Julius Candy bowing, while he presented to his
fancied friend the little pasteboard parallelogram inscribed with his
title and residence.
The eyes of the two gentlemen, however, were no sooner directed to the
cards, which had been placed in their hands, than the smiles which had
previously gladdened their countenances were instantaneously changed into
expressions of the most indignant scorn and surprise.
"Peacock!" shouted Candy.
"Candy!" vociferated Peacock.
"Sir!" exclaimed the furious Mr. P., "had I known that Candy was the name
of the man, sir, whom I was addressing, sir, my conduct you would have
found, sir, of a very different character!"
"And had I been aware," retorted the exasperated Mr. C., "that Peacock was
the title of the _fellow_" (and he laid a forty-horse power of emphasis
upon the word) "with whom I have been conversing, my card would never have
been delivered to him but with a different motive."
"Fellow, sir! I think you said--_Fellow_, sir!"
"I did, sir,--fellow was the word I used, and I repeat
it--fellow--fellow!"
"You do, sir! and I throw back in your teeth, sir, with the addition of
fool, sir!"
"Fool!--no, no--not quite a fool--only _near_ one, sir!"
"You're a conceited puppy, sir!"
"And you are an impudent scoundrel, sir!"
This brought matters to a crisis.
Pages:
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233