United States or French Guiana ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Statim atque instanter," answered Lord Dalgarno; "for I perceive by doing so, I shall obtain power to render great services to the commonwealth I shall have acquired wealth to supply the wants of your Majesty, and a fair wife to be at the command of his Grace of Buckingham."
In their private discourse, Lord Dalgarno had little trouble in dissuading Nigel from going immediately to Court; while, on the other hand, the offers he made him of a previous introduction to the Duke of Buckingham, were received by Lord Glenvarloch with a positive and contemptuous refusal.
"I know not why you should upbraid me with my upbringing, Master Lowestoffe," answered Richie, with great composure; "but I can tell you, the shambles is not a bad place for training one to this work." The other Templar now shouted loudly to them, "If ye be men, come hither here lies Lord Dalgarno, murdered!"
"I trust to bear both lightly," said Lord Dalgarno; and bowing around him, he withdrew; while all present, oppressed, and, as it were, overawed, by his determined effrontery, found they could draw breath more freely, when he at length relieved them of his society.
"We cannot aid him without paying our debts twice over, and we have, in the present state of our Exchequer, scarce the means of paying them once." "You have told me news," said Lord Dalgarno, "but I will take no advantage." "Do not," said his father, "be a bold villain, since thou must be one, and seek revenge with arms, and not with the usurer's weapons."
While the old earl presented his young acquaintance Lord Glenvarloch to his son, as one whom he would have him love and honour, Nigel marked the countenance of Lord Dalgarno closely, to see if he could detect aught of that secret dislike which the king had, in one of his broken expostulations, seemed to intimate, as arising from a clashing of interests betwixt his new friend and the great Buckingham.
These naturally regarded the pleasures attending a Court life; and Lord Dalgarno expressed much surprise at understanding that Nigel proposed an instant return to Scotland. "You are jesting with me," he said. "All the Court rings it is needless to mince it with the extraordinary success of your suit against the highest interest, it is said, now influencing the horizon at Whitehall.
In all probability the minute or two which was lost in mounting John Christie behind one of their party, might have saved Lord Dalgarno from his fate. Thus his criminal amour became the indirect cause of his losing his life; and thus "our pleasant vices are made the whips to scourge us."
"An apartment of mine yes, surely," answered Lord Dalgarno, "you shall dine at an apartment of mine, and an apartment of yours, and of twenty gallants besides; and where the board shall present better cheer, better wine, and better attendance, than if our whole united exhibitions went to maintain it. We are going to the most noted ordinary of London."
Lord Dalgarno neither had proposed play to his friend, nor joined in the amusement himself, but sauntered from one table to another, remarking the luck of the different players, as well as their capacity to avail themselves of it, and exchanging conversation with the highest and most respectable of the guests.
Word Of The Day