“I am not of your country, sir; but I have an infinite veneration for your country, as Strap said to the French soldier. Will you take a glass of wine?”
“Ah, de tout mon cœur, as the parasite said to Gil Blas,” cried the young man, laughing. “Here’s to our better acquaintance!”
And better acquainted we soon became; and I found that, in making the acquaintance of the young man, I had, indeed, made a valuable acquisition; he was accomplished, highly connected, and bore the name of Francis Ardry. Frank and ardent he was, and in a very little time had told me much that related to himself, and in return I communicated a general outline of my own history; he listened with profound attention, but laughed heartily when I told him some particulars of my
visit in the morning to the publisher, whom he had frequently heard of.
We left the house together.
“We shall soon see each other again,” said he, as we separated at the door of my lodging.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Dine with the Publisher—Religions—No Animal Food—Unprofitable Discussions—Principles of Criticism—The Book Market—Newgate Lives—Goethe a Drug—German Acquirements—Moral Dignity.
On the Sunday I was punctual to my appointment to dine with the publisher. As I hurried along the square in which his house stood, my thoughts were fixed so intently on the great man, that I passed by him without seeing him. He had observed me, however, and joined me just as I was about to knock at the door. “Let us take a turn in the square,” said he; “we shall not dine for half an hour.”
“Well,” said he, as we were walking in the square, “what have you been doing since I last saw you?”