“'Sir,' said the Count, with brow exceeding grave,
'Your unexpected presence here will make
It necessary for myself to crave
Its import? But perhaps it's a mistake.
I hope it is so; and at once, to waive
All compliment, I hope so for your sake.
You understand my meaning, or you shall.'”
Beppo.
“IS your master—is Mr. Vernor at home?” inquired I of the grim-visaged old servant, who looked, if possible, taller and more wooden than when I had last seen him.
“Well, I suppose not, sir!” was the somewhat odd reply.
“You suppose!” repeated I; “if you have any doubt, had you not better go and see?”
“That won't be of no manner of use, sir,” was the rejoinder; “I should not be none the wiser.”
It was clear that the old man was a complete original; but his affection for Clara was a virtue which in my eyes would have atoned for any amount of eccentricity; and as I was anxious to stand well in his good graces, I determined to fall in with his humour; accordingly I replied with a smile, “How do you make out that—did you never hear that seeing is believing?”
“Not always, sir,” he answered, “for if I'd a trusted to my eyesight—and it ain't so bad neither for a man that's no great way off sixty—I should have fancied Muster Wernor was a sitting in the liberrary; but he told me he was not at home hisself, and he ought to know best.”
“Tell him I won't detain him long,” returned I, “but that I am come on business of importance.”
“'Tain't of no manner of use, young gentleman,” was the reply; “he told me he wasn't at home, and he said it uncommon cross too, as if he meant it, and if I was to go to him twenty times he'd only say the same thing.” “What's your name, my good friend?” inquired I. “Peter Barnett, at your service, sir,” was the answer. “Well, then, Peter, we must contrive to understand one another a little better. You have known your young mistress from a child, and have a sincere regard for her—is it not so?”
“What, Miss Clara, God bless her!—why, I love her as if she was my own flesh and blood; I should be a brute if I didn't, poor lamb.”