A Whim, and Its Consequences: Collection of British Authors Vol. CXIVJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
A Whim, and Its Consequences: Collection of British Authors Vol. CXIV
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
Fiction
Like all the sensitive, the nose is perhaps the most unfortunate of
human organs. Placed in an elevated situation, it is subject to all
the rude buffets of the world; its tender organization is always
subject to disgusts. Boreas assails it; Sol burns it; Bacchus inflames
it. Put forward as a leader in the front of the battle, men follow it
blindly on a course which it is very often unwilling to pursue, and
then blame it for every mischance. Whatever hard blows are given, it
comes in for more than its share; and, after weeping tears of blood,
has to atone for the faults of other members over which it has no
control. The fists are continually getting it into scrapes; its bad
neighbour, the tongue, brings down indignation upon it undeserved; the
eyes play it false on a thousand occasions; and the whole body
corporate is continually poking it into situations most repugnant to
its better feelings. The poor, unfortunate nose! verily, it is a sadly
misused organ. It matters not whether it be hooked or straight, long
or short, turned-up or depressed, a bottle, a bandbox, a sausage, or
the ace of clubs; Roman, Grecian, English, French, German, or Calmuc,
the nose is ever to be pitied for its fate below.
I can hardly forgive Chandos Winslow for fingering so rudely the nasal
organ of Viscount Overton. It was of considerable extent, and very
tangible qualities: an inviting nose, it must be said, which offered
almost as many temptations to an insulted man as that of a certain
gentleman in Strasburg to the trumpeter's wife. So much must be said
in Chandos's favour; but yet it was cruel, harsh, almost cowardly. The
poor nose could not defend itself; and yet he had the barbarity to
pinch the helpless innocent between his iron finger and thumb for full
three seconds and a half. Pain and amazement kept the owner of the
nose from putting forth his own powers to avenge it for the same
space; and indeed it would have been to little purpose had he
attempted such a thing, for he was no more capable of defending his
nose against Chandos Winslow, than the nose was of defending itself.
At length the grasp of his antagonist relaxed, and the peer exclaimed
aloud, "Police! police! You scoundrel, I will give you in charge."
"That you can do if you please," answered Chandos, with a sneer; "but
methinks your honour will somewhat suffer. There, Sir, is my card, if
you wish to know who it is has punished your impertinence."
The police were very busy at a little distance; and the noble lord,
left to his own resources, exclaimed, "Your card, fellow! Do
you suppose I do not know you--a low vagabond dressed up as a
gentleman!--Police! I say."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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