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To be sure, your dear life is insured for her marriage portion; but " "Pazzie-stuff!" said Riccabocca, petulantly; "her marriage portion would be as nothing to a young man of Randal's birth and prospects. I think not of that. But listen: I have never consented to profit by Harley L'Estrange's friendship for me; my scruples would not extend to my son-in-law.
The parson halted, took Riccabocca by the button, and informed him, in very few words, that Leonard was to go to Lansmere to see some relations there, who had the fortune, if they had the will, to give full career to his abilities. "The great thing, in the mean while," said the parson, "would be to enlighten him a little as to what he calls enlightenment."
"But, my dear sir," whispered the parson, mildly, as he inclined his lips to the doctor's ear, "I should then have lost the opportunity of inculcating a moral lesson you understand?" Dr. Riccabocca shrugged his shoulders, restored his pipe to his mouth, and took a long whiff.
Riceabocca fell into a train of musing so remote from time and place, that in a few minutes he no more remembered that he was in the parish stocks than a lover remembers that flesh is grass, a miser that mammon is perishable, a philosopher that wisdom is vanity. Dr. Riccabocca was in the clouds. When all was over, and the congregation stood up to let Mr.
Riccabocca turned away, and walked restlessly to and fro the terrace; then, lifting his arms with a wild gesture, as he still continued his long irregular strides, he muttered, "Yes, Heaven is my witness that I could have borne reverse and banishment without a murmur, had I permitted myself that young partner in exile and privation.
"You have done me good," said Riccabocca, "but I hope I am not always so unreasonably melancholic as you seem to suspect. The evenings will sometimes appear long, and dull too, to a man whose thoughts on the past are almost his sole companions." "Sole companions? your child?" "She is so young." "Your wife?"
He saw visionary hats and bonnets through the trees, which Riccabocca saw not, despite all the excellence of his spectacles; heard phantasmal rustlings and murmurings which Riccabocca heard not, despite all that theoretical experience in plots, stratagems, and treasons, which should have made the Italian's ear as fine as a conspirator's or a mole's.
They walked out together, sat together for hours in the belvidere. There was one person in the establishment of Dr. Riccabocca who was satisfied neither with the marriage of his master nor the arrival of Violante, and that was our friend Lenny Fairfield. Previous to the all-absorbing duties of courtship, the young peasant had secured a very large share of Riccabocca's attention.
He met several curious glances, some fair ladies expressing interest as well as curiosity, and his face flushed. "Gratifying, isn't it?" said the professor, smiling. "No, I don't think it is," answered our hero. "Why not?" demanded Professor Riccabocca, appearing amazed. "If all were true, it might be," replied Philip. "As it is, I feel like a humbug."
Professor Riccabocca came forward again, and recited a poem called "The Maniac," each stanza ending with the line: "I am not mad, but soon shall be." He stamped, raved, tore his hair, and made altogether a very grotesque appearance.
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