He Had
A Large Fat Pocket-Book, From Which He Produced Poem After Poem,
Written On The Backs Of Letters Or Hotel-Bills; And Nothing Could
Be More Humorous Than His Recitation Of These Elegant Extracts,
Except Perhaps The Anecdotes With Which He Varied The
Entertainment.
Seeing, I suppose, something less countrified in my
appearance than in most of the company, he singled me out
To
corroborate some statements as to the depravity and vice of the
aristocracy, and when he went on to describe some gilded saloon
experiences, I am proud to say that he honoured my sagacity with
one little covert wink before a second time appealing to me for
confirmation. The wink was not thrown away; I went in up to the
elbows with the manager, until I think that some of the glory of
that great man settled by reflection upon me, and that I was as
noticeably the second person in the smoking-room as he was the
first. For a young man, this was a position of some distinction, I
think you will admit. . . .
CHAPTER III - AN AUTUMN EFFECT - 1875
'Nous ne decrivons jamais mieux la nature que lorsque nous nous
efforcons d'exprimer sobrement et simplement l'impression que nous
en avons recue.' - M. ANDRE THEURIET, 'L'Automne dans les Bois,'
Revue des Deux Mondes, 1st Oct. 1874, p.562. {2}
A country rapidly passed through under favourable auspices may
leave upon us a unity of impression that would only be disturbed
and dissipated if we stayed longer.
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