Here the entrance of some new person stopped the discussion.
Happy in his success, he began, the next day, a new device: he made an attack in politics, and said, he did not doubt but Mr. Hastings would come to be hanged; though, he assured us, afterwards, he was firmly his friend, and believed no such thing.[236]
Even with this not satisfied, he next told her that he had just heard Mr. Burke was in Windsor. Mr. Burke is the name in the world most obnoxious, both for his Reform bill,[237] which deeply affected all the household, and for his prosecution of Mr. Hastings; she therefore declaimed against him very warmly.
“Should you like to know him, ma’am?” cried he. “Me?—No; not I.”
“Because, I dare say, ma’am, I have interest enough with him to procure you his acquaintance. Shall I bring him to the Lodge to see you?”
“When you please, sir, you might keep him to yourself!”
“Well, then, he shall come and dine with me, and after it drink tea with you.”
“No, no, not I! You might have him all to yourself.”
“But if he comes, you must make his tea.”
“There is no such ‘must,’ sir! I do it for my pleasure—only when I please, sir!”