THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



' This man must be a man of fortune,' said our hero to him- 

 self, as he threw his eyes round the room ; ' I think I am in 

 good hands.' 



In a very few minutes the door of the room was opened, and 

 a tall, thin, unhealthy-looking person in black, with a well- 

 powdered head, walked in, with our hero's card in his hand, and 

 was, of course, very polite to his guest. 



'You are punctual, Mr. Raby,' said he; 'I like to have to do 

 with persons who are punctual.' 



' But where is Mr. Sharpe ? ' inquired Frank. 

 ' Why, I think he will soon be here, accompanied by a gentle- 

 man whose name and object you have been acquainted with,' 

 resumed Mr. Longbottom. 'But you know, sir, lawyers like 

 Mr. Sharpe, in a large way, cannot always connnand their own 

 time. Pray, Mr. Raby, be seated.' 



' Thank ye,' replied Frank Raby ; ' but I wish to have another 

 look at your pictures. I admire tlds, much,' pointing to an 

 •historical piece of very large dimensions. 



' That is a clief d'oeuvre,' said his host ; ' I gave 3000 guineas 

 for that picture in Rome.' 



' And this,' resumed our hero. 

 ' A Correggio,' said Longbottom. 

 ' And this, how beautiful ! ' 



' You show your taste, Mr. Raby ; that picture is yours.' 

 'Mine!!!' 



' Yes, yours ; that is to say, merely nominally so. General 

 Jervis, now at the Bedford Hotel, in Covent Garden, is to oive 

 you 700 guineas ; and a gentleman of the name of Crow will 

 also give you 300 for that exquisite "Holy Family," by 

 Le Brun, which will just make up 1000 guineas of the 

 money.' 



On hearing this our hero smelt a rat ; and, taking out his 

 watch, thus addressed Mr. Longbottom : — 



' By the way, Mr. Longbottom, I want to leave my card on a 

 friend who lives in the square, and by the time I return, no 

 doubt Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Thornton will be here. So good 

 morning for the present.' 



The bell was rung; the door opened by the footman; and 

 exit Frank Raby, with the,se words in his mouth : — 



'If old Sharpe's head never aches till I meet him at this 

 fellow's house, he will have a good time of it.' 



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