基本信息
with this project, the major, in spite of his constitutional toughness and slyness, was fain to leave the accomplishment of his desire in some measure to chance, `which,' as he was used to observe with chuckles at his club, `has been fifty to one in favour of joey b., sir, ever since his elder brother died of yellow jack in the west indies.' it was some time coming to his aid in the present instance, but it befriended him at last. when the dark servant, with full particulars, reported miss tox absent on brighton service, the major was suddenly touched with affectionate reminiscences of his friend bill bitherstone of bengal, who had written to ask him, if he ever went that way, to bestow a call upon his only son. but when the same dark servant reported paul at mrs. pipchin's, and the major, referring to the letter favoured by master bitherstone on his arrival in england--to which he had never had the least idea of paying any attention--saw the opening that presented itself, he was made so rabid by the gout, with which he happened to be then laid up, that he threw a footstool at the dark servant in return for his intelligence, and swore he would be the death of the rascal before he had done with him: which the dark servant was more than half disposed to believe. at length the major being released from his fit, went one saturday growling down to brighton, with the native behind him; apostrophizing miss tox all the way, and gloating over the prospect of carrying by storm the distinguished friend to whom she attached so much mystery, and for whom she had deserted him. `would you, ma'am, would you!' said the major, straining with vindictiveness, and swelling every already swollen vein in his head. `would you give joey b. the go-by, ma'am? not yet, ma'am, not yet! damme, not yet, sir. joe is awake, ma'am. bagstock is alive, sir. j. b. knows a move or two, ma'am. josh has his weather-eye open, sir. you'll find him tough, ma'am. tough, sir, tough is joseph. tough, and de-vilish sly!' and very tough indeed master bitherstone found him, when he took that young gentleman out for a walk. but the major, with
