Part 17 (2/2)

”No compliment at all, Mr. Dredge. It is the truth, I a.s.sure you; and were you to see the heaps of invitations which cover my parlour table, from persons equally as great as he, and more so, in fact, you would at once see the thing to be true. I feel it no particular honour to have an invitation from such a quarter, because so common. The Amba.s.sador took to me as soon as he saw me. He saw me, you know, to be one of his own stamp. I put on my best grace, and talked in my highest style, and I saw at once that he was prejudiced in my favour. It was my ability, you know, my ability, Mr. Dredge, which made an impression on his mind.”

”I see, my friend,” said Mr. Dredge, ”you have not lost all the egotism of your former years.”

”Egotism, egotism, Mr. Dredge! _I_ am no egotist--and never was. It is seldom I speak of myself. No man can help speaking of himself sometimes, you know. If you are acquainted with Squire Clark, he's the man, if you please, for egotism. Talk of egotism, sir, he surpa.s.ses me a hundred per cent. I am no egotist.”

”I hope no offence, Mr. Slack,” said Mr. Dredge.

”None at all, sir; I am not so easily offended. I am a man too good-tempered for that. I and you understand each other, you know.”

”Have you been to the City lately?” inquired Mr. Dredge.

”I was there only last week; and whom do you think I travelled with in the train? His Grace the Duke of Borderland. He was delighted to see me, you know, and gave me a pressing invitation to call on him at his London residence. Did you not know that I and the Duke were old cronies?

We went to school together; and he was never half so clever as I was in the sciences and cla.s.sics. He was a dull scholar compared with me.”

”You must have felt yourself somewhat honoured with his presence and attention.”

”Well, you know, Mr. Dredge, it is just here. I am so much accustomed to high life, that the presence of dukes, lords, etc., is little more to me than ordinary society. Had my friend Mr. Clarke been thus honoured, he would have blazed it all about the country. _I_ would not have mentioned it now, only your question called it up.”

The fact is, Mr. Dredge had heard of it before from a number of people to whom Mr. Slack had already told it.

At this stage of the talk between Messrs. Dredge and Slack a rap was heard at the front door. It was Mr. Sweet, a friend of Mr. Dredge, who had called on his way to an adjacent town.

Mr. Dredge introduced his friend to Mr. Slack, who gave him one of his egotistic shakes of the hand, and said, ”How are you this morning?”

”Mr. Sweet,” observed Mr. Dredge to Mr. Slack, ”is an intimate friend of mine, and a professor in Hailsworth College.”

”Indeed! I am very happy, extremely happy, to make his acquaintance,”

said Mr. Slack, with an air and voice which made the Professor open his eyes as to who he was. And without any more ceremony, Mr. Slack observed, ”I know all the professors in that seat of learning. Drs.

Jones, Leigh, Waller, I am intimately acquainted with--special friends of mine.”

To be candid, he had met with them on one occasion, and had received a formal introduction to them; but since then had not seen them.

”Are you at all acquainted with music, Professor Sweet?” asked Mr.

Slack.

”I know a little of it, but am no adept.”

”O, sir, music is a n.o.ble science. It is the charm of my heart; it is enchantment to my inmost soul. Ah, sir, I have been nearly ruined by it many times! I carried it too far, you know. Not content with one instrument, I procured almost all kinds; and, sir, there is scarcely an instrument but I am perfectly at home with. And, sir, there is not a hymn or song but I can play or sing. Would you believe it, sir, that I stood first in the last grand oratorio which took place in the great metropolis? I sang the grand solo of the occasion. Allow me, sir, to give you a specimen of it.” And here he struck off with the solo, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the Professor. ”Ah, sir, that is a n.o.ble piece. Does not go so well in this room, you know, as it did in Exeter Hall. The audience was so enraptured, sir, with my performance, that they encored me again and again.”

”Indeed, sir!” observed the Professor in a tone of keen sarcasm and strong unbelief.

”Of course, Professor, you are familiar with the cla.s.sics,” said Mr.

Slack.

”Somewhat,” replied the Professor, in a manner which indicated his disgust at the impertinence of the man.

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