The other traveler replied, not a little pleased to find that all the
fine sketches which he had been making of his companion's character,
during the earlier part of their journey, were as empty as a protocol;
and, with the very natural jump which man's heart takes when it finds
itself agreeably disappointed in the estimation it had formed of
another, perhaps the stranger now felt as much inclined to over-admire
his companion, as he had before been disposed to undervalue him. A
growing remembrance of his features, too, for some time made him fancy
that he had met with an old friend, whose face, like a worn piece of
money, though half obliterated by time, was still sufficiently plain
to tease memory--one of those provoking recollections, as tenacious as
remorse, and intactible as a soufflet. After some further
conversation, and one or two thoughtful pauses--in which memory was so
busy in digging among the ruins of the past, to see if she could find
the name of Burrel, that she would not even let the young traveler's
loquacious powers go on, for fear of disturbing her search--he
suddenly exclaimed, with that degree of frank simplicity which at once
spoke him but little a child of the great world, "Oh! now I remember
where it was I saw you before!"
"Where?" demanded Burrel, with a slight smile, which he instantly
repressed, lest he should give pain.
But the young stranger was not of a nature to think there could be any
thing wrong or absurd in acknowledging whatever he felt, if what he
felt were pure and natural. "It was at the door of Lord Ashborough, in
Grosvenor-square," he replied, at once. "You were coming out as I was
going in to call for his lordship. It was but yesterday; and yet I
have been searching through many long years to find out where it was I
had seen you before."
"Memory is like the philosophers," replied Burrel, "and often sends
out far to seek what she might stumble over at her own door. I now
remember your face also, and think I heard you give your name as
Captain Delaware."
"The same," answered his companion, with somewhat of a sigh. "Do you
know Lord Ashborough well?"
"I have known him long," replied Burrel; "but to know a man well is a
very different thing: for I am afraid that all men have learned
nowadays what Sallust regrets in the decline of the Romans--_magis
vultum quam ingenium, bonum habere_. Not that I mean to say it is so
with Lord Ashborough; far from it. He bears a high character in the
world, and is esteemed upright, honorable, and talented, though
somewhat stern and haughty."
A grave and rather melancholy expression came over the countenance of
the other; and he replied, changing the subject abruptly, "You were
speaking of the Dardanelles. Were you ever there?"
"Never," answered Barrel, "though once within little more than a
hundred leagues. I should have been well pleased to have gone on, but
circumstances called me back to England."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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