I had forgotten that I was dressed as a Quaker. "Tell the coachman to
stop at the first cloth warehouse where they have ready-made cloaks,"
said I. The man did so; I went out and purchased a roquelaure, which
enveloped my whole person. I then stopped at a hatter's, and purchased
a hat according to the mode. "Now drive to the Piazza," said I,
entering the coach. I know not why, but I was resolved to go to that
hotel. It was the one I had stayed at when I first arrived in London,
and I wished to see it again. When the hackney-coach stopped, I asked
the waiter who came out whether he had apartments, and answering me in
the affirmative, I followed him, and was shown into the same rooms I had
previously occupied. "These will do," said I, "now let me have
something to eat, and send for a good tailor." The waiter offered to
remove my cloak, but I refused, saying that I was cold. He left the
room, and I threw myself on the sofa, running over all the scenes which
had passed in that room with Carbonnell, Harcourt, and others. My
thoughts were broken in upon by the arrival of the tailor. "Stop a
moment," said I, "and let him come in when I ring." So ashamed was I of
my Quaker's dress, that I threw off my coat and waistcoat, and put on my
cloak again before I rang the bell for the tailor to come up. "Mr --,"
said I, "I must have a suit of clothes ready by to-morrow at ten
o'clock."
"Impossible, sir."
"Impossible!" said I, "and you pretend to be a fashionable tailor.
Leave the room."
At this peremptory behaviour, the tailor imagined that I must be
somebody.
"I will do my possible, sir, and if I can only get home in time to stop
the workmen, I think it may be managed. Of course, you are aware of the
expense of night work."
"I am only aware of this, that if I give an order, I am accustomed to
have it obeyed; I learnt that from my poor friend, Major Carbonnell."
The tailor bowed low; there was magic in the name, although the man was
dead.
"Here have I been masquerading in a Quaker's dress, to please a
puritanical young lady, and I am obliged to be off without any other
clothes in my portmanteau; so take my measure, and I expect the clothes
at ten precisely." So saying, I threw off my roquelaure, and desired
him to proceed. This accomplished, the tradesman took his leave.
Shortly afterwards, the door opened, and as I lay wrapped up in my cloak
on the sofa, in came the landlord and two waiters, each bearing a dish
of my supper. I wished them at the devil; but I was still more
surprised when the landlord made a low bow, saying, "Happy to see you
returned, Mr Newland; you've been away some time--another grand tour, I
presume."
"Yes, Mr --, I have had a few adventures since I was last here,"
replied I, carelessly, "but I am not very well. You may leave the
supper, and if I feel inclined, I will take a little by-and-by,--no one
need wait."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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