Paul Clifford — Volume 05 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 31 of 66 (46%)
page 31 of 66 (46%)
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was situated in a quarter entirely professional, he had been accustomed
to assemble around his hospitable board all who were eminent, in his political party, for rank or for talent. Now, however, when hospitality and a certain largeness of expenses better became his station, he grew closer and more exact in his economy. Brandon never could have degenerated into a miser; money, to one so habitually wise as he was, could never have passed from means into an object; but he had evidently, for some cause or another, formed the resolution to save. Some said it was the result of returning health, and the hope of a prolonged life, to which many objects for which wealth is desirable might occur. But when it was accidentally ascertained that Brandon had been making several inquiries respecting a large estate in the neighbourhood of Warlock, formerly in the possession of his family, the gossips (for Brandon was a man to be gossiped about) were no longer in want of a motive, false or real, for the judge's thrift. It was shortly after his elevation to the bench, and ere these signs of change had become noticeable, that the same strange ragamuffin whom we have mentioned before, as introduced by Mr. Swoppem to a private conference with Brandon, was admitted to the judge's presence. "Well," said Brandon, impatiently, the moment the door was closed, "your news?" "Vy, your 'onor," said the man, bashfully, twirling a thing that stood proxy for a hat, "I thinks as 'ow I shall be hable to satisfy your vorship's 'onor.'! Then, approaching the judge and assuming an important air, he whispered, "'T is as 'ow I thought!" "My God!" cried Brandon, with vehemence. "And he is alive,--and where?" |
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