158 HORATIO SPARKINS. 



reasons of state from disclosing the important secret. It might be 

 one of the ministers making himself acquainted with the views of the 

 people. 



" Mr. Sparkins," said the delighted Mrs. Malderton, " pray divide 

 the ladies. John, put a chair for the gentleman between Miss Teresa 

 and Miss Marianne." This was addressed to a man who on ordinary 

 occasions acted as half-groom, half-gardener ; but who, as it was most 

 important to make an impression on Mr. Sparkins, had been forced 

 into a white neckerchief and shoes, and touched up and brushed to 

 look like a second footman. 



The dinner was excellent ; Horatio was most attentive to Miss 

 Teresa, and every one felt in high spirits, except Mr. Malderton, who, 

 knowing the propensity of his brother-in-law, Mr. Barton, endured 

 that sort of agony which the newspapers inform us is experienced by 

 the surrounding neighbourhood when a pot-boy hangs himself in 

 a hay-loft, and which is " much easier to be imagined than described." 

 " Have you seen your friend, Sir Thomas Noland, lately, Flam- 

 well ?" inquired Mr. Malderton, casting a sidelong look at Horatio, 

 to see what effect the mention of so great a man had upon him. 



" Why, no not very lately ; I saw Lord Gubbleton the day before 

 yesterday." 



" I hope his lordship is very well," said Malderton, in a tone of the 

 greatest interest. It is scarcely necessary to say that until that mo- 

 ment he was quite innocent of the existence of such a person. 



" Why, yes ; he was very well very well, indeed. He's a devilish 

 good fellow : I met him in the City, and had a long chat with him. 

 Indeed I'm rather intimate with him. I couldn't stop to talk to him 

 as long as I could wish though, because I was on my way to a 

 banker's, a very rich man. and a member of Parliament, with whom I 

 am also rather, indeed I may say very, intimate " 



" I know whom you mean," returned the host, consequentially, in 

 reality knowing as much about the matter as Flamwell himself. 

 " He has a capital business." 



This was touching on a dangerous topic. 



" Talking of business," interposed Mr. Barton, from the centre of 

 the table. " A gentleman that you knew very well, Malderton, 

 before you made that first lucky spec of your's, called at our shop the 



other day, and " 



" Barton, may I trouble you for a potatoe," interrupted the 

 wretched master of the house, hoping to nip the story in the bud. 



" Certainly," returned the grocer, quite insensible of his brother- 

 in-law's object ft and he said in a very plain manner " 



" Flowery, if you please," interrupted Malderton again ; dreading 

 the termination of the anecdote, and fearing a repetition of the word 

 " shop/' 



" He said, says he," continued the culprit, after dispatching the 

 potatoe " says he, how goes on your business ? So I said, jokingly 

 you know my way says I, I'm never above my business, and I 

 hope my business will never be above me. Ha, ha, ha !" 



" Mr. Sparkins," said the host, vainly endeavouring to conceal his 

 dismay, " a glass of wine ?" 



