Pelham — CompleteLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
History
Pelham — Complete
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Adventure stories; English fiction -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
I believe that I have so firm a command over my countenance, that I
should not change tint nor muscle, to hear of the greatest calamity
that could happen to me. I did not therefore betray a single one of
the emotions this paragraph excited within me, but appeared, on the
contrary, as much at a loss as Lady Glanville, and wondered and guessed
with her, till she remembered my present situation in the family, and
left me alone with Ellen.
Why should the tete-a-tete of lovers be so uninteresting to the
world--when there is scarcely a being in it who has not loved. The
expressions of every other feeling comes home to us all--the expressions
of love weary and fatigue us. But the interview of that morning, was far
from resembling those which the maxims of love at that early period
of its existence would assert. I could not give myself up to happiness
which might so soon be disturbed, and though I veiled my anxiety and
coldness from Ellen, I felt it as a crime to indulge even the appearance
of transport, while Glanville lay alone, and in prison, with the charges
of murder yet uncontroverted, and the chances of its doom undiminshed.
The clock had struck four before I left Ellen’s, and without returning
to my hotel, I threw myself into a hackney coach, and drove to
Charlotte-street. The worthy Job received me with his wonted dignity and
ease; his lodgings consisted of a first floor, furnished according
to all the notions of Bloomsbury elegance--viz. new, glaring Brussels
carpeting; convex mirrors, with massy gilt frames, and eagles at the
summit; rosewood chairs, with chintz cushions; bright grates, with
a flower-pot, cut out of yellow paper, in each; in short, all that
especial neatness of upholstering paraphernalia, which Vincent used
not inaptly, to designate by the title of “the tea-chest taste.” Jonson
seemed not a little proud of his apartments--accordingly, I complimented
him upon their elegance.
“Under the rose be it spoken,” said he, “the landlady, who is a widow,
believes me to be an officer on half pay, and thinks I wish to marry
her; poor woman, my black locks and green coat have a witchery that
surprises even me: who would be a slovenly thief, when there are such
advantages in being a smart one?”
“Right, Mr. Jonson!” said I; “but shall I own to you that I am surprised
that a gentleman of your talents should stoop to the lower arts of the
profession. I always imagined that pickpocketing was a part of your
business left only to the plebeian purloiner; now I know, to my cost,
that you do not disdain that manual accomplishment.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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