32 SIR PETTRONELL FLASH. 



While taking this sketch of Sir Pettronell's " outward-man," 

 which the attribute of my " invisible ubiquity," would allow, he 

 was sitting directly opposed to the little, sharp-looking Aris- 

 tarchus, whose oscillatory movements too plainly expressed his 

 uneasiness at the taciturnity of his visitor ; vain it was that the 

 little bald-headed book-keeper bowed and bent, blew his nose, 

 rubbed his bearded chin, blew his nose still louder — and louder 

 still — he awakened only the silence and solitude around him. 

 Sir Pettronell was dumb — abstracted, immoveable, with his 

 gleamy eyes fixed upon the dingy window of the apartment, and 

 save that between the two first fingers of liis right hand, he 

 slowly swung the afore-mentioned eye-glass, he was moveless as 

 a statue — still the ribbon and the glass swung to and fro — like a 

 lone bird in the wilderness, the swing, swing, gave a horror to the 

 silence. The bibliopole's eyes began to glisten in snake-like 

 sympathy — a sort of incubus looked Sir Pettronell ; the little 

 man could endure it no longer — seizing with a spasmodic grasp a 

 newly-published work which lay on the table, and making a sort 

 of preparatory cough or scream, to assure himself of his ex- 

 istence — once, twice, and his tongue cleaved to the roof of his 

 mouth ; closing his eyes, he threw himself back in the chair, and 

 with a groan unutterable pronounced Sir Pettronell in a tone 

 rather louder than was absolutely necessary. Merciful heavens ! 

 diflferent soils produce not more variety in the " world of vegeta- 

 tion" than is created by circumstances in man. Sir Pettronell 

 did^not jump off his chair in a startling sympath}'^ with his 

 associate, but quietly relinquishing the chaste past-time of 

 counting the clouds through a London atmosphere, fixing his 

 eyes on Mr. P. the almost silent responsive Sir, pronounced in a 

 sort of audible whisper, was more distressing to his auditor than 

 the noisy vociferation of a madman. The charm was broken — 

 Sir Pettronell waited in silence. The confused bibliopole turned 

 rapidly over the uncut leaves of the book he had resorted to. 

 Sir Pettronell did not even reiterate the little monosyllable, but 

 looking him full in the face, awaited in silence the proffered 

 communication. I was going to ask — that is, I mean, I was 

 going to inquire — (the idea of asking a nobleman his business; 

 pah ! 'twas impossible) — have you seen this new work. Sir 

 Pettronell ? just out, vastly clever — said to be by a young Lord, 

 glancing an inquiring look at Sir Pettronell, vastly witty, young, 

 handsome, and highly talented. Are you speaking of the book 

 or the author ? Sir Pettronell mildly asked, taking the proffered 

 work from the hand of the disappointed Aristarchus, who had 

 said anything but what he desired, which was to have inquired of 

 Sir Pettronell who Sir Pettronell could be, and what Sir Pettronell 

 could require. Admirable, said Mr. P. to Sir Pettronell's remark 

 — admirably cutting — you are quite one of us. Sir Pettronell did 

 not laugh, but extracting from the tail of his coat a bundle of 

 papers, he placed them in the hand of the astonished little 



