Wenham, with a gallant air. "For my part, I hope to be a victim
till I die, and to break my heart every year of my life." The meaning of
which sentence was, "My lord, you need not talk; I'm three years younger
than you, and twice as well conserve."
"Wenham, you affect me," said the great man, with one of his usual oaths.
"By --- you do. I like to see a fellow preserving all the illusions of
youth up to our time of life--and keeping his heart warm as yours is.
Hang it, sir, it's a comfort to meet with such a generous, candid
creature.--Who's that gal in the second row, with blue ribbons, third
from the stage--fine gal. Yes, you and I are sentimentalists. Wagg I
don't think so much cares--it's the stomach rather more than the heart
with you, eh, Wagg, my boy?"
"I like everything that's good," said Mr. Wagg, generously. "Beauty and
Burgundy, Venus and Venison. I don't say that Venus's turtles are to be
despised, because they don't cook them at the London Tavern: but--but
tell us about old Pendennis, Mr. Wenham," he abruptly concluded--for his
joke flagged just then, as he saw that his patron was not listening.
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