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The metropolis; or, A cure for gaming, by Cervantes Hogg
The metropolis or A cure for gaming by Cervantes Hogg Author:Eaton Stannard Barrett Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. II, A Duet—Love's Alarms—Love, Friendship, and Gratitude—Lovers'1 Dreams. On their return to the Gloucester coffeehouse, they beheld the two persons ... more »who were expected; and Brian's new friend saluted the principal as Sir Charles Rushlight, and the second as Mr. Shadow. They, in return, saluted him as Captain Fascine; and enquired, with evident symptoms of surprise, if he was to be the friend of the other party? The Captain replied in the affirmative, and asked if they had thought of any particular spot for the scene of action ? Mr. Shadow observed, that every Jfflace was alike, provided they could be free from interruption. After some consultation between the seconds, it was agreed that, as Hyde Park was a too well known scene of such affairs, the parties should send for a couple of post-chaises to take them to Uxbridge, where they should walk out together till they could find a place suited to their purpose. The post-chaises were soon at the door, and Sir Charles and his friend drove off in one, followed by the Captain and Brian in the other. During the journey, the conversation of the Captain and Brian was so lively, and on such indifferent subjects, that any one who could have heard it, would have imagined that their excursion had been ratherrather on an affair of pleasure than on so serious an occasion. On their arrival at Uxbridge, the parties breakfasted together to prevent suspicion, and then walked out into the fields. When they had found a retired spot, the seconds agreed upon a distance of twelve paces, which were marked out; and as each of them f insisted that their principal was entitled to the first fire, they settled the point by tossing up for it. Mr. Shadow won; and when the principals had taken their stations, he asked if Brian was wil...« less