And this was the outline of his day. He set off at first with a firm
stride, despite his lameness--his gaunt figure erect, the soldierly
chest well thrown out from the threadbare but speckless coat. First,
he took his way towards the purlieus of Leicester Square; several
times, to and fro, did he pace the isthmus that leads from Piccadilly
into that reservoir of foreigners, and the lanes and courts that start
thence towards St Martin's. After an hour or two so passed, the step
became more slow; and often the sleek napless hat was lifted up, and
the brow wiped. At length he bent his way towards the two great
theatres, paused before the play-bills, as if deliberating seriously
on the chances of entertainment they severally proffered, wandered
slowly through the small streets that surround those temples of the
muse, and finally emerged into the Strand. There he rested himself for
an hour at a small cook-shop; and, as I passed the window, and glanced
within, I could see him seated before the simple dinner, which he
scarcely touched, and poring over the advertisement columns of the
_Times_. The _Times_ finished, and a few morsels distastefully
swallowed, the Captain put down his shilling in silence, received his
pence in exchange, and I had just time to slip aside as he reappeared
at the threshold. He looked round as he lingered, but I took care he
should not detect me; and then struck off towards the more fashionable
quarters of the town. It was now the afternoon, and, though not yet
the season, the streets swarmed with life. As he came into Waterloo
Place, a slight figure buttoned up across the breast, like his own,
cantered by on a handsome bay horse--every eye was on that figure.
Uncle Roland stopped short, and lifted his hand to his hat; the rider
touched his own with his fore-finger, and cantered on,--Uncle Roland
turned round and gazed.
"Who," I asked, of a shop-boy just before me, who was also staring
with all his eyes--"who is that gentleman on horseback?"
"Why, the Duke, to be sure," said the boy, contemptuously.
"The Duke?"
"Wellington--stu-pid!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account