The Adventures Harry Richmond — Volume 2 by George Meredith
page 49 of 102 (48%)
page 49 of 102 (48%)
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I am told. Where's the man?'
'In the Bench, of course. Where'd you have him?' 'I, sir? If I knew my worst enemy to be there, I'd send him six dozen of the best in my cellar.' Temple shot a walnut at me. I pretended to be meditating carelessly, and I had the heat and roar of a conflagration round my head. Presently the captain said, 'Are you sure the man's in the Bench?' 'Cock,' Squire Gregory replied. 'He had money from his wife.' 'And he had the wheels to make it go.' Here they whispered in earnest. 'Oh, the Billings were as rich as the Belthams,' said the captain, aloud. 'Pretty nigh, William.' 'That's our curse, Greg. Money settled on their male issue, and money in hand; by the Lord! we've always had the look of a pair of highwaymen lurking for purses, when it was the woman, the woman, penniless, naked, mean, destitute; nothing but the woman we wanted. And there was one apiece for us. Greg, old boy, when will the old county show such another couple of Beauties! Greg, sir, you're not half a man, or you'd have carried her, with your, opportunities. The fellow's in the Bench, you say? How are you cocksure of that, Mr. Greg?' |
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