this haut-ton ease, which he deter- 
 mined to imitate as nearly as he could. 
 Being a very good natural mimic, he 
 presently acquired the easy loll on the 
 backs of the chairs of the players, the fa- 
 miliar lounge from one table to the other, 
 arm-in-arm with Verjuice; and even dared 
 once or twice to look some of the ladies, 
 whose eyes chanced to stray from their 
 cards towards him, full in the face; but 
 here he was obliged to yield to the supe- 
 rior fire of the ladies, or their longer ac- 
 quaintance v^'ith the rules of good breeding. 
 
 Brian had not vet ventured a stake, 
 when Lady M'Lackland, looking full at 
 him, asked what sum he would set her on 
 a card ? 
 
 He fancied that all eyes were attracted 
 towards him, blushed, grew confused, and 
 stammered out — '' Ten pounds, my Lady." 
 
 " Gold
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 185 
 
 " Gold you mean, ofcoursej Sir/' said 
 her Ladyship ; and the play went on. 
 
 Brian instantly conceived that he had 
 made a faux pas at the very outset, by 
 substituting the vulgar phrase pounds, in 
 use on the east side of Temple-bar, for 
 the more elegant one of guineas, prac- 
 tised on the western. He imagined that 
 he had already betrayed his ignorance of 
 liaut ton to the whole company ; but he 
 was totally mistaken, as they paid not 
 the least attention to what passed, except 
 their own interest in the game. In his 
 confusion, he looked round for Verjuic« 
 to support him, but he unfortunately 
 stood at a distance, looking attentively 
 over a whist-party. "^ 
 
 Whilst our adventurer was almost wish- 
 ing his friend at the devil, and himself 
 beside him for company, he heard her 
 
 Ladyship's
 
 J 86 THE METKOPOLIS. 
 
 Ladyship's voice exclaim — '■'' Zounds! 
 what a run of ill luck!" And^ in the 
 course of paying her losses, she added — 
 *' Here are your ten guineas^ Mr. Thin- 
 gumee." 
 
 Brian approached her Ladyship, in 
 dread of committing another faux pas, 
 and received his winnings with a tremu- 
 lous hand. Happy was he to seize the 
 very first opportunity of seeing her 
 Ladyship's attention engaged, to steal 
 away to his friend, with a determination 
 not to venture an inch from under his 
 wing during the rest of the evening, as 
 the nKrrning is termed in the higher 
 circles. 
 
 At the end of a game, a gentleman, 
 who was one of the party, rose from the 
 table, and declared thai he would no 
 longer sit there, ^piddling for a paltry ten- 
 
 guinea
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1S7 
 
 guinea rubber, but would try his fortune 
 at the bank. 
 
 A lady-player said — '* Here is Verjuice, 
 ^vho will take his place." 
 
 " Surely/' replied Verjuice, '' your 
 Grace would not think of putting me in 
 the place of a so-much-younger man ?'* 
 
 " Poh !" rejoined her Grace — " any 
 thing — a broomstick will do for a part- 
 ner at cards \" 
 
 " I thank your Grace for the distinc- 
 tion/' retorted Verjuice; " but if you 
 are so much distressed for an old Sir Si- 
 won, you had better not have stirred 
 from home." 
 
 " Odious remembrancer!" cried her 
 Grace; and then directing a side-glance 
 towards Erian, added — '' Perhaps the 
 gentleman at your side will be more 
 complaisant?" 
 
 As
 
 18S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 As this was the first time our adven- 
 turer had ever been addressed by a Dur 
 chess, even in this side-way, much less 
 had received from one an invitation to 
 be her partner at whist, he trembled so 
 that his knees shook under him ; and not 
 daring to look at Verjuice for his appro- 
 bation, he endeavoured to apologize for 
 his little skill in the game ; but findins 
 that his tongue would serve him no bet- 
 ter than his knees at this pinch, and that 
 a stammering fit had come over him, he 
 sank into the vacant seat, like one re- 
 solved to plunge into the depth of dis- 
 tress at once, rather than linger in tor- 
 tures. 
 
 Whilst the first hand was dealing, he 
 looked up at Verjuice, who gave him 
 an encouraging smile; notwithstanding 
 which, his hand trembled so that he could 
 
 scarcely
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 189 
 
 scarcely sort his cards ; no wonder then 
 that, in the course of playing them, he 
 made a mistake; and instantly felt his 
 partner's foot pressing his toe, and saw 
 her draw in her under lip, looking him 
 at the same time full in the face. This 
 circumstance did not add to his compo- 
 sure ; but he resolved to withdraw within 
 himself as much as he could, and to at- 
 tempt to forget all other distinctions of 
 rank, than that of the honours on the 
 cards. 
 
 At the end of the deal her Gra^ e ob- 
 served, that it would be vain to expect 
 any luck that evening, as her partner 
 seemed to be thinking of some flivourite 
 lady, rather than of his game, 
 
 Brian began stammering — " Ma'am — 
 2/our Ladyship — I beg pardon, your 
 Grace/' when he was interrupted by Ver- 
 juice,
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 190 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 \ 
 
 juice, who judging of his extremity^ in- ! 
 
 I 
 
 terposed to take the fire from him ; and 
 observed, that as it was the first time his 
 friend had ever enjoyed the felicity of 
 beholding her Grace, it would be an ill 
 compliment not to pay more attention 
 to so much animated beauty, than to a 
 parcel of paltry bits of pasteboard. 
 
 " I have heard," replied her Grace, 
 " that Balaam could not speak, and his 
 doiilcy was obliged to answer for him." 
 
 This unexpected retort so totally over- 
 came every other feeling, that our adven- 
 turer burst out into an involuntary loud 
 peal of laughter; and seeing the eyes of 
 the company turned on him, he recol- 
 lected that he had infringed an express 
 Clicsterf.eldian rule ; and thought that he 
 must either renounce all pretensions to 
 the character whitjh he assumed, or come 
 
 through
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 191 
 
 through it in a clean manner. Therefore, 
 bowing to the Duchess, he observed that 
 the similarity held good in both cases, as 
 it was an angel that caused the miracle. 
 
 He had now the happiness of observ- 
 ingj that his maiden speech in high life 
 was extremely well received; and her 
 Grace and himself received many com- 
 pliments on their jenx d'esprit. Brian 
 consulted Verjuice's face, as if to beg 
 pardon for having chimed in against 
 him ; but he gave him a cheering nod. 
 
 Now that the ice was broken, Brian 
 became more at his ease ; but he never- 
 theless resolved to ntiend wholly to his 
 game, that he might not run the ri^k of 
 aoain committing himself: thi^ he did so 
 effectually, and was so well seconded by 
 her Grace and a run of good cards, that, 
 
 when
 
 192 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 when the party broke up at daylight, 
 they had won five rubbers. 
 
 As her Grace rose from the table^ she 
 approached our adventurer;, and said to 
 him, in a low tone of voice, " Well, Sir, 
 I think we have done much better than 
 we could have expected, considering 
 that we were total strangers to each 
 other's play; an advantage which our 
 opponents enjoyed, in addition to that 
 of not being over-scrupulous — you un- 
 derstand me ?" 
 
 Brian was thunderstruck at this insinu- 
 ation of unfair plajj among such com- 
 pany, and not knowing what to answ^er, 
 he only looked kno-wing, and bowed pro- 
 foundly, as if in deference to her Grace's 
 better judgment, which is an excellent 
 shift of saying much by nothing, where 
 
 one
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 193 
 
 one Wishes to avoid, or is at a loss for 
 saying any thing. 
 
 The company broke up with as little 
 ceremony as they had met; but Brian 
 was not yet to leave the house, without 
 betraying another specimen of his igno- 
 rance of hautioji; for, on the servant's 
 attending him to the door, he put his 
 hand into his pocket, and gave him a 
 crown. He saw him eye it in his hand, 
 look at him, and going to Verjuice, who 
 was behind, heard him say — " Sir, your 
 friend, I presume, has made a small mis- 
 take — he has given me silver." 
 
 " Oh! a mistake undoubtedly!'^ re- 
 plied Verjuice; '' but you see he is a 
 little flushed with wine. Here is a guinea 
 for us both." 
 
 ''What ! another blunder !" said Brian, 
 when they drove from the door. 
 
 VOL. I. K *' A small
 
 194: THE METROPOLIS'. 
 
 '' A small one," answered Verjuice— 
 
 *' You must know, that the lady who j 
 
 keeps, or rather who is kept by this •• 
 
 house, subsists chiefly on the profits of ; 
 
 the gaming-tables, as her income is very 
 
 small for the circle in which she moves. ; 
 
 The mansion is, in another respect, much j 
 
 more convenient than you would sur- i 
 
 niise; for, if a lady happen to lose more 
 
 than she dare to apply to her husband 
 
 1 
 for, or can raise upon her jewels, in case i 
 
 they are not already pawned, she will j 
 oftentimes find another mode of paying 
 the winner, if a male, without the least j 
 hazard of detection ; as, though the hap- 
 py man surmises who is his paymistress^ 
 every thing is conducted without a syl- 
 lable being uttered on either side." i 
 
 " Is it possible," exclaimed Brian, 
 " that nobility can descend to convert 
 
 their i
 
 fiiE METROPOLIS. tOi 
 
 \heii' mansions into gaming-houses^ and 
 resorts for wprse purposes?" 
 
 *' Be assured of it," said Verjuice — • 
 *' nay more, were not you, as winner, 
 called upon to make a deposit under the , 
 candlestick?" 
 
 '^ Yes, and was at a loss to know the 
 reason for it." 
 
 " Why, the expence of cards, dice, 
 candles, &c. are all provided by the ser- 
 vants with their own money, and are 
 their property, at the end of the night; 
 in fact, they have no other wages than 
 the presents which are made to them by 
 the company, so that they look upon it 
 as an affront to offer them any thing be- 
 neath gold ; and you made a small blun- 
 der, which I rectified at the expence of 
 truth and yourself, which you must ex- 
 
 cMse." 
 
 S 2 This
 
 196 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 This explanation brought them home; 
 and they retired to rest, and slept till 
 noon. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 197 
 
 jazajJ^ - ^xii 
 
 CHAP. VIIT. 
 
 An Excursion to Richmond — A disagreeable 
 Meeting, and an agreeable one — Anecdote of 
 
 ike D of Q ; The Malice of a 
 
 deserted Mistress — A modern tete-a-tete — Ad- 
 vice from an old sporting Character to a young 
 one. 
 
 As Verjuice had not been used of late to 
 nocturnal revels, he excused himself from 
 going out of doors that day. Brian of- 
 fered to keep him company ; but Ver- 
 juice insisted on his standing upon no 
 ceremony of the kind, as he could never 
 
 K 3 be
 
 i9S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 be at a loss for company, "whilst Mrs. 
 Marsden was in the same house with him 
 — " Let us be no constraint on each 
 other," added he — *' age requires rest, 
 and youth exercise. The w^eather is fine 
 — take your pleasure; besides, the occur- 
 rences of the day may afford something 
 for you to entertain me with at your 
 return." 
 
 Brian strolled to Hyde Park ; and as it 
 was rather too early in the season for 
 Kensington Gardens to be opened, he 
 passed on to the gate at Knightsbridge, 
 where seeing one of the short" stage- 
 coaches pass by, he instantly conceived a 
 desire to behold that delightful spot 
 Michmmid Hill, of whose beauties he re- 
 membered the following luxuriant de- 
 scription of Thomson : — 
 
 Sav,
 
 TJIE METROPOLIS. 159 
 
 Sny, shall we iisceMd 
 Thy hill, delightful Sheeu ? Here let us sweep 
 The boundless landscape: now the raptur'd eye 
 Exulting swift to huge Augusta send ; 
 Now to the sister-hills that skirt her plain, 
 To lofty Harrow now, and now to where 
 Majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow, 
 In lovely contrast to his glorious view. 
 Calmly magnificent : then'will we turn 
 To where the silver Thames first rural grows ; 
 There let tlie feasted eye unwearied stray, 
 Luxurious there rove through the pendant woods, 
 Tliat nodding hang o'er Harrington's retreat ; 
 And stooping thence to Ham's embowering walks, 
 Here let us trace the matchless vale of Thames, 
 Far winding up to where the muses haunt, 
 To Twit'nam bow'rs, to Hampton's royal pile, 
 To Claremont's terrass'd height, and Esher's groves: 
 Enchanting vale ! beyond whate'cp the muse 
 Has of Achaia, or Hesperia simg ! 
 O vale of bhss ! O softly-^weUing hills ! 
 On which the power of Cultivation lies, 
 And joys to see the wonder of his toil! 
 Heav'ns ! what a goodly prospect swells around ! 
 Of billS; and dales, and woods, and lawnS; and spires, 
 
 K 4 And
 
 200 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 And glitt'ring towns, and gilded streams, till all 
 The stretching landscape into smoke decays f 
 
 Having stopped the coachman and en- 
 tered tVve vehicle, he actually saluted the 
 company, two gentlemen and a lady, be- 
 fore, to his great astonishment and no 
 less chagrin, he discovered the identical 
 persons of Mrs, Fisher, Glare, and Bur- 
 nish, who appeared equally surprised at 
 the unexpected meeting, and burst into 
 a fit of laughter. 
 
 '' What, my tight one! all alone!'* 
 cries Glare. 
 
 " Without vour guardian !" exclaims 
 Burnish. 
 
 '' Really, gentlemen," answers Brian, 
 *' you are pleased to be facetious; but 
 excuse me if I am too dull to discover 
 where the wit of the joke lies." 
 
 " Poh ! poh !" says Glare — ^' you were 
 
 e devilisli
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 201 
 
 a devilish high fellow before you fell in 
 with that old jile Verjuice, and now you 
 riffect to be as great an oddity as himself. 
 Your toast then used to be — ' May we 
 never see an old friend with a new face I* 
 but your sentiment is changed since." 
 
 " Why, perhaps we gave him some 
 reason to be shy of us/' continued Bur- 
 nish ; " as, at our last meeting, he might 
 be afraid we were coming the borrowing 
 rig over him." 
 
 " Indeed," said Brian, " I was afraid 
 of no such thing; for, at no little ex- 
 pence, I had bought experience enough 
 to know the wisdom of keeping my 
 money in my own pocket." 
 
 " It will be in vain then to ask you to 
 accommodate us with a few pieces ?" 
 
 '' Quite so." 
 
 " Well, well, be a good boy, and mind 
 
 K 5 what
 
 202 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 what the old one says to you, and per- 
 haps he may make you his heir. But, 
 supposing you were to meet with a lady, 
 your old friend Mrs. Fisher here, for in- 
 stance, under a temporary inconvenience 
 for a trii^e — I si:ppose your determina- 
 tion nerainst lendins: does not extend to 
 that case ?" 
 
 " To lending in every case." 
 
 " Oh !" cries Mrs. Fisher, " I am not 
 at this day to learn Mr. Bonnycastle's ge- 
 nerosity : he never lends to the ladies, 
 he always makes 2)rfse«fs to them." 
 
 *' I must indeed acknowledge. Ma'am,'* 
 retorted Brian, " that I have a little stood 
 fiat there ; and perhaps should have done 
 so still, if the ladies had thought it worth 
 their while to practise their deceptions 
 on me any longer." 
 
 " Come, come," cries Mrs. Fisher, 
 
 ** what
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 203 
 
 "■ what the plague signifies sulking? We 
 took you for a novice, but we found you 
 too deep for us. Deception can now be 
 of no use to either of us: there is my 
 hand, let us be friends upon the square. '* 
 
 " Whenever we meet. Ma'am, as in 
 the present instance, I shall always be- 
 have to vou with that politeness which is 
 due to your sex from mine." 
 
 " Perfectly polite, and as cool as a cu- 
 cumber. Sir, upon my honour ! — But we 
 shall have the pleasure of your company 
 to dine with us at Richmond ?" 
 
 •' Excuse me. Ma'am — I have business." 
 
 On their arrival at Richmond, Mrs, 
 Fisher and her party renewed their soli- 
 citations for Brian to join them ; but he 
 was proof against them, and walked up 
 the hill, to compare the scenery with 
 Thomson's description. Many thingSy 
 
 K 6 however
 
 S04 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 however, happen between the cup and the 
 lip; and a far different entertainment 
 awaited him. A lady, in an elegant dis- 
 habillej advanced towards him, whom he 
 recognized to be the Duchess of Fallow- 
 land, his whist-partner at Lady M'Lack- 
 land's: she accosted him without cere- 
 mony, as an old acquaintance, and pro- 
 posed his taking a turn with her, if he 
 •were not better engaged; to which, re- 
 plying that that was impossible, he eager- 
 ly assented. 
 
 The Duchess possessed youth, beauty, 
 and a lively genius, improved by a better 
 education than is usual to her sex, parti- 
 cularly in her sphere of life ; her con- 
 versation was spirited and pointed, but ra^* 
 ther romantic ; her remarks were shrewd, 
 just, but rather satirical, which suiting 
 with Brian's disposition^ rendered them 
 
 agreeable
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 205 
 
 agreeable companions — " Do you re- 
 mark," said she, " that old gentleman, 
 in a plain great-coat and large slouched 
 hat, who is just alighted from his vis-d-vis, 
 and is mounting on a black poney ?" 
 
 "^ Yes, your Grace." 
 
 " Do vou know him ?" 
 
 '' No." 
 
 *' I have not been long enough in 
 town to have a knowledge of many lead- 
 ing cJuuociers, as I guess him to be." 
 
 " You are not mistaken in your con- 
 jecture, Sir ; it is the D- of Q, , 
 
 whom I ]iresiime you have heard men- 
 tioned, as famous for his attachment to 
 our sex. He is said to be a veteran in 
 amours, as in years ; and indiscriminately 
 lavish of his caresses, provided the ob- 
 jecis be not too old and too ugly. I 
 will relate to you an anecdote, out of the 
 
 many
 
 20G <rHE METnopoLiS. 
 
 many which have sprung from his amo- 
 rous adventures. A certain lady-abbess 
 having promised to treat him with a 
 honne-bouche fresh from the country, his 
 Grace was surprised at beinof introduced 
 to an old acquaintance — ''What! Eliza!" 
 cried he (I suppose her Christian name 
 was Elizabeth, but she had curtailed the 
 unfashionable termination, on entering 
 into a fashionable line of life), "■ I re- 
 member to have ruined you six months 
 ago!" 
 
 *' No indeed — your Grace is mistaken; 
 for I takes more ruination nor ever vouf 
 Grace thinks for." 
 
 After Brian's mirth on this humourous 
 anecdote had subsided, her Grace conti- 
 nued thus : " The Duke is a memorable 
 instance of the longevity of the passions, 
 after the power of gratification has been 
 
 long
 
 THE METROrOLISt. 207 
 
 long on the wane : variety now and then 
 gives a zest to his sickly appetite^, and his 
 feeble frame is renovated with milk baths. 
 A prey to his desires, he is always in pur- 
 suit of fresh prey for them ; and as he is 
 liberal in his presents, he is said to be 
 often a dupe to designing women, who 
 affect the dress, dialect, and manners of 
 country girls, on purpose to entrap him. 
 But he is by no means nice, and verifies 
 the old French adage — * Tous les chats 
 sont gris a la mat." 
 
 In the course of the ramble, her Grace 
 pointed out several other fashionable cu- 
 riosities, characterising their leading pur- 
 suits and foibles;, and instancing them 
 with appropriate anecdotes. Brian pass- 
 ed the time so pleasantly, that he was no 
 less proud than delighted at her Grace's 
 proposal to eat a bit of dinner with htr 
 
 at
 
 208 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 at the Star and Garter, towards which 
 they were bending their way, when they 
 were met by Mrs. Fisher and her two 
 cotyipanions, who were ascending the 
 hill. Giving a vulgar stare as they ap- 
 proached, they had scarcely passed, when 
 Glare and Burnish set uj) a loud laugh, 
 and Mrs. Fisher exclaimed — " I swear, I 
 wish there was a tax on all traders, pro- 
 vided that the married ones, under a cer- 
 tain degree, were obliged to take out a 
 yearly licence, and pay double duty, and 
 the quality ones according to the rank of 
 their husbands." 
 
 Brian's indignation was kindled, and 
 he K>oked at the Duchess, hoping she 
 had not heard the exclamation ; but she 
 presently pui him out of all doubt of it, 
 by asking him if those gcntri/ had the 
 honour of being of his acquaintance? 
 
 Confused
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 209 
 
 Confused as he visibly was, he could 
 not avoid acknowledging, that he had 
 sometimes met the two gentlemen (if 
 their behaviour could allow him to term 
 them so), and looked upon them to be 
 mere men of the town; and owning his 
 having maintained an intimate acquaint- 
 ance with the lady, which had been bro- 
 ken off by her rapacity. To take off her 
 Grace's attention from the insult offered 
 to herself, he then related, as ludicrously 
 as he could, how he had been duped by 
 Mrs. Fisher, and the scheme by which h-e 
 had drawn her in to betray herself, and 
 which had terminated in their final 
 estrangement; for such he was deter- 
 mined it should be. 
 
 After a moment's thoughtfulness^ her 
 Grace said — " It is no matter — my repu- 
 tation can never suffer from such crea- 
 tures;
 
 ^10 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 tures; and I have no doubt of being un- 
 der the protection of a man of honour.'* 
 
 Brian instantly offered to oblige the 
 two gentlemen to return, and apologize 
 for the affront; but her Grace held them 
 beneath notice, and thought the most 
 prudent way would be to treat them as 
 such. 
 
 An excellent dinner, and a couple of 
 glasses of good wine, had just restored 
 the Duchess to her former vivacity, when 
 some company was heard to enter an ad- 
 joining room ; the partition between 
 them being only a temporary thin wain- 
 scotting, removeable at pleasure, to 
 throw both apartments into one, for the 
 convenience of entertaining large par- 
 ties. Brian was thunderstruck, at distin- 
 guishing the voices of Mrs. Fisher's 
 party ; and the Duchess coloured, and 
 
 put
 
 THE METROPOLIS. '211 
 
 put her fingers to her lips. Brian under- 
 stood the hintj and conversed only in 
 whispers, and by signs; but he was on 
 thorns, lest something might come out 
 in conversation, to lessen him in the 
 eyes of the Duchess, with whom he be- 
 gan to entertain the vanity of hoping to 
 be upon a good understanding, in the 
 course of time. 
 
 After a Vv^hile, they heard Mrs. Fishdr 
 say— -"^ Well, may this glass be my poi- 
 son, if he is not a pretty fellow, and de- 
 serves the notice of any woman, what- 
 ever difference there may be in birth or 
 rank, which we all know to be rank non- 
 sense in love-aftairs : the man is all — the 
 rest nothing. But I bear a mortal anti- 
 pathy to all sly traders, and should like 
 to hit upon some scheme of revenge 
 upon her for spoiling our market, and 
 
 upon
 
 212 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 upon him for refusing my overtures,* 
 not that I care for the fellow— he used 
 to bleed freely at one time, but he is got 
 too knowing now. Suppose we were to 
 give such a hint to the old Duke, as 
 might lead to the discovery of a crim, 
 con. business, and to a prosecution for 
 damages? Would not this scheme pa)^ 
 the fellow off for his contempt of us ?" 
 
 " A bright thought !" exclaimed Glare. 
 
 ''Not the least danger," added Burnish. 
 
 " It shall be done then," continued 
 Mrs, Fisher. 
 
 The Duchess's colour had progressively 
 advanced towards the deepest crimson ,* 
 and her companion's visage had now at- 
 tained a similar hue, through the gross- 
 ness of the inuendo, and indignation. 
 He started involuntarily from his seat ; 
 but the Duchess catching him by the arm, 
 
 whispered—
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 213 
 
 whispered — " Be cool — they have put 
 me on my guard, and leave me alone to 
 counteract their designs. I shall acquaint 
 his Grace with my having passed part of 
 the day in yourcompany by mere chance, 
 and my frankness will take off his suspi- 
 cion, if he should be inclined to any, 
 which I do not much suspect." 
 
 Her Grace's tranquillity restored Brian 
 to his ease, and he even made some advan- 
 ces towards gallantry, which she did not 
 much repel, but gave some hints of think- 
 ing it proper to know more of a person 
 before she could be expected to bestow 
 any marks of her confidence upon him. 
 
 Brian related to her the chief passages 
 of his life, concealing only his present 
 mode of subsistence, by pretending to 
 be in possession of an independance, 
 through the gift of a distant relation, 
 
 which
 
 ^14 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 which deception, whether pardonable or 
 - not in a poixit of morality, many of our 
 readers perhaps would not scruple to 
 play off in an affair of gallantry. 
 
 The remaining part of the conversa- 
 tion between Mrs. Fisher and her friends, 
 which was overheard at intervals, con- 
 sisted only of some 'professional anecdotes 
 and coups cle main, which would have 
 tended rather to amuse than disturb the 
 harmony of our duo, had they not been 
 too much engaged with what was passing 
 between themselves, to bestow much at- 
 tention on any other subjects. At length 
 they heard the waiter announce to Mi's. 
 Fisher's party, that the stagn: was at the 
 door; and they departed, but not till 
 they had agreed to pass the night at a 
 house under Covent-garden Piazzas, to 
 which Mrs. Fisher undertook to invite 
 
 on€>
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 215 
 
 one of her female friends, (o niake up a 
 parti qunrr-L 
 
 Her Grace and Briiiii being tinis re- 
 leased from their constraint, began to 
 treat of certain matters, vhich we shall 
 ]ea\e to our readers' imaijination. Her 
 Grace having stipulated for a monopoly 
 of his attentions, and for a certain time 
 of trial, intimated that, if she should be 
 satisfied with him, he might perhaps be 
 favoured with her confidence, which was 
 all he could obtain for the present ; and 
 even this distant hope put him into high 
 spirits. 
 
 It happened luckily for Brian^ who 
 was unprovided with any mode of le- 
 conveyance, that her Grace had he, self 
 made use of no other vehicle than a 
 hackney-coach, longing to steal away 
 from the insipidity of pomp, to the un- 
 6 restrained
 
 216 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 restrained enjoyment of rural pleasures. 
 She therefore offered Brian a seat, which 
 he was happy to accept ; and they sepa- 
 rated at Hyde-park Corner, after a thou- 
 sand renewals of the articles of their 
 lately-concluded treaty. 
 
 Brian hastened to his friend Verjuice, 
 to whom he related the adventures of the 
 day, without the least concealment. Ver- 
 juice observed, that he was not so very 
 ignorant, or inconsiderate of the pas- 
 sions of youth, as to exact from him a 
 total abstinence, either fiom women, 
 wine, or other pleasures ; but having 
 forewarned him, from his own example, 
 of the dan2;er of suflTerinor oneself to 
 become their slave, nothing remained 
 but to advise him to make them all sub- 
 servient to his designs. " The reputa- 
 tion of being on a good understanding 
 
 with
 
 THE METROPOLfS. 217 
 
 with a woman of the Duchess's rank and 
 iigiire^ if you manage so circumspectly 
 as to confine matters to mere conjecture, 
 and afford no room for eclat, may gniii 
 you importance in the hig'ier circlcs_^ 
 particularly v.'ith the fair sex ; but yon 
 know your own situation too well, to let 
 any thing blind you to your own inte- 
 rest. I very well know the disposition- 
 of the Duchess; she is young, sentimen- 
 talj romantic, and disinterested ; and you 
 may safely trust yourself in her hands: 
 she would rather warn you against a 
 snare, than lead you into one. I was 
 <rla<l to see that she somewhat noticed 
 you last night, and I am not in the least 
 surprised at her behaviour towards you 
 to-day. Her reputation is sound in the 
 world, as she has, in every instance but 
 one, behaved with the greatest circum- 
 voL» r. L spectioa^
 
 218 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 spection and reserve, even to her most 
 familiar female acquaintance. The Duke 
 himself is not of a jealous disposition, 
 and consequently not inclined to suspi- 
 cion ; but if you should be indiscreet, 
 his honour will oblige him to open his 
 eyes, and crush you with all the weight 
 of his power: you will have, therefore, 
 only to enjoy your good fortune with 
 circumspection. As a guide for your 
 conduct, I will give you a sketch of her 
 history, and of the principal personages 
 with whom she has been acquainted, 
 which will sufficiently put you upon 
 your guard against all who might endea- 
 vour to entrap you.'* 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 Lane, Darling, and Co. Leadenhall-street.
 
 WORKS 
 
 JPrinteti at tfje ^inerta WtesSf 
 
 With the Reviewers' Opinion, 
 
 FALCON BRIDGE ABBEY, 
 
 A DEVONSHIRE STORY, 
 
 BY MRS. HANWAY. 
 
 5 vols. £l 7s. 64 
 
 "The fair A- tlior of this work tells us in a Preface, which is 
 .•written with peculiar energy, that, after a long lajile of time, 
 fhe truiU her thiid Woik for public perufal, written under 
 many interruptions from ill health, which wouhl certainly have 
 been a plea for any deft(5^s that might have appeared, had the / 
 file and spirit of her talents, already well known and duly ap- 
 preciated by the Pubiic, by her former valuable pruuuctiong 
 ©t •'< Ellinor" and " Ani'rew Stuart,'" b-en found to have 
 evaporated. But our judgment is decidedly given. |n fai'our 
 Oi a diieift contrary pofition ; for we are of opinJc;n,'iihat if; 
 •' Falcor.bridge Abbey" does r.ot siirp.ifs, it 'S c-rtainly in 
 no degree inferioi", in (he gr^at points ot either atnufemeiit or 
 inllrmSf i(:n, to either of her former public exertions. 
 
 ♦• The execution Ao^s ]\.>\\\c<: to thei/^/^/rpour'rayedj the cha- 
 raffers are, in general, very ftiongly iriarked, and widi many 
 liigh touches of the pencil. La iy Kalconbridge, although a rigid 
 moralilf ajid a llri.5f diiciphn.ui in, both in mind and manneis, 
 has all the huinaniz ng virtues of the heart, which the vai ious 
 occurrences of the hiltory finely draw forth. The whole of the 
 Ekieiton family, which is powerfully delineated, exhibit in- 
 Itances of the temporary succefs of almoft every fpecies of in- 
 famy to attain the objeffs of their ambition ; which, though 
 gratified, ultimately terminates to their fonfufion, an I in ecd 
 complete deftru^fion ; and that in a manner alike tavomable 
 to morality and probability, which Ihould never be violated 
 in any imitation of hillory, for fuch may be denominated a weil- 
 written novel. Sir Henry Falconbridge is a compouiul of 
 imbecility and goodnefs of heart, his beftdiie6led benevolence 
 being frequently mixed with an aimoll infantine weaknefs, 
 from a certain conltitutional languor of difpofition, and a w,int 
 of mental energy. The natural fon of this gentleman, who 
 
 comes
 
 New Works, S^c. contiuued. 
 
 comfi Very forward in the (iory, and lecuies the etieem and 
 adiiiiraiion of the readi-r by actions well caiciilaled to com- 
 mand it, is, in every relpi.£V, a vers' h.ippily-drawn character, 
 evnciiig, in thr po_;rc(s of the acli'n of the Ifory, tlie pureit 
 geneiofitv and otm It biaverv, accompanied by tlie molt un- 
 affeile-l ^tulihiiity ; at iiie ianie linie that he is a rare pauern 
 oi fi'-'ai pifly. 
 
 *' File diiiVrent intertlis of his " Devonflilre Ta'e" are fo 
 G'.oftly inieiwok'(.ii widi eacli oiher, and ar= made lb Ikilfully 
 to connedf, tha', al'hongh tli^y are, fro^i that very circutn- 
 fiantf, more nnpoitant as a xu/io/t?, they are, by tliat propor- 
 ti;>n, Isis favourable to pai 'ial extract.. We fliall thei-efbre 
 reftrr cm rcdeis, with a good confcitncc, to the perulai ot tite 
 woik. itltU i after obfcrvin.i, tliat we, liave no! a doubt, to ap- 
 ply her own words, *' the public en majfe wdl itili be found 
 c;in iut and 1 ber^! to lie; tff. nts for the a rnu lament of their iei- 
 Ime hours " Wc will aad, ail , for the tnJiruHlon of their 
 mojl serious ones,'" 
 
 Gentlefnan''s Magazine, March, j8oj.. 
 
 THE NUN AND HSR DAUGHTER, 
 
 A NOVEL. 
 
 4 vols. 1 85, sewed. 
 
 " The Nun and her I)auo|uer is fuperior to moft publica- 
 tions ol mis loit. 1 he Ifory is tol 1 in a manner that indicates 
 alertile nnagination, and excites a gieat deal oi interelt." 
 
 Moritblji Epitome, May, i8oj. 
 
 GASTLE OF SANTA FE. 
 
 A NOVEL, 
 
 4 vols. 18s. sewed. 
 
 «* The Cartle of Snnui Fe, by a Clergyman's Daughter, is 
 8-. well-wiiULD novii } the iiicidcnis aie dignified, and not 
 ini^'rooaole, thi: charatlt-rs are well iuj'poried, and the ten- 
 ds;icy of the Itory. isir.oraland rclig;oas." 
 
 Msinklj Mag. Sup. Julj 1305.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Lane, Darling, and Co. Leadenhall Street.
 
 THE 
 
 METJROFOJLlSi 
 
 OR, 
 
 ■ 
 
 A CURE FOR G J MING. 
 
 Interspersed ^^ ith 
 AKECDOTES OF LIVING CHARACTERS IN HIGH LITE. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 BY 
 
 CERVANTES HOGG, ESQ. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 THE ItlSING SUN, THE SETTING SCN, S(C. SfC. 
 
 How now, my hearts ! fik! you never see the picture of we three? 
 >tow, Jlercury, endue thee with pleasing, for thou spenk'st well of fools. 
 
 Clown, Twelfth Night. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: 
 I^RINTED AT THE 
 
 FOR A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. 
 
 (Successors to Lane, Newman, and Co.J 
 
 LEABENH ALL-STREET. 
 J8I1.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 •— «=««e®e>9*««=p- 
 
 CHAP. L 
 
 IThe History of the Dudhess of Fallowland. 
 
 X HE Duchess is really to be pitied : 
 at an age when the youthful passions de- 
 mand an equal warmth of return, she was 
 torn from the arms of a lover, the man 
 of her own age and choice, and sacri- 
 ficed, through her mother's addiction to 
 the gaming-tables, to the embraces of her 
 present old Lord. Having, from her in- 
 fancy, been accustomed to the uncere- 
 monious visits of her first cousin, the 
 
 VOL. II. B amiable
 
 6 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 as time generally brought to light, that 
 love-maiches, of all ethers^ \s?ere the most 
 pregnant with iinhappiness — ' It is with 
 the utmost propriety/ she would add, 
 * that Cupid is represented blind^ and 
 Hymen in full possession of his eyesight; 
 for lovers see only perfections, and mar- 
 ried folks imperfections; the illusion va- 
 nishes, and the dece])tion becomes more 
 cutting. I have had experience, and in 
 spite of the whole tribe of poverty-struck 
 novel-writers, give nie what they empha- 
 tically term a Srmthjidd J)arQ,ain. Talk 
 ©f flame*;, darts, and v/ounded hearts ! 
 What are they, to the delicious sounds of 
 settlement, pin money, jointure, title, 
 town and country establishments? these 
 are enjoyments which never pall — the 
 others vanish with the honeymoon. — 
 Trust to me, my dearest Julia; and if I 
 
 do
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ^ 
 
 do not provide all these lasting pleasures 
 for you, may I be doomed for life to 
 hold in my hand a prayer-book instead 
 of a pack of cards !' 
 
 " Julia answered, as is usual in such 
 cases, only by sobs, sighs, and tears, 
 which Lady M'Lackland rather encou-^ 
 raged than endeavoured to suppress, 
 aware that the more rapid was the ebb 
 of love, the more speedy would be the 
 flow of vanity. One opportunity offer- 
 ed, just such as her Ladyship could have' 
 wished, when Julia, in despair, declared, 
 that if she was not to be united to her 
 cousin, she cared not who was to lead 
 her a victim to the altar. 
 
 ' Spoken with spirit, my dear girl; 
 and I am convinced that vou have made 
 
 a brilliant conquest of his Grace of ^ 
 
 which will render you the envy of our 
 
 £ 4 sex-—
 
 4 , THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 tion against her. Lady M'Lackland never 
 asked for the money, though she often 
 could not help the escape of a complaint 
 of the straitness of her circumstances; 
 and as Lady Dashwell had been entrap- 
 ped into other debts to persons who pro- 
 fessed no friendship for her, and who 
 pressed for payment, which was totally 
 out of her power, she was literally at her 
 wit's end; indeed she had squandered 
 away not only all she could raise on her 
 own jointure, but had made away with 
 the greatest part of her daughter Julia's 
 fortune, to whom she had been unfortu- 
 nately left sole guardian by an uxoriou^ 
 husband. 
 
 " Under this distress, she was somewhat 
 relieved by Lady M'Lackland, who having 
 two strings to her bow, was a match-maker 
 as well as a gamestress, and who proposed 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 5 
 
 to her two matches for her daughter, and 
 her nephew Mr. Tyson, on terms that 
 would not only enable her to discharge 
 all her debts, but also put a round sum 
 at her command. This was too tempting 
 a bait for one in Lady Dash well's situa- 
 tion not to catch at ; and having come 
 to an understanding, that she was to have 
 ten thousand pounds out of each party, 
 she commenced her opposition to the 
 union of the lovers, by the before-men- 
 lioned scruples. 
 
 " After she had played off this farce 
 for a while, Lady M'Lackland came into 
 play. She began by ridiculing to Julia, 
 her mother's antiquated religious no- 
 tions; not but that she must likewise 
 deem it a foUy in young folks, to con- 
 ceit that only one person of the other 
 sex could contribute to their happiness, 
 
 B 3 as
 
 1© THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 as time generally brought to light, that 
 love-matches, of all others, were the most 
 pregnant with unhappiness — ' It is with 
 the utmost propriety/ she would add, 
 * that Cupid is represented blind, and 
 Hymen in full possession of his eyesight; 
 for lovers see only perfections, and mar- 
 ried folks imperfections; the illusion va- 
 nishes, and the deception becomes more 
 cutting. I have had experience, and in 
 spite of the whole tribe of poverty-struck 
 novel-writers, give me what they empha- 
 tically term a Smithfuhl dnrgain. Talk 
 of flame*;, darts, and v/ounded hearts \ 
 What are they, to the delicious sounds of 
 settlement, pin money, jointure, title, 
 town and country establishments? these 
 are enjoyments which never pall — the 
 others vanish with the honeymoon. — 
 Trust to me, my dearest Julia; and if I 
 
 do
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ^ 
 
 do not provide all these lasting pleasuves 
 for you, may I be doomed for life to 
 hold in my hand a prayer-book instead 
 of a pack of cards !' 
 
 *' Julia answered, as is usual in such 
 cases, only by sobs, sighs, and tears, 
 which Lady M'Lackland rather encou-^ 
 raged than endeavoured to suppress, 
 aware that the more rapid was the ebb 
 of love, the more speedy would be the 
 flow of vanity. One opportunity offer- 
 ed, just such as her Ladyship could have 
 wished, when Julia, in despair, declared, 
 that if she was not to be united to her 
 cousin, she cared not who was to lead 
 her a victim to the altar. 
 
 ' Spoken with spirit, my dear girl; 
 and I am convinced that vou have made 
 
 a brilliant conquest of his Grace of ^ 
 
 which will render you the envy of ouf 
 
 JB 4 sex—-
 
 8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 sex — A splendid wedding, an old Duke, 
 a grand settlement ! and then hey for a 
 youthful widowhood, a Duchess-dowa- 
 ger's title, and love at will !' 
 
 " The tender Julia was, however, proof 
 against all these seducing prospects ; and 
 would perhaps have played a part in All 
 fur Loie, or the World well Lost, and 
 concluded with another in A Trip to 
 Gretna Green, but for the following pan- 
 tomimic interlude, of her mother's act- 
 ing. Lady Dashwell really loved her 
 daughter, with an affection that nothing 
 but her distressed situation, and itch of 
 gaming, could abate, or prevail on her 
 to sacrifice her on the altar of avarice; 
 she determined to make one desperate 
 effort to redeem her losses, and save her 
 child from misery : all her spare jewels 
 and plate being conveyed to the three 
 
 blue
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 9 
 
 Hue hails, she raised what she eoiild ore 
 her little remaining credit, and found 
 herself in possession of three thousand 
 guineas, with which she resolved to raake 
 a grand push. Without hinting lier in- 
 tention even to her friend Lady M'Lack- 
 land, she repaired to the gaming-tables, 
 and set the whole sum on a single card,. 
 The company stared at the coolness witit 
 %vhich she hazarded so large a stake, and 
 more so, when she won, and cocked her 
 card, as the term isfortumFng up one? 
 end of it, to signify that she went foF 
 double: again luck favoured her, and 
 she was mistress of twelve thousand gui^ 
 neas, which was barely enough to dis- 
 charge her debts. She now hesitated a 
 few seconds, and the company obseF^e(i 
 her in deep suspense: she could discharg» 
 all demands^ but whst was she to do in 
 
 B S fiittur* d'
 
 10 THE METROPOLIS., 
 
 future ? To withdraw for ever from fbe 
 dear delights of gaming, when one more 
 favour of fortune might enable her to 
 continue those loved pursuits with splen- 
 dour? — She cocked again, and lost — ■ 
 Rising with apparent serenity from the. 
 table, she said she had had enough for 
 one night, got into her chariot, and re- 
 turned home. She retired immediately 
 to her apartment ; and having a€sumed_, 
 ^vithout the assistance of her woman, her 
 most elegant night-dress,, and thrown 
 herself on the bed, she rang the bell, and 
 summoned her daughter to attend her. 
 The tender Julia, almost heart-broken^ 
 yet still entertaining the most filial affec- 
 tion for her mother, was thunderstruck 
 at the unusual appearance of things, and 
 eagerly demanded what ailed her? 
 
 * My poor dear Julia/ answered her 
 
 Ladyship^
 
 THE METSOPOLIS. 11 
 
 Ladyship, ' the die is cast, and I must 
 leave you to the world, the unpirying^ 
 merciless, malicious world, with a broken^ 
 fortune, and, what is worse, an object of 
 their detestable, insulting pity. Oh ! da 
 not execrate the memory of thy wretched? 
 mother, although she has been to theer 
 the bitterest of enemies ! I can deceive 
 you no longer — my infatuation, my un- 
 happy attachment to gaming, has ruined 
 us both; and debts of thousands more- 
 than I can- pay, sink me into a premature- 
 grave. I can say no more ; spare me the 
 shame and horror of the catastrophe, all 
 but — Farewell, my dear undone Julia 1: 
 farewell for ever I" She then hid her 
 head under the bed-clothes, and sobbed.,, 
 or affected, to sob, witli the most violcnfe 
 emotion. 
 
 " Julia was so shocked at these di-ead- 
 
 b6 flili
 
 12" THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ful tidings, Ihat her mother had sufficient 
 time for a dozen hearty sobs, before she 
 ■was interrupted by her daughter's throw- 
 ing her arms around her, and exclaiming 
 — ' My dearest mother, what misery are 
 you preparing for me ! — If^ we are doom- 
 ed to povert^y, oh ! let us bear it toge- 
 ther; and leave me not alone, to sustain 
 that and the scorn of the world ! — Some 
 mode of retrieving your affairs may still 
 he found : your nephew,' here she be- 
 came confused, ' is not rich, but he has 
 a soul above the lot of humanity, and 
 ■will readily lend us all the assistance in- 
 his power. Suffer me to send for him.' 
 
 * My dearest child, there you only lend 
 a hand to drive the dagger to my heart : 
 Mr. Tyson's whole fortune would not 
 suffice to pay my debts; and the only- 
 fruits of his disinterested affection w^^ould
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 13 
 
 be, to render you both beggars. Rather 
 let me die, my debts will die with me, 
 and his fortune may be sufficient to keep 
 you both above want.' 
 
 * Die! no, my dear mother ; there is 
 no extremity to which I would not sooner 
 resort. I,et us anticipate the sneers of 
 the world, and leave it with contempt.* 
 
 ' No, Julia; I will never bear that my 
 follies, vices rather, should entail oblo- 
 quy on my child. My death will readily 
 be attributed to despair for my losses, 
 and spare you the shame — there is no 
 other remedy/ 
 
 * No other remedy ?* 
 
 * None but one, my endeavours to pre- 
 vent which has hastened on my catastro- 
 phe, which I can infinitely better support^, 
 than to live to winess yours.' 
 
 ' Name, name that one; and should it 
 
 evea
 
 H THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 even be that alternative which I most de-^ 
 precate, here by Heaven I swear — ' drop- 
 ping on her knees. 
 
 ' Do not swear, Julia; nny^ it will be 
 useless, as I cannot, will not name it.' 
 
 ' Then will you seal your daughter's 
 doom ; for I swear never to survive you, 
 to behold the light of another day." 
 
 ' Unhappy girl ! miserable victim of a 
 wretched mother ! learn then the rest 
 from Lady M'Lackland.' 
 
 ' I understand, and will not shrink — I 
 will send for her this instant.' 
 
 " Julia wrote a pressing summons to 
 Lady M'Lackland, who dreading, from 
 Lady Dashwell's conduct in the former 
 part of the evening, that something might 
 have happened to endanger the chance of 
 her getting her seven thousand pounds, 
 threw down her cards, and flew to her 
 
 3 with
 
 THE METROPOLrS* 13 
 
 ^vith all the wings, if not the seniimenisy 
 of friendship. I need scareely tell you, 
 that she had no sootier gotten her cue, 
 than the farce was admirably sustained, 
 between the art of the two veteran ac- 
 tresses and the simplicity of the young 
 one. No time was suffered to elapse ; his 
 Grace of Fallowland was summoned, by 
 a note from Lady M'Lackland, in which 
 she gave him his cue, and he arrived, at- 
 tended by his solicitor. As all the ar- 
 ticles of settlement had been concluded 
 between their Ladyships and his Grace 
 some time before, the preliminaries were 
 soon signed ; and on the ensuing day, 
 the definitive treaty of marriage took 
 place, and Julia became the wretched 
 titled Duchess of Fallowland." 
 
 *' Gracious Heaven !" exclaimed Brian, 
 "^ what a monster of a mother ! and v. hat 
 
 a load
 
 16 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 a load of villainy must be the night, or 
 rather murriing-marc, of Lady M'Lack- 
 land!" 
 
 " Poh !" rried Verjiiire, " these mat- 
 ters are trifles in the bedii monde. You 
 are not yet acquainted with the tenth; 
 part of LaHy M 'Lackl a nd's ,/?/,( 6'st'. Mr. 
 Tyson, in despair at the perfidy whicii he 
 iinjuslly attributed to the wretche i Julia^ 
 at first forswore all commerce with the 
 sex ; but afterwards, through pique, re- 
 sentment, and the pride of retaliation> 
 aided by the r.rtifices of Lady M'Lack- 
 land and his own aunt, he threw himself 
 into the odious embraces of the rich old 
 Countess-dowager of Lackit, and formed 
 a moiety of that fashionable monster — a 
 disunited united couple. 
 
 " By these sales of her daughter and 
 nepheW; Lady Dashwell acquired twenty 
 
 thousand
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 17' 
 
 Ihousand po7incIs ; and Lady M'Lackland 
 not only procured a settlement of her 
 debt of seven thousand pounds, but also 
 received a handsome eiti^a douceur t^rom 
 the joint subscriptions of the Duke and 
 Countess: still she was not satisfied. 
 Under pretence of her long and vast 
 friendship for the motlier, she couched 
 the most insidious designs against the 
 purse, and even the honour of the as-yet- 
 artless daughter. Although gratitude for 
 his Grace's beneficence towards her mo- 
 ther, and his unbounded liberality, ten- 
 derness, and politeness towards herself, 
 had made no weak impression on her 
 mind, yet she could not help many me- 
 lancholy reflections on the expence with 
 which she herself had purchased them. 
 Lady M'Lackland seized all opportuni- 
 ties of those sombre fits to wean her from 
 
 hcf
 
 IS ' THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 her allegiance, by representing matri- 
 monv as only a cover for other indr.l- 
 genres, and a ready bank on which to 
 draw for the nine qua non of all earthly 
 enjovments. Her Grace at first smiled 
 at what she supposed to be meant as a 
 joke, but afterwards began to oppose 
 every idea of the kind, with becoming 
 warmth. Lady M'Lackiand, however, 
 was not to be so repulsed; she repeated 
 her assertions with more earnestness, and 
 even appealed to living instances among 
 her numermis acquaintance, in support 
 of them. Tl)e appeal was undeniable^ 
 and her Grace was at leno-th half reason- 
 ed, half ridiculed out of her unfashion- 
 able scruples. The fatal example of her 
 mother's propensity to gaming,, however, 
 held out for several months, against the 
 siege laid to them by her Ladyship ; and 
 i- :. her
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 19 
 
 her fixed determination of never losing 
 above twenty guineas at one sitting, was 
 never once broken in upon. 
 
 " As the Duchess was a prize of great 
 consideration, and her scruples required 
 longer time to overcome them than Lady 
 M'Lackland's numerous Evocations would 
 allow her to bestow, she turned the siege 
 into a blockade, and entrusted the charge 
 of it to an experienced subaltern, the 
 Honourable Miss Rachel Bappee. This 
 Lady was a younger daughter of an Irish 
 Peer, who left her only a portion of two- 
 thousand pounds, in addition to her ho- 
 nourable birth. Possessino; neither youth, 
 mental nor personal charms, she was en- 
 dued with astonishing perseverance and 
 art of insinuation, which, although they 
 wholly failed with the opposite sex, in 
 all her endeavours to procure a partner 
 
 for
 
 20 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 for life, were seldom ineffectual with her 
 own sex, from whose weakness she con- 
 trived to eke out her scanty pittance. A 
 person so qualified and disposed, was the 
 very thing for Lady M'Lackland's pur- 
 pose, as was Lady M'Lackland for hers: 
 a treaty of mutual confidence and sup- 
 port was the natural consequence. 
 
 " Miss Rappee was no sooner entrust- 
 etl with the blockade of the Duchess, 
 than she plied her with fawning, flattery, 
 and even the meanest servility. Deprived 
 of the advice of a mother, who, however, 
 ^vas the worst person in the world to be- 
 stow any that was wholesome, and who, 
 thinking she had >jot to the extent of her 
 natural duty, by getting her daughter off 
 her hands, had returned to her former 
 habits with encreased ardour, it was no 
 wonder that the inexperienced Duchess. 
 
 should
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 21 
 
 s^iould be ready to fall into the snare of 
 any artful person of her own sex, who 
 should assume the mask of entire devo- 
 tion to her services. Miss Rappee, af- 
 ter having sufficiently reconnoitred the 
 ground, and guessed what lengths she 
 might venture to advance, hinted, that 
 what might be prudence in v/omen of 
 inferior rank, herself for instance, would 
 be justly deemed beneath the considera- 
 tion of the Duchess of Fallowland, who 
 should never be seen to play for a paltry 
 five or ten guineas : there was reason in 
 all things, and a reasonable ground of 
 difference between such trifles and thou- 
 sands. It could be from no interested 
 motives she spoke, as her Grace very 
 well knew, that the scantiness of her in- 
 come would scarcely support her, much 
 
 less
 
 S2 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 less allow her to think of venturing a 
 single guinea. 
 
 " Long: while did her Grace success- 
 fully resist all these insinuations; but, 
 beset in public and private, she at length 
 began to give way. On her first advan- 
 ces, she was suffered to win a brace of 
 thousands, to give her appetite a whet; 
 fortune then appeared to fluctuate, be- 
 fore the combined party would venture 
 to strike a stroke, lest her Grace should 
 not be sufficiently hooked, and get away 
 without biting again. At length they 
 ventured, one night, to sir^ike her for 
 Jive^ thousand pounds. 
 
 " If she could at that time have dis- 
 charged this loss, she would have resumed 
 her old plan, and never have deviated 
 from it ; but as she had never, at any one 
 
 time.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 25 
 
 time, asked his Grace for five hundred 
 pounds, she was afraid to break out with 
 so considerable a demand, lest he should 
 draw from her, or even guess her impru- 
 dence. More women, and men too, 
 are undone by want of resolution, than 
 by any propensity to vice : this was the 
 case with the Duchess, whose wavering; 
 State could not escape the observation of 
 Miss Rappee; indeed, as it was expected, 
 she was set on to attend to the periods 
 of the conflict witi\in the Duchess's bo- 
 som, and to give such a bias to it as the 
 confederates wished. Pretendincj igno- 
 ranee of the Duchess's loss, which it 
 would have been highly impolitic to 
 own a knowledge of, she began l)v giv- 
 ing hints and expressing fears, tkid her 
 Grace laboured under some latent cause 
 
 of
 
 34 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of uneasiness, until she had brought her 
 to confers the real state of the case. 
 
 * Poh ! poh !' cried Rappee, smiling ; 
 ' is that the mouse with which the maun- 
 taln is in labour? To be sure, five thou- 
 sand pounds is a sum to some folks, but 
 a mere bauble to her Grace of Fallow- 
 land : this night's run will, perhaps, much 
 more than redeem that paltry loss.' 
 
 * You mistake. Rappee; for I cannot 
 go to the play-table again before I am 
 able to pay it, and that at present is im- 
 possible,' 
 
 ' But absenting yourself, your Grace 
 knows, will look worse than aoingr un- 
 prepared. I never wished to be rich so 
 much as at this very instant. But his 
 Grace will supply you, for the trouble of 
 asking.* 
 
 ' I dare
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 25 
 
 * I dare not ask. him for so considerable 
 a sum, without -assigning some reason for 
 ray wanting it; and as he has liberally 
 anticipated all my needful wants ' 
 
 ' Cannot your Grace contrive to bor- 
 row the money on there are lend- 
 ers enough, who would jump to do your 
 Grace so small a favour; nay, would 
 think it a favour conferred on them- 
 selves." 
 
 * I cannot degrade his Grace so far as 
 to apply to a common money-lender.' 
 
 ' Well then. Lady M' Lackland is a 5m- 
 c^re /riV«f/; if she has not the money 
 by her, ^he may at least put you in a 
 way ' 
 
 ' A lucky thought, my dear Rappee ! 
 Oblige me so far as to go~to her this in- 
 stant, and acquaint her with my embar- 
 rassment.* 
 
 VOL, II. c ' Lord !
 
 26 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ' Lord ! what a strong term vour Grace 
 applies to what is beneath a moment's 
 consideration !* 
 
 - * It has, however, entirely destroyed 
 my rest; and shall be the last freak of 
 the kind, I am resolved. Rappee.* 
 
 *' Miss Rappee flew to concert with 
 Lady M'Lackland, not the means of draw- 
 ing their friend out of the scrape, but 
 how to plunge her deeper into it — * We 
 must not let her have the whole of the 
 money,' said her Ladyship, ' lest she 
 should leave off play. Take these notes 
 for one thousand pounds, tell her it is 
 the half of all I have at present, baring 
 been a considerable loser myself last 
 night ; and if Fortune proves the same 
 jade to-night, 1 shall be compelled to 
 fawn my jewels for a supply. This, you 
 know, will be a decent hint for her.* 
 
 ' What
 
 THE METROPOLIS. t7 
 
 ' What can I do ?' said her Grace, on 
 receiving the notes and this message — 
 ' the whole debt must be paid to-night. 
 I should not be so particular, if it were 
 owing to one of my own sex; but one 
 must not remain in debt to one of the 
 other sex, you know, for very obvious 
 reasons.' 
 
 *■ Well, your Grace, one night can 
 make no odds; try your luck, and if it 
 should be against you, it will be then 
 time to think about raising the money ; 
 and then you will be left to your plea- 
 sure, to play or not.' 
 
 " To cut short, the Duchess hazarded 
 the one thousand pounds borrowed of 
 Lady M'Lackland, and lost that, and also 
 another sum of four thousand pounds, to 
 t'le gentleman who before won the five 
 thousand pounds. It was now more than 
 
 c 2 ever
 
 3S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ever impossible to apply to his Grace : 
 however, as the winner was a man of 
 large fortune and of gallantry, and her 
 Grace was a fashionable reigning toast, 
 it was managed, through the hrokerog,e 
 of Ladij M' Lackland and the Honourable 
 Miss Rappee, that the fortunate winner 
 and fair loser should hush up matters be- 
 tween them one evening, at her Lady- 
 ship's house ; and her Grace got a re- 
 ceipt, without drawing upon his Grace's 
 banker for a single guinea." 
 
 *' Indeed," exclaimed Brian, " you 
 were right in saying that the Duchess 
 was to be pitied ; for the most rigid vir- 
 tue could scarcely be expected to hold 
 out against such an experienced corps of 
 sappers and miners." 
 
 " There is very little doubt," conti- 
 nued Verjuice, *' but that the Duchess 
 
 would
 
 -THE METROPOLIS. 29 
 
 would have never sacrificed her virtue, 
 but for her ^fiends of friends. Ever since 
 that time, she has been so extremely 
 cautious, as never to have committed an- 
 other faux pas from necessity ; if from 
 inclination, she has been so extremely 
 circumspect, that the breath of slander 
 has never dared to sully her fame. You 
 will wonder, perhaps, how I should be- 
 come so well acquainted with all these 
 details of matters, which might be sup- 
 posed to have been transacted so much 
 in the dark as to baffle disclosure ; but I 
 had the whole of them from her Grace's 
 hosom friends, Lady M'Lackland and Miss 
 Kappee, who, looking upon me as one of 
 iJicmselves, imagined that the story would 
 give them infinite credit for ingenuity, 
 rather than have the effect it produced ; 
 for, in all my gambling transactions, I 
 
 c 3 never
 
 30 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 never betrayed a friend^ nor ever made 
 an acquaintance with the view to draw 
 him into a loss, and despise those who 
 do. Her Ladyship can therefore tell you. 
 That she is indebted to me for a thorough 
 insight into the artifices of her pretended 
 friends, with whom, although she chooses 
 not to break entirely, yet she secretly 
 detests them, and has ever since acted 
 towards them with the utmost reserve. — 
 But, if my memory serve me right, you 
 mentioned that the plotting trio, who 
 are so fond of a little mischief, are to 
 pass the night at a certain house," 
 ,. " I overheard them so agree." 
 
 " What say you ? Should you like to 
 have a hearty laugh at a piece of revenge, 
 which I have an idea of taking upon them r " 
 " Nothing could please me better." 
 " Let us set out directly then." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ttlB METROPOLIS. 31 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A ludicrous Piece of Revenge played off upon a 
 Lady of the Tozcn — The fatal Effects of Gam. 
 ing on inexperienced Youth — An astonishing 
 Act of Benevolence^ from a Cynic and a Game- 
 ster. 
 
 Verjuice and Brian went straight to Co- 
 vent-garden Piazzas, and on entering 
 the house, enquired of a waiter if Mrs. 
 Fisher and her parly, describing their 
 persons and dress, were there ? He re- 
 plied, that such persons were then in the 
 house, and had ordered supper, which 
 
 c 4 was
 
 32 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 was getting ready. Verjuice asked if 
 there was any shrewd clever girl then in 
 waitJHg ? and was answered, that there 
 were several girls in the house, and one 
 styled by the rest Knowing Peg, who had 
 the character of being a deep one. Ver- 
 juice ordered the waiter to send her in, 
 and also to put a couple of bottles of 
 sherry on the table. 
 
 Pc^ was introduced ; and after she had 
 taken three or four bumpers. Verjuice 
 opened the business, by telling her that, 
 if slie would lend a hand to play cflT a 
 joke upon some company then in the 
 house, she might soon earn a couple of 
 guineas and a good supper, and should 
 not come to the least harm- — it was 
 merely a bit of a frolic. 
 
 " Oh, if that be all," cried Peg, '' I 
 loves a bit of frolic to my heart; only 
 
 give
 
 TBE METROPOLIS. 33 
 
 give me my cue, and if I don't play my 
 part, say my name's not Knoiiing Peg." 
 
 *' Do you know Mrs. Fisher?" de- 
 manded Verjuice. 
 
 '' Aye, that I do ; I owes her a grudge 
 too, for getting away my fancj/-nmn from 
 me one night ; and if so be as how you 
 means to play a trick upon her, here's 
 have with you, if you will bear me out, 
 as you say you will " 
 
 " Never fear that ; we will be as good 
 as our words." 
 
 Having fully instructed Peg, the waiter 
 ■svas again called, and asked whether there 
 was any room adjoining to that in which 
 Mrs. Fisher's company were? and being 
 answered in the affirmative. Verjuice and 
 Brian took possession of it, leaving the 
 dbor ajar, to hear what passed. 
 
 Just as supper was put upon the table 
 
 c 5 in
 
 34 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 in the next room^ they heard Peg tap at 
 the door, and exclaim, on being bid to 
 come in — " Mrs. Fisher, you may guess 
 perhaps as how I o~jces you a grudge; 
 but rot me if I don't owe the iums a 
 greater, and would give my last gown io 
 see any of them queered. The case, in a 
 word, is, that there are two of them now 
 below, asking for you and two gentle- 
 men; one they call Glare," Glare started 
 up, " and t'other — I forget his name." 
 
 *' Burnish }" cried iie, starting up also. 
 
 " The very same : I heard them say 
 they dodged you into the house, and are 
 resolved not lo leave it without seeing 
 you, as you are .shy cocks, and they have 
 long waited for such an opportunity." 
 
 " My dear girl," cried Glare, *' is there 
 any back way out of the house ? Help 
 us off, and I'll give you — that is, I'll be 
 
 a guinea
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 35 
 
 a guinea in your debt; and 'pon honour 
 it shall be left with the waiter for you." 
 
 " Why, Sir, though I iicants a guinea 
 bad enouo'h I hates to see good fellows 
 trapped. There is a back way into Hart- 
 street, for quality and gentry ; follow me 
 in the dark — there's not a minute to lose: 
 I thinks I hears them coming up stairs." 
 
 Without another word, or even staying 
 to get their hats. Glare and Burnish rush- 
 ed out after her, bolted down stairs, cry- 
 ing, " Coming, coming, Sir /" to make 
 the bailiffs think they were waiters^ scud- 
 ded through the back way^ and threaded 
 most of the lanes and allies about Seven 
 Dials, where they imagined that the bai- 
 liffs must be blood-hounds indeed, if 
 they had not lost scent of them. 
 
 As they were leaving the room, Mrs. 
 Fisher bawled out after them ; but find- 
 
 c 6 ing
 
 36 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 ing that they would not stay to answer 
 her, she said to her female companion, 
 whom she had sent for to make up the 
 parti quarri, " Blow me into a gin-shop, 
 if they ha'nt left us the reckoning to pay, 
 and I've no money !" 
 
 "Nor I." 
 
 Peg now returned, and told them that 
 she had seen their friends safe off, and 
 hoped to be treated to the share of a 
 bottle of wine, for her intelligence. 
 
 *' Aye," said Mrs. Fisher, '^ we may as 
 well drink the wine and eat the supper 
 too, for that matter; although the fellows 
 flew off in such a tangent, that they have 
 forgot to leave money for the reckoning, 
 and the devil a sneg have we to pay it 
 with — Have they faith here. Peg?" 
 
 *' Till you have swallowed the supper, 
 no longer." 
 
 WelU 
 
 i<
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 37 
 
 " Well, ring for the waiter, and hear 
 what he says." 
 
 When the waiter came, Mrs. Fisher 
 told him, that the gentlemen had been 
 obliged to go away on the most pressing 
 business, and left word, that if they 
 should be prevented from returning, 
 they would call and pay the bill next 
 day, without fail. 
 
 "1 can't trust to that, ladies; I am an- 
 swerable for all I bring in, and must be 
 paid before you leave the house. If the 
 gemnwi were rent gemmen, they would 
 never have left you so — Two knowing 
 kiddies, I'll be bound — trust to them, 
 ey !" 
 
 " Won't you take my word then ?" 
 said Mrs. Fisher—*' you know me." 
 
 *' Yes, and therefore I'd rather take 
 your money." 
 
 *' Well,
 
 88 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " Well, I dare say all my uncles' shops 
 are not shut up; so pop this gold tattler 
 for five quid, and bring them to me with 
 the duplicate." 
 
 After the wailer \vas gone, Verjuice 
 and Brian entered the room ; and Mac- 
 heath never shewed greater surprise in 
 the supper-scene, when disturbed by the 
 entrance of the ghost, than did Mrs. 
 Fisher betray on seeing them. 
 
 *' We beg pardon, Mrs. Fisher," said 
 A^erjuice, " and are afraid that we have 
 been the occasion of disturbing the har- 
 mony of the party, and driving away the 
 two gentlemen, by a small mistake, which 
 this lady it seems has made, in supposing 
 us to be sheriffs' officers." 
 
 " Why, you are not the turns then, are 
 you?" 
 
 *' We are the persons who were en- 
 quiring
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 39 
 
 quiring for you, and were mistaken for 
 such by this lady." 
 
 " I smell a rat now, and faith. Peg, you 
 were up to it." 
 
 '' Well, and if I were^ Moll, you know 
 you took away my man the other night, 
 and now I am only even with you." 
 
 " Well, gentlemen, you've had your 
 bit of ^ig" ont ; and now, pray, what other 
 business might you have with me ?" 
 
 '* To tell you that we are no strangers 
 to the notable scheme which you and 
 your light-heeled friends were planning 
 this afternoon at the Star and Garter^ 
 and to warn you, that if you should per- 
 sist in your intentions of raising calum- 
 nies to sow dissensions in a certain great 
 family " 
 
 "No, no — I've done with it: you're 
 too many for me. I give you my honour^ 
 u that
 
 40 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 that lil not only drop the business my- 
 self, but frighten Glare and Burnish out 
 of it : and so, to drown all animosity^ sit 
 down in the places of these tv/ojlats, and 
 eat up their supper; for strike me old 
 and ugly, if I don't make them pay for 
 it!" 
 
 " I thought you knew us better," said 
 Verjuice, " than to ask us to stand in the 
 shoes of two Jiats.'* 
 
 " NO;, no, 'pon honour ! You think I 
 want you to 'post the poney, but the sup- 
 per is already paid for, and you may see 
 the waiter bring the change presently/* 
 
 " Aye, my tincle's is not far off," said 
 Verjuice ; " but we can't stop. Mi-s. 
 Peg, here are the two guineas we pro- 
 mised you, and a third for having played 
 your part so cleverly. We wish you all 
 a merry bout/' . 
 
 It
 
 THE METROI'OLIS. 41 
 
 It was Impossible to be tickled by this 
 laughable piece of revenge more highly 
 than Brian ^^st he enjoyetl it the more, 
 because Verjuice had not prC' acquainted 
 him with his plan, but had played it off- 
 hand. 
 
 " There now," said Verjuice, " you 
 may not only set the Duchess's mind 
 perfectly at rest on this business, but 
 may make her laugh heartily at your next 
 tcie-d-teie." 
 
 On their return homewards, they called 
 in Lisle-street, Leicester-square, at one of 
 those inferior gaming-houses, whose at- 
 tractions are so pregnant with ruin to 
 clerks, apprentices, &:c. ; and here Brian 
 observed things which made him thank- 
 ful that he had gained too much know- 
 ledge to be entrapped, without having 
 paid so extravagantly dear for it as some 
 
 who
 
 43 THE METHOI'OLIS. 
 
 who were present. Among others, there 
 was one young man, of very genteel 
 appearance, whose repeated losses had 
 caused such a phrenzy, as gave his cool 
 opponents every advantage which they 
 could desire over him : having lost all 
 his cash, he absolutely staked his coat 
 against two guineas, and lost it : he then 
 sat down in a corner, folded his arms, 
 and sank into a deep reverie. Verjuice 
 pointed out to Brian the advantage 
 which the table-keepers and their asso' 
 ciates had over the fair players; and 
 after having marked out both sets to 
 him, Brian began by risking a few stakes 
 at the silver-table. He still kept on the 
 side of the knowing ones, whom Verjuice 
 had noted, whilst Brian was playing at 
 the other table ; and as there were plenty 
 o{ fresh-men there that night, the table 
 
 was
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 43 
 
 was at one time covered with heaps of 
 gold ; butj as the play proceeded, ihey 
 insensibly vanished. In proportion as 
 the pigeons lost, their desperation so ob- 
 scured their observation, that the rooks 
 plucked them in the most barefaced man- 
 ner; and by merely observing their hits, 
 Brian won one hundred and twenty gui- 
 neas, before all the cash had utterly dis- 
 appeared from the table. Verjuice had 
 also staked at certain intervals, and had 
 won forty guineas, without much risk. 
 
 When the golden mountains had va- 
 nished, the parties looked at each other 
 for some minutes in silence, and no one 
 of the fresh-men offering to pull out any 
 reserve, the professors guessed them to 
 be thoroughly cleaned out, and rose up at 
 once from the table. The youth who 
 had lost his coat was so buried in gloom, 
 
 that
 
 44 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 that the master of the house Fshook him 
 bv the shouUers to rouse him ; and he 
 started up, and maiU precipitately for 
 the door. Our friends were in the pas- 
 sage, and hear! him mutter to himself — 
 ^' It is over— the sun rises no more for 
 vie!" 
 
 Struck with horror at the situation of 
 this young man, which might have been 
 his own, Brian caught him by the shirt- 
 sleeve, and said to him, in the tone of 
 an acquaintance, " My dear fellow, you 
 cannot think of returning to your friends 
 in this plight; my great-coat is superflu- 
 ous, permit me to accommodate you with 
 it. Fortune has been as favourable to us 
 this niohtj as she has been unfriendly to 
 you ; therefore we beg you to take a bit 
 pf supper with us," 
 
 The youth seized Brian's hand^ and gave 
 
 it
 
 ^ THE METROPOLIS. 45 
 
 it a convulsive grasp of acknowledgment, 
 hisJheart beino; too full for his ton2;ue to 
 give utterance to its sentiments, 
 
 " Come, let me help you on with it," 
 added Brian, stripping off the great-coat; 
 and then, putting an arm within his, he 
 led him off, followed by V>rjuice, who 
 had never spoken a word all this time. 
 Brian led the way to Wright's hotel, in 
 Soho-square, where he was assured of en- 
 trance, although the morning was pretty 
 far advanced ; and having ordered sup- 
 per, he began to rally the youth upon 
 his eagerness for play, which had pre- 
 vented his observing the shuffling of the 
 'professors and artists, which could not 
 have escaped his eye in cool moments. 
 The youth stared wildly in his face, and 
 answered mournfully — " I did observe 
 their tricks, but I was indifferent to (hem, 
 
 through
 
 46 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 throu2;h despair of ever retrieving my 
 lost money and character, which must 
 doom me to the fate I have '* 
 
 " I guess what you mean/' said Brian; 
 " but beware^ young man, of rushing in- 
 to the presence of your Creator uncalled. 
 What are the few ills to which your im- 
 prudence may perhaps have doomed you 
 to l^ear in this short life, to an eternity 
 of misery ? — Forgive me the expression^ 
 but suicide is the resort of cowards." 
 
 The youth started, rose up vehemently, 
 and pulling off the great-coat, exclaimed 
 — ** There, Sir, I free myself of any load 
 of obligation to you, and am now at li- 
 berty to demand satisfaction for an im- 
 putation " 
 
 ^ ''Which your own rashness, impudent 
 boy, justly deserves," cried Verjuice, 
 rising, and pulling him down on his chair 
 
 — " Hear
 
 •THE METROPOI.ig. 47" 
 
 ™" Hear me, Sir ; despair renders men 
 testy, and makes them see an insult, in 
 what a man of sobriety would deem sa- 
 lutary advice. My friend conld have liad 
 no intention to brinu; vou hither, to add 
 to your present pressure by unmanly in- 
 sult ; he feels for you, perhaps from hav- 
 ing narrowly escaped shipwreck on the 
 same shoals. Be candid, Sir ; tt 11 us the 
 difficulties under which you labour, with- 
 out the least reserve: 1 have read my 
 friend's intentions to rescue you from 
 perdition, and will second them, if you 
 will put it in our power." 
 
 The youth now burst into tears, and 
 confessed that he was the son of Sir 
 Jacob Thrum, a wealthy knight of Ewel, 
 in Surrey, who had placed him in the 
 counting-house of an underwriter in 
 London ; and having had the misfortune 
 
 6 to
 
 48 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to fall in with an artful woman, who had 
 put him upon making free with his mas- 
 ter's cash, he had resorted to the 2am- 
 ing-table to make it up, but had only 
 trebled the deficiency. 
 
 '' Why not apply to your father, who 
 you say is wealthy, and ingenuously con- 
 fess your errors to him ?" demanded 
 Verjuice. 
 
 " He is indeed very rich. Sir; but 
 having raised his fortune entirely on 
 economy and industry, he is very parsi- 
 monioi s : and no crime could be, in his 
 ejet, greater than a want of them : I dare 
 never look either him or my master in 
 the face again." 
 
 " What is the sum total of your defi- 
 ciency ?" 
 
 " Little short of three hundred pounds; 
 and to-morrow I must make up my cash- 
 be ok.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 49 
 
 book, or close accounts before il ar- 
 
 rives." 
 
 " By ten o'clock you may be enabled 
 to do so, as the banks will be open ; and 
 I am afraid my friend and self have not 
 enough about us to make up the whole. 
 But let us see what we have." 
 
 Verjuice and Brian could muster only 
 two hundred and thirty pounds, which 
 Verjuice told the youth should be lent 
 to him ; and he would moreover give 
 him a check for what more he wanted to 
 clear himself, provided he would solemn- 
 ly engage never to hazard a bet until it 
 was repaid. 
 
 The youth instantly dropped on his 
 knees, pronounced fervently the pro- 
 mise, then seized Verjuice's hand, and 
 bathed it with his tears, calling him his 
 second father. Then turning round, he 
 
 VOL. II. D approached
 
 50 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 approached Brianj who prevented his re- 
 peating his humiliation^ by catching him 
 in his arms, and savin or, " No more of 
 this. Sir — be a man : your errors will be 
 blessings to you, if they cause you to 
 forswear them in future. Apply your- 
 self to the lucrative pursuits for which 
 your father has destined you, and you 
 will soon be enabled to discharge this 
 trinin": obliuation." 
 
 Verjuice in the mean time was writing 
 the check, which having given to the 
 youth, and taken his acknowledgment 
 for the money, and also his master's and 
 father's addresses, he desired that not an- 
 other syllable might be said on the busi- 
 ness, by either party. 
 
 After a good supper and an excellent 
 glass of punch, as it was nearly three 
 o'clock in the morning, they all slept at 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 5 I 
 
 the house ; the youth having, before he 
 retired, taken leave of his benefactors, as 
 he wished to return home before his mas- 
 ter should be out of bed, to prevent 
 even a suspicion of his misconduct. 
 
 It may seem strange, that a man of 
 Verjuice's cynical disposition should have 
 joined in such an act of benevolence; 
 but his true character will be developed 
 in proper time. 
 
 D 2 CHAP,
 
 52 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Epsom Races — An Act of Gallantry — Lo-ce and 
 Jealousy — A Race-Ball — A female Fox-hunter 
 — A Sketch of her Hist or i/ — Character of her 
 bit of Blood of a Son, and of a Fox-hunting 
 Fellozo of a College^ his Tutor. 
 
 The season of Epsom races was now ap- 
 proaching, and our friends went down 
 thither about a week previously, to take 
 soundings, as the seamen phrase it, and 
 lay their bets accordingly. Verjuice at- 
 tended the exercise of the horses in train- 
 ing, and plied the grooms so well;, that 
 
 he
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 53 
 
 he wormed out of them some secrets, 
 which, with the knowing ones, are term- 
 ed valuable ones. The horse of a cer- 
 tain r 1 D e was matched to run; 
 
 and, to the no little surprise of Brian, he 
 saw Mrs. Fisher appear on the ground, 
 in an elegant chariot, with footmen in 
 the liveries of H — R H , un- 
 der whose protection she had been lately 
 taken. 
 
 Verjuice's return to the turf was hailed 
 by all his old acquaintance, among whom 
 were several of the nobility ; and he ac- 
 tually betted one thousand pounds with 
 
 the r 1 D e, of which he told 
 
 Brian he should go his half. The sum 
 would have appeared to the latter to be 
 too great to be risked at once, but for 
 his reliance on Verjuice's information^ 
 which proved to be v;ell grounded : his 
 
 D 3 partner^
 
 54 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 partner, however, in the interval, felt 
 many of the uneasy sensations of a no- 
 vice. 
 
 The day of trial arrived, and the Duke's 
 horse won the first heat. Brian was all 
 over in a tremor, which did not diminish 
 on his favourite's winning the second. 
 The third heat was about to begin; the 
 riders had left the scales, mounted their 
 horses, and were waiting the signal to 
 start ; the horses were impatient, and 
 Brian no less so, when his ears were as- 
 sailed by the shrieks of female voices; 
 and turning- round, he thought that they 
 proceeded from a chariot, with which 
 the horses, having been imprudently left 
 by the driver, w^ere galloping off at full 
 speed. Our adventurer instantly forgot 
 his former anxiety, and galloped off, in 
 a direction to cross and stop them. Get- 
 ting
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 55 
 
 ting a-head of them, he was turning 
 rounds when the chariot-horses ran against 
 hiiTij and threw him to a considerable dis- 
 tance. All three of the horses fell, but 
 happily Brian received no material in- 
 jury: he sprang up, ran to the chariot- 
 horses, and luckily seized the reins, just 
 as they were got on their legs, and ap- 
 peared to be meditating another course; 
 he restrained them with the greatest diffi- 
 culty, till the driver ran up, and remount- 
 ed ; then opening the chariot-door, to 
 assure the ladies, who were two in num- 
 ber^ of their safety, he found one of them 
 in hysterics; and on q-ettin": a view of 
 her face, instantly recognized Miss Char- 
 lotte Hewson, Grasping her m his arms, 
 he lifted her out of the chariot, where, 
 with the air and the aid of her compa- 
 nion's fan and smelling-bottle, she soon 
 
 D 4 gave
 
 5Q THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 gave symptoms of recovering. On open- 
 ing her eyes, and beholding the well- 
 known and never-forgotten features of 
 Brian, she stared wildly, closed them 
 again, and appeared to be relapsing ; but 
 the shock was only momentary. She 
 continued faint, however, for several mi- 
 nutes, during which the happy Brian 
 pressed her to his breast, and contem* 
 plated her face with the utmost anxiety 
 and tenderness. 
 
 The heat being finished, several of the 
 spectators, who had not moved from 
 their stations before through humanity, 
 now began to approach them through 
 curiosity. To avoid their impertinence. 
 Miss Hewson faltered out a short effusion 
 of gratitude to her preserver, as did also 
 her fair companion, who observed that 
 her father's house was at a very short dis- 
 tance
 
 THE METROPOLIS* 57 
 
 tance from the race-ground, and insisted 
 that he should call before he left Epsoiiv, 
 and receive their thanks for his gallantry, 
 ^hen thev could be more at their ease. 
 
 Having received a card of address, 
 Brian reseated the ladies in the carriagCj 
 which drove off, having taken the liberty^ 
 in so doing, to give a gentle pressure to 
 Miss Hewson's hand. He continued 
 looking after the vehicle, which con- 
 tained his whole happiness, till he re*- 
 ceived a hearty slap on the shoulder 
 from Verjuice — ''What the devil !" cried 
 he, " I brought you to Epsom, as a 
 kniglit of the post, but you have turned ai 
 knight-errant upon my hands! — Pray^,, 
 who are the ditlcineas whom you have- 
 just extricated from their perilous situa^- 
 tion, at the risk of your wofui coimie^ 
 nance?" 
 
 D 5' ** One
 
 58 THE METROPOMS. 
 
 *' One of them/' replied Brian, '' is 
 my heaven-upon-earth; and this card 
 will inform you who the other is." 
 
 The instant Verjuice had cast his eye 
 on the cardj to which Brian had hitherto 
 paid little or no attention, he exclaimed 
 • — *' Mighty odd indeed ! This address is 
 the very same as that which the young 
 man who lost his coat in Lisle-street, 
 gave us as his father's; and the young 
 lady who gave this to you, is, according 
 to probability, his sister — -aye, 'tis the 
 very same — Sir Jacob Thriimj Knight, 
 EweJ, Surrey. Well, it lies in our road 
 homewards; and by giving you her ad- 
 dress, the lady certainly intends that you 
 should do yourself the honour of waiting 
 upon her, and receive the proper ac- 
 knowledgments for your Quixotism. — 
 But, zounds, man, you look as if you had 
 
 lost, 
 3
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 53^ 
 
 lost, instead of having won five hundred 
 pounds I" 
 
 These sounds roused our adventurer, 
 who had wholly forgot the match, and 
 even the horse he had rode upon, which 
 had galloped off, and judiciously entered 
 the stable of the very inn at Epsom, at 
 which they had put up. Guessing that 
 it had taken the London Road, they re- 
 turned to Epsom, where their trouble 
 was soon ended on that accounts 
 
 In the evening, there was a race-ball, 
 which was attended by an assemblage of 
 ladies; but as ?yliss Hewson was not pre- 
 sent, our adventurer had no eyes for any 
 of them. The dances had scarcely com- 
 menced, before Brian was struck by per- 
 ceiving their Lisle-street acquaintance 
 enter the room. He no sooner caught 
 the eyes of his friends, than he started ; 
 
 D 6 but
 
 60 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 but instantly made up to them, and de- 
 clared his happiness at seeing them — 
 " You will now have an opportunity," 
 added he, " of knowing that I have not 
 deceived you, as you must promise me 
 to call at my father's on your return." 
 
 " Why, to tell you the truth," replied 
 Brian, " if we had not seen you, we 
 should have called, having received this 
 card of address, and the honour of an 
 invitation from a young lady, whom we 
 presume to be your sister." 
 
 " You are then," cried Aus^ustus 
 Thrum, " the person who preserved my 
 sister and her friend from beins: killed in 
 the chariot this morning ?" 
 
 " I had indeed the happiness of stop- 
 ping the career of the horses." 
 
 '* Oh what a load of obligation do my 
 parents owe you ! but for you, perhaps, 
 
 they
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 61 
 
 they would have been at. this moment 
 childless!" 
 
 " No more of that/* cried Verjuice. 
 
 "" Well, but how are the ladies?" de- 
 manded Brian eagerly. 
 
 " Oh, well enough : the doctor took 
 off a little blood from them, and sent 
 them a quieting draught: he gave us 
 hopes moreover^ that, by proper atten- 
 tion;, they might be quite out of any 
 danger in a week^ or fortnight at far- 
 thest ; but, entre nous, they wished him 
 at the devil, and thought themselves 
 ■well enough to have been here this even- 
 ing, as they expected to have been ; and 
 I am now extremely sorry for their dis- 
 appointment, as I might have had the 
 pleasure of introducing you as my own 
 particular friend." 
 
 Here Augustus could not help again 
 
 launching
 
 62 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 launchino: into erateful eiTusions for ser- 
 vices rendered to liimself and sister, when 
 he was checked by a psha ! from Ver- 
 juice. 
 
 It may seem rather unaccountable to 
 the reader, who has never experienced 
 the thrilling pangs of real love, that Brian 
 should have all at once become very re- 
 served and gloomy towards Augustus; 
 but the green-eijed monster had seized 
 upon him. Augustus was a youth of the 
 most prepossessing figure and manners, 
 and from Miss Ilewson's visit at his fa- 
 ther's house, an inference might be 
 drawn that the families w^ere on an inti- 
 mate footing; but the lynx-eyed lover 
 thought he could see farther, and jumped 
 at once into a conclusion, that there must 
 be a treaty on the tapis for the union of 
 Miss Hewson and Augustus Thrum. As
 
 THE METROPOLIS. G5 
 
 lie answered not a syllable to Augustus's 
 friendly advances, the latter continued — 
 *-' You must promise to give us a call — ■ 
 the girls will amuse you. One is my sis- 
 ter, to be sure, but she is allowed to be a 
 fine girl, of the giddy, hair-brained sort ; 
 and I should be very happy that she could 
 engage my friend to be my brother-in- 
 law. Pier female friend is perhaps hand- 
 somer, is a most amiable girl, and- '* 
 
 *' Is intended for your partner in life, 
 I suppose ?" cried Brian peevishly. 
 
 " Why, many people have indeed 
 thought so," replied Augustus, " from 
 the intimacy between the families; but I 
 have often heard the young lady declare, 
 that she was resolved against marriage, 
 and that her father had promised never 
 to press the subject on her. It is a pity; 
 but she is very serious and thoughtful, 
 
 almost
 
 CI THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 almost to gloominess. I once jestingly 
 toIJ her, that one so young and charm- 
 ing could never be so bent against mar- 
 ri-age, and be so sombre, unless she had 
 met with some disappointment in love. 
 I observed the tear startino- into her eve, 
 as she turned her head aside, and have 
 never touched that string since." 
 
 The blood forsook oiir hero's face, at 
 the latter part of this speech ; but it pre- 
 sently returned, on the approach of her 
 Grace of Fallovvland, who familiarly tap- 
 ped him on the shoulder with her fan, 
 and said — " I shall expect you to take me 
 down the next dance." 
 
 Augustus stared, at hearing Brian an- 
 swer — '' Your Grace does me infinite ho" 
 nour — I shall attend you." 
 
 Her Grace then nodded to Verjuicej 
 and drew him aside, 
 
 *' Your
 
 4( 
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 65 
 
 Your Grace!" repeated Augustus — 
 " Oh, oh ! then, if ray sister and her 
 friend were here, they need not have 
 looked to you for a partner, as common- 
 ers' daughters stand but little chance 
 
 o 
 
 against Duchesses." 
 
 " You were never more mistaken in 
 your life; for I would resign all the Du- 
 chesses, nay, the Queens in the worlds 
 for Miss Hewson." 
 
 " So, so, then ! — You know the lady's 
 namCj and perhaps her family too ?" 
 
 " My impatience to do justice to Miss 
 Hewson has betrayed me ; but to you, 
 who are yourself ingenuous, why should 
 I be reserved ? Once I had the honour 
 and happiness of being intimately ac- 
 quainted with Mr. Hewson and his daugh- 
 ter; nay, I had the blissful expectation 
 
 of but so delightful a prospect was 
 
 snatched
 
 66 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 snatched from my eyes^ through my own 
 
 unworthiness." 
 
 ' *'' Oh, my preserver ! I cannot believe 
 
 that it was voiir wiiwrihmess — some mis- 
 
 understanding rather '* 
 
 '"No, T repeat, ray unworthiness ; no- 
 thing short of the most forcible reasons 
 could ever have induced Mr. or Miss 
 Hewson to change their opinion once 
 formed of a person. Had I not once had 
 Heaven in view, I had not now been the 
 wretch I am." 
 
 The last words were uttered with such 
 emotion as startled Auoustus, who said — • 
 '' My dear friend, my eyes are now 
 opened : you may depend on all my fa- 
 mily's assistance to heal the breach ; and 
 the service which you have just rendered 
 to Miss Hewson, must of itself be suffi- 
 cient to incline her and her father to a 
 
 reconciliation^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 67 
 
 reconciliation, even if a certain little 
 fJuttering portion of the human breast 
 did not render such an auxiliary unne- 
 cessary. And, now I think of it, appear- 
 ances are much against her ; for, while 
 my giddy sister cried you up for an angel, 
 she was wholly silent, as if afraid to trust 
 her tongue with your praises, lest it 
 should betray the secret of her heart — 
 Yes, it must be so." 
 
 Brian would have given the world to 
 have continued the subject of his adored 
 Charlotte, and was never less inclined to 
 gallantry than at that moment, when he 
 was summoned by her Grace. As the 
 rule was to change partners every third 
 dance, Brian, imagining the honour 
 might be gratifying to young Augustus, 
 requested her Grace to honour his friend 
 with her hand; and after her Grace had 
 
 eyed
 
 68 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 eyed the youth, and assented, Brian in- 
 troduced him to her. He himself sat 
 down with Verjuice, who entertained 
 him with some anecdotes of his own 
 knowledge, and others which he had just 
 gleaned from the Duchess, of the com- 
 pany present. 
 
 A female character now entered the 
 room, whose eccentric appearance in- 
 stantly struck Brian so forcibly, that Ver- 
 juice had no occasion to point her out 
 to him. She was dressed in a riding- 
 habit, with laced half-boots, a spur on 
 her left heel> and a whip in her hand : 
 she was a fine figure, and her face still 
 evinced her youthful beauty; but it was 
 masculine, sun-burnt, and strongly par- 
 took of the energies of her mind. She 
 lounged through the room, talked loud, 
 and was at ance the object of curiosity, 
 
 Qf
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 69 
 
 of admiration, and of envy, with all her 
 sex. 
 
 Verjuice perceiving the object of his 
 friend's attention, gave him the follow- 
 ing description of her : " That lady is 
 the relict of Sir Harry Spanker, who 
 broke his neck in a fox-chase. Her Lady- 
 ship was the only child of a gentleman 
 of large fortune, who having no son to 
 bring up to his favourite pursuits of 
 hunting and shooting, w^as delighted to 
 see his daughter prefer partaking with 
 him in those sports, to the usual routine 
 of female education and employments. 
 At the age of fifteen. Miss Diana could 
 clear a five-barred gate, was in at the 
 death, and reckoned one of the best 
 shots in the country. From these pur- 
 suits, her mind became as masculine as 
 her frame; she said and did whatever 
 
 struck
 
 70 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Struck her fancy, without paying thQ 
 -least regard to the opinion of the world, 
 which she always professed to treat with 
 sovereign contempt. 
 
 ^'Meeting with Sir Harry at a fox- 
 chase, he made an impression on her 
 heart, by t:iking a Jeap, in which he 
 threw out afl the rest of the field except 
 herself; and her prowess made no less 
 "impression on him. They were united ; / 
 and her Ladyshij) first entered in life, by 
 accompanying her husband to town. Al- 
 though she submitted to the rules of fa- 
 shion so far as to go to operas, to give 
 routs, and to attend them, she was quite 
 out of her element, until the season of 
 retiring to the country gave her an op-- 
 portunity of renewing her favourite 
 amusements. At first, her behaviour was 
 stigmatized, by her own sex, as vulgar, 
 
 monstrous.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 71 
 
 monstrous, shocking, brutal ; but when 
 thev saw her in Hvde Park, mounted on 
 her favourite hunter, the admiration of 
 the other sex, their sneers were converted' 
 first into envy, afterwards into admiration 
 and emulation — her riding-hats, habits, 
 boots and spurs, were all the rage. 
 
 *' The Jiaronet broke his neck, as I 
 have said before, and expired in her 
 arms, sincerely lamented by her. Her 
 son, the present Sir John, follovvcd the 
 bent of his parents, and is now -become 
 a Nimrod in the country, one of the 
 Four-in-hand Club in town, a jockey at 
 the race-courses, a hove at all public 
 places, and a pigeon at the faro-tables : 
 he is also famous for drawing straws, and 
 racing maggots for hundreds; and lately 
 rode a donkey-match against time, to 
 the great envy of his fellov^/'-sportsmen. 
 
 For
 
 72 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 For this celebrity he is no Jess indebted 
 to the example of his parents, than to 
 their discernment of his genius, and 
 choice of a tutor proper to call them 
 forth into action. 
 
 " The Reverend Peter Scentwell was 
 a clerical buck, and a cassocked hunts- 
 man : it is true, that the greatest part of 
 his residence at the University, "was so 
 employed in doing menial offices for 
 young men of fortune, in hopes of their 
 future patronage, that he knew nothing 
 of divinity; but then his fearless leaps, 
 his science in horseflesh, his ability to 
 stago-er off with three bottles of wine, 
 and his wonderful imitations of a pig, an 
 ass, a razor-grinder at work, rendered 
 him the delight of the college, and 
 marked him down for promotion. — 
 Luckily for him, in one of their con- 
 vivial
 
 TilE METROPOLIS. 73 
 
 vivial fits he was pushed into a gravel-pit 
 by Sir Harry Spanker,* and he regarded 
 a dislocation of his shoulder as the hap- 
 piest accident of his life, as it entitled 
 him to a future provision. This claim 
 and his merit were not forgotten ; and 
 he was appointed tutor to the Baronet's 
 son, until a living, to which he held the 
 presentation, should become vacant. 
 
 *' He executed this honourable trust so 
 entirely lo the satisfaction of Sir Harry 
 and his Lady, that the fond parents be- 
 held, v.ith a delight almost bordering on. 
 envy, the expansion of their son's genius. 
 •At sixteen he could leap a five-bar gate, a 
 fifteen- feet ditch, hunt a pack of hounds, 
 break, bleed, and cure them of the mange, 
 knit nets, make fishing-lines and artificial 
 flies, and put a lash to a whip : at every 
 thing of the kind which he took in hand, 
 
 VOL, II. B he
 
 74 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 he was deemed a hopeful lad. His father 
 had the happiness of witnessing all these 
 promises of a rising genius before his 
 death, and his mother continued, after 
 that event, to encourage his efforts; and 
 the Reverend Peter Scentwell is now re- 
 tained as a companion of the Baronet, 
 having accomplished him in every art of 
 which he himself was master, except the 
 science of biting his friends, a science in 
 the superiority of which he was greatly 
 envied by the Baronet. In making up 
 and packing off a horse for five times its 
 real value, the reverend gentleman stands 
 unrivalled, and derives no small addition 
 to his income from that source : he is no 
 less famous for breaking-in pointers, one 
 of which, under his training, is eagerly 
 purchased at fifteen or twenty guineas ; 
 at which price he obliges his friends, and 
 
 those
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 76 
 
 those onlyj with parting with it. To put 
 the finishing stroke to the Baronet's edu- 
 cation, he is now engaged, not in a tour 
 of Europe, but a sporting tour in the 
 fiorth of England, whence his mother 
 now expects him daily to return 9 Jirst- 
 rate character." 
 
 s 2 CHAiP.
 
 7(5 THE IklETEOPOLlS. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 *-i ticklish Situatiov, or Virtue in Danger — An 
 Epicure — The Trials of Love — Character of a 
 Baronet J a Knozcing One, and a Captain in the 
 Ari7iy. 
 
 When the ball was at a conclusion, and 
 the ladies began to disperse, the gentle- 
 men who intended to remain at the inn 
 that night were making parties for sup- 
 pers and cards; and Verjuice w-ould have 
 had Brian join thenij but her Grace in- 
 sisted that they should both give her 
 their company. 
 
 Soon
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 77 
 
 .Soon after supper, Verjuice made a 
 pretence for quitting the room, and left 
 our hero and her Grace tiie-d-tite. The 
 circulation of the blood, occasioned by 
 the mazy dance, had thrown an uncom- 
 mon lustre over her Grace's face — her 
 eyes, at all times bright, v<?ere more ani- 
 mated than usual ; and after our hero 
 had encountered their fire half a dozen 
 times, he began to be sensible of their 
 effect, in dispersing his own torpidity. 
 
 On her Grace's reminding him of the 
 scene at Richmond, and saying that his 
 Grace had as vet heard nothin^j of the 
 matter, Brian said he never would, and 
 related the successful scheme of Verjuice 
 with as much narceti as he was master of, 
 which occasioned much mirth. The con- 
 versation then naturally slid into the 
 other matters which had been there dis- 
 
 E 3 cussed
 
 78 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 cussed between them; and Brian's sensi- 
 bility was awakened by her Grace's hint- 
 ing that she was to tarry at the inn that 
 night, having no acquaintance in the 
 neighbourhood. Whether our adven- 
 turer seized this hint to his own advan- 
 tao-e or noi, shall be left to the reader to 
 guess, as we shall only say that, on Ver- 
 juice's returning to the room at a late 
 hour, he Vv'as told that the lady and gen- 
 tleman had retired to their separate apart- 
 ments, and he instantly followed their 
 example. 
 
 The reader will now take the trouble 
 to travel to Sir Jacob Thrum's seat, where 
 Augustus, on his return thither, found 
 the family gone to bed, except the groom 
 and footman, who were waiting up for 
 him. The next morning, he introduced 
 the subject of his friends, by saying he 
 
 had
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 79 
 
 had seen at the ball the gentleman who 
 had rescued his sister and Miss Charlotte 
 from their perilous situation ; and he 
 perfectly coincided in all his sister's eu- 
 logies on him, having had the pleasure 
 of being in his comuanv before, and en- 
 tertaining a very great respect for him. 
 As he pronounced these words, he looked 
 towards Charlotte, as if accidentally ; but 
 her eyes were fixed on the ground, and a 
 blush overspread her cheeks. 
 
 " Well, well," said Sir Jacob, '' the 
 best way of shewing our gratitude will 
 be by asking him to dinner ; and luckily, 
 at the present time, I believe our house 
 will afford a tolerable bill of fare." 
 
 " What he will prefer before any deli- 
 cacies in the world," snid Augustus, 
 glancing at Charlotte, who was playing 
 on the floor with her foot. 
 
 E 4 '' Aye,
 
 so THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " Aye, what is that?" demanded Sir 
 Jacob — " men have different tastes, and 
 as you seem to be acquainted with the 
 gentleman's, we will try to have it on 
 the table. I am sorry we have no turtle; 
 but v/e have venison, carp, and game, in 
 plenty/' 
 
 Lady Thrum smiled, but said nothing. 
 
 " I assure you, Sir," said Augustus, 
 *' that he is a man of great connexions, 
 for the Duchess of Fallowland singled 
 him out for a partner; and after he had 
 gone down two dances with her, he pre- 
 vailed on her to honour me, as his parti- 
 cular friend, with her hand," — ( Charlotte 
 now quitted her seat, and walked towards 
 the window) — *' I was very sorry that I 
 could ftot make one of their supper- 
 party, to which her Grace invited me 
 with him." 
 
 Charlotte
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 8i 
 
 Charlotte observed, thaV a little air 
 would relieve her; and drew Miss Thriiin 
 off with her into the garden. 
 
 ^' Well, but/' cries Sir Jacob, '' you 
 have not told wherein your friend's taste 
 lies, that the cook may have proper 
 
 orders." 
 
 " Oh !" replied Augustus, " his taste 
 in eating is similar to ypur own— the 
 venison, c?rp, and a little game, will be 
 the very things/' 
 
 " Well then, my dear, you will please 
 to see that nothing is spoiled ; and do. 
 you, Augustus, go with our complimcHts, 
 and bring your friend to us. You know 
 I like my dinner precisely at two; but 
 as the races will not be over, I v;ill stay 
 my stomach with a bit of a snack till 
 four: and, hark ye, if you could prevail 
 on the Duchess to come with you,"" it 
 
 E 5 v/ould
 
 83 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ■would raise the respect of the neigh- 
 bourhood." 
 
 Lady Thrum and Augustus instantly- 
 set out, the former for her kitcheU;, and 
 the latter for the race-ground. Brian 
 joyfully accepted an invitation to dine in 
 company with Charlotte ; but no sooner 
 had Augustus expressed his father's wish 
 for the honour of her Grace's being of 
 the party_, than he changed colour, and 
 desired Augustus not to hint a syllable 
 of it to her, as he knew she would be 
 otherways engaged. To prevent an ac- 
 cident of the kind, he kept Augustus in 
 sight whilst the sport lasted, and drew 
 him away with Verjuice, so soon as it 
 was finished. 
 
 On entering Sir Jacob's mansion, our 
 hero's heart fluttered with a thousand 
 emotions, and he was afraid of not being 
 
 sufficiently
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 83 
 
 sufficiently master of himself, in the pre- 
 sence of his Charlotte. He received 
 the acknowledgments of Sir Jacobs his 
 Ladv, and their daufrhter, and returned 
 them with equal politeness; but Char- 
 lotte was not presentj nor did he care to 
 inquire about her. 
 
 Dinner was at length announced, and 
 Cliarlotte made her appearance, dressed 
 in the most simple, though elegant style: 
 she paid her respects to the company, and 
 to Brian, but without daring to enco\in- 
 ter the looks of the latter. Luckily Sir 
 Jacob was wholly occupied in examining 
 the dishes, as they were placed on the 
 table, and Lady Thrum in doing the ho- 
 nours of the house, to pay attention to 
 any thing else. Verjuice and Augustus 
 had their cues, and Miss Thrum was en- 
 gaged opposite to a mirror, so that the 
 
 E 6 lovers
 
 84 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 lovers had opportunity to recover them- 
 selves a little from their mutual confu- 
 sion : it was however renewed, by the 
 Knight observing- he was sorry they were 
 deprived of the honour of her Grace's 
 company. Verjuice^ perceiving Brian's 
 uneasiness, took upon him to be the 
 spokesman, and said, that it was himself 
 who had had the honour of introducing 
 his friend, Mr. Bonnycastle, to her Grace's 
 acquaintance, and that he was assured that 
 he could have prevailed on her Grace, if 
 she had not been pre-engaged. 
 
 " Well, well," cried the Knight, " her 
 Grace may fare worse, for the carp ap- 
 pears to be stewed admirably; and if the 
 venison and fowl be done equally well, 
 we need not wish ourselves at the Lon- 
 don Tavern for a dinner." 
 
 Notwithstanding the Knight's oration 
 
 in
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 85 
 
 in praise of the dishes, no one seemed 
 to second him heartily in their demoli- 
 tion, except Verjuice, who did them ample 
 justice. The Knight hvid no sooner taken 
 the first mouthful, than he was too fully 
 occupied to let a syllable escape his lips„ 
 except now and then such exclamations 
 vis^—Excelknt, 'pon honour ! — Done to a 
 turn! — Fine flavour ! — JLet ind recommend 
 a trial of the venison ! — Hoi) or noJ) ucith 
 any lady or gentleman; whence the reader 
 may presume him to have been an epi- 
 cure, as indeed he was. 
 
 After the cloth was removed, and the 
 ladies had taken a glass of wine, they 
 withdrew, and the Knight took the head 
 of the table and the lead in conversation^ 
 as he was no niggard of his words, ex- 
 cept when his mouth was engaged in the 
 vocation of eating. He appeared to have 
 5 gathered
 
 86 THE METHOrOLIS. 
 
 gathered all his subjects of discourse from 
 cookery books, for he expatiated on none 
 other; and as these are not so very plea- 
 sing to any but epicures, Augustus gave 
 a wink to Brian, and proposed a turn in 
 the garden. Verjuice, who guessed their 
 intentions, and had no inclination to 
 quit the bottle, declined accompanying 
 them, saying — " Aye, aye. Sir Jacob, let 
 the bovs be gone; it is time enough vet 
 for them to enjoy the pleasures of the 
 table : leave youth to the amusements of 
 vouth, and old ai^e to those of old aoje. 
 Come, Sir Jacob, I'll pledge you." 
 
 '' With all my heart. Sir." 
 
 Augustus conducted Brian into the 
 garden, where they soon descried the 
 young ladies; and the former managed 
 matters so well as to draw aside his sister, 
 and leave the lovers together. Both were, 
 
 for
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 8/ 
 
 for a time, too much disconcerted to ut- 
 ter a syllable; till Brian, aware how pre- 
 cious the moments were, broke silence — 
 *' Ah, Miss Hewson ! there was a time 
 when we were not under such cruel re- 
 straint in addressing each other — Why is 
 that blissful period over?" 
 
 " Indeed, Sir, you yourself must be 
 the best judge of the reason." 
 
 '* I am indeed— my own folly, my own 
 weakness : but if you knew how wretched 
 my punishment, in being debarred from 
 the society of what I hold dearest in the 
 world, has made me " 
 
 *' I can know nothing of that. Sir." 
 
 **■ There is my misfortune, otherwise 
 my penitence and remorse might move 
 your tender bosom, nay, I believe, would 
 excite compassion and forgiveness in that 
 of your benevolent father." 
 
 " My
 
 88 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " Mv father's heart harbours no ma- 
 lice. Sir." 
 
 *' I know it well — justice abides there; 
 but stern justice may at times be tem- 
 pered with sweet mercy. Let me at least 
 enjoy the consolation of knowing that I 
 have your forgiveness/' 
 
 " You have never injured me. Sir.'* 
 
 '' Say however, on my knees I entreat 
 it, that I have not wholly lost your esteem: 
 the judge does not pass the last harsh sen- 
 tence of the law on the worst of criminals, 
 without recommending him to the eternal 
 mercy." 
 
 " Mr. Eonnycastle, I am sensible that 
 you possess many excellent qualities ; 
 your friends could only have wished 
 somewhat more stability to have been 
 added to them : and now. Sir, I must en- 
 treat, nay insist^ that an end is put to this 
 
 subject.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 89 
 
 subject, to which I can listen no longer. 
 There is, however, a business of your 
 own, which should be mentioned to you. 
 A c'ountryman brought to our house a 
 letter addressed to you from your father^ 
 which, as we were ignorant of your ad- 
 dress, he took away again, desiring, if we 
 should see you, that we would direct you 
 to ask for Giles Thornback, under-ostler 
 at the George and Blue Boar inn, Hol- 
 born : there is also another letter leit for 
 you by my brother, which he particulaj*ly 
 requested might be forwarded to you. 
 Will you send for it, or shall it be sent 
 to vou ?" 
 
 " Oh, Miss Hewson, why am I deprived 
 of the happiness of being permitted to 
 call in person for it ?" 
 
 ''It may not be. Sir; I entreat you 
 not to think of it — -our conversation must 
 
 now
 
 90 THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 now end. Whither must my brother's 
 letter be sent ?" 
 
 Brian wrote his address with a pencil, 
 and Charlotte i/amediately went in search 
 of Augustus and his sister, nor would ad- 
 mit of another word on the subject near- 
 est to Brian's heart. 
 
 On rejoining them, Augustus observed 
 Brian's countenance, on which he could 
 read disappointment and despair strongly 
 depicted. He had given some hints to 
 his sister of the situation of the lovers, 
 and pressed her to join in the attempt to 
 effect a reconciliation between them, 
 \vhich she had readily promised, but as- 
 sured him that they must proceed in the 
 most cautious manner, as from her know- 
 ledge of Miss Iiewscn"s disposition, she 
 •would resist every open attempt to bias 
 her inclination : they affected, therefore, 
 
 a total
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 91 
 
 a total ignorance of any former acquaint- 
 ance between their friends, and endea- 
 voured to give to the conversation a 
 lively turn. 
 
 They were at length summoned to the 
 tea-table, and Lady Thrum proposed, as 
 that night would be the last of the balls, 
 they should all attend. Charlotte de- 
 clared herself unable, through indisposi- 
 tion from her late fright; and as Miss 
 Thrum could not leave her alone, the 
 design was given over, to the great satis- 
 faction of Brian, as he knew her Grace 
 
 would be present. 
 
 * 
 
 Sir Jacob and his family pressed Brian 
 
 and Verjuice to pass the night under 
 their roof. Verjuice seemed willing to 
 comply; but Brian, on consulting Miss 
 Kewson's looks, read so unequivocal a 
 disinclination, that he feigned particular 
 
 business.
 
 92 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 business, and rose to take his leave. Sir 
 Jacob insisted on the promise of another 
 visit, before Brian and Verjuice returned 
 to London ; uhich being received, and 
 compliments over, they set out for Ep- 
 som, accompanied by Aiiojustus. 
 
 Although her Grace had never once 
 thought of engaging our adventurer to 
 be of her dinner-party, yet she expected 
 him as a matter of course; and was not 
 a little angry at the disappointment, as 
 she testified by her looks, when they met. 
 Brian apologized, by pleading a prior 
 encasement with his friend Au2;ustus, 
 who confirmed the assertion in a way th^t 
 satisfied her Grace, by assuring her, that 
 Brian had withstood the pressing instan- 
 ces of his father and family, to pass the 
 night under their roof, for the sole pur- 
 pose of returning to Epsom. 
 
 Our
 
 THE METnOPOLlS. 93 
 
 Our adventurer danced with her Grace, 
 as on the preceding evening; bnt his air 
 ^vas so distracted, and even ungallant, 
 that she could not avoid noticing it, and 
 observing that she feared she had com- 
 mitted a fault, and converted the atten- 
 tion of an admirer into a matrimonial 
 sort of inattention. This inuendo roused 
 him, and he endeavoured to assume 
 gaiety, but not \evy successfully; it was 
 indeed a fortunate circumstance for him 
 that Miss Hewson was not present, as he 
 would have laboured under an insup- 
 portable degree of embarrassment. 
 
 At a late hour, Brian was rather sur- 
 prised to behold Captain Fascine, his an- 
 tagonist Sir Charles Rushlight, and his 
 friend Mr. Shadow, enter the ball-room. 
 The former came up, and shook Brian by 
 ihe hand in the most friendly manner; 
 
 and
 
 94 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and the Baronet and Shadow followed 
 the examplcj asking what sport at the 
 races, as they had not attended, and had 
 onlv come out of town that mornhior. 
 
 on an excursion ? 
 
 The Baronet had received, like many 
 other heirs of great estates, a very trifling 
 education, and had been very niggardly 
 endowed by Nature; the few accom- 
 plishments which he had contrived to 
 pick up, were consonant to the vanity 
 and weakness of his mother and himself, 
 and merely superficial. At an early pe- 
 riod of life, he had fallen into the snares 
 of gamesters, in which hhfrieiid Shadow 
 had artfully engaged him, by warning 
 him against such pursuits, of which how- 
 ever he drew the most seducing picture, 
 and piqued the Baronet's vanity, by the 
 most insidious doubts of his being ever 
 
 aljle
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 9,5 
 
 able to make a figure that way. This 
 management had the desired effect, and 
 determined the youth to make a trial: 
 the consequences were, that his ready 
 money flew, his timber disappeared, and 
 the estates themselves were so deeply 
 mortfraoed, that the remainder aObrded 
 
 CD Cj ^ 
 
 but scanty means to support the (jgure 
 which the Baronet and his ancestors had 
 maintained. Like the Lance cF Achilles, 
 pride, which had inflicted the wound, 
 brought the remedy : not being able to 
 endure the mortilication of retrenching 
 before the eyes of his former acquain- 
 tance, he sequestered himself from the 
 world for some years, and lived so eco- 
 nomically as to clear his estates; he then 
 returned to the world, for which he sigh- 
 ed, but armed with so much caution and 
 prudence, that Shadow, of whose real 
 
 character
 
 $6 TflE METROPOLIS. 
 
 character he was still ignorant,, could ne- 
 ver induce him to venture beyond a cer- 
 tain point : in short, his pursuits were 
 now more prudent, though less honour- 
 able, as he scrupled not to prey upon 
 others, as he had been once preyed up- 
 on. The reader can want no more in- 
 sight into Mr. Shadow's character, who 
 had shared deeply in the Baronet's purse 
 ^vith his adversaries, and established a 
 fortune on his losses. 
 
 The Captain entered the army with a 
 moderate income, and as all his hopes of' 
 preferment depended on his acquiring a 
 knowledge of his profession, he had ap- 
 plied himself indefatigably to the duties 
 of it; he had moreover exchanged into 
 a regiment ordered abroad on actual ser- 
 vice, with a young officer, who had suffi- 
 cient interest to procure preferment 
 
 whilst
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 97 
 
 u'hilst Ivinj^ inactive at home, and who 
 relished parade-service better than that 
 in a burning climate, as he had no ear 
 for the whizzing music of cannon and 
 rnusket-balls. 
 
 Fascine was a man of some sound eru- 
 dition, although too lively for the deeper 
 researches into literature; and his cha- 
 racter and manners were unexception- 
 able in every point, save his being a pro- 
 fessed amateur of duelling, which he had 
 imbibed from joining a regiment, the 
 greater part of whose officers were Irish. 
 This propensity had risen to so extraor- 
 dinary a height^ that he regarded an af- 
 fair of honour as a mere frolic, and was 
 equally ready to stand as principal as se- 
 cond. Nevertheless, his temper may be 
 said to have been most amiable, as were 
 his manners inoffensive ; for, never put- 
 
 VOL. II. F X\v>'y 
 
 o
 
 9S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ting up with the slightest offence offered 
 to himself without a suitable apology, no 
 man was ever more cautious of giving 
 one to another. 
 
 The Duchess retired immediately after 
 the assembly was over, on account of her 
 intention to set out early the next morn- 
 ing for town ; and Fascine solicited Brian 
 so earnestly to join parties at supper, as 
 did the Baronet and Shadow entreat Ver- 
 juice, with whom they had been formerly 
 well acquainted on the turf, that they 
 could not well refuse. 
 
 After supper. Shadow and the Captain 
 promoted a brisk circulation of the glass, 
 from very different motives; the former 
 hoping to make his advantage of the 
 ebriety of his friends at cards, and the 
 latter from his convivial humour, as he 
 never played nor betted. Brian had his 
 
 reasons
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 99 
 
 reasons for refraining from either ebriety 
 or cards; so that Shadow was foiled; 
 until three country-looking gentlemen 
 coming in, apparently half seas over, he 
 engaged them in a hand of whist; and 
 Brian and Verjuice took that opportunity 
 of retiring. 
 
 Augustus had returned home before 
 supper, having made his friends repeat 
 their promise of a visit on the following 
 day. 
 
 F 2 CHAP.
 
 100 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Diamond cut Diamond, or the Knoning Ones 
 queered htj the Deep Ones — A Squabble — Its 
 ludicrous Termination, and a Cj/nic's Remarks 
 upon it — The Cynic's Character. 
 
 Verjuice had scarcely got into a sound 
 sleep, before he was roused by a tremen- 
 dous noise : he called to Brian, and re- 
 ceiving no answer (they had been obli- 
 ged to put up with a double-bedded 
 room, the house being quite full), he 
 went to feel for him, but the bed was 
 empty. Fearing he might be some way 
 
 implicated
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 101 
 
 implicated in the disturbance, he crept 
 to the door, and was presently relieved 
 by the coming of his friend. 
 
 The noise rather encreasing than abat- 
 ing, they called for light, dressed them- 
 selves, and went to the room whence the 
 noise issued, which Vv'as the same as they 
 had supped in. On entering, they dis- 
 covered the Captain just roused out of a 
 sound sleep, in an elbow-chair by the 
 fireside, and scarcely recovered from the 
 fumes of the wine. Words had arisen 
 between Shadow and the Baronet on one 
 side, and the country gentlemen on the 
 other, on accocmt of some alledged foul 
 play on the part of the latter. Brian 
 was astonished at this, as he would have 
 rather supposed that the accusation would 
 have come from the other partv : but so 
 it was. On inquiring into the cause of 
 
 F 3 the
 
 102 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the dispute, the Baronet asserted, that 
 suspecting all was not fair, from his and 
 Shadow's being continually losers, con- 
 trary to all presumable chances, he had 
 narrowly watched their opponents, but 
 had discovered nothing to justify his 
 suspicions, till, fixing his eye on one of 
 them, he saw him glance towards their 
 companion, who was a looker-on, and 
 observed the latter making signs against 
 a looking-glass. The Baronet instantly 
 threw dawn his cards, assigning his rea- 
 sons for so doing, and insisted on having 
 all losses refunded. Their opponents re- 
 fused; and the person accused stripped, 
 and offered to box the accuser for twenty 
 guineas. The Baronet demanded gentle- 
 manly satisfaction for himself and part- 
 ner from the two players; and the Cap- 
 tain being by this time somewhat aroused, 
 
 took
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 103 
 
 took part with his friends, and declared 
 his determination to fight the by-stander, 
 desiring Brian and Verjuice to see fair 
 play on both sides. After considerable 
 altercation betwixt the duellists and the 
 pugilists, the latter agreed to refer the 
 dispute to their pistols, on condition 
 that, as it was nearly daylight, the meet- 
 ing should take place on the race-ground, 
 to prevent interruption. 
 
 This proposal appearing reasonable, 
 was acceded to by their antagonists: 
 each party began to make the necessary 
 preparations, the Baronet by calling for 
 bis chariot for himself and friends, and 
 the country gentlemen by ordering their 
 horses to be brought to the door. In 
 the bustle of preparation for this battle- 
 roi/al, as the Captain termed it, the coun- 
 try gentlemen were particularly boister- 
 
 F 4 ous
 
 104 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ous in cursing the ostler for delaying to 
 bring out their horses; and slipping out 
 singly, as if to hasten him, prevented all 
 suspicion of their intentions. 
 
 When the Baronet's chariot was an- 
 nounced to be at the door, and he de- 
 rrtanded how long it would be before the 
 other gentlemen were ready ? he was an- 
 swered by a waiter — " I don't knov/ in- 
 deed;, Sir; for, on calling up the ostler^ 
 and describing the gentlemen, he says 
 they have no horses in the stables. We 
 know nothing of them, any more than of 
 a hundred other persons, who introduce 
 themselves into company on all such 
 public occasions." 
 
 A strict search now took place over 
 the house and premises, but they were 
 not to be found ; and the ostler cleared 
 up the business, by saying that several 
 
 persons
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 105 
 
 persons went out at the outer gateway, 
 as he got out the chariot. 
 
 ''A bite, by G !" exclaims Shadow. 
 
 Brian burst out into a convulsion of 
 laughter, in which he was joined by the 
 Captain. Shadow bore all the marks of 
 rage, and the Baronet looked silly. 
 
 " If the Baronet was not awake," said 
 Verjuice, with a sarcastic grin, " I am 
 surprised that Mr. Shadow should not 
 know his men better: these three comtz- 
 try fiats are nothing more or less than 
 three London sharps, or I know nothing 
 of the tow7i. It's all a dead hoax — the 
 knowing ones are queered, that's all. — 
 Waiter, did not these gentlemen go off 
 in. such a hurry as to forget to settle 
 their reckoning ?'' 
 
 " Yes, Sir." 
 
 E 5 *' The
 
 106 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " The chariot is at the door/* cried 
 the Baronet, '^ let us set out directly for 
 town : we may probably overtake the. 
 rascals on the road, and make them re- 
 pent their playing tricks upon travellers." 
 
 *' Travellers indeed!" quoth Verjuice; 
 " for you will return greater flats than 
 you came out." 
 
 "Waiter, the bill !" cries the Baronet, 
 '* or this cynical old put will bore us to 
 death.'" 
 
 " How much may they have lightened 
 you of?" asked Verjuice. 
 
 " A trifle — not more than sixty gui- 
 neas." 
 
 " A trifle ! Well, I am glad they have 
 only irijied with you — But then it is sp 
 callinor to be hoaxed." 
 
 ''Waiter, the bill!'* 
 
 *' You
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 107 
 
 " You pay for your friends^ the coun- 
 try gentlemen, I suppose?" continued 
 Verjuice. 
 
 " I wish the country gentlemen at the 
 devil, and you the fiend appointed to 
 torment them." 
 
 The bill was now brought in, and dis- 
 charged ; and as the Baronet and his 
 friends were going into the chariot. Ver- 
 juice called out — '' I suppose. Sir Charles, 
 you will scarcely boast of this adventure 
 to your London acquaintance ?" 
 
 " It may as well be put into the news- 
 papers at once, old snarler^ as be record- 
 ed in your scandalous chronicle. My 
 only hope is, that your neck may be 
 broke on the road, and that your first 
 whisper of this adventure may be in the 
 lower regions." 
 
 ** Why, you will g€t little by that, 
 
 p 6 Baronet_,
 
 108 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Baronet, as you will be sure to hear of 
 it there." 
 
 The chariot now drove off, and Brian 
 asked Verjuice for his real opinion on 
 the cause of this disturbance. 
 
 *' Why," replied he^, *' the Baronet is 
 still a dupe, notwithstanding his dear- 
 bought experience; and Shadow is a 
 more finished knave than ever. I have 
 a confused idea that I have seen these 
 country gentlemen before, and that too in 
 Shadow's company; if so, they are his 
 colleagues, and have preceded or fol- 
 lowed him hither, to do as much business 
 as they could get customers for; and 
 finding none but the Baronet at hand, 
 ihey have made shift to fly off to touon 
 with a few of his feathers, of which Sha- 
 dow will come in for his share." 
 
 "■ Is it nof astonishing," asked Brian, 
 
 who
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 109^ 
 
 \vho had received from Verjuice, during 
 the intervals of repose from dancing, 
 the foregoing sketch of the Baronet's 
 history, " tliat Sir Charles can so long 
 remain ignorant of the villainous charac- 
 ter of his pretended friend ?" 
 
 *' Not in the least," replied Verjuice — 
 "his pride, and conceit of his knowledge 
 of the world, prevent an idea that any 
 man living can dupe him ; and as pride 
 and self-conceit are ever enamoured with 
 flattery, of the science of which Shadow 
 is a master, the Baronet is so delighted 
 to hear his own praisres resounded, and 
 so blinded to his parasite's duplicity, that 
 he pays the whole expences wherever 
 they go together. This arrangement was 
 occasioned by Shadow's hinting, that a 
 man of his small income could not afford 
 
 to
 
 no THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to keep pace with one of the Baronet's 
 large property." 
 
 " Would it not be an act of justice to 
 give him such a hint as might open his 
 eyes?'* 
 
 " Neither justice nor charity, whilst 
 he perseveres in his present resolution 
 never again to injure his fortune. If 
 there were any clanger of his being drawn 
 into any lengths^ he should not want a 
 friendly hint; but whilst he is rich, he 
 ought to smart a little for his folly.'* 
 
 This conversation passed as they were 
 again retiring to their chamber, to en- 
 deavour to get a couple of hours' rest, 
 of which they stood in much need; and 
 the interval offers a fair opportunity to 
 give the reader the promised delineation 
 of Verjuice's character. Launched upon 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. Ill 
 
 the world a child of Nature and of po- 
 verty^ possessing negative virtue through 
 the absence of vice, he might have proved 
 a most sociable being, if unfortunately 
 he had not seen only bad examples at 
 his outset in life: deceived by the ob- 
 ject of his tenderest affections, borne 
 down by rank and wealth, early trained 
 in the pursuits of gamesters, deceived by 
 a pretended friend, and nearly ruined by 
 a single fit of inebriety, it was natural 
 for his artless mind to forswear love, 
 friendship, and wine, and to bear an an- 
 tipathy to the adventitious circumstances 
 of birth and fortune. It was scarcely 
 possible for a man, withdrawing within 
 himself, refraining from every enjoy- 
 ment of life, and applying his whole at- 
 tention to the supply of his own wants, 
 not to have thriven as he had done : but, 
 5 with
 
 112 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ■with all his apathy for what are termed 
 the finer feelings. Nature had not de- 
 serted her seat, the human heart ; and 
 he was no misanthropist, as may be ga- 
 thered from his behaviour to her Grace 
 of Fallowland, our adventurer, and Au- 
 gustus. Having experienced misfortunes 
 himself, he felt for others in distress; 
 and his cynical disposition was only ex- 
 erted against those who sought to op- 
 press or deceive others, to whom he 
 would give no quarter; such as Lady 
 M'Lackland, Miss Rachel Rappee, Sir 
 Charles Rushlight, Shadow, Glare, Bur- 
 nish, Mrs. Fisher, characters whom he 
 thought it but justice to detect, and lash: 
 in short, he was a foe to pride, self-suffi- 
 ciency, and knavery, and a friend to me- 
 rit in distress. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 113 
 
 CHAP. VT. 
 
 Character of an Epicure — Remarks on Bloom* 
 yield's Poem of the Farmer'' s Boj/, and a Com- 
 parison between it and Thomson'' s Seasons — A 
 Sonnet on a Friend's Pigsties — jin Act of 
 Humanity — A country Lad — A fejnale Army~ 
 Agent. 
 
 After breakfast. Verjuice and Brian set 
 out for tlie Knight's habitation, where 
 they were informed that Mr. Hewson had 
 arrived on the preceding nighty and find- 
 ing his daughter much indisposed, had 
 conveyed her to London that morning, 
 
 accompanied
 
 114 THE METRGPCLIS. 
 
 accompanied by Miss Hewson. The 
 Knight delivered to Brian a letter, to the 
 following effect : — 
 
 " SIB, 
 
 " I HAVE been informed of 
 the important service which you have 
 rendered to my daughter, and hope you 
 will believe me to be as grateful for it 
 as a parent can be. You know me too 
 "Well, to suppose that I can be capable of 
 wishing to give you the least offence, and 
 therefore I beg you will accept the en- 
 closed, as a trifling mark of that grati- 
 tude, and that you will believe I shall 
 ever entertain the most sincere wish for 
 your future welfare. I am, 
 
 " Your obliged humble servant, 
 " KD. HEWSON, sen» 
 
 " To Mr. Brian Bonny cast k." 
 
 The
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ^ 115 
 
 The enclosure was a check on a bank- 
 ing-house for five hundred pounds. Mor- 
 tified as was our hero at ►be coldness of 
 this epistle, and the precipitancy with 
 which Mr. Hewson had carried off his 
 daughters which he construed into a wish 
 to prevent her meeting with him, he was 
 still more alarmed for the health of his 
 adored Charlotte, until his fears were 
 somewhat relieved by Augustus^ who tok! 
 him, he had no doubt of her indisposition 
 being rather mental than corporeal, and 
 such as afforded him more reason for 
 tranquillity than solicitude; adding,^ that 
 he had brought over his sister to espouse 
 his cause. 
 
 Sir Jnrob introduced his favourite to- 
 pic, by expressing his hopes that his 
 guests would relish their dinner, of which 
 he minutely described every dish, with 
 
 the
 
 116 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 the mode of cookina: if- Brian was not 
 onlv a novice, but too much en£ao;ed in 
 Other reflections, to bear a part; but 
 Verjuice took all the trouble off his 
 handSj and gave the Knight a full op- 
 portunity of displaying his whole stock 
 of taste and science, until dinner was 
 announced. 
 
 The Knight was one of those charac- 
 ters, the utility of whose existence might 
 be doubted, if Providence created any 
 thing in vain. Born of \o\s extraction, 
 he was apprenticed to a silk-throwster in 
 Spitalfields; and possessing a plodding 
 perseverance, he became a favourite with 
 his master and mistress, the latter of 
 whom he married after the death of the 
 former, not from affection, for Nature 
 had interwoven no such threads in his 
 web, and the ladv was a good thirtv vears 
 
 older
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 117 
 
 older than himself, but because she was 
 rich, and would make him master of a 
 sood business. Havino- neither of them 
 any passion, except for the main chance, 
 thev ioirsrcd on comfortably, till death 
 bereaved Jacob of his half, not his better 
 one, for she left all her pro^^erty to him, 
 which sufficiently comforted him for the 
 loss of connubial comforts. 
 
 Jacob now became a man of conse- 
 quence, launched into some mercantile 
 speculations, and walked on 'Chanf!;e, with 
 all the erectness of conscious wealth.-^ 
 Finding his commercial concerns very lu- 
 crative, he disposed of his business for a 
 handsome premium, and removed into 
 the heart of the city, where he progres- 
 sively became common-councilman, al- 
 derman, and sheriff: happening, during 
 the latter office, to carry up an address 
 
 to
 
 iiS THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to the ThronCj he received the honour 
 of knighthood. His alliance would now 
 have been rejected by few city fami- 
 lies; and conceiving that he had form- 
 ed an attachment to the present Lady 
 Thrum, then Miss Pearson, the only 
 daughter of a rich Turkey merchant, 
 matters were soon concluded. 
 
 Sir Jacob, being now pretty well glut- 
 ted with monev, bejran to shew the ver- 
 satility of his talents^ by acquiring a con- 
 noisseurship in aldermanic gourmanderic ; 
 and engaged a man, who had been cook 
 during two mayoralties, to act in the 
 double capacity of his cook and precep- 
 tor. His Lady, who was a woman of 
 sound understanding, being well aware 
 of the restlessness of a vacant mind, v/as 
 glad to find her husband's veer towards a 
 taste which could be but harmless in a 
 
 person
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 119 
 
 person of his vast wealth, and made it 
 the study of her life to consult his appe- 
 tite, and qualify herself to gratify it. 
 Hence Count Rum ford's essays, treatises 
 on the arts of carving and cookery, and 
 the making of preserves, pickles, con- 
 fectionary, and pastry, composed nearly 
 one-fourth of the family library, the 
 Knight himself using no other books, 
 except the Ready Reckoner, and now 
 and then the Bible and Common Prayer- 
 book: he insisted that all other books 
 were useless, although he allowed some 
 works of taste to his wife and daughter; 
 but he was sure to fall asleep whenever a 
 page of either of them was read in his 
 presence. 
 
 Such was the Knight, and happy were 
 his family to keep him such as he was; 
 for he once talked of becoming a par- 
 liament-man,
 
 150 THE METROFOLIS, 
 
 liament-manj and would have persisted 
 in exposing himself to universal ridicule, 
 if his lady had not adroitly turned him 
 ofl", by assuring him that his indispen- 
 sable attendance in the House of Com- 
 mons would deprive him of a comfort- 
 able dinner durini^: more than half of 
 each year, as the jobbing members fasted 
 and talked for years, to be enabled to 
 eat during the rest of their lives, of 
 which he had no occasion. He now 
 n€ver sat down to a good dinner, with- 
 out blessing himself for not being a par- 
 liament-man. 
 
 Brian deemed it essential to his chief 
 object to ingratiate himself with this fa- 
 mily, and he resolved to exert himself to 
 that end. Notwithstanding; his awkward- 
 ness at his first introduction into high 
 life at Lady M'Lackland's, he had receiv- 
 ed
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 121 
 
 ed an excellent education under the tui- 
 tion of his fAther, and was very well read 
 in the belles-lettres; so that, with this 
 ground-workj there needed only attri- 
 tion with persons of fashion, to rub off 
 the rust of country breeding and a Lon- 
 don counting-house, and to give a high- 
 wrought polish to the superstructure. — 
 At Sir Jacob's he felt more at ease, as 
 some of his mauvaise Iwnte had been dis- 
 sipated : he was conscious of possessing 
 more than sufficient literature to con- 
 verse with her Ladyship; and as for the 
 Knight, he had only to use unqualified 
 praise of his entertainment. He there- 
 fore charmed the Knight, his Lnuy, and 
 son, and astonished Verjuice, who had 
 attributed the depression of disappointed 
 love to a natural reserve and conscious- 
 ness of inferiority, the grand obstacles to 
 VOL. II. c a man's
 
 ]22 THE METEOrOLIS. 
 
 a man's making a figure. His penetra- 
 tion soon discovered his mistake, and he 
 doubted not to make a man of the dis- 
 carded youth, whose sincerity, amiable 
 disposition and qualities, made him now 
 regard him as his adopted son, although 
 he carefully refrained from expressing 
 any such sentiments. 
 
 '' Have you read Bloomfield's poem. 
 The Farmer's Boy ?" said her Ladyship, 
 addressing herself to Brian. 
 
 " Several times, my Lady." 
 
 *' I need scarcely ask your opinion of 
 it then, wSir." 
 
 " I should imagine, my Lady, there 
 can be but one opinion on that work. 
 It forms a beautiful contrast with its 
 great predecessor. The Seasons : the lat- 
 ter is Nature decked in the court-dress 
 of science, attired by skill and art ; the 
 
 former 
 
 - J
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 123 
 
 Former is Nature in dishabille, robed by- 
 simplicity. You admire the one, you 
 Jove the other.'' 
 
 *' Just my opinion. Sir. Giles's artless 
 description of himself interests every 
 reader for him, nay, for his very hogs, as 
 they rush through the thickets in quest 
 of acorns." 
 
 " Talk of hogs and acorns !" cries the 
 Knight, who had just emptied his plate— 
 *'^ you should have seen my friend Sir 
 
 J h M y's hogs ied upon grains—^ 
 
 there would indeed have been an inte- 
 resting sight for you ! — I never meddled 
 with poetry but once in my life, as I al- 
 ways accounted it a beggarly concern, 
 and that was on a visit to my friend's 
 hogsties; I made it what you call un- 
 projiipter, as soon as I could get the lines 
 
 6 3 out
 
 124; THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 out of my head, and tag them together- 
 rot above a week, or ten davs at farthest: 
 I remember they were much liked. Whilst 
 my Lady helps me to a plate of the apple- 
 pie, I'll try if I can't recollect them." 
 
 Placing both his hands on that rotun- 
 dity which was the depository of his de- 
 licacies, throwing his head on his ri";ht 
 shoulder, and his left eye up to the ceil- 
 ing, his lips began to move, and his head 
 to nod, as he proceeded. Her Ladyship 
 blushed, filled a plate in a trice, and held 
 it out to him, to prevent his exposure of 
 himself; Brian dropped his knife and 
 fork, and Verjuice rested on his : all were 
 in breathless expectation. At length the 
 Knight broke out — '* Yes, yes, I've got 
 'em — A Sonnet (so I think we called it) 
 on a Fiiend's Pigsties. 
 
 'Sir
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 125 
 
 *■ Sir Joseph's grains his hogs made Iht, 
 
 Tlie hogs made Joseph fat again ; 
 My panting heart went pit-a^pat, 
 
 'l^Q thiiik \vhttt Btif aka of fat nnd lean. 
 
 ' Gammons and chines they must afford, 
 Companions fit for turkies roast, 
 Fine as e'er smok'd on Lord May'r's board, 
 Or King's, spite of ^Yestphalia's boast. 
 
 * And yet it made me cry. 
 As I lean'd o'er the styj, 
 To tliink Joseph and T, 
 As well as hogs, must die.' 
 
 There, does that Mr. What-d'ye-call-'um, 
 the Farmer's Boy, beat that ?" 
 
 Brian and Verjuice were obliged to 
 stifle their laughter, for fear of wound- 
 ing her Ladyship's feelings, who gave 
 the plate to the Knight, saying, '' Here 
 is a plate of my pie for your pig, and I 
 am sure that my composition is the best 
 of the two." 
 
 G 3 " Not
 
 126 THE "METROPOLIS. 
 
 *' Not so," answers the Knight; *' for 
 pig has always the precedence of pie, as 
 my Lord Mayor goes before the com- 
 mon councilmen, or the Speaker of a 
 certain House before his trained hands." 
 
 This ludicrous comparison afforded the 
 gentlemen a fair pretence for giving a 
 vent to their stifled laughter: her Lady- 
 ship joined in their mirth with a tolerable 
 grace, and endeavoured to give a gene- 
 ral turn to the conversation, as she had 
 had enough of discussing literary sub- 
 jects before her husband. 
 
 Brian was impatient to return to Lon- 
 don, that he might send an answer to Mr. 
 Hewson ; to which the Knight and his 
 family reluctantly consented, on his 
 pleading urgent business, and promising 
 that himself and friend would renew their 
 visit, at no very distant period. 
 
 On
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1'27 
 
 On their arrival at Lower Tooting, 
 tliey Baw mme men at work on Sir 
 Charles Rushlight's chariot, which ap- 
 peared to have been considerably da- 
 maged. On inquiry, they were in- 
 formed that, as the coachman was driv- 
 ing furiously rather before day-breakj it 
 had come in contact with a waggon, been 
 upset, and one of the three gentlemen 
 who were in it, then lay at the inn over 
 the way, so very much hurt, that he 
 could not be taken to London with his 
 two friends, who had pursued their jour- 
 ney in a post-chaise. Brian alighted, and 
 found that the injured person was Cap- 
 tain Fascine ; on which, the Captain's 
 humane behaviour to him at Uxbridoe 
 
 o 
 
 rushed into his mind, and he desired to 
 be conducted to his apartment. The 
 Captain lay in excruciating pain ; but a 
 
 G 4 gleam
 
 . 128 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 gleam of pleasure brightened his pallid 
 countenance, the instant he recognised 
 the sympathizing looks of Brian, and 
 heard him exclaim— '^^ My dear Captain, 
 I hope you are not dangerously hurt." 
 
 " The surgeon tells me that my arm is 
 broken, and he does not know whether 
 my ribs are all whole or not." 
 
 '' You shall not trust to him ; I will 
 gallop to town, and return with Mr. 
 Handaside. If I can find him at home, 
 we will be with vou in three hours at 
 •farthest: only keep yourself as quiet as 
 possible. Verjuice will remain with you 
 till my return, and see that you are pro- 
 perly taken care of." 
 
 The Captain stretched out his bound 
 arm, grasped Brian's hand, and gave him 
 a faint smile of acknowledgment and sa- 
 tisfaction. 
 
 Havins:
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 129 
 
 Having explained his intentions to 
 Verjuice in three words, Brian remount- 
 ed his horse, rode to Mr. Handaside's, 
 found him at home, got a post-chaise to 
 the door, whilst he was preparing what- 
 ever might be necessary for the occasion, 
 and within three hours had the satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that the Captain was in 
 the most skilful hands. 
 
 Mr. Handaside, on examining his pa- 
 tient and hearing his complaints, pro- 
 nounced that there was no bone broken, 
 except that of the riglu arm, and he had 
 no apprehension from i\\e bruises: the 
 most alarming circumstance arose from 
 the Captain's blood being in a high fer- 
 ment, from his having made too free 
 with the bottle on the preceding night ; 
 and the fever always accompanying frac- 
 tures, might, in the present case, be ex- 
 
 G 5 pected
 
 130 THK METROPOLIS. ' 
 
 pected to be more dangerous : upon the j 
 
 whole, he saw nothing to despair of a I 
 
 speedy cure. The broken bone was set, : 
 
 a quieting-draught administered, and the i 
 patient left to his rest. 
 
 Verjuice wishing to return home, Brian | 
 
 enclosed Mr. Hewson's check in the fol- ' 
 lowing letter to him : — 
 
 _ i 
 
 " SIR, i 
 
 *' I HOPE the friend of ' 
 my father, and the once friend and be- ; 
 nefactor of myself, till I forfeited his ; 
 esteem by my own imprudence, will see 
 my conduct in its proper light, in re- ; 
 turninor the enclosed. It is the duty of \ 
 man to succour the weaker sex ; and the | 
 act itself is a sufficient reward, even in ' 
 the case of a total stranger ; how high 
 then has been my reward, in having ren- 
 dered i
 
 THE METROPOLIS-. ISl 
 
 dered a service to your daughter, I need 
 not attempt to describe to you ! — If any 
 part of my conduct could restore me to 
 your esteem, I should be raised from the 
 lowest abyss of wretchedness to the most 
 enviable pitch of human felicity: at all 
 events, I shall ever remain, with the ut- 
 most respect, 
 
 '' Sir, 
 
 *•' Your devoted servant, 
 
 " BRIAN EONNYCASTLE. 
 '* jEJ. JleuAon, sen. Estj." 
 
 This letter Verjuice undertook to de- 
 liver into Mr. Hewson's own hands; and 
 desiring Brian to return home as soon as 
 possible, he departed. 
 
 The Captain fell into a slumber, and 
 continued so for some hours; awaking 
 much refreshed, and considerably re- 
 
 G 6 lieved
 
 139 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ]ie^'cd from his pains. Mr. Ilandaside 
 continued with him till midnight, when 
 Jie retired to rest, leaving Brian in the 
 room, as he insisted on watching that 
 night. The next morning, Mr. Ilanda- 
 side pronounced all symptoms favour- 
 able; and having instructed Brian how 
 to treat the patient during his absence, 
 he returned to London, promising to be 
 %vith him again at night. Every day after 
 dinner, Brian lay down, confiding in a 
 nurse, of whom the people of the inn 
 gJive a good character ; and every night 
 he resumed his station at the Captain's 
 bedside. Thrcufjh the skill of the sur- 
 geon, strict attention of the attendants, 
 and implicit obedience of the patient, 
 the surgeon permitted him to be remo- 
 ved to town in a post-chaise, on the ele- 
 \enth day after the accident. Brian ac- 
 companied
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 133 
 
 companled him, and no sooner saw him 
 put to bed in his own lodgings, than he 
 hastened home. 
 
 Mrs. Marsden informed him, that Mr. 
 Verjuice had gone into Yorkshire, and 
 would probably be absent a week or 
 more ; at which Brian testifying some 
 little surprise, she added, that Verjuice 
 had an estate in that county, which ge- 
 nerally required his presence every third 
 or fourth year; and this being about the 
 time of his periodical visits, he had taken 
 the opportunity of his friend's absence 
 to take the journey. She then delivered 
 to him two letters, one of which was that 
 left for him by young Mr. Hewson, and 
 the other came from the Duchess. The 
 former expressed compunction for hav- 
 ing drawn him into scenes which had 
 terminated in such disagreeable conse- 
 
 quenceS;,
 
 134 THE METE0P0LI5. 
 
 qnences, and assured him that he had 
 done, and would continue to do, all that 
 lay in his power, to heal up the breach 
 between his family and his friend; the 
 latter was to the following laconic effect: 
 *' What can be the reason of your ungal- 
 lant absence, after our understanding at 
 Epsom ? I shall expect an explanation 
 this evening, at Lady M'Lackiand's, if 
 you deem your conduct worthy of an 
 explanation and my forgiveness." - 
 
 Brian's first step was towards Holborn, 
 to find out Giles Thornback, who was a 
 farmer's son in his father's parish, and 
 had been an intimate companion of his 
 youth. Giles received him with many 
 awkward tokens of unbroken friendship ; 
 and after numerous inquiries concern- 
 ing his health and prosperity, delivered 
 the letter which had been entrusted to 
 
 his
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 135 
 
 his care. It contained the efTusions of a 
 distressed father^ on account of a son's 
 deviation from moral rectitude, allevi- 
 ated by Mr. Hewson's acknowledgment 
 that he had been drawn aside. The good 
 old curate expressed his hopes of his 
 son's havino- seen his errors, and s-ot into 
 some reputable line of lif-e ; and con- 
 cluded with the most ardent wishes for 
 his welfare, both here and hereafter, in 
 which he was joined by his other chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Somewhat comforted by the warmth 
 of these paternal rays, Brian inquired 
 into Giles's situation, and promised to 
 use his endeavours to recommend him 
 to a better situation with some gentle- 
 man of his acquaintance ; and Giles wish- 
 ed that the condition of his worthy young 
 6 master
 
 136 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 master could have afforded him employ- 
 ment in his service. 
 
 Brian took leave of honest Giles for 
 the present, with a promise to call on 
 him again, the instant he should be able 
 to hear of something to his advantag^e, 
 and hastened to St. Mary-i\xe, where, 
 observing that the knocker of Mr. Hew- 
 son's street-door was not tied up, he con- 
 soled himself that Miss Hewson could 
 not be seriously indisposed. As he view- 
 ed that door, which once opened freely 
 to give him admittance, and which was 
 now, perhaps for ever, closed against his 
 happiness, he sighed deeply, to ease hts 
 throbbing bosom. Fearing to be per- 
 ceived by any of the family, he passed 
 quickly on, and sauntered towards St. 
 James's Park. Just as he reached Spring- 
 garden
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 137 
 
 garden Gate, a chariot drew up, and Mrs. 
 Fisher descended from it. She addressed 
 our adventurer with the greatest ease and 
 familiarity i' and putting her arm within 
 hiSj said she wished to speak a word with 
 him^— " You know, my present situation 
 in life," continued she, " puts it in my 
 power to serve a few friends. You are a 
 fine young fellow, and if you should like 
 to enter into the army " 
 
 " I have not the least inclination to 
 do so, Mrs. Fisher." 
 
 " Well, if it will serve you, by recom- 
 mending any friend of yours— you un- 
 derstand me ?" 
 
 Brian was on his way to return to Cap- 
 tain Fascine, when he met Mrs Fisher; 
 and knowing that he was far from being 
 rich, and consequently, as matters were 
 generally managed, far from promotion, 
 
 he
 
 138 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 he resolved to serve hira if he coiiklj al- 
 though in a way which he ktiew hk own 
 sense of military honour would never ac- 
 quiesce in, if he should be pre-acquainted 
 ^vith the channel : he accordingly told 
 Mrs, Fisher, that he had indeed a friend, 
 who, he believjd, was not overstocked 
 with cash, but that he would not mind a 
 brace of hundreds out of his own pocket, 
 to raise him a step higher. 
 
 " Say no more," cries Mrs. Fisher — 
 '*■ you have been a good fellow to me, 
 and, now that I have it in my power, I 
 will shew you that I can be grateful, not- 
 withsLmding the mercenary opinion you 
 entertain of me. Who is your friend ?'* 
 
 Brian pencilled down the situation and 
 regiment of his friend, and handed the 
 paper to Mrs. Fisher, who gave him her 
 card of address, and made him promise 
 
 to
 
 THE MEXnOPOLIS. 139 
 
 to call, and learn how her application 
 succeeded. They then separated. 
 
 Brian intended to meet the Duchess 
 that night at Lady M'Lackland's, and 
 having no engagement on his hands, he 
 determined to pass away some part of 
 the interval at the Opera-house, where 
 he had never been. The house v/as well 
 filled, and the novelty and splendour of 
 the entertainments kept our adventurer 
 from once regretting that he had no 
 company, when he was accosted by Rush- 
 light and Shadow, who placed themselves 
 by him. Their first inquiries were for 
 the Captain, whom they had abandoned 
 to the care of strangers, with such indif- 
 ference as had stung him to the quick. 
 After Brian had satisfied their inquiries, 
 and the second act was begun, he ex- 
 pected again to return to the enjoyment 
 
 of
 
 140 , THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of the stage-business; but the Baronef 
 and Shadow continually interrupted him, 
 and expressed their surprise that he could 
 
 be amused at such a d ^d hore as a stale 
 
 opera: if it had been a first night indeed — 
 Brian assured them that it was a first night 
 with him, as he had never seen an opera 
 before, hoping that politeness might in- 
 duce them to leave him to the enjoyment 
 of it; but he only added another stimu- 
 lus to their quizzing him, at which sport 
 they were reckoned dead hands. 
 
 " As you are a total stranger then," 
 said the Baronet, '' it is lucky we have 
 fallen in with you, as we can amuse you 
 with the names, abilities, and anecdotes 
 of the diiierent perform.ers. That lady 
 who is now exhibiting in a 'pas seul, is 
 
 Signora • • : she lately used to make 
 
 it, her boast, that mv Lord B >— 
 
 thought
 
 THE METROPOLIS. Ml 
 
 til ought her charms worth the possessing-, 
 at the enormous douceur of three thou- 
 sand pounds; but she lately danced to 
 another^ and a very mortifying tune;^ 
 
 with the P— : n A r, in whose 
 
 country there is such a vast profusion of 
 female charms, as to have s^reatlv dimi- 
 nished the value of that precious com- 
 modity. Having heard much talk of 
 Eastern magnificence^ she expected a la- 
 vish display of it on her prodigious me- 
 rit; and is ever since quite down in the 
 mouthj at having been put off with a 
 paltry compliment o^ fortij dollars." 
 
 In this manner the Baronet totally de- 
 stroyed Brian's attention, by a series of 
 anecdotes, which would have been hisrhlv 
 amusing, if our adventurer had not pro- 
 mised himself a greater fund of enter- 
 tainment from the opera, which' he was 
 
 qualified
 
 142 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 qualified to understand, from his having 
 made himself master of the Italian lan- 
 guage, to manage Mr. Hewson's corre- 
 spondence with that country. 
 
 At length the Baronet exclaimed — ■ 
 " Do you not see the Duchess of Fallow- 
 land, with whom you had the honour of 
 dancing at Epsom ?" 
 
 Brian's attention had been hitherto 
 wholly directed to the stage, but follow- 
 ing the glance of the Baronet's eyes, he 
 caught those of her Grace, in which he 
 imagined he could read somewhat of dis- 
 pleasure. 
 
 After the entertainment, the Baronet 
 and Shadow would have taken Brian, to 
 introduce him to a club at a noted house 
 in St. James's-street; but he pleaded a 
 positive engagement at Lady M'Lack- 
 hnd's, and hurried off, to throw himself 
 
 in
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 143 
 
 in the way of the Duchess, as she retired 
 to her equipage. She noticed him, and 
 taking advantage of the crowd, said — - 
 *' I presume I shall see you to-night/' 
 and passed on. 
 
 Brian followed the carriage to Lady 
 M'Lackland's door, and meeting her 
 Grace as she ascended the staircase, he 
 apologized for his absence, by relating 
 the accident which had detained him at 
 Lower Tooting, and assuring her that he 
 had arrived in town only that morning. 
 
 '' Well, well," replied her Grace, 
 ^' ever so bad an excuse will go down 
 from a favoured person ; but remember 
 that I shall judge of its sincerity from 
 your future attention." 
 
 Her Grace then entered the play- 
 rooms, and Brian followed some minutes 
 afterwards, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 144; THE METROPOLIS., 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Character of a female Gamester hi high Life — ' 
 Her Intrigues — Fashionable Friendship — A 
 happy Rencounter^ and Love at first Sight. 
 
 The company was very numerous^ and 
 Lady M'Lackland was so very busily en- 
 gaged in her play, that she had not lei- 
 sure to notice any one. Our adventurer 
 soon perceived that something more than 
 common was going on, and he wished 
 Verjuice had been present, to have pe- 
 netrated the mystery ; as it was, he be- 
 gan to task his own ingenuity to find 
 
 it
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 145 
 
 it out. Brian was not mistaken in his 
 premises; and Verjuice would have 
 helped him out with the deduction much 
 sooner than he himself made it, although 
 he succeeded tolerably well at last. 
 
 Lady M'Lackland conceived that all 
 human beings were a species fera: nafu- 
 r(v, created only to administer to her 
 pleasure; and Squire Western himself 
 %yas not better provided with dogs for 
 the destruction of game, than her Lady- 
 ship was with a similar kind of two- 
 legged animals, fpr putting up and run- 
 ning down those males and females of 
 her acquaintance who were game, that is, 
 possessed of more money than sense. V/s 
 have seen what the HonouraUe Miss Ra- 
 chel Rappee was with the females; and 
 among the males, Mr. Lurcher answered 
 a similar purpose. This gentleman had 
 
 VOL. II. H formerlv
 
 146 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 formerly been a valet in her Ladyship's 
 family; but having a soul above servi- 
 tude, he had commenced man of the 
 (own, and fallen into the scheme of 
 hiring houses about the new squares; 
 ordering equipages and furniture where- 
 ever they could be got on credit, dis- 
 posing of them to brokers, and eclipsing 
 himself from the too-credulous trades- 
 men. He had been for a long time a 
 most active and successful partisan in 
 this depredatory kind of warfare; but he 
 was at length surprised in one of his sta- 
 tions, by an advanced guard of police- 
 officers, and carried to Bow-street. Bo- 
 tany Bay would have ultimately been his 
 destination, but for the interference of 
 her Ladyship, who was aware of his ta- 
 lents, and imagined that v/hat might be 
 useful to herself, could never be injuri- 
 ous
 
 THE METROPOLIS. HT 
 
 ous to society; she therefore procured 
 his release, on giving his parole of honour 
 to the justices, and making a kind of 
 compromise with the defrauded trades- 
 men, and re-engaged him in her own 
 service, but in a very different one from 
 his former capacity : her Ladyship stipu- 
 lated to allow him a stated sum every 
 week, and a certain per rentage on all 
 the cash which he should be the means 
 of bringing into her exchequer. This 
 allowance, together with a private table 
 at her Ladyship's house, and an equip- 
 ment of two of her horses and a groom, 
 whenever his presence might be useful 
 at Newmarket, or any of the other race- 
 courses, enabled him to arrogate the ap- 
 pearance of a gentleman, and to insinu- 
 ate himself into the company of young 
 men of property, whom he drew to her 
 
 H 2 Ladyship's
 
 H8 ' THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 Ladyship's house, and out of whose su- 
 perfluous cash the confederates never fail- 
 ed to indemnify themselves for all expen- 
 ces, and to share a considerable surplus. 
 In one of his excursions, Mr. Lurcher 
 was happy enough to light upon a Lei- 
 cestershire Baronet, of considerable pro- 
 perty, just come of age, and eager to 
 shew that he had attained the sense and 
 spirit of manhood, by launching into fa- 
 shionable dissipation. Sir John Goose- 
 tree was accordingly introduced to Lady 
 M'Lackland's this ni^ht, for the first 
 time; and the confederates were all on 
 the alert to execute the plan of attack, 
 which had been previously and maturely 
 concerted between them. 
 
 The Baronet's youth, his free betting, 
 and the attention of the confederates 
 (some of whom Verjuice had pointed 
 
 out
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 149 
 
 out to Brian), soon attracted his notice, 
 and after some little observation^ he was 
 convinced that Sir John was the mark at 
 which they aimed. Many other persons 
 betted to a large amount; but Brian 
 suspected most of the bets to be notninal 
 ones, to excite the emulation of the Ba- 
 ronet, as in fact they were. The game 
 was hazard J and as the party encircled a 
 round table, he remarked that the confe- 
 derates ranged on each side of her Lady- 
 ship ; so that whenever one of them was 
 caster, another was sure to put the dice 
 into the box. He also observed, that 
 whenever there were considerable stakes 
 depending, it was when one of the con- 
 federates held the box, who was sure to 
 win ; so that he concluded they were 
 provided with false dice, which they slip- 
 ped from one to another^ under pre-» 
 
 II 3 tence
 
 150 THE METROFOLIS. 
 
 fence of receiving or paying winnings or 
 losings, and ^vhich they kept concealed 
 between their fingers, and conveyed with 
 as much dexterity as any professor of le- 
 gerdemain. Verjuice had informed him 
 that this was a practice, as well as that of 
 topping, slabbing, and other manoeuvres, 
 in which no thorough-paced gamester 
 ever failed to make himself an adept; so 
 that whenever they threw out, it was 
 done on purpose to encourage those 
 whom they were duping, and prevent 
 their imas^ining that there was some- 
 thing more than mere chances against 
 them. 
 
 Imagining that he had now got a sure 
 footing, our adventurer began betting at 
 intervals, and nicked his times so justly, 
 as to be about three hundred pounds in 
 pocket at the close of the evening. The 
 
 Baronet
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 161 
 
 Baronet was touched for some thousands; 
 but Lady M'Lackland consoled him, by 
 declaring that he was the very life and 
 soul of play ; and she hoped his spirit 
 would be rewarded with due success an- 
 other evening. The reader will know 
 how to appreciate her Ladyship's since- 
 rity ; but her hopes, whatever they were, 
 met with a disappointment; as, notwith- 
 standing the vigilance of the aforesaid 
 two-legged animal, Mr. Lurcher, another 
 of the same species, in a similar employ, 
 but under a different firm, carried away 
 
 the Baronet to 's, in St. James's- 
 
 street, where he was struck for tliirty 
 thousand 'pounds, and obliged to rusticate 
 for years, to retrieve one night of town 
 folly. 
 
 The very next morning, Brian failed 
 not to answer his father's letter, in a way 
 
 H 4 which
 
 152 THE METKOPOLIS. 
 
 wf^ch he deemed would be the more 
 comforting, by informing him, that he 
 was at present under the protection of 
 an elderly gentleman of property, and 
 without relations, who had promised to 
 take care of his fortune. He assured him, 
 that he need entertain no further uneasi- 
 ness on his account, as he hoped his er- 
 rors had turned out to his advantage in 
 every other respect, except his breach 
 with the Hewson family, whose esteem 
 he would try by his future conduct to 
 regain. Brian would have been happy 
 to relieve the pressure which his father 
 must labour under, with so large a family 
 and so small an income, by a pecuniary 
 remittance; but he dared not venture it 
 at present, for fear of renewing his fa- 
 ther's somewhat-allayed apprehensions. 
 Having performed this act of duty, he 
 
 called
 
 TPJE METROPOLIS. 153 
 
 called at the Captain's lodgings, and 
 found him engaged with Rushlight and 
 Shadow. 
 
 " Ehj my dear Captain!" cried the 
 Baronet on entering, " we have been 
 impatient to see yon, ever since Mr. 
 Bonnycastle informed us last jnight at 
 the Opera, that you were returned to 
 town. I am overjoyed to find that my 
 coachman's carelessness has had no worse 
 consequences." 
 
 *' The consequences. Sir Charles, were 
 bad enough as they were ; and had not 
 Mr. Bonnycastle fortunately lighted up- 
 on me, I might not now have been in 
 the land of the living to liave told you 
 so." 
 
 *' Ton my soul. Captain, that is a cle- 
 \cv fellow — I begin to have a prodigious 
 liking for him: you must positively bring 
 
 K 5 him
 
 154 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 him to dine with us some day. I scarcely 
 know a prettier fellow — Do you. Sha- 
 dow?" 
 
 " He appears well enough; but we 
 know nothing of him, and I suspect him 
 to be a mere " 
 
 " What ?" demanded the Captain im- 
 patiently. 
 
 " Why, one who lives by his wits, like 
 myself/' replied Shadow, laughing, and 
 thinking to come off with a joke. 
 
 *' Why, let me tell you. Sir, that you 
 do know something of him — that he is a 
 man of spirit: I know something of him 
 too — that he is my friend ; and I will re- 
 gard as an affront to myself, any thing 
 spoken to his prejudice in his absence : 
 when present, you know he can answer 
 for himself." 
 
 Shadow, who had rather at ^ny time 
 
 «ct
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 155 
 
 act as a second than a principal in a duel, 
 and who was well acquainted with the 
 Captain's disposition, swore that he in- 
 tended nothing less than to speak disre- 
 spectfully of Mr. Bonnycastle, whom he 
 respected for his genius. The kind of 
 genius which he meant, was perhaps no 
 other than his own happy knack of liv- 
 ing at other people's cost ; but Brian's 
 entrance put an end to any farther ex- 
 planation. Our adventurer complimented 
 the Captain on the improvement in his 
 looks. 
 
 *' Eh, my good fellow, and I may 
 thank you for that : I can set down the 
 accident only to the account of these 
 gentlemen." 
 
 " Nay, Captain," cried the Baronet, 
 " I would not have left vou for the 
 
 H G world;
 
 156 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 world ; but you know it was our club- 
 night at B 's.'' 
 
 '' And I know t®o. Sir Charles, that 
 your impatience to be with your club 
 shall never break another arm for me^ 
 and then leave me to the enjoyment of 
 it." 
 
 The Baronet and his appendage, find- 
 ing their reception to be so cool, took 
 their departure soon afterwards. 
 
 On leaving the door. Shadow, who 
 dreaded the Captain, and knew that no- 
 thing could be got out of him, insinu- 
 ated that he was peevish on account of 
 liis own narrow circumstances, envious 
 of persons of commanding fortunes, and 
 so quarrelsome, that it was worth as much 
 as the life of a friend to keep him com- 
 pany. The Baronet, who had no relish 
 
 for
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 157 
 
 for fighting when he could avoid it, con- 
 curred in this opinion, and expressed a 
 resolution to cut the Captain's acquaint- 
 ance, so as not to give him offence. The 
 Captain, however, had beforehand formed 
 a similar resolution, which he determined 
 to execute with little or no ceremony. 
 
 As the Captain was well enough to 
 take a little exercise abroad, Brian ad- 
 justed his arm in a sling, and they con- 
 cluded on a lounge in Bond-street. As 
 they were strolling through it, our ad- 
 venturer discerned Mr. Hewson's car- 
 riage, in which were Miss Hewson and 
 Miss Thrum. It drew up before one of 
 the shops, and Brian got up in time to 
 hand the ladies out of it. Miss Thrum's 
 face brightened with pleasure at the un- 
 expected meeting, and Miss Hewson's 
 languor gave yay to an animated glow. 
 5 Brian
 
 158 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Brian introduced his friend to Miss 
 Thrum, and meeting with something like 
 an invitation from her, and observing no 
 repugnance in Miss Hewson, they at- 
 tended the ladies into the shop. Whilst 
 Miss Thrum was purchasing some ar- 
 ticles, our adventurer inquired into 
 Charlotte's health and her father's, and 
 was transported to observe, that her be- 
 haviour was much less distant than it had 
 been at the Knight's. When Miss Thrum 
 had made her purchases, she declared her- 
 self tired of the carriage, and proposed a 
 little walk, taking St. James's Park in the 
 way : without waiting for her compa- 
 nion's answer, she ordered the carriage 
 to proceed, and wait for them at Spring- 
 garden Gate. Brian gave her a look ex- 
 pressive of the utmost gratitude; and he 
 now once more enjoyed the inexpres- 
 sible
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 159 
 
 Bible happiness of walking by the side of 
 his beloved, whose conversation was easy, 
 and free from restraint : the whole world 
 could not have purchased the present 
 moments. 
 
 *' I hope no serious accident has be- 
 fallen you. Sir," said Miss Thrum to the 
 Captain, glancing her eye on the arm in 
 the sling. 
 
 " I think it no accident," replied the 
 gallant Captain, " since it has procured 
 me the happiness of being introduced 
 into your company, which is not the 
 only obligation I am under to Mr. Bon- 
 nycastle, for I owe my life perhaps to his 
 kind attention." 
 
 " Indeed, Sir, I think he is quite a 
 knight-errant at rescuing persons in dis- 
 tress; for this lady and myself owe him 
 
 a similar obligation." 
 
 "It
 
 160 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " It is to be hoped then that one or 
 other of you ladies will reward him for 
 it." 
 
 Charlotte blushed deeply at these 
 words, and was much confused, when a 
 carriage passed by, in which was the 
 Duchess of Fallowland, who put out her 
 head, and nodded to our adventurer. 
 
 " There is a coronet on that carriage,'* 
 observed Charlotte. 
 
 '' It is the Duke of Fallowland's." 
 
 " The lady in it nodded to you.'* 
 
 " It is her Grace, whom I have had the 
 honour of seeing two or three times in 
 mixed companies." 
 
 Charlotte grew all at once thoughtful 
 and more reserved, and continued so, 
 until getting into the Park, where the 
 whole party could walk abreast, her 
 friend rallied her on her taciturnity. She 
 
 then
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 161 
 
 then assumed a gaiety, but it was evi- 
 dently a constrained one. 
 
 *' Is not my case a hard one, Miss 
 Hewson ?" said the Captain ; " I have 
 but just recovered from a broken arm, 
 and novv^ I have received a shot through 
 my heart.'* 
 
 " You speak very gaily, Sir, for one 
 in so desperate a situation." 
 
 " Poh, my dear ! Do not you know 
 that the gentlemen of the army are fond 
 of a joke?" 
 
 *' Indeed, Ma'am, my case is beyond a 
 joke." 
 
 *' Then seriously, Sir, I believe your 
 wound will be soon cured." 
 
 " Yourself must be the doctress then.** 
 
 " I am a very bad one." 
 
 *' I would your heart were engaged in 
 my cure." 
 
 "It
 
 1G2 TKE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " It will soon effect itself." 
 
 " I appeal to Mr. Bonnycastle." 
 
 " Then I believe it will never be ef- 
 fected but by death," said Brian, with a 
 deep sigh. 
 
 They now got in sight of the carringe, 
 towards which Charlotte was hurrying, 
 when the Captain asked Miss Thrum if 
 they should never have the happiness of 
 meeting again ? 
 
 " I cannot say. Sir : I shall have some 
 more shopping in Bond-street, and if we 
 should chance to meet there " 
 
 *' Happy chance !" cried the Captain 
 — *' I shall stand sentry in Bond-street, 
 and hail your coming, as the Persian 
 magi did that of the rising sun. Adieu 
 till then, most lovely !" 
 
 *' Adieu, flatterer 1" 
 
 Brian now tendered his hand to assist 
 
 Charlotte
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 163 
 
 Charlotte into the carriage; hers trem- 
 bled, and he ventured a gentle pressure, 
 which she returned unconsciously, and fell 
 back into the seat, to hide her confusion, 
 
 " Oh, Bond street, thou hast undone 
 me !" cried the Captain, as he handed in 
 Miss Thrum. 
 
 " It has undone many," said the ami- 
 able girl, laughing — " one is tempted to 
 make very dear purchases there : I assure 
 you, I have got rid of a twenty-pound 
 note this morning." 
 
 " Oh, perverse one ! you will not un- 
 derstand me." 
 
 " Let me advise you never to look for 
 bargains there. Sir." 
 
 *' I have seen one there, that I would 
 give the world, if I had it at command, 
 to purchase." 
 
 *' That would be a dear bargain then." 
 
 The
 
 164 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Tlie carriage now went ofl^ and left 
 Brian motionless, until he was roused by 
 the Captain, who exclaimed—" Why, 
 Ulan, you will draw the pickpockets 
 about us presently, if you stick here 
 staring, like a country fellow at St. Dun- 
 stan's clock. Come, we will eat a mut- 
 ton-chop together in Spring-garden cof- 
 fee-house, and there we will sit down, 
 and, as Shakespeare says, rail against our 
 mistresses, the world, and all our misery.'* 
 
 '' Not so. Captain,"" 
 
 " Why then we will carve their names 
 on every Dannel, speak well of the world, 
 and flatter each other with future bliss." 
 
 Whilst they were actually so employed, 
 the following conversation took place be- 
 tween the ladies : — 
 
 Miss Thrum — " Well, my dear, I think 
 we were very well off for beaux to-day." 
 
 Charluiie —
 
 THE METROPOLIS. IG5 
 
 Charlotte — "■ They are indeed two 
 aoreeable men — What is vour opinion 
 of the Captain r" 
 
 Miss Thrum — " I think he is very fa- 
 cetious and entertainino." 
 
 Charlotte — " And vou will throw vour- 
 self in his wnv a^^ain ?" 
 
 Miss Thrum — "" That is as much as to 
 sav that I have alreadv done so, which 
 vou know not to be the case." 
 
 Charlotte — *'' But you will throw your- 
 self in his way ?" 
 
 Miss Thrum — " I shall certainly have 
 some more shopping to do in Bond* 
 street." 
 
 Charlotte (mimicking her friend) — " It 
 is a very dear place ; let me advise you 
 never to look for bargains there." 
 
 Miss Thrum — '^ 1 shall look there not- 
 withstanding.'* 
 
 Charlotte
 
 1G3 'THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Charlotte — " And you gave the Cap- 
 tain a hint of it.'* 
 
 Miss Thrmn — " And I shall not be 
 sorry to find it has not been thrown 
 away upon him. And now, what is your 
 opinion of Mr. Bonnycastle ?" 
 
 Charlotte — " I think he is very face- 
 tious and entertaining." 
 
 Miss Thrum — '' And you will throw 
 yourself in his way again ?" 
 
 Charlotte — " That is as much as to say 
 that I have done so already, which you 
 know not to be the case." 
 
 Miss Thrum — '^ But you will throw 
 yourself in his way ?" 
 
 Charlotte — ^' I have no shopping to do 
 in Bond-street, and shall not go thither 
 again in a hurry, unless indeed you 
 should press me very much to accom- 
 pany you.'* 
 
 Miss
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 167 
 
 Miss Thrum — '' As I certainly shall, 
 and that the first fair day. Ah, Char- 
 lotte, you are not so ingenuous with 
 your friend, as your friend is with you ! 
 Come, come, confess." 
 
 Charlotte — '' What should I confess?' 
 Miss Thrum — '' Onlv that we are 
 both caught in the same cage of rusheSf 
 as Rosalind terms it, in 'As vou Like it." 
 Charlotte — "" You confess it then ?" 
 Miss Thrum—" I do." 
 Charlotte—'' And I— Heioho !" 
 Aliss Thrum — " For a husband." 
 They now drew near home, and the 
 two friends dropped the subject, after 
 having agreed upon a mutual confidence. 
 Miss Hewson did not think proper wholly 
 to conceal from her father her meeting 
 with Brian, and she mentioned in a 
 slight manner having met him with Cap- 
 tain
 
 153 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 tain Fascine, and that they had seen her 
 and her companion to the carriage. Her 
 father as coolly replied, that it was very 
 well ; she owed an obligation to that 
 gentleman, and it was only proper, 
 whenever she should meet him accideri- 
 tciUij, to treat him with becoming civi- 
 lity. Having thus, as she thought, fully 
 satisfied her duty, her mind felt more at 
 ease, as she did not imagine she had 
 practised any concealment. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 maz METROPOLIS, 1C9 
 
 CHAP. VTII. 
 
 The modern Art of getting Preferment — A Dutch 
 Sharper plucks the English ones, but is after- 
 zvards ruined bij his English Allj/ — No Honour 
 among Thieves, 
 
 Every ensuing fair morning, the Captain 
 and Brian made Bond-street their parade; 
 and they did not long lose their labour: 
 the expected carriage made its appear- 
 ance, and they saluted the ladies, who 
 appeared in high spirits, and conse- 
 quently made the gentlemen so. 
 
 After Miss Thrum had made some trif- 
 voL. 11. I ling
 
 170 THE METKOPOLISr 
 
 ling purchases, the Captain observed, that 
 there was to be a grand review of the 
 three East India volunteer regiments in 
 Hyde Park that morning, and expressed 
 his hope to have the pleasure of escort- 
 ing the ladies tliither. Miss Thrum re- 
 plied, that it was some time since she had 
 enjoyed a sight of Hyde Park, much less 
 of a review; and declared her willingness 
 to go, if it was agreeable to her friend. 
 Charlotte signified her acquiescence, pro- 
 vided they could be back to dinner: and 
 the gentlemen having handed them into 
 the carriage, were about to attend it on 
 foot, but Miss Thrum told them there 
 was room. They seized the hint, and 
 directed the coachman to drive through 
 the square to Grosvenor-gate. 
 
 His Majesty and several of the royal 
 Dukes were present; and the sight was 
 
 very
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 171 
 
 very fine, as these regiments are exceed- 
 ed by few, if any, of the regular ones in 
 discipline, and afford a proof of the 
 height to which the volunteer system 
 may be carried. 
 
 As they were walking round to get 
 different points of view, our adventurer 
 was disagreeably surprised at seeing Mrs. 
 Fisher beckon to him from her carriage. 
 As she had caught his eye, he was obliged" 
 to go up to her. She rallied him upon 
 the little attention which he shewed to 
 his friend's interest, in not having called 
 to hear how she succeeded in her appli- 
 cation. Brian replied, it was not through 
 lukewarmness in the cause, but that he 
 imagined it would be too soon. 
 
 '* Not so much too soon as you may 
 have imagined; for I find that the Cap- 
 tain is an excellent ofScer, who has seen 
 
 1 2 service;
 
 172 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 service ; and he would have been pro- 
 moted before, if he could have made in- 
 terest. I expect he will be in next Sa- 
 turday's Gazette, or in that of the Tues- 
 day following at farthest." 
 
 Brian expressed his acknowledgment 
 and happiness, but did not dare to tell 
 her that he was then in company with 
 the Captain, as she would have expected 
 him to have paid his compliments to her. 
 He apologized for hastening back to the 
 ladies, who, he said, were lately from the 
 country, and he could not be so uncom- 
 plaisant as to leave them long. He took 
 his leave, by promising to call on her in 
 a few days. 
 
 On returning to his company. Miss 
 Thrum said to him — " Really, Mr. Bon- 
 nycastle, you are a fortunate man among 
 the ladies: the other day, a nod from a 
 
 Duchess,
 
 THE METROPOMS. 17S 
 
 Duchess, and now a chit-chat with some 
 other woman of fashion. Pray, if it be 
 not impertinent, who is she ?" 
 
 Our adventurer, labouring under a 
 dread lest her real character should be 
 known, replied, with some hesitation, 
 that she was a lady who had interest in a 
 certain quarter, which he was soliciting 
 for a distant relation. 
 
 '*■ Really, Sir, you are a happy man.'* 
 
 " Quite the contrary. Ma'am ; such 
 trifles as these you mention, would not 
 even give me a better appetite to my 
 mutton-chop : my happiness must have 
 more solid food than the bubbles of va- 
 nity." 
 
 At the latter part of this speech, he 
 gave a timid glance towards Charlotte, 
 whose eyes were as intensely fixed on 
 the military manoeuvres as if she had 
 
 I 3 been
 
 J 74 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 been the reviewing General, and had not 
 heard a syllable of what passed. It was 
 a mortification to her, to see the man 
 whom she was constrained to treat with 
 coolness, favoured by the rest of her sex; 
 and her feelings were tinctured with some 
 little admixture of jealousy. As her bro- 
 ther had confessed himself the sole au- 
 thor of his own misfortune, and even 
 that he had drawn^his friend into the 
 vortex of lii.s dissipation, Brian had re- 
 occupied his former place in her affec- 
 tion ; and she mentally accused her father 
 of a rigidity of principle, beyond the 
 measure of strict justice. 
 
 Brian was still gazing on her loved 
 features, which her feigned in tense, ob- 
 servation of the military manceuvres "'ave 
 him an undisturbed opportunity of do- 
 ing, when Sir Charles Rushlight;, Shadow, 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 173 
 
 and a person who bore the appearance of 
 a foreigner^ passed near them. The Ba- 
 ronet advanced to salute the Captain, as 
 Ctid Shadow^ who introduced t!je stranger 
 as his friend, the Count van Hoorn, of 
 Hamburgh. Charlotte no sooner cast her 
 eyes on the Baronet, than, putting her 
 arm into Brian's, through an involuntary 
 motion, as if for protection, she said, in 
 a low tone, *' Good Heaven ! there is 
 the pei'son whose insolence to me had 
 nearly cost you your life — I shudder at 
 the sight of him !" 
 
 " And happy would it have been for 
 me," replied Brian, " if I had died in 
 such a cause, since I should then have 
 quitted the world with your esteem." 
 
 Charlotte made no reply, but observed 
 to her friend, that it Vv'as time to return 
 
 I 4 to
 
 17G THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to dinner^ on which condifion i>he \ud 
 :iccompanicd her to the P;Kk. 
 
 As they returned to the carriage, Char- 
 lotte, inadvertently pcrliaps, still kept her 
 arm \sithin our hero's, who was too wise 
 to risk losing it by seeming to notice it; 
 and as the Baronets party accompanied 
 them, he enjoyed his happiness in si- 
 lence. 
 
 The ladies g-ot into the carriacje at 
 Grosvenor-irate, and Charlotte did not 
 think it worth while to trouble her fa- 
 ther with an account of this second ren- 
 counter, as he had received the news of 
 the first with so much coolness. 
 
 Brian and the Captain had been too 
 much engaged with the ladies, to pav 
 much attention to the intruders, for such 
 they considered the Baronet and his 
 
 friends.
 
 •rilE MKTROI'OLIS. 177 
 
 friends, and the ceremony of Introducing 
 the Count was performed afresh. I*rian 
 was astonished to observe that the Cap- 
 tain, whose urbanity of manners was re- 
 markable, should receive the advances of 
 the foreigner with the utmost distance, 
 and draw himself up with a somewhat- 
 liko-contcmptuous sneer. 
 
 The Baronet and Shadow pressed our 
 friends to dine with them and the Count; 
 but the Captain withstood all their soli- 
 citationr:, and putting a paper into Sha- 
 dow's hand, with a ;.ignificant look told 
 him, he found it on the floor of his apart- 
 ment, where he must have dropped it on 
 his last visit. Shadow put up the paper 
 with seeming indifference, but evidently 
 disconcerted ; and he now grew so cool 
 in his invitation, that our friends had no 
 trouble in getting away, 
 
 I 5 The
 
 17 8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 The Captain presently came to an ex- 
 planation with Brian, by telling him that 
 the Count was an impostor, a knight of 
 the post, brought over from the Conti- 
 nent by Shadow, purposely to bite the 
 knowing ones at billiards, being a most 
 famous player^—'*' The letter which yoii 
 saw me give to Shadow," added he, '' I 
 found as I mentioned; and not having 
 the least idea but that it was one of my 
 own papers, which the negligence of my- 
 self or servant had left there, I unfolded 
 it, without looking at the superscriptionjt. 
 and found it to be from this Van Hoorn^ 
 to give notice of his arrival, and request- 
 ing a meeting, to concert the plan of the 
 campaign, which is to be opened at Bath, 
 In order to try the Count's strength. I 
 wish we could find some means of trick- 
 
 ing these tricksters." 
 
 f{ 
 
 If
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 179 
 
 '' If Verjuice were here/' observed 
 Brian^ " he might hit upon a scheme to 
 do something of the kind ; but Shadow 
 will suspect that you have got his secret, 
 and be upon his guard against us." 
 
 " But surely/' said the Captain, " some- 
 thing might be made out of such a secret. 
 What think you of a trip to Bath? You 
 will at least see how the scheme goes on, 
 and be better able to regulate your own 
 conduct. I should have no objection to 
 accompany you, if I could get leave of 
 absence." 
 
 " I thitik I may undertake to procure 
 that for you," said Brian. 
 
 The excursion was finally agreed up- 
 on ; the Captain engaged to learn the 
 precise time of the departure of the as^ 
 sociates, and Brian waited on Mrs. Pisher, 
 who procured the wished-for leave of ab- 
 
 I 6 sencev
 
 J 80 , THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 sence. On the day previous to that fixed 
 on by the associates, they set out toge- 
 ther in the mail-coach. 
 
 Shadow, on his arrival, prepared the 
 Bath sharks for swallowing the bait, by 
 sjDreading a report that he had brought 
 ■with him a Dutch Count, rich as a Jew, 
 vain of his skill at billiards, and ready to 
 bleed freelv. The whole corps of rifte- 
 men were on the alert, and one of the 
 most skilful was pitched upon to enter 
 the lists against the Count. The knights 
 of the qttciie met one morning, and set 
 to, both keeping back their play ; and 
 the Count managed matters so well, as 
 not only to sharpen the appetites of his 
 antagonist and his backers, but also to 
 persuade them that he could play but 
 \erv indifferentlv. Our adventurer, know- 
 ing the Count's intention, took as many 
 
 bets
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 181 
 
 bets as he could get against him ; but 
 they were trifling, as the by-standers had 
 no opinion of the Count's skill. 
 
 An appointment was made to renew 
 the game the next morning, and the 
 room swarmed with cognoscenti. Both 
 sides kept back their play as before^, and 
 the trial was, who should play the worst 
 at indifferent periods, and who, without 
 seeming to play well, should make the 
 best strokes at important points. When 
 the Count won a game, it was seemingly 
 with the greatest difficulty, and never by 
 more than one hazard ; so that it ap- 
 peared to be rather the effect of chance 
 than of skill. Brian, watching the turn 
 of the Count's play, backed him when he 
 had any thing at stake worth exertion, 
 and found no difficulty in procuring bets 
 to any amount, until the eyes of the Bath 
 
 knowing
 
 1?>2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 knowing ones were opened,, which was 
 not before the Count had gleaned up- 
 wards of ten thousand pounds. When 
 the scent began to grow stale, the associ- 
 ates decamped for London^ hoping to 
 sret back thither before the Count's fame 
 should be blown. 
 
 Brian had picked up one thousand 
 seven hundred pounds, the half of which 
 he offered to the Captain, who absolutely 
 refused it, alledging that, as he could not 
 have afforded to pay losses to that amount,, 
 he could not in honour accept the win- 
 nings, particularly as not a word of any 
 sharing agreement had passed bet'.veen 
 them. However, as Brian appeared much 
 mortified at the refusal of a half, when 
 he was indebted to him for the whole, 
 the Captain consented to accept two 
 hundred pounds for travelling expences. 
 
 As
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 183 
 
 As they had now done all their busi- 
 ness at Bath, and were eager to meet with 
 the objects of their affection, they posted 
 off for town^ whence they had been ab- 
 sent above a week. 
 
 The Count was so industrious in Lon- 
 don, that he sweated some of the most 
 knowing gentry of the queue before he 
 was blown, and he was then cried down 
 as a blackleg: the best of the joke was, 
 that even those professors, who practised 
 the same art of concealment in their play 
 on the Count, inveighed most bitterly 
 against him, as little less than a cheat ; so 
 that being universally cried down, he was 
 reduced to the necessitv of sittino; down 
 contented with his gains, or of changing 
 the weapon, at which he was superior to 
 most men, for other schemes in the gam- 
 bling system, in which he was inferior to 
 6 ~ numbers :
 
 184 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 numbers: he had, however, the satisfac- 
 tion of sharing with Shadow to the tune 
 of eighteen thousand pounds; but the 
 cupidity of a gamester is ever insatiate. 
 Shadow persuaded him to venture on the 
 bones and pasteboard, being determined, 
 since the Count's su]}erior play at billi- 
 ards could be of no further use to him, 
 to play booty, and fleece his partner out 
 of his share of the booty. 
 
 Shadow could not fail of observing 
 the success of our adventurer, v/hich he 
 rightiv attributed to the Captain's acci- 
 dental discovery of his plot. Having had 
 such a specimen of Brian's acuteness, and 
 looking upon all mankind to be actuated 
 by the same honourable motives as him- 
 self, he hesitated not to propose to him 
 to become his associate against his for- 
 mer friend, whom he promised to deliver 
 
 up
 
 THE METROPOLIS. J 85 
 
 up bound hand and foot. Brian, how- 
 ever, was so distrustful of Shadow's /za- 
 now^, that he declined the proposal of a 
 partnership; but promised to keep the 
 secret, as he saw no reason why the 
 Count should not learn some of those 
 tricks which he himself had taught to so 
 many others. 
 
 Shadow promised to give Brian notice 
 when the meeting was to take place, for 
 the purpose of plucking the Dutch ad- 
 venturer; and went to look out for some 
 associates, whom he soon found among 
 his list of acquaintance. 
 
 The Count was drawn to a noted 
 house in Charles-street, St. James's-square, 
 'where, in the course of one sitting, he 
 was made to disgorge the whole of his 
 winnings to the real associates of his pi^e- 
 tended partner Shadow, who cursed tlie 
 
 bones.
 
 186 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 bones, and tore the cards, with as nvLich 
 apparent pbrenzy as if he had actually 
 been their victim. Brian being in the 
 secret, was sufTei'^d bv Shadow to come 
 in for some of the pickings^ in the hope 
 of gaining hi?^ confidence, and finding 
 some unguarded moment of fleecing him. 
 
 When the Count was completely drain- 
 ed, Shadow pretended to be at the end 
 of his cash, to prevent borrowing : the 
 play began to languish, and soon ceased. 
 
 Shadow having made the most of his 
 Dutch friend cut his acquaintance; 
 and after the poor fellow had strol- 
 led about the inferior gaming-houses, 
 where he was unknown, endeavouring in 
 vain to pick up a livelihood, he was re- 
 duced to the humiliating necessity of 
 soliciting the loan of a few pounds from 
 -ShadoWj to pay his passage back to Ham- 
 
 burffh^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 187 
 
 burgh. Shadow gcneroiislij consented, on 
 having the Count's note of hand, as a 
 security for his actually quitting the 
 kingdom^ to advance twenty pounds^ 
 coolly advising him^ at the same timfi to 
 return to his original situation q^ marl'^r 
 at a hiUiard-iahle, whence he afterwards 
 boasted to Brian of having drawn him to 
 take in the English flats. 
 
 The Count appeared to be satisfied 
 with this scanty supply ; but he secretly 
 entertained thoughts of revenge and re- 
 taliation on his false friend^ of whom he 
 now perceived himself to have been 
 made the dupe. Notwithstanding his 
 having fallen a victim to the artifices of 
 an individual, he felt convinced that the 
 bulk of the English professors were far 
 inferior to many of his continental ac- 
 quaintance in the refinements of gaming, 
 
 and
 
 188 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and he determined to seek for a coUengue 
 among them, upon whom he could place 
 more relinnce^ and to return^ with a view 
 to retrievi his fortune ; under this idea^ 
 he lost no time in setting sail for Ham* 
 bu-.h. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE iMETROPOLIS. 189 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Antiquated Virginitij a most heavy Incumbrance — 
 Ineffectual Effort to get rid of one — Quarrel 
 betzseen tv:o female Gamesters ; and a Dialogue^ 
 illustrative of low Life above Stairs — A real 
 Object of Distress, a Tale of IVoe, and an Act 
 ■t^orthy of Imitation. 
 
 Brian had been so engaged, that he had 
 never seen the Duchess of Fallowland 
 since the day she nodded to him from 
 her carriage in Bond-street ; and he was 
 now reminded of this second proof of his 
 indifference^ by a note, in which she sig- 
 nified her expectation of seeing him^, 
 
 early
 
 190 THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 early that evening, at Lady M'Lack- 
 land's. 
 
 vSince his two last Interviews with Miss 
 HewsoHj he could have wished to have 
 dropped the intimacy with her Grace; 
 ])ut neither gallantry nor gratitude would 
 permit him to wound the feelings of a 
 lady, for whose character he entertained 
 the highest esleem. He went to the ap- 
 pointment_, early enough to come to an 
 eclaircissemcnt with her Grace before the 
 company began to fall in ; and her Grace, 
 actuated by the same motive, arrived 
 whilst Lady M'Lackland was dressing, 
 and Miss Rappee was arranging matters 
 for the reception of company ; so that 
 they were quite tete-d-iete. 
 
 *^ I perceive. Sir," said her Grace, 
 opening the ball, " that, in spite of your- 
 self, you have relapsed into your former 
 
 indifference ;
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 191 
 
 indifference; and as I disdain to impose 
 chains on any but a willing heart proud 
 to wear them, I wished to see yon, mere- 
 ly to release you from all further con- 
 straint." 
 
 " Your Grace is mistaken, in attribut- 
 iuGf to indifference what was the effect of 
 business : I have been at Bath for more 
 than a week past, on an affair of some 
 moment to my fortune, whence I re- 
 turned only this morning. You may 
 see that I have not lost a moment in fly- 
 ing to obey your commands." 
 
 " Not for the pleasure of seeing me, I 
 believe. Sir. It is rather ungenerous to 
 attempt to practise disguise on a female, 
 who has reposed the greatest confidence 
 in a man's honour : I see through the 
 veil which you would throw over your 
 
 conduct.
 
 192 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 conduct. The lady whom I saw in your 
 
 com pan V, in Bond-street " 
 
 " I will at least endeavour to convince 
 vour Grace that I act ino;enuouslv, and 
 will afterwards leave my sincerity to the 
 feelings of your own heart. You may 
 remember that, at Richmondj I acquaint- 
 ed vour Grace with my having engaged 
 my affections to a most amiable young 
 lady, to whom I should have been united, 
 but for the unfortunate circumstances I 
 mentioned ; that was the lady in whose 
 company you saw me; but distant, far 
 distant is the hope of ever calling her 
 mine. I appeal to your own heart, whe- 
 ther first impressions are ever to be 
 erazed." 
 
 " I guess/' said her Grace, crimsoning, 
 " that your friend Verjuice has made you 
 
 acquainted
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 193 
 
 acquainted ^v'?lh some parts of my his- 
 tory." 
 
 '' He has acquainted me with i^othing 
 but what makes me revere your charac- 
 ter; and do not doubt that T take the 
 greatest pride and pleasure in the conde- 
 scension with which you have been pleas- 
 ed to honour me." 
 
 '' Well, Sir. I admit your appeal : none 
 of us arc capable of guarding our hearts 
 against first impressions-^I confess my-' 
 self their martyr. As we cannot be 
 lovers in the strict sense of the word, let 
 us continue to esteem each other, and 
 mutual confidence will be the best proof 
 of our sincerity. Far from wishins: to be 
 a bar to your happiness, I sincerely wish 
 you in possession of that bliss of which I 
 have been mvself for ever deprived. You 
 
 ■J X 
 
 see. Sir, I accept your own terms." 
 VOL. II. K The
 
 194 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted 
 by the entrance of Miss Rappee, who, 
 with the affected smile of virgin eigh- 
 teen, invited them to the tea-table^ whi- 
 ther they accompanied her. 
 
 Soon after tea, the company began to 
 assemble, and made a very strong muster 
 that night. In the midst of the bustle, a 
 note was slipped into Brian's hand, by a 
 person who instantly disappeared : he 
 retired to peruse it, and read as follows : 
 
 *' SIR, 
 
 " When a lady of rank 
 condescends to make advances to one of 
 your sex, he should be secret, and seek 
 to know no more than she wishes to con- 
 fide to his honour. At twelve precisely, 
 ascend the staircase from the play-rooms, 
 
 enter
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 193 
 
 -enter the first door on the left hand, and 
 
 pursue your course into the interior 
 
 room. 
 
 *' Your enamoured, 
 
 *' CELIA." 
 
 His surprise at this eccentric hillet- 
 doux could be equalled only by his cu-^ 
 riosity to discover some cue to the writer. 
 He was well acquainted with the Du- 
 chess's hand-writing — neither that nor 
 the style was hei-s: he could fix on no 
 other person than Lady M'Lackland,, who 
 was known to have retained all the viva* 
 city and warmth, though only the traces 
 of the charms of youth. He felt not the 
 least desire to embrace the happiness de- 
 signed for him, but he imagined that his 
 reputation would be quite destroyed ia 
 high life, if it should be known that he 
 
 K 2 was
 
 196 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 was afraid to trust hiinself alone with a 
 female ; and that consideration, as well 
 as curiosity to see the event of an affair 
 so strangely commenced, determined him 
 to keep the appointment. He therefore 
 kept himself disengaged from play, and, 
 at the appointed hour, stole away, and 
 bent his steps according to the directions 
 of the billet. 
 
 On entering the interior apartment, 
 there was only n glimmering of moon- 
 lioht betwixt the interstices of the Vene- 
 tian blinds, which were shut, and he 
 heard a whisper of, " Ilist ! hist!" — 
 Directed by the sounds, h^ steered to- 
 wards a sofa, on which he found his fair 
 inamorata seated, who caught his out- 
 stretched hand in hers, and guided him 
 to a seat beside her. 
 
 As neither of his two senses of sight 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1^7 
 
 and hearing could give him any Intelli- 
 gence of the fair one's person, he ap- 
 plied to that of feeling; and on pressing 
 the hand which grasped his, he found it 
 not so plump as her Ladyship's, nor in- 
 deed as any healthy youthful person's, 
 but rather a parcel of bones, with very 
 little other covering, except a coarse 
 loose skin. This discovery was by no 
 means calculated to inspire the warmth 
 of a lover; and he was at a loss what to 
 say, or how to extricate himself from his 
 dilemma. 
 
 A long pause ensued; and at length, 
 to the inex.pressible joy of our adven- 
 turer, a sudden crash was heard to issue 
 from an adjoining closet. Both started 
 lip in affright; and the fair one losing 
 her precaution, exclaimed, loud enough 
 to assure Brian that the sounds issued 
 
 K 3 from
 
 l - ioiL -&e ihst ir lie iak" !^iB 
 
 r:.t:.z^ mil SI "tns^ tarr— 
 
 . -Ji tie-
 
 tbere certaialy h s^wce ss« ia lid tjto- 
 set!" cried fer. fprcinr tis iaLi>d &"<3(m 
 
 : ' it, lie^isised t« get «>8t c^ tie ss^pe 
 a: sli etrats. 
 
 He entered ise d<»ee, ijii : istr 
 iV^rt to fifid 9HBC oiber door Ibr escape^ 
 c: boli of die cioliKS of m ionS^ 
 
 idso «36 ako ia tlie act of sEp^^r^ xway 
 — •* Hk* f* ^v^^>e?^ ^be; and tilaB^ 
 ilia ^ t^ ioadi, coadtHnl lua ia llie 
 ^Ei^OBt of iSk dase^ aadi dows ^pat 
 of back slaiR. On eaieri^ a Etde par- 
 loiir« t^ ilw^iiT fvvrei to be Ikt ladlT- 
 sSup"^ a!%aiL wIk> qoittin^ Brnx*^ kad, 
 tod chipphii: bc:^. ier o»~u ©• l»er s55«, 
 Vjt^ iato a £t of iaa^t«r — * S.^ " rr^ 
 ?r:^ ''li&Mdi tiot aKtai|«ili&d nrcr ly i> 
 £ s: jri. 1^1^ fes hraTx os ocr ssx'i
 
 200 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Poor old soul ! I am very sorry that I 
 should hav? spoiled her market." 
 
 " You know who the lady is then ?" 
 
 "■ Oh, to be sure I do ! But you will 
 pretend that you C^o not, perhaps." 
 
 " Indeed I do not; but if it be the 
 one I guess, I am extremely indebted to 
 you for releasing me ; and as a proof of 
 it, licre is a guinea for you." 
 
 " Well, but you need not bribe me to 
 secrecy ; for I have an interesit in it, and 
 so has her Ladyship too." 
 
 " How so?" 
 
 '' Can vou kecD a secret, Sir?" 
 
 *' I promise you." 
 
 ** Well then, you must know that the 
 closet in which you found me, is a very 
 convenient stand for my Lady, who is in 
 the habit of making there some discover 
 
 rie^i
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 201 
 
 rles of family secrets^ which prove highly 
 advantageous to her, as they put the cha- 
 racters of the parties concerned wholly 
 in her power. When my Lady is other- 
 "VN'ise engaged, I take her place, and make 
 a report to her : I was npo?i dutj/ when I 
 accidentally alarmed you and that piece 
 of ])ure antique virginity. Miss Rachel 
 Rappee." 
 
 " I thought it was her: but as she ap- 
 pears to be every thing with her Lady- 
 ship, is she not in the secret of the 
 closet?" 
 
 " Oh, no ; my Lady employs her to 
 look after other matters, and she era- 
 ploys me to look after her; for she is as 
 mercenary as she is poor, and my Lady 
 knows her too well to trust her far out 
 of her sight." 
 
 " Well, my dear girl, it was a fortu- 
 
 K 5 nate
 
 20^ TH2 METROPOLIS. 
 
 nate escape for me, and shall be so for. 
 you too. Here is another guinea for 
 you, and your secret is perfectly safe 
 with me/' 
 
 Brian now returned to the play-rooms, 
 but could never get another glimpse of 
 his enamoured Celia for that night ; in- 
 deed he had left her in a very ticklish 
 situation. Several moments after his 
 escape, she waited impatiently at the 
 closet-door, hoping that, so soon as he 
 had searched the closet, and satisfied 
 himself that no one was in it, he would 
 come forth : at length she ventured a 
 hist, but received no answer; she thert 
 searched the closet, and finding no one 
 in it, and the opposite door open, she 
 concluded what had really happened. 
 Apostrophizing his timidity (for she 
 could not imagine it to be possible that 
 
 a man
 
 TffE METROTOtlS; 203 
 
 a man should run away from the charms 
 of the Honourable Miss Rachel Rappee), 
 she consoled herself with the hopes of a 
 more lucky meeting; and to allay her 
 present disappointment, she applied her- 
 self so heartily to the old maid's never- 
 failing comfort, the strong-water bottle, 
 that she retired to her couch very mucti 
 disordered, as she left word for her Lady- 
 ship, and as was the case. 
 
 Brian was so tickled by this ludicrous 
 adventure, that he could not sit down to 
 play with that attention which was requi* 
 site ; and he strolled round the room, to 
 make his observations, and become occa- 
 sionally a standing better. His notice 
 was soon attracted by a shrill altercation 
 between the Duchess of Gorgon and 
 Lady Medusa Packwell, the latter of 
 whom charged the former (O stain upon 
 
 k6 nobility!}
 
 201 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 nobility ! ) with having slipped a card. 
 Her Grace denied the accusation with in- 
 dignation, although the card was found 
 beneath her chair, and retorted upon the 
 accuser, that it was more probable she 
 herself had thrown it there, to find a hole 
 to creep out of a desperate game. Hoi'- 
 vibile dictu ! Monstrous to say, the lie was 
 given on both sides; and a pitched battle 
 would have ensued on the spot, if the 
 goddess of peace, under the resemblance 
 of Lady M'Lackland, had not interfered, 
 and begged them to have more respect 
 for the honour of her house. Being re- 
 strained by this remonstrance ( v/hich was 
 not slighted, as we have seen some poli- 
 tical remonstrances of the present day) 
 from actual warfare, the antagonists re- 
 sorted to the usual female battle oi 
 tongues; and the following dialogue. 
 
 high
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 205 
 
 high or low bred, as the reader may 
 deem it^ ensued : — 
 
 Her Ladyship — "■' I have known some 
 people remarked for a number of years, 
 to have very often a card too many or 
 too little." 
 
 Her Grace — " Indeed some people's 
 memory may extend to above half a cen- 
 tury past, as they have been known to 
 play youthful parts on the wrong side 
 of forty." 
 
 Her Zadfjship — " And I have knov,n 
 some people affect to play the parts of 
 women of character, long after their re- 
 putation was fly-blown." 
 
 Her Grace — " Some people are more 
 indebted to their cunning for their repu- 
 tation, than to their rigorous treatment 
 of their gallants." 
 
 Her Ladyship — ''It is better^, however, 
 
 to
 
 206 TiTE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to keep up appearances with the world', 
 than wholly to disresjard them." 
 
 Her Grace — " If people cannot aiTord 
 to lose their money without losing their 
 temper with it^ they should never play."" 
 
 Her Ladyslu'p — " People should play 
 fair, or not at all." 
 
 Her Grace — " The accusation is as false 
 as the teeth and hair of the accuser." 
 
 Her Lacli/ship — " It is as true as some 
 other stains on the character of the ac- 
 cused." 
 
 Her Grace — '' The accusation and the 
 accuser are alike contemptible." 
 
 Here Lady IvrLackland again inter- 
 fered, the battle became a drawn one, 
 and the combatants were arranged at se- 
 parate tables. 
 
 This specimen of good-breeding was 
 wholly new to our astonished adventurer^ 
 
 which
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 207 
 
 which was a proof of his deficiency in 
 haut ton, where similar interludes have 
 often been performed between the acts of 
 the play : they are however most care- 
 fully concealed from the ears of the pro- 
 fane vulgar, unless the altercation should 
 be so boisterous as to attract the attention 
 of the servants, who are not bound, any 
 more than certain ministers of state, to 
 keep the secrets of their master or mis- 
 tress any longer than they can retain 
 their places. The unfashionable reader, 
 however, should know, that female ora- 
 tory in the squares, on the west side of 
 Temple-bar, on some very particular oc- 
 casions, is by no means inferior to that 
 of another famous female forum on the 
 east side of it, denominated Billingsgate, 
 Even our adventurer had made so little 
 progress in high life, as not yet to be 
 
 aware
 
 SOS THE METROPOniS. 
 
 aware to what extent the habit of gam- 
 ing effects a dereliction of all those deli- 
 cacies of sentiment, which form a noble 
 defence around the female character. 
 The disgusting influence of this sordid 
 vice is so pernicious to female -raindsj 
 that they lose their fairest distinctions 
 and privileges, together with the blush- 
 ini>r honours of modesty and delicacy : a 
 female mind deprived of these jewels, 
 is one of the most desolate scenes in the 
 world; and the ruinous consequences of 
 gaming have already materially affected 
 the character and deportment of the 
 gentler sex : already the finest qualities 
 of womanhood are perishing under its 
 blast; and having nearly completed its 
 ravages on the foliage and blossoms, it 
 must soon extend to the very root of so- 
 ciety itself, of which the late numerous 
 
 trials
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 209 
 
 •trials for cri?n, con. in high life are at 
 once proofs, and, in most instances, un- 
 deniable consequences. To behokl a 
 fine eye, formed to disclose the secret of 
 conscious love, and to render happy an 
 animated being, gloating on Pam or Spa- 
 dille ; to contemplate a band and arm, 
 cast in Nature's happiest mould to clasp 
 the fond object of conjugal affection, 
 engaged in beggaring husband and chil- 
 dren, with the vulgar air of throwing 
 dice out of a box; to see and hear those 
 lips, calculated to lisp the soft accents of 
 conjugsl endearment and maternal affec- 
 tion, bit through rage and despair, and 
 half articulating execrations and oaths, is 
 the most heart-rending ruin of Nature's 
 noblest work. However shocking the 
 assertion may sound to the ears of the 
 female gamester, no axiom is be tier 
 
 founded^
 
 210 THE IVfETROPOLlS. 
 
 foniulcd, than that the charscter of a mi- 
 serable ivonicii of the town is far superior 
 to hers; the latter having first sacrificeH 
 her virtue to her passions nnd th&^arts of 
 seduction, and then trafficking on it, to 
 sustain a wretched existence; the former 
 sordidly sacrificing husband, children, and 
 virtue, at the shrine of avarice. 
 
 Her Grace of Fallowland, disgusted 
 with this disgraceful scene, and perhaps 
 shocked at the snare which she herself 
 had so narrowly escaped, nodded to 
 Brian to follow her, and left the room 
 unnoticed during the confusion. As they 
 descended the staircase, her Grace pre- 
 sented him with a ticket of admittance 
 to a private masked ball on the ensuing 
 evening, giving him at the same time a 
 white cockade to put in his hat, by which 
 
 token she might recognize him. 
 
 Brian,
 
 T-HE METROPOUS, 21 i 
 
 Brian promised her Grace to do him- 
 self the honour of accepting her invita- 
 tion ; and as he was handing her into her 
 carriage, a female figure advanced^ and 
 in a most impassioned tone exclaimed— 
 *' O, ye sons and daughters of fortune, 
 who can expend such vast sums on your 
 own pleasures, for God's sake bestow a 
 trifle on the necessities of one who would 
 rather die than beg, were it only for her 
 own support; but who is reduced to the 
 humiliating necessity, for the support of 
 a numerous, infantine, and fatherless off- 
 spring !" 
 
 The force of this appeal, the unusual 
 style of the address, the earnestness of 
 the delivery, and the apparent agony of 
 the petitioner, drew immediate attention ; 
 and by the light of the torches which the 
 
 Duchess's footmen carried, thev disco- 
 
 •J 
 
 verj^d
 
 gI2 THE Metropolis. 
 
 vcred a line figure, the remains ofyoiith- 
 ful beauty, and the appearance of having 
 seen beUer tUiys^ disguUcd tjuder the 
 shabby external of a dirty bed-gown and 
 ^traw bonnet. Her Grace desired Brian 
 to present the petitioner with ten pounds 
 on her account, which she would repay 
 at the first meeting; and the poor object 
 of her charity no sooner heard the wel- 
 come sounds of so generous and unex«- 
 pected a donation, than, dropping on her 
 knees, she exclaimed — " O may Heaven 
 pour down its blessings on a heart which 
 \vould ennoble even nobility itself!" 
 
 Brian raised her up ; and her Grace 
 having desired him to inquire into her 
 situation, and promised to befriend her, 
 if the inquiry should turn out to her ad- 
 vantage, ascended the carriage, which 
 drove olV. 
 
 Brian
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ^13 
 
 Brian escortetl the distressed female to 
 her humble lodgings in Exeter-street, 
 Strand, where he heard her piteous nar- 
 rati^/e. Mrs. Adamson v.'as the v.idow of 
 a man who had once been an eminent 
 furrier, and had amassed wealth, which 
 fatally extended his ambition beyond the 
 sober pursuits of regular trade, to the 
 slippery regions of speculation. A de- 
 signing acquaintance, a stock-jobber, but 
 too well seconded these views ; and by 
 pointing out the immense fortunes ra- 
 pidly made by some few at the Stock 
 Exchange, and promising to assist him 
 with his advice, soon won him over to 
 his views. Her husband gave up his other 
 business; and, by degrees, his absence 
 from home became frequent, and of such 
 long duration, as to occasion her anxiety, 
 he having been a very domestic man be- 
 fore
 
 214 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 fore he engaged in his new pursuit. His 
 temper also, from being remarkably 
 sweet, becan;e sour and sullen ; whence 
 she began to entertain the most gloomy 
 presage of approaching misfortune. In 
 proportion as his temper grew worse, she 
 became more compliant and attentive, in 
 the hope of alluring him back to his former 
 happy course of life; but in vain : his dis- 
 position altered for the worse every day. 
 After some months of unhappiness, 
 Mr. Adamson came home one night in a 
 paroxysm of rage, which he vented in an 
 excess of unusual harshness to his family, 
 and then sank into sullen despair, at 
 times apostrophizing the roguerv of iiis 
 pretended friend Mr. Scrip, and at others 
 execrating his own credulity, folly, and 
 villainy, which had utterly ruined his 
 poor family. Shocking as this intelli- 
 
 gence
 
 THE metiiofOlis. 215 
 
 gence was to the ears of Mrs. Adamson, 
 her husband's former conduct had some- 
 what prepared her for them, and she dis- 
 played all the firmness of a Roman ma- 
 tron. Far from casting- any reflections, 
 or even shewing the least discontent or 
 despondency, she endeavoured to soothe 
 his agony, by assuring him that she re- 
 garded him as the best of husbands and 
 of fathers; and desiring him to call to 
 mind that, if his efforts to serve his fa- 
 mily had turned out contrary to his 
 wishes, the want of success could be at- 
 tributed to no vicious pursuits. She in- 
 sinuated that, if matters were even so 
 bad as his fears might give him to con- 
 ceive, yet, at the worst, he might return 
 to his former lucrative trade, the profits 
 of which he had always found certain 
 and they might again be as happy as for- 
 merly.
 
 213 triE METROPOLIS. 
 
 merly. By degrees, she calmed him so 
 far as to get out of him the cause of his 
 agony. On the first run of ill luck, Scrip 
 had deluded hirn by saying, that experi- 
 ence must be bought in stock-jobbing as 
 wt II as every other line of business, and 
 inat there was no instance of a stock- 
 jobber who had not encountered similar 
 discouras^cment at the outset for want of 
 it; but, after having obtained it, the re- 
 turn of the tide brought in a certain in- 
 flux of riches. Lulled by these represen- 
 tations, he persisted in placing confi- 
 dence in the viper which he had intro- 
 duced into his bosom. 
 
 One day. Scrip bought stock cf Mr. 
 Adamson for time, pretending it was no^ 
 on his own account, but for a person for 
 whom he was agent; and on the day of 
 settlement, the stock having experienced 
 
 a rapid
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 217 
 
 a rapid rise, Mr. Adamson had to pay thct 
 difference, amounting to one thousand 
 two hundred pounds. Mr. Adamson was 
 afterwards persuaded by hhfrieTid Scrip, 
 to purchase stock of him for time ; also 
 pretending that the sale was not made on 
 his own account, and that it would prove 
 so valuable a speculation, as to bring 
 back all Mr. Adamson's former losses. 
 That particular denomination of stock 
 actually rose so much higher, that Mr. 
 Adamson had to receive above two thou- 
 sand pounds; but on that very day, which 
 was the settling day, friend Scrip had be- 
 come a lame duck, and waddled out of 
 the Alley, according to the stock-jobbing 
 jargon. 
 
 Mrs. Adamson advised her husband to 
 look coolly into the state of his affairs, 
 ^hich he did, and it was found that he 
 
 vol.. II, I* had
 
 2'IS THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 had enough left to pay all demands 
 against him ; but the surplus was incon- 
 siderable. She then represented that his 
 credit was unblemished, and that a seri- 
 dus return to, and perseverance in his 
 trade, joined to rigid economy, would 
 riot only conceal his late losses, but 
 •would, in all human probability, soon 
 re-establish their fortune and felicity. 
 He followed the advice so strenuously; 
 and she seconded his efforts, and encou- 
 raged him in them with so much cheer- 
 fulness, that the fiend of poverty was 
 again driven from their door, when ano- 
 ther fatal stroke produced the catastrophe. 
 A certain person of high rank deter- 
 mined to make some alterations in the 
 
 uniforms of the regiment of light 
 
 dragoons, which he commanded: one part 
 of the change consisted in having a par- 
 ticular
 
 THfe METROPOLIS, 219 
 
 ticular description of furs to covef the 
 helmets and face the coats of the soldi- 
 ers. Mr. Adamson was applied tOj by a 
 letter from the great person himself, to 
 furnish these articles, on the terms of be- 
 ing paid one hundred pounds so soon as 
 he should have delivered to the amount 
 of two hundred pounds; so that Mr. 
 Adamson was to be always one hundred 
 pounds, and no more, in advance. Not- 
 withstanding this agreement, articles to 
 the amount of one thousand- pounds 
 were delivered, without Mr. Adamson's 
 being able to get any money ; but still 
 he went on manufacturing the articles, 
 in firm reliance on the greafraan's punc- 
 tually fulfillino^ his contract — nothing 
 less. Goods to the amount of one thou- 
 sand pounds more were executed ; but, 
 instead of the great person's paying any 
 
 L 2 of
 
 220 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 of the installments, he demanded goods 
 to the full amount of the contract, and 
 threatened a prosecution if they should 
 be detained. Mr. Adamson, however, 
 whose whole fortune was staked on this 
 business, persisted in detaining them ; 
 and arrested the paymaster, by the advice 
 of his attorney, who was of opinion that 
 the great man was not responsible, al- 
 thouiih he himself had entered into the 
 contract. The paymaster went to a spung- 
 ing-house, was afterwards cashiered for 
 embezzling the public money, her hus- 
 band lost the debt of one thousand 
 pounds, and the other one thousand 
 pounds' worth lay on his hands, a use- 
 less stock. His creditors, however, must 
 be paid ; and feeling too deeply the loss 
 of his credit to submit to the usual me- 
 thod of wiping off scores by a bank- 
 ruptcy.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 2Si 
 
 niptcy, he died literally broken-heafted, 
 leaving his relict and four children to the 
 mercy of the world. 
 
 This distressing narrative, and the bro~ 
 ken accents in which the engaging female 
 delivered it, called forth all the sympa- 
 thy of our adventurer, whose heart had 
 not imbibed the least callosity fifom his 
 pursuits: he presented Mrs. Adamson with 
 ten pounds for her Grace of Fallowland, 
 and five pounds more on his own ac- 
 count ; assuring her, that he would en- 
 deavour to devise, and exert all his in- 
 fluence to carry into effect, some plan to 
 shield herself and her fatherless children 
 from the chilling gripe of poverty. 
 
 The grateful widow would have drop- 
 ped on her knees to signify her gratitude^ 
 for utterance was impossible, if he had 
 not restrained her, desiring her to re- 
 
 L 3 serve
 
 222 ^HE METROPOLIS. 
 
 serve that posture for the Power to whom 
 alone it was due. 
 
 Having seen this daughter of misfor- 
 tune somewhat more composed, he took 
 his leave, with the heartfelt satisfaction 
 of experiencing the truth of that Chris- 
 tian stimulus to acts of benevolence — 
 '' He who givcih to the poor, lendeth to the 
 Lord. " 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. S25 
 
 iBWffB^B?B^^^^r i ^?^^^ ^ ^^^T^ ^ ^8 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 jtnecdofe of a noted Turf Character — A fashion- 
 able private Masquerade — Characters in high 
 Life, and public Characters — How great Folks 
 employ themselves, and how they might be better 
 employed — Ode to Charity. 
 
 On Brian's appearance at breakfast the 
 next morning, he was no less surprised 
 than rejoiced at the unexpected sight of 
 his friend Verjuice : so great was his im- 
 patience to learn what had passed be- 
 tween him and Mr. Hewson, at his inter- 
 view t© give back the five hundred pound 
 check, that it was the very first question 
 
 L 4 he
 
 254 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 he put to him, after mutual inquiries in- 
 fo the state of each others health. 
 
 " I would have you keep quiet on that 
 head for the present/' replied Verjuice, 
 "as the least impatience fflay liijure your 
 caase in that quarter: I can give you no 
 room for sanguine expectation, although 
 I think you have no reason to despair. 
 At present, let us attend to the state of 
 your affairs, which you will see I have 
 not lost sight of during my journey. I 
 have already mentioned to you the ne- 
 cessity of keeping up appearances : the 
 late famous Colonel O'Kelly, emerged 
 from obscurity to the highest celebrity 
 on the sporting list, was, on that account 
 only, repeatedly refused admittance into 
 the clubs, instituted and supported by 
 those of the higher order, at Newmarket 
 and other places. He was so hurt by 
 
 tiiese
 
 THE METROPOLIS. S2^ 
 
 these indignities, as never after to lose a 
 sense of them, and an appetite for re- 
 venge. Having g<>t some insight into the 
 family secrets, one of which was to hold 
 under their thumbs, by biibes, most of 
 the jockies, grooms, trainers, and other 
 subordinate persons employed in the of- 
 fices of the turf, by which means a newlj" 
 initiated adventurer was sure to be pil- 
 laged by them, he determined to retain 
 exclusively o-ne jockey to ride for hinr^ 
 and for no other person, unless he had 
 no horse entered for the same match^ 
 The jockey of whom he made choice 
 named his own tcrmi;, which O'Kelly of- 
 fered to double, provided he would enter 
 into, a bond not to ride for any of the 
 Hack-legged fraternity. The jockey de- 
 siring him to define whom be meant by 
 the black-legged fraternity, he replied — 
 
 L 5 *■ O, by
 
 '226 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ' O, by J s, my dear, and I'll soon 
 
 make you understand that ! There's the 
 Duke of G. the Duke of D. Lord A. Lord 
 D. Lord G. Lord C. Lord F. the Right 
 Honourable A. B. C. D. and C. J. F. and 
 all the set of the thaves that belong to 
 their humbug societies and hiib-a-hoo 
 clubs, where thev can meet and rob with- 
 out detection.' By thus finding all his own 
 resources within himself, he not only left 
 a splendid fortune to his successor, but 
 such a stud as produced a princely income. 
 It was my happiness, in the beginning 
 of my turf- career, to be of some service 
 -to him, for which he generously took me 
 under his wing, and I made the greatest 
 part of my money on his matches. When 
 I lost his generous support, I retired from 
 the turf. — From this anecdote you will 
 see that, although the Colonel succeeded 
 
 against
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 227 
 
 against all opposition, by dint of supe- 
 rior genius and indefatigable persever- 
 ance, vet it is advisable to assume the 
 appearance of somewhat more than ja 
 needy adventurer. I have therefore con- 
 cluded a contract in your name for a 
 Yorkshire estate, contiguous to some 
 land of my own, which will give you 
 some manorial rights, and, of course, 
 some little consequence. The purchase- 
 money will be seven thousand pounds, 
 of which I will advance for you what you 
 may be deficient; and you may pay me 
 interest, until you can make up the whole 
 
 sum." 
 
 Brian was surprised at this act of kind- 
 ness, which was quite unexpected, from 
 Verjuice's carefully concealing the ex- 
 tent of his favourable intentions towards 
 him ; he would have expressed his grati- 
 
 v 6 tude«
 
 228 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 tude, but Verjuice cut him short, by say- 
 ing — " You know I hate words, on any 
 other score than business. Come, let us 
 hear where you have walked during my 
 absence." 
 
 " On the sunny side of Fortune's 
 hedge/' replied Brian ; and he acquaint- 
 ed him with his lucky hits and gammons, 
 "which drew forth manv cong-ratulations 
 
 'o 
 
 from the old gentleman. On investiga- 
 tion, it was found that our adventurer 
 was possessed of somewhat more than 
 four thousand guineas; and his heart 
 now felt the first pleasing prospect of 
 cheering independance. 
 
 Verjuice went to rest very early in the 
 eveninjr, to recover from the fati2:ue of 
 travelling; and Brian having procured a 
 domino, and taken care to place the 
 white cockade conspicuously in his hat, 
 
 3 set
 
 THE METROPOLIS, §29 
 
 set out to meet her Grace of Fallowland, 
 at Mrs. Apemode's, in Hanover-square. 
 
 On alighting, and presenting himself 
 at the door, he was thunderstruck at an- 
 other trait of high life, which put the 
 finishing stroke to his growing contempt 
 of it. A couple of police-officers stood 
 sentry at the door, to prevent the intru- 
 sion of improper company : they received 
 the tickets of admission, and eyed the vi- 
 sitants, as the turnkey of Newgate fixes 
 his hawk's eye on a felon consigned to 
 his tender keeping. After our adven- 
 lurer's person and ticket had undergone 
 scrupulous examination, he was desired 
 to pass on; and as no one appeared to 
 introduce him, or took any further no- 
 tice of him, he was at a loss whither to 
 go, or how to act. Afraid of discovering 
 his ignorance by asking any questions, 
 
 an4
 
 ,230 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and observing the staircase splendidly il- 
 lumined, and embellished with green- 
 house plants in pots, and festoons of ar- 
 tificial flowers, he mounted at once, and 
 found that he had arrived at the scene of 
 action. The whole suit of rooms had 
 been thrown together, illumined and 
 embellished as the staircase, and nearly 
 filled with grotesque caricatures and do^ 
 minos. 
 
 Conscious now of being unknown, and 
 of possessing the power of remaining so, 
 by every person but her Grace of FallGw> 
 land, he sauntered about the rooms, en- 
 joying the novel scene perfectly at hi^ 
 ease. The brilliancy of the giddy rout 
 had almost effaced his notions of the in- 
 sipidity of high life, when Miss Charlotte 
 Hewson came across his mind, and he 
 /elt that i^ he shoul4 ever be happy 
 . . enough
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 231 
 
 enough to make her his own, his cup of 
 bliss would become gall, if she should 
 launch into the vortex of fashionable 
 dissipation. The phantom of delusion 
 instantly fled, and his reason reminded 
 him of the fate of the glow-worm — a 
 meteor by night, a dull insect by day. 
 
 The former part of the night was ex- 
 ceedingly dull, masquerade scenes being 
 only fitted for their soil of Italy, and by 
 no means calculated for northern climes, 
 particularly the cold and repulsive man- 
 ners of England's air. xA.t length it was 
 buzzed about, that a certain illustrious 
 personage had entered the room ; and 
 even the dullest affected all the gaiety 
 and sprightliness of which their sluggish 
 foggy natures were capable : wit, or ra- 
 ther witticisms, flew about from all quar- 
 ters, and the presence of the P — »- 
 r.*:.v seemed
 
 232 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 seemed to have the same effect as that o£ 
 the angel upon Balaam's ass. Curiosity 
 drew our adventurer round with the 
 throng, which followed every motion 
 and turn of the P , until they ar- 
 rived at a spot where another throng was 
 assembled, in the midst of whom was a 
 character who kept them in a continued 
 roar of laughter : it was a female figure, 
 habited to represent an ancient sibjjl, as 
 might be gathered from the following 
 inscription on the girdle which encircled 
 her waist : — 
 
 * Creditc me, vobis folium reciiare sibyllie.' 
 
 Juv. viii. 12:6. 
 
 In her hand she held a book, which she? 
 consulted whenever a question was put 
 to her; and she gave her answers, some- 
 times in prose, at other times in verse, 
 
 with
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 233 
 
 %vith such qiiaintness and force of irony, 
 as convinced every one of her not only 
 being thoroughly conversant with high 
 life, but also with the characters and se- 
 crets of most of the people of conse- 
 quence in the rooms. The P ad- 
 vancing with his usual elegance of man- 
 ners and afTabiiity, demanded what the 
 sibylline leaves said of him ? The modern 
 Dci'pliobe turning over the sacred records^ 
 repeated the following part of the speech 
 which Shakespeare makes Henry IV. ad- 
 dress to his son : — 
 
 " The skipping Prince, he ambled up and down, 
 With shallow jesters, and rash bavin wits, 
 Soon kindled, and soon burnt ; 'scarded his state, 
 Mingled his royalty with carping fools ; 
 Had his great name profaned with their scorns; 
 And gave his countenance against his name, 
 To laugh with gibing boys, and stand vlie push 
 Of every beardless, vain comparative; 
 
 Grew
 
 234 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Grew a compnnion to the common streets, 
 
 Enfepff'^ himseU to popularity J 
 
 Tliat, being dnily swuUuw'4 by tB^Hs' §yuu, 
 
 They surfeited with honey, nnd began 
 
 To lofithethe tnste of sweetness; whereof n litll* 
 
 More than a little, is by much too much ; 
 
 So when he had occasion to be seen, 
 
 He was but as the cuckoo is in June, 
 
 Heard, not regarded ; seen, but with such eyes 
 
 As, sick and blunted with community, 
 
 Afford no extraordinary gasej 
 
 Such as is bent on sun-like majesty. 
 
 When it shines seldom in admiring eyes; 
 
 But rather drows'd, and hung their'eyelids down. 
 
 Slept in his face, and render'd such aspect 
 
 As cloudy men use to their adversaries, 
 
 Being with his presence glutted, gorg'd, and full ; 
 
 And in that very line stand'st thou ; 
 
 For thou bast lost thy princely privilege. 
 
 With vile participation." 
 
 The sihi/l now shut up the book ; and 
 
 the P assuming the chastened air 
 
 which Henry's son should wear on this 
 
 occasion.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 235 
 
 occasion, bowed, and replied with his 
 usual fluency of wit^ in the words of that 
 prince ;=« 
 
 " I shall Iiereafter, ray thrice SRge old womuo, 
 Be more myself.' 
 
 What says the oracle to my friend here ?'* 
 
 pushing forwards the M of H , 
 
 who stood by his side. 
 
 The sibyl reads from Shakespeare's co- 
 medy of As you Like it : — 
 
 " It is Sfiid, many a man knows no end of hie goods : 
 right ; many a man has good horns, and knows no end 
 of thera. Well, that is the dowry of his wife ; 'tis none 
 of his own getting. Horns ! even so — Poor men alone ! 
 no, no ; the noblest deer hath thera as huge as the rascal. 
 Is the single man therefore blessed ?— No ; as a walled 
 town is worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a 
 married man more honourable than the bare brow of a 
 bachelor ; and by how much defence is better than no 
 skill, so much is a horn more precious than to want." 
 
 The P — — and his party were now 
 
 about
 
 ■23G THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 about to turn away, when Mr. S 
 
 advanced, and addressed the sibyl thus: 
 
 " You secrer, bihek, and midnight hag, 
 I conjure ^ou by that which you profess 
 (Howe'er you come to know it), answer me .- 
 What fame posthumous will be mine r" 
 
 The sibvT turned to her book, and said^ 
 Posterity will say thus : — 
 
 €( 
 
 ' Here lies a perfect Proteus throughout life. 
 Whose words and actions ever were at strife ; 
 More dire to Philistines was Samson ne'er. 
 With firebrand foxes when he did them scare. 
 Than was this flaming patriot, when he'd sail 
 'Gainst ministers, tied to a Fox's tail ; 
 Like him too, of his magic pawer shorn,. 
 Of those he terrified become the scorn^ 
 They look'd upon him as a standing jest, 
 To give their dull debates a pleasant zest ; 
 For he more wit enjoy'd tb^n half the House, 
 Till curst French brandy drown'd true British 7io«<*. 
 Take his own word — save honour, all was trash j 
 Yet whoso took his word, mourn'd his lost cash : 
 
 E'ea
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 237 
 
 E'ea Nature's debt, when seiz'd by bailiff Death, 
 Like all the others, he discharg'd with — breath ! 
 Pity the public hopes should be so crost, 
 And Patriot Dick in Dicky Gossip lost !" 
 
 Mr. S readily replied, in the words 
 
 of Jaques — " You have a nimble wit ; I 
 think it was made of Atalanta's heels." 
 
 The P and his party now turned 
 
 away laughing ; and so applicable and 
 ironical were the answers of the sibyl to 
 every querist, that few more chose to 
 parry a thrust with her, 
 
 A thread-paper man, v/ith a small wo- 
 man's voice^ and affected, and a magpie 
 hop (whom Brian afterwards learned was 
 the Honourable Mr. Shippington, drama- 
 tist), danced up, exclaiming — "Ha, my 
 old witch of Endor ! how dost do.? What 
 brings thee to earth again .''" 
 
 " To answer fools." 
 
 " Laconic,
 
 238 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " Laconic, by Gad ! — But your style 
 savours too much' of the vulgarity of old 
 days for us teau monde of the present 
 day — all ease and elegance now." 
 
 '' You are a bad specimen of it." 
 
 **■ Eh ! that shews your Avant of taste. 
 Were not you the same old lady as ap- 
 peared to the old Roman ? what was his 
 name? Numa Poinpilius, or Tarquin, 
 ■was not it ? I almost forget." 
 
 " Yes/ ydiir reading is but slight, I 
 believe. Well, suppose me the same." 
 
 " What a confounded high price you 
 •wanted for your musty old books! We 
 have no such trash now-a-days." 
 
 '* I believe vou." 
 
 " Well, I always was of Pythagoras's 
 opinion : I myself remember to have 
 nndersfone a thousand transmio-f^tions 
 since that time." 
 
 " But
 
 Till! METROPOLIS. 939 
 
 " But you were stiil the same character 
 under every form." 
 
 '' Hey ! how is that?" 
 
 *' Grub, moth, butterfly, goose, pea- 
 cock, parrot, monkey, ape, and now 
 fop." 
 
 *' Don't be so scurrilous, my precious 
 antique, or you'll be deemed quite a 
 boj^e : you smell confoundedly of your 
 old abode. Pandemonium. Well, what 
 news from the lower regions ? Has Pro- 
 serpine played Pluto any fashionable 
 tricks? any scandal stirring, eh '^" 
 
 '' We leave that to the class of mortals 
 to which you belong." 
 
 " Well, well, if you are forbidden to 
 unfold the secrets of your prison-house, 
 we'll drop that subject. An't I a high 
 fellow now ? Come, let us hear your 
 opinion of me — What says the oracle ?" 
 
 The
 
 240 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 The sibyl, deliberately turning over the 
 leaves of her bookj read as follows : — • 
 
 *' This fellow pecks up wif, as pigeons peas*^ 
 
 And utters it again, when Jove doth please : 
 
 He is wit's pedlar, and retails his wares * 
 
 At wakes, and wassels, meetings, markets, fairs: 
 
 And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know, 
 
 Have not the grace to grace it with such show. 
 
 This gallant pins tlie wenches on his sleeve ; 
 
 Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve : 
 
 He can carve too, and lisp : why, this i» he 
 
 That kiss'd away his hand in courtesy ; 
 
 This is the ape of form, Monsieur the nice, 
 
 That when he plays at tables, chides the dice 
 
 In honourable terms; nay, he can sing 
 
 A mean most mainly ; and, in ushering. 
 
 Mend him who can. The ladies call him Sweet; 
 
 The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet. 
 
 This is the flower that smiles on every one, 
 
 To shew his teeth as white as whale his bone." 
 
 Love's Labours Lost. 
 
 *' Ha, ha, ha ! Your wit is a rough dia- 
 mond — polish, polish ! — Come and see 
 
 my
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 241 
 
 my next new farce — I'll give you an 
 order." 
 
 " I'd rather spend an hour in Tartarus, 
 witnessing the pains of the damned." 
 
 " That proves your want of taste. — 
 Well, by'e, old Acid." 
 
 '' Farewell, sweet Sir.** 
 
 The sibyl v/as quite deserted, when 
 our advf itijier, imagining himself se- 
 cure in his obscurity and disguise, ven- 
 tured to ask her what were his faults ? 
 
 " The worst fault you have," answered 
 the sibyl, " is to be in love." 
 
 " Then 'tis a fault," replied he, " that 
 I will not change for your best virtue. 
 Who is my Rosalind?" 
 
 *' Nay, Sir, that I know not; but I am 
 she, whom 
 
 ' Young Lorenzo swore he lov'd so well ; 
 Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, 
 And ne'er a true one." 
 
 VOL, II. M The
 
 242 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 The sibyl had before assumed a feigned 
 voice^ but now speaking in her natural 
 one, Brian instantly discovered her Grace 
 of Fallovvland. He laughed heartily at 
 her disguise, and the satirical wit with 
 which she had supported her character. 
 
 " I am already as weary of it/' said 
 the Duchess, " as the company seem to 
 be weary of me : these scenes of frivo- 
 lity, I may say of fatuity, are not at all 
 suited to my humour. Now, tell me 
 what you learned of the unfortunate fe- 
 male who encountered us last night." 
 
 Brian repeated herdistressing narrative. 
 
 '' A thought strikes me," said her 
 Grace, after a short pause — " I will en- 
 deavour to convert the fleeting moments 
 of this thoughtless tribe into a perma- 
 nent blessing for the destitute widow and 
 fatherless; I will try whether charity may 
 
 not
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 243 
 
 not be extracted out of the same soil 
 as generates idle profusion. You stare." 
 
 *' It h indeed^ your Grace, a droll 
 place to search for such a rare exotic in."' 
 
 " I see you know little of the world. 
 Sir, or you would have learned that va- 
 nity is the greatest impulse to the dona- 
 tions, I will not say charity, of the gay, 
 thoughtless, and unfeeling : vou shall see 
 novf, that many who, in private, would 
 have refused half-a-crown to the necessi- 
 ties of the poor Mrs. Adamson, will, out 
 of ostentation and emulation, put down 
 their names for pounds. Wait a while — • 
 I will only change dress, and be with you 
 again presently." 
 
 Brian, who had expected no more thaii 
 a frivolous amusement for a few hours, 
 was delighted at the prospect of their 
 being turned to so delicious a purpose as 
 
 M 2 that
 
 244 THE ilSTKOPOLlS. 
 
 that of relieving merit in distress; and 
 he admired no less the heaJ than the 
 heart of that woman, who, descending 
 from the usual state and pursuits of her 
 rankj could plan and execute schemes for 
 the benefit of the indigent. 
 
 In less than half an hour^ he was re- 
 joined by the Duchess, habited as a Be- 
 guine, or charitable nun, in black, with 
 a black veil : in her hand she h^ld a 
 paper, shortly stating the distress of the 
 family for which she interested herself. 
 
 She first sought out the P , to whom, 
 
 as well as to most of the rest of the com- 
 pany, she was well known, having her 
 veil pinned up so as to discover her face; 
 and was no better known than respected. 
 The P , whose affability and huma- 
 nity have never been in the least im- 
 paired by his foibles, condescendingly 
 
 perused
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 245 
 
 perused the paper, and with that libera- 
 Ihj which has always distinguished the 
 goodness of his heart, desired her Grace 
 to put him down (or one hundred pGunck ; 
 adding, that if more should be wanting, 
 she knew how to renew her application. 
 This noble example operated, as the Du- 
 chess expected, on the imitation of the 
 other persons to whom she applied ; and, 
 at the close of the evening, the subscrip- 
 tion amounted to nearly four hundred 
 and fifty pounds. 
 
 " Well,*' said her Grace to Brian, " are 
 you not delighted with our success?" 
 
 " Our success !'* repeated he. 
 
 " Yes, Sir, oz/?' success; for the feeling 
 description which you have given of 
 these children of distress, shows how 
 much they have affected you ; and you 
 yourself animated me to the exertions, 
 
 Avhich,
 
 246 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ■which, I am convinced, confer no less 
 happiness on us both, than an those for 
 whom we have interested ourselves. It 
 shall he m) ta-k to collect the subscrip- 
 tions, and t3 \ou shall be allotted the 
 inord deiightrul one of drying up the 
 tear of sorrow, by communicating the 
 pleasing intelligence. When the Adam- 
 sons shall have been settled into some 
 comfortable line of life, I will accom- 
 pany you to see them, and partake of 
 their and your happiness." 
 
 TO CHARITY. 
 
 Hail ! soft ey'd Maid ! Thy look beniga 
 Pourtrays at once thy race divine: 
 
 Sweet soother of our grief! 
 Thy tender, sympathetic soul, 
 At ragged merit ne'er did scowl, 
 
 Nor e'er deny I'elief : 
 
 Tis
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 247 
 
 'Tis lliiiie, mild Maid ! the bruised reed to prop, 
 
 To plant benev'leace iu the human soul, 
 To weed oat malice and revenge, fell crop ! 
 
 And all I lie baneful passions to controul. 
 
 Whilst gloom'd Ambition, drench'd with blood, 
 Glories to see the crirason'd flood 
 
 Of human gore flow round. 
 Thou striv'st the lab'ring mind to ease 
 From each corroding fell disease, 
 And gently heal the wound : 
 I see thine eye, with pity's tear begem'd, 
 
 As thou patrol'st th' eiisanguiii'd plain, lament 
 That Phrenzy, raad'ning to be diadem'd, 
 
 Shoul.l build its throne with bones, with blood cement. 
 
 I see thee, with averted eye, 
 Where light disdain and pity vie. 
 
 Quit Pi-ide with eager haste ; 
 Hel' idle pomp and tinsel glare, 
 Although they may make ideots stare, 
 But ill accord thy taste. 
 Mine eye pursues, and sees thee bland accost 
 
 A wretch, whom Pride had spurn'd with looks that aw'd, 
 Wipe off the staiting tear for hap'ness lost, 
 And banish hunger, which his entrails gnaw'd. 
 
 From
 
 2^8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Ftum Av'rice, 'grim'd with sordid pelf^ 
 And worn to bone with care of self, 
 
 With horror dost thou turn ; 
 Surpris'd to see the mind of man 
 So far digress from Nature's plan. 
 As for itself to burn. 
 Well may'st thou look behind thee, to beliold 
 
 That friend to none, not e'en his wretched self: 
 See how he hugs to's breast the viper — gold, 
 His life a mis'ry, and no less his wealth. ! 
 
 Come, gentle Maid ! grant the bequest, 
 And with thyself fill ev'ry breast ; 
 
 Nor leave an empty space : 
 From meanness cleanse the humaii mind. 
 Leave none but gen'rous thoughts behind. 
 And love for the wiiole race. 
 As whea the tempest hush'd, and zephyr blows 
 
 A gentle breeze, the rose breathes odours fine ; 
 •So fann'd by thee, beuev'ience, like the rose. 
 Shall scatter its good deeds, almost divine. 
 
 END OF VOL. II. 
 
 Lane, Darling, and Co. Leadenhall-Sireet.
 
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Lane, Darling, and Co. Leadenhall-Strcet.
 
 THE 
 
 METROPOLIS 
 
 (»• 
 
 OR, 
 
 A CURE FOR GAMING. 
 
 Interspersed with 
 ANECDOTES OF LIVING CHARACTEKS IN HIGH LIFE, 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 BTT 
 
 CERVANTES HOGG, ESQ. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 THE RISING SUN) THE SETTING SUN, SfC. S(Ci 
 
 How now, my hearti ! did you never see the picture of we three? 
 Now, Mercury, endue thee with pleasing, for thou speak'st well of fools. 
 
 Clown, Twelfth Night. 
 
 VOL. IIIv 
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED AT THE 
 
 rOR A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. 
 
 fSuccessors to Lane, Newman, and Co.) 
 
 I.EADENHALL-STKEET. 
 1811.
 
 THE METmOFOLIS. 
 
 »»»#ii»»?a « I 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The pleasure arising from a good Act — A Foxm 
 hunting Baronet., and Bit of Blood — Great 
 Folks hozc to be estimated — IIozo to make their 
 insolence retort upon themselves — A Dialogue 
 bctiseen the Fox-hunting Lady and her Fox- 
 hunting Son concerning Marriage — Soryie of the 
 xixtraordinarjj Qualifications of the Fox-hunting 
 Baronet^ and his Fox-hunting Tutor. 
 
 So impatient was Brian to alleviate the 
 distrelBof Mrs. Adamson,that lie hastened 
 away, before Verjuice had quitted his pii- 
 
 VOL. III. B ]ow,
 
 2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 low, to convey the gratifying intelligence 
 fo her. He took care not to break at 
 once all the happiness which awaited her, 
 
 but told her that her Grace of ■ 
 
 was raising a subscription for her, which 
 she hoped would put her in a way of 
 maintaining herself and her family repu- 
 tably; and asked if she had ever thought 
 of any plan, and what sum she might 
 think necessary to carry it into execu- 
 tion ? Mrs. Adamson said, that being a 
 very good needle- woman, she had thought 
 of the ready-made ?inen line, in which 
 her daughters would come to assist her as 
 they grew up; the accommodation of 
 lodgers would pay the rent of a house, 
 and a little business would supply their 
 necessities; but that as often as the idea 
 had started, the want of a small capital 
 had as often extinguished it. Brian asked 
 
 her
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 3 
 
 hev what sum she might imagine would 
 be sufficient for a beginning? 
 
 *VOh, Sir," replied she^ " it is quite 
 out of the question. Not less than two 
 hundred pounds, I suppose." 
 
 "■ Well then. Madam, I have the plea- 
 sure to inform you that you may depend 
 upon that sum, and even more. Look 
 out for a situation so soon as you please; 
 the money shall be ready for you." 
 
 Mrs. Adamson looked earnestly in hii 
 face, as if doubtful of the information of 
 her ears; but, having heard it repeated, 
 islie grasped his hand, as the tear swelled 
 her eye, and was about to drop on her 
 knee, when Brian prevented her. By 
 degrees he informed her of the whole 
 extent of her good fortune, and when he 
 had seen her tolerably calm, after so sud- 
 'den a transition from despair to hope, 
 
 B 2 he
 
 4 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 he left her with a promise of calling 
 again within a few days. 
 
 On his return home he was surprised 
 to find Augustus Thrum at the breakfast- 
 table, with Mrs. Marsden and Verjuice. 
 After the usual civilities, Augustus in- 
 formed Brian, that he was come, by the 
 desire of his father, mother, and sister, to 
 remind him and Mr. Verjuice of their 
 promise to renew their visit, and to pre- 
 vail on them to accompany him back to 
 Ewel. 
 
 " How did you find us out V said 
 Brian. 
 
 " Miss Hewson," answered he, looking 
 archly, " is at our house, and she fur- 
 nished me with your address." 
 
 " Oh ! I remember now to have oiven 
 it to her when at your house, some letters 
 havinsf been left at her father's for me." 
 
 Verjuice
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 5 
 
 Verjuice pleaded some urgent business, 
 which required his immediate attention, 
 and would prevent his accompanying 
 Auo-ustus, which he insisted on Brian's 
 doing, and promised to come and fetch 
 him if he should think his stay too long. 
 Then, giving Brian a significant look, he 
 told him to take his pleasure, and leave 
 business to him for a while. 
 
 Brian and Augustus set off, and on the 
 road, soon after leaving the house, the 
 latter said that his sister had desired 
 him to hint that the company of Captain 
 Fascine might not be disagreeable to 
 Brian on his excursion. Brian laughed 
 so heartily, that Augustus wished to know 
 whether (as he had some slight suspicion) 
 there was not something between his sis- 
 ter and the Caotain ? ^ 
 
 J. 
 
 '' I had the pleasure of introducing 
 
 B 3 him
 
 O THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 him to your sister/' answered Brian, " as^ 
 I shall presently have that of introducing 
 you to each other; but you saw him at 
 Epsom, and I need not say any thing to 
 you about his personal qualifications. As 
 to the rest, he is a gentleman of strict 
 honour, a sincere friend, and I could 
 wish no better to your sister and himself, 
 than to see their happiness indissolubly 
 united and derived from each other." 
 
 ''If that be the case," said Augustus^ 
 *■ the Captain has no time to lose, for 
 the enemy is already in his camp. The 
 dashing Lady Spanker, and her booby 
 son. Sir John, liave been three days at 
 our house, and their visit is on a matter 
 of business — an avowed treaty of mar- 
 riage. My father appears elated with the 
 idea of a title and a splendid establish- 
 ment for his daughter^ as Sir John's es- 
 tate
 
 TIIF, METROPOLIS. 7 
 
 tate is large and unincumbered; but, for 
 the Captain's comfort^ mv mother is dis- 
 gusted at the coarse manners of both the 
 mother and son, and the air of superio- 
 rity which they aflect — Sir John being a 
 baronet, and my father only a knight. 
 My sister, had she not been already pre- 
 possessed in favour of your friend the 
 Captain, had the very same motives of 
 disgust; and the confidence which her La- 
 dyship and her son appear to entertain 
 of their proposals being joyfully accept- 
 ed, you must allow to be enough to dis- 
 gust a girl of less sensibility and under- 
 standing. Excuse my partiality, but you 
 know her." 
 
 " And respect her too much not to 
 have deprecated such a sacrifice, even 
 had not my esteem for Captain Fascine 
 made me also partial. But all's well yet; 
 
 B^i andj.
 
 O THE METKOPOLIS. 
 
 and, from what yoii say, the odds are in 
 the Captain's favour. To a gallant sol- 
 dier, obstacles are only so many stimuli 
 to an exertion and resolution to over- 
 come them." 
 
 They found the Captain just stirring, 
 who received Augustus's invitation with 
 so much pleasure, that, Vv'ithout swallow- 
 ing his breakfast, he huddled a few ne- 
 cessaries into a portmanteau; and in less 
 than an hour the triad \eh town in a 
 post-chaise. 
 
 On their entering the gates of the 
 knight's mansion, the rattling of the 
 wheels drew the family and guests to the 
 parlour windows, and the viciv hollow was 
 given in style by Sir John, accompanied 
 by his friend the Rev. Mr, Scentwell. 
 This stentorian reception vvas, however, 
 scarcely perceptible to the nerves of 
 
 Brian
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 9 
 
 Brian and the Captain, "who forgot all 
 other objects at the sight of MissHewson 
 and Miss Thrum; the former of whom 
 nodded witli a bashful reserve, whilst the 
 latter, with her natural sprightliness and 
 ease, waved her handkerchief with un- 
 feigned tokens of satisfaction. The usual 
 ceremonies having taken place, which to 
 all well-bred folks are tedious, and we 
 shall pass them over as such, out of com- 
 plaisance to our well-bred readers, plea- 
 sure and ease seemed to be the order of 
 the day with every one but Lady Spanker,^ 
 who kept up a stately distance, which 
 was passed over with suitable neglect. 
 Indeed these airs were quite lost upon 
 the Captain and Brian, the former of 
 whom had passed great part of his life 
 among the h(iiU ton; and the latter, al- 
 
 E 5 thou:ih
 
 10 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 though he had enjoyed but a very short 
 acquaintance with great folks, and dread- 
 ed his first entree among them, as Daniel 
 ■was terrified at his introduction into the 
 lions' den, had now experienced that they 
 were a very harmless, inoffensive set of 
 creatures to men of sense. He found, it 
 is true, as he expected, a Miss Fanny 
 Howe, Young Hector, Miss Jenny, Miss 
 Charlotte, Miss Betsey, Traveller, Harry, 
 and others of the wild beasts in the 
 Tower, who, if they did not actually prey 
 upon beasts of inferior strength, would 
 destroy their happiness, and gorge them- 
 selves upon scandal; but they were ea- 
 sily resisted. The mean arts of awing 
 people into a consciousness of inferio- 
 rity, or the more insolent one of quizzing 
 or staring them out of cou^itenance, the 
 
 Captain
 
 THE METROPOLIS-.- 11 
 
 Captain and Brian alike de:;pised, and 
 valued rank only when supported by 
 talents. 
 
 At dinner-time^ the fish and game upon 
 the table furnished such a variety of to- 
 pics for the Baronet and the Knight^ and 
 they were so remarkably communicative 
 of their knowledge upon those subjects^, 
 the former in destrovin<r and the latter iii^ 
 dishing them up^ that the rest of the 
 company could scarcely get in a word;: 
 indeed, the young ladies^, the Captain^ 
 and our adventurer, seemed to have no 
 great appetite either for food or conver- 
 sation. 
 
 After dinner. Lady Thrum, having in: 
 vain attempted to draw on a general 
 conversation, proposed to the ladies to 
 take a turn in the garden, accompanied: 
 by such of the gentlemen as bhovild pre-- 
 
 B 6 fer^
 
 12 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 fer their company to the bottle. Brian, 
 the Captain, and Augustus, immediately 
 declared themselves of the party; the 
 Baronet decided on sticking to the bot- 
 tle with the Knightj and his mother, giv- 
 ing him a look of mingled anger and 
 contempt, followed the rest into the 
 garden. 
 
 For reasons, which the reader will be 
 at no loss to guess, Lady Spanker at- 
 tached herself to Miss Thrum during the 
 whole of the walk : and Lady Thrum ac- 
 companying Charlotte and Brian, the 
 lovers had no opportunity of breathing 
 out their melting eloquence; so that 
 nothing transpired worthy of the reader's 
 notice. It was in vain that Augustus 
 tried to engage the attention of Lady 
 vSpanker, to afford the Captain the so- 
 much- wished-for occasion. 
 
 Whether
 
 THE METROPOLIS.*^ 13 
 
 Whether her Ladyship had gathered 
 any thing from the language of the eyes 
 during dinner-time or not, she certainly 
 began to entertain some suspicion that 
 her son would find a rival in the Captain. 
 As she imagined this interference to be 
 a high insult to the Baronet's merit and 
 pretensions, she despised the Captain 
 heartily, and Miss Thrum not much less, 
 for encouraging, what she deemed, his 
 insolence. Her every look and word 
 betrayed her resentment; but the objects 
 of it saw through her motives, and gave 
 an additional sting by the most lively 
 sallies and easy pleasantry, Charlotte 
 and Brian, more timid, conversed only 
 by occasional glances, and the latter had 
 no reason to be dissatisfied with this 
 mute conversation. Her Ladyship's ill- 
 nature
 
 14 t:ie metropolis. 
 
 nature and reserve increased during the 
 remainder of the day, as she evinced by 
 a disdainful taciturnity, and peevish an- 
 swers,, when she was particularly addres- 
 sed, and could not avoid giving a reply. 
 On her sen she bestowed onlv looks of 
 anger and contempt; who, however, as 
 well as the Knight, were half-seas over, 
 and too much engaged in their own bois- 
 terous nonsense to pay much attention 
 to any one besides. 
 
 At length. her Ladyship observing the 
 Captain and Miss Thrum wholly taken' 
 up with each other, and having been 
 ever superior to the constraint of polite- 
 ness, could contain no longer, and voci- 
 ferated — " I think. Jack, we must get 
 you a commission, since a red coat alone 
 is able to engage all the attention of the 
 
 young
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 15 
 
 young ladies; you often throw away 
 more upon a maggot race than would 
 dub you a Captain." 
 
 This rude and pointed remark drew the 
 \ attention of all the company, and of the 
 Captain in particular, who noticed it 
 only by throwing looks of the utmost 
 contempt, first on the speaker, and next 
 on her son, sufficiently expressive, how- 
 ever, of his sentiments of both. The 
 rest of the company were confused and 
 silent. - 
 
 "Why you know, my Lady/' replied 
 Sir John, '' that the Lord Lieutenant 
 pressed me to accept a lieutenancy, and 
 promised that I should have the first va- 
 cant captaincy ; but I thought it would 
 be doing the regiment too much honour." 
 " I think so indeed. Jack. I really 
 pity many of the poor fellows, who are 
 ^ obliged
 
 16 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 obliged to keep up the appearance of 
 gentlemen merely on their pay." 
 
 " I thought, my Lady," observed Lady 
 Thrum, with much apparent coolness, 
 " that, by an act of Parliament, militia 
 officers were obliired to have a certain 
 qualification of income according to 
 their rank ; a lieutenant, for instance, 
 one hundred pounds a-year." 
 
 " Oh dear, my Lady, the qualifications 
 of officers in the militia, and those of 
 members of Parliament, are pretty much 
 alike; they can borrow them long enough 
 to swear by. You know that. Jack ?" 
 
 " Yes; I lent a qualification the other 
 day." 
 
 *' And could lend a dozen more. Jack, 
 and hunt a pack of hounds after all." 
 
 '*^Aye, by G — , with any man in the 
 kingdom, for five thousand, and here's 
 
 my
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 17 
 
 my done first; I believe no one doubts 
 n?^ qualification in that respect. Hoicks! 
 —hoicks! — stole away \" And here he 
 went through the whole manceuvre of a 
 pack, from the vievv-hollow to the death- 
 shout. 
 
 Lady Spanker was so enraged at the 
 Baronet's having so run on the vjrong 
 scent of the invidious revenge, which she 
 wished him to have followed up breast- 
 highj that she only muttered out the epi- 
 thet hoobij, and sunk into her former 
 stately sullenness. The Knight, who was 
 wholly ignorant of her Ladyship's drift, 
 renewed his conversation with the Ba- 
 ronet ; and Lady Thrum, her daughter. 
 Miss Hewson, and Augustus, fixed their 
 eyes on the Captain, with the most ex- 
 pressive looks of contempt for Lady 
 Spanker's indelicacy, which had only re- 
 coiled
 
 18 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 coiled upon herself. To heighten her 
 Ladyship's mortilication, the 1 dies not 
 onlv resumed their former o-aietv and 
 sprightly conversation, which she had 
 interrupted, but, to make atonement to 
 the Captain, they paid the most marked 
 attention to him. 
 
 Brian at first scowled contempt and in- 
 dignation on Lady Spanker a.nd her son; 
 his resentment, however, soon vanished 
 before his better sense, and he deter- 
 mined to make his talent for irony sub- 
 servient to his revenge, by leading the 
 Baronet to hold up his own character in 
 its proper rid culous light. With this 
 •view, liaviag been bred up in a sporting 
 Gountrv, and in his yonth very much at- 
 tached to the sports of the field, he began, 
 to chime in with the Baronet — boast of 
 itis own feats, in having drank off pint 
 
 bumpers.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 19 
 
 bumpers of port, in which foxes' f'eet had 
 been immersed — and concluded by de- 
 claring that he would rather kiss the lipa 
 of a favourite hound, than those of any 
 woman whatever. The booby fell plump 
 into the snare — fell from the chair on his 
 knees — clenched a similar protestation 
 with a solemn adiuration and a bumper, 
 to the high entertainment of the rest of 
 the company ; who, not even excepting 
 Lady Spanker, perceived Brian's aim. 
 He had no sooner attained his end, than 
 he burst into a shout of laughter, in which 
 the company joir^d him ; and Lady 
 Spanker, unable to bear this mortifica- 
 tion any longer, rang for her waiting- 
 woman and withdrew, charging all her 
 son's folly on the strength of the Knight's 
 wine. The company, however, very justly 
 
 attributed
 
 20 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 attributed it to the weakness of the Ba- 
 ronet's intellects. 
 
 Lady Spanker had not left the room 
 many minutes before her son received a 
 summons to attend her; and the company 
 being now left to a rational entertain- 
 mentj which we will not pay the reader 
 so ill a compliment as to imagine it to 
 be an unusual treat at his own table^ we 
 shall follow the Baronet to a conversa- 
 iione of another kind, which the fasti- 
 dious reader may avoid, by skipping it 
 over, if he or she so pleases; as if there 
 should be any thing«coarse or indelicate 
 in it, the fault lies with the education 
 and ebriety of the Baronet, and not with 
 the author, who only sticks to nature in 
 her coarser, that is, a more fashionable 
 
 garb. 
 
 The
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 21 
 
 The Baronet found his mother so big 
 %vith indignation^ as to be unable for 
 some moments to bring forth any con- 
 nected sentences. She bellowed onlv the 
 epithets of booby ! — dolt ! — ideot ! — sot ! 
 — swine! 
 
 " Why what vermin has crossed the 
 track now?" cries the Baronet. " Where 
 have we been at faidt? Try hack, trij 
 tack, there! I'll warrant we'll soon lay 
 'em on again." 
 
 " You stupid hound! — you babbler!'* 
 quoth her Ladyship, " you are at fault, ' 
 and were I zchippej^-in, I would lay the 
 lash on till yon learnt better manners." 
 
 *' Why, my Lady, I am at fault indeed; 
 for rot me if I can tell what you are 
 driving at. A'n't I running the fox as fast 
 as I can gallop? All holes stopped — no 
 running to earth — and if she stays above 
 
 ground;,
 
 22 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 groundj she can't tip us the go-hi/, with 
 all her shifts." 
 
 "Sot! — can't you see that there is one 
 crossing the chace, who will carry her 
 away from vou ?" 
 
 ''The devil carrv me awav if he do! 
 Keep her in view all the v/av. With all 
 her doubles and feints, can neither skulk, 
 dodge, nor throw us out, I tell ye." 
 
 " You're a fool, I tell ye." 
 
 " Can't help that. You and dad should 
 have thought about putting a little more 
 .sense into my composition ; but I don't 
 feel any want of it." 
 
 " I dare say not; self-conceit is ever 
 the curse of stupidity. I tell you that 
 that red-coat beggar is riding across the 
 country, to intercept the chace." 
 
 ''So let him if he will; the more 
 sportsmen the better the sport, and the 
 
 3 greater
 
 THE METROPOLIS. '^.1 
 
 greater the honour of beating them all. 
 D'ye doubt my dashing? Ye ought to 
 know best what stuff I'm made of." 
 
 "■ I know very well what stuff giddy 
 girls are made of, and that a hit o{ scarlet 
 is the surest bait to snare them with. 
 They love attention — to be always waited 
 upon." 
 
 *' Whv, zounds! a'n't I now sticking? 
 close enouijh ?" 
 
 "What! by getting drunk with her 
 father, and leaving another to run down 
 the game?" 
 
 " Pshaw! I'm only hjing hj a litlle, to 
 let him run her nut of zvind, and then I 
 shall swoop upon her. Ha! — dead! — 
 dead! Carry her oT in triumph, you 
 shall see " 
 
 *' She'll be too many for you." 
 
 " Yes,
 
 ;24' THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 . '' YeSj just as much as you were too 
 many for my father." 
 
 *' There was a vast difference between 
 me and this girl; between my education 
 and hers. I could distinguish merit." 
 
 " And so can she, you'll find. A'n't I 
 a chip of (he old block — Mood to the hone? 
 If she had got but half an eye;, she must 
 see what's what. She may coquet with 
 the Captain a little, but I'm the boy at 
 last; if I miss, it will be time enough for 
 YOU then to sav, that you and dad could 
 get nothing better than a fool betwixt 
 you. Have a little better opinion of 
 yourself. As stupid a hound as you call 
 mc, you shall see that I'll soon send that 
 red-coat spaniel io town with a flea in 
 his ear." 
 
 ** Wcll^ Jack, I see you are determined 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. • 25 
 
 to have your own way ; heat the hush as 
 you will, I'm resolved to break cover to- 
 
 morrow morning.'* 
 
 *' Very well ; put the game up, and I'll 
 bet the long odds I stick to her till she's 
 7'im down. Heio;h over'"* 
 
 The Baronet now returned to the com- 
 pany in the parlour, so vain of his orato- 
 rical prowess and conquest over his mo- 
 ther, that he stunned them with his voci- 
 feration, and sent them to rest much 
 sooner than they would have felt an in- 
 clination to have separated. The Ba- 
 ronet, after drinking confusion to all 
 milksops, determined to keep it up, and 
 therefore went in search of Scentwell. 
 
 The reader may, perhaps, wonder that 
 this gentleman has never been once men- 
 tioned ; the fact is, that neither his ta- 
 lents, education, nor inclination, being 
 
 VOL. III. c congenial
 
 "26 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 congenial with refined conversation, 
 ^vhenever the Baronet was among other 
 company than that of fox- hunters, the 
 reverend gentleman, under pretence of 
 -indulging himself with smoaking a pipe, 
 would retire to the servants' hall, and 
 ^drink ale with the grooms. Heie he main- 
 tained that superiority which he would 
 have lost in the parlour, by recounting 
 his hair-breadth 'scapes in fox-chaces — 
 relating sporting anecdotes — singing 
 Bacchanalian and hunting songs — and 
 drinking canonicaUy — that is, like a fish. 
 He had got through several stories, and 
 suns the son2:s of Old Towler, Tom 
 Moody, Sportsman's Hall, &:c. when the 
 Baronet reeled into the hall, and his 
 bawling out for the lantern was the well- 
 known signal for his and Scentwell's 
 giving the Vicar and Moses, as an acting 
 
 duet.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. S7 
 
 ■duet. They went through the perform- 
 ance amidst the unbounded applause of 
 the audience, consisting of the Knight's 
 and Baronet's domestics. 
 
 € 2 CHAP.
 
 2S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A Midnight Ramble of the Baronet and his Tutor 
 — A Rencontre with an Oixl and zcith Gypsies — 
 Their ludicrous Situation in the Morning — 
 Apprehended as Thieves^ and carried before a 
 Justice — The Adventure concluded. 
 
 About the hour of midnight an unusual 
 noise and fluttering was heard among the 
 fowls in an out-house adjoining to the 
 poultry-yard. The cackling of the fowls 
 at such an hoi^r raised suspicions that all 
 was not right, and one of the servants 
 gave it as his opinion that some thieves 
 
 were
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 2^ 
 
 were plundering the roost. Authors 
 have defined courage to be the result of 
 nerves and spirits; such may be the ori- 
 gin of the genuine sort^ but there is ano- 
 ther of the bastard species, well knowii 
 to the vulgar by the term of pot-valiant. 
 The Baronet and Scent well felt some- 
 what of the latter impulse; and the Ba^- 
 ronet, having procured a loaded fowling- 
 piece, sallied forth with Scentwell, who 
 was armed with Moses's lantern, and- 
 some of the male domestics, to seize or . 
 frighten away the depredators. On ex- 
 amining the fowl-house, the birds were 
 found flying about in great consterna- 
 tion; and, on a nearer inspection, the 
 ground was discovered to be strewed 
 with blood and feathers, and a small 
 wooden shutter to have been forced 
 open, through which the thieves had 
 
 c 3 gained
 
 30 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 gained an entrance^ and made their es- 
 cape with their booty. 
 
 The Baronet, who had heard that none 
 "but the brave deserved the fair, imagined 
 that a jjhew of valour would be of weight 
 to the afiair which his mother was about 
 to take in hand on the morrow, and he 
 expressed his determination to set out in 
 pursuit of the robbers. As the night 
 "^vas pitchy dark, Scentwell could not 
 avoid offering to assist with his lantern, 
 without sufTering his courage to be called 
 in question. The domestics, who felt 
 no such motives either of fame or fear to 
 signalize themselves, were more inclined 
 to go to bed; and, after vainly repre- 
 senting the fruitlessness of a pursuit, and 
 the impossibility of tracing the thieves 
 in so dark a night, skulked back to the 
 house. Our heroes, having pledged them- 
 selves
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 3\ 
 
 selves to the undertaking, resolved to put 
 the best face upon matters, and marched 
 on, like Diomede and Uhjsses, on their 
 famous expedition, which ended in steal- 
 ins Rhesus's chariot and horses. 
 
 Now o'er the fields they skulk awny, 
 Like baiiJirs hunting fur their prey. 
 
 liCJiEaTHAVESTIE. 
 
 Scentwell marched two or three paces 
 before with the lantern, and the Baronet 
 followed with his gun cocked; they had 
 not proceeded far before the light was 
 suddenly extinguished, and ere the Ba- 
 ronet could stop to inquire the reason,, 
 he plunged into a pond, and was instantly 
 laid hold of b}' Scentwell, who had pre- 
 ceded him. The lantern and gun were both 
 sacrificed to their mutual safety, and it 
 ■was not without much difficulty andfloun- 
 
 c 4 dering
 
 3f THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 dering- about that they regained the bank. 
 There, drenched with muddy water^ and 
 enveloped with impenetrable darkness, 
 they still kept hold on, although unable 
 to see, each other. After a short con- 
 sultation, they agreed that they had per- 
 formed enough to satisfy their honour, 
 and that it would be most prudent to en- 
 deavour to retrace their way back to the 
 house; they slowly measured their un- 
 certain steps, fearing another insidious 
 pond, until a rustling in an adjoining 
 bush brought them to a sudden stop, and 
 made them cling closer to each other. 
 They expected every instant to feel them- 
 selves seized by the thieves, of whom 
 they had come out in pursuit, and whom 
 they were now incapable to resist, when, 
 to their inexpressible joy, their ears were 
 -ravished with the most delicious music 
 
 . . that
 
 THE METROPOLIS. $S' 
 
 that could have been heard in their si- 
 tuation : it was a plaintive air, and the 
 sounds were simply — Tee-wit J Tee-lich, 
 ho, ho! In short, it was 
 
 ' A bird, so large and fierce, it made ; 
 
 This pair of bully Greeks afraid -. 
 Tho' 'twas so dark they could not spy 
 What bird it was by th' naked eye. 
 Yet quickly by the voice they heard 
 'Twas a Scotch nightingale that scar'd 
 
 Their valiant hearts . 
 
 Homer Travestie, 
 
 In plain English, they had scared, and 
 been scared hj an owL The Baronet's 
 ears had no sooner ascertained the joyful 
 certainty, than, affecting courage, al- 
 though his voice was still tremulous frorn 
 his recent fright, he exclaimed — *' Push 
 ©n, my boy ! D — n it, who's afraid?" 
 
 " Not I," says Scentwell, sneeringly;, 
 
 c 5 ,^* any
 
 54 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ''any more than yourself, of your Tee- 
 uit, tce-no, if that be all; but, to confess 
 the truths we were both terribly alarmed 
 at first." 
 
 "True enough/' quoth the Baronet; 
 " we may confess the truth here, as there 
 is nobody to overhear us; but we won't 
 tell this part of our adventure at the 
 Knight's^ or they will say — that the owl 
 and we three loggerheads be." 
 
 " Hush !" cries Scentwell, *' we don't 
 know but the thieves may be near us at 
 this moment." 
 
 They now wandered about, being 
 somewhat soberer for their cold-bath, 
 and scrambled over hedge and ditch for 
 a considerable time, when their eyes 
 were saluted by a glare of light at a dis- 
 tance. They made towards it, in hopes 
 of finding shelter, or at least of procuring 
 
 a guide
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 35 
 
 a 2:uide to conduct them back to the 
 Knight's; but, to their no little dismay, 
 as they drew nearer, they observed that 
 the light proceeded from a fire in the 
 open air. It instantly occurred to them 
 that it was surrounded by some gypsies, 
 and probably of the very same party as 
 had plundered theKnight's roost. Being 
 unarmed, and ignorant whether they might 
 encounter friends or foes, they halted, and 
 held another consultation ; at length they 
 concluded on disguising their errand, and 
 endeavouring to get assistance to conduct 
 them to the village of Ewel. They ap- 
 proached in silence, for fear of alarming 
 the midnight \vanderers_, and making 
 them take to flight. 
 
 They now came near enough to dis- 
 cern two gypsies, (for such they really 
 were) and, on hailing them, they jumped 
 
 c Q up.
 
 36 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 up, as if doubtful whether to stand or 
 fly. 
 
 " Don't be afraid/' cries Scentwell ; 
 *' we are only a couple of travellers, who 
 have missed our path, and wish to be put 
 in the right track. We will reward you 
 handsomely if you can assist us." 
 
 " To what place do you want to go ?" 
 
 *' To Ewel. We have been wandering 
 in the dark^ and are quite drenched from 
 slipping into a pond ; permit us to dry 
 ourselves at your fire-side/' 
 
 After a short pause, one of the gypsies 
 demanded if there were no more than 
 two of them, and, on being answered in 
 the negative, told them to come on. 
 
 The wet and dirty condition of the 
 Baronef^s and Scentwell's clothes suffi- 
 ciently bespoke their distress; and the 
 gypsies, far from having any intention 
 
 of
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 37 
 
 of conducting them to Ewel, had formed 
 a design of detaining them till after they 
 should have decamped, as they meant to 
 do at dav-break, having committed too 
 many depredations round about to tarry 
 any longer. One of them, under pre- 
 tence of getting some more fuel to keep 
 lip the fire, went away, and returned in 
 a short time with two more of their fra- 
 ternitv, to the no little terror of our 
 Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, who 
 wished night adventures to the devil. 
 After the same questions and answers had 
 been repeated, one of the new-comers in- 
 formed them that they were at least four 
 miles from Ewel, which lay across the 
 country, without any direct road leading 
 to it, and that it would be impossible for 
 them to find the way, or for any one to 
 direct them to it in the dark. He added 
 
 —"It
 
 3S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 — "^^ It will not be above t'iree hours to 
 dny-break^ and you may pass the time 
 safely in our company^ in a warm barn 
 not far distant, if you choose. I suppose 
 you know what we are?" 
 
 *' You belong to the fraternity of gyp- 
 sies, 1 presume," replied Scentwell. 
 
 " You are right. Our supper is in the 
 pot over the fire, and you may find Worse 
 fare than pot-luck with us." 
 
 Although our heroes would have pre- 
 ferred wandering in the dark, yet, as they 
 were wholly in the power of the gypsies, 
 they did not think proper to betray any 
 fear of them, and they accepted the invi- 
 tation with a tolerable good grace. The 
 two last comers conducted them to the 
 barn, where they found three more men, 
 about eight women and lasses, and a dozen 
 x:hildren. Two ends of candle^ stuck in 
 
 pieces
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 39 
 
 pieces of wood, scooped out for their 
 reception, just dispelled the gloom around 
 the circle;, and throwing their gleam on 
 the copper-faced gentry, afforded no 
 small resemblance of an Indian party, 
 which would have been complete, if the 
 men and several of the matrons had been 
 smoaking calumets instead of short bits 
 of pipes. In point of dress, there could 
 not be much superiority on either side, 
 as the gypsies had laid aside every super- 
 fluous article to favour the afiilitv of 
 their motions in the merry dance. 
 
 One of their conductors, who appeared 
 to be the chief of this vagrant tribe, wel- 
 comed them, in the name of the rest, and 
 handed to each of them a tin cup, which 
 held a full quartern of gin^ observing, 
 that a '.vet inside was the best antidote to 
 a wet outside. The chief then gave the 
 
 well-
 
 40 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 well-known signal, by clapping his hands 
 thrice, and the whole party jumped on 
 their legs for a frisk, except one, who 
 officiated as fiddler, who, after rosining 
 his bow, began to rasp away the Black 
 Joke. Nature all at once seemed to be 
 in one of her merriest moods, and sport- 
 ed away in grimaces, antics, and gambols^ 
 whilst the tatters flew about in graceful, 
 spiral evolutions, in unison with each mo- 
 tion. After the first dance was ended, the 
 guests were invited to follow the exam- 
 pie, and ofl'ered their choice of partners; 
 they acquiesced — as also in a proposal 
 which was made to them to exchange 
 their clothes for such as they could be 
 accommodated with, whilst their own 
 were taken to the fire to be dried against 
 the morning. Hosts and guests being 
 now all of a garb, the dance recomf- 
 
 snenced;
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 41 
 
 menced ; the guests gave way to the 
 gaiety of their entertainers, and footed 
 it about till the word was given that sup- 
 per was coming in. All instantly formed 
 a circle on the ground, which was co- 
 vered with roasted potatoes and boiled 
 fowls, part of which had not three hours 
 before been alive and at roost in the 
 Knight's out-house, as the Baronet and 
 his friend rightly conjectured. Among 
 other blessings attending on poverty and 
 fortuitous livelihood, mirth and a good 
 appetite were not wanting; and, besides 
 the bladder of gin already on tap, ano- 
 ther full one was suns: in with — 
 
 o 
 
 " What life with a be^ar's can compare?" &c. 
 
 The urchins behind gnawed the bone^* 
 as they were handed to them half-picked 
 by their seniors, and more vacant coun- 
 tenances
 
 42 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 tenances never graced a cabinet-dinner, 
 or a lord -mayor's feast; Care never dared 
 to show her cankered visage v/ithin such 
 a circle. After two or three bumper 
 toasts, and a few songs^ in which the Ba- 
 ronet and his friend could not do less 
 than pay for their entertainment by bear- 
 ing a part, the dance was resumed witb 
 increased glee. 
 
 Joyful they dance, and sing, and rofir, 
 Till they can sing and dance no more r 
 Then smoke their pipes, and drink, and fuDk_. 
 Till ev'ry soul got precious drunk : 
 
 Then all, 
 
 Rolling, like pigs, upon the fioor, 
 Began, like aldermen, to snore. 
 
 Homer Travestie. 
 
 We must now draw the curtains round 
 them, that, is, blow out the lights and 
 
 leave
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 43 
 
 leave them to the screen of darkness. 
 Whether the gypsies slept^ or only feign- 
 ed to sleep, (the latter is most probable) 
 our adventurers, through fatigue and in- 
 toxication, fell to it so soundly, that day 
 was some hours advanced before Scent- 
 well awoke, and jogged his friend. Si- 
 lence reigned — even the rats and mice 
 had retired to their holes; but the cop- 
 per-faced gentry had decamped to avoid 
 the consequences of their depredations, 
 and, in their haste, had forgot to awake 
 their guests, and restore them their own 
 clothes, as they too soon discovered to 
 their infinite confusion. 
 
 " We cut mighty pretty figures here,'* 
 observed Scentwell. 
 
 *' Pretty indeed!" quoth the Baronet, 
 *^ How the devil shall we gel back?" 
 
 ^'In the same manner as we came," 
 
 answered
 
 44 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 i 
 
 answered Scentwell ; " under the shades 
 of darkness. We must be co n ten tj like 
 our old friend Tee-wit, Tee-lio, to remain 
 all the day in our barn, or all the little i 
 birds will be hunting after and pecking at 
 us." 
 
 Fate however had decided quite other- 
 wise, for the words were scarcely out of i 
 his lips before they heard the voices of 
 some persons on the outside of the barn, 
 and immediately hid themselves under 
 their late straw beds. They had but just 
 time to make themselves snuf^, as they 
 imagined, before they heard a gruff voice 
 exclaiming — " Wha't the devil has been 
 the matter here ! Some cursed pigs, or 
 thieves of gvpsies, have littered here. 
 Bring thy fork, Dan, and throw up this 
 loose stuff in a heap." 
 
 This exclamation set our heroesi quak- 
 
 ing.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 45 
 
 mg. Dan began his workj and at every 
 step approached nearer to them ; the 
 next sweep would have, perhaps, stuck 
 the prongs into the Baronet, if he had 
 not jumped up, crying — "Hollow! hold 
 your hand, and be d — d to you !" 
 
 As a terrier dog, with haggard fero- 
 cious eye leers at a cat, which, unable to 
 fly, bristles up its back, and stands on the 
 defensive, so stood Dan and the Baronet, 
 The former, with his pitchfork, advanced 
 in the attitude of a soldier charging with 
 bayonet; and the latter, with his eyes 
 fixed, in readiness to escape by a sudden 
 spring from the threatened attack. 
 
 "Thieves, master — rogues!" cried Dan, 
 *' Take thou a fork!" 
 
 "Where, Dan, where ? Stick 'un first ! 
 there be a gang of 'em — and then run 
 thy fork inio the straw !'* 
 
 " For
 
 46 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " For God's sake, don't!" exclaimed 
 Scentwell, springing up. 
 
 A parley now ensued. Scentwell as- 
 sured the farmer that there were only 
 himself and his friend; that they were 
 gentlemen, who had lost their way on 
 the preceding night, and having taken 
 shelter in the barn, had been robbed of 
 their clothes whilst they clept by some 
 gypsies, who had left the rags with which 
 they had been obliged to cover them^- 
 ^elves. The farmer, who had taken heart 
 the instant he heard that there w^ere only 
 two to encounter with, replied sneer- 
 ingly — " You are a brace of pretty gen- 
 tlemen, I see, and a very pretty story 
 you've trumped up of your having been 
 plundered by gypsies ; you belong to 
 the 2:ang, and have robbed all the hen- 
 roosts in the neighbourhood." 
 
 Upon 
 
 (( TT,
 
 THE MKTHOPOLIS. 47 
 
 *' Upon my word," said Scentwell, 
 ^' we are gentlemen, and of some distinc- 
 tion too. Lend us some decent clothes, 
 and conduct us to Sir Jacob Thrum's, 
 ■with whom we are acquainted, and you 
 will not only find it so, but shall be hand- 
 somely rewarded for your civility." 
 
 '' Mighty civil gentlemen indeed! Yes, 
 yes, we'll conduct you to Sir Jacob's, and 
 I shouldn't v;onder at all if he be ac- 
 quainted with you, for he is a justice of 
 peaces, and well known to such vagrants. 
 You've done a pretty good stroke of 
 business in this neighbourhood, and see 
 here are all the bones of the fowls which 
 you've stolen scattered about the floor." 
 
 " Yc**a're right enough, old boy," cries 
 the Bnronet ; '' you see that we did not 
 want for a supper last night, although 
 
 the
 
 48 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the devil a breakfast we've had this morn- 
 
 ing. 
 
 '' A breakfast and clothes indeed ! 
 Did you think to come all that over me? 
 If you be acquainted with Sir Jacob, he 
 may give ye a breakfast, if he will, for 
 ye shall go before him — so no more 
 words: march along. Dan, do you look 
 sharp; we'll give 'em the rogues' march, 
 I warrant.'* 
 
 '' Never mind," said the Baronet to 
 Scentwell, " 'twill be a devilish good 
 joke; we'll begin the laugh first." 
 
 The procession now marched forward 
 towards the Knight's mansion, whither 
 "We must hasten before them. 
 
 Lady Spanker was so full of hsr de- 
 sign, that she rose much earlier than 
 usual, and found the Knight lamenting 
 
 over
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 40 
 
 over his lost poultry. Her Ladyship 
 would not lose so favourable an oppor- 
 tunity of taking him alone, and she im- 
 mediately requested a private conversa- 
 tion for a few minutes ; they withdrev/ 
 into the pleasure-ground. 
 
 ^' There is not much occasion for ce- 
 remony, Sir Jacob," said her Ladyship, 
 '' when the parties treat upon equal 
 terms, and the proposal which I am going 
 to make to you I am willing to put upon 
 that footing. My son is in possession 
 of a clear income of seven thousand 
 pounds a-year : he is, as most young- 
 men of rank, fortune, and fashion are, 
 rather giddy, and superior to the re- 
 straints o^ commoners, as you know peo- 
 ple of our condition ought to be, Sir 
 Jacob; but there is a remedy for the 
 giddiness of youth — can't you guess it?'* 
 
 VOL. III. D " Why,
 
 50 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 "AVhy, my Lady^, I should suppose 
 that age and experience will prove a 
 certain remedy to that disease ; I have 
 found it so." 
 
 " I doubt not. Sir Jacob, that you have 
 been a little wild in your juvenile days, 
 and I wonder that you have not hit upon 
 a speedier remedy — inarriage I mean." 
 
 " Really, my Lady, they say that nia?'- 
 riage is a tamer." 
 
 " Vv^ell, Sir Jacob, that brings us to 
 our point. Whoever sees your daughter, 
 must acknowledge, as I do, her excellent 
 qualities; an union between my son and 
 her appears suitable in age, and every 
 other respect; I should think we may as 
 well conclude upon it." 
 
 " Your Ladyship does us great ho- 
 nour. For my part, I should be very 
 happy to see the two families united, 
 
 and.
 
 THE METROPOLIS, ' 51 
 
 and, so far as my consent goes, you have 
 it, I assure you : but has the matter ever 
 been mentioned to my wife or daugh^ 
 ter?" 
 
 " Never, Sir Jacob." 
 '"^ Why then you know, my Lady, it is 
 proper they should be consulted." 
 
 " Of course. Sir Jacob ; I only wished 
 to ascertain previously v/hether the pro- 
 posal would meet with your concurrence." 
 " My concurrence !— my hearty appro- 
 bation! Daughters are pleasing troubles, 
 that can't be too soon got ofl'our hands, 
 if they can be well settled." 
 
 " You are wise. Sir Jacob — girls' eyes 
 are apt to be caught by false glare; the 
 assiduity of fortune-hunters, the tempta- 
 tion of red-coats, <iYQ snares which a pru- 
 dent father cannot remove too soon cut 
 of their way. It is a. shame that govern- 
 
 D 2 ment
 
 o2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ment does not interfere to put a stop to 
 so many exciu-sions to Grctna-Grcen, for 
 no man is safe that his daughter may not 
 be knocked down by a black smith's ham- 
 mer. My son will ofier fair terms — ." 
 
 '' No doubt, my Lady ; but excuse my 
 interruption: — I am somewhat uneasy 
 about him. Some thieves broke into my 
 poultry-yard last night; your son and 
 Mr. Scentwell set out in pursuit of them, 
 in spite of all remonstrances, and are not 
 yet returned." 
 
 *' Poh, poh ! Sir Jacob, they are capa- 
 ble of taking care of themselves. I sup- 
 pose that they slept at one or other of the 
 adjoining villages ; they will be back at 
 breakfast. Is your Lady stirring yet?" 
 
 *' I believe she may be down stairs by 
 this time; if so, I will send her to your 
 Ladyship, if it be agreeable." 
 
 " I shrill
 
 THE METROPOLIS. &3 
 
 *' I shall be extremely obliged to you. 
 Sir Jacob; I will take a turn here till she 
 comes." 
 
 Lady Thrum soon joined Lady Spanker, 
 who renewed her overtures. 
 
 '* Your proposal is highly flattering 
 and advantageous/' said Lady Thrum, 
 " and I am fully sensible of the honour 
 you mean to do us. In point of rank 
 and fortune, we have more than reason to 
 be satisfied. There is only one point re- 
 maining, but that is the most essential 
 one. An union of hands, without an 
 union of hearts, in my opinion, can never 
 be productive of happiness. It rests- 
 with the parties to be united to form a 
 judgment in that respect for themselves, 
 and if my daughter approves of your 
 son's addresses, I shall most cheerfully 
 acquiesce in their union." 
 
 D 3 ** I admire
 
 i4 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " I admire your Ladyship's candour. 
 My son then has your consent, as well 
 as Sir Jacob's, to offer his hand to Miss 
 Thrum ?" 
 
 " Most assuredly." 
 
 The company were assembled round 
 the breakfast- table, when their attention 
 was drawn towards the windows by re- 
 peated shouts, and a number of people 
 were seen coming up the avenue to the 
 house. 
 
 " Some justice business, I suppose," 
 quoth the Knight. '^ I must ring for my 
 clerk ; and, my Lady, do be so kind as to 
 bring me my Bum out of the bookcase. 
 Aye, I see what 'tis; they have got two 
 gypsies — some of the very thieves, per- 
 haps, that stole my fowls last night, I 
 sha'n't be long dispatching them." 
 
 The procession had gathered like a rol- 
 ling
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 55 
 
 ling snow-ball, as Farmer Smut had called 
 upon several people on the road, on 
 whom the gypsies had committed depre- 
 dations, and they joined the rout, with 
 several idle fellows and boys, who were 
 attracted through curiosity. Their joy 
 at having caught two of tliC supposed 
 depredators was the cause of their trium- 
 phant shouts, which they renewed at in- 
 tervals, till they drew near the house. 
 The Knight then threw up the sash, and 
 Farmer Smut advanced before the rest, to 
 acquaint his worship with their business. 
 ''Aye, I dare say," quoth the Knight, 
 " that they belong to the very same gang 
 that robbed my hen-roost last night. 
 Eight of my best fowls gone — rot their 
 dainty stomachs ! I plainly perceive they 
 have hanging faces — thieves by their very 
 looks." 
 
 D 4 ' The
 
 i)6 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 The words had scarcely escaped from 
 the Knight's mouth, before, to the no 
 small astonishment of himself, the com- 
 pany whom curiosity had drawn to the 
 windows, and the escort on the outside, 
 the Baronet gave the view-hollow, in 
 which he was echoed by Scentwell. 
 
 *' Aye, aye, who the devil have we got" 
 here !" cries the Knight. 
 
 Lady Spanker, having reconnoitred the 
 faces of the two supposed vagrants, was 
 bursting with shame and indignation ; 
 and the rest of the company, looking at 
 each other in amazement, could not 
 refrain from bursting into a shout of 
 laughter. 
 
 ''Please your Honour/' quoth Smut^ 
 " I don't know what sort of folks we've 
 gothere — devils mayhap; I'm sure they're 
 devilish queer ones. However, yourWor- 
 
 sliip
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 57 
 
 ship may know^ perhaps, as they do say 
 they are gentlemen, and acquainted with 
 your Worship." 
 
 '' Brins: them into the house," savs the 
 Knight, '^'^and order all the rabble to go 
 away immediately, except such as have 
 any business." 
 
 Then, turning to Lady Spanker, he de- 
 sired her not to be out of temper, as it 
 was only a youthful frolic, and he should 
 soon be able to clear up the mistake. 
 
 Her Ladyship, upon this hint, con- 
 ceived the idea of turning it all oflT as a 
 laughable matter, and with an affected 
 smile replied — ■" Really, Sir Jacob, I won- 
 der how people can think of sendin-g 
 their sons to imiversiiics, where they pick, 
 up little else than the wildest vagaries, 
 upon which they pique themselves, in- 
 stead of imagining they are disgraced by 
 
 D 5 them^
 
 58 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 them. There is that double-japanned gen- 
 tleman, as he styles himself, Mr. Scentwell, 
 who, instead of restraining my son by his 
 example and admonition^, I vvill be bound 
 has been the ringleader in this notable 
 exploit. You will see that they will be 
 the first to laughs and make a merit of it." 
 
 " Well, well, my Lady, we shall soon 
 set matters to rights, and true philoso- 
 phy, you know, consists in laughing at 
 misfortunes." 
 
 The Knight now went into the justice- 
 room, and having demanded of the com- 
 plainants if they were willing to deliver 
 the prisoners into his care, and received 
 their ready assent, he told them to retire 
 and lay aside their disguise, and matters 
 should stand over till their return. When 
 the Baronet and Scentwell had resumed 
 themselves and returned, the Knight, 
 5 with
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 59 
 
 with all the little gravity he could main- 
 tain^ desired the complainants to make 
 their charge, and Farmer Smut and Dan 
 told in what situation they had discovered 
 the prisoners, and the neighbours gave a 
 piteous narrative of lost geese, turkies, 
 ducks, and fowls. The Knight then de- 
 manded of the prisoners what they had 
 to say for themselves, and they both 
 burst into a fit of laughter; Scentwcll, 
 however, undertook the defence, and re- 
 lated the whole of their midnight adven^ 
 ture, except their encounter v;ith Tee- 
 tvit, iee-lw, to the no small diversion of 
 the audience, who were now sufficiently 
 satisfied of their mistake. Their mirth 
 was kept up by the Baronet's giving five 
 guineas to be distributed among them, 
 as a recompence for their losses and 
 trouble ; and after they had j)artaken of 
 
 D 6 a luncheon.
 
 60 THE WETROPOLIS. 
 
 a luncheon, which the Knight ordered to 
 be set before them in the hall^ they re- 
 turned thanks, and went off in the highest 
 glee imaginable. 
 
 The gun and lantern wese fished out 
 of the pond, and the Baronet and Scent- 
 well, not having the sense to keep their 
 own secrets, blabbed out the story of 
 Tee-wit, tee-hOj and were ever afterwards 
 nicknamed, among the servants, the Oiti- 
 Jitmters. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 61 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The Clovtn turned Jockey, or the Knowing-one 
 taken in — How to get rid of an Estate, or 
 Money burns a FooVs Hands. 
 
 Lady Spanker affected to join heartily in 
 the laugh which the story of the mid- 
 night adventurers occasioned, but she 
 did not fail, in private, to read a severe 
 lecture to the Baronet, on the interrup- 
 tion which his indiscretion had given to 
 her negotiation. The Baronet, however, 
 was of a quite different opinion; he 
 imagined that his late exploit was a fea- 
 ther
 
 62 THE < METROPOLIS. 
 
 ther in his cap, not having the sense to 
 discern betwixt a hujgh raised at his 
 folly, or his cleverness. He had planned 
 a scheme, \vhich he imagined would 
 raise his fame still higher; and, as it 
 luckily coincided with her Ladyship's 
 ideas, it answered the purpose of pacify- 
 ing her. 
 
 The Baronet had some famous horses 
 to run at the approaching October meet- 
 ing at Newmarket, and he conceived that 
 he should at least divide the applause 
 of their prowess with his animals; his 
 scheme was to prevail on the Knight's 
 family to accompany them to Newmarket, 
 where they would not only witness the 
 superiority of his stud, but would more- 
 over be dazzled by a new equipage and 
 new liveries, which he had bespoke for 
 the occasion. 
 
 Notwithstanding
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 63 
 
 Notwithstanding the happiness which 
 Brian enjoyed in the presence of his 
 Charlotte, with whom he had frequent 
 opportunities of discoursing in private, 
 although she ever discouraged the topic 
 of love, he was not unmindful of the 
 situation and anxiety of Mrs. Adamson^, 
 and he was impatient to fulfil his pro- 
 giise. Having expressed the necessity 
 of his returning to town on urgent busi- 
 ness. Lady Thrum and her family, with 
 whom he was now become a great fa- 
 vourite, earnestly pressed for a longer 
 «tay; Brian informed them, that although 
 the business required his presence, yet 
 that it would not take up much time, and 
 he promised to return within a few days. 
 To make sure of it, her Ladyship said 
 she would detain the Captain, who was 
 willing enough to be left as a hostage. 
 
 Brian
 
 64 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Brian accordingly set off on the fol- 
 lowing morning, and having signified his 
 
 return to her Grace of ■ , through 
 
 a channel which she had pointed out to 
 him, she met him in the evening, and 
 delivered to him the subscriptions which 
 she had collected, and which Brian con- 
 veyed to Mrs. Adamson, who testified 
 her joy and gratitude in the liveliest 
 terms. She had already engaged a house 
 
 in Street, , and waited 
 
 only to see her benefactor, to remove 
 her family into it. 
 
 Verjuice was busily employed )n pre- 
 paring for the Newmarket races, and he 
 advised his friend to omit no opportunity 
 of ingratiating himself with the family at 
 Ewel, and with the object of his afiTec- 
 tion, as he would not fail to give him 
 Botice when his presence would be ne- 
 cessary.
 
 THE METROrOLIS. OS 
 
 cessary. Previously to our adventurer's 
 leaving town, he called on Mrs, Fisher^ 
 and was much rejoiced to find that she 
 had procured a majority for Fascine; she 
 had received the Gazette only on the 
 evening before, which she presented to 
 Brian, but would accept no other remu- 
 neration but some trifling present, as a 
 token of their former intimacy. Brian 
 accompanied her to her jeweller's, where, 
 having presented her with a diamond 
 ring, he took his leave, with a promise 
 of renewing his visit on his return to 
 town. 
 
 He now flew on the wings of love and 
 friendship to Ewel, and put the Gazette 
 into the hands of Fascine, pretending 
 that his promotion had struck his eye 
 through mere chance, and carefully 
 avoiding the least hint of his having been 
 
 accessary
 
 6(5 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 accessary to it^ no less on motives of de- 
 licacy on his own side, than from a know- 
 ledge of Fascine's delicacy and high spi- 
 rit on the other side. Fascine^ however, 
 was so overjoyed at his success, which 
 flattered his hopes in another affair, that 
 he never once bestowed a ihoui'ht on 
 the manner in which he had obtained it. 
 The Knight congratulated the Major 
 through mere form, as was the case with 
 Lady Spanker and the Baronet, who now 
 began to treat him with rather more out- 
 ward respect, and to hate him more cor- 
 
 diallv than ever in secret. Ladv Thrum, 
 ■J -I ' 
 
 (who entertained more than respect for 
 the Major's amiable and gentleman-like 
 qualities, and who entertained some ideas 
 of the understanding which existed be- 
 tween him and her daughter, and which 
 Bheby no means disapproved) herdaugh- 
 
 ter,
 
 . THE MBTP.OPOLIS. 67 
 
 ter, Augustus, and Miss Hewson, were 
 more fervent, and truly sincere in their 
 congratulations. As Lady Spanker and 
 the Baronet expected that their parade 
 at Newwarket (whither Sir Jacob and 
 his family had consented to accompany 
 them) would make the strongest impres- 
 sion, they had agreed to postpone all 
 farther proceedings in their marriage 
 treaty till after that season, and their 
 real jealousy was veiled by an affected 
 politeness. 
 
 The Baronet was getting into high fa- 
 vour with the Knight; as the second day 
 of September was past, the shooting sea- 
 son commenced, and the partridges le- 
 velled by the Baronet's death-dealing 
 tube smoked daily on the table. His 
 insolence on this success was so over- 
 bearing.
 
 68 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 bearing, that nothing short of Miss 
 Thrum's strict injunction could have re- 
 strained the Major from awing him into 
 insignificance; and his self-command as- 
 tonished Brian, who well knew his keen 
 disposition to resent the most trifling 
 appearance of affront, and his only hu\t 
 — vice if the reader pleases — of a pro- 
 pensity to duelling. Presumptuous on 
 fortuitous wealth, the Baronet would 
 think to evince his superiority by daily 
 and almost hourly oifering bets on the 
 most trifling occasions — the perform- 
 ances of himself, his horses^ and his dogs 
 — and his triumph was insupportable 
 when he could find no one to cope with 
 him. 
 
 " Since we are not permitted to take 
 this fool by the nose," said the Major 
 
 one
 
 TflE METROPOLIS. 69 
 
 one day to Brian, '' why don't you take 
 him down in his own way ? If Verjuice 
 were here he would soon do it." 
 
 The spnrk fell upon tinder, Brian 
 made another trip to town, stated the 
 circumstances, and requested his ad- 
 vice and presence, if it would not inter- 
 fere with business of more conseouence. 
 With Verjuice the matter did not require 
 long hesitation; he wanted only a clever, 
 trusty, country-looking fellov/, to carry 
 a scheme which he had conceived into 
 execution. Giles Thornback instantly 
 came into Brian's head^. and he set off in 
 search of him. Honest Giles still retained 
 his situation in the stables of the George 
 and Blue Boar Inn, and was overjoyed at 
 the proposal of being taken into the ser- 
 vice of his young master, as he termed 
 
 him;
 
 70 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 him ; he soon settled matters at the inn^ 
 and foliowed Brian to his lodgings. 
 
 " You understand horses, I am told/* 
 said Verjuice; " that is the setting them 
 oCf: but we want you to disguise a good 
 horse, so as to pass for a bad one." 
 
 " Leave I alone for that too, measter. 
 Only let me have your horse, and I'll war- 
 rant, after he has been under my hands a 
 few hours, you shan't know 'un again." 
 
 "^ That is exactly what we would have." 
 
 Verjuice then gave Giles his cue, a 
 bank-note for fifty pounds, and direc- 
 tions to be at Ewel on a certain day. 
 Having settled this point. Verjuice went 
 among his old turf acquaintance, and 
 readily procured a well-known rnare, in 
 high condition, being then in training 
 for >fewmarket. Having put the mare 
 
 into
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 7 I 
 
 into Giles's hands, the friends set off for 
 EweJj and let the Major into the secret 
 of their intended revenge. 
 
 On the evening which had been ap- 
 pointed for the meeting with Giles, Ver- 
 juice, Brian, and the Major, went into 
 the village, and found him waiting for 
 them. 
 
 " Well, here us be, measler, and no\/ 
 you'll presently zee whether you should 
 know your own horse again." 
 
 On leading the animal out of the sta- 
 ble, they absolutely disclaimed any idea 
 of havin<x seen her before; her sleek 
 -coat had been rubbed against the grain, 
 and powdered, whilst warm, with dust. 
 Giles had moreover procured some clip- 
 pings from a London dray-horse, whicb, 
 by means of gum, he had fastened to her 
 heels, so that her tout ensemble was rather 
 
 that
 
 72 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 that of a cart than of a blood-mare. When 
 they had perfectly satisfied themselves of 
 Giles's adroitness at transfiguration, or 
 ir ansmogrification, as he termed it^ they 
 returned to Ewel, where Brian intro- 
 duced the subject of a hack, which he 
 had some thoughts of purchasing; and, 
 addressing the Baronet, said — ^' As there 
 is not a better judge in the kingdom than 
 yourself, Sir John, I should be proud of 
 your opinion to-morrow morning, as 
 fifty guineas is a long price, and I should 
 be loth to be bit." 
 
 The Baronet was too conceited of the 
 deference to his own superior judgment, 
 and too ready to display his science in 
 horse-flesh, not to give his acquiescence. 
 
 After breakfast they set out for the 
 inn where Giles had put up, and Ver- 
 juice addressed him with — '' Well, far- 
 
 mer^
 
 THE T^ETROPOLIS. 73 
 
 mcr, let's now see whether we can deal 
 for this mare of yotir's or not." 
 
 " I'll bring her out to ye prezently, 
 
 Zur ; but vou mustn't despise her, 'cause 
 she be ruocred like mvself," 
 
 Giles brought out tlie mare into the 
 yard, and whilst his tongue v/as lavish in 
 her praise, it required his utmost skill to 
 make her actions run counter to it. The 
 Baronet was so offended at being called 
 on to give his opinion of such an animal, 
 that, easting a contemptuous- glance at 
 •her, he declared his huntsman had slau$rh- 
 tered manv bciter ones for his hounds. 
 
 " Bet a guinea, live guineas, o'fhat," 
 sa)s Giles ; " mare nor 1 ben't such poor 
 devils as us look," 
 
 The Baronet replied only by another 
 contemptuous look at the presumptuous 
 challenger. 
 
 VOL. in. E '' Look
 
 74 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 '' Look ye here," continues Giles; 
 " lian't a better beast to your name — no 
 offence I hope, Zur. Shall run a mile or 
 two miles against any thing you'll bring 
 vor ten pounds, and here's my cash/' 
 pulling out bank-notes. 
 
 " Poh poh, felloW; put thy money 
 in thy pockety and thy mare into the 
 plough." 
 
 " Wull ye take me up or no, Zur ? I 
 hopes I ben't rude, but I don't like to 
 hear my mare run down." 
 
 "It would serve thee right for thy ob- 
 stinacy." 
 
 " Well then do ye take me up, Zur, if 
 Tou ben't afraid. Epsom race-course 
 ben't var off; let's ha' one round." 
 
 Verjuice now thought it time to spur 
 up the Baronet, and he said to him — ''The 
 fellow. Sir John, seems to be very confi- 
 dent
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 75 
 
 dent of his mare's performance, and he ' 
 ought to know her; I do not pretend to 
 set my judgment in competition ^v^th 
 your's, but I really think that if the mare 
 "were trimmed up, you would discover 
 some very good points about her." 
 
 " Psha, Sir! Since the fellow provokes 
 me, YOU shall see whether I am to be de- 
 ceived or not ; I'll soon take the bump- 
 kin's conceit out of him.** 
 
 The Baronet then dismissed a messen- 
 ger, with orders to his groom to saddle 
 Bajazct, and bring him to the inn Giles, 
 in the meantime, threw his sack over his 
 mare, clapped on a large old hunting 
 saddle, with rusty stirrups over it, and 
 <Icclared himself ready for a start. 
 
 " Where did you pick up with that hit 
 vf blood?" demanded the Baronet, in a 
 <|uizzing way. 
 
 E 2 « Why,
 
 76 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ''Why, Zur, I'se be put a poor country- 
 lad, and veather has a matter o' nine o' 
 lis; zo he gi'd I the mare and fifty pounds 
 to get rid o' I, and sent I into the world 
 to seek my vortr.ne." 
 
 "^ And a prettv fortune you are likely 
 to make of it, if you lay vour money on 
 your mare's performances." 
 
 *'*' Well, Zur, when all be gone, I can 
 bui zcek a zarvice at last." 
 
 The groom now arrived with Bajazet, 
 and the party went ofl' for the race- 
 cjround. The Baronet told Giles that he 
 would not bet any thing, as it would be 
 only robbing a poor fellow; but that he 
 would just show him what one of his 
 common hacks would do. The Baronet 
 t!ien mounted — the horses started, and 
 Giles rode nil abroad, in the clod-hop- 
 ping style; but those who were in the 
 
 secret
 
 THE METROPOLrS. 77 
 
 secret could plainly perceive that he wis 
 obllaed to exert all his skill, and even 
 strength, to keep the mare from shov»'in<^ 
 herself. The I>aronet, however, notwith-- 
 standing Giles's manceuvring, found it 
 necessary to put Bajazet to his mettle;r 
 and it was not without the greatest diffi- 
 culty that Giles could manage, so as to^ 
 keep the mare about three lengths bc-^ 
 hind at the end of the race.. 
 
 " By J — s, farmer/' cried the Baronet,, 
 on pulling up, " the mare, as you say, is- 
 better than she looks; I could not have 
 thought she had so much spunk in her." 
 
 " Ah, measter, never take man, woman^, 
 nor beast, by their looks. The mare has 
 had but very zo zo keep, and 1 ha' rode 
 her a longish bit of way; but, with three 
 days rest, I'll ride her o'er the same 
 ground, against the same horse^ or any. 
 
 E 3 other-
 
 78 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Other you ha' got, vor fifty pounds, Dan j^ 
 it, let's lose the horse or win the saddle." 
 
 The Baronet aoain declined the bet. al- 
 ledging that it would be no better than 
 picking his pocket; but Verjuice urged 
 him on, by saying — " Come, come, Sir 
 John, I was once a turf amateur, and I 
 still like to see a bit of good sport; III 
 make up the hundred.'* 
 
 The Baronet now began to consider, 
 that, as the race-ground was so very little 
 distant from the Knight's dwelling, the 
 ladies would be happy to enjoy such a 
 sight, and he should have a fine opportu- 
 nity of displaying himself, and laughing 
 at his competitor, as he had no doubt of 
 doing; he therefore determined on ac- 
 cepting the challenge, but, to get a higher 
 bet, he alledged that it would not be worth 
 while t# send for one of his stud to de- 
 cide
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 79 
 
 cide SO trifling a wager, and Bajazet he 
 could perceive was quite out of order, 
 from being- too severely hunted the whole 
 of the last season. ^ * 
 
 " Well then, rather than lose the sport," 
 said Brian, "I will venture another fifty, 
 from the specimen which I have seen of 
 the mare's performance." 
 
 '* And I another fifty," said the >rfaior. 
 
 "Done, done!" cries the Baronet. 
 " Come, hang if, as we seem to be en- 
 tering into the spirit of it, here's done 
 for* five hundred pounds, and make it up 
 amongst ve/' 
 
 " We'll take you up," said Verjuice. 
 
 *' But now, gentlemen," quoth Giles, 
 " to prevent mistakes, mayhap ye mayn't 
 know the auld mare again, when I have 
 trimmed and titivated her up a crum; but 
 the landlord and ostler here will know 
 
 K 4 the
 
 so TrjE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the mare, and I suppose you'll take their 
 words vor it." 
 
 ''Aye, aye/' replied the Baronet, ''^ve 
 sha'n't dispute your own word. Pi-;t trie 
 best face yon c:\n on the aukl mare, or 
 she wont be able to look at my horse's 
 heels." 
 
 "I wull, Zur; and if you shou'dn't 
 know us again at virst, I'iie be bound ia 
 the end ye don't vorget I and the aidd 
 mare in a hurrv." 
 
 The Baronet's groom was dispatched ' 
 for his horse Pantaluon, and to the very 
 great happiness of the other residents at 
 the KniiJ:ht's mansion, they were relieved 
 from his boisterous nonsense, by his 
 spending almost the whole of the in- 
 terval in the stables. At len^rth *he im- 
 portant day of trial arrived; Sir Jacob, 
 Lady Thrum, and \\\q two young ladies, 
 
 set
 
 THE METROPOLIS* 8*1: 
 
 set out in the coach — Lady Spanker, the- 
 Baronet, and Scentvvell, on horseback — • 
 and, as the distance was so trifling, Ver- 
 juice, Brian, and the Major, walked by 
 the side of Giles, as he-led the «w/c/mare,. 
 which, however, by this time cut so very- 
 different a figure, and exhibited, siich- 
 symptoms of its real self, as raised the^ 
 Baronet's suspicions of" a. trick, and de- 
 pressed his former certainty of success. 
 
 When they reached the ground, the: 
 Baronet stripped, and displayed a- com- 
 plete jockey-dress — crimson jacket and- 
 cap. Giles exhibited> to the eye oT 
 connoisseursJiip, an awkward mixture :of« 
 the jockey and rustic style, not much un- 
 like the unique modern additions of the. 
 Ilouse of Lords, stuck up again-st the. 
 venerable pile, of St. Stephen's Chapel.. 
 He was equipped with laced half-boots,- 
 
 e5. spurS;,,
 
 82 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 spurs, blue worsted stockings, clean lea- 
 thers, and on stripping off his coat and 
 waistcoat, discovered a flannel under- 
 jacket with sleeves ; to complete the 
 whole, instead of a jockey-cap, he sur- 
 mounted his capital with a red woollen 
 night-cap. He mounted, however, in 
 good style, and rode snug and close, 
 quite differently from what he had done 
 on the former trial. At starting the Ba- 
 ronet took the whip-hand ; Giles stuck 
 close to his heels, watching for his op- 
 portunity, and never attempted to shew 
 himself till within the distance length, 
 when letting out the mare, she made two 
 or three springs, and got up neck and 
 neck. They continued so till within 
 about fifty yards, when Giles pushed on, 
 secured the lead, and came in first by a 
 couple of lengths. 
 
 Disappointment
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 83 
 
 Disappointment and vexation evidently 
 tinged the Baronet's face, when, on pul- 
 ling up, Giles asked — "Well, Zur, Avhat 
 d'ye think of I and the auld mare now?'*" 
 
 " Both bites, by G — d !" replied the 
 Baronet. 
 
 *' Don't ye think, Zur, that she be too 
 good a bit for the hounds yet awhile P^"" 
 
 " I'll buy her of you. What will ye 
 take for her?'"^ 
 
 " Nay, Zur, thof I be but a poor raw 
 country lad, my word be as good as my 
 bond; I have given the other gentleman 
 a price, and I won't run from my v^ord." 
 
 •' I take your mare, farmer/' said Ver- 
 juice. 
 
 " Very well, Zur — she's your's — and 
 now you can't zay as how you have 
 bought a pig in a poke; but I be main 
 loth to part \vi' the aiilcl mare. Ye may as. 
 
 E 6 well
 
 84 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 well take I too, to take care of her, and 
 I'se be bound I'se do her justice; that's 
 more than most of your jockies will," 
 
 " Well^ well," said Verjuice, "" take 
 her back to the stable; we will follow, 
 and talk over the matter there." 
 
 The Baronet gave Pantaloon to his 
 groom, remounted his hackney, and hav- 
 ing lost all cause of exultation, he left 
 Sir Jacob and the ladies to return by 
 themselvcsj and accompanied Verjuice 
 and his party to the inn at Ewel. On the 
 Baronet's proposition dinner was bespoke 
 there, and he was anxious to retrieve his 
 loss, which he attributed to chance, and 
 vainly confided in his skill at play. After 
 dinner he repeatedly offered bets to the 
 company, and at length challenged any 
 one of them to toss up, throw a main, or 
 play a game at cards, for any sum they 
 
 durst
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 85 
 
 durst venture. Verjuice £;ave a wink to 
 Brian, who, after several denials^ accept-- 
 ed a challenge to play for a guinea, at 
 the well-known game of Put, which in 
 the course of very few hours beggars and 
 enriches thousands. Brian, in addition 
 to the certainty of playing off the Ba- 
 ronet's own rnonev ajrainst himself, was 
 much too cool and too scientific for his^ 
 antagonist. The Baronet increased his 
 bets in proportion to his run of ill-luck, 
 and at ten o'clock at night he had added 
 five hundred pounds to his morning's Ios'j. 
 Brian then proposed and really desired to 
 put an end to the contest, but the Ba- 
 ronet insisted on havinc: his revensie: 
 supper was accordingly ordered, and, af- 
 ter having partaken of it^ the Major and 
 Verjuice returned to Sir Jacob's, leaving 
 the antagonists to themselves. At day- 
 break
 
 8S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 break (for they never went to rest) tlie 
 Baronet found himself three thousand 
 pounds 7Jimns, and Brian entreated him 
 to desist, offering to accept a third of 
 the sum in discharge of the whole. The 
 Baronet hau"htilv refused this accom- 
 modatioUj and Brian as haughtily insisted 
 upon a settlement before he would pro- 
 ceed any farther; the Baronet then cooled 
 a little, and stipulated for only one other 
 fair chance to retrieve his losses; Brian; 
 readily acquiesced, and gave him the ad- 
 vantage of naming the stake. 
 
 •' Double or quits!" exclaimed the 
 Baronet. 
 
 Brian won, and as they returned to the 
 Knight's mansion, the Baronet requested 
 that his loss might be kept a secret frora 
 his mother, which Brian promised. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 87 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 • 
 
 -df Trip to Ncic market — IIoio to take in your 
 Friends^ a true Extract from the Secrets of the 
 Turf — A Street Robbery, and the Tradesman's 
 Vade Mecum^ or hoio to make a genteel Smash. 
 
 Brian communicated his success to Ver- 
 juice and the Major^ adding^ that he in- 
 tended only to chastise the insolence of 
 the Baronet, and to accept a trifling part 
 of his debt in discharge of the whole sum. 
 " Not with my approbation, T can as- 
 sure you/' said Verjuice. ** You are a 
 young man, emerging into life, without 
 
 any
 
 88* THE METROPOLiSi 
 
 any expectation, and when independence- 
 is within your reach, you sacrifice it to 
 foolish notions. You will ruin no family 
 ■ — you will only teach wisdom to the 
 foolish. The sum which you have won 
 of the Baronet is not equal to one year's 
 income; he cannot miss it, and it will 
 make you easy and respectable through 
 life. Hold it fast. F dare answer for it 
 that the Major will be of my opinion." 
 
 "Why really," said the Major, '' I can 
 see no reason for any delicacy in the 
 present instance. You have won the" 
 money fairly, and if the Baronet had 
 turned the tables upon you, his disposi- 
 tion is such, you must be aware that he- 
 would have triumphed over your ruin,. 
 The loss is trivial to him — the gain is of 
 the utmost importance to you — and the- 
 money had better contribute to the hap- 
 piness
 
 THE METROPOLIS, ?S9' 
 
 plness of a man of merit, than be con- 
 fined to the hands of a fooi, or dispersed 
 among a pack of knaves." 
 
 '' Undoubtedly/' said Verjuice ; '^'and; 
 besides, this sum, with v*hat you are al- 
 ready in possession of, will just be suffi- 
 cient to commence operations in a scheme 
 which I have planned for you. If any 
 further stimulus be wanting, recollect that 
 it will enable you, without the imputa- 
 tion of vanity, or mercenary views, to 
 aspire to the hand which alone will be 
 wanting to complete your happiness." 
 
 This last argument decided the ques- 
 tion. Brian, by the advice of his friends, 
 required a security from the Baronet, 
 when the business niight be at rest, upon 
 payment of the legal interest, till it 
 should suit him to discharge the principal ,* 
 
 t3
 
 90 , THE METROFOI.IS. 
 
 to this proposal the Baronet rcadify 
 
 agreed. 
 
 Matters being thus settled, Brian, by 
 the advice of Verjuice, purchased the 
 auld marCj which had been so instru- 
 ir.ental to his success, and \vhich Verjuice 
 had taken on condition of paying a sti- 
 pulated price, or of returning without 
 injury, with a compensation for the loan 
 of her. He likewise bought another 
 horse of the Baronet, and Giles was put 
 into a handsome livery. 
 
 The Baronet lost somewhat of his for- 
 mer arrogance; his ai^dour for betting 
 was abated, and he even studied to in* 
 gratlate himself with our adventurer, 
 whose skill at play was with him the' 
 highest proof of his merit. He pressed 
 Brian to accompany him to Newmarket, 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 91 
 
 and to run his marCj offering to back her 
 himself for a tliousand;, or to go halves in 
 any bets he might make. These solici- 
 tations were very pleasing to Brian, be- 
 cause, although he had fixed upon at- 
 tending the races, he wished to conceal 
 from Miss Ilewson that he was deeply in- 
 volved in such hazardous pursuits; she, 
 however, was aware that he could have 
 no other means of subsistence, but love 
 blinds its votaries to all failings and im- 
 perfections. 
 
 In this season of prosperity and youth- 
 ful expectation, Brian cast his thoughts 
 on the confined circumstances of his fa- 
 mily; and, as it was now in his power, 
 he resolved to make his aged parent some 
 amends for the anxiety which his former 
 imprudence had occasioned. He imme- 
 diately dispatched a letter to his father, 
 
 inclosing
 
 92 TfTE METROPOLIS. 
 
 inclosing a bank post-bil! for five hun- 
 dred pounds, and requesting hirn to look 
 out for some more advantageous living, 
 for which he would immediately remit 
 the stipulated price. 
 
 As the month of October was now near 
 at hand, every one was engaged in pre- 
 parations for the trip to Newmarket. 
 Giles was sent farwards with the mare, 
 in company with the Baronet's grooms 
 and horses, and Verjuice followed him, 
 to pick up what information he could 
 get. Emboldened by independence, Brian 
 watched for an opportunity of meeting 
 Miss Hewson alone. He lamented most 
 pathetically his still- lying under her fa- 
 ther's displeasure; declared that the world 
 
 was but a barren waste, and every pros- 
 
 ■j 
 pect gloomy, without being permitted 
 
 to entertain the hope of calling her hia- 
 
 own*.
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 93 
 
 own. He added, that he should never 
 have dared to open his lips to her again 
 •on such a subject^ if fortune had been 
 unkind to him ; but that, as he had now 
 secured an independence, he hoped she 
 would not be ofTended at his presuming 
 to ofler to lay both that -and himself at 
 her feet. 
 
 A slight crimson tinged the face of 
 Miss Hewson at this direct declaration; 
 but, as she was candour itself, she hesi- 
 tated not a moment for a reply. 
 
 " It would be needless, in my opinion 
 contemptible, ^Ir. Bonny castle, to affect 
 .a concealment of what you were well 
 assured of. I congratulate you most sin- 
 cerelv on the favours of Fortune, who, I 
 candidly confess it to be my sentiment, 
 seldom bestows them on a more deserv- 
 ing
 
 94 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ing object. I do not blush to confess 
 that I have ever lamented, and still do 
 lament, the unhappy cause ofmy father's 
 coolness; and, as I believe you have seen 
 your errors, and wish to retrieve them, I 
 could wish that they were buried in ob- 
 livion. Having gone so far, I have only 
 to add, that 1 trust you know me well 
 enough to be assured that I shall never 
 bestow my hand without the consent of 
 a most beloved and indulgent parent." 
 
 " Ah! Miss Hewson, would you but 
 intercede for me with that indulgent pa- 
 rent, still there might be hopes," 
 
 " I shall do you no disservice, you 
 may rely upon it, Sir; time, patience, 
 and prude?ice, may effect your wishes." 
 
 " Amiable, adorable candour!'' ex- 
 claimed Brian, venturing to take her 
 
 hand
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 95 
 
 !innd and imprint a kiss on it. '^ Blessed 
 ■with those hopeSj it shall be the business 
 of my life to realize them." 
 
 Miss Ilevvson wrote to her father, to 
 obtain his permission to accompany Sir 
 Jacob and his family to Newmarket, and 
 he granted it, on condition that he might 
 enjoy their company in town for two or 
 three days previously to their excursion. _ 
 When the period arrived the company 
 separated ; Sir Jacob and his family and 
 Miss llewson proceeding to Mr. Hew- 
 son's, Lady Spanker and the Baronet di- 
 rect to Newmarket, and Brian and the 
 Alajor took the same direction in a post- 
 chaise. 
 
 Whilst Verjuice was renewing his old 
 turf acquaintance, Brian and the Major, 
 who had never before visited this seat 
 of dissipationj amused themselves with 
 
 lounging
 
 96 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 lounging aboutj and making remarks on 
 the objects whom, like themselves, idle- 
 ness, curiosity, profusion, or avarice, had 
 drawn together in such a throng. The 
 different views of the orooms exercisinp" 
 the horses round the various courses — 
 the groupes of blacklegs and green- 
 horns — and the bustle and importance of 
 some, contrasted with the vacancy and 
 listlessness of others, afforded them at 
 •once subjects for criticism and amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 On the day before the commencement 
 of the races. Sir J:;cob and his party ar- 
 rived. The Baronet had found a match 
 for Brian's marc, provided it met with 
 his assent, fcr two hundreu guineas, and 
 thev agreed to halve the stake. The 
 weather proved very fine; the company 
 was numerous, comprising many persons 
 
 of
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 9T 
 
 of the higher classes^ and the sport was 
 excellent. It was now that our adven- 
 turer was to discover some of the innu- 
 merable snares which the blacklegs lay- 
 to catch the unwary. ' 
 
 After the first day's sport was ended, 
 the Baronet came to him almost breath- 
 less, and exclaimed, *' *Tis done! — all 
 agreed upon ! — a hollow thing ! Take all 
 the bets you can get, you and your 
 friends! — lay odds! — a dead certainty 1'* 
 
 Brian desired an explanation. 
 
 " Why I have matched your mare 
 against a famous horse belonging to Sir 
 Charles Rushlight; we have just held a 
 private meeting, and have agreed that 
 his horse shall be beaten : the stake is 
 merely nominal — a draw for the Jiats. 
 Shadow, and some other friends of Sir 
 Charles, are this instant gone to take all 
 
 VOL. III. F- bets
 
 93 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 bets against him; we must do the same. 
 There is not the least risk, you see ; Sir 
 Charles and I are upon lionour. His 
 groom has received his instructions; 
 your's will only have to push on as hard 
 as he can, to save appearances, and cloak 
 the hite. Lose no time ; I am going to 
 work this instant, and Scentwell is already 
 on the scent." 
 
 Brian strongly suspected that Sir Charles 
 was playing a deep game, and intended 
 to sell his brother Baronet in the end ; 
 he hastened to consult his oracle. Ver- 
 juice, who was equally dubious of Sir 
 Charles's honour. They went off in quest 
 of Sir Charles, who confirmed Sir John's 
 account, and ofTeired to exchange mutual 
 bonds, in a heavy penalty, for the per- 
 formance of their secret agreement; Ver- 
 juice took him at his word, and the par- 
 ties
 
 THE MKTrtOPOLM, 99 
 
 ti^es separated to hunt out their prey. 
 Verjuice pointed out the proper objects 
 to Brian, who accepted bets to the amount 
 of two thousand pounds, and then stop- 
 ped. In the evening Verjuice and Brian 
 made the circuit of all the inns, and pri- 
 vate houses of the nobility and gentry, 
 \vhich were open for the purposes of 
 gaming;: here Brian was astonished to 
 see to what an extent the most vicious of 
 pursuits could sanction an association 
 betwixt the highest and the" lowest clas- 
 ses; but he imagined that he had entered 
 ^le infernal regions, and heard the howls 
 of the damned, when he entered a cock- 
 pit. 
 
 " Ten pounds on the ■pile! — Done ! 
 Guineas to pounds on the ginger! — hlack 
 red! — brass uing! — grey!" and similar 
 
 F 2 exclamations,
 
 100 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 exclamations, incessantly kept up, with 
 the crowings of the cocks in the pen, 
 aijd the shouts of one party, and groans 
 of the other, of the human animal, as ei- 
 ther of the feathered animals gained or 
 lost the ascendancy, raised such a horrid 
 din, as Brian imagined could be paralleled 
 OLJy in the infernal regions. Disgusted 
 with this vilest of all sports, they made a 
 speedy retreat. 
 
 It was now night, and as they retreated 
 towards their inn, a man, muffled up in 
 a great-coat, advanced, holding a pistol 
 in either hand, and demanding their , 
 
 money. 
 
 " Turn away the muzzles of your pis- 
 tols, my friend," said Verjuice, coolly, 
 " and we will readily contribute to re- 
 lieve your necessities; we ought to do 
 
 so.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. lOi 
 
 SO, in fact, as Fortune has favoured us 
 to-clay, and perhaps she has frowned oti 
 you." 
 
 " She has indeed!" replied the poor 
 wretch. "You are considerate gentlemen, 
 
 and d me if I would not rather blow 
 
 my own brains out, than do you a wilful 
 mischief." 
 
 Verjuice and Brian gave him a handful 
 of gold and silver, and wished him better 
 luck on the morrow. 
 
 '' If I should fail of it," said the robber, 
 " these pistols shall make my quietus. 
 Success attend ye, gentlemen." 
 
 "Good Heaven!" exclaimed Brian, 
 *' to what dreadful shifts do the avarice 
 of one part of the world and the folly of 
 the other reduce humanity ! That poor 
 wretch has, perhaps, brought ruin on his 
 family, and before this time to-morrow, 
 
 F 3 will;,
 
 102 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 will, perhaps^ have closed his vicious ca~ 
 reer by suicide." 
 
 As ihe match was to be decided on the 
 next day, they went to give Giles his final 
 instrucfions, which were to catch every 
 advantage, and trust nothing to chance. 
 As the inn was overflowing, Giles had 
 put up at a Mrtle alehouse in the outskirts 
 of the town, nearest to the race-ground. 
 They had not been many minutes in con- 
 versation, before they heard two persons 
 enter into an adjoining room, and the 
 partition was so thin, that they distinctly 
 heard the following dialogue: — 
 
 " Well, what luck to-day ^" asks one. 
 
 " D d bad !" replies the other, 
 
 whose voice was instantly recognized by 
 Verjuice and Brian to be that of the per- 
 son who had just before robbed them. 
 " Half of my whole stock I lost on the 
 
 race-
 
 TilE .VfETROPOLlS. 103 
 
 race -ground, and the other half at an 
 
 KO table, kept by a b of quality. 
 
 How have you fared }"' 
 
 " Faith, very Tittle better; I have only 
 one more throw left.** 
 
 " And I should have been without even 
 that solitary resourcej but for my little 
 friends, the pops here ; and if Fortune 
 don't favour one or other of us to-mor- 
 row, they shall rid the world of one^ and 
 me of mv cares." 
 
 " Why you won't be such a flat — sucK 
 a chicken-hearted drivellep surely ? Have 
 not I as well as yourself pawned great 
 part of my stock, and signed a bond and 
 judgment on all the rest, to raise the 
 ii:incl, and make a push here ? If they run 
 a nick upon us, will not my situation be 
 as desperate as your's ? But I am not such a 
 fool as to despair. Whilst there is life there 
 
 F 4 are
 
 104 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 are hopes. If we can't do the thing gen- 
 teelly here, I intend to push off for town, 
 get white''wa3hcd hy a whereas^ atiU b^-gin 
 again. You hv^ve the sam@ resource, t;o 
 hang snivelling, and let's drown care, 
 and drink better luck to-morrow, over a 
 bowl of punch." 
 
 Verjuice and Brian now withdrew, af- 
 ter having enjoined Giles not to take the 
 least notice of the conversation which 
 they had overheard. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 105 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 The Butch Sharpers, or the Biters bit — The Art 
 of Manceuvriiig^ illustrated bi/ Examples o?i the 
 Cards and Bice, for the Benefit of the Ig7iorant> 
 
 Brian, after a night of restless anxiety, 
 rose with the sun, rouzed Verjuice, and 
 hurried him away to see that all was 
 right with Giles and the mare; they ac- 
 companied him to the race-ground. The 
 word was at length given to mounts and 
 Giles appeared equipped in the true 
 jockey style. On the signal for starting, 
 Giles set off at score — pushed for the 
 
 F 5 whip*
 
 106 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Avhip-hand — took the lead- — and never 
 once lost it. Sir Charles's groom ma- 
 naged matters to a nicety, and came in 
 only half a length behind. All the spec- 
 tators acknowledged it to be as fine a race 
 as ever was seen. Verjuice, Brian, and 
 Sir John, congratulated each other, and 
 Sir Charles affected to look rather blank, 
 for decencrj^s sake ; but he, as well as the 
 other Baronet, had eased the linowing- 
 ones and the jlats, both of whom were 
 alike dupes on this occasion, of some 
 thousands. Brian was very happy to have 
 contributed in some measure towards Sir 
 John's success, as he could now feel very 
 little remorse for his having plucked a 
 few of his loose feathers. 
 
 Brian now found himself possessed of 
 twelve thousand pounds, exclusive of his 
 debt to Verjuice, which he discharged ; 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 107 
 
 and after having cleared his Yorkshire 
 estate, he invested the remainder, by 
 Verjuice's advice, in the funds. 
 
 On the evening previous to the depar- 
 ture of the Knight's family and Miss Hew- 
 son from Newmarket, Brian sought and 
 ^v'as again indulged with an opportunity 
 of breathing out hrs soft vows into the 
 ears of the latter, who listened to them 
 with more than complacency; and even 
 declared, that if fate should prevent their 
 union, she would never bestow her hand 
 on any other of his sex : she moreover 
 deigned to accept a valuable ring, of 
 which he solicited her acceptance. 
 
 After the ladies had retired for the 
 night, which was rather early, on account 
 of their journey. Sir Charles Rushlight 
 and Shadow fell in, and boasted highly 
 of the morning's success. He wished to^ 
 
 F 6 be
 
 108 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 be remarkably sociable, because he re-- 
 spertctl the skill of our adventurer and 
 Verjuice; and he had changed his inten- 
 tion of cutting Fascine's acquaintance, 
 from the instant he saw his promotion in 
 the Gazette, which was quite unexpected, 
 as he knew that he had very little to»trust 
 to but his merit. His motives were, how- 
 ever, easily penetrated, and he was en- 
 countered with distant politeness. 
 
 " I wonder," said he to Brian, " that 
 you have never once mentioned your 
 acquaintance. Lady M'Lackland. You 
 have seen her, I suppose?" 
 
 "I just had a glimpse of her on the 
 race ground, but I was too much en- 
 gaged to speak to her, and I don't know 
 where she is to be found." 
 
 '' O^, she has set uj) a faro bank and 
 EO tables here, in conjunction with the 
 
 Earl
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 109 
 
 Earl of E . Suppose we just take a 
 
 look in and see what they are doing; I 
 should like to make a run upon the bank." 
 
 Our adventurer was satisfied with what 
 he had already done, and he had formed 
 a resolution of trusting very little to For- 
 tune in future: but as Verjuice seemed 
 inclined to reconnoitre, he accepted the 
 invitation. The rooms were pretty well 
 crowded, and as Mr. Lurcher kept the 
 bank, little doubt could be entertained 
 that some deep game was playing. Her 
 Ladyship affected to chide Brian for ab- 
 senting himself so long from her parties, 
 and hinted that her Grace of ' 
 had been the cause of it, which he abso- 
 lutely denied. 
 
 " Are the people in spirits to-night ?'* 
 asked Brian. 
 
 ** Not very high/' replied her Lady- 
 ship,
 
 I 10" THE MF.TROPOLIS. 
 
 ship, with a smile. "Money is veiy 
 scarce; all are become rooks now — very 
 few feathers flyinj^. I hope I may con- 
 gratulnte you on your success?" 
 
 " Trifles, trifles, my Lady! — the same 
 complaints of the times in all quarters." 
 
 "Did vou ever hear any thing like it? 
 I declare I almost come to a resolution: 
 at times to renounce pam for a psalm- 
 book." 
 
 ** Your Ladyship is too young for that 
 yet, by a round dozen." 
 
 " Don't be makins; love to me, vou 
 creature you, or I shall make her Grace 
 jealous. Come, do now go and put the 
 folks in life ; if they were oiice set a 
 going, something might be extracted 
 frora them. Excuse me for the present 
 ■ — I must attend to the company — but 
 ^ve shall have a select party at supper to- 
 
 night^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1 M 
 
 nightj and we shall expect you and your 
 friend Verjuice to be of the party." 
 
 As Brian was sauntering about, he was- 
 saluted by Miss Rappee^ who had decked 
 herself out in all the gaiety of five-and- 
 twenty. She expressed herself quite 
 weary of the universal round of com- 
 pany, and o-f the late hours which she had 
 been obliged to keep of late, and invited 
 him to partake of the refreshment of tea 
 with her. He, however, adroitly avoided 
 2itite-d-tite, which would not have proved 
 agreeable ta either party,, by pleading 
 that he was obliged to attend to her La- 
 dyship's commands till supper-time ; and 
 MissRappee turned offwith evident marks 
 of disappointment, and of contempt for 
 the dullness of his apprehension. He, 
 however, was but too well aware of her 
 intention; but his heart was too full of 
 
 Charlotte,
 
 112 THE METROPOMS. 
 
 Charlotte, to permit him to think of 
 gallantry with a much more blooming 
 object. 
 
 Two young West Indians, as their coun- 
 tenances bespoke, which were somewhat 
 about a scstoon dip, now entered the 
 room; and as the idea of rum, sugar, in- 
 digo, cotton, begets that of wealth, the 
 rew comers instantly attracted the side- 
 glances of the knowing ones. After 
 •sauntering round all the tables, they fixed 
 themselves at the one where they were 
 playing at hazard ; Verjuice and Brian 
 had their eyes upon them. They pre- 
 sently won some hundreds, which caused 
 the confederates to assemble their pha- 
 lanx, and muster their whole strength 
 against them. Every manoeuvre was 
 played off, and yet the strangers main- 
 tained their superiority. The other ta- 
 bles
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 115 
 
 bles were insensibly deserted, and al! the 
 company assembled round to witness the 
 ©vent of this c.ontmt. It continued till 
 nearly two of the clock in the morning, 
 when tht confederates tacitly acknow- 
 ledged they were beaten, by shutting up 
 for the night; the strangers observing, 
 that, if that was the case, they were very 
 well satisfied to give them their revenge 
 another time, and pocketing their win- 
 nings, to the amount of about two thou- 
 sand pounds, coolly walked off. 
 
 At the supper-table this unexpected 
 run of ill luck was the whole theme of 
 discourse; not a soul recollected to have 
 ever seen the faces of the West Indians 
 before ; and yet Brian was well assured 
 that he had seen one of them before, but 
 when or where he could not bring to 
 remembrance. Many conjectures flew 
 
 about*
 
 F M The metropomS. 
 
 about, nnd none more probable than that, 
 as thrv speke tlie French language fhi- 
 ently to each othcrj they were sharping 
 adventurers from someofthj islands be- 
 longing to that nation. As Brran^s mind 
 ^vas now at case, he derived much plea- 
 sure from the mortifiGation of the con- 
 federates, who were quite chop- fallen at 
 this tumble. After supper. Verjuice and 
 Brian returned to their inn, and on the 
 next morning set off, with the Major, in 
 a post-chaise for town. 
 
 They slept that n^ght at St. Albans, and 
 the next morning, as they were travers- 
 ing Finchley Common, they observed a 
 crowd of people assembled before the 
 door of the Green Man public-house. 
 On inquiring into the occasion of it, 
 thev were informed that two highwav- 
 men had stopped some gentlfmen re- 
 turning
 
 THE METROPOLIS. IJj 
 
 turning from Newmarket, on the preced- 
 ing night, and that one of the robbers 
 had been shot, and then lay dead in the 
 Citable, till a coroner's inquest should 
 have been held on the body. It inyfantly 
 struck Verjuice and Brian that the poor 
 wretch might have been the person who 
 stopped them in the street at Newmarket, 
 and curiosity prompted the latter to 
 jumpaut of the chaise, to see if he could 
 recognize him by his dress. On examin- 
 ing his features, he was struck with hor- 
 ror at beholding those of Burnish; and 
 upon his acquainting Verjuice with his 
 idea, the latter accompanied and con- 
 curred with him in liis opinion. They 
 were now at no loss to guess that the 
 accomplice, who had escaped, was his 
 intimate acquaintance Glare. The iai' 
 presbio.n which this catastrophe made on 
 
 ' the-
 
 116 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the mind of Brian "^vas indelible, nnd he 
 shuddered at the consequences of a life 
 ©r dUsipadon, from vvhieh hi himiglf, 
 perhaps^ had but narrowly escaped, 
 
 " So views some ^sliipwreck'd auilor from the strand, 
 Th' abyss wliicli iili Lis cojnrades had engulph'd." 
 
 After their return to town, and some 
 days of repose, Verjuice opened to Brian 
 the plan v.hich he had devised for his fu- 
 ture pursuit. 
 
 *' You have now accumulated," says 
 he, *' twelve thousand pounds, a sum 
 sufficient for every comfort and conve- 
 niency of life; but you are naturally to 
 look forwards to a family. Some repu- 
 table employment will not only add to 
 your comfort, but establish your credit, 
 and will be the readiest means to restore 
 you to the favour of Mr, Hewson. I 
 
 have
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ' 117 
 
 have been thinking of your entering- 
 into the bankinc'--]ine; I am aware of the 
 difficulties, but I have prepared myself to 
 obviate them all. You have a small ca- 
 pital, and some connexion with young 
 men of fortune and exoectation, whose 
 f'uture^avours you may ensure, by hav- 
 ing it in your power to advance them 
 money on proper securities. An addition 
 may be made to your capital, by joining 
 others with vou in the same undertaking;. * 
 There is your young friend Adolphus, 
 for instance ; he has been bred up to bu- 
 siness — his father is possessed of a large 
 fortune, and of good connexions, and 
 might be ready to establish him in such 
 a line. One other person would be suf- 
 ficient, and him I will undertake to look 
 out for you." 
 
 Brian was at first astonished at the idea 
 
 4 ' of
 
 118 TIfE METROPOLIS. 
 
 of his becoming a banker; but when \^er- 
 juice had mentioned the auxiliaries^ and 
 offered reasons so flattering to his pride 
 and love, he hailed the scheme as the 
 harbinger of his future prosperity ; it 
 was therefore concluded that he should 
 take the first opportunity of sounding 
 the inclination of Adolphus, and be en- 
 deavouring to make some few more lucky 
 hits, whilst Verjuice was looking round 
 for a third person in the intended firm. 
 
 One evening, Brian went to pay a vi- 
 sit to Mrs. Adamson, at her new house in 
 
 street ; she was enraptured to see 
 
 him, and entreated the favour of his tak- 
 ino- tea with her. On entering- into the 
 parlour, he was surprised to behold, sitting 
 at the tea-table, one of those very West 
 Indians whom he had seen at Newmarket^ 
 and whom Mrs. Adamson introdueed to 
 
 him
 
 T[IE MtT.ROrOl.IS. 1 19 
 
 him as one of her dodgers; k was the 
 very one too whose face he thought he 
 remembered. The stranger having now 
 nothing to divert his attention, looked at 
 our adventurer, as if he had seen him 
 before, and with Brian the point seemed 
 now almost reduced to a certainty; all 
 attempts, however, at recollection proved 
 vain. At last, to put the matter out of 
 doubt, Brian asked the gentleman if he 
 had not had the pleasure of seeing him 
 some where before? 
 
 " I believe not. Sir," answered he, 
 rather confused^ " as I have not the 
 honour of having made any acquaint- 
 ance in this country." 
 
 " You have been here then but a short 
 time. Sir; however, I am assured that I 
 saw you one evening at Newmarket." 
 
 *'0h
 
 12-0 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 , " Oh yes, probably. Sir; I was there 
 in the race-time; but one sees so many 
 persons in such places, that, without a 
 previous acquaintance, it is ten to one, 
 you know. Sir, against one's recollecting 
 a particular face." 
 
 " Certainly, Sir; but it struck me then 
 that I had seen you somewhere before." 
 
 '' I was in England only once before. 
 Sir, and then I made but a very short 
 stay." 
 
 '' What parts of England might you 
 have been in. Sir?" 
 
 "^ In London, and a very short time in 
 Bath." 
 
 Brian now began to think, and a ray 
 of light broke over his mind. 
 
 " You resemble very strongly. Sir, a 
 Count Van Iloorn, whom I remember to 
 
 have
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1^1 
 
 hzve seen there; but then he was an 
 European, and you, I presume, are a 
 West Indian." 
 
 '* Yes, Sir, I am from the West Indies," 
 replied the gentleman, rather more con- 
 fused. *' Many people, you know. Sir, 
 resemble one another, but my name is St. 
 Pierre." 
 
 " I beg your pardon. Sir," rejoined 
 Brian, " for my freedom ; I own I wa-; 
 very much struck at Newmarket, and still 
 am with the resemblance." 
 
 Monsieur St. Pierre now endeavoured 
 to give a turn to the conversation, and 
 good manners would not permit Brian 
 to press the subject any farther; he, 
 however, could not avoid casting: manv a 
 side glance at Monsieur St. Pierre, every 
 one of which more and more assured 
 
 VOL. HI. G him
 
 l22 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 tiim of his identity with the Count Van 
 Hoorn. 
 
 About an hour after tea, Brian rose 
 to go away, pleading, as an apology for 
 Ills leaving the company so soon, that he 
 had previously intended to treat himself 
 %vith the performan<>e of one of the the- 
 atres on that evening. 
 
 " I have never seen the inside of an 
 English theatre/' said Mons. St. Pierre; 
 " and, if you are not better engaged. 
 Sir, I shall be proud of the honour of 
 being permitted to accompany you." 
 
 *' By all m^ans, Sir, Were it not that, 
 as a foreigner, you have a right to the 
 attention of a native, I should feel my- 
 self very happy to contribute to the 
 amusement of an acquaintance of my 
 worthv friend Mrs. Adamson." 
 
 The
 
 TflE METKOTOLIS- 1123^ 
 
 The lady replied by a curtsey and a 
 .grateful smile, and the gentleman by a 
 low bow. 
 
 As they were on their way to Covent- 
 garden — '* Well, Sir," said Monsieur St. 
 Pierre, " do you still hold your opinion 
 that you have seen me at Newmarket 
 Taces?" 
 
 *' I should not be able to persuade my- 
 self to the contrary. Sir, if you did not 
 
 assure me so." 
 
 *^' But do yoii take me to be that Count 
 Van Iloorn ?" 
 
 '•' I should, were it not for the diffe- 
 rence of your complexions, and for your 
 tellincr me that vour name is St. Pierre." 
 
 '• Well then, Sir, an open confession 
 may be for our mutual advantage, My- 
 riame is both Van Hoorn and Pierre; but 
 Tieithcr the Count nor the Saint belong 
 
 G 2 to
 
 1'24 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 to it. You know how I was drawn hi- 
 ther by Mr. Shadow, and how, after hav- 
 ing received his share of my winnings, he 
 confederated against me, and tricked me 
 out of mine. I pretended to bid adieu 
 to England, but I only left it for a while, 
 with a view to enter into a new alliance, 
 and to return to take the field in Eng- 
 land, particularly against the forces of 
 Mr. Shadow. As I was then Count Van 
 Hoorn, I am now Saint Pierre, disguised, 
 I hope, from all the world, except your- 
 self and mv auxiliary; but my real name 
 is Pierre Van Hoorn, at your service. 
 As you seemed to have some suspicion 
 of me, I have thought it safer to trust 
 you, particularly as your keeping my se- 
 cret may turn to' our mutual advantage, 
 if you please." 
 
 *' You have been certainly very ill used 
 
 by
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 125 
 
 by Shadow," replied Brian, '^'and cannot 
 be blamed for seeking to retaliate upon 
 him. You may depend on my keeping 
 your secret ; nay, I should even rejoice 
 in your success, as Shadow, to my know- 
 ledge, is in the habits of the strictest in- 
 timacy with men, against whom, as was 
 your case, he is daily entering into com- 
 binations. Such a man deserves no mercy, 
 nor pity." 
 
 " Aye, you yourself," said St. Pierre, 
 (we shall continue to keep up the Saint) 
 *' were pointed out to me as one of the 
 victims whom Shadow was to draw in, 
 and at whose sacrifice I was to officiate as 
 high priest." 
 
 *' Shadow's character," said Brian, 
 *' leaves me not the slightest doubt of it; 
 but you must be aware that our being 
 seen together will excite a suspicion that 
 
 G 3 may
 
 i'^6 Tllfi MT.TROrOijSv 
 
 may tend to frustrate your scheme^ and. 
 a theatre h one of the most public 
 places " 
 
 " I was aware of that^ and I only feign- 
 ed a wish lo accompany you thither, that 
 I might have an opportunity of sounding 
 you. And now. Sir, I will take my leave 
 of yoUj as you know where to find me; 
 or, if your mind be not bent on the the- 
 atre, I will introduce you, if it be agree- 
 able, to my friend Monsieur Piipeur, who 
 lodges at Sabloniere's hotel, in Leicester- 
 square, and who will soon convince you 
 that if I am more than a match for the best 
 of your English players at billiards, he is 
 no less their superior at cards and dice.'* 
 
 Brian readily accepted the offer, and 
 "Was introduced by Monsieur St. Pierre, 
 as his most 'particular acquaintance, to 
 Monsieur Pipeur. After mutual civilities, 
 
 St,
 
 THE MRTROPOLrav 12/ 
 
 St Pierre proposed to withdraw, and Pi- 
 peur conducted them to his private apart- 
 ment. St. Pierre, in as few words aS' 
 possible, acquainted his friend with the' 
 situation of affairs, and with his reasons- 
 for reposing so great n confidence in the^ 
 gentleman whom "he had the ho«our oT 
 introducing to liis friend. 
 
 Pipeur siiook Brian by the hand, ex-' 
 claiming — •■• Eh bleu done, v/e are de' 
 equilateral triangle ! Each angle must be 
 (quest ce que voiiz apcllez ?J — tranchant." 
 
 *' Keen, cutting," replied St. Pierre, 
 translating as he went on. 
 
 '' Eh hien — and each side must be like? 
 line lime." 
 
 ^' A file." 
 
 " So dat it may emporter la pieceJ^ 
 
 ''Draw blood." 
 
 *' A poll et a contrepoil." 
 
 ** At everv stroke." 
 
 G 4 It
 
 ri8 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 It should be observed, that St. Pierre, 
 from his having been from a boy bred 
 lip in an English hotel at Hamburgh,, 
 and his residence in England, spoke the 
 English language very fluently; and that 
 although Brian understood the French 
 language equally well, (it being an in- 
 dispensible requisite in a mercantile 
 counting-house, although not reckoned 
 so at our universities) yet he chose to 
 conceal his knowledge of it, under an 
 idea^, that if his two new acquaintances 
 should form a scheme against him, they 
 "Nvould not hesitate to converse about it, 
 even in his presence, relying on his not 
 understanding a syllable of what they 
 said. 
 
 ** When do you intend to take the 
 field against Shadow?" said Brian to St. 
 Pierre. 
 
 *' Oh, Sir, we are quite ready now; 
 
 Newmarket
 
 THE METROrOLIS. 120 
 
 Newmarket furnished us with the sinew 
 of war. We did not come over to Eng 
 land overburthcned with cash; Buona- 
 parte is our continental banker; and were 
 it not for the guineas and dollars which 
 your country has so wisely sent over id 
 us, as subsidies^ we should have almost 
 forgotten the precious metals So, Sir, 
 to enable us to make a beginning, I visit 
 two or three watering and other places 
 of fashionable resort, and there I win 
 some few pounds. Finding that no one 
 recollected me, although I had even- 
 played against several who had cried me 
 down on my first visit, I at last ventured 
 to Bath, v/here I also did pretty well — ■ 
 not much. — as I was unv/illiiig to show 
 play until I could venture a- grand stake;. 
 I was, moreover, afraid of exciting sus- 
 picion, and consequently inquiry, which 
 
 G 5 might
 
 ISO THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 miglit have led to a discovery. We had 
 not mustered above three hundred pounds 
 between us, when we luckily determined 
 on a trip to Newmarket, where we made 
 such a stroke, as will now enable Mon- 
 sieur Pipeur to open the campaign with 
 eclatj and I have no doubt with success; 
 but, a'profos, I have promised this gen- 
 tleman, Pipeur, that you shall give him 
 Kome proofs of your dexterity." 
 
 *' Oh f que Je sais nielier fentend, azcc 
 filaisir. You sal know, Saar, dat I vas 
 complete professor of de art of legerde- 
 main, before me venture to tak up de 
 profession of gentilhomme. I do vat I 
 please vid de dice and de cards; for, on 
 de continent, ve begin by etudier de pro- 
 fession — you Englise gentlemens, I un- 
 derstand, begin by following de profes- 
 sion, and do not get de shary^ till after 
 
 dat
 
 THE METROPOLIS. IS I 
 
 dat you have been de flat. Now, Saar, I 
 could shuflie and cut dc cards so as to 
 make dem come as I please; I could at 
 any time hav one card too much, and 
 put away anoder; and once, ven I vas s© 
 sitiic, and had many eye upon me, I sv/al- 
 lowed a card depliis, vid somesweetmeatp 
 which I call for. Our French card be de 
 ting, not so large and more souple dan^ 
 your Englise ones; dey be too clumsy 
 for de savant. But, Saar, you sal say^^ 
 perhaps, dis be iiW fanfarronade ; .hut m&- 
 show — tenez." 
 
 Monsieur Pipeur now went to his 
 trunk, pulled off his slippers, and put on- 
 a pair of shoes; then came back to the- 
 table, on which he displayed a pack of- 
 cards, a box and dice. 
 
 " Now, Saar, me be ready for play." 
 He then exhibited such command over 
 
 G 6 the
 
 132 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the cards, as far exceeded every thing 
 that our adventurer had any idea of, al- 
 though he had witnessed the perform- 
 ances of Jonas, Breslaw, and other cele- 
 brated professors, as well as those of his 
 instructor Verjuice. Among other con- 
 trivances, he had a large snuff-box, filled 
 with several of the leading cards of what- 
 ever game he engaged in ; and, under 
 pretence of taking a pinch of snuff,^ he 
 would help himself to such of those lead- 
 ing cards as best suited his purpose, and 
 conveyed away his most useless ones, in 
 such a manner that Brian could not have 
 detected the substitution. Every part of 
 his dress, even to his pocket-handker- 
 chief, was made subservient to his inte- 
 rest, by concealing cards, which he used 
 at his pleasure. On the dice, his per- 
 formances were still more surprising; he 
 - > threw
 
 THE METHOPOLTS. 133 
 
 threw against Brian, and beat him at 
 every throw ; they commenced the game 
 with one triplet of dice, and he intro- 
 duced three triplets when they had done. 
 *' Now, Saar," said he, " you sal sup- 
 pose dat I have de false dice about me — 
 you sal challenge me wid it — I sal affect 
 dat surprise which is natural to a man of 
 honour, on such an accusation ; pai^ ex- 
 ample," drawing back his chair, fixing his 
 eyes full in Brian's face, putting his right 
 leg over his left knee, and resting his 
 right hand on the cap of his right knee, 
 and his left on the ancle of the same les:, 
 " I sal say to you, Saar, if your accusa- 
 tion be true, I deserve to be kicked out 
 of gentlemen's company ; if it be false, 
 you sal mak me proper apology, or sal 
 deserve de like treatment — Agreed — I 
 submit to be searched by de company — • 
 
 noting
 
 134r THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 noting found. Now get up, Saar, and' 
 search me yourself." 
 
 Brian made the strictest scrutiny of 
 every part of his clothes, but could find 
 nothing, although he had seen three tri- 
 plets of dice in his hand but a minute 
 before. 
 
 " Are you satisfied dere is noting?" 
 
 " Perfectly." 
 
 "Eh Men, Saar, now you see dat I am 
 not like dose clumsy professors, who, on 
 such occasions, are reduced to de neces- 
 sity of slipping de extra dice to some 
 confederate, who slips them to anoder, or 
 else slips himself out of de room. Now 
 Monsieur St. Pierre is at a distance, and I 
 have de dice about me : — see." 
 
 He then pulled off his shoe, the hee! 
 of which was composed of copper, co- 
 vered with leather, hollowed so as to 
 
 receive
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 133 
 
 receive the false dice, and tlie aperture 
 was closed up so artificially with a slide^ 
 that Brian could not open it, after he had 
 been let into the secret. 
 
 Brian now needed no more to convince 
 him that Monsieur Pipeur was infinitely 
 superior to every English conveijanccr. 
 He partook of a petit souper, and drank 
 success to the allies in French wines. An 
 evening was appointed for Pipeur's<ieZ>w^ 
 and, by the advice of Brian, St. Pierre was 
 to keep out of the way, as Shadow might 
 as easily penetrate through his disguise 
 as he had done. Brian prcmiised to drop 
 jn, as if by chance^ and took leave of the 
 allies, after a renewal of his promise of 
 secrecy. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 156 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. VJ. 
 
 Tlie Dutch Gamester's Revenge — The SuicidCf 
 and a Poem on the occasion, 
 
 Brian did not fail to acquaint Verjuice 
 with this unexpected rencontre^, and the 
 latter advised him by all means to make 
 the most of this chance^ which blind For- 
 tune seemed to have thrown in his way, 
 as it were, to enable him to throw off all 
 dependence upon her in future; but^ at 
 the same time, he recommended caution, 
 and a proper distrust of foreign auxi-- 
 liaries. 
 
 On
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 137 
 
 On the evening previous to that fixed 
 on for Pipeur's scientific display, Brian 
 called upon St. Pierre, and they went 
 together to concert with Pipeur on some 
 certain signals when Brian was to bet or 
 to refrain. Pipeur drew up a scheme, by 
 which, from certain manoeuvres with the 
 box in his right or left hand, with his 
 fingers in such or such positions, they 
 might converse together on opposite 
 sides of the table. 
 
 Their plan being thus arranged, both 
 parties kept their appointment on the 
 ensuing evening. Pipeur, for some time, 
 took the chance of the dice, as had been 
 concerted, and luck was against him ; at 
 length the box again came into his 
 hands, and, having given a signal to 
 Brian, he asked, " Who will set me ? — a 
 hundred — two hundred — five hundred?'* 
 
 He
 
 138 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 He was set to the amount of three hun-- 
 dred pounds, and v;on. Ke threw in 
 three hands, and then made the signal to 
 refrain. He had substituted false dice, 
 but he now replaced them with the fair 
 ones, and resolved to take his chance. 
 He threw in twice more before he gave 
 lip the box. After some few trifling 
 bets, he gave up his seat, not wishing to 
 snake any great eclat at the .outset, in- 
 tending to reserve himself for Sir Charles 
 Rushlight and Shadow, who were not 
 present that night. 
 
 Brian, as had been agreed on, followed 
 him to his hotel, whither St. Pierre had 
 also come, to learn their success. They 
 had cleared.about seven hundred pounds, 
 which was equally divided among the tri- 
 umvirate, it having been settled that they 
 were to bear all losses equally between 
 
 tliem^,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 139 
 
 tlrem, iii like manner, whenever Pipeur 
 or St. Pierre was at piny. 
 
 From this instant Pipeur and St. Pierre 
 vcre never seen together \n public, on 
 ihe suggestion of Brian, that if St. Pierre 
 should have the misfortune to be recog- 
 nized, Pipeur might nevertheless con- 
 tinue to play his game unsuspected. 
 Brian constantly attended at the gaming- 
 houses, or billiard-tables, as either of them 
 happened to be engaged, and their win-- 
 nings daily accumulated. Pipeur occa- 
 sionally made the tour of all the cele- 
 brated sporting resorts, except those 
 which were supported by subscription, 
 in the hopes of encountering with Sha- 
 dow, but for a month in vain. He had 
 manai^ed to lose so often in triflins: con- 
 cerns, and to win but seldom, and then 
 upon grand occasions^ that he had pock- 
 
 t eted
 
 HO THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 eted his gains almost imperceptibly, arid 
 without exciting the least suspicion. 
 
 At last they met together at a certain 
 noted house in St. James's-square, and 
 Brian pointed him out to Pipeur by sig- 
 nal. The box came to Pipeur's hand, 
 and he gave the token to refrain. 
 
 " I will set you a hundred !" cried 
 Brian. 
 
 Pipeur threw out, and paid his losses; 
 his turn came round again, and he made 
 the sign to bet. 
 
 ^' In for a hundred !" exclaimed Brian. 
 He betted it thrice over, and Pipeur threw 
 against six hundred pounds; he threw in, 
 and repeated the signal. Brian took two 
 hundred, and Pipeur threw against four 
 hundred pounds — in again! He reversed 
 the signal; Brian desisted, and Pipeur 
 threw out. The box once more came to 
 
 Pipeur,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 141 
 
 Pipeur, and he exclaimed — " Comej gen- 
 tlemens, I shall stay but this round;, so 
 speak in time!" He made the signal to 
 lay on. ~ ^ 
 
 "^ In for two hundred pounds/' cried 
 Brian. 
 
 "I'll set you five hundred !" exclaimed 
 ShadoNV. 
 
 Pipeur threw in. He repeated the 
 signal, threw in, and likewise the third 
 time. He now thought it time to give 
 over, and reversed the signal accord- 
 ingly; he threw out, passed the box, 
 and quitted his seat. Shadow had been 
 touched for three thousand pounds, and 
 he went round to Pipeur, and observed, 
 with somewhat of suspicion in his looks, 
 that he had been very lucky. 
 
 " Old, mafui! — vcr lucky, and yet me 
 
 be
 
 142 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Ije ver poor. How you make dat accord, 
 eh? You see me win to-night — to-mor- 
 row you see dat you have your revenge." 
 
 "Well, will you meet us to-morrow, 
 at ' \ in St. James-street;, close by?" 
 
 ^' Oh qu' Old, T sal do myself the hon- 
 neur to accept your dcfi, and you sal see, 
 perhaps, dat I do not carry Fortune in 
 my pocket." 
 
 The allies met as usual, and it was 
 found that they had four thousand pounds 
 to divide from that night's booty. St. 
 Pierre received the news of Shadow's loss 
 with that excess of pleasure which grati- 
 fies revenge, and, in his opinion, it dou- 
 bled his share of the winnings. It was 
 now concluded that Pipeur should, on 
 the next evening, exert himself to the 
 utmost; and, if unl-uckily any discovery 
 
 should
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 143 
 
 •snould take place, he swore to take all 
 the consequences of his conduct upon 
 himself. 
 
 The parties met according to agree- 
 -ment, and Pipeur won considerably, not- 
 Avithstanding the precautions of repeat- 
 edly changing the dice, and of examin- 
 ins: them before each throw. Pipeur 
 Avas so great a master of his profession, 
 that he manufactured his own doctors, in 
 a way to deceive the minutest scrutiny ; 
 he procured common dice, drilled the 
 holes, filled them with lead, and covered 
 4hem over with the varnish used on such 
 •occasions, so that they would defy even 
 'the stroke of a hammer. Shadow, how- 
 ever, began to buz among the losers 
 suspicions that all could not be fair. Pi- 
 peur still continued his manoeuvres with 
 the utmost coolness and dexterity ; in 
 
 proportion
 
 144 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 proportion as he won, murmurs increased, 
 and it at length broke out into distinct 
 sounds of — "It can't all be fair." 
 
 Pipeur heard the rising storm, and he 
 prepared for it. Having secured his false 
 dice, he seized the first rumour, and ex- 
 claimed — "^'Who is he dat insinuate not 
 fair.? I challenge him to de proof." 
 
 No one in particular stepped forwards, 
 but all the losers at once burst out into 
 exclamations of — ■'' Something must be 
 
 wrong." 
 
 *' If you mean on my part, gentlemens, 
 as it appears by your being all against 
 me, I deny it. You see I am alone — no 
 confederate — I play vid such dice as you 
 please — you examine dem ; vat you vant 
 more? You tink me have de false dice." 
 
 "Ave, ave!'' exclaimed all. 
 
 " Begar, den me know de consequence, 
 
 but
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 145 
 
 but me do deny it. If any gentleman 
 vil bet me one toiisand s^uineas, I sal sub- 
 mit to de search: — who dare say done ? 
 Eh^ none ? Well den, for my own repu- 
 tation I sal show you. Come and see vat 
 vou find." 
 
 The undaunted air which Pipeur as- 
 sumed was deemed an artifice to cover 
 his imposture, and a strict search was 
 made over every article of his dress, but 
 nothing appeared against him. 
 
 ''Well, gcntlemenSjyou satisfied now ?" 
 All were mute. " N^ reponse. Well den, 
 i should have given you satisfaction to de 
 last farthing in de world_, but since you 
 treat rne so, I sal play no more where my 
 honneur is doubted, widout proper apo- 
 logy." 
 
 The losers looked at each other in much. 
 confusion; they entered into consul la- 
 
 VOL. 111. ir tioa.
 
 146 THE METROPOLIS, 
 
 tiorij but it was suddenly broken up by 
 the report of a pistol, followed by an 
 uproar in another part of the house. All 
 rushed out to see what was the matter, 
 and Brian took that opportunity of ad- 
 vising Pipeur to make his retreat. He 
 %vas no sooner gone, than curiosity at- 
 tracted Brian towards the scene of con- 
 fusion, where he beheld a man weltcrin«^ 
 in his gore. The miserable suicide had 
 been at play in another part of the house; 
 his losses had thrown him into paroxysms 
 of rage, and at length having lost his last 
 stake, he went into a back yard, and put 
 an end to his wretched existence. Wish- 
 ing to avoid appearing on so disagree- 
 able an occasion, all the company made 
 a precipitate retreat, and Brian amongst 
 the foremost. He hastened to meet the 
 allies, and on comparing notes, they 
 
 found
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 147 
 
 found their gains to exceed eleven thou- 
 sand pounds. After the money was di- 
 vided, Brian, whose previous intention 
 of quitting the vicious and disgraceful 
 pursuits of a gamester had been reduced 
 to a firm determination bv the shockins: 
 catastrophe which he had just witnessed,, 
 advised Pipeur and St. Pierre to with- 
 draw with their property, if not from 
 England, at least to a distance from Lon- 
 doUj as Pipeur would certainly be cried 
 down, and St. Pierre, in all probability,- 
 could not long remain undiscovered. 
 
 Pipeur at first resisted, declaring that 
 it was not worth his while to take such a 
 journey for such a trifle, and setting all 
 detection at defiance; but St. Pierre, who 
 was more moderate in his sentiments, and 
 also afraid of experiencing another such 
 reverse of fortune as on his' former ex- 
 
 K 2 peditioHy
 
 148 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 pedition^ thought that he had made sufii- 
 cient to enable him to set up a gaming- 
 house in his native place, on his own 
 footing, and he joined with Brian in pres- 
 sing Pipeur to retreat whilst all was well. 
 Being thus left to stand by himself, Fi- 
 peur at length gave way; and, before he 
 finally took leave of them, he had the 
 satisfaction of hearing them determine 
 on setting out for Yarmouth the next 
 day, to find a passage to some Danish 
 port, being obliged to take a circuitous 
 route, from the war subsisting between 
 England and most of the continental 
 powers. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these fortunate 
 strokes, the poor wretch, weltering in 
 blood, haunted Brian during the whole of 
 the night; the corpse of Burnish was 
 also present to his mind; and had he not 
 
 fortunately
 
 THB METROPOLIS. 149 
 
 fortunately have met with Verjuice to 
 direct his pursuits, such, he thought^, 
 might ere now have been his own fate. 
 The religious admonitions and instruc- 
 tions of his father — the anxiety of that 
 fond parent, which had never been whol- 
 ly effaced from his mind, now rushed 
 upon it with their full force. AH tempta- 
 tion was at an end, by his having affluence 
 in his power, and vice was disarmed of all 
 its weapons. He now resolved to bend 
 all his thoughts towards the plan which 
 Verjuice had meditated, and to endeavour 
 to make some atonement for the manner 
 in which he had obtained his fortune, by 
 applying a portion of it towards acts of 
 benevolence. This idea soothed his feel- 
 ings, and, in some measure, reconciled 
 him to himself. 
 
 To avoid every cliance of ao:ain meet- 
 
 H 3 ing
 
 3 60 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 ing with Pipeur and St. Pierre, he tarried 
 within doors the two following days; 
 and, as his mind was continually haunted 
 by the suicide, he drew the following 
 sketch, as an antidote to any remaining 
 inclination for play : — 
 
 THE SUICIDE, 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE GAMESTER'S PROGRESS. 
 
 Fori une to a fool a great misfortune proves— 
 More wealth he has, in higher circles moves, 
 The more his folly is expos'd to view; 
 Laught at by all, and envied but by few. 
 He reaps the fruits of dire intemperance, 
 VicCp which destroys or taints his little sense ; 
 Disease, which preys upon his vital flame, 
 And makes his offspring almost curse his name; 
 Want, poverty, and misery, close the train, 
 To squaiader easy, difficult to gain. 
 
 'lis
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 151 
 
 ■Tis well if here the catalogue should end, 
 And conscience, like a most remorseless fiend, 
 Should not, with horrid crimes, appal his mind. 
 Trembling at ev'ry midnight blast of wind; 
 Make of his downy bed a couch of thorn, 
 Where writhes the tortur'd wretch, nor sleeps till morn : 
 E'en then dire visions mock his guilty breast, 
 Though he may doze, yet never can he rest. 
 
 Wealth to enjoy, man must enlarge his mind, 
 And keep his wants in narrow sphere confin'd ; 
 Desires are vague, unlimited, and vain. 
 Quickly succeeding in continued train. 
 Without an end ; another one begets — 
 Like Tantalus, the suff'rer longs and frets. 
 Through sin the seHsiialist hurries on. 
 Nor stops till all his pow'r of sinning done ; 
 Then seeks too late t'avert his threaten'd doom, 
 His soul precedes him to the awful gloom- 
 
 Jttlian, when come to age, (a hopeful boy !) 
 Two thousand pounds a-year was to enjoy, 
 The gift of some relation, who had made 
 His fortune in the tedious way of trade. 
 
 H 4 A merchant
 
 1§2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 A mercliant was his father, who'd in view 
 
 That Julian should his business pursue ; 
 
 But bad odvisers lanrr'd his well built schemes, 
 
 And fili'd young Julian's head with airy dreams. 
 
 *• Two thousand pounds a-yeai', and follow trade ! 
 
 For life the drudge of counting-house be made !" 
 
 Cried one. '• Yoiir father sarelj is in jtst, 
 
 But ^our own inclination you know best : 
 
 When sons on fathers for support depend, 
 
 To their dictates 'tis prudeiit to attend ; 
 
 But when they're independent, (such your case) 
 
 To old mens' whims tlieir will should not give place." 
 
 '♦ Mine shall not, I assure you," Julian cries; 
 
 Thenceforth 'twas vain for father to advise. 
 
 The counting-house was dropt, the tutor glad, 
 
 Took his farewell of the unruly lad. 
 
 Who ('twas the fashion) terms resolv'd to keep» 
 
 That is, within a college walls to sleep. 
 
 Improvement had no share in his designs. 
 
 Learning he deem'd the bore of vulgar minds; 
 
 Twas life he wish'd to see — in other words, 
 
 To be the humble tool of sons of lords. 
 
 His father, though by no means well content, 
 
 Yielded with deep reluctance his consent. 
 
 Off
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 153 
 
 Off to our aunt's of Oxford, Julian drove, 
 Enter'd, matriculated — soon he strove 
 To scrape acquaintance with the noble fevr. 
 Thinking beneath him the untitled crew. 
 His handsome stipend soon was blaz'd about ; 
 lie hunted with the great, was at each rout; 
 Pciid his fail share, or more, grew highly vain, 
 And pride and pleasure turn'd his empty brain ; 
 From glaring tolly on to vice he ran. 
 The latter finish'd what the first began. 
 Morality became his standing joke. 
 And of Religion slightingly he spoke; 
 At Virtue, if twas ever nara'd, he smil'd, 
 Or, if he spoke, a hackney 'd trick 'twas styl'd, 
 Contriv'd by daring minds the weak to sway, 
 An useful ignis fatuus of the day. 
 Whene'er at Decency he aim'd his strokes, 
 His comrades laugh'd at all his vulgar jokes; 
 So well his maxims did their genius hit, 
 They dubb'd him, and he thought himself — a \yit- 
 Honour he rev'renc'd, but^hat glitt'ring name, 
 Which too oft dignifies the villain's shame; 
 To crown the whole, he'd atheism own, 
 And place blind chance on the Imrnortal's throne. 
 
 n 5 Such
 
 iBi THE METilOPOLIS. 
 
 Such was his progress, such the rapid stride, 
 Morality and Virtue to deride 
 In one short term ; and, as these guards recede, 
 To tyrant Vice the citadel's betray'd. 
 He felt no dread at being thus subdu'd, 
 But ovvn'd his conqueror, and sham'd his blood. 
 
 The college life too narrow sphere he found 
 For libertine profess'd, so drove to town; 
 Where, whilst at th' eastern end the father toil'd, 
 The graceless son in bagnios was embroil'd; 
 Or, reeling through the western streets, would prowl 
 At midnight, like the day-detesting owl : 
 When prematurely all his money spent, 
 Return'd to college, feign'd accounts he sent 
 Of money, said to be for college dues, 
 But meant to pay the bills of London stews. 
 The draft receiv'd, another lie obtains 
 A leave of absence — town he soon regains; 
 Here through disgraceful scenes does shameless wade. 
 Which man beneath the rank of brute degrade. 
 
 Such his debut : — the rlp'ning hand of time 
 Brought forth to view much deeper shades of crime. 
 
 It
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 155 
 
 It happen'd JV6 he once the hounds pursu'd, 
 
 Thrown out, he wander'd through a pathless wood; 
 
 To usk his way, he found a cot, 
 
 Where mild content was all the owner's lot; 
 
 Too soon, alas ! the blasting fiend arriv'd, 
 
 And tainted joys from innocence deriv'd. 
 
 There liv'd old Zamor, and Amanda fair. 
 His beauteous daughter of enchanting air; 
 The pride was she of all the neighb'ring plains, 
 Solicited by ail the rustic swains; 
 As Venus beautiful, Diana chaste. 
 None yet lier ruby lips iiad dar'd to taste, 
 Although they rais'd up, with bewitching charm, 
 Desires which scarce her coldness could disarm. 
 The coldest stoic, viewing, must approve, 
 Nor, whilst approving, could withhold his love; 
 Taught by benevolence, not pride, to please. 
 Her mind itself was innocence and ease; 
 Emblems of both, her rustic robes display 
 All that is gaily neat, and simply gay ; 
 And whilst her garb the pearly neck reveals, 
 Pride show'd not more thou modesty conceals. 
 From fasliiou's sickly rules she ne'er by stealth, 
 Borrow'd the crimson which declar'd her health; 
 
 V, With
 
 156 tHE METROPOLIS. 
 
 With conscious dignity, she own'd the grace. 
 By nature painted on her beauteous face. 
 No sylvan goddess could with her have vied, 
 A virgin flow'r, in youth, and beauty's pride. 
 
 These honest folks afforded Julian proofs, 
 That hospitahty reigns under roofs 
 Humble and low as theirs ; nor more he thought 
 Upon the errand wliich had thither brought 
 His wand'ring body : his now steadfast eyes 
 Fix on Amanda, as a glorious prize. 
 By turns, her shape, or air, or face pleas'dmost, 
 Till his whole soul in ecstasy was lost. 
 He heeded not the cheer before him laid, 
 His glowing fancy feasted on the maid ; 
 His rapt'rous glance she could not but perceive, 
 Her eyes his darting looks dar'd not receive; 
 But wand'ring o'er the ground, or sideway cast, 
 Ne'er look'd towards him but with timid haste. 
 Julian prolong'd his visit to the most. 
 And then reluctant left his kindly host, 
 And hostess fair, though he resolv'd to pay 
 Another visit r.t no distant day. 
 
 He
 
 . THE METROPOLIS. 1 57 
 
 He did so. Luckless, Zamor was from heme; 
 His eyes, uninterrupted, wildly roam 
 O'er fair Amanda; his perfidious tongue 
 With well-turn'd praises of her beauties rung. 
 " What pity 'tis," he cried, " you were not born 
 To share a palace, and a throne adorn ; 
 That niggard Fortune doom'd to mud-wall'd cot. 
 One form'd by nature for more glorious lot : 
 Might I presume t'avert the base design. 
 Here, at your feet, behold myself and mine.'' 
 This flatt'ry, oft repeated, deep instill'd 
 Its baneful poison, and her mind v/as fili'd 
 With, vanity (the sex's curse) and pride. 
 Which to their roin nearly is allied . 
 To private interviews the maid gave way, 
 And Julian made new progress ev'ry day. 
 At length, all honour, sense of duty lost, 
 Her fragile bark submitting to be tost 
 On life's dread ocean, up to town she fiew, 
 And a kept mistress flutter'd gay to view. 
 
 The hapless Zamor, when the setting sun 
 Ended his toil, found all l»is treasure gone ; 
 Nor long unknown, what worse than death to hear, 
 A neighbour, who had seen the whole affair, 
 
 Tcld
 
 158 THE METKOrOLlS. 
 
 Toki Iiim, Amanda, more than a loni; liour. 
 
 Had left the ncighbVhood in post-chaise and tbnr 
 
 Vv'ith an Oxonian. Zamor quickly guest 
 
 Till* villain who had robb'd him thus of rest; 
 
 He flew to Oxford, to the Chanc'I'.or told 
 
 His talc, which would have mov'd a heart more cold* 
 
 Julian was sought, but nowhere to be found, 
 
 And jus' !y was expell'd from classic ground'. 
 
 The sentence and the crime were qnickly brought 
 To Julian's father; ev'ry where he sought 
 His wrctc'.ied son, to get him to restore 
 His hapless victim, and to sin no more. 
 In vain the search, till all his money spent, 
 Julian for more a trusty servant sent ; 
 Th' indignant father ail supplies refus'd, 
 Unless he sent her back whom he'd abus'cf, 
 And hasten'd home. When Julian heard the news, 
 He flew among the money-lending Jews; 
 Few months he v.'anted to become of age. 
 So found but little trouble to engage 
 One of these spendthrift's _/i/e;«(/6- to lend him gold, 
 With wliich in shameless luxury he roll'd. 
 'Midst dissipatio!! the distracted mind's 
 Diverted from itself; a^id never finds 
 
 Time;
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 159 
 
 Time for reflection; bustle is tlie screen 
 
 ^^'llich Vice displays to keep fruin being seen; 
 
 Retirement, \^irtue's friend, would rend the veil, 
 
 And all her hideous form at once reveal; 
 
 No wretch so harden'd, who does not then see 
 
 The frightful hag in full deformity. 
 
 Thus far'd Amanda; dissipation eas'd. 
 
 Or rather duU'd her mind, too deep diseas'd: 
 
 One instant left alone, reflection came. 
 
 And gave her up a prey to guilty shame. 
 
 In sensual pleasures months rcU'd on apace, 
 Julian, of age, must see his father's face; 
 T' inspect th' accounts of rents drawn from his lands. 
 And take the latter into his own hands. 
 Th' occasion pleasing, yet, with shame and dreaJ, 
 (Such as Vice feels when forc'd to show its head) 
 He kept th' appointment : — let us leave him there. 
 Amanda staid at home, fix'd to a chair ; 
 Unwelcome conscience, an intrusive guest. 
 Her bosom throng'd, and would not let her rest; 
 A stranger was announc'd — his bus'ness press'd: 
 Glad to divert her mind, with thought distress'd, 
 Amanda flew to meet hirn, and beheld 
 The aged Zarnor, whoiu bis staff upheld. 
 
 Distracting
 
 160 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Distracting sight ! — she instantly withdrew, 
 And from the spectre to her chamber flew. 
 Soon the domestic came : — '* The man," she cried, 
 " Beo;s one short moment's audience," — 'tis denied. 
 *' Hasten him off, and tell me when he's gone; 
 Again the servant came, and said — " 'Tis done." 
 " How did he go ? How look ? What say ?" 
 " Tell her," said he, " that for her I shall pray 
 With my last breath; if e'er she want a friend, 
 She must come soon — my cares draw, to an end :" 
 Then, with uplifted hands, and eyes which stream'd — 
 •' Enough !" Amanda cries. A wretch, who dream'd 
 ' Of happiness, thus wakes, and finds he's mock'd 
 By idle visions, which his fancy rock'd. 
 
 Sunk in despair, her face hid in her hands, 
 Before her the astonish'd Julian stands; 
 He hastily demands what caus'd her grief, 
 To tell it gave her lab'ring breast relief. 
 " Is that all .?" Julian cried — " then dry your tears, 
 Fathers indeed are terrible bug-bears ; 
 But children at a certain age are free ; 
 Just so the case is with yourself and me : 
 You see me not in grief, though I have borne 
 Reproaches for your, sake — the world I scorn. 
 
 Let's
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 161 
 
 Let's lo the Park, the threat'ning storm is pastj 
 Qcief mocks itselt' when it te« Iwiig does last.*' 
 
 Thty hurried eff, and joiii'd the thonghtkss f hrong, 
 Which help m\eh other to dreg life along. 
 Whilst Julian's ppssion no abatement knew 
 Amtinda more contented daily grew. 
 But short is guilty passion. Julian hir'd 
 A separate house ; no more her charms iiv^pir'U 
 His womed ardour; with possession cioy'd, 
 He suftev'd her embraces, not enjoy 'd; 
 His visits now at intervals were paid, 
 These longer grew, those shorter, (hapless maid !) 
 Julian had promis'd, when to age he came, 
 That legal rites should sanctify their flame; 
 Whene'er she importunM him so to do, 
 Some urgent bus'uess feign'd, away he flew. 
 Reflection came — Amanda, left to think, 
 Saw tlie contempt to which she fast must sink; 
 Virtue appear'd in dignity array'd. 
 And Vice, unveil'd, her hideous face display'd. 
 Days now roll'd on, and e'en a week, and more. 
 Nor Julian's thund'iing knock assail'd the door; 
 Absorb'd, 'mongst keen-set blacklegs, all his tiine, 
 He lost his money, wasted his life's prime; 
 
 Scare*
 
 162 TtTE METROrOLrS. 
 
 Scarce on Ainniida thought, ftnd when he dul, 
 Twas oiilj to devise how to get rid 
 Of her, now tiresome grown. Amanda's pride 
 Sooii took th' alarm; she saw his tongue belied 
 His heart; the lutter was not her's — 'twas lostj 
 And she, 'twixt hopes and fears unceasing tost, 
 Resolv'd at once from his own lips to hear 
 What left for her to iiope for, or to fear. 
 One day she prcss'd him earnestly to keep 
 His word, and set her restless doubts to sleeps- 
 Equivocating answers ?he receiv'd, 
 Told him no longer she would be deceiv'd; 
 Gave him a week to think on't — he withdrew, 
 Rejoic'd her pride thus seconded his view» 
 
 The week elaps'd, nor Julian once appear'd; 
 Destroy'd the charm which formerly endear'd 
 Amanda to his heart, he eager sought 
 Those pleasures which with novelty were fraught. 
 All the last day, in anxious deep suspense, 
 Amanda sat, almost bereft of sense ; 
 She heard the knocker roar, hope fdl'd her breast, 
 " He comes," she cried, " to set my fears to rest !" 
 The door flew open, 'twas not Julian's face, 
 A stranger 'twas, one seut to fill his place : 
 
 H^
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 163 
 
 lie told her Julian's mind was much distrest, 
 That with each other ihe}» could ne'er be blest ; 
 His fortune was with losses much derung'd, 
 And, worse ! — his father's heart was quite estrang'd; 
 One only way remain'd for him to mend 
 His shatter'd fortune ; marriage was his end, 
 
 And with some rich Amanda heard no more, 
 
 But fell, bereav'd of senses, on the floor. 
 
 The stranger call'd the servants to her aid ; 
 From death they sav'd her, more of life afraid ; 
 Convey'd her to her chamber, where she pass'd 
 A night, she car'd not if to be her last. 
 " How does this dreary gloom of night,'* she cried, 
 " With silent awe our guilty joys deride ! 
 Yet when the morn's once pleasing scenes return, 
 No happier I, who day or night must mourn. 
 Have I not lost the peace of spotless fame. 
 And ting'd a father's glowing cheek with shame? 
 Can I return ? Jf e\r she want a friend 
 Were his last words — they prophecy'd my end. 
 What then ? The prudent old, the spotless young, 
 Will have my shame for ever on their tongue : 
 Let it be so — cast on paternal shore. 
 My bleeding virtue will relapse no more." 
 
 Pleas'd
 
 164 . THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Plens'd at tli' i(I«a, which all'.iy'cl hei' \Vue«, 
 AiiJ Cidm'd l;er miiul, s\w tutrk ittto i't«pgse, 
 Wok© wiib tlii mhig gun, ftiid took tin road 
 Which led to her once ptneeful bleat abode '• 
 AIns ! no more for her a resting'plnce, 
 Strange it appeav'd, und new was ev'ry face. 
 )l«ir beating heart guess'd, ere she ask'd, the news, 
 Nor scorn a tear oi^' p ty could refuse : 
 " Zamor liv'd here," she said. " lie's dead," one crit?. 
 She btagger'd, fell, for ever clos'd her eyes. 
 
 A rose thus, once the pride of garden ground, 
 Gave nectar to the bees, spread fragrance round ; 
 Perfum'd with odoiu's sweet each breeze of air. 
 Though always giving, still was no less fair; 
 Gather'd untimely from its peaceful rest, 
 To deck and grace some hard unfeeling breast, 
 That instant all its beauteous colours fled, 
 And with its charms the lo\'tly rose was dead. 
 
 When Julian heard Amanda was a corse, 
 His callous heart felt nothing like remorse j. 
 With vice enamour'd, e'en of folly vain, 
 lie still pursu'd the soul-destroyivig train. 
 
 A living
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ' 165 
 
 A iiving fell — the gift was in his hands, 
 A SDHg advowson, and some rich glebe lands; 
 Adolphus claim'd the promise — 'twas allaw'd, 
 On him the living freely was bestow'd : 
 Although by debts of honour sadly press'd, 
 Julian to raise the money was distress'd, 
 The claims of gamesters (devastating band !) 
 With heavy mortgages had charg'd his land ; 
 And though by much his income was reduc'd, 
 Yet to reform was Julian not induc'd. 
 
 Adolphus now, his eager hopes to crown, 
 And thank his patron, hastens up to town, 
 And with him brings his wife", a Iiandsnine d:une, 
 Who might in any breast have rai.'d a fiame : 
 Julian's was touchwood, and it soon caught fire — ■ 
 She rais'd, he strove to gratify desire. 
 Each plot seductive he contriv'd, nor vain, 
 Altho' no easy conquest 'twas to gain ; 
 Eliza fell beneath his wily art. 
 Her husband noxo no longer had her heart. 
 
 o 
 
 Some days their guilty pleasures they pursu'd 
 With titmost caution, nor Adolphus vieyv'd 
 
 With
 
 166 TilE METROPOLIS. 
 
 V^'ith jealous eyes the great attention shewn 
 By Julian to his wife, though pointed grown : 
 Blindly secure, th' enraptur'd pair indulg'd 
 In freedoms which their secret guilt divulg'd. 
 Adolphus rag'd to find his treach'rous friend 
 Had thus of ail his comforts made an end; 
 lie lov'd Eli/a, and all offers spinn'd 
 Of compromise — his heart for vengeance burn'd; 
 Renounc'd the living he disdain'd to hold, 
 lie would not bear dishonour 'sake of gold ; 
 To the law's remedy he first applied, 
 An action for crim, con. is brought and tried; 
 A verdict of five thousand pounds obtain'd, 
 To lowest dregs the estate of Julian drain'd. 
 
 Nor yet Adolphus felt his wrath abate — 
 The price of shame could not allay his hate; 
 He went to law, not Jo increase his store, 
 But, as himself, to make his rival poor: 
 That end was answer'd — Julian was undone, 
 The law and dice had his List guinea won. 
 Eliza, dearly fcoughr, was now contemn'd. 
 To want, and shame, and misery condemn'd ; 
 Tiirn'd out of doors, no place to hide her head, 
 AU night 5hc stroll'd the streets for daily bread. 
 
 Th
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 167 
 
 'Tis tlius u flow'r, vvliich sight and smell alliir'd, 
 Once pluclv'd, decays, is little while eiidiir'd; 
 Together %vith its heuuty iiies each sweet, 
 Grown nauseous soon, and trodden under feet, 
 
 Pond'rinji; on ways and means lost Julian sat. 
 Now started up — one moment snatch'd his hat, 
 Kesdlv'd to see his lather — luit the next 
 Found him 'taixt shame and guilt, as erst perple>i.t. 
 Th'idea vanish'd, he resum'd his chair, 
 Abandon'd to distraction and despair. 
 A messenger arriv'd, a letter broiiglit, 
 A challenge 'twas, and by Adolphus wrote : 
 Julian accepted it, flew to a friend, 
 And begg'd a brace of pistols he would lend. 
 " Aye," answers he, " you are a lad of merit, 
 And the road's good for those who have the spirit ; 
 At night you'll meet us? Cash is stirring, man — " 
 " I will," cries Julian : to Hyde-park he ran. 
 Adolphus was already in the Ring; 
 They aim'd — at once each touch'd the fatal spring ; 
 Adolphus' breast receiv'd the murd'rous lead, 
 Aad, murd'rer like, the wretched Julian fled. 
 
 To
 
 ioS THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 To shun the law's pfcrsuit, his lodging cbang'd, t 
 , Ft arlui of day, at midnight Julian rang'd ; 
 Tiii, urg'd by want, he to his father wrote 
 A raost repentiant, most submissive note. 
 The aged parent, through his fonc^ concern, 
 Had been too anxious of his son to leam; 
 The news had made him sick, and then in bed 
 (Which he was ne'er to quit !) for him he bled. 
 E'en in that state he was rejoic'd to hear 
 Ilis son's repentance; wiping off the tear, 
 " Let him," said lie, " come hither ere I die; 
 Ileav'n to repentance yields, much more ought I." 
 
 Like light'ning Julian flew; no pious thought 
 Quicken'd his steps — the fortune 'twas he sought) 
 Euter'd the chamber, and the bed approach'd, 
 ilis crhnes the dying parent ne'er reproach'd • 
 " I leave you all," says be. " My Julian, quit 
 Those tempters who, like fiends, al>uut you flit; 
 "Who court you only to destructive ends, 
 To ruin under the disguise of friends. 
 All my concerns now fall into your hands, 
 A handsome surplus after all demands; 
 Tread in my steps — you may regain what's lost, 
 An honest jnerchant's England'* proudest boast; 
 
 Quit
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 169 
 
 Quit vain pursuits, despise false honour's rules, 
 
 The treach'rpus web in wlxich rank knaves catch fools ; 
 
 Be virtuous, prudent, Heaven will bestow — " 
 
 He could no more, breath'd short, his pulse beat slow ; 
 
 Clos'd were his eyes awhile, then open, clos'd. 
 
 The good old man died as he had only doz'd. 
 
 Like as the sun behind the western hills. 
 Though seen no more, the neighb'ring vallies fills 
 With its departing rays; so does tlie fame 
 Of a good man long while preserve his name. 
 
 Vr'ho thinks on Julian's mind this scene would make 
 A due impression, make a wide mistake ; 
 Some little grief he feign'd, though none did (eel, 
 'Tvvas only art rejoicing to conceal. 
 Scarce within bounds of decency he kept, 
 Till in the grave his father's ashes slept ; 
 Then sold off all, to former courses flew. 
 It seem'd the dice-box to his fingers grew; 
 Scarce ever separate, but when he'd pass 
 Some looser hours with women o'er the glass. 
 
 a' 
 
 On such an errand he one night repair'd, 
 Whither, for similar purpose, he oft steer'd ; 
 
 VOL. III. I No
 
 J 70 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 No female there, he bade the waiter haste 
 
 To fetch him one could please his sickly taste : 
 
 Not long he tarried ere the lady came, 
 
 Dim were her eyes, emaciate her frame. 
 
 " My taste you better knew, I should have thought — 
 
 You waiter ! Who's this haggard thing you've brouglil ?" 
 
 " I pleas'd you once," cried she, in feeble tone, 
 
 " And ne'er had now lamented beauty flown, 
 
 If your seductive arts had not betray'd. 
 
 And of this mis'ry the foundation laid : 
 
 Behold Eliza ! once the happy wife 
 
 Of that Adolphus you depriv'd of life !' 
 
 Julian that instant started from the roc m, 
 And left the wretched wand'rer to her doom ; 
 Flew to the gaming-house, with wine inflam'd, 
 And, by the spectre haunted, deeply gam'd; 
 Nor happily : each throw his loss increas'd. 
 And rais'd his ardour as his means decrea»j'd. 
 To his last stake ill-fortune ne'er gave o'er, ' 
 
 He lost, he bit the dice, rav'd, stampM, and swore; 
 Then left the room with looks of wild despair. 
 ' He's gone," cried they, " on th' road to take the air !" 
 
 Such thoughts indeed had Julian — home he flew, 
 And from the case the loaded pistols drew ; 
 
 Again
 
 THE METROPOLIS. t7 1 
 
 Again the ghastly spectre sore annoy'd. 
 
 " By those," he cried, " Adolphus was destroy'd ! 
 
 By those, perhaps, another falls this night, 
 
 Or else myself: — Ah! need that thought affright? 
 
 The courses which through life I have pursued. 
 
 In blood already Jiave my hands imbrued : 
 
 Zamor, Amanda, Adolph, start to view, 
 
 Shaking their gory locks, each cries — ^Tccas you ! 
 
 See, see ! my father too reluctant rise, 
 
 And join th' accusing throng with tear-blurr'd eyes. 
 
 Can Ileav'n these multifarious crimes forgive ? 
 
 That's for hereafter. IJow shall I now live ? 
 
 Say that I rub — why justice, soon or late, 
 
 With ignominious death will seal my fate: 
 
 Why not die now? The means this tube supplies, 
 
 Touch but the spring, and all my anguish dies : 
 
 Tiien be it so." 'Tis cock'd — his palsied hand 
 
 Presents it to his head — he mukes a stand- — 
 
 Tries to ejaculate a feeble pray'r, 
 
 I'ut nu good i;enius, guardiim angel, near, 
 
 Whispers him comtort. •' Ali, 'tis vain!" he cries, 
 
 Then ihrougl) his iieiid the murd'rous lead swift flies; 
 
 Ills soul, with guilt deep-laden, and remurse. 
 
 Disgusted, leaves the sha.tter'd mangled cor^e. 
 
 i^^ CflAP.
 
 172 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 CHAP. vir. 
 
 A Foxhunter^s Declaration of Love hit off in 
 Style — lie is thrown out, and rides Home in the 
 Dumps. 
 
 During this time the treaty of alliance 
 between the families of Spanker and 
 Thrum had been commenced, and ab- 
 ruptly broken off. Miss Thrum had been 
 prepared by her mother for the Baronet's 
 intentions, "which, it may be well sup- 
 posed, she felt no inclination to favour. 
 The Baronet, whose heart was not in the 
 slightest degree interested in the affair, 
 
 opened
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 173 
 
 opened the pre'liminavies in as iincon- 
 carjned a manner as if it had been a 
 common turf transaction. 
 
 " I presume, Miss Thrum/' said he, 
 '* that your mother has acquainted you 
 that Lady Spanker has been proposing a 
 match between you and myself, and I 
 have no doubt that we shall make as 
 pretty a pair as ever started over the 
 course of matrimony. For my part, I 
 never baulk sport — give or take, all the 
 same to me — never flinch — play or pay 
 is my maxim — sound wind and limb — 
 blood to the bone — neither shy, bolt, 
 nor founder — hold out to the last — so, 
 if you say done, it's a bargain." 
 
 " I am truly sensible. Sir John, of the 
 honour and advantages attending your 
 proposal, but I must beg to decline 
 them, as our dispositions are not adapted 
 
 1 3 to
 
 174 THE 51ETnOP0LIS. 
 
 to congeniality, and without that mar- 
 riage can be but a burden." 
 
 ** Pish ! there is not a fellow in the 
 world can be more congenial than myself; 
 suit all tempers — do just as you like— 
 choose your own equipage, liveries— 
 the country or watering-places in the 
 summer — London or Bath in the winter 
 — go smoothly over the ground, you'll 
 
 see." 
 
 " Our ideas of happiness. Sir John, are 
 widely different; I prefer domestic hap- 
 piness to all the giddy scenes of fashion- 
 able pursuits." 
 
 "Well, have every thing your own 
 v^ay — go abroad, or stay at home — town 
 or country — no constraint — break cover 
 whenever you please. Is not that con- 
 genial? Is not that enough?" 
 
 *' Much more than any reasonable wo- 
 man
 
 the' metropolis. 175 
 
 man would desire, Sir John; but still 
 there is a somewhat which I must leave to 
 your sense to penetrate, as I cannot ex- 
 plain it," 
 
 "Why not? Give it tongue — sha'n't 
 stand out for trifles — pin-money — settle- 
 ment upon brats — let the old ones settle 
 those matters." 
 
 , " These are but secondary objects. Sir 
 John, where the essentials are wanting. 
 There is an obstacle — " 
 
 ** Eh, what ! — I smoke it. Engaged to 
 another, I suppose — all is not gold that 
 glitters. There is as good manhood to 
 be found under a hunting frock as a 
 scarlet coat, though all the good of the 
 one be on the inside, and of the other 
 on the outside." 
 
 "I see. Sir John, that we shall never 
 be brought to consider the subject in the 
 
 1 4 - same
 
 176 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 same light, and therefore I must desire 
 that you will drop it entirely." 
 
 " What, then you cry off? That's poz, 
 is it?" 
 
 " I certainly must persist in declining 
 your proposals. Sir John." 
 
 "Pull up's the word; never follow a 
 blind thace — soon start fresh game, I'll 
 T.'arrani ye, with not half the tricks and 
 doubles — all fair running. So you mean 
 no for an answer?" 
 
 *'I do, Sir." 
 
 " Well then, stakes drawn — no match 
 — off we are." 
 
 Sir John now sought Lady Spanker, 
 who was waitinor to hear the issue of his 
 declaration, and was so indignant at so 
 peremptory a refusal, that she termed 
 Miss Thrum a fool, and the Baronet a 
 booby. She told him to give orders 
 
 for
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 177 
 
 for their instant departure^ whilst she 
 herself made a last effort with the Knight 
 and his Lady. She accordingly solicited 
 and obtained an interview with them, in 
 which she pointed out all the advantages 
 (not forgetting to throw into the scale 
 some hints of the honour) attending her 
 proposal; and acquainting them with 
 their daughter's blindness to her own inte- 
 rest, as she termed it, concluded with 
 attributing it to (its real motive) her 
 attachment to the Major, of whom she 
 affected to speak very disdainfully. 
 
 Sir Jacob was quite thunderstruck at 
 this latter insinuation, as he had never 
 entertained the least idea of construing 
 the Major's silent attention into a love 
 for his daughter. He stared wildly at his 
 Lady, and asked if it were really so? 
 " This is the very first time I ever 
 I 5 heard
 
 178 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 heard of it," replied her Ladyship; "but 
 it would not be very wonderful if two 
 persons of different sexes, and of no 
 very different ages, should entertain an 
 esteem for each other." 
 
 " What, my Lady ! — has she dared, 
 without our approbation " 
 
 *' Such matters very often take place 
 without the approbation of even the par- 
 ties themselves," said Lady Thrum, with 
 a smile. " Love generally takes by sur- 
 prise.'* 
 
 " I know nothing about that, my 
 Lady, but I am surprised and offended 
 too." 
 
 *' It will be time enough to be offended 
 with your daughter, when she shall have 
 committed a breach of duty. Sir Jacob." 
 
 ** Well then, if I have no right to be 
 
 offended,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 179 
 
 oflended, I suppose I may be surprised, 
 that she has not asked for our approba- 
 tion." 
 
 '' I have no doubt. Sir Jacob, that 
 Maria will see the propriety of obtaining 
 it, before she forms any engagement." 
 
 " But, my Lady, there must be some- 
 thing in it, or she would never have re- 
 fused such an offer. Do step and ask 
 her about it." 
 
 " I have ordered my carriage to be 
 got ready," said Lady Spanker, " as un- 
 der such circumstances, any longer stay 
 must be disagreeable to both parties; 
 but if you think Miss Thrum may be 
 brought to reason " 
 
 " If that be the case," observed Lady 
 Thrurn, with somevr'hat of displeasure, 
 " I really conceive that this is pressing 
 
 1 6 my
 
 ISO THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 my daughter too hastily; a matter of 
 such importance is not to be arranged in 
 an hour — female delicacy forbids it." 
 
 *' why, aye, the girl should have fair 
 play, as you say, my Lady. 'Tis all a 
 trick of the sex, to say no, to the first, 
 second, and sometimes the third asking, 
 when they mean aije at the same time. 
 Is it not, my Lady?" 
 
 *' The duplicity of your sex, Sir Jacob, 
 makes a little reserve on the side of ours, 
 not only necessary, but highly proper ; 
 but I have ever found Maria lo be candid 
 on most occasions." 
 
 '* Then undoubtedly she is so on this," 
 said Lady Spanker, "" and it will be use- 
 less to press her any farther." 
 
 " I don't know that, Lady Spanker," 
 
 said Bir Jacob; " girls don't know their 
 
 4t own
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 181 
 
 own minds. Do, my dear, step and rea- 
 son over the matter with her." 
 
 '' I will comply with your wish. Sir 
 Jacob, although I wholly disapprove of 
 such hasty measures." 
 
 Maria readily acknowledged her un- 
 conquerable aversion to an alliance with 
 the Baronet ; and on being pressed by 
 her mother, she, after some hesitation, 
 confessed her attachment to the Major. 
 
 " That being the case, as indeed I had 
 begun to suspect," said her Ladyship, " it 
 would be very ungenerous to detain the 
 Baronet any longer in a fruitless pursuit, 
 and T shall endeavour, if it be possible, 
 to free you from his importunities, with- 
 out giving offence. I am assured that 
 your father, no more than myself, would 
 not seek to force your inclinations, but 
 
 we
 
 1S2 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 we Still retain our right of approving or 
 disapproving your choicC;, which is a 
 matter for future consideration." 
 
 Lady Thrum now returned to the com- 
 pany, and addressing hei*self to Lady 
 Spanker, expressed a hope, that, not- 
 withstanding her daughter's inclination 
 did not lead her to accept the honour of 
 the proposed alliance, still the families 
 might continue on their former friendly 
 footing. 
 
 '' Oh, certainly, my Lady," replied 
 Lady Spanker, somewhat indignantly ; 
 '' whenever we meet we shall behave 
 with our usual cixility, as one cannot be 
 answerable for the absurdities of one's 
 children. Time ami experience can only 
 brlns: them to their senses." 
 
 A sei"vant now announced that the car- 
 
 nage
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 183 
 
 riage was ready, and Sir John seated on 
 the box. Some few cold civilities and 
 formalities of leave-taking ensued, as Sir 
 Jacob and his lady attended Lady Spanker 
 to her carriage; the Baronet Jiung an 
 adieu with his hand, grasped his whip, 
 and drove off in style, thinking no more 
 of Miss Thrum than of one of her mo- 
 ther's cook-maids. 
 
 Sir Jacob was very much hurt at the 
 cavalier departure of his guests; and her 
 Ladyship, though no less deeply offended, 
 was very much pleased with the occasion 
 of it. 
 
 '' You see. Sir Jacob, what an insulting 
 air of superiority they affect to assume 
 
 over us." 
 
 *' Aye, on account of their superior 
 rank, I suppose; but for all that, they are 
 
 much
 
 184 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 much our inferiors in good manners, and, 
 what is more, in fortune too, with all 
 their loftiness." 
 
 *' Thev have shewn themselves, Sir Ja- 
 cob; the fortune was their only aim. 
 We may now repay their insolence with 
 a proper contempt; but how galling 
 would it have been, if an alliance of the 
 families had daily exposed us to it !" 
 
 "I have a great mind, my Lady, just 
 to spite them, that's all, \o get myself 
 made a Baronet; a few thousands would 
 do the job.'* 
 
 "Poh, poh. Sir Jacob, you have this 
 instant had a striking example that rank 
 does not increase respectability. Those 
 thousands which you would barter for a 
 chimera, might contribute essentially to 
 the happiness of some man worthy of 
 our daughter's affection^ and who will 
 
 have
 
 n^t METROPOLIS. 185 
 
 have more sense than to prefer his horses 
 and hU dogs t© his wife. Let U8 shew 
 ourselves above saerlfieing solidity to 
 sound,'* 
 
 */ But surely, my dear, you would not 
 have us throw away Maria upon a Major, 
 whose commission is his sole possession ?'* 
 
 *' We do not know that it is so. Sir 
 Jacob, and even then I must confess that 
 I should prefer him to the booby Ba- 
 ronet. We might, at least, expect as 
 respectful treatment from him, as that of 
 the Baronet would have been the reverse. 
 He seems to hawo the strictest sense of 
 honour, and Maria has no less a sense of 
 duty, so that we have little to apprehend. 
 As, hov/ever, I have ascertained that Ma- 
 ria's happiness is interested in what con- 
 cerns the Major, it may be proper to 
 make some inquiries, and I have a pro^ 
 
 posal
 
 IS6 TKE METROPOLIS. 
 
 posal to make to yon, my dear. Suppose 
 we send to town, to request Mr. Bonny- 
 castle's rompany for a few days; we both 
 entertain a high opinion of him; he is 
 the intimate friend of the Major, and 
 may be able to give us some information." 
 
 ** Well, well, manage matters as you 
 think proper; but I am afraid my appe- 
 tite is gone for my dinner." 
 
 '* Nonsense, my dear; your dinner 
 shall be just the same as if your guests 
 had tarried; and 1 should entertain a very 
 indifferent opinion of your understand- 
 ing, if I could harbour an idea that the 
 loss of such company could subtract the 
 least from your enjoyment of it.** 
 
 *' Perhaps, my dear, I shan't eat an 
 ounce the less, particularly if the hare be 
 well roasted." 
 
 "I shall look to it myself, Sir Jacob, 
 
 the
 
 THK METROPOLIS. !87 
 
 the instant I have dispatched a messenger. 
 But, now I think of it, Augustus is quite 
 disengaged, and would be happy to con- 
 vey the invitation to his friend, as well 
 as most likely to succeed.*' ; 
 
 " Well, well, I don't care who goes 
 upon that errand, so you mind the hare; 
 let the stuffing be nice." 
 
 " Never fear." 
 
 Augustus very readily undertook the 
 commission, and he had no sooner re- 
 ceived his instructions than he mounted 
 his horse, and set out for London. He 
 arrived at the very moment when Brian 
 was wishing to communicate to him Ver- 
 juice's scheme, the latter having found 
 a \fember of Parliament, who possessed 
 a considerable landed property, and who 
 wished to encrease his consequence with 
 his constituents, ready to join the firm, 
 
 and
 
 188 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and to advance forty thousand poiindg, 
 on hr.ving his name put at the head of it, 
 and being allowed a proportionable share 
 in the concern. Augustus informed Brian 
 how matters stood at Ewel. Giles was 
 ordered to take charge of Augustus's 
 horse, to saddle his own hackney for his 
 master, and to lead them both to the foot 
 of Westminster-bridge. Brian and Au- 
 gustus hastened to the Major's lodging, 
 made known to him the issue of the Ba- 
 ronet's overtures, and, having promised 
 to send him word how matters went on, 
 set out for Ewel. They found Sir Jacob 
 in the midst of his afternoon's nap, and 
 Augustus conducted Brian to pay his re- 
 spects to his mother and sister. 
 
 " We have lost Lady Spanker and her 
 son, Mr. Bonnycastle," said her Ladyship. 
 
 "So I understand, my Lady." 
 
 '' And
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ISf 
 
 " And we wanted you to entertain Sir 
 Jacob." 
 
 '' I shall be extremely glad, my Lady, 
 if my company will have that effect; ! 
 obeyed your summons with the utmost 
 pleasure." 
 
 *' You are very kind. Sir ; I know not 
 how we can repay you, unless by pre- 
 vailing on a certain lady to give us her 
 company too." 
 
 " He must be devoid of sense, my Lady, 
 who cannot derive happiness from the 
 present circle; but whoever has enjoyed 
 the conversation of the lady to whom, I 
 presume, you allude, must acknowledge 
 that her presence will enliven any so- 
 ciety." 
 
 " We are so well convinced of it. Sir, 
 that I shall dispatch the carriage to-mor- 
 row morning, with a request to Mr. 
 
 Hewson,
 
 490 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Hewsoiij that he will permit his daughter 
 to return in it." 
 
 " Not, I hope, my Lady, under an idea 
 that my abode here would be otherwise 
 irksome to me." 
 
 " Oh no, Sir, we shall be almost as 
 happy in Miss Hewson's company as you 
 can be." 
 
 On the road to Ewel, Brian had com- 
 municated to Augustus the scheme which 
 Verjuice had formed for him, in which a 
 Mr. Barter, a member of parliament, and 
 a man of large landed property in Sussex, 
 hnd agreed to embark his name, and a 
 capital to the extent of forty thousand 
 pounds, and that there was only one other 
 partner wanting to set the business afloat, 
 and that they imagined such a connexion 
 would be an eligible opportunity for 
 himsell" to launch out upon the world, 
 
 as
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 1 9 I 
 
 as he had been bred to business. Au- 
 gustus professed to entertain the utmost 
 pleasure at the offer, and undertook to 
 prevail upon his father to give his con- 
 sent to it, and to furnish him with a suf- 
 ficient capital. - 
 
 He now left the room to speak to his 
 father on the subject; Maria, on a look 
 from her mother, made some excuse for 
 withdrawing, and Lady Thrum introduced 
 the Major on the carpet. Brian gave 
 him the highest character for honour, 
 bravery, correct, at the same time po- 
 lished manners, and an understanding 
 refined both by education and a know- 
 ledge of the world. 
 
 " I have seen enough of the Major," 
 said her Ladyship, '' to give him credit 
 for all that you say in his favour, but you 
 know that my daughter will receive a 
 
 handsome
 
 192 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 handsome fortune, and her father and 
 myself will naturally expect that it be 
 met, if oot with an equivalent, yet with 
 a decent support of the consequences of 
 a married life. The Major has not in- 
 deed made any overtures to us; but as 
 I am informed by Maria that he had pro- 
 fessed an attachment to her, it cannot 
 be improper to make some inquiry re- 
 specting his circumstances, particularly 
 of yourself, who are a friend of both 
 parties." 
 
 *' Your Ladyship does me honour, and 
 is entitled to my utmost candour. I have 
 heard the Major say that his sole inheri- 
 tance was a paternal estate in Glouces- 
 tershire, of about five hundred pounds 
 a- year, out of which his mother, who is 
 still living, receives one hundred and 
 fifty pounds a-year for her jointure; after 
 
 her
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 195 
 
 lier death, the estate will be his clear pro- 
 perty. He has always lived as prudent 
 as his situation in life would admit of his 
 doing, but I do not know that he has — I 
 should rather imagine that he cannot 
 have — saved any thing out of his income/' 
 
 " I am highly obliged by your since- 
 rity. Sir, and I shall acquaint Sir Jacob 
 %vith what you have told me. If my 
 daughter gives the preference to the 
 Major, I shall consult her inclination, and 
 at the same time, I must confess, my own, 
 in supporting the Major's pretensions, 
 as I entertain a very favourable opinion 
 of him; but that must rest till he shall 
 think fit to make his proposals." 
 
 '*That, I am assured, my Lady, he would 
 not lose a moment in doing, if he thought 
 he should not incur the imputation of 
 presumption/' 
 
 VOL. III. K "' Oil,
 
 194 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 *' Oh, Sir ! what, a soldier, and afraid ! 
 However^ he had best delay the business 
 till I have had a little time to prepare Sir 
 Jacob for it." 
 
 The Knight's mind had been so full 
 of the supercilious behaviour of Lady 
 Spanker and the Baronet, that even 
 slumber did not erase the impression. 
 He dreamed that a competition had arisen 
 between himself and Sir John for a par- 
 ticularly fine turbot, and that a prefe- 
 rence had been given to his competitor, 
 on account of the precedency of his 
 rank ; he awoke with mixed emotions of 
 disappointment, vexation, and rage, and 
 imagined that his dream was an omen for 
 his future guidance : he was almost re- 
 solved on procuring the honour of here- 
 ditary knighthood, when Augustus en- 
 tered the room. The Baronet instantly 
 
 opened
 
 THE METROPOLIS. . 195 
 
 opened the subject to his son, who, he 
 imagined, would gladly accede to his 
 opinion, by stating the importance at- 
 tached to rank — that his own title, no? 
 being hereditary, his son would be only 
 a plain esquire, which, now-a-days, signi- 
 fied nothing: thus wishing to pass off his 
 own ambition as solely the efTect of pa- 
 ternal regard, he declared his intention 
 of procuring a title, which would de- 
 scend to his son, as well as his estates. 
 
 Augustus, smiling, said, that as his fa- 
 ther had been the founder of his own 
 fortune, he had a right to lay it out on a 
 title, or in any other way he pleased, and 
 that it was the utmost wish of his fair.ilv 
 to see him happy in every respect ; but, 
 as for himself, he wished to tread in his' 
 father's steps ; and after he should have 
 shewn himself worthy of Fortune's fa- 
 
 K 2 vours.
 
 195 THE METROrOLIS. 
 
 vours, by honourable pui-suifs^ it would 
 be then time enough for him to think of 
 adding to its honours. He then disclosed 
 the proposal which Brian had made to 
 him. 
 
 The Knight had always been afraid 
 that his son would think himself above 
 business, which had never lost its charms 
 with himself; and he no sooner heard him 
 voluntarily offer to take the very bias to 
 which he would have inclined him, than 
 he opened his eyes, and demanded if he 
 was in earnest? On being answered that 
 it was his wish, the Knight observed, that 
 the banking-business was an honourable 
 and a lucrative line of life ; that he had 
 heard Mr. Barter mentioned as a man of 
 considerable property, and that he should 
 have no objection to advance for him a 
 
 feum
 
 THE METROPOLIS, 197 
 
 sum equal to what his friend Brian should 
 subscribe towards the joint-stock. 
 
 Brian was now called in to talk over 
 the business; and the Knight was so de- 
 lighted with the new scheme, that the 
 title was wholly forgot, and he thought 
 no more of Lady Spanker and the Ba- 
 ronet than they did of him. During 
 the rest of the evening the conversation 
 turned wholly on the profits of bankers, 
 in which the Knight could display con- 
 siderable knowledge; and Lady Thrum, 
 on being made acquainted with the 
 scheme, was no less pleased with it. She 
 was too sensible a woman not to be 
 aware» that when once hereditary pride 
 had stolen into a family, all the younger 
 branches of it were sacrificed to keep up 
 the dignity of the heir to the title. She 
 
 K 5 loved
 
 198 THE IVIETROPOJJS. 
 
 loved her children equally, and dreaded 
 the Knight's new whim of being created 
 a Baronet, as tending to the prejudice of 
 her daughter, and was rejoiced at any 
 xneasure which could divert him from it, 
 without seeming to thwart his inclina- 
 tions; she therefore gave it all the sup- 
 port in her power: nay, not to suffer the 
 matter to cool, she proposed that Au- 
 gustus and Brian should set ofTfor London 
 the next morning, to settle prelimina- 
 ries with Mr. Barter, and that they should 
 return together. Matters were so ar- 
 ranged, and Augustus and his friend set 
 out for town in the carriage, in which it 
 was intended that Miss Hewson should re- 
 turn, leaving the Major's concern wholly 
 to the management of Lady Thrum. 
 
 On their arrival, Augustus immediately 
 waited on Mr. Hewson, to convey the 
 
 request
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 199 
 
 request of his father and mother; but 
 Charlotte informed him that her father 
 was 80 very mueh indisposed, that she 
 could by no means think of leaving him 
 for the present; the carriage therefore 
 was sent back empty. 
 
 K 4 CHAie.
 
 SOO THE METROPOLIS* 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Gambling Friendships exemplified — More ef their 
 Tricks displaijed — A new Acquaintance^ and a 
 Windfall. 
 
 As several days had elapsed, Brian pre- 
 sumed that St. Pierre and Pipeur must 
 have decamped, and he ventured one af- 
 ternoon to pay a visit to Mrs. Adamson, 
 He was very happy to hear that his con- 
 jectures were well founded; he was no 
 less pleased to find that the worthy wo- 
 man was getting into a little business-— 
 her shop was decently stocked, and ease 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS. SOI 
 
 and happiness once more shining on the 
 faces of this once distressed family. Saun- 
 tering thence towards the lodgings of his 
 friend Fascine, he found him in company 
 with Sir Charles Rushlight. The Baronet 
 had been entertaining the Major with 
 the trick which had been played off upon 
 Shadow by two Dutch sharpers, and which 
 was now no secret, as St. Pierre, although 
 disappointed of his aim of stripping him 
 of all his ill-gotten wealth, had pursued 
 him with all the malice of impotent 
 
 revenge. 
 
 Previously to his leaving the country, 
 he had written a letter to the Baronet, 
 inclosing a note to Shadow. The former 
 contained a disclosure of all Shadow's 
 tricks, and of his attempts to decoy his 
 friend, the Baronet, into the snares which 
 fee had spread for him, as well as for all 
 
 K 5 others
 
 ?02 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 others who had the honour of his ac- 
 quaintance. In the latter, he confessed 
 his disguise, the motives which had in- 
 duced him to take that mode of revenge; 
 and concluding with a bitter taunt, that 
 as Shadow had formerly advised him to 
 return to his original profession of marker 
 at a billinrd-table, so he would, in return, 
 hint to him the expediency of resuming 
 his own original condition of pimp to 
 fools of quality, which was a less hazar- 
 dous occupation than that of a gamester, 
 and would ensure him full access to the 
 purses of his employers, at the trifling 
 cxpence of their contempt. 
 
 Brian trembled at hearing this expo- 
 sure, but when he found that his own 
 name was not once hinted at, and, after 
 probing the Earonet, could neither dis- 
 cover from his conversation nor looks, 
 4 that
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 203 
 
 that he was considered as in the least im- 
 plicated, he joined in the laugh raised at 
 Shadow's expence. 
 
 The Baronet had resolved to make the 
 affair as public as possible, as no particle 
 of friendship could have entered into 
 the composition of two such characters, 
 and he was enraged at his duplicity and 
 treachery. He swore not only to cut his 
 acquaintance, but to publish his disgrace, 
 and unmask his real character. 
 
 " Thus 'tis when ijamesters disagree, 
 Tiiey bhize each other's villany." 
 
 But Brian stopped this first ebullition of 
 his passion, by hinting that Shadow might 
 seek to retaliate, and particularly adverted 
 to the late feat at Newmarket. The Ba- 
 ronet's rage soon yielded to this remon- 
 strance, and he resolved on taking a 
 
 K G more
 
 204 THE METKOPOLIS. 
 
 more secret revenge. After the Baronet* 
 departure, the Major and Brian diverted 
 themselves with the success of St. Pierre's 
 revenge, which had mortified the vanity 
 of two such worthies, and set them toge- 
 ther by the ears. They now agreed to 
 pass away the evening at one of the 
 theatres, and accordingly took the route 
 leading to that of Covent-garden; the 
 doors were not yet opened, and they ad- 
 journed to one of the hotels under the 
 piazzas, to take a glass of wine. The 
 table was scarcely replenished before the 
 waiter opened the door, and they heard 
 him say — '* Here are two gentlemen, but 
 I do not know whether they are the same 
 you want to see." 
 
 Three country-looking persons now 
 introduced themselves, and Brian and 
 the Major instantly recognized them to 
 
 be
 
 THE METROPOLIS, S05 
 
 be the very same who had played Sir 
 Charles Rushlight such a trick at Epsom. 
 The sharpers said to one another, Mr. 
 Shadow is not here; and one of them, 
 addressing himself to our friends, said, 
 that they thought to have met a Mr. Sha- 
 dow there, and asked if they were ac- 
 quainted with such a person? Brian, 
 giving the Major's elbow a squeeze, re- 
 plied, that they were acquainted with a 
 gentleman of that name, but that they 
 had not come thither with an expectation 
 of meeting him. 
 
 " Well, since you are acquainted to- 
 gether," said the same person, " we will 
 wait his arrival here, if we shall not inter- 
 rupt any particular business." 
 
 Brian, willing to see the end of this 
 adventure, replied, that he and his friend 
 were upon bo business, and had only 
 
 stept
 
 '206 THE METROPOLIiS, 
 
 stept in till the doors of the theatre 
 should be opened. 
 
 The three sharpers then called for 
 ^vine, and after two or three glasses, one 
 of them proposed a game of cards^, to 
 pass away the time; this proposal was 
 agreed to by the rest, but an obstacle was 
 started, that there were only three of 
 them. 
 
 "' Perhaps," said one, " these gentle- 
 men will have no objection to take a 
 hand, merely for amusement, or a share 
 of a bottle of wine." 
 
 Brian and the Major both declined the 
 invitation, and the three colleagues set 
 down to dumb whist. In the course of 
 the game, at which they all feigned to be 
 novices, frequent disputes arose, which 
 they referred to the by-standers, and used 
 all the usual methods of drawing them in 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 207 
 
 to be interested in betting or otherwise, 
 but without success; they knew their 
 men too well to swallow the bait. 
 
 About an hour afterwards Shadow en- 
 tered the room with two gentlemen, 
 ■whom he introduced to the three shar- 
 pers, but that instant catching the eyes 
 of Brian and the Major, he appeared thun- 
 derstruck. Presently, calling up all his 
 effrontery, he came round to salute them, 
 expressing his surprise at so unexpected 
 a rencontre; then, in a half-whisper, he 
 asked if they knew the gentlemen with 
 whom he had found them in company ? 
 
 **^ No," replied Brian, '''we were not 
 in their company, although they have 
 come into ours. They told us they ex- 
 pected to meet you here, and I am much 
 mistaken if I have not seen them some- 
 where
 
 §08 THE METROPOLrS. 
 
 >vhere before, and in your company; 
 you mu&t know them certainly." 
 
 *' Don't you think/' asked Shadow, 
 *' that they are the same as played the 
 Baronet and myself such a slippery trick 
 at Epsom?" 
 
 " I think so, aad have thought so fromi 
 the very first sight of them." 
 
 *' I met them by chance, but they did 
 not recollect me, and I have laid a scheme 
 to pay them off in kind. Will you lend 
 a heloinfT handr — Snacks. You under- 
 stand me, eh?" 
 
 *' Yes; but I am otherv^ise engaged, 
 and must depart immediately. When 
 did you see the two West Indians? Did 
 they meet you according to appoint- 
 ment, to give you your revenge?" 
 
 ** No, they were too deep for that — 
 
 a dead
 
 THK METROPOLIS. *209 
 
 a dead bite ! I have some suspicion that 
 Sit Charles Rushiight wm concerned \vith 
 them^ as he lay by, nnd has been ever 
 since full of his jokes and sneers." 
 
 " Well, I can tell you, if you do not 
 know it, that he entertains similar suspi- 
 cions of you, and says that one of the 
 West Indians was your old friend Count 
 Van Hoornj in disguise." 
 
 " Pohj no one ever doubted the Ba- 
 ronet's talent for invention; he is well 
 known to drive with a long whip. Be- 
 tween friends, he is not at all the thing. 
 Talk of blacklegs! — he would prey upon 
 his own brother, if he could not light 
 upon other game. Never depend upon 
 him." 
 
 *'I assure you I never intend it." 
 
 " I'erimm sa-pienii — you are wise, and 
 a word is sufficient. I owe him a trick, 
 
 and
 
 210 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and it shall go hard but I find a time for 
 paying him off. Come, you may as well 
 cut in — we know how to do the trick." 
 
 Brian positively declined, and left the 
 room with the Major. 
 
 '♦That Shadow," said the Major, " is the 
 most bold-faced villain I ever met in my 
 life; he sets detection at defiance, and 
 glories in his knavery : I could hardly 
 refrain from affronting him." 
 
 *' Psha! he is beneath notice," said 
 Brian, ''and in future let us treat him 
 so. The Baronet is a bird of the same 
 feather, and if they prey upon each 
 other, they will but do the world justice." 
 
 Brian and his friend took their station 
 in a box, where the former seated him- 
 self next to an elderly gentleman, who 
 had the appearance of a foreigner. This 
 gentleman addressed himself to Brian, m 
 
 French;,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 21 I 
 
 French^ and finding by his answer that 
 he spoke the language fluently^ he joined 
 in conversation with him on the repre- 
 sentation, which Brian explained to him. 
 The stranger was very polite, very affa- 
 ble, and displayed an extensive know- 
 ledge of the world. Between the acts 
 he informed Brian that he was a native 
 of Portugal, although he had travelled 
 over great part of the continent of Eu- 
 rope ; that he was last from the Brazils, 
 whither he had fled, with his property, 
 among the emigrants who attended the 
 royal family in their escape from French 
 insult and rapacity; and that he had sail- 
 ed thence to this country, to settle ac- 
 counts with some of his correspondents 
 here. As Mr. Hewson, during Brian's 
 abode with him, had been in the habit of 
 making large shipments, and receiving 
 
 consignments
 
 gl2 TIIR METROPOLIS^ 
 
 consignnients to and from Lisbon^ Brinti 
 mtntionfd the namei ©f several whom 
 he rememberedj and found that Signer 
 Pereiro (that was the stranger's name) 
 had been acquainted with most of them. 
 This communication instantly begat a 
 sort of irtimacv: and Pereiro, at the end 
 of the entertainment, gave Brian his ad- 
 dress, desiring to be favoured with a call 
 whenever he should come to that part of 
 the city, which Brian readily promised. 
 
 As they were leaving the theatre, Brian 
 caught the eye of the Duchess of Fallow- 
 land, who left her party, and advanced 
 towards him. 
 
 '* I wanted to speak to you very much 
 indeed," said she; " where have you kept 
 out of the way ? — where can I see you ?'* 
 
 After a moment's hesitation, Brian re- 
 plied, that the worthy woman, to whom 
 
 her-
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 213 
 
 her Grace had bee 'o great a benefac- 
 trcis, had remove • espectahle house 
 ii^ srreetj rul ;v >^.^<i think her- 
 self highly honoured ' as^ratified, 
 by an (;pj)oriunityof thanking her Grace 
 for her present happiness, 
 
 ** Then meet me tiiere to-morrow at 
 noon/' said her Grace, and rejoined her 
 company. 
 
 Brian went to Mrs. Adamson's at least 
 half an hour before the time appointed, 
 to prepare her for the visit, and her 
 Grace was punctual to the time. After 
 Mrs. Adamson had poured out the honest 
 efifusions of her gratitude, her Grace took 
 the opportunity of her being called into 
 the shop, to ask Brian why he had es- 
 tranged himself so much of late .^ He 
 candidly related to her his numerous en- 
 gagements, and she was satisfied with 
 
 his
 
 214 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 his apologies for not having had it in his 
 power to pay his respects to her before. 
 She then addressed him as follows : — 
 " Mr. Bonnycastle, it is needless to say 
 that I entertain an esteem for you; I 
 "wished to have had an opportunity of 
 giving you some token of it, but I was 
 sensible that the same delicacy which 
 prevented you from asking any favour 
 from me, would feel hurt at my offering 
 it unasked : however, an opportunity has 
 now presented itself of my desiring your 
 acceptance of that which will cost me 
 nothing to bestow, and need not make 
 you blush to receive. A living of four 
 hundred pounds a-year, which is in the 
 gift of his Grace, has lately fallen into 
 hand, and as such an event appeared far 
 distant, the late incumbent being a young- 
 man, Jt was luckily disengaged; I in- 
 stantly
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 215 
 
 stantly recollected your having mention- 
 ed to me, at Richmond^ that your father 
 was a clergyman, and I solicited and ob- 
 tained from his Grace the promise of the 
 nomination. It is at your father's ser- 
 vice, if it be worth his acceptance." 
 
 Brian received her Grace's offer with 
 the most heartfelt acknowledgements, 
 and promised to dispatch the pleasing 
 account to his father, that he might come 
 to town, and thank their Graces in per- 
 son, for this unexpected benefice. He 
 accordingly performed the grateful filial 
 task immediately after her Grace had 
 taken her leave. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 21(j TI£K METROPOLIS* 
 
 ram II m I m < if 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 31fee desponding Lover — An unexpected Visitmit-^ 
 Disinterested Love and Gratitude — A Matri- 
 monial Medley.) and the Novel JVriter^s and 
 Dramatist's Finale — Marriage and Happiness. 
 
 Several days were taken up in arranging 
 matters with Mr. Barter, and at length 
 the terms were all settled, and put into 
 the hands of a solicitor, to be reduced to 
 a legal form. Verjuice undertook the 
 task of lookinsf out for a house fit for 
 the purpose ; and Augustus had no sooner 
 transmitted to Ewel an account of their 
 
 proceedings.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 217 
 
 proceedings, and his intention of return- 
 ing the instant he could procure a copy 
 of the agreement from the solicitor^ to 
 bring with him for his father's perusal 
 and approbation, than Brian hurried him 
 off to inquire whether Mr. Hewson had 
 got the better of his'indi:>position. 
 
 Augustus was received by Miss Hew- 
 son, who a})peared very dejected. To 
 his inquiries she answered, with tears, 
 that her father was rather worse than bet- 
 ter; that his indisposition was not cor- 
 poreal, but mental, and therefore the 
 more dangerous, unless speedily removed. 
 Augustus endeavoured with all possible 
 delicacy to learn the cause of his anxietv, 
 an<l Miss Hewson informed him that her 
 brother was at Lisbon, in the house of 
 a wealthy correspondent of their father, 
 previously to the invasion of Portugal, 
 
 VOL. III. L and
 
 218 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 and the occupation of the capital by the 
 French; but that, since that period, seve- 
 ral months had elapsed without her fa- 
 ther's receiving any news from either of 
 them, and that he began to dread his son 
 was lost to him in this world. Augustus 
 tried to console her, by recounting all 
 the different means he could devise for 
 her brother's escape; and added, that 
 even if he remained in Porlugal, all in- 
 tercourse being cut off, his silence must 
 follow of course. It appeared, however, 
 that a despondency had seized upon the 
 daughter, as well as the father, and he 
 was obliged to take his leave, with ex- 
 pressing his hopes that they would soon 
 receive such tidings as would set all their 
 doubts and fears at rest. 
 
 Augustus would not make his friend 
 unhappy by disclosing the whole of what 
 
 had
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 219 
 
 had passed, and he told him, in a slight 
 manner, that Miss Hevvson could not at 
 present leave her father, but that they 
 might hope for her company soon. Lady 
 Thrum, by Sir Jacob's desire, sent back 
 an answer, expressive of his pleasure at 
 finding his son so attentive to business, 
 and of his hope that he would persevere 
 to act as he had begun. In a postscrijit, 
 she added, that the Major might be as- 
 sured of a welcome, if his friend Brian 
 could prevail on him to venture himself 
 with them. 
 
 Augustus had no sooner obtained a 
 draft of the agreement from the solicitor, 
 than he set off wi.h Briaji to call upon 
 the Major, who was enraptured with an 
 invitation so flattering to his dearest 
 hopes. They all three left town forEwel, 
 and found Sir Jacob in the happiest dis- 
 
 L 2 position
 
 220 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 position imaginable. He was as much 
 delighted with the banking scheme as a 
 child would be with a new bauble; and it 
 seemed to him that his happiness could 
 receive little addition, as he had that 
 morning been presented with a fine 
 haunch of venison, by a brother knight, 
 and with a couple of Westphalia hams, 
 by a brother alderman, both of high city 
 renown for epicurism. 
 
 Brian alone found himself unhappy, 
 because as often as his eyes wandered 
 over the company, they were not blessed 
 with the timid glances of his Charlotte's, 
 Lady Thrum endeavoured to enliven him, 
 by saying, that only one person was 
 "wanting to complete the happiness of 
 the present circle, but she was very sure 
 it would not be long wanting of that ad- 
 dition. The Major now enjoyed frequent 
 
 opportunities
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 221 
 
 opportunities of entertaining Maria in 
 private, and his bliss added to the depres- 
 sion of Brian's spirits, who, in spite of 
 friendship, could not but feel more 
 acutely his own hopeless condition; for 
 he now imagined that Mr. Hewson's in- 
 disposition was but a pretence to keep 
 his daughter at a distance from him. He 
 shunned company, and avoided even the 
 consolation which friendship would have 
 offered to him. His despondency grew 
 so alarming, that Maria, at the request of 
 her mother, wrote to her friend, to ac- 
 quaint her with his situation, and to de- 
 sire her to afford them some matter of 
 consolation to bestow upon the despair- 
 
 ing swain. 
 
 Avery unexpected messenger brought 
 the answer; he was no other than the 
 Rev. Mr. Bonnycastle. Immediately on 
 
 l3 the
 
 522^ THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 the receipt of Brian's letter, he had posted 
 oiT for London, and learning from Ver- 
 juice where his son was to be found, he 
 resolved to hasten to him, after he should 
 have gratified the dictates of friendship, 
 by paying his respects to his old fj'iend 
 Mr. Hewson; he had accordingly waited 
 upon him, but, contrary to expectation, 
 found him and his daughter overwhelmed 
 Avith anxiety and grief. The worthy cler- 
 gyman related the joyful cause of his 
 unexpected journey to town, on which 
 his friend congratulated him sincerely, 
 whilst, at the same time, the tear trickled 
 down his own cheek. Charlotte turned 
 away her head, to conceal a similar dis- 
 tressing effusion. 
 
 "^ Merciful Heaven! — how is this?" 
 cried Mr. Bonnycastle. "Are those tears 
 on mine or your own account.'' Perhaps 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 223 
 
 the end of this journey, undertaken with 
 so much joy, will be to learn that my son 
 
 is-—*' 
 
 *• Do not be alarmed, Sir," said Mr. 
 Hewson; " your son, 1 believe, is well, 
 and I hope happy, and worthy of such 
 a father. Those tears are for my own 
 
 son." 
 
 i»» 
 
 *'He is not dead, I hope.?' 
 
 " We know not. Suspense, doubt^ fear, 
 all distract us. He was in Lisbon when 
 the French entered Portugal, and although 
 several months have elapsed since their 
 taking possession of Lisbon, we have 
 never heard from him." 
 
 " But we must not anticipate fate; his 
 death is far from being certain: our de- 
 pendence is on Heaven, and distrust of 
 its mercies are sinful. Remember, my dear 
 friend, that you have another child." 
 
 l4 "I have
 
 £24: THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 " Ihave indeed — a most amiable one; 
 I could, but for her, bear misfortune >vith 
 
 resignation." 
 
 Charlotte could now restrain her grief 
 no longer. She fervently grasped Mr. 
 Bonnycastle's hand, and uttering, in bro- 
 ken accents — " Comfort my dear father," 
 burst out of the room. 
 
 The worthy clergyman now urged the 
 mysterious ways of Providence, which, 
 though afflicting for a while, ever tend 
 to our good in the end; and he did not 
 fail to cite the patience and piety of Job, 
 and his final reward, as a model for hu- 
 man observation, and an everlasting me- 
 morial of the first dispensation of the 
 Almighty. Having, by degrees, called 
 up the pious resignation of the devout 
 Mr. Hewson, he desired him to confide 
 to the bosom of friendship the extent of 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 225 
 
 the evil which had either actually be- 
 fallen hiiTij or which he only appre- 
 hended. He learned that Mr. Hewson 
 had sustained heavy losses in business, 
 through the failures of his correspon- 
 dents in the various parts on the coasts 
 of the Mediterranean, which had been 
 seized on by the French, but that he still 
 had considerable sums due to him from 
 his correspondents in Lisbon, with one of 
 whom his son had taken up his abode, 
 when the French invaded the unfortunate 
 kingdom of Portugal; also that, by this 
 disaster, he had not only to apprehend 
 the loss or captivity of his son, but, for 
 want of remittances, he must soon be 
 reduced to the most afflicting expedient 
 that could be resorted to by a man of 
 strict integrity — that of being compelled 
 to call his creditors together. 
 
 l5 *Mhese
 
 226 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 *' These are painful afflictions indeed/' 
 said Mr. Bonnycastle; " but Providence 
 may still be prevailed on, by your prayers 
 and resignation^ to avert or remedy them. 
 At the worst, you will never want a friend, 
 nor your daughter a father. Alas! I hoped 
 by this time to have had the happiness of 
 calling her so : — it may be so yet. I 
 learn that my son is affluent — I shall set 
 ofj'this instant to find him at Ewel, where 
 lam informed he is upon a visit; if I 
 find him worthy of your returning es- 
 teem, I shall beg you not to withhold it 
 from him. You must promise me, on 
 the score of our old friendship, to take 
 no steps till you shall see me again." 
 
 Mr. Hewson promised, and he took his 
 leave for the present, having received 
 from Charlotte a letter for her friend 
 Miss Thrum. 
 
 Mr.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 227 
 
 Mr. Bonnycastle had no sooner been 
 introduced to the hospitable entertain- 
 ers of his son, than he desired a private 
 conference with the latter. 
 
 " Before I give you the embrace of a 
 father/' said the old gentleman, " give me 
 an account of your proceedings since 
 your departure from Mr. Hewson's house.'* 
 
 Brian complied with this injunction^ in 
 general concealing only some few of the 
 particulars which were the most humi- 
 liating to himself. The old gentleman 
 then recounted the conversation which 
 had passed between himself and Mr. 
 Hewson. 
 
 ''Good Heaven!" exclaimed Brian, 
 " let us not lose a moment; let us fly to^ 
 him, and all mav be well vet." 
 
 *' What do you intend to propose tO' 
 him?" 
 
 L 6 " To
 
 228 THE WliTROPOLIS. 
 
 "To offer my whole property to his 
 disposal, till his own affairs can be set- 
 tledj and to request moreover to permit 
 me to return to my old situation, and 
 assist him in his counting-house." 
 
 " Oh, my son, my dear son !" exclaimed 
 the old gentleman, throwing his arms 
 around his neck, " thou art now indeed 
 my son ! Though I disapprove of the 
 steps by which you have secured your 
 fortune, yet I hope Heaven will forgive 
 them, since you know how to make a be- 
 nevolent use of it. Let us go, and offer 
 to Miss Hewson a heart undebauched by 
 prosperity/' 
 
 Not a moment was lost in acquainting 
 the worthy family with their intention of 
 leaving them ; and Lady Thrum observed, 
 that however happy they should have 
 felt themselves in having Mr. Bonnycastle 
 
 and
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 229 
 
 and his father under their roof, yet that 
 they preferred the consolation of a wor- 
 thy family, and desired that they might 
 be reckoned by Mr. Hewson amongst his 
 firmest friends, and as ready to conduce 
 all in their power towards any steps that 
 might be thought expedient to restore 
 him to his former happiness. 
 
 Brian gave her a look which bespoke 
 the grateful sensations of his soul, and 
 hastened ofFwith his father. On reflection, 
 Mr. Bonnvcastle thougrht it would not be 
 proper for his son to rush into Mr. Hew- 
 son's presence, and he left him at a neigh- 
 bouring hotel, whilst he went \.o prepare 
 for his reception. 
 
 "Rejoice with me, my friend!" cried 
 Mr. Bonnycastle, on being again intro- 
 duced to Mr. Hewson — " Rejoice with- 
 me! 1 have found my son; and, what is 
 
 infinitely
 
 930 TnE METROPOLIS. 
 
 infinitely better, I have found him worthy 
 of being called so. Would to Heaven 
 that the short conversation I have had 
 with him may make vou think him wor- 
 thy of bestowing the same appellation 
 upon him ! You shall hear — " 
 
 He then repeated what his son had de- 
 sired him to propose. 
 
 Mr. Hewson was for a while silent, 
 and seemed very much aoi rated. At 
 length he asked Mr. Bonnycastle where 
 his son was? 
 
 *' He waits not far off, until I should 
 have obtained your permission for him 
 to wait upon you." 
 
 '' I shall be happy to see him.** 
 
 Mr. Bonnycastle went out, and pre- 
 sently returned with Brian, whose emo- 
 tions were so violent on finding: himself 
 once more under this beloved roof, that 
 
 he
 
 THE METEOPOLIS. ^3 i 
 
 he could not utter a sylla]3le. Mr. Hew- 
 son was little less moved; he advanced 
 towards Brian, took him by the handj and 
 desired him to be seated. After a short 
 pause, Mr. Hewson broke silence. 
 
 "I have been made acquainted by your 
 father, Mr, Brian, with your truly gene- 
 rous proposal; believe me, I am fully- 
 sensible of the extent of the sacrifice 
 which you would make to my honour, in- 
 terest, and comfort — at the same time, 
 you must excuse me for declining to 
 accept it. Prudent as has been the whole 
 ~ tenor of my private life, punctual as has 
 been my conduct in all my mercantile 
 transactions, and heavy, unforeseen, and 
 unavoidable as have been my losses, I 
 cannot fear to meet those creditors to 
 whom it is my severest affliction that I 
 cannot do justice. I rely on my well- 
 known
 
 239 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 known character for obtaining every in- 
 dulgence that I can wish for from them, 
 and I cannot think of involving my 
 friends in the ruin of my fortune. I look 
 forwards to the worst. Providence may 
 vet have a better fate in reserve for me. 
 At all events, I trust enough will be saved 
 out of the wreck of my property to sa- 
 tisfy all demands, and a consciousness of 
 integrity is the best support under ad- 
 versity." 
 
 '' I doubt not your fortitude/' said 
 the elder Mr. Bonnycastle; *^* but pray. 
 Sir, consider your daughter." 
 
 " I am assured, my friend, that she, as 
 well as myself, will prefer poverty, to 
 the accepting obligations which we may 
 never have it hi our power to repay." 
 
 ** Your acceptance of my proposal,'* 
 cried Brian, with energy, '' will not be 
 
 thought
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 233 
 
 thought to lay you under obligation/but 
 as conferring the greatest happiness upon 
 myself. At a time when I was not wortl* 
 a shilling, you otTered to bestow upon 
 me your daughter and your fortune. I 
 once managed your concerns to your 
 satisfaction; permit me again to resume 
 that happy employment, and in a short 
 time all may be well again." 
 
 "'My young friend," replied Mr. Hew- 
 son, *' I have never once entertained a 
 doubt of the goodness of your hearty, al- 
 though I never thought to afford you 
 such an opportunity to convince me of 
 it. Your friend, Mr. Verjuice, called on 
 me when you refused a trifling mark of 
 gratitude, which I wished you to accept, 
 but I do not decline your present offer 
 out of retaliation. He can inform you, 
 that at the same time I lamented your 
 
 youthful
 
 234 THE METROPOJJS. 
 
 yciuhful errors,, I did ample justice to 
 vour deserts. I even gave him to under- 
 stand that I Felt myself still inte^'ested in 
 
 o 
 
 your Vi'cUtir^, although I begged him to 
 conceal those sentiments from vou, until 
 I should see proper to reveal them to 
 you myself. He has been v»'ith me seve- 
 ral times sincCj inknown to you^ and told 
 me how your affairs went on. He in- 
 formed me, that it was his intention, 
 and your determination, the instant you 
 should find yourself enabled, to enter 
 into some creditable undertaking, to quit 
 your present pursuits, and I gave him the 
 first idea of that scheme which you are 
 about to enter upon — I mean the bank- 
 ing line. How then can I consent to be 
 myself the instrument of breaking up 
 that scheme, and to hazard your pros- 
 pects in life, on the chance of my totter- 
 
 ing
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 235 
 
 ing fortune? He may moreover inform 
 you, that the time was even approaching, 
 when I intended to have signified my 
 returning esteem for you,' but the change 
 in my own affairs—" 
 
 " Should not occasion a change in 
 those sentiments/' cried Brian, eagerly, 
 " unless I have since been unhappy 
 enough to give you any occasion for it.'* 
 
 "Far from it. Sir; on the contrary, 
 your present conduct has raised my es- 
 teem to the highest pitch; at present 
 there is a difficulty in giving you that 
 testimony of it, which you, perhaps, 
 would wish : that obstacle, however, may 
 yet be surmounted. My son may have 
 escaped from Lisbon, and my correspon- 
 dents there may have preserved the means, 
 as I have not the least doubt of their re- 
 taining the honesty, of remitting what is 
 
 due
 
 23(3 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 due to me. Let us %vait awhile. In the 
 meantime, I shall be h^ppy in the society 
 of my old friend, and in the renewal of 
 your intimacy in my family." 
 
 " Oh, you give me life again, my se- 
 cond father!" cried Brian. " But a sud- 
 den thought strikes me: — with which of 
 your correspondents in Lisbon did your 
 son reside?" 
 
 ''^With Signor Mendez da Silva. You 
 must remember the name ; we corres- 
 ponded all the time you were with me." 
 
 **I do. Sir, very well. Excuse me for 
 2 short time — I may, perhaps, be able to 
 procure you some intelligence — I shall 
 only step to Great Prescot-street, Good- 
 man's Fields." 
 
 "May Heaven prosper your inquiries!" 
 exclaimed Mr, Hewson. 
 
 Brian had suddenly recollected that 
 
 Pereiro,
 
 THE METROPOLIS. ^37 
 
 Pereiro, the Portuguese gentleman whoui 
 he had met at the theatre, had recognized 
 Signer Mendez da Silva amongst others ; 
 and he flew to his lodging in Prescot- 
 street, as his address specified. He luckily 
 met with him at home, and made known 
 to him the immediate cause of liis calling 
 upon him. Pereiro replied, that he was 
 very intimate with Da Silva; that he had 
 secured all his large property by his ad- 
 vice, and had sailed in the same fleet with 
 himself to the Brazils, where he saw him 
 safely landed; and that, when he left him 
 there, he had expressed his intention of 
 following him soon to England. 
 
 '' Do you recollect, Signor, whether 
 any young Englishman accompanied him 
 to the Brazils?" 
 
 " I cannot say. Sir, as we did not em- 
 bark on board the same ship, although 
 
 we
 
 23 S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 \ve sailed in the same fleet, and I left the 
 Brazils within a few davs after my arrival 
 there; however, I dare say I shall soon 
 be able to jrive you everv information 
 you may want, as I have letters from him 
 to his correspondents in this city." 
 
 "Is there one for the name ofllewson?" 
 "That, too, I am sorry I cannot inform 
 you of at present, as the ship was obliged 
 to put into Falmouth by contrary winds, 
 and to stay there to repair some damages. 
 Being tired of the seas, I travelled to 
 London overland, leaving my trunks be- 
 hind me, in which are all my own letters 
 and papers, as well as those entrusted to 
 my care. I expect the ship round every 
 day." 
 
 " Will you have the goodness, Signor, 
 to step with me a little way, to convey 
 ihis intelligence to a very worthy gentle- 
 man.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 239 
 
 marij who is under great apprehensions 
 for an only son, who was under Signor 
 Da Silva's roof, and also for the Signor 
 himself, on account of not hearing from 
 whom he is under considerable embar- 
 rassment?" 
 
 " With pleasure. Sir, if you think that 
 what I have to say will afford him any 
 kind of satisfaction." 
 
 '' Very great indeed, Signor." 
 They walked to St. Mary Axe, and 
 Brian introduced Pereiro to Mr. Ilewson, 
 whose hopes were much revived by his 
 account, although his anxiety was on the 
 utmost stretch to know whether he had 
 brought any letters for him. Pereiro 
 moreover told him that Da Silva had 
 saved the bulk of his large property, and 
 that if Mr. Hewson laboured under any 
 inconveniency, through want of any re- 
 mittances
 
 ^'10 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 mil taiTces from him, and would draw bills^ 
 upon him, lie would pay them for his ho- 
 nour. This unexpected offer conveyed 
 so substantial a confirmation of Pereiro's 
 account, as re-esfablished, in a great mea- 
 sure, Mr. Hewson's cheerfulness. He de- 
 clined, however, accepting it, till the 
 Signer should have received his trunks; 
 and the day was passed in convivialitv, 
 Pereiro being easily prevailed upon to 
 give them his company, and departing 
 highly pleased at receiving an invitation 
 from Mr. Ilewson, to make his house his 
 home. Miss Hewson also joined tlie 
 party, and by her looks conveyed to 
 Brian's heart somewhat of a more ten- 
 der feeling: than "■ratifude for his oe- 
 nerous exertions, which gave him the 
 l)rightest presage of future bliss. 
 
 The elder Mr. Bonnycastle took up 
 6 his
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 241 
 
 his residence wholly with Mr. Hewson, and 
 never left him but once, when he went 
 to wait upon their Graces of Fallowland, 
 to return them his acknowledgments for 
 their unexpected and unmerited patron- 
 age. His honest and sincere effusions 
 were very pleasing to their Graces, parti- 
 cularly when they were informed upon 
 how small an income he had managed to 
 bring up so large a family. They con- 
 descended to express their happiness that 
 the living had been bestowed where it 
 was so 'much wanted, and so well de- 
 served; and desired the worthy clergy- 
 man to call upon them whenever he 
 should come into their neighbourhood. 
 
 Brian daily wailed upon Signer Pe- 
 reiro, and accompanied him to the cus- 
 tom-house, to get news of the vessel. It 
 arrived at last. The Signor opened his 
 
 VOL. Ill, M trunks.
 
 242 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 trunks, and found a packet addressed to ' 
 Mr. Hewson^ merchant^ St. Mary Axe, 
 London, England. They hastened to de- 
 liver it into the hands of Mr. Hewson, 
 who, looking at the superscription, said, 
 " It is indeed from my friend Da Silva!" 
 He broke open the seal with a trembling 
 hand. "All is well !" cried he; and read- 
 ing on, '' My son is safe ! — They will be 
 here soon!'* 
 
 The packet dropped from his hands — 
 he fell on his knees, and uttered a pious 
 ejaculation, intermingled with tears of 
 joy, in which all the rest sympathized 
 with him. Charlotte entered the room 
 at this instant; she flew to her father, 
 knelt beside him, throwing her arms 
 round his neck, and bathing him with 
 her tears, as he again sobbed out the joy- 
 ful tidings. Mr. Hewson at length rose 
 
 up.
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 243 
 
 up, and taking the elder Mr. Bonny- 
 castle by the hand, exclaimed — ''Oh, my 
 friend, you liave indeed proved yourself 
 a friend! ''Then turning to Brian, he took 
 him by the hand, and said — " My son, 
 you have indeed proved yourself worthy 
 to be my son, I here give you my daugh- 
 ter's hand, (joining them) her heart I 
 know has been long your's." Then, tak- 
 ing Pereiro also by the hand, he said— 
 " Signer, what happiness have you been 
 the instrument of conveying to a dis- 
 tressed father and daughter ! I shall be 
 proud of your acquaintance, and I hope 
 you will not find me unworthy of your's." 
 Brian now imprinted the seal of his 
 happiness on his Charlotte's hand, who 
 crimsoned, not from awkward bashuil- 
 ness or affectation — the former she was 
 
 M 2 as: ranger
 
 244 THE METPOrOLIS. 
 
 a stranger to, the latter she despised — 
 and she disengaged her hand from Brian, 
 only to throw her arms round his father's 
 neck, exclaiming — " Then I may at last 
 have the happiness of calling you my 
 dear father?" 
 
 "■ Yes, mv amiable dauornter ! and 
 Heaven be thanked for bestowing upon 
 me such an additional blessing." 
 
 *'I would not, my children, delay your 
 happiness a day longer," said Mfv Hew- 
 son, addressing himself to his daughter 
 and Brian, " but I am assured that you 
 yourselves will readily consent to put it 
 off till my son's arrival, when, I under- 
 stand from this packet, that he is to ac- 
 company you to the altar, to which he 
 will have the happiness of leading the 
 only daughter of my friend Da Silva." 
 
 " I have
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 245 
 
 " I have known her from her infancy/* 
 said Pereiro, "^anda more amiable young 
 lady does not exist." 
 
 Miss Hewson now beo^ged leave to 
 withdraw for a short time, to send an ac- 
 count of these joyful events, to relieve 
 the anxiety of their friends at Ewel. 
 Brian also wished to inform his worthy 
 friend Verjuice of his happiness, but Mr. 
 Hewson insisted that he should not leave 
 the company, as Mr. Verjuice, whom he 
 very much respected, should be imme- 
 diately sent for. A messenger was dis- 
 patched for him accordingly, and Ver- 
 juice made his appearance in little more 
 than an hour. 
 
 Old Mr. Bonnycastle advanced and took 
 him by the hand, saying — " It is to vou. 
 Sir, I am indebted for my present happi- 
 ness; you have been the friend and guar- 
 
 M 3 dian
 
 246 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 / 
 
 dian of my boy, when I could not assist 
 him. Accept the grateful thanks of a 
 father, for a son preserved to him." 
 
 " I hate compliments/' replied Ver- 
 juice; ''and, besides, I do not deserve 
 them. Verging on old age, without a 
 relation in the worlds I wished to find a 
 friend, and 1 found him in this boy; I 
 have long loved him, as if he had been of 
 my o'.vn begetting, and I now rejoice in 
 his happiness, as if he were really so. If 
 it will be any inducement to you, Mr. 
 Kewscn, to bestow your daughter upon 
 my boy, I shall, as I have before hinted 
 to you, settle all I have upon him after 
 my death." 
 
 *' She is already bestowed upon him. 
 Sir." 
 
 " Is she ? Why then I'll be bound for 
 his good behaviour. Well, now I sup- 
 pose
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 247 
 
 pose all our frolics will be over ; you \YiIl 
 have other business to mind now." 
 
 "Indeed, Sir/' said Miss Hewson, *' I 
 should be very sorry to put the least 
 constraint upon Mr. Bonnycastle's en- 
 joyment of his friends; I hope rather to 
 make myself esteemed by them ; and shall 
 never think he can give too much of his 
 company to one who has deserved so 
 much from him." 
 
 " Spoken like a sensible girl !'* cried 
 Verjuice, " and I long to put you to the 
 trial. When is the happy day to be?" 
 
 "^Not far distant, I hope," said Mr. 
 Hewson, explaining to him the cause of 
 the delay. 
 
 " Well, well, Brian, my boy, you must 
 make yourself as easy as you can in the 
 interval; you are within sight of port, 
 and will shortly come to anchor." 
 
 M 4 A mes-
 
 ~4S THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 A messenj^er arrived the next morninjr 
 with a letter of congratulation on the 
 restoration of happiness, and intreating 
 Mr. and MissHewsonj and as many friends 
 as (hey chose to bring with them, to 
 come to Ewel, that their friends there 
 fiiight participate in it with them. Mr. 
 Hewson could not leave town, on ac- 
 count of his business, and his impatience 
 to see his son the instant of his arrival ; 
 but he thought that the society at Evvel 
 would tend to relieve the minds of the 
 betrothed couple, and he recommended 
 to them to accept the invitation, pro- 
 mising to bring his son with him to join 
 them. They accordingly set oflf^ accom- 
 panied by Verjuice, the elder Mr. Bonny- 
 castle not choosins^to leave Mr. Hewson. 
 
 The happiness and gaiety of the new 
 comers ran through the whole house, and 
 
 Brian
 
 THE METROPOLIS'. 249 
 
 Brian urged this as the most favourable 
 opportunity for the Major to take cou- 
 rage, and make his proposals to Sir Jacob 
 and his Lady, assuring him at the same 
 time of the certainty of his being well 
 seconded by her Ladyship. The Major 
 followed his advice; and having laid the 
 wishes of his heart, and the state of his 
 affairs, before the Knight and his Lady^ 
 left them to consider of his proposal.. 
 A short conference ensued, in which her 
 Ladyship had no hard matter to con- 
 vince her husband, that if the Major had 
 not the fortune of Sir John Spanker, yet 
 h€ had the sense not to squander away 
 what he had upon blacklegs; and was, in 
 every other respect, worthy of the alli- 
 ance of any family. 
 
 " Well, well," said the Knight, " my 
 friend Hewson is a wise man, and he- is 
 
 M 5 glad
 
 250 THE METROPOLK. 
 
 glad that his daughter is going off his 
 hands; I think I may as well follow his 
 example ; for if we should forbid her to 
 think of the Major, I suppose a trip to 
 Gretna-green^ and a letter to beg pardon, 
 and a blessing, would be the end of it." 
 
 "^ Poh, Sir Jacob, how can you enter- 
 tain so bad an opinion of your daugh- 
 ter?" 
 
 " Not of her in particular j my dear." 
 
 " Of the whole sex then ?" 
 
 " All daughters of Eve — sure to eat 
 forhidden fruit." 
 
 " Then we may as well prevent her 
 disobedience, by consenting with a good 
 grace." 
 
 " Well, well, if the Major can get the 
 girl's consent — but I suppose he has got 
 that already." 
 
 *' It is a very proper mark of respect 
 
 to
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 251 
 
 to the person \vho is to bestow her hand, 
 to solicit her permission to apply to her 
 friends for their approbation." 
 
 " Oh, very well then, if she has given 
 him her hand, we must not let him have 
 it to say that she came to him empty- 
 handed." 
 
 " That's your look-out," said her La- 
 dyship, laughing, and running out of the 
 room. 
 
 The Knight imagined that she was 
 flown off to be before-hand with him in 
 spreading the news of this new match, 
 and he hastened down to the sitting-par- 
 lour, and addressing himself to her La- 
 dyship, exclaimed — " What, you're here 
 already ! Wonder you had not burst with 
 the secret before you got down stairs." 
 
 Then, turning to the Major, without 
 waiting for an answer, he continued — 
 
 " So,
 
 252 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 "So, Major! what, you wish to be follow- 
 ing your friend Bonnycastle's example; 
 and you, Maria, you have no objection 
 to take pattern by your friend Miss Hew- 
 son. Well, if you have agreed upon it, ' 
 
 take her. Major, and starve with her.'* 
 
 The .whole of this curious speech had 
 been uttered in so abrupt a manner, that 
 the company was at a loss to guess whe- 
 ther he was pleased or angry. 
 
 *' Nay, nay, not starve, Sir Jacob, I 
 hope," said Verjuice. 
 
 '' Why, Sir," said the Knight, " he 
 must not expect to fare very sumptuously 
 with her, for, with all the instructions of 
 her mother and myself, she could never 
 make any proficiency in that charming 
 and most useful art, the art of cookery." 
 
 This whimsical explanation at once 
 convinced the hearers that the Knight's 
 
 was
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 2o3 
 
 was a sally of wit, and not of anger, and 
 convulsed them with laughter. Lady 
 Thrum was very much hurt at this ab- 
 rupt and indelicate exposure of Sir Jacob; 
 but as the discovery had been made only 
 to friends, who guessed pretty well what 
 was to be the event, and as Sir Jacob had 
 been brought to her point so readily, she 
 would not damp the mirth of the com- 
 pany. 
 
 " Well," said Sir Jacob, delighted with 
 the success of his first jew d'esprit, ^'when 
 I shall have deposited my son in a bank- 
 ing-house, and immured my daughter for 
 life within the walls of matrimony, I shall 
 only have to lay my wife under ground, 
 and then I shall have got all my family 
 off my hands." 
 
 *' And liberty to marry your cook,'* 
 said her Ladyship, rather angrily; " but 
 
 you
 
 254 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 you will still have the heaviest burthen, 
 I mean yourself, upon your hands." 
 
 *' True, my Lady, that is the heaviest 
 burthen; as I may get rid of all the rest 
 in my li retime, but that I must carry 
 with me to the grave." 
 
 " Yes/' cries my Lady; '' for as Shake- 
 speare says— 
 
 " — like an ass, whose back with ingots bows,- 
 Thou bearst thy heavy riches but a journey. 
 And death unloadeth thee." 
 
 ''Stay till I'm burled, my Lady, and 
 then you may call me an ass, or what 
 you please." 
 
 " Come, come. Sir Jacob, let's talk of 
 the living, nnd not the dead," cried Ver- 
 juice; " of the two services, I had rather 
 hear the matrimonial one ten times, than 
 the burial one once. You are a poet, 
 
 and
 
 THR MFTROPOUS. 255 
 
 and must compose an epWialamrtm for us 
 to sing." 
 
 "Aye, that's somewhat on marriage; 
 is it not? I composed one once; I tliink 
 1 can remember it. The title of it v;as-~ 
 Ufiion did Disunion— a matrimonial mcd- 
 let/." 
 
 *'Now for a second edition of the Son- 
 net on the Pigs" said her Ladyship, 
 
 " No, my Lady, I have said that it was 
 made oa those other animals — man and 
 wife. Hear it first, and you cannot mis- 
 take the subject afterwards: — 
 
 Hail marriage! source of earthly joys, 
 If folks would rightly use it; 
 But oft (as children serve their toys) 
 They spoil it, and abuse it. 
 
 Sometimes 'tis honey, love, and dear ! 
 Oh, then 'tis very pleasing; 
 But when 'tis hussey,jade, and bear! 
 Oh then 'tis very teasing. 
 
 Two
 
 256 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 Two horses, if they draw one «;'•}> 
 Their toil will soon be ending, 
 But if a diff'rent game they play, 
 They'll ne'er have done contending. 
 
 So, if a c juple, bound for hves, 
 Together pull, 'tis charming; 
 But if one 'gainst the other strives, 
 The devil gave house-warming" 
 
 The company bughed heartily^ whe- 
 ther at 
 
 Sir Jacob's wit, 
 Or want of it,. 
 
 the reader must judge for himself; but 
 he may know from experience, that when 
 people are fully disposed to mirth, it 
 matters little to them on what occasion 
 they give loose to it. 
 
 At length a coach and four drove to 
 the gate, bringing Mr. Hewson and son,. 
 
 the
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 257 
 
 the elder Mr. Bonnycastle, the Signer Da 
 Silva, and his daughter. The meeting 
 between the younger Hewson and his 
 sister was trulv affectins:; that between 
 the former and Brian was more solemn, 
 but no less affecting, as it brought to re- 
 collection past scenes of distress^ which, 
 however, were soon buried in the general 
 joy and mutual congratulations. Sir Ja- 
 cob acquainted Mr. Hewson with the al- 
 liance about to take place in his own 
 family, and proposed that the whole of 
 the three marriages should take place at 
 Epsom Church, and be kept up at his 
 house; but Mr. Hewson objected, that 
 as Signora Da Silva was of the Roman 
 Catholic persuasion, the ceremony must 
 be performed according to the rites of 
 that church, for which purpose they must 
 return to London; but he promised that 
 6 they
 
 258 THE METROPOLIS. 
 
 they would all return to celebrate the 
 joyful occasion at £wel. This compro- 
 mise pleased Sir Jacob, and was acceded 
 to. 
 
 On the next day they set out for Lon- 
 don, and on the following morning Sig- 
 nora da Silva and Mr, Hewson, junior, 
 were united at the Sardinian Chapel, in 
 Wellclose-square, in the presence of her 
 father, his friend Pereiro, Mr. Hewson^ 
 senior, and Mr. Bonnycastle, the father. 
 They then returned to Mr. Hewson 's 
 house, whence they all set out for the 
 parish church, where the three ceremo- 
 nies were performed successively, ac- 
 cording to the rites of the Church of 
 England. That done, they all drove off 
 for Ewel, to celebrate these events, which 
 bestowed happiness on so many worthy 
 persons. 
 
 To
 
 THE METROPOLIS. 259 
 
 To conclude — Brian now found hira- 
 self at the summit of earthly happiness; 
 and he endeavoured, by a subsequent life 
 of piety, morality^ and benevolence, to 
 make the fullest atonement in his power 
 for the vicious pursuits of his youth. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 Lane, Datling, & Ct>. Leadenhall-Strcet.
 
 WORKS 
 
 JPrintrli at tfje ?E)inrtVia*]15tC0j3, 
 
 With the Revietvers' Opinion. 
 
 BERTRAND, 
 
 OR, 
 
 MEMOIRS OF A NORTHUMBRIAN NOBLEMAN. 
 
 ^ Tale of the Seventeenth Century. 
 
 3 vols, price I5s. 
 
 •' This work contains an unusual degree of interest, and 
 is very different in its construction from the general run of 
 novels, as tiiere is not a single love adventure throughout the 
 whole; yet the author has ingeniously contrived to av^aken 
 attention, and keep his render in suspense to the last page. 
 The fate of Bertiand is rather of a sombre cast, and some of 
 his adventures border too much on the marvellous : we can, 
 neverthtkss, venture to recommend it as an amusing and un- 
 exceptionable novel, and one with which every reader ot taste 
 and sensibility must be highly gratified." 
 
 Lady J Motithly Museum, January 1809. 
 
 GUISCARD, 
 
 OR THE MYSTERIOUS ACCUSATION. 
 
 BY HORACE VERB. 
 
 a vols. i3mo. 8s. 
 
 The style of this novel is always simple and dignified, and 
 in some parts even masterly; and the story, though rather in- 
 fricdte, is interesting and moral. It shews the powers of 
 Friendship, and the benefit of her exeitions : but we were 
 sorry to see the noble and ardent Gir Eustace led by his afiec- 
 tion for his friend into an act of treachery, even towards the 
 despicable Bolebec. The abbot's description of Uis own old 
 age is touching and pathetic. 
 
 Monthly RevieWi Sep, 1809.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 HL 3 
 
 12 041382109 
 
 ;X*?.<;hs 
 
 t^^L