and occasionally patted one hand with the other slightly, and cried, with a patronising air, sotto voce, "Bravo! bravo!" At length, addressing Stanley, he said, apparently on the impulse of the moment, "He is an excellent actor-is he not ?" "Very clever," said Stanley,-" very clever, indeed." "In my judgment we have at present no actor on the stage at all comparable with him in his line. "There is not one," said Stanley, "whom I so much admire ;" and he proceeded to enlarge upon his peculiar excellences without the least reserve. From this fair point the stranger started other interesting topics, and with great ingenuity drew Stanley fully out by gently fanning his smouldering self-esteem, for, as he prided himself, and with reason, upon the facility with which he could read the real character of a man, it was not long before he discovered the weak points of his new friend, and when he had made the discovery he assailed them with a species of flattery so ingenious that Stanley became quite charmed with his conversation, which developed, indeed, much intelligence, with an apparently profound knowledge of the world. "Who can he be ?" thought Stanley. "He is evidently some one of importance. How can I ascertain who he is ?" The stranger as if conscious of what had been passing in Stanley's mind now for some time kept silent; but said as the curtain was about to fall," Well, we may in our travels meet again.” "Nothing," said Stanley, "would give me greater pleasure." "Which way do you walk?" "Westward," replied Stanley. "I shall be happy to accompany you as far as I go." Stanley bowed, and having taken the proffered arm, they left the theatre together. "I generally drop in here," said the stranger, on reaching the entrance of an hotel under the piazza of Covent Garden. " They give you a magnificent glass of champagne, and there is nothing I more enjoy after sitting in a hot theatre. I shall pass, however, this eve ning-unless, indeed, you are disposed to join me ?" "Oh! I have no objection," replied Stanley, "not the slightest." The stranger at once led the way; and having reached the coffeeroom above, ordered a bottle of iced champagne, and then began to relate a variety of anecdotes, which could not in any case have failed to impart pleasure. Another bottle was ordered. Stanley was charmed He had never met so splendid a fellow before; in a word, he was so entertaining, so full of wit and spirit, that it was past three before Stanley thought it was one. "Well," said the stranger, when they had finished the second bottle, "I am sorry to make a move; but I promised to look in at my club; where, by the by, I shall be happy to introduce you, if you are not in haste." "I should like it much," said Stanley; "but not to-night. It is getting very late." To-morrow I dine "Well-well! another time. Let me see. with Chesterfield: but the next day. Have you any engagement for Friday?" "I am not at this moment aware that I have: I think not." "Well, come and dine with me here, then, on Friday ?" σε Το This was agreed to, and the stranger wrote with a pencil. meet at seven," upon a card, on which was engraved, "Colonel Palmer," and presented it to Stanley. He then drew out his purse, and Stanley produced his. "No-no," said the Colonel; "this is mine. You shall pay for the next ;" and, having settled the amount, they rose to quit the hotel. "By the way," said the Colonel, as they descended the stairs, were you ever in one of the salons about here ?" "No," said Stanley. "Are there many of them ?" "There used to be several; but I have not been in one of them They were the places for those who wished to see life! What say you? Shall we step into one for five minutes ?" for years. "It is so very late," urged Stanley. "So it must always be to see them to advantage. But, come; now we are here, five minutes can be of no importance. They are places which every man of the world ought to see. I pledge you my honour I'll not stop long." Stanley could not resist. He thought, indeed, of his promise to Amelia; but held the fact of his having broken that promise already to be a sufficient excuse for going at once with the Colonel. They had scarcely walked three hundred yards, when they stopped at a gaily-painted door, and, having knocked, were admitted by a peculiarly ill-looking fellow, who had previously withdrawn a slide, and examined them through a hole about six inches square, with a singularly scrutinizing aspect. They then ascended a flight of gaudy gingerbread stairs, and entered a room, in which about forty persons were assembled, the majority of whom were females, dressed in a style the most attractive and superb. Several of these creatures ran up to the Colonel, with the apparent view of addressing him with the utmost familiarity, but a peculiar look from him at once repulsed them, which Stanley thought strange, although, instead of inducing the slightest suspicion, it tended to convince him still more of the superiority of the man. "Well," said the Colonel, we must have a glass of negus, and then we'll be off." The negus was ordered and produced, and they seated themselves to contemplate the gay scene before them; but the moment they had done so, a finely-formed girl, who appeared to be very young, really very handsome, came and sat beside Stanley. "How can you be so selfish ?" she playfully observed. "The idea of you two gentlemen drinking alone, when I am dying to wet my lips." "Drink, my girl-drink!" said Stanley, passing the glass. "It is not very good.' The girl nearly finished the glass before she ventured to pronounce her unbiassed opinion. She then declared that it tasted like. mahogany and water, and suggested, in addition, that, if she chose, the chances were that she could get a glass nearer the mark. Well, do so," said Stanley, as he placed half-a-crown in her hand; "let us see the extent of your influence." "No, no," said the Colonel; "we had better be off. Come, let us have no more. I feel stupid already.” "You need have no more, you know, Colonel," said the girl, who received a withering scowl for her pains. "Oh! oh!" exclaimed Stanley, "you are recognised! Well, come, one more, and then." The Colonel now suddenly and very unaccountably exhibited striking symptoms of intoxication. Stanley could not at all understand it. "My good fellow," said he, "why, how is this? were very well just now." You "I have a very poor head," replied the Colonel,-" a most unfortunate head. I can scarcely stand anything at all." The girl now returned with the "negus;" and having carefully put her lips to it, and said that it was different stuff altogether,which was in reality a fact, she gave it to Stanley, who drank of it with more than usual freedom, although it appeared to him to have a most remarkable flavour. Without, however, mentioning this, (for he did not pretend to understand much about it) he handed the glass to the Colonel, who would not touch a drop, for his symptoms of inebriety continued to increase, and he pronounced himself to be "too far gone already." Stanley was now entertained by the female. She had a brief tale to tell of every person in the room, and succeeded in occupying his attention until his articulation became somewhat indistinct, which the Colonel no sooner perceived than he cried, "Come, finish your glass and let us be gone. I never felt so queer in my life." Stanley himself now began to feel somewhat confused; and, as he had an unnatural thirst at the moment, he at once emptied the glass; but he had no sooner done so than the room seemed to whirl round and round with great velocity. He attempted to rise. The effort made him worse. He sank down again on the instant. "Hallo!" cried the Colonel. 66 What, have you caught it too? Well, never mind, old boy! we can't laugh at each other." From that moment Stanley became insensible. THE ILLUMINATION. A TALE OF ALMA MATER. Palsatus rogat, et pugnis concisus adorat, PREFACE. JUVENAL, sat. iii. v. 300 The subject of the following tale is matter now of History, That, though I "naught extenuate," 1 "naught set down in malice," Sirs. AIR-Guy Faux. A tragi-comedy I sing; three "grave and Reverend signors" For sundry graceless Undergrads, with wine somewhat “promiscuous," By "milling" well all Rads and Cads and other foes to Royalty! At length the streets, "at noon of night," had grown a little quieter, When, just as they had turned into the Lane of classic "Simmary," Who set upon them, blacked their eyes, and mauled them so confoundedly, As he lay groaning o'er his wounds, in sad and doleful barytones, The "Sawbones" came, with visage long, and shook his head mysteriously, But trust my skill—(on frailer hopes doth oft the life of man turn, Sirs,)— They haven't quite put out the light, though they've sorely smashed the lantern, Sirs!” Some drugs were sent instanter by this son of Æsculapius; "Hanc lotionem applices, et huncce haustum capias!" But, through his stupid scout's mistake, being addled most infernally, He swallowed up the lotion and applied the draught externally!! By gnawing pains, ere long, was rack'd his stomach magisterial, "Quick, fetch a stomach pump!" he groan'd," with strong emetics cram me well! I've been and done it'-'tis a case of pison yourself, Samiwel !" A stomach-pump was quickly brought, and "all hands" set to work at it, MORAL. Be warned, ye Dons, for Gown-town rows, like matrimonial quarrels, Sirs, Sage counsel would I likewise give to each bold Under-graduate- 64 The chances are, that, though you win, you'll find it bad economy To carry home a tattered gown and battered physiognomy! Oxford, 19th February, 1840. St. Mary Hall. A. R. W. For the enlightenment of my unlearned readers, I have the honour to inform them that the Demiurgus was the deity of the Platonists, and by them regarded as a Leing of pure love and benevolence. |