‘That’s a (hiccup) feller,’ said Sir Harry; adding, ‘here’s old Pea himself come to see after you.’

So saying. Sir Harry reeled back to his comrades in the house, leaving Mr Sponge in the care of the farmer.

‘This way, sir; this way,’ said the burly Mr Peastraw, leading the way into his farmyard, where a line of hunters stood shivering under a long cart-shed.

‘But I can’t put my horse in here,’ observed Mr Sponge, looking at the unfortunate brutes.

‘No, sir, no,’ replied Mr Peastraw; ‘put yours in a stable, sir; put yours in a stable;’ adding, ‘these young gents don’t care much about their horses.’

‘Does anybody know the chap’s name?’ asked Sir Harry, reeling back into the room.

‘Know his name!’ exclaimed Bob Spangles; ‘why, don’t you?’

‘No,’ replied Sir Harry, with a vacant stare.

‘Why, you went up and shook hands with him, as if you were as thick as thieves,’ replied Bob.

‘Did I?’ hiccuped Sir Harry. ‘Well, I thought I knew him. At least, I thought it was somebody I had (hiccup)ed before; and at one’s own (hiccup) house, you know, one’s ’bliged to be (hiccup) feller well (hiccup) with everybody that comes. But, surely, some of you know his (hiccup) name,’ added he, looking about at the company.

‘I think I know his (hiccup) face,’ replied Bob Spangles, imitating his brother-in-law.

‘I’ve seen him somewhere,’ observed the other Spangles, through a mouthful of beef.

‘So have I,’ exclaimed someone else, ‘but where I can’t say.’

‘Most likely at church,’ observed brother Bob Spangles.

‘Well, I don’t think he’ll corrupt me,’ observed Captain Quod, speaking between the fumes of a cigar.

‘He’ll not borrow much of me,’ observed Captain Seedybuck, producing a much tarnished green purse, and exhibiting two fourpenny-pieces at one end, and three-halfpence at the other.

‘Oh, I dare say he’s a good feller,’ observed Sir Harry; ‘I make no doubt he’s one of the right sort.’

Just then in came the man himself, hat and whip in hand, waving the brush proudly over his head.

‘Ah, that’s (hiccup) right, old feller,’ exclaimed Sir Harry, again advancing with extended hand to meet him; adding, ‘you’d (hiccup) all you wanted for your (hiccup) horse: mutton broth -- I mean barley-water, foot-bath, everything right. Let me introduce my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Bob Spangles, my (hiccup) friend Captain Ladofwax, Captain Quod, Captain (hiccup) Bouncey, Captain (hiccup) Seedybuck, and my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Mr Spangles, as lushy a cove as ever was seen; aren’t you, old boy?’ added he, grasping the latter by the arm.

All these gentlemen severally bobbed their heads as Sir Harry called them over, and then resumed their respective occupations -- eating, drinking, and smoking.

These were some of the debauched gentlemen Mr Sponge had seen before Nonsuch House in the morning. They were all captains, or captains by courtesy. Ladofwax had been a painter and glazier in the Borough, where he made the acquaintance of Captain Quod, while that gentleman was an inmate of Captain Hudson’s strong house. Captain Bouncey was the too well-known betting-office keeper; and


  By PanEris using Melati.

Previous chapter/page Back Home Email this Search Discuss Bookmark Next chapter/page
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details.