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Of course Manifold and the philosopher exchanged places, and the dinner proceeded. Mr. and. Mrs. Goodwin were present, but Alice was unable to come, although anxious to do so in order to oblige her parents. It is unnecessary to describe the gastric feats of Manifold and Topertoe.
"Do not expect me, sir," said Hartley, who felt that the delicacy of his position with regard to Lord Cumber, rendered it altogether impossible that he could be the guest of a man with whose brother he was likely soon to fight a duel. "Well," replied Topertoe, "if you cannot come I shall regret it." "It is really out of my power, I assure you," replied Hartley, as he bade him fare-Well.
"Pray, ma'am," said he, "whose is that fine old building to the right, which appears to be going to ruin? It is evidently not inhabited." "You're a stranger in the place, then," replied the female, "or you surely might know Castle Cumber House, where old Tom Topertoe used to live before the union came.
Topertoe, of the gout, and he were old acquaintances and companions, and had spent many a merry night together both, as the proverb has it, being tarred with the same stick. Topertoe was as great a glutton as the other, but without his desperate voracity in food, whilst in drink he equalled if he did not surpass him.
Richard Topertoe possessed a mind above an empty title, and, perhaps, there lived not a man who more sincerely deplored the event which made him Lord Cumber, and put him in possession of a property which he did not require. Our chronicles draw to a close. The contemplated interview between Mrs. Lenehan, her brother, and Solomon, never in fact took place.
Topertoe was dressed, as was then the custom, in full canonical costume, with, his silk cassock and bands, for he was a doctor of divinity; and Manifold was habited in the usual dress of the day his falling collar exhibiting a neck whose thickness took away all surprise as to his tendency to apoplexy.
"There is now no further use for preserving my incognito," observed Mr. Topertoe, "and as you, Mr. Sheriff, have had your journey for nothing, I shall feel obliged if you will join these gentlemen at the Castle Cumber Arms to dinner, where we can have an opportunity of talking these and other matters over more at our leisure."
When he commenced "Gentlemen upon an occasion of such important difficulty" there was for about a quarter of a minute a dead silence that of astonishment Topertoe, however, who had stuck fast, was obliged to commence again "Gentlemen upon an occasion, of such " but it would not do, the groaning, shouting, hooting, and yelling, were deafening for some minutes, much to the gratification of his opponent.
Does he understand venison properly? O, good Lord! what a life I'm leading! Toast and water toast and water. But it's all the result of this famine. And yet they know I'm wealthy. I say, what's this your name is?" "Never mind that an old acquaintance. Hell and torments! what's this? "The weather's pleasant, Topertoe. I say, Topertoe, what's this your name is?"
Think of this, gentlemen, and pay attention to your duties. Whilst Lord Cumber, who never communicated a syllable touching the duel with Hartley to his brother, was engaged in that mortal conflict, as it unhappily turned out to be, the Honorable Richard Topertoe was engaged in a far different occupation.
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