FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>   >|  
d gentleman with surprise, but said nothing; and they proceeded as before. "You will have no boa-constrictors to contend with," said The Chobb. "One of the bed-rooms is splendidly furnished already. There is the tent-bed in it which the general took from Tippoo Saib in Mexico; and as to your dining-room and kitchen, why, you can dine with me." And here he held out his hand, and shook Frank's again. "You will not have far to come, and there will always be a knife and fork." "He is certainly the most generous fellow in England," whispered the general to Frank; "a perfect gentleman, and open as the day." "We shall get on very well, I have no doubt," pursued the colonel, who pretended not to have heard the general's remark; "but here comes the landlord with dinner. I ordered it as I came up stairs; and, by way of consolidating our friendship, I hope you will take it here to-day, instead of in the great house." Along with dinner came in the two brothers of The Chobb, and were introduced in due form. The philanthropist who practised as attorney, brought with him an agreement for the house; and the general explaining to Frank that these business details were merely for form's sake, and that he had told his step-son that the terms they had fixed on for the cottage were for half a year at a rent of twenty pounds, Frank signed the paper, and they all sat down to dinner. The Chobb presided, and the general acted as vice. "This is a mighty deal better than the buffalo soup we had at Pondicherry, when we were besieged by Santa Anna and the Monte Videans," said the general. "Or the tiger broth we had at Cadiz, when we were defending the town against Don Pedro," said The Chobb. "I used to shoot the tigers myself, which was capital amusement." "At Cadiz, did you say?" enquired Frank. The Chobb nodded, and said--"You'll think it odd, perhaps; but I give you my honour I never saw so many tigers in my life as during the whole of that bombardment. I ought to remember it well, for I was in command of the batteries--three of twelve twenty-fours, and one of six thirty-twos." "But tigers are not found in Spain," observed Frank. "I beg your pardon," said The Chobb; "I did not say tigers. Did I say tigers, General Hosham?" "Certainly not; you said merino sheep. I remarked it particularly." "So did I," said the philanthropic attorney. "I will trouble you, sir," said The Chobb, twisting his mustaches, "to be a little
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

general

 

tigers

 

dinner

 
attorney
 
twenty
 

gentleman

 
defending
 

proceeded

 

surprise

 

enquired


nodded
 

amusement

 

capital

 

mighty

 

presided

 
Videans
 

besieged

 

Pondicherry

 

buffalo

 
pardon

General

 
Hosham
 

observed

 

Certainly

 

merino

 

twisting

 

mustaches

 
trouble
 

philanthropic

 

remarked


thirty

 

signed

 

honour

 

bombardment

 

twelve

 

batteries

 

remember

 

command

 

Mexico

 

England


whispered

 

perfect

 

Tippoo

 

remark

 

landlord

 

ordered

 
pretended
 

pursued

 

colonel

 

fellow