"There you are out in your reckoning, sir. My only information came by a sort of explanatory letter which my foolish cousin sent me--having a kind of deference for me as the head of the family--soon after his marriage." "Would you oblige me so far as to let me see that letter, sir, which I make no doubt you have preserved?" asked Durnford. "Nay, young sir, you go somewhat fast. Will you do me the favour to explain by what right you would grope in the mystery of Chumleigh's life and marriage? What interest can my dead kinsman have for you, a stranger, that I should let you pry into the scandals of his mistaken youth?" "I will be plain with you, Sir John. My interest in Mr. Chumleigh arises indirectly. His orphan daughter, who died of a fever at the age of five, was the beloved playfellow of a young lady whom I hope to make my wife. It is for her sake I am curious about your kinsman's history." "'Tis a roundabout sentimental kind of interest, sir, which, were you less of a gentleman, I should feel devilishly indisposed to gratify," said Sir John. "Pray may I ask, sir, who and what you are? for your name, though it has a respectable sound, gives me no information on that point." "To begin with, then, Sir John, I belong to that fraternity of scribblers to which you object. Without being exactly a haunter of coffee-houses, I have a profound reverence for the shades of Dryden and Addison, whose bodily presence was once familiar at Wills's and at Button's--indeed 'twas Mr. Addison who gave the vogue to the latter house, which is kept by an old servant of Lady Warwick's; and as for wits in the flesh, I have ever hung with delight upon the discourse of Congreve and Swift, Pope and Gay. Yes, Sir John, I too am that low thing, a man who lives by his brains; but I have another profession besides that of scribbler." "May I know your secondary occupation, sir?" "I have the honour to represent the borough of Bossiney in his Majesty's Parliament." "Indeed, sir! You are in the House, are you? And I'll warrant you are an arrant Whig." "I hope, Sir John, that will not prejudice you against me."