-failing
duck trousers, complete Thomas Newcome's costume, along with the white
hat in which we have seen him in the morning, and which was one of two
dozen purchased by him some years since at public outcry, Burrumtollah.
We have called him Captain purposely, while speaking of his coat, for he
held that rank when the garment came out to him; and having been in the
habit of considering it a splendid coat for twelve years past, he has
not the least idea of changing his opinion.

The Doctor McGuffog, Professor Bodgers, Count Poski, and all the lions
present at Mrs. Newcome's reunion that evening, were completely eclipsed
by Colonel Newcome. The worthy soul, who cared not the least about
adorning himself, had a handsome diamond brooch of the year 1801--given
him by poor Jack Cutler, who was knocked over by his side at Argaum--and
wore this ornament in his desk for a thousand days and nights at a
time; in his shirt-frill, on such parade evenings as he considered
Mrs. Newcome's to be. The splendour of this jewel, and of his flashing
buttons, caused all eyes to turn to him. There were many pairs of
mustachios present, those of Professor Schnurr, a very corpulent martyr,
just escaped from Spandau, and of Maximilien Tranchard, French exile and
apostle of liberty, were the only whiskers in the room capable of vying
in interest with Colonel Newcome's. Polish chieftains were at this
time so common in London, that nobody (except one noble Member for
Marylebone, once a year, the Lord Mayor) took any interest in them. The
general opinion was, that the stranger was the Wallachian Boyar, whose
arrival at Mivart's the Morning Post had just announced. Mrs. Miles,
whose delicious every other Wednesdays in Montague Square are supposed
by some to be rival entertainments to Mrs. Newcome's alternate Thursdays
in Bryanstone Square, pinched her daughter Mira, engaged in a polyglot
conversation with Herr Schnurr, nor Carabossi, the guitarist, and
Monsieur Pivier, the celebrated French chess-player, to point out the
Boyar. Mira Miles wished she knew a little Moldavian, not so much that
she might speak it, but that she might be heard to speak it. Mrs. Miles,
who had not had the educational advantages of her daughter, simpered
up with "Madame Newcome pas ici--votre excellence nouvellement
arrive--avez-vous fait ung bong voyage? Je recois chez moi Mercredi
prochaing; lonnure de vous voir--Madamasel Miles ma fille;" and, Mira,
now reinforcing her mam