Frederick Byng, One Of The Torrington Branch Of The Byngs,
Was Chiefly Famous For His Sobriquet 'The Poodle'; This He
Owed To No Special Merit Of His Own, But Simply To The
Accident Of His Thick Curly Head Of Hair.
Some, who spoke
feelingly of the man, used to declare that he had fulfilled
the promises of his youth.
What happened to him then may
perhaps justify the opinion.
The young Poodle was addicted to practical jokes - as usual,
more amusing to the player than to the playee. One of his
victims happened to be Beau Brummell, who, except when he
bade 'George ring the bell,' was as perfect a model of
deportment as the great Mr. Turveydrop himself. His studied
decorum possibly provoked the playfulness of the young puppy;
and amongst other attempts to disturb the Beau's complacency,
Master Byng ran a pin into the calf of that gentleman's leg,
and then he ran away. A few days later Mr. Brummell, who had
carefully dissembled his wrath, invited the unwary youth to
breakfast, telling him that he was leaving town, and had a
present which his young friend might have, if he chose to
fetch it. The boy kept the appointment, and the Beau his
promise. After an excellent breakfast, Brummell took a whip
from his cupboard, and gave it to the Poodle in a way the
young dog was not likely to forget.
The happiest of my days then, and perhaps of my life, were
spent at Mr. Ellice's Highland Lodge, at Glenquoich.
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