Page 576 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

table so wealthy and wonderful a man. Mr. Richard drank
a good deal more than was good for him, and returned
home in a condition of disgusting drunkenness. I say dis-
gusting, because some folks have the art of getting drunk
after a humorous fashion, that robs intoxication of half its
grossness. For John Rex to be drunk was to be himself—
coarse and cruel. Francis Wade was away, and Lady Devine
had retired for the night, when the dog-cart brought home
‘Mr. Richard”. The virtuous butler-porter, who opened the
door, received a blow in the chest and a demand for ‘Bran-
dy!’ The groom was cursed, and ordered to instant oblivion.
Mr. Richard stumbled into the dining-room—veiled in dim
light as a dining-room which was ‘sitting up’ for its master
ought to be—and ordered ‘more candles!’ The candles were
brought, after some delay, and Mr. Richard amused himself
by spilling their meltings upon the carpet. ‘Let’s have ‘lu-
minashon!’ he cried; and climbing with muddy boots upon
the costly chairs, scraping with his feet the polished table,
attempted to fix the wax in the silver sconces, with which
the antiquarian tastes of Mr. Francis Wade had adorned the
room.
‘You’ll break the table, sir,’ said the servant.
‘Damn the table!’ said Rex. ‘Buy ‘nother table. What’s ta-
ble t’you?’ ‘Oh, certainly, sir,’ replied the man.
‘Oh, c’ert’nly! Why c’ert’nly? What do you know about
it?’
‘Oh, certainly not, sir,’ replied the man.
‘If I had—stockwhip here—I’d make you—hic—skip!
Whar’s brandy?’