John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III. — John Shaqi
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III.Cumberland, Richard
General
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III.
Cumberland, Richard
Wales, North -- Fiction
Major, the good old man replied, I cannot tell you how I am delighted to
hear that you are going, who have served so long and with so much honour
in Portugal. You must be well acquainted with the country, and perhaps
may know a gentleman, who is returning with them to his friends at
Cintra, Devereux by name.
Devereux of Cintra! Henry exclaimed. Who knows not him, that ever passed
but half a day at Lisbon? I know him well, and have good cause to know
and honour him for his noble entertainment of me and many of my
army-friends. Devereux is rich in money, richer still in a good name,
and happy in a son, whom all men praise, and in a lovely daughter, whom
every body admires, but no one has presumption to address.
Yes, there is one, De Lancaster replied, who is as full of presumption
as he is void of merit. He now detailed not only the affair, that
brought young Devereux over to England, but the business, that called
his grandson out of it; and as he did this circumstantially and
minutely, after his manner, the old Colonel also listened to the long
but interesting narrative, though not without frequent grunts and
growlings of displeasure against poor Philip; till when the story
closed--Heaven have mercy on us, he exclaimed, that any man alive will
let himself be scared out of his small wits by a knavish rascal, a
pettifogging bragadocio fellow, half Jew and half attorney, and
forsooth because he comes with parchment and with pistol--’Sdeath, had I
been Philip, and six feet high as he is, I would have made the attorney
eat the parchment, and given the Jew the pistol for his breakfast:
’sblood, I would have laid the bond and baggage both upon the fire and
myself after them, or ever I would turn and nestle in a den with that
hyæna.
Never fear that, good father, Henry cried; there is a way of dealing
with hyænas, that makes them wondrous tame. If we three, and young
Devereux fourth fellow, are not enough for Madam Rachel and her Jewish
kindred, I have at hand a batch of special pleaders, who, without judge
or jury, will soon settle her business by a process of their own.
Come then, my friends, rejoined the good old man; let us dismiss the
subject for the present, and leave my grandson to discuss the point with
others of the family, who perhaps may scan this enterprize with more
alarm, than you, whose hearts no danger can appall. Our guest, young
Devereux, has been employed upon his letters; we’ll call him out, and
take a turn or two upon the terrace. The sun is pleasant, and though
mother nature begins to put her winter garments on, yet she looks
cheerful, and invites us forth.
CHAPTER IX.
_Our Hero imparts to Amelia Jones his Purpose of setting off for
Portugal._
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