Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The PriestBorrow, George
General
Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest
Borrow, George
England -- Fiction; Romanies -- Fiction
which Königsmark the robber figured by the side of Sam Lynn, and the
Marchioness de Brinvilliers was placed in contact with a Chinese outlaw.
What gave me the most trouble and annoyance was the publisher’s
remembering some life or trial, foreign or domestic, which he wished to
be inserted, and which I was forthwith to go in quest of and purchase at
my own expense: some of those lives and trials were by no means easy to
find. ‘Where is Brandt and Struensee?’ cries the publisher; ‘I am sure I
don’t know,’ I replied; whereupon the publisher falls to squealing like
one of Joey’s rats. ‘Find me up Brandt and Struensee by next morning,
or—’ ‘Have you found Brandt and Struensee?’ cried the publisher, on my
appearing before him next morning. ‘No,’ I reply, ‘I can hear nothing
about them’; whereupon the publisher falls to bellowing like Joey’s bull.
By dint of incredible diligence, I at length discover the dingy volume
containing the lives and trials of the celebrated two who had brooded
treason dangerous to the state of Denmark. I purchase the dingy volume,
and bring it in triumph to the publisher, the perspiration running down
my brow. The publisher takes the dingy volume in his hand, he examines
it attentively, then puts it down; his countenance is calm for a moment,
almost benign. Another moment and there is a gleam in the publisher’s
sinister eye; he snatches up the paper containing the names of the
worthies which I have intended shall figure in the forthcoming volumes—he
glances rapidly over it, and his countenance once more assumes a terrific
expression. ‘How is this?’ he exclaims; ‘I can scarcely believe my
eyes—the most important life and trial omitted to be found in the whole
criminal record—what gross, what utter negligence! Where’s the life of
Farmer Patch? where’s the trial of Yeoman Patch?’
‘What a life! what a dog’s life!’ I would frequently exclaim, after
escaping from the presence of the publisher.
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