Captain Fitzchrome.—Truly, the praise of such gentry must be a feather in any one’s cap.
Lady Clarinda.—So you will see, some morning, that my novel is “the most popular production of the day.” This is Mr. Puffall’s favourite phrase. He makes the newspapers say it of everything he publishes. But “the day,” you know, is a very convenient phrase; it allows of three hundred and sixty-five “most popular productions” in a year. And in leap-year one more.
CHAPTER VI.
THEORIES.
But when they came to shape the model,
Not one could fit the other’s noddle.—Butler.
Meanwhile, the last course, and the dessert, passed by. When the ladies had withdrawn, young Crotchet addressed the company.
Mr. Crotchet, jun. There is one point in which philosophers of all classes seem to be agreed: that they only want money to regenerate the world.
Mr. Mac Quedy.—No doubt of it. Nothing is so easy as to lay down the outlines of perfect society. There wants nothing but money to set it going. I will explain myself clearly and fully by reading a paper. (Producing a large scroll.) “In the infancy of society—”
The Rev. Dr. Folliott.—Pray, Mr. Mac Quedy, how is it that all gentlemen of your nation begin everything they write with the “infancy of society?”
Mr. Mac Quedy.—Eh, sir, it is the simplest way to begin at the beginning. “In the infancy of society, when government was invented to save a percentage; say two and a half per cent.—”
The Rev. Dr. Folliott.—I will not say any such thing.