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Curtis did not fail to note that the aged clergyman's handwriting was crabbed and palsied as his bent frame. None could tell, for certain, whether he wrote "Jean" or "John," "Courtois" or "Curtis," though, indeed, the balance of probability inclined to the latter of the two names, Christian and surname, since those were indubitably what he meant to write.
I shall have no more handle whereby to take hold of reputation, neither shall it have any whereby to take hold of or to cleave to me; for to expect that my name should be advanced by it, in the first place, I have no name that is enough my own; of two that I have, one is common to all my race, and indeed to others also; there are two families at Paris and Montpellier, whose surname is Montaigne, another in Brittany, and one in Xaintonge, De La Montaigne.
The mind was intensely receptive, when it was receiving at all. It is extremely disagreeable, when a vulgar fellow, whom you hardly know, addresses you by your surname with great familiarity of manner. And such a person will take no hint that he is disagreeable, however stiff, and however formally polite, you may take pains to be to him.
With a short laugh, Wertheimer unmasked and exposed a face of decidedly English type, fair and well-modelled, betraying only the faintest traces of Semitic cast to account for his surname. And with this example, Popinot snatched off his own black visor and glared at Lanyard: in his shabby dress, the incarnate essence of bourgeoisie outraged.
Paganel was right. He soon managed to exchange a few words with the stranger, and found out even that his name was Thalcave, a word that signified in Araucanian, "The Thunderer." This surname had, no doubt, come from his skill in handling fire-arms. But what rejoiced Glenarvan most was to learn that he was a guide by occupation, and, moreover, a guide across the Pampas.
We get the best examples of this in the nicknames applied to the Norman kings. We have William Rufus, or "the Red;" Richard Coeur-de-Lion, or "Lion-Hearted;" Henry Beauclerc, or "the Scholar." These names of kings were not handed down in their families. But in ordinary families it was quite natural that a nickname applied to the father should become a surname.
And thither come the merchants with merchandise by sea from India, Persia, Chaldea, Armenia, and of many other kingdoms. This city founded Eliezer Damascus, that was yeoman and dispenser of Abraham before that Isaac was born. For he thought for to have been Abraham's heir, and he named the town after his surname Damascus. And in that place, where Damascus was founded, Cain slew Abel his brother.
He scribbled his surname, as he would have done to a stranger. As he watched the amiable, stout woman counting up his words carefully, pointing with her finger, he felt sick with irony. 'That's right, she said, picking up the sixpence and taking the form to the instrument. 'What beautiful weather! she continued. 'It will be making you sorry to leave us.
"Not that I know of," said Miss Battersby; "in fact, I'm sure she hasn't." "Then I'll do it myself. I don't see why Lalage should be the only one to break the news. I'd send a wire to Hilda too if I knew her surname; but I've never been able to find that out. I wish she'd marry Selby-Harrison. Then I'd know how to address her when I want to telegraph or write to her."
The next letter which she picked out from the little heap was of some length, and was written in a clear and steady hand. By comparison with the blotted scrawls which she had just burned, it looked like the letter of a gentleman. She turned to the signature. The strange surname struck her; it was "Bennydeck." Not a common name, and not a name which seemed to be altogether unknown to her.
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