This seemed a curious investment for
Q - -, but he knew how to turn everything to account. By such means
he was enabled to contribute to the amusement of the company, and
thus became a kind of favourite. If he could not manage to sell a
lot of land to an immigrant or speculator, he would carelessly
propose to some of the company to have a game at whist or loo, to
pass the time away; and he never failed to conjure most of their
money into his pockets.
At this time a new character made his appearance at C - -, at Mr.
B - -, an English farmer of the true yeoman breed. He was a
short-legged, long-bodied, corpulent little man. He wore a brown
coat, with ample skirts, and a vast expanse of vest, with
drab-coloured small-clothes and gaiters. B - - was a jolly,
good-natured looking man, with an easy blunt manner which might
easily pass for honesty.
Q - - had sold him a lot of wild land in some out-of-the-way
township, by making Mr. B - - believe that he could sell it again
very soon, with a handsome profit.
