Thereby Hangs a Tale. Volume OneFenn, George Manville
General
Thereby Hangs a Tale. Volume One
Fenn, George Manville
Fiction
"Giv's that there light," said an individual on his right--a gentleman
in velveteen coat, tight trousers, and eyes of so friendly a nature that
they seemed ever seeking each other's society, and trying to burrow
beneath the bridge of their owner's flat nose. He had no whiskers nor
beard, but a great deal of mouth and chin, spotted all over with tiny
black dots. His massive neck was swathed in a great belcher kerchief,
with ample but useful ends; for besides supplying warmth, one was used
occasionally to supply the lack of nutriment, and be nibbled by the
owner's great horse-teeth.
Trevor took the vesuvian from his friend, and politely passed it to the
man, who leered, grinned, stuffed it into his pipe-bowl, holding it
there as he puffed for a few moments, and then, winking at a companion,
he pitched the little incandescent globe upon Pratt's light overcoat.
Pratt started, flushed angrily, and brushed the vesuvian from his coat,
but not until it had burned there a round black spot. But he said
nothing; his face only twitched a little, as he began to make remarks
about the country they were passing.
"Hillo!--eo--eo!" came from behind, as the omnibus slowly lumbered
along; the driver drew a little on one side, and the open carriage, with
its post-horses, that they had seen by the railway hotel, began slowly
to pass, with the two young men eagerly scanning the occupants.
"Look at that old cock in the buff weskit," said some one on the
omnibus--a sally which was followed by roars of laughter, as an elderly
gentleman, of portly, magisterial aspect, half started from the back
seat, filming and frowning in utter astonishment at so ribald an attack
on his dignity.
"Going to ask us to lunch, guv'nor?" laughed a third.
"That's Brighamy Young and his three wives," cried some one else.
"Tell the postboy to go a little faster, Edward," the old gentleman
called out to a footman on the box.
"Do you hear, Edward? Why don't you go on faster, Edward?--eh, Edward?"
cried the first speaker, while the old gentleman leaned forward to speak
to one of the young ladies opposite, who was evidently somewhat
agitated; while, to make matters worse, the omnibus driver had whipped
up his horses, and the great vehicle kept on thundering along abreast of
the barouche.
This fresh movement was the signal for a volley from the fellow on
Trevor's right; and he now made himself especially conspicuous, kissing
his hand, and evidently goading the old gentleman into a state of
apoplexy. A scene was evidently brewing, and something unpleasant must
have inevitably occurred, had not, almost at one and the same moment,
Pratt whispered a word or two in French to his friend, and the postboy
given his horses a few cuts, which made them start forward with such
energy that the barouche was soon out of sight.
"You're about right, Frank," Trevor said, leaning back; "it is not worth
notice."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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