New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
would DO rnasteris he answered. Pretty short
With party on Jour handS" / said sym

pathetically. 49,
on the door; and ne asnin looked me over, IN
doubt. think. whether he should add sir OF
not. I was wearing an old ovcrcoat above my
crowned black hat interpreted his glance, and
suddenly saw, as l fancied, way In which
might crafty my curiosity.
plunge for 1t, L can wait at table, and am q
respectable man. I will give you hand for
He whistled softly looking much astonished.
| Could not do it, he said shaking HIS head.
There is plate about and I do not Know you
Al am just of job" urged more eager now,
| and pleased to find my invention serve me so
| well. Il GO out evenings 1 am not badly off,
| but would rather take halfa-crown and my
supper and perhaps. extend my connection. than
waste time. Look here have gold watch
| legacy from an old master. Suppose l hand It
over TO you as security for the forks. Terms,
| halfa-crown and my supper
You can wait ?"
Rather" / said presumptuously.
He wavered, poising my watch, ar old-fashionesd
| time keeper, which had been My fathers IN ms
hand. 81 am loath to let q stranger in the
house." he said, but there is nothing Sir Eldred
hates so much as ad service. i am bali IN
clined to try you, young man. ike your
looks"
I could have said much on that but RETAINED.
"All l want is job / answered modestly.
mind. aIt is STU just striking 8, and Sir Eldred is
an inpatient man at the best of times. Slip your
coat and hat under this bench. And look slip
perry yourself, for there goes the masters bell.
will take the meats and wines, and do you take
the and the vegetables: The girl brings
everything TO the door You understand do you 7"
/ said Yes and did as | was hidden But
the prospect before me seemed more dubious now.
My fingers had suddenly become THUMBS, a very
odd thing And even my cheeks fell TO burn
ing when almost Immediately four gentlemen
filed into the room and sat down at the round
table. Two minutes had not elapsed however,
before | was myself again; following my leader
with cayenne pepper and lemon as to the manner
born, and displaying. l Halter myself 1alr
amout of readiness and apomb.
And incOngruous party, for West-End
diningroom, were those four at the table, that l
felt my curiosity was justified. | had no diff
Guilty in picking out Sir Edred. lie alone looked
at me with passing surprise. lie was man of
refined type, with aqune nose, blue eyes, and a
long fair beard; fastidous whimsical and blt
of epicure if appearances went for anything.
Facing him, wearing a kind of undresS uniform
jacket, sat a man whom he addressed as SKIP
per-" short sturdy sailor with a tanned face
and a goatee beard, aud the separate use of an
oath, which was new TO me.
The third at table, sitting at Sir Eldrcds right,
was pale sickly youth who from the moment
Of entering the room never ceased to hdget
might almost say to shiver and shake. III he
toichcd glass il ratified against It's fellows II
| handed Il dish to him he knocked IL with his
elbow: and his fingers so pcrsstently dropped
his knife and fork, That am sure the only food
that reached his lips was the bread he continually
Crumllpl. lie wore the regulation HlnnPf ufPSS,
but his air not that Of a gentleman although
he came into the room on his hosts arm, and Sir
Eldred showed him much attention, even ciapplng
him on the shoulder as he sat down, and saying
kindly " Come, cheer Up, my boy. We are all
here again, you sec"
"Ay, cheer up, lad" cried the skipper bluntly,
as he spread his napkin with elaborate ease.
Care killed cati"
"Oh. don't. don'tl" cried the youth. staggcr-
ing to his feet as though pin had run into HIM.
cast sta yicoGs glance, half hate, half fear at the
sailor, and paused.
Skipper skiprcr!" said Sir Eldled, reproach-
fully, laying his hand on the young mans arm
and drawing him down again; :" be bit more
careful
BY the Lasse Kowcn'7 replied the sailor.
of real concern, though for the life of me l could
not what harm he had done.
a." Come we are all here" repGatcd the host,
with an air of satisfaction. Where ITO the !
butler " is tho clarct. Bund? Bring it ronnd, |
and let us drink our toast and be thankful"
sort of grace, this. thought With some /
ceremony the butler, bidding me by a glance to /
stand back, brought from the sdcboard salver; /
bearing a Venetian glass carafe of claret and
four glasses One Of these he filed and gavo to !
his master, who waited with it in his hands un.
til all were served. Then saying, with ghost !
of a smile, TO our next meeting. gentlemen"
Sir Edrcd raised il to his lips and drank it dry
The sailor followed suit, tossing of the wine with
much braggadocio and smac0ng his lips after |
ward with such guso that Guild scarcely think |
whom | have not described-a stout me.".TncnOv !
man Of fsa-STty cuInpirxon, win q big bald head
and thick lips; he wore evening dress but saw |
the breadth Of his thumb, and set him down for !
mastor-saddlcr-too his elassful without look
ing up or saying q word. But even in him, as |
he set down the glass ] detected a curl OF the |
lip that betokened relief There remained only |
the young man at the hosts right hand
Sir Eldred beginning BIS soup, cast an anxious |
glance at him Peter thinks" he said lightly, !
" that he drinks best who drinks last Come,
pass the Rubicon | mean" for it was evident !
that the youth did not understand him, drink
it off, and no hee-taps, my boy"
Thus adiured, the young fellow raised the
glass II his DDs with a" unsteady ndn1, ana +
with queer shrinking look in his face that was
as unintelligiblc to me the rest of the scene,
aid he ordered; not the least strange |
item being the interest which / could see the |
other three secretly took in this simple action.
THAT is well done. We shall make topper |
Of you yeti" cried the host, slapping the table !
ly-over-cheerily, perhaps Seven from |
iortytwo leaves thilty;-iye Skipper you want |
soup last night What of thisP Now, Peter, TO 10
dinner Care killed a." lie stopped with |
surprise on his face; and the skipper. who bad
had his glass Of sherry, rOared, " lIol ho no! If
the pilot DO not know The shoals it is small blame
law, by the Lassic Kowen"
Il hate sea-lawyer," retortcd the baronct,
testify
SO do l." was the hearty answer. After
which the conversation though always jerllv.
ttful merrimcnt alternating with q thou nhtful |
pause, grew more general The man OF leather,
who kept his appetite in spite Of depression cave
gloomy praise to the cook The youthful Peter
hazardcd few tromulous remarks And from
these | gathered that this was not the first nor
was it meant to he the last occasion Of the quar-
tette dining together.
I steaithily rubbed my eyes, yet still they were
all there, the faStidious haronct the tradcSman
the cockney, clerk the merchant mate There,
r"t outstanding my rubbing. they still sat, hob
nohbing together in this house in Grosvcnnr
Square, and feigning for nscrutabe rea-
son. to be Of the same rank in life: to he one
and nil br,d &c the napkin. Was it some new
Ahhcy f Helena? asked myself. Some en-
taVagant offshoot of Tovnbce HALL Some within
Of rich Socialist? Or was the baronct mad
or the youth some near relation yet a mononla-
ninc who had To be honOrcd Or had | really