What an eccentric creature that Johnstone was! I hate eccentric people." The letter fell from Percy's hands.

And this, then, was the issue of his single interview with the poor old man! It was events like these, wayward and strange (events which chequered his whole life), that, secretly to himself, tinged Godolphin's character with superstition.

He afterwards dealt con amore with fatalities and influences.
You may be sure that he did not sleep much that night.

Early the next morning he sought Saville, and imparted to him the intelligence he had received.
"Droll enough!" said Saville, languidly, and more than a little displeased at this generosity to Godolphin from another; for, like all small-hearted persons, he was jealous; "droll enough! Hem! and you never knew him but once, and then he abused me! I wonder at that; I was very obliging to his vulgar son." "What! he had a son, then ?" "Some two-legged creature of that sort, raw and bony, dropped into London, like a ptarmigan, wild, and scared out of his wits.

Old Johnstone was in the country, taking care of his wife, who had lost the use of her limbs ever since she had been married;--caught a violent--husband--the first day of wedlock! The boy, sole son and heir, came up to town at the age of discretion; got introduced to me; I patronised him; brought him into a decent degree of fashion; played a few games at cards with him; won some money; would not win any more; advised him to leave off; too young to play; neglected my advice; went on, and, d--n the fellow! if he did not cut his throat one morning; and the father, to my astonishment, laid the blame upon me!" Godolphin stood appalled in speechless disgust.