Ah, Captain, that was
a mismanaged business. I received this wound by the side of the King
before Oporto,--where he would have pounded the stock-jobbing Pedroites,
had Bourmont followed my advice; and I served in Spain with the King's
troops, until the death of my dear friend, Zumalacarreguy, when I saw the
game was over, and hung up my toasting iron, Captain. Alava offered me a
regiment, the Queen's Muleteros; but I couldn't--damme, I couldn't--and
now, sir, you know Ned Strong--the Chevalier Strong they call me abroad--
as well as he knows himself."
In this way almost everybody in Clavering came to know Ned Strong. He
told Madame Fribsby, he told the landlord of the George, he told Baker at
the reading-rooms, he told Mrs. Glanders, and the young ones, at dinner:
and, finally, he told Mr. Arthur Pendennis, who, yawning into Clavering
one day, found the Chevalier Strong in company with Captain Glanders; and
who was delighted with his new acquaintance.
Before many days were over, Captain Strong was as much at home in Helen's
drawing-room as he was in Madame Fribsby's first floor; and made the
lonely house very gay with his good-humour and ceaseless flow of talk.
Pages:
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513