Pelham — Volume 08 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 15 of 70 (21%)
page 15 of 70 (21%)
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probability, never shall."
Was there ever a better illustration of Moore's admonition-- 'O, ladies, beware of a gay young knight, After dinner, we remounted to the apartments Job emphatically called his own; and he then proceeded to initiate me in those phrases of the noble language of "Flash," which might best serve my necessities on the approaching occasion. The slang part of my Cambridge education had made me acquainted with some little elementary knowledge, which rendered Jonson's precepts less strange and abstruse. In this lecture, "sweet and holy," the hours passed away till it became time for me to dress. Mr. Jonson then took me into the penetralia of his bed-room. I stumbled against an enormous trunk. On hearing the involuntary anathema this accident conjured up to my lips, Jonson said--"Ah, Sir!--do oblige me by trying to move that box." I did so, but could not stir it an inch. "Your honour never saw a jewel box so heavy before, I think," said Jonson, with a smile. "A jewel box!" I repeated. "Yes," returned Jonson--"a jewel box, for it is full of precious stones! When I go away--not a little in my good landlady's books--I shall desire her, very importantly, to take the greatest care of 'my box.' Egad! it would be a treasure to MacAdam: he might pound its flinty contents into a street." |
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